The Editor by Steven Rowley (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison (Mira Books)
May 10, 2021
Dear Mr. Hemingway,
Today I am coming at you with not one, but three books to quench your reading desires. Caul births, Jackie O. and a cliffside villa on the coast of Italy is what’s in store for you with this triple threat selection. Even though all three books could not have been more different, they all are fantastic reads in their own special way and I highly encourage you to add them to your TBR. Let’s take a look, shall we?
J.T. Ellison did it again with another juicy tale. Her Dark Lies is overflowing with danger, luxury and secrets galore. The writing is atmospheric, the characters are layered, and the setting is so incredibly stunning. A wedding on a remote Italian island sounds fantastic, right? Throw in a huge storm, a lot of cash, dead bodies and few potential ghosts, and you’ve got yourself quite the tale. Ellison wowed me with her nod to Daphne du Maurier. Paying homage to one of her favorite books (Rebecca) in Her Dark Lies was absolutely stellar! Check out what I had to say about her previous book, Good Girls Lie, RIGHT HERE!
Switching gears…I am a huge fan of Steven Rowley’s, The Editor. Let me just reiterate that we book lovers LOVE reading about writers, getting published and anything literary related. Now, picture Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis as the editor of an author’s debut novel, and you are officially in the middle of one charming tale. James Smale is the quintessential struggling writer who finally gets his big break with one of the major publishing houses with none other than Jackie O. as his editor. Who would have thought that this former first lady would not only be editing his book, but also helping him come to terms with his dysfunctional family. Wit and style paired with wisdom and grace fill the pages of Rowley’s book. I seriously adored Rowley’s humor and found myself chuckling throughout his book (James’ boyfriend Daniel, is an absolute riot in my opinion). I loved how The Editor hit all the marks for me. American royalty, family secrets and bookish delight, all tied up into one heartfelt novel equals perfection! Be sure to stay tuned because Rowley has a new book coming out on May 25, 2021 called, The Guncle, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.
My last read was probably the most unique one for me. Caul Baby by Morgan Jerkins follows the Melancon Family from Harlem who are known for their caul, a special layer of skin that is used for healing and fertility. Let me backup and explain what a caul birth is because I had no clue before reading this book and had to google it for clarity. A caul birth is basically when a baby is born in an intact amniotic sac. It is pretty rare and happens in less than one in 80,000 births according to Healthline (knowing this helps to understand the magic behind this story). I loved how Jerkins took this miraculous occurrence and gave it a touch of sorcery to create her story. The Melancon women are famous for their healing skills and helping moms have successful pregnancies. Women from all over come to these women, willing to pay the steep cost for a piece of their caul. When the plan falls through for Laila to acquire some caul to ensure a safe pregnancy, she is crushed when her baby is stillborn. From there, the story takes flight. Race, gentrification, money, morals and family secrets are all explored in depth with a hint of magical realism to keep things fresh and a wee bit peculiar. There is so much to unpack from Jerkin’s story. It is a WONDERFUL choice for your next book club.
Well my friend…three books for the price of one for the win today!
Happy Reading!
Your Biggest Fan,
Kelly
P.S. Click on the book pics below to purchase these gems from your local Indie Bookstore!
1 thought on “Triple Threat”
Her Dark Lies sounds AMAZING! Thank you! It sounds like it’s super exciting but also quite grounded and believable. I like what you said about the characters being layered. Thank you!