A Feisty Female PI Story

 

It’s 1946, the war is over. Billie Walker, former journalist, is glad to be home in spite of the sadness she feels for her dead father and Jack, her photojournalist husband, who disappeared in Europe. Billie’s mother encourages Billie to accept that Jack is dead, but Billie hasn’t given up hope.

Women in Sydney, Australia are giving up their war jobs to the returning servicemen, but Billie needs something to do. She reopens her father’s detective agency assisted by Sam Baker, a ex-soldier who is both competent and trustworthy. For a time their business is mostly divorce cases. Then a teenage boy goes missing. His mother Nettie believes he’s a good boy, but as Billie and Sam begin the search they realize that he was mixed up in some pretty nasty business and may not be alive.

Billie is tough and resilient. She’s a terrific heroine for the start of this new series. She faces danger and isn’t about to be put off. In the course of the investigation she meets DI Hank Cooper. At first she thinks he won’t take her seriously and may even try to thwart her, but they become allies. I’m sure we’ll hear more of Hank in future books.

If you enjoy mysteries with a feisty female protagonist, you’ll enjoy this look at post WWII Australia.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

Chanel’s Early Life with her Sister

 

Coco Chanel told very little about her early life. It wasn’t a pretty picture. She had two sisters and two brothers. When her mother died of consumption, her father placed the girls in a convent orphanage where they would be prepared for marriage to tradesmen or laborers. The brothers went to farms as convenient labor. However, Coco and her sister Annette dreamed of bigger things.

This story is told from Annette’s point of view. Since much less is known about Annette than Coco, much of the story is fiction buttressed by historical incidents. Although the theme of fashion design starting with hats runs through the book, the focus is on romance. In the early part of the book, the sisters are looking for men who will raise them out of poverty.

I found the scene of life at the convent very interesting. The author suggests that many of Channel’s fashion ideas were based on her time in the convent: the black and white habits of the nuns, the curves in the windows, the nubby wool fabrics reminiscent of the nun’s habits, and the stars and moons in the floor which inspired her jewelry.

Annette is an interesting character. Little is known about her historically. I thought the author did a good job bringing her to life. I wish the emphasis had been more on the development of Chanel’s fashion ideas than on romance, but it was an enjoyable read.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

A Rape Case, An Explosive Trial, and Racial Tension

 

Zara Kaleel is a brilliant lawyer and a Muslim. Being a traditional Muslim woman didn’t work for her. She gave up her arranged marriage and her brilliant career as a barrister to work as an advisor at a center for victims of assault. She is estranged from her family and finds ways to cope with her inner tension with pills and unsuitable men.

Jodie Wolfe is sixteen. She lives with her alcoholic mother. Her father disappeared long ago and worse she has a facial deformity caused by neurofibromatosis. Jodie has few friends. When she accuses four popular Muslim boys of rape no one believes her except Zara.

This is a hard-hitting thriller. Because Jodie is white and the boys are Muslim the community splits along racial lines and it gets ugly. Zara also has to contend with prejudice. The community is enraged that a Muslim woman would defend a white girl against the boys of her own race.

The story is told from multiple points of view. As we hear the stories of Jodie and the boys each side seems plausible. Who do you believe? The ending is shocking and something you won’t guess.

The book is well written. It could have turned into a political polemic, but the author avoided that trap. The story is sensitively told and will make you questions your beliefs about how safe you are in society.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

What Monuments Tell Us

 

Keith Lowe tells an important story about war, in this case WWII, through the monuments erected by the participants. In the US the monuments depict victory, in Europe the monuments usually immortalize the victims, in Japan the monument A Bomb Dome depicts great tragedy. These are only a sample of the twenty-five monuments Lowe discusses.

I found it fascinating to realize how different countries view war through the memorials they erect. In Lowe’s view, the sentiments depicted by the monuments structure the way we view WWII. His case is persuasive, but I wasn’t convinced. I think memorials can color our view, but there are many other ways to get information and decide what we believe about war, specifically WWII since it is now quite far in the past.

I recommend this book for two reasons. It is an excellent source of information some of it even as a history buff you may not be familiar with. The second reason is the relevance to the destruction of monuments we see across the country today. Those monuments are primarily related to the Civil War, but this book asks us to think about what pulling down monuments means. Can we erase history?

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

An Iconic Hotel, Talented Women, and McCarthyism

 The Chelsea Girls paperback goes on sale December 8th. This is my review from 2019 when it was publishing.

Hazel Ripley was supposed to be an actress following in the footsteps of her famous family, but she's neve achieved better than understudy status. To try to improve her chance to shine, she joins a USL troop in Italy during WWII. There she meets Maxine Mead, a talented actress. Hazel also finds her calling, writing radio scripts for Maxine to read.

In the fifties, Hazel and Maxine come together again in the famous Chelsea Hotel. The gorgeous Victorian hotel has been famed for creative artists who lived there. Hazel has now written a play and Maxine is to star in it. Their hopes are high, but this is a volatile time in the entertainment industry. McCarthyism is sweeping the country and the girls are caught up in it. 

For me, the best part of the book was the excellent descriptions of the Chelsea Hotel. I could see the art, the furnishings, and best of all the out of the way spaces and passages that are unique to the hotel. The author has done an excellent job of folding her substantial research into the story. 

The history of the McCarthy era and the House Un-American Activities Committee was fascinating and gave a good background for the plot which centered around love, trust, freedom and wartime memories affecting the main characters.

This is a good historical novel that well creates the era and showcases the famous Chelsea Hotel. 

I received the book for this review from Dutton.

Fast Paced Cybercrime Thriller

 

Net Force, the president’s new cybersecurity team is operating out of a base in Romania. The cybersecurity team has located a threat in the Carpathian Mountains where their archenemy, The Wolf, opens an attack. He used technologie vampiri against the base in Romania turning the defenders against the people on the base.

This story has two prongs, the attack being launched against The Wolf and the attach on the base that puts the residents into hiding until they can be rescued. Both attacks are fast paced keeping you reading to find out what will happen. A further complication is whether the attack on the base was spurred by a traitor in the unit.

Although the emphasis in the book is on action. I thought some of the characters were well developed. Kali, who has been in previous novels, is a favorite. She is very adept at her job, but she is a loner whose loyalties are often in question.

In this book, two characters on the base during the attack are very interesting. Marcus is a robotics specialist and Laura works at the Px. They make decisions that help to turn the tide against the invaders and as an added benefit there’s the hint of romance.

If you enjoy cyber thrillers, the fast pace and well developed descriptions make this worth reading.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

Know What You’re Feeding Your Dog

 

Many pet parents think they’re giving their dog the best nutrition when they purchase a more expensive brand of dog food. After reading this book, you’ll know that isn’t the case. Although there appear to be many brands of dog food. in effect there are few. Through acquisitions and mergers almost 80% of the brands are made by the same companies. However, this isn’t the worst problem.

Dog food is classified as feed allowing substandard, cheaper ingredients, often things like dust, diseased meat, or harmful chemicals to be present in the food. The authors have heartrending stories of dogs sickened and killed by ingredients in dog food that no pet owner would feed their pet if they were aware of the consequences.

This book while somewhat repetitive is well worth reading. The authors are advocates for dog food using human ingredients. They have a company that manufactures and sells this type of dog food, but they also provide recipes so pet lovers can make their own food at home.

I highly recommend this book if you love your dog.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

A Terrorist Comes Out of Retirement

For twenty years, Pascual Rose has been out of the game. Under his new identity he’s earning a living as a freelance translator living with his wife, Sara, and his teenage son in a provincial Catalan town. One quiet night he receives a text asking him to meet two strangers on the terrace of his home. Pascual knows this means trouble.

The strangers have a proposition for him, help them carry out a major money laundering operation and he’ll receive a million euros, fail to accept their offer and his wife and son will suffer. Although he no longer has his contacts, and he’s a little rusty, Pascual is smart. He starts the job taking advantage of the skills of others, but who can he trust as he sets up his shell companies taking advantage of places where the laws are set up to allow investors and businesses to shield large amounts of money.

This is a fast paced thriller with lots of action. The book is full of characters who Pascual uses to accomplish his mission in various countries as well as being pursued by security forces. Sometimes I thought there were too many characters, but as Pascual moves from country it’s necessary for him to have a variety of contacts.

I found the information on money laundering and the legal requirements of various countries very interesting. However, the detail and the fact that much of the book is done through dialogue slowed the story a bit. However, if you enjoy a fast paced thriller this is an interesting one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

 

Great Memories

This coloring book captures all the memorable fads from the 90s from troll dolls to VCRs, and dial-up Internet connections. It’s great memories for those of us who lived it and a chance to show our kids some of the fun things they missed out on.

The pictures are very detailed, but can easily be colored. I couldn’t use regular big crayons, however. I think coloring is a great way to escape intrusive media like Facebook, and Twitter, or the news, and take a stroll through the fun things from the past. I highly recommend it.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

 

A Vast Panorama of Ancient and Modern China

 

China has had a long and varied history. Wood makes a point of how the Chinese culture vacillates between unification and dispersion. The dynasties provided unification until peasant uprisings, natural catastrophes and wars pulled the country into individual fiefs. It’s a fascinating theme underlying Chinese history and for me explained much of the Chinese character.

The book presents the earliest history and progresses through the dynasties ending with modern China. When dealing with history, the author takes time to look at what the places he discusses look like today. It’s fascinating to see how the ancient monuments exist in industrialized setting and how the are in many cases being restored.

I found the use of recent archaeological finds particularly interesting. Many documents have been discovered which allow a glimpse of the life of average people. Letters describe the loneliness of a soldier serving in an outpost and another begs for shoes to be sent to him. Other documents give accurate recordings of the number of people in an area, how much acreage they owned, and other details that give a picture of ancient communities.

This description of the long history of China gives an insight into the psychology of the Chinese today. The author does and excellent job describing China since 1949 including recently leaked documents. This is a very rich book. It’s not an easy read. It takes time to digest all the information especially if you are unfamiliar, as I was, with the scope of Chinese history.

I highly recommend this book. China is a major player in the world today. While most of us are familiar with European history we are ignorant of China’s past. This book is an excellent way to get a better understanding of some of the forces driving this vast country.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

A Modern Romance with Ties to Tudor Times

 

In Tudor England, Amy Robsart married Robert Dudley, first Earl of Leicester. Amy was madly in love with Robert, but he was enamored of Queen Elizabeth. The story came to a tragic ending with the death of Amy.

Today, Lizzie Kingdom has been best friends with Dudley Lester for years. Dudley is married to Amelia Robsart, who is jealous of the bond between Dudley and Lizzie. Dudley and Amelia are planning to divorce when tragedy strikes and Amelia, like her Tudor counterpart, falls down the stairs and dies. Suspicion falls on Lizzie and Dudley who must now try to find the solution to the mystery.

This story is told in alternating time periods, Tudor England and the modern day. I often find that in books with alternating time periods one era is more interesting than the other. I found the Tudor Amy and Robert less interesting than their modern counterparts. Amy seemed passive and sad while Robert appeared power mad. Lizzie and Dudley in the present seemed more real. I particularly liked Lizzie. She had lots of spirit and didn’t let the past bog her down.

The story moves swiftly with action both normal and supernatural. Although the number of characters was large, it was easy to remember them. They all fit well into their appropriate time periods. Knowing the historical context, the mystery was fairly easy to figure out, but the book was a fun read, anyway.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

The Women of the Third Reich

 

History has provided detailed accounts of the major figures of the Third Reich: Goering, Goebbels, Himmler, Heydrich, Hess and Bormann. Their wives have lingered in the shadows, but this book gives us a chance to know who they were, how they reacted to the atrocities of their husbands, and how they interacted with each other.

I found the book fascinating. When you realize that these women grew up in a Germany that had been soundly defeated in WWI, a Germany were food was scarce likewise entertainment, and luxuries, it’s easier to understand how they wanted more for their families. Looking behind the curtain of the family lives of these men makes the group more understandable, if not more sympathetic. The women were unapologetically devoted to Hitler and his policies the same way the men were.

Although there are some historical details that are inaccurate, the book as a whole is well worth reading. It introduces a broader view of those close to Hitler. I found the psychological portraits well done. The interactions between the women in this closed society were equally fascinating. If you enjoy reading about WWII, this is a good addition to your library.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

GIs Battle Corrupt Politicians

After WWII the GIs returning to Athens, Tennessee discovered that while they had been fighting for freedom in Europe a group of corrupt politicians and their enforcers had tightened their grip on the county. The corruption had existed in the county for generations, but now that the returning soldiers had tasted the ability to fight dictatorship and win, they wanted freedom for their families.

Fighting the corruption ended in a bloody battle. In the aftermath, the GIs realized that they could be in big legal trouble, so they took a vow of silence. Even their families didn’t know the whole story. Now many years later, DeRose believed that the full story should be told. He tracked down any remaining participants, talked to relatives, and read documents. This book is the result.

I had never heard of the shocking incident, so I found the book an eye opener. DeRose does a good job of presenting all the background as well as the battle in a readable way. While the material in the beginning detailing the history of the settlement of Athens and how the corruption started was interesting, I found it a bit slow. I was eager to see how the GIs battled the entrenched politicians and won.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in politics and history. It’s a good lesson about how freedom is lost and what it can take to regain it.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

 

Deadly Betting in a Casino

Dex’s sister is a gambler. She places a bet which the casino declares is too late and erases the tape that would prove her assertion. She asks Dex for help in proving that the London casino is a money laundering front, and they plan to open another casino in Las Vegas.

When his sister is killed and his father injured in what appears to be a staged accident, Dex finally becomes involved. He and his crew put together a plan to bring down the casino operation.

The plot moves swiftly and is filled with clever plans. There are plenty of twists that will keep you reading. The action is non-stop. If you enjoy crime novels that are well plotted this is a good one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

 

A Deadly Train Trip

 

Jenny Roberts, an FBI agent, has been placed on administrative leave after her team foiled a terrorist plot. Unfortunately, her boss threw her under the bus when the team was cited for using unapproved methods in the takedown. Now Jenny is on her way home on a train to Wisconsin not knowing whether she still has a career.

On the train she is mistaken for Dana a woman carrying information that will indict her boss on criminal activity taking place in the company. A ruthless killer is also on the train. He kills the man he’s after, but Dana sees the killer. Now he’s after her. Jenny is also a target of the killer because of her resemblance to Dana.

This book is non-stop action. Basically, it is a chase scene as Dana and Jenny try to evade the killer long enough to get to Jenny’s home where she will have backup from her law enforcement brothers and father.

There are plenty of twists that keep you guessing until the major twist at the end which brings all the threads of the plot together. If you enjoy fast moving thrillers, you may like this one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Character: The Key to Success

 

Character enables the individual to live a life of integrity. Sticking to one’s principles and not opting for the easy way out is about leading and winning. The authors, a general and a psychologist, with backgrounds in West Point make these points clearly. They effectively use case studies from industry and academia, as well as observations from their work with the Army to illustrate their points.

The authors also discuss politics. People are losing faith in government because too many of our political leaders lack moral courage. An emphasis on character in our leaders could go a long way in increasing trust in government.

I thought this book was very well done. Although many of the examples are drawn from the military, they are clearly written and easy to relate to. The authors build on the research of other authors like Dr. Martin Seligman to discuss a conception of character strengths and how they can be categorized into moral virtues.

This book has good information for both organizations and individuals for improving their organizations as well as strengthening their own character. It’s a must read for leaders and those dealing with people in human resources and psychology.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

Secrets Told to a Stranger

 

Selena has a problem in her life. She thinks her husband, Graham is having an affair with the nanny. Graham has done it before but she and the children like the nanny. What should she do? One night coming home late, the train stalls. As they wait for the train to start, she and the woman in the next seat, Martha, start to talk. Martha tells her she’s having an affair with her boss and feels stuck. Selena confesses her suspicions about her husband and the nanny.

It felt good to talk to a stranger, but then Martha suggests more meetings. The nanny disappears leaving Selena wondering if there was a connection. As the mystery of the missing nanny deepens, Selena finds she must face the problems in her marriage. She wonders who Martha really was and then she discovers more frightening things.

This is a book that will keep you wondering until the end. It’s fast paced, well plotted, and filled with interesting characters. The one problem with the book is that there are many characters and the story is told from multiple points of view. It can be difficult in the beginning to keep everyone straight, particularly since the story moves between the past and present.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

The Many Facets of War

Certainly, war involves bloodshed and tragedy, but there are positive aspects that are often overlooked when the focus is on how horrible the battles are. Humans have always waged war. Sometimes it is for territory, sometimes for revenge, and sometimes for ideals. Like the many reasons for conflict there are many ways war is waged from primitive societies with spears to advanced technological warfare in the present day.

In addition to the question of why we fight wars, there is the question of who fights. It is primarily men and many of them, particularly in the past fought not only for country, but also for glory. The economic advantages of war are not often dwelt on, but war encourages production, enlarges the workforce often including women as in WWI and WWII, and brings cohesion to a country.

These and many other aspects of war are discussed in this book. It’s not an easy read being more scholarly than for the general public, but the arguments are cogent and the examples used to illustrate the concepts are well described.

I enjoyed the book. It provided a framework for much of my reading of history. Many books are written about wars: Napoleonic Wars, the Civil War, WWI and WWII among others. This book presents a more comprehensive look at the impact on civilization. I particularly enjoyed the way MacMillan brought in the economic and psychological factors. If you enjoy history, I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Beginning of the Owens Witchcraft Story

 

Abandoned as a baby, Maria Owens was found in a field by Hannah Owens. Hannah realized that Maria had gifts and trained her in the arts of witchcraft. These are mostly healing arts, but some black magic is there also. However, Hannah’s most important teaching is to love someone who will love you back.

Maria forgets Hannah’s advice when she follows her lover, John Hathorne to Salem, Mass. Maria is obsessed with Hathorne, rejected by him and distraught, she invokes a curse that will haunt her family for generations.

This book starts slowly, but the characters are so realistic you find connection to them and want to learn out more about their lives. This story, although filled with witchcraft, is mostly about love. Maria thinks she has found true love, but when abandoned she turns to obsession and fails to see the true love when she is presented with it.

The book is very well written. It’s filled with descriptions of spells, and magic recipes. It also has dark moments when the art of witchcraft delves into the darker aspects such as the pursuit of revenge. This is the prequel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. It is the beginning of the Owens story and leads the reader through the perilous times in first England and later in Salem, Massachusetts. As a prequel it can read as a standalone, but will encourage you to learn more about the Owens saga in the following books.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Twisty Gothic Tale Set in Norway

 Lexi has reached bottom. After a suicide attempt and stay in the hospital, her boyfriend of eight years tosses her out with no money and no where to stay. Lexi uses his train pass to have somewhere to go and fate intervenes. She overhears two women talking about a job opportunity in Norway taking care of two children. The woman with the job application isn’t sure she wants to go, but Lexi is. She copies the job application and submits it right there on the train.

She gets the job and in some respects it’s wonderful. She falls in love with the two little girls, Gaia and Coco, but something seems off about the house. Tom, the father and a well known architect, is building his version of an ecologically friendly house to honor his dead wife, Aurelia. However, Lexi begins to wonder whether Aurelia committed suicide, or whether she was murdered.

Although the story starts with too much coincidence for my taste, it improves when Lexi gets to Norway. The characters in the house are suitably odd from Maren, the housekeeper devoted to Aurelia, to Clive, Tom’s business partner, and his strange spiritual wife, Derry. The children are wonderful. Their interactions with Lexi are a welcome contrast to the apparently supernatural happenings.

The atmosphere of the book is suitably dark with fairy tales, Nordic legends, and the diary of the dead woman. The story is told from multiple viewpoints and time periods, but it’s easy to follow and the various perspectives add depth to the story. If you enjoy spooky thrillers, this is a good one.

I received this book from Net Gallery for this review.

Sisters Solve a Mysterious Disappearance

 

When their famous actress mother disappeared, their pharmaceutical tycoon father sent the sisters away from the beautiful Mediterranean island they loved. Now ten years later Manon and Thaïs return to the island for a ten year retrospective on their mother’s life. They have never really believed she died and now the hope to find clues to her disappearance.

When she disappeared, their mother was working on a script, The White Fox. They hope the script may offer clues to what happened. The sisters are very different. Manon is anxious because she believes she is not really like her mother. Thaïs, a social media celebrity, is more outgoing, but inside she hides her grief and fear.

The book is filled with the mystery of the island, its' people, and the girl’s family secrets. It’s a strange place filled with dark mystery, toxic family secrets, and a long past glamour. The book was well written, almost lyrical. The island scenes were beautifully drawn if sometime verging on horror.

The sisters’ characters were well delineated. The book moves from one sister to the other so we’re able to get the perspectives of both. My only problem with the book was that it was rather slow starting. It finally picked up after the middle. I thought the inclusion of sections from the lost play was interesting and added a lot to the story.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Murder of a Homeless Woman

 

Trisha Miles has returned from a vacation in Ireland with Marshal Cambridge wondering what to do about a relationship she isn’t sure she wants to pursue. She’s tired from the trip and wants to rest but she has to look in at the bookstore. Her Assistant Manager Pixie Poe is eager to fill her in on what’s happening as Trisha tries to escape for a rest. When Pixie goes outside to the dumpster, she finds a body.

The victim is Susan, a homeless woman who has been living in her car. Pixie knows her and has given her help. This makes Pixie a prominent suspect. Trisha now has to work to solve the crime to remove suspicion from Pixie. Trisha is helped by her sister, Angelica, who has had an operation on her foot and is requiring more time from Trisha.

This mystery is in my view overshadowed by Trisha’s love life. She and Angelica take center stage in the book. I have to admit I didn’t particularly like Trisha, she’s a busybody. This trait is important in a sleuth, but Trisha is not particularly clever about it.

The plot is somewhat unique with the death of a homeless woman in the small town, but it wasn’t difficult to guess who the murderer was. This is the fourteenth book in the series. The main characters are growing and changing, but they still are not people I’d want to know.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Brutal Murder in 1910 Singapore

 

Harriet Gordon and her brother, the Reverend Julian, are urgently summoned to the battalion commander’s house by his sister, Priscilla. They arrive to discover the unthinkable. The much younger wife of the commander has been brutally murdered.

Inspector Robert Curran of the Straits Settlements Police Force is called to investigate. He is also Harriet’s boss since she is a typist for the force. From the beginning it’s clear that the military want to close ranks and keep a civilian from investigating the murder. However, since his wife was a civilian, the commander has to allow Curran to continue the investigation.

The investigation brings up troubling incidents from the past for both Harriet and Curran. She is forced to face her unpleasant experiences as a suffragette in London. Curran, because of his conflict with one of the officers, finds his father’s past coming to haunt him.

This is a delightful historical mystery. Harriet is a strong woman. She doesn’t thrust herself into the case, but her quiet determination helps to bring on the resolution. Curran is equally determined. He doesn’t want to let the military close ranks fearing that the crime will not be vigorously pursued.

The setting is what drew me to this novel. Singapore is exotic and beautifully described from the heat to the colonial lifestyle. This is the second book in the series. It was easy to read as a standalone, but if you want more about the character’s backgrounds, I recommend reading the first book.

I received this book from Berkley Publishing Group for this review.

Did She Walk Away?

 

Five years ago Molly Clarke’s car struck and killed her five-year-old daughter. It was a tragic accident that affected the whole family. Molly triesto connect with her teenage son Ethan by going to his football games, but he makes it plain he doesn’t want her there. Her husband, John, is distant, and her daughter Nicole is out of control feeling guilty for her part in the accident.

On the way home from one of Ethan’s games, feeling rejected and lonely, she runs out of gas in a storm. Leaving her car near the gas station she starts to walk to the nearest town. A man in a pickup stops and offers her a ride. She accepts, but when the doors lock she make have made a terrible mistake.

The family looks for her, but when a note is found asking them not to try to find her the police and her family begin to think she walked away to start a new life. Then a woman comes forward with new information and Nicole goes back to the scene to investigate.

The premise of this story is interesting and the plot suspenseful. The problem is that it moves rather slowly. The story is narrated in alternate sections by Molly and Nicole. In Molly’s we learn what she’s experiencing. In Nicole’s sections the story focuses on her interactions with the townspeople primarily the sheriff, deputy sheriff, bartender and the hotel manager.

I enjoyed the book, but it does move slowly with a lot of emphasis on what the characters are thinking.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

A Rogue Tries Save His Soul from Damnation

 

In 1844 Ireland, Liam was a thief. He did it to save his family from starvation, but he was still a thief. Then he met Cora, daughter of the squire. They became friends and fell in love, but that wasn’t the plan the angels had in mind. Cora was supposed to marry Finn.

Now it’s the present day and the angels are giving Liam a second chance. Cora is a police officer. Liam becomes her partner and the angels tell him that he must convince her to marry the man she was destined for in the 1800s. This isn’t easy. Liam wants her for himself, but on the other hand does he want to spend an eternity in hell?

This book is told in two time periods. As usual, I found one to be more interesting than the other. The historical romance is very well done. I’m not so sure about the modern counterpart. Cora is much different. She’s now a determined police officer who doesn’t want anyone to influence her decisions and that includes Liam.

The angels are a constant presence monitoring Liam’s behavior and trying to keep him on track to accomplish his goal of getting Cora married to the right man. They are amusing. I enjoyed the comic aura they gave to the story.

This is the first book in the Providence Falls series and sets up the action for a follow-on

.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

For Lovers of Italian Food

 

Joey Campanaro, owner of Little Owl Restaurant in New York City has produced a cookbook that feels like a family get together. The recipes are mouth-watering, but I loved the stories and pictures that went with them. It felt like being gathered around an Italian family table.

For me, the recipes are a little too complicated for everyday, but would be wonderful for company or a special occasion. I particularly liked the Italian Wedding Soup recipe. It has always been one of my favorites and his suggestions like baking the meatballs before adding them seemed like a great idea.

The pictures are wonderful. Even if you don’t attempt to cook the food yourself, the book is definitely worth reading.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

MI6 Fights Treachery at Home and Abroad Before WWII

 

The Standish family has been involved in British intelligence for many years from Lucas Standish who headed MI6 during WWI to Lucas’ granddaughter, Elena, a newly minted agent. MI6 is worried about a plot by a secret group to take over Austria for Germany. They have lost contact with their agent in Trieste and fear for his safety. They badly need his information so Peter Howard, Elena’s boss, decides to send her to get him out.

Elena is chosen for the mission because the agent is the ex-lover who betrayed her and ended her career as a foreign service officer. Meanwhile, Elena’s sister, Margot, is attending a wedding in Germany where she witnesses the upper levels of Nazi society first hand. Closer to home, a friend and colleague of Lucas’ worries that an enemy sympathizer has infiltrated MI6.

This is the second book in Anne Perry’s new series with events leading up to WWII. Although it’s the second book, I found it very easy to read as a standalone, although you may want to go back and read the first book to get a more in-depth view of the characters.

Elena has had her confidence badly damaged by her lover’s betrayal. In this book, she starts very unsure of ability, but grows into a confident agent. I loved the other plot lines in the story. Lucas and Peter Howard were two of my favorite characters. Margot also played her part well.

The book starts rather slowly, but the action increases quickly with several dangerous moments which include personal standoffs on policy as well as more overtly dangerous encounters.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical mysteries.

I received this book from Random House for this review.

Murder in an English Village

 

It’s grouse hunting season and retired judge Sandy Fraser is running large, boisterous hunts on his grouse moor. Fraser is not well liked in the village of Nidderdale, but since he provides jobs and uses the local inn to cater the lunches and dinners during the hunt, the people put up with him. Then after one hunt, leaving the dinner at the Dog and Gun, the local inn, he’s shot in the parking lot.

One of the inn employees peering out the window sees the shooting. The gunman looks directly at her and she recognizes the local handyman, Alan Green. It seems like an open and shut case, but the locals call in DCI Oldroyd. Since Fraser was a retired judge, they want the best man on the case. The case becomes problematic when Green can’t be found. Then another murder of a local shop owner happens with the same elements including the disappearance of the gunman. Now it’s become a case worthy of Oldroyd’s talents.

I enjoyed this police procedural. Oldroyd is a likable character with all his quirks. His subordinates like him too which makes for happy reading. The setting is beautifully described. The author takes pains to bring you into the town and the surrounding area. It made me want to visit.

The mystery is full of twists. It seems simple, but there are a myriad of suspects and minor characters. It makes it challenging to figure out the plot. If you enjoy English mysteries, this is a good one.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Travel Writer Looks at the Deep South

 

Natchez is a microcosm of the old and new South. It’s a city peopled by eccentric millionaires, wealthy grande dames, and strong traditions, but with a history of slavery, and the KKK. However, today blacks are finding a bigger place in society. The present mayor is a gay black man.

I found the book fascinating from the description of the lavish social events often fund raisers that showcase the traditions of the wealthy. I was also interested in the history of the KKK and the story of a madam who was an FBI informant. I liked the story of the black Muslim prince who was captured in a raid and sold into slavery. He was finally freed after 40 years.

Growing up in the North I knew very little about the culture of this part of the South. It is both exotic and yet strangely familiar. There are exclusive enclaves with strict codes and eccentric residents in the North, also. I enjoyed the descriptions of Natchez, particularly the antebellum homes. The stories of the residents past and present were well written making me feel that I knew people in the city.

If you enjoy history and travel, this is a good book.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Was Jack the Ripper in Austin Texas?

 

Anne von Wettin, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, wanted independence. She fled to American and became a Pinkerton Detective until her father, feeling her life unsuitable, insisted that she go home. Now, however, the Queen has taken an interest in her granddaughter’s profession. Murders have been committed in Austin, Texas that resemble the Ripper’s. There is also concern that a member of the royal family might be responsible.

In December 1885, Annie finds herself back in Austin working on the case of the Midnight Assassin. She is partnering again with Isiah Joplin, the man who romantic attentions were one of the reasons her father whisked her back to England.

When the murderer strikes again on Christmas Eve, the victim is someone known to Anne and Isiah. This murder offers fresh evidence to the investigators, but can they find the killer and solve the case?

This is a well researched historical romance and mystery. The author does a good job of feeding information about the Ripper murders into the case of the Midnight Assassin. The background of the 1800s is well done and makes you feel part of the era. I highly recommend the author’s notes at the end about the actual murders.

Anne and Isiah are perfect as partners and the aura of romance is pervasive, but not over done. I like both characters and felt the romance added to the suspense rather than detracting from it. I also enjoyed the scenes in Britain with Queen Victoria.

If you enjoy historical fiction and unsolved mysteries, this is a book you’ll like.

I received this book from Barbour Publishing for this review.

A Psychological Thriller with Plenty of Red Herrings

 

Charlotte’s life has turned in a negative direction. Through the death of a patient she has changed her career from a neurosurgery resident to an acupuncturist and that isn’t doing very well. She shares office space with her friend Rachael, but Rachael seems distant and distracted. She has problems of her own.

Charlotte has a boyfriend, Peter, but she hasn’t seen him in three weeks. She’s worried, but hopeful he’ll return. Then she gets a call from the police to identify a body. She’s afraid it’s Peter, but when she arrives, the body is that of a woman she doesn’t know. The police have zeroed in on her because the woman had her information of a card to contact in case of emergency.

With no other suspects, the police zero in on Charlotte. She protests her innocence, but the identity of the woman makes them more sure that it’s Charlotte.

This is a rather complicated story told from several points of view: Charlotte, Rachael, and the police investigators. I found it interesting to look at the case from the various points of view. It added to the tension.

Charlotte has so many hangups it was hard to like her, but she was perfect for the suspect in the case. Rachael was easier to like, but the fact that she had her own secrets made her a difficult friend.The investigative team was tenacious in their pursuit of the solution. I enjoyed their interaction.

This is an action packed thriller that will keep you guessing.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

What Does It Means to be Human?

 

Sylv.ie is a beautiful robot designed to fulfill every desire of the man who owns her. She’s a beautiful sex toy, but as she lives in the attic and watches the family she begins to have feelings. She confides her feelings to her diary as she watches her husband with his family. She wants to experience more of life.

The husband visits her six days a week and his real wife is becoming annoyed. Sylv.ie confides her feelings to her diary, but as tension escalates she’s afraid she’ll be sent back to the factory for reprogramming. Now she has to worry about the diary and whether the thoughts she confesses are allowed.

This is an interesting dystopian thriller. Sylv.ie is a sympathetic character that raises questions about what it means to be human. I thought the question of whether AI can allow for the development of feelings such as love, desire and empathy was interesting. It is particularly interesting to see Sylv.ie wrestle with the idea of love since she is completely owned by the husband.

If you enjoy science fiction, this is a fascinating premise. It’s also interesting on the psychological level of what women are and what they can/ should become.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

For Horse Lovers and Those Who Want to Be

 

I have been around horses most of my life so this book resonated with my experiences. I loved it. The writing is excellent, but the stories are even better. The author has bonded with horses from when she was very small and her parents tried to curb her energy with riding lessons. She tells her stories with wit and does a great job of introducing the horses with all the interesting personality quirks.

The book is separated into chapters each one designated by the name of a horse that Nir knew and how it changed her life in delightful ways. I loved the opening story about her trials learning to ride on a horse named Guernsey. The tale of a huge horse and a little girl is very entertaining.

One of my favorite stories was about a black couple, Gorge and Ann Blair who gave black kids from the inner city a chance to be with horses. Besides stories, the book gives information about many aspects of the horse business from show horses to rodeo roping.

If you want to know more about horses, this is a good place to start. You can learn a lot and the stories will make you want to go out and meet some horses.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Who Owns Your Stories?

 

Jan is a professor at at small college in Pennsylvania. She writes historical fiction and because of her fascination with Mussolini she rents a small apartment in a villa in Tuscany for the summer. Here she meets Beatrice, also a professor at at college in the US. Her family has ties to the villa for generations and she spends her summers there

.

Beatrice and Jan meet, discover interests in common, and spend time with each other sipping wine as Beatrice talks of her fascinating family history. Jan is enraptured by the stories and says how much she would like to write them. At one point, Beatrice says, I give it to you.

The women stay in contact. Jan makes more visits to the villa. Then when Beatrice is nearing eighty, Jan decides it’s time to write the book. The question is whether Beatrice still wants to share her family history.

This is a leisurely book with lots of fascinating stories and descriptions of sights in Tuscany. It was like having a delightful holiday. The author does and excellent job of bringing the area to life. The story of Beatrice’s family is not told chronologically when makes it somewhat confusing, but he stories are so interesting it doesn’t matter.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was saved from being a travelogue by the interesting question of who owns your stories.

I received this book from Doubleday Books for this review.

Murder and Obsession

 

Kelly Medina is lonely. Her nineteen-year-old son, Aaron, is away at college and her husband, Rafael, is a workaholic professor staying at the college during the week. Then a phone call changes everything. Aaron’s pediatrician calls reminding Kelly of her well baby appointment. She knows it’s a mistake and tells the receptionist who apologizes telling her there’s another woman in town named Kelly Medina who has a son.

Curious about the woman who shares her name, Kelly goes to the pediatrician’s office at the time of the appointment. When the baby loses a sock as his mother takes him out of the car, Kelly grabs it, introduces herself, and befriends the young woman.

Kelly is drawn to the baby in fact she becomes obsessive about taking care of him. Her friends and husband worry. Although we’re not told what it is, the suggestion is that there’s something in the past that had to do with Kelly and another woman’s baby.

This story is told from Kelly’s point of view, but throughout she talks to the younger Kelly in her mind. It becomes more and more eerie as the novel progresses. This is not a fast paced book, but as the plot becomes stranger you can’t help reading on to find out what’s going on and what will happen.

I didn’t like Kelly’s character, but the obsessiveness worked well in the story. There is a significant twist at the end that I didn’t see coming, but looking back all the clues were there. If you enjoy creepy psychological thriller, this is a good one.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

Stolen Books and the New York Public Library

 

In 1913, Jack Lyons, superintendent of the New York Public Library, lives with his family in an apartment in the building. His wife Laura loves living in the building with Jack and their two children, but she wants more. She applies to the Columbia Journalism School and is accepted. She faces discrimination, but she also makes friends with like-minded women who are fighting for the right to express their opinions, to earn their own money, and to have equal rights. Laura is torn between worlds until the theft of rare manuscripts from the library threatens everything.

In 1993, Sadie Donovan, Laura’s granddaughter, works at the New York Public Library where she has been promoted to curator of the Berg collection. She’s preparing for an exhibition when history seems to repeat itself when rare books start disappearing. With the help of a detective, she sets out to solve the mystery which could involve her family.

This is a great story of family secrets centered around a famous library. I loved the characters. Laura and Sadie were well developed and perfect for their time periods. The story moved quickly and the time periods meshed well.

For me the best part was being introduced to the library through the eyes of people who worked and lived there. This is an amazing book. I recommend it.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Tale of Two Birthdays

 

Elllie de Florent-Stinson is a fashion designer who seems to have it all: handsome husband, beautiful homes, and talented children, but appearances can be deceiving. She’s celebrating her fortieth birthday at her new home in Palm Springs. Ellie likes things to be perfect, but almost immediately things start to go wrong including a note from a friend from long ago saying they’re coming to the party.

When she was sixteen, Ellie lived in a trailer part. On her sixteenth birthday, Ellie and her best friend go out to celebrate. They do drugs, get drunk, and end up at the wrong party. It doesn’t end well and has haunted Ellie.

This story is told in two time lines, Ellie at forty and Ellie at sixteen. It’s primarily in her point of view with a few sections by her husband. I found the book rather slow going. The set up is interesting suggesting that secrets are about to come out, but nothing exciting happens. There is a twist at the end, but for me it didn’t save the book.

I didn’t care for Ellie either as a teen or as a forty-year-old. I thought she was too involved with herself, egotistical and selfish. The other characters didn’t come alive at all. The best part of the book was the vivid description of the way the super rich live. The author did a good job with that.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

A Time Traveler in a Multiverse

 

In order to be a time traveler, you have to be dead in the worlds you go to so you don’t sustain serious injury. Cara is dead in 372 of the 380 worlds in the multiverse. She can go almost anywhere. Cara lives in a society that is highly structured. The city is a place of privilege. People live relatively luxurious lives. The city is surrounded by the barren wilderness Cara came from. Having come to the city to work, she now wants this life and plans to become a citizen.

Then the unforeseen happens. Clara goes to a world where she isn’t dead. The Clara in that world faked her own death and now the time traveler is in trouble.

This is a fascinating book. On one level it is an action packed adventure on the other it is a voyage of self-discovery for Cara. In traveling to different worlds she meets aspects of herself that make her think about who she truly is. In addition to that is the contrast between the life in the city and the life in the wilderness. What is it worth to work for all the glittery things in the city and what must you give up?

If you like adventure stories that also make you think, this is a good one.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.