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.

September 2026 Empties!

 

 

Finally, it's almost fall weather! I have been patiently waiting for summer to end. It is the worst, especially with all the humidity.

I feel like Bliss used to be all the rage back in the early 2000s. I am always surprised when I see one of their products. I tried their Green Tea Wonder, and it literally smells like glue and leaves my skin feeling tight. However, I think it does help brighten my skin. I wasn't able to find it again to repurchase, so I guess I will have to wait for the brand to have another resurgence.

The Benefit POREfessional Deep Retreat was fun to use. It was like any other clay mask I have used, so I wouldn't get it again. It had a fun purple hue and left my skin feeling soft. However, it didn't do anything different from more affordable options.

The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic has a terrible scent. It smells like rusty iron nails. It leaves my skin feeling a bit tight. Unfortunately, it was an expensive waste of time, as I didn't notice my skin looking any different.

I feel the same way about the 111SKIN Rose Gold Radiance Booster. It has a pretty glittery consistency and goes on smoothly. It feels like nothing on my skin, and it also looks like it does nothing for my skin.

Book Review – Tomorrow Is for the Brave by Kelly Bowen

 

Tomorrow Is for the Brave by Kelly Bowen is the story of a young socialite, Violet St. Croix, who decides to follow her heart and volunteer in the war. In 1939, France, Violet had everything she could possibly dream of. She is engaged to one of those eligible bachelors, has access to the latest fashion and fastest cars, and attends lavish parties.

However, what Violet really wants is something else. She’s tired of living her life as everyone else wants her to. She wants a life full of purpose and meaning. So when the war reaches France, she goes against her family’s and fiancé’s wishes and volunteers to join the war effort. With her fearless driving skills under pressure, she is sent to North Africa to drive French Foreign Legion officers while carrying valuable intelligence through dangerous territory.

The information could determine the outcome of the war if it falls into enemy hands. After one mishap after another, Violet is sure that someone among them is a spy. When her beloved commanding officer is murdered, and the authorities determine it was a robbery gone wrong, Violet is determined to find the traitor. Will Violet be able to find the culprit before it’s too late?

The novel was inspired by true events. It was an emotional read. While the author hints at a spy, I feel like Violet didn’t play much of a role in trying to find them. I feel like she tried telling other people and then went about her mission. I felt like the book mostly focused on her wartime accomplishments rather than on finding the spy. I thought the book was beautifully written, and I enjoyed it a lot. I would look forward to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - Naturally Tan by Tan France

 

 

In Naturally Tan, Tan France shares his upbringing, personal experiences, and journey into show business. The memoir includes fashion tips, life advice, and behind-the-scenes stories from his career. Tan discusses what it was like growing up gay in a traditional Muslim family and being one of the few people of color in Doncaster, England.

I thought the book was an okay read. I was familiar with Tan France before picking it up, but I have not watched his show. He always seemed fun and down-to-earth, which made me want to read his memoir.

One aspect I enjoyed was how he sprinkled fashion advice throughout the book. Some of the suggestions felt a bit over the top for my taste, but they added personality and reflected his expertise in the fashion industry. I also liked the behind-the-scenes stories from television appearances, press events, and other parts of his career.

I'm looking for more personal details about Tan, his family, and his private life. I also expected a few more revealing or surprising stories than the book ultimately provided. I felt like the book lightly touched on anything personal and was done on a superficial level, so we didn't really get to know more about him. Overall, I think fans of Tan France and his shows will likely enjoy this memoir more than I did.