Category: awesomeness

Book Review:  A Song to Drown Rivers, by Ann Liang

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title:  A Song to Drown Rivers  
Author:   Ann Liang    
Genre:  Fantasy       
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Her beauty hides a deadly purpose.

Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.

Trained by Fanli in everything from classical instruments to concealing emotion, Xishi hones her beauty into the perfect blade. But she knows Fanli can see through every deception she masters, the attraction between them burning away any falsehoods.

Once inside the enemy palace, Xishi finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king’s advisors while the king himself shows her great affection. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher Xishi climbs in the Wu court, the farther she and Fanli have to fall—and if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down.

This was an engrossing read from the beginning. Xishi was a wonderful character:  so caring and kind and determined. Seeing her grow and change and become sure of herself and confident was lovely to read. Fanli was only present in part of the book, and he felt very reserved and distant, but I liked him. This was not a fuzzy-bunnies-ray-of-sunshine read—not in any way—but it was a gripping read that completely absorbed my attention.

Ann Liang is a bestselling author. A Song to Drown Rivers is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Booklover’s Library, by Madeline Martin 

Image belongs to Harlequin/Hanover Square Press.

Title:  The Booklover’s Library
Author:  Madeline Martin        
Genre: Historical fiction        
Rating: 5 out of 5

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.

When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

This was such a lovely read! I do love World War II historical fiction, but Martin’s characters are always so well-done and vivid that I end up drawn into the story just because I’m so interested in the people. I loved the library, and I think being a book concierge would be a fun job! This is a great read, and I highly recommend it.

Madeline Martin is a bestselling author. The Booklover’s Library is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Hanover Square Press in exchange for an honest review.)

  

Book Review:  The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams, by Karen Hawkins

Image belongs to Gallery Books.

Title:   The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams
Author:  Karen Hawkins        
Genre:  Romance       
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

When an antique tin of love letters is found hidden in her family home, noted historian Tay Dove rushes home to Dove Pond to investigate. Tay is still reeling from a romantic betrayal, so she’s relieved to refocus her energies on her latest project: a biography of her great-great-grandmother Sarafina, a star reporter who began her career in Dove Pond in the late 19th century before abruptly leaving town.

Tay believes the letters could be the key in solving what happened, but they only add to her questions—especially when they reveal a forbidden love affair with William Day, a wild youth who took part in a notorious train robbery. Some answers might be found in eighty-year-old Rose Day’s bookshop, which doubles as a town archive, but Rose is curiously resistant to give Tay access. Just when Tay thinks she’s reached a dead end, she finds an unlikely ally in Rose’s grandson, Luke, a fellow puzzle lover. Together, they set out to uncover what really happened all those years ago…and find the truth behind a love story that could be more precious than gold.

I do love the Dove Pond Books! I enjoyed the first two more than the third one, but I think this one I just as good as those first two. I love the small-town feel of Dove Pond, and the Dove family is just so much fun. I like the dual timelines in this story and found myself engrossed in both of these, although knowing only one of them could have a happy ending. Love this newest installment in this magical series!

Karen Hawkins is bestselling author. The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.)

The Best Books I Read in August (2024)

In August, I read 23 books. Most of these were solid reads, some were “meh,” and a few were excellent.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars, by Glendy Vanderah. I liked this read that had been lingering on my TBR for far too long. It felt like a touch of magic, and the cover is gorgeous.

Cast in Atonement, by Michelle Sagara. I’ve loved all 18 books in this series, so this was a no-brainer. Kaylin’s adventures are always engrossing—and usually good for a laugh or two.

The Story Collector, by Evie Woods. I enjoyed The Lost Bookshop so much, and couldn’t wait to read this. Loved these characters–in both timelines–and had a hard time putting this down. I definitely recommend it.

What I Read in August (2024)

Books Read in August: 23
Books Read for the Year:  147/215
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
Gods and Ends, by Devon Monk (audio, TBR): I really enjoyed this on audio! Loving this series so far.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars, by Glendy Vanderah (TBR): I really enjoyed this book! It felt very magical.
Elsewhere, by Dean Koontz (TBR): The ending felt a little rushed, but I always enjoy Koontz’s work.
Awaken Me Darkly, by Gena Showalter (TBR): THe ending of this was rushed, and a little too good to be true. While I enjoyed the first 75% of this read, the ending made me decide I don’t want to read more of the series.
The Grandest Game, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (TBR): Love this new spinoff!
Artifacts, Dragons, and Other Lethal Magic, by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): Another fun read in this series.

For Review:

My Favourite Mistake, by Marian Keyes. I didn’t really like the MC—she was too whiny for me—but I enjoyed the writing, the setting, and the secondary characters so much that I kept reading.

Second Tide’s the Charm, by Chandra Blumberg. This was a fun read! I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters, and the setting was a new one for me, keeping me hooked.

The Fiance Dilemma, by Elena Armas. This had me snorting with laughter! So many shenanigans! I didn’t understand why the MC was so against marriage, though.

Serenity by the Sea, by Jennifer Vido. I loved the setting here, but the transition from enemies to friends to more was so abrupt it felt choppy.

Ne’er Duke Well, by Alexandra Vasti. I enjoyed this a lot! Bright characters and a lot of spiciness.

It’s All Relative, by Rachel Magee. The MC was a bit annoying and selfish, but I enjoyed this read.

The Thirteenth Husband, by Greer Macallister. This was an interesting read, although it felt a bit plot-less.

Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch, by Codie Crowley. Entertaining in a campy way, although the MC was a bit of a…well, the title says it all.

Medici Heist, by Caitlin Schneiderhan. I enjoyed this historical fiction quite a bit. I love a good heist story, and this fit the bill perfectly.

Strange Folk, by Alli Dyer. This was solidly “meh” for me. It was pretty dark, and I really didn’t care for it much.

The Story Collector, by Evie Woods. I’ve really enjoyed this author’s work, and I loved this one, too. Both timelines were intriguing, although I wished for a slightly different ending in the historical one.

Cast in Atonement, by Michelle Sagara. As with the rest of the books in this series: I loved this.

The Winged Tiara, by J’nell Ciesielski. I really enjoyed this historical fiction/jewel heist caper. Lots of fun!

Fire and Bones, by Kathy Reichs. I’ve enjoyed most of the reads in this series, and I liked this one, too, although Tempe was a bit much in a couple of places.

Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies, by Abigail Hing Wen. This was a cute read. Felt a bit like a tween movie on the scale of believability, though. I liked the male POV. That was a nice change from a lot of YA reads.

The Housekeeper’s Secret, by Iona Grey (forthcoming). I really loved this read! I was invested in the characters from the start, and couldn’t wait to see what happened.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel, by Kate Bateman (forthcoming). This was a fun and charming romance!

Left Unfinished:

The Bookshop Sisterhood, by Michelle Lindo-Rice. These characters got old really quick.

A Great Marriage, by Frances Mayes. This was just too leisurely-paced for me.

Magical Meet Cute, by Jean Meltzer. This is the third book by this author I’ve DNFed, so I probably just need to stop trying, but I couldn’t get behind the idea of the MC being “Jewitch.”

Our Narrow Hiding Places, by Kristopher Jansma. The beginning felt very slow and I couldn’t get into it.

Till Death Do Us Part, by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn. I made it about 25% of the way before realizing 1) I was bored, and 2) I didn’t like any of the characters.

A Pair of Wings, by Carole Hopkins. I just didn’t care for the writing style in this.

Book Review:  Cast in Atonement, by Michelle Sagara

Image belongs to Harlequin/MIRA.

 Title:  Cast in Atonement
Author:   Michelle Sagara  
Genre: Fantasy     
Rating:   

In the City of Elantra, only one holds the key to peace—or eternal darkness.

At the end of three long wars, Bellusdeo is the last of her kind, the sole surviving female Dragon in the City of Elantra. When she appears one evening on the doorstep of her former roommate, Corporal Kaylin Neya, her demeanor is dreadful—more so than what’s expected of the Dragons’ notoriously tempestuous temperament. Kaylin’s new roommate, Mrs. Erickson, is quick to see the reason for Bellusdeo’s despair—the eight ghosts of the Dragon’s dead sisters, chained to her and unseen. Pleading for release, revenge and, above all, peace.

Now Kaylin and Mrs. Erickson must embark on a perilous journey, from the hallowed halls of the Academia to the depths of forbidden magic, to confront the very essence of mortality itself. Can Kaylin help release the untapped power within Mrs. Erickson to save Bellusdeo’s sisters…or will unlocking the past plunge the realm into an unfathomable darkness forever?

I do love the Chronicles of Elantra series! The layers and depths in this series are engrossing to me, and this novel was no exception. I loved seeing Bellusdeo’s story unfold and twine more with Kaylin’s—and I love how Kaylin’s mind works. I enjoy all these characters and love seeing their further adventures.

Michelle Sagara lives in Toronto. Cast in Atonement is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review:  The Story Collector, by Evie Woods 

Image belongs to Harper 360.

Title:  The Story Collector
Author: Evie Woods        
Genre: Historical Fiction       
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life.

In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets – secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

I really enjoyed this story! Both timelines were engrossing and a bit magical and just made me feel good. Sarah’s story was wonderful, and I loved seeing how she came to accept herself and her place in the world. Anna was just lovely, but so naïve it kind of hurt to watch. Her story didn’t end like I hoped, but I enjoyed it just the same.

Evie Woods is a bestselling author. The Story Collector is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harper 360 in exchange for an honest review.)

Sundays are for Writing #288

This was a good writing week! I got in five fiction sessions, three book reviews, That Prince is Mine, by Jayci Lee, My Favourite Mistake, by Marian Keyes and Castle of the Cursed, by Romina Garber, and also my July reading post and the best books I read in July.

Happy writing!

The Best Books I Read in July (2024)

In July, I read 17 books, bringing my total for the year to 124 books read. Most of those were solid reads, but some were exceptional.

Winter Lost, by Patricia Briggs. Because all of the Mercy Thompson series is fantastic, and this was no exception. A bit chilly for me, though.

The Iron Vow, by Julie Kagawa. A fitting ending for the Iron Fey series. I’m a bit late to the party, but I re-read the entire series and fell in love with the world and characters all over again.

The Lost Story, by Meg Shaffer. I really enjoyed this immensely. This had Chronicles of Narnia vibes and was just a magical story in itself.

What I Read in July (2024)

Books Read in July: 17
Books Read for the Year:  124/215
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
Winter Lost, by Patricia Briggs (TBR): I love this series and these characters!
Alpha, by Rachel Vincent (TBR): I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this series!
The Iron Vow, by Julie Kagawa (TBR): I loved the ending of this series!
Devils and Details, by Devon Monk (TBR): I’m really enjoying this new-to-me series.
A Deceptive Composition, by Anna Lee Huber (TBR): I enjoy this series so much.
I See You, by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): Loving this spin-off of the Adept books.

For Review:

Beyond Summerland, by Jenny Lecoat. I found this to be a pretty depressing read.

Not You Again, by Ingrid Pierce. This was a fun read, although the lack of communication was frustrating.

Writing on Empty, by Natalie Goldberg. This was…beyond disappointing. It was just a bunch of whining and sitting around feeling sorry for herself, and exactly zero actually helpful advice. Don’t bother.

The Darkness Within Us, by Tricia Levenseller. I enjoyed this read, although I liked the background stuff a bit more than the main plot.

The Backtrack, by Erin La Rosa. This was an interesting read. I thought the scenes in the past were very vivid, and the details made me laugh and shake my head.

Dashed, by Amanda Quain. This was such a fun read!

The Lost Story, by Meg Shaffer. I very much enjoyed this story! It had a bit of a Chronicles of Narnia feel, and I found it an engrossing read, filled withe everyday magic.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish, by Paula Brackston. I’ve enjoyed Brackston’s other books, so I was excited to read the start of a new series. And it did no disappoint! The historical details are so well-done, and I loved Hecate.

That Prince is Mine, by Jayci Lee. This was a cute read!

Castle of the Cursed, by Romina Garber. This was a very atmospheric, fairly dark read with bits of scifi and family drama mixed together with fantasy and romance.

Just Because: Praying the Names of God, by Ann Spangler. I enjoyed this weekly devotional.

Single Today, by Ryan Wekenman. This was a great audio read.

Left Unfinished:

On the Surface, by Rachel Mcguire. I read 10%, but the characters just all seemed like terrible people, and I wasn’t in the mood for that.

Ladykiller, by Katherine Wood. The first 15% of this felt like a trainwreck in slow motion, involving people I didn’t like, so, no.

The Bright Sword, by Lev Grossman. I only got about 5% into this because it just didn’t hold my attention.

Three Keys, by Laura Pritchett. The MC bored me and I wasn’t interested in her at all.

The Summer Club, by Hannah McKinnon. I read 15% of this and just found it boring, with very surface-level characters.