Smorgasbord Book Reviews – June Round Up – #Murder #Mystery N.A Granger, #Nostalgia #History Alex Craigie, #Crime #Thriller Fiona Tarr, #Romance #Venice Tonya Penrose

Another entertaining and interesting reading month and here is a recap of my reviews for June.

My review for the book June 6th 2023

What a great story, interesting characters and setting for this story. I love the family unit that the author has created with multi-tasking mother to be Rhe, her husband Sam who is Chief of Police and her son Jack from her previous marriage to Sam’s brother.

Although this is the fifth book in the series it easily stands alone with a brief overview to set the scene and I found it very easy to get into the flow of the book immediately. All the main characters and those in a supporting role form a strong cast of players as the drama unfolds.

Rhe and her family live in a close knit community and when a sniper takes aim at the Governor of Maine it hits hard for everyone. As well as being an ER nurse, Rhe works part-time in the police department a job that she loves and she assists with the investigation into the shooting and a dangerous rapist on the prowl. However, there is a more personal danger about to intrude into their peaceful life, a hangover from one of the previous books in the series.

As well as contending with the unsettling activities of their unknown enemy, Rhe also has to deal with her boss at the hospital who is out to get rid of her because of her stand against him, and a troubling series of drug thefts from the emergency room.

All these different threads come together in this fast paced thriller with many unexpected twists and some heart-stopping moments.

The ending leaves the door open for another in the series which I understand is in the works and I look forward to catching up with Rhe Brewster again sometime soon. Highly rcommended.

Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

My review for the book June 10th 2023

This was certainly a trip down memory lane for me, and I am sure for anyone born in the post-war years in Britain. It is also an excellent reflection of the social history of the 50s and 60s and how the slow, but impactful introduction of new technology changed the lives of the population, and in particular women.

The descriptions and the anecdotes about life in the home, the household chores and the diet in the 50s illustrate how far we have come in the last 70 years. They used to say ‘A woman’s work is never done’ and that was certainly the case. The author does a great job in bringing the era into sharp focus based on her own experiences and research, along with a touch of humour.

Keeping the house clean, washing by hand, using a mangle to get as much water out as possible, hoping for a dry windy day in winter to dry the laundry or hanging on racks  over the stove. No fridges, freezers to keep food fresh so shopping every day. Outside toilets, tin bath for washing with one batch of hot water used over and over for the whole family. No double glazing or central heating with coal fires still the main form of keeping the house warm during the day, leaving the job to blankets in freezing bedrooms overnight. Not to mention that human fuel, especially in the cities was basic and had to be budgeted for carefully. In fact rationing was still in place of many food items until the early 50s and some to the mid 50s.

The late 1950s also saw the beginnings of the new look in furniture and the introduction of home help in the form of kitchen appliances and the start of social housing, although it is clear from the chapters on this governmental attempt to address the issue of lack of housing, that not all projects were successful or safe.

Televisions not only brought entertainment but also broadcast programmes from the USA which highlighted the stark differences between lifestyle and amenities between the two countries with Britain still repaying war loans.

Reading this book brought back memories of my own childhood and although I was brought up in the country and had access to a different diet it did make me realise how far we have come in my lifetime, and also how dependent we have become of the luxuries of modern life. It have given me a greater respect for the women of that generation who worked so hard to keep their families fed and cared for.

There are many photographs throughout the book and at the end a trivia quiz that underlines some of the key issues of the day. A fascinatingt record of home and life in the 1950s and 1960s and also a very useful reference guide for authors who write in that period in Britain. I can highly recommend and look forward to more in this series.

Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

My review for the book 17th June 2022

Great characters and setting for a fast paced crime thriller that is hard to put down once you start reading.

Considering not a lot happens on the crime front in this former thriving opal mining town, Jenny Williams finds herself knee deep in a mysterious death in her first week on the job. There are reservations amongst the existing police force about why this bright young constable wanted to be stationed in this remote area of the outback but Jenny works hard to gain their trust and acceptance.

There are hidden depths to this dusty and sleepy town and not all are down disused opal mines. Families in the area also have experienced unsolved tragedies over the years and as Jenny gets to know the key local players she begins to wonder how her own family mystery might be connected.

As the clues and action intensifies, it becomes clear that someone does not want Jenny digging into this current case and will do anything to stop any further investigation by any means possible.

I certainly was engaged from beginning to end and I am looking forward to the next two in the series and a fourth due out in July. Highly recommended.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon AU –  Amazon US – Amazon UK

My review for the book June 24th 2023

This book is not just a romance but a feast for the senses. With a backdrop of the grandeur, history and canals of Venice the love story between a bright and ambitious young American graduate and a handsome Spanish olive grower develops across two years in their lives.

Both Sofia and Eduardo carry the burden of expectations of their families and their own plans for their futures. They have chosen paths to follow that do not include the complicatons of long distance love affairs, but both are unprepared for the magnetic attraction they have for each other, and the unexplained connections they seem to share.

There are wonderful characters who accompany them on their journey of discovery, such as the bakery owner who adds a dash of magic to her cookies and pizzas, the mysterious and beautiful visitor to the public gardens they both love, and a gondolier whose haunting music brings them ever closer together.

The author has a great ability to develop the story through dialogue which also serves to round out the characters at the centre of the romance, drawing the reader into their lives and their emotions beautifully. I was thoroughly engaged throughout the book and found myself reluctant for the story to end.

If you are looking for a romance that draws you in and reminds you how beautiful love can be, this book is for you. Music is a key element to the story and you can buy the accompanying album separately to add another layer of enchantment.

Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US –  And: Amazon UK

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.. Sally