Thank you Crown Publishing for sending me a free copy!
In 1897 the steamship Belgica sailed to Antarctica with a crew including scientists and a BelgiaThank you Crown Publishing for sending me a free copy!
In 1897 the steamship Belgica sailed to Antarctica with a crew including scientists and a Belgian aristocrat determined to be the first to reach the magnetic South Pole. This is the true story of how a man placed his ego over safety which had disastrous consequences. The ship was trapped and forced to spend the winter months in that region. Even with the seasons changing, escaping was no sure thing.
An interesting story although compared to other doomed expeditions, it’s slightly less crazy and dramatic. It was still fascinating to learn about this survival tale as you have people making selfish decisions, a doctor trying to combat scurvy before it overtakes everyone on the ship, madness settling in with the continuous dark days, extreme temps, and the general stress of not knowing if returning home is a viable option. With so many of the men keeping journals and written correspondence, the author was able to piece together this disaster story and everything it took to survive. ...more
If you watched HBO’s The Gilded Age, you know a little bit about Emily Roebling, a woman who helped with the design and construction of the f3.5 stars
If you watched HBO’s The Gilded Age, you know a little bit about Emily Roebling, a woman who helped with the design and construction of the famous Brooklyn Bridge. Her husband was the chief engineer and after he sustained injuries, she stepped in and under his guidance oversaw this large scale project to completion. Interesting historical fiction read although for a few storylines the author went in a creative direction rather than just sticking to the facts. Recommend if you want to learn about a strong and fascinating woman....more
Thank you @harperperennial for sending me a free copy of THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER by Mark Twain. It arrived on my doorstep a few days bef4.5 stars
Thank you @harperperennial for sending me a free copy of THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER by Mark Twain. It arrived on my doorstep a few days before my trip to Hannibal, Missouri, the town the author grew up in which served as inspiration for this classic novel. I brought the book with me and took some photos around town including one in front of the famous whitewashed fence.
Set in the 1840s, Tom Sawyer is an orphan living with his Aunt Polly in a small Missouri town. You can’t help but fall for the character as he is a mischief maker who keeps things interesting. Mark Twain brings humor and wit to his writing. While considered a children’s book, in my opinion it’s one most appreciated when read as an adult.
The dialect took awhile to get used to and as a reader you need to remind yourself that offensive language was unfortunately common during that time period. Despite the fact the novel was first published almost 150 years ago, it continues to strike a chord with generation after generation. We all know what it’s like to be a kid, right? Tom’s spirit and pluckiness are admirable traits and his shenanigans continue to delight us readers.
If you are ever in the area, I recommend checking out Hannibal as there’s plenty of Mark Twain related sites to tour. The Ken Burns documentary on the author is also worth watching. ...more
I took a chance on JANE AUSTEN’S BOOKSHELF as I was unsure if my limited knowledge on her works would be enough to fully appreciate this nonf4.5 stars
I took a chance on JANE AUSTEN’S BOOKSHELF as I was unsure if my limited knowledge on her works would be enough to fully appreciate this nonfiction book. Thankfully, the writing style is on the more engaging side rather than being dry and academic. It was a fascinating read that explored beyond just the writings of the women who inspired Jane Austen but also rare book collecting and the lives of the women writers.
While Jane Austen’s novels have stood the test of time sadly when it comes to other women writers of that era most of their works of fiction, poetry, and plays have fallen out of the public eye. Rebecca Romney, a rare book dealer, made it her mission to seek out these lesser known works and form her own opinions about the writings. Each chapter features a woman writer and gives biographical info as well as discussing common themes and how it relates to Jane’s writing. It was neat learning how the author went about tracking down these rare books and the business of book dealing and collecting.
Thank you to Mary Sue Rucci Books and Simon Element for providing a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
The title is self explanatory as the book covers Queen Victoria’s reign and the working relationships she had with the prime ministers. Some of those The title is self explanatory as the book covers Queen Victoria’s reign and the working relationships she had with the prime ministers. Some of those men she respected a great deal, and others, not so much. An informative read and well researched although with the revolving door of prime ministers I’d struggle at times to keep everyone straight in my head. Fascinating knowing that certain actions or inactions during her time on the throne had long lasting implications.
Recommend if you have an interest in European or political history.
Thank you to Knopf for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
A GENTLEMAN’S GENTLEMAN is the 4th T.J. Alexander book I’ve read and while I’ve enjoyed all of them, this one is my new favorite. A trans Reg4.5 stars
A GENTLEMAN’S GENTLEMAN is the 4th T.J. Alexander book I’ve read and while I’ve enjoyed all of them, this one is my new favorite. A trans Regency romance with a comfy vibe to it which was perfect as I needed a good escapism read.
Lord Christopher Eden lives a bit of a reclusive life, preferring the company of his cook and butler. He’s recently gotten word his father’s will stipulates he must find a wife soon or he’ll lose the family fortune and estate. This presents a problem as Christopher is not attracted to women. James Harding has been hired as his valet and will help him during the London Season as Christopher will attempt to find a woman to marry. Both men strike up a friendship and well…
Right of the bat Christopher is a likeable character based on how he treats his staff more like family than servants. Refreshing as that’s not usually the norm among the wealthy and privileged especially a couple centuries ago. This is a slow burn romance but it makes sense as the stakes are rather high and plenty of reasons why one might not feel comfortable sharing everything about themselves. The time period adds another layer to the story and why things play out at slower pace compared to a contemporary romance novel. Overall, a nice love story with charm, humor, and heart.
Thank you Vintage Books for sending me a free advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
Thank you Doubleday Books for sending me a free advance reader’s copy!
I’ve read 3 books by Chris Bohjalian and he is such a versatile writer. The JackThank you Doubleday Books for sending me a free advance reader’s copy!
I’ve read 3 books by Chris Bohjalian and he is such a versatile writer. The Jackal’s Mistress is an interesting historical fiction novel that takes place during the Civil War. The wife of a missing Confederate soldier is faced with a tough choice when she comes across a wounded Yankee soldier. She can leave him for dead or risk her life and the safety of others by trying to save him.
Not giving anything away as it’s mentioned in the publisher synopsis, the story was inspired by a real life friendship across enemy lines. So that’s the basis and the author uses some creative license which is perfectly fine in the historical fiction genre. It allows him to explore the complexities and cruelties of war while showing humanity can exist in troubled times.
There’s a teeny, tiny part in the final chapters that could have been eliminated as it was drama for drama’s sake. Other than that though it was a novel I was fully engrossed in and one I’d recommend to any historical fiction fans. ...more
Earl Crush was a nice change of pace for me as I don’t read a ton of Regency era romances. This rom com has humor and heat. The two leads ha3.25 stars
Earl Crush was a nice change of pace for me as I don’t read a ton of Regency era romances. This rom com has humor and heat. The two leads had good chemistry which is key to a love story.
Heiress Lydia Hope-Wallace secretly writes seditious pamphlets under a pen name. She’s been corresponding under that assumed name with the Earl of Strathrannoch. Finding out he is in financial trouble prompts Lydia to show up at his doorstep to propose marriage. One problem though as the Earl, aka Arthur Baird, isn’t the person who has been writing Lydia. It was actually his brother posing as the Earl. So yeah, Arthur turns down the proposal and is furious with his brother. Arthur is on a mission to track him down. There’s also a whole espionage plot and there’s totally no time for Arthur to fall in love with Lydia. *wink wink
The story starts out strong as I liked the potential pairing right off the bat. While I enjoyed the romance aspects throughout, I wasn’t heavily invested in the rest of the plot and the madcap and hi jinx that ensured. Maybe I was just cranky and should have rolled with it. So it ended up being a decent read but not one I’d place among my favorites. This book has a pretty high rating as early reviews pour in on Goodreads so as always take my opinion with a grain of salt.
I won an advance reader’s copy in a Goodreads giveaway. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
Thank you Crown Publishing for sending me a free copy!
I had read a couple of Erik Larson’s nonfiction books over the years, so I jumped on the opportuThank you Crown Publishing for sending me a free copy!
I had read a couple of Erik Larson’s nonfiction books over the years, so I jumped on the opportunity to check out his latest book, THE DEMON OF UNREST. It covers the months leading up to the Civil War, when Lincoln was first elected president. I live in the Land of Lincoln and you don’t have to go very far to stumble upon a historic site, museum, statue, or whatever, that is dedicated to the 16th president. This book gives a detailed account of everything he dealt with in these crucial months.
While everyone knows Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, it’s not as well known that there was a credible threat on his life as he traveled to Washington DC for his inauguration. This book covers that and the issues that popped up after taking the oath of office. Key figures in the southern states are also followed as they pushed for secession. The Battle of Fort Sumter is featured heavily as well.
A fascinating and detailed read. It captured everything going on in the nation at this time and I learned quite a bit. Sometimes nonfiction writing can be a little dry but I was captivated from the beginning to the end. Worth reading if you enjoy Civil War history....more
Hmm... News of the World was a so so read for me and judging by other reviews I am in the minority with that opinion as the book has earned plenty of Hmm... News of the World was a so so read for me and judging by other reviews I am in the minority with that opinion as the book has earned plenty of praise. I guess nothing really hit me on an emotional level because it's almost like I had a sense of deja vu while reading this book. The core relationship between the main characters is not all that new or different, it's like I've seen it play out numerous times before and therefore the heart of the story just didn't land well. This is also one of the rare times I will say a book should have been longer as I think the author barely skimmed the surface.
I received a free copy of this book from William Morrow. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
The Burning of the World is a nonfiction book about the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Despite living in Illinois for most of my life, I honest3.75 stars
The Burning of the World is a nonfiction book about the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. Despite living in Illinois for most of my life, I honestly didn't know much about the fire other than Mrs. Leary and her cow were the scapegoats. After reading this book it's apparent there were many contributing factors, a perfect storm so to speak and the poor woman didn't deserve all the scorn and ridicule which was fueled by tabloidesque journalism. Chicago was experiencing a severe drought at the time. Many of the city's structures as well as some roads and sidewalks were made with wood. Throw in a lack of manpower, faulty firefighting equipment and miscommunication, and unfortunately it's not hard to comprehend why the blaze got out of hand so quickly.
The official estimate is 300 people died due to the fire although it's assumed the number is higher given 17000 structures were destroyed. The book goes into detail about the aftermath and the rebuilding effort. For the most part the writing held my interest but in some spots, particularly anything political in nature, I wasn't quite as engaged. All in all though, it's a good read if you like learning about the history of Chicago.
Thank you Pantheon for sending me a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
Murder By Degrees piqued my interest because I love mysteries and the 19th century Philadelphia setting offered something different. I liked 3.5 stars
Murder By Degrees piqued my interest because I love mysteries and the 19th century Philadelphia setting offered something different. I liked this book quite a bit and am hoping the author sees the potential for a series here as it features a strong female lead character.
In 1875, Dr. Lydia Weston sees patients but also is a professor at a women's medical college. When the body of her patient, Anna Ward, is found in a river, Lydia helps with the police investigation.
The time period allowed the author to explore topics like gender roles, social class, etc. which gave the story depth. While the actual mystery is decent, Lydia herself is just as much of a reason to give this book a chance. A woman who is not afraid to speak her mind during a time when it certainly wasn't popular to do so.
Recommend if you enjoy historical mysteries.
Thank you Book Club Favorites for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed my honest opinion....more
Read this one many months ago so my mind is hazy on details but I did think The House Is on Fire was a good read. It’s about a devastating fire at a RRead this one many months ago so my mind is hazy on details but I did think The House Is on Fire was a good read. It’s about a devastating fire at a Richmond theater in 1811 which claimed the lives of over 70 people. The story alternates between 4 characters and has a mix of historical content and creative license used by the author to bring everything together. The young boy’s perspective is the only one I didn’t feel much of a connection to but each character brought something of value to the table. This story really shows how tragedy can bring out the best and worst in people.
Recommend if you are interested in historical fiction or this time period. ...more
I love the historical fiction genre because it gives me the chance to learn something and it holds my interest more than just regular nonfiction. It nI love the historical fiction genre because it gives me the chance to learn something and it holds my interest more than just regular nonfiction. It never dawned on me until I picked this book up that there was a time when cookbooks were not so user friendly. We have Eliza Acton to thank for revolutionizing the format. I will never take specific instructions and exact measurements in recipes for granted again.
The setting is England and it's the 1830s. Eliza Acton writes poetry but her publisher is only interested in cookery books. She's lived a life of privilege but times are tough and she could use the money. So she decides to learn how to cook and collects recipes with the hope of perfecting them so they are worthy to be published in her cookbook. Eliza hires Ann Kirby to assist her in the kitchen. Ann needs to do well at her job so she can support her parents. Two women from different walks of life. Is a friendship even possible?
You don't need to be an expert chef in order to enjoy this book but an appreciation for food is probably a requirement. There's much detail about the preparation of the dishes and if that's not your thing you might get bored with the storyline after awhile. I liked the yummy food descriptions although there were a few dishes that even this non-picky eater wouldn't want to eat.
The author did a good job highlighting women's roles during this time period and society's expectations. It was something she was able to explore a bit not just with the two leads but some of the other female supporting characters as well.
All in all, I really liked what the author was able to come with as it was a mix of facts and she used her creativity to fill in some of the blanks. I recommend this book if you like reading about food and are looking for something different in the historical fiction genre.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
I don't typically read many books that take place in the 1800s time period but the premise for this one was too intriguing to pass up. The author did I don't typically read many books that take place in the 1800s time period but the premise for this one was too intriguing to pass up. The author did a great job with the story and the main character, Clara, was someone who was easy to feel invested in. I'd recommend checking this book out if you are a fan of historical fiction and/or female led plots.
It's 1873 and Clara Blackstone has spent the last year in an asylum for the insane. Needless to say, she is happy to be released and is eager to be reunited with her husband. As she arrives in Durham, England a crowd has gathered to witness Mary Ann Cotton being brought to prison where she will await her murder trial trial. It's alleged she has poisoned almost twenty people, including her husbands and children. As Clara begins to realize her marriage is far from an equal partnership, she becomes more and more fascinated with Mary Ann. Is it a good idea for Clara to visit Mary Ann in prison?
This book falls into the historical fiction genre but most of the story is a product of the author's imagination. Mary Ann Cotton truly was England's first known female serial killer but many of the other characters as well as the plot were made up by the author. The book showed off the author's creativity and I loved how substance was brought to the table as both mental health and women's rights issues were explored in the story.
Clara's situation was frustrating to read about because it plays into the fear of not being in full control of your life. As you read about Clara's struggles, you are angered by the fact that given the time period what she was dealing with was not far-fetched in the least. Part of the appeal of the story for me was in a way it gives a voice to the countless people who were treated so inhumanely back then.
Thank you to Inkshares for providing me with a copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more
Sunflower Sisters is the third book in the Lilac Girls series however it easily can be read as a standalone novel. This historical fiction bo3.5 stars
Sunflower Sisters is the third book in the Lilac Girls series however it easily can be read as a standalone novel. This historical fiction book takes place during the Civil War. It's one of those historical fiction reads in which some of it is fact based while some parts were created from the author's imagination. I highly recommend checking the Author's Note when you are finished reading the book as it provided great context into the writing process.
Georgeanne aka "Georgy" is part of the affluent Woolsey family and lives in New York. She has 6 sisters and a brother and has a desire to contribute to the war effort as a nurse.
Jemma is a slave on a Maryland plantation. Ann-May Wilson recently inherited that plantation from her deceased aunt. The story alternates between Georgy, Jemma, and Ann-May.
At over 500 pages, it's a lengthy novel and the pacing at times was slow. Jemma is the heart of the story and my interest level was the highest while reading her chapters in the book. I was initially drawn to read this book because Georgy trained to be a nurse under Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree. Unfortunately Dr. Blackwell does not have a huge role in the story. I'll admit I did start to lose interest in Georgy's work as a Union nurse and the challenges she faced with not being taken seriously by men. For the most part, the character fell flat in my eyes although I'm not sure why that is the case.
I wouldn't say there's anything significantly wrong with the book but it does feel like I've seen this story play out time and time again. I'm not even a frequent reader of Civil War era historical fiction but I've watched many movies and tv shows tackling the war and the stories kinda blend into one another. It's the same problem I have run into with World War 2 historical fiction. You have to search high and low to find a story that is unique.
With that being said, it was a decent read and the fact the author was able to write three historical fiction books featuring different generations of a family is pretty neat.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
The Heiress features the character, Anne de Bourgh, who appeared in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It's been years since I read that book so I wasThe Heiress features the character, Anne de Bourgh, who appeared in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It's been years since I read that book so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to follow along when reading this one. Thankfully, The Heiress can easily be read as a standalone novel although I do think the reading experience will be enhanced a bit if you know the basics of the Pride and Prejudice plot ahead of time.
When Anne was a baby, her doctor prescribed her laudanum. She continued taking the drug as she grew up because she was so sickly and frail. It's understood that when she is of age, Anne will marry her cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy. (yeah, it's the 1800s, we have to roll with the whole marrying cousin thing) And of course if you read P&P, you know who Darcy ends up with instead of Anne. After Anne's father dies, she questions if the medicine she has taken for years is truly helping or hurting her. Is she meant to be confined for the rest of her life or is there a better life out there if she's brave enough for making a drastic change?
I like how addiction was a part of the storyline and as a reader you feel so frustrated for Anne and want to strangle the adults who thought giving a child opium every day was a good idea. Sounds crazy but it's really not that far fetched that most people would not have a good grasp on drug addiction back in the early 1800s. The time period of the addiction as well as a child trusting the adults to take care of her made it a unique and interesting plot.
One of the other neat aspects of the plot is something that is set forth pretty late in the book. To me that falls into spoiler territory so I'm not going to get into any details about it in this review. It's just another thing that made this a good read.
I think most readers will find this book to be a satisfying read regardless of whether or not you are a diehard Jane Austen fan.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion....more
As soon as I saw this book was a historical mystery taking place in 19th century Bombay, I knew I had to read it. I was hoping I would get the opportuAs soon as I saw this book was a historical mystery taking place in 19th century Bombay, I knew I had to read it. I was hoping I would get the opportunity to learn a thing or two and the author really did a good job incorporating a little bit of history into the book. Unfortunately while the story starts off with promise, my interest level did start to dip at about a third of the way in. A neat premise but a few problems with the execution.
Captain Jim Agnihotri has been recovering in a military hospital when a local news story catches his interest. Two women fell off a university clock tower. Adi Framji is the widower of one of the woman and the brother of the other one. He is convinced neither one committed suicide and he hires Jim to investigate. With Jim searching for answers, will he be able to uncover the truth?
There are many Sherlock Holmes references throughout the story and it helped contribute to a bit of a light tone to the story. I'm not sure if technically this book can be classified as a cozy mystery but in my opinion it had that vibe going on.
The story hooked me pretty much at the beginning as I felt as interested as Jim in finding out what really happened to the two women. I do think the story loses focus after awhile especially as you are learning more about Jim's backstory and a potential romance is brewing. While I appreciate the attempt to give a character depth, it was a weak part of the story. I think maybe the author was over ambitious and tackled too many things. Strangely enough I stopped caring about the two women and actually would have been fine if the story completely shifted to a regular romance novel. At 400 pages it's a long mystery without a significant payout.
I didn't love the story, but I didn't hate it either. Not sure if this book is the setup to a planned series or not, but if it is I would consider reading future books just as long as the focus is on the case rather than other side plots.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!...more
I rarely read historical romances so it was nice to switch things up for a change. I did love how the author incorporated the women's suffrag3.5 stars
I rarely read historical romances so it was nice to switch things up for a change. I did love how the author incorporated the women's suffrage movement in England into the storyline. I also thought the two lead characters had good chemistry together which is my main requirement in a romance novel.
The year is 1879 and Annabelle Archer has just been accepted into the University of Oxford. A pretty big deal considering she will be among the first group of female students ever to attend the prestigious school. She is part of the women's suffrage movement and a key mission of the group is to recruit men of important stature to help with the cause. Annabelle has been tasked with persuading the Duke of Montogomery, Sebastian Devereoux, to go against the queen and lend support to the suffrage group. As if this wasn't going to be challenging enough, Sebastian also doesn't seem to think very highly of Annabelle. Or does he?
Given I typically read only contemporary romances, I have to say I really enjoyed how the time period enhanced the story as it provided even more obstacles for the two to overcome on their way to romance. Without getting into spoilers I do like how the author addressed the differences in their social classes and how that would have been a huge issue back in Victorian England. While I definitely enjoyed the romance elements of the story I did like how it feel like I was getting some history bits thrown in there as an added bonus.
One of my small criticisms of the story is I felt the ending was rushed. Some more development there would have been greatly appreciated.
Overall, a good romance that I feel comfortable recommending to anyone who loves the genre.
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