Book Critic
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Review: Diamond in the Rough (American Heiresses #2) by Jen Turano
Recently I have been completely hooked on sweet historical romances. I burned through Mimi Matthews books and was eager to fill the void with an author who could encapsulate a sweet romance with some humor. When I read the summary of this one, my first thought that this could be the author to fill that void in my TBR list. I have been absolutely craving more sweet romances and this book sounded like it would be able to satisfy my sweet tooth..This book came across at the perfect time and I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into it. This book is from Christian publisher, Bethany House, but for me it…
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Review: Murder at Kensington Palace (A Wrexford & Sloane Mystery #3) by Andrea Penrose
I stumbled on this series a couple of years ago and instantly fell in love. I loved how sassy and sardonic Wrexford is and even if Mrs Sloane is overly pig headed at times, she’s independent and sassy and I can’t get enough of them together! Reading these books is always such a delight. There is clearly this romantic tension between Wrexford and Charlotte Sloane, but it doesn’t overtake the prime focus of the books which is the murder mystery. Because of that I think it makes the romance so much more sweet. The little morsels of romance sprinkled in make the reader eager to see what happens between them,…
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Review: Where She Went by Kelly Simmons
I had to chuckle when I read the first sentence of the summary ‘Her only daughter has just gone away to college, and Maggie O’Farrell knows she’s turning into one of those helicopter parents she used to mock.’ Having worked in a high school for eleven years in the counseling office, I know a helicopter parent when I see one and the fact that someone used that analogy in their summary felt like this book was written especially for me. But then things take a dark turn—and you know how I love thrilling disappearance—suddenly this book sounded a lot more interesting that I anticipated. I am fascinated by missing persons…
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Review: A Golden Grave (Rose Gallagher #2) by Erin Lindsey
I read the first book in this historical mystery series, Murder on Millionaires’ Row, back in 2018 and thought it was a solid beginning to her new series. This author has written other fantasy novels but the Rose Gallagher series is a new genre for her and I thought she made a nice transition but I wasn’t completely sold on the series as there were some things that I thought needed a little working out and polishing. While I had some reservations, I know that the transition from fantasy to historical fiction can be challenging so I decided to give this series another stab and see how things evolved with…
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Review: Secrets of the Lighthouse by Santa Montefiore (Audible Edition)
Santa Montefiore is an author that has popped up on my radar on and off again over the last few years. I have seen her books popping up on my Goodreads recommendations and social media over the years and always plan on reading one of her books but she is a prolific writer and just wasn’t sure where to start. I wanted something good that would captivate me right away but I just wasn’t sure where to begin. A few months ago, I nabbed this book from my local used book store—mostly for the cover. The cover is divine lets just all agree on that please! But I shelved it…
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Review: The Ghost of Hollow House (Mina Scarletti #4) by Linda Stratmann
Everyone knows that I am a sucker for Victorian gothic novels. I just can’t get enough of that genre and the ghost element of this book totally appealed to me. An isolated mansion with a ghost—how was I supposed to say no to that? Especially going into fall? The answer is, I couldn’t. The premise sounded too intriguing and like something that was right up my alley. I don’t know that the cover was doing a whole lot for me—to me it seemed more like the cover for an adventure novel, rather than a novel with a haunted mansion, but I was open to reading it either way. Though this…
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Review: The Orphan’s Song by Lauren Kate
Lauren Kate is probably best known for her young adult series, Fallen. I haven’t read the series but I do know her books and had them on my TBR. This book, The Orphan’s Song, is her first attempt at adult historical fiction. When it came across my desk for review a couple of months ago, I met it with mixed emotions. On one hand I was excited for the book because it sounded fun and clearly she’s an experienced author. Not to mention this cover is to DIE for! But I also had reservations because sometimes the transition from YA to adult fiction isn’t always a smooth one. But in…
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Review: The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig (Audible Edition)
This book has been sitting on my shelf for so long. At least since it was first released in 2016. All three of these authors are some of my favorites, but this book was their first collaboration and I was hesitant to read it. Sometimes reading a book by three people is awkward and weird—even if they are three extremely successful authors. So on my shelf it sat. And sat. and sat. Until their second collaboration was released, The Glass Ocean. I downloaded The Glass Ocean on Audible on a whim and randomly listened to it in my car running errands and fell in love with their three different timelines…
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Review: The Harp of Kings (Warrior Bards #1) by Juliet Marillier
Juliet Marillier is an author that I have had on my radar for quite some time. Her Sevenwaters series is one that I keep looking at and often debate if it’s the right time to pick it up or not…..but then I put it back down for unknown reasons. When this one appeared one day in my mailbox I was absolutely thrilled! I normally don’t get a ton of fantasy or YA historical fantasy so I felt privileged to get this one! I was so excited and couldn’t wait to crack it open! Now that I am finished with this new series, I am absolutely committed to reading her other…
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Review: The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal
To say that I was exited to get this book in the mail is an absolute understatement. I actually squealed in excitement when I opened this book up! The cover is magical and haunting and the summary sounded like something I was absolutely going to sink my teeth into immediately! Victorian England, creepy stalkers, and all sorts of disturbing gothic devices were promised in the summary. I could hardly contain my excitement. I was ecstatic to read this one and cracked it open almost immediately and what awaited me in the pages was a dark and disturbing story in addition to creepy dolls.