Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“With some people, it’s not about winning or losing, That with some people, it’s just about playing.

Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

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Eighteen-year-old Mallory “Mal” Greenleaf used to love chess and showed great potential, but hasn’t played for four years because it reminds her of her father, and the less said or thought about him the better. While her friends are headed for college, Mallory is trying to earn as much money as possible working as a mechanic. Her mother suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and can’t really work anymore, and Mallory isn’t about to let her sisters Darcy (twelve) and Sabrina (fourteen) suffer and miss out on […]

The Mona-Lisa (Saperstein) of Old New York

The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton

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Edith Wharton’s 1913 novel The Custom of the Country is a commentary on manners and society in the vein of a Jane Austen novel, and it is a dark, brooding tale of dysfunctional families reminiscent of the Brontes. The main character, Undine Spragg, is a strikingly beautiful young woman from one of the upstart “new” families, desperately trying to break into New York society and make a good marriage to old money. I’ve seen the name Undine Spragg come up quite a lot recently in […]

Yo Ho! A Pirate’s Life for Me

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

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Daughter of the Pirate King – 3 stars Daughter of the Siren Queen – 4 stars Alosa is a famous pirate captain in her own right, leading a crew of almost exclusively women. She also happens to be the only daughter of the Pirate King, who rules the seas with cruelty and intimidation tactics. Her father has one piece of a legendary treasure map, which will reveal the location of untold riches to the one who can locate and unite the missing pieces. Alosa needs to get […]

“We all have the right to be recognised for who we are.”

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

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4.5 stars For most of her life, Viola Carroll was forced to live a lie. Then she went off to the Napoleonic wars, with her best friend and constant companion Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood, and because of a horrible accident where she was presumed dead by everyone who knew her, she decided to just let most people assume her former self was indeed dead (so her title and estates could pass to her brother), making it possible for her to finally live […]

Thank you, Emmalita! Dragons and Wizards and Shit would make an excellent 90’s band name.

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“Packaged arrived.”  “Huh, I don’t think I’m expecting anything,” Dome’Loki says.  “Wait a minute,” as she dashes out the door.  “Yes!  It’s my Cannonball book exchange!”  Dome’Loki clutches the package and rushes back into the house.  Excitedly she opens it, careful not to damage anything.  Inside is a delightful surprise of two books, a pair of perfect socks, and Cannonball Read stickers. Gazing at them, Dome’Loki, feels a rush of gratitude to Emmalita and the Cannonball community for continuing this wonderful tradition. In all seriousness, […]

Nobody Should Ever Let Me Live-Text Them About Anything, Ever Again

Cordelia's Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

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Listen: I loved this book so much that I am completely unable to be a reasonable person about it. I don’t know how to write a proper, coherent review when all I’ve got is excited hand-flapping and maybe also shrieks of excitement. So, instead, please enjoy this series of increasingly unhinged text messages that I sent to my friend Danielle over the course of about 48 hours.    Okay, so, I’m reading this on my lunch break (started it when you first lent it to […]



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