Review 666: An Extraordinary Union

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm not a romance fan...if you are, this book may work for you. 

Review 597: Water Moon

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars




This one was outside of my usual reading genre, but I enjoyed it. The book takes place in another world that mostly only interacts with our world through a pawn shop. The current owner retires and his daughter takes over, however on her first day her dad goes missing. Thus begins the quest, to find her father. Along for the ride is an outsider, one who is from our world.
Very interesting world building here, inventive.

Although this book is a quest theme and fantasy it is also about choice one makes in life. There is this thread running through the entire book about choice and how it changes you, making one decision or another. And sometimes these choices are subtle but lead to a big difference in your life as it goes along. This aspect I enjoyed.

I thought this book was for adults but maybe not, it could be young adult. The writing style makes me think it was more for a younger audience.

Review 404: Georgie, All Along

Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

The genre is romance as I feared. Really need to stop reading these books. Sure, they are quick, but I just don’t enjoy them.

I found the plot overall somewhat predictable. The chapters had alternating viewpoints from Georgie to Levi, of course the two end up together, meeting in the first scene of the book. Through several meetings, first at the neighborhood convenience store, then both staying at her parent’s house, as they both are staying the night.

This scene I found quite unbelievable, why didn’t they just talk to each other instead of freaking out wildly? Often, I found the action where you just had to accept and not look deeply.

The male voice wasn’t very convincing to me. There were many plot holes, anyway, I finished the book and now am going to purge any remaining (if any) romance-type books out of my library.

Review 390: Her Lost Words

Her Lost Words: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley by Stephanie Marie Thornton
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This was a fantastic historical fiction book detailing the lives of two extraordinary women, a mother and daughter both named Mary: Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary Godwin Shelley.

The book is told in dual narratives, we see how much their two lives were paralleled. Unfortunately, Wollstonecraft died shortly after giving birth to her daughter, so the younger Mary never knew her mother other than her writings and what very litter her father told her.

Both were accomplished writers at a very young age, and during a time when women were not known to do anything other than marry, have kids and keep house. It was shocking for a woman to have serious thoughts and opinions as it may “overtax their limited brains”.

The book follows the relationships and struggles to live as independent women, while also loving the men in their lives. They both lived scandalous lives as one did not have a child out of wedlock. Yes, times have changed!

These two did much to help change the view that women were capable of much more than previously accounted for.

The author did an excellent job in this biographical fictional novel, and the author’s note where she details what was changed or modified is not to be missed.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

However, I listened to an audiobook copy, thanks to Penguin Random House for an advanced access to the audiobook. With two narrators, one for each Mary, was very well done and a great way to read this book.

Review 384: The Wind Whistling in the Cranes

The Wind Whistling in the Cranes by Lídia Jorge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The writing style of this book didn't appeal to me, and I nearly set the book aside. Yet I continued on and found in the end I quite enjoyed the book. This is a translation from the Portuguese, taking place on the coast in Portugal.

The reading was slow going for me, due to the style with the action/plot being slow as well. The beginning was the hardest, and the pacing improved as the book went on. One of the reasons for the slowness was the repetition, oh so much repetition. I went along with it, continuing to read, as this is a different culture, perhaps things go at a different pace than one I am accustomed to.

The story starts out with the death of the matriarch of a well to-do family, Regina Leandro. One of the sons is the mayor of the town. Everyone is out of town and unreachable, so the only person left is Milene. She is a simple-minded woman, although it took a bit to realize this. I was annoyed by her character at first, found aggravating, later though she did grow on me.

The opening scenes take place in the Old Factory, as this is where Regina was found, and Milene went there to find some answers. The Mata's now live there, the third wave, an extended immigrant family, and they too were out of town at first.

Milene becomes quite attached to one of the Mata's, a young widower. The courtship is not a typical one by any means. And him being black means not only class, but race could be a problem.

Review 360: The Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Russell Banks can write. Was fully engrossed with the story, feels so believable and yet it is only fiction. More thoughts on this soon.

----------a while later--------------

Finished reading this book over a month ago, and not sure how I missed posting my review, as I really enjoyed the book. Russell Banks is one of the author’s that I would like to read the entire cannon.

The frame of the story is the author (a fictional Banks) found these tapes and he edited them for this story, which is an old man telling about his youth.

Harley Mann came of age in a Shaker community in Florida, where he fell in love, which was forbidden. She was older and sick with tuberculosis, and of course this not going to end well. It was told so realistically that it felt as if true. Good storytelling! Good narration too.

This is one of my favorite reads of the year.

Thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

However, I listened to the book via audio from my public library. A great way to read this book. Great narrator voice!

Review 358: Gilded Mountain

Gilded Mountain by Kate Manning
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Really enjoyed this one.

An historical fiction, set around a marble quarry mining town in the mountains of Colorado in the early 1900s. Sylvie Pelletier is our narrator who tells the story of her life that was formed in that town of Moonstone. With her schooling finished there, she soon takes on a job working for a woman printer of the local newspaper. Then was offered a summer job working as a social secretary for the wife of the mine owner.

Quickly Sylvie finds herself conflicted with being attracted to the mine owner’s son and the labor union organizer leader. This is far from a romance, as many social issues are addressed, but not overtly. I found it a fascinating and well told tale. 

I listened to the audiobook. What a great way to read the book, the narration was wonderful. Made the experience of the book more immersive. 

Review 338: The Edge of Everything

The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A different sort of book than my usual, that's for sure. Paranormal - romance for teens. I'm definitely not the target audience.

There is some humor, but I think I rolled my eyes way more than chuckled.  Slightly annoyed at the ending. Of course there is a book 2.  No, I won't be reading it.

Review 286: The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr

The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr: A Riveting Untold Story of the American Revolution by Susan Holloway Scott
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars



I would not call it "Riveting" 

500 pages – longish book

Read somewhat quickly, from Dec.19 to 26.

Had time off work, so that helped.

roughly years: 1768-1829 

It was a very detailed account of a slave, that came from India, sold by her uncle for a pittance to a French lady to serve as a pet when she was around 8 years old. Briefly at a plantation in the Caribbean Islands she luckily was sold to a British officer who gave her to his wife where they lived in New Jersey. Mistress was a "good" master and here is the bulk of the book, with the American Revolution years. Aaron Burr does come into the book, later than one would expect.

The author notes how factual she tried to remain to history, with lots of fiction with our main character, except she did exist at least to the extent of giving Burr two children.

Review 65: The DNA of You and Me

The DNA of You and Me by Andrea Rothman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Another book that didn't do well for me. Had a few duds lately. I wanted to like this, a story about scientists and personal relationships, maybe love. But it was too odd really. The seemed to be no reason why our main character Emily fell for Aeden so quickly. And their relationship was odd too. Definitely needed more in that department.

As for the science there was definitely enough. The first large portion of the book was about the science and Emily getting into this new lab, and bickering. Too much of that. Perhaps it is realistic, I don't know.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job of the book.

Review 45: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

This book grabbed my heart. It also broke it many times, but in the end was healed. I had no idea there were Blue People of Kentucky, nor about the Pack Horse Library Project as part of the WPA in during the depression. This is one of the great things about historical fiction, providing information while giving you a great story as well. The author's note in the end was very much appreciated.

The main character, Cussy Mary also nicknamed Bluet was such a strong woman, particularly for the age during the Great Depression. She was one of those librarians, although on a mule, delivering books to people in areas where it's nearly impossible to regularly get to a library themselves. There seemed to be no wrong in her and she put up with so much from the men and town around her, most of it just because of her skin color showing blue.

A woman dedicated to bringing books to the people who can't get to a library, what is not to love? There is so much in this story, mining, women without agency, people of color, poverty, and in the end some romance too. This is a poignant tale, and recommended.

I listened to the audiobook from my local library and the narration added to the story. The narrator had just the right inflection and expression that increased my enjoyment and placement in the story.

Book rating: 4.5 stars


P.S. I recently found out about another book that covers the same topic: the Pack Horse Project in Kentucky. This book, The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes, will likely get much more attention as being written by a better known author. I also saw that there already is a movie option being talked about from her book. I hope to read Moyes book as well, but hope people will also give this one a read.

Review 39: One Night in Georgia

One Night in Georgia by Celeste O. Norfleet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is one that may have more resonance with African Americans, particularly women, yet it is still a book for everyone to read. It's a nail biting novel of three college girls taking a week to drive back to school in a flashy convertible from New York to Atlanta in 1968. The main character, Zelda knows this is a mistake but joins her friends. Of course danger is ahead and they have surprisingly good interactions with some whites, and predictable racist police.

I found it hard to get placed into the novel. Zelda stood out, and though her other two friends had different characters they were difficult to identify at times. Actually several times I would get lost on understanding who was talking with the large group of people in the room.

Somewhat early in the book we find out some disturbing information about one of the friends. One would expect there to be more in the book, but no it seems to be forgotten. I'm not sure why this would be brought up if only to be ignored.

Despite the topic manner it is a quick easy read. There's a bit of romance thrown in that seems to help ease up on some of the tension.

Book rating: 3.5 stars


Thanks to Amistad/HarperCollins and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Book Brief: Happiness for Beginners

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

cute story, somewhat. Not my usual fare, but it was okay. Completely predicable, but that didn't matter so much in the end.

Review 24: The Lost Letters of William Woolf

The Lost Letters of William Woolf by Helen Cullen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was mixed for me. One aspect it felt cozy and cute, and I wondered how that could be when it's about a couple who is unsure their marriage should continue. We mostly get his view point, William Woolf, and he isn't sure what he truly wants. Not only does he reminisce about the beginning of his relationship with his wife Claire, but also there's this mysterious woman.

William works at the Dead Letters Depot and solving postal mysteries is his job. Yet he also attributes mystical or otherworldly aspects to some, including a series of letters he reads from a woman naming herself Winter.

Winter is the mystery and perhaps they are destined to be together. But what about his solid love for Claire. Should he try to resolve what he has already?

We also get a little from Claire and her view, and hints that her childhood wasn't ideal and has held her back in many ways, including wanting a child. Claire seems unsure about continuing her marriage with William as well.

We have this back and forth through nearly the entire book. And at times I found it frustrating, was this the entire book? That isn't cozy and sweet! Yet the book had that appeal, and perhaps can attribute it to the Britishness (if that's a word) of the book. The weather, tea and the pub. It is England! There's the brief holiday to Ireland as well.

This is a love story, but one on the rocks. Do they save their marriage? Does William find Winter? These are the questions you can only find out in reading the book, No Spoilers! And those are the questions that kept me reading.


Thanks to Harlequin-Graydon House and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.