Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy 3/5 StarsThis book started extremely slowly for me, so much so that I almost stopped listening to the audiobook. It didn’t have the same pull as McConaghy’s other books had for me. This one is set slightly in the future and really harped on climate change rather than having a more balanced medley of themes as her other books have had. It ended up feeling like a soft thriller once it picked up, between…
I do enjoy this world quite a lot; to me it feels like a violent-yet-cozy intimate look into a quest in World of Warcraft. Though unfortunately I did not find this follow-up book to Legends & Lattes as enjoyable or immersible as the first book in the series. I think my issue, and the cause of the two stars removed, is with Fern, the main character. She accidentally abandons the bookshop she just opened next to Viv’s coffee shop, and…
With the 50th Anniversary of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Vagabond: A Memoir is a timely release. That movie made Tim Curry familiar to me and remains what I think of when I think of Tim Curry’s work, but the first time I saw him was actually in the movie Annie, from the 80’s. Before listening to this audiobook, I didn’t know much about him or other productions he has been involved in. Tim Curry reads the audiobook himself; I…
The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake is one of the best books you could choose for summer reading: a summer spent in Italy with a magical cookbook, family, and your teenage love. Jules agrees to spend the summer in Italy at her family house with her half-sister, Alex. Her motive for going is to spark inspiration for the cookbook she is supposed to be writing and she is hoping her Nonna and their family cookbook can help. The descriptions of…
I am a long-time follower of Rebecca, both on social media and her blog. She travels to Paris many times a year and I love following along on her adventures. Her blog, Everyday Parisian, is a Francophile’s dream; filled with musings from her Paris trips, recipes, travel tips, and more. And her beautiful photography! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with her debut book, but each page was an absolute delight. The main draw is the photography: it is…
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna 4/5 Stars I liked a lot about this book. The witch rules (and curses) in this particular world are unique and well thought out. There’s a full cast of characters and they’re all distinct enough to stand out and on their own. I really enjoyed reading it and plan to read the next one but it didn’t “wow” me in a way that has me giving it high praise and…
The Alchemy of Flowers by Laura Resau 4/5 StarsI really like all of the tidbits about France and the French language in this book. The idea of a secret garden in France is an absolute dream. I love how this garden was described, the individual living spaces, the intricacies of their daily lives. One thing that was hard for me to believe is how easily the French language came back to Eloise after last using it fifteen years earlier in…
A Curse Carved in Bone (Saga of the Unfated #2) by Danielle L. Jensen 3/5 StarsUnfortunately I was underwhelmed by this one, as well as my reread of A Fate Inked in Blood in preparation for the sequel. I absolutely loved the first book when it came out and I don’t know why I didn’t like it as much the second time around. This one felt like Freya was sulking and bratty for most of the book. I found her…
Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli 5/5 StarsI love this book and I love that it is part of a duology. Series can drag on and on these days and I really appreciate a short and sweet story. One can’t really say much about subsequent books without giving too much away but just know that what I loved about the first one is the same for this one. The writing, the world, the craftiness of the people who are drawn to…
Cats of Rome is a cute book. I had no idea there were so many stray cat colonies in Rome so it was informative. The photography is okay and what has let me down a bit; there are several great photos but most of them leave something to be desired, usually in the way of composition. I looked up this photographer and her other photos are stunning so this could be an issue of just the ARC file having low-quality…