Title: Something to Live For Author: Richard Roper Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Publication date: July 28, 2020 Genre: General Fiction, Women’s Fiction Summary: Andrew works for the Death Department. His job is to pick through the homes of the recently deceased to try to find a next of kin, and any money that can be used to cover funeral expenses. His days follow a routine, though his imaginary life provides quite a bit of color to the mundane. Until Peggy starts working with him. More spontaneous and open than he, she brings a colorful streak into his life, one that has him wondering if he’s doing this whole life thing wrong, and maybe he should…
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Book Review: The Baron of Magister Valley by Steven Brust
Title: The Baron of Magister Valley Author: Steven Brust Publisher: Macmillian-Tor/Forge Publication date: July 28, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: (I don’t do this often as I prefer to write my own summaries, but I happen to absolutely adore this one, which is taken from Amazon) Reader, you will undoubtedly have had the misfortune of consuming the rotten fruit of fallacies that we—Paarfi of Roundwood (esteemed historian of House of Hawk and exquisite artisan of truths)—“borrow” our factual recount of Dragaeran history from some obscure fellow who goes by the name Al Dumas or some silly nomenclature of that nature. The salacious claims that The Baron of Magister Valley bears any resemblance to a certain nearly fictional narrative…
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Book Review: What You Wish For by Katherine Center
Title: What You Wish For Author: Katherine Center Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Publication date: July 14, 2020 Genre: General Fiction, Women’s Fiction Summary: Samantha Casey is the librarian at the Kempner School where the founder and principal Max Kempner believes in making school joyful. It’s an incredible, warm, colorful school that’s really focused on the students’ needs. Until Max dies and the board installs a new principal, someone from Sam’s past. She remembers Duncan Carpenter as being fun, silly, and colorful, but the man she comes face to face with is anything but. War between him and the teachers ensue, but Max’s widow has a card up her sleeve and, maybe, Duncan isn’t quite the stick…
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Book Review: The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer
Title: The Glass Magician Author: Caroline Stevermer Publisher: Macmillian-Tor/Forge Publication date: April 7, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: It’s the Gilded Age, and there are three types of people in the world: the Sylverstri, who are closely in-tune with nature and look down upon the other two classes; the Traders, who have a human and an animal form and who also are the wealthy in the world; and the Solitaires, who are ordinary, normal people with neither powers nor wealth. Thalia is such a Solitaire, and has taken over her father’s act as a magician. But, when an act goes horribly wrong, she makes an unexpected discovery about herself and her family. And when another magician’s act…
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Book Review: The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold
Title: The Last Smile in Sunder City Author: Luke Arnold Publisher: Orbit Publication date: February 25, 2020 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Just a few years ago, there was magic in the world. Magical creatures could tap into the river of it. Humans, though, were unable to touch it, so feared it and cut it off from the magical creatures. Now the creatures are suffering, having lost their magic, and are dying or trying to survive. In Sunder City, former soldier turned PI Fetch Phillips is Human, the human responsible for the magic loss. Living with the guilt of what he did, especially since he had loved a being of magic, he only takes cases from non-humans,…
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Book Review: Been There, Married That by Gigi Levangie
Title: Been There, Married That Author: Gigi Levangie Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Publication date: February 11, 2020 Genre: Women’s Fiction Summary: Agnes Murphy Nash has been married to big shot movie producer Trevor Nash for over a decade, but Trevor has decided he needs out of the marriage. Completely caught off guard, Agnes does the only sensible thing and chooses to fight tooth and nail for custody of their tween daughter Pep (short for Penelope), hoping that giving in on everything else won’t prolong their Hollywood-style divorce. Unfortunately, Trevor is determined to make her life a living hell, throwing wrenches into her life so he comes out looking his best. But, with a trio of Spanish…
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Book Review: Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri
Title: Realm of Ash Author: Tasha Suri Publisher: Orbit Publication date: November 12, 2019 Genre: Fantasy Summary: The Ambhan Empire has been plagued by a curse, which seems to have become worse since the death of the Maha. Now that the Emperor lies near death, it becomes gravely apparent to young widow Arwa, who hides the true lineage of her blood and the curse it carries, and bastard prince Zahir they must find the answers from their ancestors in the treacherous realm of ash. This is the second book in the Books of Ambha series. I did not know that going in, but I don’t feel like I necessarily needed to have read the first book.…
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Book Review: The Impossible Contract by K. A. Doore
Title: The Impossible Contract Author: K. A. Doore Publisher: Macmillan-Tor/Forge Publication date: November 12, 2019 Genre: Fantasy Summary: Book 2 in the Chronicles of Ghadid series, it takes place a few years after the events of the first book, The Perfect Assassin. This time, the story is centered on Thana, cousin to the assassin introduced in the first book. As the Serpent’s Daughter, she has a lot to live up to, which is also why she was chosen for a special contract: to kill Heru Sametket, second marabi advisory to the Empress. It seemed simple enough, until the dead became reanimated, and bent on destruction and death. Seeking to complete her contract, Thana ends up…
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Book Review: The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen by Ada Bright and Cass Grafton
Title: The Unexpected Past of Miss Jane Austen (The Austen Adventures #2) Authors: Ada Bright and Cass Grafton Publisher: Canelo Publication date: November 7, 2019 Genre: Women’s Fiction, General Fiction Summary: The second book in the series, it picks up just where the first book ended. Just as Rose and Aiden have revealed their feelings to each other, Jane Austen pops back into Rose’s life. This time, she intends on taking Rose and Aiden back in time with her to 1813 with the sole intention of introducing Rose to the Austens’ eccentric neighbor, someone who might even have a connection to Rose herself. As a fan of Jane Austen, I couldn’t pass up the first book…
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Book Review: The Poison Garden by A. J. Banner
Title: The Poison Garden Author: A. J. Banner Publisher: Lake Union Publishing Publication date: October 22, 2019 Genre: Mystery and Thriller, Psychological Thriller Summary: I usually write my own summaries, but, in this case, I think the already existing one really does say it best: A woman’s idyllic life becomes a deceptive hall of mirrors in a thriller of exquisitely constructed psychological suspense by A. J. Banner, bestselling author of The Good Neighbor. Elise Watters seems to have it all—a blissful marriage, a gorgeous Victorian home surrounded by lush gardens, and a dream job running her late mother’s herbal boutique. But on the eve of her first wedding anniversary, Elise makes a shocking discovery that turns her…
