I adored Maggie O’Farrell’s last novel, Hamnet. She returns, with another novel set in the 1500s, but in Italy this time. The Marriage Portrait is about a young Italian princess and bride, Lucrezia of ... Read More...
One Italian Summer
When Katy’s mother Carol dies, she is consumed with grief. Not only was her mother her best friend, but they had planned a trip of special importance. A month in Positano, Italy a place Carol visited ... Read More...
Summer Thrillers: Mini-Reviews
Summer is a great time for thrillers. Hot weather, vacation, and short attention spans are all made for engaging reading that moves fast. Of course, my expectations are higher, because humidity makes ... Read More...
July Reading Wrap-Up
Goodbye, July! My first full month of real summer in the Midwest. What I loved: fireflies, thunder and rain storms that last for hours. What is not so much: humidity that flattens me but makes ... Read More...
The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King
Giovanni’s uncle, Bartolomeo Scappi, was a celebrity in Rome. He was the private chef to three popes and the author of a wildly popular cookbook. Now he is dead and Giovanni’s life is about to turn ... Read More...