This is wild, kinda like a soap opera in novel form. The drams felt overdone. This is very dated. The relationships are toxic. I'm st2.25 Stars Round Down
This is wild, kinda like a soap opera in novel form. The drams felt overdone. This is very dated. The relationships are toxic. I'm still planning to finish the series....more
I'm done with this series. It's not for me. I'll stick to the historical romances in the future.I'm done with this series. It's not for me. I'll stick to the historical romances in the future....more
2.5 Stars First significant gay character, though romance/relationship happens 'off-stage', so to speak. An interesting visit with old and dear friends2.5 Stars First significant gay character, though romance/relationship happens 'off-stage', so to speak. An interesting visit with old and dear friends. The true but rarely known US history included in all elements of this novel are handled with a very deft hand. So the harsh history is honored, but the sad/bad feeling is muted so to seamlessly fit into an otherwise cozy story without interrupting the sweet after taste. That's a real skill and helps me swallow my complaints below. Spoilers below: . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . . This novel bothered me. The ridiculous sexism involved in Mel's storyline. Like in what world are we blaming the victim for his own bad behaviors because his grown ass didn't know how to speak to the town minister/therapist? Plus, why is he cruel?
I'm tired of the main drama in the novels being the sexist and boneheaded behavior of the male love interest in a heterosexual relationship. It's always just kinda forgiven and overlooked. It's like a Tyler Perry dramedy encouraging women to be patient with sorry ass men. It's so dated.
The addition of more police, like why they have hardly any citizens. Usually, in small towns, crime is low and usually vandalism. Now cameras are being extended to cover more of the town. I realize it's to drive the story, but yikes.
Foster kids don't need to be raised in such a heavily monitored and policed environment. The town is in the literal middle of nowhere. A single sheriff, voted in by citizens, would be standard. The state police would handle large or conplicated crimes. This just ruins the town for me.
In addition, I disliked how trauma resulting from transracial adoption was treated. White parents struggle to raise children of color. This is addressed in Colin in Black & White on Netflix really well. I think this particular foster parent was clearly the better choice but to dismiss that these types of foster/adoptions create adults that often require decades of therapy.
My mom is white, she carried me in her body and is racist as fuck. We no longer speak. Her family was also awful. I don't speak to any of them. They were all liberal with the exception of my youngest aunt who has a biracial child and is a maga-Karen. Its a fucking mess. I can't imagine what this is like for fostered and adopted kids but from what I've read it's much worse.
Also are we gonna ignore that conservative racists often adopt Black kids to try to prove their racist agendas? This is a well documented history and the story didn't need to deal with race in this way at all. This manufactured conservative storyline was uncomfortable.
I think I'll pass on the Henry Adams in this novel....more
I actually liked the bonus story better than the Blessing novella.
While I love these novels, they are a wee-bit heavy on respectability politics, a taI actually liked the bonus story better than the Blessing novella.
While I love these novels, they are a wee-bit heavy on respectability politics, a tad bit strong on xtian themes when I prefer lighter themes, a bit fat phobic, and a bit homophobic, though gay characters exist.
The charm of this wholesome town is perfect in so many ways. I'd move there and see Ms. Bernadine about helping the town be less of all the above. ...more
This was both more hilarious and a bit darker than usual.
While I love these novels, they are a wee-bit heavy on respectability politics, a tad bit strThis was both more hilarious and a bit darker than usual.
While I love these novels, they are a wee-bit heavy on respectability politics, a tad bit strong on xtian themes when I prefer lighter themes, a bit fat phobic, and a bit homophobic, though a gay characters exist.
The charm of this wholesome town is perfect in so many ways. I'd move there and see Ms. Bernadine about helping the town be less of all the above. ...more
And I'm in love with this small Black town and its charming residents. If it was real, I'd move thereAnd I'm in love with this small Black town and its charming residents. If it was real, I'd move there...more
3.75 Stars See, I knew this series would grow on me despite the parts I don't like quite so much. Ms. Jenkins has a way of creating compelling character3.75 Stars See, I knew this series would grow on me despite the parts I don't like quite so much. Ms. Jenkins has a way of creating compelling characters that I wish to check up on and spend time with. I can see the appeal given this series has so many installments.
While I love these novels, they are a wee-bit heavy on respectability politics, a tad bit strong on xtian themes when I prefer lighter themes, a bit fat phobic, and a bit homophobic, though a gay characters exist.
The charm of this wholesome town is perfect in so many ways. I'd move there and see Ms. Bernadine about helping the town be less of all the above. ...more
I really liked this. I'm hoping it's the beginning of a cozy mystery series!I really liked this. I'm hoping it's the beginning of a cozy mystery series!...more
This is a fictional Sci fi based retelling of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI & and the French Revolution.
I'm extremely familiar wit3.5 Stars Rounded Down
This is a fictional Sci fi based retelling of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI & and the French Revolution.
I'm extremely familiar with the details of the life of Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI. I highly recommend the biographies of both written by John Hardman to understand their personalities and the role Marie Antoinette played in the downfall of the French Bourbon Monarchy. The Road to Versailles by Munro Price is an excellent study into the events that led to the Revolution and whether Louis XVI needed to die.
This kinda sorta works. It's extremely simplified, drops many political aspects that could've strengthened the story, and focuses on the lack of sex life between Marie & Louis more than was necessary.
I liked how Fersen was handled, but frankly, the Princesse de Lamballe deserved better as she was the most loyal friend the Marie Antoinette had.
What doesn't work is that the couple are monarchs for decades before being beheaded. So this felt rushed, confused, and anticlimactic.
Also, I'm unsure if the author really understands what the first, second, and third estate are and how that impacted the revolution.
The low rating is for the suggestion that rebellion against unjust governments are unfair, corrupt, and doomed to failure.
France post revolution was fucking amazing. Women could divorce and did, after Napoleon French women will lose that freedom for almost 200 yrs. Haiti wins their freedom as do other French Caribbean islands. Jewish people are treated fairly. Napoleon is antisemitic and racist. He reinstated slavery across the Caribbean with the exception of Haiti because Toussaint Louveture beat the French Army.
The death of rich people isn't a big deal. 1 million french peasants starved to death when Louis XIV built Versailles. Less than 40,000 people died during the Revolution. Shit Napoleon killed millions during his wars.
We learn about those that died during the so-called reign of terror but ignore that they were much less than was regularly dying under 1st Estate Management.
The trials weren't 'unfair' except that rich people were never subject to the same laws as poor people. Like now. If I steal from my boss I'm arrested immediately. If my boss steals from me, via my check is short, it's not a crime and I have to jump through hoops to get satisfaction.
Laws protect rich folks at the expense of everyone else. So yes the courts were unfair but the nobility didn't care until that unfairness was applied to them. So their deaths were justified...more
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