Review: The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson

The very first novel that I remember loving was The Silk Vendetta by Victoria Holt. I was eleven or twelve and no doubt missed all the adult nuances of the story, but what I didn’t miss was the Gothic atmosphere of the novel. I went through a lengthy Victoria Holt period in my early teens and then again as an adult. I am always looking for books that capture what I loved about Victoria Holt…..creepy, atmospheric historical fiction with a romantic element.

This book sounded like exactly that—and it was! I have never grown out of my Gothic Lit phase and reading books like this, I am reminded just how much I love Gothic novels with romance. Many authors have tried to strike a similar balance like Victoria Holt, but not many authors have succeeded. I can think of only a few authors who I would consider similar to Victoria Holt but Abigail Wilson is now one such author!

I adored this book even if there were some things that I thought could have been more nuanced or flushed out, over all this novel had me transfixed and in suspense until the very end. I have been looking forward to this one for quite some time and was thrilled with all the atmosphere this one delivered!

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Review: On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons #8) by Julia Quinn

Well folks here we have it—my final review of the last Bridgerton novel! I can’t believe I have finally reached the end of the series. I am so sad but yet at the same time so satisfied with how the series wrapped up. I was actually glad that we ended the series with Gregory’s story rather than Hyacinth’s, as I felt that Gregory’s story had a bit more action and romance to recommend itself.

Gregory always seemed far removed from the other Bridgerton siblings. Not in the same way that Francesca was but having so many years between him and his other brothers left him adrift in a sea of sisters. It made me wonder if he was going to be more romantic than the others and I was pleasantly surprised that he was.

I tried to savor this one a little more than the other books in the series so it took me a little longer to finish this one than I was expecting, but that was fine by me because I felt like I could slow down and appreciate the romance and the action more than I did in the former books. While this wasn’t my fav of the series, it was a wonderful read and I really enjoyed it!

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Re-share Review: The King’s Justice (Maggie Hope #9) by Susan Elia MacNeal

The King’s Justice is out in paperback now and I am celebrating the release of the paperback by re-sharing my original review with you guys! When I first stumbled on Maggie Hope, it was early 2012. I was one of the first people to read and review Mr Churchill’s Secretary and I fell head over heals for Maggie right then and there!

I have adored many of the books in the series thus far and I can’t believe we are on the 9th book already! The 10th book is coming out in July 2021 and I cannot wait for that one to release to see what awaits Maggie across the pond as it were.

Obviously when this book came up for review, I was thrilled to be reading more about Maggie’s journey and checking in with many of my favorite characters in the series. After the last book, I had high hopes for this one as well! This is a series that you could jump around in but to fully appreciate Maggie and her personal journey of growth, you will want to start from the beginning. She’s a great heroine and her stories are all so wonderful. I can’t wait for the next one, but until then check out the paperback release and enjoy my original review!

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Review: The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

Susan Meissner is an author who just keeps getting better and better with time. I have read many of her books and after finishing each one I think there is no way she could top this one—and then she does it again with her next book! This latest installment is truly a gem and I enjoyed savoring it in between my other books I was reading.

I didn’t want to devour this one in one sitting, instead I wanted to spread it out and enjoy the characters and the plot throughly. There is a lot in this novel to unpack and I think readers would enjoy savoring it more than rushing through—-but Meissner doesn’t make it easy with such a compelling plot.

If you haven’t read Susan Meissner’s novels this is one you do not want to miss but be prepared it’s an emotional read. It would be a great selection for book clubs too as there is a lot to discuss and this one would lend itself to some fun discussions.

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Review: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (Audible Edition)

This book has been receiving a ton of hype. It was a Book of the Month pick, it’s been featured on countless ‘most anticipated release’ lists and the fire storm of praise on Instagram and other social media platforms made me so excited to read this one.

It’s marketed as Jane Eyre for the modern woman. It’s a retelling of the Victorian classic Jane Eyre with an added Southern Gothic edge. Sounds irresistible right? Jane Eyre isn’t my favorite classic but I loved the idea of a modern retelling with the roles of Jane and others reversed or turned on their head and put into a thriller.

I loved the idea so much that I even brought this book up for our book club pick for January. I was sure that this book as going to be a hit. Not only did it sound compelling but the praise from so many readers was undeniable. We had to love it right? It has to be good right?

Reader, I hated it.

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