Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
I love a historical mystery, and one that also has a supernatural/occult-like element sounded perfectly up my alley. I thought the beginning was solid. I loved the Parisian setting and the culture. Zina was such a strong-willed character, and I liked the relationship she had with her grandmother, who was an absolute force to be reckoned with. They both had interesting abilities, and I liked watching Zina learn more about hers and what she could do. It was a bit frustrating at times because things would've gone so much smoother if she and her grandmother weren't so stubborn. Their reluctance to open up to one another is what lessened my enjoyment of the story. It made the writing start feeling repetitive because we were just going in circles. I also had an issue with the ending feeling so unsatisfying. The mystery aspect was interesting, but the way it wrapped up wasn't as impactful as I'd hoped. If you don't mind a slower-paced read, I'd say give it a shot.
I have always been a shark girl at heart. I grew up reading whatever books I could get my hands on about them, tracing and labeling their anatomies in notebooks, and dreaming of becoming a marine biologist. It turns out I'm horrendous at math and science, so the next best thing is to read about marine biologists instead. I thought Minnow was such an interesting character. She was intelligent and determined, and I loved how she seemed to have a soul connection with the sharks. It was clear that Ackerman had a deep respect for these animals. I also enjoyed the setting and how lush it felt. My issue was with the plot. I expected it to be a little more thrilling, but it was so slow. There's also a romance between Minnow and Luke that felt underdeveloped. It was still a good book, but I just wanted more out of it.
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| Pub Date: 7-7-26 Adult - Historical Fiction |
An Infinite Love Story- Chanel Cleeton: It's 1968 in the midst of the Space Race, and Vivian Mitchell can't pretend to be as excited about the prospect of another space mission as her fellow Americans. Her husband, Joe, has been selected as one of the astronauts leading this new mission, and while she knows Joe thrives in these tense situations, she can't help but feel nervous. And then she receives the news she's always feared. Mission control has lost contact with Joe's spacecraft, and he and the other two crew members are presumed dead. When an investigation surrounding the mission is written off as an operator error, Vivian is even more determined to get to the bottom of the incident and clear Joe's name. Vivian refuses to believe that Joe is gone, especially when she starts receiving strange messages that could only come from her husband. Vivian and Joe's whirlwind romance felt like it was written in the stars. Could it be that those same stars will bring them back together?
I loved how different this book felt from Cleeton's previous books. I loved Vivian as a main character. She was secure in herself, independent, and smart. I admired her strength and determination in uncovering what had happened to her husband. I liked the dual timeline and how we got to see the full view of their love story. Joe was charming and ambitious, and it was clear how much he loved Vivian. They both fell fast and hard, and I liked how Vivian knew she would be fine on her own but chose to be with Joe because he made her life that much better. The magical realism aspects of the messages were intriguing, but I thought we could've gone a little deeper. Overall, it was a compelling read with strong characters, and I recommend checking it out if you enjoy historical fiction.
I loved how different this book felt from Cleeton's previous books. I loved Vivian as a main character. She was secure in herself, independent, and smart. I admired her strength and determination in uncovering what had happened to her husband. I liked the dual timeline and how we got to see the full view of their love story. Joe was charming and ambitious, and it was clear how much he loved Vivian. They both fell fast and hard, and I liked how Vivian knew she would be fine on her own but chose to be with Joe because he made her life that much better. The magical realism aspects of the messages were intriguing, but I thought we could've gone a little deeper. Overall, it was a compelling read with strong characters, and I recommend checking it out if you enjoy historical fiction.
Rating: 4/5
*Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!
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| Pub Date: 3-24-26 Adult - Historical Fiction |
The Fortune Tellers of Rue Daru- Olesya Salnikova Gilmore: Zina has lived and worked in her grandmother's tea room ever since her mother was brutally murdered when she was a child. Her grandmother is known along the rue Daru not only for her tea but also for the fortune-telling services she provides to other Russian immigrants within the community. When Princess Olga and her brother, Alec, arrive asking for Zina's help in uncovering answers about the death of their father, the Grand Duke, Zina jumps at the chance to hone her ability to speak to the dead by holding a séance. But Zina's power is unwieldy, and soon the spirit of the Grand Duke is haunting the tea room, and he seems to know what happened to Zina's mother. As Zina digs into her family's past, she uncovers dark secrets that threaten everything she loves.
I love a historical mystery, and one that also has a supernatural/occult-like element sounded perfectly up my alley. I thought the beginning was solid. I loved the Parisian setting and the culture. Zina was such a strong-willed character, and I liked the relationship she had with her grandmother, who was an absolute force to be reckoned with. They both had interesting abilities, and I liked watching Zina learn more about hers and what she could do. It was a bit frustrating at times because things would've gone so much smoother if she and her grandmother weren't so stubborn. Their reluctance to open up to one another is what lessened my enjoyment of the story. It made the writing start feeling repetitive because we were just going in circles. I also had an issue with the ending feeling so unsatisfying. The mystery aspect was interesting, but the way it wrapped up wasn't as impactful as I'd hoped. If you don't mind a slower-paced read, I'd say give it a shot.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 1-13-26 Adult - Historical Fiction |
The Shark House- Sara Ackerman: It's 1998, and a massive shark is hunting off the coast of Hawaii. When a series of attacks leaves the locals on edge, marine biologist Minnow Gray is brought in to assist. Minnow has dedicated her life to studying sharks, particularly great whites, and has always felt a kinship towards them, despite a tragic incident in her youth. Minnow is desperate to figure out what's happening before the mayor calls for a shark hunt, and uncovers there's more going on than she expected, and finds herself facing long-buried memories of her own. She teams up with a handsome yet enigmatic fisherman named Luke and two Hawaiian brothers to unravel this mystery before it causes a disastrous impact on the community.
I have always been a shark girl at heart. I grew up reading whatever books I could get my hands on about them, tracing and labeling their anatomies in notebooks, and dreaming of becoming a marine biologist. It turns out I'm horrendous at math and science, so the next best thing is to read about marine biologists instead. I thought Minnow was such an interesting character. She was intelligent and determined, and I loved how she seemed to have a soul connection with the sharks. It was clear that Ackerman had a deep respect for these animals. I also enjoyed the setting and how lush it felt. My issue was with the plot. I expected it to be a little more thrilling, but it was so slow. There's also a romance between Minnow and Luke that felt underdeveloped. It was still a good book, but I just wanted more out of it.
Rating: 3/5
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