Rachel Reads & Reviews

Sharing books for everyone

Bold, Brilliant, and Latine & Leyendas

Bold, Brilliant, and Latine by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and illustrated by Sol Cotti For the lower school set as it gives one page biographies of each Latino with emphasis on how they were a role model, and that kids can be like them too. It has several well-known figures like Lin Manuel Miranda, Rita Moreno, Gabriel…

rachelbeerwoman

September 12, 2025

Book Suggestions

#alyssareynosomorris, #boldbrilliantlatine, #chroniclebooks, #isadorazeferino, #latinx, #latinxhistory, #leyendas, #lowergrade, #middlegrade, #monicamancillas, #nonfiction, #rachelreads&reviews, #solcatti, #wideeyededitions
A Showgirl’s Rules For Falling in Love Review

It’s 1897, and a new fashion for thin threatens to end the career of proudly fat vaudeville performer Evelyn Cross. Enter Thomas Gallier, the man behind the new palace of entertainment promising to be the apex of New York City’s theatrical scene. He’s in search of a star for his vaudeville spectacular, and when he…

rachelbeerwoman

September 10, 2025

Reviews

#alicemurphy, #ashowgirl’srulesforfallinginlove, #gildedageromance, #historicalromance, #rachelreads&reviews, #unionsquareandco, #vaudville
Say a Little Prayer Review

Riley quietly left church a year ago when she realized there was no place for a bi girl in her congregation. But it wasn’t until the pastor shunned her older sister for getting an abortion that she really wanted to burn it all down. It’s just her luck, then, that she’s sent to the principal’s…

rachelbeerwoman

September 10, 2025

Reviews

#christianity, #comingofage, #contemporaryromance, #jessicavordis, #lgtbq, #rachelreads&reviews, #religion, #sayalittleprayer, #vikingbooksforyoungreaders, #YA
Twisted Tales: How Far I’ll Go Review

What if Moana broke the heart of Te Fiti? After a devastating battle with Te Kā, Moana’s worst fears are realized: the heart of Te Fiti is in ruins, Maui is frozen in volcanic rock, and darkness threatens to envelop her beloved home. Desperate to fix things, Moana stumbles upon an island already crumbling under…

rachelbeerwoman

September 8, 2025

Reviews

#disneyhyperion, #fantasy, #hawaiianmythology, #howfarI’llgo, #kealakendall, #moana, #rachelreads&reviews, #twistedtales, #YA
Book of the Month: Duke I Tempted

Having overcome financial ruin and redeemed his family name to become the most legendary investor in London, the Duke of Westmead needs to secure his holdings by producing an heir. Which means he must find a wife who won’t discover his secret craving to spend his nights on his knees—or make demands on his long…

rachelbeerwoman

September 7, 2025

Book/Author Highlight

#historicalromance, #rachelreads&reviews, #scarlettpeckham, #thedukeItempted
Stars, Saddles and Stripes

This short-lived series by Deborah Kent caught my eye from the cover alone. In real life, the title is with gilt, and the hardback cover makes it feel sturdy and luxurious. The semi-realistic illustration just adds to it. The stories are good too, getting the balance between horse girls and historical fiction. Each one have…

rachelbeerwoman

September 5, 2025

Book/Author Highlight

#blackwatercreek, #chanceofalifetime, #deborahkent, #historicalfiction, #horsegirl, #kingfisher, #lowergrade, #ontheedgeofrevlution, #rachelreads&reviews, #ridingtheponyexpress, #starssaddlesandstripes
The Hex Girls: A Rogue Thorn Review

Coolsville is shaken up when eco-goth band The Hex Girls move to town. Teenagers Thorn, Luna, and Dusk are looking for a fresh start for themselves and their band after the disastrous events that destroyed their hometown and Thorn’s reputation. But things take a turn for the worse when a mysterious mist starts killing crops…

rachelbeerwoman

September 1, 2025

Reviews

#aroguethorn, #lilymeade, #mystery, #randomhouse, #scoobydoo, #thehexgirls
Book Highlight: Legendary Frybread Drive-In

The road to Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In slips through every rez and alongside every urban Native hangout. The menu offers a rotating feast, including traditional eats and tasty snacks. But Sandy June’s serves up more than it hosts live music, movie nights, unexpected family reunions, love long lost, and love found again. That big…

rachelbeerwoman

August 31, 2025

Book/Author Highlight

#a.j.eversole, #anathology, #andrealrogers, #angelinaboulley, #brianyoung, #byrongraves, #cherylisaacs, #christinehartmanderr, #cynthialeitichsmith, #darcialittlebadger, #davidalexanderrobinson, #ericgansworth, #harpercollins, #heartdrum, #indigenous, #indigenousfiction, #indigenousmcs, #intertribalstories, #jenferguson, #k.a.cobell, #karinaiceberg, #katehart, #kauamāhoeadams, #marcellabell, #rachelreads&reviews, #YA
Ranking Medicine Men

I was determined this year to find one indigenous historical romance written by an indigenous author from this century, and I found one. One! It’s a shame that it was less than stellar. It may be due to self-publishing so Kay didn’t have multiple eyes looking through the final product, and she’s relying on tropes…

rachelbeerwoman

August 31, 2025

Rankings

#blackfeet, #blackfoot, #historicalromance, #indigenousfiction, #karenkay, #pikuni, #pj&kpublishing, #rachelreads&reviews, #shebelongsinmyworld, #shebringsbeautytome, #shecapturesmyheart, #shepaintsmysoul, #shestealsmybreath, #wildwest
This is Why They Hate Us Review

Enrique “Quique” Luna has one goal this summer—get over his crush on Saleem Kanazi by pursuing his other romantic prospects. Never mind that he’s only out to his best friend, Fabiola. Never mind that he has absolutely zero game. And definitely forget the fact that good and kind and, not to mention, beautiful Saleem is…

rachelbeerwoman

August 30, 2025

Reviews

#aaronh.aceves, #comingofage, #contemporaryromance, #lgtbq, #rachelreads&reviews, #realisticfiction, #simon&schuster, #YA