River Queen Rose by Shirley Kennedy Series: In Old California, #1, #1
Published by Lyrical Press on December 26, 2017
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 210
Format: Kindle Edition
Source: Publisher
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I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The ramshackle River Queen Hotel is home to vagabonds, gamblers, and heathens—and now, to new widow Rose Peterson. The rundown Gold Rush establishment is the only thing her late husband, Emmet, left her. Despite its raucous saloon and ladies of the evening, Rose can see the hotel’s potential. Her late husband’s family claim that sheltered Rose isn’t capable of running the Sacramento inn herself. But she is determined to make a new life for herself and her young daughter, even if it means flying in the face of custom and propriety. She feels as if she hasn’t a friend in the world.
Except, perhaps, one. Decatur “Deke” Fleming, a tall, lanky Australian who once served as Emmet’s farmhand. Pride prevents Deke from revealing his moneyed past; conscience keeps him from confessing his feelings for the still grieving widow. But when Rose is tempted by wealthy civic leader and hotel owner Mason Talbot, Deke may be the only person who can save her—and the one man capable of reviving her bruised and battered heart.
Rose Peterson finally arrives in California after a long journey only to discover her husband Emmet is dead, shot in an illegal duel. He left her behind his hotel the River Queen, home to the vagabond, gamblers, and ladies of the night. The man who dueled her husband desperately wants to buy it, but to prove herself Rose decides to keep the hotel because no one outside of Deke believes she is capable of handling it.
I liked the setting. I liked that it took around the time of the gold rush. I liked the storyline enough, it kept me interested.
I hated the characters. None of them outside of Deke were really all that likable.
Rose was annoying. She ends up, allowing her husband’s killer to try to swoon her despite having some reservations about him and not understanding some of his anger when she mentions the hotel. She also allowed her in-laws to push her around way too much even when she ended with some power to throw them out.
Deke is on crutches at the beginning of the book so Rose treats him as if he is missing his leg forever and that just downright bothered me. She keeps calling him a cripple like he is no longer a man.
The romance was okay. It was okay. Went by quickly.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi Series: Standalone
Published by Vintage on January 5, 2017
Genres: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Pages: 225
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
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At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live.
When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi’s transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity – the brain – and finally into a patient and a new father.
--back cover
Beautiful, heartbreaking, powerful. Is a few words that I feel do sum up this book as a whole.
When I first heard about this book. I knew I wanted to read it. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to read it.
Written by Paul Kalanithi himself, this memoir covers his story. About how he found out at the age of 36 that he has inoperable lung cancer while being on the verge of a turning point in his career as a neurosurgeon. How he went from being a doctor himself to a patient and how ultimately he came to face the reality of impending death. His decisions and his family.
This book was hard to rate. The writing was wonderful. The loss of such a life full of potential was devastating. The ending written by his wife was moving, emotional, heartbreaking and brought me to tears.
The honesty of his words and how he viewed life and death as a surgeon working with patients versus how he is viewed as a patient was both poignant and real.
This was his journey. His story to tell. Finding light in moments of bleakness and living your life to the fullest, as to what that fullest means to you as a person.
I’m glad I read this book.
I don’t usually read memoirs but I am curious about that last one, sounds interesting!
I spotted that memoir too and just the blurb hit me powerfully. I can imagine how difficult it was to read.
Yikes, the Old California story sounds good, but the issues would have me frustrated with it, too.
What two very different books! When Breath Becomes Air sounds heartbreaking and wonderful and I can’t imagine getting through it without bursting into tears.
When Breath Becomes Air sounds like such a powerful read. I can’t even imagine being in his shoes.
I read When Breath Becomes Air earlier this year and found it powerful too. Loved reading your reviews of these.
I like the setting for River Queen, and When Breath Becomes Air looks good!
When Breath Becomes Air was such a powerful read. His wife’s section was so heartbreaking.
I’ve heard about When Breath Becomes Air, and after reading your review, I may have to read it😊
I am not really one for memoirs, but when I do pick one I want them like this. I want to feel
It is hard to really enjoy a romance when you don’t like all of the key characters. I have a copy of When Breath Become Air but have been kind of afraid to pick it up because it just sounds so sad. I do hope to get to it soon.
Sounds like When Breath Becomes Air is my kind of book. Thanks for this awesome review Lily 🙂
Great reviews. River Queen Rose sounds interesting with how she gets the hotel and has to prove she can run it. Too bad about the unlikable characters. When Breath Becomes Air sounds like a difficult book to read, but it sounds veyr well written.
Yea, Rose would bother me as well. At least she had some redeeming qualities.
That memoir would be so hard to read but it sounds like it really touched you. Brilly reviews.
Oh dear. I was thinking wow River Queen Rose sounds really good but hating the characters oh that makes it miserable. Bummer!