The scene is cleanly set when in the simpler times of 1975 10-year-old Miranda arrives home from school to find the house locked and, after she uses the hidden key to get in, empty. Her mother should be there. Her mother is always there to greet her after school. Her car, keys, handbag all in their proper place, but Jane Larkin is gone. And that’s the last of clean, simple ... Read More...
The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin
Wonderful news, kittens, one of my 5 star, favorite novels of 2016 comes out in paperback tomorrow! The Swans of Fifth Avenue is fabulously divine reading about Truman Capote, 1950s Manhattan and wealthy people behaving badly. Witty and sharp, it is THE antidote for everything that is dreary right now. Once upon a time there was a group of very special ... Read More...
Historical Fiction: Mini-Reviews
In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a fan of historical fiction. You might think you can read only so many books about World War II, the Tudors, or almost any European royal family before losing interest but apparently, for me, that’s not true. There's always some aspect of history I knew nothing about and, while I should read non-fiction for accuracy's sake, it puts me to sleep. ... Read More...
Empress of the Night: Review and a GIVEAWAY
Power lies in hearing what is not meant to be heard. In understanding what motivates those who plot against you. In knowing what could make them turn about-face, come to your side. Empress of the Night, Eva Stachniak’s new historical novel about Catherine the Great, begins at the end by opening with the last days before her death. Catherine is in the 34th year of her ... Read More...
The Great Work of Your Life
If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you; if you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you. The Great Work of Your Life opens with these lines from the Gnostic Gospels of Thomas Author Stephen Cope then skillfully relates “what is within you” to the Hindu concept of dharma. However, as seen by the ... Read More...
