The Women by. Kristin Hannah | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Women

Author: Kristin Hannah

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 480

Publication Date: 2/6/24

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Categories: Historical Fiction, Vietnam, War, Feminism, Adult

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah’s The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over- whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

Content Warning: violence, war, gruesome injuries, death, misogyny, drug use, cheating, PTSD

+ This is Kristin Hannah and she always blows me away. I love her research, I love how she writes historical fiction and the stories are not pretty. It’s real, it’s raw, and her characters go through trauma but I go on the journey with them – I stay with them and root for them to make it. In this book, she takes us to Vietnam. I was riveted from the moment I started the book and I finished it in one sitting even if it took me past midnight and made me sleep at 1am (which is rare for a book to do to me these days). It’s just really good storytelling and you know she took her time with this book.

+ Frances “Frankie” McGrath is a powerful character and I don’t mean that she is perfect. It’s 1966 and a women’s role in life is still to stay at home and take care of her husband and have kids. Frankie comes from a sheltered, affluent home, is getting a degree in Nursing but her brother gets sent to Vietnam and never comes home. She leaves behind her comfort zone, takes all her sheltered naivety to a foreign country to become a hero and her eyes gets blown wide open to to the horrors of war. And just when she’s found herself and what’s she’s good at – she comes home to a country that despises her for her service. She has a lot to overcome and it’s a journey that made me cry at the end.

+ This book is called The Women and Frankie is not the only woman in this book. She meets two others in Vietnam who become her best friends for life, Barb and Ethel. These three women kept one another alive – kept each other going in Vietnam and after they come home. This is a friendship that saves Frankie and a friendship that didn’t sugarcoat anything because they saw the worst of humanity together and survived. I love that all of them have a different path after Vietnam but they are there for one another no matter what. Another woman who has what doesn’t seem like a powerful role, is Frankie’s mother – but she grew up in a generation where women were told to shut up and not get involved. We see her try her best and that’s all some women could do back then.

+ Vietnam. This author takes us to Vietnam and I felt like I was there with Frankie. There is one crazy scene where Frankie gets moved to another mobile hospital but near enemy territory and heavy fighting just made me panic with her. It made me appreciate the mental strength that these men and women who served had to endure in what was literal hell. In a war that was a lost. When Frankie leaves Vietnam and comes back home she isn’t celebrated as a hero like WWII vets were – she was spat on. No one was proud of her, no one wanted to hear that she was there. We see her PTSD heighten when she comes back home but there is no help available to her because people claim there were no women in Vietnam – because the government was saying so in the media. No women! To almost give her life serving and then coming back home to be told she wasn’t there?! Oh my rage…the story touches on other issues going on in the USA at the time like the war protests, the Black Panther movement, race issues, gender issues and lack of trust in the government.

~ I said Frankie wasn’t perfect and her weakness was that she was alone and longed for comfort and sadly her pick of guys wasn’t the best. But that only makes her human. So as much as I was rooting for the romance in this book – this is not that kind of story, it’s about more than that even though the men she did encounter in her story did shape her in one way or another.

My Thoughts:

It’s another 5 star Kristin Hannah book for me – she never disappoints me because she can grab my attention and heart. This story teaches you something, and it reminds you that women were there in Vietnam, and that the men and women came back broken. There was hardly any help for them and our Vets deserve more than that. It’s heartbreaking, it’s brutal, it’s gripping, and I wish I could post quotes from the book but I won’t because it’s an arc. I can’t wait to read her next book.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Four Winds | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I’ve actually read a lot of Kristin Hannah books but never wrote a full review for them since I read them before creating this blog. I did leave star reviews on Goodreads for them though so this is what I rated them:

Firefly Lane ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

True Colors ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Winter Garden ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Night Road ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Home Front ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Nightingale ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What the River Knows by. Isabel Ibañez | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: What the River Knows

Author: Isabel Ibañez

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 10/31/23

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Historical Fantasy, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Series, Young Adult, Adventure, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Wednesday Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Content Warning: violence, alcohol use, kidnapping, profanity

This book has a little bit of everything and I read it in one sitting. It’s quite an adventure and takes the reader from Argentina to Egypt! Inez gets news that her parents are dead, thing is she barely saw her parents. They left her in Argentina and spent half of the year in Egypt without her – that already made me suspicious, because who could leave their child for that long is they didn’t have to? Inez wants the truth and she travels to Egypt to find it.

Inez is a stubborn character or as she puts it, “persistent”. She is also beautiful, resourceful, and very brave! When she gets to Egypt her guardian, her uncle, wants her back on a ship to Argentina but she does an amazing job evading his order. Whit, is her uncle’s right hand man, or that’s what it seems and he’s been entrusted to take care of Inez and get her on that ship but he realizes right away that Inez doesn’t follow orders. I love their banter, their antics and their growing romance. But we still don’t know everything about Whit – as evident with the cliffhanger ending!

The writing sucked me into this adventure. I was transported to late 1800’s Egypt when Britain occupied the country and basically loots Egypt. I loved the history and I also loved the magical realism. I could totally believe magic imprinted itself on ancient items and people that touch them can transfer the magic to them! But not only is there history, magic, archaeology, and romance in this story, there is also a mystery to solve – what happened to Inez’s parents? Who can Inez trust?

The only thing about the book that I had the tiniest issue with was the mystery (because mysteries feel so slow to me-it’s a personal thing!), I just wanted some parts to move faster but I know it was to build a situation full of intrigue and question the motives of some characters, which the book succeeded in doing. I would have liked more magic too!

This is an amazing story with some twists and a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read book two.

Tropes: rivals to lovers

Why you should read it:

it’s got adventure, history, magic, mystery, intrigue, romance
I love the banter between Inez and Whit, she is not one to back down, which I love

Why you might not want to read it:

not into archaeology, Egyptology

My Thoughts:

This book was quite the adventure! I was swept away in the details, the magic, the story of Cleopatra, the sights of Egypt, the mystery and intrigue. I love the banter between Inez and Whit and can’t wait to see what’s in store for them in book two after that cliffhanger ending.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Vampires of El Norte by. Isabel Cañas | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Vampires of El Norte

Author: Isabel Cañas

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 371

Publication Date: 8/15/23

Categories: Historical Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Adult Fiction, Romance

Vampires and vaqueros face off on the Texas-Mexico border in this supernatural western from the author of The Hacienda.

As the daughter of a rancher in 1840s Mexico, Nena knows a thing or two about monsters—her home has long been threatened by tensions with Anglo settlers from the north. But something more sinister lurks near the ranch at night, something that drains men of their blood and leaves them for dead.

Something that once attacked Nena nine years ago.

Believing Nena dead, Néstor has been on the run from his grief ever since, moving from ranch to ranch working as a vaquero. But no amount of drink can dispel the night terrors of sharp teeth; no woman can erase his childhood sweetheart from his mind.

When the United States attacks Mexico in 1846, the two are brought abruptly together on the road to war: Nena as a curandera, a healer striving to prove her worth to her father so that he does not marry her off to a stranger, and Néstor as a member of the auxiliary cavalry of ranchers and vaqueros. But the shock of their reunion—and Nena’s rage at Néstor for seemingly abandoning her long ago—is quickly overshadowed by the appearance of a nightmare made flesh.

And unless Nena and Néstor work through their past and face the future together, neither will survive to see the dawn.

Content Warning: violence

I loved this author’s book The Hacienda so I was excited to read Vampires of El Norte and I was not disappointed. I love how this author blends historical fiction and gothic horror together. Her writing is beautiful and I just get so swept away in the story.

There are many things I love about this book. I mentioned the writing, which only makes me want to read more of her work. But I love the historical aspects of the story. This takes place in 1837 and at the border of what is Texas and Mexico. The Yanquis (yankees) are trying to take land from the Mexicans that already own land there. So there is a war between them and the yankees are also described as vampires as well. I was expecting vampires (the kind with fangs) and horror, but I can say that this wasn’t scary at all. I love the setting of the ranchero and how I never realized how creepy and isolated a ranch could be. I also love Abuela’s ghost stories that she tells the children. I could envision a dark ranch, lands for miles, and pitch dark nights as Abuela told her stories. If I was a kid living there, I’d be terrified of the night! And there are vampires but I like the different take on them, where they don’t necessarily kill but can leave a person in susto – a shock to their aura – almost like they are spiritually dead but can be revived by calling them back, calling their spirit forth. I thought that was really fascinating! They do have the fangs in this story and there were some gruesome scenes but not anything that scared me.

Another thing I loved was the romance between Nestor and Nena. They are childhood sweethearts, torn apart by an incident that left both of them broken hearted and now they have a second chance at romance. I love their story and how they have to learn to trust and fight for one another.

I would have liked a little more horror factor to the story just to get some chills and thrills but even without it, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

My Final Thoughts:

I think this author is about to be put on my must-read list! I love her writing and the historical fiction aspect of her stories which I feel makes her books so exciting to read. I do think this one was more historical romance than historical gothic horror but I was entertaining regardless and look forward to her next book!

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Hacienda by. Isabel Cañas | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Blood Years by. Elana K. Arnold | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Blood Years

Author: Elana K. Arnold

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 400

Publication Date: 10/10/23

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Categories: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romania, WWII

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Balzer + Bray for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

From Michael L. Printz honoree & National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold comes the harrowing story of a young girl’s struggle to survive the Holocaust in Romania.

Frederieke Teitler and her older sister, Astra, live in a house, in a city, in a world divided. Their father ran out on them when Rieke was only six, leaving their mother a wreck and their grandfather as their only stable family. He’s done his best to provide for them and shield them from antisemitism, but now, seven years later, being a Jew has become increasingly dangerous, even in their beloved home of Czernowitz, long considered a safe haven for Jewish people. And when Astra falls in love and starts pulling away from her, Rieke wonders if there’s anything in her life she can count on—and, if so, if she has the power to hold on to it.

Then—war breaks out in Europe. First the Russians, then the Germans, invade Czernowitz. Almost overnight, Rieke and Astra’s world changes, and every day becomes a struggle: to keep their grandfather’s business, to keep their home, to keep their lives. Rieke has long known that she exists in a world defined by those who have power and those who do not, and as those powers close in around her, she must decide whether holding on to her life might mean letting go of everything that has ever mattered to her—and if that’s a choice she will even have the chance to make.

Based on the true experiences of her grandmother’s childhood in Holocaust-era Romania, award-winning author Elana K. Arnold weaves an unforgettable tale of love and loss in the darkest days of the twentieth century—and one young woman’s will to survive them.

Content Warning: sexual assault, rape, violence, death

Frederieke (Rieke) and Astra are sisters and they are growing up in a Romania before and during World War II. The story is being told by Rieke, who has a neglectful and always heartbroken mother, an older sister who is prone to getting and doing what she wants, and her Opa – the grandfather that loves them all and does everything in his power to keep them alive and happy. We see her go from a young girl and then grow into a young woman during trouble times.

I’ve read various historical fiction about WWII and the Holocaust and each time I learn something new. This story is set in Romania and I learned so much about the history with the Romanian government and their stance on Jews, and then the Russians and then the Nazis coming through to ravage their country. I felt Rieke’s confusion seeing her homeland torn apart and her countrymen hating on her and her loved ones because they are Jewish. I felt her fears and her will to survive and sometimes her will to maybe give up. I felt like she was soft like her loving and doting grandfather. Bless his heart for taking care of these girls no matter what they were going through. I loved his character so much. And though Astra came off mean and bold – she was vibrant and wore her anger on her sleeve and I admired her for that too. I love the complicated, messy family dynamic they had but under it all – the hurt, the pain, the fighting – there was always love.

I’m glad stories like these are being told because we cannot forget what happened. This is a powerful story, with very ugly things happening around Rieke and to her as well. I felt like I was there with her and to think the author wrote it inspired by her own grandma’s story is really amazing. It’s a wonderfully written book which broke my heart many times but I love that it ended with hope.

My Thoughts:

I loved this book and it’s so powerful and impactful. I love that it’s a story set in Romania and that I learned so much about what was happening there before and during WWII. I think the fact that this was based on the author’s grandmother’s life makes it beautiful and heartbreaking.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Night of the Witch by. Sara Raasch and Beth Revis | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Night of the Witch (#1)

Author: Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 10/3/23

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Categories: Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, New Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Witches, Witch Hunters, Series

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A witch and a hunter. Vengeance is their mission. Love is their destiny.

Fritzi is a witch. A survivor of a brutal attack on her coven, she’s determined to find her only surviving family member and bring the hexenjägers—zealot witch hunters—to justice for the lives they ended. To do this, she will need to take down their leader—Kommandant Dieter Kirch.

Otto is a hexenjäger and a captain, the second in command to Dieter Kirch—but that’s just his cover. Years ago, the hexenjagers burned his innocent mother alive and since then, he has been planning a move against the witch hunters that tore his family apart. And now the time has come for them to pay for what they’ve done.

When Fritzi and Otto are unexpectedly thrown together, neither is sure they can trust the other, despite their common enemy. But all they have is one another, and they both crave revenge. As truths come to light and trust shifts, Fritzi and Otto uncover a far more horrifying plot at the center of the hexenjäger attacks . . . but their own growing feelings for each other may be the most powerful magic of all.

Content Warning: violence, burning at the stake, oppression

I love this book cover and I like how the story started off with jägers (witch hunters) destroying a coven of witches belonging to Fritzi and her family. She and her cousin are the only survivors. Otto is a kapitan, a high ranking jäger who hasn’t yet lit a pyre of witches but his time is coming to prove himself. The story definitely throws you right into the conflict.

Of course Otto is not who he seems and instead he is trying to help the witches, but he has to convince Fritzi of his plan. I really liked the setting and history about this town in Germany which had Roman rule for awhile and is deeply Catholic. The historical note even indicates that the Trier witch trials in 1581 Germany are real and lasted about 12 years! I liked that I learned something new. In the story, these jägers are brutal and witch hunting and burning/killing as many witches as they can find. There is a twist in the story that I wasn’t expecting but it made the villain much more villainous. It’s been awhile since I’ve hated a character for being evil and Dieter takes the cake. He is a vile character. But it becomes a fight between the witches versus Dieter and his jägers.

The romance between Fritzi and Otto happens quick! To think Fritzi hated him on the first day she met him but by day two she’s wildly attracted to him and it’s basically insta-love from then on out. They have some steamy scenes together but it’s fairly quick, not very detailed and fade to black.

It was a very quick, fast-paced read. I think some parts were rushed, like the romance and I would have loved if there were more magic in it. There are some spells that Fritzi does but I wish there was more. I did love that the Three: Maiden, Mother and Crone were involved in the story.

Tropes: insta-love, enemies to lovers, witch and witch hunter falling in love

Why you should read it:

witches and witch hunters
a good twist in the story that I wasn’t expecting
quick read and some good historical world-building

Why you might not want to read it:

insta-love, and story feels a bit rushed

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this story because it was quick and had some historical notes that I found very fascinating. There is the typical witch and witch hunter falling for one another trope but it was a bit too insta-love for me. I think the villain was written very well though, since I grew to really dislike him! I wish there was more magic and spells but overall this was a fairly entertaining read.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Foul Heart Huntsman by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Foul Heart Huntsman (Foul Lady Fortune, #2)

Author: Chloe Gong

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 560

Publication Date: 9/26/23

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Categories: Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Series

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rosalind Lang has suffered the worst possible fate for a national spy: she’s been exposed. With the media storm camped outside her apartment for the infamous Lady Fortune, she’s barely left her bedroom in weeks, plotting her next course of action after Orion was taken and his memories of Rosalind wiped. Though their marriage might have been a sham, his absence hurts her more than any physical wound. She won’t rest until she gets him back.

But with her identity in the open, the task is near impossible. The only way to leave the city and rescue Orion is under the guise of a national tour. It’s easy to convince her superiors that the countryside needs unity more than ever, and who better than an immortal girl to stir pride and strength into the people?

When the tour goes wrong, however, everything Rosalind once knew is thrown up in the air. Taking refuge outside Shanghai, old ghosts come into the open and adversaries turn to allies. To save Orion, they must find a cure to his mother’s traitorous invention and take this dangerous chemical weapon away from impending foreign invasion—but the clock is ticking, and if Rosalind fails, it’s not only Orion she loses, but her nation itself.

Content Warning: violence, medical experiments

Here we are back in Shanghai on the edge of turmoil! And can I say I love the book covers of ALL her books. I have to admit it took me about 10% into the book to get situated again in this world, and I was confusing Oliver for Orion and vice versa. THEN I got my bearings, and it was smooth sailing from then on out. I think it’s easy to get confused because there are a few romantic couples in this series. We have Rosalind/Orion, Celia/Oliver, and the one that’s not fully established yet, Phoebe/Silas. So, I was trying to keep them organized in my head. Is Alisa ever going to meet someone?

If you like spies and assassins , with some historical fiction happening in the background (Japan is threatening to invade Shanghai) then you will love this series. It’s got action, mysterious players, covert operations, sinister medical experiments, exciting get-aways and romance. There are also some surprises which I loved.

As for the romance, I love Rosalind and Orion who are too funny and cute with one another. There is actually a lot of love in this book between them and then the love struggles going on with the other couples. I feel like Celia and Oliver are okay but the other one I thought was a good development was between Phoebe and Silas. But I wanted more for them. I honestly didn’t realize this was a duology while reading it and felt like a third book could have happened just for Phoebe and Silas, but I think the story was tied up nicely. I still think this series could continue with another duology maybe for Alisa? And I love the found family between all of them.

Tropes: found family

Why you should read it:

you love this series (These Violent Delights) and enjoyed Foul Lady Fortune
lots of action
lots of romance during all the tension and chaos in the city

Why you might not want to read it:

not into the series

My Thoughts:

Even though it took me a little while to get my bearings in the story, I locked in and enjoy the ride that is a Chloe Gong book! I think I’m starting to get used to the wild finishes of her books – it’s exciting and makes me want to read the next book from her. I love Rosalind and Orion’s romance, they can be so silly together which was fun. And I love the themes of family and friendship in the book. Great conclusion to this duology and I hope Alisa gets her own duology too.

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Immortal Longings by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Foul Lady Fortune by. Chloe Gong | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our Violent Ends by. Chloe Gong | Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

These Violent Delights | ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by. Zoulfa Katouh | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

Author: Zoulfa Katouh

Format: ebook (borrowed)

Pages: 417

Publication Date: 9/13/22

Categories: Fiction, War, Young Adult, Romance, Historical Fiction

Salama Kassab was a pharmacy student when the cries for freedom broke out in Syria. She still had her parents and her big brother; she still had her home. She had a normal teenager’s life.

Now Salama volunteers at a hospital in Homs, helping the wounded who flood through the doors daily. Secretly, though, she is desperate to find a way out of her beloved country before her sister-in-law, Layla, gives birth. So desperate, that she has manifested a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion, Khawf, who haunts her every move in an effort to keep her safe.

But even with Khawf pressing her to leave, Salama is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Salama must contend with bullets and bombs, military assaults, and her shifting sense of morality before she might finally breathe free. And when she crosses paths with the boy she was supposed to meet one fateful day, she starts to doubt her resolve in leaving home at all.

Soon, Salama must learn to see the events around her for what they truly are—not a war, but a revolution—and decide how she, too, will cry for Syria’s freedom.

Content Warning: violence, medical horror, PTSD, war trauma, attempted rape, bloodshed, bombing, drowning, death

This book gutted me.

I absolutely love the cover and the titles because I have a love for lemons but wow was this book eye-opening, raw, bittersweet, sentimental, and yet still filled with love and hope despite such a heavy topic such as war.

Salama is living a horrific life where as a pharmacist she’s doing the job of a doctor or surgeon on the fly. Her dad and brother were imprisoned or are dead, her mother is dead and her sister-in-law is the only one she really has. That at her imaginary conscience who’s name is Khawf. At times he felt like a villain but in reality, his horrofic warnings saved her life many times. Salama is trying to survive in war-torn Syria who is being pulled apart by the dictatorship and the freedom fighters. It is a revolution, but with change comes so much pain and blood.

There is a lot of blood in this book. A lot of children drying, homes being bombed, horrific injuries, despair, hunger, trauma and Salama tries her hardest to help and make a difference until it’s time to make a decision to leave her beloved Syria so she can survive. So she can stay alive. But along the way she meets Kenan, who in another time, could have been the man of her dreams. But it’s in this violent time, they grasp at hope and even give love a chance.

I was hooked on this story from beginning to end and was rooting for Salama until the end.

My Final Thoughts:

I remember the Arab spring and seeing what was happening in Syria on the news but reading this book places you there in the middle of all the horrific things that was happening then. And it’s an important story to share to the world. Salama goes through so much trauma and didn’t even have time to grieve the life she lost, the family and friends she lost, the parts of her self that was lost. The happy ending was bittersweet but that’s what I cherished about this book, that in the midst of it all there was hope and love still there and waiting for a chance. Salama gets the chance and finally grabs and holds on to it, she never gives up even though she was given multiple chance to do so.

Book Links:

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The Davenports by. Krystal Marquis | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: The Davenports (#1)

Author: Krystal Marquis

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 1/31/23

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction

In 1910, the Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in a changing United States, their fortune made through the entrepreneurship of William Davenport, a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Now the Davenports live surrounded by servants, crystal chandeliers, and endless parties, finding their way and finding love—even where they’re not supposed to.

There is Olivia, the beautiful elder Davenport daughter, ready to do her duty by getting married. . . until she meets the charismatic civil rights leader Washington DeWight and sparks fly. The younger daughter, Helen, is more interested in fixing cars than falling in love—unless it’s with her sister’s suitor. Amy-Rose, the childhood friend turned maid to the Davenport sisters, dreams of opening her own business—and marrying the one man she could never be with, Olivia and Helen’s brother, John. But Olivia’s best friend, Ruby, also has her sights set on John Davenport, though she can’t seem to keep his interest . . . until family pressure has her scheming to win his heart, just as someone else wins hers.

The first book in a breathless new series, The Davenports offers a glimpse into a period of African American history often overlooked, while delivering a totally escapist, swoon-worthy read. Inspired by the real-life story of C.R. Patterson and his family, it’s the tale of four determined and passionate young Black women discovering the courage to steer their own path in life—and love.

Content Warning: racism

The synopsis for this book sounded intriguing because my first love is historical romance and being a reader of the genre for many years (not so much now), it always came with a Caucasian cast of characters. So I love that the Davenports are a wealthy Black family in America. This book is set in the 1910 so I could imagine all the outfits and the lavish parties of that time period and the author did a great job at that. The author also did a great job of showing us what Black people were experiencing at that time, in the early 1900’s when there was a community of successful and wealthy Black people. There is more about her inspiration for her story in the author’s notes at the end of the book.

As for the story, I was into it until 25% in and then it wasn’t holding my attention I think because it was told with four POVs and I was bored even though 4 POVs should at least have given me one POV to really root for. The chapters are quick but I felt like I’d have been more engaged if maybe it was Olivia and Helen’s POV since the book focuses a lot on their family. All four young women have relationship dramas to deal with. Olivia and Ruby are best friends and the eldest daughters, so their role is to marry a man with wealth, and status. Helen is the younger sister to Olivia and she has dreams of running her father’s company but according to him, that’s not happening. And Amy-Rose is a servant and daughter of a slave owner, so her romance with John (Olivia’s brother) is almost doomed from the start. She has no wealth or status. And things play out predictably with everyone falling for who they shouldn’t and not everyone having who they wanted.

The story being predictable is not a problem since I love that about romance. But this one was missing something. Nothing was standing out for me. I liked Helen and Ruby the most because they had vibrant personalities, but I do think it was just too many POVs for me. And they were all going through similar romance drama. It took me 3 weeks to read this book, and usually I DNF after one week but I pushed through. I had to skim some parts though. If each girl had gotten their own book, maybe it would have worked out better for me.

Why you should read it:

affluent, wealthy Black families in the 1900’s set in Chicago, American history
4 romances taking place

Why you might not want to read it:

4 romances taking place – for me it was a bit too much
this was almost a DNF for me because it wasn’t holding my attention

My Thoughts:

I wish I had connected to this one more but I honestly can’t say if it’s the story that didn’t hold my attention or the fact that I seldom read historical romances anymore and just wasn’t in the mood. What I did enjoy was learning about prominent Black families in the early 1900’s and seeing them thrive and have success in politics and business. As for the romances, I wish there were less POVs. I don’t think I’ll be reading the sequel but I think if you like historical romances you will enjoy this one.

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Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by. Heather Fawcett | Audiobook Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries (#1)

Author: Heather Fawcett

Narrators: Ell Potter, Michael Dodds

Format: audiobook (borrowed)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 1/10/23

Categories: Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Romance, Fae

A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love, in this heartwarming and enchanting fantasy.

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.

Content Warning: violence

I finally got to finish this book by listening to it as an audiobook. I actually enjoyed reading it but I felt like it was going slowly and not in a bad way. I think because it’s such a cozy, slow moving story which I don’t usually like and I was getting bored reading, but not bored with the story. I just felt like if someone read it to me, it would hold my attention more and it sure did. The narrators are fantastic in this audiobook and definitely sounds like how I imagined Emily Wilde to sound like.

I found her interactions with Wendell so funny because they are such opposites. She’s driven, stubborn, headstrong and ambitious to complete this Encyclopedia of Fairies and Wendell is not. But Emily gets into some situations that become dangerous and she realizes she needs help.

The romance between Emily and Wendell is a slow burn and I thought it was cute when they both finally acknowledge their feelings for one another.

I do feel like there was more action in the end of the book so I enjoyed the second half much more than the first.

Tropes: slow burn

Why you should read it:

great narration
Emily’s investigations and researching of the Faerie world
Emily and Wendell’s slow burn

Why you might not want to read it:

might be too slow and boring for people not into cozy reads

My Thoughts:

I actually enjoyed this one more as it was read to be through an audiobook. I actually got 20% into the ebook before I put it down because it was too slow, even though I enjoyed Emily and her adventures learning about the fae. I had a feeling it would work out better for me as an audiobook and I was right. The narrators did a fantastic job and I was much more engaged in the story and even finished it. I adored Emily and Wendell together. I’m not sure if I’ll be reading the sequel but if I am in the mood for a cozy read, then I’ll pick it up.

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Book Review: Even The Darkest Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Review: All The Wandering Light (Even The Darkest Stars Book 2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bellegarde by. Jamie Lilac | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Bellegarde

Author: Jamie Lilac

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 7/11/23

Publisher: Harperteen

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Coming of Age, Retelling, Historical Fiction

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Harperteen for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ooh la la! A historical rom-com with a modern twist — perfect for fans of Bridgerton, A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, and She’s All That.

Evie Clement has perfected the art of avoiding attention as she works at her family’s bakery and dreams of a life where she can trade dusting flour for designing dresses. Her focus is on honing her sewing skills–she doesn’t need to be fawned over by some teenage boy.

Least of all Beau Bellegarde–the playboy of Paris, the second son of the ultra-wealthy Bellegarde family, the most popular guy in their prestigious high school. Others may swoon over his rakish charm and winning smile, but not Evie.

Unfortunately for Evie, Beau needs her. His conniving step-brother has roped him into an impossible bet: turn the biggest wallflower they know into the winning Bellegarde Bloom at the annual Court of Flowers Ball, or lose his entire fortune.

Evie can’t understand why Beau has taken an interest in her, but she can’t help but be intrigued…

Can love bloom in the most unexpected of places?

“The She’s All That historical romance retelling of my dreams! When I wasn’t savoring the lush, descriptive prose, I was eagerly devouring the smart, perfectly paced, heart-pounding romance. There’s no doubt about it: Jamie Lilac makes a sparkling debut. — Brian Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country

Content Warning:

I was obsessed with She’s All That when it came out in 1999 so when I saw this was a retelling, I had to request it! I think the story did a great job with retelling She’s All That and I like that Evie is a promising fashion designer, sort of like how Laney Boogs was an artist in the movie. It was fun reading the book, but because I know the movie so well there weren’t too many surprises for me in Bellegarde.

I thought Evie and Josephine were fun characters. The best friends had each other’s backs and seem to have lots of fun together. Beau was just okay – he was definitely a carbon copy of Zack from She’s All That but I didn’t feel anything for him. I kind of wanted Evie to end up with the duke!

As for the setting – I like that it takes a historical fiction approach with it being in Paris, France and the popular kids have titles and wealth. In my imagination I could imagine some opulent scenes if they were ever to make this story into a movie on Netflix. t would be cool to see Evie’s fashion creations come to life. The only thing that was a little bit jarring for me was that the characters spoke in modern speech and it took me out of the story a bit. I thought overall the story was cute and I think it will appeal to younger readers.

Why you should read it:

retelling of She’s All That
teenage drama and romance

Why you might not want to read it:

it’s historical fiction with modern speech

My Thoughts:

I found it fun seeing how the story compared to the movie and it pretty much follows the whole thing minus a few changes here and there. For me it was just okay, but I think this will definitely will appeal to younger readers.