Welcome to my reading update!  I'm going to post this on a few blog hops such as Stacking The Shelves run by Team Tynga's Reviews, and Sunday Post, run by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer 

Seeing what other are reading (and finding a novel that everyone's talking about) is the reason I love looking at blog hop posts.  Please feel free to drop me a line and tell me what you're reading.

It's been a long time since I've posted a reading update!  During these strange times, I've been doing tons of reading, but blogging has not been as joyful.  But I do want to share some of the wonderful books I've read recently.

What I'm Reading Now:

I like to read about three books at a time, Love Your Life is an ARC from one of my favorite authors, Sophie Kinsella, A Witch in Time, by Constance Sayers, is for my book club, as is The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett.  I'm enjoying all three, but Love Your Life is a nice light read, so is a perfect distraction from all the drama going on in the U.S.

What I Finished This Week:

These are a few of the books I've bought or received in the last week.  I'm most excited to read The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, by V.E. Schwab.  

That's it for this week.   

 

Please start looking at your ballots and VOTE!!!

Please note:  I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness.

While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.

But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.

Review:

When I read the premise of A Golden Fury, by Samantha Cohoe, I wasn't sure of what to expect. This was a wild ride.  I just wish more attention was given to some of the historical details.  But that didn't deter from the fun.   Full of excitement, surprises, and a main character who knows she alone must decide her path, this book was highly entertaining. 

What I Liked:

Characters:

I really liked Thea.  She was a strong personality who knew her worth.  But even as she dreams of fame and fortune, she is aware that making the Philosopher’s Stone comes at a terrible price.  I loved that she didn't let her yearning for a family cloud her judgement.  And oh so many people tried to emotionally blackmail Thea.  It was painful that Thea didn't have anyone really rooting for her.  All the other characters were more concerned with using Thea's expertise for their own ends.  I was glad that she could see that.

Thea's mother would not be winning any awards for mother of the year.  She was a mix of a fiercely protective parent, and a selfish manipulator.  I actually liked that she was so complex. Most of us are.  She was totally focused on creating the Philosopher’s Stone.  And she wasn't shy about using her patrons.  When she shuts out Thea from the work, she thinks it's to keep the glory of the achievement for herself.  Actually, she was trying to protect Thea.  It was kind of heartbreaking that Thea couldn't see that.

Dominic was her father's assistant.  He wanted to be a doctor and was actually not interested in Alchemy.  Yet, he helped Thea to create the Stone.  He was a truly helpful person in a world full of people out for themselves.  He was also the most moral person in the story.  His Catholic faith is one of the things that guides his choices.  I found that quite refreshing.

Story:

The race to create the Philosopher’s Stone was full of surprises.  Thea and her mother were so close to creating it that several people worked to jump in and steal their knowledge.  I think the author used this as a statement on the moral gymnastic scientists sometimes must perform to justify what they would do to advance their work.  Is it right to use people (or animals) to test new scientific findings?  Is it justifiable if there is a major breakthrough in science?   Most of the characters would say yes, while Thea and Dominic would have said a resounding NO!

Ending:

I also loved the ending.  Unlike many YA fantasy books, this was a STAND ALONE book!!!  I really appreciated this.  As much as I like book series, I am tired of waiting YEARS to know how a story is resolved.  Thank you, Samantha Cohoe!

What I Was Mixed About:

Historical Details:

As this was an historical fantasy novel, I was looking forward to all the details of late 1700's Europe.  I'm no expert, but there were several details that rang false with me.  In one scene, Thea quickly put on (and later took off) an elaborate French gown.  These were so complicated to wear that Thea would have needed a ladies maid (or two) to get into the dress.  Yes, it's a small detail, but to me it mattered.

Also, in Oxford, Thea hit her head hard and almost passed out.  Dominic worried that Thea had a concussion.  This was supposed to take place around the year 1800.  No young student would have known what a concussion was.  A quick internet search showed me that concussions were not widely identified until the 1860's. 

Yes, I am being picky, but these details can be what makes the reader transported to that time and place.

Rating: 

Release Date: October 13th, 2020

Author:  Samantha Cohoe

Publisher:  Wednesday Books

Genre:  YA Historical Fantasy

Page Length:  320 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  A rare stand alone YA Book.  Full of surprises, if a little weak on historical details, this was still very fun to read. 

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Trapped in the middle of five siblings, Everly Lancaster always had big dreams. Now a top real-estate executive, Everly finds her work is her life, leaving no space for anything (or anyone) else. Sensing her stress, Everly's boss insists she take December off. At first, a month away seems crazy--how will the company survive without her? But Everly's mother convinces her otherwise. She deserves a vacation--plus, when she returns, she'll have no excuse to skip family Christmas like she did last year.

But after her vengeful assistant books a guided cruise in the Amazon instead of the luxury beach vacation she expected, Everly is horrified to realize that she's about to spend the next two weeks trapped--with no Wi-Fi!--in the rain forest. Not even Asher Adams, the ship's charming naturalist, can convince Everly that the trip will be unforgettable. Slowly but surely, she realizes he is right: the sights are spectacular. And with each passing day, Everly's relationship with Asher deepens, forcing her to take a long, hard look at her priorities.

Everly and Asher begin to see magic in the possibility of a life together. But as the cruise nears its end, and Everly's family Christmas approaches, both must decide if love is worth the risk. A merry surprise may be in store in Debbie Macomber's newest holiday delight.  

Review:

I haven't read any novels by Debbie Macomber.  I often see the very approachable covers and they look really fun.  So I was really surprised when I read Jingle All The Way, her newest book.  While it does have a sweet romance, it was not at all realistic.  There were also many characters who were two-dimensional, plus there were some extremely racist situations that make this a book I cannot recommend. 

What I Mixed About:

Romance:

It was refreshing to read a romance novel where the characters don't immediately jump into bed together.  I liked that Everly and Asher took the time to get to know each other before they got physical.  I found this very sweet.

However, I thought it was totally unrealistic that they would have such strong feelings for each other after only two weeks on a boat.  They start putting roadblocks in the way of their romance before it really gets going, speaking about how could they go on when they live in such different worlds.  Wouldn't most people just enjoy their limited time and wistfully think about what might have been.  But that wouldn't fit with the romance formula.

What I Didn't Like:

Premise:

I thought the premise, an overworked executive is forced to take a vacation, expecting to go on a luxury cruise when, in fact, she goes on a eco-tour of the Amazon, to be really forced.  It also pushed the narrative that women who have successful careers are really unhappy, and would be more content if they just found a nice guy.  I found this to be truly offensive.

Two-Dimensional Characters:

The characters are not very developed.  There are Everly's sisters, who married young and already have several children.  They are completely content, have no worries, and are not stressed in any way.  Stay-at-home moms have just as much stress as working mothers, it's just that their stresses are different. 

Everly's mother only seems to exist to happily cook for her large family.  She works hard to ensure everyone is happy.  That's fine, but doesn't she have any other interests?  That can't be all there is to this woman.

The other passengers on the cruise are also barely developed.  They all are described as happy retired couples who go on adventure travel experiences with no issues.  No couples bicker or annoy each other.  No people on the ship exhibit any negative traits.  As much as I enjoy traveling, it's not all sunshine and happy people.

Stereotypes:

My biggest issue with this book is that there are some really racist moments during the Amazon adventure portion of the book.  One of the excursions during the cruise is a trip inland to visit an indigenous tribe.  I'm sure this is a thing, but there was no mention of the ethics involved in this.  Things go from bad to worse (in my opinion) when Everly and one of the guides gets lost in the rain forest.  There, they are confronted by a different indigenous group (wielding spears) and the tour guide is tied to a tree.  When this "misunderstanding" is resolved, Everly tries to shake the hand of the "warrior", whereupon they say she has just indicated she wants to marry him.  Really? This is so disrespectful and disappointing that such stereotypes are still being used today.

Rating: 

Release Date:  October 13, 2020

Author:  Debbie Macomber

Publisher:  Ballantine

Genre:  Women's Fiction

Page Length:  272 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format: E-Book

Recommendation:  I really hope her other books are better than this two-dimensional and offensive book.  I cannot recommend this novel.

Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Eli isn’t just a teenage girl — she’s a made-thing the witches created to hunt down ghosts in the human world. Trained to kill with her seven magical blades, Eli is a flawless machine, a deadly assassin. But when an assignment goes wrong, Eli starts to question everything she was taught about both worlds, the Coven, and her tyrannical witch-mother.

Worried that she’ll be unmade for her mistake, Eli gets caught up with a group of human and witch renegades, and is given the most difficult and dangerous task in the worlds: capture the Heart of the Coven. With the help of two humans, one motorcycle, and a girl who smells like the sea, Eli is going to get answers — and earn her freedom.

Review:

I didn't really know what to expect from the description of this book.  But I found the idea of a teen assassin intriguing.  After reading the book, I feel as though I experienced the most exciting vision.  This has a dreamlike quality that reminded me of movies like Pan's Labyrinth in both style and horror.  Add to this a wonderful, non-binary character, and other diverse representation, and you get an imaginative book that was highly entertaining.

What I Liked:

World-building:

Eli travels between two world: The City of Eyes (the world of witches), and The City of Ghosts (Earth).  While the City of Ghosts is mostly like our contemporary world, it also has ghosts.  The City of Eyes is the world of witches, labyrinths, and terrifying creatures.  As most of the action takes place in The City of Eyes, this is the world that is presented most vividly.

I loved the way time and space are not linear in this world.  Eli can be talking to her witch mother in one moment, and then playing hide and seek in The Children's Lair.  It's a place where young witches learn games of trickery and cruelty, waiting for the day they will be admitted to the Coven. 

There are so many unusual places, and creatures that it felt like a nightmarish version of Alice in Wonderland.

Characters:

Eli is such a wonderful character.  While she is strong, she is also vulnerable.  She is constantly worrying if she will be unmade if she makes a mistake. She's actually like a child who worries that her parents' love is conditional on their being who their parents want them to be.  Can she ever be her own person?

Tav is a non-binary human who Eli meets on earth.  For some reason, Tav is able to see ghosts, and maybe even use magic.  This is the first reason Eli is drawn to Tav.  But, Tav is even more complicated than having unusual abilities. They are kind, and have strong friendships and loyalties with others.  Eli yearns for these things too.

Cam is Tav's very likable friend.  I love that this is a fully developed character who is given an interesting story line.  As we get to know Cam, we see a kind and loyal friend who's optimism is much needed.  He's the one in the group who keeps their spirits up, and never gives in to dispair.

Story:

The book is a coming of age story, at least to begin with.  Eli has a lot to prove to her witch mother as she tries to find her place in the City of Eyes.  She is an assassin.  But, when something goes wrong with an assignment, Eli begins to question why she is tasked with killing these ghosts on Earth?

This is where the novel shifts to more of a heist story.  Someone wants the Heart of the Coven.  What is that, and what do they intend to do with it if they get it?  Eli needs to determine each person's motivation and what side she will take.

Diversity:

This book is important because it presents non-binary representation as a normal variation on the human experience.  This is not a book about someone coming to terms with their gender identity.  Tav's gender identity is a given.  I loved this.  Tav is a tough, loyal person who deserves an adventure story!  And this book gives them that, plus an electrifying romance.

Rating:

Release Date:  October 6th, 2020

Author:  Adan Jerreat-Poole 

Publisher:  Dundurn

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Page Length:  320 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-book

Recommendation:  This author is an exciting new voice in YA fantasy.  I highly recommend this book.   

Please note :  I received an advance copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Three Quinns. Three realities. Three Brumes.

The first Brume is a waking nightmare, overrun by literal monsters and cutthroat survivors. For Quinn, who is openly genderqueer, the only silver lining is their friendship with Lia—and the hope that there might still be a safe place somewhere else in the world.

The second Brume is a prison with no bars. Forced to “sort out” their sexuality with other teens at Camp Redemption, Quinn must also figure out why presenting as female has never felt quite right.

The third Brume is a warzone. For Quinn, who presents as male, leading the Resistance against an authoritarian government is hard, since even the Resistance might not accept them if they knew Quinn’s truth.

As Quinn starts to realize that they might be one person alternating among these three worlds and identities, they wonder: Which world is the real one? Or do they all contain some deeper truth?

You can't run from the monster. The monster is you. 

Review:

I have been a fan of this author ever since I read their book, The Cemetery Boys.  I also have followed them on social media, so I am well aware of the personal struggles they've had.  This book is not about the author.  But with it's deep exploration of the main character's gender and sexuality, one can't help but feel this must be a very special project.  It is also a very entertaining book.  With a wildly original premise, this novel had me hooked from the beginning, racing through to find out what will happen at the end.

What I Liked:

Premise:

There are three very different realities with different versions of the same group of characters, In one version, Quinn is a young man who is living in a war zone.  He is the leader of the Resistance.  Quinn may be a leader, but he is sick of war.  He is also at war with himself, trying to decide if he was male or something else.  Another Quinn is female who has been sent to Camp Redemption to "pray the gay" away.  This place is just as awful as one would imagine.  Everything seems just like a place for confused youth.  But underneath there's shaming, beatings, and aversion shock therapy.  In a third version, Quinn is genderfluid.  But they are barely surviving monsters, roving gangs, and a strange fog that encompasses the whole of the town.

Each world is a nightmare.  

Characters:

Quinn, all three of them, is a character who takes care of people.  They are caring, and sees the best in others.  Which is why it is such a blow when someone betrays them.  They really want what anyone wants:  a supportive family, a loving relationships, and friends.  They also don't want to hide who they are.  I really ached for Quinn and their struggles.

Laia is Quinn's love interest in each of the world.  But each world has a very different version of her.  In the war world, and the world with the conversion camp, Laia is Quinn's girlfriend.  In the world of monsters, Laia is Quinn's unrequited love.  In each scenario, Laia is complicated.  She often has her own aganda, and Quinn is not the center of her universe.  But doesn't Quinn deserve more?

Lloyd is completely different in each world.  In the war world, he is Quinn's fiercely loyal friend.  But he wants nothing to do with "f*gs" (sorry, but I do not use that word).  Would Lloyd be so loyal if he knew Quinn was questioning their identity?  At Camp Redemption, Lloyd is definitely a gay man.  He is also strong-minded and will not allow himself to be brainwashed into changing his mind.  In the world of monsters, Lloyd is the brutal leader of a gang who wants Quinn to join.  Each reality has Lloyd as a strong personality, who seems drawn to Quinn. 

Theme:

The theme of this book is about finding your identity and embracing it.  It's about facing your fears of rejection from family, friends, and society.  It's about being brave.  I know several teens and adults who are LGBTQ+.  It takes courage to face a hostile world.  People don't' like what they don't understand.  If you want acceptance, the best place to start is with yourself.  For many who don't have supportive people in their lives, it takes work to love and accept yourself in all your complexity.  This theme made this a very special book.

What I Didn't Like:

War Reality:

I had one small quibble with the book...

While I could accept the reality where there is a raging war with religious fanatics oppressing a resistance, I found the idea that Quinn was the leader of the resistance to be rediculous.  This person is seventeen years old and is running a military operation?  And the leader of the Alliance (the bad guys) is another teenager?  And these people have actual adults following their orders?  I couldn't see any reason for this.  The story would have been more realistic, and just as powerful, if the characters were regular soldiers.  

Trigger Warnings for conversion therapy, and other violence against LGBTQ+ people.

Rating: 

Release Date:  October 6th, 2020

Author:  Z Brewer

Publisher:  Quill Tree Books

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Page Length:  432 Pages

Source:  Edelweiss

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This fantasy is like no other.  With important themes, this is a very special book.

Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel as part of the blog tour to promote this book.  This did not influence the opinions in my review.  I had the option to opt out of the tour if I didn't enjoy the book.

Synopsis:

Bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Unger returns with her best novel yet. Reminiscent of the classic Strangers on a Train, Confessions on the 7:45 is a riveting psychological thriller that begins with a chance encounter on a commuter train and shows why you should never, ever make conversation
with strangers.  

Be careful who you tell your darkest secrets...

Selena Murphy is commuting home from her job in the city when the train stalls out on the tracks. She strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat, and their connection is fast and easy.  The woman introduces herself as Martha and confesses that she's been stuck in an affair with her boss.  Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena's station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again.

But days later, Selena's nanny disappears.

Soon Selena finds her once-perfect life upended. As she is pulled into the mystery of the missing nanny, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, Selena begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she'll discover.

Expertly plotted and reminiscent of the timeless classic Strangers on a Train, Confessions on the 7:45 is a stunning web of lies and deceit, and a gripping thriller about the delicate facades we create around our lives.

Review:

The reason I enjoy Lisa Unger's writing is because she weaves so many truths into her stories that she makes it seem like anyone can become a killer, given the right circumstances.  That is truly terrifying!  Her latest novel, Confessions on the 7:45, has characters we might know: the harried woman juggling a career, children and her marriage, the husband who can placate his wife enough so she won't divorce him, and the mysterious woman who is just a little too friendly.  This was a wonderful book, that I raced through.

What I Liked:

Setting:

The book is set in busy world of a woman trying to keep it all together.  Hers is a world with nannies, working long hours, and having even longer commutes.  Work is everything and an escape from her marriage.  

The book also follows the life of a con artist.  How does she become so good at being so bad?  She moves from city to city as she learns about creating different identities from her mentor, known as Pops.  It's strangely fascinating to see how they target lonely women and con them into giving them money.  It's a life I don't know, but now feel like I might understand. 

Characters:

Selena is such an identifiable character.  She seems to have it all: two children, a loving husband, and an enviable career.  She is very eager to show all the good parts of her life on Instagram.  But is her life really so great?  She works long hours with a soul crushing commute.  Her husband is "between jobs", growing more and more resentful as the months go on.  And she feels immense guilt over not having time to be the mother she wants.  She's too busy to have many friends.  So she is a prime target for Martha, the con artist.

Martha goes by dozens of names depending which con she is working on.  And actually she has many enviable organizational skills.  But she is totally lacking in an morals or empathy.  How did she get this way?  The novel takes us on that journey.  I found it scary and fascinating.

Much as I didn't like him, Graham's charismatic personality made him fascinating to me.  How and why did Selena marry him in the first place?  Little by little we see his true nature.  How is it that a man who truly is an attentive parent also be a terrible husband?

Story:

The story revolves around the disappearance of Selena and Graham's nanny.  There are so many questions.  Is she dead?  Kidnapped?  Did she just get sick of taking care of other's children and voluntarily leave?  No one knows.

But, as the investigation continues, Selena and Graham's marriage is dissected bit by bit, putting even more stress on their marriage.  

Then there's the strange encounter between Selena and Martha, from the train...  Who is she?  As Selena confesses her marital problems to Martha (a total stranger), Martha exits the train with a thought, "Who knows, maybe your problems will just disappear".  Could Martha have something to do with the nanny's disappearance?  Or is she primed to blackmail Selena?

About the Author:

Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of eighteen novels, including CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 (Oct. 2020). With millions of readers worldwide and books published in twenty-six languages, 

Unger is widely regarded as a master of suspense. Her critically acclaimed b

ooks have been voted "Best of the Year" or top picks by the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, Amazon, IndieBound and others. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her
family. 

BUY LINKS:

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Rating: 

Release Date:  October 6th, 2020

Author:  Lisa Unger

Publisher:  Park Row Books

Genre:  Thriller

Page Length:  368 Pages

Source:  Publisher

Format:  Ebook

Recommendation:  This is a riveting reading experience.  If you enjoy thrillers, I would highly recommend this novel.

Please Note:  I received an advance audio copy of this book from Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

This is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers slowly begin opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths.

As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people

Review:

Never has a title of a book been more appropriate for our time.  Anxious People is filled with people with major issues.  And at first, I found these characters more obnoxious than anxious.  But, by the end of the novel, I grew to love each personality.  This is a wonderful, funny book that is a perfect read in these uncertain times.  I loved it.

What I Liked:

Format:

The story is told in police interviews, and character flashbacks.  With each chapter, we learn more and more about each person.  Each point of view adds a new layer to each character.  This makes this book a page-turner as we try to figure out who these people really are.

Characters:

This is a character-driven book.  As the story progresses, characters, who we think we understand, are seen in a new light as more information is revealed.  Take Roger and Analena for example.  I found this couple so annoying at first.  Roger is a typical obnoxious older man who puffs around the real-estate showing.  His wife Analena seems clueless.  But as the story unfolds, you really see the humanity and love in this marriage.  

I also love that several of these people are not meeting randomly.  There are connections that are revealed as the story progresses.  This is fun and explains the motivations of some of the characters.  

For instance, the two policemen aren't just colleagues.  They are father and son.  Their bickering demonstrates what a colossally bad idea working with your children is.  It's impossible for the pair to act professional with each other.  While this may not be realistic, it is quite funny.  

Narrator:  

The narrator, Marin Ireland, does a wonderful job with the many characters in this story.  Most of these people have big personalities and attitude, and Ireland finds ways to show their personalities in her delivery.  From the snotty twenty year-old bank teller, to the jaded banker, each character is a distinct individual.

Story:

The fun of this book is that, aside from all the wonderful characters, this is a mystery.  It begins in the aftermath of a hostage crisis after a failed bank robbery.  But when the hostages are released, the bank robber cannot be found.  Where did he go?  Who was he?  All this is slowly unveiled through the story.

Rating: 

Release Date:  September 8th, 2020

Author:  Fredrik Backman

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction

Narrator:  Marin Ireland

Audio Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Audio

Audio Length:  9 hours, 53 minutes

Print Publisher:  Atria Books

Print Length:  352 Pages

Source:  Libro.fm

Format:  Audiobook

Recommendation:  This was a wonderful, funny novel.  I highly recommend it.