A luminous novel about the toll on a family of becoming refugees, When the Moon is Low is the second novel by Nadia Hashimi, author of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell. The story alternates between the viewpoints of Fereiba, a young Afghan widow, and her teenage son Saleem. …more Along with daughter Samira and baby Aziz, they make the perilous journey from Kabul into Iran, then to Turkey and on to Athens, where Saleem is arrested. The story then follows the separate journeys, perils, friendships and heartbreak of Fereiba and Saleem. Hashimi's writing is spare and poetic, and the story moving and suspenseful. The issue of political refugees is a particularly timely one presently, their plight featuring daily in the news. When the Moon is Low illuminates the human face of the refugee situation, and is also a story of family devotion and courage under terrible circumstances. This is a wonderful novel. (less)

Medieval England has its Brother Caedfael, present-day Venice its Guido Brunetti; now 18th Century China has its Li Du, an appealing and sympathetic librarian/scholar recluse exile wandering through the "uncivilized, dangerous frontier" of the southwest. As the story of …more Jade Dragon Mountain opens, he is traveling to the residence of the local magistrate in the city of Dayan, who also happens to be his cousin. Unbeknownst to Li Du, the city is preparing for the state visit of the emperor who has ousted him from his position of state librarian in Beijing and exiled him. The occasion is a grand ceremony celebrating the coming solar eclipse. While at the magistrate's estate, Li Du is given the task of solving the murder of an elderly Jesuit scholar residing there. The machinations of the powerful East India Company and the Jesuit and Dominican brothers in China and the politics of the Chinese empire combine in this intriguing mystery. The social and political culture of Li Du's time weaves through the novel, and the whodunit aspect of the mystery is enjoyable. The believable characters, including the emperor's first consort, a traveling storyteller from Egypt, and a mysterious botanist masquerading as a Jesuit brother, add to the enjoyment of this debut suspense novel. (less)

An evocative historical romance about a young wife and mother who is also a perfumer and member of a famous family perfume house. The novel follows her through occupied France and Poland as WWII darkens the fortunes of her family, and on into the Golden Age of Hollywood, as …more she works to restore those fortunes. An intriguing blend of history, romance, and family saga, Scent of Fortune is well worth reading, not least for its evocation of character, place and history through the medium of fragrance and its impact on our memories. (less)

Sarah Vaughan's Art of Baking Blind is a novel told from the multiple viewpoints of four women and one man who have entered a baking contest sponsored by an upscale supermarket chain. The wife of the supermarket owner, Kathleen Eaden, was the Martha Stewart of her time, 1960 …more 's Britain. The contest's winner will become the new "Mrs. Eaden." The novel follows the daily lives, relationships, joys and struggles of each of the five contestants as they practice and take part in the various stages of the contest. Interspersed with their stories are the journal entries of the original Mrs. Eaden, whose life was not as picture-perfect as it appears.

Vaughan does a good job of drawing us into the characters' lives and hearts, and we find ourselves rooting for each contestant as we read about their desires, aspirations and difficulties. Unexpected crises arise for two of the front-runners as the contest's finale approaches, increasing the story's tension. I found the novel very engaging and the characters believable. A very enjoyable read. (less)