Thread the Halls
Lea Wait
Kensington Publishing Corp.
New York, New York
ISBN: 978-1-4967-0630-0
Paperback
2017
$ 7.99
310 pages
Angie Curtis is looking forward to her first, of what she hopes is many, quiet Christmas holidays with Patrick West. Patrick is also looking forward to his first holiday spent with Angie. Both are anxious to see how their relationship grows during this holiday season.
Unfortunately, his mother has other ideas.
Skye West is both a movie star and Patrick’s mother. She is planning on taking a break from her current movie, along with some co-stars, writers, and the director at her Victorian mansion in this small Maine town. Of course, a well-known and loved celebrity who rarely visits her home mansion, can come home for Christmas bringing along a few friends, or acquaintances, and it won’t affect the town people at all. Why would it?
Skye wants everything perfect. The mansion needs to be decorated for Christmas like a picture perfect Currier and Ives postcard, complete with a horse-drawn sleigh, needlepoint pillows, high-class meals available at all hours, and of course, carolers. Not to mention that to attend these events would require the proper outfits for Angie.
Patrick is at a slight disadvantage in decorating since his hands were injured in a fire. He is still recuperating and wonders if he will ever return to his life as a painter. For now, he seems content managing the local art gallery.
Relaxing quickly turns into a hectic race to get ready and to keep the secret from the media.
Lea Wait writes delightful cozy mysteries and phenomenal historical fiction for young adults regarding her home state, Maine. Her needlepoint and antique print mysteries are fun to read. Her historical fiction is outstanding, placing the reader immediately inside and feeling part of the story.
Her stories in this her needlepoint and antique print books carry the main characters from the first book forward. Even though the books are part of a series, these can easily be read as standalone mysteries. Obviously, there is more enjoyment if you follow the characters from the first book.
Lea Wait beautifully sets her readers with the taste, recipe included, smells, climate immersing you into her state of Maine.
The plot is clever and keeps the reader guessing as you turn each page.
Lea Wait’s books are great mysteries to warm up during these chilly winter nights.
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Vox
Vox
Christina Dalcher
Berkeley
Penguin Random House
New York, New York
Hardback
ISBN:978-0-440-000780-5
2018
$ 26.00
326 pages
The status of women in the United States has changed tremendously in the last one-hundred years with numerous examples of their proper relationship with men varying as much as each individual female.
The current President of the United States and his trusted Christian advisor changing women’s rights. All women are to be cared for my the head male of their family. For those married, that means their husbands. For unmarried women, the means their closest male relative.
In order to preserve the households of doting women, each female wears a bracelet limiting her speech to one-hundred words a day. Any word beyond that will cause the bracelet to shock the wearer with increasing strength as each word is said. Could you live with only speaking one-hundred words a day?
Young girls are taught in their own school. Naturally, they don’t need the level of education of their male counterparts. Girls learn additional home economics needed in their duties of being future wives and mothers.
Jean is a wife and mother of four children, three teenaged sons and one younger daughter. Every day the wife is expected to cook and clean. Women are not allowed to read books or to use a computer. Those are only for men.
For Jean, this situation is extremely difficult. She had earned a PhD and was near a major breakthrough with stroke patients who had difficulty with language. Working with a team who was discovering a treatment possibility that seemed to have positive and consistent results was a realistic expectation for her team. She was forced to become. The perfect ideal 1950s housewife using only 100 words a day preparing meals for her family, being a good wife, a good mother to three nearly grown sons who could command her, and to her young daughter while only using one-hundred words a day.
Then the President’s brother has an accident. How will helping him change her life? What is the real purpose of allowing her to return to her work? What happens afterwards?
Vox is a disturbing tale similar to Margaret Atwood’s dystopian story, A Handmaid’s Tale. It makes the reader uncomfortable and reflective about whether or not the story could actually happen. The mixed reviews seem to reflect each person’s biases of the probability.
Vox is the debut novel for Christina Dalsher. She has earned her doctorate in theoretical linguistics from Georgetown University specializing in phonetic sound changes with Italian and British dialects. She resides in Norfolk, Virginia. For her awards, she was nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Bath Flash Award.
Vox is a thoughtfully disturbing tale that every man and woman should read.
Christina Dalcher
Berkeley
Penguin Random House
New York, New York
Hardback
ISBN:978-0-440-000780-5
2018
$ 26.00
326 pages
The status of women in the United States has changed tremendously in the last one-hundred years with numerous examples of their proper relationship with men varying as much as each individual female.
The current President of the United States and his trusted Christian advisor changing women’s rights. All women are to be cared for my the head male of their family. For those married, that means their husbands. For unmarried women, the means their closest male relative.
In order to preserve the households of doting women, each female wears a bracelet limiting her speech to one-hundred words a day. Any word beyond that will cause the bracelet to shock the wearer with increasing strength as each word is said. Could you live with only speaking one-hundred words a day?
Young girls are taught in their own school. Naturally, they don’t need the level of education of their male counterparts. Girls learn additional home economics needed in their duties of being future wives and mothers.
Jean is a wife and mother of four children, three teenaged sons and one younger daughter. Every day the wife is expected to cook and clean. Women are not allowed to read books or to use a computer. Those are only for men.
For Jean, this situation is extremely difficult. She had earned a PhD and was near a major breakthrough with stroke patients who had difficulty with language. Working with a team who was discovering a treatment possibility that seemed to have positive and consistent results was a realistic expectation for her team. She was forced to become. The perfect ideal 1950s housewife using only 100 words a day preparing meals for her family, being a good wife, a good mother to three nearly grown sons who could command her, and to her young daughter while only using one-hundred words a day.
Then the President’s brother has an accident. How will helping him change her life? What is the real purpose of allowing her to return to her work? What happens afterwards?
Vox is a disturbing tale similar to Margaret Atwood’s dystopian story, A Handmaid’s Tale. It makes the reader uncomfortable and reflective about whether or not the story could actually happen. The mixed reviews seem to reflect each person’s biases of the probability.
Vox is the debut novel for Christina Dalsher. She has earned her doctorate in theoretical linguistics from Georgetown University specializing in phonetic sound changes with Italian and British dialects. She resides in Norfolk, Virginia. For her awards, she was nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Bath Flash Award.
Vox is a thoughtfully disturbing tale that every man and woman should read.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Caroline
Caroline
Little House, Revisited
Sarah Miller
Harper Collins Publisher
New York, New. York
ISBN: 978-0-06-268534-6
Hard Cover
2017
$ 25.99
372 pages
Many of us have either read, heard, or watched Little House on the Prairie. These stories are told from Laura’s perspective. Did her mother, Caroline see things the same way? For author, Sarah Miller, her hours of research recreates the Little House experience, but from Caroline, not Laura.
Imagine moving in a horse-drawn covered wagon, likely carrying the equivalent of your entire household in a large car or van, along with two young girls, ages four and five, and being pregnant. Also, you probably can only move about fifteen miles a day. Any takers?
Their adventure begins in the Big Woods of Wisconsin during February of 1870 with her husband, Charles eager to sell his land and move his family to the Kansas Indian Territory. The reason for leaving in February is the hope that most of winter is over and opportunity for owning a large amount of land, even if far from their family and friends. The hope is that the sooner they arrive in Kansas territory, the sooner they can build a house, establish themselves in this unknown land and possibly even plant before the following winter.
Unfortunately, the family had no idea about the trials ahead on this journey. It seems that Caroline’s motivation is her love of Charles and her protection of her two daughters, Mary and Laura.
For Charles, his dreams are his motivation for his young family pursuing the prospect of completely owning his own land.
Will the family be able to live successfully here? Have they really planned for every possible challenge?
Included on both the inside covers at the beginning and end of the book is a map of the journey from Wisconsin to the unsettled Indian territory in the southeastern part of Kansas.
The author, Sarah Miller resides in Michigan. She is also has also written two historical fiction novels, Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller and The Lost Crown as well as the nonfiction book, The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century.
This novel inspires readers with Caroline’s devotion to her husband, her daughters, and her unborn child. The events from the sorrow of leaving her family, to constantly believing in her husband and his loyalty as well as the devotion is daunting compared to today’s society. With loneliness and somehow still being hopeful in almost every situation almost seemed unrealistic in today’s society.
Caroline excels in being a true picture of the people and the times of those first settlers.
Little House, Revisited
Sarah Miller
Harper Collins Publisher
New York, New. York
ISBN: 978-0-06-268534-6
Hard Cover
2017
$ 25.99
372 pages
Many of us have either read, heard, or watched Little House on the Prairie. These stories are told from Laura’s perspective. Did her mother, Caroline see things the same way? For author, Sarah Miller, her hours of research recreates the Little House experience, but from Caroline, not Laura.
Imagine moving in a horse-drawn covered wagon, likely carrying the equivalent of your entire household in a large car or van, along with two young girls, ages four and five, and being pregnant. Also, you probably can only move about fifteen miles a day. Any takers?
Their adventure begins in the Big Woods of Wisconsin during February of 1870 with her husband, Charles eager to sell his land and move his family to the Kansas Indian Territory. The reason for leaving in February is the hope that most of winter is over and opportunity for owning a large amount of land, even if far from their family and friends. The hope is that the sooner they arrive in Kansas territory, the sooner they can build a house, establish themselves in this unknown land and possibly even plant before the following winter.
Unfortunately, the family had no idea about the trials ahead on this journey. It seems that Caroline’s motivation is her love of Charles and her protection of her two daughters, Mary and Laura.
For Charles, his dreams are his motivation for his young family pursuing the prospect of completely owning his own land.
Will the family be able to live successfully here? Have they really planned for every possible challenge?
Included on both the inside covers at the beginning and end of the book is a map of the journey from Wisconsin to the unsettled Indian territory in the southeastern part of Kansas.
The author, Sarah Miller resides in Michigan. She is also has also written two historical fiction novels, Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller and The Lost Crown as well as the nonfiction book, The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century.
This novel inspires readers with Caroline’s devotion to her husband, her daughters, and her unborn child. The events from the sorrow of leaving her family, to constantly believing in her husband and his loyalty as well as the devotion is daunting compared to today’s society. With loneliness and somehow still being hopeful in almost every situation almost seemed unrealistic in today’s society.
Caroline excels in being a true picture of the people and the times of those first settlers.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
The Wild Robot. and. The Wild Robot Escapes
The Wild Robot
ISBN: 978-0-316-38199-4
The Wild Robot Escapes
ISBN: 978-0-316-38204-5
2016/2018
Peter Brown
Little, Brown and Company
Hatchette Book Group
$ 16.99 Hardback
282. Pages/ 280 pages
Young Adult
Technology makes life easier in today’s society all over the world. Full-sized robots are capable of completing a multitude of tasks for humans. One particular technological company is sending hundreds of their robots, each packed in their own individual crate across to the ocean to their begin their new productive lives.
However, the ship encounters a hurricane sinking the ship to the bottom of the ocean. Only five crates containing robots did not sink. Quickly, one crashed into the rocks, shattering the robot inside, leaving only four. Three more robots quickly hit the rocks, breaking into pieces. Leaving just one, who somehow missed the rocks, cracked the crate, but left the last robot unscathed.
A group of sea otters played with the broken crate accidentally turning on a button on the back of the head. Breaking out of the crate, the robot became stronger every second it spent in the sunlight. How can a robot survive on an island that seems to be without humans? Can robots exist completely on their own without mankind guiding them?
Fortunately for readers, Roz finds herself alone with the native animals on this island? Can a robot develop feelings?
The Wild Robot, the first book reveals themes of loneliness and the value of friends. The unique abilities of each individual, even though not human, demonstrates that friendship can exist even without commonalities.
For Roz, she discovers her own individualism while learning to make friends and to value these friendships.
What does it feel like to be alone? What if you were a robot who discovers she has feelings? What if you are fulfilling your dreams, but not those you were intended to fulfill.
With The Wild Robot Escapes, the story continues a few years after the first book concludes. In this book, Roz finds she needs, but also feels an emptiness while missing her adopted son, Brightbill. Amazingly, this longing can occur even in a robot.
Both of these novels are aimed at young adult readers, but adults would also enjoy the adventures and even the emotions of Roz.
Peter Brown is the author and illustrator of these two books and many authors. His illustrations add to the story by reinforcing the images for the readers. He has won a Caldecott Honor for Creepy Carrots, and his other books My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.), Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, Children Make Terrible Pets, and The Curious Garden. This is a writer who truly enjoys his characters.
For a feel good book for middle school students, teens, and adults, read The Wild Robot and The Wild Robot Escapes.
ISBN: 978-0-316-38199-4
The Wild Robot Escapes
ISBN: 978-0-316-38204-5
2016/2018
Peter Brown
Little, Brown and Company
Hatchette Book Group
$ 16.99 Hardback
282. Pages/ 280 pages
Young Adult
Technology makes life easier in today’s society all over the world. Full-sized robots are capable of completing a multitude of tasks for humans. One particular technological company is sending hundreds of their robots, each packed in their own individual crate across to the ocean to their begin their new productive lives.
However, the ship encounters a hurricane sinking the ship to the bottom of the ocean. Only five crates containing robots did not sink. Quickly, one crashed into the rocks, shattering the robot inside, leaving only four. Three more robots quickly hit the rocks, breaking into pieces. Leaving just one, who somehow missed the rocks, cracked the crate, but left the last robot unscathed.
A group of sea otters played with the broken crate accidentally turning on a button on the back of the head. Breaking out of the crate, the robot became stronger every second it spent in the sunlight. How can a robot survive on an island that seems to be without humans? Can robots exist completely on their own without mankind guiding them?
Fortunately for readers, Roz finds herself alone with the native animals on this island? Can a robot develop feelings?
The Wild Robot, the first book reveals themes of loneliness and the value of friends. The unique abilities of each individual, even though not human, demonstrates that friendship can exist even without commonalities.
For Roz, she discovers her own individualism while learning to make friends and to value these friendships.
What does it feel like to be alone? What if you were a robot who discovers she has feelings? What if you are fulfilling your dreams, but not those you were intended to fulfill.
With The Wild Robot Escapes, the story continues a few years after the first book concludes. In this book, Roz finds she needs, but also feels an emptiness while missing her adopted son, Brightbill. Amazingly, this longing can occur even in a robot.
Both of these novels are aimed at young adult readers, but adults would also enjoy the adventures and even the emotions of Roz.
Peter Brown is the author and illustrator of these two books and many authors. His illustrations add to the story by reinforcing the images for the readers. He has won a Caldecott Honor for Creepy Carrots, and his other books My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.), Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, Children Make Terrible Pets, and The Curious Garden. This is a writer who truly enjoys his characters.
For a feel good book for middle school students, teens, and adults, read The Wild Robot and The Wild Robot Escapes.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
What Remains of Her
What Remains of Her
Eric Rickstad
William Morrow
Harper Collins Publisher
New York, New York
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-06-284331-9
2018
$ 14.99
404 pages
When a mother and her daughter disappear, who is the likely suspect? Naturally, most law enforcement would accuse the husband. There is a catch, the husband is a professor of poetry at a local college and seems to sincerely miss both every second of every day. No clues, no evidence, the two seemed to have disappeared from the planet.
Jonah Blum sees his world ripped from him when his beautiful wife, Rebecca and his daughter, Sally vanish. A family of three becomes a lonesome, single life of one. The community along with the media, immediately throw guilty verdicts at Jonah, but there is no evidence, just circumstances.
Jonah’s long-time friends, Maurice immediately enlisted the help of his deputies in the search. Also, questioned was Sally’s best friend, Lucinda, who also happens to be Maurice’s daughter.
Jonah leaves his home and lives as a hermit. For a quarter of a century, life for him is simply surviving in a cabin in the nearby woods.
A foster child is missing, Lucinda is now a deputy herself, Maurice is retired, reclusive Jonah all return to his former home and life in discovering what happened to Rebecca and Sally.
The characterization is outstanding in What Remains of Her. Each person is revealed as single layers are removed from an onion, everyone slowly peels each layer to show their true self, but many layers exist in each of us to hide who we really are. The setting of a small, remote Vermont village can be visualized through the pages. The time is the present, but could easily fit into the last fifty years.
The story is written as the third person, but the reader feels that it is almost first person, sitting with Jonah on his shoulder with a darkness constantly surrounding the town.
Eric Rickstad resides in Vermont. He is a New York Times bestselling author of the books: Reap, The Silent Girls. Lie in Wait, and The Names of Dead Girls.
What Remains of Her in an an enthralling mystery for all adult readers. I look forward to more novels by this thrillingly dark author of a marvelous piece of literature.
Eric Rickstad
William Morrow
Harper Collins Publisher
New York, New York
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-06-284331-9
2018
$ 14.99
404 pages
When a mother and her daughter disappear, who is the likely suspect? Naturally, most law enforcement would accuse the husband. There is a catch, the husband is a professor of poetry at a local college and seems to sincerely miss both every second of every day. No clues, no evidence, the two seemed to have disappeared from the planet.
Jonah Blum sees his world ripped from him when his beautiful wife, Rebecca and his daughter, Sally vanish. A family of three becomes a lonesome, single life of one. The community along with the media, immediately throw guilty verdicts at Jonah, but there is no evidence, just circumstances.
Jonah’s long-time friends, Maurice immediately enlisted the help of his deputies in the search. Also, questioned was Sally’s best friend, Lucinda, who also happens to be Maurice’s daughter.
Jonah leaves his home and lives as a hermit. For a quarter of a century, life for him is simply surviving in a cabin in the nearby woods.
A foster child is missing, Lucinda is now a deputy herself, Maurice is retired, reclusive Jonah all return to his former home and life in discovering what happened to Rebecca and Sally.
The characterization is outstanding in What Remains of Her. Each person is revealed as single layers are removed from an onion, everyone slowly peels each layer to show their true self, but many layers exist in each of us to hide who we really are. The setting of a small, remote Vermont village can be visualized through the pages. The time is the present, but could easily fit into the last fifty years.
The story is written as the third person, but the reader feels that it is almost first person, sitting with Jonah on his shoulder with a darkness constantly surrounding the town.
Eric Rickstad resides in Vermont. He is a New York Times bestselling author of the books: Reap, The Silent Girls. Lie in Wait, and The Names of Dead Girls.
What Remains of Her in an an enthralling mystery for all adult readers. I look forward to more novels by this thrillingly dark author of a marvelous piece of literature.
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