REVIEW - Swimming to Lundy (eBOOK)

 

Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse (eBOOK)

OVERVIEW

Oh, I just loved this recent book by Amanda Prowse. She writes about real life with an understanding of the reality of family. Her books are not about perfect relationships and families, but rather about the warts and all. It is the B sides and how life really is!! Don't get me wrong, her books are not "junk food reads". This is the FIFTEENTH book I have read by Amanda so I am almost halfway through her book oeuvre (I just discovered this word and love it)!!

TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual situations, alcohol abuse, blood, death, infidelity, strong language

 

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

Amanda's writing is just so lovely! It is descriptive, yet just perfectly worded and not overdone. I love that she is English and writes English slang and verbiage. 

 

Character development: 5.0 stars

The character development is always strong in Amanda's books and this is no exception.   

There are two timelines in 2023/2024 and 2002/2024 in Ilfracombe, England. The first timeline is about Tawrie (waitress, daughter, and granddaughter) and the second is about Harriet (mother, wife, and researcher). The two timelines eventually merge into collided lives and previous history. 

The secondary characters in both timelines are Bear (Tawrie's friend), Annalee (Tawrie's mother), Nan (Tawrie's grandmother), Dan (Tawrie's dad), and Hugo (Harriet's husband). 

The tertiary characters are the family and friends of Tawrie and Harriet, the people of Ilfracombe, and Ilfracombe. fellow students and the ship's crew. Plus, multiple throw-away characters add to the storyline. 

 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

As this novel is written in two timelines, it is so creative how the two timelines are braided to create a powerful and intense ending. 

The basic premise was about Tawrie who was born and raised in Ilfracombe and never followed her dreams. Then her friendship with Bear begins and her life is upended. Also, Harriet moves to Ilfracombe to restart and repair her marriage with complicated results. 

The main locations were Ilfracombe and London, England. 

 

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

I didn't know London was colloquially referenced as the "big smoke". That is why I love reading books written by authors from other countries. I always learn so much about the author and the country where the book is set. 

 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect!

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Excellent!    

 

HIGHLY recommend

 

Purchased from Amazon

Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse

408 pages 

Lake Union Publishing

Release date of 8/6/2024

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Amanda Prowse

My Goodreads review

Storygraph

Lake Union Publishing

 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

My next eBOOK is...

 Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse (eBOOK)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Sirens (eARC/eBOOK)

 The Sirens by Emilia Hart (eARC/eBOOK)

OVERVIEW

I'm back in my comfort zone of mystical fantasy combined with historical fiction!! Oh, my goodness, I loved this novel so much. Utter perfection! I enjoyed Emila's debut novel, Weyward, but this novel is beyond incredible. It was phenomenal!

TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual situations, statutory rape, alcohol abuse, confinement, overall cruelty, homophobic slurs, strong language

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

The writing was gorgeous, luscious, and powerful! Emilia was the perfect author for this unique and beautiful story. It was lushly descriptive, but not so overdone that it was just descriptive with no real story. 

 

Character development: 5.0 stars

The character development is strong and thorough, but this a heavy character novel which is what was so appealing about this novel.  

There are two timelines in 1999/2019 Australia with sisters Jess (an artist) and Lucy (a college student). Another timeline is the 1800ish about the long journey in the hold of ship with Irish women convicts traveling to Australia with twin sisters Mary and Eliza.   

The secondary characters in 1999 are Max (Jess's best friend) and Cameron (Jess's teacher); in 1999/2019 Mike and Mary (Jess's/Lucy's parents); in 2019 Melody (Jess's friend); and in the 1800 timeline the 80 or so female convicts. 

The tertiary characters are fellow students and the ship's crew.  Plus, multiple throw-away characters that add to the storyline. 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

As this novel is written in multiple timelines, the setup takes up about a third of the book to fully set up the storyline. It is intense and so powerful! 

The basic premise was about two sisters in two different timelines. Two sisters in Australia in two current times and two sisters on a convict ship on their way to Australia. The Australian sisters' two timelines merge and then weave beautifully with the Irish sisters' timeline like an intricate tapestry.

The storyline sounds confusing and vague. But I am purposely avoiding much context to keep from spoiling the storyline.   

The main locations were: Ireland, the ship from Ireland to Australia, and Australia.

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

I knew the long journey on ships the convicts took from the United Kingdom to Australia was horrific, but this historical novel is very realistic in the horrors and cruelty. This type of punishment was inhumane, but most especially for women. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Gorgeous!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfection!    

HIGHLY recommend

NetGalley (eARC/eBOOK)

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

352 pages 

The Borough Press

FUTURE release date of 2/13/2025

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Emilia Hart

My Goodreads review

Storygraph

The Borough Press

NetGalley

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

Amazon First Reads

Hi, everyone!!

Did you know as part of your Amazon Prime Membership you receive a FREE monthly Kindle book available?? It is called Amazon First Reads!! You can find out more about it here: Amazon First Reads.

The Amazon First Reads email went out to me late yesterday! There is a free Kindle book and a free Kindle short story for February 2025. I am really enjoying the additional short story along with the free ebook!

My TWO choices for February 2025 are:

The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst (eBOOK)

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez (short story)

So what Kindle book are you SELECTING?!? Neither of these is historical fiction so I hope I like them both. Abby Jimenez is a popular author, but this is my first exposure to her writing!

Also, as a reminder, remember to "buy" AND download the FREE books from Amazon! You can't read a book or a short story that hasn't been downloaded! Ask me how I know?!?

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 Unlovable by Darren Hayes (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Never (audiobook)

 

Never by Rick Astley (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

Rick Astley's ubiquitous song "Never Gonna Give You Up" was the 1987 summer hit. LINK (I Rickrolled you if you clicked the link, LOL)!  

This is the type of fun that Rick includes in his autobiography. Yet is also very soul-searching, raw, and real. Rick is the type of person you could grab a drink with and talk for hours. I would love the opportunity!  

TRIGGER ALERT: Foul language, alcohol use 

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

Rick writes well and from the heart.

I don't know if he had a ghostwriter, but if not - WELL DONE!

Narration: 5.0 stars

The narration was fantastic! Rick did it which is my preferred choice with autobiographical audiobooks. He has a beautiful voice and a lovely English accent. 

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

The audiobook is fairly chronological with occasional explanations or flashbacks to develop the story fully. 

This is Rick's autobiography and is his story. He was open and shared much about his life including his difficult childhood and the predatory music industry. 

Memorable:  5.0 stars

Rick had colorful and eccentric parents. I could relate to his relationship with his parents on many levels although our childhoods were quite different. 

It was a redemption story of an artist who was just another money maker for his original producer Pete Waterman and writers Stock Aiken Waterman (SAW). But, Rick leaves music behind to have a normal life and then finds joy and happiness in music again after 50!  

Entertaining:   5.0 stars

This book was full of wild and crazy stories and was hysterical! All I can think of is someone shouting "WANKER!" and I smile! 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect.      

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Excellent title!

HIGHLY recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Never by Rick Astley

Macmillan Audio

7 hours, 43 minutes

Release date of 10/10/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Rick Astley

My Goodreads review

My Storygraph review

Macmillan Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next eARC/eBOOK is...

 The Sirens by Emilia Hart (eARC/eBOOK)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - I Would Die for You (eARC/eBOOK)

 I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones (eARC/eBOOK)

OVERVIEW

So, I tried a book out of my comfort zone - a mystery thriller. I will stay with historical and contemporary fiction from now on. 

This is the first book by Sandie Jones that I have read. It was just okay and was like reading a book that could be compared to cotton candy. Tastes good, but no depth. 

TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual situations, rape, alcohol abuse, drug usage, mental health issues, strong language

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars

Writing: 2.5 stars

The writing was okay. But at times, some of the dialogue was overwrought, melodramatic, and unrealistic. 

 

Character development: 3.0 stars

The main characters are Nicole (the older sister), Cassie (the younger sister), and Ben (a famous rock star).  

The secondary characters are John (the sisters' father), Gigi (the sisters' mother), and Amelia (Cassie's friend).   

The tertiary characters are the band "Secret Oktober", Zoe (a mysterious character), and Nicole's family. 

Unfortunately, the only character that I liked was Hannah, Nicole's daughter. 

Storyline:  3.0 stars

The basic premise was about two sisters and a major rock star in London in 1986 London. Chaos ensues and then both timelines become unhinged and unreal. For a somewhat interesting thriller, it fizzled at the end with a lackluster ending.  

The main locations were: Los Angeles, San Diego, and London

Note, that I am purposely vague about the storyline to avoid giving away the big plot twists.  

Memorable/Informative:   3.0 stars

The London rock scene in 1986 must have been as crazy as it was in Hollywood. 

Book cover: 3.0 stars

Awful!

Book title: 4.0 stars 

On point     

Lukewarm recommend

NetGalley (eARC/eBOOK)

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones

347 pages 

Minotaur Books

FUTURE release date of 3/25/2025

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Sandie Jones

My Goodreads review

Storygraph

Minotaur Books

NetGalley

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next eARC/eBOOK is...

 

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones (eARC/eBOOK)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - A Map to Paradise (eARC/eBOOK)

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner (eARC/eBOOK)

OVERVIEW

Wow, what an inopportune book to read as the two big fires in So Cal are finally 100% contained. There is the 1956 Malibu Fire (there are always Malibu fires) in the plot of this novel. 

This is the fifth historical fiction novel by Susan Meissner I have read. Her books are very entertaining, fun, and interesting about unique periods. But her books are not deep-dives into the time or characters or books that I will think about for a long time, unfortunately. Of the five novels that I have read by Susan, this is my least favorite.   

TRIGGER WARNING: Fire, death, mental health issues, Hollywood blacklisting, war references with violence, domestic violence

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars

Writing: 3.5 stars

The writing was good, but not great. At times, some of the dialogue was trite and unrealistic. 

 

Character development: 4.0 stars

The main characters are Melanie (a blacklisted Hollywood actress), June (sister-in-law/caretaker of a Hollywood screenwriter), and Eva (a displaced person due to WWII). These three women become entwined in a big secret and become friends in a very short time. 

The secondary characters are Elwood (an agoraphobic Hollywood screenwriter), Nicky (Melanie's nephew), and Carson (Melanie's special friend).    

The tertiary characters are Melanie's manager/Elwood's manager, Alex (Melanie's brother), and Malibu. 

This is a very unique historical novel with few characters. It did make it easy to follow all of the characters.   

Storyline:  3.5 stars

The basic premise was about a blacklisted actress hiding out in a Malibu neighborhood next door to a famous agoraphobic Hollywood screenwriter. He is cared for by his sister-in-law. Eventually, a part-time housekeeper works for both homes and discovers a secret that entangles the three women in lie after lie. 

The main locations were: Los Angeles, Malibu, and Palm Springs, California. 

Memorable/Informative:   3.5 stars

This historical takes place during the "red scare" and Hollywood blacklisting in Hollywood. The novel doesn't seem realistic as all three main characters overreact quite oddly to plot twists.  

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Pretty!

Book title: 4.0 stars 

Somewhat ironic.     

Recommend

NetGalley (eARC/eBOOK)

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner

347 pages 

Berkley

FUTURE release date of 3/18/2023

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Susan Meissner

My Goodreads review

Storygraph

Berkley

NetGalley

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

booksbydorothea - January 2025 - Monthly Wrap-up

Goodbye (and good riddance), January!! 

 

WOW, January 2025 was an awful month as I live fairly close to the three horrible fires in So Cal. It will take years to return to normalcy. but we are #LAStrong.

I read and listened to books to distract myself from the chaos and avoid doomscrolling. This is the most books (audiobooks and eBOOKS) I have ever read in a month - EIGHTEEN. Yeah, me!!

So I have made some changes to my Monthly Wrap-up which should make it more streamlined and easier to navigate. I’m always making small changes to improve this book blog.

Additionally, I have started using StoryGraph. There is much more analysis and graphs! I'm going to continue to explore and understand StoryGraph better. So far it is easier to use, well-thought-out, and a strong competitor to Amazon-owned Goodreads. What’s not to like?

Going forward, I will consider all 5-star books as nominees for the Best Books of 2025 with an eBOOK and an audiobook category. We should see a gradual increase in the list of nominees as we go through 2025. 

For January, there were ten eBOOKS and two audiobooks that were 5-star reviews!

 BEST BOOKS FOR JANUARY 2025

eBOOKS

 

JANUARY

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange

More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova

Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio

The Memory of Cotton by Ann K. Howley

The Secret History of Audrey Jones by Heather Marshall

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

Audiobooks

JANUARY

Me by Elton John

Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen

 

GOODREADS READING GOAL

My goal is to read 101 books in 2025. As of January 31^st, I have read 18 books, or 17.8% of my goal.

JANUARY 2025 STATISTICS

18 total books

13 ebooks; 5 audiobooks; 0 physical books

8 books - ARC (Advance Reader Copy)

9 books - Library

0 books – Purchased

0 books - Amazon First Reads

0 books - Book Club Girl

1 book – author gifted

 

Audio listening time in January 2025: 51 hours, 19 minutes

Pages read in January 2025: 2,255 pages

Average review rating: 4.69 stars

JANUARY 2025 BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS 

eBOOKS

5.0-star eBOOKS

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman LINK

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis LINK

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange LINK

More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova LINK

Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman LINK

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman LINK

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio LINK

The Memory of Cotton by Ann K. Howley LINK

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall LINK

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall LINK

4.5-star eBOOK

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict LINK

4.0-star eBOOKS

Let Us March On by Shara Moon LINK

The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn LINK

 

Audiobooks

5.0-star audiobooks

Me by Elton John LINK

Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen LINK

4.5-star audiobook

Whiskey Tender by Deborah Jackson Taffa LINK

 

4.0-star audiobook

Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old by Brooke Shield LINK

3.5-star audiobook

The Girl on the Balcony by Olivia Hussey LINK

NOTE: There were no 3.5-star or 3.0-star eBOOKS or 3.0-star audiobooks this month.

If you want to read my full review of any of these books, there are individual review links for each ebook or audiobook next to the book title and author (under JANUARY 2025 BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS just above). Click on the specific book link ink to get to that book review.

If there is anything you would like to see in future monthly wrap-ups, please reach out! My primary goal is to make it easy for YOU to find new books to explore and read!

Happy reading!

Dorothea 💜

P.S. You can find out more about my book ratings HERE.