B Reviews / Book Reviews1970s / African American / Decades: A Journey of African American Romance / education / lawyer / POC / POC author / politics / schools / segregation / strong heroine / teacher / texasNo Comments
Despite legal efforts to integrate schools, black students continue to struggle with separate and unequal environments in 1970. Leo Sullivan, an ambitious mayoral candidate, seeks to close a dark chapter in Overbrook Meadows’ history, but the opposition is fierce. Falling for his campaign manager was never part of the plan. ... more >
B Reviews / Book Reviews1970s / childhood friends / England / family relationships / friends-to-lovers / wedding2 Comments
Beautiful Stacey Marsh made a mistake—she should never have come home for her wedding. She had forsaken her hometown of Dorsham, England, long ago because it was too quiet, not at all the kind of place for the likes of Stacey. Stacey met Jules Charbonnier in Paris and planned to ... more >
B Reviews / Book Reviews1960s / 1970s / Army / England / family relationships / immigrants / long separation / Malta / novella / Yorkshire2 Comments
Malta 1968: Sylvana Bonnici’s parents are dubious about her marrying Rob Denton, a British army staff sergeant, but Sylvana dreams of being an army wife and travelling the world – in mini skirts and big hats, like Jackie Onassis. Sure enough, Rob is posted to exotic places like Singapore and ... more >
B Reviews / Book Reviews1970s / dual-timeline / dysfunctional family / Estranged Couple / Gothic / mystery/thriller / Suspense / Venice2 Comments
Five years ago, Julia Rivers’ life fell apart. After a whirlwind marriage to the love of her life, Julia found herself trapped in a family filled with secrets. When she was nearly killed, Julia and her unborn child fled, leaving behind this family who seemed to have it out for ... more >
B Reviews / Recommended Reads#ownvoices / 1970s / coming-of-age / crime novel / Deception / Mexico / noir / POC / POC author / Suspense / villageNo Comments
PLEASE NOTE: It’s almost impossible to discuss this novel’s strengths and weaknesses without giving away spoilers, so if you prefer not to be spoiled, read no further. Dear Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I don’t generally read crime novels, but the description of Untamed Shore as a “novel of suspense with an eerie ... more >
A Reviews / A- Reviews / B+ Reviews / Reading Lists / Recommended Reads / Top Ten Lists#metoo / #ownvoices / 1870s / 1920s / 1970s / accountant / Agent/Spies/Undercover / arranged-marriage / Asian heroine / Asperger's / audiobook / book editor / California / class differences / Contemporary / custody battle / dragons / enemies to lovers / epistolary / f/f / Fairyland / fake relationship / family / Fantasy / farming / friends-to-lovers / gods / heroine in disguise / high-school / historical romance / Hong Kong based world / illegitimate-child / LGBTQIA / Literary fiction / London / look alikes / mafia / magical powers / Malaysia / martial arts / Mexico / nobleman / Northern Ireland / nurse / POC / POC author / political intrigue / quest / Reading lists / reformed hero / Regency-based world / romantic-elements / roommates / saga / single dad / streetwise heroine / Time-Travel / Vietnam / waitress / war19 Comments
I was tempted to make a list of my favorites among the 2019-published books I read this year. In the end I decided to focus on my favorite 2019 reads (first time reads; I didn’t include books I had read / reviewed in prior years) without regard to their year ... more >