The names Romulus and Remus may be immortalized in map and stone and chronicle, but their mother exists only as a preface to her sons’ journey, the princess turned oath-breaking priestess, condemned to death alongside her children.
But she did not die; she survived. And so does her story.
Beautiful, royal, rich: Rhea has it all—until her father loses his kingdom in a treacherous coup, and she is sent to the order of the Vestal Virgins to ensure she will never produce an heir.
Except when mortals scheme, gods laugh.
Rhea becomes pregnant, and human society turns against her. Abandoned, ostracized, and facing the gravest punishment, Rhea forges a dangerous deal with the divine, one that will forever change the trajectory of her life…and her beloved land.
To save her sons and reclaim their birthright, Rhea must summon nature’s mightiest force – a mother’s love – and fight.
All roads may lead to Rome, but they began with Rhea Silvia.
Going into this, I expected to DNF it because my attention wandered due to slow pacing. That is not what happened. Instead, I binge-read this in one sitting. Rhea was a fascinating character, and I enjoyed her point of view so much! She grew a lot through the course of this book, and it was fascinating to read through her journey. Antho was also a great story, and I enjoyed her story very much. Definitely recommend this read!
Lauren J. A. Bear lives in Seattle. Mother of Rome is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group/Ace in exchange for an honest review.)
Since I was off Monday and Tuesday this week post-surgery, I had plenty of time to read. I wrote four book reviews this week, too: A Drop of Corruption, by Robert Jackson Bennett, The Notorious Virtues, by Alwyn Hamilton, While We’re Young, by K. L. Walther, and All the Stars Align, by Gretchen Schreiber.
Connie has always distrusted nice guys. In her experience, they’re just waiting to reveal some horrible secret. And then she meets big, adorable, Henry Samuel Beckett—editor extraordinaire, lover of bow ties, sweet and so cheery she struggles to believe he’s real.
Until Henry Samuel Beckett—or Beck, as he’s known to most—tells her the secret underneath his sunny surface: He’s been single all his life. But in a moment of panic, he’s told everyone at his publishing house that he’s married. And when Connie, an aspiring writer herself, can’t help defending him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn’t actually have.
When they head off on a writing retreat, surrounded by people convinced this must be a ruse, both of them can’t help but agree. Until they share their first kiss, their first touch, their first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the simmering tension builds…Connie starts to wonder if this might be real after all.
I have to be honest: this felt like a badly-disguised, cliched bit of porn. The characters felt more like tropes than actual people—Connie/not really Connie and her extreme skepticism of all men, Beck’s nerdy/oblivious personality—without much of a believable explanation as to why, so I could buy into the whole thing. This just really wasn’t a good fit for me.
Charlotte Stein’s new novel is My Big Fat Fake Marriage.
(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)
Grace, Isa, and Everett used to be an inseparable trio before their love lives became a tangled mess. For starters, Grace is secretly in love with Everett, who used to go out with Isa before breaking her heart in the infamous Freshman Year Fracture. And, oh yeah, no one knows that Isa has been hanging out with James, Grace’s brother—and if Grace finds out, it could ruin their friendship.
With graduation fast approaching, Grace decides an unsanctioned senior skip day in Philadelphia might be just what they need to fix things. All she has to do is convince Isa to help her kidnap Everett and outmaneuver James, who’s certain his sister is up to something.
In an epic day that includes racing up the famous Rocky steps, taste-testing Philly’s finest cheesesteaks, and even crashing a wedding, their secrets are bound to collide. But can their hearts withstand the wreckage?
This was a cute, fun book. Grace and Isa were both a lot of fun and I enjoyed their viewpoints a lot. The adventures in Philadelphia were fun and I enjoyed reading those parts a lot. I liked James and Everett and enjoyed their viewpoints, but I liked the girls better. This was a cute—and quick—read, perfect for a weekend binge.
K. L. Walther is from Pennsylvania. While We’re Young is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Random House/Delacorte in exchange for an honest review.)
During Jim Crow America, there was only one place Black Americans could safely refuel their vehicles along what would eventually become iconic Route 66. But more than just a place to refuel, it was a place to fill up the soul, build community, and find strength. For two sisters, the Threatt Filling Station became the safe haven they needed after escaping the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
After looking in the face of evil and leaving her whole world behind, Margaret Justice wants nothing more than to feel safe and hold tight to what she has left. Her sister, Evelyn, meanwhile, is a dreamer who longs for adventure and to follow her heart, even though she’s been told repeatedly to not dream too big.
As they both grapple with love, loss, and racism, Margaret and Evelyn realize that they can’t hide out at the filling station when Greenwood and their father’s legacy needs to be rebuilt. Going back will take strength they’re not sure they have. But for the love of Greenwood, they will risk it all and just may be the catalyst to bring Black Wall Street back to its former glory.
This was not a light and fluffy read. I found it horrifying and sad—but the ending was full of hope and uplifting. For some reason, I had trouble keeping the two sisters straight in my mind. I kept getting their names mixed up. The book blurb was a little misleading, as Evelyn did not want to go back to Greenwood after the traumatic events and instead wanted to stay as far away as possible. Margaret was very strong, sometimes to her own detriment, but her strength got her through the hard times.
Vanessa Miller is a best-selling author. The Filling Station is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)
In February, I read 23 books, bringing my total for the year to 42 books read. Several of those were really excellent reads.
The Lost Passenger, by Frances Quinn. I really enjoyed this historical fiction read about a woman in a loveless marriage who loses everyone but her small son when The Titanic sinks, and she uses the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her son. Such a good read!
Holy Terrors, by Margaret Owen. I loved Vanya’s voice and snark in this. Her wry observations on life and the people around her made this such a great read.
The Wandering Season by Amie K. Runyan. I love a good travel novel and I love Ireland. Combine that with the foodie aspect of this story, and this was definitely a winner for me.
Books Read in February: 23 Books Read for the Year: 42/225
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books: Onyx Storm, by Rebecca Yarros (TBR, audio): This series on audio is absolutely enthralling. Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo (TBR, audio): I really enjoyed this! Already got the second one on audio, too. The Answer is No, by Fredrik Backman (TBR): This short story really made me laugh. I love Backman’s quirky characters. The King of Koraha, by Maria V. Snyder (TBR): I generally love Snyder’s books, but this trilogy wasn’t as good to me. Misfits, Gemstone, and Other Shattered Magic, by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): That ending, though. Hearing God, by Dallas Willard (TBR), spiritual: Excellent read. Dance of a Burning Sea, by E.J. Mellow (TBR): Still loving this trilogy. Deeper than the Dead, by Debra Webb (TBR): I liked this first book in a series, and pre-ordered the second. The Dark Enquiry, by Deanna Raybourn (TBR): I think I’m done reading this. The MC is really getting on my nerves. Under the Magnolias, by T.I. Lowe (TBR): LOVED this.
For Review:
A Circle of Uncommon Witches, by Paige Crutcher. This was just a meh read for me. It felt pretty done to be, like I’d heard it all before, and it was pretty predictable.
The Lost Passenger, by Frances Quinn. I really loved this read! The MC was great, strong and determined, and I loved her tenacity as she learned to be a whole new person.
Southern by Design, by Grace Helena Walz. Loved this Southern fiction read! Charleston itself was a big character in the novel, and I’d love to visit. The characters were great, although the mother was TERRIBLE.
Spring Fling, by Annie England Noblin (forthcoming). This was a cute small-town, second-chance romance. All the characters were great–so many quirky people! And the raccoon…
The Filling Station, by Vanessa Miller (review forthcoming). It was terrible to read about this horrific event, but the book itself was a good read, although I kept getting the two sisters mixed up.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage, by Charlotte Stein (review forthcoming). This was a meh read. It came across as wanna-be porn and just did not work for me.
Mother of Rome, by Lauren J. A. Bear (review forthcoming). I am ashamed to say I went into this expecting to DNF if because most mythology re-tellings I’ve read have been horribly slow. Instead, I binge-read the entire thing in one sitting, and I highly recommend it.
The Bane Witch, by Ava Morgyn (review forthcoming). This was a little slow for me at the beginning, but it soon drew me in. If found it kind of fascinating, and king of horrifying, but the premise was unique and I enjoyed Piers.
His Mortal Demise, by Vanessa Le (review forthcoming). I enjoyed this second book in this duology. There dual POVs/dual-timeline actually worked really well.
The Deathly Grimm, by Kathryn Purdie (review forthcoming). A solid fantasy read, although who the murderer was really wasn’t much of a surprise.
Holy Terrors, by Margaret Owen (review forthcoming). The sheer level of snark in this alone made this read a winner! I didn’t have a clue who the murderer was, but I enjoyed every page of this read.
The Wandering Season, by Aimie K. Runyan (review forthcoming). I do love a good travel/finding yourself novel, and that’s what this was, combined with a lot of great foodie things.
Love, The Duke, by Amelia Grey (review forthcoming). This was just a meh read for me, as both MCs were obstinate and unwilling to see the other’s POV.
Left Unfinished:
All the Hidden Monsters, by Amie Jordan. I was intrigued by the premise of this, but the execution just didn’t work for me. The characters bored me, and I just couldn’t stay interested enough to keep reading.
True Life in Uncanny Valley, by Deb Caletti. This just did not capture my attention. The whole spying-on-her-famous-father thing didn’t work for me, because, really? Someone this well-known and wealthy would not have a house you could just sit there and look into for hours. Not believable.
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, by Gregory Maguire. This was altogether to disjointed and hard-to-follow for me. I didn’t like the writing style at all.
Title: The Lost Passenger Author: Frances Quinn Genre: Historical fiction Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Sometimes it takes a disaster to change your life.
Marrying above your social class can come with unexpected consequences, as Elinor Coombes discovers when she is swept into a fairy-tale marriage with the son of an aristocratic English family. She soon realizes that it was the appeal of her father’s hard-earned wealth rather than her pretty face that attracted her new husband and his family. Curtailed by rigid social rules that include being allowed to see her nanny-raised infant son for only moments each day, Elinor resigns herself to a lonely future. So a present from her father—tickets for the maiden voyage of a luxurious new ship called the Titanic—offers a welcome escape from the cold, controlling atmosphere of her husband’s ancestral home, and some precious time with her little son, Teddy.
When the ship goes down, Elinor grasps the opportunity to take Teddy and start a new life—but only if they can disappear completely, listed among the dead. Penniless and using another woman’s name, she must learn to survive in New York City, a brash new world that couldn’t be more different from her own, and to keep their secret safe. But alas, it’s not safe—she’s been spotted by another survivor who’s eager to profit from his discovery.
I loved this story! I liked Elinor from the beginning, and I felt her heartbreak when she found out her husband married her for her money (Although I was suspicious of him anyway). I had a feeling who he was cheating on her with, and his mother was truly terrible. The description of the actual sinking of the Titanic was well-done and very sad.
I loved Elinor’s life in New York, as she learned to stand on her own two feet and make her way in the world as a successful businesswoman and a mother. The secondary characters were believable and I read this straight through in one sitting.
Frances Quinn is a journalist. The Lost Passenger is her new novel.
(Galley courtesy of Random House/Ballantine in exchange for an honest review.)
Doreen MacKinnon is doomed to die of a broken heart – if she can’t break the centuries old curse placed on her family.
Three hundred years ago, Ambrose MacDonald, a powerful male witch, fell in love with a MacKinnon. And when the MacKinnon witches forbade him from seeing his love, by secretly hiding her away, he retaliated by cursing the family and its future generations to never find love. But it wasn’t without a cost. Now, Ambrose is imprisoned by those same witches, trapped in a tempest and doomed to outlive everyone he has ever loved.
But Doreen isn’t like the other MacKinnon witches. As the 13th generation of the MacKinnon line, Doreen is one of the most powerful witches in centuries… and one of the loneliest. So when she discovers where Ambrose has been trapped, she releases him to help her break the curse, once and for all. Ambrose agrees to help, but with his own motive: vengeance. He plans to use her as bait to enact his revenge on her family.
Together, they enter a series of trials, which take them to a castle in Scotland, off a cliff, and into a world beyond their wildest dreams. As they work together, sparks start to fly, but soon Doreen must choose how far she is willing to go to break the curse, and what she’s willing to sacrifice.
Normally I love family saga type stories, but this one didn’t work for me. Family secrets were taken to whole other level, and the flip to “Oh, we were on your side all along” felt completely made up with no supporting evidence. I wasn’t a fan of the insta-love aspect, either.
Paige Crutcher is a former journalist. A Circle of Uncommon Witches is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)
Fish Creek, Wisconsin—Beautiful. Quiet. Isolated. Anonymous. It’s all that nineteen-year-old Elisabeth needs, and everything she wants. Cloistered in her tiny cabin, Elisabeth is determined to be alone, hiding from her memories and making sure that no one can ever hurt her again.
But when a massive snowstorm strikes, plunging the town into darkness, Elisabeth finally allows herself to accept help from her neighbor, Noah, the town’s young sheriff. Forced to show him more vulnerability than she ever intended, Elisabeth realizes she can no longer outrun the scars of her childhood, and facing the darkness might be exactly what she needs to let the light in.
I have a hard time with passive people who just let life—and people—happen to them. What Elisabeth went through as a child was horrific and is something no child—or anyone else—should ever have to go through. What the doctor did, and what her mother let happen, was terrible. And what kind of mother lets her child be tortured like that?
But Elisabeth as an adult kind of got on my nerves a bit for a while, with her passivity and hiding from the world and everyone in it. You do not have to let things that have happened to you control your life—you can move past them and grow stronger from them. For a long time, Elisabeth was content to live in the shadow of her past without attempting to heal from it, and that was very hard for me to read. I was glad when she started to embrace who she was now without clutching the horrors of her past around her like a protective cloak.
Allison Sweet Grant lives in Philadelphia. I Am the Cage is her new novel.
(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group/Dutton in exchange for an honest review.)
Tomorrow Is Another Day 