The Six Queens of Henry VIII, by Honor Cargill-Martin , Jaimee Andrews(Illustrator)

 

Publication Feb. 3, 20266

Having read many adult level books on the Henry VIII era, I have to admit to more curiosity over how they'd handle, well, how he disposed of so many wives in a children's nonfiction book. As it turned out, pretty well. True, be forewarned that there is one illustration of a bloody sword, but overall it simply says they died and moves on. Don't get me wrong, there's quite a bit of info shared within, including the usual intrigue and efforts to gain status and position within the royal court, but it simply shows the times and, well, Henry VIII's ego and intent upon having whatever he wanted no matter what.

As for the wives, it actually does a nice job sharing their personalities with us. The charts used for each were quite informative, including education and interests, among other things, including date of demise. The illustrations are lively and colorful with the focus on the women, not Henry, I might note. The sections on each draw you in and provide the basics without drama. Heck, even Anne's end is handled rather matter-of-fact style. The sections also seem to follow the same pattern. giving a bit of the six queens background, how they encountered Henry, their doings within the royal court, and then their downfall. Again, all told without drama. We even get a peek at his daughters Mary and Elizabeth.  The dress of the day is definitely fun to see and is well done by the illustrator. 

Bottom line, while I question somewhat the designation of the book for "children", I don't feel most children today would find much to be shocked at within. While I can envision some reaction to the executioner's bloody sword, for instance, let's face it, kids will be kids, they've surely seen far more explicit scenes on television by the time they'd be ready to tackle this book. The family tree info and timelines at the back are also useful in helping ground us in the Tudor Era. The cover actually helps set the tone and was a fun prelude to the saga. Thanks #SourcebooksKids for this early peek at a period in history that has always fascinated me. I wonder how history might have been changed had Catherine Parr not been able to persuade Henry to return his daughters to the line of succession.

 

 

Once There Was a Town: The Memory Books of a Lost Jewish World, by Jane Ziegelman

 

Publication Jan. 20, 2026

Although I had heard of the Yizkor  books, I had no real knowledge of their history. As the author explains early on, it's long. Even the Biblical book of Lamentation, I believe credited to Jeremiah,  might be considered the first example of what might be called "Jewish disaster literature". It tells of the destruction of the Temple and an era of Jewish exile. To be simplistic, these books attempt to capture the history and times as well as the individual names of those caught up in disaster. They tend to run from 400-800 pages when complete and provide the link that connects past to present and, yes, future. The objective, as directed by scripture, is remembrance. While names of those killed or passed are certainly given, they also capture a snapshot of the life these people and/or village lived. 

Ironically, I started this book just before the Bondi Beach attack, so one has to imagine that event will eventually make its way into a vizkor book. The author's focus, however, is largely on the now long-gone town of Lubomi, Poland, where many of her ancestors came from. She knew little of that story growing up but not just Lubomi but many other villages disappeared during WWII. Totally. They are remembered, however, by the presence of Vizkor memories captured in writing. While the author detours away to other places at times, her focus remains on her family's past hometown. Besides names, it includes memories of personal life, one of my favorites being the time-consuming baking of a huge amount of bread. Their ordinary lives remind us not to forget. As you read, a community seemingly erased by history comes to life. The people are no long mere statistics but living, breathing people. People who were part of the author's family.

I'm not going to detail the stories, that would be unfair to not just the reader but the subjects, but it's very human and obviously heartfelt. While I did feel the pace slowed here and there, perhaps that was actually a good thing as it gave my mind time to process all I was reading. The author's occasional detours to other sites is also a reminder that Lubomi wasn't an isolated, one time instance. It is part of history and deserves to be remembered. Thanks #StMartin'sPress for this early look at such a meaningful book. 

The Locked Room (The Baker Street Mysteries Book 3), by Holly Hepburn

 

Publication Jan. 20, 2026

First, I want to tell readers that such a job as held here by Harriet "Harry" White really did exist. Make sure you read the Author's Note before you dive into the book for more on that and some other relevant notes. Once you dive into the book, whether as a returning reader or a newbie, you're in for quite a ride. Harry, the grand-daughter of a baron, hardly fits the expected mold for women in 1930's London. She's smart, curious, independent, living on her own, and just can't resist answering the occasional letter herself as Holmes' assistant that she's been given to respond to for the fictional Sherlock Holmes and getting involved in investigating the "case". She's smart enough to know she doesn't have the latitude of Doyle's Holmes and can't do it all on her own. While not exactly fool hardy, she does seem to get herself into some tricky, dangerous situations, especially for a lady of her social status in England. Fortunately, she has two sleuthing buddies, with Beth playing a prominent and seemingly permanent role this go-round.

I don't want to dive too far into the plot as it'll be far more fun to discover it as you read but will say it starts with not a letter to Holmes but an advertisement/announcement in the newspaper from none other than Professor James Moriarty, Holmes nemesis. While assuming it's just a fun taunt, the game becomes deathly serious with not just the theft of a diamond but death. Watching Harry and Oliver, plus Beth, work their way through the clues and red herrings is fun and you'll get a tour of some old style gambling dens and underground London in the process. Harry is also trying to sort out her youngest brother Rufus' latest potential scandal, something that leads Harry into a side of London respectable young women didn't frequent. Wait to you see how she manages this. Oliver is right there beside her for much of this and has a few revelations of his own that startle Harry. Sometimes it's tough to disguise your feelings.

Okay, not saying much more other than that the visits themselves are wonderfully described and, oh, you will even get to experience a circus of the time. Cotton candy, anyone? I liked the characters and it was nice to get to know her brother Seb a bit better as well as Percy, Harry's mother's choice for a son-in-law. Oh, and Harry meets Scotland Yard's Inspector Wells, who you'll surely enjoy getting to know. The author does a great job setting the scene and I felt like I was right there with the characters on the streets and, well, elsewhere. As noted, the book works well as a standalone, so don't hesitate to jump in there. You'll be quickly caught up on the cast of characters and some of the social divisions of the time.  The mystery is clever and, oh, so devious. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks and #NetGalley for this early peek back into time to catch up on Harry's life. The ending already has me ready for the next episode. 

Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run (Audio), by Paul McCartney, Ted Widmer (Editor)

 

Available December 18, 2025   Audio 17h, 13m

First, an admission. Due to time and a seeming never ending wind storm and the accompanying power fluctuations, I read/listened to this book at super pace in bits and pieces, usually on the move, and took few notes. Life, as I'm sure McCartney would agree, happens. 

In any case, as a long time McCartney fan, while I knew the basics of the story, it was interesting to hear from from the other players in the drama that was Wings. The overall tone of the book is quite positive with few of the uglier moments fully tackled. Since this is Paul's version and he tends to be upbeat and positive in the public, that's hardly surprising. One of the things that did surprise me a bit was hearing Sean Ono-Lennon's frequent, quite positive take on, well, pretty much everything. He did offer a bit of a look behind the scenes at John's take on things and there are also John Lennon quotes offered here and there. Sean offers that the ongoing competition between Lennon and McCartney was good as it pushed both to be creative. Sean also felt they were far more alike than different. 

So, my overall impression, while doubting even Paul could possibly be as perpetually upbeat as he comes across, ready to shrug and see each of life's adventures as a positive, was, well, positive. It was interesting to get a fuller picture of the earliest days of Wings as they drove rather aimlessly about, doing gigs without much thought or plan. Can you imagine what it must have been like to have just been having a normal day and all of a sudden a former Beatle appears and wants his fledgling band to play at your university, club, or, well, wherever they could find a spot? Linda's inclusion in the band is covered and she comes across as rather laid-back and positive, too, and seems to have been quite well liked. I knew she wasn't a true musician but the information on her earliest days of playing keyboards was rather interesting, hearing she used colored dots, for instance, to aid her admittedly basic, still learning skills. In other words, lots of little bits of background info that fans may find intriguing. 

Production wise, I'm reluctant to comment much due to the way I had to listen "on the run" with the audio speed frequently accelerated. At accelerated pace, some of the narrators (they are multiple, including family members) were hard to understand but even then I got most of it without much need of repetition. Needless to say, it was when I was able to carve our longer stretches of listening that my mind seemed to settle into the faster narrative and tone. My hunch is anyone who listens at the normal pace will be just fine, so don't take this as a negative. This would be a great companion book to the McCartney Legacy volumes which I've also read. My thanks to #RBMedia for the early listen to more of the story of one of my first musical loves. Since I wasn't ready for the interruption of the storms and power flickers, I do plan to go back and have a more leisurely listen to this later. 

100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life (Audio), by Dick Van Dyke, narrated by Tom Bergeron, with intro by Dick Van Dyke

Sharing again in honor of Dick VanDyke's 100th birthday on Saturday, Dec. 13

 

                                                          

AUDIO, Narrated by Tom Bergeron with intro by Dick Van Dyke        7h 27m

I loved it. With an introduction from Van Dyke himself and Tom Bergeron, a favorite from his time on Dancing With The Stars, as narrator, it was a winner. He captured Dick Van Dyke well. So well, in fact, that it was easy to forget you weren't listening to Van Dyke himself. The pacing and generally upbeat lilt, for lack of a better word, to his voice added a great deal to the story. I'd actually read the print version (I'll paste that review at end) and enjoyed it, but in this case I'd say if you can only get one version, go with the audio. Sections that I had enjoyed but didn't particularly jump out at me in print had a new vibe, er, life in audio. Bergeron does an excellent job capturing voice changes when Van Dyke was writing as a character, such as the old man in Mary Poppins, too, a real plus. 

The pacing was upbeat, capturing the upbeat spirit hopefully conveyed, and it was easy to lose myself in the story as if I were sitting in an easy chair listening to Van Dyke/Bergeron talking to me like an ol' friend as we looked through old photos. That's basically what this book is, after all, a verbal photo of Van Dyke's life and memories, both good and bad. He doesn't shy away from the bad stuff, just puts it in its proper place, as a learning tool/memory, so to speak, that maybe doesn't define him but helped mold him. He says early on that his goal is to lift us up, to take care of us, so to speak, and one thing that I caught here that sorta passed me by in the print was his perceived role as protector to his little brother. So, that role is something ingrained in Van Dyke from an early age. 

On the technical side, while chapter numbers are narrated, the various "rules" are introduced via the title. They seemed to do an excellent job not only preparing you for what is to come but summarizing what you were about to hear, too. I found Bergeron a delight to listen to, which reminded me he got his start in radio, I believe, so he's perhaps naturally suited to this task. Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this audio journey back through Dick Van Dyke's memories and wisdom sharing via Tom Bergeron's voice. Thanks. #HatchetteAudio - #GrandCentralPublishing for sharing this early listen with me. We could all use more positivity in this world and Van Dyke's book is a reminder that it's out there, even through the not so good times. Original review below. 

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Delightful. Just like Van Dyke. It felt pretty much like an ol' friend simply sitting in my living room sharing stories and memories. In other words, very readable and personal. I liked the fact that despite the title, he emphasizes early on that there are really no set rules. Instead, you'll get lots of  stories that seemed to encompass his entire life. And what a life it has been. I'm pretty sure my first intro to him was via the Dick Van Dyke Show but have followed his career off and on over the years. How cool was it to see his appearance in the recent, updated version of "Mary Poppins" with Lin-Manual Miranda essentially playing his past role as Bert. 

Dick Van Dyke's optimism and humor shine through. I've been lucky enough to have read a couple of his past books, including a biography where he divulged that despite the smile and humor we saw on screen, his life wasn't always clear sailing, so it was wonderful to see he's living his best life nowadays. True, as he notes, to use a phrase borrowed from elsewhere, old age isn't for sissies. He admits to the aches and pains and associated with aging, his challenges of the past, his losses, and to the loneliness as old friends leave us, not to mention his cheerful admission of forgetting the lyrics to songs at times. Given that here he is, nearly 100, singing with an a capella group called the Vantasix, it made me grin to imagine him losing the melody but finding it eventually without shame. Almost sounds like it could be a television show, huh? You rock, Dick. 

I won't detail the "rules for living" he shares, more like things "I've learned in nearly 100 years that may or may not apply to you but may amuse you", so you can discover them for the first time personally. His love of family, especially his praise for the role wife Arlene has played in his life, is touching, as are memories of his family and former friends and co-stars. I opted to just read and enjoy, to be honest, so don't have many notes to share. For me, and I think for others, Dick Van Dyke has accomplished his main goal, to lift us up by sharing a piece of himself. And, oh, I just grinned. Sat down to type and realized I've been running around barefooted, which he'd obviously approve. It's called earthing, he notes, and he highly recommends it. So glad I've been following this bit of advice much of my life. Thanks #GrandCentralPublishing for giving me an early peek at this absolutely delightful tale. Dick Van Dyke continues to inspire and lift us all up. 

Spring, by Alex Hall

 

Publication Jan. 1, 2026

Spring always seems a long time coming here in Alaska, so I was glad to savor the colors and photos of spring offered here. As might be obvious, this is one of a set of four children's books aimed at explaining the seasons, what causes them, and what makes each unique. I think my favorite part was the Celebrate the Seasons with a handful of ways it is done in various places of the world. If you're a child at heart and like to splish and splash around in puddles, Songkran in Thailand might be for you as water splashing plays a big role. Another interesting event is the Hindu festival of Holi which involves shooting powders of different colors into the sky, ie earning the name of Festival of Colors. 

On the practical side of book making, the information is presented in a relatively simple, straight forward manner with a kid-friendly text. Words are used in bold print of a different color when first presented and explained further in a glossary. There is also an index. While obviously written for children, I liked that they also presented information on, say, the festivals that might be new and of interest to adults, too. This book would make a great addition to a school or teacher's classroom library, not to mention a curious child in your own life. Thanks #NorthStarEditions for the early look at this fun, colorful book with lovely spring time photos as illustration. 

Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies, by Jenny Elder Moke

 Publication Jan. 20, 2026

Although not the right book for me, I am sure there is an audience out there for this book with the fiercely independent, strong willed, overly confident Juliette Winters. As the book opens, she's riding high, having just landed the contract for a tell-all book surely destined to be a best-seller. Then, uh-oh, the author drops dead just before the big announcement and to make matters worse, someone steals the manuscript. Somehow you just knew this was going to be a bad day for Juliette when she got sea sick almost instantaneously after boarding the fancy yacht for the release announcement. From there we're off to a merry, chaotic chase. 

Juliette doesn't seem to have many friends but that's okay. She's sure she'll be able to retrieve the manuscript by herself and all will be right with the world...and allow her to keep her job with her publishing company. She even manages to become a suspect herself but I'll leave that one for readers to learn why. More importantly for the romance angle of the book, she badgers handsome, people pleaser  doctor Charlie Hawkins into helping her sort out whodunit, never mind she once labeled him Dr. Dud. She needs his medical know-how. She does have friends, of course, even though she tends to shove them aside due to her own personality. But, whoa, do they ever stop talking, even when in deadly peril? Actually, we get quite a few answers to why Juliette is like she is during this chaotic, dangerous scene, including her long lived sense of rivalry with a high school nemesis. 

And those are just a few high/low points. As noted, some of you will be enchanted by Juliette and love this, so don't let my "didn't love, didn't hate" 3.5 rounded to 4 star review color your choice too much. There is humor and lots of hijinks, not to mention family angst, plus Juliette does show some growth. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - "MinotaurBooks and #NetGalley for the early peek at Juliette's not even close to dull life. How she saved the day, her life, her job, and then the publishing company was definitely a high energy read. 

The Body at the Windmill (A Georgina Drake Mystery #7), by Kate Hardy

 

Publication Feb. 2, 2026

Two mysteries. Both involving poisoning. One old. One new. And, somehow, right in the middle of both, is photographer Georgina Drake. Who knew simply driving a friend to pick up a child who gets sick on a school field trip could lead to an investigation. Although initially most found it odd an entire group of children would get sick with the same thing at almost exactly the same time, no one thought too much about it. Then the teacher heading that field trip dies. Now it's a murder investigation that sucks Georgina into it in ways she'd just as rather have never happened. 

I don't want to give away too much more of the plot, it's a good one that'll keep you guessing, but will say it involves greed, family angst, manipulation, small town gossip, a dead rat, and the difficulty newcomers often face while trying to fit into a new place. You'll also get some serious background on windmill operation and the whys of the way things are done to manufacture flour. Lots of bits of history, too, mostly tied to the old murder. That's where Georgina's friend Doris comes into play. She has a talent Georgina doesn't. Doris is a ghost that only Georgina can hear through her hearing aid. She also seems to have the ability to slip in an out of locations not just effortlessly... I mean, would we expect anything less of a ghost .... but find and talk to deceased souls involved. In this case it's Margaret, accused and hanged for murder nearly a century ago. Doris' presence doesn't come across as spooky, just as the way it is, so don't hesitate to read this if you're a ghost skeptic. As you'll discover, some of the characters were/are, too. 

Which brings me to why I keep returning to this series. The characters are well fleshed out and it was particular fun to see Georgina's son Will home and playing a major role in the investigation. Actually, in both investigations. Even daughter Bea makes a brief appearance via a phone call, so it was a bit of a family reunion. Colin, the detective inspector and Georgina's boyfriend, is coming around but I was more impressed to see his open willingness to not just buy into Doris' existence but how he handled dealing with Will's work issues that brought him home. Not pushy, just available to listen if needed. In the process, we all learn a bit about the evolution of arsenic via some past research Will did for schooling. In any case, I liked the characters and how their connections have evolved. And, hey, if you enjoy a dose of Shakespeare and/or literary references, you'll definitely like this book. The mystery is solid, with several suspects and enough red herrings to keep you guessing. Thanks #StormPublishing for initially introducing me to this series and allowing me an early peek at how life is treating Georgina. My own affinity for picking up my camera without thought makes her a bit of a kindred soul for me. 

The Curator's Inheritance, by Sabine Frisch

 

Publication Dec. 20, 202

I was drawn into this one by the mention of the Monuments Men in the blurb. What can I say? This ol' history major is a sucker for anything historical and the whole concept of the work of that group still astonishes and impresses. While I can't say that this was the book for me, I enjoyed the idea behind it. A former member of that Monuments Men team leaves his mansion to Sydney Fisher, a former neighbor and art lover who'd been mentored in a way by him. That isn't all he left. He left behind a bewildering puzzle of clues and art with the reminder that sometimes what you see isn't what's important. It's what has been hidden. Fortunately, he also left behind a superbly trained support team and notes. Now, if only Sydney and Elena Rodriguez, another student, let's say, of Marcus Vale, with the important tie that her grandmother was one of his vital helpers during the wartime recovery efforts, can pull together that team and figure out the message he so cleverly and carefully left for them and it's meaning. Not just to them but the world, especially the art world.

The technology/computer aspects of the story quickly went right over my head, unfortunately. Not quite enough to leave me totally confused, but enough to leave me wondering if I'd fallen into the secrets of the old mansion myself. While I know about the art and the verification of authenticity methods, I was lost with the codes and numbers and coordinates that became such a big part of the story. Oddly enough, this may be where those seriously into technology and computers may be seriously sucked into the story as they try to stay one step ahead of Sydney and Elena, not to mention the shadowy figures who seem to be trying to stop them. You'll definitely learn quite a bit about not just painting but even framing, right down to the connectors holding the frame sides together. It was all rather intriguing. You could definitely see Sydney and Elena growing closer, learning to trust each other, not to mention Sydney's trusty dog Wolfgang, he of the slightly crooked ears and sensitive hearing and distinctive warning barks/sounds. I was definitely glad to see him earn his place on the expanding team as the story goes along.

Bottom line, while slow paced not quite pulling me in, many will find this an intriguing story. I did wish a bit more space had been given to the goals and workmanship of the Monuments Men early on although this takes it a step beyond, into the much more technical, modern world. A world where secrets abound and you're not quite sure who to trust. Thanks to #BookSirens and the author for allowing me this early look at a book that pulled together, however haphazardly, my love of history and intrigue. The quote that stuck with me was something to the extent of the search for the right ending to an old story. That's an apt description.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter: The Story of a Season, by Val McDermid

 

Publication Jan. 13, 2026

It must have been serendipity that the morning I planned to read this delightful winter story that I woke to not just falling temperatures but snowflakes lazily drifting down. I was immediately taken in by the cover as that blue tint mirrors the way the cold snowy days here in Alaska so often look to not just the eye but my camera. I started out diligently taking notes and jotting down phrases I particularly enjoyed. They were lovely but soon I just sat aside the pen and pad and read. I'm glad I did. Full of personal memories of winters, particularly in Scotland, it felt like I was simply sitting in my living room sharing winter stories with the author. As such, it could be said it's rather a rambling narrative, but that's part of the charm. 

You'll get stories about not only winter but how the writer's own thoughts and writing processes so often mirrored the seasons, imaging as she looks out her writing room window watching "gnarled and arthritic oak trees" and veering to stories of bridges, family history, birds, train travel, including into Russia, and even some well crafted writing tips. As an Alaskan, I particularly enjoyed the section on the puffins, and comfort foods. And, oh, yes, even a winter trip to New Orleans. Having been there at Marti Gras time when it was so cold the bridges froze and were so unsafe that they closed them down just behind us rang particularly true. It was her descriptive and often poetic sounding tales of winter that pulled it all together, even when we veer from childhood memories to near present day ones, that made it extra special. Toss in some delightfully simply illustrations that perfectly capture the soul of her words and this one was a winner. Thanks so much #GroveAtlantic for allowing me this early peek at this delightful book. I'm not sure I can hang onto that magical infatuation with all things winter through the long winter days of Alaska's winters but it opens my eyes to seeing the wonder rather than simply the inconvenience. Wintertime is truly a magical season and kudos to the author for sharing her thoughts and memories. Now, what did I do with my winter gloves?