romance

The Secret War of Julia Child

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana Chambers

Diana Chambers takes the known facts of the life and work of Julia McWilliams (later Julia Child) from 1943 to 1945 and adds plenty of adventure, undercover work, and near-death experiences to create an exciting World War II novel set in Asia. Julia did work for the OSS, Office of Strategic Services, during the war in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and China, but didn’t talk much about her work. She certainly handled highly classified documents. Julia did meet and fall in love with mapmaker Paul Child, and they both enjoyed their introduction to Chinese food. The author traveled Julia’s route from India to Sri Lanka, then over the Himalayans to Kunming in western China, and her research brings the settings to life, along with the other historical characters. Readalikes include My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme and A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute.

Brenda

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

The sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea is a satisfying read. Six magical children live with Linus and Arthur on Marsyas Island. Originally an orphanage, Linus and Arthur want to officially adopt all the children. Arthur is summoned to give testimony to DICOMY, the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, and asked about his own unhappy childhood, and his magical powers as a very magnificent phoenix. After his testimony, Arthur and Linus visit a potential new member of their family, 10-year-old David, who’s a yeti.

David likes to act, especially classic private detective scenes. He also likes to scare people, but not to hurt them. Lucy, 7, loves music, including Ella Fitzgerald and Elvis, and learns that David does as well. Lucy is developing his skills and learning what makes him calm.

Miss Harriet Marblemaw is sent to the island to investigate conditions, but is being directed by Jeanine Rowder, friend to absolutely no one on the island, including Zoë, the sprite who oversees the island and village. Themes include found family, embracing diversity, a sweet romance between Arthur and Linus, fun adventures with the kids, and the growing acceptance of the villagers for the island’s children. The magical children continue to delight. This is a sure bet for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Brenda

The Beginning of Everything

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser

This is a sweet contemporary novel of starting over, set in Wales. Jess Cavendish, 45, has hit rock bottom. Escaping from an angry, unfaithful boyfriend, Jess communicates with her family and friends only by text or short phone calls. In Caerwyddon, Wales, she camped in a tent in a graveyard for several weeks, then found a job as dishwasher in a nice restaurant (she showers at a local gym). Recently, Jess discovered Sunnyside, a recently sold but still vacant house and is camping out in a room there. When she’s discovered by the new owner, Gethin, he surprisingly asks her to stay and help with re-decorating the house.

Reluctantly, she agrees to stay, if he’ll allow her to pay rent. Jess gets a better job, stays friends with Maura from the restaurant, and helps Gethin strip wallpaper, pick out paint colors, and shop for furniture for the house. Jess teaches Gethin to cook, and he drives them to ruined castles where they picnic. Gethin is just out of a very long relationship with Vanessa, a television personality, and is slowly reconnecting with family and friends in the Caerwyddon area. At 47, he’s very nice and also lonely. His mum likes Jess while his sister Abby is naturally suspicious. They become friends, then lovers, then friends again. I enjoyed the Welsh setting, the house and garden, and especially Jess and Gethin, two very appealing characters. Readalikes include books by Abbi Waxman, Jennifer Crusie, and Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score.

Brenda

Funny Story

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

Funny Story by Emily Henry

This is a big, funny, contemporary romance with lots of ups and downs. Daphne has moved to northern Michigan with her fiancé, Peter. She’s a children’s librarian and loves her work, but her salary is rather small. After his bachelor party Peter dumps Daphne for his best friend since childhood, Petra. Also, they want Daphne to please move out of Peter’s house in one week! Where to move on short notice? Conveniently, Petra’s ex-boyfriend, Miles, has a spare bedroom.

A friendship forms and they take fake romantic photos for social media to get back at Peter and Petra. Daphne also makes friends with her coworker Ashleigh, a single mom. About the time Miles’ sister Julia comes to town, sparks flame up between Miles and Daphne. Both have major family issues, Peter with his mom and Daphne with her dad. Then Daphne’s dad comes to visit, with Starfire. Daphne blows off Ashleigh’s birthday and an online interview with a library in Maryland near her mother goes very well. Then it’s time for Daphne’s big library fundraiser for the children’s department, months in the planning, an all-night readathon. In the end, all is well, with almost everyone fairly happy. A compelling read; readalikes include novels by Abbi Waxman, Kate Clayborn, and Sarah Dubb. I enjoyed the northern Michigan setting, including Traverse City, which I just re-visited on vacation.

Brenda

Lies and Weddings

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

This is a contemporary family saga that’s all glitz and glamor, with lots of drama. There are over-the-top parties, very exclusive restaurants, and weddings in exotic locales. Arabella, Countess of Greshambury, steals most of her scenes with her awfulness. She screams at her three grown children and attempts to control them. Arabella is Chinese, but dislikes most other Asians, including Dr. Eden Tong, who is friends with all three of Arabella’s children, but is especially close to Rufus, an artist. Eden lives with her father, oncologist Dr. Thomas Tong, in a cottage on the Greshambury estate.

Settings include Hawaii, Venice, hot-air ballooning in Morocco, and a fabulous car collection in Los Angeles. There’s also a billionaire secretly very ill with cancer. Many descriptions of gorgeous gowns and decadent meals are included, but this entertaining novel doesn’t take itself too seriously. It reads like a vintage Judith Krantz novel, only less steamy and more fun. There’s also a fair number of characters dealing with racial and class prejudice, family histories with plenty of secrets, plus some lovely friendships. This is a good reach for the beach or backyard.

Brenda

Birding With Benefits

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

Birding With Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb

This is such a fun debut romance, and I really appreciate that the couple on the cover are both around 40. Celeste is a middle school language arts teacher. Her daughter Morgan is an amazing artist and a high school senior, though she keeps putting off her college entrance paperwork. Celeste’s ex-husband, Peter, didn’t appreciate her exuberant personality. Her best friend Maria is a brand-new mom. Always trying new hobbies, Celeste meets Chris at a sip and paint event, decorating little teapots.

Chris, who studies snails, connects Celeste with his best friend John, who needs a partner and a fake date for a birding event. The event turns out to be a six-week birding competition in the Tucson area for experienced birders. John would like to start guiding new birders and winning the competition would really help him jumpstart his business. Currently he’s a part-time woodworker. Improbably (but predictably), they agree to partner for the event, and Celeste gradually learns to be a birder. After sparks fly, they decide to be birders with benefits and make out in a closet during a party.

Later on, there are some steamy sex scenes for Celeste and John, but their arrangement is planned to end with the competition. When one of the pair wants a regular relationship, the other one gets cold feet. Celeste also has some parenting issues to cope with, and John worries that he’s not ambitious enough for Celeste.

Sweet, sexy, and funny, with realistic conflicts and characters. The author lives in Tucson, writes under a pen name, and is a birder and librarian. She’s happily under contract for two more books. A readalike author is Emily Henry.

Brenda

A Pair of Cozy Fantasy Novels

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

Bread and Burglary by Shanna Swendson (Tales of Rydding Village, Book 2)

This is a lovely cozy fantasy novel set in a half-abandoned village. Baker Lucina loves her work and the small village of Rydding, but becomes anxious when the the new smith’s apprentice speaks to her in Tufanan, her native language. Also, Nico was a duke’s guard, and a past relationship with a guard led to Lucina’s fleeing Tufana after an uprising. Wyn makes her tea to help prevent nightmares.

Lucina is hoping to save enough money to send for her Nonna, who raised her and taught her to bake. Some recent thefts in the village have people suspecting Nico, the newest resident. Lucina and the smiths are the only ones not to have been targeted. Does the bread and cream Lucina leaves on her back doorstep every evening help protect her from theft? Her Nonna did the same back in Tufana, as thanks for the magic that makes the bread rise. In this sequel to Tea and Empathy, it’s nice to see the village growing slowly, and for a couple of romance to begin. I look forward to the next Rydding Village tale.

The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught

This is a graphic novel with colorful and charming illustrations. Juniper works at Mira’s bakery. Hadley plays the flute, makes deliveries for the bakery, has a pink pet snake, and longs for adventure. Neither teen look quite human.

A large rush order for tarts made with glowing mushrooms come in to the bakery. Mira asks Juniper and Hadley to travel to the woods to gether the fungi. Of course, their quest does not go smoothly, but they make friends along the way. This includes a fey named Thistle, who has giant caterpillar friends. This is a sweet and cozy queer fantasy.

Brenda

Haunted Ever After

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

I loved reading Jen DeLuca’s four romantic comedies set at Renaissance Faires, beginning with Well Met, so I was happy to read her new book.

Set on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Boneyard Key attracts quite a few tourists. Local assume that Cassie, fresh from Orlando, is just another tourist, but she’s hoping to put down roots in the Hawkins House. On her balcony one night Cassie overhears Sophie’s ghost tour, learning that her cottage is said to be haunted by mean old Mrs. Hawkins. Well, really! Cassie absolutely doesn’t believe in ghosts. When her laptop won’t charge and she needs power and wi-fi for a work meeting, she rushes into Haunted Grounds, the local coffee shop, at the last minute. She encounters owner Nick and it is decidedly not a meet-cute scene. The coffee shop and small 2nd floor apartment are said to be haunted by original owner Elmer, who supposedly communicates with Nick by text. Locals also leave an open beer bottle for the usually quiet Beach Bum ghost while they watch the sunset.

Cassie’s gorgeous sunset posts on her group chat with Orlando friends don’t get many comments; all the chat lately seems to be about baby gear. Then the poetry magnets on Cassie’s fridge start moving around, and she starts thinking there may be something to Boneyard Key’s haunted reputation. She develops a friendship with Nick that has potential to become romantic, though Nick wonders if she’ll stay on the island.

The author previously lived in Florida and her love of the area shows in the descriptions of the island, and even of Publix supermarket subs. I enjoyed this novel, and look forward to a sequel or two. Readalikes include the Lucky Lexie cozy mysteries by Shanna Swendson, beginning with Interview With a Dead Editor, and Be My Ghost and High Spirits by Carol Perry.

Brenda

About the book jacket photo: Little Bear thought it was time he made another appearance on our blog.

A Daughter of Fair Verona

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical rom com, set 20 years after the events of Romeo & Juliet. In this version, Romeo and Juliet have a different ending, and are raising a family in Verona. Oldest child Rosaline is almost 20 and still unmarried. She’s had a few fiancés, but has matched them with other young ladies. Then Duke Stephano, widowed multiple times, encounters Rosie and wants to marry her, even without a dowry. Rosie is enamored of fair Lysander, who climbs into the Montague compound with a special ladder, and they have a few humorous encounters. Then there’s the scarred Prince Escalus, who’s raising his young sister, Princess Isabelle. Rosie’s whole family likes Isabelle, and she enjoys their lively and boisterous household, with loving parents. Many women are attracted to Romeo, but he only has eyes for his Juliet, who is pregnant, again. Romeo still has a temper, as does Rosie.

Rosie spends time at the apothecary shop run by Friar Laurence, escorted by her formidable Nurse. They all go to the scene when a young man is poisoned, and later find another apothecary dead. Rosie is soon suspected of murder and needs to clear her name lest she be sent to a nunnery, so she investigates. The investigation makes this novel a mystery, but it’s mostly a family story set in Verona with some romance and quite a lot of humor. I enjoyed the setting and the characters, and look forward to a planned sequel. The recipe for Juliet’s fruit and nut bread is available on the author’s website, here.

Brenda

Welcome to Glorious Tuga

/ Book Girl / Leave a comment

Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal

The fictional south Atlantic island of Tuga de Oro is inaccessible to ships for several months every year. Island Open Day is a cause for celebration, as it brings ships with long waited cargo, FFA (folk from away) and returning Tugans. Seasick Charlotte Walker arrives at Island Close, which is celebrated with fireworks. Charlotte is a young vet who is spending a year on Tuga to study gold coin tortoises. Tugan Dr. Dan Zekri is returning so his Uncle Saul can retire. At the same time, a mother leaves the island for a job and an 11-year-old is headed to boarding school. The family connections are a bit bewildering at first to Charlotte (the reader has a list of characters and how they’re related), but she gets a warmer welcome than Dr. Dan, especially when she is willing to use her veterinary skills as well as research the tortoises. Next comes Katie, a physiotherapist who’s more in love with island life than her Tugan sweetheart. Secrets, dramas, history, and the gorgeous island itself are all part of the storyline. This is a vivid, compelling read that is hard to put down.

Brenda