Over the Teacups - Short Reviews

I read a number of books I don't fully review, so I have decided to start acknowledging them here in short reviews - which lets face it - are the best!

Why?I chose this one for the Better World Reading Challenge - category: by a person of color.

 I have been meaning to try a Beverly Jenkins book and this gave me the incentive.

Plot

It introduces Bernadine a 50 something woman who buys up a town that is in trouble and helps it out. She has quite a few millions to spare after a successful divorce!  House renovations are fun so a whole town in Texas has to better - right!

As well because Bernadine has a degree in social work she brings into the community some children to foster, and various people do. They are a very interesting bunch.

What Appealed to Me?

The variety of characters - all who add to this story and Bernadine herself who while wealthy is so down to earth and open to helping others. It's also a light book, with a funny turn of phrase every so often that had me chuckling. It has some very poignant moments too. And some serious issues that are touched with a light hand. Probably not overly realistic but I'm reading for enjoyment here.
 (4 stars)

And so... this is the first in a series set in this town. I own a copy of the paperback version of Bring on the Blessings. I've ordered the next book!

Why? Do you need to ask? It has bookshop in the title what other reason do I need! I have listened to at least one other by this author and liked it as well.

Plot.  Two summer friends end up back at the beach house they knew as children. Lainey lost her mother there when she was 13 yrs and has never got over it - lost as in went missing.  Bonnie is a doctor who had something go wrong in the emergency room and she is awaiting the outcome. And she has just left her husband. As well there is her daughter Piper who has a few issues.  Mimi runs the bookshop and she knows what her buyers need to read, not what they might want.

What Appealed to me? I loved this story of three women, lost somewhat, at turning points in their lives. It was thought provoking as well. It was about loss and love, making mistakes, finding out who you really are. I listened to the audio version of this book and the three narrators were excellent. I think this will be one of my favourite books of 2017.
5 stars.
And so... I will certainly read more  Patti Callahan Henry books at some point.

Why? I noticed on the bookshelves in the shop and as I was looking for a book set in Asia for the BetterWorld reading challenge, I decided to buy and read it.

Plot. Dragon Springs Road  is about a young Eurasian girl - Jialing. It is set in Shanghai in the first quarter of the twentieth century, when women in China of all kinds had a difficult time. However Eurasians were especially despised. Jialing is left one day by her mother and when discovered becomes a bond servant. She befriends one of the girls in the house and even receives some education through missionaries. However the family's situation changes and Jialing is on her own as a young women having to find her way. One attribute Jialing has is resilience and the help of Fox - a Chinese Spirit who watches over her.

What Appealed to Me? The setting and learning about the way of living in China at that time. The fantasy aspect of the story where Fox was involved. There were some really touching moments  in the book and I liked the bravery on Jialing's part.   Plus  things worked out and the way the book ended was very satisfactory for me. Well worth reading.
5 stars
And so... It was good for me to diversify my reading a little.

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir. Jennifer Ryan

Published: HarperCollins
Date: 23rd February 2017
Format: Audiobook
Narrators:

• Gabrielle Glaister , Imogen Wilde , Laura Kirman , Adjoa Andoh , Tom Clegg , Mike Grady

Genre: Historical Fiction
Length: 11hrs 56 min
Source: Own book
Rating:

The village of Chilbury in Kent is about to ring in some changes. The women of Chilbury village have taken umbrage at the Vicar's closure of the choir now that its male singers are at war. But when spirited music professor Primrose Trent arrives, it prompts the creation of an all-female singing group. Resurrecting themselves as The Chilbury Ladies' Choir, the women use their song and unity to embolden the community as the war tears through their lives.

Dependable Mrs Tilling sees the choir as a chance to finally put herself first and a welcome distraction from thoughts of her son fighting on the front line. For Kitty Winthrop, the precocious youngest daughter of Chilbury Manor, singing is the only way to outshine her glamorous sister Venetia, who isn't letting the war ruin her plan to make every bachelor in the county fall in love with her. Meanwhile, when midwife Edwina Paltry is presented with a dastardly job which she's convinced will make her rich, she will have to misuse more than the trust of the choir's women to carry out her scheme - and nothing is going to stop her.

Choral music sung by Mums N' Roses, with musical direction by Craig Hudson.

I was totally in love with this audiobook book. It is a debut novel by Jennifer Ryan - I can only say it was enthralling.  Set in southern England in a small village in 1940, it examines the life of the people as they start to face the reality of most of the men gone to war. 

Up until now there has been a choir, but now with the men gone the vicar has cancelled the choir. But... soon the women are rallying around Prim the choir mistress and they are setting up their own group. 

The story is told by four or five characters through letters and journals. However it is seamless and actually doesn't feel like letters and diaries. Rather the story told from different points of view. That's where the narrators come in, they do an amazing and outstanding work of bringing this book to life. By itself its a great story, with the narration absolutely brilliant. I see on Jennifer Ryan's website that the book has had the TV rights optioned by the makers of the makers of Downton Abbey. I sure have my fingers crossed that this will go ahead.

The characters are really interesting, they feel like real people, some of them are rogues and worse, one of them rather precocious but delightful, others kind and compassionate  and already the war is changing many of them. The women are strong and resilient and were mostly a joy to follow, even the rogue amongst them.

Highly recommend this as an audiobook.  Thanks to Mary from Bookfan for bringing it to my attention, it will for sure be on my top books for 2017 as well.

Here Jennifer Ryan speaks about the book...

Interview

Website: Jennifer Ryan

Twitter: Jennifer Ryan

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. Katarina Bivald

Published: Random House Audio
Date: 19th January 1916
Format:Audiobook
Narrator: Fiona Hardingham, Lorelei King
Length: 12 hrs  10 min
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Thanks to eStories 
Rating:
         

It all began with a correspondence between two quite different women: 28-year-old Sara from Haninge, Sweden, and 65-year-old Amy from the small town of Broken Wheel, Iowa. After years of exchanging books, letters and thoughts on the meaning of literature and life, Sara, mousy, disheveled, who has never been anywhere in her life--has really lived only for her work in a beloved bookshop, which has just closed its doors for the last time--bravely decides to accept her unknown friend's invitation to visit. But when she arrives, she finds her house empty, the funeral guests just heading home. . . Sara finds herself alone. And what choice do the inhabitants of Broken Wheel have but to take care of their bewildered tourist? And what choice does Sara have, faced with a town where nobody reads and her desire to honour her friend, but to set up the perfect bookshop with all the books she and Amy shared--from Yann Martel's Life of Pi to Iris Murdoch and Jo Nesbo, to Bridget Jones and Doug Coupland's All Families Are Psychotic, Little House on the Prairie And then watch as the townsfolk are, one by one, transformed in unexpected ways. . .

As I listened to The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend I fell in love with this funny little Iowa town where if we're being honest the inhabitants mostly didn't really read! As the farms have been sold off the town has fallen on poorer times and there isn't too much optimism around.

At the invitation of Amy, Sarah arrives from Sweden into their midst. Amy and herself have been correspondents over their love of books and has invited Sarah to the town. Only trouble is Amy has just died as Sarah arrives in time for the mourning.  The town takes Sarah under their wing and she finds she has to pay for nothing.

The people of Broken Wheel are a motley group, there is Caroline the church warden, right and proper who has a running feud with Grace over at the diner. There is George whose wife left him and whose job it is to drive Sarah around the town wherever she wants to go. George took to the bottle when his wife left with his daughter but now he seems to be pulling himself up. There is Jen who writes the newsletter and perhaps tries to write others lives. There is John, an African American who for the first time ever felt safe in Broken Wheel and he had a special relationship with Amy.  Then there is Tom and Andy, who are about the same age as Sarah.

What Sarah does by her very being there is to bring life and new hope to the town in ways she can't even understand and its all through books. As a reader I loved this aspect and enjoyed all the bookish references and Sarah's love for books.

We get to meet Amy through her letters which are peppered throughout the story. She too has a great love for books and also has little wisdoms and insights to share about both books and the people of the town.

I found it a warm, funny story that lent itself well to being presented in audio by the two narrators. One voice for Amy's letters and the other for telling the story and all the goings on in the town. They both narrated well, Lorelei King who presented Amy's voice sounded older and warmer and really brought Amy to life. Fiona Hardingham was pleasant and differentiated the voices of the ensemble cast enough to add interest.  There presentation made me really care for the characters. 

I received this audiobook from eStories. It was a site that I found easy to use.

eStories.com, an audiobook service allows customers to choose from over 80,000 bestselling titles and new releases.  You can get your first audiobook for free now.

Additionally, eStories:

• Is the most affordable service out there at $11.95/month, and for a limited time you get your first audiobook for free.
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• unlimited cloud storage lets you transfer and upload your existing library to your new eStories account
• 80%+ audiobooks are DRM-free so you are free to do what you want with them.

You may try it out by obtaining a  Free audiobooks trial

Wedding Ring. Emilie Richards

Published: Blackstone Audio Inc
Date: 2004
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Isabel Keating
Length: 15hrs 19min
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Own book
Rating:
        

Needing time to contemplate her troubled marriage, Tessa MacRae agrees to spend the summer helping her mother and grandmother clean out the family home in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. But the three women have never been close.

Helen, the family matriarch, is domineering and sharp-tongued. Nancy, Tessa's mother, appears to be little more than a social climber. And Tessa herself is in turmoil following a family tragedy that has affected them all. Now, with the gift of time, Tessa's eyes are opened, and she begins to see her mother and grandmother for the flawed but courageous women they are. As she restores a vintage wedding-ring quilt pieced by her grandmother and quilted by her mother, the secrets that have shadowed their lives unfold at last. And each woman discovers that sometimes you have to clean house to find the things you thought were lost forever.

Wedding Ring was a reread for me, and I am so pleased I chose to do so by the audiobook version. I loved it the first time I read it, and totally fell in love with the characters and story line all over again as I listened to it. To be honest I had forgotten many details of the story - I just carried the general feel of the story with me. Now I have a refreshed memory of it!

Isabel Keating does a fabulous job in the narration. I loved her Helen voice and the way she just totally brought her to life for me. Whenever I thought of this book I remembered the opening scene when Helen was holed up in her house and her daughter Nancy and grand daughter Tessa were trying to get in. Wonderful scene.

The story follows the lives of these three remarkable women. We are taken back in time to Helen's early life and see where she came from and her joys and sorrows. We are also taken back in time to Nancy's earlier times too. 

As the story develops changes happen for all three women, and they are bonded together in ways they would not have thought of earlier. In the beginning they are not that close. Tessa has had heartbreak in her life and she is estranged from her husband. Nancy seems to be a bit of a socialite and Nancy - well she is a bit crotchety! I loved her anyway. There is Cissy Mowrey as well who lives nearby, she is pregnant and unmarried and Tessa and Helen reach out to her.

It is with this series I began my obsession with quilting, Helen is an expert quilter and I just wish she was a real live actual person and I'd love to go see her quilts. I loved the way her daughter Nancy, helped her see the value in what she had done. I must say the Quilt Along With Emilie Richards that goes with this book is also a favourite and I hope to try out a few of the Sunbonnet Sue examples. I have plans!

In short - love, love, loved it all. Guess who will be revisiting the whole series via audiobook!

Find it on Audible

Speed Date Book Review: The Year of Yes. Shonda Rhimes.

Year of Yes
Shonda Rhimes
Published: Simon & Shuster Audio
Date: 2015
Format: Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs 4 min
Narrator: Shonda Rhimes
Genre: Memoir
Source:Own book
Rating:
           

The megatalented creator ofGrey's Anatomy, Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder chronicles how saying yes for one year changed her life - and how it can change yours, too.

With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the ubertalented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say no when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.

And there was the side benefit of saying no for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear.
Then Shonda's sister laid down a challenge: Just for one year, try to say yes to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed - and the result was nothing short of transformative. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life - and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes.

I listened through this in less than a week, which is a little unheard of for me and an audiobook. I think any introvert is going to identify and enjoy this book, and let's be honest many of us are. The blurb tells you what it is about and really that's it.

Shonda Rhimes speaks honestly, I am sure she brings her writer embellishments to it, her sense of drama, her timing. I really enjoyed listening to her, and I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much just reading it. A couple of her speeches are included - and they are live. You hear the audience.

The part that I liked the most - her growth into her sense of who she is and speaking her truth. In her year of yes there is room for her yes to no. No to what she is not. I sure liked that bit.

I came away feeling enriched by her sharing - and a renewed interest in her TV shows!

Falling Home. Karen White

Falling Home
Karen White
Published: Listen & Live Audio Inc
Date: 2011
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Lyssa Browne
Length: 15hrs 31 min
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Own Book
Rating:
         

Cassie Madison has it all: A high-powered advertising career; a stylish Manhattan apartment; and a sophisticated, rich, and gorgeous fiancé. It's a far cry from her childhood in Walton, Georgia, home of the annual Kudzu Festival and hot, sticky summers.

And then there are all the bad memories, the heartache. When Cassie's estranged sister calls to say that her father is dying, Cassie knows it's time to set aside her feelings and go home and face the sister she hasn't seen in 15 years.

When her father dies, he leaves the family home to Cassie, who can't wait to get rid of it and get back to New York, her job, and her fiancé, even if it means having a developer tear down the house.

I've recently become aware that I might be missing out by having not known or never read any books by Karen White. While I wait for The Sound of Glass to become available in paperback I thought I'd try an audiobook by her.

I enjoyed it very much. It was a little slow moving to start with, but after awhile the story most certainly picked up pace and action. I liked Cassie who had fled from her home when her sister married the man she loved and she'd never returned for fifteen years. I liked her family - her sister Harriet, Joe and all their children. Her Aunt Lucinda too and all the other quirky characters.

There is some mystery and their is some heartache. Through it all Cassie comes to know what she really values and where her heart is. 

Sam is a wonderful character, so caring, so loving and so firm. He made me laugh when he went all "southern" and "slow" when he was meeting Andrew, Cassie's fiancé.

I thought the narrator did a fine job. I read a review that downed her southern accent, but not knowing the finer points of a Georgian accent, it did not bother me in the least. The voice for her characters was well done. I'd certainly listen to any book she narrated. I'm only sad I won't be able to listen to the follow up to this book - After The Rain, as it is not available to me on Audible. I'll be reading it though!

.

A Little Love Amanda Prowse

A Little Love
Amanda Prowse
Published: Lamplight
Date: 2014.
Format: Audiobook
Length: 9hrs 42min
Narrator: Julia Franklin
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Own book
Rating:
                            

Pru Plum is the owner of a famous Mayfair bakery. She wears Chanel and her hair is expensively cut. Few would believe that she turned sixty-six last year. But Pru is not the confident, successful businesswoman she appears. She has done shameful things to get to where she is today. And she will do anything to protect the secrets of her past - especially now she has finally fallen in love...

A Little Love by Amanda Prowse has been a delight to listen to and I think I just may have found a new author to enjoy!

• It is extremely well narrated by Julia Franklin, her voices vary, and she had the right accents, phrasing and speed to make it absorbing to listen to. She really brings the story alive.
• Prue and Millie - cousins -  are two tough birds originally from the East End, they have been through the mill of life and have on the whole a very loyal relationship with each other.
• Prue is a kind and compassionate woman, she is also a little wily and can lead Millie where she needs to go. Prue is also vulnerable and open to the new, even if it invites hurt.
• There are interesting side characters, one or two not so likeable ones, but they are balanced by some that are wonderful.
• The plot moves a long at a good pace and there are twists and turns that make the reader wonder what is going to happen next.
• Their bakery sounds really, really.... delicious! Wish there was a Plum Patisserie near me!

Readers who enjoyed The Seafront Tearooms by Vanessa Greene would I think be very happy with this book too. I am off to seek more by Amanda Prowse. Christmas For One I see takes up the story of Meg, a character in this book, so that might be next. However it doesn't have the same narratory so will give it a little time in between.

The Ones We Trust. Kimberly Belle

The Ones We Trust
Kimberly Belle
Published: Harlequin Enterprises
Date: 2015
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Hilary Huber
Length: 9hrs 51min
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Own audiobook

When former DC journalist Abigail Wolff attempts to rehabilitate her career, she finds herself at the heart of a US Army cover-up involving the death of a soldier in Afghanistan with unspeakable emotional consequences for one family. As the story of what happened comes to light, Abigail will do anything to write it.

The more evidence she stumbles upon in the case, the fewer people it seems she can trust, including her own father, a retired army general. And she certainly never expected to fall in love with the slain soldier s brother, Gabe, a bitter man struggling to hold his family together. The investigation eventually leads her to an impossible choice, one of unrelenting sacrifice to protect those she loves.

Are you responsible for your words? Even if it will deeply embarrass or even ruin someone? If you knew before the outcome of what you were about to publish would you change your mind? Should you feel guilty for the resultant outcome? The other person made their choice after all.

This is about Abigail and her search for truth, and her coming to grips with what happens when she publishes a story that has a huge impact on others lives. It makes her think twice as she pursues a story about a soldier being shot and the army covering it up. That is one story.

She also has Ben a young teen who comes to her because his mother has committed suicide. He can't understand that she didn't love him enough and couldn't face all that has been revealed about her.

There is mystery, suspense and a whole untangling that needs to happen before Abigail can find her way forward in any way.  

There is heartbreak for a mother and brother, guilt for Abigail and anger from Ben. Is the army involved in a cover up and what part in the story does Abigail's father play? And then there is the old family friend "Uncle Chris", an army leader too.  

There comes a time for forgiveness and redemption. A time to recognise loyalty and integrity. For which characters? You'll need to read the book to find out.

I enjoyed the story and the untangling that takes place, with a few little surprise and some changes of heart. Worth the listen, although it took me a little while to adapt my ear to the narrator.  While she didn't have variety for female voices, her male voice was distinguishable and overall easy to listen to.

The Secret of Everything Barbara O'Neal

The Secret of Everything
Barbara O'Neal
Published: Brilliance Audio
Date: 2009
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Angela Dawe
Length: 12hrs 5min
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Own book

At thirty-seven, Tessa Harlow is still working her way down her list of goals to “fall in love and have a family.” A self-described rolling stone, Tessa leads hiking tours for adventurous vacationers — it’s a job that’s taken her around the world but never a step closer to home. Then a freak injury during a trip already marred by tragedy forces her to begin her greatest adventure of all.

Located high in the New Mexico mountains, Las Ladronas has become a magnet for the very wealthy and very hip, but once upon a time it was the setting of a childhood trauma Tessa can only half remember. Now, as she rediscovers both her old hometown and her past, Tessa is drawn to search-and-rescue worker Vince Grasso. The handsome widower isn’t her type. No more inclined to settle down than Tessa, Vince is the father of three, including an eight-year-old girl as lost as Tessa herself. But Tessa and Vince are both drawn to the town’s most beloved eatery — 100 Breakfasts — and to each other. For Tessa, the restaurant is not only the key to the mystery that has haunted her life but a chance to find the home and the family she’s never known.

I ended up really enjoying The Secret of Everything - the audiobook version. At the beginning I wasn't too sure of how it was being narrated. But very soon I was right into it. Angela Dawe did a great job with all the different characters voices, everyone was different.

Tessa has some past griefs that cause her trouble, she has been in an accident and is part recovering, part looking for a new tramping tours spot and part seeking out her past that has been lost to her because her memory can't recall it. There is a mystery there for her - and when its finally solved some big surprises.

Vince, the guy she meets has three adorable daughters and when they entered the story I was totally hooked.  Natalie is the oldest at eight and she is struggling somewhat, she remembers her mother before she died, her two younger sisters don't. Natalie also has a growing appreciation of food which sometimes puts her off side with her grandmother. Natalie and Tessa develop a bond that takes them eventually on a pilgrimage.

Vida owns 100 Breakfasts and this is where the food element comes in. She has had a tough life but her cafe is popular and she gives jobs to women who for example are on parole. She helps them get on their feet. One such woman is Annie who is learning all things from Vida. At the end of some chapters their is one of Vida's breakfast recipes. Natalie has sampled a fair few of those!

There are some wonderful dogs in the story, the plot moves along at a leisurely and enjoyable pace. It is what is happening to the characters that count. With a few surprises there. Mystery, animals, food, children - great combination.

                                                      

Foodie Book
for challenge

The Precious One Marisa de los Santos

The Precious One
Marisa de los Santos
Published: March 2015
Date: Harper Audio
Format: Audiobook
Narrators: Abby Craden. Arielle DeLisle
Length: 12 hours 33 min
Genre:
Source: Own it.



I very much enjoyed the audiobook of The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos. Told in alternating voices of Taisy and her younger half sister Willow by two different narrators, it was well worth the credit spent at Audible.

It's about a messed up family, with an uncompromising and odd father - Wilson, who has cast out his first family - his wife, Marcus his son and Taisy his daughter. He is now married to Caroline and is the father of Willow, whom he loves very much.

Willow is seventeen, young and naive, gifted and somewhat snobbish with a definite dislike of Taisy. She has been home schooled up to this and as the story begins she is finding it a struggle to find her place at a local high school. Left alone by others, she welcomes the interest of her English teacher.  She also strikes up a friendship with Luca, a boy in her class.  I really enjoyed their work on Middlemarch - so much so that I might almost be persuaded to read it - I did fail to do so once. I followed Willow with interest and loved seeing the development of her character.

Taisy, asked by her father to come write his biography of his work accepts and faces into the place she was sent. I loved her, she was strong, independent and persistent. She is able to deal with the young Willow and her mother Caro, and I really liked her interactions with them all the way through the story.

Family dysfunction, creepiness, youth, secrets, love and forgiveness, second chances - all abound.

I only came to enjoy this book because of two bloggers who shared their enjoyment of this book. Go read their reviews and be convinced as I was.

Review of The Precious One by Sheree @The Eclectic Reader
Review of The Precious One  Pat @Posting For Now