Pam
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of To Slip the Bonds of Earth. All opinions presented here are my own.
To Slip the Bonds of Earth is a wonderfully written, historical cozy mystery. With around 300 pages, it is a quick and easy read.
I was unfamiliar with Katharine Wright until reading this book. Of course, everyone knows her brothers, Wilbur and Orville. Flower took her time researching Katharine, which is shown in this novel. Katharine is a woman who was ahead of her time in 1903. She wanted to be treated equally in her career as a teacher. She wanted to be independent of her brothers while running the Wright household after her mother's passing at an early age.
While this book is set around the Christmas holidays, they are not the story's focal point. They are more of an addition to the setting. I like that because I don't always want to read a book full of Christmas. Does that make sense?
While To Slip the Bonds of Earth is not Amanda Flower's first book, it is her first historical cozy. I am eager to visit with Katharine Wright again!
I want to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Rednecks. All opinions presented here are my own.
With an overall length of under 330 pages, Rednecks is packed with history. A history that not many people are familiar with. I had never heard of the West Virginia Mine Wars until this book. Brown did his research and brought real-life characters to the story along with well-crafted fictional characters.
The way the story is written, you will feel yourself invested in it and cheer for the miners. All they wanted was the right to have a life—is that too much to ask? These men came from all walks of life, trying to make way for themselves and their families. They were promised the sun, the moon, and the stars and found themselves living in horror. And many of these men weren't men but young boys trying to help their families survive.
After reading Rednecks, I have a better understanding of the term redneck. As someone who spent their formative years in the South, I never truly understood the word. I always assumed it was an insult and not a name someone wanted to be called. Now, I know better! I will hold my head high when someone uses that word to describe me!
Who do I feel should read Rednecks? Everyone, especially if they are interested in American history. Or even if they are curious about the rise and fall of labor organizations. Rednecks will make you stop and think about what our ancestors went through to survive.
4.25 stars rounded down to 4
I want to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie. All opinions presented here are my own.
Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie was a fun read. It is chockful of realistic characters with their own personality quirks. Emily is a writer who works as a barista to help pay the bills while waiting for her big break in the publishing world. Her roommate Paige hates her job and vents her frustrations at the gym. Mark is a quiet person who prefers keeping to himself in a city of millions.
The first half of the book is told from Emily's POV, but the story then switches between her and Mark. There were times when I was reading the first half when I wanted to know more about Mark and what he was thinking and feeling. When we only have Emily's POV, she knows everything and everyone's motives. But as the relationship changes, we learn that maybe she's scared of what she doesn't know.
The story's spice level is non-existent through the first half of the book. But as the relationship changes, so does the spice level. It doesn't become super spicy, but there are some on-the-page intimacy scenes.
While the characters have their quirks and flaws, they all grow and change. One may say that they mature, but it's more that they open up to each other and realize maybe they didn't know the whole story like they initially believed.
Who do I believe should read Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie? Answer a couple of questions for me first. Do you enjoy reading romance books that feature fake dating? What about romance books with family drama? Or that places importance on the characters' cultural identities? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should read Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie!
I want to thank Penguin Random House Canada, Strange Light, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Prairie Edge. All opinions presented here are my own.
CW/TW: racism, drug abuse, sexism, gun violence
Prairie Edge was a novel that I added to my most anticipated Canadian releases at the beginning of 2024. I added this novel to the list because I am striving to learn more about Indigenous life here and to understand what it may be like elsewhere. And this book packs a big punch, considering it's under 250 pages.
Grey is an activist who has started feeling jaded by the whole experience. Ezzy struggles to stay out of trouble after a lifetime of being bounced around the foster care system. They became friends when Ezzy started following Grey at various protests she had organized. From the outside, it appears to be a strange relationship, as the only thing they have in common is that they are Métis.
Overall, the cast of characters in the book is relatively small. Ezzy, Grey, and Auntie May are the main characters we see throughout the book. However, the story is only told through Ezzy and Grey's point of view. And it's easy to understand whose POV you're getting, as it only switches with each chapter.
My biggest issue with the book is the length of the chapters. While the book is around 225 pages, there are only seven chapters. If you add the prologue and the epilogue, that brings the number to nine. That means the average chapter is 25 pages in length. That is the average, as the first chapter is much longer. There are breaks within the chapters to help with the length, but it's hard to put the book down at the end of the chapter when it never seems to get there.
Could you read this in one sitting? Probably. Should you read it in one sitting? Not really. I found this is a story that you need to take your time with to digest everything that you're reading.
Who would I recommend this book to? Someone looking for a glimpse at Indigenous life and how wounds cross from generation to generation. In other words, I feel everyone should read Prairie Edge!
I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Murder Most French. All opinions presented here are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
I loved reading this book! If only life and responsibilities hadn't gotten in the way, I would have read it in a day. I may have enjoyed A Murder Most French a little more than Mastering the Art of French Murder. For my review of Mastering the Art of French Murder, click here.
A Murder Most French is the second book in the An American in Paris series. The series is set in post-war Paris and focuses on Tabitha Knight, a 30-something woman trying to find herself and what she wants from life. Tabitha has become fast friends with a neighbor who lives across from her, an American. That friend? Someone by the name of Julia Child, yes, that Julia Child. While Julia is not the story's main character, she adds a terrific dimension. The author states that many of Child's actions are true to life, but many others are not. You'll just have to read the series to determine which is which.
The second installment picks up Tabitha's adventures mere weeks after the conclusion of the first installment. I don't think you would have to read Mastering the Art of French Murder to understand the story, but why wouldn't you?
A Murder Most French has an expanded cast of characters. You see Tabitha going to the market with Julia and their interactions with many of the vendors. There are also more wonderful interactions with Inspecteur Merveille.
Alas, again, I shall mourn the book's lack of recipes. I know I could research them and find several variations, but I would still love to have the ones Julia made in the book. No matter what, you will find yourself hungry while reading. And when you're preparing your food, you may think, “What would Julia do?” I know I certainly did.
Do you enjoy reading cozy mysteries? What about historical fiction? Books that feature real people? What about delicious food and beautiful descriptions? Then what are you waiting for? Get yourself a copy of A Murder Most French!
4.5 stars rounded up to 5
I want to thank Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Woman with No Name. All opinions presented here are my own.
At first, I was slow to read this novel. Some of it was because of time restrictions, and some of it was because parts of the story felt sluggish and slow. But the more I allowed myself to become immersed in the book, the more enjoyable I found it.
Two things that drew me to this book were that the main character is a woman who has been overlooked due to her “advanced” age (as if 44 is old!) and that she wants to make a difference. She wants to be known for more than just her husband's wife or daughter's mother. Those two things made me want to know more about Yvonne Rudellat.
As Yvonne does her best in France, she meets and becomes friends with people like her. They are invisible due to their bland appearances, age, and occupation. Yes, a few of her friends come from elite backgrounds, but as such, they are overlooked by the occupiers.
Reading a book set during World War II that did not showcase or solely focus on young adults was refreshing. Yvonne is in her forties, though she is passing as a thirtysomething. Several of her friends are of similar ages or older. So many books in this period focus on characters in their early to mid-twenties.
As the story progresses, you can feel the tension build. You feel the stress and worry that Yvonne feels. Yvonne even feels pangs of regret as the end nears. Regret for being unable to tell her daughter where she is and what she's doing. Regret for not mending fences when she had the chance. But not regretting what she had done and had to do. Yvonne was fighting for her home and the people there.
If you enjoy reading historical fiction set during World War II, especially if it's based on a true story, then you should read The Woman with No Name!
I stumbled across Laithland on my For You Page with her videos discussing her daughter's chaos lunches. Many of her videos are relatable to this mom of two. When I learned she was writing a book, I was happy for her and knew I wanted to read it.
Momma Cusses is an easy read, none of that technical jargon many parenting books contain. Laithland uses the same language in her book as she uses in her videos. She's down to earth, and no-nonsense. While some may find her use of some words offensive, the title of the book lets you know it's there without ever reading a one page.
Who is this book for? Any parent or parent-like person who is trying to raise the next generation. Trust me, this is a book you will appreciate having read.
