The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman

 

Title:  The Witches of Cambridge

Author:  Alice Hoffman

Narrated by:  Mena Suvari

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 12 hours and 50 minutes

Source: Thank-you to @simon.audio #SimonAudioInfluence for the audiobook review copy.

Who would you be if you could be a character from the book you’re currently reading?

In Cambridge Massachusetts in the 1950s, two women, Ava and Lauren, are recruited to live in the Lilith house.  They are both very different from each other.  Ava is a shy young woman from a small town in Maine and Lauren is from a wealthy Cambridge family.  The Lilith house holds the Lilith society which is a secret organization of witches that dates to Puritan times.  As women begin to disappear from the house, will Lauren and Ava figure out why?  Will Ava figure out the mystery of her past?  Will Lauren find out how to love both herself and others?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel had a dreamy type of plot as in the plot meanders along as more of a character study with the mysteries tied up at the end.  I enjoyed the journey!

·       This was a Read with Jenna book pick.  I listened to Jenna’s podcast interview with the author, Alice Hoffman, and it was very interesting.  I learned that this is a start to a new series, and I was very excited!

·       Mena Suvari was an excellent audiobook narrator.

·       I loved the dogs in this novel.  Ava has a black German Shepard / wolf named Jack.  He is a protector and follows her everywhere.  Another character, Lauren’s brother Lionel, rescues a Beagle from a testing lab and named him Houdini.  Houdini is an excellent Beagle name.

·       While this novel was primarily set in the 1950s, there were also letters found with the story of the first witch of Cambridge back in the Puritan days, 

·       The book related the witch trials of the past to the McCarthyism that was happening in the 1950s.

·       I really liked how Cotton Mather’s family was a part of the story through time and their known hatred and secret love of witches.  Jamie is Ava’s love interest and a Mather descendent.  I thought this was an inventive way to bring the Mather history into the novel. 

·       In this world, witches are real with magic.  They are different and the world wants to put them in asylums rather than to let them live in peace.

·       I would classify this story as magical realism, historical fiction, historical fantasy, witches, and dark academia.

Overall, The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman was an excellent atmospheric historical fantasy novel primarily set during the McCarthy era of the 1950s.  I love Alice Hoffman and greatly enjoyed this novel.  It would be a perfect read for the Halloween season.

Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin

 

Title:  Jane Austen:  A Life

Author:  Claire Tomalin

Narrated by:  Danielle Cohen

Publisher: Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

Length: Approximately 13 hours and 45 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.

What person would you like to read a biography about?

Claire Tomalin writes a complete biography of famous author Jane Austen.  This biography shows that contrary to what the family published after her death, Austen did have a lot going on with her life with constantly moving.  She also interacted with a variety of interesting family members, neighbors, and family friends.  She was able to take her study of humanity to write wonderful novels that still delight the masses today.

My thoughts on this book:

·       This was an August pick for the JASNA Northwoods Book Club.

·       Tomalin suggested that Henry Austen may have been an inspiration for both Wickham and Henry Tilney.  It was interesting to think about.

·       This was very interesting to listen to on audiobook.

·       I had read this great biography of Jane Austen twenty plus years ago.  It was great to reread it again after all of this time.

·       I would classify this read as nonfiction, biography, Jane Austen, and audiobook.

·       There was more detail on Austen’s neighbors in this book than I needed.

·       This is a great book for readers who want to know more about Austen.  It gives a good understanding of Jane Austen’s world which I find helpful when reading her works.

·       I was sad again that most of Austen’s letters were destroyed.  We could learn so much more about her life if they still existed.

·       I liked the literary analysis of Austen’s works.

·       The author does speculate on parts of Austen’s life, especially her younger years.

Overall, Jane Austen:  A Life by Claire Tomalin is a very readable biography that gives a great overview of a beloved author and her world.

 

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

 

Title:  The Things We Leave Unfinished

Author:  Rebecca Yarros

Narrated by:  Tim Paige, Carly Robins

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Length: Approximately 14 hours and 32 minutes

Source: Checked out from Libby through the Kewaunee Public Library

What is a book that you would recommend as a good book club read?

Georgia Stanton has just gone through a brutal divorce.  Back home in Colorado, she is going through her best-selling author Great Grandma Scarlett’s estate and learns that author Noah Harrison has been signed by the publisher to finish Scarlett’s unfinished manuscript.  Georgia thinks Noah is arrogant and not the right man for the job.  As they read Scarlett’s manuscript and letters, sparks fly between them, and they fight how to end the novel.  It’s based on Scarlett’s real WWII romance with a pilot which did not end happily.  Should Noah end the book with the sad real ending or the happy ending that were the trademark of Scarlett’s romance novels?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was the August selection for the Rogue Book Club.  We all read this book and enjoyed it.  It prompted a good discussion. 

·       It was an engaging audiobook with great narrators.

·       I enjoyed both the contemporary and WWII romance.

·       I loved Jameson and Scarlett’s romance.  Scarlett wants to marry the man she loves and not the man her parents want her to marry to save the family estate   Can you really move on when your one great love is killed in WWII? 

·       Noah was able to help Georgia move on from her terrible divorce and to truly heal.

·       Scarlett and Constance were sisters who were always there for each other.

·       I would classify this novel as historical fiction, historical romance, dual timeline, and contemporary.

Overall, The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros was a compelling historical and contemporary dual timeline novel.

Little Women & Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott

 

Title:  Little Women

Author:  Louisa May Alcott

Narrated by:  Jennifer Woodward

Publisher: Saga Egmont

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 11 minutes

Source: Checked out from Hoopla through the Kewaunee Public Library

 

Title:  Good Wives

Author:  Louisa May Alcott

Narrated by:  Lorelei King

Publisher: Audible Studios

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 11 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible.

What is a positive book that improves your mood when you read it?  Little Women is just such a book for me.

Little Women is the story of the trials and tribulations of the four March sisters.  Meg is the eldest and is beautiful and caring. Jo is independent and fearless, Beth is musical and timid, and Amy is artistic and vain.  The country is in the midst of the Civil War and their father is gone having joined the Union war effort.  The girls and their mother, Marmee, and housekeeper, Hannah, work to keep their household going and to help their community.

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was great on audiobook and both narrators were very expressive and a joy to listen to. The first audiobook that I listened to ended at the middle of what I think of as Little Women.  I had to go and get Good Wives separately to finish the story as the girls grow older and marry.  This is originally how the books were published, but most modern editions have both books packaged together as Little Women.

·       This book was the July pick for the Back to the Classics Book Club at the Kewaunee Public library.  We enjoyed it.  It’s an overall happy book which we discussed at book club is rare for a classic novel. We watched and enjoyed the 2019 adaptation of the novel.

·       As an adult with every reread, I am struck by Marmee’s talk with Jo on how she has a bad temper and how as an adult, she has had to work hard to keep her calm appearance and keep her anger in. It is so interesting and it provides such a depth to Marmee’s character.  She is a great mother who supported her daughters to become great women.

·       I loved how the sisters had their disagreements as all sisters do, but they support and love each other.

·       Amy and Jo spar but are a lot alike.  They are both passionate about their art and want a different life than the traditional pathway of marriage for females at the time.

·       I’ve read this book many times in my life, and I have loved it every time.

·       This novel is based on Louisa May Alcott’s real life and family.  At times now, I get real life and the novel confused. 

·       I loved how they help the immigrant Hummel family and give them their Christmas dinner.  The Hummels are a poor fatherless German Immigrant family.  I love the Christian message of helping the “stranger” in our midst.

 

Overall, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is an uplifting and timeless classic that is well worth a read, or multiple reads.

Emotional Endurance: Faith-Fueled Skills for Bouncing Back by Leslie M. Bosserman

 

Do you read self-help books?  If so, do you have a favorite?  If not, what topic would tempt you to read a self-help book?

Emotional Endurance is a self-help book that blends psychological research with biblical wisdom to help to build resilience. 

My thoughts on this book:

·       Why do we need emotional endurance?  I liked this quote, “Our strength is how much we’re able to handle before thing get hard, and our endurance is how far we can go after it’s hard.” 

·       I also liked this definition of emotional endurance, “Emotional endurance is the dynamic interior capacity to keep going and rise above our circumstance as we deal with life’s stresses and challenges.”

·       I think emotional endurance is something we all need and can all work on.

·       This was a very interesting book with great tips.

·       This was a beautiful edition.  It was hardcover with a beautiful cover with glossy pages.

·       It goes through six principals of emotional endurance including:

o   Fortitude to Fail

o   Resilience to Rise

o   Hope to Heal

o   Courage to Change

o   Energy to Engage

o   Purpose to Persevere

·       I found the tips to be thoughtful and useful and I feel I will be rereading this book in the future to remind myself of the principals.

·       I liked how the author included personal stories throughout the book to explain the why of the principal and the skill.  Each principal is subdivided into skills which are short chapters. 

·       There are thoughtful questions to get you thinking about the skill and how to apply it.

·       There is a reflect & connection at the end of each chapter/skill.  I found them to be useful for how to move forward with each new skill.

·       Chapters are short and easy to read.

Overall, Emotional Endurance:  Faith-Fueled Skills for Bouncing Back by Leslie M. Bosserman is a very useful self-help book that one can use to think about and improve your overall emotional endurance to make it through life’s struggles.

Book Source:  Review copy from @tnzgift @leadwithintention @tlcbooktours as part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thank-you!

Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See

Title:  Daughters of the Sun and Moon

Author:  Lisa See 

Narrated by:  Jennifer Lim, Quanna Luo Masterson, Emily Woo Zeller, Lisa See

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 14 hours and 31 minutes 

Source: Thank-you to @simon.audio #SimonAudioInfluence for the audiobook review copy.

Who is an auto read author for you?  Lisa See is an auto read author for me. I always love her riveting historical fiction.

In 1870, three different Chinese women arrived in Los Angeles.  Chinese women were scarce at that time, and all three were arriving into very different situations.  Dove is a pampered daughter with bound feet and is coming to be the second wife to a wealthy merchant.  Petal is the daughter of peasants who have sold her into a life of prostitution to try to avoid starvation.  Moon is married to a traditional doctor of Chinese medicine and is joining him.  All three women are hailed as beauties.  As they get settled into their new lives, turmoil occurs due to waring factions between rival gangs and anti-Chinese sentiments.  Will all three women survive, and can they thrive?

My thoughts on this novel:

• I had never heard of the 1871 massacre in Los Angeles.  It was horrifying to learn about it.  It was a race riot against Chinese immigrants.  Have we as an immigrant nation learned from our mistakes or are we doomed to repeat them?

• I love Lisa See’s novels and how she highlights unique to me parts of women’s history.

• This was great on audiobook.  There were different narrators for the three different women and their viewpoints.

• I was also horrified to learn that slavery continued after it was outlawed by the Emancipation Proclamation.  Young Chinese women were sold by their families in China to be shipped to the United States to either be wives or women of the night.

• The story is told through a dual timeline between 1870 and 1920.  In 1920, they are looking back at memories.

• The women had to live through so much.  I was glad they had each other and their friendship to make it through.

• Moon loved her husband and longs for a child.

• Dove is an ornament for her old husband, but when she is kidnapped, she finds her inner strength.

• I loved how Petal started growing herbs and trying to plan for a life outside of prostitution.

• There is a great author’s note at the end of the novel with the detailed history.  I was moved by the reading of the names of all of those killed in the massacre.

Overall, Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See was a riveting historical fiction novel with compelling characters set during a place and time that I learned a lot about.  I highly recommend this novel and audiobook.

A Lady’s Handbook to Gadget and Guile by Angela Bell

 

Are you handy?  I am mediocre handy.  I can MacGyver pumps and equipment to do lab experiments and sample, but I am not as handy as my Dad who seems to be able to get anything put back together again.

Thank you to @authorangelabell, @bethanyhousefiction,and @greatreadsbookpromo for the gift copy of A Lady’s Handbook to Gadget and Guile.

In 1865 London, Margaret is an inventor of gadgets for the Daughters of the Genus Society.  This group is comprised of lady inspectors who are disguised as bluestockings.  Margaret is an ambulatory wheelchair user and has been happy helping from the sidelines until she gets caught up in a case involving London’s most famous inventor.  She runs into an intriguing man named Charles and the pair work together to solve the mystery. Will they solve it in time?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I would classify this novel as historical fiction, historical fantasy, clean read, inspirational, and Christian.

·       I read this book in July, and I loved that Margaret is an inventor in a time when it was hard for women to thrive in this role.  She also suffers from chronic pain but is able to go through a faith journey as well as to keep on inventing.

·       Charles has also ended up on a path in life that was not what he planned.  He was a good person who really listened and cared about Margaret’s problems.

·       This is the second novel in “A Daughters of Genius Society” series.  I enjoyed the first book in the series, but this book would also work as a standalone.  Characters do return from the first book, and I enjoyed reading about them again.

·       This was told from the third person perspectives of Margaret and Charles.

·       The tech in this novel went to the world of fantasy for this time period so that’s why I would classify this as historical fantasy.  I loved the gadgets.

·       I loved the romance between Charles and Margaret.  It was sweet.

·       The mystery was a bit light, but I did enjoy the humor in the novel.

·       The Christian theme was faith through difficult times.

Overall, A Lady’s Handbook to Gadget and Guile by Angela Bell was an inspiring historical fantasy novel with great characters.

The Girl in the Lake by Lauren Oliver

Do you ever have déjà vu moments?  I certainly do. 

Kate Willis is a consultant for the Division of Perceptual Studies at the University of Virginia.  Her latest task is to interview a six-year-old girl, Henley, about the past life she remembers.  As Kate interviews her, she realizes that Henley remembers the life of her friend Becca that disappeared from summer camp 24 year ago.  Henley remembers things that only Becca would know.  Kate knows more about Becca’s disappearance than she ever let on.  What happened to Becca?  Why does Henley have her memories?  Is she the reincarnated Becca?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I liked the haunted lake and the grey lady legends.  This spookiness fits into things that happened at the camp in the past and Becca’s disappearance.

·       The setting was a great atmospheric setting that also set the mood for the story.

·       This story moved rather slow for me, especially in the middle, but it felt rushed at the end.   This strange pacing lost a star rating from me.

·       I would classify this book as psychological and paranormal suspense.

·       Kate annoyed me at times, especially in her treatment of Henley.

·       I did enjoy the mystery and the resolution of the story.  I don’t want to get too much into it and ruin it for others.

·       This would make a great spooky season read.

Overall, The Girl in the Lake by Lauren Oliver was a haunting suspense story that would be a good read for the fall spooky season.

Three Steps Behind by Dani Pettrey

 

Do you prefer series or standalone books?

Thank you to @authordanipettrey, @bethanyhousefiction, and @greatreadsbookpromo for the gift copy of Three Steps Behind.

Harper has returned from a humanitarian trip oversees in Syria where she was held captive and almost killed.  Many of her friends didn’t make it.  She has returned to the United States and protection from a private investigator, Deckard MacLeod.  She has only just arrived when she discovers that her friend Taylor has died.  Did her friend die naturally in her early 30’s?  Something doesn’t seem right and so Harper and Deckard start to investigate.  Will they find out what happened to Taylor?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This book starts off with a bang.  The first chapter was exciting and terrifying and really pulled you into the story.

·       This is the third book in the Jeopardy Falls series.  I had a hard time getting into the story at first.  It seemed like character overload, and I wasn’t really sure what was going on.  If I had read the other book in series, I would have hit this story running.  It was an entertaining story once I got into it, so I think I need to go back and read the first couple of book.

·       This was a clean read with kisses only. There are some triggers such as kidnapping, childhood trauma, missing family, murder, etc.

·       I would classify this read as a romantic suspense thriller.  It was very action-packed.

·       I loved Deckard.  He is devoted to his siblings.  He really supported Harper through her trials and healing.

·       There was also a second romantic suspense storyline between Deckard’s estranged sister, Bristol, and Aubry.  It was entertaining as well.

·       The book ended on a cliffhanger that set up book 4.  I need to read the first two books in the series as I wait for book 4!

Overall, Three Steps Behind by Dani Pettrey was an action-packed romantic suspense story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Her Affections and Wishes by Heather Moll

 

Are you a fast reader or a slow reader?  I’ve realized as I’ve gotten older that I am a pretty fast reader.

Elizabeth Bennet has turned down Mr. Darcy’s proposal.  Darcy has regrets and has started to correct his behavior towards others.  Lady Catherine decides that Elizabeth should join a friend of Lady Catherine’s, Lady Metcalfe, and her daughter Julia at a house party at Woodcote Park to watch the Epsom horse races and to try to win a husband.  When Elizabeth arrives, she is surprised to find Mr. Darcy amongst the guests.  Will this time spent together spark their affections?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is a Pride and Prejudice variation.  The time frame is weeks after the Hunsford proposal.

·       It was a very romantic story between Elizabeth and Darcy.  It shows their feelings and passions started to build.  They had great chemistry!

·       As mysterious “accidents” start to happen around Elizabeth, who is trying to harm her and why?  I liked the mystery and bit of adventure in the last part of the book. 

·       I loved the house party and Regency games.  Some of the games seemed racy for the time and included kissing or touching people while blind folded.

·       The dialogue between Elizabeth and Darcy was top notch as well.  I liked Darcy’ second proposal.

·       Lady Metcalfe and Julia were both something else as Julia tries to snag Darcy as a husband.  It made me wonder, what would you do in Regency times if you were accidently caught up with vulgar people?

·       I loved the Epilogue set in the future.  It tied up the loose end and showed the couple happily married.

·       Moll writes Austen’s characters wonderfully and captures their original spirit.  I liked the addition of the new characters to the Austen world.

·       This is a forced proximity clean read.  There were kisses only, but affairs are discovered, and the characters talk in innuendo.

Overall, Her Affections and Wishes by Heather Moll was a delightful Regency romance and Pride and Prejudice variation.  I loved the romance, Regency games, and bit of adventure.

Book Source:  Review copy from Heather Moll as part of a book tour.  Thank-you!