Tag: reading

Book Review: Don’t Let In the Cold, by Keely Parrack

Title: Don’t Let In the Cold
Author: Keely Parrack
Genre: Mystery/thriller
Rating: 4.0

It was supposed to be just one night in the cabin: one night for Lottie and her brand new stepsister, Jade, to try to get along. When a solar flare causes a massive blackout―no power or cell signal―Lottie knows they’ve got a long night ahead of them.

Then, in the dark, someone else shows up at the cabin―a stranger named Alex, claiming to be lost and needing shelter from the coming snowstorm. But later that night, Lottie spies him in the driveway talking to two mysterious men in a pickup truck, and she’s sure he’s lying about why he’s here.

Before Lottie can find out more, a fire forces her, Jade, and Alex out into the blizzard, where they must rely on one another to get to safety―wherever that is. In the remote, freezing Tahoe wilderness, they have to survive more than just the elements. Soon it becomes clear that Alex’s accomplices are hunting for all three of them, in a scheme that’s gone too far and taken a chilling, deadly turn.

This was a decent read—but only because I’m not reading it in the winter! To me, Alex was a red flag from the very beginning, but I liked him well enough, eventually. I liked how the story was so focused on these three characters and their world—all the drama was condensed into a small, concentrated package.

Keely Parrack lives in San Francisco. Don’t Let in the Cold is her newest novel.

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

The Best Books I read in August (2022)

In August, I read 22 books, bringing my total for the year to 159 books. I also DNFed 12 books—that’s a LOT. There were some solid reads, some “meh” reads, and a handful of really good reads. The three I liked the most were:

Unwritten, by Charles Martin. I haven’t read many of Martin’s books—yet. I’m definitely going to plow through his backlist, because I’ve adored everything I’ve read of his, and this is no exception. His stories and characters just draw me in from the very first page.

Hello, Goodbye, by Kate Stollenwerck. This was at times an emotional read, but I enjoyed every single day. Gigi was such a great character, and I just loved her.

Lucy Checks In, by Dee Ernst. It was so nice to read a middle-aged MC for a change. One that’s having adventures, changing her world, and growing as a person. A lovely read!

What I Read in August (2022)

Books Read in August: 22
Books Read for the Year: 159/250
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:

I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, by Norman L. Geizler (spiritual). This was fascinating!

Beyond Opinion, by Ravi Zacharias (spiritual). Pretty sure I’m not smart enough to have retained even half of this.

John’s Story, by Tim Lahaye (spiritual). Loved this.

The Demon Tide, by Laurie Forest (TBR). Continuing to love this series.

Unwritten, by Charles Martin (TBR). SO GOOD.

For Review:

How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying), by Cristina Fernandez. Honestly, this was just a meh read for me. The MC was pretty selfish and self-absorbed, and that got on my nerves.

Don’t Go to Sleep, by Bryce Moore. The descriptions of New Orleans a hundred years ago were fascinating, but the concept itself didn’t work for me (the MC’s mental connection with the axe murderer). I also didn’t really like that there was no resolution as to why he was killing people.

Love and the Dream Come True, by Tammy L. Gray. I really enjoyed this sweet romance.

Hello, Goodbye, by Kate Stollenwerck. Parts of this book absolutely wrecked me! I enjoyed the MC from the very first page, and her relationship with her Gigi was so wonderful!

Bend Toward the Sun, by Jen Devon. The MC was occasionally really self-absorbed, but I enjoyed this, and I’d absolutely read more books about this family.

The Memory Index, by Julian Ray Vaca. This felt like a bad, predictable—yet kind of nonsense—80s movie.

Lucy Checks In, by Dee Ernst. I LOVED this! It was wonderful that Lucy was front and center, and her journey, not the romance, was center stage.

Would You Rather, by Allison Ashley. This was a lot of fun! Definitely fun, likable characters.

A Venom Dark and Sweet, by Judy I. Lin. I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as the first book in the duology. The second half felt very rushed, almost skimming over thing.

Surrendering to Hunt, by Jennifer Ryan. This was a solid read, despite the almost-insta-love plot.

The Thread Collectors, by Shaunna J. Edwards; Alyson Richman. This was a great read! I enjoyed both points-of-view a lot.

Our Little World, by Karen Winn. I’d say this was a step above meh. The MC was quite self-absorbed and bratty, so it ruined it a bit for me.

Just Because:

Who Ate Lunch with Abraham? by Asher Intrater (spiritual). This was fascinating.

After the Rapture, by David Jeremiah (spiritual).

Who Made God? by Ravi Zacharias (spiritual).

Winning the War in Your Mind, by Craig Groeschel (spiritual/audio). This has some excellent tips in it.

How Happiness Happens, by Max Lucado (spiritual/audio). I enjoyed this! Excellent narrator.

Left Unfinished:

Twice as Perfect, by Louisa Onome. I liked this…except for the obsession with Skeleboy and acting like he was a god. That was too annoying to continue to read. It’s possible I’ll re-visit in the future.

Hearts of Briarwall, by Krista Jensen. To me, the female characters were vapid and silly. I stopped at 20%.

The Stars Between Us, by Cristin Terrill. The MC was just a terrible person and I couldn’t stand to read more about her.

The Last of the Seven, by Steven Hartov. This just wasn’t a good fit for me.

Mr. Perfect on Paper, by Jean Meltzer. These characters didn’t work for me. Dara’s anxiety was described in such excruciating detail it bogged everything else down, and Chris…well, the first time he meets Dara, there’s no sign he even notices her. A few minutes later he’s remembering his physical attraction to her…that wasn’t even hinted at in that first meeting.

Wild is the Witch, by Rachel Griffin. The first 15% of this seemed pretty dark to me, with a lot of negativity between Iris and Pike.

The Art of Prophecy, by Wesley Chu. Frankly, I didn’t get too far in this, because I found Jian annoyingly entitled, spoiled, and ineffectual.

The Neopolitan Sisters, by Margo Candela. Okay, the bridezilla sister was so selfish and self-centered I wanted to smack her. The second sister wasn’t much better. And I didn’t keep reading to meet the third.

The Monsters We Defy, by Leslye Penelope. I read 10% of this and it just didn’t catch my attention, so there was no point in reading more.

Small Town, Big Magic, by Hazel Beck. Emerson got on my very last nerve with her constant assurance that SHE was right and everyone else was wrong. I was intrigued enough to read 20%, but then I realized I’d been annoyed by her the entire time, so I just stopped reading.

Die Around Sundown, by Mark Pryor. I just couldn’t connect with the MC, so it didn’t catch my attention.

Earning It, by E.F. Dodd. Rae just didn’t work for me. She wasn’t likable enough for me to continue reading.

Book Review: Our Little World, by Karen Winn

Title: Our Little World
Author: Karen Winn
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.8 out of 5

July 1985. It’s a normal, sweltering New Jersey summer for soon-to-be seventh grader Bee Kocsis. Her thoughts center only on sunny days spent at Deer Chase Lake, evenings chasing fireflies around her cul-de-sac with the neighborhood kids, and Max, the boy who just moved in across the street. That and the burgeoning worry that she’ll never be as special as her younger sister, Audrina, who seems to effortlessly dazzle wherever she goes.

But when Max’s little sister, Sally, goes missing at the lake, Bee’s long-held illusion of stability is shattered in an instant. As the families in her close-knit community turn inward, suspicious, and protective, things in Bee’s own home become increasingly strained, most of all with Audrina, when a shameful secret surfaces. With everything changed, Bee and Audrina’s already-fraught sisterhood is pushed to the limit as they grow up–and apart–in the wake of an innocence lost too soon.

This was definitely not a light and fluffy read. I found it pretty dark. Part of that could be that my younger brother was diagnosed with type one diabetes in 1988—about two years after Drina was—and the issues Drina had with her disease felt so, so familiar. Even leaving that out, Bee is not a happy narrator, and I felt that on every page.

Karen Winn lives in Boston. Our Little World is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group Dutton in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review and Blog Tour: The Thread Collectors, by Shaunna J. Edwards; Alyson Richman

Image belongs to Harlequin/Graydon House.

Title: The Thread Collectors
Author: Shaunna J. Edwards; Alyson Richman
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier and a brilliant musician.

Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. Between abolitionist meetings, Lily rolls bandages and crafts quilts with her sewing circle for other soldiers, too, hoping for their safe return home. But when months go by without word from her husband, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him.

As these two women risk everything for love and freedom during the brutal Civil War, their paths converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us.

I really enjoyed this read! New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, but I don’t think I’ve ever read anything with quite this setting—it was both heartbreaking and inspirational. I liked all four main characters and was invested in their journeys, and it was lovely to see such hope in the midst of such a dark struggle. I love that this is inspired by both the authors’ family histories, and I truly enjoyed this tale.

Shauna Edwards lives in Harlem and Alyson Richman lives in Long Island. The Thread Collectors is their newest novel.

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

Book Review: Surrendering to Hunt, by Jennifer Ryan

Image belongs to Avon and Harper Voyager.

Title: Surrendering to Hunt
Author: Jennifer Ryan
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

The last thing lawman Hunt Wilde ever dreamed he’d do was fall hard for a purple-haired troublemaker like Cyn Wilson. While Hunt believes in law and order, Cyn lives life fast and loose–with fast cars and wild nights. But when Cyn’s sister disappears, she surprisingly turns to him for help. Never let it be said that a Wilde man turned down a woman in distress–and on a mission.

It takes a lot for Cyn to swallow her pride and ask Hunt for anything. The man never gives her a break and is always staring at her with those perceptive eyes. But beneath Cyn’s tough exterior beats a heart as wide and beautiful as Wyoming itself–and soon she finds herself surrendering to the overpowering attraction simmering between them and partnering with him in the search for her missing sister.

She won’t rest until she learns the truth, even if that means putting herself in harm’s way. And when Hunt discovers how much danger Cyn is in because of him, he’s even more determined to take down the man who would take her out of Hunt’s life–forever.

This was a decent read—and actually made small-town, western life sound appealing—and I enjoyed it. I’d actually like to read more about the secondary characters, and since this is part of a series of linked standalones, that will probably happen. Things between Hunt and Cyn developed really quickly, and that doesn’t usually work for me, but this was pretty believable. All-in-all a good way to spend a few weekend hours.

Jennifer Ryan is a bestselling author. Surrendering to Hunt is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: A Venom Dark and Sweet, by Judy I. Lin

Image belongs to Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends.

Title: A Venom Dark and Sweet
Author: Judy I. Lin
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

A great evil has come to the kingdom of Dàxi. The Banished Prince has returned to seize power, his rise to the dragon throne aided by the mass poisonings that have kept the people bound in fear and distrust.

Ning, a young but powerful shénnóng-shi—a wielder of magic using the ancient and delicate art of tea-making—has escorted Princess Zhen into exile. Joining them is the princess’ loyal bodyguard, Ruyi, and Ning’s newly healed sister, Shu. Together the four young women travel throughout the kingdom in search of allies to help oust the invaders and take back Zhen’s rightful throne.

But the golden serpent still haunts Ning’s nightmares with visions of war and bloodshed. An evil far more ancient than the petty conflicts of men has awoken, and all the magic in the land may not be enough to stop it from consuming the world…

I loved the first book in this duology, A Magic Steeped in Poison, but I don’t think this book quite lived up to that first one. I still loved the characters and the world, but the last half of the book felt a bit rushed and almost superficial, like the author was describing what happened—but not actually letting the reader experience it.

Judy I. Lin lives in Canada. A Venom Dark and Sweet is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review and Blot Tour: Small Town, Big Magic, by Hazel Beck

Title: Small Town, Big Magic
Author: Hazel Beck
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: DNF

Witches aren’t real. Right?

No one has civic pride quite like Emerson Wilde. As a local indie bookstore owner and youngest-ever Chamber of Commerce president, she’d do anything for her hometown of St. Cyprian, Missouri. After all, Midwest is best! She may be descended from a witch who was hanged in 1692 during the Salem Witch Trials, but there’s no sorcery in doing your best for the town you love.

Or is there?

As she preps Main Street for an annual festival, Emerson notices strange things happening around St. Cyprian. Strange things that culminate in a showdown with her lifelong arch-rival, Mayor Skip Simon. He seems to have sent impossible, paranormal creatures after her. Creatures that Emerson dispatches with ease, though she has no idea how she’s done it. Is Skip Simon…a witch? Is Emerson?

It turns out witches are real, and Emerson is one of them. She failed a coming-of-age test at age eighteen—the only test she’s ever failed!—and now, as an adult, her powers have come roaring back.

But she has little time to explore those powers, or her blossoming relationship with her childhood friend, cranky-yet-gorgeous local farmer Jacob North: an ancient evil has awakened in St. Cyprian, and it’s up to Emerson and her friends—maybe even Emerson herself—to save everything she loves.

Emerson got on my very last nerve with her constant assurance that SHE was right and everyone else was wrong. I was intrigued enough to read 20%, but then I realized I’d been annoyed by her the entire time, so I just stopped reading.

Small Town, Big Magic is the first novel in a four-book series.

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

Book Review and Blog Tour: Would You Rather, by Allison Ashley

Title: Would You Rather
Author: Allison Ashley
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Noah and Mia have always been best friends, and their friendship is the most important thing to them. Life is going great for Noah and he’s up for a promotion in a job he loves. But Mia’s life is on hold as she awaits a kidney transplant. She’s stuck in a dead-end job and, never wanting to be a burden, has sworn off all romance. So when the chance of a lifetime comes to go back to school and pursue her dream, it’s especially painful to pass up. She can’t quit her job or she’ll lose the medical insurance she so desperately needs.

To support her, Noah suggests they get married—in name only—so she can study full-time and still keep the insurance. It’s a risk to both of them, with jobs, health and hearts on the line, and they’ll need to convince suspicious coworkers and nosy roommates that they’re the real deal. But if they can let go of all the baggage holding them back, they might realize that they would rather be together forever.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read! The dynamic between Mia and Noah was wonderful, and their banter makes their friendship even more fun to read. I loved how their relationship slowly changes—after they get married—and they both admit to themselves they’ve had feelings for each other for years. It was so much fun to read about their lives and everything they’ve been through together. I highly recommend this!

Allison Ashley works in oncology. Would You Rather is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: Lucy Checks In, by Dee Ernst

Title: Lucy Checks In
Author: Dee Ernst
Genre: Romance
Rating: 5.0 out of 5

Lucia Giannetti needs a fresh start. Once the hotel manager of a glamorous NYC hotel and intimately involved with the hotel’s owner, Lucy had her entire future planned out. But when the owner disappears, taking millions of dollars with him, Lucy’s life as she knows it falls apart.

Two years later, forty-nine years old and unemployed, Lucy takes a job in Rennes, France to manage the Hotel Paradis. She pictures fur quilts and extravagant chandeliers, but what she finds is wildly different. Lucy is now in charge of turning the run-down, but charming hotel into a bustling tourist attraction. Between painting rooms, building a website, and getting to know Bing, the irritatingly attractive artist, Lucy finds an unexpected home. But can she succeed in bringing the Hotel Paradis to its former glory?

I would like to say: I’ve never had a desire to visit France—except when I read books that make it seem so magical I absolutely must go. This was one of those books. Except the setting was really the Hotel Paradis, not France itself, so really, I want to go to this hotel and live.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I love that the main character was not a woman in her 20s or early 30s, but one almost 50. I love Lucia’s journey back to finding herself and confidence in herself just as much as the journey to restore the hotel. I also loved that romance took a backseat, not the driver’s seat in this story. This is just a wonderful book!

Dee Ernst is from New Jersey. Lucy Checks In is her newest novel.

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

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