Jackie and Maria was the first novel I read by Gill Paul, but I will certainly come back for more. In fact, The Manhattan Girls (based on Dorothy Parker) comes out on August 16th, and I’m totally there for it. Can’t wait! But about Jackie and Maria–it’s a historical romance about the two women who were closest to Aristotle Onassis, Jackie Bouvier Kennedy and famed opera singer Maria Callas. This novel had me taking constant breaks to Google facts about the three main characters’ lives, and …
My Book Reviews
My favorite genres are contemporary romance, women's fiction, suspense, and psychological thrillers. I mostly read books on my kindle, and I listen to audio books every morning when I go for my run.
I do NOT love star ratings for novels. For each book review, I give background, my thoughts, and if I would recommend it. Full disclosure: if I'm not into a book, I don't finish it. Since I review books I finish, most of them will be positive.
8 “Political Women’s Fiction” Novels; But Is Political Women’s Fiction Even a Thing?
Political Women’s Fiction. Is there even such a thing? Umm, maybe? First, let me explain what I mean by the term: Women's Fiction = novels usually written by women, and always for an intended female audience. They must have a strong female protagonist who engages in a journey of self-discovery. Romantic, family, or rags-to-riches subplots can certainly be part of the story, but they are …
Book Review: Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch
I remember noticing Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing in Target’s book section, back when it first came out in 2020. Even though I love politics and I love books by Allison Winn Scotch, I deliberately didn’t pick it up, since I was in the middle of trying to publish Favorite Daughters. I’ll admit it: I panicked a bit. An accomplished, skilled writer already had a woman-in-politics book out there. Would there be room for mine? (I had the same reaction when I saw that Curtis Sittenfeld had published …
Book Review: Six Weeks to Live by Catherine McKenzie
Catherine McKenzie has written another riveting novel, which is a mixture of domestic drama and psychological suspense. The protagonist is Jennifer, a 48-year-old grandmother (she had her daughters young) who, in the first chapter, discovers she has terminal brain cancer. Everything about Jennifer’s life has been unexpected, and now her death will be the same. Jennifer dropped out of med school when she became pregnant. Later, she found out that she had triplets, but two of them were …
Book Review: The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
"Ah Reader. Must I know and provide an answer for everything?" On December 3, 1926 Agatha Christie went missing for 11 days. This was after her husband, Archibald Christie, told Agatha that he was leaving her for a younger woman. Then she took off, leaving Archie and their young daughter, Teddy, without an explanation. Agatha resurfaced of course, and she went on to write many novels and eventually remarry. But why did she disappear, and what did she do during that time? It remains a …