The Secret, Book and Scone Society

The Secret, Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams is a well-written book.

Here’s an extract from the Amazon blurb:

Strangers flock to Miracle Springs hoping the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent—prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain. So when a visiting businessman reaches out for guidance, Nora knows exactly how to help. But before he can keep their appointment, he’s found dead on the train tracks . . .

This book pulls you right in. There are enough quirks and unusual characters to keep it interesting but they are deftly done, so they aren’t too jarring. It also pays homage to lots of writers and good books, as “prescriptions” for better lives. What avid reader won’t appreciate that?

What bugged me most, though, about the book in general, was the comma in the title. Is the comma being batted around for a purpose, other than to irritate folks such as myself? I’m not entirely sure. There are books, scones, and secrets. I hope the comma finds its place.

When I was done, I was looking for the next book in the series, as it seems the group of women formed in this book still have things to do. I was pleasantly surprised to see it as book number one of a series.Secret, Book, and Scone Society is the name of the series. (Looks like they found a good spot for the comma.)

I will be looking for book #2.

March 19, 2021 1

A House Divided by Sulari Gentill

I really wanted to like this book and the main character. A House Divided by Sulari Gentill caught my eye for the local and timeline. It is set around the same time as Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher books, which I enjoyed, especially after being introduced to Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries TV series.

And actually, there were lots of things I DID like. However, there are times when you read a book and the message in the book feels like the author has inserted her (modern) political sensibilities into a historical era. That threw me out of the story more than once.

There was also a section where we jumped perspectives and it didn’t fit at all.

Here’s the back of the book blurb:

Aristocrat Rowland Sinclair doesn’t fit in with his family. His conservative older brother, Wilfred, thinks he’s reckless, a black sheep; his aging mother thinks he’s her son who was killed in the war. Only his namesake Uncle Rowly, a kindred spirit, understands him-and now he’s been brutally murdered in his own home.
The police are literally clueless, and so Rowly takes it upon himse to investigate the crime. In order to root out the guilty party, he use his wealth and family influence to infiltrate the upper echelons both the old and the new guard, playing both against the middle in a desperate and risky attempt to find justice for his uncle. With his bohemian housemates-a poet, a painter, and a free-spirited sculptress–watching his back, Rowly unwittingly exposes a conspiracy that just might be his undoing.

Some scenes towards the end were well done, even gripping. And I did like that the main character finally seemed to be stepping up, albeit rather dramatically. Sinclair never really gave the impression that he would suddenly become heroic or even decisive.

Because I don’t really care about the main character’s “crush” on another character, I’m actually likely not to read the next book in the series. This book recovered itself well, but I did read at least 4 or 5 books before I finished this one. I decided to finish it because it is due back at the library. The last 30-40 pages gave the book an extra star.

It took me almost two months to read the book. This is a murder mystery. I typically read mysteries in a few days, sometimes in one sitting.

I gave it two out of five stars on Goodreads. It was OK. If you read it, I hope you enjoy it more than I did. Please feel free to tell me this in the comments, if you are so inclined!

March 12, 2021 0

Al Capone Does My Shirts – Book Review

This book, at one point, Al Capone Does My Shirts, made me angry. I love the premise of following a 12-year-old boy, Moose, as he and his family move into staff housing on Alcatraz. The set up is interesting, and the scenes with the warden and other details were also good.

What bugged me most was the kid’s mother. And the “love interest” (I assume she’ll become a love interest). Mainly because both were infuriating. Perhaps this is a sign of a good book? When you care for the main character enough to dislike those people who are mistreating him, I suppose you could make an argument that the author has succeeded in her mission.

Eventually the tension resolved and I was able to finish the book. But for awhile there, I absolutely hated some of the things I was reading.

Book cover — The back cover of Al Capone Does My Shirts

This is book one of a series. It ends on an interesting note. Looks like there will be more shenanigans on Alcatraz and in the City. I’m not sure I liked the book enough to pick up book number two. Although I do like stories that have Alcatraz in them.

The book is by Gennifer Choldenko and you can view a Kindle preview on Amazon by clicking here. Book One in the Tales from Alcatraz series. For young people and young at heart people.

I gave the book three stars. I liked it (by the end), but I wasn’t thrilled or inspired by it.

March 7, 2021 0

Truth, Lies, and Second Dates

Something about this book caught my eye. Then the story was outrageous enough to catch my interest and get me reading. Truth, Lies, and Second Dates by MaryJanice Davidson was actually a fun read.

It is the third book in a series, but you do not have to have read the series to appreciate this book. There are some references to characters who may exist in other books, but nothing so distracting as to take away from the story here.

Lots of twists and unexpected quirkiness in this book. The MC is witty and amusing, but also admirable. Her love interest is unusual and improbable, but I enjoyed the interaction all the same.

The Book Blurb

Captain Ava Capp has been flying from her past for a decade. She’d much rather leave it, and her home state, behind forever. But when she finds herself back in Minnesota, against her better judgment, everything goes sideways in a way she never expected it to.

I suppose I would give the book a 4.5 stars if pressed–mainly because I am still puzzled at how young the primary characters are in the book. I am still processing how both could be the ages mentioned and have the careers they do.

This was a book I read in one long sitting, which is always a good sign. Enjoyable.

March 2, 2021 0

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

The copy of Tuesdays with Morrie that I picked up is the 20th Anniversary Edition. I’ve seen this book over the years. I might have picked it up and put it down. I just never really started reading it. I always wondered what the big deal was.

Now I know why people love this book.

I picked it up recently because I’ve been working on memoir. Writer Jerry Jenkins recommended the book as a great example of memoir rwriting. And so I got it from the library and dug in.

“Death ends a life, not a relationship.”
-Morrie Schwartz

From the first pages, I was engaged. Even knowing how it was going to end, I knew I wanted to hear and see Morrie and his interactions with the narrator. I started caring, early.

What a wonderful tribute.

And the references to what was going on at the time in the world were also poignant. Mitch Albom mentions the O.J. Simpson trial, as a bit of a backdrop to his Tuesdays visiting Morrie. It gave some great perspective.

This was an easy book to read, all the more poignant as I have lost a few people to catastrophic illnesses in the last few years. Morrie seemed to do this dying thing with grace. Or, really, he lived to the very end. And I was glad I got to experience it, even decades later.

Five stars.

February 25, 2021 0

Banned Book Club – Book Review

The title on this teen graphic novel caught my eye. As an avid reader and supporter of the First Amendment and Free Speech, I’m acutely aware of how important it is to allow books to be available for dicussion and critical thinking development.

Plus, let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good graphic novel?

This book is set in South Korea in the 1980s and the political climate at the time. It doesn’t appear excessively biased, although it does show the rebellion from the perspective of college students who are challenging the status quo.. There are some disjointed story themes, but overall I think the authors do a good job of presenting real social issues while keeping the reader engaged.

The art in the book is evocative and appropriate. Nothing too graphic or gross. It isn’t “eye candy” like some graphic novels, but it works. It is drawn in black and white.

I learned a few things about South Korean history that I didn’t know, and that in and of iteslf was worthwhile. I’ve read books about the oppressive regime in North Korea, but was unaware of some of the historical challenges in South Korea.

Definitely a good read. Easy, interesting, and creates curiousity in the topic. I will likely be more interested in reading further about those places and times.

Four out of five stars.

February 21, 2021 0

Category: Books

The Secret, Book and Scone Society

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