Sunday, December 10, 2017

The Republic For Which It Stands





Book Summary:

At the end of the American Civil War,  the leaders in the North envisioned a future for the country. One that was a free-labor republic with a homogenous citizenry. They were determined to reconstruct the south and the west in the image of the north. The next three decades were filled with challenges, and the unity the country paid so high a price to achieve was still out of reach. Economic, race, religious, and political differences were pervasive then as they are now. From this text we learn where modern America came from, and where many of the present day issues stem from.

My Thoughts:

The American Civil War is a fascinating time in history to me. I lack a lot of knowledge about what happened in the aftermath of the war. This book gives an easy to comprehend history of this period, and provides a thought provoking scenarios that seem as though they are from current times. I was intrigued by how similar many of the issues seemed to present day, and how easy White made it to know where a lot of current issues in the States came from. If you are at all interested in what is happening in the States now, this might be an interesting read for you.

I think this is a history that many people should read. It will give new understanding to current issues which is always beneficial. People should not be intimidated by how long the book is. You will find yourself drawn into the history and how relatable many of the issues are. I was amazed that the book only covers thirty years of history, yet contains so much information. It also covers Emancipation, Western Expansion, Indian Policy, and Women's Suffrage.

Do not let the size or variety in topics intimidate you or make you dismiss this book as having little depth. It was absolutely fascinating to see history connected(as it is) and how the reader can make connections they might not have been able to before.

If you are interested in American History, the American Civil War, or how some modern issues came about I highly suggest you read this book.

*I received a free copy of this book from the Goodreads First Reads Program in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have otherwise gotten to it or one I would not have heard about otherwise.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

The Girl In The Tower





Book Summary:

The second book in the Winternight Trilogy. Continuing where The Bear and the Nightingale left off, we discover what happened to our beloved characters. Vasya must choose between living her life as society dictates--getting married and staying out of sight or living how she wants--free to help others and explore what the world has to offer. Vasya must save the city of Moscow when it comes under siege. She chooses adventure, disguises herself as a boy, and decides to do what she can to save the city.

My thoughts:

The first book: The Bear and the Nightingale, was amazing. I was not sure if Arden would be able to maintain the momentum she started with, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the second book just as engaging as the first. I find myself anxiously awaiting the third book. This series is magical.

Arden has a wonderful ability to retell folktales in such a way the reader feels that they are reading history or historical fiction. The language grabs you so that you cannot book the book down. I found myself more engaged by this story than any other book has in a while. It was moving, enthralling, and had such real characters. I could not find anything I did not like about this book.

I am a huge fan of fairy tales and their retellings, so you can imagine how pleased I was to discover such a beautiful story. I cannot wait to discover where the trilogy goes, but what else this author writes. I felt so engaged by the characters. They jumped off the page. I became so invested in who they were and what was happening to them. I was sad when I reached the last page. I wanted the story to keep going on.

If you are a fan of fairy tales or well told tales, this book and the rest of the series is a must!

*I received a free copy of this book from Bookish First in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have gotten to it, or a book I would not have heard about otherwise.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Sweet Potatoes





Book Summary:

Sweet Potatoes is a cookbook with recipes just for those that love the delicious taste of sweet potatoes. You will learn to do wonderful things with this little cookbook filled with information about the sweet potato and around 60 recipes.

My Thoughts:

I have always been a fan of the sweet potato. From a young age, a common side dish was baked sweet potato with a little butter or pepper and salt. I will admit to feeling slightly horrified the first time I ate sweet potatoes and discovered the normally delicious taste of the sweet potato to be smothered by marshmallows and brown sugar. I have since moved on to enjoying sweet potato in a variety of dishes I make. Imagine my delight with the disclaimer in the introduction that stated no marshmallows had been harmed in the making of these dishes.

This cookbook is perfect for a person who already loves the sweet potato or one who is looking to explore what can be done with one. I enjoyed the introduction to the sweet potato. We are introduced to the different varieties, how to pick out a good sweet potato at the store, knowing what size you need, and how they are grown. All of this is of great help when preparing to make these tantalizing dishes.

I had a difficult time picking just a few recipes to try out. I decided to start with the Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes, The Sweet Potato Big Macs, and the Sweet Potato Trail Mix Cookie. I have to say all three were amazing!

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes fresh from the oven.

 

Twice Baked Sweet Potato after adding toppings.

 
 The first recipe I tried was the Twice Baked Sweet Potato. I really liked this meal. It was filling and left a lot of room for customization. I used a lot of the suggested toppings. I switched sour cream for greek yogurt as that is my preference.

The one recommendation I would have is to closely follow the direction to leave some potato. The skin gets really thin and you can easily break it when working with it.

I would definitely make this dish again.

Sweet Potato Big Mac
 Next I tried the Sweet Potato Big Mac. As you can see from the picture, I did not do the two patties and extra bun. I found it to be tall enough that for me personally, it would have been difficult to eat if it was taller. Again, I used the recommended toppings. I switched out iceberg lettuce from mixed greens as personal preference.

Make sure you make the sauce that goes with it. It was incredible. This was my favorite of the recipes tried and I cannot wait to make it again. There was a lot of flavor and I did not miss the meat at all. If you like vegetarian recipes this is a must! I hope to try it on some vegetarian friends soon.

Sweet Potato Trail Mix Cookie.

 
I was excited to make a dessert with sweet potato. I made these cookies for a co-worker's last day party. I was not sure how "sweet potato" cookies would be received. They were a huge hit. I took a whole bunch in, and none came home with me. Everyone was raving about the cookies. They are also one of my new favorite cookies and I will be making them often. There is a lot of flavor and they stay moist.

Some recipes I am looking forward to trying are: Sweet Potato Cinnamon Roll, Sweet Potato Rolls, Sweet Potato Fries, and the Sweet Potato and Raspberry Muffins. Honestly, I want to make all the recipes, but those are some at the top of the list.

This tiny cookbook has moved to the top of my list. I found the recipes easy to make, the flavors incredible, and a good variety of recipes. I am recommending this cookbook to everyone! Enjoy the flavors and please let me know what recipes you try and like.

**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.**

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have gotten to it or one I would not have heard about otherwise.

The Essex Serpent





Book Summary:

Cora Seaborne and Will Ransom are two extraordinary people who fall for each other in an unusual way. Cora is a well to do widow from London who moves to Essex parish where Will is the local Vicar. The village is engulfed in rumors about a giant serpent in the marshes. It is said it slithers about devouring people. Cora, who is a naturalist, is intrigued by the serpent and wants to find out more about it. Will sees it as a sign that his Parish has lost their way. Cora and Will find themselves drawn to each other, yet separated by their different views.

My Thoughts:

I found myself identifying with Cora at the start of this novel. I wanted to learn more about this mysterious serpent that everyone was so obsessed with. I wanted to know if it was something to fear or be astounded by. While this story had great potential, I found myself wondering when something was going to happen. There was so much potential between the mysterious serpent and the undertones of romance that as a reader, I felt sure meant anything could happen on the next page. I did not ever find the gripping tale that I expected to.

I appreciated the strong female lead character that is determined to follow her own interests after denying them for so long. I wanted her to succeed and find a character I could love. I never fell in love with the characters and near the end hoped the serpent would come and eat the lot of them simply for something interesting to happen. I thought there was a lot more potential with the set up than was met.

I had also hoped that the tale might be more gothic as it was described to have gothic undertones.  Or perhaps it would be a book geared more for adults similar to The Memoirs of Lady Trent series. But it was not either of these. I think some people might enjoy this book, but for me it was too slow and never reached stated purpose.

*I received a free copy of this book from the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review. Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have gotten to it or one I would not have heard about otherwise.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Many Sparrows





Book Summary:

Clare Inglesby is widowed while crossing the mountains to a new settlement in the late 1700s. She wakes to find herself in labor and shortly after to discover her five year old son missing. It appears that he has been captured by Shawnees. She is determined to do anything she can to find him. She joins with frontiersman Jeremiah Ring to go deep into the wilderness to find him. Clare discovers that her son has already been adopted by Jeremiah's Shawnee sister who does not want to give him up.

My Thoughts:

I am a fan of early American historical fiction so I was ready to settle in and read this book. I found this to be an easy read. To me, the most attractive qualities of the story and characters were when they learned to view another person's perspective on a personal and cultural level. I think balancing a story set in this time period can be difficult. The author did try to put in perspectives from both cultures as she navigated this difficult line.

While I thought there could have been a little more depth to the story, it was an easy read that showed how the main character Clare was willing to challenge her own views over time to meet her goal of getting her son back. I think because the book was not very long, is why it felt rushed to me. A lot happened in the story in what felt like a short amount of time.

I would note for readers that this is a Christian Historical Fiction book, so there are mentions of personal belief from the characters, and that is a focus at times in the story. I only mention this as some readers care more than others if that is present.

If you are looking for a quick historical fiction read set in early American history, this one might interest you.

**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.**

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book I would not have gotten to as soon or heard about otherwise.
 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness





Book Summary:

Paula Poundstone starts with the question: is there a secret to happiness? She begins a quest trying different things that are suppose to bring a person happiness in life. She offers up her experiences and results for us to peruse. Filled with humor as she honestly tells what happened to her, the results, and if she intends to continue pursuing that activity. She also tells us the reactions of her children, friends, and people around her in a way that will have you laughing.

My Thoughts:

I've been a fan of Paula Poundstone's for a while. I've listened to NPR for a long time, and always enjoy when she comes one Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. She has a great sense of humor and I was very excited to find out how she is in written form. I was not disappointed. She is not afraid to laugh at herself when her experiments go awry, and it makes her search for happiness seem very relatable. It also provides encouragement to try new things and just discover where events will take you.

While some parts of the book could seem repetitive as she had multiple experiments in the book, I think overall there was still humor to be found in each section. Some of the experiments were more hilarious than others. And some were more relatable which made them more interesting to me, but I still think despite a few spots where it lagged for me it was a fun book.

If you are looking for a completely serious approach to a search for happiness this book is not for you. If you like honestly with a lot of humor, than give this book a try.

*I received a free copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have gotten to it or one I might not have heard about otherwise.
 

Friday, July 14, 2017

The Book Of Greens




Book Summary:

This is an encyclopedia of greens combined with over 150 recipes to use the greens described in the book. Great for the experienced cook and the beginner, the recipes range in difficulty. This book is meant to inspire you to eat more greens in a variety of ways.

The book is organized alphabetically by the type of green and gives a little bit of information about the green such as: seasonality, nutrition, what it pares well with, prep, and storage. After the information follows a couple of recipes for that type of green.

 My Thoughts:

I was absolutely delighted with this cookbook. The information is presented in an easy to find manner. It is presented in a very clear manner and I loved how there was some information about the type of green before each group of recipes. I think it is very helpful when buying, storing, and cooking to have some knowledge of the ingredients you are using to make the dish taste wonderful.

The book is filled with beautiful pictures that will make you want to try all the recipes in the book. Whether you are a big greens eater or new to a lot of these plants you will find inspiration in this cookbook.

I tried several recipes from this book and found them all to be very tasty. While I normally like greens and try to eat a lot of them, this is a very high recommendation because I while trying these recipes I was having difficulties eating greens due to morning sickness. I found the flavors worked well for me and I was able to eat some of the recipes in this book. I still did not eat large quantities, but I was able to enjoy some greens despite my issues.

This is a cookbook that I will continue to use. I enjoyed the information presented and the variety of recipes. I am particularly looking forward to using greens I have never used before. I found The Book Of Greens to be an inspiration in my everyday cooking. I am also pleased that it is a beautiful addition to my cookbook library.

If you like greens or are looking for recipes to try I highly recommend using this cookbook.

**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.**

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a book I would not have gotten to as soon or heard about otherwise.

Wolf On A String





Book Summary:

Christen Stern is an ambitious young scholar and alchemist. He travels to Prague in 1599 during a cold winter hoping to make his fortune in the Emperor's court. His first night in the city he stumbles upon the body of a young woman who appears to be from high society.

Christen follows his fortunes despite the obvious dangers and wins the trust of the Emperor. The Emperor decides to task him with discovering who killed the young woman--who happens to be the Emperor's mistress. Christen soon finds himself involved in a power struggle that goes deeper than he could have imagined. There are attempts to take over the throne and Christen finds that his own life is in danger. Will Christen discover the pertinent details in time to save himself and the Emperor?

My Thoughts:

This was my first experience reading a novel by Benjamin Black. I had heard good things about him, and I was very excited to read this book. It takes place in a time period I am very interested in and combine it with a murder it seemed very promising. I liked the descriptions of the setting and characters.

I ended up feeling disappointed in this book. I found that the plot moved forward at an extremely slow pace. I found myself skimming some parts later in the book simply because it was a chore to read this book. I found the summary of the book to be more interesting than the book actually was. I think the author could have made this book more interesting but focused too much on situations that did not help enough with the plot. I understand wanting to make readers connect with the characters, but it was too much description with little action for me.

I also thought that the plot seemed a little rushed at times when we were actually reading something that moved it forward because so much time had been spent on the minor details. It not only made the important parts seem rushed but it made the plot seem unrealistic. Our main character was suddenly figuring things out with hardly any time spent on his investigations. I think if there had been a little bit of balance between the descriptions and the plot the book would have been much more enjoyable.

If you like historical mysteries you could give this book a try, but it would not be my first recommendation.

*I received a free copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book that I would not have gotten to as soon or heard about otherwise.
 

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

The Barrowfields





Book Summary:

Just before Henry Astor is born, his father who has literary ambitions, and his pregnant wife reluctantly return to the small Appalachian town where Henry grew up. Henry grew up watching his brilliant father begin to unravel after a tragedy. Henry flees his family and small town, and as his father before him, does not return until forced to.

My Thoughts:

I was surprised how much this story drew me in. I think the descriptions of place and character are what initially grab the reader's attention. After that you want to know what is going to happen to these characters who are faced with a reality more mundane than they planned for themselves. I think the despair and desire for more resonate with many and is also part of the greatness of this book.

I also like the gothic feel of the story when it describes the house the family lives in and how it almost seems to influence the family and their lives. It appeals to part of me that loves gothic stories. There are parts of the book that do not have this feeling, so I do not want to mislead, but I like the way the author is able to draw on different elements to create feelings in the reader.

I think this book will appeal to many who enjoy literary fiction and something that is different from the typical story. I think you have to like this sort of book to really get into, but if you allow yourself to just go with the flow of the story you will be surprised by how you feel while reading it.

**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.**

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book I would not have gotten to as soon or heard about otherwise.

Maid Of The King's Court





Book Summary:

Elizabeth Rose Camperdowne is an heiress to an old impoverished noble family. Her duty is to marry a man of wealth and standing. She ends up in the royal court as a maid of honour to Anne of Cleves. Eliza must quickly learn to distinguish friend from foe if she is to survive in Henry the VIII's court. She is drawn to her glamorous cousin Katherine Howard, but must learn if she is a true friend or not. Eliza is also drawn to the unsuitable Ned Barsby, a handsome page at court.

My Thoughts:

This is an historical fiction book meant for young adult readers. I start with that because I have read some complaints about the writing or implausibility of the love interest. I think it is important to remember the target audience and getting them interested in history. That being said, adults who are fans of stories about the Tudors will find this an interesting perspective. I liked learning about court and Katherine from a cousin who is learning her place in the world. Yes, Eliza is immature, but that is to be expected in a young girl brought up to expect great things of herself and who has been taught her own importance. We get to watch Eliza grow and change as she develops more awareness of the world and herself.

This was an easy to read book about life in the Tudor court. It could have had a little more depth, but it was still a good novel to read. The story flowed well, and I am looking forward to reading the author's historical works. I liked that you could tell the author had done plenty of research, and still made an interesting tale for young readers.

I think fans of Tudor historical fiction will want to read this and introduce young readers to the topic with this book.

* I won a free copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a book I would not have gotten to as soon, or heard about otherwise.

Monday, April 24, 2017

My Last Lament





Book Description:

Aliki is one of the last of her kind. She is a lamenter who mourns and celebrates the passing of life. An American researcher asks Aliki to record her laments to capture the fading art of lamenting. Instead, Aliki sings her own story. We hear her experiences with the Nazi occupation of Greece, being a refugee, and survival.

My Thoughts:

I thought this was a unique approach to an historical fiction story taking place during World War II. I liked the approach seeing a person's life through grief and survival and how that actually helps her live and cope with what has happened in her life.

Although some parts of the story go slow it is still interesting and powerful. You are brought through Aliki's life with the flow of grief. Some parts are vivid and dramatic while others are slow and we muddle through. I like how the reader is shown life in this intimate and dramatic way.

I think fans of historical fiction and World War II will be interested in reading this book. You will have to get into this different approach but I think it will appeal to a lot of readers looking for something a little different.

I read this as an ebook on my nook and had to use an alternative program to open the book but other than that had no issues with it.

*I received a free copy of this book from the Penguin First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a book I would not have gotten o as soon or heard about otherwise.


In The Name Of The Family





Book Description:

In 1502 Rodrigo Borgia is now on the Papal throne as Alexander VI. His daughter Lucrezia is twenty-two and has been married three times to further the family ambitions. Cesare Borgia is ruthless and unstoppable. Cesare gets to know Machiavelli which benefits both in the long run. Which family member will have the skills to survive all their enemies?

My Thoughts:

This book is told from multiple character viewpoints. I honestly did not really care for this, as I had a hard time getting into the different character minds in this book. I think Lucrezia's story was told the best, although I really did not get into her story as well.

This book really dragged for me. It took me a really long time to get through, and most of the time an historical fiction book like this would not take me very long to read. The characters seemed very stereotypical, and I got tired of hearing everyone's thoughts on everything. The plot did not move forward very quickly and this was largely because the story was very focused on the characters and not moving the plot along.

I wish this book had pulled me in. I was excited to read this book, but that excitement quickly faded. Perhaps people who really like this author or the Borgias will find something redeeming in it. This book did not work for me.

*I received a free copy of this book from the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book did not change my review. It simply provided me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have gotten to it or a book I would not have heard about otherwise.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

The Woman In The Castle





Book Summary:

Three widows fate become intertwined as they live their lives in a crumbling Bavarian castle at the end of World War II. Marianne tries to make a makeshift family from what is left of her husband's resistance movement. She struggles as she realizes the post war world is more complicated than her life previous to the war. Each woman must come to terms with their past and present as they struggle to survive.

My Thoughts:

I found this book to present an interesting perspective(s) on World War II. I found the women intriguing. Each of their stories pulled you in making you feel you were there with them. I liked that while some circumstances united them, they were very different in their experiences and their views on life. This was not a simple story about good vs. evil. I loved all the shades in this book. It made the story much more believable and enjoyable.

I also liked that this book focused on women and the struggles they faced after World War II. I thought that it was a realistic portrayal of the struggles women faced without over glorifying the women presented. Each makes mistakes and has their points where you route for them and when you despise their actions. To me, this is what made the book so gripping.

If you like historical fiction about World War II I highly recommend reading this book.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the Goodreads First Reads Program.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have gotten to it or heard about otherwise.

Friday, March 3, 2017

As Red As Blood





Book Summary:

Lumikki Andersson has a rule that she does not get involved in other people's business. She does not like the trouble that comes along with getting involved with other people's problems. Her roles goes out the window when she uncovers thousands of Euros hung to dry in the school's darkroom and three of her class mates with blood on their hands. Caught in a web of deception and lies, Lumikki must avoid those who are determined to get the money back at all cost. Lumikki must uncover the entire operation of the mythical drug lord the Polar Bear if she is to survive.

My Thoughts:

I am a huge fan of fairy tales and creative retellings of the classic tales. I thought this was an interesting retelling of a classic tale. I liked the mystery aspect of the story and thought it was an unique approach. I would definitely say you have to read more than the first chapter. The first chapter is setting up our mystery, and you have to continue on to get to know the main characters.

I liked that this was not the typical fairy tale retelling. Most fairy tales have a romance as one of the main plot lines, and there was not a romantic focus in the story. It was a quick read and I enjoyed getting absorbed in the tale. A great book for adults and young adults.

I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. If you like young adult mysteries and fairy tale retellings I recommend reading this book.

** I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.**

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have gotten to, or heard about otherwise.


Bookworms Read: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children





Book Summary:


After a death in his family, Jacob travels to a remote island to learn more about his family history. He discovers the ruins of Miss Peregrine's home for children. In the ruins he learns more about the children that lived there, and that they might have been kept on the island because they were dangerous. He also discovers they might still be alive.

My Thoughts:

I was very excited to read this with the Bookworms. I really like this series, and I love the mix of fantasy and a little historical fiction. To be clear, most of it is fantasy but I enjoy the setting and use of old photographs to make the story seem like it actually happened. 

I think this is a great book to start young readers into a slightly more advanced reading set. It is easy to follow, exciting, and of course, there are awesome peculiarities that would be fun to have. The topics while geared toward young adults are not to advanced for the 10-12 year olds. The Bookworms were thrilled when they found out about the movie coming out, and immediately made plans to see it.

The Bookworms' Thoughts:

This was the twenty-third book the Bookworms read together. This was my pick for the group. I had read the series before as well as the graphic novel. It is a world I love returning to and was excited to introduce the Bookworms to it. We had a great time discussing what peculiarities we would like, would we want to live forever, and what they thought of the pictures in the book. Here are some of the Bookworms' thoughts on the book. Warning! There may be some spoilers.


Q&A With The Bookworms Book Club


How many stars out of 5 would you give this book?
Alejandro 10 stars. I read the graphic novel version, and I really liked it.
Paige 4-5 stars. I couldn't decide how many to give it.

What was your favourite part?
Alejandro Whenever they would try to freak Jacob out by using their abilities.
Paige when they put the masks on and scare Jacob.

What peculiarity would you like to have?
Paige Levitating.
Alejandro I think I would like to levitate or telekinesis or to read minds!
Whitney: What if you couldn't control the ability like some of the peculiars? Would you like to be tied down to keep from flying away?
Both: No!! I would want to be able to control it. It isn't as much fun if you don't have a choice.

Would you like to live in a loop?
Both: No!
Alejandro I wouldn't like to live forever.
Paige I think it would be annoying to live forever. You would know everything. There would be nothing new.

Would you read the next book in the series?
Paige Yeah I would finish the series.
Alejandro Yes.

Would you see the movie?
Paige I'll definitely see it.
Alejandro Yes I think so.

Thank you to the Bookworms for reading and reviewing this book with me. I had a lot of fun and look forward to our next book.

Monday, February 13, 2017

The Drifter





Book Summary:

For two decades Elizabeth has been trying to escape her past which is full of painful memories. Finally, she can run from her past no more. She must confront her terrifying nightmares if she is to be able to live now.

We learn about Elizabeth's history at college with her two closest friends. Everything seems perfect for them. Without warning their whole lives change. A series of violent acts ensure that even those that survive will be changed forever. Elizabeth must face the fact she had a role in her friend's death if she will ever have normal relationships again.

My Thoughts:

This book was promoted as a thrilling mystery. I would say it is closer to fiction than mystery. The premise sounded interesting to me. A woman who has been living in denial, but is forced to face her past and the death of her friend seemed like it had a lot of potential. I think it fell a little flat for me. Mostly because it was portrayed differently than it should have been in my opinion.

I also thought that the book could have been a little shorter than it was. There were a lot of details that I really did not need to get into the story. It took me a while to read mostly because it did not hold my interest. There were parts that were really interesting, but it would lag in between.

Overall, I would say give it a try if the description interests you.

*I received a free copy of this book from the Goodreads First Reads Program in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book I would not have gotten to as soon, or heard about otherwise.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Scars Of Independence





Book Summary:

When we think of the American Revolution, we think of brave patriots fighting for a noble cause. It is a narrative the founding fathers encouraged after the war. Hoock argues, there is a more complex truth to the story. He claims the Revolution was not simply a battle over principles, but a violent civil war that continues to shape the American nation to this day. We read of tortured Loyalists, British troops massacring enemy soldiers and rape of local women, the forced conscription of African Americans, and Washington's genocidal campaign against the Iroquois.

Hoock is trying to bring to light a more honest approach to the American Revolution, hoping to show how it continues to impact American culture to this day.

My Thoughts:

I found the description of this book very interesting, and was very excited to read this book. I found it well written and a very interesting read. I thought there were important parts of American history presented. While the information is not all new, it brings together less savoury parts of history to let the reader make new connections and acknowledge that the violence that was an important part of American history.

I found it very intriguing to read how the Americans were very strategic in how they chose to be violent or avoid violence in certain situations knowing how it would look to citizens, making a huge difference in the outcome of the war.

I did appreciate that Hoock looked at the violence from Americans and British during the war and how each side approached violence. It is good to remember that neither side was blameless, and how they each used violent tactics or propaganda to help their cause. It was interesting to see how this shaped the outcome of the war and the future of America.

If you are looking for a different perspective on the American Revolution this is a book you should read. I highly recommend reading this book.

*I received a free copy of this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have gotten to it or one I might not have heard about otherwise.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

The Witch Of Lime Street





Book Synopsis:

The rivalry between Houdini and Margery A.K.A. "The Witch of Lime Street" is presented in astonishing detail. Margery embodied the national debate over spiritualism. Many were trying to prove with science that people really could communicate with the dead. One of Margery's biggest advocates was none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He was the one who urged her to enter the Scientific American contest to prove to five judges that she was the real deal. She managed to convince four of the judges. The one hold out, Harry Houdini.

My Thoughts:

I thought this was a great story. And it was made even better by the fact that I had never heard of it before. I had no idea that Scientific American offered a cash prize to the person who convince their five judges they were an authentic medium. I was very pleased with Houdini being one of the judges and found it interesting that he had dabbled in these sort of shows for a time. I found myself enjoying the journey with Houdini. I too wanted to figure out exactly how Margery and others were doing their shows.

I did think the book dragged in a couple places where it got bogged down in some details, but overall the book was very interesting, and I could not wait to get to the end and discover who would triumph, Houdini or the Witch of Lime Street? I enjoyed the build up and found it surprising how well documented their rivalry was.

If you want to learn about a fun part of American history, this is a great book to read.

**I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.**

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book I would not have gotten to as soon or heard about otherwise.