The Lost Girl of Craven County - By: Emily Matchar

     North Carolina holds a special place in my heart as a destination I have often visited and made some wonderful memories.  Any book set in this locale peaks my interest, add a historical element and I'm hooked.  Such is the case for Emily Matchar's newest novel, The Lost Girl of Craven County,  being published by Penguin Random House , April 14, 2026.  

    The book begins in New Bern North Carolina, 1939, on the tails of the great depression,  with the whispers of upcoming war in Europe.  New Bern is a culturally diverse town with a thriving jewish community. Matchar focuses the story on two female characters, Millie, the 25 year old  daughter of a pickle factory owning  jewish family, and a mysterious young lady who shows up hurt and mute behind some pickle brining barrels one hot August afternoon.    Over time the puzzle deepens as Matchar weaves the details of the two women and their subsequent lives into a wonder tale of twists, turns of intrigue.  

    As an avid reader, few plots surprise me.  I generally have the basics of the story figured out early in a novel,  and then I am just verifying my premise to the end of the story. Matchar surprised me over and over again.  Just when I thought I"d figured out the identity of the lost girl, I'd be proved wrong with another detail.  Her well layered plot kept my attention to the very end.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Lost Girl of Craven County.  To be honest, it's killing me to not share the story, but It's just too good to ruin it for anyone. So reader, you'll just need to grab the book in April and read it yourself!  

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House and, Emily Matchar for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange  for an honest review.

Incidentals by:Sheila Yasmin Marikar

    Luxury travel takes a wicked twist in the book, Incidentals, written by Sheila Yasmin Marikar, and being published by Little A, New York,  March 31, 2026.  

Who hasn't seen a picture of an over the water bungalow and thought, "I'd love to go there!"  Such a romantic setting, the perfect place to work to rekindle a marriage.  At least that was what Sam thought, as he cashed in all his points to take his wife Sarah on a once in a lifetime vacation to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary.  

    From the start of the vacation, the reader is made aware that Sam and Sarah are at odds in their lives and marriage.  Sarah does not want the vacation and Sam wants to escape his life in an exotic tropical paradise.  I was hooked from the beginning  of the book as I got to know the couple and their struggles.  Early in their luxury flight, they meet, Krista and Kevin, first class travelers that seem to have everything money can buy and more. What looks to be a comrade and instant friend to Sarah, becomes an immediate annoyance to Sam, until a death in the Maldives throws the entire vacation into turmoil and intrigue.

    I liked the concept of the story and the setting. However, what started as a fun read grew tiring half way through.  It felt as though there was a constant rehashing of the same issues and when the climatic event was revealed, it was rushed and lacked zest.

There were definitely parts that I enjoyed in the novel Incidentals, but I felt like Marikar pushed through to complete the book, but lost enthusiasm that was felt in the onset.  Due to that, I will have to give it 3 stars. Yet, I look forward to reading more of Marikar's work as I did enjoy her story overall.

Thank you NetGalley, Little A and Sheila Yasmin Marikar for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange  for an honest review.

 

Life lessons learned young...

It is commonly known that our childhood experiences often shape our adult lives. Many times we hear about how those experiences may negatively impact us, particularly if the experience is a sad or tragic one.  I have a different experience to share.

I did experience an emotional life altering event when I was 10 years old.  My cousin died.  Being a couple of the youngest grandchildren on my father's side of the family, I only had two or three cousins to play with at family gatherings, as all the other cousins were many years older.  My closest companion was my cousin Todd.  We were two years apart, with me being the older.  When he was eight years old, and I was ten, he was diagnosed and later died from the effects of a malignant brain tumor.  To say it was tragic is an understatement.  His loss at such an early stage of my life taught me what mortality truly meant. I faced the fact that no one is exempt from death and realized that it could be me or anyone I knew as easily as someone like a grandparent.  I can't say that the first few years after his loss I saw this reality as a gift.  In truth, I often worried that I would be next.  I thought that I would never live long enough to grow up, to finish school, get married, have children, or grow old. 

Now, in my 60's I can look at the experience in a different light. My fears actually made me thankful and self aware of every little joy in this life.  I think I have relished rights of passage in on a different level perhaps than some of my peers.  God took a tragedy in my world and made me hyper aware of joy without expectation.

Because I did not expect to grow up, when I did I felt blessed to do so. When I met my husband and we fell in love and married, I was amazed to have this experience in my life. I certainly did not see myself being fortunate enough to have children, so each one was a true miracle, a gift to behold. Now having seen my children grow to be adults and have happy marriages of their own, I am in awe of my blessings. It is because of this that   I believe I have been gifted with gratitude as a by product of loss. 

What in my mind makes my experience different than many is that this gratitude attitude did not come from a personal illness or accident averted.  It was learned vicariously through the loss of a beloved cousin.  God used my childhood grief to shape my continued life experiences. 

The concept of mortality hits hardest when it comes as an experience of losing someone your own age.  It makes one aware that life is not promised, and we are not indestructible.  To learn this difficult lesson young has impacted my entire life. But as with everything, God continues to show me his unending love and provision. He teaches me to be thankful for the life he allows me to have, and not take simple joys for granted. I hope to never forget each day is a blessing to wake up to, and continue to be amazed as I live past all expectations.    And someday, according to God's promises, see Todd again.

Handle With Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

     Bonding through crisis is the central theme for Marybeth Mayhew Whalen's book, Handle With Care,  being published April 13, 2026 by Thomas Nelson (a trademark of Harper Collins Christian Publishing).  Four women, caught in a hostage situation brought forth by a domestic matter find comfort and allegiance together as they work to be released. Each woman has a personal dilemma to work through, and through their interwoven experience they are able to support each other as well as find answers to their personal challenges.  

     There are many facets of Whalen's book that I enjoyed. The novel is set up as the parts of a friendly letter, as taught in school.  In lieu of numbered parts to break the story into sections, the novel begins with the "heading", then progresses to the other parts of a letter (greeting, body, closing, and signature).  Chapters are introduced , yet the major sections of the novel are separated the letter elements.  Why the author chose this format is made clear in the middle of the story when one of the main characters, a past English teacher, explains how to write a friendly letter, which brings the whole concept together., 

    The story was poignant, well written, and thought provoking.  The characters came to life and were engaging.  As the reader, I became involved in their circumstances, and was on edge to see how it was going to work out.  Whalen's ability to transport a reader to her character's world creates an engaging escape. Look for Handle With Care next spring and enjoy. 

I received a preview copy of Handle with Care from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.