Beverly's Updates en-US Tue, 10 Jun 2025 14:42:22 -0700 60 Beverly's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Review7603927293 Tue, 10 Jun 2025 14:42:22 -0700 <![CDATA[Beverly added 'The Summer We Ran']]> /review/show/7603927293 The Summer We Ran by Audrey  Ingram Beverly gave 3 stars to The Summer We Ran (Paperback) by Audrey Ingram
✨REVIEW: The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram�

3.5⭐️


Like Finding Grace, this book is really hard to review without giving spoilers. I’m going to keep things intentionally vague, but please DM me if you have specific questions about content.

As much as I enjoyed the actual reading of The Summer We Ran, the story itself was a mixed bag.

❤️Here is what worked for me:
This book is the definition of bingeable- it was a very quick read for me. I enjoyed the 1996/2021 dual timeline and the change in perspective. There was a sensitive topic that I thought was treated well (until the very end)

🤔ܳ�.
The ending was anticlimactic, and there were a couple of plot holes that didn’t add up to me. I disliked the way certain relationships were handled.

✝️Christianity and religion in general are portrayed negatively in one section. Fortunately, this wasn’t a recurring theme.

🥰I do think this would make a good book club read, or just a great story to binge this summer!

⚠️Profanity: 3/5 (occasional- perhaps 10-15 total instances)
Sexual content: 2/5 (fade to black)

Other: A character struggles with depression and drinking. Physical abuse takes place within a marriage. There are TWs that would be spoilers. DM me for details. ]]>
UserStatus1077878344 Tue, 10 Jun 2025 14:18:24 -0700 <![CDATA[ Beverly is 60% done with The English Masterpiece ]]> The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay Beverly is 60% done with <a href="/book/show/221367759-the-english-masterpiece">The English Masterpiece</a>. ]]> Review7521049569 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:02:01 -0700 <![CDATA[Beverly added 'The King's Messenger']]> /review/show/7521049569 The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley Beverly gave 4 stars to The King's Messenger (Paperback) by Susanna Kearsley
4.25⭐️

Historical fiction lovers, add this to your TBR! Audiobook lovers, go ahead and request this one from Libby. The King’s Messenger had the perfect blend of historical context, adventure, and romance!

☺️What I loved:
-Gorgeous, descriptive writing
-Scottish setting
-Compelling plot- “a quest�
-Behind the scenes glimpse into King James I and his family
-Slow burn romance 💘

🤷‍♀️Why not five stars? At times, some of the stories David told caused the plot to lag. I wanted to get back to the action of the primary storyline! With all due respect to David, I was more interested in Andrew and Phoebe.

🎧Excellent dual audio narration by Beth Eyre and Angus King

🥰If you enjoyed The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell, this might be for you!

⚠️Profanity: 1/5 (very mild and infrequent)
Sexual: 1/5 (kissing only)

⚠️Other: miscarriages referenced, death of loved ones ]]>
ReadStatus9527814629 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:00:37 -0700 <![CDATA[Beverly started reading 'What Kind of Paradise']]> /review/show/7354083558 What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown Beverly started reading What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
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Rating866059687 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:00:22 -0700 <![CDATA[Beverly (beverlyboymama) liked a review]]> /
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
"I love Liane Moriarty and have never disliked any of her books. This one was solidly good! I personally really enjoyed the structure of the novel where the reader is held in suspense for quite a while concerning what actually happened at the barbecue. I don't want to spoil it, but I will say I was not emotionally prepared for the direction this book went once everything was revealed 🥹 I feel like every time I review one of Moriarty's books I make the same observation which is that she has a great sense of dark humor sprinkled throughout her novels. I found the characters in this book to be especially rich. I loved each couple, and that many characters had compelling back stories. Clementine and Erika's friendship was very relatable for me and I simply enjoyed seeing everything unfold."
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Rating865925931 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 03:57:13 -0700 <![CDATA[Beverly (beverlyboymama) liked a review]]> /
The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley
"This book is a lovely historical fiction set in Scotland in 1613. It’s a story about good people in difficult circumstances being good. This isn’t a fast paced, adventure. It’s a story that unfolds over time filled with tender moments. It has a mystery that is intriguing, and it’s based on historic events. It weaves real and fictional characters together seamlessly to form a story that is compelling.

Let’s talk about the romance! It’s got a beautiful slow build to it. I loved watching Phoebe and Andrew come together. Neither one of them is perfect. Both of them have to let go of preconceived ideas. Their character arcs are subtle and brilliant.

I loved several of the side characters. They were loyal and fierce. So many of the interactions between the characters show the tenderness and genuine goodness of the characters.

This is a book to read when you want a reminder that there are good people in the world who make the right choice even when it’s hard. Read it when you want a story that envelopes you in warmth, and when you need something gentle.

I listened to the audio which is duo narrated. The males voices were excellent as he switched from an English to Scottish accent.

This book contains no profanity and has kissing.
"
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Rating865925872 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 03:56:56 -0700 <![CDATA[Beverly (beverlyboymama) liked a review]]> /
The King's Messenger by Susanna Kearsley
"5 stars alone for the audio! Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this!

4.5 stars for the story- rounded up to 5 for goodreads!

What a landslide of a historical fiction novel! I love a good cat and mouse story- and this one about Andrew Logan who is sent as a king's messanger to fetch Sir David, the bedchamber fellow for the recently deceased Prince Henry (son of King James- THE King James). Thinking that Sir David was responsbile for the demise of the young Prince Henry, Andrew alongside Phoebe and her father and young Hector must get David back to the King to stand trial.

Phoebe was such an awesome female character! I loved her observations and how her character evolved from the beginning of the book to the end. I adored her father and really liked how soft spoken he was. The magical realism of Sight was fascinating and I enjoyed the role it played throughout the story.

My only complaint was Sir David REALLY was longwinded with his tales of Prince Henry and while they were interesting I felt the story could have cut back drastically on them. I also am not convinced about how long it took them to travel from Scotland back to London (literally weeks and weeks AND weeks) when it only took them 4 days by boat, with Andrew having rode his way there before that time to meet them. But if the journey had been a quick one, well we wouldn't have had our story now would we?

Excellently researched and gives an alternative view of King James (spoilers HE IS A BADDIE) which I found refreshing. Loved the multiple POV. Overall well done and I need to read The Winter Sea!

Content: really nothing of note. *one fade to black scene"
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ReadStatus9526306403 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 03:54:47 -0700 <![CDATA[Beverly finished reading 'The Summer We Ran']]> /review/show/7603927293 The Summer We Ran by Audrey  Ingram Beverly finished reading The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram
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ReadStatus9518420429 Sat, 07 Jun 2025 04:18:16 -0700 <![CDATA[Beverly started reading 'The English Masterpiece']]> /review/show/7545198265 The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay Beverly started reading The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay
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Review7546049922 Sat, 07 Jun 2025 04:17:07 -0700 <![CDATA[Beverly added 'The Other Side of Now']]> /review/show/7546049922 The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison Beverly gave 3 stars to The Other Side of Now (Hardcover) by Paige Harbison
3.5⭐️

Picture Cameron Diaz in The Holiday, and you’ll have a good idea of the plot. Famous Hollywood actress wants to escape the pressures of her fast-paced life, so she flies to a quaint Irish village for a getaway. But when she arrives, things get strange.

Fun, right? But in this story, things weren’t all that fun or funny.

❤️Here is what worked for me:
-The Irish setting (swoon)
-The premise caught my interest
-Secondary characters Kiera and Cillian

🤷‍♀️Why not five stars?
Instead of being a lighthearted escape, this was serious and introspective. I wanted the humor AND depth of a Sophie Cousens novel, but I got a lot of internal monologuing by MC Meg that got very repetitive.
How many times did we need to hear how much she loved eating real food?
The writing came across as amateurish.

🥰I do think many readers will love this one, especially if you enjoy this sub-genre. It was a great premise that wasn’t well executed for me.

⚠️Profanity: 4/5 (frequent, strong language in every chapter)
Sexual content: 4/5 (one open door scene in chapter 19- skippable, but lengthy)

Other: Car accident ]]>