The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan (NetGalley ARC 7/2) ⭐⭐⭐ This book was compelling and especially the last third I was eager to read quickly. However, it really dragged in sections where it became more recitation of facts than storytelling, and the jumps in storyline were sometimes jarring. It's also very hard to stay with the unlikeable main character. It felt like there was a compelling story within this book, but it needed sharper editing and a bit more focus and it still could have tied together in a satisfying way. It felt like it only had one foot in historical fiction and while I'm glad I finished, it took some effort. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella

Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella (NetGalley ARC 7/2) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I really enjoyed this novel. At first I just liked the writing and found it a bit meandering, but then the story continued to unfold and deepen. It drew me in so much that I read more than half of it in one day to finish. Warm themes of found family and small town community. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

 

System Collapse by Martha Wells

System Collapse by Martha Wells ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I didn't want this to end as there are no more books out in the series currently (I read that more are coming?) This continued the storyline from Network Effect which I also loved.

Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell

 

Murder at the Breakers by Alyssa Maxwell ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Late 19th century historical fiction/mystery. It was pretty fun and I liked it enough to consider continuing the series, although I guessed the murderer pretty early.

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan ⭐⭐⭐⭐ elements of the Emmy Lake Chronicles as it’s set in London during the blitz. Found family and how books bring people together. It had three perspectives which I think made it longer than necessary and it wrapped very tidily.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This took me a few tries until I finally got into it 😁 It definitely had magic and found family vibes. I’ll be interested in picking up the 2nd book but won’t rush to it like I might for other series.

A View from the Stars by Cixin Liu

A View from the Stars by Cixin Liu ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Huge fan of 3 Body Problem series so I was eager to check this out. A collection of short stories, essays, and interviews from the author of 3 Body Problem reflecting on writing and sci-fi. I probably enjoyed the short stories the most which showcased his trademark sense of humor and out of the box thinking.

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.75 stars) I enjoyed most of the writing and story, but it should have been 100 pages shorter. The story was slow, I knew where it was headed, and it just felt like it was dragging its feet to reach the ending.

Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair

Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair (Sparks & Bainbridge #6) NetGalley ARC ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I can't tell if the writing is better with each book, or it's simply that I love the characters more and more. I tried to not gulp the book down too quickly, but I liked it so much it was hard not to read it fast. I was eager to get my hands on this book and so happy that I got to read it early. A great combo of historical fiction and mystery with a storyline deeply connected to the beloved characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Well it's been about 10 years since I started posting my cooking adventures on Instagram and abandoned this little blogspot but guess what - I am back and posting book reviews now instead!

Blackberry Jam

Porcini Polenta with Sauteed Mushrooms & Leeks, Topped with Eggs

Royal Blenheim Apricot Halves & Jam (June 2013)

White Nectarine with Lemon Verbena Jam (June 2013)

Halved Peaches in Light Syrup, Jammed, and a Peachy Simple Syrup (June 2013)

Fresh Cranberry Beans with Green Garlic & Thyme (June 2013)

Ebelskievers with Blackberry Jam (June 2013)

Ricotta with Cherries & Pistachios (June 2013)

Cherry Macaroon Tart (May 2013)

Lemon Raspberry Muffins (May 2013)