Captivating Catch-Up | ARC Edition Pt. 3

As I read some last year, but took a break for “maternity leave”, I have many reviews to catch up on. Because of that, and until I can catch up, I decided to start a bulk review post–hence, “Captivating Catch-Up”. The reviews will be quick, to-the-point, but also give my complete, honest opinion.

This batch is another group of some of the ARCs that I got last year (or years before) and failed to review.

Kilt Trip Published by Canary Street Press by Alexandra Kiley
on March 5, 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Scotland, Travel
Source: Netgalley
Format: ARC, eBook
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

ISBN: 1335009299
Rating:

Ready or Scot...
Globetrotter Addie Macrae always follows her wanderlust. As a travel consultant, she jet sets around the world—anywhere but Scotland. But when she’s sent on assignment to help a struggling family-run tour company in the Highlands—and save her own job—Addie packs away her emotional baggage and turns on the professional charm.
Rugged as the land he loves, Logan Sutherland’s greatest joy is sharing the beauty of Scotland’s hidden gems…even if it means a wee bit of red ink on the company’s bottom line. The last thing Logan wants is some American “expert” pushing tourist traps and perpetuating myths about the Loch Ness Monster—especially when Addie never leaves her desk to experience the country for herself.
As they wage an office war, Logan discovers Addie’s secret connection to Scotland: a handful of faded Polaroids of her late mother. Hoping for a truce, he creates a private tour to the places in the pictures to help Addie find closure and appreciate the enchantment in less-traveled destinations, never expecting the off-limits attraction sparking between them. But Addie’s contract is almost up, and magic won’t pay the bills. They can’t afford distractions, but how can Addie do her job if she hasn’t explored all Scotland—and Logan—have to offer?

This one will probably be one of my favorite reads for the first half of the year. Honestly, I’ve been searching for some good, light-hearted reading to transport me and this one fit the bill.

The setting is in beautiful Scotland and because of the whole “travel” part of the plot, I was able to read about Scottish history and some of the beautiful places there that I’d love to visit. Even without the romance of the story–just the setting alone would’ve made this one a favorite.

The romance though, sent it over the edge. Addie and Logan had INSTANT sparks. And their banter and relationship just carried this lovely story to its beautiful conclusion.

CANNOT wait to read more from this author as she uses her own experiences in Scotland to write her stories.

A Golden Fury Published by Wednesday Books by Samantha Cohoe
on October 13, 2020
Genres: Fantasy, YA, Historical
Pages: 341
Source: Netgalley
Format: ARC, eBook
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

ISBN: 1250220408
Rating:

Thea Hope longs to be an alchemist out of the shadow of her famous mother. The two of them are close to creating the legendary Philosopher’s Stone—whose properties include immortality and can turn any metal into gold—but just when the promise of the Stone’s riches is in their grasp, Thea’s mother destroys the Stone in a sudden fit of violent madness.
While combing through her mother’s notes, Thea learns that there’s a curse on the Stone that causes anyone who tries to make it to lose their sanity. With the threat of the French Revolution looming, Thea is sent to Oxford for her safety, to live with the father who doesn’t know she exists.
But in Oxford, there are alchemists after the Stone who don’t believe Thea’s warning about the curse—instead, they’ll stop at nothing to steal Thea’s knowledge of how to create the Stone. But Thea can only run for so long, and soon she will have to choose: create the Stone and sacrifice her sanity, or let the people she loves die.

Alchemy has always fascinated me. It was probably one of my favorite aspects of the A Discovery of Witches series. Something real, yet steeped in the supernatural. Afterall, the quest for the philosopher’s stone is a true yet fantastical history.

Of course, this book being YA, wasn’t going to be as deep as I’d hoped. And that’s okay. However, it was more the way the end of the book kind of ran wild and felt disjointed from the rest of the story that made me lower my rating.

In the beginning I was really invested and enjoyed the characters and the mystery of the story. I just got lost with the mess towards the end. Not an awful read, but not one that I’ll likely remember much about either.

The Last Bookshop in London Published by Hanover Square Press by Madeline Martin
on April 6, 2021
Genres: Books About Books, Historical, WW II
Pages: 325
Source: Netgalley
Format: ARC, eBook
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

ISBN: 133528480X
Rating:

Inspired by the true World War II history of the few bookshops to survive the Blitz, The Last Bookshop in London is a timeless story of wartime loss, love and the enduring power of literature.
August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and blackout curtains that she finds on her arrival were not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.
Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.

I got this book when I was in my deep WWII phase. Luckily for me I still appreciate these stories even if I’m not only reading them anymore.

Books about books is one of my favorite genres. I mean, as an avid book reader, what more would I want to read about than… books?

Heavy with themes of friendship, bravery, and romance this was quite the palate cleanser for me between some of the other fantasy reads that I’ve been indulging in lately.

The Paris Library Published by Atria Books by Janet Skeslien Charles
on February 9, 2021
Genres: Books About Books, France, Historical, WW II
Pages: 368
Source: Netgalley
Format: ARC, eBook
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

ISBN: 1982134194
Rating:

Paris, 1939. Odile Souchet is obsessed with books and the Dewey Decimal System, which makes order out of chaos. She soon has it all – a handsome police officer beau, an English best friend, a beloved twin, and a job at the American Library in Paris, a thriving community of students, writers, diplomats, and book lovers. Yet when war is declared, there's also a war on words.
Montana, 1983. Widowed and alone, Odile suffers the solitary confinement of small-town life. Though most adults are cowed by her, the neighbor girl will not let her be. Lily, a lonely teenager yearning to break free of Froid is obsessed by the older French woman who lives next door and wants to know her secrets.
As the two become friends, Odile sees herself in Lily – the same love of language, the same longings, the same lethal jealousy. The Paris Library’s dual narratives explore the relationships that make us who we are – family and friends, first loves and favorite authors – in the fairy tale setting of the City of Light. It also explores the geography of resentment, the consequences of unspeakable betrayal, and what happens when the people we count on for understanding and protection fail us.
The wit, empathy, and deep research that brings The Paris Library to life also brings to light a cast of lively historical characters and a little-known chapter of World War II history: the story of the American librarian, Miss Reeder, who created the Soldiers’ Service to deliver books to servicemen, and who later faced the Nazi ‘Book Protector’ in order to keep her library open. She and her colleagues defied the Bibliotheksschutz by delivering books to Jewish readers after they were forbidden from entering the library.

In the same vein as The Last Bookshop in London, only taking place in Paris, and with dual timelines–this one didn’t hit for me quite the same way. This one took place in the 1980s and the 1940s and for that, I loved it. Especially as a child of the 80s.

I think the thing I didn’t like about this was the characters. And I’m really a character-driven reader. If I don’t connect with them, then I have a difficult time connecting to the book. And that’s kind of what happened here.

The writing wasn’t bad at all. I think it could’ve been better if I’d just not gotten bored with the characters in the story.

 

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