James Monroe: A Life

James Monroe: A Life- Tim McGrath
Dutton/Penguin Group
Release Date: May 5, 2020

Rating: 📚📚📚📚


Synopsis: Monroe lived a life defined by revolutions. From the battlefields of the War for Independence, to his ambassadorship in Paris in the days of the guillotine, to his own role in the creation of Congress's partisan divide, he was a man who embodied the restless spirit of the age. He was never one to back down from a fight, whether it be with Alexander Hamilton, with whom he nearly engaged in a duel (prevented, ironically, by Aaron Burr), or George Washington, his hero turned political opponent. 
 
This magnificent new biography vividly recreates the epic sweep of Monroe’s life: his near-death wounding at Trenton and a brutal winter at Valley Forge; his pivotal negotiations with France over the Louisiana Purchase; his deep, complex friendships with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison; his valiant leadership when the British ransacked the nation’s capital and burned down the Executive Mansion; and Monroe’s lifelong struggle to reckon with his own complicity in slavery. Elected the fifth president of the United States in 1816, this fiercest of partisans sought to bridge divisions and sow unity, calming turbulent political seas and inheriting Washington's mantle of placing country above party. Over his two terms, Monroe transformed the nation, strengthening American power both at home and abroad. 

Critically-acclaimed author Tim McGrath has consulted an extensive array of primary sources, many rarely seen since Monroe's own time, to conjure up this fascinating portrait of an essential American statesman and president.

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James Monroe is one of those presidents you can usually name, but otherwise probably don't know too much about.  That was the case for me at least.  Tim McGrath's new biography on Monroe is a brilliant introduction to the man, the politician, and the world he lived and worked in.  Monroe's early life is covered without getting into the minutiae that some biographers enjoy- McGrath knows that in Monroe's case at least, the man Monroe would become formed not in his childhood, but as a young lawyer studying under Thomas Jefferson and as a soldier crossing the Delaware with General Washington.

Monroe is pictured from the beginning as a man who believes in doing his duty by his country, despite what that may cost him personally and financially.  The intricacies of politics might not have come as naturally as the job of soldiering, but Monroe learns as he goes, not only from friends like Jefferson and Madison but from opponents, even enemies, and never forgets the lessons that he learned.

McGrath does a brilliant job showing Monroe's development as a politician- from highly partisan to trying to follow in Washington's steps and erase the two-party system. He brings to life the partisan and highly personal fights in Congress as Monroe's enemies work to prevent Monroe and his Cabinet from accomplishing anything, and brings the reader behind the scenes into Cabinet meetings where Monroe takes the slightly unusual approach of listening to all of his Cabinet members and letting free speech and debate fly across the table before asking questions, and allowing himself to have his mind and policies changed if he truly hears convincing arguments.

James Monroe was not a perfect man, and McGrath doesn't try to convince us that he was.  Apologies are not made, although by understanding the world and time he lived in, maybe some of what today we would call his mistakes are more understandable.   Modern readers will cringe at Monroe's thoughts on slavery and Native American policy- but McGrath reminds us that for his time Monroe was considered progressive, especially compared with someone like the up and coming Andrew Jackson.

This is a well-written, well-researched, and thorough biography of a little known president.  Despite the seemingly daunting length of the book (750 pages) the pace flows well and doesn't get bogged down with extraneous details and lectures.  Although McGrath does fall into the trap of foreshadowing-especially at the end of chapters- his "of only Monroe knew then" approach doesn't happen often enough to get truly aggravating.

A definite win for history lovers seeking to learn more about the founding of America and James Monroe, one of the often overlooked founding fathers.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Say Yes to the Duke

Say Yes to the Duke (Wildes of Lindow Castle #5)- Eloisa James
Avon/HarperCollins 
Release Date: May 19, 2020

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Miss Viola Astley is so painfully shy that she’s horrified by the mere idea of dancing with a stranger; her upcoming London debut feels like a nightmare.

So she’s overjoyed to meet handsome, quiet vicar with no interest in polite society — but just when she catches his attention, her reputation is compromised by a duke. 

Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter, will stop at nothing to marry Viola, including marrying a woman whom he believes to be in love with another man. 

A vicar, no less.

Devin knows he’s no saint, but he’s used to conquest, and he’s determined to win Viola’s heart.

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After an incident at her first ball years ago, Viola Astley is so shy around men that she can't even contemplate having a Season and finding a husband.  Her happy discovery of a vicar who doesn't terrify her is overshadowed by meeting the stern Duke of Wynter.  But both of them have hidden depths- and the overbearing and seemingly hard duke may be exactly what a shy wallflower needs.

Say Yes to the Duke continues Eloisa James' Wildes of Lindow Castle series with Wilde stepdaughter Viola- who has never really felt like one of the Wildes.  Overshadowed by her taller, more confidante step-siblings, the cripplingly shy Viola is happy to liver her life outside of Society, where only her family and immediate friends can really know the intelligent, witty person behind her quiet facade.  She may be one of my favorite characters of all time- completely relatable, kind, compassionate, and quiet, but willing to stand up for her family and loved ones when needed.  She may not have much self-confidence, but she's stronger than she thinks she is and becomes a delightful surprise to herself and Devin, as well as the reader.  Devin, the Duke of Wynter, starts off as the stereotypical nobleman, confident that he can do whatever he wants and get whatever he wants because he's a duke- and supremely uninterested with most of Society and their ways.  But when Viola goes and does the one thing a woman should absolutely never do if she doesn't want to catch a duke's attention- telling him exactly how rude and overbearing he is and then walking away- Devin finds he has a lot more interest in finding a wife than he had expected.  

Devin and Viola might seem to be opposites on the surface, but still waters run deep and they are completely perfect for each other.  He excels at solving problems, she excels at trying to make people happy.  When they are tested by a vicar and his horrible fiancée on what is right for the people of their entire parish, Wilde hijinks may ensue but true love eases all wounds.  Although Book 5 in a series it will be easy for new readers to start with this as a standalone, and James' brilliant writing and sparkling humor will capture new fans with every page.  A lovely book with passion and sparkling chemistry between Devin and Viola, rapier wit, laugh out loud humorous moments, and an army of cats, Say Yes to the Duke is a perfect must read!    

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Close Up

Close Up (Burning Cove Series)- Amanda Quick
Berkley Publishing
Release Date: May 5, 2020

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Vivian Brazier never thought life as an art photographer would include nightly wake-up calls to snap photos of grisly crime scenes or headshots for aspiring male actors. Although she is set on a career of transforming photography into a new art form, she knows her current work is what’s paying the bills. 
 
After shooting crime scene photos of a famous actress, the latest victim of the murderer the press has dubbed the “Dagger Killer,” Vivian notices eerie similarities to the crime scenes of previous victims—details that only another photographer would have noticed—details that put Vivian at the top of the killer’s target list.
 
Nick Sundridge has always been able to “see” things that others don’t, coping with disturbing dreams and visions. His talent, or as he puts it—his curse—along with his dark past makes him a recluse, but a brilliant investigator. As the only one with the ability to help, Nick is sent to protect Vivian. Together, they discover the Dagger Killer has ties to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood royalty and high society. It is a cutthroat world of allure and deception that Vivian and Nick must traverse—all in order to uncover the killer who will stop at nothing to add them to their gallery of murders.

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While trying to make it as an art photographer, Vivian Brazier pays the bills with crime-and-fire shots she sells to local newspapers.  When her artistic eye sees details at the crime scene of a serial killer, she accidentally puts herself in his crosshairs.  Then Nick Sundridge, private investigator, shows up at her door to tell her she's being stalked by a killer and he's supposed to protect her.  It's enough to send  even as strong and pragmatic a woman as Vivian running for the hills- or at least Burning Cove.  In this little seaside town Nick and Vivian work together with mobster (and Bureau code breaker) Luther Pell to unravel the secrets behind the assassin for hire stalking Vivian- and must try to discover not only who is out to kill Vivian, but why?

 

Amanda Quick (Tightrope) returns to the glitz and glamour of 1930s Hollywood in her fourth Burning Cove book. This time the town is a safe haven for PI Nick Sundridge and photographer Vivian Brazier,  as they try to prevent Vivian's murder.  Nick is extremely laid back, pragmatic, and a perfect example of still waters running deep.  He and his faithful dog Rex make a delightful team, and Rex quite stole the show for me (that happens a lot with me and dogs who are obviously written with love. Also dust bunnies).  Vivian is a wonderful heroine- a modern woman trying to make a living with her photography while working on her art.  She's willing to roll with the punches life throws at her, and her rather personal interest in discovering who would want to hire someone to kill her gives her the believable investment in the mystery that some authors miss with amateur sleuths.  

The mystery is like the relationship between Nick and Vivian: an instant flash followed by a slow burn that builds up a solid foundation and a very satisfying conclusion.  It's an Amanda Quick mystery, so readers familiar with her books will know to expect plenty of twists, turns, and a few red herrings- plus the solution that you never quite see coming but makes perfect sense and ties up those last pesky loose ends after the big reveal. Readers new to the Burning Cove series or Quick's other books will enjoy a delightful, fresh story, while long time readers will also enjoy cameos by Luther Pell, Raina Kirk, Oliver and Irene Ward (The Girl Who Knew Too Much) as well as Caleb Jones!  The psychic twist for the characters here is not as much a part of the plot as in Quick's Arcane series, so mystery readers who don't like too much paranormal with their suspense should still enjoy the story.  Arcane fans (like myself) may be a bit disappointed the psychical aspect isn't pushed more, but I'm personally holding out hope for more in future book- perhaps Caleb Jones' diary can now fall into the hands of the 1930s Jones & Jones agency?

A fun and fast read, with plenty of satisfying plot twists set to the backdrop of glittering nightclubs and art galleries.  Also, huge shout out to the designer of the amazing Art Deco cover!  I love it!

   

Who Ate The First Oyster?

Who Ate The First Oyster? The Extraordinary People Behind the Greatest Firsts in History- Cody Cassidy
Penguin Books
Release Date: May 5, 2020

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Who invented the wheel? Who told the first joke? Who drank the first beer? Who was the murderer in the first murder mystery, who was the first surgeon, who sparked the first fire--and most critically, who was the first to brave the slimy, pale oyster?

In this book, writer Cody Cassidy digs deep into the latest research to uncover the untold stories of some of these incredible innovators (or participants in lucky accidents). With a sharp sense of humor and boundless enthusiasm for the wonders of our ancient ancestors, Who Ate the First Oyster? profiles the perpetrators of the greatest firsts and catastrophes of prehistory, using the lives of individuals to provide a glimpse into ancient cultures, show how and why these critical developments occurred, and educate us on a period of time that until recently we've known almost nothing about.

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It's a question we've all pondered at some point:  Who first decided to . . . ?  In Cody Cassidy's new book Who Ate the First Oyster? Cassidy's research helps give us a better understanding of some of the most important firsts in human history- and why they are so important.  From eating the first oyster to drinking the first beer, riding the first horse, or first getting smallpox, each chapter covers a different period in human evolution and the "first" that propelled us onward.  Even more important, and interesting (to me anyway), he personalizes the discoveries and inventions by bringing the anonymous people responsible for these "firsts" back into the limelight they so richly deserve.

Cassidy's writing style is casual and full of humor, yet the reader has no doubt that this is an author who has done his research and isn't just making everything up.  While the actual person Cassidy credits the "first" to isn't necessarily a historic figure, they are the general figure.  For example, 'Oyster Girl' may or may not have been what the person who ate the first oyster was actually called, but Cassidy describes what her life would have been like based on archaeological evidence, why the chance is good it was a woman, why eating oysters hadn't been done before, and why we should care.  The science is presented to the reader in an understandable manner, making it accessible to anyone instead of Ph.Ds only.  Each chapter was both entertaining and informative and I found myself wishing I'd be able to remember more of the factoids than I inevitable would- but also thinking this was a book I would enjoy re-reading to remember more with each pass.  

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Life & (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly- Jamie Pacton
MacMillan
Release Date: May 5, 2020

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Working as a Wench—i.e. waitress—at a cheesy medieval-themed restaurant in the Chicago suburbs, Kit Sweetly dreams of being a Knight like her brother. She has the moves, is capable on a horse, and desperately needs the raise that comes with knighthood, so she can help her mom pay the mortgage and hold a spot at her dream college.

Company policy allows only guys to be Knights. So when Kit takes her brother’s place, clobbers the Green Knight, and reveals her identity at the end of the show, she rockets into internet fame and a whole lot of trouble with the management. But this Girl Knight won’t go down without a fight. As other Wenches and cast members join her quest, a protest forms. In a joust before Castle executives, they’ll prove that gender restrictions should stay medieval—if they don’t get fired first.

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Kit Sweetly is a medieval history buff, a senior in high school, and a Wench at her local Castle (i.e. a server at a medieval themed restaurant).  But she dreams of being a Knight and jousting like her brother, Chris.  It's cool, it's fun, and it's a better paying job, which would help the family pay bills and college tuition, since Kit just got accepted to a dream college.  But company policy is that only men can be Knights and her boss (also her uncle) is a company man.  Kit takes Chris' place in a joust, beats the Green Knight, and then reveals that she's a girl- a stunt that almost gets her fired but also makes her an internet sensation.  Along with her brother, fellow serving Wenches, and other Castle employees, Kit is determined to change the company culture, challenge gender restrictions, and save the day- if they don't get fired first!

I don't normally read books with a YA label, although I couldn't really tell you why.  I just never really branched out that way.  But when Jen DeLuca (Well Met) tweeted that she was Instagram chatting with Jamie Pacton on all things Ren Faire and mentioned the upcoming Life & (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly, I, of course, needed to know more.  After reading the synopsis, I was hooked.  And good news- the book is just as fun as you think it should be.  Kit Sweetly is full of plans, energy, sass, and the desire for more out of life.  Her dad walked out on the family a few years ago, taking his drug and alcohol addiction with him, but also taking all of their money including college funds.  Now her mom works two jobs and her brother Chris works as a Knight in the Castle- a job he got by training with Kit.  Kit wants to be a Knight too and refuses to accept company policy that only men can be Knights when she knows she's just as capable as any guy.  Kit is known for her plans and when she makes a plan to show Corporate that the public wants equality in the Castle her BFF Layla, BFF/crush Jett, and other members of the Castle join in.  It's a quest of friendship, discovery and empowerment, and if someone doesn't make a movie out of this book they should be slapped.

What I really loved in Kit Sweetly was how the emotions pour off the page without Pacton pushing anything too hard.  You empathize with the characters every step of the way.  You feel Kit's shame and determination as the family has to 'make do' when the power company turns off the electricity over the weekend and she doesn't want her friends to know. You want to shake her over her bad habit of putting off anything bad until later, because she doesn't know how to handle it alone. You share her disgust and fear when the trolls start bashing/threatening her cause.  You want to cry for Kit when the inevitable happens and the group finds out they'll be fired if they go through with their plan and those friendships seem to be broken.  And it's hardly a spoiler to say you'll be cheering as they triumph at the end.  

Kit Sweetly is full of sweet moments, medieval trivia bits, and plenty of humor.  Personal identity to Kit comes down to if you're a decent human being, not how you identify, and that if you work hard and stick together, maybe you can change things.  And that's something everyone should huzzah about.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Heiress for Hire

Heiress for Hire (A Duke's Heiress Book 1)- Madeline Hunter
Zebra Books
Release Date: April 28, 2020

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Synopsis:  Minerva Hepplewhite has learned the hard way how to take care of herself. When an intruder breaks into her home, she doesn’t swoon or simper. Instead she wallops the rogue over the head and ties him up—only to realize he is Chase Radnor, a gentleman and grandson of a lord, and a man who makes it his business to investigate suspicious matters. Now he’s insisting that Minerva has inherited a fortune from his uncle, a wealthy duke. Only one thing could surprise her more: her sudden attraction to this exasperating man . . .

  Chase can’t decide whether Minerva is a wronged woman or a femme fatale. Either way, he’s intrigued. Maddeningly, with her unexpected inheritance, she has set up a discreet detective business to rival Chase’s own. She may be the perfect person to help him uncover the truth about his uncle’s demise. But as proximity gives way to mutual seduction, Chase realizes he craves a much deeper alliance . . .

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Heiress for Hire starts a new series where three unconnected women receive generous legacies from a duke they never met.  It's Chase Radnor's job to find them and get the inheritances started. But Chase, as both a family member and an inquiry agent for the army and Home Office, wants to know who these women are, why they received inheritances, and if they could have murdered the old duke.  Because Chase believes his uncle was murdered- and much better the villain be a stranger than a family member!

Minerva Heppelwhite has been struggling to survive for years- first with an abusive husband, and after his death, as a woman with little money.  The inheritance would allow her to live comfortably and to establish her dream: an investigation business.  And it makes sense to her that her first official investigation be into the possible murder of the man who left her the money to make it all possible.  She and Chase clash from the beginning- he doesn't want her investigating and thinks she might have done it, she has no intention of being blamed for something she didn't do.  Eventually they have to work together and grow closer as a result.

Heiress for Hire is a bit odd because the theoretical point of the book- discovering a murderer- becomes secondary to the characters.  The end result is officially calling it an accident, and the reader is left to assume that the mystery will in fact be solved only by the end of the last book in the series.  But the character development and growth of both Chase and Minerva are satisfying to watch, and the extended Radnor family is both amusing and opportunistically awful enough to mean lots of fun encounters.  Not quite Knives Out in their reactions when they end up without the expected inheritances, but there are moments!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

Mosquito Supper Club

Mosquito Supper Club: Cajun Recipes from a Disappearing Bayou- Melissa M. Martin 
Artisan
Release Date: April 14, 2020


Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: For anyone who loves Cajun food or is interested in American cooking or wants to discover a distinct and engaging new female voice—or just wants to make the very best duck gumbo, shrimp jambalaya, she-crab soup, crawfish étouffée, smothered chicken, fried okra, oyster bisque, and sweet potato pie—comes Mosquito Supper Club.
 
Named after her restaurant in New Orleans, chef Melissa M. Martin’s debut cookbook shares her inspired and reverent interpretations of the traditional Cajun recipes she grew up eating on the Louisiana bayou, with a generous helping of stories about her community and its cooking. Every hour, Louisiana loses a football field’s worth of land to the Gulf of Mexico. Too soon, Martin’s hometown of Chauvin will be gone, along with the way of life it sustained. Before it disappears, Martin wants to document and share the recipes, ingredients, and customs of the Cajun people.
 
Illustrated throughout with dazzling color photographs of food and place, the book is divided into chapters by ingredient—from shrimp and oysters to poultry, rice, and sugarcane. Each begins with an essay explaining the ingredient and its context, including traditions like putting up blackberries each February, shrimping every August, and the many ways to make an authentic Cajun gumbo. Martin is a gifted cook who brings a female perspective to a world we’ve only heard about from men. The stories she tells come straight from her own life, and yet in this age of climate change and erasure of local cultures, they feel universal, moving, and urgent.

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Every hour, Louisiana loses a football field's worth of land to the Gold of Mexico.  Soon, the people and culture of South Louisiana, where chef Melissa Martin was born and raised, will disappear.  In Mosquito Supper Club (named after Martin's restaurant in New Orleans) Martin combines traditional Cajun recipes with explanations of ingredients and the traditions behind them.

This book was a delight from start to finish.  A combination of gorgeous photographs, easy to understand recipes, and stories of the people and traditions behind the food, "Mosquito Supper Club" takes 'cookbook' to a whole new level.  From how to properly clean a crab to shucking oysters, from dancing the shrimp to the story behind gumbo, readers will learn the truth behind the Cajun traditional way of life. Melissa Martin gives readers unfamiliar with the land, culture, and people of South Louisiana a perfect introduction to her home and the ways it has both changed and stayed the same over the generations.  She encourages you- as a reader and a cook- to think about your ingredients and where they come from, to question the impact they have on the farmers, and fishermen.  As a novice cook, I greatly appreciated how her recipes sounded like she was standing right there, talking to me about what to look for in a pot- from the color of the onion to the texture of a dough, these descriptions took the guess work out of what to look for and how to tell when something was ready.  As a native of New Orleans, I greatly appreciated her discussions of the impact humans have had on the environment and how that has changed the resources and culture people experience today.  Anyone who glances as just one photograph in this book will be drawn to discover more, and before you know it you'll be both reading and cooking while enjoying a whole new world.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review