The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore

 

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore

 

Summary:

A downtrodden female doctor takes up with a traveling medicine show to support her disabled son, joining a German giantess, a bowlegged musician, an indentured Creek poet, and a handsome tinker under the thumb of a charismatic but menacing swindler on a collision course with the deadliest natural disaster in American history – the Galveston Hurricane of 1900.

Readers of Christina Baker Kline, Sandra Dallas, and Sara Donati will be captivated by this story of medical historical fiction by Amanda Skenandore, registered nurse and acclaimed author of The Nurse’s Secret and The Second Life of Mirielle West.

Once a trailblazer in the field of medicine, Dr. Tucia Hatherley hasn’t touched a scalpel or stethoscope since she made a fatal mistake in the operating theater. Instead, she works in a corset factory, striving to earn enough to support her disabled son. When even that livelihood is threatened, Tucia is left with one option—to join a wily, charismatic showman named Huey and become part of his traveling medicine show.

Her medical license lends the show a pretense of credibility, but the cures and tonics Tucia is forced to peddle are little more than purgatives and bathwater. Loathing the duplicity, even as she finds uneasy kinship with the other misfit performers, Tucia vows to leave as soon as her debts are paid and start a new life with her son—if Huey will ever let her go.

When the show reaches Galveston, Texas, Tucia tries to break free from Huey, only to be pulled even deeper into his schemes. But there is a far greater reckoning ahead, as a September storm becomes a devastating hurricane that will decimate the Gulf Coast—and challenge Tucia to recover her belief in medicine, in the goodness of others—and in herself.

Review 4-star

While this story is very well written it’s not a page-turner, I could put the book down and do other stuff and not even think about the story at one point it didn’t pick it back up for three days., and this makes it a 4-star and not a 5-star in my eyes.

The story flow is spot-on, as is the editing. The characters are where the story fails and makes it where it’s not a page-turner.  I don’t know what anyone looks like and I couldn’t picture the story at all in my mind.  These two things are important to me to make a great story. 

Conclusion:

Would I recommend this book to others? YES

Would I read other books by this Author? Maybe

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

His Unexpected Grandchild by Myra Johnson

 

His Unexpected Grandchild by Myra Johnson

 

Summary:

This toddler will steal his heart

Just in time to open it…

The last thing Lane Bromley wants is to leave his remote mountain cabin. But when his struggling daughter shows up with a grandson he didn’t know he had, Lane’s search for the boy’s father leads him to the other surprise grandparent: veterinarian Julia Frasier. They can’t seem to agree on anything, but maybe they can find common ground long enough to create a loving environment for their grandchild…and each other.

Review 3-star

I so wanted to give this story a higher rating, but there was a major error at the beginning of the story. At Location 535 23% 2 paragraph 2^nd sentence, He and Tate had just finished lunch and then at Location 583 25% 2 Paragraph No sooner had she cleaned up Tate after Lunch…  So, I guess Tate had 2 lunches in just a few minutes. This mistake is hard to let go. For the rest of the story, I didn’t find any errors.  The story flows and the overall feel is great. Besides that, one big error, the editing of the story is spot on.  This so could have been a 5-star book as the story is a page-turner and I read it all in one sitting.

 

Conclusion:

Will I recommend this book to others YES

Will I read more books written by this Author Yes

 

I received this book from NetGalley for my Honest review.

Their Second Chance at Love by Kayla Tirrell

 

Their Second Chance at Love by Kayla Tirrell

 

Summary:

Erin’s a single mom doing her best to make ends meet. She and her children live with the eccentric widow in town, and she’s finally getting her head above water when a familiar face from her past returns. Logan’s back to fix up the house he grew up in and get it ready to sell, but he never thought he’d find the woman he once loved living there with her two young children.

While Erin’s looking for a way to buy the old Victorian, Logan’s looking for a way out of town. But neither one expected to find love in the process.

Their Second Chance at Love is a Christian romance that will make you believe in second chances and remind you of God's faithfulness even in the darkest of storms.

Review 2-Star

I had high hopes for this book, but was sadly disappointed in the fact that I could not picture any of the characters cause besides the color of Aunt Betty you don’t learn anything about how Erin, Logan, or even the kids look like. When I’m reading, I like to be able to paint a picture in my mind for the book to come alive.  Not even a real description of the house wasn’t given and the term old Victorian can cover a few different styles of homes. Even the old red convertible we don’t know the make and model so it’s just a car.

The overall story is well-written, and the editing is spot on. It just lacks the stuff that makes a story stand out and be memorable.

Conclusion:

Will I recommend this book to others?    NO

Will I read other books written by this Author? Maybe

 

I was given this book by NetGalley for my honest review

Red Dead's History by Tore C Olsson

 

Red Dead’s History by Tore C Olsson

 

Summary:

Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption II, set in 1911 and 1899, are the most-played American history video games since The Oregon Trail. Beloved by millions, they’ve been widely acclaimed for their realism and attention to detail. But how do they fare as recreations of history?

In this engaging book, award-winning American history professor Tore Olsson takes up that question and more. Weaving the games’ plot and characters into an exploration of American violence between 1870 and 1920, Olsson shows that it was more often disputes over capitalism and race, not just poker games and bank robberies, that fueled the bloodshed of these turbulent years. As such, this era has much to teach us today. From the West to the Deep South to Appalachia, Olsson reveals the gritty and brutal world that inspired the games, but sometimes lacks context and complexity on the digital screen. Colorful, fast-paced, and dramatic, Red Dead’s History sheds light on dark corners of the American past for gamers and history buffs alike.

 

Review -5-star

As someone who loves history and gaming and is very much into the game of Red Dead, this was a fun read, I loved the history lesson I got and I was correct in my thinking that the game was out of the time frame they are trying to portray. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book and was pleasantly surprised at how the author broke it down. Even knowing that the game is out of the time frame they wanted to portray I will still enjoy the game and continue to play it.  I enjoyed the writing style of this author and would love to read more.

I received this book for my honest review.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

 

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

 

Summary:

Cassie Andrews works in a New York City bookshop, shelving books, making coffee for customers, and living an unassuming, ordinary life. Until the day one of her favorite customers—a lonely yet charming old man—dies right in front of her. Cassie is devastated. She always loved his stories, and now she has nothing to remember him by. Nothing but the last book he was reading.  

But this is no ordinary book…

It is the Book of Doors. 

Inscribed with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings, it promises Cassie that any door is every door. You just need to know how to open them.

Then she’s approached by a gaunt stranger in a rumpled black suit with a Scottish brogue who calls himself Drummond Fox. He’s a librarian who keeps watch over a unique set of rare volumes. The tome now in Cassie’s possession is not the only book with great power, but it is the one most coveted by those who collect them.

Now Cassie is being hunted by those few who know of the Special Books. With only her roommate Izzy to confide in, she has to decide if she will help the mysterious and haunted Drummond protect the Book of Doors—and the other books in his secret library’s care—from those who will do evil. Because only Drummond knows where the unique library is and only Cassie’s book can get them there. 

Review: 4-star

Wow, what a ride this book took me on.  I so wish I could have given it a 5 star, but it was easy to put down and do other things and come back to it.  To me, a 5-star read is one I can’t put down. It kept me on my toes as I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen and it kept me surprised and satisfied.  As this a the first book from this author I will be looking out for more books written by him as I know it will be a journey well worth my time and money.

 

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

 

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

 

Summary:

In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans is a safe haven after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent in the middle of the carnival season, Celine is quickly enraptured by the vibrant city, from its music to its fancy soirées and even its danger. She becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's enigmatic leader, Sébastien Saint Germain.

When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in Sébastien's own lair--the second dead girl to turn up in recent weeks--Celine battles her attraction to Sébastien and suspicions about his guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.

After a third murder, New Orleans becomes gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose--one who has now set Celine in his sights. As the murderer stalks her, Celine finally takes matters into her own hands, only to find herself caught in the midst of an age-old feud between the darkest creatures of the night, where the price of forbidden love is her life.

Review: 3-star

The overall book is very well written, I just didn’t connect with it the way I like to connect so, it was easy to put down and walk away for days at a time. Not sure what the author could have done differently to make me connect.  I think it was just me at the moment I was reading this book. I can say that the editing of the book was above my standards which is a great thing when I read so many that are riddled with errors.

I received this book for my honest review.

Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne

 

Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne

 

Summary:

Ruth Defies Authority to Hold on to her Family Farm
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
 
Ruth Helmuth has never been rude in her life; trust her to choose the bishop of her Amish community for her first time!

Ruth has worked hard to keep body and soul together since her husband, Levi’s, death. She tends her herd of goats, making her living from the milk and fiber she gets from them, all while running a farm and household by herself—and very competently, thank you! How could she imagine the bishop suggesting she should give it all up to another family, who will “make better use of the space”?

Enter widower Jonas Hershberger, owner of a pair of adorable dimples and father of a charming 4-year-old daughter. Jonas is in need of a larger place to house his growing business. Ruth’s big red barn may be just the ticket. Little Abigail is in need of a new mother. Ruth might be just the ticket there, too!

Can two independent souls learn to work together for their mutual good? And will they be willing to explore what grows between them?  Or will Ruth’s fear over her “big secret” and Jonas’s caution about allowing someone new to get close to his young daughter, kill their love before it has a chance to grow?

Luckily for both of them, God’s plan involves the stubborn pair getting a little help in the form of a wise, elderly friend; a quirky orange kitten; and a smart little girl who takes one look at Ruth and decides she would make her the perfect new mother!

 

Review: 5-Star

This is one of those page-turners which you can’t put down so you read from cover to cover in one sitting.  The flow, the editing along with the character development is spot on. I don’t know what else to say.  The characters felt real, and the way the emotions were captured was brilliantly done as I could feel each emotion and they were spot-on.  I will most definitely read other books written by this Author and I’ll let all my friends who enjoy this type of book know that this is a must-read.

 

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review