Book Review | WITCHES STEEPED IN GOLD by Ciannon Smart

WITCHES STEEPED IN GOLD
Ciannon Smart
Publication: April 20, 2021
Publisher: HarperCollins CA,
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: ★★★★★

Divided by their order. United by their vengeance.

Iraya has spent her life in a cell, but every day brings her closer to freedom - and vengeance.

Jazmyne is the Queen’s daughter, but unlike her sister before her, she has no intention of dying to strengthen her mother’s power.

Sworn enemies, these two witches enter a precarious alliance to take down a mutual threat. But power is intoxicating, revenge is a bloody pursuit, and nothing is certain - except the lengths they will go to win this game.

Drenched in politics, social injustices, and ancestral magic, WITCHES STEEPED IN GOLD is a broad and complex narrative. This Jamaican-inspired fantasy is told in turns between two main characters. Jazmyne Cariot is an Alumbrar witch and successor to Doyenne Judair Cariot of the island Aiyca. Driven by her desire to bring back justice to her people, Jazmyne is one of the key minds leading a rebellion to overthrow her mother. Iraya Adair is an Obeah witch, rightful heir to the Aiycan throne, fueled by her newly awakened naevus and desire to avenge her family. Reluctantly, these two witches dared the Shook Bargain to eradicate their shared enemy.

Ciannon Smart created a world where magical power is a birthright, while deception and betrayal are must-learn skills. The large volume of details slowed the pace down, allowing the reader to absorb the intents and atmosphere of the storytelling. The distortion of good and evil towards the end of the narrative stretches the notion that good intentions can very well be poison. And while the plot is focused on the characters’ development and magical system, both fully realized and vivid, Smart’s intention to enlighten readers on Jamaican culture and feminism is not lost.

WITCHES STEEPED IN GOLD is a promising opening for an intense fantasy series. This is recommended for readers who enjoy rich world-building and unpredictable characters.

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN | GOODREADS

About the Author:

Of Jamaican heritage, Ciannon Smart grew up in a small town in the south-east of England. As the only daughter in a house full of boisterous sons, she developed a voracious appetite for reading from an early age, preferring anarchy in stories rather than real life. In YA she loves her heroines exactly as she loves her villains: wilful, wily, and unpredictable. When not writing, Ciannon can be found reading, painting, or taking the long way home to listen to a good song more than once.

*Thanks to HarperCollins for the galley in exchange for this unbiased review.
*This post is a part of the monthly linkups organized by Lovely Audiobooks! You can click here to check it out and be a part of it.

Read more →

Book Review | THE SECRETS OF LOVE STORY BRIDGE by Phaedra Patrick

  

The Secrets of Love Story Bridge by Phaedra Patrick
Publication: April 28, 2020
Publisher: Park Row
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★★★★★

A single father gets an unexpected second chance at love in the heartwarming new novel from the author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.

It’s summer in the city and passions are soaring along with the temperature—for everyone but Mitchell Fisher, who hates all things romance. He relishes his job cutting off the padlocks that couples fasten to the famous “love story” bridge. Only his young daughter, Poppy, knows that behind his prickly veneer, Mitchell still grieves the loss of her mother.

Then one hot day, everything changes when Mitchell courageously rescues a woman who falls from the bridge into the river. He’s surprised to feel an unexpected connection to her, but she disappears before he can ask her name. Desperate to find out her identity, Mitchell is shocked to learn she’s been missing for almost a year. He teams up with her spirited sister, Liza, on a quest to find her again. However, she’s left only one clue behind—a message on the padlock she hung on the bridge.

Brimming with Phaedra Patrick’s signature charm and a sparkling cast of characters, The Secrets of Love Story Bridge follows one man’s journey to unlock his heart and discover new beginnings in the unlikeliest places. -Goodreads

This story reminds us that we have to be connected,
bridged with the people in our present.

Struggling as a single parent, Mitchell follows a strict schedule to function every day. And he needs more time taking care of his 9-year old daughter Poppy. So after quitting his architectural job, he now cuts padlocks from the bridges of Upchester as part of the city maintenance. For three years, since Anita’s death, Mitchell has been living with the ghost of the past and nursing guilt that prevents him from moving forward.

Phaedra Patrick is back with another heartwarming tale of family, self-forgiveness, and second chances. I love how she always gathers these engaging people together to tell their stories tucked in sumptuous mysteries. Mitchell saved a lady from drowning. Although he was hailed as a hero overnight,  he failed to get the lady's name or learn whatever happened to her after. Until he met the mystery lady's very peculiar sister.

We need more stories like this –straightforward and uplifting. It’s very interesting how each person carries a piece, like a puzzle, which connects with other people. They need not necessarily be alike. One could be a unicorn, and the other, a donkey. And that alone can make a new difference in the world.

THE SECRETS OF LOVE STORY BRIDGE is available on April 28 in the US and in paperback as THE SECRETS OF SUNSHINE on May 14 in the UK. Make sure to get a copy.

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN | GOODREADS
About the Author:

Phaedra Patrick is the internationally bestselling author of THE LIBRARY OF LOST AND FOUND, RISE & SHINE, BENEDICT STONE, and THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER, which has been translated into over twenty languages worldwide.

Phaedra qualified firstly as a stained glass artist before gaining her professional Marketing qualifications. She has worked as a waitress, stained glass designer, film festival organizer, and communications manager. She enjoyed her first real writing success when she entered and won several short story competitions, and she now writes full time.

She lives in Saddleworth, UK, and is represented by Clare Wallace at Darley Anderson Literary, Film and TV Agency.


*Thanks to Park Row Books (Harlequin) for the advance review copy in exchange for this unbiased review.
*This post is a part of the monthly linkups organized by Lovely Audiobooks! You can click here to check it out and be a part of it.

Read more →

Book Review | THE BIG FINISH by Brooke Fossey

  

The Big Finish by Brooke Fossey
Publication: April 14, 2020
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: ★★★★★

Meet Duffy, an old curmudgeon who lives in an assisted living home.

Meet Josie, a desperate young woman who climbs through his window.

Together, they’re going to learn it’s never too late—or too early—to change your ways.

The book opens to a day's schedule. For many, that schedule would be a very dull itinerary but for the residents of Centennial, that makes their daily existence.

We counted on stuff like this to keep us afloat,
and none of us took it for granted.

Carl and Duffy are roommates who seemed content living the rest of their monotonous life at Centennial,  an assisted home for seniors. Then, Josie appeared and tipped the balance off that monotony. I have to admit, I like Duffy from the first go. He is gruff and way too perceptive for his own good. And I love how this heartwarming community walks the extra mile to help each other. Often with the aid of a walker or a wheelchair, but they do get there.

I really appreciate how Ms. Fossey approached the heavy topics of alcoholism, abandonment, and the inevitable loneliness of old age with humor and lightheartedness. It is absolutely unique to find these characters bursting with excitement and interactions despite their advancing age and limitations. Moreover, here they are giving us a witty and profound lesson on family, community, and second chances.

THE BIG FINISH is a wonderful debut and I highly recommend it.

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN | GOODREADS

About the Author:

Brooke Fossey was once an aerospace engineer with a secret clearance before she traded it all in for motherhood and writing. She’s a past president and an honorary lifetime member of DFW Writers’ Workshop. Her work can be found in numerous publications, including Ruminate Magazine and SmokeLong Quarterly. Her debut novel, THE BIG FINISH is forthcoming in 2020 from Penguin/Berkley (US), and Piper/Pendo (DE). When she’s not writing, you can find her in Dallas, Texas with her husband, four kids, and their dog Rufus. She still occasionally does math.

*Thanks to Berkley and Edelweiss for the advance review copy in exchange for this unbiased review.
*This post is a part of the monthly linkups organized by Lovely Audiobooks! You can click here to check it out and be a part of it.

Read more →

Book Review | WHO SPEAKS FOR THE DAMNED by C.S. Harris

   
Who Speaks for the Damned by C.S. Harris
Series:  Sebastian St. Cyr #15
Publication Date:  April 7, 2020
Publisher:  Berkley
Genre:  Historical Mystery
Rating:  ★★★★★

It's June 1814, and the royal families of Austria, Russia, and the German states have gathered in London at the Prince Regent's invitation to celebrate the defeat of Napoléon and the restoration of monarchical control throughout Europe. But the festive atmosphere is marred one warm summer evening by the brutal murder of a disgraced British nobleman long thought dead.

Eighteen years before, Nicholas Hayes, the third son of the late Earl of Seaford, was accused of killing a beautiful young French émigré and transported to Botany Bay for life. Even before his conviction, Hayes had been disowned by his father. Few in London were surprised when they heard the ne'er-do-well had died in New South Wales in 1799. But those reports were obviously wrong. Recently Hayes returned to London with a mysterious young boy in tow--a child who vanishes shortly after Nicholas's body is discovered.

I look forward to this series every year as an annual event. I am so invested with the characters that I want to keep tabs on how their lives are moving on. This is the fifteenth book in the series, but Ms. Harris still manages to keep each mystery fresh and new every issue. Her research skill is so exceptional that the historical details in Regency England are weaved seamlessly.

A convicted murder, believed to have died in Botany Bay, was recently found… well… dead with a sickle on his back at Pennington Tea Garden. Knowing Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, a person’s death is not necessarily the end of the story. He was pulled into this investigation because of a young boy who went missing after Hayes’s death, and also because Devlin saw a mirror of himself in the victim. Nicholas Hayes’s murder stirred far too many old memories and quite several nobilities. And there’s nothing more intolerable for Devlin than a cold mix of nobles and their lies.

To decry injustice is merely scratching the surface. The issues that this sequel has in its arsenal can be overwhelming. And despite the setting, we can still spot these issues in these present times, if we look hard enough. Devlin and his wife Hero represent something far deeper than just “a power couple”. They stand for people who cannot stand or speak for themselves. Their views and hopes for the disadvantaged and neglected are something we, everyone, should aspire to.

These events took place in London, England, in 1814. The continent is celebrating Napoleon’s defeat and England is hosting events for the Allied Sovereigns. A time where opium smuggling was rampant and Lascars made England their new home.

Very rich in history, well-plotted, and deliciously peppered with red herrings, WHO SPEAKS FOR THE DAMNED will keep you at the edge of your seat from beginning to the end.

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN | GOODREADS

About the Author:
Candice Proctor, aka C.S. Harris and C.S. Graham, is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than two dozen novels including the Sebastian St. Cyr Regency mystery series written under the name C.S. Harris, the C.S. Graham thriller series co-written with Steven Harris, and seven historical romances. She is also the author of a nonfiction historical study of women in the French Revolution. Her books are available worldwide and have been translated into over twenty languages.

A former academic with a Ph.D. in European history, Candice also worked as an archaeologist on a variety of sites including a Hudson's Bay Company Fort in San Juan Island, a Cherokee village in Tennessee, a prehistoric kill site in Victoria, Australia, and a Roman cemetery and medieval manor house in Winchester, England. She loves to travel and has spent much of her life abroad, living in Spain, Greece, England, France, Jordan, and Australia. She now makes her home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband, retired Army officer Steve Harris, and an ever-expanding number of cats.

*Thanks to Berkley for the advance review copy in exchange for this unbiased review.
*This post is a part of the monthly linkups organized by Lovely Audiobooks! You can click here to check it out and be a part of it.

Read more →

MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2020

   

It's a new year and a new journey in books, as well. 

Last year I also had my list of Most Anticipated Books, which was very helpful because without it I may have rutted all the more. Admittedly, I did not finish the list. Some I have started and paused, others I have not even cracked yet, and two were not in fact published last year. Also, I seem to be leaning more on feel-good/gentle reads lately, which may be why I have those paused and uncracked books still on my TBR.

I’ve read 29 books and although it’s a far cry from my usual count, I really feel good about most of them. So, satisfied me had no complaints.

For 2020, here’s my eclectic list of Most Anticipated Books:

• ✔Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid
             (December 31, 2019, by G.P. Putnam's Sons)
• ✔When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
           (January 28, 2020, by Scout Press)
• ✔The Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey
             (February 4, 2020, by G.P. Putnam's Sons)
• Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara
             (February 4, 2020, by Random House)
• ✔The King at the Edge of the World by Arthur Phillips
             (February 11, 2020, by Random House)
• Wicked As You Wish (A Hundred Names for Magic #1) by Rin Chupeco
             (March 3, 2020, by Sourcebooks Fire)
• ✔Lost Autumn by Mary-Rose MacColl
             (March 3, 2020, by G.P. Putnam's Sons)
• ✔Writers & Lovers by Lily King
             (March 3, 2020, by Grove Press)
• ✔ We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
             (March 3, 2020, by Pantheon)
• ✔The 20th Victim (WMC, #20) by James Patterson & Maxine Paertro
             (March 5, 2020, by Little, Brown, and Company)
• The New Life of Hugo Gardner by Louis Begley
             (March 17, 2020, by Nan A. Talese)
• ✔Who Speaks for the Damned (St. Cyr, #15) by C.S. Harris
             (April 7, 2020, by Berkley Books)
• ✔The Secrets of Love Story Bridge by Phaedra Patrick
             (April 28, 2020, by Park Row)
• ✔The Sweeney Sisters: A Novel by Lian Dolan
             (April 28, 2020, by William Morrow)
• ✔Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay
             (May 12, 2020, by Thomas Nelson)
• Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce,
             (June 11, 2020, by Doubleday)
• ✔Miss Iceland by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir,
             (June 16, 2020, by Grove Press, Black Cat)
• Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell
             (July 14, 2020, by Hodder & Stoughton)
• ✔Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim
             (August 4, 2020, by Berkley)
• Jack (Gilead #4 )by Marilynne Robinson,
             (September 29, 2020, by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)
• Death and the Maiden (Mistress of the Art of Death #5)by Samantha Norman,
             (October 15, 2020, by William Morrow)

I have previously-published books on my list too. They usually change over the course, depending on my mood. Most of them are also in audiobook form, and I may need to buy printed copies or loan copies from the library soon. 

I'm also into Libby by Overdrive lately. Wonderful site, even though sometimes I have to wait for weeks for an audiobook request.   The same goes for our cloudLibrary  by Bibliotheca Ltd.  The magic of having a library card! Right? Also, let us keep supporting our local libraries -visit often, vote for their renovations, and fight to keep librarians (they are precious and few).

If you think I should add more to my list or you have any recommendations, please leave a comment below. 

Now, let's begin!

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN | GOODREADS

*This is my Review of the Month for the review collection on  LovelyAudiobooks.info

Read more →

Book Review | HERE THERE ARE MONSTERS by Amelinda Bérubé

August 1, 2019 
Sourcebooks Fire

Sixteen-year-old Skye is done playing the knight in shining armor for her insufferable younger sister, Deirdre. Moving across the country seems like the perfect chance to start over.

In their isolated new neighborhood, Skye manages to fit in, but Deirdre withdraws from everyone, becoming fixated on the swampy woods behind their house and building monstrous sculptures out of sticks and bones.

Then Deirdre disappears.

And when something awful comes scratching at Skye's window in the middle of the night, claiming she's the only one who can save Deirdre, Skye knows she will stop at nothing to bring her sister home. - Goodreads

I should like this - it is of the horror genre- but I can’t for good reasons.

I was instantly hooked by the book cover; it’s an absolute eye-catcher. The writing started off really good. The choices of words are pleasantly invoking and creepy enough. But then, the plot started going sideways in the middle. There are more than enough “sort of” scenarios that are difficult to picture. I cannot take hold of what exactly is going on and where it’s actually moving. I never abandon a book, so, I plowed on and read it to the end.

I have to admit, there is plenty of substance here. The book’s premise is absolutely interesting; the setting could be perfect, and the character foundations are there. In other words, the backbone for a good horror book is present, but not fully developed.

Book details:
Title: Here There Are Monsters
Author: Amelinda Bérubé
Publication: August 1, 2019, by Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: YA, Horror
Rating:  ★★


*Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the DRC in exchange for this honest review.

Read more →

Book Review | THE BRIDE TEST by Helen Hoang

    

May 7, 2019
Berkley

From the critically acclaimed author of The Kiss Quotient comes a romantic novel about love that crosses international borders and all boundaries of the heart...

-Goodreads

Reading THE BRIDE TEST made me realize that I have not had a romance novel for quite some time now. It was absolutely refreshing and exciting. I now understand why readers are raving about Helen Hoang.

Imagine yourself as a provincial bred girl who spent your life crammed in a single-spaced dwelling, trying to make ends meet by scrubbing toilets; then, you are literally commissioned to play the vixen and seduce a well-educated and rich hunk of a man from across the globe. 

Here begins Esme's adventure to hook and secure her future.

Kai is in the spectrum and has difficulty forming any passionate relationship. Esme, on the other hand, is patient and charming. I like how Kai and Esme bounce off each other a lot but manages to compromise every time. There's just the right amount of smuttiness to keep the taste buds sated, and was definitely needed for the progression of the story. This book has the ability to keep me in an electrified bubbly state while reading. (I'm not sure if that makes any sense to you, but it does to me.) Spoiler alert: My favorite is the haircut scene. It's the most personal and revealing for me.

Romance enthusiasts will take pleasure in this. Preorder your copy soon.

Book details:
Title: The Bride Test
Author:  Helen Hoang
Publication:  May 7, 2019, Berkley
Genre: Romance, Fiction
Rating:  ★★★★



*Thank you, Berkley and Edelweiss for the DRC in exchange for this unbiased review.

Read more →

Book Review | WHERE THE HEART IS by Jo Knowles

April 2, 2019,
Candlewick Press

If a home is where the heart is, what would happen if you lost it? Compassion and humor infuse the story of a family caught in a financial crisis and a girl struggling to form her own identity. -Goodreads

WHERE THE HEART IS is an important book that kids and teens will definitely relate to. Jo Knowles handled a topic, not most adults will discuss with their kids. Rachel's parents are almost always arguing about finances and unpaid bills. As the story unfolds, it's easy to surmise that the family could hardly afford their basic needs, let alone their house mortgage, even with Rachel's summer job. 

Rachel is a very responsible young girl. She carries a huge weight on her shoulders at this early age, but she does it anyway. She cannot even focus on herself and understand her feelings about boys and girls -Why she wants to be best friends with Micah but doesn't like boys? And why can a girl give her hummingbird feelings? She cannot discuss it with her parents because she doesn't want to add to their worries. On top of that, she has her little sister, Ivy, to shield from all the pain their family is going through.

When you learn vocabulary words in school, you memorize the definition. And you have a good idea of what the words mean. But it’s not until you feel them that you really grasp the definition. I have known what the word ‘helpless’ means for a long time. And ‘desperate.’ But I’ve never felt them. Feeling them is different. They fill your chest with a horrible sense of ‘dread’ and ‘guilt’ and ‘despair.’ Those are more vocabulary words that you can’t fully understand until you feel them.

This is a complex and rich coming-of-age-book. Both poverty and sexual orientations are sensitive matters and families need all the help and ideas so they can be more open about it. I recommend this book, especially for a classroom setting or book club discussion.


Book details:
Title:  WHERE THE HEART IS
Author:  Jo Knowles
Publication:  April 2, 2019; Candlewick Press
Genre: Middle-Grade Fiction
Rating: ★★★★

*Thank you Netgalley and Candlewick Press for the DRC in exchange for this unbiased book review.

*This review contains a quote from an uncorrected proof.

Read more →

Book Review | THE DREAM PEDDLER by Martine Fournier Watson

   

April 9th, 2019
Penguin Books

A page-turning debut novel about a traveling salesman who arrives to sell dreams to a town rocked by a child’s disappearance—both a thoughtful meditation on grief and magical exploration of our innermost desires. -Goodreads

An unusual man, Robert Owens, came to town to sell bottled dreams, each specifically made for the buyer's hidden cravings. In spite of subtlety, it became apparent that almost everyone in town is buying from Mr. Owens. People want to live inside their dreams more and more. And soon enough, varied motives are pushing Mr. Owens out of town - suspicions, gossips, and lies.

Beautiful words. 
Ms. Martine can weave exquisite phrases, fully vivid, it can transport the reader. She assembled a dynamic cast for her story. Between them, layers of character development and contrasting emotions pushed the narrative forward. Themes of holding on and letting go are evocatively knitted. The ending could have been better, though. I believe it does not give the well-built plot justice.

Overall, THE DREAM PEDDLER is an engaging book. Anyone who loves good tension and emotional examinations in the plot will enjoy this. And I will look forward to Ms. Martine's future works.

Book details:
Title:  The Dream Peddler
Author: Martine Fournier Watson
Publication:  April 9, 2019; Penguin Books
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Rating:  ★★★ 1/2



*Thank you Penguin Books and Edelweiss for DRC, in exchange for this unbiased review.

Read more →

Book Review | THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON by Sara Collins

April 4, 2019
HarperCollins

They say I must be put to death for what happened to Madame,
and they want me to confess. 
But how can I confess what I don’t believe I’ve done?

Sara Collins presented a very strong narrative. Her approach to scientific racism is intriguing. And her command for intricate language is captivating. Every other paragraph is amazingly quotable.

It’s 1826, and Frannie Langton stands in a trial for the murder of her master and his wife. The enigma lies in the fact that Frannie cannot remember if she did murder them or not. As her lawyer prepares for her defense, she was asked to write her story. But Frannie’s story did not begin in London; it began in Jamaica, where horror is next to existing.

THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON is dark and disconcerting. Frannie wants so much out of life, but she is always tethered against her will. The oddity struck me, though, that for a self-proclaimed learned woman, Frannie was not level-headed. Maybe, that is not actually sine qua non, especially for someone overwhelmed by both love and detriment. It felt like her efforts for recognition was justifiable but goalless. These certainly stirred emotions and opinions.

This book is a unique take and exploration of black slavery and homosexuality. It’s a well-researched book and I like the unraveling details that were spread out. Unfortunately, the narrative dragged itself towards the ending. There are too many layers in the story vying for attention. It was that beautiful language and the mystery behind the crime that mostly kept me reading. I look forward to Ms. Collins's future works.

Book details:
Title: The Confessions of Frannie Langton
Author: Sara Collins
Publication: April 4, 2019, HarperCollins
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: ★★★1/2


*Thank you HarperCollins and Edelweiss for the DRC in exchange for this unbiased review.

Read more →

Book Review | THE EDITOR by Steven Rowley

   

April 2nd, 2019
G.P. Putnam's Sons

From the bestselling author of Lily and the Octopus 
comes a funny, poignant, and highly original novel 
about an author whose relationship
with his very famous book editor 
will change him forever
--both as a writer and a son. -Goodreads

James Smale and I have one thing in common - both of our mothers love the Kennedys. And for a time, my mother used to dress like Jackie O. too, accessories included. My siblings and I were never prouder than when introducing her to everyone in any school functions. I am sure James feels the same for her mother, she was his greatest ally. Most mothers would be excited if their son writes a novel based on them... but unexpectedly, not here.

This is a story of a young author in the cusp of publishing his debut novel, The Quarantine. But his editor, Mrs. Onassis, insists on a great ending. So, she sends James home, to his mother, to get it. In his heart, James knows he must face his own quarantine. Little did he expect that seeking his book's ending is going to be turbulent and exacting.

THE EDITOR is an absolute precious read. I enjoyed Rowley’s writing style and wit. The book is not mawkishly sentimental and replete of ruminations. It is a son’s journey to understand his mother, just as much about having the courage to discover one’s past and about living forward.

Hard truths can drive people apart. But great art can bring them back together.

And by-the-way, this book has a particularly sensitive portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy and a plot -a very good one in fact.

Book details:

Title: The Editor

Author: Steven Rowley

Publication: April 2nd, 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: ★★★★★

*Thank you, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Edelweiss for the DRC in exchange for this unbiased review.

*Kudos to Francesca Belanger for the beautiful book design.

*Review contains a quote from an uncorrected e-galley.

Read more →

Book Review | THE LIBRARY OF LOST AND FOUND by Phaedra Patrick

March 26, 2019; Park Row

A librarian’s discovery of a mysterious book 

sparks the journey of a lifetime 

in the delightful new novel 

from the internationally bestselling author of 

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper.

-Goodreads

I’ve read both previous books by Phaedra Patrick, THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER and RISE AND SHINE, BENEDICT STONE. As I’ve said before, Ms. Patrick has a gift for creating the most charming character. Martha Storm, our main character here, is no exception. Reading Martha, it felt like no one can hate her. There are times I wanted to shake her silly; others, I just want to give her a good hug. She’s an absolute gem – selfless, unassuming and endearing. (Honestly, Ms. Patrick, how do you come up with these characters? We should have a good chat about it.)

THE LIBRARY OF LOST AND FOUND is a familial story, one that can happen to anybody. The most interesting is how fairytales are employed to give weight to the unfolding of fresh truths. Each reflecting a bottled emotion – absolutely challenging and tugging. The naive language and structure of fairytales actually help deliver a moral lesson, meanwhile, reshaping allows new authors to provoke the mind and instinct, like, examine our position on gender roles, color, or social relations. This story is about three generations of women and how their choices have fermented such consequences for their family, and yet, I find it really difficult to blame them.

It’s very rare that I reread a book straight away after, but I really felt that I must with this one. I enjoyed every minute of this book. It is simple and sincere. Please, do put THE LIBRARY OF LOST AND FOUND on your TBR. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Book details:

Title: The Library of Lost and Found

Author: Phaedra Patrick

Publication: March 26, 2019; Park Row

Genre: Fiction

Rating: ★★★★★

*Thanks to Edelweiss and Park Row for the DRC in exchange for this unbiased review.

Read more →

Book Review | GINGERBREAD by Helen Oyeyemi

March 5, 2019;
Riverhead Books

The prize-winning, bestselling author of
Boy, Snow, Bird and
What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours 
returns with a bewitching and inventive novel.

Read more →

MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2019

'Tis the season for lists and I have time to spare. I thought of jotting down books, come 2019, that I cannot wait to get my hands on. It turned out to be longer than I intended, but I'm pretty sure there'll be more. 

There is no particular theme to this list. It's a mix of debut authors, authors I've read before, some new plots, and series I've been following. Eclectic as before, of course. I am not sure if I'll ever get to read all of them once they are out, but maybe putting them right here will give me a good perspective.

If you've made your own list, do let me know.

• ✔THE WOLF IN THE WHALE by Jordanna Max Brodsky
                                                         January 29, 2019, by Redhook

• ✔WHEN ALL IS SAID by Anne Griffin
                                                         January 24, 2019, by Sceptre

• THE HUNTRESS by Kate Quinn
                                                         February 26, 2019, by William Morrow

• THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT by Charlie Jane Anders
                                                         February 12, 2019, by Tor Books

• ✔BOWLAWAY by Elizabeth McCracken
                                                         February 5, 2019, by Ecco

• ✔GOOD RIDDANCE by Elinor Lipman
                                                         February 5, 2019, by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

• ✔GINGERBREAD by Helen Oyeyemi
                                                         March 5, 2019, by Riverhead Books

• ✔THE LIBRARY OF LOST AND FOUND by Phaedra Patrick
                                                         March 26, 2019, by Park Row

• KADDISH.COM by Nathan Englander
                                                         March 26, 2019, by Knopf Publishing Group

• ✔WHO SLAYS THE WICKED by C. S. Harris
                                                         April 2, 2019, by Berkley Books

• ✔THE EDITOR by Steven Rowley
                                                         April 2, 2019, by Putnam

• THE BOY WHO STEALS HOUSES by C.G. Drews 
                                                         April 4, 2019, by Orchard Books

• ✔THE STRAWBERRY THIEF by Joanne Harris 
                                                         April 4, 2019, by Orion

• ✔THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON: A Novel by Sara Collins 
                                                         April 4, 2019, by Penguin

• MACHINES LIKE ME by Ian McEwan
                                                         April 18, 2019, by Jonathan Cape

• ✔THE 18TH ABDUCTION by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
                                                         April 29, 2019, by Little, Brown, and Company

• ✔THE BRIDE TEST by Helen Hoang
                                                        May 7, 2019, by Berkley

• ✔THE PRINTED LETTER BOOKSHOP by Katherine Reay
                                                        May 14, 2019, by Thomas Nelson

• WHERE I END AND YOU BEGIN by Preston Norton
                                                         June 4, 2019, by Disney-Hyperion

• MOSTLY DEAD THINGS by Kristen Arnett
                                                         June 4, 2019, by Tin House

• THE ALIENIST AT ARMAGEDDON (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #3) by Caleb Carr
                                                         September 1, 2019, by Mulholland Books

• ✔LALANI OF THE DISTANT SEA by Erin Entrada Kelly 
                                                        September 3, 2019, by Greenwillow Books

• ✔KILLER INSTINCT (Instinct #2) by James Patterson, Howard Roughan
                                                         September 9, 2019, by Little, Brown, and Company

• SI JANUS SILANG AT ANG HIWAGANG MAY DALAWANG MUKHA (JS #4) by Edgar Calabia Samar
                                                         September 14, 2019, by Adarna House Publishing

• ✔THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY and THE RIDDLE OF AGES (TMBS #4) by Trenton Lee Stewart
                                                         September 24, 2019, by Mulholland Books

• POISON FOR BREAKFAST by Lemony Snicket
                                                         October 1, 2019, by Tundra Books

• ✔FIND ME (Call Me By Your Name #2) by André Aciman
                                                         October 29, 2019, by Farrar, Straus, and Girouxs

• ✔THE STARLESS SEA by Erin Morgenstern
                                                         November 5, 2019, by Doubleday

BTW, this marks as my 300th post thru Blogger.

Read more →