Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina
Length: 352 Pages
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

I'd like to give a very special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Death, Murder, Sexual Assault, Bullying in Regards to the MC's Two-Spirit Identity, Drug Use And Discussion of the Many Abuses Native Women Face

Anna Horn is an outcast--bullied relentlessly at school and pushed to the side by her younger sister in fear of Anna's own status rubbing off on her. Her only comfort comes from visiting the long abandoned trailer of Miss Shelby, a woman who tried to keep the tribe's stories alive be recounting them to anyone who would listen. She went missing years ago without a trace--or was eaten by the unhappy, travelling head of a dead chief, according to Anna's uncle. Miss Shelby was the only one who saw Anna for who she really was, not just a girl, but as someone who was two-spirit, "neither one or the other".

After Anna takes a job cleaning hotel rooms at the large casino on the reservation, and catches the eye of Fox Ballard for her quick work on the rooms and the lack of gossiping she does with the other maids, she encourages her sister, Grace, to get a job, too. Soon, Anna is chosen to clean rooms on the mysterious eighth floor, where all the best suites are. But something isn't right with that floor, and Anna knows it. She catches one of the maids, another Native girl, dazed and stumbling down the stairway, and another woman running crying from one of the suites. And Fox makes sure she never sees who goes in them, or who leaves.

When Grace starts sneaking out at night and eventually goes missing like so many other girls on the rez, Anna is sure it all comes down to Fox and the casino.

This is one powerful debut novel, weaving together folklore and horror and mystery masterfully. The characters are all wonderfully human and imperfect, with Anna being the clear standout. I only refrain from giving this five stars because there was so much left unanswered, which usually isn't a bother for me normally, but here I would have loved some of the loose ends tied up. Also, the author perfectly encompassed the relationship between sisters, especially of a younger age. It is so complicated, a mixture of love, hate and jealousy which is hard for most people to get just right! 

This is a story dedicated to the epidemic of missing, murdered and abused Indigenous women, as said in the powerful afterward. The ending, despite its ambiguity, left me with chills. Overall, I'm really impressed with Medina's work, and I eagerly look forward to what he'll publish next!

Book Review: The Snow Hare by Paula Lichtarowicz

The Snow Hare by Paula Lichtarowicz
Length: 384 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

I'd like to give a very special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company + a heartfelt apology for how long it took me to get this review out. I'm running behind after taking a new job and I'm really sorry!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Death, including Death of a Child, Illness and Gore, Rape and Forced Pregnancy, Racism and Bigotry Against Romani, including Slurs

Lena is at the end of her life. She has seen death and famine, loved and learned the consequences of its power, and lost, so, so much. Her end comes to her at her farm in Wales, surrounded by her son and granddaughter--but it began in Poland.

When Lena was young and sure life could only be what one made it, fates be damned, she wanted to be a doctor. Not only a doctor, but one of the few women accepted to university. With the encouragement of her beloved father, she pursues science and the study of the human body with abandon and hope. A harrowing accident, which leaves her with a limp for the rest of her life, changes everything. Now, she is married to a Polish officer who she does not love, who takes her away to his isolated post, who forces himself upon her, resulting in a pregnancy that forever solidifies her place as a mother and wife, and never that of a woman of medicine. And then, war breaks out.

Reuniting with her family for only a short, peaceful time, Lena and her sister, pregnant by her new husband who accompanies them, her younger brother, her daughter and parents, are forced to relocate to the taiga as second-rate citizens and "enemies of the state". It is there that Lena will come to love someone who is forbidden, a guard who enforces the strict rations and back-breaking work. The great sacrifice she makes for him will change her life, and the lives of those around her, for generations to come.

Despite really enjoying this book (and Lichtarowicz's poetic prose), I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with the depiction of the Romani woman who gives Lena her fate. For that reason, I'm removing one star from my rating.

"The Snow Hare" is a harrowing tale of wartime, love, both romantic and familial, and the resilience of the human soul, a perfect choice, especially for women, who still to this day know the pain of having their hopes squandered by fate and circumstance.

Book Review: Speaks the Nightbird by Robert McCammon

Speaks the Nightbird by Robert McCammon
Length: 792 Pages
Genres: Historical Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings for Racism and Racial Epitaphs, Blood, Gore, Beastiality, Sexism and Probably a Lot More I Forgot

Speaks the Nightbird has been on my TBR for a while now, and I finally decided to take the plunge into this massive tome and am so happy I did! It is meticulously researched, a real step back into the time period by a master of prose and plot lines, and a treat for any historical mystery lovers!

Matthew Corbett is the young and curious (sometimes to his own detriment) clerk to the magistrate Isaac Woodward, a man who is sometimes more father than employer. He plucked Matthew out of a boys' home and obscurity, and ever since Matthew has done his job and everything the man asks of him in hopes of repayment. Now, he has followed him to the wilds of The Carolinas in 1699, where a town is being plagued by otherworldly problems: deaths and failing crops, and even strange creatures. All of it is blamed on a woman, part-Portuguese and far too close to Spanish for the English citizens in a time where relations between the two countries were icy at best, called Rachel. They say she is a witch, and responsible for it all.

Matthew, however, has doubts. The witness statements have as many similarities as they have holes, and everyone in town is desperate for Rachel to be put to the stake to relieve their problems. And then Matthew loses his heart to the very woman who awaits her execution...

So, I really loved this book. The characters were vivid and incredibly realistic, especially for their time period. I'm also in awe of how many plot threads wind throughout this book, each one serving its purpose towards the conclusion, and how enjoyable they all were which is a feat unto itself! The main thing keeping this from being a solid five stars is the portrayal of the characters of color and some of the female characters. I felt Rachel was no more than a object for Matthew's affections, having very little personality or motivation of her own other than being "strong" and "beautiful". The Indians were portrayed as grinning, violent savages, and the black characters as obedient and wise to their white masters. I know these were period typical attitudes, but the use of omniscient POV made it seem less the characters thoughts and prejudices and more the author's.

Overall, an enjoyable and hard to solve mystery with a few serious flaws. Keep it all in mind should you choose to read!

Book Review: Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire

Dead and Gondola by Ann Claire

Length: 336 Pages
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an ARC of this book!

I've really gotten into cozy mysteries! The only problem with them is that sometimes they seem all a bit the same, usually with similar characters and hobbies and even mysteries! However I am happy to report that the first in this series by Ann Claire combines the classic with the new, along with a beautiful location and even a grumpy but loveable bookshop cat, Agatha C. (for cat) Christie!

Ellie Christie has finally returned home to her tiny town of Last Word, Colorado, ready to take the helm of her family bookstore situated within a beautiful chalet. Helping her is her older sister, Meg, Meg's daughter, Rosie, and their wise and baking crazy Gram. But when the bookstore opens its doors to actress Morgan Marin and her book club, things get a bit...deadly. Morgan has the customers, including several longstanding  and beloved citizens of Last Word, perform a séance. The Ouija board spells out two words: "dead man". And who would guess that only a little while later a returned ne'er-do-well by the name of Prescott St. James would be found dead on the gondola, with Meg and Ellie witnessing the whole thing!

The setting is one of the things that makes this book so enjoyable! As someone from the perpetually hot state of Texas, it was wonderful to hear of a place full of glittering snow, fondue cafes, chocolate shops, a fancy inn complete with natural hot springs, and all the skiing and hiking they get up to! It sounded like the perfect place to visit, and maybe even the perfect place to plan a murder. I also enjoyed the aspect of the sisters' relationship, which was kind and supportive and, speaking as an older sister myself, a true representation of sisterly camaraderie. And of course, who doesn't love to hear about the beautiful long-haired Siamese queen of the bookshop, Agatha!

A perfect read for the upcoming winter months. Complete it with cocoa and your favorite furry friend and you're in for a real treat!

Book Review: The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews

The Belle of Belgrave of Square by Mimi Matthews
Length: 432 Pages
Genres: Historical Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Mentions of Violence and Parental Mental Abuse

I was lucky enough to have gotten an advanced copy of the first book in this series, The Siren of Sussex, and just adored Matthews' prose, her amazing knowledge of the time period, and her wonderful characters! I was really excited for the next one because the couple was hinted at in the previous installment and I couldn't wait to see where their romance went!

Julia Wychwood is a young lady bound by her anxiety, bed-ridden by her fear and controlled by her hypochondriac parents. She has never left London, but travels the world via her beloved novels, and dreams of a romance worthy of the pages. Her only strength comes in the form of her beloved Black gelding, Cossack, and she wakes early every morning ride in the park. But as she grows older, these little freedoms gain an expiration date. She must marry at her parents' will, and soon. When she fakes yet another illness to stay hidden away in her room, her parents' doctor demands she read no more novels, as they are undoubtedly the root of her sickness, and bleeds her twice in one day, leaving her weak and trapped.

Jasper Blunt may be called "The Hero of the Crimea", but it is a known fact that he acted anything but heroic during his time as a Captain. His dark deeds and scarred face are the gossip of all of London, just as much as his three illegitimate children and purportedly haunted Yorkshire estate is. He has come to London in want of a wife with a sizeable dowry, enough to make repairs to his estate and to provide for his children. And he thinks he's found the perfect one: Julia Wychwood. Over time, he even begins to harbor affection in his heart for her, only to be told point blank by her father that should she marry she would have to remain close to her parents so that she can care for them. And Yorkshire is a long ways away from London. Then, he goes to her on her sickbed and she asks of something he cannot deny, dowry or no. She asks him for his hand in marriage.

I really appreciated this romance with an anxious and doubting heroine because she so often reminded me of myself and I connected to her on a deep basis, with her love of books and romantic imaginings, her fears and woes, and cheered for her when she finally stood up to her parents, all on her own. Jasper was an excellent brooding type of hero with dark secrets and an inside that was as gooey as marshmallow. And though there was no explicit sex scenes, there were stolen kisses and sensuality that was so scorching you won't miss any of it! Another thing I greatly enjoyed was the influence of gothic literature (one of my favorite genres) on this book, complete with references and quotes from Wuthering Heights. Opening up one of Mimi Matthews' books is like sinking into a bubble bath, or indulging in a big mug of hot chocolate--it's pure pleasure, and one you'll quickly be addicted to!

Book Review: Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn

Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn
Length: 320 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Death Threats of Minors, Discussions of the Euthanization of Disabled People, Ableism, Racism and Antisemitism, Miscarriage, Blood and Gore

I was really excited to sink my teeth into Cradles of the Reich by Jennifer Coburn, which tells the shockingly true and vastly undocumented story of the Lebensborn program, which sought to increase the number of Aryan and "racially pure" German children by having young, eligible women procreate with top Nazi officials. And while that bit of history is undoubtedly interesting, I found myself disappointed with the character arcs, the ending, and the writing.

Told from the three alternating points of view--Hilde, the young power hungry Hitlerite who finds herself pregnant by a prominent married Nazi officer; Irma, a nurse with scars left over from the Great War who has recently broken it off with her sweetheart; and Gundi, a perfect example of Aryan purity and beauty who is pregnant with her Jewish lover's baby and worked with the Resistance--Cradles of the Reich suffers from the lack of development that comes with trying to do too many POVs within such a short book.

Hilde was one of the most interesting and flawed, desperate to become something other than a wife and itching to do her patriotic duty. Unfortunately, she has next to no growth and one of the most disappointing conclusions to a character arc I've ever read. Gundi is undoubtedly the star and the best portrayed, with the last long chapter devoted completely to her harrowing escape from the Lebensborn program at Heim Hochland. Irma changed for the better by the end, though I had doubts how she could be so careless and inconsiderate in the beginning and the make such a 180 by the end. It seemed to not be in her character, to be so selfless, and I didn't feel she had enough happen to her to make her change so drastically.

With regards to the writing, sometimes it was beautiful and wonderfully descriptive, and at other times read like a summary with too much telling and because of that, failed to get an emotional response from me.

I really wanted to like this better, but it felt like the whole book was leading up to a big end, only for it to fall completely flat! Read it for the history, which was obviously well researched, but know that there won't be any satisfactory ending here.

Book Review: The Corpse Flower by Anne Mette Hancock

The Corpse Flower by Anne Mette Hancock
Length: 336 Pages
Genres: Mystery and Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Graphic Depictions of Child Sexual Abuse, Murder, Blood, Suicide, Violence, Rape and Assault

I'm still on a Nordic Noir kick, and I'm happy to report that The Corpse Flower scored much higher with me than the last did. It's been on my radar for awhile, was pitched as Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets Sharp Objects, so of course my expectations were practically sky high!

Heloise Kaldan is a reporter for the Demokratisk Dagblad, and after an article of hers bombs due to a false report from an otherwise reliable source (who just so happens to be her lover...), all Heloise wants is a break and the go-ahead to continue working. What she doesn't expect is a cryptic letter from one of Denmark's most wanted killers, a woman named Anna Kiel. In the letters, she claims to be connected to Heloise, she even knows Heloise's favorite flower (the lupine, Anna's is the corpse flower) and lucky number. But Heloise knows nothing Anna, beyond what was reported about her: that she killed a bigshot lawyer in cold-blood with a kitchen knife and stood in front of a surveillance camera afterwards, staring, as if in a dare. And then, she disappeared without a trace.

Erik Schäfer is the cop who worked Anna's case. She has been gone for years now, and the last thing he expects is a little old lady, fresh from a vacation in France, to show up, claiming to have seen her. Then, he sees the photo she took and he knows without a doubt--it's her.

One question still remains: was Anna nothing but a crazed woman who chose her victim randomly? Or did she have a connection, just as she has with Heloise? And why, after so long, has she decided to speak up?

I love a thriller with an interesting setting, and the city of Copenhagen, along with bits of France, was just the icing on the cake for this novel. Heloise is a fun and resilient heroine, smart and brassy but with a heart of gold, much like Erik, who steers clear of the usual gruff and miserable cop trope. And Anna was the best part of all, reminding me very much of Lisbeth Salander. My one quibble was the I would have liked a few more clues towards the connection between Heloise and Anna. I hate it in a thriller when the mystery is one that I'm not given the opportunity to guess at myself. Other than that, I highly recommend The Corpse Flower and look forward to the next book in the series!

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Length: 309 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Graphic Depictions of Rape, Violence, Blood, Racism and Xenophobia, Suicide, An Intense Birth Scene, Illness and Death

"The last thing May says to me is 'When our hair is white, we'll still have our sister love.'"

My sister, who is a huge fan of See, has been trying to get me to read something of hers for years now. Finally, I decided to read the one I had on my list: Shanghai Girls.

Beginning in 1937 in Shanghai, the "Paris of Asia", this novel follows the Chin sisters: the eldest, Pearl, who is a Dragon in the Chinese Zodiac which makes her strong and stubborn (sometimes to a fault), and May, who is a Sheep. Sheep are gentle, creative, and will always need someone to look after them. They are twenty-one and eighteen, work as "beautiful girls", posing for an artist to paint them to use their likenesses in ads and calendars, and stay up late going from club to café. Their life is that of a modern Chinese girl, one not bound by tradition and filial piety.

And then, their world crumbles. Their father announces he has lost all of their money, and to keep their house he has arranged marriages for each of them to "Gold Mountain Men", Chinese men from California. No matter how they fight they cannot win. Pearl is heartbroken, because her one-true love is the artist Z.G., but when she confesses her feelings he brushes her off. What follows is a tale of heartbreak, set amongst the beginnings of the Sino-Japanese war, as Pearl and May fight to escape the invading Japanese and get to America. But America is not a place of endless opportunity, like they were told. America has its own problems, from the Depression to Pearl Harbor, and their fight will be one that goes on for many mores years and claims many that are important to the girls.

The heart of Shanghai Girls is always the relationship between the sisters, which goes from caring to fractured to anger and resentment and back again. It is a true story of "sister love", and "mother love", too, and how strong those bonds are in even the darkest of times.

This book is dark, yes, as it features some of the darkest moments in the history of mankind, but throughout it all there is hope and love, as bright and searing as it can be. A must-read for women everywhere!

Book Review: A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong

A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong
Length: 342 Pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Rating: 4 out 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Murder, Racism and Xenophobia, Some Gore and Blood

So, I've had a few Kelley Armstrong's books on my TBR for a while now, but when I read about her latest, featuring a Vancouver Detective who travels back in time to Victorian Edinburgh, I knew I had to snatch it up! I love anything Victorian, especially anything that features a crime and the medicine of the era (those Victorians were delightfully morbid), and I just thought it was a great idea to utilize a modern female protagonist thrust into those circumstances! Now, I think Armstrong can count me among her loyal legion of fans. And, not to sound like Mallory doing her best impression of Victorian speech, but I am demanding the sequel forthwith!

Mallory Atkinson is visiting Edinburgh, and not this time for a summer away, like in her youth, but to be with her dying grandmother. At night she jogs through the Old Town, desperate for some sort of relief that she knows won't come until the tragic happens, and her grandmother is lost to her forever. On one of these runs, she hears the screams of a woman coming from a dark alley, and, being a Detective back in Vancouver, she simply can't ignore it. Mallory tiptoes in, only to find...a strange sort of projection. That of a woman, dressed like she is from hundred of years ago. Then, Mallory is attacked from behind. As she struggles to free herself, the other woman is attacked too. It is the last thing she sees before she loses consciousness.

When Mallory comes to, she finds herself in a dark room, wearing a corset and dress and...not herself at all, but a young woman with blonde hair. A maid, it turns out, to the infamous Dr. Duncan Gray, an undertaker and medical examiner--a maid who just so happened to live 150 years prior. Now, living as Caitriona, Mallory struggles to make sense of what happened and to find a way back to 2019 and her grandmother. Through hard work, determination, and a fair bit of subterfuge, Mallory is able to impress her employer enough that he allows her to help him with his more bloody bits of work. When a murder occurs that has striking similarities to her attack in 2019, Mallory wonders if somehow her violent future has followed her into the past.

Mallory was a great heroine, smart and funny and compulsively readable, and I really enjoyed the secondary characters as well, from Dr. Gray (who I expect to become a love interest later in the series), to his sister, Isla, a chemist and woman ahead of her time, to Detective McCreadie and the other servants. The mystery is fun, and even has the killer creating an homage to Jack the Ripper, twenty years before his infamous crimes. It was obvious Armstrong did her research well, and I have to say I really enjoyed learning a bit about a Victorian funeral home and the burgeoning science of forensic examination, which makes most of the police and population suspicious of Dr. Grey in fear of his dark "predilections". If only they knew!

A historical mystery outside of the usual box and full of vivid characters and places, A Rip Through Time is an exciting start to a series that will keep you waiting, or begging, for more.

Book Review: Aphrodite and the Duke by J.J. McAvoy

Aphrodite and the Duke by J.J. McAvoy
Length: 384 Pages
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Dell for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Child Abuse (Not Sexual) and Neglect

I have to admit I was absolutely drawn to this book thanks to the gorgeous cover! And, I was happy to discover that this book is not only a great balm for those waiting for more Bridgerton, but also a wonderful choice for those whose favorite Jane Austen is Persuasion, like me.

Aphrodite Du Bell has been in love with Evander Eagleman, Duke of Everley, all her life. She was once even engaged to him when she was eighteen, only to be left waiting, ashamed and alone. Ever since, she has kept to the family estate, too heartbroken to return to London at the chance that she might see him. But, at the insistence of her hard-headed Mama, she is back to stun all of the Ton--and catch a husband in the process. Whether she wants to or not.

Little does she know, Evander had a very good reason for why he didn't show. It all has to do with his family, who are mixed up in quite the scandal, should it be discovered. He is only back in London for the season, to chaperone his younger sister, Verity, as she comes out into society. Only, Aphrodite is there, too, and his love for her still burns just as bright as it did four years ago. Can things ever be repaired? Can Evander let Aphrodite in, even if it means exposing his family, and his painful past? And can Aphrodite handle the demands of being a Duchess, a wife, and a stepmother, all while keeping true to herself?

Aphrodite and the Duke is a story of a second chance at true love, and has a somewhat unusual setup for a romance as the heroine and hero end up married about at 40% or 50% into the book. I loved how they would fight and disagree but would quickly talk it out, discover just what laid behind the sharp words and overreactions, to the tender and bruised parts beneath. Aphrodite was a charming heroine, wise and innocent all at once, with a deep love for her family (who all feature and are fun characters in their own rights) and books. Evander was fine as a hero, though I sometimes found him a bit snooty, especially when it came to his stepmother and the villain. Though I had a few little qualms with him, I thought they made a wonderful couple, and evened each other out spectacularly.

A fun romance with lots of heart, I can't help but look forward to more historical work by J.J. McAvoy, hopefully featuring some of Aphrodite's family, or Evander's!

Book Review: The Tenant by Katrine Engberg

The Tenant by Katrine Engberg
Length: 368 Pages
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Ableism and Ableist Language, Murder, Gore, Blood and Statutory Rape (Relationship between fifteen year old and older men)

I've been back in a Nordic Noir mood, and wanted something to read to go along with that vibe. A while back, I spotted The Tenant by Katrine Engberg at my local bookstore and thought that the cover, along with the description, sounded intriguing! My mother also happened to read this book, and when I asked her what she thought of it, she couldn't remember anything about it, which I think says more about this book than I ever could. But I'll try.

Told in between three POVs, that of Detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner (yes, they rhyme), and an older aspiring author, Esther, who just so happens to own the building where the first murder occurs, The Tenant starts off promising enough. A young girl has been killed in her apartment, the killer stabbing her and then carving a strange pattern onto her face, reminiscent of the traditional Danish Easter paper cuttings called gækkebrev. 

Unfortunately, I think the characters are the biggest downfall here, and while the mystery itself is interesting enough with a pretty satisfying conclusion, I couldn't help but just really dislike most of the principal players. Jeppe is the least offensive, along with Esther, but Anette was the worst of them--brash, rude, and the Queen of making off-color comments. No one was out of bounds for her, not Jeppe and his "girly" hair that she can't take seriously (it's only bleached blond), not the backwards and provincial Faroese, not even one of the main suspects, a boy with Autism called Kristoffer.

It was the handling of Kristoffer that was truly the kiss of death, here. He is called "creepy", a "weirdo", a "nutjob" and more, and the fact that he was in a relationship with the victim and that he "wouldn't give her space" and so on and so forth, and I simply couldn't abide it. There are so many instances of things like this in the book, not just in regards to Kristoffer, that made it obvious it wasn't just unlikeable characters like Anette, but perhaps a bit of the author's own biases coming through. On another note, one of the antagonists mentions that he has had sex with "maids and whores [...] black, yellow and red", not to mention several teen girls. Yikes!

Not the mystery, nor the writing, which was not my style at all, could make amends for these faults. It is really disappointing, because I so looked forward to maybe getting into a fun and exciting mystery series!

Book Review: Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
Length: 336 Pages
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Jove Books for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Divorce, Parental Abuse (Psychological), Mention of Suicide, and Parental Death

Ahhh! I absolutely adored this book and I can't tell you how glad I am that I requested it. Usually, contemporary romances are a true hit or miss with me (most of the humor comes across more cringey than cute), but I can say undoubtedly that this is one of the best I've ever read (and it actually made me laugh out loud!)

Phoebe Walsh is obsessed with true crime (it's even the focus of her dissertation), has an ungodly amount of 90's movies graphic t-shirts, and a chip on her shoulder. After the death of her father, who she hadn't seen in years after a messy divorce ended up with her staying with her mom, she is back in her hometown in Florida, ready to sell his house and get out as soon as possible. Her brother Conner is there to help, but they never got to spend much time together, seeing as his parent of choice was their dad. But Conner has an infectious sort of personality, a big kid with a love for Crash Bandicoot and Mountain Dew. And now, he needs help with one of the most important moments of his life--proposing to his longtime girlfriend, Shani. Phoebe isn't sure true love exists, but she's not going to let him down.

To keep her busy (and to procrastinate about finishing her dissertation), Phoebe is keeping an eye on her new neighbor, Sam, who has a soundproof garage and nocturnal activities--could he be a serial killer? Or is he something even more dangerous, a man who might have captured Phoebe's heart?

Phoebe was so relatable to me. As a woman who came from a home similar to hers, I struggle with the exact same issues as she does: opening myself up, being vulnerable, and admitting that sometimes I do need an extra bit of help. I loved seeing someone like us find love with such a wonderful guy, who was funny and cute and wonderful for her, and it really warmed my heart. I also really liked the secondary characters, like Conner and Shani, and Phoebe's childhood bestfriend, Alison.

This book is perfect for the broken girls who still want a bit of romance, those who love true crime, and might I mention there is a cat? Perfect!

Small Angels by Lauren Owen

Small Angels by Lauren Owen
Length: 400 Pages
Genres: Gothic, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Death, Blood, Gore, Animal Attacks and Mention of Animal Death, and Instances of Child Abuse (Physical and Psychological)

"In a distant time (the story ran) people cleared trees from the edge of Mockbeggar to make space for themselves, a place to build and farm, They moved in and stayed awhile, and then they were gone--wandering or dead, no one could say for sure now. But they left their relics behind: smashed pots, lost coins, assorted bones. And decade by decade, root by root, the trees moved back and swallowed it all."

Many years ago, I picked up Lauren Owen's debut called The Quick. It remains, to this day, one of my favorite pieces of vampire media, and a story that stuck with me for long afterwards. Many times, I've wondered why she hadn't put anything else out--and secretly hoped that one day she would return with something else beautiful and gothic. When I happened across this book, I was elated! Finally, I thought, Lauren Owen has come back! I was desperate to request it on NetGalley but worried I wouldn't have the time. And then, I was contacted by Random House to see if I was interested. How could I say no? 

Chloe has been in love with her fiancé, Sam's, village since she first step foot there. It is like falling back through time, to a place that is lovelier, calmer, full of colorful locals and beautiful nature. Of course, it's no surprise that she would wish to have her wedding there. When the original location falls through, Chloe takes it upon herself to instead host it at an old church at the edge of the woods called St. Michael's and All His Angels, or Small Angels, colloquially. It is a dream come true, and if it needs a bit of work, a bit of polish and shine, well, it's all worth it in the end. Only Chloe doesn't know the story of Small Angels, or the village, or those entrancing, dangerous woods, called Mockbeggar--a place where the locals warn her never to go.

Kate, Sam's sister, knows what the forest is capable of. She hasn't returned in ten years, not since a disaster struck and left everything in pieces. Kate, young and brave, was in love with Lucia Gonne, of the infamous Gonne family, who hosted late night walks through the woods, singing a peculiar song, who keep torches blazing through the land, and ring the bells of Small Angels on full moons. Once, a long time ago, people went to the Mockbeggar Woods to tell stories to the trees, and sometimes, those stories would be remembered. There is one story--of a boy betrayed, of three white dogs and a house made of roses--that the woods refuse to forget. Mockbeggar has lain dormant since Kate left, but now it is coming alive again--and the ghosts are angry.

There are some books you come across that make you remember why they exist in this first place, that this is what storytelling is about. Lauren Owen has woven a tale of such beauty and poetry, sadness and love and forgiveness, that I felt enraptured from beginning to end by her mastery. Small Angels put me in mind of my favorite sorts of books, full of magic and danger, and reminded me of the first time I read Angela Carter and was in shock with awe. This is a story about stories, about true love, first love, and the special sort of love that exists only between siblings. I can't remember the last time I read such a fantastic and original ghost story, and this should be categorized with such staples like The Turn of the Screw or The Woman in Black. It was a heady mix of horror and fairytale and love story, I wish I could experience it all over again already! 

If you read nothing else this year I beg you to read Small Angels, and be whisked away to a sleepy English village full of apparitions, strange superstitions, and memories that can come back to draw blood.

Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak

Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak
Length: 432 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

A special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Racism, Slavery, Violence, Death, Gore, Mentions of Torture, Racial Slurs, and a Graphic Birth Scene

"By the age of eighteen, Sylvie de Rosiers has mastered fractions."

[...] On the French colony of Saint-Domingue, fractions were not innocuous numbers separated by a line of dark ink (though she knew those, too). Here, fractions had faces. M*latto, qu*adroon, oct*roon--these terms divided the blood into halves and quarters and eighths, black and white and whiter still."

Sylvie de Rosiers has lived her whole life on her white father's coffee plantation in Saint-Domingue. She is beloved by her father and one of her brothers, Gaspard, reviled by the other and tolerated by her father's wife. As much as her father loves her, has pampered her and given her everything she wants, she knows she does not fit in, amongst her white siblings or the slaves that they own. It is an existence she feels she must accept--until the rebellion started by Vincent Ogé, a Creole aristocrat, ends in his ghastly execution, one that her elder brother insists she sees. The man is put upon the wheel and broken, and it is this act that wakes the revolutionary hidden in Sylvie's heart.

The masters thought it would end the rebellion to kill the voice of it--they thought wrong. As Saint-Domingue burns, plantation after plantation taken over by slaves, Sylvie and her brother escape, fleeing to France in the hopes of peace. But France is in the middle of its own revolution, headed by the icy Maximilien Robespierre. Here, Sylvie will find education as a rebel of France, and fall into a soul-consuming love, not only for Robespierre, but for his mistress, Cornélie Duplay. And as we know, history is not kind to revolutionaries.

I loved this book, and some of that is the amazing writing, the time-period, etc., but most of it is because of the protagonist, who starts off as being almost unlikeable but always understandable, and develops so well over the book into a woman who is not afraid to challenge the status quo. Sivak does something that is so hard as a writer--lets her character be full of faults, and slowly, so slowly we hardly notice it, lets her develop into someone we want to succeed over everything, and love. Revolutionary France comes to vivid life in Mademoiselle Revolution, and I loved every one of the little details that were put in, so obviously well-researched! And of course, loved seeing so many historical figures: Danton! Napoleon and Josephine! Marat and his killer, Charlotte Corday!

This book is a contender for one of my favorites of the year, and I can't wait for everyone to get their hands on it and experience Sylvie de Rosiers--revolutionary, woman, sister, and Rhea Silvia!

Book Review: Ruthless by Anne Stuart

Ruthless by Anne Stuart
Length: 409 Pages
Genres: Historical Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Mentions of Rape (Done to the heroine at seventeen and mentioned by the Hero as something he has done in the past) and Pedophilia, Murder, Violence, Consensual Non-Consent, Incest, and a Hostage Situation between the Hero and Heroine

I've been meaning to get around to reading some Anne Stuart for quite some time, as I've heard almost nothing but good about her work (even from my own very discerning sister!). I chose to start with the series that appealed to me the most, with the first one set in 1768 in Paris and featuring the infamous "King of Hell", Viscount Francis Rohan.

Right away, I was struck by the strength and practicality of the heroine, Elinor Harriman. She is a woman who has had nothing but hardship in her life. Her mother, the once clever and charming Lady Caroline, has been struck down by the Spanish Disease, which is better known now as syphilis. All her life, she has been mistreated by her mother, and left to care for her younger sister, Lydia. Now, her mother, in one of her more lucid states, has taken the last of their money and run off to gamble it away. The place she is going is rumored to have Satanic orgies, black magic, and sacrificial virgins. It is the Viscount Rohan's domain, and his group of hedonists, the Heavenly Host, are in the middle of one of their revels.

Francis Rohan is known as the "King of Hell"--he is beautiful, dangerously so, and has an appetite for pleasure that few can compete with. Unfortunately, after many years of having all the delights a man could hope for, he's left bored. Until one night, when a destitute young woman walks into his own personal underworld and offers him something he hasn't had--a female immune to his charms. Now, he must have her, is determined to not take no for an answer,

Anne Stuart is know for her "dark romances" and even darker heroes. This is a book that will be too much for some readers, maybe for most--the hero is as horrible as he claims and often does horrible things to the heroine, such as using Elinor's virginal younger sister as leverage in keeping her where he wants her. He is the type of man that in real life, you would run far, far away from (and you would be wise to do so). This is a book that is a total guilty pleasure, and if you like such dark things it will surely appeal to you. I wish there had been a less abrupt ending, but the characters of Elinor and Rohan (and all the delicious things they get up to) are one of a kind, and so I couldn't give this anything less than five stars. Now, I'm on to read the rest!

Book Review: Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare

Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare
Length: 368 Pages
Genres: Historical Mystery
Rating: 3 out of 5

A special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Trigger Warnings in this book for Racism, Violence, Attempted Rape, and Murder

Miss Aldridge Regrets by Louise Hare had an air of promise about it. It was a breath of fresh air in a genre first populated by Agatha Christie, and is thus, filled to brim with the white upper-crust of British society, usually set on one of their sprawling estates. But here, we have a female protagonist who is British, yes, but is also straddling the world between black and white--you see, she is the product of a short affair between a white woman and her black father, though she easily passes as "Mediterranean", if she so pleases. And another change comes in the setting--all the mystery takes board upon a ship. I wish I could say the promise paid off, but for me, it did not.

Lena Aldridge has known hardship all her life, being the daughter of a black musician in England, and never knowing her mother. All she dreams of is making the big-time and escaping singing in smoke-stained bars like the Canary, which is owned by her best friend's philandering husband, Tom. But fortune seems to have been tipped in Lena's favor when an American by the name of Charles Bacon offers her the deal of a lifetime: come to star in a brand new show on Broadway. It seems that Charles' employer knew Lena's father and feels as though he owes him, and since he is now gone, sees the only opportunity to make amends is though his daughter. After the untimely death of Tom in the middle of the club right after her friend, Maggie, fiddles with his drink, Lena is need of a new job and sees no other course than to agree to the arrangement. But death is following close on her heels, and will claim many more lives on board the Queen Mary. And Lena will find out more about her past than she ever intended to, or even wished.

I loved the setting of this book, and the time period is one that is always fascinating, but Miss Aldridge Regrets was rather lackluster. The writing, I felt, was its chief fault, and at times I found Lena's decisions, especially when it came to trusting some people on the ship, a little hard to follow. And the climax, along with the discovery of the culprit, left me cold and not at all in a good way. The book ended abruptly and I wished we had had a bit more of it, to perhaps smooth away any bumps with the characterization. All in all, it was a solid three stars, middle of the road novel that could have been much better.

Book Review: A Tip for the Hangman by Allison Epstein

A Tip for the Hangman by Allison Epstein
Length: 374 Pages
Genres: Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Mystery Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Blood, Gore, Violence and Homophobia

Kit Marlowe has always been a figure that has played around my peripheral--I knew he was an Elizabethan poet and playwright, overshadowed by contemporary Will Shakespeare (though at the time he was what we would now call quite the celebrity), and that he was most likely gay. But when I spotted this beautiful cover I was immediately intrigued, even more so once I found out it was about Kit's supposed spying for the Crown. In all honestly, I was expecting this book to be on the dry side and was really pleasantly surprised! It's all the fun and danger of Jason Bourne wrapped up in the glitter and dirt of 1500s England.

Christopher Marlowe, called Kit, is the poor son of a shoemaker with a wit and talent far beyond his meager beginnings. At Cambridge, he finds himself shunned by the other students, who are almost exclusively rich lordlings. Out of his few friends, his closest is Tom Watson. Kit wishes they were even closer. However, the politics and favoritism of school is soon left behind when Kit is approached by Sir Francis Walsingham--principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth and spymaster. He has seen potential in Kit, and with that potential comes money. What Kit doesn't realize is that he will lose something in exchange for all that he gains--his soul.

This is a spy tale with heart. Kit is young and brash and charming, with a quick tongue and even quicker brain. I felt the excitement when he broke codes or narrowly avoided discovery, and all the heartbreak of his love for Tom, who is pulled into the Crown's schemes because of Kit. For lovers of the period, you will find many familiar faces within these pages, far beyond Shakespeare and Walsingham--there is Mary, Queen of Scots (Kit's first mark), actor Edward Alleyn, famous spy Robert Poley, and Sir Robert Cecil, too.

Please check this one out if you're interested in the time period, but be sure to bring your tissues! Kit is as wonderful and wicked as he was in real life and you'll be sore to lose him.

Book Review: The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James

The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James
Length: 368 Pages
Genres: Gothic Horror, Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Miscarriage, Forced Institutionalization, Parental Abuse, Suicide, Relationship Between an Adult and a Minor (A girl and her teacher. Not Graphic.), Forced Adoption, Blood and Murder

It always delights me to discover a new (well, semi-new) gothic being published, as that's the genre of my heart and also the one I'm currently writing in! The Woman in the Mirror is full of delightful and well-done genre-conventions that will make a gothic lover's heart sing!

In 1947, Alice Miller has been hired to be a governess at the Cornish estate of Winterbourne. It is just after the war and she is eager to leave London, the Blitz, and the untimely death of her fiancé far behind her. There, she meets the enigmatic Captain Jonathan de Grey, left scarred and with a limp from the war, and his cherubic twins, Constance and Edmund. Only, things are not right at Winterbourne. The previous Governess left mysteriously and abruptly. The Captain is loathe to speak of the death of his wife, whose life and sudden end hangs over the estate like a shadow. Alice wants nothing more than to be a balm to the children who so need a mother, and perhaps, find a way to the Captain's heart, but she is thwarted at every turn by something sinister, jealous, and hundreds of years old.

In modern day New York, Rachel Wright is the head of a newly-opened gallery and the lover of a famous entrepreneur--yet it's not enough. All her life, Rachel has felt displaced, hollowed-out by the knowledge that she doesn't know where she came from. She is adopted, you see, and knows nothing of her biological parents. But that is about to change, because Rachel is told that she has inherited a isolated Cornish estate--Winterbourne--from an unknown aunt. Driven by questions that she is both afraid and desperate to answer, Rachel leaves everything behind in New York to go to Cornwall and discover her past, and possibly her future. But whatever stalked Alice all those years ago has not grown weaker with time and is ready for fresh de Grey blood.

This is a story that would be perfect for Halloween--it's full of foggy Cornish weather, an angry witch, a portrait that changes constantly and all sorts of things that go bump in the night. Rebecca James writes beautifully and it only adds to the dark spell The Woman in the Mirror will cast on you. If you're looking for a recently published work along the vein of the classics Rebecca or The Turn of the Screw, this will do just the trick!

Book Review: Book of Night by Holly Black

Book of Night by Holly Black
Length: 306 Pages
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Violence, Gore, Familial Abuse, Parental Neglect, Mentions of Incest and Mentions of Drug Addiction

“There'd always been something wrong with Charlie Hall. Crooked, from the day she was born. Never met a bad decision she wasn't willing to double down on. Had fingers made for picking pockets, a tongue for lying, and a shriveled cherry pit for a heart. If her shadow had been one of those magic ones, she was pretty sure even that thing would have run away.”

I've spoken before about how much I love Holly Black's works. The Folk of the Air series is one of my favorites of all time, and before that, when I was little, I was obsessed with The Spiderwick Chronicles. They were some of the first books that I just devoured, usually reading one a day, and I of course loved the artwork of Tony DiTerlizzi (and yes, I was disappointed by the movie). So in a way, I feel that Holly Black shaped who I am today, contributed to my love of dark fairytales, mythology, and even parts of my creativity. There just weren't books out there to feed my fascination like The Spiderwick Chronicles did! So of course, I was thrilled to bits to find out she would be writing her first ever adult book, and my sister lovingly preordered it for me! And as always, Holly Black did it again, weaving something together that will both mesmerize and break your heart.

Charlie Hall is known as "The Charlatan", an expert thief and conwoman who has made her name stealing, mostly priceless tomes from "gloamists". Gloamists are people who can do a special sort of magic, able to command their shadows, to make them change into fantastical shapes, or slip through the smallest crack to find out dirty little secrets. Now, after a brush with a gun, Charlie has decided to go the straight and narrow, and works almost exclusively as a bartender. But the lure of fast money and the thrill of swiping something right from under someone's nose is still there. She wants to be good, for her new boyfriend Vince, who has mysteriously lost his shadow, and for her sister, Posey, who craves a quickened one more than anything.

Unfortunately, trouble seems to be drawn to Charlie. There is the mysterious death of a rare book dealer, his shadows torn to bits--his last known sighting? The bar where she works. When she sticks her nose in it, it ends in her being harassed at her work by a gloamist who's looking for a special book and a special person. Vince comes to her rescue, killing the gloamist as easily as squashing an ant. There are secrets that Vince is keeping, about his past and his present, ones that Charlie will do anything to discover--even if it breaks her heart in the process. Thus begins a tale of blood-fed shadows, dark cabals, and proof that revenge is a dish best served cold.

This book was a beautiful blend of horrific fairytale and gothic mystery, which is nothing less than I've come to expect out of Black. Full of her wonderful, biting prose and characters that are so perfectly rendered they feel real, I couldn't wait to find out all the secrets in this book, but loved every minute it took. I recently described Holly Black as the queen of writing "bad girls", and she has done it again in Book of Night. Charlie is a loveable hard-ass with as much bite as her cocktails, but has that sort of vulnerability you can easily lose with characters like this. All I can say is read it--it's the urban fantasy you've been waiting for.

Book Review: Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown

Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown
Length: 512 Pages
Genres: Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense
Rating: 4 out 5 Stars

Trigger Warnings in this book for Violence, Graphic Scene of Rape and Assault

I've been hearing tell of a romantic thriller set in Texas during the Prohibition which also contains a cowboy hero with a heart of gold and a hairy chest (my own kryptonite), so of course I had to pick up Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown! Don't be frightened by the heftiness of this book, it is long, yes, but also packed full of amazing details of the time period which really make the setting come alive. As a born and bred Texan I also delighted at seeing some of our more dialectal phrases being used e.g. being on someone like a "duck on a junebug"! It was no surprise to me that Ms. Brown is a true Texan as well.

Thatcher Hutton has mustered out of the army post-WWI and is traveling home to the ranch where he works via hitching rides on trains. When a brawl with some hobos, ornery after losing money to him in a card game, forces him to jump from the train, a little worse for wear, he happens upon a shack. He stops for water, to ask for directions to the nearest town, and just so happens to meet Laurel Plummer, a young widow.

Laurel is still reeling after the abrupt suicide of her husband. Left with a newborn baby, she has no one to turn to, except her father-in-law, Irv. He doesn't have much, but he cares for her and the baby as best he can. When Thatcher appears, Laurel can't deny the instant attraction and electric connection they have. But Irv is suspicious of Thatcher because, secretly, he's running an illegal moonshine business and the law is sending in agents to pick through them like vultures over bones.

Thatcher has, unfortunately, arrived at a very bad time. The local doctor's young wife, heavily pregnant and hated by the locals for being a German, has gone missing--right after talking to him. With murders happening left and right, a moonshine war brewing and all sorts of seedy shenanigans running deep in the town, Thatcher and Laurel must decide which side of it all they're on and hopefully not kill each other in the process.

I really enjoy historical romances that move beyond just the romance, that feature a cast of authentic and highly readable characters, that informs you as much as it titillates! This book was full of action, but also emotion, and contains not only a smart female character but a kickass hero who will not only be a gentleman but a law unto himself should Laurel get hurt. Fans of westerns as well as romances would enjoy this and I love how it's in a sort of unusual time period for a western--most are set in the 19th century, at least in my experience. Highly recommend!