A rather charming read...

Penny Nichols (yes, she is aware of the absurdity of her name) is coasting through life: her research job for historical accuracy in made-for-TV films pays the bills, but it's not entirely fulfilling; she's had serious romantic relationships (with her boss, none the less!) but never been really in love; she's been to exciting international locales, but has been too busy working to really enjoy them. But that all changes with one phone call...

Penny's mum informs her that Penny must represent the family in London at the reading of the last will and testament of Great Aunt Penelope, who is represented by Penny's dashing cousin Jeremy. It is revealed that in addition to Aunt P's London apartment, Penny shares inheritance of a French Villa with Jeremy and their dastardly older cousin, Rollo. However, Rollo is not overly fond of the results, and intends to get all of Penelope's French property, by any means. Rollo's actions set into play a whirlwind of activity through three countries, as well as helps Penny makes personal discoveries of her great aunt, that turns Penelope from a lonely, drab old spinster to a woman who loved and lost, and then found a treasure greater than any material item.

C.A. Belmond's A Rather Lovely Inheritance is an entertaining combination of romance, laughs, history, exciting locations, and a mysterious twist. Most of the characters are light and enjoyable (I particularly enjoy Penny's fun-loving parents; what other kind of people would name their child Penny Nichols?), balanced by the greedy Rollo and his ancient mum. Yes, it's rather predictable, and has a happy ending, but it makes you feel warm and fuzzy and comfortable, like having your favourite cup of tea overlooking the Thames.

Intellectual Thrills

Okay, that heading sounds a bit snobby, but I believe in its accuracy.

The intellectual thrills I refer too are books written by Long Island resident Carol Goodman. Since her first book, written at the age of nine (the crayon-illustrated “Adventures of the Magical Herd” in which a girl named Carol lives with a herd of magical horses), Goodman knew she would be a writer.

Thank goodness for that! Goodman's books all revolve around the relationships between older women in roles of authority and younger girls, history, the arts, and, yes, death. Her first novel, The Lake of Dead Languages, focuses on a Latin teacher in an all girls' school; the next, The Seduction of Water, on literature; The Drowning Tree examines stained glass and The Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood of artists; five artists-in-residence reside in the Bosco estate in The Ghost Orchid; Shakespeare's poetry is key in The Sonnet Lover; and the ruins of Herculaneum, destroyed with Pompeii by Mount Vesuvius, is at the core of The Night Villa (which features a particularly thrilling scene involving underground tunnels!).

Goodman excels at both creating gripping, tantalizing plots that can have readers page-turning all night, and also provide good backgrounds to her books historic elements, without being bogged down in too many details to interrupt the flow of the scene. Her characters are real, and flawed (otherwise they wouldn't get themselves into these fixes!), vulnerable yet fearless when they need to be (and with some of the situations they find themselves in, they need to be!). They all flow with beauty and chills, culminating in the climax and satisfying, surprising conclusions.

If you're looking for something for a day at the beach, a long airplane ride, a rainy afternoon, grad some Goodman!

She's ba-a-a-ack!

There are certain things we can rely on every year: we will partake of some combination of birthdays, anniversaries, festive holidays, vacations, not to forget car insurance renewals, taxes, and dental appointments... and, for some of us, a new Stephanie Plum mystery! Lately, unfortunately, Stephanie hasn't been involved in quite as amusing predicaments as she used to be, thereby being more like, although not entirely, a literary annual physical with your doctor. Thank goodness, Janet Evanovich's Finger Lickin' Fifteen is like Halloween: fluffy yet entirely delicious and satisfying, something you want to devour in an afternoon, leaving your stomach aching, but this time from hearty belly laughs.

This time around, Stephanie, recently on a hiatus from all men, finds herself helping best friend Lula enter a barbeque competition for the best hot sauce, as well as protecting her from the killers of celebrity chef Stanley Chipotle, who's murder via meat cleaver Lula unfortunately witnessed. At the same time, Stephanie finds herself tracking down infiltrators to Rangeman Security, run by the mysterious and sexy Ranger, who's enjoying having Stephanie share his bed, although he wishes they were in it at the same time. Throw in the ever attractive Grandma Mazur, who's lending a helping hand to Lula's barbeque endeavor, a handful of shady characters who've jumped bail, and Mrs. Plum's idea of great blind dates for her unmarried daughter, not to mention the inevitable vehicular destruction, and you've got laugh out loud scenarios (including my favourite, Lula squeezing out of the car window).

This is summer reading at its best and most entertaining!