Review: The Lost and the Blind by Declan Burke

Hardcover, 240 pages

Expected publication: April 1st 2015 by Severn House Publishers ore details...     

ISBN :0727884646 (ISBN13: 9780727884640)


From Goodreads: 

This gripping Irish thriller is an intriguing new departure for comic noir writer Declan Burke."
A dying man, if he is any kind of man, will live beyond the law. The elderly German, Karl Uxkull, was senile or desperate for attention. Why else would he concoct a tale of Nazi atrocity on the remote island of Delphi, off the coast of Donegal? And why now, 60 years after the event, just when Irish-American billionaire Shay Govern has tendered for a prospecting licence for gold in Lough Swilly?
Journalist Tom Noone doesn t want to know. With his young daughter Emily to provide for, and a ghost-writing commission on Shay Govern s autobiography to deliver, the timing is all wrong. Besides, can it be mere coincidence that Karl Uxkull s tale bears a strong resemblance to the first thriller published by legendary spy novelist Sebastian Devereaux, the reclusive English author who has spent the past 50 years holed up on Delphi?
But when a body is discovered drowned, Tom and Emily find themselves running for their lives, in pursuit of the truth that is their only hope of survival.

 My thoughts: For a book that is billed as a thriller, this one just did not do it for me. That's almost strange because I love books set in Ireland and I love conspiracy theories. Nazi characters involvement in a story fascinate me for some bizarre reason. So, all told, this should have been right up my alley. Wrong!

I found the pace excruciatingly slow, the characters not well developed and the thriller bits were somewhat MIA. My attention kept wandering. This type of book should have had me spellbound and riveted to the pages. Sadly, that did not happen.

I hate to write a negative review but honesty is my primary goal This is just MY experience with the book, you however might love it. Sorry, but this one garners the "meh" 2** rating from me.

Declan Burke is a Goodreads author and can be found on his page here

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Severn House Publishers/Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Meadowlands: A World War I Family Saga by Elizabeth Jeffrey

Hardcover, 224 pages

Expected publication: April 1st 2015 by Severn House Publishers

more details...

ISBN: 0727884697 (ISBN13: 9780727884695)
From Goodreads:

The comfortable, upper-class lives of the aristocratic Barsham family are set to change forever with the onset of World War I."
August, 1914. The silver wedding celebrations of Sir George Barsham, MP, and his wife, Lady Adelaide, are overshadowed by the declaration of war with Germany. Over the following months, as the male estate workers head for the Front and the maids disappear to work in the newly-opened munitions factory, the Barsham family s comfortable, aristocratic lifestyle is set to change forever.
Determined to do his bit for King and country, James Barsham enlists as an officer and heads for Flanders, leaving Lady Adelaide s maid Polly devastated. To Lady Adelaide s dismay, her younger daughter Millie learns to drive an ambulance: a most unladylike skill. Meanwhile Millie s sister Gina finds fulfilment in helping the local wives and children, left destitute while their husbands are away fighting.
During the course of the war, with devastating loses, the strength of character of the four Barsham siblings will be tested as never before. They will encounter hardship, danger, heartache and unexpected love.      


My Thoughts:. With the popularity of Downton Abby, a historical drama on PBS,it seems there have been quite a few books set during the same WWI timeframe all with all the same "upstairs downstairs" themes and characters seemingly from the same mold. I swear I've read about a butler ironing the newspaper over and over. I still remember Mr. Hudson from Upstairs, Downstairs, ( PBS drama from the 1970's) ironing the newspaper.  So . . . . . .

I started out thinking this was going to be one big clichéd story but then found myself engrossed in the book right away. I was anxious to see what happened with all the  characters especially Polly, James and Gina. I think the author did a credible job with the historical bits and feel of the time, especially the effects of wartime hardship on poor families. It is hard to imagine what those  injured soldiers and their families went through but Ms. Jeffrey really brought these tragic circumstances to life.

Okay, so a few bits were a tad predictable, and yes, Lady Adelaide was more than just a bit annoying, I still enjoyed the book immensely. If you're a fan of romance, family drama, historical/WWI stories or British fiction, this could be the book for you. 4****

Elizabeth Jeffrey was born and grew up in Wivenhoe, the village of her parents and grandparents. Far from being born with a quill in her hand, Elizabeth didn't start serious writing until after her children were born, beginning with short stories - on the premise that not so much paper was wasted if they were rejected! She won first prize in a short story competition run by the Daily Express, which led to an invitation to write for Mills & Boon. This was a useful stepping stone and after publishing five titles for them she moved on to writing historical novels. Her third novel, Cassie Jordan, was short-listed for Angel Prize for East Anglian writers and later The Buttercup Fields (under the title. The Chair Mender,) was short-listed for the very first Catherine Cookson prize. She has written over 15 novels. http://www.severnhouse.com/author/Elizabeth+Jeffrey/9433   Author info from Severn House Publishers website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Severn House Publishers/Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Unexpected Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell

Paperback, 432 pages

Expected publication: February 3rd 2015 by Sourcebooks Landmark

more details...

original title: The Unexpected Consequences of Love

ISBN: 1492602086 (ISBN13: 9781492602088)

From Goodreads:

Sophie has no interest in finding love. But what happens when love finds her?

Sophie Wells is a successful photographer with a focus on putting the past firmly behind her. When Josh Strachan returns to the seaside town of Cornwall from the States to run his family's hotel, he can't understand why the fun, sexy girl has zero interest in letting him-or any man for that matter-into her life. He also can't understand how he's been duped into employing Sophie's impulsive friend Tula, whose crush on him is decidedly unrequited. Both girls remain mum about the reasons behind Sophie's indifference to love. But that doesn't mean Josh is going to quit trying...
   

My thoughts : I have never read a Jill Mansell book that I didn't care for. I think I've read just about every book she has written and I've loved them all, a few more than others, but still they are all enjoyable reads. One of Mansell's strong points is her ability to write with her heart and still inject some (okay, lots) of humor into the situations. Every story has more than just a few "laugh out loud" moments. Some of the situations her characters get into just make me chuckle as they are so easy to imagine. Mansell is extremely adroit at bringing farce to life.

In her latest, The Unexpected Consequences of Love, several of the characters find out that love endures even when you think it's not possible. The main character, Sophie, tries to shut off her emotions after a bad situation with her ex-husband but she finds this is not as easy to do as she first thought. I really liked Dot, the older character, who learns that age is not immune to love nor is it as easy to forego especially when a fluke incident puts someone's life in danger.

I really enjoyed Mansell's book and would highly recommend her to anyone who likes chick-lit, humorous British fiction or contemporary romance. There's something for everyone in her books! 4****


Jill Mansell, author of numerous books, can be found on her page.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Sourcebooks/Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Amber Keeper by Freda Lightfoot

 

Set against the backdrop of revolutionary Russia, The Amber Keeper is a sweeping tale of jealousy and revenge, reconciliation and forgiveness.
English Lake District, 1960s: A young Abbie Myers returns home after learning of her mother’s death. Estranged from her turbulent family for many years, Abbie is heartbroken to hear that they blame her for the tragedy.
Determined to u  

Paperback, 384 pages

Published December 1st 2014 by Lake Union Publishing

more details...

ISBN: 1477826157 (ISBN13: 9781477826157)                

From Goodreads:
Set against the backdrop of revolutionary Russia, The Amber Keeper is a sweeping tale of jealousy and revenge, reconciliation and forgiveness.
English Lake District, 1960s: A young Abbie Myers returns home after learning of her mother’s death. Estranged from her turbulent family for many years, Abbie is heartbroken to hear that they blame her for the tragedy.
Determined to uncover her mother’s past, Abbie approaches her beloved grandmother, Millie, in search of answers. As the old woman recounts her own past, Abbie is transported back to the grandeur of the Russian Empire in 1911 with tales of her grandmother’s life as a governess and the revolution that exploded around her.
As Abbie struggles to reconcile with her family, and to support herself and her child, she realizes that those long-ago events created aftershocks that threaten to upset the fragile peace she longs to create.

My thoughts: For some reason, Tsarist Russia has always fascinated me so I really liked this time frame and dual perspectives as told by Abbie in the 1960's and Millie in 1911. Ms. Lightfoot's excellent characterizations, sense of place and historical feel made this a wonderful read.

Although, I did like Millie' s story of her time in Russia  a tad better than Abbie's, they were both very good. There were some characters you could love and hate which made for a good balance in the storyline. The family ties and old hurts were well done. I could actually empathize with the characters. Along with Millie's past story and Amber's present day story, there was a plot line fraught with mystery and danger. It all came together with a fine cohesiveness. My attention never wavered and I even learned something about amber along the way. 4****

Ms. Lightfoot is the author of numerous historical fiction books and is a Goodreads author. She can be found on her page at Goodreads.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Lake Union Publishing/Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Seventh Link: An English Village Cosy Featuring the Colonel by Margaret Mayhew

From Goodreads:
"The village of Frog End may be peaceful, but that doesn't mean that the Colonel s life there is quiet not with his friendly but nosy neighbour Naomi, desperate to know what he s keeping in his new shed; the curious Miss Butler, who tracks his every move with her German U-boat captain s binoculars; and the attentions of the local vicar, who s keen to involve him in church affairs. That s not forgetting the demands of the aloof, imperious cat Thursday, who seems to have adopted the Colonel.So the Colonel is pleased when his old friend Geoffrey Cheetham invites him up to the village of Buckby for the weekend, to coincide with a RAF reunion event. After depositing an outraged Thursday at the Cat Heaven cattery, he drives up, and meets his fellow guests at the Cheethams B&B: including a Lancaster bomber crew, reunited for the first time. But everything is not as it seems, and the Colonel finds himself taking on the reluctant role of sleuth once more when tragedy strikes . . ."   

The Seventh Link, part of the Village Mystery Series, is a fun little British mystery. I loved the village setting and the wonderful characters of  the Colonel, his neighbor Naomi and the ever so comical Miss Butler. Mayhew did a great job with these characters bringing out all their quirks and personalities.

While attending a reunion for his old RAF Bomber Command group, the Colonel and his old pals experience a tragedy. One of their own has passed away in somewhat unusual circumstances. The mystery of how Don Wilson died is a tad ambiguous. Did he drown by accident due to his drunkenness or was he helped along the way?

Even though I found the book to be a little short with no resolution, I still enjoyed it. The historical references to the Bomber Command was interesting, albeit sometimes overshadowing the "mystery".

Margaret Mayhew, a Goodreads author can be found on her page here. Mayhew is a prolific author who can also be found on her web page at Severn House.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Severn House Publishers/Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Red Book of Primrose House: A Potting Shed Mystery by Marty Wingate

From Goodreads:


In Marty Wingate’s charming new Potting Shed Mystery, Texas transplant Pru Parke’s restoration of a historic landscape in England is uprooted by an ax murderer.

Pru Parke has her dream job: head gardener at an eighteenth-century manor house in Sussex. The landscape for Primrose House was laid out in 1806 by renowned designer Humphry Repton in one of his meticulously illustrated Red Books, and the new owners want Pru to restore the estate to its former glory—quickly, as they’re planning to showcase it in less than a year at a summer party.

But life gets in the way of the best laid plans: When not being happily distracted by the romantic attentions of the handsome Inspector Christopher Pearse, Pru is digging into the mystery of her own British roots. Still, she manages to make considerable progress on the vast grounds—until vandals wreak havoc on each of her projects. Then, to her horror, one of her workers is found murdered among the yews. The police have a suspect, but Pru is certain they’re wrong. Once again, Pru finds herself entangled in a thicket of evil intentions—and her, without a hatchet.


The Red Book of Primrose House was a little slow starting but I loved the Sussex garden setting.
The plot had a little more romance and a tad less mystery than I would have liked but some quirky and fun characters still made this one a pleasurable read. There were just enough motives to keep this reader guessing right up until the end.

I had never heard about the  Victorian garden designer Humphrey Repton but I found this part of the book interesting.

Marty Wingate, a master gardener as well as an author, can be found on her Goodreads  author page and on her web page.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Random House/Netgally in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Other Girl by Pam Jenoff

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: September 1st 2014 by Harlequin MIRA

From Goodreads:

One woman's determination to protect a child from the dangers of war will force her to face those lurking closer to home…

Life in rural Poland during WWII brings a new set of challenges to Maria, estranged from her own family and left alone with her in-laws after her husband is sent to the front. For a young, newly pregnant wife, the days are especially cold, the nights unexpectedly lonely. The discovery of a girl hiding in the barn changes everything—Hannah is fleeing the German police who are taking Jews like her to special camps. Ignoring the risk to her own life and that of her unborn child, Maria is compelled to help. But in these dark days, no one can be trusted, and soon Maria finds her courage tested in ways she never expected and herself facing truths about her own family that the quiet village has kept buried for years…

The Other Girl is comprised of just 24 pages but this novella is still a good introduction to the
 likeable characters and the feel of the story set against the backdrop of WWII. I greatly admired Maria and felt so sad for Hannah as they are both just trying to live their lives as normally as possible. Of course, during wartime, this is not always doable.


Even in such limited pages, Jenoff did a wonderful job with the main character of Maria. I could really feel her indecision, fear and determination. This novella is a companion story to Jenoff's  The Winter Guest. 3***


Pam Jenoff is the author of numerous historical novels. She can be found on her Goodreads page.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Harlequin MIRA/Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

 

Review: The Garden of Letters by Alyson Richman

    

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: September 2nd 2014 by Berkley Trade

more details...

ISBN:0425266257 (ISBN13: 9780425266250)

From Goodreads:


Set against the rich backdrop of World War II Italy, Garden of Letters captures the hope, suspense, and romance of an uncertain era, in an epic intertwining story of first love, great tragedy, and spectacular bravery.Portofino, Italy, 1943. A young woman steps off a boat in a scenic coastal village. Although she knows how to disappear in a crowd, Elodie is too terrified to slip by the German officers while carrying her poorly forged identity papers. She is frozen until a man she’s never met before claims to know her. In desperate need of shelter, Elodie follows him back to his home on the cliffs of Portofino.

Only months before, Elodie Bertolotti was a cello prodigy in Verona, unconcerned with world events. But when Mussolini’s Fascist regime strikes her family, Elodie is drawn into the burgeoning resistance movement by Luca, a young and impassioned bookseller. As the occupation looms, she discovers that her unique musical talents, and her courage, have the power to save lives.

In Portofino, young doctor Angelo Rosselli gives the frightened and exhausted girl sanctuary. He is a man with painful secrets of his own, haunted by guilt and remorse. But Elodie’s arrival has the power to awaken a sense of hope and joy that Angelo thought was lost to him forever.

My thoughts: Any book with WWII as the backdrop usually merits a look from me, but Richman is particularly deft with this scenario. All the horrors of wartime and the difficulty of living are so well done, it is as if I were right there along with the characters.

In this story, Elodie, our heroine, is a young and very talented violinist just coming of age in the most difficult of circumstances. Seeing her homeland invaded and her way of life abruptly changed, Elodie does what she must in order to live with her conscience and try to help the resistance. Falling in love was not part of her plan but it just happened and Elodie finds herself having to make some very difficult choices and then dealing with those choices,

" Elodie wonders, if beneath the schoolgirl uniform, her mother can see the change in her. That her daughter has discovered that it isn't only music that can articulate the beauty and mystery of the world. That now she knows that the heart has it's own rhythm and breath has it's own pulse, and there is nothing in this world that makes you feel more alive than a simple touch of a beloved's hand."

In The Garden of Letters, Alyson Richman pens her usual beautiful, lyrical writing; words to be savored right along with the plot. All of Richman's characters come to life vividly on the page, so much so, that my heart was fully engaged along with my mind.

Alyson Richman is also the author of  The Lost Wife, one of my all time favorite reads.  4****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley Trade/Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: That Summer by Lauren Willig

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: June 3rd 2014 by St. Martin's Press

more details...

ISBN: 1250014506 (ISBN13: 9781250014504)                

edition language: English

url: http://us.macmillan.com/thatsummer/LaurenWillig

When Julia inherits a house in England from an aunt she has never heard of, she thinks it's a hoax. Her stoic father assures her it is real. He remembers the house. Not that he ever told Julia any of this but that's just the way he is.

Julia decides to go to England and check out her windfall thinking she would clean it up a little and sell it. Well, little did she know she would get caught up in her family's history, treasures and secrets.

Told from two different time frames, present day and mid-nineteenth century, Willig presents two intriguing tales. Sometimes, with dual time frames, I find one story grabs me a bit more than the other. Not so with That Summer, I got caught up in both of them and couldn't wait to see how it all panned out.

Excellent sense of place, well developed characters, fluid dialogue and a wonderful plot line made for an enchanting read. 4****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Breath of Spring by Charlotte Hubbard

Paperback, 352 pages

Published May 6th 2014 by Zebra

more details...

ISBN: 1420133071 (ISBN13: 9781420133073)

edition language : English

series: Seasons of the Heart #4

From Goodreads:

As a bright season brings a fresh start to Willow Ridge, Annie Mae Knepp feels she can never make peace with the past. Her disgraced ex-bishop father is furious she has taken her five siblings to live with her. She's never been truly at home in her faith. . .or believing in herself. And Annie Mae fears no man will want to take on the responsibilities she's gladly shouldered. True, her quiet neighbor Adam Wagler has been steadfast and unshakeable helping her through her trials, but he surely couldn't think of someone so lost as more than a friend. Believing she is unworthy because of her doubts, Annie Mae will find in a moment of surprising revelation that God can work impossible miracles--and that love makes all things new.


My thoughts:

 Not too sure what it is about Amish fiction that draws me in so quickly but maybe it is the seeming simplicity of their lives. The Amish seem to know what is expected of them and generally they do that. I've read the other three in the series and enjoyed them tremendously, although this one seemed a little more "preachy" than the previous three. Even so, the first three in the series captivated me with the varied characters and situations.

 Miriam has her own story going on as well as her three daughters. I really liked Miriam, the mother of the triplets, and her dedication to her faith, family, and her cafe business. In this fourth book, Hubbard branches out to another Willow Ridge family member, Annie Mae Knepp. We had met her father, Hiram, in the first book. Hubbard did a terrific job of bringing Hiram, as well as all the other characters,  to life. There's not usually a villain as nefarious as Hiram Knepp but this character, Annie Mae's father, definitely filled the bill as villain. I think it added to the reality of the series that not all people are perfect and some people are just downright deplorable despite their religious title.

Recommended for fans of family sagas, romance, Christian fiction. 3.5***

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Kensington/Netgalley  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Black Lake by Johanna Lane

Hardcover, 224 pages

Expected publication: May 20th 2014 by Little, Brown and Company

more details...

ISBN: 0316228834 (ISBN13: 9780316228831)                

edition language: English

Black Lake tells the story of John and Marianne Campbell along with their two children Philip and Kate.

It was most interesting to see how each family member reacted to and thought about the financial necessity of moving out of Dulough, the manor house, into the damp and cramped caretaker's cottage. When financial and social status changed for the worse, the results dramatically altered the family dynamics with some tragic repercussions.

Told from different view points of each character, but mostly John's and Philip's, the reader is privy to family secrets, hopes, dreams, expectations and disappointments. Each character looks back over the events that led them to the present day. Through inner dialogue and hindsight, Lane brings her characters vividly to life. Very quickly they became real people to me. Even after closing the last page, the characters resonated with me for quite a while.

The house has such a presence, it is in itself like another character.

"It is not difficult to think of the house as a consciousness, a repository of events, its breath whistling through the walls, our lives playing over and over again in its memory."



Such beautiful writing!

I really enjoyed this story, the characters and the lovely, descriptive writing. The sense of place was so well done, I could feel the atmosphere of the  isolated, windy rain swept Irish coast. Highly recommended for fans of contemporary fiction and stories of family. 4.5****


Johanna Lane, a Goodreads author, grew up in Ireland and now lives in New York City.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Little, Brown and Company in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

Series: Quilts of Love (Book 16)
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (March 18, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426752806
ISBN-13: 978-1426752803








My thoughts:

 Maybelle in Stitches was interesting in several ways: the historical aspect of WWII and the part women played in the war effort combined with Maybelle's personal story. Maybelle, a new bride, has become a welderette at the local shipyard while her husband, Holden, is  fighting in Europe. Magnin  pens a heartwarming story of Maybelle , her best friend, Doris, and several other women who do the best they can while their husbands are fighting the war. To keep themselves occupied after work, they begin to jointly work on a quilt that Maybelle's late mother started. At first it is just a "keep-busy" project but then it becomes a symbol for hope; hope that the war will end soon and that their husbands will come home safely.



I've read quite a few of Joyce Magnin's books and enjoyed them all.  She has a way of  getting the reader totally immersed in the characters and plot. It was easy to empathize with all the women in the story. Magnin uses the theme of strong women who are still vulnerable and have some obstacle to overcome and she does it very successfully.



Even though this is listed as Christian fiction, it is not "in-your-face" kind of writing. I like good fiction but I don't want to be preached to. 4****



Joyce can be found on  Goodreads and Facebook.



Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Netgalley/Abingdon Press

 in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Morning GLory by Sarah Jio

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: November 26th 2013 by Plume

more details...ISBN:0142196991 (ISBN13: 9780142196991

From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Jio imagines life on Boat Street, a floating community on Seattle’s Lake Union—home to people of artistic spirit who for decades protect the dark secret of one startling night in 1959

Fleeing an East Coast life marred by tragedy, Ada Santorini takes up residence on houseboat number seven on Boat Street. She discovers a trunk left behind by Penny Wentworth, a young newlywed who lived on the boat half a century earlier. Ada longs to know her predecessor’s fate, but little suspects that Penny’s mysterious past and her own clouded future are destined to converge.  

My thoughts: Trying desperately to overcome her grief, Ada Santorini leaves her career in New York and heads to Seattle. She has rented a houseboat on Lake Union. This is the very same houseboat where Penny Wentworth once lived as a young bride to her much older husband, the famous artist, Dexter Wentworth. Ada discovers the key to Penny's trunk and begins to delve into the mystery of Penny's disappearance. Some of the current neighbors were living there when Penny did. A little unlikely, but that's part of the story.

Switching back and forth between the perspectives of 1959 Penny and current day Ada, the story is told. I normally find dual time frames very interesting and easily read. However, my one quibble with Morning Glory is that the chapters were too short. I felt that I was just settling into one timeframe and character only to be abruptly yanked out of the scene and thrust into the other timeframe. Unfortunately, it wasn't a smooth transition.

After a while when an author uses the same formula, the stories tend to become predictable but that does not take away the enjoyment factor when reading one of Ms. Jio's books. Her deft handling of sense of place is excellent. No matter what time frame, I did feel as if I were on the houseboat with the different characters.

Having read every one of Sarah Jio's books, I think Morning Glory is not quite as good as The Bungalow or The Violets of March  but still a very worthwhile and fun read. A little bit of mystery along with a little bit of romance made this a 3.5* read for me.

Sarah Jio, a native Seattleite, has written four previous novels. She can be found on her webpage, Goodreads and Facebook.


Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Plume in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Thread on Arrival by Amanda Lee

Paperback, 320 pages

Expected publication: December 4th 2012 by Signet

more details...

ISBN: 0451238850 (ISBN13: 9780451238856)

edition language: English

series: Embroidery Mystery #5

 

From the publisher:

Embroidery shop owner Marcy Singer gets hung up on a tapestry that may lead to sunken treasure and be the motive for murder....

When Marcy’s friend Reggie, Tallulah Falls’ local librarian, asks her to teach an embroidery class as therapy for domestic abuse victims, she gladly agrees. One of the women wants to flee from her abusive husband but is afraid to leave her elderly father-in-law behind. And she thinks Marcy can help.

The elderly gentleman shows Marcy a tapestry his grandmother made, which he believes reveals the location of pirate treasure off the Oregon coast. He’ll move to a shelter—provided Marcy takes the tapestry to keep it safe. But when the police arrive the next day to escort him out, they find the old man murdered and the house ransacked. Does someone want that treasured tapestry desperately enough to kill for it?

 

My thoughts:  I like this series mainly for the characters. They all seem so relateable and likeable along with being believable. That says a lot. Some cozies have characters that are so out there ( read WEIRD) that it is hard to swallow.

Another good aspect of this series is that Marcy is capable of making a decision. There has been a romantic triange going on for a few books but that is resolved in this one. Not like some other series that no decision has been made for numerous, numerous books even when readers have expressed to the author that enough is enough. Yeah, Joanne F, I'm talking about you!  Yay! I like Marcy's decision too. Want to know who Marcy picks? Ha, you'll have to read the book for that answer.

The treasure hunt part of this story was fun. The author has done her research about shipwrecks on the Oregon coast and I found that interesting. I like it when I learn some new historical facts.  A fun read and overall a well plotted mystery. What more do you need? Get the book!! 4****

Amanda Lee is the pseudonym of Gayle Trent. Her Daphne Martin cake decorating series is a hoot! I love that one.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by the author, Amanda Lee, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Miss Buncle Married by D.E. Stevenson

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: November 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Landmark (first published 1936)

more details...

ISBN: 1402272529 (ISBN13: 9781402272523)

edition language; English

series: Miss Buncle #2

From the publisher:

In this charming follow-up to Miss Buncle's Book, readers will follow Barbara Buncle's journey into married life in a new town filled with fascinating neighbors...who may become the subjects of Barbara's next novel! Miss Buncle may have settled down, but she's already discovered that married life has done nothing to prevent her from getting into humorous mix-ups and hilarious hijinx. Readers will continue to fall in love with Barbara as she hilariously navigates an exciting new beginning.

My Thoughts:  I just adored the first book in this series, Miss Buncle's Book. It was one of the most charming books I've read all year. Miss Buncle Married, the sequel, takes us on a rollicking journey to Wandlebury, the  town that Barbara and her recently acquired husband, Arthur Abbot, have moved to after much searching for just the perfect place.

Just as Barbara and Arthur are settling into their new home and married life, Arthur's nephew, Sam, comes to visit and finds more attractions in Wandlebury than just being the dutiful nephew. This is when the fun truly begins!

D.E. Stevenson is a master at creating small villages with a group of eclectic characters that the readers can't help but fall in love with. The author truly has an eye for quirkiness and humor that delighted me throughout the book. Her character development  is excellent. This second in the series introduced some new characters that I hope to see more of in the next book, The Two Mrs. Abbotts.

Miss Buncle Married hit the spot with me and I really enjoyed my time with Barbara, her family and neighbors in the little English village of Wandlebury. 4.5****

I am so thankful to Sourcebooks for re-publishing these books that were originally published during the 1930's. D.E. Stevenson is an author I had never heard of before and would most likely not have crossed my "readar" if it weren't for Sourcebooks.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Sourcebooks/Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review & Giveaway: Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown

Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: October 2nd 2012 by Berkley
ISBN:9780425251607)
edition language: English

From the publisher:

There’s always something to gossip about in Savannah, Georgia, and Reagan Summerside always seems to be in the middle of it. She’s busy enough running her consignment shop, The Prissy Fox, with her vivacious Auntie KiKi, but now the gossip—and the sales—are about to pick up after a gruesome discovery…

Reagan’s messy divorce has left her with nothing but a run-down Victorian and a bunch of designer clothes. Strapped for cash, Reagan makes use of the two things she has left, turning the first floor of her home into a consignment shop and filling it with the remnants of her rich-wife wardrobe.

Thanks to his cunning lawyer Walker Boone, her ex got everything else, including the Lexus—not to mention a young blond cupcake. When Reagan finds the cupcake dead in the Lexus, she’s determined to beat Boone to finding the murderer. As it turns out, the gossip fiends flooding Reagan’s shop will give her a lot more than just their unwanted clothes—they have information more precious than a vintage Louis Vuitton…

 

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My thoughts: So many new series this year.  This is one of the really good ones! I enjoyed the Savannah setting and the main characters immensely. Zany Aunt Kiki was a total hoot. I wish I had an aunt who was so much fun. She and Reagan made a good team in trying to figure out who murdered Reagan's ex-hubby's "cupcake". Aunt Kiki and Reagan knew that he would not have been so stupid as to murder her and then just leave her in the trunk of his Lexus. Between trying to stay alive financially and starting a new business, Reagan , along with her Aunt Kiki must try to figure out how to prove her ex is innocent.
Now, this is what a cozy should be; a fun read with several suspects and believable motives. I recently reviewed a cozy without any of these must-have elements and it was a tedious read, but Iced Chiffon was right up there with all the elements that make for a delightful reading experience. Although I did figure out the culprit ( more just a matter of a lucky guess) it didn't take away from this well paced mystery. Great job, Ms. Brown! Looking forward to the next one in the series. 4****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Through the generosity of Berkley I have one copy for giveaway, open to US only and the deadline to enter is October 16th at 5 PM (est).

Bonus entries are as follows:

+4 for following on Networked blogs. Just remind me under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Valid only if posted at least 2 days before deadline.  Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Iced Chiffon in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

Review: The Shadow Queen by Rebecca Dean

Paperback, 448 pages

Expected publication: August 14th 2012 by Broadway (first published May 10th 2012)

more details...

ISBN

0767930576 (ISBN13: 9780767930574)

edition language

English

From the publisher:

When debutante Wallis Simpson is growing up, she devotes her teenage daydreams to one man, the future King of England, Prince Edward. But it's Pamela Holtby, Wallis's aristocratic best friend, who mixes within the palace circle. Wallis's first marriage to a dashing young naval pilot is not what she dreamt of; he turns out to be a dominating bully of a man, who punishes her relentlessly. But her fated marriage does open a suprising door, to the world of Navy couriers – where navy wives are being used to transport messages around the world. This interesting turn of fate takes Wallis from the exuberant social scene in Washington to a China that is just emerging from civil war. Edward in the meantime is busy fulfilling his royal duties – and some extra-curricular ones involving married women. Until the day, just before he ascends the throne as Edward VIII, he is introduced to a very special married woman, Wallis Simpson.

Was Wallis Simpson really the monster the royal family perported her to be? Or was she an extraordinary woman who led an unimaginable life? A dramatic novel, that crosses continents and provides a unique insight into one of history’s most charismatic and multi-faceted women.

My thoughts:  The Shadow Queen  weaves fiction and fact together to present Wallis's life up to 1931. It was not until January of 1936 that Prince Edward succeeded his father to the throne and then abdicated in December of the same year. Dean's story explains how Wallis even got into these exalted circles after becoming friends at a young age with Pamela Denby, a young British aristocrat. Pamela would become both best friend and almost an enemy at different points in Wallis's life.

I'm not too sure I would call Wallis charismatic but obviously she had some kind of charm to get as far as she did. In the book, to me, she came across as snobbish, manipulative and always had her eye to the main chance. From all the things I've read about her and Prince Edward, frankly, I don't think I would have liked them in real life.

The most interesting part of the book was the time frame and Dean did a wonderful job of bringing that alive.
From good times with debutante balls to an abusive marriage through war time, Dean covers it all with expertise, perfectly setting the tone of the day. I had no idea Wallis was once a courier for the Navy and ended up in Shanghai. I found all these historical bits intriguing.

There has been a lot of questions about Wallis's sexuality. Why? I don't know but be sure to read the author's note on this. Although I could put the book down easily,  it's still an enjoyable and enlightening read. 3***

Rebecca Dean is also the author of Palace Circle ( a book I just loved) and The Golden Prince.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Henry Holt  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Cooking the books by Bonnie S. Calhoun

304 pages

Published April 2nd 2012 by Abingdon Press

more details...

ISBN: 1426733887 (ISBN13: 9781426733888)

edition language: English

series: A Sloane Templeton Mystery #1

From the publisher:

After her mother dies from a heart attack, Sloane Templeton goes from Cyber Crimes Unit to bookstore owner before she can blink. She also "inherits" a half-batty store manager; a strange bunch of little old people from the neighborhood who meet at the store once a week, but never read books, called the Granny Oakleys Book Club; and Aunt Verline, who fancies herself an Iron Chef when in reality you need a cast iron stomach to partake of her culinary disasters. And with a group like this you should never ask, “What else can go wrong?”

A lot! Sloane begins to receive cyber threats. While Sloane uses her computer forensic skills to uncover the source of the threats, it is discovered someone is out to kill her. Can her life get more crazy?

Poor Sloane, it's bad enough losing her mother but to inherit a bookstore in which she has no interest in running doesn't make her day a happy one. Just let her be with her computers; in her former life she was a forensic cybercrime investigator. She's not a bibliophile nor is she really a "people-person", but now she has to deal with both every day and it's making her cranky!

"What was I, an idiot? I had to will my foot to descend to the next step. At the moment, my feet were apparently smarter than I was. They knew danger. A smart person would turn around and go back upstairs, through the apartment and down the front stairs. But no, I apparently didn’t emanate from that smart gene pool. If something could be considered dangerous or reckless, my name was probably attached somewhere."

I love a mystery with a sense of humor and this one has plenty of it. Some of the characters, particularly those in the Granny Oakley's Book Club were laugh out loud funny. I think I'd like to know them in real life, not while they are packing heat, though.   And Aunt Verline? If she asks you to dinner, make sure you have other plans or you eat before you get there. You sure don't want to break bread with this lady and her crazy culinary concoctions!

Meanwhile, back at the bookstore, between dealing with her crazy manager, run-ins with her abusive ex-boyfriend, dealing with an ex-hubby who wants half her inheritance, Sloane has to also fend off a zealous realtor who wants her building. And now the straw that almost breaks the camel's back- some one is threatening her!

Calhoun has cooked up quite a mystery in her debut novel. There are lots of things going on in this story; maybe one too many. I don't think the inclusion of the abusive ex-boyfriend helped the story line along at all but other than that, this is a good first book with some solid characters and plenty of humorous situations and dialogue.Be prepared for a few twists along the way. A reader's guide is included at the end.  3***

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Abingdon Press/ Netgalley in exchange for
my honest opinion.

Review & Giveaway: Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: March 6th 2012 by Berkley 

ISBN: 042524668X (ISBN13: 9780425246689)

series: Library Lover's Mystery #2

characters: Lindsey Norris

setting: Briar Creek, Connecticut

From the publisher:

From the publisher:

Answering tricky reference questions is excitement enough for library director Lindsey Norris. Until a murder is committed in her cozy hometown of Briar Creek, Connecticut, and the question of who did it must be answered before someone else is checked out--for good.

Carrie Rushton, the president of the Friends of the Library, has been accused of murdering her husband. The evidence is stacking up against Carrie, but neither Lindsey nor the Briar Creek crafternoon club is buying it.

When a nor'easter buries the small coastal town, the police are too busy digging out the locals to investigate the murder. With the help of her crafternoon friends and an abandoned puppy they name Heathcliff, Lindsey has to solve the question of who murdered Mr. Rushton before the killer closes the book on Carrie . . .

My thoughts:  A library setting in a small New England  town by Jenn McKinlay? Count me in! Plus the fact that I read and reviewed the first in the series and really liked it so jumped on the chance to review this one.

What worked for me:

The characters are great; completely fleshed out, likeable and easy to relate to. Lindsey, as the library director and her best friend, Beth, the children's librarian are my favorites as they do day to day business in the library under the disapproving  eye of "The Lemon". Ms. Cole, or as Lindsey and Beth call her, "The Lemon" due to her acerbic personality lends some spice to the library group.Bill Sint, ousted president of Friends and his main supporter Marjorie," Batty Bilson" lent some real color to the cast of characters.

The setting: coastal Connecticut town is well done. I always get the feeling I am right among the townspeople eating chowder at the local watering hole while watching the ocean motion. This time a nor'easter threatens the town and it took me right back to living in New England in winter.

The ending was pretty good even after a few false starts. The great reveal did make sense to me.

Now for my quibble:

It was a good 1/2  of the way into the book before more suspects other than Carrie were introduced and they were pulled out of left field (in my opinion) with very weak motives.

Even with this minor quibble, the book is a fun read. However, I did rate it a 3.5* instead of 4* for this very reason. I like to see more credible suspects either in the pre-murder build-up or right after  murder is committed.

For more info on the author, Jenn McKinlay, please visit her website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Due to the ever so generous Berkley, (an excerpt of Due or Die is available here) I am able to offer a giveaway of one copy of this book. Open to US only with the deadline to enter being March 17th at 5 PM (est). Bonus entries are as follows:

 +4 for following on Networked blogs. See left sidebar to sign up :-)

+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Due or Die in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!

 

Review & Giveaway: Abby Finds Her Calling by Naomi King

Paperback, 272 pages

Expected publication: March 6th 2012 by Penguin Group (USA)

ISBN: 0451235738 (ISBN13: 9780451235732)

It's a busy day in the Amish community of Cedar Creek, Missouri  as close to four hundred family members and friends gather at the Lambright's for the wedding of Zanna Lambright and James Graber. James, a thirty year old buggy maker, is excited to marry his seventeen year old neighbor, Zanna. Unfortunately, Zanna proves not to have the same feelings.

No one can find her but they do find her wedding dress slashed to ribbons on her bedroom floor. Her older sister, Abby, and her Mamm are beside themselves with worry but her older brother Sam, now head of the household, is extremely angry that Zanna has put them through such expense and work bringing humiliation and shame on the family. When Abby does find Zanna, it doesn't take too much to find out why Zanna acted as she did but now she has to figure out how to break the news to James and her family and where to go from there.

In an Amish community, this is not just the immediate family's problem but it is the entire church's concern. Abby takes it upon herself to look out for Zanna, make James, Sam and the rest of her family understand and do what is right, not what is expected. It takes some doing but eventually the church and the Bishop agree to the best course for Zanna even though it is not easy.

It takes a near tragedy in the community to put Zanna's concerns to the side and focus on what is really important for the whole community; their deep abiding faith in God, their love of family and the invincible power of forgiveness.

This is Naomi King's first Amish novel; I think she's written a real winner with these characters. Most of the females are strong women, Abby in particular. Being a single maidel, she runs her own sewing business along with helping her brother in the local mercantile. Abby  is also tender-hearted and totally selfless. She seems to be the community peacemaker when emotions  run high at times, faith can be sorely tested and tempers get out of hand. Ms. King has developed her characters so well, it's as if the reader can see into their hearts and minds. I just fell in love with the whole community and can't wait for the sequel, Rosemary Opens Her Heart, coming in October of this year. 4****

 If you'd like more info about Naomi and her background, please visit her website.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Penguin Group USA  in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to the generosity of Penguin Group, I am allowed to host a giveaway for 2 copies of this delightful new book to US residents only. Deadline to enter is 03/14/12 at 5 PM (est)

To enter please leave your e mail address in a comment. If no e mail address, I will assume you do not want to be part of the giveaway.

Bonus entries are as follows:

+4 for following on Networked blogs. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.

+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Abby Finds her Calling in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!