Hello everyone,
Welcome to another installment of my mini-reviews. I have five to share with you today so let’s jump right in:
The Chilbury Ladies‘ Choir by Jennifer Ryan
This is a charming novel that is a slice of life novel depicting life in a small British village during World War II. I’ll admit that I read most of this in one day, but it was such a charming novel and I loved each of the quirky characters that are introduced in this novel. 4/5 Stars.
I Wad Jane Austen’s Best Friend by Cora Harrison
This was another re-read for me, because the last time I read it was in 2012. This is a fictional diary told from the perspective of Jane Austen’s cousin Jenny (although in the author’s note we find out her name was also Jane) and follows their lives after they are rescued from a horrible boarding school. We also follow Jenny as she meets several young men that seem to fancy her. There’s a cute romance and of course we follow her, Jane Austen, and the rest of the Austen clan through a series of events. 3/5 Stars.
Girls Like Me by Lola St Vil 
I’ll admit that I didn’t really know what to expect from this book, but I really enjoyed it, especially since it was told in verse. It was a good romance, funny in some parts and hard hitting in other. It covers a lot of different topics, such as coping with the death of a parent and grief, also bullying. Shay is a relatable character to those of us who are plus-sized, and I liked how things ended for her. There were a couple of things that I didn’t like, but it was still a good book which deserves to be read by more people. 3.5/5 Stars.
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
I really enjoyed the movies when I watched them for the first time last year, I’ve been meaning to at least pick up the first book in the series to at least try it, and I’m glad I finally did. While I enjoyed it, I wasn’t quite prepared for how different it was from the movie! There were some elements that were the same, however it was still very different..and a little bit of a let down. But I did like it enough to go ahead and try and read the second book in the series. 3/5 Stars.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 
A childhood classic that I always enjoy reading. I feel like every time I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I notice more of the allegorical elements. It’s always a great reminder of the death and resurrection of Christ and how He did it even though we are wholly undeserving of it. I am looking forward to reading the rest of The Chronicles of Narnia soon! 5/5 Stars.
Happy Reading,
Janelle L. C.
This sounds really good, it is about a bookseller who’s life is interrupted when a new indie bookseller opens up a shop just down the street from hers. And a war starts to ensue between the two of them. It also looks like an epistalory novel, which is one of my personal favorite formats. Also, it sounds a little like You’ve Got Mail, which is one of my favorite movies!
This is a historical novel set during the Civil War. It is about Cordelia Owens who is a skilled storyteller, and even when her love seemingly dies in a shipwreck, she convinces his family that he will return. Phin (who I think is her love) returns, but he is jaded and cynical from the things that he has faced over the previous months, and it also makes him think more about the war. Events happen that force both Delia and Phin to think through what America will look like once it emerges from the Civil War.
As the title suggests this a book about Anne de Bourgh, Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s daughter, from Pride and Prejudice, who was originally believed to be bethrothed to Mr. Darcy. I’m interested to see what the author does in exploring this minor character and see what happens to her in the aftermath of Pride and Prejudice.
This is a middle grade book about two cousins who always go on adventures together. One summer they discover a map that their Nana left to a lighthouse and they discover that the lighthouse serves as a doorway to a magical world that contains a lot of mysteries from history and from myths. It sounds really interesting and I am curious to read it.
Court of Swans is the start of a new series by Melanie Dickerson and this time we are being transported to medieval England for a retelling of the Wild Swans – which is a fairy tale I’m not familiar with, but I intend to read it before I pick this up.
Tidewater Bride is a historical novel set in the Virginia Colony where the most eligible maiden in the colony has no desire to get married. She also spends her time matchmaking other people, but a new landowner comes to the colony that could change her mind about marriage.
The Wife Upstairs is supposedly a modern retelling of Jane Eyre and it follows Jane who falls for the wealthy widow, Eddie Rochester. However, as their romance starts to bloom, she discovers that everything he told her surrounding his wife’s death might not be what it seems and there might be something more sinister at play.
A Test of Courage is the first middle-grade book in the new Star Wars: High Republic series. It is set 200 years before the events of Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace. It follows a young Jedi and a padawan, and a couple other of youngsters that find themselves stranded on a jungle moon.
The Sea in Winter follows Maisie Cannon, a young Native American girl who is forced to drop out of her ballet training. While her family is supportive, she still feels like no one understands her. Her and her family go to visit her mom’s family who are part of the Makah community, but Maisie is not looking forward to it. And during the trip she starts having anxiety and dark moods and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
This is the first adult book set in the High Republic era. Not much has been revealed about the plot of this particular book, except for there being jedis – and I’m okay with that, I don’t think I want to know any more of the plot. I will say that I am excited to pick this up soon!
The Tales from the Hinterland is a collection of tales that The Hazel Wood and The Night Country or centered on. I’m looking forward to reading this collection, and I definitely plan on rereading The Hazel Wood and finally picking up The Night Country.
This is a historical novel set in January 12, 1888 and it is a fictional account of a freak blizzard that hit the Dakota territory and the children were trapped in the school house and decisions have to be made whether to keep them in the school house or try and get home to their families. It follws two teachers, one who is praised for her decisions made and the other one who is judged for her decisions in the aftermath. It sounds fascianting and I can’t wait to read it.
This follows Georgia Rosenbloom, who’s father was a famous artist. However, he died before he could make his final piece, but she discovers a sketch that she think is related to it and she decides to go and do some digging into what happens.
