Mae Wood

I love the World of True North that Sarina Bowen has created so I was beyond thrilled to find out that other authors would be writing books set in this world in this new Speakeasy Taproom series. I had not previously read anything by Mae Wood but this book was great and I am eager to read more books by her. Wildflower is a solid and entertaining addition to the Speakeasy Taproom books.

Juliana and Riggs were great characters and I really enjoyed watching their story unfold. I loved the humor in this book and I found the details and descriptions of beekeeping to be fascinating. This book is part of a series but it can be read on its own.

I am excited to read more books that take place in the World of True North and more specifically the Speakeasy Taproom as I know there will be several by a variety of authors coming out soon. This is a relatable place with characters you care for and want to see a happy outcome given to. Speakeasy Taproom is a wonderful series on its own and a great spin off for Sarina Bowen's True North world.… (lisätietoja)

This is a story with a dual-time plotline: one takes place in pre-WWI Philippines and Seattle, the other is the story of the couples' great-grandchildren who meet while tracing genealogy via some old love letters. I'm deeply interested in family history, and I really enjoyed this book, a great example of the stories family mementos can tell.
I read a book with a similar plotline last week only the couple involved was a British pilot shot down in WWII Italy and the Italian woman who saves him, plus their children finding each other when the daughter goes to Italy to investigate her father's history. It may not be fair to compare these two books (the other is by a well-known author), but this book shone both in story-telling and character development. Ms. Wood has told a lovely story that I enjoyed reading very much.… (lisätietoja)

In the interests of clarity, I need to say that I am a huge fan of Mae Wood and her writing. I follow her on social media and I managed to score an ARC of her newest release, Genealogy. This book was a departure for her, as her first releases were more mainstream contemporary romances. This is an epistolary novel and not to mince any words-it's gorgeous.

The story is told through the interweaving of two time frames: Alice trying to choose between Elliot and Fred during the First World War and Ali working through relationships with Scott and Ben now. Both couples are separated by distance and keep in touch through correspondence. Alice is dependent on letters sent halfway around the world through the challenges of war-time ship movement. Ali has the speed of delivery and the agony of wait times with the potential immediacy of email, text messages, and video messaging to keep in touch across the country. The two stories are linked by the fact that Ali is named after Alice, her great-grandmother. Ali inherits a pack of the letters sent to Alice from Elliot.

I was delayed in getting to read this book by a couple of days, and finally sat down to at least start it this morning. I ended up finishing it, sitting next to a cold cup of tea. This story sucked me in, entirely. The characters are warm and unique and as cliched as it sounds, Alice, Elliott, and Fred really do have the charm and innocence that we associate with earlier times. The earnest devotion of first love, an era when showing off your calves was risque, and the pain of making choices when your dreams collide. Mae has done a fabulous job of capturing the tone of the era, in the language that the characters use, in the details that influence their actions, and in the descriptions of the world they live in. By contrast, Ali, Scott, and Ben, faced with a similar situation in their personal lives, make their choices based on a different set of priorities and rationales that will be more familiar to readers. Ali is given Alice's letters just as many parts of her life are in flux, and she uses the letters first for diversion and then for inspiration.

There are many emotional moments throughout the book. I was giggling, gasping, intrigued, and sad by moments. But without giving anything away, the last chapter was when my heart was really ripped out. No one expects that last few paragraphs of an entire book to be when they cry, but that's what happened. Not to worry, it does have a happy ending, but it's the bittersweet happiness of real life, not the perfect "happily ever after" that standard romance novels excel in. I'd give it an extra star just for that, if I could. As it is, I'm giving it an enthusiastic 5 stars on Goodreads.

NOTE: As an added bonus, Mae has included discussion points at the end of book, making this an excellent choice for your book club or classroom.

This review also posted on my blog: http://editrix.ca/2018/10/review-10-genealogy/… (lisätietoja)

First Off, I am a totally big sucker for the 'single dad' storyline. When I saw the opportunity for cover re-reveal/sales blitz, no words other than "Where do I sign up?" were spoken by yours truly. Give me the book recommendation to read from my friend at Panda & Boodle - SOLD!

Bert is the perfect hot, tatted, alpha males all us romance readers swoon to find. Drennan is the perfect blend of strong, determined yet owns her femininity. Together the chemistry on the pages starts with a slow burn and eventually gets hotter with each page turn. Add PLUS Grady is not the typical child to the single dad. But a high school senior ready to be his own man. Some of the best advice came straight from the mouths of babes.

I loved that the author gave us a May/December romance but turned the tables to consider what if one makes the choices that don't seem possible. The tension was just perfect and didn't veer into ridiculously over cute where younger characters can go. Drennan had lived a full life in a short time. Her approach was winner take the hot guy behind the bar!

This was a first time read by Mae Wood and surely will not be my last. It's everything that I look for in an entertaining story. So, yes my hearts & flowers unicorn loving heart was full by the end. I'm now a firm #fangirl and can't wait to read more from this author. 5 out 5 stars

… (lisätietoja)