Just...Ugh!

Mr. Nice Guy by Jennifer Miller & Jason Feifer
Publication Date - October 16, 2018
🌟🌟




To be honest, I rarely keep reading books that I really dislike but I was hoping that in the end there might be a major redemption so I kept reading and thus giving an unusually low rating.  In my opinion, it just didn't happen enough to justify how terrible these people were from the beginning.  At times I could see one or the other's point of view but I felt icky the whole time I read it and disliked main and side characters alike.  The writing was good, though, to end on a more positive note.  This one was just not for me.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

New Upcoming Books Alert

Spark of Light by Jodi Piccoult

Publication Date – October 2, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I am still mulling over my opinions on this one, because there are so many things that can be commented on.  First of all, I tend to avoid Piccoult’s work because it kind of stresses me out.  I also often avoid the news, so I’m sure conclusions can be drawn from that.  To start, the “straight from the headlines” topic this time is the battle over abortion.  I actually think she does a good job examining each side, although it is fairly easy to guess Piccoult’s opinions on the matter.  I did think that the actual shooter himself did not make a whole lot of sense, but it is a senseless act of violence so maybe that is true to life.  The rest of the characters felt mostly realistic.  Another aspect of this book to examine is the format itself.  She tells the story backwards, each chapter going an hour backwards in time.  This format mostly works for this book and I think she did a good job of slowly unraveling the story, however, by the time she gets to 8:00 AM it starts to feel repetitive.   So, while I will probably still read her books discriminately based on the topic, I did like this one overall.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.   

A Girl in the Shape of a Cloud by Jean Thompson

Publication Date – October 23, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Following three generations of women in a Midwestern college town, this novel explores the sacrifices made for family and how those choices reflect in future generations.  It also examines the relationship between mothers and daughters and how sometimes a daughter make decisions just to counteract the decisions that their mother made before her.  This is a quiet novel and does a good job of demonstrating how the role of women in a family is defined and how sometimes a woman will have to take on the same roll regardless of what generation she fall into.  The only fault that I find with the book is the unexamined drama at the end and the rather unnuanced personalities of the men.  As a mother, daughter and townie of a Midwestern college town, I found much to relate to in this beautifully written book.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

My Squirrel Days by Ellie Kemper

Publication Date – October 9 , 2018

🌟🌟🌟

I normally find celebrity memoirs fairly innocuous and this is no different.  I am a huge fan of the Office which is why I picked this one up, but really have seen none of Ellie Kemper’s other shows.  I think the best sections are when she is writing about her life on set, otherwise the essays are silly and rather pointless.  It’s not bad though, and a quick read.  I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

Publication Date – September 25, 2018

🌟🌟🌟1/2

Here is my disclosure, my son has a very similar congenital heart defect to that being portrayed in the book so I read this book with a highly critical and apprehensive eye and to be honest I really didn’t know if I could read it anyway.  Carly lives in Nags Head, NC in 1970 when she learns from an experimental ultrasound that her baby will have a fatal heart condition.  Her brother-in-law with whom she lives turns out to be a time-traveler from 2017 who helps her time travel to 2001 for her child to join a fetal surgery study that may save her unborn child.  I actually really enjoyed the time travel aspect, although even though explained, it still make more sense for her to travel to a later date to obtain more experienced medical care.  It was interesting to read about someone experience some of our common technology that we take for granted for the first time.  I’m still mixed on how the medical information was handled and I don’t know if I have a clear opinion.  I did google several items that we did not experience in our journey but I was too afraid of falling down an internet black hole to do comprehensive research.  Overall,   this is a well-written, interesting book that just may not have been the best choice for me to read.  I received an ARC of this book through BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review.   

Interesting Twist on a Classic

Hollow of Fear (Lady Sherlock #3) by Sherry Thomas

Publication Date – October 2, 2018

🌟🌟🌟1/2

The third book in the Lady Sherlock series moves the story line along nicely and is probably my favorite of the series so far.  I really enjoy the story behind this series of a young woman who just does not fit into the society in which she was born so she goes to extremes in order to live the life that she wants.  It is reimagining the story of Sherlock Holmes as a woman who poses as a man.  I like all of the intricacies of these characters personalities and their loyalty to one another.  My only problem with this series is that it moves SOOOO slowly and often get bogged down with the details of the cases, so I do have to be in the right mood in order to read them.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

End of the World As We Know It

This is the Way the World Ends:  How Droughts and Die-Offs, Heat Waves and Hurricanes are Converging on America by Jeff Nesbit
Publication Date - September 25, 2018
🌟🌟🌟🌟



I've read many climate change novels in recent years and while this may not add much new information, it does a better job of organizing that information than most.  I like that he starts with the truths, that is what irrefutably (although I'm sure there are still naysayers) is happening right now on our planet.  He then discusses the repercussions of climate change, such as droughts, disappearing water, rising seas, increased heat waves and how it affects the world's geopolitical design.  At the end, he offers some fairly straight-forward ideas for changing our current course.  These are supposed to promote hope, however, knowing the current political atmosphere it is highly unlikely any of these ideas will come anywhere near fruition.  If you are just picking up a book on climate change for the first time, this is definitely a good primer but I think it is time for me to take a break from this sort of book because even the smallest hope of change seems like an impossibility at this point.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Fall Rapid Romance Reviews

Last Night with the Earl by Kelly Bowen

Publication Date – September 25, 2018
🌟🌟🌟1/2

Kelly Bowen continues her series around the Haverhall School for Young Women.  This time centering on artist, Rose, and the long lost Earl of River, Eli Dawes.  Eli has been seriously injured in the Napoleonic Wars and his scarred face has caused him to be skittish of society.  Rose is scarred in her own way and they must open up to each other in order to face their fears.  This author is consistent in both her writing and her likable characters.  I enjoyed this historical romance but felt it was shorter and lacked some of the humor that is present in her other books.  Once again, I plead for King’s book next but it looks like it may be Rose’s brother instead.  I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

Publication Date – October 9, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Caleb and Ava meet in first class on a flight rescheduled due to a volcanic eruption in Iceland.  A steamy one night stand leads to an interesting arrangement once the Scottish Caleb relocates to Ava’s hometown of Boston.  At first, I was not a huge fan of these characters, however, as the book progressed I really began to root for their relationship and really enjoyed the rest.  My only quibble is that I would have liked to see a more of Caleb’s side of events as by the end, I wasn’t quite sure he had suffered enough.  This is a fun, emotional read though.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Royal Runaway by Lindsay Emory

Publication Date – October 9, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is a highly entertaining and sometimes humorous light-hearted story following a princess of a made up realm and a British spy as they work together to find his brother (her ex-fiancé) and expose a major scandal.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and even though the steamy bits of romance took place off-page, I thought the romance extremely sweet.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Weekend Review

Transcription by Kate Atkinson

Publication Date – September 25, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Juliet Armstrong, a nineteen year old orphan, joined the M15 in London during the years of World War II.  Her prime occupation is to sit in an apartment and type up transcriptions of the traitorous conversations taking place right next door.  As she becomes even more enmeshed in spying, she starts to imagine nefariousness in every interaction.  Kate Atkinson’s writing is not for the skimmer.  Her ability to jump around in time several times a paragraph and her witty asides make close reading imperative.  I’m not sure I liked this one quite as much as Time after Time or even A God in Ruins but I definitely enjoyed the process of decoding the story.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

The Art of Story

Daemon Voices:  Essays on Storytelling by Philip Pullman

Publication Date – October 5, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Philip Pullman is the bestselling author of the His Dark Materials trilogy (which I have not read) and these essays pulled from speeches and publication detail his thoughts on creating stories.  I thought this a remarkably well put together collection, easy to read with little repetition.  From this collection, it is apparent that Pullman cares not only about his ability to create literature but the craft of creating a story that appeals to his readers.  I was fortunate to receive a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

For the Birds

The Ravenmaster:  My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London

By Christopher Skaife

Publication Date – October 2, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This short book written by the current Ravenmaster of the Tower of London is a pure simple, relaxing, informative delight.  After over two decades in the British Army, he applied for a position as a Yeoman Warder the Tower, not knowing that it would lead to his current position.  Currently in charge of the welfare of seven ravens, Mr. Skaife has an authentic affection and interest for the birds who have complex personalities and behaviors.  Written simply, I couldn’t help but become just as enamored of the Tower ravens as the author.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Behind the Fairytale

Fierce Fairytales:  Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul

By Nikita Gill

Publication Date – September 11, 2018

🌟🌟🌟

This is a small collection of poetry and short stories based on fairytales.  Cautionary tales and princess self-help are the main focus and I personally appreciated the stories more than the poems (but that may be a personal preference).  I have a digital ARC but I can only assume that this is beautiful in print and may honestly affect the reading experience.  I received this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Reviving a Classic

A Star is Born:  Judy Garland and the Film That Got Away
by Lorna Luft and Jeffrey Vance
Publication Date - September 18, 2018
🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2



I requested a digital ARC of this book and I don't even remember why but I am glad that I did.  Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down.  It details all of the adaptations of A Star is Born but focuses on the Judy Garland version that was tragically altered after the successful premier.  Judy Garland's daughter, Lorna Luft who writes this book, always wanted to see the original and finally got the chance after a restoration in the 1980's.  This is a moving tribute to a movie many see as Judy Garland's best.  I enjoyed all of the photographs but highly recommend the physical copy as the digital copy was a little scattered.  Overall, I was delightfully surprised at how much I enjoyed this book.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thoughtful Reading

On Reading Well:  Finding the Good Life through Great Books
by Karen Swallow Prior
🌟🌟🌟🌟



In this book, the author discusses three types of virtues (Cardinal, Theological and Heavenly) and how they are portrayed in classic literature.  The purpose is to teach readers how to look beyond the superficial to get the most out of the reading experience.  Each chapter tackles a book and a virtue found within its pages.  I will say that I got more out of the chapters that dealt with books that I had already read, so it might be useful to use this book as a reference as you read each book.  This is an intelligent, thoughtful and inspiring look at the choice to read good books.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Born in a Small Town

Heartland:  a Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth

By Sarah Smarsh

Publication Date:  September 18, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2

Sarah Smarsh grew up on a farm in Kansas within a cycle of poverty, single mothers and violent and absent men.  She worked hard to break the cycle and as a college educated professor, she reflects back on the women in her family and what they did to survive as they lived the same poverty-stricken lives as the women before.  I connected to this memoir, as I have a vaguely similar backstory, and I think many people from the flyover states will find something of themselves in this book.   A minor quibble is that it was oddly repetitive at times and I found myself paging back to find that a story had been referenced before.   I do think that this is the kind of book we are going to see more and more of as the economic disparity in our country grow more desperate.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Disturbing Thriller with Fascinating Format

Sadie by Courtney Summers

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Sadie’s sister Maddie was discovered dead in the middle of nowhere and Sadie is sure she knows what happened and she hit the road to take matters into her own hand.  Alternating between Sadie’s perspective as she goes on this murderous quest and a podcast narrator who has decided to find out what happened to her, this novel is complicated, interesting and highly disturbing.  And this book is a disturbing account of child sexual abuse that may need to be skipped if that is a triggered topic for you.  I did struggle at times with the content but the fascinating format of this novel both spurs it forward and also adds differing perspectives to the missing person narrative.   I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Outstanding Procedural Mystery

Murder Mile by Linda LaPlante

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the fourth book in author, Linda LaPlante’s, Jane Tennison series.  Set in the late 1970’s, Jane Tennison is a newly promoted detective working in an atmosphere where men rule.  In the midst of a labor dispute, England’s trash piles up on the streets along with the bodies.  When a dead woman is discovered amongst the rubbish, Detective Tennison is put on the investigation where the pressure is rising and so is the body count.  I haven’t read the rest of this series but it didn’t really matter.  I was pulled into this procedural mystery from the very beginning.  I enjoyed the mystery but also the office politics, the pre-smart phone seventies setting and the constant frustration that Jane feels in not being taken seriously.  You can tell that the author knows her stuff and I enjoyed this book immensely.  I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.