historical – Page 15 – Cannonball Read 17

Chocolate, Cross-dressing, Murder, and More!

The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes

January 24, 2022 by Pooja Leave a Comment

Puri and her husband Cristóbal are on their way to Ecuador, where Puri is to claim a chocolate plantation that has been left to her, when her husband is murdered by the assassin sent for her. Determined to avenge him, Puri assumes Cristóbal’s identity and goes to the plantation, where a trio of secret siblings is but the first of the surprises… I was immediately intrigued by this book, because I’d never read anything with such a plot. Yet despite the intricacy of the premise, […]

Home Is a Lonely, Wind-Lashed Isle

The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford

January 22, 2022 by Pooja Leave a Comment

‘I had no idea where we were headed, no idea what lay before us. All I knew was I was ready to travel the length and breadth of France if the world would give me one more chance to spend one more hour with you – to say I’m sorry.’ In 1927, Cambridge student Fred ends up on the remote Scottish island of St Kilda to study the local rock formations and falls in love with Chrissie, a local woman. Thirteen years later, he is […]

Surf and Secrets in Malibu

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

January 12, 2022 by Pooja 8 Comments

‘The Malibu fire of 1983 started not in the dry hills but on the coastline. It began at 28150 Cliffside Drive on Saturday, August 27—at the home of Nina Riva—during one of the most notorious parties in Los Angeles history. The annual party grew wildly out of control sometime around midnight. By 7:00 a.m., the coastline of Malibu was engulfed in flames. Because, just as it is in Malibu’s nature to burn, so was it in one particular person’s nature to set fire and walk […]

“If you want to be the villain of the two of us, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to try harder.”

Proper Scoundrels by Allie Therin

January 4, 2022 by llamareadsbooks 2 Comments

This is a spin-off of the author’s Magic in Manhattan series, which I absolutely adored. I was a little worried about this book because it stars two somewhat villains (and afraid I would miss the characters from the previous book, Arthur and Rory) but this book is just as excellent as the previous ones. While it’s not directly connected to the previous series, I don’t think it would work without some knowledge of it (and this review will contain spoilers for that series). “I’m the […]

This Book Smells Good

The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy

July 7, 2021 by jomidi Leave a Comment

I have no idea how I found this book, when or how it got on my to read list. It seems that Marc Levy is an international best selling French author, but I had never heard of him before. The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury is part of a relatively new Amazon imprint – “Amazon Crossing introduces readers to authors from around the world with translations of international books, making award-winning and best-selling books accessible to new readers.” Well, all I can say is that […]

“We look after each other.”

The Companion by E.E. Ottoman

June 15, 2021 by llamareadsbooks 2 Comments

This book is the equivalent of drinking a hot cup of tea while sitting on a screened-in porch full of plants: it’s as cozy, gentle and relaxing as the cover suggests. Demoralized by the publishing industry in late 1940s New York City, Madeline accepts an invitation to be a companion for Victor in upstate New York. He’s a mystery writer who inherited a large house and enough money where he never has to leave it: he gets his groceries and newspaper delivered. But spending all […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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