The Book Of Witching: A Novel by C.J. Cooke

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A mother must fight for her daughter’s life in this fierce and haunting tale of witchcraft and revenge from the author of A Haunting in the Arctic.

Clem gets a call that is every mother’s worst nightmare. Her nineteen-year-old daughter Erin is unconscious in the hospital after a hiking trip with her friends on the remote Orkney Islands that met a horrifying end, leaving her boyfriend dead and her best friend missing. When Erin wakes, she doesn’t recognize her mother. And she doesn’t answer to her name, but insists she is someone named Nyx.

Clem travels the site of her daughter’s accident, determined to find out what happened to her. The answer may lie in a dark secret in the history of the Orkneys: a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder four centuries ago. Clem begins to wonder if Erin’s strange behavior is a symptom of a broken mind, or the effects of an ancient curse?

my thoughts:

Wow! Wow! Wow! What a freaking fantastic story! I loved C. J. Cooke's latest novel, The Book of Witching. We get past histories affecting the present day in HUGE and horrifying ways, witches, Scotland, family drama, and so much deliciousness, that you won't be able to put this book down for anything! I absolutely LOVED The Book of Witching to bits! 

Erin was on a hiking trip and now she's in hospital with burns and doesn't know her own mother. Her boyfriend is dead and her best friend is missing. Oh, and her name is not Erin, it's Nyx. Say what?! Yep, talk about a trip gone wrong. Clem, Erin's mom, is beside herself. She's horrified at her daughter's condition and what transpired on the hiking trip, except, what really happened? That is the mystery, because now the cops are wondering if Erin killed her boyfriend and hurt her best friend. And if so, why? Looks like Clem will have to figure out the truth if she wants to save her daughter, and fast. Yikes! 

Cooke has created a terrific tale chock full of mystery and intrigue that will have you reading late into the night. You won't want to miss out! Make sure to grab a copy of The Book Of Witching ASAP!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Summer Reunion by Leah Mercer

(Thank you to Bookouture Publishingf or providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Six friends on holiday. A secret worth dying for.

In a gorgeous French stone villa, a group of friends reunite for a weekend of reminiscing and laughter. But as glasses of wine are poured, they find they aren’t alone. 

Standing at the door is a man the friends thought they’d never see again. With a ferocious storm raging and roads closed, they have no choice but to let him in. Instantly the dream weekend takes a dark turn.

Because someone invited him here.

Because someone has been living a lie.

And someone wants revenge.

But when the truth is revealed, will anyone make it out alive?

A totally addictive psychological suspense thriller that fans of Lucy Foley, Adele Parks and Sally Hepworth will absolutely love.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this book! It was such a fun and thrilling story! I found myself hooked right from the start. Leah Mercer's novel, The Summer Reunion was chock full of drama, dysfunctional relationships, shocking secrets, and unbearable truths. What a humdinger of a book!

Okay, so what's this exciting story about? Well, it's about old college friends vacationing together. Except, this group of six aren't exactly besties. Plus, they all have one too many secrets they are keeping - all of which could make or break their lives. Oh, plus, their kids are also joining in on the trip - so, that adds another layer of familial tension. And, did I mention there is a thunderous and rainy storm brewing and everyone in town has been warned to stay indoors? Yep, the whole weekend is a recipe for disaster. And, I loved reading all about it!

I'm not going to share what happened, because it is too damn good to miss out on. You have to read it for yourself. Plus, there are so many people and storylines to parse through - I wouldn't want to ruin any of it for you. The fun was in keeping up with what was happening to who and when - it was all thrilling to read about. The Summer Reunion by Leah Mercer is a definite must-read! Make sure to grab a copy and dive right in  - you are going to LOVE it!

Thank you to Bookouture Publishing for providing me with a book!

Talking To Strangers by Fiona Barton

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (from Goodreads)

Detective Elise King’s investigation into a woman’s murder is getting derailed by a reporter who insists on doing her own investigation in this nail-biting mystery from the author of Local Gone Missing.

When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online. Karen was all over the dating apps, leading some townspeople to blame her for her own death, while others band together to protest society’s violence against women. Into the divide comes Kiki Nunn, whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise.

A single mother of a young daughter, Kiki is struggling to make a living in the diminished news landscape. Getting a scoop in the Simmons murder would do a lot for her career, and she’s willing to go up against not just Elise but the killer himself to do it.

my thoughts:

Mystery thrillers are my new go-to when it comes to picking up a fun new read. I just love all the twists and turns, along with trying to figure out whodunit. Plus, the characters are always a bit sketchy and untrustworthy, which makes them even more fun to read about. Oh, and the murder mystery is always chock full of drama, suspense, and a bit of dark humor. So, I was really excited to get my hands on a copy of Fiona Barton's latest book, Talking To Strangers, her second in the Elise King series. It was such a great read! I found myself captivated right from the start and wound up reading late into the night, because I had to figure out what would happen next. And, I really enjoyed how Barton focused on three specific points of view to tell this story, which is more police procedural than action packed thriller. I felt like I was able to get to know these characters really well, which made me more invested in their stories and connections. I just really loved this book. Definitely makes me want to read more Barton. 

I would happily recommend Talking To Strangers and Fiona Barton's works to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will fall in love with Barton's writing. Make sure to grab a copy ASAP!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

An Irish Bookshop Murder: A Mercy McCarthy Mystery Book 1 by Lucy Connelly

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

An utterly gripping cozy crime murder mystery

Meet Ireland’s newest daring she’s a bookstore owner, a coffee lover, and a crime writer. Now Mercy McCarthy needs a little Irish luck as she takes on her first case! 

After receiving unexpected inheritance from her grandfather, Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie are now the proud owners of a charming antique bookshop in the tiny Irish village of Shamrock Cove. But before they can take in the beautiful view of the sea, one of their neighbors drops dead! 

Mercy finds the Judge, a well-respected man who lives next door, dying on his own doorstep. She rushes to help, but with his final words, he accuses Mercy of murder! Most of their new neighbors hear his words and, with suspicion pointing at Mercy, she decides to investigate the case to clear her name.

Searching amongst the Judge’s old books, Mercy uncovers letters proving several of the townsfolk had reason to dislike the judge—but was it the local pub landlord, the kindly cook or neighborly knitter who killed him? 

Then Mercy’s chief suspect turns up dead and she receives a threatening note, typed on paper from her own bookstore… Ireland was supposed to be a fresh start for Mercy and Lizzie, but dead bodies keep turning up.

Does Mercy have what it takes to nail the culprit or will the killer close the book on her time in this charming Irish village?

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved the first book, An Irish Bookshop Murder, in the new series, A Mercy McCarthy Mystery Book by Lucy Connelly. It reminded me of a Hallmark Mystery movie, which I LOVED - those are some of my favorites! This book was a cozy mystery through and through, which is my favorite genre lately. We have twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie - Mercy writes mystery novels and Lizzie runs a lavender ranch. Both have just had their lives upended. So, upon inheriting a cottage and antique bookshop from their grandfather, the sisters find themselves eager for a fresh start. Relocating to Shamrock Cove, Ireland is just the ticket. They soon find themselves in a beautiful new place being welcomed by their grandfather's friends and neighbors. Life is looking up for both sisters until the Judge, their ornery neighbor dies on his front porch. Unfortunately, right before he dies he accuses Mercy of murder. Say what? Yep, Mercy is now involved in quite the conundrum. Being a mystery writer, she is determined to solve the Judge's murder and his suspicions of her. The only question is, will she be able to clear her name and figure out who is the murder before her and Lizzie get hurt, or worse? Yikes! And, woo hoo! This book was such a treat to read! I really enjoyed getting to know Mercy and Lizzie, along with their new neighbors and friends. Plus, trying to figure out whodunnit was such a fun puzzle. Connelly has created a terrific new series that I can't wait to read more of. 

I would happily recommend An Irish Bookshop Murder to anyone and everyone looking for a new cozy mystery to fall in love with - you are going to devour this first book with gusto! It is perfect for the upcoming fall season - snuggled up with a cuppa and this book, you won't want for anything else. Well, maybe a sweet treat. Seriously though, you are going to really enjoy Connelly's writing, characters, and mystery - they all come together to make an amazing story that you won't be able to put down until you turn that last page.  Make sure to check out An Irish Bookshop Murder ASAP! I know I can't wait to get my hands on book 2. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Cemetery Of Untold Stories: A Novel by Julia Alvarez

(Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Literary icon Julia Alvarez returns with an inventive and emotional novel about storytelling itself that will be an instant classic.
 
Alma Cruz, the celebrated writer at the heart of The Cemetery of Untold Stories , doesn’t want to end up like her friend, a novelist who fought so long and hard to finish a book that it threatened her sanity. So when Alma inherits a small plot of land in the Dominican Republic, her homeland, she has the beautiful idea of turning it into a place to bury her untold stories—literally. She creates a graveyard for the manuscript drafts and revisions, and the characters whose lives she tried and failed to bring to life and who still haunt her.
 
Alma wants her characters to rest in peace. But they have other ideas, and the cemetery becomes a mysterious sanctuary for their true narratives. Filomena, a local woman hired as the groundskeeper, becomes a sympathetic listener as Alma’s characters unspool their secret tales. Among them: Bienvenida, the abandoned second wife of dictator Rafael Trujillo, consigned to oblivion by history, and Manuel Cruz, a doctor who fought in the Dominican underground and escaped to the United States.
 
The characters defy their author: they talk back to her and talk to one another behind her back, rewriting and revising themselves. The Cemetery of Untold Stories asks: Whose stories get to be told, and whose buried? Finally, Alma finds the meaning she and her characters yearn for in the everlasting vitality of stories.
 
Readers of Isabel Allende’s Violeta and Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead will devour Alvarez’s extraordinary new novel about beauty and authenticity that reminds us the stories of our lives are never truly finished, even at the end.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this story! The Cemetery Of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez is a delight to read. A book about books sprinkled with magical realism always makes for a rich and imaginative story. And, this one was the perfect mix of history, magic, and inventive storytelling. Such a treat!

Alma is a writer who decides to create a cemetery for her untold stories. Except, the characters in her stories want their stories to be told. And, that is all I will share about this terrific book. Believe me, you are going to want to read it for yourself to experience the magic of Alvarez' storytelling prowess. You are going to love getting to know Alma and her characters. Plus, you'll enjoy Alvarez' writing - lyrical and emotional. The Cemetery Of Untold Stories is a must-read! Make sure to check it out! 

Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

You Know What You Did: A Novel by K. T. Nguyen

(Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

WOW! K. T. Nguyen's novel, You Know What You Did is freaking fantastic! I mean it. This book is unputdownable. I found myself reading late into the night to find out what would happen next. I just had to find out. I was hooked right from the start and enjoyed every second I spent with this story. It was just so damn good. I would happily recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this one! 

So, what is the book about? (summary from Goodreads)

In this heart-pounding debut thriller for fans of Lisa Jewell and Celeste Ng, a first-generation Vietnamese American artist must confront nightmares past and present…
 
Annie “Anh Le” Shaw grew up poor but seems to have it all now: a dream career, a stunning home, and a devoted husband and daughter. When Annie’s mother, a Vietnam War refugee, dies suddenly one night, Annie’s carefully curated life begins to unravel. Her obsessive-compulsive disorder, which she thought she’d vanquished years ago, comes roaring back—but this time, the disturbing fixations swirling around in Annie’s brain might actually be coming true.

A prominent art patron disappears, and the investigation zeroes in on Annie. Spiraling with self-doubt, she distances herself from her family and friends, only to wake up in a hotel room—naked, next to a lifeless body. The police have more questions, but with her mind increasingly fractured, Annie doesn’t have answers. All she knows is this: She will do anything to protect her daughter—even if it means losing herself.

With dizzying twists, You Know What You Did is both a harrowing thriller and a heartfelt exploration of the refugee experience, the legacies we leave for our children, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters.

How awesome does that sound? We are talking about mystery, thrills, and a bit of horror all rolled into one well written novel. What more could you want? Unforgettable characters enduring mental health issues, along with generational traumas needing to be unpacked - I mean, seriously! This book explores so many relevant topics and does so in such a unique and smart way that you can't help but fall in deep. You Know What You Did is a definite must-read!Make sure to check it out!

Should've DNFed it...

(Thank you Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Preston is back with another pulse-pounding, twisty read!

I triple dog dare you . . .

As senior year comes to an end, senior pranks are just beginning. It all starts innocently enough. Marley and her friends—Atlas, Lucia, and Jesse—egg houses, set chickens free on the quad, and fill the principal’s office with glitter-filled balloons.

But when Jesse accepts a dare to drive danger alley, a ten-mile stretch of winding road that’s notorious for car wrecks, with no headlights, things take a turn for the worst.

Now, the four friends are bound by a tragic accident—and a dark secret that threatens their bright futures.

my thoughts:

I really wanted to LOVE this book, because it sounded like a fun read. So, I dove right in and I wound up skim reading it and wishing I had just DNFed it. I found the story to be flat and the characters to be very unlikeable. This whole idea of 'dares' being forced upon the graduating senior class was ridiculous. How can one student make you do anything? And why would he care if you joined in on the 'dares'? It was just too over the top. Especially since the consequences of not performing the 'dares' could result in you being forced out of town or expelled from your future college. How insane is that?! Anyhow, I read and figured some things out pretty quickly, but mainly I just skim read. I didn't like the characters enough to care what happened to them all. And, when all was revealed I was not shocked, nor did I think the twists were that great. Overall, it was a rather ho hum read.  And, that is all I will write about this book.  I will share that it does have great reviews, so you could very well love it. Definitely give it a go, if you are in the mood for a YA suspense-mystery read.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Viking Pirate by Kevin C. Smith

(Thank you to the Swell Media and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

"Mutiny on the Bounty meets Pirates of the Caribbean with an Oliver Twist” — Hollywood Reporter

Raise the Jolly Roger!

A new maniacal fiend has emerged to cast the entire Caribbean into utmost panic and utter dread. This vile villain is Sig the Merciless, the Viking Pirate. Far more indestructible than mortal, this cannibalistic rogue has spread his notorious depredations far and wide. Given no choice other than a face-to-face confrontation with this vicious barbaric brute, only one brave and intrepid soul has the tenacity and mettle to clash with this demented psychopath — the gallant and heroic Captain William Bilge.

Welcome to the Golden Age of Piracy! This exceedingly brief but profoundly memorable timespan in maritime history spawned copious well-known reprobates such as Blackbeard, Calico Jack and Black Bart to name but a few.

These swashbuckling plunderers and their pirate ships have been portrayed in both literature and films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, as noble and gallant adventurers and paladins. This honorable and virtuous representation could not be further from the truth.

Pirates were notorious criminals and despicable cowards preying on the weak and helpless as they perpetuated countless acts of savagery and barbarity.

Bilge Rat, Pirate Adventurer is an intriguing and action-packed series featuring a realistic chronicle of real-life pirates’ adventures, lifestyles and behavior.

Captain Bilge now faces yet another set of life-threatening challenges. Our hero must eradicate this indomitable flesh-eating fiend, Sig the Merciless. To accomplish this formidable and perilous task, he will need to rely on his loyal crew, his trusty pirate ship, and his oft-proven cunning along with every trick from his well-honed arsenal in order to claim victory.

Chocked full of captivating and jaunty sailor’s yarns and enthralling adventures, this unique and imaginative series is a must-read for every pirate aficionado!

my thoughts:

Pirates, Captains, and Heroes, oh my! I love a great adventure story - they are always fun to read and chock full of action, drama, and unexpected surprises. Viking Pirate by Kevin C. Smith is no exception - this story is such an exciting treat to read. The words, "Ahoy, matey!" and "Swashbuckling pirates" kept running through my head as I read the book. I really enjoyed getting caught up in Captain Bilge's battle with the Viking Pirate - it was crazy and wild, exactly what you would expect in a pirate adventure, or should I call it misadventure. After all, the Viking Pirate is a cannibal - how savage and psychotic is that?! And, Captain Bilge must figure out a way to beat this rogue monster and keep his ship running. Talk about a seaworthy read!

Make sure to check out this cool series about pirates, sailors and captains - you will have so much fun getting caught up in their adventures. I know that I did. Viking Pirate was such a fun read!

 

Thank you to Swell Media and NetGalley for my copy of this book!

Bones Under The Ice: A Jhonni Laurent Mystery by Mary Ann Miller

(Thank you to the Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Jhonni Laurent is the first female sheriff of Field's Crossing, Indiana—and now she has her first murder case

Two days after a blizzard hits Field's Crossing, Indiana, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers the frozen body of a high school senior under a fifteen-foot pile of snow and ice. Murder is rare in farm country, and this death marks the beginning of Jhonni's first homicide case.

Just as the investigation gets underway, Jhonni's opponent for sheriff from four years prior wages a bitter reelection battle to oust her. Then, Jhonni finds another body, and further complications arise when a century-old feud between two families reaches its breaking point.

Soon, a slew of newspaper articles causes the Indiana State Election Board to doubt her credibility. Jhonni must fight to maintain her reputation, keep the small farming community together, and find the murderer at large—all while demons from her own past threaten to crush her. Can she find the killer and mend her battered spirit before it's too late?

my thoughts:

I'm freezing just looking at the cover, which I love. Makes me want to grab a cuppa and settle down with this book - which is what I did. And, I didn't stop reading until I turned the very last page. I just had to find out what was going to happen next. 

Bones Under The Ice is the first book in Mary Ann Miller's new series, A Jhonni Laurent Mystery. Set in Field's Crossing, Indiana, we meet Sheriff Jhonni Laurent. She's the town's first female sheriff and is already dealing with re-election drama, along with her first murder case. What can go wrong, right? Well for Jhonni, it seems that everything is happening all at once. Not only does she have to figure whodunit, but now she has save her own reputation thanks to a reporter bent on wrecking her career. Except a new body is found, which means Jhonni has to find out if the two murders are connected. So much to deal with, along with some personal drama, too. Suffice it to say, Jhonni is determined to get the job done. And, that is all I will share about this riveting read. You definitely need to check it out for yourself.

Miller's new book is chock full of suspense, mystery, drama - all of which make for a terrific story. I really enjoyed getting to know Jhonni and the town of Field's Crossing. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 

Thank you to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

How To Solve Your Own Murder: A Novel by Kristen Perrin

(Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

For fans of Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club , an enormously fun mystery about a woman who spends her entire life trying to prevent her foretold murder only to be proven right sixty years later, when she is found dead in her sprawling country estate.... Now it's up to her great-niece to catch the killer. 

It’s 1965 and teenage Frances Adams is at an English country fair with her two best friends. But Frances’s night takes a hairpin turn when a fortune-teller makes a bone-chilling prediction. One day, Frances will be murdered. Frances spends a lifetime trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet, compiling dirt on every person who crosses her path in an effort to prevent her own demise. For decades, no one takes Frances seriously, until nearly sixty years later, when Frances is found murdered, like she always said she would be.
 
In the present day, Annie Adams has been summoned to a meeting at the sprawling country estate of her wealthy and reclusive great-aunt Frances. But by the time Annie arrives in the quaint English village of Castle Knoll, Frances is already dead. Annie is determined to catch the killer, but thanks to Frances’s lifelong habit of digging up secrets and lies, it seems every endearing and eccentric villager might just have a motive for her murder. Can Annie safely unravel the dark mystery at the heart of Castle Knoll, or will dredging up the past throw her into the path of a killer?
 
As Annie gets closer to the truth, and closer to the danger, she starts to fear she might inherit her aunt’s fate instead of her fortune.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a fun and enjoyable read! I absolutely LOVED Kristen Perrin's novel, How To Solve Your Own Murder. 

Here's why:

1. Book's cover. I LOVE IT! The colors, the font and the images - they are perfect! It screams English village, estate, murder, and mystery. I would buy the book based on the cover. 

2. Book's summary. Frances goes to a fair with her besties and finds out she will be murdered thanks to a fortune teller. Talk about a misfortune. She's sixteen at the time. Fast forward sixty years and she is murdered. Her great-niece, Annie, decides to make it her mission to find out who killed her. The only thing is, her investigation may just lead to her own murder. Yikes!

3. Cozy murder mysteries are where it's at! I think that is why I enjoyed this story so much. I loved the atmosphere of the small village, Frances' journals (she spent her life trying to figure out who wanted to kill her), odd characters which made for a great list of suspects, and that is just a few of the pros about this book. Did I mention the writing - top notch! I found myself easily transported to the village of Castle Knoll and joining alongside Annie's investigation - such a treat!

4. Characters. LOVED them!! 

5. Overall, this book was a gem. It was so much fun trying to figure out whodunit. I loved how quickly you get caught up in the story. It was just a really great book. And I would happily recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for their next read - you will LOVE this book to bits!

Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Far Side Of The Desert: A Novel by Joanne Leedom-Ackerman

(Thank you to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A terrorist attack—a kidnapping—the ultimate vacation gone wrong 

Sisters Samantha and Monte Waters are vacationing together in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, enjoying a festival and planning to meet with their brother, Cal—but the idyllic plans are short-lived. When terrorists' attacks rock the city around them, Monte, a U.S. foreign service officer, and Samantha, an international television correspondent, are separated, and one of them is whisked away in the frenzy. 

The family mobilizes, using all their contacts to try to find their missing sister, but to no avail. She has vanished. As time presses on, the outlook darkens. Can she be found, or is she a lost cause? And, even if she returns, will the damage to her and those around her be irreparable? 

Moving from Spain to Washington to Morocco to Gibraltar to the Sahara Desert,The Far Side of the Desert is a family drama and political thriller that explores links of terrorism, crime, and financial manipulation, revealing the grace that ultimately foils destruction.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Daniel Silva

my thoughts:

Whoa! Talk about an amazing action-packed story! The Far Side Of The Desert by Joanne Leedom-Ackerman is riveting! Once you start, you won't be able to stop reading for anything. I grabbed a huge cuppa and dove right in. I didn't put my copy down once. I mean it, this book will grab you right from the first page and won't let go. It's that damn good.

Two sisters vacationing in Spain get separated during a terrorist attack. One gets kidnapped and brutally abused, while the other one searches high and low to find her. It's heartbreaking, frustrating, and maddening. Alongside this family's nightmare, we get politics, spies, smuggling, and terrorists - all of which make for quite a tense and thrilling read. And, that is all I will share about this story - you have to read it for yourself to find out what happens. It's a must-read! Make sure to get your hands on a copy of The Far Side Of The Desert by Joanne Leedom-Ackerman - you won't want to miss out on this one! 

Thank you to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Swan's Nest: A Novel by Laura McNeal

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A tender and engrossing historical novel about the unlikely love affair between two great 19th-century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett

On a bleak January day in 1845, a poet who had been confined to her room for four years by recurrent illness received a letter from a writer she secretly idolized but had never seen. “I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett,” Robert Browning wrote, “and I love you too.”
 
Elizabeth Barrett was ecstatic. She was famous for her poetry but completely cut off from the kind of international travel that Browning used to fuel his obscure, unsuccessful, innovative poems, one of which was written from a murderer’s point of view. They began an affectionate correspondence, but Elizabeth kept delaying a visit. What would happen when he saw her in person? What was Robert really like? Could she persuade her father and brothers that he was honorable, even though she had never met his family? And what would happen if she gave in to Robert’s wild proposal that they go to Italy to see whether the sun could cure her?
 
McNeal brilliantly tells the story of how Robert and Elizabeth fell in love with each other’s words and shocked her conservative, close-knit family and the literary world. Sensitively and lyrically written, as rich as the lovers' own poetry, The Swan's Nest will sweep up readers in the triumphant story of two people forced to choose between a safe, stable life and the love they felt for each other.

my thoughts:

Wow! The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal is historical fiction at its very best! The writing is terrific, the story is unputdownable, and the history is unforgettable. I loved reading this book! 

Okay, so what did I enjoy about this lovely novel? Here goes:

1. The book's cover. I just love the image and the way she's looking right at you. It's like you can tell she's hiding a secret or four. I love it!

2. The title. Led me to Elizabeth's poem, The Romance of the Swan's Nest. 

3. Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning's love story. I didn't know the details and was definitely intrigued. Love letters - over 500 of them! A secret romance. A secret wedding! Italy! Oh, my! I loved reading all about it!

4. The Barrett's family fortune from a Jamaican sugar plantation. Slavery, social injustice, racism all were divulged. Along with Elizabeth's brother's relationship with his 'housekeeper'. 

5. Elizabeth's tyrannical father who refuses to let his children marry. 

6. Elizabeth's illness, which kept her in bed and using drugs like morphine. 

7. Robert's proposal, secret visit, and LOVE for Elizabeth.

8. Elizabeth choosing to follow her heart.

9. A marriage that proved love is the answer.

Oh, what a wonderful story! True romance is at the core, but McNeal captures the the history of the 19th century so vividly - you can't help but find yourself time traveling and wandering alongside these famous poets. What a treat! 

I would happily recommend The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal to anyone and everyone looking for their next historical fiction read - you will fall in deep with this book! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

My Friday Five...

1.  Yoko Ogawa. I love her books. I love her writing. So, I was thrilled to find out that she has a new book coming out in August (13th) - hurrah! I was beyond excited when NetGalley provided me with an early copy thanks to Pantheon Books. So, I have been slowly reading it and enjoying every word. 

2. The 100 Day Project. I am still keeping up with it, which makes me so happy. I can't believe that I haven't given up already - I normally would have by now. I guess that I'm really digging writing blog posts again, which is helping me stay on track. Cool beans.

3. Bravo TV. I've been watching the Housewives reunions for Miami and Beverly Hills. And, I've been watching the new season of Summer House. I also just watched the trailer for the upcoming season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. I'm enjoying the drama on all the shows, but I'm also not enjoying it. Does that make sense? It's just too much yelling at times, which can be a bit much. And, their 'drama' can be so superficial it's annoying to even watch. Yet, I watch. LOL!

4. More TV. I've also been rewatching Seinfeld - one of my favorites! And I started watching The Strain. It's an old show about vampires (or something like that). I remember watching some of the first season and then I stopped. So, we'll see if I finally finish the first season and then the rest of it. If not, I need to find something fun to watch. I was thinking of rewatching The West Wing - considering it's an election year, it might be a good idea. 

5. New Murakami. Woo hoo! Yep, his new book comes out later this year - November 26th. I will be pre-ordering this one and spending Thanksgiving weekend reading it. I can't wait!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Happy reading!

March 5th release: The Inmate by Freida McFadden

 

Freida McFadden has done it again - another thrilling must-read! I feel like I am gobbling up one of her books every week - they are just so damn addictive! I can't help myself! The twists and turns, the shocking reveals, and the stories themselves - riveting!! 

This time round in The Inmate I was definitely thrown for a loop. I thought I had figured out whodunit, but nope, I was wrong and then some. Whoa! And, I loved it!

So, what's the book about? (summary from Goodreads)

A gripping, twisty thriller from Freida McFadden, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Housemaid and The Housemaid's Secret ! There are three rules Brooke Sullivan must follow as a new nurse practitioner at a men's maximum-security 1) Treat all prisoners with respect. 2) Never reveal any personal information. 3) Never EVER become too friendly with the inmates. But none of the staff at the prison knows Brooke has already broken the rules. Nobody knows about her intimate connection to Shane Nelson, one of the penitentiary's most notorious and dangerous inmates. And they certainly don't know that Shane was Brooke's high school sweetheart―the star quarterback who is now spending the rest of his life in prison for a series of grisly murders. Or that Brooke's testimony was what put him there. But Shane knows. And he will never forget.

How awesome does that sound? Like, the kind of awesome where you have to get your hands on a copy ASAP and devote your evening to reading it all in one sitting, right? That's how it sounds to me. And that is what I did and let me just say it was the right decision. The Inmate by Freida McFadden was fan-freaking-tastic! Definitely one of my favorites so far. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, especially fans of Freida McFadden - you are going to LOVE this book! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Just released...

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

I love the title and I love the cover - definitely intrigues me. And then I read the book summary and knew that I had to get my hands on a copy. 

"Across two different time periods, two women confront fear, loneliness, mortality, and a haunting yearning that will not let them rest. A breakout, genre-blurring novel from one of the most exciting new voices of Latin America’s feminist Gothic.

It is the twilight of Europe’s bloody bacchanals, of murder and feasting without end. In the nineteenth century, a vampire arrives from Europe to the coast of Buenos Aires and, for the second time in her life, watches as villages transform into a cosmopolitan city, one that will soon be ravaged by yellow fever. She must adapt, intermingle with humans, and be discreet.

In present-day Buenos Aires, a woman finds herself at an impasse as she grapples with her mother's terminal illness and her own relationship with motherhood. When she first encounters the vampire in a cemetery, something ignites within the two women—and they cross a threshold from which there’s no turning back.

With echoes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and written in the vein of feminist Gothic writers like Shirley Jackson, Daphne du Maurier, and Carmen Maria Machado, Thirst plays with the boundaries of genre while exploring the limits of female agency, the consuming power of desire, and the fragile vitality of even the most immortal of creatures." - Goodreads

I love vampire stories and this one sounded interesting to me. Buenos Aires, female agency, vampires - what more could I want? Especially when the book is described as "feminist Gothic" - seriously? How cool does that sound? Anyhow, I grabbed a copy and I'm excited to start reading. Let me know if you read Thirst and what you thought of it.

Hope you are having a great week! Happy reading!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Murder Road: A Novel by Simone St. James

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

What is happening to me? I am obsessed with creepy thrillers lately and I am LOVING it! Murder Road by Simone St. James is the latest murder mystery novel that I devoured in one sitting. And it was fantastic! I would absolutely recommend it to everyone looking for their next great read - you are going to LOVE this book to bits! It's an exciting story with elements of suspense and the supernatural - whoa! I found myself hooked right from the start - this is one book you won't be able to put down for anything - it's soooo good!! 

So, what exactly is Murder Road about?

July 1995. Instead of enjoying their honeymoon weekend, April and Eddie find themselves suspects to murder after a wrong turn leads them to deliver a dying hitchhiker to the local hospital. Rumored to be haunted by the legend of The Lost Girl, unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all.

Talk about a riveting read, right? I know that I wanted to pick the book up after reading that blurb. How could I not? A honeymoon gone wrong, a legend called The Lost Girl, small town history that is rife with murder - all of that screams, "READ ME!" So, I did. And let me just, "Damn! That was a freaking good book!" So, make sure to grab a copy of Murder Road ASAP and dive right in - you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir Of Love, Loss, And Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon

(Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

Wow! What an excellent read! I absolutely LOVED Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir Of Love, Loss, And Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon - it was amazing! A definite must-read for everyone! This is one book you won't want to miss out on.

So, what is Slow Noodles about? (summary from NetGalley)

A haunting and beautiful memoir from a Cambodian refugee who lost her country and her family during Pol Pot's genocide in the 1970s but who finds hope by reclaiming the recipes she tasted in her mother's kitchen. 

Take a well-fed nine-year-old with a big family and a fancy education. Fold in 2 revolutions, 2 civil wars, and 1 wholesale extermination. Subtract a reliable source of food, life savings, and family members, until all are gone. Shave down childhood dreams for approximately two decades, until only subsistence remains.

In Slow Noodles, Chantha Nguon recounts her life as a Cambodian refugee who loses everything and everyone—her home, her family, her country—all but the remembered tastes and aromas of her mother’s kitchen. She summons the quiet rhythms of 1960s Battambang, her provincial hometown, before the dictator Pol Pot tore her country apart and killed more than a million Cambodians, many of them ethnic Vietnamese like Nguon and her family. Then, as an immigrant in Saigon, Nguon loses her mother, brothers, and sister and eventually flees to a refugee camp in Thailand. For two decades in exile, she survives by cooking in a brothel, serving drinks in a nightclub, making and selling street food, becoming a suture nurse, and weaving silk. 

Nguon’s irrepressible spirit and determination come through in this lyrical memoir that includes more than twenty family recipes such as sour chicken-lime soup, green papaya pickles, and pâté de foie, as well as Khmer curries, stir-fries, and handmade bánh canh noodles. Through it all, re-creating the dishes from her childhood becomes an act of resistance, of reclaiming her place in the world, of upholding the values the Khmer Rouge sought to destroy, and of honoring the memory of her beloved mother, whose “slow noodles” approach to healing and cooking prioritized time and care over expediency.

Slow Noodles is an inspiring testament to the power of food to keep alive a refugee’s connection to her past and spark hope for a beautiful life.

How fascinating does that sound?  You get politics, history, food, and all the feels rolled into one awesome book. Getting to know Chantha through her life story, you find yourself in awe of this resilient, remarkable woman. She has experienced way too much for anyone to ever have to experience in a lifetime, and yet she persevered and kept on going when so many others would have just given up. Her strength is inspiring. And the way she includes food with her memories of the family she loves and lost is so special. Food helped her to heal and to connect with her country. Slow Noodles is truly a gem of a book. The writing is just so powerful and thoughtful. I highly recommend you get your hands on a copy ASAP!

Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

My Current Read...

 

I am a huge fan of this popular series, The Marlow Murder Club, by Robert Thorogood. The Queen of Poisons is the third book in the series and it sounds like it's going to be a fun read - woo hoo! I'm excited to reunite with favorite, familiar characters - Judith, Susie, Becks, and Tanika. The plot of the story centers on the murder of Marlow's beloved mayor, Geoffrey Lushington. I can't wait to find out who the culprit is and how the clever trio will solve the murder. Talk about the perfect read for a Monday evening. 

I was lucky enough to get an early copy thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley - woo hoo! The book will be out on June 4th - make sure to check it out! 

And now, I'm off to get some work done. Hope you have a terrific start to the week. Happy reading!

IG Book Recommendation

I was scrolling through IG the other day when I came across a post by an old book blogger I used to read - he no longer blogs and instead does vlogs. Anyhow, he was sharing a post by Sarah Jessica Parker. She's always posting about books and has a publishing imprint ( SJP Lit/Zando ), which I love. And the book she was posting about was:

Here's the summary (via Goodreads):

A gripping literary puzzle that unwinds the private lives of ten women as they confront tragedy in a small Massachusetts town.

Nashquitten, MA, is a decaying coastal enclave that not even tourist season can revive, full of locals who have run the town’s industries for generations. When a young woman dies at a house party, the circumstances around her death suspiciously unclear, the tight-knit community is shaken. As a mother grieves her daughter, a teacher her student, a best friend her confidante, the events around the tragedy become a lightning rod: blame is cast, secrets are buried deeper. Some are left to pick up the pieces, while others turn their backs, and all the while, a truth about that dreadful night begins to emerge.

Told through the eyes of ten local women, Grabowski’s Women and Children First is an exquisite portrait of grief and a powerful reminder of life’s interconnectedness. Touching on womanhood, class, and sexuality, ambition, disappointment, and tragedy, this novel is a stunning rendering of love and loss, and a bracing lesson from a phenomenal new literary talent that no one walks this earth alone.

Suffice it to say, the book sounded terrific to me, so I had to find a way to get my hands on copy of it. The title will be released May 7th, but I could not wait! Luckily, I was able to receive an ARC via NetGalley - woo hoo! I've already started to read it and let me just say - Wow! I am LOVING this book! The writing and the storytelling - excellent! I definitely recommend that you get your hands on a copy, because this book is a MUST-READ! 

And now, I'm off to continue adding more books to my TBR list. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Happy reading!

Thank you to Zando, SJP Lit and NetGalley for my copy of this book!