This week I wrote one book review. Work is still kicking my butt, and my current read-to-review book is looong, so it’s taking a while. Hoping for more next week.
Happy writing!
Month: May 2022
Sundays are for Writing #172
This week, I wrote three book reviews, which is moderately astonishing, considering my family is still in town and I worked four straight days.
Happy writing!
Book Review: Part of Your World, by Abby Jimenez
Title: Part of Your World
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.
While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.
Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?
I have to tell you: this book made me laugh out loud many times. The dry wit, the easy banter, the sheer chutzpah of some of these characters was an absolute joy to read. I think I started laughing out loud about three minutes in, and it really never totally stopped. I binge-read the entire thing in one late-night sitting. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up immediately. Your abs will thank you.
Abby Jimenez is a bestselling author. Part of Your World is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Forever in exchange for an honest review.)
Book Review: Veil, by Dylan Farrow
Title: Veil
Author: Dylan Farrow
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 3.8 out of 5
Shae’s entire world has been turned upside down, and everything she’s ever believed is a lie. More determined than ever, she sets out to the mysterious land of Gondal—a place forbidden to mention and resigned to myth—in search of a dangerous magical book that could alter the fabric of the world.
Following the trail of Ravod, the boy she thought she knew and trusted, Shae discovers there is far more to the young man who stole the Book of Days than she ever realized. Together, with her friends, Mads and Fiona, and a newfound ally in her fierce former trainer, Kennan, Shae crosses the borders of the only home she’s ever had and into a world ruled not by magic, but technology and industry — one fraught with perils of its own.
In a world shrouded in lies, Shae is desperate for answers and to restore peace, but who will lift the veil?
I did not read Hush, but that didn’t really prove to be a problem. I enjoyed the characters, but the last third of the books seemed a bit erratic and far-fetched. Interesting world and setting, it just didn’t totally work for me because it felt jagged, not like a coherent whole.
Dylan Farrow grew up in New York City and Connecticut. Veil is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.)
Book Review: The Kew Gardens Girls at War, by Posy Lovell
Title: The Kew Gardens Girls at War
Author: Posy Lovell
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.2 out of 5
When Daisy Turner’s new husband joins the RAF to fight the Battle of Britain, she’s terrified she’s going to lose him. So when her mother Ivy suggests she joins the gardeners at Kew to keep busy, Daisy’s intrigued. After all, Ivy worked at Kew during the last war and made lifelong friends along the way.
Ivy’s friend, Louisa Armitage, is feeling old and useless at her Kent home, wishing she could return to Kew and do her bit for the war effort. Tensions are rising between Louisa and her pacifist husband, as they argue over their nephew Christopher, who’s enlisted. But Louisa’s not ready to hang up her gardening gloves yet, and she’s soon on her way to Kew with an idea that could really make a difference.
Meanwhile Beth Sanderson is furious after her father stops her applying to medical school. Angry and frustrated, she applies to a new wartime role at Kew Gardens, alongside her doctor friend Gus Campbell. But the committee is run by men and Beth is asked to take a job a gardener instead, running a demonstration allotment with new friend Daisy. As the bombs fall on a Blitz-stricken London she finds herself torn between Gus, and her boyfriend Paul. Can Gus and Beth overcome the racism of wartime Britain to be together?
When tragedy hits, the women are forced to come together to support each other through their darkest hours. But can the Kew Gardens Girls survive the horrors of war-torn London this time?
This is a wonderful novel! The first I’d read from this author, but hopefully not the last. I think Beth was my favorite character, but I truly liked all of them. Poor Daisy thought Beth was so much better than her because of her looks, but Daisy lent her own strength to the story. This was a lovely read.
Posy Lovell lives in London. The Kew Gardens Girls at War is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group Putnam in exchange for an honest review.)
The Best Books I Read in April (2022)
In April, I only read 10 books. My work schedule was absolutely nuts, and there were family things going on, too, so no time to read or write. I thought two of the ten were really good:
The Might, by Siri Petterson. I thought this trilogy was absolutely fantastic, and I’d happily read more in a hot second! The characters and world-building are both relatable and phenomenal, and I couldn’t put it down. All the stars!
This May End Badly, by Samantha Markum. Okay, the main character was kind of a jerk at times, but she at least learned from it and began to actually care about what other people wanted–not just herself. And the love interest wad absolutely adorable.
What I Read in April (2022)
Books Read in April: 11 (I think this is the smallest number ever.)
Books Read for the Year: 77/250
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George (re-read). I really enjoyed this. It’s been years since I read it, but I saw it at HPB for $2 and thought, “Why not?”
Look to Love, by J.L. Gerhardt (spiritual).
The Might, by Siri Pettersen (TBR). I loved this entire trilogy!
How (Not) to Save the World, by Hosanna Wong (spiritual).
Game On, by Janet Evanovich (TBR). WHY does she always go back to Joe?
For Review:
A Promise of Forgiveness, by Jo Ann Brown. The unforgiveness from the main character made me enjoy this a lot less than I could have.
The Memory of Her, by Bianca M. Schwarz. I’ve enjoyed the three books in this series, but this one threw me off a bit because it was set after the first book that came out, but before the third book.
This May End Badly, by Samantha Markum. I really enjoyed this! No, the MC wasn’t the greatest person, but she did learn, and the love interest was wonderful.
The Wrong Victim, by Allison Brennan. One of the MCs is borderline hard to like, but I ended up enjoying this read.
Funny You Should Ask, by Elissa Sussman. This was a decent read, even if the premise itself was a bit hard to believe.
The Kew Garden Girls at War, by Posy Lovell (review forthcoming). This was a lovely read!
Left Unfinished:
The Wedding Crasher, by Mia Sosa. Likable enough, but I was bored.
Last Dance on the Starlight Pier, by Sarah Bird. I read about 15% but it was just so slow I couldn’t get into it.
Unlikely Animals, by Annie Hartnett. Just started off way too slowly for me.
End of the World House, by Adrienne Celt. I didn’t make it very far into this because I didn’t feel any connection with the main characters.
Sundays are for Writing #171
This week was marginally better than last week: I wrote one book review. Read almost nothing due to schedule craziness and family being in town. It’s all good.
Happy writing!
Tomorrow Is Another Day 