Category: Book Recommendations

My Favorite Read of July 2022

Just when you think this war has taken everything you loved, you meet someone and realize that somehow you still have more to give.

Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

Goodreads Synopsis

While the Titanic and Lusitania are both well-documented disasters, the single greatest tragedy in maritime history is the little-known January 30, 1945 sinking in the Baltic Sea by a Soviet submarine of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a German cruise liner that was supposed to ferry wartime personnel and refugees to safety from the advancing Red Army. The ship was overcrowded with more than 10,500 passengers — the intended capacity was approximately 1,800 — and more than 9,000 people, including 5,000 children, lost their lives.

Sepetys (writer of ‘Between Shades of Gray’) crafts four fictionalized but historically accurate voices to convey the real-life tragedy. Joana, a Lithuanian with nursing experience; Florian, a Prussian soldier fleeing the Nazis with stolen treasure; and Emilia, a Polish girl close to the end of her pregnancy, converge on their escape journeys as Russian troops advance; each will eventually meet Albert, a Nazi peon with delusions of grandeur, assigned to the Gustloff decks. 

My Thoughts

Every time I think I’ve had enough of reading about WWII, I find a book with a book with a different perspective. I knew nothing about the Wilhelm Gustloff. I love learning about events that should be considered major historical events, but somehow get lost. This is listed as YA, but I would consider it adult. I think that teenagers could read and enjoy it. However only one of the four main characters is in the YA age range. I wouldn’t want an adult to miss out on the book thinking it wasn’t for them.

What I liked about this book:

  • It’s an event that hasn’t been written about a lot in historical fiction novels
  • The characters are complex, and their secrets aren’t revealed immediately, but they aren’t drawn out so long that it becomes frustrating to the reader.
  • I loved the shoemaker character. He is a minor character, but I love the way he adds touches of humor and sentimentality to scenes.

My Favorite Read of June 2022

She knew that love was the answer, but it was more than love- or rather more than the marshmallow kind of love that people understood when they thought of the word. Sometimes love meant you had to take the hard line and had to force people to do things they didn’t want to do.

Dale Mayer, Aaron (Hathaway House, bk 1)

Goodreads Synopsis

Former Navy SEAL Aaron Hammond has no idea how he wound up at Hathaway House, Texas. Nor does he particularly care. All he can see is his anger. Anger at the betrayal that destroyed his physical body and at the loss of the future he wanted but that he’ll never have now. He’s a cripple, less than half a man, and all he can look forward to is a half life, alone with himself and his pain.

Dani Hathaway runs Hathaway House with her father, an ex-military man nicknamed the Major, and she knew Aaron and his brother SEAL Levi in another life. Levi was a good friend to her through her difficult teen years, but it was Aaron who caught her eye more than a decade ago. When she heard what happened to him, she moved heaven and earth to get him to Hathaway House, where she could help him regain his health and return him to the man he used to be.

Old feelings resurface as Dani continues to push Aaron to acknowledge that his life is not over, and that, if he chooses, he can find both love and a future at Hathaway House.

Welcome to Hathaway House. Rehab Center. Safe Haven. Second chance at life and love. 

My thoughts

I downloaded the free ebook version of Aaron by Dale Mayer for a quick romance. Which it was, but there was more depth than I was expecting. Even though the story is primarily a romance, it is equally about healing. Like most people, Aaron doesn’t accept help easily. HIs time at Hathaway house helps him to realize that we all need help at times, and there’s no shame in accepting the kindness of others.

What I loved about this book:

  • Aaron and Dani were both likeable characters
  • I love the idea of Hathaway House, a full rehabilitation center for both veterans and animals
  • It was a great set up for future books in the series (there are 18 as of now)

My Favorite Read of May 2022

“All this time, I’ve been afraid of my ability, when instead I should have been regarding it as a treasured weapon.”

Namina Forna, The Gilded Ones

Goodreads synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.

My thoughts:

I haven’t read a book like this in a while. There’s enough craziness going on in the world, so I didn’t feel like reading anything with dystopian themes. This one appealed to me because of its “girl power” message. I enjoyed Deka’s journey as she discovered her own power. She is a dynamic character who changes greatly throughout the book.

This book is definitely on the older end of YA as it deals with issues of physical and sexual abuse. However, I found the overall message to be powerful for young girls. It shows strength and the power to overcome obstacles without downplaying the long-term effects of trauma. Above all, it showed the value of female friendship and standing together.

What I loved about this book:

  • Complex characters that are developed
  • Strong friendships
  • BIPOC and LGBQT+ characters as leads without race or sexuality being the main focus
  • Lots of action
  • A pet kitten that can transform into a dragon!

My Favorite Read of April 2022

Under the Whispering Door
Under the Whispering Door

I’ve been waiting for this one. I finished reading it on April 2, but already knew it was going to be my favorite read of the month. It’s not just my favorite read for April, it’s one of my favorite reads ever.

Goodreads Synopsis

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.

Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop’s owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.

But Wallace isn’t ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo’s help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.

When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Under the Whispering Door is a contemporary fantasy about a ghost who refuses to cross over and the ferryman he falls in love with. 

Things I loved about this book

  • Original concept: I loved this interpretation of the afterlife, where people are given time on Earth to adapt to being dead before crossing over
  • The characters: There are so many great, diverse characters in this book.
  • The message: the story has a great message about how to live your life and what really matters
  • Humor: When I read the description of this book, I had no idea how funny it would be. Not many books make me both laugh and cry, and this one did

My favorite read of March 2022

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Shadow and Bone is the first installment in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy

My Thoughts:

This is the third book I’ve read by Bardugo. Her world building is so thorough that it can take a few chapters to understand. Once you understand the world, the books are amazing. Since Alina didn’t initially know about her powers, the reader is learning about the Grisha world along with her. There are so many twists and ambiguous characters and situations, that I couldn’t stop reading. I am especially fascinated by the Darkling and can’t wait to see how the character develops throughout the series.

You Might like this book if books….

on the edge of YA and adult

with complex, original, magical worlds

where characters discover hidden powers

Here are more of my favorite reads of 2022: Favorite Reads of 2022

Six for Sunday- 3/20/22: Books to get you out of a reading slump

#SixforSunday is a meme hosted by A Little But A Lot. This week’s topic is books to get people out of reading slumps. I tried to think of a different reasons someone might be in a reading slump when choosing my recommendations. Some of them are just really fun and that’s what we need when we’re in a slump. Others appeal to a range of readers or depart from what is expected in their genre.

Recursion

Recursion was a departure from my usual reading habits that turned out to be one of my favorite reads last year. It’s filled with twists and turns that make the reader think.

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Silent in the Grave is the first book in the Lady Julia Grey series. This book is a perfect blend of mystery, historical fiction and romance. The quirky members of the Grey family add plenty of comic relief as well.

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The Bookshop on the Corner is a book about matching people to books, that will make you laugh out loud. What better way to get out of reading slump?

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The Last Train to Key West was my favorite read of 2021. This follows the formula of a lot of contemporary fiction, with multiple stories that are interconnected. It just does it better than most of them.

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My (not so) Perfect Life is one of the funniest books I’ve read. But, it also makes a statement on the affect social media has on all of our perceptions of those around us.

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Let’s Pretend this Never Happened was recommended to me on goodreads. At the time I wasn’t familiar with Jenny Lawson’s blog. I’ve since become a follower. You’re so busy laughing that you don’t even realize that your reading about serious problems.

My favorite read of February 2022: The Pirate Vishnu by Gigi Pandian

Pirate Vishnu (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery, #2)
The Pirate Vishnu

Goodreads Synopsis:

A century-old treasure map of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast. Sacred riches from India. Two murders, one hundred years apart. And a love triangle… Historian Jaya Jones has her work cut out for her.

1906. Shortly before the Great San Francisco Earthquake, Pirate Vishnu strikes the San Francisco Bay. An ancestor of Jaya’s who came to the U.S. from India draws a treasure map…

Present Day. Over a century later, the cryptic treasure map remains undeciphered. From San Francisco to the southern tip of India, Jaya pieces together her ancestor’s secrets, maneuvers a complicated love life she didn’t count on, and puts herself in the path of a killer to restore a revered treasure.

My Thoughts:

This is the second full length book in the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery series. The character relationships will make more sense if you’ve read Artifact, but it could be read as a standalone. All of her life, Jaya Jones has been told stories about her Great Uncle Anand who died rescuing a friend during the San Fransisco Earthquake. But, then a lawyer shows up at her door with a treasure map that implies he might not have been so heroic after all. When the lawyer is murdered, Jaya knows there’s more to the story. I really like Pandian’s storytelling technique. She alternates between Jaya’s investigation and flashbacks of her ancestor. It’s a light, cozy mystery series, but I also learned about Indian history and culture.

You might like this book if…

You prefer lighter mysteries without graphic violence

You have an interest in history

You like treasure hunts

More of my favorite reads of 2022

My Favorite Read for January 2022

The Queen's Fortune
The Queen’s Fortune

Goodreads Synopsis:

As the French revolution ravages the country, Desiree Clary is faced with the life-altering truth that the world she has known and loved is gone and it’s fallen on her to save her family from the guillotine.

A chance encounter with Napoleon Bonaparte, the ambitious and charismatic young military prodigy, provides her answer. When her beloved sister Julie marries his brother Joseph, Desiree and Napoleon’s futures become irrevocably linked. Quickly entering into their own passionate, dizzying courtship that leads to a secret engagement, they vow to meet in the capital once his career has been secured. But her newly laid plans with Napoleon turn to sudden heartbreak, thanks to the rising star of Parisian society, Josephine de Beauharnais. Once again, Desiree’s life is turned on its head.

Swept to the glittering halls of the French capital, Desiree is plunged into the inner circle of the new ruling class, becoming further entangled with Napoleon, his family, and the new Empress. But her fortunes shift once again when she meets Napoleon’s confidant and star general, the indomitable Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. As the two men in Desiree’s life become political rivals and military foes, the question that arises is: must she choose between the love of her new husband and the love of her nation and its Emperor?

From the lavish estates of the French Riviera to the raucous streets of Paris and Stockholm, Desiree finds herself at the epicenter of the rise and fall of an empire, navigating a constellation of political giants and dangerous, shifting alliances. Emerging from an impressionable girl into a fierce young woman, she discovers that to survive in this world she must learn to rely upon her instincts and her heart.

Allison Pataki’s meticulously researched and brilliantly imagined novel sweeps readers into the unbelievable life of a woman almost lost to history—a woman who, despite the swells of a stunning life and a tumultuous time, not only adapts and survives but, ultimately, reigns at the helm of a dynasty that outlasts an empire.

My thoughts:

I love fiction that focuses on the lesser-known historical figures. Before reading this book, I knew almost nothing about Desiree Clary. She was engaged to Napoleon Bonaparte, until he met Josephine. Even after the engagement ends, Napoleon’s influence dominates her life. Yet, in the end, she is the one whose blood still flows through European royalty. I found her story fascinating.

You might like this book if…

…you are interested in French or Swedish history

…like stories centered on female characters and their relationships

….you like to read about people who were participants in major historical events, rather than the “main character”

My Favorite Read for December 2021

Dial A for Aunties
Dial A for Aunties

Goodreads synopsis:

When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind date, her meddlesome mother calls for her even more meddlesome aunties to help get rid of the body. Unfortunately, a dead body proves to be a lot more challenging to dispose of than one might anticipate, especially when it is inadvertently shipped in a cake cooler to the over-the-top billionaire wedding Meddy, her Ma, and aunties are working at an island resort on the California coastline. It’s the biggest job yet for the family wedding business—”Don’t leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!“—and nothing, not even an unsavory corpse, will get in the way of her auntie’s perfect buttercream flowers.

But things go from inconvenient to downright torturous when Meddy’s great college love—and biggest heartbreak—makes a surprise appearance amid the wedding chaos. Is it possible to escape murder charges, charm her ex back into her life, and pull off a stunning wedding all in one weekend? 

My thoughts:

This was such a fun read. When her blind date is too aggressive, Meddy accidentally kills him. The situation snowballs and soon Meddy, her mother and aunts are in the middle of a huge cover-up. While the situation is crazy, Sutanto does a great job creating insane , yet realistic, family dynamics.

This book is perfect for readers who like

…loving, meddling families

… second generation immigrant stories

… crazy, humorous situations

… second chance romance

My Favorite Read of December 2022: The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner

“Sometimes what you want is given to you in a way that is so very different from how you had pictured getting it.”

— Susan Meissner, The Last Year of the War

Goodreads Synopsis

Elise Sontag is a typical Iowa fourteen-year-old in 1943–aware of the war but distanced from its reach. Then her father, a legal U.S. resident for nearly two decades, is suddenly arrested on suspicion of being a Nazi sympathizer. The family is sent to an internment camp in Texas, where, behind the armed guards and barbed wire, Elise feels stripped of everything beloved and familiar, including her own identity.

The only thing that makes the camp bearable is meeting fellow internee Mariko Inoue, a Japanese-American teen from Los Angeles, whose friendship empowers Elise to believe the life she knew before the war will again be hers. Together in the desert wilderness, Elise and Mariko hold tight the dream of being young American women with a future beyond the fences.

My Thoughts:

There’s no shortage of dual any different angles. I liked that this one focused on a German American family. You hear about the Japanese internment camps in America, but I’ve never heard much about what happened to Germans living in America.

What I liked about the book:

  • Focus on female friendship and how the bond remains despite decades of separation
  • the German American focus
  • the Sontag’s are an average family who considered themselves Americans

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