Depending where you are in the world, February can be a challenging month. For me here in Perth, Australia, it was very hot and humid month and I was glad to be able to spend time indoors under the air conditioning Meanwhile, in my old Uk hometown of Southport they were experiencing record low temperatures and the potential for snow.
For some, there is a spark of romance and maybe a valentine card or two and flowers. The rest of us have to make do by reading romance.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.
But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.
Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist.
My Review.
A glimpse into the not-too-distant past which will engage and potentially enrage. Elizabeth is one of those rare women who knows who she is and what she wants. Unfortunately for her, what she wants, which is to be treated as an equal, is practically unattainable. She may be a brilliant chemist BUT she’s also a woman. A combination that is problematic for most of the men she deals with. Sharply observed.
My Lady’s Secrets by Katy Moran
Regency England
When rebellious aristocrat Cressida and Lord Greville parted ways, they swore never to meet again. Their short marriage had already descended into bitter estrangement, destroyed by scandal and betrayal.
Years later, Greville is a soldier in the Peninsular War and Cressida is following the drum as another man’s lover. Scorned by society, she has learned to survive as a spy – until the day she is caught behind enemy lines, by none other than Greville himself.
Threatened with paying the ultimate price, Cressida is offered a deal: she must entrap and betray the most famous man in England. And Greville, unforgiving, angry and still shockingly attractive, must ensure she complies.
Catapulted to the heights of fame, Lord Byron is just as chaotic, charming and ruthless as he was when he, Greville and Cressida were teenagers. As the three old friends gather for a summer house party in the Scottish Highlands, Cressida is forced to confront her past and ask herself a terrifying question: is it too late for she and Greville to fight for one another at last?
352 pages, Hardcover Expected publication July 4, 2024
My Review.
I started to read and felt as if I needed to catch up. Events were on the page that I had no context for. I checked to see if my copy was missing a vital first chapter, but it wasn’t. Action burst onto the page, but it failed to engage me, as I needed to situate the characters first. For me, this complicated story could have worked if more of the setup had preceded the action.
Heart Strings by Judy Leslie.
Can broken hearts be mended after 14 years—or will they forever sing the blues?
Dive into this second chance, music star, small-town romance set in the mountains of Leavenworth, Washington.
Kim Holloway, a local singer and music teacher, has her hands full with a rebellious teenager. Just when she needs a break, Ethan Williams, her long-lost love and a country music sensation, walks back into her life after 14 years. She is not happy about it and wants Ethan to pack up and leave. If that isn’t enough to deal with, Kim’s ex—a local cop—will stop at nothing to win her back.
Seeking forgiveness for his part in their breakup, Ethan offers to help out with Bobby by suggesting a fake romance. This a charade Kim cautiously accepts hoping it will deter the cop that won’t take no for an answer.
However, Bobby’s presence brings up Ethan’s painful memories of his childhood and now he is curious about Bobby’s missing father and why Kim never told Bobby who his father was. Meanwhile, Kim’s ex-boyfriend is upping the stakes by threatening her.
This story will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, of love, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bond between a parent and child. Don’t miss out on this heartwarming tale of love and redemption!
My Review.
I enjoyed this small-town, second-chance romance. It’s easy reading but with characters that you come to care about. Single mum Kim has put her musical dreams aside to care for her son Bobby. Now a rebellious teenager. Ethan has a colourful past and is seeking redemption part of which is seeing Kim again. They had a connection once, but can you ever go back?
Driven to Murder by Debbie Young
A perfect cosy crime for fans of M C Beaton’s Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series.
Change is coming to Wendlebury Barrow – and not everyone is happy about it…
When the local bus company announces it will be stopping its route through their quaint Cotswold village, the people of Wendlebury Barrow are up in arms. Not least Sophie Sayers, whose driving lessons with her boyfriend Hector get off to a bumpy start.
But the locals’ peaceful protests against the decision turn deadly when a body is discovered on the Number 27. No one can work out how Janice Boggins met her demise, let alone how the driver didn’t notice. While the police wait for the post mortem results, Sophie immediately suspects foul play, and launches her own investigation.
Can she solve the murder before another passenger is hurt?
My Review.
Easy, pleasant and relaxing reading. Although part of a series, there was enough information to catch up without feeling you had missed anything. The village community was well portrayed, and Sophie comes across as an engaging character.
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, Alison Watts( Translator).
For fans of The Midnight Library and Before the Coffee Gets Cold, this charming Japanese novel shows how the perfect book recommendation can change a reader’s life.
What are you looking for?
This is the famous question routinely asked by Tokyo’s most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. Like most librarians, Komachi has read every book lining her shelves—but she also has the unique ability to read the souls of her library guests. For anyone who walks through her door, Komachi can sense exactly what they’re looking for in life and provide just the book recommendation they never knew they needed to help them find it.
With heartwarming charm and wisdom, What You Are Looking For Is in the Library is a paean to the magic of libraries, friendship and community, perfect for anyone who has ever found themselves at an impasse in their life and in need of a little inspiration.
304 pages, Hardcover First published November 9, 2020.
My Review.
This lovely gentle book is deceptively simple yet profound. The charming cover simply adds to its appeal. This is a book that stays with you once you have closed the final page. It felt as if I knew these people well, that they were old friends and I imagined them going on with their lives. Credit to the translator Alison Watts for such a seamless translation.
February went by very quickly even though we got an extra day this year.Hoping for a mellower March.UK visitors were surprised to know that hot sand could burn bare feet! Hopefully we wont get too many more of those 40C days.
Sonia Bellhouse- Author. 