Book Review - Looking Glass (The Chronicles of Alice) by Christina Henry

 

Elizabeth is a young girl who lives in New City who has a secret. She can do magic but, someone has learned her secret who has an hidden agenda of their own. They want to release a butterfly that was supposed to be locked away forever. That butterfly was once known as the Jabberwock.

Alice and Hatcher are looking for a place to call their own. They dream of their own place by the lake that is surrounded by a field of wildflowers. During their journey, they end up being caught in a severe snowstorm. Alice comes across a house that seems empty and abandoned.

Hatcher had a past life before he became known as Hatcher. He was once known as Nicholas. He was one of the best fighters in New City. He has never lost a match until, his boss wants him to fight a person who never left their opponent leave the ring alive.

As Alice and Hatcher continue looking for their new home, they come across a village in the mountains. The village inhabitants all fear and hate magic. Anyone who is caught practicing magic in the Village of Pure will be punished.

The book is composed of four novellas that are separate stories but, they are also interconnected. I didn't realize that this book was a part of a series. I felt that the book can be read as a standalone but, I felt like I was missing some nuances. I liked all four stories and found them entertaining. I think I might read the other books in the series to get the full story behind the characters.

Book Review - So Much the Better by Megan Means

Photo Credit - Amazon

Ari is a lion cub that was separated from his pride after a terrible storm. He embarks on a journey to return to his homeland and be among his family. However, Ari must overcome a few challenges that are thrown his way.  After an exhausting journey to return back to his pride, Ari faces a new difficult situation and realizes his quest is far from being over.

The chapter book is a short read and perfect read for elementary age children. Each chapter Ari is faced with a new challenge. Personally, I would have liked the challenge to be more developed instead of being resolved so quickly. However, I understand children of a certain age might not have a long attention span. The book was a  very quick read that teaches many valuable lessons such as patience, honesty, empathy, and love.

 **Disclosure - I received a free  copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Picture Us In The Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert

Photo Credit - Amazon

 Danny Cheng always knew his family had secrets but when he found a box filled with old letters and a file on a wealthy Silicon Valley family, he realizes there is much more to the story that he was told. When he tries to talk to his parents about their past or his dead sister, they immediately try to change the subject. Danny receive a full art scholarship into RISD, he decides going to college can as a be a way to escape his parents.  He realizes then he would have to contemplate a future without his best friend, Harry Wong. However, when he delves deeper into his parents' past, he finds a secret that causes him to question his entire being. What is the secret that his family is keeping from him?

The first few chapters I thought was interesting but I found the book to be a bit boring and dragging towards the middle. It was hard to stay engaged with the characters especially with the way the chapters were formatted. There were quite a few dilemmas Danny faced in the book and it was a bit overwhelming. I felt that not enough time was spent on each issue. I felt the parts discussing the history of his sister was a bit confusing since it was narrated by a third person. If the story had less going on and was fast paced, I would have enjoyed it more. 

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - The Crooked Path by Irma Joubert

Photo Source - Amazon

**May Contain Spoilers**

Lettie compared to herself to her "beautiful" friends always feeling like an outsider because she perceived she is lacking. She is short and on the chubbier side while her friends are richer, the other is beautiful or called each other best friends. However, she doesn't let her "shortcomings" hold her back and becomes a doctor like her father. Marco lived through a war that robbed him not only the love of his life but also his health. He moves to South Africa since he can no longer bare the winters in Italy. He becomes one of Lettie's first patients and their relationship grows as she tries to nurture him back to health. Will the duo be able to love again?

The cast of characters appeared in The Child of the River, but I didn't find it necessary to read the first book to enjoy this book.  While, I enjoyed the a book I felt like it wasn't as enjoyable as it could be. The book was divided into four "life" events and the first two spoke about Lettie's and Marco's lives before meeting each other. These chapters were filled with details and consistent in timing while the later chapters had just pertinent details and, sometimes, it was vague how much time passed between pages. For example, Lettie cries about over her beloved's friend's death, but they mentioned her parents' death in passing. I felt like when they were talking about Lettie's and Marco's soul mates, they spent a lot of time going into the story and building the ambience.

There were a few things that bothered me about the story. Lettie is portrayed as the chubby and lovable friend (I sometimes find her petty) and she gets jealous over her friends' happiness, money, beauty, relationships, and children. However, I am surprised she  never felt like a part of Macro's heart will always be with Rachel (his first love). She just loves him blindly even though she notices that he doesn't speak much about Rachel. Another thing is when she realizes that she is falling in love with De Wet again, why does she hesitate? She knows that he likes her and she likes him but plays this "Oh, I don't know" game, but craves his attention. After all this talk about crooked paths, shouldn't she know that her crooked path is leading her to De Wet especially, since she has been in love with him since childhood.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Book Review - The Pretender: A Blackguard in Disguise (The Caselli Family #1) byTa`Mara Hanscom

Photo Credit - Amazon

On a snow day in 1975, Tillie Caselli was given the opportunity to show her artwork in a Junior Artist Competition. While visiting a new city, her fellow students sneak out to a bar. Worried that something happened to them, Tille and her friend, Ginger venture into the bar to bring them back to the hotel. Tillie crosses path with bad boy biker, Noah Hansen and  their lives will never be the same. Is Noah the perfect knight for Tille or is he a blackguard in disguise?

When reading the description, the novel seemed very interesting. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get into the book. The conversations between the characters didn't feel real and the writing style was painful to read. The love story between Tille and Noah also felt unrealistic. They fell in love in two days and wanted to get married, but then when something happens, instead of trusting each other and their feelings, one of the characters just completely abandon the relationship. How can someone go from being head over heels in love and then completely ignore their love interest? There was also too many random events and characters which were very hard to keep track of along with the story just droning on and on. 

The author lost credibility in my opinion when she used one of the characters, Tara to call Tillie a "waif". Which means "neglected or abandoned child", and from reading the novel, we all know Tillie is anything but neglected. She has a family that loves and cares for her and she had several suitable prospects. I also didn't like how the family was quick to judge people and call them either blackguards or knights, when they themselves didn't act respectable at times. The Casellis knew their daughter wasn't interested in her prom date, but told her to go anyways, so she has someone to take her there and that Tillie can just be with her friends during the prom instead of her date. Well, the story finally picked up towards the end, I am very hesitant to pick up another book by the author because of the lack of story and poor editing.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - The Little French Bistro by Nina George

Photo Credit - Amazon

After forty one years in a loveless and unhappy marriage, Marianne decides to take action. She decides to leave her old life behind and head to the coast of Brittany for a new beginning. She meets locals who while eccentric are nothing short of loving. While Marianne loses herself in this new world, she realizes its never to late to start over. Will Marianne be able to love again?

While, this novel was a short read,  I found that it had potential to be a heart warming, soul seeking cure for those in "loveless" relationship. However, the novel didn't live up to it's potential. I am not sure if it is because it was translated but some of the sentences didn't make sense. There was a lot of characters to keep track who were not well developed. I couldn't also see myself connecting with Marianne and hoping she has a happy life because some of her story seems to contrived.  A very disappointing book that I had very high hopes for after reading great reviews for her first book.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams

Photo Credit - Amazon

In the Jazz Age of glitz and glamorous desires, Mrs. Theresa Marshall of Fifth Avenue has taken up with a young lover, Captain Octavian Rofrano. Octavian was her first affair and most certainly her last as she falls in love with him. While, the two are deeply enthralled with each other, Octavian wants more. He wants to marry her while Theresa has incredible wealth, social standing and influence meaning having a divorce from her husband is out of the question.

Her beloved brother, Ox comes to her for a favor; requesting her to find him a cavalier to propose to his intended, Sophie Fortescue. Theresa asks Octavian to be the cavalier for her brother and to investigate Sophie. However,  Octavian is smitten with Sophie even though he uncovers a dark and deadly secret. When, the two forces collide and Octavian is forced to make a choice. Who will he choose? Who will have to make the greatest sacrifice for love?

The opulent tale reminds me of "A Fine Imitation" and "The Great Gatsby" with elements from "June". It was an interesting tale woven with elements of love, betrayal and sacrificing the welfare oneself for another with an ending one never sees coming. A great read for the beach or a rainy day. I am definitely looking forward to reading other novels from the author.

**Disclosure - I received an uncorrected advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**