This was my library book group for the month of June and we all agreed while it was a good book with lots of characters, information and hist3.5 stars
This was my library book group for the month of June and we all agreed while it was a good book with lots of characters, information and history, it left us all sad at the end. Cussy lives a hard life and this book showed it. Would probably not pick it up again but glad I read it. ...more
I feel like with each new book released, it becomes my favorite. Spoilers below:
(view spoiler)[ What I love most about this series is how Electra/ElliI feel like with each new book released, it becomes my favorite. Spoilers below:
(view spoiler)[ What I love most about this series is how Electra/Ellie grows. She's not stagnant, she's not still the same person she was in the first book. Which each new event or interaction we can see how it changes and marks her. There was a section in here about how she talked about possibly not going back to thieving after the war was over, it doesn't have the same pull it once did. And that really struck me because she's growing up and she's thinking about herself and her own needs, not what is most familiar to her.
I also liked how her parents story seem to be picking up speed. It's not regulated to the background like it was initially but it is starting to become out in the forefront and vital to the story. I knew at once that the man with the knife was not after Ramsey, but after Ellie. #calledit I'm intrigued by what secrets Ellie will discover next.
And speaking of Ramsey, all the romance in here was FANTASTIC. I loved Ramsey's sister immediately clocking how good Ellie is for him ("How did you get him to take his pills and go to bed?" /"I just suggested it"). I loved all the kissing, all the first name calling and then the ending with the utter angst ("You distract me" followed by Ellie's dawning realization that she is in love with Ramsey when its too late). I'm sorry to my charming son Felix, because I do think he loves Ellie in his own way, but I'm glad we put the love triangle question behind us in this book because we can't keep putting it off indefinitely. Ellie/Ramsey always and forever, yo'.
I am very excited for the next book in which they go to Portugal. It's going to be awkward and angst-y and I personally cannot wait. This series may be set in the middle of a war but it's absolutely a blast to read and get lost in. (hide spoiler)]
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC....more
I have a hard time reading Christian fiction because most of the time, I feel that I am being hit over the head with a Gospel message and it gets repeI have a hard time reading Christian fiction because most of the time, I feel that I am being hit over the head with a Gospel message and it gets repetitive/annoying after awhile. So I usually stay away. That said, I saw this gorgeous cover at the library, realized it was about the Gilded Age and had to check it out. I am so glad I did. This book spoke more about forgiveness, love and family through actions and deeds than through words alone which is right up my alley. I really liked the matriarch of the family, Junietta. Her story was so interesting to me. The author did a good job jumping from the present day to the past(s) and connecting all three generations of women. Since this story spanned a little over a year, I feel like I got to sit with each of them and watch them grow and change in the aftermath of A.B's (son, husband and father) death. I do think that gossip would have BEEN ALL OVER the ballrooms by month four that the three women were left with destitute by society's standards, so I did have to suspend my belief a little on that but all in all, a good read. I'd pick up more by this author in the future....more
I know I read book #1 but I guess I did not review it on here because it's not showing up on my read shelf. Anyways, I read this one over the weekend I know I read book #1 but I guess I did not review it on here because it's not showing up on my read shelf. Anyways, I read this one over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it, more so than book 1. It's a slow story, everything that happens takes place in one town but its still super interesting. This book had the real life story of the Duke of Kent, Queen Victoria's father, coming to Sidmouth which I did not know about so that was cool how the author weaved fact with fiction. I am hoping the next book has the oldest sister's story - since we haven't met her yet but have only heard of her....more
I was thoroughly involved in this story and kept reading just to find out what happened to Flora (view spoiler)[I was not expecting it to be one of thI was thoroughly involved in this story and kept reading just to find out what happened to Flora (view spoiler)[I was not expecting it to be one of the nurses that took her! (hide spoiler)]. The romance I could take or leave it, I actually felt bad for Hazel's boyfriend by the end, but the family stuff in here was so good! Hazel loved her sister immensely and it showed the whole book....more
Read for Book Group at work. I enjoyed learning about the history of the Paris Library during WWII and I really liked Lily and Odile but I felt the boRead for Book Group at work. I enjoyed learning about the history of the Paris Library during WWII and I really liked Lily and Odile but I felt the book was trying to do too much. Also I am personally not a fan of limited POV's. We had a couple stand alone chapters in which we had the POV from someone other than Lily and Odile and I didn't like that. Just keep it to dual!
Book Group overall enjoyed it though and we had a lot to discuss so 3/5 stars. ...more
5 stars for the romance. 3 stars for the plot. 4 stars overall.
This is probably my favorite of the three novels so far but (view spoiler)[you can't gi5 stars for the romance. 3 stars for the plot. 4 stars overall.
This is probably my favorite of the three novels so far but (view spoiler)[you can't give me kissing and Ellie calling Major Ramsey by his first name when she knows he is mortally wounded and expect my little fangirl heart not to freak out. Sorry Felix, I love you, but you are no Major Ramsey and I really hope the next book has Ellie figuring that out. We took a big step forward in this one! Even though these two agreed to ignore it and not let it mess with their future interactions. Idiots (affectionate) (hide spoiler)]
Sidenote, what a cliffhanger the last section was. My eyes nearly bugged out of my head at that reveal. I am very interested in the next book now. I don't know if I can wait a whole year. Ahh!...more
I loved this so much I read it in about 12 hours and I can't tell you the last book I did that with. Amanda and Sir Gareth were hysterical together anI loved this so much I read it in about 12 hours and I can't tell you the last book I did that with. Amanda and Sir Gareth were hysterical together and by the time (view spoiler)[ young Hildebrand and Amanda were calling him "Uncle Garth" I had already decided that these two were being adopted by Gareth and Hester. I was a bit worried in the beginning that Gareth would fall in love with Amanda but luckily that was not the case. He was just a decent man trying to protect her from her own shenanigans.
I do wish that we had more time with Hester and Gareth. It was obvious from the very beginning that Hester was in love with Gareth but he was unaware and just thought of her as a friend he would like to wed because they get along so well. So while I didn't mind that she turned down his proposal, I would have liked to see more interactions between the two of them. But alas, Amanda and her own chaos took up most the book and we didn't see Hester again until the end. So that is why I only gave this 4 stars. I needed more Hester! More old people romance and less young people shenanigans. :) (hide spoiler)]...more
Cute book. Too many couples though. I would have preferred it if each book focused on an individual sibling/family friend because it started to get toCute book. Too many couples though. I would have preferred it if each book focused on an individual sibling/family friend because it started to get to be too much trying to keep everyone's storyline straight in my head. The timeline was super interesting however and I don't think I've read much about Black success and progress during the early 1900's (the Davenport's are based loosely on C.R. Patterson & Sons) so that held my attention. Also I love that this is YA fiction because romance + historical timeline was totally my jam as a teenager so I'm glad the younger generation is getting books like this. I just wish the book had focused on one of the siblings instead of all three Davenport siblings, plus Ruby and Amy-Rose. It just got tiring going back and forth between everyone especially as some of the love stories (Ruby and Olivia's for example) felt very similar to me- defying parental expectations to follow their own hearts.
Will I still read book 2 when it comes out? Yes, absolutely because (view spoiler)[all four relationships are still up in the air except Ruby's (hide spoiler)] but I won't be counting down the days. I didn't realize this was the beginning of a series when I picked it up and I kind of wish I had. I wouldn't have been left so annoyed by the open-ended endings. ...more
Solid 3.5 stars. A little confusing - I had to draw a map of the family tree on the back of my library checkout receipt halfway through to keep all thSolid 3.5 stars. A little confusing - I had to draw a map of the family tree on the back of my library checkout receipt halfway through to keep all the generations in order but it was still good. Very well written and a interesting look into the study of epigenetics. ...more
"But after a time she became a little pensive, and relapsed into meditative silence.
'What is it, Miss Tallant?' asked Mr. Beaumaris, when she showed n"But after a time she became a little pensive, and relapsed into meditative silence.
'What is it, Miss Tallant?' asked Mr. Beaumaris, when she showed no signs of breaking the silence.
'Do you know,' she said slowly, ‘I have just thought – Mr. Beaumaris, something tells me that Lady Bridlington may not like this dear little dog!’
Mr. Beaumaris waited in patient resignation for his certain fate to descend upon him.”
!!!! Well this book was adorable. I can see now why it keeps topping people's favorite lists of Heyer's. I really liked Arabella, she has such a strong sense of duty and justice that makes it so incredibly easy to see why Beaumaris falls for her (but I also like that she's not perfect! She does have a temper and she can act without thinking at times). The side plot with the brother gambling was okay, I will probably skim it on re-read but it wasn't bad. It just felt unnecessary because I knew that Beaumaris would fix it in the end (which is did!). I also liked all the side characters in here - from all of Beaumaris staff to Arabella's numerous siblings, they were all very well done. Why has no one done any movies on Heyer's books yet? They are all so good and funny! The movie rights must not be available, that is my only reason for why Hollywood is sleeping on her brilliance. Because this one would be great to see onscreen....more
It is very important to me that you all know that while I like Felix both as an individual and a family friend, this is the book that officially tippeIt is very important to me that you all know that while I like Felix both as an individual and a family friend, this is the book that officially tipped me onto the Major Ramsey/Ellie ship and I don't see myself stepping off it anytime soon -"We all want things we can't have in life....that's why restraint is key".
I didn't read the previous two books and though I feel like I missed a lot (would have loved to see Violet faking a illness for two weeks for example)I didn't read the previous two books and though I feel like I missed a lot (would have loved to see Violet faking a illness for two weeks for example), this book gave enough background information that I don't need to go back and read about the previous two couples despite how intriguing their relationships sounded. Emily and Julian were hysterical individually and together. I am always here for a good marriage of convenience story that turns into real feelings (and this book delivered that in spades) and the addition of a tiny kitten named Cecil Lucifer Beelzebub was the true icing on the cake. Honestly, this book just made me happy and was a bright spot in a stressful week so I am giving it four stars for that alone....more
I found myself getting so angry about halfway through that I stopped, took a look in the back at the author's note to see the true case this story insI found myself getting so angry about halfway through that I stopped, took a look in the back at the author's note to see the true case this story inspired by (Relf v. Weinberger) and did a thirty minute internet deep dive on these two sisters and the outcome. Once I was satisfied (ish), I was able to go back into the story and finish.
This is a great story but it talks about a very important part of our nation's history (view spoiler)[(the sterilization of mostly young, poor, minority women) (hide spoiler)] which is why I was getting so mad as I was reading. This should not have happened but it did and its crazy to think it occurred only like fifty years ago. Perkins-Valdez created rich and vivid characters (Civil!) for this fictionalized version and I am so glad she did. I was just as invested with Civil and her world as I was with the legality aspects. 10/10 would recommend....more
Really well written but far too much military jargon and day-day battle details for my personal taste. I had to force myself to finish the last sixty Really well written but far too much military jargon and day-day battle details for my personal taste. I had to force myself to finish the last sixty or so pages.
It was interesting to read about a time period I knew nothing about though!...more
I think this was a case of me rather than the book but I wasn't super into this. The setting/time was interesting (I had never heard about the Trans-SI think this was a case of me rather than the book but I wasn't super into this. The setting/time was interesting (I had never heard about the Trans-Siberian Railway other than a brief mention in history class) but I couldn't get into either main character or their relationship together. I think part of the reason was that these two had been writing (telegraphing? I don't what it is called in 1880's terms) each other 3 or 4 years prior to this book so the author skipped over them getting to know each other and jumped right into them liking each other once they met in person but as a reader, I needed to see them working as friends first and foremost. I needed that foundation. And Dimitri steamrolled Natalie a lot - like I get his needs are pressing and time constricting but Natalie also has a life and job too, she can't just abandon it all to take him all over the US any time he asks. Also Natalie really dislikes her stepmom but Poppy didn't seem so bad? Like she wasn't perfect, but none of us are and Natalie's attitude towards her bother me more and more by the end.
Anyways, I'm sure wasn't in the right headspace judging by the 4 star reviews on here and the fact that I really liked book 1 but I don't think I'll be picking this one up again. Not for me....more
Kristin Hannah is always a solid choice for me. I really liked how this story focused on the family bonds between parent and child, that part was realKristin Hannah is always a solid choice for me. I really liked how this story focused on the family bonds between parent and child, that part was really well done. My knowledge of the Dust Bowl is very limited (I feel like the only person whose English class did not read Grapes of Wrath while in high school) so I enjoyed reading about that time in American history.
And wow, Elsa is a FANTASTIC character. Very fleshed out and real. ...more
Not my favorite Kearsley, but still good. It was interesting and engaging and I was so pleased when all my old favorites from this series made a appeaNot my favorite Kearsley, but still good. It was interesting and engaging and I was so pleased when all my old favorites from this series made a appearance - although I had to keep going back to the family tree in the beginning because I couldn't remember who was the brother of who and who the cousin (also, so many James' and Anna's!). So I was very grateful for that. And I was generally intrigued and pulled into this story. I think the reason I didn't totally love it was because it was Lily's story told from the POV of a man so it made me feel as a reader removed, like a outsider looking in. I wish Lily had been able to tell her own story but I understand why, from a book plot point, she couldn't. Still good though.
I do want to give this book another read now that I know (view spoiler)[the narrator is both unreliable and also Matthew. I wonder if that will change my interpretation of it knowing that it's been Matthew all along (hide spoiler)]. Also I want to give Kearsley applause because correct me if I am wrong but I think this is her first book that doesn't contain dual timelines or the supernatural. So that was nice, it made it much easier to read and follow. Plus Lily and everyone that she mostly interacted with were common folk which was a good break from the usual upperclassman/noblemen her last books have been about.
Can we have a story about Maggie next? I mean, she is a Graeme after all so she would fit into this universe.......more
This story suffered from the vast amount of secondary characters taking up pagetime. Let me explain:
I understand this is book 9 in a series and as sucThis story suffered from the vast amount of secondary characters taking up pagetime. Let me explain:
I understand this is book 9 in a series and as such, you would expect to see recurring characters from the earlier novels. Also if you read ANY of the earlier novels/any other series by Balogh you know she loves to write about scenes with lots and lots of family members. Having read all the other book in the series, I was prepared (and excited) to have past characters make a appearance. However this book focuses on Lady Estrelle, stepdaughter to the Westcott family through her father's marriage in book 5 and to my surprise it didn't feature any of the previous characters (except Estrella's twin brother Bertrand who I am sure will be the hero of the upcoming 10th title) until the very, very end. What this story did have however, was loads of new relatives. From three different families in fact.
The hero of this story is Justin, the Earl of Brandon. When he was a young man he was banished by his father for REASONS and he has not returned until now, twelve years later to come pick up Maria, his now orphaned, twenty year old half-sister who is a neighbor and friend to Estrelle and Betrand and have her come live with him at the family estate. Maria is hesitant about her half-brother who she only remembers briefly from childhood and so Justin (because he is a decent human being!) asks Estrelle and Betrand to join Maria at his family home so she has familiar faces while she settles in. Which sounds nice, and kind, who wouldn't want friends with you while you catch up with your long lost brother, until Justin reveals that he has also planned a mini reunion at the same time. He invited aunts, uncles and cousins from 1) his father's side of the family, 2) his mother's side of the family and 3) Maria's mother's side of the family all under the pretense of getting to know Maria.
SO MANY RELATIVES. Let me repeat. SO MANY RELATIVES.
Obviously there is a lot of drama and secrets revealed because [SPOILER ALERT] Maria's mother and Justin's stepmother was a real piece of work may she rest in peace and I hesitate to say any of it was bad because it wasn't. It was actually quite interesting and I liked all the different relatives at the house party. It was just that dealing with all the family drama while Justin tried to rebuild a relationship with his little sister at the same time took away from Justin and Estrella bonding. I had a hard time buying that they fell in love because we maybe got three or four scenes with them by themselves, the rest of the time they were with [numerous] other people. Which is not bad, family is family, but just not want I wanted from a romance novel right now.
There is a giant, fluffy dog named Captain though. I liked him....more
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