A Chick Who Reads: 2021 reviews

Showing posts with label 2021 reviews. Show all posts

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours Book Review: A Lady In Attendance

A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham

Publication Date: June 1, 2021

Revell

Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian/Romance

Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a blemish on Hazel's real name. So when she takes a job as Doctor Gilbert Watts's lady in attendance in 1898, she does so under an alias. In the presence of her quiet and pious employer, Hazel finds more than an income. She finds a friend and a hope that if she can set her tarnished past in order, she might have a future after all.

As Gilbert becomes accustomed to the pleasant chatter of his new dental assistant, he can't help but sense something secretive about her. Perhaps there is more to this woman than meets the eye. Can the questions that loom between them ever be answered? Or will the deeds of days gone by forever rob the future of its possibilities?

Rachel Fordham pens a tender tale of a soft-spoken man, a hardened woman, and the friends that stand by them as they work toward a common purpose--to expunge the record of someone society deemed beyond saving--and perhaps find love along the way.

"A Lady in Attendance draws you in from the first page and leaves you captivated until the oh-so-romantic conclusion. A poignant and beautifully written story of faith, forgiveness, and the healing power of love."--Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million

About the Author

Rachel Fordham has long been fascinated by all things historical or in the words of her children “old stuff”. Often the historical trivia she discovers is woven into her children's bedtime tales. Despite her love for good stories she didn’t attempt writing a novel until her husband challenged her to do so (and now she’s so glad he did). Since that time she’s often been found typing or researching while her youngest child naps or frantically writing plot twists while she waits in the school pick-up line. In addition to her passion for storytelling she enjoys reading, being outdoors and seeing new places. Rachel lives with her husband and children on an island in Washington state.

Learn more about current projects at rachelfordham.com. You can also follow Rachel on Facebook, Instagram, BookBub, and Goodreads.

Review: A Lady In Attendance is so much more than a love story. Its about forgiveness and change and redeeming yourself.

Hazel was not always a good person, but years spend in a reformatory for a crime she didn't commit have made her a better person. She's set on a new life and clearing her name, if she can find help.

Gilbert is the dentist she comes to work for. He starts out as a quiet man intent on remaining single for the rest of his days, but Hazel's presence changes that. The two of them bring out the best in one another.

I really liked how the relationship grew and how they were honest with each other throughout as much as possible. I know if I were in Hazel's position and I were starting to have feelings for someone like Gilbert, being honest might be difficult.

The theme of redemption is strong in this story, and not just with Hazel, also with Gilbert's brother, Eddie, who knows Hazel from her past life.

I appreciated the struggles Hazel and Eddie had with their past. I definitely would have liked to have known more about Eddie and what pushed him from his family.

This is a Christian romance and has many Christian themes, but it doesn't make the reader uncomfortabl if they aren't necessarily relgious.

This was a perfect clean and light read.

Rating: 5 flowers

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, October 11
Guest Post at Novels Alive

Tuesday, October 12
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Wednesday, October 13
Excerpt at I'm Into Books

Thursday, October 14
Review at Library of Clean Reads
Review at Michelle the PA Loves to Read

Friday, October 15
Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Saturday, October 16
Review at Reading Is My SuperPower

Monday, October 18
Review at Novels Alive

Tuesday, October 19
Excerpt at Heidi Reads

Wednesday, October 20
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Excerpt at Books and Benches
Review at Robin Loves Reading

Thursday, October 21
Interview at The Book Club Network

Friday, October 22
Review at Ms. Darcy Reads

Monday, October 25
Review at Jorie Loves a Story

Tuesday, October 26
Excerpt at Reading is My Remedy

Wednesday, October 27
Guest Post at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals

Thursday, October 28
Review at McCombs on Main

Friday, October 29
Excerpt at The Tea Queen

Monday, November 1
Review at Bookoholiccafe

Tuesday, November 2
Interview at Jorie Loves a Story
Excerpt at Lisa Everyday Reads

Wednesday, November 3
Excerpt at Bookworlder

Friday, November 5
Review at Passages to the Past

Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on November 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Friday, October 1, 2021

Book Review: Texas On My Mind

Author: Delores Fossen

Title: Texas On My Mind

Publisher: HQN Books

Publish Date: Feb 23, 2016

Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb:

The McCord Brothers are the most eligible bachelors in Spring Hill, Texas. But these cowboys are about to get wrangled by the love of some very special women—the kind who can melt hearts and lay it all on the line.

Air force Captain Riley McCord has come home on medical leave to find one heck of a welcome reception. Every unattached woman in Spring Hill, Texas, wants to nurse him back to health. That includes his childhood friend Claire Davidson—the only person who understands how damaged he really feels. In high school, she chose his best friend over him. According to Riley's rules, that should make her off-limits forever. But when Claire suggests a no-strings fling, he can't refuse.

Claire always wanted Riley—but she also craved the safety and stability he couldn't offer. So she chose another path, only to end up crazier about him than ever. She's even convinced herself that this time she won't be devastated when he leaves. Yet once Riley realizes the depth of Claire's feelings—and his own—he'll have to make the ultimate choice: return to the job he loves or stay home for the woman who's always lived in his heart.

Review:

I'm seriously burned out on romance and this book didn't help matters. I'm not sure which killed romance more for me the main story aka Riley and Claire or the short story at the end Heath/Anna.

Either story combines the good ole boys that annoy me the most in reading, Cowboys and Super Military Dudes.

Groan.

Too much testosterone.

Oh and in Texas on my Mind there's the matter of Claire and her mommy issues, which are a big thing, as well as who the father of her son, Ethan is.

Truth be told, I started skimming at the end of the book and I'm not even sure if we got closure on Ethan's daddy.

The problem with this story for me is it just felt like so many other plot lines for the hero. Military guy suffers an injury and may end up having to become a civilian, and perish the thought, he might have to live like the rest of the world.

Nothing pulled me in here, which is why it took forever for me to read it. There wasn't even a lot of conflict other than the two exes that were really in the middle of the book. Nothing, and I do mean nothing made this book stand out for me.

The writing was fine. The characters were likable. Ethan was probably the best of the bunch. He was just adorable, but all young kids are in stories, at least for me. I wish I could say this was a great book, but for me it just fell flat.

Rating: 3 flowers

Monday, September 20, 2021

Book Review: Honor Thyself

Author: Danielle Steel

Title: Honor Thyself

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publish Date: Feb 26, 2008

Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb:

A world-renowned actress falls victim to a terrifying explosion in Paris—and begins a courageous journey of survival, memory, and self-discovery in Danielle Steel’s mesmerizing new novel.

Carole Barber has come to Paris, with its rain-slick slate roofs and winding streets, to work on her novel—and to find herself after a lifetime in the spotlight. A legend of film and stage, Carole has set a standard of beauty and grace, devoting herself to her family and causes around the world. But on this cool November evening, as her taxi speeds into a tunnel just past the Louvre, a fiery instant of terror shatters hundreds of lives—and leaves Carole alone, unconscious and unidentified in a Paris emergency room.

At the Ritz, they wonder where their famous, incognito guest has gone. From California to London, Carole’s friends and family begin to make inquiries. Then comes a moment of shock as they all realize that Carole is far from home and fighting for her life.

In the days that follow, the paparazzi swarm. A mysterious stranger, a man famous in his own realm, quietly visits the hospital to see the woman he once loved and never forgot. Carole’s two grown children rush to her bedside, waiting and praying—until the miraculous begins to happen.…But as a woman who the whole world knows slowly awakens, she knows nothing of herself. Every detail must be pieced back together—from a childhood in rural Mississippi to the early days of her career, from the unintentional hurt inflicted on her daughter to a fifteen year-old secret love affair that went tragically wrong. But for Carole an extraordinary opportunity has arisen in a life-threatening crisis: a second chance to count her blessings, heal wounded hearts, recapture lost love… and to live a life that will truly honor others—beginning with herself.

A tale of survival and dignity, of small miracles and big surprises, Honor Thyself creates an unforgettable portrait of a public figure whose hopes, fears, and heartbreaks are as real as our own. Her courageous journey inspires us all.

Review: I want to put it out there that I review Danielle Steel books differently from most books I read, though as you see, this year I am failing miserably reading anything. But with her books, I base my reviews on how much I want to toss the book at the wall while reading it. Steel's writing is never deep and she tells the story to you without letting you get into the hearts and minds of her characters.

I will give her credit, she comes up with great plots. Wonderful plots. I just wish they were all executed differently. This book was no exception to that rule.

Honor Thyself seems to twist a lot of ideas together. The idea of a beautiful beloved actress being involved in a horrific attack in a Paris...wait for it...TUNNEL...made me think of Princess Di quite often while reading it, though that is where the similarities end.

The problem with Carole Barber for me, was that she seemed to have no flaws. She has 3 relationships, divorced, widowed, and the other is the one that got away. Her ex still loves her, the one that got away still loves her...and well, she loved the husband that passed away deeply.

Her children are mostly well adjusted and love her, though her daughter has her issues. (None bad). The story is served to you on a silver platter, of the attack and recovery and her rediscovery of her memories that she lost in the attack.

This plot should have delivered a punch. We should have seen so much more, especially of Carole's relationships. I wanted to know Jason and Matthieu and her children. I wanted their feelings to come across, but like all Steel's novels, you don't get that. You get the story but nothing more.

I didn't want to toss the book, but I was sad, because if these characters could have become more real and less flat, the book would have been amazing.

Rating: 3 flowers

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Book Review: The House

Author: Danielle Steel

Title: The House

Publisher: Dell

Publish Date: January 30. 2007

Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb:

The restoration of a majestic old home provides the exhilarating backdrop for Danielle Steel’s 66th bestselling novel, the story of a young woman’s dream, an old man’s gift, and the surprises that await us behind every closed door...

Perched on a hill overlooking San Francisco, the house was magnificent, built in 1923 by a wealthy man for the woman he adored. For her and for this house, he would spare no expense and overlook no detail, from the endless marble floors to the glittering chandeliers. Almost a century later, with the once-grand house now in disrepair, a young woman walks through its empty rooms. Sarah Anderson, a perfectly sensible estate lawyer, is about to do something utterly out of character. An elderly client has died and left her two gifts. One is a generous inheritance. The other, a priceless message: to use his money for something wonderful, something daring. And in this old house, surrounded by crumbling grandeur, Sarah knows just what it is.

A respected attorney and self-described workaholic, Sarah had always lived life by the book. With a steady, if sputtering, relationship and a tiny apartment that has suited her just fine, Sarah cannot explain the force that draws her to the mansion and its history–to the story of a woman who once lived in the house, then mysteriously left it, to a child who grew up there, and a drama that unfolded in war-torn France...and to a history she never knew she had.

Taking the biggest risk of her life, Sarah enlists the help of architect Jeff Parker, who shares Sarah’s passion for bringing the exquisite old house back to life. As she and Jeff work to restore the home’s every detail, as one relationship shatters and another begins, Sarah makes a series of powerful discoveries: about the true meaning of a dying man’s last gift...about the extraordinary legacies that are passed from generation to generation...and about a future she’s only just beginning to imagine.

In a novel of daring and hope, of embracing life and taking chances, Danielle Steel brilliantly captures one woman’s courageous choice to pour herself into a dream–and receive its gifts in return.

Review: Danielle Steel has never been a favorite author, but every so often I get sucked in by one of the blurbs and I'm drawn in to the bad writing and thin plots.

I have to admit though, that though the writing could be a lot better, The House was definitely one of her more palatable novels.

Sarah was definitely a sweet likable character, though like all novels by Steel, she is very flat. I would have loved some more depth to her, to know what really made her tick and why she really stayed with a jerk like Phil so long.

Her family, particularly her grandmother, Mimi were great side characters that helped carry the story.

OH and lets not forget the love interest, Jeff.

Sigh.

I seldom crush on any romance hero, but Jeff was the epitome of sweetness. I wanted to shake her at times near the end for being stubborn in what she wanted.

The House itself and its owner play a huge part in the story, and I really wished this book were longer and focused on Lili and why she left and more about the house and family that she left.

There were a lot of loose ends and things that I wanted answers for, but didn't get, but the story did flow beautifully.

If you are going to read any of Steel's books, this one is definitely a nice light one to lose yourself in for a few hours.

Rating: 4 flowers

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Book Review: The Next Wife

Author: Kaira Rouda

Title: The Next Wife

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Publish Date: May 1, 2021

Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb:

There is no limit to the lies, suspicion, and secrets that can poison the perfect marriage in this twisting novel of suspense by USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda.

Kate Nelson had it all. A flourishing company founded with her husband, John; a happy marriage; and a daughter, Ashlyn. The picture-perfect family. Until John left for another woman. Tish is half his age. Ambitious. She’s cultivated a friendship with Ashlyn. Tish believes she’s won.

She’s wrong.

Tish Nelson has it all. Youth, influence, a life of luxury, and a new husband. But the truth is, there’s a lot of baggage. Namely, his first wife—and suspicions of his infidelity. After all, that’s how she got John. Maybe it’s time for a romantic getaway, far from his vindictive ex. If Kate plans on getting John back, Tish is one step ahead of her.

She thinks.

But what happens next is something neither Kate nor Tish saw coming. As best-laid plans come undone, there’s no telling what a woman will do in the name of love—and revenge.

Review: This is really the first book I've really gotten into this year. I've struggled with books for some reason, but when I started this one, it really pulled me in and I'm not a 100% sure why.

The plot is so similar to at least 30 others I've read or want to read. The 2nd wife and the 1st battling it out. A husband that ends up dead. Yada yada yada.

The plot isn't very inspired, but it works because the level of crazy each of the main characters has is stellar.

You instantly know that Tish isn't all there, but as things unravel and you learn about John and about Kate and Ashlyn, you definitely see the crazy coming out on all ends, and I think that's what excited me the most about this story. All the characters were loose cannons and you didn't know what to expect from them.

Who was trying to kill who and why?

Who really was the smart one?

Or in this case the smarter one?

I loved all the twists and turns of the story and how all the evil unfolds proving that no one really is as they seem.

Rating: 5 flowers

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours: A Deadly Fortune

A Deadly Fortune by Stacie Murphy

Publication Date: January 5, 2021

Pegasus Crime

Genre: Historical Mystery

A historical mystery in the vein of The Alienist, in which a young woman in Gilded Age New York must use a special talent to unravel a deadly conspiracy.

Amelia Matthew has done the all-but-impossible, especially for an orphan in Gilded Age New York City. Along with her foster brother Jonas, she has parleyed her modest psychic talent into a safe and comfortable life. But safety and comfort vanish when a head injury leaves Amelia with a dramatically-expanded gift. After she publicly channels an angry spirit, she finds herself imprisoned in the notorious insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island. As Jonas searches for a way to free her, Amelia struggles to control her disturbing new abilities and survive a place where cruelty and despair threaten her sanity.

Andrew Cavanaugh is familiar with despair. In the wake of a devastating loss, he abandons a promising medical career—and his place in Philadelphia society—to devote himself to the study and treatment of mental disease. Miss Amelia Matthew is just another patient—until she channels a spirit in front of him and proves her gift is real.

When a distraught mother comes to Andrew searching for her missing daughter—a daughter she believes is being hidden at the asylum—he turns to Amelia. Together, they uncover evidence of a deadly conspiracy, and then it’s no longer just Amelia’s sanity and freedom at stake. Amelia must master her gift and use it to catch a killer—or risk becoming the next victim.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Advance Praise for A Deadly Fortune

“The 1893 world of the infamous lunatic asylum on Blackwell’s Island comes alive in frightening and horrific detail as a string of murders for profit is discovered when a young woman with a gift for contacting the dead becomes an accidental patient. She must fight for her life as well as her freedom in this engrossing mystery that reveals that all was not golden in Gilded Age New York.” —Rosemary Simpson, author of Death Brings a Shadow: A Gilded Age Mystery

“This engrossing mystery, rich in period detail, probes the dark side of Gilded Age New York and the even darker side of life at the insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island. Plucky Amelia Matthew rises to the considerable challenges that surround her, uncovering increasingly dangerous secrets that point to the presence of a murderer in the asylum. Amelia has a special gift that both helps and complicates her search for the truth, making her a unique heroine. A Deadly Fortune builds to a satisfying conclusion that will whet the reader’s appetite for more of Amelia’s adventures!” —Clarissa Harwood, author of Impossible Saints and Bear No Malice

“Stacie Murphy proves herself to be a masterful storyteller with A Deadly Fortune—an elegantly written, fast-paced mystery that blends the dark side of the Gilded Age, great characters, and a paranormal twist. Impossible to put down.” —Julie McElwain, author of the Kendra Donovan Mystery Series

“Murphy serves up a dark side of the Gilded Age with intrigue, historical detail, and captivating characters. This is a mystery to savor!” —Dianne Freeman, award winning author of the Countess of Harleigh mysteries.