Comfort Reads cont'd

 

This was a re-read for me.

I loved it every bit as much as I did the first time.

"In this intimate debut novel, a woman returns to her small Southern hometown in the wake of her mother's sudden death--only to find the past upended by stunning family secrets.

Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father's untimely death when she was a child. Both she and her brother, Henry, fled north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives and relationships of their own, steeped in art and culture. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, opted to remain in Georgia to dote on their domineering, larger-than-life mother, Geneva. Yet, despite their years-long independence, Lila and Henry both know they've never quite reckoned with their upbringing.

Now, when their elderly mother dies suddenly and strangely, found among the dense vines of the muscadine arbor behind the family estate, they must travel back to the town that raised them. But as Lila and Henry uncover more about Geneva's death, shocking truths are revealed that upend the Bruces' history as they know it, sending the pair on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives.

With deep compassion and sharp wit, Pamela Terry brings to life the culture and expectations of a small Southern town that values appearance over authenticity--and where the struggle to live honestly can lead to devastating consequences."

The description does not do the book justice.

It's this and so much more. 

What makes a book special?  Sets it apart from other books you read and enjoy?

It's characters that have dimension and personality.

It's the author's voice and word choice.

Phrasing and pacing.

Descriptions that place you so deeply in the story you're able to actually see the scene being described.  And feel it.

Pamela Terry is an author I think we're going to be hearing a lot about in the future.

"The Sweet Taste of Muscadines" won't be available until March - AND it'll be worth the wait. Not to worry - I'll be back to remind you! 

I was lucky enough to run across it at NetGalley and even luckier when my request to read it was granted.  

Favorite Books through June 2025

Sister of my heart,  Lesa Holstine, posted her favorite books of the year (so far) at her blog.

https://lesasbookcritiques.com/favorite-books-january-through-june-2025/#comment-105564

It reminded me that I had not yet posted my own, so here 'tis.  A little late, but here, nonetheless.

Some of the books on this list may not be available yet as I read them as Advance Reading Copies through NetGalley. com, but they're available for pre-ordering and are worth waiting for.

Happy Reading!

 We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

Writers and Liars by Carol Goodman

Apostle’s Cove by William Kent Krueger

My Beloved by Jan Karon

All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Hunter’s Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Mrs. Endlicott’s Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen

These Heathens by Mia McKenzie

Through An Open Window by Pamela Terry

The Last Carolina Summer by Karen White

Painting by Kay Ritter

Gentle Reads

 

Those of us who read love the escape we achieve with our books.

Right now I'm very interested in escapes of a gentle nature.

If you're of a similar mind and need some time in a kinder, more gentle world,  I've just finished one that I heartily recommend.

Gentle, but not so twee it hurts your teeth.

I received it through NetGalley.  It will hit the shelves in August, and worth the wait.  And available for pre-ordering.

i loved this book.

Mrs Endicott’ Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen

Description:

Blindsided by betrayal in pre-WWII England, a woman charts a daring new course in this captivating tale of resilience, friendship, and new love by the bestselling author of The Rose Arbor and The Venice Sketchbook.

Surrey, England, 1938. After thirty devoted years of marriage, Ellie Endicott is blindsided by her husband’s appeal for divorce. It’s Ellie’s opportunity for change too. The unfaithful cad can have the house. She’s taking the Bentley. Ellie, her housekeeper Mavis, and her elderly friend Dora—each needing escape—impulsively head for parts unknown in the South of France.

With the Rhône surging beside them, they have nowhere to be and everywhere to go. Until the Bentley breaks down in the inviting fishing hamlet of Saint Benet. Here, Ellie rents an abandoned villa in the hills, makes wonderful friends among the villagers, and finds herself drawn to Nico, a handsome and enigmatic fisherman. As for unexpected destinations, the simple paradis of Saint Benet is perfect. But fates soon change when the threat of war encroaches.

Ellie’s second act in life is just beginning—and becoming an adventure she never expected.

And,

While I'm sharing gentle reads I love, let me add author Pamela Terry.

Again, gentle, but not too sweet.

Through an Open Window will be available in August.  It's also available for pre-ordering.

Description

A charming, heartfelt novel about the bonds of family, whether found or foretold, from the author of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines.

In the small Southern town of Wesleyan, Georgia, where the air smells of red clay and sea salt, Margaret Elliot has lived a seemingly charmed life—until the recent loss of her beloved husband. Since then, Margaret has been seeing visions of her aunt Edith, the indomitable woman who raised her after her parents died when she was a baby. As these mysterious and undeniable visitations continue, Margaret becomes convinced that Aunt Edith is trying to tell her something important. As she follows the clues that almost magically present themselves, it becomes clear there is a secret from Margaret’s past waiting to be uncovered.

As Margaret grapples with each new revelation, she also worries about her three grown children. Her stoic and inscrutable eldest daughter, Mouse, continues to struggle with the grief of losing her father. Her son Lawrie, always his mother’s favorite, faces life-altering changes that he both longs for and fears—while Tom, Lawrie’s twin, must wrestle with the consequences of a work decision that has blown up his entire life. Despite the tensions among the siblings as they argue about how best to support their mother, the whole family is soon embroiled in uncovering the truth the ghost of Aunt Edith is striving to expose.

Through an Open Window invites us to see the grace that is so often there in the background, just waiting to be revealed. And reminds us that not even death can keep love from winning out in the end.

While you're waiting for these, please give Ms. Terry's earlier novels a try.

Happy Reading!

Note:  Regarding review copies of books obtained for this blog. No other compensation is accepted beyond review copies of books - ever. When I do write a review, or opinion, the source of the book cited will be disclosed in the post in which the review/opinon appears. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.

Why I Re-read

 

I re-read to savor the beauty of the words; the phrasing, the pacing, the choice of those words.

This is an excerpt from 

Pamela Terry's THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES -

"Every house is haunted. Some are haunted in the traditional way: by spirits generally more mischievous than malevolent, who take delight in closing the open door, rocking the empty chair, or snuffing out the flaming candle, unfortunate souls who failed to squeeze enough enjoyment out of their paltry allotment of days to sufficiently satisfy their eternity. Most, however, are haunted by our own memories: bits of ourselves, individual and unique, left behind and lying dormant for decades but with the power to quicken and breathe the moment we step back inside. These personal spirits can live in the house of our childhood or the church where we married. They wait for us with the patience of angels, alert to the sound of our step, the certain sweetness of our perfume, the touch of our hand on the door. Like rainbows through beveled glass, they coalesce in the stillness, ethereal as a dream yet visible to our eyes only. We alone may catch glimpses of ourselves at long-forgotten ages, running down the hallways or sitting with a book at the window. We alone can see our parents as they once were, young and hale. Fleeting, hardly real, the sounds of our youth can return on a breeze—the music, the laughter, the tears. These spirits gather in the corners of once-familiar rooms to whisper and sing, a murmuration of memory meant for just one."

Savoring the words

There are a few authors whose books I'm going to read the minute I'm able.

Lucky for me, I was able to get advance copies of these novels written by these outstanding writers through NetGalley even though I have each of them pre-ordered.

I know some people think re-reading is silly and a waste of time.  

I don't feel that way.

Yes, i know - there are exciting new books being published every day.

"Too many books, too little time." 

I get that.

I am, however, a re-reader from way back.

When an author is able to find a way to use words to create a phrase or a thought that feels magical enough to cause me to stop reading long enough to think about, savor, and feel a connection, that's a book I know I'll come back to.

These are the most recent books delivering that magic.

Maybe you'll love them too.

 

Tuesday ramblings

 It's a dreary day in the NC mountains.

A perfect day, I think, to curl up in bed with coffee, cookies, and Annabelle spread across my feet.

In my continuing attempts to limit what I hear coming out of the mouth of The Village Idiot, who becomes crazier and more dangerous by the day, I'm still limiting my Facebook time.  (Here's where I insert my chant:  "VOTE!  VOTE!  VOTE!")

I'm doing a lot of cooking 

and baking 

and reading.

Last night I finished an ARC of a debut novel that blew me away.

One of those books containing passages so lovely that you have to re-read and savor each word.

 

"In this intimate debut novel, a woman returns to her small Southern hometown in the wake of her mother's sudden death--only to find the past upended by stunning family secrets.

Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father's untimely death when she was a child. Both she and her brother, Henry, fled north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives and relationships of their own, steeped in art and culture. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, opted to remain in Georgia to dote on their domineering, larger-than-life mother, Geneva. Yet, despite their years-long independence, Lila and Henry both know they've never quite reckoned with their upbringing.

Now, when their elderly mother dies suddenly and strangely, found among the dense vines of the muscadine arbor behind the family estate, they must travel back to the town that raised them. But as Lila and Henry uncover more about Geneva's death, shocking truths are revealed that upend the Bruces' history as they know it, sending the pair on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives.

With deep compassion and sharp wit, Pamela Terry brings to life the culture and expectations of a small Southern town that values appearance over authenticity--and where the struggle to live honestly can lead to devastating consequences."

The description does not do the book justice.

It's this and so much more. 

What makes a book special?  Sets it apart from other books you read and enjoy?

It's characters that have dimension and personality.

It's the author's voice and word choice.

Phrasing and pacing.

Descriptions that place you so deeply in the story you're able to actually see the scene being described.  And feel it.

Pamela Terry is an author I think we're going to be hearing a lot about in the future.

"The Sweet Taste of Muscadines" won't be available until March - AND it'll be worth the wait. Not to worry - I'll be back to remind you! 

I was lucky enough to run across it at NetGalley and even luckier when my request to read it was granted.  

It's one of those books I'll be sharing with friends and family.

While I was up way past my bedtime reading Ms. Terry's book, two books by two of my favorite authors popped up on my Kindle.  (Have I mentioned how much I love the magic of my Kindle?)

Natasha Lester's "The Paris Secret," 

and Mark Pryor's "The French Widow," (the 9th book in the Hugo Marston series)

Now to decide which to read first . . . 

Wishing you a good day!

(Teeshirt available here)

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