REVIEW: Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald
Stevie‘s review of Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald
Young Adult Greek Mythology published by Penguin 20 Jul 23
I’m greatly appreciating the ongoing crop of Greek mythology adaptations, especially the books that put a feminist slant on the stories without completely rewriting the basic premise. This one particularly appealed, since the story of Persephone and Hades is one that particularly intrigues me. Daughter of Demeter and Zeus, young Persephone – or Kore as her father names her – is granted dominion over flowers by her father, after she asks for the world. Isolated by her mother on the island of Sicily, away from the other gods and goddesses, Persephone grows up with only nymphs for company and receives a very skewed view of relationships and sexuality from her mother’s fears of rape on one side and the nymphs’ liberated attitudes on the other. When Demeter decides that it’s time for her daughter to be married off to one of the gods of Olympus or Oceanus, in order to protect her from the predations of all the others, Persephone rebels and runs away to the third of the kingdoms ruled over by the gods: Hades.
REVIEW: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Contemporary Romance published by Entangled: Red Tower Books 29 Aug 23
This book is so much fun. A sunshine assistant to a grumpy villain is the book I didn’t know I needed. I binged this so quickly and didn’t want to put it down. The cozy fantasy vibes are perfect, and I can’t recommend this book enough.
REVIEW: Not That Duke by Eloisa James
Historical Romance published by Avon 25 Jul 23
This story sparkles and brings alive the regency period, which has become such a rave at the moment with the success of Bridgerton. Stella with her glasses, her red hair, and freckles is as far from the conventional definition of a diamond of the first water as it is possible to be. Silvester has worked hard at becoming a role model and perfect pattern card for social norms. Stella will just not do, and, anyway, he craves the beautiful Yasmin.
REVIEW: Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown
Romantic suspense published by Grand Central Publishing 1 Aug 23
Sandra Brown never fails to draw readers into her stories with intriguing characters and a plotline that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Out of Nowhere is no exception, and the emotion she draws out of you as the story progresses is definitely the icing on the cake.
REVIEW: Horses of Fire by A.D. Rhine
Historical fiction published by Dutton 18 Jul 23
A.D. Rhine recreates history as told from the viewpoint of the women behind the scenes. Andromache, Prince Hector’s wife-queen in waiting, was trained by the Amazons as a warrior extraordinaire, but her battle strategies were ignored simply because she’s a woman. Rhea, a horse whisperer, enslaved and removed from the only home she knew, is determined to do whatever it takes to find a home in Prince Hector’s stables. Helen, war prize, the face that launched a thousand ships, the untold story behind the scenes. Threading through the historical facts of the Trojan War is the Cassandra’s prophecies, yet another untold story, a cry and a lament. With its skillful blending of history with fiction, the story brings alive the Trojan War and humanizes some of the key figures on both sides.
REVIEW: Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
Historical Paranormal Young Adult published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 22 Aug 23
Belladonna was one of my favorite books last year – I own number of editions of the book. The 1800’s gothic murder mystery vibes were everything, and I was obsessed with the love story with Death. So, of course, Foxglove was one of my most anticipated reads this year.
REVIEW: You Can Die by Rebecca Zanetti
Romantic Thriller published by Zebra Books 25 Jul 23
Get ready for an emotional roller coaster ride. Laurel Snow is back in the Pacific Northwest chasing serial killers. This time murder hits close to home, when the victim is her office manager’s estranged husband, and the body was found by his daughter. Where murder and Laurel are, her half-sister Abigail is close behind, and this time she’s dating one of Laurel’s rivals in the FBI.
REVIEW: My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 29 Aug 23
This was such a fun book. I read it in two very quick sittings and laughed out loud multiple times.
REVIEW: The Captive Duke by Grace Burrowes
Historical Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 06 Jun 23
This book seemed familiar as I started reading it, and, no wonder, because I subsequently found out that it’s a re-release of a book first published in 2014. Apparently, the title was changed from The Captive to The Captive Duke and the book got a new cover. Nevertheless, despite the lingering sense of familiarity, I enjoyed the reading, since the details of the story had been lost in the depths of my memory.
REVIEW: The Love Plot by Samantha Young
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 29 Aug 23
Star Shine Meadows is definitely a product of her hippie parents. She juggles her two jobs, a character actor and standing in line for anything and everything someone else thinks they don’t have the time for, and has a blast doing so. Some grumpiness is about to invade her world and her need to be free in her own way pulls her in different directions, most of which she isn’t happy about. But that grump? He’s a whole ‘nother story, as far as Star is concerned.
