Week beginning 15 October 2025

Samantha Vérant The Writers’ Retreat Storm Publishing, July 2025. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review. A thriller set around a writers’ retreat and writers? What could be a more enticing location and concept? Sadly, the premise promised by the title is not fulfilled. To be fair, it is establishedContinue reading “Week beginning 15 October 2025”

Week beginning 30 April 2025

Barbara Kingsolver Holding the Line Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike Faber and Faber Ltd, October 2024. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review. Barbara Kingsolver has written a non-fiction book that echoes the skill she demonstrates in her fiction. The preface is a wonderful insight into the authorContinue reading “Week beginning 30 April 2025”

Week beginning 26 March 2025

Susan Smocer Platt Love, Politics, and Other Scary Things A Memoir Bold Story Press|Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles, December 2024.  Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review. Susan Smocer Platt was unknown to me. However, with Senator Amy Klobuchar’s endorsement of her book I decided it could beContinue reading “Week beginning 26 March 2025”

Week beginning 22 January 2025

Jane A. Adams Cold Bones Severn House, December 2024. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review. This is book 10 of the Jane A. Adams series that features former Detective Chief Inspector Henry Johnstone. Set in the 1930s, it is described as a mystery. It is also a challenging socialContinue reading “Week beginning 22 January 2025”

Week Beginning 13 November 2024

Marc Wanamaker and Steven Bingen Hollywood Behind the Lens Treasures from the Bison Archives Globe Pequot Lyons Press, May 2024. Thankyou, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review. This is the story of loss and an amazing effort to redeem this loss – the accumulation of Hollywood memorabilia undertaken through the BisonContinue reading “Week Beginning 13 November 2024”

Week beginning 28 August 2024

Joshua Stein The Binge Watcher’s Guide to The West Wing Seasons One and Two Riverdale Avenue Books The Binge Watcher’s Guide, August 2024. Thank you, Net Galley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review. Reading The Binge Watcher’s Guide to The West Wing while also watching the 2024 Democratic National Convention could notContinue reading “Week beginning 28 August 2024”

Week beginning 24 July 2024

Valerie Keogh The Mother Boldwood Books, June 2024. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review. Valerie Keogh has provided readers with yet another good read, with some twists and, in my opinion more importantly, an intelligent consideration of the qualities that are believed to make the perfect husband.  It isContinue reading “Week beginning 24 July 2024”

Week beginning 3 July 2024

Maryann D’Agincourt, Glimpses of Gauguin, Portmay, January 2015. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected copy for review. This is an elusive narrative, but one that is worth while attempting to understand. I wonder if the clue to how Maryann D’Agincourt would like her novel read is in a paragraph in the textContinue reading “Week beginning 3 July 2024”

Week beginning 21 February 2024

Two books are reviewed this week, The Artist’s Wife, fiction, and the non-fiction, Miss Dior. The latter ties into an article about a new television drama, The New Look, about Christian Dior. Clare Flynn  The Artist’s Wife  (Hearts of Glass Book 2) Storm Publishing February 2024. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrectedContinue reading “Week beginning 21 February 2024”

Week beginning 31 May

This week the second of the books in Kerry Wilkinson’s Whitecliff Bay series is reviewed. NetGalley provided me with the uncorrected proof. Kerry Wilkinson The One Who Was Taken (A Whitecliff Bay Mystery Book 2) Bookouture 2023. The One Who Was Taken continues this series in which more information about the appealing  main character, Millie,Continue reading “Week beginning 31 May”