The publisher describes this book as “Upstairs, Downstairs meets Parasite,” which does well in explaining the class issues examined here, although it doesn’t quite describe the full racial undertones within this book, which adds a new dimension to this theme. August Sitwell has dedicated his life to the Barclays since he was a teenager when they “rescued” him from an orphanage and gave him a job at their estate. He’s part of their all-Black staff, … Read More “The Rib King by Ladee Hubbard” »
I was lucky enough to have enough time to just sit and read this one inside of a day, and you’ll definitely want to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. Frankie Elkin is your run-of-the mill, average, middle-age white woman, with a couple of things that sets her apart. First, she’s an alcoholic. She’s been clean for several years, but she still craves a drink every day, even though she claims … Read More “Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner” »
Reading middle grade fiction, especially in the fantasy genre, is so much fun and this one doesn’t fail to entertain. The first book in a promised duology, The Nightmare Thief is set in a small town in the United States, where several of the locals have “small magic,” including Maren’s grandmother, Lishta, who owns a dream store, selling dreams (and even nightmares) to people with problems to fix. There is only one very important, make-it-or-break-it … Read More “The Nightmare Thief by Nicole Lesperance” »
BLOG TOUR ** Welcome to my stop on the Bookouture blog tour for The Missing Woman by Georgina Cross! This is a quick read filled secrets and lots of twists and turns. Erica, a single mother, and her best friend Tish, take their kids to the pool for the 4th of July – along with what seems like everyone else in their community. She’s kind of a mess – schlepping a cooler, towels for the kids, toys, … Read More “The Missing Woman by Georgina Cross” »
As historical fiction, this was an enjoyable retelling of what became known as the Children’s Blizzard of 1888, which swept across the Dakota Territory and left at least 235 people dead, most of them schoolchildren trying to get home after school. This book centers around four main characters who find their lives permanently changed by the blizzard: Raina and Gerda Olsen (sisters and schoolteachers,) Annette Pedersen (a young girl sold by her mother to another … Read More “The Children’s Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin” »