Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A little red telephone box full of stories, a chance to change her life...

Jess Metcalf is perfectly content with her quiet, predictable life. But when her beloved grandmother passes away and she loses her job at the local library, Jess' life is turned upside down.

Determined to pick up the pieces, Jess decides it's time for a new beginning. Unable to part with her grandmother's cherished books, she packs them all up and moves to a tiny cottage in the English countryside. To her surprise, Jess discovers that she's now the owner of an old red phone box that was left on the property. Missing her job at the local library, Jess decides to give back to her new community--using her grandmother's collection to turn the ordinary phone box into the littlest library in England.

It's not long before the books are borrowed and begin to work their literary magic--bringing the villagers together... and managing to draw Jess' grumpy but handsome neighbor out of his shell.

Maybe it's finally time for Jess to follow her heart, let go of her old life, and make the village her home? But will she be able to take the leap?

Review:

When I look at books to read, there are several topics that automatically catch my attention.  Anything book themed, set in a small town, or has a lot of food content, and I am immediately interested.  The Littlest Library, by Poppy Alexander, is a sweet book that has all three (bonus points for it being set in England!).  I liked the concept of a library created out of an old telephone booth, found the small village to be charming and filled with fun secondary characters, and there were many dinner parties with descriptions of fabulous food.  There was also a lovely romance between the main character, Jess, and a divorced next-door neighbor.  

What I Liked:

Setting:

I love books set in small towns.  And this quaint English village seemed just lovely, even if it had seen better days.  When Jess buys a small cottage seemingly on a whim, she has no idea what she's getting herself into.  There are, of course, unexpected repairs (and bats) to contend with, town feuds that she must navigate, and village etiquette to learn. 

But there are also lovely discoveries.  Jess learns to appreciate the beauty of the pretty garden and pond behind her home.  Neighbors stop by, which at first is not welcome.  But she finds generosity in her neighbors bringing food to share, along with new friendships, and opportunities for her to become involved in the community.

Books:

Jess is a librarian who's previous library has closed.  When she moves to her new home, she leaps at an opportunity to create a little library in front of her home.  Her collection of beloved books stocks the shelves.  It's a treat to see what books the village's residents choose.  Some pick out classic books for their kids, while others check out cook books.  But the most popular type of books are the romances!  As with any good library, the telephone booth becomes a gathering place for the community. I loved this!

Food:

I love books where the author describes delicious food at dinner parties.  In Jess's case, there are several Sunday luncheons with descriptions of roasted lamb, fresh garden vegetables, and light summer desserts.  The way these dishes are lovingly described makes me think the author must love to cook and entertain.

Characters:

I like the main character, Jess.  Although she has daydreams about seamlessly gliding into the village social scene, she is actually quite awkward and makes many mistakes.  I can relate!  But, when she does something rude, she apologizes,  and tries to make amends.  She also is still mourning the loss of her grandmother who raised her.  There are many moments where she fights tears and would rather be alone.  But when this happens, she remembers that her grandmother wanted her to be a part of the present, not wallow in self-pity.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  July 19th, 2022

Author: Poppy Alexander

Publisher:  Avon Books

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction/Romance

Page Length:  320 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format: E-Book

Recommendation:  This was a lovely book, and the perfect summer read.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Tuscany, 1944: As Allied troops advance and bombs fall around deserted villages, a young English soldier, Ulysses Temper, finds himself in the wine cellar of a deserted villa. There, he has a chance encounter with Evelyn Skinner, a middle-aged art historian who has come to Italy to salvage paintings from the ruins and recall long-forgotten memories of her own youth. In each other, Ulysses and Evelyn find a kindred spirit amongst the rubble of war-torn Italy, and set off on a course of events that will shape Ulysses's life for the next four decades.

As Ulysses returns home to London, reimmersing himself in his crew at The Stoat and Parrot -- a motley mix of pub crawlers and eccentrics -- he carries his time in Italy with him. And when an unexpected inheritance brings him back to where it all began, Ulysses knows better than to tempt fate, and returns to the Tuscan hills.

With beautiful prose, extraordinary tenderness, and bursts of humor and light, Still Life is a sweeping portrait of unforgettable individuals who come together to make a family, and a richly drawn celebration of beauty and love in all its forms.

Review:

This is a novel that grows on you.  While the first chapter, taking place in Italy during WWII, is charming, the next few chapters have various characters who I didn't initially love.  But that's one of the joys of Still Life, by Sarah Winman.  As with a still life painting, the seemingly simple characters reveal hidden depths as the novel progresses.  This book covers a long time period, with characters growing up, aging, and (sometimes) dying. This gave me time to get to know the characters, and appreciate how they change and grow over the years.  

I also loved this book because of how several characters decide to move from their predictable hometowns to unknown Italy.  I loved this, as I have lived in three countries, and hope to add a few more to my list in the future.  The idea of searching for a new life is appealing, and shows how resilient people can be, even out of their comfort zone.

What I Liked:

Characters:

The story mostly follows Ulysses, a young British man who begins the story as a soldier in Italy during WWII.  Although the circumstances are horrific, with death all around, Ulysses sees the beauty of classic works of art and of kind people he meets along the way.  When he returns home to England, he tries to reunite with his wife, and find a way to live a more quiet existence.  Much of what happens in Italy is Ulysses trying to find a way to live that is true for himself.  

The character of Peg, Ulysses wife, was harder for me to like, as she seemed initially  very cruel to Ulysses.  Peg's character is complicated with parts of her I hated, and many parts of her I loved.  She is fiercely independent, yet yearns for a man to whisk her away and take care of her.  She loves her daughter (named Alys), but knows she will be terrible with the day to day care of her.  So she lets Ulysses raise Alys.  Again, you want to hate that decision, initially.  But the author shows that this is actually the right choice for these characters. 

I also loved Alys, Peg's daughter.  We see her grow from a precocious toddler, to a lonely child among all the grown ups, to a sulky teen, and finally into a strong young person.  I loved her story arc!  She loves creating art and music.  She also is attracted to females. Thinking of the time periods where the story takes place, this was challenging for Alys to find her place in the world.  Like Ulysses, she takes a while to find a life that works for her.

Side Characters & Found Family:

There are many characters we are introduced to at the pub where Ulysses works and they all have endearing personalities.  There's the pub owner, Col, who's fiercely protecting of his developmentally disabled daughter, Ginny.  Cress, an older patron of the pub, always seems to have great advice.  And Pete, a piano player at the pub, is full of surprises.

All of these characters make up a found family for Ulysses, and Alys.  Like a family, there are loud, opinionated members, people who get themselves into trouble. But, these people look out for one another and would (literally) be the ones to call to bury a body, if the occasion ever arrives.

Impactful meetings: 

Ulysses has one of those personalities that people are drawn to.  As a soldier, Ulysses meets Evelyn, an older fellow British woman, who briefly shows him the importance of art.  He shows her the beauty of life, even in times of terror.  This makes quite an impression on both of the characters.  Over the course of the novel, they try many times to reconnect, often just missing each other turning a street corner!

Story:

The story starts during WWII and ends in 1979!  It covers Ulysses quest (as in the Odyssey) to find a place to call home.  But what really makes a home?  Is it the geographic area, or the people?  There a little bit of both in this story.  Ulysses really enjoys Italy.  Over time, the people in his section of Florence, are as dear to him as the ones he grew up with back in England.  But he also maintains his ties to his oldest British friends.  I loved how he was able to take chances, in order to live a more interesting, fulfilling life.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  November 2nd, 2021

Author:  Sarah Winman

Publisher:  G.P. Putman's Sons

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  464 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This book grew on me.  Once you get to know the characters, you will love the little expat community they create.  A wonderful Historical Fiction novel.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

She thinks he’s either a stalker, a nutcase, or a harmlessly eccentric Oxford professor. He thinks she’s the long-lost descendant of Henry VIII’s last Queen, Katherine Parr. Amy is living a cautious life as a London private banker to wealthy oil sheikhs, but her quiet solitude is upended by the sudden appearance of two people: a half-sister who is virtually a stranger to her, and Oxford don Leo. Both need something from Amy, who has been emotionally frozen for years and isn’t sure she has anything left to give. She also harbors deep secrets—as does Leo. Even so, the two join forces to investigate the mystery of Queen Katherine’s lost baby, and soon long-suppressed emotions start to surface—and enemies start to close in. As they crisscross Europe in a quest for answers, Amy and Leo find themselves in danger of losing control of their secrets, their hearts—and maybe even their lives.

Review:

I wasn't really sure what this book was about when I was first offered an advance copy by the publisher.  But the description, and the whole not knowing if Leo was a stalker or a professor thing intrigued me.  I'm really glad I read this book.  This was a thriller with espionage, shady bank deals, and secret identities with an unreliable narrator, to boot!  Throw in some steamy romance , and you've got a fun, fast-paced read!

What I Liked:

Set up:

I loved the set up of mousy Amy being pursued by Leo.  Is he a stalker?  It certainly looks that way, at first.  He seems to show up everywhere she goes: her office, her gym, her apartment building.  It almost seems like he has secret methods to track her every movement.  Is he just really good at researching?  Or could he be a operative of Mossad (the Israeli version of the CIA)? And why would anyone want to track Amy.  Well, she is a private banker for rich foreigners.  Could she be involved with money laundering?  This set up sucks you in as you are trying to figure everything out. 

Characters:

Amy seems to be a very quiet, introvert.  She doesn't have many friends, and seems out of her depth working with a bunch of twenty-somethings in the high-end world of personal banking. But there are signs that Amy is not what she seems to be.  With a father who has taken her across the globe on numerous adventures, Amy has hidden talents.

Leo is also a man of many layers.  He is an Oxford professor, but he is also the head of a rich and powerful family of art dealers.  He is also extremely sure of himself.  This annoys Amy to no end, but also fans her growing attraction to him.  Every woman loves a man of mystery, and Leo is certainly that.  I also liked that he was devoted to his sisters, and showed lots of concern for their welfare.  This made him even more appealing.

Side Characters:

I have to mention the hilarious group of characters who work in Amy's office.  They are funny mostly because they are such caricatures of entitled twenty-somethings.  Her running commentary (in her head) of how ridiculous they are is highly entertaining.

Secret Identities:

Without giving too much away, there are several people who are not what they seem in this book.  I loved the methods the author used to slowly reveal who they were.  These were surprising and super fun.  I had several "Ah ha!" moments while reading this book.

Romance:

The romance was also really fun.  I appreciated that the author didn't get too graphic with the sex descriptions, but, instead, slowly built up the sexual tension between Amy and Leo.  I keep saying this is so fun to read, because it really was!  The sex between them made sense.  Tor two people who keep avoiding truths, I loved it when they finally put their cards on the table and where hones with each other.

Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  August 3rd, 2021

Author:  Jane Elizabeth Hughes

Publisher:  Spark Press

Genre:  Thriller

Page Length:  352 Pages

Source:  Publisher

Format:  Paperback ARC

Recommendation:  This was a thoroughly entertaining book.  I really hope there is a sequel!  A must read for fans of thrillers.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston's second novel in the Found Things series, Secrets of the Chocolate House, was called a "time-swapping romance [that] will please fans of Alice Hoffman" (Publishers Weekly). Now, Brackston returns to the Found Things series with a third book, The Garden of Promises and Lies.

As the bustle of the winter holidays in the Little Shop of Found Things gives way to spring, Xanthe is left to reflect on the strange events of the past year. While she's tried to keep her time-traveling talents a secret from those close to her, she is forced to take responsibility for having inadvertently transported the dangerous Benedict Fairfax to her own time. Xanthe comes to see that she must use her skills as a Spinner if she and Flora are ever to be safe, and turns to the Spinners book for help.

It is then that a beautiful antique wedding dress sings to her. Realizing the dress and her adversary are connected in some way, she answers the call. She finds herself in Bradford-on-Avon in 1815, as if she has stepped into a Jane Austen story.

Now in Xanthe's time, Fairfax is threatening Xanthe into helping him with his evil doings, and demonstrates all too clearly how much damage he is capable of causing. With Fairfax growing ever more powerful, Xanthe enlists the help of her boyfriend Liam, taking him back in time with her. It is a decision that might just ensure she prevails over her foe, but only by putting her life—and his—on the line.

Review:

I don't normally enjoy time travel books, but this series,  starting with The Little Shop of Found Things, is the exception.  It has so many great aspects going for it.  It begins as a sweet story about a little antique shop in England.  But Xanthe, the daughter of the shop owner, has a special ability.  Some items with historical significance call to her.  Once she buys them, she learns the object's secrets, and then goes back in time to solve a mystery.  Then the fun really begins, as Xanthe must find a way to navigate a different historical time period.  This is a really fun series, that is getting better with each succeeding installment.

What I Liked:

Premise:

I love learning about the ins and outs of the antiques business.  What seems like a romantic job going to estate sales, really is a challenging business.  Xanthe and her mother must constantly look at items not for their sentimental value, but for how well they will sell.  I enjoyed seeing all these behind the scenes of this world.

Then there's the time travel aspect of the story.  Rather than gloss over all the logistics of how one could blend into an period hundreds of years ago, this book revels in all the possible issues that would crop up.  How can one find clothes that would look authentic to the time period?  Would you know the appropriate way to speak?  Would you recognize where you were?  All these small, but important details add so much to the story.

Characters:

Although Xanthe is obviously a risk-taker, she also feels a great responsibility towards her mother,  Flora, and I love their relationship.  Since her parent's divorce, Xanthe and Flora are rebuilding their life in a relatively new town, and with a new antiques business.  Xanthe knows if she isn't careful she could be left behind in time, and she doesn't want to leave her mother alone.  But Flora is a survivor, who knows the business like no other.  Xanthe truly respects her. 

Xanthe has a complex adversary in Benedict Fairfax.  This is a character who has continued in all three books.  When he learns he is also a "Spinner" (someone who can spin time), he wants to use this skill to enrich himself.  He sees Xanthe as the key to understanding how to master time travel.  Knowing how close she is to Flora, Fairfax uses this knowledge to motivate Xanthe to do what he wants.  But Flora is about to fight back...

Story:

I particularly liked this story.  Xanthe finds a wedding dress at an estate sale that "sings" to her.  She knows the dress has something to do with Fairfax, and must determine what it is.  She has to travel back to the Regency period (Jane Austin's time) and befriend the bride.  When she realizes that the bride is marrying Fairfax, she has a dilemma.  Does she let the wedding go on as planned, or should she warn her new friend of Farifax's true nature?  Would it even make a difference?  It's the old time travel quandary, can you change historical events, or will your actions only make events happen anyway?

Rating: 

Release Date:  December 15th, 2020

Author:  Paula Brackston

Genre:  Fantasy

Publisher:   St. Martins Press

Page Length: 320 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This is a wonderful addition to the series.  But start at the beginning with The Little Shop of Found Things.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages, and in England one man's ambition to make his abbey a centre of learning will take the reader on an epic journey into a historical past rich with ambition and rivalry, death and birth, love and hate.

Thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of The Earth, which has sold over 27 million copies worldwide.

Now, this novel, the prequel, will take the readers on an epic journey that will end where The Pillars of The Earth begins...

Review:

Ken Follett writes epic novels in the vein of James Michener and  George R.R. Martin.  These are sweeping books that have multiple characters, settings, and story-lines, giving us a sense of people caught up in historical events bigger than themselves.  The Evening and The Morning is the prequel to Follett's masterpeice, The Pillar of The Earth, and it is a worthy novel.

What I Liked:

Historical Setting:

The author readily states (in his notes to the reader) that the details of life in the Middle Ages are scant.  But, nevertheless, he provides such an abundance of details about food, clothing, and the various ways people lived in those times, we can't help but feel transported to that time.  

I found the way the author distinguished between the lives of the different classes particularly interesting.  At the beginning of the story, a family who had a modestly successful business loses everything in a Viking raid.  They must start over, but with no money, or possessions, they are really at the mercy of others.  They need to rely on their wits (and an amount of luck) in order to survive.  Contrast this with noblemen who lose possessions from a Viking raid.  They still own property and collect rents.  So they don't feel the hardships of events that are out of their control.

Characters:

Edgar and his family, prosperous boat builders, lost everything in a Viking raid and had to start over as farmers.  Did he know anything about farming?  No, but that didn't stop Edger from making a go of it.  Edgar had a curiosity that was rare for most people, and an aptitude for engineering. 

Edgar's friend Aldred was a monk who had a similar keen mind.  He had big dreams to create a library which would make his monastery a center of learning.  Both Edgar and Aldred had a strong sense of justice.  This pushed them to confront corruption.  But their strident adherence to following the rules also was their weakness.  They often missed opportunities to find compromises with their neighbors, which made their lives difficult at times.

Regna was the most fleshed out female character.  She was a noblewoman from Normandy who married into a powerful English family.  Although she had a lot to learn about the ways of the English, she was often underestimated.  Even as she knew her limitations (she had to follow the edicts of her husband), she knew how to strategize, form alliances, and plan ahead.  She was practical, smart and compassionate.  

Story:

This was a sweeping saga that followed Edgar and his family as they literally start out with nothing.  At the beginning of the book, they moved to a tiny village. But at the book's conclusion, the village became a prosperous town. I found it fascinating to see how people could begin with nothing, and through ingenuity and hard work, build a successful community.  It mostly happened by creating income sources that weren't dependent on others.  If one could acquire land, and then collect rent on that land, they would have a steady form of income.  

But this was also a story about how innovation drove progress.  Both Edgar and Aldred look for solutions to problems in new ways.  Sometimes this was about inventing new tools to make work more efficient.  Other times, it was about looking at problems in a different way or forming alliances that were mutually beneficial.  I found this fascinating.

Trigger Warning for Rape

Rating: 

Release Date:  September 15th, 2020

Author: Ken Follett

Publisher:  MacMillan

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  817 Pages

Source: Edelweiss

Format:  E-Book 

Recommendation:  A must read for fans of The Pillars of The Earth.  A highly entertaining prequel.