The Nature of Small Birds is an intricate story containing three different time periods and each with multiple narrators. The story of Linda and Bruce adopting their baby from Vietnam after their experience protesting the war was truly a tale to behold. There was a lot to absorb from this tale. It ran the gamut of what it means to be family, the process of adoption, what it is to parent, and personal identity. 

The author, Susie Finkbeiner, saved space for the reader to feel the vulnerability and emotions of the story and its characters. This was important because there are many emotions that flooded my senses as I read this book. Simply the effects of war themselves were enough to stay in my mind for awhile. It's an time that I continue to learn about and it never fails to stay with me. And Finkbeiner does such a fantastic job in weaving authenticity throughout this story - so much so that it can almost easily be confused with being a true story. 

While I enjoyed the multiple POVs, I do wish we could have also had Minh's POV in order to further experience the story from each experience and angle. I think it would have added even more richness to the story especially because adoption is at the center of it. 

I recommend this book to any reader who enjoys stories of family dynamics - it is definitely worth the read. 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE 
LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE 
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THE TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly: 
7/13/21 
Author Video 
All the Ups and Downs 

7/13/21 
BONUS Promo 
Hall Ways Blog 

7/14/21 
Excerpt 
StoreyBook Reviews 

7/14/21 
BONUS Promo 
LSBBT Blog 

7/15/21 
Review 
Julia Picks 1 

7/16/21 
Review 
Missus Gonzo 

7/17/21 
Top Ten 
The Adventures of a Travelers Wife 

7/18/21 
Video Guest Post 
Stories Under Starlight 

7/19/21 
Review 
Jennie Reads 

7/20/21 
Playlist 
Chapter Break Book Blog 

7/21/21 
Review 
Reading by Moonlight 

7/22/21 
Review 
Book Fidelity 


​​

I feel that it's no surprise [to readers of this blog, at least] that I love non fiction. I believe we learn the best from experiences - our own and those of others. My background is in Clinical Psychology, and I have loved reading ever since I can remember. I credit these two things for my love of people's stories. 

This is what Ramona Oliver has given her readers in Inclined Elders - a story of all stories...of what is to come or what is becoming. Oliver has given her readers another perspective into a stage in our lives that we are not necessarily taught to nourish, appreciate, or to look forward to. And it's a shame that our society does not provide us with this space. Inclined Elders, however, gives us that space. It allows the reader to feel motivated about what is possible. This allows the reader to live with intention...instead of fear and trepidation.

Inclined Elders is a motivational read for anyone willing to think outside of what they know and what they have been told. It is a book you can read all the way through or pick up when you need it. It is well written and flows smoothly - and it is definitely not a read you will regret. 

_______________________ _________________________
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
FOUR WINNERS:
 2 winners: autographed copies of Inclined Elders. 
2 winners: Kindle copies of Inclined Elders.
Giveaway ends midnight, CDT, 7/17/21. US only)

Click here to visit the LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
for direct links to each stop on the tour, updated daily. Or, visit the blogs directly: 
 
7/7/21
Notable Quotable
It's Not All Gravy

7/7/21
Sneak Peek
The Page Unbound

7/8/21
Review
The Plain-Spoken Pen

7/8/21
BONUS Promo
LSBBT Blog

7/9/21
Author Interview
Chapter Break Book Blog

7/9/21
Review
Book Fidelity

7/10/21
Review
StoreyBook Reviews

7/11/21
Excerpt
All the Ups and Downs

7/12/21
Review
Jennie Reads

7/12/21
Character Interview
Librariel Book Adventures

7/13/21
Guest Post
Book Bustle

7/14/21
Review
Hall Ways Blog

7/14/21
Excerpt
That's What She's Reading

7/15/21
Scrapbook Page
The Adventures of a Travelers Wife

7/16/21
Review
Reading by Moonlight

7/16/21
Review
Forgotten Winds

 
 

Categories: Contemporary / Literary Fiction
Rural Fiction / Crime Fiction / Coming-of-Age
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Blackstone Facebook  Twitter   Instagram
Date of Publication: June 8, 2021
Number of Pages: 315 pages

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST, UPDATED DAILY,
or visit the blogs directly: 
 
6/8/21
Book Trailer
Texas Book Lover

6/8/21
BONUS Promo
LSBBT Blog

6/9/21
Review
The Clueless Gent

6/9/21
Review
Rainy Days with Amanda

6/10/21
Top Five
All the Ups and Downs

6/10/21
BONUS Promo
Hall Ways Blog

6/11/21
Author Interview
Book Fidelity

6/11/21
Review
StoreyBook Reviews

6/12/21
Review
It's Not All Gravy

6/13/21
Excerpt
Reading by Moonlight

6/14/21
Review
That's What She's Reading

6/14/21
Audio Review
Forgotten Winds

6/15/21
Review
Book Bustle

6/16/21
Author interview
The Page Unbound

6/16/21
Review
Librariel Book Adventures

6/17/21
Audio Review
Chapter Break Book Blog

6/17/21
Review
Jennie Reads
​

​

Let me start off by saying, you do not need to read the first three books in the Hot in Magnolia series by Minette Lauren in order to understand and enjoy Gingerbread Kisses. However, I do HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you do because that’s basically what I want to do right now after reading this fantastic book!

If you’re new to my reviews, let me say HI. I LOVE ROMANCE NOVELS. Sometimes I’m rather picky with the ones I read, and sometimes I leave myself open for what may. Sadly, sometimes the latter comes out with less than desired results. But happily - that wasn’t the case with Gingerbread Kisses! 

This lovely book had so many aspects that I loved. It was steamy and swoon-worthy! I absolutely love when a romance story can give me the happy feelings. One would think that the focus of this story would be purely on Ginger and Roland, but there was a great mix of also having some focus on Noah and Lexie. Like a lot of readers who did not start with the earlier books of this series, I didn’t realize that Noah and Lexie had their beginning in a previous book at first. However, Lauren does a wonderful job in roping in their story with the present meaning that I didn’t feel slighted in the least when it came to their bits in the story. I definitely want to know more though, so I plan to revisit them when I am able to read the rest of the books in this series. 

I enjoyed the background of this story - the small town setting juxtaposed with Ginger’s “big time” problem made for a fun and entertaining story. There’s honestly nothing I love more in my romance books than a great combination of quirky characters, angst-lite drama, and just a great deal of chemistry between the characters. I am such a character-driven reader and Gingerbread Kisses gave me that and so much more with it’s small town feel. There is a perfect balance for me in this book, and I recommend it to all readers who love romance stories with quirky and lovable characters. 

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONESTAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH STOP ON THE TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, or visit the blogs directly:
5/25/21 
Excerpt 
Hall Ways Blog 

5/25/21 
Character Spotlight 
Forgotten Winds 

5/26/21 
Review 
StoreyBook Reviews 

5/26/21 
BONUS Promo 
LSBBT Blog 

5/27/21 
Review 
Julia Picks 1 

5/28/21 
Character Interview 
That's What She's Reading 

5/28/21 
Review 
Reading by Moonlight 

5/29/21 
Excerpt 
All the Ups and Downs 

5/30/21 
Bonus Scene 
Chapter Break Book Blog 

5/31/21 
Review 
It's Not All Gravy 

6/1/21 
Author Interview 
The Clueless Gent 

6/1/21 
Review 
Carpe Diem Chronicles 

6/2/21 
Sneak Peek 
The Page Unbound 

6/2/21 
Review 
Jennie Reads 

6/3/21 
Review 
Book Fidelity 

6/3/21 
Review 
Missus Gonzo