Doppio Forno: cocci & dolci

A Mistery The book is set in London in the Victorian era, Charles Lenox is a gentleman and amateur sleuth. It was my first book from Charles Finch, and I liked it. I am sure I am going to read other installments of this series because almost all the characters are well described and “real” and I want to know more about Charles Lenox investigation (and hopefully I will meet again Lancelot!) The story was a little too slow for my liking and the mystery was really engrossing. I liked the description of the Victorian atmosphere and the explanation of the titles and ranks of the Nobility. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Goodreads: The Vanishing Man by Charles Finch

A book by an author I didn't know The description of the story seemed interesting, so I decided to give a try to this author. I was disappointed, the characters are absolutely unbelievable, the story develops slowly and I guessed the end when I was halfway. I am not sure I will try another novel from this author. Thank you to NetGalley, and Amazon Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Goodreads: The Perfect Mother by Caroline Mitchell

A book featuring an historical figure Artemisia Gentileschi story told in verse. The story is very interesting, and it gave me the opportunity to google and admire some of her paintings. I love historical fiction novels, and this is not the first novel that pushed me to learn more about painters almost unknown to me. The story is in verse but it is quite readable; Artemisia didn’t have an easy life, she lost her mom when she was twelve, she was raped at seventeen and she had an hard time to be believed, she didn’t really had justice, her rapist was found guilt but he wasn’t sentenced to prison. In the book Artemisia overcame all her troubles with the help of her paintings. Two paintings are at the center of the novel:   Susanna and the Elders and Judith slaying Holofernes, like Susanna and Judith Artemisia lived in a men world she had to go through a lot of struggles to be heard. Goodreads: Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough

A book set in the decade I was born This is the second novel from Elin Hilderbrand and as the other one (The Perfect Couple) I was not captivated by it. I decided to read this book because it was one the 2019 Goodreads historical fiction nominees and I wanted to give a second try to this author, but I think I will stop. The story is very thin, the characters are quite stereotypical; the only character I liked and I think it was well develop is Jessie, the youngest sister of the Foley-Levin family. I read in one of the reviews on Goodreads that the author addressed many important issues but then they weren’t really explored or developed and I must agree with this opinion, may it would have been better to leave something out but to go deeper in just a few of them . I read this book for my 2020 Book challenge and I thought this novel could fit in the “book set in the decade you were born” category but I was not really impressed on the description of the sixties. Hopefully ...

A book not written in traditional novel format  I liked it. The author in his introduction write this story is for everyone, for 8 years old or for 81 years old, and he is right. It is story about friendship, be kind to us and to the others. The illustrations are beautiful. One thing I read it on my kindle, and I think it would be better to read it as paper book so to better enjoy the illustrations and the cursive format would be easier to read it. Goodreads: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

  The book I was supposed to finish in 2019   Good story, I enjoy the style and how the different characters contribute to development of the story.  I was quite surprise how it ended. I am looking forward to reading other works from this Lisa Lutz. Goodreads: The Swallows by Luisa Lutz

Nicoletta Book Challenge 48 titles for 2020 I decided to create my personal book challenge inspired by the other challenges I saw in Read It Forward Group on FB.  My plan is to read 52 books in 2020 but I set "the rules" for only 48 books. I hope you will like it and be inspired by my list. Happy reading! 1 The book I was supposed to finish in 2019: The Swallows  2 A book with "Winter" in the title 3 A book with "Spring" in the title 4 A book with "Summer" in the title: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner 5 A book with "Fall or Autumn" in the title 6 A book with a holiday in the title 7 A book with a building in the title 8 A book with a real city in the title 9 A book with a number in the title 10 A book by an author you don't know: The Perfect Mother by Caroline Mitchell 11 An author's debut book: Real Life by Brandon Taylor 12 A book by an author you've only read once bef...

I liked the first book of these series and I was looking forward to reading this one but I didn't enjoy like the first one. Fizt, the cat, is a second row character of the book and I didn't like it, I wanted for him a major involvement in the story. Then the story, the plot is very thin and a little predictable. Goodreads: Overdue (The Village Library Mysteries #2) by Elizabeth Spann Craig

 I have an introvert cat: she hides as soon she hear new voices in the house and as soon the guest leaves, she is back with the “good riddance” face. If you have a cat or you are a cat lover this is book that will make you laugh and love more your pet! Finally the photo are beautiful! Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! All Cats are Introverts by Francesco Marciuliano

It is a good romance story but, in my opinion, a little predictable.  I liked the setting in a small town and I think the author succeeded in describing the atmosphere but I think both main characters were a little stereotypical. Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Goodreads: Love on the Hudson by K.D. Fisher

Yesterday I finished my book and I had to choose a new book. Sometimes it is very easy sometimes it is not! I started reading a couple of books but they didn’t capture my attention. I started  browsing in my kindle and I found Twenty-one truths about love: a list. I thought what I was thinking when I request how can I read a book that it is a list of lists?? Then I started reading and laughing. Yes it is a series of lists but there is a story too! Dan is bookshop owner, his shop is not doing very well, his wife wants a child, his mother is extremely annoying and his bank account is dangerously going close to 0. What can I say it is a good book, it makes you laugh, think and enjoy your time reading it, I loved and I will check the other books from this author. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Goodreads: Twenty-one Truths about Love by Matthew Dicks

I was happy to receive this ARC copy of the newest novel by Ann Cleeves. I read a few of her Shetland series and I loved the stories and their characters. This is the start of a new series set in North Devon and I loved it! The plot is quite complex, the setting looks like a place to visit, with Ann Cleeves description I could see breathtaking panorama. Last but not least liked Matthew Venn the main investigator, he is a quite different character from Detective Perez but very human and likable. If you loved Shetland series I am sure you will love this book too! Finally I am looking forward for the next novel in this series! I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Goodreads: The Long Call (Two Rivers, #1) by Ann Cleeves

It was the first book from Laura Lippman and I chose it because I used to live close to Baltimore and I was intrigued by the story.  I am not sure I will read other books of this author because I had hard time in finishing it. I didn’t like Maddie character; to me it resembled more to an annoyed rich wife looking for something exciting to do and I didn’t had any sympathy for her. Then what I didn’t liked was the structure of the novel; in my humble opinion the different point of view of the other characters slowed down the rhythm of the story and some of them didn’t really add interest to the story.  I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Goodreads: Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman