Tag: historical fiction

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2024

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The month of love! Wow, this month knocked it out of the park with the five stars y’all. So many dang good books and I finally got my hands on House of Flame and Shadow!!

Favorites this month:

  • House of Flame and Shadow
  • Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians
  • Emma M. Lion No. 5
  • The Ever Queen
  • The Will of the Many
  • Wild About You
  • The Scrivener’s Bones
  • The Outlaw Noble Salt
  • The Knights of Crystallia
  • Girl Meets Grump
  • Tales of the Celestial Kingdom
  • The Shattered Lens
  • The Dark Talent
  • The Trials of Ophelia
  • Heartless Hunter
  • A Groom of One’s Own
  • The Warm Hands of Ghosts
  • House of Bane and Blood
  • Where the Dark Stands Still

Least favorites this month:

  • Night for Day
  • Liar’s Test
  • Valley Verified
  • [ARC] Night for Day by Roselle Lim
  • House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ALC] A Tempest of Tea (Blood and Tea #1) by Hafsah Faizal
  • [ARC] Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
  • [ARC] Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
  • Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday
  • [ARC] Liar’s Test by Ambelin Kwaymullina
  • Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #1) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Emma M. Lion #5) by Beth Brower
  • The Ever Queen (The Ever Seas #2) by L.J. Andrews
  • The Will of the Many (Hierarchy #1) by James Islington
  • [ARC] Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill
  • The Scrivener’s Bones (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #2) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [ARC] A Noble Scheme (The Imposters #2) by Roseanna M. White
  • No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall
  • [ARC] The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon
  • I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang
  • The Knights of Crystallia (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #3) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [ARC] Girl Meets Grump by Hailey Gardiner
  • Tales of the Celestial Kingdom (The Celestial Kingdom #2.5) by Sue Lynn Tan
  • Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde #2) by Heather Fawcett
  • Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao
  • Mortal Queens (Fae Dynasty #1) by Victoria McCombs
  • [ARC] An Unlikely Proposition (Unexpected Seasons #2) by Rosalyn Eves
  • The Shattered Lens (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #4) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Dark Talent (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #5) by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Trials of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #3) by Nicole Platania
  • [ARC] An Inconvenient Letter by Julie Wright
  • Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians (Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians #6) by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson
  • Heartless Hunter (The Crimson Moth #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli
  • Nightweaver by RM Gray
  • [ARC] A Groom of One’s Own (Appies Series) by Emma St. Clair
  • Love Interest by Clare Gilmore
  • The Warm Hands of Ghosts of Katherine Arden
  • [ARC/Novella] After the Crescent Strike (The Balkan Legends #0.5) by A.L. Sowards
  • [ARC] Wedding Issues by Elle Evans
  • ASAP by Axie Oh
  • House of Bane and Blood (Order and Chaos #1) by Alexis L. Menard
  • Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
  • [Novella] Hyperthief (Skyward #3.6) by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson

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Book Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (The Unselected Journals #1) by Beth Brower

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 121 pages
Author: Beth Brower
Publisher: Rhysdon Press
Release Date: November 1st, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

I AM INTRIGUED.

At the behest of many friends I finally picked this one up! It’s biggest hurdle is the unique writing style, but once I got the hang of it, I adored this y’all.

Emma is FUNNY. I laughed out loud multiple times and the succinct way she expresses herself is perfectly written. This is a very fast paced book (120ish pages) and offers up a lot of good beginning things to further the story as the journals go along.

I really look forward to seeing more romance, how Emma is able to take control of her situation and more. Regency fans, don’t skip this one if you’re looking for something to mix it up with.

Overall audience notes:

  • Regency/Historical
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: none
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a loved one

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Book Review: In Spotlight and Shadow (Doors to the Past #11) by Rachel Scott McDaniel

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Christian Romance
Length: 256 pages
Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
Release Date: February 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Elise Malvern has a habit of letting people down. Her former boyfriend who hoped she’d be his bride. Her grandfather who hoped she’d take over the family’s auction company. But mostly she’s disappointed herself. What’s the point of pursuing her passion as a violinist, if she is too scared to audition for a seat in the Pittsburgh Symphony? Her internship at the elegant Heinz Hall places her in the wings of the stage, but never on it. By accident, she discovers an old stage prop. Her instincts tell her there’s more to the paste necklace than meets the eye. Whether a good idea or not, she accepts help from a childhood friend, who happens to be country music megastar—Peirson Brooks. Peirson and Elise share a history; one she doesn’t care to repeat. The more involved they become in the mystery, the more things get tangled, including her heart.
 
A century earlier…
Sophie Walters longs for center stage, her name on the marquee, and all that jazz, but climbing her way into an acting career is more difficult than she imagined. Having spoiled all her chances in Hollywood, she returns to Pittsburgh, accepting an insignificant role in a popular production. She watches her dreams pass by from behind the curtain at the illustrious Loew’s Penn Theatre. She finally gets the coveted spotlight, but not for her talent. No, her surge to fame is all one terrible mistake. Somehow, she’s suspected to be a notorious jewel thief known around Pittsburgh as The Mirage. The man she pleads for help is none other than the man she jilted at the altar five years before, Sterling Monroe.

SWEET ROMANCES.

I really enjoyed this one! This was my second McDaniel book and I would easily continue picking them up. I love the themes and the characters are well written. Filled with strengths and weaknesses to work through.

The mystery element here was a lot of fun. I would not have guessed the final reveal and actually thought it was in of itself an interesting twist. There’s some intense what’s going to happen next moments that had me listening to this in one day (side note: loved the audiobook).

I thought both romances were super sweet. They were both second chance romances (with different reasonings) and I thought all of the moments were tender. Elise and Sophie both had plenty to learn about themselves and finding forgiveness within their actions and things out of their control.

Just one of those really solid books. Easily recommend if you’re okay with Christian themes (I’d say a moderate faith vein throughout) and looking for past/present timelines!

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and weapons violence, theft, grief

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Book Review: The Work of Art (Somerset Stories #1) by Mimi Matthews

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 392 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Release Date: July 23rd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An Uncommon Beauty…
Hidden away in rural Devonshire, Phyllida Satterthwaite has always been considered more odd than beautiful. But in London, her oddity has made her a sensation. Far worse, it’s caught the eye of the sinister Duke of Moreland — a notorious art collector obsessed with acquiring one-of-a-kind treasures. To escape the duke’s clutches, she’s going to need a little help.

An Unlikely Hero…
Captain Arthur Heywood’s days of heroism are long past. Grievously injured in the Peninsular War, he can no longer walk unaided, let alone shoot a pistol. What use can he possibly be to a damsel in distress? He has nothing left to offer except his good name.

Can a marriage of convenience save Philly from the vengeful duke? Or will life with Arthur put her — and her heart — in more danger than ever?

STUNNING.

I just want to sit and read Mimi Matthews books all day. She is the QUEEN of closed door historical romances and I am obsessed.

This marriage of convenience story hit me in the feels. I adored our FMC Phyllida. She was filled with compassion and kindness and continually looked at the glass half full. All she wanted was a safe space to land and thank heavens for our unlikely hero, Arthur. Super swoony, PROTECTIVE (my kryptonite) and a wounded soul who found healing through love. And I love all of the heat that is still very much present without wide open doors. It’s tender and passionate. Everything I love seeing in romance books.

I thought the plot was interesting and I liked the little bit of mystery and intensity brought about by the awful Duke. I adored all of the dog content and how they played a true role in the story too. I just really love the way Matthews crafts stories. Her writing is gorgeous and fluid and brings about all of the emotions.

I am turning into a super fan and will not be turning back.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents, war injuries, PTSD, gun violence, animal attacks, near death experiences

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