Review: Ladies of the House by Lauren Edmondson

Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorite Jane Austen novels! Whenever I see Austen re-tellings with a modern flair…..I try to be wary. Some are great but others miss the mark and but yet no matter how great or awful the re-tellings are, I still can’t resist them in any form! When I saw that Lauren Edmondson was writing a modern re-telling of Sense and Sensibility, for good or for bad, I was so excited to read it!

But I went into it knowing that nothing will ever live up to the original Sense and Sensibility—nor should it! Austen had her own unique voice and I expected Edmondson to have her own voice as well, but what I did hope was that Edmondson did justice to the Dashwood sisters and the spirit of the original novel.

It’s hard to do a good retelling which is why I have been wary but try and I might, I just can’t resist reading another and another and another to see how well or how poorly it was executed. This one however I think did a nice job at recreating the Dashwood sisters as modern women. While not with out some flaws, the story overall was fun, modern, and a cheeky nod to Sense and Sensibility!

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Re-Share Review: Horror Stories by Liz Phair

If you have followed my blog for any length of time you will notice that one genre is particularly lacking and that’s memoirs! I don’t read lot of memoirs/autobiographies/biographies/non-fiction but occasionally one of two pop up on my radar, such as this one!

I read this book in Oct 2019 and really enjoyed it! Liz Phair is the soundtrack of my teenage years so reading her book was such a treat for me and I loved giving into her world and life for a few days of reading! Now her book, Horror Stories, is out in paperback and I thought it would be fun to re-share my original review with you guys!

Liz Phair is such a talented musician and I was thrilled to see that her talents didn’t just stop at music, but crossed over into writing. If you are a fan of her music or simply candid takes on important issues, I think you will really enjoy her story! It’s out in paper back now so be sure to snag yourself a copy!

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Special Feature: A Fatal Lie (Inspector Ian Rutledge #23) by Charles Todd

If you haven’t heard of Charles Todd then you have probably been living under a rock for quite some time. Charles Todd is the pen name for the impressive mother/son writers responsible for the Bess Crawford and Ian Rutledge mystery series! There are 12 books currently in the Bess Crawford series and A Fatal Lie is the 23rd in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series!

While I have heard of Charles Todd, I have not read any of the books in either series. It’s one of those things where there are so many books in both of these beloved series that the thought of going back and reading so many books to get caught up in the series seems daunting. Though I suppose an argument could be made that when series are this established they often focus on the mystery. But still I when possible I like getting the full series experience.

I know that Charles Todd is a favorite among many historical mystery fans and today I am featuring this latest novel in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series and I have to admit, I am so interested in this one. I love the setting (a Welsh village) and it sounds like a good old fashion detective novel so check it out, it’s out now!

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Special Feature: Rhapsody by Mitchell James Kaplan

One evening in 1924, Katharine “Kay” Swift—the restless but loyal society wife of wealthy banker James Warburg and a serious pianist who longs for recognition—attends a concert. The piece: Rhapsody in Blue. The composer: a brilliant, elusive young musical genius named George Gershwin.

Kay is transfixed, helpless to resist the magnetic pull of George’s talent, charm, and swagger. Their ten-year love affair, complicated by her conflicted loyalty to her husband and the twists and turns of her own musical career, ends only with George’s death from a brain tumor at the age of thirty-eight.

Set in Jazz Age New York City, this stunning work of fiction, for fans of The Paris Wife and Loving Frank, explores the timeless bond between two brilliant, strong-willed artists. George Gershwin left behind not just a body of work unmatched in popular musical history, but a woman who loved him with all her heart, knowing all the while that he belonged not to her, but to the world.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound

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Review: Fatal Fried Rice (A Noodle Shop Mystery #7) by Vivien Chien

I first discovered this series because I was hungry. I was on my lunch break scrolling through Netgalley and saw the first book and was like lured in by the noodle ox on the cover and I have never been so glad to be hungry in all my life! I found such a fun series because I was hungry!

This has been such a fun little series to read and I am so happy to see that we are on the seventh book in the series! I am so happy people have loved it as much as I have. Lana Lee is a great amateur detective who has funky hair, a love for donuts, and doesn’t shy away from a murder or two. She sounds like someone I would totally hang out with which is one of the reasons I have enjoyed this series so much.

These are quick reads that I almost always finish within a day or two. They make for great beach reads or a great pick you grab at the airport between flights. I always feel satisfied after reading one of these books, not to mention hungry for Chinese food!

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