Book Review: By Any Other Name

 

By Any Other Name by Lauren Kate 📱

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Star Rating

The Summary:

With a successful career as a romance editor, and an engagement to a man who checks off all ninety-nine boxes on her carefully curated list, Lanie's more than good. She's killing it. Then she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime: to work with world-renowned author and her biggest inspiration in love and life—the Noa Callaway. All Lanie has to do is cure Noa's writer's block and she'll get the promotion she's always dreamed of. Simple, right? 
 
But there's a reason no one has ever seen or spoken to the mysterious Noa Calloway. And that reason will rock Lanie’s world. It will call into question everything she thought she knew. When she finally tosses her ninety-nine expectations to the wind, Lanie may just discover that love By Any Other Name can still be as sweet.

📚💻

This was such an easy, predictable, romcom read and I was 100% there for it!  Something about a book about someone writing a book always appeals to me, I can’t explain it.  I read this ebook in one sitting and enjoyed it from beginning to end.

✍🏻📖

Don’t go into this one expecting swoon-worthy romance or even a dash of spice - you’ll find none of it here. This is more a story about one’s idea of romance and falling in love should feel like. All the while, totally falling for someone you don’t particularly like half the time. Go figure. 

🤷🏻‍♀️

I found both main characters likable as individuals and I was totally rooting for them as a couple.  I recommend this one to anyone looking for a cute and entertaining weekend read.
Thank you to the author along with NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: The Wedding Season

 

The Wedding Season by Katy Birchall 📱

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5 Star Rating

The Summary:

Freya Scott is getting married. Her wedding to Matthew, her long-term boyfriend, is the first of eight in her calendar this year, and as someone who prides herself on being meticulously organized, Freya is intent on making it the perfect day to remember.

But when Matthew calls things off hours before they walk down the aisle, Freya’s entire life plan goes up in smoke. Humiliated and heartbroken, the last thing she wants is to attend a summer of other peoples’ nuptials on her own.

Fortunately, her friends have an idea: together they devise a series of outrageous challenges for Freya to complete at each event, designed to distract her from Matthew and what might have been.

By the time the final wedding arrives, she will discover that the road to a happy ending sometimes has unexpected detours, that “I do” is only the beginning––and that perhaps her own love story isn’t over just yet.

💒 👰🏻‍♀️💍🤵🏼‍♂️

I should first say that while this story is cute, funny, and a bit of a romp, the cover and title don’t do it justice. The cover is adorable and our main character does have to attend a series of weddings while getting over a horrendous breakup, but there are so many other unexpected layers. 

❤️‍🩹

Freya’s love life may get top billing but there were important, non romantic relationships - like the not so great one she has with her mother - that are explored and beautifully developed.  Life long friendships, new friendships, workplace relationships, and both strong and broken familial ties add to the complexity of this lovely story. 

🦚 

Not really a spoiler - but maybe - some of the interactions between Freya and her estranged mother had me teary-eyed. While this particular relationship evolves throughout the story, it’s still complicated in the end,  and I very much appreciated that.

💐

As a deliciously entertaining romcom - this book ticked all of the boxes. I love the journey, leading to newfound  self compassion and self acceptance that Freya embarks on and I found some of the plot points to be less predictable than most books of this genre. Ultimately, I was elated to find this story to be more than its cute cover led me to expect and I highly recommend it!  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go read every other book Katy Birchall has written. 

🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Thank you 🙏🏻 to the author along with NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.  

Book Review: Out Front the Following Sea

Out Front the Following Sea by Leah Angstman 📱

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5 Star Rating

The Summary;

Out Front the Following Sea is a historical epic of one woman’s survival in a time when the wilderness is still wild, heresy is publicly punishable, and being independent is worse than scorned — it is a death sentence. At the onset of King William’s War between French and English settlers in 1689 New England, Ruth Miner is accused of witchcraft for the murder of her parents and must flee the brutality of her town. She stows away on the ship of the only other person who knows her innocence: an audacious sailor — Owen — bound to her by years of attraction, friendship, and shared secrets. But when Owen’s French ancestry finds him at odds with a violent English commander, the turmoil becomes life-or-death for the sailor, the headstrong Ruth, and the cast of Quakers, Pequot Indians, soldiers, highwaymen, and townsfolk dragged into the fray. Now Ruth must choose between sending Owen to the gallows or keeping her own neck from the noose.
Steeped in historical events and culminating in a little-known war on pre-American soil, Out Front the Following Sea is a story of early feminism, misogyny, arbitrary rulings, and the treatment of outcasts, with parallels still mirrored and echoed in today’s society.

🌊🌊🌊

Wow! 

Leah Angstman has penned one of the most gripping historical fiction novels of 2022 with Out Front the Following Sea.  This is a story of perseverance in the face of a myriad of hardships: death, ridicule, loneliness, and the unfortunate fate of being born a woman in 17th Century America - just to name a few.  Ruth Miner’s colonial world comes to life on the page as it is full of both adventure and heartache.  I laughed and I cried - I gasped and raged for a couple of chapters - then I cried some more.  

🌊🌊🌊

Thank you, Leah Angstman for not only writing such an incredible book, but also sharing in the Author’s Note some interesting facts about the Pequot language and culture. I loved everything about Out Front the Following Sea (including that stunning cover that I could gush about for days) and plan to purchase a hardcover copy for my bookshelf.  It’s always such a rare treat to be blown away by an author’s debut novel and it makes me excited for what is to come. 

🌊🌊🌊

Thank you to the author along with BookSirens and Regal House Publishing for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: The Suite Spot

The Suite Spot by Trish Doller

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5 Star Rating

The Summary:

Rachel Beck has hit a brick wall. She’s a single mom, still living at home and trying to keep a dying relationship alive. Aside from her daughter, the one bright light in Rachel’s life is her job as the night reservations manager at a luxury hotel in Miami Beach—until the night she is fired for something she didn’t do. 

On impulse, Rachel inquires about a management position at a brewery hotel on an island in Lake Erie called Kelleys Island. When she’s offered the job, Rachel packs up her daughter and makes the cross country move. 

What she finds on Kelleys Island is Mason, a handsome, moody man who knows everything about brewing beer and nothing about running a hotel. Especially one that’s barely more than foundation and studs. It’s not the job Rachel was looking for, but Mason offers her a chance to help build a hotel—and rebuild her own life—from the ground up.

🏕🍻💖

Absolutely loved this follow up to Float Plan by Trish Doller! She does such a great job of writing three dimensional, relatable characters.  I actually enjoyed this story even more than the first of the Beck Sisters duology, but had one small complaint that prevented this one from receiving a five star rating.  The resolution to the final conflict seemed rushed to me. I would have liked to have seen more time spent on that whole situation to have felt completely satisfied.

🤦🏻‍♀️

I have had an unfortunate run of disappointing contemporary romance reads over the past couple of months. So bless you, Trish Doller, for this refreshing romance that kept me enthralled from beginning to end!

Thank you 🙏🏻 to the author along with NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free copy of this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Fraternity of Brothers Book 1

Fraternity of Brothers Book 1 by Marina Pacheco 📱

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫3.5/5 Star Rating

The Summary:

Medieval Europe, 996 AD. Fifteen-year-old Galen survived a horrendous assault, only to be exiled by his family. Taken in by monks and grateful to be spared as a suspected sinner from the execution block, he ekes out a lonely existence of unrelenting pain. But he gains a chance to prove himself worthy when a famous young illustrator arrives at the abbey and selects him to help with an important manuscript.

Thrilled to be handpicked for his superb scribing skills, Galen fears the other members of the order will sabotage his newfound fellowship with their whispered accusations. But when more brutal attacks rock the quiet community, a confrontation with his assailant might force him to finally speak his truth.

Will Galen find his voice and triumph over trauma and tragedy?

While it took me about 50 pages to really be drawn into The Life of Galen, the first book in Marina Pacheco's Fraternity of Brothers series, I ended up really enjoying this book.  I became so enraptured that I read it in one day.

I loved this story and how it explores the ways true friendship can heal emotional wounds. A young scribe, Galen, learns to trust that he is worthy of a friend as he has become somewhat content with his lonely existence when he meets fellow monk, Alcuin, a  man brave enough to choose the company of an outcast and risk the judgement of his peers.  I aspire to be the type of person who chooses a friend based on my own opinions, not those thrust upon me by others, and I love how that is beautifully represented in this book. 

My chief complaint was how quickly the villain was bested at the crescendo of the conflict in the story. There seemed to be an awful lot of build up to something that was over and down with in just a few short paragraphs.  I still look forward to reading more in this series of five books set in 996 AD Anglo-Saxon England.  

Thanks to the author and Voracious Readers Only for a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Great or Nothing

 Great or Nothing by Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, and Jessica Spotswood

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5 Star Rating

The Summary:

A reimagining of Little Women set in the spring of 1942, when the United States is suddenly embroiled in the second World War, this story, told from each March sister's point of view, is one of grief, love, and self-discovery.

In the spring of 1942, the United States is reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor. While the US starts sending troops to the front, the March family of Concord, Massachusetts grieves their own enormous loss: the death of their daughter, Beth.

Under the strain of their grief, Beth's remaining sisters fracture, each going their own way with Jo nursing her wounds and building planes in Boston, Meg holding down the home front with Marmee, and Amy living a secret life as a Red Cross volunteer in London--the same city where one Mr. Theodore Laurence is stationed as an army pilot.

Each March sister's point of view is written by a separate author, three in prose and Beth's in verse, still holding the family together from beyond the grave. Woven together, these threads tell a story of finding one's way in a world undergoing catastrophic change.

This was an incredibly inventive reimagining of Little Women that I absolutely enjoyed. With each of the March sisters being written by a different author, I initially feared that the story would seem a little disjointed as the POV changed from chapter to chapter, but it was a beautifully crafted collaboration.  I especially loved how, while exploring some heavy topics that were never addressed in Louisa May Alcott’s original novel, sisters Meg, Beth, Jo, and Amy did not stray from their initial characterizations in the literary classic. 

The only reason I give this book four rather than five stars has more to do with my personal preference.  While the stories of Meg, Jo, and Amy were written in prose form, Beth’s added POV was written in verse.  Inserted at the end of each chapter, I found myself skimming or skipping over them completely about halfway through the book.  Not that they weren’t well written, I’m just rarely drawn to verse without rhyme.  I realize some would consider that to be a fault on my part as a reader, but it doesn’t prevent me from highly recommending this book. 

Thank you to the authors along with Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Corset Maker

The Corset Maker by Annette Libeskind Berkovitz

⭐️⭐️💫2.5/5 Star Rating

The Summary:

In Warsaw, Poland, the young Rifka Berg, raised in an ultra Orthodox home, asks her father why girls don’t have bar mitzvahs. Eventually, his answer provokes Rifka to risk

everything. In a bold move, unheard of at the time, teenage Rifka and her close friend, Bronka, open their own business–a corset shop on the most fashionable street in Warsaw. Rifka yearns to read forbidden literature and to explore the world beyond the confines of her small community. 

Her wishes come true, albeit harrowingly, when the tumultuous events of the 20th century take her on a journey for survival. Faced with life and death situations, Rifka will have to take immense risks. She will have to decide if there is ever a time to abandon her principles for a higher purpose. What decisions will she make? Will circumstances choose for her?

😬

First of all, I appreciate that this work of fiction was a passion project for the author. She shares in her Author’s Note that she has never written fiction, but has previously published several works of nonfiction. The author says this story is loosely based on the bits and pieces of real life events that her deceased mother reluctantly shared before her passing in 1980.  So, I commend Annette Libeskind Berkovitz for stepping out into the unfamiliar terrain of historical fiction to preserve her mother’s legacy for future generations of their family.

The story, the setting, and the general plot were intriguing to me because I have a soft spot for historical fiction novels set in WWII era Poland.  However, I struggled through half of this 400+ page novel before filing it under DNF. In my opinion, the dialogue and interaction between characters was often flat and difficult to believe. The voices of these characters never came to life for me and it became increasingly difficult for me to connect to them in a significant enough way to keep reading.  The narrative was beautifully written and well researched, but the characters simply lacked the ability to hold my attention.

Thank you to the author along with the publisher and NetGalley for making this ebook available to read for free in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: One Italian Summer

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Star Rating

The Summary:

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliffsides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.

And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.

🍋🇮🇹

This was an emotional journey for me personally as the fifth anniversary of the death of grandmother is mere weeks away.  Just like Katy, I lost my person, and I could identify with her difficulty to grapple with her feelings of grief and discovering how she should best express them.  Grief is an emotion, mourning is the expression of the emotion and the only way to reach a place of healing.  This was a story of self discovery and acknowledging your own resilience in the midst of absolute brokenness and I believe that the author communicated that very well.  Additionally, any time there's an element of time bending magic weaved into a book, I AM HERE FOR IT!

🌀🌀🌀

The reason I am landing on a four star review instead of five - because I highly recommend this book! - has to do with the slow burn of a couple of elements that I struggled to reconcile as I was reading.  First of all, there was Katy's perception of her relationship with her mother.  For me, it was just improbable.  She often referred to her mother as her best friend, soul mate, and the center of her world - and the feeling was mutual.  Now, this is coming form someone who absolutely can say that I had a soul mate in my grandmother.  She was my person, my biggest fan, my person, but I could make decisions and choices without her.  Katy's utter dependence on her mother seemed unhealthy at times and as a mental healthcare professional, I really struggled to feel okay about that as I got deeper into the story.  I also reached a point of feeling like Katy herself was becoming less and less relatable with the life altering choices she was making in direct response to her grief.

Another personal issue I had with this story was how long it takes for the author to reveal how and why Katy is interacting with the 30 year old version of her mother.  I found myself thinking "Wouldn't this seem weird to Carol?" or "Doesn't this particular detail seem off to one or both of them?" more than once. Once all of the details begin to unravel, all of my questions were sufficiently answered, but geez that happened very late in the story. 

Fortunately, the concerns I was having with this story fell away when Rebecca Serle turned everything we thought we knew up until a point completely on its head!  My reservations were addressed in an unexpected and beautiful way that left me in tears, reading the last page of this book.  I only worry that some readers will give up long before reaching the pay off in the end.  So, that's why I was to take this opportunity to say to anyone who may soon read or is currently reading this book with the same roller coaster of emotions that I was experiencing: KEEP READING!  It will all make sense.  It will all be dealt with.  IT WILL BE WORTH IT!

A huge thank you 🙏🏻 to the author along with Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.  I predict this will be one of my favorite books of this year 💜

 

Book Review: The Crowns of Croswald

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night📱

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Star Rating 

The Summary: 

In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret...

For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken.

Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems.

When Ivy’s magic - and her life - is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.

🪶✨

I absolutely enjoyed this book!  It’s marketed as a middle grades fantasy, which isn’t a genre I am usually drawn to, but this book appeals to all ages.  The world building is flawless and the setting was somewhat reminiscent of Hogwarts, to me. That is NEVER a bad thing, in my opinion.✨

💜

Ivy’s story reminds the reader that our self worth is not always reflected in worldly possessions. Even when we live a humble existence, we can still be destined for greatness.

The Crowns of Croswald is an ongoing series, with the fourth book’s pub date just around the corner. This first book in the series gets a definite recommendation from me for anyone who is into the magical fantasy genre. An absolute must if, like me, you have a child who falls into that middle grades category. My son and I will definitely be finishing this series together!

Thank you 🙏🏻 to the author along with Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for the free digital copy in exchange for my honest review 💜