Courtly Love and the Tudor Dynasty

 

Europe was enthralled with courtly love from the time Christien De Troyes wrote about Lancelot and Guinevere. Eleanor of Aquitaine brought the Courts of Love and practice of chivalry to England when she married Henry II. However, the proponents who used courtly love to their advantage and disadvantage were the Tudors.

Jousts, greats feasts and romantic games played major role at Henry VIII’s court, particularly in the later years. Henry had mistresses, notably Mary Boleyn, however, his romance with her sister Anne was in a different category. Anne was trained in the courts of Europe and knew how to entice a man in large part through the games of chivalry. Henry, loving to joust and seeing himself as a knight was caught up in the game. The game became serious when Henry divorced Katherine to marry Anne, but the magic faded, and when she couldn’t produce an heir her days were numbered.

Elizabeth, Henry’s daughter by Anne Boleyn, used chivalry and romantic love to her advantage. The court was filled with her cavaliers. She was the untouchable virgin queen for whom they all strove. It helped her to keep her reign as a single woman supported by her male courtiers.

The book is well researched and engaging to read, particularly if you’re interested in the Tudor Dynasty. It is written as history rather than a historical novel, but for me the reading was easy and went quickly, possibly because I was very familiar with the historical era. If you are interested in courtly love and the Tudors, this is an excellent book.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Fast Paced Action with Super Thief Riley Wolfe

 

Riley Wolfe, a super thief, specializes in robbing the very rich. Riley’s powers of disguise, agility, and the ability to disappear into thin air qualify him as a super hero. This time Riley is faced with an almost impossible situation. His mother and Monique, an art forger friend, have been kidnapped by Chase Prescott, a CIA team leader, to force Riley to break into the secure residence of a Russian icon collector to steal a tiny jump drive with secret information.

Riley has no choice but to accept the challenge, but the time pressure are almost more than he can deal with. He’s helped in this adventure by Frank Delgado, an FBI agent, and Miranda Shaleki, a hacker friend. They try to locate where his mother is being held. This is an interesting plot line, but can break up the action.

If you like fast paced adventure, this is a fun read. The dialog is amusing and while Riley’s feats are quite impossible, it makes the plot move quickly. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

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

An Ill Fated Arctic Expedition

 

In 1913 looking for fame and fortune, Vihjalmur Stefansson decided that being an explorer was the route he would take. At first he thought of an African expedition, but when an Arctic adventure became available he jumper at it. He hired a well known Arctic explorer, Captain Robert Bartlett, to head the expedition. They left Canada on the Karluk. The ship had seen better days, but Stefansson decided that she would do well enough.

The voyage took place late enough in the season that before they reached their destination, ice enclosed the ship making further progress impossible. Stefansson took most of the able bodied men and the dogs saying that he was going for help, but instead when he reached safety he said the others had probably gotten out also and sent no rescue parties. This left Bartlett and the remaining crew to fend for themselves on a boat mired in ice

This is a very well researched and beautifully written book telling a true story of courage and also one of self-serving connivance. The story is historically accurate and filled with detail. The use of diaries from the members of the expedition was particularly helpful in understanding who the members of the expedition were and how they reacted to the way the expedition ended.

Although the book is an historical adventure, the best part is the character development. Captain Bartlett and Stefansson were quite different leaders. The book is a much a case study of leadership as it is of Arctic exploration. I highly recommend this book.

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

A Cold Case Solved Using Familial DNA

 

In 1987, Tanya Van Cuylenborg and her boyfriend, Jay Cook, were excited to be going to Seattle to make a delivery for Jay’s father. Both teens were very responsible. When they were not heard from for several hours, the families became concerned. The bodies were found in a remote location with no witnesses, no murder weapon, and only a hand-print on the van.

Thirty years later Detective Jim Scharf received the case. With little to go on he turned to laboratory analysis which included the DNA on the biological evidence that had been in cold storage. DNA is now a feature of criminal investigations. The new twist in this case was provided by CeCe Moore. She had become interested in tracing families through genetic information.

When CeCe teamed up with Detective Scharf, this was the first case in which familial DNA had been used to identify a suspect who was later tried. This opened a new avenue for criminal investigations, but it also raises privacy issues. People have become fascinated with finding out about their genetic heritage. A number of companies offer DNA analysis along with an interpretation of the findings. This is fun and educational, but the data bases are there and can be used by researchers as well as law enforcement.

This book was very well done. The cold case illustrates the effectiveness of using familial DNA in tracing criminals. The author goes into the process in some detail. I found this very interesting. However, the problems of unrestricted us of DNA for either research or law enforcement raises ethical issues that need to be addressed.

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

Mining Bezos Communication Skills

 

One of the most important skills for a would be entrepreneur is being able to communicate effectively. The author chose Bezos as an example of a successful entrepreneur. Combing through the twenty-four letters from Bezos to the Amazon shareholders, the author extracted writing skills that can help anyone improve their communication.

The chapters range from telling a story to how to place the critical information at the beginning and end of sentences to leave your readers with the critical points. I found the author’s emphasis on creativity and storytelling one of the most interesting facets of the book. Most writers on business communications focus strictly on what to get across. Thinking about storytelling is a way to involve the reader in what you’re saying. Stories are often the most effective way to make the reader remember your points.

This is a very readable book. If you’re interested in improving your communication skills, it’s a good choice. I highly recommend it.

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

Money is Not Necessarily the Solution

 

Many people believe that if they had more money they would be happy. This collection of books challenges that idea. Money is not the only prerequisite for happiness. What you believe about yourself and your life is equally important. In fact, that’s what allows you to enjoy your prosperity.

This collection of books addresses the issue of becoming wealthy, but more important the mindset that allows you to attain and enjoy wealth. Too often people become wealthy through the lottery, or an inheritance, perhaps a high paying job and find themselves even more miserable than they were before. The windfall didn’t solve their problems with their feelings and beliefs.

This collection of books is dated from the standpoint of being written well over fifty years ago. The phrasing and some of the illustrations are from social activities decades ago. However, the ideas in the book are as pertinent today as they were then. I enjoyed the books. You don’t have to read them in sequence, but if you do I think you’ll catch the thread of what is most important in the collection.

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

A Cozy Bookshop Mystery

 

Ellie Christie is back in her hometown of Last Word, Colorado. She’s excited to restart her life particularly since she’s running her family bookstore,, the Book Chalet, with her sister Meg and their adorable cat, Agatha. Things seem to be going perfectly until a strange man enters the book shop. He’s obviously looking for someone.

He returns that night when the sisters and Gran are holding a séance. He leaves mysteriously and forgets his briefcase which contains an Agatha Christie novel written under the pseudonum, Mary Westmarcott. When the sisters see the man later, they follow him down the mountain in the gondola behind his hoping to see what he’s doing. They never get the chance. Before their gondola lands, a woman tries to enter the gondola the man rode in, but finds him dead. This catapults the sisters into the role of witnesses and sleuths in the best Agatha Christie tradition.

This cozy mystery has all the features to make it a fun read. The scene set in a small town in the mountains reached by gondola is a good background. What makes it even better is that Christmas is coming. The characters are quirky. The sisters are resourceful, and Agatha steals everyone’s heart.

I enjoyed the book. It’s a quick, relaxing read. At times I was annoyed with Ellie. She seemed to be missing clues right under her nose, but it was part of her character. If you love cozy mysteries, this is a good one.

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

Ancient Egypt’s Experiment with Monotheism

 

The pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty have always fascinated me. Akhenaten and Nefertiti are particularly interesting. The reasons for Akhenaten’s withdrawal from the polytheistic worship of Amun, creation a single god in Aten, and his removal of the capital to a new city in the desert has been explored many times with varying degrees of scholarship. I found this book particularly well done.

The authors are archaeologists. They rely heavily on the evidence from art, tomb inscriptions, and the meager history of Akhenaten’s reign, He and Nefertiti were essentially erased from history by the priests of Amun after his death. The book is very scholarly, but relatively easy to read. Some of the descriptions of how to decipher hieroglyphics are slow going, but contain a lot of information that I had not come across before.

I liked that the book started with his father’s reign. It gave a more comprehensive picture of the Egyptian people and particularly the religious issues. The authors give detailed descriptions of the festivals based in large part on the tomb paintings. Each section starts with a fictionalized description of Egyptian life. At first I was put off by them, but gradually I appreciated that they added to the understanding of that period of Egyptian history.

If you’re interested in the 18^th dynasty, I highly recommend this book.

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

A Jogger Haunted by Finding a Dead Girl

 

People run away to New York City to find new lives, and sometimes it ends in tragedy. Alice Lee left her home in Wisconsin with $600 and her camera hoping to find a find a new life. Ruby Jones left Australia after a bad romance also hoping to remake her life. When jogging along the Hudson River, she finds a dead girl who turns out to be Alice. The girl is one of the anonymous people who are tagged Jane Doe, but Ruby finds she cares and wants to know who the girl was.

Alice has not yet crossed over. She connects with Ruby and tells her side of the story from the grave. Ruby is obsessed with the girl and finds she can’t stop thinking about death until she finds a group of friends she can talk to.

This is a murder mystery, but the mystery takes a backseat to the emotions of the characters. The story focuses on loneliness, loss, and connection. The women are very strong characters. The author pulls you into their lives and you find it hard to break away. The book starts slowly, but when you connect with the women, it’s hard to put down.

The background on New York City is accurate and well done. Set against this background, it makes what happened to these women very believable. I highly recommend it if you love mysteries that are more than police procedurals.

I received this book from Atria Marketing for this review.

The Fascinating Women of the Rothschild Family

 

Starting in extreme poverty, the family became one of the wealthiest in the world. The Rothschilds are often thought of in terms of the men of the dynasty who played major roles in finance and politics. Although not as well know, the women besides being talented hostesses, were active in politics and the arts working for social reform, being astute diplomats, and even advising prime ministers.

I found it fascinating to follow the rise of the family from the Judengrasse outside Frankfort where Jews were confined to the heights of power and society in Britain. This book concentrates on the family of Nathan, one of the five original brothers, who settled in Britain. It was particularly interesting to see how the status of women changed from the days in the ghetto where Gutie, the founding mother, was cut out of her husbands will and thrown on to the generosity of her five sons, to the status of women moving higher and higher as the family rose to prominence.

The book is very long, but I found it easy to read for the most part. There are some sections that drag, but they didn’t ruin the book for me. The scholarship is outstanding. If you’re a history enthusiast, this book is perfect for you. However, it can also be enjoyed as the story of a family of remarkable women.

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

Another Gorgeous Kirby Rosanes Coloring Book

 

Every time a new Kirby Rosanes coloring book comes out I think it’s better than the last. I love the intricate imaginative pictures. Each one is a challenge to color. In this edition, the work of several colorists is showcased. The full color pictures are beautiful, but even better is the critique that accompanies each one. I learned a lot by reading them.

The book is solidly constructed with heavy pages so the colors won’t bleed through. I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of Kirby Rosanes.I think the fantasy pictures are some of his best. If you’re interested in getting started as a colorist, this is a terrific book to pick up.

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

Good Advice in a Short Book

 

Napoleon Hill is best know for his book Think and Grow Rich. This book is a collection of short essays written in the 1930s. Although some of the material is dated, it is still easy to read and offers good advice.

I think the best essays in this collection give advice on finding a fulfilling career. However, the one that I found most relevant dealt with adversity. Most of us of had plenty of adversity in the last few years. His essay helps to put things in perspective and gain some insight into the benefits of adversity.

This is a short book. I takes very little time to read, but the ideas will stick with you, and you can come back to it when times are difficult.

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

A Complicated Man of Many Talents

 

Peter Beard was larger than life from his exceptional talent as a photographer, to his love of Africa, and beautiful women. He visited Kenya as a young man and fell in love with Africa, perhaps his most enduring love affair. He married three times, but he couldn’t resist taking many lovers. He was the life of the party, but could never seem to pay his bills and often touched his friends to pick up meals and hotel bills.

There was also a dark side. He took drugs and drank to excess. He may have had an undiagnosed mental illness for many years. However, in his later years it manifested as depression and eventually dementia. His death was almost as iconic as his life, wandering off from his home in Hamptons to die in a forest and not be discovered for days.

The author was the perfect person to write this biography being a friend to Beard for many years. He tells all the amusing and dangerous stories, but he also manages to make Beard come to life as a complex individual. I enjoyed this book. If’s fun to read because of the famous people and incidents, but it also leaves you thinking about the man and how he lived an exceptional life.

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

An Immigrant German Family Rose to the Top in Twentieth Century America

 

Lazarus Morganthau arrived penniless in America in 1866 dreaming of remaking the fortune he had left behind in Germany. Although Lazarus died penniless, his descendants rose to the top of American finance and politics. This family history focuses on the most successful Morganthaus: Henry, Henry, Jr., and Robert.

Henry Sr. made money in Manhattan real estate guessing correctly that the value of property near subway stops would skyrocket. He was a strong supporter of Woodrow Wilson and was rewarded for his generous contributions to the campaign with the post of Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Henry wanted to be Treasury Secretary, but the post of Ambassador gave him an international reputation when he drew attention to the Armenian massacre.

Henry Jr. met FDR when both were gentleman farmers in upstate New York. The friendship was a strong one and led to Henry becoming one of FDRs most trusted advisers during WWII when he was made Secretary of the Treasury.

Robert was a supporter of the Kennedy’s. Robert Kennedy’s death foreclosed Roberts national political ambitions, but he became New York’s longest serving DA instituting high profile investigations of the Mafia.

This is an excellent, well-researched book about an important American family. Although I had heard about the Morganthaus I was unfamiliar with the family history. It was interesting to see the rise of the family in the twentieth century giving a view of the history of that turbulent period. I highly recommend this book.

I received this book from Random House for this review.

FDR and Harry Stimson During WWII

If nothing else, FDR was a very clever politician who knew how to manipulate circumstances to get what he wanted. In the lead up to the US entering WWII many in the country were isolationists. Roosevelt believed that it was necessary to enter the war in Europe, but he knew the fight would be much more difficult if the country remained divided.

Cleverly, Roosevelt used his cabinet appointments to signal bipartisanship. One of the most successful appointments was Harry Stimson as Secretary of War. Stimson worked tirelessly to further the unity of America to prepare for and conduct the war. I found the use of Stimson’s diary in this book very interesting. It gave an intimate perspective of someone close to Roosevelt and at the center of power.

On the positive side, this book is well written and very well researched. I’ve read a lot of WWII history, but this book added additional nuances. I highly recommend the book up until the end of the Epilogue. Here the author airs his own opinions about the current state of the country. I believe that he would like to see more bipartisanship in the government, but I think his point would have been made better without trying to tie the current political situation to FDRs handling of bipartisanship prior to and during WWII.

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

A Historical WWII Spy Story Set In Los Angeles

 When we think of Los Angeles during the WWII era, we often think of movie stars and palm trees, but Los Angeles was also the home of Hitler sympathizers such as the Silver Shirts and the German American Bund. These fanatics hoped to turn the US into a replica of Hitler’s Germany.

In 1940 Veronica Grace has just graduated from Hunter college and been offered her dream job at Mademoiselle. When her affair with a married man becomes known, she’s told she will never work in New York and Mademoiselle rescinds her offer. With her mother, Violet Grace, they decide to go to Los Angeles where they can live rent free in Violet’s brother’s vacation house.

Soon after their arrival, Veronica is offered at typing job. Violet also finds employment embroidering blouses for wealthy women. Both women discover their employers are involved with the Nazi movement in the US. When the FBI dismisses their concerns they go to an old friend of Veronica’s father who introduces them to the man behind the infiltration of the Nazi organizations. He recruits them as spies. They discover they have joined a very dangerous game.

The historical background for this novel is chilling and very well researched. I particularly enjoyed reading the Afterward about the real people involved in the spy operation.The plot is somewhat slow moving in the beginning as the basis of the story is set up, but after the women become involved in the spy operation the pace picks up and it’s quite exciting.

I thought the characters were very well done. They started as politically naive, but they grew throughout the story. Veronica, particularly, discovered that her journalism skills fit well with her work as a spy. If you enjoy historical novels, or spy novels, I highly recommend this one.

I received this book from Random House for this review.

A Romantic WWII Spy Novel

 

Nathan Silverman escaped to the US from Germany in 1938 with only his mother’s wedding ring to sell. His Jewish family is still in danger and Nathan is desperate to find out what happened to them and rescue them if possible. While studying at Columbia, he spots a recruitment poster and decides to enlist in the Army. Because of his German language skills and knowledge of the country, he is almost immediately given a special assignment and trained as a spy.

His mission will be to try to help a German scientist and friend of his father’s who wants to defect and may be able to help on the Manhattan Project. In his mission, Nathan is joined by Dr. Allison Fisher, a nuclear scientist, who speaks French and would be in a position to determine how much progress Germany has made in developing an atomic bomb.

The book is filled with dangerous situations as the couple progress through Germany disguised as a Wehrmacht officer and his French girlfriend. As the mission progresses so does the attraction between Nathan and Allison.

The pace is reasonably fast. The only problem is the rather pedantic discussions to bring the reader up to speed on the science. The dialog is more of a data dump than the way people talk. However, having a great deal about the Manhattan Project and the science behind it, I found the book both scientifically and historically accurate.

If you enjoy romantic spy novels with a historical background. This is a good one.

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

A History of Women’s Skirts and Dresses

 

This is a fascinating walk through the changing styles of women’s clothing focusing on skirts and dresses. From my teen years to the present I have been interested in women’s fashion and the changes following changes in society, but in some cases leading the way.

The book is divided into ten sections. All are informative, filled with details about the fashion designers as well as their creations. My favorite was the one on Chanel. Her fashions changed the way women viewed themselves. Her unstructured clothing gave women more freedom and led to women moving from the home to the wider world. Her little black dress is a classic that is still venerated today.

Tennis fashions were interesting going from calf length dresses that must have been difficult to run in to the very short skirts worn today which give women a much treated range of movement. Diane von Furstenberg’s wrap dress was the height of practicality. I remember how easy they were to slip into and you always looked stylish.

Another interesting area is hemlines. Before WWI hems were long because the time was elegant and fabric available. After WWI and WWII hemlines came up because fabric was not as available. However, as sheer fashion statements the maxi dress and the mini dress were either fun to wear or a nuisance. I was glad to get rid of my maxi’s.

If you’re fascinated by fashion this is an excellent book. I do hope there are illustrations in the published version. It was hard to visualize the fashions I wasn’t familiar with from the written descriptions in the ARC I received.

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

An Epic Fantasy Folktale

 

In this story within a story, two young warriors are tasked with taking an ancient god across a land ruled by a tyrannical emperor, the Smiling Sun, and his three sons. Each of the sons is hungry for power and worse than the last. The quest takes five days, each described in a section. These sections are not like regular chapters and are very long.

The first section of the book sets up the scene. It’s a story telling session where the Lola tells stories of the past. This is the part that gives the feeling of an elder telling folktales. It sets the scene well, but is a bit slow, and it’s long.

This is an intricately plotted book. The author has done an excellent job introducing the reader to not only the main characters, but many minor characters as well. He has given each character a unique voice which I found excellent. Although the world Jimenez creates is brutal, he pulls you into it. All the brutality makes sense in the world he has created.

If you enjoy fantasy this is a book you may like. It isn’t for everyone, however. It’s long and detailed, and the author switches voices. This can by hard to follow, but it also adds a depth to the story that is quite remarkable.

The Vanished Birds, Jiminez’s earlier novel, is quite different, but if you enjoyed that one, this one is worth trying.

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

Intricate Gothic Pictures

 

This coloring book is filled with elaborate pictures of witches, castles, demons and intricate symbols. If you like Gothic this is a great book for relaxing coloring. The pictures are very complex, so this is an adult coloring book unless the child is very adept.

I enjoyed the challenge of filling the colors into tiny spaces to enhance the eerie pictures. It takes concentration which can be very relaxing.

This is a sequel to Dark Art by Francois Gautier. If you enjoyed the first coloring book, This is just as good.

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

A Slice of Berlin’s Turbulent History

Amid rising and falling fortunes, Berlin and it’s people have been survivors. This history covers one of most tumultuous eras of Berlin from 1919 after WWI to 1989. The courage of the Berliners is seen after WWI when the devastated city rose to become a sophisticated cultural center. However, the seeds of Hitler’s rise and WWII were sown in this period. The author does a good job of giving us a view of how this horrific transformation took place.

The terrible events of WWII are described including the destruction of Berlin at the end of the war and the Berlin Wall being erected during the Cold War tension between the US and the USSR. I thought the author did an excellent job showing how the people of Berlin were affected by a wall sometimes separating families and friends.

What I liked best about the book was that it focused on the people and their individual stories. This is not just one more retelling of the events in Germany leading up to WWII and the aftermath. This is a book worth reading to gain an understanding of how the people of Berlin could suffer unimaginable hardships and be ready to rebuild their city.

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

 

A Scandal in the Film Industry

 

Sarah Lai, once a rising star as a producer in the film industry, is now teaching screenwriting at a community college. When she’s approached by Thom, a journalist for the New York Times, wanting to know what happened during the filming of her last project, she wonders if she should talk about what happened to end her career. Finally, the decides to tell the story. In recounting the events she has to face her own demons as well at the degrading atmosphere on the set.

The book is Sarah telling her story interspersed with short interviews with other people. This is an interesting way to tell about an incident that affected Sarah so deeply. Her family were immigrants from China, and she felt lucky to land a job in the film industry which she loved. She was also very good at it and quickly rose to assistant producer on a major project for the small independent company she worked for. Things went well until Hugo North, a wealthy producer, took over the company and moved the production to Hollywood. This is the point that Sarah’s career goes awry and her desire for vengeance sprouts.

This is a very emotional story. The writer pulls you in to Sarah’s feelings and does a good job of making you understand the depths of her hurt. My only problem with the presentation is that the serial quality of Sarah telling her story at length gets a bit tiring. However, the book is a whole is well done and the topic is well worth exploring.

I received this book from Atria for this review.

A Sensitive Look At the Death Industry

 

Death is a frightening subject for many people. Most of the time we’d rather not look at what happens after we die. However, there are people whose job it is to deal with the dead. From embalmers to pathologists, homicide detectives and others. These people face death every day. This book is about them.

The book is very well researched. The author interviewed many people in the death industry and found they have as many and varied thoughts about death as the rest of us. From gravediggers who fear the cemetery at night to a crematory worker who won’t dress a cadaver because it is too personal, these are real people whose job it is to see the rest of us to a comfortable resting place.

I hadn’t thought much about the death industry until I read this book. I knew about homicide detectives, coroners and pathologists from a fascination with murder mysteries, but this was real. The author did an excellent job of bringing the other people, like embalmers and executioners to life. If you’re fascinated by what happens to bodies after death, this is an excellent book.

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

Awakening to a Changed World

 

Alabine Rivers, a young political activist, is devastated when she’s diagnosed with terminal cancer at twenty-three. With encouragement from her boyfriend, Max, she agrees to be cryogenically frozen in the hope that a cure will be discovered.

A century later, she’s revived and awakens to a changed world. America is no longer the place she remembered. She finds herself in the midst of a revolution. The governing class is against the people who have been brought back after being frozen. The Awoken have been declared outside the law with no rights. They can be shot on sight.

The Resurrectionists who are responsible for bringing Alabine back to life have an ulterior motive. They want her to be a leader in the movement for the survival of the Awoken.

This is a dystopian novel with echoes of America today. Society is not accepting of differences, everyone is supposed to think alike. This is a frightening world for Alabine. She struggles to understand her new environment while having flashbacks to the old way of life. I thought she was a great character. It’s not easy to have your entire world completely changed, but she struggles and survives.

This is a book that makes you think. It addresses many issues of the rights of groups that are not mainstream. It even tackles the moral question of cryogenics and the rights of people who have been brought back to life. If you enjoy dystopian novels, this is a good one.

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

Secrets From the Past

 

This is a story of romance and class differences. In the 1960s Joan and Michael were young and naive. Their romance resulted in Joan becoming pregnant. Michael, the scion of a wealthy family, had gone to England to study accounting. Joan joined himd, hoping to be married, but Michael couldn’t face the objections his class conscious parents would have to a baby born out of wedlock.

When the baby was born, he convinced Joan to give the girl up for adoption in England. Joan reluctantly agreed, and they were married, but her daughter’s fate haunted her. In the 90s, Joan and Michael have been married for a long time, but there are stresses. They live with Michael’s mother who can’t help reminding Joan that she’s not of their class. Then their first daughter surfaces, and she needs help.

The story is somewhat predictable, but well worth reading. It’s a story of loss and coming to terms with who you are and how your life developed. I thought the author did a good job moving between time periods to show Joan and Michael’s background. It made the story much more realistic. Today, particularly in the US, we’re not as class conscious as the Irish were during the 60s. The time period is why the story works.

I found the characters hard to like. Michael seemed to be a weak mama’s boy. Joan wasn’t much better. She was obviously unhappy but couldn’t seem to do anything about it. However, the setting in Dublin was wonderful. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in a setting that is quite different from today’s world.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

A Poker Night Gone Wrong

 

In the luxurious gated community of Kingsland, it’s poker night for three friends while their wives, Laura, Vicky and Monica, attend their book club. It seems like a night like any other until the wives arrive home to find two husbands dead and one in the hospital. Kingsland is a luxurious community where the ultra rich live and plan their deals. It is also filled with secrets and drama.

The detectives sent to investigate the murders seem rather mundane and not excited about solving the case. The women are distraught, but you have to wonder what they knew about their husbands dealings. There is an underlying tension that all is not exactly the way it looks.

The book is a fast paced thriller with short chapters that keep you reading. The characters are not well developed. The detectives are dull and the three women are too similar to be real. However, the plot moves quickly. Each chapter has a different narrator including the police and the three women. Some are written in third person others in first person. It’s not confusing, but I think having so many viewpoints made the characters seem less real.

If you like murder mysteries in luxury settings, you may enjoy this one.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

Nightmarish Amnesia and a Murder

 

Liv Reese has a complete loss of memory each time she wakes up. When she wakes in a taxi she has no idea how she got there. When she arrives at her apartment, she’s met at the door by a curt woman who tells her that she and her husband have lived there for two years. Two years, Liz can’t believe that she’s lost two years of her life.

Things get complicated when the knife she found in her purse is linked to a murdered man. Imagine trying to get clues to what happened when your memory is so faulty.

Jack Lavelle and Darcy Halliday are the team of detectives assigned to the murder investigation. Jack is a veteran cop, but Darcy is new. Being recently partnered, they are getting to know each other. There is a bit of friction because Jack believes Liv is guilty, but Darcy isn’t so sure.

This is a fast paced thriller. The short chapters keep you moving rapidly through the book. The story is told from two viewpoints, Darcy and Liv. I found Liv’s sections unsatisfactory. She can’t remember and she keeps talking about it. Plus the first person can be annoying. I found Darcy much more likable. She’s tough and smart. I hope she’s featured in another book.

The multiple timelines are necessary to fill you in on the backstory since Liv has no memory. I found them easy to follow. This mystery has many good points. The ending is a surprise, but it also suffers from the problems with the main character: her inability to remember, and her distracted way of looking for clues.

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

A Coloring Boor for Fans of Witches and Spells

 

Witches, brooms and spells make this a fun coloring book for the Halloween season or anytime of year for those fascinated by witches and the occult. The coloring book features witches across the centuries from Harry Potter’s Professor Minerva McGonagall to Morgan Le Fey. Each picture of a witch contains a short description of who she was and what she did. I thought one of the most interesting parts of the book was learning about these women.

Coloring can be fun and relaxing. This book has several features that enhance the pleasure. The pictures range from fairly simple to more complex, so both adults and children can enjoy them. I also like leaving a blank page on the reverse of the picture. It means you don’t have to choose which picture to color. The book even features test pages so you can test out your colors to see if they seep though. If this is the case, a backing for the page is a good idea.

This book would make a good gift, particularly at Halloween, or just a fun purchase for yourself for a relaxing interlude.

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

Three Sister, a Forbidding Mansion, and a Secret

 

Flora, Kat and Lauren are three sisters with three mothers. Charles Finch, the girls’ father, is a famous artist who had overlapping relationships that produced the daughters. For years each daughter has been busy with her own life. Now Lauren’s mother, Dixie, is dead and Charles has asked them all to come back to Rock Point for an important announcement.

The sisters have not been back to Rock Point since 1999 and the night of the eclipse. Things happened that night that they’re all desperate to forget most of all Lauren the youngest and the most disturbed by the events of that night. Once back, the story starts to come out and nothing anyone can do will stop it.

This is a wonderfully atmospheric novel. The old house situated on the rocky coast of Cornwall is forbidding. It adds the perfect touch of menace to the evolving story. I loved the descriptions of the coast. It made the atmosphere perfect.

Flora, Kate, and Lauren are good heroines. Despite having three different mothers, the sisters have managed to bond. Lauren has the most trouble returning to the house remembering that her older sisters seemed fierce and somewhat threatening when she was a child.

The mystery is revealed in tantalizing glimpses throughout the novel. It keeps you reading to find out what happened so long ago. If you enjoy romance and mystery with a Gothic flair, you’ll enjoy this book.

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

When You Can’t Lie

 

Lucy Green, a celebrity publicist, thinks she has a good life. She’s turning thirty the next day, but she’s hoping for a job promotion and a proposal from her boyfriend. The night before in a bar waiting for her boyfriend, who again doesn’t show up, she asks the bartender to mix her a special drink, and she wishes for a perfect birthday.

When she wakes up on her birthday morning, she finds she can’t lie: not about her fitness routine, or the power clothes she hates, or the problems with her boss. Facing the truth can be life-changing, and it could result in a disastrous day for Lucy, but in the end telling the truth can make life better.

This is a fun read. Lucy is an engaging character that many people can relate to. Too many of us are caught in situations that are not right for us, but we lie to ourselves to keep going. I cheered for Lucy.

Not only is Lucy a good character, but her quirky friends add to the enjoyable atmosphere of the book.

The only problem I had with the book was that it became a little too preachy for my taste at the end. We know life isn’t fair and hostile work environments are a fact of office life for some. I thought the author showed this in a lighthearted way with the story we didn’t need extra reminder at the end.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher

 

Marcus Aurelius grew up knowing he would be emperor. He also wanted to be a good man. He knew that those two paths would not always easy to follow at the same time, particularly since he was well aware of his faults, like a terrible temper.

This graphic novel follows Marcus Aurelius’ life from his childhood through he time as emperor. The pictures are stunning and do an excellent job of telling the story. The author not only tells the story from an historical perspective, but he includes quotes from the Meditations, Aurelius own writings.

Aurelius is perhaps even more famous for his Stoic philosophy than his reign as emperor. Today many people are interested in Stoic philosophy, but know little about the man. I thought the book did an excellent job of tying the two together. Knowing who he was and what his trials were made more sense to me of his philosophical writings.

I know the history of Aurelius reign and have read the Meditations. I think this book pulls the two together beautifully. Being a graphic novel it is also a delight to read. If you’re interested in Roman history, or Stoic philosophy, I highly recommend this book.

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

The Murder of a Respected Amish Biship with a Darker Side

 

Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police in Painter’s Mill, Ohio, is surprised to receive a visit from two of the elders from the Amish community in the town of Belleville, the town where Kate grew up. Kate grew up Amish, but she left the community long ago and wonders why the elders are looking to her for help.

Ananias Stoltzfus, a respected bishop, disappeared over a decade ago. Now his skeleton has been recovered along with a rifle that points to Jonas Bowman as the killer. Jonas blamed Ananias for the shunning that he believes caused his father’s heart attack. That Jonas has been accused of the murder complicates the investigation for Kate. When she was a teenager in the Amish community, he was her first love.

This is another excellent Kate Burkholder mystery. It’s the fourteenth book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. I think Kate is a great character. She’s tenacious and unafraid of danger. In fact, when someone breaks into her room, instead of being intimidated, it encourages her to pursue the case. I also liked Jonas. He seemed like such an upright person. I was glad Kate chose to help him.

I enjoyed the background of the Amish community. The enclosed nature of the community and the fact that secrets are kept for years made a perfect background for the long ago murder. The fact that Kate had once been Amish and left the community added to the interesting details of life in the sect.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Precious Possession: Your Reputation

 

Emma Webster, a Labor MP, has a reputation for taking on moral issues. She is pushing a bill to make revenge porn illegal. Emma’s career has forced her to sacrifice her marriage, and it has troubled her relationship with her daughter Flora.

Being trolled on social media is the nightmare of politicians and Emma is no exception. Then her daughter becomes involved in a similar scandal. After being involved in a bullying incident, Flora takes to social media in a poorly chosen bid for revenge.

With her daughter’s situation becoming known, Emma’s life begins to fall apart. She finds herself under fire in the press. Then the journalist who threatens to expose her is found dead in her house. Now she must defend her reputation in the court of law.

If you like courtroom drama, which I do, this is a terrific book. The lead up to the trial is slow, but once the action starts this is a difficult book to put down. I found the use of the dangers of social media an excellent choice for the underlying action. Emma’s problems showed how public figures are constantly under the threat of having their reputation destroyed by an anonymous person hidden behind a computer screen. It’s a very timely plot.

The story is told through multiple narrators. Emma is the major voice, but other characters such as her husband’s new wife, also give their viewpoint. I can’t say I warmed up to Emma. She is a very strong character and hard to get close to, but I did admire her. Flora, however, was my favorite. She added a touch of the real life problems of teens growing up with famous parents.

I received this book from Atria Books for this review.

Complicated Relationships

 

Hazel and Alfie are attracted to each other and sleep together. The complication is that they share an apartment. Now they don’t know how to behave, and this makes it awkward. Then Emily, Hazel’s sister. and her wife Daria come to visit. This married same-sex couple is deciding whether to have a baby. Emily desperately wants one, but Daria isn’t convinced. Of course, the donor they decide on is Alfie which adds to the already complicated relationships.

On the good side, I liked Hazel and Alfie and the writing has amusing scenes. However, it’s not enough to carry the novel. The relationships are complicated and poor decisions make things more difficult, Hazel linking up with Max, who is an unattractive character, is one example.

The epilogue turned me off the book. Covid19 was a difficult time for many people. Now a lot of us, me included, would like to move on. Using Covid19 as a setting to resolve the issues of the novel seemed a poor choice. It changed the feel of the novel from mildly amusing, to frustrating.

I received this book from Dutton for this review.

A Detailed History of Texas Ranger Company F

 

In the 1800s the West was a lawless place. The Texas Rangers were charged with bringing the outlaws to justice, but they did more than that being involved in Indian problems, family feuds, and cattle and land disputes. Sergeant James Brooks from Company F is one of the more colorful characters of the era. He was involved in numerous gun fights, and was convicted of second-degree murder.

The book also tells the story of the other members of the company led by Captain William Scott. It even dips into the families of the men. The author uses diaries and news articles to bring the stories to life.

This book dispels the picture of the Rangers as just hunting outlaws. They did much more including becoming involved in the Conner family feud. I found the book well-researched and interesting, but often hard to follow. It felt as though the author had a large quantity of information and wanted to put it all in the book.

If you’re interested in American history, particularly the history of the West, this is well done, but if you’re looking for an adventure tale about the Rangers, it’s not your book.

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

A Fast Paced British Police Proecdural

Maggie, a five-year-old with a vivid imagination, insists that she’s seen a woman walking past her house being pulled into a white van. The mother worries that her daughter is telling tall stories, but DS Karen Hart thinks the child is reporting what she’s seen. The other investigators are not as certain. Some believe that Karen is being led astray because of the child’s resemblance to her daughter.

When a playing card is found in the drain near where the woman was snatched and again at the house of another kidnapping victim, the police take the case seriously. When a body is found in a farmer’s field, the crime escalates from kidnapping to murder.

DS Karen Hart is a character who stands up for what she thinks is right. I like that. I also thought using the child in the open of the story set the stage well. The pace is fast and full of twists. It’s not easy to figure out what happened until the end. If you like police procedurals, particularly British police procedurals, you’ll enjoy this book.

I received this book from Amazon Publishing for this review.

 

The Secret to Health and Happiness: Help Others

 

This well-documented book gives a series of doable steps to reorient your life toward better health and more fulfillment. In their previous book, the authors looked at healthcare and healthcare workers. Their conclusion that more compassion leads to better patient outcome and less burnout in staff led to the present book which extends their ideas to the general public.

The book is very readable for a general audience. The authors present lots of research from around the world, but make it understandable and interesting. The anecdotes help a great deal. They support the research with concrete examples of how helping people can change the life of the helper. This attitude is refreshingly different from that preached by many self-help books that talk about the importance of “me time” and putting yourself first.

This is a book anyone can read and learn from. I enjoyed it and think it can help orient your life toward better health and happiness.

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

High Couture, Paris, and Mystery

 

It’s 2017, Lucile has a fraught relationship with her mother, but she’s devoted to her grandmother, Sylvie. When Sylvie asks her to go to Paris to retrieve a fabulous Dior dress from 1952, she agrees thinking it will be a simple task. The simple task turns into a mystery, and a hunt for missing dresses that could change her life.

In 1952 Alice Ainsley lives in Paris with her new husband Albert, the British Ambassador. Alice has everything, magnificent dresses, jewels, and entree to all the fabulous parties in Paris, but she feels that Albert’s affection has waned. Then a dashing man enters her life and promises complications.

If you love fashion and Paris, this is a book you’ll enjoy. In her search for the missing dresses Lucille visits Paris landmarks and views gorgeous Dior dresses from the 1950s. The author does a good job meshing the story lines from two different eras. I loved the detailed descriptions of Paris and the Dior dresses.

Lucille is a heroine you have to like. As her quest takes her through Paris, she gains self-assurance and competence in solving the mystery of the dresses. Alice is also a good character, but her story is less upbeat than Lucille’s and it was harder for me to get into. This is a good book to curl up with.

I received this book from Berkley Publishing for this review.