Book Review – The Fourth Wife by Linda Hamilton

 

The Fourth Wife by Linda Hamilton follows Hazel Russon as she becomes the fourth wife of Jacob Manwaring and discovers a sinister secret that taints their marriage.

In 1882 Utah, Hazel Russon’s life is defined by three things: the Mormon Church, polygamy, and the men who hold power over her. Hazel dreams of living a monogamous life with her childhood sweetheart and having the freedom to play the piano, even though the church considers it sinful.

She knows that it is every Mormon woman’s duty to obey her husband and remain devoted to him and her calling as a sister wife, especially if she hopes to attain eternal salvation. When she is summoned by a church elder, she fears what he might ask of her.

The church elder declares that it is godly for Hazel to marry a man she has never met and become his fourth wife. Hazel is happy to discover that Jacob Manwaring is attentive and handsome. However, she is shocked when she arrives at her new home and learns that she will be living with all of Jacob’s wives and children under the same roof, rather than in separate households as is customary.

Although Hazel is warm and caring, she senses tension and resentment among the sister wives. She then begins hearing strange music, catching glimpses of an apparition, and experiencing terrifying, bloody nightmares. As her nightmares and sleepwalking worsen, Hazel becomes unsure of what frightens her more: her husband or the sinister presence that seems to be haunting the house.

I thought the novel was an okay read, with some creepy moments. As a woman in modern times, I found it difficult at times to read about polygamy and how women were treated as second-class citizens in society/religion. The story moved a bit slowly in places, and I often felt like I was waiting on the edge of my seat for something to happen. While I liked most of the characters, they sometimes grated on my nerves when they slowly revealed information or refused to communicate with one another. Overall, I found it to be a spooky read and would be open to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - Venus Washington, Eye Spy by Maisha Oso

  

 

Venus Washington, Eye Spy by Maisha Oso is about a young girl, Venus Washington, who is nervous about going on a trip with her mother after she discovers she might be part alien.

Venus is excited when her mom tells her that they will be going on a trip. However, when her dad mentions that their destination is part of her name, Venus assumes he is referring to the first part of her name. She figures this must mean they are going to Venus and that she must be half alien. After all, she has heard that her mom has eyes on the back of her head! Venus is determined to find her mom’s extra eyes and prove that she is part alien.

This chapter book is a quick read for young readers. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Similar to the other books, Venus takes things very literally, which leads to plenty of misunderstandings, mayhem, and chaos. Adult readers might find her behavior annoying, but I can see younger readers enjoying her misunderstandings and the chaos that follows.

 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 – Hardy Boys Clue Book Fall Mysteries 3-in-1 by Franklin W. Dixon

 

Hardy Boys Clue Book Fall Mysteries 3-in-1 by Franklin W. Dixon is a compilation of three short stories featuring two brothers, Frank and Joe, as they solve mysteries.

In The Bad Luck Skate, Frank and Joe are excited to cheer on their friends on the Bayport Checkers hockey team. However, the mood darkens when someone dumps paint all over the team’s lucky skate, and then their friend’s hockey stick breaks. The team’s star player and goalie begin to worry that their luck has run out. Has the team’s luck really run out, or is someone trying to sabotage them?

In The Pirate Ghost, the brothers’ friend Jason wins a treasure map during Bayport’s Pirate Palooza. However, Jason receives a warning telling him not to hunt for the treasure. Is the legendary ghost of Captain Scurvydog warning people of a deadly curse, or is someone more human trying to mess with Jason?

In The Great Pumpkin Smash, the brothers are excited to attend Bayport’s annual Boo at the Zoo party. They look forward to participating in the activities but are devastated to discover that all the painted pumpkins on display have been completely destroyed. The duo must find the culprit, or the annual event will be canceled.

The book took a bit of time to get into. I felt like the first story was a bit stilted and boring. However, as I read on, I found the other stories more enjoyable. I thought the last story was the best because it had better pacing and a more engaging storyline. The first story felt more like someone was presenting a case, giving us all the details, and asking us to figure out who the culprit was, while the last story read more like an actual story.

I do like that there are three short stories in one book, and I enjoy autumn-themed mysteries. However, since all three stories are included in the same book, I felt that some of the repetitive details weren't necessary, especially when the same information was repeated in every story. I also found Aunt Trudy’s character a bit bizarre and didn't understand why she was written that way.

I did enjoy the format of reading about the crime and the brothers’ investigation of the suspects, followed by questions that let readers guess who the culprit is before the answer is revealed. I was able to guess two out of the three mysteries before the culprits were revealed. Overall, I think this is a good starting point for budding mystery fans.

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 – Socks & Secret Quests by Triona Murphy

 

 

 

Socks & Secret Quests by Triona Murphy is about four unlikely heroes embarking on an epic quest to save their home.

Peri has been waiting for her magic to show up ever since she was chosen as an Apprentice Shopkeeper a year ago. As an Apprentice Shopkeeper, she travels with a magical shop that helps equip adventurers for their quests. Peri feels that all she will ever do is stock shelves and knit non-magical items to help keep the heroes warm during their travels.

Everything is thrown into disarray when a mysterious and powerful dark wizard kidnaps the Master Shopkeeper. He wants to use her power to create an army of dark forces. Peri is desperate to rescue her master, but first, she must find someone who can help her. She decides to ask the nearest adventuring team, which is made up of young heroes who don’t seem to know how to work together. As Peri joins them to help save her master, she realizes that her magic is starting to grow in unexpected ways. Will Peri and her team be able to stop the wizard before it’s too late?

The book was an okay read. It took me a bit of time to get into the story, and I found it hard to connect with the characters at first. I wish the author had included more worldbuilding, such as the ceremony in which Peri was chosen as an apprentice, why adventuring parties exist, and more details about the geography, politics, and history of the different countries.

The book is the first in a series and gives a hint about what might happen in the second installment. I did eventually grow to like the characters, and I would be interested in seeing where their adventures take them.

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 – Falling Like Leaves (Bramble Falls, #1) by Misty Wilson

 

Falling Like Leaves (Bramble Falls, #1) by Misty Wilson is about two young adults who reconnect after years apart.

Ellis is excited about her senior year. She has a lot of goals she hopes to accomplish before attending Columbia to study journalism. However, she wasn’t expecting to move from Manhattan to Bramble Falls, Connecticut.

Her parents have decided to separate, with her mother heading back home to Bramble Falls. Bramble Falls is a charming town that celebrates autumn with lots of festivals and activities. The last thing Ellis needs is more distractions from her goals, especially one in the shape of Cooper Barnett, her ex-best friend who now works as a local barista.

Cooper has grown up and glowed up since the last time they saw each other. Ellis feels herself drawn to Cooper, but he seems to be avoiding her. However, when the town holds a month-long tourist festival celebrating autumn, the pair ends up spending more time together. Will Ellis be able to focus on her future at Columbia, or will she warm to the idea of spending more time in Bramble Falls with Cooper?

I thought the book was an okay read. It was a cute autumn read with lots of cozy vibes. However, I found the female main character a bit annoying, and the book felt repetitive because she kept making the same bad choices over and over. I also didn’t understand why she kept calling her dad in the beginning but gradually stopped trying, or why the author stopped mentioning those attempts. Her dad would often blow her off, so I didn’t understand why she was so insistent on going back to someone who didn’t even check in on her. It did take some time for Ellis to grow, but it felt like it took too long for her to realize that she had people who cared about her and that she should be making the same effort for them.

I would have preferred if Ellis had ended up with someone else in the end. I felt like both Ellis and Cooper could have communicated better at times, and their romance felt uneven. Despite these issues, I would still recommend the book to anyone looking for a cozy small-town romance.

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.