As well as Mother’s Day being in May in North America, May is also National Family Month. A coincidence? Somehow I doubt it.
Mother’s Day is a great time to buy mom—or yourself—some new books!
So I was trying to decide which books to use to promote family and motherhood. Of course, a lot of the characters in both my YA series and my adult crimes series tend to be foster kids, throwaways, street kids, and others who have not had a strong positive mother influence in their lives.
But my Parks Pat Mysteries series does have a strong mother-daughter pairing in Detective Margie Patenaude and her teen daughter Christine. Margie is a single mom, with little mentioned about her past or how she became one. It is clear that she has been parenting alone for a long time.
There is good communication and respect between Margie and Christina, for the most part. Of course, Margie does sometimes disappoint Christine by not always being home when she said she would be or demanding answers to questions about Christina’s boyfriend. And Christina is growing up too fast, sometimes has a teenager attitude, and doesn’t like her privacy to be invaded by her mother. In other words, a normal, healthy, mother-daughter relationship.
I have just recently released an omnibus version of the first six books in the Parks Pat Mysteries series.
Parks Pat Cases 1-6
Looking for a gripping police procedural series set in the stunning parks of Calgary?
Look no further than the Parks Pat Mysteries by P.D. Workman. Follow Detective Margie Patenaude as she investigates a string of murders in the city’s parks, all while juggling the challenges of being a single mom and Métis woman.
Readers will love the fast-paced action, intricate mysteries, and vivid descriptions of Calgary’s natural beauty. With each case, you’ll be transported to a new park, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The writing is excellent, the plot is nice and twisty and the the characters and situations are believable. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to seeing where she takes these new characters.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is another well-written, briskly-paced mystery featuring great characters, lots of interesting glimpses into Canada’s Indigenous culture, and a satisfying resolution all wrapped up in delightful quick-read police procedural by an author who could make a description of drying paint sound fascinating.
Whether you’re a fan of police procedurals, Canadian mysteries, or just looking for a thrilling read, the Parks Pat Mysteries are sure to satisfy. Don’t miss out on this exciting new series — grab your copy today!
These short mysteries are just right for those days when you could use a break from your busy life.
Take a walk in a Calgary park with Parks Pat.
This collection includes cases 1-6
I do have a few other books with strong parent-child relationships that you might be interested in. Most are YA:
- Endless Change (mother-son)
- Making Her Mark (a developing father-daughter relationship)
- Cynthia Has a Secret
- Questing for a Dream (grandfather parent figure)
In addition to these books, plenty of other great reads celebrate the importance of family and motherhood. Here are a few classic recommendations:
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – This classic novel follows the lives of four sisters as they navigate the challenges of growing up and finding their place in the world, with their mother as a guiding force.
- The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan – This novel explores the complex relationships between four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters as they struggle to bridge the gap between their different cultures.
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls – This memoir tells the story of Walls’ unconventional upbringing with her artistic, free-spirited mother and her alcoholic father, and the resilience she developed as a result.
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd – Set in the 1960s South, this novel follows young Lily Owens as she seeks to uncover the truth about her mother’s past, with the help of a group of strong, independent women.
No matter what kind of book you choose to celebrate Mother’s Day and National Family Month, the most important thing is to spend time with the people you love and cherish the relationships that matter most to you. Happy reading!
