The Bookshop Sisterhood by Michelle Lindo-Rice

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Pages: 359 pages
Published: July 202

Full confession, sometimes I do judge a book by its cover, and I found the cover of The Bookshop Sisterhood by Michelle Lindo-Rice to be completely regal. In the opening of this contemporary women's fiction novel, we meet four long-time girlfriends who are on the verge of opening the bookstore of their dreams. But before the literary haven they've planned for the community can open, each character encounters a crisis that independently seems insurmountable. When they realize they are stronger together, the result is an engaging read about the power of women, community, friendships, and books! 

While I may have judged the book by its cover, I found the premise promising. The story was equally interesting, heartwarming, and emotional. The group of four was diverse, and I loved how each character was distinct. Through her lyrical prose and well-developed characters, Lindo-Rice brought me into her world, and I soon found myself wanting to be part of the fictional sisterhood portrayed in her novel. My only critique is I think the book could have been a bit shorter with some strategic editing. 

Recommendation: Overall, I found The Bookshop Sisterhood to be a delightful and uplifting read that resonated with me as a contemporary woman who adores all things literary. I recommend this book as the perfect choice for someone looking for a feel-good story. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 384 pages
Published: July 2024

Another summer reading pick by Barnes & Noble, The Wedding People by Alison Espach did not disappoint. Written in third person, the novel takes us on a weeklong journey where Phoebe Stone has booked a suite at the extravagant Cornwall Inn for one-night with plans to die of suicide after living through the Covid pandemic and dealing with the grief of the end of her marriage. Unbeknownst to her, Lila, who can be a bit of a bridezilla, has booked the rest of this beautiful hotel for the perfect wedding she's been planning throughout Covid and to fulfill her dying father's wish. When Lila meets Phoebe and learns of her plans, she is intent on stopping her from ruining her perfectly planned soiree. 

For the remainder of the story, we learn more about Phoebe, Lila, and a diverse cast of characters. The plot has some deep elements that are a bit heavy, but the author takes great care with them. Her writing allows space for the read to contemplate the ramifications of one's actions (or inaction). Everything comes together well in the end, but not perfectly, and that makes the book all the more endearing. Life is not perfect either. 

But there are a lot of perfect quotes in this book that I highlighted in the Kindle version I borrowed from my local library. Here are just a few - 

“I just mean, a story can be beautiful not because of the way it ends. But because of the way it’s written.”

And Matt could do that—turn off the TV, quit a marriage—right in the middle of the climactic scene.

She was always too embarrassed to admit that she ever wanted anything, as if there was something humiliating about being a person with desires.

This is exactly what Phoebe has always hated and loved about life—how unpredictable it is, how things can change in an instant.

How are you supposed to go from being the center of someone’s world to being irrelevant? To sobbing in your best friend’s arms unthinkingly to being afraid to call them after your father dies? Phoebe doesn’t know. She, too, was caught unprepared by that kind of loss.

But Phoebe is starting to understand that on some nights, Lila is probably the loneliest girl in the world, just like Phoebe. And maybe they are all lonely. Maybe this is just what it means to be a person. To constantly reckon with being a single being in one body. Maybe everybody sits up at night and creates arguments in their head for why they are the loneliest person in the world.

At the time, the darkness felt like life. It is all about moving on. Saying goodbye to whoever you thought you were, whoever you thought you would be.

“Your husband is not going to take care of you the way you think,” Phoebe says. “Nobody can take care of you the way you need to take care of yourself. It’s your job to take care of yourself like that.”

It is not an easy thing to do, walk away from what you’ve built and save yourself.

She is so good at predicting what will happen in books, so bad at predicting what will happen in life. That is why she has always preferred books—because to be alive is much harder.

Recommendation: I really enjoyed this book. This is a story of healing, and there were many touches of humor, but I would definitely categorize it as literary fiction. I think this is one that could be read at any time. 

Trigger warnings include suicide, death in the family, marital affair, and infertility. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Sisters with a Side of Greens by Michelle Stimpson

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Duration: 12:38:00
Published: March 2024

I learned about Sisters with a Side of Greens from one of my book community groups on Facebook, and I am so thankful I did. After listening to the audiobook I borrowed from my local library, I already know I would appreciate reading more by Michelle Stimpson who has a knack for women's fiction that speaks to women in general and African American women specifically. This story is about ... you guessed it ... two estranged sisters who are struggling to find forgiveness with each other and more forward to their third act in life. 

Rose, who has recently retired from the U.S. Post Office plans to complete her unfilled dream of starting a restaurant using her mother's secret seasoning to pave her way to success. Her sister, Marvina, is living in east Texas and much of her identity is wrapped up in serving her community and church. However, Rose needs Marvina's cooperation and financial help to get her restaurant started. Marvina's primary church outreach service is coming to an end, and she needs to find a new life purpose. The sisters are both strong-willed and opinionated, and the author takes us on their journey of discovering what's happened in the past, what's next, and their love for each other again. 

I truly enjoyed this story, and it was a bonus that it was set in Texas, so there were familiar points of reference in the novel. Stimpson has created realistic characters, a memorable story, and an entertaining read that kept me company for a couple of days on my commute to work. I can't wait to read what she writes next. 

Recommendation: I am thankful for this recommendation I got through Facebook. As a reader, a foodie, and a sister, I found the story quite relatable and very enjoyable. I strongly recommend this book. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 326 pages
Published: January 2023

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham had been sitting on my physical TBR (to be read) shelf for quite some time. I purchased it December 2022 with my monthly Book of the Month credit, but I didn't get around to reading it until April 2023 when I nominated it for my work book club read. The story centers around Isabelle Drake who literally cannot sleep since her toddler son, Mason, went missing nearly a year prior. This traumatic event has cost her marriage as well as shuteye time. To keep Mason's case alive, Isabelle accepts speaking engagements in hopes that a new clue will come forward to lead her to her son. The book opens at one such event where she is approached by a podcaster who wants to help give her story some exposure by producing a series of episodes (think NYT's Serial podcast). With help from this new avenue, Isabelle begins to recall more about Mason's disappearance and the death of her sister when she was a child, both events leading her closer to the truth. 

This is not my first Willingham read, I thoroughly enjoyed A Flicker in the Dark when I read it in July 2022, which prompted my purchase of her latest book. Willingham is an excellent writer and a mistress of suspense. She captures the reader early only, giving them no choice but to continue reading until reaching the end. While I enjoy a suspense-filled thriller, I also appreciated the other themes the author touched on with respect to motherhood, guilt and a sense of morality (or lack thereof) in personal choices.  

For those who might be wondering: My work book club enjoyed the book, but it was like the third book that involved a missing child so it wasn't received as well as it could have been if we'd selected different topics. 

Recommendation: I highly recommend this book for mystery lovers and armchair detectives who find crime-solving entertaining. The author provides enough red herrings to keep you guessing, but enough valid clues to keep you invested. The book could be triggering for some because it involves a missing child; however, I found the overall plot to be palatable and well executed. I can't wait to see if Willingham writes a third book and if it's also picked up by Book of the Month - which rarely disappoints in its monthly choices. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith

Rating: 5+ of 5 stars

Pages: 320 pages
Published: February 2021

I'll say it again: Welcome to 2021! Now, this is how to start the year reading. This Close to Okay is my first read by author Leesa Cross-Smith, and I think I am in love. In this deeply-moving novel, she shares a story about two strangers who meet at a pivotal time in both their lives. Both Tallie and Emmett are struggling with some demons and attempting to deal with them mentally and physically. A chance meeting leads to them spending a three-day weekend together and learning about each other and more about themselves. 

This is one of those books that you have to enjoy the journey. At only 320 pages, the book may seem short, but there's so much to unpack, it is best to consume it slowly and let it sit with you a while. I found Cross-Smith's writing to be thoughtful, thorough and descriptive. Some passages were so vivid I could truly picture the scenes and the characters as she proffered them. To me, this is a wonderful talent. And I must say she wrote in such a descriptive way, not to sell movie rights (although I'd love to see it on screen), but rather to truly ignite a reader's imagination. 

Recommendation: This book was wonderful. You want to learn how it all ends, but the prose is too beautiful to rush. I savored this book like a rich piece of cheesecake. Its purchase pushed me into BFF status with BOTM, and it was a good buy. I highly recommend it - so much so that I plan to re-visit it, something I rarely do with books but often with cheesecake! 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Pages: 304 pages
Published: October 2020

I signed up for the Book of the Month subscription nearly a year ago because the company touts their panel's ability to choose great reads, and for the most part they have not disappointed me. When I added The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle to my box, I figured it would be good. 

As a read along about these identical twin sisters who separated at the last possible moment in the womb and, as a result, were mirror images of each other (include their internal organs), I found the story to have the makings of a run-of-the mill mystery. As older teens, the sisters' father died and, in a most dysfunctional way, he leaves he entire fortune to the first child (and there are more than just the twins) who marries and produces his first biological grandchild. The "winning" heir cannot share the monies with any of his or her siblings. As the identical twins enter adulthood, they are the oldest and most likely to bear an heir. Summer who has the perfect life with her husband seems in prime position since her twin's, Iris, marriage has recently fallen apart. As luck would have it, Summer calls Iris out to help sail the family yacht back home due to a family emergency and on the way back, Iris finds herself without her twin in the middle of the Indian Ocean. When she makes landfall, she uses the unfortunate opportunity to seize her sister's perfect life and grab the inheritance while she's at it. 

The story is well written. It creates enough mystery to keep the reader invested to the finish, but the thing that makes this book great is the plot twist that literally doesn't come till the last page of the book. It has left many readers, myself included, jaw dropped. You might think throwing in a plot twist at the very end of the book would cheapen its effect, but it does just the opposite. It leaves the reader reeling and trying to figure out how it all happened for days. 

Recommendation: This was definitely a fast-paced, twisty sister novel. If you can get past the technical sailing terms included in  the novel, it's an easy and fun read over a lazy weekend. I highly recommend it. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight

Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Pages: 400 pages
Published: May 2020

What constitutes a good marriage? If you're looking for the answer, you're not going to find it in this book. However, the novel, A Good Marriage, is a legal mystery full of twists and revelations that keep you turning the page until you learn who the killer is. This Book of the Month Club selection features Lizzie, a former federal prosector who is now working as an attorney in the private sector. She gets a late-night call from her former college mate, Zach, who has been arrested and is the main suspect in his wife's murder. Lizzie reluctantly takes his case and becomes an amateur sleuth in trying to find out what happened to his wife, Amanda. On top of that, Lizzie is having some pretty serious marital problems of her own.

The book is told through the alternating perspectives of Lizzie and Amanda and also includes grand jury testimony and other correspondence to give the reader clues for solving the mystery. Having said that, I was unable to discern the killer until the very end. The author, Kimberly McCreight, included several red herrings in the story that threw me off.

I enjoyed reading this book. I found it to be very engaging, and I think McCreight is a masterful storyteller. There were a couple of elements she introduced that added more suspense to the plot, but I don't think she closed the loop on. These are very minor and don't affect the story greatly. There was also foul language that I don't think added value to the story, and at times, seemed forced. Overall, this was an entertaining read, especially during this time of quarantine.

Recommendation: I give this novel 5 stars. I highly recommend it. Fans of Law & Order might enjoy this book.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

Rating: 5+ of 5 stars
Pages: 384 pages
Published: February 2020

Oh! How I fell in love with Adunni, the main character in The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare. This emotionally wrought story is about a 14-year old child whose mother has died and her father sells her (his only daughter) to a dirty, old polygamist in a rural town in Nigeria. All Adunni wants is an education so that she may one day become a teacher and have a voice in her own life and circumstances. Afraid of becoming impregnated by the polygamist "husband" and the abusive sister-wife, she runs away only to be thrust into another abusive human trafficking situation.

I know the plot sounds dire, and it is, but there are elements of hope and redemption. Adunni is a heroine. She is courageous. She is the perfect protagonist to read about any time, but this read was especially inspiring to read during Women's History Month. The novel featured several strong female characters. As an author, Dare did an excellent job with this debut, painting vivid imagery without being too graphic. I enjoyed that she wrote in the voice of a young person who was struggling to learn English. It made the book feel more authentic.

This book gave me all the feels and left me pondering about what lie ahead for Adunni. It also made me think about how truly fortunate I am to have grown up in a place where education is readily available to boys and girls alike. I truly have no complaints about this book. It was executed very well and well worth the read.

Recommendation: I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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One Day in December by Josie Silver

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Pages: 409 pages
Published: October 2018 

I sought out a lighthearted chick lit novel after reading some heavier, darker material. While One Day in December by Josie Silver could certainly be categorized as chick lit, it is also a bit more than that. There are some heavier themes surrounding personal growth and self esteem that I think many women can relate to.

The story, set in England, begins with Laurie on a bus exchanging a longing glance with a young man outside of the bus. As fate would have it, they miss their chance to connect. She is certain their visual encounter is love at first sight, and she spends the next year looking for him when he walks right in their door of the flat she shares with her long-time friend, Sarah. To her dismay, the young man - Jack - has just begun dating Sarah and Sarah is certain that he is "the one" for her. From there the novel spans 10 years of friendships and relationships between Laurie, Sarah, Jack, and other secondary characters.

I classify this book as chick lit because it's mainly about finding love and the reader gets the happy ending; however, the beauty of this story is the journey in getting there. I grew attached to both Laurie and Sarah and the friendship they developed over the years. Some family aren't blood relatives but family just the same. My only real issue with the novel was Jack's character. I'm not really sure why he was always the prize just out of Laurie's grasp as we travel the 10 years with her.

This was a fun story that I enjoyed reading. I am thankful to the Fort Worth Library for the digital borrow.

Recommendation:  I'd recommend this book for a quick weekend read over a nice cup of cocoa.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen

Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Pages: 375 pages
Published: September 2018 

I absolutely adored Black Girls Must Die Exhausted (BGMDE) by Jayne Allen! This book was selected by one of my book clubs, and it did not disappoint. The story centers around a 30-something reporter journalist, Tabitha Walker, who gets some personally devastating news at the onset of the book and the remainder of the book is how that news affects her, the decisions she makes, and other people close to her.

As a young, single, career-minded woman living in a metropolitan area, I found the main character to be very relatable. The story line was spot on, and the writing was impeccable. The author was able to create engaging imagery that evoked a myriad of emotions in this reader. I found myself tearing up more than once while reading BGMDE. The ending was not perfect, but it was satisfying. Although, I was a little surprised to learn that this book would be the first of a trilogy! Now I'm invested and must read the subsequent books that the author is working on.

My only complaint about this book is with the publisher. The book is not available in most large libraries, and I think that is a disservice to the author and potential readers. More young women should have access to this story. This is not a story for black women; it's a story for all women.

Recommendation:  I definitely recommend this book. I think it is an intriguing read for all, but I think it might resonate with working women the most.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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The Child Next Door by Shalini Boland

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Length: 283 pages
Published: March 2018

A solid 3 for psychological thriller, The Child Next Door by Shalini Boland. This book was my club's choice for our upcoming suspense genre meeting in July. It was definitely suspenseful. The publisher marketed the book as "unputdownable." While the jury is still out on whether that's a real word, I do have to say it's an accurate description. I devoured this mystery in about 2  days.  

New mother Kirstie Rawlings is the protagonist who hears someone planning a child abduction through a frequency on her daughter's, Daisy, baby monitor. Having the only baby in her neighborhood and monitors only picking up frequencies close by, Kirstie is sure that someone is out to get her baby. From there, the reader is taken on an emotional roller coaster, told from Kirstie's postpartum point-of-view, to learn who she overheard and what their plans are. The secondary characters add more intrigue to the story. I'm sure this was in an attempt to keep the reader guessing. However, I had it figured out pretty early on. 

I enjoyed that this book was fast-paced. I found that to be one of its strong points. I also think the story is very compelling and realistic. However, I did get bogged down by Kirstie at times. Her moaning about needing her husband so much and being so fearful of her neighbor without really any evidence seemed a bit of a stretch. Also, the epilogue seemed to take the ending over the top. I think we could have done without it, but maybe Boland is planning on writing a sequel later. We shall see! 

Recommendation: Overall, I found this book to be the perfect summer read. It was a page-turner that kept me, as the reader, engaged till the satisfying end. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful. 

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We're Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union

Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Length: 7:48:00
Published: October 2017

In my continued quest to listen to more audiobooks, I downloaded Gabrielle Union's We're Going to Need More Wine. I first heard about her book when she appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. I was intrigued by much of what she said and figured I'd give her book a go. Plus, how can you not love that title?! 

So, I'll start with the obvious. Gabrielle Union wrote and narrated the book. Because she's a fairly prolific actress, it was no surprise that she acted out her words very well. I found the book to be formatted like a collection of essays where Union shared very vulnerable parts of her life with her audience. Her stories gave me greater insight to her as a person, not just a celebrity. She struggles with many of the same issues that non-celebrity women struggle with. It was refreshing to learn how she's gained so much strength from her survival. Growing up in an area that lacked diversity, she didn't have the best childhood. Her dad wasn't the best person. She was violently raped as a teenager. And she was a party to a tumultuous divorce as an adult. I related to many of her experiences, and found myself liking her more after I finished the read than before. I haven't followed Union's acting career closely. I've never seen an episode of Being Mary Jane. But that didn't stop me from understanding her biographical timeline and appreciating her story.

My harshest critique of this book is the language. There was much cursing, vulgarities, and sexually-explicit scenes. To be fair, she does offer a language disclaimer/warning at the beginning of the book. However, I still wasn't prepared for how pervasive it was ... and I'd already purchased the book. I also didn't like how she kind of used her friend's legacy as a trope to finish the book. It sounded rushed and like she was looking for an out rather than a natural conclusion. 

Recommendation: Gabrielle is funny, insightful, and she curses ... a lot. I think the book is worth a read or a listen. There were certain things she shared about her life as an African American woman that gave me pause and caused me to think about it long after I'd finished listening to her reading of the book. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful. 

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Necessities by Boyd Taylor

Genre: Suspense Crime Fiction, Adult Fiction

Publisher: Katherine Brown Press

Date of Publication: December 5, 2017

Pages: 225

Synopsis | My Review | Buy Now | About the Author | Giveaway

Donnie Ray Cuinn returns to Austin to defend a war hero accused of murder. David Lewis lost both legs in Iraq, but he has overcome his nightmares and his disabilities by sheer willpower. He has learned to run and to box and is a successful newspaperman with a beautiful wife and son. Now the nightmares have returned and he must stand trial for murder. With twists that never seem to end, this gripping legal thriller is filled with suspense and indelibly drawn characters dealing with love and betrayal.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Necessities is a suspense-filled drama written by fellow Texan Boyd Taylor. As the story opens, we meet David Lewis, an Army veteran who lost both legs during war. Now back in the U.S. (Cleveland, Ohio) and working as a journalist he reconnects with an old college girlfriend Cordelia "Cory" Lehrer. They begin a whirlwind romance, and she sees David and their relationship as an opportunity to capitalize on her father's fortune he's amassed as a newspaper publisher. 

The majority of the first part of the book sets up David and Cory's romantic relationship then-turned loveless marriage. A couple of years into the marriage and after David and Cory have had a son together, David finds himself on trial for murder and must prove that the shooting in which he participated was accidental. The event is a bit reminiscent of the Oscar Pistorius case. Couple that with David's odd marriage arrangement and his PTSD as a result of the war, you have the makings of an excellent book (and maybe even a movie!) 

At this point, the recurring character of the series, Donnie Ray Cuinn enters. He serves as criminal defense attorney for David. From there the pace is the book picks up dramatically. I found myself rushing to each next chapter in hopes of finding out what verdict might be assigned. 

This book grabbed my attention from the start and kept it until the very end. I finished it in about five days, which is pretty fast for me. I enjoyed the suspense, the mystery, the unique family dynamic, and the legal thrill. It's also fun to read a book about places with which you are familiar. The latter part of the book takes place in Texas, specifically Austin, which is one of my favorite cities. 

My only critique would be that the set-up of David and Cory's life seemed a little unrealistic. It seems almost unbelievable that she would fall in love with him so quickly. Even more so, that David (or any man really) would agree to the marriage agreement she proposes after conceiving their son. Having said that and without giving away spoilers, this seemingly weak plot development makes sense at the conclusion of the book. However, it did bug me as I read the book. (Sometimes it all really does make sense in the end.) 

Recommendation: This was a fast read with a lot of detail that kept my interest the whole way through. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys mysteries and courtroom dramas. I am looking forward to reading the other books in Mr. Taylor's series. 

Until next time ... Read on!

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Boyd Taylor lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and their Havanese dog Toby. Necessities is the fourth novel in the Donnie Ray Cuinn series. In a former life, Boyd was a lawyer and a corporate officer. A native of Temple, Texas, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in government and an LL.B. from the law school.

​Boyd's first novel Hero was prescient in its story about fake news. His second novel, The Antelope Play, dealt with drug trafficking in the Texas Panhandle, an unfortunately accurate forecast. The third, The Monkey House, involved commercial development of a large green space in the center of Austin, all too familiar to Austin residents. Whether his upcoming novel Necessities predicts future events with the accuracy of the earlier books remains to be seen.

Connect with Boyd: Website | Facebook

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LITTLE BROKEN THINGS BY NICOLE BAART

Image credit: goodreads.com

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Little Broken Things by Nicole Baart was my first book in my Page Habit box subscription, and it did not disappoint. This work of fiction is about two sisters, a little girl, and a whole bunch of unspoken secrets.

The book opens with younger sister, Quinn receiving a cryptic text message from her sister, Nora. Quinn meets Nora late one night, and Nora leaves a young girl named Lucy in Quinn's care without any additional information or resources. Each chapter of the book is written from the perspective of a different character (mainly the sisters and their mother, Liz). As a reader, I found myself devouring each chapter so I could solve the mystery of where the little girl came from and why Nora was trying to hide her. I am quite proud to report about a third into the book I had it all figured out (the book; not anything big like life, world hunger, or peace. Still working on those).

Baart has written a fast-paced thriller that I was able to read in just shy of a week. Her characters are fairly developed, and I found myself thinking of them after I'd finished the book. There were some structural errors and plot holes in the book. (I did reach out to the author regarding a specific issue, but she has not responded as of this writing*.) I think if this was a first book, this would be acceptable; however, this is her eighth novel, making it a little disappointing.

My favorite part of of the book has to do with it being part of the Page Habit box. With this box, you receive bookish goodies, a portion of your fee goes to providing books to countries who don't have access to literary resources, and the book has notations from the author tabbed throughout. These notations give you further insight into why the author wrote certain passages the way she did or why she chose locations or character names. This was my first time ever reading a book with the author's insight available as I turned the pages, and it made for a more in-depth reading.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book for someone who is a mother or who wishes to be one. The author was able to vividly illustrate the love that binds us as families quite beautifully. And as she said in her introductory letter to Page Habit members - "Broken things are loveliest ..." (Sara Teasdale).

Until next time ... Read on!

My box of goodies from #PageHabit

*Update: The author has responded and confirmed the error. She intends to have corrections made in the ebook version. The areas I identified do not affect the outcome of the story. 

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VENETIAN BLOOD: MURDER IN A SENSUOUS CITY BY CHRISTINE EVELYN VOLKER

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Venetian Blood: Murder in a Sensuous City by Christine Evelyn Volker has all the makings of a juicy mystery: murder, theft, money-laundering, jilted lovers, and lost loves all on the backdrop of one of Italy's most beautiful cities — Venice.

The book starts off with a bang, well a stabbing, — the murder of financier and art investor, Sergio. The reader also quickly meets, Anna, the book's protagonist. Through Anna, the reader learns that Sergio is a murder victim, but not an innocent person by any stretch of the imagination. Anna, who is from California, is on vacation in Italy attempting to settle a score with Sergio after a brief love affair for which he is blackmailing her, healing from her failed marriage, and coming to terms with her infertility. In short, she's got a lot going on, folks. The author also introduces a large cast of characters spanning from the United States to Europe, thus crafting an international whodunnit.

I enjoyed the format of the book. Volker integrated quite a bit of the Italian culture including the language. I found it quite interesting how she included Italian phrases then followed up with the English translation for us non-speakers. As for the mystery, she reveals bit-by-bit through easily digestible chapters that move at an engaging pace. My only criticism is that, at times, the author overdid it with some of the descriptions that proved distracting for this reader. Nonetheless, the overall story was solid, and it was truly a challenge to discern who the real killer was. I was unable to figure it out until I neared the end, which is the sign of a great murder mystery, in my opinion. At one point, Anna seems a bit unstable and so shaken by her past that I began to believe she was the killer. But can a novel make the protagonist the villain as well? You'll have to read for yourself to find out!

Recommendation: I think this would be a good book for someone who is interested in the financial and money-laundering industries as well as Italian history and culture. A must read for mystery-lovers!

Until next time ... Read on!

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