Tag Archives: Book Reviews

Book Review: The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz

Posted on by
1

Publish Date Jun 10, 2025 by Tyndale House Publishers | Tyndale Fiction

Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance

About the Story:

Lawyer James Kinney isn’t looking for love, and laundress Sara O’Connor doesn’t want to be found. When their paths cross in a British colony on the brink of rebellion, a marriage of convenience may be their best hope of survival.

Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with the neighbor children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O’Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant. For propriety’s sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara’s medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter’s life.

When Sara’s presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James offers an unexpected solution: become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady.

If Sara can ignore the sparks she feels when they’re together, his logical proposal could keep her secret secure forever. But soon, the forces of rebellion unravel their tidy arrangement. When James is accused of treason, Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband’s life.

My Thoughts:

The Lawyer and the Laundress is a beautiful faith based, wholesome, clean story blended with history of the British colony in Canada, 1837.

There aren’t too many fiction stories I’ve read based in Canada so I was delighted to chose this story and I was not disappointed in the slightest. Christine Hill Suntz story flows really well and she pulls the reader in with her fantastic character development. After I read this story, I went to search for her other works and discovered that this is her debut novel. Her characters Sara, Sara’s grandma, James, and Evie now hold a special place in my heart and I felt such a deeply emotional tie to their story as if they were my own family. I wanted to reach out and protect them from danger. That means a lot when a story evokes such emotions. Be sure to have a tissue box next to you while reading this story!

Christine Hill Suntz is now one of my new favorite Christian writers and I look forward to reading more of her stories.

I rated this book five stars! If there was an option for ten stars I would rate it thus.

My thanks and appreciation to Tyndale House Publishers for a galley copy though NetGalley for an honest review.

Stephanie

Book Review: The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans

Posted on by
2

Publish Date June 24, 2025 by Poisoned Pen Press

Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers

Years after leaving home due to her father’s suffocating and oppressive treatment, Estella receives a phone call from Annie-her family’s housekeeper-that she must come home. Estella’s father has had a stroke that caused his death and her mother has gone missing. When she returns home, everything is disjointed and up in the air and she takes a teaching position at the college where her father influence was powerful to say the least. Not only that, their family house is celebrated throughout the decades and her Father’s library holds rare books that her father closely guards and with strict orders, Estella is not allowed to touch the books.

With her father’s death, her mother missing and the war that is raging on, Estella must figure out how she will support Annie, the house and the gorgeous land it sits on. The more she looks into her father’s and mother’s life, she realizes how much she doesn’t know about them and the secrets they have kept.

This Gothic tale of mystery, buried secrets, death, family and local town intrigue begins slowly and half way through the story, unfolds in a major way. I must confess, at first, I didn’t have high hope for this story but as the plot reveals itself, you have a better understanding of why the story starts out the way it does. It gave me a better understanding of the-bread crumbs-if you will- the author was dropping. You won’t be shown an explanation of why the story is called “The Dark Library” until the second half of the book and it is a shocker! I did not see that coming a mile away. The premise of this story is unique and the author sure can weave a story of intrigue and deceptive people that leaves you trusting no one. The ending does tie up loose ends the reader wonders about and I want to encourage readers who might be frustrated with the beginning to rally on. You won’t regret it.

A truly atmospheric story with Gothic themes, deadly secrets and twisty turns of events that has you racing to the end to discover the deceptions, truths and the fate of Estella and the people in her life.

I rated this book four stars and I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Stephanie

Book Review: Murder at the Loch by Dee MacDonald

Posted on by
Reply

An Ally McKinley Mystery #2

Published March 3, 2025 by Bookouture

About the book:

Recent retiree Ally McKinley has stepped out with her puppy Flora for a walk by the loch in the tiny village of Locharran, taking a break from running the cosiest little guesthouse in the Highlands. But Ally’s peace and quiet is sunk when she and Flora find the body of a mysterious woman floating in the water…

Before she knows it, Ally finds herself wading into the middle of a new investigation. Who was the mystery woman and why was she killed? Her inquiries take her all over the from the corner shop and the nearby hotel to the turreted castle, home of local earl Hamish Sinclair where preparations are underway for his upcoming – and much gossiped about – wedding.

The body in the loch soon has the rumor mills buzzing. But then Elena, the earl’s new bride, is also found poisoned to death the morning after her marriage! With two deaths to investigate, the police appear to suspect almost everyone in Locharran, even Ally herself…

My thoughts:

Despite my enjoyment in cozy mysteries, they tend to be hit or miss with me. I’ve noticed that writers sometimes push the envelope-if you will-with this subgenre. What I like most about this genre is that you don’t have the usual run-of- the- mill graphic violence, profanity (kept to a minimum) or sex that a lot of mystery thrillers include. I love the idea of the murder happening off stage and how the story is written to reveal or discovery of the homicide. In this story, there are two murders that have taken place and we follow Ally McKinley in solving the case. I really enjoy her process of elimination of suspects and discovering motives for these crimes.

Murder at the Loch is an absorbing and entertaining mystery with an atmospheric setting and fantastic character development. Whenever a crime story takes place in a small village in the Highlands, I can’t wait to get my hands on the book. I love stories such as this one and Dee MacDonald certainly knows how to weave a captivating mystery. I will be on the lookout for more stories by this author.

My thanks to the publishers for providing me a review copy through NetGalley.

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 037: Upcoming Reads

Posted on by
1

I tend to read multiple books at once due to my moods, what I’m studying or what I’m reading for pleasure. I know many say they can’t read like that but I’ve been able to do so for a long time now. Look at it this way, people usually watch multiple tv shows on a weekly basis and are able to keep up with the plots and characters without any problems. Taking notes or talking with a friend about what you’re reading is a good idea. I also like to go back a few pages sometimes to immerse myself back into the story. That said, if I’m really into a story and I don’t want to put it down or can’t wait to get back to it, I will focus on that story before moving on to the next one. I have finished a few books since the last time I blogged about books and I’m hoping to move on to a few books I’ve listed below.

I’ve had, “One Good Thing” by Georgia Hunter in my currently reading pile for quite a while now and haven’t been able to finish it. For some reason, I’m just not able to get into the story. Perhaps it is because I’ve read so many World War II stories and I’m experiencing burnout. That has happened to me before with this theme. I want to give the story a fair critique so I will be putting it aside temporary.

Side note: There are many books I’m using for study that I haven’t blogged about as of yet or I study and reference them on an ongoing basis.  

Stephanie

The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman (I have an advance reader’s copy)

Pub Date Jul 29 2025 

In rural 1930s Virginia, a young immigrant mother fights for her dignity and those she loves against America’s rising eugenics movement – when widespread support for policies of prejudice drove imprisonment and forced sterilizations based on class, race, disability, education, and country of origin – in this tragic and uplifting novel of social injustice, survival, and hope for readers of Susan Meissner, Kristin Hannah, and Christina Baker Kline.

When Lena Conti—a young, unwed mother—sees immigrant families being forcibly separated on Ellis Island, she vows not to let the officers take her two-year old daughter. But the inspection process is more rigorous than she imagined, and she is separated from her mother and teenage brother, who are labeled burdens to society, denied entry, and deported back to Germany. Now, alone but determined to give her daughter a better life after years of living in poverty and near starvation, she finds herself facing a future unlike anything she had envisioned.

Silas Wolfe, a widowed family relative, reluctantly brings Lena and her daughter to his weathered cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to care for his home and children. Though the hills around Wolfe Hollow remind Lena of her homeland, she struggles to adjust. Worse, she is stunned to learn the children in her care have been taught to hide when the sheriff comes around. As Lena meets their neighbors, she realizes the community is vibrant and tight knit, but also senses growing unease. The State of Virginia is scheming to paint them as ignorant, immoral, and backwards so they can evict them from their land, seize children from parents, and deal with those possessing “inferior genes.”

After a social worker from the Eugenics Office accuses Lena of promiscuity and feeblemindedness, her own worst fears come true. Sent to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics, Lena face impossible choices in hopes of reuniting with her daughter—and protecting the people, and the land, she has grown to love.

Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together by Ilana Kurshan (I have an advance reader’s copy)

Pub Date Aug 26 2025

In Children of the Book, Ilana Kurshan explores the closeness forged when family life unfolds against a backdrop of reading together. Kurshan, a mother of five living in Jerusalem, at first struggles to balance her passion for literature with her responsibilities as a parent. Gradually she learns how to relate to reading not as a solitary pursuit and an escape from the messiness of life, but rather as a way of teaching independence and forging connection. Introducing her children to sacred and secular literature—including the beloved classics of her childhood—helps her become both a better mother and a better reader.

Chief among the books Kurshan reads with her children is the Five Books of Moses, known as the Torah, which Jews the world over read in synchrony as part of the liturgical cycle. In the five parts of this memoir, Kurshan explores the surprising resonances between the biblical text and her experiences as a mother and a reader – from the first picture books that create the world through language for little babies, to the moment our children begin reading on their own leaving us behind, atop the mountain, as they enter new lands without us. A testament to the enduring power of shared texts, Children of the Book celebrates the deep pleasures of books.

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans (I have an advance reader’s copy)

Pub Date Jun 24 2025

Estella Ecker has returned to Rockfall House, the last place on earth she wants to be. Years after she ran away from her overbearing father, she has been forced back home to walk in his footsteps, teaching at the college he dominated and living in the fabulous home where he entertained artists and scholars for decades—and perhaps she owns it now, because her mercurial mother has disappeared. At the center of everything—the whispers, the rumors, the secrets—is her father’s library of rare books, which she had been forbidden to touch while he was alive to stop her.

Everyone in town is watching Estella, with her dead father’s name on their lips, and no one seems to care about her missing mother. Who were her parents, really, and is the answer hidden somewhere in the depths of Rockfall House? And who will Estella be, if she gathers enough courage to find that answer? What she will discover is that no one can escape the secrets hidden in this dark library.

Suspenseful and unsettling but ultimately triumphant, The Dark Library by acclaimed author Mary Anna Evans is a compelling tale of mystery, family secrets, and the quest for truth.

Reader’s Log 036: Current Reads

Posted on by
7

I’ve got quite the collection of books I’m currently reading. I don’t usually have this many going at once but seeing as they are -for the most part-from different genres…For the exception of. “Letter from the Dead” and, “Murder at the Loch”. That said, those two mysteries couldn’t be more different. I’m just about finished with, “Murder at the Loch” and I just received, “Letters from the Dead” on Monday from the publishers. It has been ages since I’ve received a physical copy. That has been by design by me because of the volume of books I have in the house as it is and I’m currently working on acquiring physical copies of theology, ancient cultural background and early church history for studies.

Ever since I came back from a much-needed break from reviewing, I’ve only been reading books for review via ebook through NetGalley. I am listening to, “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” via audio-book and I’m really enjoying the story. I grew up knowing this story and it is among my favorites. Listening to the story is a real treat.

As far as reviews go, I do have a few coming up soon. Be on the lookout for those.

Stephanie

Letters from the Dead by Isabella Valeri

Expected publication Date: May 27, 2025 by Atria Books

For the first eleven years of her life, the precocious daughter of a great European family tracing its roots back more than fifteen generations, never set foot on land that her family didn’t own. Cloistered on a sprawling estate in the Alpine foothills, as the youngest sibling of her generation she has little knowledge of the dark forces gathering in the shadows to strike at her family. But, when her insatiable curiosity leads her to uncover a priceless text hidden hundreds of years before, she shines light into corners meant to be left in the dark and threatens to uncover secrets that could trigger an internecine battle for succession.

Then, with no warning or explanation, she is whisked away on a private jet and exiled to an elite but isolated all-girls boarding school in the United States. More than a decade later, now in her twenties, she finds her bank accounts abruptly frozen by her family. She is recalled from her affluent but empty existence abroad. Little does she know that her family has plans for her, including an arranged marriage. Worse, as she draws closer to discovering the horrific act that sent her into exile a decade before, and shadowy enemies close in on her family, she must face her most dangerous and powerful foe: her own father.

Murder at the Loch by Dee MacDonald

Recent retiree Ally McKinley has stepped out with her puppy Flora for a walk by the loch in the tiny village of Locharran, taking a break from running the coziest little guesthouse in the Highlands. But Ally’s peace and quiet is sunk when she and Flora find the body of a mysterious woman floating in the water…

Before she knows it, Ally finds herself wading into the middle of a new investigation. Who was the mystery woman and why was she killed? Her enquiries take her all over the from the corner shop and the nearby hotel to the turreted castle, home of local earl Hamish Sinclair where preparations are underway for his upcoming – and much gossiped about – wedding.

The body in the loch soon has the rumour mills buzzing. But then Elena, the earl’s new bride, is also found poisoned to death the morning after her marriage! With two deaths to investigate, the police appear to suspect almost everyone in Locharran, even Ally herself…

Determined to uncover the truth and clear her name, Ally finds poison at the home of one of her suspects and thinks she might be on the right path to solving both murders. But with a killer on the loose in the Scottish Highlands, can Ally unravel the clues before the next person in a watery grave is her?

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by by Jules Verne

When an unidentified “monster” threatens international shipping, French oceanographer Pierre Aronnax and his unflappable assistant Conseil join an expedition organized by the US Navy to hunt down and destroy the menace. After months of fruitless searching, they finally grapple with their quarry, but Aronnax, Conseil, and the brash Canadian harpooner Ned Land are thrown overboard in the attack, only to find that the “monster” is actually a futuristic submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by a shadowy, mystical, preternaturally imposing man who calls himself Captain Nemo. Thus begins a journey of 20,000 leagues—nearly 50,000 miles—that will take Captain Nemo, his crew, and these three adventurers on a journey of discovery through undersea forests, coral graveyards, miles-deep trenches, and even the sunken ruins of Atlantis. Jules Verne’s novel of undersea exploration has been captivating readers ever since its first publication in 1870, and Frederick Paul Walter’s reader-friendly, scientifically meticulous translation of this visionary science fiction classic is complete and unabridged down to the smallest substantive detail.

Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today’s Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity by David W. Bercot

Sex and money scandals. An exploding divorce rate. Drug-addicted youths. And an ever-growing worldliness. Today’s evangelical church is fighting battles on all fronts. And we seem to be losing these battles to the relentlessly encroaching world. Perhaps the answers to our problems are not in the present, but in the past. Because there was time when Christians were able to stand up to world.

The author takes you on an engrossing journey back to the time – back to the end of the first century. Here is an inspiring account of what Christians believed and practiced at the close of the age of the apostles – and how the church eventually lost the Christianity of that time.

But Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up is not primarily a history book. It’s a fresh, creative look at the problems facing the church today – and the solution to those problems. It’s a call for today’s church to return to the simple holiness, unfailing love, and patient cross-bearing of the early Christians.

Book Review: Every Precious and Fragile Thing by Barbara Davis

Posted on by
Reply

Pub Date Feb 18 2025 by Lake Union Publishing

Every Precious and Fragile Thing begins with Mallory Ward a social worker who loses a client due to a tragic death. The reader experiences heartache and shock right along with her and reader discovers this isn’t the only time she has been faced with lose of life in more ways than one. Not only that, Mallory and her mother Helen’s relationship is tattered and Mallory holds on to resentment beginning from her childhood into adulthood. She refuses to see that she is spiraling and her boss (who is also a friend) forces her to take the summer off work to deal with her unresolved issues and healing. With no where else to go, Mallory returns to childhood home on the Rhode Island coast and she is immediately is confronted with her fragile relationship with her mother and an unexpected person from her past that drove her away long ago.

Helen Ward has devoted decades of her life caring for the terminally ill and helping people prepare for their last moments on this earth. Her home is filled with keepsakes from her clients and she has always put her clients and work first leaving her daughter to feeling neglected and unloved. Unexpectedly Mallory appears and Helene has a chance to mend their relationship.

This story is told in multiple point of views with dual timelines that reveals secrets, horrible assumptions, loss, and heartache that threatens the healing of two families. Will they be able to forgive each other and come together to heal what is broken before it is too late?  

I felt every thread of the character’s emotion at the very core of my being. There were moments in the story that my vision was blinded by tears and as I write this now, I’m tearing up.

There are layers of themes in this story and one in particular is a something that has been on my mind for a long time: mortality. Over the years I’ve been studying many time periods in our world’s history and how approaching death or how one’s last moments in this life varies over time. Our relationship with death and how we approach those last moments shapes the very fabric of civilizations. This story put me front and center of this theme was superbly weaved though it’s pages.

I can not praise this story enough and find myself still playing the scenes in my mind that impacted me so. You know a story is worthy and unforgettable when it has moved you so much, you hold the characters in your heart.

Stephanie

I’ve rated this book five stars even though I would rate higher if I could.

My thanks to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review: Death Comes in Threes by Michael Jecks

Posted on by
Reply

Book 9 of A Bloody Mary Tudor Mystery

Pub Date Jan 07 by Severn House

Princess Elizabeth’s unlikely assassin finds himself on the hook for two murders in this light-hearted Tudor mystery series!

August, 1558. As London is bustling with growing trade from foreign lands, and Queen Mary’s health is once again a hot topic, Jack Blackjack has much to keep him busy. And that’s before his new tenant – a Dutch merchant – disappears under a cloud of suspicion, quickly presumed murdered, and Jack’s latest female companion’s body is found mere streets from her dwelling place.

People around Jack keep inconveniently getting murdered, and he seems to be the most likely culprit! With both the authorities and the unsavoury echelons of London on his tail, nowhere is safe for Jack to hide. He must go about proving his innocence – and uncovering the mirky truth – while ensuring he doesn’t find himself dancing the Tyburn jig!

The question is – can he rely on friends in high – and very low – places to get him out of this ever-increasing mess?

My thoughts:

I must caution you, stepping outside the door of your home and taking a stroll down the streets in 1558 London, may be at your peril. At least it is for Jack! How he manages to survive through the whole story is anyone’s guess. I would like to step inside the book and shake some sense into Jack.  Whichever way he seems to turn, he gets himself in a tight spot and also, he seems to have a knack at putting other lives in jeopardy. 

I enjoyed reading Jack’s adventures and his troubles he finds himself in is hilariously comical, and it is highly entertaining how others perceive the kind of man they believe Jack to be and when we read what Jack is thinking in the moment, it’s not like how others perceive him or is it? More times than not, the reader must discern if this was an actual character flaw in Jack or some clever ruse.

Jack is questioned or interrogated so many times, I don’t know how he keeps a clear mind with all his excuses. I couldn’t stop chuckling. My goodness! He says anything to just stay alive which is understandable in his situation.  

What a fun historical mystery!

I’ve rated this book four stars. Now I must read the other books in the series before this one. Stephanie Hopkins

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 030: New Arc’s

Posted on by
Reply

Titles for 2025

The New Year is almost upon us and many book lovers are sharing their anticipated reads for 2025. That has always been hard for me to do since I’m a mood reader. That said, I usually have a list of projected titles I want to achieve. Do I read all the titles on my curated lists I select to read in a year? Err… Not usually but in my defense, the lists I make do help in regards to keeping track of the books I want to read whether it be sooner or later. There is also something so satisfying about making book lists. I may have shard these thoughts before.

Now when it comes to reviewing ARCs, organizing is key. I’m pretty much set on 2025 ARC’s and I’m looking forward to a new year of book reviewing, discovering new titles, reading and sharing them. Below are three new ARC’s I’ve recently obtained. Excited!

What are some of the titles you are looking forward to in the new year? Are you a NetGalley member? No? I highly recommend becoming one.

Stephanie  

Every Precious and Fragile Thing by Barbara Davis

Pub Date Feb 18 2025 by Lake Union Publishing

Description:

A mother and daughter try desperately to reconcile just as a decades-old secret threatens to shatter their relationship forever in this powerful story from the bestselling author of The Echo of Old Books.

For social worker Mallory Ward, working with at-risk youth is a calling. But when one of her clients is tragically killed, she finds herself at a crossroads. Despite long-held resentments toward her distant mother, Mallory retreats to her childhood home on the Rhode Island coast to contemplate her future. Instead, she’s confronted by her past, not only in the renewed tensions with her mother but in the unexpected appearance of a familiar face—and the wrenching losses that drove her away a decade ago.

Helen Ward’s home is filled with precious keepsakes from her patients, a testament to decades spent caring for the terminally ill. Her work has always come first, though, leaving little time to connect with her daughter. Over the years, the rift between them has become a chasm, so when Mallory appears unannounced, Helen sees it as an opportunity to repair their broken relationship.

But hidden among Helen’s mementos are the keys to her past…and a terrible secret that threatens to destroy the fragile new trust between them forever.

No Precious Truth by Chris Nickson

Pub Date Apr 01 2025 by Severn House

Description:

The first in a brand-new WWII historical thriller series introduces Sergeant Cathy Marsden – a female police officer working for the Special Investigation Branch – who risks her life to protect the city of Leeds from an escaped German spy!

Leeds, 1941. As the war rages across Europe, Police Sergeant Cathy Marsden’s life since she was seconded to the Special Investigation Branch has remained focused on deserters and home-front crimes. Until now.

Things take a chilling turn when Cathy’s civil servant brother, Dan, arrives from London with a dark secret: he is working for the XX Committee – a special MI5 unit set up to turn German spies into double agents. But one of these agents has escaped and is heading for Leeds, sent to destroy targets key to the war effort. Suddenly Cathy and the squad are plunged into an unfamiliar world of espionage and subterfuge.

With the fate of the country and the war in the balance, failure is not an option, and Cathy must risk everything, including her own life, to stop a spy.

Trust Me On This by Lauren Parvizi

Pub Date Apr 08 2025 by Lake Union Publishing

Description:

Two half-sisters on a road trip to see their dying father end up miles from where they expected in an emotional novel about secrets, forgiveness, and what it means to be family by the author of La Vie, According to Rose.

Zahra Starling and her younger half-sister, Aurora, have nothing in common. Not their childhoods or their personalities. And certainly not their outlooks. After a terrible loss, Zahra prefers the solitude of her LA kitchen to people, especially family. Bubbly Aurora, a rising Hollywood starlet, has everything she’s ever dreamed of, except a relationship with her sister.

Then comes a plea from their dying father, who wants both daughters by his side. He has a secret to share that’s been a long time coming.

It’s Zahra’s last chance to bring closure to the past, even if traumatic memories mean there’s no way she’s stepping foot on a plane. For Aurora, road-tripping to Seattle is the perfect escape and the chance to win over prickly Zahra.

What starts as a rough ride reopening old wounds evolves into something neither expects. When they finally reach their destination—and the truth that awaits them—the sisters will need each other like never before.

Reader’s Log 023: Current Read and Difficult Passages

Posted on by
1

Differentiating between red herrings and explicit content for shock value or book sales in mystery-thrillers.  

Today, I thought I would share a book I’m currently reading and discuss a little about difficult passages that may be disturbing, or what one may feel is inappropriate. Oftentimes, a reader can come across a scene where they wished they hadn’t read or wish they had just skipped over entirely. But what should one do if they’re reviewing a book for the publisher or author and come across this problem? Should they just give up on the book entirely, or power through it, hoping for the best? Personally, I really think it depends on a few things.

Firstly, it depends on the type of reader you are and what you can handle or not handle. I’ve noticed through the decades the different stages I’ve gone through with reading material. What I will tolerate, what I deemed appropriate or inappropriate. What disturbs me and so forth… Like, is it just for shock value for book sales or does it serve a purpose to drive plot of the story? Does it attest to the character’s human nature and lifestyle? What are the purposes of these scenes?

There can also be that the theme or scene-if you will-upsets one’s psyche on a personal level. One must consider these things when reading physiological thrillers and literature as a whole. If you are a reader who reads widely, even then one can have limits and there is nothing wrong with that; one must use discernment in all things.

I’m currently reviewing an ARC of, “The Last Room on the Left” by Leah Konen at the invite via email from the publishers, and I’ve come across two difficult but brief scenes I could have-in all honestly- done without. It seriously had me pause and considered if I wanted to finish this story or not. The next morning, I reflected more on whether or not to continue with the story. The pause had me ask myself the question whether or not the difficult but brief scenes were a red herring or just shock value. As I read further, I came to the conclusion that they are definitely red herrings. To be honest, the old me would have probably given up on the book entirely. I’m glad I didn’t in this case and I believe the author did a good job with writing these scenes without dragging it out. They serve the right purpose in story-telling, in my opinion.

If you come across scenes when reading books for review, what is the standard you set for yourself, and do you ask or consider the questions I mentioned above?  

Edit: My review for, “The Last Room on the Left” by Leah Konen will be posted on January 4, 2025.

Stephanie

The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen

Expected publication January 14, 2025 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons – Penguin Random House

Kerry’s life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal—the one that was supposed to change everything—is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It’s the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh.

But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ . . .

Confessions of a Book Blogger with Holly

Posted on by
2

Holly size 1 300

Today on Layered Pages I’d like to welcome, a friend and fellow book blogger, Holly, to talk with me about blogging. She has some mighty interesting things to say on the subject!

 Holly, what is your blog’s name and address?

2 Kids and Tired Books 

When did you start a book blog and why?

I started my book blog in October of 2007.

I had a couple of friends who had blogs and I enjoyed reading them. I love to write and I’d missed having opportunities to write. So, one day in August of 2007, I just created a personal blog. Our extended family is literally worldwide so it was also a way to share our daily lives and pictures with them.

I have always loved reading and I realized that I would often read a book and later, not remember what I thought of it. So, the book blog grew out of my desire to remember what books I read and what I’d thought about them.

The reviewing part came about accidentally. As I posted my reviews, I met other reviewers through commenting and I discovered the world of review copies and ARCs. It exploded from there.

What are the kind of posts do you feature?

Mostly reviews. Occasionally a preview or highlight. Sometimes a giveaway. This year I’ve gotten to know some other book bloggers better and because of our associations, I’ve found more ideas for posts, including some monthly and weekly collaborations. It’s been a ton of fun and I’ve so enjoyed getting to know these terrific women. I’ve also added way too many books to my reading list because of them!

How often do you blog?

My goal is 3 times a week. My actual reading dropped last year because of some health issues so I haven’t been doing as many reviews. My goal is one review each week (usually on a Monday). Something bookish and funny, usually on a Wednesday. I do a weekly Cover Crush on Thursdays and a semi-regular, more personal Weekend Reflection post on Saturdays. Sometimes I meet all those goals, sometimes I don’t, occasionally I exceed them.

What are some of the positive feedback you have received?

Over the years, it’s been mostly positive. I’ve met some amazing people through blogging. Authors, publicists, fellow book bloggers.  Friendships and associations are the best parts of blogging.

On average, how many books do you review a year?

 Last year it was 39. My high since I started tracking was 163 in 2010. I don’t set any specific reading goals. I have learned that I enjoy reading more when I don’t have deadlines, even if it means reading fewer books.

What is your favorite genre?

I love historical fiction and Christian fiction. I want stories that resonate with characters that grow together as well as individually. I need an emotional connection. I seem drawn to books set in England during World War 2!

What is your less favorite?

Traditional romance novels. I don’t like the “bodice rippers” or books that seem to be simply excuses to write detailed sex scenes. Those aren’t romantic to me.

I don’t love horror/crime novels either, which is weird because I could watch a show like Bones, but I couldn’t stomach reading the novels the show is based on.

How do you feel about negative reviews?

I have a rant about negative reviews. Hopefully this will spare you that!

Negative reviews are normal. I think that honesty is important. When I read a review, I want to know what someone really thinks about a book. I don’t want a sanitized version of the jacket synopsis.

I don’t relish writing negative reviews, I don’t think anyone does. But a negative review doesn’t need to be an attack on an author. I have a disclaimer that says I don’t promise a positive review, but I promise an honest review and that while I will say what I don’t like about the book, I won’t attack the author.

It can’t be easy, as an author, to see negative reviews of something you’ve put your heart and soul into. Every writer has an idea in their mind of what they want their books to say and how they want them received. Every reader has expectations about books, whether from what is clearly printed on the back of the book, their own experiences or other reviews. To have every reader love and adore the book like they do is incredibly unrealistic for any author.

Sorry. Was that ranting?

When considering a book to review what do you look for?

If I see a book that only has 5 stars, I question it because my first assumption is that all of those reviews must be from the author’s family and friends.

When I am looking at reviews to see if I want to read a particular book, I actually look at the 2 and 4 star reviews because I think they are the most honest. I want to know how the reader felt. I appreciate knowing ahead of time if there is explicit sex or profanity because that will affect my decision to read it.

The cover plays a big part because it is usually the first thing I see and a striking cover will tempt me to read the synopsis.  Recommendations from friends carry a lot of weight too.

List three book covers you love.

Covers are so important. Three more recent covers I’ve loved are:

Confectionaers tale

 I will see you in paris II

the girl on the train

How do you feel about authors using social media to speak out or badly of reviewers who did not give the author’s book a glowing review?

 It’s wrong. There is no reason in anything to be mean. Readers can review a book negatively without criticizing or bashing an author and authors need to be appreciative that people are reading their books, because even a negative review is publicity and there have been times that a negative review has caused me to look further into a particular book or author.

It serves no purpose to speak badly of anyone, reader or author, on social media. When I see authors go after reviewers who write negative reviews, whether on Amazon or Goodreads, it affects my impressions of them and will almost guarantee that I never read any of their books. In the same vein, a reviewer who is unnecessarily harsh and critical of an author can put that reviewer in a bad light as well.

Have you had any negative experience with blogging?

 I have had two specific experiences where authors took offense at negative reviews even when they claim to have respected my opinion. Each time they tried to tell me why my opinion was wrong. In the first one, it was the first negative review I’d written and I did go back and softened a couple of sentences because I realized in hindsight they were unnecessarily harsh, but I didn’t change my review. It did teach me a lesson and it’s where I realized that one can and should be kind even when writing a negative review.

In the second experience, the author and/or friends created blogger profiles simply to comment on my post and tell me my opinions about the book were wrong. Because I try very hard to be fair in my reviews that experience really put a damper on my desire to review for awhile.

Do you read more than one book at a time?

Occasionally. I’ve learned that I often need to be in a particular mood to read certain books. I might set one aside unfinished and pick up a different one. Sometimes I just switch back and forth. Most of the time though, I read one until it’s finished.

Do you read self-published books? If so which ones have you read this year so far?

Early on in reviewing, I accepted nearly every book that came my way. Many of those were self-published and many of those were not well written. I used to get a lot of free books from Amazon and most of those ended up being self-published. Too many of those were also not well written or even edited. I applaud and commend people for writing and publishing themselves. But, I wish more would go through an editing process with a professional. Every book needs editing and proofing. Every book.

Because of those experiences, I stepped away from self-published books. If a cover looked self-published, I didn’t even consider it. Becoming acquainted with indieBRAG has changed that for me. I’m learning that there are some fantastic self-published books and it’s important to get them out there and known.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting a blog?

Blogging takes time and passion.

Be thoughtful in your posts. Proofread and edit them. It takes time to build relationships with publicists and eventually receive free books. Places like Netgalley often require you to have an established blog presence. Review books you’ve already read and own, or find them at your library at first to build your blog.

Utilize places like Goodreads as well as Facebook and Twitter. If you like authors, follow them. Do some book-related memes. Weekly memes like Booking Through Thursday or Mailbox Monday has helped me get to know other bloggers and increase my readership. I’ve even participated in linky parties that help to get visibility for posts.

Get to know other bloggers. Read their posts, comment on their posts, and share their posts on social media. They will share yours. That is huge and building those relationships leads to so much more fulfilling blog experiences.

Awesome questions Stephanie! Thanks for the opportunity to chat. Loved it!

Thank you, Holly! Enjoyed our chat very much!

Stay calm and support book bloggers