A Playdate With Death

A Playdate With Death

Ayelet Waldman

In the third book of the Mommy-Track series, former defense attorney and stay-at-home mom Juliet Applebaum arrives at her L.a. gym to find that her personal trainer and friend has been found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gun-shot wound. Juliet has her doubts that upbeat Bobby would have committed suicide, and when his fiancé also expresses doubts, Julist launches her own personal investigation into his death.

These books are both entertaining and interesting. Juliet Applebaum is such a fun, relatable character, and there always seems to be an interesting facet to the mystery: in this case adoption plays a key role.

I definitely enjoy these and will read more of them in the future.

No Place for a Lady: Adventurous Women Travelers

No Place for a Lady: Tales of Adventurous Women Travelers

Barbara Hodgson

This book is about one of my favorite subjects; women who were daring enough to buck convention, escape the narrow confines that defined their societal role, and who saw, explored, and experienced the world at large.

I have to admit that the writing was a little weak. Especially the structure of the book was a little choppy.

That being said, who cares? What was lacking in structure was more than made up for by the adventure, and by the lavish, beautiful illustrations. I was especially enthralled by the gorgeous maps from Victorian-era atlases.

I've learned that Barbara Hodgson is a book designer as well as an author, and it shows.

I totally fell in love with this book.

The Seamstress: A Novel

The Seamstress: A Novel

Frances de Pontes Peebles

Set in Brazil in the 1920's and 1930's, The Seamstress is about two sisters who each long to escape from their small, backcountry village. As they each find what seems to be their means of escape, their lives diverge, yet they retain strong, though obscure ties.

Emilia marries into the family of a wealthy, highly respected doctor and moves to a coastal city.

Luzia, or Victrola, as she is called, chooses to align herself with the cangaceiros, a viscious gang of bandits who roam the interior, and with their magnetic leader, The Hawk,

While Emilia struggles to fit into her new family, and the upper echelons of society, Luzia is transformed into The Seamstress, the most notorious bandit of them all.

I loved this book for so many reasons! The characters were phenomenal, the historical detail was wonderfully rich, the separate plots were enthralling, and harmonized beautiful.

I think that this book would make a terrific selection for book clubs; it embodies so many interesting topics for discussion.