Monday, December 30, 2019

Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra

Meg & Jo book cover (two young women on a backdrop with a spatula, baby bottle, toy blocks, and a guitar) In this timely retelling of the classic Little Women, we see Meg and Jo as modern women navigating their relationships in a 21st century world. Meg is dealing with her need to live up to her mother's reputation of being able to "do it all," thus creating small rifts in her marriage. Jo is trying to figure out her life after being let go from her newspaper employer and figure out how to juggle her foodie blog and the new relationship with her Chef boss. While we see the two eldest March sisters struggle with their personal lives, we see them tend to their mother, who needs back surgery and therefore is not able to work the farm. And to the dismay of the girls, their father, Asher, is absent while he delivers ministry to his not-for-profit helping war veterans instead of helping at home or with their mother.

This is a fantastic retelling, really bringing the magic of the March women to current times. It was enjoyable to see them as young feminists, all the while keeping their obligations to family close to their heart and at the top of their priorities. Kantra's take on Asher March was surprising to me, but very much in keeping with the modern feel of the retelling. I wouldn't have had it any other way. This story was cute and perfect for readers with a fondness and love for Alcott's Little Women. And it's just in time for the new movie!

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert

The Simplicity of Cider book cover (a wooden ladder leading up into the branches of an apple tree) Idun’s Orchard has been in the Lund family for five generations, and cider-maker Sanna Lund can’t imagine living anywhere else. She’s perfectly content spending her days tending the orchard with her father and experimenting with new blends of cider made from their heirloom apple trees. But Sanna’s cider isn’t selling like they’d hoped and business isn’t exactly booming at the orchard. With only the two of them, and Sanna’s father getting on in years, can they really keep going the way they always have?

Enter Isaac and his son Bass (full name Sebastian, but he answers to any fish). Originally from California but spending their summer driving across the U.S. (and away from heartbreak at home), the pair end up as hired hands at Idun’s. Sanna is less than thrilled at the prospect of having a ten-year-old boy underfoot and tries to ignore how distracted she is by Isaac’s presence. But as her life gets more and more complicated, Sanna relies on the relationships she’s forming with Bass and Isaac, especially when the orchard seems to be slipping further and further out of her control.

The Simplicity of Cider is a heartwarming story of love, family, cider, and a little bit of magic. Set in Door County, Wisconsin, the author perfectly captures the feel of a small Midwestern town, where your neighbors might be nosy but they’ll be there for you at the first sign of trouble. The characters are authentic and real, and so are their struggles. There is an overall theme of healing in this book, from Sanna's father after a fall, to the heirloom trees after an accident, to the relationships both Sanna and Bass have with their parents, particularly their mothers. Recommended for fans of Jenny Colgan and Sarah Addison Allen.

Monday, December 9, 2019

Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber

Dashing Through the Snow book cover (a snow-covered street, with the buildings all lit up with Christmas lights, and a puppy in the foreground)'Tis the season to be reading a Debbie Macomber holiday story! In Dashing Through the Snow, Ashley is desperately trying, last minute, to get a flight to Seattle to spend the holiday with her mom. At the same time, Dash is trying to get a flight to Seattle for a very important job interview. Neither is successful. The next option is by car, and of course, there is only one car left available. Grudgingly, the two decide to share the ride. At the same time, unbeknownst to Ashley, her name has come up on the Do-Not-Fly list. Her attempt to get a flight to Seattle has prompted the FBI to come to the airport to find her, but at that point, she and Dash had already gotten their car and were on the road. Thus begins the secondary story of an FBI hunt for them.

Will Dash and Ashley make it to Seattle in time? During the trip, will the sparks fly between the two? Will the FBI catch up to them? There is a lot going on in this slim novel. Debbie Macomber has written a sweet, mildly suspenseful romance that is perfect for a quick holiday read!

Monday, December 2, 2019

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

Royal Holiday book cover (a man and a woman on a green background, surrounded by holly and ribbons) When Vivian Forest is given the opportunity to join her daughter to the country "cottage" of the British Royal family, she reluctantly agrees to go. Upon arriving at the this cottage, however, she meets Malcolm Hudson, the ultra-handsome private secretary to the Queen herself! And sparks fly instantly for both as Malcolm introduces Vivian to many new experiences, and Vivian brings out a fun playfulness in Malcolm that he hasn't felt in years.

The playful yet mature banter between Malcolm and Vivian was so enjoyable and it made me giggle out loud many times throughout the story. Guillory has a great way of portraying relationships perfectly as they should be, but also keeping them realistic by creating practical obstacles for the couple to hash through and overcome. Vivian and Malcolm are two extremely likable characters whom you root for from the very beginning. This is just the book to kick off a fun and flirty holiday season!

Monday, November 18, 2019

Toujours Provence by Peter Mayle

Toujours Provence book cover (a comical illustration of a boar lying in a lounge chair by a pool, with a dog and people in the background) Push your cold weather blues away with an escape to the south of France! Peter Mayle, a British expat, writes about his life in picturesque Provence. As the pages turn, Mayle brings to life the sights and sounds of the region and its people. Readers were first introduced to Mayle’s France in A Year in Provence, which described his first year adapting to the Provencal culture and lifestyle. However, Toujours Provence can easily be appreciated on its own. Each chapter is its own tale. Readers get a fascinating description of a Luciano Pavoratti concert, learn of the mystery and intrigue surrounding truffles, go on an unexpected treasure hunt when gold is found on Mayle’s property, explore amazing gastronomic depictions, and so much more. Picking up Toujours Provence or any of Peter Mayle’s travel memoirs is one of the quickest, cheapest, and most rewarding travel experiences!

Monday, November 4, 2019

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The Joy Luck Club book cover (a red Chinese-style symbol wrapped around a large letter "T") The Joy Luck Club is a group of Chinese women who banded together as they navigated a new country, coming together to share their life experiences and help one another through new ones. After one of the members passes away, her daughter June is invited to be a member in her mother’s spot. Upon her first meeting, June is greeted with a truth from her mother’s friends that she wasn’t prepared for: she must go to China to meet her twin half-sisters, the very sisters her mother believed had died long ago before she fled the country. In preparation, the women tell June of their past experiences in China and moving to America. Their daughters also provide stories to June about their relationships with their mothers and how their stories have impacted their relationships.

Tan creates a fantastic collection of stories woven together to make this novel a piece of art. Each story holds heartache and tragedy, but also strength and triumph! This is a coming of age story, a celebration of life, experience, and love between mothers and daughters.

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Institute by Stephen King

The Institute book cover (a boy sitting in a small bedroom, hidden inside a train caboose on a track) In this novel, Stephen King introduces us to The Institute, a secret operation in the middle of a wooded area in northern Maine. Here there are children who can move things with their minds, and also read the minds of others. But hidden behind the fake smiles from the orderlies and the tests and shots being given to them, what purpose does it all serve? According to the children, it isn't good and they want out.

This was a great thriller and an edge-of-your-seat kind of novel. It's an incredible story of bravery and hope, but also of frustration and dread. It was hard to put down because I wanted to know what would happen next. King takes the reader into a world that could be realistic, operations and tests that could actually be happening, right under our noses. He makes it just believable enough to make the reader think a little harder about what happens to all of those missing children in the world.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Pumpkinheads book cover (a boy and a girl, both in overalls and flannel shirts, lying next to each other in a pumpkin patch)Deja and Josiah are about as different as two people can be. She's flirty and extroverted, and he's shy and hard-working. But both of them love fall, and both of them love their local pumpkin patch, and so for two months each year, they are best friends, coworkers, and succotash experts together. But this is their last year working at the pumpkin patch before they both go off to college, and there's so much left undone and unsaid. So on this, their last night working together, they go on an epic quest all across the pumpkin patch, to make the most of their last chance.

This is an incredibly charming seasonal read about friendship and young love and nostalgia. Josiah and Deja are very fun, very relatable characters, and watching them romp around the pumpkin patch makes you want to go find a caramel apple and ride on a hay wagon. If you're looking for a lighthearted book to get you in the mood for Halloween, you couldn't make a better choice.

Monday, October 14, 2019

After the Eclipse by Fran Doricott

After the Eclipse book cover (a golden background with the title overlaid like a shadow)Even though sixteen years have passed, Cassie has never gotten over the disappearance of her younger sister. Olive ran off while they were watching a solar eclipse in their grandmother's hometown and was never seen or heard from again. Now an investigative journalist, Cassie returns to the small town to care for her Alzheimer's-stricken grandmother. But another eclipse is coming up, and another girl has disappeared. Cassie knows in her heart that the two must be connected, but will anyone believe her when the evidence doesn't seem to agree? And will this finally be her chance to get answers-- and justice-- for what happened?

This is an intense mystery with a ton of emotional depth. The main character Cassie struggles with her grandmother's mental deterioration, a hiatus from her job, reminders of her sister's disappearance, and even reconnecting with her childhood crush, who happens to be a police officer in the small town. The eclipse looms over everything like a ticking clock, and the ending has lots of twists and turns that keep you on your toes. Highly recommended for fans of dark, thrilling mysteries like Tana French or Ruth Ware.

Monday, October 7, 2019

Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos by Lucy Knisley

Kid Gloves book cover (a cartoon of a very pregnant woman with glasses, with a baby curled up in her stomach) Kid Gloves is a memoir about Lucy Knisley’s journey from just before pregnancy to just after. She highlights some tough and personal issues she personally went through trying to conceive "Pal," the nickname she gives her son in the comic, as well as the awful medical emergency she endured at the end of her pregnancy/birth of her son. In between her chapters, marked by what trimesters she was entering, she offered up amazing facts and history about contraception, conception, pregnancy, births, babies, mothers, etc.

This was such a well put together memoir of Knisley's experience. The way she separated her experience by trimester was such a cute and original idea, and adding the facts and interesting history in between really brought the reading experience together in a fun and delightful way. The entire book was emotional, especially the ending. Overall it was a fantastic comic and memoir, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Murder on the Orient Express book cover (a long train spewing clouds of blood-red smoke)Hercule Poirot, world-renowned Belgian detective, has just finished a case in the Middle East and is headed home on the luxurious Orient Express. In spite of the time of year, the train is strangely full. This becomes a problem when, while stranded in a snowdrift in Yugoslavia, the man in the compartment next to Poirot’s is murdered. With a train full of suspects and no way of contacting the police, Poirot must find the murderer before they escape justice.

Murder on the Orient Express is considered a classic of the mystery genre for a reason. Light on action, but heavy on twists and turns, this story keeps you gripped and guessing from start to finish. Thankfully, unlike some modern authors, Agatha Christie stories do not have to be read in order. Although this is the tenth Poirot book, he still receives a full introduction, allowing this to serve as a perfect first stop for a reader new to her works, as I was.

The audiobook version in particular is a treat. Narrated by actor Dan Stevens, each character is given a distinct voice, making the scenes really come to life, and, at only six hours long, the book is a quick listen. I easily recommend this to anyone who has wanted to give Christie a chance before, or to anyone who loves a good book.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Every Day by David Levithan

Every Day book cover (different people floating adrift in a cloudy sky) A is a teenager living a most unusual life. A grows and learns and ages, but has no actual body of their own. Instead, they spend each day in a new host body. A does their best not to disturb the lives of those they “borrow” for the day, and generally A’s presence goes unnoticed, with memories of the borrowed day somewhat blurry. A always inhabits someone their own age and in the same geographical area as the day before, but otherwise circumstances vary wildly. A has been different genders, races, social classes, and states of health. Though A learns a lot about people through all these experiences, it is a very lonely life. Despite this, they are fairly happy. But then A meets Rhiannon and falls in love. Determined to continue seeing her, A starts taking risks and spilling secrets that may change everything.

This is a nice romance that explores the broader concepts of identity and the consequences of our actions in the lives of others. Wondering who A would be the next morning and how that would affect the story added an interesting twist to the reading. This is the first book in a set of three. A companion book, Another Day, examines this same story from Rhiannon’s point of view and the sequel, Someday, reveals that A is not the only body-traveler out there. The book was also adapted into a movie in 2018.

Monday, September 16, 2019

#IMomSoHard by Kristen Hensley and Jen Smedley

I Mom So Hard book cover (two women sitting on a couch, laughing, with glasses of red wine on a bright pink background) #Imomsohard ("I Mom So Hard") is a book written by two moms and YouTube sensations, Kristen Hensley and Jen Smedley, who "tell it like it is” in their videos about parenting. Meaning, they are completely truthful about everything-- not just the good, but the bad and the ugly, too! Using humor and wit, they recount some of their personal stories raising their sons and daughters. Not limited to just funny stories about labor and school lunches, they also speak directly to moms, encouraging them to call for help, to help one another, and-- more importantly-- to never judge a mom, because you just never know what they are going through.

The audiobook is read by the two authors and they are so fantastic to listen to! They bring their own personality and flare to the pages (or in this case discs) and talk to their readers/listeners as if we were all hanging out at dinner over appetizers. Listening to them talk about their life stories brings relief and humor to your own life, knowing that they’ve been through it all, too, and that moms are not alone in this journey.

Monday, September 9, 2019

Evicted by Matthew Desmond

Every day, in cities across the country, thousands of people are evicted from their homes. Eviction is traumatic for everyone, but for the extremely poor, it's a waking nightmare that runs on repeat. Evictions can make you lose your job (as you're forced to spend your day moving your belongings or trying to find a place to stay), they can make you ineligible for public housing, they can get you rejected by private landlords, they can force you to move into unsafe locations, they can make you impose on friends and family, they can force you to stay in homeless shelters, and on and on and on. The home is supposed to be the stable foundation of a person's life, and when they're forced out of it, it can uproot everything else along with it. This book delves into the lives of several Milwaukee residents, across a surprisingly wide spectrum of life experiences, who had their lives changed by eviction.

This book won its author a slew of prizes, including a Pulitzer, and with good reason. It's an intense collection of stories, many of them intertwined, giving you a heartfelt and crushing view of its subjects. If you're a fan of narrative nonfiction, this deep dive into the world of deep poverty and housing insecurity is one that will stick with you for a long time.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Hitler's Pawn by Stephen Koch

Hitler's Pawn book cover (a photo of a young man in an overcoat)Herschel Grynszpan (pronounced "Greenspan") was a German-born Polish Jew living in Hanover with his family until, following the Nazis rise to power, his parents sent him to live with his aunt and uncle in Paris in 1935. Following his family’s forced deportation in 1938, and a deterioration of his relationship with his aunt and uncle, Grynszpan decided to act. On the morning of November 7th, 1938, Grynszpan purchased a gun and walked to the German Embassy, where he shot and killed a German official. Grynszpan was arrested, putting up no fight. The act was used as a pretext by the Nazis to launch Kristallnacht, their most vicious pogrom against the Jewish people. Grynszpan himself spent the entirety of World War II in enemy hands, awaiting a massive trial that never happened. The exact reasons why are the subject of theories and conspiracies, all of which are debated.

Grynszpan is something of an anomaly in history as, in spite of his importance, he is not well known. Hitler’s Pawn does a fantastic job of detailing his life, and the legacy which he left behind. Stephen Koch’s detail regarding the time Grynszpan spent in Nazi hands is particularly incredible, as is the reaction by Nazi officials to the assassination he perpetrated. The book reads, by and large, like a work of fiction following a central character, though that does call into question whether or not some portions are dramatized or guesswork by the author. If you are looking for something fresh about World War II, though, this book is definitely for you.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Storm Front book cover (a web of lightning over the darkened Chicago skyline)Harry Dresden is the only professional wizard listed in the Chicago phonebook. He is a private detective, struggling to make ends meet while keeping his city safe from monsters most people believe only exist in fairy tales. Much of his trade deals in locating lost items or people, so it is business as usual when he is hired by a woman to find her missing husband. However, things quickly get complicated when a friend at the Chicago Police Department warns Harry that he himself is the chief suspect in a grisly double murder. Thus begins his entanglement in a series of events that will pit him against a dangerous mob boss, a court of vampires, and one powerful warlock.

Storm Front is the first in Butcher’s Dresden Files series. Fifteen books and several short stories have been written so far, so there is plenty to enjoy if you’re looking for a new fun and heroic blend of urban fantasy and noir mystery. Be forewarned, though: they should definitely be read in order. The audiobook versions are narrated by James Marsters (the actor who played Spike in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series), who does an excellent job of bringing Harry and his compatriots to life.

Monday, August 12, 2019

Anthony Bourdain Remembered by CNN

This was an endearing and lovingly compiled book honoring Anthony Bourdain's legacy in the world of food and culture. Looking through this collection, we see how many lives Bourdain touched with his books, shows, and essays, clearly reaching a number of chefs, restaurant workers, self-proclaimed foodies, and armchair travelers alike. The professional photos on every page were fantastic, capturing Bourdain with  many meals spent with every day people from all over the world.

Creating a book for the purpose of displaying how many people were effected by Bourdain was both empowering and bittersweet. It's absolutely wonderful that one man could have such an impact on people's lives, but because of his death we read these testimonies with joy, as well as a heavy heart. This compilation of memories reminded me of just how much Anthony Bourdain will forever be missed.

Monday, August 5, 2019

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

The Flatshare book cover (a picture of a woman on the left and a man on the right, separated by a door) Tiffy needs a new flat, and preferably one without suspicious mold growing behind the toilet. Leon, a nurse on the night shift, has a flat he’s rarely in and could use some extra cash. Why not rent out the apartment overnight to someone with a regular 9 to 5? Someone like Tiffy? They share a flat. They share a bed. But they’ve never met. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it works for them. Tiffy leaves for work before Leon gets off of his shift, and Leon, in turn, leaves to start his day right before Tiffy comes home for the evening. They leave notes throughout the apartment; Tiffy bakes, Leon occasionally makes dinner and leaves leftovers. They become close, as two people who share a space are bound to do-- even if they’re never in the same place at the same time.

This is, of course, a romance, so the pair do eventually meet. As life throws them curves in the form of manipulative ex-boyfriends, a wrongfully imprisoned brother, sick patients, and demanding clients, Tiffy and Leon learn to lean on each other until they can’t imagine making it through without the other person there.

An emotionally resonant story disguised as a fluffy meet-cute, O’Leary touches on themes of emotional abuse, violence, and gaslighting. And yet, there is humor and light and romance to carry these characters through to a very promising end. Recommended for fans of Marian Keyes or Christina Lauren.

Monday, July 29, 2019

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler book cover (a woman walking down a city street, with a stack of books superimposed over her) This is a story about Amy, a school librarian and single mother to two kids, whose husband decides to show up and become a part of their lives again. Amy had seemingly moved on from her husband's abandonment, but now that he is back, is she ready to let him in? To help her decide, she takes a trip to New York City! Meeting many wonderful people, catching up with an old friend, and living the life of a single woman in a big city, Amy isn't sure she really wants to go back to her old life.

This book was endearing and adorable, relatable and a joy to read. Kelly Harms creates a lovely character in Amy that you can't help but love and root for, and her story is complicated in the best way! It was an easy read, perfect for the summer.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula book cover (a photo of Romanian countryside at twilight, taken from behind a leafy archway)English solicitor Johnathan Harker is sent to Transylvania to finalize the purchase of a London estate by one Count Dracula. After a cold reception by the locals, and realizing there is something strange about the man and his rundown estate, he stumbles across Dracula’s true nature and is forced to flee for his life. He returns to London, only to find that Dracula has made it there first and already found his first victim: Lucy Westenra, the best friend of Johnathan’s fiance Mina. They, along with Lucy’s fiance and friends, band together to hunt down Dracula, drive him out of London, and finish him off once and for all (surprisingly, not with a wooden stake).

Bram Stoker’s classic is considered one of the preeminent works of horror fiction, creating one of the most iconic characters in literary history and inspiring over a century of fascination with vampires. It features strong characters and a fascinating look into scientific beliefs from Stoker's era.

For someone looking for a book about Dracula himself, this probably isn’t it. For most of the book, Dracula is more of a plot device than a fully developed character. The story also uses an older vernacular and is written in epistolary form, which could be a turnoff for some readers. For anyone who is a fan of classic horror, though, this book is a must!

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Fool's Puzzle by Earlene Fowler

Fool's Puzzle book cover (an image of an art gallery with quilts on display and a broken vase on the floor)Recently widowed Benni Harper has been working at an art museum for about 3 months, as well as chairing an artists’ co-op. She and the artists are preparing for an exhibit. One evening just prior to the event, one of the artists is murdered, and Benni discovers the body. Unfortunately, she sees her cousin drive away from the scene of the crime. In order to clear her family member of any wrongdoing, Benni takes it upon herself to investigate the murder, much to the consternation of the new police chief.

Fool’s Puzzle, the first of the Benni Harper mystery series of books, has more than one mystery to solve. While Benni is trying to find the artist’s murderer and clear her cousin of the crime, she also finds her late husband’s death is not all that it would first appear to be. With a bit of romance thrown in, Fool’s Puzzle is an enjoyable story for those readers interested in mysteries without much gore or violence.

Monday, July 1, 2019

The Anomaly by Michael Rutger

The Anomaly book cover (a sliver of darkness between two red cave walls)Nolan Moore hosts The Anomaly Files, a popular web video series exploring the mysteries of the unexplained. Needing to attract funding and make the jump to network television, he and a small crew venture to the Grand Canyon for what they hope will be an impressive find. Nolan believes he has deduced the location of a legendary cave containing pictographs and statuary unlike any yet found in North America. Nolan locates the cave and it holds far more than rock paintings and dusty effigies. He accidentally sets into motion an ancient eldritch process and discovers a conspiracy which may threaten us all.

This is a quick moving suspenseful read that serves its claustrophobic horror with a side of humor. If you enjoyed the X-Files, this book may be for you. A second book in The Anomaly Files series, The Possession, is due to be published in July 2019.

Monday, June 24, 2019

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Red, White & Royal Blue book cover (a cartoon image of two boys leaning in opposite directions)This ultra-charming "new adult" book is about Alex, the First Son of the United States, and HRH ("his royal highness") Prince Henry of Wales falling head over heels in love with one another. It starts with a mishap with a wedding cake, resulting in a weekend of forced friendship that ultimately turns into a clandestine kiss in a garden. A secret relationship is formed, and love happens (along with sex and a whole lot of kissing!). But then, just as the campaign for his mother’s re-election as President is heating up, a horrific sex scandal causes chaos with the untimely outing of both Alex and Prince Henry!

Is a happy ending on the horizon for this royal couple? You’ll have to read it to find out!

I absolutely loved every minute of reading this book. It was adorable, witty, funny, heartwarming, and very well written. I couldn’t put it down!

Monday, June 17, 2019

Belonging by Nora Krug

Belonging book cover (a drawing of a woman pasted onto a photo of a German river valley)In this graphic memoir, framed like a scrapbook, German ex-pat Nora Krug tries to answer a question that lives in the heart of many Germans: "What role did my family play in the Holocaust?"

To find answers, she delves into local archives and government records, as well as her relatives' memories and photo albums. Her ultimate hope is to alleviate her sense of inherited guilt, but of course nothing is ever so straightforward. On her journey, she meets new relatives, fact-checks family lore, and is eventually able to see her long-gone family members as real people with real lives and real emotions, and finally accept her heritage, mixed bag that it is.

Germany has always been a particular interest of mine, so I was completely fascinated by this first-hand, highly personal account of a modern German grappling with the guilt and shame of her country's past. While not graphically explicit, the story packs an emotional gut punch. Peppered with tidbits of German culture from toadstools to laundry detergent, this is an incredible read for anyone interested in a modern German perspective on World War Two.

Monday, June 10, 2019

Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson

Murder on Astor Place book cover (a single streetlamp on a dark city street, illuminating a pool of blood on the ground) One evening, Sarah, a midwife in late 19th century New York, is called to a boardinghouse to deliver the owner’s baby. A guest walks in during the delivery, and for an instant, Sarah thinks she recognizes her and calls out a name, startling the young woman. The guest leaves, and Sarah spends the next several hours delivering the baby. When she returns later to check on mother and child, she is surprised to learn that the young female guest has been murdered. Sarah becomes drawn into the investigation as she discovers a connection to the victim and her family, and though outside forces attempt to thwart the investigation, Sarah feels a personal compulsion to carry on and find the killer.

Historical mysteries have an extra layer of intrigue since all contemporary means of solving a crime are not available, and Murder on Astor Place has this with the added twist of a corrupt New York Police Department that was still attempting to rid itself of those unsavory practices. This story is a quick and light mystery that begins the Gaslight Mystery series. Recommended for cozy mystery fans, and especially readers of the Maisie Dobbs series.

Monday, June 3, 2019

Notes From a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi

Notes from a Young Black Chef book cover (the author, a young black man with glasses, in a chef's uniform)By the time he was twenty-seven, Kwame Onwuachi had competed on TopChef, cooked at the White House, and opened and closed one of the most talked-about restaurants in America. In this inspiring memoir, he shares the remarkable story of his culinary coming-of-age. Growing up in the Bronx and Nigeria (where he was sent by his mother to "learn respect"), food was Onwuachi's great love.

This was a well-written memoir, with Onwuachi shaping and molding his story to both inform and entertain his readers. Each chapter ends with a recipe, which I found especially cozy. I enjoyed reading about his journey from the streets of New York, to Africa, to serving a prestigious dinner at the National Museum of African American History, to being a chef at his own restaurant. He seems to have an incredible work ethic, a fierce tenacity, and an incredible sense of street wise. His demeanor in his kitchen, never berating or belittling his staff, is very agreeable and makes me like him even more. Overall, I am most impressed, however, with his unwavering refusal to give in to clichéd stereotypes.

Monday, May 6, 2019

The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub

The Talisman book cover (a starburst of jagged red light, resembling a spider web) In 1984, two masters of horror collaborated to bring us this novel. In it, young Jack Sawyer goes on a magical quest to save his dying mother by obtaining the powerful Talisman. An evil sorcerer also desires the Talisman and attempts to thwart him at every turn. Jack’s path crosses America from the Atlantic to the Pacific and traverses not only our mundane world (He visits a fictional boarding school here in Springfield!), but also crosses into a parallel fantasy realm called the Territories. Not all of the monsters in this book have fangs and claws; some are very much human, and it is often difficult to determine which world is the most dangerous. Jack’s journey is harrowing and heroic by turns as he gains and loses (sometimes quite heartbreakingly) allies and enemies along his path.

King fans will see shades of the Dark Tower series in this novel. And, though it certainly has many horrific elements, it should also appeal to fantasy readers, as Jack’s journey is indeed a hero’s quest.

King and Straub teamed up again in 2001 to write a sequel, Black House, which features Jack as an adult, tracking a serial killer and battling evil once again.

Monday, April 29, 2019

The Lido by Libby Page

The Lido book cover (two women in a pool looking out at a residential community) Kate is a twenty-six-year-old reporter working for the local neighborhood newspaper in Brixton, London. After writing mostly about lost pets and trying (unsuccessfully) to keep her anxiety and panic attacks at bay, she is assigned to write about the closing of the lido, or local swimming pool. At the lido, she meets Rosemary, an eighty-seven-year-old widow who swims at the pool every day, and has for most of her life. Kate asks Rosemary for an interview, to which the older woman agrees only if Kate goes for a swim in the pool. Together, the women begin not only a friendship, but a campaign to save the lido.

This novel is a touching tribute to relationships and community. Through flashbacks, we see Rosemary fall in love with and lose her husband George, the presence of the lido all the while in the background. As Kate spends more time with Rosemary, she is able to find confidence and strength, create new friendships, and reach out to family she hasn’t spoken to in a while. Between the two of them, they bring a community together with a common purpose, in an effort to save one of the last true community centers in the neighborhood.

For fans of heartwarming, character-driven fiction, and authors like Fannie Flagg and Sophie Kinsella.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Year One by Nora Roberts

Year One book cover (a large crow with wings made of dark smoke)It all begins with a family on vacation in Ireland. On their way back home to New York, the husband grows sick. By the next day, he's in the hospital, dying. The sickness spreads quickly-- worldwide. Governments collapse, mayhem reigns supreme. Only instead of a zombie apocalypse, people start seeing things out of fairy tales: people flying, unicorns in the street, monsters in the subways.

As with any tool, magic can be used for good or evil, and a war is brewing between the two while people try to survive in the ruins of the world. Lana and Max, two witches, leave NYC on a quest to find Max's brother and safety. Arlys and Fred, two journalists running from what's left of the government, leave the city to find a tech genius named Chuck. Rachel and Jonah flee the NYC hospital where they work, bringing along a new mother of three to find a safe haven down south. In a world where it's harder than ever to trust anyone, these characters head towards an unknown purpose that will shape the lives of survivors everywhere.

If you're looking for a dramatic, fast-paced fantasy series, this isn't it. With fairies, magic, and elves, it is certainly fantasy, but those elements trickle into the story slowly. The style of the writing is less "high fantasy" than it is "urban fantasy" or "magical realism." Fans of Nora Robert's realistic fiction will still find a lot to like here.

Year One is the first in the Chronicles of the One trilogy. The sequel, Of Blood and Bone, was released last year, and the conclusion, The Rise of Magicks, is scheduled for later this year. Now that the 'new world' is set up in the series, it will be interesting to see how the story manifests in the sequels.

Monday, April 8, 2019

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

Every Heart a Doorway book cover (an open door standing alone in the middle of a forest, with fairy lights in the foreground)There have always been stories of children disappearing into other worlds-- fairylands, wonderlands, netherworlds, and more. But what happens when those children come back? What happens when their families no longer know what to do with them, when all they want is to jump back down those rabbit holes?

If they're lucky, they end up at Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, where they can be among others who understand. Nancy, who visited the land of the dead and learned the ways of stillness, is one such lucky girl, but it doesn't feel so lucky when right after she arrives, other students start turning up murdered and dismembered. As the new girl, from an underworld no less, it's not the best first impression.

This is an insanely creative, surprisingly short novel (or novella, technically) with an impressively diverse cast of characters. The worldbuilding is unlike anything I've ever read before. While the "fantasy boarding school" setup might appeal to teens, the gruesome deaths of the children officially makes this an adult read. There are currently four books in the "Wayward Children" series, with more on the way, and a TV show is in the works.

Monday, March 25, 2019

Blood Sisters by Jane Corry

Blood Sisters book cover (the lower half of a girl wearing a school uniform, standing on a dirt path, surrounded by autumn leaves) Blood Sisters is an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that leaves you asking, "What really happened? But no, really, what happened…"

Alison has a secret. One so dark she lets it keep her from fully enjoying life. What is that secret? We don't know. She takes a job in a prison to get by financially-- and because she feels she deserves to be there-- but then she finds herself in trouble, with threatening notes claiming they know her deep, dark secret. Then there are chapters from another character's point of view: Kitty. Kitty was involved in some sort of incident-- an accident?-- that left her brain damaged. She lives in a facility, unable to speak proper words (they come out in jumbled mumbles) and can't remember life before the facility. But wait! Memories start to creep back from time to time... 

Finally we find out some of what happened on that day-- the day Alison decided she couldn't allow herself to be happy and Kitty forgot about life before brain damage. Or do we? This is the exciting part about this novel: the stages of finding out what exactly transpired that fateful day before school, when three girls in uniform stood in the road-- ending with one girl dead, one brain damaged, and one blaming herself. 

This novel was hard to put down because I simply had to know what happened. The ending is satisfying, with missed details and new revelations leading to all of the answers. If you like a good thriller/mystery, this should be your next book to read.

Monday, March 18, 2019

An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor

An Irish Country Doctor book cover (a watercolor of a man walking his dog down a dirt road alongside rolling green hills) Our story begins with Dr. Barry Laverty sitting on a train headed to Ballybucklebo, an Irish village populated with an interesting and quirky cast of characters. It is in this town that he will begin his medical career, working with Dr. Fingal O’Reilly as a general practitioner. Having the story set in the 1960s affords the reader a relatability with its references to the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and other very recognizable people and events. Each interaction with a new patient propels the story along, bringing the reader on a journey through this quaint town and its inhabitants.

Listening to the audio book, with its Irish narrator, really brought the story and the characters to life and makes for an enjoyable listen. Fortunately, this is just the first of Patrick Taylor’s Irish Country series, so there are many more experiences to be had with the two doctors in Ballybucklebo.

Monday, March 11, 2019

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

My Sister, the Serial Killer book cover (an African woman wearing a head scarf and sunglasses)Korede is the responsible sister, everything her sister Ayoola is not. Korede is practical, methodical, sensible, practical, and plain, while Ayoola is flighty and charming to everyone she meets. She also has the unfortunate habit of killing off her boyfriends, leaving Korede to help conceal her crimes and literally clean up the mess.

When Ayoola sets her sights on a handsome doctor at the hospital where Korede works (perhaps it's also not a coincidence that Korede has had a secret crush on him for years) Korede must reckon with what her sister has become, and just how far she is willing to go to protect her.

This book is full of dark humor and packs a punch, despite only having 220 pages in it. You'll want to keep turning the pages of this addictively unique thriller, and it will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Monday, March 4, 2019

Warcross by Marie Lu

Warcross book cover (the title in large metallic letters resembling a computer server) Enigmatic young genius Hideo Tanaka changes the world when he invents Warcross, a virtual reality gaming system used by millions of people worldwide. Emika is a tech-savvy hacker/bounty hunter in a near-future New York, trying to make rent money, when she hacks her way into a high-profile international virtual reality sporting event. Her prowess attracts Hideo’s attention, and he makes her a job offer. Someone nicknamed Zero has been disrupting Warcross code and Emika is hired to go undercover as a player in the Warcross tournament to identify the culprit.

Amidst the tension of her training for the tournament and her investigation, Emika begins a tentative romance with Hideo. However, everyone harbors secrets in their past, including the young lovers. Meanwhile, Zero’s threat spills over from virtual reality into the real world.

Fans of Ready Player One will enjoy this first volume of a young adult duology by Marie Lu. Emika’s story is concluded with Wildcard which was released September 2018.

Monday, February 25, 2019

Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton

Aunt Dimity's Death book cover (a pink stuffed bunny seated at a table set for tea) Lori's life is a disappointment. Her college degree is useless, her job experience is laughable, her social life is in shambles, and her finances are nonexistent. She is burned out and jaded, nothing at all like "Aunt Dimity," the unflappable, ever-optimistic, fictional heroine of her late mother's bedtime stories.

And then a letter comes, on fancy embossed paper, summoning her to the law office of Willis & Willis. Out of a sense of both curiosity and obligation, she shows up. Shivering on their doorstep like a Dickensian orphan, she is taken in by the handsome but way-too-friendly Bill Willis, whose father gives her the baffling news that Aunt Dimity, the character from her favorite childhood stories, has died, and named Lori in the will.

Fast enough to cause whiplash, Lori goes from a world of temp jobs and unheated apartments to one of mansion-like law offices and impossibly charming English cottages straight out of her childhood imagination. But Aunt Dimity had secrets that Lori must uncover, even if it completely changes the way she remembers her mother and her past.

Aunt Dimity's Death is a cozy mystery for people who don't necessarily like cozy mysteries. There are no cookie-related murders, and Lori's trek into Dimity's past can only barely be called an investigation, but it certainly is cozy. Historical fiction fans will enjoy the tales of England's traumatic but thrilling days of World War Two, and fans of character development will enjoy Lori's emotional recovery from her dark days. It's a charming and heartwarming read.

Monday, February 18, 2019

A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

A Place for Us book cover (a small silhouette of a house against an enormous moon)A Place for Us is a deeply emotional novel told through the different viewpoints and perceptions of an Indian-American family. Author Fatima Mirza takes us through the struggles and personal turmoil that parents Rafiq and Layla endure as they search for ways to make their children's lives happy but still wholesome in their Muslim faith. As they look back on their lives, they find themselves coping with the decisions they had to make to keep their youngest and only boy, Amar, on the same religious path that they themselves have been on. With this pressure, Amar struggles to find a place in the Muslim community, but perhaps even more within his own family.

I enjoyed the intersecting points of view from each of the family members, but the constantly shifting perspective may be confusing to some. The book ends with a powerful monologue from Rafiq to Amar, his words pained and racked with regret. It was a deeply moving end to this emotionally charged piece of literature.

Monday, February 11, 2019

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

The Proposal book cover (a woman in sunglasses facing a man in a baseball hat, with palm trees, tacos, cupcakes, and baseballs in the background)Freelance writer Nikole Paterson is at a Dodgers game with her boyfriend, when he proposes to her on the Jumbotron, but everything about this moment is horrible. They've only been dating for five months, and they've never even talked about getting married. Worst of all, he couldn't even spell her name right. Nik obviously turns him down, only to be met by a camera crew intent on further capturing her humiliation.

Carlos Ibarra and his sister Angela swoop in to save the say, hustling Nik out of the stadium and into a bar where her friends are waiting to help her lick her wounds.

This is such a warm, engaging romance novel, where we see Nik and Carlos evolve from friends to more than friends, all the while trying to carefully navigate the threads of their casual relationship as it develops into something more. While this is technically a sequel to The Wedding Date, you do not have to read it to enjoy this one.

Full of fun and with a sharp feminist edge, The Proposal is a romance novel you definitely don't want to miss.

Monday, January 28, 2019

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

Seven Days of Us book cover (featuring a house with lit windows on a starry background)
Seven Days of Us is a novel that follows the Birch family during their seven day quarantine when the eldest daughter, Olivia, comes home from treating Haag patients in Liberia. Along with their younger daughter, Phoebe, and surprise visit from Mr. Birch’s son, whom he didn’t know about until recently, the Birch family find themselves learning more than they bargained for during the holiday! With secrets abound and slow churning chaos ensuing once hidden truths are exposed, will these secrets drive an already unraveling family apart, or will it knit them back together with a stronger bond?

This novel was thoroughly interesting and original, sentimental without heavy hysterics. Although it is not exactly a sad novel, it did have its points where I was enveloped with all of the feelings and empathy of the characters, truly grasping their sadness. Hornak weaves an absorbing tale of the Birch family that kept my nose in the book, making it hard to put down. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy novels filled with family drama and realistic endings.

Sunday, January 20, 2019

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone book cover (a bright road winding through a pine forest, with mountains in the background) Thirteen-year-old Lenora (Leni) Allbright has never really had a place she can call home. Her father, Ernt Allbright, a Vietnam POW, is always convinced that the next place they move to will return him to the man he was before the war changed him. After losing yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision to move his family to Alaska, despite Leni and her mother's reluctance to leave behind everything they know to venture into America's last true frontier.

The Allbrights meet a group of friendly people who are more than willing to help them prepare for the harsh winter ahead and lend some much needed heart to a lackluster existence. But it's not long before everyone learns that no matter how far you go, you can't outrun your demons, and with the devastating snow storms, and near constant darkness that winter brings, Leni and her mother must work together to survive against all odds.

Kristin Hannah brings the wild beauty of the Alaskan landscape to life, painting it as the stunning and dangerous place it is. Full of dark places and broken dreams, The Great Alone also shows just how strong the bond between mother and daughter can become. Highly recommended.

Monday, January 14, 2019

Ironfoot by Dave Duncan

Ironfoot book cover (an old wooden tabletop strewn with spellbooks and spell components) Ironfoot is the first book in the Enchanter General series by Dave Duncan. It takes place in 12th century Norman-ruled England, an especially bad time to be a a poor, crippled, Saxon youth. But such is the lot of our hero, Durwin, nicknamed Ironfoot for the metal boot he wears to support an injured leg. By chance, his cleverness and competency with horses earns him a place as a student at a university which teaches the art of magic along with the sciences. When catastrophe befalls a professor’s noble family, Durwin is called upon to accompany him home. While at the castle, he uncovers a string of murders and the burden of solving them falls upon his shoulders. He needs all his wits, luck with his spellwork, and the aid of the school bully to solve them.

This book would appeal to those who enjoy historical mysteries as well as fantasy readers. The setting is quite historically detailed, with just a little bit of magic thrown in. It should be interesting to follow Durwin’s career from lower-class stable-boy to Enchanter General as the series continues. The next book, Trial by Treason just came out in October 2018.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Vox by Christina Dalcher

Vox book cover (a woman's face with an X over her mouth, on a blank background) This is a book reminiscent of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale. It is the story of a near-future America in which women and girls are given just 100 words to speak per day. They receive a jolt of electricity through a metal counter (i.e. bracelet) for every word they speak after 100. Women have been sent back in time to where they are the homemakers, cooking dinner for their husbands and tending to household needs while the men work "real" jobs. Books are thrown out or locked up with the only key on the husband’s keychain; men are in charge of everything from finances to medical decisions; women aren't allowed to write or even gesture with their hands to communicate. Adulterers (women only, because "boys will be boys…") and homosexuals are taken to labor camps in the Midwest. The country, in short, is run by morally "Pure" men.

Though Dalcher’s writing took some time to get used to (she is a little more candid than I am used to), by the midway point, I was totally sucked into the story. It's a semi-believable plot with just enough sexist garbage to really fire me up! Dalcher really knows what to say to frustrate the heck out of women reading this, but in the best possible way! It had me wanting to march in the streets and burn down the patriarchy.

To conclude, I ended up enjoying this book. It's a solid debut and I recommend it to those who like Atwood or other dystopian works of fiction.