Books
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Special Feature: The Shop on Royal Street (Royal Street #1) by Karen White
I absolutely loved Karen White’s Tradd Street series, while I haven’t read every single one of them, the one’s that I have read were so cute. I do think that the series would be more enjoyable in order but overall it was fine to read out of order. Through the books though we meet a host of fun secondary characters which become the inspiration for this new series. The Tradd Street series came to an end earlier this year so when I saw that White was coming out with a new series based on some of the Tradd Street characters I was so excited. Since I have jumped around in…
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Review: As Good As Dead (A Good Girls’ Guide to Murder #3) by Holly Jackson
Say hello to the worst book I have read this year—-and frankly, the last decade. I have had books that I did not finish and books that just left me feeling lukewarm or even disappointed but none have left me feeling absolute shock and frustration. The second book in the series had me feeling a little bland about Pip as a main character so when this one came out, I wasn’t really chomping at the bit to read it but a friend of mine read it and basically said it was awful but she wanted to discuss with someone—-so here we are, thank you peer pressure. As you move into…
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Review: The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan
Author Gilly Macmillan is known for writing some darker mysteries so when this one came up for review, I was intrigued enough to check it out. I know that a lot of psychological thriller and mysteries tend to be more twisty and dark and I love reading mysteries like that. For me my favorites are either classic Agatha Christie style mysteries or the dark twisty modern psychological thrillers! This one actually sounded like it might blend both the classic mystery with the darker twists that more modern thriller are known for so I was super excited see how the two merge together. I haven’t read a mystery in a while…
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Review: The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Kristy Woodson Harvey has written a number of contempo lit/women’s fiction novels over the years and I have been a massive fan ever since I read her first book years ago! I have read almost all of her books and each one is always well written with charm, wit, and excellent story telling. I have recommended her books to so many of my friends and I have yet to meet someone who was disappointed in her novels. This book is her first foray into historical fiction and sometimes the crossover doesn’t go smoothly for some writers. Most writers pick a genre and stick with it and historical fiction writers are…
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Review: On A Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk
Raise your hand if Cinderella was your favorite Disney princess growing up! Personally I loved Sleeping Beauty but Cinderella was certainly a close second. I loved the idea of a commoner marrying a prince and finding love with someone completely unexpected and outside of her social rank and standing. As I have moved into adulthood, I have gravitated toward romance novels that feature this classic troupe. Rich lord meets commoner and marries her anyway, even if it feels unlikely it always seems to draw me in. Over the years my favorite group of Cinderella romance has been replaced with enemies to lovers troupes but there is still a soft spot…
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Review: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James
I can’t even begin to tell you how much of a fan I am of Simone St James! I have read every single one of her books and she is absolutely an auto buy author for me. I had her latest novel pre ordered for MONTHS in advance. I am just a massive fan girl. Her books (especially the more recent ones) are the perfect mix of murder, ghosts, horror, and gothic. I can’t say enough good things about her books just read them if you haven’t already! Especially the newest books like The Broken Girls and The Sun Down Motel. I didn’t think a book could top The Broken…
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Special Feature: You Grow, Gurl: A Lush Guide to Plant Parenthood by Christopher Griffin
Growing up, my parents owned a feed and seed store along with a nursery. Both of my parents and grandparents loved yard work and gardening. As a result, naturally I grew up hating gardening. I love how pretty flowers are and in the last few years I have grown a veggie garden from seed with my son. I have grown to enjoy gardening to some degree or another but I have yet to master the art of house plants. I literally murder every single house plant I have ever owned including cactus! However I am envious of those that are successful at house plants. In recent years there have been…
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Review: Under Lock and Skeleton Key (Secret Staircase Mysteries #1) by Gigi Pandian
I am usually up for a new cozy mystery series. I always find cozy mysteries relaxing and satisfying, they typically have charming main characters and mysteries that aren’t overly complicated or too dark so they make for nice relaxing reading for me. When I saw this one come across my desk for review I was super excited because it was a new book in a mystery series, and it had a bit of a Gothic twist. Not to mention it boasted a classic locked room mystery—-so think Murder on the Orient Express or And Then There Were None. Mysteries that on the surface appear simple and at the same time…
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Special Feature/Excerpt: The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten
In light of recent world events, there are a lot of eyes on Eastern Europe and Russian right now. As a huge fan of historical fiction I love exploring new cultures and new parts of history and Eastern Europe and Russian history have caught my eye over and over again in recent years but especially now. I want to know more and more about this area of the world and what their history is like. So many historical fiction novels are set in different Western settings like England, France, or the USA. All of these regions and history are more of less familiar to the average historical fiction reader but…
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Special Feature/Excerpt: The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery
The second I saw this blue green water, I knew I needed this book in my beach bag! It’s that time of year when it’s cold and rainy still in the Pac NW and I find myself longing for some where warm and sunny with white sandy beaches. My husband and I traveled to Aruba during spring break a few years ago when it was pouring rain here in Oregon and we spent a week in paradise. When we came back I had never been so depressed! After that I decided to stick with reading about warm sunny places during the long cold wet months of February and March in…