Lisa Francine
Appeal Factors: Character, Romance, Humor, and Tone
Follow the 18th-century escapades of Henry “Monty” Montague, expected to be a gentleman by his family, but wanting to play the rogue, and in love, he thinks, with his best friend, Percy Newton. Monty and Percy set off on the Grand Tour of Europe which quickly devolves into a swashbuckling, penniless adventure of being chased and chasing their hunters. Will Monty and Percy escape? Will Monty confess his love for Percy? Prepare to be delighted with Mackenzi Lee's historical fiction romp, and the swoonablity factor of Monty's potential romance with Percy. As an aside, Monty's sister, Felicity, is a resourceful, intelligent, and fierce companion throughout the book, and will be the main character in Lee's second book in the series: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy.
PS: The audio version performed by Christian Coulson is delectable!
A compelling mystery told in alternating time periods (2015 and 1822). In 2015, Kate goes home to Charleston, SC, after her mother's death to unlock unanswered questions from her family tree, and to continue research into the Denmark Vesey almost uprising of 1822. Thanks to Joy Jordan-Lake for illuminating a piece of American history that I was unaware of, and needed to know.
I received an advanced e-ARC from NetGalley.
4.5/5 stars
“Only the most extraordinary circumstances can reunite the Birch Family for the holidays...”
The British Birch Family will be together, quarantined for 7 days, as the eldest daughter, Olivia has just returned from treating an epidemic in Liberia. Over the course of the week we experience the twists and turns of dysfunctional family relationships, awash with secrets, jealousies, misunderstandings, but also with humor and love.
Hornak's character development and dialogue kept me turning the pages. Looking forward to her next work of fiction!
Powerful and poignant! Alan Gratz shares the humanity, and inhumanity of our history by immersing us in stories across time and place: Josef (1930s Germany), Isabel (1994 Cuba), and Mahmoud (2015 Syria). Listening to Refugee I became so invested in knowing the outcome of these turbulent family stories that I would switch back and forth between the audio version and the e-book version. I predict that this book will be read in classrooms across the country, and as One Book reads in public libraries and towns. Kudos to Gratz for this compassionate and timely book!
A thank you to Edelweiss+ for an eARC of the book.
