I started the year off by reading 6 books in January, which included 5 fiction and 1 non-fiction book. I am still working towards my goal of reading 60 books this year, though I did slow down in February with it being a short month. My favorite read from the month was The Rose Code, a historical fiction novel based on World War II in England. February was a pretty heavy month of historical fiction, so you will notice that theme with the majority of the books! Keep scrolling for a synopsis of each book and my rating for each.
See my favorite reads from 2022 here and check out what I’ve read here.
Everything I Read in February 2023
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
Synopsis
Naomi Shaw used to believe in magic. Twenty-two years ago, she and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent the summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder. They called it the Goddess Game. The summer ended suddenly when Naomi was attacked. Miraculously, she survived her seventeen stab wounds and lived to identify the man who had hurt her. The girls’ testimony put away a serial killer, wanted for murdering six women. They were heroes.
And they were liars.
For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods–no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.
Meghan’s Thoughts and Rating
- This book was better than I expected! The twists and turns are fantastic and it was not a predictable thriller, IMO. I wish that the ending hadn’t been quite as fast, though–would have given it 5 stars if not for that. Add it to your TBR!
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Synopsis
1940. England prepares to fight the Nazis. Three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park; the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes. Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything; beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her rose. But she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl. So, she puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets.
Imperious self-made Mab, product of east-end London poverty, works the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband. Both Osla and Mab are quick to see the potential in local village spinster Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, and soon Beth spreads her wings as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts. But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart.
1947. As the royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip whips post-war Britain into a fever, three friends-turned-enemies are reunited by a mysterious encrypted letter–the key to which lies buried in the long-ago betrayal that destroyed their friendship and left one of them confined to an asylum. A mysterious traitor has emerged from the shadows of their Bletchley Park past, and now Osla, Mab, and Beth must resurrect their old alliance and crack one last code together. But each petal they remove from the rose code brings danger–and their true enemy–closer…
Meghan’s Thoughts and Rating
- I truly cannot recommend this book enough. I waffled between a 4.75 only because of the length and how long it took me to plow through; however, I loved going down rabbit holes researching various topics from the book. It is a heartbreaking, heartwarming, and amazing story about the war effort in England. Be sure to read the author’s note at the end!
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Queen of Thieves by Beezy Marsh
Synopsis
London, 1946. The city struggles to rebuild itself after the devastation of the Blitz. Food is rationed, good jobs are scarce, and even the most honest families are forced to take a bit of “crooked” just to survive.
Alice Diamond, the Queen of Thieves, rules over her all-female gang with a bejeweled fist. Her “hoisters” are expert shoplifters, the scourge of London’s upscale boutiques and departments stores. Their lucrative business stealing and fencing luxury goods always carries the threat of violence; Alice packs a razor, and has been known to use her heavy rows of diamond rings like brass knuckles.
Young Nell is a teenager from the slums, hiding a secret pregnancy and facing a desperately uncertain future when Alice takes her under her wing. Before long, Nell is experiencing all the dangers–and glamourous trappings–that comes with this underworld existence. Alice wants Nell to be a useful weapon in her ongoing war against crime boss Billy Sullivan’s gang of rival thieves. But Nell has a hidden agenda of her own, and is not to be underestimated. The more she is manipulated by both Alice and Billy, the more her hunger for revenge grows.
As Nell embraces the rich spoils of crime and the seedy underbelly of London, will she manage to carve out her own path to power and riches? Might she even crown herself the Queen of Thieves?
Meghan’s Thoughts and Rating
- This was my first book at the Forty Thieves and I did very much enjoy it. I thought that the story flowed well and liked that it was from two different perspectives. I thought it was a little slow at times; though, I still flew through it. None of the characters were likable IMO and I wish the ending had taken a bit more time.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Carolina Built by Kianna Alexander
Synopsis
Josephine N. Leary is determined to build a life of her own and a future for her family. When she moves to Edenton, North Carolina from the plantation where she was born, she is free, newly married, and ready to follow her dreams.
As the demands of life pull Josephine’s attention away, it becomes increasingly difficult for her to pursue her real estate aspirations. She finds herself immersed in deepening her marriage. Also, she’s immersed in mothering her daughters and being a dutiful daughter and granddaughter. Still, she manages to teach herself to be a businesswoman. Also, she manages her finances and to make smart investments in the local real estate market. But with each passing year, it grows more and more difficult to focus on building her legacy from the ground up.
“Filled with passion and perseverance, Josephine Leary is frankly a woman that everyone should know” (Sadeqa Johnson, author of Yellow Wife). Her story speaks to the part of us that dares to dream bigger. It tells how to tear down whatever stands in our way and build something better for the loved ones we leave behind.
Meghan’s Thoughts and Rating
- This book has been on my TBR since last summer. I picked up my copy of this on a trip to Edenton, NC. I was familiar with Josephine Leary because of the historical marker outside of her building. I was so excited to learn a bit more. While it is historical fiction, there were parts that I did not feel the author went deep enough given the amount of research she did. It fell a little short for me in terms of the depth of the story line. I was a bit underwhelmed with the lack of history brought in about the area and town at the time. Additionally, I was disappointed in the language choices used. There were a few times that I had a hard time with the language. It came across formal and did not pick up on the unique dialect and words that are specific to Eastern North Carolina. Despite all of that, I would still recommend a read of this book to learn more about Josephine Leary. Also, to potentially explore your own research from there. She was fascinating and I’m glad I read this.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shop What I Read in February 2023
