Category Archives: Books & More

Review: Wicked and the Wallflower

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Wicked and the Wallflower
by Sarah MacLean
3 stars

Sarah MacLean begins her new Bareknuckle Bastards (what a name!) series with Wicked and the Wallflower This Regency romance brings us Lady Felicity Faircloth, a shunned daughter of the nobility, and Devin (AKA Devil), the illegitimate son of a duke. Devin’s father, who never had a legitimate heir, gathered his bastard sons during their childhood and pitted them against each other to be picked has his heir. The sons came to an agreement that one of them, Ewan, could inherit the dukedom…but only if he never married. They didn’t want their abusive father’s genes to be carried on. When, years later, Ewan enters the scene announcing his intent to marry, Felicity is thrown in his path. Devin steps in to put the kibosh on the engagement by ruining Felicity. Of course, as the reader might expect, Felicity turns the table on him. While the ending is a given from the beginning, MacLean has written engaging characters that grow delightfully throughout the novel. Their love story is a great adventure. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Read-alikes:

 

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

Then Comes Seduction by Mary Balogh

Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught

 

 

 

Review: The High Tide Club

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The High Tide Club
by Mary Kay Andrews
4 stars

After devouring Karen White’s The House on Tradd Street series, I was desperately looking for my next favorite southern fiction read when I stumbled upon The High Tide Club by Mary Kay Andrews.  It did not disappoint.
The story is set in modern day Georgia where lawyer Brooke Trappnell is working to uncover long hidden mysteries of Talisa Island in an attempt to secure the estate of the ailing millionaire, Josephine Bettendorf Warrick.  Josephine is desperate to make amends with the heirs of her closest friends (The High Tide Club) and to keep her family home from falling into the hands of those who would want to see the beautiful island developed.  As the story unfolds, you come to love the women of Talisa Island and admire the friendships, though fractured, that changed their lives forever.
Fast paced and filled with mystery, The High Tide Club is a perfect summer or weekend read.  The sweeping story bounces seamlessly from past to present ending with a satisfying conclusion.  As much as I loved learning about Josephine and her friends, I especially enjoyed watching the relationships grow between their descendants in modern times.  There were definite Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood vibes, and in case you’re looking for an audiobook – narrator Kathleen McInerney does an excellent southern accent!  Now to find another Mary Kay Andrews to read…

 

Read-alikes

The Girls of August by Anne River Siddons

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Dreams of Falling by Karen White

Review: Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating

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Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating
by Christina Lauren
4 stars

I am a super fan of Christina Lauren. They (not she) are actually the combined duo of longtime writing partners and best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. Those two ladies work well together as witnessed by their latest novel Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating.

Hazel Camille Bradford is a quick witted, hilarious, and accident prone elementary school teacher. Josh Im is an upright, though not quite stodgy, physical therapist. They first met in college when Hazel threw up on Josh’s shoes…not the greatest start. Fast forward 10 years later and Hazel is doing her best to help Josh get over an ex. She gets him to go on double blind dates that increase in comedic results. You may know where the plot is headed, but the road there is slapstick funny yet also tender and sweet.

A fabulous, funny read with a little bit of heartbreak. This book made me laugh and cry…my favorite combination in a book!

 

Read-alikes:

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

 

 

 

Review: Crazy Rich Asians

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Crazy Rich Asians
by Kevin Kwan
5 stars

Raised in America by her Chinese mother, Rachel Chu is an economics professor in NYC.  When her boyfriend invites her back to his native Singapore for a friend’s wedding, Rachel is excited to join him.  She is in for a shock when she finds out that he is from one of the richest families in Asia.  We see this crazy rich (seriously CRAZY amounts of money) world through Rachel’s eyes as she deals with cultural and social differences, as well as Nick’s disapproving relatives.

I read Crazy Rich Asians in a day during a recent vacation…and went to see the movie the next day.  I loved both of them.  It’s a fantastic bit of escapism.  The descriptions of the crazy rich lifestyles of some of the characters will have you rolling your eyes and the descriptions of the food will have you checking airline ticket prices!  (The movie is no different, I was starving by the time I left!)  I loved diving into this ridiculously opulent and melodramatic world!  Rachel’s friends try to guide here through the pitfalls and dangers of this unknown world, while Nick’s mother Eleanor schemes to split the couple up.

I am completely looking forward to the next book (and movie) to see what happens to the characters, especially Nick’s cousin Astrid who quickly became one of my favorites!

 

Recommendations:

What We Were Promised by Lucy Tan

The Garden Party by Grace Dane Mazur

In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende

 

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

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1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a early literacy program that can help foster the love of reading in young children. This free, self-paced reading program for infants through preschoolers allows parents and caregivers an opportunity to share books daily with their child. The goal is 1000 books before they start Kindergarten and, yes, they can read the same book more than once. Libraries across the United States have joined in, providing incentives and promotion for this fun challenge.

Here at the Greenwood Public Library we’ve been eager to finally start, and have been kicking around the idea for the past couple of years. It’s all come together. We have the cutest little fox friend as our mascot, along with tons of awesome prizes for children and their grown-ups as they read.

We have special logs to help you keep track. Keep progress with stamps on the back for every 10 books you read, and earn two big stickers (one for the log and one for you) for every log of 100 books you complete. After the first 100 books, you’ll earn a 1000 Books tote bag. At 300, 500, 800, and 1000 you’ll earn a free book, and at 1000 books when you finish the program, you’ll join our ranks of finishers.

Research shows that children who are read to daily in the years prior to kindergarten not only have an increased vocabulary but are better prepared to learn to read and succeed in school. Also, creating a special time to read together shows your child the value and enjoyment of reading from a young age. If you want to join us on this adventure, stop by the library to sign up and pick up your first log!