• Home
  • About
  • Archives - Wading Through
  • Archives - The Craft Sea

Wading Through...

  • Home
  • About
  • Archives - Wading Through
  • Archives - The Craft Sea

The Huntress by Kate Quinn

41H4AwUU-GL.jpg

Title: The Huntress

Author: Kate Quinn

Publisher: William Morrow 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 560

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Astrology Term; Women Authors; Historical Fiction

Bold and fearless, Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment wreaking havoc on the invading Germans. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress, and only Nina’s bravery and cunning will keep her alive.

Transformed by the horrors he witnessed from Omaha Beach to the Nuremberg Trials, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. Yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it.

Growing up in post-war Boston, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride is determined to become a photographer. When her long-widowed father unexpectedly comes homes with a new fiancée, Jordan is thrilled. But there is something disconcerting about the soft-spoken German widow. Certain that danger is lurking, Jordan begins to delve into her new stepmother’s past—only to discover that there are mysteries buried deep in her family . . . secrets that may threaten all Jordan holds dear.

To be honest, this one is not as good as The Alice Network. But if I had read it before The Alice Network or at least without reading the other, I would have really enjoyed this book. As it is, I thought the latest from Kate Quinn was good and a compelling story. It just doesn’t have the big gut punches of her previous work. The terror over confronting the Huntress just wasn’t there. I think most people figured out the identity of the Huntress within the first few pages. It’s not a big secret, which makes the confrontation lackluster. We just don’t get the big emotional upheaval. And I wasn’t a huge fan of the romances featured. They just didn’t feel that real. I did love the storyline featuring the Night Witches and Nina is a great character.

Popsguar 2019.jpg
Women Authors RC.png
HisFic 2019.jpg

Next up on the TBR pile:

service model.jpg lovesickness.jpg sensor.jpg stolen.jpg frankenstein.jpg jujutsu7.jpg alley.jpg deserter.jpg water moon.jpg liminal.jpg tombs.jpg
tags: Kate Quinn, WWII, Popsugar, Women Authors, historical fiction, 4 stars, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 06.28.19
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

511iKPi1cnL.jpg

Title: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (TATBILB #1)

Author: Jenny Han

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 2014

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - 365 Days of YA; Women Authors; Seasonal Series - Movie Adaptation

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

I’ve heard so many people say great things about this book (and by extension, this series), I eventually picked it up. Such a cute story! I immediately loved Lara Jean and her relationship with her sisters. I loved her relationship with the boy next door. I enjoyed the progression of the story into something different than Lara Jean was expecting. I didn’t mind the slightly cliffhanger ending (I’ll borrow the next book in March). I was not a huge fan of the narration style, but I know first person diary like narration is very popular in young adult novels. It’s not my favorite style, but I will forgive it because this book is written for the teen crowd. Cute, if a little immature for my 36 year old self.

Movie Review

Obviously the movie makers made changes to the story, but they kept the core of Lara Jean’s story and I appreciated that. I loved all the actors (with the exception of who played Gen who seemed very stiff in a lot of scenes). Extra fun recognizing Anna Carhart who played Kitty from my kiddos watching Odd Squad. The look and feel of the movie was great. Interested to see if a sequel happens.

DYkQPpcX0AADBcu.jpg
Women Authors RC.png
365YA_EpicReads_web 2.jpg

Next up on the TBR pile:

service model.jpg lovesickness.jpg sensor.jpg stolen.jpg frankenstein.jpg jujutsu7.jpg alley.jpg deserter.jpg water moon.jpg liminal.jpg tombs.jpg
tags: perpetual, Jenny Han, women authors, Seasonal Series Readathon, young adult, 4 stars, 365 Days of YA
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 02.12.19
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

51h5BZwq85L.jpg

Title: The Clockmaker’s Daughter

Author: Kate Morton

Publisher: Atria 2018

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 485

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Women Authors; Dancing with SciFi and Fantasy - Ghosts

In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor on the banks of the Upper Thames. Their plan: to spend a secluded summer month in a haze of inspiration and creativity. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing; and Edward Radcliffe's life is in ruins.

Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist's sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river.

Why does Birchwood Manor feel so familiar to Elodie? And who is the beautiful woman in the photograph? Will she ever give up her secrets?

I’ve enjoyed a few of Morton’s previous works, so I had to have this one when it came up for Book of the Month last October. I finally picked it up to dive in last week and immediately fell into another world. I love how Morton creates an entire atmosphere surrounding her setting. The house is just fantastic and beautiful and mysterious and enchanting. I love how Morton connects all the different characters and ad time periods to create one epic story. The murder mystery was actually one fo the least interesting aspects. I really wanted to hear more about many of the other characters like Ada and Leonard. In fact, I think Ada was my favorite character. Overall, I took my time with this book and loved every page of it.

Unread Shelf Project.png
Women Authors RC.png
Fantasy and SciFi.png

Next up on the TBR pile:

service model.jpg lovesickness.jpg sensor.jpg stolen.jpg frankenstein.jpg jujutsu7.jpg alley.jpg deserter.jpg water moon.jpg liminal.jpg tombs.jpg
tags: Kate Morton, historical fiction, fantasy, 5 stars, UnRead Shelf, women authors, Dancing with SciFi and Fantasy
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 01.11.19
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Obituary Society by Jessica L. Randall

Title: The Obituary Society

Author: Jessica L. Randall

Publisher: Amazon 2014

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 194

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors

When Lila Moore inherits her grandfather's house, she finds herself in a small Midwestern town where margarine is never an acceptable substitution for butter, a coveted family recipe can serve as currency, and the friend who will take your darkest secrets to the grave will still never give you the secret to her prize-winning begonias.

Apparently, I'm huge into easy fluffy books while feeding the baby in the middle of the night. And I loved loved loved this one! I immediately fell into the town of Auburn, Nebraska and all the mysteries and characters. Lila is a great main character, but I was really pulled in by the ladies of the Obituary Society and Juniper. They seem like my kind of women. The mystery was intriguing and I even enjoyed the slightly supernatural elements to the story. They weren't distracting like I had initially feared. Instead, they just added a bit more to the mystery and atmosphere of Auburn. The romance was sweet and satisfying. I know that the next book in the series has a different main character, but I'm hoping everyone else at least makes and appearance. Can't wait to dive in tonight.

The Obituary Society

  • #1 The Obituary Society
  • #2 The Stranger's Obituary
  • #3 The Obituary Society's Last Stand
tags: 5 stars, Jessica L- Randall, mystery, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 10.11.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe by Rebecca Raisin

Title: Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe (Gingerbread Cafe #2)

Author: Rebecca Raisin

Publisher: Carina 2014

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 94

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors

The Gingerbread Café is all a buzz! This Easter, Lily and the rest of the town of Ashford, Connecticut are planning a truly decadent Chocolate Festival. Cooking up a storm, CeeCee and Lily are not just baking a batch of their sinfully delicious chocolate-dipped gingerbread men, but an excess of chocolate truffles, squidgy, cinnamony hot cross buns and melt in your mouth chocolate eggs. The Gingerbread Café staff have definitely enjoyed the tasting process!

Another cute little fluffy short story to occupy my early morning newborn feedings. I liked diving back into life at the Gingerbread Cafe. And Charlie was a treat. My biggest issue with the story was the abrupt ending. It felt like the story just cut off mid chapter. So I knocked off a star. I imagine I will start the last story in the trilogy tonight.

Gingerbread Cafe

  • #1 Christmas at the Gingerbread Cafe
  • #2 Chocolate Dreams at the Gingerbread Cafe
  • #3 Christmas Wedding at the Gingerbread Cafe
tags: 4 stars, Read My Own Damn Books, Rebecca Raisin, romance, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 10.05.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Motel Room by Alyssa Cooper

Title: The Motel Room

Author: Alyssa Cooper

Publisher: 2014

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 28

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors

Since his death, the ghost has been trapped in a motel room, watching the comings and goings of his nightly guests. The strangers never stay more than a night or two, and they never seem to notice him – no more than he notices them. Wrapped in fading memories of the time he was alive, he drifts through time, waiting for the return of the one person he can still see clearly.

But as time stretches out before him, his frustration begins to build, boiling over into violent anger. When a young couple dares to rent his room for the night, igniting his rage, the ghost finally discovers the true power behind his ghostly form.

A little short story I snagged for free off of Amazon. I didn't quite know what to expect from the summary. The story could have gone the true horror route or the sentimental romance. Instead I must say that the story had a weird tone. I couldn't quite figure out how to take the characters or storyline. I think there was some interesting plot points in there, but ultimately it wasn't really for me.

tags: 3 stars, Alyssa Cooper, ghost stories, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 10.01.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Circling the Sun by Paula McClain

Title: Circling the Sun

Author: Paula McClain

Publisher: Ballantine Books 2015

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 366

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Women Authors; 52 Books - W39

Brought to Kenya from England as a child and then abandoned by her mother, Beryl is raised by both her father and the native Kipsigis tribe who share his estate. Her unconventional upbringing transforms Beryl into a bold young woman with a fierce love of all things wild and an inherent understanding of nature’s delicate balance. But even the wild child must grow up, and when everything Beryl knows and trusts dissolves, she is catapulted into a string of disastrous relationships.

Beryl forges her own path as a horse trainer, and her uncommon style attracts the eye of the Happy Valley set, a decadent, bohemian community of European expats who also live and love by their own set of rules. But it’s the ruggedly charismatic Denys Finch Hatton who ultimately helps Beryl navigate the uncharted territory of her own heart. The intensity of their love reveals Beryl’s truest self and her fate: to fly.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. A found another historical figure that I did not know of before. I loved the overall storyline and characters. I enjoyed learning more about Kenya and the general atmosphere of Africa during the early 20th century. I could really feel Kenya in the book. Unfortunately, the book lost a star due to the writing and chapter transitions. I just wasn't a super fan of how the jumps in time were handled.

tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, fiction, Paula McLain, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 09.28.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio

Title: The Last Camellia

Author: Sarah Jio

Publisher: Plume 2013

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 306

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Murder Mystery; Women Authors

On the eve of the Second World War, the last surviving specimen of a camellia plant known as the Middlebury Pink lies secreted away on an English country estate. Flora, an amateur American botanist, is contracted by an international ring of flower thieves to infiltrate the household and acquire the coveted bloom. Her search is at once brightened by new love and threatened by her discovery of a series of ghastly crimes.

More than half a century later, garden designer Addison takes up residence at the manor, now owned by the family of her husband, Rex. The couple’s shared passion for mysteries is fueled by the enchanting camellia orchard and an old gardener’s notebook. Yet its pages hint at dark acts ingeniously concealed. If the danger that Flora once faced remains very much alive, will Addison share her fate?

Our book club selection for September and a book that's been on my shelf for awhile. This was such a quick read for me. I think it took me a total of 3 days to read and I wasn't spending that much time reading. I quickly fell into the story wanting to know what happened to Flora and what would happen to Addison. The back and forth between the two time periods worked just fine. I was intrigued by the botany and the big mystery of the camellia. I loved the side characters in the historical sections especially the children. I also love that the manor seemed to become another character in the story. With all these good things, there were a few elements that bugged me. I didn't feel very connected to Addison at all. Her backstory bugged me. And I definitely didn't really see the relationship between her and Rex. It just wasn't that well developed. And the ending on Addison's side was super rushed and weird. Not satisfying at all.

tags: 4 stars, fiction, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, Sarah Jio, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 09.13.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

More Than a Mistress by Mary Balogh

Title: More Than a Mistress (Dudley #1)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell 2000

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages:403

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors

She races onto the green, desperate to stop a duel. In the melée, Jocelyn Dudley, Duke of Tresham, is shot. To his astonishment, Tresham finds himself hiring the servant as his nurse. Jane Ingleby is far too bold for her own good. Her blue eyes are the sort a man could drown in—were it not for her impudence. She questions his every move, breaches his secrets, touches his soul. When he offers to set her up in his London town house, love is the last thing on his mind.

Jane tries to pretend it’s strictly business, an arrangement she’s been forced to accept in order to conceal a dangerous secret. Surely there is nothing more perilous than being the lover of such a man. Yet as she gets past his devilish façade and sees the noble heart within, she knows the greatest jeopardy of all, a passion that drives her to risk everything on one perfect month with the improper gentleman who thinks that love is for fools.

Time to dive back into some fluffy romance. I picked up this book because I have all three books sitting in my TBR pile. I almost always read romance series books back-to-back. So on to the book itself. I was a bit turned off by the Duke at the beginning of the story, but he definitely grew on me. The best parts were the conversations between the Duke and Jane in the den. I loved those moments. The only thing I really didn't like was the ending. I hate super abrupt endings and this book has one of those. Oh well, I can ignore the last three pages. I enjoyed the rest of the book. On to the second in the series...

Mistress (Dudley)

  • #1 More Than a Mistress
  • #2 No Man's Mistress
  • #3 The Secret Mistress
tags: 4 stars, historical novels, Mary Balogh, Read My Own Damn Books, romance, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 08.24.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Title: Everything I Never Told You

Author: Celeste Ng

Publisher: Penguin 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 297

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsguar - Summer; Women Authors; 52 Books - W31

“Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.” So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos. A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another.

This was our book club selection for August and I have to say that I'm disappointed. I don't think this is a bad book necessarily. I just didn't really connect to the characters or like the plotline. It reminded me of The Virgin Suicides without the atmosphere. I wasn't very excited about anything that happened. The emotional connection to the characters just fell flat for me. After so many recommendations and appearances on Best of Books lists, I was expecting something that would really hit home. But nope... Oh well.

tags: 3 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, Celeste Ng, fiction, Popsugar, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 08.03.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Title: The Handmaid's Tale

Author: Margaret Atwood

Publisher: 1985

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Pages: 325

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsguar - Classic from 20th Century; What's in a Name - Profession; Women Authors

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are only valued if their ovaries are viable.

Offred can remember the days before, when she lived and made love with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now....

A reread for this month's book club. I first read The Handmaid's Tale way back in college for one of my women's studies classes. I was blown away by the parallels to our current society. I love Atwood's presentation of this tale that may or not be true. Offred is an intriguing character full of contradictions. I love that she is a flawed character. She could be anyone. We join her on a journey through the treacherous world of Gilead. I can't wait to have a great book club discussion.

tags: 5 stars, Margaret Atwood, Popsugar, speculative fiction, What's in a Name, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 07.15.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato

Title: The Glassblower of Murano

Author: Marina Fiorato

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 2009

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 348

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors; 52 Books - W28

Venice, 1681. Glassblowing is the lifeblood of the Republic, and Venetian mirrors are more precious than gold. Jealously guarded by the murderous Council of Ten, the glassblowers of Murano are virtually imprisoned on their island in the lagoon. But the greatest of the artists, Corradino Manin, sells his methods and his soul to the Sun King, Louis XIV of France, to protect his secret daughter. In the present day his descendant, Leonora Manin, leaves an unhappy life in London to begin a new one as a glassblower in Venice. As she finds new life and love in her adoptive city, her fate becomes inextricably linked with that of her ancestor and the treacherous secrets of his life begin to come to light.

Our book club selection for July. This particular book has been sitting on my shelves for awhile after picking it up for super cheap at Half Price Books. I'm not sure why I can bypassing it as I did enjoy this historical fiction. At first I was hesitant about switching from the past to the present and back. Often those transitions are clunky. Thankfully Fiorato weaves the two stories together in a way that had me intrigued. I learned a lot about glassblowing and Venice. As a character, I didn't connect that well to Leonora, but I still wanted to read her story. Overall, a decent historical fiction novel.

tags: 4 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, historical fiction, Marina Fiorato, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 07.12.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Title: Etiquette and Espionage (The Finishing School #1)

Author: Gail Carriger

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 307

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but the also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

I picked this series up on the basis of my enjoyment of the Parasol Protectorate series. This particular series is set a few decades before that one. And I enjoyed this one also. I love how this series throws the reader right into the action. We are forced to figure out what is going on right along with Sophronia. The convention definitely works in this instance. While I like Sophronia, I think the side characters really make this series for me. I loved meeting all the professors and students. Plus, we get some intriuging scenes with Genevieve Lefoux. Love the connections to the Parasol Protectorate series. The writing isn't quite as exciting as as the other series, but this is young adult. And I'm okay with it. I can't wait to read the next volume.

The Finishing School

  • #1 Etiquette and Espionage
  • #2 Curtsies and Conspiracies
  • #3 Waistcoats and Weaponry
  • #4 Manners and Mutiny
tags: 4 stars, Gail Carriger, paranormal, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 07.06.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Forevermore by Kristen Calihan -- Release Day!

It's release day for the final book in the Darkest London series! Check out my review, an exclusive review, and a giveaway below!

Title: Foevermore (Darkest London #7)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever 2016

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 308

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Published in 2016; Women Authors

Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become.

Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe - and win an eternity with the woman he loves.

I received a copy of this soon-to-be-released book from the publisher. I didn't even realize that there was going to be a seventh book, but I'm so glad there is!I have loved Callihan's world building and twist on the paranormal world.  We get to see so many different beings and relationships. This volume wraps up the Darkest London world in a neat little package. We get a fitting ending to all the characters we've met in the previous books. And this one focuses on Sin Evernight. I thought he was an intriguing character in the previous storyline. It was nice to see him get his own story and romance! I sped through this book in one day desperate to see how everything came together. Oh man! I am going to miss this series, but it's a good absence.

An Awesome Excerpt From Forevermore:

One might think being an immortal was a blessing, never grow old, never grow sick, never die. At one time in St. John Evernight’s life, he considered it a blessing too. He would be around long after the simple humans who surrounded him were nothing but dust. They could stare all they liked at his “strange” hair and frosty green eyes. They could gossip and speculate about him until they lost their voices. It didn’t matter. He was untouchable, and they were but fragile sacks of blood and bone.

How naive he’d been. Because living forever merely meant a lack of escape from the desolation of regret and loneliness. He knew now that he could walk down Jermyn Street endlessly, see the sands of time shift and rearrange before him, and never be a part of life.

“Brooding, Mr. Evernight?”

Sin almost jumped at the sudden sound of Augustus’s voice by his side. Damn, the blasted man loved to startle him. He gave Augustus a passing glance. Dressed in conservative brown tweed and a bowler hat, the angel appeared every inch the English gentlemen, save for his dark coloring that marked him to be from Southern climes.

“It’s really quite the trick, popping up like a soap bubble whenever you choose, Augustus. You must teach me how one day.”

The man’s mouth twitched. “With your luck, you’d pop up in the middle of a parliamentary session.”

Yes, Sin had abominable luck. Or perhaps it was more a matter of making abominable choices.

“You’re brooding again,” Augustus remarked.

“I’m not brooding. This is simply my face.”

Augustus snorted but remained silent as they walked along, past Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall.

“Care to tell me why you called me here?” Sin asked, when they came upon the grounds of Westminster. For the past year, Sin had been in Rome, soaking in the warmer temperatures, drinking espresso in cafes along the Piazza della Rotunda, under the shade of the ancient Pantheon. He’d eaten simple but delicious food, and listened to the rapid fire of Italian, and felt…well, not peace, but a measure of contentment.

Until Augustus had sent for him. Returning to England sat like a stone in his gut. But he would obey. Augustus was his mentor, and the man who’d given him salvation. The price was a lifetime of servitude. To be fair, his role was for justice, not evil, which was a nice change of pace.

A massive dray rattled past, kicking up dust and sending a fug of stale manure into the air. They hurried past the cloud and headed for Westminster Abbey. Sin hadn’t planned on visiting today, but here they were all the same. He wondered if Augustus somehow had led him to their usual meeting place or if Sin had merely headed that way because of the man’s sudden arrival.

He’d like to think the latter. It did not sit well with him having another control his actions. Not since a certain evil fae had kept Sin as a blood slave for years. Even now, the memory made his stomach turn.

Not a soul acknowledged them as they walked through the abbey and into the cloisters. Here, a rare bit of sunlight peeked through the constant cloud cover and cast lacy shadows along the walkway. The sound of their boot heels clacked out a steady rhythm as they strolled along.

“Layla returns to London tonight.”

At the mention of her name, Sin’s heart stilled within his breast. He’d tried his best to ward off all finer feelings, to remain numb, detached from life. And yet he could not, for the life of him, remain immune to Layla Starling. His childhood friend. The one woman who could take his breath, his reason, simply by laying eyes upon her.

Stuffing his shaking hands into his trouser pockets, Sin forced himself to keep an even tone. “So then I am to begin watching over her?”

God, but he did not want to. It would be agony, staying so close to her and never being allowed to show his true feelings. And yet a thrum of anticipation went through him at the mere prospect of seeing Layla once more.

“Are you ready?” Augustus asked, though his expression told Sin he fully expected an affirmative answer.

So Sin told him the only truth left to him. “I will not fail her.”

BUY THE BOOK HERE

AmazonBarnes & NobleBooks-A-MillionGoogle PlayiBooksIndieboundKobo

AUTHOR INFORMATION

USA Today bestselling author Kristen Callihan is a writer because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewers' Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book, Firelight, received RT Book Reviews' Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

WebsiteFacebookTwitterPinterestGoodreads

FOLLOW FOREVER ONLINE

WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramPinterest

Darkest London Series

  • #0.5 Ember
  • #1 Firelight
  • #2 Moonglow
  • #3 Winterblaze
  • #3.5 Entwined
  • #4 Shadowdance
  • #5 Evernight
  • #6 Soulbound
  • #7 Forevermore

a Rafflecopter giveaway

tags: 5 stars, Kristen Callihan, paranormal, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 06.28.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Forevermore by Kristen Callihan

Releasing June 28th, 2016!!!!

Title: Foevermore (Darkest London #7)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever 2016

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 308

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Published in 2016; Women Authors

Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become.

Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe - and win an eternity with the woman he loves.

I received a copy of this soon-to-be-released book from the publisher. I didn't even realize that there was going to be a seventh book, but I'm so glad there is!I have loved Callihan's world building and twist on the paranormal world.  We get to see so many different beings and relationships. This volume wraps up the Darkest London world in a neat little package. We get a fitting ending to all the characters we've met in the previous books. And this one focuses on Sin Evernight. I thought he was an intriguing character in the previous storyline. It was nice to see him get his own story and romance! I sped through this book in one day desperate to see how everything came together. Oh man! I am going to miss this series, but it's a good absence.

Darkest London

  • #0.5 Ember
  • #1 Firelight
  • #2 Moonglow
  • #3 Winterblaze
  • #3.5 Entwined
  • #4 Shadowdance
  • #5 Evernight
  • #6 Soulbound
  • #7 Forevermore
tags: 5 stars, Kristen Callihan, paranormal, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 06.01.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner

Title: In the Shadow of the Banyan

Author: Vaddey Ratner

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 310

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar -- About an unfamiliar culture; 52 Books -- W20; Women Author

For seven-year-old Raami, the shattering end of childhood begins with the footsteps of her father returning home in the early dawn hours, bringing details of the civil war that has overwhelmed the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. Soon the family’s world of carefully guarded royal privilege is swept up in the chaos of revolution and forced exodus. Over the next four years, as the Khmer Rouge attempts to strip the population of every shred of individual identity, Raami clings to the only remaining vestige of her childhood—the mythical legends and poems told to her by her father. In a climate of systematic violence where memory is sickness and justification for execution, Raami fights for her improbable survival. Displaying the author’s extraordinary gift for language, In the Shadow of the Banyan is a brilliantly wrought tale of human resilience.

Our book club selection for June. I was intrigued by the setting and historical events. I wanted to fall into this book and come out knowing more about Cambodia. Unfortunately, I got bored with the book. After some thought, I realize that I'm not a huge fan of Ratney's writing style. The narrative meanders here and there, and the meandering just started to annoy me. I don't mind descriptive writing, but her passages about dragonflies dragged me down. I finished the book but can't say that this one was for me...

tags: 3 stars, 52 books in 52 weeks, historical fiction, Popsugar, Vaddey Ratner, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 05.27.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

Title: And Only to Deceive (Emily Ashton #1)

Author: Tasha Alexander

Publisher: Harper 2005

Genre: Historical Fiction; Mystery

Pages: 321

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My own Damn Books; Popsugar - Takes Place on an Island; Women Authors

For Emily, accepting the proposal of Philip, the Viscount Ashton, was an easy way to escape her overbearing mother, who was set on a grand society match. So when Emily's dashing husband died on safari soon after their wedding, she felt little grief. After all, she barely knew him. Now, nearly two years later, she discovers that Philip was a far different man from the one she had married so cavalierly. His journals reveal him to have been a gentleman scholar and antiquities collector who, to her surprise, was deeply in love with his wife. Emily becomes fascinated with this new image of her dead husband and immerses herself in all things ancient and begins to study Greek.

Our book club selection for May. It was recommended by another member and I can't believe I've never heard of this series before. I love every page of this volume! Emily is a great character full of spark. I loved reading about her increasing interest in history and art and her attempts to puzzle out the mystery of her husband's death. I loved all the twists and turns. Even though I mostly figured out the who-dun-it before the reveal, I was still intrigued and kept reading to the end. I think I will have to pick up the rest of the series to read...

Lady Emily Ashton

  • #1 And Only to Deceive
  • #2 A Poisoned Season
  • #3 A Fatal Waltz
  • #4 Tears of Pearl
  • #5 Dangerous to Know
  • #6 A Crimson Warning
  • #7 Death in the Floating City
  • #8 Behind the Shattered Glass
  • #9 The Counterfeit Heiress
  • #9.5 Star of the East
  • #10 The Adventuress
  • #10.5 That Silent Night
  • #11 A Terrible Beauty
tags: 5 star, historical fiction, Popsugar, Read My Own Damn Books, Tasha Alexander, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 05.12.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Bitch Planet Volume 1

Title: Bitch Planet Volume 1: Extraordinary Machine

Author: Kelly Sue DeConnick; Valentine De Landro

Publisher: Image 2015

Genre: Comics

Pages: 136

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; Women Authors

In a future just a few years down the road in the wrong direction, a woman's failure to comply with her patriarchal overlords will result in exile to the meanest penal planet in the galaxy. When the newest crop of fresh femmes arrive, can they work together to stay alive or will hidden agendas, crooked guards, and the deadliest sport on (or off!) Earth take them to their maker?

Very interesting storyline. I had heard good things about this series, but hadn't really sought it out. Thankfully the library just had it sitting there on the shelf. I dove in not expecting a very insightful commentary on patriarchy. Definitely grabbed my attention from cel one.  It reminds me of Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Very similar in the society's approach to the roles of women. I must read more!

tags: 4 stars, graphic novel, Kelly Sue DeConnick, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 05.09.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

The Lost by Sarah Beth Durst

Title: The Lost (The Lost #1)

Author: Sarah Beth Durst

Publisher: Harlequin 2014

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 350

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Popsugar - First book you see in a bookstore (library); Women Authors

It was only meant to be a brief detour. But then Lauren finds herself trapped in a town called Lost on the edge of a desert, filled with things abandoned, broken and thrown away. And when she tries to escape, impassible dust storms and something unexplainable lead her back to Lost again and again. The residents she meets there tell her she's going to have to figure out just what she's missing—and what she's running from—before she can leave. So now Lauren's on a new search for a purpose and a destiny. And maybe, just maybe, she'll be found….

Against the backdrop of this desolate and mystical town, Sarah Beth Durst writes an arresting, fantastical novel of one woman's impossible journey…and her quest to find her fate.

This was the first book I saw at the library last week and something about the cover drew me in. I picked it up without really thinking yesterday and somehow finished this book in a day and a half. I was immediately pulled into Lauren's story. More than anything I was fascinated by Lost. The place becomes a character itself. I loved the visual details especially elements like the ocean and the train. Overall, I sped through the book on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Lauren would be able to figure out what she lost and the conclusion of her relationships with Peter and Claire. I loved this book until the very last page. The volume leaves the reader on a huge cliffhanger. I did some digging into the series, but it seems like the rest of the books aren't being released anytime soon. Oh well... Leaving off that last page, I loved the book.

The Lost

  • #1 The Lost
  • #2 The Missing
  • #3 The Found
tags: 5 stars, fantasy, library, Popsugar, Sarah Beth Durst, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Wednesday 04.20.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

After You by Jojo Moyes

Title: After You (Me Before You #2)

Author: Jojo Moyes

Publisher: Viking 2015

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 352

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Women Authors

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

It took a few chapters before I really dove into this book. But once I did, I read the entire thing over two days. I dove right back into Louisa's life and I really enjoyed reading about how she's moved past Will's death. There were a few times that I got a bit choked up, but no instances of ugly crying like with the first book. Still, I really did enjoy it. Definite recommendation.

tags: 4 stars, fiction, I Love Libraries, Jojo Moyes, women authors
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 04.19.16
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 
Newer / Older

Powered by Squarespace.