tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43544651914687945192024-03-28T20:29:31.757-07:00Not So Plain Janejanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-77000413690884303422024-02-29T13:38:00.000-08:002024-02-29T13:38:01.659-08:00The month of love(ing to read)!<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">I’ve been reading a lot of books that have movie/show adaptations. Which has been kind of fun. This was a pretty average month for me. 10 books. 2,823 pages.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">An average of 97 pages a day. But y’all aren’t here for that. You are here for the recaps. So let’s go</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura (345 pages). This was the Valentine’s Once Upon a Book Club special edition, so gifties on social. Archaeologist Dr Corrie Mejia has dreamt of one dig- to find the remains of her ancestor, the Aztec warrior Chimalli. When she is invited to join a dig in Mexico, it’s literally her dream come true. But the dig becomes a nightmare when Corrie realizes that her nemesis, Dr Ford Matthews, is running it. Corrie and Ford have a long history of rivalry, dating back to their graduate school days. But they also have a long history of attraction, dating back to one night in the library. And the steamy Mexican jungle might be more than either of them can handle. A little bit Lara Croft, a little bit Indiana Jones. It was fun. The gifts were a little racier than usual though. I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford (148 pages). I’ve seen both versions of this movie- the 1963 one and the 1993 one. Loved them both (yes, I cry every time I watch). If you don’t know the story, it might be one of the sweetest ever. Luath (a young golden retriever), Tao (a Siamese cat) and Bodger (an 11 year old Bull Terrier) journey over 200 milers through the Canadian wilderness to be reunited with their family. Their adventures and their love for each other is beautiful. Y’all- cried reading the book. Then promptly watched the 1963 version and cried again. I finished in 1 day.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum (166 pages). In a weird twist, this book was based on the movie, not the other way around. I absolutely love this movie. Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary. O Captain, my Captain. If you don’t know the story, it’s about a stuffy boys prep school and their new English teacher. Mr Keating doesn’t just teach the boys about poetry- he teaches them about life! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson (237 pages). This is my 6th book this year that I’ve both seen the show or movie AND now read the book. I sense a theme…. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Anyway, this is the true story of the Lutz family. In December of 1975, the Lutzes bought their dream home in Amityville, NY. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A house where just one year earlier Ronnie DeFeo had murdered his parents and 4 siblings in their sleep. Only 28 days later, they fled the nightmare house and never returned. If you don’t know what they experienced in the house, you’ve clearly been living under a rock! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The book is a day by day account of what they experienced during those 28 days. I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah (391 pages). A six year old girl and her wolf cub wander into the public park of Rain Valley, Washington. Local police chief Ellie Barton has no idea what to do with this child who can’t speak. But luckily her sister Julia Cates is a famous (and recently somewhat disgraced) child psychiatrist. So Julia returns to her hometown to find out who this little girl is. After naming her Alice, Julia (with help from the town) begins to bring her out of her shell and give her words and a voice. But when her father shows up, will all that go away? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Alice is clearly a child who has been abused. Was it at her father’s hand? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I really liked this book. I loved the relationship between Alice and Julia. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Rose that Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur (151 pages). My 40 book reading challenge included a book of poetry this time. When I went book shopping at Books-A-Million, I had just listened to a podcast episode about Tupac. So when I saw this, I had to grab it. I am not a big fan of poetry. But y’all, this was beautiful. Gave me a whole new view of Tupac. As a true artist, not merely a rapper. The poems were deep and thoughtful and even heartbreaking. I finished in days. (2/14)</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall (327 pages). Charming Cove is the most magical place in England. But only the witches from there know it. Aria has been away from her hometown and her family’s potion shop for years. Why? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Because she’s a magical disaster. Literally. Callan is a self made millionaire property mogul mage. And Aria hates him with every fiber of her being. When both of them show up to compete to inherit the Garden of Enchantment, it’s game on. But Callan has never felt about Aria the way she feels about him. And he realizes that it’s more important for her to inherit the Garden. But will she accept his help? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And can anyone help her harness her true magic? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This was such a cute rom-com. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Too Hard to Forget by Tessa Bailey (305 pages). It’s been three years since head cheerleader Peggy Clarkson graduated from University of Cincinnati. And it’s been three years since her relationship with head football coach Elliott Brooks ended. Elliott has kept his focus on football. But has never had Peggy far from his thoughts. Peggy has been engaged four times and knows that her lingering feelings for Elliott have affected her relationships. So when alumni weekend rolls around, Peggy decides this is the year to get Elliott out of her heart and mind for good. Honestly, I love a romcom. But this one wasn’t my favorite. The story was all over the place. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende (324 pages). This was different than the other Allende books I’ve read- no magical realism to be found. But still such beautiful writing and stories. Alma arrived in America as a young child, escaping the war that was engulfing Poland. Her family in San Francisco embraced her as their own. She immediately fell in love with Ichimei, the gardener’s son. But America’s fear of Japanese kept them apart. Eventually, despite her love for Ichi (which became physical after many years apart), she married her cousin Nathaniel for the stability he offered. In her old age, she moved to Lark House. Where she met Irina, a young Moldovan woman who worked there. Together with Alma’s grandson Seth, Irina begins to uncover Alma’s secrets. And share some of her own. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (429 pages). Anastasia is a junior at Unoversity of California, Maple Hills, and a star on the figure skating team. Her life’s goal? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Making the Olympics with her skating partner. Nathan is a senior and the captain of the university’s hockey team. And equally as focused on his sport and making it to the NHL. Until a facility mishap leaves both teams to practice on the same rink. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And Stassie and Nate have a hard time denying their attraction. Imagine a racier The Cutting Edge, set at a college. “Toe pick”. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite is…….The Rose that Grew from Concrete. I cannot believe I chose poetry!</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-82191289669793724962024-01-31T18:05:00.000-08:002024-01-31T18:05:13.499-08:00New year, new books<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">I started off the year a little slow (for me). I only read 7 books. A total of 2,468 pages. An average of 80 pages a day. But I read some pretty good books this month. Actually, I really enjoyed all of them.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (417 pages). Alex Claremont-Diaz is the son of the first female US President. Prince Henry is the youngest grandchild of the Queen of England. And they are archenemies. Their animosity comes to a head at Henry’s brother’s royal wedding. And both the President and the royal family act quickly to stop an international debacle. Alex and Henry must pretend to be friends. But what isn’t expected is that they actually do become friends. Until a New Years kiss changes everything. And now two of the most powerful and recognizable young men in the world have to figure out how to navigate falling in love while hiding their relationship. After all, Henry’s gran is the Queen. And Alex’s mom is running for reelection. It was a sweet story about love and family. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Selection by Kiera Cass (326 pages). In the country of Illea, the caste system reigns supreme. America Singer and her family are Fives, only three away from the bottom of the system. But now that Prince Maxon is of age, it’s time for The Selection. Where 35 girls from every section of the country compete to marry the Prince, regardless of their caste. For America, it’s a chance to give her family a better life. She would automatically become a Three. But it would also tear her away from Aspen, the boy she loves who’s a Six and therefore not an option for her. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As America spends more time with Maxon, their friendship begins to turn into something more. But can she truly give him her heart when it has so firmly belonged to someone else? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Think Hunger Games meets the Bachelor. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Hunger Games in that it is a dystopian North America, completely united and provinces redrawn. And Bachelor because, well, duh. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The first book in a series. And now I might need to look into the rest of the series! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Holes by Louis Sachar (233 pages). I’ve seen this movie more times than I can count. And I’ve heard that it is one of the more faithful adaptations of a book. So I was excited to read it! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If you don’t know the story, Stanley Yelnats IV is innocent of the crime that sends him to Camp Green Lake. Where the boys dig holes. There’s a lot of backstory about Stanley’s family curse and about the town of Green Lake (which is all very interesting, just like the movie). Honestly, the biggest differences are that Stanley is overweight when he first arrives at Green Lake. And that Stanley’s dad is trying to invent a use for old tennis shoes (not a foot odor eliminator). Everything else is just very, very minor changes. I liked the book, but I loved the movie. I finished in 2 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (386 pages). It’s 1961. Elizabeth Zott has a successful tv show called Supper at Six. But Elizabeth is a chemist. In fact, that’s what makes her cooking show so successful. She’s actually so much more than a chemist- she’s a single mother, a forward thinker, an inspiration. After a series of events lead her from being a researcher at Hastings Institute and madly in love with fellow scientist Calvin Evans to being a single mother of a brilliant child, Mad, and an equally brilliant dog, Six-Thirty, she finds herself on television. But she refuses to pander to the executives. Women need to know they are more than just housewives and Mrs. insert husband’s name. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They can do anything. And Elizabeth gives them that confidence, all while teaching them that cooking is a science. With help from her neighbor Harriet, her tv producer Walter, local preacher Wakely and her ob/rowing coach Dr Mason, Elizabeth creates a life that is truly wonderful. She learns that family (both biological and created) and science are all she needs. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I found Elizabeth inspiring. And then promptly started watching the Appletv show as soon as I finished the book. Sadly, I was very, VERY disappointed in the show. I do not understand when major changes are made to amazing stories. Never have, never will. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab (442 pages). In 1714, Adeline LaRue made a Faustian deal with a stranger- she would never grow old, she would never die, she would never be remembered. Literally, people forget her as soon as she is out of their presence. And no one from her small village has any memory of her. She can’t even tell people her name. For the next 300 years, she travels the world- meeting people, stealing things, never making concrete connections to anything but inspiring wherever she goes. Then, she meets a boy in a bookstore. A boy who remembers her name. This book, y’all. I absolutely loved it. LOVED it!! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was beautiful. It was intriguing. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary (381 pages). Four years ago, Addie and Dylan met in France. She was the caretaker at a chateau for the summer, he was on a family vacation (without most of his family). The next two years were intense. But a misunderstanding and a lie led to a breakup. Now, two years later, they find themselves road tripping to a friend’s wedding in Scotland with her stepsister, his best friend and another wedding guest. Subsequent misadventures occur on the road trip. Honestly, while I knew there were some factors working against Addie and Dylan, I didn’t really like them as a couple. I’ve never found myself rooting for a couple NOT to work out in a rom-com. But I did in this one. This misadventures on the road trip were fantastic, however. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Beaches by Iris Rainer Dart (283 pages). I love this movie. Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey were perfection. And I had no idea that it was based on a book! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They kept remarkably close to the story. A few changes. Cee Cee Bloom is 10 and Roberta “Bertie” White is 7 when they first meet on the boardwalk of Atlantic City in 1951. There is a theatre owner they both love and Cee Cee marries. Bertie gets married while in college rather than becoming a lawyer (and her husband is a perfect douche). She does find out she’s pregnant after he walks out on her. I really liked this one. It was such a sweet story of friendship. And yes, I cried. Just like I did during the movie. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite is…….The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Hands down. It was probably be the favorite of the year. The bar is set HIGH, y’all. Like the cashier at Book-A-Million said, I find myself thinking about this book at random moments, all the time. I wish I could read it again for the first time</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-59126843619673864152023-12-31T09:29:00.000-08:002023-12-31T09:29:01.253-08:00Farewell 2023- it’s been nice reading you!<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month was just kind of average with how much I read. 9 books. A total of 2721 pages. An average of 88 pages a day. But I got stuck on a series (again). So what can I say!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Hopeless by Colleen Hoover (410 pages). The first of a five book series. Sky Davis likes her life. She’s got a best friend named Six who lives right next door. She’s got an adoptive mom who she loves. But when she finally starts public school (without Six, who went to Italy for a foreign exchange program), she is a little nervous. Until Dean Holder enters her life. There’s something different about Holder. And as Sky becomes closer with Holder, she also begins to remember things about her life pre-adoption. And the things she remembers begin to terrify her. Colleen Hoover writes a book that is easy to get involved in the plot and the characters. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover (330 pages). Book 2 in the series. This is Hopeless, from Holder’s perspective. You see, Holder has his own demons. His twin sister Lesslie committed suicide a year earlier. His parents are divorced and remarried, living in different cities. And he has secrets about Sky’s pre-adoption life. I do love reading the same story from different perspectives. I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover (129 pages). Book 3 in the series. Holder has a best friend named Daniel. Before Sky and Holder ever met, Daniel had a life changing experience with a girl in the dark in a janitor’s closet at school during fifth period. And he’s been looking for that girl and that feeling ever since. Now, he’s been third wheeling with the happy couple. Until Sky’s best friend Six returns from Italy. Because Six isn’t just Sky’s best friend- she’s closet girl. But while Sky and Holder have some secrets they haven’t told their best friends, Six has some secrets too. I am throughly enjoying this series. It’s fun to read things from different characters perspectives. I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover (310 pages). Book 4 of the series. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Quinn and Graham first met when they discovered that her fiancé and his girlfriend were having an affair. Six months after that awful day, they ran into each other while on dates. And immediately became inseparable. Years later, they are unhappily married and desperately trying for a child. Something that doesn’t seem like is ever going to happen for them. Can a marriage withstand Category 6 troubles when it’s not the marriage you thought you wanted? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This one was much heavier than the first 3, in a good way. As a grown married woman, I connected more with Quinn than I did with the high schoolers of the first 3 books. Not that the first books weren’t good. This one just hit more. And yes, this book IS connected to the rest of the series- Quinn’s sister is an ex-Pat Italian tutor for foreign exchange students. I finished in 2 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Finding Perfect by Colleen Hoover (86 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Book 5 and the final one in the series. And the most beautiful conclusion to the story. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We again go back to Daniel. He and Six are still together by Thanksgiving break of their freshman year of college. But their secret from the earlier book lies heavy on both of them. When Daniel finds a way to ease their pain, all of the stories come full circle. Y’all, I started crying about halfway through and didn’t stop until I finished. This one might have been my favorite of the series. I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Through the Snow Globe by Annie Rains (292 pages). This was my Christmas Once Upon a Book Club box (I only do their special edition books now) so gifts on social. Diana is an in-home physical therapist. She’s engaged to Linus, a toy store owner. So everything should be perfect. But Diana was raised to never show her feelings. And it seems like that has spilled over to all her relationships- with her patients, with her best friend, and most importantly with her fiancé. On December 4, after a horrible day, Linus is in an accident. and for the next three weeks, Diana goes to visit him, hoping that he will come out of his coma before Christmas. When she finds his Christmas gift to her, a snow globe of their little town, she makes a wish on it. And wakes up to December 4 all over again. She tries everything to change the outcome of the day (ala Groundhog Day). But it isn’t always about changing the day. It’s about seeing changes that need to be made in yourself. It was super sweet. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 2 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Untying the Knot by Meghan Quinn (461 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A spin-off of the Cane brothers series that I read earlier in the fall. Ryot and Myla Bisley first met 12 years ago and have been together for 7 years. But Ryot isn’t the charming man that Myla married. Since retiring from baseball (they met when he was in the minors), he’s not really sure of who he is anymore. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So Myla does the only thing she can- she files for divorce. But Ryot isnt willing to let her get away. And with JP and Kelsey’s wedding in 3 weeks (see book 2 of the Cane brother series), he decides to buy himself as much time as he can. Because an athlete always has a game plan on how to win. This might have been my favorite of the series. I loved how it went back and showed you how Ryot and Myla’s love story grew. And how it got to where it is in present day. None of Meghan Quinn’s characters are perfect but somehow the stories just work. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Main Character Energy by Jamie Varon (313 pages). This was my Up All Night Once Upon a Book Club box. Which means I’ve got my new reading challenge scratch off for next year! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was also my 100th book of the year. But on to the book. Poppy Banks feels like a failure. She hates her job. Her older (perfect) brother has the writing career she always dreamt of. And her mother makes her feel like she’s not good enough, not thin enough, not anything enough. But every year, her clandestine meeting with her estranged Aunt Margot makes her feel okay. And when Margot dies and leaves Poppy her elusive writers retreat, The Colony, Poppy is intrigued. Even more so by Margot’s stipulations- she must move there for 6 months and finish a book before she can take ownership. So off Poppy goes to the French Riviera. She meets new friends and begins to wonder if she can actually be like Margot and be the main character in her own life. Turns out, she’s more like Margot than she ever dreamed. This book was really cute- just the right amount of romance and self confidence. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Home Front by Kristen Hannah (390 pages). Jolene Zarkades is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the National Guard, married and living outside Seattle with her criminal defense attorney husband Michael and 2 daughters, 12 year old Betsy and 4 year old Lulu. She loves being both a military woman and a mother. The same can’t be said about her relationship with Michael. But Jo lives by the credo that happiness is a choice. When her unit is deployed to Iraq, everything changes. And when her copter is shot down, her injuries upend their lives. Meanwhile, Michael is assigned a case that makes him question everything he’s thought about the military- a young soldier is accused of murdering his wife. But he has no recollection of actually doing it. When Michael delves into the world of PTSD, he starts to understand his wife, perhaps for the first time ever. And finally, FINALLY, the family is able to heal. I bawled several times throughout reading. Jo’s struggles, the family coming together, it was so difficult and beautiful all at the same time. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite is…….Home Front and Finding Perfect. Yes, the two books that made me cry</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Being the last entry of 2023, it’s time to give my yearly report. I read 101 books this year. A total of 34,273 pages. An average of 94 pages a day. And this year’s favorite? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Personal Librarian. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-13875015672358235082023-11-30T09:24:00.000-08:002023-11-30T09:24:47.983-08:00A busy November meant not as much reading time <p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month was the month of a series. I got hooked and just couldn’t stop.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">I ended up reading 7 books. A total of 2,338 pages. An average of 75 pages a day (which is not quite up to snuff with my regular monthly averages). But let’s get to the books, shall we?</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Hooked by Emily McIntire (300 pages). The first of the Never After Series. James “Hook” Barrie is part of a crime syndicate (The Lost Boys) that sells pixie dust (clearly drugs) and runs Boston. Wendy is the daughter of Peter Michaels, owner of NevAirLand Planes. When Hook sees Wendy at his bar, the Jolly Roger, he decides he must have her. Because Hook has some unfinished business with Peter. But Hook has never let anyone in before. Until Wendy. This was not a reimagining of a fairytale. This was a full on naughty reinvention. And I loved it! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The character names (the twins, Curly, Smee) and location names (the Lagoon, the Jolly Roger) were such a creative way to keep the magic of the original but also completely recreate it. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Scarred by Emily McIntire (337 pages). Book 2 in the series. Lady Sara Beatreaux has spent her adult life knowing one thing- that she will avenge her father’s death by destroying the Faasa line of royalty in the kingdom of Gloria Terra. Her betrothal to the king will allow her to do just that. But what Sara didn’t anticipate was the king’s brother Tristan, the scarred prince. Tristan, doesn’t want to destroy his family’s line; he just wants to destroy his brother. As they begin to fall wildly (and quite dirtily) in love and lust, they realize that their goals aren’t that dissimilar. A little Hamlet and a lot of 50 Shades. Again, the characters were great. Even though this wasn’t inspired by a fairy tale (at least not one I know), I might have liked it more than Hooked! I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Wretched by Emily McIntire (268 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Book 3 in the series. Woo hoo- the jolly old land of Oz! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Evelina is the youngest of three sisters- oldest sister Nessa died when Evie was 17 and middle sister Dorothy is the reason she’s dead. And her father is the head of an Irish crime family. Seven years later, Nicholas is the DEA agent assigned to go undercover and bust the drug ring. A drug ring that Evie is intimately involved in. And when Nick and Evie become intimately involved, everything shifts. For both of them. So many shoutouts to Oz. A bar called Winkies. A drug called Flying Monkey. A hacker named Oz. A strip club called Yellow Brick. A yacht named My Toto. A mother named Glinda. And another naughty naughty reinvention. I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Twisted by Emily McIntire (366 pages). Book 4 in the series. A twisted Aladdin. Yasmin is the only child of Ali, owner of the worldwide diamond company Sultans. His right hand man is Julian. And Yasmin’s first love is Aiden, the boy who grew up on her father’s estate as the son of one of the staff. But when Ali learns that he has very little time left, he lets Yasmin know that only her husband will be inheriting Sultans. And Yasmin isn’t married. But Julian is bitter that HE isn’t the one who will inherit. So he tricks Yasmin into marrying him. All while sending Aiden off to find a legendary lamp. I’m not sure how I felt about this one. Part of me liked it, part of me was super bothered by the Stockholm Syndrome that clearly occurred with Yasmin and Julian. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Crossed by Emily McIntire (403 pages). The 5th and final book in the series. I’d say this was a reimagining of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but honestly it was just a modernization of it in a lot of ways. The small town of Festivale, Vermont, is a little bit of Paris in America. Amaya works at the Chapel, a strip club, as Esmeralda in order to provide for herself and her younger brother Quinten <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(when their mother left, she left them indebted to Parker, the local criminal in charge). But when Father Cade arrives at Notre Dame to bring renewed religion to the town, his obsession with Amaya becomes overwhelming. Nothing different than Victor Hugo imagined with that one. The biggest difference? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Amaya feels the same draw to Cade. Honestly, I think this one was my favorite of the whole series. I finished in 6 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Girl Beyond the Gate by Becca Day (326 pages). Jodie Madison needs a fresh start. And the exclusive gated community of Kensington Grove seems like just the spot. But you can never escape the ghosts of your past. And try as Jodie might, she can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong with her next-door neighbor, Norah Williams, and Norah’s terminally ill daughter Lacey. As the months go by, Jodie becomes even more suspicious. When the safe little community is rocked by a murder, Jodie becomes even more convinced that she needs to save Lacey. But are her suspicions merited? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or is it her own guilt, coming back to mess with her head? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 2 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose (338 pages). OMG! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This book! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sarah and Adam Morgan seem to be the perfect couple. She is a super successful defense attorney in DC. He is a struggling author who spends most of his time at their lake house in Virginia. But there are always secrets. And Adam’s is that he’s been carrying on an affair with Kelly Summers, a local woman near their lake house. One night, after an encounter with Kelly, Adam heads home to Sarah. But when the housekeeper arrives at the lake house, she finds Kelly’s lifeless body, stabbed 37 times. Adam is immediately charged with her murder. And Sarah puts away her heartbreak at the affair by agreeing to represent him. And that’s all I’m going to say. The investigation. The trial and outcome. So, so good. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite is…….The Perfect Marriage. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-37376308763742448502023-11-01T07:23:00.001-07:002023-11-01T07:23:31.048-07:00Last month was a little Booktober<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month was pretty good. I got 9 books read. A total of 2,873 pages. An average of 93 pages a day.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Not the best month ever, but respectable. And a nice range of genres</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen (389 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Josie Banks is happy when her husband is sent to war and she begins working at a tea shop in London. But when the shop owner dies and her own apartment is bombed, Josie is evacuated to the country to recuperate. She is placed in the mansion of a rather crotchety spinster and her housekeeper. To keep herself busy, she starts a garden. And a tea room. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And finds an RAF officer who makes her happy. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But Josie is still a married woman. And if her husband survives the war, the new life she has created for herself will be destroyed. Y’all know I love a good WWII historical fiction! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This one was great- references to other parts of WWII that I already knew about (Bletchley Park) and a very sweet story to boot. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">A Long Time Coming by Megan Quinn (446 pages). Another book in the sexy billionaire Cane brothers series. This one focuses on youngest brother Breaker. With Huxley and JP happily married off to sisters Lottie and Kelsey, it’s time for Breaker’s story. 10 years ago, Breaker met his best friend Lia in college. They are both total nerds. And remain nothing but friends. But when Lia’s boyfriend surprises her with a proposal and his mother surprises her with a 5 week timeline for the wedding, Breaker begins to realize that Lia is more than just his best friend. And when Lia begins to realize that her fiancé isn’t the man she needs (who wants a man who can’t even stand up to his mother for you?), she ends things. Huxley and JP encourage Breaker to tell Lia how he truly feels. Luckily, a decade of friendship is the best foundation for the rest of their lives! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I loved Breaker. I’m not sure about Lia. I loved her nerdiness. I didn’t love that she thought it was appropriate to sleep in the bed with Breaker “just as friends” when she was engaged to another man because they’d done it before. I really enjoy this author though. Her pop culture references are <chef’s kiss> perfection! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid (88 pages). I love this author. Literally I love everything she’s written. I love how she intertwines characters throughout (in this one, one character listens to Joni Mitchell and Daisy Jones when she is sad). This was (obviously) a short story. It was a series of letters between Carrie and David, two people who have never met but discovered that their spouses are having an affair. Over a series of months, they exchange letters and support (and copies of the letters their spouses exchanged). They even meet up to commiserate. But eventually, when the affair ends, one of them remains with their spouse. And the other doesn’t. I finished in 1 day (30 minutes actually). </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Girl in Cabin 13 by A.J. Rivers (223 pages). Emma Griffin is an undercover agent with the FBI. She’s had a rough go of it- her mother was killed, her father and boyfriend have both disappeared, she bungled a big case. But she is assigned to a case (or rather cases) that has everyone baffled. People are going missing in a small town and no one has answers. The night she arrives at her rented cabin, there’s a knock on her door. She opens it to a man who promptly drops dead. A man who has a piece of paper with her name on it clasped in his hand. Emma immediately gets to work, investigating the case. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her case work is (in my opinion) shoddy at best. When she finally figures out whodunit, it’s only because she stumbles into it. And we still don’t have an answer as to how the dead guy showed up on her door with her name written down (the killer says he didn’t figure out who she was until later). It was a little all over the place. Good pace, interesting premise, but disappointing. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen (401 pages). Juliet Browning is just 18 years old the first time she visits Venice in 1928. She meets Leonardo da Rossi, a young man from a wealthy family, and falls hard in one day. But her life is in London. Until she is given the opportunity to return, first on a tour with her students and then as a student herself in 1938. By this time, Leo is married. But he is still in love with Juliet. So she stays, even as a war rages across Europe. In 2001, Caroline Grant’s life is falling apart. Her husband has left her and is keeping their son with him in America after 9/11. And her beloved Great Aunt Lettie is dying. When she kneels at Lettie’s deathbed, she is given a sketchbook, 3 keys and the whispered word “Venice.” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So Caroline heads off to Venice to discover what secrets Lettie had and to scatter her ashes in what seems to be her favorite city. A little bit of WWII history (I don’t hill I ever knew much about Italy’s contribution to the War, other than the fact that Mussolini idolized Hitler. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Guilty Husband by Stephanie DeCarolis (308 pages). Vince Taylor is the CEO and founder of KitzTech, a very successful tech company. He literally has it all- money, fame, and the love of his life, his wife Nicole. All that is missing is a family. When intern Layla Bosch comes to work for him, she manages to seduce him. And when she is found dead in Central Park, all clues point to Vince as the murderer. But as Detective Allison Barnes and her partner begin to investigate, she begins to wonder if they have the right man. I love a good whodunit murder mystery. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Night Road by Kristen Hannah (387 pages). 14 year old Lexi Baill has been in and out of foster homes her whole life. But she’s finally found a home with her great aunt in a small town in Washington State. 14 year old twins Mia and Zach Farraday couldn’t be more opposite- Mia is painfully shy and Zach is Mr Popular. But their helicopter mom Jude has always been there for them. The first day of high school, Mia and Lexi meet and immediately become best friends. Three years later, it’s senior year. The girls are inseparable. And Zach and Lexi have finally admitted that they love each other. As the school year ends, one decision leads to an accident that changes everyone’s lives. And years later, the pieces of this family, and Lexi’s place in it, needs to be put back together. In a way that only love and forgiveness can do. I bawled like a baby about 10 times. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong (294 pages). This was a special edition Spooky Halloween from Once Upon a Book Club. So gifties on social (per usual). Laney Kilpatrick loves her vacation home on a private island in Lake Superior. But she doesn’t like the fact that she has to rent it out to vacationers in order to keep it after the pandemic fuels her divorce. When renters start reporting strange occurrences (bones, hex circles, blood), Laney and her niece Madison show up to investigate. On their way, they run into her ex husband Kit and his sister Jayla (who used to be Laney’s best friend). And before they know it, another former friend Sadie and her brother, policeman Garrett, show up. By the time they find a hand poking up out of the ground, their only means of escape is gone. And they are left on an island with a murderer. As the day progresses, they begin to realize that maybe it’s not a murderer they need to be scared of. This book was not what I expected. But I didn’t hate that! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine (337 pages). This was my Sweet Halloween special edition Once Upon a Book Club box. So stinking cute! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When struggling artist Cassie Greenberg answers an ad for a roommate, with rent of only $200 a month in a ritzy Chicago neighborhood, she isn’t sure what to expect. But she certainly didn’t expect Frederick J Fitzwilliam. He sleeps all day and looks like he walked out of an 1800’s novel. She also didn’t expect to find herself charmed by him. And she definitely didn’t expect to learn that he is a centuries old vampire, in need of a modern day “tutor,” to help him learn about the 21st century. But the more time she spends with him, the more she realizes how much she cares about him. It was kind of cute. I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite is…….The Venice Sketchbook. With Night Road coming in a close second </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-54165811665576565432023-09-30T06:16:00.001-07:002023-09-30T06:16:00.996-07:00Falling into a lot of books this month<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Let’s just say it- I killed it this month. I read 9 books. A total of 3,538 pages. An average of 118 pages per day. Yep, that’s some good reading. Admittedly, I got stuck in some types (Colleen Hoover, romcoms, sequels). So I’m going to try to spice it up next month with some diversity. But I really liked almost every book I read this month.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover (373 pages). Lily Bloom loves her life in Boston- she has opened her dream business (a flower shop) and found a wonderful man who loves her (neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid). Everything seems perfect. But looks can be deceiving. And when Atlas Corrigan, her first love, reappears in her life, she realizes that she doesn’t have to repeat patterns in her life. Even though I’d heard of this book, I didn’t know what it was about. I found myself very affected. More so than I would’ve thought. As I was poolside, I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover (320 pages). This is Atlas and Lily’s continuation story. Lily and Ryle are officially divorced and attempting to coparent their daughter Emerson. The last person Ryle would want in their life is Atlas, the man HE blames for the divorce. But Lily and Atlas know better. And a love story that began in high school finally has a chance to grow into forever. This was very sweet. I didn’t like it as much as the first book. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Rebel King by Gina L. Maxwell (316 pages). The second in the Deviant King series. This one focuses on second brother Tiernan Verran. Tiernan has just been named King of the Dark Fae after his brother’s abdication (hey, you’ve got to do whatever it takes to save your life and your mate’s life). As king, there are certain expectations. One of them is not being involved with Fiona Jewel, one of the fae housekeepers of Midnight Manor. But when Dark Fae begin to be murdered (something hard to do), Tiernan realizes he’s got to save his people. All before he officially takes the throne. Fiona learns some truths about herself as well when she and her mother are attacked. But along the way, Tiernan realizes that no king is complete without his queen. Another round of faerie 50 shades! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score (642 pages). The third and final book in the Knockemout series. Now that we’ve got the Morgan brothers settled down, it’s time to focus on their bad boy best friend, Lucian Rollins, and his long time love/hate relationship with town librarian Sloane Walton. This book was the perfect ending to the series. It might have been my favorite one actually! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Lucian and Sloane started out as best friends in high school. But one mistake led to a seemingly deep seated hatred for decades. Until Lucian decides that the easiest way to get Sloane out of his mind is to get her into his bed. After all, he gets bored with women once he beds them. But Sloane isn’t just any woman. And they aren’t just any couple. As crime lords continue to pester the town and inhabitants of Knockemout, Sloane and Lucian need to decide how they truly feel about each other. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Too Late by Colleen Hoover (388 pages). Sloan thought she’d met the perfect guy when she met Asa Jackson in college. But her fairytale quickly turned into a nightmare when she learns that Asa is a drug trafficker at the college. Unfortunately, he’s managed to make her so dependent on him that she can’t leave, even though she’s miserable. When Carter, an undercover agent, infiltrates Asa’s inner circle, he decides that after he takes down Asa, he’s going to rescue Sloan. But Asa doesn’t ever hear no from anyone. Especially the woman he obsessively loves. Can Sloan and Carter make it out alive? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And can they find a happy ending? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Housemaid by Freida McFadden (329 pages). Millie feels like she’s hit the jackpot. Despite her criminal past, she manages to land a job as a live-in maid/part-time nanny for the very wealthy Winchester family. Husband Andrew is a dreamboat. Daughter Cecelia is a bit of a brat. Wife Nina, on the other hand, is a nut job. She’s demanding, slovenly and a nightmare. But Millie accepts her attic bedroom and difficult job, fanaticizing about Andrew all the while. Turns out, Nina needs more than just a maid. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Because life in the Winchester house isn’t what it appears. And Millie is just the girl for the job. Y’all- this book! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It really reminded me of The Wife Between Us that I read about 2 years ago. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But possibly even better? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden (310 pages). A sequel? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Heck yes! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Millie is back in New York City, going to school and working where she can. She’d managed to make a bit of a name for herself as a “maid.” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So when she gets a call from the Garricks to be their new housekeeper, she quickly learns that Douglas is abusive. So when Wendy begs for help, Millie knows what she must do. But Wendy isn’t Millie’s typical client. Another fun twist and just as good as the first book! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn (401 pages). Lottie needs a job (her toxic bff/boss just fired her), a new place to live (as much as she loves her mom and stepdad, 28 is too old to be living at home) and a date to her high school reunion (thanks to the aforementioned bff/boss being involved). Huxley needs a pregnant fiancée to seal a real estate deal (he let himself lie just a teensy bit). So when they accidentally meet on the sidewalk of Huxley’s neighborhood, a deal is struck and a contract signed. Yall know I love a rom com! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And one that acknowledges CT as the greatest MTV Challenger of all time? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes yes and yes! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was super cute (if slightly predictable). I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">So Not Meant to Be by Meghan Quinn (459 pages). A sequel featuring Lottie’s sister, Kelsey and one of Huxley’s brothers, JP. From the moment they met, Kelsey found JP to be annoying. But when they are forced to go to San Francisco for 2 weeks for work, she begins to realize that there is more to him than she ever imagined. Another cute romcom, complete with misunderstandings and makeups. I finished in 5 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite is…….The Housemaid.</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-26754349749500477482023-08-31T17:47:00.003-07:002023-08-31T17:47:26.720-07:00Nothing AUGUST about this month of reading<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">August was a pretty good reading month. Not great, just average amounts of reading. I finished 9 books. A total of 2,938 pages. An average of 95 pages per day.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren (401 pages). Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is a super successful romance novelist who’s currently in the middle of a dry spell, both professionally and personally. Connor Prince is a documentary film maker who’s been conscripted by his boss into producing a reality dating show. When Connor meets Fizzy, he realizes he has the perfect concept on his hands. And with Fizzy’s input, the True Love Experiment is born. Where our Heroine is set up with 8 archetypal Hero’s- from Hot Nerd to Tattooed Bad Boy, from the One that Got Away to Vampire. But sparks fly between producer and star, and Connor and Fizzy begin to have a hard time denying their attraction. As with any true romance, the path is never easy. But omg- it was so cute! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Ariadne by Jennifer Saint (305 pages). I love me some mythological fiction (is that a genre?! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It should be). I never really thought much about Ariadne. She helped Theseus defeat the labyrinth and the Minotaur and was then abandoned by him on the island of Naxos, to be wooed and wed to the god Dionysus. That’s all I knew. I loved this version of her story. Her relationships with her family members. Her heartbreak at being abandoned by Theseus. Her love for Dionysus. The tragedies surrounding her and her family. It was awesome! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And the author did such an amazing job weaving the “true” mythology into the novel. I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Dark King by Gina L. Maxwell (275 pages). Caiden Verran is the king of Vegas. He and his brothers own most of the Strip. And he is king of the Dark Fae of the Night Court of Faerie as well, fae who have been banished from their home of Tir na nOg in Ireland for centuries. Bryn Meara arrives in Vegas for a weekend at Nightfall, a Verran hotel and casino. When they lock eyes across the hotel lobby, they both feel something they’ve never felt before. And the next morning, they wake up mated and bonded. As only fae can be. But there’s more than a few things Bryn doesn’t know about her new husband. Like treaties and blood curses. And turns out there are some things Caiden doesn’t know about his new wife. I liked this book way more than I thought I would. Imagine if there was a faerie version of Twlight. And it had a baby with 50 Shades. Now you have this book. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (356 pages). The residents of 12, rue des Amants, are an eclectic bunch. Antoine, the alcoholic who’s just been left by his wife on the first floor. Nick, the nice guy who was Ben’s classmate at Cambridge on the second floor. Mimi, the young student on the fourth floor. Sophie, the wealthy wife in the penthouse. The concierge in her courtyard cabin. When Jess arrives late one Friday, she fully expects her brother Ben to be waiting for her in his third floor apartment. Even though she told him about her trip shortly before leaving England, he’s her brother and he’s always there for her. So when there is no sign of him upon her arrival, she begins to worry. And no one in the building is helping. In fact, there’s a good chance at least one of them knows what has happened to Ben. Y’all- the twists and turns. Loved it! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher (358 pages). Charlize Wynwood and Silas Nash have known each other their whole lives. And been in love for the past nearly four years. But as of the middle of one school day, they don’t remember each other. Or really anything. But what has happened to them? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And when they finally learn what’s happening, can they fix it? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (259 pages). This was my May Once Upon a Book Club box. I’ve been hoarding. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When Tabitha Knight moves to Paris to live with her grandfather, she quickly becomes friends with her neighbor, fellow American Julia Child. She helps Julia with her French, Julia helps her with her cooking. One morning, the body of Therese Lognon is found in the trash room of Julia’s apartment building, the morning after Julia’s sister hosted a party. A party that Tabitha attended and left at the same time as the victim. Inspector Merveille is assigned to the case. And Tabitha finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation that involved international espionage! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson (294 pages). This was my June Once Upon a Book Club box. Cat Cranwell has been been a famous Instagram influencer for half her life. But shortly after her 30th birthday, her world implodes. Her business partner (and by extension she herself) have been accused of serious financial crimes. So Cat runs to her uncle Terry, a park ranger in Montana. While helping boost the park’s social media presence, Cat also begins to learn that there is life outside of the carefully curated Instagram life she’d created. And it doesn’t hurt to have handsome park ranger, Zaiah Smith, around to look at. A man who hates all things social media. Maybe even her…. So cute! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman (401 pages). London is the winter of 1799. Pandora Blake is an aspiring jewelry designer. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But she’s stuck living with her uncle above her parents’ former shop of antiques. A shop her uncle has turned into a shop of frauds. When a mysterious crate containing a mysterious vase appears at the shop, her uncle becomes obsessed. And enlists the help of an antiquities scholar Edward Lawrence to learn about the vase. Turns out it more than simply an ancient Grecian vase. And as myth and fact begin to intertwine, Dora begins to learn more about her family. It took a bit to get into this one. But once I did, I couldn’t put it down! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams (289 pages). Storyton Hall is a beautiful resort in Virginia, the resort of any book lovers’ dreams. Rooms are named for famous authors. And resort manager Jane Steward is the guardian of it all- books, resort and people. Her next goal is the addition of a spa. But when they break ground, they find bones and an old book. Fortunately the Rare Book Conference is staying at the resort and they are happy to lend their expertise. Unfortunately, someone doesn’t want the truth to come out. And someone is willing to kill. This book was the 4th in a series (I have no idea how it came into my possession) so there were some things that seemed confusing- relationships, jobs (some people at the Hall were Fins and Jane herself was a Guardian). I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite is…….a tie between The True Love Experiment and Ariadne. Totally different genres but the two that stuck out the most at the end of the day</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-72256304227459522052023-08-01T12:46:00.007-07:002023-08-01T12:47:41.390-07:00July’n- I finally got some pool time and therefore got some good good reading done<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They might need forever. I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee (259 pages). The book itself is beautiful- pink hardback and decorative page edges. The story? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Meh. Adara is the Starblessed and betrothed to Gavril, the fae crown Prince of Citlali. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">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. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Survival, family, blind bigotry and hatred- all things that we still face today. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite is…….a tie. Between Deliberate Cruelty and The German Wife. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-9404208500699710942023-06-30T07:42:00.003-07:002023-06-30T07:42:37.781-07:00June’s books weren’t busting out all over- I didn’t read as many as I’d have liked<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">June was a kind of slow month for me (book wise).</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">But I did read one mammoth book. So I’ll consider that a win. 7 books. 2,647 pages. An average of 88 pages a day. Let’s get to it.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24.7px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">Between Wrath and Mercy by Jess Wisecup (765 pages). So the hubs bought me a second book box subscription with a different company. This was the December box. I received it in May. For obvious reasons, I canceled the subscription in March. I think I have one more box arriving at some point. Anyway, the gifts had NOTHING to do with the book. They were just book themed gifts. So boo. But on to the book itself. It was a bit of a grown up fairy tale. Emma Highclere lost a lot when she was a young girl- her twin sister died and she was forced to marry a man she didn’t love while walking away from the young man she did. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She and her husband went into hiding when their daughter Elora seemed as though she was the Beloved. But when Elora is kidnapped, Emma begs for help from the Crown Prince Rainer, the young man she loved. As she and Rain and their friends join forces to track down Elora, Emma begins to come into her own divinity with her powers and to fall back in love with the man who had always held her heart. The book was pretty good. I finished in 7 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24.7px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian (477 pages). In 1662 Boston, Mary Deerfield makes a decision to divorce her husband after he jams a fork into her hand. But being granted a divorce is no easy task. And there are much worse things in Massachusetts during this time than not being granted a divorce. Like being accused of witchcraft. And when her servant accuses her of that, Mary must try to figure out who has a vendetta against her. This book was so good! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I love this author. And I love stories about witchcraft and Salem (although this wasn’t taking place in Salem). I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24.7px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell (310 pages). In 2014, the author kept a daily diary of, well, his bookshop. Shaun bought The Book Shop in Wigtown, Scotland, in 2001. The diary entries show what the life of a used bookseller entails- the customers, the employees, the town, his life. It was super cute. And made me want to put the Wigtown Book Festival on my bucket list of places to visit before I die! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 6 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24.7px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">Juliet by Anne Fortier (444 pages). Apparently Romeo and Juliet’s story didn’t happen in Verona. It happened in Siena. And the two houses caught in a bitter feud, both alike in dignity, were the Tolomeis and the Salimbenis. At least that’s what Giulietta Tolomei (Americanized to Julie Jacobs) learns when her aunt Rose passes away and leaves her a quest to find an ancient treasure. In 1340 Siena, Giulietta Tolomei and Romeo Marescotti fell madly in love. But when Giulietta is promised in marriage to Salimbeni, the man who had her parents murdered, in an attempt to finally bring peace to the families, she and Romeo must come up with a plan that will ensure happiness for both of them. But Shakespeare did not write lies- tragedy followed their love story. And there truly was a curse on the two families for centuries. Until Julie returns to her roots and finds her own Romeo. But can they finally break the curse? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24.7px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan (211 pages). Kit Gordy feels one word deep in her soul as her mother and stepfather drive her towards Blackwood Hall. And that word is evil. Her new boarding school is small (4 total students and 3 teachers). Slowly, the girls begin to change, exhibiting strange new talents. They are haunted by dreams and voices. But once Kit and the others realize what is happening to them, will they be able to escape? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Y’all- this was a really interesting concept. And in 2018, they turned it into a movie. The movie was okay. They changed the girls’ names and a few other aspects (like that they were all juvenile delinquents. Not true in the book!). But otherwise did a pretty good job of staying close to the novel. I finished in 1 day.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24.7px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (171 pages). At Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, everyone has a story. To their families, their stories are fantasies. But to the students (and their headmistress), they are lands they went to and wish to return to. When Nancy arrives at the school (after living for years in the palace of the dead), she finds new friends who finally understand her. But someone starts killing students. And Nancy and her new friends must band together to figure out who. I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24.7px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">Fools in Love edited by Ashley Herring Blake and Rebecca Podos (269 pages). 15 short stories that were “fresh twists on romantic tales.” <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All of the cute troupes we love in cute new stories. From mistaken identity to love triangles to fake dating and all the ones in between. Each story was cute and a quick read. The twist? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Almost all of the stories had queer protagonists. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24.7px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.1px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.08px;">This month’s favorite is…….Juliet. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-66887293708270679202023-06-01T08:53:00.003-07:002023-06-01T08:53:42.200-07:00MAY I tell you about last month’s books?<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">My May books were all over the place. And I loved every second of it!</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">7 books. 2,615 pages. An average of 84 pages a per day. So let’s go!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (480 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The sequel to The Royal We. Nick and Bex’s fairytale wedding turned nightmare is over. And they have fled to Scotland to escape the paparazzi. But a family emergency gets them to return to London, where they begin to establish themselves as members of the Firm again. But deep hidden secrets and family struggles face them. Friends and family (and family who has become friends) are there to help. I love this series- namely because I feel like it’s a fun fictionalized version of the current British monarchy! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 6 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi (289 pages). This was my March Once Upon a Book Club box. Have you ever read a book that you enjoyed but you can’t for the life of you figure out how to describe it? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That was this book. The story is told from the perspective of the bridegroom and Azure. The bridegroom has fallen madly in love with the enigmatic and ridiculously wealthy Indigo Maxwell-Castenada. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The one promise she extracts from him at their wedding is that he will never pry into her past. And the bridegroom is at first so in love that he happily agrees. But when they return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, to visit her dying aunt, the bridegroom learns more about Indigo’s past than he expected. Azure was Indigo’s best friend growing up. They made magic together and were convinced that they were meant for more than this world. But Azure disappeared the night of their graduation. And now the bridegroom learns that the line between fantasy and reality is not as clear as he thought it was. And no, that summary does not make sense. But it was an oddly beautiful book. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Garden of Delights by Kat Samuels (189 pages). Jasmine and Violet have been friends since their freshman year at USC. And their subsequent apartments have always been known as the Garden of Delights (due to their flower names). One night, Violet meets Irishman Dermot out at a bar. She tells him stories about Jasmine and vice versa. And slowly, Jasmine and Dermot begin to fall in love. Without ever meeting. Spring break at Pawleys Island finally finds them forced together. And they realize how they feel about each other. This book was fine. Nothing too special. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Huntress by Kate Quinn (531 pages). In the 1940’s, Nina Markova has left her rural home on the icy edges of a remote lake in the Soviet Union to become an elite member of the Night Witches, an all female night bomber unit. But when she escapes the clutches of the Huntress, she has a new fear. Meanwhile, British journalist Ian Graham has become a Nazi hunter. And when he meets Nina, they team up to take down the woman who killed Ian’s brother. Because Nina is the other person alive who can identify the Huntress. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Meanwhile, in post World War II Boston, teenager Jordan McBride is itching to become a professional photographer. And her father’s new wife seems supportive. But Jordan can’t shake the fact that Annaliese Weber isn’t exactly what she seems. Omg- I love historical fiction. And I love WW2 historical fiction. And Kate Quinn is a master at it!! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 7 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel (384 pages). In 2005, Florida librarian Eva Abrams sees a photo in the New York Times. A photo that shows a book from her past and leads her back to Europe. In 1942, Eva Traube is a graduate student in Paris. Her parents left Poland years before. But the Traubes are Jews. And one night that her father is taken. So Eva and her mother flee to a small town in the mountains with papers that Eva forged for them. Turns out, Eva has a gift for forgery. And the small town is a cell for the Resistance. Eva connects with handsome fellow forgery Remy and the local priest to help people escape to Switzerland. But Eva does not want the children’s true identities erased. So she and Remy create a code in their Book of Lost Names to always remember. Eventually, as the war comes to a frenzied end, Eva and Remy are separated as they each continue their fight for the freedom of France. Oh. My. Gee. I LOVED this book. I mean, LOVED it. Yes, WW2 historical fiction is my jam (we all know that). But this one was just <chef’s kiss>! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Happy Place by Emily Henry (385 pages). This was my April Once Upon a Book Club book (I’m catching up on my backlog!). So gifts on social (per usual). Surgical resident Harriett, East Coast moneyed attorney Sabrina and artistic farmer Cleo met as freshman roommates. And for the last 10 years, their happy place has always been Sabrina’s family’s summer “cabin” in Maine. So it seems fitting that they take one last trip with their significant others before it’s sold. But the last person Harriet expected to see when she arrived was her fiancé Wyn. Why? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Because they’ve been broken up for 6 months and not told anyone. So they can fake it for a week, right? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Cute little rom com. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price (357 pages). Elizabeth Bennett as a young solicitor in training? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes please! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In this reimagining, Charles Bingley has been accused of murder. Representing him is Pemberley and Associates, with young Fitzwilliam Darcy as his solicitor. When Lizzie and Darcy join forces to prove Bingley’s innocence, the case (and their feelings for each other) grow ever more complicated. Such a cute concept! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite is…….The Book of Lost Names.</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-7588892952004421442023-04-30T11:19:00.001-07:002023-04-30T11:19:15.215-07:00Apparently April is the month for love. Or at least literary love!<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">April was a pretty good month. And my books (while rom-com heavy), we’re very much all over the place!</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">But I read 9 books. A total of 2,735 pages. An average of 91 pages per day. Not too shabby. So let’s get into it!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Eva Luna by Isabel Allende (307 pages). The queen of magical realism. Eva Luna is born to a professor’s maid and a gardener. She is orphaned at a young age. But Eva was born with the gift of storytelling. And with that gift, meets amazing people and creates a wonderful life. Along the way, she finds an adopted abuela who is obsessed with her own coffin, a transgendered woman who becomes a famous actress, a Turkish shop owner who is her first lover, a young street urchin who becomes a guerrilla warfare leader, and a refuge who becomes a newsman and her life partner. The stories are amazing in how they intertwine. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan (257 pages). Nora Hamilton is a romance channel screenwriter and has that formula down pat. But she finally writes a script unlike any other when her husband (who loved her money, liked their kids and hated work) left her and she turned her life into a movie. The role of her ex-husband goes to perpetual bachelor and former Sexiest Man Alive Leo Vance. But after a few days of filming at their house, Leo shows back up, begging to stay for the week. At $1000 a day. Nora can’t turn down that offer. And suddenly, her life is every rom-com she’s ever written. But no rom-com is smooth sailing. And for a normal woman dating a super celebrity, the path to love is always rocky. This was a super cute rom-com! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>As we discussed in my book club, it was a typical rom com with some atypical tropes. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson (292 pages). Before Peter Pan lost his heart to Wendy Darling, Tiger Lily lost her heart to him. Narrated by everyone’s favorite faerie, Tinkerbell, this is the story of a young girl who fell in love with a boy. And lost him to another girl. This Neverland was a little less magic, but still 100% magical. Tiger Lily is a bit of an outcast in her village. And betrothed to a brute of a man. Then she meets Peter and his Lost Boys. She slowly loses her heart to him. But then, as her world in her village is falling apart thanks to the arrival of Englanders, she loses Peter to Wendy. Forever. I loved this version of the Pan story. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Her Sister’s Death by KL Murphy (314 pages). This was my January Once Upon a Book Club box. Yes, I’ve been hoarding them. The gifts were great (and on social, like usual). In 1921, the Franklin Hotel is THE hotel in Baltimore. And Bridget Wallace is set to spend her wedding night there. But the man she married isn’t the man she thought he was. And she quickly learns that darkness exists in people and places. In present day, crime reporter Val Ritter is hot on a story. But this one is personal. Her sister allegedly committed suicide at the Franklin. Val doesn’t believe it and, with the help of retired detective Terry Martin, Val looks into the dark history of the Franklin. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M McManus (323 pages). Overachiever Ivy, outsider Cal and heartthrob Mateo became friends when the skipped out on a school field trip in sixth grade and had the Greatest Day Ever. But by eighth grade, their friendship had run its course. And by senior year, they are merely classmates. Until they run into each other on the way into class and decide to skip. They each have a good reason. But when they see another classmate in Boston, they follow him to the scene of his murder. And from there, have to figure out who killed him and why. Before one of them is the next victim. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn (331 pages). This was my February Once Upon a Book Club box. Georgie Mulcahy has always been a fly by the seat of your pants, thrives in chaos gal. So being a successful personal assistant in LA was the perfect job for her. Until she suddenly finds herself jobless and back in her hometown, a blank slate of life ahead of her. When she digs up her old “friend fic” diary that she and her best friend wrote, she decides that there’s no time like the present to finish all her dreams. And right by her side is the town hermit, Levi Fanning, a man she never knew until she found him living in her parents’ house! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Slowly, they each begin to realize that the blank futures that scared them might just be tied up in each other. I love a good chick lit. And this one was delightful! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Within these Wicked Walls by (324 pages). Andromeda is a debtera, an exorcist for the church in Ethiopia. She is hired by Magnus Rochester to rid his house of the Evil Eye. Magnus needs these manifestations gone and Andi needs this job. Andi was trained by one of the greatest debteras, but none of her training prepared her for the truth of the Evil Eye that has cursed this family. It was a little bit Jane Eyre, a little bit Exorcist, and a little bit magical realism, all rolled into one. I won’t say I loved it, but I was definitely intrigued by it. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (270 pages). Okay, full disclosure. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is one of my favorite Anne Hathaway movies. And the book was even better. A little bit different. Ella of Frell is giving the blessing (or curse) of obedience at birth by the fairy Lucinda. But Ella is rebellious by nature (or maybe because of the curse). So she tries her best to not obey. At least not immediately. But can love of self or love of another give Ella enough strength to finally break the curse and live happily ever after? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Talk Bookish to me by Kate Bromley (317 pages). Kara Sullivan is a best selling romance novelist who hasn’t found herself too lucky in love since her first love, Ryan Thompson. But with a book deadline looming and her best friend’s wedding happening, Kara has no time for romance. When Ryan shows up as one of the groomsmen, Kara is floored. Everything she ever felt for him comes flooding back. And it doesn’t seem like she’s alone in her feelings. But the path to true love is never easy. And sometimes the second time isn’t the charm. Or is it? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This book was super cute chick lit! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..Nora Goes Off Script. In this month’s apparent battle of the rom-coms, this one edged out the rest by a hair. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-57253553253157039532023-03-31T19:44:00.001-07:002023-03-31T19:44:06.268-07:00Marching right into spring reading<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This was a pretty good month for reading. I read 7 books. A total of 2,575 pages. An average of 83 pages a day. I read some really great books. And some not so great books. So let’s get to it!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano (360 pages). This was my December Once Upon a Book Club book, so gifties on social (per usual). In 1886, concert pianist Vivienne Mourdant awakens to find herself in a bed at Hurstwell Asylum, being called by the name Cora Fletcher. She learns that when her father died, he left her with the care of a patient there. A patient that the asylum has no record of. So Vivienne decides to go work at the asylum and see what she can uncover. The longer she is there, the more she seems to belong. And quickly finds herself a patient. She finally uncovers the secret of the missing patient and learns the power of music therapy. Honestly, it wasn’t my favorite book. I found it a little hard to follow at times. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (330 pages). In January 1906, 26 year old Belle da Costa Greene begins a new job. As the librarian for the newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Hired personally by JP Morgan, her job is to curate the world’s most amazing collection of rare manuscripts, books and artwork. But Belle hides a secret. Her mother is a member of the Fleet family of Washington DC. And her father was the first black student to graduate from Harvard (he also graduated from USC Law and was the first black professor there). So Belle spends her life passing as a white woman, thanks to her light complexion. Her life was astonishing. She never married but did have lovers (JP Morgan himself rumored to be among them). And when Mr Morgan passed away, he left Belle $50,000 in his will and a job for life with his library. She convinced his son to turn the library into a public institution, world famous for its rare manuscripts. I absolutely loved this book! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 6 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Lucy’s Coming for You…by Ashley Beegan (242 pages). Summer is an advocate at a mental hospital. And one patient in particular seems to have a hold on her- Lucy. But when Lucy disappears from the ward, Summer is told by everyone that there has never been a Lucy at the hospital. But Summer knows she’s not crazy. And it turns out that Lucy is now looking for Summer. And Lucy might not be the only one. This story had a lot of promise but the book just wasn’t great. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Story of Raine by Glenda J Brown (422 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My mom taught with Glenda in Charlottesville back in the early 1970’s. Glenda was inspired by the floods that struck Charlottesville in 1969 during Hurricane Camille. In the 1930’s, Lana meets Sloan. And immediately marries him and moves back to his home outside of Charlottesville. They have a beautiful daughter named Raine. Raine eventually marries Anthony and they have a daughter named Angel. Through it all is the family’s connection to their estate, Shaddeau, and their connection to each other. There is drama, there is love, there is tragedy. I’m super proud to know Glenda! I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore (367 pages). The del Cisne sisters could not be more different. Older sister Blanca is golden and obedient while younger sister Roja is dusky and rebellious. But both sisters know that their family is cursed and one of them will eventually be turned into a swan. When young men Page and Barclay meet the sisters, they are drawn into the waiting game of which sister will remain and which will become a swan. And can falling in love actually save either sister? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This was a retelling/reimagining of Snow White and Rose Red. And I did not like it. At all. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Cake Eater by Allyson Dahlin (452 pages). This was a random YA Once Upon a Book Club box from August 2022. It’s May of 3070 and Duchess Maria Antonia is on her way from Austro land to Franc to marry Dauphin Louis-Auguste. She is famous on social media and he is a reserved and private young man. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Once they are married, they become a powerhouse young royal couple. But troubles in Paree lead to revolution. And as Marie Antoinette tries to help her husband navigate their people turning against them, they soon realize that there is no hope for the crown. Marie learns that there was another Marie Antoinette in the past. But all history vanished with the cataclysmic Event that almost destroyed the world. Honestly, the book ended up making me think a lot more than I thought a YA book would. Yes, if Marie Antoinette had been born in the future, she probably would have been a social media influencer. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But it’s also an interesting observation that when we lose or forget our history, we are doomed to repeat it. I finished in 7 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan (402 pages). In 1838, the steamship Pulaski, the Titanic of the South, sank off the coast of North Carolina. Among the survivors was Savannah native Augusta Longstreet. And among the lost was her niece Lilly Forsyth. Everly Winthrop grew up with stories of the Pulaski. And when the wreck is finally found in 2018, she is the perfect person to be chosen to curate a special exhibit at the museum. Her research skills and old Savannah connections help her learn the truth about the one victim she was always fascinated by- Lilly. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Through learning the truth about the Pulaski, Everly also learns to come to grips with her own personal loss. I finished in 6 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..The Personal Librarian. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-19847802929253708022023-02-28T15:02:00.003-08:002023-02-28T15:02:57.345-08:00Shorter month, not so shorter reading list<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">For a short month, I did a great job getting some reading done. 8 books. 2,652 pages. An average of 95 pages per day. So let’s get to it!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice(349 pages). I’ve seen the movie so many times, but I’d never read the book. I really, really liked the movie. And the book was even better! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Louis, Lestat, Claudia- these vampires were so memorable. For those who don’t know, the book opens in modern day New Orleans, where Louis is giving an interview. Louis became a vampire in the 1790’s. Lestat was his maker. And Claudia was their (literal) child- a young girl who Lestat turned in order to make Louis stay with him as a family. As Louis gives his interview, sharing his life and adventures (both good and evil), he is dismayed to learn that the young interviewer finds his life fascinating and wants to become a vampire as well. I finished in 6 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Alice by Christina Henry (291 pages). Young Alice allowed herself to be led into Old City, a terrifying world of decrepit buildings and under lord bosses named the Walrus, Cheshire, and Mr. Carpenter. When she escaped, no one believed her and she was thrown into an asylum. 10 years later, Alice and her next door neighbor Hatcher escape when the asylum burns down. Both are set on revenge. Alice wants to find the Rabbit, the man who took her innocence (but she took his eye). Hatcher is intent on finding the Jabberwocky, the dark creature who haunts his dreams. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In a world where magic is real, Alice and Hatcher find themselves learning so much about the pasts that they thought were hidden. This was one of the coolest retellings of a fairy tale I’ve read. I loved it! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Apparently it’s the first of a series. So there’s more to come for me, I’m sure! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Layla by Colleen Hoover (290 pages). If you don’t know that Colleen Hoover has taken over the literary world, you’ve been living under a rock. I’d heard that this one was a little different than her others. And boy, was it! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Leeds met Layla at her sister’s wedding. And he knew in one moment that she was the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with. But when a crazy ex-girlfriend attacks them, their whole world changes. And Layla just doesn’t seem to be Layla anymore. So Leeds takes them back to the now vacant and up for sale bed and breakfast where they met. Some alone time in the place where it all began should bring her back to him. But it turns out they aren’t alone. There’s someone else there. And as Leeds finds his connection to Willow growing, he decides he must help her. In helping her, can he actually help himself and Layla? I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Laughing at Funerals by Katherine Bryant (101 pages). I cannot tell you the thrill I got typing MY FRIEND’S NAME as the author! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’ve known Kat for at least 15 years. She’s a fellow reader (who takes it a step further by being an actual English teacher). And a way better writer than me. She started a blog a few years ago and was able to turn her blog into a devotional! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She’s like the Christian Carrie Bradshaw, y’all! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The devotionals are funny, poignant, applicable and just delightful! I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins (378 pages). When a young man is found brutally murdered on a houseboat in London, three women begin to emerge. Laura, the troubled young woman who was the last to see Daniel alive after their one night stand. Laura has problems, but could she have killed someone? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Miriam, the most next door neighbor who found the body and has a connection to the victim’s family. Miriam has bitterness, but could she have killed someone? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Carla, the grieving aunt who also just recently lost her sister (Daniel’s mother), among other losses. Carla has grief, but could she have killed someone? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Who actually killed Daniel? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This was not my favorite Paula Hawkins. It was slow going and not the reveal I wanted. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Murder Past Due by Miranda James (294 pages). Charlie Harris returned to his small hometown of Athena, Mississippi, after he lost his wife. He spends his days working at the local college library and walking his Maine Coon, Diesel, on a leash. He also finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation when former classmate/best selling novelist Godfrey Priest comes back to town and winds up dead. There is definitely more than one person in this small town who has motive. And Charlie finds himself helping out the sheriff’s department in their search. I was misdirected as to the murderer (which was a nice change). It was a pretty good book. But honestly, Diesel was legit my favorite character in the book (I love a smart cat!). I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Things We Hide from the Light by Lucy Score (589 pages). Book 2 in the Knockemout series. This one focuses on Knox’s brother, Nash. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nash Morgan is the chief of police and an all-around great guy. But he hasn’t been himself since he nearly died after being shot by small time criminal Hugo Duncan. Little does Nash know that Knox’s ex, Lina Solavita, might be just the thing to bring him back to life. But Lina is so used to keeping her life private that when Nash learns some of her secrets, they go from friends to almost enemies. But that’s a short jump to lovers in the smalls town of Knockemout. And the rest of the town, including Knox, his fiancée Naomi, her friend Sloane, and the Morgan boys childhood friend Lucian, slowly help Lina realized that life is amazing when you share it with people you love. I finished in 4 days.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter (360 pages). High school senior Liz is a rom com expert. It was what she and her mom loved the most. But when she lost her mother, she clung to the ideas in those movies. And now that Michael, the boy she had a crush on as a child, is back, she knows her happy ever after is about to happen. But she needs a little help from her next door neighbor (and sworn enemy) Wes. As she and Wes work together to woo Michael, Liz begins to realize that maybe she likes the wrong boy after all! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">This month’s favorite was…..Alice (for the fiction). But Laughing at Funerals was a home run!</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-61437622903849494642023-01-31T18:13:00.003-08:002023-01-31T18:13:59.640-08:00No dry January in regards to books<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">I’m starting 2023 off strong. 10 books. 3,329 pages. An average of 107 pages a day. If I can keep up this pace, I’ll get soooo many books read this year!</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Never Name the Dead by D.M. Rowell (325 pages). This was my November Once Upon a Book Club box. When Mae receives a message from her beloved grandfather that asks her to come home, she leaves her company in California and rushes home to Oklahoma. Home, where her name is Mud and her Kiowa brethren are losing their land and their heritage- their land to frackers and their heritage to a greedy art dealer. Mud and her cousin Denny team up to help their missing grandfather, solve a murder, and return artifacts to their people. I liked the gifts; I didn’t love the books. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith (373 pages). Princess Aurelia of Renalt lives in a country where magic is illegal. Unfortunately, the princess possesses magic. And when a failed assassination attempt forces her to use her magic, she must flee to neighboring Achleva. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She is befriended by Zan, a lord of the city. And joins forces with him to stop the black magic that is threatening them all. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">To Sir Phillip With Love by Julia Quinn (390 pages). Book 5 of the Bridgerton series and part of a special edition box from Once Upon a Book Club. So hoorah for gifts AND fun books! This book focused on Eloise Bridgerton, the fifth of the eight siblings. Eloise was the boldest of the Bridgertons-she spoke her mind and had no problem turning down a perfectly acceptable marriage proposal. But when her cousin Marina dies, Eloise finds herself in a year long correspondence with Marina’s widower, Sir Phillip Crane. And when Sir Phillip suggests a visit that could culminate in marriage, Eloise decides to sneak away from London. She finds herself quickly enthralled with Sir Phillip and his twins, Amanda and Oliver. Their whirlwind courtship leads to marriage (this is a Bridgerton novel after all). There were times that I found myself disappointed in Eloise for choosing a man who was distant and unavailable (and a bit of a misogynist). But I do think that she managed to wrangle a decent husband and father out of him eventually. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Chasing Vines by Beth Moore (285 pages). Beth Moore is a dynamic Bible study teacher. I’ve done 3 of her studies and loved them. This was a different approach for me, as it wasn’t a weekly study. This one focused on us as the vines and God as the vine dresser. Beth studied viticulture voraciously after traveling to Italy with her daughters. And she shared that knowledge in this book. I enjoyed learning about vines and truly showing how God is the ultimate vine dresser for our own good. I just think I prefer watching Beth in action rather than reading her words. She’s so dynamic in person and that just doesn’t translate to the page (at least for me). I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn (421 pages). Book 6 in the series and another of the special edition box. This book focused on Francesca Bridgerton, sixth of the eight siblings. After nearly two years of blissful marriage, Francesca finds herself widowed at age 22. Her husband’s cousin and best friend Michael becomes the new Earl of Kilmartin. But his love for Francesca causes him to flee to India for 4 years. Upon his return, he learns that Francesca is finally ready to marry again. Only this time, she will not marry for love. It will be to have children. But little does she know that she can have both. This one might have been one of my favorites of the Bridgerton novels! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn (406 pages). Book 7 in the series. This book focused on Hyacinth Bridgerton, the youngest of the eight siblings. Hyacinth is Lady Danbury (the Duke of book 1’s godmother) reincarnated. Witty, charming and sure of herself, she finally meets her match in Gareth St Clair, Lady Danbury’s grandson. While their families wish to see them wed, these two perfectly compatible people must first team up to solve the mystery of Gareth’s St Clair grandmother’s hidden jewels. Along the way, they fall madly in love (as Bridgertons do). But this couple has a rather lengthy engagement period (2 whole months!) before their happy ever after, unlike most of Hyacinth’s siblings. I loved this one too! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn (469 pages). Book 8, the final book in the series. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This book focused on Gregory Bridgerton, seventh of the eight siblings. Gregory, unlike most young men of his acquaintance, believes in true love. He’s seen it in 7 marriages (8 if you count his parents, even though he was 2 when his father died). So he is not going to marry for anything less than the perfect love. And that love seems to be Hermione Watson. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At least that what love at first sight is telling him. Hermione’ s best friend Lucy is convinced that Gregory would make an excellent match. But first, Hermione has to be convinced that love at first sight does NOT exist (she fancies herself in love with another man). Along the way, Gregory realizes that Lucy is the one he loves. But Lucy is engaged to another man, with a wedding planned. Arguably the most dramatic of the books (blackmail, betrayal, a broken engagement), I found Gregory and Lucy to be delightful. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">After by Anna Todd (164 pages). I do not typically read graphic novels, but I’m doing the Once Upon a Book Club 40 book challenge. And graphic novel was on the list. This one was basically a YA rom com. Prudish Tessa goes to college, leaving behind her equally prudish high school sweetheart. But her wild roomie introduces her to Hardin, the bad boy who she just can’t stop thinking about. I finished in about an hour. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells (137 pages). For some reason, I had never read this classic novel. Griffin is a former medical student/physics obsessed albino who has learned how to make things, including himself, invisible. The only problem? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He can’t make them visible again. So he travels to a small inn in a small town to continue his research. Upon realizing that he is invisible (he goes around covered in bandages and masks), the town erupts. And he flees, happening upon a former classmate, to whom he tells the whole tale. He has resorted to theft and even murder to continue on. By losing his visibility, he has begun to lose his humanity. I finished in 1 day.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Before I Do by Sophie Cousens (359 pages). Audrey is very head in the stars. Josh is very rooted. Despite their polar opposite natures, they seem a perfect fit. But at their rehearsal dinner, Josh’s sister shows up with an unexpected plus one. A plus one who is Audrey’s what-if guy. They spent one beautiful, amazing day together 6 years ago. And his appearance sets everything off at the wedding. As disaster after disaster occurs, Audrey begins to wonder if fate is telling her something. But what? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Is your what-if better than you what-is? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Such a super cute chick lit- I wish I’d been poolside reading it! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..the darn Bridgerton books!</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-12213285328799562102022-12-30T11:16:00.003-08:002022-12-30T11:16:58.570-08:00December is over. 2022 is over. And what a year of reading it has been!<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month was a pretty average month for me. 8 books. A total of 2,572 pages. An average of 86 pages a day. But most importantly, this is also the end of 2022. So it’s time for the yearly breakdown. A total of 100 books read. A total of 33,835 pages. An average of 93 per day. And the favorite book of the favorite books is……The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (October’s book). But let’s get into this month’s readings, shall we?</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> Circe by Madeline Miller (385 pages). I have always LOVED mythology. But the character of Circe had a small role in it. Until this book. I’d call it mythological fiction. Circe was the daughter of a Titan, the god Helios, and a nymph. Sadly, she had none of her father’s power nor her mother’s allure. What she did have was a fascination for mortals and a flair for witchcraft. After turning a mortal into a minor deity and a fellow nymph into a monster, Zeus banishes her to the island of Aiaia. There, she hones her craft and crosses paths with the greatest figures in Greek mythology- Hermes, Athena, the Minotaur, Medea, Daedalus and Icarus, and Odysseus (with whom she has a son). Despite many centuries alone, Circe never changes in her devotion to her witchcraft and to her humanity. I loved, loved, LOVED this book. From start to finish, it was practically perfect! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Vanished Bride by Bella Ellis (290 pages). The Bronte sisters as detectives? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’m in! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When all 3 Bronte sisters find themselves living at home with their father and brother, they spend a great deal of time writing together. However, learning of a young wife and mother who has disappeared in a gruesome scene of apparent murder, the sisters immediately decide to become unofficial detectors (a newfangled idea at the time). As more clues turn up, the sisters find themselves caught up in a mystery of epic proportions. The conclusion to the mystery was perfect! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy (292 pages). One of our dearest family friends from Cape Cod is Peter Walter. We met Peter through his brother Lamar (a former colleague of my father’s) and he is part of our Falmouth vacation every year. Peter is truly one of the most extraordinary men I’ve met. And Peter spent a day teaching with Pat Conroy on Yamacraw (aka Daufuskie) Island. Conroy took the job in 1969. Yamacraw had electricity but not much else. The school was one small building. And Conroy’s was one of the few white faces on the island and the only white face in the school. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The 18 5th through 8th grade students were depressingly undereducated. I mean, depressingly. They did not even know that they lived in America. Or that the Atlantic Ocean lapped at the shores of their home. The school system had failed them. But Conroy didn’t teach by the book- he wanted to open the world off the island up to them. Music, a Halloween spent off the island, a trip to DC, and countless daily lessons made him beloved on the island. But hated by the school board. Shocker. After one year, he was let go. His memories of the island never left him. And one of those children went on to become a bestselling cookbook author. And most of them got of the island. It was a great story. And then, of course, I watched the movie. Not nearly as good as the book. But what movie ever is? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan (432 pages). This was my October Once Upon a Book Club book (I’ve been hoarding them for the end of the year). So gifties on social, per usual. 12 years ago, Olivia McAfee took her young son Asher and escaped her abusive marriage by returning home. Home to a small New Hampshire town where she took over her father’s beekeeping. Asher’s senior year of high school brings Lily Campanello, the new girl, into his life. They fall passionately in love, as only teenagers can. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But one day in December changes everything. Lily is dead and Asher is accused of killing her. With her defense attorney brother Jordan at her side, Olivia does everything in her power to prove his innocence. But does Asher have a darker side than she knew? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And was Lily actually hiding things herself? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Jodi Picoult had gotten a little predictable for a while. This book was not what I expected at all. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Christmas Witch by Dalea Faulkner (166 pages). This was a special edition Christmas Once Upon a Book Club box. So gifties on social. 13 year old Brigid Baelfyre and her mother Cerri relocated from Scotland to Amberlight Valley after the death of her father. Amberlight Valley is a town tingling with magick. But it’s magick is off balance and Brigid and her frenemy Morgan must find the mythical Amberlight Stone to restore their town. As both of them come into their witchcraft, they begin to learn some of the other secrets of their town. And whether or not they can trust each other. The book was not that great- lots of grammatical errors and one dimensional characters. I finished in 1 day.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Verity by Colleen Hoover (314 pages). Best selling author Verity Crawford was in a horrific car accident, an accident that left her unable to complete her successful series. Her husband Jeremy hires Lowen Ashleigh to complete the series. Lowen heads to the Crawford home in Vermont to look through Verity’s outlines. And finds an autobiography that she assumes Verity never wanted the world to read. Because what Lowen uncovers shows Verity to be a monster. But as Lowen finds herself falling for Jeremy (and Jeremy reciprocating those feelings), she becomes more and more unnerved by the woman she is there to write for. The ending was <chef’s kiss>. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So unlike the other Colleen Hoover books I have read. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (364 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When Carrie Soto retired from the world of tennis at 31, she was the greatest female tennis player of all time, with a record 20 Grand Slam titles. But 6 years later, she finds herself in the stands of the US Open, watching her record being matched. And Carrie is a winner who will not stand for that. With the help of her coach (who is also her father) and her hitting partner (who is also an ex fling), Carrie stages a comeback to reclaim her record. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She has 4 shots to take back her title- the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. But for a woman who has only ever wanted to be a champion, will it ever be enough? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And is there life beyond tennis? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Loved it! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Improbably Yours by Kerry Anne King (329 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This was my New Years book box from Once Upon a Book Club. On Spokane native Blythe’s 30th birthday, she gets a job she doesn’t want, a proposal she doesn’t want, and a present from her long decreased grandmother. The present? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Blythe must take Nomi’s ashes to an island they had made up (but one that turns out to be in the San Juan Islands, clear across Washington State), dig up a treasure and bury the ashes. To everyone’s amazement, Blythe heads off on her treasure hunt. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She rents out Improbable House and makes friends with islander/treasure hunter Flynn and his niece Savannah. Turns out, Blythe has more of a connection to Improbable House (and the island) than she could have ever imagined. It was a super sweet story about family and being yourself. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..Circe. But Verity and Carrie Soto were tied for a very close second. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-88240731195147055112022-11-30T09:05:00.000-08:002022-11-30T09:05:00.161-08:00No-kidding that No-vember was a good month!<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">November was a good month for reading. A lot of chick lit and psychological thrillers (I guess that’s the best word for it). I read 7 books. A total of 2,628 pages. An average of 87.5 pages per day. So let’s get into it!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine (395 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Amber Peterson has a plan. A plan to become the next Mrs. Jackson Parrish. But to do that, she must first ingratiate herself to his current wife Daphne before pulling the rug out from under her. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Because Daphne has it all- gorgeous husband, 2 amazing daughters, and all the wealth she could ever want. So Amber sets about with her plan. Little does Amber know that Daphne has a plan of her own. So which woman will ultimately win? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I loved this book. It was not at all what I expected! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score (556 pages). Naomi Witt arrives in Knockemout, Virginia, with two things on her mind- fleeing her wedding and helping out her no-account twin sister Tina. But little did she know that Tina had left a disaster waiting her. A town where people didn’t trust Tina (and therefore Naomi by extension) and an 11 year old niece Waylay. So Naomi finds herself jobless, homeless, carless (after Tina stole hers) and no linger childless. What she didn’t expect was a town that embraced her. And a new neighbor/boss in the form of Knox Morgan. A man who doesn’t form attachments. Until Naomi and Waylay make him realize what he has been missing this whole time. It was a cute rom com. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson (337 pages). This was my September Once Upon a Book Club box (yes, I’m not up to date. Sue me). So gifts on social, as usual. Libby Nicholls arrives in London with her life a shambles- her boyfriend of 8 years has dumped her, leaving her homeless and jobless. Fortunately her sister offers her a place to live and a temporary job babysitting her nephew. Libby meets Frank on the 88 bus. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Frank, who has been riding this bus for 60+ years, looking for his lost girl. A girl he met once but who changed his life forever. Libby joins forces with Frank’s carer to search for the girl. But time is ticking, as Frank’s dementia is advancing. This book was so super sweet. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">When She Returned by Lucinda Berry (289 pages). Eleven years ago, Kate disappeared, leaving behind grieving husband Scott and 5 year old Abbi. In the ensuing years, Scott finally had her declared dead and eventually remarried Meredith. But one day, a call from Montana lets them know that Kate is alive. The family brings her and her 7 week old daughter Shiloh back home to California. But Kate is hesitant to tell where she has been. Because 11 years ago, she became enthralled with a local cult, Love International. And that’s when all of the family’s troubles began. Can someone ever really fully deprogram from complete cult immersion, even when they see problems with the cult and its leader? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s the struggle that this family now faces. This book was soooo good! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Book Lovers by Emily Henry (373 pages). Every romance novel has its tropes- the handsome stranger, the small town love affair, the cold hearted workaholic girlfriend who gets left. Nora Stephens, a book editor in New York, knows her role in life. Work first, her beloved baby sister Libby second. So when Libby asks Nora to take a month away, Nora says yes. With trepidation. Because Libby wants to go to Sunshine Falls, NC, the town that’s the star of the best selling book by one of Nora’s clients. And Libby has a plan. Little do either of them know that a difficult book editor from the city, Charlie Lastra, is also in Sunshine Falls. And his appearance puts a bit of a kink in Libby’s plans. Or does it? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Super cute rom com book. I wish I’d been sitting poolside for it! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 6 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee (369 pages). Felicity Morrow has returned to Dalloway School to repeat her senior year. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The year before, her girlfriend Alex died in an accident and Felicity took a year away to get help. Upon returning, she moves back into her old room in Godwin House. And quickly finds herself inthralled with the new girl, prodigy author Ellis Haley. But the ghosts of Alex and the Dalloway Five (five of Dalloway’s earlier students who were accused of witchcraft and all died mysteriously). Dalloway is steeped in witchcraft and darkness. And Felicity finds herself drawn back into it. This was one of those books that I both liked and didn’t like. The writing was excellent. But I found myself not really connecting to the characters. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Beauty and the Baller by Ilsa Madden-Miles (309 pages). Former NFL quarterback Ronan Smith’s life is not going well. After a horrific car crash claimed the life of his fiancée and his NFL career, he’s in a downward spiral. Until a one night stand with Princess Leia shakes him out of it. Two years later, Nova Morgan finds herself returning home to Blue Belle, Texas. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her new next door neighbor? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The head football coach- retired quarterback and former one night stand from hell, Ronan. As they become closer, Ronan has to face a choice- his dream job or a new forever love. Another total chick lit, pool perfect read. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..a tie between The Lost Ticket and When She Returned. They are totally different genres, so I feel like I can choose both!</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-31041826681985743782022-10-31T11:23:00.004-07:002022-10-31T11:23:44.687-07:00Falling into some good books this month <p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">I did pretty good this month. 8 books. A total of 2,680 pages. An average of 86.5 pages per day. So let’s get to it!</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (385 pages). Evelyn Hugo was THE movie star. And she has finally decided to tell the truth about her life. To little known magazine reporter Monique Grant. As Evelyn shares her life from her start in Hollywood in the 1950’s to her retirement in the 1980’s, Monique learns there is so much more to Evelyn than her seven husbands and her one great love. And even the reason why Evelyn chose her to tell this story. The novel was separated into 7 sections, devoted to Evelyn’s life during the years with each husband. I’ve read several books by this author. And liked them all. But this one was my favorite. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig (360 pages). Ginny is an autistic 14 year old girl who’s been in foster care for years. She’s now, hopefully, found her forever home. But there are still lingering issues stemming from her birth mother that cause Ginny to lie, steal and get herself kidnapped in order to find out what happened. Honestly, I didn’t really enjoy this one. Unlike Eleanor Oliphant, I didn’t really find Ginny to be an enjoyable character. I certainly felt sorry for her (there is a really good reason why Ginny has been in foster care). But I didn’t like her. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford (362 pages). This was my August Once Upon a Book Club book (I’m a little behind). So as usual, gifties on social. This was a really interesting novel about how past generational traumas can effect many generations. The story opens with Dorothy Moy and her five year old daughter Annabel. Dorothy is a tortured poet in 2045 Seattle who doesn’t want to pass her traumas on to her daughter. So she seeks an experimental treatment to help confront these inherited traits. And as she goes back in time, she learns what must be fixed. First, with her mother Greta- a techie genius in 2014 who creates and losses a revolutionary dating app. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then her grandmother Zoe- a schoolgirl at a famous school in England with no rules in 1927. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her great grandmother Faye- a nurse serving with the Flying Tigers in 1942. Her great great grandmother Lai King- a young girl who loses everything in the San Francisco plague of 1892. And finally her great great great great grandmother, the woman who began her line- Afong, the first Chinese woman to come in America in 1836. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Throughout each of these lifetimes, Dorothy learns and overcomes traumas. And also learns that there is someone who is there in each life, someone who loves her. And she will do anything to break the cycle and help her daughter find love and happiness. It was very interesting. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (316 pages). This was my Sweet Once Upon a Book Club Halloween box. The gifties are on social, per usual. Nowadays, witches can’t spend time together because it means their powers might mingle and draw attention to their existence. But Mika Moon loves people, other witches and magic. When given the opportunity to tutor 3 orphaned witches at the remote and bewitched Nowhere House, Mika tentatively agrees. And while it goes against everything she’s been taught, Mika finds herself falling in love with the 3 young girls and their 4 caretakers, including prickly (and handsome) librarian Jamie. But when danger threatens her new family, Mika must risk everything to save them and her new life with them. It was so super cute and such an easy read. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Remembering Columbia South Carolina by Dr. Miles S. Richard’s (124 pages). This was a collection of stories about crimes and deaths and celebrities that I’d never heard about my hometown. It was a fun and easy read. I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Night Singer by Johanna Mo (434 pages). Police detective Hanna Duncker finds herself in a place she never expected- her hometown of Oland. After years in Stockholm, she felt the pull to return home. But Oland is a place that doesn’t forget. And after Hanna’s father was convicted of murder, Hanna fled. Now that she has returned and is immediately assigned a case of a murdered 15 year old, she has to work to solve the case and confront the demons of her past. I finished in 6 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey (342 pages). My special edition Spooky Once Upon a Book Club Halloween box, which means more gifties on social. Vera Crowder has returned home for the first time in a long time to help her dying mother. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But returning to the house where her beloved father committed gruesome murders is harder than she imagined. Especially when she keeps finding notes from him in unexpected places. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This book was not at all what I expected. And not in a good way. The ending was super weird and actually kind of left me disliking the book. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Regretting You by Colleen Hoover (357 pages). Morgan finds herself pregnant at 17. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Pregnant and rather unhappy with her life. 17 years later, she is contentedly married to Chris, her high school sweetheart and the father of her nearly 17 year old daughter Clara. But Morgan and Clara’s worlds are turned upside down when Chris and Morgan’s sister Jenny are killed in a car accident. As Morgan and Clara struggle to come to terms with this loss, truths about their lives begin to emerge. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Although honestly, four of them kind of tied for favorite. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-20316823169996189982022-10-01T09:47:00.000-07:002022-10-01T09:47:00.106-07:00I guess you could say that September readings went well<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">September had a vacation in it. And we know what that means- more books will be read!</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">And yes, I did read more books this month. I actually started one but didn’t finish it until October. So we won’t count that one. This month I read 11 books. A total of 3,594 pages. An average of 124 pages per day. So pretty good I’d say!</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Let’s get into it, shall we?</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The War Girls by V.S. Alexander (431 pages). Historical fiction AND a Once Upon a Book Club box? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Heaven! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The novel spans the years of 1939 to 1943 in Warsaw. Hanna Majewski left Poland to live with her aunt and uncle in England because living the strict life of a proper Jewish girl was too stifling for her. But she left behind her parents and two siblings, sister Stefa and brother Aaron. Meanwhile, Polish Catholic Janka Danek cannot believe what is happening to her neighbors and other Jews in Poland. As the war rages on, Hanna, Stefa and Janka each find a way to fight. As War Girls. I didn’t know as much about the decimation of Jews in Poland. The ghetto in Warsaw actually had an uprising where the Jewish people attempted to fight back after years of Nazi rule. There was a camp outside of Warsaw called Treblinka where 700,000 to 900,000 Jewish Poles were killed in a 15 month period. But the stories of these women and their families was so inspiring. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (336 pages). It’s the day before New Year’s Eve and a real estate agent has an open house for an apartment. At the open house are Ro and Julia, married with a baby on the way; Roger and Anna-Lena, married and devoted flippers; Estelle, an older woman waiting for her husband to park the car; Zara, a woman who’s hobby is going to open houses; and Lennart, a gentleman there for other purposes. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But this open house goes awry when a failed bank robber holds them all hostage. What happens over those hours, as father and son police officer Jim and Jack try to crack the case, changes all of them. Each entered with a set of struggles. And each walked out with a newfound happiness. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani (416 pages). In 1930, 15 year old Thea Atwell is sent from her beloved home and family, including her twin brother, in Florida to boarding/finishing school in North Carolina. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Thea, like many girls, is sent away “for a reason”. While there, she spends most of her time riding and getting to know the other wealthy daughters of Southern families. Thea manages to get herself into a little more trouble while at school before she comes home. It took a long time to fully get to what had happened at home that forced Thea to leave. Which was rather annoying. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena (349 pages). The Mertons are a wealthy but miserable family. Fred and Sheila host their three adult children (Catherine, Dan and Jenna) for Easter Sunday dinner. A dinner that does not go well, as Fred is abusive and Sheila is neglectful. On Tuesday morning, their king time housekeeper Irena finds the Mertons brutally murdered. As each of the children is set to inherit millions, the cops immediately look into motives. And Fred’s sister Audrey makes it her person mission to learn the truth. Every member of this family has a motive. But who did it? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I truly had no idea who the murderer was going to be. So bravo on that one! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 6 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The It Girl by Ruth Ware (420 pages). Hannah arrives at Pelham College, Oxford University, as a fish out of water. As luck would have it, her suite mate is the fabulous April. April is truly the It Girl of their college. And Hannah quickly becomes part of her group- Will, Hugh, Emily and Ryan. But when Hannah finds April murdered at the end of second term, she knows exactly who did it. The creepy porter John Neville who she saw leaving their staircase. Her testimony helps convict him. But 10 years later, Hannah is approached by a reporter who is convinced of the now deceased Neville’s innocence. Hannah begins her own investigation and uncovers some truths about her college friends that change everything. I do love Ruth Ware’s novels. She usually manages to get one over on me with a twist near the end. And this one was no different! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover (327 pages). Five years ago,Kenna went to jail when she caused an accident that took her boyfriend Scotty’s life. Now that she is out, she wants the one thing she was forced to give up- their daughter. But Diem has never met her mother. And Scotty’s best friend Ledger doesn’t seem too eager for Kenna to have a relationship with her daughter. But there’s no denying the attraction between Kenna and Ledger. Can forgiveness ever truly be granted? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Can Kenna ever forgive herself? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was a very sweet story. But honestly, just a slightly different version of the first Colleen Hoover novel I read. I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Hooked by A.C. Wise (330 pages). Decades ago, James is just a merchant sailor who’s ship disappears. When it reappears, he is in Neverland. And Peter Pan decides he must be a pirate. So Captain Hook is born, out of the dark imagination that is Pan. And because Neverland is Pan’s, Hook can never truly die. But he finally finds a way to escape Neverland. But once you are there, you can never be free. And the dark monster of Pan follows him to London 22 years after his escape. When he reunites with grown Wendy Darling and her daughter Jane, Hook realizes he must return to Neverland and become a villain one last time for them all to be able to escape Pan’s darkness. I really didn’t like this one very much. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Pumpkin by Julie Murphy (326 pages). The third and final book in the Dumplin’ series. This one focuses on Waylon Brewer, a slightly flamboyant gay senior at Clover City High School. Waylon is so ready to escape their small town with his twin sister Clementine and go Full Waylon. But when his sister announces her plans have changed, Waylon decides to make an audition tape for his favorite TV drag show. When the tape gets out, Waylon learns that he’s been nominated for prom Queen. Seeing as his sister’s girlfriend was nominated for prom king, the two of them decide to go all in. And Waylon begins to realize that maybe his small town isn’t the horrible place he thought it was. And maybe the small town people aren’t as horrible as he thought either. We got to see old friends again- Willowdean and Ellen. Millie. Drag Queen Lee. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Meant to Be by Emily Giffin (350 pages). John F Kennedy Jr, I mean Joseph Kingsley III, is American royalty. Between war heroism and politics, there’s nothing about this family that isn’t golden. Not that they are tragedy proof- Joe’s father was killed in an accident when he was very young. But Joe isn’t like the rest of his family. And when he meets model Carolyn Bessette, I mean Catherine Cooper, it’s game over. Cate is as far opposite of Joe as one could be- grew up middle class with an oppressed mother and an abusive stepfather. She was able to escape that by becoming a model and eventually working for a designer. When she and Joe finally get together, they realize they are everything the other has ever needed. It was a fictionalized version of JFK Jr and Carolyn’s love story. Total chick lit. And I loved it. I also promptly did my own research to look up the differences in the novel and in life. Let’s just say that Cate and Carolyn, other than both working in the fashion world and both being uncomfortable with the paparazzi, had very little in common. Joe and JFK Jr, on the other hand, were frighteningly similar. The best part about the novel is that it doesn’t end in tragedy, but rather in the what might have been. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">In Her Boots by KJ Dell’Antonia (357 pages). Rhett Smith is back in the States, freshly off of a breakup and the loss of her beloved grandmother. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She returns home to Pioneer Hill Farm, ready to hang up her traveling shoes for work boots at the farm. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The wild success of her book, The Modern Pioneer Girl’s Guide to Life, allows her a little more financial freedom that she’s ever had. But her intense hatred of the limelight causes her to thrust her best friend Jasmine into a tv interview and unwittingly force her to become the face of the MPG. While Rhett struggles against her old self and the new MPG she has become, she also struggles with how to take over the Farm and make it a success. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (368 pages). This is the sequel to The Family Upstairs. That novel was amazing. But I didn’t remember all of the details. But it told of the horrible 6 years that the Lamb children spent in their own home while their parents allowed a con man to rule their lives. This was the story of those children as adults. When a mudlarker on the Thames finds a bag of bones, an investigation begins that brings everything full circle. The crimes that occurred against the Lamb children, the death of Birdie, the disappearance of the Thomsen children. All of it. It was really good. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..The It Girl. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-90400515198764925152022-08-31T17:21:00.003-07:002022-08-31T17:21:53.622-07:00This month was not a particularly August month of reading<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month was not super impressive, as far as the number of books read. But honestly, of the 7 books read, there was only one that I really didn’t like at all. And thank goodness it was the first one of the month so the month only improved!</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">It was a total of 2,244 pages and an average of 72 pages per day. So let’s get to it.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal (310 pages). Sisters Rajni, Jezmeen and Shirina have never been particularly close. And that distance has only worsened as they have gotten older. But when their beloved mother dies and requests that the three of them make a week-long pilgrimage to India for her, they comply. During the journey, they realize that each of them have been keeping secrets. Secrets that, once shared, will open them up to a closeness they never realized was missing. I finished in 6 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale by Karen Schaler (335 pages). This was my holiday Once Upon a Book Club box (that yes, I am just getting around the reading). Kaylie Karlyle is an investigative journalist in NYC and loves every minute of it. But when the station she works for gets sold, she finds herself jobless at Christmas time. But her boss sends her on a special assignment- to visit the royal family of Tolvania and learn about their Christmas traditions. Little did Kaylie know that she would be meeting an amazing queen, a handsome prince (the queen’s son) and an adorable princess (the queen’s granddaughter) all while experiencing the magic of Christmas- a magic that she had lost along the way. It was an absolutely adorable read- it totally got me in the Christmas spirit (a few months early). And the gifts were super cute as well! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (306 pages). In 15 year old Will’s world, there are three rules to live by. Never cry. Never snitch. Always get revenge. So when his older brother Shawn is shot, Will thinks he knows who the responsible party is. So he grabs Shawn’s gun and gets on the elevator. But the 60 second ride from the 8th floor to the lobby can be long. Especially when you aren’t the only person in the elevator. This book of poetry (or rather verse) was not what I expected. But it was very very interesting. I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Rush by Lisa Patton (405 pages). In honor of #rushtok, this book was a must-purchase and an almost immediate must-read. The Alpha Delta Beta house at Ole Miss is one of the most highly sought after sororities on campus. Wilda Woodcock is the newest member of the Rush advisory board, with daughter Ellie going through Rush. She was asked to join by fellow Alpha Delt alum (and House Corp President) Lilith Whitmore. After Lilith asked for their daughters to be roommates. The girls’ next door neighbor Cali also seems like Alpha Delt material. Except for one small problem- she lacks pedigree and has a big family secret that could spoil everything. Miss Pearl is the beloved Alpha Delt housekeeper of over 20 years. When an opportunity for promotion comes her way, Pearl decides it’s the perfect fit. But when Lilith tries to stop the promotion, the girls realize that it is up to them to create a house they are proud of. I really liked this book. It wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be- it was better! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson (328 pages, including historical notes). This is the sequel to The Boom Woman of Troublesome Creek. It’s 1953 in Kentucky and Honey Lovett is the adopted daughter of Cussy Mary and Jackson Lovett (main character of the first novel). She’s 16 years old and used to hiding from the law (her parents’ interracial marriage between a white man and a blue-skinned woman made them criminals). But when her parents are imprisoned, Honey quickly learns who she can trust and how to make it on her own. So taking up her mother’s old Pack Horse library route seems like the perfect fit. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Fake It Til You Bake It by Jamie Wesley (321 pages). Yes, I’ve been sitting on several Once Upon a Book Club boxes. This is the one from June that I’m finally getting around to. So gifties on social (as always). Jada Townsend-Matthews is at a crossroads. She’s the most hated woman on the internet, thanks to turning down a proposal on a dating show. Donovan Dell is a successful professional football player and a semi-professional cupcake store owner. When their worlds collide and Jada is forced to take a job at Sugar Blitz, a reporter sniffs out a story. And a fake relationship is born. In typical rom-com/chick lit fashion, a fake relationship usually doesn’t stay fake for long. It was cute. And the gifts were great! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It also made me really want to bake the cupcake recipe that was included in the box. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">In Another Light by AJ Banner (239 pages). You are supposed to be a widow at 40. But that’s exactly what happened to mortuary cosmetologist Phoebe Glassman 3 years ago. But one day, the very anniversary of her husband’s tragic accident, a body of a younger woman shows up at the mortuary. And this woman, Pauline Steele, looks exactly like Phoebe with a tattoo that Phoebe has seen before. But what really peaks Phoebe’s interest is a picture she finds in Pauline’s effects- a faded photo of Phoebe. As Phoebe investigates Pauline’s death, she learns of their shared past. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..Rush. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-22937859971873743142022-07-31T14:52:00.004-07:002022-07-31T14:52:22.757-07:00I only read 6 books this month? July-ing!<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month was kind of a slow month. I only read 6 books. It was a total of 1,974 pages. Which makes for an average of 64 pages per day.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">I’ve definitely had better months of reading (but I’ve also had way worse). So here goes!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James (341 pages). This was another Once Upon a Book Club book, so gifties are on social. But back to the book itself. The small town of Claire Lake, Oregon, is seemingly peaceful. But nothing is as it seems. In 1977, the Lady Killer murders rocked the town- two men were gunned down. And poor little rich girl Beth Greer seemed like the only suspect. After her acquittal, she retreated into her mansion. In 2007, a child rapist and murderer terrorized the town. And in 2017, part time true crime blogger Shea Collins lands the interview of a lifetime with Beth Greer. After a childhood “incident”, Shea herself lives a sheltered life. And as her involvement with Beth deepens, she begins to wonder what darkness lies in Beth’s home. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff (296 pages). 5 students at Baird College decided to stay on campus during Thanksgiving break- Robin, Patrick, Lisa, Cain and Martin. As they spend the weekend slowly getting to know each other, they also realize that there is a presence in their residence hall. And when the rest of the student body returns from break, the 5 of them realize that this presence isn’t a friendly ghost. And they need to send this evil spirit back to the abyss before it inflicts any more damage to their college or the other students. It was like Breakfast Club meets Poltergeist with a little Jewish religious folklore. And I loved it! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I totally see why it was a Bram Stoker Award nominee. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Remember Me by Mario Escobar (357 pages). Back to historical fiction for this girl. From 1936 to 1939, the Spanish Civil War raged. I actually didn’t really understand what they were fighting about for a very long time. It wasn’t like the American Civil War. This was the communists vs the fascists (had to google the difference on those). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>13 year old Marco Alcade and his two younger sisters are sent, by their parents, to Mexico to escape the ravages of war. Along with nearly 500 other children, the Alcades faced a very different reality upon reaching Morelia. And most of these children never saw their parents again. I finished in 5 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Confess by Colleen Hoover (306 pages). At 15, Auburn Reed experienced a life changing grief. Nearly 6 years later, she accepts a temporary job at an art gallery. An art gallery where the artist Owen Gentry specializes in artwork inspired by anonymous confessions. Their connection is immediate. But both of them have confessions that could change everything if they let them out. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel (337 pages). From age 11 to 19, Val and Lilly are absolute best friends and pen pals, sharing letters and recipes when they are apart. But one moment of betrayal lead to 27 years of silence. Can letters (or rather emails) and recipes help these two lifelong friends find their way back to each other? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Darling Girl by Liz Michalski (337 pages). This was a Once Upon a Book Club book. The gifts were super cute. Holly Darling is the granddaughter of Wendy Darling (yes, that Wendy). The owner of a successful cosmetics company, Holly seems perfectly happy and successful, despite many family tragedies. But then she gets a phone call that her daughter Eden (who has been in a coma for over a decade) has vanished. Holly knows that there is only one culprit- Peter Pan. Because Holly knows the truth- Peter is not the hero the stories made him out to be. So Holly hires Christopher Cooke, a private detective, to help her track down her daughter. And the man the world will always view as the boy who never grows up. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..Darling Girl. I guess. I didn’t really have an absolute favorite this month. </span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-42527876342379248222022-06-30T12:48:00.001-07:002022-06-30T12:48:46.651-07:00I was over the June with this month's readings<p>I feel like I slacked off a little bit this month. I only read 8 books with a total of 2,776 pages. That's an average of 92.5 pages a day. Which is a little low for me. Not embarrassingly low, but worse than last month for sure! But let's get on with the reviews.</p><p></p><p><i>The One and Only</i> by Emily Giffin (413 pages). Shea Rigsby is 33 years old. And has never left her hometown of Walker, Texas. A town where football is king and her best friend's father, Coach Carr, is a god (and the winning-est college football coach in Texas). Shea willingly worships at the altar of football (and Coach Carr). But when tragedy strikes the Carr family, Shea begins to wonder if she is truly happy with the life choices she has made. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it either. There were just some portions of the story line that didn't sit right with me. I finished in 3 days.</p><p><i>The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency</i> by Alexander McCall Smith (235 pages). Mma Precious Ramotswe owns the only female private detective agency in all of Botswana. She loves helping people and this is th best way she can. Her cases are actually interesting- a con man, a missing husband, a wayward daught4er, a missing eleven year old. The book was fine. But something seemed a little off to me in my enjoyment of it. And when I read other people's reviews, it made sense. A lot of people stated that it was a little odd to have a middle aged white man (albeit one who was born in Zimbabwe) write a book about a Botswana woman. I finished in 3 days.</p><p><i>The Summer House in Santorini</i> by Samantha Parks (294 pages). Anna isn't really happy with her life- her boss/boyfriend is less than satisfactory, as is her job at his NY gallery. So when she learns that she and her sister have inherited their estranged father's summer house on Santorini, she decides it's the perfect time to leave NY and fix up the house for sale. Little did she know that this island would help her find her roots, her passion and herself (along with a little side of true love). It was cute-a perfect beach read. I finished in 3 days.</p><p><i>Beasts of Prey </i>by Ayana Gray (480 pages). In the village of Lkossa, Koffi and her mother are indentured servants of the Night Zoo, where all sorts of dangerous creatures are kept. Ekon is attempting to follow in his father and brother's footsteps and join the Sons of the Six, the warriors who protect their village. When Koffi and Ekon are able to escape what seems like their destiny, they find themselves in the jungle, hunting the deadly Shetani. Woven throughout is the story of Adiah, a powerful daraja who is learning to use the splendor (aka magic). I would characterize this genre as Pan-African magical realism (which isn't a thing but should be). I only found myself invested in the story (and how the characters were connected) in the last hundred pages or so. I finished in 4 days.</p><p><i>The Love Hypothesis</i> by Ali Hazelwood (354 pages). This is a Once Upon a Book Club box that I've been very behind on reading. Olive Smith is a third year Ph.D. candidate in the biology department at Stanford. She is almost always analytical. And when she realizes that her best friend Ahn will not go out with her ex Jeremy (even though they both like each other), Olive decides that she needs to convince Ahn that she is over Jeremy. So she kisses the first man she sees- Dr. Adam Carlsen, well known ass and professor. They realize that a fake relationship will actually be beneficial to both of them. But what happens when the hypothetical becomes reality? Super cute chick lit and easy read! I finished in 3 days.</p><p><i>Where Are the Children?</i> by Mary Higgins Clark (288 pages). Seven years ago, Nancy Harmon fled from California to Cape Cod, changing her name and appearance. She left behind a murder trial where she was charged with the death of her two young children. When the conviction was overturned and the main witness against her disappeared, Nancy knew it was her opportunity to start over. Now happily married with two young children, Nancy has finally started to heal. Until the morning of her 32nd birthday,. When a newspaper article exposes her true identity. And her children disappear. I went through a big MHC phase in high school but couldn't remember if I'd ever read this one. So I decided to give it a go. It was good! And turns out I think I DID read it. But I feel like a 28 year gap in between readings in enough to constitute it being a new(ish) read. I finished in 2 days.</p><p><i>Eleanor and Park</i> by Rainbow Rowell (325 pages). Omaha, 1986. 16 year old new girl Eleanor (who is anything but unnoticeable) gets on the bus for the first time. The only seat available is next to 16 year old Park (who prefers to be invisible). At first, they barely acknowledge each other's existence. But over the exchange of comic books and mixed taps, these two social misfits discover the enormity of first love. It's sweet but also heavy. First love is always sweet, but never for forever. As these two soon learn. I finished in 5 days.</p><p><i>The Wish</i> by Nicholas Sparks (387 pages). Travel photographer Maggie Dawes is 39 years old. She and her business partner hire a new employee at their gallery, a 22 year old named Mark. As Maggie faces a heart wrenching diagnosis, she begins to tell her story to Mark. A story that really began when she was sent at 16 years old to live with her aunt on Ocracoke for a few months and met Bryce. The young man who taught her to love- him, herself and photography. Totally standard heartbreaking Sparks material- illness, lost love, etc. And even though I fully anticipated my tears, I still found myself heartbroken for the characters. I finished in 4 days.</p><p>This month's favorite was .... <i>The Wish</i>.<br /></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-18200078011581990842022-05-31T12:18:00.000-07:002022-05-31T12:18:03.855-07:00I MAY have gotten a lot of reading done this month<p>Despite the fact that May was an insanely busy month for me (hello getting married), I still managed to get a lot of reading done (hello honeymoon). It was 10 books and a total of 3,700 pages. Which averaged 119 pages a day. So let's get to it.</p><p><i>How Jesus Became God</i> by Bart D Ehrman (371 pages). This was a theological study by an agnostic Bible historian who attended Wheaton College. Yes, that's an oxymoron for me as well. I found it interesting and thought-provoking. But never once did I question my own faith and beliefs. Basically he went into great historical and theological debate on why Jesus was merely a man who was elevated to go-like status by his followers. Honestly, he made some interesting observations. But I was truly just sad for him. I finished in 5 days.</p><p><i>The Last Thing He Told Me</i> by Laura Dave (303 pages). Hannah is madly in love with her husband of one year, Owen. His 16 year old daughter? Well, let's just say that Bailey isn't Hannah's biggest fan. But when a child shows up with a note from Owen that simply says "protect her," Hannah knows who he is talking about but doesn't know why. Until the news breaks that the company Owen worked for was involved in a huge Ponzi scheme. As the US Marshals and the FBI begin to show up on their doorstep, Hannah and Bailey go on a quest to learn the truth about the man they both love. I finished in 2 days.</p><p><i>The Paris Library </i>by Janet Skeslien Charles (351 pages). Ah, historical fiction. My favorite! In 1920, the American Library was founded in Paris-the largest English language lending library in mainland Europe. In 1937, Dorothy Reeder was named directoress. And Dorothy Redder was a real life hero. the novel begins in 1939 when Odile gets a job at the American Library. Unfortunately, her dream life becomes a nightmare when the Nazis march into Paris. But under the leadership of Directoress Reeder, the librarians band together to save their beloved library and its books. In 1983, in a small town in Montana, teenager Lily is lost after the death of her mother. Until she begins to befriend her next door neighbor. And as the neighbor's past comes to light, Lily learns much about life. I finished in 4 days.</p><p><i>You Love Me</i> by Caroline Kepnes (385 pages). Book 3 in the series (which is so different than the Netflix series at this point). Unlike the Netflix version, in this one, Love is alive. And the Quinn family paid Joe off to relinquish custody of his son. So Joe moves to Bainbridge Island. And promptly falls in obsession with Mary Kay, the head librarian at his new job. Joe swears to himself that he will be a different man this time. And everything seems different with Mary Kay. Until it isn't. When your past comes back to find you, do you really have any hope for a future? I finished in 2 days.</p><p><i>Then She Was Gone</i> by Lisa Jewell (356 pages). 10 years ago, 15 year old Ellie Mack disappeared without a trace. Teen-agers might be prone to something like that but not Ellie. Her life is perfect. Her mother, Laurel, is still reeling from her loss all these years later when she meets a perfect man. And when she meets his daughters, 9 year old Poppy takes her breath away. Because she looks just like Ellie. Now Laurel begins to wonder again what happened to her daughter. And the truth is more bizarre than anyone could have imagined. I finished in 2 days.</p><p><i>The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba</i> by Chanel Cleeton (367 pages). Another historical fiction (because you know it's my jam). In 1896, New York is in the midst of a newspaper war between Hearst and Pulitzer (and now the Newsies soundtrack is running through my mind). Reporter Grace Harrington gets a job with Hearst's Journal. Meanwhile, Cuba is in the midst of its own revolutionary war. Evangelina Cisneros is the daughter of a revolutionary, unjustly imprisoned. But when the Journal learns of her plight, she becomes The Most Beautiful Woman in Cuba and a rallying cry for America to help the Cubans fight for their independence. Despite her spectacular escape of New York, it takes the explosion of the USS Maine for America to declare war on Spain. Meanwhile, Marina Perez, wife of a Cuban rebel, does her part as a courier, delivering messages all over Havana. These three women (two of them fictional, one historical) show the bravery of all of the women involved in the revolution. I finished in 2 days.</p><p><i>Ready Player Two</i> by Ernest Cline (366 pages). Obviously, the sequel to Ready Player One. Wade and his friends are now the owners of Halliday's technology. And when Wade (as the heir) discovers a new technology Halliday created that will make the OASIS even more amazing, he and his friends decide to share it with the world. But unfortunately, there are still quests and secrets hidden within the OASIS. And the friends must go on one last quest. This time to save humanity. I finished in 1 day.</p><p><i>After All</i> by Heidi McLaughlin (318 pages). It's been 15 years since Brooklyn Hewitt set foot in Cape Harbor. But when she gets a call from Carly woods, her would have been mother in law and 14 year old daughter Brystol's grandmother to help her reopen the Driftwood Inn, Brooklyn knows she needs to go home. Even though it means confronting the ghosts of her past- Austin, her child's father who was tragically lost at sea. And Howie, his best friend. With whom she spent one night- the very night they both lost Austin. Reuniting to rebuild the Driftwood forces them to face the past. And contemplate their futures. I finished in 1 day.</p><p><i>The Secret History</i> by Donna Tartt (559 pages). After one miserable year at a college near home in California, Richard transfers to the idyllic Hampden College in New England. He immediately becomes fascinated by Professor Marrow and his elite Greek students- Henry, Francis, Bunny and twins Charles and Camilla. The students and professor are almost cult like in their devotion to their studies and to each other. As Richard becomes one of them (or at least on the outer edges of the inner circle), an incident occurs that leads them to killing one of their own. And to the subsequent dissolution of this once intertwined group. I finished in 7 days.</p><p><i>Ruby Red</i> by Kerstin Gier (324 pages). For centuries, the women of the Montrose family and the men of the De Villiers family have been a part of the Lodge, a group of time travelers and their associates. One day, 16 year old Gwen (who was assumed to be missing the time traveling gene) leaps into the past. She is quickly brought up to speed on what she can expect (well, halfway up to speed). She meets her time-traveling counterpart, Gideon. And once she learns what their mission is, she is ready to accompany him into the past. I finished in 4 days.</p><p>This month's favorite was...…a tie between <i>The Paris Library</i> and <i>Then She Was Gone</i>. Totally different genres, but both equally enthralling. </p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-47102140647030725192022-04-30T08:25:00.001-07:002022-04-30T08:25:48.761-07:00April- what a glorious month of reading it was<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">I got into a good reading groove this month. I finished 11 books. It was a total of 3,416 pages. So an average of 114 pages a day. This month was historical fiction heavy (which is always a good thing for this girl) at 4 of the 11. So let’s get to it.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton (388 pages). As I have said before, I do not like Ernest Hemingway, the author. But I find Ernest Hemingway, the person, to be absolutely fascinating. This was historical fiction about Hem meeting his third wife, Martha Gellhorn. I knew the story of wife number 1, Haley, after reading The Paris Wife. And a little bit about wife number 2, Pauline, after The Paris Wife and Hemingway’s Girl. I did not know much about wife number 3, Martha, other than she was a journalist. Turns out she was actually a freaking top war correspondent! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She and Hem covered the Spanish civil war together, which is how/when they fell in love. Their relationship, like all of his relationships, was volatile. I think she was the wife who was the least capable of being Mrs Ernest Hemingway. She was career driven and she was headstrong. She did not appreciate merely being a wife- she wanted to be her own person. Now to find a book about wife number 4, Mary. The only one I know absolutely nothing about, but the one he was married to when he committed suicide. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander aka JK Rowling (88 pages plus about 20 pages of intro). I think I was expecting to find the plot of the movie. Instead, it was literally a glossary of magical beasts, what level of threat they are, and what their characteristics are. The intro gave background of why Newt wrote this book. It was a super easy read. I finished in 1 day. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Geostorm: The Shift by Bobby Akart (244 pages). I 100% thought this was the book on which the movie of the same name was based. Nope. The movie was released in 2017 and the book was published in 2019. And they are two totally different stories. Weather Channel reporter Chapman Boone and his zoologist sister Kristi are both experts in their fields. But nothing can prepare either of them for what is happening to our planet. Spanning the globe from Seattle to Paris (and many places in between), Chapman and Kristi watch in horror and the weather and the animals begin to change. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe (316 pages). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In 1910, Madeleine Force is just 17 years old when she meets 46 year old divorce John Jacob Aster, one of the wealthiest men in America. After a little over a year of courtship, they wed, much to society’s shock. And Madeleine quickly became a focus of the newspapers. Jack decided that the best course of action would be an extended honeymoon to Egypt and Europe. When Madeleine realizes that she is pregnant, they decide to return home so that the baby can be born in America. So they book passage on Titanic. Madeline was one of the souls who survived. Madeline and her unborn child. She returned home to begin a new life as a young widow and mother. The only thing I knew about Madeline Astor prior to this book was that Rose Dewitt Bukater commented that Madeleine was her age, in a delicate condition and that it was quite the scandal. This book sheds so much more light on the story. Jack and Madeline were truly in love and their story was heartbreaking. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Three Sisters by Heather Morris (397 pages). In 1929 Slovakia, sisters 9 year old Cibi, 5 year old Magda and 3 year old Livi Meller promise themselves and their father that they will always take care of each other. 13 years later, that promise is well and truly tested when Cibi and Livi are sent to Auschwitz in March of 1942. While Magda stays behind with their mother and grandfather (a brief hospital stay kept her safe), that safety will only last for so long. And after two and a half years, the sisters are reunited at Auschwitz-Birkenau. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When they are finally free in 1945, they are a little unsure of where to go and what to do in a home country that still hates them for being Jews. Magda and Livi have an idea of what might make them happy. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And it’s the idea of going to the Promised Land. Little did they know that Israel was truly the one place on earth that they could find healing and their happily ever afters. While Cibi passed away in 2015, Magda and Livi are still thriving in Israel. Because yes, this was a true story! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. It was also the third book in The Tattooist of Auschwitz series (Lale gave the girls their tattoos). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I have ordered the second because I didn’t realize it was a series. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Looking for Alaska by John Green (225 pages). Miles is fascinated by famous last words. And finds himself challenged by the idea of The Great Perhaps. So he heads off to boarding school. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Once there, he enters a whole new world and finds himself enthralled with the beautiful Alaska. For one hundred twenty eight days, his life finally starts opening up to the Great Perhaps. And then one moment, one decision, one day, changes everything. And for the next one hundred thirty six days, he must struggle to learn who he really is and what life has to offer him. I finished in 2 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (316 pages). In the 1870’s, the Osage Indians were driven from their land in Kansas to a rocky county in Oklahoma. That rocky land ended up being an actual oil field, with the Osage now being the richest people in the world. Despite having government appointed guardians (the Osage weren’t citizens after all), they still lived well on their headrights. In 1921, members of the tribe began being murdered. The newly created FBI, headed by J. Edgar Hoover, came in to solve these murders. An undercover team was created and one of the most shocking conspiracies ever was exposed. Turns out it wasn’t just one murderer. And it wasn’t just members of the same family. The Reign of Terror spanned roughly a decade, and hundreds of people all were killed. All. For. Their. Headrights. This time has had a lingering effect on the Osage people- the loss of family members, the loss of traditions, the loss of their inheritances. And I cannot believe it’s something I never learned about in school. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre by Robin Talley (448 pages). Junior Melody McIntyre knows exactly what she wants to do with her life- be a stage manager on Broadway. And as SM for all of her high school productions, she seems well on her way. Until the crew determines that all of the problems with any shows stem from Mel’s relationship dramas. So no more dating for Mel until after the spring musical. Seems an easy enough task- there’s no one on the audition list that Mel is even remotely interested in. Or is there? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When Mel falls hard, will it spell disaster for Les Mis? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Super easy, super cute YA read. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg (283 pages). Did you know there was a sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Neither did I! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The main focus of the book was Buddy Threadgoode Jr aka Stump from the first book. Just like Idgie wanted, the loss of his arm had no effect on Bud. He became a veterinarian. He married his high school sweetheart and had a daughter named Ruthie (after his mother). The stories were both familiar (repeats) and new. But the return of old characters made it feel like coming home. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (351 pages). Have you ever wondered about the rise and fall of a truly great band? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is the story of Daisy Jones and the Six, the greatest (fictional) band of the 1970’s. Brothers Billy and Graham Dunne started their band, originally named The Dunne Brothers but changed to The Six as they rounded out their sound. They were great on their own. Daisy Jones was the wild child It Girl of the LA Strip, wildly talented in her own right. But when Daisy met The Six, they made magic. At the center was the relationship between married father of 3, recovering addict Billy and chaos incarnate Daisy. What brought them together to create musical magic and what caused the band to fall apart at the height of fame. This book was amazing! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris (340 pages). This was the second in The Tattooist of Auschwitz series. Cilka was 16 years old when she and her older sister Magda were sent to Auschwitz. Cilka was beautiful and able to use that beauty to her advantage. At least when it came to surviving. She became friends with Lale (the tattooist) and his future wife Gita. But when the Nazis were defeated and the prisoners of the camps freed, Cilka’s imprisonment truly began. Accused of collaborating with the Nazis by being a prostitute and a spy, Cilka is sentenced to 15 years hard labor in a Siberian gulag. While at the gulag, Cilka finds a purpose in her life- she becomes a nurse. She also finds love, as fantastical as that may seem. It was a beautiful story of survival and love. Apparently the author was sued by Cilka’s stepson for defamation. I’m not sure he read the story, because nothing about her story would have made me ashamed- I would have been proud to have her as my stepmother. She did what she had to do to survive. And she did it with as much dignity and thoughtfulness as she could. I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..Daisy Jones and the Six. Namely because all of the historical fiction this month was top notch and I couldn’t pick a favorite amongst them!</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-41544835597442462322022-03-31T08:03:00.001-07:002022-03-31T08:03:54.022-07:00Marching through my bookshelves<p> This month was pretty average in regards to my reading. One book in particular was my Sisyphean task. And I blame it and it alone for my merely average list this month. But I digress. This month I read 8 books. A total of 2,575 pages. An average of 83 pages per day. So let's get into it.</p><p><i>Anne of Green Gables </i>by L.M. Montgomery (309 pages). I'm doing a reading challenge where one of the books is one you haven't read in over 3 years. <i>Anne</i> was (and always will be) one of my favorite book series of all time. I love all of her adventures. I love her growth. I love her quotes. If you don't know, it's the story of brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert who adopt young orphan Anne Shirley (when they really wanted a boy). But as fate would have it, they needed this delightful redhead more than she needed them. I finished in 3 days.</p><p><i>Elizabeth is Missing</i> by Emma Healey (301 pages). Maud is 82 years old and into early stages of dementia. But she is convinced that her best friend Elizabeth is missing. No one she tells seems to care. But as Maud continues to leave herself notes about Elizabeth's possible disappearance, she remembers her sister's disappearance shortly after WWII. I did not like this book at all. Honestly, it seemed like Maud had dementia at all times, whether it was her 82 year old self or her teen aged self. I spent most of the book just hoping it would end. I finished in 4 days.</p><p><i>The Royal We</i> by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (591 pages). American Rebecca Porter decided to do something without her twin Lacey for the first time in her life- she did an exchange program with her university of Cornell and Oxford. Little did she realize that classmate Nicholas Wales was the Prince Charming she would find. Quite literally, as Nick was the future King of England. While Bex dealt with being both an American and a commoner in love with the future King, their relationship ebbed and flowed. But this was beachy chick lit at its best. So nothing can keep true love apart. Right? Honestly, Bex was a little bit Kate Middleton and a little bit Meghan Markle. The fact that this book was published a year before Harry and Meghan began dating is shocking. It seemed like a fictionalized version of their lives in a lot of ways. Only I liked Bex and Nick and Nick's redheaded younger brother Freddie way more than I like Harry and Meghan. I finished in 6 days.</p><p><i>The Ballerinas</i> by Rachel Kapelke-Dale (288 pages). Delphine, Margaux and Lindsay met as teen aged students at the Paris Opera Ballet. After 10 years of being inseparable, one split second decision tore them apart and sent Delphine to St Petersburg for a new career. But after 13 years away, Delphine returns to Paris to choreograph for the Ballet. And must face the friends she left behind. The novel goes back and forth between the past and the present. I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either. I finished in 2 days.</p><p><i>The Beet Queen</i> by Louise Erdrich (338 pages). In 1932, 14 year old Karl Adare and his 11 year old sister Mary hop a freight train to find their aunt and uncle in Argus, North Dakota, after their mother abandons them. Mary stays with their family, while Karl hops back on the train. Over the next 40 years, the novel covers their lives. Mary grows up to be perfectly sturdy and seemingly ordinary, while Karl ends up scattered and loses himself on a regular basis. Their beautiful cousin Sita plays a large role in Mary's life, as does Sita's former (and now Mary's) best friend, half Native American Celestine. As soon as I realized I'd read another book by this same author, I understood why I didn't like this book at all. Every chapter had a postscript chapter. And honestly, most of them left me wondering what I had just read. I finished in 4 days.</p><p><i>We Have Always Lived in the Castle </i>by Shirley Jackson (151 pages). Mary Katherine, her sister Constance and their Uncle Julian are the only remaining members of the once large and proud Blackwood family. Merricat's weekly trips to the village are the only contact the family has with the outside world after Constance was tried and found innocent of killing the family with arsenic four years prior. They are happy in their self-imposed solitude. Until one day, their unsavory Cousin Charles arrives on their doorstep. Merricat does not appreciate his presence. And suspects he has ulterior motions. But when tragedy strikes, the true feelings of the village come out. And Merricat and Constance are forced to reevaluate their solitude and routine. Shirley Jackson is such an amazing and frequently overlooked author. I finished in 2 days.</p><p><i>The Great Controversy</i> by Ellen G. White (456 pages). I did not purchase this book. After googling it, I'm pretty sure it arrived in the mail one day, completely unsolicited. And, in an effort to clear off my shelves, I read it. It was published in 1858 and it shows. The author was one of the co-founders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and it shows. It was literally one of the worst books I've ever read. I only finished it because I started it. I finished in 9 days.</p><p><i>Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde</i> by Robert Louis Stevenson (141 pages, which included 56 pages of introductory essays and an afterword). I think everyone knows the story of Jekyll and Hyde- the easygoing doctor who drinks a potion that turns him into a criminal. What I found most intriguing was that every time Jekyll and Hyde are referenced in movies, Jekyll is always scrawny and Hyde is big and muscular. In the novel, Jekyll is larger and older, while Hyde is much smaller and younger. Just an observation. I also found it odd that in movies, when Hyde is killed, he reverts to Jekyll's form. That does not happen in the book. All preconceptions from movies aside, I enjoyed this book. I finished in 2 days.</p><p>This month's favorite was.....well, I decided it would be unfair to the other books to choose <i>Anne </i>(as she is more than a monthly favorite, she is a lifetime favorite). So I went for <i>We Have Always Lived in the Castle</i>.<br /></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354465191468794519.post-36084992133726036962022-03-01T04:16:00.001-08:002022-03-01T04:16:09.221-08:00February- short month, short list of books<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">So I fell a little story this month in average number of pages each day (that’s really how I judge if I’ve had a good month of reading). But I did finish a 1000 page book. So I still feel partial accomplished. This month was 5 books. A total of 2,699 pages. An average of 96 pages per day.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">IT by Stephen King (1153 pages). This book was good, but disturbing. IT has preyed on the small town of Derry, Maine, for centuries. Every 27 years or so, IT emerges from hibernation and preys on the children of the town. And for some reason, the town just simply doesn’t acknowledge it. But in the summer of 1958, the 7 members of the Losers Club manage to almost defeat IT. And vow that if IT returns, so will they. To finish the job. So in 1985, Mike (the lone member who remained in Derry and therefore remembered everything) calls the 6 other members to return. Until the moment of Mike’s phone call, none of them remembered each other or the events of 1958. But as they return and begin to remember, they are ready to face IT again. In any form IT takes. Not going to lie, the movies did an amazing job with this book. A few things were omitted (with good reason). But I normally always think the movie can’t match the book. This one did well! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 10 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (361 pages). Teacher Alex and travel writer Poppy met as freshmen at the University of Chicago. But they didn’t become friends until they carpooled home together for the summer. And they didn’t become best friends until they took their first Summer Trip the next year. But two years ago, the Summer Trip ended in the destruction of their friendship. Now, Poppy is desperate to find her happy again, a feeling she hasn’t felt since her falling out with Alex. When she suggests a trip and he takes her up on it, is it finally time for their friendship to be mended? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I finished in 3 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Book of Hidden Things by Francesco Dimitri (382 pages). For 17 years, Art, Fabio, Mauro and Tony have returned to their hometown for one day to reunite under a Pact they made as teenagers. But this year, Art didn’t show. And Art had always been the one who kept them together. The friends search for him and quickly learn that he had been dealing marijuana. In an area ruled by a mafia family who controlled all drug deals. But Art had been diving into deeper waters than a little drug dealing, as they find out when they find his Book of Hidden Things. This book was weird. It got a little too mystical for me. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams (368 pages). Just in case you need it. To Kill a Mockingbird. Rebecca. The Kite Runner. Life of Pi. Pride and Prejudice. Little Women. Beloved. A Suitable Boy. This list manages to change the lives of every person who finds it. But most especially Aleisha and Mukesh. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Aleisha is working at the library and living a difficult home life with a mentally unstable mother. Mukesh is a recent widower. And neither of them are readers. Until they find this list. The novel also mentioned several other people who comes across the list over a roughly 2 year period. And to be honest, that became my favorite part by the end. I finished in 4 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">The Godfather by Mario Puzo (435 pages). I’ve seen the movie (and loved it). I’d actually always heard that the movie might be better than the book. Which is sacrilege to a reader. But Puzo was involved in the screenwriting, so the movie was as good as the book! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s the story of the Corleone family, Don Vito and his 4 children, and the Mafia families in New York and around the country. It was really good. I finished in 7 days. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 25.5px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 19.7px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 19.73px;">This month’s favorite was…..People You Meet on Vacation. I do love chick lit!</span></p>janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025892165544978213noreply@blogger.com0