Carnival Quest has been the long-coming finale to The Candy Shop War trilogy. It’s been many years since I’ve read the first and second books and I was able to easy jump right back into the world. Despite being a middle grade reading level, I was engrossed in and excited for the adventure that Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon found themselves on. The premise of the carnival reminded me so much of Meow Wolf in Santa Fe (which I absolutely…
An American in Provence is a special book. It combines almost all of my most favorite things: France, cooking, motherhood, photography, seasonal living (I mean what am I missing from this list… cats and books? That’s a pretty good ratio). The book is divided by season and each season has essays, photography tutorials, and recipes. On every page are the beautiful photographs you know to expect with Jamie’s work. Each page is such a delight and a treasure. The first…
Destroyer (The Shattered City #1) by Meg Smitherman 4/5 StarsThis is a delightfully engrossing and unique book. The world it’s set in is explained simply and clearly, which I’m always thankful for in a fantasy novel. I love the fact that the main character, Ru, is an archeologist and an underdog, and I really like all of the supporting characters. The first half has some clunky phrases or wording that distract from the story and fade as it goes on;…
I try to make the first and last books of a year special ones, and I was really happy to have this one be the last one I finished in 2022. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries is a wonderful lady-explorer adventure book (can we get that made an official genre?) which is one of my very favorite types of books. I love the journal format, the adventure, the mystery, the traveling to a faerie world, and we even get a…
Flight Risk is the second book in Cherie Priest’s newest series, The Booking Agents. (I loved the first book and you can read my review here.) Cherie does a great job reviewing important details from the first book so I *think* you could probably read this one if you haven’t read Grave Reservations yet (though you’ll be missing out on a great book). As with the first, Flight Risk takes place in Seattle and the surrounding areas, with an emphasis…
An Impossible Imposter (Veronica Speedwell #7) by Deanna Raybourn 3/5 StarsIn this book we learn of a HUGE detail about Veronica that we didn’t know previously, and I don’t even recall a hint to it. This new development was terribly exciting, but the way Veronica behaves is so frustrating and, to me, inconsistent with the rest of her direct personality. It’s as if along with her feelings for and relationship with Stoker, her ability to follow through with reason has…
Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan by Liz Michalski 4/5 StarsI love a modern retelling of a classic tale, especially if it is made more real or gritty. I didn’t love Holly, Wendy’s granddaughter, or her mother, Jane, but I did like the uniqueness of the rest of the characters and story. There are a few things at the end that are conveniently, magically “fixed” that seemed like an easy way out for the author. I think this would…
I think this is a perfect beach read. It’s entertaining, light, funny, and weird enough to hold your attention. I did not like the overly-woke aspects and it does feel a little YA because the main character is pretty immature, but overall I have good feelings when I think back about this book. I like the writerly, ghost, and cemetery elements very much.I wouldn’t run out to buy her next book on release day but I would keep an eye…
Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett 5/5 StarsThis is such a great book! I was initially drawn to it because it’s based in a small New Hampshire town. Really I love everything about this book: it’s an easy read though it deals with tough topics; the historical non-fiction tie-ins with Ernest Harold Baynes; a very surprising twist; magical realism and more. It almost reads like a cozy mystery. I really appreciated the author’s note at the end where she says she…
I was so excited to receive a preview of An American in Provence by Jamie Beck. It has all of my great loves: France, photography, stories, and recipes. I’ve read the Autumn section (there’s one for each season). Beautiful, moving essays on her life in France and before moving and how the terroir has changed her. Photography tutorials include working with natural lighting, bug styling, and posing. The recipe I’m most excited to try once the weather starts to turn…