Reading – Page 4 – Anna Bushi

Book Review: The Governess Game

The premise of Tessa Dare’s The Governess Game is delightfully straightforward: a charming rake unexpectedly becomes heir to a dukedom and guardian to two spirited young girls. Enter our accidental governess heroine, who steps in to bring order to the chaos. Amid mischief and heartwarming moments, love blossoms between them all.

Millicent’s funerals are oddly heartwarming in a way funerals shouldn’t be. They provide a unique backdrop for Alex and Chase to connect, allowing humor and tenderness to shine through. The antics of the two young wards not only add charm and mischief but also become a catalyst that draws Alex and Chase closer, creating moments that are both touching and laugh-out-loud funny. The blend of wit, romance, and unconventional family dynamics makes this story an absolute delight.

She’s dead.”

Now Alex was awake. She sat bolt upright in bed. “Dead?”

“Millicent. The consumption took her overnight.”

The doll. She meant the doll.

A male voice breezed into the room. “Such a tragedy. Deepest sympathies. A grievous loss.”

Mr. Reynaud had joined the group.

He bent to place a kiss on Millicent’s painted forehead. “Bless her soul. She looks just as though she’s sleeping. Or awake. Or doing anything else, really.”

Alex’s mouth twitched at the corners, but she bowed her head and tried to appear bereaved.

If you’re a fan of historical romance, I highly recommend The Governess Game! Tessa Dare’s writing is light, familiar, and genuinely funny—a perfect pick-me-up. I know I’ll be diving into more of her books in the future whenever I need a feel-good escape.

Slow Dance

I love reading Rainbow Rowell’s novels, and I’ve read every single one of them. So, you can imagine how excited I was to pick up her latest book, Slow Dance. That first chapter, introducing us to Shiloh and Cary, was everything I want from a book. Every time I read her stories, I fall in love with Nebraska—even though I’ve never been there. Who in North Omaha played golf?

One line that stood out to me was: “He was so familiar to Shiloh.” When she sees him after so many years, this single line encapsulates their entire relationship. Rainbow is a master at moments like this.

The side characters were also wonderful—Mikey, their mutual friend who brings them back together, both their moms, and Shiloh’s kids all had such depth.

My only small nitpick is that, in contemporary novels, authors sometimes have to create contrived reasons to keep the leads apart, which can make them act irrationally when it comes to matters of the heart.

“He always took Mikey home first, and then he’d take Shiloh home.”

Shiloh, my dear girl, that’s a big hint right there. How do you keep missing it?

In the historical romance novels I write, it’s easier to find reasons to keep my lovers apart because society had so many rules back then.

That aside, I absolutely loved the book. I highly recommend it to contemporary romance readers!

I was always heading your way, Cary.

My Lady Jane

I recently started watching My Lady Jane on Prime and enjoyed this quirky, alternate-history take on Jane Grey’s story. As someone who’s read Philippa Gregory’s Tudor novels, I was familiar with the real history. Then, as the credits rolled, I noticed the series was based on a book. You know me—I’m usually a “read the book before watching” kind of person (okay, except for Bridgerton). Naturally, I grabbed the book and devoured it in just a few days. It was an absolute delight—lighthearted, clever, and guaranteed to make you smile. Sometimes we adults feel guilty about reading purely for fun. Ignore that guilt and pick up this book if you want pure entertainment!

Afterward, I returned to the show, and I have to say, it didn’t disappoint. I don’t need adaptations to be perfectly faithful; I just want them to tell a great story, and this one delivered. It’s a shame Season Two was canceled, but at least the book tells the full, wonderfully weird alternate history.

Just finished my 25th book of the year!

The story follows Rose, who has always put her family first, often at the expense of her own needs, driven by a desire to honor her late father. A trip to Paris prompts her to reflect on what she truly wants, and the rest of the book captures her journey to find the courage to pursue it. I loved the Persian cultural elements, drawn from the author’s own life, which are beautifully woven throughout the story. The supporting characters, especially her mother and sisters, are excellent. My only critique is that Rose sometimes behaves more like a teenager in Paris than a woman in her thirties, though it can be seen as part of her late blooming. It’s an easy read with a happily-ever-after ending.

It’s been an amazing reading journey so far, and I’m already diving into the next one. What are you reading currently?

The Caretaker: Book Review

The Caretaker is A.X. Ahmad’s debut novel, though I read it more than a decade after its release. Ranjit Singh, a disgraced ex-military officer from India, is living in Martha’s Vineyard during a cold winter, struggling to make ends meet while taking care of his wife and daughter. He works as the caretaker for a senator’s house. When the heater in his own home breaks down, he moves his family into the senator’s empty house, without his permission. They are attacked in the middle of the night, and so begins the adventure.

I love how the author intersperses Ranjit’s past on the Siachen Glacier with his present circumstances. Ranjit’s Sikh faith keeps him grounded as his life falls apart. The African American senator and his wife are written well; you can almost imagine reading about their lives in the newspaper.

The disabled veteran is another wonderfully fleshed-out character. My only nitpick with the story is regarding Ranjit’s wife, Preetham. I wish we saw more of her to better understand her depression and loneliness.

All in all, it’s a great debut thriller.

Protect your memory

After watching the US Presidential debate, if you are panicking about the candidates, I cannot help you there. But if you want to know how to protect your memory as you age, I have an easy tip.

Read more novels to protect your memory.

One early indicator of memory issues, according to Dr. Restak, is giving up on fiction. “People, when they begin to have memory difficulties, tend to switch to reading nonfiction,” he said.

Over his decades of treating patients, Dr. Restak has noticed that fiction requires active engagement with the text, starting at the beginning and working through to the end. “You have to remember what the character did on Page 3 by the time you get to Page 11,” he said.

Here is the link to the NYT article that discusses this in detail. You can also read my earlier blog that describes other benefits of reading fiction.

It is not too late to start reading fiction. Start with a standalone novel like King in Hiding. Once you finish that, then move on to series like my Land of Magadha series.

Review of Last Summer Boys

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of brotherhood set in 1968. Jack’s thirteen-year-old cousin, Frankie, is visiting them because his parents want to keep him safe from the riots burning his city. Jack’s brother Pete is almost 18 and might be drafted for the Vietnam War. Jack and his cousin concoct an idea to make Pete famous because famous boys seem to avoid the draft. Amidst all the chaos, Will, Jack’s sixteen-year-old brother, tastes his first love.

This tale transported me to rural Pennsylvania. I enjoyed how the family’s love for each other is portrayed through tiny details, even when they disagree on things. I was happy to see our thirteen-year-old protagonist, Jack, cry a few times in this novel. A hopeful tale that felt like a warm blanket on a cold night.

A great debut novel by the author. I am looking forward to reading more of his stories.

Favorite Quotes

If you go long enough thinking you don’t have a say in your life, you reach a point where you’ll do anything to show others that you do. If it’s lighting fires, you light fires.

I don’t believe there’s a boy on earth can see his mother cry and not do the same.

Would that make me love you any less? Would you love me any less?

Do you believe in prophecies?

I did once.

My name is Meera

At the time of my marriage, an older woman uttered this prophecy to me:

“Queen she will be one day, her name will be celebrated, near and far. Her son will rule the three kingdoms and beyond.”

Was this prophecy about me? Once, I believed it was. Now, I don’t know.

I did become the Queen of Padi. I had three sons. In a twist of fate, my youngest, Atul, is the heir to the Malla throne. I worry sometimes about this prophecy coming true, especially with Atul in Kashgar, surrounded by unknown dangers. My mother’s heart clenches with dread for my surviving children.

As a heartfelt gesture to her dearest readers, Anna Bushi, the storyteller behind my son’s journey, has set the launch price at just $0.99. Don’t miss out on this special offer, as the price will rise upon release. Grab your copy today!

Read Child of the River

2023 in Books

Reading is my first love, and I have read 39 books so far this year. I am hoping to read one more to reach 40.

Some of my favorite books of this year in no particular order:

Half Gods by Akil Kumarasamy
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
I read multiple books by Philippa Gregory, Andrzej Sapkowski, and Robin Hobb and thoroughly enjoyed them.

You can read all my reviews on Goodreads or my blog.

Reading multiple books at once?

Do you read multiple books at once? I do, and it can feel like feasting at a buffet—a literary one. I am currently reading a non-fiction paperback and a fiction ebook. Since only the fictional novel has characters I need to keep track of, I don’t have to worry about confusing my characters’s dramas. That had happened to me before when I started a new fictional tale while in the middle of another one. I did that because I had borrowed a book from the library and needed to return it soon. It was quite the juggling act, keeping the plots from both books from dancing together. My brain enjoyed the workout.

Usually, I prefer to give each book its moment in the sun. I have read 37 books so far this year. Let us see how many more I can complete before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.