“The Spanish Daughter” by Lorena Hughes

Title: The Spanish Daughter   
Author: Lorena Hughes   
Publisher:  Kensington Publishing Corp.     
Year: 2022    
Genre(s): historical fiction
Part of a Series: No.

Rating: 

Why I Read It: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Maria Purificacion de Lafont y Toledo, better known as Puri, travels from Spain to Ecuador upon the death of the father who abandoned her and her mother when she was still a child. On the voyage over, she is attacked and her husband Cristobal is killed. Puri decides to assume his identity to help find who wanted her dead. She meets the other family her father had in Ecuador and has to work through years of family secrets to find the truth to solve her husband’s murder and claim her share of her father’s fortune.

New York, New York

Welcome to New York, it’s been waiting for you.

Yes, I did just quote a Taylor Swift song. I like her music and I feel this quote is appropriate.

So, New York City. The place I call home.

(Well, full disclosure: I live in one of the outer boroughs of New York City, not in Manhattan, but it still counts).

I was going through my list of read books on Goodreads and I realized that I haven’t really read a lot of books set in New York City. Which seems odd as I know there are plenty of them. One of my favorite quotes from a defunct Disney ride called The Timekeeper was “New York City, home of a million dreams and one parking spot.” I think it does accurately describe New York (including the one parking spot) and why so many people choose to set their stories there.

Mid-Year Check In

It’s July, meaning the year is halfway over. Time certainly flies, huh?

So with another review still a little while off, I thought I would see how this blog is doing at this point in 2024.

Check it out under the cut.

“Not Your Crush’s Cauldron” by April Asher

Title: Not Your Crush’s Cauldron
Author: Rachel Joyce   
Publisher:  Griffin
Year: 2024    
Genre(s): paranormal romance
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 3. Read reviews for Book 1 and Book 2.

Rating: 

Why I read it: To complete the trilogy

Summary: Olive, the third Maxwell triplet, always assigns her class an assignment to challenge themselves to get out of their comfort zone. This year, she decides to do the list along with her student. Her friend and new roommate, Bax, agrees to do it with her but hides important information from her – namely, that he’s been assigned as her guardian angel. As they complete Olive’s list, will their relationship become more than it is?

Happy Anniversary!

Eleven years ago, I decided to start this blog of my book reviews! I know I didn’t set the book reviewing blogosphere on fire but that’s okay. I’ve just enjoyed sharing my thoughts on the books I’ve read.

And I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them.

For fun, I’ve decided to put together some statistics to see how the past 11 years have gone for me.

Let’s take a look!

“Miss Benson’s Beetle” by Rachel Joyce

Title: Miss Benson’s Beetle
Author: Rachel Joyce   
Publisher:  The Dial Press   
Year: 2020    
Genre(s): historical fiction, adventure
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I Read it: Once Upon a Book Club selection

Summary: With World War II over, teacher Margery Benson decides to abandon her career and finally pursue her dream of proving the existence of the golden beetle of New Caledonia. She buys the gear, books passage to the other side of the world and engages the services of Ms. Enid Pretty as an assistant. As they journey to New Caledonia, both Margery and Enid take another journey that could change them forever.

Resurrecting More Reviews

I’m getting closer to starting new reviews soon. But I’ve been on vacation since my last post so I knew I wouldn’t have time even if I did finish a book by then.

So I’m going to highlight some more reviews I published over a decade ago now for you to enjoy.

This time I’m going to do a trilogy written by Pamela Aidan. They tell the story of Pride and Prejudice but from Darcy’s perspective rather than Elizabeth’s.

Check them out under the cut!