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Amor4Libros
Elements | John Boyne
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Pickpick

When John Boyne takes you for a ride, buckle up! I am glad I was able to read all four novellas in one go, as it made the reading experience better for me.

Be ready, you will not feel joy reading this, but the stories are told in such a way that it will be hard to put down (I did have to take a break between Fire and Air to catch my breath, though).

Be ready to question your biases!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc US Pub Date: 9/9/25

💨Air review! 💨👇🏽

Amor4Libros Air is probably the tamer of the 4 books, but it did pack a punch! Boyne intertwined all the stories so masterfully, that it made me gasp a few times. It was such a great way to end the series and you will not be disappointed! (edited) 1d
BarbaraBB Oh wow you read Air already! Can‘t wait! 1d
ErikasMindfulShelf Fire was a bit too dark for me. 19h
See All 7 Comments
Lesliereadsalot Lucky you to get Air! 12h
Amor4Libros @BarbaraBB Can‘t wait for you to read it and see what you think! 8h
Amor4Libros @ErikasMindfulShelf Same, it was a LOT! (edited) 8h
Amor4Libros @Lesliereadsalot You‘re going to love it, I‘m sure! 🤗 8h
50 likes7 comments
review
julesG
Digging Dr Jones | Olivia Jackson
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Panpan

I did not dig Digging Dr Jones. Not at all.

I'm not going to write a TLDR post. Here are a few points why it didn't work for me:

- flat characters
- insta-lust
- mediocre adventure plot
- American FMC with daddy issues
- British MMC who just inserts random British words here and there but isn't consistently British at all

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

quietlycuriouskate Now I'm wondering to what extent *I* am "consistently British at all"! ? 1d
CSeydel From the title I thought this would be an Indiana Jones fanfic 😆 1d
julesG @CSeydel that somehow fits the bill. But both characters are a Jones. 🙄🙄 1d
See All 8 Comments
julesG @quietlycuriouskate Fairly sure you sound more British than the hunky Dr Jones. Guess even I sound more British than he does, and English isn't even my first language. It's not just the "posh" accent ??? and a few mentions of "loo" or "knickers". There are differences in grammar and syntax, too. It just read like an American trying on some British English words. Like if I spoke to my children in an affected Austrian accent replacing ⬇️ 1d
julesG some terms for their Austrian counterparts doesn't make it real. There is more than the vocabulary that is sometimes different. Just like the differences between British and American English. 1d
CarolynM You‘ve mentioned 2 of my pet peeves in light fiction (I‘ve encountered them in mysteries as well as romance) - daddy issues and fake English/Scottish/Irish. So irritating! Interestingly, I don‘t think I‘ve ever encountered fake Welsh 😆 16h
julesG @CarolynM I feel like I need to find a fake Welsh one. But also, no better not. 14h
CarolynM I‘ll be looking out for one now😂 14h
45 likes8 comments
review
julesG
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Pickpick

A historical fiction novel with gothic mystery elements set at the time of the French Revolution.

There are three points of view, the sisters Sofi and Lara and the aristocratic young woman Hortense. While Sofi and Lara's POV is that of working class women who had to upend their lives after the death of their father, Hortense is the poster child spoilt young woman of the aristocracy, who believes the dirty peasants ⬇️

#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC

julesG could better themselves if only they'd wanted to.

Sofi, Lara and their mother work at the wallpaper manufactory owned by Wilhelm Oberst. Oberst's wife died under mysterious circumstances when his son Josef was a child. Wilhelm Oberst had everything connected to his wife destroyed, except for the contents and the wallpaper of the tower room of his chateau. Of course, Sofi and Lara want to know more and soon find out that the titular ⬇️
1d
julesG Woman in the Wallpaper was Josef's mother and strangely looks a lot like Lara. Why? And why do the wallpaper images change and show different scenes?

Meanwhile in Versailles, Hortense lives a spoilt life, until her parents decide to marry her off to Josef. How will the young aristocrat deal with married life, to a factory owner's son no less? ⬇️
1d
julesG History takes its course and sweeps up the three women in its wake. The Revolution might upend their lives in ways neither of them envisioned.

It took me some time to get into this debut novel, but once my attention was captured I flew through the many short chapters in one sitting.
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49 likes3 comments
blurb
Cupcake12
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I‘ve been looking forward to this one. #arc

review
julesG
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Pickpick

Ana and Din are in Yarrowdale to investigate the disappearance of a treasury officer. What seems to be a locked room mystery that might be solved relatively easily, given Ana's skills, turns into more victims and a case of political intrigue.

The world-building continues to be good. Yarrowdale is not part of the Empire, but the Treasury officers working there are, which is why Din and Ana had to be called in. This means that there are some ⬇️

julesG issues of jurisdiction that might complicate the investigation. Furthermore, we get to see a different part of the fantastic world; different people, different languages, and different socio-economic and political problems.

I liked this sequel to The Tainted Cup, although I could see some of the twists long before they happened. Maybe I am too much of an armchair detective.
#NetGalley #ARC #MountARC
4d
TheSpineView Fantastic! 4d
CoffeeK8 I‘m reading this now, it‘s getting pretty good! 4d
48 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
julesG
The Earl Meets His Match | T. J. Alexander
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Pickpick

#NetGalley #ARC #audiobook

I liked the story of how Lord Christopher Eden is not only forced out into society to find a wife. In order to secure a wife Christopher needs a valet. But as much as Mister James Harding might be helping Christopher, he's also a huge distraction.

I enjoyed having Christopher's POV only. This way I found out about James' thoughts and feelings alongside Christopher and that made the slow burn romance much sweeter.

peanutnine Is this the UK title for A Gentleman's Gentleman? I like this cover a lot! 1d
julesG @peanutnine I think it is. Or it was supposed to be A Gentleman's Gentleman and they changed the title? 1d
52 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
MonicaLoves2Read
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Pickpick

3.5⭐️

I enjoy reading history because I love to learn things. In Keith Lowe's Naples 1944: The Paradise at War, Lowe takes us on a journey of Naples during WWII when the Allies first land there. His book covers the years 1943-1946.

I have a problem when I read history books. I always end up going down the rabbit hole. This time was no different. I was never taught in school about the Allies landing there, or I don't remember it.
⬇️

MonicaLoves2Read I remember learning about Normandy and the rest of France, the Netherlands, and of course, when they made it to Germany. I like it when a writer of history writes in a way that you feel what the people went through, and Lowe does this well. If you like history or WWII history, specifically, I think you would enjoy this book. The main reason is because Lowe tells about a little known town affected by the war and the Allies. Not that Naples is little. It's just not talked about much what the town and people went through during this time.

Published: March 11, 2025

Thanks to Netgalley, Saint Martins Press, and Keith Lowe for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5⭐️. #ARC #History #Nonfiction #Read2025 #Bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks
1w
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 6d
16 likes2 comments
blurb
Aconight
The Bond That Burns | Briar Boleyn
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#ReadYourKindle for #April Im in the mood to start tagged but I have to finish an #ARC @CBee Finished two for March but unsure if Ill be able to start the others.
REPOST: Forgot to remove 2 I had read.

review
Amor4Libros
Saltwater: A Novel | Katy Hays
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Pickpick

Well, daaamn!!! I did not expect all the twists this book had in store for me. Probably the most fun read I‘ve encountered this year, so far!

I really think it is best to go into this book as blind as you can and just enjoy the ride!

If you love family dramas with murder and lots of secrets thrown in the mix, PICK THIS ONE UP!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Out today! #arc #NetGalley

Lesliereadsalot Sounds like my type! 1w
RebelReader I have it on hold at the library. Can‘t wait to get it. 1w
See All 6 Comments
Amor4Libros @Lesliereadsalot Can't wait for you to read it and see what you think! 1w
Amor4Libros @RebelReader Hope your hold comes through soon! 1w
64 likes6 stack adds6 comments
review
Kristy_K
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Mehso-so

Displaying Ashton‘s signature humor, The Fourth Consort takes place in outer space in a sci-fi light comedy. A short and quick read. Enjoyable but I did wish for a little more substance.

⭐️⭐️💫

#arc