A Bookworm's Book Reviews

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Introduction

Hello all!

I am C.M. Mills, an avid book lover looking for the next good book. I usually read fantasy and historical fiction. I’ve started branching out into thrillers. I’m not the biggest fan of purely romantic books. Sure, put it in a book, but it shouldn’t take the place of a good plot. I am willing to give any book a try. I enjoy reading nonfiction, too. Most of the nonfiction books I’ve read are memoirs, but I’d be willing to give other types of nonfiction a try. I’ve slogged through terrible books and will put up with a lot before I give up on a book.

Some things that I love in a book: a map (if needed), a pronunciation guide (if needed), a reason to care about the characters, and suspense to keep me going. Give me a connection to the protagonist. Authors get brownie points if the villain has a relatable motive, or has a unique stance.

Some turn offs include: introducing too many characters at once (looking at you Game of Thrones), characters with difficult names to pronounce (a pronunciation guide can offset this), not enough character relatability, boring plot, not enough action, etc.

I do enjoy a sappy romance, but it drives me nuts when the characters won’t admit their feelings (yes I know it can be a plot point, but don’t let it be the main plot point), or have again off again relations (it can get annoying). Also too many steamy scenes cause me to skip or skim over book.

Some of my favorite books include The Book Thief (for its writing style and humor despite being a WW2 setting book), Redeeming Love (a slightly predicable romance/historical fiction set in during the California gold rush), The Last Sin Eater (a historical fiction focused on an unusual British Isle tradition) , Immanuel’s Veins (a unique take on vampirish/angelic lore set to a historical fiction book), The Lord of the Rings (a dense read but so unique), Harry Potter (magic, cause why not), and The Chronicles of Narnia (for the world within). These are the first that came to my mind. I have so many more that I’ve enjoyed.

Some of my favorite authors include Francine Rivers (for her takes on historical fiction interwoven with classic tales, also has some sappy romantic books), Ted Dekker (for his unique thrillers and ability to keep the reader interested), Paula Brackston (for her historical fiction and use of worldly magic), Arturo Perez-Reverte (for his descriptive historical fiction use of vocabulary), and Elizabeth Camden (for a sappy love story and use of historical fiction). These are the authors I usually gravitate towards.

Feel free to send me recommendations and requests. I’d love to hear about other genres, books, and authors. I’ll try my best to read those books as soon as I can. My room is a partial library of unread books. Also feel free to ask me questions. I’ll respond as soon as I can.

All We Were Promised – Ashton Lattimore

Title: All We Were Promised

Author: Ashton Lattimore

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Charlotte and Nell are two black women in Philadelphia in 1837. They’re united in their cause for helping others win their freedom. Nell has the means to do so but her parents aren’t as supportive of her ‘radical’ ideas. Charlotte is a recent runaway with her father who’s hiding from their former master. Her father is posing as a white man who’s overprotective of his daughter. But then, Charlotte’s friend, Evie, and former slave at the same plantation appears at the local market. Their former master is in town and looking to get married again. Evie wants to escape and asks Charlotte for help. Charlotte accepts and asks Nell for help. Together they work to help Evie escape. Will their plan work? Will their master find out? And find Charlotte and her father? What will happen to everyone?

Rating: 3.8 – a different side of history

Opinion: This was a good book. I enjoyed learning about life in pre-civil war north. It was nice to hear from the free black people during that time. No one really talks about the fact that some black people back then could be rich and have influence. It was nice to learn about that part of history. I enjoyed learning about how northern cities worked during that time period. I liked that those cities had laws to make the run away slaves free after living there after a certain time. Though it was sad to learn how slave owners got around those laws. It was interesting, but not surprising, that certain things about society haven’t changed much. The characters were well written and relatable. This was a slow and steady read with lots of good details about life back then. I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction.

Listen for the Lie – Amy Tintera

Title: Listen for the Lie

Author: Amy Tintera

Genre: Thriller

Plot: Everyone in Plumpton Texas think Lucy Chase killed her best friend Savannah five years ago. But Lucy has no memory of that night and there wasn’t enough evidence to convict her. Five years after Savannah was killed, Lucy’s grandma asks her to come back to Plumpton for her grandma’s birthday. Right before Lucy returns, she learns about a podcaster, Ben Owens, doing a true crime podcast about Savannah’s murder. He wants to know what really happened, if Lucy really did it or not. The more Ben digs into the town’s past, the more shady things come to light. Then some contradicting evidence that comes to light. What really happened the night Savannah died? Did Lucy really kill her? Or did someone else?

Rating: 4.3 – an interesting murder mystery

Opinion: This was a great book. I was unsure about the book at the beginning but it ended up being really good. There were many times I wanted to keep reading the book but it was either too late or I was at work. The book made some good points about life. There were also some dark topics in the book. The characters in the book are also really well written. The main character isn’t your typical nice girl. She speaks her mind and doesn’t care what others think. It’s a nice change. I like the twists in the book. The people react in a real world way to the twists and the dirt that’s brought up. But there was some more dramatic reactions. Which added to the suspense. I was really hoping my suspect was wrong and I was so I glad I was wrong. I liked the ending and that it wasn’t a perfect ending, but a good ending. Overall, this is a great book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves thrillers.

Heartless Hunter – Kristen Ciccarelli

Title: Heartless Hunter

Author: Kristen Ciccarelli

Genre: Fantasy

Plot: Rune’s world has changed in the last two years since. The witch queens were overthrown and witches (and their sympathizers) are hunted and killed. In order to prove herself in this new world, Rune’s been masquerading as a socialite. She’s had to hide the fact that she’s a witch and been helping other witches escape under the name, Crimson Moth. In order to gain inside information, she decides to court Gideon, a witch hunter. He’s got a secret plan of his own. Neither of them trust the other. Both use each other to gain information. Who will win this battle of wits? Or will love win the day? Can Rune keep her secret as the Crimson Moth? Or will she be found out?

Rating: 4.0 – an interesting twist magic and enemies to lovers

Opinion: This was an interesting book. There was a trying to rebuild after a revolution feeling and punishing the reason for the revolution vibe that made it feel like the French Revolution to me. I liked the magic system in the book. It had a good set of rules to follow and limits to a person’s magic use and abilities. It was interesting addition that magic marked the witches. I liked that idea for how the witch hunters found the witches. This book had an interesting take on enemies to lovers. The couples stuck to their morals when their relationship was challenged and broken. They did what they thought was right in the moment. This is part of a series and I’m curious to see where it goes. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes a darker magical romantic book.

Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus

Title: Lessons in Chemistry

Author: Bonnie Garmus

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist in the 60’s. She’s never been one to take no for an answer. She knows what she wants out of life. Her main issue is that none of her male colleagues take her or her work seriously. No one except Calvin Evans. They hit it off right away. Then the accident happens and Elizabeth is left alone with a dog and unexpected child. Now she must learn to survive and make a name for herself in the field of chemistry while raising a child. Her first break is a tv cooking show, Supper at Six. But she wants to do it her own way, cook with chemistry. Will it work? Or will she be pushed out of another field? Can she make it in a man’s world?

Rating: 4.0 – a different side of history and science

Opinion: This was a great book. It was written in a very matter of fact style, much like Elizabeth. It took me a little to get used to the small breaks in the main story to read a short backstory or side story about Elizabeth or one of the other characters. It was a bit jarring because it happened right after a bit of information was dropped, then the story stopped so you could get a backstory about what just happened or was said. I enjoyed learning about science and cooking, and the science of cooking. There were moments that made me sad, some that made me made, others that made me laugh, and some heartwarming moments. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction and a woman who won’t back down.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers – Jesse Q. Sutanto

Title: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Genre: Mystery

Plot: Vera Wong runs a tea shop in Chinatown in San Francisco. She’s your stereotypical Asian mom, taking care of her son and keeping her shop in tip-top shape. One day, everything changes when Vera finds a dead man in her shop. She tries her best to make the shop look nice for the police. But when Vera’s unsatisfied with what the police do, she takes matters into her own hands. Then, some people who knew about body show up. Vera thinks one of them killed the man. She’s determined to figure out who murdered the man in her shop all by herself. Can Vera solve the mystery? Or was it all truly an accident?

Rating: 4.0 – a different style of murder mystery

Opinion: This was an entertaining book. I enjoyed the more lightheartedness of this genre of book. I’ve gotten used to the more serious style of murder mysteries. This was a nice change of pace. I also liked that it followed someone who had no business solving a murder. It made for some very entertaining moments in the book. I’m glad that with everything going on in the book, the characters still made smart decisions. I’m glad they made the right decisions in the end, too. There were many times I kept wanting to read the book but it was too late. I really enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a lighter take on murder mysteries.

Weyward – Emilia Hart

Title: Weyward

Author: Emilia Hart

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Kate, Violet, and Altha are three women who’ve felt more on the outskirts of society in their respective times. They’re a part of the Weyward family. All of the Weyward women have a strong connection to nature. They all enjoy learning about natural remedies. But trouble always seems to follow them. Altha was accused of being a witch in the late 1600’s. Violet was hurt by a cousin in the 1940’s. Kate was in a controlling relationship in modern times. Is there a way for the women to escape their fates? Or at least change it for the better? Or will their accusers get the better of them?

Rating: 3.5 – a slow and steady tale of overcoming odds

Opinion: This was an incredible book. It was a slow and steady book. But I still enjoyed the book and it kept me wanting to read it. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. They were all well written women. There author did a good job with keeping everything straight and separate in separate in each chapter. There were a couple of things that I predicted in the book that came true. Only cause they were super common for those types of storylines. Overall, this was a good book about overcoming hard times. I recommend this book for anyone who likes family tie books over the years.

House – Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti

Title: House

Authors: Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti

Genre: Thriller

Plot: Jack and Stephanie are on their way to couple’s therapy when a road block makes them find a new way. The officer gives them another route. On the new route, their tires get shredded. They walk to a small B&B nearby. There’s already another couple there, Leslie and Randy , but no hosts. A host shows up, but something’s off. No one can place their finger on it, but something’s not right. Their host sends them all into a panic when she raves about a man who shouldn’t be there. Then a tin can falls down the fireplace. There are three rules to survive the night. One of them must die so the others can survive. The two couples slowly go mad in the basement trying to decide on their moral dilemma. Who will survive the night? Or will their captors destroy them all?

Rating: 4.0 – a twisted tale of a moral dilemma

Opinion: This was a dark tale about morality. I was kind of scared to read how fast everything descended into madness. The idea of the house being alive as well added another layer of craziness. I was creeped out but wanted to know who would make it out alive. This was one of the few times I was glad I didn’t relate to the characters. Lots of the choices they made, made me fear for my own sanity. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me reading until the end. This is a book you need to be in a ‘I wanna be creeped out’ kind of mindset. So if you’re ready for a dark and creepy book, then I’d recommend this book.

Spirit of the Wood – Kristen Britain

This is a side novella to the Green Rider series.

Title: Spirit of the Wood

Author: Kristen Britain

Genre: Fantasy, Novella

Plot: Lieutenant Mapstone and a new Green Rider recruit Tavin Bankside are traveling back to Sacor City. They’re ambushed by remnants of brigands. The lieutenant is badly wounded and Tavin’s instructed to find the nearest way station. Despite the other brigands changing the pair, Tavin finds the way station. He mends the lieutenant as best as he can. A forest ranger offers and hand and tells Tavin to find the hermit before it’s too late. Despite everything, Tavin finds the hermit but is it too late? Can the hermit help Tavin as well? Or will everyone meet a fateful end at the hands of the brigands?

Rating: 4.0 – a good backstory for Laren Mapstone

Opinion: This was an interesting read. It was entertaining. I liked learning more about someone else besides Karigan in the Green Rider series. It’s interesting to learn to learn how a Green Rider can learn to control their powers. Though I was hoping to learn a little more about Laren Mapstone, I did enjoy the book. It’s a good reminder that the little things can matter and change the future.

Remember Me – Mario Escobar

Title: Remember Me

Author: Mario Escobar

Genre: Historical Fiction

Plot: Marco Alcalde is a young boy when the Spanish Civil War reaches his home town of Madrid. In desperation, his parents send Marco and his sister to Morelia, Mexico. The Mexican government promises to protect them and the other kids going there. But they’re treated harshly if they act out. When the war is over, Marco learns that the facsets have won and his parents are in jail. Marco is determiners to have everyone home together again. But at what cost? There are many who will kidnap girls and put them in convents. Others will sell the boys to labor camps. Will Marco and his family be able to reunite! Or they remain separate forever?

Rating: 3.5 – a sad story of family and hope

Opinion: This was a sad book. I wanted the characters to be together but it just never worked out. I did like the fact that Marco never gave up. Even with the odds stacked against him, Marco kept going. I didn’t love how sad it was. There wasn’t much hope in the book. I’m okay with a sad book but give me some hope woven throughout. There also didn’t seem like too much change in the characters. I mean they grew up and understood that their lives were hard, but seemed to focused on keeping their families together. While I enjoyed this book, I needed more hope woven throughout. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a different kind of historical fiction.

What Happens Next – Christina Suzann Nelson

Title: What Happens Next

Author: Christina Suzann Nelson

Genre: Mystery

Plot: Faith Fardon is a recently divorced podcaster. Her ex-husband is getting married during the summer in Hawaii. He begs her to let their two daughters come with him all summer. Faith reluctantly lets them go after an old friend asks her to help find what happened to a middle friend, Heather, who disappeared one night in 1987. Faith travels to Deep Valley, Oregon to find out. She usually uses her podcast to tell about stories of triumph after great lost. This time, she’s using her podcast to help find Heather. Faith and Heather were the best of friends when Faith was visiting Deep Valley for her dad’s job. Heather and Faith also became close friends with Nathan Nobbles. When Faith returns to Deep Valley, she learns that Nathan is a detective. He offers to help her with finding Heather in whatever way he can. The more Faith learns, the more questions she has. No one seems to have straight answers for her, either. Will Faith ever find out what happened to her best friend? Or will she only find dead ends?

Rating: 4.0 – a different style of mystery

Opinion: I wasn’t sure I’d like this book. To be fair, I didn’t really read the description first. I read it cause it’s a book club book. I liked how the main character wasn’t a detective but knew how to get stuff done. She really care and supported her friends and family. She encouraged them and joined them on their journey while still being herself. In return, her friends supported and helped her. I liked that while sad, was a different style of ending. It gave a very satisfying feeling to the end. It was a very well written story. It kept my interest the whole time and there weren’t slumps in the book. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. This is a great book for anyone who loves mysteries.