I’m finally joining in on Waiting On Wednesday, a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating. With so many books coming out this Spring it is easy to pick at least one I’m definitely waiting for.

My selection is: Murder in Morningside Heights by Victoria Thompson.

In the latest from the bestselling author of Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue, former police sergeant Frank Malloy and his wife adjust to life in New York high society as they investigate a death in the field of higher lerning…

Abigail Northrup of Tarrytown, New York, was her parents’ pride and joy. After graduating from a prestigious women’s college in Morningside Heights, she took a job there as an instructor. She also joined the ranks of the New Women, ladies planning for a life without a husband in which they make their own decisions and make a difference in the world. Unfortunately, her murder ended all that.

This book is coming out May 3, 2016 and I’m ready to read it. I know I’ve mentioned several times that this cozy series is one of my favorites. This will be the 19^th book in the series and after the last novel, I can’t wait to read this one because we’ll finally see Sarah and Frank working together to solve crime as a married couple.

How about you, what book are you waiting for?

“On my thirty-fifth birthday, Mrs. A abruptly gave up the determination that in my eyes characterized her more than any other quality and, already laid out in a bed that by then seemed too big for her body, finally abandoned the world we all know.”

Like Family
By Paolo Giordano
Translator Anne Milano Appel

Nora and her husband, a young couple living in Italy, hire an older woman to help Nora through her difficult pregnancy. Once Nora delivers Emanuele, Mrs. A remains with the family to help care for the baby.

Through the series of vignettes Mrs. A is shown as much more than a nanny. She helps the couple as they adjust to parenthood and she is almost like a grandma to little Emanuele. Just like a family member, sometimes she has strong opinions and sometimes it’s not all smooth sailing. When Mrs. A is diagnosed with cancer, the couple is shaken. They realize, even if they don’t quite voice it, how much of a profound presence Mrs. A is in their lives.

When Mrs. A dies, and I’m not spoiling anything as you know this at the start of the novel, the couple is forced to look at their own interactions and see what is missing or if they can still change the direction of their lives.

I found this to be a powerful novel that manages to capture so much about life and loss. It isn’t sentimental yet it did leave me with a very bittersweet feeling long after I turned the last page. Highly recommend it.

Source: Library copy