Another cozy Christmas read in the village of Carlton Heath, this time, a year further into the story of Miranda and her search for belonging. This noAnother cozy Christmas read in the village of Carlton Heath, this time, a year further into the story of Miranda and her search for belonging. This novel was just as quaint and likable as its predecessor, though its drama felt a tad more manufactured and predictable. Also, in this novel, Miranda and Ian are deep into their year long relationship, on the verge of getting engaged (as the title suggests), but since the last novel ended with them meeting for the first time, I couldn’t help feel I’d really missed something - why were they attracted to one another? What compelled them to pursue such a long distance relationship after such a short acquaintance? I love watching relationships grow and felt a little cheated out of that story. Overall, a wonderful Christmas read full of family and tradition and warmth....more
A short, sweet holiday read about a woman who leaves home, searching for answers from her past, and along the way, finds family. I am a sucker for theA short, sweet holiday read about a woman who leaves home, searching for answers from her past, and along the way, finds family. I am a sucker for these kinds of novels - give me a cozy British setting, a heartbroken heroine, and the theme of belonging at Christmastime, and that book will be a home run for me every time. My only complaint is that this book ending jarringly quickly. There was no resolution after some very big secrets were uncovered, and while I realize there’s a sequel, I like all novels - even ones in a series - to be able to stand on their own. Still, a heartwarming Christmas novel that I can see myself picking up again and again at the holidays....more
Another fascinating book in the Armand Gamache series, this one delving into the secret world of a reclusive monastery and the secrets, the treasures,Another fascinating book in the Armand Gamache series, this one delving into the secret world of a reclusive monastery and the secrets, the treasures, and the mysteries there. While I’ve rated all other Gamache books with a 5 star rating, I chose to give this one 4 stars - not to do with the writing (which was as clear and lyrical as ever) or the plot (which was well-crafted) but largely to do with my ability to follow the characters. Not being particularly familiar with the language of the monastery, it was hard to follow who was who, which then made it difficult to follow the intricacies of the relationships between the monks. Furthermore, I found this book to feel particularly disdainful of religion and its relevance today, and while I’m not Catholic, I am a believer in Christ as Savior, and found the off-handed dismissal of faith to lack the complexity of thought and consideration I’ve found in the other Gamache books. Still, this was a worthwhile read and a complement to the other books in the series. I missed Three Pines but also applaud Penny’s ability to maintain readers� interest when many of her most-beloved characters aren’t on stage....more
While the mystery in this novel was more of a slow-burn than fast-paced thriller, I was hooked on this book. The complex characters, the rich setting,While the mystery in this novel was more of a slow-burn than fast-paced thriller, I was hooked on this book. The complex characters, the rich setting, and the interesting cultural aspects intrigued me....more
This was a convoluted mystery that spans decades and generations and presents characters with some complex moral dilemmas. As with any Slaughter novelThis was a convoluted mystery that spans decades and generations and presents characters with some complex moral dilemmas. As with any Slaughter novel, I was immediately drawn in and couldn’t get the mystery or the characters out of my head. And also, as with all Slaughter novels, I was jarred by the rough language. Definitely a worthwhile read for mystery and thriller lovers, but with its descriptions of abuse and its coarse language, not a book for younger readers....more
A beautifully written gothic novel in the vein of The Thirteenth Tale and Jane Eyre with an intriguing plot that held my interest from start to finishA beautifully written gothic novel in the vein of The Thirteenth Tale and Jane Eyre with an intriguing plot that held my interest from start to finish. While the characters were a little thin and occasionally frustrating, the twisty plot and rich setting more than made up for my irritation with the Albans themselves. The novel does require a fair amount of suspension of disbelief, but the world Webb created made the strange happenings feel oddly reasonable....more
Amanda Pierce went missing hours before her wedding, and her friends and family each have their own theories about what happened - did she run away? WAmanda Pierce went missing hours before her wedding, and her friends and family each have their own theories about what happened - did she run away? Was she murdered? Amanda’s mother, Sandra, approaches Laurie Moran to ask her to feature Amanda’s case on her televised unsolved murder show. During the investigation, Amanda’s friends and family are assembled at the luxurious hotel where Amanda went missing, and each member of the wedding party sweats under the camera as their individual motives are brought to light. I found myself engrossed in this plot. The characters weren’t particularly dynamic and the writing felt almost like an outline - just the bare facts and dialogue, very little in the way of creative descriptions. But despite this, the quick-paced plot, the man red herrings, and the satisfying conclusion had me hooked. ...more
Jillian Lee learns her uncle has died in pursuit of a ghost, so she heads to the town where he died to identify the body and collect his things. WhileJillian Lee learns her uncle has died in pursuit of a ghost, so she heads to the town where he died to identify the body and collect his things. While there, she learns he may have uncovered a secret must darker than a ghost story, and as she involves herself, she realizes her life may be in danger as well. This book was fine. I read it after St. James� modern novels - The Broken Girls and The Sun Down Motel - so the shift to 1920s England was jarring at first. The narrative was interesting and the heroine was unique, but the story felt a little too old-school-romance-novel at times. Though she wasn’t exactly a damsel in distress, a certain male character (whom I didn’t particularly like) dominated much of the book....more
I read this book on the heels of The Broken Girls, and while I liked this novel and felt completely absorbed in it, I couldn’t help liking it a littleI read this book on the heels of The Broken Girls, and while I liked this novel and felt completely absorbed in it, I couldn’t help liking it a little less than St. James� prior novel. The Sun Down Motel’s setting is haunting and very, very creepy - In fact, I was up at night watching for ghosts at the foot of my bed. The two main narrators - Viv and Carly - were interesting and strong female voices, but they weren’t the sisterhood, the broken girls of Idlewild Hall. Viv and Carly had some issues in their pasts, and they certainly had fascinating interests, but they didn’t feel terribly complex. Part of my issue is that I love boarding school novels so much that novels without them cannot compare. Still, the setting was absorbing, the plot unraveled at breakneck speed, and I continue to look forward to reading more of St. James� work....more
This middle-grade fantasy read was witty, intelligent, and a treat to read. Milo, a young boy who dislikes school and learning and sees little value iThis middle-grade fantasy read was witty, intelligent, and a treat to read. Milo, a young boy who dislikes school and learning and sees little value in anything, receives a tollbooth on an average uneventful day and drives his toy car through. He finds himself on an adventure packed full of plays-on-words and idioms, learns much of language and mathematics, and comes home to find “books which could take him anywhere.� The book says its intended audience is children, ages 8-10, but I wonder how much kids in that range would understand and appreciate from the book. Adults, however? This is the perfect read - funny, intelligent, and quick....more
The third in a series of books about women, the mysterious manor homes/ castles they become involved with, and layered historical stories that bring tThe third in a series of books about women, the mysterious manor homes/ castles they become involved with, and layered historical stories that bring the present tale depth and significance. I hadn’t read any of the previous books in this series but found this book in the library and decided to try it. I resonated with all the time periods that were presented and found their heroines fascinating. The romances were complicated but developed well and in a non-cheesy way. There was even a bit of mystery in the book. I really enjoyed this read and plan to backtrack and cover the novels I missed....more
A fun biography of Dr. Seuss and the story of how he began writing beginning reading books such as The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. The storA fun biography of Dr. Seuss and the story of how he began writing beginning reading books such as The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. The story was fascinating enough for me to keep reading, and the pictures were funny enough to keep my toddlers engaged....more
Lily and Rose Martin, once inseparable sisters who worked their family’s flower farm together, are estranged until one day, Rose contacts Lily asking Lily and Rose Martin, once inseparable sisters who worked their family’s flower farm together, are estranged until one day, Rose contacts Lily asking for help with the farm and with her daughter. Rose’s daughter, Antoinette, is nonverbal due to a severe form of autism, but in spite of her struggles, Antoinette has a miraculous ability to heal flowers and even people, but As Rose watches Antoinette heal, she notices that Antoinette weakens with each miracle. Can Rose and Lily protect the young girl?
I really enjoyed this book. Though I’ve never been very compelled by fantasy or sci-fi, there’s something about magical realism that captures me every time. This work, in the vein of Sarah Addison Allen’s novels, presented a magical setting, complex and flawed characters, and a satisfying, relationship-driven plot....more
Elizebeth Smith finds herself pulled from her small town Indiana life into an exclusive scientific compound where she hones her ciphering and code-breElizebeth Smith finds herself pulled from her small town Indiana life into an exclusive scientific compound where she hones her ciphering and code-breaking skills alongside some of America’s brightest minds. And years later, when world wars break out, Smith and her husband, William Friedman, work for the government to break codes and see Allied victory. This book was absolutely fascinating. I loved seeing the contributions of people who’ve been buried in history, and I also was really struck by the complexity of war and its accompanying murky ethics (ie: when not to act on a cracked code - Pearl Harbor - for a “greater good.�) The Friedmans� personal lives also added interest and complexity to the book - William’s mental struggles, Elizabeth’s role as mother, their daughter’s interest in codes were all fascinating. I rarely like biographies as much as I liked this one....more
I wasn't sure whether or not I'd read this book before as the book is so classic and so iconic that it seemed immediately familiar to me. However, oncI wasn't sure whether or not I'd read this book before as the book is so classic and so iconic that it seemed immediately familiar to me. However, once I started reading, I was sure this wasn't one I'd picked up before, and I was immediately interested in this monster who wasn't initially a monster - with his love of humans and desire to interact with people. Watching the plot unfold was fascinating, and overall, I found this to be the perfect classic read - very accessible at 200 pages with fairly modern language, a fascinating plot, and complex characters. The one issue i had with this novel was the amount of "foreshadowing" Shelley does. I almost wouldn't even call it foreshadowing because Shelley basically tells readers what is about to happen. Had I been in a writing group with Mary Shelley, I would have told her to tone this down because once those life-shattering moments occur, they really don't seem that shocking anymore since they've already been spelled out for the reader. But overall, great read, great characters, and great spooky setting....more
A year in the Psalms with daily readings accompanied by commentary on the passage from Keller and his wife. I enjoyed my time in the Psalms this year A year in the Psalms with daily readings accompanied by commentary on the passage from Keller and his wife. I enjoyed my time in the Psalms this year and appreciated the way the Kellers brought the book to life and helped apply it to a modern context. In general, this book was thought-provoking, though sometimes the passages were short enough that there wasn’t quite enough there for a daily reading with application....more
What’s not to love in a book about a journalist with a troubled past, a boarding school for forgotten girls, and a veiled ghost who knows everyone’s mWhat’s not to love in a book about a journalist with a troubled past, a boarding school for forgotten girls, and a veiled ghost who knows everyone’s most painful secrets? This book was impossible to put down. The plot had me captivated. The various characters were beautifully complex. The prose was excellently written. Finishing this book had me looking for everything else St. James has written....more
In reading this classic novel for the first time in adulthood, I was struck by several things: the strong female voices and roles, the character develIn reading this classic novel for the first time in adulthood, I was struck by several things: the strong female voices and roles, the character development that made many of the March sisters� actions more understandable than film adaptations have been able to, and of course, I was killed by the absolute heartbreak of all things Beth (and of course, chuckled a little as I thought of Joey from Friends hiding the book in the freezer. Joey, I get you.) As a girl, I loved this book for the goodness and kindness of sisters, but as an adult, I think I love it even more for the complexity of thoughts and actions. I know this will not be the last time I read this book....more
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