July 2024

Something old: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

Something new: The Spare Room by Andrea Barts

Something steamy: Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Something true-ish: A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon

Bonus read: The Wives by Simone Gorrindo

Book club choice: Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

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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

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The Berry Pickers

Amanda Peters

This book was simultaneously good and bad. It was well written, compelling, and I could not put it down once I started. However, it also contains a lot of prejudice, horrible choices, and tragic situations. If you're looking for an uplifting read: stay far, far away. If you're looking for a thought provoking, gut-wrenching read: look no further.

A Mi'kmaq family travels from Nova Scotia to Maine each summer to help with the berry crop. The summer of 1962 starts like any other: the children old enough to work help their dad in the fields, and the younger children help their mom. But this summer, unlike any before them, tragedy befalls the family, not once, but twice. And while they arrived as a family of 7, only 5 make the return trip come fall. Ruthie, the youngest, vanishes without a trace (if you're worried that this is a spoiler, the first sentence of the book is literally, "The day Ruthie went missing..."). And though no clues are uncovered, the remaining family members find themselves continuing to search, a decades long endeavor, each one of them losing a bit of themselves in the desire to find her.

This book is told through two narrators, and a back and forth timeline. As a reader, you find out fairly quickly what happened to the family that fateful summer, although the narrators each only have their own perspective, and it takes them much longer to unravel the mystery. Neither narrator is completely likeable...and not necessarily relatable either. And the story takes a frustrating (frustrating because as a reader you have the information that the characters do not...and it just seems so unlikely that they wouldn't pick up on the clues, too) amount of time to come to a conclusion.

The Berry Pickers leaves a taste in your mouth similar to a bite of a juicy, tart berry. Sour, pucker-faced at first, ending with a sweet note right at the end.

Good to know before reading: Multiple narrators; back and forth timeline. Trigger warnings for late-pregnancy miscarriage, kidnapping, violence, and infidelity.

My rating:

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The Spare Room

Andrea Barts

Even though I know what to expect when I choose a book in the Thriller genre, I still spend the entire book simultaneously entertained and stressed out. This book had me questioning everyone...and still threw a loop in at the end that I didn't see coming! If this is a genre that you enjoy, this book is a quick, fun read.

Kelly is reeling from the heartbreak of a break-up with her long-time boyfriend. So she's especially thankful when she reconnects with a friend from high school who invites her to spend some time quarantining with her and her husband (Covid quarantining plays a big factor in the setting and events of this story). Kelly jumps at the chance for a change of scenery and finds herself enjoying life in 'the spare room' at a beautiful home with Sabrina and Nathan, a seemingly perfect couple. As the new roommates get closer, Sabrina and Nathan offer Kelly more than just a spot in their home...they offer her a spot in their relationship, as well.

What ensues is a steamy, elicit affair that feels exciting and even a little bit dangerous. But just as the three of them are beginning to find their groove, someone from the past reappears, changing the dynamic for everyone involved. Kelly finds out that details from Sabrina and Nathan's past have been hidden from her, and she struggles with who to trust. More people in a relationship might be more fun...but it also may bring more jealousy, heartbreak, and enemies. Things begin to unravel when boundaries are pushed to the limit, and not everyone makes it out of the experience alive. Everyone is a suspect and no one is safe in this thrilling, risque world. The Spare Room deserves a spare spot on your nightstand...don't worry, it won't be there long.

My rating:

Steam rating:

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Red, White & Royal Blue

Casey McQuiston

If this isn't just the most perfect summer romance, I don't know what is. It has all the pieces: enemies to lovers story line, lots of angsty misunderstandings/miscommunications, good-looking and witty characters, and dialogue that's both funny and heartbreaking. And if you know me, you know how much I just l-o-v-e a good theme...and putting "Red, White, and Royal Blue" in my July blog made me absolutely giddy. Enjoy--this one is a true summer treat.

Alex is the son of the first female United States president. He can't wait to enter into a life of politics himself, with his first role being part of his mom's reelection campaign. Among his other commitments as part of the first family, is completing engagements with foreign dignitaries. Which is how he finds himself in a heated argument with his rival, Henry, the Royal Prince of England, at a Royal Wedding. When push comes to shove (literally-a wedding cake gets destroyed) the Royal Family and the First Family have to work together to do press damage control. The master plan? Henry and Alex must complete a string of engagements, demonstrating a friendly relationship. But as they spend more and more time together, the plan becomes murkier...the thoughts become muddled...the feelings become...more.

Henry and Alex embark on a clandestine affair, that if discovered could wreak havoc. On their countries...on their families...on their hearts. Not only does their relationship have them learning about the other person...but also themselves. Both Henry and Alex are on a deep, internal dive of figuring out what all of their feelings, thoughts, and desires mean. And they both have to decide, is what will make them happy worth possibly hurting the people around them? And when all hope seems to be lost, will their affection be enough to bridge the divide that seems as wide as the Atlantic ocean? Lucky for them, they both have fierce supporters on their side, ready to put it all on the line for love [for all].

I'm a firm believer that representation matters, and everyone deserves books where they can read about characters like themselves. I love that this author created a book that fits that niche for many of those readers. It's just a bonus that all of us, regardless of orientation, get to enjoy the fun, sexy banter between these two hunks.

Good to know before reading:

-Relationship between 2 males, lots of discussion on sexual orientation

My rating:

Steam rating:

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A Girl Called Samson

Amy Harmon

Told in a time when the young Americas were struggling for their freedom from England, many young men are grappling with how exactly they fit in the conflict...what their role will be...can they possibly survive against the better equipped, trained, and experienced British Army? And for a variety of reasons: loyalty, passion, patriotism, adventure seeking, restlessness...the men (and boys) stream to the front lines. The women are left behind, keeping the household running, worrying all the while about the loved ones they watched walk away. But for Deborah Samson, waiting and watching and worrying isn't enough. She knows she's meant to do more. She knows she can do more. Pioneer. Patriot. Rebel. Soldier. Deborah Samson is desperate to be able to attach these labels to her identity. And so she uses a corset to bind her chest, chops her hair, and turns herself into a boy...a boy who is now free to enlist and fight for the cause.

Day by day, Deborah leaves more of her past behind her and truly becomes a part of her regiment. Raiding, killing, reconnaissance, watch duties...she does every task assigned to her with might and determination. Her skills and mindset do not go unnoticed and she works her way up to becoming an aide to the General of her company, John Paterson. Although working, and living, in close quarters to General Paterson brings close calls, she is able to keep up her disguise while assisting him with all of his duties. What General Paterson doesn't know, however, is that his very own aide is someone from his past...someone very special to him. When the truth is uncovered, Deborah finds herself on a battlefield unlike any she's experienced before. This one is full of feelings, desires, and thoughts...and she finds that she's better equipped to deal with ones full of bullets, muskets, and cannons.

Amy Harmon uses meticulous research about the time period and character history, as well as some entertaining fabrications, to weave a story unlike any Revolutionary War book I've ever read. So many pieces of the book are based on Deborah Samson's real-life, although the romanticized portions are fictionalized (well-we think anyways. It's not like anyone was writing that type of stuff down anywhere back then. ;) ) If you like historical fiction with romance included-this is your next read.

My rating:

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The Wives

Simone Gorrindo

The Wives is a memoir, told from the vantage point of Simone, wife of a special operations soldier in the Army. If you, or a loved one, is not intimately involved in the military, it can seem like a foreign entity. The secrecy, the traditions, the rules. The nomadic way of living that is required for service members and their families can seem confusing and harsh to those of us on the outside. But for The Wives, it's just life. In her first book, Simone Gorrindo gives us a first-hand look at what it's truly like to be the spouse of an individual in the military. From the lack of control over basic decisions, to the loneliness that accompanies the frequent trainings and deployments, to the pure jubilation at seeing their face flash across your screen during a long awaited video call.

And while the men in the Unit have to be ready for anything the Army requires of them, the Wives have to be ready for everything else. Moving to towns where they know no-one. Finding jobs that allow them the flexibility needed for their ever changing lifestyle. Conceiving and birthing children during deployment breaks (and crossing fingers that their soldier makes it back in time to witness said birth). Keeping their homes and families going...even when they're sad, lonely, angry, and scared. Kept in the dark about much of what goes on with their spouse's job, they do whatever they can to stay in the light. Book clubs, play dates, coffee breaks. In the big newsworthy missions, the phone calls home, and the never ending work, they are reminded of how strong their husbands are. But, in the small, everyday normal happenings, they realize how strong they are. Tough. Resilient. They may not have the uniform, or the training, but The Wives are just as Army Strong as the men. They have to be.

In an attempt to deviate from my traditional genres, I made this memoir my monthly book subscription pick. One thing I always struggle with in memoirs is their non-lineal story lines. Topics tend to jump from one to another...and sometimes back again...leading it to feel choppy and like several smaller stories bundled up into one book. The Wives did not feel like this at all to me. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised with the high quality writing, the in-depth character development, and the chronological telling. The author got a bit political in some of the chapters for my liking...which, given the military topic isn't a total surprise...but even with that I still really enjoyed this!

My rating:

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Butcher and Blackbird

Brynne Weaver

There's a scene in the movie The Bone Collector where someone dies after being exposed to a massive, powerful steam pipe (if you've seen the movie, you know the scene, because it's incredibly disturbing). This book was like that. In books, there's steamy, and then there's so steamy your face just got blasted off by it. There are trigger warnings at the beginning of this one, and you should probably do a precursory glance at those to ensure you know what you're getting into. Once you open the pages, be prepared for all of your inhibitions to be...slaughtered.

Rowan and Sloan don't have a ton in common: one is fast-tempered and strong, the other intricate and precise. But their extracurricular activities thrust them together in a strange, gory, {romantic?}, high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Their mice? Serial killers. Rowan and Sloan both have an uncanny ability to locate and terminate killers who have eluded the authorities. They have very distinct ways of "getting the job done", and to provide a challenge, decide to make a game of it. Each year, they race to identify and dispose of their newest target. Winner gets bragging rights...and the excitement of the kill. But, time and time again, they find themselves relying on one another at their most vulnerable moments...and blood seems to act as an aphrodisiac for these two. While on the hunt, they meet a foe that isn't as first appears...will they be able to help each other escape? Or did they dig their own graves playing this dangerous game?

It's not often that a book will make you root for serial killers (they're only killing other serial killers, in their defense) and will have you questioning whether you like, or very much dislike, what you're reading (it will probably be both).

Good to know before reading:

Lots of triggers/content warnings-read the list at the beginning of the book.

This is the first book in a trilogy.

My rating:

This was a fan favorite in my book club-earning 4 or 5 stars from everyone (don't judge us).

Steam rating:

(!)

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Read along with me in August

Something old	It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Something new	The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Something steamy	Unwanted Love by Rachel Smith
Something true-ish	Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
Book club choice	Every Summer After by Carley Fortune