Stuck at home? Escape with a book!

By Bonnie McCune and Kathleen Duhamel ~

At Your Service,  Sandra Antonelli. Mae is a middle-aged British butler, unknowingly drawn into an international theft and money-laundering operation in this romantic mystery/thriller with a nod to Ian Fleming’s James Bond. It’s up to Mae’s employer, Major Kitt (who just might be a spy) to keep her safe, but whose side is he really on? The two delightfully quirky main characters carry the dizzying plot through exotic locales to its satisfying conclusion.

Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell. For the boomer generation, Mitchell’s music is part of the soundtrack of their lives. A Canadian prairie girl who never wanted pop stardom, Mitchell began as a folk singer, going on to achieve international acclaim while writing some iconic songs of her generation  (Big Yellow Taxi, Both Sides Now, and Woodstock, to name a few). Biographer David Yaffe offers a detailed account of her music and the people in her orbit, including a host of famous lovers.

A Gentleman in Moscow unfolds in a posh, famous Moscow hotel, home to royalty, stars, and politicians. Unfortunate Count Alexander Rostov, placed under house arrest by the Bolsheviks for political “crimes,” tries for years to escape. He works for his keep, participates in numerous adventures with compelling personalities, meets a precocious and charming young girl, and launches a love affair. Replete with humor and major historical issues over decades, author Amor Towles creates a perfect model for a fulfilling life while quarantined. 

To the Land of Long-Lost Friends,  Alexander McCall Smith. The latest book in the beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series sets Precious Ramotswe on a case with a childhood acquaintance’s daughter, involved with a charismatic, shifty preacher. Assistant Charlie also has romance troubles to meet his girlfriend’s bride price and ponders a fishy job offer. Mma Ramotswe draws on love, family, and the nature of men and women to resolve family dramas and remind us about the good things in life.

Author Kathleen Duhamel writes humorous contemporary romance featuring “seasoned” characters. Her newest is Fed Up. https://www.kathleenduhamel.com/ Author Bonne McCune’s latest is Never Retreat, a suspenseful romance in Colorado’s wilderness. https:// BonnieMcCune.com