eARC – Page 19 – Carol's Notebook

The Italian Party by Christina Lynch

March 9, 2018 by Carol11 Comments

There are so many secrets in The Italian Party, personal and professional. Scottie and her new husband, Michael, move to post-war Italy for Michael's job. He's opening a new Ford Tractor store in Siena. Except we learn quickly that it's just a cover, he's actually in the CIA, a fact he doesn't share with Scottie. We also learn one of Scottie's secrets early; she's pregnant and The baby is not Michael's, but those are just the tip of the iceberg. Secrets, both theirs and others', unfold throughout the story against the global backdrop of the "Communist Threat" and a citywide horse race that seems like the big event of the year. Scottie's teenage Italian tutor was supposed to be in the race, but he's disappeared. Scottie is determined to find. Scottie is interesting. She's beautiful, seems maybe not so bright, but she's fun and friendly. Truth is she's as smart, and sly, as any of them. She is definitely guided by...

The Bookworm by Mitch Silver (with giveaway)

February 9, 2018March 20, 2018 by Carol8 Comments

The Bookworm by Mitch Silver is a gripping thriller and enjoyable for the most part. There's so much going on though that it gets a bit overwhelming. Lara, the bookworm, is a Russian history professor who get caught in the middle of a couple of conspiracies. First, we have the WW 2 hoax that manages to draw Hitler's attention away from England toward Russia, stalling the invasion long enough that it never happens. Lara is given the Dictaphone cylinders to listen to by someone who is a little suspicious. Then we have the Alaskan oil field that is merely a prop in a "deal" between the Russian and American presidents, with no actual drilling going on. Lev, Lara's brother, discovers the charade, takes photos and barely escapes with his life. Somehow this all ties together in a well-pace novel with chase scenes, chess games, and a couple of dead bodies. The problem for me though is that it could have been fabulous, but...

The Body in the Casket by Katherine Hall Page

December 30, 2017January 2, 2018 by Carol13 Comments

The Body in the Casket is the first in the Faith Fairchild mystery I've read. On the one hand that doesn't matter because it stands on its own well. On the other hand, it means I didn't care as much about Faith's family and friends as I might have if I had started the series at the beginning. I enjoyed the mystery portion of the book a lot. I'm a sucker for a good old-fashioned manor house mystery, which this was at heart, although with a New England touch. I love the addition of the theater folk and the whole Heaven and Hell theme of the weekend. I was not entirely surprised by the who dunnit, partly because it was reminiscent of a mystery I read earlier last month. Faith didn't really shine as a detective here though. I don't know I that's standard for this series or not, but she never really put any clues together or seemed to have...

The Peace of Christmas: Quiet Reflections with Pope Francis by Diane M. Houdek

December 19, 2017December 19, 2017 by Carol3 Comments

The Peace of Christmas: Quiet Reflections with Pope Francis is a fine devotional for Christmas. Each devotion starts with a reflection from Pope Francis followed by a "Christmas Reality" where Ms. Houdek expands a bit on the reflection and talks about how it applies to her life and, by extension, ours. At the end of each is a "Christmas Gift," which could be something like get rid of something on your to-do list in order to spend an hour with God, or visit a variety of nativities and notice the differences. I'm not Catholic, but you don't have to be to appreciate the Pope's words. I think most Christians will find something meaningful here. I do with the piece from his writings/speeches was longer. Houdek's comments were fine, but I picked up the book to read the Pope's reflections, not hers. Most of the "gifts" are thought-provoking, asking us to look honestly at our lives, our values and our responses to...

Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Elizabeth Hoyt

December 14, 2017 by Carol7 Comments

Once Upon a Christmas Eve made me smile. Adam is a bit of a scoundrel, but has a soft heart, and even though he definitely deserves his reputation with women, he never "ruins" anyone. Sarah has run into at least one rake before, knows Adam and know his type and doesn't want anything to do with him. So of course, in between their verbal jabs and avoiding each other, they fall in love. They make a good couple who will keep each other on their toes. This is a novella, so the romance progresses quickly. To be honest, I wish the story had been longer. I would have liked to see more of Sarah and Adam and had their relationship progress a little more evenly. I love the Christmas house party setting and especially the last scene. I may have to read more of Hoyt's books soon. This was a wonderful Christmas romance — sweet and fun and a tad bit steamy....

Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith

December 13, 2017 by Carol6 Comments

Just a note, Slay Bells Ring is the second mystery I've read this year where the victim was killed with a decorative, wooden candy cane. I don't know if that means I should be hyper alert when out and about somewhere with wooden candy canes or that authors should choose another Christmas decoration to kill people off with. Slay Bells Ring is the first I've read in this series. Festive Christmas covers always suck me right in. It stands alone well, though. You get to know Caprice and her whole family well and understand what's important to her: her family, her friends, and animals. I liked Caprice for the most part, but she is just so good and wholesome and in love that she's a bit hard to relate to. I do love that when she knows she's going into a potentially dangerous situation, she makes sure she has back-up, too many amateur female detectives don't take their own safety seriously...