Merry Old England

 As I mentioned in my last post, I was on vacation and part of it was spent in London. I was also on vacation last week or else this would’ve been posted sooner. Still, I would like to highlight some books I’ve read and reviewed that are set in England.

(I probably should’ve done this as the post when I was in England and saved the summer books for this post but oh, well).

After going through the books I’ve reviewed, I realized I’ve read a lot set in England. And I already excluded Jane Austen. So I’m going to narrow it down to my top 5 books set in England.

Wish me luck! 

Summer Reading

 As you read this, I’m enjoying a nice vacation in merry old England. I hope you’re having a good summer (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere).

Here are some books I’ve reviewed in the past that I think would make some good summer reads:

Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher: Marin plans on a nice getaway with her sister Sadie on the island of Saba. But when her sister misses the flight, Marin experiences paradise with the mysterious Lucas Tsai. Will the beauty of the island inspire a change in her? Or will she just go back to her humdrum life?

The Beautiful Strangers by Camille Di Maio: Kate Morgan follows her grandfather’s cryptic plea and gets a job at the Hotel del Coronado during filming of “Some Like it Hot.” As she gets drawn into the world inhabited by the likes of Marilyn Monroe, she is also haunted by the ghosts of the past – both the hotel’s and her own family’s.

The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor: Olivia returns to her grandfather’s house to handle his affairs after his passing. She finds an unpublished manuscript written by one of the girls who tricked the world into thinking fairies were real, fooling even Arthur Conan Doyle. But it brought magic to their tiny corner of England and it may just do the same for Olivia.

The Saturday Evening Girls Club by Jane Healey: Four immigrant girls meet up each week for the Saturday Evening Girls Club as they navigate balancing a new world with their old one.

In the Light of the Garden by Heather Burch: Charity returns to her grandparents’ mansion in the Florida Keys as she tries to figure out what to do next with her life. And as she builds a little family around her, she may find what she needs more – healing.

Anonymous by Kristina Woods: Olivia decides to find her father. When she manages to do so, she changes the lives of her parents and her family forever.

The Greek Rule by Aleka Nakis: When Athena spends time with Alex as the wedding of his brother and her best friend approaches, she considers breaking her only rule – never date a Greek.

Check them out and enjoy your summer reading! 

Mid-Year Check In!

 Happy July!

Half the year has come and gone. And I’ve done a lot of reading and reviewing in that time. While I’m still finishing the latest book I’m reading, I’ve decided to take a lot at my top 6 reviews for this year so far.

So here we go!

1. The Space Between by Mete Deserve – 38 views

2. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna – 28 views

3. Wildland by Rebecca Hodge, The Duchess by Wendy Holden, The Last Piece by Imogen Clark, Sisters of the Resistance by Christine Wells, and The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (5 way tie) – 23 views

By contrast, here are the 3 reviews that have received the least amount of views:

3. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn and The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano (Tie) – 15 views

1. We Are Not Like Them by Christina Pride and Jo Piazza – 8 views

There we are! If you haven’t had a chance to check out any of these reviews, please go ahead and do so.

For the rest of the summer, I am holding off on reviews and will likely be posting other book-related content, though there may be at least one week where I don’t post anything. I am on vacation for the last week of July and the first week of August then again the third week of August. So I think reviews will resume in September.

I hope you enjoy the other content I’ll be posting.

And I hope you have a happy summer! (Or winter, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere). 

“The Lost Melody” by Joanna Davidson Politano

Title: The Lost Melody
Author: Joanna Davidson Politano
Publisher:  Revell
Year: 2022
Genre(s):  historical fiction, gothic fiction, suspense, romance
Part of a Series: Yes, but can be read separately

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Accomplished concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant is surprised when she becomes the guardian of a ward at Hurstwell Asylum. When the asylum insists her ward doesn’t exist, Vivienne goes to investigate herself. But powerful forces conspire against her and she soon finds herself an inmate at Hurstwell. Will she be able to figure out the asylum’s dark secrets and bring light to its patients? Or will she succumb to the darkness and madness herself?

“The Book of Cold Cases” by Simone St. James

Title: The Book of Cold Cases
Author: Simone St. James
Publisher:  Berkley
Year: 2022
Genre(s):  mystery, suspense, paranormal
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: By day, Shea Collins is a receptionist at a doctor’s office. By night, she is a popular blogger who runs a site called The Book of Cold Cases. She writes about true crime, her way of coping with being a player in one as a child. Her two worlds collide when she meets Beth Greer, the last member of a prominent family in their Oregon town. Back in 1977, Beth was accused of being the Lady Killer – the murderer of two men who left behind taunting notes. Though she was ultimately acquitted at trial, suspicion has followed her since then. She decides to tell her story to Shea, who realizes that there is more to the story than anyone has known. Will she be able to tell the truth – or will some force make sure the truth remains a secret?

“Sisters of the Resistance” by Christine Wells

Title: Sisters of the Resistance
Author: Christine Wells
Publisher:  William Morris/HarperCollins
Year: 2021
Genre(s):  historical fiction, romance
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club selection

Summary: Yvette returns to Paris a few years after the end of World War II and is recruited to be a mannequin for Christian Dior’s new fashion house. But this is not her first time working with the legendary designer – or his sister, Catherine. Yvette and her sister Gabrielle must finally come to terms with what they sacrificed and the risks they took in the final days of the Nazi occupation of Paris while working as part of Catherine Dior’s network of spies. Will they finally be able to move on and find happiness in their lives at last?

“The Last Piece” by Imogen Clark

Title: The Last Piece
Author: Imogen Clark
Publisher:  Lake Union
Year: 2020
Genre(s):  contemporary
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: The Nightingale sisters – Felicity, Julia and Lily – are surprised and concerned when their mother mysteriously goes to Greece with no warning. As they try to figure out what’s going, they deal with their own issues. When their mother returns, will everyone be prepared for the reason why she left? Will the truth she needs to share with them change all their lives forever?