Category: characters

What I Read in September (2023)

Books Read in September: 19
Books Read for the Year:  154/225
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:

Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis (audio, spiritual): This was a very inspiring read/listen!

Wrapped in Rain, by Charles Martin (TBR): This was an excellent book! The relationships in this book are top-notch.

How to Listen to God, by Charles Stanley (spiritual): Excellent read.

gods at War by Kyle Idleman (spiritual): Very thought provoking.

Powers, by John B. Olson (TBR): Apparently I’d read this before…but I didn’t realize that until I finished it. This was very chaotic and confusing to me, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

Trapper Road, by Rachel Caine (TBR): People can be so evil.

Now I Rise, by Kierstin White (TBR): Yeah, these characters are…not nice people.

The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa (re-read): This was such a great re-read!

The Dry, by Jane Harper. I tried to read this before and got bored quickly, but this time I persevered and finished it. It got much better, but man, the setting was depressing.

For Review:

The Spy’s Daughter, by Bianca M. Schwarz. This was a solid read, but it seemed all to easy for the characters to me.

The Forest Grimm, by Kathryn Purdie. This had some dark fantasy aspects to it and there were several unresolved storylines, but it was a decent read.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas, by Mary Kay Andrews. This was an okay read, but the MC’s brother was a total jerk and she was a bit surface-level to me. No depth in this story, to me.

Case of the Bleus, by Korina Moss. This was the first of this series I’ve read, but I enjoyed it quite a bit—especially the cheeses!

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily, by Noelle Salazar (review forthcoming). Loved this! I loved all the details about life during Prohibition, Zora’s struggle to make something of herself, the romance, everything!

The Scarlet Alchemist, by Kylie Lee Baker (review forthcoming). This kept me guessing the whole time, and I really enjoyed the whole thing and can’t wait to read more!

Starter Villain, by John Scalzi. I liked the intelligent cats, but this isn’t the sort of thing I could read much of. The snark was on point, but it all felt a bit campy and B-rate to me.

Night of the Witch, by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis (review forthcoming). I enjoyed this historical fiction-ish read, although the first quarter felt really slow to me.

Just Because:

Whisper, by Mark Batterson (re-read). Because I love this book.

Winter’s Passage, by Julie Kagawa. Pretty sure I hadn’t read this novella before, but I liked the glimpse into Meghan and Ash’s relationship.

Left Unfinished:

The Enemy Beside Me, by Naomi Ragen. This started off so slowly that I got bored. And Milia just wasn’t interesting to me.

The Name Drop, by Susan Lee. I kind of liked Jessica, but Elijah just got on my nerves. He says he doesn’t like everything being handed to him on a platter, but in reality, he wished for it, and that was annoying.

The Witches of Bone Hill, by Ava Morgyn. I don’t read horror, and this veered far too close to horror for me.

The Other Princess, by Denny S. Bryce. I read 50% of this, but I just did NOT like Aina/Sarah. She was very selfish and self-focused, and I got tired of reading about her, despite the excellent writing.

Book Review: Bright Lights, Big Christmas, by Mary Kay Andrews

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title:  Bright Lights, Big Christmas
Author:  Mary Kay Andrews   
Genre:  Romance   
Rating: 3.5  out of 5

When fall rolls around, it’s time for Kerry Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older brother & his dog, Queenie, sell the trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself.

In the weeks leading into Christmas, Kerry quickly becomes close with the charming neighbors who live near their stand. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry will need to combine her country know-how with her newly acquired New York knowledge to protect the new friends she’s come to think of as family,

And complicating everything is Patrick, a single dad raising his adorable, dragon-loving son Austin on this quirky block. Kerry and Patrick’s chemistry is undeniable, but what chance does this holiday romance really have?

This was an okay read. I think its main goal was to make NYC seem quirky, charming, and safe. I’ve never been there, but I think that may be a bit inaccurate. Kerry’s brother, Murphy, really was a selfish jerk, and that was basically his entire personality:  grouchy jerk. Kerry felt like she flitted from thing to thing, a surface-level person only. I liked the neighborhood and its inhabitants, but this novel didn’t have very much depth.

Mary Kay Andrews is from Florida. Bright Lights, Big Christmas is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: The Forest Grimm, by Kathryn Purdie

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title: The Forest Grimm
Author: Kathryn Purdie    
Genre: Fantasy, YA     
Rating: 4 out of 5 

“Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die.”

The Midnight Forest. The Fanged Creature. Two fortune-telling cards that spell an untimely death for 17-year-old Clara. Despite the ever-present warning from her fortune-teller grandmother, Clara embarks on a dangerous journey into the deadly Forest Grimm to procure a magical book – Sortes Fortunae , the Book of Fortunes – with the power to reverse the curse on her village and save her mother.

Years ago, when the villagers whispered their deepest desires to the book, its pages revealed how to obtain them. All was well until someone used the book for an evil purpose―to kill another person. Afterward, the branches of the Forest Grimm snatched the book away, the well water in Grimm’s Hollow turned rancid, and the crops died from disease. The villagers tried to make amends with the forest, but every time someone crossed its border, they never returned.

Now, left with no alternative, Clara and her close friend, Axel―who is fated never to be with her―have set their minds to defying fate and daring to accomplish what no one else has been able to before. But the forest―alive with dark, deadly twists on some of our most well-known fairy tales―has a mind of its own.

I enjoyed this read, although I felt like it could have used a bit more resolution or development in certain areas. I still had questions at the end, like, why, exactly, Axel was so enamored of Ella? I feel like she used her wish for that, but it was never said. The fairy tale characters were, of course, appropriately dark and evil—Hansel and Gretel especially—so that part made sense, but there were odd bits of things I found disjointed. I liked Clara, although her determination to die was slightly unsettling. This was a solid read, it just left me with some questions.

Kathryn Purdie is a bestselling author and lives in the Rocky Mountains. The Forest Grimm is her newest novel.

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

The Best Books I Read in August (2023)

In August, I read 17 books, bringing my total for the year to 135 books read. Of those books, a few were standouts.

The River Runs South, by Audrey Ingram. This was an excellent Southern fiction read, and a debut novel from this author. I wasn’t too sure if I liked the main character at first, even though she was going through a very tough time, but I ended up loving her—and her adorable daughter. I also loved the setting so much and thought it was portrayed so well.

Touch of Power, by Maria V. Snyder. I’m a big fan of this author and I’d read this before, but I remembered almost none of it. I enjoyed the characters so much! They were so memorable and believable and made the rest of the story truly magical.

The Brothers Hawthorne, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I’ve enjoyed this series so much, and I read this entire novel in one session, on release day. It did not disappoint. The Hawthorne brothers and their antics are thoroughly entertaining, and I love the relationship between the three brothers.

What I Read in August (2023)

Books Read in August: 17
Books Read for the Year:  135/225

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:

The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer (spiritual).
If the Tomb is Empty, by Joby and Charles Martin (audio, spiritual).
The God I Never Knew, by Robert Morris (spiritual re-read).
Get Lost, by Dannah Gresh (spiritual). This was a thought-provoking read.
A Fatal Illusion, by Anna Lee Huber (TBR). I always love the books in this series.
Mr. Owita’s Guide to Gardening, by Carol Wall (TBR). This was surprisingly good!
Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic, by Meghan Ciana Dodge (re-read). I enjoyed this re-read, although some of the cultural references were a little bit dated.
Spellbreaker by Charlie N. Holmberg (TBR). I really enjoyed this!
Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder (re-read). I have no idea how I forgot about this book. A good read!

For Review:

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker. Parts of this were quite funny, and I enjoyed the two main characters quite a bit.

Her Radiant Curse, by Elizabeth Lim. I did enjoy this fantasy read and the relationship between the two sisters, but I didn’t like the ending too much. I’d be interested to read more of this story.

Letters from My Sister, by Valerie Fraser Luesse. This started off a little bit slow, but it ended up being so, so good! Love the the sisters and their relationship, and everything about this family.

The River Runs South, by Audrey Ingram (review forthcoming). I wasn’t too sure about the MC at first, but I ended up really loving this read—it brought life in an Alabama coastal town to vibrant life.

Main Character Energy, by Jamie Varon. This was a solid romance read, though I found it pretty predictable. I did love how the MC came to accept and lover herself.

Just Because:

The Brothers Hawthorne, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I binge-read this in one sitting the day it came out. Love these characters and their antics.

Scent of Magic, by Maria V. Snyder. This was a re-read I did not remember reading the first time, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Sacred Echo, by Margaret Feinberg. This was a very profound, thought-provoking read.

Spellmaker, by Charlie N. Holmberg. I enjoyed the first book in this duology so much, I immediately read the second one.

Left Unfinished:

Deadlock, by James Byrne. The first 10% of this just felt disjointed and choppy, and it didn’t hold my attention.
The Invisible Hour, by Alice Hoffman. I was so looking forward to reading this! I got about 30% in and realized I just didn’t care about the characters…and that was before I got to the time-travel bit that a lot of readers didn’t care for.
The Breakaway, by Jennifer Weiner. This is the second book by this author I’ve DNFed because I just don’t like the characters.

Kissing Kosher, by Jean Meltzer. I just could not make myself care about these characters. They seemed surface level, with not depth.

Dreambound, by Dan Frey. I read a third of this and was mildly interested, but the format was kind of jarring for me (switching between texts, emails, etc.,) and Byron was kind of a self-absorbed jerk, so it couldn’t keep my attention.

Book Review: Letters from My Sister, by Valerie Fraser Luesse  

Image belongs to Revell.

Title:  Letters from My Sister      
Author:  Valerie Fraser Luesse  
Genre: Historical fiction    
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

At the turn of the twentieth century, sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are living a privileged life as the only daughters of a wealthy Alabama cotton farmer when their well-ordered household gets turned upside down by the arrival of Lily McGee. Arrestingly beautiful, Lily quickly–and innocently–draws the wrong kind of attention. Meanwhile, Callie meets a man who offers her the freedom to abandon social constraints and discover her truest self.

After Lily has a baby, Callie witnesses something she was never meant to see–or did she? Her memory is a haze, just an image in her mind of Emmy standing on a darkened riverbank and cradling Lily’s missing baby girl. Only when the sisters are separated does the truth slowly come to light through their letters–including a revelation that will shape the rest of Callie’s life.

This was a tiny bit slow to start off, but Callie was such a great character that I kept reading, and I’m so glad I did! The Bullock family was so fascinating to read about. I enjoyed every one of them! This book made me laugh out loud several times—and cry. I was immersed in the lives of the characters and the dreams of the sisters, and I ended up enjoying this very much.

Valerie Fraser Luesse lives in Birmingham. Letters From My Sister is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: Her Radiant Curse, by Elizabeth Lim    

Image belongs to Random House/Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Title:  Her Radiant Curse     
Author: Elizabeth Lim    
Genre:  Fantasy, YA  
Rating:  4 out of 5

One sister must fall for the other to rise.

Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna—the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.

Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath—launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.

I enjoyed this like I’ve enjoyed Elizabeth Lim’s other novels. The rich cultures and diverse settings fascinate me, and she’s skilled at depicting intricate relationships of all sorts. I love Channi and Vanna’s relationship with all its history and complexity. I was engrossed in watching the sisters come into their own and become who they were meant to be.

Elizabeth Lim is a bestselling author. Her Radiant Curse is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House/Knopf Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Codename Charming, by Lucy Parker

Image belongs to Avon and Harper Voyager.

Title: Codename Charming   
Author:  Lucy Parker   
Genre: Romance    
Rating:  3.8 out of 5

Petunia De Vere enjoys being the personal assistant to lovable, bumbling Johnny Marchmont. But the job has its share of challenges, including the royal’s giant, intimidating bodyguard, Matthias. Pet and Matthias are polar opposites–she’s spontaneous and enthusiastic, he’s rigid and stoic–but she can sense there’s something softer underneath that tough exterior…

For Matthias Vaughn, protecting others is the name of the game. But keeping his royal charge out of trouble is more difficult than he imagined because everywhere Johnny goes, calamity ensues, and his petite, bubbly assistant is often caught in the fray. Matthias hates the idea of Pet getting hurt and he’s determined to keep everyone safe, even if it means clashing with his adorable new coworker.

When a clumsy moment leads to a questionable tabloid photo, the press begins to speculate that Pet is romantically involved with Johnny. To put an end to the rumors, the royal PR team asks Pet and Matthias to stage a fake relationship and the two reluctantly agree. But as they spend more time together outside of work, they begin to wonder what real emotions this pretend connection might uncover. Especially when a passionate kiss leaves both of their heads spinning…

Parts of this read were quite funny—the parrot, in particular—including Johnny’s accident-prone self. I enjoyed the two main characters, but some of it felt a bit forced or off—like Pet’s propensity for impractical footwear in a job that seems to require quick and safe movements. The quirky royal family were fun to read, too, but in the end this just ended up being an okay read.

Lucy Parker live in New Zealand. Codename Charming is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Avon and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review and Blog Tour: The Keeper of Hidden Books, by Madeline Martin

Image belongs to Harlequin/Hanover Square Press.

Title: The Keeper of Hidden Books        
Author:  Madeline Martin   
Genre: Historical fiction    
Rating:  5 out of 5

All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler’s forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.

With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto.

But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families – and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left – literature.

This was such a good read! I loved how the author focused on a microcosm of the war and the struggles of less than a handful of people, with only occasional mentions of the larger struggle going on. This made it seem so personal and relatable. What Zofia—and Janina—went through was horrible, but it was inspiring to see their determination and faith as they struggled to save parts of their heritage from the Nazis and preserve the past for the future.

Madeline Martin is a bestselling author. The Keeper of Hidden Books is her newest novel.

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

The Best Books I Read in July (2023)

In July, I read 19 books and DNFed eight, making my total for the year 117 books read. Several of these were truly excellent reads, and I cannot narrow it down to my usual three. So, this month, you get six.

The Last Exchange, by Charles Martin. This book. Man. Charles Martin writes such phenomenal characters, and this was no exception. The story of Pockets and Maybe Joe was absolutely riveting.

Demons of Good and Evil, by Kim Harrison. I love all the Hollows books, and I had real trouble putting this down to go to sleep. #teamJenks

Hello Stranger, by Katherine Center. This was sweet, cute, and funny, as Center’s books usually are. I can’t imagine having facial blindness!

Ladies of the Lake, by Cathy Gohlke. A lovely historical fiction read about friendship and facing your past so you can embrace the future.

Chasing Fireflies, by Charles Martin. The setting in this one was fascinating and Uncle Willie was so vivid I felt like he was the one telling me the story. I listened to this on audio and ended up in tears driving to work one morning. My only complaint is we didn’t figure out what happened to Jack!

The Keeper of Hidden Books, by Madeline Martin. Another lovely historical fiction read! I loved reading about Warsaw during World War II—and how people fought to preserve their history and books.