Review: The Splendor Before the Dark

The Splendor Before the Dark by Margaret George
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an early copy of this book.

This book was such a great read! The Splendor Before the Dark is the second book in a series but it can also be read by itself. This centers around the last few years of Roman Emperor Nero's life. The book starts off with a bang as Rome is engulfed by a great fire. The entire city is being destroyed and Nero rushes to help the people. He tries to help put out the fire only to later be accused of starting it himself.

As the book continues, Nero faces opposition and betrayal. You see him as he desires to make changes and do things in new ways. He wanted to create a cultural city full of art and theater. However, the leaders of Rome are stuck in the old ways and fight him every step of the way. I really loved Nero's character. He is so complex. He is an innovative thinker and an artist. He is sensitive but also can be very dark.

This book also has a constant theme of politics and power. Nero hangs in the balance as his life is constantly threatened by people conspiring against him. We get to see how Nero changed in his last years due to the any betrayals he faced.

Overall, this book is a wonderful fast read centered around one of the most captivating and notorious historical figures. This is the best in historical fiction and I highly recommend it.

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Review: The Little Shop of Found Things

The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of the The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston.

I really enjoyed this book. It had all of the magical qualities that I want in a Brackston book. We follow a young woman, Xanthe, and her mother as they are beginning a new life opening up a small antique store. Xanthe has always had a connection to antiques including the ability to see into its past. While browsing during an antique auction, Xanthe is attracted to a new object that soon has her manipulated by a ghostly presence, hurled into the past on a mission to solve a mystery and stop a murder.

This book is told from Xanthe's point of view which I very much enjoyed. She is an eclectic young woman and thought her character was well developed. I also enjoyed the relationship with her ailing mother, Flora, whom she cares for and wants to protect. The setting was also well developed as we travel back to the 1800's.

The Little Shop of Found Things is the first book in a new series. It was a wonderful fast read full of magic and historical detail. I highly recommend this.

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The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

Such a heartwarming read. Really loved this one. Here we have the story of three sisters who faced tragedy as young children. Each were affected differently and as adults they grew apart. In this book, due to certain events, they all decide to return home for Christmas in Scotland. They finally have a chance to heal some festering wounds from their childhood.
I really loved this. We get each sisters point of view as well as the mother. I think this was really effective as I was able to see things from their perspective.

As with all of her books, this was an easy fast read and perfect for the holidays.

I received this book from Netgalley and it comes out later this month.

Review: The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller

The Ghost and the Bogus Bestseller by Cleo Coyle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun enjoyable mystery. In this book we follow Penelope who is a widowed mother and co-owns a bookstore with her aunt. She also works with the ghost of a private detective, Jack, who was killed on the premises in the 1940's. As the book starts, Penelope is helping a customer who becomes extremely distressed when she notices the author cover photo on a brand new bestseller. The customer claims that the photo is of her and runs out of the store. Pen and Jack decide to try and find the customer to see if she is alright and also to get payment for the book. When that same customer turns up dead, they go on their own investigation and try to unravel what happened. Many twists and turns lie ahead as pieces start to come together.
I really liked the humor in this book and it had a good solid mystery. I also appreciated the distinction of Jack's voice in keeping with the proper lingo from his time period. Overall, this was a fun fast read.

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Review: A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts

A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fantastic historical fiction based on real people and real events. There is a lot of fact in this fiction. The book follows the Vanderbilt family in the late 19th Century. We get to follow Ava from a young girl when she meets William K. Vanderbilt, marries him, and is thrown into the fierce and competitive upper crust society of New York City. We view things through Ava’s perspective and the author presents her with a soft sympathetic portrayal. We watch as Ava, who is known as Mrs. Vanderbilt, fights for acceptance with the snobby elite of the time. The story gets better as we continue to follow Ava and the Vanderbilt family through the years.
This book takes place during the famed Gilded Age. It is a fascinating portrayal of the famous upper crust during their heyday. I loved the descriptive writing and the portrayal of this sensitive, stubborn and sassy woman. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse of that time period.
If you like historical fiction, historical drama or the Gilded Age in general, I think you would enjoy this novel.


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Review: Season of Wonder

Season of Wonder by RaeAnne Thayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a sweet heartwarming story. It follows a single mother Dani who has two girls as they start a new life in the little town of New Haven. Dani heads up the town veterinary hospital after spending a year interning under the mentorship of Dr. Morales who recently retired and had Dani take over. Dani and her daughters struggle to adapt to this small town and she also has a troubled past and finds it hard to connect to people. After some trouble occurs she finds herself in the company of Ruben, who is her next door neighbor, the deputy sheriff, and the son of her mentor. There is instant attraction but Dani resists. She doesn't want to take the risk of falling in love, thinking that it will eventually be taken from her. Plus she is hiding a past that she doesn't want revealed.
This was a really fast read and I loved the way the story unfolded. I loved the characters, especially the children, and thought they were so believable. I adored this sweet swoon worthy story.

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Review: The Phantom Tree

The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was good and I enjoyed it for the most part.
The book is a mix of fantasy, history, mystery and romance. It alternates chapters between Elizabethan times and the present time. It follows two main characters each struggling to find their place in the world during childhood and facing obstacles as they grow up. First, it follows Mary Seymour who is the daughter of Katherine Parr and is now an unwanted orphan. She is sent to Wolf Hall to live for a few years and goes missing in her late teens. We also follow Alison Banestre who is also orphaned and lives with Mary in Wolf Hall. Mary and Alison deal with the problems of growing up in 16th century England and things escalate when Alison finds herself pregnant. As events unfold, Mary and Alison go their separate ways while promising each other to keep in touch through clues left.
In modern times, Alison is well into her adult years and has been stuck in the present for many years. She finds herself stuck and wants only to go back and find her lost son. She also reunites with an Ex who discovers a never before seen painting of Anne Boleyn which Alison knows is really a painting of Mary Seymour. They team up in discovering the truth and Alison secretly also hides her agenda in finding a way back home to her time.
I thought this book was enjoyable. The plot was bittersweet but a bit slow in the middle. It was an overall easy read and I loved the fantastical elements.

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Review: The Masterpiece

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fascinating read and I really enjoyed it. This book follows two women separated by fifty years as they try and make it in the world. The story revolved around the history and majesty of Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
I can't describe how awesome it was to read about the beauty and grandeur of Grand Central in the 1920's and the decay of it in the 1970's. There is a lot of fact in this fiction also which was so wonderful. This book also revolves very much around art.
We first follow Clara in 1928. Clara is an artist and also teaches in the Art School School that is located in the upper floors of Grand Central. This was a time period when Grand Central was the highlight of the city. She is very much fighting tooth and nail to be taken seriously as an artist during a time when women were not really taken seriously.
Secondly, we follow Virginia in 1974. She works for Grand Central during a time when it was very dirty, dark, and scheduled for demolition. Virginia recognizes the beauty under the grime and joins a fight to stop the demolition. She also discovers the remains of the old art studios in the now dark corners of the terminal.
These two stories converge in a surprising way. I loved every minute of reading this. Grand Central Terminal is fully restored now and is once again an artistic jewel and deserves its status as an official landmark.

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Review: Bloody Mary: Tudor Terror, 1553-1558

Bloody Mary: Tudor Terror, 1553-1558 by Phil Carradice
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting read about Mary Tudor who was the daughter of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. Mary Tudor reigned for 5 years and is most known for the hundreds of people put to death as a consequence of their Protestant faith.
So, this was a bit of short book but I thought it covered her life well. It covered her whole life especially pointing out things in her life that helped to shape her into the woman she would become. It accurately depicts the terror that Mary brought upon the Protestants and the way in which they proudly went to their deaths. It goes into detail on some of those that were accused.
This was definitely an easy read. It did not seem dense at all and I flew through it. This would be a great book to pick up if you are interested in Tudor History.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an Arc of this book.


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Review: Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen

Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alison Weir did it again! I absolutely loved this novel. This is the third in her Six Wives historical fiction series.
It follows Jane Seymour who was the third wife of Henry VIII. She is considered the most cherished as she gave Henry what he most wanted most which was a son. She also had a very short life herself. This book shined a light on Jane’s life from childhood to her death. Jane is depicted as a very kind person and very religious, always trying to do right by God and by her family. As she gets older, she is brought to court as a Lady in Waiting for Katherine first and then for Anne Boleyn. Over time, Henry begins to notice Jane and she becomes a key player in history. Jane becomes dragged into the politics and scheming of court life as she works her way to becoming Queen.
As with everything Weir writes, this book was well researched and her storytelling ability is unmatched. This book flows so well that it flies by when reading it. Fantastic read for anyone interested in the Tudors.
This book is being published on May 15th.

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Review: The Showrunner

The Showrunner by Kim Moritsugu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow! This book was quite the ride. I did enjoy parts of this book but I also think it was a bit predictable.
This book follows two women who are Executive Producers of a popular show on network TV. One woman, Ann, is an aging producer who has built up credibility through decades of work. The second woman, Stacy, is a much younger producer who was once the assistant to Ann. There is constant tension between them as Ann’s main motive is to criticize and sabotage Stacy so that she can remain the top boss. Things progress as Ann spirals further down, lost in paranoia and becomes convinced that Stacy and others are conspiring against her.
Parts of this book had me laughing as it had some fun banter. However, I became frustrated by Stacy never sticking up for herself. Also, as Ann’s paranoia grew, I quickly knew how this would go down.
Despite all that, I did enjoy many parts of this book. I enjoyed the buildup of the characters decent into madness. I thought it was built up well over time and believable in that sense. I enjoyed getting the dual perspectives of the two women. I also enjoyed Jenna as a side character.
This book was fast paced read and very entertaining.


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Review: The Solace of Water

The Solace of Water by Elizabeth Byler Younts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow. This was a very emotional and powerful read. I was very moved.
This book takes place in 1950's Pennsylvania where the division of race was very prevalent and boiling over. Racism was rampant and segregation was the norm. We follow two women and a young girl. The chapters alternate points of view from each. These women form an unlikely friendship and bond.

First we follow Delilah who is an African American preachers wife. When we meet her, she is a broken shell after just having lost one of her children. We also get the point of view of Delilah's oldest daughter Sparrow who is also suffering at the loss of her little brother.
Second we follow Emma who is an Amish wife and mother. Her husband is the deacon of the community and has formed a secret dependency on alcohol which is forbidden except in church. There are also other issues that you learn about throughout the book.

This book just touched my soul. I really felt for each of the characters and despite the deep suffering, there was a chance of hope and redemption. I will say that this was a hard book to get through and it is slow going in the beginning. Also, the book did get a little bit preachy which brought my rating down a bit. However, it didn't take away my enjoyment of the book. Overall, there is a lot of pain but there is also solace in the end.


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Review: The Fireman

The Fireman by Joe Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great book and right up there with Stephen King. The writing is so similar to King's and it drew me in from the start.
This book introduces a plague that has swept the world and is spreading like wildfire. This plague is called Dragonscale and it transmitted through contact with a spore. When someone contracts Dragonscale, they start to get black and gold lines and stripes all over their body. The illness is fatal ending in the person spontaneously combusting into flames. At the beginning of the book, the world is already in chaos with the government attempting to round up the sick and killing them is mass genocides.
The main character we follow is Harper who is a nurse working in a hospital and attending to the mass crowds of sick people including those with Dragonscale. Harper is compassionate, empathetic, and really cares for her patients. Harper soon learns she is pregnant and soon after, she contracts Dragonscale. She is determined to survive on the run and live until her baby is born.
As the book goes on, we get introduces to many more characters coping with this new world and seeing if survival with this illness is possible. There are many pop culture references that I really enjoyed. For example, Harper is a huge fan of Mary Poppins and Julie Andrews. She often uses the phrases or sings the songs from the movie. Overall, this book was just so much fun. I highly recommend it for fans of weird fiction or if you like Stephen King.

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Review: Only Human

Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great conclusion to a terrific Sci-fi series! Only Human is the third and final installment in the Themis Files Series. Once again, it follows Dr. Rose Franklin, Vincent and Eva.
*There may be some spoilers for the first two books in the series.*

This book definitely surprised me in a good way. I really didn’t have any idea how everything was going to wrap up. We knew at the end of Waking Gods, that Themis was forced back to her planet and that the main characters were aboard.
When the book begins we learn that they spent 10 years on the planet Esat Esk before escaping back to Earth. So the book goes back and forth detailing their time on the other planet and what is happening in present time on Earth. Rose, Vincent and Eva learn that that the world is now in chaos and there is deep mistrust among countries. This is all a result of what happened in the first two books where we also learn that all humans have a percentage of alien DNA. At the opening of the third book, the government is now arresting and killing those with high percentages.
On another note, with the return of Themis, the Russian government now has a way to combat the U.S. who we learn has been taking over countries by using their own robot who they found called Lepetus.

I really enjoyed this conclusion. There wasn’t as much action as the first two books but it was still amazing. I really loved the details of Esat Esk. The author did a phenomenal job describing this other planet, especially the politics and the culture. I loved seeing the characters interactions with the aliens. If you liked the first two books, this third one will not disappoint.


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Review: It Might Be You

It Might Be You by Jennifer Gracen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun feel good novel. The book starts with Nick Martell, a cop who finds out he is a bone marrow match for a child who desperately needs a transplant. Nick was in the system since the police station had a drive a few years back. In relaying the news to his parents while visiting them and telling them he'll be in New York for a while during and after the procedure, Nick and his mother got the shock of their lives. After literally fainting, she tells Nick, that she knows the family, worked for the family, and that Nick is part of that family unbeknownst to anyone. And the novel goes from there. There is also a sweet romance that develops as Nick is introduced to the child's home nurse.
I found this to be so gut-wrenching at times but also very heartwarming. This is very much about family, finding yourself and also falling in love.
This isn't a straight forward romance. It has two plots, both of which kept my eyes glued to the pages. I highly recommend this book.

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Review: Pretty Little Killers

Pretty Little Killers by Rita Herron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. This is a crime fiction with a romance subplot.
Pretty Little Killers is the first book in a series. It follows Korine Davenport and Hatcher McGee, two partners in the FBI investigating a string of murders that seem to be connected. This book opens with a punch of watching a 5 year old Korinne witness her father's murder in front of her. As part of the FBI, her father's murder is always in the back of her mind and she is intent on one day finding her father's killer. To further complicate the issue, Korinne and Hatcher had a one night stand on the night Hatcher's wife was killed and are now forced to partner with one another. Korinne and Hatcher begin investigating a string of murders and soon find themselves entangled in a web of connected crimes.
This book basically provides two mysteries with one in the past and one in the present. This was excellent in that it had me guessing to the end. The only bad thing about this book was the love story which I thought was unnecessary and a bit unrealistic. However, other than that, everything else was amazing. There are twists and turns and it left me guessing till the end.

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Review: The Little Cottage on the Hill

The Little Cottage on the Hill by Emma Davies
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cute fluffy feel good romance with some depth. This book followed Maddie who is hired to help restore and manage an old property of cottages and farmland in order to help lure corporate retreats there. This is a great opportunity for Maddie to prove her worth and start fresh again after dealing with a painful history.
The property is what is called Joy's Acre and has a lovely past of it's own. Joy's Acre was built during Victorian times and served as an oasis for people who needed it. Upon arriving, Maddie finds herself in direct odds to the property owner, Seth, who sees change as harmful to the integrity and history of the property. Things only escalate from there and Maddie has to decide whether to run away or try to see things from a different perspective. Additionally, she starts to feel drawn to this picturesque land and the history it holds.
This book was a fun quick read and I flew through it. I enjoyed the descriptiveness of Joy's Acre as well as the history that the property claimed. I enjoyed seeing the development of the two main characters. They each had to grow a bit and comes to terms with their past and who they truly were. Maddie especially changed quite a bit for the better.
Overall great read and sweet romance.

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Review: The Queen: The Life and Times of Elizabeth II

The Queen: The Life and Times of Elizabeth II by Catherine Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The was a wonderful account of the life of Queen Elizabeth II before and during her reign. This book gives a comprehensive history starting with King George V. The book goes into depth on not only the good times but the trials and scandals that faced the monarchy over the many decades.
I appreciated the layout of the book especially in the gorgeous pictures and spreads. The writing in the book gives you a greater understanding of the royals and protocols. It helped shed a light on certain scandals that are well known and helped you to see behind the curtain a bit which helps to give a more sympathetic or objective view of past events. I further appreciated the facts given of the problems that faced the common people and their frustrations when it came to the monarchy, the economy, and other crisis.
I highly recommend this book if you are interested in British history, the monarchy, or just the queen herself.
#netgalley #TheQueen

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Review: The Mitford Murders

The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a fun book and I absolutely adored everything about it. The Mitford Murders blend fact with fiction. I didn't realize until the end of reading, that this book was based on a real murder and a real family. The book takes place in the 1920's and begins with the murder of Florence Nightingale Shore, the goddaughter of her namesake, on the Brighton Line. The story unravels from there as the police investigate and try to solve this mystery. When the police become stuck with no evidence and no suspect, Guy, a young policeman, decides to investigate on his own time determined to solve this crime.
As a secondary plot we follow Louisa who runs from an abusive Uncle and finds a job as a nurse's maid for the Mitford family in their grand estate. The Grand Estate had many of the feels of Downton Abbey. The two plots eventually mesh together as Louisa meets Guy, the policeman, and gets invested in solving this mystery as well.
The Mitford sisters are fascinating in their history. However, in this book, the most prominent character is the eldest daughter, Nancy. Louisa and Nancy both become invested in solving the crime and form their own sleuth team. I adored Louisa as a character. She was just so endearing and I found myself rooting for her the entire way through.
The atmosphere of the 1920's really came alive in this book as well as life as a servant during that time period. The class distinctions were still very evident at that time. The evidence of the war is
apparent with many wounded soldiers suffering from the trauma of the aftermath.
This is a wonderful historical fiction. The Mitford family was a real family that lived during this time and many real facts are blended into the story. The events of the Shore murder are also fact. I was fully enthralled the entire read and the ending definitely took me by surprise.
#Netgalley #TheMitordMurders

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Review: Shaken, Not Purred

Shaken, Not Purred by Kelle Z. Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was so much fun. It was filled with spies, covert operations, and animals, specifically, a feisty little feline named Sherlock. It's James Bond with a female lead including all of the major Bond like elements such as mystery, undercover disguise, explosions, romance, and a little bit of comedy. It is a fast enjoyable read.
Basically, this follows a chemist named Bree who works for a company that is a cover for espionage activities. Her newest mission is to infiltrate a drug lab to see if they are manufacturing illegal drugs. Bree is to pose as a graduate student intern and cozy up to the other lab workers. During her investigation, a person turns up dead in the lab. Now, Bree must uncover two truths as she delves further into dangerous territory.

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