To The Moon - May 31, 2017

Moonglow by Michael Chabon
3.5 stars







Described as a semi-autobiographical account of Michael Chabon's grandfather, this novel follows one man's life from his childhood as a troublemaker to his experiences in World War II, his marriage to a troubled refugee and his relationships with family.  Beautifully written but organized in a way that jumps around in tie in whip lashing frequency, this is a very slow book to read and occasionally slows to a snail's pace.  I still recommend this book, but suggest against trying to read too quickly.  I received a digital ARC of this book through edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. 

Beatlemania - May 29, 2017

In Their Lives:  Great Writers on Great Beatles Songs
Edited by Andrew Blauner
3.5 stars





This collection by well-known writers discusses favorite Beatles songs and what that song meant to each individual.  Most are about the time in their life when they first heard the song and how it defined the period of time in which they heard it.  Whether it be adolescence, friendship, romance or a divorce, there was always a Beatles song to fit the moment.  A few essays delved a little too far into the musical meaning of each song, which was honestly boring, and didn't fit as well into the collection as a whole but overall this is a great collection for Beatles fans.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Historical Romance Round-Up Part 1 (Published January-June 2017) - May 26, 2017

My One True Highlander by Suzanne Enoch
4 stars




Set in Scotland, not long after the battle of Culloden, this historic romance is rife with clan wars, kidnapping, revenge and kilts.  Marjorie has recently become part of society when her brother inherits a dukedom.  A former lady's companion, she is not accepted into London society and decides to surprise her brother in Scotland to get away from it all.  Along the way she is kidnapped by one of her brother's rivals.  Graeme is trying to make ends meet on his property while raising three brothers and trying to maintain clan politics.  I liked both of these characters a lot and the romance was equal parts sweet and steamy.  There were some kidnapping elements that made me a little uncomfortable and while handled with some humor, went a little far in parts.  Overall, this is an author that I will continue to explore.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 


I Dared the Duke by Anna Bennett
3.5 stars



Alex discovers that Beth is his grandmother's new companion and immediately tries to fire her as he has a murderer after him and he is afraid he can't keep everyone safe.  As he is immediately drawn to her, he find he can't quite fire her and is instead drawn into a deal with her.  I like both of these characters.  Alex has a reputation he doesn't at all deserve and Beth is a bit shrewish and untrusting which makes for a sweet romance.  The side mystery is a little silly and doesn't really add much to the book but overall, this is an entertaining historical romance.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 


The Bad Luck Bride by Janna MacGregor
3 stars



I honestly think my reaction to this historical romance has more to do with me not being in the mood for quite so much angst.  Alex is grief stricken after the tragic death of his sister.  In retaliation, he goes after the man who he believes is responsible by stealing his fiancé.  Claire has had four engagements that have all ended terribly.  The gossip that surrounds her and her "curse" are about to do her in, and all she wants is her own family.  This book involved lots of miscommunication, untruths, and misunderstandings which lead to a lot of drama.  Also, I was not quite on board with the whole curse, which left it hard to get too involved in the storyline.  It is well-written and I do think if you are in the mood for some good all romantic angst, this would be a good pick.  I received this from NetGalley one exchange for an honest review. 



Waiting for an Earl Like You by Alexandra Hawkins
2 stars



Olivia grew up as neighbor to Gideon and Thorn, handsome identical twins, and followed them around like a younger sister.  Gideon became a friend and protector while Thorn was annoyed by her impertinence.  Now almost twenty, Olivia is dealing with the prospect of a new stepmother and having the twins back in her life.  I liked the set-up for this story but the overall relationships were ruined by the outlandish plot devices.  Thorn purposely and deceitfully pretends to be Gideon in order to coax information out of Olivia and she is constantly having trouble telling them apart even though they grew up together.  Even my eight year old daughter can tell the difference between the identical twin boys in her class.  Overall, the deceit and the unlikeliness of this situation colored how I viewed the rest of the book.  This is the second book by this author that I have had discomfort with a plot choice, so I probably won't try another.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Mid-Week Review - May 25, 2017

The Quick by Lauren Owen
4 stars



This atmospheric novel is set in the late nineteenth century and involves a set of interesting characters and a fascinating premise.  I had put off reading this book due to some really mixed reviews but I thoroughly enjoyed this story and thought it incredibly well written and developed.  It was somewhat drawn out in parts and would have been just as good a little shorter, but overall I liked everything about this book.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Men Behind the Scenes - May 22, 2017

The Gatekeepers:  How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency
By Chris Whipple
5 stars



A strong president requires a strong chief of staff and there is some consensus on what personality traits and experience makes for a most successful gatekeeper.  This book covers President Nixon to President Obama and discusses every chief of staff and their relationship with the president and those around them.  Immensely readable with fascinating anecdotes, I learned an impressive amount from this book about how politics operates behind the scenes.  The author presented the information in a non-biased way and he gained a surprising amount of access to these high-powered men.  I was really surprised  by how entertaining this ended up being, and I read what could be very dense material in a matter of days.  I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Summer Kick-Off Book - May 19, 2017

The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner
4 stars





Summer vacation begins in one week in my neck of the woods, so this book was the perfect way to kick off the beach weather.  This is a complicated family drama where two women discover that they are related and travel to Provincetown on Cape Cod to discover their family connection and discover a gorgeous setting, family secrets and a little romance.  This is well written with a really well-drawn character arcs and plenty of beach scenes.  There were a couple of plot points that didn't really make sense but I think this is the perfect book to take on vacation.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Mid-Week Review - May 17, 2017

The Wanderers by Meg How're
4 stars



Three talented international astronauts have the opportunity to man the first mission to Mars.  In preparation they must complete a trial run on an extremely realistic set of simulations.  You definitely need to go into this book knowing a little about what it is about because I had assumed from the cover and literary comparisons that it had more elements of science fiction.  It is really a quiet reflection on what it means to be isolated, to leave behind your love ones and what it is like to be left behind.  It includes maybe too many different perspectives and it honestly could have been shorter, but overall it is beautifully written and there were many thought-provoking moments.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review, Unruly Edition - May 12, 2017

Too Fat, Too Smutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman
By Anne Helen Petersen
Publication Date - June 20, 2017
4 stars



The author may know a thing or too about pop culture and how celebrities are portrayed in the media.  She is the culture writer at Buzzfeed, after all.  In this book, she provides profiles of different celebrities and the way in which they are just too unruly, and how they have both embraced and eschewed their unruliness.  Melissa McCarthy is too fat, Kim Kardashian is too pregnant, Madonna is too old, and so on.  I think I expected this to be a little more gossipy but to be honest there are good feminist arguments about how these women are perceived and the backlash they receive for not conforming to society's ideal celebrity persona.  I especially liked the essay on Nicki Minaj which condensed her responses to interviews and created a very compelling narrative.  Some of these profiles are better than others and I felt at times she was reaching in order to prove her point but overall, this is a great addition to the growing genre of books about women's unruliness.  I received this book from Penguin's First to Read Program in exchange for an honest review. 

Tuesday Review - May 9, 2017

The Walled City by Ryan Graudin
3.5 stars



The Walled City is a lawless place where the sun doesn't reach and life is overrun by crime.  Three kids, Jin, Dai and Mei Yee all exist day by day, trying to get by until circumstances bring them together.  This book has a fascinating premise and is based on a real place that used to exist in Hong Kong.  While this is a re-imagining of that place, it contains the grittiness and violence that feels eerily realistic.  This is a unique story with interesting characters, but unfortunately the writing often gets in the way.  The author uses so many similes and flowery sentences that it is hard to discern the different narratives and takes away from the depth of their interactions.  I've read another book by this author, Wolf by Wolf, that I absolutely loved, so I will still look forward to reading her books.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Required Reading - May, 8, 2017

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
★★★★★




As I sat down to write this review, I realized that I may not have fully processed this book enough to reflect my feelings comprehensively and accurately.  This is a heartbreaking book which made it difficult at times to read, yet it is so beautifully written that I never wanted to put it down.  Bryan Stevenson graduated from Harvard Law School in 1980's and instead of a lucrative career, he decided to move to Alabama, start a nonprofit and fight for those on death row.  This was a time not long after the death penalty had be reinstated and states were beginning to rapidly commit executions.  Some of those sitting on death row had been sentenced under racist courts that discriminate against the poor who could not afford adequate defense.  Stevenson lists several of these cases, one in particular where the evidence against the man so obviously a farce that it is rage inducing.  He also discusses mass incarceration and the practice of imprisoning children in adult facilities.  Obviously, none of this is light reading material and would be completely devastating if not for the author's many successes in defending these cases and his decision to retain hope in even the most hopeless of situations.  I believe this book should be read widely, especially by those who change, impact and uphold the laws.  Overall, while I still sit and reflect upon my thoughts after reading this book, I do already know that it has the potential of being a life-changing read.  I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Hollywood Gossip - May 7, 2017

According to a Source by Abby Stern
3 stars



A light, fluffy book about a Hollywood gossip columnist and her balancing act between her secret sneaky life and her real life.  I'm not sure the plotline is incredibly inventive or has much substance but it is definitely entertaining and witty at times.  This would be a great beach or pool read.  I received this through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

Fairytale Endings - May 6, 2017

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
4 stars



Interweaving the story of a seventeenth century nun banished from the French Sun King's court and the original fairytale of Rapunzel, this enchanting novel blends stunning historical details with beautiful storytelling.  As a fan of historical fiction, this novel hit all the right spots with three intersecting stories that come together in a satisfying conclusion.  It was interspersed with poems and sonnets that I really just skimmed over and it felt a little long at times, but overall, this was a really enjoyable read.  I received this from NetGalley (ages ago) in exchange for an honest review. 

Rapid Romance Roundup, Contemporary Edition - May , 2017

Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne
4.5 stars



Every morning at 5 am, Georgie is just coming home from her night out and takes a strange pleasure in antagonizing Andrew who leaves for the gym at that time.  This is a solid contemporary romance with lots of humor and sweet moments.  The evolution of the romance is believable and the two characters are immensely likable.  The tone of this book reminded me of Sally Thorne's The Hating Game, so if you liked that book then I definitely recommend reading this one.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



The Librarian and the Spy by Susan Mann
4 stars



Quinn works at the front desk of the library and loves to assist with research and read spy novels.  She is intrigued when James asks her to help him identify some old items and she is sucked into a situation far more complicated than she imagined.  I really enjoyed this book and the slow-burn romance.  It was told solely from Quinn's perspective, which was fine since she is a likable narrator, but I would love to hear from James in the sequel.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Romancing the Bachelor by Diane Alberta
3.5 stars



Shelby and Eric both work at the Courthouse in Atlanta and even though Shelby has long known about Eric's arrogant womanizing ways but it takes Eric longer to take notice of her.  This is short, sweet and Eric goes through a nice transformation throughout the book.  I did feel the pacing of the romance was a little off but that may have just have been because of its short length.  Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 



The Irish Prince by Virginia Nelson
3 stars



Chelsea has been Aiden's assistant and problem-solver for many years and while she has always been attracted to him, she knows enough about his personality to keep things strictly professional.  When Aiden discovers a previously unknown daughter and pledges to take her on a road trip, he enlists Chelsea to accompany them... even though she has already given her two week notice.  I really liked the characters and the storyline, however, I actually wish this one was longer and more time was spent on their relationship prior to the events of the book.  Plus, there is a fairly silly scene that felt out of place.  I mostly like this but felt it had the potential for more.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Mid-Week Mystery - May 2, 2017

he said/she said by Erin Kelly
Publication Date - June 6, 2017
4 stars



Kit, a scientist and devoted eclipse chaser, and his wife, Laura, were involved in a traumatic event almost twenty years ago.  They have sense changed their identities and removed themselves completely from the public eye.  As the perspective bounces between Kit and Laura, the pieces begin to fall into place and the story is almost never what you think.  That's all I am going to give away on this one.  These books completely stress me out, and I'm not sure why I keep reading them.  I liked this, though, and there were definitely twists that I absolutely did not see coming.  Overall, fans of psychological mysteries will definitely enjoy this book.  I received this in a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. 

California Art - May 2, 2017

Woman No. 17 by Edna Lepucki
Publication Date -
4.5 stars



Lady has two sons, a husband with whom she has separated, a book that she can't seem to write and a new forthright nanny who she hires on the spot.  Esther is a heart-broken young artist whose new project requires her to adopt a new yet familiar persona with a new name and an occupation of a nanny.  After reading California and then this excellent novel, Edna Lepucki has become an auto-buy author for me.  The characters in this book are so multi-faceted, subtly strange and real.  They are repugnant, yet likeable and are really the core of this book.  This book examines motherhood and art in a sarcastic, unsentimental yet loving manner that resonates.  I look forward to reading what this author comes up with next.  I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. 

What Makes a City - May 1, 2017

Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and The Battle for Modern New Orleans
By Gary Krist
✩✩✩✩ stars



New Orleans has historically been a city apart.  Owned by the French, then the Spanish, and then sold to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase, it has embraced and absorbed its varied culture.  In the late nineteenth, early twentieth century, attempts to reform the city and its vices resulted in a red-light district called Storyland where prostitution, alcohol and organized crime became a profitable undertaking.  As someone who has never even traveled to New Orleans, I found this fascinating.  The people and culture that comprised the city and its clash with new American morals created an atmosphere like no other city in the fairly new United States.  At times the narrative was disjointed and some topics felt unnecessary to the rest of the story, however, I really enjoyed this look into a three decade span of the city's history.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.