Have you been over to Goodreads yet to vote for Round 1? I voted last night. Surprisingly, some books that I thought had been released this year were not, so I only voted in four categories. There were a few tough choices! Here’s a little video I made showing my picks:
More videos on the way! I’ve been experimenting and having a lot of fun learning something new. ***Next up will be other Goodreads book nominees that I have read but did not choose (and why.)***
I’m trying something new here! Introducing “Quick Reviews,” a brand new category with my blog and Goodreads ratings of certain books. The purpose is to be able to document books here without feeling the pressure of writing lengthy reviews each time. Usually, but not always, they will be books that made less of an impression on me. But sometimes they will just be time savers. Here’s the first one!
Riding on the heels of the previous rom-com post, a well-written historical romance requires a lot of the same balance of great characters, banter, plot, and pacing. Here are two that succeed. They’re fun, they’re clean, and I found a new author. A win x 3! The stories work in tandem, so read them together and read them in order.
Miss Fleming Falls in Love and The Mysterious Mr. Oliver, by Emma Melbourne, were two of my favorite reads last month.
Miss Fleming Falls in Love: We begin with Miss Amelia Fleming, a spirited young woman who is trying to settle her father’s gambling debts after his death. Desperate, she visits the Earl of Langley, who won a fortune from the family estate. Again and again, Amelia offers different solutions to pay back what is owed, never quite knowing the exact amount. Again and again, Langley steers the conversation away from money and into a battle of wits. Like two magnets, these characters attract and repel each other repeatedly. Every meeting is full of clever dialogue and prideful rebuffs. I enjoyed this book immensely! 9.5/10 Stars
The Mysterious Mr. Oliver picks up soon after Miss Fleming ends. This time we are entertained by Amelia’s beautiful younger sister, Isabelle and land agent, Mr. Oliver. While visiting her sister at Stonecroft, a country estate, Isabelle looks for a quiet setting to write a book. In doing so, she intrudes upon Mr. Oliver’s work cottage, prompting a rocky beginning to their relationship. But, feelings cannot be denied. Isabelle is tenacious and Oliver has a secret. Like its predecessor, this book is a wonderful read with well-developed characters that are a joy to know. 9/10 Stars
If someone asked you what makes a great romantic comedy, what would you tell them? Would it the characters? Plot? Pacing? Trope? Spice level? Dialogue? Banter? Or would it be a combination of all of those things? I’ve been reading a lot of romantic comedies lately and I’m here to tell you that, like any genre, not all are created equal.
For me, the characters and their banter is very, very important. How do they interact? Do I root for them? Plot and pacing are close seconds. The tropes are where I struggle. There are some very overdone tropes out there: Friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, the “meet cute,” childhood sweethearts, second chance/impossible/forbidden love, fake relationships, the list goes on and on.
But there are some standout authors and books that rise to the top. When that happens they are usually fun, smart, and deep. Personally, I like main characters that are kind of damaged–either from family issues or past relationships gone wrong. Why? Because all of us are damaged in one way or another. Who wants to read about shiny, perfect characters? Not me. But everything needs to be done in moderation too. Do you see the delicate balance it takes to achieve a successful story? I’m sure I couldn’t do it. (Those who can, write stories. Those those cannot, critique the stories…)
But enough blah, blah. Let’s focus on two rom coms I read in October that get it right. Now, I’m not some who likes a lot of spice and smut. But I do like some romance and am OK with closed-door physical contact if it is written tastefully. PG, bordering on PG-13 is my limit. Whoops, more blah, blah. Let’s talk about books!
Practice Makes Perfect, by Sarah Adams is the sequel to When In Rome, which I enjoyed very much. (You can read that review HERE.) This time, our main characters are youngest sister, Annie Walker, and bodyguard, Will Griffin. On the surface, these two are confident and strong. Behind the scenes, both are struggling. For Annie it is trying to prove her independence to her family. For Will it is to escape the memories of his dysfunctional parents. The relationship between these two characters is wonderful, each of them bring out the best in each other. The ending is no surprise, but the journey getting there is totally worth reading. 9/10 Stars
The Hating Game, by Sally Thorne, has been in my Kindle for as long as I can remember. This is an enemies-to-lovers story, starting as a workplace rivalry at a publishing house. Lucy and Josh are each assistants to co-CEOs who also dislike each other and have very different ethics after a big merger. Forced to share space and work together every day, Lucy and Josh do everything they can to undermine each other (never quite crossing the line–a good thing.) Of course, such animosity is not sustainable and the inevitable happens, but what a fun ride along the way! Seeing the way their relationship begins, changes, and ends is a delight. 9/10 Stars
And there you have it! Happy Reading! (And don’t forget to set your clocks back tonight.)
A few weeks ago, while touring St. George, Utah, my husband and I stopped in at a Deseret Book. Two authors were there introducing and signing new books and, because it was early evening, the store was relatively empty. One of those authors was Julie Wright, who I recognized from a Facebook group I follow. She had two new books, one of which was Windsong Manor. I apologized for not buying it there, confessing that I prefer digital ebooks on my Kindle, but she was very nice and I was captivated by the plot. After several attempts to find it on library sites, I relented and ended up buying it, hoping that I would not regret my purchase.
I did not. In fact, Windsong Manor is now in my special collection of “Kristie’s Favorites” in my Kindle, a file I only reserve for those rare books who draw me in and transport me completely.
The plot: Eleanora Coventry is a baroness and a young widow. Her late husband was much older and domineering and her young son, who was sent away to school, has returned with all of his father’s worst traits. To add to her challenges, Eleanora “Nora” has also been tasked to raise her late husband’s illegitimate daughter, a recent orphan and the product of an embarrassing affair. Life is topsy turvy.
In an effort of lead a quieter life, Nora moves her family from their London townhouse to Windsong Manor, the late baron’s country home that he rarely visited. While finding her way as a single mother with two challenging children, Nora befriends the quiet stablehand, Ridley Ellis. Despite his social station, Ridley moves and speaks like a gentleman, and his calm influence on everyone around him is felt deeply by Nora and the children.
The writing is as wonderful as the plot is intriguing. Nora and Ridley’s characters are excellently developed, with terrific dialogue and pacing. Both are strong and steadfast in the midst of their many challenges. Their kindness to each other and others makes this story one of warmth and depth. I loved every bit of it and highly recommend this book for a very satisfying read. It will leave you with renewed faith in people and modern literature.
9.5/10 Stars
Over the last seven weeks I have been thoroughly enjoying the Sweater Weather series. Available with a Kindle Unlimited subscription, these CLEAN rom-coms are a true delight! They are set in the fictional town of Harvest Hollow, North Carolina and can be read in any order. The characters all know each other through school, work, family, or the local hockey team called the Appies. They share a love of sports, reading, music, and taking care of others. Each story is unique, with characters of depth, hopes, determination, and very good hearts.
Written by seven different authors, I eagerly awaited each book as it was released each Thursday. And now I’ve read them all and recommend them to anyone who wants to escape to Harvest Hollow for some sweet, witty banter and clean fun.
My favorite was Faking the Fall, and I’ve had the privilege of communicating with its author, Julie Christianson, over the last few weeks. Today she announced that Thursday, October 19th, at 4:30pm Pacific/6:30pm Central, on ZOOM, the authors of the series are getting together for a wrap party. They will be interacting with readers and answering questions. It’s free and all are invited! I’ll be tuning in! Those interested are asked to fill out the Google doc I’m including, which has the Zoom link and asks for your email. You do not have to submit questions to attend.
Sweater Weather Online Wrap Party: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXx-hCQH7jsX4kptNoLYE65WlvEiW_DrNetmMc4XzAo6bHxQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2Ph1sRmIBlarb9fpn_2IrmSiD18tloQ-RMle2HQKk8GwUF-YF7nQcVYEQ
My favorites, in order :
Faking the Fall, by Julie Christianson (I don’t know why, but this one just topped the rest in my opinion)
Can’t Help Falling, by Courtney Walsh tied with Just Don’t Fall, by Emma St. Clair AND Absolutely Not in Love, by Jenny Proctor (loved all three of these pretty equally)
The Fall Back Plan, by Melanie Jacobson tied with…A Not So Fictional Fall, by Savannah Scott (they’re still good, just not the best ones)
Easy As Pie, by Carina Taylor (this one didn’t do much for me)
Don’t let those faceless covers fool you! These are fun, witty escapist books. Perfect for cozy nights, blankets, a fire, and a hot beverage. Enjoy!
August has been only a semi-productive reading month, but better than I expected after a very slow start. It’s been a hodge podge of advance copies, historical fiction, regency romances, a cute story of a pet fox, and a fantastic contemporary novel with time travel. Here are some of the highlights:
Best Book of the Month: The Seven Year Slip, by Ashley Poston
I LOVED this book. Imagine a magical apartment in NYC, one that transports you seven years into the past. This is what happens to Clementine when she inherits her aunt’s flat in a one-hundred year old building. Problem #1: Seven years ago her aunt was alive, traveling abroad, and had sublet the apartment to a young man named Iwan. While Clementine and Iwan learn to share the space in the past, she is also vying for a promotion at a literary agency in the present. Problem #2: Every time Clementine goes home she doesn’t know if she will stay in the now or be swept back seven years. Despite that, there is a certain advantage of knowing the past and the present, because she has the power to change things for the better. It isn’t as confusing as it sounds, but it is incredibly clever. Some will figure out the “twist” (I did) and some will not, as well as the hint that is always given when the time slip is about to happen. This is my second Ashley Poston book and I think I may have liked it even more than The Dead Romantics. She takes the modern rom-com concept and adds a bit of magic that I’ve never seen anyone do better. 9.5/10 Stars
Biggest Disappointments: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck and Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Oh, these two books! I was so looking forward to both of them, especially Shark Heart, the story of a newly married couple who receive the news that the husband is changing into a Great White Shark. Such a unique concept that was executed so poorly, due to flashbacks and tangents. Oddly, this was exactly the problem (plus a ton of language) in Happiness Falls, the story of a Korean American family where the dad goes missing one morning. The youngest child, a 14 year old non verbal autistic son with Angelman Syndrome, is the only person who saw what happened. Again, a superb concept with so much potential. And, again, a plot bogged down by tons of minutiae. Sadly, 6/10 Stars for each of these.
Best Author Discoveries: Ashtyn Newbold and Martha Keyes
I’ve been in a clean historical romance mood lately, and happily surprised at the way certain authors create distinctive stories within the boundaries of time period norms. Aside from personal favorites Sally Britton and Joanna Barker, Ashtyn Newbold and Martha Keyes do a very good job of this. I loved the characters, dialogue flow, and plots in both of Ashtyn Newbold’s books I read this month. Martha Keyes writes a lot of books set in late 18th century Scotland. The writing is a bit more cumbersome because characters use a heavy Scottish accent, but I’ve enjoyed the characters and their stories. Although Unrequited, set in England, was a misfire for me.
The Captain’s Confidante: 9/10 Stars
The Matchmaker’s Request: 9/10 Stars
The Innkeeper and the Fugitive: 8.5 Stars
Of Lands High and Low: 8/10 Stars
Unrequited: 6/10 Stars
Expatriate Women in 1940’s Paris: The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen and The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
These two books would make good reading for a college paper because there are so many parallels between them. Both books are about women who move to France and get swept up in marriages with men who do not live up to their expectations. Both women are separated from their children. Both are put to work during the war, doing jobs they never expected to do. I doubt all of these similarities were intentional (even the titles are similar) but I still liked each book. The plots are still individual enough to stand firmly on their own as decent stories of strong women making impossible choices during a very turbulent time. 9/10 Stars for each.
As I said, a hodge podge of a month!
It’s so satisfying to be swept back in time and carried away in a clean, period romance. There is a group of authors I like, mostly with Covenant Communications Publishing, who churn out stories that are both delightful and deep. Once you’re able to get past the completely unoriginal cover art, you’ll find that some lovely books await.
Here are four I’ve read recently:
A Beautiful Love, by Megan Walker, was a shorter novel that reads as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. A scarred young hero must find his way back into a society that demands polished perfection. It was a decent read, but a bit thin. 8/10 Stars
Courting the Vicar’s Daughter, by Sally Britton, had great potential. I loved the main characters and the premise of a wealthy heir trying to find some purpose in his life while befriending a young lady who has motivation but no means. I did feel a slight disconnect from the story, however, and there was an irritating misunderstanding near the end that felt completely unnecessary. 8.5/10 Stars
The Managing Miss, by Heidi Kimball, was very fun and a book I would recommend. The oldest sister of an aristocratic, but orphaned and impoverished group of siblings, makes a last-ditch effort to save her family. She creates a ruse to introduce one of her cousins to eligible young men by means of a made-up connection to an influential neighbor. She schemes, but does so guiltily and with personal sacrifice. This was a great book with eccentric characters and a menagerie of pets that were hilarious. 9/10 Stars
Reforming Lord Neil, by Sally Britton, is the best of the bunch and a book I hope one of my blog followers will consider reading. A penniless widow has been turned out by her brother-in-law and must now fend for herself, her young daughter, and her mother. Her glittery society life has become one of hard labor and living by her wits. When a disheveled man shows up at her farm she has little to offer, but allows him to stay and work, unaware of his background and his own recent turn of fortune. There is growth, kindness, service, and admiration among these fantastic characters with an extremely satisfying ending. Just remembering the story makes me want to read the book again. I highly recommend it! 9.5/10
Thanks to two wonderful books, my sensitive heart was left in pieces twice this week. A rare thing. Allow me to share them with you. Both are available now. Both are worth your time.
Hope Between the Pages, by Pepper Basham, is a dual timeline story. Set in Asheville, North Carolina, the modern plot follows Clara Blackwell, a bookseller struggling to maintain the family business. A trek to England weaves in the story of Clara’s great-grandmother Sadie, a plucky young woman who once worked at the Biltmore Mansion and followed her heart across the sea. There is mystery, intrigue, profound loss, and unusual romances in both time periods. The strong family connections and class distinctions add extra elements of thought-provoking drama in this surprising find by an author I’ve read before, but only an advanced copy rom-com. Pepper Basham’s historical fiction is definitely where her strength lies. 9/10 Stars
The Lady and the Lionheart is by Joanne Bischof, one of the BEST author discoveries I’ve made in 2023. You’ll recall my recent glowing reviews of her Blackbird Mountain series. The Lady and the Lionheart is another beautiful, heart-wrenching novel that touches on the themes of trusting God and rising above our challenges. Set mostly in a Victorian-era circus, we follow lion tamer Charlie Lionheart as he cares for his infant niece. The baby’s high fever brings him to Ella, a nurse-in-training with her own tragic past. Compassionate Ella sees beyond Charlie’s profession and scandalous appearance. There is so much depth and nuance to this book, I do not want to reveal too much except to say it is a masterful piece of writing. Strangely, it parallels well with the contemporary More Than We Can Tell, by Brigid Kemmerer. If I was still in college I would write a paper about these two books. Read The Lady and the Lionheart. You’ll be glad you did. It deserves much more applause and acclaim than I can give it here. 9.5/10 Stars
My reading has slowed down a lot this month because of the beta reading detour, but I would be remiss if I did not dedicate a blog post to A Heart Worth Stealing, by Joanna Barker. Because beneath this unassuming cover is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read–yes, you read that right! No matter how often I was pulled away, which was frequently, this book always called me back.
It is 1805, and Genevieve Wilde, an heiress in her mid-twenties, has been tasked with running her father’s vast estate after his death. Aside from overseeing the house accounts and the servants, she must now contend with threats and vandalism from an anonymous source. And, to top it off, her father’s beloved pocket watch is missing. Whether or not its absence is related to the ongoing drama is unknown and irrelevant. All Genevieve wants is to get it back.
Ignored by the police and condescended to by the local magistrate, Genevieve decides to hire a thief-taker, an unusual choice for a lady of her position. Enter Jack Travers, who insists he is the man for the job if only Genevieve will tolerate his methods, which are anything but conventional. And this is where the fun begins. Jack and “Ginny” embark on a relationship filled with tug-of-war banter, putting forth their efforts to outwit each other as much as finding the watch. In doing so, and with the story enhanced by some colorful supporting characters, feelings and secrets come to light while intrigue and adventure abound.
I would love, LOVE to see this book done as a film, because that is how it played out in my mind. And one of the best parts is that all of these entertaining escapades are achieved without steam or vulgarity. They rely solely and successfully on fantastic, high-quality writing. If you love historical fiction and want a clean story with wit, wonder, and tenderness, you will love this one! Joanna Barker has been a great author discovery! I will definitely read more of her books.
9.5/10 Stars
This week, in an effort to fulfill some challenges for my book group, I read two novels that dealt with time travel. I’ll admit, there were things I liked about both of them and things that I did not. But I did realize what a tricky subject time travel is in a story. There are many details to consider: how does the person fall into another time? Do they stay or return? Do they bring someone back or leave them forever? Who do they tell? How much does their visit disrupt the future?
Let’s take a look at the two books I read, knowing that the concept of time travel is something still unexplored in reality and that a suspension of belief is required in order to embrace it in a plot.I struggled with both books, but I liked the way time travel was handled more in Forever You, by Leah Busboom. If you’ve seen the movie Kate & Leopold, with its lightning strike and time portal, then you’ll have an idea of the way country singer, Lacy, accidentally jumps from 2021 to 1855 in the blink of an eye. Half of the book is her life in the past, half of it is in the present. She grapples with the lack of modern conveniences and is very self-aware of what she can and cannot endure in an era when everything was more difficult. She never tries to be someone she isn’t and makes some hard choices. The events of the past and present are sewn together in a clever way and, though the story itself is a bit syrupy, I appreciated that it stayed focused on Lacy and her two important relationships without a lot of external distractions. 8.5/10 Stars
What the Wind Knows, by Amy Harmon, is mainly set in Ireland. In 2001, writer Anne Gallagher travels from New York to the Emerald Isle to scatter her beloved grandfather’s ashes. In a swirl of mist and fog she is transported eighty years into the past, landing in 1921 amidst the Irish War of Independence. She is mistaken for her namesake (her great grandmother) who had gone missing, and must adjust to the time period and the questions about her sudden “reappearance.” Revolutionary Michael Collins and his crusade for Ireland’s freedom from Britain play large roles, forcing the reader to juggle a lot of names, events, historical facts, and fictional characters. The writing is lovely, especially as Anne spends time with long-deceased family members, but I felt like the story was trying to accomplish too much, which became tiresome. I would’ve preferred a trimmed-down version without the political drama. The ending, while hopeful, felt a bit forced in order to gift wrap a satisfying conclusion. 8/10 Stars
What a frustrating book. I was so looking forward to it. The release date has been on my calendar for ages. Now the disappointment I’m feeling is palpable.
Have you ever been to a party where you don’t know anybody? Where all the people have memories and history with everyone else but not with you? Where, when you try to enter a conversation, all they do is talk around you and keep saying things like “hey, remember that time we (not you)…?” You’re constantly left out and reminded that you don’t belong. That is a little what it was like to spend time with Wyn, Harriet, and their four friends.
Which brings me to the next set of problems. These are six friends who are educated professionals (a doctor, two lawyers, two urban farmers, and a talented furniture maker) that aren’t very interesting except for the collective gift of acting unbelievably stupid. There is drunkenness and amnesia-inducing hangovers, pot gummies, a random bra that goes flying, and other nonsense. Segue into childish bickering, no concept about the difference between sex and love, terrible communication, and…need I go on? This is immature teenage idiocy, not the behavior of supposedly intelligent adults. It wasn’t funny or charming, and it certainly wasn’t enjoyable to read.
But wait, there’s more. We have Wyn and Harriet who were engaged and are now broken up but don’t want to tell their friends and ruin the week they’re spending together. So now we fall into the tropes that are so overdone they have their own taglines: fake dating, forced proximity, friends to lovers, second chances, found family, blah, blah, blah. And don’t even get me started on why they broke up in the first place and the ending that fails to redeem itself. It’s ridiculous. *sigh* Did I mention I was frustrated?
This book is a total misfire. I tried to like it, but it kept going downhill. Add the slow pacing, dual timelines that switched over at the worst times, unnecessary drama, and “angsty but cool” characters (which rarely works,) and I have to wonder if Emily Henry was abducted by aliens and someone else is standing in for her. I don’t like saying it, but Happy Place is so beneath her talent. Where are the likeable characters? The wit? The solid writing? It’s not here.
5/10 Stars
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