It’s June! Books are
“busting out all over!”
I’m delighted to share my reviews of these books, available now on all major retail sites and places! Add to your summer reading stack and enjoy!
Thanks to the following for providing me with advance digital review copies. I am so thankful for this privilege!
NetGalley
Rachel’s Random Resources for Blog Tour opportunities
and generous Publishers St. Martin’s Press, Indigo Dot Press, University of Illinois Press, The Story Plant, Nelson Books, Dunn Books and HarperCollins One More Chapter.
I had a good time with each of these books, but I do have one (well, maybe two?) favorites that still make me smile. Can you guess which ones they are? Will they be your favorites?
A Memoir of Happy Eggs, Happy Life
At Crossroads with Chickens: A “what If It Works?” Adventure in Off-Grid Living & Quest for Home by Tory McCagg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I highly recommend this mellow and contemplative memoir. Through lyrical essays, the author explores those feelings and desires that that are the silent river within us- what is our purpose, our goals, our priorities? How do we create a home and life that nurtures us? And why do we all want to raise chickens?
Author McCagg doesn’t get to the chickens right away. That’s because she and her musician husband have to do their own nesting first. They have several houses to remodel and sell in Rhode Island. And then comes the process of taming a mountain in New Hampshire so that they can live off the grid. Even for committed environmentalists, it’s not easy to truly live off the land. Mother Nature has a lot to say about that.
Chickens are excellent teachers and they can impact a life in many ways. Readers will enjoy getting to know the chickens that have lived with the author. Each bird is so colorfully described in the book, you will remember each of their names and personalities. In her quest to produce “happy eggs”. The author created a happy life. Not without some mishaps and mayhem, though.
The author also shares her feelings as her mother ages and struggles with Parkinson’s. How and where do we find a peaceful life- on a mountain, in a big city, or in a bedroom with an ailing parent? This book has a pleasant mix of wry humor, and thoughtful meditations. Enjoy this poetic picture of life.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy. This is my h0nest review.
Book Club Fiction- A Family on Cape Cod
The Second Home: A Novel by Christina Clancy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Currently classified on Amazon as Family Life Fiction and Coming of Age Fiction, this debut novel is a family drama that meshes the soul of Cape Cod with the heart of a family. The family’s salt box cottage on the Outer Cape bears witness to the struggles of the current Gordon family, as it has stood strong for other generations who came to this world of ocean, sand, and scrub pines.
The cover of the book is eye-appealing and enticing. Three young people, who must be the three siblings in the book are together, yet separate. The title of the book could have been “The Summer Cottage”, “The Vacation Place, or even “WellFleet”, but “The Second Home” is the only title it could be – this truly was a sheltering ‘home’, the place you go back to when you have nowhere else to go.
So, we have the perfect title and cover. What’s inside? First, the word pictures of Cape Cod are the best I have read (and Cape Cod is a popular setting for books). Second, the gentle wit and fresh use of words is appealing. Third, this story of a family united by so much, yet pulled apart in a moment is readable and compelling, like the constant ebb and flow of the tide.
In many ways this is a 5-star book, but for me, it was a bit long and slow in places. Some reviewers have called this book the perfect summer beach read, but I’m not so sure. Dark, tragic, evocative, this is a book to be read in late February, as the hope of spring begins to nudge winter away. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Cozy Mystery, Cruise with Great Characters!!
The Cruise Ship Lost My Daughter by Morgan Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Part travel fiction, part cozy mystery and 100% enjoyable! I chuckled and smiled through this book. But there was one thing that made me sad- in this time of pandemic, when will we get to cruise again? This book presents the pleasure and allure of cruising, paired with great characters solving a serious mystery.
We meet the stars of this book, Sheila and Shane McShane, as they are attempting to get through a TSA checkpoint. Sheila is 80, and about to lose her full-size pink canister of Flossy Glossy hairspray. But she has more to worry about than tangled hair, she has tangled nerves, because she and her 84-year-old husband have a mystery to solve. Shelia’s wit, kindness and ability to read people’s auras help her in the security line and will continue to guide her throughout their travels.
This couple of smart “oldie-moldies” are flying to Europe to embark on a cruise of the British Isles. They are retracing the vacation of their daughter, Shanna McShane, who went on the same cruise six weeks prior. Mr. and Mrs. McShane haven’t heard from her since. Their constant calls to the cruise line haven’t worked, so they are off to find Shanna.
Soon the McShanes are aboard the Dreamline Cruise, “Celestial of the Seas” (sounds familiar, doesn’t it?) The author does a great job of providing just the right amount of descriptions of life aboard the luxurious ship, as well as giving us interesting segments about the daily excursions to Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin and other ports of call.
Yes, the McShanes can never find their ship key card, and they require naps and early nights, but day by day, they manage to retrace Shanna’s trip and find clues about her disappearance. Until they are finally trapped in a deadly situation.
Until we cruise again, enjoy this charming, delightful, fresh and original, story. I do hope this book is the start of a series. Thanks to NetGalley and Indigo Dot Press for an advance digital review copy. This is my honest review.
Historical View of the World’s Fair, when Hopes were High
We Came Here to Shine: A Novel by Susie Orman Schnall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The World’s Fair in New York City opened on April 30, 1939, and we meet two young woman a few weeks later as they start working at the Fair. Author Schnall, who gave us the inspiring story of The Subway Girls, has created another historical fiction novel that will satisfy your dreams as you visit a by gone era. I liked this book!
The World’s Fair was billed as the “Dawn of a New Day” and the “World of Tomorrow”. Yet for Hollywood ingenue actress Vivi Holden, and New York University journalism student Maxine “Max” Roth, the Fair is more of a roadblock on their routes to success. Vivi’s movie studio has lent her to star in Billy Rose’s swim spectacular Aquacade at the Fair. Vivi doesn’t see how leaving Hollywood will make her a film star. Max ends up working at the Fair as a summer intern on the daily Fair paper, a setback to her dreams of interning at The New York Times.
The third main character of the book is the World’s Fair itself. The book is filled with descriptions of the exhibits and events, big and small, from the visit of the King and Queen of England to babies in incubators! The Parachute Drop ride had me shaking my head. I hope to find an old film of this experience. The Fair adds brightness and hope to the book.
Viv and Max end up being friends and in the two months they are at the Fair, we get to know their strong points and weaknesses, as well as their secrets. Both young women are trying to find their own place in their world. And the place of women in 1939 challenges them. Their hearts tell them to be themselves, whether that is weak or confident, but they tend to rely on childish plots and pranks.
Looming over the hope and promise of the bright future that the Word Fair represents, is the coming War in Europe. I found the mix of history, stories and the Fair, and the lives of Viv and Max to be an all-around good story. I eagerly read this book and I thank Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Inspirational Biography of an American Musical Legend
The Heart of a Woman: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price by Rae Linda Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This nonfiction book presents detailed research on the life and music of Florence Beatrice Smith. (Price). Florence Smith earned her place in American history as a prominent composer of symphonies and other classical type works. She was a woman and an African American and her life shows the challenges of the times.
America’s first significant African American composer was born In Little Rock, Arkansas in 1887. At that time, Little Rock was the pride of the South. Florence Smith’s family was educated, professional class, and well respected. Florence had access to school, the arts and to other prominent African American Leaders. She was able to attend the New England Conservatory of Music. Sadly, at school she identified herself as “Mexican” but her lifelong exploration of self through her music enabled to her to grown beyond the “politics of respectability.”
This book was written by an African American woman, a scholar and professor. The writing is scholarly and somewhat dry, but through it shines the inspiration of Florence Smith as she broke the racial and gender barriers for African American women composers.
Thanks to NetGalley and the University of Illinois Press for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Something to Munch on! A Delight!
Full Bloom: A Novel of Food, Family, and Freaking Out by Judith Arnold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bloom’s- it’s a food icon and it’s a family. Bloom’s delicatessen in New York’s Upper West side is a glorious institution featuring the best kosher food in the world. Grandma Ida and her husband began the business selling knishes from a pushcart. Now the second and third generation of Bloom’s run the world-renown store, and most of them live above it in the Bloom Building.
We meet most of the family on a typical day. All the Blooms are at work in their third-floor offices, with their office doors open so they can all shout at each other. Julia Bloom, a lawyer, is now the President of Blooms. Julia isn’t shouting at anyone, because she is evaluating the crispiness of the pickles. Grandma Ida appointed her after Ben Bloom (Julia’s father, and son of Grandma Ida) died.
And so begins the saga of the Blooms, a humorous novel about Jewish life. Remember the TV show Seinfeld? Well, just like Seinfeld, this book is also about nothing. Which means that it’s about everything. And it’s really about family and finding your way in a Jewish family. Each one of the Blooms has a story, and a problem- even the fierce Grandma Ida. Julia tries to please her siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins when the family suffers a shock. Can the Seder meal bring them together?
Author Judith Arnold writes with wit and warm and has created a detailed world filled with vivid characters that all so appealing. Celebrate the moon, bread, and family. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and The Story Plant for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Summer Romance in Norway!
Summer Island by Natalie Normann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Spend the summer on a small Norwegian island, where time seems to have stopped. Enjoy the sun, the brisk ocean breezes, and the picturesque views of small farms. Say “hie” to the general store owners Jens and Alma. Savor Britt’s homemade beer and savory meats from the local smokehouse. Search for mussels and crabs along the craggy coastline. You may even want to help the local “hippies” plant their potatoes.
Best of all, you will get to know Ninni and “her Englishman”. Ninni is a blend- she’s beautiful but has a personality that is cool and blunt and a heart that has been wounded by a lover’s betrayal. She comes to the Norwegian island every summer, a place that soothes with her its simple tranquility and childhood memories. But this year, things may be changing, when a young Englishman inherits the biggest landholding on the island.
The Englishman is Jack, a master chef from London. He has a passion for creating fine meals and his cuisine adds much flavor to the story. How did he come to be the heir of Agnar and now the owner of property on the island? This may be a small island, but there are many hidden stories that will be revealed in this fascinating Holiday Romance.
The story is told in blunt, forthright and honest fashion. The summer island is a place of raw nature and the characters reflect this. They are practical and pragmatic, but also understanding and open to change. This is not a sweet or cozy story, but it’s honesty and openness are appealing. By the end of the book, readers will be satisfied with their escape to the pretty island, and the story’s resolution, with their hearts warmed by the lovely descriptions of life on the island.
I read the author’s biography and she is Norwegian, and she has published 56 books, mostly historical fiction. This is her first book written in English. I received and advance review copy from NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers, One More Chapter. This is my honest review.
Finally…a self-help book I understand!!
Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It by Bob Goff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The subtitle of Dream Big is “Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It”. Seems a bit overwhelming, doesn’t it? Well it turns out that the author, Bob Goff, is “a lover of balloons, cake pops, and helping people pursue their big dreams” (that’s what his Amazon bio says.) I will listen to anyone who loves cake pops and it turns out that the author and his book were even better than all the treats he loves.
I will be rereading the book again, very soon. I read it quickly the first time- because his anecdotes are so funny, and comforting and they got my brain to thinking and reconsidering. I couldn’t wait to get to the next story, so I do need to spend more time with the nuts and bolts of the book. And I promise I will dive in to the Reflection Questions and Action Ideas too, which are almost like another book- loaded with more good info. Yes, this is an entertaining and relatable book that really helped me because I usually find self-help books hard to understand.
The big idea here is how to determine and then achieve your ambitions, big or small. I highlighted so many parts of the book. What really resonated with me on my first read is the idea of being available to people, all the time. That idea had all ready been tickling in my brain, so I am now even more open. Stop by! Here’s another idea- how about quitting something every Thursday? That’s easy to understand, isn’t it? You can quit a task, chore, habit, anything that’s taking up space in the junk drawer of your brain.
This is currently my favorite idea from the book- We shouldn’t be like a baseball umpire. No need to call balls and strikes on each other. Rather, we should be a base coach waving people on as they hustle and round the bases to home. (I hope you remember baseball…)
Enjoy this inspiring, informative and positive book. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Nelson Book. This is my honest review.
High Tech Corporate Espionage Thriller
Final Flight by Eric C. Anderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Who better to write an international mystery and political thriller than Eric C. Anderson, a member of the U.S. intelligence community who served tours in Hawaii, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Washington D.C., where his work focused on Northeast Asia-specifically China and North Korea. Mr. Anderson gives us a mind-boggling peak into the world of corporate espionage. It’s fiction, or is it?
The players are from Japan, Russia, China and the United States. We have a beaten down Japanese “salaryman” trying to sell new aircraft navigations systems to a purchaser at China Air. A hard-charging ex U.S Air Forceman wants to get the installation contract for the aircraft systems. They each will do everything they can, no matter how evil, to get a piece of this multimillion dollar pie. Most of these schemers have connections with Japanese and Russian mobsters. They all know that the Chinese are intellectual property thieves who will reverse engineer the aircraft systems as soon as they can. And what does the doomed Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that was tragically lost in 2014 have to do with it all?
Who will win? Mr. Anderson tells a spare and punchy story. This isn’t a cute rom com filled with adjectives, this is hard-hitting, serious and deadly. The tech and computer details seem accurate and are balanced with a realistic and at times humorous and ludicrous look at the personal lives and cultures of each of the main characters. Each character is both appealing and appalling. I am glad I will not be flying for awhile! Interested in technology, world affairs, or just love endless thrills- this is the book for you.
Many thanks to Dunn Books for an advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
Dark and Edgy
Volga Black by Bibiana Krall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Author Bibiana Krall describes her latest book, or novelette, as “unique, edgy and sometimes bizarre.” I would categorize this book as “speculative fiction”, which encompasses genres with certain elements that do not exist in the real world, such as supernatural, or other imaginative themes. I applaud Author Krall for letting loose her tremendous writing skill as she explores dark and mystical themes. She opens her readers up to thoughts and worlds that they may not have been brave enough to imagine on their own.
Volga Black blends history, folklore and the occult in this story of Tania, a young American woman trying to explore and live in Warsaw, Poland. She is sensitive to the history of Poland- the trauma of World War II and other wars and atrocities. She’s been wild as she explores the party scene in the Paradise Beach area, but there is a part of her that is searching for much more. One night, a black Volga car emerges from the depths near the beach where she is dancing, and the supernatural power that it brings begins to haunt Tania. She is drawn to the cathedral of St. Florian, which is well described.
What is this dark entity? Do we all have a dark entity? Do we see our world as a dark entity? That is the power of this book and its unusual themes- it gives the readers quite a thrilling ride and it also provokes some deep feelings. Are you brave enough to read it? Enjoy!
Looking for more books to read? Please visit my Book Promotions page and explore all the latest releases. Extracts, blurbs, reviews, author info, books links- all waiting for you!
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