Best of June

 

Happy almostmJuly everyone!

Here are our best for last month!

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths

"I actually had a rather slow month again. Many good ones, but only one great one."

Carole - Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

"Had a slowish month. But this one really stood out! Loving this series!"

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - The King (2019)

"Another month of slowness. I blame my wedding at end of May and our camping trip ;). But I did watch this one. It was good. Not amazing, but I enjoyed it!"

Blodeuedd - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

"Best movie, really good."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - What We Do in the Shadows

"I watched What we do in the shadows and it was hilarious! "

Obi-Wan Kenobi

"I also watched Obi-Wan, all the feels."

Carole - Criminal Minds (1-7)

"Been binging this since it is leaving Netflix!! I forgot how much I ADORE this show!"

Heartstopper

"I also watched this! So good!!!! All the feels!! I need to re-watch."

Best Cover of the Month:

"Just such a beautiful cover!"

"Best cover, cos it looks cute!"

You were made to be mine by Julie Anne Long

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Series: The Palace of Rogues, Book 5

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Release date: 06-28-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical romance / to review

Another couple finds love at The palace at the Thames. Though after all the drama at the place one should think they would get notorious.

Aurelie escaped her fiance (cos he was a d*ck.) But he wants her back (cos he is a d*ck.) She ends up at the Palace at the Thames as she plans her escape further

Christian Hawkes spent 3 years in a French prison and he wants revenge. But first he is hired to find Aurelie. But he is a good guy and he know a certain Earl is a certain D.

Of course they will fall madly in love. But people are after Christian, and they are after her. It will get dangerous before their find their happily ever after.

Good book. The evil guy was evil cos he was just a really bad person so that worked well. And the couple really deserved their HEA.

Great narration. Good flow and voices that brought you along. But then this is Justine Eyre and she always rocks! One of my all time fav narrators

The mission: Find the Earl of Brundage's runaway fiancee in exchange for a fortune. Child's play for legendary British former spymaster, Christian Hawkes. The catch? Hawkes knows in his bones that Brundage is the traitor to England who landed him in a brutal French prison. Hawkes is destitute, the earl is desperate, and a bargain is struck.

Fleeing a savagely shattered dream, the sheltered Lady Aurelie Capet finds refuge in an alias and the warmth and kindness of the Grand Palace on the Thames—until a gorgeous, mysterious disturbance to her peace literally topples through the door.

An unexpected, fierce desire that feels destined, dangerous—and devastatingly sweet—ignites between the sheltered beauty and the jaded spy, and as they slowly unravel each other's shocking secrets Hawkes closes in on the truth about the earl. Soon it's clear they can have no future without vanquishing the past: Hawkes knows that loving her means avenging her. Aurelie knows that loving Hawkes means freeing him to do that, no matter the cost.

Tmst

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

6/28/2022 Which books are you looking forward to reading this Summer? (July-August)

Summer thunderstorm. I hate writing on my phone.  Also....summer? No idea what is coming out

As for reading, well whatever falls in my way :) no bigger plans than that

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Joint Discussion: Heartstopper

 

This month we decided to review season 1 of Heartstopper!

I am  in red and Carole in purple.

Title:  Heartstopper

Genre: Drama, Romance

Released: 2022
Season: 1
Rating: TV-14


Teens Charlie and Nick discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love in this coming-of-age series.

Click here for the trailer. 

DISCUSSION:

We decided to watch a TV series this time. Heartstopper on Netflix. I had heard amazing things

Yes! I love a good shake up. Plus this looked SO good. 

I was confused at first, I did not realised it was set in the UK. And it does bring such a different feel than a US show ;) I really liked that. Everyone felt so normal you know. 

Esp with the little graphics that would pop up. Like the little hearts. It was so cute and I loved the feel of the show. It felt like normal life. Not overly dramatic, but real. 

Yes, so real, so funny with the little hearts and things. So cute, and I was so rooting for them.

I literally had all the emotions. I loved how they had a lot of representation. That was touching! I want a 2nd season. I feel like there is so much more story to tell. Esp with Tao and Elle. 

Did I check or not? I am sure a 2nd is coming, it must be. This was a hit

I didn’t check. I would think season 2 would be a thing eventually. This was a hit! I just hope they leave Charlie and his boy alone. I want them to have as little drama as possible. LOL They melted my heart. Oooooo that scene with Nick and his mum!!!! OMG I was crying and clapping. 

They always do it though. Silly drama. Another love interest, some conflict. I just want them to be happy!!!!!!!

Sammeeee. I can handle a tiny bit of drama. Maybe Ben tries to win Charlie back? But I hope they focus more on Tao and Elle. Or even Tara and her girlfriend. Maybe Imogen can get a small storyline. I liked her. She was so sweet. 

I’d like that Tao and Elle, and what about Charlie’s sister? She was just kind of in the background. She could have a story too

Trueeeeee Charlie’s sister needs a spotlight. I would like to learn more about her and her world. I think she is graduated? See? I don’t even remember. 

She had a school uniform? We never really saw her. Oh well, there are at least more stories to tell

Yes indeed! There is a lot of stories to tell. But I did love watching Charlie and Nick fall in love. I loved watching Nick find his true self. This gave me all the feels. 

It really was one for the feels, I am happy we chose it.

I am too! It only has 8 episodes and they are not very long so it was a quick watch. I am thinking of rewatching it. 

I do like a good binge! And that is what you do it was a good binge series. Really good. Can't say anything bad. The end?

Zero issues! Loved every minute. Def worth the watch!

Yes, the end! 

Audio: A year to the day

Narrated by: Sarah Beth Goer

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Release date: 06-21-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

YA Fic /to review

A book about grief, and survivor's guilt. Trying to move on and, well that is the and. The thing is that the book is told backwards. So I never really feel her sadness as I should. Her grief, her guilt. The book kept moving backwards towards the accident so the whole impact was lost on me. I did feel it would have been better the other way around, at least for me.

And because I listened I did not really get the whole thing either, I thought it jumped around, and then I realised it kept going back and never forward.

Leo lost her sister in an accident, but she can not remember the accident. And well it moves backward so  that is that. She moves through her grief, her mother is broken by it, her sister's boyfriend who drove the car is dealing. But yes the emotional impact does not really hit me. And when it we do get to the accident it is like ok, well that was that, and I never know if Leo ever deals with her grief.

The narration was good, she brought it all to the story.

It’s been a year—a year of missing Nina. A year of milestones—holidays, birthdays, everything without her. Leo feels like she should remember what happened that night. But all she knows is that she left the party and got into a car with Nina and Nina’s boyfriend, East.

East, who once promised Nina he’d watch out for her younger sister. East, who has been trying to keep that promise every day since. But East won’t give Leo the one thing she wants—the one thing she needs. He won’t tell her anything about the accident. He won’t talk about that night at all.

As the days tumble one into the next, Leo’s story comes together while her world falls apart. The only constant is the one person who can help her bear the enormous weight of her love for Nina—and East might be carrying too heavy a load of his own.

The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths

Narrated by: Jane McDowell

Series: Ruth Galloway, Book 14

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Release date: 06-28-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

Crime fiction / to review /library

I was listening, and reading since my library copy finally arrived at the same time. I have never done a two in one.

Ruth in lockdown. Pretty depressing. Covid hit Norfolk, and people do get sick. It was all so very real. So very now

I kept wondering who the killer was. I was so sure, so sure! But then I am a constant guessed, and that does not really count. Strange suicides that really are murders. And Ruth seems to be in danger. Everyone is in lockdown. Ruth is homeschooling Kate. Nelson is spending more time with them, even though he shouldn't.

I really enjoy this series. We are up to 14 now. It is the only modern crime series I can follow cos it is so much about the people. I need that. I need the people. And I am so invested in their lives. This one does take you through a wringer cos covid is around, and things get scary.

Good narration, even if after having read 13 books I was very much in my own head. But it was nice to see other voices to the characters I know so well by now.

Ruth is in London clearing out her mother's belongings when she makes a surprising discovery: a photograph of her Norfolk cottage taken before Ruth lived there. Her mother always hated the cottage, so why does she have a picture of the place? As she died three years ago, Ruth can't exactly ask her, and her father denies all knowledge of the picture. The only clue is written on the back of the photo: Dawn, 1969.

Ruth returns to Norfolk determined to solve the mystery, but then Covid-19 rears its ugly head. Ruth and her daughter are locked down in their cottage, attempting to continue with work and lessons, but, in reality, becoming lonely and frustrated. Happily the house next door is rented by a nice woman called Sally, who they become friendly with while standing on their doorstep clapping for carers.

Nelson, meanwhile, has no time to be bored. He's investigating a series of suicides that could be the work of a serial killer. It's only when he links them to an archaeological discovery that he thinks of Ruth. He breaks curfew to visit the cottage to find Ruth chatting to her neighbour, whom he remembers as Dawn Lancaster, a carer who was once tried for murdering her employer. When the deaths continue, Nelson vows to take Ruth and Kate to live with him. But they, and Dawn, have vanished.

Audio: Juniper and Thorn

Narrated by: Stina Neilsen

Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins

Release date: 06-21-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

Fantasy / to review

This was a dark fairytale. Mostly because it was overly grotesk in everything really.

Marrlinchen lives with her two sisters and their abusive father in a rundown house. Around them the world industrialized and he is the last wizard. Marlinchen and her sisters use their witch powers to make money.

I did like it at times, but at the same time it was just so weird. Trigger warnings with self mutilation thoughts, abuse, talk of rape. I just got this icky feelings honestly, and it was a bit too much at times and then I did not like it.

Yes conflicted thoughts about this one. She meets a guy, falls in love at once, and he with her the second time and wtf, she must have put a spell on him. Too fast.

The more I think about it the less good feelings I have. Her wolf book was great, this one was meh.

Good narration though, but that can't save it every time

As the last true witches living in a city shifting from magic to industry, Marlinchen and her two sisters are little more than tourist traps as they treat their clients with archaic remedies and beguile them with nostalgic charm. Marlinchen spends her days divining secrets in exchange for rubles and trying to placate their tyrannical, xenophobic wizard father, who keeps his daughters sequestered from the outside world. While at night, she and her sisters sneak out to enjoy the city's amenities and revel in its thrills, particularly the recently established ballet theatre, where Marlinchen meets a dancer who quickly captures her heart.

But as Marlinchen's late-night trysts grow more fervent and frequent, so does the threat of her father's rage and magic. And while the city flourishes with culture and bustles with enterprise, a monster lurks in its midst, borne of intolerance and resentment and suffused with old-world power. Caught between history and progress and blood and desire, Marlinchen must draw upon her own magic to keep her city safe and find her place within it.

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

6/21/2022 What are book no-nos that make you figuratively want to toss a book across the room?

I have thrown a book across the room once. I think it was a 80s romance. Yes you know what I am talking about. She was raped and then yes she lived happily ever after with her rapist. Fuck that! Then I went to my friend who I had borrowed it from, and we threw it in the trash.

6/28/2022 Which books are you looking forward to reading this Summer? (July-August)

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Carole's Monday: Speakeasy

Author: Elyse Douglas 

Title: Speakeasy (Book 1)

Genre: Mystery, Romance, SciFI, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Format: Paperback

Pages: 315

Published: April 5th, 2022

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

In 2019, A West Village Nightclub Singer, Roxie Raines, stumbles through a basement doorway into the past and finds herself in Roaring Twenties New York, with all its dangers, secrets, excitement, and romance.

Roxie Raines lurches through a secret basement doorway in 2019, and time-slips back to New York’s raucous Roaring Twenties. While she dazzles the speakeasy crowds with her “modern sound,” she gets trapped in the dangerous web of Frankie Shay, an evil club owner. She struggles to escape his control and return to the basement doorway that sent her to 1925.

When she meets the handsome detective, Jake Kane, it’s love at first sight, but Jake has a secret past, and her own time travel secret makes him suspicious.

Roaring Twenties New York comes alive with flappers, gangsters, romance, and speakeasies and Roxie’s stunning rise to stardom could come with the price of losing both the man she loves and her own life.

Review:

I'm so addicted to this author's time-traveling books! When I saw this coming out I had to check it out. 

Here we follow Roxie and Jake. Roxie is from 2019 and she finds herself stumbling through a basement doorway and landing in 1920s New York. In order to make her way, she sings at one of the local speakeasies. However, she gets trapped in the dangerous web of Frankie Shay. She struggles to escape and tries to find a way home. That is when she meets the handsome detective Jake Kane. It is love at first sight, but they both have secrets. 

Ooooo the 20's sound like a crazy time to be alive!!! I don't recall a book when someone time-traveled to then so that was fun to read. Seemed like a fun time, but also a super dangerous time to be alive. 

I loved watching Roxie find her footing and actually be appreciated for her musical talent. Back in 2019, she was a nobody. In 1920...they seem to love her style and her musical abilities. Good for her. 

Now...I didn't like Jake at first. I had to really warm up to him. He seemed so flaky at times, but I get it...he is a detective. He can tell Roxie isn't 100% honest so that puts him on the defense. After a certain event, I started warming up to him and I actually adored him by the end. 

I do wish we had more of Frankie. Yes, yes, he was the baddie of the tale, but I felt like we didn't see much of him and I felt he was a little 2D. I think they could've fleshed out this baddie and made him scarier. I found myself not even worrying about him or even worried about our duo. 

Dr. Hall intrigues me. I hope we get a spin-off or learn more about that tale. 

OoooooOOOOoo that ending was good! It has me wanting more. I hope the next book is about Roxie and Jake. I feel like they still have some stuff to sort through before they can have their HEA. I am itching for the next one!

In the end, I really enjoyed this. I literally can't get enough of these time-traveling novels! They are just too good. I hope we get a book 2 for this couple! There is so much left for Roxie and her man! One can hope! Now, I did have that mini issue about the main baddie, but besides that, no other issues. This is a great summer read! Mysteries, time travel, gangsters, booze, music, love....what else can you ask for? 4 stars from me!

They both die at the end by Adam Silvera

 

Series: Death-Cast (#1)

Format: 368 pages, Paperback

Published: September 7, 2017 by Simon & Schuster

YA Fiction / Library

Very conflicted here. I did like it, it was a fast, easy read (but it still took me a long time.)

It's just the whole Death Call thing really made me think waaaay too much. You get a call telling you that you will die that day. Ok. BUT, what if you die 12.01 am? Do they even have time to call you? What kind of shitty last day is that. Or they call you at 3 am waking you up when you would peacefully have died in your sleep.

ALso, most of these deaths here were totally caused by the last call. People made other choices which lead to their deaths. It makes no sense. Oh, and if you are a walking dead person then really the government would make it impossible for you to go places. You are a ticking bomb, even if you die, others would might just be hurt. But if you are not there? See, too many freaking plot holes. The set up makes no sense and it was all I thought about.

So, I think the organization is secretly evil and killing people. Now that makes sense!

I liked it for the easy flow. The world, not so much

On September 5th, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: they're going to die today. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but for different reasosn, they're both looking for a new friend on their End Day. The good news: there's an app for that. It's called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure - to live a lifetime in a single day.

Audio review: A proposal they can't refuse

Narrated by: Valentina Ortiz

Series: Vega Family Love Stories, Book 1

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Release date: 06-07-22

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Contemporary romance/ to review

What is better than a pair of meddling grandpas! Those two are up to no good!

Kamilah wants things, but she is sort of stuck. But she really wants to change her family's restaurant, but yes she is stuck. I liked her, she was so sweet and she loved loved cooking. I could practically taste it.

Liam owns a whisky distillery with his grandfather. He has not had a girlfriend in ages, and has a lot of trauma from his childhood that he really should see someone about.

Then the grandfathers say they must get married and all the want will be theirs. Yes, fake relationships are so much fun. And since they used to be best friends it is obvious that they will fall hard for each other.

But Liam has his trauma, and Kamilah has her fear of doing things.

A fun ride. I think this would be a funny movie btw.

Good narrator that knew what she was doing. Good voices, good flow, and easy to follow along to.

Kamilah Vega is desperate to convince her family to update their Puerto Rican restaurant and enter it into the Fall Foodie Tour. With the gentrification of their Chicago neighborhood, it's the only way to save the place. The fly in her mofongo--her blackmailing abuelo says if she wants to change anything in his restaurant, she'll have to marry the one man she can't stand: his best friend's grandson.

Liam Kane spent a decade working to turn his family's distillery into a contender. Now he and his grandfather are on the verge of winning a national competition. Then Granda hits him with a one-two punch: he has cancer and he has his heart set on seeing Liam married before it's too late. And Granda knows just the girl...Kamilah Vega.

If they refuse, their grandfathers will sell the building that houses both their businesses. With their futures on the line, Kamilah and Liam plan to outfox the devious duo, faking an engagement until they both get what they want. But soon, they find themselves tangled up in more than either of them bargained for.

Audio review: How to steal a scoundrel's heart

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Series: The Mating Habits of Scoundrels, Book 4

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Release date: 05-24-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical romance /to review

Prudence and Leo, oh Leo, later he wonders why society gives her the cut. Like hello Leo! You will see.

Prudence was ruined by a man she thought would marry her. Her father threw her out. He friends stayed by her, but she feels she is out of options. Her solution, yikes, I mean she never wants to do the disgusting thing again, but she she agrees to become a mistress. And he thinks she has spread it around since that is obvious what she was up to after her fall from grace.

First, really Leo? Why believe that from the sweetest innocent woman you have met? But then he does not trust anyone cos women are evil (and yes he was hurt bad in the past). But he is really nice to her and falls fast.

As for Prudence, well I get why she chose this road, but wherever she would have hidden afterwards the truth would have found her and she would have shunned again.

But luckily this is a romance, they will fall in love and live happily ever after. And the ton can't shun her anymore.

I enjoyed it. I did want to slap them both over the head a few times, but then the road to love can't be easy

Good narration, but then Justine Eyre is one of my favorite narrators. She does historical romance so well!

Ruined debutante Prudence Thorogood lost everything when she was ousted from polite society, including her inheritance. Now she’ll do anything to take back what’s hers...even if she has to steal it. Accepting a scandalous offer from Lord Savage seems like the perfect solution to disguise her criminal intentions from the ton. Until she discovers that there’s more to this scoundrel than meets the eye.

Leo Ramsgate, Marquess of Savage, has everything except for a heart. That organ dried up long ago after a devastating betrayal. Since then, he vowed never to trust or love again. He ensures that his dalliances are mutually satisfying, but always temporary...until he meets the reserved Miss Thorogood. Not one of his previous lovers has ever beguiled him the way she does. Not one has made him want to break his own rules. Not one has tempted him to keep her...forever. 

Prue has every intention of disappearing from London after their affair ends. But her plan falters when she finds herself falling hopelessly in love with a man who may never love her in return. With time running out and so much at stake, she cannot help but wonder.... 

TMST

 

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

6/14/2022 Do you make use of Goodreads recommendations?

Oh, like those recommendations at the side? Seldom, very seldom. Sometimes I might take a look at them just to see. But even more rare for me to put them on wishlist. They are just SO random at times.

6/21/2022 What are book no-nos that make you figuratively want to toss a book across the room?

6/28/2022 Which books are you looking forward to reading this Summer? (July-August)

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions,  please fill out this GOOGLE FORM.  Participation is optional and never required.

Carole's Monday. Jose and the pirate Captain Toledano

 

Author: Arnon Z. Shorr
Illustrator: Joshua M Edelglass
Title: José and the Pirate Captain Toledano
Genre: Historical Fiction, Children’s Graphic Novels, YA 
Pages: ebook, 96 pages*
Published: January 1st 2022 
Where I Got It: Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion

*Available in Print and ebook

Summary: 

Set in the shadows of the Spanish Inquisition, this is the coming-of-age story of José Alfaro, a young refugee who forms a powerful bond with the mysterious Pirate Captain Toledano. It’s also a dynamic pirate adventure on the high seas, with hand-to-hand combat and ship-to-ship action, and the powerful story of a dark time in history when people took different paths to survive. José Alfaro is a cocky, rambunctious teen in the 16th-century colony of Santo Domingo, pulling pranks and dodging the authorities. One day, José’s mischief lands him in serious trouble. Hoping for a fresh start, he stows away on the Laqish, not knowing that it’s a pirate ship. From his hiding place, he watches the pirates divide their loot and plan their attacks on long days at sea. He also takes note of the respect they have for their captain, the intimidating Toledano. But the captain has a secret―like José, he is a Jew. For him, piracy is not about the gold; it has a different purpose. Under the tutelage of the ship’s quartermaster, José learns the intricacies of pirate life. But when he can, the captain finds ways to pull José away from the crew, to teach him about his ancestors.

View Trailer Jose and the Pirate Captain Toledano by Arnon Z. Shorr

Review: 

 When I was a wee thing myself I LOVED anything pirates so I know this would've been perfect for me so I knew I had to check this out. That cover...the storyline...the title....perfection!

Here we follow José Alfaro who is a young refugee. After certain events, he finds himself on a pirate ship and forms a powerful bond with the mysterious Pirate Captain Toledano. Set during the Spanish Inquisition, José and the captain have a secret that is dangerous for themselves and their crew. 

I finished this in one sitting. I literally couldn't stop reading! I had to know what was going to happen to our hero, his family, his friends, and his crew. No one is safe during the Spanish Inquisition! Such a dangerous and dark time. 

It made me sad watching José be forced to grow up so quickly. He went from a standard rambunctious and carefree teen to a young adult with a dangerous secret and worry and sadness. But he never lost his spirit! 

I loved watching him and Captain Toledano form a friendship. It was nice seeing the captain take José under his wing. 

By the end, I found that I enjoyed it, but it also saddened me. Some people are just so evil. Humans can really stink, but I loved the ending message here. There is hope for humanity, but it is a rough road. 

I loved, loved, LOVED the art. It was perfect for this story. It was a perfect balance of realistic vs animated. I think kids will really like it.

The only thing I consider an "issue" is that I felt like we needed more. I would've loved to see/read more of José's lessons with Captain Toledano. Learn more about the history of the Jewish people and the religion. Maybe see more about what it takes to be a pirate like fighting, etc. Maybe an extra couple of pages? I think that would've been an extra cherry on top.

In the end, I really enjoyed reading this. Can this please be made into a TV show or a movie??? I would for sure watch that! The story, the characters, the message...bravo. If you like historical fiction you'll enjoy this. I think this would be a good story for kids...especially if they like pirates. It has a great message at the end. Overall, I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

This giveaway is for 2 print copies One for each of 2 winners. This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and ends on July 1, 2022 midnight, pacific time. Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audio: The Longbourn quarantine

 

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Series: Skirmish & Scandal

Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins

Release date: 11-26-20

Publisher: Meryton Press

Pride and prejudice variation

To review

A quarantine book during these times, very fitting.

Smallpox is ravaging England, and everyone we know ends up at Longbourne. And there are actually some smart people in the village so Bingley and Darcy are quarantined for 2 weeks.

Which gives us time for Bingley and Jane to patch things up. For Darcy and Lizzy to fall in love. For Caroline to find her heart. And the author does gives us happy ending for everyone in the epilogue, and I did like that.

Nice little novella.

Good narration.

Refugees flood the roads. A feared specter has escaped London’s grimy docklands and now threatens the wealthy districts. Amongst that ragged stream is a single carriage jostling its way toward Meryton. Inside are the Darcy siblings along with Charles and Caroline Bingley. They desperately seek the safety of Netherfield Park. For all their riches, they could not evade the epidemic’s dark hand. Bingley’s leasehold had been reduced to rubble as roving bands raped, pillaged, and burned. The only sanctuary was Longbourn where, once installed, the Darcys and Bingleys were barred from leaving by a fortnight’s quarantine.

Events converge with disease in The Longbourn Quarantine. Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy abandon old prejudices to face grief and mourning. Pride is set aside as Death hovers nearby. The couple forges ahead. knowing that love unexplored is love lost: that words must be said lest they remain unspoken in the time of smallpox.

Audio: The Exile

Narrated by: Amanda Berry

Series: The Bennet Wardrobe, Book 5

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Release date: 11-28-18

Publisher: Don Jacobson

Pride and prejudice variation

To review

This one was more the book that pulled together things from the past and the future. Kitty Bennet is timelord. She shaped events. But at the same time the author does seem to have it in for her. Poor Kitty!!

We never saw Lizzy and Jane. Mary got her moment, Lydia will get hers, and Kitty is everywhere. Shaping the Bennet world.

A philosophical and psychological one. A slower one. Lots of thinking and talking. Not a lot happening, before the end.....yes he has it in for her.

Great narration.I have gotten used to the narrator as I have listened to many by now.

Kitty Bennet, the fourth daughter of the Master and Mistress of Longbourn, had spent far too long as the shadow of her younger sister. The all-knowing Meryton chinwaggers suggested that young Miss Bennet needed education—and quickly—especially after the irregular circumstances that forced the wedding of Lydia Bennet and George Wickham.

How right they were…but the type of instruction Kitty Bennet received, and the where/when in which she matriculated, was far beyond their ken. For, they knew nothing of that remarkable piece of furniture that had been part of the lives of clan Bennet for over 120 years: The Bennet Wardrobe.

After spending 46 years in the future, the Dowager Countess of Matlock returned to Longbourn’s bookroom at that exact same moment as she left in 1811 to tend to many important pieces of Family business. However, she was now a woman of 63 years, some thirteen her father’s senior. Time can deal funny cards in the Universe created by Jane Austen and the Wardrobe.

Of course, the Countess is acting to set in motion forces that will shape the future of Britain—and the Five Families—throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries. In the process, Kitty Fitzwilliam will help her youngest sister find the love she craved with the unexpected hero who, as the Duke said, “saved us all.”

Audio: How we ricochet by Faith Gardner

 

Narrated by: Caitlin Davies

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Release date: 05-24-22

Publisher: HarperAudio

YA fiction

To review

When it come to YA I do prefer those with depth. Which is strange for when it comes to adult I am all about romance.

And this one deals with so much. There is a shooting and it leaves a family in shambles. Betty wants to go to the bottom of things and learn why!? Her sister pulls away from everything and everyone. Her mother goes on a crusade. So we see all sides.

Betty does take it far and befriends the shooter's brother, and he is unaware of it, as is her family.

It is a tragic book. The family comes by unscathed, but the psychological trauma has cut deep. It is real and raw. I also listened to it just after one of the millionth school shootings and it does feel like you sometimes forget how much those that survive deal with.

A good thought provoking book

Great narration. It is a difficult subject and she does it well, she puts a face to all the characters.

Betty’s mom needed new pants for her job.

That was why Betty was at the mall with her mom and sister when the shooting started.

Afterward, nothing is the same.

There are no easy answers to be found, and Betty’s search for them leads her to Michael, the brother of the shooter. But this path only shows Betty one thing: that everything she thought she knew—about herself, about the world around her—can change in a heartbeat.