Literary Criticism
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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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Review: The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery
It’s that time of year when we have had the ‘false spring’ week in Oregon and have then settled into 6 more weeks of winter. We had this absolutely beautiful week where it was sunny and 60-65 degrees—spring was in the air—until it wasn’t. Suddenly we were back to 40 degree temps with constant rain (like torrential down pour) and like many Oregonians we are all left longing for sunshine and warmer temps! So what is a surefire way to cure the longing in our hearts? A book set in a sunny location that offers a little bit of escapism and a whole lot of sunshine! Enter this lovely new…
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Review: The Lady Tempts an Heir (The Gilded Age Heiresses #3) by Harper St George
I fell in love with Harper St George’s series the second I opened the first book! Not only are the covers stunning with gorgeous dresses but the stories are sensual, romantic, and all around great reads. I actually kind of thought that the series would end after the second book since it’s the Gilded Age Heiresses series and there were only two sisters, but I was thrilled to see this book was coming out even if this book featured the brother of the two previous heiresses. I instantly jumped at the chance to review this one—in fact I had in on pre order for months as soon as I saw…
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Review: If You Ask Me by Libby Hubscher
I don’t know what drew me to this book first, the hot fireman or the protagonist having a massive public meltdown! It’s like my dream some times to just have a complete meltdown where I give zero f*cks and just go off and still be able to keep my job and relationship but yet I have something to laugh about later. Am I right people? Basically I wish my life was a movie or a story some times where I could get away with that. Like go full on Waiting to Exhale and burn my ex’s stuff and still find love—that’s exactly what this book promises—literally! I was instantly drawn…
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Review: The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have been writing domestic thrillers for the last few years and I love this writing team! I especially loved their first novel together, The Wife Between Us. After reading that one I was super excited to check out the next book which was just ok for me but that said, I enjoyed their writing style and was eager to read other collaborations. When this book came up for review I was familiar enough with the authors names and the quality of novels they put out so I was obviously on board with a review. While the second book I read wasn’t my fav, it was…
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Review: Sisters of Night and Fog by Erika Robuck
I have read and enjoyed a couple of Erika Robuck’s books over the years. She has proven to me that she is a solid writer who doe wonderful research on her historical fiction novels. So I am typically on board for a review whenever one of her books comes across my desk for review! I really enjoyed Hemingway’s Girl and the Invisible Woman, though I didn’t love The House of Hawthorne as I had hoped, it was still full of great research and things to enjoy. When her latest novel came up for review, I was excited to see what topic and historical period she would go with next! The…
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Review: A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
Where are my murderionos at? If you like your thrillers with a hefty dose of murder this is for you! It’s been a long time since I have stayed up late into the night reading a thriller. A romance—sure, but my thrillers lately have been really meah to be honest. However this book caught my eye early on when I picked it as my Book of the Month selection a few months back. I love chilling novels that include murder and serial killers and this book sounded right up my alley! But lately my reading time has been limited so I downloaded this one to listen to at work and…
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Review: An Impossible Impostor (Veronica Speedwell #7) by Deanna Raybourn
Deanna Raybourn has been one of my favorite historical mystery writers since I first discovered the Veronica Speedwell series. I have since read all of her books and loved each of them, some more than others, but overall her books have been fantastic. The Veronica Speedwell series being my personal favorite of her books and series. Veronica is such a wonderfully non conventional character and her chemistry with Stoker has been solid through most of the series. However, the last book left me a little disappointed, it was ok but just not my favorite in the series so I was really looking forward to this one and seeing how and…
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Review: The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
If you have poured yourself a bowl of cereal in the last 100 or so years, odds are it was a Post brand cereal! I think most of us are familiar with some uber wealthy names like Vanderbilt, Hearst, Kennedy, and Rockefeller. The name Post doesn’t necessarily ring any bells for me. It sounds like a common name with little attached to it to distinguish itself. When this book came across my desk for review, I basically thought the cover was pretty and that was about it. The name and title in the book didn’t draw me in or anything, it was purely the elegant cover. I read the blurb…