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Reviews by Liz B. (Fairview, TX)

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Too Old for This
Too Old for This
by Samantha Downing
Great Thriller (4/3/2025)
This novel has an unexpected heroine….who is a serial killer. Self-confessed and no nonsense, we know who we’re dealing with right from the start. And we still root for her! Samantha Downing has created a mature female Dexter, if you will, and I couldn’t get enough. Loved …more
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
by Chanel Cleeton
Good Historical Fiction (1/29/2025)
I enjoyed this novel which centered around a young Cuban teacher who participated in a summer school program at Harvard, which would change the course of her life as well as her descendants. The story moved between three time periods and, while easy to follow, the formula …more
Happy Land
Happy Land
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Wonderful Historical Fiction (11/1/2024)
Dolen Perkins-Valdez has written another stunning novel in Happy Land. The story follows the Lovejoy family of women as the timeline moves between present day and the time of the Kingdom of the Happy Land. I enjoyed both sides of the story and was especially interested to …more
The House on Biscayne Bay
The House on Biscayne Bay
by Chanel Cleeton
Good Read (1/2/2024)
I enjoyed this story from Chanel Cleeton. Her writing flows smoothly between time periods and I found myself interested in both plot lines, not just one as is often the case. The story is haunting. I saw it described as Gothic and would definitely agree. I'm not sure if …more
Becoming Madam Secretary
Becoming Madam Secretary
by Stephanie Dray
Interesting History (11/29/2023)
This is an interesting look into the life of Frances Perkins, the first female Secretary of Labor, under FDR. Took me a while to get through it but I really enjoyed a peek into the politics of the time, as well as the persevering spirit of Miss Perkins. The author's note at …more
Delicate Condition
Delicate Condition
by Danielle Valentine
Not for Everyone (7/7/2023)
This novel is unpleasant in almost every way. I thought the synopsis sounded promising but it was overly graphic and I didn't care for the supernatural aspect of it. The character development was shallow at best and no one was likeable. Do not read if you are pregnant or …more
The September House
The September House
by Carissa Orlando
Great Horror Story (4/28/2023)
Wow, it’s been a while since I read a horror story and this one did not disappoint! I could not read it fast enough, wondering how the end would turn out. There’s a great deal of the supernatural involved here and I felt it added quite nicely to the story. I found myself …more
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
A Fun Trip (10/13/2022)
This novel is a fun page turner that reads much like Driving Miss Daisy meets Thelma and Louise. The characters are likeable and well-developed. You'll find yourself rooting for them without even knowing the whole story. There are some nice twists at the end to wrap the …more
Surviving Savannah
Surviving Savannah
by Patti Callahan
Great Historical Fiction (3/11/2022)
Surviving Savannah is a well-written novel weaving a present day presentation of a shipwreck and the historical events of the actual sinking of the ship, The author does a nice job of intertwining the two timelines and bringing in interesting family stories from the 1700s. Enjoyed it!
Housebreaking
Housebreaking
by Colleen Hubbard
Housebreaking (10/11/2021)
This novel examines one young woman's struggle to come to grips with adulthood and being dealt a rough hand of cards. Returning to her childhood home and literally dismantling it board by board became her sole focus. I appreciate the harsh honesty of the writing but …more
Never Saw Me Coming
Never Saw Me Coming: A Novel
by Vera Kurian
No Wow Factor (6/9/2021)
This book did not wow me. I thought the storyline had great potential but there was so much going on behind the scenes that the main plot was simply lost in the shuffle. The characters were not likable; I suppose they shouldn't be if they are psychopaths but I found myself …more
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
The Mystery of Mrs. Christie
by Marie Benedict
A Good Mystery (11/10/2020)
This is a gripping piece of historical fiction, imagining what might have transpired during the real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie. The story was well developed, although I had trouble aligning the two very different personalities of Mrs. Christie, as told from the …more
With or Without You
With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
With or Without You (5/12/2020)
I enjoyed this novel, a story of three people struggling to find their way in the midst of life-changing circumstances. It was very readable and I thought the characters were fairly well-developed. A bit of chick lit with some deeper moments thrown in. I wasn't a big fan of …more
He Started It
He Started It
by Samantha Downing
Engaging Thriller (2/13/2020)
He Started It is a fast-paced thriller with plenty of unexpected twists. With a better ending, it would rank 5 stars for sure. These are characters you love to hate as their unlikely story unfolds. I enjoyed the smartly written dialogue and road trip details as the family …more
The Big Finish
The Big Finish
by Brooke Fossey
The Big Finish (10/1/2019)
This debut novel is the charming story of a diverse cast of characters who find their lives entwined in an assisted living center. Duffy, the elderly protagonist, is likable and very sharp in his senior years. This is a very enjoyable read, quick but smartly written, with …more
Yale Needs Women
Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy League Giant
by Anne Gardiner Perkins
An Enlightening Look at History (7/20/2019)
I was particularly interested in reading this book as I also found myself an unlikely pioneer in college......among the first women attending Washington and Lee University in 1985. We numbered only 100 of 1600 undergrads on campus. I found many similarities, not all of them …more
The Last Collection
The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
by Jeanne Mackin
Colorful Lesson in History (2/27/2019)
I enjoyed The Last Collection, a novel weaving together high fashion and politics with a love story thrown in for good measure. While it seemed contrived in a few spots, overall the book had an interesting and very readable take on the rivalry between high fashion designers …more
The Last Romantics
The Last Romantics
by Tara Conklin
Wonderful Read (12/7/2018)
Overall, I very much enjoyed The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin. The sibling relationships were well-developed and it was interesting to watch the various relationships ebb and flow, after a difficult time in their lives that they refer to as “the Pause”. The novel has a …more
A Ladder to the Sky
A Ladder to the Sky: A Novel
by John Boyne
A Long Ladder (9/20/2018)
This novel failed to impress me like some of Boyne's former works. I struggled to find redeeming qualities in the protagonist and simply never came up with anything. The plot tended to ramble with the extensive character development of Maurice Swift and his "acquaintances ". …more
Our House
Our House
by Louise Candlish
A Tangled Web (6/24/2018)
This novel is an ongoing web of tangled webs that cross eventually in the end. I enjoyed the format, very readable as told through Foona's podcast and Bram's Word document. It did seem to drag a bit in the mid section but picked up pace again at the end. I longed for a …more
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