Pam
I want to thank Del Ray and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Widow’s Charm. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
I added A Widow’s Charm to my TBR on a bit of a whim. Honestly, the main reason was that Caitlyn Paxson is a Canadian author, and I love supporting Canadian authors. While I don’t tend to read a lot of fantasy, I’m glad I read this one.
A Widow’s Charm could easily be classified as a cozy fantasy. And I’m okay with that! There’s plenty of fun, cozy moments, and some not-so-cozy elements added in. The reason this is labeled a fantasy is that some can use charms or work a specific type of magic.
While I didn’t mind the language, some readers may be offended by the use of more modern language in a book set in a more historical time period. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there is swearing throughout, by a variety of characters. Some scenes are full of innuendo.
Overall, A Widow’s Charm is a fun read. And I am looking forward to reading more by Paxson.
I want to thank Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Wild People Quiet. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
I added Wild People Quiet to my TBR because I want to learn more about the experience of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. For those who don’t know, the Métis are an Indigenous group that resulted when the fur trappers and traders, mostly the French, had relationships with Indigenous women. They are one of the three main groups of Indigenous people in Canada. As a result of these relationships, many of the children could pass as white. In a time of rampant racism, that could be a good thing.
Florence was one of those people. She wasn’t ashamed of who she was; she was ashamed of how she was forced to live. And took the opportunity she was given to rectify that. Would I be able to do what she did and hide who she was for so long? Probably not.
Gereaux wrote a compelling story with compelling characters. Wild People Quiet could have been a preachy book, telling the world where everything went wrong. Instead, the author took the time to show us the story of her people and how history books don’t always tell the true story.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
Keeper of Lost Children tells the story of the Brown Baby Plan. After World War II ended, US forces were sent to rebuild Germany and other parts of Europe. These soldiers and German women often had relationships. Many times these relationships resulted in babies. In the case of the babies whose fathers were African American, they often caused the mothers to be shunned for having relationships outside of marriage. As such, many of the women took the babies to churches and orphanages to protect the babies and themselves. One woman saw this happening and took it upon herself to put these babies with families who were unable to have children of their own.
While this is a work of fiction, Johnson works hard to make you believe every word. She has a way with telling the hard stories, the ones that often fall through the cracks, and making them easier to understand.
Keeper of Lost Children is told through three POV. Ethel is the woman behind the plan to send the babies to loving families. Sophia is a teen struggling to find her place in her family and her school. Ozzie is a young man who found himself in an awkward situation. Each POV is easy to discern; their voices are distinct.
There may be some language that readers find offensive, but it is used in the context of the time period, as the majority of the story is set in the 1950s and 1960s. While I’m not saying the language was ever right to use, it was more common in certain historical eras.
My biggest issue with the overall story was some of Ozzie’s parts. There were times his story felt like it was dragging the book down. Then I remembered he was a young man in a foreign country, in a tenuous situation.
Overall, I think everyone should read Keeper of Lost Children. It tells a true story that has often fallen through the cracks of time.
I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Maybe This Once. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
I added Maybe This Once to my TBR because I’ve enjoyed previous books by Sophie Sullivan. Last year, I read and reviewed Get Lost with You. As I said last year, while this is part of a series, you don’t have to read the series in order. That said, there are events in this book that may spoil the other books.
Maybe This Once is Grayson’s story of finding love. He is the oldest of the three Keller kids. He thought he had found his true love earlier in life, but ended up having a messy divorce. It was so bad that he swore off love and romance forever. Charlie has struggled to trust others and let people in. Both are discussed throughout the book.
Overall, I found the pacing to be a bit slow. There seemed to be a lot of will-they-or-won’t-they moments. When they first meet, the sparks fly. There’s an instant connection, but neither does anything about it because of their previous experiences with relationships. When they see each other again, the sparks are still there, so much so that everyone sees them, except Grayson and Charlie. Once they decide to explore their feelings, the pacing improves a little. But once they reach the climax and face the pressure of external forces, the pacing improves significantly.
While I may not have loved this story, I will continue to read Sophie Sullivan’s books.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
This Book Made Me Think of You caught my eye thanks to the title, synopsis, and cover. I have to say, the North American cover is much better than the others I’ve seen. As for the title and synopsis, what book lover wouldn’t love to receive a year of books as a gift?
Tilly’s story is one of growth and healing. She loved Joe passionately and misses him just as deeply. But I feel as though her story could belong to any of us. As she learns along the way, we eventually all lose someone who means everything to us. I found myself taking time to think of my own journey with grief.
While this book is over 400 pages, it is still a quick and easy read. Yes, there is a lot of talk about grief, but that doesn’t hold the story down. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the book isn’t a bog to read because of the underlying theme. There is still plenty of hope and joy.
The central setting of the book is a bookshop. And the main thing that helps move the story along is a year of books. The best part of a book featuring books? All of the recommendations! Each month is introduced with a selection of books that follow a particular theme. Along with the books that Tilly received as part of her gift, there are over 50 books mentioned.
Overall, This Book Made Me Think Of You is a fantastic read. I think every book lover will enjoy reading it. What could be wrong with a book about books and how they impact our lives?
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
I want to thank Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Winter Witch. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
3.75 rounded up to 4
I truly wanted to love The Winter Witch. What historical fiction reader wouldn’t want to read a book set in the 17th century that features a possible witch? While Chevalier did extensive research for her novel, some parts felt forced. I enjoyed reading about the relationship between the brides, especially the sisters. But one was so wrapped in her misery that she refused to share, and often regretted the joy the other tried to find in life. And I understand that’s how sisters can be, but when you’re in your late teens and have no other family to turn to, are you really going to shut out the one you have?
I struggled to read this book for the first 60% or so. I’m not sure if it was the book or me, and life was getting in the way of my devoting the time to reading. That said, when I was approaching the last 30% or so, I didn’t want to stop reading. It seemed that’s where the majority of the action was. And the daring rescue was quite possibly the best part of it all.
I do think that The Winter Witch highlights what can happen when you let others have absolute power and control over every facet of life. There is a scene where Élisabeth is called a dumb peasant for her beliefs. While it may be true that she did not have sophisticated beliefs, she was not necessarily dumb or ignorant. This is brought up later in the story, and the character explains what they meant in a more meaningful way.
Overall, The Winter Witch is a great look at women’s lives in 17th-century Montreal. If you enjoy reading well-researched books, where there is character growth on all sides, then you should give The Winter Witch a read.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
3.75 rounded up to 4
I added The Summer of Yes to my TBR because I’ve enjoyed other Courtney Walsh books. While I enjoyed reading this, it wasn’t as good as the others in my opinion. But let me explain!
The cast of characters is interesting. I especially enjoyed the interactions between Georgina and Kelsey throughout the book. As for the men in Georgina’s past, they were okay. The ex-husband felt a bit flat, and Hayden felt too perfect. Does that make sense? It will if you read the book. The character I wanted more of is JP, Georgina’s overworked assistant. Though Belinda, the nurse, was a great character too. And I would have loved for her to reappear in the story.
There were times in the book when Kelsey’s attitude felt fake or maybe forced. I understand that she was trying to reexamine her life and say yes more often. But there were times when she didn’t seem to be feeling it. And only said yes to make whoever she was with happy. Maybe it was the narrator's parts that gave me that feeling?
What did I enjoy about the book? I loved the growth Kelsey and Georgina have, especially Georgina! By saying yes, or at least okay, Georgina was able to see where she went wrong in the past and had a chance to make things better. In the end, Kelsey had her ephinany as well.
Overall, though, I’m glad I said yes to The Summer of Yes. And I look forward to reading more by Courtney Walsh.
I want to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Arctic Cruise. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.
4.5 stars rounded to 5
Adding The Arctic Cruise to my TBR was a pure impulse move, and I am so happy that I did. What’s not to love about a widow trying to find herself, a confirmed bachelor finding himself in a new situation, and a cast of quirky characters? Oh, and all of this on a week-long cruise from England up to the Arctic Circle around Christmas? Sign me up!
James is best known for writing novels that feature a more mature cast of characters, and this novel was chock-full of them. But there weren’t so many that you couldn’t keep them straight. On a cruise ship with over 1,000 people, the cast list is relatively small, with fewer than 20 named characters. The side characters, like Nora, Sid, Judy, and James, are just as entertaining as the main characters. Honestly, I want to be like almost all of them when I get older. No one should aim to be like Barbara or Kenneth.
Reading The Arctic Cruise made me want to reach out to the nearest travel agent to book it. Though I’m not sure I want to go there in the winter, I wouldn’t mind a nice, relaxing summer cruise to the area.
Do you enjoy reading books with a quirky cast of mature characters? Or ones that feature travel to unexpected locations? What about a romance that is beautiful to see unfold? Do you enjoy Christmas books that don’t scream Christmas? Or friends that become found family? Then you should read The Arctic Cruise.
Originally posted at readbakecreate.com.
Is This a Cry for Help? is being marketed as a humor book. I’m sorry, but I didn’t see any humor in the book. We join Darcy on part of her journey of healing and forgiveness. There is nothing humorous about that. This is a contemporary novel, through and through. Other topics discussed in the book are about libraries and what they provide for their communities. As a reader and lover of libraries, I was already familiar with much of the information shared here. But I did not know it all. And of course, the services provided by libraries vary from community to community.
Darcy is a flawed character, but that makes her more realistic. Who among us hasn’t wondered if we’ve taken the right path in life? Or look back with regret at relationships? Joy is an excellent counterbalance to Darcy. Don’t get me wrong, she’s flawed too. Who is ever 100% perfect? But Joy knows she has flaws, and she embraces them. Along the way, she cares for those important to her.
The chapters contained page breaks when there were changes of scene, and often when there were changes in time. Darcy would often go back in time and examine her relationship with Ben. Many times, there were page breaks to give readers a heads-up that this was happening. Other times, you may not realize it until you are in the middle of the story.
I found myself wondering if Sophie and January were needed in the story. Sophie is Joy’s sister, and at the beginning of the story, she was pregnant. Before the first chapter is over, Joy is off to spend time with her sister and baby January. Maybe their purpose is that Darcy has to spend time without her anchor nearby?
Overall, Is This a Cry for Help? is an interesting read. Be prepared to examine your mental health and relationship with the world around you.
I added The Christmas Kill to my TBR after finding it at a used book sale. According to the hype inside the book, Nick Carter is the American answer to James Bond. I was hooked and had to give it a read.
The book was initially released in the early 1980s; as such, it may come across as being racist and using negative stereotypes. While the stereotypes were annoying, I was able to overlook them while reading the story. Yes, I know such things are problematic and shouldn't be avoided. But if we were to do that with every offensive book, we wouldn't be able to read anything older than 20 years.
The action scenes were very reminiscent of James Bond, which is what I was looking for while reading The Christmas Kill. While this is book 172 in a series that contains 261 books, you can read it as a standalone. I haven't read any other books in the series, but I don't feel like I was missing anything.
Overall, if you read The Christmas Kill, don't expect to read literature. It is purely for escapism and entertainment.
4.75 rounded up to 5
I decided to give Listen for the Lie a read because I've seen reviews calling it good. Now, let me say, I tend to avoid books that get a lot of hype because, most of the time, they don't hit the mark for me. I am glad to say that Listen for the Lie lives up to all of the hype! One caveat, I honestly believe you need to listen to the audiobook for the full effect. I'm sure reading other versions would be as impactful, but the audiobook just made it easier to fall into the story.
The characters, oh my, what a cast of characters! What a small town, Plumpton, TX, is. I'm not sure if I want to visit, but I do know I certainly want to meet Beverly. She's my hero, and the kind of person I want to be when I get older. At 80, she is so full of sass and snark, it's beautiful.
Tintera did an excellent job of dragging out the story and introducing many suspects. She also didn't shy away from the idea that maybe Lucy was the real culprit after all. But she didn't make the story feel long, or any parts truly unnecessary. Everything that happened needed to happen. But when the big reveal happened, I will admit I was shocked. But now, as I think about it, I wonder why I was so surprised? It all made perfect sense.
If you've read Sadie by Courtney Summers, you need to read Listen for the Lie! But if you haven't read it, that's ok. If you enjoy reading mysteries with lots of twists and turns, real characters, and an unexpected ending, you will enjoy reading Listen for the Lie. Just be warned: you won't be able to do anything else until you finish reading it.
CW/TW: early dementia, death of a family member, memories of child abuse, memories of animal abuse
Say You'll Remember Me is the start of a new series, but if it is like Jimenez's other books, it could be considered a standalone. Unlike her other books, there doesn't seem to be any characters connected to any of her previous books.
Xavier and Samantha's story is a slow-burning one, spanning a year. They have a meet-cute, go on a date, and the next day she moves 2,000 miles away. As such, it takes a while for them to have any intimate time, and when it does finally happen, it's off-page.
The main thread throughout this book is memories-creating them, remembering them, cherishing them. I found it to be a great reminder that even the small things can bring happiness and joy. A favorite song, a seashell in your pocket, a scent that you forgot about. These things can all help you cherish those special moments.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that, sure, Say You'll Remember Me is marketed as a romance, but it's so much more than that. There is a romance, no doubting that. But there is also seeing that family relationships can get messy. The expectations may not always be in everyone's best interest.