Last Dance Before Dawn by Katharine Schellman

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Readers,

Spring is rapidly turning to summer here in Wisconsin. We do not seem to always have Spring. Often it seems to go from winter coats to shorts. This year, we have had more of Springlike weather but still we are going from 60’s to 90’s overnight.

Last Dance Before Dawn by Katharine Schellman is the fourth in the series of the Nightingale Mysteries. I have reviewed two of the other books (The Last Drop of Hemlock and The Last Note of Warning). I have enjoyed her prior books, and I enjoyed this book also. It is the last book in the series.

In this book, Vivian Kelly is happy with her life at the Nightengale until a man shows up one night looking for someone. Vivian does not recognize the name of the person he is looking for, but the man is sure that she knows the man. She does not think that she has ever heard the name before and is puzzled but very wary. Then the night security guard is killed and the Nightengale family is scared. She receives another threat along with her boss Honor Huxley that they have 48 hours to turn over the mystery man.

At the same time, Vivian and her sister get a lead to find a family member. They go and despite the friendly letter they received, the woman is not friendly at all. She practically shoves them out of the house. They did not understand the change. The woman does tell them that she is their aunt and that their father is dead. Vivian’s sister, Frances, is extremely disappointed and Vivian thinks there is something odd going on. Vivian is right, something very odd is going on.

When all the mysteries merge and affect Vivian’s real and chosen families, she must be on top of her game to get through this situation alive.

I like this series. There are good twists and turns in the plot, and we find out more about the characters in each book. While I did not read the first book, I think that you need to read the other books in order. I hope you enjoy reading this book.

Thanks for reading!

Posted in Talking Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Death at the Door By Olivia Blacke

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

Yes, if you are following this blog, I am catching up today. I had 6 books that I had been asked to review and had not written the reviews. But I am now down to three books, and none of them have been released yet. So, I will be doing what I dislike doing. I will publish reviews before the books are released. I hate to do it because I hate to tell you about a book that you cannot read yet. But then again, I need to get the reviews written before I forget the book.

So, off we go…

Death at the Door by Olivia Blacke is the second in a series of books about Ruby and Cordelia. I reviewed the first book in the series (You can read it here). Ruby is alive and Cordelia is a ghost. In this book, while Ruby is at work, the deli delivery guy is murdered in the bathroom. After his death, Ruby finds out that he was a drug dealer. She and Cordelia investigate his murder, as it seems the police are not that interested in finding out what happened to him.

In the course of the story, we meet Ruby’s new neighbor, who happens to work for a major competitor of the company she works for. Ruby still isn’t really very clear about what her company does, but it is surprising that her new handsome neighbor is a competitor. Especially a competitor that may put Ruby’s company out of business. And then Cordelia’s brother arrives fresh from prison. While Cordelia is happy to see him, she does not trust him and needs to warn Ruby not to trust him either.

Communication between Ruby and Cordelia is still a problem and they keep trying to find ways to get messages across. It seems that if Ruby gets drunk (she doesn’t drink normally), she can see and talk to Cordelia, but there is always a question as to whether or not she will remember the conversation.

And Cordelia still doesn’t understand how she died, and while she tries not to wonder she is getting closer to wanting to know what happened. Ruby finds out more about Cordelia and her relationships with her co-workers.

I know that these books sound a bit hokey. I find them enjoyable reading. I will admit that I am getting a bit tired of waiting for Cordelia and Ruby to figure out who killed Cordelia. If there is a next book, I think we are at the point where that has to be solved.

Yes, I recommend this book. It is a light read. May I even suggest these are good beach reads?

This book will not be published until October 21, 2025.

Thanks for reading.

Posted in Talking Books | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Red House by Mary Morris

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

I know, I have fallen behind again(!). It seems that I catch up and then fall terribly behind. I have four books that I need to review and that doesn’t count the books that I read on my own.

I am still keeping up my goal to read one non-fiction book a month. But it is now the 18th of June, and I haven’t read a non-fiction book yet this month. In February, I started King: A Life by Jonathan Eig. I was going along enjoying it, and then stopped to catch up on something else I needed to read. I haven’t gone back to it yet. It is a long boo,k so I’m not sure I will be able to finish it this month. But I have been listening to a book entitled The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly by Margareta Magnusson. She is the author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. I think I will finish that audiobook and then go back to King on July 1.

But let’s look at the first book I have for you today. It is time for the disclaimer – I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Red House by Mary Morris is the story of a woman looking for her mother. Her mother disappeared when she was 12. One minute she was there, and the next minute she was gone and was never found. The family, which consisted of Laura, her younger sister, and her father, never rebounded from the loss. As the book opens, Laura is in her 40s as the book opens and is at loose ends. Her marriage is dull, she has had an affair, but she doesn’t care about him, and she just feels the need to find out about her mother.

Laura’s mother, Viola, was Italian. She met her husband in Italy, where he was stationed during the war. They stayed in Italy after the war for six years. Laura was born in Italy. When they moved back to the States, her mother worked to fit in and didn’t talk about her life in Italy at all. Laura’s family was very loving and happy up until the day Viola disappeared.

Laura is an artist like her mother. She has several images of a red house that her mother had painted. On the back of the paintings are the words (in Italian) “I will not be here forever.” Laura starts her journey in Brindisi and then goes to Puglia in search of her mother’s life.

This book operates on a split screen. Part of it is Laura’s story in the current day and part is her mother’s story in the 1940s. Laura learns about her mother’s life, which was nothing she would have ever expected. We also learn at the end of the book what happened to Laura’s mother.

This book is not a light, breezy book. It is interesting, it holds your attention, but it is a bit dark. I did enjoy it and it kept me reading to find out the next thing that happened to Viola. There might be a few times when you want to slap Laura and tell her to get it together. The book is about flawed people who are trying to make it.

I wouldn’t suggest this as your next beach read, but on the right rainy or snowy day, this book would be perfect. Add a blanket and a fire.

Thanks for reading!

Posted in Talking Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

Last December, I mentioned that sometimes I get books so far in advance that I don’t know if I should write and post the review in advance or wait and post it when the book comes out. I hate telling you about a book that you can’t get if you are interested. I also admitted that reading the book and writing the review are two different things and that while I have gotten better at reading the books before they come out, I fall behind in writing the reviews.

I am redeeming myself a bit with this review. I was given this book so much in advance of its publication that I would never remember it if I put off writing the review. So here I am, I read the book six months ago and it just came out a few weeks ago.

But I really enjoyed it. I want you to read it. This is the third Martha Hall Kelly book that I have reviewed. I reviewed Lost Roses in 2019 (a https://cecooney.com/2019/04/09/lost-roses-by-martha-hall-kelly/) and The Golden Doves in 2023. (https://cecooney.com/2023/06/07/the-golden-doves-by-martha-hall-kelly/_  I like her books.

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club is a historical fiction book that takes place both in 1941 and 2016. In 1941, we meet sisters Cadence Smith and her sister, Briar Smith, and their almost sister-in-law, Beth. They are living on the family farm on Martha’s Vineyard, trying to make it. World War II is raging in Europe, and Briar is on the lookout for German U-boats off the coast. She is sure there is something out there, but no one will listen to her. Her sister, Cadence, is working at the Beach Club with Beth, trying to make some extra money while serving the rich people who come to Martha’s Vineyard. She meets and becomes friendly with a woman from New York who can offer her the career opportunity she wants.

Meanwhile, in 2016, we meet Mari Starwood, who has come to Martha’s Vineyard to meet and have an art lesson with Elizabeth Devereaux, a famous painter. Mari’s mother has died, and she is at loose ends in her life.

As the book moves back and forth in time, we learn about how the Army’s arrival in 1941 on the island to train recruits and how this affects the girl’s future. Then the story is tied together in the current day.

I am finding it hard to say too much about the plot as it is so intertwined. Did I see what was coming? Not completely. There are several twists and turns and losses in the story. As I said before, I enjoyed the book and I think you will too. There is good character development and interesting personal stories. I liked that it was a World War II historical fiction that takes place in the U.S. Something different for me.

I suppose the most important part is that I really liked this book. I keep telling people about it.

Thanks for reading!

This book was given to me in exchange for an unbiased opinion.

Posted in Talking Books | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

Working my way through to get caught up, I bring you the review of a book that I was given a copy of in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Bodies and Battlements is the latest book by Elizabeth Penney. It is a new series for her. In this series, Nora Asquith, who is a herbalist, is taking her family’s castle from being a family castle that no one can afford anymore to a bed and breakfast. Nora’s sister, an actress, is not happy about this change.

It took longer than expected for Nora to cut through the local red tape and open the Inn. One particular resident, Hilda Dibble, voiced many concerns about the plan. Hilda did everything she could to make sure the Inn would not open. But finally, Nora was able to open and welcome her first guests. But on the second morning, we find out Hilda has been found dead in the knot garden, and Nora is a suspect.

As Nora works with her sister to clear her name, she finds that some of her guests are not who she thinks they are, and that some people are not very truthful. Untangling their stories is harder and more unexpected than she anticipated. No one seems to be quite who they seem to be.

Oh, and did I tell you that the castle is haunted? Oh yea, aren’t all British castles haunted? We get to learn about Sir Percival and his death as he helps solve the crime.

I enjoyed the book. I have enjoyed Elizabeth Penney’s other series, The Cambridge Bookshop Series. Reviews can be found here and here.

Thank you for reading!

Posted in Talking Books | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment