REVIEW: The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

 

OUR REVIEW:

This read was one I read for the book club I'm in and everyone in the club enjoyed it. I liked the alternating perspectives and how each of the women had different challenges and view of how being a woman in the 1960s felt--they weren't all in agreement, all the time, as it should be. We aren't a monolith, we have different experiences that color the way we see things and help define what we think is right and just. What was interesting is that they were on the cusp of so much change and I feel like we are too; but instead of progressing, we're regressing. Definitely a topic for another day.

All in all, an interesting historical fiction novel that gave us a chance to explore the worlds of four very different female characters who, despite their differences, really grow to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. Truly, who could ask for more?

BUYT IT: https://amzn.to/43u6gqs

SYNOPSIS:

Four dissatisfied sixties-era housewives form a book club turned sisterhood that will hold fast amid the turmoil of a rapidly changing world and alter the course of each of their lives.

By early 1960s standards, Margaret Ryan, Viv Buschetti, and Bitsy Cobb, suburban housewives in a brand-new "planned community" in Northern Virginia, appear to have it all. The fact that "all" doesn't feel like enough leaves them feeling confused and guilty, certain the fault must lie with them. Things begin to change when they form a book club with Charlotte Gustafson--the eccentric and artsy "new neighbor" from Manhattan--and read Betty Friedan's just-released book, The Feminine Mystique.

Controversial and groundbreaking, the book struck a chord with an entire generation of women, helping them realize that they weren't alone in their dissatisfactions, or their longings, lifting their eyes to new horizons of possibility and achievement. Margaret, Charlotte, Bitsy, and Viv are among them. But is it really the book that alters the lives of these four very different women? Or is it the bond of sisterhood that helps them find courage to confront the past, navigate turmoil in a rapidly changing world, and see themselves in a new and limitless light?

REVIEW: Bitter Burn by Sierra Simone

OUR REVIEW:

It's been a long time coming and was well worth the wait. The resolution to this series had all the things, action, emotion, conflict, and an ending that felt complete. By the end of it all, they'd all been villains and heroes and found a way to get through the distrust and hurt to an understanding and realization that what may have started out like a game of pawns on a chess board ended in all of those carefully laid plans upended for a new and better reality. 

After reading this series, I think I've learned that I either need to do a full rereading of prior linked texts or just hold off on reading everything until its all released because as much as I loved and adored this series, and everything Sierra Simone has written, I feel like I didn't fully appreciate all of the Easter eggs because it had been so long since I'd read the series that led into this one and the first two books of this series felt like a pleasant but hazy memory. That's a me problem and not an author problem--I realize she writes as quickly as she writes; I also know that my memory isn't what it used to be and I want to really get the full experience.

All of that being said, I wholeheartedly recommend this series, and everything else she's done.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3JNttgE

SYNOPSIS:

I think it's important that you know this about me, that you understand this: I'm not sorry. I'd do it again.

After Mark Trevena's husband died eight years ago, he made vengeance his only purpose, his religion, his destiny. But to get to his enemy, he had to make himself like his enemy. Mortimer Cashel had a kingdom of secrets? Then Mark would make an empire. Mortimer Cashel had blood on his hands? Then Mark would bathe in it.

But Tristan and Isolde changed everything. Mark hadn't counted on wanting them, needing them; he hadn't counted on how it felt to watch the two of them fall in love. He'd thought he had everything under control―he'd thought he was safe from his own long-dead heart. He'd never imagined that the wronged husband, the jealous king from his childhood fairy tales, would be played by none other than himself.

It no longer matters what he used to believe. His enemy is ready to finish the game, and for the first time in eight years, Mark has pieces on the board he can't afford to lose. He'll burn the entire world to keep Tristan and Isolde safe. He'll scorch the earth―but as any good assassin will tell you, fire will only get a man so far, because there's always something left in the ashes. And for Tristan and Isolde, what's left in the ashes is the cold, bitter bones of the truth: their story begins and ends with Mark.

And every story needs a villain…
 

REVIEW: Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

OUR REVIEW:

I grabbed this one based on a recommendation from another book blogger (is that even a thing anymore? it sorta feels like I'm the only one actually writing these these days...a topic for another day..). Anyway, I when she mentioned a surprise pregnancy, I knew I had to try it. I don't know why that's such a fascination for me, but I'm always curious about how author's are going to resolve the obvious built in conflict that exists. In Ready or Not, I found Eve's choices and unease to be relatable while also thinking she had no idea what she was about to get into. I love that she had a Shep in her life- one person who was her constant cheerleader, helper, supporter...her everything. And yet, it took her a hot minute to figure out that his interest in her wasn't just pure friendship. That was a smidge annoying and yet I guess it also worked because I stuck with them to the very end and felt very satisfied with how it all went down. 

Surprisingly more serious, exploring more than I anticipated, and a little slower than I might have wanted, but all in all a solid read. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/47VHwc2

SYNOPSIS:

A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.

Eve Hatch is pretty content with her life. Her apartment in Brooklyn is cozy and close to her childhood best friend Willa, but far from her midwestern, traditional family who never really understood her. While her job is only dream- adjacent , she’s hoping her passion and hard work will soon help her land a more glamorous role. And sure, her most recent romantic history has consisted of not one but two disappointing men named Derek. At least she always knows what to expect…until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.

The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve's loyal friendship with Willa is feeling off , right when she needs her most. And it’s Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is… suddenly kinda hot? Then there’s the baby's father, who is supportive but conflicted. Before long, Eve is rethinking everything she thought she knew about herself and her world.

Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

REVIEW: Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey

 OUR REVIEW:

This series is just fun, y'all. I know when I pick up the next one it'll be a good time with some giggles and some characters who have real feelings hiding in there somewhere. In the case of Pitcher Perfect, we'd seen both Robbie and Skyler in a scene before and it was memorable. We basically start there with their story and learn that that particular meet cute is started Robbie's fall for Skylar. It took a little longer for her, but the events and stories that bring them together are sweet and exactly what I needed for a quick, fun romance. 

If you enjoyed this series, I really think you'll enjoy Robbie and Skyler's story. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/47SE1TH

SYNOPSIS:

Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He’s made it to the NHL, his best friend/teammate and fellow “orgasm donor” is his roomie—and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone’s bull…and the one member of the opposite sex immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants nothing to do with him.

When he discovers she’s carrying a serious torch for her brother’s best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can’t seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie knows it, he’s agreed to be Skylar’s fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong?

Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they’ve ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of control.

But it’s all just pretend…right?

REVIEW: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

REVIEW:

It's been a while since I've read an Ariel Lawhon novel and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed her writing. I was immediately interested in the character of Martha Ballard and the story she had to tell. Maybe it's because I'd recently read The Crucible with my students, but I honestly think if I didn't have that frame of reference I'd still enjoy this novel. Martha's story is one that seems so familiar, despite its setting of 1789. Unfortunately, as much as things have changed, many things remain the same. Women not being believed? Check. Women being preyed upon by men who think they're untouchable? Check. People automatically thought of as less than or suspicious because they're different? Check. People behaving badly? Check. Even with all of that, though, there were bright spots. There was so much love and hope and goodness. The characters are rich and the setting and historical details fascinated me, while reminding me of how good I have it. 

This novel is one I've been recommending to those who want a rich and interesting story. It's well researched and imagines the lives and stories surrounding real people in a way that captivated me. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/4reNIov

SYNOPSIS:

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town's most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon's newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

Inspired by the life of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into history.