Book Review: The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is a historical fiction novel that spans many years and tells of the friendship between former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. I don't know if I would have picked up this book if it hadn't been the August selection for one of the book clubs I belong to in my area because I don't read a lot of historical fiction. However, I am so glad that I read it and was able to learn many things I hadn't learned about in any of my history classes.  I don't recall learning anything about Mary McLeod Bethune, and she is an important part of American history. The things she helped spearhead to provide African American people equal rights is quite impressive. One of the things I was horrified to learn about is Franklin D. Roosevelt's resistance to stop lynchings because he was afraid of losing the Southern Democrats backing for his New Deal Bill. Another thing that I fo...
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Book Review: Revenge of the Spellmans (The Spellmans, #3) by Lisa Lutz

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The Spellman Files Book #3 by Lisa LutzIncredulously funny and clever, Revenge of the Spellmans (The Spellmans, #3) by Lisa Lutz continues the story of dysfunctional family of the Spellmans. Isabel "Izzy" Spellman has taken a break from her parents' private investigation firm and started working as a bartender at her favorite bar, The Philosopher's Club. When her boss, Milo, introduces her to a patron looking for a private investigator that is affordable, Milo expects Izzy to take the case. When Izzy isn't working at the bar or on the case, she is attending court ordered therapy. To top things off, her personal life is falling apart.

This is a book series that just gets better as it goes and one that I am revisiting. Lisa Lutz is such a talented author. Although Revenge of the Spellmans is a mystery, it doesn't follow the normal formula that other mystery writers follow. One of the unique items of the book is that there are footnotes that further explain parts of the book and gives more insight into the main character, Izzy Spellman. On top of that, there are parts that are snarky that I find absolutely hilarious. Even with this being a reread for me, it still was super funny, and I'm glad I wasn't reading this in public because people would have given me weird looks for all the giggling and laughing I did.

the spellman files lisa lutzI'm not sure that I would've even heard of Lisa Lutz if it hadn't been for a Goodreads Giveaway on Goodreads.com that I entered for the second book, Curse of the Spellmans . . . and I won a copy of the book! For that, I am eternally grateful for being introduced to this fabulous author. I now read every book that she writes. My only complaint is that she isn't writing any more books in the series. This makes me sad. (There are six books total in the series with a few spinoff books that some of the characters "wrote".)

Some people might compare this series to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum book series, but in my opinion, they are very different styles. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the series by Evanovich, but no book can be called similar to this series by Lutz in my opinion. I gave Revenge of the Spellmans (The Spellmans, #3) by Lisa Lutz four out of five stars.


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