Up All Day by Rebecca Weller

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Up All Day
Author: Rebecca Weller
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Alcohol, Australian authors, Memoirs
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I realised about three chapters into this that I probably should have read A Happier Hour before Up All Day. Since I was missing a pretty big chunk of Weller’s life experiences. In fact, I was completely missing the entire context of what her first book was like and about. But, even with that I still found this to be a brilliant novel and memoir. In fact, it makes me feel even more driven to read A Happier Hour and find out about Weller’s journey to sobriety.

Although some of this was about Weller’s experience dealing with her new sober life, some of the other aspects of this story were a little bit too familiar. Particularly those procrastination moments that she kept on practicing. All of the planning, but none of the doing. Coming up with exciting things to add to the finished project when it’s not even been started… all things that I have a really bad tendency to do myself. It kind of felt a little bit like a slap up the head to stop pulling some of that nonsense when I really want to get something done…

Weller is wonderfully sassy and fun in her writing. I loved the tone of this whole memoir and the self-deprecating sense of humour. She is able to laugh at all of her less than stellar moments, and talk of pride with all of her accomplishments. I really enjoyed this style of writing. The fact that she’s an Aussie made it all that much better – a lot of the social, cultural and physical things which she talks about are incredibly familiar and felt a little like a taste of home. Something I love when I’m reading a good book.

This story is an amazing journey and filled with brutal honesty. It’s wonderful how Weller is able to tell her tale and not flinch away from some of the moments in her life that she’s not exactly proud of. I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading more about Weller’s journey.

<- The Southern Education of a Jersey GirlThe Salt Path ->

Image source: Booktopia

Touched by Fate by Preslaysa Williams

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Touched by Fate
Author: Preslaysa Williams
In: Worst Holiday Ever (Miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Year: 2018

Thoughts

This was not the story that I was expecting at all. For starters, I thought there would be a whole lot romance in this story than there was. And I kind of loved the fact that there wasn’t. I mean, romance and particularly holiday romances are wonderful, but holiday stories about discovering yourself in spite of romance… that’s even better.

There are a thousand red flags in this story that make you ridiculously happy when Analyn doesn’t get married. Ones that kind of had me clenching the sides of my seat in the hopes that she would take damn notice of them. And then, instead of ending with a date (which I was expecting), it is all about her freedom. I don’t know if there is any better way to end a story – love is all well and good, but self-respect and freedom? Gorgeous.

Even though this was a short story about Analyn, it was the grandmothers that I fell in love with. They were a damn hoot. And had me laughing out loud. I couldn’t believe how much humour Williams was able to install in them in such a short amount of time. Yet another author to add to my shelves if she could have me laughing this much in such a short amount of time…

<- Stealing ChristmasRinging in the Reefer ->

Image source: Fantastic Fiction

The Thanksgiving Parade from Hell by R.L. Merrill

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Thanksgiving Parade from Hell
Author: R.L. Merrill
In: Worst Holiday Ever (Miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, LGBTQI
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Year: 2018

Thoughts

Dalton and Orrie are a ridiculously cute couple. They are completely adorable and so damn sweet together. My heart definitely beat faster in the hope for their future. And because this was a wonderfully sweet and gorgeous story, they get it. Not without a lot of issues along the way though.

My husband and I decided a long time ago that Christmas would be about one event… no running around like headless chickens all day long. And that is just between two families. I can’t imagine jumping between four! That to start with just sounded and felt ridiculously difficult and complex. And, as it unfolded, it was even worse than I had anticipated.

This was a fun, chaotic story evolving into a beautiful ending. With the one family portion that the couple actually got along well with. I love that in the one day they not only run the gambit of their four families, but they also had to deal with their own insecurities. A brilliant holiday story.

<- Ringing in the ReeferThankful in Perdition ->

Image source: Fantastic Fiction

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: A Tale of Two Cities
Author: Charles Dickens
Series: Word Cloud Classics
Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again)
My Bookshelves: Classics
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Year: 1859

Thoughts

I love the writing of Charles Dickens. And I’ve always loved that even though now he is considered a “classic”, at the time he was writing, it was seen as “pop culture” with all of the connotations that implies. But I digress, as with the other pieces I’ve read by Dickens, I loved the writing of this, there is something very accessible about the flow of words and the lyrically of the prose.

Having said all of that, I did struggle to get into the storyline of this a little bit. This is most definitely not my favourite Dickens story. Maybe it has something to do with the politics of the storyline, it was set in the French revolution, and almost everything about that timeline has never really interested me. Which made it hard to really be interested in this story.

As much as I wanted to love this novel, I just didn’t. For the aforementioned reasons. But it’s definitely a book that I will reread in the future. After all, it was the best of times (see what I did there).

<- Great ExpectationsThe Poetry of Emily Dickinson ->

Image source: Amazon

Thankful in Perdition by Erin St. Charles

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Thankful in Perdition
Author: Erin St. Charles
In: Worst Holiday Ever (Miscellaneous)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Year: 2018

Thoughts

AJ and Jasmine are an incredibly sweet couple, the kind that is easy and enjoyable to read about in a short story, but maybe doesn’t have enough drama going on for a long tale. It’s a nice way to imagine a settled and happy couple getting through the insanity of the festive season (because there is ALWAYS insanity). St. Charles did a great job of telling you the background to this couple, without getting too bogged down in the details. Certainly an enjoyable holiday short story.

Although this is a simple and easy story, and you can tell from the first instant that the couple is very much in love, the moment that Jasmine realises she loves AJ is probably my favourite. That moment of somewhat everyday life when you just look at someone and know is fantastic. But, the humorousness of this moment was even better. Particularly since this entertaining, but still very sweet moment involves a frozen turkey and an axe…

This short story was one calamity after the other. It was seriously funny reading one chaotic moment after the other and waiting for the next thing to go seriously wrong. Had me giggling out loud quite a bit, and wanting to add a bit more of this fun flavour to my shelves.

<- The Thanksgiving Parade from HellFeliz Chanukah! ->

Image source: Fantastic Fiction

Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Skye Falling
Author: Mia McKenzie
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, LGBTQI, Race
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2021

Thoughts

This was a brilliant and kind of intense read. But damn, it was also kind of amazing. I mean, it was a great story of self-discovery, with some impressively dynamic relationships and a whole heap of emotional connections. Throughout this personal journey Skye spends a whole lot of time looking inwards. It’s a nice reminder that we never truly stop growing and learning.

This book gave me all of the feelings, it was intense and complex. Skye not only has to navigate her current friendships and family dynamics. But there a heap of new relationships and family dynamics that she also has to negotiate. I love that Skye slowly creates a relationship with the new members of her family. Relationships are never quite as easy as they seem in the books, they’re always way more complicated and McKenzie honours this fact.

Skye is forced to face up to a whole heap of hard truths and realities in her own actions. But it’s about more than that. Skye is forced to face the changing times and how the things we treasure don’t always stay the same. McKenzie also beautifully shows some of the challenges that African American women face and the realities of being an LGBTQI+ woman. McKenzie pulls in so many social justice issues and my head is still spinning after reading this.

I love that the ending of this isn’t neat and tidy. There is no tie it all in a bow ending that shows everyone riding off into the sunset. Rather, everyone finds a new path and a way to find their happy new reality. Life never has a satisfactory conclusion that ties up every loose end. And I love that Skye Falling didn’t either.

<- More Mia McKenzieMore race ->

Image source: Goodreads

Naughty Santa by Janelle Denison

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Naughty Santa
Author: Janelle Denison
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2016

Thoughts

This is a disgustingly yummy and drool-worthy office romance. The fact that it’s all instigated by Secret Santa is just all that much better. I mean, my gosh, I love a good office romance that is filled with lust and sex. But when it also takes into account a little bit of Christmas? That’s what dreams are made of… at least around Christmas time when sometimes it can be a bit hard to get into the Christmas theme around town…

I love how wonderfully buttoned up Amanda is and how she is so aware of the double standards in the world. The voices that she hears is a little bit concerning though. I mean a lot of us have the angel and devil on our shoulders bit because, well, conscience. But these ones took on a little bit too much of an intensity. It got kind of uncomfortable.

As I’ve come to expect from Denison, this is a great, light and easy read. One filled with lust and a lot of seduction. And seriously enjoyable in all of its simple glory.

<- Meet Me at MidnightSeducing Santa ->

Image source: Amazon

Nutcracker with Benefits by Liz Alden

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Nutcracker with Benefits
Author: Liz Alden
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Wanderlust
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

I’ve loved the nutcracker as a Christmas story in whatever version for as long as I can remember. So, of course when I saw that there was a novel retelling of it in a contemporary romance format… I was pretty keen to dive right in. And I most definitely was not disappointed! This was a wonderful Christmas story in and of itself, but as a reimagining of some of the themes throughout the Nutcracker? I really enjoyed it. This was one of those rare retellings that took the themes and some of the characterisations, but Alden was able to truly make it her own.

I love that throughout this story, Nash is just trying to show Clara what there is to love about their city and life with him. He might not be exactly subtle about some of it, but he is also obviously trying to make her see what there is to love about home. And also showing how much he truly knows her. Although it’s, admittedly, a little bit manipulative, it’s also incredibly sweet. Particularly the fact that everything he chooses shows Clara just how much he adores her and knows about her.

While reading this, I did think a lot about my little sister. She too has the wanderlust and need to travel. Itchy feet can lead to some pretty incredible adventures, and I love how Clara is able to harness that within her job. However, like my sister, there is a sense of fleeing in all of Clara’s actions. I really enjoy that at the end, she doesn’t have to give up her wanderlust and enjoyment of travel. But rather it’s about finding a better balance. Both in her life and Nash’s. But honestly, seriously the coolest job ever.

This was an incredibly Christmassy book. Not just in the fact that it’s actually set at Christmas and has the whole nutcracker retelling aspect. But also, in the fact that there is so much family involvement. For me, Christmas time is all about family and the chaos that is sure to follow with that kind of gathering. It’s about love and laughter. Alden highlights all of this really well in her story and makes you think of cozy nights with family around laughing and smiling.

<- More Liz AldenMore contemporary romance ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Mapmaker’s Wife by Robert Whitaker

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Mapmaker’s Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon
Author: Robert Whitaker
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, History, Science, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2004

Thoughts

This is an incredibly intense story, one that I completely fell in love with and enjoyed. It’s almost two stories in one, truth be told, but it’s still an epic journey. Well, two epic journeys. With a lot of backstory and a number of political implications and social nuances in fact, Whitaker manages to not know tell the tale of Isabella and Jean, but also a whole set of scientific breakthroughs, political battles and social norms which have changed throughout time.

To start with, I really just wanted to know about Isabella’s journey across the Amazon. That is still a feat that I think is amazing today, to do it on the 1800’s is a whole other, unbelievable story. A journey that literally killed all of her companions was survived, all for the sake of a man that she hadn’t seen for 20 years. A love story in a time that didn’t necessarily put a premium on love.

Although it was Isabella’s story that I was looking forward to, I got pretty stuck into Jean’s story. The idea of a scientific endeavour to prove the theory of gravity and how that effects the equator is intense in and of itself. But then, to add to that, there is murder, espionage, and a whole slew of other scientific discoveries. Some of which I remember using a little during my university degree.

This is an incredibly factual memoir, but one that is also highly emotional. Whitaker hits that perfect balance between facts and emotion when writing about the past. He also provides a great epilogue at the end which shows how everyone lived out the rest of their lives. A wonderful read that I look forward to picking up again in the future.

<- This is MeStephen Hawking: A Life in Science ->

Image source: Amazon

Maybe This Christmas? by Jill Steeples

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Maybe This Christmas?
Author: Jill Steeples
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

I did find Beth a little bit whiney in this story. In fact, at the beginning, I found her a little bit difficult to deal with. But, as the story unfolded, she kind of grew on me. Slowly but surely. And then, once I started to actually enjoy her as a character, it became a whole lot easier to enjoy this novel. Probably because once she grew on me she was also a little bit less whiney and a lot more relatable. Which for me is always important in a character.

I was expecting this to be a sunshine-grump trope romance. Beth was obviously the sunshine for all of her whininess – after all, she is still incredibly optimistic throughout the entire tale. Rocco on the other hand wasn’t quite the grump I expected him to be. He was still a total grump and not even remotely positive. But I kind of liked this really obvious vein of sweetness throughout his interactions with Beth. It made me enjoy reading this novel a lot more than I thought I would, like I said, it took me a while to respond to Beth, but I found it pretty easy to respond to Rocco.

Although this story is listed as a Christmas romance. I really didn’t find anything Christmassy about it at all. Other than the fact that it is based at Christmas time. Beyond that, there were no feelings of Christmas or the festive season throughout the story. Honestly, this tale could have taken place at any point in the year, and it still would’ve worked. An enjoyable romance, but not one that I would reread to get me into the festive spirit.

This might not have been one of my favourite novels, but it was very enjoyable. And I particularly liked how it all ended with all of the weddings and happiness and new beginnings in the air.

<- More contemporaryMore contemporary romance ->

Image source: Booktopia