the start of a good life

Release Day: Amelia is Out Now!

Hello friends, you’ll graciously forgive me for sharing yet again, about my new release, Amelia. It’s my debut novel and I’m quite excited to send it out into the world. If you follow me over on Instagram, you’ll see that I was sharing quotes and Meet the Character videos. There’s more Amelia content to come, so if you don’t follow me there – it’s definitely not too late to join the fun!

Amelia is available today, February 21st, 2025! It’s available on Amazon and will be available at Roundabout Books in Bend, Or very soon.

Get the Paperback here

Get the E-book here

Synopsis:

What does it mean to be a woman of true beauty in a society obsessed with all the wrong things? This question is at the heart of Amelia, the debut novel—and the first installment in the City of Roses Collection—by author Laura Starr Waxman.

It’s the late 19th century in Portland, Oregon. After having been sent away by her overbearing mother, sixteen-year-old Amelia Lynn Hughes finds herself living in a welcoming home with her adored Aunt Angie. Unbeknownst to Amelia, her aunt harbors a life-altering secret that will soon change everything.

Captivated by the allure of high society, Amelia tries to fit in but finds it unfulfilling. Determined, Amelia pursues her long-held ambition of becoming a journalist and enters into the male-dominated world of newspaper reporting—no easy feat for a young woman who aims to move beyond the societal columns. Complicating matters, two suitors vie for her hand. While one has her heart, the other may hold the keys to her future.

In the end, Amelia must choose the path she truly desires. Is being a journalist worth the sacrifices required? And how exactly should a young woman of substance carry herself in a changing world?

Get the Paperback here

Get the E-book here

Visit my Amazon Author Page

You can watch for news about any giveaways, sales and any future projects on my Website, Instagram, or Pinterest. Of course, I’ll keep you updated here on SGL as well.

~Laura

p.s. the next blog post will be book reviews!

Tags: amelia, books, coming of age story, gilded age, historical fiction, historical romance, historical romance novels, laura starr waxman, newrelease, pacificnorthwest, self published author, self publishing, women journalists

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From My Desk: Updates, Projects and More!

7 Feb

I don’t really know the last time I did an update post. It’s probably been about ten years, honestly. But as I was trying to decide what to share this week, I thought, well, why not give a bit of a life update?

I’ll dive more into how self publishing my first novel is going; what’s up next in regards to my writing and my amigurumi business; the books I’m looking forward to reading this year and more!

As for Amelia, the first installment in the City of Roses Collection, the official release day is February 21st, 2025! From writing this post, that’s only twenty days away!

I’ve been working with Lieve Maas of Bright Light Graphics throughout this process and she has been so wonderful. She’s a wonderful designer – for the cover and interior – and even offers a one-on-one marketing masterclass.

Amelia will be available on Amazon and Ingram Spark. I’m still working to get on local bookstore shelves.

As for what’s next in my writing, it’ll be the next installment of the City of Roses Collection. As a quick explanation – I’m writing these so you, the reader, can read them in any order you want – or read any as a standalone. They aren’t a series, in other words, although you’ll see the character arcs throughout as some characters will, naturally, be in several books. But each book will focus on different characters but it’s all set in the same world.

Anyhow, I’m working steadily away on writing/editing the next installment and am loving it. I have high hopes of publishing it next year, but we’ll really just have to see how this process goes this coming year, as this is all quite new to me.

To move onto another of my hobbies – crocheting. Did you all know that I’ve got an amigurumi business? It’s called Aunt Lolo’s Amigurumi, and I have pages on Facebook and Instagram. I mostly make whatever strikes my fancy and will admit that I post items for sale rather sporadically. But I do take custom orders, and that’s what I’ve been working on this month. I still need to finish the patterns from a crochet-along that I joined back in October… The items are so absolutely adorable! I plan on putting them up for sale once I’ve completed the whole set, so if any of these catch your eye, keep an eye on either of my pages!

One more note on my book and amigurumi, I crocheted my main character, Amelia!

The books I’m wanting to read this year… Mostly I’ll be focusing on my shelf of books that I’ve either bought or been given that I’ve not read. Just a few examples:

original Star Wars books

10 Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

Chaim Potok books

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep (released 2024)

Prequel: The Adamah Series by Nick Michael (re-read)

The Octonumi by Trevor Alan Foris (re-read)

If you’ve been following SGL for several years, you’ll know that I battled Lyme Disease and migraines for almost two decades. I am healthier than I have been in years but there are still the residual issues that come from having had Lyme as well as still dealing with migraines on occasion. These past months have been a bit of a rollercoaster as I’ve been struggling with health limitations again but all in all, I’m still so much better than I was even five years ago.

Other than that, I’m looking forward to visits from friends for my birthday; starting to dream of flowers and vegetable gardens, working on my classic VW come spring and taking a summer trip with just my hubby.

I hope you enjoyed this little look into what I’ve been up to and what I hope to do!

~Laura

Tags: amelia, aunt lolos amigurumi, books, from my desk, laura starr waxman, life update, lyme disease, writing

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Book Reviews- Jan 2025

31 Jan

Welcome back to SGL, my friends! We’ve another book review post today, and at the bottom, there’s a quick review of my December reads.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes #1-9) by Arthur Conan Doyle – Doyle’s famous detective, Sherlock Holmes’ and his trusted assistant, Watson, in all nine books of adventures put together in one audiobook.

~I started this 69 hour long audiobook back in the beginning of September. I enjoyed finally reading the Sherlock stories but will admit that doing it all in one ‘chunk’ was probably a bit much. I enjoyed seeing how Holmes’ was written- rather than how he’s portrayed in movies/tv series. He’s more talkative and considerate in general than I think is portrayed. I enjoyed these and look forward to reading specific ones again. Definitely recommend.

Uprooted : How 3,000 years of Jewish Civilization in the Arab World Vanished Overnight by Lyn Julius – (a snippet of the excerpt from Goodreads) Who are the Jews from Arab countries? What were relations with Muslims like? What made Jews leave countries where they had been settled for thousands of years? What lessons can we learn from the mass exodus of minorities from the Middle East?

~I am working to regularly read a bit more non-fiction with the focus being Jewish history. Unsurprisingly, this was a rather hard read, which made it a slow one for me. There were so many points that I tabbed and I have started a blog post for a separate review. Definitely recommend this for adult readers who want to learn about Jewish history in the Middle East.

A Lady in Attendance by Rachel Fordham – When Hazel takes a job as Dr. Gilbert Watt’s lady in attendance, she uses an alias. Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a stain on her real name – as well as on her heart. Gilbert Watts is unsure about admitting a woman into his office, but finds that Hazel is a cheerful addition to his life even while he senses something secretive underneath her chatter. For Hazel, she finds a friend in the quiet dentist and the hope that if she can put her past to rights, she just might have a future after all.

~My mom loaned me this book with the ‘you’ve got to read this’ suggestion. =) This is the only book by Fordham that I’ve read and it was well written and enjoyable! There was one moment for Hazel that felt so out of character that I stopped reading for a few days. But it was compelling enough that I came back to it and finished. Fordham had some twists throughout the plot that kept this story feeling fresh and I appreciated that. Recommend.

Castle of Whispers (Secrets of the Quilt #1) by Elizabeth Penney – Sofia Parker inherits a family heirloom the evening before her grandmother’s funeral. A trunk and the silk quilt inside have been passed down for generations, a secret trust to be guarded. But all the guardians were women who were excellent seamstresses and Sofia can barely thread a needle, much less stitch a straight line. So Sofia is stunned to inherit this heirloom, and even more so to find that there’s a diary inside the trunk as well. A diary that chronicles the significance of each piece of the quilt and the one that intrigues Sofia is that one is claimed to be connected to the Mona Lisa!

~This was another book my mom loaned me. I admit that I was a bit uncertain about it but I’m glad I gave it a try. It was a cute read – one with a fun historical twist that since the synopsis doesn’t say too much about it, I won’t either. Suffice it to say that this was a sweet story although, once again, the main character, Sofia, did something that irked me. It was better explained further on (the motivations behind) but, I’ll admit, it still doesn’t sit quite right…? I don’t know. But. If you’re wanting a sweet read with some fun history thrown in, check this one out. And apparently it’s a whole series!

Lord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories by Dorothy L. Sayers – a full collection of the 21 Wimsey short stories along with an article about the author.

~This is linked to a review that I did of the whole series earlier this month – definitely check it out if you like mysteries. It was quite fun to go through these, even though I’m not normally a fan of short stories. I will always recommend this series!!

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) by C.S. Lewis – When the Pevensie children are sent away from London, they’re sent to stay at a house owned by the professor. Lucy, the youngest, finds a wardrobe in an empty room and stumbles upon the fantastical land of Narnia. Soon, all four siblings – Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy- will be blinking in the bright sunlight of that frozen land, meeting Aslan and be forever changed.

~After the chaos that was December, I needed a cozy story to listen to, so I (naturally) turned to Narnia. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Michael York. I adore the Pevensie siblings, and of course, especially Lucy. And Peter. The beavers and Mr. Tumnus are wonderful as well. Suffice it to say, I highly recommend this intro to the Narnia series!

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – Tress leads a simple life on her island home in the emerald sea. She enjoys colleting cups that sailors bring her and listening to the stories her friend Charlie tells her. But then he’s taken away from her by his father to find Charlie a bride and disaster strikes. Charlie has been captured by the Sorceress in the Midnight Sea. Tress decides she must sneak off her island and rescue Charlie. The journey she undergoes is dangerous, not only because one drop of water in a sea of spores can mean instant death, but because it will challenge her in every way.

~First off, how is this my third read of this book and yet it’s the first time I’ve reviewed it? Anyway, this is a fairytale but with the heroine being more than just the damsel in distress. Tress has no idea how she’ll accomplish her plan, but through it all, she proves that she is more than a simple window washer from a tiny island no one knows about. Sanderson wrote this with a bit of tongue-in-cheek that differs from his usual style and it just makes it that much more fun. Highly recommend.

Since I apparently missed doing a review on December’s reads, here’s a quick list of what I read! The first several are short stories from the Victorian age. I was part of a read-along on Instagram that’s called Dickens December. It’s quite fun if you want to check it out – look up Laura (pixie.hallows) or Jess (dickens.and.docks)

The Christmas Mummers by Mary Charlotte Younge

Old Hooker’s Ghost by Anonymous

The Black Bag Left on a Doorstep by Louisa Catherine Perkis (a new favorite. It’s about a female detective!)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Lord Peter Wimsey Series Review

14 Jan

Welcome to SGL, my friends! I’ve decided to collect all the books from this series that I shared over several months and compile them into one post. Hopefully this makes it easier to look it over and decide if you want to give it a read!

Whose Body? (#1) - It wasn’t unusual for a man to be naked in a bathtub, but the rest of the circumstances were. The man was dead, for one. And he was wearing a pair of pince-nez and his face had been shaved after death. Lord Peter Wimsey doesn’t agree with the police that it is a popular financier and sets out to prove his theory.

Clouds of Witness (#2) – When Peter’s brother-in-law-to-be turns up dead at the Wimsey retreat and the accused murderer is Peter’s brother, it’s enough to shake the unflappable Lord Peter. And that’s not to mention the other aspects of the case that are truly puzzling…

Unnatural Death (#3)- The fact that Agatha Dawson had died wasn’t surprising to anyone, but Lord Peter was curious about how she died rather sooner than expected and dives into this case, even though he doesn’t have any leads or clues. When Agatha’s maid ends up dead as well, Peter knows his time is short to catch the killer.

The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (#4)- No one quite knew what time ninety-year old General Fentiman had died but that detail figured in a half million pound inheritance. Lord Peter Wimsey will need all his wits about him as he tries to unravel the mysteries of the lack of a poppy on the old man’s outer coat, how the club’s telephone was repaired without a repairman and how the old man’s knees swung freely when the rest of him was rigid with rigor mortis. His friend’s future is on the line – this is one case that he can’t get wrong.

Lord Peter Views the Body (#5) – a collection of short stories

Strong Poison (#6) by Dorothy L. Sayers- When a man mysteriously dies from poison, it is his former lover that is investigated. Harriet Vane, mystery writer with a knowledge of poisons, is about to be charged with murder, because the man’s death is eerily similar to a death in one of her books. But Lord Peter Wimsey is determined to prove her innocence.

The Five Red Herrings (#7)- While Wimsey is visiting the Scottish coast with some friends on a painting retreat, the hated Sandy Campbell is found dead. But although it looks like an accident on the cliffs, Wimsey is certain that there’s something wrong with the death and starts to investigate.

Have His Carcase (#8)-We meet Harriet Vane for the second time in this series and this time around, it’s she that finds the corpse. This inevitably unites her with Peter Wimsey again and they set off to solve the lethal mystery. As they do so, avoiding danger as a matter of course, they find themselves becoming more than sleuthing partners.

Hangman’s Holiday (#9)- a collection of short mysteries where amusing and appalling things happen around Lord Peter and the working-class sleuth, Montague Egg.

Murder Must Advertise (#10)- Lord Peter Wimsey is called in to investigate a death that originally looked like an accident. At Pym’s Publicity, a respectable London advertising agency, ad man Victor Dean died after falling down a set of office stairs. But Wimsey soon learns that there’s more to copywriting than meets the eye- a bit of cocaine, blackmail and of course, the five brutal murders that occur in quick succession. This case will require all of Wimsey’s wit and cleverness to avoid being corpse number six.

The Nine Tailors (#11)- A disfigured corpse is found in a country parish, leaving the rector worried. He pleads with Lord Peter to investigate how the man died, who he was and how he came to be laid to rest…in the unfortunate place he was found.

Gaudy Night (#12)- Harriet Vane, murder mystery author, once accused of murder – only acquitted because of evidence found by Lord Peter Wimsey- puts aside her lingering shame of the trial and goes back to her alma mater – Oxford’s Shrewsbury College. But she soon realizes that her life is in danger again, when she receives the first poison-pen letter. It merely calls her names but they grow ever more threatening and dangerous. Harriet calls in Peter Wimsey to help her- for a killer is hiding among the Shrewsbury College dons.

Busman’s Honeymoon (#13)- At long last, Lord Peter Wimsey has succeeded in his ardent pursuit of his love. They get married and immediately depart for their honeymoon in a picturesque farmhouse. But as soon as they get there – things are not as they anticipated. And when the previous owner is found dead in the cellar, more questions arise. Their honeymoon suddenly interrupted, the newlyweds are on the case as they try and find the identity of the murderer.

Lord Peter– a collection of all the Lord Peter Wimsey stories compiled – I found a copy of this at the thrift store (!!) and while it has some of the short stories from the other collection (#9), it doesn’t have all of them – and of course, has a whole lot more than that book.

~Side note, articles I’ve read, share that if one skips the short stories and reads only the full-length novels, you won’t miss much. (subjective of course, that).

Review:

I originally ran across this series thanks to a hardcover copy of Murder Must Advertise at a library book sale. I loved it so much that I found all the audiobooks and quickly ‘read’ through them- I mostly listened to these on audiobooks, narrated by Ian Carmichael.

In my reviews of each book, these are the things that stood out to me. In the first three, I mention that there are race issues (period accurate and not a huge point of the story but still there). In book #3, there are some…sexual preferences mentioned, but so subtle that I almost missed it. Books #4 and #6, I got a bit confused throughout but still enjoyed them. #11 was quite slow… #8, #10 and #13 were absolute favorites.

I’ve been reading the short stories and they are fun little delightful snippets of adventures!

Lord Peter Wimsey reminded me of a bit of an easy-going cousin to Scarlet Pimpernel (if you’ve not read him, check out this post). He’s not a professional detective, but he thinks outside the box and gets a thrill from chasing down clues. He has assistance from his butler, Bunter, his detective friend, Parker, and some other well-chosen friends as he chases down criminal after criminal.

I liked seeing his character development from book one through to the end of the series. Learning about his past – from childhood events to his time spent in the war- explained so much and created such a deeper, complex character.

Sayer’s style reminds me of Agatha Christie, but with, of course, a different voice, a different way of revealing the villains/who-done-it’s.

A bit about the author:

Dorothy L. Sayers was born in Oxford in 1883. She graduated from Somerville College with first class honors in medieval French, and worked as an advertising copyeditor from 1922 until 1929, when her success as an author brought her financial independence. In 1923, her first novel, Whose Body?, was published. Between then and 1939, she wrote ten more novels featuring the amateur-sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey.

Sayers brought the detective fiction genre from pure puzzles that lacked depth, and was recognized as one of the ‘Queens of Crime’ of the 1920s and 1930s – along with Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh.

In the 1930s, Sayers wrote religious-themed plays that were performed in cathedrals and on BBC broadcasts. In the 1940s, she was translating Dante’s Divine Comedy into everyday English. But, before she could finish the third book, she unexpectedly died at age 64 in 1957, in her home in Essex.

I am now curious to read the other ‘Queens of Crime’. I have, of course, been reading Christie these past few years, but the other two names are new to me!

Have you read any of Sayers’ books or any of the ‘Queens of Crime’? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

~Laura

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My Favorite Reads of 2024

6 Jan

Whenever I sit down to write up this post, I always have some idea of what books will be on the list. Stories that stuck out to me enough that they still linger, however many months later. I found that this year, I had a whole series that has been such a favorite that I’ve started collecting the physical copies whenever I find them second-hand.

At the beginning of the year, I had intended on focusing on reading more classics, especially those that I already own. And while I did read a few of them, I have been very much a mood reader this past year and so didn’t get to many of the ones I wanted. No regrets though, I read some wonderful books! And, of course, there were a handful that I quit partway through for various reasons. But we aren’t talking about those today. On to the favorites!

For the fun of it, here’s my reading stats for this year: I read 74 books, 57 of which were first time reads and seven different series.

A friendly little note : While covering different genres, I do not read anything that has blatant sexual content. I will tell you if there is any sort of such (typically very mild and delicately put) in them and if I don’t think they’d be appropriate for young/teenage readers.

FAVORITES:

Around the World in Seventy-Two Days by Nellie Bly (orig pub 1890)

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Why the Jews? by Dennis Prager

Come Out of the Kitchen! : A Romance by Alice Duer Miller (1916)

Lord Peter Wimsey Series by Dorothy L. Sayers

Brotherhood by Mike Chen

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Harry Potter #1) by J.K. Rowling

In The Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

Homegrown Tea: An Illustrated Guide to Planting, Harvesting, and Blending Teas and Tisanes by Cassie Liversidge

Re-reads:

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (orig pub 1908)

Hunted by Megan Spooner

Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey series) by Dorothy L. Sayers – a post on this whole series is coming soon!

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

And here’s some bonus themes:

Oldest Published: A Christmas Carol (1843)

Newest Published: Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes

Favorite reread: Wildwood Dancing or The Hobbit (really, how can one decide?!)

Cutest romance: Come Out of the Kitchen!

Unexpectedly loved: In the Heart of the Sea

Shortest Book: The Black Bag Left on a Doorstep by C.L. Pirkis (48 pages)

Longest Book: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson (1,232 pages)

New Favorite author: Dorothy L. Sayers

And there you have it! What was one book that you thoroughly enjoyed this past year, I’d love to hear about it!

~Laura

Tags: a gentleman in moscow, alice duer miller, amor towles, around the world in 72 days, around the world in seventy two days, book review, book reviews, books, cassie liversidge, come out of the kitchen, dennis prager, dorothy l sayers, favorite books of 2024, favorite reads of 2024, homegrown tea, hunted, Kenneth Grahame, lord peter wimsey series, megan spooner, murder must advertise, nellie bly, the wind in the willows, why the jews

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Amelia is Coming Soon!

17 Dec

I am so excited that the time has come to give full details about my upcoming release, Amelia!

A few fun facts: this is my debut novel; I’m self-publishing; I’m trying to learn marketing without losing my mind; I’ve got wonderful editor; I’ve also got a lovely friend who’s helping with all the steps of self-publishing.

Synopsis:

In the end, Amelia must choose the path she truly desires. Is being a journalist worth the sacrifices required? And how exactly should a young woman of substance carry herself in a changing world?

This is a lovely, cozy story of a young woman finding her path amid trials and successes. I hope you’ll give it a try once it’s released, and that, for now, you’ll share news about it to those you think might enjoy it!

You can watch for updates on my website, Instagram, or Pinterest. Of course, I’ll keep you updated here on SGL as well!

Thanks for stopping by SGL,

Laura

Tags: amelia, books, historical fiction, laura starr waxman, publishing soon, self publishing, upcoming release

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Sisters of Bethlehem Springs Series Review

11 Dec

Updated on Dec, 11th 2024 – In the interest of sharing some more historical fiction novels with you, I decided to bring this post from 2019 to your attention. I fondly remember these sweet stories from time to time – Hatcher is a favored storyteller for sure. With my own novel set in the late 1890s, it’s fun to revisit novels set in the same time period!

I’m excited to be sharing this series by Robin Lee Hatcher with you guys today. I know I promised this review to you way back in December but it’s finally here! And it’s definitely worth the wait. Trust me. I actually heard about this series from my aunt who found it at her local library.

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A Vote of Confidence, When Gwen Arlington complains about the mayoral candidate for their small town of Bethlehem Springs, she is encouraged to run for office herself. Although she’s unsure about upsetting her cozy life as a piano teacher and writing for the local newspaper, she decides to go for it. Unknown to her, newcomer Morgan Mckinley also decides to run for mayor. The health spa that he’s trying to build has stalled and he’s decided that being mayor will help cut through all the red tape. As both Gwen and Morgan try to prove that they are the best candidate for the job, not only to the residents of the town but to each other, sparks fly. But Gwen’s fiercely protected independence and Morgan’s guarded heart may just keep them as adversaries instead of allies.

Fit to Be Tied, Cleo Arlington isn’t your typical young woman. She can rope, ride and wrangle a horse with the best of the outfit on her father’s ranch. But in 1916, those qualities aren’t what men are looking for in a wife. Her dreams of being married and having a family of her own look grim. So when Sherwood Statham comes to their ranch, she has a hard time with his uppity attitude. This English aristocrat isn’t there in Idaho by choice, but by order of his father. Cleo and Sherwood’s every encounter leaves one or the other mad as all get out. There’s no way he’s the one she’s been waiting for, is there?

A Matter of Character, Writing dime novels isn’t what people expect of an heiress, so Daphne Mckinley keeps her hobby to herself. But the stories are a hit and the readers keep asking for more. Daphne eagerly obliges, continuing the saga of her villain Rawhide Rick, who is loosely based off local lore. But when Joshua Crawford comes to town in search of the man who has slandered his grandfather’s good name, Daphne learns just how powerful words are. She also has to make a choice on using her gift and just what she wants her life to be.

This series was so much fun. I love the time period – starting in 1915 – and Hatcher describes just enough of the world that you can picture it without there being too much reminding. Know what I mean? (there really can be too much description in a book. . .) The main characters are great, although I have to admit to liking Daphne the most (although I do remember getting frustrated at her a few times…) but I suppose that’s no surprise as she’s a writer and I’m a writer.

aren’t these covers just perfect?! I’m in love

Anyway, this series was SO much fun, my friends. I read them all so quickly and was sad when they were over! Faith was an aspect of each book, but not overly done. (there can also be too much preaching in books…) There is something so fun about reading novels set in this time period – the newfangled contraptions of typewriters and automobiles. The dresses, gloves and hats. (happy sigh)

The twists and turns were great as well, keeping me in suspense as to just how each book would end. I highly recommend this series, from teens on up! This series is definitely on my re-read list (we all have one of those, don’t we?)

Also, I have reviewed another of Hatcher’s books, The Shepherd’s Voice. Go check it out! It’s also set in Idaho.

~Laura

Tags: a matter of character, a vote of confidence, book reviews, books, christian historical fiction, christian romance, fit to be tied, historical fiction, robin lee hatcher, sisters of bethelehem springs

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Book Reviews- Nov 2024

4 Dec

Welcome back to another monthly book review! I finished up a trilogy, read a few standalones and am still working my way through an incredibly long audiobook…

The God of Lost Words (Hell’s Library #3) by A.J. Hackwith- Claire, Hero, angel Remi and muse Brevity might just have to destroy the Library in order to save it… After saving the Library of the Unwritten Wing and finding out just what the books are made of, their secret out and all of Hell is coming for every wing of the Library. A war erupts and it’ll take all of their wits to survive.

–This was a good finale to the trilogy with a fantastic battle for each of the characters and bringing in a new villian (Godmother of Ghosts mwahaha). I admit some of the…details of the plot left me a little confused but I just kept reading anyway. It was more along the lines of fantasy-rules, so I didn’t feel like I’d understand it even if I stopped and pondered it… Anyhow, once again I did like the character growth – their battles and losses and victories felt specific to them. After finishing it, I was a little confused by some of what had happened but still finished content overall. The romance is, as I said in my reviews for the previous two books, is different than I normally read/prefer. (pansexual is apparently the word for it…) While I may not necessarily like this part of the plot, Hackwith wrote it so well that it didn’t take away from the story. And that the love was true and deep – not this flighty, physical focused type of infatuation. I appreciated that. With that in mind, a cautious recommend. As a last thought, I think the first book was my favorite, with this one being the second favorite.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien- Bilbo Baggins, hobbit of Bag-End, joins the wizard Gandalf and twelve dwarves, led by none other than Thorin Oakenshield, across Middle Earth to help the dwarves reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug. Through many obstacles – most of them extremely dangerous- they struggle through before even reaching their destination- the Lonely Mountain

– I always love the Hobbit but listening to Andy Serkis narrating it, just improves it by leaps and bounds, somehow. It has been several years since I read this story and thoroughly enjoyed how Tolkien points out these random facts/feelings – in a way that modern authors just don’t do (well, that I’ve come across). Anyway, it is a nice, concise wonderful adventure story. I love how talkative Gandalf is. How uncertain Bilbo can be. How much the dwarves complain all throughout but then repent soon enough after. Highly recommend reading or listening to (esp with Andy Serkis narrating) this story!

Dragonsteel Prime by Brandon Sanderson- On Yolen, we follow the story of a boy named Jerick and a fool or jest, who calls himself Topaz (though you might know him by another name).

–this was written back in 2001 and only now has been widely printed and sold. We see Sanderson’s original attempt at writing the Bridge Four story. I appreciated that, at the beginning of the book, he even says that the story is a bit all over the place. This acknowledgement made a difference through the parts that seemed out of left field.. I adored all things to do with Topaz. And Bat’Chor. And really, there were times I was wishing we were focusing more on Jerick… Anyway, I did enjoy this story even though I, maybe, don’t love certain elements of it. (some choices near the end just frustrated me!) I got the hardcover and it’s simply gorgeous.

Where the Long Grass Blows by Louis L’amour- Bill Canavan rides into a valley at war – the two large ranches are owned by rustlers turned ranchers, fighting to dominate the entire valley, and a third small ranch caught in the middle. The third ranch was owned by honest folk – a brother and sister. But Canavan didn’t just happen to choose this valley to settle in. He knew this land, this range war and had decided he’d stay. He’d staked a claim and had plans to be the one still standing after the the war had blown over. What he hadn’t counted on was just how much the woman owner of the small ranch would affect him…

–whenever I want a nice, cozy, western read, I pick up a Louis L’amour. I greatly enjoyed this one – it was full of the clever cowhand with a fist of iron and a moral compass; the villians who run roughshod over everyone; the beautiful spirited woman that fights back and cattle, horses and the range. I always like the straight-talking, quick-decision making aspects that are in L’amour’s stories. I liked that Canavan entered the town of Soledad with the intent to stay -this wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. And I liked the comparisons drawn from the other characters, between him and Star Levitt. Highly recommend.

Currently Reading:

Uprooted by Lyn Julius

The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (at 59% of a 69 hr audiobook)

I hope you found something to add to your to-read list!

~Laura

Tags: aj hackwith, book review, book reviews, books, Brandon Sanderson, dragonsteel prime, fantasy book review, fantasy novels, hell's library, jrr tolkien, louis lamour, Middle Earth, the god of lost words, the hobbit, western books, where the long grass blows

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Book Reviews- Oct 2024

27 Nov

As soon as I got caught up on monthly book reviews, I got behind again. Oy. Well, at least I realized it while we’re still in November!

Let’s get right to it!

The Flight of the Falcon by Daphne Du Maurier – Armino Fabbio is a guide for Sunshine Tours and is satisfied with his humdrum life of leading tourists around, when he’s circumstantially involved in a murder of an old peasant woman on the streets of Rome. When he learns that the woman was his family’s faithful servant, he returns to his hometown of Ruffano. Once there, he’s haunted by the phantom of his brother, Aldo, that was shot down in flames in 1943. But the town seems to have forgotten its violent past – that of Duke Claudio, known as The Falcon, the twisted and cruel man that preyed on the people of Ruffano. But as the days pass, the parallels of past and present are ever more evident…

~This is the third Du Maurier book that I’ve read. I enjoyed the beginning a lot but as the book progressed, I got confused and then frustrated with the choices Armino was making. I finished it with a firm feeling that I wouldn’t read it again, but after a few days, I thought maybe I would… Now, weeks later, I’m undecided. There were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming that kept it from being predictable, I think I just didn’t like the direction some of them went, ha! So, a hesitant recommendation for this one, I suppose.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame – Follow Mole, Rat, Badger and Mole through their lives- whether it’s lounging by the River Thames, going on a great adventure or a comical caper.

~I read this a few years ago and it was enchanting to once again be immersed in the beautiful world that Grahame created. I adore Mole and Badger so much. I love the descriptions of their world- the season changing, the wood…etc. I highly recommend this not only as an idyllic story but also as it has several nuggets of life wisdom spread throughout.

Silver Canyon by Louis L’amour – Matt Brennan rode into Hattan’s Point and decided he wanted to put down roots. But a land war is brewing between the big ranches of the area and he’s warned to get out of town immediately. But Matt’s never backed down from what he wants- and he wants a ranch and the hand of beautiful Moira Maclaren.

~I always enjoy a L’amour novel – the fights are written with enough pizazz to be interesting and short enough that you’re not skimming ahead to get to the end of it. The romance was sweet but I felt that if the whole story had been longer, this part, perhaps, would’ve been more fleshed out. I liked that Matt kept getting into some serious trouble and having to figure his way out of it again. This wasn’t one of my favorites of his, but it was an enjoyable short read.

The Library of the Unwritten (Hell’s Library #1) by A.J. Hackwith – This is where all books that weren’t written, reside. And it’s the Librarians’ job to organize and repair all books. And, of course, retrieve any books that go wandering… Claire Hadley, Head Librarian of the Unwritten Wing, must retrieve a Hero that has gone in search of his author. She takes along her assistant, former muse Brevity, and a reluctant courier demon, Leto. But the simple retrieval turns into anything but, when the angel Ramiel attacks them, demanding they give him the Devil’s Bible… a book that has the power to reshape heaven, hell…and the earth. It’s up to the librarian to find this powerful weapon before it can be used in the battle between heaven and hell.

~Now, just to be perfectly clear here- this is a fantasy series. *ahem* With that out of the way, I’m not sure I would’ve picked this book up if a friend hadn’t strongly recommended it. As she’s rarely ever wrong on book recommendations, I went ahead and started it, even though it seemed way out of my normal. Well. This was well written and the twists and turns in the plot were mostly out of left field, that I had a hard time putting it down. There were parts that dragged, but I liked that characters overall, enough, that it didn’t ruin it for me. What I wasn’t a fan of, was the…what’s the word – pansexual- thing spattered throughout. Thankfully, it was written in a way that wasn’t off-putting enough that I had to stop reading. With that caution, I can recommend this book without reservation for the writing, the fun take on a library and its caretakers.

The Archive of the Forgotten (Hell’s Library #2) by A.J. Hackwith – The Unwritten Wing was saved, but hundreds of books were destroyed and Claire and Brevity both feel their loss. But as they’re trying to find their routine again after all the changes, a new threat appears. A strange ink appears in the Arcane Wing. Claire and Brevity are immediately at odds in their approach to deal with this new threat; a representative from the Muse Corps arrives to offer assistance; Hero and the angel Rami go searching in another realm for the answer… The true nature of this strange ink could change the afterlife entirely.

~After finishing book 1, I immediately requested this one from the library and devoured it. I was a little miffed at some of the character’s choices, especially the first half of the book. But, I really loved the reveal of what the ink was and how the characters chose to deal with it. There was a little more of the romance that I mentioned in my review of the first book but it was still so…nicely done. It’s weird to skirt around this topic a bit, because I don’t want to give away any spoilers. But what I did appreciate about it was that the attraction wasn’t just a physical-instant-love-throw-all-caution-to-the-wind type of thing. It was rooted in knowing the other person. Again, with that caution of the nature of the romance, can recommend.

Currently Reading:

Uprooted by Lyn Julius

The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (at 55% of a 69 hr audiobook)

Dragonsteel Prime by Brandon Sanderson

Conagher by Louis L’amour

God of Lost Words (Hell’s Library #3) by A.J. Hackwith

I hope you found something to add to your TBR! What have you been reading lately?

~Laura

Tags: A.J. Hackwith, Archive of the Forgotten, book review, book reviews, books, daphne du maurier, hell's library #1, Kenneth Grahame, louis lamour, silver canyon, the flight of the falcon, the library of the unwritten, the wind in the willows

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Writing Prompt- A Silent Storm

14 Nov

I haven’t written from a prompt in so long that it was nice to do this. It is fairly rough- as most all of these are that I share with you. I don’t edit much at all, and maybe one day I’ll look back and regret that but for now, I like that it’s something I’m able to do without too much work or editing or whatnot.

She sat on the edge of the wooden stool, fingers gripping the windowsill as she watched the darkening sky. Clouds had been rolling in and were slowly blocking out the blue she loved so much. She lowered her gaze to the ground, where squirrels and birds were dashing to their hidey-holes in trees. The farm dogs ran to the house, tails tucked between their legs, panting as they hurried inside. Even her father was coming in early, driving the tractor down the lane toward the shed they’d built for it last year. As if in response to the passing of the slow machine, the trees started waving in the wind, gently, gently.

Turning from the trees, she checked on her mother in the kitchen. She’d already helped lock the windows and doors, all but this front door where her father would hurry in with a worried gaze and a reassuring smile. Her mother was checking dinner, then would go stoke the stove. She smiled as her mother did just that. Her mother liked routine. Feeling vibrations in the wood floor, she turned to see her father cleaning his boots off on the front porch. She waited until he was ready and opened the door for him. And as she’d known he would, he looked worried but smiled at her so that the fear rising in her breast eased a little. She locked the door while he hung his coat up and moved to stand in front of the fire.

She turned back to the window, the dogs on either side of her, and watched the trees whipping back and forth in the wind and the rain… the rain was just as angry as the trees as it battered everything outside. A rhythmic tapping on the floor made her turn back around. Her father was sitting down in the rocking chair, smiling at her. Relieved that he hadn’t forgotten, she slipped off the stool, her bare feet hitting the wood floor one after the other, and hurried to climb into her father’s lap. He tucked a quilt over her and started the chair rocking as they watched the storm outside.

As she relaxed in the warmth of her father’s embrace, the stress that had been building in her chest eased even more. Storms were unnatural things – so violent and angry and yet, silent. Storms should rage and hurt one’s eardrums with the sound of the wind and rain and lightening. Instead, they remained silent- except for the occasional shuddering of the house from a particularly strong gust of wind. But the rocking chair kept up its rhythm, and her father’s arms were strong about her and she could feel that he was talking with her mother by the vibrations from his chest. And she pulled the quilt up around her shoulders as they rocked, gently, gently.

(the writing prompt was ‘describe a thunderstorm without using the sense of hearing’)

I hope you enjoyed this, thanks for stopping by SGL,

Laura

Tags: a silent storm, writing, writing prompt