Three Books I Highly Recommend
For your reading pleasure, take a look at a murder mystery set in Cuba! Or you might be in the mood for two entertaining and inspirational books. Happy Reading!
Death Comes in Through the Kitchen by Teresa Dovalpage
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Have you ever thought Why are so there so many books? Why do people like to read anyways, books are boring?! Well, here is my answer. Read this book and you will be hooked on reading. Death Comes in through the Kitchen by Teresa Dovalpage is an amazing, one of a kind book. I could end my review here…
…but I will tell you more because I was so entranced by this book. The author has mixed equal parts hope and history, innocence and despair, beauty and squalor to create a vivid, gritty, but surprisingly upbeat story.
Matt is a journalist writing for a small Hispanic paper in San Diego. He’s a bit lost and wistful. He’s begun writing a popular food column and that’s how he discovers a food blog, Yarmi Cooks Cuban. (The food blogs are delightful.) He and Yarmi get acquainted over the internet and he even goes to Cuba to meet her. After a year of trading more emails with the pretty and coquettish Yarmi, he again goes to Cuba in 2003, with presents and a wedding gown for his sweetheart.
Through Matt’s eyes and the people he meets, we experience a colorful Cuba, with many flavors. The author writes simply but evokes such a heart-rending kaleidoscope of the senses and emotions to convey the beauty and spirit of Cubans.
“The devil is getting married,” people said in the countryside when it rained on a sunny day.”
“And yet, the market wasn’t devoid of charm. The high ceilings lent the place a spacious feel. An array of colors made even the humblest booths look festive. The revolutionary red of the tomatoes brought out the greener-than-the palms shade of the avocados and the bright emerald of the parsley bunches. Oranges, limes and lemons were often found in the same stalls, in happy miscellany. Stout country women with stern faces hovered over their garlic, onions and tubers…”
This is a murder mystery, so there are some dark parts to the story. The murder is solved, but the mystery of Cuba remains an enigma to this day. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Rachels Random Resources for a review copy. This is my honest review.
Faith is Fearless: Normal is Overrated by D. Pichardo-Johansson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First there was Hope for Harmony, followed by Jump for Joy. Both of these books, in the Sunshine State series, were special reads, with strong and appealing female leads, abounding in romance, mystery and positive ways of living. As much as I adored Hope and Joy, their friend Fe “Faith” Hernandez is my favorite. Fe is a bundle of Spanish passion, warmth, and happiness. She believes in good luck and the blessings of life, even when others might think that she’s had a bad run.
Fe is blossoming and bursting with love, passion, and vitality. No wonder Dr. Shawn McDevitt falls for her, after he literally fell on her during a bicycle mishap. But, it’s complicated. He’s a suspect for murder and is dealing with the FBI. She’s had a sad marriage and horrible divorce from her first husband- hence her “no doctor’s rule.” And Shawn seems to Fe to be like the same kind of driven, workaholic, passionless guy. Plus, there’s the added complication of kids with problems. Add in too much “helpful” advice from friends and family and anyone might think they have had too much bad luck.
“You’re doing it again. Your speech is turning ultrasonic and your hands look like you’re flagging down a helicopter to rescue you from a deserted island.”
Is our Faith fearless enough? Will she remain convinced that even what “seems like senseless bad luck will always bring something good in the long run?”
Fe/Faith could star in her own TV or telenovela series (and I hope she does) so readers aren’t going to stop rooting for her to find her lucky ending. Fe happens to be a speech therapist- which is an interesting occupation for a book character. She is a gal that readers will long remember. Enjoy!
Thanks to the author for an ARC. This is my honest review.
Holiday SOS: The Life-Saving Adventures of a Travelling Doctor by Ben MacFarlane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A few years ago, I was with a tour group overseas and a lovely older woman tripped over a pile of suitcases. Our group was ready to embark on a 16-day cruise, so she hobbled along with us. But, she soon realized she had indeed injured herself and so she sought medical attention on the cruise ship. At our first port-of-call, she was transferred to a hospital in Stockholm. We learned that she spent a few days there, and then a nurse flew in to escort her back to America. I always wondered how she fared.
Well, after reading Dr. MacFarlane’s engrossing story, I feel much better. If she received the same level of care and compassion that Dr. MacFarlane dispensed, I know that her story ended as happily as most of this author-doctor’s patients.
This book would make a great TV show. The story spans about a year in the life of this busy travelling doctor. He amasses millions of frequent traveler miles as he flies several times a week to bring patient back to their homes in England. From Tunis, to Cairo, the Canary Islands, St. Tropez, Barcelona, the Maldives, even Bulgaria our doctor-hero manages to enjoy flitting glimpses of these exotic holiday locales. We learn that he is doing this for more than just the travel miles and the sight-seeing. He truly cares about the people he escorts back home.
Drama and plenty of medical emergencies make for an engaging read. This book also has plenty of heart. Some of the stories have their funny moments and some are tender and sad. My favorite one is about a lovely elderly patient named Mrs. Dean. Heartbreaking.
The author concludes that he works with the best people in the world and he meets the most amazing people every day. He certainly communicates his passion for his work in this easy to read and entertaining book. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for an ARC. This is my honest review.
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