My next eARC/ebook is ...

 How to Kill a Witch by Zoe Venditozzi & Claire Mitchell (eARC/ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - A Dark and Deadly Journey (eARC/ebook)

 A Dark and Deadly Journey (Evelyne Redfern #3) by Julia Kelly (eARC/ebook)

OVERVIEW

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

This is my eighth book by Julia and the third book in the Evelyne Redfern series. This book had so many twists and turns, and ups and downs that I'm unsure if my head is facing in the correct direction! 

I love this series - I know, it's World War II, but this author gets a pass on my embargo. It is a historical murder mystery without graphic sex scenes or graphic language.  

This is not a stand-alone novel, so I suggest reading books one and two in the series before this one! 

OVERALL REVIEW:    5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

The writing is excellent, and Julia is beautifully descriptive in her writing, but not overly so. I enjoyed the descriptions of the period clothing, food, and Portugal.  

The violence and murders (yes, this is a murder mystery novel) are written in a "cozy" way. The reader understands what happens without being subjected to reading all the gory details. Clear as mud?

Character development: 5.0 stars

The two main characters are Evelyne and David, who are partners in the British SIU (Special Investigation Unit). 

The secondary characters are coworkers in the SIU, family, friends, victims, and the suspects. 

The tertiary character is Lisbon, Portugal. The city is described as fascinating and beautiful, and is the perfect setting for this murder mystery. 

The character development is always strong with Julia's books, and this was no exception!

Storyline:  5.0 stars 

My goodness! There is a missing operative in Lisbon in late 1940 whom Evelyne and David are tasked with locating. But, everything is not what it seems for almost all of this novel. Oh, my, this book ended on a wild note, so I can not wait for book four in this series! Please, Julia!

The primary locations were London and Bristol, England, and Lisbon, Portugal.    

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

Lisbon sounds amazing. I loved all the descriptions of the city, people, language, and food. It is now on my personal bucket list!

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect.   

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

On point.  

 

Highly recommend

NetGalley eARC/ebook

A Dark and Deadly Journey (Evelyne Redfern #3) by Julia Kelly

304 pages

Minotaur Books

FUTURE release date: 9/23/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Julia Kelly

Goodreads review

Storygraph review

Minotaur Books

NetGalley

TRIGGER WARNINGS

Mild cursing and sexual content, gun violence, non-descriptive violence, alcohol, sexism, death of a parent, grief, suicide, misogyny, classism, war, and xenophobia. 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next eARC/ebook is ...

A Dark and Deadly Journey (Evelyne Redfern #3) by Julia Kelly (eARC/ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Austen Affair (eARC/eBOOK)

 The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell (eARC/ebook)

OVERVIEW

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

This is my first book written by Madeline Bell. This is her first adult novel after writing two Young Adult novels.   

I loved the premise of the book, but I didn't enjoy the execution.  It was a fun and fast novel, which was so different from my recent heavier reads. I liked this novel, but did not love it. 

OVERALL REVIEW:    4.0 stars

 

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing is good, most especially for a new adult novelist. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the countryside, the homes, and the clothing. 

But it felt like Madeline was referencing commercial items to earn a marketing share. All the commercial references were a little grating. 

Character development: 4.0 stars

The two main characters are Tess and Hugh (actors in a Northanger Abbey).  

The secondary characters are Hugh's family in Hampshire and London. 

The tertiary characters are co-workers, neighbors, friends, and villagers in Hampshire.   

The character development wasn't overly strong, but it was good. There were back stories for the main and secondary characters. 

Storyline:  5.0 stars 

The storyline was creative and interesting. The two main characters, Tess and Hugh, accidentally get electrocuted and travel from 2025 back to the same spot in 1815. 

Since both characters had done research for their parts in the movie, they were able to primarily pass as non-anachronistic. It was great fun to compare what they saw in 2025 versus 1815 in the exact same locations. 

The primary locations were Hampshire and London, England.   

Memorable/Informative:   3.0 stars

It is a sacrilege to have strong cursing, sexual content, and a very graphic and gratuitous sex scene while writing about Hampshire, England, during the Regency era, while referencing Jane Austen. I don't think the hard-core Janeites are going to like it one bit. No, nope, no way! I certainly did not like that at all!

Book cover: 4.0 stars

It was meh to me.   

 

Book title: 4.0 stars 

Good.  

 

Definite recommend

NetGalley eARC/ebook

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

441 pages

St. Martin's Griffin

FUTURE release date: 9/16/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Madeline Bell

Goodreads review

Storygraph review

St. Martin's Griffin

NetGalley

TRIGGER WARNINGS

Strong cursing, graphic sex scene, sexual content, violence, alcohol,  death of a parent, grief, sexism, misogyny, and xenophobia. 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next eARC/ebook is ...

 The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell (eARC/ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Wilderness (eARC/ebook)

 

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (eARC/ebook)

OVERVIEW

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

This is my first book written by Angela Flournoy. It is her sophomore novel, ten years after her award-winning, The Turner House (added to TBR). Hopefully, she continues to write beautiful stories. 

I absolutely loved this book because I really connected with the four main characters, who feel lost, uncertain, and adrift during their 20s and 30s. This novel explores societal themes, including social media, identity, and the pressures of growing up in the digital age. Most especially, the fear of failure and the angst of adulting during a recession, 9/11, the pandemic, and Black Lives Matter are highlighted. 

My favorite bonus is that it is set in my hometown of Los Angeles and Southern California. 

OVERALL REVIEW:    5.0 stars

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

The writing is stunningly beautiful! That is all that needs to be said.

Character development: 5.0 stars

The four main characters are Desiree, January, Monique, and Nakia (friends from various points in their lives).  

The secondary character is Danielle (Desiree's estranged sister).  

The tertiary characters are assorted friends, family, lovers, partners, husbands, boyfriends, coworkers, and other folks in the main and secondary characters' storylines.  

Angela writes about each main character's point of view as if they are right in front of you, with intriguing backstories and full character development. Be still, my bookish heart! 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

This book is very unique. It is not chronologically organized, with random years going forward and backward in time. Additionally, each chapter includes the four main characters individually or in various groupings. The beautiful chaos of this novel matches the confusion of the characters' 20s and 30s. Perfection!

This may not be everyone's type of storyline, but it really worked for me as I inhaled this novel. 

The primary locations were Los Angeles and New York City.   

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

This beautiful book showcases the chosen family experiences of four unique Black women born into the Millennial generation. The novel specifically focuses on about twenty years in their lives from 2008 onward. 

It was very relatable to me, even though I am not a digital native (thank God!) and am about twenty-five years older than the characters. Some of their experiences could have been mine, but I am not sharing! 

The homages to Octavia Butler were beautiful and powerful. 

Book cover: 4.0 stars

It was meh to me.   

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

So perfect!  

 

Highly recommend

Book Club Girl gifted: eARC/ebook

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy

386 pages

Mariner Books

FUTURE release date: 9/16/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Angela Flournoy

Goodreads review

Storygraph review

Mariner Books

Book Club Girl

TRIGGER WARNINGS

Abandonment, violence, gun violence, alcohol, drug use, death of a parent, sexual situations, death, sexual assault, police violence, misogyny, and strong cursing.

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is ...

 The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King (audiobook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Mean Moms (audiobook)

 

Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This is my first book by Emma Rosenblum. It was about a quartet of rich mom BFFs (think Sex in the City meets Real Housewives) whose kids attend a fictional NYC private school, Atherton Academy. 

This book had a lot of wildly hysterical moments, but it also had a lot of beyond spicy scenes, including a graphic sadomasochistic scene. I'm not a prude, but that was over the top for me and left me very uncomfortable. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars

Writing: 3.0 stars 

The writing was meh for me. It is like a reality television show with arguing or competitive moms and then a sex scene, rinse and repeat. 

Narration: 5.0 stars

The narration was not by the author, but rather by January LaVoy, who did a fantastic job! 

Character development: 3.0 stars

The main characters are Belle, Frost, Morgan, and the newcomer Sofia. The four of them become "friends" and encounter random, bad things happening to their group.  

The secondary characters are the husbands and kids of the four women. 

The tertiary characters are the school, the Parents Association, and the other parents and kids at the school. 

There are many characters throughout the book, especially at the school, and that made it hard to keep everyone straight.   

The character development was weak. Everyone stayed true to who they were and really didn't learn much during the chaos of the school year. 

 

Memorable:  3.0 stars

The over-the-top parties, clothing, and home descriptions were wild. Other than that, it was forgettable, not memorable.  

Entertaining/Educational:  3.5 stars

It was difficult to overlook the many sex scenes. If they had been more nuanced and not so graphic, this could have been a good book. All of the sex got in the way of the real issue - there was a sociopath on the loose. I really only finished to find out who it was!

Book cover: 3.0 stars

Meh.    

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfect.   

Lukewarm recommend

Storygraph audiobook giveaway sponsored by Macmillan Audio

Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum

9 hours, 12 minutes 

Macmillan Audio

Release date: 7/29/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Emma Rosenblum

Goodreads review

Storygraph review

Macmillan Audio

TRIGGER WARNINGS: strong and graphic sexual content, sadomasochism, violence, classism, gun violence, sexual violence, and cursing

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next eARC/ebook is ...

 The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (eARC/ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Confessions of a Grammar Queen (ebook)

 

Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is my first book written solely by Eliza Knight. She and Denny S. Bryce co-wrote a book, Can't We Be Friends, that was incredible! 

For me, I could not put this book down. I read all day and started and finished this book today!

OVERALL REVIEW:    5.0 stars

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

The writing is on point! It had a lot of serious topics (equal pay, sexism, and sexual harassment), but it was written in a humorous, real, and easy-to-read style. 

Character development: 5.0 stars

The main characters are Bernadette (a junior copywriter) and Frank (a Great Dane).   

The secondary characters are Mr. Wall (Bernadette's boss), Graham (Bernadette's work friend), and Bernadette's assorted and supportive girlfriends. 

The tertiary characters are Mrs. Morris (Bernadette's landlady), Bernadette's family, and various co-workers.

There was strong character development, which I loved. I especially liked being in the mind of the Great Dane, Frank, which was a fun twist! 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

Bernadette is a junior copywriter who is "temporarily" promoted to senior copywriter while working for a difficult boss in a "boys club" environment. 

Bernadette, as the sole female copywriter, faces discrimination, sexual harassment, and hazing. She uses creative approaches to disrupt the status quo and showcase her skills.

The storyline takes place in the summer and fall of 1963. This was a complicated time after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and before the assassination of John F. Kennedy. 

The main locations were New York City and some in Maryland.  

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

This historical fiction novel addressed the difficult social issues of the era, including the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, and women's equality initiatives. But it is still fun and whimsical - it is a perfect balance of serious, yet sweet.

It still amazes me how far we have come as a country and how far we still need to go.

Book cover: 4.0 stars

Meh.   

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

So cute!  

 

Highly recommend

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrowed: ebook

Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight

393 pages

Sourcebooks Landmark

Release date: 6/10/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Eliza Knight

Goodreads review

Storygraph review

Sourcebooks Landmark

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)

TRIGGER WARNINGS:

Infidelity, sexual situations, alcohol, sexual harassment, sexism, misogyny, and moderate cursing.

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

August 2025 - Amazon First Reads

Hi, booksbydorothea blog friends!

If you didn't already know, one of the perks of your Amazon Prime Membership is a FREE monthly Kindle book (and sometimes two free Kindle books or a free short story)! It is my absolute favorite thing about Amazon Prime. The program is called Amazon First Reads, and you can find out more HERE. Free books, yippie!!

The August email for Amazon First Reads was delivered yesterday. There is a choice of one free Kindle book out of eight book choices, with one free short story. 

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will not be surprised by my book choice. 

The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano (Kindle eARC, ebook)

Bad Date by Ellery Lloyd (Kindle short story)

The first book is historical fiction about a "witch" in Puritan Boston! Yes, please! The short story is a mystery thriller, which is not my favorite genre. Nothing World War II related in sight!

I am most excited about The First Witch of Boston. What about you? Please share which book you chose!

Also, "buy" AND download the freebies from Amazon! You can't read a book that hasn't been downloaded! I already downloaded them both.

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜