Tips for Tuesday - Books: Intriguing Escapades & The Three Sisters & Music: Covers From Away

We may have been given complimentary copies of one or more of the books and/or other products listed below and/or access to any audio or visual media for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: Intriguing Escapades and The Three Sisters 

Today we are recommending Intriguing Escapades by Linda Weaver Clarke. This book is the fifth in a series of mysteries involving intrepid reporter, Julia Evans, her husband John, and their three daughters. These books are light historical mysteries. There are never any murders or extreme violence of any kind in these books. There is, however, plenty of Clarke's patented romance even more so than usual. Not only are Julia and John an adorable couple; oldest daughter, April has a sweet romance with long-time family friend, Matthew; and twins, Sharlene and Faith have their own romantic encounters as well. 

This particular book centers on the twins, and their new career as FBI agents. It is made up of a series of short individual mysteries of a few chapters each. There is plenty of intrigue as the title promises and plenty of romance as well. To top it all off,  Amelia Moore and Rick Bonito from Clarke's other series,the Amelia Moore mysteries, even make a guest appearance.  It's a diverting and delightful read.

Today we are recommending The Three Sisters by Heather Morris. It is the third in her series of books novelizing true-life Holocaust stories. For more about her previous books, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey see our previous post Tips for Tuesday - Books: The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey This book as the title suggests involves three sisters; Cibi, Magda, and Livi who are determined not only to survive the war but to stay together. The book is at times heartbreaking at times inspirational.  There are plenty of hard-to-read examples of extreme cruelty and more in this book as with any similar story, there are also many instances of small acts of kindness. It is the latter that gives us hope. Besides, if people can survive the horrors that Holocaust survivors like these went through then we can survive anything. 

Music: Covers From Away

Today we are recommending Covers From Away. This engaging album is made up of songs from the musical, Come From Away sung by singers and bands from Newfoundland and Labrador, the show's setting. These versions seem slower and less intense than the versions on the show's cast album which is at times a good thing and at times not so much a good thing. It works much better for the ballads than the more rousing upbeat numbers. The renditions of You Are Here and Stop the World on this album are particularly beautiful. Damhnait Doyle does a nice job with Me and Sky as well. That song is probably one of the most well-known numbers in the whole show and the song most likely to be associated with a particular performer, Jenn Colella. Doyle's version is at least equally as good as Collela's version on the cast album. One of the best things about this album is that it solves one of the worst problems of the actual cast album, there isn't any dialogue on this album so you can just enjoy the music.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.