Book Review – The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow

 

The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow is a picture book about a mole finding his voice and self-confidence.

Mole is shy and spends a lot of time by himself. However, on one of his walks, he discovers a tiny thing and brings it home. He makes the tiny thing comfortable and treats it like a beloved guest. Mole is used to not having many friends, so the tiny thing becomes his imaginary friend, whom Mole includes in his games and adventures. Soon, Mole is able to find his voice and make new friends.

The book is a cute and fun read. It teaches little ones about self-confidence, friendship, imagination, and being brave, while also showing how a little bit of encouragement can help. The illustrations have a soft, cozy vibe that, paired with the heartwarming message, creates a warm, nurturing reading experience. I think the book would be perfect for a fall reading session with little ones.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review – The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams

 

 

 

The Secret Life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams is about a woman, Vivian Schuyler, whose life is turned upside down when a mysterious suitcase belonging to her long-lost aunt is delivered to her.

In Manhattan in 1964, Vivian Schuyler had just graduated from Bryn Mawr College. She wants something different from the life her privileged socialite parents envision for her. Rather than settling into the expected role, Vivian dreams of becoming a journalist and chasing noteworthy stories. When she receives a bulky overseas parcel in the mail, her life takes an unexpected turn. As she investigates the suitcase and its contents, she discovers it may be connected to a dark chapter in her family's history. The suitcase belonged to an aunt she never knew, a woman whose existence is rarely discussed because she was rumored to have committed a crime of passion against her husband before fleeing with her lover.

In Berlin in 1914, Violet Schuyler Grant is trapped in a loveless marriage to Dr. Walter Grant, a scientist decades older than she is who openly cheats on her. Violet tolerates the marriage because it provides her with security and allows her to pursue her work as a female physicist in his laboratory. Things begin to change when one of Dr. Grant’s charismatic former students comes to stay with them for the summer.

Lionel Richardson, a captain in the British Army, quickly becomes enamored with Violet and urges her to leave her husband and escape Germany as the threat of war looms. As Violet spends more time with Lionel, she finds herself drawn to him. However, as their relationship deepens, she uncovers truths that complicate everything she thought she knew. Will Violet be able to leave her husband, find her freedom, and escape before war descends upon Germany?

The book is told through dual timelines and narrators. I was excited to read it because I had previously enjoyed two other books by the author. Unfortunately, I found this one to be an insipid waste of time. I don't think Vivian's storyline was necessary, as it added very little to the overall story. I also found her unrealistic and overly privileged, especially with some of the situations she found herself in. The number of men who seemed willing to throw themselves at her or do whatever she wanted simply because she was attractive became increasingly annoying.

I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if it had been significantly shorter and focused solely on Violet's story, with perhaps an epilogue showing her reconnecting with her family. Violet had her own issues as a character. I struggled to understand why a woman portrayed as intelligent and capable would continue to stay with a husband who openly flaunted his affairs in front of her and their friends.

One of my biggest pet peeves was the way the diary entries were written. Names and certain descriptions were abbreviated or hyphenated rather than spelled out. It became frustrating trying to guess what the writer was referring to. I don't think it was done to keep the book clean, considering it contains profanity and detailed sex scenes. The choice to abbreviate and obscure parts of the diary felt unnecessary, pointless, and ultimately more irritating than intriguing. Much like the book itself, it felt like a gimmick that added little to the overall experience.

 

Book Review – I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

 

 I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh is about a tragic accident and the devastating truth behind it.

Jenna Gray’s entire world comes crashing down in a matter of seconds. Desperate for a fresh start, she leaves everything behind and moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast. As she tries to rebuild her life, she is haunted by fear, grief, and memories of the fateful November night that changed everything.

Slowly, Jenna begins to put the pieces of her life back together and starts to believe that happiness may still be possible. However, someone from her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences could be deadly.

I thought the book was an okay read overall. It had one major twist that caught my attention, but after that, I found the rest of the story fairly predictable. I also had a hard time getting into the book. The characters felt somewhat boring, and I never really found myself rooting for any of them.

I especially struggled with some of Jenna’s decisions. She seemed completely convinced that a certain person would find her, yet she never really tried to get help and instead seemed to accept whatever consequences might come. Then, when she believed someone was actively after her, she turned off her phone and opened the door without even checking who was there first. Considering how concerned she claimed to be about her safety, those choices didn’t make much sense to me. As a result, I found it difficult to connect with her character and fully invest in the story.

 

Book Review – The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

 

  

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio is the story of a woman, Emily Wilson, who discovers a dark secret hidden within her family’s history.

When Emily Wilson was in her twenties, she seemed to have it all. She had written a bestselling novel, had a handsome husband, and shared a beautiful home with him. However, ten years later, everything has changed for the worse. Her husband tells her he is leaving her for another woman, and to make matters worse, Emily has been struggling with writer’s block and is unable to finish a new book.

When her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend a month on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily happily accepts. She hopes that returning to the island, where she made many cherished childhood memories, will help heal her heart and inspire her writing. While staying at her aunt’s house, she discovers a red velvet diary dating back to 1943. As her curiosity grows, Emily begins to suspect that the diary belonged to someone in her family.

I was excited to read this book because the premise sounded interesting. However, as the story progressed, my interest started to wane. The characters felt boring and one-dimensional, and I never found myself rooting for any of them, especially Emily, who kept making what I felt were some questionable decisions.

I also have no idea why almost every person connected to the diary seemed to change their name and refuse to talk about the past. It felt like they wanted to tell the story, but kept dragging their feet for no real reason, and Emily seemed in no rush to find any answers. Several moments felt unbelievable to me. For example, an elderly woman serving as a pallbearer seemed odd, and one character suddenly revealed she had cancer, and only a month to live, came completely out of nowhere. It was especially strange since she had apparently never mentioned it to her best friend. The insta-love between some of the characters felt equally unrealistic.

Overall, I felt there were too many coincidences and implausible moments throughout the story. There were also quite a few loose ends that left me wanting more answers. While the premise had a lot of potential, the execution ultimately fell flat for me.

 

Book Review –Rain Falling on Embers by Liana Gardner

 

Rain Falling on Embers is about a young girl, Katie McCabe, whose life is turned upside down when her father sends her to live with relatives.

Thirteen-year-old Katie is known as a troublemaker in her community. Rebellious and headstrong, she often finds herself in trouble. After her latest prank nearly burns down a neighbor's shed, her father, the town sheriff, decides to send her away. He believes it is the best decision, especially as his health is declining and it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to manage Katie on his own.

Katie is sent to live with her uncle and three cousins. She struggles to find her place in her new home and longs to return to her father. Just when she begins to think she might be able to go home, she receives devastating news: her father has died, and she never got the chance to say goodbye. Feeling lost and as though she no longer has a place to belong, Katie tries to adjust to her new life. Along the way, she crosses paths with the son of the man who owns much of the town. Tensions escalate, and one day Katie is kidnapped, taken on horseback to the outskirts of town during a storm, and left to find her way back. Will she be able to survive the storm and make it home?

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book, but ultimately I found it to be a boring and underwhelming read. I was also never entirely sure what time period the story was supposed to take place in. Everything felt antiquated and quaint, which made the setting somewhat confusing.

I also felt that the summary gave away several major plot points that would have had more impact if I had discovered them while reading. The story moved at a slow pace and often felt like it was plodding along without much happening. The ending was left on a cliffhanger, which seemed designed to set up the next book in the series. However, I felt the main story could have been resolved within this installment.

One of my biggest frustrations was Katie herself. The book repeatedly hinted at the significance of the McCabe name and why she disliked it so much, yet readers are never given a satisfying explanation. I also found Katie to be an difficult protagonist to connect with. At times she acted much older than her age, while at other times she seemed immature. She frequently complained that nobody trusted or cared about her, yet her actions often gave those around her reasons to question her behavior.

I was also puzzled by how unaware Katie seemed of her father's declining health. His death felt abrupt and somewhat out of nowhere, which lessened its emotional impact for me.

The novel hints at a long-standing conflict between the McCabes and another family, but that story line is never developed. Likewise, the author suggests that Katie's cousin Sarah is hiding a secret, but readers are given little information about what it might be. I assume both plot threads are intended for future books, but I found it frustrating that so many mysteries were introduced without meaningful development.

I felt the book contained a lot of filler, bland characters, and too few engaging moments to keep me invested. I would have preferred more character development and stronger story lines rather than numerous hints and mysteries that never fully materialized. While the book clearly aims to set up future installments, this first book did not leave me eager to continue the series.