We have all heard of daring art heists over the years but most of these involved thieves who came in the night, wore black and used sophisticated methods to pull off thefts of well known works. This couple kept their relationship fresh by pulling off more than 200 thefts of a variety of paintings, sculpture, weapons and decorative items in broad daylight had me shaking my head and repeating a mantra of "no way". A fascinating story of a young man with psychological issues and a deep seated love of collecting art and the women who loved and enabled him. My thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the advance copy. 4 stars
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Grandmother, daughter and granddaughter traverse the undertow that threatens to pull them apart as they try to find their footing in their coastal Florida home. This is a beautifully expressed story of love, connection and pushback of three generations of Vietnamese American women. Grandma Minh is the connective tissue between her daughter Huong and granddaughter Ann and Huong resents the ease of her mom's and daughter's relationship yet doesn't know how to change it. When Minh dies and leaves the Banyan House to her daughter and granddaughter it begins the healing process. Three generations of strong women each passing on that strength to their children. They have all known love and great heartache and while only two have known the horrors of war and leaving their homeland, they all share in the wake of the trauma. This gorgeous debut is the perfect book for mothers and daughters to share. 4 stars
Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the first First Ladies to take an active role in policy making especially in the area of creating equal opportunities for black people in education, the military and jobs. She and the other First Lady of Civil Rights, her friend Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, battled public perception,
racism and violence from lynch mobs and the Klan and powerful men in Washington to help all Americans both black and white. As women they shared a private history and as influential people who didn't understand the word no they cut through the political quagmire to make change happen. The authors have used their own friendship and understanding to once again write historical fiction that comes alive giving us a deeper understanding of the unique challenges these brave women went through to affect change. Fans of the stories of the unknown women behind the men in power will enjoy this. 3 1/2 stars Winthrop Island and Summerly House is the summer home for the well off Peabody family and the full time home of Emilia (known as Cricket) whose family are the caretakers. Playing together as children leads to first kiss and a babysitting job taking care of Olive Peabody’s kids. During that time she becomes close to Olive which is why later on it is Emilia who is approached to gather info on clandestine activities that Olive may be involved in. With the Cold War looming in the background and the political hierarchy of the island, this is a coming of age story complete with a rocky romance and spy thriller as much as it is riveting historical fiction that only Beatriz Williams can write. Fans of THE AMERICANS and THE GREAT GATSBY will fall for this. 4 stars
A very funny look at the UFO craze that is like a mashup of THELMA AND LOUISE meets ET. While on a last minute Maid of Honor errand Sloane gets abducted by an honest to goodness alien. Somehow they figure out a way to communicate that Iggy, the multi-tenacled alien needs to get somewhere fast and Sloane is supposed to drive. Along the way several others get snapped up with lightning speed until they end up in a grand RV whose owner tries to teach Iggy the way of the world through old westerns. Bouncing from Roswell, New Mexico to gambling in Las Vegas they have a grand adventure and become very fond of their new alien friend. Protecting him and getting him home becomes their group mission. This is the funny side of Connie Willis who has had me enthralled with her time travel WWII stories in the past. We know we are laughing at the absurdity of humans (and ourselves) but maybe there are aliens out there laughing right along with us. This light hearted approach to aliens and UFOs may have the same effect that Andy Weir's books have had in attracting new space nerds. 4 zany roadtrip stars Bridget (Red) is no stranger to hard knocks and bad luck but after wandering into Dodge after losing the only family she had left from a snakebite, her luck may be turning around. She is taken in and offered a job in a lively brothel by the women who own it because they need a redhead. Soon Red finds friends, financial freedom and the family she never had. Life is good until the sheriff wants to make an honest woman out of her and a female gunfighter named Spartan Lee comes to town. Spartan sets off a fire in Red with promises of adventure, freedom and love. The people she has come to care about see trouble in the wind. When it hits Dodge Red will have to make some difficult choices. This is a rollicking good time with all the best qualities of a western drama plus an ill-fated love story featuring tough as nails frontierwomen who shoot straight, talk straight and love who they love. Perfect fit for UPRIGHT WOMEN WANTED, LONE WOMEN and even TRUE GRIT. 4 1/2 stars
In short chapters that read like journal entries Gail Tsukiyama brings us the story of a talented and ambitious actress caught up in the unfair racial practices of Hollywood. Anna May Wong was hired more times than she could count to play maids, prostitutes or minor background characters while also expected to teach the yellow face white lead actress how to use chopsticks or act more Chinese. She was a star on stage and on screen all over the world and while she attained greater fame and acceptance in Europe she was shunned in China and never given a chance in the U.S. A friend to so many big names both in Hollywood and Europe Anna May straddled several continents always working to improve her craft and was applauded yet denied the roles she was born to play. Another story of the dark days of Hollywood and the courageous people who kept pushing for them to make it better, do better and be better.
4 stars A woman held captive for five years thinks she may finally have a chance when her captor and his teenage daughter are forced to move and she goes with. He is an ex-marine with a face everyone trusts and a quiet demeanor so no one suspects that he is a serial killer, certainly not his next target who sees him as a kind widower. But the woman in the house has waited long enough - it is time. Taunt as a bow string and you, like Rachel are waiting for the one opportunity to put an arrow right in his back. The scariest part of this is how easy it is for him to do this. You will look at people you pass in the grocery store or on the street and wonder. Fans of ROOM will fall for this intense debut. 4 stars
Marion has always wanted to be a dancer not a married dance teacher who only teaches until she has a houseful of kids, which is what her dad, sister and soon to be fiancé want. She auditions on a whim for a new precision dance troupe - The Rockettes who will perform at Radio City Music Hall. When she makes the team her life spins happily out of control as she tries to balance her ambitions and follow her heart while placating her family. A bomb goes off during a show that changes everything for Marion. She along with the help of a psychiatrist interested in a new science of criminal behavior follow leads and track down the Big Apple Bomber and the very personal connection to Marion.
As always Fiona Davis gives us a quintessential New York story full of high kicks, precision writing, emotional dips, plot spins and a big finish that will delight fans of her other New York historical stories and all those who think New York is one of the most spectacular cities in the world. 4 1/2 stars A complex thriller that brings together a puzzle savant and an incarcerated woman to solve murders and an ancient biblical puzzle. Mike Brink's teenage accident has left him with the ability to create and solve complex puzzles that even Mensa members are unable to solve. He is asked to meet with a mute prisoner who gives him a puzzle which leads him into danger. It has to do with an ancient ritual, a strange porcelain doll, a puzzle dating back to old Judea and the powerful people who will stop at nothing to get answers. Fans of Dan Brown thrillers that hint of mysticism and unlocking ancient secrets as well as those who just love a good puzzle will dive right into this. While you might not be able to solve the puzzles you won't be able to close the book until the mystery is solved. 4 stars
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