Many lives of Mama Love

At first, I was not sure how to perceive this book. Being a memoir, you never really know what to expect. But now that I’ve finished it, I am happy to have chosen it for my book of the month back in August of last year.

Book of the month is a really great subscription service that lets you choose the book you want for about $18.95, and it’s the only one I have found to let you cancel or skip a month without charging you. If you get to stick with them long enough to earn their BFF status, you get a free tote bag and a few other perks.  Go get it if you haven’t already.

From the standpoint of being married to someone who had trouble with the law as a teen and has friends who are/were addicts as well as friends who are in jail from it, this book is on a more personal level.

I used to judge people like him because my parents did , but not now. I’ve learned that these types of people can be some of the most loyal friends you will ever have. In my experience, the most disloyal friends are the popular, the rich, the church-goers.

Take this review however you choose, but if you do decide to read it, let me know.

Harmony of Lies

This is the sequel to Harmony of Fire by Brian Feehan (aka Christine Feehan’s son), and once again, I was not disappointed.

You can definitely tell that he gets his style and talent from his mother.

I won’t go into details because I have to leave something to make you want to go pick up both books.

I will say that I am of no surprise and that if you love his mother’s work, then you will surely love him.

The Jane Austen Society

The first thing that caught my attention was the cover. Very beautiful cover, in my opinion. The next thing that got me was the title. Being a huge Austen fan myself, I was curious as to what the story was about, so I got it at this nice used book store (https://www.prettygoodbooks.net/) and If anyone wants to check the place out I definitely recommend it. Their Harry Potter section was under the stairs, totally appropriate, lol!

The more I read the book, the more I fell in love with it. If you’ve read any of Austen’s books, then you’ll understand when I say the pacing and the flow of the story, plus the characters are almost like they were written by Jane Austen herself. It was just too perfect. I think the author,herself, is a fan of Jane Austen, too.

I do hope you will get this book and read it for yourself. I also suggest reading all six of Austen’s books before reading this one because they do discuss them in great detail. I have yet to read Northanger Abbey or Mansfield Park, and that’s a shame. I will definitely be picking those two up after reading this book.

Happy Reading 📚

Rereads, anyone?

To try to get myself out of the slump, I am attempting to reread two whole series. First series is the Argeneau vampire series. I am starting book four with that one.

My other series reread is the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. The tv show that was on Fox called Bones is inspired by this series and I am on the third or fourth book in that series.

And since rewatching one of my all-time favorite movies on Netflix, I am going to reread that book as well.

The movie is just called fried green tomatoes, but it is an amazing movie. The book is too.

Let me know what you’re all reading.

Slumpish

I didn’t realize it has been so long since my last post! Here, it is nearly the end of the month, and I have not posted anything since the 12th.

Sadly, I don’t have much to say on this post since I’ve not been reading all that much except for rereading two series of mine and am reading Girl in the blue coat  by Monica Hesse.

It’s pretty good so far. That’s not what I was expecting at all, really. I am hoping that it will bring me out of my slump that I’m in.

I have been following Hailey in Bookland’s lead and want to get into some self-help books also. If anyone has any recommendations,  leave a comment!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

I can relate to this book on a lot of things. The first is the main family’s last name. (Allbright) that was how my ancestors spelled the name when they first came to the U.S from Germany (Albrecht to Allbright) then after a time the name started showing up as spelled with one L instead of two. (Albright), which is how I spelled my name until I married at nineteen.

The father of the main character, having spent time in the military, in the Vietnam War is another relation. My grandfather was there too. Now, he was never abusive as far as I know, but he has been gone from this world since 2018. I miss him like crazy.

The description of Alaska makes me want to pack my things and go there. It all sounds so beautiful.

Needless to say, Kristin Hannah won yet again with this book. So far from my backlist reading of her books, I have found only one to be disappointing.

Let me know your thoughts on this book. I’m curious to know.

Long Live the pumpkin queen

This book……

I have no words except to say that if you’ve read the nightmare before Christmas book and have watched the movie countless times, then this book is one hundred percent absolutely one to pick up!

It is freaking amazing. I literally find nothing wrong with it. My biggest wish right now is that I hope like hell that Tim Burton does this movie like he did Nightmare Before Christmas. This book deserves to be made the sequel!

Sally needed her own story, and believe me when I tell you that she finally got it. I have never read anything else by this author, and I might not pick up anything else due to not wanting to ruin the good that came from this just finished one.

To further show how much I am a fan of the original Nightmare Before Christmas, my husband got me this as an early gift for Valentine’s.

I also have several blankets with Jack on them and a poster I had up, which shows Jack on Spiral Hill ( the poster also glowed in the dark). I am shameless when it comes to things I love.

If you liked the same movie, please let me know!

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Ok, at first, I could decide if I had wanted to read this book or not. I have read Beach Read by this author, and I was not too thrilled about it. However, I am really liking this one.

*spoiler alert*

I really resonate with Charlie saying that he likes how one can be anonymous in NY, but places like his small town, you never shake off what people already think of you. Since I have grown up and still live in the small town I grew up in, I completely understand this statement. There could not have been a more truer quote for me from any of my books than this one.

I am happy that I picked this up. A romance between two literary agents, what is not to love? Especially since my love of books has me wanting to write one some day.

Comment with your favorite Emily Henry book.

I want it.

So I was sitting here listening to one of my favorite podcasts, and I felt myself be happy over the thought of being paid to review books. Then I realized that since writing a book has become difficult for me right now than I would want to be paid to review books whether it is by new authors or by someone who has been an author for awhile.

If you would love to help me start this dream job and would love to see your book reviewed on this blog, then please feel free to email me ( craven.lori91@gmail.com), and we can talk details there.

A winter in New York

Ok, this will be my last post for this year, so I figure to make it a review of my last book of the year.

I just figured this book would have been just a cutesy rom com, and it was, but with a few twists that I was not expecting. Iris and her relationship with her mother is very prominent in the story, and it gives me the vibes of my favorite show (gilmore girls) and the love that is prominent in the Belotti family is just heartwarming.

Then there is the abusive ex Adam Bronson. That was a twist that was surprising.

If you are looking for a great rom com holiday read, then I highly recommend this one.