Review: The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd

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I love period books that just sweep you off your feet. The Weaver’s Daughter introduced me to Sarah Ladd and I must say that after reading this book, I will definitely add her to my favorite author list. Her beautiful novel effortlessly weaved a story of love, familial loyalty, loss and the empowerment to seek out the truth bringing adversaries to allegiance risking everything to protect the present and future. 

I think the book summary brilliant summaries the heart of the book. Here is what it is about: 

"Kate's loyalties bind her to the past. Henry's loyalties compel him to strive for a better future. In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?

Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder --including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father's pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.

Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war seeking refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather's goals to modernize his family's wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family's livelihood and legacy.

Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry's side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village's future. As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, and their village, and their souls - even if it means risking their hearts in the process."

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. For a period novel, she does an amazing job creating a beautiful story that transcends time and just as a reader, you just become some absorbed in this book, placing you in that time. The pace of the book and the way the novel carried itself through the plot was like a gentle breeze. Sarah gives us wonderful characters to dive into and I don’t feel there was a moment that I have any criticism towards the way the book. The layers of the plot peeled itself back as is developed. The story came together the way it was supposed to be. I’m definitely looking forward to what’s to come. I’m recommending adding this one to your TBR list! 

Review: Nightmare’s Eve by Stephen H. Provost

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Held on the edge of that moment between evening light and dusk, Stephen H. Provost’s NIGHTMARE’S EVE is a collections of horror short stories and chilling poems. From a deal in the dark to a gift to bring words to life, this collection will make you want to sleep with a night-light.

Provost’s writing is self-described in the beginning to be like a collection of Twilight Zone episodes, but there’s something more twisted and fantastical awaiting in these pages. With a mix of Stephen King-like story-telling and M. Night Shyamalan twists, Provost brings our deepest nightmares to life. I dare you to read this book in the dark and go to sleep after.

The characters Provost creates make you feel all sorts of emotions while reading. You’ll hate some of them, feel sympathetic for some, but most of them are just like us, and that’s what scares me the most. This collection has so many humanistic qualities, and those are paired well with the unknown and supernatural. 

Along with chilling tales of monsters and strange occurrences are the poems that can only remind me of Edgar Allan Poe. His poetry in this is riveting and dark, mixed with some “certitude” and great language.

Provost’s collection deserves praise with every single story included, which get better and better as you get deeper and deeper into the madness that only can come from Stephen H. Provost’s NIGHTMARE’S EVE.

Review: Burn The Fairy Tales by Adeline Whitmore

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This book of poems had potential. I understand what the author was attempting to accomplish. I had hoped that it would be book about empowering women and offering encouraging works. but unfortunately, it was not. 

Burn The Fairy Tales felt rushed, unorganized, and a little repetitive. 

I'm not sure if it was my copy, but all the poems were not separated. For example, the title for the next poem tended to run into the next poem. At times, I was not sure if it was the title for the next poem or if it was a line in the prior poem. It was a little confusing. 

Like mentioned earlier, I understand what the book was trying to accomplish. But it felt rant-y. I love a good rant now and again, but the author tended to focus more on the bad and not on the future. I didn't feel inspired. I felt the author's rage, which is not a bad thing, however, I expected something more. 

I wanted to love the poems, instead of only somewhat liking a few. 

The writing was a little conflicting. The author would say something, and then in another poem say something completely different. 

While reading, I did pick up the similarities between this book and The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace. Both books have the same black background and white font color. And also both books are in essence about feminism. Whereas, The Princess Saves Herself in This One succeeds, this book fails. 

Review: The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace

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the princess

locked herself away

in the highest tower,

hoping a knight

in shining armor

would come to her

recuse.

  • I didn’t realize I could by my own knight

There is something intimate about poetry. Also like you are reading someone’s diary. Some writers pour their whole heart and soul into their writing, and although you are experiencing it without personally knowing them, you can feel the heartbreak and pain that they had suffered, and you cannot help but get a sense of who they are as a person. The Princess Saves Herself in This One is the perfect example this.

It is emotional and raw, and I felt that I had somehow gotten ahold of Lovelace’s diary. It was deeply personal, and although I haven’t personally experienced what she had experience, I felt her heartbreak.

The book is separated into four parts- the princess, the damaged, the queen, and you. As the book navigates through those sections, you’re first introduced to Amanda Lovelace’s rocky relationship with her mother, her unhappiness with her body, and you end with her finding herself after leaving a trouble romantic relationship and then her offering encouraging and empowering words to the readers. Her journey is prominent within her writing, and her strength is undeniable.

This isn’t just a book filled with poems, it’s someone’s own character development. And I think that why I found this book to be inspiring. There’s heartbreak. There’s recovery. There’s joy, and there’s hope. And I think most importantly, this book shows you that you can save yourself, and that you do not have to wait for someone to save you.

Final Analysis

The Princess Saves Herself in This One is an intimate look into the life of Amanda Lovelace as she records her life of heartbreak, tragedy, and recovery. Also while providing encouraging and relatable words to others in need.
 

Review: No Cowboy Required by JoAnn Sky

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We are introduced to Grace Harper. When gets the news of the death of her father, she finds herself returning to the home she left and never looked back from. Inheriting his farm, she is told she would become guardian to her stepbrother, JJ, who she never met and had autism. That wasn’t her only surprise. 

Little did she know, the guy who pushed her out of his life and heart years ago, is at the center of things stirring up the past and unresolved feelings. Giving herself two weeks to get everything together and get back to her life, nothing seems to working as she hoped. Having to deal with the fact he is only one to help her with JJ, she finds herself struggling to fight the pull that is bringing her back to not only her past but also to a certain someone she is trying to forget.

Overall, this was a good book that went really fast. Personally, I would’ve loved to dive more into certain aspects of the plot. I sort of feel like things just started to get really good, then the book was over. The heart of the characters were there but just wished I could’ve had a little more meat to some of the plot points and backstory. Despite that, it was a good read. 

Review: Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep by Michael Schulman

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Whether you are a fan, it is undeniable that Meryl Streep is one of the best actresses alive. Her dedication to her craft and willingness to take risks are extraordinary. In 2014, it was reported that in the past 12 years, she was thanked more times than God at the Academy Awards. And in 2017, she broke her own Oscar nominations record.

Currently, she has three Oscar wins and 21 nominations.  There is clearly something talent about the New Jersey native. Besides being an uber talent multi-talented actress, Meryl lives a relatively quiet life.

Her Again: Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep explores the life of the actress before famous and also shines a light on who Meryl is when she is not winning multiple awards. Instead of the standard chapter number titles, the book is broken down into the roles that Meryl had to play. It begins with Mary, Meryl’s first name.

In this portion, Meryl is a normal teenager, who is trying to survive high school and dealing with typical teen issues- boys, homecoming. The book ends with Joanna. The name of the character that she played in Kramer vs. Kramer, and the character she ended up winning her first Academy Award for.

I have very little critiques with Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep. It was an enjoyable read and kept me entertained. The author provides a contextual view of how she became who she is. The book is not just ridden with quotes from Meryl. In addition to the quotes, the author dives deeper and paints a picture of the environment in which she was in, social circumstances, and also the culture.

After reading, I’ve developed a great appreciation for the actress. I’ve learned several times about the actress that I had not known. For example, that her and Sigourney Weaver were friends in college.  

Although the book does a good job of explaining Meryl’s backstory, there are a few gaps. For example, her marriage to Don Gummer six months after he boyfriend passed from lung cancer. The author does touch on how Meryl and Don met, but he doesn’t touch on the whys. Another issue I’d noticed, is that the book spent a little too much time on other individuals in Meryl’s life. For example, the book made a point to provide a detailed summary about her professional in college. Although, they were prominent in Meryl’s life, their backstory should have been compressed and more time should have been spent on Meryl.

Final Analysis

Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep provides an insight look at one of the most talented actresses alive. Although not perfect, it is a biography that does a fairly decent job at capturing Meryl Streep.