Diamond Doris by Doris Payne with Zelda Lockhart

Diamond Doris by Doris Payne with Zelda Lockhart. Amistad (HarperCollins), 2019.  Nonfiction, memoir.

By far, the most interesting person scheduled to sign advanced copies of books at the Summer, 2019 American Library Association meeting in Washington, D.C. was Doris Payne. Never heard of her? A beautiful, dark skinned woman who dresses well, Doris was raised in poverty in West Virginia. She decided to escape that lifestyle and crafted a new lifestyle for herself. She did not leave behind the smart mouth or cigarettes however. Doris became an international jewel thief. Subtitled, "The True Story of the World's Most Notorious Jewel Thief", this book tells how Doris learned to walk into jewelry stores, confuse or distract the people working there, cleverly take precious jewelry, and then escape. Well, for years, anyway. Doris learns how to connect with others to resell her hauls. For years, she travels the world plying her trade. When she does get caught, she decides to tell the world exactly how her amazing life came to be...readers can decide how much of what Doris tells us is the whole truth and what is not.  Now in her 80's, living in Atlanta, Georgia, Doris Payne's story is to soon be a major motion picture.

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake. Flatiron Books, 2019. Adult fiction.

When Kitty and Ogden Milton buy Crockett's Island off the coast of Maine, they dream of all the family events they will host there over the coming years. But, their wealthy lifestyle does not keep them from trials and tribulations. Alternating from 1936 to 1959 and later, the story includes their children and grandchildren. Connections between Germany and America before and during WWI include more than just businesses. Well written and the perfect summer read, the novel threads its way into secrets, intrigues, human nature, and families themselves. Readers may wish that they had a summer home in Maine, but this one will suffice!

Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis

Queen of the Sea. Written and illustrated by Dylan Meconis. Walker Books, a division of Candlewick, 2019. Graphic novel 394 pages.

This gorgeous graphic novel tells the story of young Margaret who has grown up in a convent on an island. She has learned much about the world, but yearns to experience it for herself. When King Edmund's daughter, Eleanor, is banished to the island by her half sister, the Queen of Albion, life is never the same for Margaret or the Elysian Sisters. Beautifully illustrated in full color and varied panels and pages, the whole book is a feast for the eyes.

The only problem I had at first was trying to match Henry VIII to King Edmund and Elizabeth I to red-haired Eleanor. Don't try it. Although the 16th century clothing and setting is the same, by the end, Margaret has put her own spin on the original inspiration. Just relax and enjoy the story! The ending is resolved through Margaret's bravery and creativity, but, as they say, surely the story is to be continued...we hope so!

Epic Athletes: Serena Williams by Dan Wetzel

Epic Athletes: Serena Williams. Written by Dan Wetzel.  Illustrations by Sloane Leong. Henry Holt and Company, 2019. Juvenile biography chapter book.

Raised by parents in Compton, California, Serena and Venus Williams were groomed to be fabulous tennis players. Smart, strong, and athletic, the coaching by their father and the support of their family paid off and made their dreams come through. The hard work, neverending mental concentration, and focus on the game itself. and not the drama surrounding it, worked well to create champions. The book mentions the strong faith, the family loyalty, and does not shy away from the controversies that have often been part of Serena's world. 

I confess to not knowing much about tennis. This well written book is the perfect introduction to one of its greatest stars. The chapters are introduced by graphic novel type illustrations that will appeal to some students. But, the narrative is fast paced and interesting. Those unfamiliar with the Williams' sisters may come away with new admiration for them, their talents, and their desire to help others.

The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber

The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber. Skyhorse Publishing, 2019. Adult historical fiction.

Deborah and her husband, Samuel, live in 1888 in Utah and are Latterday Saints. Samuel leaves on a business trip and is overdue coming back home. Winter sets in and Deborah struggles to do all the chores and go on without him. A stranger appears as often happens, but never in the winter. Deborah helps him. Then, a marshal appears, hunting the stranger. Misfortune befalls the marshal and Deborah becomes entangled more than she ever wants. Will Samuel be back? Will Deborah's good deeds be found out? What will happen to Nels, Samuel's only nearby family member, and who cares for Deborah?

Weisgarber wastes no words. She builds her characters and the actions slowly and carefully. Readers care about Deborah and will want to know what happens to her. The details about the Latterday Saints ring true. The worry, the lack of medical care, the very real dangers of travel and of life on the farm, and other things weigh heavily on Deborah's mind. She is a good woman in a terrible situation. Weisgarber makes readers care.

Cape May by Chip Cheek

Cape May: A Novel  by Chip Cheek. Celadon Books (Macmillan), 2019.
                          Adult fiction.

Henry is 20; Effie is 18. He lives on a farm near Macon, Georgia; her family has money and her father is the mayor. They have grown up together and marriage seems to have been just what they thought they should do. It's 1957 and they go for a two week honeymoon to an uncle's house in Cape May, New Jersey. They really don't know each other very well and, after a week, they talk about going home. Effie remembers the place as bustling and fun when she was a child, but it is too late  in the season, and now seems lonely and abandoned.

Then, they meet Clara, a just older and more worldly woman, that Effie remembers from her childhood. Clara is married to Richard, but dallies with Max. Max's sister, Alma, is young, beautiful, and provides temptation for Henry. The group explore houses up and down the deserted street, drink themselves into unwise actions, and form new liaisons among themselves. The resulting scenes affect the rest of Effie and Henry's lives.

The town itself is almost a character in the story. Cheek does a masterful job of describing the landscape, the houses, both interior and exterior, and the atmosphere. He does even better in telling readers about the characters themselves. At first, we are drawn in with sympathy for the clueless young honeymooners. But, with all the sex scenes, and the introduction of the older, but maybe not wiser couple and Alma, the pace and the sex get even steamier.

While readers do find out what happens to Effie and Henry, the other characters are like people you might meet on a vacation and seem to disappear from their lives. Literally, this is a beach book.

The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams. HarperCollins, 2019. Adult fiction. Reviewed from galley. 

It's early 1940's when Lulu Randolph arrives in the Bahamas, eager to infiltrate herself into the world of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor who "rule" the islands for England at the time. Lulu is a reporter and wants to make her living writing pieces about the couple. What she suspects is all fun-and-games takes a decidedly more political and manipulated turn. When the wealthiest man on the island is killed, Lulu is in the thick of intrigue, racial tensions, and politics. Lulu falls in love with the quirky scientist Benedict Thorpe and their wedding is performed by none other than the Duke of Windsor himself! When Benedict, now her husband, disappears, Lulu sets off to find more about his background and his family.

While the Windsor angle may suck readers in, it is the lovely story of Benedict's family and their multigenerational loyalties to different countries, that will probably keep them going. Keep careful track of the characters and dates so that it all makes sense. Strong women and interesting action across the years as well as the Nassau part blend seamlessly into another historical fiction hit for Beatriz Williams.