Wednesday, September 4, 2024

An Inconvenient Letter

 


***
PG
Easily Recommend

Nothing comes to mind that I objected to in this book.
It was predictable but sweet.  
Some of the situations were a bit frustrating and, I feel, not super realistic (like when people made assumptions and didn't talk about things as I feel like they would in real life)  but, this is fiction so I guess I will let it slide :)
It was cute, but sadly, also a bit forgettable.
I could recommend it based on cleanliness though so that's a plus :)

Thursday, August 22, 2024

The Letter From Briarton Park

 


***1/2
PG
{BSt}
Could Easily Recommend

I ended up really enjoying this book.
There was a murder (a little later in the book) but it wasn't the focus and so I wouldn't really call it a Murder Mystery...it was quite a simple "mystery" to solve but it did add a bit of intrigue.
Really, the only thing I had against it was the {Back Story}.  Even though it was a major part of the story, it wasn't looked upon favorably or condoned so I guess it was handled well.
I liked how she handled the kissing scenes...just very minimal description and quick :)
I could easily recommend this book!
I could recommend this book

Saturday, August 10, 2024

The Gentlewoman Farmer

 



***
PG
Could Easily Recommend

I sought this book out because it was written by a woman that was in a writing class I took a few years ago from Julianne Donaldson.  It's been fun to follow a few of these women who have actually gone on to publish.
I thought it was a sweet story with a somewhat atypical storyline which was nice :)
I did feel like there were a few moments where the conversation/experiences was not super realistic and I thought the very last few sentences in the book were a bit suggestive (even though they are married) but other than those two things I didn't have any complaints.
 I applaud Emily for her debut novel and would be able to easily recommend it to anyone.

Friday, August 2, 2024

The British Booksellers

 


****
PG
{UM}
Easily Recommend

Kristy Cambron is a master!  I love her stories!
This one did not disappoint!
As usual, she is jumping between the past and the present but it was all the same characters in both so it was easier than when she has two time periods and separate groups of characters in each.
There were just a couple of {Uncomfortable Moments}.  The first one involves a husband speaking with his wife about producing an heir.  Nothing explicit is said of course but just the implications are a bit blushworthy :)  Secondly, (maybe I should have categorized this one as the possibility of a {BackStory}) there is a time where a character questions her parentage...suggesting her mother was untrue in her marriage.  I hope this isn't too much of a spoiler but it is made known later that was not the case but still...the possibility is considered.  Other than one uncharacteristic instance of the Lord's name in vain (in a british sort of way) there was no language and everything else was very clean.
I will say, I felt like, for some reason, some of the dialogue was a little harder to follow...such as who was speaking and some of the actual phrases I had to go back and reread because I didn't necessarily understand them the first time.  I don't know, it was a little weird because I don't remember that being a problem in her other books.  It didn't bother me enough to dial down the rating though...it was still a "stay awake into the morning hours to finish" book :)
I could and will easily recommend this book!

Monday, July 29, 2024

Chiara's Choice

 


***
PG
a little {TMP}
Could Recommend but Probably Won't

For some reason I just didn't love this one!
It took me forever to get through.  I had to force myself to finish it.
I really don't know exactly what it was but the characters and the plot didn't tickle my fancy :(
There was just a little bit too much description when it came to the kissing scenes {Too Much Passion} but other than that it was clean.
So, based on cleanliness I could probably recommend this book but I won't be since it bugged just a little.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Codes of Courage

 


****1/2
PG
a tiny bit {TMP}, {SM}
Easily Recommend

Oh boy!  It's been a while since a book has touched me as much as this one did.
Especially the ending...I can't say why...don't want to give anything away... but it was something!
There were only the smallest references to {Too Much Passion} since marriage and the resulting relationships were part of the story.  Also, because of war being a large part of the narrative {Subject Matter}, there were many scenes where dead men were mentioned and briefly described.  However, I felt like Sowards handled both the {SM} and the {TMP} tactfully.
I will recommend this book to those who wouldn't mind a tear jerker.
I've always been partial to WWII books for some reason, and this one, while not the story of faithful people of the Jewish faith escaping the Nazis that I am used to, was just as compelling and beautiful.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

To Forge Her Fate

 


***
PG
a little {TMP}, {BSt}
Could Recommend

I don't know what it was about this book but something seemed a little bit off.
It might have been because at times I felt like the heroine was somewhat throwing herself at the hero.
I'm not sure exactly but I can't say that I loved it because of whatever this is that was a bit uncomfortable to me.
A little bit {Too Much Passion} description for me in a couple of moments but not terribly bad.
There was also some unsavory {Backstory} that was revealed throughout the book.
However, there were some good qualities I will point out....
I really liked that there was more substance to the story.  It had more too it than the usual regency stories.
I also enjoyed the little bit of mystery.
So, overall, it was kind of just okay for me.  I could recommend it if pressed.
 Stockton did a really good job of setting up the next book so I will probably end up reading it if it gets put in my path but I will not necessarily seek it out.