About the Book:
‘A lovely mystery evocative of the period from a talented writer.’ Helena Dixon, bestselling author of the Miss Underhay mysteries
Someone’s been read their last rites…
1915, London: Working in the dusty bookshop that her Aunt Violet mysteriously inherited, Hannah Merrill is accustomed to finding twists in every tale. But discovering her beloved best friend Lily-Anne – with a paperknife through her heart – in the middle of the bookshop, is not a plotline she saw coming.
The case is anything but textbook. With the discovery of a coded German message, and Hannah’s instinct that Lily-Anne’s husband is keeping secrets, she determines to get to the bottom of it.
She can’t do it alone though. To crack this case, Hannah will need the enlist the help of her outrageous, opinionated, only-occasionally-objectionable Aunt Violet.
They think they’re making progress until one of their chief suspects is found dead. And Hannah realises that she is herself now in the murderer’s sights. Will the final chapter be the ending of a killer… or just a killer ending?
A totally addictive, WW1-set cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Verity Bright, T.E. Kinsey, and Agatha Christie.
My Thoughts:
Murder in the Bookshop, as the title suggests is a murder mystery set in a bookstore against the backdrop of WWI. The story follows Hannah, the protagonist who manages her aunt’s bookstore and holds her own against men who try to put her down. What intrigued me about her was her tenacity and inquisitiveness. She also had an eye for detail, perhaps developed through her love for books.
When her best friend is found murdered with a knife in her chest, it is all Hannah can do to stay away from the investigation. As she starts to ask questions, she uncovers a plot that goes beyond just the murder in the bookshop with bigger implications to the on-going war itself.
With help from her Aunt Violet, a little crazy but an absolute delight to read about, she embarks on her own little investigation to find the truth. Though the story seemed to drag on a little in some parts, I enjoyed it on the whole. It is a typical cozy mystery, set to intrigue the readers with strong female main characters and a good plot. The story comes together in the end, providing closure and a satisfying conclusion. I recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries set against a historical backdrop with layers that the readers slowly peel away!
About the Book:
Glitzy parties, sightseeing at the Statue of Liberty and strolls through Central Park with Gladstone the bulldog… Lady Eleanor Swift is loving her first trip to the city that never sleeps, until she witnesses a murder!
After crossing from England on the SS Celestiana, Lady Eleanor Swift sets up her home-away-from-home in a lavish apartment in New York City. She is soon the toast of the town, with no high-class soirée complete without her presence. Of course, she drags her butler Clifford and Gladstone the bulldog along to every party too.
But when she witnesses the charming doorman of her building, Marty, knocked down and killed in a hit-and-run, she finds fashionable society suddenly closes rank. The only local detective interested in helping her find the culprit is street-smart beat cop, Officer Balowski.
Resolved to get justice for Marty and his family, Eleanor searches Marty’s tiny apartment and is shocked to find five rolls of banknotes tucked under the floorboards. Money talks, but Marty was struggling to make ends meet, so where did the cash come from?
The next day, wealthy entrepreneur and flashy philanderer Ogden P. Dellaney – a man Marty used to work for – is found dead downtown, miles away from his swanky Upper East Side mansion. Eleanor and Balowski are sure the deaths are connected, but not even Dellaney’s wife is willing to answer their questions.
Then Eleanor is served with an eviction notice and Balowski is fired from the NYPD. It becomes clear that something is rotten in the Big Apple and Eleanor is determined to get to the core of the mystery before the murderer strikes again…
My Thoughts:
This is Book 14 in the Lady Eleanor Swift series and I absolutely loved it. I have been a fan of this series and the characters, very much invested in Eleanor and her adventures. Though I haven’t read all the books and sometimes not in the right order, I enjoyed the ones that I read.
This book was a pleasant surprise and felt different than the others, perhaps due to the setting. In this story, we follow Eleanor on a trip to New York City as she navigates the glitz and glamour of the city. What follows of course is a murder and thus she is embroiled in another investigation, in a city where she isn’t as welcome as she thought she was.
Though the storyline continues from the previous and brings to us a lot of our beloved characters, this book feels different. The style of writing and the development of the plot is a little different from the rest and this is what set it apart for me. Though a little slow on the uptake, the author dove right into the plot, taking the reader along on a wonderful investigative adventure.
I truly enjoyed this book and cannot imagine missing out on further of Lady Swift’s adventures! I look forward to reading the next books.
About the Book:
Before the men of myth and legend, there was Otrera, first Queen of the Amazons.
It wasn’t until the prince’s blood coated Otrera’s hands that she realized she’d sentenced herself to death. In her darkest hour, Artemis offers her a second chance at life and freedom. But in return the goddess commands unwavering loyalty and sends her on a formidable quest.
Joined by women who swiftly become sisters along the way, Otrera’s journey is tangled by prophecy and unexpected discoveries, and she is faced with a decision that will alter her life forever.
Fleeing from men and monsters alike, Otrera and her companions travel across Ancient Greece in search of what was promised. Each day she learns more about herself and the dangers of her world. Yet the closer she gets to fulfilling her quest, the further Otrera drifts from her pledge to Artemis.
Pursued by a vengeful king and his relentless champion, Otrera discovers how far she’ll go to keep her sisters safe. But nothing, not even a divine weapon, can protect her from the wrath of the gods.
So begins the story of the tribe feared by heroes and kings alike.
My Thoughts:
I generally enjoy mythological retellings and the premise of this story intrigued me. The story follows Otrera, a slave who escapes from unwanted advances by a prince and is forced to go on the run. She is blessed by Artemis with some special powers and we follow her journey as she grows from a demure person into a strong warrior, fiercely protective of her friends and the people she comes to consider her family.
The premise of the story was quite interesting, but I found the plot to be quite slow and at some stages I could not fully understand what was going on. The actions of the characters were not clear and it was hard to connect with them at times.
However, I like the fact that the characters were strong female characters who were there for each other through the ups and downs. There were some meaningful themes touched upon through the story that stood out. The ending was abrupt but will leave the reader wondering what happens next. Overall, this was a good debut attempt by the author and I am grateful for the opportunity to have read the book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
About the Book:
Set in 1960s California, this blockbuster debut is the hilarious, idiosyncratic and uplifting story of a female scientist whose career is constantly derailed by the idea that a woman’s place is in the home, only to find herself starring as the host of America’s most beloved TV cooking show. Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the 1960s and despite the fact that she is a scientist, her peers are very unscientific when it comes to equality. The only good thing to happen to her on the road to professional fulfillment is a run-in with her super-star colleague Calvin Evans (well, she stole his beakers.) The only man who ever treated her-and her ideas-as equal, Calvin is already a legend and Nobel nominee. He’s also awkward, kind and tenacious. Theirs is true chemistry. But as events are never as predictable as chemical reactions, three years later Elizabeth Zott is an unwed, single mother (did we mention it’s the early 60s??) and the star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s singular approach to cooking (‘take one pint of H2O and add a pinch of sodium chloride’) and independent example are proving revolutionary. Because Elizabeth isn’t just teaching women how to cook, she’s teaching them how to change the status quo. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.
My Thoughts:
Set in the 1960s, this is the story of Elizabeth Zott, a chemist by profession trying to navigate the world of research and study filled with men and very few women. This is one of the most original stories I have read about a woman in STEM and the difficulties faced to find her place and make a name.
All Elizabeth wanted to do was pursue her research. All the world wanted from her was to dress prettily and stay at home. Calvin Evans, already famous in the field and a Nobel nominee, was the only one who saw her for the brilliant chemist that she was. Calvin was drawn to her as much for her beauty as her mind seeing her as an equal from the moment they started talking.
Elizabeth Zott defied the odds and stood out, even when she ended up through various twists and turns as the host of a cooking show on afternoon TV with chemistry as the central focus. She teaches chemistry through cooking and through her dialogue, empowers women to see themselves as more than housewives.
This story is mixed with laughter, heartbreak and so many special moments that it draws the reader in right from the first page. The various supporting characters are wonderful and so well thought out that each of them have a very special part to play in taking this story forward. Elizabeth’s story would be wholly incomplete without Six-Thirty, her trusty dog, Harriet, her next door neighbour and even Walter Pine to name a few.
This is a wonderful story, written in a style that will keep the reader yearning for more, wanting to know what happens next and ensures that the reader is invested in the lives of the characters. Elizabeth is inspiring and refreshing as a protagonist and really made my fall in love with Lessons in Chemistry!
Book Blurb:
The long-awaited sequel to bestseller and book club favorite IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU has arrived! Violet Glenn. Everybody loved her. In 1946, that included her boyfriend’s best friend, Sam Davidson. Ronni Johnson wrote a book about Violet. It changed her life. Now she’s back working as a registered nurse at Fairfield Springs, loving her patients and her job. She doesn’t have another book in her. A mysterious email arrives from Chet Wilson’s son, asking Ronni to tell “the truth” about his dad. She ignores it. Sam Davidson’s family becomes inextricably linked with Ronni, though, and through them she learns a story that must be told. Ronni finds herself back at the keyboard, determined to share the long-held secrets revealed to her. And once again, Violet is reaching back through the years to touch Ronni’s life.
DARK ENOUGH TO SEE THE STARS is a story of human resilience and fragility; of joy and sorrow; of our ability to find family in one another. Alternating chapters between Sam’s world in the distant past and Ronni’s in the present, readers will witness lives woven together, hearts bound forever in surprising ways.
Beth Dial Duke is an Amazon #1 Best Selling author and the recipient of short story awards on two continents. She is eyeing the other five. Beth lives in the mountains of her native Alabama with her husband, one real dog, and one ornamental dog. She loves reading, writing, and not arithmetic. Baking is a hobby, with semi-pro cupcakes and amateur macarons a specialty. And puns–the worse, the better. Travel is her other favorite thing, along with joining book groups for discussion. If a personal visit isn’t possible, she is fluent in Zoom. Please visit bethduke.com for more information, to request a book club visit, and to see photos of the most beautiful readers in the world!.
I read this book as a part of the book tour hosted by Zoé of Zooloo’s Book Tours.
This is the second book after It All Comes Back to You. Unfortunately, I ended up reading the books out of order, having read this one, Dark Enough To See The Stars first. I like how the author brings to us a narrative set across two timelines, one in the present and one in the past, seamlessly weaving the events together. She makes sure to explain to us how events and decisions of the past affect the people today and of course how they shaped their lives.
The characters were interesting though I think I did miss out on some of the information or backstory due to not having read the first book. However, I was able to connect with them eventually and thoroughly enjoyed reading about them and their journey. As I understand it, we are once again thrown into the past, following Violet, Sam and others. As Ronni struggles with her decision on whether to pursue the story while balancing her job and life, we are drawn into a plot that we cannot ignore. The reader is drawn right in and remains hooked until the very end. Without giving away the story, and also considering I may or may not have the whole picture, I will say that I recommend this book to all!
About the Book:
The glamorous world of a silent film star’s wife abruptly crumbles when she’s forcibly quarantined at the Carville Lepers Home in this page-turning story of courage, resilience, and reinvention set in 1920s Louisiana and Los Angeles. Based on little-known history, this timely book will strike a chord with readers of Fiona Davis, Tracey Lange, and Marie Benedict.
Based on the true story of America’s only leper colony, The Second Life of Mirielle West brings vividly to life the Louisiana institution known as Carville, where thousands of people were stripped of their civil rights, branded as lepers, and forcibly quarantined throughout the entire 20th century.
For Mirielle West, a 1920’s socialite married to a silent film star, the isolation and powerlessness of the Louisiana Leper Home is an unimaginable fall from her intoxicatingly chic life of bootlegged champagne and the star-studded parties of Hollywood’s Golden Age. When a doctor notices a pale patch of skin on her hand, she’s immediately branded a leper and carted hundreds of miles from home to Carville, taking a new name to spare her family and famous husband the shame that accompanies the disease.
At first she hopes her exile will be brief, but those sent to Carville are more prisoners than patients and their disease has no cure. Instead she must find community and purpose within its walls, struggling to redefine her self-worth while fighting an unchosen fate.
As a registered nurse, Amanda Skenandore’s medical background adds layers of detail and authenticity to the experiences of patients and medical professionals at Carville – the isolation, stigma, experimental treatments, and disparate community. A tale of repulsion, resilience, and the Roaring ‘20s, The Second Life of Mirielle West is also the story of a health crisis in America’s past, made all the more poignant by the author’s experiences during another, all-too-recent crisis.
My Thoughts:
The Second Life of Mirielle West is a historical fiction set in the time of the 1920s. Mirielle West is a socialite who only knows the world of comfort, glamor and parties. When a chance diagnosis by her doctor forces her to go away, everything as she knows it changes. The author delicately weaves a story around the Louisiana Leper Home known as Carville which housed so many people who were forcibly quarantined there.
Mirielle doesn’t know what to expect and is under the impression that she can go home as soon as the misunderstanding is cleared. With each test and a confirmed diagnosis, she has to reconcile herself to her new surroundings and find a place among the people there. This is truly a book of second chances and new beginnings as we follow Mirielle who grows from a spoiled high and mighty socialite to a caring woman who takes up new responsibilities and tries to bring joy to those around her. She is separated from her family, her children and is still dealing with the grief of losing one child. All this has also led to distance with her husband and adds to her emotional turmoil.
Being separated from one’s family is not easy and being isolated is even worse when your family does not want to see you. This was the fate of so many of the people who lived here due to the disease which had no cure. The author has painted a vivid picture bringing to us a well woven story based on so many true accounts. It is heart-breaking to read about the circumstances of the people but the best part is the bonds that are formed. The love, compassion and kinship that arises from shared circumstances leads to found family and a new kind of acceptance in life.
Mirielle and all the other characters in the book are brilliant and worth knowing. This is a story with characters that will stay with you even after finishing the book. The experiences and life of the people, the difficulties they faced and how they were treated is eye opening. Though difficult to read about at times and quite emotional, it is worth the read!
About the Book:
In the tradition of Kristin Harmel and Elise Hooper, USA Today bestseller Marty Wingate transports us to postwar England’s Suffolk coast in a rich historical drama about love lost—and promise found.
England, 1957. Olive Kersey’s only love never returned from World War II, and now, she’s alone and penniless. Then, the last person she ever expected to see again returns to Southwold. Olive’s childhood friend, Margery Paxton, arrives to claim her inheritance: Mersea House, a stately old home she plans to turn into the town’s only lodging. Olive’s life takes a sunny turn when Margery hires her to run the establishment. But Mersea House holds its own mysteries—and its own dangers.
First, rumors begin to fly when two enigmatic lodgers move in: Hugh Hodson, manager of the town cinema, and Mrs. Abigail Claypool, a recluse and war widow. And then, the completely unexpected: Margery is informed she has a new ward, eleven-year-old Juniper Wyckes, the orphaned daughter of Margery’s first love. Mrs. Lucie Pagett, Children’s Officer at the local authority, informs Margery that Juniper was severely stricken with polio as a child, and makes clear that she could be taken away if her welfare is in jeopardy.
Olive fears Juniper is being bullied at school because of her disability, even as the girl begins to thrive at home. But the past is never far behind for the inhabitants of Mersea House, and looming secrets may destroy these friendships they’ve created.
My Thoughts:
The Orphans of Mersea House follows the lives of Olive, Margery and Juniper, an eleven year old, as they all come together at the Mersea House. Olive and Margery grew up together for a time and lost touch when Margery went to London. Olive has dealt with her fair share of love, loss and choices made in life.
Set in the time post World War II, we come across people who have lost loved ones and who are trying to move on with their lives. The author gives us a glimpse into the lives of the people but with a slightly less focus on the historical aspect. The story is purely one of friendship, love and honoring promises. It’s of strong bonds and family that is made among friends who learn to accept one another for who they really are.
The book has a diverse set of characters, each as different from the other but bringing so much to the table. I adore Hugh and Mrs C. I also liked reading about Billy and the impact he has on Juniper’s life. More than anything, I love how the author has handled a character dealing with the after effects of polio with delicacy providing enough information to us as a reader. In addition, the author has shown us that having polio does not make one any different from the rest, the person/people can lead normal lives just like anyone else (while taking into account the constraints).
I enjoyed reading about Olive and Margery’s friendship and their antics when they were children. Perhaps the best part of the book is the bond that forms between Olive and Juniper (even though she is officially Margery’s ward). Juniper is a delightful child who ends up bringing out the best in everyone around her at Mersea House while carving a place for herself. As secrets have a way of coming out people have a choice with respect to how they react to them and this is also portrayed in this story.
This is a beautifully written story that reminds us what it means to have friends and family, the importance of friendship, acceptance and the joy of being in love. A truly remarkable and enjoyable read, I would recommend this book to everyone!
This is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.
All you need to do is answer the following three questions:
What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
Also, do follow the host and other bloggers who participate!
It is wonderful to know what everyone is reading and recommendations are always welcome!
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About the Book:
From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes a tale of love, loss—and one last extraordinary dance.
Christmas Eve, 2019. Ninety-four-year-old Molly lies in her hospital bed. A stroke and a fall may have broken her body—but her mind is alive with memories.
London, 1940s. Molly is a bright young woman, determined to help the war effort and keep her head up despite it all. Life becomes brighter when she meets and falls in love with a man who makes her forget everything with one dance. But then war forces her to make an unforgettable sacrifice, and when she’s brought to her knees by a daring undercover mission with the French Resistance, only her sister knows the secret weighing heavily on Molly’s heart.
Now, lying in her hospital bed, Molly can’t escape the memories of what she lost all those years ago. But she is not as alone as she thinks.
Will she be able to find peace—and finally understand that what seemed to be an ordinary life was anything but?
My Thoughts:
Amanda Prowse brings to us yet another powerful story of first love, loss, war and the endurance of a woman through all of this. This is a story that brings out all the emotions and one of the few books that made me shed a few tears.
Molly’s story starts off in the 1940s in London and goes on until 2019, as she lies in the hospital thinking back to her life. We follow her as she experiences her first love, the loss of her love, her efforts to contribute to the war effort, her experiences with different people and in the midst of the war. In all this, she gives birth to a wonderful baby boy, born out of wedlock and shunned by her mother. With no other choice, Molly requests her sister and brother-in-law to care for her baby while she earns enough money to support herself.
As time passes, Molly becomes a wonderful aunt to her son, who never learns of the truth, but loves her as much as any child could love a mother. Carrying the weight of her decisions, the separation from her son and the horrors of the war, Molly, a very very strong woman faces a life filled with so many secrets. She perseveres on, working for a living whether it is playing her part in the war efforts or supporting herself after the war ends.
The bond Molly shares with her sister is a strong one and something that is great to read about. The strength, support and even jealousy all come together showing us a glimpse into each of their thoughts and in the end how they are there for each other. This is a wonderful example of what family is all about and the bonds that siblings share. The author brings to us the irony of the whole situation under the guise of the character having lived “an ordinary life”!
Amanda Prowse’s writing is powerful and will draw the reader in from page one. There is no stopping until the reader gets to the bottom of it all, finds out all the secrets and how the story ends. This book will stay with me for a long time and I highly recommend it to all fiction lovers out there. The book cannot be put into any one genre, it encompasses so many and in the end is just worth it!
About the Book:
Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini’s racial laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice in 1943, she must flee the city to save her life.
Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh Nazi reprisals and Lidia’s own ardent anti-fascist activities threaten to tear them apart.
Decades later in London, while sorting through her grandmother’s belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge’s Palace.
Intrigued by her grandmother’s refusal to talk about her life in Italy before and during the war, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots. There, she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother’s past, but also some surprising truths about herself.
A heart-breaking page-turner, based on actual events in Italy during World War II.
My Thoughts:
This is a riveting read that takes the reader into Italy during World War II. This is the first book in the historical fiction genre that I have read that focuses on Italy and the events that unfolded here. The book talks about the war, the people, the impact it had on their lives and the secrets kept to move on in life.
We are introduced to Lidia and her granddaughter Charlotte, two strong and unique women, so different and yet similar in all the ways that matter. When Lidia passes away, Charlotte embarks on a trip to figure out who her grandmother was and what secrets she was hiding while living in London.
The story is told from each of their perspectives, giving us an insight into the present day world as Charlotte explores Italy and the events in Lidia’s life as she is careful not to be caught, but is helping out the partisans. Betrayed by some of the people she trusted and forced to endure a lot, Lidia shuts down after the war and moves away, adapting her new identity and never going back to her roots. Charlotte discovers a whole lot of things and along the way meets the people who saved her grandmother and made a difference to her life. She also ends up finding her place, love and a purpose so different than what she started out with.
This is a heart-breaking story that brings to us a reality we cannot imagine and talks about family in a way that makes us appreciate those around us. Lidia’s story enumerates that of so many others whose voices are not heard! A brilliant and well-written story, this is a must read!