Books, Reading

Special Feature: The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak

Like many of you, I am always on the look out for new books that come highly recommended by others. Not only do I check in with my favorite book bloggers and reviews for recommendations, but I also consult some of the big celebrity names that are tried and true readers like Reece Witherspoon, Opera, Barak Obama, and now The Duchess of Cornwall.

The Duchess of Cornwall recently released her Reading Room that will explore some of her favorite reads and feature conversations with the authors. She recently released the first four books last week and one in particular caught my eye, The Architect’s Apprentice by Erika Shafak. Some of the other books featured on her list were no brainers like Where the Crawdads Sing and The Mirror and The Light, but The Architect’s Apprentice had more of an exotic and unexpected feel for me which is why I zeroed in on it!

This novel has received tons of praise and has been nominated for some awards. It is a love story with a mystery set in an exotic location in the 1500s. If that doesn’t catch your eye then maybe a description of the characters will entice you…..an animal tamer falls in love with the sultans daughter set within the court and palace walls of the Ottoman empire. It sounds fantastic and I hope you check this one out. I know I plan on reading this one soon!

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

Review: When He Was Wicked (Bridgertons #6) by Julia Quinn

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: When He Was Wicked (Bridgertons #6) by Julia Quinn

The sixth book in the Bridgerton series was probably the one I was least looking forward to. There is next to any info about Francesca’s character in all the other books. To be honest, I practically forgot about her on a regular basis. I was constantly reminding myself that ‘oh ya there is another Bridgerton sibling before Gregory and Hyacinth’.

The minimal references to Francesca’s story left me with a lot more questions than answers. For example, there were references about her being a widow really young and that the love of her life died etc. Which made me constantly think ‘wow that sounds depressing’. So when I finally got to Francesca’s story I was fully expecting it to be the book that I had to ‘get through’ before moving on to the rest of the charming Bridgerton siblings.

However, Julia Quinn is a stunning writer and I fully trust her ability to write believable romances that will win me over in spite of myself even if I don’t LOVE the story, I know that I will at least enjoy it. When I started this one, it was very clear this was going to be different than some of the other ones in the series, but by the end it emerged as my favorite in the entire series.

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Books, Reading

Special Feature: If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier

Who here loves true crime podcasts? I for one do! My love of true crime started early. My grandma loved the TV show Unsolved Mysteries so I grew up on a steady diet of Unsolved Mysteries and 20/20. I was sure I was going to get abducted and murdered at every turn only to make national news…..all from the tender age of nine. I had a very active imagination.

Needless to say my love of true crime hasn’t diminished in the least! I still watch way way way too much ID Discovery and listen to too many true crime podcasts! And don’t get me started on the books and fictional true crime style novels that are on my TBR! One of my favorite shows on ID Discovery is Disappeared. I am absolutely fascinated by that show, to me disappearances are more chilling than an actual murder or dead body. It’s the unknown.

When I saw this book was coming out I actually squealed! A disappearance, true crime, AND a podcast host? Yes yes and yes! Today I am sharing a little about this book because it sounds absolutely delectable. I love the cover and the sound of it, so much that I am taking it to my book club (a murder mystery book club) to see if they want to read this one for our February pick! But until then, if you love true crime podcasts and thrillers, you might want to take a look at this one!

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

Review: Georgana’s Secret by Arlem Hawks

by The Lit Bitch

I have had really good luck with Shadow Mountain Press’s romances. They are proper and sweet and I have enjoyed almost every single one that I have read. So whenever I see a new one up for review, I usually grab at it because they are always well written and enjoyable. This one sounded really interesting, as a girl hiding in plain sight on a ship disguised as a boy who ends up falling in love with one of the officers.

This particular publisher is kind of off the beaten path, it’s obviously not a huge powerhouse of romance novels like Harlequin or Thomas Nelson which is known for its sweet or proper romances, but the romances I have read from Shadow Mountain have always been believable and full of chemistry. I am happy to report that this book lived up to those expectations I had of this publishing house.

While I did love this romance there were times when I was shocked that some of the characters didn’t leap to other conclusions about George and Dominic. There was much of the story where I was thinking to myself……so if everyone thinks George is a boy, why aren’t they thinking that Dominic and George aren’t lovers. It was difficult to imagine that no one thought that from the get go, but in the end this was a mild thing for me. If you like historical romances that are more proper in nature you need to check out some of their titles!

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Books, Reading

Special Feature and Excerpt: The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature and Excerpt: The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat

A couple of years ago when The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society came out on Netflix, I was fascinated by the premise. I did not read the book before the show came out, but I did after and I loved the book just as much as I loved the film. Besides the romance, what intrigued me was the setting.

I knew essentially nothing about the Channel Islands and the occupation during WWII so but it was interesting and new, since then I have been trying to find a book that would be similar and set in the Channel Islands during the same period which is why I am so excited for this upcoming book!

This book has a lot to recommend itself especially to fans of historical fiction. Romance, war, unique unexplored history, and of course intrigue. I am so thrilled to be sharing an excerpt with you all today so if you aren’t sold on this book from the description alone, then you should check out the excerpt and then decide if it’s for you—I’m willing to wager if you love historical fiction like me, then it’s probably going to be hitting your TBR as soon as you read the excerpt!

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