Sunday, March 24, 2024

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire Swinarski

In the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Esther has been making food with her fellow "funeral ladies" for seventy years. Recently, she has been the victim of an online scam and is in danger of losing her home if she doesn't come up with $30,000. Her granddaughter Iris, who also lives in Ellerie County, comes up with the idea of covering the debt by publishing a cookbook with all the recipes that Esther and her friends have made through the years. Iris is also the owner of a rental property in which Cooper Welsh and his family are staying. Cooper, his younger half-sister Cricket and celebrity chef dad Ivan, are in town for the funeral of his stepmother, Annabelle. Iris and Cooper are soon spending time together and falling in love. However, Cooper's ongoing trauma from being involved in the aftermath of a shooting threatens their relationship. In The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County, the reader sees the story through Esther, Iris, and Cooper's eyes as family bonds are tested and strengthened.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

The employees of the big box store Town Square in Potterstown, New York are an interesting bunch. When the group of people who work in movement (unloading the trucks at 4am) discover that the top boss is leaving (meaning that means one of them might be promoted) they hatch a plan to pretend that their direct boss, Meredith, is wonderful, hoping that she'll be elevated to the top position, so none of them will have to work with her anymore. Several of them also dream of what a promotion would mean for themselves. In Help Wanted, Waldman creates a novel that explores the lives of contemporary working class Americans--struggling to pay bills, wanting health insurance, and trying to better their situations. It's a touching, heartfelt, and at times lighthearted portrait.

Trouble by Lex Croucher

When her dear sister Amy falls ill, Emily reluctantly decides to go in her place to be the new governess at Fairmont House so Amy does not lose the position. Where Amy is kind to everyone and loves children, Emily is ornery and dislikes kids. However, the residents of Fairmont House are a quirky crew, and soon Emily finds herself liking her co-workers and having feelings for Captain Edwards, the widowed head of the household and father to two teenagers--Aster and Grace. Trouble is a delightful historical romance with a contemporary bent and is perfect for readers who enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Monday, February 26, 2024

A Wild and Heavenly Place by Robin Oliveira

In 1878 Glasgow, Samuel Fiddes lives with his five-year-old sister Alison in poverty. Their parents and siblings died of diphtheria several years ago. Samuel, who can read and write and has a knack for numbers, dreams of a better life for himself and Alison. He has had his eye on wealthy Hailey MacIntyre after seeing her weekly in church, but he knows her parents would never approve. Yet Samuel and Hailey secretly start to spend time together after Samuel saves Hailey's younger brother's life. When the MacIntyre family sets sail for Seattle after losing their fortune, Hailey asks Samuel to follow her there. In A Wild and Heavenly Place, the reader follows Samuel and Hayley over the next four years as they individually make their lives in the Pacific Northwest--a land of enormous promise, yet at times dangerous and lawless. Will Samuel and Hayley's love be strong enough to let them eventually be together? A great read-alike for Sandra Dallas.

Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita

Police detective Cara Kennedy is still trying to find out how her husband Aaron and son Dylan died. One clue lies in the photo she found of her, Aaron, and Dylan on the phone of a dead gang member. There are photos of other people on the phone too. Could there be a connection between them? Meanwhile, Ellie Wright--owner of the Cozy Condo Inn in Point Mettier--is mourning the death of her estranged son, Timmy. A third story in the novel is that of Mia--a waitress and office cleaner--who left the secluded community of Unity for life in Anchorage. Village in the Dark is the tale of the trio of women, along with other characters who featured in Yamashita's first book in the series, City Under One Roof. A solid mystery that builds on the previous book and pushes the series forward.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Float Up, Sing Down by Laird Hunt

It's 1982 in Bright Creek, Indiana. In this story collection, the reader spends a day with the inhabitants of this small town. There's teenagers Della and Sugar who are in the beginnings of a relationship, despite others' objections. Sugar's best friend, Greg, is obsessed with Kung Fu and works at the Galaxy Swirl with Della, while Della's grandfather Hank (the former sheriff) is stuck mulling between the past and present in his mind. Other people we hear from are Cubby, who owns the local garage, and Candy, an older resident who mourns her best friend, Irma Ray. For readers who enjoy Kent Haruf and Shannon Bowring.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Knife Skills by Wendy Church

The only job Chicago chef Sagarine could find was working at a restaurant owned by Russian mobster Anatoly. When Louie the head chef is murdered, Sagarine is promoted. In addition to being in charge at the restaurant, she begins to cater dinners at Anatoly's home. Soon, the FBI persuades Sagarine to work for them, but when she falls for Ekaterina (the only female member of Anatoly's crew) the situation becomes even more complicated and dangerous. Will Sagarine be able to keep her betrayal secret? Knife Skills is a very twisty novel, but perhaps it twists the knife one time too many.