Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright (AustenProse PR Book Tour)

 

Do you believe in ghosts?  I just went on a haunted trolly tour of Door County with one of my book clubs and it was a lot of fun.  I always enjoy a good ghost story.

Marian Anderson has lost her parents and her home in Milwaukee in 1921 after prohibition has caused the shut down of her family brewery.  She retains her family’s country estate, Mullerian, in rural Wisconsin near Milwaukee.  As she settles in, death seems to surround the estate and Marian has limited time to discover who the killer is before her own time is up.  In present day, Remy has moved to Mullerian Manor to help an author write a book about Marian Anderson and the Butterfly Butcher serial killer.  Will Remy be able to solve the mystery of both Marian and her own past?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The gothic atmosphere of this novel made this a perfect read for October.  I loved the ghosts and haunted house aspects.  I especially love a house with passages that lead to no where and secret entrances and exits.

·       The cover of this novel is beautiful, and I love how it features the glass butterfly house which is an important part of the story in both timelines.

·       As a resident of Wisconsin, I really loved the Wisconsin setting.  I also enjoyed the historical aspect as I always wonder how different breweries made it through prohibition and all the bars.  I know the major breweries started producing soda pop, but not everyone made the switch.

·       There were side characters in each timeline that were interesting.  I particularly enjoyed Marian’s childhood friend Felix, a WWI veteran who has returned with demons of his own.

·       I thought it was very interesting that the book looked into mental health in a sensitive and thoughtful way.

·       The storyline was intriguing, and it kept me engaged throughout.  Especially towards the end I could not put this book down.  I did not guess the ending to the mysteries.

·       Both storylines were equally engaging.  Sometimes I like on storyline in a dual storyline book more than the other.  It was not the case in this novel!

·       There are great discussion questions for a book club at the end and a sneak peek into Jaime Jo Wright’s next book which is set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  I can’t wait to read it when it comes out next spring.

Favorite Quotes:

“Death had always been fashionable.  Women celebrated it by donning black silks and feathers and shawls and lace.  Men acknowledged it with a band on their hat or a mourning ring on their finger.  Of course, that was more to announce their eligibility than anything else.  For what man could continue to flourish in life without a wife to manage his household and rear his children?”  Great 1^st paragraph of the novel!

“There were no bodies.  Nothing but broken wings and the memory of someone who smiled when death came to call.”

“People have this measuring stick they use and hold one another up to.  If you’re running a tad short, then something’s wrong with you.”

Overall, Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright was an engaging Gothic historical mystery romance set in Wisconsin that was perfect for the spooky season.

Book Source:  Review copy from Bethany House as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

An ominous butterfly house. A sinister legacy. An untraceable killer.

In 1921, Marian Arnold, the heiress to a brewing baron's empire, seeks solace in the glass butterfly house on her family's Wisconsin estate as Prohibition and the deaths of her parents cast a long shadow over her shrinking world. When Marian's sanctuary is invaded by nightmarish visions, she grapples with the line between hallucinations of things to come and malevolent forces at play in the present. With dead butterflies as the killer's ominous signature, murders unfold at a steady pace. Marian, fearful she might be next, enlists the help of her childhood friend Felix, a war veteran with his own haunted past.

In the present day, researcher Remy Shaw becomes entangled in an elderly biographer's quest to uncover the truth behind Marian Arnold's mysterious life and the unsolved murders linked to an infamous serial killer. Joined by Marian's great-great-grandson, can Remy expose the evil that lurks beneath broken wings? Or will the dark legacy surrounding the manor and its glass house destroy yet another generation?

ADVANCE PRAISE

"Readers will be eager to take this twisty, suspense-filled ride."— Publishers Weekly

AUTHOR BIO

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of twelve novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She's also a four-time Christy Award finalist, as well as the ECPA bestselling author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater, and two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines. Learn more at JaimeWrightBooks.com.

The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harpermusebooks for the review copy of The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock.

What type of setting would you like to see more of?  I love books set in the South and would love to see and read more of them.

In 1932 on Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia, Cleo Woodbine has come to work as a companion to a visitor of the Carnagie family who still maintain an estate on the island.  She also wants to explore the island that inspired her grandfather who wrote a classic book of fables as the resident artist of the Carnegies.  What dramatic events will occur that will change the lives of so many?

In 1959, Cleo Woodbine is a famous artist and recluse who lives alone on Kingdom Come, a tiny strip of land where the servants from Cumberland Island once lived.  Frances Flood has come to visit and find out the truth of what happened to her mother in 1932.  Will she uncover secrets from the past?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This story is told in a very interesting way.  There are three points of view in 1959 – Cleo, Frances, and Aubrey, a young widow that runs a local inn.  The viewpoint told in 1932 is that of “Fable.”  It was a great story, but I always wondered how much of it was true, and how much it was a “fable” told through Cleo’s eyes.  1932 was also the story of what happened when Cleo told a “fable” that impacted many lives.

·       I enjoyed both the 1932 and 1959 stories equally.

·       I loved the main characters and the stories of Cleo, Frances, and Aubrey.  The secondary characters were also full-bodied and interesting as well.

·       I liked how the mountain lion eludes hunters in both timelines and has lived for thirty years.

·       The mystery of 1939 and what exactly happened intrigued me, but the richness of the rest of the story and characters also made me savor the story.

·       I loved the setting.  I am ready to visit Cumberland Island now.  I looked up pictures of the island and both the natural setting and historic buildings are beautiful. 

·       A great author’s note at the end describes the author’s research into Cumberland Island and its history.

·       I enjoyed how a circus train was brought into the story.

·       It was interesting how the book goes through societal changes that are occurring and how they impact this community.

Favorite Quotes:

“She let herself recall the days when it had seemed their whole lives waiting beyond the horizon.  But their story had turned out to be a fable, a cautionary tale.”

“I thought about Korea.  Troops were integrated there.  I saw what they could be like and what it should be.  I figured it was maybe a place to start.  But there’s some that just can’t stop fighting an old battle.”

“What did she know about any of this?  Only that fear and blame ended up making monsters out of shadows, and fools out of even the most well-meaning men.”

Overall, The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock was a compelling well written story, with fascinating characters and a great historical mystery.

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

 

Title: The Dark Days Club

Author:  Alison Goodman

Narrated by:  Fiona Hardingham

Publisher: Brillance Audio

Length: Approximately 14 hours and 59 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.

What’s the last series you started?  I just read The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman last month for the JASNA Northwoods Book Club.  I sadly missed the meeting due to being ill, but I enjoyed reading this first book in the Lady Helen Trilogy.  I am ready to read the next book in the series!

It’s 1812 and Lady Helen Wrexhall is preparing for her presentation to Queen Charlotte.  Her mother, Lady Catherine, mysteriously died when Helen was a child, and she has been labeled as a traitor to England.  Lady Helen’s uncle and aunt hope that all can be forgotten and that she will make an excellent match.  At her presentation, she meets the mysterious and scandalous Lord Carlston.  As she searches for her family’s missing housemaid, she must enlist his help.  Along the way she also finds out secrets within her family.  Will she be ale to embrace who she really is?  What does she want to do with her life?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a historical fantasy novel with paranormal elements.  It’s a perfect book for fall reading.

·       This novel was a world building novel.  I look forward to the other books in this series that build on this novel.

·       There was a love triangle in the story, but it was obvious who would end together.  The focus of the story was on the world building and not on the romance.

·       The fantasy elements are that there are creators (Deceivers) living among the humans in Regency England that use energy tentacles to suck the life force out of unsuspecting humans.  Reclaimers use magical items and can see the Deceivers and use their powers to battle them.

·       I loved Lady Helen and her intelligence and independence.

·       This novel has great secondary characters and friends.  I especially liked her maid, Darby, and their relationship.

·       There was a great author’s note at the end of the novel.  Author Alison Goodman did a lot of research on the Regency period, and it shows in the historical detail in this novel.

·       I still want to know what exactly happened to Lady Helen’s parents and Lord Carlston’s wife.  Hopefully this will be explored in future novels.

·       I did feel that this novel could have been trimmed down to focus more on the action.

·       Fiona Hardingham was a great narrator on the audiobook.  She had unique voices for all the characters.

Overall, The Dark Days Club was an entertaining and interesting historical fiction novel and the great start to a new series.

The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for a review copy of The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman.

What types of books do you like to read in the fall?  I love reading mysteries, thrillers, and anything with a Halloween vibe.  The Shadow Key was a Gothic historical mystery and fit right in with what I want to be reading in the fall.

In 18^th century Wales, Dr. Henry Talbot took a job at the Plas Helyg estate after losing his prestigious job in London after a medical mishap.  He discovers the lady of the estate has mental troubles and is mostly bedridden.  Her daughter Linette is unconventional and likes to wear pants while working on the estate.  As Henry and Linette grow closer, Henry starts to realize that something is very wrong at the estate.  Will he figure out why and be able to help those at the estate?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The Shadow Key had a dark and foreboding feeling as soon as the book began, which gave me great fall vibes.

·       The people of Wales are distrustful of a newcomer from London even though he was sent to help.

·       Copper mining has taken over the land and is performed in unsafe conditions.  I am always intrigued with books that include mining.

·       I loved the historical Gothic suspense and the atmosphere of the entire novel.  It reminded me of Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt novels that I have enjoyed in the past.

·       Merlin the dog was a favorite of mine in the novel.  He was a heroic dog and his story pulled at my heartstrings.

·       This novel does feature an insta love story line, which is not my favorite trope.  It is a closed-door romance.

·       The historical mystery was enjoyable.  There were some great plot twists at the end that surprised me.  I read this book slowly, but surely until the end when I really wanted to figure out what had happened.

·       I don’t want to go into details on the plot, as it is fun to experience the plot twists without knowing what will happen.

·       I have not read Pandora by this author, but I want to after finishing this book.

Overall, The Shadow Key is an engrossing historical mystery with great Gothic vibes and plot twists.

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

 

What is your book club reading lately?  I’m in several different book clubs and we read a lot of different genres.  Blackmore by Julianne Donaldson was one of my book club reads for September.

Kate Worthington has decided that she will never marry, and she really wants to journey to India with her aunt.  Her mother agrees to her trip to India if she can get and reject three marriage proposals.  Kate travels to a house party at Blackmore in hopes of fulfilling her part of the bargain.  Will she be able to and what secrets will she uncover?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was one of the September picks for the JASNA Northwoods Book Club.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling well and missed this book club this month.

·       This novel is told from the first-person point of view.

·       It is told through the present and flashbacks to tell the story of why Kate no longer wants to marry.

·       This novel is set in 1820 and is a sweet Regency romance.

·       Kate has problems with her family.  Her mother is overbearing and throws herself at every man she sees.  It’s deeply implied that she cheats on Kate’s father all the time.  She wants Kate to get married, but also seems to want to be attractive to any potential suitors.  This was very awkward.

·       Her entire life, Kate has wanted to see the estate of Blackmoore.  It is her childhood best friend, Henry Delafield’s grandfather’s estate and will be Henry’s upon his death.

·       Henry’s mother has invited the lovely Miss St. Claire in hopes that Henry will propose to her during the house party.  Henry’s mother does not like Kate due to Kate’s family.

·       The mystery involved in this book really drew me into the story.  Why does Kate not want to marry anyone?  What exactly happened that cut off her family from Henry’s family? 

·       I liked the characters of Kate and Henry and getting to know them.  The other characters were one-dimensional and were not very likeable.

·       This book had a darker Gothic vibe which seemed more like Jane Eyre mixed with Pride and Prejudice.

·       This novel was a clean read.

Overall, Blackmoore was an entertaining Regency romance.

Book Source:  Checked out from the Kewaunee Public Library. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

 

If you could find out how long you had left in your life, would you want to find out?

One day every adult in the world received a box with a string in it.  The strings vary by size.  It doesn’t take scientists long to determine the length of your string is how long you have left in your life.  How will this impact the world and those with “short strings” versus “long strings.”

My thoughts on this book:

·       The Measure was the September pick for the Rogue Book Club.  It made for an interesting book club discussion.  I am still thinking about this book.

·       The story follows eight characters and their stories.  Their stories intertwine at times.

·       Prejudice starts with “short stringers” with people not wanting to give them jobs.  Can your life have an impact, even if it’s a short life?

·       There are two love stories in this novel that were very touching.

·       The ending goes into the future to give closure to all the characters, which I appreciated.

·       It was hard to believe that this novel was written by a debut author! 

·       The novel was an interesting look into how we dehumanize people by grouping them together and deciding everyone in that group must follow the same principles.

·       This was a good character driven novel.

·       The reader never finds out where the strings come from and why they keep arriving for young people as they come of age.

·       Politicians use the situation and people to further their own gains.  This seemed like something politicians would do.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick is a beautifully written novel with an intriguing concept that is great for book club discussion.

Book Source:  Checked out from the Kewaunee Public Library. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Where Coyotes Howl by Sandra Dallas

Title: Where Coyotes Howl

Author:  Sandra Dallas

Narrated by:  Stephanie Németh-Parker

Publisher: McMillian Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 14 minutes

Source: Thank you @netgalley for the audiobook review copy.  Sadly, only about half of the book ended up working on the NetGalley download so I purchased the audiobook from Amazon.com to listen to the rest of the book.

What is the saddest book you’ve ever read?  When Coyotes Howl is on my list of saddest books I’ve ever read.  I don’t know if I’ve ever cried as much reading a book.

Ellen Webster answers an ad to become a schoolteacher in Wyoming.  She meets Charlie Bacon and is swept off her feet.  The two work to make a life together on the high plains, but life in Wyoming is very difficult.

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel was the September pick for the Kewaunee Library Page Turners Book Club.  I sadly missed the meeting due to a work meeting.

·       I listened to this audiobook from NetGalley, but tragedy struck as it only had half of the story!  The audiobook wasn’t available from the library, so I purchased the rest of the story from Audible.

·       I liked the framing with someone that knew Ellen and Charlie telling their story in 1945 when they are showing a friend their empty homestead.

·       This story was set in 1916, which seems late for a pioneer homestead tale, but there were still parts of the west being settled at that time.  My great-grandma used to show me a picture of her father’s homestead in Montana in the 1920s.  It was stark.

·       I loved Charlie and Ellen’s romance and pure love for one another.  They have their down times, but their love remains strong.

·       This novel was beautifully written.

·       The audiobook had great narration and was easy to listen to.  Warning – do not listen to the last half of this book while you are driving!

·       This novel had many strong women who helped each other.  Ellen helped her friends, and they helped her.

·       This novel really showed the harshness and loneliness of settling on a ranch in Wyoming in the early 20^th century. The tragedies that the women and children faced such as fires, insanity, depression, poverty, and more brought tears to my eyes.   Just when I thought the book couldn’t get any sadder . . . it got sadder.

·       This pioneer tale is perfect for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Willa Cather, and Bess Streeter Aldrich. 

·       I liked that there was an auction for picnic baskets in this book and that is how Ellen and Charlie got together.  It reminded me of the musical, Oklahoma, and of So Big by Edna Ferber.  It leads me to believe the auctioning of baskets was a common entertainment back in the day.

Overall, Where Coyotes Howl is a beautifully written tale that shows the harshness and the beauty of homesteading in Wyoming in the early twentieth century.

Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein

 

How do you remember people you’ve lost in your life?  I like to reread old letters from my grandmothers that I received in the past.  It’s fun to “hear” their voices again.  I also love looking at old pictures. 

In Dear Eliza, Eliza Levinger receives a letter ten years after her mother died of cancer that rocks her world.  Her mother, Laura, had given the letter to her sister, Claude, to give to Eliza after her father’s death.  In it, she discovers a shocking revelation.  It rocks Eliza’s world, and she has to deal with the fallout.  How will she move forward with this new knowledge?  What is holding her back in life?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I greatly enjoyed this book and all the characters.  I loved Eliza, her brother Scott, sister-in-law Maren, best friend Mo, and her brother Scott’s life long best friend Josh.  I enjoyed their friendships, relationships, and wanted to read more about them. I was sad when this book ended as I wanted to spend more time in their world.

·       I loved the friends to lovers, slow burn, and kind of second chance romance between Eliza and Josh.  I loved how supportive Josh was to Eliza, but wondered why he wasn’t there during her time of need after Eliza’s mother’s death.  Josh and Eliza had wonderful interactions.

·       This novel deals with grief in many ways.  After Laura’s death when Eliza was 16, Eliza was floundering with no help.  Her father married not long afterwards, and Eliza did not have a good relationship with her stepmother Carol.  Eliza never was able to properly grieve.  Her relationship with her father never was the same and was distant.  When he dies, Eliza feels terrible for what was and what could have been.

·       Although Laura was not alive in this novel, she made me angry.  I didn’t like the bombshell that she had her sister give to Eliza right after her father’s death.  It was a time of intense grief and not a time for Eliza to have to deal with a whole new set of problems.  I wish she would have left positive messages that Eliza could have gotten after her death.  I guess if I were Eliza, I would have liked to know what Laura had to say, but there could have been a better time for it.

·       I liked the New York City setting.

·       I like how Eliza was able to reset her life after the news.  She realized that her relationships were not the best with her family or in her love life.  I like how she was able to make a change for the better.

·       I want to talk about this book more, but I don’t want to give away the details and ruin it for anyone else.  I think this would be a great book club selection. I would also like to watch a movie based on this novel.

Overall, Dear Eliza by Andrea J. Stein is a beautifully written novel of self-discovery, grief, love, forgiveness, family and starting over again.  I enjoyed this novel, and I can’t wait to see what Stein writes next!

Book Source:  Review copy from author Andrea J. Stein. Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie

Title:  Ordeal by Innocence

Author:  Agatha Christie

Narrated by:  Hugh Fraser

Publisher: HarperAudio

Length: Approximately 7 hours and 5 minutes

Source: Checked out with Libby through the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

Have you watched any Agatha Christie adaptations?  I have enjoyed the different adaptations on PBS, and the new Kenneth Branaugh movies, but I still have many film versions to enjoy.  I have not watched an adaptation of Ordeal by Innocence.  Do you have any recommendations for a good version?

I read Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie this past month for #ReadChristie2024.  #ReadChristie2024 has a theme this year of through the decades.  January – March were books written by Agatha Christie in the 1920’s, April through June were books written by Agatha Christie in the 1930’s, and July through September were books written by Agatha Christie in the 1940s and 1950s.   Ordeal by Innocence was published in 1958 and was my September selection.

A young man, Jacko, threatened his mother for money.  Afterwords, his mother was found murdered and he was found on a train carrying a large sum of money.  Jacko died in prison but is found afterwards to be innocent.  If Jacko is innocent, who is the real killer?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       It is discovered that the mother had adopted five children and loved them more than her husband.  Jacko was the “black sheep” of the family, so it was easy to believe he was the killer.  It seemed that there were a lot of cruel theories on adoptees and their parents in this time period in which this book was written. 

·       Mentions of Sputnik put this novel firmly in the 1950s time period.

·       I liked that the geologist, Dr. Calgary, seeks justice for Jacko.  Dr. Calgary was a witness and could prove Jacko’s innocence, but he was in an accident and had his memory lost for a time due to a concussion.  He then went to Antarctica to explore and missed the murder trial.  He was not a strong lead investigator, however, and seemed to repeat his thoughts a lot.

·       This book centers on the Argyle family, getting to know the characters, how they interacted, and whether any of them are involved in the murder.  It was a very dysfunctional family.

·       This is a standalone mystery.

·       Hugh Fraser was an excellent narrator as usual. 

·       I didn’t connect with this story as much as I have with other Christie novels.  I didn’t really like any of the characters.  I didn’t like how Rachel Argyle had taken the children from their families.  The adult children seemed very angry and whiney.  The resolution was just rather blah to me.  I was surprised to read that this was one of Christie’s favorite books that she wrote in the 1950s.   

My favorite quote, “How can I go on living here and suspecting everybody?  Justice is, after all, in the hands of men and men are fallible.  He felt lost without his hatred – lost and afraid.

Overall, Ordeal by Innocence was an interesting mystery, but not my favorite Christie novel.

A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie

What’s the last series you finished?  I’m still working on Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series.  I am not reading them in order, but I hope to finish this series one of these days.  A Murder is Announced is book four in the Miss Marple series.

I read A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie in August for #ReadChristie2024.  #ReadChristie2024 has a theme this year of through the decades.  January – March were books written by Agatha Christie in the 1920’s, April through June were books written by Agatha Christie in the 1930’s, and July through September were books written by Agatha Christie in the 1940s and 1950s.  A Murder is Announced was published in 1950.

An ad appears in a local paper stating, “a murder is announced and will take place on Friday October 28^th at Little Paddocks at 6:30 P.M.”  This piques the curiosity of many locals and they gather at Little Paddocks at the date and time.  Most believe this to be a “game.”  At 6:30 P.M., the lights go out and shots are heard.  A guest is found murdered.  Luckily, Miss Marple happens to be vacationing nearby and soon is helping the investigators.  Will Miss Marple be able to solve the crime?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       Emilia Fox was a great narrator who was able to act out very different voices for a variety of characters.

·       There are many items in this book that set it right after WWII.  Miss Marple talks about bombs falling in London during the war.  There is also discussion of food rationing.

·       Miss Marple also doesn’t like how England is changing due to the refugees in England.  One character, Mitzi, is a refugee.  She mentions concentration camps, and she didn’t seem to be treated well in the book.  This was a book of its time and there were racist statements.

·       I was fooled again by red herrings and did not guess the ending of this one.  The murder mystery was great and perfectly plotted.

·       Agatha Christie writes great characters with faults and foibles that are a part of human nature.

·       Miss Marple arrives about 30% into the book and is active in the investigation.  I like this much better than other Miss Marple books where she doesn’t show up until the end and doesn’t have much to do with the investigation. 

·       I liked Inspector Craddock, the lead detective in the case.

Overall, A Murder is Announced is another great mystery by Agatha Christie.  I liked the unique premise and the characters.