I’m just back from walking Goosewing Beach in Little Compton, Rhode Island. As a Nature Conservancy Volunteer I’ve been patrolling for piping plovers. I spied a mother and one of her chicks blending into the rocks. Having ventured too close for the mother’s liking, she offered me a rare glimpse of a tactic used by parent plovers to protect their young. She was feigning a broken wing so the predator (me) would go after her instead of her baby. Lucky for this mama and chick I was there to protect them.
The four fragile eggs of each plover nest brought to mind the first summer read I’m going to recommend. In THE ART OF HEARING HEARTBEATS it is the pulse of a tiny unborn chick that awakens the young, blind Tin Win to his magical talent of hearing and interpreting heartbeats. However, in this enchanting tale of love, it is the beating heart of the lovely Mi Mi that captures his own heart. The young girl with a beautiful spirit and great determination was born with mangled feet. Unable to walk, she’s forced to crawl using her arms to drag her body. But Tin Win becomes Mi Mi’s feet, carrying her with him everywhere while she becomes his eyes, describing to him all the wonders she spies as they amble around their small Burmese mountain village.
Spanning six decades, Jan-Philipp Sendker’s novel tells of the enduring love of two broken people, the power that separates them and the passion that holds their souls together. You will discover how Tin Win ends up a successful New York attorney, but the true heart of the story evolves when his sudden and mysterious disappearance prompts his daughter’s quest to uncover the truth. Julia Win is unable to fathom her loving father abandoning his family and leaving behind a successful and happy life. And because Tin Win never shared any details about his life before arriving in America, she has only one clue to help her, a never mailed love letter he’d written to a Burmese woman many years ago. Julia embarks on a mission to Myanmar to seek out the woman for whom the letter was intended. When she arrives she encounters an enigmatic stranger who claims to know Tin Win. U Ba wishes to tell Julia her father’s story, but first he asks her, “Do you believe in love?” If you answered yes to that question I think you will enjoy THE ART OF HEARING HEARTBEATS.
If you like to tuck a cozy mystery into your beach bag, let me recommend Rosie Genova’s MURDER AND MARINARA, the first of her Italian Kitchen Mystery series. This tasty whodunit blends family, murder and romance and follows mystery author Victoria Rienzi from Manhattan back home to the Jersey Shore for a much needed respite from writing her popular mystery series. She’s hoping to take her writing, and her life, in a different direction as she returns to her roots at the family restaurant. But when the Casa Lido is the scene of a murder, and the victim is served his last meal by Victoria, she gets pulled into solving the crime to save herself and the family business. But murder isn’t all Ms. Rienzi has piled on her plate of pasta pomodoro. Her formidable Nonna has not yet forgiven her for abandoning the family and doles out the most menial kitchen duties as punishment. And worse, Victoria finds old flame Tim Trouvare working as sous chef at Casa Lido. This former love who broke her heart and sent her fleeing to New York is once again heating things up. And if the kitchen wasn’t warm enough already, add a lagniappe of Louisiana born Cal Lockhart, the handsome and mysterious charmer hired to restore the Casa Lido’s antique bar, and you’ve got quite the spicy sauce simmering.
As Rosie’s good friend and critique partner, I’m lucky to have an advanced copy of the second book in the series, THE WEDDING SOUP MURDER… and I’m loving every spoonful! You will, too. But you’ll have to wait until its fall release. For now, MURDER AND MARINARA is sure to satisfy your craving for a cozy.
Ah, love the little plover chick! (And thanks so much for the wonderful review.)
Isn’t he sweet? Almost done with Wedding Soup…can’t wait to chat with you about it!
Didn’t know you were also reading Hearing Heartbeats. Just finished it last week–great story, great writing!
It is definitely one of my recent favorites. Glad you agree!
I’ll try and pick up Heartbeats for vacation or see if it comes in audiobook. Thanks for the review
Thanks so much for visiting my site, Jocko! My next post will feature a photo of the fearless sailing crew of Uncle Geoff, La La and me. I’ll give you a heads up. Have fun on vacation!
Love the website. Great pictures of both you and the typewriter. I will definitely check back for future book reviews. Your mother would be proud to have the website in her honor. It is a nice mix of personal information, literary synopses and other topics.
So glad you like the website, Meredith! The old Underwood was one of Mom’s treasures and every time I open up the site I think of her. As much as I love it, I’m glad I don’t have to type my manuscripts on it. 😉 Thanks for stopping by.
hearing heartbeats was excellent we read it in book club, I’m trying to get thru E. Georges
752 page tome, when done I’ll try
the marinara mystery
You can send E. George to me when you’re done! Thanks for visiting my website. You might see a photo of the fearless sailors later this week.
The website looks great! I loved The Art of Hearing Heartbeats- such a wonderful story. Looking forward to more recommendations…if only I could find the time to read them!
Glad you like it, Sarah! And thanks for checking it out. True, you do have your hands full at the moment.
What a lovely description of the plovers! Thanks for your reviews.I’ll be sure to look for these titles for some summer reading of my own.
Thanks for visiting, Laura.
A wonderful website Loretta. I very much enjoyed your tribute to your mom, who certainly was one of a kind. That Underwood is a piece of art. Only a Philistine would not appreciate such a beautiful relic, but, then again, we are talking about Geoff. I have just downloaded the Kindle version of “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats” onto my iPad on your recommendation as I am in great need of good Summer reading material. I also will look forward to downloading the Kindle version of one of your books in the hopefully near future. Keep up the good work !
Hey GC! So good to see a note from you on my website! Thanks for the kind words about my mom. She was a treasure. Would love for one of my books to be available for your enjoyment. If I’m ever so lucky, you’ll be among the first to know.
Loretta, You continue to amaze me with your writing: in 7th grade English class, with your legacy books, reading your fiction books and now your website in honor of your mom! Reading your musings reawakens the desire in me to spend whole days reading, one of my favorite hobbies! As we used to say all those years ago, “Keep on truckin’!” You are enriching all our lives with your talent. Love, Deb
And I’m amazed you can remember anything from junior high English classes! I do recall having lots of fun, passing notes and much giggling. Thanks for visiting my website and for your lovely comments. I hope you’ll visit often!
Hey, Loretta,
Loved reading your special moments with the Plover family. Perfectly beautiful pic. Always appreciate your keen eye on our walks that awaken awareness to nature’s ever present surprises. It’s just too easy to miss when chatting along. As always, so looking ahead to more and more of L.M.’s prose. Cheryl
Yes, because we have so many interesting topics to discuss!
Hi There!
Great review of Murder and Marinara! It actually sounds like something I would enjoy. I am not much of a reader but I will say you have tempted me to try again and I have downloaded the book on my Kindle Fire. Honestly, up until now, it has been mainly used for games. I will keep in touch. You may have added yet another new dimension to my life. Brenda
My friend Rosie is the author and she’ll be thrilled you purchased her book. I think you will get hooked on her Italian Kitchen Mystery series. Stay tuned for book two – The Wedding Soup Murder. Thank you so much for visiting the site! I hope you’ll stop back often.
Brenda,
Thrilled you decided to give M and M a try. If you’d like to contact me through my website, I’ll be happy to send you some bookmarks and other goodies!
Belated as this is, I wanted to say how I relish your review of the The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. I am so fond of this highly original book, which is such a portrait of perseverance and hope. You do it justice, Loretta.
I wasn’t at all surprised when I learned this was a favorite book of yours as well. It is certainly a story that helps one feel grateful. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hello again, Loretta.
Your review of Murder and Marinara is enticing…I want to read it…just finishing Mick Jagger bio by Philip Norman which is also a great read. I love reading your reviews. I’ll be in to my first murder mystery in a very long time,thanks to you.
Cheryl Zimmerman Stern xo
I’m guessing the Mick Jagger biography might be a bit mysterious anyway. My friend Rosemary will be thrilled! As always, thanks for stopping in!