Shortbread in the Highlands by Robin Jones Gunn

 

What is your favorite dessert?  I love so many it’s hard to pick one.  One favorite is cherry pie.

Cousins Nora and Allie travel to Scotland to claim an inheritance for their Gran.  They meet interesting new people as they stay in a cottage in the town that their Gran grew up in.  This trip is also a time to explore Scotland in the fall and spend time together.  Besides being plagued by delays, Nora and Allie discover that their Gran had kept a secret from them.  What was the secret and why did she keep it from them?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This book really made me want to visit Scotland with the wonderful descriptions of the scenery, food and people.

·       This book is number three in the Suitcase Sister series, but I read it as a standalone novel, and it worked just fine.

·       I liked that the trip got the two both thinking about their lives and where God was leading them.

·       I loved that the inheritance was a library.  If only I could inherit a library!  Their mission was to retrieve their Gran’s diary from the library and then sell the contents of the library.

·       Scottish shortbread sounds delicious, and I would like to try some.  There is a great recipe in the back of this book that I need to try out!

·       This was a sweet romance, clean read, contemporary, and inspirational read.

·       Allie and Robin get annoyed with each other at times but work through it.  Allie owns a successful skincare company with her husband and feel like she really needs to get back and not spend time in Scotland with Robin.  This puts a strain on things at first.  There is more to this, and it slowly comes out in the story.

·       Recipes, discussion questions, and a look at the author’s next book conclude this story.

Overall, Shortbread in the Highlands by Robin Jones Gunn is a delightful, cozy story set in Scotland with a hint of mystery and romance.  I enjoyed it this summer and the fall setting also makes it a perfect fall read!

Book Source:  Thank-you to @robingunn @revellfiction @greatreadsbookpromo for the review copy as part of the Great Reads Book Promo tour.

The Maid and the Socialite: The Brave Women Behind Green Bay's Scandalous Minahan Trials by Lynda Drews

 

Title:  The Maid and the Socialite:  The Brave Women Behind Green Bay's Scandalous Minahan Trials

Author:  Lynda Drews

Narrated by:  Megan Trout

Publisher: Tantor Media

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 29 minutes

Source: Checked out through Libby through the Kewaunee Public Library

Do you like to read or learn about your local history?  The Maid and the Socialite by Lynda Drews was a fascinating look into local to me, Green Bay, Wisconsin history.

Celebrated Green Bay surgeon John R. Minnehan had a complicated history.  Even though he helped to found St. Vincent’s hospital and his name was on many buildings around town, he used his power to abuse women.  He r$%^d his illiterate maid Mary, but she fought back in a court case.  His weapon was to accuse her of being a loose woman with syphilis.  After he was acquitted, he met and married his second wife, Mollie.  On their honeymoon, he accused her of infidelity and of having syphilis.  The verbal and mental abuse began at this point and didn’t end even when the couple divorced.  Why does a man’s word override a woman’s word?  Why are rich and powerful men able to abuse women without repercussions?

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       This was the August pick for the Page-tuners Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library.  It made for an interesting discussion.  I listened to the audiobook in July.

·       It really made me think about how scary it was to be a maid living and/or working in a private home.  You could be assaulted by the men in the household or guests and be blamed for your own assault.

·       There was a brief history of Green Bay at the beginning of the novel.

·       It really showed how if you were a man with money and important friends, you could get away with doing anything.  Sadly, this still seems to be true today.

·       It was interesting that this book got a started when the author bought a home in the Astor historic district in Green Bay and started researching the family of the man who used to own her home.

·       I would classify this book as nonfiction, history, book club, audiobook, and true crime.

·       It was strange that John obviously had mental problems but was still a prominent and respected physician.  His obsession with syphilis was also weird.  Did he have it himself?

·       What happened to his first wife?  She was locked up in an insane asylum with no record of her death.  Is this how he got rid of her?

·       Both Mary and Mollie were brave women.  Mollie had her wealthy family’s support which was a big help.

Overall, The Maid and the Socialite:  The Brave Women Behind Green Bay's Scandalous Minahan Trials by Lynda Drews was a fascinating look into local Green Bay history and the abuse of women and power by a wealthy doctor.

The Roommate Rule by Georgia Stone

 

Have you ever lived with a roommate besides a spouse?  Would you rather have a roommate or live alone?

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the review copy of The Roommate Rule by Georgia Stone.

Dylan is taking a last minute six-week trip to Wales with her best friend’s brother, Max.  She has only met Max one other time but has agreed to this trip after his plus one dropped out.  Max is a travel influencer, and all expenses are paid.  As they get to know each other, sparks start to fly. Will these two find love on this amazing trip?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved the interesting chapter titles such as “I’m fine, I just enjoy jumping from great heights, that’s all.”  They often gave me a chuckle.

·       Cancer survival is a theme in this book.

·       I need to read Georgia Stone’s other book, The Friendship Fling.

·       Tropes included best friend’s brother, forced proximity, contemporary romance, opposites attract.

·       There was great banter and chemistry between Dylan and Max.  It felt like the room lit up whenever they were together.

·       This book was a dual point of view novel with Dylan and Max as the two points of view.

·       The setting was Pembrokeshire, Wales and it made me really want to visit that area   It seemed beautiful and a place I would like to spend a long vacation.

·       I liked how both characters grew throughout the novel and faced their fears.  Max lives in the moment because of a past death experience.  Dylan is always trying to please everyone else, but what about pleasing herself?  They push each other out of their comfort zones.

·       This is a spicy romance.

·       I loved the cute cover. 

·       This was funny and was a perfect summer read for me last month.

Overall, The Roommate Rule by Georgia Stone is a fun romance with great characters and banter.

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau

What classic novel do you think needs a sequel?

Thank you to @tudorscribe, #admiralroadbooks, and @greatreadsbookpromo for the gift copy of The Heiress of Northanger Abbey.

Twenty-two years after the events in Northanger Abbey, Catherine Morland is a respectable pastor’s wife, married to Henry Tilney.  Catherine and Henry live a happy life with their two daughters in a small village near the family estate of Northanger Abbey.  Henry’s brother Frederick and his wife Aurelia are childless and Henry and Catherine’s oldest daughter Phoebe, is presumed to be their heiress.  When Phoebe runs across the Thorpe family in Bath, Catherine is afraid that history is repeating itself.  When Catherine chaperones Phoebe on a trip to Isabella Thorpe’s estate, is her imagination playing havoc with her again or are they in danger?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is one of the October book club picks for the JASNA Northwoods Book Club.  I look forward to discussing it.

·       I loved that this was a sequel to a Jane Austen novel that does not often get sequels, Northanger Abbey.  I love the original book and it’s fun to see what happened to its characters after the end of the original novel.

·       Author Nancy Bilyeau did a great job of capturing the spirit and characters from the original novel.

·       I felt for Catherine and her trials trying to parent a strong-willed teenage daughter having one myself.

·       The story is told through the first-person point of view of Catherine.

·       I loved seeing that Catherine and Henry have a long and happy marriage.

·       I don’t want to spoil the story, but I also loved the Gothic elements.  It’s a perfect read for the fall.

·       I have enjoyed author Nancy Bilyeau’s novels in the past and have been greatly looking forward to this book. It did not disappoint.

·       Now I want to read The Vampyre by John Polidori as it is part of the plot. It’s an interesting look into how Gothic novels were changing during that time period.

·       Catherine and Phoebe like to discuss books together and I loved their discussion on Mary Shelley.

·       I would classify this book as a sequel, historical fiction, suspense, Gothic, and Regency.

Overall, The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau is an enjoyable Regency Gothic historical fiction novel that is a sequel to Northanger Abbey.  It’s got great historical elements a well as a good look into the Gothic fiction of that time. 

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

 

What types of books do you like to read on vacation?  I read all sorts of books and especially love escapism reads for vacation.  The Astral Library fit the bill for my vacation in August!

Alix Watson grew up in the foster care system and is struggling with adult life.  She works hard but can barely make ends meet.  Her one safe place has been libraries and her favorite books including classics and fantasy.  One day she stumbles upon a hidden library and a unique librarian which gives her a chance to choose a book world to live in. While Alix is making her decision, the librarian and library come under attack.  Will Alix be able to help save this magical place?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       Have you ever wanted to live in a book?  This story answers that question.

·       It’s a love letter to libraries and book lovers everywhere. So many favorite books and characters were mentioned such as Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables, Sherlock Holmes, Jane Austen, etc.

·       I loved the thought of living in a magical world and how it helped vulnerable people to find a safe place.

·       Alix’s friend and love interest, Beau Sator-Jones was delightful.  He is a historical costume expert and designer.  He is fascinating and a good person.  The description of the fantastic costumes was riveting.  I love historical costumes!

·       Alix still has a lot of emotion and feelings about being left by her mother as a child.  She works through this most of the book and how to move on.

·       I liked the mysteries. What happened to Alix’s mom?  Who is trying to take over the library?

·       The Boston Public Library is a gateway to the Astral Library.  I liked the thought and imagery of your public library being the gateway to fantastic worlds.

·       I enjoyed that the librarian for the Astral Library was also a book dragon.

·       I would categorize this book as magical realism, fantasy, and contemporary.

Overall, The Astral Library by Kate Quinn was a wonderful escapism read perfect for book lovers.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

 

Title:  The Book Thief

Author:  Markus Zusak

Narrated by:  Allan Corduner

Publisher: Listening Library

Length: Approximately 13 hour and 57 minutes

Source: Checked out in Libby from the Kewaunee Public Library.  Thank-you!

What makes a book a classic?

Liesel has lost her family in 1939 Germany.  At her brother’s funeral, she picks up a copy of The Gravedigger’s Handbook that was accidentally left behind.  Her new life as a lover and stealer of books has arrived.  She is taken care of by a new foster family and grows up learning the complexity of trying to do good in a world that has forgotten its humanity.  Will Liesel, her friends, and foster family make it to the end of the war?

My thoughts on this book:

·       This is a powerful story.  This was a powerful book when I first read it fifteen years ago and was just as powerful on a reread, this time on audiobook.

·       This was the @dees.reads Classic Buddy Read for May, but I finished it up in June.  I am behind on my buddy reads!  I am still thinking about this book months later.

·       Liesel’s foster father, Hans Huberman, didn’t have much, but his kindness and care for others meant so much in troubled times, especially as so many ignored the suffering of others.

·       It was disturbing how many people blindly followed Hitler, and how many people didn’t want to say anything and rock the boat, even when they knew it was wrong.  It’s disturbing how much this is paralleled in modern times.

·       Allan Corduner was a powerful narrator on the audiobook.  Have your tissues handy as you listen to this one.

·       One major theme was how do you keep your humanity during terrible times?

·       The book was beautifully written and unique to have the story narrated by death.

·       Liesel has everyday cares and friends, but she lives during extraordinary times.

·       This book is classified as a young adult novel, but it is an important story that all adults should read as well.

Overall, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a must-read historical fiction classic that sticks with you long after you turn the last page.

The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie

Title:  The Labours of Hercules

Author:  Agatha Christie

Narrated by:  Hugh Fraser 

Publisher: HarperAudio

Length: Approximately 8 hours and 43 minutes 

Source: Purchased from Audible

Do you read short stories?  Do you have a favorite short story?

In this Hercule Poirot collection, the famous detective takes on twelve mysteries in the twelve short stories.  Each one is related to the Labours of Hercules in Greek mythology.  Poirot wants to solve these cases before he “retires.”  Since he spends fifty years coming in and out of retirement, I’m not sure that solving these mysteries will put him over the edge.  

My thoughts on this collection:

• I read this in June for the #ReadChristie2026 challenge.  “Best short story collection” was the theme for the month.

• I enjoyed this collection and found it to be very entertaining.  I like the links between the stories and how each case was unique.

• I listened on audiobook and Hugh Fraser was a great narrator as usual.

• The stories were very loosely connected.

• In the first story, Poirot finds a missing dog which I enjoyed.

Overall, The Labours of Hercules by Agatha Christie was an entertaining short story mystery collection.  Was it the best Christie short story collection?  I guess I need to read all the rest of her short story collections to decide for myself.

The Lost Perfumes of Paris by Christine Wells

 

Do you have a favorite perfume?  I love the smell of perfume but have sensitive skin, so it has been a while since I have worn any.  My daughter loves perfume.

Elodie Limeaux works at her family’s perfume company in the south of France.  She is a lowly assistant chemist but has developed a perfume through the years that she believes will turn the company’s fortunes around. When her father rejects it, she is stunned. She proposes entering the Essence of Paris competition to keep their investor, Monsieur Caspari from sending production to America.  Elodie wants to she follows her late mother’s, Aurore’s, footsteps as a premier perfumer.  With the help of Monsieur Caspari’s son, Marcelo, will she be able to win the contest?

My thoughts on this book:

·       This was a delightful and engaging book that I could not put down.

·       I loved how plucky Elodie was with her love and obsession for perfumery.  It was in her blood, and she couldn’t be happy without it. 

·       There was a great romance between Elodie and Marcelo.  I loved that he shared her passion for perfumery.  He supported her and let her shine in her own accomplishments, unlike her father. 

·       Wonderful Paris setting in 1956.  The descriptions were fantastic.  I felt like I was there!

·       I loved Elodie’s grandmother and how she took Elodie shopping for a complete Parisian makeover.  I also loved the descriptions of the gowns.

·       I didn’t know much about the development of perfumes, and I enjoyed learning more about it.

·       Elodie’s father was a terrible person.

·       I like how Elodie found her mother’s perfume journals and was able to learn more about her.

·       There was a great author’s note at the end that described how women had a hard time establishing themselves in the world of perfume even in their own family companies.

Overall, The Lost Perfumes of Paris by Christine Wells was an enchanting historical fiction novel with great characters set in the vivid world of 1950s France perfumeries.  I greatly enjoyed it.

Book Source: Thank-you William Morrow for the review copy!

The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih

 

Happy #bookbirthday to The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih! What is the job of the main character in your current read?

Song Holloway’s life is defined by hardship.  Her family survived Black Sunday in the dust bowl in 1935, but they had to leave their farm to travel east to live with her aunt.  Her father died working for the CCC and as a highschooler, she works on a farm and watches the skies for plans to help in the WWII effort.  When she graduates high school, her science teacher recommends her to work on a top-secret project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  Song meets many new people, learns new skills, and wonders what exact top-secret project she is working on.  When she is asked to spy on her friends, what will she do?  Will the new GI she met turn into more than a fleeting romance?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I liked the look at a life from the dust bowl as a little girl through WWII as a teenager and young adult, and then early married life after the war.  It was a good cross section of a life and showed how the greatest generation had to live through a lot of tough times.

·       I liked the family, friend, and acquaintance that Song met along the way.  She was able to make some deep connections with a lot of interesting people.

·       There is a great authors notes at the end of the novel on author Tara Lynn Masih’s inspirations for this book. She did a lot of great research to put this together.

·       I loved learning about the atomic city, Oak Ridge Tennessee and the unique life that the inhabitants lived.  Song’s job inspecting pipes for leaks is based on real job there.

·       Black Sunday during the dust bowl is vividly described.  One of my favorite quotes, “Song watched the blackening wall, like ballooning mountains, descend on them.  Mesmerized.  It was almost beautiful, with balls of dust in the curtain of what was now all fluffy black.”

·       I loved the theme of being able to heal and move on with life. Scarred, but moving forward.

·       I enjoyed that it wasn’t just a happily ever after story but was realistic look at what returning GIs had to face as well as women who had to leave their important war time jobs.  I would love to read more of Song’s story.

·       This would make a great movie!

Overall, The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih is a fascinating historical fiction novel with great characters.

Book Source:  Thank-you Storm Publishing, Tara Lynn Masih, and Get Red PR for the review copy of this book!

 

A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving: 30 Days of Rejoicing in God’s Goodness by Wendy Speake

 

How is your prayer life?  Are you looking for inspiration?

A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving:  30 Days of Rejoicing in God’s Goodness by Wendy Speake is devotional that has a unique premise to have an “ask fast.”  Instead of praying to ask for something, this devotional asks you to instead praise God for thirty days.  The inspiration is Psalm 100:

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

A Psalm for giving thanks.

            [1] Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

            [2]       Serve the LORD with gladness!

                        Come into his presence with singing!

            [3] Know that the LORD, he is God!

                        It is he who made us, and we are his;

                        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

            [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

                        and his courts with praise!

                        Give thanks to him; bless his name!

            [5] For the LORD is good;

                        his steadfast love endures forever,

                        and his faithfulness to all generations. (ESV)

Each day of the thirty-day period has a theme.  It starts with a Bible verse.  Author Wendy Speake describes her thoughts and life experiences on the Bible quote.  There are questions to make you think about your own faith and a great prayer at the end of the devotion.  There is also inspiration for journaling in each devotional.

Author Wendy Speake go the idea for the “ask fast” from a woman that she met on a plane trip who described how an “ask fast” had helped her faith journey.  The conclusion of this devotional had a great description of how writing the book has impacted the author.

This was a positive devotional that made me think about all I must be grateful for and how to not just focus on myself, but on God.  It was a good reminder that God should be praised in both good and bad times. 

A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving:  30 Days of Rejoicing in God’s Goodness by Wendy Speake is a positive devotional that will deepen your praise and gratitude for God.  It’s a perfect devotional for fall or any time of year.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @wpublishing @wendy_speake @tlcbooktours for a review copy of this book as part of the TLC Book Tour.