12/20/19 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar.

This is another ARC by NetGalley and back to my ongoing time period - WWII again. This time period just moves and interests me SO much!!

If you want to know more about Children of the Stars, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - THE QUEENS FORTUNE: A NOVEL OF DESIREE, NAPOLEON, AND THE DYNASTY THAT OUTLASTED THE EMPIRE

5.0 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Allison Pataki, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Okay, I must admit that I am a REAL LOVER of historical fiction - it is my favorite genre of books. I also must admit that I knew NOTHING about Desiree Clary. But, I love the books that I have read by Allison Pataki and this was NO exception!! However, I tried my best to read this book slowly, but I just couldn't do it!!

Desiree Clary was a fascinating character who lived during horrific times but managed to survive intact. Her life was amazing, interesting, and mind-boggling at times!!

This book goes from Marseilles to Paris to Stockholm seamlessly. I learned so much and now my interest is piqued and I want to know about Desiree Clary!

Allison Pataki has a lush, real, and beautiful style of writing. It is as if you are there IN the room as the story is unfolding. This is her BEST book yet!! I cannot wait to read more!

HIGHLY recommend, but most especially if you are a historical fiction lover!!

NOVEMBER 2019 WRAP-UP

So excited that my FOURTH monthly wrap-up for my blog, Books by Dorothea, is happening today!!

It has been a VERY busy month with Thanksgiving totally sneaking up on me AND Penny keeping me so busy that I cannot read! UGH!!

Anyway, I read three books again this month:

I also returned this book to the library without reading it as I knew that I didn't have the time! It makes me so sad when that happens.

I have enjoyed the three books this month (the first two were ARCs). Hopefully, I can get MORE books read this month of December with Christmas, Senior finals, and Penny getting spayed. HA! Wish me LUCK!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

12/1/19 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

The Queen's Fortune: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire by Allison Pataki.


This is another ARC by NetGalley and NOT about WWII for a second time! Yeah, a time period change - Napoleonic France!! I love the writing style, time periods, and storyline of every book that I have read by this author! I have SO been looking forward to this book!

If you want to know more about The Queen's Fortune: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - CARTIER'S HOPE: A NOVEL

3.5 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Atria Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to M.J. Rose, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was interesting especially due to the time period and the Hope Diamond story. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about women's issues that continue to this day! Things have not changed much in over 100 years.

The writing style of this author, at times, grated on me. It was very formal and filled with SAT words. That slowed down my enjoyment of the writing and storyline.

This was a nice book and I recommend!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

12/1/19 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

Cartier's Hope: A Novel by M.J. Rose.

This is another ARC by NetGalley and NOT about WWII! Yeah, a time period change!! in a row!!

If you want to know more about Cartier's Hope: A Novel, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

UPDATE 12/1/19: 11/20/19 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

UPDATE: 12/1/19 - Unfortunately, I had to return this book to the library as I had NO time to read it due to the Thanksgiving holidays. It has NOT been read by me!

The Guardians John Grisham.

All of John Grisham's books are very entertaining, interesting, and thought-provoking. I hope that this book is as good as the previous books that I have read by him!

If you want to know more about The Guardians, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - THE 19th CHRISTMAS

3 STARS

This series is an enjoyable guilty pleasure for me. I enjoy the characters, setting, and storyline. This is NUMBER 19 in this series. Unfortunately, I find that the writing is just not as strong and interesting as the first books in the series.

I will continue to see this series to the end! I want to know what happens to the characters!!

Recommend ONLY if you have read the other 18 books in the series!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

11/16/19 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

The 19th Christmas by James Patterson.

This series is one of my guilty pleasures! I normally read books in the series VERY quickly! We shall see if this is true for the 19th book in this series!

If you want to know more about The 19th Christmas, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - THE WHISPERS OF WAR

4.5 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Julia Kelly, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was SO very good!! This book was about the time right before WWII in Great Britain and during the very beginning of the war. It was such a great historical novel about one of my favorite time periods to read about in historical fiction. It also had some FABULOUS twists and turns that had me guessing until the very end. LOVE!

As in every book that I read, I found out something that I did NOT know! OMG!! I never knew that Great Britain interred German, Austrian, and Italians during WWI and WWII.

The biggest take-away is that you can develop strong and deep friendships that are just like family. The main three characters all had reasons to become a family of three. They showed what REAL love and family are all about.

This was a lovely book and I highly recommend it!!

Happy reading,


Dorothea 💜

11/8/19 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

The Whispers of War by Julia Kelly.

This is another ARC by NetGalley and also about WWII. MY genre again for several books in a row!!

If you want to know more about The Whispers of War, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜