The Hunting Wives by May Cobb

Sophie O'Neill left behind an envy-inspiring career and the stressful, competitive life of big-city Chicago to settle down with her husband and young son in a small Texas town. It seems like the perfect life with a beautiful home in an idyllic rural community. But Sophie soon realizes that life is now too quiet, and she's feeling bored and restless.

Then she meets Margot Banks, an alluring socialite who is part of an elite clique secretly known as the Hunting Wives. Sophie finds herself completely drawn to Margot and swept into her mysterious world of late-night target practice and dangerous partying. As Sophie's curiosity gives way to full-blown obsession, she slips farther away from the safety of her family and deeper into this nest of vipers.

When the body of a teenage girl is discovered in the woods where the Hunting Wives meet, Sophie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and her life spiraling out of control.

REVIEW:
Elements of The Hunting Wives were excellent, but I just could not relate to the main character Sophie and her seemingly adolescent crush on Margot. Frankly, since Sophie actually spent two years of high school in this town, it would have made more sense to me if this had been an adolescent crush that she never resolved because she moved away, but the author clearly states she never knew this gang back in the day. He rapid descent into excessive drinking and adulterous behavior were bad enough, but once the high school football players made an appearance, I could no longer muster even a modicum of sympathy for Sophie who just made bad choice after bad choice until the denouement of the novel. The book was very well-written and all of the characters were fully drawn, I just didn't like any of them (except Graham, Jack, and Detective Flynn). Ultimately a frustrating read because of my distaste for Sophie and her actions.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain and her family may live in a ramshackle old English castle, but that’s about as romantic as her life gets. While her beautiful older sister, Rose, longs to live in a Jane Austen novel, Cassandra knows that meeting an eligible man to marry isn’t in either of their futures when their home is crumbling and they have to sell their furniture for food. So Cassandra instead strives to hone her writing skills in her journals. Until one day when their new landlords move in, which include two (very handsome) sons, and the lives of the Mortmain sisters change forever.

REVIEW:
I don't know how this wonderful coming-of-age story has never crossed my radar screen before, but wow am I grateful for the online recommendations that made me pick up up now. Written post WWII but set in pre-war England, every page is steeped in nostalgia and the author's love for England bleeds through every word. Cassandra's narrative voice is magnificent as is the bucolic and unbelievable setting. The story here is secondary to the characters and the setting and Cassandra's growing realization that she is truly leaving childhood behind. I couldn't put it down once I started, and the memory of the prose gives me a warm glow even now that I'm finished. Highly recommend!

In Bed with the Earl by Christi Caldwell

To solve a mystery that’s become the talk of the ton, no clues run too deep for willful reporter Verity Lovelace. Not even in the sewers of London. That’s precisely where she finds happily self-sufficient scavenger Malcom North, lost heir to the Earl of Maxwell. Now that Verity’s made him front-page news, what will he make of her?

Kidnapped as a child, with no memories of his well-heeled past, Malcom prefers the grimy spoils of the culverts to the gilded riches of society. Damn the feisty beauty who exposed the contented tosher to a parade of fortune-hunting matchmakers. How to keep them at bay? Verity must pretend to be his wife. She owes him.

The intimacy of this necessary arrangement—Verity and Malcom thrust together in close quarters—soon sparks an irresistible heat. But when the charade ends, the danger begins. Will love be enough to protect them from a treacherous plot devised to ruin them?

REVIEW:
I enjoyed [In Bed with the Earl] - strong characters, believable scenarios, and subtle wry humor. Verity is hard-working, dedicated to family, and determined to make her way in a man's world and profession. Malcolm has made his fortune and found a family to replace the one stolen from him, but still clings to the dank sewers where he grew up. I would have liked a little more info on the mystery of the missing earl, but the romance here was delightful as was the character development. Well-written with strong dialogue, this series opener definitely inspired me to buy book two.

Three Ordinary Girls by Tim Brady

May 10, 1940. The Netherlands was swarming with Third Reich troops. In seven days it’s entirely occupied by Nazi Germany. Joining a small resistance cell in the Dutch city of Haarlem were three teenage girls: Hannie Schaft, and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen who would soon band together to form a singular female underground squad.

Smart, fiercely political, devoted solely to the cause, and “with nothing to lose but their own lives,” Hannie, Truus, and Freddie took terrifying direct action against Nazi targets. That included sheltering fleeing Jews, political dissidents, and Dutch resisters. They sabotaged bridges and railways, and donned disguises to lead children from probable internment in concentration camps to safehouses. They covertly transported weapons and set military facilities ablaze. And they carried out the assassinations of German soldiers and traitors–on public streets and in private traps–with the courage of veteran guerilla fighters and the cunning of seasoned spies.

REVIEW:
Three Ordinary Girls was a hard read for me because I wanted so much to be engaged in the story of these teenage resistance fights, but found myself struggling to keep slogging through the book. I found the writer's style jarringly casual at times for an otherwise dry history. The formatting of the footnotes was problematic in the Kindle version I read and so much of the book was footnoted that I wasn't sure there was any reason to have written a new book rather than just telling people to read a translation of an existing work. I never really felt like I got any personal insight into the three girls, and the complex mystery of how their work fell apart so close to the end of the war was completely unresolved. At times, this just felt like a tally of their kills but with no exploration of the motivations behind them. I kept wanting more but never got it, and so finished with no more knowledge or insight than when I started. Sadly not a book I will recommend despite what should have been a fascinating subject. 2 stars.

Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts

It was a typical evening at a mall outside Portland, Maine. Three teenage friends waited for the movie to start. A boy flirted with the girl selling sunglasses. Mothers and children shopped together, and the manager at video game store tended to customers. Then the shooters arrived.

The chaos and carnage lasted only eight minutes before the killers were taken down. But for those who lived through it, the effects would last forever. In the years that followed, one would dedicate himself to a law enforcement career. Another would close herself off, trying to bury the memory of huddling in a ladies' room, helplessly clutching her cell phone--until she finally found a way to pour her emotions into her art.

But one person wasn't satisfied with the shockingly high death toll at the DownEast Mall. And as the survivors slowly heal, find shelter, and rebuild, they will discover that another conspirator is lying in wait--and this time, there might be nowhere safe to hide.

REVIEW:
I love Roberts who has written some of my favorite romance novels and series. This offering though seemed different - less like a romance and more just a novel. The story feels like it centers more on Reed than on Simone or their romance together. In fact, the character I feel I know the most about is Simone's grandmother CiCi; we certainly get more of her family backstory than we do for either Reed or Simone. The exploration of the impact of a mass shooting is interesting, though I was surprised we didn't get more about some other characters (such as Brady for example). Overall it was a good read, but not at all what I expected from a Nora Roberts book. Recommend for the story but be forewarned that this isn't really a traditional romance novel.

Forever Your Earl by Eva Leigh

Eleanor Hawke loves a good scandal. And readers of her successful gossip rag live for the exploits of her favorite subject: Daniel Balfour, the notorious Earl of Ashford. So when the earl himself marches into her office and invites her to experience his illicit pursuits firsthand, Eleanor is stunned. Gambling hells, phaeton races, masquerades... What more could a scandal writer want than a secret look into the life of this devilishly handsome rake?

Daniel has secrets, and if The Hawk's Eye gets wind of them, a man's life could be at stake. And what better way to distract a gossip than by feeding her the scandal she desperately craves? But Daniel never expected the sharp mind and biting wit of the beautiful writer, and their desire for each other threatens even his best-laid plans.

But when Eleanor learns the truth of his deception, Daniel will do anything to prove a romance between a commoner and an earl could really last forever.

REVIEW:
Though I loved the basic premise of Forever Your Earl, the execution left me unmoved. Both Eleanor and Daniel were enjoyable characters (she the editor of a gossip rag, he the paper's most popular subject) but the situation they found themselves in was just too contrived for my taste. It was never at all clear why Daniel felt having a reporter along for the ride on his wild escapades would bring less attention than when he set out alone? Nothing about that makes any sense. The book was an OK read but one I had to keep chiding myself to continue. 2.5 stars.

Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr

For the second time in a year, a woman arrives in the small town of Virgin River trying to escape her past.

John “Preacher” Middleton is about to close the bar when a young woman and her three-year-old son come in out of the wet October night. A marine who has seen his share of pain, Preacher knows a crisis when he sees one—the woman is covered in bruises. He wants to protect them, and to punish whoever did this, but he knows immediately that this is more than just instinct. Paige Lassiter has stirred up emotions in this gentle giant of a man—emotions that he has never allowed himself to feel.

Then Paige’s ex-husband turns up in Virgin River. And if there’s one thing the marines’ motto of Semper Fi—always faithful—has taught Preacher, it’s that some things are worth fighting for.

REVIEW:
I was really hoping to love this Paige and Preacher book but wow did I not. I did love Preacher and Paige as characters, but the storyline itself was problematic for me. The sequence of events with Wes seemed completely unrealistic - attacking his wife and another woman in broad daylight on a street full of witnesses didn't fit with a history of behind-closed-doors abuse. However, my bigger issue is with the treatment of pregnancy and pregnant women in this book (which I also disliked in book one of the series). Between teen pregnancy, miscarriages, and the birth stories - it seems women in these stories have no higher function than to be fecund. I think this book marks the end of my visit to Virgin River; I'll stick to the TV show for my guilty pleasure.

Virgin River by Robyn Carr

Wanted: Midwife/nurse practitioner in Virgin River, population six hundred. Make a difference against a backdrop of towering California redwoods and crystal clear rivers. Rent-free cabin included.

When the recently widowed Melinda Monroe sees this ad, she quickly decides that the remote mountain town of Virgin River might be the perfect place to escape her heartache, and to reenergize the nursing career she loves. But her high hopes are dashed within an hour of arriving—the cabin is a dump, the roads are treacherous and the local doctor wants nothing to do with her. Realizing she’s made a huge mistake, Mel decides to leave town the following morning.

But a tiny baby abandoned on a front porch changes her plans…and former marine Jack Sheridan cements them into place.

REVIEW:
I read and enjoyed many of Robyn Carr's Thunder Point series, but didn't pick up Virgin River until after watching the Netflix show, and have to confess to being disappointed. Neither Jack nor Melinda are as engaging in the book as they are on screen (and I'm a person who always prefers the book to the movie! I didn't like the way Jack dealt with Charmaine, I didn't like how superficial the attraction between Jack and Melinda sometimes appeared, I didn't like a fourteen year old getting pregnant, and I didn't appreciate the entire way pregnancy and motherhood was fetishized in the book and its sequel. I was excited to have a whole long new series to read, but after the first couple of books, I'm not sure I can be in it for the long haul.

Keepers of the Sheep: Knitting in Morocco's High Atlas and Beyond by Irene Waggener

Follow Irene Waggener into the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco to learn about a knitting tradition that stretches back in time through generations - possibly to the very origins of the craft. In this collection of 7 essays and 13 patterns, readers are given a glimpse of life in a High Atlas village where knitting once played a key role in surviving harsh, snowy winters.

The knitting patterns in this book include traditional designs by shepherds who want to share their knowledge with other knitters and future generations. The patterns are presented alongside essays that provide the cultural and environmental context in which knitting was practiced in the High Atlas.

In addition, Irene’s research takes the reader backwards in time as she examines the history of knitting in Morocco and North Africa. Through historical accounts, linguistic clues, and museum artifacts - some of which have not been available to the general public until now - Irene presents a holistic view of knitting in North Africa from Morocco to Egypt. Her research is accompanied by knitting patterns inspired by historical sources, bringing to life once again the skills of early North African knitters.

As requested by the shepherds who contributed to this book, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the women’s cooperative, Cooperative Ibilou. The cooperative will use these funds for community development projects that will benefit everyone in their village.

REVIEW:
Though I love to crochet, I confess my knitting has rarely been more than passable and so I bought Keepers of the Sheep for the stories and history of knitting in the High Atlas rather than in the hopes of recreating any of the projects. The essays that open each chapter are engaging and enlightening, and I love the detective work involved in tracking down the men who preserve this dying craft. Despite my lack of knitting skills, many of the patterns seem quite clear and easy to follow; certainly the photographs of the various projects make me want to give them a try! Highly recommend this interesting look at the history of knitting in the mountains of Morocco.

Pomeroy's Postscript by Mary Fitt

When Pomeroy Parker went to stay in the country with old Mrs. Livingstone, his sister Marguerite expected a long letter from him telling her all about the house, the countryside, and Mrs. Livingstone herself (since neither Pomeroy nor Marguerite has ever set eyes on her before). Pomeroy, unlike most brothers, was a very good letter-writer and loved describing things, even if his handwriting was pretty bad.

But the weeks went by and all that Marguerite heard from Pomeroy was in a postscript to a letter written by someone else: a typewritten letter from Cousin Job. Cousin Job was a lawyer, his letter a warm invitation to Marguerite to join her brother as Mrs. Livingstone's guest. Pomeroy's postscript said simply: "Dear Sis, do come."

Why did Marguerite hesitate for a moment before accepting? And why did she find when she arrived?

REVIEW:
I originally read Pomeroy's Postscript as a kid in my local library and the story stuck with me (though the title did not).  Decades later I was able to track down the title and ultimately a copy of the book, but I shelved it without rereading.  I recently rediscovered the book on my shelves and am delighted to report it was as enjoyable a read now as all those many years ago.  I like that it is an adventure story that focuses on a female character (Marguerite) rather than on her twin brother (Pomeroy).  Sort-of cousin Merritt is another great character that rounds out the story - bookish and clever but somewhat uncertain of himself socially.  Though the book was written in the 1950s, there isn't actually much about it that is dated (other than a few lines at the very end about Uncle Sam handling everything as if Aunt Maud wasn't capable of doing so).  All in all an enjoyable reread of a story I very much enjoyed as a kid.