Review: Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a fun thriller that kept me up way too late. I enjoyed this story, although sometimes the pacing was not perfect. It felt like it could have been a shorter book and accomplished the same thing.
I love the style of the story, with a timeline based on weeks of pregnancy and flashbacks to events of years ago. You know that these timelines will overlap and I enjoyed that back and forth. I liked the fact that you could guess who was up to no good early on, but the actual twists kept coming until the end. Hard to believe that this is a debut. Well done!
Definitely recommend.
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Review: The Last House on the Street

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again Diane Chamberlain has created a captivating story that is told through dual timelines that are gradually woven together. The setting is a small town in North Carolina, where the current timeline tells a story of a mother who has recently lost her husband and fellow architect as they are building the home of their creation. Kayla is trying to return to work and move into their home where her husband tragically died accidentally. Mysterious things occur related to her move and to the property her home has been built on.
The previous timeline is set in the same town in 1965 North Carolina, where the civil rights movement is in full swing and a group, called SCOPE, is bringing in Northern students and local Blacks to canvass and protest in the teaching of Martin Luther King, Jr. A local, white college girl, Ellie, really wants to be involved. The pastor at the AME church who is directing the local group is hesitant to trust her commitment. He is also worried about her safety from other whites who don’t want change that increased voting right will bring. Ellie is uncertain if she is making the right decision but becomes more and more committed as she lives with local poor Black families and really sees what a life of privilege she has led.
Both timelines were equally compelling and start to interweave with each other in fascinating ways.
I am glad to have completed this book on MLK Day, as this adds an extra significance to the story.
Highly recommend! If you are looking for a thriller/mystery with an historical fiction setting, this book is for you!
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Review: Reckless Girls

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another winner from Rachel Hawkins!
Wow. What a terrific ending to 2021, start of 2022! I was busy so I had limited time while reading the beginning of this book. The first several chapters are setting the stage of Nico and Lux’s relationship and lives. Lux was working at a bar in California after she had to drop out of school when her mother became ill with cancer. She was dreaming of studying English Literature and was set to do this when everything fell apart. She left to go home and care for her dying mother, with no help from her absentee father. Once her mother passed away and she was waitressing, she was introduced to Nico, a young man who was interested in sailing to Hawaii and then sailing the world. He is a rich boy who has walked away from the expected role he was meant to play in the family law firm, instead seeking his dream of sailing. They start a relationship and meet in Hawaii to start a life together. While there, Nico is in need of finances to repair his boat and stock it, when he meets a pair of college-aged girls who ask if he would be willing to consider taking them to a remote island in the Pacific Ocean. At first, Nico and Lux are somewhat hesitant and then the money offered decides for them.
Soon, the four of them are headed out to a deserted island. Then, the story really gets going. Things happen. Then more things happen…all on this remote and deserted island with a spooky history since it was named for a ship that wrecked in its waters.
This story is terrific and keeps you reading, turning the pages as quickly as possible to find out what happens next. A mixture of thriller, suspense, revenge story, closed “room” mystery - there is something for many readers here and it will not disappoint! Great atmosphere as well.
Highly recommend this one!
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Review: The Modern Proper: Simple Recipes Meant to Be Shared

The Modern Proper: Simple Recipes Meant to Be Shared by Holly Erickson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have reviewed several cookbooks and this one is unique and gorgeous.
First of all, the recipes are interesting and different from standard cookbooks. This maybe attractive to the more adventurous cook, but even those who are less inclined to go out of their safety zone, these recipes can be adapted using more typical ingredients. I noticed that many of the recipes had at least one ingredient that would be hard to find in a typical, rural grocery store. This could be a barrier for some and it would have been nice for more ideas for substitutions for these ingredients. Despite this, I think many cooks would be able to adapt to change an ingredient or seek out an ingredient if not typically available.
That being said, the lay-out of the cookbook is beautiful and usefully arranged. I enjoyed the recipe lay-out and the photos to accompany them. The photography alone is stunning, even appearing fabulous on a tablet reader. I also appreciated the incorporation of ideas and flavors or styles of cooking in a single recipe. This makes so many of these recipes more inclusive for many different people. I can’t wait to try these recipes for myself and see if they taste as great as they sound and look!
I can’t wait to see the finished edition and highly recommend!

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Review: The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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