A handful of April releases

 Last Dance on the Starlight Pier
By Sarah Bird
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (April 12, 2022)
Hardcover: 432 pages
ISBN-10: 1250265541
ISBN-13: 978-1250265548

Publisher’s Blurb:

July 3. 1932. Shivering and in shock, Evie Grace Devlin watches the Starlite Palace burn into the sea and wonders how she became a person who would cause a man to kill himself. She’d come to Galveston to escape a dark past in vaudeville and become a good person, a nurse. When that dream is cruelly thwarted, Evie is swept into the alien world of dance marathons. All that she has been denied―a family, a purpose, even love―waits for her there in the place she dreads most: the spotlight.

Last Dance on the Starlight Pier is a sweeping novel that brings to spectacular life the enthralling worlds of both dance marathons and the family-run empire of vice that was Galveston in the Thirties. Unforgettable characters tell a story that is still deeply resonant today as America learns what Evie learns, that there truly isn’t anything this country can’t do when we do it together. That indomitable spirit powers a story that is a testament to the deep well of resilience in us all that allows us to not only survive the hardest of hard times, but to find joy, friends, and even family, in them.

 My Thoughts:

This was not a simple book to read. Evie’s mother is a pretty horrible person, and Evie has grown up with grifters and conmen, just trying to make enough money to stay alive. She fights for her dream to become a nurse, becoming best friends with the daughter of a mob boss. When her dream is derailed right before graduation, Evie finds herself caught up in the world of dance marathons. These marathons are a combination of entertainment, showmanship, and razzle dazzle, giving the Depression-hardened public a bit of hope.

 Evie comes to love her life with the marathon troupe, and one member of the troupe in particular—especially when she learns of his connection to her much-loved, deceased father.

 As always, Bird brings the historical era to life. This was a hard time in history for most of the population, and Bird pulls no punches here. Equally, many of the characters here have few redeeming qualities. But the found-family of the dance marathon crew is full of endearing—if flawed—characters.

 The book deals with stigmas of religion, class, and sexuality in frank ways, not to glorify them but to humanize them.

 While the ending isn’t exactly a “happily ever after” it is most definitely a satisfying one.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

There is a description of a man masturbating at a burlesque show. Violence. Drinking. Injuries. Some characters are gay.

 Who Might Like This Book:

If you’re interested in the Depression, Prohibition, dance marathons and vaudeville, this book has lots for you. Although there is deep love, it is not a romantic book.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.

 

The Patron Saint of Second Chances
By Christine Simon
Publisher: Atria Books (April 12, 2022)
ISBN-10: 075158293X
ISBN-13: 978-0751582932

Publisher’s Blurb:

Without expensive repairs to the pipes, the water board will cut off Speranza's crumbling Italian village. All 212 inhabitants will be forced to leave.

In a desperate bid to find the money to save his hometown, he starts a rumour that Italian heart-throb Dante Rinaldi is coming to town to film his next movie.

Soon, the place is teeming with fans and everyone wants to be involved: Speranza's assistant has a screenplay and the butcher will invest - if Speranza can find roles for each of his fifteen enormous sons. Even the priest is on board.

It seems the only way to give their beloved town a second chance is to actually make a movie. What could possibly go wrong?

My Thoughts:

This book was completely charming. Watching Speranza sink deeper and deeper into his lie—while we are absolutely rooting for him—was such fun. The cast of characters is varied, each with his or her own motivation for wanting to be involved. As we meet them, we want them to succeed and thrive.

As the deadline looms, we are kept in suspense—but never without hope—that Speranza will succeed in saving the town.

I don’t get to read many books where a middle-aged husband and businessman is the protagonist. Speranza is such a well-meaning, lovable character. His wife, while sometimes exasperated, is first supportive, then enthusiastically supportive.

This story and characters are a great way to spend a weekend.

Possible Objectionable Material:

The whole plot is founded on a deception, although a well-meaning one. One character is an unwed mother. There’s a little drinking.

Who Might Like This Book:

If you like comedy and stories about small town people, this is a good choice.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.

 

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (April 19, 2022)
Hardcover: 368 pages
ISBN-10: 141975453X
ISBN-13: 978-1419754531
Reading age: 13 years and up
Grade level: 8 and up

Publisher’s Blurb:

Zurika Damani is a naturally gifted violinist with a particular love for hip hop beats. But when you’re part of a big Indian family, everyone has expectations, and those certainly don’t include hip hop violin. After being rejected by Juilliard, Zuri's last hope is a contest judged by a panel of top tier college scouts. The only problem? This coveted competition happens to take place during Zuri’s sister’s extravagant wedding week. And Zuri has already been warned, repeatedly, that she is not to miss a single moment.

In the midst of the chaos, Zuri’s mom is in matchmaking mode with the groom’s South African cousin Naveen—who just happens to be a cocky vocalist set on stealing Zuri’s spotlight at the scouting competition. Luckily Zuri has a crew of loud and loyal female cousins cheering her on. Now, all she has to do is to wow the judges for a top spot, evade getting caught by her parents, resist Naveen’s charms, and, oh yeah . . . not mess up her sister’s big fat Indian wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

My Thoughts:

This middle-grade to YA story is full of warmth and family love. Zuri is trying hard to live up to family expectations and the examples of her wildly successful older sisters, but her heart isn’t in medicine or law—it’s with her violin. And she’s good. To make things worse, she’s only a senior in high school and her mother is already trying to find her a nice Indian boy to marry. The problem comes when Zuri tries to balance being there for her sister’s wedding with reaching for a future in music. And to make things even worse, the boy her mom has her eye on is competing for the same scholarship. And, darn it, he’s actually nice.

There’s great dialogue here, both among the family members and between Zuri and Naveen. Overall, this is a super supportive, loving family, although they have a blindspot about what “successful” means.

The wedding itself is lavishly over-the-top, and we get a wonderful look at various traditions as the eight-day celebration progresses. And oh, the descriptions of food!

We definitely cheer for Zuri—and Naveen!—not just as a potential couple, but as people with a bright future ahead of them, if only they can grab on to it.

Possible Objectionable Material:

Lying to parents and sneaking around. Some characters are gay. Some mild cursing. Some minor characters sneak into each others’ hotel rooms at night.

Who Might Like This Book:

If you like boisterous, loving families, learning about Indian traditions and food, music, and coming of age, you’d probably like this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.

 

Before the Fortress Falls
By A.L. Soward
Publisher: Covenant Communications (April 1, 2022)
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1524420808
ISBN-13: 978-1524420802

Publisher’s Blurb:

When rumors reach Vienna that an attack by the Ottoman army is imminent, Wilhelm von Schor, one of the emperor's courtiers, prepares to evacuate his family―including his sister, Katja. But Katja's reluctance to leave the city and the people she loves so well grows the farther the family carriage gets from her childhood home. When she learns that another brother, Xavier, is returning to Vienna with his musketeers, she decides to remain behind and face the shadow of war.

Katja soon reunites with Xavier and also with Toby, a dear friend from childhood. As Katja and Toby renew their friendship, an element of attraction builds on the comradery of their youth, and they quickly realize they have found something worth fighting for: love. But all too soon, the Ottomans encircle the city, blanketing its inhabitants in fear. Katja, Toby, and Xavier must each fulfill their new roles if they are to survive. In the overcrowded hospitals, below ground in the countermines, and on the ramparts defending the city walls, the three must fight for love, family, faith, and the survival of their city and everyone inside.

Before the Fortress Falls is a historical fiction account of the epic 1683 Siege of Vienna.

 My Thoughts:

This well-researched book is set in a period of history that I didn’t know about. I want to go to Vienna now and see all the places that were destroyed in the siege and rebuilt.

 Katja is spunky, and tired of her brother’s pride. Since he has become head of the family, and works with the emperor, Wilhelm definitely has ideas about what’s appropriate for her to do. When she’s suddenly presented with the chance to go back home as they evacuate Vienna, she takes it, meeting childhood friend Toby on the way. They resume their acquaintance as the danger to the city increases.

 The way the love between Katja and Toby grows is realistic. They build on their childhood past, but come to appreciate each other as adults, seeing each other through both the good days and the bad. Of course, Toby finds the difference in their social classes to be a problem far more than Katja does, and it definitely holds him back. His dangerous assignment as a counter-miner also makes him hesitant to pursue her also, as he literally faces death on a daily basis.

 Secondary characters are well-drawn overall, as they have lives and personalities of their own.

 This book definitely has more violence and death than we are used to seeing from this publisher, and there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the book to that effect—none of the descriptions are graphic, but this was a bloody period of history.

 As this book was released shortly after the beginning of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, the author donated profits from the book for the month of April to Ukraine relief.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Again, it’s war. People are wounded; they die. Times are hard and people are hungry as the siege progresses.

 Who Might Like This Book:

If you like historical novels with a bit of romance, this is a great choice.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.