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

Review: The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman

Carol Goodman is an author after my Gothic heart. I haven’t read any of her other books before this one, but when this one came up for review I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it because it had this decidedly Gothic feel. Not to mention a lot of fans have called her the modern day Daphne du Maurier. I love books with a Gothic feel, especially murder mysteries so I was super excited to read this one.

Goodman has written other novels that by all accounts are atmospheric and moody so I was really looking forward to this one. I also loved that it had a modern component with the #MeToo plot line. I think a lot of readers will find relevance in the plot as the #MeToo movement has been a big news headline in recent years so that was one of the things that really excited me about this book.

The only thing I was a little skeptical about was the history piece. After reading the summary it sounded like it had a lot going on—-a mystery, a #MeToo aspect, and a historical part but I wasn’t sure if it had a modern plot or not so that was a little confusing, but I was excited to see how the Gothic atmosphere was deployed in this one and ultimately that’s what drove my desire to read this one.

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Special Feature: The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Special Feature: The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

I used to consider horror as ‘not for me’ books. I was never really into scary movies and horror was just a genre that I never really considered picking up. Until I started exploring the book community a little more. Then I realized that I have actually been a fan of horror in one way or another for quite a while.

When I think of horror, I think of the classic slasher films from the 1980s—-the Halloween movies and the like. Come to find out horror can be lots of things……ghost stories, haunted houses, vampires not just slasher books or films. Well I have been reading horror for a long time if that’s the case! So when I saw this book was coming out, I got super excited!

I recognized the name Grady Hendrix who put out The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires last year and I have that one on my TBR as well. So I knew that book had received a ton of praise and this one has been all over the blogosphere and my social media platforms! My book club is going to read it this fall so I am holding off reviewing it until then but let me tell you—it’s hard to wait! I may have a review up before the fall because it just sounds so good! If you love horror and thrillers then you won’t want to miss this one!

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

Review: The Girls from the Beach by Andie Newton

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: The Girls from the Beach by Andie Newton

I have read all of Andie Newton’s books so far and not once have I been disappointed! She is an amazingly talented writer and her historical research and detail is always spot on. Plus she has a wonderful prose and creates interesting characters. So when this one came up for review there was zero question if I would read it or not!

Not only is the cover to DIE for but I loved the sound of this plot…..American nurses tasked with a secret mission go missing and infiltrate the Nazi regime. It couldn’t sound more compelling if it tried! Spies and Nazis are a hot ticket right now. There are so many books about women spies infiltrating or working against the Nazis during WWII right now but Andie Newton is at the tip of that sword for me.

I sat down to read this one and expected to read it in a couple of days—wrong, I read it in like a day. It was so great and I loved the larger narrative and characters so much but it’s the uniqueness of the story that really shines. This book isn’t due out in the US until October so my review is really early, but when it becomes available in the US you will want to snag yourself a copy because it’s a wonderful novel!

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

Review: The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski

I have read three of J’nell Ciesielski’s novels and each one has been absolutely fantastic! I love how well she writes romance as well as historical fiction and I always seem to breeze through her books because I am so captivated. When I saw this one was coming out, I knew it was going to be an easy ‘yes’ for me. I mean—take one look at that cover and tell me you would pass? No. The author as well as this cover are truly sunning!

This one is set in Russia which I thought brought some variance to the historical fiction genre. The last novel I read by Ciesielski was set in Scotland, and I was eager to see how she would describe the opulence of the Russian court as well as the streets of Paris. And you all know how much I love WWI so having this book set during a very uncertain and tumultuous time in Russian history.

So yes, I was chomping at the bit to read this one and with good reason—-this one was excellent! Ciesielski writing just keeps getting better and better. This book has been seen on a number of ‘most anticipated books’ this summer and with good reason! While it might have a cold setting, it’s the perfect book to cool off with this summer!

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Special Feature: Between Two Kings: A Sequel to The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas , Lawrence Ellsworth

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: Between Two Kings: A Sequel to The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas , Lawrence Ellsworth

The Three Musketeers is arguably Alexandre Dumas’s most popular novel. Growing up, I love the mid 90’s Chris O’Donnell (I know I know I know, cheesy) film version of the Three Musketeers and while I have not read the Dumas classic, I know he writes wonderful adventure stories for the ages. I read his other well known novel The Count of Monte Cristo which also has swashbuckling adventure so naturally I would assume that The Three Musketeers has the same.

The Count of Monte Cristo wrapped up rather nicely, but from what I understand, The Three Musketeers leaves a few optional stories untold making way for an exciting follow up novel. So what happens after The Three Musketeers ends? What becomes of some of the most beloved characters of the book you ask? Well enter Between Two Kings. Dumas wrote the serialized, Le Vicomte de Bragelonne as a follow up to The Three Musketeers and it’s first volume has now been translated by Lawrence Ellsworth!

I am so excited to bring you guys all the details of this newly translated novel today! If you love classic adventure stories or want to know what happened to the young d’Artagnan after the events of The Three Musketeers then this book will help fill in some of those gaps. This new translation is out now and I have all the details for you below!

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