This beta reader is very excited! The Stars Don’t Lie, by Boo Walker, released on Tuesday, August 22nd. It’s available in all formats and can also be easily accessed for those of us with a Kindle Unlimited subscription as an ebook with accompanying audio.
There was a Facebook Live release party to celebrate the launch, and Boo spends about 50 minutes talking about the plot, the overall writing process, and answering viewer questions. Here it is!
He has also added some book club discussion questions:
Right now I’m listening to the audio version of the book. And, although Boo was nice enough to surprise me with a set of CDs the other day, I think I prefer listening to it on Audible (through KU) because it’s comfortable at about 1.25x to 1.3x speed. I’m one of those readers who enjoys listening to a book AFTER having read it, and it is fun to revisit the characters in Stars and reexamine my feelings towards them. I’m liking it just as much or more this time around.
And, yes, I’m very aware that I’ve been a complete slug about writing reviews this last month. We lost a very close friend on August 5th and I’m still wrapping my head around it. But I have finally recovered from my initial reading slump and will have some recommendations on here soon. Promise!
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
See that date up there? June 13th? Mark it on your calendar. Mark it… Are you marking? You better be marking…
Oh, Isadora. I just love you. I want to be friends with you. Twenty years ago I think I was you. Why did I let your story sit in my Kindle for 4 months? This was a story that spoke to my heart. It is a story that will speak to the heart of any introverted, cerebral, never-married-but-wants-to-be woman in her thirties who wonders why that kind of happiness seems to only be reserved for other people.
Chicago University researcher, Isadora Bentley, is celebrating her thirtieth birthday. Alone. (Does that qualify as celebrating?) Alone except for the local mini mart’s sugary delicacies that await her in Aisle 8. Twinkies, chocolate, and a 2 liter of Coke have medicinal properties that the science world has yet to recognize. (If you know, you know.) While checking out, Isadora spots a headline on a magazine: 31 Steps to Happiness, by Dr. Grace Monroe. Ha! 31 Steps. What a crock. On a whim of rebellion, Isadora buys the magazine with the intent of testing Dr. Monroe’s theory. She will implement one step per day–in any order–record her findings, and prove, unequivocally, that happiness can never be achieved so simplistically.
Unfortunately, most of these steps involve interacting with other people. Yuck. People. People lead to feelings, and feelings lead to loss and sadness and hurt. And Isadora has been hurt. A lot. Who wants that? Alone is safe. Alone is comfortable. Alone is…sometimes not all it’s cracked up to be.
Except that when you are a university researcher like Isadora, who is supposed to be working with other people, being alone isn’t always an option. Her self-imposed solitude is interrupted when Isadora’s boss assigns her to work with opposite-of-ugly Dr. Cal Baxter, a psychologist preparing a book for publication and conducting his own experiment.
Over the next year, Isadora Bentley embarks on a roller coaster ride of self-discovery, soul-searching, emotions, and regret. This sounds heavy–and it is–except that all of this wisdom is dressed in so much hilarity (her inner dialogue made me LOL on multiple occasions) that you almost don’t realize that you, the reader, are learning something too. And there are feelings–deep, deep feelings–as our beloved heroine goes on this journey, realizing that, while defensive walls are sometimes necessary, they aren’t always the answer.
I adored this book, its writing, characters, and many insightful nuggets. It’s a treasure. I highly recommend it. Remember: June 13.
“The connections between and among women are the most feared, the most problematic, and the most potentially transforming force on the planet.” ― Emilia Hart, Weyward
Three women across five centuries are bound by an ancient name, a special gift, a humble cottage, and hardship. This is the story of Weyward, a loving tribute to the strength of females everywhere.
England, 1619. Altha, like many others of her era, has been accused of witchcraft and must stand trial for her alleged crimes. Violet, languishing in her family’s mansion in 1942, longs to know more of the outside world. And Kate, pregnant and afraid, escapes an abusive relationship in 2019, fleeing to a cottage left to her by a great aunt she never knew.
One by one, we learn more about these extraordinary women. We discover their connections to the mysteries of nature and to each other, showing their collective ability to rise above their constraints and the men who try to dominate them. They have their accusers, their predators, and their allies. But first they must endure their separate challenges and tap into the history and secrets that weave their stories together.
Weyward is an exceptional debut novel. It is unique, beautiful, haunting, and uplifting. Be aware that there are definite triggers, such as rape and emotional/physical abuse. But also know that in its storytelling lies the message that overcoming such things is possible. The power is within all of us.
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.
What a good book! This is the first time I’ve read something by Alice Hoffman, but it was engrossing and kept my attention from start to finish. It reminded me a lot of The People We Keep by Allison Larkin, a recent read, in that the main character is a traumatized young woman.
In Faithful it is Shelby Richmond, who is struggling with deep depression and survivor’s guilt after being in a car crash that incapacitated her best friend. Shelby changes her appearance, has extremely low self-esteem, and considers herself a nothing. But there is an anonymous person who reaches out, sending Shelby postcards for years with short, cryptic messages: “Be something.” “Feel something.” “Do something.” “Trust someone.”
Clearly this person feels that Shelby has untapped potential if she would only believe in herself.
It is fascinating to follow Shelby on her journey over the next few years. We find out who her secret pen pal is by the end of the story, but there are some wonderful supporting characters along the way. Alice Hoffman has done a terrific job keeping the personalities distinct and unique. The core group is a great example of the power of friendship, hope, and the rewards we reap when we put ourselves on the line for others.
My only real confusion is the title. I’m still trying to work that out in my mind. But the fact that it keeps me thinking about the story and the characters is a testament to the excellent writing and plot development. I have an idea what it means, but sharing my thoughts would be giving away something important. I certainly don’t want to do that to any potential readers. *wink*
“She was still there, this night sky, this elegant gown woven with diamonds…”
AVAILABLE August 22, 2023
Some “pre review” thoughts: As exciting as it is to communicate with a favorite author, it can also be tricky. Boo Walker has been incredibly generous to me, a humble blogger, offering and sending me CDs and MP3s of his two previous books, bringing me on board as a beta reader for his upcoming novel in 2024, freely giving and receiving feedback via email, and being a friend on social media. Bottom line: I wanted to love this book. Thankfully, I did. Now, on to the review.
Dr. Carver Livingstone has a lot of things figured out in life. Still in his thirties, he is a successful North Carolina veterinarian with several clinics, a surgical patent, and a staff who adores him. But he has a past, one without closure that he has kept buried and at a distance for twenty years. So when his mother asks him to return home to Vermont and mediate a family issue, it isn’t an easy decision.
Carver is, after all, a man of science. He seeks facts and doesn’t like shades of gray. He can also be slow on the uptake when it comes to emotional cues from others. It’s that “different kind of smart,” an observation not lost on Mrs. Eloise Cartwright, his favorite teacher from high school. Mrs. Cartwright was there for Carver during his darkest moments as a teen and, while he has never forgotten the impact she had on his life, he has cut ties with her as much as with everyone else.
Mrs. Cartwright would hate the cliché, but Carver had to wait for the stars to align. Or maybe they have aligned and he just needed a good push. Either way, things are being set into motion through a series of events beyond his control. Call it Fate or call it Faith, change is on the horizon.
There was so much I loved about The Stars Don’t Lie. Boo Walker effortlessly accomplishes a multitude of objectives with a diverse cast of characters. Diverse in the sense that we meet different people at various stages of life, which means there is someone for whom every reader can relate to and understand. And even though many of them have their own epiphanies, it is Carver who is at the center of it all, trying to stay afloat, constantly doubting his abilities, but still learning what’s most important. All he has to do is look up.
On a grander scale is the writing itself, which is done with terrific skill. The pace is just right and the phrasing is very clever. I highlighted several for future reference. I also found myself tapping into personal memories and feelings that few, if any, books have ever brought to the surface. Last but not least there are the messages, mainly of redemption and reminders that we are all a part of something bigger than ourselves, each conveyed with gentle tenderness. Reading, no, experiencing this book was like finally opening a stuck window and airing out a musty room. A refreshing, emotional detox.
I highly recommend it. (Yes, I’m a bit biased, but I don’t care. I loved it.)
10/10 Stars
*This book can currently be preordered on Amazon and is only $4.99 for the Kindle edition. Like all of Boo’s previous books, it will likely be available in print, digital, and audio formats if you have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited.
Change is never easy, especially when it involves a devastating loss, but it can also lead to good things you never expected. Aly Jackson should know. As she’s mourning the death of her older brother, Luke, her career and relationship also get upended. The only lifeline she has is a house that Luke left to her on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Of course, nothing is as she expects it to be when Aly arrives. There are still plenty of estate details to figure out, family issues to resolve, and emotions to sort through. But, even in death, Aly’s older brother is her protector, whether she realizes it or not.
This is the first book I’ve read by Camille Pagán. It won’t be my last! She delves into very real feelings, exploring them through Aly with that frustrating combination of confusion, resistance, and wisdom that happens when the rug gets pulled out from under you. Having dealt with similar grief, I felt for Aly and related to her. But even if you have been fortunate enough not to experience such sorrow, this is a book worth reading. I recommend it!
One of the popular tropes these days is main characters who “fake date.” They’re either trying to make someone jealous, trying to break someone up, or trying to assuage parents’ concerns. The fake date premise can be done well…or not. The Chemistry of Love, a recent Kindle First Read selection, does a fairly good job, mainly because of its unique setting.
Anna Ellis is a cosmetic chemist hopelessly in love with her boss, Craig, while her immediate supervisor, Jerry, squelches any innovative ideas she proposes. In a state of complete frustration and sorrow, and with the help of a little alcohol, Anna bares her soul to a stranger at a work party. That stranger turns out to be the company’s young CEO, Marco, who suggests that he and Anna fake date to make Craig jealous.
After you’re done rolling your eyes at the lunacy of what you just read I can assure you that it isn’t as bad as it sounds. There are some cringe-worthy moments at the beginning, but the story has more than its share of sweet scenes too. It’s clean with witty banter between Anna and Marco and, though the ending is predictable from the start, I actually enjoyed this book quite a lot.
Where do you go when you want to find pettiness, gossip, mayhem and murder? Look no further than the PBA (Parent Booster Association) in an upscale Connecticut town.
Regrets Only, by Kieran Scott is hilarious. A satirical look at a group of women who represent those committees we’ve pretty much all had to participate in at one time or another. There’s the Type A president, who ruthlessly clutches to her position as though her life depends on it (it does,) who overshadows and overachieves, basking in the glory of her success and leaving baffled and intimidated worker bees in her wake. That is Ainsley Aames Anderson. A triple Type A. Her name says it all.
With someone like Ainsley, you’re either a minion or an enemy. You do not question her. You do not compete with her. You certainly do not defy her. A tough lesson learned by her seemingly faithful entourage, Bee, Dayna, and Lanie. The outliers have a more difficult time. There’s working mother Nina, a successful accountant with more brains than charm, and the town’s prodigal daughter, single mom Paige Lancaster. Paige has returned to her hometown after being let go from a successful job writing crime shows in LA. She’s worldly and strong, the complete opposite of the submissive women who work with, um for, Ainsley. And it doesn’t help that Paige’s first love happens to be Ainsley’s husband.
Things fall apart at the PBA’s annual Parents and Pinot fundraising auction. By the end of the night the PBA president everyone loves to hate is dead. Suspects are everywhere. A surprising amount have access to weapons. Unsurprisingly, the blind adoration of Ainsley’s followers isn’t quite as blind as it once appeared. Using the alternating POVs of Paige, Lanie, Nina, and Dayna, we discover that few things (and people) are what they seem.
I really enjoyed Regrets Only. I’m giving it 9 stars because the ending fell a bit flat, but it’s still worth reading. It’s an honest commentary on suburban society. The seriousness and intensity at which these women view something as basic as a parent organization is extreme, yes, but not entirely untrue. We women can get a lot of things done, but the backroom plotting and politics are as old as time itself.
Meet the Robinsons, a blended family with adult children Avery, Cooper, and Gavin. They love each other to a fault, which is lucky because they have their flaws like everyone else. But that love, and the compassion and generosity that go with it, is enough to extend to others who need their help.
Riverbend Gap is Cooper’s story. As a sheriff’s deputy in their small town, he’s always on the alert, but nothing could have prepared him for the situation he finds himself in one day. A car that recently skidded off the road now balances on the edge of a cliff. A terrified young woman sits inside, praying for a miracle. While waiting for emergency services, Cooper talks to her, calms her, and tries to keep the car from falling. This unusual meeting sets off a series of events that involve the entire Robinson family and a new arrival to their town.
Mulberry Hollow is Avery’s story. A young doctor, the only one in their small town, she works her fingers to the bone on a daily basis, tending to the needs of friends, neighbors, and hikers attempting the nearby trail. Her clinic is the only medical facility for miles. So, when she arrives at the clinic one night to find an injured hiker passed out on the doorstep, she must think fast. Who is he? Her protective family is skeptical, but Avery decides to let the stranger stay on while he mends.
Harvest Moon is Gavin’s story. Still nursing his wounds from the death of his child and a painful divorce, Gavin must now face the terrible news that his best friend has been killed in an airplane crash. His wife too. They left behind a little girl who must now deal with the loss of her parents. What will become of her? Surely her mother and father had guardians in mind should such a tragedy befall them. Fortunately, they did. Gavin and his ex-wife.
While all three of the Riverbend books have Christian aspects and happy endings, it’s the journey to those endings that make them worth reading. I have really enjoyed Denise Hunter’s books lately and have quickly added her as a go-to author. Without being too saccharine, the stories are uplifting and hopeful, with realistic characters. I’ve also read her book called The Wishing Season and am currently listening to Falling Like Snowflakes. They all deal with found family, new beginnings, and a community rallying together. If you like books with heart, you’ll want to read these.
I’ve discovered a handful of new authors lately whose books I really enjoy. You’re going to start seeing more of them on this blog. One of them is Melanie Jacobson, known for her clean romances that mix humor and heart.
Scrooge and the Girls Next Door is a book I expected to read and forget–yes, I judged a book by its cover, don’t repeat my mistake–and instead, I was treated to a book that made me both laugh out loud and clutch my chest with emotion. Any book that has me feeling all the feels deserves a shout-out on this blog.
While using the “enemies to friends” plot line, this delightful story explores how the Christmas season can be difficult for some people, the importance of community, and how a generous spirit can melt a frosty attitude. It all begins when single mom, Paige Redmond, buys her first home–a raggedy fixer upper–and moves in with her daughter, Evie, next door to stodgy college professor, Henry Hill. While they navigate their differences and often disagree, there is a lot of self-exploration and reevaluation. Sometimes it takes the right person or people to motivate change. There is also a secondary “found family” story line that is very sweet. A reminder that the word “family” can have many interpretations.
I’ve read several Christmas-themed books this month and I have to say that this is my favorite. The characters have depth and feel realistic. The romance is slow and not corny or forced. Both main characters take turns sharing their points of view, which gives a fun and interesting perspective.
This book is available for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription and is a great way to relax during the busy holiday season. I recommend it!
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