Review: Garden Spells

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book! It reminded me of Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic with its magic realism and theme of embracing who you are. The Waverly family has always been considered a little odd; plants from the gardens surrounding the house can be used to manipulate feelings and events, and there's an apple tree that will foretell your future. Claire Waverly is the current occupant. Abandoned by her mother at age 6, she and her sister Sydney were raised by their grandmother, and the two sisters grew up resenting each other. Claire has no attachments since everyone she loves eventually leaves her. Sydney ran away from home after graduating from high school but suddenly returns with her daughter Bay, when her life takes a disastrous turn. The story evolves around the two women as they struggle to discover the truth about the past, and as they develop a new relationship together.

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Review: Billy Boyle

Billy Boyle by James R. Benn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's 1941 and newly-minted Boston police detective Billy Boyle finds himself in the army attached to his Uncle Ike's staff in London. Uncle Ike happens to be General Dwight Eisenhower, and he's really a cousin of sorts, rather than Billy's uncle. Billy is an easy-going young man, always looking for the angle that best suits him, and he soon discovers that he has a whole new way of life to learn. Billy is sent to Beardsley Hall where Norwegian forces are stationed. The American and British leadership suspect that a spy for the Germans has been inserted into the Norwegians, and Billy's assignment is to uncover the traitor if one exists. Not long after he arrives at Beardsley Hall, one of the Norwegian officers is murdered. Billy's job becomes more complicated as he's put in charge of that investigation also.

I enjoyed this book. Billy is a very likable character who has a lot of maturing to do. The plot was twisty enough to keep me interested, and I also liked the WWII setting. I liked the way the totally fictional plot was set into a real military operation, Operation Jupiter, and I felt that the author had done a good job of researching the time period. I am looking forward to reading more in the series.

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Review: An Old Betrayal

An Old Betrayal by Charles Finch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

One of the things I like about this series is its faithfulness to its continuing story line. Yes, you could read these books as stand alones, but the development of the characters and the ongoing conflicts enrich each of them. Lenox has risen quickly to the front benches of Parliament, and has had great success working across the aisle with members of the opposite to pass social legislation. He still hungers for involvement in detective work, however, and in this case he is helping his protege John Dallington. One of the queen's assistant social secretaries has asked for help. As Lenox and Dallington investigate, they uncover a plot that threatens national security. In his personal life, Lenox is also concerned about the marriage of their friends Toto and Dr. McConnell, and allegations that his secretary is taking bribes. The resolution of that last issue leads to the Lenox's decision about his future in a very satisfying manner.

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Review: The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain

The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain by Bill Bryson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoy Bill Bryson's books. I especially like the way his stories meander while still getting to the point. In this book, Bryson is traveling from southern Britain to northern Britain, somewhat along what he calls "The Bryson Line" - from Bognor Regis on England's south coast, to Cape Wrath on Scotland's north coast. He manages to cover all of Britain's regions, mostly visiting places he didn't visit in his first travelogue around Britain. I enjoyed traveling with him, and once again, was pleased with his penchant for seeking out information about forgotten people, places, and events. There was an air of melancholy throughout the book, as he realized how much the country has changed, and what purely British norms and traditions are being lost. It was also fun to see some of the places that I've been through his eyes.

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Review: The Forgotten Garden

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! Kate Morton tells the story of Eliza Makepiece, author of book of fairytales published in the early 1900's, Rose Montrachet, spoiled invalid daughter of a Cornish aristocrat, Nell, found abandoned on an Australian dock in 1913, and Nell's granddaughter Cassandra. Cassandra has lived with her grandmother most of her life, and when Nell dies in 2005, Cassandra discovers that her grandmother had been adopted. Nell has left her a cottage in Cornwall as well as journal in which Nell has recorded her research into her family history. Nell goes to Cornwall to try to discover the truth about her grandmother's life. The narrative is told from the viewpoints of the 4 women, and jumps backwards and forwards from the early 1900's to 2005. I was spellbound by the story; Morton created an atmosphere of mystery and magic emanating from a hidden garden. I loved the inclusion of Frances Hodgson Burnett's fictional visit to the hidden garden and the hint that her book "The Secret Garden" was inspired by the visit. This was one book I was sorry to finish, because it was so good.

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Review: The Innocent

The Innocent by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book! Kate Morton tells the story of Eliza Makepiece, author of book of fairytales published in the early 1900's, Rose Montrachet, spoiled invalid daughter of a Cornish aristocrat, Nell, found abandoned on an Australian dock in 1913, and Nell's granddaughter Cassandra. Cassandra has lived with her grandmother most of her life, and when Nell dies in 2005, Cassandra discovers that her grandmother had been adopted. Nell has left her a cottage in Cornwall as well as journal in which Nell has recorded her research into her family history. Nell goes to Cornwall to try to discover the truth about her grandmother's life. The narrative is told from the viewpoints of the 4 women, and jumps backwards and forwards from the early 1900's to 2005. I was spellbound by the story; Morton created an atmosphere of mystery and magic emanating from a hidden garden. I loved the inclusion of Frances Hodgson Burnett's fictional visit to the hidden garden and the hint that her book "The Secret Garden" was inspired by the visit. This was one book I was sorry to finish, because it was so good.

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Review: The Funeral Dress

The Funeral Dress by Susan Gregg Gilmore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A terrific book! It's the 1970's, in a small Tennessee mill town. Emmalee Bullard is an unmarried mother trying to raise her new infant in the unheated tar paper shack she was raised in. The Bullards are considered "white trash" by the townspeople, and her father goes out of his way to alienate anyone who tries to offer them assistance. Emmalee's hopes for a better life are raised when Leona, a woman from the mill where they work sewing collars onto dresses and shirts, offers her and the baby a home. Her hopes are dashed when Leona dies in a tragic accident. Emmalee feels the only way she can honor Leona is by sewing her a dress to be buried in. Emmalee's stubbornness in pursuing the task changes her from someone who allows life to batter her into someone willing to make her own future. I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Emmalee is a compelling character as is Leona, whose own story is told in flashback. It's a hopeful story too, despite the bleakness of Emmalee's circumstances. The author captures the complexities of life in a small town well too.

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Review: A Girl's Guide to Moving On

A Girl's Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nichole Patterson and her mother-in-law Leanne Patterson have something in common - both are trying to re-establish their lives after the failure of their marriages. The two women remain good friends despite the break up of their marriages, and together they form their own support group and cheering squad as they attempt to find a new normal for themselves. The story is told in from parallel viewpoints as the chapters alternate between Nichole's story and Leanne's. I liked both women, but found the male characters to less believable. Their ex-husbands are portrayed as flat, bad-guys, and the new men in their lives are a little too good to be true. I have to admit that I like Debbie Macomber's Blossom Street books better and more believable.

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Review: My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life

My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life by Ruth Reichl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't think I've ever read a cookbook before, though this is more of a cooking journal than a cookbook. After Ruth Reichl's job as editor of Gourmet magazine came to an abrupt end with its folding, she spent the next year or so, cooking at home and keeping notes about what she was thinking and feeling at the time. She's compiled her notes and journal into a record of that grieving time and this book is the result.

I loved the photographs in the book, and the excerpts from her notes about the season. With each recipe she provides the context for when and why she chose to cook it. While I doubt I'll prepare more than a couple of them, almost all of them made me want to try them. She stresses the importance of using fresh ingredients, from local sources as much as possible, and using food in its season. It's hard for a lot of us, budgets may not allow us to purchase some ingredients, and for many of us, where we live dictates what's available. I'd love to frequent my local butcher or fishmonger, but the only "butchers" where I live are in the grocery store where the meat comes prepackaged. But that's beside the point of this book. I will admit that my "staples" list closely resembles hers. I don't regularly keep heavy cream and sour cream in the fridge, and I may only have 3 kinds of vinegar and canola, olive, and peanut oil on hand, but I was surprised that I had so many of the same things on hand.

This is a book to savor, pun intended.

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Review: The Queen's Poisoner

The Queen's Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a Kindle First offering which can be hit or miss for me. This was definitely a hit. I was surprised to enjoy it so much. Owen Kisskaddon is eight years old, and when his father refuses to support his king in battle, Owen is sent as hostage to live in the royal palace at Kingfountain. Owen is terrified by his new life; King Severn is considered a monster by many of his subjects. His day includes breakfast with the king and a host of other young hostages, where the king purposely attacks their vulnerabilities and fears. The king is "Fountain Blessed" with the power of persuasion, and he gathers his power by these attacks. Owen soon makes some powerful friends, including a mysterious woman know as the Queen's Poisoner. She suspects that Owen is also Fountain Blessed and begins to help him discover the depths of his power.

The story was inspired by England's War of the Roses, and King Severn is Wheeler's Richard III. I liked the way history and fantasy were woven together, and I liked his main characters, Owen and Elizabeth Victoria Mortimer. This is billed as a "Teen and Young Adult" novel on Amazon, but it's definitely one of those books that isn't confined to one age group. I will be reading the next volume in the trilogy when it's published.

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Review: A Pitying of Doves: A Birder Murder Mystery

A Pitying of Doves: A Birder Murder Mystery by Steve Burrows
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am really enjoying this series; this is #2. DCI Domenic Jejeune is still conflicted about his job. He is a brilliant detective, but doesn't find the job at all fulfilling. He would much rather be researching birds. In his newest case, the caretaker of a local bird sanctuary and young Mexican diplomat are found brutally murdered in a locked bird cage at the sanctuary, and two birds are missing. Jejeune's thought processes and investigative methods don't usually follow the norm, so his superiors aren't very happy when he refuses to put a lot of priority on obvious suspects. The investigation becomes complicated when a chief suspect is murdered and a police officer is injured.

This book has a dark, moody atmosphere which seems to reflect Jejeune's inner conflicts. As in the first book, the author does a good job of evoking the setting, and in sharing interesting information about birds. There is a not-so-subtle conservation message underlying the books too, but it's not intrusive.

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Review: The Last Anniversary

The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed Liane Moriarity's books, and while I did like this one, I like others better. In 1932 a young couple, Alice and Jack Munro, living on a Scribble Gum Island, mysteriously vanish, leaving behind an infant. Sisters Connie and Rose Doughty find the infant, name her Enigma, and raise her. Along the way, they build a family business based on the great unsolved mystery of the Munro disappearance. Seventy years later, Sophie Honeywell, ex-fiancee of Connie's nephew, inherits Connie's house, and goes to live on the tiny island. As other members of Connie's rather eccentric family get involved in Sophie's life, a long-held family secret is eventually revealed.

I liked the premise of the book, but Sophie was a rather annoying character. She's almost 40 but had the reactions/mindset of a fairly immature woman. I also figured out the long-held secret fairly easily. However, it was an easy read, and it filled the bill at the moment.

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Review: A Death in the Small Hours

A Death in the Small Hours by Charles Finch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Charles Lenox is now a well-regarded member of Parliament, and has just been asked to deliver the keynote address at the opening of Parliament, an extremely great honor. When his uncle Frederick invites him to Everley to look into some reports of vandalism in the village, Lenox and his wife jump at the chance of a few days in the country. Lenox knows that he will be able to concentrate on writing his speech away from the hustle and bustle of London. Of course, the village vandalism is the just the tip of the iceberg, and before long a villager is murdered. As is the case in previous books, Lenox manages to untangle quite a web of deceit and criminal activity. Throughout the book, Lenox is also wrestling within himself; he knows he is an effective legislator but his heart is in the detective work he has largely given up. I'm looking forward to the next in the series as I think a decision may be looming.



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Review: Open and Shut

Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I finally finished listening to this book! I really found it hard to find uninterrupted listening time, but when we went on vacation in February, I made it a point to restart it. I really liked it, and the narration was excellent.

Attorney Andy Carpenter agrees to represent Willy Martin, convicted of murdering a young woman, when his case is reopened. As Andy and his team build their defense, Andy discovers a secret his father had kept for almost 40 years. This secret, represented by a photo of some very powerful men as college students, threatens Andy; he is harassed and attacked legally and physically. Andy eventually untangles a tightly woven knot of lies which directly impacts his court case.
All in all, this was an engrossing listen.

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Review: The Company She Kept

The Company She Kept by Archer Mayor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've been reading this series since the time Archer Mayor was a local regional author, and am still enjoying the series. I like the way the characters have grown and changed over the years, and how some relationships have grown and deepened while others have imploded. It makes them very realistic. I also really appreciate recognizing landmarks and setting features since I live close enough to eastern VT to be familiar with the locale.

This installment finds Joe Gunther and his team investigating the bizarre murder of Susan Raffner, a VT state legislator who is a very close friend of the VT governor, Gail Zigman. Is it a hate crime or a drug-related crime , or even something more sinister?

I found the pacing of the book to be on the slow side for almost the entire book. However, the ending was almost too fast, and I thought the ending was a bit abrupt. It didn't go quite far enough either, leaving me with a lot of questions as to the repercussions.

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Friday Five: You Can Never Have Too Many . . .

It's been forever since I did a Friday Five on Revgals, but this one resonates as I just had a discussion about several "hoards" we seem to have acquired.

Here's the challenge:

While packing up my mother’s apartment a few months ago following a stroke, I discovered a side to her of which I had been previously unaware. While I wouldn’t go so far as to label it hoarding, she did have an excessive number of certain items among her things. Office supplies ranked at the top.

For today’s Friday Five, share with us what sorts of things you keep in a stash, or are always certain to have on hand. You know, just in case. (Wink)

So here's my list:

1.  Yarn --- My stash is huge, and despite all my attempts to knit new projects from what's in my stash, I still buy new yarn.  I am trying hard to resist the urge to purchase 2 new skeins of a particular lace yarn  so that I can participate in a mystery KAL.  The lace yarn I have in the stash either isn't the right weight (needs to be "heavy" lace) or isn't the right yardage.  

2.  Index cards -- When I moved out of my classroom last June, I discovered at least 5000 3x5 index cards that I had purchased over the years with personal money.  I do love 'em . . great for grocery lists, book lists, or lists that need to be kept longer term.  I will never need to buy more.

3.  Pens and highlighters --- Again, some are from years in the classroom, but I am a sucker for a new package of pens or highlighters.  I have to stay out of Staples, because every time I go in, Inkjoy pens scream my name.

4.  Hotel toiletries - This is more my husband's hoard.  We have 4 plastic shoeboxes filled with hotel soaps, 2 filled with body wash, and 2 filled with shampoo.  He hasn't had to buy him soap or shampoo in years.

5.  Olive oil -- Whenever it's on sale or there's a coupon, a bottle of olive oil finds its way to our pantry. At one time in the relatively short past, we had 13 bottles of olive oil in the pantry.  I have given some of it away, but we still have quite a few bottles. Tuna fish usually joins it.  Again, since my husband does the majority of grocery shopping, this is mostly his need, but I have to admit I get anxious if the tuna stack is shorter than 4 cans.  

I could add some other items that are stored in quantity around here --- toilet paper, printer paper, and push pins come to mind.

Review: The Clasp

The Clasp by Sloane Crosley
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This book isn't engaging me on any level, so I've abandoned it about 1/2 through.

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