This month was not the best month of reading for me. I was kind of trying to clean off some of my shelves to make room for new books for the new year. So this month was 7 books for a total of 2,381 pages. That’s an average of 77 pages a day.
The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann (437 pages). Quinn Erin Reilly loves her job. She cleans out houses for families who have lost a loved one and sells the treasures she finds online. But the thing she loves best about her job is that she can stay off the grid. Which is very helpful when you helped put a conman behind bars. During one of her jobs, she meets Morgan Spencer, a man still mourning the loss of his wife and raising his 2 year old daughter with the help of his brother and sister-in-law. Soon, they realize that they need each other more than they would have ever thought. Especially when the conman is released from prison and Quinn’s very life is in danger. This book was fine- it had sweet Christian overtones that I enjoyed. I finished in 4 days.
Fatal Tide by Iris Johansen (338 pages). Melis is a dolphin expert and the adopted daughter of a bona fide treasure hunter. But when a rival hunter who is also an arms dealer enters the picture, death and danger follow Melis and her new friends in the quest for the most elusive treasure ever. I did not enjoy this book at all. I finished in 4 days.
Hidden by Fern Michaels (308 pages). Cullan Bodman and his sister Luna are as different as siblings can be. He specializes in furniture restoration and is as businesslike as they come. Luna owns a cafe adjacent to her brother’s shop and is a free spirited psychometric. When a piece of furniture speaks to Luna, the siblings find themselves in the middle of a mystery that is truly life or death. I finished in 3 days.
Children of Exile by Margaret Haddix (296 pages). This is the first in a series (that I have no plans to complete). For 12 years, all children of a certain town have been raised in Fredtown, by their Fred-parents. But one day, they are told that they are not orphans and they are going home. But home is nothing like Fredtown. And 12 year old Rosi must do what she can to protect herself, her brother and the other children from this strange new world. I didn’t like anything about this book- the reason the children were taken was ridiculous. And the people in charge were as well. This was one dystopian novel that left me confused. I finished in 4 days.
The Round House by Louise Erdrich (321 pages). During the spring of 1988, Geraldine Coutts is attacked on the North Dakota reservation where she lives with her husband Bazil, a tribal judge, and 13 year old son Joe. In one evening, Joe’s whole world is turned upside down. His mother retreats into herself. Joe’s father tries everything he knows to learn who the culprits are. And Joe takes it upon himself to do his own research, with the help of his best friends. Their search for answers leads them to the Round House, one of the most sacred places on their reservation. And a quest for vengeance. I finished in 6 days.
Everything is Perfect When You are a Liar by Kelly Oxford (316 pages). This was a memoir. And a very amusing one at that. Kelly’s adventures (or misadventures) from childhood to adult seem like that can’t have all happened to one person. But apparently they did! I laughed a lot. And even found myself reading several passages out loud to my normally not interested in what I’m reading fiancé. He laughed too! I finished in 4 days.
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (365 pages). I had never read this classic before, but I felt like I already knew the story (thanks to movies and musicals and cartoons). Long story short- orphan Oliver Twist finds himself in all sorts of situations, both good and bad, until he escapes Fagin’s clutches and finds his forever family. I’m not going to lie, the entire time I was reading, I kept hearing the song “Oliver” from the musical. I finished in 6 days.
This month’s favorite was…..Everything is Perfect. It was truly LOL!
