100 Pages A Day.... Stephanie's Book Reviews
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A Dress of Violet Taffeta

6/23/2022

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About the Book: 
⦁ ​Title: A Dress of Violet Taffeta: A Novel⦁ Author: Tessa Arlen
⦁ Genre: Historical Fiction
⦁ Publisher: ‎Berkley (July 5, 2022)
⦁ Length: (352) pages
⦁ Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 
⦁ ISBN: 978-0593436851
⦁ Tour Dates: June 27-July 11, 2022

BOOK DESCRIPTION
A sumptuous novel based on the fascinating true story of La Belle Époque icon Lucy, Lady Duff Gordon, who shattered the boundaries of fashion with her magnificently sensual and enchantingly unique designs.

Lucy Duff Gordon knows she is talented. She sees color, light, and texture in ways few people can begin to imagine. But is the male dominated world of haute couture, who would use her art for their own gain, ready for her?
 
When she is deserted by her wealthy husband, Lucy is left penniless with an aging mother and her five-year-old daughter to support. Desperate to survive, Lucy turns to her one true talent to make a living. As a little girl, the dresses she made for her dolls were the envy of her group of playmates. Now, she uses her creative designs and her remarkable eye for color to take her place in the fashion world—failure is not an option. 
 
Then, on a frigid night in 1912, Lucy’s life changes once more, when she becomes one of 706 people to survive the sinking of the Titanic. She could never have imagined the effects the disaster would have on her fashion label Lucile, her marriage to her second husband, and her legacy. But no matter what life throws at her, Lucy will live on as a trailblazing and innovative fashion icon, never letting go of what she worked so hard to earn. 

Review: 
After Lucy's husband wastes their fortune on drinking and runs off with a showgirl, Lucy does the unthinkable to keep herself and her daughter Esme safe, she divorces from her husband. This is unheard of in polite society during Victorian Era London. Lucy has a plan to make money. She has always loved fashion and begins to design dresses. With the help of her one remaining staff, Celia, Lucy designs and makes a dress that is the envy of everyone. From there, Lucy begins taking orders. With Lucy's eye for color and cut on specific women and Celia's management skills, business takes off. Lucy meets Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon and finds love as well as a business party. Lucile Ltd is now successful and thriving with clients around the world and a second shop in New York. Lucy, Cosmo and Celia make their way to New York with new dresses on the Titanic. When the unthinkable happens, all three manage to escape with their lives. However, the aftermath of the escape and the trauma will affect them forever.

Lady Lucy Duff Gordon is known not only for her elegant fashion design, but for creating fashion shows and modernizing women's underwear. Despite this, most of what I knew about Lady Lucy was from the movie Titanic. While A Dress of Violet Taffeta is a fictional version of Lady Lucy's life, the author has done a lot of research and used Lady Lucy's memoir as well as her design books and a viewing of her fashion collection. I was in love with Lucy's character and temperament from the start as she decides that she will support herself and Esme after her husband leaves. Lucy's determination to fulfill her dream now that she is divorced is even more significant in Victorian society. There are absolutely wonderful descriptions of color and the process of how Lucy made her gowns and built her business from nothing. Her ideas for women's fashion were able to move women forward in society. As Lucy said, " I truly believe that what women choose to wear will dictate the sort of lives we lead in the decades to come." In addition to Lucy, the other female characters were also amazingly written. I was intrigued the most by Celia who began as an unpaid helper and rose to managing Lucile Ltd. I think it's a shame that we don't know more about the real Celia, although I would have loved more chapters from her point of view. Lucy's sister, Elinor Glyn is also a force in her own right and became a well-known romance author. The Duff-Gordon's experience on the Titanic seems to have been twisted and they were made to look like villains for not going back to rescue more people in their lifeboat. The survivor's guilt seems to have affected Lucy and Cosmo as well as their relationship. Overall, A Dress of Violet Taffeta is an amazing story of a self-made woman of history.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Purchase Links:
AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB


Author Bio: 
Tessa Arlen writes historical fiction when she is not toiling away in her garden. She is the author of the Edwardian mystery series: Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson; the Woman of World War II mystery series. Poppy Redfern. And two standalone historical novels: In Royal Service to the Queen, and A Dress of Violet Taffeta. 

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

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Lady Lucy Duff Gordon
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Evening Dress of Bright Leaf Green and Red Shot Silk Designed by Lady Duff Gordon
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The Craigslist Incident

6/23/2022

1 Comment

 
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About the Book:


In The Craigslist Incident, Edna Barrett takes an advertisement out on Craigslist: I'm an 18-year-old female and I want to take a hit out on myself. Joe Dolsen, a 20-year-old who has suffered from periodic blackouts his whole life, answers the ad. What would bring two people to such ominous points at such young ages, and will they actually go through with it?

Edna, raised by a single mother after the suicide of her father, repeatedly finds herself kicked out of schools for violent altercations that don't seem to be her fault. Finally, living a solitary life in rural Minnesota and taking classes online, she falls passionately in text-love with another outsider, Shane, whose obsession with Edna sends off alarm signals to her world-weary mother, especially when he drives hundreds of miles to show up unannounced at their home.

Meanwhile, Joe is coming of age with an Evangelical mother who believes his probable epilepsy means he has been touched by God and uses her religiosity as justification for not seeking medical attention for her son and for remaining with his abusive father. As Joe and Edna reach adulthood struggling to make sense of their lives and losses, their dangerous tracks are set for collision.
Review:

Edna Barrett has had a difficult time since the death of her father causing her to have significant issues in school. Joe Dolsen has suffered blackout incidents his entire life. His mother believes that Joe's blackouts are a sign from God rather than a medical condition. Edna and Joe connect when Edna is 18 and she posts a hit for herself on Craigslist and Joe responds.

The Craigslist Incident is a unique contemporary fiction story that uses intense characters to display the mental health crisis, lack of support systems and the toll of these struggles for young adults. The story is quickly paced with short chapters alternating between Edna and Joe's points of view that built suspense up to the inevitable conclusion. Through Edna and Joe we see how events in their childhood led up to their crises as young adults. Edna's situation was unfortunate and even though her mother was supportive, she still fell through the cracks at her school and lacked support for her depression. Joe's potentially dangerous medical condition seemed to be largely ignored. The writing conveyed Edna and Joe's deep feelings, their desperation, their confusion, their need for acceptance and their cries for help. With a choose your own ending, Edna and Joe's fates are up to the reader.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.


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Ashes

6/18/2022

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About the Book: 
Not your typical Cinderella story…

If she thought college applications were complicated, just wait until she catches feelings for the newest celebrity in town.

Ashley Adams doesn’t have time for haters. Already too busy dealing with dead bodies after her stepmother purchased a mortuary, she is ready to put the lid on her judgmental peers and finally bury her high school experience. But her focus is shattered when a charming pop-star-turned-student needs her help evading his crazed fans.

The last place heartthrob Harry James wants to be is back in school. Sentenced to finish his senior year after a case of accidental arson, the singer longs to return to the stage. But he never expected to meet a girl who could see through the fame to the real person inside.

Surprised by the chemistry between them, Ashley is shocked when Harry gives her the cold shoulder. But with his publicist forbidding him from dating her, Harry must choose between fame or love.

Can Ashley and Harry survive the turmoil threatening to tear them apart?

Ashes is a fun and snarky standalone YA romance. If you like captivating characters, emotional twists and turns, Fairies and Cinderella retellings, then you’ll adore MK Harkins’ fast-paced tale.
​

Review: 

Ashley Adams is just trying to survive her senior year of high school so she can escape to college far away from the stepmother and stepsisters. After Ashley's father died, her stepmother, Veronica turned on Ashley. Her father put all of his money in a trust for when Ashley successfully graduates high school. Now, Veronica is trying to do anything she can in order to change Ashley's perfect GPA. Veronica's plans change when pop sensation Harry James transfers to Ashley's school. She sees Harry as a cash cow and is determined to put her daughters in his line of vision. However, the minute Harry sees Ashley, he is hooked. Despite her best efforts, Ashley has finally found someone she can relate to. Although multiple obstacles stand in their path like Veronica, Harry's manager, Leona and high school queen bee, Brittany, Harry and Ashley's love story may find a happy ending with the help of some fairy godmothers.

Ashes is a young adult, contemporary Cinderella retelling. Ashes is full of high school melodrama, a relatable pop star, a down-to-earth Cinderella and over the top social media obsessed stepsiblings. I loved that Ashley's character was determined and fought for herself. The romance was sweet and progressed very naturally. I'm glad that Harry's experience finally allowed him to be himself and that Ashley and Harry brought out the best in one another despite everyone trying to pull them apart. There were several places in the story where I had to suspend my disbelief over what was happening, however, remembering that this is a fairy tale retelling made it go down easier. I do wish the inclusion of the fairies was brought into the story more than just the beginning and the end, I almost had forgotten that Ashley was their mission all along!


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

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Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday

6/14/2022

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Join us for this tour from May 23  to June 17, 2022!

Book Details:

Book Title:  Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday by Alysson Foti Bourque
Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7),  
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Publisher:  Pelican Publishing
Release date:  May 9, 2022
Content Rating:  G

Book Description:

Alycat wakes up to seafood gumbo for breakfast, and even though her house is the first stop for the school bus, the bus is already full when she boards. Alycat’s whole day is turning topsy-turvy. What is happening? Young readers will tag along on Alycat’s adventures during her very “cattywampus” Wednesday and learn that a little help from some friends and a good attitude can make your day!

​The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. The character traits of Alycat and her friends inspire and encourage young readers to find their own special gifts. After enduring a cattywampus world pursuant to an unexpected pandemic, this book will resonate with readers to persevere through the wackiest and toughest of times.

Buy the Book:
Alycat website
Amazon ~ B&N​

Walmart ~ Bookshop

 



> Review

>


Alycat wakes up to a weird Wednesday.  Everything seems backwards.  There's dinner for breakfast, the bus picks her up last instead of first, her school schedule is reversed, the teachers are even spelling things backwards!  Alycat is very confused and frustrated. She is relieved when she goes to bed, and everything seems to get back to normal. 

Have you ever had a day where everything just seems off? Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday explores what happens when Alycat wakes up to a completely backwards day.  Alycat goes through emotions of confusion and frustration but decides to make the best of her day.  The story is fun, and the characters are positive.  The illustrations are colorful and pop off the page.  Alycat's adventure always inspire readers to stay positive and be creative. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

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Meet the Author:

Alysson Foti Bourque is the author of the award-winning Alycat series. Alysson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Juris Doctor degree from the Southern University Law Center.

After practicing law for six years, she traded in writing trial briefs for writing children’s books. Alysson enjoys public speaking opportunities at schools, conferences, and festivals nationwide. She hopes to inspire people of all ages to follow their dreams and believe in themselves wholeheartedly.

AWARDS & HONORS

The Alycat Series has won several prestigious awards including:
Three Mom’s Choice Awards®
Benjamin Franklin Digital Award, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
Best Book Award Finalist
NY Big Book Award
Reviewed by Midwest Book Review
Southern Festival of Books Panelist
Louisiana Book Festival Featured Author

Connect with the author: Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~  Instagram ~ Pinterest
 
Tour Schedule: 
 
May 23 – Working Mommy Journal – book review / giveaway
May 23 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
May 24 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
May 24 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / guest post / giveaway
May 25 – Chit Chat with Charity – book review / author interview / giveaway
May 25 - Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
May 26 – Bookworm for Kid – book review / giveaway
May 26 - Library Lady's Kid Lit – book review / giveaway
May 27 – A Mama's Corner Of the World – book review / giveaway
May 31 – Baroness' Book Trove – book spotlight / giveaway
May 31 - Splashes of Joy - book review / giveaway
June 1 – Sandra's Book Club – book review / giveaway
June 2 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
June 3 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
June 6 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
June 7 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
June 7 - The Phantom Paragrapher – book review / giveaway
June 8 – Pause for Tales – book review / giveaway
June 8 - Older & Smarter? – book review / author interview / giveaway
June 9 – Bigreadersite – book review / giveaway
June 9 - Ravenz Reviewz – book review / giveaway
June 10 – Leels Loves Books – book review / giveaway
June 13 – Westveil Publishing – book review / guest post / giveaway
June 14 – 100 Pages A Day – book review / giveaway
June 14 - @twilight_reader – book review / giveaway
June 15 – Fur Everywhere – book review / giveaway
June 15 - Lisa's Reading – book review / giveaway
June 16 – My Reading Getaway – book review / author interview / giveaway
June 17 – Amy's Bookshelf Reviews – book review / giveaway
June 17 - Faith And Books - book review / giveaway
 
Enter the Giveaway:

 

Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday Book Tour Giveaway

 


 

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Ghost Games

6/6/2022

1 Comment

 
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​Urban legends, campfire stories, slumber party games, these stories that have been passed down generation to generation are the basis for this short story collection.  Ghost Games draws on our natural fear yet fascination with the spirit world and the supernatural. Each story features a woman who plays the ghost game and finds a different level of interaction, suspense and fright through their games.  

With any short story collection, there are stories that I liked better than others and some stories that I wish would be expanded.  I was pulled into the collection by the first story, The Elevator Game.  I had never heard of this particular game but was familiar with the incident that prompted the characters to try it out.  I loved the tricks that the ghosts played and how it eerily connected to the real incident.  The Three Kings Game was very intricate. I had also never heard of this one but loved that the spirits had their own personalities.  I especially enjoyed The Closet Game and The Telephone Game that had a little more background into some of the ghosts involved.  With classics like Bloody Mary and The Ouija Board and directions at the end for each game, there is something in Ghost Games for any ghost story lover. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

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Save the People!: Halting Human Extinction

5/17/2022

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I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SAVE THE PEOPLE! by Stacy McAnulty Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: SAVE THE PEOPLE!: Halting Human Extinction

Author: Stacy McAnulty & Nicole Miles (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: May 10, 2022

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 256

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Stacy McAnulty, the bestselling author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl and the Our Universe series delivers an action-packed look at past extinction and current threats to humanity's survival -- with the ultimately reassuring message that humans probably have a few more millennia in us.

Scientists estimate that 99% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct. Whoa. So, it's not unreasonable to predict humans are doomed to become fossil records as well. But what could lead to our demise? Supervolcanos? Asteroids? The sun going dark? Climate change? All the above?!

Humans—with our big brains, opposable thumbs, and speedy Wi-Fi—may be capable of avoiding most of these nightmares. (The T. rex would be super jealous of our satellites.) But we're also capable of triggering world-ending events. Learning from past catastrophes may be the best way to avoid future disasters.

Packed with science, jokes, and black and white illustrations, Save the People! examines the worst-case scenarios that could (but hopefully won’t) cause the greatest mass extinction—our own!

Reviews:

“Stacy McAnulty has done the impossible: Writing a book about mass extinction that is a joy to read. Save the People is engaging, funny, affecting and delightful. You’ll never have more fun learning science.”―Stuart Gibbs, bestselling author of the Spy School series

*“This book is full of dire facts, but it’s not doom and gloom. Its lively, conversational tone with plenty of jocular asides keeps it unintimidating and accessible…Lively writing, pertinent science, and an urgent topic make this a must-read for all.”―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Cheeky banter wrapped around accessible science, a pages-long time line, charts, graphs, a bibliography, and extensive chapter notes contribute to this fresh take on saving our planet."―Booklist

"What could easily come off as an apocalyptic, science-based horror story, author Stacy McAnulty instead handles with humor . . . backed by thorough research which is documented in an extensive notes section.?"―School Library Connection

 

REVIEW !



Human induced climate change is happening all over the world, but what can we do? Save the People!: Halting Human Extinction aims to answer that question by approaching climate change from a very selfish point of view that all humans should care about- our own survival. Aimed at young adults, but definitely a good read for literally any human, Save the People! uses scientific facts written in a way anyone can understand mixed with humor, pictures and a good dose of reality to help you understand the big picture.

Save the People! begins with a brief history of the Earth and an overview of past extinction events along with their causes (spoiler alert: it's climate change!) then moves to potential and unlikely threats to humans before digging into what climate change is, how it happens and the possible solutions. I have to say that this is a climate change book that I enjoyed reading. The information is scientifically accurate and as up to date as possible, it is also easy to read. Even though some of the content is depressing and scary (there are trigger warnings), the very real doom and gloom situations were turned into realistic action based solutions focused on our own extinction to help motivate behavior change and action for a future on planet Earth.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

 

About Stacy McAnulty:

STACY MCANULTY doesn’t think the world will end suddenly, but she does worry about the ongoing damage to the environment caused by her species. Nonetheless, she believes Homo sapiens can overcome challenges and reverse course by taking action. Before becoming an author, Stacy was a mechanical engineer (and before that— like in fourth grade—she was an aspiring astronaut). Her love of math and science is reflected in most of her books. She writes chapter books, middle-grade novels, including The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, and picture books, including the Our Universe series, which explores space and the natural world. Save the People is her debut middle-grade nonfiction. Originally from New York, she now lives in North Carolina with her family.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

About Nicole Miles:

Nicole was born in the United States, grew up in The Bahamas and currently lives in West Yorkshire (UK) with her pet snake and human boyfriend. She has worked with a variety of clients including Adobe, Buzzfeed, Candlewick Press, Google, the New York Times, Penguin Random House, Rebel Girls, Simon & Schuster, and Sisters Letter (AARP). Her comic, Barbara (ShortBox, 2017), was nominated for an Eisner award.

Her favourite form of procrasti-working is always some sort of creation whether it be bettering her hand-lettering, making animated gifs, chronicling silly life moments or informative sustainability tips in comic form, experimenting with film photography or sewing new garments for herself. But she also dedicates a lot of time to improving her second language (French), reading and, recently, going on forest walks.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of SAVE THE PEOPLE!, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/9/2022

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt/IG Post

5/10/2022

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Excerpt/IG Post

5/11/2022

Nerdophiles

Review/IG Post

5/12/2022

onemoreexclamation

Review/IG Post

5/13/2022

@coffeesipsandreads

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

5/16/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

5/17/2022

The Bookwyrm's Den

Review/IG Post

5/18/2022

100 Pages A Day

Review/IG Post

5/19/2022

@just_another_mother_with_books

Review/IG Post

5/20/2022

@jypsylynn

Review/IG Post


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The Sweetheart Locket

5/16/2022

2 Comments

 
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About the Book: 
THE SWEETHEART LOCKET 
BY JEN GILROY
Publication Date: March 17, 2022
Orion Dash
Genre: Historical Fiction

What if the key to your present lies in the past?

London, 1939

On the eve of the Second World War, Canadian Maggie Wyndham defies her family and stays in England to do her bit for the war effort. Torn between two countries, two men and living a life of lies working for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), Maggie’s RAF sweetheart locket is part of who she is…and who she isn’t.

San Francisco, 2019

Over twenty years after Maggie’s death, her daughter Millie and granddaughter Willow take a DNA test that’s supposed to be a bit of fun but instead yields unexpected results. Willow has always treasured her grandmother’s sweetheart locket, both family heirloom and a symbol of her grandparents’ love story. But now she doesn’t know what to believe. She embarks on a search for the truth, one she doesn’t know will reveal far more about herself…

A gripping and heart-breaking dual timeline novel about love, loss and buried secrets, The Sweetheart Locket is perfect for fans of Lorna Cook, Rachel Hore and Suzanne Kelman.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Review: 
"That's the thing, isn't it?  Women sacrifice but the stories of their sacrifices usually aren't part of the formal historical record.  Women's lives might veer off course for a while but then they get back on track and do what's expected of them and, well, it's still not much different, is it?"

After Willow takes a DNA test, she receives some unexpected results.  She has always believed that she is mostly English, but the test results have strong French, Jewish and Italian ancestry as well.  Willow asks her mom for details, but she is quick to change the subject. Willow takes a trip to England to look into her family history and the heirloom sweetheart locket that she thought represented her grandparents, Maggie and Will's, great love story.  In London, Willow begins to learn about her grandmother, Maggie and the many secrets that she kept during World War II. 

The Sweetheart Locket is a sweet historical romance with many unexpected twists and secrets revealed.  I absolutely love dual time stories, so the two points of view between Maggie in World War II and Willow in the present day worked well for me.  At points, it seemed like the points of view switched back and forth too quickly, but I was never confused about who I was reading about.  I was drawn into the story immediately as Willow received her unexpected DNA results, I wanted to know what stories were hiding behind the unknown ancestry.  I loved learning about Maggie's story.  Her strength and fortitude for staying in England to do her bit and her meaningful friendships made her a wonderful character to follow.  I was very interested in learning about her time in the Special Operations Executive as many of the stories of those women are lost to time.  Willow's story in the present was equally engaging as she researched her family history with help from a new friend and uncovered more secrets than she was looking for.  Willow's romance was engrossing to watch form as she figured out who she was and who she could be.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

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About the Author
Jen Gilroy writes sweet contemporary romance and dual timeline historical women’s fiction—warm, feel-good stories to bring readers’ hearts home.

A Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon award, Amazon named her third book, ‘Back Home at Firefly Lake,’ a ‘Best Book of the Month: Romance’ in December 2017.

A dual British-Canadian citizen, Jen lived in England for many years and earned a doctorate (with a focus on British cultural studies and social history) from University College London. Returning to where her Irish family roots run deep, she now lives with her husband, teenage daughter and floppy-eared rescue hound in small-town Eastern Ontario, Canada.

When not writing, she enjoys reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling her purple kayak.
​
Visit Jen online at www.jengilroy.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub, and Goodreads.

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The Sweetheart Locket
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The Resistance Girl

5/11/2022

2 Comments

 
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There's a dragon in me that might well breathe fire again.  

The Nazi's have invaded Norway, taking special interest in their genetic stock for the Lebensborn program.  After losing her fiancé to the Resistance, Rumi Orlstad doesn't want to take any more risks.  However, when she completes the task of rescuing two Special Operations, Rumi is pulled back into the Resistance. One of the SOE operatives, Jens asks Rumi for help obtaining information, Rumi is quick to accept.   Rumi soon learns of a friend, Anya, that was raped by a Nazi and has become pregnant.  Anya is placed in a maternity home for unwed mothers and soon learns of the Nazi's plans for their children.  Rumi and Jens work together to help rescue Anya and her child while the Nazi's are hot on their trail. 

The Resistance Girl is a story of hope, persistence and overcoming obstacles during World War II in Norway.  I don't really know a lot about Norway's participation in World War II and I was really interested to find out what the Nazi's had planned for the Norwegian people and how they fought back.  I was very intrigued by the Norwegian Resistance as well as the Lebensborn program.  Through the changing viewpoints of Rumi and Jens with some interjections by the maternity ward housekeeper, I could clearly see how the Nazi's plans and the paths of resistance that the SOE and the Norwegian people were planning.  I was immediately taken with Rumi's character.  I loved her attitude and willingness to help.  Rumi and Jens were both clearly grieving and showed this in very different ways.  Together, they were able to move through their grief and use that to help others in need. .  The suspense builds as the Nazi's became closer to finding out Jens' whereabouts and how the Resistance kept one step ahead.  I could feel the fear, excitement and determination of Rumi, Jens and their allies as they outmaneuvered the Nazi's.  Rumi and Jens' romance progresses naturally, while I could tell from the beginning that this would be part of the story, I enjoyed that it took a slower pace and allowed for healing within both characters. While Rumi and Jens do help some women in the Lebensborn program, it almost seems like an afterthought.  I would love to know if there was an operation to rescue women from the program.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

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Bloomsbury Girls

5/3/2022

1 Comment

 
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About the Book: 

⦁ Title: Bloomsbury Girls: A Novel
⦁ Author: Natalie Jenner
⦁ Genre: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction
⦁ Publisher: ‎St. Martin's Press (May 17, 2022)
⦁ Length: (368) pages
⦁ Format: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook 
⦁ ISBN: 978-1250276698
⦁ Tour Dates: May 2-29, 2022

BOOK DESCRIPTION
Natalie Jenner, the internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society, returns with a compelling and heartwarming story of post-war London, a century-old bookstore, and three women determined to find their way in a fast-changing world in Bloomsbury Girls.

Bloomsbury Books is an old-fashioned new and rare bookstore that has persisted and resisted change for a hundred years, run by men and guided by the general manager's unbreakable fifty-one rules. But in 1950, the world is changing, especially the world of books and publishing, and at Bloomsbury Books, the girls in the shop have plans:

Vivien Lowry: Single since her aristocratic fiancé was killed in action during World War II, the brilliant and stylish Vivien has a long list of grievances--most of them well justified and the biggest of which is Alec McDonough, the Head of Fiction.

Grace Perkins: Married with two sons, she's been working to support the family following her husband's breakdown in the aftermath of the war. Torn between duty to her family and dreams of her own.

Evie Stone: In the first class of female students from Cambridge permitted to earn a degree, Evie was denied an academic position in favor of her less accomplished male rival. Now she's working at Bloomsbury Books while she plans to remake her own future.

As they interact with various literary figures of the time--Daphne Du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday, Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell), Samuel Beckett, Peggy Guggenheim, and others--these three women with their complex web of relationships, goals and dreams are all working to plot out a future that is richer and more rewarding than anything society will allow.



Review: 
The female employees of the long standing and prominent Bloomsbury Books of London have long been underestimated.  Kept in check by the proprietor's long list of rules and kept busy by the different male department heads, Grace, Vivien and new employee, Evie have worked not so silently in the background.  Grace took the job at Bloomsbury books to escape her husband's failing mental health after the war.  Vivien's fiancé was killed during the war, and she is looking to move on and also publish her own works.  Evie is on her own rare book finding mission after graduating from Cambridge.  When the women team up to bring in a female author for an event, they realize their strength together and when Evie finally tracks down the rare book she's been chasing, they discover they have leverage to create their own path. 

Bloomsbury Girls is set in 1950 London, a time where women who realized their independence and worth during World War II are now being regulated to back to their original roles by the returning men. The writing brought me into the world of Bloomsbury Books, and I could imagine the shop and each department fully. The women of Bloomsbury Books caught my attention from the beginning with their spunk and tenacity.  Evie's single-minded quest for finding a rare book by a young female author is extraordinary.  I enjoyed watching Evie grow, branch out in the world, find connections with others and become a mastermind planner for using the book as a steppingstone to improve her life. I loved Vivian's small acts of defiance and her friendships that she found with Daphne Du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday, Sonia Blair, and Peggy Guggenheim.  It was wonderful to see these strong women prospering.  Grace is fighting more of a personal battle at home, Bloomsbury Books gave her the strength to get out of an abusive situation.  I loved that a book was able to bring Grace, Vivien and Evie together and aid them in finding a path to independence and creating equal footing in a man's world.  Bloomsbury Girls is a heartfelt, exciting and character driven historical fiction read. 


This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

PURCHASE LINKS
Print and Digital

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB
Audiobook 
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS


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About the Author: 

Dear readers, I am immensely grateful for the outpouring of affection that so many of you have expressed for my debut novel The Jane Austen Society and its eight main characters. When I wrote its epilogue (in one go and without ever changing a word), I wanted to give each of Adam, Mimi, Dr. Gray, Adeline, Yardley, Frances, Evie and Andrew the happy Austenesque ending they each deserved. But I could not let go of servant girl Evie Stone, the youngest and only character inspired by real life (my mother, who had to leave school at age fourteen, and my daughter, who does eighteenth-century research for a university professor and his team). Bloomsbury Girls continues Evie’s adventures into a 1950s London bookshop where there is a battle of the sexes raging between the male managers and the female staff, who decide to pull together their smarts, connections, and limited resources to take over the shop and make it their own. There are dozens of new characters in Bloomsbury Girls from several different countries, and audiobook narration was going to require a female voice of the highest training and caliber. When I learned that British stage and screen actress Juliet Stevenson, CBE, had agreed to narrate, I knew that my story could not be in better hands, and I so hope you enjoy reading or listening to it. Warmest regards, Natalie


AUTHOR BIO
Natalie Jenner is the author of the instant international bestseller The Jane Austen Society and Bloomsbury Girls. A Goodreads Choice Award runner-up for historical fiction and finalist for best debut novel, The Jane Austen Society was a USA Today and #1 national bestseller and has been sold for translation in twenty countries. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie has been a corporate lawyer, career coach and, most recently, an independent bookstore owner in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs. Visit her website to learn more.
​WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS
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Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish

4/20/2022

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Review: 
Octopus, seahorse and jellyfish are three ocean animals that evoke mystery and wonder whenever we can glimpse a look.  Their beauty and diversity reels you in for a closer look.  In Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish photographer David Liittschwager reveals the work of 12 years of specialized photography of these beautiful creatures.   All of the animals are pictured on white backgrounds through a photographic technique of using condenser lenses that allows light to be focused on the camera lens, increasing the contrast allowing for all of the animals' details and intricacies to come forward.  Each chapter focuses on one type of animal and is accompanied by an essay by an expert in the field to give context and information about the animal, it's environment and special features. 

Through the photography, the octopus dances across the page and stares into your eyes.  Their amazing skin texture and tentacles can be seen up close and in astounding detail. The seahorse, seadragon and pipefish are pictured much bigger than their actual size so that their graceful shapes, intricate patterns and delicate features can be appreciated.  A wide variety of jellyfish are featured with close ups of tentacles, bells, and their overall lack of body parts is apparent.  I was intrigued by their many  different forms and ways to reproduce for a creature that seems so simple.  I had no idea that there were eternal jellyfish or that they went through so many different phases to become the final form that we know as a medusa.  Overall, Octopus, Seahorse, Jellyfish is an amazing display of photography that allows these animals to shine and creates a call to protect these creatures that we share the Earth with. 

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    Hi there! I'm Stephanie and I obviously love reading.  As, the title suggests, I read at least one hundred pages a day.  I enjoy most book genres; however, my favorites are historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, thriller, horror and YA.  I also read a lot of non-fiction science and gardening books for my occupation.  I enjoy reviewing books and as always, any book that I receive for free is read in return for my honest review.  

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