The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner

Hello everyone. I hope you are having a great day.

When I was a kid all the mothers in our neighborhood stuck together.  If you crossed the street without looking both ways and another mom saw you, you better believe by the time you got home you'd be in trouble.  Likewise, if it was hot, regardless of where you were a child would be treated to an ice-cold cup of Kool-Aid.  (Oh yeah!) (Get it? That is what the Kool-Aid man said.) If you were at someone's home on Sunday night, watching The Wonderful World of Disney, popcorn was the protocol as was lying on your stomach in front of the TV. 

One of my favorite neighborhood moms learned I disliked tomatoes.  She, Mrs. C, was completely offended. Mrs. C always had a beautiful garden and quite the green thumb.  She insisted I just hadn't had the "right" tomato and made me climb into her garden with her.  She plucked a ruby red cherry tomato off the vine and popped it into my mouth.  It was unlike anything I'd ever tasted.  Mrs. C was right, I loved tomatoes.  

Mrs. C and my mom would have birthday lunches and exchanged gifts.  I still have a copper Paul Revere tea kettle she gave my mom.  I still cook Mrs. C's Italian chicken. While most of the moms on our street were equally nurturing, Mrs. C was a little extra beloved.  Although she's gone now, sadly, I hope she knew how much she meant to so many.

I recently read The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner.  This is the story of a young mother, Tash, who has been invited into a desirable playdate group.  The members of this group are perfect moms.  They are wealthy with delightful houses and experiences.  Far different than that of Tash, whose young family is struggling financially. Once exploring this tight knit group of young women, Tash discovers a link between the group and a recent suspicious death.  As a journalist, this mystery is too great for her to resist.

This book was a quick read. The chapters are short, often ending on a reveal.  This makes it so easy to read just one chapter more, then just one more.  There are many characters, but they are fairly well defined, so there is no confusion.  The writing itself, is wonderful.  There are no unneeded words, yet scenes are set perfectly.  Dialogs are natural and flowing.  It was very pleasant to read.  The neighborhood mystery/thriller is fairly common, there is nothing really new here.  However, if you like that kind of story, like I do, this one really works.  The appeal for this is as it is with others set in common life....it could happen to you.  A solid, well told story, this was a fun book.

By the way, if Mrs. C was there, she would protect you from anyone evil, apply a Band-Aid to your knee and give you a snack.

The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen

Hello everyone.  I hope you've had a great day.

A few weeks ago, I received an interesting book from Berkley publishing.  They were so kind to send it to me.  In short, this is the story of a chef who works at one estate that gets "lent" to another for an event.  Someone ends up dead, and others sickened from the dinner prepared by the chef.  I read hubby the jacket and he physically grabbed the book (gently with affection, he says).  He has been reading a lot of special forces type thrillers and thought this book sounded like a great break.  He finished it quickly, really seemed to enjoy it, and is interested in more by this author. Hubby's thoughts are below!

I recently read The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen, my first in the Royal Spyness Mystery series. This novel was a delight to read, a classic whodunit with a colorful cast of characters and no one is above suspicion. It was if I had stepped into a classic black and white film from the late 1930's and was guaranteed a seat in the room as the guilty party was revealed. The Royal Spyness series should not be overlooked by those seeking a little historical sleuthing.  

The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Hello everyone.  I hope you've had a good month.

I know you probably think I'm off jet setting to wild, exciting locations for long luxurious vacations.  I'm not.  I've been reading like crazy.  I've been lucky to have received many advanced copies from blockbuster authors.  I have read their upcoming books but don't want to post about them because you can't purchase them yet.  Honestly, I would feel like someone is teasing me, dangling a great book in front of me then whisking it away.  Kind of like what my husband does with bacon.  Anyway, smoky pork products aside I will tell you that the books coming this year are fantastic.  I don't know what is going on, but my favorite author's books being released this spring and summer are their best ever!  I can see how people improve at their craft; I would hope we all do.... but wow!  Just you wait...not a stinker in the bunch.  We are talking about authors like Peter Swanson, Sarah Pekkanen, Beatriz Williams, Christina Lauren, Megan Miranda, Sally Hepworth, Elle Cosimano and more.  You are going to be so happy with your reading this year!  My point is, I haven't abandoned you.  

I recently read The Fury by Alex Michaelides.  This is my third book from him.  I have enjoyed them all.  This story is different than his others.  It is about an ex-movie star, Lana, who takes her friends to a private island off Greece.  The isolation makes for great privacy, also a great place for a murder, which, of course, is what happens.  Who is responsible?  A stranger on the island or one of the group of friends?

The construction of this story is different from the rest of Michaelides' books.  It is more complicated, more creative.  I can't imagine the work that went into writing this.  It is told in a nonlinear timeline.  Sometimes that can be annoying or difficult to follow.  It is done here in a very clear and thoughtful way.  Each time we go back and learn more, the story becomes sweeter and also much more sinister.  If this kind of storytelling bothers you, and you want a book that shoots straight thru A to Z, then this might not be for you. However, the way the story evolves is masterful and extremely effective, guiding the reader to the resolution of the mystery. This is not only a mystery but also a thriller and even a love story. The pacing moves quickly, enhanced by short chapters.  The characters are interesting, some more well developed than others, as needed.  A solid and entertaining offering.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Hello everyone.  I hope you are having a great day.

A few years ago, we took a quick trip to the mountains of North Carolina.  We went to see a huge family mansion that still belongs to the Vanderbilts.  The Biltmore.  The grounds were as stunning as the house.  The twisting road, little bridges, hills, hidden waterways, all designed by the same designer as Central Park in NYC.  We were so fortunate, we signed up for a behind the scenes tour which included only one other person beside the guide.  We got to go, peek and snoop into rooms that weren't normally allowed because of our small group size.  Given my propensity to be a nosey-nellie when it comes to historic places, I was in all my glory.  Afterword, we toured the gardens, greenhouse and winery.  Then we enjoyed a delightful lunch in the restaurant that used to be the stable.  When telling my sisters about such a wonderful day, all they could focus on was the stable.  How could I eat a salad where horses had pooped.  Really?  After all that, the focus was on non-existent poop that would have been gone for decades.  I joke my sisters a lot, now you know why!

I recently read The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins.  I've read and reviewed three other books by this author: Reckless Girls, The Villa, and The Wife Upstairs.  I have enjoyed them all.  Hawkins latest offering, The Heiress is by far my favorite.  This time the story focus' on a prominent wealthy family, known for its lavish mansion (Ashby) in the hills of North Carolina. This family has suffered many tragedies, the worst when toddler Ruby McTavish is lost in the woods and later found to be kidnapped.  Although little Ruby is recovered, she is plagued by the doubt of others that she is the real missing McTavish.  Now, decades later, following the death of his uncle, Ruby's estranged adopted son, Camden decides it is time to return.  Having lost his mother and now his uncle, Camden and his wife travel cross country to what is left of his dysfunctional family.  As the couple's experiences unfold, we learn about the life of the recently passed matriarch, Ruby. The truth has been elusive for this family, and everyone has secrets.

I loved the character development in this book. I was rooting for some members of the McTavish family and was disgusted by others, only to remember they all have secrets.  The plot moves quickly with twists coming often making this a very addictive read. Absolutely mesmerizing, my new favorite.  Cannot wait for the next!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this novel.  Of course, all my views are my own.  Who else's would they be?

The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

Hello everyone.  I hope you have been enjoying a nice holiday season.

We had a little Christmas miracle here; prime rib or standing rib roast, went on sale for $6.99 a pound.  Now before you gasp, I'll do it for you.  Prices are ridiculous, but not for this cut.  Usually, it goes on sale for $8 a pound.  This year's price was the cheapest I've ever seen it.  What made me gasp is realizing that hamburger costs darn near close to that every day. HAMBURGER!  It is outrageous.  Hamburger is usually ground from scraps or a cheaper cut like a chuck roast, to have it be approaching what the current cost of prime rib is just shows you how out of whack things are.  I should have bought loads of prime ribs and ground my own hamburger!  If only it wasn't so much work and I'm fairly lazy.  Before you mention it, I am aware I have turned into my dad, complaining about prices.  By the way, name brand butter here is $7.79 a pound.  Butter!  Again, more than prime rib.  I'll just let that sink in...

I recently read The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose.  This is the follow up novel to The Maid, which I read and reviewed last year.  This book follows the same characters in the same settings.  While it is helpful to have read this first book it is not necessary.  Again, we follow the socially inept Molly Gray, the maid at the Regency Grand Hotel.  She has worked hard in the four years that have passed and life has changed.   Currently, she is preparing for the famous author J. D. Grimthorpe to hold a meeting in the Regency's tearoom.  He is about to make some bold announcement when he suddenly drops dead after taking several sips of tea which Molly helped prepare.  As this mystery is solved, we are treated to two timelines, both the present and the past, when Molly was a schoolgirl.  Of course, both timelines are related, the happenings of years ago shedding light on the current death.  

This book was so much fun.  I have lots of affection for Molly and several of the other characters after reading the first novel and I loved seeing them again.  This story is even better than the first.  They mystery is richer and more interesting.  The book is well written and reads quickly.  Although the ending was wonderful, I still want more.  I hope there is yet another volume to come.

I hope all my holiday grocery discussions haven't grossed out all you vegetarians.  Next year I'll try and discuss Brussels sprouts and how they are good for.... well...absolutely nothing!

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Hello.  I hope you're having a great day.

The holidays often make me think of the people I've lost, like my grandparents.  I was blessed to have fantastic, loving grandparents on both my maternal and paternal side.  My maternal grandfather was a very pious man, he also was extremely outgoing. He was modest but he was also a politician.  He was mayor and actually secured the land that later became the town's only mall. My grandparents traveled around the world going everywhere but Russia, where they wanted to go but never got the chance.  Every year they went to Hawaii for my birthday...without me...and called me from the pool, while I was in cold New York.  Being the way he was, my granddad knew the name of half the population of Hawaii, and they knew him.  My poor demure grandmother went along with it all.  She surprised me when I got married by giving me the advice to "train him (meaning my husband) right from the beginning".  That makes me think she ran the show more than she let on. Sadly, hubby has proven untrainable.

One time my grandparents moved to the boonies near my hometown.  They were near a swampy area, by a State Park.  When there, they became avid bird watchers. They had a tiny little book, which my sisters and I always fought over, that identified all kinds of birds.  It was so prized, it not only survived decades but was given to my niece when she was little.  For a while, my whole family knew the names of many birds, now sadly they are just known as the mean blue one, or the gray one with the yellow tail.

I recently read Starling House by Alix E. Harrow.  This is the story of Opal, a down on her luck, hard life kind of girl.  She lives in the town of Eden where everyone seems cursed.  She keeps having dreams of Starling House, a local mansion.  Starling House was the home of Elizabeth Starling, who, in the 1800s, wrote a book called The Underland and then disappeared.  Drawn to the house, because of her dreams, Opal meets the rude and brash current owner, Authur.  Opal tries to find the reason for her odd dreams of the elusive house, and why in the dreams the mansion feels like home.  As she does secrets become unraveled, some not only dangerous but life-threatening.

This book was lots of fun.  It was a fast pleasant read.  It is an odd bird (get it...bird...Starling), as it's kind of a gothic horror without being scary, it has a bit of romance, lots of mystery and suspense and a fair amount of thriller thrown in for good measure.  One thing about the way this is written, I usually hate, but is done so effectively here, that I loved it.  I dislike when things are said over and over, I feel like the author is trying to increase book length and is wasting my time.  In this case, it is on purpose and very useful.  We hear the story of Starling House from several points of view, from people with experience with the building, land and family.  The closer we get to the end, the closer we get to the truth.  So entertaining.  I literally could not put this down, reading until my vision was blurring.

I've been on a roll lately.  The last several books I've read have been so creative and fantastic.  Christmas has come early! 

Grimmworld The Witch in the Woods by Michaelbrent Collings

Hello, everyone.  I hope you are having a great day.

I've talked about the neighborhood in which I grew up being called "Peanut Butter Hill."  Once you bought your house all you could afford to eat is peanut butter. Looking at it today, it is laughable, my house payment is ten times what my parents paid. Anyway, it was nice, safe, pretty and family oriented.  Like most kids, we had our suspicions about a certain house.  It was on the corner, with a darkly wooded yard.  The couple that lived there was probably in their 50's, we thought they were well over 100.  The woman, she committed the greatest sin of all; she had gray hair and wore it in a bun.  As far as we were concerned, it was confirmed... the lady down the street was a witch.  We avoided her house at all costs, only observing from a distance - mostly yard work.  They were definitely planting all kinds of poisons and child-eating plants. It was the perfect place for a witch to operate, in a neighborhood filled with young children.

I recently read Grimmworld The Witch in the Woods by Michaelbrent Collings. What if things that you thought were just childhood stories were actually true?  That is the premise for this book.  Willow and Jake Grimm are twins.  Their lives were thrust into turmoil when they move to a new area as their parents accept jobs at a top secret Think Tank.  The town, New Marburg, is far different from anything they've experienced.  The police are charming robots, older people fight with swords made of lasers, their car parks itself, their house walls won't hold pictures and terrible storms with lightning abounds. When they go to their new school, they are surprised to find it all very low tech; except for the cafeteria which moves between floors.  Their class is taught by a horrible woman who detests them and treats them terribly.  Willow and Jack count themselves as lucky to make two friends, a boy and girl, who they are surprised to learn are the children of their disliked teacher.  One day, after a particularly violent storm, the twins find their school has been transformed into a castle and they and their friends have been transported to another world.  Grimmworld is the place from which Grimm's fairy tales originate; where they are real.  While exploring this bizarre place, they discover that their friends have become Hansel and Gretel! Willow and Jack must save them from being eaten by the witch and find a way back home.

I usually don't read fantasy, but I couldn't resist this storyline. I was enraptured by this book.  The writing is absolutely wonderful.  This is a children's/young adult's book, recommended for 8-11 year old readers.  Forget that!  This is a novel for adults too...a creative thriller about children.  Besides the stellar writing, the story pulls you in, rich in details and description.  You will feel transported to each setting; so vivid you will feel the darkness of the woods, smell the cinnamon of the witch's house and see the children as they experience it all.  I simply cannot say enough good things about this book.   It will leave you wanting more.  Amazon lists this as volume one, I will be the first to buy each additional book, anxious to rekindle the deep affection I already feel for the Grimm twins.  

Now for the bad news, this novel isn't available until March 5, 2024.  I strongly suggest you preorder it for your children and yourself. In case you forget, I'll remind you in a couple of months.  The enchanting Grimmworld The Witch in the Woods is spellbinding and should not be missed!

Many thanks to the author Michaelbrent Collings and Cameron, his assistant.  This book was the highlight of my week and I am in awe.  Thank you!