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UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Category Archives: Fiction
So Happy Together – Olivia Worley
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Twenty-four-year-old aspiring playwright Jane Williams thinks she’s met her soul mate, Colin Hillgrove. The problem is that Colin doesn’t feel the same way. In fact, he broke up with her after six dates in less than … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance
Tagged crime thriller, fatal attraction, New York City
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Marguerite by the Lake – Mary Dixie Carter
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Phoenix Sullivan loves her work as a gardener. She has the experience of a landscape architect, but not the degree. She especially enjoys working on the gorgeous grounds of Rosecliff, the home and property of Marguerite … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Romance
Tagged gardening, infidelity, love, Psychosis
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Red Lily – Janice Graham
(Reviewed by JD Jung) If you’re a fan of novels where nothing is as it seems—where every character harbors a secret and the truth lies buried beneath layers of deception, then Red Lily is for you. What begins as an … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged communism, cozy mystery, espionage, Paris, Soviet Union
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Willie – Rum Running Queen: Based on the true story of Willie Carter Sharpe – Louella Bryant
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Author Louella Bryant has always been fascinated with the illegal bootleg business during the Prohibition era. This has led her to bring the history to life in her captivating historical novel, Willie – Rum Running … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged betrayal, depression-era, Prohibition
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The Both of Us: A Psychological Thriller – Dan Lawton
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Mark thought that he and his wife, Rachel, enjoyed a happy marriage. Then one day while channel surfing on his car radio, he hears a caller on a therapist’s show, and he recognizes the voice. Though … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers
Tagged marriage, suspense
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Black as Hell, Strong as Death, and Sweet as Love: A Coffee Travel Guide – Steven P. Unger (Author), Ruth St. Steven (Photographer)
(Reviewed by JD Jung) For those who consider coffee more than just a morning ritual, Black as Hell, Strong as Death, and Sweet as Love is a rich and aromatic journey through time, culture, and continents. Blending travel writing with … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Food & Cooking, History, Reviewers' Top Picks, Travel
Tagged coffee, Costa Rica, Cuba, culture, Hawaii, history, Jordan, Miami, New Orleans, San Francisco, travel
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Your Pasta Sucks: A “Cookbook” – Matteo Lane
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…my romance with pasta has been my longest and best relationship.” What can you expect from a cookbook written by a gay Italian, Irish and Mexican American stand up comedienne from Chicago? Plenty! Matteo Lane writes … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Food & Cooking, Non-fiction
Tagged comedy, humor, Italy, LGBTQ, pasta
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The Sable Cloak – Gail Milissa Grant
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South, readers are first taken to Greenston, South Carolina, in 1934. We meet Big Will who upon turning eighteen, must join the neighborhood’s vigilante group to keep justice … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged African American history, family, Jim Crow, racism, segregation, St. Louis
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The Wind on Her Tongue – Anita Kopacz
(Reviewed by JD Jung) 1872 -Yemaya, who now lives in Cuba, is well known for possessing healing powers inherited from her Nigerian Yoruba Orisha lineage. Her eighteen-year-old daughter, Oya, as the Orisha of storm, wind and weather, also possesses intense … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction
Tagged African-American, class, Historical fiction, New Orleans, racism, San Francisco, voodoo
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