book review Archives

Too Good To Be True

"The irony in unbearable things is that they actually are bearable." Author: Carola Lovering You’ve heard the old saying – if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. This certainly describes Skye’s sudden whirlwind romance and marriage to Burke. Skye is a beautiful, wealthy woman. But her extreme OCD has turned away many a would-be suitor. Another event from her past has also left her traumatized and unable to trust. But Burke is different – or so she thinks. After returning from the honeymoon, Skye “accidentally” receives an email that shatters everything. Burke’s digital diary is included as an [...]

Frances Carden2025-07-28T17:28:23-07:00July 28th, 2025|Tags: book of the month, book review, botm, fiction, read, reading, thriller, Too Good to Be True|

Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, The

“Light is only possible through dialogue between cultures, not through rejection of one or the other.” Author: James McBride Set in the 1930s, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store is the story of Chicken Hill and its diverse residents. It’s a uniquely American story, showcasing elements of the diaspora, highlighting racism and segregation, focusing on the individuals who compose a community, and championing overcoming through effective resistance. The story has a bit of everything (and everyone), but mainly focuses on the town’s Jewish and Black communities, which form a close relationship with each other through the magically named grocery story where [...]

Frances Carden2025-07-20T17:19:37-07:00July 20th, 2025|Tags: book review, contemporary fiction, read, reading|

War of the Worlds

“This isn't a war. It never was a war, any more than there's war between man and ants.” Author: H.G. Wells H.G. Wells created the entire genre of alien invasion survival narratives. The way we imagine it now – through TV, movies, books, comics, you name it – all points back to The War of the Worlds. Now, I’m a fan of disaster fiction, and I’ve been salivating to get some time with this classic for years. Finally, I had the book and the time, but I quickly discovered that my anticipation outweighed the actual power of the narrative, if not [...]

Frances Carden2025-07-19T14:48:28-07:00July 19th, 2025|Tags: alien, alien invasion, aliens, book review, classic, H.G. Wells, read, reading, sci-fi, science fiction|