Book of the Month: November

Agony in Amethyst may be author Alison Stuart's best entry in her Harriet Gordon historical cozy mystery series. I am hard pressed to determine where it stands against Singapore Sapphire, the first installment of the series. I found it a particularly intellectual read. I had to read each chapter carefully in order to catch all of the clues.

I loved this novel! The past of the new foreign secretary Sir Henry Cunningham is the basis for the three deaths that occur in the story. The first death is the murder of sixteen-year-old Amelia Hardcastle while at a ball celebrating the coronation of King George and the arrival of the Cunninghams. Amelia was thrown off of a balcony while wearing a beautiful amethyst colored dress and it was initially thought to be either a suicide or an accident. However, the position of the body doesn't show suicide. Her autopsy shows injuries to her head which happened before she fell. Sir Henry dies in his sleep a few days later. Again, the position of his body shows he probably was killed and poison becomes the leading reason for his death. Then Lady Cunningham's maid is killed.

If you haven't read this book yet I highly recommend it. 

Book of the Month: September

I have not been able to forget this graphic novel since I read it almost a month ago. It is a psychological thriller and horror story told in graphic novel format. We read about the main character, Carolanne, striving for the perfect relationship, then the perfect wedding and perfect motherhood. Unfortunately none of that actually happened.

The horror aspect of the book is from Carolanne's self mutilation. We only have illustrations to know that she was doing this to herself. It's only apparent that Carolanne was trying to have a perfect life from these drawings and that the pressure she put on herself had to come out somewhere. 

Eerie and delicious!

Book of the Month: August

I selected The Wartime Book Club as my best book for August. Peach Tea Smash was a close second. The Wartime Book Club is a WWII era historical fiction story. While I don't usually read WWII fiction, the story is about those left behind on the Channel Island of Jersey. It did not have any military action. Another reason I liked the book is that the setting is new to me. I enjoyed reading about 

this setting.

The story was about how a community stuck together during the occupation of their island. While there were a few who turned in their neighbors to the Nazis in order to obtain additional food, most of the residents helped each other out as much as they could.

The story also showed the importance of books banned by the Nazis to the Jersey residents. The reader sees how Grace, the main character and a librarian, was able to deliver these books to residents without getting caught by the Nazi occupiers. Grace's heroism is the main theme of the plot. A secondary plot concerns her friend Bea. Bea made many mistakes and did not take care to hide what she was doing. She was impulsive and that got her into more than one fix. Friendship is another theme. 

I recommend The Wartime Book Club to historical fiction fans. It was a fantastic read.

Book of the Month: July

Recently I found out about the publication of a new China Bayles mystery novel. I immediately obtained a copy. In this installment of the series, the author has focused on the coffee bean because it helps with memory and the title is about not forgetting. I loved reading the little known facts about coffee and caffeine such as the fragrance of coffee comes from over 800 aromas. The darker the roast of the bean, the easier it is to detect them by scent. The story was engaging and I enjoy the light reading experience that the author gives the reader. I read alot of books on serious topics so when I see a new novel by a favorite cozy author, I know to savor the experience. Forget Me Never did not disappoint.

China Bayles is a former attorney who runs an herb and catering business. Her best friend Ruby is a clairvoyant but also her business partner. Ruby's psychic abilities are showcased in this story. This novel had more twists than we usually see from Albert, most likely because China had three murders to solve. It was a fun and relaxing read!

Five of my favorite authors will be publishing new novels next month. I am excited for my August reads.

Book of the Month: June

I absolutely adored The Champagne Letters! It is a historical fiction account of the life of Barbe-Nicol Clicquot, the founder of the Veuve Clicquot champagne label. It also happens to be my favorite champagne.  I was lucky to receive an advanced review copy from Net Galley. The book will be published on December 10, 2024. 

The publisher's summary says it best:

Reims, France, 1805: Barbe-Nicole Clicquot has just lost her beloved husband but is determined to pursue their dream of creating the premier champagne house in France, now named for her new identity as a widow: Veuve Clicquot. With the Russians poised to invade, competitors fighting for her customers, and the Napoleonic court politics complicating matters she must set herself apart quickly and permanently if she, and her business, are to survive.

In present day Chicago, broken from her divorce, Natalie Taylor runs away to Paris. In a book stall by the Seine, Natalie finds a collection of the Widow Clicquot’s published letters and uses them as inspiration to step out of her comfort zone and create a new, empowered life for herself. But when her Parisian escape takes a shocking and unexpected turn, she’s forced to make a choice. Should she accept her losses and return home, or fight for the future she’s only dreamed about? What would the widow do?

The story has a dual timeline and perspective. Barbe-Nicole Clicquot lived during the 1800s in France and Natalie, her descendant, lives in the present era in Chicago. Each chapter alternates between their life stories. I have found in the past that when there are dual narratives, one seems to be much better than the other.  Here we have two equally compelling narratives. When one chapter ended, I groaned because it was ending. However, when the next chapter ended I groaned again.  

I believe that the book is going to be one of my top ten books of the year. It's a shame that the publication date is so far out because no one will be able to read it until after the second week of December. With holiday parties and such, readers may not have a chance to pick this one up until some time in 2025. I promise that the book will be worth the wait.

Book of the Month: May

There were two books this month that were contenders for my book of the month. Historical mysteries The Merchant's Tale and Under Water are page turners that kept me sitting on the edge of my chair until I finished reading them. How did I decide between them? There was one point that separated them. While Under Water had a riveting plot, I knew where the story was headed at the halfway point of the story. With The Merchant's Tale, I did not know until the last pages how the characters were going to end up. The Merchant's Tale is, thus, my favorite book for this month.

The book was co-written by two successful authors:  C. P. Lesley and P. K. Adams. The setting was Poland and Russia, areas that Adams has written about before in her Jagiellon Mystery Series. Not too many authors use this setting and it is a breath of fresh air for historical fiction fans. In The Merchant's Tale, Karl Scharping, a merchant from Danzig, has only one thing on his mind: a bride named Selina who is awaiting him in Moscow. A careless leap from his horse derails his plans, confining him to a monastery near the White Sea. When Selina's brother Pyotr is promoted to court translator, he finds that his new job is difficult both because of his lack of skills and also with court intrigue. He hopes his sister will marry Karl who its his best friend. Selina, however, does not love Karl and doesn't want to marry him. She prefers an English trader who has also arrived in Moscow with a company of traders whose business may derail Karl and Pyotr's own business plans.

I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Book of the Month: April

Three books stood out to me this month:  Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter, The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan and The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini. I have been thinking about them for several days to determine which one is my top pick. In any given month each one would have been my number one selection. Pretty Girls is an intense suspense novel concerning girls that go missing and The Kitchen Front is a lovely WWII historical fiction story about the lives of the women left behind and how they fed their families during wartime rationing. I am selecting The Museum of Lost Quilts as my favorite book of the month though.

Museum is a sequel to the author's popular Elm Creek Quilts cozy series. Jennifer Chiaverini wrote the novel in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first book in the series. I was lucky to receive an advanced review copy from Net Galley. The book will be published at the end of the month on April 30, 2024.

In many ways this book is historical fiction. As one character researches quilts loaned for display, she finds clues to her hometown's past. During the Civil War, the ladies of the area quilt guild made a victory quilt with the names of local soldiers stitched into each block. Summer uncovers that there was another local quilt guild that made a victory quilt for auction too. The reality that these guilds were segregated by race shocks her. 

I believe that the author did a fantastic job of reviving the series which has not had a prior book published in well over 10 years. This is an amazing feat in itself. I wish the series could continue but it's had every story imaginable written into the series. It's time for it to end.

Book of the Month: March

Animal Pound is my favorite book for this month. It is a 4 part comic series where the dogs, cats and rabbits of an animal pound remove the employees and take over. Led by a cat called Fifi and dog Titan the doors to all of the cages are unlocked and all of the cats, dogs and rabbits roam freely throughout the building and grounds. After enjoying free reign for several weeks they realize that they will need to find a new source of food in order to survive on their own. Enter politics. A campaign to elect representatives begins. There are 2 additional releases coming soon and I cannot wait to finish reading this adorable story.

Book of the Month: February

Lunar New Year Love Story is my best book for this month. It is a graphic novel written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Leuyen Pham. As the title suggests, the story is about a couple who cannot get together as a couple during their senior year of high school. They are part of a dance troupe who perform as lions and dragons at lunar new year festivals and other Chinese events. While the two kids can dance together beautifully the girl, Val, doesn't know who she wants as a boyfriend. This book is clean reading, no sex or foul language, perfect for young adults.

Book of the Month: January

The year started off with five fantastic reads:  Manner of Death, The Blue Monsoon, The Vintage Village Bake Off, The Waitress, and Her Every Fear. I read a whopping eighteen books due to being laid up with the flu for half the month. It wasn't all that hard to select a favorite though. Her Every Fear scared the daylights out of me and I have to pick it as my favorite book for January. The Waitress is a close second.

The story has a jaw dropping plot that turns into an awful tale of horror. The plot becomes more and more scary and disturbing as the story unravels and it kept me sitting on the edge of my seat. It also made me get up out of bed and check my door multiple times during the night that I finished reading the book. I can say so much more about why this book is good but basically it scared me to death. 

This book will make you second guess every odd sound you hear in your home and I believe that the "her" in the title "Her Every Fear" includes the reader.  Fans of psychological mysteries will love it.

Book of the Month: November

It should come as no surprise that my best book for November is Ken Follett's The Armor of Light.  Armor is the 5th book in the Knightsbridge series and it is fantastic.

I cannot begin to talk about how good this book is.  The story spans thirty years. It opens with the sad story of a man who gets injured at work and later dies. His wife Sal and son Kit are part of this scene and they continue with the story until the very end. Sal is a strong female character and I would say she's the main character. As other characters are brought into the story Sal is always there. Her struggles are typical of those who lived during the start of the Industrial Revolution and it is she who came up with idea of unionizing the weavers of Knightsbridge. 

With the Knightsbridge series now set in the early 1800s Armor is probably the last book. This makes me sad but how lucky we all have been for the opportunity to read these books.

Book of the Month: October

My best book for this month is Kevin Butler's House Aretoli.  This book is a wonderful journey back to fourteenth century Venice where the reader is introduced to the Aretoli family. They are a merchant family of five. The story, though, is primarily about the relationships between the two eldest brothers Flavio and Niccolo.  The decisions that they make and the consequences of those decisions affect the entire family.  The sibling rivalry between the two brothers goes beyond the simple and also extends to Venetian government officials. Medieval Venice is one of my favorite settings. I love the intrigue of the era as well as the dresses that the rich ladies wore. It makes me jealous that I am sitting here in jeans when I  could be in satin and velvet. 

The book is in the running for the 2023 Chaucer book award short list.  I highly recommend it to historical fiction fans.

Book of the Month: September

Banyan Moon is my favorite read for this month. It is a 3 generation family saga about 3 Vietnamese women. It spans several decades from 1960s Vietnam to the present day in Florida and Michigan. The story alternates between grandmother Minh in Vietnam, her daughter Huong in Florida and granddaughter Ann in Michigan. I am always a sucker for family sagas and this one captured my heart. It always amazes me how people assimilate into new cultures. For every one of these sagas that I have read the second and third generation always makes the same decisions. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do to feel that you are an American. Check the book out. It is fantastic.

Book of the Month: August

Lady Tan's Circle of Women is my best book for August. Amy Tan wrote a lovely novel based on the life of Tan Yunxian, a real-life woman who lived in China during the Ming dynasty. She went on to become a famous women's doctor. The story begins in the year 1469 when Tan Yunxian is 8 years old and ends when she is quite old. Her best friend Meiling grew up to be a midwife and occasionally they worked together. For the most part Meiling felt inferior to Yunxian because Yunxian came from a wealthy family.  Yunxian threw her weight around because of that financial security but over the years they worked through their conflicts. The novel is definitely a women's book. It's not just about female relationships but female medicine too. Highly recommended.

Book of the Month: July

I had a hard time selecting the book of the month for July. There were three contenders:  Alex Lake's Final Call, Heather Atkinson's Evil at Alardyce House and J. M. Cannon's Blood Oranges. I am going to have to go with Final Call though. This pulsating mystery takes place on an airplane and the mystery had to be solved before the plane ran out of gas and crashed. It was an intense read. 

When the plane, carrying corporate executives, begins heading in the wrong direction, the pilot informs the passengers that one of them must confess to murder or the aircraft will crash into the ocean. There is a dual narrative that jumps back to 2018 as the reader learns the reason why someone would hold a grudge after tragic circumstances.

As I said above, this was an intense read and I loved it.

Book of the Month: June

I loved Where Waters Meet. In fact, I read it twice. This family saga is the exquisite story that it is advertised as being. While the story begins in the present day in Toronto, most of the action takes place in the past in China.

The family originated in China. Chunyu, now known as Rain, and her sister Mei lived through three wars there: WWII, the Japanese War and the Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists. They suffered severe hunger and bombing raids, as did everyone else in China. Rain and Mei's parents died in a bombing of their village East End. The sisters were later captured by Japanese soldiers and forced to be prostitutes. Rain handled it better than Mei who was unable to eat or even get up off her mattress. With her sister's help Mei escaped and joined the communists and fought alongside Mao's warriors. Rain eventually made her way to Hong Kong and then Toronto where she and her daughter lived.

This book captured my heart and I highly recommend it, especially to historical fiction fans.

Book of the month: May

Weyward is a spectacular story. Three generations of Wayward women are featured in the story.  Each of the Weyward ladies were beguiling. They were healers who used elements from the natural world in their potions. Of course, the men of their worlds did not approve of what they were doing. I loved these characters and couldn't stop reading about their lives. I hated for the book to come to an end. The eras is which they lived, while different, affected what happened to them and how society would or would not allow them to respond to their challenges. This is very much a feminist novel as we see the Weyward women rising above their circumstances and defeating the men who oppressed them. 

There is a touch of magical realism in the story which was OK for me. While I don't particularly care for magical realism, it made sense here because the women used items from nature in their healing careers.

Book of the Month: April

The Paris Notebook was the best book that I read this month. While there were two other books that I rated 5 out of 5 stars, the premise for The Paris Notebook intrigued me the most. In this story we have a young Adolf Hitler being treated for a psychiatric disorder during WWI. When he later came to power in Germany, Hitler tried to prevent those records from coming to light. The book is based on real events.  Hitler did receive treatment for psychological issues while he served in the first world war, hysterical blindness, and he also attempted to locate those records so that they could be destroyed. As our main character Katja Heinz traveled back and forth from Germany to Paris in order to get these medical records published, I felt just as scared and paranoid as she was. This was a tense thriller that keeps you hoping that she does not get caught. Not only does she have top secret documents but Katja is also Jewish.

Book of the Month: March

My favorite read for March is Janie Chang's The Porcelain Moon. It is a historical novel from the early to mid twentieth century that takes place in Hong Kong. Chang previously wrote The Library of Legends and Dragon Springs Road. The story follows the travails of two young women in France as the country is torn apart by war.  The main character, Pauline Deng, is Chinese and is living in France with her cousin in order to support the family's porcelain trade. She is able to avoid an arranged marriage in Shanghai by living in Paris. Before reading this book, I knew next to nothing about the Chinese laborers who came to France during WW1. I learned so much about this little part of history. The chapters alternated between Pauline's story and the story of Camille Roussel. Camille is planning her escape from an abusive marriage and is trying to end a love affair that can no longer continue. Toward the end of the book, their stories merged.

Book of the Month: February

I had a difficult time deciding which book was my best read for the month. Four books that I read were excellent: The Godmother's Secret, Cor Rotto, The Orchard and Hide. The deciding factor was innovation in genre. The Orchard, by Amish fiction writer Beverly Lewis, combines the modern world into the Amish world in a new and shocking way. The main thrust of the story was an Amish character's participation in the Vietnam War.

The main character, Ellie Hostettler, grew up near an apple orchard that her father owned. Twin brother Evan was expected to take over the business but Evan's interest in the ways of the Englischers has been disconcerting to his family. Evan got caught attending the funeral of an English friend, Jack Herr, who died in Vietnam. Evan has been highly influenced by his friendship with Jack. He is considering joining the army to fight in Vietnam and when he fails to register as a conscientious objector the Hostettler family is devastated. Meanwhile, the ladies are all trying to find husbands which, of course, they find or it wouldn't be Amish fiction.