Nonfiction November Review Round-Up

While I didn't *exclusively* read nonfiction this month, I was able to knock quite a few off my TBR, and honestly, they were all pretty incredible.  I wouldn't be surprised if most of them made my "best of 2024" list!  Here is a quick round-up of some of the books I read this month.

The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff (2022) 

I was only a casual watcher of The Big Bang Theory when it started, but by the last couple seasons, it was required Thursday night viewing for me!  I fell in love with the characters, with the humor and heart, and even the science!  In this book, Jessica Radloff compiles interviews with the cast and crew, creating a comprehensive look at a TV show that dominated our screens for over a decade - behind-the-scenes stories, memories, and things they haven't talked about until now.  A must-read for fans of the show!  4.5 stars

The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of British History at Hampton Court by Gareth Russell (2023)

Historian Gareth Russell explores the history of the British palace Hampton Court.  From its humble beginnings to massive renovations to its current state, Hampton Court has been an important location for many British monarchs.  I love history and especially learning about royalty and iconic buildings, so this was the perfect mash-up of all those topics for me!  It was fascinating to learn how many events took place at Hampton Court, from births to deaths to scandals and everything in between.  Russell has arranged the book in chronological order by royal house, and while the Tudor section was a particular favorite of mine, they all offered something interesting.  4.5 stars

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson (2024)

If Erik Larson writes it, I will read it.  Even if it's about a subject that, on the surface, I might not think I'm interested in!  I love history, but American history is, ironically, not at the top of my list of subjects I enjoy reading about.  But, when I saw that Erik Larson was releasing a book exploring the months between Abraham Lincoln's election and the first shots of the Civil War, I knew I was going to read it.  Larson's narrative nonfiction style truly does make it feel like you're reading a novel, but you can also tell that he's done a ton of research.  He transports you back to 1861, bringing people, both famous and not, to life through vivid details.  I always feel like I learn a lot from Larson's books, and this one was no exception.  5 stars

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Can't-Wait Wednesday: Under Loch and Key

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Under Loch and Key

Lana Ferguson   

Expected publication date: December 3, 2024

A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy—the opposite, in fact—in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.

Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.

Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.

When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess. - from Goodreads

Nonfiction November 2024: New to Our TBR

 

It's the last week of Nonfiction November, and it has been a great month of nonfiction!  This week is "new to our TBR" and is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.  Life got a bit in the way this month and I didn't get to blog hop and find as many new books as I'd hoped to, but I did come across some very interesting ones, so thank you to the following bloggers for the new additions to my TBR!

The New Guys - Simple Tricks & Nonsense

No Scrap Left Behind - Based on a True Story

Furious Hours - Notes in the Margin

The Year Without Summer - Simple Tricks & Nonsense

The Other Ancient Civilisations - Bookfever

Blog Tour: Idaho Madams

Today I'm partnering with WOW! Women on Writing to join the blog tour of Idaho Madams!  I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Idaho Madams

Milana Marsenich

Published March 3, 2023

Fur, silver, and gold first lured men to Idaho Territory. Women soon followed. And what women they were! Molly B'Damn, Peg Leg Annie, Spanish Belle, Lou Beevers, Diamond Tooth Lil—the names alone promised excitement and intrigue.

In fact, these madams led complex, turbulent lives. Meet Maggie Hall, a devout Catholic whose husband used her to pay off his gambling debts. Working as a prostitute, Maggie made her way west and, as Molly B'Damn, became the guardian angel of an Idaho mining camp. Or Annie McIntyre, a young girl among the prospectors and ne'er do wells of Rocky Bar who amassed a small fortune as the local madam only to lose it all—along with both her legs.

Idaho Madams uncovers the enigmatic and salacious lives of 30 women who ran brothels in the Gem State from the 1850s to the 1980s. Here are the hedonistic and sometimes heroic exploits of Effie Rogan, Jennie Girard, Nettie Bowen, Ginger Murphy, Dixie Colton, and Dot Allen, but also the unsung sagas of Carrie Young, Grace Freeman, Willow Herman, Hattie Carlton, and many more. As told by author Milana Marsenich, the stories of these women come alive with voluptuous detail, historical photographs, and the social context of the times. - from Amazon

In Idaho Madams, Milana Marsenich explores the lives of women who worked in and ran brothels in the state of Idaho from the mid-1800s until the 1980s (which I found so surprising!).  Previously a fiction writer, Marsenich wanted to try her hand at nonfiction, and her first offering, while short, is full of interesting facts about a little-known class of women.  Brothels and prostitution are by no means secret, but not much is known about the individual lives of women who partook in such a profession.  Marsenich has dug deep to give us a clearer picture of who some of these women were and the reasons why they opened their brothels - some were forced into prostitution and worked their way up, while for others it was a choice to help create a comfortable life for themselves and make money for their families, as well as earn a place in their community.  The individual stories are interesting, although some are very bare-bones.  Marsenich puts the women and their stories into a larger historical context, moving from town to town across Idaho and through the years as the region developed.  She explores how the women were able to run their businesses and the issues many faced, both legally and morally.  Overall, Marsenich has taken a rather taboo topic and given it a very human face, showing the complex lives these madams lived.  4 stars

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Jewel of the Isle

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

The Jewel of the Isle

Kerry Rea

Expected publication date: November 26, 2024

Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.

If Emily Edwards knows one thing, it’s that you don’t go to a remote island by yourself. Ever the type A personality, Emily doesn’t want to hike around an unfamiliar island, but she’s determined to fulfill her late father’s national park bucket list, starting with Isle Royale National Park—home to wolves, bears, and hundred-year-old shipwrecks. She has no choice but to hire a tour guide, and there is only one that isn’t booked solid.

Ryder Fleet, co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, wouldn’t call himself a wilderness expert, and he definitely doesn’t know how to find true north. But when his dormant adventure guide business suddenly finds life again after a random inquiry, Ryder somehow finds himself on a ferry to Isle Royale with a very beautiful, no-nonsense woman. What this woman doesn’t know is that his brother Caleb, who died two years ago, was the outdoorsman of their business, while Ryder just did the marketing. But how hard could it be to hike up a few mountains?

Pretty difficult, actually, when murder is involved. Emily’s perfectly planned trek turns disastrous when she and Ryder witness a brutal crime and are suddenly forced to evade a group of archaeologists on the hunt for a jewel. As they spend nights together too close for comfort, they realize their shoddily built fire isn’t the only thing that’s kindling, and that they must trust each other if they want to escape the island with their lives—and hearts—intact. - from Goodreads

Michele's Monday Picks #59

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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A Cruel Thirst

By Angela Montoya

Expected Publication: December 17, 2024

From Goodreads:

A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together--against their better judgment—to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.

Carolina Fuentes has always wanted to join her family in hunting down the bloodthirsty monsters that plague her pueblo. But these days, her father wants her out of town with a husband of his choosing. That’s not happening. Carolina plans to show everyone that she’d make a better vampire slayer than wife. But when she runs into a sediento that is not only handsome but kind, she questions everything.

Lalo Villalobos doesn’t act on impulses. As the eldest of two, his duties were to carry on the family business, marry, and have children. But then he is turned into a sediento and must flee the city, taking lives as he goes north, where he believes the first vampire was made. Surely, the pueblo there will have the answers to reverse this curse or end sedientos altogether. Another unexpected turn? Lalo runs right into a beautiful young woman who’d gladly stake him.

Fortunately, mostly for him, they share a common enemy. They can stop these evil beasts. Together. And if along the way, Lalo and Fernanda discover what it is to truly live and love, then they’ll have won anyway.

Angela Montoya is a newer author that I’m super excited about. Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Audiobook Quick Reviews

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell (2023)

For a decade, celebrity baker Betsy Martin has hosted a week-long, feel-good baking competition at her estate in Vermont.  This year is different, though - with a new co-host forced upon her, sabotage against the contestants, and finally, a murder.  What's happening in the tent?  This was a really fun audiobook to listen to.  The full cast recording brought each character to life, so even though there are a lot of people to keep track of, I never had a problem.  The only issue I had was that I took so long to listen to this that I forgot that the murder is teased right at the beginning.  Since the body isn't found until 80% through, I kind of forgot this was even going to be a murder mystery.  The identity of the killer was pretty obvious as well, so this aspect of the story wasn't the greatest.  But, I enjoyed meeting the contestants and learning about their motivations for applying to Bake Week.  One character in particular has such an intriguing backstory and history with Betsy herself.  The sabotage elements and other mysteries definitely gave this one a cozy vibe, and overall it was an easy and entertaining read.  4 stars

Never Coming Home by Kate Williams (2022)

Ten influencers are invited as the first guests at a remote but supposedly exclusive and luxury resort for the under-21 crowd, but almost as soon as they arrive, they realize something's not right - and when they start dying, one by one, the real terror begins.  I love a good little murder mystery, and this sounded interesting.  Each of the influencers, despite their popularity, is hiding a big secret, and it seems like someone has discovered them and is now punishing them.  Although we do get a little bit of background on each teen, the story moves so quickly that it's hard to get invested in anyone, especially when their gruesome murders are practically glossed over.  I thought the characters were a little cliche, and it's always hard for me to believe that such young people can be so famous and in-demand (people clamoring for a 16 year old YouTuber to open a restaurant, really?), simply through social media.  I don't know, maybe I'm just getting old!  The fast pace, though, does keep the tension high.  I was able to deduce the killer, though, and the ending will definitely leave you wanting more (not in a good way) and questioning, "But why?"  3 stars

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Top Ten Tuesday: Destination Titles

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week's topic is destination titles, and the places can be real or fiction.  Let's see how many I can find just from my shelves!

  

  

  

Nonfiction November 2024: Book Pairings

 

It's week 3 of Nonfiction November and this week's topic, hosted by Liz at Adventures in reading, running and working from home, is book pairings, matching up a nonfiction title with a fiction one.  I have always loved this topic and it actually inspires my reading during the year.  Here are my book pairings from this year:

 

The Ocean Edition

 

The Windsor Edition

The Romanov Edition

 

The Out of This World Edition

Horror Novella Quick Reviews

Haunt Sweet Home by Sarah Pinsker (2024)

Mara is just drifting along in life when she lands a job on the night shift of her cousin's reality show, which combines ghost hunting with home renovations.  While the gags she sets up may not be real, something weird is going on while on the set of their latest show.  Mara must confront her own beliefs while also questioning her journey in life.  I think a lot of people will relate to Mara - she's not a kid anymore, but she doesn't quite have it all figured out.  She has no real career path and moves from one idea to the next.  She joins the crew of a reality show, where she meets Jo and the two grow somewhat close, although their relationship struck me as a bit strange.  I wouldn't say this book is scary - it was pretty obvious to me from the start what was going on, and I think that did make for some unsettling moments.  But this novella is mostly about Mara and her trying to find herself.  4 stars

The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir (originally published 2021, translated 2024)

Iðunn's constant fatigue is unsettling, especially since no doctor can pinpoint a reason for it.  One night, she falls asleep with her step counter on, and in the morning she is shocked to find out she supposedly walked several miles during the night - without having any knowledge of it.  Then, she starts waking up injured - what is going on?  Other than reading the blurb, I went into this novella totally blind, and that's definitely the way to go.  I was so engrossed in Iðunn's story - she is desperate for answers, and her restlessness really comes through.  As she comes up with new ways to stop her night walks and try to figure out where she goes and why, the reader is pulled into her plight, which feels creepier and more eerie as it goes along.  The writing is crisp and snappy, with a dry humor throughout.  This could definitely be read in one sitting, as the story moves quickly and some chapters are only one sentence long.  The book faltered for me a bit in the end - I get that the author doesn't need to totally spell everything out for the reader, but it was a little too nebulous for me.  4 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Sophie Cousens

Expected publication date: November 19, 2024

A hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.

From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love? - from Goodreads

Nonfiction November 2024: Choosing Nonfiction

 

It's week two of Nonfiction November!  This week is hosted by Frances at Volatile Rune and is all about how we choose our nonfiction reading - "What are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book? Do you have a particular topic you’re attracted to? Do you have a particular writing style that works best? When you look at a nonfiction book, does the title or cover influence you?"

When I think about different genres or areas of nonfiction, I can kind of pinpoint things that don't super interest me - business, self-help (to a degree), religion, health/wellness.  So on the surface, I think most of my nonfiction reading veers towards history.  I was a history major in college (and worked as a historian for many years), so it's always been a subject that interested me.  I love learning about people, events and even buildings/structures, both big and small.  But history is such a vast subject - are there areas I'm more drawn to?  I took a look through my last few years of nonfiction reading to see if there were any patterns that stood out.

  

  

  

These are just a few of the books I've read and enjoyed, and there is definitely a focus on survival stories or people who have faced great challenges.  Royalty is also a big draw for me, as well as famous buildings.

Other subjects I enjoy are space and politics (which is really surprising, since I am not a political person at all!).  Although, my political reading tends to lean more on the personal side.  Kate Andersen Brower is a particular favorite author of mine in this area.

  

I don't follow many nonfiction authors, but Erik Larson has become an auto-buy favorite after reading my first book of his many years ago.  His narrative nonfiction style has brought so many areas of history to life for me.

 

 

What kinds of nonfiction are you drawn to?