Svetlana's Reads and Views

Name of Book: A Fine Year for Murder Author: Lauren Carr ISBN: 9781537376905 Publisher: Acorn services Part of a Series: A Thorny Rose Mystery Type of book: Mystery, repressed memories, trauma, crime, family, dysfunction, friendship, psychology, West Virginia, twists Year it was published: 2017 Summary: After months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy. When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family living near a winery owned by distant relatives she was visiting and suppressed the memory. Determined to uncover the truth and ...

Diversity has done a lot for people's self esteem, especially groups that have been stigmatized or made to feel insignificant because they lack a certain pedigree. But I often think that diversity in literature has benefited girls/women a lot more than boys/men.  One prime example I have is of women-both white and colored- having white male love interests and very rarely did I encounter books that have a non-white male as romantic interest. I imagine years down the road that my son might discover girls in his teens, and perhaps he might have a crush on a girl. He will try to approach the girl, only to get shot down, or else hear the dreaded words: "I don't date Asian or half-Asian men. I date only white guys." Following that, I imagine I will be in a quandary between trying to boost my son's self-esteem versus what society is telling him; that he is less than because his father happened to be of Chinese ancestry. And if he becomes interested in reading, I hone...

It's interesting to note that although 2016 is perhaps one of the most divisive years in terms of politics, events and so forth, I often feel as if the cause and division has inspired people to be more conscientious of others and to demand more diversity in literature.  Blast from the Past:  Louise de la Valliere Part II by Alexandre Dumas In the Musketeers' final adventure, D'Artagnan remains in the service of the corrupt King Louis XIV after the Three Musketeers have retired and gone their separate ways. Meanwhile, a mysterious prisoner in an iron mask wastes away deep inside the Bastille. When the destinies of king and prisoner converge, the Three Musketeers and D'Artagnan find themselves caught between conflicting loyalties. (from Goodreads Man in Iron Mask) Why It's Diverse: Because I had incorrect editions at the time, some of the chapters were left out from the Man in the Iron Mask therefore I had to find them online and print them out.The ...

Name of Book: The Most Dangerous Thing Author: Leanne Lieberman ISBN: 9781459811843 Publisher: Orca Book Publishing Type of book: Asian male/white female relationship, interracial, Canada, anxiety, depression, Vagina Monologues, YA, High school, modern times, Judaism, Passover, family, friends, sex, desires, feminism, demonizing desire Year it was published: 2017 Summary: Sixteen-year-old Sydney hates to talk (or even think) about sex. She's also fighting a secret battle against depression, and she's sure she'll never have a boyfriend. When her classmate Paul starts texting and sending her nature photos, she is caught off guard by his interest. Always uncomfortable with any talk about sex, Sydney is shocked when her extroverted sister, Abby, announces that she is going to put on The Vagina Monologues at school. Despite her discomfort, Sydney starts to reexamine her relationship with her body, and with Paul. But her depression worsens, and with the help o...

Name of Book: The Budapest Romance Author: Rozsa Gaston ISBN: 978-1-4801-4063-9 Publisher: Stay Playful Press Type of book: Budapest, Europe, Hungary, clean romance, purpose, faith, relationship, hope, winter, long distance relationship, being together, one year, activities to do together Year it was published: 2014 Summary: Publishers Weekly says "The traditional healing properties and beauty of the thermal spa baths...are the true stars of this thoughtful romance." Manhattan businesswoman Kati Dunai lives a life of international glamour. Unfortunately, she's too busy to enjoy it. But when she visits Budapest to settle her father's estate, the city's leisurely culture speaks to Kati's soul. While luxuriating in her hotel's sensuous thermal baths, Kati is drawn to another foreigner: a rugged Dutchman named Jan. As Jan shows Kati Budapest's unhurried pleasures, Kati introduces Jan to a slow pace of intimacy that fuels the fires of...

Seeing double- Nancy j alexander SR: April 30th 2017 FR: Under the Approaching dark- Anna Belfrage SR: April 26th 2017 FR: A House Divided-Pearl S Buck SR: March 11th, 2016 FR: N/A A fine year for murder- Lauren Carr SR: March 25th 2017 FR: April 4th 2017 Silk is for seduction- Loretta Chase SR: April 8th 2017 FR: April 21st 2017 The confessions of young Nero- Margaret George SR: February 14th 2017 FR: April 12th 2017 The Republic of uzupis- halJi SR: January 4th 2017 FR: The Varangian-Bruce Macbain SR: March 20th, 2017 FR: April 13th, 2017 The mourning ring- Sarah Parke SR: March 17th 2017 FR: April 26th 2017 The Half Wives-Stacia Pelletier SR: April 13th 2017 FR: April 30th 2017 Jorie and the magic stones- A.House Richardson SR: April 4th 2017 FR: April 20th 2017 Fatal Rivalry- Mercedes Rochelle SR: January 30th 2017 FR: The Comet Seekers Helen Sedgwick SR: January 17th 2017 FR: Beethoven in Love-Howard Jay Smith SR: April 16th, 2017 FR: The...

Name of Book: The Enemies of Versailles Author: Sally Christie ISBN: 978-1-5011-0302-5 Publisher: Atria Books Part of a Series: Mistresses of Versailles Type of book: France, Versailles, Revolution, King Louis XV, King Louis XVI, 1750-1800, courtiers, daily life at Versailles, mortality, mistresses, daughter/father relationship, spinsterhood, lessons, Marie Antoinette, alliances, changes, time Year it was published: 2017 Summary: In the final installment of Sally Christie’s “tantalizing” (New York Daily News) Mistresses of Versailles trilogy, Jeanne Becu, a woman of astounding beauty but humble birth, works her way from the grimy back streets of Paris to the palace of Versailles, where the aging King Louis XV has become a jaded and bitter old philanderer. Jeanne bursts into his life and, as the Comtesse du Barry, quickly becomes his official mistress. “That beastly bourgeois Pompadour was one thing; a common prostitute quite another kettle of fish.” After decad...