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The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin: A Book Review

Book Reviews April 12, 2025 Leave a comment

by Madeline Martin

Madeline Martin's website

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LibraryThing

Fable App

Genre: Historical Fiction
Number of pages: 432
ISBN: 9781335000392

Format: Paperback, Hardcover, eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Spotify, B&N)
Publication date: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Type: Novel, Standalone

Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC of The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin. I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

I loved The Last Bookshop in London so much I am thrilled to be able to review her newest book! Thank you!!!

Please note: I received this e-ARC right before my open-heart surgery, so it took a while for me to get this review ready due to my recovery. However, it does not at all reduce my enthusiasm for this title.

Blurb

A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together.

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.

When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

The Positive Points

Ah! The beginning is so poignant and heart wrenching. I love the literary comparison to describe the characters and what's happening. It already puts us right into major elements of this book: love and family tied with a bow of literature.

I’ve got to say, Emma’s father's love for her is resounding and touching. It reminds me of my own mother and her sacrifices and kindnesses for me. The fact that Emma lost everything she knew and loved is touching and I can relate after having lost my grandparents due to natural causes, and the rest of the family because of stupid drama. At least I got my mom, my aunt and my cousin. It's hard, Emma, I know. What a hard but striking beginning.

Also, the vocabulary is respectful of the times with "bob" for "shillings" and “chemist" for pharmacist. And as always with a Madeline Martin book, all the feels. The FEELS, I’m telling you. I cherish her books because of the historical accuracy, their ambiance, and mostly, the feels—and The Booklover’s Library is no exception to that. You can never go wrong with a Madeline Martin book!

The story revolves around Emma, a single mother, who wants to protect her daughter from the oncoming war while also providing for them both by working at the Booklover’s Library. We get to experience her ups and downs, and the hard decisions she has to make.

For example, what a heart-wrenching decision to make for a mother: to send your child away with strangers for an unknown period of time or keep her with you and put her in harm's way. A nightmare. But that’s exactly what Emma has to decide. I still have goosebumps as I remember a few of the scenes, wow.

I particularly loved how Emma pulled her daughter closer into her arms, wishing deeply and feeling as though love could be enough to shield Olivia from all harm, including the war’s.

Such a beautiful way to put it and so genuine. It’s really like that, when you hug someone or keep them close to you, and you want the best for them and feel that your love ought to be enough to protect them! So touching, I can’t get over that part of the book. It resounded to my core.

On another topic, I really like the friendships between the women at the Booklover’s Library. There is one that is sweet and easy and profound and the other one is more difficult, which really shows the range of getting to know people and befriending them.

Moreover, there is always a little something happening… a hinder, a setback or an issue. It’s small, and at other times it can be big, but there is always a new obstacle or event even if small. It’s interesting and it keeps the tale going.

Also, I love that we have subplots with all the characters in Emma’s surroundings. They don’t feel like furniture (which is a rare thing in novels!), but like real people she interacts and lives with. We get to learn about them as Emma does, and it’s heart-warming. Like Mrs Pickering, the landlady; Mr Sanderson, a mysterious and gruffy tenant; Margaret, her kind friend at work… it makes the story a living, breathing book. And I love it there!

There is a glorious uplifting surprise too! I won’t spoil it for you, but I was in a wild emotional state a few days before my second open-heart surgery in October and here came the surprise from The Last Bookshop in London, a novel I just adored and devoured from the library! (I swear I talked—and still do—so much about it my entourage knows it well, haha!) It made me so genuinely happy I forgot about my troubles for a little while. I was meeting with old friends, ok? That was the feeling. And it was wholesome.

I remember very well that my eyes were wet with emotions (lovely feeling in my chest) at the end of the book. If that’s not telling, I don’t know what will.

Honestly, The Booklover’s Library should be retitled: A mother’s love. It’s the true underlying current of this story.

The Negative Points

Alas, there are two downsides to this book (if you’re like me), yet they encompass strengths of their own when you look closely. Unfortunately, it’s rather slow (at 28% of the read and we were still not in the war…). Nonetheless, I think it shows the depth of the characters notably, Emma the main character, and how she behaves and deals with loss and grief, and her job as well as the people around her. Just when I think it’s getting boring there is a little something happening I mentioned earlier, and there we go again into the story!

As I mentioned previously, the war doesn’t happen until later on (after a good 50% of the book), so don’t expect it to like I did. It will slow down your reading experience and seem boring when it’s not; it’s just a different pace to really encompass the life of Emma, her daughter, and her neighbours, and the impact of the stress and the decisions to make in the face of the oncoming war.

When you’re not aware of this, the story does seem way too slow; otherwise, it’s a really good read set at a different pace that serves to show other aspects of the war that are not often deeply tackled in books.

In Conclusion

I give The Booklover’s Library an emotional rating of 4.5 stars out of 5! It took me a long while to get the subtle plotline so I found it to be a bit long. However, it’s also an emotional, cozy, and heart-warming read! I highly recommend it to people who love a character-driven story with a lot of emotions and coziness and being left with a fuzziness in their heart.

If you want to learn more about the author, Madeline Martin, you can head over to her website. She also has an Instagram account. You can also follow her Author Page on Goodreads. Don't forget to add The Booklover's Library to your cart, your bookshelves, or your wishlist!

The Day I Left You by Caroline Bishop: A Book Review

Book Reviews February 18, 2025 Leave a comment

Caroline Bishop's Website

Genre: Historical fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance
Number of pages: 368
ISBN: 9781668047279

ASIN: B0CL5FNMF3

Format: eBook (Kindle), Paperback
Publication date: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Type: Novel (Standalone)

A BIG thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book! I receive no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.

The cover is so pretty and elegant, but I admit it was the title that got me. The Day I Left You, hmmmm, so intriguing, and clearly romantic. Curious, I went to read the blurb, and saw it was about an East German woman leaving her British husband abruptly in the time of the Berlin Wall and Cold War. Say no more! As a huge historical fiction lover, this sounded like my cup of tea! (yes, British… tea… I made a tiny pun, see?)

Honestly, it was my cup of tea!

And if you want to know more, it’s perfect because I’m here to spill the tea!

Just keep reading, loves!

Blurb

For readers of The Secrets We Kept and Jill Santopolo comes an epic love story about Greta and Henry, who by chance meet in 1982 East Berlin and find a love that’s meant to last a lifetime—until Greta vanishes.

I’m sorry. I can’t stay.

East Berlin, 1982. When Greta Schneider meets Henry Henderson, she is instantly smitten. An engineer on a work visa from Britain, Henry offers Greta a taste of the world beyond the Iron Curtain, a world that she yearns to explore as a translator once she finishes university. For Henry, Greta is simply perfect—bold and beautiful, her lively and inquisitive nature adding a vital spark to his everyday life.

But their time together is limited. Henry can’t stay once his visa expires, and Greta is forbidden from going beyond the Berlin Wall. It’s only been a few weeks, but they know how they feel about each other, so when Henry proposes, Greta accepts—and is given permission to start a new life with Henry in England. And for a time, everything is perfect. Until, one day, out of the blue, Greta walks out the door of their Oxford home, leaving a simple note behind.

Decades later, Henry still has unanswered questions. Greta loved him, and he loved her. They surmounted the odds to be together, and in his heart, he knows their marriage was happy. So why did she leave? How well did he really know his wife? When a young mother visits Henry’s antique restoration shop, she unknowingly brings with her a clue that sends Henry on a journey to find out what happened to the love of his life all those years ago.

Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Day I Left You is a gorgeous, spellbinding story about the nature of love, the memories we cling to, and the hurts we must leave behind to move forward.

The Positive Points

This book is heavy on love and how to go through grief and abandon, as well as how to find yourself and happiness again. It’s sweet. I had the impression this story is a quest for answers and love, and for love. It’s not a coming-of-age story, but it’s one of coming into your own person as you grow older and try to find answers and deal with grief. An interesting take that I rarely see.

The Day I Left You felt much like life. A tale of life, it felt while reading it. It was as though Greta and Henry were at a coffee shop with me, telling me their stories. I loved it!

Something fun is that I love how we see two different ages: when they are young in their twenties; and then in their sixties or so. It’s a real change from only twenty or forty years old in most adult novels. I love this! Also, I love that the present is told in third person, and that the past with Greta is more personal in first person, like we must feel her and understand her more deeply to make sense of her decisions and actions. For it to have the right effect on us, and it does, I can assure you that. And awwwwww, Part 2 really surprised me with a new and modern POV! I wondered if we’d get to see that aspect of the story, and we do! But no more, because no spoilers ;).

I felt like the surprises kept coming and it’s all so much more intricate and entangled than I saw at first. And much deeper, too. Wow! Plus, Greta’s reasons for leaving are totally understandable in her situation. I feel for her. And it shows all the ramifications of the Cold War, too…

This story fits the expression “all in due time” in several ways. I hope you’ll see for yourself. In the end, it was a very rewarding read. It resolves pretty nicely for both of them in very different but plausible ways.

What impresses me is that the structure of the book is so well done; everything makes sense and flows properly. All the chapters fit like building blocks put together correctly. The overall structure follows the internal structure—I mean that while the characters gradually deal with what’s happened between them and the Berlin Wall falling, the overall structure of the chapters and the different POVs reflect that perfectly! It’s a work of art so neatly weaved together, bravo!

My first impression was that the prologue is very gripping and intriguing. Why does Greta have to leave if she doesn’t want to? What’s in her past? It’s emotional too, although the use of the “you” POV for her lover surprised me, but it’s good—it’s more immersive in a way. It is personal, the prologue and the Greta’s chapters in the past. And not because the first person POV in Greta’s past, although it helps, but because of the way she describes her lover and her actions. There is a proximity, a certain closeness in the way she describes things. Like it shows she cares and loves.

Moreover, it’s really fun that we get to see both POVs. One in the past Greta, and now modern Henry. Wait until for a surprise modern POV later… It all adds a little something of enjoyment to the story.

I noticed some language tricks. For example, there are psychological tricks, like how telling a lie or anything in another language feels less committing. I love such details about the complexity of the human mind and heart! In addition to this linguistic aspect, I enjoy that some affectionate words are in German, and product names like wine or celebrations, as well as a few swear words and expressions are in German. I think it’s fun to come across these words and it helps with immersion in Greta’s world and memories. And as a polyglot, I always love to see languages sprinkled in stories.

Now, what about the characters? Honestly, I enjoyed my time with them! I’ll start with Henry because he’s the one I felt for the most. He is so romantic and cute in his feelings for Greta. A lovesick puppy; I want one like him! Henry is lovable and endearing because he thinks about others and injustices, and also, he is calm, intelligent. He is a kind and good soul, it’s lovely. I also find interesting that Henry is a furniture restorer. It’s very different and little heard of in stories.

Lucy Kenny! Ah, my favorite character of the story. I really like Lucy and her rambling and her energy. I really love Lucy Kenny, she reminds me of myself, haha! She’s so proactive, helpful, and kind. And most of all: she’s a real chatterbox with a lot of energy! Can you see that in my writing? I hope you can! Plus, I like that Henry and she develop a sort of friendship, it’s rather cute!

I also really like Ros, Lucy’s mother. She’s funny and down-to-earth and lively as well. I also enjoy her views and opinions on the children and her ex-husband who’s her best friend.

And Greta? I like her; however, sometimes she made me feel sour with her. She is intriguing and interesting, and her dreams and hopes are perfectly valid. Greta, I think, did the best she could with what she had to deal with, honestly. I can’t say any more—I don’t want to spoil the story for you! But know she had her reasons and tried her best in her situation.

As per the story, I love how Greta’s homesickness is tackled and described because it must really feel like that. And also, how everything is not perfect or necessarily greener in Britain than in the GDR (German Democratic Republic). It’s interesting to see that and natural for a young woman raised in East Berlin with the wall to see positives to her old life and be homesick while feeling lost and lonely in Britain and not liking everything like capitalism and always being short on money. The character also said that you’re as free in the West as your wallet allows, and it couldn’t be truer (unfortunately). She feels disconnected from life in Britain and in the West in general. Understandably so what with her background of different experiences under communism.

Henry and Greta both evolve as individuals. For Henry, it shows through his gradual openness with Lucy and her family and his realization that his repair work must not be perfect and still show some scratches and scuffles of life and love. He’s grown into his own after so long, poor guy. And Greta is finally confiding in someone and finding her own happy ending. I’m glad that in the end, Henry somehow gets a family he longed to have, albeit a bit differently than how he’d thought he’d have one. It’s funny that it’s through his search for Greta though, but I am glad. Henry deserves the peace and happiness, and a family of his own in a way. It’s cute. And he also needs a dear friend like Lucy.

I am rather pleased that the author, through Greta, explains how and why there is the Berlin Wall and how they got it with state socialism. It is very interesting and informative. And yes, she also explains what the Stasi are and their dangerous (if not deadly) surveillance. I had deducted it, but it’s good to have a better definition in Greta’s words.

I’m so into it. My emotions are gripped. It’s so poignant and I keep being outraged at what happened to Greta and the threats, and I keep telling my mom all about it in a flurry of emotions and indignation. It’s really good when I’m so gripped emotionally.

While I had an inkling of what Greta’d become, it became freakier as I kept reading! It was very gripping emotionally and felt like a whirlwind of intrigue and difficult choices. I am glad I got to read this book before publication-I had quite the adventure with it!

The Negative Points

The biggest point is that I found it so slow. For a book with such a huge question to answer (why did she leave so abruptly?), it’s really slow-paced, which makes it less thrilling than I thought it’d be (at least for the first half of the book). It’s still interesting, but it seems to take forever to receive a new “hint” at what might have happened. Ah, those hints trickled down every 4-5 chapters or so! They had me rolling my eyes a few times because they’re so few for a long while. (They’re exciting, but still!) After 50% of the book, it the pace picked up admirably and the intrigue took me in like a whirlwind, I’ve got to say!

Also, it annoys me that the person being left is always the one who suffers the most, huh? It shows in this book as well, I noticed… It’s not that I dislike Greta, it’s just unfair for Henry who’s been stuck on her since she left, and because of how she left. While Greta has her nomadic life and a new love… It makes me sour a bit towards Greta, oh well. However, towards the end, I understood more how it’s also been cruel and hard on her. It’s just she seems to move on so easily… But I guess she didn’t have much choice, did she? And that’s a problem: she never really did have a choice in the end.

Lastly, the necklace a certain Lucy wears from her mother is quite an intriguing and effective way to deepen and twist the plot a bit. It would have been more effective, however, if we’d known before that that Greta loved to make jewellery or at least more than implied. Because it’s a good moment, but it lacks a bit of the shocking effect as a reader.

In Conclusion

All in all, I give The Day I Left You a feelsy rating of 4 stars out of 5. Despite its slow start, I ended up loving the book and enjoying my time with the characters while learning more about the intricacies and ramifications of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. Plus, if you enjoy slow-paced books, it’ll be a perfect read! I strongly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the Berlin Wall and the Cold War, as well as historical fiction lovers. To those who love their books with a good dose of intrigue, mystery, and surprises. Also, I recommend it to those who love a good book that gives you feels and grips your emotions tightly, and feels just like you were out for coffee with friends to hear their life stories.

If you want to learn more about the author, Caroline Bishop, you can visit her author website and follow her on her Goodreads Author account, as well as her Instagram account. Don't forget to add The Day I Left You to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

Gentlest of Wild Things by Sarah Underwood: A Book Review

Book Reviews December 22, 2024 Leave a comment

Sarah Underwood's Website

HarperCollins' Author Page

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

StoryGraph

Fable

Genre: Historical fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Romance, Retelling
Number of pages: 400
ISBN: 978-0063234529

ASIN:B0CRQG9R8F

Format: Hardcover, eBook (Kobo, Kindle, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Kobo, B&N)
Publication date: October 01, 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins
Type: Book, Novel, Standalone

Trigger Warnings: Emotional and physical abuse by a parent.

*A HUGE thanks to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book! I get no compensation whatsoever, and I write this review willingly.*

As soon as I saw the cover and the blurb for Gentlest of Wild Things, a sapphic Ancient Greece story, I yearned to read it! I’m so delighted HarperCollins Canada offered me an e-ARC of this book, iiiiiiiihhhhhh!!! It was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and I am proud to bring you this review! 😀

Do you want to know why I’m so thrilled about Gentlest of Wild Things?

Read on, loves!

Blurb

On the island of Zakynthos, nothing is more powerful than Desire―love itself, bottled and sold to the highest bidder by Leandros, a power-hungry descendent of the god Eros.

Eirene and her beloved twin sister, Phoebe, have always managed to escape Desire’s thrall. Until Leandros’ wife dies mysteriously and he sets his sights on Phoebe. Determined to keep her sister safe, Eirene strikes a bargain with Leandros: if she can complete the four elaborate tasks he sets her, he will find another bride. But it soon becomes clear that the tasks are part of something bigger; something related to Desire and Lamia, the strange, neglected daughter Leandros keeps locked away.

Lamia knows her father hides her for her own protection, though as she and Eirene grow closer, she finds herself longing for the outside world. But the price of freedom is high, and with something deadly―something hungry―stalking the night, that price must be paid in blood . . .

The Positive Points

What a thrilling beginning chapter! I wasn’t expecting that chase. The prologue is confusing, but in a thrilling “I need to know MORE” kind of way. Honestly, the more I kept reading, the faster I read it and I couldn’t stop thinking about this story. I was so enraptured by this book! Another great thing was how the gods were mentioned in expressions such as “Damn her principles to Hades and back”, and other times Eirene thinks about the gods and how she works and none has ever helped. Like, they’re here and alive, but she only believes in them and doesn’t know they’re real. Like it’s a hint to us, readers. About what’s to come and how the story is more supernatural than we think at first.

As for the characters themselves, I must say that both Eirene and Lamia are loveable in their own ways. Their first meeting was explosively dramatic, emotional, and fun as a ready. I wasn’t expecting that to go this awry! It was different from the usual “I like you already” or “love at first meeting” that is prevalent in so many stories it’s become bland. Eirene is so cute and protective, I love her! She is the strong determined sister to protect her sister Phoebe, weaker in health and in a bad situation. On a side note, I love how each girl has a passion. For Eirene, it’s plants and herbs. For Phoebe, it’s weaving. And for Lamia, it’s drawing. It’s more realistic and it’s nice to see they have something, a hobby, to hold onto, something they love. Lamia is such a cutie! Poor her though, she is so ignorant of the world and abused for the villain’s own riches. She was brainwashed into thinking what her father was doing was good… I love her, she is so kind-hearted and caring, and, poor her, innocent, too! What Lamia has as a special gift, I thought it was just so beautiful and poetic, and well handled throughout the story, with an evolution tied to the character’s arc. Wow! Her character arc is where she becomes more assured and grounded in reality. It was beautiful to see! And the fact that Lamia tried so much to save and help Eirene even if it meant she might run away… Awwwwwww, my FEELS! Plus, there is some closure I wasn’t expecting for one aspect of Lamia’s life later on which echoes the very first chapter. What a great thing to weave into the story!

As for the villain, wow, he’s very dangerous just like I thought before we actually met him. Even with Lamia, his own daughter! He emanates shrewdness, danger, and violence. He is so cruel and abusive, both with Lamia and Eirene, mostly with words, and threats, and mean tricks and lies, but also with physical violence and manipulation. I’m sure he’s a beast—at least, to me.

Speaking of Eirene and Lamia, the sapphic romance is sweet and easy to follow. I love how Eirene is rebellious with boys and wishes not to marry, while Lamia is all compliments and admiration for Eirene. Great ways to show them being sapphic before getting to know each other and falling in love. It’s innate even though they don’t know what it is or means. Their little attraction and romance is so cute. It’s soft and sweet by moments, throughout the big problematic mess they’re in. It’s also really sweet how their affection grows naturally and you can notice it through thoughts, awkward touches, and words like “Our Lamia” when Eirene is proud, and more. For example, it is romantic and soft and sensual per moments with them discovering they desire each other. Like how being close to the other feels, and wishing she would just lean over and kiss her… I also let let out a gasp when I learned that Eirene’s goal is in direct conflict with Lamia herself and her affection and love for her. Ouch! You’ll see! The longing was real, I was so waiting for them to get together, iiiiiiihhhhhh! It was very satisfying! This is a story of love (in many shapes), and also of a void of loneliness being filled by someone you come to love.

Fun fact: I didn’t know wrapping a bandage could be so sensual and romantic, but wow, it is, and it’s beautiful.

Awwww, I love when FMCs cut their own hair. I did it twice too for the unease I felt with my long hair and I was at a time where I couldn’t pay for a haircut, so I tried to cut my hair and felt thrilled and wild. And it wasn’t so bad. I love when the FMC feels the same and tries the same thing. It’s also an act of rebellion and to seek wellness in one’s body.

Oh, and I love how Eirene discovers the source of Desire. I have been waiting for their two storylines to merge like this for the intrigue to have its answer. The “how” took me by surprise because I wasn’t waiting for it anymore. Fun!

Gentlest of Wild Things is a clever retelling in ancient times of Psyche and Eros, but make it sapphic. It’s lovely and magical. It’s also a strong “do it yourself” story, which I always love.

Every one of Eirene’s task was fun and exciting, but the last one was the most thrilling and exciting, and full of magic and mythology. What a retelling, and what turn it took! I noticed, like I mentioned earlier, that Lamia underwent the most changes in her arc. Eireine’s is more subtle, yet still there.

This story respects mythology, like the path to Hades not being for mortal eyes, and more. Also, same respect with the time period, like with men acting out the plays.

Lastly, this is a doubtlessly a story of women who stand up to men who abused them in more ways than one. It’s powerful. As for the conclusion itself, it was veeeery satisfying and had me feeling all warm and fuzzy and giddy, rocking my legs and smiling.

The Negative Points

Hm, let’s skip this, shall we? None was to be found, whatsoever. The writing, the character development, the intrigue, everything was great!

In Conclusion

All in all, Gentlest of Wild Things was excellent to the end! It is a feminist, and cutely romantic sapphic tale! And the villain gets what he deserves… Mythology was well mixed with magic and romance as well, it was so nice! I give Gentlest of Wild Things a rating of 5 amphoras out of 5, because it was such a great read and sweet from the beginning to the end with strong emotions, thrills, and a soft romance. I loved all of it! Honestly, I would take a dozen more books like this one!!

If you would like to learn more about the author, Sarah Underwood, you can visit her website, follow her on her Instagram account, and on her Goodreads Author page. Don't forget to add Gentlest of Wild Things to your wishlist, your cart, or your bookshelves!

The End and the Beginning by K. J. Holdom: A Book Review

Book Reviews December 5, 2024 Leave a comment

K. J. Holdom's Website

Simon & Schuster CA's Author Page

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

StoryGraph

Fable

Genre: Historical fiction
Number of pages: 352
ISBN: 9781668045398

ASIN:B0CV27P1LW

Format: Paperback, eBook (Kobo, Kindle, Nook)
Publication date: November 05, 2024
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Type: Book, Novel, Standalone

Trigger Warnings: Rape is mentioned and alluded to in this story, Murder, Death, Bullying.

*Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for a physical galley of The End and the Beginning by K. J. Holdom! I write up this review willingly and without any compensation whatsoever.*

I remember seeing this cover and being intrigued, then reading the blurb and knowing I had to review it! I was so excited to read this book—it was my most anticipated read of fall!

It made my whole season having it to read and review!

I mean, a story inspired by true events of a Hitler Youth Camp teenager who escapes with his best friend? To find his mother, who’s also struggling in her own way—against a Nazi officer keeping her prisoner under threats?

YES, YES, definitely!!

Want to know how enjoyable it was, and what surprises I encountered during my reading experience?

Read on, lovelies!

The Positive Points

The best point about this book is how unique a point of view this is; it’s like being inside Germany during the end of the war. It’s rare that we get to see and experience this. There are few books tackling this topic, like The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. And it’s even based on a true story, wow!

As for the writing, there’s a certain poetry in description, and a strong imagery, mostly in setting.

I like the structure of the book: the backstory is told through the character’s POV in italics in big chunks (but not info dumps) inside the chapters. They’re memories, distant yet part of the present, like in italics in the text. A clever and fun way of doing this. Furthermore, I noticed there a lot of anguish and fleeting thoughts from previous scenes on Max’s part, one of the two main characters.

Plus, the research was thoroughly done and it shows through things like the black bread they ate, and people’s customs (such as how in France back at that time, high-born families never said, “bon appétit”) and events.

Max saved a cat—or a Horst (a character in the Hitler Youth Camp), which makes him more lovable. By siding with Horst, a “loser” in the Hitler Youth Camp as seen by his superiors and colleagues, I got attached to Max. His heart is sweet and soft and in the right place. Also, I love that he’s half-French, and half-German. This complicates things for him and unveils a different side of History we're not very knowledgeable about.

Speaking of characters, I fell in love with Max and Hans’ friendship right from their first scene. They’re so cute! Their friendship is everything, aw, my heart! So pure and true, right up until the very end of the book. Friendship is a huge theme, vital in this story.

As for the mother, Marguerite, she has some spike and fight in her! I like her and find her funny. I’m attached to her and what happens to her. Marguerite is a strong character, but rather fearful. She’s realistic, as not everyone has great courage. Yet, she cares for her children above all. I thought stuff like : “Awww, poor mother…” because she feels guilty of sending Max to that Hitler Youth Camp, and she wants him back to her side now, to protect him somehow. Truthfully, the mother’s worry and guilt towards her children is understandable. And mostly how she now wants a simple life for them, but at least a life where they’re safe and not in the middle of a bloody war. So they can at least live.

In my opinion, both POVs are survival stories, but in very different perspectives. Max is on the run, trying to survive the harsh reality of war and nature as he tries to reach his house with his best friend Hans. Meanwhile, the mother, Marguerite, is endeavoring to survive her time with her captor, a high-ranking nazi officer, and also trying to keep her daughter, Anna, safe.

Once the author used the title as a sentence, and gosh, was I happy! 😀 I love when they do that. Also, the author always leaves us with tension, questions, or cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. It’s fun! And very intriguing.

“The world pulls away. It feels as if she has lost her footing and been hurled into the air, weightless, staring at the endless glory of the stars, all the time bracing for the smack of bone on ice.” (Marguerite's POV)

This quote exemplifies really well how reading this book feels like: it’s tense, and like I need to know more, but at the same time, I know I’ll be smacked hard with shock and feels with what happens next, what truly happened, and the information given as we move forward! The End and the Beginning reads like a psychological thriller—it’s enjoyable!

Something that totally impressed me is that he side characters are not furniture like they are in most stories! They have lives and agendas of their own in this one. One even helps Marguerite without her knowing until the act is done, and bravo! So realistic, and fun to bring a side character’s secret agenda in like this against the Nazi keeping them prisoners.

My heart ached, and I was tearful in the last chapter with Max. So unfair for this little boy. But hadn’t Germany been unfair to most?

Moreover, I love that the author tells us how her research went and how she learned of Edmund’s story through generous relatives and more at the end of the book. It’s very fascinating and insightful to know, both for other authors and readers alike. She also added her sources, yay! I always find this so thrilling because I love to read more about captivating topics.

Lastly, I am glad this novel exists, if only to tell Edmund’s story, and also to talk about how it was inside Germany and with their indoctrination.

The Negative Points

Unfortunately, I noticed there were a few French errors… I speak French as my first language, and I am an editor, so it’s quite easy for me to spot those. I really hope a French-speaking editor worked on these sentences before publication.

Also, I think I had a bad timing with this book. It’s quite a heavy read in terms of topics and emotions, and I’m recovering from an open-heart surgery and it’s hard. So, two heavy things at the same time weren’t perhaps the best pairing in my life at the moment because it turned out hard to read…

I am not a fan of slow-paced reads, and according to the blurb, I imagined there would be more action. But all that is subjective, and while this is a heavy read, with a sense of impending doom written throughout, don’t let it deter you from reading this original book! These reasons are personal, and you might find this book at the right moment, and love the slow character-driven focus!

I am taking away one star because the blurb really made me think it would be action-filled, or at least told at a rapid pace. Also, because of the French errors—there weren’t many, but I really hope they’ve been checked by a French-speaking editor before publication.

In Conclusion

All in all, I really enjoyed this book’s structure and the agency of the side characters, as well as the thorough research. While it was a hard read for me due to timing, it was nonetheless very unique and interesting. I give The End and the Beginning by K. J. Holdom a rating of 4 stars out of 5! It’s an original debut book, and I hope you will give it a read!

If you want to learn more about the author, K. J. Holdom, make sure to head over to her website, her S&S author page, as well as her Goodreads author page. Don't forget to add The End and the Beginning to your wishlist, your cart, or your digital bookshelves!

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros: A Book Review

Book Reviews November 16, 2024 Leave a comment

by Aden Polydoros

Author's Website

HarperCollins' Author Page

Goodreads (Add it to your bookshelves!)

StoryGraph

LibraryThing

Hardcover.app

Genre: Historical fiction, Fantasy, YA
Number of pages: 336
ISBN: 9781335458032

ASIN: 1335458034

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook (Audible, Kobo, CD), eBook (Kobo, Kindle, Nook)
Publication date: October 10, 2023
Publisher: HarperCollins, Inkyard Press
Type: Book, Novel, Standalone

Huge thanks to Harper Collins Canada and Inkyard Press for a physical ARC of this book. I offer this review willingly and without any compensation whatsoever.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS A BIT OF SPOILERS, NOT MANY, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW.

I have to be honest, the striking cover with the girl’s fierce expression and the Hebrew writing got me interested in this book. Then, I saw the title and got excited—sounded totally up my alley! I read the blurb and I just fell for it. I had to read this gem! And so, I requested it from Harper Collins Canada and I’ve been honoured to have it granted to me as a paperback galley!

But what do I think of this book?

Well, for starters, I just loved it and I will never forget it. Vera and Akiva are dear to me, they’re seared into my heart. The book will sit high on my bookshelves, and I will look upon it with affection and satisfaction.

Also, honestly, this is the most humane fantasy story I have read in a long time.

Care to discover how so?

Keep reading, loves!

The Positive Points

Underneath the surface of this book is a coming of age story about identity, your place in the world, figuring out who you truly are and what you value versus the opinions of others, and how you choose to go about it. All told from the point of view of a golem girl made of a dead girl’s body parts and clay. It’s as surprising as poignant as it sounds (and even more when you read it!) Vera’s reflections on on life, death, pain, happiness, and what it means to be human are touching, poignant, and relatable (although she is a golem, but it is indeed an interesting vessel for these reflections.) The story revolves around the concepts of monster and man, who’s the monster and who is the man (or woman here) in that war? It reminds me of Clopin singing “Who’s the monster and who is the man?” in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Disney.

The great friendship and companionship between Vera and Akiva is sweet and comforting. They have a cute, bittersweet companionship. And their banter is fun; it’s genuine, like Vera describes it. Vera’s attraction and affection for Akiva seems forbidden, due to the nature of her creation, yet it’s what she wants as well as Chaya, but as herself. Golems have wants too. I was suffering reading their moments together because shipping them feels forbidden, like a transgression somehow, but they’re so cute. And believe me, there will be many surprises with their relationship! You’re in for a jolly good ride with them; several tears, groans, smiles, and one joyful shriek (at least that’s how it went for me). Moreover, Vera’s confrontation with Akiva learning the truth about her being a golem is so sad and rife with angst. But I love how she still tries to claim her right on her body parts and life, although it does seem weak, poor doll. I was so shocked, but glad in the end because Akiva’s always been that good guy, I know. 🙂

Also, I looooved meeting their enemies and friends; mostly their friends, like a kind girl named Miriam, and Gulzifa (you’ll see). There were several plot twists along the reading, two of which I hadn’t seen coming, so kudos there. It was both incredibly sweet AND heart-wrenching. And Omfg, meeting the Nazi they’re after was such a surprise! Mostly in the how it’s done! Plus, It’s so f*** true how appearances can be deceiving; how monsters can hide in plain sight and look innocent. Yet the true innocent are persecuted and viewed as monsters.

I particularly noticed a “polyglot moment”. I saw that in some scenes where Vera struggled with which word to utter in what context, yet they all surged in her mind for her to use in all the languages she knows. It feels exactly like that as a polyglot, ha! (I’d know because I’m one.)

One thing that is very important in Wrath Becomes Her is how Vera wants so much to be loved. As herself. Don’t we all? Plus, the imagery to describe her emotions is often interesting because the author uses words related to water, rocks, and rivers, and so on (where she comes from). She doesn’t understand death, and is always trying to grasp its concept, just as life, yet her descriptions are striking.

At some point, Vera has to fight some clay or creatures like her. she doesn’t want to do it, yet she has to. This is just like some did to survive, they had to kill the enemy to breathe air for one more day… Like in the concentration camps and out of them during the war. It was a good mirror moment.

I must say the last chapters are quite dark and horror-like, which is beautiful and fitting to this novel. And they’re quite exciting, with thrilling action!

As for another character, Ezra, he’s such a complex yet angsty character. We don’t like him right away, but we can understand his motives. But in the end, it’s lovely and he’s thoughtful. That took me by surprise, even though I’d hoped for something similar from him. Finally, he accepts his “creation”. We get to we see what acceptant and love can do. In addition to that, I love how their creators (Ezra being Vera’s) give the Golems traits and purposes; like Vera got rage, emotions, curiosity, and empathy.

According to theories and beliefs explained here and there in the book, it seems Vera does have a soul of some kind. So sweet! It’s about the Luz bone (where the soul resides) and reincarnation, interesting! Also, Vera goes from being seen and feeling like a monster, to being seen as and acting like a protector. That transformation of perspective and reactions is amazing and touching. It pulls my heart out but replaces it a bit better, too. This book explores death, grief, life, happiness, survival, injustice, love, and fear. It’s beautiful and heart-wrenching, yet it aims so true. It’s human, and it’s beautiful, in all its messiness.

And awwww, wow, a lovely, fitting ending!!! Such a twist! I’M LOVING IT! I was somehow hoping for it, yearning for it, but I thought it was too… dark for a young adult book, but hey, the author surprised me greatly! Dang, I just adored that!!! The perfect ending for Wrath Becomes Her in my opinion!!! I will never forget it, it left its mark on me, haha.

The Negative Points

The only negative point is that sometimes the author would repeat words and phrases a few times in the same page, it’s slightly annoying but it doesn’t happen too often. Yet it’s not worth taking away a star for this!

In Conclusion

All in all, Wrath Becomes Her is also about how to make a difference in the world, in something seemingly insurmountable, and it’s positive, it’s about helping people, which I adored. This is honestly the most humane fantasy story I have read in a long time. For all these reasons of positivity and humane feelings, I give Wrath Becomes Her a solid, unbreakable rating of 5 stars out of 5.

If you want to learn more about the author, Aden Polydoros, you can visit his website, his Goodreads Author page, or his HarperCollins' Author Page. You can also connect with him on Instagram! Don't forget to add Wrath Becomes Her to your wishlist or your cart as well as your bookshelves!

Sky of Ashes, Land of Dreams by Erin Jamieson: A Book Review

Book Reviews June 17, 2024 Leave a comment

(Bookstagram by catherinegv on Instagram, a.k.a me!)

Type Eighteen Books (Publisher)

Add it to your Goodreads bookshelves!

Add it to your LibraryThing bookshelves!

Add it to your StoryGraph bookshelves!

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction

Pages: 270

ISBN: 9798987830925

ASIN: B0CH4HWZVM

Format: Paperback, ebook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook)

Publication date: November 1^st, 2023

Publisher: Type Eighteen Books

Type: Book, Novel

Huge thanks to Edelweiss+ and Type Eighteen Books a digital ARC of this book. I offer this review willingly and without any compensation whatsoever.

Introduction

I remember browsing the Edelweiss+ menu and stumbling across this gorgeous and intriguing cover. I love foreign cultures, so this called out to me immediately! Also, as I read the blurb, and it spoke of people living in Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, I just had to request it. Finally, a reading trip somewhere I hadn't explored before! With a culture and people new to me. Surely, this would be a magnificent read. And was it?

In fact, not only was it, but it greatly exceeded my expectations!

Want to know why? Read on, loves!

The Blurb

The enthralling story of three unforgettable young adults living on the cusp of great change in early 20th-century Mongolia. A captivating, beautiful saga from debut novelist Erin Jamieson about having dreams, finding love, and learning to survive in a harsh, ever-changing place.

In the winter of 1917, Bolormaa is introduced to the man she is to marry on her eighteenth birthday, over mutton stew and steaming buuz. She has spent her entire life in the Gobi Desert, living a nomadic life with her family, always moving with their animals in search of grazing lands. Reading about other places in a tent school, she dreamed of another sort of life. But now, her education is finished, and her future seems to be laid out before her like the colorful rugs in the family’s ger.

Ganbaatar grew up under the vast, blue-gray, Mongolian sky, the protective arm of his mother, and the withering gaze of his father. He has been a good son and a steady hand, working on the land with the herds, often feeling that he was meant for something different—if only he had the courage to reach for it.

When Aisin’s parents die, she leaves her siblings and everything she knows in China to live with her uncle in Mongolia. She’s unprepared for the level of prejudice she’ll face because of her heritage, but her bravery and stubbornness form a shield she readily dons. An accomplished horse rider and rare beauty, she works alongside her uncle and forges a path as a single woman during a challenging era.

A sweeping novel of historical fiction, Sky of Ashes, Land of Dreams follows these characters through the tumultuous decades following the October Revolution and outbreak of the Russian Civil War, and the Chinese occupation of Mongolia and rise of the Mongolian People’s Party, under whose leadership their nomadic way of life undergoes significant changes. Bound together in a unique love triangle that will span their lives, Bolormaa, Ganbaatar, and Aisin face these changes with courage and sometimes, with fear, and their journey of self-discovery and self-determination amidst the challenges and brutalities of life is an extraordinary tale of hope, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit.

The Positive Points

Oh, what an intriguing beginning! It mentions the visitors are rare, and in such an even farther away location there is a visitor in the Gobi Desert, her suitor, which is curious but makes him serious about a potential proposal. The author uses good action and visual verbs, such as “a sharp wind curls into the ger”. It’s full of imagery and cuts to the chase.

I love how Bolormaa thinks she is plain, and is aptly described as such in appearance. It’s different from most heroines who are either stunning, pretty, or said to be plain, but their description says otherwise. Plus, I love her adornments and Mongolian clothes. The fact that the author uses Mongolian words like ger and airag and a few others make it even lovelier, more accessible and immersive. We don’t read about Mongolia often enough, so yes please! The mentions of traditions and descriptions such as the first haircut which indicates a boy becoming a man delight me!

Aawwwwwwwww, Ganbaatar’s description of how he wants to love his wife is sooooo romantic! If only he’d kept to his word fully…

One aspect I love is that we have several POVs throughout the book. We got to know Bolormaa and Ganbaatar well, and three chapters from Aisin’s POV (I wish we’d had more because she is interesting), and in the last pages, Gerel’s POV, their daughter, and Quatan’s POV, their son. It shows the evolution of the characters and the passage of time. I am very fond of this writing choice!

Moreover, this is such a precious book! We don’t have enough Mongolian YA fiction, or Mongolian fiction at all. We need more, and this one is an immersive and impressive stepping stone!!!!

Also, I love that it’s so realistic it hurts; there are no elements of “fairy tale” found in books where it’s bad and then gets so much better… nope, it’s like life can be sometimes: it goes from bad to worse, and sometimes in-between it gets awfully bad. And there are status quos as well and a few joys. It’s the book most similar to life I have ever read, and it’s beautiful in its broken, humane way. Up until the very end.

Bolormaa grabs Gerel’s hand, swallows hard, and then does the only brave thing in her life—something brave and cowardly at the same time.

She and her daughter run, leaving Aisin behind in the ger where the heat is building from the encroaching flames.

(p. 165, Sky of Ashes, Land of Dreams)

I have never read such a more realist story. It is wonderful, as it is sometimes painful to read. But that’s exactly part of its charm and why I love it so much.

Another fascinating point is that it really follows History what with the Soviet Union’s invasion, and the racism between Mongolians and Chinese. It is well done and, while unfortunate and sad, it is realistic and true. We also get to see the Mongolian independence as well, but the subtleties about the slowness of real changes are interesting.

The ending and where they are now in life and relationships has kind of been foretold in previous chapters what with Bolormaa’s dream, but it has not taken a necessarily positive turn… like so often in life, it can be disappointing. Or at the very least, not like we first imagined it to be.

One of my favourite things is that I learned from this book a few Mongolian traditions, and elements of their culture and history. It was a delight and helped me develop an interest in Mongolian language and culture. Here are a few videos I watched to get to know them better:

About the Mongolian Language

WIKITONGUES: Khulan speaking Mongolian

Mongolian language: Saying Hello (Easy & Practical Ways)

Also, there is always some kind of conflict, whether it’s personal, interpersonal, or environmental! It’s never boring, even though it recounts ordinary life for Mongolians in the Gobi Desert and Ulaanbaatar. Sometimes, events we witness or experience can shape us in different ways; sometimes it traumatizes us and other times it gives us a purpose. I love that this book explores this topic in depth and with a gentle but firm and true hand.

I found a certain scene to be quite memorable and well-written: When Bolormaa and Ganbaatar, young, are sharing their dreams in the evening outside her ger under the starry sky. It was beautiful, candid, and hopeful

Lastly, this book is a treasure what with going to the metaphorical end of this family, which is in some way a new beginning too. It encompasses everything from the parents’ marriage to one of them crossing the threshold. It’s beautiful, poignant and true. It resounds in one's feelings and emotions, and I cannot stress enough how the reading of Sky of Ashes, Land of Dreams is worth it on an emotional and cultural level!

The Negative Points

There aren’t negative points, unless you’re afraid of feels or dislike them during your reading. If so, this book is not for you.

There is a point I’d like to tackle, though: there is a situation of adultery, and it made me uncomfortable. So, if you consider adultery as a trigger warning, be aware there is no depiction of it, only subtle mentions.

In Conclusion

I will repeat it again: Sky of Ashes, Land of Dreams by Erin Jamieson is a real gem, and a story we need more of the likes! For this reason, and the sheer joy and feels I had while reading this book, which I kept telling my surrounding about ALL THE TIME, I give it a rating of 5 out of 5 stars! If I could give it 6 out of 5 stars, I would do it, but hey, we’ll stick with 5 being the best rating ever!

If you want to learn more about Erin Jamieson, you can visit Type Eighteen Books' authors page. If you want to read more from Erin Jamieson, you can visit her Goodreads page. Don't forget to add Sky of Ashes, Land of Dreams to your Goodreads bookshelves!

Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade: A Book Review

Book Reviews May 4, 2024 Leave a comment

(Photo by me, May 2024)

Janet Skeslien Charles' official website

Simon & Schuster's Book Page

Add to your Goodreads shelves!

The StoryGraph

LibraryThing

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction

Pages: 336

ISBN: 9781668008980

ASIN: B0CL5FXNQX

Audio ASIN: B0CLHJMV7P

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), Audiobook (Audible, Kobo, B&N Audiobooks)

Publication date: April 30, 2024

Publisher: Atria Books

Type: Book, Novel

Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster CA and Atria Books for a physical ARC of this book. I offer this review willingly and without any compensation whatsoever.

I’m an avid historical fiction reader, and even more when they’re based on true stories and people and thoroughly researched. So, as soon as I saw Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles up for review, I requested it. How fortunate am I to have received it! Honestly, this has been such an amazing read—it sure didn’t disappoint, and it checked all my boxes for a great historical read.

The Positive Points

I love that it starts with a reminiscence of a CARD woman of something very meaningful to her while she’s going through her closet: her brigade uniform. It’s beautiful, like a dance with the past—like Anastasia and her song Once Upon a December! The reminiscence with her uniform (the unknown CARD) makes for perfect time travel in the following (first) chapter. The best part of this is that we come to learn who the CARD woman from the first chapter (who’s unknown to us then) is at the end. This was a delightful surprise, and much realistic, too.

The first chapter introduced a bit of thrill and fear, which was very promising. And the book kept on delivering on this promise!

Kit Carson’s exchanges with kids are lovely. Her kindness with children to help is obvious. Very sweet. Also, I love how she talks about “double standard” that we, women, experience. The MC is quite intelligent, it’s so pleasant!

Plus, it’s so cute that she fitted as many books as she could in her trunk. Ain’t that true! It’s cute, and the reader’s life is on display. I think the “library of her mind” (Kit Carson) is so cute. It’s adorable to read about a mind library so detailed and loved, because not enough people have them nor think about this; which is even rarer in books, I find. I speak from experience—I’ve got one such mind library.

Moreover, I am fond of how Jessie Carson reaches out to help those in need (in many different ways, some more dire than others). Sometimes a shared tragedy can open people up, or help them, when they’re unreachable. It was both beautiful and tragic, poignant and hopeful.

As they checked out books, Madame said, “A town needs a library in the same way that a home needs a hearth.”

p.503 of 669 from the digital copy of Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade.

This quote describes the whole ambiance of this story. It is warm like an embrace, bookish, familial, and much inclusive of found family. It speaks of a deep need and unity too, something that all families and all towns revolve around: the hearth, a.k.a the library.

Surprisingly, it also tells the tale of Wendy Peterson in the 80s. When it switches to modern times with that specific character, I find the humour is priceless! It’s still bookish, just modern.

As for romance, I shipped Kit and her lover so much! They’re so cute and he’s so lovely with her. Two readers, awww! But I won’t tell you more about him, or it might ruin a few surprises ;). In addition to that, I think the sex scenes were done with gusto. It was full of feelings and emotions, yet suggestive but not vulgar. I was just surprised that there were sex scenes in my historical read. A special shout-out the sapphic love (between two women): the way sapphic love is tackled is gentle and beautiful. Genuine. Thank you, it touched me.

While this story isn’t built on action, a few moments are quite fearful and exciting. During a high-voltage chapter (what I call it since there was, let’s say, an urgency to it), I had goosebumps all over my body during this thrilling chapter. There is a place where the character mentions that “always courage”. And I agree. Always courage, indeed. And that’s why I love humans, and such stories that are inspiring.

On top of all this, I noticed the research was thorough, because the CARDs a Peugeot car and it fits the time period and setting since it’s in and from France, and it needed to be imported in America and Canada back then.

As for the book itself, the chapters’ layout is interesting, with the title cards of the characters, location and dates being on the right. It makes it easy to read and discover we’re with which character for this chapter. Our eyes usually go instantly to the right of the next page, so this layout is great and intuitive!

An admirable thing was that I could feel the author’s love and respect for CARDs through Wendy Peterson. Thank you for bringing them forth into the light; they deserve this literary spotlight. Lastly, the fact that the author included some of her research with photos, and resources about the CARDs, makes me so thrilled! I love when authors do that—as if this book couldn’t get any more perfect!

The Negative Points

Sometimes, the rhythm of the read would slow down—a bit too much to my taste. But it’s also quite normal considering how CARDs were there to help rebuild and not directly at war, though quite close, it was still very dangerous. Despite this, I acknowledge these slow parts were necessary for this tale. I’m not taking any points for this, but I just wanted to let you folks know this read can slow down here and there, and that if you’re looking for a completely high-tension historical book, this is not for you. But if you like your historical fictions realistic, emotional, and character-building, this is your book!

In Conclusion

I had such a fantastic time reading this book. I can remember tracking my reading time (yes, I love doing that!), and when I was not reading, I just longed to track my time again and discover more of Jessie “Kit” Carson and the CARDs’ story! For all these beautiful positive points, I give Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles a lovely rating of 5 out of 5 stars! It was a beautiful, sometimes thrilling read, but always touching and engrossing.

(Photo by Krystal Kenney)

If you want to learn more about the author, Janet Skeslien Charles, you can visit her author webpage and her page on Simon & Schuster's website, you can also follow her on Amazon author page and Goodreads. You can also add Miss Morgan's Book Brigade to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Portraitist by Susanne Dunlap & the Author Behind the True Story of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard

Blog Tours, Book Reviews, chit-chatting with Cat September 25, 2022 Leave a comment

Want to read the true story of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard's fight to take her rightful place in the competitive art world of eighteenth-century Paris?

Read on, friend, read on!

What about the whole blurb?

With a beautiful rival who’s better connected and better trained than she is, Adélaïde faces an uphill battle. Her love affair with her young instructor in oil painting gives rise to suspicions that he touches up her work, and her decision to make much-needed money by executing erotic pastels threatens to create as many problems as it solves. Meanwhile, her rival goes from strength to strength, becoming Marie Antoinette’s official portraitist and gaining entrance to the elite Académie Royale at the same time as Adélaïde.

When at last Adélaïde earns her own royal appointment and receives a massive commission from a member of the royal family, the timing couldn’t be worse: it’s 1789, and with the fall of the Bastille her world is turned upside down by political chaos and revolution. With danger around every corner in her beloved Paris, she must find a way to adjust to the new order, carving out a life and a career all over again—and stay alive in the process.

Published on August 30th, 2022 by She Writes Press

Now, thanks to Books Forward and Susanne Dunlap, I was offered a free e-copy of The Portraitist for a review (coming soon!) and the opportunity to shout out about this book depicting a true story of an artist woman (please see this very article).

But who's behind this great story and research?

Here's Susanne Dunlap:

Not only is she a wonderful author, she's quite savvy and passionate in her field. She published her first at 50 years old (amazing! dreams and talents are worth following!), and she's now an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach in fiction and nonfiction (impressive!). I particularly love how she first fell in love with historical fiction: I first by reading T.H. White’s The Once and Future King! I mean, already I was intrigued that Miss Dunlap had found and told a woman artist's tale mostly unknown to the general public, but now I gotta admit I feel a certain kinship with her. Arthurian legends, historical fiction, feminism, and all that good stuff? OMG, sign me up!

16 Historical Novels That Make History So Much Fun

Want to know more about The Portraitist?

You can visit the Goodreads page

the Amazon page

and the official page on the author's website

(there's even a Book Club Guide on there, woohoo!)

Please, take a look at Susanne Dunlap's bio (it's worth a read, it's impressive!), and at her blog and courses. Ah, finally a historical research course worthy of the name…!!!!

Wow GIFs | GIFDB.com

You can bet I'll take that course when I can fund it!

Don't forget to add The Portraitist: A Novel of Adelaide Labille-Guiard to your Goodreads bookshelves, or any other bookshelves for that matter, and visit Dunlap's site as well as my dear Books Forward!

Then, stay tuned for my upcoming review! 🙂

Happy reading, loves!

Blog Tour – She’s the One Who Can’t Keep Quiet by S. R. Cronin with Other Worlds Ink (F/F, Historical Fantasy)

Blog Tours January 15, 2022 Leave a comment

Yellow Wife: A Book Review

Book Reviews February 13, 2021 Leave a comment

Simon & Schuster Canada

By Sadeqa Johnson

Genre: Fiction, Historical

Pages: 288

ISBN: 978-1-9821-4910-9

ASIN: B08BZFTB1Y

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook (Kindle, Kobo, Nook), Audiobook

Publication date: January 2021

Publisher: 37 Ink/Simon & Schuster

Type: Book, Novel

*I received a free paperback copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and Sadeqa Johnson!*

Introduction

What do I have to say about Yellow Wife? Here, summarized: I… Well… my feels… I just… Wow!!!

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Okay, wait a minute now! Let me explain my reactions better. Please do proceed by reading my review and I promise it will make sense.

Blurb

Pheby Delores Brown, a teenage slave on a plantation in America in the 1800s, has been cherished above all others and promised freedom by her master at 18 years old. A tragedy strikes, and Pheby is sold by the mistress who hates her, sent to a slave jail and thrown into a life she never wanted. A life where she’ll have to be smarter than she ever thought she could be and play everything to survive, for herself and her loved ones. Will she see freedom or ensure it for those she loves by paying the ultimate price?

The Positive Sides

If you want a moving read, this is the book for you! So many harsh realities that are so poignant they made me stop reading for hours at a time, sobbing, because I felt so much for them. This is not a flaw, it’s a compliment! It’s been so long I was THIS invested in characters and their stories, I mean in such an emotional perspective that sobs were wrenched from me. There is also one of the most realistic death scenes I’ve read. Ever. And it’s just soul-crushing but so well written.

The writing is beautiful, elegant, and yet the vernacular and language of the black people are so real I can hear them in my head exactly like they would talk. Quite a talent to write so differently! I believed in their dialogue, and I enjoyed reading it so much. Professionally and passionately done, kudos to Sadeqa Johnson! As for Pheby, the main character, was strong, brilliant, affectionate, a survivor through and through. Awesome woman! I’d have done the same in her situation. Now, what about the story? Wow. Special, moving, motivating, inspiring. Strong. And the other characters? Loving, resilient, interesting, true, all of them. The mothers? So real, so touching.

It’s an extremely important read! So important I feel it changed me in some way. I can’t tell you how I’m not quite sure yet, but I feel different. Although I was never racist (I’m into languages, cultures, translation, and all of that good stuff), it still broadened my perspective. If you want to be moved and come out changed, even if only a little, please, read Yellow Wife. Everyone should read this book to know what truly happened, the horrors black people, slaves, went through. Unimaginable. Yet so real. I’m sorry for all of them. This book does something magical. It moves you, so poignant I never read anything like it; it’s raw, honest, true. It’s a women’s story, of love, sacrifice, slavery, reality, survival… It’s everything gripping. If it were for me, if I had enough money, I’d purchase a copy and distribute one to EVERYONE, but since I’m not rich, my words will have to suffice. But mark them. I always think high schoolers should read this in class due to its importance and its eye-opening nature. Please, READ THIS BOOK! shoves it in your face with passion

Reading this book, I was crying, sobbing, moved, and I wanted to reach out to all the past slaves and just… hug them, let them feel the love. Tell them they were strong and beautiful and they MATTERED. I would have offered my help, but I know they could save themselves. Black people are strong, but I’m always here for you if you need help or a discussion. I know you’re heroes too and survivors, but I wanted so bad to be their friend. Stop this cruelty. Make it right. I’m so glad things have improved, but they could still get better. I support you! HERE’S MY LOVE TO YOU! It was even harder reading this book because my family is a direct descendant of a slave woman… it’s in my roots though I am white. But I can’t deny it nor never would want to. That woman who gave birth to my family is history, she’s important, she mattered. That’s why I’m talking about it here. Also, my dear female cousin is mulatto, like Pheby the MC, and damn do I love her. Always have since I was a child and saw her for the first time. Sometimes I would read the book and see my cousin in Pheby’s stead and I would be so furious and utterly disgusted. I’m glad she’s safe. I’m glad she’s thriving. I’m glad I know her. I want you all to be safe, to tell your stories loud and clear I’ll lend you my hand when you want it, but I know you can do it on your own, heroes and heroines. You go, girl, you go, boy. And you go, non-binary. I believe in you.

I will definitely purchase a copy for my “Favourites” shelf in hardcover, because it deserves to be there. It marked and changed me positively. I don’t know how yet, but I feel it within. It’s strong; this book tore me apart and stitched me back together again. I never sobbed nor cried so hard throughout a single book, but I feel fixed somehow? I loved this journey I went on with Pheby, though my heart was ripped from my chest oftentimes. This is not only the best book I’ve read lately, it’s definitely in my top 10 EVER. It had such a huge impact on me. I’m grateful to have read it. I feel like I’ve matured, like I’ve learned and shared something. I never read a book that I thought was “important” in terms of meaning or change… but this one? It’s the one I call IMPORTANT. Please, make all the difference you can by reading it and shouting about it on social media.

Just read it, okay? Sadeqa Johnson is a glorious author, and I’ll definitely await her upcoming books.

The Negative Sides

I couldn’t find any, except that it’s a true story. Hear me out! I’m so sad this story is based on real events because the characters were immensely mistreated. I just… My heart goes to them. But the book? The book is one of the most poignant and its effects deep and long-lasting that I have ever read.

In summary, you want an imperfect book? Skip this one. You want perfection, love (in all its meaning), strength, and history? Don’t ignore Yellow Wife!

In Conclusion

For all the emotions and the positive change it produced in me, and the truth it conveys so well, I would give Yellow Wife a rating of 10 out of 5 stars! Unfortunately, I can’t. So I’ll give it a full rating of 5 excellent stars out of 5! This book is perfect in many ways, with all its special characters and the strength emanating from it and the love, but it’s most definitely perfect in my heart. I could talk for hours about this book, but this review will have to do. But if we meet, trust me, I’ll talk about it. Thank you so much Simon & Schuster Canada for sending me this most perfect book! It made a great and positive impact on me and I will never forget your kindness of agreeing to send this new reviewer of yours such a marvellous book. Miss Sadeqa Johnson, all my praise! I’m so glad Mary Lumpkin followed you back home that day so you had to write this book. Thank you.

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on her Amazon author page and Twitter, as well as Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads. Plus, don't forget to visit her publisher, Simon & Schuster. You can also add Yellow Wife to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.