★★ An enviably creative premise with some fun moments, but ultimately misses its mark (unless said mark was a new take on Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, of course). An enviably creative premise with some fun moments, but ultimately misses its mark (unless said mark was a new take on Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, …
★★★ An atmosphere that transports you to the back alleys of 1920s New York in stellar fashion, with engaging characters walking through a story that is just shy of being good enough for them Set around a speakeasy in prohibition era New York, Last Call at the Nightingale transports you to the world of Vivian …
Continue reading Last Call at the Nightingale, by Katherine Schellman
★★★ It doesn’t fit the bill of haunting or psychological, but it does evoke emotion. But anxiety and frustration are not likely what Barclay was going for. It doesn’t fit the bill of haunting or psychological, but it does evoke emotion. But anxiety and frustration are not likely what Barclay was going for. Centered around …
★★★ What's not to enjoy in this creative Jane Austen fan-fic, multi-verse edition, where you get to say goodbye to the original Regency romance scoundrel? Ride-or-die Austenites will appreciate the joining of so many beloved characters No, the title is not a tease - this really is a story about Mr. Wickham’s murder, which should …
★★★★ Just enough inspiration from well-known favorites like Outlander to intrigue, with enough original fun to thrive on its own - looking forward to the next books in the series As a sometimes rabid Outlander lover (ok, all the time, I have the scotch thistle wedding ring…), I am a sentimentalist who gives a chance …
★★★★★ Had I not read Erin Litteken’s bio prior to reading her debut novel, I have no doubt it would have still been painfully and poignantly obvious that this story has personal roots. The depth found here is just something that can’t be taught; it has a connection that you can curate but not create, and …
★★★ A beautifully written mashup of well-beloved fantasy tales - great potential, but never managed to move far enough away from its inspirations to become its own story. I honestly don’t know where to start, because I still have not quite settled on where I am. At the end of the day, Ordinary Monsters is …
★★★ A nice read with some interesting history and a creative, if slightly muddled and at times shallow, story about sisterly love amid a chaotic time in the early 20th century. The first lesson to learn from Little Souls, the new novel from Sandra Dallas, is that Denver started prohibition four years before it hit …
I passionately hate exclamation points, unless I am communicating directly and casually with a person who I know needs/wants that extra bit of clarity in “chatty” communication. And even those are rare; apparently I’m also old now, because I still prefer to tell a teammate or employee face to face (or the digital equivalent) if …
★★★ A classic Elin Hilderbrand beach read with her characteristic mingling of characters. It’s a fun story that mixes past and present but feels rushed, is overloaded with side stories, and lacks the Nantucket magic we are used to. First, some context. I love Elin Hilderbrand; she’s tops in my Guilty Pleasures list, and a …
Novel Expeditions 