Tag: reading

Book Review: The Fabled Earth, by Kimberly Brock

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title: The Fabled Earth
Author:  Kimberly Brock  
Genre: historical fiction   
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

1932. Cumberland Island off the coast of Southern Georgia is a strange place to encounter the opulence of the Gilded Age, but the last vestiges of the famed philanthropic Carnegie family still take up brief seasonal residence in their grand mansions there. This year’s party at Plum Orchard is a lively young men from some of America’s finest families come to experience the area’s hunting beside a local guide; a beautiful debutante expecting to be engaged by the week’s end, and a promising female artist who believes she has meaningful ties to her wealthy hosts. But when temptations arise and passions flare, an evening of revelry and storytelling goes horribly awry. Lives are both lost and ruined.

1959. Reclusive painter Cleo Woodbine has lived alone for decades on Kingdom Come, a tiny strip of land once occupied by the servants for the great houses on nearby Cumberland. When she is visited by the man who saved her life nearly thirty years earlier, a tempest is unleashed as the stories of the past gather and begin to regain their strength. Frances Flood is a folklorist come to Cumberland Island seeking the source of a legend – and also information about her mother, who was among the guests at a long-ago hunting party. Audrey Howell, briefly a newlywed and now newly widowed, is running a local inn. When she develops an eerie double exposure photograph, some believe she’s raised a ghost–someone who hasn’t been seen since that fateful night in 1932.

As a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape and shifting tides reveal what Cumberland Island has hidden all along, two timelines and the perspectives of three women intersect to illuminate the life-changing power of finding truth in a folktale.

I enjoyed both timelines of this novel a lot! The setting was such a large part of the story, from Kingdom Come itself, to the small town on the island, and Plum Orchard—all are vivid and memorable. I love how myth and fable are twisted into the story, adding depth and flavor, and all the characters are believable and poignant Such a good read!

Kimberly Brock is a bestselling author. The Fabled Earth is her newest novel.

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

Sundays are for Writing #297

This has been a great writing week! I got in five fiction sessions. I also wrote three book reviews, A Song to Drown Rivers, by Ann Liang, How to Help a Hungry Werewolf, by Charlotte Stein, Betrayal at Blackthorn Park, by Julia Kelly . I also wrote my September reading post and my Best Books I Read in September post.

Happy writing!

Book Review: Betrayal at Blackthorn Park, by Julia Kelly

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title:  Betrayal at Blackthorn Park  
Author: Julia Kelly  
Genre:  Historical fiction, mystery
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

Freshly graduated from a rigorous training program in all things spy craft, former typist Evelyne Redfern is eager for her first assignment as a field agent helping Britain win the war. However, when she learns her first task is performing a simple security test at Blackthorn Park, a requisitioned manor house in the sleepy Sussex countryside, she can’t help her initial disappointment. Making matters worse, her handler is to be David Poole, a fellow agent who manages to be both strait-laced and dashing in annoyingly equal measure. However, Evelyne soon realizes that Blackthorn Park is more than meets the eye, and an upcoming visit from Winston Churchill means that security at the secret weapons research and development facility is of the utmost importance.

When Evelyne discovers Blackthorn Park’s chief engineer dead in his office, her simple assignment becomes more complicated. Evelyne must use all of her—and David’s—detection skills to root out who is responsible and uncover layers of deception that could change the course of the war.

I’ve enjoyed all of Julia Kelly’s books that I’ve read so far, but this series is a perfect binge-read. I enjoy watching Evelyn and seeing how her mind works as she’s making connections and putting things together. It’s kind of like watching someone work a Rubik’s cube. The way she and David play off each other makes them a great pair, and I was invested in their case from the beginning.

Julia Kelly is a bestselling author who lives in London. Betrayal at Blackthorn Park is her newest novel.

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

Book Review:   How to Help a Hungry Werewolf, by Charlotte Stein

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title:   How to Help a Hungry Werewolf
Author: Charlotte Stein         
Genre:  Romance       
Rating:  2.5 out of 5

When Cassandra Camberwell returns to her hometown of Hollow Brook to clear out her late grandmother’s ramshackle old house, the last thing she expects is Seth Brubaker on her doorstep. Her former best friend was responsible for the worst moment of her high school life, and she can’t imagine he wants to do anything but torment her all over again.

Until she unearths the real reason this annoyingly gorgeous beast of a man keeps hanging around: he’s an actual werewolf, who’s certain she’s the witch that will ease his suffering. But Cassie just isn’t sure if she can trust him again. So Seth offers a pact: he’ll teach her all about her undiscovered magic, and she will brew the potions he needs. No feelings, no funny business, just a witch and a werewolf striking a deal.

Totally doable. Until they get hit with a do-or-die mating bond. And now the heat is rising, in between fights with formers bullies and encounters with talking raccoons. They just have to not give in. Unless giving in just might be the very thing they never knew they always wanted.

I thought the first half of this was decent, if a little predictable and juvenile. The second half turned into some sort of wannabe-erotica without any believable worldbuilding or plot. I’m not sure what else to say about it.

Charlotte Stein lives in Leeds. How to Help a Hungry Werewolf is her newest novel.

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

The Best Books I Read in September (2024)

In September, I read 19 books, bringing my total books read for the year to 167. Of those, several of them were excellent reads.

A Song to Drown Rivers, by Ann Liang. I found this really engrossing. The culture was fascinating, and I loved the main character. I did not love the ending, but it made sense.

The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams, by Karen Hawkins. Like the rest of the Dove Pond books, this was a magical read. I love the setting, and I liked these characters, too.

The Break-Up Pact, by Emma Lord. This was such a fun read! I loved the setting, and the relationship of the characters. This is an excellent weekend or beach read.

What I Read in September (2024)

Books Read in  September: 19
Books Read for the Year:  166/215

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:

Rock Paper Scissors, by Devon Monk (audio, TBR): Loving this series!
Dime a Demon by Devon Monk (audio, TBR): These dramatized audio books are excellent!
I See Us by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): I really liked the nding of this.
Silent in the Grave, by Deanna Raybourn (TBR): Why have I not read this series before?
Cursed Luck, by Kelley Armstrong (TBR): This was a lot of fun.
The Wicked and the Dead, by Melissa Marr (TBR): I enjoyed this and want to read more.
A Secret Scottish Escape, by Julie Shackman (TBR): A good weekend read.
The Mystery of Albert E. Finch, by Callie Hutton (TBR): I wasn’t really a fan of this. It felt a bit draggy.

For Review:

The New Camelot, by Robyn Schneider. This was a quick, fun read, and although I hadn’t read the first two books in the series, I didn’t have trouble with it. Quite a liberal interpretation of Arthurian legend, so not believable, but fun nevertheless.

The Break-Up Pact, by Emma Lord. I don’t recommend reading this if you’re trying to give up sugar, a many of the scones sounded delectable, but this was absolutely a cute, fun read. I loved the banter between the characters and the small town feel. The would be a perfect beach read.

The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams, by Karen Hawkins. I’ve really enjoyed the Dove Pond books, and this was another charming read. Both timelines were engrossing, and I rooted for all the characters to work everything out for the best.

The Booklover’s Library, by Madeline Martin. This was a lovely read! World War II historical fiction is my jam, and Martin does it so well! I loved the characters, the struggles, the setting…all of it!

Casket Case, by Lauren Evans. This was very much a “meh” read for me. The MC was so passive, the insta-love wasn’t believable, and in general it just felt so slow.

The Slowest Burn, by Sarah Chamberlain. This was decent read, but the male MC kind of got on my nerves.

All I Want Is You, by Falon Ballard. I enjoyed this a lot! The tropes made it very fun.

The Lightning Bottles, by Marissa Stapley. I’d have enjoyed this more if a book set in the decade I graduated high school wasn’t marketed as historical fiction…

A Fire in the Sky, by Sophie Jordan. I enjoyed this a lot, although the last quarter of the book felt a little rushed.

A Song to Drown Rivers, by Ann Liang. I thought this was a heck of a read!\

How to Help a Hungry Werewolf, by Charlotte Stein (review forthcoming). Yeah, probably better to just pass on this. It felt a bit like juvenile, wannabe erotica, with an added layer of nonsense and the MC not having to struggle for anything.

Unfinished:

Given Our History, by Kristyn J. Miller. I only made it about 10% of the way through this before realizing I just didn’t care about the MC.

The Book Swap, by Tessa Bickers. Neither of the MC kept my interest at all.

Mysterious Ways, by Wendy Wunder. Yeah, I DNFed this at about 10%. The multiple, seemingly-unconnected POVs made this feel like absolute chaos, not to mention the author’s political views being shoehorned in all over the place. No, thanks. Not for me.

The Christmas Tree Farm, by Melody Carlson. I read about 10% of this and it wasn’t bad, but I didn’t find myself eager to get back to reading it when I had to put it down to do something else.

Before We Were Us, by Denise Hunter. I normally love Hunter’s books, but when Lauren woke up in the hospital, I just didn’t like her. I kept reading for a bit, hoping she’d show a tiny bit of likability, but that didn’t happen.

Tiny Threads, by Lilliam Rivera. I just could not get into this. The pacing felt very monotonous.

When the World Tips over, by Jandy Nelson. The POV felt very chaotic and I didn’t connect with the characters.

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.)

Sundays are for Writing #296

This was a great writing week! Five fiction sessions and four book reviews: The Slowest Burn, by Sarah Chamberlain, All I Want Is You, by Falon Ballard, The Lightning Bottles, by Marissa Stapley, and A Fire in the Sky, by Sophie Jordan.

Happy writing!

Book Review:   A Fire in the Sky, by Sophie Jordan

Image belongs to Avon and Harper Voyager.

Title:  A Fire in the Sky  
Author:  Sophie Jordan        
Genre: Fantasy       
Rating:  4 out of 5

Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying.

But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it’s her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard…though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship.

When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride…but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone.

Magic is not dead…it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

I enjoyed the writing in this, and the culture was well-done, if a bit infuriating. I liked both Fell and Tamsyn and enjoyed their chemistry. I felt like the last quarter of the book was a bit rushed, so that detracted a little from my enjoyment, but I’d be interested in reading more, as the storyline was strong enough to carry me through and I’m interested to see what happens next.

Sophie Jordan is a bestselling author. A Fire in the Sky is her newest novel.

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

Book Review:  The Lightning Bottles, by Marissa Stapley

Image belongs to Simon & Schuster.

Title:  The Lightning Bottles  
Author: Marissa Stapley         
Genre: Historical fiction      
Rating: 4 out of 5

Jane Pyre was once one half of one of the most famous rock ‘n’ roll duos in the world, The Lightning Bottles. Years later, she’s perhaps the most hated (and least understood) woman in music. She was never as popular with fans as her bandmate (and soulmate) Elijah—even if Jane was the one who wrote the songs that catapulted The Lightning Bottles to instant, dizzying fame, first in the Seattle grunge scene, and then around the world. But then Elijah disappeared, and everything came crashing down. Even now, years after Elijah vanished, Jane is universally blamed and reviled by the public. In an attempt to get some peace and quiet, Jane rents a house in a remote part of Germany where she knows she won’t be disturbed. But on the day she arrives, she’s confronted by her new next-door neighbor, a sullen teenaged girl named Hen who just so happens to be a Lightning Bottles superfan—and who claims to have a piece of information that might solve the mystery of what happened to Elijah, and whether he is, in fact, still alive and leaving messages for Jane after all these years.

This started off a little bit slowly, but I kept reading because it was fascinating, and I’m glad I did! Okay, I do have a problem with this being called historical fiction, because it’s set in the ‘90s, and I graduated high school in 1995, so that makes me feel really old, but that’s my problem!

The setting was well-done and felt authentic to the ‘90s, and I really enjoyed all the musical references. Jane was slow to warm up to, but she grew on me. I never really felt a connection with Elijah, but I didn’t dislike him or anything. This was a solid read!

Marissa Stapley is a bestselling author. The Lightning Bottles is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.)