Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Political intrigue in 1930’s Orient with a mix of historical fiction and fantasy!

The prologue tells of a painful scientific experiment on a person that has been strapped down. Then the story starts as Rosalind is trapping a criminal who is a member of the group responsible for the death of her cousin Juliette during a past act gone awry. She’s exacting revenge on those who were part of it. Political intrigue, spies, agents, Communists and Nationalists describe the characters in this book. Her handler pairs her with another agent, Orion, who has family issues as well. The two of them have to pretend to be married so they can infiltrate the newspaper company and try to discover information on the serial killer murdering people with a toxic liquid in syringes. What they discover turns their lives around and, unbeknownst to Orion and Rosalind, the reader is given the true identity of a mysterious agent, Priest. The author’s notes on Oriental history during the 1930’s are fascinating. Well-written, complex, beloved characters build a fun historical fiction fantasy. 5 stars!

Likes/dislikes:
I enjoyed learning about the history of 1930’s Orient. The author’s notes give readers a glimpse into her research and what’s based on facts and what’s completely fiction in this story. Rosalind and Orion are characters with depth and I had fun getting to know them.
Swearing: PG for three swears, no f-bombs
Mature content: PG for lgbtq transgender character mentioned
Violence: PG-13 for killing by poison, shooting, bloody shooting, stabbing, bloody stabbing

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

Posted on by lynndellwatson
High creepiness factor!

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson opens as a family is arriving at their new home. They’ve moved away from problems and into a house with problems of its own. The family includes a teen girl, Marigold, her younger brother Sammy, and their stepsister Piper. Marigold’s and Sammy’s mother married Piper’s father. Mari has a past that she wants to forget. Sammy is an honest and loyal brother. Piper seems to be favored by her father. When weird things start happening in their new home, they don’t know what to think. Mari thinks she might be hallucinating when she’s sees a blackened hand reach into her shower but suspects Piper when items are misplaced. The neighborhood is odd and no one really will talk to them. They just stare. Creepy house, creepy neighborhood and something just feels off to Mari. This is a creepy read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend! 5 stars!

Blackout by Candace Owens

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Blackout by Candace Owens

Simon and Schuster
Logical, to the point, strong-willed all describe Candace Owens. The author concisely shares her research, familial background and her own personal experiences to help readers understand how she came to be the person she is today, a down to earth, intelligent person who knows her thoughts, values and herself thoroughly. The roots of the Ku Klux Klan are discussed, Candace’s grandparents and the strong base they gave her are shared and her experience with the NAACP and the media during a harassment episode during her high school years help us to understand her enlightenment of the true nature of politics and agendas.
The next chapter opened my eyes to the welfare system and the beginnings and history of Planned Parenthood. Feminism and segregation extremism are discussed and how they’ve both gone overboard and cause harm in the opposite of their integral beginnings. Socialism is brought to light with the description of Venezuelan struggles and true freedom is explained as personal responsibility. Biased media and it’s detrimental effects and long reaching consequences was completely disturbing. The no excuses section puts our choices first and foremost as the reason for success or failure. I had never heard of the desire to rewrite the Constitution to reflect each generation and their beliefs. How frightening that idea is! I already feel that humanity struggles to learn from the past and others’ experiences and rewriting the constitution would just cement that. Candace calls for faith and family above all and if family is America’s priority, we would all be better off in every way! She’s admirable for addressing the full truth behind all stories and history and I’m grateful that she shares the information and knowledge with everyone. I’m astounded by the twisted logic Antifa (updated version of the Ku Klux Klan) and it sickens me. “We have the right-no, the obligation-to think for ourselves…”. Gain valuable knowledge-read this book! 5 stars!

#Blexit