Reading Fanatic Reviews
All Kindle Unlimited ReviewsNOTE: These books were in Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program at the time that I posted the reviews. They may not still be in the program, as authors can opt out every 3 months. If you find a book that is no longer in the program, don’t hesitate to contact me, and I will update the review.
Basket Delivery by Wendy Meadows
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Basket Delivery*
Cozy Mystery Novella Delivers the Goods
This delivers a wonderful mystery even though it is so short. Often, mystery novellas lack the key elements that are needed for good cozy mystery, like red herrings, quirky characters, and plenty of possible suspects. This book delivers in so many ways. I love Hillary as the amateur sleuth in this series. She has such an empathetic way about her that she is able to elicit stories and even confessions from people. I love her interactions with her group of friends and her daughter. The group of friends provides excellent humor, and they seem to act like real groups of female friends do. Hillary’s relationship with her daughter isn’t always simple, again like real life. In this book, Hillary does not approve of Annabelle’s relationship with the first prime suspect for the murder in this book. He’s a womanizer who lacks a moral compass according to Hillary. But the mother of a grown woman can only say so much to her daughter in the area of romance. Speaking of romance, things are slowly heating up with Hillary and Preston, which is a delight to see as this has been a slow burn for them in the previous books of this series. A well-done, character-driven quick read.
The Key to Her Past by Blanche Dabney
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The Key to Her Past*
Surprising Supernatural Element… and Not in a Good Way!
I have read two other books in this series, and I wasn’t particularly wild about them, but I do like to give authors several chances before I give up on them completely. Sometimes a book or two just isn’t right for me, but other ones will be. The issues I didn’t like in the other books were present here and were actually worse. While historical time travel books do have an element of the unreal to them, because time travel isn’t currently possible, they are usually still grounded in the reality of both in contemporary times and historical times. But this author has chosen to take time travel romance in a completely different direction that wasn’t even really hinted at in the blurb. In this book, there is a wholly supernatural element that underpins the entire story, and I found it to be shocking and bizarre—and not in a good way. When I realized it this is where the author was going, I had a hard time keeping with the book because it was just too bizarre. Honestly, the author should have warned about this in the blurb or had it accurately reflected in the book’s cover. The cover looks like it could be for any Highland romance, not for a supernatural one.
Like the previous book in the series, too, this one didn’t have the hero and heroine meet until after the 30% mark of the book. Even if the book didn’t have the bizarreness mentioned in the previous paragraph, this late meeting of the couple makes it so that there is not any time to truly develop the romance. This is especially important in the case of this book because it explores the enemies-to-lovers trope.
I will admit to being somewhat surprised at how well this series is rated by other readers. The stories are not well plotted, the characters are without much dimension, extraneous information that adds nothing to the story takes up valuable time, and the books are too short for the romance plot to be explored as it ought to be. I cannot recommend this book or the series.
Finding Our Way Back by Marianne Rice
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Finding Our Way Back*
A Beautiful Story with Incredible Characters
This has been a day for reading books that really tug at the heartstrings. The author has created a slow burn, sweet, and sad second chance at romance that definitely delivers on all the feels. The hero and heroine had been married before when they were in their early twenties, and their marriage couldn’t survive a personal tragedy. They are changed people when they happen to meet again seven years later. He has never stopped loving her, despite another intervening failed marriage, and she is not sure she is willing to forgive the part that he played in their tragedy. The characters in this book are fantastic, and not just the hero and heroine. I loved the heroine’s circle of friends; each woman was unique and able to provide the support the heroine needed. I also absolutely adored the heroine’s relationship with the elderly man that she was taking care of. Their relationship showed her kind nature and generous heart. I thought that the author did a particularly good job with dialogue. It seems realistic in terms of the word themselves and how they reflected the relationships of the people involved in the conversations. Exceptionally well done; a beautiful story with incredible characters.
Arsenic and Ole by Jessa Archer
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Arsenic and Ole*
Problem of First in Series Plagues Second
I have read books from several different series by this author, and I find myself somewhat amazed that I don’t have a single opinion about her as a writer. When I read a lot of books by one author, I tend to develop an impression that covers all the books I’ve read. With Ms. Archer, it changes for each series I read, it would seem. For instance, I absolutely adore the hand lettering series. This is now the second book I have read of this Coastal Playhouse series, and it isn’t sitting well with me. This book suffers from the same problem that the first one did. Namely, the book has far too many chunks of straight-out backstory about a variety of characters and circumstances littered throughout the first half of the book. I just do not like information dumps. With her skill, the author could definitely have spread this information around more evenly throughout and only when needed; I don’t think all the background itself was necessary. I do like the world she has created in this quirky little community. I like Tig (even if I still can’t stand her name) and her relationships with those around her, especially with her daughter and her former high school boyfriend (now local law enforcement). All in all, I would say that this series is not the author’s best work, but if you don’t mind data dumps, it is actually a very serviceable and enjoyable cozy mystery.
A Kiss for the Marquess by Bianca Blythe
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A Kiss for the Marquess*
The Bachelor, Regency House Party Style
This is a relatively light and fluffy Regency romance set in a later year of that period, after the Napoleonic Wars. Right from the first chapter, it seems a little over the top and not at all serious. If you just take it as that, and you enjoy Regency romance, you might find this book fun. I didn’t like some of the writing style. I like my historical romances to have multiple sentences in a paragraph, not just a word, phrase, or sentence. To me, historical romance needs to have slightly elevated language, and I associate that writing style more with contemporary romance. I’m also not a fan of the word “chit” used to describe young women. It seems vaguely insulting to me and was used a lot in this book. The heroine is actually Austrian, not English, which is unusual for a Regency. I never quite warmed up to the hero, which is necessary for me to really enjoy a book. (I did like his friend Jasper, though; he was definitely comedic relief.) However, if you enjoy slightly farcical and melodramatic light regencies, you may enjoy this book.
Gullible’s Travels & Taxing Rabble by Rachel Ford
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Gullible's Travels & Taxing Rabble*
Good Concept, Not Well Realized
What an odd book! As the title suggests, there are some references and subtle nods to the original Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. The book opens with a scene where the protagonists are before an intergalactic/interdimensional council that is looking into their inappropriate uses of a time machine. They can either surrender the machine or become enforcement agents who track down people much like themselves and try to right their wrongs. I like the concept of this book, but I don’t think it was well realized by the author. Parts of it seem quite slow, and sometimes the humor falls flat. They’re also definitely issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. I found multiple mistakes, like missing commas that made for problems with meaning and wrong words/misspellings (e.g., curios/curious). I did receive an ARC copy, but the ones in my first 10% were still in the original at Amazon, which is always a disappointment.
Global Career by Michael T. Swigunski
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Global Career*
Be a Global Citizen
If you’ve ever thought about studying or working abroad, this book is jam-packed full of personal experiences, information, and tips about how to do so. The author has lived and worked all over the globe, and this book is a distillation of all that he has learned. He does give some straight-up facts as well as share his personal experiences. I think this book would be particularly helpful for people under 30, as there are far more options for younger people to live and work abroad. The United States has reciprocal agreements with several countries for working holiday visas. But the author does give some other pointers that could apply for people who are north of 30, including how to work for an American company remotely. The book is laid out well. The first chapters deal with studying, interning, and working abroad. Further chapters explore working abroad in more depth, like the visas needed, their requirements and costs. The book ends with chapters on how to live as an expat and traveling tips. All in all, if this is something you are considering, this book will make the possibilities seem more real and point you in the right directions if it is something that truly interests you.
Dominating with Content Marketing by Michele Da Silva
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Dominating with Content Marketing*
Some Information, No Dominance
I have been marketing various businesses for over 20 years, so I’m always interested in different books that come out about marketing. I know that content marketing is a buzz phrase that is used a lot right now, so I wanted to delve more deeply into the topic. I’m a big nonfiction reader, and I will admit that I hold nonfiction writers to a rather high standard. I believe that a nonfiction book needs to deliver on the promise of its title and subtitle. The author has given herself a rather large task with both, as the titular idea of dominating a particular field requires a very high level of expertise and work; the subtitle, too, promises a lot: that you will gather more leads and sales for less money.
Setting such a high bar for herself, the author did miss the mark with this book. You will definitely learn about content marketing as well as more specific information about six particular types. But I don’t get the sense from this book of how one can dominate with content marketing, or you can how you can actually get better results, leads, or make more sales. That connection wasn’t truly drawn in the book. I thought that some of the examples given of fictional people went on for too long and didn’t really add much to the information provided. The book is good with definitions and descriptions, but the tasks given in the chapters fall short of truly aiding the reader to create these pieces of content marketing because the details are too sketchy for someone who has never made them. In the introductory chapter on content marketing, the author talks about quite a few different types that she doesn’t address, some of which could have at least been explained briefly, with perhaps resources given if that interests you. The author also missed several different types of content marketing. At best, this book will whet your appetite to learn more about marketing-based content creation, but it won’t truly help you create it. Therefore, you cannot dominate your niche with the knowledge that you will glean from the contents of this book.
Ladies and Their Secrets by Joyce Alec
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Ladies and Their Secrets*
Uneven Set of Historical Romance Novellas
This is a set of five novellas from different series by the author which are supposed to be set in the Regency era (1811 to 1820), but at least one is set in the pre-Victorian, post-Regency year of 1836; the Victorian era started in 1837. The novels are generally well written, but the length seems too short for much character development, especially for certain characters like the villains. I have read other novels by this author, and she most almost always includes an element of suspense. I didn’t feel like that was really going on in these particular stories; they were more straight-up romances. These are quick and easy reads, though.
Here are my thoughts about the first two books.
The Earl’s Agreement: In this story, Lucy’s parents have given up on their wallflower daughter and are poised to force her to marry an odious man who’s old enough to be her father. At a ball, when she is despairing her fate in a garden, Edward comes across her, and they discuss her situation. He comes up with what he believes is the perfect solution: they will fake a betrothal, keeping her away from Lord Hutton and pleasing his mother, who has been bothering him to settle down. What actually happens, of course, is that they start to fall for each other during their fake courtship. I thought Edward was sweet and a perfect hero; he was funny and appreciated the heroine for her mind and bluestocking ways. I didn’t like the way Lucy’s parents treated her at first, but the author managed in the short novella to show change in the relationship between Lucy and her parents. The couple fell for each other a little too fast. The heroine’s actions at the end, while necessary, didn’t seem wholly within her character that we had seen before. The villain was drawn without much depth; he is just purely evil, and we are not giving much in the way of motivation for his actions. Still, for the sweetness of the hero, I did find myself enjoying this book.
Heart of a Marquess: Charlotte’s mother has just married an earl in a love match, and the happy couple is off on their honeymoon, leaving their marriage-age daughters together, chaperoned by the earl’s sister. The earl’s daughter hates that these two women have come into their lives, as she sees it is encroaching on her father’s love and time for her. Lady Emma is simply ghastly towards Charlotte on all accounts; she is the villain in this story, and she has been painted in very broad strokes. Nothing appears to be good about her whatsoever. Charlotte wishes that Lady Emma would be a true sister to her, but she is realistic about her step-sister. Charlotte comes to know a marquess after Emma locks her in a room at a ball. Emma is most displeased that Charlotte has caught his eye and is determined to ruin it all for her. The marquess himself has been reluctant to find a wife because one young has tried to provoke a compromise before. The hero in this book isn’t quite as swoon-worthy as the one in the previous book. I didn’t like how he believed Lady Emma’s lies about Charlotte at first even though he did know her somewhat. I felt like this book did lack because of the stick-figure villain and a somewhat lackluster hero.
Candy, Carpenters, and Candsticks by Paula Lester and Lisa B. Thomas
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Candy, Carpenters, and Candlesticks*
Halloween in Comfort Cove
Even though we’re several books into the series, it feels like Paige is still settling into her life in Comfort Cove. She has some new ideas for the bookstore, and a batch of used books turns up an old love letter. Things heat up when somebody connected to the letter turns up dead. The book is also about Paige’s relationship with her Italian boyfriend, Marco. When the book starts, he is still in Italy after his grandmother’s death; when he returns to Paige, they both want American Halloween to be special for him. Things certainly never run smoothly in this little town and certainly not for Paige. She seems to attract trouble, which of course is fun in a cozy mystery. I enjoyed the Halloween parts of the book, and I was amused that Paige was so happy about that holiday since she is an actual witch—even if no one knows that she is outside of her coven. I actually wish that there was a little more witchy-ness in this story, as I love paranormal cozies. As often happens in cozy mysteries, this book felt like it was more about Paige, her friends, and the community rather than the actual mystery. It’s a relatively short book, and in such a small amount of words, it is hard to get the balance between the cozy aspect and the mystery aspect. Still, I have enjoyed this series, and this installment was no exception.
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