Category: book review

Book Review: The Bright Side Running Club, by Josie Lloyd

Title: The Bright Side Running Club
Author: Josie Lloyd
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

When Keira first receives her breast cancer diagnosis, she never expects to end up joining a running group with three women she’s only just met. Totally blind-sided, all she can think about is how she doesn’t want to tell her family or step back from work. Nor does she want to be part of a group of fellow cancer patients. Cancer is not her club.

And yet it’s running – hot, sweaty, lycra-clad running in the company of brilliant, funny women all going through treatment – that unexpectedly gives Keira the hope she so urgently needs. Because Keira will not be defined by the C-word. And now, with the Bright Side Running Club cheering her on, she is going to reclaim everything: her family, her identity, and her life.

One step at a time.

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved Keira as a character, and I loved all the secondary characters as well (except her horrible coworkers). Her journey was both terrible and inspiring as she deals with a terrifying diagnosis and the treatment that isn’t much better. I loved how much she learned about herself and the people in her life, and I’ll admit the book brought me to tears a time or two. I highly recommend!

Josie Lloyd is from Brighton. The Bright Side Running Club is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Beyond the Lavender Fields, by Arlem Hawks

Title: Beyond the Lavender Fields
Author: Arlem Hawks
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.2 out of 5

1792, France

Rumors of revolution in Paris swirl in Marseille, a bustling port city in southern France. Gilles Étienne, a clerk at the local soap factory, thrives on the news. Committed to the cause of equality, liberty, and brotherhood, he and his friends plan to march to Paris to dethrone the monarchy. His plans are halted when he meets Marie-Caroline Daubin, the beautiful daughter of the owner of the factory.

A bourgeoise and royalist, Marie-Caroline has been called home to Marseille to escape the unrest in Paris. She rebuffs Gilles’s efforts to charm her and boldly expresses her view that violently imposed freedom is not really freedom for all. As Marie-Caroline takes risks to follow her beliefs, Gilles catches her in a dangerous secret that could cost her and her family their lives. As Gilles and Marie-Caroline spend more time together, she questions her initial assumptions about Gilles and realizes that perhaps they have more in common than she thought.

As the spirit of revolution descends on Marseille, people are killed and buildings are ransacked and burned to the ground. Gilles must choose between supporting the political change he believes in and protecting those he loves. And Marie-Caroline must battle between standing up for what she feels is right and risking her family’s safety. With their lives and their nation in turmoil, both Gilles and Marie-Caroline wonder if a révolutionnaire and a royaliste can really be together in a world that forces people to choose sides.

The setting of this novel was a new one for me, and I really enjoyed it! I really like how both characters—but especially Gilles—grew during the course of the novel. He started off as a self-absorbed, oblivious jerk who hated his father, but he changed so much through. Their separate journeys to understanding and growth were even more enjoyable to me than their romance. This is a sweet read set against the French revolution.

Arlem Hawks graduated from Brigham Young University. Beyond the Lavender Fields is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Lady of Galway Manor, by Jennifer Deibel

Title: The Lady of Galway Manor
Author: Jennifer Deibel
Genre: Christian
Rating: 4 out of 5

In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy’s father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family–descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family’s jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the ÒliesÓ the Claddagh Ring promises.

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the “other side” isn’t quite as barbaric and uncultured as they’d been led to believe–and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner’s fire.

I don’t remember reading anything set during this period—definitely not recently—so I enjoyed the historical aspect of this. The Jennings men were both strong characters that I really liked. Annabeth’s father was a bit of a pompous, selfish jerk, but I loved her relationship with her sister. This was a sweet read with a lovely romance.

Jennifer Deibel lives in Arizona. The Lady of Galway Manor is her newest novel.

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

Book Review and Blog Tour: The Night She Went Missing, by Kristen Bird

Title: The Night She Went Missing
Author: Kristen Bird
Genre: mystery/thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

Emily, a popular but bookish prep school senior, goes missing after a night out with friends. She was last seen leaving a party with Alex, a football player with a dubious reputation. But no one is talking.

Now three mothers, Catherine, Leslie and Morgan, friends turned frenemies, have their lives turned upside down as they are forced to look to their own children—and each other’s—for answers to questions they don’t want to ask.

Each mother is sure she knows who is responsible, but they all have their own secrets to keep and reputations to protect. And the lies they tell themselves and each other may just have the potential to be lethal.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The second half…got a little bit far-fetched, but I was invested in the characters at that point, so I continued reading. I thought the close-knit, wealthy community if Galveston was portrayed well. I liked the younger characters the best. The adults were a bit too much for me. This is a solid debut novel, and I’d read more from this author.

Kristen Bird lives in Texas. The Night She Went Missing is her debut novel.

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

Book Review and Blog Tour: The Last Grand Duchess, by Bryn Turnbull

Title: The Last Grand Duchess
Author: Bryn Turnbull
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: DNF

Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.

But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumours about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.

I tried. I really did. I loved Turnbull’s previous book, The Woman Before Wallis, but this one felt so much slower. I made it about 50% of the way through before giving up because every page felt like it was in slow motion. Historical novels about the Romanov family usually fascinate me, so I kept on reading longer than I probably should, but in the end, this just wasn’t a good fit for me right now. The glimpses of the cluelessness of Olga’s parents drove me crazy, and her own naivete about reality combined with the slow pace were just too much for me.

Bryn Turnbull is a bestselling author. The Last Grand Duchess is her newest novel.

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

Book Review and Blog Tour: Clean Air, by Sarah Blake

Title: Clean Air
Author: Sarah Blake
Genre: Scifi
Rating: DNF

The climate apocalypse has come and gone, and in the end it wasn’t the temperature climbing or the waters rising. It was the trees. The world became overgrown, creating enough pollen to render the air unbreathable.

In the decade since the event known as the Turning, humanity has rebuilt, and Izabel has gotten used to the airtight domes that now contain her life. She raises her young daughter, Cami, and attempts to make peace with her mother’s death. She tries hard to be satisfied with this safe, prosperous new world, but instead she just feels stuck.

And then the peace of her town is shattered. Someone starts slashing through the domes at night, exposing people to the deadly pollen—a serial killer. Almost simultaneously, Cami begins sleep-talking, having whole conversations about the murders that she doesn’t remember after she wakes. Izabel becomes fixated on the killer, on both tracking him down and understanding him. What could compel someone to take so many lives after years dedicated to sheer survival, with humanity finally flourishing again?

I read about 15% of this, but it just didn’t hold my interest. I don’t read much scifi, and that’s probably why, as the POV and the action just felt too distant for me to enjoy.

Sarah Blake lives in the U.K. Clean Air is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Family You Make, by Jill Shalvis

Title: The Family You Make
Author: Jill Shalvis
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

During the snowstorm of the century Levi Cutler is stranded on a ski lift with a beautiful stranger named Jane. After strong winds hurl the gondola in front of them into the ground, Levi calls his parents to prepare them for the worst…but can’t bring himself to say goodbye. Instead, wanting to fulfill his mother’s lifelong wish, he impulsively tells her he’s happily settled and Jane is his girlfriend–right before his phone dies.

But Levi and Jane do not.

Now Levi’s family is desperate to meet “The One.” Though Jane agrees to be his pretend girlfriend for just one dinner, she’s nervous. After a traumatic childhood, Jane isn’t sure she knows how to be around a tight-knit family that cherishes one another. She’s terrified, and a little jealous. But an unexpected series of events and a host of new friends soon show Jane that perhaps this is the life she was always meant to have.

As Jane and Levi spend more time together, pretend feelings quickly turn into real ones. Now all Jane has to do is admit to herself she can’t live without the man she’s fallen in love with and the family she has always dreamed of.

I think I enjoyed the community of people in this book the most. Levi’s family is a bit much, and Jane has some serious issues she’s working through, but the people around them made this well-worth reading. This was a solid read that delivered on its promises.

Jill Shalvis is a bestselling author. The Family You Make is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of William Morow in exchange for an honest review.)

The Best Books I Read in January (2022)

In January I read 21 books towards my goal of 250 books read this year. Most of these were decent or solid reads, but a few stood out.

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, by Diana Gaboldon. I just love this series, and these books are always perfect for me: hefty tomes that are fantastically detailed with writing and storytelling that keeps me glued to the page.

Seeing Jesus from the East, by Ravi Zacharias and Abdu Murray. This was a fascinating read that gave me a lot of insight.

The Last House on the Street, by Diane Chamberlain. The historical part of this book almost broke me. That’s really all I can say about it. Highly recommend.

What I Read in January (2022)

Books Read in January: 21
Books Read for the Year: 21/250

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, by Diana Gabaldon (TBR). I have no words for how much I love this series.
Eye to Eye: Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel, by William Koenig (spiritual). This seemed very monotonous after a while, though the topic itself was intriguing.
Seeing Jesus from the East, by Ravi Zacharias (spiritual). This viewpoint was very intriguing.
The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel (spiritual). This was fascinating.
She Reads Truth, by Raechel Myers (spiritual). I loved the conversational, talk-between-friends tone of this.

For Review:

The Sorority Murder, by Allison Brennan. This was a decent thriller read. I wasn’t surprised by the killer or the ending, but I enjoyed the read.

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves, by Meg Long. This was a unique and compelling scifi read. I ended the book with a lot of questions remaining, but the writing was solid and it felt new and fresh.

The Last House on the Street, by Diane Chamberlain. The book almost broke me. I wouldn’t consider this a thriller, but historical fiction. Highly recommend.

Bad Luck Bridesmaid, by Alison Rose Greenberg. I wanted to like this—and parts were funny—but the MC was a touch on the…unlikable side.

Anatomy: A Love Story, by Dana Schwartz. I enjoyed this historical YA about a girl determined to become a surgeon when women aren’t allowed to be doctors…until the end, which took a sharp and disappointing turn.

Her Hometown Hero, by Jacquelin Thomas. These characters felt like talking heads, with no setting or character descriptions (I rarely had a picture of what they were doing), and the male MC just basically sat around and felt sorry for himself and acted like a jerk.

The Storyteller, by Kathryn Williams. I really enjoyed this story of a girl trying to discover if her great-aunt, who left a trunk full of old diaries, really was the lost Princess Anastasia.

Must Love Books, by Shauna Robinson. I liked this, buuuuutt the fact that the MC thought it was okay to lie, cheat, and steal did not sit well with me and detracted from the otherwise fun read. The banter between her and the love interest was great, but I found her character lacking.

One True Loves, by Elise Bryant. The MC was a bit much initially, but when she calmed down a little, I found this to be a fun read.

Getting His Game Back, by Gia De Cadenet. I liked these two characters a lot, and I think the author did a good job of giving a realistic picture of depression.

Feather and Flame, by Livia Blackburne (review forthcoming, due to changed pub date). I enjoyed this a lot. Mulan is my absolute favorite Disney cartoon, and I kept seeing those characters in my mind.

Made in Manhattan, by Lauren Layne. This was an okay read, but it was pretty predictable.

The Iron Sword, by Juklie Kagawa. Loved this, just like I love everything the author writes in this world. I do wish that it had been in Puck’s POV again, though.

A Lullaby for Witches, by Hester Fox. I really enjoyed this author’s other books, but the historical character in this one was a horrible person.

Just Because:
Parable of the Talents, by Octavia E. Butler. I have to be honest: I did not like either the narrator or her daughter. Olamina was so self-absorbed and narrow-minded I could barely tolerate her, and her daughter was not much better. Fascinating narrative, but the characters weren’t for me.

The Good Shepherd (Gateway Church devotional). It’s always good to start the year off right.

Left Unfinished:

The Appeal, by Janice Hallett. I didn’t make it very far into this, because the format didn’t work for me. The plot sounded interesting enough that I wanted to give it a try, but in the end, reading the story in emails/text/etc. just didn’t work for me.

How to Love Your Neighbor, by Sophie Sullivan. I might have made it to 15% in this book, but Noah was such an arrogant jerk I couldn’t stand to read more.

Desolation Canyon, by P.J. Tracy. I read 10% of this, but I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters, so I stopped reading.

Such a Pretty Smile, by Kristi DeMeester. I made it about 15% in this, but the characters and the vibe were pretty dark and unlikable for me.

The Christie Affair, by Nina de Gramont. The POV was far too distant in this to keep my attention, despite reading almost 20%.

Book Review and Blog Tour: A Lullaby for Witches, by Hester Fox

Title: A Lullaby for Witches
Author: Hester Fox
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 3.8 our of 4

Augusta Podos has just landed her dream job, working in collections at a local museum, Harlowe House, located in the charming seaside town of Tynemouth, Massachussetts. Determined to tell the stories of the local community, she throws herself into her work–and finds an oblique mention of a mysterious woman, Margaret, who may have been part of the Harlowe family, but is reduced to a footnote. Fascinated by this strange omission, Augusta becomes obsessed with discovering who Margaret was, what happened to her, and why her family scrubbed her from historical records. But as she does, strange incidents begin plaguing Harlowe House and Augusta herself. Are they connected with Margaret, and what do they mean?

Tynemouth, 1872. Margaret Harlowe is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy shipping family, and she should have many prospects–but her fascination with herbs and spellwork has made her a pariah, with whispers of “witch” dogging her steps. Increasingly drawn to the darker, forbidden practices of her craft, Margaret finds herself caught up with a local man, Jack Pryce, and the temptation of these darker ways threatens to pull her under completely.

As the incidents in the present day escalate, Augusta finds herself drawn more and more deeply into Margaret’s world, and a shocking revelation sheds further light on Margaret and Augusta’s shared past. And as Margaret’s sinister purpose becomes clear, Augusta must uncover the secret of Margaret’s fate–before the woman who calls to her across the centuries claims Augusta’s own life.

This was well-written, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did the author’s other books. Mainly because I thought Margaret was a terrible person; very selfish and self-absorbed. I enjoyed Augusta’s POV very much, as she sort of grew into the person she’d kept hidden for years and learned to stand up for herself. The touch of romance was nicely done and didn’t become the priority. I did like the glimpses of life in the past, I just thought Margaret was terrible.

Hester Fox lives in Virginia. A Lullaby for Witches is her newest novel.

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

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: