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Historical Fiction
Latest Book Reviews
5.0
READ VIA:
Libby Audio
ABOUT:
Set in the winter of 1789-1790 in Maine, we follow Martha Ballard as she becomes entangled in a murder and assault trial in her town of Hallowell. Throughout the winter, we also get the day-to-day experience of her life. midwife, her experiences of being middle-aged with adult children, and a look into her passion and trust-filled marriage.
MY THOUGHTS:
Martha Ballard a woman of honesty, multiple layers and a fierce protector of other women. I found her frankness refreshing and her approach to patient care highly relatable. I enjoyed that she stood her ground for what she believed in. The discussion of midwifery was fascinating, and I enjoyed how Lawhon incorporated so much about medicine and motherhood.
At the core, this is a story of believing women. Believing that the work they do in the home is important, believing them that bearing children and raising them ins work, and believing them when they state a man has hurt them. Finding value in their existence.
I think that speaks to the essence of womanhood for so many. The invisible force sustaning so many.
While there are many challenging themes (read the CW if you need them), Lawhon handles them with care while also remaining true to the attitudes around women, sex, and the power of men that prevailed in the 1790s.
Finally, I adored the relationship between Martha and her husband Ephraim. The intimacy and passion between them helped soften the edges of this otherwise raw story.
A sensational portrayal of winter and womanhood, this is not to be missed.
AUDIO:
Jane Oppenheimer absolutely nailed the audio. I found the characters easy to distinguish, and her emotionally charged performance enhanced my entire reading experience.
SIMILAR BOOKS:
I absolutely loved Lawhon’s book Code Name Hélène, which offered gripping storytelling, heartbreak, and a woman not afraid to challenge the status quo.
SHOULD YOU READ:
This an outstanding historical fiction. I also think this would make an incredible book club pick!
Non-Fiction
Latest Book Reviews
4
READ VIA:
Spotify audio and library borrow.
Read as part of Sharon McMahon Book Club.
ABOUT:
With only 107 days remaining until the general election, Kamala Harris was informed that President Biden was dropping out of the Democratic race, making her the de facto nominee. What follows is a hard-fought yet ultimately unsuccessful run for president of the United States.
MY THOUGHTS:
This is an exceedingly difficult review to write because while I loved how frank Kamala was in this book, her honesty left me feeling disappointed in both the leaders of the Democratic Party, the political machine, and the American people.
Harris provides the reader with essentially a day-by-day description of the craziness required to run a campaign and the toll it took on her. I appreciated her discussing the amount of money, stress, and scheduling difficulties required to acquire endorsements, meet with constituents, and prep for a debate, all of which help to point out how crazy US politics are.
What I loved: every moment with Tim Walz, and the love she has for her team and family. The way it was clear she never wavered on who and what she represents.
What I disliked: her tiptoeing around her relationship with Biden, her assertion that her term would have been different from Biden but never saying how. Also, the lack of self-reflection (yes, media sucks, yes, you were given a short time frame, but come on).
I was hoping this would leave me feeling hopeful, but it mostly left me feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work it will take whoever runs for the Democratic nomination in 2028.
AUDIO:
Harris does a wonderful job voicing her memoir, and intonation adds an emotional element.
SIMILAR BOOKS:
This is similar in tone to A Promised Land by Barack Obama.
SHOULD YOU READ:
I think this humanized Kamala in a way many will appreciate, and it helped me see that politics is so much more than the candidate.
I am attending a zoom book club meeting with the author(!!!) later this month so will report if my feelings change!
Fantasy, Romance
Latest Book Reviews
4.5
ABOUT:
Kier and Gray, mage and power source, childhood friends, both devoted and longing for each other, find themselves at the army’s outpost fighting a war for their kingdom.
When the opportunity arises to accompany an enemy prisoner, they find themselves leading an expedition and their secrets coming dangerously to light.
Will they be able to protect each other, and will either have the bravery to act on their love and will they confront their past and the war around them?
MY THOUGHTS:
Hello, Lady Knight, I am obsessed with you.
This book is a slowly unwinding yearn- fest, and I was here for it. The way these two are interconnected is so riveting, and the childhood friends-to-lovers was incredibly well done. Devotion is almost too small a word for the way these two care for each other!
I appreciated that their backstory was slowly revealed, allowing you to become increasingly invested in the outcome of their present.
It was atmospheric, with detailed battles, well-explained complex magic, and rich side characters.
Additionally, this world was so queer affirming, and I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on that. From the use of pronouns to Kier’s parents, there was something really special about how Bovalino incorporated queer identities; it was so lovely to read.
This was my first Lady Knight book, but it will certainly not be my last!
SHOULD YOU READ:
If you are into lady knights, soul mates, and slow-burning fantasy, this is not to be missed!
Romance, Thriller/ Horror
Latest Book Reviews
4.5
Rival writers snowed in days before Christmas at an English manor with a murderer on the loose and a woman missing, and delicious banter make 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳 one of my tops reads of the holiday season!
I would not say I am a mystery person, but the short chapters, the bits of Ethan’s POV (it was delightful, and I screamed in delight when it changed unexpectedly), and the mysterious clues had me hooked from the beginning
Maggie, a mystery writer coming off a rough divorce, is delightful. She deals with the trauma of her ex while doing the work, which feels both believable and allows the reader to become invested in her heart.
Ethan Wyatt is a “leather jacket guy”—aka a best-selling thriller writer heartthrob who is actually a golden retriever with a complicated past. I loved the snippets we got into his POV, and the way he wanted Maggie was top-notch!
This fades to black but has enough tension. I didn’t miss the lack of “more.” The romance here is sweet and endearing, and I loved that it is almost the background to the mystery playing out! The banter is perfect!
(slight trope spoiler ahead)
There is (perhaps my new favorite thing) two different tropes running parallel in the romance. It is enemies to lovers for her but more like an unrequited crush for him.
I tend to love everything Saskia narrates, and this was no exception! Her vibrato is perfect for the mystery element, and I enjoyed her in the moments of Maggie’s self-reflection! The audio was well done, with some moments of playing recordings and some sound effects! If you like audio, that is the way to go!
Overall, this well-hyped book was worth all the hype! It is not Christmasy, so I recommend you pick it up ASAP!
General Fiction
Latest Book Reviews
5.0
Several months ago, I posted about wanting to read more indie authors, and Sherry mentioned she had written and self-published a couple of books.
If you follow Sherry, you know her reviews are insightful. More importantly, she has a true knack for making each word on the page feel imperative to the story. Her writing here only exemplifies that.
Undeclared follows a widower, Landon, as he navigates solo parenthood, his extremely concerned mother, and his previous in-laws, all while also trying to be a 22-year-old.
In a grief group with a collection of older women, Landon meets Iris. Iris immediately connects with his daughter, Sadie, in a way he cannot. Iris, who might also be tugging at his broken heart strings.
This novel seems sad on the surface, yet it is filled with hope and healing. You cannot help but want to make things easier for Landon, although, like his friends and family, you are not quite sure how to do that.
The secondary characters were exquisitely crafted. From his sly brother-in-law to the women in his group, each had a purpose and added complexity to the plot.
Perhaps my favorite character was Landon’s mom. She poured so much love into her son that it became overbearing, as at times he could not see her intentions. I couldn’t help but admire the push and pull in their relationship.
Mann truly captured what it feels like to be human and lost, the various forms of love, and the self-sacrifice of toddler parenting with ease and flowing prose. She once told me she is good at self-editing, and I cannot express how tenderly she puts these words on the page.
I admired her ability to write book reviews, but I am genuinely in awe of the story she created here.
If you seek stories with heavy themes, sparks of joy, and masterful character growth, I cannot help but demand that you read this book!
General Fiction
Latest Book Reviews
4.5
Deavasting, relevant, and yet an ode to the power of Love, Island of Missing Trees is a hauntingly beautiful story.
Told in dual timelines and perspectives, this novel follows Ada, a sixteen-year-old Turkish-Greek Girl in London, as she grapples with her family history following the loss of her mother.
Through Ada’s conversations with her aunt and in conjunction with the perspective of her father’s beloved fig tree, we learn a story of war, religious intolerance, and compounding atrocities.
This story creeps up on you suddenly without your realizing it. You are wrapped up in a world far apart from you in location and time; The tension, the heartbreak, and the slow unwinding of family trauma.
I could not help but make parallels to the present with contentions over foreign powers, religious conflicts, and displaced persons’ journeys. It made the emotional journey of this book even more turbulent.
The writing is poetic and metaphorical, and the narration brought it to life. I felt fully immersed in both the present day and the conflict centered around the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. Specifically, Amira Ghazalla’s voicing of the fig tree was enthralling, and I found myself wanting to savor those parts even more.
Readers who enjoy stories about family secrets, historical narrative, and lyrical writing will particularly enjoy this book!