The Little Italian Hotel is the perfect book for a get away from the humdrum. I probably do not have a single drop of Italian blood in my body, but this tale of Ginny Splinter's trip to Italy to leave her troubles behind in England resonated deeply with me. Phaedra Patrick's descriptions of Italy and its culture will allow the reader to experience a whole new world. The Italian countryside, the food, and the people Ginny meets act as a balm to Ginny's soul. I wanted to know how this whole story will end for her and the strangers she invited to accompany her on this trip. We all have our flaws, as does our heroine, but this writer makes the reader eager to find out what constitutes happiness for Ginny and her friends---and maybe for the reader too.

One of the highest compliments that I can give a book is that I do not want it to end, that the plot intrigues, and that the characters are people with whom I want to spend more time. Such was the book, Exiles. The deep and abiding relationships of the Raco family draw the reader in for a look into strong family dynamics. The backdrop of Australia with the idyllic town of Maralee, the glistening fecund vineyard, and the brooding reservoir give the mystery a strong backdrop. Also captivating was the way the plot develops as the reader views the past through the eyes of Falk and this tight Australian community. "We see what we expect to see," the author warns us. This proves to be eerily true.

This book will be my next recommendation to my book club when it is published in January as there are weighty topics for us to ponder. Teens and adults alike would find much to discuss. It is a mystery for those of us who love mysteries, yet a book with big ideas for discussion, not "just a mystery."

After having lived in Indonesia during the time that Carolyn Phillips first traveled to Taipei, I was eagerly anticipating reading this book. It does not take a trip to Asia to fall under the spell of this charming, yet realistic, memoir which includes skillful drawings and insightful recipes. Best of all, this book is from an American's point of view so I could totally relate to Ms. Phillips' foray into a world so different from her own. The unfamiliarity of China all brings the reader to a larger understanding of a world not yet visited. This book will resonate with people of all ethnicities and ages. As Ms. Phillips expresses unease with how little she understands her new surroundings, she grows in an appreciation, and the reader grows with her. Her histories of the relationships between mother/daughter, wife/husband, daughter-in-law/in-laws are relatable in any country.
Then there is the magic of looking at cooking and eating in a whole new way. Gastronomic theory might sound dry, but Ms. Phillips makes it intriguing. I might never cook pig's head or feet, but the author makes the journey amusing. New ideas of Chinese cooking are eye openers, showing how the cuisine of each section of the country changes as do the recipes- - -some you would probably never try and others that will become family treasures.

After reading this book, China will continue to mystify the reader with its unique food and culture, but the reader will not ever feel the same way about China again. Who knows what further explorations will appeal to me. I will definitely try some of the recipes and explore further adventures into Chinese cuisine.

Are you tired of all of those novels with the very unreliable narrator, usually a woman? I was, but a review of this one in Mystery Scene Magazine talked me into giving it a try. If you are looking for escape fiction (and who isn’t these days), you should give this one a try. Romance, humor, and a little craziness make the fast-paced book a quick read.

I read a lot of mysteries, but this one had me hooked from the first paragraph. As I began reading, I wondered how this novel would compare to the many others I have read. The opening paragraph was edgy and succinct. The prologue had a unique quality about that made me want to read more! This is a chilling sort of story that starts at the end and then begins anew at the beginning. The author's phrasing contains interesting descriptions. When the journalist talks about getting to know the people she is investigating, she says that getting know them is "like cleaning an old painting, their faces start to emerge from the dust." I was immersed in the novel, wanting to know the characters better, what made them tick. The whole process of knowing them was foggy, like the Irish mist that sometimes permeated the setting. I saw it all through a veil of mist. The author has a description of the setting, the Temple House, that fairly drops the reader in that place, but there is not a great effort at foreshadowing. The reader must make up her own mind, as does the journalist, about the setting and the characters. I liked the technique.
The sections of the book change narrators. Often it takes the reader a few paragraphs or pages before the narrator is named. This slowed me down, which I did not care for.

Satisfying mystery, but the main enjoyment came from interesting facts about the lives of Indian women in the 1920s. Much was new to me. I highly recommend this book.

While I have read much about the life of Winston Churchill, I have never delved into the historic facts about Clementine. Marie Benedict allows the reader an interesting perspective, a historic fictional account of Clementine, not just as the Prime Minister's wife, but as an influential force in her own right. It was interesting to be privy to the inner workings of the relationship between Clementine and her more famous husband. The novel made me wonder which parts of the relationship were accurate, founded on fact. The interplay of the relationship between husband and wife is very realistic, as is the dialogue. Now after reading the book, I feel the need to explore more about the life of these two historical figures. Isn't that what good historical fiction should do, make us want to explore more about the subject? I see far-ranging ideas for book club groups as the readers discuss such topics as the effect of war on the day-to-day lives of the British people and the role Clementine Churchill played in serving the citizens - not just of Britain but other countries as well.

As the daughter of a 96-year-old mother in Memory Care, I can attest to the authenticity of this book. From the swoosh of the electric front doors to the selection of the Resident of the Month, Brooke Fossey draws the reader into the world of the Centennial Retirement Community. Not glamorized or overstated, the Memory Care experience is very realistic. Fossey's characters take center stage as the reader begins to root for Duffy, Carl, and Josie. This awkward band struggles for redemption, and the reader truly cares about their progress. The writing is often an intriguing blend of wry humor and biting realism. As Ms. Fossey assembles this odd cast of characters, I was drawn in, ready to take this journey with them. This novel is a poignant message for us all about accepting the vicissitudes of life and loss. As Duffy meets this challenge at 88 years of age, I really rooted for him, as I think most writers will. Many will see this book as an excellent choice for their book club with its many avenues for discussion on aging and on the requirements for a life well-lived. Maybe it's never to late to qualify
for that "well-lived" category!

People read for all sorts of reasons, but after reading the cover of this book, I had no clear-cut idea about what to expect. Ellie and the Harpmaker is an unexpected gem of a novel with imperfect characters who make your heart ache for them. I found it insightful to be an omnipotent insider, privy to the thoughts and longings of the main characters, waiting for them to hopefully come to the same realizations that I had about their lives. Dan the harp maker finds more solace in the nature around him rather than to people sounds a note that all could heed. As I finished this book, I realized that it was not at all what I expected. It was a wonderful mingling of some lovable (and some not so lovable) characters who take you on a voyage of discovery for themselves and, if you read closely, perhaps invaluable discoveries for the reader too.
I would definitely recommend this book to book clubs. In fact, I will do so to mine!

Mysteries are my favorite type of pleasure reading. Auntie Poldie and the Sicilian Lions did not disappoint. The beginning was rather slow with Auntie Poldie seeming to be more of a caricature with her slipping wig and her generous cleavage as she tries to come to grips with her life in Sicily. But Poldie endears herself to me as she is a list-maker like I am and she does not buy the great-looking strappy sandals, but rather uses that money to further her crime investigation. Enter Vito Montana, a pensive heart-throb, and the book springs to life for Poldie and the reader. Montana is expertly drawn for the reader, so much so that we wish Poldie and Vito a happy ending. There is a large cast of suspects for the murder that occurs early in the book. Poldie tries to solve the murder and finds herself often in hilarious and sometimes dangerous situations. The little dog Totti and the three sisters are pals who try to help our our friend, Poldie. There is great ambience with Torre Archirafi as a setting, a place that I want to visit again in the second book, Auntie Poldie and the Fruits of the Lord. "Namaste," as Poldie would say.