Category: Literary Criticism

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

Review: Call Upon the Water by Stella Tillyard

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Call Upon the Water by Stella Tillyard

The first thing that went through my mind when I read the summary of this book was it sounded a lot like Philippa Gregory’s latest novel, Tidelands, which I have not read but has definitely been on my radar. I picked up Tidelands from my library but I only got a couple of chapters in before I had to return it.

Since then I’ve been meaning to pick it back up and continue the story but I have other books that have been rather diverting. So when this book came up for review I was eager to read it because it sounded so similar.

Tillyard has written a number of novels and clearly has experience in this time period so I was excited to try out this book and see how it was! Continue reading “Review: Call Upon the Water by Stella Tillyard” →

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

Review: The Vanished Bride (Brontë Sisters Mystery #1) by Bella Ellis

by The Lit Bitch4 Comments on Review: The Vanished Bride (Brontë Sisters Mystery #1) by Bella Ellis

Big big big Bronte fan here! So it’s a given that I have been looking forward to this book for quite a while!

But I will admit I was on the fence about it. This book is a reimagining of the Bronte sisters as lady detectives and for me it could have gone either way. I mean, the sisters wrote romances, not mysteries so I was worried that this book might come across as hokey.

So basically, I had reservations. I worried that I might have a hard time imagining them as detectives but on the other I love all things Bronte and I simply couldn’t pass on the opportunity to find out which way this book was going to go—-all good or all bad! Continue reading “Review: The Vanished Bride (Brontë Sisters Mystery #1) by Bella Ellis” →

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

Review: Diamond in the Rough (American Heiresses #2) by Jen Turano

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on 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 read less like a Christian romance with obvious religions references and more like a proper, chaste, sweet romance which was exactly what I was hoping for..

This is the second in a series but it could easily be read as a stand alone book and for me that’s exactly what it was, a stand alone. But I would be open to reading the other book in the series because the characters were a hoot and I loved each person I encountered. Continue reading “Review: Diamond in the Rough (American Heiresses #2) by Jen Turano” →

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Review: Murder at Kensington Palace (A Wrexford & Sloane Mystery #3) by Andrea Penrose

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on 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, but ultimately it’s the well written mystery that holds their attention late into the night.

So when I finally saw this one on Netgalley I begged to read it! I couldn’t wait and read it in a couple of fast sittings! Continue reading “Review: Murder at Kensington Palace (A Wrexford & Sloane Mystery #3) by Andrea Penrose” →

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Review: Where She Went by Kelly Simmons

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on 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 cases so when the helicopter mom’s daughter goes missing—-I couldn’t think of passing this one by! Continue reading “Review: Where She Went by Kelly Simmons” →