Thursday, April 28, 2022

The Book Woman's Daughter

The packhorse librarians hold a special place in the heart of the majestic Kentucky mountains. Cussy Lovett, a Blue, was one of the very first women to enter these hills and spread the love of literacy to many simple folks who had few luxuries in their lives. Back breaking work in the mines and hunting in these remote hollers left the women at home often taking care of numerous children, ramshackle homes and elderly relatives with very little income. Honey Lovett, Cussy’s daughter is only 16 years old when her beloved parents are arrested for miscegenation. They are sentenced to prison and Honey struggles to find freedom and a way to carry on her mother’s legacy as a packhorse librarian, her true calling. Always ready to help a neighbor Honey carries the same deep beliefs and honor as her mother. She knows that learning to read and write unquestionably changes lives. Befriending Pearl, the new female forestry fire-watcher, Honey learns first hand how deeply the prejudices and suppression runs against Blue’s and women in general. Finding the strength through newfound sisterhood and books the two women attempt to establish their valuable place in the community. This wonderful sequel can easily stand alone. What a joy to climb back into the Appalachia Mountains and characters of Troublesome Creek. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Take My Hand

In 1973 Civil Townsend is a brand new nursing school graduate. Raised from a long line of black physicians, a rarity in Montgomery Alabama, Civil is excited to start her first job at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic. As she meets the other nurses and starts to get her bearings, Civil is asked to see some patients farther outside the city who are not able to get to the clinic. Her first home visit are two young girls named Erica and India. The Williams sisters are 11 and 13 years old and Civil is to administer a shot of Depo-Provera, a new and controversial form of birth control. Rule follower Civil does not question her superiors methods or motives. Because she is attending to black families, they do not question her. After months of following these protocols and growing great affection for these girls and their family Civil, along with her fellow nursing friend Alicia and lifelong friend Ty begin to question why the FDA has not approved this drug and why these poor, mostly illiterate folks are being treated and sterilized within consent. On a mission with the help of a clever young attorney, these everyday people bravely take on the United States government to expose and rectify a great injustice. Loosely based on true events and narrated by Civil then and now we are taken back to human and civil rights issues our country faced decades ago and sadly continue to battle every day. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mr. Wrong Number

After losing her job, her boyfriend and burning down her building Olivia is back in Omaha. She is a penniless hot mess with very few options. Her older brother Jack offers her a months reprieve on an old air mattress in his swanky apartment so she can get her act together. Fancy pants Colin Beck is Jack’s roommate. He has known Olivia since childhood and they share an obnoxious teasing banter that only old family friends could tolerate. Handsome Colin who is perfection on paper gives her a hard time every chance he gets. One day as Olivia, a witty and talented writer is searching for a new job she receives a strange text from an unknown number asking her what she is wearing. Unable to deny her wordy self a comical comeback she replies. And thus begins a texting relationship between Mr. Wrong Number and Miss Misdial. The stranger becomes the only ally she has at the moment and their humorous exchanges brighten her darkest days. As a misguided attraction ensues, Colin puts the pieces together - Olivia is Miss Misdial. Stringing along this secret texting addiction Colin is shocked to realize he is falling for his best friends off-limits little sis. This delightful, laugh out loud romcom may be the reality break you are longing for. Absolutely adorable and looking forward to more from this entertaining author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Cover Story

NYU student Lora Ricci snags a summer internship she has spent her life dreaming about. She is going to work at Elle magazine and is one step closer to becoming an actual writer. When she arrives Lora quickly finds herself in the beauty closet stocking supplies BUT she is at Elle, she is climbing the ladder and that is all that matters. Determined to shine Lora befriends the beautiful and exotic contributing editor, Cat Wolff. She begins to complete small tasks for Cat and quickly is taken under her very stylish wing. When the end of summer nears Cat offers Lora the opportunity to collaborate on a writing project she is certain will be published. Lora drops out of NYU, moves into Cat’s suite at The Plaza Hotel and begins a year long extravaganza of the whirlwind that is Cat’s glamorous life both personal and professional. Her parents disappointment keeps Lora from telling anyone her struggles or plans, she is laser focused only on getting published. Without any funds of her own Lora is constantly at the beck and call of every decision Cat makes, often leaving her confused and slightly suspicious of Cat’s true identity. As the pieces of this mysterious puzzle begin to fall apart so do Lora’s dreams. The format of writing lends itself to one giant binge read that you cannot put down. May remind you of Inventing Anna but even better with a twist - this is the absolute perfect read to take you away! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Frontier Follies

Ree Drummond lives on a ranch in Oklahoma. While her life is beyond busy helping on the ranch (not to be mistaken for a farm) raising her four children, running a successful blog and business complete with her own cooking show - this woman finds the time to share her hilarious, heartfelt and often wise essays about marriage and motherhood. After college Ree who had grown up in a more metropolitan lifestyle marries her blue eyed dreamy cowboy, Ladd. The day begins early on the Drummond Ranch and it took some time for Ree to consider waking in the dark “morning.” Over an hour to any grocery store and UPS hesitating to come out that far, Ree had to quickly learn bulk buying, time management and a way to extract humor in the daily oddities of ranch living. Always putting family first this dynamic woman can bring laughter to a tired table with ease. While supporting the business and all her children’s endeavors she somehow found a way to build The Pioneer Woman, never daring to dream it could reach the success story it is today. This delightful read had me smiling all the way through. Written with great finesse, Ree manages to smooth the bumps of every day life into a continuous and grateful celebration of family. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Monday, April 11, 2022

The Lioness

Katie Barstow is an A-list actress in 1964. Katie grew up on the stage with Broadway parents and entered Hollywood life to finally escape the clutches of her abusive manipulating mother. She is set to marry her brother’s best friend David, whom they grew up with, and planning a safari honeymoon only the very wealthy could consider. Katie’s companions include her brother and his pregnant wife, fellow starlet Carmen Tedesco with her privileged husband, Terrance a handsome actor she often works with and her infamous agent. They land in Africa excited to experience the Serengeti and all it offers. Gazing at herds of magnificent animals and photographing idyllic scenes seem to be right out of the movies. While these entitled guests drink gin and are waited on hand and foot they are worried about the wrong enemies. While cautious of their distance to wild animals of which they’ve been warned they are confronted by Russians with rifles. Escorted to Land Rovers and tied up in huts the Americans have no idea what these kidnappers want. Survival is the key to figuring out what is behind this brutal attack. Told from the many many many different voices of each character this story dragged. I adored the author’s beautiful descriptive writing but in the end I couldn’t figure out if there was too much backstory or not enough. The whole plot just fell flat. I have loved all of this authors books and enjoyed numerous novels of Africa, unfortunately this one was not for me. ⭐️⭐️

Dating Dr. Dil

Dr. Prem Verma is a successful doctor in addition to having his own southeast asian community tv show. A practical man, Dr. Dil neither believes in “love marriages” or risking a broken heart. Kareena Mann is a local attorney who nearing thirty has all the aunties circling the marriage matches on her behalf. She has focused on school and caring for her younger sister, beloved father and their precious home since her mother’s untimely passing. Kareena is beautiful, outspoken and successful but she may be ready to swipe online as she is well on her way to being considered an old maid. After a meet cute that fails miserably, Prem and Kareena decide to join forces and get what they truly want. He, the much needed investors for his community health center and Kareena is desperate for a downpayment to buy her childhood home as her father plans retirement. Even though their views on love and marriage are night and day, the young couple cannot deny their sizzling chemistry. Fighting fate is not easy when her younger sister is an actual bridezilla and Prem is running out of excuses to fend off his beating heart. Absolutely the cutest, wedding romcom filled with steamy scenes and hilarious dating mishaps. The theme of arranged marriage is common in many cultures and the aunties data spread sheets are not that different than signing up for the latest app. Highly recommend this perfect beach read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Impossible Us

This is a love story like no other. Nick, a struggling writer whose wife just left him for his best friend - sends off a scathing email to a client who owes him money. Bee receives said email and although completely out of character, she responds to this stranger to let Nick know he’s got the wrong email. What ensues is a back and forth (You’ve Got Mail) flirtation that leads to a truly meaningful friendship. Finally, finally the two decide to meet in person. But Nick never shows, Bee never appears. Angry and hurt at first, the two later begin to dive back into the hundreds of messages sent between them and red flags are everywhere. They are somehow not in the same time/universe. Desperately wanting to meet but also filled with a strong desire to somehow make everything right they go out on a limb and commit to things that seem utterly impossible. I absolutely loved this alternative world (almost time travel -ish) premise. You have to roll with it because it can be confusing but it is superbly original and filled with wonderful quirky, witty characters. Beautifully written, this romance is a lot of fun and will fill you with wonder.  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When We Let Go

Working at the magnificent Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, Avery Beckett is surrounded daily by beauty and calm. She focuses on the tours and gardens that need her constant attention. The day Jude shows up, on one knee, ring in hand Avery panics. As much as she truly loves him, she has not been honest and should have revealed her secret past long ago. Jude, a handsome widow, father of three and successful surgeon is devastated that Avery does not accept his proposal. After receiving a call that her father is ill, Avery heads back to North Carolina and their family farm. She has not been back in many years, has not spoken to her once beloved sister Willow in all that time.  Avery realizes that to have any sort of happy future she must face the horrific past. Little did she expect Elle, Jude’s surly and difficult teenage daughter, to secretly hitch a ride and upend all of her plans. Battling her own demons, Elle’s outward anger is only masking her pain. Together these women form new bonds that teach them all a lesson about family, both the one you are born into and the one you choose. This beautiful, tender story is filled with love, friendship and hope. I was simple taken away by the stunning descriptions of the mountains and rivers of North Carolina. I even want to try fly fishing! (That’s a first!) Highly recommend this perfect summer read! Release date: May 17, 2022! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️