Short Thoughts on Recent Reads

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Probably 3.5

This story in the vein of a Russian folktale really held my interest. Taking place in the cold Russian wilderness, young Vasilisa thrives despite her mother dying at her birth. Her older siblings dote on her, and she loves the woods and creatures surrounding and in her home. Things start to unravel when her father remarries and devolves further when another stranger comes to their village. Fairytale character like Frost and guardians are rampant throughout.

I enjoyed this book and will read the next one. I will say, for me, it was helpful to not know what the translation for some of the Russian creature names were as I tend to get a bit squeamish with some paranormal things. But since I didn't know until after, no harm.

As with much Russian literature, the many derivations of the name for the same person takes some getting used to.



View all my reviews King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Esme and Hunter have been friends pretty much since in utero. They have grown up alongside each other and share so much of their lives. So Hunter is thrown when Esme turns up engaged to a man no one has met yet.

This is the second book of this series I've read during this time of COVID19 quarantine. And they are perfect. Light. Clean. Fun. Engaging.

View all my reviews A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is probably one of the best retellings of Beauty and the Beast I've read. It is new and fresh.

Harper is magically transported from her home in DC to some other world and into the enchanted castle of Prince Rhen. Rhen is everything you would suppose a prince to be - arrogant, in charge, bossy - but harbors a secret. Harper is no damsel in distress though. She can take care of herself and doesn't mind going toe-to-toe with a prince when the situation calls for it. Add in a royal guard and an evil enchantress. Toss in some witty dialogue and some depth and character growth.

It's a great book. I can't wait to read the second in the series.

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Beezus & Ramona - Beverly Cleary

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book aloud with my kids (6 and 4yo). They loved it. My 6-year-old son - who can be somewhat ambivalent to read alouds unless they're pictures books - loved it. We typically do chapter books at lunch and picture books at bed. He consistently brought me this book to read at night too.
We learned a lot of good vocabulary. I don't remember Ramona being such a brat (with little discipline) when I read the books as a child myself, but it provided a lot of good discussion.

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Of Literature and Lattes - Katherine Reay

Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

In this book, we return to the fictional Chicago, Illinois suburb of Winsome. Alyssa has returned there as a last resort. The Silicone Valley company she worked for is being investigated by the FBI, and no other companies there will hire her. So, she returns to her childhood home and all the relationship issues included in it. At the same time, Jeremy has relocated to Winsome to open the coffee shop of his dreams and be closer to his daughter. All is not roses there either.

I was looking forward to returning to Winsome. This isn't necessarily a sequel to The Printed Letter Bookshop (which I really enjoyed), but it was helpful to have read that one to have more context for Alyssa.

I really wanted to love this book, and I just didn't. I didn't enjoy any of the characters, and there seemed to be a lot of repetition in informational details about some of them. Additionally, there were random characters that were just thrown in occasionally with very specific details about them. I'm assuming to set up for a third book in Winsome, but it just irked me a bit to have tidbits dropped and no follow through.

Also, the whole plot and relationships and drama seemed to happen really quickly. I did like some of the interactions between Alyssa and her mom, but then other interactions seemed to come from left field.

I felt overall there was a lot of telling and not so much showing when it came to everything in this book.

Not my favorite of hers. I loved some of here other books much more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher. I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.


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Into the Wilderness (Wilderness #1) - Sara Donati

Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Set in the 1790's, this book begins a series centering on a New York mountain village. Elizabeth Middleton returns to her father's home after being raised by here aunt in England. There she encounters a cast of characters that are set in their ways, especially as she's determined to establish a school that welcomes all. She also meets Nathaniel Bonner, a white man who lives like a Native American.

So, I'm not going to lie. I did pick up this book solely on the fact I listened to an Anne Bogel "What Should I Read Next" podcast where it comes up that some of the Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) characters make an appearance in this novel. The appearance is not in person but by mention, and definitely brief. Luckily, this book and its characters were interesting enough to hold my attention without that hook - that was towards the middle anyway.

Don't go into this expecting a book like Outlander though. Yes, it's historical fiction set in some of the same time frame. But the characters seemed more modern yet set in a historical time frame. It just didn't seem as satiated in the time period or even as accurate.

Elizabeth seemed fairly juvenile to me. I liked her, but kept thinking of her as 19 instead of a spinster of 29. The romance also seemed more lust than love and happened very quickly.

It took about 10 chapters to get into the plot, but then it seemed to pick up. I was engaged by that point though. In some places, the timeline or setting seemed to jump without any warning like a page break or a chapter change. That could have been issues with the ebook version though. There were also some inconsistencies and dropped story lines. Hoping some of those are picked up in the next book.

I will be reading book 2. If you plan to as well, do yourself a favor and don't read the summary of the book on Goodreads. I feel like it spoiled some of it before I even started.

Heads-Up: some steamy content - I skipped paragraphs here and there. I don't think there was as much as an Outlander book though.

Read more reviews at https://mommyreadsbooks.blogspot.com/

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The Forgotten Road (The Broken Road #2) - Richard Paul Evans

The Forgotten Road by Richard Paul Evans
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The second book in the Broken Road series, Charles James is continuing his walk along Route 66.

This book was more of a 1.5 stars for me. I didn't not like it, but I didn't really like it either. While Charles moved along his route, the plot didn't really move along much at all. It was more a list of towns and roadside attractions than the introspection I'm used to from Evans's books and characters. Even The Walk series, which this one is reminding me more and more of - just a different route, had a lot more character development and interaction.

I'll read the third book just because it's not a huge time commitment, but I'm hoping that one is more than the travelogue this one seemed to be. And not a very engaging travelogue at that.

More reviews at https://mommyreadsbooks.blogspot.com/

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Green (Circle 0) - Ted Dekker

Green: The Beginning and the End by Ted Dekker
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Ugh. This book. I wish I could go back and time and never read it so it wouldn't have tainted my love for the original Circle Trilogy.

I read the original trilogy a couple of years before Green was released, so I wanted to reread the other three books before reading Green. I just read all four in a row. And I have a lot to say about Green - none of it complementary. I wish I could give zero stars.

First of all, Dekker says Green completes the Circle, and you can read it at the beginning or the end. There is NO WAY you could read this book before you read Black, Red, and White. Absolutely no way. It would make no sense and be even more confusing than reading it after you've read those three.

Second, it seems like someone completely different wrote this book than the others. There is none of the vibrancy of character or engagement of plot present in this book that was there in the first three that would make a reader want to keep turning pages. In fact, I wanted to do anything *but* read more of Green. I wanted to give it up every other chapter, but my stubbornness to see the series through wouldn't let me. Seriously, I cleaned my kids' bathroom once instead of reading more of this book. That's desperate for you.

There were so many great descriptions in the other books. There were descriptions in this book. I don't know how many times I read about "light colored horses." Worse than that, so many of the descriptions were much more sultry/sensuous/sexual or violent. I was not a fan of the change. I understand that this book was about good and evil. And evil is dark. But I think that point can be expressed without being so graphic.

And vampires?!? Okay, I guess at this point I should admit that I haven't read all of the Ted Dekker's books. I think that was some of my confusion with a lot of what occurs in Green. You need to not only have read the original Circle Trilogy but also the other books (Showdown series, Lost Books, etc.) that link in and were written after Black/Red/White. Especially to understand Billy's character and story. Things are hinted at in Green. But the hints are confusing.

There were So. Many. inconsistencies. How did Thomas know Billy was connected with Ba'al? Even more so, how did he know that Janae and the priestess were connected when he'd never met her in any form? Chelise later reflects on Thomas shouting at her as he disappears, but nothing indicates he ever even saw her there. How does Janae so easily infiltrate the Eramites when such a point has been made about Eram being a smart leader and it was mentioned multiple times that the Eramites are supremely cautious of the albinos, including Samuel and his friends.

Character development: There was none.

The world building of the other books: nonexistent.

Read the original three. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

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The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Princess Ani knows that as Crown Princess she's destined to be queen...until that all changes.
I really enjoyed this book. Can't wait to do a read aloud with my kiddos. Princess, action and adventure, strong characters. It's a good one. And apparently the first in a series. I'll be reading the next one.

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Still Life (Chief Inspector Gamache #1) - Louise Penny

Still Life by Louise Penny
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was my local book club pick for the month. It has been on my TBR list for quite awhile as Anne Bogel (Modern Mrs. Darcy) and others have been raving about the series for years. Because of that, I think it was a case of expectations and reality for me that I ended up thinking the book was just “meh.”
This is the first book in the series by Louise Penny that centers around Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. On Thanksgiving Sunday, he is dispatched to a murder scene in the rural village of Three Pines, Quebec. Jane, who seems to be universally loved by the town members, is dead in the woods. Inspector Gamache and his team need to determine foul play and whodunit.
There were a lot of nuances and mentions about the English Canadians and the French Canadians throughout the book. Those were completely over my head.
There was one character, Agent Nichol, who’s continued story I would like to know. But not enough to invest reading time into the other books in the series (13 to date).
A lot of emotions and thoughts. I felt some characters were decidedly stereotypical.
However, I will say this book (and series) has won numerous awards. And everyone else I know who has read it really enjoyed it. So, I’m the odd one out. Give it a go if you like mysteries, especially of the somewhat cozy variety.



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If I Live (If I Run #3) - Terri Blackstock

If I Live by Terri Blackstock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This books brings closure to the tale of Casey and her run from the cops trying to kill her. In book one, she had evidence about dirty cops. Through the three books, those cops are trying to find and murder her in the hopes of the evidence disappearing along with her. However, Dylan (a war veteran with PTSD) was also hired to track her down. This book wraps it all up.

I enjoyed it. I liked both Casey and Dylan and was rooting against the evil cops. I think some of the scenarios were fairly preposterous, but I was invested in the story enough to suspend disbelief. There were some surprises in this book that I didn't expect. All in all, it was a great conclusion to the series.

Do start with book one though. This is a series you can't read out of order.

I received this book as an advanced copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories - RJ Palacio

Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is a companion to Wonder and explores three Wonder characters' individual stories. While Auggie is mentioned in the stories, he doesn't really have a big role in any of them.
I was especially interested in Julian's story. It did not disappoint.
The middle story is from the perspective of Auggie's childhood friend, Chris. I think it gives a good perspective on the changing nature of friendships in general.
The final story is Charlotte's and focuses on how people are multidimensional.
Overall, it was an interesting read.

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Origin (Robert Langdon #5) - Dan Brown

Origin by Dan Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Probably more a 2.5 for me this go-around. Maybe.
Origin returns the reader to the art, science, and symbolism of Robert Langdon's world. In this book, Langdon is attending a presentation by a former student that is predicted to shake the world and, specifically, the religious communities. As usual in Langdon's life, something is amiss; and it's a chase through through landmarks to solve anything.
This was not my favorite of Dan Brown's. I found the plot more predictable than usual. And the characters and plot less engaging. However, some of the ideas presented have stuck with me a week later. So I will give it 3 stars for that.

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Threads of Suspicion - Dee Henderson (Evie Blackwell Cold Case #2)

Genre:  Christian Fiction, Suspense

Pages:  432 pages


Publishing Date:  May 2, 2017


Rating:  2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads

There was *a lot* going on in this book.  So much so that at times I lost track of cases and characters, and I think the characters lost track of their own thought flows.
Evie Blackwell and the Missing Persons Task Force she's been assigned to is on their first official cases.  Five cases; 5 task force members.  Evie is for some reason paired up with David Marshal even though they are working different cases.  All the other task force team members work solo and only pop up occasionally.
There are task for members, crime suspects, crime victims, witnesses, friends, love interests, famous people, security, hairdressers...just a lot of people and names to keep track of.  And so many story lines:  crimes for the task force, arson for not the task force, romantic ties, friendships, God, music, fan obsession.
I think this book just tried to do too much.  And I think I'm settling into the idea that Dee Henderson writes relationship novels not suspense novels.  As usual, Henderson brings in characters from her other stories and series.  On that note, I think it's time to reread the O'Malley series - her best work, in my opinion.

P.S.  Hate the cover.

A Royal Christmas Wedding - Rachel Hauck

A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck
(Royal Wedding Series #4)

Genre:  Christian fiction, romance

Pages:  240 pages

Publishing Date:  October 18, 2015

Synopsis from Goodreads:
It’s been five years since Avery Truitt and Prince Colin of Brighton Kingdom fell in love. But he broke her heart with no explanation.
Fast forward to present day, and Colin is Brighton’s most eligible bachelor now that cousin Stephen has married. When Avery’s father dies of a heart attack, she puts her life on hold and returns home to St. Simons Island, Georgia, to help Mama with the family restaurant. But Mama misses Avery’s sister Susanna, who lives four thousand miles away in Brighton Kingdom—and is expecting her first child. So Mama insists she and Avery spend the Christmas season in Brighton.
Colin and Avery are going to see each other a lot while she’s visiting. But she can’t forget the way he hurt her, and he didn’t expect his feelings to still be so strong.
Avery is torn between considering a future in Brighton and taking a coaching job in Georgia, and Colin is finally pushed to pursue what he really wants. Is it too late to convince Avery that she is his true love? And even if he does, will she make it to the chapel on Christmas Day to give him her heart?


My Thoughts:

I have read the previous three books in Rachel Hauck’s Royal Wedding Series.  I’ll admit, I’m fairly obsessed with royalty and the idea of fairy tale perfect matches.  So when I learned she had a new book in the series, I requested an ARC from NetGalley.

Unfortunately, I didn’t fall in love with this book.  It was, probably, my least favorite of the series – a couple of which I enjoyed.  I gave it 2 stars (“It was okay.”) on Goodreads but is more of a 1.5 in my evaluation. 

Avery and Colin have a past.  In a whirlwind courtship when Avery was 17, they fell deeply and madly in love.  Then Colin cancelled on attending her prom and ceased all communication…for five years.  Then the holiday season suddenly throws them back together in daily contact via their respective families.  The whole premise is if they rekindle their love.  Which, of course they do.  It’s a Christian romance book.  So it’s more a question of how they do. 

I enjoyed revisiting with Susanna from a previous book.  A few other characters make mentions or brief appearances.  But this book definitely has Avery and Colin as the focus – which is how it should be in this genre.  And they drove me crazy.  How adamant Avery was that she was over him when speaking to others but kept talking to herself about how much she was still in love with him.  How they (Colin mostly) continued to get into the same situations to cause doubt and angst. 

My angst with the book was how quickly all of it happened.  Granted, Colin and Avery had a relationship five years previous.  However, five years have passed.  Haven’t they both changed?  Don’t they want to at least sort of get to know who they each are now – especially since everything that goes wrong Avery assumes Colin is just the same as he’d been.    I would have liked a slower pace for the romance (re)development. 

I did struggle some, too, with knowing who was talking.  Many times, I didn’t know who had which lines of dialogue.  That was frustrating.  Perhaps it is an issue just with the ebook copy I had.    There were also some discrepancies in the text.  Minor things, but there nonetheless.

All that being said, this book is still a good read for those in a mood for ooey gooey emotional romance free of sex.  While it didn’t keep me up at night turning pages, it was still a sweet story most enjoyed by those who like some fluff in their reading.  So probably just perfect for a Christmas book. 

How to Catch a Prince - Rachel Hauck

HOW TO CATCH A PRINCE (The Royal Wedding Series #3)

Publisher:
  Zondervan
Release Date:
  February 24, 2015
Market:
  Christian
Genre:
–Christian Fiction, Chick Lit
Length:
–368 pages
My Rating:
   4/5

 

About This Book (from Goodreads)

Prince Stephen came to America to escape responsibility. But what he found complicates his life more than ever.

Corina Del Rey is happy with her life in Melbourne, Florida. She spends her days engrossed in her career as a journalist and has her sights set on climbing the corporate ladder if for no other reason, to distract herself from her dissolving family. But when she is confronted with the past she fought so hard to put behind her, she struggles to make sense of her future.

Prince Stephen of Brighton Kingdom has moved on since the tragic death of his buddies in Afghanistan. A star professional rugby player, he has no intention of looking over his shoulder at what could ve been.

But when a notice arrives in the mail requiring his and his wife s appearance before the courts to dissolve their marriage, he must deal with the questions rumbling around in his heart. He thought his marriage had been annulled long ago, but his memories of Corina Del Rey remain close. Does he still love her? Can he even find her? Above all, can he tell her the truth about that fateful night in Afghanistan seven years ago? If he does, he might really lose her forever."

CRITIQUE

I have read the other two books in The Royal Wedding Series.  Knowing them to be fun, predictable reads made me excited to read the most recent installment. 

I received a digital copy of the book from the author as a part of the Street Team and the same time my request for an ARC from NetGalley came through.  A few days later, the request I had placed at the library a few months before publication was fulfilled.  Clearly I was meant to read this book.

This book certainly met my expectations.  And it was just what I needed to be reading at the time – something light and entertaining and uplifting. 

There was a good mix between the prose and the dialogue.  I never felt bogged down in any of the details or scenes. 

There were a couple of places that didn’t seem consistent.  For example, when Corina goes home to pick up a dress and says her flight leaves that night and then shortly after says it leaves the next day.  But it was just a little blip that didn’t take away from the story.

While the outcome of the story was predictable, I still liked to get to know Corina and Stephen and “see” their interactions with each other.  I will say the break-aways to Gigi I could have done without.  And the randomness of her having been at Cathedral City seemed to come from out of nowhere.

I don’t believe there was too much backstory.  You’re hit with the twist at the start and the past, while hinted at, is explained as needed.

The romance in the book is pleasant.  I enjoyed and cheered for Corina and Stephen.  Hoewver, I found the spiritual/supernatural elements to be a bit…I hesitate to say it, but hokey.  The whole Manor and Adelaide and all.  I really had to have a suspension of reality. 

That being said, I really did enjoy the book – reading the whole thing in just a day or so.  Every time my toddler would let me, I’d pick it up and read a few more pages.  It was a much needed break between the more serious reading in my piles.  Definitely would recommend.  And even though it’s the third in a series, I do believe it could be read as a stand-alone.