Small Town Rumors by Carolyn Brown

Small Town Rumors by Carolyn Brown
Publisher/Year: Montlake Romance, 2018
Format: Paperback
Pages: 289
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Everyone is talking about Jennie Sue Baker and the mess she made of her life in New York. The former high school queen bee–and wealthy darling of Bloom, Texas–has returned home after all these years, riding on a common bus and bearing two bounced alimony checks. In a town that thrives on gossip, Jennie’s fall from grace has shamed her mother, set the town buzzing, and caused old, jealous enemies to whisper in delight. They say she’s taken a job as a housekeeper, gotten a garage apartment, and might be crushing on Rick Lawson, a simple farmer with modest dreams.

As romance starts to bud, Jennies relishes what it means to follow her heart, find real new friends, and finally be herself–regardless of all the lying town chatter. But fate has another twist in store. Rumor has it that Jennie now stands to lose what matters most…unless she can convince Rick of one true thing–and that’s love.

What I thought

Sometimes, you just need a sweet, comforting escape read. This was my first time reading Carolyn Brown, and while I wouldn’t call this book life-altering, now I know that I can turn to her when I’m in the mood for a Hallmark-movie read.

Small Town Rumors was a nice and simple read, something that would be perfect for porch sitting with a glass of sweet tea or lemonade. The writing might be a little simplistic, and the characters were a bit like one-dimensional caricatures, but y’know I did really enjoy this one. I’ve been a bit stressed lately, so it was nice to kick back and relax into something Mayberry-style. Stories like this one always make me wish I had grown up in a small town. The humor wasn’t laugh-out-loud funny, but it did make me smile, especially the banter from Lettie and Nadine. I wasn’t sure how the romance would be, but it was of the closed-door variety. This was a cute, if not entirely believable, story, and just like a good Hallmark movie, it gave me all the warm-and-fuzzies. My favorite part about this book was probably all the bookish references. Between a small used bookstore, a small town library, and a male lead who drives a bookmobile and builds little free libraries (swoon), my bookish heart was content.

If you’re in the mood for something light and comforting and guaranteed to make you smile, Small Town Rumors is sure to fit the bill.

The Veil: Heidi Wyrick’s Story by Joyce S. Cathey and Rebecca S. Harrington

The Veil: Heidi Wyrick’s Story by Joyce S. Cathey and Rebecca S. Harrington
Publisher/Year: iUniverse, 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 154
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Three-year-old Heidi Wyrick is born with the ability to communicate with the dead and to gain personal knowledge, identify, and actually befriend spirits from beyond the grave. But these supernatural abilities make her life and the lives of her family a living hell.

Fear becomes tangible when Heidi’s mother, Lisa Wyrick, uncovers hard evidence that her daughter has befriended a man who has been dead for thirty years. To Lisa’s horror, every detail she learns from Heidi proves to be true. But after being threatened by a dark figure, Heidi is thrown into a state of intense fear. The dark figure is different–he is not her friend–and she senses that he means to harm her and her family.

Paranormal experts test Heidi, and exorcisms of the home and readings from well-known psychics become routine. The Veil takes you on a chilling journey through the Wyrick family’s seventeen-year nightmare.

What I thought

There really isn’t a whole lot for me to say about this little book beyond the fact that I enjoyed it (as much as one can “enjoy” a book about horrific events). Some grammar issues and a few typos aside, I did find this to be a disquieting account of one family’s experiences with the paranormal. Told in a prose format, I kind of expected this to feel less like a true story, but truth be told, there were several occasions where I got chills as I read. I can’t even begin to fathom what I would do in their shoes. It took a little bit of searching to get my hands on a copy of this (thanks, AbeBooks!), but I’m glad I did. Being simply a telling of one family’s experiences, it may not offer new perspective or research or anything, but if you are interested in the paranormal, I’d recommend searching this one out, even if just as a supplement to the documentary, A Haunting in Georgia, which had some slightly different details.

Whites Houses by Amy Bloom

White Houses by Amy Bloom
Publisher/Year: Random House, 2018
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 218
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

“I never envied a wife or a husband, until I met Eleanor. Then, I would have traded everything I ever had, every limo ride, every skinny-dip, every byline and carefree stroll, for what Franklin had, polio and all.”

A beautiful, unexpected, and forbidden affair unfolds against a turning point in American history in this moving and romantic novel by the New York Times bestselling author of Away, Lucky Us, and Where the God of Love Hangs Out.

Lorena Hickok meets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting on Franklin Roosevelt’s first presidential campaign. Having grown up worse than poor in South Dakota and reinvented herself as the most prominent woman reporter in America, “Hick,” as she’s known to her friends and admirers, is not quite instantly charmed by the idealistic, patrician Eleanor. But then, as her connections with the future first lady deepens into intimacy, what begins as a powerful passion matures into a life and a lasting love Hick never expected to have. She moves into the White House, where her status as “first friend” is an open secret, as are FDR’s own lovers. After she takes a job in the Roosevelt administration, promoting and protecting both Roosevelts, she comes to know Franklin not only as a great president but as a complicated rival and an irresistible friend, capable of changing lives even after his death. Through it all, even as Hick’s bond with Eleanor is tested by forces both extraordinary and common, and as she grows as a woman and a writer, she never loses sight of the love of her life.

From Washington, D.C., to Hyde Park, from a little white house on Long Island to an apartment on Manhattan’s Washington Square, Amy Bloom’s new novel moves elegantly through fascinating places and times, written in compelling prose and with emotional depth, wit, and acuity.

“Amy Bloom knows the urgency of love,” wrote The Washington Post about Bloom’s acclaimed bestseller Away. The same could be said of White Houses, an unforgettable novel about the power of passion and the endurance of love.

What I thought

White Houses is a book that has been extremely difficult for me to rate. At times, I loved reading this story, but at others, I struggled with it.

As a historical fiction fan, I loved reading Amy Bloom’s take on the relationship between Eleanor and Lorena. I love the feeling when the wheels start turning, and I can’t help but wonder how much truth is behind the fiction. Their love story, at least as it’s told here, is the definition of bittersweet. Amy Bloom truly brings to life how beautiful and tragic their relationship is. There were a number of times when I just wanted to cry and cry for them, especially at the end.

On another historical note, as someone who has always deeply admired Eleanor Roosevelt, I was impressed with how Bloom portrayed her. Her character and her voice felt true to life, which is not always easy to do with historical figures.

I think where I struggled with this one was not Lorena herself (I just loved her), but her voice. Her narration can be jarring at times, which made it difficult to sink into. At the same time, however, I wouldn’t say this as a knock against Bloom’s writing. Her writing is impeccable–I have written down quote after quote of lines and passages I adored. Rather, it’s just that Lorena’s story seems to jump around a bit, and there’s almost an assumption that the reader knows all of the minor historical figures. Again, I did really enjoy Lorena as a character and Bloom’s writing. It was just difficult for me to really sink into this story, if that makes sense.

If you enjoy historical fiction, or if you are in the mood for an ultimately tragic love story, I definitely recommend White Houses. Although not always an easy read, in more ways than one, it nonetheless provides a fascinating take on Eleanor and Lorena’s relationship, as well as an intriguing look into those times.

The Drum That Beats Within Us by Mike Bond

The Drum That Beats Within Us by Mike Bond
Publisher/Year: Big City Press, 2018
Format: E-galley
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

First published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti in City Lights Books, Mike Bond is an award-winning poet, critically acclaimed novelist, ecologist, and war and human rights journalist. Based on his own experiences in many dangerous and war-torn regions of the world and in its last wild places, his poems and novels portray the innate hunger of the human heart for good, the intense joys of love, the terror and fury of battle, the sinister conspiracies of dictators, and corporations and politicians, and the beauty of the vanishing natural world.

What I thought

Thank you to NetGalley and Big City Press for the free e-galley of this book! This does not affect my opinion presented here in this review.

“These are the wine days
of October
when trees, threshed
of leaves, bow down
in prayer to winter,
when the sun, anguished
like an old hound,
leaves its bed
late, going early,
when the sap of life
is dried and frozen.”

I don’t like to write lengthy reviews of poetry because I feel like it’s such a subjective thing–plus, with any collection, there will be some that I enjoy and resonate with and others that don’t hit home for me or that I might not even “get.” And such is the case here. As a whole, I did like this collection and found that I really enjoyed Bond’s nature imagery–it was very evocative. I also really enjoyed his essay in the beginning, and for the most part, agree with what he had to say. A solid collection, I’d recommend this if you enjoy poetry of the philosophical and natural kind.

The Warrior’s Path (When Women Were Warriors #1) by Catherine M. Wilson

The Warrior’s Path (When Women Were Warriors #1) by Catherine M. Wilson
Publisher/Year: Catherine Wilson, 2010
Format: E-book (Nook)
Pages: 195
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Set in the British Isles during the Bronze Age, a time when matrilineal societies predominated and female warriors were not uncommon, When Women Were Warriors tells the story of Tamras, a young woman of the warrior class who leaved home to be fostered in Merin’s house, a fortress guarding the northern border of a rich agricultural valley. In Book I of the trilogy, Tamras, our hero, arrives in Merin’s house to begin her apprenticeship as a warrior, but her small stature causes many, including Tamras herself, to doubt that she will ever become a competent swordswoman. To make matters worse, the Lady Merin assigns her the position of companion, little more than a personal servant, to a woman who came to Merin’s house, seemingly out of nowhere, the previous winter, and this stranger wants nothing to do with Tamras. Tamras’s journey begins with the smallest of steps. She sets aside her disappointment and performs as well as she can the humble tasks given her, and eventually she succeeds in winning the trust and then the friendship of the cantankerous warrior to whom she has been assigned. In the first year of her journey, Tamras will make a series of choices that often seem insignificant, but they will flow from her character and from her good intentions, and they will determine her destiny.

What I thought

I’ll be honest, what initially drew me to this freebie that I found in the Nook store was the cover–it was beautiful and drew me right in. And the story held within its pages was just as enjoyable. This one was actually difficult for me to rate. On one hand, I found the writing to be luscious and beautiful. Wilson’s writing is very reminiscent of the traditional oral storytelling, and as I read I couldn’t help but feel like I was reading a classic fairytale. On the other hand, though, I really struggled to connect with Tamras. I’m not sure why this was so, especially since the novel was character driven and not much happened, plotwise. I think this is a shame because it seems like so many other readers didn’t have the same problem that I did. I might continue the series someday, and maybe I’ll re-read this first installment farther down the road to see if maybe I just had a timing issue. I did enjoy my time reading this one, for the most part, though. If you enjoy a character-driven, coming-of-age story with a focus on feminism and all forms of love, this would be a great read for lazing away a summer’s day on a hammock in the shade!

Barefoot Beach (Harmony Harbor #8) by Debbie Mason

Barefoot Beach (Harmony Harbor #8) by Debbie Mason
Publisher/Year: Forever, June 2019
Format: E-book
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Can a summer of love make up for a lifetime of secrets?

Wedding fever has taken over Harmony Harbor this summer, and the local matchmakers have set their sights on Theia Lawson, a former navy pilot who’s in town for a stay at Greystone Manor. And while Theia’s got her reasons to put this small town behind her as fast as she can, there’s a certain tall, dark, and irresistible man that she can’t seem to get off her mind.

Firefighter Marco DiRossi wants to beat the matchmakers at their own game so he conspires with Theia to pretend they’ve already fallen in love. It’s only for the summer. What could go wrong? Yet as the beach season draws to a close, Marco and Theia find their pretend relationship has led to very real attraction. But when a secret from the past is revealed, jeopardizing everything they hold dear, can this unlikely couple find their way to a happily-ever-after?

What I thought

What a perfect summer time read! This was entertaining enough to keep the pages turning, but also light enough to be able to kick back, relax, and just enjoy a good story. I truly enjoyed watching Theia and Marco’s story unfold. Theia was a strong female lead, which I can always appreciate, and it was also nice to see a major hunk like Marco with a soft side. And hello–a man who not only loves to cook, but cooks well? Sign me up! I also really enjoyed all of the antics that go with getting a large family together. It felt realistic and added an extra element of depth to the story so that the whole story didn’t just revolve around Marco and Theia.

My only complaint here doesn’t even really have to do with the book. I’ve never read any of the Harmony Harbor books before, and while for the most part, this works fine as a standalone, I still think I would have liked to know more of the family history. Again, this is no fault of the book, just more of an FYI for readers.

All in all, if you’re looking for a page-turning read to take to the beach with a set of characters you can’t help but grow attached to, I’d highly recommend looking for Barefoot Beach when it releases on June 4th!

**Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinions presented here.

Know Me Well (Wishful #3) by Kait Nolan

Know Me Well (Wishful #3) by Kait Nolan
Publisher/Year: Kait Nolan, 2015
Format: E-book (Nook)
Pages: 221
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Welcome back to Wishful, Mississippi, full of eccentric characters and southern charm, where author Kait Nolan delivers another heart-warming story of a strong, successful woman and the equally strong man who learns how to be her partner.

Liam Montgomery is the last person who’d call himself a hero, but he does have a tendency to try to save the world. Now that he’s left the Marine Corps and returned to Wishful, he feels out of place and unsure of what comes next. He does know one thing: The girl who used to look up to him like a brother is all grown up. No way he can see her as a little sister now. And she won’t give him the time of day.

Riley Gower isn’t holding out for a hero. In fact, a knight in shining armor is the last thing she wants. She’s been watching her mother chase that fairy tale for most of her life, with Riley the one left to pick up the pieces of unhappily ever after. Running Wishful’s downtown pharmacy is a dream Riley’s worked toward for years. Now that the business is finally hers, the realities of the current economy have made it seem like the dream is falling apart. So when her mother calls, expecting yet another rescue, Riley feels like she’s spread thinner than the last pat of butter at Sunday dinner.

It’s hard enough for a woman like Riley to admit she could use a hand, but mixed up with the embarrassment of a childhood crush and the devastating attraction sizzling between them? No way. Liam is determined to help, but taking down insurgents is less complicated than infiltrating Riley’s defenses. This will require reinforcements. And a plan.

What I thought

For being a Kindle freebie, I will give this book credit–it was a cute, steamy small-town romance that I actually did enjoy reading. I was a little nervous when I found out that this was the third book in a series, since I haven’t read the first two, but I needn’t have worried–this works perfectly fine as a standalone. I will say, though, that after having read this installment, I would absolutely read more of this series.

While Know Me Well is certainly not an earth-shattering read, sometimes it’s nice to sink into a light and easy, feel-good story. Riley and Liam were perfect for each other, and I thought that their romance was absolutely adorable. Riley was a strong, independent heroine, and Liam was the perfect gentleman, and I loved watching them come to terms with their feelings about each other.

One of the other parts of this book that I thought was kind of fun was that the side characters were just as enjoyable to read about. I definitely would like to read some of their stories in the other books of this series.

If you are looking for a heartwarming but all kinds of steamy small-town, Southern romance, look no further than Wishful, Mississippi!

Pretty Revenge by Emily Liebert

Pretty Revenge by Emily Liebert
Publisher/Year: Gallery Books, July 2019
Format: Kindle
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

The name of the game is revenge–no matter the cost–in this emotionally charged thriller reminiscent of The Wife Between Us and The Perfect Nanny.

Kerrie O’Malley, jobless and in an unfulfilling relationship, can isolate the singular moment in her life when things veered off course–the night she was irrevocably wronged by someone she looked up to. Eighteen years later, when Kerrie sees the very woman who destroyed her life on televesion, a fire ignites inside her. The stakes are high. The risks are perilous. But she’ll stop at nothing to achieve the retribution she deserves.

Jordana Pierson is a gilded New Yorker who appears to have it all: wealth, glamour, a successful and handsome husband, and a thriving wedding concierge business. Her record is spotless. Her business is flourishing. No one knows the truth about her and the dark shadows of her past.

No one, that is, except Kerrie.

Exploring just how far someone will go for vengeance, Pretty Revenge is a riveting, compulsively readable novel bursting with twists and turns and plenty of suspense.

What I thought

First thing’s first–can we talk about this stunning cover?! It’s SO eye-catching!

As for the inside of this book, unfortunately, although I enjoyed my time spent reading this one, it fell flat in some ways for me. For a novel that’s described as a thriller, I guess I just wasn’t…thrilled enough. Reading this one required a lot of suspension of disbelief, which I can certainly look past, but then the big reveals along the way, plus that ending, were not dramatic enough for me. The story just kinda flopped.

On a more positive note, I really enjoyed the fact that by the end, I was feeling sympathetic towards both narrators. It was far less “good guy versus bad guy” than I was expecting. I love when an author can show that there’s more than one side to a person, and Liebert successfully created multi-faceted main characters. Not only that but her writing in general flows very well, making this a quick, easy read.

All in all, although I was pretty disappointed in this book as a thriller, I did enjoy Emily Liebert’s writing. So even though I don’t think I’d ever re-read this one, I would like to try some of Liebert’s other books.

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this e-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinions or my review.

Bah! Humbug! by Michael Rosen

Bah! Humbug! by Michael Rosen
Publisher/Year: Walker Books, 2018
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 187
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Harry Gruber has the starring role in his school’s production of A Christmas Carol, but his work-obsessed father cannot seem to put his cell phone down long enough to watch. As the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future take the stage, Harry’s father must face some ghosts of his own. Will the story’s message of holiday love reach his distracted heart?

Acclaimed children’s book creators Michael Rosen and Tony Ross deliver a perfect gift for the whole family in this shrewd update of Dickens’s beloved tale.

What I thought

I am such a fanatic for all things Christmas that I can read and enjoy a Christmas book at any time of year. So when I received this last month and saw that it was a retelling of one of my favorite Christmas stories, I was pretty excited! I’ll be honest though, I think that this is a book that would be best enjoyed by its intended audience, aka kids. As an adult who has read A Christmas Carol countless times, I can’t say that this brought anything new to the table for me. However, I think this would be a great way to introduce young readers to Dickens’ classic tale. The script format makes this easily readable, and I think it would even encourage reading aloud. The illustrations are absolutely adorable and have a quirky quality that I loved. The storyline involving Harry and his family kept the story moving forward and offered a modern, if slightly predictable, take on Scrooge’s tale. I will say that I had the feeling that these characters were first introduced in another book maybe, as I couldn’t help feeling like I was missing something.

Overall, this was a quick and quirky take on A Christmas Carol that I think young readers would love. Thank you to Candlewick Press for sending me a free, finished copy!

The Circus Thief by Alane Adams

The Circus Thief by Alane Adams
Publisher/Year: SparkPress, 2018
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

The circus is in town, and Georgie has his heart set on going. When Papa agrees to take him and his friend Harley, the boys marvel at the elephants and clowns. But the best act of all is the amazing Roxie, a trained horse who can do all sorts of tricks. When Georgie is invited to ride on her back, he discovers it’s her last show–Roxie is going to be sent to the work farm! When Roxie bolts with Georgie on her back, Papa must come to his rescue. The Circus Thief is a heartwarming tale of boyhood set in 1920s Pennsylvania for children ages 4-8.

What I thought

I loved the idea behind this sweet little children’s book, and I loved the vibrant illustrations even more–they were simply stunning! As a resident of Pennsylvania and as a history fan, I was definitely looking forward to reading this one. My favorite part of this book was the illustrations, hands down. The colors were brilliant, which will definitely appeal to children. They were also very atmospheric and were perfectly fitting for the time period and the circus environment. The story itself was enjoyable, despite feeling a little unfinished. The historical setting lends itself to a teaching opportunity for children, as well as the lesson Papa teaches Georgie about money and hard work. However, at least to me, the ending felt a little abrupt and didn’t seem to fit with the flow of the rest of the story. I saw somewhere, though, that this is part of a series, so maybe that explains it. Overall, this is a delightful book that I think younger children would enjoy!

**Thank you, to SparkPress for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This in no way affected my opinion or my review of this book.

Jane and the Damned (Immortal Jane Austen #1) by Janet Mullany

Jane and the Damned (Immortal Jane Austen #1) by Janet Mullany
Publisher/Year: Avon, 2010
Format: Paperback
Pages: 292
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Jane Austen

Novelist…gentlewoman…

Damned, fanged, and dangerous to know.

Aspiring writer Jane Austen knows that the respectable young ladies like herself are supposed to shun the Damned–the beautiful, fashionable, exquisitely seductive vampires who are all the rage in Georgian England in 1797. So when an innocent (she believes) flirtation results in her being turned–by an absolute cad of a bloodsucker–she acquiesces to her family’s wishes and departs for Bath to take the waters, the only known cure.

But what she encounters there is completely unexpected: perilous jealousies and further betrayals, a new friendship and possible love. Yet all that must be put aside when the warring French invade unsuspecting Bath–and the streets run red with good English blood. Suddenly only the staunchly British Damned can defend the nation they love…with Jane Austen leading the charge at the battle’s forefront.

What I thought

My last read of 2018!

This was a fun little read, but unfortunately, I don’t think it was one that will have a lasting impression on me.

I’m willing to give just about any book a go, so when I came across this book about Jane Austen as a vampire, I picked it up. And like I said, it was a fun and entertaining read. You can certainly tell that Mullany is a Janeite, and her love for Austen shines through the story.

I very much enjoyed the inclusion of the Damned in the plot of the story. I don’t know much about vampire lore, but what I read here intrigued me enough that I wanted to know more. But here is where I have a complaint with this story–I wanted more. I felt like there needed to be more explanation of the lore. I don’t always have the easiest time following the story when components of a world or lore are introduced with little to no explanation or development. I was also not a fan of the character development, as I never really got a good feel for Jane (or her love interest), which took away from the ending for me.

This makes it sound like I didn’t enjoy this book, but I did like it! It just wasn’t memorable for me is all. Fans of Jane Austen will enjoy this, if you don’t mind the addition of vampires!

Dragon Speaker by Elana A. Mugdan

Dragon Speaker by Elana A. Mugdan
Publisher/Year: Shivnath Productions
Format: E-book
Pages: 366
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Goodreads

Summary

Keriya Nameless has no magical powers, a disability in the world of magic in which she lives. Despite being crippled, she’s recruited by the god, Shivnath, to save the last living dragon. Keriya leaps at the chance to prove her worth, though failure could mean the destruction of everything she holds dear. Dragon Speaker is the first installment of the Shadow War Saga series. 

What I thought

Thank you to the author for providing me with a complementary copy of this in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, had an effect on this review. 

One of the things that impressed me the most with this book was that I could feel Elana’s passion and enthusiasm shining through her story. The thought of writing a high fantasy novel is so daunting to me, so I give major props to this author for not only writing one, but, in particular, one that holds so much imagination. The “epic quest” plotline is one that’s been done time and again, so it was nice to read a unique and refreshing take on the trope. 

Dragon Speaker is one of the most promising fantasy debuts I’ve read in a while! It did seem a little confusing to me at times, but that could just be me. I was mostly just enjoying this read for being something so different and creative. If you enjoy high fantasy, especially when there’s dragons involved, you might consider checking out this read!