Category: Book Review

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson | Book Review

Posted May 18, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 3 Comments

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson
Published by Thomas Nelson on May 16, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher (Mail)
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From Park Avenue to the Parks Department—the world’s most beloved social media star is about to get a rude awakening.

With her millions of followers, Cat Cranwell is adored around the world. But when an app partnership goes very, very wrong, Cat suddenly finds herself shunned from the community that not only fed her soul all these years but paid her bills. When Cat’s closest living relative, Uncle Terry, offers her a position on his staff at a small national park in Montana to get away from the city, Cat hesitantly accepts the opportunity.

What she doesn’t realize is that as the new social media strategist her goal is to save Kannery National Park from being absorbed into Glacier National Park by boosting the number of visitors. And at least one of her new colleagues—namely, handsome and rugged ranger Zaiah Hudson—thinks social media is the root of everything that’s wrong with the world. Written with bestselling author Melissa Ferguson’s signature wit and charm, this romantic comedy of opposites attract is full of hilarious romp and a romance that will melt readers’ hearts.

As soon as I read the back cover synopsis for Famous for a Living, I knew it had the potential to be a book I would love. I loved the idea of a heroine who runs away to a small national park and finds love along the way. Outdoorsy settings are some of my favorites, and I was eager to jump in. While I enjoyed parts, Famous for a Living fell short for me and my overall feelings upon finishing were of disappointment.

This is a not the national park rom-com I was looking for. There’s a little wit and a little romance, but I think it would better serve the author and the book itself if Famous for a Living were marketed as women’s fiction. People looking for a romance will be disappointed. There’s inklings of a romance and some small flirtations here and there, but the romance doesn’t have much of a focus until the last 20ish% of the book. Because of this, I didn’t feel any chemistry with the main couple once they did finally decide to pursue a relationship. There was no time spent developing the romantic aspects of the story or even really allowing the characters time to get to know one another. More focus is placed on Cat’s journey of discovering that there’s more to life than social media, setting your phone aside, and living life in the moment. This is a great lesson to learn, but it’s one I didn’t personally need. I’m not on social media much and have never bought into the idea of influencers, social media celebrities, viral videos, sponsored posts, etc. I just follow my friends. I’ve never felt a person’s follower count determines how important their views and opinions are, and I’m not more likely to believe in something or buy something because a stranger on the Internet told me to. When I was first pitched Famous for a Living, I didn’t realize how much of an emphasis would be placed on social media so that was disappointing. It felt ranty and preachy at times.

I loved the idea of the setting, but I wanted so much more from it. I wanted more descriptions and for the place to feel special. I really liked Mina (Cat’s roommate), but I think she’s the only character I cared about. I appreciated Cat’s willingness to try and find balance in her life, but I didn’t like her from the moment I met her. She is devoted to social media, something that I cannot understand, is completely out of touch with reality, and I feel like she only learned something because she was put in the most ideal situation to do so. She went from being a famous social media influencer to… still being on social media. She’s super insecure and I just never connected with or felt bad for her. Her development throughout the book was weak as well. Zaiah never felt like a main character to me, and his backstory was meh. He’s pretty bland and boring, and faded into the background of the rest of the characters for me. I also didn’t love the writing style. There’s lots of short, choppy sentences and nothing was written in a way that grabbed me and made me want to continue flowing through the pages. Reading this was a chore.

All in all, this was a miss for me. I enjoyed Mina’s character, but other than that I didn’t enjoy Famous for a Living and will not be recommending it as a romance. If you’re looking for a women’s fiction title about an influencer on a journey of self-discovery you might like this, but be prepared to be inundated with a lot talk of social media.

The Portrait by Emilia Kelly | Book Review

Posted March 16, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 4 Comments

The Portrait by Emilia Kelly
Published by Self on September 13, 2022
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 305
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
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For fans of Kate Morton and Daphne Du Maurier comes the tale of a woman enchanted by the past until it threatens her future. The Portrait is a captivating debut filled with new love, old secrets, and a mysterious missing woman, all set against the vibrancy of 19th-century London and the construction of the Crystal Palace.

"Atmospheric and gripping, The Portrait deftly weaves Victorian details, Brontë-esque romance, and riveting suspense." -Emily Inouye Huey, author of Beneath the Wide Silk Sky

Every work of art tells a story. And every story has its secrets.

London, 1850. Iris Sheffield has plenty of people to worry about in her life: Hope, the ailing younger sister for whom Iris feels responsible. Winston, Iris's fiancé, who is consumed with his work. And James, the handsome but arrogant artist painting Iris’s portrait, with whom she is forced to spend countless, awkward hours.

But when Iris finds the diary and photograph of a mysterious young woman, she can’t stop wondering who the woman is and what has become of her. The more questions Iris asks, the more she suspects someone does not want her to discover the answers.

Exploring themes of sisterly bonds, familial obligations, and the lengths we go to for those we love, The Portrait illustrates the surprising and frightening ways a work of art can tell a story.

The Portrait was a surprise for me! I was immediately drawn to the beautiful book cover, and then the synopsis grabbed me and I had to dive in right then. I love Gothic stories, told in the style of Daphne Du Maurier, but I will admit to being concerned that her name was mentioned in this synopsis just because those are big shoes to fill! But I really loved this, and can see readers of her work enjoying The Portrait as well.

It’s been a week or so since I finished The Portrait, and I keep thinking about it. The atmosphere was slightly ominous and mysterious without keeping me up at night with the lights on, but just enough that I craved getting back to it when I wasn’t reading. I minored in art history in undergrad, so I loved all the discussions surrounding art and portraiture. I loved brooding James, and the quiet attraction he feels for Iris. The stolen glances and the unspoken thoughts felt dangerous and utterly romantic, in a very subtle way. There’s a mystery that gripped me and held on until the exciting climax at the end. The writing is beautiful and enchanting. I found myself getting lost in the words as they floated around, enveloping me in a cozy blanket to protect me from the chill of the story. Honestly, I was intoxicatingly captivated and remember that feeling I had while reading more than the elements of the story itself. It felt like a dream, and it’s hard to really describe my thoughts because of it.

I highly recommend this to those who are looking for an atmospheric mystery with a subtle hint of romance, steeped in art and secrets. It’s for those who want to feel a little unsettled, but not scared. Emilia Kelly is an author to watch, for sure!

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh | Book Review

Posted March 9, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh
Series: Holidays With Hart #1
Published by Sweethaven Press on February 8, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Comedy
Pages: 373
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
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A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.

A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.

But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.

My Phony Valentine is my first book by Courtney Walsh, but it definitely will not be my last! I absolutely loved this story! If you’re in the mood for a sweet, romantic, fauxmance between a chef and a bad boy hockey player looking to spruce up his image, look no further! Poppy and Dallas are just the two love birds you need. They have the cutest, cringiest meet-cute ever in a coffee shop, where Poppy grabs onto the first guy she sees and claims him as her boyfriend when the local mean girl decides to rewind all the way back to high school. Dallas plays along, and pretty soon they strike up a deal to fake a romance. Poppy could use a little publicity for her ailing restaurant, and Dallas could use some good news associated with his name for once. It’s the perfect plan, and the small town of Loveland is just the place to get the rumors flying. Throw in a meddling grandmother and a loveable, yet pushy publicist and pretty soon Poppy and Dallas are gracing the front pages of magazines and online gossip columns, and catching some real feelings along the way.

I really loved reading about Poppy and Dallas! They’re both very sweet, wholesome cinnamon rolls who have some trauma in their pasts that give them depth and a reason to root for their happiness. I loved the small town vibes and Poppy’s cute restaurant. I loved Dallas’s Gram, who Poppy cooks for as she recovers from hip replacement surgery. She is spunky and caring. I loved going to hockey games and meeting Dallas’s teammates and their wives. What I loved most of all, though, is the conversations Dallas and Poppy have in the kitchen while she cooks and he watches (and then insists on cleaning up after). I enjoyed their time watching movies and accidentally falling asleep on the couch together. This is a closed-door romance, and I am finding myself loving these more and more as I continually find such lovely ones. There are some pretty amazing, toe-curling kissing scenes, which gave me all the swoons without the steam. And sometimes that’s exactly what I want! There’s also no strong language, another win for me.

All in all, My Phony Valentine was a delight! I loved Poppy’s sisters, and I have a feeling they will each be getting a book in this series in the future. Although. I really hope some of Dallas’s teammates get books as well. I loved them. If you loved The Cheat Sheet, you’ll love this too! Can’t wait for more Courtney Walsh!

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn | Book Review

Posted March 2, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 6 Comments

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Published by HarperAudio on March 29, 2022
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 448
Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
Format: Audiobook
Source: Audible
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The New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code returns with an unforgettable World War II tale of a quiet bookworm who becomes history's deadliest female sniper. Based on a true story.

In 1937 in the snowbound city of Kiev (now known as Kyiv), wry and bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko organizes her life around her library job and her young son--but Hitler's invasion of Ukraine and Russia sends her on a different path. Given a rifle and sent to join the fight, Mila must forge herself from studious girl to deadly sniper--a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. When news of her three hundredth kill makes her a national heroine, Mila finds herself torn from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour.

Still reeling from war wounds and devastated by loss, Mila finds herself isolated and lonely in the glittering world of Washington, DC--until an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and an even more unexpected connection with a silent fellow sniper offer the possibility of happiness. But when an old enemy from Mila's past joins forces with a deadly new foe lurking in the shadows, Lady Death finds herself battling her own demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life.

Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye is a haunting novel of heroism born of desperation, of a mother who became a soldier, of a woman who found her place in the world and changed the course of history forever.

Hello. I am speechless. Kate Quinn is turning me into a historical fiction lover. Both books of hers that I’ve read have been 5 stars, and this one is even better! The Diamond Eye is stunning, riveting, exciting, suspenseful, romantic, heartbreaking, inspiring, hopeful, and compulsively readable. The audio version is fabulous. I could end my review right here but I probably shouldn’t. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. The Diamond Eye is based on true events. Mila Pavlichenko was a real person, and her personal memoirs were used to write much of this book. That just makes this so much better for me, because she is amazing! The synopsis is great, so I’m not going to go into all the particulars of her life, but Mila is so brave, honorable, and caring. She’s a cold sniper who has no trouble downing an enemy, but she also loves fiercely. She loves her son more than anything. She’s given her own platoon of soldiers to train and lead, and she loves them so much. She loves her sniper partner. She’s patient, sometimes laying in a hidden nest waiting for her target for days, and she’s got a steady hand. She’s cool under pressure, loyal to her country, and extremely talented at her job. She knows her worth as a woman and doesn’t let her male peers or superiors push her around or take advantage of her. She also doesn’t let the reporters get away with asking disrespectful questions. She joined the war in her very young 20s, and I’m in awe of her. She made a famous statement at a conference in the USA during her diplomatic tour that I just love:

“Gentlemen,” she said, “I am 26 years old and I have killed 309 fascist invaders by now. Don’t you think, gentlemen, that you have been hiding behind my back for too long?”

2. The supporting characters were wonderful as well. Well, except for Mila’s slimy husband who seduced her and got her pregnant when she was barely 15, before abandoning both her and their son. She can’t get rid of him, though, and she runs into him a lot during her time on the battlefield. She has a bit of a romance with an officer, which I loved reading about. She has a nurse friend who takes care of her when she’s injured. Her platoon adores and respects her, which was so refreshing to see during this time period. I loved the strong bond she had with her sniper partner, Kostia. They had each other’s backs and trusted each other so intensely. During a time of war and loss, so many beautiful relationships were formed. (Since I listened, I have no idea how to spell most of the names in this book.) I also enjoyed her friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. It was quite sweet and tender, and lasted long after their respective countries no longer recognized each other as allies.

3. The battlefield scenes were so interesting. I loved reading about how Mila scouted out locations to make her sniper’s nest, the camouflage she spent hours meticulously constructing, the dummies she set out as decoys for the enemy, her checklist for how to take out a target, her rituals, and the toll it took on her mind and her body to do this. She’s spent hours hidden in a tree and days laying under leaves and branches in trenches.

4. Mila’s diplomatic tour was also very interesting to read about. She wanted nothing to do with the diplomatic life, the questions, the traveling, even the gifts. She wanted to be in her uniform in the trenches, not in a satin gown at another stuffy event. And honestly, I liked those parts of the book better than reading about her time in the USA. But the things she said in her speeches and the way she carried herself were impressive, and I really respect her.

5. There’ a LOT of suspense in this book, and it was gripping.

6. The reality of war means that some of the relationships Mila forms cause immense heartbreak in the end, and boy did I feel a lot of things during the course of this book. If you’re worried at all, know that I did not cry once. And I cry all the time. The Book Thief made me cry, but this book did not. There’s a lot of happy in the end.

7. The writing is stunning! So many passages took my breath away.

8. Definitely listen to the audio if you can. Saskia Maarleveld does accents and tone so perfectly that I could not stop listening to her.

9. The author’s note at the end of the book is absolutely essential, and tells which parts of the book are taken directly from Lyudmila’s personal memoirs and where Kate Quinn used her artistic license. Do not skip this part!

All in all, The Diamond Eye is a new favorite novel of mine! I’m not a fan of historical fiction, but I love Kate Quinn’s books. The word I keep thinking of when I think of this book is “stunning”. Everything about The Diamond Eye left me breathless and wanting more. From the cold battlefields of Sevastopol, to the glittering city of New York, I could not pull myself away from Mila’s story. I’ve just added Lady Death: The Memoirs of Stalin’s Sniper by Lyudmila Pavlichenko to my to-read list. I want to learn more about her! And I can’t wait to read more from Kate Quinn!

Snug in Iceland by Victoria Walker | Book Review

Posted February 23, 2023 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 7 Comments

Snug in Iceland by Victoria Walker
Series: Icelandic Romance #1
Published by Ever After Books on October 1, 2021
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Pages: 234
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
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Rachel Richards is stuck in a rut. Her boyfriend Adam barely notices her most of the time and her life in London isn’t as exciting as it should be. When the company she works for, Snug, asks her to oversee the opening of a new store in Iceland, she jumps at the chance for a change of scenery. Exploring Reykjavik with the help of Icelandic tour guide Jonas, Rachel discovers that life is out there waiting to be lived. As she falls in love with Iceland, she begins to see what is important to her and wonders whether the life she left behind is what she wants after all…

Look at that cover. Iceland! Romance! Snug in Iceland had all the makings of a story made for me. Well… buckle up, friends, because I have things to say. And it’s going to be a big mash of words because my head is all over the place. There’s no organization to this review, and I might repeat myself. There also might be some spoilers. A book that does this to me is not worth it, trust me.

Things I Liked:

The cover.
The setting. In theory (more on this later).

Things I Didn’t Like:

The heroine, Rachel. I couldn’t stand her. She’s a major, major doormat. Her boyfriend walks all over her and she absolutely lets him. She has no spine whatsoever. She’s boring, and she’s extremely bland. There’s absolutely no substance to her.
I have no clue what Jonas is like. He seems nice, but there’s nothing to him. He’s a fuzzy blur against a snowy background. That’s it for me.
The romance between Rachel and Jonas was never developed to a satisfying place. Rachel should have broken up with her boyfriend, Adam, way earlier, because I just kept getting annoyed at the double standard. She suspects Adam of cheating on her while she’s been emotionally cheating on him and even kissed Jonas. But Adam is the only one who is doing something wrong, even though she’s stringing him along while trying to decide if she should dump him. Furthermore, I highly doubt she would have even dumped him if a better option hadn’t come along for her to switch over to, and that made me lose whatever respect I had for her (if any). It’s ok to be alone if you’re unhappy with your partner. You’ll be ok not in a relationship. The back and forth of “oh, but Adam but also Jonas but oh no, Adam and I have been together for so long, but wow Jonas is so hot” got very old.
I can probably now write on my resume that I am qualified to open a retail store on my own. There was page after page after page of what was essentially a how-to manual for working retail and managing a new store opening. I was amazingly bored with it all. Why the floors must be restored instead of replaced, how to stock a stock room, how to interview creators, how much stock to order, how to set up shelving, the scientific reasons for why a cash register should be placed here instead of there, which throw pillows should be seen through the window from the outside, money and expenditures, bottom lines, why companies are acquired by other companies, and on and on. There was more time spent on work related conversations and explanations that on anything any reader would actually want to read about, such as romance, scenery, feelings, and character development. And oh my gosh, it took forever for us to learn how to unlock the tricky front door of this store. Why do I need to know the intricacies of unlocking a door?!
I thought the title “Snug in Iceland” sounded so cute and cozy! I was looking for a snuggly read with cuddling by the fire and snowy landscapes. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that “Snug” is the name of this retail store and there’s nothing snuggly about it. It’s like naming a book “Home Goods in Canada”.
This book takes place in Iceland. I should feel like I’m in Iceland! There was so much that could have been done with this stunning setting. The heroine rides long distances in a car, with no descriptions of what she’s seeing. She goes sightseeing, but no visuals are provided about what anything looks like. When Rachel finally sees the Northern Lights, we get a sentence or two about the green ribbon across the sky. That was IT, after the entire book built up hope that she would see them before she left. There was absolutely no creative writing whatsoever.
There were no descriptions of anything. I have no idea what Rachel or Jonas look like except that they’re hot. A knitted hat got more description than anything else.
SO basically, there was no depth.
The writing is just not good at all. The actual sentences and word choices were not good. The dialogue was flat, cliched, and emotionless. We’ve established that the descriptions were non-existent. There was also no character development, no sense of who anyone was or what their personalities were like, and the plot was extremely empty. The same things keep happening and he same things keep being said.
Other reviewers have indicated that the author seems to have done no research on Iceland apart from going there on vacation. I can’t speak to the validity of that, but I did feel that more could have been done to capture the culture and beauty of Iceland. I felt like I was reading a book set in London, and London is fine. Bu London is not Iceland.
The ending is very rushed and unsatisfying. Obstacles that had been there, preventing Jonas and Rachel from being together, simply melt away as soon as a little thought is put into their situation. It was a simple, basic, very frustrating ending. But at the same time, I was so glad it was over.

Well, there you have it. There’s a lot more I can say, but I’m tired of thinking about this book. I would not recommend Snug in Iceland, and I’m interested in finding another book set in Iceland that will do for me what I wish this one had. Any recommendations for me?