Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Picture Books

This week we are sharing our all-time favorite picture books. I've included some old-school favorites from my childhood as well as new favorites that my boys love.

1.  Just Me and My Little Brother by Mercer Mayer - We love all the Little Critter books in my house, but this one is a favorite, because my boys can relate to the excitement of sharing things with your brother.

2.  Freckleface Strawberry: Best Friends Forever by Julianne Moore - At first I thought that a book by a celebrity would be just ok, but that's not the case here. We love Freckleface Strawberry and the message this story shares about friendship and peer pressure.

3.  Beach House by Deanna Caswell - This story is perfection. It is not only beautifully illustrated, but it captures the excitement of a vacation at the beach.

4.  White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt - This one is a favorite of mine from childhood even though it is filled with gender stereotypes. When you read it, you have to keep in mind that it was published in the 1940s.  I love the illustrations and how it showcases the beauty of winter and that spring is always right around the corner.

5.  The Polar Express by Chris Van Alsburg - This book is one of my favorites for sure.  Christmas isn't Christmas without this reading this beautifully illustrated story.

6.  Waiting is Not Easy by Mo Willems - We love all of the Elephant & Piggie books in my house, but this one is our favorite. I can even relate to the story! To be patient is a reminder we all need from time to time!

7.  I Took the Moon for a Walk by Carolyn Curtis - This novel has been a favorite for years in my house. The poetic quality is delightful and I think that everyone at some point in their childhood thought the moon was following them. I also appreciate the details at the end about nocturnal animals along with information about the moon's phases.

8.  Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton - It's pretty hard to pick a favorite Sandra Boynton book, but this one is pretty popular in my house and it is so much fun to read!

9.  I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt - This book is made for little boys. I love the message of a mother always loving and caring for her child even if they are a gross or scary creature.

10.  Little Elliot, Big City by Mike Curato - This book is one of the most beautifully illustrated picture books that I've seen. It takes place in 1940s Manhattan (LOVE!) and Elliot the elephant is nervous about life in the big city until he meets his best buddy, a mouse!


What are some of your favorite picture books?  Let me know in the comments below. This meme is hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish.

Book Review: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Pages: 460

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: July 29, 2014

Publisher: Berkley

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: The Husband's Secret

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads:  Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?).  Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.  Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive."

It's kindergarten orientation at Pirriwee Public School and readers meet Madeline, Celeste, and Jane, three very different mothers.  Madeline is a delightful character that many can relate to. She injures herself on the way to kindergarten orientation (thanks to those new high heels) and another new-to-the-area mother, Jane, comes to her rescue. An unlikely friendship forms as Jane is a much younger mother to son, Ziggy; in fact, many Pirriwee mothers think Jane is a nanny! Madeline's back story isn't a mundane suburban one though. Her ex-husband, Nathan, lives in the district with his new wife, Bonnie, and their daughter who is also in kindergarten with Madeline's daughter. So, things can be a bit awkward at times. I mean who wants to see their ex with his new family all the time?  Madeline and Nathan share a daughter, Abigail, who is a surly teenager and is starting to assert her independence.  Much to Madeline's dismay, Abigail has shown an interest in her step-mother's zen and yogi way of life.

Then there's Madeline's best friend, Celeste in Big Little Lies.  Celeste's life is like a Monet. At first glance, it appears to be absolutely perfect. She has a rich husband, two twin boys, and a lifestyle that most can only dream of.  However, if you look closer at her life, it isn't quite the masterpiece that it appears to be from a distance. There are some major secrets between Celeste and her husband; things are very far from being perfect.

Both Madeline and Celeste befriend Jane, who is always on the move dragging her young son along with her. Her nomadic lifestyle is making her weary and she finally settles on an apartment near the beach in the well-off Pirriwee School District.  Kindergarten orientation doesn't go as planned though. There is an incident and all hands point to her son Ziggy. However, she knows that he isn't to blame, but the other mothers feel differently, except for Celeste and Madeline. There's a definite divide amongst the kindergarten mothers and this all comes to a head at the fundraiser night for the school, especially since alcohol is involved.  Secrets, scandal, and the truth all come to the surface, and thanks to the intermittent clues throughout the novel, there's a murder involved! Liane Moriarty's bestseller, Big Little Lies, is such a delicious read. I absolutely loved every second of the story, which kept me flipping the pages till late at night. 

Oh, Madeline. I loved her from the beginning in Big Little Lies. I am not sure I am supposed to, but I love that she's a flawed mother and owns it in every respect.  She definitely isn't one of those Pinterest mothers; she's a sharp shooter, she's got a temper, but she cares deeply for her children and I love that about her. Also, Celeste is another interesting character in Big Little Lies. She has issues, serious ones at that, but it makes you think.  She's that perfect mother that we all envy, but deep down her life isn't like that at all!  Her super successful husband, Perry, has more issues than Vogue, but presents himself as a completely normal human being.  He posts pictures on Facebook that appear to be perfect, but he is deeply troubled and his relationship with Celeste is far from perfect.

The way that Moriarty tells Big Little Lies is genius.  I love how she framed the plot around a murder mystery, so readers know that it's about to get real at the school trivia night as something catastrophic happens.  We slowly piece together the puzzle as it gets closer to the infamous night and I loved how the story unfolded.

I can see why Big Little Lies is considered Moriarty's best work.  It's women's fiction, but it isn't just fluff. There's a lot of suspense, a murder, and even humor.  Despite the fact that some parts aren't funny and are downright scary (as mothers who behave badly always are!), I found some really comedic parts throughout the novel. If you are a mother to a small child, you will definitely be able to relate to various parts of the story, especially the school politics.   Moriarty does a brilliant job bringing it all together.

One of the reasons I finally picked up Big Little Lies is the fact that it is coming to HBO next month. If you have been putting off reading this novel, I encourage you to check it out before the show premieres next month.  Big Little Lies is definitely one of my favorite novels that I've read in awhile and I'm glad I listened to everyone and finally picked it up!

Books on the Big Screen (11)

There are so many fantastic books being made into TV shows and movies. Being the bookworm that I am, I love to read the book before I watch the movie or TV show. In fact, I just read Big Little Lies last week--just in time before the show premieres next month.  Here are some of the adaptations I've had my eye on!

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty - Feb. 19th on HBO

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - March 3rd

The Shack by William P. Young - March 3rd

Beauty and the Beast (classic fairy tale) - March 17th n

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman  - March 31st

The White Princess by Philippa Gregory - 2017 on Starz (I heard April!)

Wonder by R.J Palacio - April 7th

The Circle by David Eggers - April 28th

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon - May 19th

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier - July 14th

The Dark Tower by Stephen King - July 28th

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle - July 28th

The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin - October 20th

Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Miracle - November

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - November 22nd

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (coming to Starz in 2017)

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (coming in 2017 as Ashes in the Snow)

In Development/2018:
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Annie Barrows
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
The Death Cure by James Dashner
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander series on Starz)

What books that are hitting the big screen (or small screen!) are you most looking forward to? Are you like me in that you have to read the book before you see the movie?  Let me know what you think!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Forever Summer

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.

The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner

Pub. Date: April 25, 2017

Goodreads says, "Marin Bishop has always played by the rules, and it's paid off: on the cusp of thirty she has a handsome fiancé, a prestigious Manhattan legal career, and her father's hard-won admiration. But with one careless mistake at work, Marin suddenly finds herself unemployed and alone. Before she can summon the courage to tell her parents, a young woman appears, claiming to be Marin's half-sister. Seeking answers, Marin agrees to join her on a soul-searching journey to Cape Cod, to meet the family she didn't even know she had.  As the summer unfolds at her grandmother's beachside B&B, it becomes clear that her half-sister's existence is just the first in a series of truths that will shake Marin's beliefs--in love, and in her own identity--to the core. Filled with shocking revelations, heartfelt romance, and resilient women banding together against the most unexpected twists of fate, THE FOREVER SUMMER is an emotionally resonant page-turner, and a delicious escape for any season."

Guys, this has beach read written all over it, right? I really enjoyed The Wedding Sisters, which I read last summer on vacation, so this one is a must read for me. What do you guys think? (Also, can I please be transported to wherever that girl is on the cover? Pretty please?)

My Latest Obsession: Black Sails

After listening to The Scot and the Sassenach's podcast and their discussion of Black Sails, I knew it was time I finally check this show out. They promised that fans of Outlander will especially appreciate this show.  The final season of Black Sails starts this month, so I am sharing my top five reasons why I love Black Sails: (And don't worry I won't share any spoilers!)

1.  Pirates - Who doesn't love pirates? This show is a prequel to Treasure Island, so you get to "know" many real-life pirates, such as John Silver, Charles Vane, Blackbeard, Billy Bones, Anne Bonny, etc.

2.  The Setting - The setting of the Bahamas (but taped in South Africa) is pretty fantastic as is all the boat scenes. The crew absolutely does a fantastic job bringing not only the time period to life, but life in tropical Nassau.  

3.  Female Power - Even though this show seems to be about pirates (mostly male) there are a lot of women on this show that are freaking fantastic. They are girl bosses extraordinaire. I love how a lot of the women have power on the island and aren't just victims to the pirate's antics.

Billy Bones

Charles Vane (in center)

4.  Charles Vane - I knew this actor from The 100 and I am a huge fan. Let's discuss that body...if he doesn't motivate me to get buff in 2017, I don't know what will. And seriously. It's not just Vane who is in outstanding shape. Billy Bones is incredible as well.  But it isn't just about looks. Vane is intelligent, cunning, loyal, and passionate. He's my favorite pirate for sure.

5.  The Resistance - In the US, we have had a depressing go of it lately, so there's something inspirational and timely about their resistance to the English rule.


So, anyone else a fan of Black Sails? Will you be watching the fourth and final season this month?  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Book Review and Giveaway: City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

Pages: 432

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction/Thriller

Pub. Date: January 24, 2017

Publisher: Putnam
Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.  With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother—and why—keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller."

Tina is a sixteen year old Congolese refugee living in Kenya.  She prides herself on the fact that she takes care of her half sister, Kiki.  She feels responsible for her since her mother died five years ago.  Her mother was brutally murdered and Tina thinks her mother's killer is none other than her employer, Mr. Greyhill.  It's hard to avenge her death though as Mr. Greyhill is one of the most prominent businessmen in Kenya.  It's going to take a masterful plan to deal with someone like him.  Meanwhile, she has been surviving by living on the streets as a thief.  She is a member of a gang of thieves called the Goondas.  The current job of the Goondas brings her right back to her mother's old employer, the Greyhills. Being back at the Greyhills isn't as cut and dry as she thought it would be. There's a series of events that complicate matters further in City of Saints and Thieves, an engaging YA mystery filled with many plot twists.

Tina is the type of character that tugs on my heartstrings. I felt badly for her as her situation is a precarious one in City of Saints and Thieves.  What I like, though, is that she's complex. Although she is dealing with a lot and seems vulnerable at times, she also is tough and determined. She even shares with readers her "rules" for being a successful thief.  After all, her main goal is to avenge the murder of her mother.  However, things change once she sets foot back at the Greyhill estate and comes face to face with a former friend.  

The murder mystery is especially engaging in City of Saints and Thieves. It kept me guessing and there were a few plot twists I didn't see coming.  I think fans of YA mysteries will definitely appreciate this suspenseful novel.

I loved the setting of Kenya as well as the Congo. We need more settings like this in YA. I could tell that Anderson knows a lot about these locations as she is a former aid worker and even filled up the story with many Swahili words that added to the novel's authenticity.  Thankfully there's a glossary in the back for those of us who have no prior knowledge. This book also touches timely issues, such as corruption, racial issues, the plight of refugees, women's rights, economic issues, and the horrors of war, which are all important topics. I'm happy to say that Anderson handled them expertly.

Readers looking for an international murder mystery should definitely give City of Saints and Thieves a try this winter. 

Thanks to Putnam, I have an extra ARC of this book that I'm giving away to one lucky US reader. Please refer to my giveaway rules and the deadline is February 2nd.  Good luck! 

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Sunday Post (17)

7th Blogoversary and International Giveaway

Book Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne 

Waiting on Wednesday: Hello, Sunshine 

Top Ten Tuesday: Hidden Gems

Book Review: The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams  

Coming up on the blog, I'll be sharing my thoughts on City of Saints and Thieves and giving away an ARC as well.  If you like murder mysteries/thrillers, you'll definitely enjoy this YA debut.  I'm also sharing my latest obsession, Black Sails. Anyone else a fan of the show? I look forward to season four starting soon! Lastly, I'll be sharing my latest installment of Books on the Big Screen. There are so many awesome book being made into movies and TV shows!

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel - Thanks to Crown and NetGalley

If Birds Fly Back by Carlie Sorosiak - Thanks to Harper Teen and Edelweiss

Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Ha - Thanks to Gallery and NetGalley

The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White - Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley

Have you read any of these books or are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts! Thanks for visiting! This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

7th Blogoversary and International Giveaway

Wow....7 years. I have no clue how it's already 7 years, but somehow I've been blogging for 7 years.  Obviously I love to talk about books, otherwise I wouldn't still be here. But more importantly, I am so very thankful for all of you guys. I'm thankful for all the comments, the recommendations, and for all the friendships I've made. Also, I'm thankful for the relationships I've made with various publicists, publishers, and authors.  I started this endeavor as a plan for my professional development at work and it has truly blossomed into so much more!


For fun, here's been my Top Ten Most Popular Posts: 
1.  Book Review: Divergent  by Veronica Roth
2.  Book Review: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han Siobhan Vivian
3.  2012 Picks for Beach Reads and My Summer Reading List 
4.  Book Review: We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
5.  Book Review: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
6.  2011 Picks for Beach Reads and My Summer Reading List
7.  Book Review: Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
8.  Book Review: The Heiresses by Sara Shepard
9.  Book Review: Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly
10.  Off to Rome!

I am not surprised that most of my most popular posts either deal with beach reads, Sarah Dessen, or Jenny Han.  That pretty much sums me up.

Now onto the giveaway! To thank all my readers, I'm hosting an international giveaway for $20 to spend at the Book Depository. Please make sure the Book Depository ships to your location. Please refer to my giveaway rules.  The deadline is January 31st. Lastly, thank you to each and every one of you!  You guys make this gig worthwhile.

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Book Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: August 9, 2016

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Library

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.  Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game."

Lucy Hutton works at a publishing company and instead of the company going under, it mergers with another company, which means she starts working with Joshua Templeman, who shares an office with her.  This would normally be fine except for the fact that Joshua is extremely good-looking, but is also an ass.  They don't get along. At all.  They interact daily, but not professionally at all; in fact, HR had to get involved a few times.  To complicate matters further, a position opens up that their bosses think both Joshua and Lucy would be good for.  There is no way that Lucy is going to lose this job to Joshua, so the "games" begin.  As things progress, (and some alone time in the elevator) proves that maybe her hatred for Joshua is actually something more and isn't hate at all. There's a fine line between love and hate, right?  Sally Thorne's debut, The Hating Game, is such a fun novel. It's romantic, it's witty, it's charming....everything you could want in a romance novel.

Lucy is an interesting character in The Hating Game. She is a people-pleaser and is genuinely nice, often too nice, which is the polar opposite of Joshua.  Joshua is cunning, cold at times, and calculating.  But there is more to him than just that if you look a little closer.  Most people in the office are afraid of Joshua whereas, people go to Lucy with their problems and sometimes take advantage of her willingness to extend deadlines. The fact Joshua and Lucy are foils of each other is what makes this opposites attract story so compelling.  Their chemistry is on fire and their dialogue is so, so great and witty.

At times I did sort of tire of their "games." I was thinking to myself...can they just be adults? But that doesn't make for an interesting story now does it? As their hatred of each other blossoms into something more, The Hating Game became even more compelling, especially as we learn more about Josh and what makes him tick.

Even though I knew where the story was going, I still loved the ride.  That's the best part about The Hating Game. We all know the final destination, but it's the getting there that is so much fun. So, if you are looking for a deliciously fun opposites attract story that will make the afternoon pass quickly, definitely give this book a try.

Waiting on Wednesday: Hello, Sunshine

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.

Hello, Sunshine by Leila Howland

Pub. Date: July 17, 2017

Goodreads says, "Becca Harrington is a reject. After being rebuffed by every college on her list, she needs a fresh start, so she packs up everything and moves to LA, giving herself one year to land an acting gig or kill herself trying.   Unfortunately, not everything turns out as planned, and after a few grueling months, LA is looking like the worst idea ever. As hard as she tries, Becca can’t land an agent, she's running out of cash, and her mom is hounding her to apply to more schools. In an act of desperation, Becca and her friend Marisol start posting short videos online—with the help of their adorable filmmaker neighbor, Raj—and the videos catch the attention of a TV producer. Could this be it? Her big break? Or will she have to move back home with nothing but some bad head shots and a monstrous credit-card bill?  Becca may not get the Hollywood ending she was hoping for, but perhaps she’ll learn there’s more than one way to achieve her dream.  Readers will love every page of this funny, romantic, aspirational, and ultimately triumphant novel about a girl who just wants to make it on her own."

After reading Nantucket Blue, Nantucket Red, and The Forget-Me-Not Summer,  I fell in love with Howland's summertime stories. This is high up on my summer TBR list. What do you guys think?  

Top Ten Tuesday: Hidden Gems

Today I'll be sharing some "hidden gems" or books that I think have flown under the radar. I definitely wish more people talked about these fantastic reads. 

 

1.  Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson - I definitely thought more people would be into this series. If you are a fan of Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass series, you'll definitely like this high fantasy and its strong heroine.

2.  Royal Circle series by Katherine Longshore - Fans of historical fiction, will love these YA books that bring the Tudors to life.

3.  Violet Eden series by Jessica Shirvington - Fans of paranormal romances and Mead's The Vampire Academy will enjoy this series. It's one of my favorites for sure! I love the angel mythology.

4.  All the Summer Girls by Meg Donohue - I love this one, not only because it takes place in Avalon, NJ (one of my favorite Jersey shore destinations), but also because it covers friendships, tough choices we have to make in life, and that one special summer destination.

 

5.   Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan - If you like quirky main characters and John Green-ish novels, you'll love this book about family, love, and planning a wedding. It's a smart read and it had me laughing out loud, which is a fantastic combination.

6.  The Girl in the Castle by Santa Montefiore - This was one of my favorite historical novels of 2016.  I wish more people would talk about this series set in early 1900s Ireland.

7.  Blythewood by Carol Goodman - I absolutely loved this historical fantasy involving magic, secrets, and a private boarding school.

8.  Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready - It's been years since I read this gem, but the story still stays with me. It's a poignant paranormal romance involving ghosts - absolutely loved it!

9.  The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff - I fell in love with this historical romance last summer. It is one of my favorite "historical beach reads."

10.  Broken Hearts and Revenge series by Katie Finn - Finn (a.k.a Morgan Matson), so you know I'm going to love this series as I am a huge fan of Matson.  This series is one of my favorite summertime guilty pleasures.

So, what are some of your hidden gems that you've read these past few years? Let me know in the comments below. This meme is hosted by  The Broke and The Bookish.

Book Review: The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date:  January 17, 2017

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: A Hundred Summers,

The Secret Life of Violet Grant, Along the Infinite Sea,

Tiny Little Thing, and A Certain Age

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "When she discovers her husband cheating, Ella Hawthorne impulsively moves out of their SoHo loft and into a small apartment in an old Greenwich Village building. Her surprisingly attractive new neighbor, Hector, warns her to stay out of the basement at night. Tenants have reported strange noises after midnight—laughter, clinking glasses, jazz piano—even though the space has been empty for decades. Back in the Roaring Twenties, the place hid a speakeasy.  n 1924, Geneva "Gin" Kelly, a smart-mouthed flapper from the hills of western Maryland, is a regular at this Village hideaway known as the Christopher Club. Caught up in a raid, Gin becomes entangled with Prohibition enforcement agent Oliver Anson, who persuades her to help him catch her stepfather Duke Kelly, one of Appalachia’s most notorious bootleggers.  Headstrong and independent, Gin is no weak-kneed fool. So how can she be falling in love with the taciturn, straight-arrow Revenue agent when she’s got Princeton boy Billy Marshall, the dashing son of society doyenne Theresa Marshall, begging to make an honest woman of her? While anything goes in the Roaring Twenties, Gin’s adventures will shake proper Manhattan society to its foundations, exposing secrets that shock even this free-spirited redhead—secrets that will echo from Park Avenue to the hollers of her Southern hometown.  As Ella discovers more about the basement speakeasy, she becomes inspired by the spirit of her exuberant predecessor, and decides to live with abandon in the wicked city too."

The year is 1998 and Ella Hawthorne moves out of her beautiful NYC apartment that she shares with her successful husband as she has found him cheating on her with a prostitute.  Obviously, Ella is pretty much disgusted by Patrick's behavior, despite his insistence that it only happened once and it won't happen again; nonetheless, Ella moves into a smaller apartment in Greenwich Village with the hopes to start over.  There Ella meets Hector, whom she instantly feels a connection with, and all seems to be going well until she hears strange noises coming from the basement at night. In fact, it sounds like a jazz club, but that can't be as the space has been empty for quite sometime.  Ella comes to find out that it once was a speakeasy in the 20s.  Cut to Geneva or "Ginger" Kelly, a young flapper trying to make it on her own in the big city in the 1920s.  Ginger works as a typist, among other things, and spends her nights at the Christopher Club and with her privileged boyfriend, Billy.  It's time of the Prohibition though and she should be watching her back. When she least expects it, the Christopher Club gets raided and she finds herself talking to a Prohibition officer, Oliver.  He wants her to help him catch a notorious bootlegger, who is none other than her horrendous stepfather.  The last thing she wants to do is get involved in her stepfather's affairs, especially when she might be marrying her wealthy boyfriend. She wants to put her past behind her, but receives a phone call that her mother is dying and has asked for Ginger to return home. In turn, Ginger comes face to face with her up-to-no-good stepfather.  Slowly, Ella and Gin's stories intertwine in The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams and it makes for an interesting tale.

Beatriz Williams has a knack for creating memorable characters, like Gin.  Gin is feisty, outgoing, adventurous, confident, and ultimately, a character that I love and root for. Learning more about her family life in Maryland and what it took for her to get to the city as a single woman made me appreciate her determination and gumption even more than before.  I don't blame her for wanting to leave Maryland and her stepfather, who is a nightmare,  behind for good.

Ella's story, on the other hand, I felt wasn't as compelling or original as Ginger's in The Wicked City. Until I was able to fully understand how both woman's stories were going to work together, I found myself gravitating more towards Ginger's story and even once their connection was revealed, I am not sure it was fleshed out as well as I had hoped.

The setting of Prohibition NYC was also a memorable one in The Wicked City; in fact, NYC felt like a character in itself.  Williams did a superb job of bringing the city to life.  The speakeasy, the dark alleys, the Prohibition officers, the corrupt officials, the bootleggers, the flappers, the booze...it was all great!

I also allusions to characters from Williams' other novels and some of the characters even show up in The Wicked City.  I especially like the Schuyler sisters, so having them reappear or mentioned in conversation is so much fun.

The one aspect of The Wicked City that bothered me a bit was some of the melodrama towards the second half of the novel. I had hard time suspending my disbelief and it felt like there were just too many coincidences.

Other than that, I really enjoyed the romp through a time period that not only is so compelling, but also seemed to be deliciously dangerous.  The Wicked City had a Dick Tracy meets Jay Gatsby vibe, which was downright fun.   I recommend this book to fans of the Jazz Age time period as well Beatriz Williams.

Sunday Post (16)

If You Love John Green 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo

Top Ten Tuesday: 2016 Releases I Meant to Read

Book Review: The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

I'll be sharing my thoughts on Beatriz Williams' The Wicked City, which is a fun historical tale set in Prohibition Era NYC.  It wasn't my favorite of Williams' novels, but it was still pretty entertaining.  I also read a highly recommended novel, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. The romance genre really isn't my thing, but I LOVED this book. Keep your eye out for my review this week.  I wish I read it while on vacation! It's the perfect beach read. 

 

The Secret History of Us by Jessi Kirby - Thanks to Harper Teen and Edelweiss
Finders Keepers by Michael M.B. Galvin - Thanks to Disney Hyperion

The winner of Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken goes to....

Ken O.

Congrats! I hope you enjoy the book. 

Have you read any of these books or are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts! Thanks for visiting! This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.