The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

Review - 4 Stars

“It would have been easier, in many ways, to slip into thinking we were all in this together, equally imprisoned on this narrow strip of land between the sand dunes and the sea; easier, but false. They were men, and free, I was a woman, and a slave. And that’s a chasm no amount of sentimental chit-chat about shared imprisonment should be allowed to obscure.”

The Silence Of The Girls centers the voice of an enslaved 18 year old woman Briseis. We meet her as her city is falling to the Greeks and she watches her husband the king, her brothers, and her father all be killed. And then Achilles chooses her as his prize. 

I remember very little about The Iliad so I can't speak to this as a retelling. But I did find it to be an important, albeit brutal, read. Barker explores the complicated relationship between the Trojan women and their Greek captors. Some women grow to love the men who enslave them, while others hate them and still others fall somewhere in between. 

Barker also doesn't shy away from the violence of this time. Not only do the women have it rough as slaves, the reality of war is unflinchingly awful and too often we gloss over what comes with these conquests. Just as Briseis cannot look away from her life in the camp, we too as readers cannot look away from what she and the other slaves experience and this is necessary, if we are to ever stop repeating the mistakes of the past. Briseis's voice is worth heeding.

Content warning: war, violence, slavery, rape, domestic violence, suicide, human sacrifice, killing children

Synopsis

The ancient city of Troy has withstood a decade under siege of the powerful Greek army, which continues to wage bloody war over a stolen woman—Helen. In the Greek camp, another woman—Briseis—watches and waits for the war's outcome. She was queen of one of Troy's neighboring kingdoms, until Achilles, Greece's greatest warrior, sacked her city and murdered her husband and brothers. Briseis becomes Achilles's concubine, a prize of battle, and must adjust quickly in order to survive a radically different life, as one of the many conquered women who serve the Greek army. 

When Agamemnon, the brutal political leader of the Greek forces, demands Briseis for himself, she finds herself caught between the two most powerful of the Greeks. Achilles refuses to fight in protest, and the Greeks begin to lose ground to their Trojan opponents. Keenly observant and coolly unflinching about the daily horrors of war, Briseis finds herself in an unprecedented position, able to observe the two men driving the Greek army in what will become their final confrontation, deciding the fate not only of Briseis's people but also of the ancient world at large.

Briseis is just one among thousands of women living behind the scenes in this war—the slaves and prostitutes, the nurses, the women who lay out the dead—all of them erased by history. With breathtaking historical detail and luminous prose, Pat Barker brings the teeming world of the Greek camp to vivid life. She offers nuanced, complex portraits of characters and stories familiar from mythology, which, seen from Briseis's perspective, are rife with newfound revelations. Barker's latest builds on her decades-long study of war and its impact on individual lives—and it is nothing short of magnificent.

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Lindsay at Pen & Paint has an amazing giveaway happening on Instagram! I am such a huge fan of her stuff. I use a fall or Christmas mug every day and her Currently Reading tote is my go-to. I'm so honored she wanted to include my novel in her giveaway! 

Head over to her post to enter to win a copy of A STORIED LIFE, her amazing Currently Reading tote bag, and a one month Shelf Subscription from The Bookshelf.

A Treason Of Truths (Whisper #2) - Ada Harper

My Review - 5 Stars

I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is you absolutely have to read A Conspiracy Of Whispers (Amazon | Barnes & Noble) before you even think about reading A Treason Of Truths. The good news is the Whispers duology is an incredibly refreshing and well-executed sci-fi series and you will not regret reading it. The premise for Conspiracy reeled me in and I’m not someone who reads much sci-fi to begin with.

But if I can find more sci-fi along the lines of what authors like Ada Harper and Brooke Taylor are putting out, consider me a convert!

I’m keeping this as spoiler-free as possible because Treason’s plot is an utter gift. One twist and turn after another, one revelation after another, and always, always inventive.

Treason picks up where Conspiracy left off. These are challenging times for Sabine, who must deal with the traitors in her midst while also trying to hold the Syndicate responsible for their overthrow attempt. She’s always relied on her spymaster Lyre but when the Cloud Vault offers to broker peace between the Empire and the Syndicate, Lyre wants no part of it.

This plunges Sabine and Lyre into new territory for their relationship, with so many things left unsaid. The Empress is now without her spymaster and friend and each feel as though they’re missing a limb, no matter how angry they are at the situation.

Of course, Lyre has a plan up her sleeve. I loved seeing her in action! I cannot imagine being an actual spy and the way her mind worked was fascinating but also heartbreaking. How difficult to have to lie to everyone, especially the person you love most. Her reflections about this were quite moving.

Sabine’s utter control as a ruler and the way she navigated ever-changing loyalties and charted a course for her Empire was downright inspiring. I also loved the way she couldn’t let her feelings show but Lyre could still read her.

Watching Sabine and Lyre figure out how to get out of tough fixes kept me turning pages. They were so good at their jobs and I never knew what wrench was going to be thrown at them next. In the middle of them fleeing for their lives, they were also navigating their feelings for one another and finally being honest about it. There was so much angst but there was also a good amount of humor. Lyre, in particular, is hilarious. Their growth as characters, figuring out how to be honest or let go of control, was handled really well. They complimented one another perfectly and it was so satisfying when they finally acted on their love. 

Harper’s world-building is complex, there to serve the plot and not the other way around. When I stopped to really take in the details, for instance the various tech creatures on the Cloud Vault, I’d have to ask myself how on earth she ever came up with it. And then, much of the time, I’d wonder what it would be like if I lived in that world and had access to such things.

Olivia and Galen make an appearance and it was nice to get a glimpse of their relationship again. Alais is also along for the ride and I’m crossing my fingers she gets her own book next.

Everything unfolded the way it should and I could not get enough of it. I’m looking forward to whatever Ada Harper does next!

Synopsis

She turned her back on her people and shifted her allegiance to the very Empire she was sent to betray

Now head spymaster, Lyre’s loyalty lies with Sabine, the Empress she has loved since childhood. But when Sabine visits the secretive Cloud Vault, the floating citadel home that Lyre betrayed, Lyre’s elaborate web of lies starts to untangle. Her very presence threatens Sabine’s future, and Lyre will do whatever it takes to protect her lover…even if that means sacrificing herself.

Empress Sabine Corvus has lived a life of service, pushing aside her own desires for the greater good. With the Empire teetering on the brink of war with the traitorous Syndicate, she cannot afford to show weakness. Although Lyre’s spymaster skills are her greatest weapon, their bond is Sabine’s Achilles’ heel. Regardless of the price, she will not give Lyre up.

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Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Carina Press in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.

Love Like This (Seven Shores #4) by Melissa Brayden

My Review - 5 Stars

I’m not sure how she does it but Melissa Brayden novels always make me so happy. They are funny and warm-hearted and always moving.

Case in point: Love Like This, the fourth book in the series. I haven’t read the previous three books but that didn’t interfere with my ability to enjoy this story. Although I will surely be reading them as soon as possible so I can experience Hadley’s friends’ stories!

Hadley is the reason to read this one. She is such a literal ray of sunshine, one of those people who makes you feel better simply be being in their presence. This kind of character could come across as Pollyanna-ish but Brayden marked Hadley with authenticity and helps us understand her philosophy of life, her romanticism, and her beliefs about the way people should be treated.

Spencer is no slouch in the character department either. It was fascinating to see her process as a fashion designer and the way her decisions affected her career. Spencer’s work is why she and Hadley meet and their respective careers stay front and center as they fall for one another.

Hadley’s friends aren’t perfect but they are so good to and for one another. Hadley has always been the one to look out for all of them but they did an excellent job rising to the occasion when needed. They’re hilarious too. I got a kick out of Gia’s running joke about breaking Spencer’s kneecaps if she ever hurts Hadley.

This story had humor and heart and I could not get enough of it.

Synopsis

Sometimes the most imperfect match is the most perfect surprise. 

Hadley Cooper believes in happily-ever-afters with her whole heart. Described by her friends as a wide-eyed, eternal optimist, she looks for the bright side in most any situation. However, when her job as the assistant manager of Silhouette, a posh boutique on Rodeo Drive, is on the line, she realizes it’s time to pull her head out of the clouds and find a way to turn business around, and that just might mean partnering with the most stubborn up-and-coming fashion designer she’s ever encountered. 

Spencer Adair has a passion for fashion, but hates the fact that it rhymes. She’s serious about her designs, fiercely protective of her work, and is waiting patiently for her big break. What she didn’t plan on, however, was the unsolicited opinions of that overlyfriendly blond boutique manager. Or the way her heart beats faster every time she’s around. 

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Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.

Big Bad Cowboy (Once Upon A Time In Texas #1) by Carly Bloom

My Review - 4.5 Stars

Carly Bloom has a fan in me. I absolutely inhaled her debut Big Bad Cowboy! It is a supremely delicious ride with a deft sense of humor that manages to subvert the cowboy trope.

Travis and Maggie meet at a Halloween party (dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf!) and don't realize they're business rivals until after sexy shenanigans have ensued. Talk about a delicious premise!

To take things up a notch: Travis figures out Maggie was his Little Red Riding Hood but doesn’t tell her he was the Big Bad Wolf. Thanks to Maggie’s best friend, they have each other’s phone number and so Little Red and her Wolf text (or sext, as it were) on the side while Travis and Maggie are getting to know each other better each day.

I don’t always like situations like this. You know it’s going to end badly and it’s just a matter of when but Bloom handled this beautifully. I was caught up in Travis’s angst over potentially losing Maggie just as she’d warmed up to him.

I also really liked how the story examined identity and the roles we play. When Travis and Maggie meet at the Halloween party, Maggie has just been friend-zoned by her best friend JD and she’s tired of the men in town never viewing her in a romantic light, while Travis is back in Big Verde after many years away and doesn’t want people to look down on him (because of his family) the way they used to. They’re both happy to hide, so to speak, behind their costumes. It also gives them a chance to discover another side to their respective personalities. (Maggie is more bold and takes a risk; Travis’s more dominant side emerges in the bedroom and it is hot.) Neither of them wants to relinquish this discovery and so it’s understandable Travis wouldn’t want to tell Maggie that he’s her Big Bad Wolf.

They were so good together! Their relationship developed naturally, even with the threat of Travis moving away hanging over them. They had such good chemistry.

There’s such great character growth across the story. Travis has to stop ignoring his problems. I loved watching him take care of his nephew and the way he figured out what kind of future he wanted to have. As a female landscape architect, Maggie constantly has to prove herself in a male-dominated field and I loved how the story explored this dynamic. She’s always been seen as “one of the guys” and I loved watching her bloom under Travis’s attention.

Cowboy romances can feature a whole lot of toxic masculinity and dressed up white supremacy. (Not all of them do- Beverly Jenkins is one welcome example.) Big Verde has a Latinx population and characters are integrated into the plot, particularly with the inclusion of Mrs. Garza who takes care of Henry and Travis by extension. There’s also an LGBTQ subplot that’s handled well, although it did get a bit heavy-handed with the stereotypes. Still, the message was clear: love is love.

Travis is a different kind of hero from the cowboys of yore: he doesn’t want to be like his father or brother, he looks out for the people in his life, he’s determined to be a good role model for his nephew. He doesn’t always get it right but he keeps trying. Through his efforts and as he reconnects to the community, he starts to realize his childhood dream of being a cowboy could become reality and I loved how this developed throughout the story.

This was an absolute delight from start to finish! Bloom writes with such humor and care. I’ll be reading the next book in this series for sure!

I read this while cat-sitting over the weekend. All I can say is Bluegrass didn’t snuggle up with me while I was reading a domestic suspense novel. 😉  

Synopsis

In the New York Times tradition of Lori Wilde and Carolyn Brown comes the first book in a new western romance series from Forever debut author Carly Bloom about a no-strings cowboy fling with a fairy tale twist.

Who's afraid of the big, bad cowboy? 

After one too many heartbreaks, Travis Blake hung up his cowboy hat and put Big Verde, Texas, behind him. But when he gets the call that his young nephew needs him, he knows he has to return home. His plan is to sell the family ranch and hightail it back to Austin, but there's a small problem: the one person who stands in his way is the one person he can't resist.

Maggie is pretty sure she hates Travis Blake. He's irritating, he's destroying her business, and . . . and he's just so frickin' attractive. But when they're forced to work together, Maggie discovers that the Most Annoying Man in the World is more than he seems. He's sweet with his nephew, he helps out in the community, and he makes her heart flutter. Maggie doesn't want to risk everything on a man who wants to leave, but what if she can convince this wayward cowboy to stay?

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Disclosure: I received an advance copy from Forever Romance in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post