1922: Opaline, flees her childhood home to escape an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. She will first find refuge in Paris, where her3.5 ⭐️
1922: Opaline, flees her childhood home to escape an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. She will first find refuge in Paris, where her love of rare books will earn her an apprenticeship in a bookstore called “Shakespeare and Company”, the perfect training ground for a young woman who is convinced that Bronte’ wrote a second book, which is waiting to be discovered.
But, her happiness will be short lived and she will have to flee again to Dublin where she will be given an opportunity to run her own book store in a building with an extraordinary past…..for awhile.
Present Day: Martha is running from an abusive husband, and she will respond to an advert for a housekeeper, at #12, Ha’Penny Lane, placed by an eccentric former actress, who insists on being addressed as Madame Bowden. (I just adored her!)
Unexplainable things happen here but unexpectedly, it becomes the perfect refuge for Martha.
Henry is on a quest to find a book that was mentioned in a letter he found-a book that he needs to find for his PH.D research. IF he can find it hidden in a bookshop at 11 Ha’Penny Lane, he could make a name for himself and it could make his career.
He enters the shop but when he turns around, the shop has disappeared.
Buildings still stand at 10 Ha’Penny Lane and 12 Ha’Penny Lane but 11 Ha’Penny lane no longer exists. He seeks answers from Martha, the striking young woman at #12, and finds more than he bargained for.
Of course, Opaline’s story will be eventually be linked to the characters in the present day.
I am not a big fan of MAGICAL REALISM, but this time these elements of the book were actually my FAVORITE part!
The book is also labeled as HISTORICAL FICTION and it definitely reads as such-even the present day chapters read like they are taking place in the past-not the present-they lacked a contemporary feel.
Much was predictable with the exception of the magical realism elements, which is why this enchanting story earns 3.5 ⭐️ rounded down from me.
A buddy read with DeAnn-be sure to check out her amazing review!
AVAILABLE June 22, 2023
Thank You to One More Chapter for the invitation to read this one. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Merged review:
3.5 ⭐️
1922: Opaline, flees her childhood home to escape an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. She will first find refuge in Paris, where her love of rare books will earn her an apprenticeship in a bookstore called “Shakespeare and Company”, the perfect training ground for a young woman who is convinced that Bronte’ wrote a second book, which is waiting to be discovered.
But, her happiness will be short lived and she will have to flee again to Dublin where she will be given an opportunity to run her own book store in a building with an extraordinary past…..for awhile.
Present Day: Martha is running from an abusive husband, and she will respond to an advert for a housekeeper, at #12, Ha’Penny Lane, placed by an eccentric former actress, who insists on being addressed as Madame Bowden. (I just adored her!)
Unexplainable things happen here but unexpectedly, it becomes the perfect refuge for Martha.
Henry is on a quest to find a book that was mentioned in a letter he found-a book that he needs to find for his PH.D research. IF he can find it hidden in a bookshop at 11 Ha’Penny Lane, he could make a name for himself and it could make his career.
He enters the shop but when he turns around, the shop has disappeared.
Buildings still stand at 10 Ha’Penny Lane and 12 Ha’Penny Lane but 11 Ha’Penny lane no longer exists. He seeks answers from Martha, the striking young woman at #12, and finds more than he bargained for.
Of course, Opaline’s story will be eventually be linked to the characters in the present day.
I am not a big fan of MAGICAL REALISM, but this time these elements of the book were actually my FAVORITE part!
The book is also labeled as HISTORICAL FICTION and it definitely reads as such-even the present day chapters read like they are taking place in the past-not the present-they lacked a contemporary feel.
Much was predictable with the exception of the magical realism elements, which is why this enchanting story earns 3.5 ⭐️ rounded down from me.
A buddy read with DeAnn-be sure to check out her amazing review!
AVAILABLE June 22, 2023
Thank You to One More Chapter for the invitation to read this one. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!...more
Winner of the 2023 Kyoto Book Prize Written by Syou Ishida, translated to English by E. Madison Shimoda-A bestseller in Japan, due to be published in sWinner of the 2023 Kyoto Book Prize Written by Syou Ishida, translated to English by E. Madison Shimoda-A bestseller in Japan, due to be published in seventeen languages
Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the “Kokoro Clinic for the Soul” can ONLY be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help.
Directions to the Clinic are cryptic-you will be given the names of streets that intersect in four directions.
And, prospective patients will only hear about the Clinic indirectly-like from “a former colleague who passed the name along after his younger brother’s wife’s cousin’s company’ client recommended it”-for example. ...more
She gives out care packages to the homeless-granola bars, travel sized toothbrush and toothpaste, wool DNF at 40%-no rating!
I really liked Constance.
She gives out care packages to the homeless-granola bars, travel sized toothbrush and toothpaste, wool socks and a dog biscuit for their dogs-because she has learned from her volunteer work at the animal shelter, that a homeless person will often take better care of the pet who gives them unconditional love than they will of themselves.
I really liked her selflessness, and her WONDERFUL work with the animals at the shelter, and I wished she would recognize her own self worth.
When she discovers that her engagement ring is worth more than her fiancée SHOULD be able to afford, and that it has a “history” tied to a tragic love story, she is compelled to research it further.
This research leads her to a book of letters in her library’s old manuscript section written by a man, who died long ago.
Constance is deeply touched by the letters, and impulsively, she leaves a note for him confessing her uncertainty and doubts about her own engagement and the secrets she fears her fiancée is keeping from her.
She’s shocked when a few days later, she finds a response tucked among the pages, where she had left her note.
THIS is the premise which attracted me to the book, but unfortunately, the letters which resonated with her, aren’t really resonating with ME. And, the letters are why I requested this.
AND, although, based on other reviews, I know that ultimately the animals surrendered to the “no kill shelter” she volunteers with DO end up with a “happily ever after”, the EXCUSES that people use when giving them up, just anger and upset me.
I have decided at 40% to DNF for the above TWO reasons.
But DO read additional reviews before deciding if this one is for you!
It’s not a bad book by any means-it’s just wasn’t a great fit for me personally.
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review....more
This is reminiscent of “A Man Called Ove” but for bibliophiles!
Sloane Parker is a librarian in the small town of Coeur d’Alene. She neve3.5 stars ⭐️
This is reminiscent of “A Man Called Ove” but for bibliophiles!
Sloane Parker is a librarian in the small town of Coeur d’Alene. She never thinks of herself as lonely but the highlight of her day is when an old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her.
She knows it’s the highlight of his day too, because he has changed what time of day he starts arriving at the library, from when Octavia, the head librarian was working, to coming in during Sloane’s shifts instead. So, when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned.
And when another day passes, and then another, she looks up his address, and decides she needs to check up on him-even if it costs her, the very job she loves.
The “Lonely Hearts Book Club” is born, and this charming story of friendships formed among the book lovers who gather around Arthur, unfolds from the alternating five POV’s of its members-Sloane, Maisey, Matteo, Greg and even Arthur himself.
The first two perspectives, those of Sloane and Maisey, were stronger for me than the others, but it’s still an enjoyable read about unconditional love! ...more
*No Spoilers from books one and two in the Jaipur Trilogy*
In Book One, “The Henna Artist” we were introduced to the vivid sights and smells of India,*No Spoilers from books one and two in the Jaipur Trilogy*
In Book One, “The Henna Artist” we were introduced to the vivid sights and smells of India, as we met Lakshmi, the most requested Henna Artist in the pink city of Jaipur, and learned about her skills, including the polite but calculated negotiations that allowed her to flourish in her trade.
Book Two, “The Secret Keeper of Jaipur” the story continues 12 years later with her protégé, Malik, who has taken an apprenticeship interning at the Jaipur Palace, whose latest project is a State of the Art Cinema, which doesn’t go as planned.
And, in Book Three-the final chapter of the trilogy, “The Perfumist of Paris”the spotlight is now on Lakshmi’s younger sister, Radha, who is now thirty-two and living in 1974 Paris with her husband, Pierre, and their two daughters, Shanti and Asha.
When her friend’s grandfather offered her a job at his parfumerie, she quickly discovered that she had a gift for matching the “right” fragrance for each customer who walked through the door, sensing not only what would work with their own essence but also intuitively knowing what they wanted it for.
I enjoyed learning about the processes and it made me wonder what she would choose for me. What would be my “signature scent”?
Despite not having a chemistry degree, Radha is now a lab assistant to Delphine Silberman, a master perfumer at the House of Yves, in Paris, and rising up the ranks much to the chagrin of her husband who would prefer that she would be happy being a “stay at home” wife and mother.
She has come a long way from the lost 13 year old we met in book one, full of regrets and sorrow and the trilogy comes full circle as she tries to balance her love for her career with her love of being a mother.
She will have to hold her own against her better educated adversaries, navigate a relationship with a judgmental mother in law, and do so with only her close friend, Mathilde to lean on, as the rest of her family resides in India.
Her first major project will take her home to India searching for the perfect scent for a special client, just as a secret from her Past, will arrive in Paris, making her confront all of the things she thought could remain buried.
Once again, the VIBRANT sights and INTOXICATING smells of both Paris, and India were brought alive, by the MESMERIZING lyrical voice of narrator Sneha Mathan, in the Audible version and I toggled between listening and reading.
The author, Alki Joshi, thoughtfully provided a cast of characters in the beginning, reminding us of who everyone from each book is and how they are related, as well as a glossary of terms (and a couple of recipes!) at the book’s conclusion.
Although, this was always a planned trilogy, the story could easily continue with Radha’s children, should the author reconsider, and I would most definitely enjoy seeing where their paths would take them, but this was most definitely a WORTHY conclusion and a WONDERFUL way to conclude this journey.
Remember Bruce Springsteen’s song “Glory Days”? Although this book does not take place in 1985, it had that kind of nostalgic feel to it-in the very BRemember Bruce Springsteen’s song “Glory Days”? Although this book does not take place in 1985, it had that kind of nostalgic feel to it-in the very BEST way! Think about a “slice of life” in a small town, loyal friends who grew up together, love and broken dreams.
Malcolm Gephardt is the guy that everyone loves! He had worked at the local, neighborhood bar, THE HALF MOON, for 26 years, with the intent of buying it, when the owner retired. Now that it’s his-he has tried to modernize the place, but what he didn’t realize is that the regulars just want what’s familiar-what feels like home.
And, business could be better.
His wife, Jess is dedicated to her law career, but what she wants more than anything else is to be a mother. Unfortunately, the Infertility treatments haven’t worked, and it’s taking a toll on their marriage. I didn’t always like her, but I understood that some of the choices she made came from pain.
Student Loans, failed medical treatments, and the cost of owning a bar that has been in disrepair for years-has caused their debt to pile up, and their dreams are crumbling fast.
Tracey Lange follows up her wonderful debut novel, “We Are the Brennans” with a story about three siblings who test the bounds of love and loyal4.5 ⭐️
Tracey Lange follows up her wonderful debut novel, “We Are the Brennans” with a story about three siblings who test the bounds of love and loyalty, when the youngest is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge.
Because of that conviction, Tara Connelly will no longer be allowed to ever teach Art to children again, and she must move home at age 30, to live with Geraldine, the bossy older sister who raised her, and her brother, Eddie, a single Dad who is still struggling with the ongoing effects of a brain injury sustained years ago.
Trying to rebuild your life after serving time is challenging enough, and in Tara’s case whenever she takes two steps forward, she is pushed one step back, by the secrets her family keeps from her, and by one of the two cops who put her in jail, continuing to follow her-convinced she is hiding the information he needs to convict the town’s main drug supplier.
Fortunately, her strong bond with her adorable joke telling nephew, Connor, two unlikely allies in the guys who decide to take a chance and give her a job, and the possibility of a new love interest, all help to keep pushing her forward whenever it all seems too overwhelming.
There is even a visit to Brennan’s bar.
Tracey Lange writes likable, imperfect characters who you want to root for, and captures the intricacies of family dynamics in a way that makes me want to keep turning the pages long after I should be turning out the lights and getting some sleep!
She has definitely now become an auto-request author for me, and I look forward to what’s next!
After a bit of a book slump, I picked up this book, and I KNEW from the FIRST chapter, that I had found the kind of immersive read Finally. FINALLY!!
After a bit of a book slump, I picked up this book, and I KNEW from the FIRST chapter, that I had found the kind of immersive read that had been elusive the past few weeks. One that would be filled with “highlight worthy” passages, one that I would not want to put down.
“ONE book, NINE readers, TEN changed lives”
The book will pass from the hands of the WRITER to the ASSISTANT and then make its way, over the years, to the ACTOR, the ARTIST, the DIVER, the TEENAGER, the BOOKSELLER, the CARETAKER, the COORDINATOR, and the AGENT.
Written almost like a collection of vignettes, each about 20-30 minutes in length, we start by meeting the writer, Alice, as she creates her debut novel, THEO, a story that has taken FIVE years, and 40, 458 SAVES, to complete.
Now, she just needs someone to say, “YES”.
After, many rejections, it’s hook, the FIRST NINE WORDS, which Alice insisted on keeping, will speak to an assistant who is reading through queries and manuscripts, searching for the needle in the haystack-“a story that would take the familiar and turn it into something profoundly new”.
“Theo” will now find his way into the hands of many…
Each of the following chapters is like a beautifully wrapped gift box. ...more
“Darkness lives in women too-despite the world’s refusal to see it”
Florence "Florida" Baum and her ex-cellmate, Diosmary “Dios” Sandoval, are released“Darkness lives in women too-despite the world’s refusal to see it”
Florence "Florida" Baum and her ex-cellmate, Diosmary “Dios” Sandoval, are released from an AZ prison early, due to overcrowding during the Covid pandemic. They are to quarantine in the Sleep Away, a motor court style motel, for two weeks, and then they must find a place to live, and check in with a probation officer weekly.
Dios thinks she knows the truth about Florida's crimes, thinks she understands the truth that she hides even from herself and she is determined to open Florida's eyes and unleash that truth.
Her fixation on Florida turns into a dangerous obsession, and a deadly cat-and-mouse game that leads them to a stand-off in the harsh streets of Los Angeles, where discarded Covid masks litter the desolate streets, even among the community of the homeless, and their tents.
Each of those people has a story that has led them there: “Lose your wife, lose your savings, lose your home, lose your friends, lose your way, lose your mind” -stories that one cop, Lobos is interested in hearing.
The book is divided into two parts, with part one reading like an exposé of the gritty, violent day to day life in prison and part two offering the same on the night to night reality of life on the L.A. streets following release, where Lobos and her partner, Easton, will search for the escaped parolees.
First off, calling this a WESTERN, is perplexing and that was putting me off of requesting the book.
I picture a period from the 1850s to the end of the 19th century, which embodies the spirit and struggle of the new frontier, when something is called a WESTERN. This story doesn’t qualify just because the women are released from an AZ prison, and end up FACING OFF in L.A.
But, I loved the authors last release, “These Women” (5 stars) so, I took a chance on this one.
My personal enjoyment level of the story was only 3 stars-(I don’t enjoy prison settings, and graphic violence) but some beautiful passages, and thought provoking writing could easily earn the CRIME FICTION book the full 5 stars-so, I am settling on 4 stars, for my rating.
NOW AVAILABLE!
A buddy read with DeAnn-so be sure to watch for her review for additional insight!
Thank You to MCD Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!...more
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