A few weekends ago, I was part of the Huronia Arts Festival which was fabulous. I also got to meet up with the lovely Aggie who did my publicity photos for Herringford and Watts
I read a bit from Lesson in Love and Murder
http://www.smyrska.com/ |
Last week, I was out at a conference for my real job all week: but I did get to sneak in a Jays game AND the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Barbra Streisand
we're first in the AL East! |
I am off to British Columbia tomorrow for a week of holidays and to hang out with a good friend of mine.... follow my instagram for pics
A few books:
Lynn Austin Waves of Mercy: this was, without doubt, one of my most highly anticipated books of the year.... I love this author so much and after a short foray into Biblical fiction, it is nice to have some vintage Austin with a multi-generational saga. I am on Lynn's launch team for this book, so you will see my full review and more about it closer to its release date.
The Devil in The White City by Erik Larson: I had to read this book in installments because it scared me so much. I knew, of course, about H H Holmes and his mass killings and his depraved nature, but Larson is such an exceptional storyteller, that you felt his story unfolding as it does in a horror film, bristling the hairs on the back of your neck.
I love Chicago history and Larson did an exceptional, accessible and addictively narrative job of bringing its conception to life, threaded with the eerie and horrific murders than underpinned its grandeur.
The Secret Ingredient of Wishes by Susan Bishop Crispell If you like Sarah Addison Allen, you will love this book. It's about a young woman who is finding herself and accepting her past in a quirky town peppered with eccentricities. With the warmth characterization of Billie Letts and the narrative ease of Alice Hoffman, Crispell spins a tale of magic and loss in an artful and beguiling way. Rachel has an unusual secret: she can grant wishes. What seems like a blessing is more often a curse as she navigates a new community and the first flits of love. This is a book to savour, to press to your heart once you've sighed over a gorgeous line or two. Like this one: "I've come to realize that life is much more fun if you think anything's possible."
I highly recommend this for the evenings yawning into Autumn. An author to keep.
(with thanks to netgalley for the review copy)
And finally, A Lesson in Love and Murder releases tomorrow
From Goodreads Review:
"This was my favorite story so far in this fun series, with lively characters, snappy dialogue, action, adventure and historical figures in the mix. The quips and quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and in the footnotes, add the details needed to fill in references, and added narrative. Benny, the RCMP, was a sighworthy hero, giving Jasper a bit of competition, and shaking Miranda up enough to make it extra interesting. Ray and Jem had a lot to deal with for a newly married couple, and I found myself rooting for them, hoping they'd work it all out. Who hasn't struggled with money, family and communication problems? There are deeper issues underlying the fast paced storyline too, with political activism, domestic violence, faith struggles, and ethical dilemmas.