Review The Paris Apartment

The Paris Apartment

Lucy Foley

Jess needs to get away from England for a while, and she decides to head to Paris to visit her brother Ben. He's expecting her, but when she arrives, he's nowhere to be found. Slowly she realizes something isn't right. The inhabitants of the posh building where Ben has an apartment are holding back when she tries to find answers to her brother's disappearance. All is not what it seems in the elite world of money and wine that Ben has infiltrated. But Jess is determined to find her brother even if she has to peel back layers of secrets to get the answers she needs.

The Paris Apartment is another riveting read by Foley that I couldn't put down. It's wonderfully plotted with lots of twists and turns and layered with enough secrets and intrigue to keep discerning readers turning the page in anticipation of the next event. I almost hated for this one to end; it was so enthralling.

Thanks to William Morrow Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Murder on an Irish Farm

 Murder on an Irish Farm

Carlene O'Connor

It's Siobhán O'Sullivan's wedding day. She and Macdara Flannery are finally ready to tie the knot. But before the ceremony can really get started, it's interrupted by Siobhán's brother James. He's found a body, a skeleton to be more precise, in a barn where he's been working. So, of course, this means the wedding will have to be postponed because Garda O'Sullivan and Detective Sergeant know they will have to investigate.

While at the scene, they are met by an elderly lady Gladys who lives next door to the property. As soon as she gets sight of the skeleton, she knows it's the true love of her life. The man who left her standing at the altar fifty years ago, the man she never forgot, even though she married his best friend. When another body turns up in the same place, O'Sullivan and Flannery know they are not dealing with a cold case. There is a killer still lurking in their midst. Before they can find this killer and get back to their own wedding, they will have to unravel a host of family secrets and decipher old and new clues.

Murder on an Irish Farm is a fun and entertaining story. It's full of twists and turns, comic scenes, and two wonderful main characters who feel like friends. I think the sense of community makes this such a pleasure to read. One feels almost like a village member as we follow O'Sullivan and Flannery in their day-to-day work. O'Connor has created an enticingly cozy atmosphere and a story that is hard to put down. I can't wait to read the next installment.

Thanks to Kensington Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Dream First Details Later

Dream First

Details Later

Ellen Marie Bennett

While working in a restaurant in Los Angeles, Ellen Bennett saw an opportunity to make aprons for her boss and colleagues. When she announced she could do the job better than the current supplier she had no idea how to sew or make an apron. As a born go-getter, Ellen wasn't one to let the details of the job slow her down. She moved forward and ultimately created a company known as Hedley&Bennett that focused on quality aprons for chefs. Throughout this book, she describes her journey as she struggled to get her company going, giving the reader tips and suggestions about how and why they should follow an entrepreneurial dream or project, even if they don't know how to implement it.

The critical takeaway from Dream First Details Later is that anyone dreaming of doing something should start where they are with what they have. Always move, no matter what, and don't sweat the details. You will likely find a way to make things work, even if you don't think so at the time. Not only is this book wonderfully presented, you will no doubt feel like you have a personal cheerleader in Ellen after reading it.

This review was originally written for and published by City Book Review.

Review: A Dark Chill

 

A Dark Chill

Bernadette Calonego

Detective Calista Gates of the RMCP is taking on a new job as Police Chief in the small town of St. Anthony in Newfoundland. She hasn't even settled into her new home when she discovers a twelve-year-old boy tied up and abandoned at a campsite. He's too scared to say what happened or who is to blame. The locals think it's all some kind of childish prank, but Gates believes it's something far more dangerous and sinister. Before she can make any headway with the investigation, she's confronted with an incident involving a group of college students trying to prove they can climb an iceberg. Could they have something to do with the incident at the campground? Do they have something to hide? When Owen, a local boy, goes missing, Gates has to act fast to find him. The more she investigates, the more she realizes St. Anthony's is not a quiet backwater. The residents of this small town seem to have a lot of secrets, and she'll have to unravel quite a few of them if she wants to find a killer.

A Dark Chill is another fast-paced, suspenseful mystery from Calonego that I just couldn't put down. It has all the elements that make for a great read: thrilling twists and turns, excellent character development, and enough action to ensure there is never a dull moment in the story. I love how she draws the reader right into Calista's world. She's vulnerable due to her past and the fact that she's still suffering from a traumatic event that happened while she was working in Vancouver. But Calista is determined to be the best detective she can be no matter where she's posted. And while this is a stand-alone book, I love that it not only draws on events from the previous book it also sets the stage for Calista's personal story to continue in another edition. One that I can't wait to read.

Review: Healing Reimagined

Healing Reimagined: Reconnecting Traditional Healing with Modern Medicine

By Karl Ching DDS 

A few days before reading this book, I had an annoying and distressing incident with an elderly relative in the hospital. I felt incredibly let down by the lack of care and attention on the part of the hospital, not to mention empathy because the patient had dementia and couldn't adequately express her needs. But, after reading Healing Reimagined, I felt a sense of hope that there are healthcare workers who are determined to try and not only improve our current state of healthcare but also to change it in ways that lead to a better understanding of a patient's needs.

I appreciated Dr. Ching's focus on finding balance and creating a path to wellness and wholeness. The discussion about indigenous shamanic systems of healthcare that focus on getting to know the individual and, over time, help heal not just an ailment but identify the root issue or issues causing the trouble was especially interesting. Also, I found the indigenous belief that plants communicate fascinating.

Although I am not a healthcare worker, I am sure that this is a book that anyone in the profession will find beneficial. In this day and age, where doctors and nurses have only a few minutes to consult with a patient, Dr. Ching's tips and suggestions for understanding and creating better relationships through enhanced awareness and communication will not only be valuable but, to me, seem long overdue.

Dr. Ching's work and analysis have also made me more aware of the type of patient I tend to be, an aspect that I had never given much thought to in the past. And perhaps more importantly, this book illustrated concrete ways to approach my relationship with a doctor or healthcare provider by being open, transparent, and aware of the needs I'm expressing both consciously and unconsciously. All of which should contribute to better overall care and attention.

I also enjoyed the chapter about how the brain functions and retains knowledge, although a few illustrations would have been welcome. The sections that focus on childhood trauma and how that affects our memory in later life were also illuminating. The examples throughout this well-written book were clear and easy to follow, making it an engaging read. And while I think we can all appreciate how much we have benefited from modern scientific medicine, it seems a shame that we can so readily forget and discount traditional approaches to healing that have served humanity for generations. Hopefully, this book will encourage others to look at both examples and connect them when possible to help find the true meaning of balance, awareness, and healing.

This review was written by me for City Book Review.

Review: The Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy

 

The Ambassador

Susan Ronald

The Ambassador is a fascinating look at Joseph P. Kennedy's time as Ambassador in London between 1938 and 1940. Appointed by President Roosevelt, it was clear from the start that Kennedy had only his own interests at heart. As WWII approached, he remained overwhelmingly against the United States getting involved. Even when the administration moved closer and closer to helping the Allies, Kennedy railed against the situation's futility. In the end, his inability to support the British government and his continued bluntness and self-interest caused a rift not just between himself and President Roosevelt but also with British politicians who wondered what he was still doing in their country.

As I read this, I was surprised by his pro-fascist tendencies and his tendencies to view everything through the lens of economic advancement. His eldest son Joseph seemed to harbor the same views as his father. His lack of diplomatic skills and unwillingness to support his own administration's policies seemed almost incomprehensible to me. He often made statements on his own without going through the approved channels. In some ways, he reminded me of another recent pseudo-politician who either refused to follow protocols or dispensed with them when not in his own interests.

I especially enjoyed the look back at The Ambassador's early life and that of his wife. Rose seems to have been a distant mother to her nine children, which I hadn't expected to be the case. But perhaps times were different then. I found Kathleen or Kick as she was known to be a fascinating person. She managed to chart her own course, even if it didn't turn out to be as happy as she planned. All in all, this was a well-written and researched book that was enjoyable to read.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

 Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder

Joanne Fluke

When Mayor Bascomb of Lake Eden, Minnesota, is confronted by Hannah Swensen's sister Andrea about something her husband Bill, the town's Sheriff, did, she loses her temper. The mayor is found dead later the same day, and Andrea is a prime suspect in his murder. Of course, Hannah knows without a doubt that Andrea couldn't kill anyone. Between baking cookies for her cafe, she and friend Norman try to help local police officers, Mike and Lonnie, find out what happened. They will have their hands full considering how many people disliked the mayor.

Fans of this series will be pleased that Fluke has again produced a cozy, culinary delight that brings together family, friends, community, and an emphasis on sisterly love. Hannah is her usual thoughtful self, eager to help protect her family and catch a killer. Plus, there are enough recipes included throughout to keep fans happy. I couldn't help but feel that this book needed more backstory. Particularly regarding the death of Ross and why Hannah moved out of her condo. Without more of a recap or explanation, I almost felt I needed to go back and read a previous book to catch up with the story. Otherwise, this is a fun and light cozy mystery.

This review was written by me and originally published by City Book Review.