Since discovering a love of historical romance four years ago, I’ve dived deep into this delightful genre. However, I’m reaching the point where I now veer towards stories with something a little different to offer, whether it’s diversity in characters or a less conventional plot. This is what drew me to Jane Dunn’s recent novel,... Continue Reading →
I’m not alone in saying that Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite classic novels, and I’m always happy to see new retellings of it. One that I’ve greatly been looking forward to is The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub. As the title suggests, this novel focuses on the wild,... Continue Reading →
A few years ago, I loved Alix E. Harrow’s debut novel, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, and I’ve been eager to read more from her since. Now she has an incredible new novel out: Starling House. A gothic tale of creepy houses, its wardens, and the desperation of those in the area, this is... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books this fall is Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg. I’m always a sucker for novels about music, and that’s what first drew me to this one. It follows a singer-songwriter on the verge of success at 35. But in her past, she asked two different men to... Continue Reading →
Several years ago, I absolutely loved The Time in Between by Spanish author María Dueñas. Her debut novel, it was engrossing and exciting, about a naive young woman, Sira Quiroga, becoming an undercover spy for the English during World War II. So I was excited to learn that, at long last, this stellar novel would... Continue Reading →
If you’re looking for a new historical romance series to dive into, look no further than The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy. The first in her Sirens in Silk series, it’s about an Arab American woman who unexpectedly inherits a castle in Yorkshire… much to the chagrin of the duke who was supposed to... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books this fall has been The Pomegranate Gate by Ariel Kaplan, the first in her Mirror Realm Cycle trilogy. Set during the Spanish Inquisition, it exists in a realistic world not unlike the one we know… plus a fantasy world that mirrors it. It’s inspired by Jewish folklore and combines... Continue Reading →
Today marks the release of Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch. This is my first time reading this author, and it was a thoroughly pleasant experience! This historical romance almost reads like a cozy mystery when a duke and a viscount’s daughter both end up victims of a dognapper. Their black poodles, nearly... Continue Reading →
All of this year I’ve been looking forward to Thank You for Sharing, the debut novel by Rachel Runya Katz, and this week it’s finally here! This second-chance romance stars two Jewish people of color as they work together, rebuild their friendship, and develop a deeper connection along the way. It’s light and fun, but... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books this month is A Shot in the Dark, the adult romance debut by Victoria Lee. Set during one summer in New York City, it’s a love story between two recovering addicts. The story highlights a character who was raised in an Orthodox Jewish community and a character who is... Continue Reading →
One year ago, I enjoyed reading Miss Aldridge Regrets, the first in Louise Hare’s Canary Club Mystery series. Now the series continues with Harlem After Midnight, set immediately after the previous book’s events. Told in three timelines, it combines two different mysteries, both set in New York City in the first half of the 20th... Continue Reading →
After reading two excellent books by Emma Donoghue, I was excited to get into her newest novel, Learned by Heart. Set in the early 1800s, it shines a light on a small York boarding school for girls and the relationship that develops between two students over the course of one school year. Can this romance between... Continue Reading →
Two years ago, I enjoyed reading The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes. This week, that historical mystery gets a sequel in The Queen of the Valley. The new story takes places in Colombia as Puri tracks down a missing man—not only a man she does business with, but the father of her child. Special thanks to Kensington... Continue Reading →
Do you have a favorite author, one whom you like to emulate in real life? This is the concept behind What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett. It's a charming novel of romance, community, and a bit of family mystery, and Jane Austen's quotes consistently prove helpful no matter how trying the situation. This... Continue Reading →
Last year I enjoyed T. Kingfisher’s novella, What Moves the Dead. It was my first time reading her, and I’ve been eager to explore more of her writing. Her newest novella is Thornhedge, a take on a classic fairy tale, but flipped on its head. I liked this book even more, and it is definitely... Continue Reading →
Have you ever wanted to read a gender-flipped, Jewish retelling of Cinderella? Now is your chance. Felicia Grossman has just released her new historical romance, Marry Me by Midnight, the first in her Once Upon the East End series. Set in London in 1832, it spotlights a Jewish heiress, an overlooked custodian, and their path... Continue Reading →
Last year, I absolutely loved Nisha Sharma’s Dating Dr. Dil, the first installment in her If Shakespeare Was an Auntie trilogy. Now the second book of the series is here: Tastes Like Shakkar is a modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. It stars Bobbi, a wedding planner, and her friend group nemesis, a chef... Continue Reading →
Two years ago, I loved Tracey Lange’s debut novel, We Are the Brennans. When I learned that she had a new book coming out, I could hardly wait. The Connellys of County Down follows another complicated Irish-American family working through tough circumstances, and it's equally as impactful as its predecessor. Special thanks to NetGalley... Continue Reading →
I love books and France, so reading about either of those is usually a joy. This drew me to the new Nina George novel, The Little Village of Book Lovers, a companion piece to her bestseller, The Little Paris Bookshop. I haven’t read that earlier book, but this new publication works as a standalone. Special... Continue Reading →
A few months ago, I was thrilled when an author I like invited me to read her new historical romance, written under the pen name of Delphine Ross. Ironically, The Poetics of Passion, the first in her Muses of Scandal series, is about a woman in 1870s England who secretly publishes love poetry under a... Continue Reading →
From the moment I first heard about The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James, I knew I had to read it. Set in a small village outside of Rome, it follows a struggling actress who may just have her big break in a horror film... but she's also dealing with a real-life horror of... Continue Reading →
As soon as I heard about Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review by Tehlor Kay Mejia, I knew I had to read it. Set in a small town in Washington (like my hometown!), it follows a music critic whose job is on the line. With a second-chance romance, found family, and themes of connecting with yourself, this... Continue Reading →
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is among my favorite authors, and I'm always ready for more from her. Today, she releases her latest novel, Silver Nitrate, a horror set in 1990s Mexico City with themes of dangerous magic and sorcery. It's a slow burn, but with its intricate details and exciting climax, this is another hit in the... Continue Reading →
When I learned of The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein, I was excited to dive into the subject of Paris’s Salpêtrière asylum. It would be my second time reading about it in fiction, and I find the whole subject fascinating. This novel just came out last week (sorry for my late review; it... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 