More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova (eBOOK)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
My next eBOOK AND Review - What Happened to the McCrays? (eARC/eBOOK)
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange (eARC/eBOOK)
I forgot to post about reading this eARC/eBOOK because I got a last-minute approval through NetGalley!!! I posted that I was reading it on Instagram, but missed posting here. I actually read this book off and on today in about twelve hours - it had me hooked.
Unfortunately, the Eaton and Palisades fires are making me scatterbrained. To compensate for that and forget about the devastation, I am reading, reading, reading.
OVERVIEW
This was an amazing book about a devastated and damaged family. The McCrays and the Higgins were families that lived next to each other and united when there was a marriage involving both families. The book covered so much such as love, loss, tragedy, grief, renewal, friendship, and family.
The dual timelines were divided into "Then/Now" with no specific time frame so you focused on the storyline and the characters. This novel occurred primarily in Upstate New York over 25 years.
I have read all three novels by Tracey Lange and this is the best way so far!! Please write more books, Tracey!
TRIGGER WARNING: Death by suicide attempt, loss of a child and parents, and divorce
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing, as always, was detailed, beautiful, and descriptive. Tracey really knows how to write about families. Especially nitty-gritty, down-and-dirty, and not-perfect families - real families.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main characters are Kyle (husband) and Casey (wife) who suffer continual losses from their childhoods into adulthood. These two characters are fully fleshed out to perfection.
The secondary characters are Wyatt (Casey's brother) and Danny (Kyle's father) who have to watch the couple's dysfunction without getting sucked into it all. They both are very fascinating characters.
The tertiary characters are the U14 kids' hockey team, Kyle and Casey's friends and co-workers, and the people and town of Potsdam, New York.
As is true for most novels, this contemporary fiction had many characters to round out the storyline.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The "Then" part of the storyline is about Kyle and Casey dating, marrying, parenting, and divorcing. The "Now" part of the storyline is about Kyle returning to his hometown after being gone for 2 1/2 years. It is the reconciliation of relationships and growing as individuals.
The main location was Potsdam, New York.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
As someone who lost someone dear to me who died by suicide, the attempted suicide in this novel hit home. I have always thought, "What if?". This novel helped me understand that I have to move past the grief and not focus on how the individual who passed died, but rather how they lived. This was powerful!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Very pretty!!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfect.
HIGHLY recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC (eARC/ebook)
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
320 pages
Celadon Books
Release date of 1/14/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Monday, January 13, 2025
REVIEW - The Stolen Queen (eBOOK)
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (eBOOK)
OVERVIEW
This is my third book by Fiona Davis who writes incredible historical fiction. This novel was based on the Metropolitan Museum of Art and had a dual timeline.
Two women who are unlikely companions join forces to solve a theft at the museum during the Met Gala in 1978. It also brings in the other timeline of Egypt in 1936 during the waning of the Egyptian craze in the United States.
I cannot wait to read what Fiona has planned next!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Fiona writes so beautifully and descriptively without being heavy-handed. I enjoy learning so much from her books even though they are historical fiction. But she writes her books with enjoyment in mind while providing education also.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The two main characters are Charlotte (Egyptologist in 1936/Met curator in 1978) and Annie (assistant to Diana Vreeland at the Met). Their paths cross due to the Met Gala and a firestorm of chaos is unleashed.
The secondary characters are Henry (Egyptologist/Charlotte's husband 1936), Leon (Egyptologist/Charlotte's nemesis 1936), Diana (Met Costume Institute/former magazine editor 1978), and Joyce (Annie's mother 1978).
The tertiary characters are other Met employees, Egyptian citizens, and friends/family of Charlotte and Annie.
Again, many characters in the storyline were not developed fully. They, however, were necessary for the detailed storylines.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
This was such an interesting storyline. The juxtaposition of Egypt in both timelines with the 1978 Met was beautifully done. It was woven together seamlessly.
In 1936 Egypt, Charlotte was on an archaeological dig and made a great discovery that reappeared as a loan at the Met. Then the Met Gala happens and everything goes haywire with a theft, an assault, and a termination. Then this historical fiction novel takes off and keeps going!
The main locations were New York, New York, and Egypt.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
I was fortunate to see the King Tut exhibit in Los Angeles before it ended its tour at the Met in 1978. The artifacts were so moving and helped make a real connection to me and the storyline. The descriptions of the tombs, the mummification process, and the antiquities in the burial chambers were fascinating.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
So pretty!!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfect.
HIGHLY recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (eBOOK)
The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
349 pages
Dutton
Release date of 1/7/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Sunday, January 12, 2025
booksbydorothea Best Books of 2024
Hi, everyone!
This is booksbydorothea Best Books of 2024! Notice that it is BOOKS, plural not singular. There is more to come in the next few paragraphs about this.
There is a big change to booksbydorothea as Best Books of 2024 will no longer recognize only one book. Instead, seven books will be highlighted in the ebook and audiobook categories.
There will be one winner and six runners-up in each category to better showcase the fabulous books available. It will now be called the booksbydorothea Best Books of 2024.
Next year, I will include the best monthly audiobook and ebook (if available) in my monthly wrap-ups. Unfortunately, I didn’t do that for 2024.
Now for the exciting reveal of the Nominees (all books were 5-star reviews):
2nd ANNUAL booksbydorothea BEST BOOKS NOMINEES OF 2024:
All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore (January) (ebook) LINK
Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles (February) (ebook) LINK
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer (March) (ebook) LINK
How To Read a Book by Monica Wood (April) (ebook) LINK
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarity (May) (ebook) LINK
The Friday Afternoon Club (June) (audiobook) LINK
The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman (July) (ebook) LINK
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn (August) (ebook) LINK
The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates (September) (audiobook) LINK
When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman (October - TIE) (ebook) LINK
Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine (October - TIE) (ebook) LINK
The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L Warren (November – TIE) (ebook) LINK
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (November – TIE) (audiobook) LINK
On Living by Kerry Egan (December) (audiobook) LINK
Additional audiobook nominees not included on the original nominee list:
Connie by Connie Chung (October) (audiobook) LINK
Be Ready When The Luck Happens (October) (audiobook) LINK
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop (October) (audiobook) LINK
Sonny Boy by Al Pacino (October) (audiobook) LINKIt is now time for the FINALISTS:
2nd ANNUAL booksbydorothea BEST BOOKS OF 2024 FINALISTS:
EBOOKS
All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman
Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine
The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren
AUDIOBOOKS
The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
Connie by Connie Chung
Be Ready When The Luck Happens by Ina Garten
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
Sonny Boy by Al Pacino
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
NOW for the TWO big reveals - drumroll, please!! booksbydorothea Best Books of
2024 (ebook and audiobook) are:
2024 BEST EBOOK:
All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore (ebook)
This will not be another review of this beautiful, enlightening, intelligent book. However, this book left me gobsmacked (a new British term for me) for a very long time. It was emotional to discover what I thought happened after former enslaved people crossed the Mason-Dixon line was wrong. It was whitewashed!
In Philadelphia, there were enslavers allowed with their enslaved people even though Pennsylvania was a “free state”. There were loopholes in the state law that permitted enslavers to travel to Philadelphia with specific enslaved people for up to six months. So it was just a game of switching enslaved people to the South before the six months were up to ensure that they had their “rotating" enslaved staff.
Overall, this historical novel is about free Black people, escaped enslaved people, and enslaved people trying to make a life in a city that was not welcoming to Blacks, period.
Read this book – I cannot recommend it more! It was one of my first reads of 2024 and I have thought about it ever since.
2024 BEST AUDIOBOOK:
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
Again, this will not be a rehashing of my first review. However, note that this book is a sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. I read both books as audiobooks.
But this audiobook was something special and brilliant! The audiobook was narrated by Daniel Henning who is superb and brings life to each character and narrated the prequel. I recommend reading the prequel first before this book.
The incredible characters include children who are a gnome, a wyvern, a green blob, a werewolf-Pomeranian, a sprite, and a yeti! The adults are a phoenix, a sprite, and "some naughty and some nice" humans!
The biggest takeaway from this book is that everyone is important in their unique style and way – even magical creatures. I love that the story includes chosen families, LGBT+ and BIPOC characters, and that good triumphs over evil!
Listen to this book (and the prequel) – I cannot emphasize how good the story highlighted by the narration is! This book is pure joy!
FINAL NOTES
The original review for each nominee is the LINK next to the title and author under NOMINEES. Click on the specific book link to get to that book review!
Congratulations to the nominees, finalists, and winners!! These are all fantastic books that I highly recommend!!
My final booksbydorothea blog post will be the Annual Wrap-up for 2024 which will be posted shortly.
Thank you so much for joining me on this wonderful journey of reading and listening to great books in 2024! Please join me again in 2025!
Happy reading and Happy Holidays,
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, January 9, 2025
REVIEW - Let Us March On (eARC/eBOOK)
Let Us March On by Shara Moon (eARC/eBOOK)
OVERVIEW
This is the first book by Sharon Moon that I have read and her first historical fiction novel. I can see many more historical fiction novels in her future.
The novel is based on a husband and wife who worked for FDR at the White House before his first inauguration until he died in 1945. The wife seemingly gains the trust of FDR and begins sharing letters that she receives from Black Americans (called Negro during this time and in this novel). Slowly, but surely some change begins and then WWII breaks out.
TRIGGER WARNING: Alcohol abuse, lynching discussions, physical and verbal violence
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
Shana writes really well.
But at times, current language usage slipped in the dialogue. Additionally, everyone spoke perfect English which would not be the case for undereducated staff. It made it ring less true to me.
Character development: 3.5 stars
The main characters are FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mac (FDR's valet), and Lizzie (FDR's maid).
The secondary characters are the many staff members, primarily Black, who worked in the White House.
The tertiary characters were political advisors and politicians.
Again, many characters in the storyline were not developed fully. They, however, were necessary for the detailed storyline.
My real issue was that the relationship between Mac and Lizzie was not deeply detailed. Lizzie was who the novel was about, not FDR. It felt as if it was heavy on FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt instead of Max and Lizzie.
Storyline: 4.0 stars
Mac serendipitously gets a job working for FDR as a valet when he was in Georgia as Governor of New York. Then Mac and Lizzie got jobs at the White House after his first inauguration and worked there until FDR's death.
Since this is a work of fiction, it is unclear what is fact versus fiction. An Author's Note would have been helpful for reference citations and to elaborate on the fictional part of this novel.
Did Lizzie do all of what is written in this novel? I don't know, but I will research Mac and Lizzie.
The main locations were Atlanta/Hot Springs, Georgia; Hyde Park, New York; and Washington DC.
Memorable/Informative: 4.5 stars
I was clueless about how difficult Black Americans, especially men, had it in all parts of the county. I had believed, incorrectly, that lynchings only occurred in the South. Our country was a mess until the Civil Rights Act, but it is backpedaling to the 1950s again.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Lovely!!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Good choice!
DEFINITE recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC (eARC/ebook)
Let Us March On by Shara Moon
384 pages
William Morrow
FUTURE release date of 2/4/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Monday, January 6, 2025
REVIEW - The Queens of Crime (eARC/eBOOK)
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict (eARC/eBOOK)
OVERVIEW
This is my first eARC/eBOOK of 2025! This historical fiction mystery book was a great first ARC to start the year!
Two women Founding Members of the Detection Club in London persuaded three other women mystery writers to join. These five writers also form a subgroup called the Queens of Crime. The writers initially decided to solve the murder of a young English nurse in France, as a lark, but then the "detective work" becomes more real and they want to find the murderer for the victim.
This was my fourth book by Marie Benedict and it was another really good one! The Queens of Crime could become a series - I would love it!
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
Marie always writes lovely prose, descriptive language, and a twist. I loved how the author wrote about post-WWI London, a time rarely written about at all in historical fiction novels.
Character development: 4.5 stars
The main characters are Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orczy. Apparently, all five were real-life mystery writers (I only knew of Agatha Christie).
The secondary characters are May (the victim), Celia (the victim's friend), Mac (Dorothy's husband and a newspaper journalist), and Ivy (Dorothy's cousin).
The tertiary characters are French residents, French police, Boulogne, and the suspects.
Again, many characters in the storyline were not developed fully. They, however, were necessary for the detailed storyline.
Storyline: 4.5 stars
The Queens of Crime decides to try and solve the murder of May in Boulougne-sur-Mer, France after playing a "closed room" game at their first meeting. The writers travel to the crime scene, retrace May and Celia's footsteps, and then discover many clues the French police missed or chose to ignore. It gets more mysterious and interesting as the murderer becomes known.
The "detective work" takes place in March/April 1931 with the ending set in December 1931. The five mystery writers solved this crime without resources other than their wit and puzzle-solving skill sets which the police were unable to do so. It shows that women need to be involved in crimes involving women.
The main locations were London, England, Boulougne-sur-Mer, France, and other locales in England.
Memorable/Informative: 4.5 stars
It was awesome that these five mystery writers joined the Detection Club and formed the Queens of Crime. I love women empowerment stories especially historical characters that I knew nothing about.
Unfortunately, I do not know how closely this novel varies from the real-life facts that it is fictionalized on. There wasn't an Author's Note so there were no source materials. With most historical fiction, there is a thorough explanation to wrap up the story in a nice bow.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Lovely!!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Great choice!
STRONG recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC (eARC/ebook)
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
320 pages
St. Martin's Press
FUTURE release date of 2/11/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
My next audiobook is...
Whiskey Tender by Deborah Jackson Taffa (audiobook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - The Girl on the Balcony (audiobook)
The Girl on the Balcony by Olivia Hussey (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
I had heard of Olivia Hussey due to her work in Romeo and Juliet but had never seen it. When she, unfortunately, passed away recently, I checked to see if she had an autobiography or memoir. She did so I decided to learn more about her and her life by checking it out from the library.
For some reason, this book just didn't do it for me. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. After her breakthrough role, Olivia lived a charmed life but grew up too quickly without adult supervision. She lived a wild life of partying but didn't seem really happy. Her life finally settled down somewhat when she met and married Dino Martin.
TRIGGER ALERT: Alcohol abuse, drug usage, sexual assault, and some foul language
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars
Writing: 3.0 stars
Olivia writes very choppily in bursts which is very odd to me as her son, Alexander Martin, a writer helped her with this book. She also left chapters hanging with a question and had no real transitions. It was very different from any other autobiography than what I had read. Was that the point? But it didn't work for me.
Narration: 3.5 stars
It was fine, but rather bland narration by Carol Monda, Normally, I choose to read memoirs or autobiographies narrated by the author. It gives more emotion and character to the audiobook. So it was disappointing not to be narrated by Olivia who is a professional actress.
Character Arc: 4.0 stars
The audiobook is primarily chronological with some flashbacks to fully explain important parts of the story. This is my preferred choice for memoirs and autobiographies.
But it was annoying that she would "foretell" the future at times and reveal a secret or tragedy that was discussed a few paragraphs later.
Memorable: 3.0 stars
Olivia had a typical celebrity actress life with many advantages, opportunities, and privileges. At times, it felt as if she really didn't appreciate what she had and who she had in her life. She squandered many opportunities for real love by allowing her and her partner's professional careers to come first.
She also did not have any strong adult figures to protect her. Olivia was unfairly used by Franco Zefferilli in Romeo and Juliet as a sexual being as a child. She needed an advocate to ensure that she was treated appropriately. This lack of role models also created a naive young woman who found herself in dangerous situations with dangerous people which was not her fault. It is just terribly sad.
Entertaining: 3.0 stars
This book was not so much entertaining as informative about her life.
It also dragged when she spent about 1/4 of the book discussing her spiritual guru, her spiritual journey, and India. This didn't interest me at all.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Gorgeous.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfect.
Recommend
STATISTICS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)
The Girl on the Balcony by Olivia Hussey
Blackstone Audiobooks
9 hours, 51 minutes
Release date of 7/31/2018
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Friday, January 3, 2025
2024 Year-End Recap
Hello, everyone!
The Holidays quickly snuck up on my family since Thanksgiving was so late this year so this is a short recap of a few booksbydorothea December 2024 posts. Since many of you limit your social media time during the holidays (like me), these two final posts may have been missed.
First up is the booksbydorothea Best Books of 2024! I have updated it with an ebook and an audiobook Best Books for 2024! There were 18 nominees with seven finalists in each category and two winners. You can find out more about the booksbydorothea Best Books of 2024 HERE.
The other end-of-year post is the booksbydorothea 2024 Annual Book Blog Wrap-up. This includes statistics, monthly recap links, a glossary, and a book rating detail. The booksbydorothea 2024 Annual Book Blog Wrap-up can be found HERE.
Any feedback on the booksbydorothea blog itself would be so appreciated. Also, if you have any book recommendations I would love that! Shout out to my dear friend, Jennifer, for recommending On Living by Kerry Egan (audiobook) which was a nominee and finalist for 2024!
Thank you for all of your support in 2024! See you in 2025!
Happy reading and Happy New Year!
Dorothea 💜
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