Historical Fiction - YA Style

Romanov by Nadine Brandes
Publication Date - May 7, 2019
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This is a YA novel about the Romanov family as they are forced into exile by the Bolshevist during the early 1900's that involves a slight fantasy/magical element.  I was looking forward to this book as it involves a period of history that I am very interested in reading about and it does follow the general historical timeline of these events, but it also left me wanting more.  Based mostly while in exile in a Siberian village, this is incredibly slow moving with a budding romance that was pretty meh.  It did however inspire me to do more research into the Russian revolution and the fate of the Romanov line.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Baby Farm

The Farm by Joanne Ramos
Publication Date - May 7, 2019
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This is an interesting, and all too plausible look, at a company that provides surrogates for overly wealthy women who, for whatever reason, are not carrying their own babies.  This is told from multiple perspectives which actually makes it really creepy...as the "bad guy" does not sound so bad from her own perspective.  I did enjoy this book but I am still trying to work out what I feel is the point the novel is trying to make.  I am interested to read other opinions on this book.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Romance Review

No Other Duke But You by Valerie Bowman
Publication Date - April 30, 2019
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I love a best-friend romance and this one was as sweet as can be.  Thomas and Delilah have been friends forever and followers of this series have been introduced to them throughout.  Their interactions are funny and adorable and Thomas may be my all time favorite male character.  Alas, this would have been an ultimately perfect, five star, historical romance read if not for the ridiculous love potion plot line.  However, it still ranks among my favorites and I devoured it in a day.  I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.


The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Publication Date - May 14, 2019
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Once I picked this up, I could not put it down.  From the very beginning the tone was funny and sweet and the chemistry between the two characters was really well written.  Olive is a down to earth and realistic character who you can't help but root for while Ethan is sweet but definitely flawed.  I do think the ending felt rushed and I kind of wish we got chapters from Ethan's point of view too.  It would have made him a more likable character at times.  Otherwise, this is my favorite out of the books by these authors that I have read so far.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Smitten by the Brit by Melonie Johnson
Publication Date - May 28, 2019
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Bonnie and Theo met while Bonnie was vacationing in Europe for the summer with her firends.  At the time she was engaged to her longtime boyfriend and could not act on the definite sparks between the two.  A year later, she has broken her engagement to her cheating fiance and Theo is back in her life.  This is the second in a series and I feel like I may have missed a little of their story by not reading the first because they just jump into the chemistry with little build up.  Also, there were a couple of extremely awkward scenes that were a little too much.  Overall, though, this was enjoyable and I like Olive's group of friends.  I can see how following this series in its entirety would be fun.  I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Highland Romance

Highland Crown by May McGoldrick
Publication Date - April 30, 2019
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Isabella practices medicine in nineteenth century Scotland and while her marriage allowed her to be a doctor at a time when women didn't normally have the opportunity, it also exposed her to revolutionary activities against the British government.  When her activist husband is murdered, she is forced to flee the British soldiers who want names and the revolutionaries who do not want her to provide the names.  While in hiding she meets Cinaed, a ship captain, whose dealings are not quite legal.  This is a fun historical romance and definitely fast paced.  So fast-paced that I think the romance aspect suffered, but only a little.  Overall, I am excited that this is the start to a new Scottish romance series and I look forward to future books.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Author Biography

Mr. Straight Arrow: The Career of John Hersey, Author of Hiroshima by Jeremy Treglown
Publication Date - April 23, 2019
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I grabbed this book off of NetGalley because I always enjoy books about the writing process and the backstories of famous authors.  I wish I had of read his most famous work, Hiroshima, before picking this up because it might have spurred more interest in the material.  This is well-written and definitely interesting at times.  I actually wish there would have been more information about his thoughts and feelings as he saw the destruction in Japan and how that translated to his book.  I am glad that I picked this up, though, it gave good insight into journalism and publishing during that time period.  I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Experimental Measures

The Valedictorian of Being Dead: The True Story of Dying Ten Times to Live by Heather B. Armstrong
Publication Date - April 23, 2019
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The author has suffered all her life with anxiety and depression but the eighteen months after her divorce involved a frightening depth of depression that left her willing to try anything.  So she began an experimental trial that required ten treatments using Propofol to flat-line brain activity for short amounts of time.  In essence, she was resetting her brain.  She details this experience along with how she got to that point in this book.  I had never heard of this author before, but apparently she became well known as the "mommy blogger."  I found her tone of writing entirely engaging and I read this book in less than a day.  She has a good sense of humor and a healthy appreciation of her mom and stepfather who dedicated many hours to her treatment.  I do not think that she always did a great job of putting into words what it actually feels like to be depressed, a trait that I find with many memoirs of depression.  It is just too hard of a thing to translate into words, but I did find this memoir fascinating in the lengths she was willing to go to to find hope for herself.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Nightmares and Memory Loss

The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey
Publication Date - April 16, 2019
3 stars

When Beth’s hired coach crashes next to the Ellerby home, they take her in even though she remembers nothing of her past.  The family strives to protect the girl, even as ruthless people are out to get her. This was an enjoyable read yet slow paced.  I liked the characters yet didn’t really feel invested in their troubles.  So overall, I liked this book yet will probably not remember it next week.  I received a digital ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Royal Family

The Romanov Empress by C.W. Gortner
4 stars



The best historical fiction inspires you to deep dive into a period of extreme research and extra reading...and this has done just that.  Well written and compelling to read, this book follows the life of a Danish princess who marries the heir to the Russian Tsar and becomes Empress Maria, mother of Nicholas who is the last of the Russian monarchs.  I found this absolutely fascinating and though I've never had an interest in Russian history before, I have now a couple of nonfiction books on the Romanov's waiting to be read.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Forgotten Child Star

Fame Adjacent by Sarah Skilton

Publication Date – April 9, 2019

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A children’s television show from the nineties creates a slew of extremely famous and bankable stars…except for one, Holly, who faded into obscurity and ended up with an internet addiction to Reddit where she discusses her experiences on the show.  So this is obviously a take on the Mickey Mouse Club (well, obvious to me since I grew up watching the show) and I wasn’t sure I had the patience for it at first.  But, you know what, it is just pure fun with a sweet romance and flawed characters who are trying to come to terms with the past and move on.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Thought Provoking Study of the Court System

Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration
by Emily Bazelon
Publication Date - April 9, 2019
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This book of investigative reporting looks at our judicial system and how the role of the prosecutor has increased over the years.  Prosecutors have the power to withhold bail, increase charges and strong-arm defendants into plea deals.  It is one of many problems within the U.S.'s criminal justice system but one that some reformed-minded district attorneys are attempting to fix.  This is well written and researched and the author does a good job of laying out all of the issues.   I think it is fair to say that the author takes a very clear stance on these cases and she portrays some definite bad guys but I can't help feeling that it was well deserved.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Inside Look at the Catering World

Hotbox: Inside Catering the Food World's Riskiest Business by Matt Lee & Ted Lee
Publication Date - April 9, 2019
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Matt Lee and Ted Lee are brothers who operate within the Culinary world.  Their interest in the behind-the-scenes work of offsite catering led them to work for a couple of years for one of New York's most successful catering companies.  Through interviews and personal experience, the discuss the intricacies of the catering world.  This was definitely an interesting book and the stressful, fast-paced environment surrounding catered events provides definite drama.  I can't say that I am really all that interested in catering, and I can't say that I didn't roll my eyes many times about the ridiculousness and waste of some these events, but I did appreciate the details and hard work behind them.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Bookshop of the Broken Hearted

Bookshop of the Broken Hearted by Robert Hillman
Publication Date - April 9, 2019
🌟🌟🌟1/2

Tom has had a hard few years when he meets Hannah, a Holocaust survivor and the new bookstore owner in town.  They have an nontraditional romance that needs extra care because of their tragic pasts.  I liked the story of this book and Australia in the 1960’s provides an interesting backdrop.  At times, the writing felt distant and I never felt as connected to the characters as I wanted but I still enjoyed the story.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Expedition Through Alaska

To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
5 stars



I am so impressed by this book and now want to go out and read everything that this author has written.  Composed of letters, journals, and articles, it recreates and early Alaskan expedition into unexplored territory.  Allen, a Colonel on his last mission and Sophie, his young wife left at home, are both compelling subjects and all of the side characters are well drawn.  I can’t even imagine the work that went into the beautifully written book.  I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.