Review of "Talk Bookish to Me" by Kate Bromley

 

Review:

I found this book in the new section of my local library, and I thought the cover was so cute. Not going to lie, but I definitely judge books by their covers when it comes to browsing. Reading the back cover, I thought the story seemed interesting enough to give it a try. I'm so glad I did!

Talk Bookish to Me follows a young romance author named Kara, who is struggling to write her next novel. With her deadline swiftly approaching, she is suddenly confronted with a ghost from her past. While being the maid of honor in her friend's upcoming wedding, Kara learns that one of her ex-boyfriends is a groomsman. Of course, this is not just any ex-boyfriend, but Ryan, the one who broke, no wait, shattered her heart in college. As the two face and interact with each other for the first time in ten years, Kara goes through a whole spectrum of emotions. After seeing Ryan again, Kara is surprised to find that she finally has some creative inspiration for her novel. It turns out that this inspiration isn't just a one time thing, but seems to happen after her encounters with Ryan. As Kara and Ryan are forced into more situations together, Kara decides to not only use Ryan as a muse, but use this time to sort out the past. As they move through what happened between them and each tell their side of the story, Kara and Ryan must decide if a relationship between them should stay firmly in the past or if there is a chance for a future. 

This book is author Kate Bromley's debut novel, and she has written a very enjoyable and surprising story. Her characters are entertaining and have a bit of snark in them, which I personally love. She also includes an amazing analogy of romance novels and baseball that I found just perfect. I will also admit that there is a surprise in this book that made my jaw drop! No, really! I literally had my mouth hanging open as I read part of this book. Sure, I expect surprises in my mystery books, but not my romance ones. Well played, Kate, well played!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much in fact that I plan to purchase my own copy of it. If you like romance, humor, and sarcasm, then this book will be great for you! It's an easy read and perfect for those last few summer nights with a glass of wine or bottle of beer.

How Much Coffee Was Needed?

This book did lead to one late night reading. I definitely needed an extra cup or two of coffee the next day. Most of the book I could put down and pick up as needed, but I did reach a point where I kept thinking one more chapter. You all know how that goes. One chapter turns into two, then three, then 4, and hours later, the book is done!

What's Next?

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

*Yep, I'm still working my way through that series. I'm at the hands of the library gods on this one.

Review of "The Lost Apothecary" by Sarah Penner

*This was the one book review I did this summer. Unfortunately, it did not take me out of my slump, but I still loved the book! 

My Review:

This might be the book to take me out of my slump! After reading this book, I actually felt compelled to write the review immediately, which I took as a good sign. I've seen this book on many lists and posts from people, so this was another book like The Midnight Library that I was eager to read. Plus the cover is beautiful! I only wish I read the physical book instead of the ebook.

This book follows two different timelines, a present day one and one set in February 1791. In the present day timeline, we follow Caroline who is in London by herself and trying to sort out her life and marriage. In the 1791 timeline, we follow Nella, a apothecary, and Eliza, a young servant girl, who gets tangeled up in Nella's business. 

After a mudlarking adventure, Caroline finds an artifact that has her searching for answers about it. As she searches for answers, she discovers things about her life and marriage that were buried or stifled. Her research also slowly takes her on the path to discovering Nella's apothocary, and it's unique purpose. As we read about Caroline, we also get to read Nella and Eliza's versions of events in February 1791. Nella's apothocary is not the normal, healing apothocary, but instead one that has a more deadly purpose. Have a cheating or abusive husband? Visit Nella, and she'll sort you out. This is exactly what Eliza's mistress does by sending Eliza to Nella for help. However, Eliza is intrigued by Nella's secret shop, and comes back to learn more and help Nella. However, dealing with poisons has dire consequences that Nella, Eliza, and eventually Caroline will soon see.

I really enjoyed this book! I wasn't sure about the dual timelines at first, but Penner does an excellent job with this technique. I found that when one timeline might be a little slower, the other one was picking up. Since every other chapter was the opposite timeline, I kept reading and wanting to see what was going to happen. I also liked seeing how Caroline pieced together the mystery and what eventually happened to Nella and Eliza. 

I also connected with the character of Caroline. She was at a point in her life where she had lost a bit of herself to becoming an adult. I think so many of us reach this point in our own adult lives. Things just don't go the way we expect or hoped, and the realities and responsibilities of adulthood tend to tether us to boring versions of our imagined life. In Caroline's story, she was able to have courage to make a change. Now I know for many of us, this may not seem possible to make the large change she does, but I'm sure there are smaller changes we can make to help us be more of ourselves. I know for me personally, it's about being more independent and bolder, and creating more than I'm consuming. Reading Caroline's story, helped reinforce that while this is difficult at times, it's been worth it. This book also gave me the nudge to keep going with what I'm doing. 

How Much Coffee Was Needed?

I would say this book is worth one or two extra cups of coffee for me. It's summer, so I have extra time now. I can read much more and ended up reading this book  in 2 days! I didn't have to read late at night, but I definitely read when I should have probably been cleaning or doing something else.

What's Next?

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

Checking Back In

 

Well, that reading and writing slump lasted a lot longer than I expected. With the exception of one post, which I will publish later, I didn't write any book reviews this summer. I read a little here and there, but nothing substantial. Thankfully, my reading has recently picked up along with my desire to write again. So while I enjoyed my summer adventures, I'm so happy my motivation to read and write has come back to me. 

I really cannot explain what happened except that I just listened to my mind and body this summer. Sure, I still did all the mom and family things like normal, and that seemed to be enough to occupy my time. My kids are getting older and more involved in activities. I went into full mom mode this summer with getting them to and from things. When we had free time, we did mini-adventures around where we lived and tried to spend time with family. It really was a rewarding and refreshing summer. 

Now that the school year has started, and we are back into our school routines, I find myself itching to read and write again. Sorry I ghosted all of you this summer, but I feel peaceful and eager to jump back in! I've read some wonderful books that I cannot wait to share them with you! 

Review of "Dollface" by Renee Rosen

 

My Review:

Dollface is written by Renee Rosen, who does an excellent job of mixing historical facts, events, and people with fictional characters and their stories. She tends to focus on Chicago history, and this book is about one of Chicago's more insteresting time periods, the Roaring 20s. 

This book follows Vera Abramowitz, a very young and naive woman, trying to make it on her own in Chicago during Prohibition. Vera struggles to survive on the meager income given to typists, but refuses to go back to the Stockyards, where her mother runs a kosher butchering business. While out socializing at different clubs, Vera meets two men that will change her life. Tony Liolli oozes charm, excitement, and passion, while Shep Green is handsome and just wants to protect and take care of Vera. She's torn between the two men and the exciting lives they lead. As Vera gets to know the two men even more, she discovers that her two lovers are actually members of opposing mob gangs in Chicago. When a new circumstance leads to a choice made for Vera, she ends up more involved in the mob life than she ever thought possible. Soon is she not only a witness to the gritty side of the mob wars, but she also becomes an active participant. Vera finds herself more and more entangled in this dangerous lifesytle as the mob wars intensify leading to the infamous St. Valentine Day's Massacre.

Just like Vera, the reader is exposed to the glamorous side of the mob and Prohibition, before descending into the gritty, maddening, and terrifying reality. It was interesting to see Vera change throughout the course of the novel and not necessarily for the better. The reader watches her transform from this innocent and fresh-faced woman, who just wants to do better than how she was raised into this strong and determined woman, who will do whatever it takes (even if it's illegal) to survive. Vera tries her best to keep up and protect her family as the mob wars begin to spin out of control.

I really enjoyed the factual aspects of the book that Rosen includes. Besides, the obvious Al Capone, Rosen includes many other real mobsters along with actual events from the Prohibition Era in Chicago. As a reader, not only did I enjoy the story, but I also found myself looking up information on the names, events, and places listed in the book. Rosen includes a note at the end of the book that explains some of the changes she made in the book. I also feel like this era is usually glamorized in books and movies, and while Rosen includes some of this, she really gets into the dangerous reality of the mob in Chicago.

How Much Coffee Was Needed:

I took my time reading this book, but not because I found it tough or boring. I really enjoyed it and found myself stopping to look up names or details in the book. I did have a night or two of late reading, so it definitely was worth a few extra cups of coffee. 

What's Next?

I'm going nonfiction and healthy this time with The Pegan Diet by Mark Hyman, MD.

 

Review of "The Dating Experiment" by Emma Hart

*I read this book in April but have had the review sitting in my "Drafts" since then. Still stuck in the slump.

My Review:

I decided to try this book as I was reading The Bookworm's Guide series and noticed that Emma Hart had written a bunch of books. This book looked promising, so I gave it a try. I did not realize that this book was the third book in another series of hers. I was still able to read it and understand it just fine, but obviously I was missing some of the backstories. 

Chloe has been in love with her best friend's older brother for as long as she can remember. As adults, they are now working together and running an online dating site called "Studpid Cupid." Chloe has finally decided that her and Dom will never happen, and it's time for her to move on. She thinks she has the perfect plan to help her do this, she'll have Dom set her up on a date. What she doesn't realize is that Dom has feelings for her too and has for years. He will set Chloe up if she will find a date for him. So they both go on dates set up by each other when really they just want to date each other😣. 

The story is predictable and very reminiscent of Kinsley and Josh from the first Bookworm's book (Actually, I think this book came out first, so it's the other way around). It just felt like I had read the story before many times. The other issue I had with the book is that Chloe and Dom argue a lot, like ALL the time. I get that at the beginning it might be sexual frustration, but they continue throughout the whole book. The constant bickering gets tiring, and I got frustrated with Chloe. I just wanted her to cool down and give him a chance. I feel like with all the arguing, communication is going to be BIG issue for this couple. Just like the other books I've read by Emma Hart, it had funny moments, and it was an easy read. I just didn't enjoy it as much as the Bookworm's Guide series (No ornery grandparents or ducks😞). It also gave me a weird sense of deja vu as I felt like I just read this same story in the first Bookworm's Guide book.

How Much Coffee Was Needed?

None. This was an easy read, and I didn't feel compelled to stay up late reading it.

What's Next?

I didn't fill out this part when I originally wrote the review. I've read several ebooks since this one, so I'm not quite sure what I read next. I'm guessing it was Seven Up by Janet Evanovich.

 

Reading and Writing Slump

 Have you every gone through a period where reading just doesn't hold your interest? I'm finding myself in that position right now. I hate when this happens😡

First, I found myself in a writing slump. I was still reading, but found it difficult to get the motivation to write about what I was reading. As a result, I have a back log of books to write reviews for but not much motivation to do it. I'm thinking of doing a group post where I just post what I read and a very short review of each. Who knows? I might actually get motivated here soon to do right by each book. Maybe.

After the writing slump, I went into a reading slump. Usually books are my go to when I'm struggling or just feel stressed. However, recently I cannot even find any satisfaction in reading. I know there are several reasons for this, but it's still tough to admit.

Any teachers, parents, or both out there? I'm both, and if you answered yes to my question, then you know how busy and stressful April and May can get. Even during a pandemic, there's still been plenty to do. I'm trying to wrap up the school year as a teacher with fun projects and exciting things to do for my students. My own kids have spring sports and their own projects and school activities. Plus the weather is turning more and more beautiful and there is so much to be done outside for our house and yard. At this point in the season, I feel guilty if I read on a beautiful day instead of doing yardwork. Soon it will get hot, and I won't feel so bad about staying inside and reading in the AC, but I'm not there yet.

Each time I try to sit and read, my mind wanders, and I'm thinking of everything else I need to do or should be doing instead of reading. Usually I don't even think about all these things when reading, but not right now. I can't get them out of my head! Then I feel guilty and put the book down to do something else. Ugh! I know the slump will pass, but as a reader it's frustrating.

I'm trying to be more gracious to myself and just accept the slump. It's happened before, and it will happen again. It looks like I might be edging out of the writing slump at least. I'm writing this, and I'm starting to publish a few draft reviews I did before the slumps started. I'm trying to focus on enjoying my spring activities and looking forward to summer reading. Thankfully my books will always be there waiting for me to pick up when I'm ready❤

Review of "The Bookworm's Guide to Faking It" (Book 2 in The Bookworm's Guide series) by Emma Hart

 

My Review:

I read this book after reading the first in the series a few weeks ago. I thought the first one, The Bookworm's Guide to Dating, was a cute read. Although cliche at times, it was still funny and enjoyable. The same could be said about this book, although I didn't enjoy the interactions between the two characters quite as much.

This series is focused on three best friends who own a bookshop in Montana. In this installment, the story is about Holley, who is still in love with her best friend from high school, Sebastian. Unfortunately, something went really wrong the night of prom (of course it did😑), and Holley will never forgive him. Sebastian left town quickly after their senior year and became a famous baseball player. Now many years later, he's back in town due to an injury, and Holley is forced to see him. While she is trying to move on, Sebastian will not let it go and wants to make things right. Of course, things happen forcing the two of them to spend lots of time together, and well, you can guess what happens.

Once again the story is cute but predictable. Hart's writing is humorous and had me laughing a few times, especially when the grandparents at the nursing home appear. Oh yes, they are back and so are the ducks! They're as ornery as ever (The grandparents, although the ducks still cause quite a stir) and were my favorite part. 

I have to admit that I really didn't feel the chemistry between Holley and Sebastion in this story. Holley spent a lot of time angry at Seb, so their interactions had a lot more bickering and arguing. For me, I just didn't feel the tension and chemistry. However, it was a quick and easy read, and I plan to read the last book in the series.

How Much Coffee Was Neede?

None. The book was okay but just didn't keep me motivated to read late into the night. I enjoyed it enough to want to read the last book in the series, but it wasn't my favorite.

What's Next?

The Dating Experiment by Emma Hart (Yep, I'm trying another one of her books. She's written A LOT of books.)