Pam
I want to thank Tor Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Night Guest. All opinions presented here are my own.
I requested this novel purely because the author is from Iceland. Yes, I know it's not the best reason to request a book, but this time, it paid off! The synopsis also made me curious, especially as a woman who feels like waking up more tired than when going to bed.
The majority of the story is told through Iðunn's inner monologue. There are only a handful of characters in the novel, with minimal dialogue.
This novel has been classified as a horror. While some elements reflect horror, The Night Guest could also be considered a mystery.
My biggest complaint with The Night Guest is the ending. I won't spoil the book by explaining my issues with it. I may have screamed in frustration when I realized I had reached the end.
If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, a book that you won't want to put down and may even make you start reading again after reaching the end, look no further than The Night Guest.
I want to thank Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death. All opinions presented here are my own.
A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death is a fantastic addition to the Baker Street Mystery series from Valerie Burns. While this is part of a cozy mystery series, this one leans a bit more into the romance side of things. Yes, there are a couple of murders, but a couple of romances are being cooked up. (Sorry for the pun, but I couldn't help myself!)
This is one of the few cozy mystery series I recommend starting with the first one and reading them in order. If you don't, you may not understand some of the interactions between characters. And you will also find yourself with spoilers for the earlier books. But don't worry, this is only book three, so you aren't too far behind!
While I knew who was behind everything, I wasn't 100% sure about their motives. But the more you learn about them, the more you understand their motive.
Another thing I didn't like about this book was the fact it felt like it was the end of the series. Please tell me that we are getting more about Maddy and Baby! And what about Baby and Daisy? Don't they deserve their happy ending?
Do you enjoy reading books set in small towns? What about books that feature food, especially baked goods? Or nods to classic literary detectives? Then you should read the A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death! Or better yet, just read all of the Baker Street Mysteries! I, for one, can't wait to return to New Bison soon.
I want to thank Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop. All opinions presented here are my own.
Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop is the perfect blend of cozy mystery and Halloween!
Elyan Hollow is a town that was used to film an iconic Halloween movie. The movie has such a huge fanbase that people come from all over to see the filming sites. What's a town to do when that happens? They lean into it and celebrate what has made them famous. Several businesses in town have Halloween-themed names, and there's a month-long Halloween festival. The new Spooky Season Literary Festival kicks off this year's Halloween festival.
Elyan Hollow is a small town where everyone seems to know everyone else. Bailey lives in the house her mom grew up in and runs the bookshop that her grandfather first opened. Several of her friends are either people she went to school with or people who watched her grow up. It's that kind of small town!
My biggest issue with the book, even if it does help drive the mystery, is the depth and seriousness of family secrets. Bailey and her grandfather are keeping a secret from her uncle. And Liz, Bailey's mom, has kept a secret from Bailey her whole life. One of the family secrets is revealed in the book, but there are still a few aspects of the family dynamic I'm not a fan of.
If you are a fan of movies like Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown, you probably would love to visit the towns where they were filmed—a town much like Elyan Hollow. While waiting to take that trip, why not give Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop a read?
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!
