Category: Reading

Books, Reading

Special Feature: Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

Bring on all the summer books! I spent Mother’s Day at the beach where it was over 90 degrees (highly unusual for Oregon!) and I sat there reading a book set in the French Revolution and all I could think about was—-where are all my good beach reads at??? As soon as that sun comes out and we start spending more time at the coast, I start really looking for books that are going to be light and relaxing plus set on the beach is a bonus!

One of the first authors I thought of was Jenn McKinlay! I read her book Wait for It last year that was set in Arizona, she writes great destination novels and I saw that this book was coming out soon and I couldn’t wait to share it with you guys! Her other book Paris is Always a Good Idea was another travel based book that I really enjoyed so naturally I saw this one and had to add it to my TBR list for later this summer! This book is set in Martha’s Vineyard and I am super excited to share a bit about this one with you guys today!

If you love beach reads and romances that are enjoyable, relaxing and well written with a travel flair I think you will really enjoy McKinlay’s books! I couldn’t fit this one in presently but you better believe I am going to toss this one in my summer beach bag and read it on my next trip to the coast! This book is out now so don’t wait to snag yourself a copy! Lots of early readers have been loving this one and if her other books are any indicator, this one is going to be a hit with fans as well!

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

Review: Who Cries for the Lost (Sebastian St Cyr #18) by C.S. Harris

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Who Cries for the Lost (Sebastian St Cyr #18) by C.S. Harris

Over the years I have jumped around in the Sebastian St Cyr series, until I finally decided about a year ago to go back and read all the books in order. Some of the books can be read out of order, others not. This book has some carry over from the last book so I would say this is probably not the one to start with if you are new to the series. I have loved this series and I am so glad to see that it’s going strong. If you love historical mysteries but want something with a bit more grit, this is an excellent option.

Every spring I look forward to a new Sebastian St Cyr book. The mysteries are smart, fast paced and enjoyable. I rarely find myself bored with the characters or plot, though some books I like more than others, overall the series is solid. I really like how not fluffy this series is too. The author doesn’t back down from discussing the conditions of the poor in London during this historical time and she also isn’t afraid of discussing some of the more grizzly murders.

If you haven’t yet discovered this series, it’s an absolute must. I have recommended it to many of my friends and family over the last few months. I read all of the books in the series in a matter of a few weeks. They are quick reads that will leave you feeling satisfied and like you just read something intelligent and well researched. Now that I am done with this book, it has a Napoleonic Wars flair and I felt compelled to read more books about France and the Revolution. I love that this book managed to grab my interest in other areas of history too!

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

Review: No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby

When this one came up for review it sounded cute and charming. Like it might be a little bit cozy mystery with a little bit of romance which made me excited to read it. Though the cover doesn’t scream ‘cozy mystery’ to me—in fact the cover felt a little blah. But what the cover lacked in eye catching detail, the summery made up for and I was excited to check this debut novel out! I am always a sucker for historical mysteries (cozy or otherwise) and I thought this one sounded like it would be something new to check out.

One thing that surprised me about this book was it’s a standalone. So many historical mysteries are long standing series and while I love revisiting favorite characters again and again, sometimes it’s nice when things wrap up after just one book. That said I think this book left some options open for additional stories so if you indeed love this book, there is a possibility for future books to revisit favorite characters, but again it’s not necessary for this book to become a series.

With sunny days ahead, it’s nice to read something that makes you feel happy and that’s just what this book did, it was entertaining, charming, and had a lit bit of everything but ultimately it made me feel content and happy which is what I love about reading! If you are looking for something fun to read this spring, this book might be just the ticket for you!

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

Review: Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen

Last year I was part of this cover reveal and since then I have been eagerly awaiting this book! Like many many many girls, the makeup brand Estee Lauder is considered the gold standard in skin care and cosmetics. Growing up, my mother and grandmother always wore Estee Lauder make up and perfume. It was expensive for a girl who was experimenting with makeup but as I grew up, and became an adult with more of a ‘style’, it was also my go to brand.

This was the book that I didn’t know I needed. I never once considered the person behind this famous cosmetics brand until this book came across my desk for review. As soon as I saw the book, I knew it was one that I needed to read because I love a good old fashion story of hard work and perseverance. The woman who became Estee Lauder sounded like she had this amazing tale of hard work and sacrifice that was just itching to be told!

Renee Rosen is also such a phenomenal story teller and I knew that this book would feature great research as well as a well crafted story. If you haven’t read anything by Rosen, this is an excellent opportunity to read about a truly remarkable women in history and see first hand how much research Rosen has done for a book like this. A couple of years ago, I read The Social Graces by Rosen and loved it, this book lived up to my expectations and I cannot recommend this book enough!

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Review: Deep Tide (The Texas Murder Files #4) by Laura Griffin

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Deep Tide (The Texas Murder Files #4) by Laura Griffin

I completely binge read all of Laura Griffin’s books late last year into 2023. I fell in love with her fast paced thrillers that also contained some romance to keep things interesting. Needless to say I had this one on my radar for months before it came out. I loved the other books in the series and was excited to see which characters from previous books would get their own story in this one. These books do not need to be read in order but you will see a few familiar characters making appearances thought out the series.

For example, this book features Layla Breda who owns a coffee shop in town and has two brothers who are also cops. The bothers have had their own stories in the series and we have met Layla in passing in other books, but there is nothing from the other books that would impact a new readers experience if they are new to this series. Griffin does an amazing job introducing new stories and bringing in new and old characters without spoiling any parts of other books. If you are a new reader and are worried about grabbing this book and being lost—have no fear you will be perfectly fine jumping around.

One of the things I love most about Griffin’s books is that you never know what you are going to get. Sometimes you might get a serial killer mystery, other times it might be organized crime, while others might include a military coverup. I always feel like I am getting something new and refreshing. I love the excitement that a new Griffin book brings and this one was no different!

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