Author Archives: Laura

• Book Review: “The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City” by Jodi Kendall

  Posted at 6:25 am by Laura, on November 15, 2017

  The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City by Jodi Kendall

  Publisher: HarperCollins Childrens
  Published: October 2017
  Genre: middle grade, contemporary
  ISBN: 9780062484536
  Rating: ★★★★

  Josie Shilling’s family is too big, their cramped city house is too small, and she feels like no one’s ever on her side. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, her older brother, Tom, brings home a pink, squirmy bundle wrapped in an old football jersey—a piglet he rescued from a nearby farm. Her name is Hamlet.

  The minute Josie holds Hamlet, she feels an instant connection. But there’s no room for Hamlet in the crowded Shilling household. And whoever heard of keeping a pig in the city? So it’s up to Josie to find her a forever home.

  Josie’s brother brings home a runt piglet at Thanksgiving. This would’ve been okay if her family wasn’t so large, cramped in a fairly small townhouse in a big city with very little yard space and money to stretch. Josie doesn’t want her family to send the piglet back to the farm, and promises to find a home for little Hamlet before New Year’s Day. She wants to keep Hamlet, and does her very best to juggle all her usual responsibilities with chores, homework, and gymnastics practice. But as New Year’s Day draws near, and Hamlet grows larger, and the family faces big changes, Josie begins to wonder if she’ll ever find a nice home for Hamlet.

  This modern-day homage to Charlotte’s Web is absolutely perfect. It can stand completely on it’s own, or be read alongside the classic. The heart of the story is about love, family, sacrifice, and friendship. It rings true to any reader — a middle grade reader juggling school and extracurricular activities, the middle child who just wants to be noticed and appreciated, the teenager who wants to do right for all parties involved, and the adult continuing to experience all these things and recalling the big responsibilities, wishes, and dreams from childhood. It’s great for the whole family, especially during the holiday season.

  Kendall portrayed the big family lifestyle in a cramped home in the city so well. At times it felt claustrophobic, and others it felt warm and cozy. The family has their ups and downs, bickers and mishaps mixed with support and love. Nothing is picture perfect, but it takes little moments for Josie to realize her family does see her and her accomplishments, that she’s not lost in the noise. She has her insecurities and dreams, and it’s so neat seeing how they grow and change during her gymnastics season and taking care of little Hamlet.

  A heartwarming middle grade perfect for the whole family this holiday season.

  Thank you, HC Children’s editorial, for providing this ARC.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 1 Comment | Tagged advance reading copy, ARC, book review, books, genre: contemporary, genre: middle grade, review

• Book Review: “The Paris Architect” by Charles Belfoure

  Posted at 6:20 am by Laura, on November 6, 2017

  The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

  Publisher: Sourcebooks
  Published: October 2013
  Genre: historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781402294150
  Rating: ★★★★

  In 1942 Paris, gifted architect Lucien Bernard accepts a commission that will bring him a great deal of money and maybe get him killed. But if he’s clever enough, he’ll avoid any trouble. All he has to do is design a secret hiding place for a wealthy Jewish man, a space so invisible that even the most determined German officer won’t find it. He sorely needs the money, and outwitting the Nazis who have occupied his beloved city is a challenge he can’t resist.

  But when one of his hiding spaces fails horribly, and the problem of where to hide a Jew becomes terribly personal, Lucien can no longer ignore what’s at stake. The Paris Architect asks us to consider what we owe each other, and just how far we’ll go to make things right.

  Architect Lucien Bernard is trying to make ends meet and stay under the radar when he receives a huge commission to design a small, clever hiding space for a Jewish man. Not wanting anything to do with the Resistance but desperately needing the money, Lucien’s ego sweeps him up and he agrees to play the game against the Nazis. But the Nazis know of his architectural talent and pay for him to design manufacturing buildings for ammunition. As the number of clever hiding spaces grow, the factories built, and hiding spaces discovered, Lucien is torn between collaboration and resistance, between prestige and humanity.

  What a morally conflicting and ambiguous, unique, and haunting novel. This was unlike any other WWII novel I’ve read.

  Though the writing was distanced, it was the concept that floored me. We see WWII and the Nazi/Jewish conflict at a distance. Of course what the Nazis did was wrong and the most awful thing ever. Ever. I’m not arguing that. But Belfoure places us in the time: the French population (perhaps most of Europe?) genuinely did not like Jewish people — nothing like the Nazis felt, but it’s true nonetheless. Paris was easy for the Nazis to occupy because the French wanted nothing to do with the Nazis but they also wanted nothing to do with the Jews. Behave, stay low, neither resist nor collaborate, and perhaps one would survive. That was the mentality. Lucien’s character shows that in spades — but he’s still young and he wants his name to be known for his designs. All the income was helpful too. It’s not until the French see him as a collaborator, and the Nazis see him as a member of the Resistance, that it hits him completely: he cannot play both sides. He either saves human lives, or he destroys his country. Humanity wins, but at a cost — and his solution is very clever.

  I was impressed with the architectural designs, too. These aren’t hidden rooms behind library doors, another hidey-hole in the basement, or another wall in an attic. Lucien’s designs blend in so well with the architecture of the existing building and room that it takes really unique circumstances for the Nazis to discover them one by one. Oh, how my heart pound. The anxious intensity, the drawn out scenes when the Nazis were on the other side of the Jews’ hiding spot…I couldn’t breathe.

  If you’re looking for a new author to try or a unique WWII historical novel, definitely pick up Charles Belfoure’s The Paris Architect. It’ll haunt you for weeks after finishing.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review

• Flipping Through the Pages: Summer Rewind 2017

  Posted at 5:05 am by Laura, on October 1, 2017

  

  Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

  Through the Lens

  

  

  

  The last few months have been dedicated to travel, wishing for cool weather, and reading. Lots of reading. Lots of reading manuscripts, that is. As you may have noticed, I didn’t post very many reviews. While I did read books for fun, many of them were kinda meh and I don’t want to put poor reviews online. Thankfully I found lots of enjoyment in reading clients’ revisions, new projects, and potential clients’ manuscript submissions over the summer. The highlight of the last few months was Jared Reck‘s A Short History of the Girl Next Door release!

  Life Highlights

  The Beau and I traveled to Iowa for his high school reunion, and I was genuinely surprised how much I loved Des Moines. His friends and family made me feel so at home there. Even the people I briefly interacted with at the reunion itself were very kind. Ah, Midwesterners! (PS I went to Raygun and I promise you, it’s just as awesome as their website. My Christmas wishlist expanded tenfold.)

  Every summer in July my family would travel to Cincinnati to celebrate Grandpa’s birthday, July 4, and just being together. We worried that since his passing, this tradition would fall apart. Thankfully it did not! We were able to gather for a family BBQ in August, and all the dogs tumbled and ran around in the backyard with the cousins. The Beau joined us too, and he went off with the boys to race around the neighborhood in a newly acquired go-kart. Haha!!

  One of my dear friends and old college roommate Lauren got married in September! Her wedding was an event we were all looking forward to in the friend group, as there were many joys and concerns going on in our lives this year. Being reunited with one another from near and far was so rejuvenating! We danced all night, and Amanda’s toddler Hazel was the best dancer in the house.

  Tunes on Repeat

  I think this section will be removed starting in 2018 recaps, because I’m at least a year behind on music. However, if you want something new and different and more on the classical lines, check out this guy! He sings Schubert arrangements with guitar (instead of piano, violin, or organ). Doesn’t his voice just make you melt?

  Bookmarked in the Community

  1. What I’ve Read @ Pretty Books — Stacey gives a great review for When Dimple Met Rishi and it made me all warm and fuzzy inside, haha. So I thought I’d share!
  2. Fangirl Friday with Laura @ What Sarah Read — Sarah hosts this fantastic feature for other bloggers to participate in on Fridays called Fangirl Friday. Bloggers can fangirl about anything and everything in a theme of their choosing. It’s a cool way to build community and break out of the standard bookish posts. I had a post in July entirely dedicated to British TV and movies (primarily BBC and ITV), and swooned over North & South and Belle!
  3. Meet Riley Josephine @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie gave birth to a beautiful girl! Come for the cute baby photos, stay for the pregnancy and birth real talk. Jamie opened up about her experience, and her honesty is refreshing. Love you, Jamie!
  4. Back to School: History of Fictional Worlds Syllabus @ The Bookish Beagle — Morgan has worked on this epic post for ages, and I’m so glad it’s finally public! It may not look like a lot of text, but check out this concept: what if we could study the history of fictional worlds? You could major in Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings! Or any other fandom you’re a part of! It’s so cool seeing the classes she came up with. I wish this were real!
  5. Three Ways I Tackled My TBR This Summer @ So Obsessed With — Hannah’s methodical posts are probably some of my favorites. She’s shared her reading trends with stats, she’s worked on the Picky Pledge to be more selective about what she reads, and she’s shared a process to determine whether or not she should buy a book. In this post, she shares her step-by-step process for weeding through her TBR (to read or to sell/donate). I’ll have to try this!

  Popular Posts on Scribbles

  1. Book Review: What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum (ARC) — I’m still reeling from this novel. I want to put it in so many people’s hands.
  2. The Intimidating TBR Tag — Not surprised this was a popular post. I think it’s pretty universal for many people! Have you done this tag yet? Which question was most difficult for you to answer?
  3. Book Review: The Dire King by William Ritter — The last book in the Jackaby series, and boy was it a winner! Great on its own, great as a series ender, and it kinda leaves things a little bit open for a spin-off (though I’m fine with it not doing that too!). Have you read the series yet? If not, I highly recommend it!

  Cherished Reads

  

  

  

  

  The Map That Leads to You by JP Monninger ★★★★.5

  The Dire King by William Ritter ★★★★.5

  The Paris Architect  by Charles Belfoure ★★★★ (review to come!)

  The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper ★★★★

  Cherished Quotes

  A book is a companion, though. You can read it in a special place,
  like on a train to Amsterdam, then you carry it home and you
  chuck it on a shelf, and then years later you remember
  that feeling you had on the train when you were young.
  It’s like a little island in time.
  — The Map that Leads to You by JP Monninger

  “But didn’t the Jews kill Christ, Father?”
  “That’s debatable, my son. But even if they did,
  I would still help them.”
  — The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

  Progress Update on Reading Challenges

  Required Library Books: 15 / 22

  The Light Between Oceans || The Husband’s Secret || W is for Wasted
  The Miniaturist || The Astronaut Wives Club || The Burning Room
  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet || The President’s Shadow
  Orphan Train || Still Life || The Paper Menagerie
  Stiff || Damaged || Dreaming of the Bones || The Paris Architect

  Fun Library Books: 13 / 5 // Complete!

  Heart’s Blood || The Bear and the Nightingale || The Silver Gate
  Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies || A Window Opens
  Alex, Approximately || The Baker’s Secret || Troubled Waters
  Once and For All || Saints and Misfits || The Scribe of Siena
  The Royal Nanny || The Best Man

  Flights of Fantasy / Marillier & Gabaldon Challenge: 2 / 9

  Heart’s Blood || Son of the Shadows

  Classics & ReRead: 0 / 2

  Rock My TBR: 13 / 12 // Complete!

  Caraval || You and Me, Always || The Miniaturist
  Son of the Shadows || The Sun is Also a Star || Outrun the Moon
  The Secret Life of Violet Grant || This Adventure Ends || The Alice Network 
  Like a River Glorious || The Map That Leads to You
  The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals || A Cold Legacy

  Impulse Buys: 5 / 5

  You and Me, Always || Flight of Dreams || Wait for Me
  The Hate U Give || The Map That Leads to You

  Overall Challenge: 46 / 50

  Random Obsessions

  On TV: WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO WATCH THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF?!?!?!

  

  It’s such a great competition show — it doesn’t even really feel like a competition. These bakers are just trying to improve for themselves and for the judges, not necessarily take one another out. They’re helping each other on numerous occasions, actually, and it’s so heartwarming! Guess that’s the biggest difference in British and American television.

  

  This show also makes me wish I were a baker. Yeah, yeah, I hear you, anyone can bake — but I literally cannot. I can make boiling water catch on fire. So instead I’ll eat another’s baked goods and dream of butter sticks and dough and pastry as I watch this show. I never thought something so nice and relatively calming could make for such an intense, emotional show, too! I NEED MORE. But only ones with Sue and Mel and Paul and Mary! No one else! Just them!

  

  On Film: Gifted. I wanted to see so many movies this summer and didn’t get a chance to, so I Redboxed Gifted and just…lost it. What a fantastic movie. So many tears. It’s about a young girl who’s a math genius, raised by her uncle (Chris Evans) who was given custody of her after her mother (his sister) committed suicide. It’s about brilliant minds and parental upbringing, about the importance of family and social relationships, and breaking records.

  In the Shopping Bag: Target and ModCloth, once again, burned a hole in my wallet. I’ve gained weight in the last year (yay (I’m finally in the healthy weight category for my height and age, which has never happened before) and boo — it was the right amount but just too fast), which meant cleaning out pretty much my entire wardrobe and buying replacements.

  Miscellaneous: The Beau and I are moving into our apartment in a couple days! So most of my time and energy the next two weeks will be preparing for that and nesting. It means I’ve been making lots of insurance and utility phone calls…

  Looking Towards the Future

  As I stated previously, in October I’m moving into an apartment (yay! And for real this time!), and then the whirlwind of holidays and holiday prep begin. I’m always looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas — any time to be with my family and friends — and this year the choir is singing Bach’s Magnificat, so it’s bound to be an excellent music season too.

  What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts! 

   

  Posted in books, This Season's Rewind | 4 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind

• Book Review: “The Dire King” by William Ritter

  Posted at 5:45 am by Laura, on September 21, 2017

  The Dire King by William Ritter

  Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
  Published: August 2017
  Genre: young adult, fantasy, historical fiction, gothic
  ISBN: 9781616206703
  Rating: ★★★★.5

  The fate of the world is in the hands of detective of the supernatural R. F. Jackaby and his intrepid assistant, Abigail Rook. An evil king is turning ancient tensions into modern strife, using a blend of magic and technology to push Earth and the Otherworld into a mortal competition. Jackaby and Abigail are caught in the middle as they continue to solve the daily mysteries of New Fiddleham, New England — like who’s created the rend between the worlds, how to close it, and why zombies are appearing around. At the same time, the romance between Abigail and the shape-shifting police detective Charlie Cane deepens, and Jackaby’s resistance to his feelings for 926 Augur Lane’s ghostly lady, Jenny, begins to give way. Before the four can think about their own futures, they will have to defeat an evil that wants to destroy the future altogether.

  A king in another realm is blending ancient magic with modern electricity, tearing down the veil between Earth and the Otherworld, wrecking havoc in its wake. Jackaby and Abigail are caught in the middle, barely recovering from the recent attack in their home on Augur Lane. But if they don’t act soon, and listen the last words of warning from New Fiddleham’s parish priest, the world as they know it may collapse into chaos.

  Please read reviews (and the books, of course) for the previous titles before continuing, as this may contain spoilers: Jackaby, Beastly Bones, Ghostly Echoes

  My initial thoughts when finishing this book were “OMGGGGG THAT WAS AWESOME AND UNEXPECTED BUT TOTALLY FITTING AND AHHHH.” Let’s shoot for some coherency now.

  What started off as ridiculous good fun in Jackaby developed into something so much more — more than mystery and mayhem and mythology and cultural lore — what it also means to find love and hope in the midst of chaos and destruction. Abigail and Jackaby make one heck of a duo when it comes to solving crimes in New Fiddleham, with the assistance of ghost Jenny and cop/werewolf Charlie. But by this book, it’s more than a couple petty supernatural crimes — it’s a full-blown war with the Moriarty character, mending the veil between the mortal world and the world these creatures come from.

  This series is full of mystery and adventure, a proper blend of Doctor Who and Sherlock, with wacky scenarios, intense circumstances, and heart-pounding plot. The romantic plots made me smile — they’re so sweet and seemingly innocent, oh-so-perfectly restrained because, you know, saving the world and all — and the ending was both surprising and fitting. In many ways it leaves the series open for a spin-off, but I would be happy ending the adventures of 926 Augur Lane right here!

  If you haven’t already, I highly suggest reading Ritter’s Jackaby series. It’s humorous, genre-bending, adventurous, and remarkable!

  (Oh, and never look at the frog. And don’t trust anything in Chapter Thirteen.)

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, books, genre: fantasy, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: young adult, review

• Mini Reviews

  Posted at 3:30 am by Laura, on September 18, 2017

  The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals by Jordan Stratford

  Publisher: Knopf BFYR
  Published: January 2017
  Genre: middle grade, mystery, historical fiction
  Rating: ★★★.5
  Summary: The Wollestonecraft Girls embark on their most important case yet–the famed dinosaur fossil hunter Mary Anning is being blackmailed. Her precious dog has been snatched and the kidnappers are demanding that Miss Anning authenticate some fake dinosaur bones up for auction at the British Museum in order to get him back. Ada and Mary have just three days to track down the fossil fakers, find the dog, and save the integrity of science! The game is truly afoot in this quirky caper involving blood-sucking leeches, an asthmatic pug, smoke bombs, secret elevators, diabolical disguises, and wicked word-play.

  Mini Review: I love middle grade detective fiction, and the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency series is no exception! Featuring Mary Shelley and Ada Byron as little girls (anachronistically), with partner in crime Charles Dickens, they solve what appear to be little instances of crime (stolen dog) but are actually major connections to criminal rings (there’s a clever Moriarty character cropping up!). The books were originally inspired by the novels of Charles Dickens’s protege, Wilkie Collins. Now they are taking on a life of their own and it’s so thrilling to watch! I highly recommend this series for little history nerds, fierce feminists, readers with quick wit and sense of humor, and little detectives in the making. See reviews for The Case of the Missing Moonstone and The Case of the Girl in Grey.

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  This qualifies as book 12 of 12 in the Rock My TBR challenge.

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  A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepherd

  Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  Published: January 2015
  Genre: young adult, gothic, science fiction
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: After killing the men who tried to steal her father’s research, Juliet—along with Montgomery, Lucy, Balthazar, and a deathly ill Edward—has escaped to a remote estate on the Scottish moors. Owned by the enigmatic Elizabeth von Stein, the mansion is full of mysteries and unexplained oddities: dead bodies in the basement, secret passages, and fortune-tellers who seem to know Juliet’s secrets. Though it appears to be a safe haven, Juliet fears new dangers may be present within the manor’s own walls. Then Juliet uncovers the truth about the manor’s long history of scientific experimentation—and her own intended role in it—forcing her to determine where the line falls between right and wrong, life and death, magic and science, and promises and secrets. And she must decide if she’ll follow her father’s dark footsteps or her mother’s tragic ones, or whether she’ll make her own.

  Mini Review: This book gave me graduate thesis flashbacks. I spent a whole year immersed in gothic literature (classic and YA) with a fine tooth comb, loving every second of my nightmares that followed. A COLD LEGACY continues the “twist on classic gothic novels” trend Shepherd began with The Madman’s Daughter by following the Frankenstein narrative. The other two books worked as parallels to the inspired classics, but this time the characters meet Dr Frankenstein’s descendants and friends, who want to continue the “cold legacy” of his experimentation. Scottish moors, creepy children, reanimated corpses, oh my! I appreciated the parallels to the original narrative, and found all the high drama twists and turns appropriate to gothic fiction. Juliet’s internal battle and her devotion to two boys continued (and I was so over it in Her Dark Curiosity), but the final chapters left the reader with a solid ending and hope for the remaining characters.

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  This qualifies as book 13 of 12 in the Rock My TBR challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017, Rock My TBR | 1 Comment | Tagged books, genre: gothic, genre: historical fiction, genre: middle grade, genre: mystery, genre: sci-fi, genre: young adult, mini review, review, rock my TBR

• Book Review: “The Royal Nanny” by Karen Harper

  Posted at 6:20 am by Laura, on September 6, 2017

  The Royal Nanny by Karen Harper

  Publisher: William Morrow
  Published: June 2016
  Genre: adult fiction, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9780062420633
  Rating: ★★★★

  April, 1897: A young nanny arrives at Sandringham, ancestral estate of the Duke and Duchess of York. She is excited, exhausted—and about to meet royalty….

  So begins the unforgettable story of Charlotte Bill, who would care for a generation of royals as their parents never could. Neither Charlotte—LaLa, as her charges dub her—nor anyone else can predict that eldest sons David and Bertie will each one day be king. LaLa knows only that these children, and the four who swiftly follow, need her steadfast loyalty and unconditional affection.

  But the greatest impact on Charlotte’s life is made by a mere bud on the family tree: a misunderstood soul who will one day be known as the Lost Prince. Young Prince John needs all of Lala’s love—the kind of love his parents won’t…or can’t…show him.

  Charlotte “Lala” Bill arrives at Sandringham eager to begin as an assistant to the royals’ head nurse. But when she witnesses the young boys’ abuse at the hands of this nurse, she takes matters into her own hands, and forever shapes the landscape of royal nurses and nannies. As she raises each of the children, wondering what she’ll do when the youngest will age out of the nursery and enter the schoolroom, one last royal is born: Prince Johnny, a misunderstood soul and young boy with epilepsy. He’s hidden from view of the public, and the family rarely witnesses his epileptic attacks, but it’s Lala’s steadfast love and determined devotion that unites the family during a tumultuous time in history.

  This novel really pulled at my heartstrings. Watching David and Bertie grow up and experience the reign of three different monarchs (great-grandmother Queen Victoria, grandfather Edward VII, father George V) as well as the other children’s interactions with their royal cousins (specifically the Romanovs), witnessing all the changes in history at the turn of the century (electricity, cars, planes, WWI), was fascinating in and of itself.

  Some of the dialogue felt a little forced, but it was to give the reader a sense of the passage of time with regard to meaningful events. And, admittedly, I was more curious about David and Bertie, the two kings pre-WWII and all the drama surrounding abdicating the throne. However, Harper wrote a very engaging narrative that made me care more than I ever thought I would about little John, the lost prince. His story is the epitome of the sad, bleak reality of royal children prior to his birth. Royals were presented to their parents for a few minutes each day! Lala changed that. Lala gave these children the love and attention they deserved, especially since their parents could not or would not. And she made a taboo illness a discussable topic, embracing and facing adversity head on instead of brushing it under the rug.

  The writing is intimate, revealing the hidden history behind the events of WWI and the deep family connections within. Toss in the upstairs-downstairs point of view of the royal nanny who shaped the kind of nannies royalty seek today, and you’re in for a treat. Fans of King’s Speech and Downton Abbey, royal history buffs, and anyone who loves reading books with family dynamic focus would thoroughly enjoy this novel.

  This qualifies as book 12 of 5 library books in 2017.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review

• Book Review: “The Scribe of Siena” by Melodie Winawer

  Posted at 5:35 am by Laura, on August 31, 2017

  The Scribe of Siena by Melodie Winawer

  Publisher: Touchstone
  Published: May 2017
  Genre: adult, historical fiction
  ISBN: 9781501152252
  Rating: ★★★

  Accomplished neurosurgeon Beatrice Trovato knows that her deep empathy for her patients is starting to impede her work. So when her beloved brother passes away, she welcomes the unexpected trip to the Tuscan city of Siena to resolve his estate, even as she wrestles with grief. But as she delves deeper into her brother’s affairs, she discovers intrigue she never imagined—a 700-year-old conspiracy to decimate the city.

  After uncovering the journal and paintings of Gabriele Accorsi, the fourteenth-century artist at the heart of the plot, Beatrice finds a startling image of her own face and is suddenly transported to the year 1347. She awakens in a Siena unfamiliar to her, one that will soon be hit by the Plague.

  Yet when Beatrice meets Accorsi, something unexpected happens: she falls in love—not only with Gabriele, but also with the beauty and cadence of medieval life. As the Plague and the ruthless hands behind its trajectory threaten not only her survival but also Siena’s very existence, Beatrice must decide in which century she belongs.

  A neurosurgeon finishing her brother’s research is transported back to a handful of months just before the Plague hits medieval Siena, Italy. While there, research and life collide when Beatrice is sheltered by and works alongside artist Gabriele Accorsi, a painter whose journal was in her possession while finishing her brother’s manuscript. Why was the Plague so devastating to Siena compared to the rest of Italy (and Europe as a whole)? What can Beatrice discover while there that her brother couldn’t find in documents today? Furthermore, is she now accidentally at the center of the plot that decimated Siena?

  Color me intrigued.

  This book contains a lot of art history, and the level of detail in the setting was exquisite. I felt like I was there in medieval Siena. There’s a romance with an artist, but I wasn’t feeling it. Some romances make you swoon right along with the protagonist, some romances you fall in love with the couple and how they handle their relationship and life’s events, and then there are some romances that seem to be there just to further the plot. That was this one. It wasn’t terrible — just didn’t seem necessary to move it from platonic to romantic.

  You can’t have a fictional account of historic Italy without the Medici family wrecking havoc. They, like England’s Tudors, shaped Italian history, so of course there’s no avoiding it, but a part of me was a little bit bummed that the family played such a huge role in the plot of the book. I wanted more from Beatrice rather than the other perspectives. Because Beatrice was so funny. She’s a strong, sarcastic, steady and stable sort of character, and her quips, observations, and one-liners throughout the story really kept the pace moving. Sometimes all you can do when thrown into ridiculous situations is try to find the humor in it!

  If you’re looking for something to sink into and bask in the beauty, without thinking too deeply about the plot (and all the timey-whimey open-ended questions), this would be the book to try! Truly, it is a breathtaking read simply for the art and history. Setting was certainly a character of this novel all on its own.

  This qualifies as book 11 of 5 library books in 2017.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 1 Comment | Tagged book review, books, genre: adult fiction, genre: historical fiction, review

• The Intimidating TBR Tag

  Posted at 6:10 am by Laura, on August 29, 2017

  Life has been busy, to say the least. Though I’ve been reading, I haven’t reviewed as much lately. To keep the blog from being perpetually silent until I’ve managed to write reviews for the books I’ve read, why don’t we check out this tag. Thanks, Morgan @ The Bookish Beagle, for sharing!

  The Intimidating TBR Tag

  

  

  

  What book on your TBR have you been unable to finish? || I’ve started quite a few, but Miss You, The Wild Girl, and Bellman & Black are the three that have bookmarks still in them. I even recall without having to open them what was going on when I stopped. So…that’s something?

  

  

  

  What book on your TBR haven’t you read because . . .

  . . . you haven’t had the time? || Around this time last year I decided that this year I would try to read a Gabaldon or Marillier book a month. They’re big books (in number of pages and in concept), and surely a month would be enough time. As you can tell from my seasonal posts…I haven’t been very good with this challenge! So let’s start with The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon!

  . . . it’s a sequel? || Winner’s Kiss. I was so pumped for the final book of the trilogy, bought it the day of publication, and now it’s been sitting on my shelf for what feels like ages! Gah. It’s like, if I don’t read it, the trilogy won’t end, right?

  . . . it’s brand new? || The Reluctant Queen. It’s the most brand new of this TBR tag, at least — just a month or so — but I want to be able to sink into this one properly. I loved the world-building and characters in The Queen of Blood, so I want do this one justice in my read.

  . . . you didn’t enjoy the author’s first book? || The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place, because you guys, I didn’t like All the Truth that’s in Me (though the review I gave looks pretty generous, in hindsight it frustrated me to no end). I’ve heard several times this book is very different (audience, topic, writing style, sense of humor), but I’m still nervous nonetheless.

  

  

  

  . . . you haven’t been in the mood? || The Price of Blood by Patricia Bracewell. This trilogy (or is it just duology? GR says trilogy but the third book’s taking some time to come out to the world if that’s the case) is everything I could ever want. Emma of Normandy, in England during the Viking takeover prior to William the Conqueror. YAAAAS. But I need to be in the right mood for this depth of historical fiction. Bracewell’s writing is just so exquisitely beautiful, I need to treasure the read!

  . . . it’s humongous? || I like big books and I cannot lie, but there’s something about the weight of Morgan Matson’s The Unexpected Everything that I find intimidating for a contemporary YA! I mean…does it really need to be that long? Really?

  . . . it was a cover buy and it ended up receiving poor reviews? || Oh, see, I don’t have too many of those. I open cover love books and read a couple pages to see if I’d personally enjoy it before buying it on impulse, and I won’t seek out reviews for it. I do the same for overly-hyped books, regardless of cover adoration (read a few pages before considering purchasing). Maybe the closest one would be The Crown’s Game. It didn’t receive poor reviews, but I guess it doesn’t live up to the hype? Maybe? I’ve no idea. Let’s go with that one, though I do still intend to read it.

  What is the most intimidating book on your tbr? || Hild or The Name of the Wind, though I’m not sure why. I know I want to read them, I know I’ll enjoy them, and I like big books so it’s not that either. I’ve probably just put them on this massive pedestal and I’m worried they won’t live up to it?

  

  

  

  ~

  This was one giant psychological mess of a post! The Intimidating TBR Tag is deceiving — you think you’re just answering a handful of simple questions, but it really makes you think about your answers and why.

  What’s on your TBR? I tag anyone who is willing to tackle this! 

  Posted in book tag, books | 4 Comments | Tagged book tag, books

• Mini Reviews

  Posted at 7:05 am by Laura, on August 17, 2017

  Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

  Publisher: Viking
  Published: June 2017
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: Louna, daughter of famed wedding planner Natalie Barrett, has seen every sort of wedding: on the beach, at historic mansions, in fancy hotels and clubs. Perhaps that’s why she’s cynical about happily-ever-after endings, especially since her own first love ended tragically. When Louna meets charming, happy-go-lucky serial dater Ambrose, she holds him at arm’s length. But Ambrose isn’t about to be discouraged, now that he’s met the one girl he really wants. 
  

  Mini Review: I enjoyed Dessen’s latest, but it also left something to be desired. The characters were good (well-rounded, depth, teen voice), the story was good (growth, development, plot), I enjoyed the Easter eggs (classic Dessen!), and it somewhat reminded me of my favorite Dessen novel (The Truth About Forever)…which may be why it was only good. It felt a little recycled, and the stakes, especially the romance, seemed more like afterthoughts. This landed right in the middle of my Dessen rankings: plain ol’ good. She’s a staple in contemporary YA literature, a modern classic, but I do think this could’ve been better.

  This qualifies as book 9 of 5 library books in 2017.

  Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali

  Publisher: Salaam Reads
  Published: June 2017
  Genre: young adult, contemporary
  Rating: ★★★
  Summary: There are three kinds of people in my world:
  1. Saints, those special people moving the world forward. Sometimes you glaze over them. Or, at least, I do. They’re in your face so much, you can’t see them, like how you can’t see your nose.
  2. Misfits, people who don’t belong. Like me—the way I don’t fit into Dad’s brand-new family or in the leftover one composed of Mom and my older brother, Mama’s-Boy-Muhammad. Also, there’s Jeremy and me. Misfits. Because although, alliteratively speaking, Janna and Jeremy sound good together, we don’t go together. Same planet, different worlds. But sometimes worlds collide and beautiful things happen, right?
  3. Monsters. Well, monsters wearing saint masks, like in Flannery O’Connor’s stories. Like the monster at my mosque. People think he’s holy, untouchable, but nobody has seen under the mask. Except me.

  Mini Review: Janna is angry and hurt, and wants everyone to know that the scumbag who assaulted her is their beloved star boy at the mosque. This is a great exploration of the mind of an assaulted woman, how many of us respond when violated in some way, especially those of us who have difficulty expressing what happened, convincing others of what happened, or trying to move on from what happened but can’t. The novel is character-driven to the core (the plot is entirely about exposing the truth), showing all sorts of dynamics within a family, a community, and among friends. Be forewarned, this may contain some triggers. Root for Janna; be on the side of justice.

  This qualifies as book 10 of 5 library books in 2017.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017 | 0 Comments | Tagged books, genre: contemporary, genre: young adult, mini review, review

• Book Review: “The Map That Leads to You” by JP Monninger

  Posted at 4:36 am by Laura, on July 13, 2017

  The Map That Leads to You by JP Monninger

  Publisher: St Martin’s Press
  Published: June 2017
  Genre: contemporary, romance
  ISBN: 9781250060761
  Rating: ★★★★.5

  Heather Mulgrew’s world is already mapped out: she is going to travel abroad with her friends after college, come back to a great career in September, and head into a life where not much is left to chance. But that was before an encounter on an overnight train introduces her to Jack, a passionate adventurer who changes the course of her journey and her life.

  Throwing Heather’s careful itinerary to the wind, they follow Jack’s grandfather’s journal through post-World War II era Europe: Vienna, Budapest, Turkey–exotic places that serve only to heighten their feelings. As September looms, Jack urges Heather to stay with him, to keep traveling, to give in to the romance of their experience; Heather convinces him to return to the United States.

  Jack has a secret that could change everything. And Heather’s world is about to be shaken to the core.

  Heather and her friends have their summer trip across Europe, and their lives, completely mapped out after graduation. She will be moving to NYC in September in a dream job position just as soon as she completes all the paperwork. While on an overnight train to Amsterdam, a stranger from Vermont named Jack pegs her for exactly who she is, and it makes her question how she’s approached everything, including the fun and carefree moments, in her life. Heather tosses her careful plans aside and joins Jack on his adventure through Europe, following in the footsteps of his grandfather’s journal written at the end of WWII. But what makes them rattle most is what happens after: after this trip, what’s next for them and their relationship? Jack’s not telling Heather something, and it’s big enough to shake all of her carefully laid plans.

  Everything I love and feel about travel is packed into this book. Surprising moments of philosophy (the kind of discussions I thoroughly enjoy, especially when traveling) and pondering on life. And then the ultimate travel fantasy: finding that person to love and cherish, who sees you at your best and worst and knows you better than anyone else because of all that travel brings out of you…wow. I don’t have much to say about this book except that I dog-eared several pages with great quotes. I’ll present a few of them here in lieu of a review.

  ~

  On Family

  “He was from a dairy farm in Vermont. That’s the puzzle. I have a hard time imagining him here in Europe, just poking around. He had a big soul, Grandma always said. ‘He breathed through both nostrils’ was her phrase for it.”

  On Life and Love

  “What’s the opposite of a romantic? I’ve always wondered.”
  “An accountant, I guess. A person who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

  “Dad, I don’t know for sure what it all means with Jack. I love him. I know that. And I think he loves me. I know some of the timing may be a little awkward, but there’s always a glitch, right? Isn’t that what you say? Life is one long fight against glitches? Well, I’m starting this new job, and I will give it everything. I promise you that. But Jack counts for something, too. We could postpone everything, tell ourselves what we experienced here doesn’t count, but you didn’t raise me like that. You didn’t. Life doesn’t happen someplace in the future. You said that. You said life happens here and now, and it’s a fool’s bargain to let something good go now in the hope of something better at a later date.”

  On Faith

  “She is a young woman who has been asked to hold in her womb and arms the divine. What I admire about this statue is the ambivalence. You can see she is charmed by the child. See him? He is playing with a brooch on her cloak and not looking at her exactly, and her hip is out. I love women’s hips, especially when they’re poked out. See? Poked out to hold her child, who is the salvation of the world, and it all rests on a woman’s hip. But inside all that majesty is this small, timid woman and her beloved child. That’s why this statue kills me. I’ve read about it over and over, and now to see it…you know, there have been many transformations here in front of Our Lady. People have been converted in a single instant by one glance at her. I know, I know, I don’t believe much of it myself, but, Heather, I believe in the human need to believe, and this is the embodiment of that.”

  On Books

  “A book is a companion, though. You can read it in a special place, like on a train to Amsterdam, then you carry it home and you chuck it on a shelf, and then years later you remember that feeling you had on the train when you were young. It’s like a little island in time.”

  “Have you ever heard someone say that books are places we visit and that when we run into people who have read the books we have read, it’s the same as if we had traveled to the same locations? We know something about them because they have lived in the same worlds we have lived. We know what they live for.”

  ~

  A beautiful novel on love, friendship, and the places that shape the course of our lives.

  .

  This qualifies as book 11 of 12 in the Rock My TBR challenge.

  Posted in books, Reviews 2017, Rock My TBR | 0 Comments | Tagged book review, genre: adult fiction, genre: contemporary, genre: romance, genre: travel, review, rock my TBR

• 

• Hello, I’m Laura!

  I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to travel, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm always down for chips-and-queso nights. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!

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