Nevermore: Daughters of Yalta, Last Ferry Out, A Marriage at Sea

 

Nevermore 12-16-25

Reported by Rita

 

The Daughters Of Yalta: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War by Catherine Grace Katz

The untold story of the three intelligent and glamorous young women who accompanied their famous fathers to the Yalta Conference in February 1945, and of the conference’s fateful reverberations in the waning days of World War II. Tensions during the Yalta Conference in February 1945 threatened to tear apart the wartime alliance among Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin just as victory was close at hand. Catherine Grace Katz uncovers the dramatic story of the three young women who were chosen by their fathers to travel with them to Yalta, each bound by fierce family loyalty, political savvy, and intertwined romances that powerfully colored these crucial days.

This was an easy read and I found it very interesting.   - WJ      5 stars

 

 

The Last Ferry Out by  Andrea Bartz

On a trip to the tropical paradise where her fiancée died, a young woman begins to suspect the death was no accident—and the killer’s still on the island. As her quest for the truth unearths dark secrets, shady pasts, and a web of lies, Abby grows more determined than ever to find out what happened to the love of her life. And the deeper she gets in the close-knit expat community, the more she suspects one of them is Eszter's killer—and will do anything to keep the truth buried. But will she discover who it is before she becomes the island’s next victim?

It was slow to start but got really good toward the end. It had a good surprising ending.     - GP       4 stars

 

A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst

The electrifying true story of a young couple shipwrecked at a mind-blowing tale of obsession, survival, and partnership stretched to its limits. Maurice and Maralyn make an odd couple. He’s a loner, awkward and obsessive; she’s charismatic and ambitious. But they share a horror of wasting their lives. And they dream – as we all dream – of running away from it all. What if they quit their jobs, sold their house, bought a boat, and sailed away? Most of us begin and end with the daydream. But Maurice began to study nautical navigation. Maralyn made detailed lists of provisions. And in June 1972, they set sail. For nearly a year all went well, until deep in the Pacific, a breaching whale knocked a hole in their boat and it sank beneath the waves. What ensues is a jaw-dropping fight to survive in the wild ocean, with little hope of rescue. Alone together for months in a tiny rubber raft, starving and exhausted, Maurice and Maralyn have to find not only ways to stay alive but ways to get along, as their inner demons emerge and their marriage is put to the greatest of tests. Although they could run away from the world, they can’t run away from themselves.

The writing is wonderful. I loved it.       - AH      5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

Bruno, Chief of Police (Bruno, Chief of Police, #1) by Martin Walker

Bringing Home Animals: Religious Ideology and Mode of Production of the Mistassini Cree Hunters by Adrian Tanner

Where Are They Buried?: How Did They Die? Fitting Ends and Final Resting Places of the Famous, Infamous, and Noteworthy by Tod Benoit

The Cat’s Eye Charm: A Witch Cats of Cambridge Mystery by Clea Simon

Reviewed by Jeanne

 

Becca’s life seems a bit fraught right now.  Business has been slow at Charm and Cherish the magic shop where she works, and the owner is making noises about turning the place into a (sigh) craft shop.  Becca doesn’t seem to be making much progress in honing her own magical skills, which truth to tell seem to be pretty much non-existent. Well, except for that pillow she conjured, but that was a long time ago.  Even the coven seems to be slowly falling by the wayside.

So it seems like a good omen when Trina comes into the shop wanting to hire Becca in her other capacity as a witch detective. Maybe all Becca needs is a good focus, a challenge, to help her bring out her powers.  The cause is certainly a worthy one: Trina is desperate to find her beloved cat, Mr. Butters.  He was an indoor cat, but has gone missing.  Can Becca do a spell or something to bring him home?

Becca may not be able to wield a lot of magic but she still has help nearby.  Unbeknownst to her, her three cats do have some supernatural abilities.  That pillow Becca thinks she conjured?  That was luxury-loving Harriet who fancied a new bed.  Siamese Laurel can subtly influence human behaviors (usually to Laurel’s benefit) and sweet devoted Clara can become invisible. Clara adores Becca and often follows her to make sure she’s safe, but Clara is careful to remain unseen so Becca has no idea.

What seems like a relatively straightforward request soon turns out to be more complicated and more dangerous than Becca expected, involving kidnapping and a stolen gem.  Even worse, it’s becoming difficult for Becca to know who to trust.

This is the fifth book in the Witch Cats of Cambridge series, but it can be read as a standalone.  I have to say this is probably my favorite entry in the series. I loved seeing the magical cats’ world expand with the addition of a kitten who may be much wiser than they realize.  Kitten is an absolute peach-toed charmer even if she does have a penchant for knocking things off shelves. There’s also Mr. Butters, who has some surprises of his own.  All this makes for some delightful feline world-building.  On the human side of things, the mysterious Elizabeth takes on a somewhat bigger role.  And even though we’re told not to judge-- I adore the cover!

Cats, magic, gems—what’s not to love?

Read 'Em Before You See 'Em! Some books into film

 

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller is set in a world where a pandemic has all but wiped out humanity.  The story revolves around Hig, an outdoorsman and pilot, his dog, and an armed ex-Marine neighbor. Directed by Ridley Scott, the movie stars Jacob Elrodi and Josh Brolin.

The Odyssey by Homer is a classic tale of Odysseus, trying to return to his home and kingdom after the Trojan War.  There are obstacles aplenty along the way, not to mention turmoil in the kingdom.  Christopher Nolan’s star-filled cast includes Matt Damon, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway.

Verity by Colleen Hoover has a young woman being hired to work as a ghostwriter for a famous author who has been injured in an accident, but she soon discovers some notes the author has made that may reveal a very disturbing past. Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett star in the movie, due out in October.

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann (movie The Sheep Detectives) is one that sounds just a bit too oddball for some.  The main characters are a herd of sheep—yes, you read that correctly—who adore their shepherd, George, who reads mysteries to them.  When the sheep find George dead, they decide they are going to find his murderer.  Since they are, well, sheep, they are at a distinct disadvantage, but will see it through.  The movie features a number of big name actors, including Hugh Jackman as George and Emma Thompson, with sheep voices provided by Sir Patrick Stewart and Bryan Cranston.

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman is the sequel to the much beloved book and film Practical Magic. The Owens family has been cursed in love for centuries: falling in love is a death sentence for the one they love. Sally Owens’ two children have been shielded from learning about the family curse—until now. The Owens women come together in a last ditch effort to break the curse once and for all. Practical Magic 2 reunite, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman and is scheduled for release in September.

In Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, a young woman named Agnes falls in love with a poor tutor.  Agnes senses that the tutor has greatness within him and encourages him to follow his dreams, even if this means he has to leave for London. This rendition of Shakespeare’s family and life won great acclaim as a book and now is picking up awards as a film.

Nevermore: Girls in Pine Brooke, Always Remember, Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

 

Nevermore:  Girls in Pine Brooke, Always Remember, Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

Nevermore 12-9-25

Reported by Rita

The Girls in Pine Brooke (A Detective Riley Quinn Pine Brooke Mystery Book 1) by A.J. Rivers

When the body of a young girl is found in the woods. Detective Riley Quinn finds herself in a mystery that intertwines with her tragic past…

After her best-friend is murdered in cold blood, to escape her traumas and big city life, Riley moves back to Pine Brooke. There she takes a position as the town’s detective. When she receives a call regarding a young girl in the woods, she never expected the terror of events that would soon unfold. It seems the thin and malnourished girl had fallen to her death. But closer examination of the body reveals new layers to the mystery. Was she running from something?

While trying to ID the body, she runs into Pine Brooke’s new doctor, Logan Elwood. A man that may be hiding a clinic full of secrets behind his gruff demeanor. Suddenly, the case takes on a more gruesome turn when multiple bodies of young girls turn up in odd circumstances. One thing is for certain, the once idyllic pines are harboring murderous secrets.

This was a fast read with lots of twists and turns. I found it enjoyable.      - FE      5 stars

 

Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm by Charlie Mackesy

Charlie Mackesy’s four unlikely friends are wandering through the wilds again. They’re not sure what they are looking for. They do know that life can be difficult, but that they love each other, and cake is often the answer. When the dark clouds come, can the boy remember what he needs to get through the storm?

Beautiful and delightful. The illustrations are great. I loved it!     - NH     5 stars

           

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car, he’d return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is there’s nobody left in Fred’s life to borrow from. At eighty-two, he’s desperately lonely, broke, and on the brink of homelessness. But Fred’s luck changes when, in a bizarre case of mistaken identity, he takes the place of grumpy Bernard Greer at the local nursing home. Now he has warm meals in his belly and a roof over his head—as long as his poker face is in better shape than his prostate and that his look-alike never turns up.

I hated it. I didn't finish reading it because I felt the characters had no redeeming qualities.      - CD       1 star

 

Other Books Mentioned

1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England by W.C. Sellar, R.J. Yeatman

Fear by Bob Woodward

Mona's Eyes by Thomas Schlesser

All But My Life by Gerda Weissmann Klein

For Better or For Worse: The Comic Art of Lynn Johnston by Lynn Johnston

Coolie Woman: The Odyssey of Indenture by Gaiutra Bahadur

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst

 

New Books

Dear Miss Perkins: A Story of Frances Perkins's Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany by Rebecca Brenner Graham

The Southern Mirror: Stories and Reflections on Life in the South by Brenda Gantt

 

Brenda Gantt has made quite a name for herself on social media for her cooking videos.  People just couldn’t get enough of her downhome, folksy ways and delicious recipes.  Three popular cookbooks followed.

Her new book also has recipes but the subtitle really says it all: it’s more about the Southern way of life.  She tells stories about her childhood: Christmas and Sunday dinner at granny’s; offers her own thoughts on various subjects like being a collector or letting children play in the dirt; and helpful tips on gardening, flower arranging and decorating.  She’s also an avid collector and I loved the photos of her Christmas postcard collection. She also has some craft ideas as well, including a brooch tree—a lovely way to use old but memorable jewelry in an attractive fashion.

The book is divided up into several sections, including:

 

Southern Tales

Entertaining & Gathering

Around the House

Holiday Memories & More

A Lifetime of Collections

Alabama the Beautiful

A Look to the Future

 

All these things are presented with gorgeous photos.  It’s a great browsing book, though I have to say it’s a bit on the large side: it’s described as a coffee-table book, and that’s no exaggeration.  This is a book meant to be placed on a table and leafed through, enjoying the colorful and cheerful photos while reading Mrs. Brenda’s text. 

Of course as mentioned before there are some recipes thrown in (with mouth-watering photos!) but this is more a love letter to her fans.  The editor’s note at the end says this book is a way for Mrs. Brenda to continue teaching and encouraging.

Murder at Royale Court by G.P. Gardner

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Cleo Mack is settling into her job as director of Harbor Village, a retirement community in Fairhope, Alabama but there’s still a bit of a learning curve—like the unique tax structure of the community.  Fortunately for Cleo, she has other duties awaiting her so she’s able to get away from the loquacious and persistent Terry Wozinak before her eyes glaze over.

Not that she’s exactly looking forward to the preparations for the planned programs at the Village: a discussion of old cars. Fairhope is hosting a big car show and expecting thousands of people to show up.  While this isn’t Cleo’s idea of a good time, a lot of people seem to be excited about it and she hopes the residents will find the speaker entertaining.

In fact, the show seems to be quite the draw, bringing in the owner of Harbor Village, Travis McKenzie who also just happens to be Cleo’s ex-husband.  Their relationship is cordial enough but the meeting is still not something Cleo is looking forward to, especially since she’s going to have to present him with the latest financial reports which are good, but maybe not good enough.

Then what should have been a fun outing to a yarn shop turns into a homicide investigation when a body is discovered on the premises.  Cleo has no intention of being involved but after her success with an earlier investigation some of the community’s residents are counting on her to solve the case.

This is the second in the Cleo Mack mysteries and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I had read the first one quite some time ago so it took me a bit to get back up to speed on the full cast of characters. With some books, the supporting cast is just window dressing but Gardner takes the time to make each one stand out a bit.  I’m a sucker for good characterization; throw in an entertaining plot and let me learn a bit about a subject, and I am sold. This one ticks all the boxes for me. There is even a cat.  The subplot about collectible cars presented was interesting and I am NOT a car person.  I also learned a bit about how the big car shows operate.

Being a person of a certain age myself, I appreciate Cleo’s maturity and thoughtful approach to problems murderous and otherwise. I especially like that she never badgers anyone to tell her anything or accuses anyone of murder as do so many cozy heroines.  I sometimes think it’s a wonder more of them haven’t been murdered. But I digress.  The senior citizens add a lot of zest, especially Jim and Nita Bergen, but there are others who definitely add to the stories.

Though the library owns these titles, I have bought copies for me to keep since I think these will be ones I’ll want to re-read. While it didn’t really affect my enjoyment, I rather wish I had gone back and read the first in the series just to spend more time in Harbor Village.

Nevermore: Daughters of Yalta, Everyone Who Is Gone Here, Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

 

Nevermore 12 - 2 -25

Reported by Rita

The Daughters Of Yalta: The Churchills, Roosevelts, and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War by Catherine Grace Katz

The untold story of the three intelligent and glamorous young women who accompanied their famous fathers to the Yalta Conference in February 1945, and of the conference’s fateful reverberations in the waning days of World War II. Tensions during the Yalta Conference in February 1945 threatened to tear apart the wartime alliance among Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin just as victory was close at hand. Catherine Grace Katz uncovers the dramatic story of the three young women who were chosen by their fathers to travel with them to Yalta, each bound by fierce family loyalty, political savvy, and intertwined romances that powerfully colored these crucial days.

Very interesting and enjoyable. I learned more about WWII. - KM 5 stars

 

Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer

An epic, heartbreaking, and deeply reported history of the disastrous humanitarian crisis at the southern border told through the lives of the migrants forced to risk everything and the policymakers who determine their fate.

I found this interesting and filled with lots of information, however, it was not an easy read. - NH 3 stars

 

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car, he'd return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is there's nobody left in Fred's life to borrow from. At eighty-two, he's desperately lonely, broke, and on the brink of homelessness. Fred's luck changes when, in a bizarre case of mistaken identity, he takes the place of Bernard Greer at the local nursing home. Now he has a roof over his head, three meals a day, and, most importantly, the chance to be part of a family again. All he has to do is hope that his poker face is in better shape than his prostate and that his look-alike never turns up. As Fred navigates life in Bernard's shoes, he learns about the man's past and what it might take to return a life in better condition than he found it.

 

Fun and funny, mellow, and sad in parts. An absolutely delightful feel-good story. - NH 5 stars

 

 

Other Books Mentioned

 

A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott

Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

The Pilgrims And Pocahontas: Rival Myths Of American Origin by Ann U. Abrams

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds by John Fugelsang

 

New Books

 

107 Days by Kamala Harris

Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging by Angela Buchdahl

Bad Bad Girl by Gish Jen

Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy by Joyce Vance