Review: “Above the Bay of Angels” by Rhys Bowen

Just about any book written by Rhys Bowen will be a winner. Ms. Bowen’s voice and style of writing transcend the periods that she sets her novels.

Her latest novel, Above the Bay of Angels, is no different in that regard. From the beginning, you feel you are in Victorian England. The sights and smells are vivid. And the protagonist’s trials are at once believable, for they could happen in today’s time with only a slight difference. Being a single woman and making your way in the world has never been easy.

While reading, you find yourself rooting for the heroine. And wondering how will she proceed. Though that is normal in any book you read with ‘Above the Bay of Angels’, it is a bit different. Being a bit different is one of the points in this novel. Once you read it, you will see as I do not want to say more for fear of saying too much and spoiling the book.

For all that I enjoyed the book, I found it a tad slow to develop the storyline. At times, I wasn’t sure where the heroine was going. And one of the main villains was not well used in my opinion. So I was not as impressed as I usually am with this book of Ms. Bowen’s.

Read for the scenery, the environment, the historical details. You will find yourself there, enjoying the landscape in every way.

Recommended: 4 stars

#NetGallery #AboveTheBayofAngels #RhysBowen

Review: “Nogged Off” by Barbara Ross

‘Nogged Off’ was not my first book by Barbara Ross and not my first book from the series, ‘A Maine Clambake Mystery.’ Precisely the reason I wanted to read it.

I will say that I was not overly thrilled about the beginning of the book. It seemed a bit contrived and even soggy. I re-read the beginning to see if maybe I had somehow missed a bit of information or clue. No, sadly, I had not.

Every book in the series before had drawn me in quickly. So I had higher expectations, maybe. The soggy start, the start in another city, both threw me off. As the plot moved towards the middle, it seemed to form more of a reason for being. I kept reading because I wanted to see if there was a reason our heroine was going through the hoops and some loops. (Also, this is a NetGallery review, and I wanted to complete my task)

There was a reason, and it made more sense once I read to the end of the book. Still, I wish the story would have flowed better in the beginning as it did near the end.

Ms. Ross usually has a good plot and a well thought out story, unlike ‘Nogged Off.’ Will, I read the next book in the series, yes. I expect the next book to be back to the series usual goodness.

Only (three green books): 📗📗📗

Review ~ “Barack and Joe: The Making of An Extraordinary Partnership” by Steven Levingston

Nowadays, it is common to see the words, ‘Don’t you miss these guys?’ when referring to Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Indeed, I think we do miss them. Even the other side of the aisle in Congress probably wishes the political world was a be more polite as it was with the former President and the former Vice President.

In this book, Mr. Levingston goes into deliberate detail as to what made Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden, the team. And yes, it was a team, yet it was a long time in the making.

The book acknowledges how these political men were different, and yet as time tells, the subtleties of their beliefs became apparent. How these similarities played out is what makes them the dream team.

Mr. Levingston tells and shows how they worked out their differences to provide the best they had for the country. Their prime focus was taking the country into a stable place in the world. While Obama needed Biden’s international experience, Biden needed Mr. Obama’s fresh take and youthful energy.

“Barack and Joe” is not a ‘buddy’ or ‘bromance’ book. It is a book that shows you how it all happened, and most importantly, why it needed to happen. The writing is clear, concise, and entertaining. You can see how it all played out, and you enjoy the ride getting there.

I have recommended: (five green books) 📗📗📗📗📗.

Review: “The RGB Way, Secrets of Success of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” by Rebecca Gibian

There are several books regarding Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the shelves. While most of those books are biographical or quotes by Ms. Ginsburg, “The RBG Way” reaches another audience altogether.

Ms. Gibian writes in a comfortable and relaxed style at first while building up to many references from other books about RBG. Then the author takes us on an interview tour. You can tell she truly relished the interview process, and it shows in her writer’s voice.

At times I found the author’s relaxed style a bit too comfortable and sometimes meandering. Yet the real ‘meat’ of the book, the author’s source interviews, was well written and engaging. I looked forward to those parts of the book.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a legend no matter which side of the aisle one may sit. Ms. Gibian’s writing shows every aspect of how the Supreme Court Justice became the person we know. It was not a short road to the pinnacle of our legal system. Every bump in the way, the author highlights what got Ms. Ginsberg through the rough patch. And she does it in depth.

I want to quote from the book, yet it is an uncorrected bound gallery, so I can not. I will leave that to you, the future readers of “The RBG Way.” You will find many places to highlight and re-read, I am sure.

If you enjoy reading about Ms. Ginsburg, you will want to read this book.

Recommended: (four books) 📗📗📗📗

#NetGallery #TheRBGWaySecretsToSuccessofRuthBaderGinsburg

Review of: 101 Quilting Tips & Tricks Pocket Guide by Penny

When I saw “101 Quilting Tips and Tricks Pocket Guide” on NetGallery, I knew I had to read it. (Me – quilter who has put off her projects too long!)

Penny does not disappoint! Her tips and tricks are very doable and well thought out. And yes, there are 101 unique tips. An example tip/trick: ‘Organizing your stash by type rather than color.’ I had to re-read that tip as I have never thought of sorting/organizing fabric by ‘type’ before. It makes great sense. Once you are ready to do a project, you have all of the same types of material in one place — no hunting for country fabric here and there. And that is just one tip. 

Reasons I liked the book:

• The photos are crisp, bright, and colorful, which a quilter appreciates and desires in a book. 
• The tips/tricks are in concise and understandable sentences.
• She gives reasonable examples of why her ideas are worth a try. 
• New tips and tricks that you will want to try out.
• The book is in a handy format that travels well.
• The tone of the writing is friendly and encouraging.

Suggestion: If you are buying the eBook format, plan to read it on a tablet, smartphone, or computer to appreciate the color photos. I read “101 Quilting Tips Tricks Pocket Guide” on my tablet (using the Kindle format). My reading experience was excellent. As a test, I tried reading the book on my paperwhite Kindle, and the reading experience was not good at all.

Quote: “I’m sharing some of my tried and true quilting tips and tricks in this handy pocket guide From keeping your supplies clean to making design boards and so much more.” – Penny, “101 quilting Tips Tricks Pocket Guide“.

A four of five book rating: 📗📗📗📗

#101QuiltingTipsTricksPocketGuide #NetGalley