Book Review: Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand (Nantucket #4)

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Apparently, this is the last book in Elin Hilderbrand's Nantucket series and she is planning on retiring.  She has written dozens of books over the past 20 plus years, so she certainly deserves retirement! 

I have read quite a few of her books and thoroughly enjoy all of them.  They are light, quick reads, but also contain serious subject matter interspersed throughout.  This one is no exception.  If you haven't read any other books in this series, no worries -- you'll catch on quickly.  If you have read some of her other books, you'll be happy to see familiar characters and settings.

I typically look forward to a new book by her every summer.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do next year!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reader copy.

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Book Review: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Get a glimpse into the fame, lifestyle, notoriety, lack of privacy, and eventual collateral damage of being a celebrity or the significant other of a celebrity.

Solene is a gallery owner, divorced, and mom to Isabelle.  When her ex-husband can't take Isabelle to meet August Moon, the latest thing in boy bands, Solene steps in.  She meets Hayes Carpenter, one of the band members, and the mutual attraction is immediate.  However, she is approaching 40 and he is 20.  They start a romance which takes them to multiple cities over multiple months.  As anticipated, things get complicated.  It's a page-turner and you'll want to find out how things work out.  Coming soon as a streaming movie. 

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Book Review: This Is Happiness by Niall Williams

This Is Happiness by Niall Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a book club selection, and I had the toughest time trying to get into the book.  My husband recommended that I read a little slower, taking in the language, the setting and the characters, rather than trying to speed through reading like I usually do.  He also suggested that I listen to the audio instead of reading the print book.  A genius suggestion!  It was read by Dermot Crowley, an Irish actor, and he brought the story to life for me!

Noel (Noe) is a young man who goes to live with his grandparents (Ganga and Doady) in Faha, a small village on the western coast of Ireland in County Clare.  The story is told through his eyes, looking back as an old man at the magical time he spent in Faha.  We experience the people and the pace of small town life.  Electricity is coming to Faha, and Christy is one of the workers sent to help the residents sign up.  He rents a room from Ganga and Doady, and consequently he and Noe end of spending a lot of time together over the months.  They share love, loss, music, pubs and much more.  

I finished this book a week ago, but I am still thinking about the story, the language, its beauty and Faha.  Highly recommended, especially the audio version!  Please read the other Goodreads reviews; they are much better at describing the language, the setting, and the way that this book made me feel!

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Book Review: Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America by Karine Jean-Pierre

Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America by Karine Jean-Pierre
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A wonderful memoir by the current Press Secretary to President Biden. She writes about her background -- born to Haitian immigrants in Martinque and eventually moving to Queens. Both her parents were hard-working individuals who worked long hours at multiple jobs to make ends meet. Her parents wanted her to become a doctor, but after failing the MCAT exams she obtained a master's degree in Public Affairs from Columbia University. She entered politics after grad school, working for Walmart Watch, John Edward's presidential campaign, for the Obama administration, and more.

I was fascinated to read the "behind-the-scenes" information about politics and political figures. The book was published in 2019, and ends right after Trump's inauguration. I wish she would write another book discussing her life with the Biden presidency. I highly recommend this book for those interested in "inside politics."

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Book Review: Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW! What a page turner! Jimmy Fallon's audience voted during his March Madness Sweet Sixteen book club bracket and selected this thriller as his Spring Book Club selection. I was surprised to be able to get it from my local library immediately, so I dug right in. I just couldn't put it down, but I also had to be careful not to read it too late at night. I'm a real sissy when it comes to thrillers, women/children in danger, haunted houses and unexplained noises.

The first sentence in the book caught my interest immediately - "There was someone in the house." My heart was beating rapidly every minute I read this book. I couldn't read it fast enough. I broke my rule to stay up late in order to finish it. And it was worth it! (And I didn't have any bad dreams....)

This book has all the thriller tropes: a mother trying to protect her children from an intruder, alone in the house, having to leave the children in order to get help, an unreliable narrator, people in power not believing her story, etc. But Tracy Sierra makes it all work! I don't want to go into too much detail because I want readers to approach the book with the same clean slate I had. You are going to love it!

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Book Review: At My Italian Table: Family Recipes from My Cucina to Yours: A Cookbook by Laura Vitale

At My Italian Table: Family Recipes from My Cucina to Yours: A Cookbook by Laura Vitale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Laura Vitale's second cookbook is a love letter to her Nonna and all the other Italian relatives who provided recipes and ideas for this book. She grew up in Naples, but moved to the United States when she was 12 to live with her father. She was desperately homesick for all her relatives and her life in Italy. She was talking to nonna on the phone, explaining her longing for her cooking, when nonna told her to make the "Sunday sauce" and gave her the recipe. Thus began her love of cooking.

The book is divided into 5 sections: Before Dinner Snacking, Quick & Easy Mains (my fave!), An Italian Sunday, Seriously Good Vegetable Sides & Salads, and Sweet Endings. The recipes run the gamut from quick and easy to those you make when you have the luxury of time (Sunday suppers). Typically the recipes are no-nonsense without fuss and obscure ingredients, which is right up my alley.

This book is highly recommended, and I'm anxious to get my hands on her other cookbook, Laura in the Kitchen, published in 2015. And also to view Cooking Channel and YouTube shows!

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