Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 

If you could visit a national park this summer, which park would you chose?

Scout Johnson is a ranger at Acadia National Park.  She finds old papers behind a loose brick at a light house in the park.  The papers indicate that a previous lighthouse keeper purposely turned off his light to cause the sinking of a ship that was carrying gold.  The gold is now hidden around Acadia.  Will Scout and her friends be able to find it before the public finds out about the treasure?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a fun light story with mystery and romance.  It was perfect reading during a stressful time!

·       This was a contemporary clean read. 

·       Chase the Light is the second book in the National Parks Summers series.  I have not read the first book and this book worked fine as a standalone novel.

·       I really liked the character Wabanaki (Naki) Dana.  He is a Native American from the Penobscot Tribe.  He has the knowledge to decipher most of the clues and Scout finds herself attracted to him. Naki gave the story more depth.

·       There is a love triangle of sorts as Chase Fletcher is also on the team.  He has been on dates with Scout previously and is trying to use the news of the treasure to save his family’s newspaper.

·       There are many other characters including Scout’s flamboyant southern mother, two teenagers that tend to mess things up, etc.  They were all very entertaining.

·       There are great plot twists in the story.

·       I already wanted to visit Acadia National Park in Maine, and this book makes me want to visit even more.  There are beautiful descriptions of the park in the novel.

·       There were light faith elements in the novel.  It was inspirational.

Overall, Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a fun mystery, romance, contemporary adventure and a perfect summer read.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @suzannewoodsfisher @revellfiction @greatreadsbookpromo for a review copy of the novel as part of the Great Reads Promo Book Tour.

A Mother’s Love by Danielle Steel

 

Title:  A Mother’s Love

Author:  Danielle Steele

Narrated by:  Dan John Miller

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 7 hour and 28 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.com

What is the last book that disappointed you?

Bestselling author Hailey decides to spend her first Christmas alone in Paris.  Raising her twin daughters has consumed her life, but now her daughter Valerie is married, and her other daughter Olivia is going on a cruise with her sister and her new family for Christmas.  Hailey gets violently seasick and can’t go with them.  Haily has been single since her partner died years ago, but meeting Bart on the plane over, she considers that she might be open to a new relationship.  

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was the May pick for the Page-turners Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library.

·       This was not a book club favorite.  Not much happens in this book at all. I read it all the way to the end waiting for the story to start.  There is a bit of action at the very end, but it was too little, too late.

·       It was hard to connect with the characters as they are living in a land of wealth that is so very different from my own life.

·       The title of the book did not go with the story.

·       The book was poorly written.  I haven’t read any Danielle Steel books since the 90’s.  Has she lost her touch?

Overall, A Mother’s Love by Danielle Steel did not connect with me. 

Honor Flight: Celebrating America’s Veterans by Jeff Gottesfeld, Illustrated by Matt Tavares

 

“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” – President John F. Kennedy, Inaugural address, January 20, 1961

Is there a war memorial that is special to you?  I think all of the memorials in Washington DC are awe inspiring and inspirational but visiting the Vietnam memorial with my best friend in high school while she searched for her uncle’s name really brought home to me the sacrifice that many soldiers have made through the years for our country.  I like visiting war memorials in local communities as well and giving a moment of silence to those that lost their lives for our country.

Honor Flight: Celebrating America’s Veterans is a great illustrated book for children to learn about war heroes, veterans, and honor flights and is perfect for Memorial Day.  This book does a great job of describing what a veteran is and follows a veteran that does not want to be forgotten.  He receives a call from the Honor Flight Network.  The book explains that Honors Flights bring aging veterans to Washington DC to visit the memorials.  The veteran makes his visit and gets to see many important memorials that are described.  The veteran feels valued on his trip and on the way home he receives a special package with heartfelt letters from many people in his community.  He learns when he gets home that Troy, the guardian who guided him through the journey, was a teacher and his fourth-grade class had raised the funds for him to go. 

A great afterward tells more detail about how the Honor Flights were started and the Notes section gives more detail on the places visited and terms used in the text.

The illustrations were bright, colorful, and went perfectly with the story.

Overall, Honor Flight:  Celebrating America’s Veterans by Jeff Gottesfeld, Illustrated by Matt Tavares brought a tear to my eye.  This is a great illustrated children’s book that is perfect to explain Honor Flights and veterans to children or maybe adults too that are looking for an uplifting read.

Book Source:  Review copy from Candlewick Press.  Thank-you!

The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare

 

Title:  The Comedy of Errors

Author:  William Shakespeare and Samantha Newman

Narrated by:  Mark Meadows

Publisher: Arcturus Digital

Length: Approximately 41 minutes

Source: Checked out through Hoopla through the Kewaunee Public Library

 

Title:  The Comedy of Errors

Author:  William Shakespeare

Narrated by:  Various Readers

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Length: Approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes

Source: Checked out through Hoopla through the Kewaunee Public Library

What is your favorite Shakespeare Play?

Two of my favorite Shakespeare plays are Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing.  I took Shakespeare in both high school and college, but it has been a while since I have read a Shakespeare play.  My Back to the Classic Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library decided to read The Comedy of Errors for our May pick.

The Comedy of Errors is a short play full for slapstick comedy.  Two sets of twins are separated by a raging storm with one parent tying themselves, their son, and their servant’s son to two different masts and the two masts being separated.  Now Antipholus of Syracuse has been searching for his brother and mother with his servant, Dromio of Syracuse.  When they arrive in Ephesus, much hilarity ensues due to mistaken identities.  Antipholus of Ephesus is a settled and respected merchant and has a servant named Dromio of Ephesus.  How will these identities be sorted out?

One of my book club members recommended an audiobook version that is adapted by Samantha Newman and is Part 1 of the Shakespeare’s Tales Retold for Children series.  This was an entertaining version that was great for really understanding the plot.  I also listened to the actual play from Blackstone audiobook that had a variety of readers and sound effects.  I like listening to Shakespeare and the beauty of the language.  I also checked out a copy of “No Fear” Shakespeare version of The Comedy of Errors from the library as well.  It was very interesting in that it showed a page of the original Shakespeare text and then the other page would be it translated into modern day English.

Overall, A Comedy of Errors is a good Shakespeare play to start with as it is short and simple, but it is not my favorite play.

Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer

 

Title:  Into a Golden Era

Author:  Gabrielle Meyer

Narrated by:  Rachel Botchan

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 13 hours and 9 minutes

Source: Thank you, @gabrielle_meyer @bethanyhousefiction @greatreadsbookpromo the review copy of the physical book.  Audiobook purchased from audible.

What is a book series that you are currently enjoying?  I have enjoyed the time travel series, Timeless for the past few years.  Into a Golden Era is the seventh book in this series and I was very excited to read it!

Ally is a time crosser that lives in 1849 San Francisco and 1929 Hollywood. She lives one day in 1849, fall asleep, and then wakes up in 1929. She switches time periods every other day. At age 25, she must chose which world to stay in forever.  In 1849, she has moved to San Francisco with her father and young sister hoping to strike it rich in the gold rush.  When her father falls ill on the voyage, how will the young family survive?  In 1929, her father’s movie studio is having problem in the switch to talking pictures.  Will filming a movie version of Little Women while Ally fakes a romance with lead Spencer save the studio?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       In this book more than any other in this series, the characters explore, can you change history and keep your path in that time?

·       I liked how the characters from previous books appeared.

·       The cover of this book is beautiful.

·       I found both time periods to be fascinating.

·       I never knew about the “Sydney Ducks.” It is a gang made up of convicts that served time in Australia and then immigrated to the United States.  I was intrigued.

·       I enjoyed the 1849 love story which was a forced proximity story.  It was also learning to love someone after learning their true character and motivations.

·       This was an inspiration, clean read, and Christian romance.

·       It’s always nail-biting at the end of a book in this series, which timeline will Aly end up it?  Is it the right choice?

·       I loved listening to this book on audiobook and got through it quickly while working on yard work.  It made the time fly!

·       Great discussion questions for a book club at the end.

·       I loved reading the author’s note about the author’s research and the real history of the times.  It was fascinating.

·       The next book in this series will be out in the summer of 2027.

Overall, Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer was an engaging historical romance time travel novel.  I enjoyed it and this series is fantastic!

Moonlight Murder by Uzma Jalaluddin

 

Title:  Moonlight Murder

Author:  Uzma Jalaluddin

Narrated by:  Deepti Gupta

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Length: Approximately 11 hours and 56 minutes

Source: Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial the review copy of the physical book.  Audiobook purchased from audible.

Where was the last book that you read set?  I just finished Moonlight Murder this morning and it was set in Toronto, Canada.

Kauser Khan has moved back to Toronto to be near her family.  She soon finds herself involved in investigating the mysterious death of Qasim, a young man who was dating her granddaughter, Maleeha.  This mystery also inspires Kauser to investigate the hit and run death of her son, Ali, eighteen years before.  Was it an accident or was there more involved for both mysteries?

My thoughts on this book:

·       Moonlight Murder is the second book in the Detective Aunty series.  I did feel a bit behind in the beginning, but I soon caught up. I would like to read the first book in this series.

·       This was a cozy mystery that was relaxing to read.

·       This was great on audiobook.  Narrator Deepti Gupta has great voices for all the characters.

·       Kauser was a great character.  I loved how she is really coming into herself at her stage in life.  She no longer will fade into the background and lets her thoughts be known.

·       I liked the glimpses into the Muslim Pakastani heritage world.

·       The grief of losing a child is a theme and part of the discussion. 

·       Teenagers and bullying is also a theme.

·       I loved the female friendship between Kauser and her friend May.

·       There is a second chance for romance after being widowed for Kauser.

·       I enjoyed the family drama.

·       I really liked how the mystery was revealed, layer by layer with a few red herrings thrown in.  Kauser was great at talking to people, really listening to their stories, and putting together the puzzle pieces to solve the mystery.

·       I would recommend this book for those that love character driven mysteries such as The Thursday Murder Club.

·       There was a great ending for both mysteries – I did not guess how they would end.

·       There was also an awesome cliffhanger to set up the third book. I am ready to read it right now!

Overall, Moonlight Murder by Uzma Jalaluddin was very engaging and was a well-paced cozy mystery with great characters.

Three Queens by Rebecca Connolly

 

Are you in a May flower season where you live?  Flowers are blooming in Northeast Wisconsin, but it is still very chilly.

Three extraordinary women formed a friendship in the late 18^th century:  Abigail Adams of the United States, Queen Charlotte of England, and Marie Antoinette of France.  With limited power and many problems both personnel and on the world stage, how will these ladies navigate life and support one another?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is a book that is meant to be read slowly and savored.

·       Each chapter starts with quotes from fiction letters to each other. The POV of each chapter alternatives between the three ladies.

·       Abigail Adam was the wife of future president John Adams who before he was president served as the ambassador to France and England.  She misses home and feels like a fish out of water at times.

·       Marie Antoinette is a scapegoat in France as the country descends into revolution.

·       Queen Charlotte deals with a problematic oldest son, her husband’s descent into madness, and the loss of her children.

·       These three women were in high positions but didn’t have much power to change their own fates.  They were able to find the strength to make what changes they would with what they had.

·       Great research with a bibliography at the end.

·       There are good discussion questions for book clubs at the end of the book.

·       The afterword explains what happened to Abigail and Charlotte after Marie Antoinette’s death.

Favorite Quotes:

“What was left for her after accomplishing those things?  She had influence but no power.  She had position but no authority.  She had plenty of finery but no lasting significance.”

“Their friendship lived and breathed in a way that human life did not.  It surpassed mortal bonds and physical distance.  It remained unharmed by wars, but loss, but fear, or by hate.”

Three Queens by Rebecca Connolly is a beautifully written historical fiction novel about three extraordinary women in history.

Book Source:  Thank-you @author.rebecca.connolly @shadowmountainpub @greatreadsbookpromo for the review copy as part of the Great Reads Book Promotion Tour.  Thank-you!

One Leg on Earth by 'Pemi Aguda

 

Title:  One Leg on Earth

Author:  'Pemi Aguda

Narrated by:  Délé Ogundiran

Publisher: Dreamscape Media

Length: Approximately 6 hours and 39 minutes

Source: Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @w.w.norton for the review copy of the physical book.  Audiobook purchased from audible.

What country is your current book set in?

Yosoye is a lonely women, excited to be in Lagos for an architectural internship.  After a one-night stand, she finds herself pregnant.  As other pregnant women start being found drowned in the sea, Yosoye feel herself pressed by a fear that she will be next.  Does it have anything to do with the new development she is working on that is located on reclaimed land that is meant for the rich?

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       The title comes from a saying, one leg on earth and one leg in heaven.

·       This is a literary novel that is also a women’s contemporary fiction novel.

·       It was a slow paced, but short novel.

·       It was interesting on audiobook.

·       The story explores the loneliness of motherhood.

·       I thought it was an interesting look at the parallels of growing a city as a designer and growing a new life within you as a mother.

·       I really enjoyed the setting in Legos.

·       The story never does resolve why the women were drowning.

Overall, One Leg on Earth by 'Pemi Aguda was an interesting literary fiction novel with a riveting setting in Lagos.

Fast and Fastidious by R.M. Caldwell

 

Title:  Fast and Fastidious

Author:  R.M. Caldwell

Narrated by:  Fiona Hardingham

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 22 minutes

Source: Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the review copy of the physical book.  Audiobook purchased from audible.

Do you like to watch any type of racing?  My daughter is in track so I’m often at track meets these days.

Lucy Elliot strives to be a proper lady, but she secretly attends the Night Races.  The Night Races are carriage races on country lanes where unchaperoned men and women gather from all social classes.  When her new neighbor, Captain Dashwood starts racing, Lucy is afraid her secret will come out.  As carriage robberies start to take place in the neighborhood, will Lucy and Captain Dashwood be able to find the culprit?

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       This a fun adventure story which was what I needed during a stressful week.

·       This novel is set during the Regency time period.

·       I loved how Lucy is a mechanical engineer at heart with her “fastidious” mind and she works on several item to make racing carriages go faster.  I love engineers in novels – especially lady engineers as I am an engineer myself.

·       Lucy seems like she is on the spectrum and it was interesting having her as a neurodivergent character.

·       The audiobook was entertaining.

·       I liked the unique concept of having racing in this novel.

·       The description on this book cover was Pride and Prejudice meets Fast and Furious which is accurate.

·       This is not really a romance even though it is labeled as one, it is more a mystery with espionage.

·       The loved the relationship between Lucy and her very different sister, Margaret.

·       This is a debut novel.

Overall, Fast and Fastidious by R.M. Caldwell was a light and fun regency historical mystery.

Nearly a Bride by Sabrina Jeffries

 

Title:  Nearly a Bride

Author:  Sabrina Jeffries

Narrated by:  Beverley A. Crick

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 40 minutes

Source: Audiobook copy from NetGalley and physical book copy from Kensington Books as part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thank-you!

What type of books do you need when you need a lighthearted read?  I like to read romance when I need a good lighthearted book.

The Earl of Hearthbrook, Heath, was trapped in France for ten years.  His first goal upon returning home is to claim guardianship of his brothers.  In order to look respectable, he enters into a faux engagement with Giselle Bernard.  A stranger is threatening Giselle and her mother by saying her immigration papers have been forged. Heath agrees to help her out with this problem, if she helps him with a fake engagement.  Will these two find that their feelings are more than fake?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       There was an intriguing note at the beginning of the novel of how in 1802, the Treaty of Amiens was signed which seemed to be the end of the Napoleonic Wars.  Many British citizens flocked to France to see Paris for the first time since 1792.  The peace did not last, and hostilities started again on May 18, 1803.  Napoleon captured all British male citizen will in France (and their families) and they were held prisoner until 1814. These prisoners were called detenus and the story focuses on them.

·       I loved the great banter between the two leads.

·       This novel is a historical regency romance with a fake engagement and opposites attract tropes.

·       This novel was the second in the Lords of Hazards series.  I read it as a standalone and it worked.  I did feel like there was background that would have enhanced the story that was set up in the first book.  I need to go back and read Hazardous to a Duke’s Heart.

·       I listened to this on audiobook. The narrator, Beverley A. Crick was fantastic.  I enjoyed the distinct voices she gave all the characters and the French accents.  It was a light entertaining book that was perfect for a stressful time of year.

·       I liked the heroine, Giselle, a lot.  She was a caring person who helped those around her including her mother and Heath’s brothers.

·       This was a steamy romance with great chemistry between the leads.

Overall, Nearly a Bride by Sabrina Jeffries is an entertaining historical regency romance that is a perfect way to escape from the stressors of the day.