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!

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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.

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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!

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A book of aphorisms and an audiobook

Posted on May 4, 2025 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

I love quotes. Do you? And I love aphorisms. Now, I don’t know that I could have told you that I liked aphorisms because I am not sure I could have told you what one was.

From the dictionary –

“A pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

I will confess that I have notebooks filled with quotes. What do I use them for? Not much, but they have survived many cleanouts. I even have some quotes posted on my desk that I have come across lately.

“Write a little every day

                                                 without hope

                                                            and

                                                                    without despair.”                

                                                                                                                   Isak Dinesen

“My best teachers were not the ones who had all the answers. They were the ones deeply excited by questions they couldn’t answer.”

                                                                                                     Brian Greene, Physicist

So, it is with this love, I read Gretchen Rubin’s new book, Secrets of Adulthood. It is a book of aphorisms that she put together for her daughters who were sailing off to adulthood. But as she says, it was also for her. It is a very short book, easily readable in an hour or so. BUT… the copy in front of me is littered with flags to mark spots I found interesting.

“What we believe is most important isn’t always what becomes important.

When the first Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, died, he’d nearly doubled the size of the empire, defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra of Egypt, streamlined administration, increased trade, funded numerous construction projects, and fostered the arts. The most significant historical event during his reign was… the birth of Jesus.”

Or this one –

“When we feel as thought we don’t fit in, we fit right in.

One of the most universal emotions is the feeling that we don’t belong. At one point, drummer Ringo Starr briefly left the Beatles. He visited John Lennon and said, “I’m leaving the group because I’m not playing well and I feel unloved… and you three are really close.” John said, “I thought it was you three!” Then Ringo visited Paul McCartney and said, “I’m leaving the band. I feel you three guys are really close and I’m out of it.” Paul replied, “I thought it was you three!” Ringo didn’t even bother to visit George Harrison.”

The book is broken down into six major sections with multiple subsections under each. I am not sure I paid attention to the sections as much as I could have, and probably will when I go back to read it again. Now, I did not buy the book. I took it out of the library, but I will buy a copy of it. I will mark up my copy and make notes – my copy will be full of marginalia. (Don’t worry, the flags I put throughout the library book are the post-it kind that don’t leave a mark.)

Since Mother’s Day is next Sunday, I would go as far as to say that I think this book would make a great Mother’s Day gift. It looks like a gift book.

On a different note –

I was knitting a gift for a friend and was a tad bit behind on getting it finished for a deadline. To accompany my knitting, I listened to audiobooks. (Because, what else would occupy my thoughts?) Some time ago, I had picked up the audiobook for Toms Lake by Ann Patchett. I had picked it up because I knew the book was read by Meryl Streep. I loved it! I am not sure that I would have enjoyed it as much if I read the book. So, if you are behind on your Ann Patchett or just all the books to read, I suggest you try the audiobook. It was well done.

(Besides Book Bub, I also get emails from Chirp. Chirp sells discounted audiobooks.)

Thanks for reading!

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One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Carol Early Cooney

Dear Fellow Reader,

I live in Wisconsin. We are currently playing peek-a-boo with spring. It is a long, tiresome game. We have had 70-degree days, and then this morning it was 34, and it snowed. Not that any of the snow stuck to the ground, but it is not exciting in April to look out the window and see the snow coming down so much that you can’t see across the street. The only thing to do is to know that the snow on the ground can’t last and that it will warm up.

And so I sit and look out my window and see the grey skies and think, I’ll write a book review for a book I really liked. Yes, I’m starting off with positivity. This book has good characters. They are not perfect by a long shot, but they are interesting.

As One Death at a Time opens, we meet Julia Mann, sitting on the side of a pool with her legs in the water. She is drunk, and one of her shoes is at the bottom of the pool. And there is a dead man in the pool. He was not dressed to go swimming. Nor was she sure who he was. And then there was the rifle, which she knew was out of place. She picked it up and threw it. Then she started to run.

We then meet Natasha Mason. Mason, as she is called, is attending her AA meeting. She has irritated one of the other members of the group, and he has started a small fire. Natasha is 25 and has striking features. You are given the impression that she and Jim spar frequently. When the fire debris is just about cleaned up, a woman walks into the meeting. The woman is about 60 and is beautifully dressed. Mason could tell that the other people in the room recognized the woman, and while she looked familiar to Mason, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. The woman indicated that she had relapsed and that she had a court card that needed to be signed by the group leader. Her name is Julia, and Julia does not want to talk. But after another attendee shares his story, Julia slowly tells of her arrest. Mason is fascinated by the story and the woman and volunteers to be her sponsor.

The next morning. Mason goes to Julia’s. Julia’s story is much more involved than Mason knew. Julia had been friends with Tony Eckenridge before she met her husband. Julia loved her husband. Tony, Julia, and Julia’s husband had all worked on the film Codex years ago. Codex was a bit of a cult classic, and there are rumors that it is going to be remade. Julia’s husband was murdered after the film was made, and while she didn’t kill him, she was convicted of the crime. Tony could have helped her, but he didn’t, and she hated him for that. While she was in jail, she sobered up and got her law degree so that she could help others. Tony, Julia, and Julia’s husband had all worked on the film Codex years ago. Codex was a bit of a cult classic, and there are rumors that it is going to be remade.

The story starts from there. Mason is hired to be Julia’s assistant, and she meets the others in Julia’s circle. Together, they work to find out what really happened to Tony. The first question being, why was Tony even at her house that night when they were enemies? And who did kill Julia’s first husband?

The characters are quirky and fun, and there are a lot of them. I thought the book’s tangled story lines were straightened out in almost believable ways. There is a lot that goes on in this story and I enjoyed it. I recommend that you read this book.

Thanks for reading.

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