If the Tide Turns by Rachel Rueckert 432 pages

When Kensington Books asked me to write a blurb for Rachel Rueckert’s debut novel, I jumped at the opportunity. Although I don’t read many romance novels, I do enjoy stories that take place
in or near the water. The feel of the salty breeze and the mist stinging your face---that sort of thing. Set during the waning days of the Golden Age of Pirates (1689-1718; who knew there was
such a thing?), If the Tide Turns is the “captivating true story of real-life pirate Samuel Bellamy, combining high seas adventure, star-crossed longing, surprisingly timely questions about social
justice and freedom, and the emotionally satisfying tale of one strong-willed young woman determined to choose her own path.”

This is the blurb I wrote: “Two lovers, separated by their stations in life, fight their way back to each other’s arms. On land and on the sea, Sam and Maria overcome the hardships of the mid-1700s. Rueckert’s new novel is a tale of daring, courage, aching loneliness and two people willing to face any obstacles to be together.”

It’s 1715 in Eastham, Massachusetts. Maria Brown is the beautiful, hard-headed daughter of a wealthy family who has arranged a marriage for her. She doesn’t want any part of the much older
(shall we just say old?), also wealthy and abusive John Hallett.

Maria has her heart set on a young, orphaned sailor, Sam Bellamy. They met as Sam had been laid-off (yes, laid-off from his previous ship when it docked and no longer needed his services) and searched for another ship. The two are drawn together. Sam to Maria for her beauty and her self-determination. Maria to Sam for his idealistic opinions. The two are smitten with each other. Sam wants to marry her, but her father forbids it, in fact banishing him from their home. Maria, characteristically, vows to wait for him, to wait until he can make his fortune and offer everything her father deems, she should have.

Eager for success, Sam becomes involved with a pirate ship. But Sam isn’t your ordinary run-of-the-mill pirate. He is only interested in taking other ships’ bounties, not lives nor ships. His reputation as a “nice” pirate precedes him. Maria leaves home, bent on following him from port to port. It’s a dangerous path she has chosen--- a woman traveling alone.

If the Tide Turns has all the aspects of a swashbuckling delightful read as Sam and Maria fight for their love. If the Tide Turns gets 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

The Wish Book Christmas

The Wish Book Christmas by Lynn Austin 304 pages

 

We may be a few days away from Easter 2024, but I stumbled upon a Christmas story that I love. As I was scrolling through my local library’s catalog looking for more Lynn Austin reads, I came across “The Wish Book Christmas.” Ah, I remember it like it was yesterday when the Sears Roebuck or Montgomery Ward Christmas would arrive, my brother and I would spend hours and hours wanting every pictured toy.

 

That is the premise of this Lynn Austin novel, but this one held an even bigger surprise for me! This is a sequel to Austin’s “If I Were You,” that I recently read and loved. I missed Audrey and Eve and wondered what happened to them.

 

It’s 1951, and Audrey and Even are still best friends. They have made a life for themselves in Connecticut after escaping World War II London with their sons. Both families are healthy and happy. Harry, Eve’s son, and Bobby are now five years old, and like me brother and I, were completely mesmerized by the color photos spreads that went on for pages and pages and pages that had arrived 20 days before Christmas. (I remember them arriving earlier though, I think).

 

This was fine, at first. When the boys start fighting about the toys, Audrey and Eve realize that they have not been teaching them that it is better to give than receive. Over the next 19 days, the two friends, nay sisters by this point, devise ways to teach their sons that Christmas isn’t about getting toys.

 

I can’t remember exactly how many “lessons” there were, but each was sweet. I highly recommend reading “The Wish Book Christmas” anytime of the year. It receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sinatra's Century: One Hundred Notes on the Man and his World

Sinatra's Century: One Hundred Notes on the Man and his World by David Lehman 278 pages

I have been a fan of Ol’ Blue Eyes since I discovered music as a teenager. None of that rock ‘n roll for me! I’ve read many books on Mr. S.; I love to learn more about him. One of the first

things I check out in a book about Mr. S., is who is writing it and how does he/she know this stuff?

The author, David Lehman, had no connections to Mr. S’s. inner circle as far as I can tell. Yet, the book is about one of my idols, so how could I resist at least not flipping through it. All I can say is thank God for libraries and their interlibrary loan service. I didn’t want to take the risk of missing something because I didn’t want to spend twenty-five bucks on a bad book. Lehman is a big, huge fan of Sinatra’s, and I’m glad that come through.

I love the style of this book. It’s one-hundred short reflections on the man, the legend, and his music. He touches on every aspect of Mr. S’s life from beginning to end. The reflections are short, ranging from a half-page to four pages.

Like I said, there is nothing new in this volume, and it’s not very well written for a man who is “one of the most prominent voices in contemporary American poetry.” Therefore, Sinatra's Century: One

Hundred Notes on the Man and his World gets 1 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

November 2023-February 2024 Totals

 

November 2023-February 2024 Totals

During the months of February 2023 through March 2024 reviewers read 35 books with 5868 pages.  Shirley read the most with a total of 18 books read, but Julie read the most pages with 5095.  Congratulations to both of them for jobs well done!

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry 272 pages

 

It’s Saturday afternoon. I should be cleaning the house, but I want a break, so I turn on the television and about the only thing worth watching is “Friends.” First, I must say I am not in the series’ demographic. I was already middle-aged when it premiered. It’s an okay show, but after reading Perry’s story, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I might have a before I cracked the book’s cover.

 

Perry’s favorite movie was “Groundhog Day,” and it imitates an addict’s life to a tee. Trying to get the drugs/alcohol/sex/whatever puts a person on a never-ending loop. Addicts don’t think much pass the next hit. Also, it is the way this book is written. Perry has the same days over and over and over.

 

Unfortunately, due to his sudden death, most of us know Perry’s story. He successfully hid it, at least on television. But truthfully, I had no idea how bad it was. Heartbreaking to say the least.

Therefore, I don’t have the need to rehash his fears, anxieties, doubts and all the other negative emotions/thoughts here.

 

Instead, I’ll talk about some of the high (no pun intended) points. One, when he learned that God is real via the oceanic view from his home. Two, how he truly had gotten sober but couldn’t quite conquer all his demons. Three, his need to help others kick alcohol like he did. Four, how God helped him kick drugs/alcohol/cigarettes. (He craved cigarettes as much as, or more than, he craved opioids.) One day he couldn’t live without them, the next the cravings were gone---one bad habit at a time.

 

In the end, Perry sounded happy and hopeful, that he had truly turned his life around. I choose to believe that this is true, and his death was the unfortunate result of too many years of hard living. Everything caught up with him on the October night in 2023.

 

Therefore, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing gets 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.