Seasoned Readers Hot August Nights!

 

Jennifer Chiaverini

ISBN: 9780063080799

Publisher's Synopsis:

Summer Sullivan, the youngest founding member of Elm Creek Quilts, has spent the last two years pursuing a master’s degree in history at the University of Chicago. Her unexpected return home to the celebrated quilter’s retreat is met with delight but also concern from her mother, Gwen; her best friend, Sarah; master quilter Sylvia; and her other colleagues—and rightly so. Stymied by writer’s block, Summer hasn’t finished her thesis, and she can’t graduate until she does.

Elm Creek Manor offers respite while Summer struggles to meet her extended deadline. She finds welcome distraction in organizing an exhibit of antique quilts as a fundraiser to renovate Union Hall, the 1863 Greek Revival headquarters of the Waterford Historical Society. But Summer’s research uncovers startling facts about Waterford’s past, prompting unsettling questions about racism, economic injustice, and political corruption within their community, past and present.

As Summer’s work progresses, quilt lovers and history buffs praise the growing collection, but affronted local leaders demand that she removes all references to Waterford’s troubled history. As controversy threatens the exhibit’s success, Summer fears that her pursuit of the truth might cost the Waterford Historical Society their last chance to save Union Hall. Her only hope is to rally the quilting community to her cause.

The Museum of Lost Quilts is a warm and deeply moving story about the power of collective memory. With every fascinating quilt she studies, Summer finds her passion for history renewed—and discovers a promising new future for herself.

MrsK's Review: Historical Fiction Series

Summer is returning to her Pennsylvania hometown and her treasured Elm Creek Manor. She is sure that the ladies at Elm Quilt Manor will help her move beyond her self-doubts. The realization that her doctorate program was creating doubts, struggles, writer's block, and stress beyond what she could deal with... so why not spend some time with her mother, the quilting ladies, and the summer quilting groups. Hopefully, she will get her doctorate paper finished before its due date. A small, yet desperate inkling of hope was bubbling forth once the taxi entered the turn off. Will she find what she is needing at Elm Creek manor?

The Waterford Historical Society has been working hard to restore the Union Hall in spite of Gregory Krolich's. Summer learns that the Loyal Union Sampler could help the society get Union Hall on the National Register of Historic Places. Upstairs the society has proposed opening a gallery to the public as a quilt exhibit that showcases "intriguing ties to local history." This could be the revenue source that would let the society keep Union Hall. What is needed is a curator... and Summer is more than qualified. Will she be able to locate, verify, arrange and write the history cards for the historical quilts and finish her doctorate work?

With the trusted "storyteller" craft that Jennifer is known for, this book has beautiful details about the art of quilting. Jennifer's historical details consistently add a unique and endearing depth to her stories. With an excitement for a new Elm Creek book, I eagerly began the summer in my newly designed garden room... snuggled in with an iced green/peach tea and began my summer journey back to Elm Creek. What I quickly discovered was the bonus pages in which Summer writes the historic object placards for each quilt. Those historical additions were fascinating and inspiring. Thank you, Jennifer, for never disappointing your readers! *Jennifer took a break from Elm Creek and began writing Historical Fiction about the everyday lives of extraordinary women throughout the centuries... be sure to read those books in which history of women who have walked before us can still reach across the ages to inspire and ignite an inner strength that is truly dignified with graciousness.

Read on....

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 

Jennifer Chiaverini is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-three novels, including acclaimed historical fiction and the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. She has also written seven quilt pattern books inspired by her novels. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and two sons in Madison, Wisconsin. About her historical fiction, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes, "In addition to simply being fascinating stories, these novels go a long way in capturing the texture of life for women, rich and poor, black and white, in those perilous years."

Mechthild Glaser

ISBN:9781250144232

Publisher's Synopsis:

Amy Lennox doesn't know quite what to expect when she and her mother pick up and leave Germany for Scotland, heading to her mother's childhood home of Lennox House on the island of Stormsay.

Amy's grandmother, Lady Mairead, insists that Amy must read while she resides at Lennox House—but not in the usual way. It turns out that Amy is a book jumper, able to leap into a story and interact with the world inside. As thrilling as Amy's new power is, it also brings danger: someone is stealing from the books she visits, and that person may be after her life. Teaming up with fellow book jumper Will, Amy vows to get to the bottom of the thefts—at whatever cost.

"The monster had slept for many, many years...

... now the time had come for the monster to open its eyes once more."

MrsK's Review: Fantasy YA

Amy Lennox and her mother, Alexis, quickly gathered some items as they headed back to her mother's homeland of Scotland. Amy knew little about her mother's life other than she had left home when she was pregnant and seventeen. This sudden departure meant that she would have to decide to leave her books, only her beloved Momo and Pride and Prejudice would accompany her on this journey.

Alexis has experienced a jarring break-up. All she knew was that it was time to return to Stormsay. As soon as they were at the gate of Stormsay, Alexis knew the next steps were bringing her back to a life she did not want to return to... yet here she was.

For Amy standing in the hallway of her grandmother's mansion was surreal. Leaving the small flat that she called home, her fake-friends, and a completely humiliating school year had left a hole inside. So being on this journey to her mother's home, which she now realized was on a small Scottish island and was her grandmother's mansion... a grandmother she didn't even know was alive, Amy pondered why her mother had kept all of this hidden from her. 

Lady Mairead is Amy's grandmother. She is proud of the family name, mansion, and the "very special library" on Stormsay. Some of the texts are unique, some were rescued from the Library of Alexandria, and most are considered the greatest classics ever written. Alexis only said one thing to her mother... "That you give her a completely harmless children's book... where absolutely nothing can happen to her." What does that mean?

Deep, deep underground... Amy steps into an enormous bibliophile's cavern of dark wood, scrolls, leather books, and the smell of old paper. Here was a place full of "whispered words... the lure of stories waiting to be read.... and the rustle of promise that hung in the air." 

Glen is the teacher of the Lennox and Macalister families. Amy would be given lessons? Right away she is led to a bookcase in "a far corner." It would be a red leather book that cries out to Amy, "Read me!"

There are two other learners in the library, William and Betsy Macalister. Will they be friends or foes?

Betsy Macalister is quite stuck up. Does not like anything about Amy. Giving her a chance is not an option for her. She would do anything to cause Amy grief... anything? To what length will she let her prejudgments sabotage Amy's time on the island?

Will Macalister isn't as despondent to Amy as his sister. He's not sure if she is a foe or just a girl that has arrived at the worst time. Amy just might the one who can help Will locate his missing friend. If he watches her, maybe... maybe she might be the one in whom many mysteries could be solved. Can he trust her? After all, being a book jumper is not for the faint of heart!

With all fantasies it must contain a well-woven story thread. Perfected word choice must be enticing. Characters must come to life. This story will surpass any reader's expectations. Yet, I warn you... you will want a sequel! I must add that I echo Amy's first response as she enters the Secret Library... I too would ponder "how many adventures were hidden in paper and in ink... how many great love stories.... how many epic battles!"

"Do you vow that whenever you read you will strive to protect stories...

and to do nothing that might destroy or alter them?"

Meet the Author:

   Mechthild Gläser was born in Essen in the summer of 1986. She lives and works in Ruhrgebiet, where she is dedicated to her studies and now and then dances ballet badly – but only when nobody is watching. She started writing at an early age, and her laptop is still on the rose-coloured desk pad on which she wrote her first stories. She finds inspiration everywhere, but best with a cup of peppermint tea.

Kristin Harmel

ISBN:9781982198435

Publisher's Synopsis:

At thirty-six, Hope McKenna-Smith is no stranger to bad news. She lost her mother to cancer, her husband left her, and her bank account is nearly depleted. Her own dreams of becoming a lawyer long gone, she’s running a failing family bakery on Cape Cod and raising a troubled preteen.

Now, Hope’s beloved French-born grandmother Mamie is drifting away in a haze of Alzheimer’s. But in a rare moment of clarity, Mamie realizes that unless she tells Hope about the past, the secrets she has held on to for so many years will soon be lost forever. Tantalizingly, she reveals mysterious snippets of a tragic history in WWII Paris. Armed with a scrawled list of names, Hope heads to France to uncover a seventy-year-old mystery.

What follows is “an immersive and evocative tale of generations struggling to survive” (Publishers Weekly) as Hope pieces together her grandmother’s past bit by bit. Uncovering horrific tales of the Holocaust, she realizes the astonishing will of her grandmother to endure in a world gone mad. And to reunite two lovers torn apart by terror, all she’ll need is a dash of courage, and the belief that God exists everywhere, even in cake.

"Life changes you, even if you don't realize it while it's happening."

MrsK's Review: Historical Fiction

For Hope, September has arrived in Cape Cod. She has inherited her family's North Star Bakery which became her home after three life-changing events. Baking comes naturally for Hope, it also provides the much-needed peace while she adjusts to all of her life changes. Her daughter Annie, well she continues to make doubtful choices since the divorce.

Matt is the regional vice-president of the local bank. He is also Hope's ex-high school boyfriend. For Hope he is a "comfortable" grounding force. Yet, Matt continues to hope that one day they might become more than friends.

Gavin is a handyman. Someone who can help in your time of need... when Hope is need of someone to fix a water disaster... she meets Gavin. Is seems as if he is always at hand whenever Hope is dealing with some type of emergency. Can a handyman be a "fixer" of needs that aren't just items?

Annie is Hope's daughter. Divorce has totally unraveled her life. As a seventh grader, life is hard enough without a divorce rocking your foundation. Will there be any way for Annie to find what she needs, considering her "icy veneer" has quaked a wide gap between her and her mom.

Mamie is Hope's grandmother. The baker who taught her everything. Dementia took a turn for the worse after her daughter died and now, she lives in a care facility. Annie has started seeing her without telling her mother, yet when Mamie keeps calling her Leona, Annie had to ask her mom who Leona was? Rose is one name that Mamie remembers, of course her daughter's name remains clearly etched within her mind, Josephine the one she failed. Alzheimer's "grabs the memories" which once were a lifeline to all you knew. Rose knows that it is time, time to speak truth.

"I must know what happened to my family."

When one of those "clarity" days, a very special day so long ago, Rose wrote down seven names. Today would be the day that she would ask Hope to go to Paris and find out the truth about what happened to her family. Would Hope forgive her once she learns the truth of her life before America?

Life isn't always as it seems. Children never have a complete understanding about their parents. Every one of us is uniquely individualized with our own versions of childhood. Yet oftentimes there's a painful back story...  a moment of complete joy... waves that echo through time... shadows of days gone by. There is always another thread to our stories of life... and within those threads there are always uncompleted dreams of what we could have been. This book can soothe and heal that which you've been waiting for... a treasure of a woman's life that no one could have known.

Excellent storytelling about life worth living and hoping for that which is blessed,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling and #1 international bestselling author of THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES, THE WINEMAKER'S WIFE, and a dozen other novels that have been translated into numerous languages and sold all over the world.

Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts and spent her childhood there, as well as in Columbus, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and young son. She travels frequently to France for book research (and—let’s be honest—for the pastries and wine) and writes a book a year for Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster.

Brave Books

Freedom Island

Publisher's Synopsis:

Our mission is to be the brand parents trust with their children's imaginations by creating a world, characters, and stories that not only enthrall them but build their character while doing so.

MrsK's Review: Family Read-Alouds (all ages)

These books are well crafted, beautiful-engaging illustrations, exceptional story lines, as well as educating/reinforcing character strengths, values, weaknesses, and truths. These titles are a must for families who have story time as a treasured priority. Any Grandparent, Aunt, or Uncle should gift these books for birthdays, Christmas, or at Easter. For educators and homeschoolers, it is so important to have books that will engage and educate the strengths of a learner's character... please consider these well-crafted stories. Find out more at this link

 

  

Booked to Dine Summer Time R&R for 2022

 Summer Time Reading Adventures...

Ellery Adams

ISBN: 9781496712387

Publisher's Synopsis:

Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is a place of healing. Strangers flock here 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 from the Gingerbread House bakery, 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 and lighten their heaviest burden.

When a visiting businessman reaches out to Nora for guidance, she knows exactly which novels will help. But before he can keep their appointment at Miracle Books, he’s found dead on the train tracks.

Stunned, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a group of damaged souls yearning to gain trust and earn redemption by helping others. To join the society, members must divulge their darkest secret—the terrible truth that brought each of them to Miracle Springs in the first place.

Determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman’s demise, the women meet in Nora’s cramped and cozy bookstore to share stories and trade support. And as they untangle a web of corruption, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge. Proving it’s never too late to turn the page and start over . . .

MrsK's Review:

Nora is an amazing book woman. Her amazing talent for listening, and her gift for choosing and placing the perfect book in the hands of her patrons are awe-inspiring. She is a woman of intelligence, creativity, ingenuity, and an amazing friend. She owns Miracle Books which is Miracle Springs old train station. She has made her home in a small community, in which the Secret, Book & Scone Society stumbles upon mysteries in need of sleuthing. Seriously... what could be better... a delightful group of friends... living in a caboose... a wonderful career of matching stories to its reader?

This first novel is woven with delightful characters. Quick humor. And the most baffling murder!

Get excited about this "Yummy" mystery series,

MrsK

Booked To Dine Book Choice for October!

Meet the Author:

USA Today and New York Times bestseller author Ellery Adams has written forty novels and can’t imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a Native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, rescue animals, and large bodies of water. When not working on her next novel, she bakes, gardens, drinks vats of coffee, spoils her three cats, and searches for snacks. She lives with her husband and two children (aka the Trolls) in North Carolina.

Debbie Macomber

ISBN: 9780345535252

Publisher's Synopsis:

From the minute she sees the Rose Harbor Inn, Jo Marie Rose knows that this is the place that will help her find the peace she craves. And if the inn can comfort her, surely it can offer the same refuge to her first two guests.

Joshua Weaver has come home to care for his ailing stepfather. The two have never seen eye to eye, but a long-lost acquaintance proves to him that forgiveness is not out of reach and love can bloom in the unlikeliest places.

Abby Kinkaid left Cedar Cove twenty years ago after a devastating accident. But as she reconnects with family and old friends, she realizes that she needs to let the past go if she is to embrace her future.

"Rose Harbor... Rose... for whom I will grieve for whatever remains of my life.

Harbor for the place I have set my anchor as the storms of life batter me."

MrsK's Review:

Cedar Cove, a place for healing. New beginnings, a reset, a whispered hope. Jo Marie has bought a bed and breakfast. A "breathtaking" house with a wraparound porch and an "incredible view." The move was quick, especially since the house was already a B&B. But now, this was her B&B.

With the purchase of the inn, Jo Marie would be hosting her first two guests. Josh Weaver, someone who had only been back to Cedar Cove once since his high school graduation. Abby Kincaid, who has returned to Cedar Cove for her older brother's wedding. Jo Marie didn't have a lot to do, since the Inn was a "turn-key" purchase, so Jo Marie begins her first morning preparing for her two guests.

The only reason Josh is back in Cedar Cove is because of his step-father's neighbors. He received the call that Richard was failing and Michelle felt that "it would be nice" if Josh could make peace with Richard.

For Abby, her brother's wedding was the priority. All those years ago, as she recovered from the deadly car crash, had left her with shadow's of shame and guilt. To return home meant that she would be around those whom she ran from. She wanted to be there for her brother... only to get the first flight away from Cedar Cove as soon as the wedding is over.

While Jo Marie is lulled into a comfortable chair, she is "savoring the warmth of her new life. Settling in has begun. Mark is an "all around" craftsman, the one who can help build the inn's new sign and her vintage rose garden. With clashing personalities, she wonders just how well this working contract will get completed.

Cedar cove has opened its doors... will these five accept the healing and hope that is offered? Open the cover of this book, your journey will be revitalized.

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot. In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, two adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Link

Ellery Adams

ISBN: 9781496726421

Publisher's Synopsis:

Nora Pennington is known for her window displays, and as Halloween approaches, she decides to showcase fictional heroines like Roald Dahl’s Matilda and Madeline Miller’s Circe. A family-values group disapproves of the magical themes, though, and wastes no time launching a modern-day witch hunt. Suddenly, former friends and customers are targeting not only Nora and Miracle Books but a new shopkeeper, Celeste, who’s been selling CBD oil products.

Nora and her friends in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society are doing their best to put an end to the strife—but then someone puts an end to a life. Though the death is declared an accident, the ruling can’t explain the old book page covered with strange symbols and disturbing drawings left under Nora’s doormat, a postcard from an anonymous stalker, or multiple cases of vandalism.

The only hope is that Nora can be a heroine herself and lead the Secret, Book, and Scone Society in a successful investigation—before more bodies turn up and the secrets from Celeste’s past come back to haunt them all . . .

"You can't go back to the beginning,

but you can start where you are and change the ending." CS Lewis

MrsK's Review:

Yes, this is part of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society series. Actually, this is the fourth in the series. Since it has been so hot in our area, getting a jump on a perfect fall read seems appropriate. If Nora could be my mentor... well I would have been begging for a job at her bookshop. This speaks to the fact that I am reviewing two books from the same series in one post!

I must introduce you to the other members of the society. Meet Hester, she is the "scone whisperer"... oh what she can create for her patrons is truly "yum-riffic!" Meet Estella, as the Magnolia Salon and Spa owner, she is a provocative, fully enchanting woman who sees life... and lives it to the fullest. June works at the Miracle Springs Lodge. Her needlework brings comfort to many at the Lodge and in the community of Miracle Springs. Sheldon is Miracle Books "window wizard." There are times that he is outlandishly funny. There are times he brings stability for Nora. He is that "perfect" employee that watches over the tales within the store, as well as Nora... especially when there is a murder to solve.

For this mystery, Nora will have to deal with some nasty attitudes, threats, and a few delightful new characters. Miracle Springs will be divided by gossip, protests, and of course a very sad murder. The newest member of the community, Celeste, will have struggles getting Soothe, her candle and herb shop started. She will come to trust the Society's friendship... that is until someone from her past shows up.

Reading books about books is always a delight. So many new titles to be discovered... so many wonderful bookshop adventures... and a murder mystery... is there any other way to spend an evening? Yes, there is! I spent the evening in search of book snacks that would match the wonderfully delicious scones and meals that are discussed throughout this novel. Let me tell you... nothing in my pantry came close to the delicacies in this novel! *Read this novel with a pencil and journal... I wonder... is there a limit to a "To Be Read" pile?

Next up...The Vanishing Type,

MrsK

Meet the Author: 

  USA Today and New York Times bestseller author Ellery Adams has written forty novels and can’t imagine spending a day away from the keyboard. Ms. Adams, a Native New Yorker, has had a lifelong love affair with stories, food, rescue animals, and large bodies of water. When not working on her next novel, she bakes, gardens, drinks vats of coffee, spoils her three cats, and searches for snacks. She lives with her husband and two children (aka the Trolls) in North Carolina.

Toshikazu Kawaguchi

ISN: 9781335430991

Publisher's Synopsis:

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.

In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café’s time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer's, to see their sister one last time, and to meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.

But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . .

"What would you change if you could travel back in time?"

MrsK's Review:

Fumiko one week ago was sitting in the café, she was hoping that the serious conversation would be a marriage proposal, unfortunately it wasn't. Instead, Goro's abrupt departure left Fumiko with a mixture of despair and anger. With tear's in her eyes... she knows what she must do. The only café customers were herself, the woman reading a novel, Fusagi who was taking notes from a magazine, and Yaeko Hirai who was just leaving.

Kohtake a nurse, who stops by the café when her shift is over. Fusagi is waiting for the woman at the table to leave her chair. He is there on a regular basis and the café staff keep watch over him whenever he comes in. Suffering from Alzheimer's, Fusagi wants to deliver a letter to wife, and so he comes to the café and waits for the woman in the chair to leave.

Kumi Hirai knows her sister will be at the café at some moment in time. She can't wait for her, so she leaves a note for her sister Yaeko Hirai. 

Kei  works at the café. She is always carefree and so good with the customers. Upon her return from an OB/GYN appointment, she greets a young girl that has the strangest request. Why would the girl want a "selfie" picture with Kei?

"Drink the coffee before it gets cold..."

MrsK

"The only people you can meet while in the past are those who have..."

Meet the Author:

 

Toshikazu Kawaguchi (in Japanese: 川口 俊 和) was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1971. He formerly produced, directed and wrote for the theatrical group Sonic Snail. As a playwright, his works include COUPLE, Sunset Song, and Family Time. The novel Before the Coffee Gets Cold is adapted from a 1110 Productions play by Kawaguchi, which won the 10th Suginami Drama Festival grand prize.

Reese Witherspoon

ISBN: 9781501166273

Publisher's Synopsis:

Reese Witherspoon's grandmother Dorothea always said a combination of beauty and strength made Southern women "whiskey in a teacup". We may be delicate and ornamental on the outside, she said, but inside, we're strong and fiery.

Reese's Southern heritage informs her whole life, and she loves sharing the joys of Southern living with practically everyone she meets. She takes the South wherever she goes with bluegrass, big holiday parties, and plenty of Dorothea's fried chicken. It's reflected in how she entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special for her kids - not to mention how she talks, dances, and does her hair (in this audiobook, you will learn Reese's fail-proof, only slightly insane hot-roller technique). Reese loves sharing Dorothea's most delicious recipes as well as her favorite Southern traditions, from midnight barn parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings to rollicking honky-tonks.

"Well, I'm a lady, and I'm going to handle it like a lady."

MrsK's Review:

Are you looking for some wonderful southern recipes? Could a cup of sweet tea make a moment of your day a bit more blessed? This is one of those books that called out, of course the title grabbed my attention since I've enjoyed moments with a dabble of whiskey in my tea cup. Moving on, there was a hope that I might discover a new read, after all Reese has her own book club. Finally, is there anything better than a recipe book that engages you beyond enticing food pictures?

Within the covers, you will find: a memory or insight into the wisdom of those who walked before us; wonderful treasures that are "built to last;" nature's blessings of colors and textures; flea market strategies; hostess tips; remembrance gifts and scrapbooking ideas; family dinner gratitude; business targets and ideas; and of course southern recipes. 

For a few recipe enticers: Dorothea's Sun Tea with Pecan-Crusted Chicken Skewers; Mud Pie Trifle; Kentucky Hot Bites; Dorothea's Corn Salad; Summer Squash Casserole; and Confetti Betty's Champagne and Ginger Ale Cocktail. Whether you enjoy family meal planning, hosting holiday gatherings, or just a great book-and-tea discussion... this is a must have addition for your kitchen pantry!

What's not too like... just opening the cover to beautiful end pages whispered the fresh breath of comfort and joyful anticipation. 

One of the delightful "gems" within the covers of this book is the discovery that those women who walked before us... are still shining through for the next generations. Having been raised with five generations of women, my heart was touched with comfort and a renewed courage as I read Reese's description of her Grandmother. It was, as if, my grands and greats were saying "you go Reese!" I could almost hear their voices, teacups "clicking" amongst everyone's chatter, and the joy scanning their faces once more. For that one moment in time... I thank you Reese!

Sometimes we just need to be welcomed home...

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  

 

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon is an American actress, producer, and entrepreneur. She is the recipient of several awards, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and raised in Tennessee, she began her career as a teenager, making her professional screen debut in The Man in the Moon (1991), for which she was nominated for a Young Artist Award. Witherspoon owns a production company Hello Sunshine, a clothing company Draper James, and she is actively involved in children's and women's advocacy organizations. She serves on the board of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) and was named Global Ambassador of Avon Products in 2007, serving as honorary chair of the charitable Avon Foundation. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.

Reese's Book Club: Okay, we're a little biased but hear us out. Each month, Reese, our founder (and book-lover-in-chief) chooses a book with a woman at the center of the story. There's not a formula to the books we spotlight, and we like it that way. We make our choices thoughtfully and look for ways to deepen our connection to books, authors and ourselves.

Booked to Dine: Jan-March Book Picks 2022

 Each of these titles have been woven with strands of life, hope, and determination.

With every turn of the page, you will discover moments of "new" mornings dawning,

as well as a display of daily strength.

Kim Meeder

ISBN: 9781590522691

Publisher's Synopsis:

Follow a horse where no one else can tread, through the minefield of pain that surrounds a broken child's soul. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love revives their barren places.

In the presence of unconditional love, a mute girl speaks for the first time. A defiant teenager teaches a horse to trust again...and opens his own heart to love. A rescued horse gives a dying man his last wish. A battered girl finds love and protection in the friendship of a battered horse...

Come visit a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of reality--a place where hope rises.

MrsK's Review:

Have you been called to make a leap of faith and move to place that was not on your radar and beyond your imagination? What if the whispering within your heart was calling you to bring hope to the hopeless? What if the hopeless were abused or abandoned horses? What if that leap of faith opened up a ranch for those horses? Finally, what if there is still more to be done?

Meet Kim Meeder! Her story unfolds through-out this collection of life-changing moments. These moments of redemption, renewal, and  hope provides an inside look "into" the heart of one who answered, "Yes" to the calling of a mighty God. Whether it is the purchase of a horse in need or it's the open-arm invitation to those broken by life. These chapters are more than stories from a ranch, they are moments in which you, the reader, will recognize the touch of His handiwork.

With an eloquent weaving of words, each chapter witnesses the healing of a soul, a spirit, and a future. Once you've entered the first chapter, Angels in Horsehair, your connection becomes more than a page-turning adventure. Your heart begins to grow a desire to see "healing" in action. 

When this book finds it's way into your hands, you will face the grip of "anger and compassion," you will drink in the inner peace of the "broken now restored." Your search for a perfect match will be restored when your heart is shattered by a destructive "stony prison" tenderly transformed into a "captive soul" unchained. 

If wishes could come true... your spirit would soar like an eagle on the wings of our Lord's hope for all of his creation. Are you ready to be inspired? Are their areas within the recesses of your heart that is longing for hope? When was the last time you read a book that is filled with "real-life" hope?

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Kim Meeder has seen horses go where no one else can tread - stepping through the minefield of a broken child's soul in a dance of trust that only God can understand. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love washes away their barren places. Kim's ranch is a place where this miracle happens over and over again. It is a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of reality - a place where hope rises.  Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch  

Christina Alger
ISBN: 9780143122753

Publisher's Synopsis:

A sophisticated page-turner about a wealthy New York family embroiled in a financial scandal with cataclysmic consequences. Now that he's married to Merrill Darling, daughter of billionaire financier Carter Darling, attorney Paul Ross has grown accustomed to New York society and all of its luxuries: a Park Avenue apartment, weekends in the Hamptons, bespoke suits. When Paul loses his job, Carter offers him the chance to head the legal team at his hedge fund. Thrilled with his good fortune in the midst of the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression, Paul accepts the position.

But Paul's luck is about to shift: a tragic event catapults the Darling family into the media spotlight, a regulatory investigation, and a red-hot scandal with enormous implications for everyone involved. Suddenly, Paul must decide where his loyalties lie-will he save himself while betraying his wife and in-laws or protect the family business at all costs?

"The weather is optimal...This has to be done now."

MrsK's Review:

9:30pm Paul slips into the ballroom for the live auction. Even though he wasn't feeling up to the after-party, Paul knew that Merrill needed him to make an appearance. The Darling family expected loyalty, honesty, and above all a social etiquette that was becoming of their New York status. Including the Thanksgiving weekend in East Hammond.

Since the Wall Street collapse, Paul had begun his job with Delphic. Merrill's father, Carter, was a powerful investor.  He was just beginning to find a new rhythm. Then came the phone call on Wednesday at 6:23am... Morty was dead!

Steeped in "deep" deception, you the reader are invited into the world of the financial elite. The Darling family has enjoyed generations of east coast living. Careers have been profitable, daily lives are free from the worry of what daily living costs, and high-stake relationships are formed. Given the fall of Wall Street, many find themselves without their jobs... without connections once relied upon... without the assurance of someone having your back. What will be revealed about Morty... endangers the Darling family and all who have invested, trusted, and knew to be secure. What will be learned... that depends on who can hold on to their "truth and moral" foundations.

It has been many years since I've opened the cover of a social drama, the promise of a thriller delivered this novel into my hands. Although this book took some time for me to reacquaint myself with this genre, it was so well written... I had to continue my journey with the Darling family! It was worth renewing my interest in books about the "echelons of New York,"

MrsK

Meet the Author:

      

Christina Alger is a native New Yorker and former attorney, Alger’s intimate knowledge of the financial world and legal system gives her novels and screenplays additional depth, intrigue, and expertise. As said by The Wall Street Journal, “Cristina Alger knows her way around 21st Century wealth and power, and she tells a twisty, suspenseful story.” Prior to her writing career, Alger was a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs and a corporate attorney at Wilmer Hale. She is a graduate of Harvard University, where she studied English and American Literature and Language, and NYU School of Law.

Mario Escobar

ISBN: 9780785219958

Publisher's Synopsis:

In 1943 Germany, Helene is just about to wake up her children to go to school when a group of policemen break into her house. The policemen want to haul away her gypsy husband and their five children. The police tell Helene that as a German she does not have to go with them, but she decides to share the fate of her family. After convincing her children that they are going off to a vacation place, so as to calm them, the entire family is deported to Auschwitz.

Helene, with the help of two Polish Jewish prisoners and four gypsy mothers, organizes the buildings. Though Mengele provides them with swings, Disney movies, school supplies, and food, the people are living in crowded conditions under extreme conditions. And less than 400 yards away, two gas chambers are exterminating thousands of people daily.

For sixteen months, Helene lives with this reality, desperately trying to find a way to save her children. Auschwitz Lullaby is a story of perseverance, of hope, and of strength in one of the most horrific times in history.

MrsK's Review:

Indifference between Life and Death

Berlin, May 1943. Helene is a mother of five children, she works double shifts to keep her family afloat. Her husband Johann is a violin virtuoso in the Berlin Philharmonic. Given that Helene is of Aryan decent, at first, her marriage to a Gypsy was given permission to remain in their home. As occupation continued, the horrific conditions brought that dreaded "knock" of despair. Helene had choices to make. First, she had to explain to her children that it was their turn to go to a type of a "summer camp," and finally she would not need to accompany her family, for her nursing skills were needed.

Filled with trepidation, Helene stood firm. On the rails to Auschwitz, would prove to be a foreshadowing of what the camp experience would become. Separated from Johann, Helene would discover that the "life" at camp would forever leave its mark upon her heart, a lasting imprint upon her children, and unwavering hope that soon the world would discover the value in humanity.

"Mothers capable of generating life could never become accomplices to so much death."

Helene begins helping at the camp with her nursing skills, yet her heart went out to the children who had nothing to do. How could she bring joy to them and necessary nourishment? Her legacy will be found in the establishment of a nursery and school.

This story is crafted with the truth of an oppressive regime. The horror of man's egotistical hunger for control. Yet, the hearts of the mothers, will usher in the strength of hope for their children. The value of life in the midst of death. United in an incomprehensible reality... 

May we be blessed with the value of life...

MrsK

"Human beings are momentary breaths in the midst

of the hurricane of our circumstances."

Meet the Author:

Mario Escobar Golderos has a degree in History, with an advanced studies diploma in Modern History. He has written numerous books and articles about the Inquisition, the Protestant Reformation, and religious sects. He is the executive director of an NGO and directs the magazine Nueva historia para el debate, in addition to being a contributing columnist in various publications. Passionate about history and its mysteries, Escobar has delved into the depths of church history, the different sectarian groups that have struggled therein, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. He specializes in the lives of unorthodox Spaniards and Americans.

Margaret M Lothrop

The Wayside: Home of Authors

Concord, Massachusetts

Synopsis:

Minute Man National Historical Park

MrsK's Review:

Did you know that eleven authors have published at least one book while living at The Wayside? Often times a book will choose you... to be it's reader. That is exactly how this delightful journey began. With such a heavy heart during the world's lock down, this book became my own evening retreat.

I learned about the farming abilities of Mr. Alcott, including the aromatic beauty of his flower garden. I learned that the family gave protection to escaped slaves in 1847 and that each of the girls enjoyed their adventures at Hillside. The old house, it's big attic, the barn, and the hillside became their "special playground."

At the age of 48, Mr. Hawthorne was financially ready to own a home, a place to "discover the psychological processing in which man determines his actions." Social engagements (dances), visiting writers, games, political discussion gatherings, and writing impromptu opportunities became a weekly life style.

In 1883, The Wayside became the home of Margaret Sidney (pen name),The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew had already been published as the Lothrop family was moving into The Wayside. Mr. Daniel Lothrop established his publishing firm, D. Lothrop & Co., in 1868. A publishing company that has remains in business (1905=Lothrop, Lee & Shepard; William Morrow & Co. (Harper Collins in 1999).

Mr. Lothrop was convicted that they would "never publish a book purely sensational, no matter what the chances of money it had in it. Their published books will make for true, steadfast growth in right living. They published the first reading/literacy magazines for young readers of all ages (Babyland; Our Pansy; Little Men and Women; Wide Awake=oldest readers).

Mrs. Lothrop continued her writing at The Wayside. Even after the death of Daniel, she continued to bring together those whose values and traditions were organized for future generations (Daughters of the American Revolution; Sons of the American Revolution; National Society for Children of the American Revolution). Her continued gathering of that which needed to be "taken care of" for the generations were many homes, meeting places, and sights of the Concord Revolution history. For me, it was the stories of the Five Little Peppers! May these authors never be forgotten. History is not perfect... but those that have walked before us lived and died for us to learn how to be the leaders of true freedom.

Meet the Author:

  "Margaret Sidney," as hostess reigns well, and exhibits one secret of her success in the writing of books…she puts aside her own personality and throws her whole heart into whatever interests those around her. It is impossible to forget this when talking to her, and the delightful atmosphere…was due largely to this influence. - Boston Evening Transcript, 1887

Harriett M. Stone was born on June 22, 1844 in New Haven, Connecticut. Although her life spanned more than half of the 19th century, we know little about her until the 1880s when her "Five Little Peppers and How They Grew" appeared in Wide Awake, a children's magazine, and she met and married its publisher, Daniel Lothrop.

Together they bought Hawthorne's home, The Wayside in Concord, Massachusetts in 1883.From that time on, her boundless energy and sunny disposition was seen in all that she undertook –raising her daughter Margaret who was born at The Wayside in 1884, writing for children under the pen name Margaret Sidney, founding the National Society Children of the American Revolution in 1895, saving historic houses, and celebrating with grand fetes the rich heritage of The Wayside and the people who lived there.

2021 Booked to Dine Book Club choices

 

Kim Michele Richardson  

ISBN: 9781492671527

Publisher's synopsis:

In 1936, tucked deep into the woods of Troublesome Creek, KY, lives blue-skinned 19-year-old Cussy Carter, the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry.

The lonely young Appalachian woman joins the historical Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a librarian, riding across slippery creek beds and up treacherous mountains on her faithful mule to deliver books and other reading material to the impoverished hill people of Eastern Kentucky.

Along her dangerous route, Cussy, known to the mountain folk as Bluet, confronts those suspicious of her damselfly-blue skin and the government's new book program. She befriends hardscrabble and complex fellow Kentuckians, and is fiercely determined to bring comfort and joy, instill literacy, and give to those who have nothing, a bookly respite, a fleeting retreat to faraway lands.

MrsK's Review:

In 1936, Kentucky, the book woman begins her deliveries on her mule. When riding through rough trails, on a mule, there isn't an opportunity to "call" someone when in need. Nor is there a safety "net" for stranger danger. Would you be willing to ride into the mountains just to deliver books?

Cussy Mary is 19. She enjoys the honor of delivering books to those who live around Troublesome Creek. She is committed to the need of literacy for those who dwell in the wilderness, Kentucky's "hill folk." She is "called" to the "grit" of hope that one day a library will bring educational inspiration into the minds and hearts of a new generation. She is one of the "Blue People" of Kentucky, those that are viewed as less than because of the color of their skin. Life's options are limited, yet living life is filled with possibilities. She values that the books she delivers "grows" the younger minds. So, she is willing to face whatever comes across her path!

Historical fiction, a genre that teaches the life lessons of those who have traveled the paths before us. This novel is woven with "heart-fulfilling hope." Characters speak true to their times. Settings are presented with the reality of the time. The storyline is "painfully" factual with reality, hardships, death, and determination to make life better one book at a time.

If you are ready to experience "determination" then begin this journey. Around the world, there have been and continue to be those who are committed to literacy. Some had mules, camels, boats, rafts, and skis. Endurance along the "roads" less traveled... is inspiring!

MrsK

 Historical fiction...

thoughtfully crafted!

Meet the Author:

   The NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author, Kim Michele Richardson is an multiple-award winning author and has written four works of historical fiction, and a bestselling memoir.

Her latest critically acclaimed novel, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek has earned a 2020 PBS Readers Choice, 2019 LibraryReads Best Book, Indie Next, SIBA, Forbes Best Historical Novel, Book-A-Million Best Fiction, and is an Oprah's Buzziest Books pick and a Women’s National Book Association Great Group Reads selection. It was inspired by the real life, remarkable "blue people" of Kentucky, and the fierce, brave Packhorse Librarians who used the power of literacy to overcome bigotry and fear during the Great Depression. The novel is taught widely in high schools and college classrooms.

Her forthcoming fifth novel, The Book Woman’s Daughter is both a stand-alone and sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and will be published May 3, 2022. Born in Kentucky, Kim Michele lives with her family there and is the founder of Shy Rabbit.

Amy Lynn Green

ISBN: 9780764237164

Publisher's Synopsis:

Headstrong Johanna Berglund, a linguistics student at the University of Minnesota, has very definite plans for her future . . . plans that do not include returning to her hometown and the secrets and heartaches she left behind there. But the US Army wants her to work as a translator at a nearby camp for German POWs.

Johanna arrives to find the once-sleepy town exploding with hostility. Most patriotic citizens want nothing to do with German soldiers laboring in their fields, and they're not afraid to criticize those who work at the camp as well. When Johanna describes the trouble to her friend Peter Ito, a language instructor at a school for military intelligence officers, he encourages her to give the town that rejected her a second chance.

As Johanna interacts with the men of the camp and censors their letters home, she begins to see the prisoners in a more sympathetic light. But advocating for better treatment makes her enemies in the community, especially when charismatic German spokesman Stefan Werner begins to show interest in Johanna and her work. The longer Johanna wages her home-front battle, the more the lines between compassion and treason become blurred--and it's no longer clear whom she can trust.

"How could it have come to this?"

MrsK's Review:

1944, Ironside Lake, Minnesota... a time of unrest, fear, doubts, and sacrifice. Have you heard that life sometimes brings a "turning point" in which everything you've planned gets delayed or taken out of your control? When your community is in need of a thread to hold on to? During WWII, a small town will experience the government's decision to open a German POW camp without consideration of their thoughts, feelings, or fears.

Johanna was in the process of completing her linguistic degree. She planned to meet the world head-on and to experience life through the language of commonality. No where, within her plans, did she expect a "called upon" government request. Nor, would she have expected her plans to be side-tracked by the government. Receiving the notification that she would be placed as a translator in a POW camp is not what one would choose. To be sent back to your hometown in the midst of their "unrest," as a camp translator, well how would the town accept this act of "un-patriotic" positioning?

With in a series of letters, we discover Johanna's realization that she is understanding the hearts of the enemies. Translating their letters to and from their home, their loved ones, leads to the commonality that she knows her town is experiencing with their sons interred in POW camps around Europe. How could she bring this truth to those within her town and help those behind the interment fences?

Once again, historical fiction brings an unknown truth into today's generation. It's hard to determine if growing up in the 60's, history was already being filtered and re-written, or if facts were shelved because of the "painful" life of war... all I can offer is this "shout-out" for historical fiction! To seek truth, to understand history, and to "hone" the person I'm becoming... historical fiction provides a path for self-exploration. An exploration that sharpens the awareness of compassion, acceptance, and profound hope. Ponder the state of our nation today... why are historical facts, perspectives, and life's struggles worth knowing? 2020 rolling into 2021... what should we have known? Who should have taught us? Why must we not forget? Our humanity is shaped... one way or another!

MrsK

 Historical fiction...

Touching your heart...

with understanding commonalities...

instead of differences!

Meet the Author:

Amy Lynn Green is a publicist by day and a novelist on nights and weekends. History has always been one of her passions, and she loves speaking with book clubs, writing groups, and libraries all around the country. Her debut novel, Things We Didn't Say, received a starred review from both Booklist and Library Journal and was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Awards in genre fiction. Amy and her husband make their home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can sign up for her newsletter on her website, amygreenbooks.com, for quarterly giveaways, writing updates, and lots of bookish fun.

Susan Wiggs

ISBN: 9780062999894

Publisher's Synopsis:

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

"You're never alone when you're reading a book."

MrsK's Review:

How does life meet changes? Who would you be if you had to start over? Natalie has been thrown into an inherited bookshop, as well as becoming a care-giver for her grandfather. There is no time to adjust to the tragedy she experienced during her one moment of recognition.

Growing up in a book store can be fun. New titles arriving. New discoveries and journeys with every turn of the page. Yet, what about her life-wishes? The hope of a new job. A new life. What is unfolding is not part of her wish list! Once she gets everything taken care of, maybe then she can begin following her wish list. Or will she? With an edge of resentment, Natalie will discover that her new life is molded by the unexpected gift of a change in attitude and strangers that become family.

OK... so yes... this is a book lover's dream come true! I began with a quote that I've always used in my vacation books for my students. One of the cherished quotes from this book is crafted with every reader in mind: "Sometimes you have to let the right book find you."

Wonderfully crafted, as this story unfolds you will be touched by the joy of each book title/author that is shared. Woven within the story of the bookshop, her grandfather's story, and her mother's journey as a bookshop owner... you will hear the sounds of the radio music playing for the customers... you will smell the coffee and treats within the coffee shop... you will feel the joys, sorrows, and worries of the bookshop staff and customers. Most importantly you will visualize the "wonder" of discoveries hidden within the doors of the Lost and Found Bookshop.

 Opening the door of the Lost and Found Bookshop...

Discovering an outing right at home!

*Read with a pencil and/or page flags*

Meet the Author:

 Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally. The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book.

Octavia E Butler

ISBN: 9780807083697

Publisher's Synopsis:

The first science fiction written by a black woman, Kindred has become a cornerstone of black American literature. This combination of slave memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction is a novel of rich literary complexity. Having just celebrated her 26th birthday in 1976 California, Dana, an African-American woman, is suddenly and inexplicably wrenched through time into antebellum Maryland. After saving a drowning white boy there, she finds herself staring into the barrel of a shotgun and is transported back to the present just in time to save her life. During numerous such time-defying episodes with the same young man, she realizes the challenge she’s been given.

"Strength. Endurance. To survive, my ancestors

had to put up with more than I ever could. 

Much more..."

MrsK's Review:

Dana is twenty-six, newly married, and living in California. As they were unpacking into their new home, Dana began feeling strange as if something was calling her. Suddenly she was in a green area... what was happening to her? Where was she? All she could remember was that her life with Kevin had become unfocussed.

At some point in time, she hears the screams of a child. A child drowning! Knowing how to save the boy, she doesn't hesitate as the little red headed boy lays motionless. Other than the mother screaming, the only sound she could hear was the sound of a gun being cocked. Then everything vanished.

She had no answers for Kevin. She only knew she had saved a boy from drowning and the adult voices sounded like they were from the deep south. Yet later that evening, she felt herself falling out of her chair.. in a beat of her heart...Dana was once again in the South, in a small cabin with a older child lighting the drapes on fire! Rufus appears to be around 8 years old. Why would he be starting a fire?

Dana soon discovers that when ever Rufus is in trouble and fears that he will die, somehow... someway he calls her to him. Across the states and across time. In fact it was 1815, not 1976! She is in Maryland, on the Weylin plantation in which this boys father whips him... a whipping almost to death. Weylin, a name that Dana knew well for it was listed in her grandmother's bible. Could Rufus be a relative? Her ancestor? This place and time would prove dangerous for Dana, very dangerous. Only the fear of her own death will get her home... home to Kevin. Or so she thought.

Historical fiction, a measure of strength and determination. A time in which we can learn valuable life "truths." An insight into man's failures, social downfalls, and hopes. When historical fiction is crafted with a heart of humanity, there is always an opportunity for the reader to gain personal insights. The fine line is if there is hope or horrific anger. Grit or hatred. Wisdom or deceit. Truth or separation. This story is woven through a prism of light, a light that shines an encouragement... we can overcome injustice and learn compassion from those who walked before us.

MrsK

 Historical fiction...

An avenue we all travel!

Meet the Author:

 
After her father died, Octavia Butler was raised by her widowed mother. Extremely shy as a child, Octavia found an outlet at the library reading fantasy, and in writing. She began writing science fiction as a teenager. She attended community college during the Black Power movement, and while participating in a local writer's workshop was encouraged to attend the Clarion Workshop, which focused on science fiction.

She soon sold her first stories and by the late 1970s had become sufficiently successful as an author that she was able to pursue writing full-time. Her books and short stories drew the favorable attention of the public and awards judges. She also taught writer's workshops, and eventually relocated to Washington state. Butler died of a stroke at the age of 58. Her papers are held in the research collection of the Huntington Library. 

Amy Meyerson

ISBN: 9780778319849

Publisher's Synopsis:

A woman inherits a beloved bookstore and sets forth on a journey of self-discovery in this poignant debut about family, forgiveness and a love of reading.

Miranda Brooks grew up in the stacks of her eccentric Uncle Billy’s bookstore, solving the inventive scavenger hunts he created just for her. But on Miranda’s twelfth birthday, Billy has a mysterious falling-out with her mother and suddenly disappears from Miranda’s life. She doesn’t hear from him again until sixteen years later when she receives unexpected news: Billy has died and left her Prospero Books, which is teetering on bankruptcy—and one final scavenger hunt.

MrsK's Review:

Beginning in 1998, Miranda knew that her Uncle Billy was special to her and a pressurized source of frustration to her mom. Having the opportunity of growing up in a bookstore is a delight to most children, for Miranda coming home to Prospero Books includes painful memories, unanswered questions, and a love/hate trepidation. Leaving behind her boyfriend and her eighth-grade classroom in Philadelphia, she heads home to Culver City. With so many feelings spiraling within her heart, she opens the doors of Prospero and walks within...

One of the joys Miranda recalls is Uncle Billy's scavenger hunts. Clues that could lead you around the bookshop, around the globe, or clues that might lead you to a family secret. Uncle Billy's will has "gifted" Miranda his Prospero Bookshop and one last scavenger hunt... where is this going? You know the quote, "It takes a village to raise a child," well it will take Prospero's book lovers, friends, employees and a handy-man to help raise Miranda from a school teacher into an independent bookshop owner. Will Miranda decide to value Uncle Billy's gift, while she struggles to keep Prospero books from closing forever?

As a reading customer of Prospero's Bookshop, you can count on excellent "title-sharing" and author picks, delightful setting details, endearing characters, as well as the uplifting "hope" for an independent bookshop's legacy.

MrsK

 Independent bookshops...

Excellent book club choice...

A "forever" choice!

Meet the Author:

  Amy Meyerson is the bestselling author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays and The Imperfects. Her books have been translated into eleven languages, and her short fiction has been published in numerous literary magazines. Amy teaches in the writing department at the University of Southern California, where she completed her master's degree in creative writing. She is currently at work on her third novel, expected in early 2023.

Cindi Rigsbee

ISBN: 9780470486788

Publisher Synopsis:

Finding Mrs. Warnecke tells the inspiring story of Cindi Rigsbee, a three-time Teacher of the Year, and Barbara Warnecke, the first-grade teacher who had a profound and lasting impact on Cindi's life. Cindi, an insecure child who craved positive attention, started her first-grade year with a teacher who was emotionally abusive and played favorites in the classroom. Her new teacher, Mrs. Warnecke, made learning come alive for her students. She went overboard caring for each child, made her classroom magical, and encouraged students to pursue their dreams. Finding Mrs. Warnecke not only tells the story of this teacher who made a lifelong impact on her students, it illustrates the importance of the teacher/student relationship in the classroom, and offers principles for other teachers to follow to make a positive impact in their own classrooms.

MrsK's Review:

Most of us have had a teacher like Mrs. Warnecke... you know the one! Don't you?

The minute I heard a review of this book, I had to read it. When you have spent what seems like a life-time "becoming" an educator... you never feel that you've done all that you could to guide, inspire, and ignite your learners to succeed beyond their deceiving self-images. By the time 1980 rolled into my life, I was ready to follow the "calling" and return to what I wanted to be when I grew up. The compelling desire to experience a story about a teacher who made the difference continues to "re-kindle" the hope that educators seek... the "seeds" of revelation that will inspire our future citizens.

Cindi Rigsbee became a teacher. A novice teacher learning how to teach her students. Becoming "seasoned" brings forth enough experiences with her learners, in which she will seek to understand the individualized challenges her learners face, challenges that will "re-define" her techniques, "hone" her skills, and create an atmosphere of relationships with her students. As an educator, she continues to greet each day with her "targeted" goal... that her "students will want to learn from her."

"Whatever it takes!" Life-long learners learn from those who are successful. Mrs. Warnecke became Cindi's first grade teacher. Her "turn-around" moment (Have you thought of a teacher like that?). Cindi's first few years teaching became a series of failures, hardships with no college learned answers, and the painful encounters with student cruelty. Yet, grit and determination always moves us forward. After a few more tries, Cindi began seeing, experiencing, and knowing success with her students. You must read this book, for there isn't enough time for me to point out all of the similarities I've had in my career. *A book club with teachers is a must!

"I began to understand that accepting all my students,

regardless of the misfortunes they dealt with...

would be the key...

to teach them effectively!"

Teachers. Who are we? Why do we choose to do what we do? What are our goals? How do you make a difference? Open the covers of this book... and be the change for your learners!

MrsK

Memoirs...

Shinning a light on "who" crossed your path

with inspiration. 

Meet the Author:

  Nonetheless, other forces prevailed in my life that led me to the honorable profession of teaching. And, like my great-grandmother, I believe it’s important to share stories – stories of the thousands of students I’ve taught since 1979.

So, yes, I am a teacher…and I am a storyteller. But I am also a cheerleader for teachers and a cheerleader for the profession that makes all other professions possible. I believe my Great Granny Maggie would be proud.