I thought it would be fun to see ALL the five stars I’ve read this year together! These are all of the reads I gave true five stars too. Make sure they’re on your TBR!
Yes, Fourth Wing and Divine Rivals are on here twice because I did read them two separate times this year.
Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 498 pages
Author: Jacquelyn Benson
Publisher: Vaughn Woods Publishing
Release Date: February 1st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
London, 1914. Lily’s visions could stop a killer… if she’ll trust a reclusive aristocrat with her darkest secret.
A monster stalks the gaslit streets of Edwardian London, draining the blood of the city’s mediums. Lily Albright knows who’s next.
Lily is plagued by visions of the future she can never change. When a mysterious fiend threatens someone she loves, she’s determined this time will be different.
But she can’t do it alone. To save a life, Lily must reveal her darkest secrets to someone she has little reason to trust—the reclusive Lord Strangford, a man haunted by his own unusual powers.
From the glittering galleries of Bond Street to the rookeries of Southwark, Lily and Strangford plunge into a dark conspiracy that lies at the heart of England’s rising eugenics movement. To thwart it, Lily must face a past rife with betrayal—and embrace the power she has spent her entire life trying to escape.
TOO LONG.
I found a lot of this really interesting and somewhat in the veins of Stalking Jack the Ripper. I am coming to realize I really enjoy historical fantasy books. I like the old world vibes with a bit of magic thrown in.
I enjoyed both Lily and Strangford as our main duo. It’s very much a slow burn romance between them as they both learn to release some of their long held secrets and hurts to each other. I was looking for a bit more romantic build up/interactions with them, but as I see this is a series I think there’s plenty of room to continue the romance.
This book is easily 100+ pages too long. Even listening as an audiobook (at 3x speed) I noticed that things weren’t happening. When the action scenes came up, they were good. When soft moments came up, also good. It was some of the in-between that felt dragged out along the plot lines.
I do have plans to read the next book because I’m curious if it upticks from here. It’s got a concept I like seeing and good themes too.
Overall audience notes:
Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Christian Historical Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel
Publisher: Ally Press
Release Date: November 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
The one man who could help her, must never know her name.
If Kate Chamberlin can’t reveal her true identity to the world, she must settle for sharing only her talent. Hired as a musician for KDKA radio, Kate plays everything from sponsors’ jingles to complex sonatas. As long as the whispers around the broadcasting room refer to her as “Killjoy Kate” and not “Catarina the crime boss’s daughter,” then her life is safe from danger.
Or so she thinks.
When anonymous, violent threats surface, Kate’s wary of accepting protection from the handsome private investigator, Detective Jennings. His save-the-world attitude is as charming as his manners, but no one, especially him, can know the gruesome realities of her birth.
The 1924 Pittsburgh underworld is as complicated as it is elusive, and though the dealings of the Salvastanos have dwindled, Rhett Jennings is certain the man responsible for his father’s death is still at large. But his personal hunt for justice must be set aside when his day job requires him to investigate threats directed at a young radio broadcaster with enamoring brown eyes and secretive behavior.
When danger surrounds them, will the truth of Kate’s past become the key to their survival?
I LIKED IT.
This is my first by the author, and the first Christian romance I’ve read in a very long time. Both turned out better than I expected and I’m grateful for that.
I liked the plot and setting. The historical aspects worked so well and I felt transported to the 1920’s. The mystery brought out enough intrigue to keep the page turning and I did not see some of the ending reveals coming!
Romance wise, it was rather swoony and sweet. I love protective heroes, it’s just my favorite, and there were plenty of opportunities for that here. A tiny bit of fake dating, taking care of you scenes and you can consider me charmed. There were a few things about purity that I didn’t love and I’m mostly chalking up to a time period situation. Otherwise the Christianity aspects worked well into the plot and I liked the themes of forgiveness and God accepting you where you are.
Overall audience notes:
Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 416 pages
Author: Noelle Salazar
Publisher: MIRA
Release Date: November 29th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads
BOOK SUMMARY:
From the bestselling author of The Flight Girls comes a story inspired by true events, about courageous women who risked everything for country, for family, and for each other.
Netherlands, 1940
As bombs fall across Europe, fourteen-year-old Lien Vinke fears that the reality of war is inescapable. Though she lives a quiet life with her mother and older sister, Elif, in their small town of Haarlem, they are no strangers to heartache, having recently suffered an immeasurable loss. And when the Nazis invade the Netherlands, joining the Dutch resistance with Elif offers just the atonement Lien craves.
Trained to shoot by their late father, the sisters are deadly wolves in sheep’s clothing. They soon find themselves entrenched in the underground movement, forging friendships with the other young recruits, and Lien even discovers a kindred spirit in a boy named Charlie. But in wartime, emotional attachments are a liability she can’t afford, especially when a deeply personal mission jeopardizes everything she holds dear—her friendships, her family, and her one shot at redemption.
GREAT AUDIOBOOK.
Another solid read from Noelle Salazar!!
This was a book I easily flew through and loved the Dutch setting. It was another facet of WWII history that I knew little about and I liked understanding more of that glimpse through these pages.
I LOVE strong sibling relationships and Lien and Elif were that personified. They were able to lean on, look out for, and take care of each other amidst the worsening conditions. I liked following the rebel group and seeing the character development across the board. There were many times I audibly gasped wondering where the book was going to go next.
The writing style keeps you engaged and the characters will bring out the emotions. I look forward to whatever Salazar writes next!
Overall audience notes:
GoodeyReads 