Category Archives: Fiction/Literature

I admit it. I’ve never read any of the Harry Potter books. I have never seen any of the Harry Potter movies. However, my son-in-law is a huge fan of the series and is reading the illustrated version of this book to his children. My husband, likewise, has never read the books or seen the movies.

We decided to listen to an audio version together, to keep up with our young grandkids. We enjoyed it and are ready for the next book in the series.

I won’t give a synopsis of the book because almost everyone has already read it. I can only say that, late as I am to the series, I am so glad I have finally started it.

This is a story which is told in two time periods. The older one is set just prior to and including World War II. The current story is set in 2017, which I believe was when the book was released.

Abi Howes has been convinced to visit France at the Chateau Bellevue for a yoga retreat with her friend, who promptly deserts her when she meets a good-looking man. Abi has not been much around people because of events in her past. Her story is her struggle to find herself and to learn to live once again.

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This is a fictional story set in the era of the Dust Bowl. Elsa Martinelli is part of a farming family. There is a one-two punch as first the Depression hits and then the weather event known as the Dust Bowl begins.

Her family is fighting a losing battle for survival as the dust covers their crops and the winds and the heat wreck havoc. It seems like the rain has dried up forever and Elsa, just like so many others ends up heading west to find work in California.

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I own many books by Jill Mansell but, somehow, I missed this novel when it was first released. I’m very happy that it has been released again. While there are a few things that date the book (notably, the lack of cell phones), the human stories within it hold true to the test of time.

This is, primarily, a story about the relationship between Cass and Jack Mandeville. They have been married for decades and Jack has just reached his fortieth birthday. Their is the perfect marriage until a chance invitation to a reporter, Imogen, turns their lives upside down. Jack goes into a midlife crisis with a vengeance.

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I have been a fan of Elizabeth Cadell for decades. It was very difficult to find her books as they went out of print long ago. I was very happy to find that they were available again in ebook format. Even more so to find that they were available in audio format as well.

I read this book several times over the years, so I decided to listen to it this time. I have to admit it gave me even more of an appreciate for the late author’s talent. I also bought the ebook to switch back and forth as time allowed.

In this story, a rather spoilt young man is tricked into going off to evaluate a old miser’s painting collection. While there, he meets a young woman who is absolutely delightful but things go amiss and he finds himself not being indulged this time.

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I have read several other books in this series. While it is a series, it can absolutely be read stand-alone. The books are lightly interconnected, with backstories of some of the individuals. It took reading a bit of it for me to actually remember the prior books and their plots.

This is a Christmas table that interconnects two times and the struggles that individuals are and have been going through. The tale of the past is woven into that of the present with a set of recipe cards and a handmade table. How the stories converge surprised me and delighted me as well.

The recipes, themselves are lovely and the introductions to them are exceptional reading. I had a wonderful time reading through them and plan to try some myself.

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I always look for books by Ms. Naigle. I know that they will be heartwarming and believable. She has a knack of putting a story together with great characters, amusing situations and bringing the story to such a satisfying end.

In this story, Vanessa Larkin works in a cutthroat industry. Her company acquires other companies. They then decide what to keep, what to sell and what to close down.

Vanessa is top at the game and should be heading to one of two great cities to work over Christmas. She is looking forward to Paris, but at the last minute, she is sent to a small town in North Carolina. To say she is not happy is putting it mildly.

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This was the first book I have read by this author, so I wasn’t sure of what to expect. Having read it, I will certainly be reading more books by her in the near future.

Samantha Casey is the librarian at the fun private school in Galveston, Texas. She loves the principal and his wife, who also happen to be her landlords.

As events unfold, another principal comes to the school. That person is Duncan Carpenter, who just so happens to be the individual who was behind Samantha’s move from a California school to Texas.

While she is personally disturbed by his coming, she is sure that his quirky and lovable antics will soon put others at ease. Turns out Duncan has changed and not for the better.

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While this was an excellent book, it was difficult for me to read. It touched on one of the most tragic areas of my own life. A little more than twenty years ago, my son was stricken with an aggressive form of leukemia and passed away eighteen months later.

In this story, we follow the life of Willa Lakey, who is the older sister of Harper. Harper is in remission after struggling, dreadfully, with chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Harper is finding her feet again but Willa can’t help from hovering over her and watching her like a hawk. Willa has devoted her life to Harper and to opening her coffee shop when Sean O’Malley comes into her life.

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When I first picked up this book, I thought it would a suspenseful mystery as were the other books I have read by this author. It turned out that was not the case.

The story is about secrets which are being kept between a husband and wife which have huge impacts upon their family. It takes an awful tragedy to get this two to consider sharing with one another.

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