MrsK Books: 02/01/2023

Friday, February 17, 2023

Seasoned Reading: Brimming with Spring Hope

Blooming Love; Hopefully Romantic; Inspired Endings

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

ISBN: 9780316370950

Publisher's Synopsis:

To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs has to do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. The danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets, and they know her.

But as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help—and whose presence in Hawthorne House could change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player.

Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stake—and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning.

There are forty-six billion reasons...

MrsK's Review: YA+ Book3

As Avery is approaching her 18th birthday, there are so many reasons why the Hawthorne legacy has found a home in her heart. Whether it's Xander's friendship or Nash's stability. It could be Grayson's attractive need or perhaps it's Jameson's excitement when faced with the thrill of a puzzle to solve.

What we have learned so far... is that with every puzzle, every new clue, every twist and turn within the Hawthorne estate... danger is close at hand for Avery. "I ALWAYS WIN IN THE END." Will they?

Will Avery follow her latest clue: Don't Trust Anyone.

Have you ever... ever had to wait for the author to finish creating the next book in a promised series? For many readers... like me... that can be agonizing! When this third book was delivered, my granddaughter had to read it first. That's because this is one of her series. In previous posts... you would know that it has been on my TBR list.

And so... the game continues! Will Avery make the Hawthorne deadline of one year at Hawthorne House? Will she be given the complete inheritance of the estate? Will she ever see Toby again? Will she remain falling in love with one of the Hawthorne sons? Will she finally solve the last puzzle challenge?

The game starts... right now!

MrsK

"An incomplete riddle... A story... and we're at the mercy of the storyteller."

P-QB4

Meet the Author:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college when she was nineteen.
Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Elizabeth Peters

ISBN: 9780380731169

Publisher's Synopsis:

The annual Historical Romance Writers of the World convention in New York City is calling to Jacqueline Kirby, a Nebraska librarian who desperately desires some excitement. But all is not love and kisses at this august gathering of starry-eyed eccentrics and sentimental scribes. As far as Jacqueline is concerned, the sudden "natural" death of a gossip columnist seems anything but. And when she's approached by a popular genre star who fears for her own life, the resourceful Ms. Kirby quickly goes back to work...as a sleuth. Because there's a sinister scenario being penned at this purple prose congregation. And when jealousy and passion are given free rein beyond the boundaries of the printed page, the result can be murder.

MrsK's Review:

Jacqueline hasn't read many Romance novels. Only a few could she remember such as Gone With the Wind, The Prisoner of Zenda, and Forever Amber. She is a BA.MA. scholarly assistant head librarian of a college. she has the perfect opportunity to attend various book (genre) conferences. For this deductible trip, she will be attending The Historical Romance Writer's convention. It didn't matter that she wasn't a writer/reader of romance, even the IRS would make the right connections.

Professor James Whittier is the head of the English Department, who happens to be co-authoring a book with Jacqueline, as well as her "companion." There are times in which, Jacqueline can be a bit of a literary snob, so her decision to attend this convention is a bit humorous. Yet, being the true friend that he is, he chooses a variety of Historical Romances for Jacqueline to read on her flight to the convention.

The conference is full of surprises, she recognizes a dear acquaintance, who happens to be a writer. Then she meets the authors of the most "financially prosperous" historical romance sellers. Given the women's rights protests outside of the convention center, she sees a former college friend. Plus, there's this little distraction of a murder. How, when, where, why, and who is killing at this romance convention? Jacqueline is the perfect resource investigator.

Elizabeth Peters has been my favorite historical mystery author. I've spent delightful years reading her archaeology suspense series of Amelia Peabody. As a young adult, I knew her Victorian supernatural mystery series as Barbara Michaels. Check out The Worlds of Barbara Mertz's website. You will never be without a well-written book or experience another hour of wondering what to read next!

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Elizabeth Peters is the pen name of Barbara Mertz. She also wrote as Barbara Michaels as well as her own name. Born and brought up in Illinois, she earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. Mertz was named Grand Master at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar Awards in 1998. She lived in a historic farmhouse in Frederick, western Maryland until her death.

Sheila Connolly

ISBN: 9781250619693

Publisher's Synopsis:

After fifteen years away, Kate Hamilton never expected to end up back in her hometown of Asheboro, Maryland full time. And she definitely didn’t expect to be leading the charge of recreating the town as a Victorian village and tourist attraction. But as unexpected as the circumstances are, Kate is ready to tackle them.

The town, on the other hand, is going to take some convincing. Ever since Henry Barton’s shovel factory closed down, it’s started to seem like there are more tumbleweeds than tourists rolling down Main Street. Kate’s ideas are good, but ambitious—and her friends and neighbors are worried that finding the money for them would push the town even further into debt.

Luckily, Kate and the handsome historian Joshua Wainwright are two very determined people who may have come up with a solution. The Barton mansion, meant to be the centerpiece of the Victorian village, has proven to be a veritable goldmine of documents about the town’s nineteenth-century history, and Kate is convinced the papers hide something of value. When a dead body turns up in the town library—mere hours before the documents were meant to arrive there themselves—Kate begins to worry that the papers spell danger instead of dollars. It seems that someone doesn’t want these forgotten secrets coming to light, and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep Kate quiet…

MrsK's Review:

Kate has returned to her home town of Asheboro, Maryland. Thanks to her best friend's invite, Kate is looking into a town restoration possibility. So many have left... so many are in need of hope. She knows the original Victorian designs are underneath the newer facades. Yet, this renovation/restoration project will require the town's "buy in." Given the importance of Clara Barton's letters indicating a personal connection to their town, this could be the "golden ticket" for historical funding.

Lizbeth contacted Kate. No one else would be able to come to the town's rescue.

Josh is a respected History professor of nineteenth-century industrialization at John Hopkins. He is also the one who is helping Kate pick up the pieces from a broken relationship and a career detour. His expertise will provide a better understanding about the Barton connection in the town's shovel industry and with the Mid-Atlantic power company's history.

Carroll has agreed to come sort and authenticate the Barton letters. She will be looking out for the preservation of the letters, as well as following the leads about the Barton shovel industry in the town. How did the town's most successful industry get started? Could making shovel's really create the wealth of Henry Barton?

The challenge are the murders... they keep piling up! What did the stranger know? Why was he in Asheboro?

Any mystery that is woven around a Victorian mansion is always a promising read! With twists and turns... realistic characters just going about their every day discoveries... and a wonderful reminder of small town merchants... as a reader, this journey has been a refreshing respite,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Sheila Connolly taught art history, structured and marketed municipal bonds for major cities, worked as a staff member on two statewide political campaigns and served as a fundraiser for several non-profit organizations. She also managed her own consulting company providing genealogical research services.

She was a member of Sisters in Crime-New England (president 2011), the national Sisters in Crime, and the fabulous on-line SinC chapter, the Guppies. She also belonged to Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.

Sheila was the Regent of her local DAR chapter and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was also the grandchild of Irish immigrants. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loved restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling.

MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)