A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons

Finished April 28

A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari

This debut novel is the first in an historical mystery series, Saffron Everleigh Mysteries, and I love the environment she's built here. The time is 1923 and the place is London. Saffron Everleigh works as a research assistant at University College London. Her late father came from a wealthy family but made a career in botany and she is following in his footsteps. Her grandparents aren't supportive, and her mother is barely scraping by, but Saffron shares a flat with a good friend, and works for a professor, Dr. Maxwell, who is very supportive. She's faced some pushback and some harassment from others in the department, including the chair, but she is good at her science and determined to make her way. 

As the book opens she is about to attend a gala for an upcoming expedition to South America and the Amazon in particular, which her department is participating in. While there she runs into a new professor at the university, Alexander Ashton, overhears some gossipy news about other professors personal and professional activities, and witnesses a possible poisoning. With the victim unconscious in hospital and the police are looking at motives and means, Saffron is aghast when Dr. Maxwell is arrested. She knows he would not have done this, and she is determined to clear his name. She takes risks, from scientific experiments on herself to breaking into gardens and offices. Her knowledge of botany shows here, and Alexander finds himself drawn into helping her as well as drawn into feelings for her. 

This was a great start to this series, which I found both entertaining and interesting. The author brings the time and setting to life, and we get a real sense for Saffron's situation. Her personality really comes through here as well, and we see both strengths and vulnerabilities. I was on her side in every way.

Miss Aldridge Regrets

Finished April 23

Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare

This is the first book in an historical mystery series called A Canary Club Mystery. The time is 1936 and Lena Aldridge is singing at a basement club in Soho, London. Lena's father, Alfie, brought her up in the world of music. Alfie was a black piano player from the U.S. who had migrated to England and made a life there. He has died recently and Lena is still grieving.  He never talked about her mother, but because Lena is white passing, she believes that her mother was white. Lena's best friend from childhood, Maggie, is married to Tommy, the owner of the club, but things haven't been going well in their relationship and Tommy has told Maggie he plans to leave her with nothing and marry his current young mistress. 

Recently someone came to blackmail Maggie and gave Tommy incriminating photographs that he can use against Maggie, something she has confessed to Lena about, while also telling her that the photos were a setup. So when Maggie turns up at the club that night, Lena is worried that something bad is going to happen. 

When the evening ends with Tommy dead, she knows she was right and she is placed right in the middle of it all. Earlier that day, a man named Charlie Bacon had appeared at Lena's rooming house, claiming to represent a man named Bennie Walker who had been a friend of her dad's back in the U.S. Lena has never heard her father mention the name, but Bennie apparently feels bad for the falling out between them and has done well, and wants to give Lena a leading role in his new Broadway musical to make amends. Lena isn't sure, but her new circumstances with Tommy's death convince her to take advantage of the opportunity to make a fresh start. 

Much of the book takes place on the Queen Mary, as Lena and Charlie make passage to New York. They are in first class courtesy of Charlie's employer and their seating places them at a table otherwise composed of a wealthy American family and the people that work for them, the Parkers. The patriarch, Francis, is in a wheelchair and obviously unwell. Other family members include his daughter Eliza, her husband Jack, their children Frankie, a young man, and Carrie, a teenager, Francis's nurse Daisy and his attending doctor, Dr. Wilding. 

Out on the deck taking air one evening, Lena encounters black bandleader Will Goodman, and is at first taken aback when he clearly identifies her as mixed race. But she feels a connection and wants someone she can be more herself with, and begins to make friends with him, and join him in below deck socializing. 

When Francis suddenly dies at dinner one night, Lena knows he has died the same way Tommy did, and she worries that someone will connect her to both deaths. As things escalate and she becomes more involved with the family, she begins to think that someone is framing her for the crimes. But why?

I enjoyed this novel, the plot and the main character. Lena hasn't lived an easy life, but she also hasn't taken her life firmly into her own hands even now. The social environment of the time and the place is brought alive, with the elements of class and race. I'd definitely be interested in reading more in the series. 

When the Mirror Cracks

Finished April 21

When the Mirror Cracks by Jan Coffey (penname of May McGoldrick)

This novel has a lot going on. One of the main characters, Christina Phillips, is grieving the loss of her newborn child, but has chosen to attend an important business meeting for the company her mother and stepfather started and for which she works for. Her stepfather has passed away recently, and the decision was already made to sell the company. There are three companies bidding for ownership, and the Istanbul has been chosen as the place they will present their offers and Christina's mother and the board will decide. The company is a gaming company and Christina and her estranged boyfriend are also very involved in the company's development.

The location was also chosen for another reason. Christina was born in Turkey, and moved to the US with her American mother when she was just a toddler. She doesn't remember her early life and her mother has never shared information about her father's identity with her. 

The other main character is Zari Rahman, a Kurdish woman who fled Kurdistan in Iraq when war and chemical weapons made living there untenable. Her husband had fled to Turkey before her, and she followed him to Ankara after giving birth to their daughter, but she found he was no longer there. We know a little about her life during this time, and learn more over the course of the novel. 

Zari had brought her daughter to a hospital in Istanbul years ago, hoping for treatment and has found a community of other Kurds that she is supported by. Her daughter is now grown and starting her own career while still struggling with her health. 

As Zari's and Christina's paths cross, they find they have much in common around the relationships in their lives, but we also see major differences.

Christina's life has the benefit of money and status, while Zari's life as a refugee has been uncertain and traumatic. 

I found this to be a really intriguing read with a fascinating plot and lots of social commentary underlying the story. 

Hired for the Billionaire's Secret Son

Finished April 17

Hired for the Billionaire's Secret Son by Joss Wood

This novel offered few surprises over how much in this genre has changed since I read Harlequin romance novels as a teenager. The main female character, Olivia Cooper grew up with parents who ran their own accounting business. She took an accounting degree and was expected to join the business, but found during her studies that this wasn't something that she would enjoy as a career. She took some time away and has worked as a nanny for several years, for a respected agency used by famous and wealthy families. She's grown close to the owner and is considering buying a share in the company and working to take it over some day. She had a difficult experience where she grew very close to a family she was working for during a very difficult time in their lives and then had to leave their employment. After that she decided to only do short term contracts to avoid getting emotionally involved in the lives of her clients. When she took a break from her family obligations, she knew she had a deadline and that deadline is fast approaching. Her parents expect her to join the family business at that time. She doesn't want to and doesn't know how to go about talking to them about this. 

The main male character, Bo Sorenson, is a respected architect. He saw his parents' marriage fall apart, and saw his father live a life that was less focused on responsibility. He determined not to follow in their footsteps and has had clearly communicated expectations from his relationships over the years, that they would never lead to children. 

When his recent ex-girlfriend, about to be married, dies with her partner in an accident, he finds he was a father despite his best plans. He doesn't want his child to go into the system, and he can afford to care for his son, but he has no idea how to be a parent, having less than stellar role models. He knows he wants to be a good parent and hires Olivia to be there for the first few months (although he would prefer a longer contract) to show him the ropes, while integrating his son into his life. 

Olivia is a strong woman in most areas of her life, and knows her value. It is only with her parents she is less confident. This was one area that struck me as she had a good childhood despite their busy careers, and she seems a good communicator in the other parts of her life. Bo is also a strong character, but he doesn't have traditional expectations. His mother is a good businesswoman, although not a loving mother, and he knows women are equally capable. I think setting this story in Europe feels believable and the situation never feels like a forced plot or outside the characters' personalities. 

A light, entertaining read. 

Alice Rue Evades the Truth

Finished April 16

Alice Rue Evades the Truth by Emily Zipps

This book was such a fun read. It has humour, real emotions, a crazy fake relationship, the reality of life struggles, and so much more. 

Alice has had a hard life, losing both her parents and spending middle and high school trying to care for her father through his health challenges. The hospital is still a difficult place for her to be. Alice works as a night receptionist in an office building in Portland, Oregon. As the book opens, Nolan Altman, a man who works in the building there and who Alice has had a crush on even though they've barely spoken, had a medical incident. Alice administer CPR and calls for help and saves his life. Nolan is in a coma, and it is unclear whether he will ever recover. 

Due to a crazy remark Alice made during the crisis and a comment by one of the EMTs attending, Nolan's family believes that Alice is his girlfriend and they embrace her into the family. His sisters Van and Marie, his parents, his aunt and uncle all take over her life. Mainly it is the women who take over, with the men quiet and supportive. Alice tries to deny the relationship right away, but is again misunderstood. As she gets deeper into the family and the way they care for her, she finds it harder to tell the truth. 

As a result of news coverage of the story, Alice is reconnected with her cousin who has recently moved back to town. They were very close as children, but her cousin's family moved away as her own family faced its crisis. The two women work through the realities of the situation they had no control of at the time, and begin to build new bonds as adults. Her cousin is married with two young children and she finds herself drawn into their family life as well. 

Also as a result of media coverage, Alice finds her work situation changing. She is moved to the day shift, and begins to make friends with one of her co-workers, as well as other people who don't sleep during daylight hours. Dare she hope for a different life for herself?

During all this Alice finds herself drawn to someone else, Nolan's sister Van, and is unsure what to do about her growing feelings. The more she learns about Nolan, the less interested she is in him, and she doesn't feel any connection there. 

This is a story of a young woman finding that there may be a happier life for her outside of how she exists now. Her life is changing on all fronts and she realizes that she can make friends and find connections. A hopeful and happy read. 

Snow Kissed

Finished April 15

Snow Kissed by RaeAnneThayne

Set in small town Idaho, Holly Goodwin More runs a flower shop. Holly is divorced and has a five-year-old daughter, Lydia, who has Down's syndrome. Holly loves Christmas but this year the season is more complicated. Holly's former sister-in-law, who is also a friend, is getting married, and Lydia will be her flower girl. Holly's ex, his wife, and their new baby son will be in town for the wedding. Lydia doesn't want to be pitied for her situation, and her twin sister Hannah comes up with an interesting idea. What if she brings a fake boyfriend to the wedding, so everyone can see that she too has moved on. Holly has moved on, although she doesn't feel she needs a man to prove it. 

One of Holly's employees is in rehab after a scary car accident woke her up to the reality of her life. Because her employee's stepmother was badly hurt in the accident, and the employee's father is busy looking after her, the employee has asked her brother Ryan to come to town to look after her tween daughter Audrey. Ryan is a Navy helicopter pilot who is going through his own physical recovery from a work accident. Until Ryan can arrive, Audrey is staying with Holly and helping look after Lydia. With an employee down during the busy Christmas season, Holly is very busy with floral orders. Audrey and Lydia genuinely like each other and get along well. Audrey also likes the opportunity to earn some money of her own for presents. 

When Ryan is approached about taking on the role of fake boyfriend, he agrees asking for Holly's help in making Christmas special for Audrey with her mother absent. 

As the two grow closer, they develop both respect and feelings towards each other, and the story develops nicely from there. 

Soundings

Finished April 13

Soundings: The Story of the Remarkable Woman Who Mapped the Ocean Floor by Hali Felt

This biography of Marie Tharp, geologist and gifted draftsperson, follows her entire life but really focuses on her work bringing the ocean floor to life with the maps she made. She was a scientist with the academic degrees to show for it, but she was also a woman in a time where women scientists weren't respected in the same way as men scientists. After working for a few years she found her way to position at the relatively new geophysical lab at Columbia University, where she interpreted the soundings, or sonar pings, that were brought back from oceangoing expeditions. 

Marie combined art and science to create maps of the ocean floor, beginning with the North Atlantic. These maps were crucial to proving the then-controversial theory of continental drift. Her maps showed a landscape of mountain ranges, ridges, rifts, and valleys that also showed the history of our planet. Her partner in this work was Bruce Heezen, another scientist who spent much of his professional life on these oceangoing expeditions collecting the soundings. 

This book covers the entirety of her professional work, through internal department fighting, through the change to her and her team working at her own home, and the aftermath of that.

It also gives glimpses into her personal life, her relationships with her father, her brother, and with Bruce, her life partner as well as professional partner. But the personal side is only glimpsed at. I didn't get a good sense of the woman herself, perhaps because the author never met her in person and worked from what she could find as her friends and co-workers cleared out her home and what she found in archives.

This book has been sitting on my shelf for more than ten years, a birthday gift from years ago that I'd read a review for and that intrigued me. As a child I was fascinated by the National Geographic mpas of the ocean floor and I still own some. Knowing that she was behind their creation added to how I feel about them. An interesting read.