Tag Archives: books

Book Review: The Married Man by K.L. Slater

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Pub Date: Nov 01 2024 by Bookouture

Choices in life have consequences.

Eleven years ago, Liv’s husband Rich and their son Maddox left the house to fly a kite at a park and she began to worry they had not returned home. A storm was brewing, and it was not like her husband to not respond to her calls or texts. She began to search for them and soon after, her son was discovered but her husband was nowhere to be found.  Soon after, Liv changed her name and she and her son moved to start a new life.

As the years go by the authorities declared Liv’s husband dead despite never finding his body.  As Maddox got older his attitude and behavior became troubling to Liv and the school he attends. While her concerns for her son grow, a woman named Kait appears and claims that she is Rich’s wife, and she believes her husband-whose name is Daniel- is the son of Maddox.

Detectives, Helena and Brewster are investigating a case that leads them to Maddox and the detectives find themselves trying to connect the dots of what on the surface seems to be two different situations.

Liv has been hiding secrets as to why her husband disappeared all those years ago and her troubles are about to explode, and her life is spiraling out of control.

At first, I couldn’t stop asking myself if there was one redeemable or likeable character in this story. Nothing is as it should be, and everyone has something to hide. When secrets and lies start to reveal themselves, I felt like I just experienced whiplash. There are so many turns of events going in many different directions but oddly enough, they are all connected. When I began to think I had figured it out, another detail came to light, and I was shocked all over again.

What an extraordinary psychological thriller.  K.L. Slater certainly knows how to weave a thrilling story.

Stephanie

I obtained an ARC from Bethany House through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 014: Favorite Books?

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I love hearing people talk about which books are their favorites. For me, when someone ask what my favorite books are, is a very difficult question for me because I have so many categories! That said, I always begin with the classics. Hands down, if I were only to choose one book it would always be the Holy Bible. Its funny, there are moments when I’ve been out and about and either a random person or an employee of a store, would ask me what my favorite books are. I think depending where my head is at the moment, oftentimes I get stuck with the question. Strange how that works. Thinking back about my blogging, I believe-if I remember correctly- I have avoided this topic perhaps for that reason. Or maybe because-in all seriousness-there are too many to name. Particularly if you’re an avid reader.

Where shall I begin in this post? Childhood reads? The classics like I always do? How about not planning which books and listing a bunch of classics off the top of my head as quick as I can? That would be fun to see what I can come up with. Let’s begin, shall we?

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Middle March by George Eliot

Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy

Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy  

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

The Portrait of a Lady Henry James

The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Anne of Green Gables L.M. Montgomery

There are so many more…

These book titles are not in any particular order.

Have you read any of these books? Out of this list, which are your favorites? This may be a fun topic to explore further.

I highly recommend these books to all.

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 013: Book Spotlight

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Librarians of Lisbon by Suzanne Nelson

A WWII Story of Love and Espionage

Pub Date Feb 04 2025 by Zando Projects

352 pages

Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance

When I come across a book title with the word’s bookstore, bookseller, librarian or libraries, it is a sure bet I’m going to want to check it out and perhaps add it to my to-read pile. What is even more intriguing is that this story takes place during World War II in Lisbon. I can’t remember if I’ve read a historical story that takes place there. Isn’t the book cover nice? For those of you who are NetGalley members, this one is available to request a copy.

Stephanie

Description

In a glittering city of secrets and shadows, love is the most perilous gamble of all.

Lisbon 1943. As two American librarians are drawn into a city of dangerous subterfuge and unexpected love affairs, they are forced to choose between their missions and the men they love. Brimming with evocative writing and meticulous research, award-winning author Suzanne Nelson spins a web of secret aliases, sweeping romance, and great sacrifice. Inspired by real historical figures, this is the captivating story of two remarkable young women, their bravery and heartache, and a friendship that withstands the ravages of war.

With World War II raging across Europe, best friends Selene Delmont and Beatrice Sullivan are enlisted by the U.S. Intelligence Office and sent to Lisbon—a sparkling city and hotbed of trouble, harboring exiled royalty, hunted refugees, and spies trading double-edged secrets in seductively dark corners. In official capacity, librarians Selene and Bea have been recruited to catalog the vast mountain of information gathered by the Allies, but by night, both women are undercover agents tasked with infiltrating the Axis spy network.

Where Selene is confident and brash, Bea is bookish and careful. Selene longs to escape her family’s impossible expectations and embrace her independence, while all Bea wants is to heal from heartbreak and keep impulsive Selene out of trouble. But soon, both librarians are caught up in treacherous games of deception alongside two of Lisbon’s most notorious men—the outcast Portuguese baron, Luca Caldeira, and the lethal double-agent, Gable. As Selene charms her way through lavish ballrooms and fêtes with Luca, Bea is plunged into Gable’s shadowy underworld of informants.

Reader’s Log 011: Book Stacks Part 4

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library.

I reviewed, “The House Between Tides” by Sarah Maine back in October 11, 2016 and I remember being really intrigued with the story. Imagine a house on a small island in Scottish Western Isles that is have prehistorical structures. Though, “The House Between Tides” is a modern story that blends with a story in the not too distant past. This story is about a woman who inherits a house that was owned by her relative Theo Blake who was a painter. The house is crumbling and basically in ruins. When human remains are discovered, her plans change…

I love these kinds of stories blended with mystery and atmospheric surroundings. I must confess, I have not read any of the author’s other works.  

About the Book:

Pub Date: Aug 02 2016 by Atria Books

Following the death of her last living relative, Hetty Deveraux leaves London and her strained relationship behind for Muirlan, her ancestral home in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. She intends to renovate the ruinous house into a hotel, but the shocking discovery of human remains brings her ambitious restoration plans to an abrupt halt before they even begin. Few physical clues are left to identify the body, but one thing is certain: this person did not die a natural death.

Hungry for answers, Hetty discovers that Muirlan was once the refuge of her distant relative Theo Blake, the acclaimed painter and naturalist who brought his new bride, Beatrice, there in 1910. Yet ancient gossip and a handful of leads reveal that their marriage was far from perfect; Beatrice eventually vanished from the island, never to return, and Theo withdrew from society, his paintings becoming increasingly dark and disturbing.

What happened between them has remained a mystery, but as Hetty listens to the locals and studies the masterful paintings produced by Theo during his short-lived marriage, she uncovers secrets that still reverberate through the small island community—and will lead her to the identity of the long-hidden body.

Other books by Sarah Maine I would like to read:

Women of the Dunes

Beyond the Wild River

The Forgotten Shore

Check out the previous book picks in this blog series:

Reader’s Log 002: Book Stacks Part I

Reader’s Log 005: Book Stacks Part 2

Reader’s Log 009: Book Stacks Part 3

May this series inspire you and perhaps you will discover books you want to add to your stacks.

Stephanie Hopkins

Book Review: The Murderess by Laurie Notaro

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First published October 8, 2024 by Little A

Book Description:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro comes a haunting true-crime novel about Winnie Ruth Judd, one of the twentieth century’s most notorious and enigmatic killers.

It’s October 1931. When Winnie Ruth Judd arrives at the Los Angeles train station from Phoenix, her shipping trunks catch the attention of a suspicious porter. By the time they’re pried open, revealing the dismembered bodies of two women inside, Ruth has disappeared into the crowd.

The search for, and eventual apprehension of, the Trunk Murderess quickly becomes a headline-making sensation. Even the Phoenix murder house is a sideshow attraction. The one question on everyone’s How could a twenty-six-year-old reverend’s daughter and doctor’s wife—petite, pretty, well educated, and poised—commit such a heinous act on two people she’d called “my dearest friends in the world”? Everyone has their theories and judgments, but no one knows the whole truth.

My Thoughts:

In the mind of Winnie Ruth Judd is a troubling place to be to say the least. Did Ruth actually commit the murders? Did she have help or did someone else murder those poor girls? We will never know what really happened in the bungalow the day of the murders but Notaro gives the reader a believable plausibility leading up to and the day it happened.

So many people couldn’t believe Ruth could commit these murders and it is no wonder. She came across naturally thoughtful, unassuming and kind. That said, Notaro shows another side to her and it is manic at times. You won’t know what is real or not real when you step inside the mind of Winnie Ruth Judd.

I must confess, due to the graphic details of their deaths and the circumstances of Ruth’s mental state and what she went through had me pause at first. Could I get through this story unscathed? Surprisingly I did but this story was a deeply emotional one, disturbing, and wrought in such tragic events. The topics may be triggering to some. I will say, I had to step away a few times to get a grip on what I was feeling while reading this story.

When I got about half way through the book, I did a bit of research on my own about this crime. I had not heard of this case before or the people involved. Quite frankly, I was blown away by it which is a bit of a shock about the details considering I read true crime often. From what I researched, the author of this book has weaved a brilliant story of what-ifs and her character development and narrative is fantastic.

Stephanie Hopkins

I obtained an ARC from Little A through NetGalley for an honest review.

Side Bar: (10/12/2024) After I posted this review, I kept thinking I’ve missed something I wanted to share. Actually, there is a lot but I can’t give spoilers. One thing I really wanted to get across is how well Notaro established Ruth’s relationship with both Sammy and Ann leading up to the murders. That is important and made Ruth’s mental state more impactful to the story. There is so much complexity to the story which gives readers much to ponder. Also, there is Ruth’s husband that had severe problems as well and I absolutely hated what he did to Ruth. Sometimes when I come across stories that make quite the impression on me, I struggle at times knowing where to begin talking about it. I had definitely thought about discussing the apparent mental illness of Ruth a bit more and the choices we make-big or small-can change life circumstances within an instant. That is brilliantly shown in this story.

I would also like to state that there are some triggering themes in this story. I did state that as much in my review but wanted to talk a little more about it. The triggers: Forced abortion, graphic murder and body dismemberment, drug addiction, possible rape while being drugged, and mental illness. While these themes are heinous and traumatic, to say the least, I have to give credit for the author’s handling of these topics. Normally I would have just given up on the story but for the exception of having to take a few breaks to compose myself, I got through it.

Reader’s Log 009: Book Stacks Part 3

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library.

I reviewed, “The Summer Before the War” by Helen Simonson back in March of 2016 and remember enjoying it very much. At that time, I had not read many stories centered around World War I and this story inspired me to study the history more in-depth.

I believe this book will be a nice addition to my home library. I also would like to read the book again-of course. I’m curious as to what I would think of the story now.

Stephanie Hopkins

The Summer Before the War

by Helen Simonson

Pub Date: Mar 22 2016 by Random House

About the Book:

East Sussex, 1914. It is the end of England’s brief Edwardian summer, and everyone agrees that the weather has never been so beautiful. Hugh Grange, down from his medical studies, is visiting his Aunt Agatha, who lives with her husband in the small, idyllic coastal town of Rye. Agatha’s husband works in the Foreign Office, and she is certain he will ensure that the recent saber rattling over the Balkans won’t come to anything. And Agatha has more immediate concerns; she has just risked her carefully built reputation by pushing for the appointment of a woman to replace the Latin master.

When Beatrice Nash arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books, it is clear she is significantly more freethinking—and attractive—than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. For her part, mourning the death of her beloved father, who has left her penniless, Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing.

But just as Beatrice comes alive to the beauty of the Sussex landscape and the colorful characters who populate Rye, the perfect summer is about to end. For despite Agatha’s reassurances, the unimaginable is coming. Soon the limits of progress, and the old ways, will be tested as this small Sussex town and its inhabitants go to war.

Check out the previous book picks:

Reader’s Log 002: Book Stacks Part I

Reader’s Log 005: Book Stacks Part 2

May this series inspire you and perhaps you will discover books you want to add to your stacks.

Stephanie Hopkins

Book Review: A Feast of Folklore by Ben Gazur

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The Bizarre Stories Behind British Food

Pub Date Sep 26 2024 by Unbound

About the Book:

Folklorist Ben Gazur guides you through the dark alleys of British history to uncover how our food habits have been passed down through generations of folklore.

Who was the first person to throw salt over their shoulder? Why do we think carrots can help us see in the dark? When did we start holding village fairs to honour gigantic apple pies? Or start hurling ourselves down hills in pursuit of a wheel of cheese? Gazur investigates the origins of famous food superstitions as well as much more bizarre and lesser-known tales too, from what day the devil urinates on blackberries to how to stop witches using eggshells as escape boats.

My Thoughts:

I’ve never really thought of food in people’s homes to be some sort of aspect of folklore until coming across this book. Or maybe I have in passing, but I have thought of or know of foods of having traditional meanings-such as when religious traditions are practiced, dietary needs, or for warding off sickness and healing. It is safe to say we incorporate these things into our lives often without stopping to think of its origins, cultural significance or if they come from superstition. Without a doubt, like many things in history, it is lost to us but now we have, “A Feast of Folklore” to enlighten and entertain us in the most perfectly written way.

When you read this book, you will soon realize that there is a folklore for everything! I could not stop laughing and I have to say the absurdity of us humans are brilliantly displayed throughout in this book. There are also the fabulous illustrations throughout and not only that, “A Feast of Folklore” has a truly engaging narrative that keeps you turning the pages for more. Truth be told, I still can’t get over how many folklore’s there are that comes from food. For example: Who should or should not make butter because of the color of their hair. Or what you can do to get free cheese and why one should eat walnuts or when you should plant crops. And why a family would keep a half-cut onion in their pantry. The list goes on…

What an outstanding book! I can’t praise it enough. I will definitely be adding a physical copy to my book stacks and reading its pages many times over.

Stephanie Hopkins

I obtained an ARC from Unbound through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 008: Book Haul

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This past week and weekend we had family visit and Saturday we went to our local Half Price Books store and loaded up! It is not often I find more than two books on my wish-list in one visit. I scored four on my list and I’m quite happy with my finds. I also purchased two books from Costco and got, “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon at our neighborhood’s free library where you swap out books. In total, I acquired seven books and started reading two of them over the weekend. With my galley reads, I’m all booked up and reading for a spectacular fall season of reading. I almost forgot to mention another book I was just approved for through NetGalley! So, I guess that makes eight books. I may hold off on reading, “The Frozen River” and pick it up late fall or early winter.

Do you have a book list or stacks of books you want to read this fall? What usually are your go-to genres for the season? I find that with my moods. I normally read mystery thrillers-as usual-set in the past, modern times or a dual time-line. For non-fiction reading, I like to read true crime and history. Funny that, because I tend to stick to that year round but the true crime more so in the fall. This doesn’t include my other history and research studies (Biblical, Ancient History, 1st Century AD and church fathers) I delve in year round. Yeah, that is a lot. I have a system in place and it works. I tend to be a bit of an information junkie one might say. That and I love studying history in general.

Stephanie Hopkins

NetGalley Book: Murder at the Manor

by Colin Wade

Pub Date Sep 28 2024 by The Book Guild

Description:

The Cotswold Manor Hotel welcomes an eclectic mix of guests, and on one fateful Friday evening, two witnesses overhear an argument in a neighbouring room, followed by a loud thud. The next morning, the maid discovers the room has been vacated; all that remains is a dried bloodstain on the carpet.

Detective Chief Inspector Chloe Taylor attends the scene, and soon after, a body is discovered in the lake on the hotel grounds, launching a murder inquiry. It soon becomes clear that the case is much bigger than she initially thought when one of her key suspects is linked to a terrorism investigation. A DCI from the Counter Terrorism Unit is quickly assigned to work alongside her.

As the investigation progresses, they are confronted by lies and deceit, suspicious characters, fake identities, and a case that threatens to spiral out of control. As DCI Taylor wrestles with the murder case and the politics of working with CTU, the mounting pressure leads her to make impulsive choices, putting her own life at risk.

Will she survive and solve the Murder at the Manor?

Reader’s Log 007: Book Stack

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I must say there is an art or juggling act sometimes in making sure you are meeting your reading goals. Mine change overtime depending on my schedule, mood and interests. Now that I’ve started back reviewing books on NetGalley, I’ve seriously have had to make big changes. The last couple of years, I’ve been reading books from my home library that I haven’t gotten to or have read many times already and enjoying revisiting them. I do try my best to reread Jane Eyre often.

So, how do I juggle NetGalley, books I haven’t read in my library and reread my favorites without burning out? Yeah, I’m still trying to figure that out. One thing that is really helping me to not feel overwhelm is to make sure I’m not reviewing new ARCs that are published close together. I generally read about an average of eight books per month give or take. Plus, I’m in the throes of Biblical background studies along with the early church Father’s and the 1st Century church. Those books are an ongoing read so I don’t generally count them in my completed reads for the year. Yeah, that is a lot of reading.

The book stack you see in the picture to the left are books I recently selected from my home library to read and decide if they are going to make a permanent place in my library. It is my goal to accomplish by the end of next year.

We’ve got a hurricane heading out way which will be a tropical storm by the time it hits our area. So, I’m trying to get as much computer work done just in case, we lose electricity and Wi-Fi. Praying for the people in the storms path.

On average, how many books do you read in a month or year?

Stephanie Hopkins

Reader’s Log 006: A New and Exciting ARC

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This past weekend has been filled with sewing projects, knitting, YouTube, reading, book reviewing and writing. I’ve come up with a system to get caught up with the review books on my backlog and at the same time review ARCs (Advance Readers’ Copy). Will share more on that soon.

For today’s blog post, I intended to post about a stack of books in my home library I am planning on reading hopefully starting this fall. However, when I turned in a review this weekend, I came across, “I died for Beauty” by Amanda Flower. I could not resist acquiring a review copy from Berkley! Everything about this book is right up my alley. Particularly a story involving Emily Dickinson investigating a crime piqued my interest. The expected date for this book to be published is not until February 25, 2025. Berkley did not specify the date requirements for posting, so I will probably be posting my review on Layered Pages a few days before the pub date. I can’t wait! So far, the books I’ve reviewed that will be published in the new year are fantastic! Next year’s reading endeavors are looking optimistic without a doubt. What are some books that you plan on reading next?

Stephanie Hopkins

I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower

Pub Date Feb 25 2025

Berkley Publishing Group

Book Description:

When a blaze takes both a neighbor’s home and his life, Emily Dickinson and her maid Willa have a burning desire to crack the case in this new historical mystery from Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

Amherst, 1857. The Dickinson family braves one of the worst winters in New England’s history. Trains are snowbound and boats are frozen in the harbor. Emily Dickinson and her maid, Willa Noble, have never witnessed anything like it. As Amherst families attempt to keep their homes warm, fears of fire abound.

These worries prove not to be unfounded as a blaze breaks out just down the street from the Dickinson in Kelley Square, the Irish community in Amherst, and a young couple is killed, leaving behind their young child. Their deaths appear to be a tragic accident, but Emily finds herself harboring suspicions there may be more to the fire than meets the eye. Emily and Willa must withstand the frigid temperatures and discover a killer lurking among the deadly frost.