Earlier this year, I was one of many who fell under the spell of Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You. I cried my eyes out at tragic, yet somehow still uplifting, love story. And I loved Moyes’ familiar, comforting writing style. Conversational and realistic. I was a big fan. One Plus One is Jojo’s new book. And while the book doesn’t have the same emotional punch as Me Before You, I still recommend it. I mean, come on. We can’t cry about everything. Jess is a […]
Turbulent Waters in Post WWI London
Sarah Waters’ The Paying Guests has been getting a lot of good press since its release last month, and the praise for this novel is much deserved. It really is a masterful work. Waters creates a suspenseful and heartbreaking love story against the backdrop of post-WWI London. Its rigid moral climate and deteriorating social and economic situation contribute to an almost suffocating environment that limits opportunity for women and criminalizes unconventional sexual desires. Waters stands shoulder to shoulder with Edith Wharton and Kate Chopin in […]
Another Historical Romance, But with a Trophy Wife and an Army Captain
Scandal and the Duchess is a fabulous romance novel title. Five stars for that. All gold. I continue to lovehate Jennifer Ashley, but the fact that I have read everything in her Mackenzie series would seem to indicate that she is my guilty pleasure. Despite frequently overwrought plotting, but with sincere emotional connections and excellent smolder, I just keep reading her books, and in a couple of cases re-reading them. Maybe I enjoy her brand of tortured heroes more than I like to admit. Scandal […]
We Read It Together, So We Are Reviewing It Together
Mrs. Julien read this book to Ewandini, so we are preparing a joint review. Ewandini: Wonderstruck is a great book. It is packed with mystery. Who is this? What is that? What ties this all together? The answer is a wolf diorama. Ben has just turned 10 and his mum died a year ago. Suddenly, he makes a strange discovery – a silver locket. It hints to who his dad is, but that is just the main story. There is a side story told in […]