Murder Most Haunted by Emma Mason (eARC/ebook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Monday, August 18, 2025
REVIEW - Pick a Colour (eARC/ebook)
Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa (eARC/ebook)
OVERVIEW
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions
expressed in this review are completely my own
This is the debut novel by Souvankham Thammavongsa. She is a Laotian-Canadian poet and short story writer.
This is a quirky, funny, and pragmatic depiction of the day in the life of an immigrant nail salon owner. It is told in the first person singular from Ning's point of view. But this is one of those books that will not appeal to everyone. And some may find it offensive.
I read this book in a day (I read a few pages last night). It is the best way to understand this short novel. It is a book you feel.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing was poetic and lush with descriptions of the most mundane things made important and interesting. Descriptions and observations are the heart and soul of this novel. Ning observes and describes almost everything in her day, but lets no one inside herself.
There is also a dichotomy between the nail technicians and customers. All of the nail technicians are named "Susan" (not their real names) to avoid confusion with the customers. What does that say about racism and xenophobia?
Character development: 4.0 stars
The main character is Ning, the owner of the nail salon (and former boxer).
The secondary characters are Mai, Nok, Annie, and Noi, who are the nail technicians who work for Ning in the salon. Also, Rachel (Ning's former boss) and Murch (Ning's former boxing coach) round out the secondary characters.
The tertiary characters are the customers - so many different personalities, yet so similar.
The overall character development was okay. I wanted more about Ning and her backstory. At 144 pages, there cannot be that much character development, so the author may have done that to make us think about the characters more and come to our own conclusions.
Storyline: 4.0 stars
There isn't a real storyline.
This is why some will love this novel. It is very unique, different, and weird. It is more of descriptions and observations of the work, customers, and employee interactions as the day progresses. This is written in first-person singular by the immigrant nail salon owner.
The primary location was unknown. It is set in an undesignated city in an unspecified Western country. My guess is that it is based in Toronto, Canada, with the immigrants from an unknown Southeast Asian country, I think.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
Hearing "pick a color" at the nail salon will make me giggle every time in a nail salon.
But this novel subtly covers racism and xenophobia for wealthier, presumably white customers with the nail technicians, identical in clothing, hair length, and name. This is being done to make it easier for the customers who cannot tell them apart. Seriously sad and ridiculous! We need to do better as human beings!
This book will stay with me for a very long time.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Pretty.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfection - so witty!
Strong recommend
NetGalley eARC/ebook
Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa
144 pages
Bloomsbury Publishing
FUTURE release date: 9/25/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Graphic cursing, sexual content, violence, xenophobia, racism, classism, blood, and violence.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Sunday, August 17, 2025
REVIEW - The First Witch of Boston (ebook)
The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano (ebook/Kindle)
OVERVIEW
This is a debut novel by Andrea Catalano. It was a great historical fiction novel about two specific years in colonial Massachusetts!
The title says it all-the first witchcraft victim in Boston was a real woman named Margaret Jones. She was murdered by hanging after a 1648 witchcraft trial in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
If you are looking for a light and easy read, this is not the book. It is heavy but an important book to read. We need to remember our past to not repeat it in the future, especially with our country leaning so conservatively like the Puritans.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
The writing was good. It was descriptive, with some beautiful descriptions of the Charlestown area.
Additionally, this was a thoroughly researched book, and it shows in the details of the writing.
The dialogue was somewhat disjointed at times. There was code-switching between contemporary dialogue and then formal 17th-century language. Confusing.
Also, the spicy sexual situations, including marital sex, rape, and drugged sex, are not my thing. It really didn't have to be that descriptive.
Character development: 4.5 stars
The main characters are Maggie (a healer, midwife, and apothecary) and Thomas (a furniture maker), who leave London for the New World in 1646.
The secondary characters are Samuel and Alice (Maggie and Thomas's friends).
The tertiary characters are Maggie and Thomas's patrons, the citizens of Charlestown, the leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and many other characters (some good and some bad).
The character development was strong for the main and secondary characters.
Also, the Epilogue and Author's Note were informative and provided historical references.
Storyline: 4.5 stars
The storyline revolves around an outspoken, honest, and atypical woman in Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony. She offends the sensibilities and sensitivities of the men in power. She knows who and what they really are. So the word "witch" is mumbled, and the rumors fly. The rest is expected, but horribly sad.
It is also about an intense and equal marriage with a loving husband who supports, defends, and protects his wife during difficult times.
The primary locations were Berkshire, England, and Charlestown, Massachusetts.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
Men fear the power of women. It is a tale as old as time.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Gorgeous.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfect.
Strong recommend
Amazon First Reads ebook
(Kindle)
The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano
326 pages
Lake
Union Publishing
FUTURE release date:
9/1/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Graphic cursing, sexual content, rape, child sexual abuse, drugged sex, child death, grief, xenophobia, mental health issues, religious bigotry, and suicide.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Friday, August 15, 2025
My next ebook read is ...
The First Witch of Boston by Andrea Catalano (Kindle ebook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Review - Bad Date (short story)
Bad Date by Ellery Lloyd (short story)
OVERVIEW
This is a short story by Ellery Lloyd, the pseudonym of husband-and-wife writing team Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos. This short story was offered as an Amazon First Reads FREE short story for August 2025. If you have Amazon Prime, you can also get this short story HERE.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars
Writing: 3.0 stars
The writing was not my favorite. It was just boring.
Character development: 3.0 stars
The main characters are Fay (a C-list celebrity) and Poppy (her BFF and assistant).
The secondary characters are Wolf (Fay's son) and Ollie (Fay's date).
There really are no other characters. The characters were horrible people at the beginning and the end.
Storyline: 3.0 stars
What an unbelievably awful story about a parent assisting her son to be a horrible person. That's all I will say in case you choose to read it.
The main location is England.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
We need to ensure that children are not on social media or online unsupervised because they are being brainwashed by so-called influencers and social media.
Book cover: 3.0 stars
Icky and creepy.
Book title: 3.0 stars
A little inaccurate!
Lukewarm recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
Amazon First Reads ebook Kindle short story
Bad Date by Ellery Lloyd
58 pages
Amazon Original Stories
Release date of 9/1/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Graphic cursing, death, murder, divorce, stalking, abandonment, mental illness, drug use, violence, and alcohol.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - All That Life Can Afford (ebook)
All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett (ebook)
OVERVIEW
This is the debut novel by Emily Everett. It was a good first attempt, but something seemed off. Oh, yeah, it was all the Jane Austen references. This is another book, unsuccessfully, attempting to copy Jane Austen. It didn't work well.
This was a light and fluffy book, which was a good palate cleanser. But I had to wait four months to get this from the library!
Again, this was another celebrity book pick. I am detecting a pattern of not liking most of these picks!
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars
Writing: 3.0 stars
The writing was meh. It appeared as if the main character was speaking in a breathy, Valley Girl-esque Boston accent. "Like everything in like London is like so great!" is how I pictured this first-person speaker about her life.
Character development: 3.0 stars
The main character is Anna (an American student and tutor in London).
The secondary characters are Pippa (Anna's tutee); Faye, Callum, and Theo (Anna's wealthy friends); and Andre and Liv (Anna's normal friends).
The tertiary characters are the wealthy social circle, neighbors, co-workers, other tutees, and Pippa's parents.
The character development was weak. In the end, everyone showed their true colors, as expected.
Storyline: 3.0 stars
The storyline was all about Anna (the poor American student), who gets her chance to hang with the rich kids in Saint-Tropez, France. She is tutoring Pippa, and then everything goes sideways. You can guess the rest!
The primary locations were Saint-Tropez, France, Lisbon, Portugal, and London, England, with reference to Northampton, Massachusetts.
Memorable/Informative: 3.0 stars
The only memorable thing was that I want to add Lisbon, Portugal, to my bucket list!
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Pretty.
Book title: 3.5 stars
Okay.
Lukewarm recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: ebook
All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett
384 pages
G.P. Putnam's Sons
Release date: 4/1/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Graphic cursing, sexual content, alcohol, death of a parent, grief, xenophobia, panic attacks, and toxic relationships.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
REVIEW - The Good Neighbor (audiobook)
The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
First off, let me be perfectly clear. Fred Rogers was an amazing educator who loved children unconditionally. Everyone was his friend and neighbor, including the "adult children". What a national treasure!
This biography by Maxwell King was disappointing. It was poorly written, repetitive, and not the tribute to Fred Rogers he deserved. The only thing that saved this audiobook was the incredible narration by LeVar Burton. A digital or physical book wouldn't have this.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars
Writing: 2.0 stars
Maxwell writes in a non-emotional, monotone way that may have been to model or pay tribute to Mr. Rogers. It didn't work.
Additionally, much of the material was cut and pasted from other sources. This caused so unnecessary and bothersome repetition, which was annoying.
In the extra End Credits, the author is interviewed. He states that he only talked to Fred Rogers twice - once for about an hour and a half, and the other for a brief hello. This biography really should have been written by someone who understood the nuances, quirks, and uniqueness of Mr. Rogers. I hope that another writer steps up and writes the definitive biography of Fred Rogers.
Finally, a good copywriter and editor were desperately needed for this book. The audiobook is over fourteen hours long!
Narration: 5.0 stars
The narration was beautifully done by the multi-talented and multi-hyphenated LeVar Burton.
Character development: 3.0 stars
The main character was Fred Rogers.
The secondary characters include many family members, friends, mentors, colleagues, and everyone who ever met Mr. Rogers in his life. I'm exaggerating, but it is fairly accurate.
The tertiary characters are the television product development, television production, television stations, educational television, and PBS television. Yes, there was a lot of television, which Mr. Rogers had nothing to do with and didn't tell much about him. It was extraneous fluff.
The character development could have been better for Fred Rogers. He was a deep, complicated, and cerebral person. The addition of more about his personal life, including his immediate family, wife, and close friends, would have been lovely.
Memorable: 3.0 stars
There was so much about Fred Rogers that I wanted to know, and it wasn't covered. Where did his passion for children come from? Why was he a vegetarian? What were his sons' and grandchildren's relationships like with him? On and on ...
Entertaining/Educational: 3.0 stars
There were many rumors about Fred Rogers that I had never heard.
It was funny to think that there was a rumor about his being in Special Forces, seriously? Or being a convicted child molester, no way! Where do these crazy stories come from?
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Perfect.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Excellent.
Lukewarm recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
The Good Neighbor by Maxwell King
14 hours, 7 minutes
Oasis Audio
Release date: 9/4/2018
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNINGS
None
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
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