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My name is Ardis and I am an avid reader and budding writer. I want to share my love of books with others. I work with kids and am interested in finding and creating books that will ignite the reader in everyone. Contact me at: ardis.atkins@gmail.com

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I Owe You One
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Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 14, 2022

With Love from Wish & Co. by Minnie Darke



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

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Two boxes, both alike in size and shape . . .

Marnie Fairchild is the brains and talent behind Wish & Co., a boutique store that offers a bespoke gift-buying service to wealthy clients with complicated lives. Brian Charlesworth is Marnie's most prized customer, and today she's wrapping the perfect anniversary gift for his wife, Suzanne . . . and a birthday present for his mistress, Leona. What could possibly go wrong?

For years, Marnie's had her heart set on moving Wish & Co. to the historic shopfront once owned by her grandfather. When the chance to bid for the property unexpectedly arises, Marnie--distracted--makes an uncharacteristic mistake. Soon Brian is in a fight to rescue his marriage, and Marnie is scrabbling to keep her dreams alive. With the situation so complicated, the last thing Marnie needs is to fall for Brian and Suzanne's gorgeous son, Luke. In the end, will it be her head or her heart that wins out?

Review:

I love a good rom-com, and With Love, from Wish & Co., by Minnie Drake, has all the ingredients for a delicious story.  There's the career-driven 30'ish woman and her friends who have all paired up.  There's a hunky furniture builder who still hasn't found true love.  But, I also found lots of unique elements that aren't usually found in this genre.  As much as this is a story about 30-somethings finding love, there is also an older married couple who are trying to come to grips with their marriage.  Along with many happy times, there are difficulties, and betrayals that must be addressed if they want their relationship to continue.  And it's not a simple question of whether or not to forgive.  The author never judges the characters, and this helps to make these people actual humans, with lots of problems.  Each of the characters has their issues, and their charm.  I really enjoyed this novel for it's gift-giving advice, as well as it's romance.  And, even though it seems at first to be following a formula, there were lots of twists and turns that kept this book a real page-turner.  I highly recommend this book.

What I Liked:

Characters:

Marnie is a successful business owner who is always working.  She runs a successful gift-giving service, mostly for wealthy men who don't have the time (and don't want to be bothered) to shop for gifts. She genuinely loves what she does.  But this doesn't leave much time for a social life.  Even when she's off the clock she is doing research by scouring social media for gift giving ideas for her clients.  But she is really driven to prove to her father's family that she is an upstanding, hard-working person.  There's a whole history to this that I don't want to spoil.  But it makes for a compelling motivation on Marnie's part.

Luke is the son of Marnie's most important client, and she has been "buying" gifts for him for years.  When they meet IRL, the sparks fly!  Even though it feels to Marnie that she already knows him, there are parts of his life that he hasn't shared on social media.  He's just found out he has a daughter.  What will his parents think?  Should Luke get to know his daughter, or is it too late?

Suzanne and Brian are Luke's parents and are going through a VERY rough patch.  At first, I would say that Brian is pure evil, but as the story progresses, we begin to see his motivations.  I would not say his character ever became completely likable, but I certainly didn't think him the as the devil incarnate by the end.  Suzanne, far from being the sweet little stay at home mom, has lots of fire left in her.  If Brian wants to stay married to Suzanne, he's going to need to work for it.  

The Art of Gift-Giving:

Since Marnie's business is all about gift-giving, there are many interesting takes on what a good gift is, and how one can go about finding it.  There are many great tips that I intend to try out for myself, as Christmas approaches.  Don't know what someone's interests are?  Look on their Instagram and Facebook accounts to see what they're talking about.  Don't have lots of money?  Create an experience for them that is unforgettable.  I loved this!  

But, all fun aside, I really enjoyed that the author took the time to really make Marnie's business interesting.  You could really see someone having a business like this. Rather than making this just a quirky detail of the character, it actually enriched the story.  


Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  August 16, 2022

Author:  Minne Darke

Publisher:  Dell Books

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Page Length:  416 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This is a fun, romantic book, and I highly recommend it.


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Wednesday, August 25, 2021

ARC Review: Paper & Blood by Kevin Hearne



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

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

There’s only one Al MacBharrais: Though other Scotsmen may have dramatic mustaches and a taste for fancy cocktails, Al also has a unique talent. He’s a master of ink and sigil magic. In his gifted hands, paper and pen can work wondrous spells.

But Al isn’t quite alone: He is part of a global network of sigil agents who use their powers to protect the world from mischievous gods and strange monsters. So when a fellow agent disappears under sinister circumstances in Australia, Al leaves behind the cozy pubs and cafes of Glasgow and travels to the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria to solve the mystery.

The trail to his colleague begins to pile up with bodies at alarming speed, so Al is grateful his friends have come to help—especially Nadia, his accountant who moonlights as a pit fighter. Together with a whisky-loving hobgoblin known as Buck Foi and the ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan, along with his dogs, Oberon and Starbuck, Al and Nadia will face down the wildest wonders Australia—and the supernatural world—can throw at them, and confront a legendary monster not seen in centuries.

Review:
I first became aware of author Kevin Hearne from the Iron Druid novels.  I've read them all, so I was really happy that Hearne decided to keep the party going by starting a whole new series set in the same universe.  Ink & Sigil introduced us to Al MacBharrais, a Sigil Agent .  Since there's only one Druid left on Earth, a Sigil agent does some of the work the druids used to do.  

Although this is definitely still Al's story, Atticus (along with his dogs Oberon and Starbuck) is also in this novel.  Besides this, we learn much more about Al, his hobgoblin sidekick Buck Foi, and several other characters.  This was a a fun novel with plenty of action and humor.  I loved it.

What I Liked:

Cross Over with The Iron Druid:
I really enjoyed The Iron Druid series, so it was a real treat to have Atticus (and his dogs) back in a novel.  We learn much more about how Atticus is doing since losing his arm.  As usual, Atticus does something that has unintended consequences, which the Sigil Agents must deal with.  I liked that Al and Atticus see each other as equals, with each one having their own strengths.  There is also another character from The Iron Druid who makes an appearance.  I won't spoil it for you, but it's really cool to see this person again.

Characters:
We learn much more about Al and his life prior to becoming a Sigil Agent.  Al has had one tragedy after another, and he struggles not to be bitter about all that he has lost.  This all stems from someone putting a curse on Al, years ago.  He doesn't know who did this, or why.  But he's been told the only way to break the curse is to work out whatever problem lead to it, or to kill whoever cursed him.  On the one hand, he doesn't like the idea of killing anyone.  But can he live with himself if he loses Buck to the curse, as well?

We also get a deeper understanding of Atticus, or Conner as he is now knows as.  In the Iron Druid series, Atticus/Conner is very much a one with Nature sort of fellow.  His main job as a Druid is to keep the Earth in balance.  But he often winds up fighting and killing others.  When he loses his arm, he firmly believes that there must be a way to get it back.  After all, what's the use of having all that magical power if he can't magically regain a lost limb?  This story has him rethinking that plan.

We also learn more about some supporting characters who I can see will play bigger roles in upcoming books.  There's Nadia, who seems to have a lot of power for someone who's an accountant, and Gladys who's-seen-some-shite, Al's receptionist. Why does everyone know who Gladys is?  And why are they being so differential to her?  I know once you learn more about these people you will be eager to have them featured prominently in the next novel.

Story:
There are several Sigil Agents strewn about the world.  When several of them go missing, it's up to Al and Buck to discover what happened and put things to right again.  And where do the pari go to fix this mess?  Australia!  It's a really smart move for the author to change the scenery a bit with this next book.  There's plenty about Australia, with its vast landscapes and wonderful people, to make this a great setting for an adventure.  


Al and Buck must discover what has killed several hikers in a National Park, and if it will lead them to the other missing Sigil Agents.  This almost becomes something of a video game, where the group must avoid obstacles and traps, as they encounter a variety of monsters.  The traps become more elaborate as the story continues.  All of which will lead to a final showdown with a "Big Boss" type of villain at the end.


Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Release Date:  August 10th, 2021

Author:  Kevin Hearne

Publisher: Del Rey Books

Genre:  Contemporary Fantasy

Page Length:  304 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This was an adventure with many fantastic creatures.  Lots of laughs along the way ensures the story doesn't take itself too seriously.  
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Thursday, March 5, 2020

ARC Review: Lost Autumn by Mary-Rose MacColl

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46724292-lost-autumn
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):
Australia, 1920. Seventeen-year-old Maddie Bright embarks on the voyage of a lifetime when she's chosen to serve on the cross-continent tour of His Royal Highness, the dashing Edward, Prince of Wales. Life on the royal train is luxurious beyond her dreams, and the glamorous, good-hearted friends she makes--with their romantic histories and rivalries--crack open her world. But glamour often hides all manner of sins.

Decades later, Maddie lives in a ramshackle house in Brisbane, whiling away the days with television news and her devoted, if drunken, next door neighbor. When a London journalist struggling with her own romantic entanglements begins asking Maddie questions about her relationship to the famous and reclusive author M.A. Bright, she's taken back to the glamorous days of the royal tour--and to the secrets she's kept for all of these years.

Review:
The magic of historical fiction is that it can take you to a time you never would have been able to experience first-hand.  Lost Autumn, by Mary-Rose MacColl, delves into three time periods:  1920, 1981, and 1997.  The drama that was Charles & Diana comes alive in this novel (I remember it well!).  But I was most struck by how vividly the book shows just how different life was in 1920.  This was such a compelling story I actually had to look up to see if M.A. Bright was a real person (sadly, no).  I was completely engrossed.
What I Liked:

Settings:
There are three distinct time periods in the book with the author finding the emotions in each moment.  While the main story happenes in 1920, 1981 shows us the beginnings of the Charles & Diana saga.  As someone who lived through that time, I can tell you that their marriage was a world-wide obsession!  When Diana tragically dies in 1997, it overshadows world events for weeks, as the spectacle of her funeral transpires.  I can well imagine the excitement of a Royal Visit in 1920 Australia must have produced.  The novel puts you right in the emotions of the times.

Historical Details:
The historical details are most on display when the story is in 1920.  One can tell the author did meticulous research on the exact itinerary of the Royal visit of the Prince of Wales, and all the protocols that were followed.    She also captures the mood of the country during this time.  This was just after the end of WWI, and the Spanish Flu epidemic.  People had not really recovered.  When the Royal Family sends Prince Edward, people desperately wanted him to truly see them.  And he did.  He really did listen to as many people as possible tell him about their lives, and losses.  It helped heal some of their grief. 

 Characters:
Maddie was the heart of the story as she is present in all three time periods.  We see her at various stages of her life, from young and naive, to old and somewhat bitter.  And the story shows us why this occurred.  I loved her at every stage.  

 Helen was also a wonderful character.  I loved seeing her friendship with Maddie grow.  She has already had some big disappointments in life, yet she is willing to find ways to carry on.

 Prince Edward (David), was a picture of contradictions.  He was so caring and kind to the many people he met, yet also a petulant child when he didn't get his way.  And his treatment of women...  As we are learning more and more, those we idolize often fall far from our imaginations when it comes to ethics, and morals.

Story:
I enjoyed the structure of the story and how all three time periods finally fit together at the end of the book.  I also liked how the narrator drops little hints as to what will happen.  It compelled me to want to find out how these little mysteries were resolved. 

Trigger Warning for Sexual Assault!
Rating: 




Release Date:  March 3rd, 2020

Author:  Mary-Rose MacColl

Publisher:  G.P. Putman's Sons

 Genre:  Historical Fiction

Page Length:  416 Pages

Source:  Edelweiss

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation: With vivid historical details, this is a story you won't want to put down!
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Tuesday, May 30, 2017

ARC Review: Words In Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Please Note:  I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from Penguin Random House's First In Line program in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinion of my review in any way.

Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book in his family’s bookshop. She waited. But Henry never came.

Now Rachel has returned to the city—and to the bookshop—to work alongside the boy she’d rather not see, if at all possible, for the rest of her life. But Rachel needs the distraction. Her brother drowned months ago, and she can’t feel anything anymore.

As Henry and Rachel work side by side—surrounded by books, watching love stories unfold, exchanging letters between the pages—they find hope in each other. Because life may be uncontrollable, even unbearable sometimes. But it’s possible that words, and love, and second chances are enough.  

 Review:
One of the happy daydreams I have is winning the lottery and having a bookshop of my very own.  It would have a combination of new and used books, and be a place where people could sit for hours, reading and having daydreams of their own.  There would be comfy couches and reading nooks, and people would gather there to talk about books.

Words In Deep Blue, by Cath Crowley, has just such a bookshop in the story.   I love novels about people with a deep love of reading and this book was filled with characters talking about books.  It was beautifully written, and now my head is filled with books I need to find, read, and treasure.
What I Liked:
Setting:
The story takes place in small town in Australia.  It's the kind of town where main character Henry is sure to see all the teens he just graduated with.  He is happiest at his family's second-hand bookshop, Howling Books.  This is the kind of bookshop where people sit and read (or sleep), and stay to play scrabble, or meet with their book club.  There is even a special library where favorite books are kept and people can write in the margins, underline their favorite passages, and leave notes for others.  Many of the characters in this books communicate with each other in this charming way.

 I also liked the descriptions of the club scene where the teens hang out.  I was a little confused, at first, that everyone was getting into clubs and drinking when they had only just graduated from high school.  But the drinking age in Australia must be eighteen (not twenty-one as it is in the U.S.).  But I can see that after school is over, going to clubs is one of the only ways to see one's friends.

 Characters:
Rachel and Henry were best friends until she moved away three years ago.  I love how well read all the characters are (believable, considering Henry's family), and how they talk with each other through books and poetry.  

I also like Henry's father and mother.  They are divorced and I thought were presented in a very realistic manner.  Sometimes they could get along with each other, but sometimes they fought, too.  I appreciate that they aren't missing in action.  While they are not the main focus of the book, they are present enough to remind you that Henry's family is important to him.

 I also liked that Henry has other good female friends other than Rachel.  Sometimes I get a little tired of the "best friends who actually are in love with each other" trope.  But having Henry have other close female friends helps make the situation more plausible.  

Each secondary character is fully developed with issues of their own.  This helps create that wonderful small town feeling that is present in this book.

 Books:
In the introduction to this advanced reader's copy, the editor says the reader will want to underline words and highlight sections.  I really did find myself doing just that.  There were also several books mentioned in the story that I now must read!  The meanings in books, and what books mean to us, are vital aspects of this novel.

 Letters between characters:
One of lovely parts of the book is how many of the characters interact with each other through writing letters and leaving them to be found in books.  This was so wonderful that I want to start leaving letters to my husband and see how long it takes him to find them!  This is such a smart way to show another aspect of the characters.  By showing how they write, it gives us a deeper glimpse into each personality.
What I Was Mixed About:
Tropes:
As I said, there are so many YA books where two characters are best friends but secretly love each other, that when I first saw this, I was weary.  I was also skeptical about one of the characters having a dead sibling.  But as the book progressed, I was pleasantly surprised by how fresh the author made these situations.  Each of these devices serves a purpose in this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31952703-words-in-deep-blue?ac=1&from_search=true
 
https://www.amazon.com/Words-Deep-Blue-Cath-Crowley-ebook/dp/B01M58UOL2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496125224&sr=8-1&keywords=words+in+deep+blue

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/words-in-deep-blue-cath-crowley/1124807237?ean=9781101937648

https://www.bookdepository.com/Words-in-Deep-Blue-Cath-Crowley/9781524764456?ref=grid-view&qid=1496125320284&sr=1-1



Rating: 




Release Date:  June 6th, 2017

 Genre:  YA fiction

 Source:  Penguin Random House's First In Line Program

 Format:  Paperback book

 Recommendation:  With the adorable bookshop, well-developed secondary characters, and deftly crafted story, this book will make you want find a quiet corner to write a love letter and hide it in your favorite novel.
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