My reading pace has been off this Fall, so I am combining 2 months worth of reviews into 1 post here.
Here & Hereafter, by: Tyler Henry
Thank you to St. Martin's Press of this advance reader copy. This book comes out February 1, 2022. Years ago I remember catching glimpses here and there of Tyler's show where he was a medium for celebrities. I always liked his personality, and while I don't care much for celebrity information anymore I have become really in tune to "readings" as I have now experienced it for myself with a trusted person I go to. It is hard to explain a session to someone who has not gone through it, but I am a believer. I have several friends who have gone to this same person, and when we compare notes there is no doubt that this is a gift some people have. It was interesting to read about how Tyler came upon his intuition at an early age, and the different examples he used in the book about not fearing what is on the other side and/or what messages are coming to us from the other side. I enjoyed this.
The Santa Suit, by: Mary Kay Andrews
When I saw this new release at the library, I had to pick it up as I love this author. It was a quick, fun read to get in the mood for the holidays. Newly divorced Ivy buys a farmhouse sight unseen in a new town. When she moves in, she has to deal with a lot of stuff the deceased owners left behind. She soon learns the couple that lived there were well known in the town as Mr. and Mrs. Claus when Christmas came around. Ivy finds the old costumes, along with a mysterious note in the pocket of the Santa suit. It leads her on a mission to find out if this special wish ever came true. In the process, she makes new friends and maybe even a chance at love again. Definitely a Hallmark movie in book form!
Why Peacocks, by: Sean Flynn
Most people know I love peacocks, so when I saw this book at Barnes & Noble I had to buy it. The premise reminded me of another recent read - Show Me The Honey - where the author unexpectedly takes ownership of bees. Here, Sean takes in peacocks but I didn't learn as much about owning peacocks as I thought I would (the bee book was more informative in that regard). This book talked a lot about their enclosure and proper male/female ratios. One of Sean's birds did get really sick from ingesting metal he did not realize was on the ground, and as with any animal we feel responsible for, he paid a large sum to nurse it back to health. The doctor he found was quite the specialist on birds, so that was unique to read about. The book then jumped around to different peacock stories, famous peafowl owners, and even an annual meeting of the national peafowl association. Glad I read it, but just fell short for me in a few ways.
Vladimir, by: Julia May Jones
Thank you to Avid Reader Press for this advance reader copy. This book comes out February 1, 2022. This book centers around a married couple who are professors at the same school. They've had an "understanding" their entire relationship that the husband has had relations with his students. Now that he is under trial for his indiscretions, it changes their dynamic. When a new professor, Vladimir, joins their staff, the wife is infatuated with him which further complicates the monogamy issues but also forces all involved to face long standing problems. I really liked this authors style of writing!
Greenwich Park, by: Katherine Faulkner
Thank you to Gallery Books for this advance reader copy. This book comes out January 25, 2022. A group of 4 friends who met in college are now 2 couples years later. After years of disappointments, Helen is carrying a baby to full term and all seems perfect. She meets an unusual person in her birthing class - Rachel - that she can't help but be drawn to. With no baby father in the picture, and reckless acts like drinking and smoking while pregnant, Helen can't figure Rachel out. Coincidences keep happening that pull Rachel further and further into Helen's life. But soon, everything unravels and secrets from the past come out that explain Rachel's connection to this group of friends. A good twisty thriller!
The Hike, by: Landon Beach
While on our annual vacation this Summer, I like to visit the local bookstore in the town we go to. I also like to support local authors, and this book was being promoted at the time so I bought it. With a focus on a fictional Detroit Mafia, this story is about how a missing man got mixed up in "the association" and a surprising plea for help to his brother years later. It was hard to keep some of the organization members straight, but I enjoyed the setting in the city as well as more serene places in Michigan. A good read if you like this genre.
