The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson

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The Bookshop of Yesterdays is not what I expected and so much better! Part mystery, part romance with shocking twists. It will consume you. Part rite of passage, letting go of the past, regrets and forgiveness, the story follows a young woman on her journey as to what happened years before when her mother and her brother stopped speaking. As she follows the clues, and the realization becomes real, what will she do?

Miranda Brooks was living her best life. A history teacher, having just moved in with her also a teacher boyfriend, they are now facing a summer of relaxing and entertaining in their apartment. Miranda, an only child whose parents still live in California, moved to the east coast and although she misses her mother and best friend, she is excited for this new journey.

Until she receives a letter and a book from an attorney in California letting her know that her Uncle Billy has died. She is perplexed as she has not seen or heard from him since she overheard a fight when she was twelve between her mother and her brother.

She does remember him as a fun-loving uncle who owned a bookstore named Prospero Books. He use to take her there. That is where she learned not only her love of reading, but her curiosity about history. He would pick her up when he was in town, he was a seismologist and traveled extensively. But her most vivid and happy memories are when he would plan scavenger hunts all around the town and they would do them together.

As she begins to look through the book, she begins to feel this is more than just a book. This she believes is some sort of scavenger hunt. Perhaps a last goodbye from her uncle? But why? They have had no contact for many years and when she would ask her mother about him, she would evade the topic.

So, Miranda decides to fly back to California for Uncle Billy’s funeral. She is shocked and confused by what she sees in the cemetery. She is also stunned to learn that her uncle has left her Prospero Books. But why? So many questions. She discovers the bookstore is failing and most of the employees don’t understand why she is here. But she feels it is part of some sort of scavenger hunt she needs to see through.

She decides to stay and see if she can figure out what to do for the bookstore and what her Uncle Billy is trying to tell her. Her mother and father unfortunately feel very differently. They believe she should let the bookstore and her Uncle Billy go and return to her new life.

She stubbornly disagrees and begins the scavenger hunt. But, be careful what you wish for. Miranda will not only open a pandora’s box, which will not only change her life but also everyone else she cares about.

The Bookshop of Yesterday is a beautiful book which explores heartbreak, sorrow, family secrets but most importantly understanding and love. You will not want to put this book down!

Published by Park Row.

Amazon.com: The Bookshop of Yesterdays: A Library Journal Best Book of Summer Literary Fiction Mystery: 9780778369080: Meyerson, Amy: Books

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

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Marie Benedict’s new historical novel, Daughter of Egypt is an amazing look at two astonishing women, born 3,000 years apart during very different time periods in the world. But, although their life experiences were of course very different, their core values, single-mindedness and strong personalities in the face of men who looked at them as worthless helped them to become strong, purposeful women. One of the women will search history for the other and question why she seemed to be hidden. The other will be strong willed and have to make difficult decisions but be determined as she rules Egypt.

Lady Evelyn Hebert lived in England with her wealthy parents. Her father made pilgrimages to Egypt to collect trinkets from the Pyramids. Lady Evelyn’s fascination caught the eye of her father’s partner, Howard Carter, who not only respected Lady Evelyn’s opinions, but considered her his equal. She began going on excavations with her father and Carter. She had a keen eye. In particular Lady Evelyn had a fascination with a woman, a Pharoah who lived 3,000 years before named Hatshepsut. As hard as she tried, she could not find any information on her reign and although she found little artifacts of Hatshepsut, she could not discover her burial place.

The story revolves around both women’s lives each with their own chapters. Their rises and falls, of course very different, yet with so much similarity. Including the men they will love and how they are supported by them.

Hatshepsut was born into Egyptian royalty. Her father a Pharoah. Never imagining anything in her life except marriage and children, she is suddenly thrust into the politics of life due to unforeseen circumstances. She now must learn to rule but keep her family safe. And so, she begins a reign which by all accounts was indeed successful. The mystery of it all…why has she been hidden from history?

Lady Evelyn is an unknown self-made archeologist who becomes well respected. She was actually the first person to enter the tomb of King Tut. Lady Evelyn is but a little blip in the history of discovering tombs in Egypt, but because of her intelligence she had a silent impact during this time.

One woman ruled openly, the other silently yet determined. Through Benedict’s impeccable research both of them seem to be cut from the same cloth. Perhaps that’s why Lady Evelyn tried so hard to find Hatshepsut.

But more fascinating, why has Hatshepsut been left out of history? Could it be for no other reason than she was a woman? Or is there another story which was never told.

Daughter of Egypt is a fascinating look at two women earning them both the title of daughter of Egypt for different reasons. Yet, their strengths, resolve and power make both of them important female influencers way before their times.

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #MarieBenedict #DaughterofEgypt for the advanced copy.

Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

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Not a detective Ernest Cunningham is back in another fun, head scratching, filled with clues murder mystery thriller. This time Ernest and his fiancé Juliette find themselves at a bank at the request of the bank manager. Ernest has decided he wants to open his own detective agency even though he isn’t a detective, but Juliette wants to borrow money to pay for their upcoming wedding as they have none, due to the sudden death of an actor who was to play Ernest in a movie…and unfortunately that killed the deal (pun intended). But everything suddenly takes a turn for the worse when a man enters the bank with a gun and explains he’s robbing the bank and taking everyone hostage.

He only wants a dollar from the safe.

What happens next is a series of misfortunate events, with each hostage carrying secret baggage, including Ernest himself! The comical cast of characters include: A Priest who does not speak but only types on his iPad, a young gamer who is touted as one of the best in the country, the film producer who was producing the film about Ernest, a young girl with a Go Fund Me page who is looking for a new heart and her caregiver, a very ditzy receptionist and a bank security guard. Oh, and there is also a talking parrot!

Are you intrigued yet? You should be because this is truly when the fun starts. As the day goes on, they of course will discover a body and will begin to uncover what they have each been hiding. Could they all be in this together?

Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief is a laugh out loud story with amazing clues which all are pieced together by the end of the story with so many ah ha moments your head will spin (or explode) …read the book… I can’t wait for the next!

Thank you #NetGalley #MarinerBooks #BenjaminStevenson #EveryoneInThisBankIsAThief for the advanced copy.

Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg

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Life: A Love Story is a beautiful, touching, poignant story about an elderly woman who discovers she is dying. Now, she must get her life in order before her inevitable passing. Although she feels her life was simple and ordinary, as she looks back on all she has done and seen, and all those she has loved and cried about, she comes to the realization that no life in fact is just ordinary, but extraordinary. Yes, simple. but rich with life, love and good friends.

At 92 years young, Florence (Flo) Greene has just come back from the doctor who has informed her she only has a short time left to live. Her husband passed years ago and they never had children, so Flo decides to leave everything she owns including her house to her life-long friend Ruthie. Flo starts a letter to Ruthie and in doing so, rediscovers forgotten memories, happy times and yes, even very somber ones.

Thus begins the beautiful life Flo never realized she had. Not ordinary at all, but remarkable! As she goes through items in her home and where to find them, Flo tells Ruthie stories brought on by the memories they bring up, including some with her friend. Just a simple elastic band in a kitchen draw tugs at her heart for the love she shared with her husband Terrence. She relives times with Ruthie when they were young and innocent. She finds an old book which when she opens it surprises her with a new memory.

At the same time, she meets a neighbor who she feels needs a little push in the world. Flo decides it should be up to her before she dies to glean some of her many years of understanding upon a woman, she feels is lonely, yet at the same time, this wise new friend pushes Flo to do things she has never done before such as get her nails done.

Flo even tries to give Ruthie a bit of marital advice in her final letter knowing it might be none of her business but she’s dying anyway! More importantly, Flo comes to the understanding through her letter that every life has impact. On themselves, on others and sometimes that impact allows you to see what joy you have had, heartbreak, a learning experience, and the forgivingness of peace to the soul. But a life is a true love story.

Life: A Love Story will stay with you after the last beautiful page. It will make you smell the roses and look at the sky differently and it will have you hugging those you love or want to get to know a bit tighter. You see, it’s the little things in life that are not only the sweetest, but the most impactful.

Thank you #NetGalley #RandomHouse #ElizabethBerg #Life:ALoveStory for the advanced copy.

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle

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Once and Again is magical, but heartbreaking, yet such an uplifting moving story about a family of women with a decade’s secret. “The secret? With a mysterious ticket, once in their lifetime they can turn back the clock. The question becomes is it worth it? The answer is in the story as we learn about their lives, their regrets, their hopes and dreams and failures. Is the ticket worth what its cost to the user?

Sylvia is the mother of Marcella and the grandmother of Lauren. Years ago, she was gifted a ticket as a thank you and told she could use it once to reverse time. Every woman in her family would get their own ticket. As mysterious as the ticket is Sylvia’s past life is just as puzzling. She keeps that to herself. Marcella never knew her father, but she did learn about the ticket.

When Marcella’s husband died in a car crash leaving daughter Lauren and herself alone, she did not blink an eye. She knew she had to use the ticket to save him. But by doing that she has spent her life worrying about him. He came back energetic and loved to surf. Needless to say, her fear of losing him never went away.

Now as Lauren ponders her life with her husband Leo, she must make a few decisions. She and Leo have been secretly doing IVF. No matter what they do, they can’t get pregnant and now they have reached a point where not only can’t they afford the process anymore, but Leo just wants to stop completely. This has become a bone of contention between the two of them.

So, when Leo gets an assignment which will take him away for the summer, Lauren decides to spend the summer with her mother, father and grandmother at their house on the beach. She too is an avid surfer. Although she enjoys spending time with her mother, she is much closer to her grandmother and father. For Lauren she has never understood her mother’s feelings towards her.

Thus begins a summer which will change all their lives forever. Certain situations will occur which will not only test Lauren and Leo’s relationship but also test all of their past decisions, starting with Lauren who discovers her first true love, Stone, is living back home, and he tells her he regrets what happened to them years ago.

As the summer progresses, secrets, wishes and dreams will be discovered. So will betrayals. But for Lauren, this ticket will be on her mind. Do you change history? Do you try and work out problems on your own? Who do you love more?

Once and Again is a powerful, sensitive family story filled with intense love, grief and making amends. But the shocking twists and turns will keep you glued until the end!

Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #RebeccaSerle #OnceandAgain for the advanced copy.

That’s What Friends are For by Wade Rouse

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That’s What Friends are For is Wade Rouse’s first, but not really first book. For years we have been reading his wonderful, beautiful stories under the name Viola Shipman, an ohmage to his beloved grandmother. But this new book although very different from his past stories is in my opinion stronger, more powerful, so very funny but in keeping with Shipman’s plots and characters has such heart and soul, love and strength and truly so much more. The story, inspired by a television show he watched with his grandmother and mother, The Golden Girls, incorporates the values and groundbreaking plots of the past show and wonderfully integrates them into current day dilemmas.

The story is about a group of gay men who found each other, live in Palm Springs, California, share a house named Zsa Zsa while each is trying to pursue their dreams, trying to leave their pasts behind and be there for each other. Sound familiar? They also monthly have a very popular drag queen show called The Golden Gays. But of course, each have come to the house of Zsa Zsa with terrible, sometimes horrific baggage.

Teddy loves his life with men and drink. He owns a consignment store and is the proud creator of The Golden Gays as that was his and his mother’s favorite show to watch when she was dying. Having been exiled from his family at an early age for not being like them, his father tortured him and his sister Trudy basically bullied him and stopped talking to him, he is now living his truest life. Until an unfortunate situation occurs.

Barry was actually in the first episode of The Golden Girls. But then they dropped him. He has been chasing the dream ever since. With the help and push of his friends he will continue to audition until he becomes famous or until he dies. Then he actually meets someone who hurt him terribly years ago and he is offered a proposition.

Ron was a devoted Midwest Catholic who keeps his housemates in order. Making sure the house looks decent and everyone is well. He is the heart of Zsa Zsa. But he is still sensitive to and nervous about his lifestyle and tries to stay under the radar. Until someone challenges him.

Finally, there is Leo. Who came out late in life leaving a wife and children (and grandchildren). But Leo has yet to find love or a soulmate. It could possibly be his age, he is in his 80’s, but he will never give up hope that he will somehow meet his one true love. Hopefully.

But when Teddy’s sister Trudy and her teenage granddaughter Ava show up all bets are off as to what will happen to the friends and the impact this visit will have on all of them.

They fight, they love each other, they cry for each other, and they will stand by each other no matter what. That in a nutshell is exactly what friends are for, if you are lucky to have them. That’s What Friends are For is filled with humor, drama, mystery, friendship, sensitivity and love, so much love, with so many lessons to be learned!

Thank you for being a friend to all of your readers Wade Rouse!

Thank you #NetGalley #MiraBooks #WadeRouse #That’sWhatFriendsareFor for the advanced copy.

Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy

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Ours Is a Tale of Murder is masterful! The end. What this story encapsulates is not only an amazing thriller but has so many different layers and mysteries and secrets which continue to build into an incredible shocking effect which will blow your mind.

The story begins with the romance of Klara and Troy. How they meet, their relationship and how they marry. Although Klara says yes to marriage it seems to be for all the wrong reasons. Troy on the other hand is obsessed with Klara.

As their relationship progresses, the story turns to the families who live on a cul-de-sac.

We have Mary who lives in sorrow and is grieving for her lost life. She now has to downsize, and she is tortured as she begins to clear out her son’s room. Mary seems to have shame and fear. We don’t know why,

Janet and her husband have witnessed a great deal on the street. Their daughter now married with children lives further away from them. They decide to retire and move closer to her until their older son Henry must move in with them because he has lost his job. Henry has had issues it seems his whole life which have always been swept under the carpet. But now Janet needs him to leave, but Henry has other ideas.

Henry has set his sights on the wife who lives across the street. He watches her from the window, imagines their life together, but has yet to even say hello. Of course, the wife is married…to the husband.

Then a murder occurs on the quiet street.

Just relax and come along for the ride of your life as the story unfolds as we get to peek into the neighbors’ dark secrets, fears, regrets and shame.

Ours Is a Tale of Murder is an intense, can’t put down read which will have you itching to read the last page. But don’t! The story so good, and the ending so unexpected!

Thank you #NetGalley #SourcebooksLandmark #NoraMurphy #OursIsaTaleofMurder for the advanced copy.

This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman

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This is Not About Us is heartbreaking, uplifting, funny yet painful and sadly, extremely relatable. The story explores the aftermath of a family member’s death and how others cope with their sorrow, some learning and adjusting, others unable to move on or forgive. I bet no one reading this paragraph cannot somehow relate to this family’s situation. This story is powerful.

As the book opens, we discover that one of three sisters, Jeanne is in the hospital dying. We hear her thoughts on other members of the family as well as what she thinks of her two sisters, Syliva and Helen. She can’t let go because she worries. Finally, she lets go not knowing what the future holds for those left behind.

But immediately something goes terribly wrong. Slyvia and Helen have an argument. It was caused by an apple cake. As other members of the family try and get them to understand it’s not really about the cake, both stubborn, they refuse and stop speaking, leaving all those in both families shaken and of course having to take unwanted sides.

As life goes on within the families, we see vignettes through chapters of those caught in the middle as they live life. We hear their thoughts, see their tragedies, feel their divorces, insecurities, worries and troubles. But we also see the good. How they pick themselves up, finally, how they move on, and how worries actually become proud moments. They all seem to look back at Jeanne’s passing in different ways. Except of course for Sylvia and Helen, who just like Jeanne in her last moments, can’t let go. But all their lives move on in different ways, and both families even come together when there is joy. Of course, the death of Jeanne was not the only death of sorts they have all had to deal with throughout the next few years.

This is Not About Us is a poignant forceful relatable story told with humor, sadness but most importantly, with love. Which of course we all can understand.

Thank you #NetGalley #TheDialPress #AllegraGoodman #ThisisNotAboutUs for the advanced copy.

Our Beautiful Mess by Adele Parks

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Our Beautiful Mess is a gripping, messy story about perfectly imperfect families, bad choices, secrets and pasts coming back to haunt them. But don’t worry…it’s a thriller and will have you on the edge of your seat with the ending an out of the park homerun!

Connie and her husband Luke are preparing for their Christmas Holiday. With all three girls coming home, Connie is going to make sure it’s the perfect merry time between now and the New Year. Everything Connie does is perfect. Flora, the eldest is coming in, Fran who is away at college will be there and their youngest, in grade school Sophie of course is looking forward to whatever drama is going to unfold.

But what Connie and Luke had not prepared for was when daughter Fran arrives, she has her boyfriend, unknown to them with her and they discover she is pregnant and keeping the baby. Connie is flabbergasted and doesn’t understand why Fran had not told her. She thought she had not only a great relationship with her girls, but they were comfortable enough to tell her anything and everything…apparently not.

As Connie begins to contemplate how this pregnancy will impact not only Fran and school, but the family, she also can’t get over this feeling that Zac seems a bit familiar. She can’t put her finger on it yet…

This is when the perfect holiday and the perfect family begin to crack. Zac has secrets, Connie figures out who Zac is and the upcoming holiday season becomes a holiday mess like crumbling Christmas cookies!

But Connie is the strong matriarch of the family, and she will do anything in her power to fight for them, no matter what that means. She will not allow her beautiful family to be destroyed.

Our Beautiful Mess is captivating in more ways than one, with many moving parts, but it’s the fight for family and the love and care and the determination to let nobody come between them is the impetus to it all. Family first!

Thank you #NetGalley #ParkRow/HarperCollins #AdeleParks #OurBeautifulMess for the advanced copy.

Out Of The Loop by Katie Siegel

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Out Of The Loop is an interesting story with a unique twist on how to solve a murder/mystery in which the main character has spent the past two years in a time-loop. She doesn’t understand how or why but when a murder occurs at the bookstore near her apartment and the victim lives in said apartment complex as does her friend, a quirky neighbor who becomes the prime suspect, well she feels she must try and use the loop to help him. Intertwined in the plot is a love story, but more important how our heroine learns to empower and figure out how to become an adult.

For two years Amie Teller has been in a time loop, waking each morning and recreating the same day over and over. She visits the local breakfast cafe hoping this time they have her favorite muffin, a woman in the park and the evening always ends with her having dinner with her ex-girlfriend, Ziya whom she still cares about. Then out of the blue she wakes us and is shocked to discover her life is back to normal…well not really normal but close.

She discovers her neighbor who owns the bookshop in the area has been murdered, and the last person she was seen with who was having a yelling match with her was her friend and other neighbor, David. Unfortunately, the police have set their sights on him as the killer.

Now Amie must try and figure out if she saw or heard anything while she was in the time-loop which could give her, David and her ex-girlfriend Ziya who wants to help them some clues as to what was happening prior to the murder. With many suspects, as the bookstore owner was not very well liked, and as the clues begin to add up Amie must figure out what she learned from the past and see where it fits into the present.

Out Of The Loop is a fun, compelling who-dun-it with many moving parts and an extremely engaging mystery!

Thank you #NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #KatieSiegel #OutOfTheLoop for the advanced copy.