“I am Flo. I will never submit.” Oh, how these words made my heart beat faster! I felt the surge of adrenaline that members of the resistance in the Taggak Journey trilogy must have felt. The motivation they sorely needed to keep moving towards their goal, despite the cold and the hunger and the despair... Continue Reading →
“Those Who Breathe the Water” by N.B. Clarke
For someone who has never been a fan of horror, both books and movies, I’ve been turning to this genre surprisingly often lately. I doubt that my preferences will change in essence, but after reading a few horror stories, which turned out to be more than overly enthusiastic descriptions of violent scenes filled with gore,... Continue Reading →
“Blurred Lies” by Donna Scuvotti
What would you do if left out on the streets, having been thrown out of the not-always-soft but still cosy cocoon of a family home? For many, it would be a kind of blow from which they’d never recover. Used as we are to everyday comforts, most people would give up before trying. Shay Thorton... Continue Reading →
“Men in Books Aren’t Better” by Lisa-Marie Potter and Amanda Nelson
What attracts a romance reader to a romance novel? A happy ending, the things that people should but rarely do for those they love, a beautiful postcard setting – in one word, an escape. What attracts readers of other genres to a love story? Some depth to the characters’ backstory to make us care for... Continue Reading →
“The Girl Who Loved Cayo Bradley” by Nina Romano
It is a special kind of pleasure when, while reading, I become torn between sense and emotions. When logic and experience tell me one thing about what’s best for the main characters, while the heart yearns for them to make an irrational but beautiful choice. That’s exactly how I felt reading “The Girl Who Loved... Continue Reading →
“The Cary Grant Sanatorium and Playhouse” by Will Tinkham
Will Tinkham did it again. Swept me off my feet and into yet another totally immersive story, where the characters feel real rather than fictional and America becomes intimately familiar rather than a faraway continent across the ocean. “The Cary Grant Sanatorium and Playhouse” is the ninth book in Will Tinkham’s Americana series that I’ve... Continue Reading →
“Genuine Deceit” by Joy York
From the intriguing title until the very last page, this book is guaranteed to keep you totally invested in the story and on the edge of your seat. That’s how it was for me. “Genuine Deceit” by Joy York is the kind of book that keeps readers awake way past their bedtime hour. It is... Continue Reading →
“Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill” by Sonia Purnell
What a remarkable lady was Clementine Churchill! Here, I guess I am supposed to add ‘and not because she was married to Winston Churchill.’ But, even risking causing the wrath of strong and independent women of today, I won’t do that. Clementine Churchill was resourceful, intelligent, and had an array of subtle talents, all of which she... Continue Reading →
“Judy” by Gerold Frank
I don’t say it often, but reading this book was torture. I had to intersperse reading it with delving into other books. And that, I seldom do. That said, I cannot claim that I didn’t enjoy ‘Judy’ by Gerold Frank. Judy Garland, without a doubt, is a fascinating object for a biographer. The author, having... Continue Reading →
“Genavine’s Mission” by Jupiter Rose
Genavine’s life has never been easy. Not since she was sixteen and an apocalypse had turned her world upside-down. The army killed her parents and so many other people that the city became unrecognisable. Then, the government disappeared, and with them, the army, and, seemingly, any hope the survivors had left. How could young Gena... Continue Reading →