Review: If I Loved You Less

If I Loved You Less by Aamna Qureshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


4.5 Stars

This book is currently only available (or will be as of June 17, 2024) in Canada. I don't know if/when the publishers will release it in America.

A Pakistani retelling of the classic book Emma by Jane Austen.

After spending a little time with this book, I found myself dying to rewatch Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam! This book was a very close copy of that movie but with Pakistani players and a bit more modern background.

It was a bit difficult for me to actually like Humaira Mirza (Emma), for she was, as she admitted, a spoiled rich girl who had everything she ever needed. But once the story got rolling, Humaira kind of grew on me. However, it's not enough to give this a full 5-star review. Fawad Sheikh as George Knightley (Emma) was perfect in the author's retelling.

This book was amusing, clever, and emotionally satisfying. It was a fast read and would be perfect for your summer vacation.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter, the author, and NetGalley.


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SYNOPSIS: "A joyful romantic comedy retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma!

I know what you’re thinking: poor little rich girl, she has everything, what else could she possibly need? Well, I’m looking for the great love of my life, thank you very much.

For Long Island native Humaira Mirza, it’s always been about love – and she has the matchmaking track record to prove it. Having successfully found ‘the one’ for both her aunt and her sister, the twenty-three-year-old is ready to claim a bit of romance for herself.

The perfect candidate? The gorgeous Rizwan Ali. But as Humaira employs her unique skills to obtain the perfect match with Rizwan, she’s forced to endure the disapproval of family friend Fawad Sheikh who she’s known forever. Fawad and Humaira have long traded barbs but as her romantic meddling leads to unintentional misadventures, she realises something shocking – is she starting to care what Fawad thinks?"

Review: Rednecks

Rednecks by Taylor Brown
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If the term Rednecks get your dander up becuase of its modern meaning - - "a working-class white person, especially a politically reactionary one from a rural area" that is not the meaning that we find in this book. Interestingly, it came about when the Union workers tied red bandanas around their necks before entering this war.

If you like your American history real, raw, bloody, and very descriptive, then this might be the book for you. You may also enjoy this bit of history, especially if you come from or live in the rural Blue Ridge Mountains/Appalachia and want to see what it was like for some people over 100 years ago.

This book is about the bloody battle between the miners who wanted to join the union and King Coal, who wouldn't let them. It also shows us how so many ethnicities and people from different countries and cultures managed to band together to try and beat the 'enemy'.

It is a terrifying historical novel that sticks more with history in all of its blood, guts, and glory and a lot less with fiction (yes, a lot of this was fictionalized, but not much, I think).

Long descriptive passages and a compelling look into the life of “Doc Moo" Muhanna, a Lebanese-American doctor (inspired by the author’s own great-grandfather), and what he has to deal with not to take sides.

Well worth reading if you can really handle the horrors of what trying to break into a union really meant to our ancestors.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press/Macmillan, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "A historical drama based on the Battle of Blair Mountain, pitting a multi-ethnic army of 10,000 coal miners against mine owners, state militia, and the United States government in the largest labor uprising in American history.

Rednecks is a tour de force, big canvas historical novel that dramatizes the 1920 to 1921 events of the West Virginia Mine Wars—from the Matewan Massacre through the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War, when some one million rounds were fired, bombs were dropped on Appalachia, and the term “redneck” would come to have an unexpected origin story.

Brimming with the high stakes drama of America’s buried history, Rednecks tells a powerful story of rebellion against oppression. In a land where the coal companies use violence and intimidation to keep miners from organizing, “Doc Moo" Muhanna, a Lebanese-American doctor (inspired by the author’s own great-grandfather), toils amid the blood and injustice of the mining camps. When Frank Hugham, a Black World War One veteran and coal miner, takes dramatic steps to lead a miners' revolt with a band of fellow veterans, Doc Moo risks his life and career to treat sick and wounded miners, while Frank's grandmother, Beulah, fights her own battle to save her home and grandson. Real-life historical figures burn bright among the hills: the fiery Mother Jones, an Irish-born labor organizer once known as "The Most Dangerous Woman in America," struggles to maintain the ear of the miners ("her boys") amid the tide of rebellion, while the sharp-shooting police chief "Smilin" Sid Hatfield dares to stand up to the "gun thugs" of the coal companies, becoming a folk hero of the mine wars.

Award-winning novelist Taylor Brown brings to life one of the most compelling events in 20th century American history, reminding us of the hard-won origins of today's unions. Rednecks is a propulsive, character-driven tale that’s both a century old and blisteringly contemporary: a story of unexpected friendship, heroism in the face of injustice, and the power of love and community against all odds."

Review: Malibu Summer

Malibu Summer by Libby Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book has its roots in death. It is a very intense novel, but it is a book that pulls you in and holds you there until you find out how it ends!

As you can see from the synopsis, Ivy Bauer and Conrad Reed have recently lost their respective spouses and are grieving—each in their own way. To add complications, Ivy is almost ready to test her invention, and Conrad has his very young stepson to take care of and to create a new TV series.

This time together, as Ivy restores an important garden for Conrad and Conrad learns what it is like to take care of Hudson AND write his show, pulls Ivy and Conrad together, begging the question -when is it appropriate for the remaining partner to begin a new relationship?

The author throws several monkey wrenches and then tosses some surprises into this book, keeping you on your toes.

I highly recommend this book to anyone,

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Penguin Books, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks.



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SYNOPSIS: "Lose yourself in this opposites-attract romance set on a sunny Malibu hillside

Ivy Bauer is a young, bright environmental scientist, PhD candidate, and inventor of a game-changing organic irrigation system. She’s on top of the world when, suddenly, her husband is killed in a biking accident. Needing space to grieve, she takes a summer job as a gardener in Malibu.

Conrad Reed is a wealthy Hollywood has-been who, after the death of his young wife, feels overwhelmed by the care of his rambunctious stepson Hudson, massive beach estate, and deteriorating career. Enter Ivy with her gig as gardener-for-the-summer, who—he hopes—will help take at least one thing off his plate. But the bossy, opinionated Ivy isn’t making things any easier for him. When she starts cutting back his late wife’s prized rose bushes to plant indigenous grasses, sparks fly between these two uber-driven people—and not the good kind of sparks.

It’s when Ivy finds the key to Hudson’s heart that Conrad’s own heart begins to melt as well. . . and then the sparks that fly are the ones that kindle the best kind of love affair. . .

Review: Lovers and Liars

Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really don't know if I can give this book a star rating, but a 5-star rating seems appropriate.

As you can tell, this book is about lies; it is also about a family of 3 sisters, a mother, and the men in almost all their lives. This book had me feeling several emotions as I was reading it. I had a twisty, anxious feeling in my stomach for some parts, deep anger for other parts, and a nearly ho-hum feeling for a lot of it. But this book blended these parts well and kept me fascinated, so that I just had to finish it!

One sister - Sylvie - annoyed me with her dreaminess and longing for her long-dead husband (I know that sounds cold, but if you read this book, I think you'll see what I mean). Another sister -Emma- is keeping a HUGE secret (lie) from her husband that may destroy her family, and the last sister- Chloe- just can't seem to get her act together romantically even though she is an intelligent, sharp-witted woman.

Sylvie is getting married, and the whole family, including their estranged *itch of a mother, is going to England to a castle to see it happen. Of course, this castle happens to be Sylvie's fiance's castle!

Things go from excellent to bad to worse and then to nearly excellent again.

Everything is tied up neatly in a nice epilogue.

A perfect beach read, in my opinion. This was a fast read, told from three different views, and kept me riveted.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Ballantine Books/Random House, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks.


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SYNOPSIS : " Three wildly different sisters reunite for a destination wedding at an English castle in this heartfelt and rollicking novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters.

Once upon a time, the Peacock sisters were little girls who combed each other’s tangled hair. But decades of secrets have led them to separate lives—and to telling lies, to themselves and to one another.

Sylvie is getting married. Again. A librarian and widow who soothes her grief by escaping into books (and shelving them perfectly), Sylvie has caught the attention of an unlikely match: Simon Rampling, a mysterious, wealthy man from Northern England. Sylvie allows herself to imagine a life beside him—one filled with the written word, kindness, and companionship. She’s ready to love again . . . or is she?

Cleo is the golden child. A successful criminal defense lawyer with the perfect boyfriend, she is immediately suspicious of Simon. Is he really who he says he is? Cleo heads to Mumberton Castle with a case of investigative files, telling herself she will expose Simon and save her sister from more heartbreak . . . but who is she really trying to save?

Emma is living a lie. She can’t afford this fancy trip—and she definitely can’t tell her husband and sons why. She once dreamt of a line of her own perfumes. Fragrances allowed her to speak in silence. Now, that tendency for silence only worsens her situation. Will she emerge with her dignity and family intact?

When their toxic mother shows up, the sisters assume the roles they fell into to survive their childhood . . . but they just might find the courage to make new choices.

Set over a spectacularly dramatic weekend, in the grand halls of a sprawling castle estate—amidst floor-to-ceiling libraries, falconry lessons, and medieval meals—Lovers and Liars is the unforgettable story of a family’s ability to forgive and to find joy in one another once again."

Review: The Goldie Standard: A Novel

The Goldie Standard: A Novel by Simi Monheit
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book that you may not want to judge by its cover nor by its description. I definitely did not find it "hilarious," but I did find it " unapologetically Jewish." This will be a difficult read for anyone who is born of Jews who lived through the horror of WWII. It may feel a bit more depressing, considering the troubles in the Middle East lately.

This was an intense, sometimes depressing read that was oftentimes confusing. The language on the grandmother's (Goldies) side is a deep mix of English and Hebrew, and it was difficult for a goy like me to understand. I felt like I wasn't getting the full impact of the story. However, it is perfect for those who speak the language!

The story was captivating, although I had to re-read many pages to fully grasp its direction and intent.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Sibylline Press, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "Maxie needs a husband according to her grandmother Goldie. But not just any husband...

Hilarious and surprising, this unapologetically Jewish story delivers a present-day take on a highly creative grandmother trying to find her Ph.D granddaughter a husband who is a doctor—with a yarmulke, of course. 

Goldie Mandell is opinionated, assertive, and stuck in an Assisted Living Facility. But even surrounded by schleppers with walkers, pictures of sunrises and fancy fish tanks, and an array of daily activities to complement the tepid tea and stale cookies on offer, her salt-free plate is full. She’s got a granddaughter to settle, an eager love interest named Harry to subdue, and precious memories of her happy marriage to fellow Holocaust survivor Mordy to draw upon. 

Maxie Jacobsen is young, brilliant, and newly single, not by choice. But she’s got her science career, a grandmother to care for, and her whole life ahead of her. When Maxie takes on the role of her grandmother’s medical advocate, she has no idea Goldie operates with the single purpose of securing Maxie with Dr. Right. Instead, Maxie is distracted by her grandmother’s unexpectedly charming long-haired, sandal-wearing, peculiarly-named driver, T-Jam Bin Naumann, definitely wrong in every way.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2024"

Review: Old Girls Behaving Badly

Old Girls Behaving Badly by Kate Galley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book wasn't as light a read as I thought it would be, and it didn't have the humor as was advertised in the blurb.

Both of these women are going through very bad times in their lives, and that is what makes this a more difficult-to-read book than I thought it would be. The mystery is a good one, and the ending has a lot of lovely twists and turns.

This book set us up for book two and a possible series. As much as I love reading about the older generation dealing with their life difficulties, I don't think I will be reading the next in this apparent series.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Boldwood Books, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS:"A delightfully heartwarming and funny story that proves it's never too late to change the habits of a lifetime, perfect for fans of Judy Leigh, Hazel Prior and Maddie Please.

Something old, something new, something stolen…?

Gina Knight is looking forward to the prospect of retirement with her husband of forty-three years. Until, to her surprise, said husband decides he needs to 'find himself' – alone – and disappears to Santa Fe, leaving divorce papers in his wake.

Now Gina needs a new role in life, not to mention somewhere to live, so she applies for the position of Companion to elderly Dorothy Reed. At eighty-three, ‘Dot’ needs someone to help her around the house – or at least, her family seems to think so. Her companion’s first role would be to accompany Dot for a week-long extravagant wedding party.

But when Georgina arrives at the large Norfolk estate where the wedding will take place, she quickly discovers Dot has an ulterior motive for hiring her. While the other guests are busy sipping champagne and playing croquet, Dot needs Georgina to help her solve a mystery – about a missing painting, which she believes is hidden somewhere in the house.

Because, after all, who would suspect two old ladies of getting up to mischief?"

Review: A Calamity of Souls

A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is nothing like any of the others that I have read by this author. It is a standalone that deals heavily with desegregation in the South during the late '60s. As we all know, this was a difficult time for America, especially in the southern part of the country. I find it interesting that Mr. Baldacci would publish this novel now when America is yet again having racial issues and an election is on the near horizon. But as someone else said, this is a "cause" book, and it shines as such.

It is a difficult book to read at times and not just because of the politics, bigotry, and bias - it is also difficult to read because it has been done before, although with a tad more subtlety. This book just pounds you over the head with hatred -aggressively.

It did have an interesting little twist at the end that I didn't see coming.

This book is very predictable, and I felt that the characters lacked something; some emotion, and I couldn't 'feel' for them.

For comparison, try the classic book To Kill a Mockingbird

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Grand Central Publishing | Hachette Book Group, the author, and NetGalley.






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SYNOPSIS: "Set in the tumultuous year of 1968 in southern Virginia, a racially-charged murder case sets a duo of white and Black lawyers against a deeply unfair system as they work to defend their wrongfully-accused Black defendants in this courtroom drama from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.

Jack Lee is a white lawyer from Freeman County, Virginia, who has never done anything to push back against racism, until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy white couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his legal skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are already stacked against both him and his client. And he quickly finds himself out of his depth when he realizes that what is at stake is far greater than the outcome of a murder trial.

Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. She comes to Freeman County and enters a fractious and unwieldy partnership with Lee in a legal battle against the best prosecutor in the Commonwealth. Yet DuBose is also aware that powerful outside forces are at work to blunt the victories achieved by the Civil Rights era.

Lee and DuBose could not be more dissimilar. On their own, neither one can stop the prosecution’s deliberate march towards a guilty verdict and the electric chair. But together, the pair fight for what once seemed impossible: a chance for a fair trial and true justice.

Over a decade in the writing, A Calamity of Souls breathes richly imagined and detailed life into a bygone era, taking the reader through a world that will seem both foreign and familiar."