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Author Archives: GPL

Review: The Huntress

Posted on June 3, 2019 by GPL

The Huntress
by Kate Quinn
5 stars

The Huntress is Kate Quinn’s newest book released this past February.   I loved her previous book, The Alice Network, so I quickly put my name on hold for this one.  This is another historical fiction novel jumping back and forth in time from post WWII Boston to 1940’s in Europe and Russia.  I love reading historical fiction, especially when it shows me parts of history that are not often taught or spoken about.  The story alternates between the points of view of three different characters:  Nina, a Soviet pilot with the Nachthexen or Night Witches, an all female  night bomber regiment; Ian, a British war correspondent, who later abandons journalism after the war to become a Nazi hunter.  One target has always eluded him:  das Jagerin, The Huntress.  Then we have 17-year-old Jordan, who longs to be a photographer.  Her mother passed away several years prior, so she is delighted when her father brings home a fiancé.  However, Jordan is suspicious of the young German widow.

I loved reading about Nina’s bonds with her sisters in the regiment and how she later teams with Ian to hunt the Huntress.  We know from the get go that she has a run in with the Huntress and is one of the only ones to ever escape. I love thrillers, so was pleasantly surprised at how suspenseful the story is.  The Huntress’ identity isn’t a mystery, but you are wondering if they will ever catch her, and what will happen if they do.  I also love that the villain is a female.  Some scenes with her are chilling.    The ending is amazing!  The author’s notes at the end added a lot to the story.  It was interesting to read about the real people the book characters were inspired by.  5 stars!  Highly recommend!

 

Read-alikes

The Age of Treachery by Gavin Scott

Transcription by Kate Atkinson

The Confession by Olen Steinhauer

 

Posted in Books & More | Tags: Carissa S., historical | Leave a comment |

Review: Red, White & Royal Blue

Posted on May 31, 2019 by GPL

Red, White & Royal Blue
by Casey McQuiston
5 stars

Alex and Henry have a tense and antagonistic relationship.  Which causes trouble because Alex is the First Son of the US and Henry is the Prince of England.  When their issues come to a head at a royal wedding (including the destruction of a $17,000 wedding cake), the 2 must paste on diplomatic smiles and fake a friendship for the sake of American/British international relations.  The fake friendship gradually becomes real as they open up to each other about the pressures of living in the public eye and that friendship turns into something more.

This book was originally marked as Young Adult, but it definitely falls into the Adult/New Adult categories (the characters are 20 and 22 when the book begins).  This is probably my favorite book of the year (yes, I know it’s early).  It had me bouncing between giggles and swoons, and sometimes both at once.  It was smart, diverse, and inclusive in all the best ways.  And there were multiple references to Alexander Hamilton, Harry Potter, and others!

 

Read-alikes

The Royal We by Heather Cox

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal

Royals by Rachel Hawkins

 

Posted in Books & More | Tags: Aubrey W., book review, fiction, new adult, romance, royalty | Leave a comment |

Review: Girl, Wash Your Face

Posted on May 28, 2019 by GPL

Girl, Wash Your Face
by Rachel Hollis
4 stars

New York Times bestselling author and founder of a multimillion-dollar media company, Rachel Hollis pours her heart out to inspire moms to never settle and to create goals in this light Christian read. Go-Girl-chase your dreams. She is straight-talking and often humorous with her mommy/wife stories. Every chapter is named “The Lie; there are 20 of them. Like The Lie: I am defined by my weight and The Lie: I don’t know how to be a mom. At the end of each “Lie” chapter, she offers a list of things that helped her.

I could easily relate to her struggles which felt real and tangible. Hollis takes you through her life struggles from grade school, dating, her brother’s suicide, marriage, kids, adoption struggles and her media company that she built from the ground up. Rachel’s message and goals are for any women who needs to overcome the feeling she is not doing a good job handling everyday life. I did check out her website called, “TheChicSite.com”

I enjoyed listening to the author narrating her book on audio and I chose this book because of the title. I felt like I was sitting with her in home. While I give this book 4 stars, the author writes about her life and she under age 40. Kudos to the author for putting herself out there. No judgement please!

 

Read-alikes

Braving the wilderness by Brene Brown

The happiness project by by Gretchen Craft Rubin

There are no grown-ups by Pamela Druckerman

 

Posted in Books & More | Tags: book review, inspirational, non-fiction, nonfiction, self-help, Sheila H. | Leave a comment |

Review: The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

Posted on May 21, 2019 by GPL

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
by Steve Brusatte
5 stars

Before my review, I have a quick disclaimer: I am mildly obsessed with dinosaurs. Jurassic Park was my favorite movie when I was a child. When I heard that my college had a basic geology course covering Dinosaurs and their evolution, I waited eagerly each semester for it to be offered. When it finally was, I sat front and center every day and consumed every required and suggested reading. After I met a paleontologist I joked to my friends that we were going to get married, if only for him to spin me tales of geology every day.

Reading Stephen Brusatte’s book was nothing short of wonderful, though again, I am a biased source. Brusatte does a wonderful job of introducing you to the world of the dinosaurs, as well as the evolution that produced them. I loved hearing about his work with specific scientists, especially his time in China. He also worked the menial art of spreadsheets, identifying differences and similarities between fossils. It may sound boring to anyone else but me, but tracking those differences and similarities is key to tracking relationships between species.

Brusatte also has turns where he talks about his own journey into paleontology, and at points the book is as much about him and his studies as it is the dinosaurs he covers. I felt his excitement as he recounted moments where he met and worked with distinguished paleontologists. He also mentioned a museum in Rockford, Illinois that he loves to go to (a museum that I will have to make a trip to after reading this book). While these turns towards autobiography were fun, they also added to the story and developed it into something more than just an informational book. Brusatte’s passion for the subject shines throughout the book. If you give it a chance, I hope you love it as much as I did.

 

Read-alikes

Rise of the Necrofauna: A Provocative Look at the Science, Ethics, and Risks of De-Extinction by Brit Wray

T. Rex and the Crater of Doom by Walter Álvarez

Articulating Dinosaurs: A Political Anthropology by Brian Noble

 

Posted in Books & More | Tags: book review, Katherine R., non-fiction, nonfiction | Leave a comment |

Review: Two Weeks

Posted on May 13, 2019 by GPL

Two Weeks
by Karen Kingsbury
5 stars

Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors.  I can always count on her to deliver a realistic story packed with emotion.  Two Weeks is a continuation of the Baxter Family.  The story focuses on Cole Blake, son of Ashley Baxter Blake, who is months away from going to college for a career in medicine.  He meets a mysterious new girl, who captures his attention like no other girl before.  The girl is Elise, sent to live with her aunt and uncle, set on changing her life and making better choices.  Soon Elise discovers she is pregnant, the baby’s father being the bad boy she left to escape from.  Cole is determined to support Elise, even if that means sacrificing college and marrying her.  Karen does such a wonderful job letting the readers into the mind of Elise and the choices she is forced to make.    I love that Karen also chose to have a point of view from a couple (Lucy and Aaron) struggling with infertility.  Each chapter is heartbreaking from each Elise and Lucy’s point of view.

As Elise’s due date comes closer, she has two weeks to change her mind about adoption.   Will she choose to keep the baby or will she choose adoption?  I highly recommend this book and the rest of the Baxter series!

Read-alikes

A Month of Summer by Lisa Wingate

Dining With Joy by Rachel Hauck

Who I Am With You by Robin Lee Hatcher

Posted in Books & More | Tags: book review, Carissa S., christian fiction | Leave a comment |
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