April 2025
- Katie Peterson
- Apr 1, 2025
- 6 min read
Something old, something new, something steamy, something true-ish
(Hint: If you click on the image of a book below, it will take you directly to the section about that book!)
Something old: A Death of No Importance by Mariah Fredericks
Something new: The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
Something steamy: First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Something true-ish: The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
Book club pick: Book Lovers by Emily Henry
The Ratings:
Like plain, black coffee. Strong dislike.
A little cream, a little sugar. Not bad. Not great.
Add some flavor or syrup, it's getting good.
I liked this a latte!
Love! Refill please!
The Steam:
No peppers: Love/romance not a major part of this story
One pepper: Mild! Some love scenes; nothing risque on the page; fade to black
Two peppers: Moderate! Slightly descriptive romantic scenes may occur on page; some implied innuendos
Three peppers: Hot! Blushing while reading may occur; lots of spice
A Death of No Importance
Mariah Fredericks
I picked this one up at a book sale for a quarter, and it was such a pleasant surprise how much I enjoyed it! Set in the early 1900's, the main character, Jane, is a working class female, starting a new job as a ladies maid for the daughters of a well-off family. As someone of a lower class, she is often 'forgotten' or treated as if she's not even in the room. She is privy to family secrets, hushed conversations, scandalous news, and the deep insecurities that even the rich feel, but don't share with anyone in their society.
She is one of the first to know when one of the daughters she serves, Charlotte, is engaged to Norrie Newsome, a sought after bachelor from one of the most successful families in the city. This brings sandal upon the family, as Norrie was rumored to have already promised a proposal to another. When he's found murdered at a party, Jane is one of the first to arrive at the scene...and she may see things that the police miss. Like the fact that there are many who have a score to settle against the Newsomes. Some from afar, some from high-society, and some within his own home. Jane sets out to dig deeper...but what she discovers may put everything at risk.
This feels like a more 'grown up' version of Nancy Drew (one of my first favorite series!) with more sophisticated crime solving, and deeper developed characters. Although it's considered a 'mystery', I'd still call it a 'light read' as there was nothing too descriptively gory. If you fall in love with Jane, she's the heroine in several more mystery books in this series!
My rating:
The Spectacular
Fiona Davis
This book is filled with mid-century New York glitz and glamour, right in the heart of the Big Apple. Marion is a dancer at heart, but is on the fast track towards becoming a suburban housewife thanks to the persuasive pressure from her dad, sister, and boyfriend. Although they all see it as a perfect life for her, she wants something more. Classically trained and itching to do something exciting for once in her life, she decides to try-out for the Radio City Rockettes. Shocked to be one of the chosen few, she thinks her family will be ecstatic and proud. Instead, she finds herself estranged and homeless. Moving into a boarding house with other entertainers opens Marion's eyes to the magical bustle of city living.
While on a double date, Marion is introduced to Peter. Quiet, introspective and serious, Peter is a resident doing research on mental health patients at a nearby institution. Peter's intuition and skills at profiling human characteristics lead him and Marion on the hunt to solve a decades old mystery plaguing the New York City police and citizens. A bomber is targeting well-known city establishments with menacing notes and homemade explosives. All of the hatred seems to be pointed towards Marion's dad's company...and the attacks have become personal. Can Marion and Peter solve something that's eluded New York City's finest for years? And possibly even worse...what happens when they do?
My rating:
Seeing the Rockettes perform live has long been a dream of mine, and this book cemented its place on my wish list.
First-Time Caller
B.K. Borison
Lucie's non-traditional family has always felt like enough for her. She has an amazing 12 year old daughter whom she co-parents with her ex and his husband, who also happen to be her next door neighbors. It's wacky, but it works. So, surprised is an understatement when Lucie walks in on her daughter talking to a late night host of a romance hotline, discussing her love life, or lack thereof. Apparently Lucie wasn't as good at hiding her loneliness as she thought she was. After her brief stint discussing what she's looking for out of love, all of the Baltimore listeners are invested in finding Lucie a date.
The radio station decides to cash in on their sudden fame by bringing Lucie in to co-host the love show with Aiden, a grumpy, temperamental man who isn't even sure he believes in love anymore. Together, they navigate through all of the interested prospects hoping to be her choice in a partner. But the more people that Lucie meets outside of the studio, the more she realizes that maybe what she's looking for is sitting right across the desk. Can Aiden provide the magic that Lucie is seeking? And can Lucie help Aiden feel safe enough to let someone into the walls he's built?
Cute rom-com. Predictable, but sometimes that's exactly what you need in a book.
My rating:
Steam rating:
(Somewhere between 1-2).
The Only Woman in the Room
Marie Benedict
Calling all WWII historical fiction lovers! Marie Benedict is so gifted at finding woman throughout history where more should be known about them, and giving them new life on her pages.
Born Hedwig Keisler in a prominent Jewish family in Austria, Hedy possesses a stunning beauty and a talent for acting. Choosing a scandalous movie in which she is the first film star to appear nude puts her on the map. In the throes of her success, she catches the eye of a rising Austrian arms dealer, a man with immense power. Her marriage to him saves her from the Nazi party and their ever growing laws and atrocities committed against the Jewish population. But Hedy fears she has traded her life for her soul, as she is trapped in an abusive and controlling marriage.
When the opportunity presents itself, she escapes on a boat headed toward America, with a new film manager and new name, Hedy Lamarr. The American people know nothing of her Jewish heritage. They just know that she's the most beautiful film star, exotic in a European way. But even though she evaded the horrors her people are experiencing, she cannot elude the immense feelings of guilt. For leaving loved ones behind. For not warning others of the coming terror. For Hedy, although just seen as a pretty face, is extremely intelligent. And being 'the only woman in the room' at all those dinner parties with her husband and his high-powered friends allowed her to overhear many important conversations.
Using her knowledge and memories of what she overheard, she sets out to solve a problem that she believes will help shorten the war. But will the powers at be listen to her?
My rating:
Book Lovers
Emily Henry
When you read a lot of books, you can instantly pick out the common tropes...the characters, the settings, the plot lines. Well, Nora reads plenty doing her job as a literary agent, which is how she knows that there's no way that those bookish patterns actually happen in real-life. Like, if there's a handsome, successful, funny man, why isn't he already partnered up? And if a quaint village with quirky, unique people who are more like family than neighbors really exists, then why don't more visitors go there? And if an outsider did visit said town, surely they wouldn't drop everything they know and love about city life and decide to throw themselves into peaceful small town living.
So when Nora's sister Libby asks her to go on an extended, sisters only vacation to none other than the town that acted as the setting of a recent best-seller, she thinks, "why not?" Libby makes a checklist of all the rural town 'must-do's', including 'wear flannel' and 'sleep under the stars', and Nora treats it as part of her job, checking items off so that she can get back to her more fast-paced life in New York. But one item on the list, 'go on a date with two locals' gives Nora pause. She's not interested in moving here, so what's the point of dating someone whose life is here? But the men of this town are full of surprises....as is her sister...and the quiet, simpler way of living does have its perks.
My rating:
Steam rating:
(Maybe more like 1.5? A few steamy scenes--but nothing until the last part of the book).
Read along with me in May
Something old | Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers |
Something new | Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister |
Something steamy | Outlander by Diana Gabaldon |
Something true-ish | The Hunting Wives by May Cobb |
Book club pick | Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas |
As always, send any book recommendations to me at sosnssst@gmail.com.
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