Review: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 stars - I'll tell you to read it, even if you don't ask

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It is this reason that I often read history books, memoirs, and biographies. We can learn things from those who came before us.

The Radium Girls were the young ladies employed by various watch companies in the 1910s and 1920s to paint radioactive numbers on watch and dial faces to allow them to glow in the dark. These women endured unspeakable pain and suffering, but it is because of them that OHSA and other worker protections were put into place.

I found this story very relatable. The author made you care about the women by introducing you to them as more than just workers and names in a court case. We learned their hopes and dreams, their families, and much more. The research was thorough, with access to letters and diaries in addition to court records, depositions, and much more.

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Review: Mother Daughter Traitor Spy

Mother Daughter Traitor Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 out of 5 - I'll tell you to read it, even if you don't ask me

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for this advanced copy.  All opinions are my own.

This is the story of a mother and daughter duo who infiltrate the Nazi movement in California in the 1930s and 1940s to try to take them down from the inside. Based on the true story of Grace and Sylvia Comfort, this book takes some literary license and changes names, but the author takes care to discuss at the end what was true and what was changed.

I really enjoyed learning more about what was happening on the homefront prior to WWII. While I knew there were inklings of this story in history, I had no idea how prevalent and deep rooted the plans were for a Nazi led America. This has made me more interested in this side of history and I will be looking for more information.

For more information about the original mother and daughter, I found this article.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-x...

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Review: Drunk on Love

Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy. All opinions shared are my own.

This is the story of Margot and Luke. Margot and her brother own a winery in Napa and while she's on a business trip, Margot's brother hires a new employee for the tasting room without her input. In her frustration, Margot ends up at her friend's restaurant for a drink and dinner. While there, her friend dares her to flirt with the guy on the next bar stool. The flirting and conversation go well, one thing led to another, and Margot went back to Luke's apartment for the night. Only to learn when they both arrive at work the next morning that Luke was the new hire at the winery. There's some frustration and holding back of feelings while they're working together, to stay professional. In the end, we all know they'll end up together.

I enjoyed this book. It was a great escape for a few days. I enjoyed the cameo at the winery by characters from Jasmine Guillory's other books. It was fun to see some of the behind the scenes of running a winery and publicizing a small family business with memberships and exclusive parties. It was also great to have the background stories on why Luke was working at the winery and why he might or might not go back to his old job.

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Review: By the Book

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars. If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This was a fun retelling of "Beauty and the Beast". The story and characters were engaging, and the story was mostly light and fluffy (which was just what I needed).

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Review: I Need a New Butt!

I Need a New Butt! by Dawn McMillan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

I'm not sure what was so wrong with this story that would cause an Assistant Principal to be fired. The only thing I can see that could be seen as even slightly inappropriate are illustrations of various butts. I found it cute, and I can see why kids would find it entertaining.

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Review: Enola Holmes and the Boy in Buttons

Enola Holmes and the Boy in Buttons by Nancy Springer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This was a cute little novella that delved a little deeper into one of the side characters of the Enola Holmes stories. Joddy works as her porter in her boardinghouse. When he gets sick, his younger brother Paddy fills in. One night, Paddy doesn't come home after working. Enola quickly jumps into action to find him.

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Review: The Unbalanced Equation

The Unbalanced Equation by H.L. Macfarlane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Liz and Tom have known each other for several years. Tom was Liz's PhD assessor, and he was tough to work with. So, just when Liz thinks she is finally done with him and moving on to a new post doc role, he comes boomeranging back into her life. His lab burns down and where does he end up working? Her lab bench. Worse? They learn that their parents met in a grief support group and are now getting married! But wait, that's not the bottom... Liz's landlord gives her less than a week to move out.

I enjoyed the touch of science that was mentioned without getting too detailed. I enjoyed the characters, even if I found them a little over the top at times. It was a quick read, and I'd recommend it.

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Review: Lucy Checks In

Lucy Checks In by Dee Ernst
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for this advanced copy.  All opinions are my own.

"Lucy Checks In" is about Lucia Giannetti, once a hotel manager of a luxurious hotel in NYC, and how she's rebuilding her life after her boyfriend (owner of said hotel) runs off with all the money. In order to find a new job, she takes an offer to start up a hotel in Rennes, France. When she gets there, it's not quite what she expected. Instead of overseeing staff and workmen, she is expected to jump into some of the grunt work herself, like painting, building a website, and finding ways to bring back this hotel to it's former glory.

One thing I really liked about this book was that, for once, it wasn't a story about a late-20s, early-30s woman who keeps claiming she's "past her prime". Lucy is 49 years old and never married. I enjoyed getting to know her and the other characters who lived in the hotel. The major part I wasn't a fan of was how the story ended. It just seemed all so unlikely, even if it was a semi-happy ending.

While most people will try to claim that the family dynamic in Lucy's family is unlikely, it's one that I can relate to in a way. So, that wasn't my issue with the ending.

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Review: The Social Graces

The Social Graces by Renée Rosen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I really enjoyed learning more about the Vanderbilt family and how they fit into the New York society life. I had no idea this was how the Vanderbilt family came to be known so well, through social climbing of a wife who only wanted to be accepted in society.

The history of the society ladies was extremely interesting to me, and makes me want to go learn more about the time period.

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Review: Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask, I'll tell you to read it

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this advanced copy.

In this 8th installment of the Enola Holmes series, we actually revisit the characters from the 2nd and 4th mysterie, Lady Cecily Alastair and her family. I do love the crazy escapades that Enola gets up to in order to rescue her friend, and the story tells the sad truths of history and a woman's place.

One struggle I have is that these are to be YA books, but so often there are obscure words that make me happy I'm reading with my Kindle and can look them up.

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