This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
Is This My Place is the second novel in The Victoria Series by Clare Porac. The novel picks up Susan Barron's story in 1978, as she begins her fifth year as a psychology professor at James Douglas University in Victoria, British Columbia. Despite her reservations about the intellectual environment and her misfit status in the department, Susan agrees to apply for tenure early (an opportunity she knew she should never miss). However, her tenure year proves to be fraught with anxiety and distrust, fueled by conversations with resentful colleagues and the arrival of a new department chairman. Overwhelmed by an increased workload and lingering emotional baggage from her early years at JDU, Susan secretly applies for a position at her dream university. As the extended and secretive tenure process unfolds, Susan faces scrutiny over her collaborative research, leading her to seriously consider the enticing offer from her dream department. However, the pros of staying at JDU and Victoria were higher than the cons, especially now that she had Ian Fox in her life. What should she do?
Author Clare Porac offers a thoughtful, deeply introspective exploration of career ambition, personal fulfillment, and belonging. Set in the late 1970s, readers experience the prejudice and difficulties women faced in academia from men. Susan’s internal conflicts are portrayed with a heavy dose of realism, making her struggles feel both relatable and emotional. The academic setting is portrayed authentically, capturing the subtle yet intense pressures of university life, especially for women in the 1970s. The author effectively captures the often-subtle power dynamics and intellectual frustrations in a university department. I loved how Ian was part of Susan’s journey and not a separate element. The narrative is elegantly written, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in Susan’s world and root for her as she struggles with finding where she truly belongs. Is This My Place is a compelling, character-driven novel that will make readers think.
