August 2018 – Looking For a Good Book

August 31, 2018

MURDER, SHE REPORTED – Peg Cochran

In 1938 Manhattan ‘Society’ it would have been unthinkable that a young woman would go out and get a job, but that’s precisely what Elizabeth Adams does. Elizabeth loves taking pictures and she hopes someday to see one of her photos gracing the front page. But it’s 1938 and a woman in the newspaper office Continue reading

HISTORICAL FICTION, MYSTERY, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Reviews

August 29, 2018

THE SALINGER CONTRACT – Adam Langer

Connor Joyce is an author, though he’s hardly a household name. In the opening chapter, our unidentified narrator sees that Connor is having a reading at a local bookstore. The narrator, having a connection with Connor from doing an interview with him years earlier, attends the reading and is embarrassed that only one other person Continue reading

MYSTERY

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Literature, Mystery, Reviews

August 27, 2018

THE BROKEN ONES – Danielle L. Jensen

I had only just finished the initial trilogy (The Malediction Trilogy) by Danielle L. Jensen when I began this book, a prequel. It was definitely nice to have some of these characters very fresh in my mind as I went in to this. I wasn’t entirely enamored of the trilogy. I thought that the first Continue reading

SF/FANTASY

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

August 24, 2018

A CLOWN AT MIDNIGHT – Andrew Hudgins

It was five years ago that I requested (and received) a copy of this book. I was just beginning to get started with my serious book reviewing. I’m sure – very sure – that at the time I requested this, I was not aware that this was a book of poetry. I don’t enjoy poetry. Continue reading

OTHER

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Poetry, Reviews

August 22, 2018

CHANGE YOUR WORLD IN 71 DAYS – Tom Connellan

I discovered this book at the back-end of my reading queue, and since I’m trying to catch up on my reviews I will periodically choose the oldest books in my ARC library to read and review. Change Your World in 71 Days. By Tom Connellan. Yes. I had two immediate reactions while reading this. The Continue reading

Uncategorized

1 Star, Book Reviews, Books, non-fiction, Reviews

August 20, 2018

THE RIVERS RAN BACKWARD – Christopher Phillips

Christopher Phillips’ nearly 500 page exploration of the American Civil War and the effect it had on the people and communities of the states in the middle of the conflict is an exhausting, but informative read. Phillips has done a remarkable amount of research (note that nearly one-third of the book is made of ‘Notes’ Continue reading

NON-FICTION, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, History, Reviews

August 17, 2018

AURORA – Kim Stanley Robinson

You can’t go into a Kim Stanley Robinson novel expecting a fast, light read. Robinson typically writes compelling epics with a large cast of characters and Aurora is right in there – a classic Kim Stanley Robinson novel. Humanity’s efforts to colonize beyond our own solar system take a step closer to reality as a Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

5 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

August 16, 2018

ALEX AND THE OTHER – Philippa Dowding

Not since the Goosebumps series have we had good ‘weird’ stories for young readers until Philippa Dowding began her Weird Stories Gone Wrong series. Alex and the Other is the fourth in this series, and though I’ve only previously read the first book in the collection, it’s definitely a series to consider – especially if Continue reading

CHILDREN’S, SF/FANTASY, YA

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Children’s Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult

August 14, 2018

A CROWN OF WISHES – Roshani Chokshi

Roshani Chokshi’s A Crow of Wishes is a follow-up to her novel The Star-Touched Queen, which I have not read. There were times I felt as though I’d missed out on something, but for the most part, this novel reads smoothly as a stand-alone. The story follows two members of royalty – Princess Gauri and Continue reading

SF/FANTASY

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Mythology/Legend, Reviews, SF/Fantasy

August 13, 2018

DEBT COLLECTOR: SEASON ONE – Susan Kaye Quinn

There are some perks to reviewing books (of course). One is getting a chance to read new books by favorite authors, but perhaps the greater perks is ‘finding’ new talent. More often, however, we find the ‘almost-but-not-quite’ talent. Debt Collector Season One, by Susan Kaye Quinn falls into the latter category. In a dark, noir Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, SHORT FICTION, Uncategorized

3 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Short Stories

August 10, 2018

CLOCK DANCE – Anne Tyler

I have read everything I could find of Anne Tyler’s work ever since Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant was assigned reading in college, and I’ve never regretted reading an Anne Tyler book. That still holds true as I read this latest book of her, Clock Dance. Willa Drake leads a rather simple, somewhat plain life. Continue reading

OTHER, Uncategorized

4 stars, Book Reviews, Books, Literature, Reviews

August 8, 2018

WARRIOR WITCH – Danielle L. Jensen

Warrior Witch concludes the Malediction Trilogy and I … I … I just don’t know what to make of it. The series started off quite nicely with Stolen Songbird, but the follow-up, Hidden Huntress, lost the magic that made Songbird a success. (If you are on my blog, then you can do a quick search Continue reading

SF/FANTASY, Uncategorized

2 Stars, Book Reviews, Books, Reviews, SF/Fantasy, Young Adult