Reservations for Two by Hillary Manton Lodge

France, Italy, food, a long distance romance, and a mystery from the past are all included in this book which is the second in the "Two Blue Doors" series. Juliette was a food editor and now is embarking on managing a brand new restaurant with the help of her brother. She has a lot going on in her life besides a career change. Her mother is undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer, she is traveling to France to uncover a mystery involving her French grandmother and she is involved in a long distance romance with Neil. Neil is an immunologist in Memphis while Juliette's work and family are in Portland, Oregon.

As Juliette deals with the uncertainty in her life, she struggles to deal with her mother's illness and the long distance relationship and where it may be headed. Juliette discovers her grandmother's letters at the family chateau in France. She reads them on her return home to solve some questions about her grandmother and her life during World War II. The letters make for interesting reading and I thought they were the best part of the book. The letters may guide Juliette in dealing with her present challenges.

Cooking and food is very much a part of the book and there are recipes interspersed throughout the book. Culinary enthusiasts will enjoy that part of the book. I did not read the first book and was lost as to the story line in the beginning of the book. I think it may be difficult to initially get into the book if you have not read the first book in the series.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review

A Nice Little Place on the North Side by George F. Will

This is a wonderful book for die hard Cub fans. The author takes a look at the Cubs baseball team and their historic home, Wrigley Field. As Wrigley Field enters its second century, George Will takes a look at this iconic field and the up and down (mostly down) history of its ball team. The book is a collection of many stories of past teams and important events and the personalities that have come to be associated with the team. I was especially interested to learn why the outfield has its ivy covered walls. This story along with many others makes enjoyable reading for any baseball fan.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

The Pharaoh's Daughter by Mesu Andrews

This book brings ancient Egypt and the book of Exodus alive. Anippe, daughter of Pharaoh, and sister of King Tut lives a life of fear after seeing her mother die in childbirth. Married at an early age to a Egyptian soldier who is sent off to war soon after the wedding, she is terrified of getting pregnant and giving birth. While her husband is off to war, she pretends to be pregnant after finding a baby floating in the Nile near her bathhouse. She manages to deceive the members of the household and the royal family, but lives in constant fear of her secret being found out.

The boy Mehy (who is Moses) grows up and is trained to be a prince and a warrior in Egypt. The lives of Mehy and Anippe are closely interwoven with the Hebrew slaves especially those who work in the linen making industry which Anippe overseers. The lives of the Hebrew slaves and their worship of El-Shaddai contrasts with the Egyptian gods and Pharaoh who is seen as divine. The Egyptians live in fear and turmoil at the whims of Pharaoh and the cruelty of his guards.

This is a fascinating look at the life of Moses from the perspective of his surrogate Egyptian mother along with the culture of Ancient Egypt. It is an engaging story that shows the faith of the Hebrews as well as the bloodshed and savage politics of Egypt. This books makes that time period come alive. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Ancient Egypt and Biblical fiction.

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.