Book Reviews: Literary Feast 2023

Recapping Book Reviews Covering 2023 Literary Feast Authors

Fast-paced ‘London Seance Society’

During the Victorian Era, spiritualism, ghost sightings and séances were the rage in Great Britain and the United States as people from all strata of society yearned to communicate with the dead. In her second novel, Sarah Penner again visits that spiritualist movement, showing the desperation of those who want to commune with departed loved ones, the frequent scams, the danger and the misogyny that often ruled.

Read More

Raybourn returns to Victorian mystery in ‘Sinister Revenge’

Authors who take a break from a popular series usually stick with the same era, background and type of character. Last year, Deanna Raybourn took a break from her best-selling historical series set in the Victorian Age about lepidopterist Veronica Speedwell in favor of a highly original contemporary novel about an all-female elite assassin squad who after 40 years and now in their 60s were ready for retirement. “Killers of a Certain Age” evolved into an intriguing view of how older people, especially women, often are overlooked and underestimated.

Read More

A light ‘Beach’ read

Alicia Bessette delivers a few smiles — as well as appealing characters, a strong sense of place and a solid plot — in her energetic “Smile Beach Murder.”


The launch of a new series, “Smile Beach Murder” works well as a story about a woman rebuilding her life after losing her dream job while making peace with her past and reconnecting with her small hometown.

Read More
07 May, 2024
The Broward Public Library Foundation has the pleasure of working with the family of the late Isabel & Stanley Rubel to create this endowment fund in their memory. Their three sons Howard, Matthew and Laurence recall their parents' love of mystery novels, which brought them into the Pompano Beach Library regularly. In the creation of the fund, Howard Rubel expressed how his parents “had great vision to see the possibilities of Pompano Beach” and that the family is “delighted to give back to a community that Isabel and Stanley joined over 65 years ago.”
07 May, 2024
On Saturday, April 13, the Broward Public Library Foundation held its 35th annual Literary Feast with 10 acclaimed authors: James R. Benn, Alex DeMille, Kristin Harmel, Leah Lax, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Thomas Mallon, Aida Rodriguez, Jonathan Santlofer, Lisa Unger, and Michelle Wildgen. Over 300 guests attended the Welcome Reception at Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach, followed by dinners at restaurants and clubs, including Lona at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach, Lenore Nolan Ryan Cook School and Catering, Tower Club, Serafina, and La Fuga at The Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel. Thank you to all attendees and a special thank you to our generous sponsors: • Maya Angelou Presenter Sponsor: Helen Ingham Foundation • LitLIVE! Presenting Sponsor: Nova Southeastern University • Toni Morrison Welcome Reception Sponsor: JM Family Enterprises • Ana Maria Matute Silent Auction Sponsor: Ryder System, Inc. • Miguel de Cervantes Literary Sponsor: The Haller Foundation • Agatha Christie Tier Sponsors: Amazon . com; Cathy & James Donnelly Charitable Fund/Castle Group; Florida Power & Light; Susie & Alan B. Levan Family Foundation, Moss Foundation; and Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law • Ralph Ellison Tier Sponsors: Comcast, Farlie Turner Gilbert & Co.; GrayRobinson, P.A.; Nicole & Marty Hanaka; Elizabeth & Jonathan Malkin; Publix Super Markets Charities; and UnitedHealthcare • Mark Twain Valet Sponsors: Brainfuse, Inc.; Humana; OverDrive; and Weston Financial Advisors • Authors Circle Sponsors: Baker & Taylor; BNY Mellon Wealth Management; Cheryl Balaban of Edward Jones Investments; Steven & Robin Chess; Indie Author Project (Lyrasis); Connie & Theo Folz; Ingram Content Group; Kunin Associates; Marquis George MacDonald Foundation; Midwest Tape | hoopla Digital; Playaway Products; Lois & John Schmatz; Marty & Caryl Shuham; Thorndike Press from Gale; and Women's Wisdom Circle • In-Kind Sponsors: Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale and Lifestyle Media Group (Media); JetBlue Vacations (Vacation); Two Men & A Truck (Logistics); Alore Event Firm (Décor) Alfred A. Knopf Broward County Library
08 Mar, 2024
Book review from the Sun Sentinel : ‘New Couple in 5B’ a modern haunted house mystery with layers of suspense By Oline Cogdill
07 Dec, 2023
In this edition, you will read stories about the 2024 LitLUNCH! event, Books 'n' Bears at the Holidays, the Literary Feast 2024 Reading Challenge, Scholarships for Career Online High School, and more.
11 Oct, 2023
Literary Feast dates and locations, remembering literary legacies, Summer Learning Program recap, Wednesday's Women reading groups, and more news of interest from the Library Foundation.
02 Oct, 2023
The Library Foundation thanks the Children's Services Council of Broward County for their incredible support of the Conference on Children’s Literature! Thank you to everyone to the over 140 people who attended, including authors, educators, librarians, and vendors. It was an outstanding event, and we look forward to next year.
26 Sep, 2023
The Broward Public Library Foundation is happy to be working with our friends at the NSU Alvin Sherman Library to promote and spread the word about their amazing upcoming series of author talks and community events.
18 Aug, 2023
Celebrate the Bridgerton series with Julia Quinn, best-selling author of historical romance fiction, at the NSU Alvin Sherman Library. Quinn will discuss her newest book, Queen Charlotte, and her writing career.
11 Aug, 2023
Tech Talk Weekly #141 - Look up, practice landings, NASA & wine, Fusion & Super Conductivity
04 Aug, 2023
On Monday, July 31 , our friends from the Florida Panthers visited the South Regional/Broward College Library to read books to children o n their Summer Reading Tour. The final stop of their tour occured on Saturday, Aug. 5 at 11 a.m. at the Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs. Panthers radio voice Doug Plagens was the special guest reader. To catch up on the Reading Tour fun, make sure to visit the links to press coverage below: https://www.local10.com/sports/2023/07/31/panthers-defenseman-dmitry-kulikov-reads-to-children-at-summer-reading-tour-event/ https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/07/31/for-dmitry-kulikov-return-to-florida-panthers-feels-like-it-was-some-unfinished-business/ WSVN Video: https://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/1a65390f-a541-439d-9e9a-6f943c9f9de7?token=ce3ce582-18d0-4501-8dfb-704791aa7bfc
More Posts
Share by: