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

Review: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James

I can’t even begin to tell you how much of a fan I am of Simone St James! I have read every single one of her books and she is absolutely an auto buy author for me. I had her latest novel pre ordered for MONTHS in advance. I am just a massive fan girl. Her books (especially the more recent ones) are the perfect mix of murder, ghosts, horror, and gothic. I can’t say enough good things about her books just read them if you haven’t already! Especially the newest books like The Broken Girls and The Sun Down Motel.

I didn’t think a book could top The Broken Girls and then along came The Sun Down Motel. I loved them both for different reasons and then this book came along! Besides being a massive St James fan girl, the thing that drew me to this book was the setting! This book is set in Oregon and there is something about the Pac NW that really works for murder books!

Since I live in Oregon (which has been home to its fair share of serial killers) I was eager to see my state come alive under St James’s pen. Clear Lake Oregon (which is where the book is set) is both a fictional place and a real place if that makes sense. There isn’t a coastal town, or any town for that matter that is called Clear Lake as it is in the book, but there is an actual mountain lake called Clear Lake (which is stunning by the way and a must see if you travel to Oregon!). But even if it’s a fictional town, the accuracy and the haunting feel of the Pac NW was captured perfectly in this one and added so much to the atmosphere!

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Books, Reading

Special Feature: You Grow, Gurl: A Lush Guide to Plant Parenthood by Christopher Griffin

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: You Grow, Gurl: A Lush Guide to Plant Parenthood by Christopher Griffin

Growing up, my parents owned a feed and seed store along with a nursery. Both of my parents and grandparents loved yard work and gardening. As a result, naturally I grew up hating gardening. I love how pretty flowers are and in the last few years I have grown a veggie garden from seed with my son. I have grown to enjoy gardening to some degree or another but I have yet to master the art of house plants.

I literally murder every single house plant I have ever owned including cactus! However I am envious of those that are successful at house plants. In recent years there have been three new house plant speciality boutiques open here in my hometown! And my hometown is NOT a mecca like LA or NYC. But houseplants seem to be a pretty big deal right now. I have also seen a few articles about how house plants are big for people with anxiety or just looking for self care. There has never been a time when self care has become so important as during this pandemic. So when I saw this book come up for review I was intrigued.

Not only does the author tick all the boxes for me when it comes to fun and memorable, but the book itself sounds so interesting and user friendly. This is normally not the sort of book I would review or feature since I read mostly fiction books like murder and romance. I don’t normally feature a lot of non-fiction books but this one just stood out above all the others. If you are looking to up your houseplant game and are looking for a fresh voice who will get you excited and eager to grab some houseplants for yourself, then look no further than Christopher Griffin the PLANT KWEEN!

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

Review: Under Lock and Skeleton Key (Secret Staircase Mysteries #1) by Gigi Pandian

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Under Lock and Skeleton Key (Secret Staircase Mysteries #1) by Gigi Pandian

I am usually up for a new cozy mystery series. I always find cozy mysteries relaxing and satisfying, they typically have charming main characters and mysteries that aren’t overly complicated or too dark so they make for nice relaxing reading for me. When I saw this one come across my desk for review I was super excited because it was a new book in a mystery series, and it had a bit of a Gothic twist.

Not to mention it boasted a classic locked room mystery—-so think Murder on the Orient Express or And Then There Were None. Mysteries that on the surface appear simple and at the same time impossible but then quickly start to become more complicated as the story goes on. I love classic mysteries like this. They feel familiar and comforting so I was eager to get my hands on this one.

The thing that stood out when this one came across my desk beyond the classic style mystery was that the author was taking a classic and making it her own by adding an Indian culture element and making secret bookcase hideaways for adults—-can I just say I need one of these—and a little bit of magic. This one was a surprise and even if it was a bit repetitive it was a great start to a new series and I really enjoyed reading it!

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Special Feature: The League of Gentlewomen Witches (Dangerous Damsels #2) by India Holton

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature: The League of Gentlewomen Witches (Dangerous Damsels #2) by India Holton

Say hello to the most odd ball mashup to hit bookshelves, the Dangerous Damsel’s series! I read the first book in this series last year and it was such a random mashup of things but it was the oddest mashup that I never knew I needed! There was a lot to enjoy in the first book of this series even if I was admittedly lost in the story and genre as it were. The combo of pirates, magic, romance, and tea was alluring so I found myself really excited to read the next installment of this series.

While I couldn’t fit this one into my early spring review schedule, that doesn’t mean that I won’t be reading it a little later this year! I am so excited for this latest installment that features witches and of course—more pirates! I am so thrilled to bring you guys a little bit about this book! I know that it sounds like a weird combo but I swear it works! I love the whimsey and wit in the first book and am sure the second book will feature much of the same!

I adored the romance in the first book as well and I am sure that Alex and Charlotte will burn through the pages with chemistry. I have been reading some of the early reviews and it sounds like this book is going to be even better than the original. If you haven’t read the first book it sounds like that’s ok, meaning you can dive right in with this one without having to go back and read the first one. I am so excited to share my review once I am done with this one, but in the mean time make sure to check it out!

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Books, Literary Criticism

Special Feature/Excerpt: The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature/Excerpt: The Tsarina’s Daughter by Ellen Alpsten

In light of recent world events, there are a lot of eyes on Eastern Europe and Russian right now. As a huge fan of historical fiction I love exploring new cultures and new parts of history and Eastern Europe and Russian history have caught my eye over and over again in recent years but especially now. I want to know more and more about this area of the world and what their history is like. So many historical fiction novels are set in different Western settings like England, France, or the USA. All of these regions and history are more of less familiar to the average historical fiction reader but when it comes to Eastern European history I think historical fiction readers will feel less familiar.

The time period I am most familiar with when it comes to Russian or European history is the Great War, but even that I am woefully limited. This is why. this book really appealed to me, the time period is late 1700s which I know basically nothing about. I am so excited to read more about this time period in a country where my knowledge is limited. I think fans of historical fiction will also enjoy this interesting time period that is full of intrigue and maybe even a little romance!

This cover is absolutely stunning and the author Ellen Alpsten has also written another piece of historical fiction set in Russia during a similar time period so clearly she has a love for 1700s Russia and I think readers will enjoy something new and interesting. I have a lovely excerpt here for you guys to check out so take a look and let me know what you think!

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