Happy Friday! It’s time to escape the shackles off the office and enjoy a weekend of luxurious reading! But before I can do that, I need to share what I’ve been reading this week — one of my more eclectic roundups, with Western adventure, Victorian murder mystery, witchy romance, and more. I think the only thing they all have in common is that each book follows a woman trying to carve out her own destiny in spite of family, society, and circumstance. And seeing how they all pursued their goals and fought for themselves was not only great fun but (to varying degrees) empowering.
Wyoming Wild by Sarah M. Eden: It’s been awhile since I’ve read any Western romance, and this was an easy reintroduction, with some of my favorite things in the genre: brave heroines, strangers in a strange town, main street showdowns (with a twist), and, of course… the romance! The plot itself is simple, but I quickly fell in love with Leisl and Hawk and enjoyed watching these two people who are used to being alone learn to depend on — and be vulnerable with — each other. A thoroughly enjoyable romantic adventure, I devoured it in a day! My thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Sinister Revenge (Veronica Speedwell #8) by Deanna Raybourn: I’m jumping into the series midway, but Raybourn does an exceptional job orienting new readers within the world, so I know there are more adventures to read but don’t necessarily feel that I missed anything. And to me, that’s always the sign of good writing in a series. Having read Killers of a Certain Age and knowing the series reputation, I went in expecting a good mystery — which I got — but I was also delighted by the strong sense of humor, which is never enough to push us into farce… but is just close enough to the line to keep things quick and fun. Raybourn has a gratifying mastery of first-person narrative, remaining completely in character while poking fun at Veronica in ways the character doesn’t even realize. A thoroughly good time with something for everyone, from comedy and romance to mystery and thrills! My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon: In a way, this is really two books: the first is the story of Tracy Whitney’s downfall and traumatic experiences in prison (which should come with trigger warnings), and the second is the fizzy, mostly lighthearted tale of her exploits as one of the greatest grifters in Europe. I had some mixed feelings about the first story, mostly related to inconsistencies in characterization, but it was well, if brutally, crafted, and you can definitely see how Sheldon’s year in TV-writing influenced is literary work. The second part is more seamless, which is part of why I prefer it, but I also just love a good con story, and this one was exactly what I wanted it to be.
Mr. & Mrs. Witch by Gwenda Bond: It’s Bewitched meets Mr. & Mrs. Smith when a witch and a hunter’s secret identities are revealed just as they reach the altar. Hurt and angry, they do what witches and hunters do: fight. But it soon becomes clear that all is not as it seems, and they must work together to right an old wrong and save their future. This witchy romantic adventure had me on the edge of my seat and then falling off my chair laughing by turns! Our leads are equally appealing together and apart, and they’re surrounded by loyal and hilariously colorful friends and family. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with all of them and highly recommend Mr. and Mrs. Witch for fun and swoony read. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes #1) by Nancy Springer: I adore the Enola Holmes movies, so I wanted to try out at least the first book. I’m glad I read it so I know, and I don’t want to say the book is too young for me because I read and love middle grade books all the time… but this didn’t work for me. You can clearly see where the movies took the bones of the plot from, but the book itself is much looser, and it has an even stranger mix of feminism and internalized misogyny, which would keep me from recommending it to younger audiences. Still, for a quick read and an easy diversion, it gets the job done, and Enola’s relationship with her mom may be different than in the movies but it is no less fascinating!
And with that, I’m free to pursue my weekend reads! There’s one series in particular I’m excited to share with you all, but I need just a little more time to read and gather my thoughts. In the meantime, what’s on your weekend TBR?
–b
Book It With Becca 