Book Reviews

Love, Theoretically

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Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

One year after completing her Ph.D., Elsie is an adjunct instructor at three Boston area universities. She has no health insurance, which is especially problematic as she has Type 1 diabetes. Elsie’s also a people pleaser, reluctant to be her authentic self with anyone because she fears rejection. Her roommate, Cece, doesn’t know Elsie’s feelings about artsy movies, Cece’s pet hedgehog, or Twilight. They do have a love of cheese in common, and both go on fake dates for the Faux app.

Elsie can be herself with one person she really dislikes: experimental physicist Jack. Jack works at M.I.T., where Elsie has an interview for the only open physics position on the east coast. Elsie is a theoretical physics, longing for time to do more research on liquid crystals, but knows that an experimental physicist is more likely to get the position. Jack also turns out to be connected to one of Elsie’s regular fake dates, and they met at a family gathering where she said she was a school librarian. Definitely not a meet cute situation! There are sparks between them, and Elsie feels free to react naturally to situations when she’s with Jack.

I learned a bit about the clash between experimental and theoretical physics, and the challenges of being an adjunct instructor. Elsie gets many, many emails from her students asking for extensions, explaining their absences, asking for references, and so much more. Along the way, Elsie and Jack spend more time together, although they don’t so much as kiss until two-thirds of the way through the story. Elsie finally learns to say no to her mother, and the truth about her physics mentor is revealed. There’s tenderness and humor here, along with romance and Elsie’s journey of self-discovery. A remarkable read if you enjoy contemporary rom-coms, especially ones featuring women scientists. Readalike authors include Talia Hibbert, Helen Hoang, and Lucy Parker.

Brenda

Tales of Enchantment & Deeds of Youth

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Tales of Enchantment by Shanna Swendson and Deeds of Youth by Elizabeth Moon

I enjoy novellas and short stories by favorite authors, and it’s fun to see a new collection. This month I’ve read two new collections by fantasy authors, both of which I enjoyed. Their settings and tones are very different, though both are best enjoyed by readers already familiar with their work.

On the lighter side, cozy contemporary fantasy writer Shanna Swendson is best know for her series beginning with Enchanted, Inc., set in New York City in the mid-2000s. I’ve read two of these stories before, including the darker Paint the Town Red, but others are new novellas. There are also some author’s notes about writing the series and its setting. Katie is from a small town in Texas, and is new to Manhattan. She keeps seeing very strange happenings, and beings. She turns out to be immune to magic; spells don’t work on her and she can see through illusions and spot magical beings such as fairies and gargoyles. Owen is the very talented young wizard who’s a bit shy, while his friend Rod is very skilled with illusions. Sam is their non-human coworker. Their boss is a very famous wizard.

These novellas make for very enjoyable reading, with some humor, just a little romance, and give both some backstory to the series, and a little closure. Owen & Rod are featured in Spelling Test, set at Yale, where they’re both students and there are two rival magical societies. Sam, who works in security, is on the case in Criminal Enchantment. Katie’s grandmother gets to shine in Power Struggle, set in Texas. Now I need to go back and re-read book 9, Enchanted Ever After. Read more about the Enchanted, Inc. world at http://shannaswendson.com/blog/

Elizabeth Moon writes heroic fantasy and science fiction, and is best known for her character Paksenarrion, a sheepfarmer’s daughter who becomes a paladin. This is definitely not a safe and cozy world, but it’s wonderfully drawn, with plenty of room for more stories. This collection of short stories features children and young adults coming of age. There is generally at least one adult providing the support and guidance the young people need, but not necessarily a parent. There is often the threat of danger or dishonor. Horses feature prominently in Dream’s Quarry and The Dun Mare’s Grandchild. The adopted son of a lord learns about responsibilities in A Bad Day at Duke’s East. Another recent collection is Deeds of Honor. Read more at http://www.paksworld.com/blog/

The First Lady of World War II

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The First Lady of World War II: Eleanor Roosevelt’s Daring Journey to the Frontlines and Back by Shannon McKenna Schmidt

 In August and September of 2023, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt spent five weeks in New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific, at the request of the President. Eleanor was also appointed a special Red Cross delegate and asked to inspect American Red Cross facilities. Well known for her newspaper columns “My Day,” the first lady was 58 and her four sons were all in the armed forces. Much of her visit was kept secret, with most of her columns published after her return and labeled, somewhere in Australia or somewhere in the South Pacific. I was surprised to learn that she traveled without an aide or companion, or even a single dress. She wore only Red Cross uniforms in seersucker or wool, and packed her manual typewriter, wiring her columns to her editor in New York.

While touring hospitals, Red Cross stations, cities, villages, military bases, and camps, she tried to spend as much time as possible with women doing war work, hospital patients, and enlisted men. The author spent four years researching and writing this book, which was a compelling and educational read for me. Eleanor visited Christmas Island, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, and Oahu, among other islands. She wasn’t allowed to visit New Guinea and had to ask repeatedly to visit Guadalcanal. While there was some controversy over her trip, her visits with the troops were reportedly much enjoyed, and she tried to send a note to the family of every hospital patient she visited. The trip was very hard on her; she lost quite a bit of weight and was exhausted and depressed for a while upon her return, as the hospital visits took a toll and the sights she saw on the islands, including makeshift cemeteries, made her sad. Her observations for the President led to some improvements in conditions for the troops; her columns about her 25,000 mile journey helped educate Americans about life for Americans in the south Pacific, and she most definitely boosted morale for many. This fairly short, well researched and inspiring read certainly enlightened me about events and conditions in New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific in 1943. You can read Eleanor Roosevelt’s “My Day” columns here.

Brenda

The Housekeepers

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The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

This historical thriller is set in fashionable Mayfair, London in 1905. The DeVries mansion on Park Lane will be the location for a lavish costume ball in June, and possibly a grand heist to rival that of Ocean’s Eleven. The housekeeper, Mrs. King, has just been fired. She has an unexpected connection to the recently deceased Wilhelm DeVries. Wilhelm was originally Danny O’Flynn, who made his fortune the South African diamond trade, funded with a loan from his sister, Mrs. Bone. Winnie is the previous housekeeper, Alice is seamstress to Miss DeVries, Hephzibah is an actress, and Janes One and Two are temporary parlormaids as well as trapeze artists.

Previous maids have disappeared; perhaps they learned too many secrets, or were pregnant. The seven women, headed by Mrs. King, decide to clean the house of all its valuable contents the very same night of the ball. The costume ball is Egyptian themed, including camels, a miniature pyramid, and a water feature.

Can the women agree on an equal partnership, find the funds to hire specialized help, and come up with a detailed plan, as well as backup plans? Mrs. King must decide if the handsome footman William needs to be included, and what to do about the creepy Lord Ashley, possible suitor to Miss DeVries. The ball and the heist are both astounding, and well detailed. Neither the ball or the heist goes to plan, of course, and very important guests might arrive just as the heist is taking place.

Very cleverly plotted and entertaining, with an intensifying pace. Although I don’t believe film rights have been sold, this debut novel would be visually stunning and very witty as a movie.

Brenda

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook to Surviving Medieval England

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The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

If you’re in the mood for lighter science fiction with a bit of fantasy and Norse mythology, here’s the perfect choice. A man wakes in a field with no memory of his past, his name, or how he arrived in what appears to be early medieval Britain. He meets brave Ealstan, lovely scop Sefawynn and others, and they call him Runian the aelv. Runian finds many pages of a partially burned copy of the Frugal Wizard’s Handbook, part guide and part advertisement. Runian, or John West, has traveled to another dimension, a parallel Earth. He learns that he can draw, had some police training in Seattle, he can fight and has some augmented plating in his arms, along with medical nanites. And has lost his wife Jen. John remembers an awful boss named Ulric, his former best friend Ryan Chu, and Quinn, who won their last fight.

With his enhancements, John helps Ealstan and Sefawynn repel Hordamen from the sea, and learns about Norse gods and helpful wights. Gradually John remembers more of his past, including that his best talents are lying and running away. Will John escape back to modern Seattle when he has the chance, or choose a new future for himself? An entertaining read, but one that made me think, just like Terry Pratchett. Terry Pratchett’s Long Earth series is a good readalike. My favorite book by Sanderson isn’t as well-known as his series; it’s the teen novel The Rithmatist.

Brenda

Lavender’s Blue

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Lavender’s Blue by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer

It’s been quite a while since her last books, but rom-com readers may remember Jennifer Crusie, whose books include Bet Me and Getting Rid of Bradley. Jenny & Bob also wrote a couple of funny romantic thrillers including Agnes and the Hitman. Jenny’s heroines are often curvy women with curly hair who have, in the recent past, had bad taste in men. Then the women get assertive, make a big change in their life, adopt a dog, and meet a very sexy man who makes them laugh.

I prefer cats, but also like dogs, and I have always enjoyed cheering for Crusie’s heroines as they make good choices, in their careers, homes, men, and pets. These women often need to deal with some serious stuff, but are also very funny, and really learn to enjoy life, and love.

And now, Jenny & Bob are back, with a new series! Rest in Pink is due out later this month. Liz Danger is on her way to Chicago for work, when she gets a note from her Aunt Mary Lou, guilt tripping her into visiting her mother Mary Beth in Burney, Ohio for her birthday. With a giant red stuffed bear in tow, Liz somehow zooms right past the exit for Burney. She’s been gone for 15 years, yet people still think of her as a rebellious teen who got dumped by Cash Porter. Also, they hug too much. Liz promptly gets pulled over by Vince Cooper, who then replaces three missing lug nuts on the right rear tire of her older Toyota Camry.

So, Burney, a small town overlooking the Ohio River not far from Cincinnati, cannot be escaped. Cousin Molly is thrilled to see Liz, and Liz can still work in the Camry’s backseat, ghostwriting celebrity Anemone’s memoir. The Camry needs some work before she can drive to Chicago. But she probably shouldn’t have bought her mom that bear.

Molly shares the news that Cash Porter is marrying Lavender Blue, and Lavender wants Liz to be in her wedding party. Chicago will have to wait a little longer. Then Liz learns that Vince, a former Army Ranger, loves old diners as much as she does, and can kiss really well.

Some old secrets are revealed and a bit of danger creeps into the story, and later a suspicious death. While this book isn’t as steamy as her earlier books, Lavender’s Blue is a very appealing and compelling read. I want to read more about Liz, Vince, Cousin Molly, Anemone and young Peri, so I am looking forward to the next two books in the series.  

The Homewreckers

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The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews

A very good summer read that includes romance, some humor, and a mystery. Readalikes include Maggie Moves on by Lucy Score, and books by Sarah Graves, Jennifer Crusie, and Tessa Bailey.

Hattie is a young widow in Savannah who works with her father-in-law Tug and best friend Cass rehabbing houses. When Hattie falls in love with the wrong dilapidated but promising house, she needs to recoup her losses quickly. Mo Lopez persuades her to film a pilot for a reality show he’ll call Saving Savannah. There’s not a lot of affordable housing inventory in the area, but Hattie hears about an auction for a condemned waterfront house on Tybee Island, in a historic district.

Trae is brought in a a designer for the tv show, and possible love interest, but Hattie isn’t sure she can trust him. A wallet is found in the wall belonging to Lanier Ragan, who’s been missing for 17 years. She was Cass and Hattie’s favorite English teacher, and they never thought she’d leave a young daughter behind.

The filming scheduled is incredibly tight, there’s a very picky inspector, and then some vandalism occurs on the property, including possible arson. The descriptions of the house remodeling sound charming, even without pictures, and I enjoyed the combination of themes in this charming page-turner. Even though this is a standalone novel, I wish Andrews would write more about Hattie and Cass.

Starter Villain

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Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Cats, not bacon. For cats and bacon, see Emily Jane’s On Earth as It Is On Television. If you enjoyed award-winning science fiction writer Scalzi’s latest adventure novel, The Kaiju Preservation Society, you might enjoy this. No, there are no kaiju, either. But there are cats, and later some sarcastic dolphins. Ordinary guy Charlie, currently a substitute teacher, helped care for his father before his recent death. Now his older half-siblings want their shares of dad’s house. It’s just a regular house, nothing special, so Charlie’s share probably won’t be enough to buy a local pub. Charlie has recently adopted a stray cat, and together they find a stray kitten.

Then Charlie, a former business reporter, gets word that his Uncle Jake has died. He hasn’t seen Jake since he was a kid, but is asked to host the viewing and funeral service. Jake owned parking garages, but that doesn’t explain the tough guys who show up at the funeral home, some packing heat. Later Charlie visits Jake’s company headquarters, with the cat and kitten in tow. It turns out to be on a volcanic island, where we meet the dolphins. Perhaps Uncle Jake had more in common with the bad guys at the funeral home than he thought, and they want Charlie to join their organization. Lots of adventure, plenty of humor, some tricky situations, and an appealing main character in Charlie. Plus, of course, cats. This book will be published on September 19, National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Enjoy!

Brenda

Courting Dragons

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Courting Dragons: A King’s Fool Mystery by Jeri Westerson

This historical mystery is set in Greenwich, London, at the court of King Henry VIII, in 1529. Yes, that Renaissance King Henry. Court Jester Will Somers is in his mid-20’s and has challenging work, entertaining the King and his court, tumbling, making music, sharing gossip, teasing the nobility, and also being a good confidant for the young king, who he calls Harry or Uncle. Will was a real person, and was a jester for King Henry and even young Queen Elizabeth, and had his portrait painted at least twice. This is the first book in a planned series.

Many of the book’s characters are fictions, including Lady Marion, an embroideress who Will loves. Will also likes men, dallying with a servant and a visiting Spaniard. This secret is dangerous, and he could be blackmailed. As this is a mystery, Will also turns sleuth, when one man is killed, someone else is attacked, and Marion is almost killed. Was Marion the target, or was it one of Anne Boleyn’s ladies in waiting. Anne is not yet queen, as Henry is still married to Catherine of Aragorn, his first wife. The colorful daily life of Henry’s court comes to life, especially as a fool can go almost anywhere. This mystery really kept my interest, and I look forward to reading a sequel.

Readalikes include Thirteenth Night by Alan Gordon, the first of six Fool’s Guild mysteries and A Play of Isaac by Margaret Frazer, the first of seven mysteries featuring Joliffe.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This novel, spanning three decades, is about three friends, Sadie, Sam, and Marx, who come together to create, produce and sell video games. The themes are relationships, grief, and collaboration. You do not need to be a gamer to appreciate the story.

To begin with, this is not a happy book. The book’s title is part of a famous soliloquy in Shakespeare’s MacBeth, a tragedy. I quite disliked one of the secondary characters, which I’m sure the author intended. I also objected to the author’s need to have some trauma in each main character’s background, which apparently made them more creative.

That said, this was compelling and immersive reading. It was also interesting to see how important playing video games was to the characters, as reading books, especially fiction, is meaningful to me. The wide variety of games developed and played in these pages were richly detailed and unique; I’m sure many gamers would love to play them if they were available.

This book has been a bestseller for a whole year, and I now understand the buzz that has kept it there for so long. The characters are intriguing and the quality of the writing is excellent; I just wanted a slightly different plot.

The author’s first novel, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, is also bittersweet, and just as memorable.