Category: Books

Books, Reading

Special Feature: The Liabilities of Love by Susan Schoenberger

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: The Liabilities of Love by Susan Schoenberger

Leo Tolstoy said it best in Anna Karenina ‘There are as many kinds of love, as there are hearts’. I love that author Susan Schoenberger dives right into the notion in this book. The was the number one thing that compelled me about this one, it promises to dissect and explore marriages, love, and secrets. All the things that I think make for interesting reads but there was one thing that stood out above the other reasons this one sounded great.

And that is how trauma impacts women not only in the moment but in their life long choices. I think this book will leave readers with a lot to reflect on and discuss with books clubs and/or friends. I have not read anything by Susan Schoenberger before but I think this book sounds like the most promising and interesting of her novels and I am looking forward to reading this one in the future.

I am eager to share a bit about this one even if my review calendar was full for the summer, I do plan on reading this one a little later in the year. But for now I am bringing you all a bit about the book itself. I am always on the look out for books that promise emotional reading and I think this particular book will bring the emotion, so if you are on the look out for a book with some substance and emotion, I think this would be a good option for you!

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

Review: For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

I absolutely loved Samantha Downing’s first novel, My Lovely Wife. In fact, I even read it twice because I thought it was such a great read and my book club loved it too! Her second novel He Started It, just didn’t grab me like the first one. I haven’t read it yet but the description just didn’t sound as exciting or interesting as My Lovely Wife sounded when I first heard of it. But when I saw this one was coming out—her third thriller—the description sounded so excellent and I just couldn’t pass up!

I love novels about darker academia and this book sounded like it would be a perfect summer thriller read so it was an easy yes for review from me! I also saw that it was recently announced that Robert Downey Jr and HBO Max have teamed up to option this stunning new thriller for the streaming service in the coming year!

If that bit of news doesn’t grab your attention then I don’t know what will! I was already interested in this novel based on the name Samantha Downing but adding in one of my favorite actors to potentially produce and create this book into a series sounds absolutely irresistible to me! I cannot wait to see what the vision is for this book when it comes to the HBO Max series, after reading the book I think it’s going to be a perfect book to bring to the streaming service! You should definitely run out and secure a copy of this book now, it’s going to be a hot read this summer!

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Books, Reading

Special Feature: False Witness by Karin Slaughter

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Summer is in full swing and I generally see two book genres in everyones beach bag—romances and thrillers. I usually try to alternate between a romance and a thriller when I head to the beach or pool, and if you are looking for some hot thrillers for the summer, this latest novel from Karin Slaughter should be on your list if not already in your bag!

Slaughter has written a number of thrillers and mysteries and almost every single one of them has been met with much acclaim and False Witness is no different! So many fans and early reviewers have raved about this book and with good reason! It’s a standalone novel with a modern storyline (hello COVID I see you in this plot!) and I think readers will enjoy the darker, twistyness of this one!

It is out now and I couldn’t be more excited to share a bit about it. I love that it features real life and really highlights the darker side of it’s characters, obviously if you are a fan of Slaughter you will find much to love in this one but if you are new to her books this will be a great place to start. The books are usually fast paced and complex with lots for readers to unpack and enjoy. Plus since this is a standalone, so you don’t have to go back and feel like you need to read the other books in the series before jumping in.

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Books, Reading

Special Feature: The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore

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Publication Date: July 27, 2021
Kensington Publishing
eBook & Paperback; 304 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

In this thought-provoking and sensitive novel, inspired by the true story of a Louisiana leprosy hospital where patients were forcibly quarantined, acclaimed author Amanda Skenandore tells an extraordinarily timely tale of resilience, hope–and the last woman who expected to find herself in such a place…

1920s Los Angeles: Socialite Mirielle West’s days are crowded with shopping, luncheons, and prepping for the myriad glittering parties she attends with her actor husband, Charlie. She’s been too busy to even notice the small patch of pale skin on the back of her hand. Other than an occasional over-indulgence in gin and champagne, which helps to numb the pain of recent tragedy, Mirielle is the picture of health. But her doctor insists on more tests, and Mirielle reluctantly agrees.

The diagnosis–leprosy–is devastating and unthinkable. Changing her name to shield Charlie and their two young children, Mirielle is exiled to rural Louisiana for what she hopes will be a swift cure. But the hospital at Carville turns out to be as much a prison as a place of healing. Deaths far outnumber the discharges, and many patients have languished for years. Some are badly afflicted, others relatively unscathed. For all, the disease’s stigma is just as insidious as its physical progress.

At first, Mirielle keeps her distance from other residents, unwilling to accept her new reality. Gradually she begins to find both a community and a purpose at Carville, helping the nurses and doctors while eagerly anticipating her return home. But even that wish is tinged with uncertainty. How can she bridge the divide between the woman, wife, and mother she was, and the stranger she has become? And what price is she willing to pay to protect the ones she loves?

Amazon | BAM | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop | Hudson Booksellers | IndieBound | Target | Wal-Mart

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

Review: The Devil and the Heiress (The Gilded Age Heiresses #2) by Harper St. George

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After reading The Heiress Gets a Duke earlier this year, Harper St George was on my ‘one to watch’ list. I immediately preordered this book and was eager to find out what happened to the more reserved Crenshaw sister, Violet. In the first book, August was more headstrong and a little more bold than her sister so I was eager to see how Violet’s character was explored in this one.

Not only do St George’s novels boast fantastic covers but they boast non conventional heroines and dashing heroes with an edge. If you love historical romances I would highly recommend checking this new series out. I found that this book (like the first) was a quick read and you could easily pick it up and put it down and pick it up again and not feel lost. It makes a great read for busy moms who are trying to watch their kids but simply can’t watch another episode of Blippi!

Since it’s summer break, my son is home with me and on those hot days when we are stuck inside we are often watching Blippi—however, I would rather be reading something else more entertaining. So while he’s watching tv, I am able to read a bit. This was the perfect novel to distract me and enjoy but when he needed a snack I could set it down and then pick right back up where I left off and not feel lost in the story or going back to read a page of two because I forgot what was happening!

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