Tag Archives: Sharon

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

Alternative history novels are always interesting. They let us speculate about what might have happened or what might have not happened if only one thing were changed. Barnhill, however has gone way beyond that and has imagined a whole new … Continue reading

Posted in Beach Read, Fantasy, Fiction | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

For Nell Young maps are everything. As the daughter of map specialists she was raised among dusty drawers filled with maps, some vividly detailed and some spare and utilitarian. She had hoped to follow in her father’s’ footsteps as a … Continue reading

Posted in Adventure, Books to take on vacation, Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Thriller | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Dead Lions by Mick Herron

This is the second book in the Slough House (Slow Horses) series about M-I5 agents who are exiled from the front lines because they screwed up, were exposed or were forced out because of political infighting. This is such an … Continue reading

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Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Sometimes the simplest story has the most impact. That is certainly true of this book by Japanese author Toshikazu Kawaguchi. The story is spare, the characters limited and the action takes place mainly in a coffee shop, and yet there … Continue reading

Posted in Beach Read, Books to take on vacation, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Series | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Change by Kirsten Miller

There aren’t many novels that celebrate menopause, but this one sure does! Recently, more books have older women as main characters, but they seem to be mostly about woman trying to fight for recognition despite their age, or a few … Continue reading

Posted in Beach Read, Books to take on vacation, Detective novel, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Prince of Darkness by Sharon Kay Penman

Sharon Kay Penman is an impressive historical novelist. Her books are well researched, steeped in historic details, but are never dry or stagnant. She alway fills out the historic figures in her books so that you feel like they are … Continue reading

Posted in Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Mystery/Detective, Series, Suspense, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian

It is 1964 and renowned actress Katie Barstow has married her childhood friend, David Hill, in Paris. They have invited their best friends to come with them on their honeymoon to the Serengeti for an African safari. The guests include … Continue reading

Posted in Adventure, Beach Read, Books to take on vacation, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Five years ago, Andie Bell, a pretty, popular high school senior was murdered. Her boyfriend, Sal Singh, was a prime suspect and when he committed suicide everyone felt that confirmed their suspicions and the town and the police moved on. … Continue reading

Posted in Beach Read, Books to take on vacation, Detective novel, Fiction, Mystery, Series, Suspense, YA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

This is one of the strangest, most prescient, distinctive and unconventional novels I have read in a long time. Lockwood explores the world of social media in a way that few others have done, giving us the good it does, … Continue reading

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The Law of the Sea by Dave Gerard

I’m not sure how I heard about The Law of the Sea, but I’m glad I did. Who doesn’t like a story about a hunt for treasure, especially a sunken treasure ship with all kinds of people competing to get … Continue reading

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