Month: March 2021

Books, Reading

Special Feature: A Fatal Lie (Inspector Ian Rutledge #23) by Charles Todd

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If you haven’t heard of Charles Todd then you have probably been living under a rock for quite some time. Charles Todd is the pen name for the impressive mother/son writers responsible for the Bess Crawford and Ian Rutledge mystery series! There are 12 books currently in the Bess Crawford series and A Fatal Lie is the 23rd in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series!

While I have heard of Charles Todd, I have not read any of the books in either series. It’s one of those things where there are so many books in both of these beloved series that the thought of going back and reading so many books to get caught up in the series seems daunting. Though I suppose an argument could be made that when series are this established they often focus on the mystery. But still I when possible I like getting the full series experience.

I know that Charles Todd is a favorite among many historical mystery fans and today I am featuring this latest novel in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series and I have to admit, I am so interested in this one. I love the setting (a Welsh village) and it sounds like a good old fashion detective novel so check it out, it’s out now!

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Books, Reading

Special Feature: Rhapsody by Mitchell James Kaplan

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One evening in 1924, Katharine “Kay” Swift—the restless but loyal society wife of wealthy banker James Warburg and a serious pianist who longs for recognition—attends a concert. The piece: Rhapsody in Blue. The composer: a brilliant, elusive young musical genius named George Gershwin.

Kay is transfixed, helpless to resist the magnetic pull of George’s talent, charm, and swagger. Their ten-year love affair, complicated by her conflicted loyalty to her husband and the twists and turns of her own musical career, ends only with George’s death from a brain tumor at the age of thirty-eight.

Set in Jazz Age New York City, this stunning work of fiction, for fans of The Paris Wife and Loving Frank, explores the timeless bond between two brilliant, strong-willed artists. George Gershwin left behind not just a body of work unmatched in popular musical history, but a woman who loved him with all her heart, knowing all the while that he belonged not to her, but to the world.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Fatal Fried Rice (A Noodle Shop Mystery #7) by Vivien Chien

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I first discovered this series because I was hungry. I was on my lunch break scrolling through Netgalley and saw the first book and was like lured in by the noodle ox on the cover and I have never been so glad to be hungry in all my life! I found such a fun series because I was hungry!

This has been such a fun little series to read and I am so happy to see that we are on the seventh book in the series! I am so happy people have loved it as much as I have. Lana Lee is a great amateur detective who has funky hair, a love for donuts, and doesn’t shy away from a murder or two. She sounds like someone I would totally hang out with which is one of the reasons I have enjoyed this series so much.

These are quick reads that I almost always finish within a day or two. They make for great beach reads or a great pick you grab at the airport between flights. I always feel satisfied after reading one of these books, not to mention hungry for Chinese food!

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Books, Reading

Special Feature: The Northern Reach by W.S. Winslow

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There is something about the rugged wildness of the coastline that adds so much atmosphere to a book. While I love the calming languid waters of the tropical islands, there is something so much more dramatic about a rocky untamed coast. This book is set on the Maine coast and that is one of the reasons this book caught my eye.

The other reason this one sounds so captivating is that it sounds like a pensive book that will give readers pause and reflect on their lives and the complexity of family and location. I think it’s going to offer a unique perspective for readers and give them something to think about and discuss.

This book spans a number of years and I am curious to see how that plays out. It starts in 1907 and continues through 2017 in a town where everyone is related on one way or another. I think that’s going to be an interesting angle and I am really excited to check this one out and see how it comes together, plus it’s been receiving solid positive reviews. It is out now and I can’t wait to read it later this spring!

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Spellmaker (Spellbreaker Duology #2) by Charlie N. Holmberg

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I haven’t had very good luck with duologies. I typically find them to feel unfinished. There is something about the trilogy of three books that rounds out a story in a way that two books just doesn’t. So often I tend to pass on them, but then I was pitched Charlie N Holmberg’s Spellbreaker duology.

The covers for Holmberg’s books are whimsical and really stand out to me. They are easy to identify and the suggest something historical mixed with fantasy and I couldn’t pass on the first book. It just sounded so good and I did enjoy it so reading the second book in the duology was a no brainer for me! These books are quick reads and I really enjoyed diving back into Holmberg’s rich world!

I still feel the a trilogy would have worked better in this particular series but as duologies go, this one wasn’t bad at all. I enjoyed many aspects of this one and am excited to read more books by Holmberg!

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