The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

I read this book in October which is usually the time of year I try to branch out into thrillers (not usually a genre I pick up naturally) and this book certainly fit the bill. 

This is something of a locked room mystery as five aspiring writers are invited to a famously reclusive author's home. There is no cell reception, no WiFi, and the closest building is a nunnery miles away. Of course, as they approach, there is a snowstorm.

But who cares? Though our first person narrator, Alex, is somewhat thrown off, some of that might be due to the fact that her former best friend, Wren, who has also been invited. Something happened between the two of them; actually, two somethings that caused their friendship to fracture. That is unpacked as they spend time at Roza Valo's house. 

This is not the spa-type of retreat though. Roza's methods for helping these writers to write are... unorthodox. If you've read "Nine Perfect Strangers," you may be able to draw some comparisons between her and Masha in terms of pushing boundaries. Like that book, some of the characters are not who they seem and that may cause some further issues.    

Three and a half stars

This book came out February 21, 2023

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker

I would swear I've read this book before but I didn't record it so... but it's a nice reflection on noticing. Walker starts with the eyes, moves to the nose and ears, then explores going out, meeting others, and then being alone. Each chapter has short recommendations with examples of how to do that specific thing and a rating of how hard it might be. Some of the things recommended include looking up, looking at everything in a museum that ISN'T art (as labeled), listening for one particular sound, eating someplace you normally wouldn't, talking to a stranger, describing the night sky.

In a world that is increasingly taken up with microseconds of entertainment, this book teaches us how to relax and refocus our minds on just seeing the world around us. It does get a little tedious and is probably better picked up and put down often (you'd better able to practice), but an overall enjoyable read. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 1, 2019

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor

Gracie grew up in a household where hockey was all. She's a good enough cellist that she's in a symphony and teaches students but her brother's hockey playing meant that her parents were always missing her big days because they were at her brother's practice or games.

Her neighbor Felix? He's a minor league hockey player. Handsome as all get out, a good cook, knows his classical music but Gracie isn't interested. Until her pipes break and she needs a place to stay. As her landlord (did he not tell her that yet?), Felix wants to make sure she has a place to stay. And that time together might mean that Felix finally has a chance to get to know his gorgeous neighbor and she might have a chance to look beyond his sport. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 12, 2023

ARC kindly provided by JPC Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Sunshine, Sangria, and Scandal by Wendy Day

This is the third book in the Sally and Pearl mystery series but I didn't feel like I was missing much. We get glimpses into the first two books as the two go on a true crime podcast before they decide they need to escape winter and find someplace sunny to be. A cruise seems like the perfect option. 

At dinner, Sally and Pearl are seated with a group of real estate agents who are all on the trip because they excel at their jobs. We get sketches of all of them but one of the standouts is Eddie. We learn more about the man as he works his way into winning the "Sexiest Man on Board" contest and seemingly playing the field though one of the other agents, Amber, seems might interested in him. He wins an amazing amount of money in the shipboard casino which is given to him in cash. Of course, he will be the one to end up dead. But why? Pearl and Sally decide to dig into the mystery. 

These two are an interesting pair with Sally's anxiety about any number of things from ordering food to having nothing to do. Pearl tends to be more of a bulldozer who clips her Gs (annoying to read, by the way) and tries to avoid the advances of Malcolm, another of the realtors. 

It was an interesting story but may not be a series I continue. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 9, 2023

Follows Christmas, Cabernet, and Chaos

ARC kindly provided by Open Sky Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Live for a Living by Paula Caligiuri, PhD and Andy Palmer

I liked the title and cover of this book and in some career flux so thought I'd take this book on. There are definitely some good points made by the authors but there is a lot of belief that everything you need is inside yourself. The entire first chapter is about learning your own limiting thoughts while the second looks at finding your skills. I think this focus is a bit myopic as you also have to be aware of the trends around you as well. You may be the very best and most passionate burger flipper out there but if you live in a town of vegans, it's not going to help.

There is more advice related to building a career portfolio, keeping yourself healthy, and identifying your values. There is nothing particularly groundbreaking but there are a number of resources and I've read enough of them to know that they were gathered well and the book is written well. This book could probably work well for anyone looking for a career move but will probably benefit those early in their careers the most. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 10, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Dead in the Water Deep by Julie Ann Walker

Dalton "Doc" Simmons is not a great person. In fact, the main problem I had with this book was that he was sort of a jerk during most of this book and we didn't get to see a lot of relationship growth between he and Camilla during this book. 

Doc is the last man from a former Navy team that is now doing deep sea salvage. They've found a treasure, discovered a way to make it legal to salvage it, and now they just need to pull up the last bits before a hurricane hits.

There is a lot that goes on in this book but most of it is external conflict including an on-the-page death. 

Three stars

This book came out June 28, 2022

Follows
Show Across the Bow

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Tangled Treasure Trail by Benedict Brown

Christopher is just trying to make it through his last year of school (he's not sure what he's supposed to do once he graduates) when his grandfather comes to take him out of school. There's been a death and Lord Edgington isn't sure that it was natural. Soon, the two are caught up in the world of the Bright Young Things. Unfortunately, one of the young people that they've befriended also dies, this time it is obviously murder. 

Christopher is starting to mature a little bit from the first few books but is still a bit of a prig and more than a little naive yet. I'm enjoying this slow growing up of our main character. The mystery was a little thin but still an enjoyable story.

Four stars

This book came out March 6, 2022

Follows The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall

Followed by The Curious Case of the Templeton-Swifts

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own