heidirgorecki's reviews
978 reviews

Unperfect by Susie Tate

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Very sad but also hopeful. I thought it did well at the mental/emotional toll of domestic abuse takes and how it affects everyone. Couple of the scenes had me tearing up they were so well conveyed.

The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock

dark reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This was a dual timeline between 1959 with flashbacks to 1932 that had back history that influenced the more recent timeline and the characters struggling with shame, guilt, or trying to figure out who they were after losses. It primarily focuses on 3 main female characters, one who is in both timelines. 

The book had moments that I engaged with, dealing with the characters trying to navigate class/wealth expectations and disparity between themselves in ‘32, and in ‘59 with civil rights and racism struggles, as well as family issues in a small town, and both with some deaths that influenced the characters. 

While the landscape was well described and at times I engaged with the story, most of the time I kept losing the plot and interest. Maybe it was the audio and the printed would have been better as other reviewers considered, but there were so many characters to keep track of I kept getting confused who was who and what role they had, and I honestly just got bored since there wasn’t a ton going on and it was more character driven. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine. 

The Liberty Scarf by Aimie K. Runyan, Rachel McMillan, J'nell Ciesielski

funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Really great threads between 3 stories of women finding and conveying hope and beauty in their circumstances during ww1. I liked the concept of art and creativity offering some brightness in difficult circumstances, and how overlooked the impact of it makes, as well. 

With each of the women’s stories it showed a different aspect of ww1 that women were involved in, as well as a different location. It worked well to give the reader a rounded view of what the war was like for women involved and how it opened doors for women afterwards because of it. 

As to the individual stories themselves, I enjoyed Iris and Rex’s story the most - their chemistry and banter, and the commonality of their creativity and wanting to be successful with their dreams. Genevieve’s story I struggled a little with her attitude that just felt snappy and biting to everyone around her as well as her excuses for her behavior initially. Clara’s story got so introspective and sort of philosophical that I kept losing the plot and sometimes was left confused. All in all, I liked each of their stories tho and how they integrated with each other. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine. 

The Irishman's Daughter by V.S. Alexander

informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Well told history of the Ireland potato famine and very vivid picture. It was really long and could have been condensed but I liked the characters and the overall story. 

Christmas at Glitter Peak Lodge by Kjersti Herland Johnsen

reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

Sort of melancholy but feel-good in the end, Christmas oriented book, tho I’d classify it more as a women’s fiction than a mystery. There was some mystery but it was easy to piece together rather early on, so it didn’t really feel like a mystery, just something no one in the book wanted to talk about. It had a weird speed - overall really slow and introspective, then fairly dramatic, from reactions, to all the exclamation points, to the characters themselves. It felt a little forced and weird at times. 

The culture and setting of Norway was nice to walk thru - those pieces were descriptive and well described. 

The blurb for the book about the whole Advent thing was weird to me. I didn’t get that vibe from the book at all so I’m not sure why it was marketed that way. It was just like a regular chapter progression. 

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperColins for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine. 

When the World Fell Silent by Donna Jones Alward

emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I’ve read only one other book that deals with the Halifax Explosion and it’s crazy to me that it’s talked about so little. Really interesting but so sad as a landscape and scenario. 

I enjoyed learning about the event itself but also how people dealt in the aftermath picking up the pieces but also in the midst of WW1 and the constant death layered on top of it. 

I did find the book to be rather repetitive - going over Nora or Charlotte’s feelings or thoughts repeatedly and almost verbatim multiple times. I wish it was a little more concise and not so dragged out. 

The Missionary's Wife: A Romance and Spy Story Based on Actual Events by Jonathan Barclay

fast-paced

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

1.0

The only reason I picked this up was because I needed to read a book set in Venezuela for a reading challenge, and my available alternatives to borrow were on the history of Hugo Chavez. Maybe I should have picked that instead. 

For starters, the info on this felt more like clickbait than the actual subject presented by the time I was halfway thru. It’s not about how a missionary wife was an OSS spy and how she helped the war efforts with her skill. It was actually about how she decided to have an affair with a then-Nazi, and friend of her husband while her husband was away working as an OSS spy. 

The affair was often in romanticized detail (keep in mind this is about his mother. Ew), all while both the author and the cheating wife excuse the morality of this choice as ok and just something that was part of the situation they were in, or even manipulated CS Lewis’ writing to imply sexual boundaries are self-imposed. And then the husband knows about the affair and does nothing. Just lets his wife have at it and pretends it isn’t happening even with the guy sitting in the room. Insane. 

The writing was bizarre. It is classified as a fiction book but half of it was actually nonfiction - the author stepping in to give backstory on the events or setting, or talking about his mother’s journal or opinions on her life. The dialogue in the fictionalized parts was forced and awkward and sometimes the flow of the plot made no sense. 

I can’t believe I took this much time on this book to write a review but maybe it’ll help some other unsuspecting person like myself. All I left with was that Alexis was spoiled, selfish, and a disloyal and betraying spouse who did whatever made her happy, and I have zero respect for her.

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson

informative slow-paced

4.0

Good information on both WW1 and the Lusitania sinking. The first half of the book was mostly about the setting of the US and President Wilson, and England and how they responded to the war, and also a lot on Germany’s UBoat operation. There was a lot of detail and backstory I got a little lost in but at the same time I get it, it has to set the stage. Really well researched and well told. So sad how that all happened and the aftermath of it both with the people lost and the survivors. I can’t imagine.

Until I Do by T.I. Lowe

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

Loved the romance of an already married couple, who’ve drifted away from each other once they’re empty nesters, and learn to find each other and fight for each other again. Super relatable and loved both Mia and Bode and how real they were. 

The Maid by Nita Prose

inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Very insightful and accurate look at how an autistic person views the world and often struggles with reading people and situations, or being misunderstood by neurotypical people. Loved the friendships and those around Molly who showed compassion and patience.