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Showing posts with label Dual Timeline Novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dual Timeline Novels. Show all posts
Monday, February 07, 2022
Dual-Timeline Family Secrets Novel Not As Compelling As It Sounds
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Inara Erickson has always done what's expected of her in order to please her father, an intimidating and successful Seattle businessman. Now that she's out of grad school, though, Inara's not feeling very keen on starting the job she's been offered with Starbucks, especially once she learns the offer is at least partially due to her dad's influence. Instead, she wants to turn the dilapidated house she's just inherited from her aunt into a boutique hotel. It might be crazy, but she knows that with a little remodeling (okay, a lot of remodeling), she can create a calming place of retreat on beautiful Orcas Island. All Inara needs is someone who believes in her ability to make it all come true (preferably someone with a lot of cash to invest in a new hotel).
When Inara discovers a scrap of intricately-embrodiered silk hidden inside a forgotten cubbyhole at her aunt's house, she's puzzled. The fabric appears to be of Chinese origin. Inara's family has lived on Orcas Island for generations and she's never known any Asian people to reside there. How did the scrap come to be there? And why was it hidden away? Sensing an unsolved mystery, Inara begins looking into the history of the house and discovers the heartbreaking story of a young 19th Century Chinese-American woman who swam for her life in order to reach safety, only to find an uncertain future on Orcas Island. Inara feels that something awful must have happened to Lu Mei Lien, but what? And what role did her ancestors play in the woman's disappearance?
I'm always up for a novel that takes me back in time to explore intriguing historical moments, tantalizing family secrets, and the truth lurking beneath placid surfaces. If the story utilizes an always-compelling dual timeline format? All the better! The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes offers all of these elements, so I was eager to dive into the tale. While the San Juan Islands setting is atmospheric, the characters in this novel aren't nearly as vivid or colorful. They're sympathetic and likable enough that I cared what happened to them, but none of them are the kind of story people I think about after I close the book. The plot is compelling enough that I kept reading (listening, actually), but I never felt so engrossed that I couldn't have walked away from the story. Estes' prose also feels uneven, with patches of melodrama that made me roll my eyes. On the whole, then, I didn't end up loving this novel. I liked it well enough to finish it, though, and that's saying something.
Note: I listened to this book on audio. The narrator, Emily Woo Zeller, is okay. Her voices annoyed me at times, but overall, she's fine.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, January 24, 2022
Chamberlain's Newest Heavy-Hitter An Engrossing, Moving Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Round Hill, North Carolina
2010—Both architects, Kayla Carter and her husband designed their dream house together, excitedly anticipating the day they and their young daughter could move in. After a freak accident during the building, Jackson is dead. Now a grieving widow, Kayla can hardly face the idea of living in the home, beautiful as it is. All of her misgivings come to the fore when a strange woman visits her at work, warning her away from the property. It doesn't help when Kayla's new home is vandalized and her own father fills her head with stories about the haunted woods in her backyard. Although she's completely unnerved, Kayla decides no one is going to scare her off her own property. It's time to face her future head on by making the house she and her husband built together into a place of refuge and healing for herself and their beloved daughter.
1965—Raised in a proper Southern household, 20-year-old Ellie Hockley's future has already been written. She'll marry her banker boyfriend, raise a passel of children, and grow old hosting meaningless tea parties and society galas. Longing to do something significant, Ellie decides to join a campaign to help Black people register to vote. Her family and friends react with disbelief, shock, and anger. Defying them all, Ellie goes to work, where she experiences—for the first time—harsh realities like poverty, racism, hate, and violence. As they work together, she finds herself falling for a fellow campaigner, a young Black man named Winston. The forbidden romance will lead to consequences far beyond anything either one of them could imagine...
When Kayla meets Ellie, who has moved in next door temporarily to take care of her elderly mother and terminally ill brother, she learns the real story about what happened during the fateful summer of 1965. Devastating secrets, kept for decades by her father and others, will finally come to light, revealing shocking truths about Round Hill and its residents.
I've enjoyed all of the hard-hitting past/present novels I've read by Diane Chamberlain. Her newest, The Last House on the Street, is no exception. While it's not my favorite of the author's books, it's still a compelling, well-written story that is thought-provoking, moving, and engrossing. The plot is engaging, even if it doesn't contain any real surprises. Kayla, Ellie, and Win are all sympathetic characters, who are easy to root for. None of them is really unique or memorable, but they're all warm, compassionate story people. Although the novel ends on a hopeful note, overall it's pretty sad and depressing. This surprised me as I wanted happier endings for this cast. On the whole, then, I didn't absolutely love this book. I liked it and I will always read more by Diane Chamberlain. The Last House on the Street just isn't my favorite of hers.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Diane Chamberlain as well as those by Susan Meissner)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (one F-bomb, plus milder expletives), violence, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Last House on the Street from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, January 10, 2022
Historical Australian Murder Mystery Atmospheric and Intriguing
(Image from Goodreads)
Although World War I gave Penelope Jane "P.J." Martindale a unique chance to travel and have an exciting adventure, it also stole two very important people from her. While grieving the deaths of her twin brothers, she visits London's Natural History Museum where she makes an intriguing discovery. A fossil found in a gorge near the Australian town of her birth, a place where her brothers loved to search for ancient treasures, gives P.J. a new purpose—to honor her dead siblings through the fossils they loved to collect. When P.J. returns to Australia, she's shocked to receive a frosty reception from her father, who blames her for his sons' deaths. Hoping to make peace with him and commemorate her brothers' sacrifice at the same time, she heads for Bow Wow Gorge despite warnings from the locals about its sinister reputation. Seventy years ago, an eccentric female paleontologist is said to have disappeared in its bowels under suspicious circumstances along with several of her young pupils. While wandering in the gorge, P.J. stumbles across a skeleton in a hidden cave. Thinking she's just accidentally solved an old mystery, she's stunned when the coroner announces that the unidentified corpse was the victim of a murder. Who was the deceased? What happened to them? And how did they come to lie in a cave full of priceless fossils?
Ever since reading and enjoying Tea Cooper's The Woman in the Green Dress, I've wanted to read more by the author. I was thrilled to receive an e-ARC of her newest, The Fossil Hunter, which has already been released in Australia but doesn't come out in the U.S. until August. Told in a dual-timeline format, the novel features likable characters, a plotline that's compelling (although slow), and an atmospheric setting. I'm not into fossils, so I found that part of the story a little dull. I also wasn't wild about P.J.'s romance with Sam, since I didn't feel any sparks between them and I thought him irritating in his irresponsibility and impulsiveness. Other than that, though, The Fossil Hunter kept me interested enough to keep turning pages. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I did The Woman in the Green Dress, but I liked it overall.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs) and violence
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Fossil Hunter from the generous folks at HarperCollins via those at Edelweiss Plus in exchange for a honest review. Thank you!
Friday, November 12, 2021
1 Tiny Baby + 1 Big-Hearted Nurse = A Powerful, Personal Historical Novel
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
1926—As a nurse working in the adrenaline-fueled, male-dominated field of emergency medicine, 24-year-old Althea Anderson is used to taking orders from the doctors, obeying their commands without question. When another premature baby dies at her hospital because a physician determines it to be "God's will" that only the strongest infants survive, Althea can no longer stay quiet. She knows tiny babies are being saved every day at nearby Coney Island. Yes, they're on public display, another lurid attraction to entertain gawking tourists, but the admission fees are used to employ nurses who cuddle and care for the children, giving them a chance to not just survive but also thrive. "Doctor" Martin Couney's medical credentials might be a bit murky, but Althea knows he's working miracles with his boardwalk babies. Althea's superiors scoff when she suggests sending their newest struggling infant to Couney, so she takes matters into her own hands, changing the course of her life—and the baby's—forever.
1950—While Stella Wright isn't sure she wants children of her own, she pours her heart and soul into nurturing the students she teaches in her special education class. School administrators believe the kids aren't worth the effort; Stella is determined to prove them wrong. By day, she battles for their rights while by night, she helps her veteran husband fight the demons that haunt him night after night. When her beloved mother dies, Stella is wracked with grief. A curious letter found among the dead woman's things mystifies Stella, sending her on a puzzling journey into her mother's past. As old secrets are revealed, she learns shocking truths about her mother—and herself.
Because of my experience with premature birth, I have always found Martin Couney's work fascinating. I've never read a novel about the subject, so I was keen to give Armstrong's a go. The Light of Luna Park features sympathetic characters who are admirable for their kindness, compassion, and bravery. Althea is likable, while I had a harder time with Stella, although she did grow on me as her story progressed. As usual with dual-timeline setups, I enjoyed the past story in this book better than the present one. Still, both are compelling in their own way. Plot-wise, it's obvious from the get-go how the novel's two storylines are going to merge, but that really doesn't make the tale less engrossing. There are a few holes that make the story less believable. On the whole, though, The Light of Luna Park is an engaging, thought-provoking novel that brings to light an interesting piece of history most people probably don't know about. Even though I knew the basics, I still found the novel to be a fascinating, enjoyable read.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards as well as books by Susan Meissner and Diane Chamberlain)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, disturbing subject matter, and mild sexual content
Friday, March 05, 2021
Intriguing Dual-Timeline Novel Brings Little-Known American Maritime Disaster to Life
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Later nicknamed "The Southern Titanic," the luxury steamship Pulaski left Charleston, South Carolina, bound for Baltimore on June 14, 1838. Her passengers were wealthy, well-heeled, and wholly unaware of the tragedy they were about to be a part of. When a boiler explosion on board destroyed the ship that night, the vessel sunk in just 45 minutes, leaving about 128 people dead. The others were stranded on the water, forced to endure hunger, thirst, exposure, terror, and illness before being rescued. Only 59 people survived. In January 2018, 180 years after Pulaski sank, divers found the wreckage of the doomed ship.
Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan (available March 9) brings the event to life in a dual-timeline novel that explores the sinking and its aftermath in an intriguing blend of fact and fiction. The story features Everly Winthrop, a modern-day history professor who is asked to help curate an exhibit of Pulaski artifacts for a Savannah museum. Still reeling from the death of her best friend a year ago, she finds purpose in studying the famous ship and her elite passengers. She's especially intrigued by the story of a large family of passengers—some members died in the tragedy, some survived, and others' fates remain unknown. Everly wants to change that. As she investigates in the present, the reader taken back to 1838 where they're introduced to Lilly Forsyth, an abused aristocratic wife who's forced to make impossible decisions when Pulaski sinks, giving her an unexpected chance at freedom. What does Lilly choose? And how does her life change because of it? What happens to her after the Pulaski sinks?
I had never heard of the Pulaski, so I learned a lot about the ship and its tragic end from Surviving Savannah. The dual-timeline format is one I always enjoy. As per usual, I found myself more invested in the past story than in the present one, although both had enough meat to keep me interested. Even though the historical characters didn't get enough development, I still found them to be a likable, sympathetic lot. Same goes for the present cast, although I didn't love Everly, who's just too victim-y for me. I'm all for a sympathy-inducing lead, but I get impatient with too much wallowing—a character has to be at least a little bit selfless for me to really care about them. Plot-wise, Surviving Savannah moves along at a steady pace, which kept me turning pages. As for its storytelling, Callahan's prose gets heavy-handed at times (Everly's dialogue, for instance, often feels too formal and flowery). Still, I enjoyed this novel for its colorful historical backdrop, its engrossing story, its intriguing characters, and its capable (if at times overblown) writing. If you like dual-timeline novels about little-known historical events, definitely check this one out.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of novels about Titanic and other maritime disasters)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), blood/gore, violence, and mild sexual content (including references to sexual abuse)
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Surviving Savannah from the generous folks at Penguin Random House via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, September 28, 2020
Hopeful Family Secrets Novel Thought-Provoking and Touching
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Reporter Elizabeth Balsam will do anything to break a huge story about a local politician's secret involvement in the 1967 Detroit race riots. Her dodgy methods don't get her the scoop, however; they get her sacked. Finding herself with a lot of extra time on her hands all of the sudden, Elizabeth decides to follow up on an odd request from a stranger who asks her to deliver an old camera and a stack of photos to a relative she's never met. Her curiosity is piqued by her visit to Lapeer County, Michigan, where Elizabeth meets Nora Balsam, her great aunt, for the first time. It's clear from the get-go that Nora is hiding a very intriguing story. Her journalistic Spidey senses tingling, Elizabeth determines to uncover her family's secrets. What she finds is a startling tale of love, strength, resilience, courage, tragedy, and a past that isn't nearly as distant as one would think ...
I'm a sucker for books about family secrets, especially those that stretch back through the generations. We Hope for Better Things, a debut novel by Erin Bartels, fits that bill perfectly. It tells a surprising tale that's full of action, romance, mystery, history, and more. The book is populated with likable, sympathetic characters. They're all flawed, imperfect people who struggle through challenges, make mistakes, and yearn for redemption. Plot-wise, this novel is engaging and compelling. Although We Hope for Better Things is a Christian novel (it won a Christy Award last year), it's more inspirational than preachy. Overall, it's an appealing story that is clean, uplifting, thought-provoking, and timely. I enjoyed it very much.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of novels by Susan Meissner and Lisa Wingate)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and mild sexual innuendo/content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of We Hope For Better Things from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Wingate's Newest Engaging and Moving
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As a first-year English teacher, 27-year-old Benedetta "Bennie" Silva knows she pretty much has to take what she can get in terms of job placement. Still, she doesn't quite know how she's going to manage her first assignment at an all-black junior/senior high school in little Augustine, Louisiana. The kids, most of whom are impoverished and jaded, are just as skeptical of her as she is of them. In a desperate effort to engage them, she begins researching the history of a nearby plantation called Goswood Grove. When she discovers an incredible story about three young women who set out on a remarkable journey, Benny becomes obsessed with the tale, especially when she finds a connection between it and one of her students.
Over one hundred years earlier, in the days of Reconstruction, a trio of teens from Augustine hie off for Texas. Hannah is a freed slave searching for her mother and siblings, all of whom were sold off when she was only six. Lavinia is the spoiled daughter of Goswood Grove's master, who disappeared without a trace, leaving his plantation and family destitute. A mulatto, Juneau is Lavinia's Creole half-sister, who goes along reluctantly to keep Lavinia from getting into too much trouble. Along the way, the unlikely road trip companions will deal with perils of every kind. Can they learn to rely on each other? Will each of them find what they're looking for? Will any of them?
The Book of Lost Friends, Lisa Wingate's newest, has been criticized for being slow and lacking depth. While I can understand these complaints, I actually really liked the novel. It introduced me to a piece of Reconstruction era history that I'd never heard of—"Lost Friends" advertisements that helped families torn apart by slavery find each other again. Not only did I find this aspect of the novel fascinating, but I also enjoyed getting to know Hannah, Lavinia, and Juneau. Their journey to Texas and into their own pasts had enough drama and intrigue to keep me reading. All in all, I found The Book of Lost Friends to be engaging, interesting, moving, and thought-provoking. I loved it.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Book of Lost Friends from the generous folks at Ballantine Books (a division of Penguin Random House) via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Tea Cooper's Newest My Favorite Kind of Hist Fic
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Fleur Richards barely has time to be a wife before she becomes a widow. After a whirlwind courtship and a hasty, secret wedding to a handsome Australian soldier, she's shocked to hear that Hugh's been killed in the war. Shaken by grief, she's even more stunned to learn that her humble husband was a wealthy man. With no other family, Hugh's fortune goes to Fleur. It hardly seems fair that she should inherit all Hugh's money when, really, she hardly knew him. With nothing to keep her in England, Fleur decides to take the advice of her husband's solicitor and make her way to Australia. Intent on passing the inheritance to someone more deserving, she determines to find Hugh's kin.
Part of Hugh's property is an abandoned curiosity shop in Sydney that unwittingly captures Fleur's imagination and heart. As she studies its history, she's surprised to discover the place has a dark and mysterious past. Before she can stop herself, Fleur finds herself caught up in its fascinating story. It's a tale of romance, treasure, treachery, and intrigue ... and Fleur won't stop digging until she finds all the answers to the decades-old secret of a captivating, missing gem.
The Woman in the Green Dress by Australian author Tea Cooper is my favorite kind of historical fiction—clean, atmospheric, mysterious, and entertaining. The setting is colorful and exotic, the characters likable (especially the irrepressible Bert) and interesting, the mystery compelling and engrossing. True, I saw most of the plot twists coming. Also true, I didn't care as I just found this novel absorbing and enjoyable. The Woman in the Green Dress is my first book by Cooper, but it will definitely not be my last.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Woman in the Green Dress from the generous folks at Thomas Nelson via those at TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
--
Want more opinions on The Woman in the Green Dress? Follow along on the book's blog tour by visiting the stops below:
Tuesday, June 16th: She Just Loves Books and @shejustlovesbooks
Wednesday, June 17th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Thursday, June 18th: @meetmeinthestacks
Friday, June 19th: Reading Reality
Monday, June 22nd: Into the Hall of Books
Monday, June 22nd: Run Wright
Tuesday, June 23rd: Blooming With Books
Wednesday, June 24th: Living My Best Book Life and @livingmybestbooklife
Thursday, June 25th: From the TBR Pile
Friday, June 26th: Probably at the Library and @probablyatthelibrary
Monday, June 29th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts
Tuesday, June 30th: Beauty in the Binding and @beautyinthebinding
Wednesday, July 1st: Girl Who Reads
Thursday, July 2nd: Christian Bookshelf Reviews
Friday, July 3rd: @rendezvous_with_reading
Monday, July 6th: Buried Under Books
Thursday, July 9th: Pacific Northwest Bookworm and @pnwbookworm
Friday, July 10th: Read Eat Repeat and @readeatrepeat1
Friday, July 10th: @booktimistic
Monday, July 13th: @babygotbooks13
Tuesday, July 14th: Running Through the Storms
Wednesday, July 15th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Wednesday, July 15th: Sincerely Karen Jo
Thursday, July 16th: @lostinastack
Friday, July 17th: Wellreadtraveler and @wellreadtraveler
Friday, July 24th: Books Cooks Looks
Friday, July 24th: @bibliolau19
TBD: Monday, June 15th: Hallie Reads
TBD: Monday, July 6th: Drink. Read. Repeat and @drink.read.repeat
TBD: Tuesday, July 7th: Careyloves and @careylovestobook
Saturday, February 08, 2020
WWI Underground City Novel Not As Immersive As Promised
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Rosalyn Acosta doesn't care for France or its famous bubbly, yet here she is on her way to the country's Champagne region on a buying trip for her boss' winery. Anyone would be envious of such a trip. For Rosalyn, however, it's a painful reminder of her honeymoon in Paris, a celebration of a marriage that ended too soon, leaving her paralyzed with grief. And debt. Hence, her need to bring in some lucrative French accounts.
A chance conversation on the plane with her vivacious Australian seatmate piques Rosalyn's interest in a little-known fact about Champagne's tumultuous history. During World War I, as bombs pelted the small town of Reims, France, its beleaguered citizens—mostly women and children—hid in the tunnels beneath the village's famous champagne houses. In this underground city, the resilient occupants ran shops, a school, and even continued to harvest and store champagne. As Rosalyn begins reading old letters describing wartime Reims from a young French soldier to his Australian pen pal, a marraine de guerre, she becomes so immersed in their story that she must know how it ends. Suddenly, the trip Rosalyn has been dreading becomes something much, much more intriguing.
While Rosalyn gets acquainted with Champagne and researches its fascinating history, she finds herself rising out of the ashes of grief, finding herself again, and experiencing hope for the first time since her husband died. Will she find all the answers she seeks in France?
I love me a dual-timeline novel, especially one that's based on an intriguing historical detail like the underground WWI city in Champagne. Throw in some old letters, a family mystery that will require a genealogical treasure hunt and you've pretty much caught me hook, line, and sinker. Which means I should have absolutely adored The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell. Despite the fact that it boasts a blend of elements I find particularly appealing, this novel turned out to be just an okay read for me. Why? As happens often in dual-timeline novels, I became more interested in the past storyline than the present and The Vineyards of Champagne spends most of its time in the latter. Rosalyn drove me a little crazy with her self-absorbed whining. I much preferred keeping company with the besieged folks of Reims. It's them and their lifestyle I wanted to know more about. Since I know little of France and nothing at all about champagne, I found these topics interesting. Overall, though, The Vineyards of Champagne just seems to go on forever without really immersing the reader in the most interesting part of its premise—the underground WWI city of Reims. In the end, then, I liked this novel well enough, just not as much as I wanted to. It's interesting in a lot of ways, but its focus isn't where I wanted it to be if that makes sense.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing's really coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
or brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Vineyards of Champagne from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Winning Elements Combine to Create Compelling, Entertaining Mystery
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
1939—Aspiring artist Anna Dale is thrilled when her sketch wins a federal contest designed to install colorful murals on the walls of post offices throughout the United States. Unexpectedly, the 22-year-old is assigned to paint in the tiny Southern town of Edenton. With the recent death of her mother, Anna has nothing to keep her in New Jersey, so she settles down in the North Carolina town, determined to do her best to immortalize its virtues in her mural. While some of the townsfolk welcome her with open arms, others look askance at her city airs, her unconventional ideas, and the fact that she bested Edenton's resident artist in the contest. When a shocking turn of events shows Anna just how deep some people's resentment lies, she's forced to decide if completing the mural is really worth the risk.
2018—In jail for a crime she didn't commit, 22-year-old Morgan Christopher is surprised when she receives a visit from two women she doesn't know. When they offer her a job restoring an old painting, at the bequest of a well-known artist who has recently died, Morgan's shocked. Especially when she learns the task comes with a generous payout and immediate release from incarceration. Morgan can't say no. Although she knows nothing about art restoration and can't fathom why a famous painter would want her for the job, Morgan vows to do the best she can. When she sees the painting—an old mural that was never installed at the Edenton, North Carolina, post office like it should have been—she's intrigued by the artist's odd renderings of the town. Was Anna Dale insane? Why did she paint such weird motifs? The more Morgan works on the painting, the more she has to know: What happened to Anna Dale, a talented painter who was never heard from again after she left Edenton?
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain combines some intriguing elements—small-town secrets, a mysterious painting, and an impossible task assigned to an improbable underdog—to create an engrossing, entertaining mystery that I quite enjoyed. Anna and Morgan are likable characters, both of whom are sympathetic and admirable. Although I know little about painting, it was interesting to learn about the restoration process. I also enjoyed the pacing of this story, which kept me engrossed and guessing. The Big Reveal at the end of the book didn't surprise me at all, however, but that's okay because it felt so right. With all of these winning elements, Big Lies in a Small Town is engaging, compelling, and enjoyable. I'll definitely be checking out Chamberlain's backlist now.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), blood/gore, violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Big Lies in a Small Town from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Friday, January 03, 2020
While It's Nothing to Really Sing About, Christmas Bells is a Heartwarming Holiday Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
One of my favorite things about Christmas is the music. I like a jolly "Frosty the Snowman" or "Up on the Housetop" as much as the next person, but it's the tender, inspiring hymns about the Savior's birth and His influence on the world that really touch my soul. "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is one such hymn. Since Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is my favorite poet (he's also the only one whose poems I can actually make sense of), I knew a little bit about the story behind his famous Yuletide poem, but when I heard that Jennifer Chiaverini had written a whole novel about it, I knew I wanted to read it. Naturally, I intended to enjoy the book before Christmas, but that didn't happen so I made Christmas Bells my first priority in the new year.
The novel actually tells two stories concurrently—one (Longfellow's) which takes place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1860-1864, the other which is set in present-day Boston. The former is based on the true events which led to Longfellow's creation of the Christmas Bells poem, while the latter is a completely fictional tale that concerns several members of a church congregation who come together because of a Christmas concert performed by its children's choir. The characters highlighted in both tales are in need of some holiday cheer, comfort, or courage. All could use the kind of miracles that seem to happen only at Christmastime. Will they get them?
I was most excited to read about Longfellow, so I was a little disappointed to find that his sections of the book got a little long and a little dull. They included some interesting information, but Longfellow's chapters felt more like a history textbook than a novel. The modern story was compelling enough to keep me reading, but it didn't turn out to be anything really mind-blowing either. While Christmas Bells isn't as dazzling as I wanted it to be, it does make for heartwarming holiday reading. I liked it, I just didn't love it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of In the Dark Streets Shineth by David McCullough)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for war-related violence and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Christmas Bells from Changing Hands Bookstore with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Kate Morton-ish Castle Novel the Engaging Finale to a Promising Trilogy
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: The Painted Castle is the third installment in a trilogy of interrelated books. While they are not sequels exactly, characters from the first and second books have cameos in the third. The books can be read as standalones, but if you want to avoid even minor spoilers, I recommend reading them in order.)
Art historian Keira Foley is still reeling from a job and a resulting relationship that turned sour, leading to both professional and personal disgrace in New York City. She's back in her native Ireland licking her wounds. When a cocky American bloke struts into her family's pub, taking a keen interest in Keira, her protective brother threatens to have him forcibly removed. Keira's not interested in the bloke until he dangles a mysterious job offer in a crumbling English castle called Parham Hill in front of her nose ...
Amelia Woods had been married to Arthur—the viscount of Huxley and owner of Parham Hill—barely a year when he was killed in a mission while serving as an RAF pilot. Four years later, the English countryside is still under threat of attack, especially since an airfield lies just over the hill from the estate. Amelia is protective of her husband's ancestral home with its precious memories and priceless art, but it's the children boarding inside whose safety is her first priority. When a group of American military officers becomes her unwitting roommates, Amelia must protect all of Parham Hill's hidden treasures. Especially her heart.
When Elizabeth Meade was just a child, she witnessed her father's callous murder on the streets of London. A glimpse of a cloaked man with unusual eyes gave her an idea of the killer's identity—and the germ of a revenge plot. Now engaged to the very man—the viscount of Huxley—Elizabeth is playing a dangerous long game to avenge her beloved parent. She soon comes to realize that secrets abound at Parham Hill and its owner may not be what he seems ...
If you're a rabid Kate Morton fan like I am, you'll definitely want to check out the Lost Castle series by Kristy Cambron. I haven't read the first two books in the trilogy since I thought The Painted Castle was a standalone, but I've already put both on reserve at my library. That should give you a clue as to how much I enjoyed the final installment! It's a triple timeline novel featuring three women in different eras. All of the leading ladies are strong, intelligent, independent sorts who find themselves, in some way, through their association with Parham Hill. They solve mysteries, endure hardship and loss, find love, and make important discoveries about the castle and themselves, all of which makes for an engrossing novel. Add in vivid prose, excellent pacing, and a few twists to keep things interesting, and you've got yourself an engaging read. Even better, Cambron keeps things squeaky clean so that this book (and the whole series, presumably) can be handed to any reader, from tween to senior citizen. Although Cambron writes Christian fiction, The Painted Castle makes only occasional reference to God and never in a way that is preachy or disruptive. For all these reasons and more, I found myself completely immersed in this engaging, Morton-ish delight. As I have said, I enjoyed it immensely and am excited to read the rest of the series as well as anything else Cambron has written. It's always fun to find a new author who writes clean, compelling books. I know I'm going to relish getting to know Cambron and her work better.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of books by Kate Morton and Susan Meissner)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Painted Castle from the generous folks at Thomas Nelson via those at TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
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Want more opinions on The Painted Castle? Follow along on the book's blog tour by clicking on the links below:
Instagram tour:
Monday, October 14th: @nurse_bookie
Monday, October 14th: @novelgossip
Tuesday, October 15th: @one_more_paige
Wednesday, October 16th: @crystals_library
Thursday, October 17th: @giuliland
Friday, October 18th: @babygotbooks13
Friday, October 18th: @thebooksellersdaughter
Saturday, October 19th: @bluntscissorsreviews
Sunday, October 20th: @sarahs_reads
Review tour:
Monday, October 21st: Blunt Scissors Book Reviews
Tuesday, October 22nd: Reading Reality
Tuesday, October 22nd: Lori’s Reading Corner – guest post
Wednesday, October 23rd: Bewitched Bookworms
Thursday, October 24th: Openly Bookish
Friday, October 25th: Literary Quicksand
Monday, October 28th: Living My Best Book Life and @livingmybestbooklife
Tuesday, October 29th: Kritter’s Ramblings
Wednesday, October 30th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Monday, November 4th: @amanda.the.bookish
Tuesday, November 5th: Read Eat Repeat
Wednesday, November 6th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts
Thursday, November 7th: @beritaudiokilledthebookmark
Friday, November 8th: The Lit Bitch
Monday, November 11th: Nurse Bookie
Monday, November 11th: What is That Book About
Wednesday, November 13th: Just One More Chapter
Friday, November 15th: Sincerely Karen Jo
Friday, November 15th: Jathan & Heather
Monday, November 18th: Broken Teepee
Tuesday, November 19th: Let Them Read Books
Wednesday, November 20th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
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