Books from the Backlog - The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria: The Sinking of The World's Most Glamorous Ship by Greg King and Penny Wilson

Blurb:  In the tradition of Erik Larson's Dead Wake comes The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria , about the sinking of the glamorous Italian ocean liner, including never-before-seen photos of the wreck today.
In 1956, a stunned world watched as the famous Italian ocean liner Andrea Doria sank after being struck by a Swedish vessel off the coast of Nantucket. Unlike the tragedy of the Titanic , this sinking played out in real time across radios and televisions, the first disaster of the modern age. Audiences witnessed everything that ensued after the unthinkable collision of two modern vessels equipped with radar: perilous hours of uncertainty; the heroic rescue of passengers; and the final gasp as the pride of the Italian fleet slipped beneath the Atlantic, taking some fifty lives with her. Her loss signaled the end of the golden age of ocean liner travel.

Now, Greg King and Penny Wilson offer a fresh look at this legendary liner and her tragic fate. Andrea Doria represented the romance of travel, the possibility of new lives in the new world, and the glamour of 1950s art, culture, and life. Set against a glorious backdrop of celebrity and La Dolce Vita, Andrea Doria 's last voyage comes vividly to life in a narrative tightly focused on her passengers – Cary Grant's wife; Philadelphia's flamboyant mayor; the heiress to the Marshall Field fortune; and many brave Italian emigrants – who found themselves plunged into a desperate struggle to survive. The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria follows the effect this trauma had on their lives, and brings the story up-to-date with the latest expeditions to the wreck.

Drawing on in-depth research, interviews with survivors, and never-before-seen photos of the wreck as it is today, The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria is a vibrant story of fatal errors, shattered lives, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  One of my goals this year is to read at least 5 nonfiction books and at the moment I'm at one nonfiction book.  This has been on my TBR for ages and I'm especially intrigued with the comparison to Dead Wake which was one of my favorite books.

Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivial - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Murder, She Wrote: Murder Most Trivial by Jessica Fletcher and Barbara Early

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source: Publisher

Description:   Jessica Fletcher and friends Seth Hazlitt and Maureen and Mort Metzger team up for pub trivia and crush the competition, then are stunned to learn that the prize is a chance to appear in a five-day trivia tournament filming in LA.

No one expects life-or-death stakes! But on day one of the tournament, a crew member is murdered. Who would benefit from derailing the show? Jessica has to come up with the ultimate answer.

In a metafictional twist, the investigation takes Jessica and the gang to the filming locations of their favorite mystery shows, where they discuss how Columbo, Monk, or Jim Rockford might go about solving the case.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book: I really enjoy this series so of course I had to pick this newest one up.  

My Impression:  This series is really high up on my cozy reading list and I always enjoy spending time with Jessica Fletcher.  This book was no exception.  While my favorite books are set in Cabot Cove this was really fun in that we had the Metzgers and Seth accompanying Jessica and the tie-ins to TV and movies was really fun.  I also loved her niece's house with all the falling down old Hollywood mansion glamour and things that go bump in the night.  I also really enjoyed we got some insight into Jessica's feelings regarding some personal things.

As is pretty common for this series it takes awhile for the mystery to really get going.  But the setup to the actual murder was fun as the Cabot Cove crew land in LA and get settled in their temporary lodging.  I really liked the focus on Maureen and Mort away from his sheriff duties.  The tv show premise was entertaining and provided a good reason for a wide group of people being stuck together.  I was especially interested in Victoria's house and that subplot as well.  

This is the newest in a long running series but can easily be jumped into here - especially if you are even vaguely aware of the show premise.  It's not the fastest paced book (or series in general) but it is delightfully cozy with an entertaining mystery.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Yes, definitely.  I always enjoy spending some time in Jessica Fletcher's world and I really like this author's version.

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you like cozy mysteries this is a fun series to read and this is a fun read.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books I'd "Pick" at a Bookstore/Library

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is May Flowers.  I've done a lot of flowery covers and titles so I decided I'd look at 10 books I'd "pick" if I was getting books at a bookstore or library.  I'd rather have a bouquet of 10 books than a bouquet of 10 flowers any day!

1.  The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst - I have thoroughly enjoyed this author's books and this one is a bit different from her Spellshop series but still looks like a gorgeously cozy read.

2.  The Midnight Train by Matt Haig - I did not expect to enjoy The Midnight Library but I really loved it so I'm looking forward to this kind of sequel.

3.  The Shippers by Katherine Center - I loved the last book I read by this author and I love books set on cruise ships.  The last book I read with a cruise ship setting was such a disappointment so I'm hoping this redeems the whole setting a bit.

4. Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett- This looks wonderful and magical and like a fantasitc read.

5.  Terror in Topaz by A.M. Stuart - I read the first three books in this historical mystery series but for whatever reason never read the last book.  

6.  The House of Hidden Letters by Isabelle Broom - The premise sounds like my favorite kind of story and I've seen some great reviews for this one.

7.  The Codebreaker's Secret by Sara Ackerman - I really loved the previous book I've read by this author and this sounds like an amazing read.

8.  The Killer Question by Janice Hallet - I've heard really good things about this author and this looks like such a fun read.  

9.  The Lily of Ludgate Hall by Mimi Matthews - I've really enjoyed the previous two books in this quartet and am looking forward to Lady Anne's story.

10. Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell - I've heard some mixed reviews of this one but I usually enjoy her books and I like the premise.  If I stumble upon it at a bookstore than I'm taking it as a sign.

What books would you pick for your book bouquet?

You Can Tell Me - Thriller Review

Goodreads:  You Can Tell Me (Olivia Cruz #1) by Melinda Leigh

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source: Publisher

Description:  On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.

Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling Run.

It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?

Genre: Mystery - Thriller

Why I Picked This Book:  I've been wanting to try this author for awhile and this one looked really good.

My Impression: I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately so a fast-paced thriller seemed like the perfect pick.  This did not disappoint!  It's been taking me ages to finish books lately, but I flew through this one and hated to put it down.  I really liked the investigative team of Olivia and her niece Nicki with some help from Olivia's boyfriend, PI and former detective Lincoln Sharp.  It was a solid dynamic which each character bringing a different set of skills and a bit of a different attitude.  As well, they made logical (if at times risky) decisions and communicated well with each other.  

The mystery itself had me anxious to see what happened and the investigation was well done with a good pace of developing information.  There is some on page violence as well as some descriptions of crime scenes but I didn't find any of them too disturbing or overly graphic.  

I'm really thrilled by how much I enjoyed this series.  The author has a number of previous series including the Morgan Dane series which is loosely linked to this one.  I'm looking forward to reading more from her.  While this isn't a story that will stick with me it is a thriller that is fast paced with likable characters and a solid mystery.  I'm looking forward to reading a lot more of this author's books!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Definitely!  I have the first few books on the Morgan Dane series and the Bree Taggert series to look for next time I'm book shopping and I will definitely be looking for the next Olivia Cruz book.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you're in the mood for a fast-paced thriller that isn't too graphic this is a great pick.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Alice with a Why - Middle Grade Review

Goodreads: Alice with a Why by Anna James

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Library

Description:  England, 1919. Alyce – with a Y – lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, having lost her father during the Great War. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realizes her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

But the land Alyce finds herself in feels different from the Wonderland of her grandmother’s stories – for it is trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. With the help of the Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland’s problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

Enter an enchanting adventure through Wonderland. Starring new characters and old favourites, Alice With a Why is both a celebration of Lewis Carroll's beloved original story, and a modern masterpiece.

Genre: Middle Grade

Why I Picked This Book:   I've really enjoyed another book by this author and the premise caught my eye.

My Impression: To be completely honest I'm not a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland.  I love the story itself, and the Disney movie is one of my favorites, but the book itself feels a little bit like someone telling me about their dream in great detail.

With that in mind, this was a fun read.  It had all the madcap feel and world play of the original Alice story but with a new Alyce.  I loved the play on the different versions of Alice and I loved seeing the familiar characters.  There are a few moments of poignancy mixed in with the craziness.  I also really enjoyed seeing the original Alice in adulthood.  

This was a quick read that I very much enjoyed.  There's not a lot of character development but there is a lot of fun.  It'd be a good companion to the movie or the original book as well as being enjoyable on its own.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  This is the second book by this author that I've read and I've really enjoyed both.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would - especially if you're in the mood for a quirky middle grade.

Friday Fives - Five Quick Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1.  Legend in Green Velvet by Elizabeth Peters - This may be my favorite of the standalone Peters books that I've read so far.  I loved the Scottish setting and the relationship between Susan and Jamie.  The mix of Susan's love for Scottish history and Jamie's disinterest was fun and the way Jamie's looks were used was really fun.  The mystery was a good one but got a bit lost in the chaos of all the escapes - which were so fun I didn't really feel the loss.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong - This is the third book in the Rockton series.  I love the setup here with the town of people hiding for whatever reason who must survive essentially on their own.  The addition of a new person caused quite a bit of chaos and was an interesting plot device.  Armstrong is fantastic at pacing and this was no exception.  My only issue - which is very much a case of it's not you it's me - was the level of violence in this one particularly with incidents involving animals.  It was borderline too much for me which impacted my enjoyment of the read.  I don't mind some violence but the animal addition and just the constant presence made this book not the most ideal read for me.  I will read another book in this series but if it continues in the same vein I don't think this series is for me.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  Herbal Homicide by Fiona Grace - This the first book in the Penny Hawthorne series and I loved the premise.  Herbalist and tea shop owner, Penny Hawthorne, goes to Switzerland to create a line of teas for a resort and gets involved in a murder investigation.  Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.  Other than occasional mentions of skiing it was very easy to forget where the book was set.  As well, Penny seemed oddly famous in Switzerland for a shop owner in New England.  If she was famous for her botanical work there was no real explanation of that.  Despite all that the mystery wasn't bad and it was entertaining overall.  What knocked it down a star was the fact I listened to the audio which was read by an AI voice.  The inconsistencies of tone, inflection, and emotional nuance where distracting as well as the random mispronunciations.  I will be more careful to avoid AI voices in the future.  My Rating: Just Okay (2 Stars)

4.  Summer Hours at the Robbers Library by Sue Halpern - The cover and the title pulled me in so I really didn't know too much about the plot going in.  It starts off with the beginning of the backstory of one of the characters that was a bit off-putting at first and I almost DNF'd it.  I'm glad I didn't!  Once I got through the first chapter I got to know Kit and Sonny and Rusty and all the other characters that live in the world of the library in small town New Hampshire.  Things are not easy and nothing ends wrapped up nicely in a bow but I really enjoyed the characters growth through the book.  I even enjoyed the backstory as it was woven into the story.  The audio is very well done and this is an author I would definitely read again.  It is kind of a quiet story that handles big topics with characters I found easy to like and to connect with.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5. A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson - This was my second book by Peter Swanson and I thoroughly enjoyed this wild ride of a story!  Every time I thought I had what was going to happen next pinned down it would take a sharp turn.  But with all the twists and turn the story never got confusing and the development made sense.  I discovered after I had started it that this is actually the third book in the series featuring Harry Kimball and Lily Kintner.  There may be some spoilers for the past two books but I had absolutely no issue jumping in with this one.  Their previous relationship had no bearing on the mystery and their past history is explained easily and without an info dump.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to reading more of this author.  The audiobook was nicely done with multiple narrators.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - The Summer Retreat

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Summer Retreat by Sheila Roberts

Blurb:  Celeste Jones has plans for a perfect summer with her boyfriend (and hopefully soon-to-be fiancé)—until he dumps her to be with the woman he’s had on the side for months. Heartbroken and furious, Celeste resolves to move on. When the going gets tough, the tough…okay, the not-so-tough go to the beach.
As soon as school lets out for the summer, she waves goodbye to her first-graders, packs up her bikini and heads for Moonlight Harbor, where she knows her big sister, Jenna, will receive her with open arms. Jenna could probably use some help at the Driftwood Inn, and Celeste is happy to do chores around the place in exchange for a relaxing summer escape. She just needs something—or someone—to distract her from her troubles.

Finding The One can be tricky, and Jenna is determined to make sure Celeste gets it right this time around. Not that Jenna’s an expert. She’s still trying to sort out her own love life. But if both sisters listen to their hearts, eventually they’re bound to discover that life—and love—is good at the beach.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I have a couple of books by this author but I keep getting her confused with another author whose books I didn't enjoy.  This author's covers are lovely and the books always sound intriguing so I need to read one by her - and this looks like a great summer read.