Book Review: The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon

My Review

In 1500's England, Grace O'Malley grows up loving the sea.  She wants to sail, like her father, but she is a girl from a prominent family, so she is expected to marry and raise children.  She is forced into an arranged marriage and separated from her first love.  Later Grace finds her way back to the sea and adventure as a pirate.  This sweeping novel tells her life story from childhood to her later years.

I wanted to read The Pirate Queen because I saw a play about Grace O'Malley's life years ago and found it fascinating.  I have always wanted to know more about her.  I love historical fiction, so really looked forward to this novel.

This is a big book, told in three parts that weave through the book: Maiden (Grace's young years), Mother (her marriages and children), and Matriarch (her pirate years and later life).  These sections repeat throughout the structure of the book;  I thought this unique and winding narrative would take some getting used to, but it works really well in telling Grace's story.

The book begins with a long cast of characters and a glossary of Gaelic words and definitions.  The very lengthy cast of characters was a bit off-putting, but I just dove in to read and had no issues keeping the characters (including those with same/similar first names) straight.  The characterizations in this book are so well developed and the primary characters have a great deal of depth and nuance.

Grace is a fascinating person - even more so, of course, because she was a real historical figure.  I found her longing for the sea, for adventure, for wanting more in her life than what women in the 16th century could have so moving and compelling.

My favorite scene in the book is the long-awaited meeting between Grace and Queen Elizabeth I.  Their conversation and the things left unsaid were so telling about women in this time period.

I highly recommend The Pirate Queen for historical fiction readers, and especially for anyone interested in the Elizabethan England or pirates.  I look forward to reading other Ariel Lawhon novels as well.

Thanks to Doubleday Books and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Book Review - A Fall to Remember by Ellie Alexander (Half Moon Bay Series)

My Review

Miranda Brown owns a small family store called The Green Grocer in Half Moon Bay, California.  She likes her quiet life with her adult son Pete and her niece Elise.  Then on a trip, she takes some laughably bad travel pictures and becomes a viral sensation.  A travel company makes her into a social media sensation, with a handsome PR guy, Jim Cole, covering her presence at the town's Fall Harvest Festival.  Sparks fly, but Miranda wonders if this is all business for Jim?  

I wanted to read A Fall to Remember because the small town setting, the Harvest Festival, and the sweet romance sounded very cozy and appealing.  It was!

Miranda and Jim are a wonderful potential couple, so well suited but also tentative and cautious.  I enjoyed watching this slightly more mature couple (nice to see in a rom-com!) get to know each other during the Festival.

The secondary storyline in this novel involves Miranda's son Pete, who is smitten with Jim's coworker Shelby ... but he is also involved in an unlikely (and unwanted) dating pair up with a model and social media influencer.

A Fall to Remember is a sweet, leisurely story that will appeal to Gilmore Girls fans and readers who love small towns, Autumn, and all things pumpkin!  It would make a great weekend read.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

Book Review - We Wish You a Messy Christmas: A Holiday Novella by Melody Carlson

My Review

As the holidays near, Olivia Bradshaw is dating her childhood neighbor Malcolm McEntire.  This should be a joyful time of year, but their families are not close because Olivia's mother is a judgmental perfectionist.  Then one thing after another happens that brings their families together, like it or not - and things start to change.  But will they change enough for Olivia and Malcolm to contemplate a life together?

I wanted to read We Wish You a Messy Christmas because I found the Christmas theme appealing.  I enjoy Melody Carlson's Christmas novellas and try to read them each year.  (You will find a number of reviews of her books here at my blog.)

This was a fun read.  There are some sweet rom-com moments, some laugh out loud moments, and some gentle faith moments as well.

I enjoyed the book and wish it had been longer.  I would have enjoyed more time with the Bradshaws and the McEntires.  (Or even a sequel about what happens next!)

I recommend We Wish You a Messy Christmas for readers who enjoy light Christmas fiction with a heartwarming message.

Thanks to Revell and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Review - The Cozy Nook Bookshop by Jeannie Chin

My Review

Emma Rogers-Li leaves NYC after her ex-fiance runs off with her money, bankrupting the publishing company she works for.  She takes a job managing a bookstore in Heart's Hope Crossing, Vermont.  On her first day there, she bumps into forest ranger Hunter Hall in the town's famous crosswalk which, according to town legend, means they are fated to be together.  Emma is sunny and sentimental, while Hunter is gruff and reserved.  Despite this, they get closer as Emma settles into small town life.  But their pasts get in the way, so they have to look for a way to move forward.

I wanted to read The Cozy Nook Bookshop because the small town bookshop setting was very appealing.  Big plus that it is set in Autumn - the coziest season!

This is the first book in a new series, Heart's Hope Crossing.  I look forward to the upcoming books!  

I absolutely loved the small town setting of this book, with the bookshop, line dancing night at the community center, hiking trails, and more.  Emma makes friends with two women in the town's crafting group, Hattie, who runs the diner, and Abby, who runs the florist.  I hope their stories continue in the upcoming series.

Emma and Hunter are both wonderful characters and we see both their lives and perspectives in this novel.

The Cozy Nook Bookshop is like a Hallmark movie (okay, a spicier Hallmark movie!) meets Gilmore Girls.  It is such a charming, cozy read.  I recommend it for fans of women's fiction and sweet love stories -- and especially for anyone who loves Fall small town settings and bookshops.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book.

Book Review - Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival (Cider Falls Orchard Mystery) by Traci Hall

My Review

After a bad breakup in Seattle, Macki Smith goes back to her family's apple orchard to help with their Fall business.  When her parents are both injured in a frightening kayaking accident, she takes on business operations at the orchard.  Then, at an apple festival bake-off, one of her competitors is discovered dead ... killed by a knife that looks like Macki's.  Macki juggles the orchard business, concern for her parents, and amateur sleuthing - with the help of Logan, a handsome friend from Seattle who just happens to be a private investigator.

I wanted to read Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival because I love cozy mysteries.  The Fall apple orchard setting sounded very appealing!

This is the first book in a new series, and I am definitely in for the series!  The author did a great job at setting the scene with an apple orchard in small town Washington.  It was so picturesque and charming, and I enjoyed spending some reading hours in this cozy little town.

The first few chapters are leisurely paced, and introduce Macki's very large family.  Then her parents are in an unexpected accident, and after that there is a murder at the town bake off ... and things just take off like a rollercoaster, up and down with lots of turns in quick succession.

The mystery aspect of this book is well done, with some strong suspects.  The murderer took me by surprise!  I enjoyed Macki's sleuthing and the big reveal.

I recommend Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival for other cozy mystery fans, and especially for readers who like an Autumn small town setting.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.