All posts in category Books

Review: The Family Gathering (Sullivan’s Crossing #3) by Robyn Carr

This year I have tried to read a little more fluffy contempo romances. I’ve sometimes felt that I get pigeon holed into reviewing just historical fiction—don’t get me wrong, historical fiction is my jam but sometimes I need a break and could go for something a little more modern and different just to keep things interesting.

Romances never seem to get old for me and I think a lot of women would agree. It doesn’t matter how cliche or repetitive the romance might seem–theres just something about love and having everything turn out in the end that just makes me happy and gives me hope that romance is still alive n the digital age!

Enter books like The Family Gathering. Sure I feel like I’ve read similar stories before but I enjoy love in all it’s shapes and forms and I never get tired of seeing how individual romances unfold.  (more…)

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by The Lit Bitch on April 25, 2018  •  Permalink
Posted in Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading
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Posted by The Lit Bitch on April 25, 2018

https://thelitbitch.com/2018/04/25/review-the-family-gathering-sullivans-crossing-3-by-robyn-carr/

Special Feature: Madam of My Heart by Gini Grossenbacher

Madam of My Heart
by Gini Grossenbacher

Publication Date: February 6, 2017
eBook & Paperback; 476 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-0998380605

Series: American Madams, #1
Genre: Historical Fiction/Victorian

 

 

Baltimore, 1849. During a scandalous crisis, the young Irish Brianna Baird flees her home at Fells Point. With little cash and only a seamstress’s trade, she braves the hypnotic streets of New Orleans. The tantalizing Madam DeSalle lures her to her brothel, then sells her to the dashing but questionable gambler, Edward Spina, who falls in love with her. In a tawdry alliance with these two profiteers, Brianna embarks on a journey through the French Quarter’s debauched and glittering Voodoo world. Facing the horrors of slavery, she triumphs by gaining freedom papers for her maid Emma’s enslaved husband and son. Brianna and Edward escape with them to San Francisco. There she becomes one of the most sought after madams in the gold rush parlor house trade. But will her fame and pluck be enough to save Edward from the Vigilante noose? This is the first book in the American Madams series.

“A debut historical novel that chronicles the struggles, loves, and joys of an exceptional madam in 19th-century America. Grossenbacher’s book, the first in a planned series, dramatizes the early life and busy career of a woman named Brianna Baird. Grossenbacher’s prose is both graceful and inventive. She absorbingly limns the various cities Brianna inhabits, from New Orleans and its ‘web of Creole cottages, chaotic marketplaces, and secretive balconies, simmering outside her window, ‘ to the rowdy atmosphere of frontier-era San Francisco. The occasional marvelous metaphor will surprise readers, as when ‘the truth hit Brianna like a badly aimed bowling pin.’ This isn’t just a novel for lovers of history’s more prurient corners; it’s for everyone who likes well-deployed language and intense stories. A seamier side of American history, engagingly told through one woman’s unexpected adventures.” -Kirkus Reviews, A Recommended Review

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

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by The Lit Bitch on April 24, 2018  •  Permalink
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Posted by The Lit Bitch on April 24, 2018

https://thelitbitch.com/2018/04/24/special-feature-madam-of-my-heart-by-gini-grossenbacher/

Review: The Elizas by Sara Shepard

If I’m being perfectly honest, I don’t really know what grabbed me about this book but something just did. When the pitch came through I wasn’t entirely sure this was something that I was interested in reading.

Maybe it was the colorful cover or maybe it was the idea of a false memory. I don’t know but something made me think this was something that I would be interested in.

Sara Shepard wrote the wildly popular Pretty Little Liars series so maybe that was what made me excited. I mean her books are popular right? She must be doing something right, so I agreed to read.

This is Shepard’s first adult novel so obviously the stakes are high when you come from writing YA and try to break into adult literature. I was curious to see how that played out for Shepard so here we are.  (more…)

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by The Lit Bitch on April 19, 2018  •  Permalink
Posted in Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading
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Posted by The Lit Bitch on April 19, 2018

https://thelitbitch.com/2018/04/19/review-the-elizas-by-sara-shepard/

Review: Come From Away by Genevieve Graham

I love when new authors find me and think that I will like their books. I am always intrigued because with the internet it’s hard to get a feel for people sometimes so when an author asks me if I would like to review their book or they think it’s something I will like—it always makes me pause.

I can honestly say that I give every single book that comes across my desk for review, my full and complete consideration for this reason. Authors, publishers, friends on social media…..I read all the pitches. Now that doesn’t mean that I review them all, but if it truly is something I’m interested in reading and I have time then I’m usually in.

That’s how I stumbled on to Genevieve Graham. She found me and asked it I would review her book, TIDES OF HONOUR, back in 2015.  I was blown away by the subject matter, characters, and the historical period as well as the added Canadian perspective in WWI.

I was thrilled when she asked if I would be interested in reading her latest novel, COME FROM AWAY, and I didn’t even hesitate….absolutely! (more…)

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by The Lit Bitch on April 17, 2018  •  Permalink
Posted in Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading
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Posted by The Lit Bitch on April 17, 2018

https://thelitbitch.com/2018/04/17/review-come-from-away-by-genevieve-graham/

Special Feature: THE PARIS SPY (Maggie Hope Mystery #7) by Susan Elia MacNeal

Earlier this year I read the latest Maggie Hope mystery, THE PARIS SPY and was once again hooked on our favorite secretary turned spy!

I happened to find this series via the cover. I saw the cover on one of my social media platforms back in 2012 and just knew that I had to read this book…..I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an ARC when it came up and was hooked!

I have since read all of the Maggie books and was thrilled to learn that more are planned—I am not ready to say goodbye to my favorite red head just yet.

This series has always been solid….each book rates around a 4 or a 5 for me. Sometimes I don’t always like the direction that Maggie goes but I love that she is consistent and a different kind of heroine. Today the wonderful creator of Maggie, Susan Elia MacNeal, celebrates the release of her latest novel in paperback!

If you have yet to discover this series, start with the first book, MR CHURCHILL’S SECRETARY, but if you are a long time fan of this series like me, then be on the look out for the paperback version of this book available 4/17!  (more…)

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by The Lit Bitch on April 16, 2018  •  Permalink
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Posted by The Lit Bitch on April 16, 2018

https://thelitbitch.com/2018/04/16/special-feature-the-paris-spy-maggie-hope-mystery-7-by-susan-elia-macneal/

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