Quickie Romance Reviews

Lord of Secrets by Erica Ridley
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I've read most of the books in this series and they are consistently well written with likable characters.  I definitely liked the romance between the scandal adverse heir and artistic farm girl but it got to a point near the end where the obstacle really seemed insurmountable and it honestly stressed me out enough to take me out of the story.  However, I liked this well enough and look forward to the next in the series.  I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Captivating the Earl by Callie Hutton

Publication Date – November 12, 2018
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Lizzie is the daughter of a traitor trying to hide on an Earl’s country estate as his children’s governess.  Hawk is the Earl’s cousin, tasked with bringing Lizzie to the home office for questioning.  This was a perfectly enjoyable historical romance with nice characters.  It wasn’t one to keep me up late obsessively reading but it was definitely good enough to finish.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

My One and Only Duke by Grace Burrowes

Publication Date - November 6, 2018

🌟🌟🌟1/2

Quinn came from rough circumstance and through hard work and perseverance became an extremely wealthy banker until he was charged with manslaughter and condemned to the gallows.  He meets Jane, the daughter of a troublesome prison chaplain, while awaiting his death.  In a last act of kindness, Quinn agrees to marry the pregnant Jane to give her the security of marriage to a wealthy (if executed) man.  When Quinn is granted clemency at the last possible moment, they are forced to come to terms with the fact that not only are they married, but are now titled peers.  I love the plot of this book and went into it with high expectations.  The characters are all likable and nicely quirky.  There is a lot of talk in this book and the steamy parts are glossed over quite a bit but overall I really enjoyed this historical romance.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Review

Elizabeth: the Forgotten Years by John Guy

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In my nearly impossible goal to read everything about the Tudors, I picked this book about the latter years of Elizabeth I reign.  There has been so much written about one of England’s longest running monarchs, but this one does an especially good job of humanizing and demystifying the so-called virgin queen.  She is portrayed as vain, petty and snobbish but also cautious and tactical.   She was forced to put her faith in men who had little faith in her ability as a woman to reign.  This is a compelling and readable account of an aging woman’s attempt to prove that a woman with no heirs could be a legendary monarch.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Important Non-Fiction

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

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The author wrote a blog post about why she decided to no longer talk to white people about race. It turns out that writing it made her talk A LOT more about race, enough that she turned it into a book.   I found the history of race relations in Great Britain to be informative because it is definitely not something you learn about in the U.S.  I also though the ending chapter about what white people can do to be really well-done.  This book is important and I am glad that it got the book press to support it.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading the Russians

The Anna Karenina Fix:  Life Lessons from Russian Literature

By Viv  Groskop

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Growing up the author looked at her unusual name and decided it may have a Russian origin.  Thus began her obsession with Russia, the language, the people and the books.  In each chapter she looks at one of the classic Russian works and talks about the author, it’s history and the lessons that can be learned from reading it.  She also intersperses the discussion with her own time in Russia and coming to terms with her own identity.  I really enjoyed this book.  It is humorous, fascinating and easily readable.  I have only read a couple of these books but it doesn’t matter and I now know which other works of Russian literature to add to my list.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Dolly's Lessons

The Faith of Dolly Parton:  Lessons From Her Life to Lift Your Heart
by Dudley Delffs
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The author grew up in the same Eastern Tennessee region as Dolly Parton and felt a kinship to the entertainer.  In this short book he details aspects of Dolly's life in which her faith played a large part and then took those lessons and applied it to his own life.  This is a perfectly pleasant book and I love Dolly Parton so I definitely enjoyed reading it.  His praise of the singer becomes quite repetitive after a while, which is noticeable in this short of a book, but overall there were enough good tidbits to keep me reading.  I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Nonfiction Review

The War Before the War: Fugitive Slaves and the Struggle for America’s Soul from the Revolution to the Civil War

By Andrew Delbanco

Publication Date – November 6, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2

During a time when the strife between the abolitionists in the North and the slaveholders in the South, the Fugitive Slave Act was meant to appease the latter to the moral outrage of the former.  As slaves escaped to the North, it became Federal Law that they must be apprehended and returned to the South.  This book posits that this began the march that ended in the Civil War.  To my mind, this extremely well-written and researched book does an excellent job in showing just how hard and long the politicians fought to keep the Union together despite the horrors of slave life and how even just a tiny twist of fate along the way would have had huge repercussions for slavery.  This is not always an easy book to read, as harrowing descriptions of violence against slaves and failed escape along with quotations filled with racism, hate and unwavering support for slavery (even from those that in retrospect are viewed in a sympathetic light) are difficult.  This is an important read, though, as we currently deal with deep political division along with speech filled with racism and hate.  It is important to remember where the precedent begins and the many steps and missteps our country has taken to lead us to the where we are now.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Review

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

Publication Date – November 13, 2018

🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2

Maurice Swift wants nothing more from his life than to be a famous and respected author and he will go to psychopathic lengths in order to obtain it.   Spanning decades, this book follows a fascinating slate of characters who have crossed paths with Maurice, along with a memorable chapter including Gore Vidal.  What I enjoy most about John Boyne’s books is that they are beautifully written without getting in the way because the story and characters are so strongly portrayed.   After reading this book, it is pretty much assured that I will pick up all future books by this author.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review

Crave: a Memoir of Food and Longing by Christine S. O'Brien
Publication Date - November 13, 2018
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Christine grew up in the home of an ABC executive father and a former farm girl/beauty pageant queen mother.  Her mother dealt with her bad-tempered husband by becoming obsessed with a "healthy" diet plan that included eating blended salad three times a day (I looked it up and it is a real thing).  This memoir could have easily veered into "woe is me" area but she balanced the bad parts of her childhood with memories of parents that obviously cared for the children despite their flaws.  At times her flowery descriptions were beautiful at other times, over-written but I do think this is a good addition to the genre of memoirs about unusual upbringings.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Fun Weekend Read

The Darkest Star (Origin #1) by Jennifer Armentrout
Publication Date - October 30, 2018
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I just love these alien love stories, and I couldn't even explain why.  I devoured Armentrout's previous series about the Luxen and was excited to see she has created as series surrounding Luc, one of the most intriguing side characters.  What I love about her books is that there is always an interesting plot, good side characters and sweet, angsty romances.  She's not the best at writing dialogue, it can sometimes veer into cheesy but it is a testament to her ability to write relationships that I kept obsessively reading this book.  I will definitely be following the release dates of the rest of the books in this series.  I received an early copy of this book via Bookish First in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Reviews

The Invisible Emperor: Napoleon on Elba From Exile to Escape by Mark Braude
Publication Date - October 9, 2018
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Who knew a book about Napoleon could be so entertaining.  I've not read much about the conquering Emperor so went into this pretty vague on background facts, however, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the material.  After the supposed end of the Napoleonic Wars, the allied powers were not sure what to do with Napoleon so they decided to exile his to the island of Elba.  There, he spend almost a year getting to know the locals, acting as regent and secretly scheming of a comeback.  Told in refreshingly short chapters, this books is immensely readable and engrossing.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading it.  I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Well-Red Black Girl: Finding our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, An Anthology
by Glory Edim
Publication Date - October 30, 2019
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This lovely collection of essays by Black women and the books that they grew up reading. Usually the first book that they actually saw themselves in the characters and not the school-sanctioned, all white classic novels.  These were delightful and served as a good reminder of why we read.  I read this in a digital ARC but I can only imagine that the finished physical copy is beautiful.  I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Fathers of the Irish Greats

Mad, Bad, Dangerous to Know:  The Fathers of Wilde, Yeats and Joyce
by Colm Toibin
Publication Date - October 30, 2018
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I picked this book up for two reasons, one is my love of Toibin's writing and the other is my love of Oscar Wilde's works.  This is a collection of essays about the fathers (and in relation, the mothers) of these famous Irish writers.  Toibin is himself, of course, a famous Irish writer and his love for the subject shines through.  There are many interesting stories of the men behind the men and they were often well-known for their own exploits.  At times, though, this is a slog to get through and I actually skimmed much of the introduction as it was mostly a rambling journey through the streets of Dublin and the writer's life there.  Overall, if you are a fan of these writers, than this is definitely a fascinating collection.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Phoebe and Marigold are Back!

Phoebe and Her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater by Dana Simpson
Publication Date -  October 23, 2018
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I will always pick up new additions to this series.  They are so sweet, funny and well drawn.  This was not my favorite.  I think Marigold is perhaps growing too human and less unicorn, which is a shame as my favorite parts are when she scoffs at human traits.  I will keep reading them though, because they are quick and entertaining.  Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Exciting October Releases

The Library Book by Susan Orlean
Publication Date - October 16, 2018
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In 1986, the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library caught fire, destroying hundred of thousands of books and necessitating an enormous renovation project.  The large fire happened at the same time as the Chernobyl crisis, thus was not widely covered at the time.  Susan Orlean recreates the events of the day and the following investigation, interspersed with the history of the library and its current status.  I loved this book as I think any bibliophile will.  It is beautifully written and always interesting.  This is my favorite of the October releases that I have read and may end of being in my top list for the year.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



A Well Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler
Publication Date - October 16, 2018
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Alva Smith's family was on the brink of poverty when she realized she had to marry money.  William Vanderbilt was from a very rich, but not yet socially prominent family who needed Alva's reputation in order to find respectability.  Their marriage was no love match and never would be, but Alva used her circumstances to raise the Vanderbilt name in society as well as advance her interest in innovative architecture and the women's suffrage movement.  Alva is an interesting character who was both ahead of her time and immersed in the rules of the time.  This well-written novel does a good job of recreating the atmosphere of the gilded age but the second half feels both too long at parts and then rushed towards the end.  I did enjoy the read and recommend it to fans of historical fiction.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay
Publication Date - October 23, 2018
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Surprisingly, this is the first book by this author that I have read but I will definitely pick up her others.  I thought this book was beautifully written. She has created a scenario of eerie chaos in Paris as the Seine floods through the city and one family, there to celebrate, has to deal with a medical emergency.  The narrator, Linden, is returning to the city after starting a life in America.  He is dealing with the feelings of history and introspection that the city ignites in him as well as his father's health emergency and the things left unsaid between them.  Each family member deals with tragic past events, secrets and difficult truths as the city floods in an apocalyptic scenario.  This was such a beautiful book, and even though it was meandering at times I truly loved reading it.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review .



I'll Be There For You:  The One About Friends by Kelsey Miller
Publication Date:  October 23 2018
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This book is just pure fun enjoyment.  Do not go into it expecting deep thoughts about the show, or even really anything new.  It is an enjoyable read with fun insights and interesting tidbits that relaxed and entertained me before bed each night.  If you are someone who spent their teenage/early adult years watching this show, then you will like this book too.  I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.