The Bubbling Beneath.

Book Review for “The Paris Deception” by Bryn Turnbull. Summary: "Sophie Dix fled Stuttgart with her brother as the Nazi regime gained power in Germany. Now, with her brother gone and her adopted home city of Paris conquered by the Reich, Sophie reluctantly accepts a position restoring damaged art at the Jeu de Paume museum … Continue reading The Bubbling Beneath. →

The In Between Time.

Book Review for “Ex-Wife” by Ursula Parrott. Summary: "It's 1924, and Peter and Patricia have what looks to be a very modern marriage. Both drink. Both smoke. Both work, Patricia as a head copywriter at a major department store. When it comes to sex with other people, both believe in “the honesty policy.” Until they … Continue reading The In Between Time. →

The Formula of Secrets.

Book Review for “Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl” by Renée Rosen. Summary: "In New York City, you can disappear into the crowd. At least that’s what Gloria Downing desperately hopes as she tries to reinvent herself after a devastating family scandal. She’s ready for a total life makeover and a friend she can lean on—and into … Continue reading The Formula of Secrets. →

#CCSpin 33 Review – La Traviata.

Book Review for “The Lady of the Camellias” by Alexandre Dumas fils. Summary: "Marguerite Gautier is a courtesan in the city of Paris. The symbol of her character is the camellia, pale and cold. She was once a needleworker who, while taking a rest cure in Bagneres, was befriended by a wealthy duke whose daughter … Continue reading #CCSpin 33 Review – La Traviata. →

The Crushed Poppy.

Book Review for “Under the Cover of Mercy” by Rebecca Connolly. Summary: "The Great War has come to Brussels, and Edith Cavell, Head Nurse at Berkendael Medical Institute, faces an impossible situation. She has sworn an oath to help any who are wounded, under whatever flag they are found. But Governor von Lüttwitz, the ranking … Continue reading The Crushed Poppy. →

When the Comet Strikes.

Book Review for “A Cowardly Woman No More” by Ellen Cooney. Summary: "Over the course of one fateful day, Trisha Donahue begins to reclaim her courage and discovers secrets in a familiar place. A surprising, quietly dramatic adventure story infused with Ellen Cooney’s warm humor and wisdom. After years of skilled work and dedication, Trisha Donahue … Continue reading When the Comet Strikes. →

Angel of the Seneca.

Book Review for “Two Wars and a Wedding” by Lauren Willig. Summary: "September 1896: As an aspiring archaeologist, Smith College graduate Betsy Hayes travels to Athens, desperate to break into a very male-dominated field and find work at some of the world’s most famous excavation sites. In the midst of the heat and dust of … Continue reading Angel of the Seneca. →

Their Way.

Book Review for “Strangers in the Night” by Heather Webb. Summary: "In the golden age of Hollywood, two of the brightest stars would define--and defy--an era... She was the small-town southern beauty transformed into a Hollywood love goddess. He was the legendary crooner whose voice transfixed the world. They were Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra. … Continue reading Their Way. →

Avoiding painful truths.

Book Review for “Pardonable Lies” (Maisie Dobbs #3) by Jacqueline Winspear. Summary: "A deathbed plea from his wife leads Sir Cecil Lawton to seek the aid of Maisie Dobbs, psychologist and investigator. As Maisie soon learns, Agnes Lawton never accepted that her aviator son was killed in the Great War, a torment that led her … Continue reading Avoiding painful truths. →

Arrivals and Departures.

Book Review for “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano. Summary: "William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him. So it’s a relief when his skill on the basketball court earns him a scholarship to college, far away from his childhood … Continue reading Arrivals and Departures. →