Pam
I want to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Traitor in Whitehall. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
4.5 stars round up to 5
A Traitor in Whitehall is a super fun read. It is one that you will find hard to put down. Trust me, I found myself annoyed when I had to stop reading because of life. I had to know what was going to happen next.
Evelyne Redfern is a young woman from a well-connected family. She grew up with the world, especially in England, knowing her family's story. But instead of hiding who she was, she owned it. There are times that Evelyne feels a bit immature or naïve, but she grows throughout the book and uses her experiences to help in the investigation.
David Poole is a handsome man that Evelyne is warned to stay away on her first day at the job. Within a few days, the two are working together to solve their separate investigations. There are plenty of will they won't they kiss moments, and I can't wait to read more in the series to see their relationship grow.
Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What about starting a new series? Or books featuring characters that enjoy reading? What about reading mysteries? If you've answered yes to any, and especially all, then you should give A Traitor in Whitehall a read!
I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Love of My Lives. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
3.25 stars rounded down to 3
Love of My Lives is a quick read with plenty of will they or won't they tension. When they finally do, the scene fades to black.
The descriptions of San Juan, and even more so the rainforest, make the reader want to book a trip ASAP. Everything is described as warm and welcoming, with the rainforest lush and green. There is also a discussion about Puerto Rico being ravaged by storms and earthquakes and struggling to rebuild due to a lack of government assistance. Along those lines, there is also a discussion about tourists, especially those from the “Mainland” (aka Americans), buying properties to rebuild and take from those who live on the island.
Overall, Love of My Lives is a decent read. Madi loves love and wants to find her perfect soul mate. And there is nothing wrong with that. But at times, she tends to be a bit immature about it. As the book progresses, she starts to mature about love.
If you're looking for a quick read, with closed door intimacy, than you should give Love of My Lives a read.
I want to thank Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Christmas Wager. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
The Christmas Wager is a quick fun read. In many ways, it gives Hallmark vibes. Small town that loves Christmas? That is Maple Falls. Big city hotshot shows up to buy a local business? That's basically what Bella is there to do. A sexy family member stops the sale? That's exactly what Jesse does. Nosy town folks? Sounds like several people in town. A happy ending? What do you think?
Honestly, I would love to visit Maple Falls for myself. There are so many wonderful sights to be able to see and experience. Though I could do without the prospect of an avalanche. But to be able to wander around a store like Always Noelle could be so much fun.
Yes, The Christmas Wager is a romance, and that means there's bound to be some intimate moments. Cassidy wrote some wonderful scenes that lead up to those moments, but they are all fade to black. Yes there is a scene or two in the bedroom, but all that happens is some cuddling and talking. The scene fades to black before anything too intimate happens.
Do you like watching Hallmark movies? Or reading about Christmas in a small town? What about a story that offers the main characters a chance for healing and growth? Then you should read The Christmas Wager.
I want to thank St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Reykjavík: A Crime Story. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
This isn't the first book I've read set in Iceland and translated from Icelandic, but it is by far the best I've read. Reykjavík has also introduced me to a new genre, Icelandic Noir. I want more, especially if they are all written like this!
Reykjavík is a fast-paced, intriguing mystery. When I say this is fast-paced, I don't mean you never have that chance to breathe. There are moments, much like a roller coaster ride, when things slow down, and you can process what you're reading.
There is a large cast of characters, but it is easy to keep them sorted, as they all have their own personalities. While you see the culprit multiple times throughout the story, I doubt you will be able to figure out who it is. I know it caught me by surprise.
Also, I want to give some serious love to the translator, Victoria Cribb. There are some times that the story is literally lost in translation. That did not happen with Reykjavík. The only issue I had with the book was all of the names in Icelandic. But guess what, that's my problem! Why? Because I am unfamiliar with how to pronounce the words correctly, and I'm sure that other languages have similar issues when reading works translated from English.
If you can't tell, I'm trying to show love for the book without spoiling anything! If you love reading mysteries, I think you understand what I mean.
Do you love reading mysteries? Especially when the secret is three decades old? What about books set in Iceland? Or historical fiction? Are you looking for a new genre to read? If you say yes to even one of these questions, you must read Reykjavík!
I want to thank Soho Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
Agnes Sharp may be one of the best amateur detectives I have ever encountered, even better than Miss Jane Marple. She's witty and decisive, with a bit of mystery surrounding her. Agnes and the rest of the residents of Sunset Hall have mysterious backgrounds. There are references to Agnes being part of the murder squad and working to solve such crimes. Edwina seems to be part tracking dog. Marshall was a military man. Bernadette seems to scare housemates with her mannerisms. Even Hettie has secrets, and she's a tortoise!
I'm not sure if it was the formatting of the e-book I read, or if it was due to the translation from German to English, or the author's writing style, but parts of the story felt choppy and disconnected. What I mean is that sentences felt like they cut off abruptly. That said, I could use the story's context to keep up and not lose anything.
This is not a book to pick up if you can't focus on reading. I say this because while the book is 360 pages, it took me over a week to finish reading it. Why? Because it was hard to immerse myself in the book entirely. I didn't want to stop reading on the occasions I could do that.
While I guessed the culprit, I wasn't 100% correct. I will leave it at that, as I don't want to spoil anything. Just remember to keep an open mind as you read.
Do you enjoy reading books with older main characters who have secrets in their past? Or books set in sleepy English villages? What about books that feature twists, turns and a fair number of red herrings? Then you should give The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp a read.
I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Board to Death. All opinions presented here are solely mine.Board to Death is the first book in the Board Game Shop Series by C.J. Connor. Set in Utah, readers are introduced to Ben Rosencrantz as he tries to figure out what's next in life after returning home to assist his father in the board game shop Ben grew up in.Board to Death is a quick, easy read. Perfect for curling up and reading over a weekend! The biggest issue I had with the book was the inconsistent timeline. I mean that you are led to believe the book opens early in the week (Tuesday-Thursday). After the murder happens, you learn it's a Friday. There are a few other times in the book where you think it's one day when it's another. But it doesn't take away from the story.There is LGBTQ2A+ representation in the book. Ben is a recently divored gay man, who finds himself drawn to the owner of the flower shop. One character is mentioned with they/them pronouns. And there is a f f relationship as well. There is also a discussion throughout the book about growing up queer in Utah.I loved the setting of a board game store because board games are a passion I picked up over the pandemic. There are several games mentioned in the story; they range from old-school (i.e. Monopoly) to recent favorites (i.e. Gloomhaven). Connor even introduces readers to one of their favorite games called Nertz, and rules are included in the back of the book.In his previous life, Ben was an English professor with a concentration in fantasy novels. As such, there are multiple references to C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. While neither author (or their works are) are ones I've enjoyed, it's still fun to see such references.Board to Death is a fun read, and I am looking forward to reading more by C.J. Connor!
I want to thank Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Someone Just Like You. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
4.5 rounded up to 5
Someone Just Like You is the second book from Meredith Schorr, and one I found just as enjoyable as her first one, As Seen on TV. This time Schorr keeps us in the hustle and bustle of the city.
Molly and Jude were neighbors growing up, with their parents being friends. Molly and Jude were best friends when they were toddlers but slowly morphed into rivals and victims of each other's pranks as they got older. Jude was the popular athlete everyone liked, while Molly was the quiet, dependable girl.
The story takes place over several months, allowing for the relationship to morph and grow from rivals to friends to maybe more. Not only did the relationship grow, the characters did as well. Molly was stuck in the past, thinking she had to be the perfect person and adhere to the plans because things seemed to go wrong every time she didn't. Jude also has his own growth throughout the story.
There are some steamy bits, most of which are on the page. That said, they aren't overly graphic, more factual statements.
Overall, I would love to see Someone Just Like You adapted. Why? Because it is an entertaining read that I could see being adapted easily.
Do you enjoy reading books with childhood frenemies reuniting as adults? Then you should give Someone Just Like You a read.
I want to thank St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Hello Stranger. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Hello Stranger is the second book I've read by Katherine Center. While I did not enjoy this one as much as the previous book, I still found it enjoyable and easy to read.
My biggest issue with the story was the basic concept. While I'm not saying it couldn't happen, I'm just wondering how likely it is to happen. Does that make sense? I'm sure Center researched the medical side before writing, but it still feels farfetched.
Though I did enjoy how Sadie's face blindness plays out throughout the story, it shows how we use other tells about a person than just their face to inform us about those around us. How a person wears their hair, voice, and walk can tell you so much about a person. Those cues can be used for good or evil (looking at you, Parker!).
If you enjoy reading about people growing and learning more about themselves, you should read Hello Stranger.
