Being Mary Bennet by J.C. Peterson

Being Mary Bennet by J.C. Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Publication Date: March 15, 2022

Source: Edelweiss ARC

It is a truth universally acknowledged that every bookworm secretly wishes to be Lizzie Bennet.

A less acknowledged truth is that Mary Bennet might be a better fit.

For seventeen-year-old Marnie Barnes, who’s convinced she is the long-suffering protagonist of her life, this revelation comes at the end of a series of self-induced disasters that force her to confront a devastating truth: Marnie has more in common with Mary Bennet—the utterly forgettable middle sister—than the effervescent Lizzie.

Determined to reinvent herself, she enlists the help of her bubbly roommate and opens herself up to the world—leading lady style. And between new friends, a very cute boy, and a rescue pup named Sir Pat, Marnie realizes that being the main character doesn’t mean rewriting your life entirely. It’s about finding the right cast of characters, the love interest of your dreams, and, most important, embracing your story, flaws and all.

I ADORED this. It was seriously so much fun to read. The humor in this was just so spot on, with such a fantastic story about finding out who you really are. And if that’s not enough, there was a sweet love story too.

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Book Review: The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Publication Date: July 21, 2015
Source: Netgalley review copy

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.

Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.

The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

I'm kind of surprised how much I liked this one. It was pretty much the typical romance formula, and of course you could see what was going to happen a mile away, but it was still good. The story itself was just really sweet, and I liked both of the main characters, as well as the side characters.

I love food, so the fact that so much of this book centers around food was a plus, and we also really got to know the city of Milwaukee. I would love to read more story set in this world, maybe focusing on some of the side characters (although as far as I know, the author has no plans for that).

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Book Review: Snow Falling on Bluegrass

Snow Falling on Bluegrass by Molly Harper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Publication Date: September 2014
Source: Netgalley review copy

 Kentucky Tourism Commission employee and executive assistant extraordinaire Kelsey is known around the office for having everything under control. So it’s not surprising that she and her boss, Sadie, have everything planned to the second for the office winter retreat. But there are things even Kelsey can’t micromanage.

An unprecedented snowstorm smothers half of Kentucky and knocks out the power, closes the roads, and generally shuts down the state. Luckily, the lodge has working fireplaces and enough food to keep the staff from turning on each other like something out of The Shining. Kelsey wouldn’t mind being stuck inside if it wasn’t for the tension with her not-so-secret crush, Charlie, the office’s statistician. But handsome Ranger Luke, the lodge’s only employee on hand, is there to take Kelsey’s mind off her discomfort.

Even though this weekend is supposed to be a planning session for KTC, Kelsey can’t help her mind from wandering and finds herself conflicted over Luke and Charlie. Someone’s love will keep her warm, but whose will it be?

This is the third book in a series, and I didn't read the first two. But I saw this on Netgalley, and I've liked Molly Harper's books in the past, so I figured I'd give it a try.

I really like Molly Harper's writing. It's easy reading and there's always some humor and fun in the stories. I didn't really get a good feel for any of the characters, though. I feel like maybe I would have "known" them more if I had read the previous two books.

That's not to say that I didn't like the characters. They were fun, and I liked the geeky references some of the characters made. I might go back and read the first two books someday, but I probably won't be in a huge hurry to do so.

Book Review: The Winter King

The Winter King by C.L. Wilson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Publication Date: July 2014
Source: library

Wynter Atrialan, the Winter King, once lived in peace with his southern, Summerlander neighbors, but when the prince of Summerlea steals Wynter’s bride and murders his young brother, Wynter calls upon a dangerous Wintercraig magic called the Ice Heart and marches against Summerlea.

After three bitter years of battle, a victorious Wynter arrives at Summerlea’s royal palace to issue his terms of surrender. The prince of Summerlea stole Wynter’s bride and slew Wynter’s Heir. He wants the loss replaced. The Ice Heart is consuming him. Wynter hopes holding his own child in his arms will rekindle the warmth in his heart before he becomes the monster of Wintercraig legend, the Ice King.

The Summer King has three very precious daughters whom he loves dearly. Wynter will take one of them to wife. She will have one year to provide him with an Heir. If she fails, he will send her to face the mercy of the mountains and claim another princess for his wife. And so it will continue until Wynter has his Heir or the Summer King is out of daughters.

The plan is perfect—except for one small detail. The Summer King has a fourth daughter. One of whom he is not so fond. And she is a fiercely passionate creature, with a temper as volatile as the forces of her weathergift, the power of storms.

I'm sure I'm not the only fan of this author who will say it, but this was disappointing. I thought her Tairen Soul series was fantastic, and as I read this I kept questioning my judgement on that one. Was I just in a really good mood when I read it? Or is this one just not anywhere near the standards of that series? I hope it's the latter, and if I re-read Tairen Soul someday (which I probably will), I will enjoy them as much.

The characters in The Winter King were just not likable. The romance was just not there. The two main characters constantly mistrusted each other, to the point where I couldn't even handle it anymore. All the way to the very end there was mistrust, until the moment they decided they were, in fact, so desperately in love that they loved each other more than anything in the world.

What there was, if not love (or blossoming love) was a whole heckuva lot of lust. And sex. Which is why I generally don't read romances. And the descriptions of the sex were so out there, and in some cases impossible, that it took me out of the story. I mean, to give you an idea, I present (delicate readers please look away):

"She curled her fingers around him. The flesh that had only moments ago been soft and malleable was now a thick, rapidly hardening shaft. Her fingers spanned little more than halfway around the base."

What? How is that even possible? This wasn't the only time the sex scenes were just physically not possible. But even that could have been forgiven. I often skim over sex scenes in books because they're just not my thing. It was just the lack of actual romance and the mistrust between the main characters made it hard for me to like them.

And then there was the plot, which wasn't horrible, but wasn't great either. It was too long, and there was just nothing to redeem the lack of likable characters, which previously had been C.L. Wilson's strong point. I think she is a talented writer, and I'm really disappointed that I didn't like this more.

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Book Review: Moonless

Moonless by Crystal Collier
DNF
Source: Netgalley

In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially later when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.

Among the many things to change for her that evening are: her physical appearance—from ghastly to breathtaking, an epidemic of night terrors predicting the future, and the blue-eyed man’s unexpected infusion into her life. Not only do his appearances precede tragedies, but they are echoed by the arrival of ravenous, black-robed wraiths on moonless nights.

Unable to decide whether he is one of these monsters or protecting her from them, she uncovers what her father has been concealing: truths about her own identity, about the blue-eyed man, and about love. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with the man of her dreams and risk becoming one of the Soulless.

This is going to have to be a DNF for me. I'm about 40% into the book, but I feel like I should be so much farther. I've read and read and read, and the percentage finished is just crawling at a snails pace. How can this book only be 300something pages?

Now, none of that would be a problem if the book was holding my interest, but it's not, at all. The main character has all of a sudden become beautiful, and we don't know why and she doesn't know why, and no one really seems to care or think it's weird (except main character). And she has dreams that sometimes come true, which I thought would play a bigger part in the story, but haven't really very much so far.

What we do have is how much she's lusting after this blue eyed man. He has very blue eyes. He's so handsome and he has blue, blue eyes. I just can't with it.

It also felt like the author pulled out her trusty thesaurus and used it the whole time she was writing this book. Whether she really did or not, I don't know, but when I'm reading and I get that feeling, it's not a good thing.

Review copy provided by Netgalley.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

Book Details:
Genre: Christian Romance
Page Count: 226
Publication Date: Oct. 5, 2010
Why I read it: received for review
Grade: B+

The plot:
In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together.

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?

My review:
I've only ever read fantasy books by Donita K. Paul, and she's one of my favorite authors. This book was another hit for me. It was a sweet romance that was perfect for this time of year. The thing I love most about this author's books are that they are just so cozy. They're just right for reading while cuddling under a blanket with a cup of tea or cocoa.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball wasn't very fast paced. It seemed to cover a very short amount of time, and honestly not a lot happened. I really would have liked to see the story a bit more fleshed out and more things explained. It was pretty short, and had a bit of an abrupt ending. We never really got to know exactly what was going on or why or how. That being said, I think that it was meant to be a quick holiday read, not a long detailed story.

I quite liked the characters here, and would love to read more about them. I didn't want to the story to end. There is definitely a Christian message in the book, and religion is sprinkled throughout. Pretty much what you'd expect from a Christian publisher and author. All in all, I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a sweet holiday read that you can squeeze in between all your busy times. This is an author that I'll continue to read.

Hero at Large

Title: Hero at Large
Author: Janet Evanovich
Genre: romance
Page Count: 320
Why I read it: e-book from library
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Dear Reader:

In a previous life, before the time of Plum, I wrote twelve short romance novels. Red-hot screwball comedies, each and every one of them. The romances were originally published between the years 1988 and 1992. All immediately went out of print and could be found only at used bookstores and yard sales.

I'm happy to tell you that those stories have now been re-released by HarperCollins, presented in almost original form. I've done only minor editing to correct some embarrassing bloopers missed the first time around.

Hero at Large was the very first book published. It's about a sexy guy who cooks a potholder in spaghetti sauce and charms a single mom and former world-class ice skater with the promise of a ride on his Zamboni. It's got broken bones, giant turkeys, cantankerous cars, and Aunt Edna.

This was the book that changed my life forever and made me a published author. When Hero finally reached the bookstores, I was almost arrested for loitering in Walden's. I stationed myself in the romance section and wouldn't leave until I saw someone buy my book. It took three days!

My review:
I'm a big fan of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series (even though I wonder how long she can stretch it out without any character growth or plot development or anything, but that's a different review), so I've been trying to make my way through her older romance novels. This was her first published novel, and I think it's safe to say that Evanovich is getting better with time.

Although this was a fun, easy read, there just really wasn't much substance to it. It was a very typical romance, where the leads get together insanely quickly, fall in love, problems ensue, reconciliation, happily ever after. Don't be mad at me for giving away the plot. This is the plot of almost every romance novel I've read.

If you're a huge Janet Evanovich fan, and want to read everything she's written, pick this one up. Otherwise, I'd say skip it.

Secrets

Title: Secrets
Author: Robin Jones Gunn
Genre: Christian fiction
Page Count: 266
Why I read it: Received review copy from publisher
Grade: B

Synopsis:
Beginning her new life in a small Oregon town, high school English teacher Jessica tries desperately to hide the details of her past. Yet two individuals remain determined to discover the painful truth: the jealous woman who is Jessica's immediate superior, and Kyle Buchanan, a handsome, compassionate paramedic and dreamer. Will Jessica's past destroy her future? Or can she find a deeper peace that will end her need to keep Secrets?

My review:
I don't often read plain Christian fiction.  Usually because it's so hit or miss with me, and I can't tell exactly what it is that will make me like or dislike a book.  I don't know if it's my mood or writing style or what.  Luckily, this one was a hit.  It was very easy to read, the story moved along quite smoothly, and it just felt like a nice, cozy read.

The characters were interesting, although the big "secret" that the main character was carrying throughout the book turned out to be not so big.  I was waiting for some big shocking reveal, and it never came.  But the story in itself was sweet, and the romance was nice and clean.

This book would probably only appeal to Christian readers, as it is fairly heavy on the religion, but I would recommend it to fans of Karen Kingsbury.  The style felt similar.

This review is part of the Value Fiction Blog tour for WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers.  To find out more about this book, click here.

Beneath a Southern Sky

Title: Beneath a Southern Sky
Author: Deborah Raney
Genre: Christian Romance
Page Count: 311
Why I read it: Received review copy from publisher
Grade: DNF

Synopsis:
After two years of serving as a missionary in a remote area of South America, Daria Camfield has returned to the States to mourn her husband, reportedly killed while providing medical aid to a neighboring Colombian village.
At first, Daria finds comfort only in the daughter born to her after Nate’s tragic death. As she begins to heal, she also finds a listening ear and a tender heart in her new boss, veterinarian Colson Hunter. Determined to move forward with life, Daria ignores the still small voice calling her to wait and accepts Cole’s marriage proposal. But after the wedding, Daria’s new dream life turns into a nightmare with the arrival of an unbelievable
telegram:“Nathan Camfield found alive. Flying into K.C. Int’l. via Bogota…”Now two men have the right to her daughter, her life, and her love. Will Daria return to her beloved first
husband, abandoning Cole? Or will she reject Nate and choose the only man her daughter has ever called “Daddy”--a man she has come to cherish with all her heart?

My review:
I received this book for the value fiction blog tour from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers.  The premise of this book sounded very interesting.  It seemed like a story that I had never heard before, and that the journey would keep me reading.  Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.  I did my best, gave it my 100 page try, but I couldn't make it through this book.

The writing is very, very detailed.  We read almost every thought and feeling the characters have, and everything they're doing at any given moment.  I know there are a lot of readers that enjoy this type of writing, but I have a hard time getting into stories like this. 

The average rating at Goodreads is 4.18 (out of 5), so I have a feeling that it's just me on this one, and it may be that I just wasn't in the mood for this one at this time.  I think that regular readers of Christian romance would love this book.  For more information on Beneath a Southern Sky, go here.

Original Sin

Title:  Original Sin
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Page Count: 442
Why I read it: received review copy from the publisher
Grade: C+

Synopsis:
Haunted by chilling memories of demonic possession and murder, Moira O’Donnell has spent seven years hunting down her mother, Fiona, whose command of black magic has granted her unprecedented control of the underworld. Now Moira’s global search has led her to a small California town that’s about to become hell on earth.

Tormented by his own terrifying past and driven by powers he can’t explain, ex-seminarian Rafe Cooper joins Moira’s dangerous quest. But Fiona is one devilish step ahead. Hungry for greater power, eternal youth, and stunning beauty, the sorceress is unleashing upon the mortal world the living incarnations of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Together with a demonologist, a tough female sheriff, and a pair of star-crossed teenagers, Moira and Rafe are humanity’s last chance to snatch salvation from the howling jaws of damnation.

My review:
Original Sin started off a little slow, and didn't really grab me up front.  When I was about 100 pages in or so, I started feeling like there must be a previous book with some of these characters, because events kept being eluded to in such a way that it seemed like there had been another book.  So I looked online, but there wasn't.  I guess it's just the author's style in giving backstory, just different than I'm used to.

But then things started picking up, and I got very interested in what was going to happen.  I knew going in that this was the first book in a series, so it probably wouldn't wrap up all neat and tidy, and it didn't.  I wasn't sure if I was going to continue on with the series, but because of something that was hinted at near the end, that I can't talk about because of spoilers, I'm going to have to read on.

I've never read a paranormal quite like this one.  The world was different, in that magic was bad.  Even in the characters who were good guys, or who wanted to do the right thing, using magic wasn't a good thing.  It's definitely a different idea, because usually in paranormal stories, although there are always bad witches/wizards, magic in itself is never inherently bad.

I would recommend this to fans of paranormal.  If you're not a paranormal reader, this probably isn't the place to start.