New Release: The Dilemma

The Dilemma

By B.A. Paris

4⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to St. Martins Press for a gifted review copy of The Dilemma by B.A. Paris. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris is an intriguing story about secrets. It's difficult to not say too much about the storyline when reviewing this book.  I don't want to spoil the book for anyone so there is very little synopsis for this one.  I will say... this book is definitely worth reading.

Olivia has been planning her 40th birthday party for over 20 years.  When she found out she was pregnant and married her husband at very young age her parents disowned her. They refused to pay for a wedding. She decided that she would get a party and it would be for her 40th birthday.  On the day of the party her husband has a big surprise which he has kept secret from her. Olivia has her own secrets and so does almost everyone. Should you keep a secret to make someone feel better?

This book is told by both Olivia and her husband, Adam. The story takes place over a very short period of time. It is a good example of spouses trying to protect each by keeping secrets. Olivia wants to protect Adam and Adam wants to protect Olivia. Their children have secrets and their friends have secrets.  Will they tell their secrets? Will they forgive each other if they do tell?

Olivia was over the top obsessed with the party.  It made me look at her as a very selfish person.  If you missed having a big wedding why wouldn't you have a big anniversary party?  Olivia wanted a big birthday party for herself only.  I finished this book a few days ago and I'm still thinking about Olivia.  Is she just misunderstood?  I'm still undecided.....

This is a hard to put down book. I wanted to know what they each knew and what they were going to do with that information. B.A. Paris did it again....another great book.

More about the author...
B.A. Paris is an internationally bestselling author.  She also wrote Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown, and Bring Me Back.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mystery/Thriller
Women's Fiction
Release Date June 30, 2020

My semi break is over

Thank you to the below tagged publishers for gifted review copies.

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird 4⭐(library book)

The Jane Austen Society 4⭐(St. Martin's Press)

The Half Sister 4.5⭐(Minotaur Books)

The Summer House 4⭐(Thomas Nelson)

The Wife Who Knew Too Much 4⭐(St. Martin's Press)

The past few months I have struggled with reading, blogging, and posting to Instagram.  The above books were the total of my reading in April and May.  Normally I read 8-12 books per month but when Covid arrived my ability to focus on a book went out the window.   June is the month that I started to enjoy reading and interacting regularly on Instagram again.  Now it's time to pick up blogging again and share some of the wonderful books I have been reading.  Even though bookstores have been closed there have been some great online sales for books over the past 3 months.  I'm looking forward to sharing some of those books with you as well in the upcoming weeks/months.

Thank you for staying around during my semi break.  I would love to hear from you and please let me know how you're doing.

Be on the lookout for Jane Austen July posts coming soon.

Miss Austen Blog Tour

**Thank you to Flatiron Books for a gifted review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Welcome to the Miss Austen Blog Tour.

Miss Austen by Gill Hornby is a touching historical fiction about Cassandra Austen.

Cassandra was once engaged to Isabella's uncle, Tom Fowle. The families were very close and both Jane and Cassandra Austen were very good friends with Isabella's mother, Eliza.  An elderly Cassandra visits Isabella in order to retrieve letters that had been written to Isabella's mother by Jane and Cassandra. She doesn't want private matters about her sister to become public. The letters in this story are of course made up by the author but according to family record Cassandra did look over and destroy some of the correspondence involving herself and her sister, Jane.

The story takes place in a dual timeline. The past is told through letters and Cassandra's memories. The present will make the reader feel for the remaining sister and her responsibilities to the family. Even though the letters are imagined they were touching and realistic to the story. The author is able to bring across the loving relationship and loyalty between sisters. This book also helped me to place the members of the Austen family, their spouses, and the children.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would definitely read more from author. This book is perfect for historical fiction fans as well as Jane Austen fans.

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Historical Fiction
Release Date: April 7, 2020

New Release: Darling Rose Gold

Darling Rose Gold

By Stephanie Wrobel

3⭐⭐⭐

***I received a free copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Darling Rose Gold a debut novel by Stephanie Wrobel.  It is an interesting story about Munchausen syndrome by proxy.  Rose Gold has suffered for her first 18 years due to her mother, Patty, making her sick. At 18 Rose Gold testifies against Patty and Patty goes to jail. The story is told in a dual timeline. Rose Gold tells the story in the past and Patty tells the story in the present after she is released from jail. 

Up to the age of 18 this story very closely resembles the real life story of Gypsy Rose Blancharde and her mother, Dee Dee Blancharde. The author does note in the back of the book that she studied the Gypsy Rose case while researching for this book. I do wish there had been more information in the beginning of the book telling about the cases she studied in order to build the background of the story.

The main part of this book is after Patty is released from jail. Rose Gold is still angry with Patty for making her sick. Patty blames Rose Gold for being out in jail. Patty has no where to go and wants to be a part of her grandson's life. Can they live together and forgive each other?  Does one or both want revenge? The town have their own opinions about Patty and they are not good opinions.  

While I did not find either of the main characters to be likeable, I did find the story interesting. How would it affect a child to have their mother be the reason they were sick?  Can that child grow up to be normal?

Author....

Stephanie Wrobel

Thank you to Netgalley, Goodreads, and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

Mystery & Thrillers 

Release Date: March 17, 2020

New Release (3-10-20): In Five Years

In Five Years

by Rebecca Serle

5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

***I received a free copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle is a bittersweet love story. On the night that Dannie gets engaged she falls asleep and wakes up five years in the future. She spends one hour in the future in a different apartment and with a man who is not her fiance. When she wakes up in the present she feels it is more than a dream but she doesn't know what it is. Four and a half years later she meets the man from her dream. He is real.  What does this mean?

The story is told from Dannie's point of view. Her life is her work, her fiance, and her best friend, Bella.  This is a story of love and friendship. It's also about learning to understand yourself. Dannie does everything by numbers and plans most things in her life but there are things you cannot plan or prepare for.

Have you ever had a dream that seemed too real to be dream?  Are premonitions real?  In Five Years will have you wondering about dreams and premonitions.

This is an amazing book and hard to put down. It is a story that I will be thinking about for quite a while. The author has a way of giving you enough information to keep you interested but not enough to know where the story was going and how it was going to end.

Author Page...
Rebecca Serle

I definitely want to read more books by  Rebecca Serle.  Thank you Atria Books for providing me with a review copy of this book.

Women's Fiction
Release Date: March 10, 2020

New Release (3-10-20): Undercover Bromance

Undercover Bromance

#2 Bromance Book Club

by Lyssa Kay Adams

5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

***I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Grown men reading regency romances to learn about love and how to treat women.  The Bromance Book Club is back.  Thea's sister, Liv, and Mack from the book club are the main characters in this sequel.  The characters are likable and fun.   I laughed out loud a few times.  The Russian is hilarious.  In addition to the original characters we get to meet some new friends.  This is not only a romance but also a book about friendships and supporting the people you care about.

Netgalley review.....
Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams is a cute and funny romantic comedy. This is the follow up book to The Bromance Book Club.

Liv is working as a pastry chef at a popular restaurant until the night Mack walks in with his date. By the end of the night she has been fired.  Liv cannot stand Mack but he seems intrigued by her. They decide to work together to take down her boss. The cupcake she dropped was not the only reason he fired her. Can they work together?

Mack was great in the first book and I loved him being a main character in this one. Liv is seen in a different light as her background comes out. She's strong but she's also insecure. I liked her so much more in this book. There are laugh out loud moments as readers get to know more about the members of the book. I love this series and look forward to the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Romance
Release Date: March 10, 2020


More about the author....
Lyssa Kay Adams

New Release (3-3-20): Frida in America

Frida in America

by Celia Stahr

4⭐⭐⭐⭐

***I received a free copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Frida is America by Celia Stahr is an intriguing look at the fascinating Frida Kahlo and her three years she spent in America.  The author does give the reader brief information about before and after the three year period but the bulk of the book is set during those three very important years in her artistic career.  Frida was only 23 when she came to America for the first time.  Diego had a commission in San Fransisco. 

This is an interesting look into Frida's life.  She is complicated, persuasive, odd, and fascinating.  At times I even found her to be sad and confused.  She had an addictive love for her husband, Diego.  Their relationship was not your typical relationship.  It revolved around their art and their artistic friends/community. Frida and Diego both seem to have something magnetic about them which draws people in who want to be close to them and be a part of their lives.

The writing is very detailed when it came to describing the the paintings and Frida's clothing.  I stopped a number of times to look up a painting because I was fascinated by the descriptions.  The author is also very detailed about the symbolism that is present in Frida's art.  

This book is the culmination of 10 years of research by Celia Stahr.  She had access to numerous letters, journals, diaries, and newspaper articles.  It is very detailed in every aspect of the book.  I found the history in this book fascinating.  At times I did feel there was too much information on their friends but these friends were well known and influential people that had an impact on Frida and Diego's lives.  This was not a light read but I feel the author did an amazing job putting together such a detailed account of their three years in America.

About the author....

Celia Stahr

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

Biographies & Memoirs

Release Date: March 3, 2020

Personal Note...  

This book has a special place for me because Frida Kahlo is my daughter's favorite artist.  I have heard about her for years.  I know feel that I know this artist that my daughter is very passionate about her life and her art.

Exhibit Info....

If you are interested seeing a Frida Kahlo Exhibit there is one in Chicago over the Summer 2020.  You can find more information here.