Month: July 2022

Should I Fall

Mary Mysterious Press, Mystery, Scott Shepherd, Tandem Literary

Should I Fall by Scott Shepherd

Published:  July 19, 2022 – Mysterious Press

Book courtesy of the publisher and Tandem Literary

Description:

A retired Scotland Yard Inspector races to prove the innocence of a falsely accused fugitive—his daughter’s fiancee—in this whodunnit from “a marvellous storyteller” (Michael Koryta).

When John Frankel’s ex-wife is discovered dead on the floor of his Manhattan studio apartment, the NYPD Detective instantly becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Then more information surfaces, linking his gun to the fatal bullet, a motive is discovered, and Frankel flees the city, all of which further convinces his colleagues of his guilt.

In spite of the mounting evidence, Frankel’s bride-to-be, Rachel Grant, and her father, Austin Grant, formerly of Scotland Yard, are certain of his innocence. But with the police under orders to use whatever force necessary to stop what they view as a dangerous criminal, the duo will have to act fast, before the manhunt goes violently wrong.

The investigation and relentless chase after Frankel takes them across the country, from the tropical shores of Hawaii to a deadly midnight rendezvous in a cemetery in northern Maine. And as that game of cat-and-mouse unfurls, so too does a complex murder plot with multiple victims—the ultimate solution of which will keep readers baffled and breathless until the very end. (publisher)

My take:

In 2021 I enjoyed the first book in the Austin Grant series so I was happy to receive a finished copy of the second book, Should I Fall. Thanks to Mysterious Press and Tandem Literary for sending.

Author Scott Shepherd catches the reader up on pertinent information about what transpired in The Last Commandment so if you’re new to the series you won’t be lost. I do recommend reading that book if only to get all the details on our main characters (Austin, his daughter Rachel, and NYC detective John Frankel).

In this book a dead body is found in John’s apartment. And not just any body – it’s his ex wife. Terrible timing since John is about to marry Rachel!  When John is charged with the murder it is up to Rachel and her father to clear him and possibly/hopefully solve the crime. At times things seemed a bit too convoluted but I assume many crime investigations play out the same and not in a straight line, right? At any rate, the pace was good and there were enough twists to keep me flipping the pages to arrive at the conclusion.

I’m happy that the series will continue and look forward to what case will land next at Austin Grant’s desk.

 

The Edge of Summer

Mary Graydon House Books, Tandem Literary, Viola Shipman, Women's Fiction

The Edge of Summer by Viola Shipman

Published:  July 12, 2022 – Graydon House

Finished copy courtesy of the author

Description:

Devastated by the sudden death of her mother—a quiet, loving and intensely private Southern seamstress called Miss Mabel, who overflowed with pearls of Ozarks wisdom but never spoke of her own family—Sutton Douglas makes the impulsive decision to pack up and head north to the Michigan resort town where she believes she’ll find answers to the lifelong questions she’s had about not only her mother’s past but also her own place in the world.

Recalling Miss Mabel’s sewing notions that were her childhood toys, Sutton buys a collection of buttons at an estate sale from Bonnie Lyons, the imposing matriarch of the lakeside community. Propelled by a handful of trinkets left behind by her mother and glimpses into the history of the magical lakeshore town, Sutton becomes tantalized by the possibility that Bonnie is the grandmother she never knew. But is she? As Sutton cautiously befriends Bonnie and is taken into her confidence, she begins to uncover the secrets about her family that Miss Mabel so carefully hid, and about the role that Sutton herself unwittingly played in it all. (publisher)

My take: 

This is a story of discovery. Sutton is on a journey to solve the mystery of her mother’s past. And what a story it turns out to be. I loved how Viola Shipman’s tale unfolded. The first scene had an emotional impact as it brought back my own vivid Covid memories of visiting my mom at the window of her assisted living apartment.

As Sutton navigates through the aftermath of losing her mom she is compelled to make changes and take chances. Her journey takes her to a Michigan resort town that could provide the answers she’s seeking. A mystery or two will be solved and she might find a future that’s more than she’d ever dreamed.

The Edge of Summer is my kind of perfect summer escape read. It has a mystery, a gorgeous setting, a little romance and a satisfying ending – just what I wanted! Grab a copy to take on vacation this summer or to read on the porch and pretend it’s the Lake Michigan shore.

 

Spotlight: The Edge of Summer

Mary Graydon House Books, Spotlight, Tandem Literary, Viola Shipman, Women's Fiction

Description:

Bestselling author Viola Shipman delights with this captivating summertime escape set along the sparkling shores of Lake Michigan, where a woman searches for clues to her secretive mother’s past

Devastated by the sudden death of her mother—a quiet, loving and intensely private Southern seamstress called Miss Mabel, who overflowed with pearls of Ozarks wisdom but never spoke of her own family—Sutton Douglas makes the impulsive decision to pack up and head north to the Michigan resort town where she believes she’ll find answers to the lifelong questions she’s had about not only her mother’s past but also her own place in the world.

Recalling Miss Mabel’s sewing notions that were her childhood toys, Sutton buys a collection of buttons at an estate sale from Bonnie Lyons, the imposing matriarch of the lakeside community. Propelled by a handful of trinkets left behind by her mother and glimpses into the history of the magical lakeshore town, Sutton becomes tantalized by the possibility that Bonnie is the grandmother she never knew. But is she? As Sutton cautiously befriends Bonnie and is taken into her confidence, she begins to uncover the secrets about her family that Miss Mabel so carefully hid, and about the role that Sutton herself unwittingly played in it all.

About the author:

Wade Rouse is a popular award-winning memoirist and internationally bestselling author of twelve books, which have been translated into twenty languages and selected as Today show Must-Reads, Indie Next Picks, and Michigan Notable Books. Rouse writes fiction under his grandma’s name, Viola Shipman, to honor the woman whose heirlooms inspire his writing. He lives in Michigan and California, and hosts “Wine & Words with Wade, A Literary Happy Hour,” every Thursday live on the Viola Shipman Facebook page.

Remember by Lisa Genova

Mary Health, Kindle, Libby Audio, Lisa Genova, Nonfiction

Description:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A fascinating exploration of the intricacies of how we remember, why we forget, and what we can do to protect our memories, from the Harvard-trained neuroscientist and bestselling author of Still Alice.

“Using her expertise as a neuroscientist and her gifts as a storyteller, Lisa Genova explains the nuances of human memory”—Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, author of How the Mind Works

Have you ever felt a crushing wave of panic when you can’t for the life of you remember the name of that actor in the movie you saw last week, or you walk into a room only to forget why you went there in the first place? If you’re over forty, you’re probably not laughing. You might even be worried that these lapses in memory could be an early sign of Alzheimer’s or dementia. In reality, for the vast majority of us, these examples of forgetting are completely normal. Why? Because while memory is amazing, it is far from perfect. Our brains aren’t designed to remember every name we hear, plan we make, or day we experience. Just because your memory sometimes fails doesn’t mean it’s broken or succumbing to disease. Forgetting is actually part of being human. 

In Remember, neuroscientist and acclaimed novelist Lisa Genova delves into how memories are made and how we retrieve them. You’ll learn whether forgotten memories are temporarily inaccessible or erased forever and why some memories are built to exist for only a few seconds (like a passcode) while others can last a lifetime (your wedding day). You’ll come to appreciate the clear distinction between normal forgetting (where you parked your car) and forgetting due to Alzheimer’s (that you own a car). And you’ll see how memory is profoundly impacted by meaning, emotion, sleep, stress, and context. Once you understand the language of memory and how it functions, its incredible strengths and maddening weaknesses, its natural vulnerabilities and potential superpowers, you can both vastly improve your ability to remember and feel less rattled when you inevitably forget. You can set educated expectations for your memory, and in doing so, create a better relationship with it. You don’t have to fear it anymore. And that can be life-changing. (publisher)

My take:

If you’re a reader of a certain age you’ve no doubt experienced memory issues at one time or another. Where did I put my keys?  Why did I come to this room? And, like me, if you’ve helped care for a beloved relative with dementia and you’ve wondered if their disease began with the same memory issues you’ve occasionally experienced, you’ll want to read this book. Lisa Genova put a lot of my worries to rest, thankfully.
I listened to the audiobook read by the author but also had a Kindle edition. I’ve never made so many notations in a book! I’ll probably pick up a print copy at some point just to keep on my bookshelf for reference.
Genova did a great job narrating her work. She gave tips on how to handle aspects of forgetfulness and answered many of my questions. I’m glad I finally got around to reading Remember and highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject of memory.

Spotlight: A Dress of Violet Taffeta

Mary Berkley Books, Blog Tour, Historical Fiction, Spotlight, Tessa Arlen

A Dress of Violet Taffeta by Tessa Arlen

Published:  July 5, 2022 – Berkley Books

Content courtesy of the publicist

Description:

Lucy Duff Gordon knows she is talented. She sees color, light, and texture in ways few people can begin to imagine. But is the male-dominated world of haute couture, who would use her art for their own gain, ready for her?

 

When she is deserted by her wealthy husband, Lucy is left penniless with an aging mother and her five-year-old daughter to support. Desperate to survive, Lucy turns to her one true talent to make a living. As a little girl, the dresses she made for her dolls were the envy of her group of playmates. Now, she uses her creative designs and her remarkable eye for color to take her place in the fashion world—failure is not an option. 

 

Then, on a frigid night in 1912, Lucy’s life changes once more, when she becomes one of 706 people to survive the sinking of the Titanic. She could never have imagined the effects the disaster would have on her fashion label Lucile, her marriage to her second husband, and her legacy. But no matter what life throws at her, Lucy will live on as a trailblazing and innovative fashion icon, never letting go of what she worked so hard to earn. This is her story. (publisher)

Dog Friendly

Mary Berkley, Blog Tour, Contemporary Romance, NetGalley, Victoria Schade

Dog Friendly by Victoria Schade

Published: June 28, 2022 – Berkley

Digital galley courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley

Description:

A burned-out veterinarian takes a much-needed beach vacation, where a charming surfer makes waves in her love life, and a unique foster pup renews her passion for her work.
 
Exhausted veterinarian Morgan Pearce is feeling overworked and under-thanked, so when two favorite clients ask her to watch their special needs senior dog in their Nantucket home, she jumps at the chance for a summer break. She hopes her time on the island will be a reset from the stress of her everyday life, but her chill vacation vibe takes a hit when she gets roped into fostering a challenging, anxious dog and helping plan the local rescue group’s glittery annual fundraiser.
 
Her trip starts to feel more like a vacation when Morgan begins falling for Nathan Keating, an irresistible entrepreneur who thinks every problem can be solved on a surfboard. Just as the summer is shaping up to be the magical refresh she needs, thanks to a fling that feels like the beginning of something real and Hudson, the foster dog who reminds her how much she loves her job, a visit from her estranged brother and the discovery of who Nathan really is changes everything. Morgan finds herself at a crossroads, trying to determine if mistakes from the past must define the future, or if she should forgive, forget, and grab hold of a chance to finally rescue herself. (publication)

My take:

Morgan Pearce is a veterinarian who heads to Nantucket for a couple of months to recover from major anxiety. She will stay at the home of friends and watch their dog at the same time. As can happen she meets other dog people and then some – including the handsome Nathan. So there’s some romance, some family dynamics and more than a few emotional issues.

Fans of beach reads, dogs, and a Nantucket setting will find all that and more in Victoria Schade’s new novel.

 

Sunday Post

Mary Book arrivals, Mailbox Monday, Sunday Post

Book arrivals:  (Mailbox Monday)

I’m a Debra Webb fan so I grabbed this as one of my July Kindle First picks. 

 

The sequel to The Family Upstairs releases in August so I bought TFU with the hope of reading it soon. 

 

Last two weeks on Bookfan:

Review:  The Little Cornish House

Review:  Donut Disturb

Reading plan for this week:

I’m still reading this book. It’s good but I haven’t had much time to sit and read. I keep hoping an audio galley will be offered by NG but so far no luck there.