REVIEW - The Wind Knows My Name

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

    Writing: 5.0 stars (Isabel Allende writes descriptively like lush and beautiful poetry)

    Character development: 5.0 stars (the characters were incredible and so real)

    Storyline: 5.0 stars (current, yet historical also. Powerful!!)

    Book cover: 5.0 stars (perfection as ALWAYS with an Allende cover)

    Gut feeling: 5.0 stars (Allende books NEVER disappoint)

HIGHLY recommend

INFORMATION/LINKS

234 pages
1 day to read (I could NOT put it down!!!)
Read as a Kindle ARC
Release date of 06/06/2023
https://www.isabelallende.com/en
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62583518-the-wind-knows-my-name
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/57084/ballantine/
https://www.netgalley.com

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

 

My next book is...

 

REVIEW - Sally Brady's Italian Adventure

 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars

    Writing: 3.0 stars

    Character development: 2.0 stars (the characters were NOT believable)

    Storyline: 2.5 stars (all over the place with three points of view)

    Book cover: 2.0 stars (it was not about an adventure - it was WWII)

    Gut feeling: 3.0 stars (this just didn't work for me and was so slow)

VERY lukewarm recommendation

INFORMATION/LINKS

368 pages
4 days to read (it just seemed to take forever to finish!!!)
Read as a Kindle ARC
Release date of 06/13/2023
https://www.clynchwriter.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60732121-sally-brady-s-italian-adventure
https://us.macmillan.com/stmartinspress/
https://www.netgalley.com

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next book is...

 

REVIEW - The 23rd Midnight (Women's Murder Club series)

 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars

    Writing: 3.0 stars

    Character development: 3.0 stars (so much opportunity here)

    Storyline: 3.5 stars (interesting and good storyline)

    Book cover: 4.0 stars (this is the book cover on Kindle books)

    Gut feeling: 3.0 stars (make me happier overall about the book and series!)

Lukewarm recommendation; please read the TWENTY-TWO other books first. This tired series needs to end even though I love the premise.

INFORMATION/LINKS

400 pages
1 days to read (my book reading mojo after Covid IS back!!!)
Read as a Kindle Library book - Los Angeles Public Library
Release date of 03/2/2023
https://lapl.overdrive.com/
https://www.jamespatterson.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62589768-the-23rd-midnight
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/imprint/little-brown-and-company/
https://www.netgalley.com

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

Vroman's Bookstore

I have loved Vroman's since I was a kid. There are two locations of this beloved bookstore in Pasadena, California - Colorado Blvd. and Hastings Ranch. If a bookstore has been around since 1894 and is the largest in Southern California, you know that it is a GOOD bookstore!! 

My problem with Vroman's is that I come in for ONE thing and come out with FIVE things. There are so many beautiful, fun, and interesting things in Vroman's. I could spend hours in the store and never see the same thing twice!!

Check it out!! https://www.vromansbookstore.com

Colorado Blvd.

695 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101

626-449-5320

Mon-Sat 10am-9pm

Sunday 10am-7pm

(Curbside pick-up: Sun-Tues: 10am- 6:30pm, Wed-Sat: 10am-8:30pm)

Masks Highly Encouraged

 

Hastings Ranch

3729 E Foothill Blvd Pasadena, CA 91107

626-351-0828

Sun-Thur 9am-7pm

Fri-Sat 9am-8pm

(Curbside pick-up: Sun-Thur 9am-6:30pm, Fri-Sat: 9am- 7:30pm)

Masks Highly Encouraged

 

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜 

Blog Formatting Change

Okay, I am going to change the format of this blog which I think will improve it greatly. Or it will be a hot mess! Ha!

Anyway, I will no longer post my full Goodreads review. I will only link it. 

Instead, I will do a quick review of the writing, character development, storyline, book cover, gut feeling, and overall rating. I will score from 0-5 stars. Hopefully, it will make this blog so much better. Get ready for this change in the NEXT book review!!

Something like this:

• Overall rating:
• Writing:
• Character Development:
• Storyline:
• Book Cover:
• Gut feeling:

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next book is...

 

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW of The Wishing Game

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60864829-the-wishing-game

 

4.5 stars

Thank you to Meg Shaffer, Ballantine Books, and NetGallery for the opportunity to read this book!

OMG! This is just a LOVELY, LOVELY, LOVELY book. It was the second book that I read after having Covid and it was just what I needed. Initially, I started this book and put it aside as I wasn't sure that I was going to finish it (and I had a deadling for another ARC that I hadn't started yet). This is a book that you need to allow to allow a moment to get into it and then you won't be able to stop reading it!

I totally hit my stride with this book and couldn't stop reading it until late this evening. It is such an amazing book. I would love to see this book made into a sweet children's movie or series! I also cannot wait to read more books by this author.

Read this book - highly recommend it!!

Information/Links:
320 pages
3 days to read (I took a break and then inhaled it)!!!
Read as a Kindle ARC
Release date of 05/30/2023
https://www.megshaffer.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60864829-the-wishing-game
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/57084/ballantine/
https://www.netgalley.com

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

Was this YOU also???

I loved reading from a very young age. I remember my friend Mark Andrews helping me to read better in Kindergarten. He doesn't remember this, but I have a very vivid memory of it. Mark and I went K-12 together - that just doesn't happen as much anymore!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

Covid Brain Fog

As I indicated in a previous post, my little family had Covid and tested negative a week ago. However, I seem to be at the end of a Covid Brain fog. I haven't really been able to read so I hope to finish my current book within the next few days. Thanks for your patience!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜