bmyurs's reviews
288 reviews

A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins

adventurous informative medium-paced

3.75

Digging for Richard III: The Search for the Lost King by Mike Pitts

informative mysterious medium-paced

4.5

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Twisty thriller - some things I predicted but others I didn’t. These are characters you’ll love to hate as they all have flaws. I’ve read other books by Rachel Hawkins and this has my favorite of hers. Special thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Remaining You While Raising Them: The Secret Art of Confident Motherhood by Alli Worthington

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

adventurous challenging emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Wow. Just wow. That ending was insane- going to be a long wait for book three!

The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of History at Hampton Court by Gareth Russell

informative medium-paced

5.0

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for an ARC copy of this!

This is my second book by Gareth Russell and my favorite of the two. He covers a long span of time in English history all centered around the people and events that occurred at Hampton Court. Russell starts off the book with an expectation that this is not about the architecture or building history, and he sticks to that.
I really enjoyed the breadth of content he covers in this book- from royal engagements, babies, and scandals, to the non-royals who lived and worked there. I was most touched by the chapter on the tomb of the unknown soldier at Westminster Abbey and how it has ties back to Hampton Court. Russell has clearly done his research, and tells the story in a way that is easy to read and flows well off the page. I only wish I had read this book before I visited Hampton Court last summer.

The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune by Anderson Cooper, Katherine Howe

informative sad medium-paced

4.0

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

adventurous tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75