Last month was better than I expected. I read 10 books. A total of 3,312 pages. An average of 107 pages per day. And all but one were winners. So I consider that a great month!
Deliberate Cruelty: Truman Capote, the Millionaire’s Wife and the Murder of the Century by Roseanne Montillo (288 pages). In 1955, former showgirl Ann Woodward shot her husband, banking heir Billy Woodward. She claimed to have mistaken him for a prowler. No one believed her. And the very society she craved by marrying Billy shunned her after his murder. Meanwhile, Truman Capote was riding high on literary success and the confidences of his “swans,” society women who let him in. But all it took was publishing one story. One story to undo everything Capote had created. Because death can come at the hands of a gun. Or at the hands of a pen. Y’all- I typically tolerate biographies and nonfiction. Not this one! I couldn’t put it down. The background into Ann and Truman was so fascinating- their rises to the top and their eventual downfalls. I finished in 2 days.
Red Queen by Christina Henry (313 pages). The sequel to Alice (which I read back in February). Alice and Hatcher have escaped from the City and are searching for Hatcher’s daughter. But the allegedly beautiful land surrounding the City is nothing but ash. And Alice and Hatcher find themselves in the clutches of the White Queen, the Black King and the Red Queen. Alice learns more about her own magic and Hatcher learns more about his own madness. I didn’t love this one as much as Alice, but I still love this retelling of Wonderland. I finished in 3 days.
Looking Glass by Christina Henry (287 pages). 4 novellas that continue the Alice Chronicles. These were great. We meet a new character, a young girl from the New City named Elizabeth. One who seems curiously familiar to another young girl from the New City. Even down to her magical abilities. We also learn more about Hatcher’s life when he was just Nicholas, a fighter in the Old City. And we get a few more adventures with Alice and Hatcher as they search for their happy ever after. An excellent ending to the Alice Chronicles! I finished in 3 days.
Eight Dates by John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman (225 pages). This book was a gift. It focuses on going on 8 different dates with your partner to discuss different issues. All of the issues are important for long-term relationships. And the ideas for dates are great. I’m going to have to get the hubs to go on a few with me! I finished in 3 days.
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand (368 pages). In 1922, hotel maid Grace Hadley died in a fire. And remained behind to gleefully haunt the hotel. In present day, Lizbet Keaton finds herself newly single and jobless after breaking up with her cheating boyfriend/business partner. When she learns that billionaire Xavier Darling is planning to reopen the Hotel Nantucket, she applies for the job of general manager. The hotel is more beautiful and luxurious than she could’ve imagined. And as she opens the season with her new employees and a superstar chef running the popular new Blue Bistro, Lizbet hopes they can score an elusive rave review from an anonymous travel influencer. When a young guest uncovers the secret of Grace, the hotel becomes more popular than ever before. It was a great summer read. If I’d been poolside, I’d have probably finished it in a day or two. I finished in 4 days.
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (333 pages). If you haven’t seen the (relatively) recent movie, you should. It’s great. In the book, beautiful and wealthy newlywed Linnet Ridgeway Doyle is killed during her honeymoon in Egypt. She and her husband are on a small cruise down the Nile. Meaning the only suspects are the 18 passengers on board. Fortunately, famed detective Hercule Poirot is on board as well. As the clues begin to unfold and 2 more bodies are discovered, Poirot slowly begins to unravel the mysterious deaths. Even though I’d already seen the movie and therefore should have remembered whodunit, I literally found myself at the edge of my seat, wondering how it would end. I finished in 1 day.
The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas (383 pages). Rosie Graham quit her job after her first romance novel was a big hit. But she’s hit the sophomore book writer’s block. At the same time, the ceiling of her apartment literally crumbled on top of her. So she decided to head to her best friend’s studio apartment to stay while Lina is on her honeymoon. The one thing Lina forgot to tell her? She’d offered the use of the apartment to her cousin Lucas (who is visiting from Spain). Turns out Rosie had kind of Insta stalked Lucas and developed a major crush. So when Lucas offered up experimental dates to help her out of her slump, she takes him up on it. And as they live together and date each other, they begin to worry (without telling the other) that the 6 week stay of Lucas’ might not be enough time for them. They might need more than that. They might need forever. I finished in 1 day.
A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee (259 pages). The book itself is beautiful- pink hardback and decorative page edges. The story? Meh. Adara is the Starblessed and betrothed to Gavril, the fae crown Prince of Citlali. Her blood and his power will combine to keep their country safe. But Adara doesn’t want to married Gavril, as she finds herself attracted to his brother Evren. His slightly older, bastard, mixed vampyre-fae brother. It wasn’t really my type of book. Think bodice ripper, but with a supernatural fantasy bent. I finished in 3 days.
Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson (407 pages). Ruthanna Ryder is Nashville royalty- one of the greatest singer-songwriters to hit the stage. Think Dolly and Reba combined (at least that’s what I did!). And Ruthanna is retired. But when her backup guitar player Ethan Blake first heard newcomer AnnieLee Keyes in a bar, he knows he’s heard something special. Ruthanna takes a special interest in helping AnnieLee achieve her goals. But AnnieLee has some secrets that she doesn’t want to come to light. I finished in 1 day.
The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer (449 pages). Y’all know I love some WWII historical fiction. Especially when it covers something of which I had no prior knowledge. Covering the 1930’s to the 1950’s, the novel looks at two women. The first is Sofie von Meyer Rhodes, wife of scientist Jurgen, mother to Georg, Laura, Gisela and Felix, and best friend to Jewish Mayim, in Berlin. Under severe threat to himself and his family, Jurgen eventually joins the Nazi party and helps create bombs at Mittlewerk. But neither of the Rhodes are believers in Hitler’s plans. They just want to survive. And when Jurgen is given the opportunity to join Operation Paperclip in America, he does so. Hoping Sofie and the children can join him in creating a new life. The other is Lizzie Davis. Lizzie grew up a farm girl in Texas. Until the Dust Bowl claimed the lives of both of her parents and their farm. Lizzie finds herself and her brother living in El Paso and eventually being wooed by Calvin Miller. Lizzie marries him and they move to Huntsville, Alabama, for Operation Paperclip. Lizzie has nothing but hatred for the former Nazis who are taking over their town. And Sofie struggles with the hatred directed toward her. Y’all- this book was so good! Survival, family, blind bigotry and hatred- all things that we still face today. I finished in 4 days.
This month’s favorite is…….a tie. Between Deliberate Cruelty and The German Wife.
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