Unknown Women - December 21, 2016

Not Just Jane: Rediscovering Seven Amazing Women Writers Who Transformed British Literature
By Shelley DeWees
4 stars



In the collected works of famous female authors of the late eighteenth through nineteenth century Britain, there are a handful of names that everyone recognizes; Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and George Eliot are the major ones.  What happened to the other female writers who emerged during this time?  That is what this book aims to explore by providing a biography of seven other women who wrote poetry, novels and plays at a time when women did not usually work.  Describing their early life and their entry into the writing career, this book highlights the way these women chafed against the prescribed feminine roles of the time in order to fulfill their passion to write and why they are not read today.  This is a well written book and I enjoyed reading about these woman's life and the choices they made.  At times, the struggle they all had against the expectations of the time became repetitive as really none wanted to accept the role of married mother.  Overall, this was fascinating and I wrote down several of the names so that I can explore their work in the future which was the stated purpose of this book.  I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review - December 16, 2016

The Girl from Venice by Martin Cruz Smith
3 stars



A fisherman named Cenzo drags a young woman, who he believes is dead, out of the lagoons near Venice.  He is surprised to discover a plucky Jewish woman on the run from the Third Reich and the man who betrayed her family.  As Cenzo tries to help her escape, he works with an interesting cast of characters including a film star brother awash in betrayal.  The best parts of this book deal with the family dynamics that surround Cenzo.  Cenzo, himself, is a strong character who simply wants to be a quiet fisherman, even amidst all the craziness surround him.  It did feel like the book was rushed and parts skimmed over so that I felt like I didn't always get what was happening.  These are good characters that deserve more in depth stories so while I mostly enjoyed this book, I think that it could have used more substance.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 


Public Library: and Other Stories by Ali Smith
3 stars



This collection of stories was written in response to the declining existence of public libraries in the U.K.  I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw its description but after reading it, my reaction is a bit more tepid.  There were a couple of stories that I really enjoyed about reading, writing and the difficult of connection in a tech world.  There were also lovely vignettes included between each story with a different writer's experience growing up in the library.  I actually could have read an entire book of just that.  Most of the stories, however, were written more experimentally with stream of conscious narrative and lots of descriptors.  I'm just not a fan of that kind of writing which is why I could not connect as much to the majority of these stories.  I am glad that this book exists, though, as a tribute to the importance of libraries even if it just wasn't really for me.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Let There Be Light - December 13, 2016

The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore
4.5 stars



For some reason, I have put off reading this book since I got it this summer and I have no idea why.  This is a fabulous book about the invention of electricity and the giants of the industry.  The main character, Paul Cravath, is a lawyer for George Westinghouse who is an entrepreneur and one of the inventors behind the generators and light bulbs that facilitated early electricity.  The race for the perfect light bulb has created hundreds of lawsuits between Westinghouse and Thomas Edison and the young, new lawyer, Paul, has been hired to sort out the mess.  Based on actual historical events, the book explores the importance of invention and of the differing personalities that have to exist in order for technological progress.  Each chapter opens with a quote from a different inventor including more current tech titans, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.  The chapters are short and the book reads quickly.  Paul proves to be a quick-minded but realistic young narrator who is sometimes set adrift amongst these powerful and ruthless men.  I really liked this one and this author is someone that I am definitely going to read in the future.  I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Reviews - December 9, 2016

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin
3.5 stars



This fictional account covers the first years of Queen Victoria's reign, as she attempts to escape her mother's suffocating hold and seeks professional and personal encouragement from her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne.  I always enjoyed Daisy Goodwin's novels and while I did certainly like this, I found it often cringe-worthy.  Victoria is portrayed as naïve, immature, and completely selfish.  Granted, she was only eighteen at the time she became queen, so this could all be very true, however it didn't make it any less uncomfortable as she made immature decisions while pining over her fifty year old Prime Minister.  The book did compel me to pick up a nonfiction account of her life and I found that I liked her more when I wasn't inside her mind.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Victoria: The Queen by Julia Baird
4 stars



I picked this up immediately following Daisy Goodwin's Victoria, just to get a real feel for her life as queen.  I enjoyed this book immensely and it was incredibly easy to read.  Victoria reigned for over sixty years during a time when the role of women was limited.  Many of her inherited roles were ones that normal women could not even imagine.  Yet, Victoria remained very traditional in her own views. She believed that woman's role was in the home, raising children and serving her husband even when her role as queen forced her to step outside those traditional roles.  She dutifully had nine children but felt resentful that she should spend so many months in confinement while Prince Albert completed her duties.  She was such a dichotomy and this book is a fascinating exploration of her life.  I often felt frustrated by her but also really related to her as a woman and mother.  Overall, this is an interesting take on this long serving monarch during such a tumultuous time in Europe.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



A Leopard at the Door by Jennifer McVeigh
3.5 stars



I've had to take some time to digest my feelings about this book.  On one hand, the descriptions of 1950's Kenya are breathtakingly beautiful and descriptive enough to feel realistic.  The country was beginning to chafe against the inherent racism of colonial rule and native Africans were beginning to rebel in violent ways.  The story centers on eighteen year old Rachel who has returned home to Kenya after attending school in England following the death of her mother.  She finds her home much changed because of the complicated political situation and because of the new woman, Sara, who lives with her father.  All of my problems and frustration in this book lay in the characters.  Rachel is extremely observant but also incredibly passive.  The "bad guys" are so incredibly racist and horrible but there is no complexity behind their behavior to explain it.  This book is really beautifully written which makes the exasperating characters detract from the story a bit.  Overall, though, this book is really worth reading for a well-written account of Kenya during this time period.  I received this book through Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. 

Sweet Romance - December 10, 2016

The Accidental Elopement by Maggie Dallen
3 stars



When Ryan notices Lucia, upset and nervous, walk into his bar, he assumes she's there to interview for the waitress position.  Lucia has just lost her job with a fashion designer and will be forced to return to Italy and her extremely wealthy, but controlling family.  Although there to beg her friend, the hotel's owner, for help, she decides to take the waitress job and the spark begin to fly between the two immediately.  Ryan, however, has secrets of his own and when Lucia unwittingly gives him the opportunity to enact revenge on an old enemy, he accepts her proposal.  This is a quick, fun read.  The chemistry is good between the two characters but the story and the character's dilemmas were mostly unrealistic.  This is the second book of this series that I have read and they are good books to fall into after a bad day.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading Life - December 5, 2016

Am I Alone Here: Notes on Living to Read and Reading to Live by Peter Orner
4.5 stars



There exists no greater delight to a reader than a book on the joy, and necessity, of books and reading.  The author here, writes about the books that have sustained him through difficult times in his life, such as the death of his father.  First of all, this book is nicely put together with a beautiful cover, sturdy flaps and nice illustrations of each book discussed.  Divided into chapters discussing a particular book, mostly short story collections, there is a diverse array to read about, many that I had never read.  Wonderfully written and full of great observations on the power of a good story, I recommend this to all passionate readers.  I received this book from the LibraryThing giveaway in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review - December 2, 2016

Lady Lost by Jane Goodyear
3.5 stars



This book starts off slowly as Marcus Granton deals with having not only Lillian but also a sweet little girl invade the privacy and isolation of his home at the same time.  Marcus's first marriage ended horribly and he is not at all excited about his unwanted feelings toward both of his new visitors.  Lillian has been living a fearful existence in her lecherous brother-in-law's home and when he is murdered, she is the number one suspect.  The first half moves almost too slowly and I found myself abandoning it frequently and while Marcus is an interesting character, Lillian is maybe too perfect and somewhat flat.  The second half of the book, though, really picks up, as does the chemistry between the two characters.  Overall, I did end up enjoying this book and am curious to see if Marcus's brother Stephen will be in a future addition to the series.  I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

A View From Space - December 1, 2016

Spaceman:  An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe
By Mike Massimino
5 stars


Mike Massimino decided he wanted to be an astronaut after watching the first moon landing.  Like many boys and girls of the age, he was mesmerized by the brave men who dared to walk where no one else had ever ventured.  Unlike other boys his age, he actually became an astronaut traveling in space twice to fix the Hubble Telescope, spacewalking 350 miles above Earth.  The first third of this book reads like a pretty run of the mill memoir with many stories about hard work and persistence.  It is when Massimino finally makes it into space that this book becomes something really incredible.  I felt chills reading about his experiences seeing Earth from that perspective and the insights that he gained the moment that he actually saw how Earth fits into the whole of the universe.  This is the story of a genuinely nice man who worked hard, overcame obstacles, relentlessly pursued his passion and got to experience something that almost no one else in the world gets the chance to experience.  I'm not sure this is the most eloquently written memoir, but it doesn't matter.  Read it to be inspired, to feel better about our planet and be reminded how small we all are in the universe.  I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Reviews - November 29, 2016

Searching for John Hughes by Jason Diamond
4.5 stars



Author, Jason Diamond, grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago where many of John Hughes movies are based and where Hughes himself lived.  The movies served as a retreat from an incredibly sad childhood and adolescence, reliably providing relatable characters and happy endings.  As a young adult attempting to figure out his life in New York, he decides to write a comprehensive, unauthorized biography of John Hughes.  While spending years working on this biography, he starts to come to terms with his childhood and slowly work through how he wants to live his life.  Instead of a John Hughes biography, he has written a very personal memoir that take the movies of his (and mine) youth and fits them into the biography of his own life.  I am about the same age as Diamond and while my life experiences are not at all similar, I related to this book...a lot.  I received this book through a LibraryThing giveaway in exchange for an honest review. 



A Perilous Undertaking (Veronica Speedwell #2) by Deanna Raybourn
Publication Date - January 10, 2017
4 stars



Veronica Speedwell is back in this second installment to solve a mystery, outsmart the bad guys and catch some butterflies.  Set during Victorian England, Veronica abhors most social niceties and lives by her own rules.  Fortunately, she has found a wealthy benefactor and a cantankerous, yet handsome, partner to help her along.  The mystery in this one almost takes a backburner to Veronica and Stoker's relationship and to Veronica herself.  At times, her personality is taken a bit far and seems almost cartoonish but she and her side characters are extremely likable and there is definitely enough backstory to take the series farther.  I received this book through Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Wrap-Up - November 27, 2016

Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape and the Making of Winston Churchill
By Candice Millard
4.5 Stars



Most know Winston Churchill as the powerful British Prime Minister who made wartime decisions that reverberated through the decades.  This book tells the unique story of his participation in the South African Boer War, his capture and his daring escape.  Like many who grow up to be extremely successful, Winston Churchill is not a particularly likable young man.  Yet, I found myself still rooting for him and his outrageous attempts at heroics even while cringing at the repugnance of colonialism.   I have read all of Candice Millard's books and while not my favorite (Destiny of the Republic is by far the more fascinating historical exploration), this is a well-paced and readable narrative.  I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 


Mexico: Stories by Josh Barkan
Publication Date: January 24, 2016
3.5 stars



This collection of short stories describes life for people living in Mexico City and their interactions with the fear and violence of drug cartels.  Many times these are Americans living in one of the more upscale neighborhoods who naïvely stumble upon danger.  I thought it interesting that most of these were written in the first person, which meant that the reader is placed inside the head of each of the narrators.  I'm don't read many story collections but this seemed a different approach and made them very approachable and easy to speed through.  As with all collections, not all of these were great and I think the first in the collection is my least favorite.  I'm also not sure how realistic these situation are but they were definitely interesting to read.  I received this book from a LibraryThing giveaway in exchange for an honest review. 

End of Series Review - November 21, 2016

Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Publication Date - November 29, 2016
5 stars



Kelsea Glenn was pulled from the relative safety of her quiet country cottage to take over her destined role as Queen of the Tearling.  Her land is one of suffering, slavery and strife.  Her immediate decision both endear her to her people and create danger of invasion from the neighboring Mort people.  With well developed side characters and enemies that have complicated back-stories, this series continues to enthrall.  I have thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy/post-apocalyptical series from the very first.  Queen Kelsea is a female protagonist who is strong, flawed, smart and fascinating.  Each edition of this series has gotten more complex but has also stayed true to the world and plot.  At times, the pace is slow but it all builds to a very satisfying conclusion and many times I had chills at the direction the books take.  I eagerly look forward to see what Erika Johansen writes next and hope that more fantasy and post-apocalyptical books are in the future.  I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review - November 18, 2016

Trouble Makes a Comeback by Stephanie Tromly
Publication Date - December 1, 2016
3.5 stars


This second installation in the series has Digby returning to town in order to follow new information regarding his missing sister.  In the meantime, Zoë has found friends and a football-playing boyfriend and is enjoying the feeling of finally fitting in after the chaos of last semester.  The action starts right away and I would definitely recommend reading the first book before this one.  I thought the plot was as unnecessarily consulted as the first book but the characters seemed more well developed this time around.  It ended on a cliff-hangar so I assume there will be another book, and I am now invested enough to really look forward to it.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Bookish Life - November 16, 2016

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Cogan
4 stars



Nina lives in a world where her skills as a book-loving librarian are needed less and less.  After losing her job in Birmingham, she buys a large van and moves to the Scottish highlands to be a mobile bookshop.  This book is about the importance of books but also about the importance of also living a life outside of the pages.  This is a comfort read, and while not really realistic, it is so sweet and charming that I would recommend it to almost anyone.  It includes books, romance, Scottish scenery and small village life.  What really more does a person require in a cozy, comforting read.  I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review - November 10, 2016

Rise the Dark by Michael Koryta
3.5 stars



Mark Novak was introduced in Michael Koryta's previous book, Last Words, as a man dealing with the murder of his wife.  In this book, he is still pursuing his wife's supposed murderer who has just been released from prison for another crime.  There is another plotline of an Electrical Engineer who comes home to find his wife has been kidnapped.  The book slowly works out how these events are connected.  I have read almost all of this author's works and I find his writing and prose improves with each one.  I really enjoyed this story and his choice of providing narrative from the "villain's" point of view which normally doesn't work for me, in this instance adds to the story.  I did feel a disconnect from the character of Mark which took away from the plot, but overall this is another solid mystery from the author.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Monday Review - November 7, 2016

Against Everything by Mark Greif
4 stars

This essay collection covers everything from the phenomenon known as Octomom to modern warfare  to the significance of rap and punk music.  These are fairly long essays that have previously been published in other sources but I thought them really interesting overall.  I would say that a few seemed almost outdated as we head into this very stressful election, but that could just be problem with timing.  I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

The Play's the Thing - November 4, 2016

Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood
4.5 stars



Margaret Atwood's take on Shakespeare's The Tempest is incredibly clever with a frankly genius plot.  Admittedly, as a Margaret Atwood fan I would have picked this up eventually but I have also been working my way through the Hogarth Shakespeare series and have found all of the entries to be delightful.  This book, though, really is a work of art.  The story follows a grief-stricken, disposed theatre director who turns to the life of a hermit in a shack in the middle of nowhere when he is fired from his job.  As the years pass, he becomes more willing to join the real world and takes a job as a literature teacher in a local prison.  His Shakespeare production becomes a huge draw at the correctional institute and he discovers a way to exact revenge on those who fired him.  There are layers within layers to this story and the characters are surprisingly rich for such a short book.  I am impressed with this series overall and feel a connection to Shakespeare's work that I haven't before.  I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Mid Week Review - November 1, 2016

Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt
4 stars



With a backdrop of the tumultuous year of 1969, this novel explores love, family, relationships and fitting in.  Sixteen year old Lucy lives with her elderly relative, Iris, when she runs away with her high school teacher leaving Iris and sister, Charlotte, devastated.  The relationships and love lives of these three women are thoroughly and beautifully created and the lives of the side characters are very well explored.  I did find myself wishing that the sixties played even a bigger role in the story but overall I found this to be both a beautiful and surprisingly suspenseful story.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Rapid Romance Round-Up Part 2 - November 1, 2016

Campbell's Redemption by Sharon Cullen
Publication Date - November 22, 2016
4 stars



This is the third book in Sharon Cullen's Highland Pride series and none of them so far have disappointed.  I have been looking forward to this one as it follows the possible traitor, enigmatic Iain Campbell and the local healer, Cait.  Like all of the heroines in the series, Cait is no blushing debutante but instead a widow who has chosen to live her own life on the edges of the clan property.  Iain was the last to see her husband alive and must live with the guilt and her accusations.  As he reconnects with Cait, he begins to feel an attraction and other feelings which have never been stirred before.  Cait must wrestle with how she feels about his involvement with the English and his overbearingness with members of his clan.  The storylines behind these books are fantastic with enough history to remain interesting without bogging down the plot.  This was an especially well drawn story about grief and loss that I only wish didn't wrap up so quickly at the end.  These books could definitely afford to be a bit longer than around 250 pages.  Overall, this author continues to impress me with her historical romances.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 




Someone to Love by Mary Balogh
Publication Date - November 1, 2016
3.5 stars




The plot and the main characters in this historical romance are so incredible and interesting that it is a shame the writing wasn't as good.  Normally Mary Balogh is a reliable romance writer but this was crammed with too many inconsequential characters, not enough chemistry between the hero and heroine and the slowest first half of any romance ever.  I really loved the character of Avery, Duke of Archer and Anna Snow's back story is top notch but I ended up wishing it had all been done a little better.  I received this from Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. 




The Danger of Desire by Sabrina Jeffries
Publication Date - November 22, 2016
4 stars




Delia is just trying to avenge her brother's death and pay off his mortgage but Warren, asked to keep an eye on her, keeps getting in the way.  These two characters are feisty with great chemistry.  Their banter is witty and they have fairly realistic issues they need to resolve in order to be together.  Overall this was an enjoyable read from a reliable historical romance writer.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt
Publication Date - November 29, 2016
3.5 stars



The Maiden Lane series continues with this book about Alf, the street urchin who dresses as a boy, and Hugh, the Duke of Kyle.  Hugh has been asked to destroy the despicable Lords of Chaos and turns to Alf to help.  Not realizing that he is a she and also the sexy ghost of St. Giles, he relies on Alf to infiltrate the society.  I liked Alf a lot but Hugh was a bit of a boring character.  I've read about half of this series and there are a couple that I really enjoyed and a couple that I wasn't a fan of.  This falls somewhere in the middle.  I'm glad that I got to learn Alf's story, though, and overall enjoyed most of this book.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

LIving the American Dream - October 27, 2016

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
4 stars



Following the lives of an immigrant family and their employers during the economic crisis of 2008, this book examines the price of the American Dream.  There are no good or bad guys, just complicated characters dealing with work, marriage and finding the best life for their children.  This book is not perfect, for example I think that some interesting issues were brought up and then abandoned.  Overall, though, this is an immensely readable book that provides fully realized characters.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

History of the Holocaust - October 21, 2016

Black Earth: The Holocaust As History And Warning by Timothy Snyder
3.5 stars



This book is a necessary examination of the years leading up to the atrocities of the Holocaust with a close study of the political and scientific ideology behind Hitler's leadership.  It is important for present day societies to realize that the Holocaust was not the overnight instigation of a madman's influence but instead a decades long shift after the politics, economics and struggles following the first World War.  I went into this book with high expectations for its content and was really only satisfied with the well thought out conclusion which lists all of the current events that could potentially lead to Holocaust conditions.  In all honesty, I thought and hoped the entire book would focus on these conclusions, however, in reality this is a fairly dry, repetitive and weirdly emotionless factual accounting of the events leading up to and including World War II.  While I think politicians and policy-makers would benefit from a close reading of this book, it rather reminded me of the driest of my graduate school policy tomes.  Overall, important information with impactful conclusions but could have been written better for a wider audience.  I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Rapid Romance Round-Up Part I - October 13, 2016

One Step Behind by Brianna Labuskes
4 stars



When Lucas and Gemma both try to break into the same room, they are immediately thrown together as they try to solve their respective cases.  Gemma is trying to solve her cousin's murder while Lucas is trying to stop a vicious blackmailer.  The chemistry between these two characters is present from the very first encounter and they are both extremely likable.  The mystery provides an interesting back story and is an actual full formed plotline.  My only criticism was that a second romance was thrown in that added a lot of extraneous pages without adding much to the overall story. The main characters are more than enough to carry the story on their own. This is a completely enjoyable historical romance.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



The Legendary Lord by Valerie Bowman
Publication Date - November 1, 2016
4.5 stars




Christian has spent the last London seasons courting ineligible women and helping others fall in love.  He planned to retire to his hunting lodge in Scotland in order to find some peace and quiet but instead finds the belle of the season asleep in his bedroom.  Sarah, the beautiful and popular daughter of an Earl, is opposed to her arranged marriage and has run away to what she thought was her father's hunting cabin.  They make an odd agreement as they both weather a snow storm that brings them into contact again once they are in London.  These two characters are so perfect for each other that I really just wanted to rush them along to their happy ending.  They were both kind, funny and full of believable quirks.  I was kind of disappointed that it took them so long for the romance to fully blossom and there were some farcical moments that I could of done without, but overall I thought this a nearly perfect historical romance.  I have now read several in this series and the writing and the characters have gotten stronger with each one.  I look forward to reading about the next two couples that she has set up nicely.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 




Seducing the Marquess by Callie Hutton
Publication Date - October 17, 2016
2.5 stars



Devon and Eugenia married for convenience and suitability and thus far have had a very predictable marriage.  Until one day, Eugenia discovers an illicit book and decides to use the information to improve her marital situation.  I found the plot of this book really fascinating.  It looks at all those marriages that most historical romances deride which makes it stand out in the genre.  However, Devon just was a horrible hero who refused to see what was in front of him for way, way too long.  He was also pretty dismissive and really pretty awful to his wife pretty much to the end.  I liked the character of Eugenia enough that I couldn't help hoping that another male character would come to wisk her away from the entire situation altogether.  So while Callie Hutton is normally an auto-read author for me and I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as her others.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Play's the Thing - October 11, 2016

You in Five Acts by Una LaMarche
Publication Date - November 1, 2016
4 stars




Told in five parts from five different perspectives at a New York City performing arts high school, this young adult novel explores topics such as art, race, love and drug use.  Joy, Diego, Olivia and Ethan have been friends for many years when a famous, former child actor, Dave, joins their group.  As they prepare for their senior showcase in their respective areas, acting and ballet, they deal with their fracturing friendships and unsure futures with a self-absorption which is both annoying and completely authentic.  There is a dark foreshadowing that runs through each narrative that while stressful also makes the heartbreaking events at the end a little less overwhelming.  This is the second book by the this author that I have read and I am completely impressed by the diversity of her characters and the timeliness of her topics.  I also feel as if this book may be a riff on a ballet or play but I haven't done the research yet to confirm this suspicion.  If so, it is done very well and retains the feel of epic drama.    I received this book from Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. 

Behind Closed Doors - October 6, 2016

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
3 stars



What really is going on with that supposedly perfect couple?  The one that dresses immaculately, entertains perfectly hosted meals and seems so much in love.  That is the backdrop of this psychological thriller.  Grace meets Jack at a time when she has about given up hope of finding a man who accepts her commitment to her sister Millie, who has down-syndrome.  Jack, a handsome lawyer who successfully defends victims of domestic abuse, seems perfect but behind that flawless façade lurks an entirely different kind of person.  This is definitely a chilling portrayal and I think if you are in the mood for a fast-paced, not always believable, thriller than this is a good option.   I definitely found this novel creepy but I also didn't quite buy some of plot points and found myself skimming towards the end because it started to drag.  Overall, I can see why this book is so popular especially among those that love twisted, psychological thrillers.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Mid-Week Reviews - September 29, 2016

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
4 stars




After World War I, Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol Hotel for being an aristocrat during the Communist revolution.  This book follows the Count's life from his sentencing in his early thirties throughout most of his life.  He comes to accept his life in the hotel and even to find comfort in his routine, the splendor of the hotel and the close companions that he has come to know.  This is the kind of slow novel that it is almost impossible to read quickly.  There is almost no action and most of the plot centers on daily interactions but the beautiful prose, witty dialogue and charming relationships kept me reading.  At times the slowness of the book competes with the quickly passing years to make the pacing uneven but the reader that sticks to it, will be richly rewarded with a wonderful story of one man's life.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day
By Joel Selvin
4.5 stars



After the summer of 1969, after the success of Woodstock and the rise of the San Francisco music scene, the Rolling Stones decided to join the scene.  After an American tour, the had the idea of a free San Francisco concern that the likes of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane had enjoyed.  As most people know, the concert at the Altamont Speedway was a violent, deadly disaster the changed the lives of all involved.  After the release of the documentary, Gimme Shelter, the story of the concert was told or so it seemed.  Joel Selvin recreates the weeks leading up to the event and details the disastrous day in much detail.  This was a time when the free spirited pursuit of drugs and rock music was beginning to turn sour and the free-spirited hippie culture was already beginning to change.  Once I stopped trying to keep perfect track of all the people, this became an entrancing true story of the utter madness, ego and disorganization behind this event.  With everyone strung out on every kind of drug imaginable, its no wonder that no one was really in charge but of course the story is a lot more complicated than that and the author builds up to the event with an impressing foreboding that made the book incredibly hard to put down.  I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Weekend Reading - September 26, 2016

Known and Strange Things by Teju Cole
4 stars



Essay collections, in general, I find really hard to review.  While all of these were beautifully written, I thought some were definitely more interesting than others (which happens when a collection is put together).  There was a common theme of passion; reading, photography and travel.  While I mostly loved the reading and travel sections, I skimmed some of the photography.  I would recommend keeping this collection on your bedside and dipping into it after a long day as it is very calming.  This is a well known, highly esteemed author and the essay collection reflect that well.  I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sisters! - September 23, 2016

The Six: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters by Laura Thompson
3 stars



The Mitford sisters were England's precursor to the Kardashians but with much higher stakes.  During the 1940's, Diana and Unity were fierce Fascists, Jessica was a committed Communist, Deborah was the duchess and Nancy put it all in writing.  This is not the first book that I have read about the family, which helped immensely while reading this book.  The author chooses loose chronology that skips between sisters, often so quickly that it takes a minute to catch up.  She also frequently compares episodes from real life to Nancy's books which takes away from the overall flow of the events.  Fortunately, this family is so fascinating that even poorly organized books are interesting.  I still enjoyed reading about their exploits but I do understand why some may give up on the presentation of the information.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Rapid Romance Wrap-Up - September 20, 2016

Highland Heat (Highland Knights #1) by Jennifer Haymore
4 stars



Grace and Duncan meet on the field at Waterloo, right after the infamous battle.  Duncan is injured and Grace is there to help with the injured.  Right away there are sparks and the characters just sparkle with chemistry and kindness.  Grace is the eldest daughter of an Earl and Duncan is a Scottish commoner so the obstacles to their romance are realistic without being unnecessarily angst-ridden.  This is a historically interesting romance about two likable characters.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 





Highland Temptation (Highland Knights #3) by Jennifer Haymore
3.5 stars



Colin and Emilia first meet in a prior book in the series when Colin is assigned to guard her father.  Colin is suspicious that the Earl is abusing his daughter and is offered proof when she appears on Highland Knights doorstep severely beaten.  Colin feels like his is the only one that should protect the young woman even though he is suffering from PTSD following the battle of Waterloo.  This book had a good amount of action and moved along quickly.  The two characters were likable and had good chemistry.  I will say that the idea of the Highland Knights is interesting but the fact that all their wives live with them and just kind of spend the day hanging out together seems out of place for the time.  Maybe I'm wrong but it did detract a bit from the story.  Otherwise this is a good addition to the series.  Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



My Brown-Eyed Earl (The Wayward Wallflowers #1) b y Anna Bennett
Publication Date - October 4, 2016
4 stars



Several years ago, Meg spurned Will (a current Earl) in the worst (and funniest) way so it surprises both of them when she ends up interviewing for the position of governess to his two new wards.  There is good chemistry between these two characters with lots of witty and humorous dialogue.  They had a good back story and  between the twins highjinx and the steamy romance, the book moves along very nicely.  I look forward to future books in this series.  Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Miss Goodhue Lives for a Night (Winner Takes All, #2.5) by Kate Noble
Publication Date - September 19, 2016
3 stars



Cecelia Goodhue is living with her sister and serving as a school teacher when she received a letter that her cousin has disappeared with an officer.  Not wanting her cousin to make the same mistake she did many years ago, she travels to London to search for them.  Theo was hired to help Cecelia search and is surprised to discover she is the woman with whom he almost eloped.  I love the humor in Kate Noble's writing about the comedy of the time's social niceties.  I didn't feel like this short book had much depth, though, and while the characters and back story were fine, there just wasn't a whole lot of substance.  That said, I will continue to read Noble's books because I find her writing style and storylines interesting.   Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Lured In (Fishing for Trouble, #2) by Laura Dreary
Publication Date - September 27, 2016
3 stars



I will start this by saying that I am not always the biggest fan of contemporary romance which may color my review in some ways.  This short book follows Jessie and Finn as they navigate the process of going from best-friends to lovers.  I usually enjoy the friends to romance storyline and I did find this book fun to read, however, there were some weird plot developments that seemed thrown in just to add more angst.  I probably won't read the rest of the series but I am glad I gave contemporary romance another chance.  Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review - September 16, 2016

The Last One by Alexandra Oliva
3 stars



The premise of this novel is fantastic.  A group of individuals join a reality show which forces them into the woods and into situations created to demonstrate their survival skills.  Meanwhile,  a devastating occurrence changes the society they left.  I'm trying to stay away from spoilers while stressing how interesting I found this plot which examines the absurdity of reality television while also providing a post-apocalyptic background.  The writing was even really good but to be perfectly honest, I almost abandoned this novel many times during the first two-thirds, or at least considered skimming because the main character was so infuriatingly delusional that I felt like throwing my book across the room.  Admittedly, this was explained pretty well at the end but for me it would have been a much better book without her ignorance of what was actually going on around her being such a strong focus.  So while I still thought the premise itself was great, I have a hard time rating a book too high that made me so crazy.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Ivy League Life - September 13, 2016

Loner by Teddy Wayne
3.5 stars



David Federman has never been one of school's social successes but fortunately his hidden intelligence has gotten him into the pinnacle of social settings, Harvard, and he plans to change his role in the world...except that he has fallen into his normal group of social misfits.  Then a young woman enters into the picture that cause him to focus all his efforts on her and her privileged group of friends.  As he becomes more obsessed, his methods become more stalker-like and you begin to realize that it cannot end well.  This book is told in David's voice as if he is writing a book to Veronica, which makes it hard to know if you are supposed to sympathize with his plight or be completely creeped out (I was both).  So, while I did enjoy this novel, I also felt strange about enjoying it which created a weird reading experience.  I really liked Teddy Wayne's first novel The Love Song of Jonny Valentine and this has some of that biting, sarcastic humor but maybe not as much of the charm.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekly Romance Review - September 10, 2016

The Earl's Return by Callie Hutton
3.5 stars

This is good addition to a series following the romantic exploits of one family.  I have enjoyed each one that I have read and this is no exception.  The Earl of Redgrave abandoned his fiancé, Abigail, two weeks before the wedding by eloping with another woman.  After the death of his wife, he returns to London years later in search of a new one.  Abigail is already happily married but her sister, Mary, is going through the London season once again hoping to find the same love as her siblings.  The two meet early in the season and find an instant connection but have to overcome a huge familial prejudice against the match.  I think this had a great back story and Mary is a great character.  It did bother me how Redgrave did not always have much backbone and let one man really control the direction of his life for no real reason which seems farfetched.  Otherwise this is another enjoyable book in this series.  I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review - September 9, 2016

Home Field by Hannah Gersen
3.5 stars





Before this book even begins in earnest, the reader learns that Nicole has committed suicide, leaving her husband and three children grief-stricken and confused.  What follows is an exploration of sadness, love and the importance of family.  This is a slow moving, quiet novel and works well as a depiction of family in despair.  It does focus so much on family that all side characters are not well explored and even the small town where they live is often alluded to but never fully developed which I found to be frustrating at times.  That said, I thought the familial relationships were fully explored and I found myself rooting for them all to come through their sorrow in the end.  I received this book through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

Surviving the Apocolypse - September 6, 2016

The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis
4 stars



Elka knows little of her life before the age of seven, when she began to live with a mysterious man known to her as Trapper.  He taught her how to survive in the gritty, post apocalyptical world and she secretly considers him her daddy, until one day she see his face on a poster wanted for a string of murders including the young son of a dangerous and violent Marshall.  This book follows Elka as she attempts to outrun both Trapper and the law.  Her survival instincts serve her well in the wild but when it comes to humans, she has to rely upon poorly formed instincts.  Incredibly dark, grisly and eerily desolate, this is not an easy book to read.  It is beautifully written with mesmerizing descriptions of lush wildlife and desperate towns but I had a hard time finding any hopefulness in this novel.  Towards the end I was ready to leave the awfulness of this world. Overall, it is a great book but not always my favorite reading experience... if that makes sense.  I received this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Romance Review - September 2, 2016

As Rich As A Rogue by Jade Lee
3.5 stars



Lord Whitley has returned to England determined to marry the woman he sparred with six years ago.  Mari only remembers the haughty Earl that left her with a reputation for being the Wayward Welsh and extinguishing her hopes of a marriage.  I enjoyed this historical romance and the characters were fun with a good sense of humor.  It did occasionally cross into ludicrous territory with silly reasons for Mari not accepting Peter that took away a bit from the romance but overall it was a fun read.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

One Insane Ride - September 2, 2016

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
5 stars



I finished this book about a half hour ago and I'm not quite sure that is enough time to process what I just read.  This is one crazy, insane, intense and interesting book.  Jason Dessen ventures out one night from his warm family home to celebrate the achievements of a friend, when he is kidnapped and taken to an abandoned building on the South Side of Chicago.  He is injected with a drug and when he awakens he is the same person, but everyone else knows him as someone else.  That's all I'm going to say about the plot, because this is a really, really fascinating book.  I never knew what was going to happen from one point to another and I am going to be mulling this one over for a long, long, long time.  Now, I am just eagerly awaiting the movie because if this is not made into a movie it would be a travesty.  I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

The Writing Life - September 1, 2016

Process:  The Writing Lives of Great Authors by Sarah Stodola
4 stars



Sarah Stodola has mined the expanse of author biography to come up with a definitive book about the writing process for different authors through different times.  Varying from F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jack Kerouac, David Foster Wallace to Zadie Smith, amongst many more, this book is divided into section on differing work habits.  There are writers who treat the process like a 9 to 5 job, those who take their time and those who place themselves inside their stories.  I really enjoyed this collection but I have to say that the current writers were the most interesting as so much has already been said about the likes of Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Woolf that this book didn't add much new information.  All in all this is a great book for readers and writers alike.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Reading - August 29, 2016

And I Darken by Kirsten White
4 stars



It is the fifteenth century and in the kingdom of Wallachia, two children are sent to the Sultan of the Ottoman empire to ensure peace.  Lada is not the typical fifteenth century girl and chafes against all of the expected norms.  She learns to fight like a soldier and strategize like a prince.  Radu grew up a weakling and only learned to excel in court by using his natural grace and charm.  These two alternating perspectives offer a fascinating look into a different time and place.  This is different from any YA series that I have seen.  The main characters are well developed and their relationships complex.  There was some angsty romance that I just didn't think fit with the storyline but it ended well and as long as the author follows along the path she has laid out, it should be a good series to follow.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mid-Week Review - August 25, 2016

Pasadena by Sherri L. Smith
Publication Date - September 13, 2016
3 stars



Jude tried to get away from California by spending the summer on the East Coast but she is unexpectedly called back when her best friend, Maggie, is found dead of an apparent suicide.  Jude doesn't believe that her friend committed suicide and is determined to prove otherwise while also dealing with a sticky home situation.  This was so close to a season of Veronica Mars that I even read the narrators voice in my head as Kristen Bell.  The problem is that there isn't a lot of substance here and while I kept reading in order to unravel the mystery, I didn't feel any sort of connection to the characters or the story.  So, I categorize this as a good beach read but it definitely didn't blow me away.  I received this book from Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review.