Book Review: Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings

Pages: 448

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: August 8, 2023

Publisher: Dutton

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, “How many loves do you get in a lifetime?” She is a beautiful, affluent, self-involved, and mildly neurotic London socialite. He is Britain’s most photographed bad boy who broke her heart. Magnolia Parks and BJ Ballentine are meant to be, and everyone knows it. She dates other people to keep him at bay; he sleeps with other girls to get back at her for it. But at the end of every sad endeavor to get over one another, it’s still each other they crawl back to. But now their dysfunction is catching up with them, pulling at their seams and fraying the world they’ve built; a world where neither has ever let the other go completely. As the cracks start to show and secrets begin to surface, Magnolia and BJ are finally forced to face the formidable question they’ve been avoiding all their How many loves do you really get in a lifetime?"

 

 

Magnolia is a socialite living in London. She rubs elbows with the affluent and lives a privileged life. She grew up close with BJ Ballantine as well as his family, so naturally as they got older, they started to date. They have always had insane chemistry, but not the healthiest relationship. BJ cheated on her and since then they have played a game of an on-and-off relationship. Magnolia dates other people to keep BJ from being too close to her and BJ gets mad and sleeps around. But they keep gravitating towards each other - forever in each other's orbit - despite all the drama. When the going gets tough, Magnolia leans on BJ even if he breaks her heart daily, because, despite his flaws, he is always there for her. But everyone can't help but wonder will they actually make it real and date each other this time or will forever play games? Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings is a fun romance that is the perfect escape, especially for fans of Gossip Girl.

I loved the old Gossip Girl, so that is why this book is right up my alley. The privilege, the petty problems, the drama, the fashion--Magnolia Parks is the perfect way to spend the afternoon, especially with a cocktail in hand. This book begs for that kind of scenario, so that's how I went into this. It's not the next Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, it's a fun romance and that is exactly what I needed. Magnolia is a superficial heroine who has daddy issues and clearly needs a therapist. The feminist in me wanted to shake her and yell for her to get over BJ! Move on to someone you deserve! Stop playing games! But the reader in me who was purely here for entertainment value wanted more drama with dreamy BJ.

So, BJ. He's a jerk. I actually think Magnolia can do a lot better, but he is super charming and seems to be there when Magnolia needs him. Even when Magnolia dates a British celebrity, she still finds herself in the same orbit as BJ. Their relationship is very Chuck and Blair (from Gossip Girl), but a bit more toxic in my opinion. BJ has more issues than the New York Times. He is troubled--tragically flawed in every way; however, their chemistry was through the roof in Magnolia Parks and it was no doubt a fun ride. My only issue was the fact that the on-again-off-again antics got repetitive at times.

So, if you are looking for a dreamy escape filled with high fashion, late nights, and crazy antics reminiscent of Gossip Girl, look no further. Just don't go into this expecting a healthy relationship with a mature twenty-year-old. This ain't that. Ultimately, I will be continuing with the series, especially when I need a read to transport me to a world where high fashion is key and precarious romantic entanglements are a part of everyday life.

So, are you a fan of the Magnolia Parks series? It seems everyone has read it! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange

Pages: 288

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: August 1, 2023

Publisher: Celadon

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author:  We Are the Brennans

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile facade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now. While she works to build a new career and hold her family together, Tara finds a chance at love in a most unlikely place. But when the Connellys’ secrets start to unravel and threaten her future, they all must face their worst fears and come clean, or risk losing each other forever. The Connellys of County Down is a moving novel about testing the bounds of love and loyalty. It explores the possibility of beginning our lives anew, and reveals the pitfalls of shielding each other from the bitter truth."

 

 

Geraldine, Eddie, and Tara had a difficult childhood with a criminal father and a mother who died young. Geraldine took the brunt of raising her two younger siblings and keeping the household the best she could. Years later, Eddie, suffering from a traumatic brain injury, struggles to be a single dad to his son, Conor, and leans on Geraldine for some help with that. Tara, the youngest of the three, has been in prison for eighteen months for drug trafficking. She is returning home to the Connelly house, but the they have major issues that need to be discussed. The biggest problem is that they avoid having real talks, but instead hold grudges and make assumptions. One thing is for sure, Eddie is happy to have Tara home as well as Conor, who has a good relationship with his aunt. However, returning home hasn't been easy for Tara. Geraldine took over Tara's room and has been acting strangely, and Brian Nolan, the detective who arrested her, has been showing Tara a lot of attention. Brian harbors secret feelings for Tara and feels such regret for arresting her, but his partner thinks she is still up to no good and is convinced she is a criminal. Tara tries to start her life over, but things don't go smoothly for the Connolly family and secrets start floating to the surface- secrets that could change their family forever. The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange is a satisfying novel focusing on family dynamics, the power of stories, as well as loyalty. 

I really liked Tara from the start of The Connellys of County Down. I was really hoping she would start her life over after leaving jail and Lange truly highlights how difficult this can be for someone who has a criminal record, not to mention living in a household that is a bit chaotic. Geraldine took over Tara's room, (which has all her stuff!) and doesn't seem to want to give it back. Geraldine has some secrets of her own that she most definitely doesn't want her siblings to find out. Eddie, also withholding secrets for more complex reasons, is another flawed character, but my heart goes out to him. He had a traumatic brain injury, so life can be very challenging for him. He lives with his sister, so she can help him out with Conor, but Geraldine, after years of picking up everyone's pieces, is starting to fall apart. All three Connellys are flawed, but Lange makes them so real and complex that I couldn't help but root for them despite their major issues.

I liked how Lange depicts family dynamics so well and how that plays out in a complex family. She did this in We Are the Brennans and that is the case here in The Connellys of County Down. Her writing focuses on loyalty among family, forgiveness, the importance of honesty as well. Based on the title, readers may think that County Down in Ireland plays a role in the story, but it's not what readers think. It is in reference to a story that their mother once told them that stays with the Connelly siblings, particularly Tara, to this day.

If you like a moving story about families, look no further. While this wasn't as good as We Are the Brennans, it was still a strong novel that I enjoyed. Lange made me care a lot about the Connellys, flaws and all. Have you read The Connellys of County Down? Are you a fan of Tracey Lange? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Winter in New York

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!  

   

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver

Pub. Date: October 3, 2023

 

 

Goodreads says, "A young chef stumbles on a secret family recipe that might lead her to the love—and life—she’s been looking for in this stunning novel. When Iris decides to move to New York to restart her life, she realizes she underestimated how big the Big Apple really is—all the nostalgic movies set in New York she’d watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn’t quite do it justice.  But Bobby, Iris’s best friend, isn’t about to let her hide away. He drags her to a famous autumn street fair in Little Italy, and as they walk through the food stalls, a little family-run gelateria catches her eye—could it be the same shop that’s in an old photo of her mother’s? Curious, Iris returns the next day and meets the handsome Gio, who tells her that the shop is in danger of closing. His uncle, sole keeper of their family’s gelato recipe, is in a coma, so they can’t make more. When Iris samples the last remaining batch, she realizes that their gelato and her gelato are one and the same. But how can she tell them she knows their secret recipe when she’s not sure why Gio’s uncle gave it to her mother in the first place? Iris offers her services as a chef to help them re-create the flavor and finds herself falling for Gio and his family. But when Gio’s uncle finally wakes up, all of the secrets Iris has been keeping threaten to ruin the new life—and new love—she’s been building all winter long."

 

I really enjoyed One Day in December and can't wait to curl up with this holiday read. Can you believe it's almost time to start thinking about your holiday TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Blog Tour: The Wake-Up Call

You can't go wrong with Beth O'Leary's novels. I always look forward to her rom-coms that feel just like the classic rom-com movies that I watched in the 90s that are sure to make me swoon as well as laugh out loud. 

Today Beth O'Leary has a new novel coming out called The Wake-Up Call and I can't wait to read it. It's being described as "two hotel receptionists—and arch-rivals—find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way." It seems like the perfect novel to read as we get closer to the holiday season!

Learn More About The Book:

 

 

 "It’s the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel’s front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through.

The hotel won't stay afloat beyond Christmas without some sort of miracle. But when Izzy returns a guest’s lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management that this might be the way to fix everything. With four rings still sitting in the lost & found, the race is on for Izzy and Lucas to save their beloved hotel—and their jobs.

As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas begin to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future. Can the two of them make it through the season with their hearts intact?

 

You can purchase your own copy of The Wake-Up Call at Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Books A Million. You can learn more about Beth O'Leary by visiting her website and connecting with her on Instagram and Facebook. 

Will you be adding The Wake-Up Call to your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Book Review: The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner

Pages: 400

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: August 29, 2023

Publisher: Atria

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Big Summer, 

Hungry Heart, That Summer, and The Summer Place

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a warmhearted and empowering new novel about love, family, friendship, secrets, and a life-changing journey. Thirty-three-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place. True, she still has gig jobs instead of a career, and the apartment where she’s lived since college still looks like she’s just moved in. But she’s got good friends, her bike, and her bicycling club in Philadelphia. She’s at peace with her plus-size body—at least, most of the time—and she’s on track to marry Mark Medoff, her childhood summer sweetheart, a man she met at the weight-loss camp that her perpetually dieting mother forced her to attend. Fifteen years after her final summer at Camp Golden Hills, when Abby reconnects with a half-his-size Mark, it feels like the happy ending she’s always wanted. Yet Abby can’t escape the feeling that some­thing isn’t right...or the memories of one thrilling night she spent with a man named Sebastian two years previously. When Abby gets a last-minute invi­tation to lead a cycling trip from NYC to Niagara Falls, she’s happy to have time away from Mark, a chance to reflect and make up her mind. But things get complicated fast. First, Abby spots a familiar face in the group—Sebastian, the one-night stand she thought she’d never see again. Sebastian is a serial dater who lives a hundred miles away. In spite of their undeniable chemistry, Abby is determined to keep her distance. Then there’s a surprise last-minute addition to the her mother, Eileen, the woman Abby blames for a lifetime of body shaming and insecurities she’s still trying to undo. Over two weeks and more than seven hundred miles, strangers become friends, hidden truths come to light, a teenage girl with a secret unites the riders in unexpected ways...and Abby is forced to reconsider everything she believes about herself, her mother, and the nature of love."

 

 

Abby Stern has spent most of her childhood ashamed of how she looks, especially since her fit mother sent her away to a weight loss camp every summer. Abby could never really be the person that her mother wanted her to be and that was ok for Abby because she had the solace of her bike. Abby adores cycling, and fifteen years later has the chance to lead a cycling trip through New York. This is a great opportunity for Abby to clear her head. Also, things have started to get serious with her boyfriend, Mark, and while he seems perfect on paper, something is holding her back from taking the next step. She should like him - he's a Jewish doctor, a former overweight camper at the weight loss camp Abby attended, but he doesn't enjoy cycling and doesn't eat sugar. Just when Abby gears up for a relaxing cycling trip, there are two unexpected participants: her one-night stand from many years ago and her mother! Cue the drama. Abby had a one-night stand with Sebastian, who is perfect and likes her for who she is, except he is a known player and some of his antics have gone viral. As the trip continues, Abby realizes they still have chemistry. Also, the more time she spends with her mom, the more honest they both get about their relationship. Jennifer Weiner's The Breakaway is a quintessential women's fiction and includes many things I enjoyed including a romance, female empowerment, and messages of body positivity.

While I enjoyed Abby's journey both physically and emotionally in The Breakaway, there were some plot holes that I felt could have been fleshed out a bit more, especially between Abby and her mother. On the other hand, Abby's relationship with Sebastian is one of the best parts of the novel, especially if you enjoy a slow burn. I do wish she would have been more honest with Mark though, so if cheating is a trigger for you, be forewarned. I also enjoyed Weiner's overall messages about being in charge of a person's body, women's rights, and positive body image, but at times it got a little preachy. Lastly, I really can't relate to Abby's relationship with food, which at times was a bit unhealthy if you ask me, so I struggled there, mostly because I have dietary restrictions myself, so eating for pleasure isn't always an option. Shaming people who eat healthy is just as bad as making overweight people feel less than, so I had an issue with that aspect of the novel. Also, at some point, I think it's okay to admit that being overweight isn't the healthiest version of yourself, no matter how "strong" you think you are. So, I had a hard time with that aspect of the novel.

The details of the bike trip were superb in The Breakaway. I love how it juxtaposed Abby's emotional journey with her biking journey, as well when it came to figuring out her romantic life and her relationship with her mother. I am not a cyclist, but I could appreciate all the details that go into a trip like this as well as the beautiful New York scenery. Bikers will especially love this aspect of the novel as Weiner, an avid cyclist, truly brought this part of the story to life.

While The Breakaway wasn't my favorite of Weiner's novels, I thought it was a solid novel for fans of women's fiction and a great way to end the summer season. Have you read The Breakaway? Are you a fan of Jennifer Weiner? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future

You all know my first love is young adult literature. As a former middle school English teacher and literacy teacher, it's one of my favorite genres. I always really enjoy when I can share new young adult novels and that is the case today with ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future by Mark Lavine. It's a new science-fiction novel for young adults that will have readers on the edge of their seats. To celebrate the novel's recent publication, I am hosting a very exciting giveaway that I think you all will absolutely love!

Learn More About the Novel: 

 

 

ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future

Written by Mark Lavine

Ages: 13-18 | 315 Pages

Publisher: Mark Lavine (2022) | ISBN-13: 9798218130947

 

Publisher’s Book Summary: What if you could live hundreds of years – but never age? In the year 2315 you can live for hundreds of years and never age past eleven. That is, if you’re one of the lucky ones. But the not-so-lucky ones are disturbingly close, and they’re threatening your safety, security, and even your deepest beliefs. Soon, it will be all-out war.

Among a chosen few, life expectancy is now hundreds of years; these are the forever children, and science has found a way to keep them in a nearly endless childhood state. Secure in their giant hives, they have left the outsiders, who must live natural lives, to fend for themselves.

This is the story of Kianno and Seelin, two youths who find themselves trading places in this strange new world, one leading the life of a forever child and the other growing up in the anarchy of the outside world.

Their lives come together in surprising and unexpected ways, as they both become involved in a fierce struggle between the two worlds.

Discover for yourself a future world of eternal childhood, and the nightmares and battles which erupt from this seemingly innocent society.

But the quest for endless youth comes at a cost.

How will Kianno and Seelin survive in this battle for eternal life?

 

You can purchase your own copy of ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future at Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. You can also learn more about Mark Levine by visiting his website. 

 

 

Enter the Giveaway:

 

I have partnered with Mark Lavine to host a giveaway for ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a signed, personalized copy of ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future, a one signed poster, and a Kindle Paperwhite. 

Three winners will receive a personalized, signed copy of ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future and a signed poster. Lastly, seven winners will receive a personalized, signed copy of ForeverChild: A Novel of the Future. How awesome is this giveaway? Good luck!  

ForeverChild Book Giveaway

 

Cover Reveal: Every Time We Say Goodbye

I don't get to share new covers with you all very often, but when I do, it is very exciting, and it's even better when it's a book I am looking forward to!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Natalie Jenner, I am so grateful to have the opportunity to reveal the new cover of Natalie Jenner's latest novel, Every Time We Say Goodbye, as well as a note from Natalie Jenner herself. The novel comes out in May and I can't wait to read it. I adored Jenner's The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls, so I am very much looking forward to her latest novel.

A Message From Natalie Jenner:

 

Hello Dear Readers,

Every Time We Say Goodbye was the hardest book I will ever write, and the most rewarding.

It all started when I learned about the world-famous Cinecittà movie studio in Rome being used as a war refugee camp in the 1940s. People who had been stripped of everything—homes, possessions, even their most basic humanity—suddenly found themselves confined to life inside a “dream factory.” I decided to set my third novel during a very specific, very cool time in history—la dolce vita of mid 1950s Rome—while exploring the incredibly complex and haunting legacy of that city under German occupation during the Second World War.

I also wanted to know why Vivien Lowry, a character from my book Bloomsbury Girls, had been so angry all the time! I wondered if a woman could make the biggest mistake of her life and move past the regret in a way that benefitted her and the world around her. I never intended to write a dual timeline. I had been working on Every Time We Say Goodbye for nearly a year when the voice of a young female Italian resistance fighter codenamed la scolaretta—the schoolgirl assassin—suddenly showed up on the page one day. Having witnessed the bravery and sacrifice of so many to keep us safe during our world’s most recent challenge, I wanted to pay tribute to them. How fortunate am I, through the intimate and emotional power of historical fiction, to have the opportunity to do so.

 I packed everything I could into this book: love and conflict, faith and religion, censorship and resistance, art and moviemaking, fashion and food, and cameos by favorite actresses such as Sophia Loren and Ava Gardner and characters from both The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls (I, myself am terrible at goodbyes!).

I hope, more than anything, that Every Time We Say Goodbye gives readers the entertainment, inspiration and food for thought that nourished me throughout its writing.

 

Best wishes, Natalie

Cover Reveal:

 

Book Description: The bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls returns with a brilliant novel of love and art, of grief and memory, of confronting the past and facing the future.

In 1955, Vivien Lowry is at a crossroads in life. Her latest play, the only female-authored play on the London stage that season, has opened in the West End to rapturous applause from the audience. The reviewers, however, are not as impressed as the playgoers and their savage notices not only shut down the play but ruin Vivien's last chance for theatrical success. With her future in London not looking bright, at the suggestion of her friend, Peggy Guggenheim, Vivien takes a job as a script doctor on a major film shooting in Rome’s Cinecittà Studios. There she finds a vibrant moviemaking scene filled with rising stars, acclaimed directors, and famous actors in a country that is torn between its past and its potentially bright future, between the liberation of the post-war cinema and the restrictions of the Catholic Church that permeate the very soul of Italy.

As Vivien tries to forge a new future for herself, she also searches for the long-buried truth of the recent World War and the fate of her deceased fiancé lost in battle. Every Time We Say Goodbye is a bold and moving exploration of trauma and tragedy, hope and renewal, filled with dazzling characters both real and imaginary, from the incomparable author who charmed the world with her novels The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls.

(Every Time We Say Goodbye is linked to The Jane Austen Society, & Bloomsbury Girls by characters, but is a stand-alone novel.)

Interested in purchasing your own copy? You can pre-order your copy of Every Time We Say Goodbye at Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and St. Martin's Press. 

Learn More About Natalie Jenner:

 

 

Natalie Jenner is the internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls, which have been translated into more than twenty languages worldwide. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie has been a corporate lawyer and career coach and once owned an independent bookstore in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs.

 

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

 

Isn't the new cover gorgeous? I love how it captures the beauty of Rome and the glamour of the 50s. I can't wait to read it! In the comments below, let me know what you think of the new cover and if you are adding Every Time We Say Goodbye to your TBR list. 

 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Snail and the Butterfly

 

You all know I love a picture book with an inspirational message. Today I'm sharing with you a new picture book that has a wonderful message to follow your dreams and to not let fear hold you back. Fear is a big topic in my house and I try to remind my boys that it's okay to be scared, but to do it anyway--that is true courage! 

Dougie Coop's new picture book, The Snail and the Butterfly, reinforces this very idea and thanks to Dougie Coop, I am hosting a giveaway to celebrate the book's recent publication.

Learn More About the Book:

 

 The Snail and the Butterfly  

Written by Dougie Coop

Illustrated by CJ the Kid

Ages 4+ | 42 Pages

Publisher: Rare Bird Books | ISBN-13: 9781644283653

 

Publisher’s Book Summary: "Have you ever wanted to do something great? Something no one else believed you could do? Well, here is your chance to learn how. Meet a little snail who wanted to fly and an old butterfly who questioned why. Travel with the little snail as he crawls up a mushroom determined to soar from the top. But every time, the same thing makes him stop: fear. Sound familiar?

Filled with inspiration and motivation, this magical conversation between an ambitious snail and a seasoned butterfly encourages us to pursue our dreams regardless of who we are or where we come from. 

With words by award-winning author Doug Cooper aka Dougie Coop, and illustrations by acclaimed Australian artist CJ the Kid, the rhythmic verse and playful style remind us all we can achieve the impossible as long as we believe, trust, and persevere."

 

You can purchase your own copy of The Snail and the Butterfly at Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon. You can learn more about Dougie Coop at his website as well as the illustrator, CJ the Kid. 

 

 

The Giveaway:

 

Thanks to Dougie Coop, I am hosting a giveaway to celebrate the publication of The Snail and the Butterfly. Enter for a chance to win! One lucky winner will receive a personalized, signed copy of The Snail and the Butterfly, a sticker sheet, and a small set of large pins. Nine winners will receive a personalized, signed copy of The Snail and the Butterfly. Good luck!   

 

 

The Snail and the Butterfly Book Giveaway

 

Audio Book Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Genre: Audio Book/Adult Fantasy

Pub. Date: May 2, 2023

Publisher: Recorded Books

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret. Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die."

 

 

Violet always wanted to be a scribe and live a quiet life in Navarre despite the fact that her mother is a general and her siblings are dragon riders who defend Navarre's borders. Violet's world is turned upside down when she is forced to enlist at Basgiath War College to become a rider. Not only is she smaller than everyone else, she has a condition that makes her more susceptible to getting hurt. This should be fun, and by fun, I mean a disaster! To make matters worse, she is assigned to the Fourth Wing, which is led by elusive Xaden Riorson, whose mother was a former rebel leader and Violet's mother had executed. Cue the awkwardness and anxiety. As Violet spends more time at the war college, she meets new people, gains friends, makes enemies, and hones her skills as a possible future rider. She is put into situations where violence becomes the norm. Meanwhile, her enemy turned possible love interest, Xaden, is in the background all the time stirring up her feelings as well as enemies looming outside of Navarre's boundaries. Also, did I mention there's dragons? Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a romantic fantasy perfect for readers who like the romance genre more than adventure and may be new to high fantasies.

 

Violet is an interesting character in Fourth Wing. She has a "disability" of sorts, which makes her more susceptible to injury, which is a problem at a war college filled with aggressive future dragon riders as well as people who judge her based on her mother who is a notorious general. I could see where things were going with Xaden right away as the whole enemies-to-lovers trope was going strong. I didn't really care for it as much as I thought in this novel, but I did enjoy the setting of a war college. If you like a school/university setting in a novel, you'll appreciate the setting of Basgiath and how cadets become immersed in the school's world, the trainings, and the other cadets. 

 

However, I do think that the world-building was weak in Fourth Wing. I wish Yarros would have provided readers with more background on Navarre and made it come to life a bit more. I think that if you are a reader who has read a lot of immersive fantasies by J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Cassandra Clare, Sarah J. Maas or even Richelle Mead, this may stick out to you as a weakness. It certainly did for me as I didn't really buy into the whole world or the connection to the dragons. In fact, minus the graphic sex scenes, this read like a YA fantasy novel based solely on world-building and character development. 

 

Well, unless you live under a rock, you know that Fourth Wing is one of the most talked about books of the year. Why did I only give it 3.5 stars? Well, I listened to the audio version and it was, for lack of a better word, abysmal. I hear that they re-recorded the audio, which is great news, but the initial version I listened to was the worst audiobook I've listened to in years. The narrator was sick and you could actively hear swallowing, phlegm, a stuffy nose, and other delightful (!!) signs of a respiratory infection. It was so distracting and at times, it made me feel sick. Also, there's so much h y p e for this novel, so much so that I expected to be blown away and obviously that wasn't the case with this audiobook. I can't comment on the new audio version (if they did re-record it as I heard), but the original audio ruined this book for me. If I read book two, I am undecided currently, I will have to pick up a hard copy. So, if you are new to the fantasy genre and are traditionally a romance reader, this is the book for you, but make sure to sample the audiobook if you go that route!

 

Have you read Fourth Wing? It's one of the most talked about books of the fall. I'd love to hear your thoughts and if you listened to the audiobook. Leave me a comment below! 

 

 

Book Review: Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

Pages: 348

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: June 6, 2023

Publisher: Atria

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Kitchen House

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "The New York Times bestselling author of the book club classics The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything returns with a sweeping saga inspired by the true story of Crow Mary—an indigenous woman torn between two worlds in 19th-century North America. In 1872, sixteen-year-old Goes First, a Crow Native woman, marries Abe Farwell, a white fur trader. He gives her the name Mary, and they set off on the long trip to his trading post in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan, Canada. Along the way, she finds a fast friend in a Métis named Jeannie; makes a lifelong enemy in a wolfer named Stiller; and despite learning a dark secret of Farwell’s past, falls in love with her husband. The winter trading season passes peacefully. Then, on the eve of their return to Montana, a group of drunken whiskey traders slaughters forty Nakota—despite Farwell’s efforts to stop them. Mary, hiding from the hail of bullets, sees the murderers, including Stiller, take five Nakota women back to their fort. She begs Farwell to save them, and when he refuses, Mary takes two guns, creeps into the fort, and saves the women from certain death. Thus, she sets off a whirlwind of colliding cultures that brings out the worst and best in the cast of unforgettable characters and pushes the love between Farwell and Crow Mary to the breaking point. Crow Mary sweeps across decades and the landscape of the upper West and Canada, showcasing the beauty of the natural world, while at the same time probing the intimacies of a marriage and one woman’s heart.

 

 

Crow Mary was inspired by the real-life Crow Mary, a brave woman who lived during the 1800s in Montana. As a member of the Crow tribe, she lived a quiet life until her betrothed was killed and she was to marry a white man, Abe Farwell, instead. Abe is a fur trader and is much older than her; however, in exchange for their marriage, he will supply her people with guns to use for protection against their many enemies. During the wedding ceremony, he changes her name to Mary, and now she must assimilate into his culture, while never forgetting her customs or her family. Crow Mary is only sixteen, so this is a big change. She leaves her family behind for Fort Benton so Abe can partake in some trading. While there, she makes friends, but also encounters many people who make her skin crawl, not to mention don't respect her. As time passes, she does have feelings for her husband and their marriage seems to be a solid one, except for Abe's tendency to drink too much. While on another trading mission to Canada, something horrible happens to the Nakota people. 40 are slaughtered and some women are taken against their will. No one will help the women but Crow Mary is determined and decides to take it upon herself as she has a ton of bravery and is a good shot. Kathleen Grissom's story of Crow Mary will stay with readers long after they finish the novel. It's a story of survival, of two cultures, and of bravery.

I really enjoyed Crow Mary from the start. How could I not? Could you imagine being sixteen years old, getting married to a much older man, assimilating into a different culture, and moving away from your family? It must have been extremely hard, but she did it with a lot of grace. Crow Mary has a ton of grit and I really enjoyed her story. Abe on the other hand was a real bore. At times I thought he was somewhat nice, but overall, I found him to be a gigantic disappointment. I realize he is an alcoholic and that obviously is a major problem; however, I wanted him to get cleaned up and take care of his family. So, my patience with Abe was really running thin.

Grissom, just like in The Kitchen House, truly highlights how Crow Mary is stuck between two cultures. Grissom covers this with a lot of sensitivity and respect while also highlighting how horribly settlers treated Indigenous people. There were some tough scenes to read in Crow Mary, but it's important to remember what truly happened.

If you enjoy historical fiction, Crow Mary shouldn't be missed. I look forward to what Grissom writes next! So, let me know in the comments if you are a fan of Grissom and if this book is on your TBR list.