Books, Reading

Special Feature/Excerpt: Finding Jane Fairfax by Robbin J Peterson

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature/Excerpt: Finding Jane Fairfax by Robbin J Peterson

If you have been around my blog for a while, you will know that I am a big Jane Austen fan. I love reading books that are ‘Austen Spin-offs’ if you will. Not necessarily retellings, but books that take characters from her beloved books and give them either an entirely new story or in some cases an actual story. In this case, Jane Fairfax is a character we meet in Emma and she’s mostly a blip in the larger story and the audience rarely thinks of her again. However, author Robbin Peterson gives us something to think about when it comes to Jane Fairfax in her latest book!

I haven’t read anything from this author before, but I was excited to see how she would portray Jane Fairfax and after reading the excerpt I have here to share today, I admit I am intrigued to see how this book shapes up. In the classic Emma, Frank Churchill is sort of this villain of the story where he leads on our beloved Emma but then dumps her in favor of Jane Fairfax so I am curious to see how Frank goes from being the villain to now the hero and love interest in this retelling!

I am bummed I couldn’t find room in my calendar for this particular book to review but I am super excited to be sharing an excerpt with you all today! If you are a Jane Austen fan, then I think you will enjoy this novel! You do not have to read all of Austen’s books or even Emma to enjoy a book like this. There is still plenty for readers to enjoy who have never read the original. In my experience I feel like authors do a good job giving a nod to classic novels and their characters while also being approachable for new readers or readers who have no interest in classics and based on the excerpt I feel like new readers will be totally fine exploring Austen characters without having to read the original text!

Continue reading “Special Feature/Excerpt: Finding Jane Fairfax by Robbin J Peterson” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke

I randomly watched a show on National Geographic about Sir John Franklin’s lost Arctic expedition days before I was pitched this book. I was fascinated by the lost expedition and when this book made it onto my desk for review immediately following the show, I was super intrigued and couldn’t WAIT to read this one! I was so excited to read a new ghost story and one that featured shipwrecks, questions, and a rugged landscape that takes on a life of its own within the story.

I have really been on an Arctic kick lately, the Franklin expedition show was just the start, I got hooked on more series featuring Arctic climbing in Greenland and other extreme mountain sports shows on National Geographic. From the time I was a kid, I have been fascinated by Iceland and Greenland, these locations hold a certain amount of mystery simply for their remote locations and I am so here for it—it appeals to the adventurer in me! There aren’t many books that feature this kind of unfamiliar setting so when I saw this one I jumped to review it and the location did not disappoint!

This book is definitely more of a horror book than historical fiction, though there are elements of historical fiction and the Gothic but I felt like it was more horror in nature but because it included elements from other genres, I think it will appeal to more readers but just know when you pick this one up you are picking up more of a ghost story/horror novel than historical fiction! Side note, this book did make me go down a complete rabbit hole about whaling and Arctic exploration which both were fascinating to research!

Continue reading “Review: A Haunting in the Arctic by C.J. Cooke” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Murder in Masquerade (A Lady of Letters #2) by Mary Winters

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Murder in Masquerade (A Lady of Letters #2) by Mary Winters

I absolutely adored the first book in this series! I loved the idea of an advice column as a catalyst for a murder investigation (which is how the first book starts!) and while I didn’t think I would like reading the advice columns at the beginning of each chapter—it grew on my and now I love it! A cozy mystery with some romance was just what I needed going into the long winter months. I started this book in early January and was done with it in a matter of days and naturally I am anxious for the next book in the series to come out and sadly I am going to have to wait another year I bet!

I know the reading market is somewhat saturated with historical cozy mysteries/romances, but for me this one stood out for the advice column as a way to get readers ‘in the door’ as it were—it had a little overtones of Bridgerton with the advice column—but readers will stay for the charming characters and mystery! That’s how this series got me, I liked the idea of the story, but fell in love with Amelia and Simon and now I have a new favorite series on my list!

While this is only the second book in this series, I hope that it will be a long running one! This one can be read as a standalone, but there are some elements that readers won’t fully appreciate unless they read it in order. Since this is only book two you obviously don’t have to go back and read a ton of books. So if you are new to the series, sure read this one but also go back and read the first book. You wont’ regret it!

Continue reading “Review: Murder in Masquerade (A Lady of Letters #2) by Mary Winters” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: A Smoking Bun (A Bakeshop Mystery #18) by Ellie Alexander

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: A Smoking Bun (A Bakeshop Mystery #18) by Ellie Alexander

Ellie Alexander is such a solid choice when it comes to cozy mysteries! I have really enjoyed many of her cozy mystery books and while they are not historical cozies, I love all the food and charm of Ashland Oregon in the Bakeshop Mysteries! Not to mention I know Ashland well and I love how Alexander brings the town to life! That is one of the reasons I always come back to her books…..she writes with such authenticity of the region and being an Oregonian myself, I love seeing our state highlighted to such perfection!

The Bakeshop Mysteries has been a series that I have jumped around in over the years. I mean at this point there are 18 books and I started in about book 8 and since then continue to jump around as my schedule allows. The books overall are great and while I am sure I am not getting the full experience by jumping around (I mean come on we are on 18 books there has to be nuances that I am missing!) but I always manage to feel orientated within the book and not completely lost.

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, no doubt Ellie Alexander is on your radar! If for no other reason than the charming book titles, cute covers and amazing food descriptions! Come for the food and stay for the mystery is kind of what I think of when I think of Ellie Alexander!

Continue reading “Review: A Smoking Bun (A Bakeshop Mystery #18) by Ellie Alexander” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Chasing the Horizon (A Western Light #1) by Mary Connealy

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Chasing the Horizon (A Western Light #1) by Mary Connealy

A few years ago I read a book completely out of my typical historical fiction time period, Where the Lost Wander. I absolutely LOVED this book for so many reasons and I have since been looking for ‘the right’ book to read next that might fit within that time period. There aren’t a lot of popular historical fiction books set in the American West that draw me in. Don’t get me wrong I love the American West from a historical standpoint and I grew up watching all the cowboy TV shows (Dr Quinn and Young Riders I am looking at you!) but it’s typically not a genre of book that I go in search of.

When this book came across my desk I was so excited because it features a love story, an adventure, and the Oregon Trail as a backdrop! I live in Oregon and growing up The Oregon Trail video game was super popular and I was always so proud to share my state history with friends. But the Oregon Trail from a historical standpoint doesn’t really lend itself to a backdrop for romances in books. But after reading Where the Lost Wander I had hope that other books would come from its popularity that would include romance and adventure in the same way that that book did.

That was why I was onboard with reading this book! I loved the mix which was promised in the summary, plus I know Bethany House Publishing consistently has solid historical romances that aren’t bodice rippers etc. I was looking for something with a little more substance that would transport me to a different time in a rugged location with interesting characters and great storytelling and I got just that.

Continue reading “Review: Chasing the Horizon (A Western Light #1) by Mary Connealy” →