5 stars A book from Erica Ridley never disappoints. I received an ARC of this one and thoroughly enjoyed it. The stars of the story are Benjamin, the Duke and Noelle, the orphan girl who grew up in the home of his grandfather, Cressmouth, newly dubbed Christmas. Benjamin’s experiences with his grandfather were all terrible while Noelle’s were wonderful. Apparently, the man changed, but not enough to make up for the terrible things he did to Benjamin. Benjamin’s life is empty and unfilling because he refuses to open his heart to love because experience has taught him that those he loves will be taken from him without notice. Noelle loves Benjamin but doesn't believe he cares for her. Of course, as every reader knows, Benjamin is about to find out that love doesn’t follow rules and the decision to not love is never really an option. Still, the journey to get to this realization is unique to him and Noelle’s journey is unique to her. What I found funniest about this book was Benjamin’s frustration with everyone calling Cressmouth Christmas and his never knowing whether they meant the place of the time of year. And Noelle did it on purpose, just to confuse him. Both were initially determined to protect themselves from one another so I loved when Benjamin entered the room where Noelle was working and she asked, “‘What are you doing here?’ ‘What are you doing here?’ he countered brilliantly.” There was one description of weather that jumped out at me because I just loved the way it sounded out loud: “Already, blobs too icy to be rain and too wet to be snow spat down upon them.” It’s a bit of a tongue-twister, but so fun. Anyway the bottom line is that this was a short, enjoyable book and I recommend it. February 18, 2021
0 Comments
5 stars I unexpectedly received an ARC of this collection, which includes the short story Greenwood Manor by Blair Babylon. I would have liked to read the rest of the books in the collection, but I had too many other ARCs awaiting my attention. This is very short (took me less than 30 min to read) but I liked the characters and the way they connect to characters from other books via Le Rosey, the Swiss boarding school. This one features Kit and Simone (I’m assuming the same one from One Night in Monaco,although that one was married to an abusive, controlling man and Kit doesn’t seem like that person). Anyway, it’s a short story and there may not be any connection to that Simone. This story stands on its own and it’s enjoyable and I suspect the rest of the books in this collection would be equally so. Collections are usually quite a good deal. I’m sure this one is worth reading. February 18, 2021 5 stars I was surprised by how much I liked this. I was given an ARC by the author. I think I read Legally Charming, but I don’t remember it well so I’m going to read it again because I liked this so much. Part two of a three-part series, of which it is unnecessary to read more than one, this book focuses on Thad and Veronica, and Lyra, her four-year-old daughter. Having one of the protagonists be a widowed mother of a young child added a dimension to the book that would not have been there if it were just Thad and Veronica. You’re now dealing with the emotions of three characters instead of just two, and there’s something (for me anyway) about a child that makes it more potentially heartbreaking. One Of the first descriptions of Thad was amusing and painted the perfect visual. His name, Thad Worthington, made him sound “like the hot jerk a girl would crush on at an elite boarding school in some cheesy coming of age rom-com.” No doubt, this shows my age, but I immediately thought of James Spader in one of the many movies in which he played just that character. There were some fun and lighthearted moments, like the revelation about Angelo’s uncle, which made me burst out laughing (but I won’t spoil the surprise). I loved that Lyra asked Alexa for a new dad and when she met Thad she thought he was saying “dad.” Having only just met her, Thad volunteered to take her to a birthday party at one of those places that have ball pits and tunnels and slides and video games and all kinds of crazy things to keep kids busy. The author described it as the “toddler version of Mad Max.” Not surprisingly, Thad was a bit overwhelmed. When the father of another toddler handed him some aspirin to prevent the inevitable pain this day would bring, his response was, “What’s next on the agenda? Chasing them through a fire swamp?” The predictable and inescapable conflict that Thad and Veronica would face wass clear from chapter one. I felt Veronica’s reaction was a bit extreme, but I’ve never been one to keep my mouth shut when I have questions about someone’s motivations. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and it bothered me that she didn’t. I was aggravated by Veronica’s initial actions, so when she explained her thinking it made a lot more sense. However, I stil had trouble believing Annette Becker would have gloated about “the deal” before the paperwork was complete. Also, who closes a coffee shop on a Sunday? I think Thad’s proposal to Veronica contains some of the most poetic words I’ve ever seen strung together for a proposal: “You are my everything. Even when I die, I will find a way to be with you again, my atoms drifting until they find yours, until we live in the petals of flowers, on the wings of hummingbirds, in the shining droplets of light within the largest rainbows, or the quiet space between sunbeams. Whenever new lives are made from you and me, they will not be able to take just one but the pair.” Personally, I cannot imagine a man saying these words for a proposal (maybe wedding vows), but this is a fairytale so why not have a fantastical proposal? Everything in this story is fairytale perfection and fulfills every little girl’s fantasy of what love should be. It’s a great escape from real life and I loved it. February 18, 2021 5 stars I received an ARC of this story from the author. Not every story from Ms. Jamison makes me cry, but this one did. Maybe because I related to the love one feels for their children, and this was truly a tough subject to address. Normally, her stories are romances, and this is also, but more importantly than that, it delves into the bonds between mothers and children and the family as a whole, the unbreakable bonds that we have with the people we love, who may not always do the things we wish they would do, but we love them anyway. It’s an emotional story with Randi/Rascal (a great nickname) as the protagonist. She is a twice divorced (once from an abusive husband) woman with two children (one from each father) struggling to make her life better, afraid of commitment, and feeling judged by her evangelical family at every turn. She has a friends-with-benefits relationship with Justin, a fellow student at the local community college, an eleven-year-old troubled daughter and a sweet-as-can-be and cheerful seven or eight-year-old son. The initial stages of the story are spent trying to figure out why her daughter has changed so drastically, bringing her to a therapist, and discovering the trauma she has undergone. The rest of the book addresses Randi’s feelings of guilt and inadequacy as a mother, her insecurity as a potential girlfriend/wife (having sworn to never marry again), and her determination to be independent and make her own way, despite the judgment she feels from those around her. Randi has a lot of growing to do, but she’s doing the best she can, and as such, her character is relatable and sympathetic. There was one character in the book who was a complete buffoon, but I wasn’t entirely sure the reader was supposed to draw that conclusion. During a conversation with Randi regarding her daughter,Kevin, the school counselor told her off-the-wall, incendiary, alarming possibilities about why her daughter might be acting up. The things he said were not based on personal knowledge about the girl (since school had only started a short time earlier) or expertise, and at one point, he actually said, “I’m no psychologist—but anything’s possible.” I wanted to yell, “That’s right. You’re not a psychologist. Shut up!” Then, when told about an outburst the daughter had in which she used some bad language, he suggested it might be Tourette’s. Then, he suggests she might need medication. What an idiot. I suppose the point of the exchange was to cause greater distress in Randi so that she would feel more angst, and it would add to the story, but I just felt like this guy didn’t belong at the school. One of the reasons I found Randi relatable was her sense of humor, and her view on homeownership versus apartment living was hysterical (and sadly, true): “My little house might not have been anything exciting, but at least I didn't have a stingy landlord refusing to fix sh*t that didn’t work. Now, when things f*cked up, they stayed broken because I couldn’t afford to fix them.” I’m not one to give a plot overview, since you can read the book synopsis for that, and I don’t want to include any spoilers. At one point, it seemed like things might become very dark, but this is a romance, after all, and with Ms. Jamison, the one thing you can count on is a happy ending (eventually). There’s a maturity and depth to this book that you won’t find in every book from her, and that’s probably a good thing because we don’t always want to be brought to tears. That said, I think this may be one of her best books yet. I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it. February 16, 2021 5 stars I seldom use the word delightful, and yet every time I read a book from Bianca Blythe, that's the precise word that comes to mind. Her characters, the dialogue, the plot, in my opinion, can best be described as delightful. Her humor is droll, as seen in statements like this one: “The rain began to plummet, no doubt finding staying in the clouds sufficiently tiresome.” And this one: “Mr. Tortworth’s eyebrows leaped toward his hairline. His brow’s grayness had not rendered them devoid of any athletic ability.” In this book Daisy, the girl in the wheelchair who has helped all of her friends find their true loves, finally, and quite unexpectedly, finds her own in the person of Reginald (Reggie) Smythe, Duke of Hammett. Nicknamed "the beast" because of his reputation in the boxing ring, this duke never took the need to socialize very seriously and comes across as grumpy. This is compounded by his recent injury in the boxing ring. His estate is suffering due to the poor investments of his father and his best bet is to find a woman with a big dowry. Daisy decides she is the perfect person to help him, and in the process, she can start her own little business as a matchmaker and become financially independent because she has no dowry, and furthermore, she is not marriage material (in her mind anyway). There is no danger of the two of them falling in love because it is not practical. Ha! As I have come to expect from any Bianca Blythe book, dialogue is witty and engaging. This conversation involves the decision regarding the flowers to choose for an upcoming ball: “What's your favorite color?” He gazed at her, noting how her eyes sparkled and shimmered. “Green.” This time her mouth fell open. His mouth dried. No doubt she remembered that her own eyes were green. She immediately composed herself, and an odd disappointment moved through him. “In that case, we’ll be certain to retain their stems,” Daisy said. Reggie tells his manservant that he will be having a guest and Alistair makes an assumption about what kind of guest will be coming to the house, suggesting the housekeeper might scatter rose petals about the bedroom. Reggie’s response was both highly amusing and endearing: “N-not that kind of guest,” Reggie shrieked, sending a horrified look about the corridor to determine if any chambermaids had overheard it. Luckily, Alistair recovers quickly, as he is coming to understand Reggie. In a later conversation, when Reggie ponders why his words had been misunderstood by Daisy and her father, he tells Alistair, “I wouldn’t have said the words if I didn’t mean them.” Alistair responds, “Not everyone is acquainted with your restraint with the use of the full English vocabulary.” Poor Reggie is beside himself when he realizes that he loves Daisy and he needs to make sure she knows. He cannot find her anywhere and decides perhaps some of her friends can help. He finds himself at the bath house, having already determined that she isn’t there, insisting the receptionist find some of the ladies in the spa and bring them to him. Horrified, she stares at him as he mentions several different names. Finally, he says, “I’m afraid you might be under the wrong impression.” Her response is priceless. “Are you certain there is a right impression to have?” Relying on understatement, as always, Ms. Blythe relays a conversation between Reggie and Daisy after they’ve taken a “tumble” and need to face her parents: “I have the feeling my hair is not at its best,” Daisy said. “If that feeling disturbs you, I would suggest not looking in the mirror.” But, in the end, this was my absolute favorite thing and made me burst out laughing. It’s lucky I wasn’t indulging in a beverage. Reggie and Daisy can hear her parents in his house talking to Alistair and insisting Daisy is there. At last, they emerge from the upstairs and her parents go nuts. “I knew it,” Papa said and shot Alistair an accusatory Look. “You said you hadn’t seen my daughter.” “Oh, she’s your daughter?” Alistair asked in an innocent voice. To me, the absurdity of the man who answers the door and knows everyone who comes in and out claiming he somehow didn’t realize the woman they were looking for was the only one who was in the house, was just hysterical. When the story ended not long after, I was still chuckling over that. February 15, 2021 5 stars As the editor for this book, I wish I could take credit for the brilliance of it, but alas, I cannot. As always, Tracy Sumner has created characters and a plot that transport the reader to another place and time. Awash with metaphors that are vivid and evocative, emotions that are intense and probing, and circumstances that invite the reader to step into the action, I can only say that I read this book with a smile on my face, with sometimes a chuckle out loud, that was at times displaced due to tears in my eyes. I admit, I never expected the Duke of Ashcroft to evoke such emotions in me. There is a sensitivity hidden beneath those layers that is wholly unexpected, and could only have been uncovered by that termagant, Delaney Temple. Delaney is an inspiring character, fully American, unacceptable by British ton standards, and caring very little for what they think of her. Nevertheless, there’s a soft spot underneath that is so touched when she feels like the League accepts her. Ashcroft also has a soft center, and the revelation of that is painstakingly slow, but so worth the effort. I cannot say this is vastly different from other Tracy Sumner books, but that’s only because all of her books are fabulous. She is far and away one of my favorite romance authors and I am happy to read and recommend anything that she writes. January 9, 2021 5 stars This book is required reading for anyone unaware of the very real danger posed by the American Bund Nazi Party in the late 1930s. I was intrigued by the plot of this book and immediately recognized the importance of the content. Choosing to address rising fascism by taking a look back at how close Nazism came to ravaging America in the late 1930s provided a clarity that I can only wish was shared by more people. The author goes as far as to say this is part of the reason for her exploration of this material. Though we should never feel guilt for what our ancestors may have done, I admit I would feel proud to know that I had a relative who was a part of the Newark Minutemen. It’s a story about immigrants and the melting pot that is America. It’s about the importance of fighting for democracy and the right for everyone to live their lives freely. It’s about the urgency of always remembering history because it will inevitably repeat itself. The only way we can prevent future calamities is by being aware of those that happened in the past. We must always be aware of those who will use patriotism to mask their own selfish desires to be worshipped, to be dictators, to be gods. Often, the book was difficult to read because the racism permeated everything. There were lynchings (after carving a swastika into the chest of one victim), rape of young girls, abusive fathers and husbands-to-be, and honestly, I was just astounded by the things I had never learned in history classes. At numerous times, I physically recoiled and had to take a break from reading. The history of Nazis that we learn has been sanitized because it is so horrific, and I suspect we fear teaching our children would scar them. But that may be what is needed because the lessons of history are so quickly forgotten and remembering may be one of the most important tasks of society. Some of the similarities to the past and today were too obvious to ignore. The two slogans of the American Bund Nazi Party were MAKE AMERICA GREAT and AMERICA FIRST!! The American Nazis often spoke of Der Tag, the day that was coming that Germany would rise up around the world and take power, a little too similar to The Storm for my tastes. I can’t help but think that if we made more of an effort to educate new generations, we might more quickly recognize the clues when evil next rears its head. We might take it more seriously and we might make more of an effort to obliterate it before it grows and infects more people. The narrative was a bit off-putting from the beginning, and if I’m being honest, every time the story switched to Yael’s POV, because he dropped the g’s off of words. I understand it is probably because the author wanted his voice to be unique, but for me, this kind of thing only works in dialogue. And the other POVs did not really differ significantly from one another. I think it would have been better to change POVs without changing the voice too drastically (if at all). There was also a scene in which Yael took a “selfie” of himself and Krista in the mirror. I don’t think “selfie” was a term familiar to anyone at that time so I was immediately pulled out of the story. Also, there were a couple of times, usually at the end of a chapter, when the concluding action was described in a way that was unclear to me. It seemed like an effort to be creative, but for me, it was just confusing. It was astounding to read about people freely trading in freedom for the promise of prosperity and the cleansing of the unwanted. Some people prefer to be told what to do and what to think. But then, as stated at one point, “...a dictator isn’t gonna tell you he’s a dictator before you vote for him.” And, of course, even once they are in power, some of the people will continue to love the dictator. Until he comes for them. Aside from being a depiction of the Nazi movement in the United States, this is also a love story between Yael and Krista. There were a few exchanges that stood out to me and I feel are worth pointing out. Krista tried to describe to Yael the way of the Nazi American party, the Bund, who believed they were saving America. Yael responded: “Your way uses our flags to clean toilets and claims that’s patriotic because you made ‘em shine.” There were many times when the flags displayed at the Nazi events were the American flag side-by-side with the Nazi flag (though usually with the swastika above the and the US flag below). They tried to take the US flag and merge it with the Nazi flag (mixing red, white, and blue into the Nazi flag), almost as if to ease the transition, as if they could slowly switch to only the Nazi flag and no one would notice. The American Nazis got their weapons for free from the NRA and joined the National Guard so they could get free training to use the weapons and learn combat techniques. It’s not so very different from the NRA getting funding from foreign governments to fight for the rights of militias, and the police and military of the US infiltrated by white supremacists. Krista, who was born in Germany, has been brainwashed by her Nazi father and older sister. She is treated as nothing more than a potentially fertile woman (since she is not yet 18). At one point, standing in a room listening to the men talk, she thinks, “For a second, I think that the men have forgotten about me. I’m just standing here like the k in know.” Yael is the young Jewish boy whose parents escaped the horrors of Russia to find a better life in America. He works for Longie Zwillerman, the Jewish mobster in Newark NJ, who bankrolls the Newark Minutemen. Longie talks to Yael about his parents and how they wanted more for him saying, “‘Keep their dream alive, and they’ll be with you every day and help you know who you are. This is your legacy.’ He pats me on the shoulder and then withdraws into the darkness to give me light.” (I absolutely loved that last sentence!) In explaining the importance of the number eight (for reasons that become clear in the book), Longie states, “Eight is one rung above normal.” He then goes on to explain that there are seven days in week, seven notes in music, seven seas, seven holes in your head, but eight is just one better. Hanukkah is eight days, the lamp oil lasting longer than it should have. “Eight is courage that pushes men beyond normal...Eight leaders of the Newark Minutemen.” In addition to telling a riveting story, Barry also includes some bits of poetry and I especially liked this part: “...the skyline smears before me like smashed, runny eggs.” I also found this to be an exceedingly clever simile: “I move my eyes across the massive crowd like I’m searchin’ for a typo in a newspaper.” I recommend the book. It’s a difficult read, if you have a heart, but it is compelling and I might go so far as to say necessary. I received an ARC from Reedsy (https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/newark-minutemen-leslie-k-barry?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=mandrill#review). February 15, 2021 5 stars I have to admit, I thought this was the final installment so I was a bit disappointed to reach the “end” only to find out it’s not the end at all. That’s not because I want it to be finished, but because I’m anxious to find out what happens next. Still, it’s not one of the worst cliffhangers from this author, who gets a twisted joy out of torturing her readers. Hey, she has admitted as much. Regardless (and I’m really tempted to say irregardless just to annoy people), I enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the next one, whether it be the last one or not. I received an ARC of this book, as I have other books in the series. I love that the author shares her work with select readers ahead of time to get feedback in advance. The only downside is that I can’t simply pick up the next book in the series and continue reading. By the time the next book arrives, I’ve often forgotten some of the details and have some difficulty reacclimating to the characters and plot. I’d like to see Ava Mason (and other series authors) include a brief synopsis at the beginning of each new book so readers can be reminded of who’s who and what has happened thus far. This particular episode of Demon Fae brings Blayde, Maverick, Nix, Stellan, and Rhys closer than ever to eliminating the threat of Zara. Evanora, Blayde’s aunt, is more “humanized” and Blayde comes to like her much better than in previous books. I also had a greater sympathy for Rogue and Evanora, no doubt due to Blayde’s and Rhys’ POVs. Overall, I really enjoyed it and I recommend it. February 13, 2021 5 stars The writing in this series keeps getting better. I loved Weston and Amelie’s story, but Damian and Julia’s story was just as good and the character arcs may be even more powerful (particularly Damian’s). One of the things I liked about Amelie and Weston was the humor. Though not as humorous, the emotions evoked in this story are significant. It would be tough to read this book and not come away loving these two characters. I even liked some of the Seven better when I read this one because they showed such concern for Damian and I enjoyed their interactions with Julia. The rest of the gang makes an appearance, which is fun. I have some suspicions about Baron, but it looks like Arpad’s book is coming next. And we got to know Karina a bit better in this book, so that should be interesting. I imagine we’ll learn more about Baron too. Sometimes I find it difficult to write a review for a book when I’ve been the editor. I hesitate to gush about something when I feel I may have had any kind of influence on it because I don’t want to come across as if I am biased. I don’t think I am being biased when I say this is well-written, well-plotted, and compelling. Characters are multidimensional and relatable. The issues of loss, belonging, forgiveness, and trying to find that special someone are thoughtfully and compassionately addressed. Plus, there is some palpable heat between Damian and Julia from the first time they meet. The build-up of tension between them is carefully crafted, with lots of playful banter, and results in a bigger payout than if they had simply “hooked-up” immediately. There are some unexpected twists; when I went back to see what I had missed, the hints were all there. Ms. Steele may have a future as a mystery writer, should she ever desire expanding into that genre. Until then, however, I suggest you enjoy her mature romance novels. This is one of my favorites. February 13, 2021 5 stars Thankfully, this is not one of Piper Lawson’s signature cliffhangers. It’s the “final” story of Annie and Tyler, although I suspect they’ll be making more appearances in future books. It’s sweet and passionate and the happily ever after that they so deserve. I enjoyed the appearances of Jax and Haley, who have not been heavily featured in the other Annie and Tyler books. This time, Haley is a support for Annie and Jax is a support for Tyler. The reader is reminded of the intense love story they shared in the Wicked series (Good Girl, Bad Girl, etc.). This comes full-circle with Jax and Tyler’s attempted purchase of the Wicked record label. As always, there are some wonderful metaphors and similar comparisons as well as statements of a profound and lasting love. Some are just clever. I loved this one: “Tyler’s mouth is hard and demanding, as if everything he’s owed is on the other side of my lips and he won’t stop until he’s claimed it all.” And this: “...the sight before me steals not only my oxygen, but my need for it.” Statements like these made up for the one that made me stop in my tracks because I find it so cliche: “I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Maybe it’s just me, that this particular phrase just grates on me like nails on a chalkboard. I suppose it can be allowed because it reflects the thought of a character (Annie), but she’s much more original than that so I stand by my assessment. Even in her thoughts, Annie would be more creative than that. There is one part that actually made me laugh out loud, as I was pulled into a conversation between Tyler and Annie. She sees a bird on their patio and comments on its beauty, wondering what kind of bird it is. Tyler tells her it’s called a “cockblocker.” At another point in the book, when Tyler and Annie finally have a moment alone, she comments, “The way you’re looking at me might get me pregnant.” His response is priceless: “But it might not, so why take the chance?” There is never any doubt about the love between Tyler and Annie, but Tyler grew up with a lot of uncertainty and instability, so there’s always a sense of unworthiness, like he needs to prove himself. Annie assuages this recurring theme: “Every time you open your eyes, you deserve me… Every time you take a breath. Now show me what you’d do if you believed it.” There’s always something more satisfying about achievement when it has been hard won. Tyler and Annie were never guaranteed happiness together, and everything that could get in their way did get in their way. It was a relief to see them finally get where they want to be, and they still have their whole lives ahead of them. Yes, they’re fictional characters, but as the expert writer that Piper Lawson is, she has brought them to life and made them real. Their happiness matters to me. I’m glad I was given an ARC to this novel. I loved it. February 4, 2021 |
Elizabeth J ConnorWriter. Editor. Proofreader. Archives
September 2022
Categories |