Late Winter Reading: Part II

Here's the promised second part of what I read in February and March. (For Part I, see my earlier post.) As before, I present the books in the order I read or listened to them and have taken the text from thoughts I posted on GoodReads. "AFM" means I reviewed the audiobook for AudioFile Magazine, and you'll find my review of the audiobook production there.

I have no idea why I was suddenly attracted to books about women during World War II; I read three nonfiction and two fictionalized accounts.

All but one of the books were provided by the publisher in one or more forms (digital, auido, print). Thanks too to Libro.fm.

Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic (Gallery, Peb. 2021): Kind of a domestic thriller and coming-of-age mashup. Roan is an Olympic-class equestrian athlete who is coached by her father, who is also a world-famous equestrian. Her fans and friends think her life is blessed, but what they don't know is that her father is controlling and physically and sexually abusive. This is the story of how Roan negotiates the mine field of her life, trying to find a clear path to the other side.

The book is a little difficult to read because of the tough subject matter, but the information about equestrian riding and training is interesting and provides welcome breaks, and the complexities of Roan's feelings are well done. (AFM)

The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis (Katherine Tegen, Feb. 2021): I'm a fan of McGinnis's, and this creepy, twisty book didn't disappoint. In this retelling of Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," teenage Tress seeks revenge and information from her ex-best friend, Felicity, who was the last person to see Tress's parents before they disappeared. McGinnis also provides a look at what might happen when contemporary teenagers party unsupervised, except by social media. I can't wait for the second book in the duology.

The audiobook is nicely read by Lisa Flanagan, Brittany Pressley, and Tim Campbell. Flanagan and Pressley read the sections told from Tress's and Felicity's viewpoints, each perfectly capturing her character's personality. Campbell reads the sections told from the point of view of a panther (I won't say more, so as to avoid spoilers), and does a great job with the free verse.

The Invisible Woman by Erika Robuck (Berkley, Feb. 2021): Robuck's latest historical fiction introduces us to Virginia Hall, who overcame a number of hurdles to become a key player in the French resistance during World War II. Despite being a woman, being American, and needing a wooden leg (the result of an accident), she was sent to Occupied France by the British government to gather information, transmit messages, arrange supply drops, and aid the resistance.

I had never heard of Virginia Hall, who earlier served in the diplomatic core and later in the CIA. Even if you think you're over WWII stories, this one is very much worth your while. (AFM)

The Power Couple by Alex Berenson (Simon & Schuster, Feb. 2021): A very twisty thriller with some political and domestic aspects. Rebecca, a CIA operative, is married to Brian, a tech expert who recently sold a gambling app for buckets of money. To celebrate a milestone wedding anniversary and their new wealth, they decide to take a family trip to Europe. While in Barcelona, their college-aged daughter, Kira, sneaks out to have a drink with a guy she met the day before. She never comes home. A day or so later, her parents receive a ransom note.

The story, told alternately from Rebecca's, Brian's, and Kira's perspectives, is believable and scary. I loved the surprises. If you're into thrillers, give this a try. The audiobook is brilliantly performed by Steven Weber and Marin Ireland, who nailed the pacing and the characters' personalities.

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson (William Morrow, March 2021): I like a good domestic thriller, but the premise of this one was hard for me to buy. On her destination bachelorette party (paid for and arranged by her fabulously wealthy groom), Abigail gets drunk and has a one-night stand. She decides she shouldn't tell her groom. Everything is back on track until Abigail begins to feel uneasy just hours into their honeymoon on an isolated, tech-free island off the coast of Maine.

Yes, there were tense moments, and yes, I ended up rooting for Abigail. However, I found much of the book a little out of my ability to suspend disbelief. Also, it wasn't hard to predict the ending. The unabridged audiobook was read by Karissa Vacker, who did a good job with the material she had to work with.

The Forever Sea by Joshua Phillip Johnson (DAW, Jan. 2021): I wanted to love this eco-fantasy, but instead it was just okay for me. In this world, boats sail on the surface of a vast, deep "ocean" made of prairie grasses. Boats are powered by magical fires tended by hearthkeepers. The story focuses on a young hearthkeeper and her first crew, both on the sea and in port. Themes include loyalty and betrayal, friends and family, loss and love (LGBTQ+), and politics.

This first in a new series ends not so much on a cliffhanger but certainly without resolution. The world building is well done, but the characters lack depth and the plot is meandering. (AFM)

You'll Thank Me for This by Nina Siegal (Mulholland Books, March 2021): Set in a national park in Netherlands, this thriller finds its foundation in a local tradition in which a small group of teens are blindfolded and then dropped off in the woods with a map and compass. Though adult guardians are nearby, the kids are meant to work together to find their way to a camp, a few miles away. Quickly after young Karin and her group are left on their own, everything starts to go wrong, and as night falls, she is alone and lost.

Though the general plot was predictable, there were some surprises and the suspense and creep factors were well done. I really liked Karin's ability to draw on her knowledge and experience, even when she was really scared. Maybe not the best thriller, but I liked it. The unabridged audiobook was read by Tavia Gilbert, who did an excellent job with the characterizations, pronunciations, emotions, and tension.

Three Ordinary Girls by Tim Brady (Citadel, Feb. 2021): This is mostly a "just the facts, ma'am" kind of book. It introduces us to three teenagers who got caught up in the resistance movement in the Netherlands during World War II. The author learned about sisters Truss and Freddie Oversteegen and their colleague Jo Schaft from his agent, who saw one of the Oversteegens' obituaries. This journalistic account covers the girls' success and failures as they learned to steal, lie, kill, plant home-made bombs, deliver underground newspapers, hide Jews, and help Jewish children find safe homes. The girls were all under the age of 20 when they started.

Their story and their heroism teaches us all that even ordinary people with few skills can become heroes and make a true difference to help others. It's a lesson that is particularly important today. (AFM)

The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner (Redhook, April 2021): Part magical realism, part historical fiction, part midrash, part kabbalah, part folk tale retelling, this is a powerful book that's deep in Jewish tradition. Told from the perspectives of three sisters, this is the story of ethnic violent prejudice, love, faith, family, and--sadly--reality, even with the more mystical elements. There is an LBGTQ+ element and a strong theme of not being able to escape one's fate, of being tied to one's ancestral history and faith no matter how hard you try to outrun it.

This book is much, much stronger than Rossner's first, and I can't wait to read whatever else she has to write. The audiobook was read by Ana Clements, who did an excellent job conveying the different personalities of the sisters and infusing her delivery with power and emotion.

A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell (Viking, 2019) After reading Erica Robuck's fictionalized account of Virginia Hall (see above), I had to read this biography of the woman who overcame many barriers to help the French resistance and feed information to the British government. This book goes into more detail about Hall's life before and after the events told in the novel.

Hers is an amazing story. Don't miss learning about Virginia Hall, whether you choose to read this biography or Robuck's novel. (library book)

Northern Spy by Flynn Berry (Viking, April 2021): Emotional, strong look at how two sisters became involved in the contemporary IRA movement. Count me as one of the people who thought the Troubles were over in Ireland. In fact the IRA is still active and both sides--the activists and British government--attempt to recruit followers/informants in subtle, incremental ways. This book explores several sides of the ongoing conflict and the way it affects a single family. A powerful story, highly recommended, despite some problems with the plot details.

The audiobook was wonderfully narrated by Katharine Lee McEwan, who infused her delivery with the complex feelings of the characters without crossing the line into the melodramatic. Gripping performance that will make you want to listen all in one go.

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Late Winter Reading: Part I

Long time, no thoughts on books. Here's Part I of a quick run-down of what I read in February and March, in the order I read them. Part II will appear on Monday. The following thoughts are generally taken from what I posted on GoodReads. "AFM" means I reviewed the audiobook for AudioFile Magazine, and you can find my review of the audiobook production there.

All of the following books were provided by the publisher in one or more forms (digital, audio, print). Thanks too to Libro.fm.

The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. (Putnam, Jan. 2021): This is a powerful look at life, love, family, brutality, hope, and hopelessness on an antebellum Mississippi plantation. The author imagines a place for gender equality and queerness in several traditional African cultures and interweaves that with the stories of the enslaved in America.

The book was strong overall, but the elements of magical realism sometimes detracted from the principal story lines. (AFM)

Before the Ruins by Victoria Gosling (Holt, Jan. 2021): Part coming of age, part mystery, this book contains elements of first love, sexuality, addiction, poverty, and friendship. When a young man goes missing, his mother contacts his childhood friend, asking her to try to find him. This sets off a chain of events that causes Andrea to recall her painful childhood and to contact the people from her past who were with her on the night of a murder.

Some of the elements of the mystery were easy to figure out, but there were still a few twists. (AFM).

The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson (Simon & Schuster, March 2021): Clear and easy to follow account of the career of Nobel Prize-winner Jennifer Doudna who, along with her team, figured out how to employ CRISPR technology to edit genes. Her discoveries had a direct impact on developing the new RNA vaccines, including those for COVID. Isaacson's work exposes the struggle of women in science, competition and cooperation in research, the intersection of research and industry/business, and the ethical and evolutionary implications of gene-editing technology.

The material in this book is accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of biology. (AFM)

The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat (Graydon House, Feb. 2021): The book itself is well written and focuses on a young Jewish woman who escaped Europe and was working in Jersey when the Nazi army occupied the British Channel Islands. The story of Hedy and how she managed to survive despite being Jewish was well told, though I had some issues with a few plot inconsistencies and historical points.

I lived in Jersey's sister island Guernsey while conducting my doctoral research (in the 1980s) and really wanted to love this book. (AFM)

The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell (Tin House, Jan. 2021): Set in the late 1800s in London, this Gothic mystery brings together a bicycle-riding woman journalist, a down-and-out orphaned Cambridge student, and a Scotland Yard inspector as they separately and then together become involved in an apparent suicide case and the mysterious disappearance of several young women.

The book works on a lot of levels: good period details, engaging mix of gothic and humor, and well-constructed plot. It was fun to see how our heroes ended up working together and figuring out what happened to the women. Here's hoping we'll hear more from Olivia, Gideon Bliss, and Inspector Cutter. (AFM)

Girl A by Abigale Dean (Viking, Feb. 2021): Lex grew up under increasingly abusive circumstances, enforced mostly by her father but not stopped by her mother. When Lex finally escapes, she flags down a car, begging the driver to call for help and save her six siblings. By the time the police get there, her father has committed suicide, but her mother is sent to prison. Years later, after their mother dies still in prison, Lex wants to turn their childhood home into a community center, but first she needs permission from her siblings, whom she hasn't seen since their escape.

The book asks: Who really survives such abuse? Is is possible? What happens when Girl A is forced to confront things she's learned to suppress. It's a difficult read. The audiobook was read by Ell Potter, whose performance captured Lex's conflicted thoughts.

Fire in the Straw by Nick Lyons (Arcade, Oct. 2020): I've been a fan of Nick Lyons's writing since my husband introduced me to his short pieces on fly fishing decades ago. I remember being excited when I learned he was starting a publishing business. Despite knowing about him, I didn't know the trajectory of his life. In this collection of essays, Lyons writes about how fly fishing changed his life and about his dedication to getting an education. He talks about his writing, his loves, his losses, and his perspective on aging.

Whether you've been a fan for years or are just discovering Nick Lyons, this is a highly recommended read.

A Pairing to Die for by Kate Lansing (Berkley, Jan. 2021): I really liked the first book in this cozy mystery series, which is set in Boulder and features a local wine maker and her boyfriend, who is a chef and restaurant owner. As with the first book, I liked the descriptions of Boulder, the wine, and the food, and I like the characters. This second outing didn't disappoint me, and I was happy to see the growth of the characters and to meet new people. The murder mystery was also well plotted.

If you're into wine, food, Colorado, and/or cozies, then give this series a try.

The Princess Spy by Larry Loftis (Atria, Feb. 2021). American Aline Griffith was determined to help her country during World War II. Through a fortuitous introduction, Aline is accepted for training as a U.S. spy and is sent to Madrid, where she infiltrates society, dates a famous matador, and then marries a count, all while carrying out dangerous missions and helping the resistance.

I had never heard of Aline, but I'm glad I know her story. Kate Reading did an excellent job with the narration, including characterizations, accents, and pronunciations.

This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith (Grand Central, Feb. 2021): When driving home one night, Tallie sees a young man who looks like he's about to jump off a bridge. She stops and talks him into going home with her. Over the course of a long Halloween weekend she and Emmett form a bond, even while hiding their secrets. Tallie's secret, which we learn almost immediately, is that she's a licensed therapist, which makes her dealings with Emmett reasonably believable. Themes of grief, friendship, and family and a down-to-earth ending.

The audiobook was narrated by Kamali Minter and Zeno Robinson, who brought out the emotions and personalities of their characters.

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17 Books to Read This Week

Welcome back to my "new releases in June" series. While more complete lists can be found via a Google search and some buzz books won’t be found here, my lists are curated to my own tastes. Here are the books released this week that interested me most.

Note that release dates have been changing owing to current events. Please double-check availability before ordering or searching your local library.

Contemporary Stories

• They Say Sarah by Pauline Delabroy-Allard (Other Press). Genre: literary fiction; LGBTQ+; translated. Learned from reviews: The writing promises to be as poetic and passionate as the relationship between a teacher and musician. Fast-paced and captivating story of an all-consuming love. First line: “In the half-light of three a.m., I wake.” Audiobook: no information.
• 500 Miles from You by Jenny Colgan (William Morrow) Genre: women’s fiction; rom-com Learned from reviews: Lissie, a London nurse, is asked to temporarily swap places with Cormack, who provides medical care to a small town in the Scottish Highlands. Though they’ve never met, they end up emailing and texting to discuss patients and more. What happens when they meet in person? First line: “It should have started with ominous dark crows, great murmurations and flutterings, bad omens taking to the sky; with thick storm clouds rolling in, clocks striking thirteen.” Audiobook: Read by Eilidh Beaton (11 hr, 3 min)
• Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins (Berkley) Genre: general fiction Learned from reviews: A family’s cheery veneer is cracked after John has a stroke; as his wife and daughters take on care-giving responsibilities, their flaws and vulnerabilities are exposed. Humor eases the sharp edges of the more serious issues of family dynamics and living up to others’ expectations. First line: “ ‘You’re engaged? Oh! Uh … huzzah!’ ” Audiobook: Read by Laural Merlington, Amy Rubinate, Xe Sands, & Graham Winton (12 hr, 58 min)
• The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore (William Morrow) Genre: general fiction; beach read Learned from reviews: A summer of transformation for three people who meet on Block Island. Two women and one man, all in different seasons of their lives, meet, become friends, and try to hold their secrets close. By August’s end, no one is the same. First line: “ ‘It was disconcerting, to see a man cry like that,’ said Bridget Fletcher.” Audiobook: Read by Courtney Patterson (12 hr, 15 min)

Stories for Food Lovers

• Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier (Doubleday) Genre: literary fiction; quirky. Learned from reviews: A pregnant, conflicted, grieving pizza-delivery girl becomes obsessed with a stay-at-home mother who orders a weekly pizza for her son. Pregnancy hormones raging, pizza girl struggles to find her future. First line: “Her name was Jenny Hauser and every Wednesday I put pickles on her pizza.” Audiobook: Read by Jeena Yi (5 hr, 33 min)
• Miss Cecily’s Recipes for Exceptional Ladies by Vicky Zimmerman (Sourcebooks Landmark) Genre: contemporary woman’s fiction Learned from reviews: Kate’s life seems to fall apart on the eve of her 40th birthday. Reluctantly, she volunteers at an assisted living home, where she meets the feisty 90-something Miss Cecily. Through their friendship and the older woman’s cookbook, Kate finds a brighter future. First line: “Kate Parker is ravenous.” Audiobook: no information

True Stories

• The Language of Butterflies by Wendy Williams (Simon & Schuster) Genre: nonfiction; nature. Learned from reviews: Written by a science journalist, this introduces us to the hidden life of the “world’s favorite insect.” We learn about their behavior, life cycle, preservation, and relationship to the ecosystem and to us. First line: “Long ago, when I was twenty, penniless, and hanging in London, looking for something free to do, I drifted into the city’s Tate Gallery—filled with some of the world’s best-known art—and walked straight into a staggering J. M. W. Turner masterpiece.” Audiobook: Read by Angela Brazil (8 hr, 38 min)
• Honey and Venom by Andrew Coté (Ballantine) Genre: nonfiction; memoir Learned from reviews: Written by a leading urban beekeeper, this memoir takes us through a year of what it’s like to be a honey producer in New York City. With hives on the rooftops of iconic buildings and even on the grounds of the United Nations, Coté shares not only the ins and outs of his family’s business but also a unique look at the city. First line: “I bleed honey.” Audiobook: Read by Andrew Coté (9 hr, 22 min)
• Rebel Chef by Dominique Crenn with Emma Brockes (Penguin Press) Genre: autobiography; culinary Learned from reviews: I first heard of Crenn through the show Chef’s Table; I was interested in knowing more about her. Here Crenn shares her journey from her native France as the adopted daughter of a politician to her earning three Michelin stars for her San Francisco restaurant. Not an easy trip for anyone, especially a woman. First line: “When I was six months old, I was left in the care of an orphanage near Paris and it was from here, a few months later, that my parents adopted me.” Audiobook: Read by Hope Newhouse (5 hr, 14 min)
• Cult of Glory by Doug J. Swanson (Viking) Genre: history Learned from reviews: I’ve always been fascinated with the fabled Texas Rangers, especially as they are portrayed in film and fiction. In this examination, investigative reporter Swanson sets the record straight, revealing the sometimes ugly truth of the 200-year-old law-enforcement agency that learned to put a positive spin on their deeds, even before Texas was officially part of the union. First line: “There is not, nor has there ever been, a group quite like the Texas Rangers.” Audiobook: Read by Kaleo Griffith (17 hr, 56 min)

Stories Set in the Past

• Belladonna by Anbara Salam (Berkley) Genre literary fiction; coming of age. Learned from reviews: After high school, two American friends move to Italy to enroll in an art history program. In the late 1950s, Bridget nurtures a secret love for Isabella, but over the course of their freshman year, she learns Isabella has secrets of her own. First line: “It was Isabella who invented the game Dead Nun.” Audiobook: Read by Jill Winternitz (10 hr, 34 min)
• The Daughters of Erietown by Connie Schultz (Random House) Genre: literary fiction; family Learned from reviews: When Ellie discovers she’s pregnant in the early 1950s, Brick marries her—each giving up dreams of college and leaving their small Ohio town—to raise their daughter together. This novel covers deep themes of family, sacrifice, the women’s movement, secrets, marriage, and lost and found hopes. First line: “Samantha McGinty pressed her cheek against the cold window and exhaled slowly to cloud the glass.” Audiobook: Read by Cassandra Campbell (14 hr, 12 min)
• Red Sky over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman (Mira) Genre: historical fiction; WWII Learned from reviews: I’m reading this one now. Set on the Big Island of Hawaii and starting on the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we meet Lana, who not only must cope with the aftermath of the bombing, but is also grieving her father’s recent death, discovering his secrets, and helping his neighbors. Once I started reading, I was hooked. First line: “When I close my eyes, I still see the fiery glow of lava in Halema‘uma‘u crater.” Audiobook: Read by Jennifer Robideau (10 hr, 1 min)

Stories Set in Other Worlds

• The Shadow Wand by Laurie Forest (Inkyard Press) Genre: epic fantasy; YA Learned from reviews: This third in the well-love Black Witch Chronicles series is told through multiple points of view. Things I like about this series: flawed but likeable characters and a focus on a grass-roots civil rights–like movement. Note that some readers found the first book to be homophobic, but my take was that the characters grew, learned, and changed. First line: “Edwin Gardner sits on the silk-cushioned chair in a haze of grief.” Audiobook: Read by Julia Whelan (19 hr, 50 min)
• Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Inkyard Press) Genre: contemporary fantasy; YA Learned from reviews: This is the second in the Harbinger series, continuing the story of Trinity (half human, half angel) and her gargoyle protector, Zayne. They fight demons and try to save the world from their home base in Washington, D.C. Super character development and world building. First line: “I blinked open achy, swollen eyes and stared straight at the pale, translucent face of a ghost.” Audiobook: Read by Lauren Fortgang (16 hr, 38 min)

Stories with a Twist

• Stranger in the Lake by Kimberly Belle (Park Row) Genre: domestic thriller Learned from reviews: A young woman marries a rich older man; despite gossip and doubters, her life seems blessed. All that begins to unravel when a woman’s body is found floating in the lake by their house. Her husband asks her to lie, an investigative journalist is reviving cold cases, and Charlotte is beginning to question everything. First line: “I untie the dock cleats and shove the boat into water as gray as the sky.” Audiobook: Read by Xe Sands (9 hr, 39 min)
• Safe by S. K. Barnett (Dutton) Genre: thriller Learned from reviews: Twelve years after her kidnapping, Jenny returns home, welcomed by her grateful family. She knows she is supposed to feel safe now, but is she really? What happened to Jenny during the missing years? Promises to be twisty, captivating (ha!), creepy, and unputdownable. First Line: “The first poster was put up within a day of the disappearance.” Audiobook: Read by Brittany Pressley (9 hr, 4 min)

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