Author: B.A. Paris

Livia and Adam had a very small wedding after Livia was cut off from her family when she became pregnant. She has been planning a spectacular 40th birthday party almost since that day. The day of the party has arrived and with it some secrets that both Livia and her husband are keeping from each other.

I enjoyed the story but was frustrated at the pair of them as they waited for the perfect moment to reveal their secrets to each other. The chapters are divided into hourly sections from the morning of the party to its end very early the next day. Each chapter is narrated by either Livia or Adam.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: C.J. Box

A quilt blogger I follow is enjoying this series of books so I decided to try them. This is the first of the Joe Pickett novels – there are 21 in the series.

Joe is a Game Warden in the fictional area of Twelve Sleep County near the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. He and his wife Marybeth have two young children and a third on the way. When a man dies from gunshot wounds in their woodpile the mystery begins. Although I had a good handle on who was behind the mystery there were a few surprises.

I enjoyed the book but I doubt I’ll read any further into the series.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Michael Crummey

It isn’t often that I read a book Pat recommends – our taste in books is very different. While Pat was reading this one I looked at the summary and thought I might like it so when he was done he passed it along to my pile of books.

The story mainly takes place during the Second World War, involves two main characters – Mercedes and Wish – and is set in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Mercedes is Protestant and Wish is Catholic so right from the start there are hurdles to overcome. When the war separates them you wonder if they will ever find each other again.

There were a couple of things that stood out for me in the book. Newfoundland had not yet joined Confederation so the narration talks about Canada and Newfoundland as separate countries. Also there is a Canadian-born Japanese interpreter in the POW camp where Wish is incarcerated; it was interesting to hear his backstory and see why he might have been fighting with the Japanese army.

Overall I liked the story but found the ending too long and drawn out. I don’t always need a happy ending but I like an ending – this ending was rather vague.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Hazel Gaynor

This was a recommendation from Regan and it was available from the library without much of a wait.

I enjoyed the story – part of which happens during and after WW1 and another part that is happening in current day Ireland. The place in Ireland, Howth, is one of the first spots Pat and I visited after arriving in Dublin. The story talks about the wind in the harbour and I remember that it was a very windy day when we were there.

Although the story is a novel it is based on true facts about the Cottingley Fairy photos. Be sure to look up Cottingley Fairies on Google to read all about the stir they created.

Two young girls in England make frequent visits to the beck (a stream or small river) at the bottom of the garden. The youngest, Francis, claims to see fairies; her older cousin, Elsie, decides they should take photos of the fairies to prove to their parents that the fairies exist. When the photographs they take come to the attention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and several photography experts it sparks a number of investigations over the next 100 years. The story that unfolds in the present is quite predictable but an enjoyable read.

Goodreads Rating: * * *