Tag Archives: Carissa S.

Review: The Huntress

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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

 

Review: Two Weeks

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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

Review: Hate Notes

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Hate Notes
by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward
5 stars

This is my first novel by this duo and I really enjoyed it!  I was expecting a light-hearted romance, but I was surprised by the depth in the second half of this novel.  I loved the mix of happiness and sadness, and of course the happy ending.  The main characters are Charlotte and Reed.  Charlotte is your typical Polyanna; overly cheerful and optimistic.  At times, this drove me crazy while reading, but I did like her character.  Reed is a wounded man and very cautious, not willing to let any woman in to break his heart again.  The story begins with Charlotte selling her unworn wedding dress and coming across a beautiful one of a kind dress—with a note sewn into it written by none other than Reed Eastwood.  Soon Reed becomes Charlotte’s fantasy of true love…until he becomes her boss and she discovers how arrogant and mean he can be.  Charlotte and Reed have a lot of chemistry and their interactions are funny and cute.  Throughout the book the reader knows Reed is hiding a secret.  When it was revealed, I was surprised.  I found this romance to be unique and I will definitely be reading more from Keeland and Ward.

Read-alikes

Family Affair by Debbie Macomber

Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich

Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie

Review: Little Darlings

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Little Darlings (coming in April 2019)
by Melanie Golding
4 stars

I love folklore and anything about faeries so this book appealed to me. I also love a good mystery. The book centers on new mom, Lauren, and her newborn twin boys, Morgan and Riley. Lauren swears that a woman tried to take her babies at the hospital and replace them with something else, some kind of horrible creatures. Everyone, including Lauren’s husband, believes she is imagining things. One day the babies disappear while Lauren accidentally dozes off at the park. When they are found, everyone is overjoyed, except for Lauren. Morgan and Riley look the same, but Lauren knows that something is very wrong. This book had me guessing until the very end whether Lauren was actually sane or not. Was she suffering postnatal psychosis or was there really an evil woman that traded her babies for changelings? I loved all the descriptions of early motherhood and it made me reminisce of those early days with my own kids. The descriptions of the “changelings” was creepy. I definitely recommend this book and it will make an excellent movie! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Read-alikes

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

The Good People by Hannah Kent

Review: Daisy Jones and the Six

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Daisy Jones and the Six (coming in March 2019)
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
4 stars

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my absolute favorite authors. I was thrilled to be chosen to receive an advanced reader copy. This book will be released in March 2019. Daisy Jones and the Six was unlike anything I’ve ever read. The Six is a rock band formed in the 1960’s who later adds the iconic Daisy Jones. The way Reid writes I kept wondering if Daisy Jones and the Six were an actual band that I just had never heard about.

From the beginning we know that the band breaks up. The story continues with the points of view from the band members and other characters spanning from the 1960’s to 2012. As with many rock bands this has your classic, “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll.” It is told in interview format without questions. At first I wondered if it was going to be this way the entire book, and if it was, would it hold my attention for the entire book? It really did.

I was hesitant about this book even though TJR is one of my favorite authors. It seemed so different and not something I would normally pick up. But I was pleasantly surprised that this kept my attention and made me feel so many emotions. There was so much heartbreak in this book. As with Evelyn Hugo, TJR made me believe Daisy Jones is a real person. I love that this is being made into a TV show. It will be great on screen. Props to Reid for writing a very original story with a unique format. Highly recommend! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

Read-alikes

Beautiful Music by Michael Zadoorian

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid