Thursday, March 26, 2020

The Library at the Edge of the World, by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

The Library at the Edge of the World, by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

In the bestselling tradition of Fannie Flagg and Jenny Colgan comes Felicity Hayes-McCoy’s U.S. debut about a local librarian who must find a way to rebuild her community and her own life in this touching, enchanting novel set on Ireland’s stunning West Coast.
As she drives her mobile library van between villages of Ireland’s West Coast, Hanna Casey tries not to think about a lot of things. Like the sophisticated lifestyle she abandoned after finding her English barrister husband in bed with another woman. Or that she’s back in Lissbeg, the rural Irish town she walked away from in her teens, living in the back bedroom of her overbearing mother’s retirement bungalow. Or, worse yet, her nagging fear that, as the local librarian and a prominent figure in the community, her failed marriage and ignominious return have made her a focus of gossip.

With her teenage daughter, Jazz, off traveling the world and her relationship with her own mother growing increasingly tense, Hanna is determined to reclaim her independence by restoring a derelict cottage left to her by her great-aunt. But when the threatened closure of the Lissbeg Library puts her personal plans in jeopardy, Hanna finds herself leading a battle to restore the heart and soul of the Finfarran Peninsula’s fragmented community. And she’s about to discover that the neighbors she’d always kept at a distance have come to mean more to her than she ever could have imagined.
I purchased this book at our local bookstore in the clearance section.  You know the ones where you pay $10 for three paperbacks?

I thought it was a bit slow to start with this book.  It took a while for me to warm up to the story.  I found Hanna a hard person to like.  Her standoffishness (is that such a word?) was very off putting.  However when the story got to the part of the threatened closure of the library, her personality became more appealing.

One thing I did enjoy though was the descriptions of the area.  You could visualize the wind sweeping in off the sea and how green everything was...….they do get a lot of rain in Ireland!!  The restoration of the cottage was a good part of the story as well as that was where the character Fury came into play and he truly was a "right character."  Again I found him easy to visualize thanks to the author's great description of him.

Stars out of 5 : 4 If you can hang in there through the first few chapters, this book becomes more and more interesting, and is well worth the read.

This is my own review, I purchased the book myself.

"Secrets of My Heart," by Tracie Peterson

"Secrets of My Heart," by Tracie Peterson

Portland, Oregon, 1879

Nancy Pritchard finds herself widowed and with a world of problems when her deceased husband's shady business schemes start to come to light. As she sifts through the shadowed memories of their loveless union, Nancy realizes there is a lot she didn't know about the man she married.

Seth Carpenter, a childhood friend of Nancy's, has recently returned to Portland and is delighted to see her again. As a lawyer, he offers to help her sort through the legal ramifications of her husband's death. But there is more to Seth than meets the eye, and his job will take him into the dark side of Nancy's husband's life--a side she didn't even know existed.

As the two search for the truth behind her husband's death, a mutual attraction creates complications. When Nancy's own life is threatened, can Seth be honest with her about who he really is and why he's come back to Portland? And can Nancy bear another betrayal?

I read this book during the Covid-19 crisis and will say it was a perfect book to read during that time as it was one of those light hearted books that didn't need you to concentrate too hard on.  Although I like Tracie's books, I didn't find myself going over the story in my mind after I read it.  If I really enjoy a book I tend to mull over the story afterwards.

The main characters of Nancy and Seth were well suited for one another.  One thing that was stressed throughout the book was the social etiquette of the day and what was acceptable and what wasn't.  

Stars out of 5 : 3.5  There are no real surprises in this book.  You sort of know what is going to happen early on.  However it was a book that relaxed me.  This is the first book in the Willamette Brides series; the second one is due out in June 2020.  I am sorry to say I probably won't be rushing out to read it.



"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 


Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
".

"Collateral Damage," by Lynette Eason

"Collateral Damage," by Lynette Eason

Honorably discharged from the Army after an explosion nearly killed her, former military psychiatrist Brooke Adams has set up shop to help others, but her days of helping military personnel are over. She's got her own battles to fight from her time overseas, and she's not equipped to take on more.

Former Army Special Ops Sergeant First Class Asher James could handle anything that war sent his way. The only thing that scares him now is sleep. As the shadows close in, the nightmares begin.

Finally convinced that he needs help, Asher makes an appointment with a counselor. When he arrives at her office, she isn't there--but a dead body is. When it becomes clear that Brooke was the real target of the attack--and that her secrets go even deeper than his own--Asher vows to protect her no matter what. 


This book reminds me of a whole bunch of small streams that join together to form a huge river.  For the first few chapters there are multiple stories that in themselves don't make a whole lot of sense; but as one joins on to the other they bring each separate story together and you begin to figure out what's what.

This is a fast paced book and when things start to fall into place, you will not want to put the book down.  I have to say I am a huge fan of Lynette Eason and this book is as good, if not better than her other works.

Each character is thought out with such great detail, you can almost believe they are real.  The "secret" in this story is so far out there, that it will take you a while to figure out what is really going on.  

Stars out of 5 : 5 This truly is a well worth read if you like fast paced, action packed books.  I loved it and can't wait for the next in the Danger Never Sleeps series which is due out in August 2020.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".


"The Hidden Palace," by Dinah Jefferies

 "The Hidden Palace," by Dinah Jefferies 1925.  Among the ancient honey-coloured walls of the tiny island of Malta, strangers slip...