Saturday, February 1, 2025

Some Like It Scot Review





About the Book

An American travel writer who has never found a place to belong and a reclusive Scot with a surprising secret find a shocking connection when she enters a Highlands manor house that has been turned into a three-week long Edwardian experience.

Katie Campbell has traveled her entire life. As the daughter of an army chaplain, changing homes--or even countries--was commonplace, so when her wild childhood storytelling turned into a lucrative career as a travel writer, she thought she'd found her perfect match. But as she's nearly thirty with no real place to settle down, she's starting to wonder where "home" actually is. Her own family hadn't felt like home since her sister's death left them all limping through life.

When a lengthy project in Scotland promises to not only give her travel fodder for months but also a shot at a coveted editing position, she accepts and is sent to spend three weeks in the newly created Craighill House, a Scottish home redesigned to offer guests an Edwardian experience. But her entrance to Craighill introduces her to a quirky group of characters and a surly Scot who is helping refurbish the magnificent woodwork of the estate house.

As Katie attempts to live "Edwardian," she learns that all that glitters does not a comfortable lifestyle make . . . and surly Scots may turn out to be dashing and creative uncles raising their orphaned nephews. When a few escapades from the Downton era lead Katie on hunts for mermaids and dragons or to a fireside chat with a family who has grown stronger through tragedy, Katie begins to wonder if "home" looks a whole lot like rolling green hills, magnificent braighs, and a few extra "ayes" thrown in for good measure. But can her world-traveling lifestyle fit in with a Scot whose heart is double-knotted to home? (Goodreads)

Releases April 8th!!


My Thoughts

 Get ready for a book you won't want to put down! I have read many of Basham's books but this one is her best yet! Scotland. Travel. Books. Romance. Humor. Puns. Local lore and legend. SO much heart. Oh my goodness I loved this book! A story is really special if it can make me laugh and cry and feel everything in between. The characters are terrific all the way around. Katie is hilarious and so real to life. Her struggles many will be able to sympathize with and it is so well written. Graeme has so many layers and it was a joy to read his perspective throughout the book. The secondary characters warmed my heart in many ways and I felt like I was in Mull having a cup of tea with them. I laughed so many times! I was worried that Katie would be over the top and the silliness would take me out of the book but nope it just added to the delight. The ending is so much better than I had even hoped!  It was realistic and I truly didn't want this to end. We need more books in this quaint village in Scotland. Perhaps Graeme's brothers stories?! In any case. This is one of the best books I have read this year. Very fun and yet keeps you pondering life long after you finish reading the last page. 


Five Stars. 


"I received this book from NetGalley for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."









Tuesday, January 14, 2025

When The Stars Light the Sky Review





About the Book

 Inga Klein's carefree life in New York takes a dramatic turn when she sails for Berlin, Germany, to serve as the secretary for America's ambassador. Amid the glamour of life at the embassy, she continually finds herself at odds with the straitlaced and imposing Benedict Kincaid, the diplomatic chief of staff who harbors deep misgivings toward the German-born Inga.


As Europe hurtles toward World War I, Benedict's determination to keep America out of the conflict adds to the already tense atmosphere. Despite their relentless sparring, Inga and Benedict succeed in keeping the embassy afloat through one crisis after another. But when they run out of diplomatic options, a marriage of convenience between them may be Inga's only hope of escape from the impending war.

In this entrancing Gilded Age romance, Inga and Benedict will be swept into a dangerous world on the brink of war, where two hearts must navigate shadows of uncertainty when stars light the sky. (Goodreads)









My Thoughts


I am always eager to read the new Camden book and was intrigued by the premise of this story. I know very little of WWI and I haven't read too many books set amid that war. I absolutely love the historical aspect of this book. This author does a tremendous job at explaining history without it being confusing or boring. There are so many details about the American Embassy and the setting of Berlin and I loved reading every bit of it! The secondary characters are delightful and so well written. The reader experiences many years between the pages and is able to really get to know the characters. Inga and Benedict are unique and very much a grumpy sunshine trope. The last few chapters disappointed me a little bit on the romance side of things. Relationships require a lot of selfless love and I have mixed feelings on how all of that plays out in the end. Regardless, I could not put down this book and having read all of Camden's novels I would say this one is one of the most intriguing! 

Four and a half stars. 

"I received this book from Bethany House for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."



















Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2025

 There are so many wonderful books coming out this year. Here are the top ten that I hope to read that are releasing the first part of 2025.

Top Ten Tuesday














Friday, January 3, 2025

Rune Review





About the Book

 Rune wants only one thing from the gods: the heart of a boy who already claims to love her. She wants it enough that she’s willing to make a deal with a god to keep it.


The deal is simple: the heart of the boy, and in return, Rune will make this god revered among the clan.
Then, out of nowhere, the boy proposes to Rune’s sister instead.

In her anger, she renounces the gods. But the gods have plans of their own. They snatch Rune from earth and throw her in Asgard, claiming her as their lost goddess and drowning her in a world of dangerous power. It’s clear a god is pulling the strings here, but Rune can’t guess who, or what her role is in their games. Desperate, she strikes a second deal with a god—one who might be as broken and twisted as she, and quite possibly more capable of breaking her heart than anyone. As her Viking past finds a way into Asgard, it’s clear that someone’s heart will be slaughtered. She can only hope to be long gone before it all crashes down.

A standalone fantasy for lovers of the fake engagement trope, shields and axes, or poison in teacups. (Goodreads)









My Thoughts


I have really been enjoying books by this new-to-me author. I have been looking for clean fantasty and McCombs delivers just that!! This story was a lot different than I was expecting but I ended up really enjoying it! The characters are strong and while Rune sometimes got on my nerves I also had to think of life from her perspective. There is a lot of physical fighting (with axes etc.) and while those scenes were important I wanted more story and less fighting by the final chapters. BUT the ending came together in a very Hunger Games type of way and it left me a satisfied reader. I wanted there to be more actually and I wouldn't mind another book in this world. The romance is sweet and clean and fit in perfectly with the rest of the story. 
I couldn't put this book down and I really enjoyed it! I recommend if you are wanting something new in the fantasy genre! 

Four Stars. 





"I received and ARC from the author. I am not required to write a positive review."