Summer reading indeed!

 I’ve started off the summer pretty strong. 9 books. 3,621 pages. An average of 121 pages per day. So let’s get to it!

The Lady Brewer of London by Karen Brooks (796 pages). In 1405, nineteen year old Anneke Sheldrake is left as the provider for her younger siblings (and their household servants) when her father dies at sea. Anneke decides that the only way to keep the family together is to become business woman and brew (and sell) ale from her mother’s old family recipes. She begins to have success, as her ale and beer are better than any others in England. But success creates enemies. And eventually a tragedy makes Anneke wonder if she’s made the right choice. She must flee to London for a fresh start. Upon befriending a brothel owner, Anneke finds her way. And decides that she will fulfill her destiny- as the greatest brewer in all of England!  I finished in 3 days.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeny (304 pages). The day Grady Green found out he was a New York Times best selling author should have been the happiest day of his life. But his wife Abby disappeared that day. A year later, there is still no trace of what happened to her. And Grady’s life is falling apart. His agent (and Abby’s godmother) sends him to the Isle of Amberly off the coast of Scotland. She inherited one of her client’s writing cabins and thinks it will help Grady. But Amberly is a strange place- an island of 25 residents and no contact with the outside world. And as time passes, Grady learns why he came to this island to write. I didn’t even read a preview of this book so I had no idea what I was getting into with it. And it was like nothing I’d read before. It was dark, it was twisty, it was unexpected, it was good. Still not 100% sure about the ending. But I enjoyed it. I finished in 1 day. 

So This is War by Meghan Quinn (440 pages). Smutty rom com for pool sitting!  Levi Posey is one of the stars of the Vancouver Agitators hockey team.  And he meets the girl of his dreams at a bar one night. But before he can learn her name, she runs off. A year later, he’s still thinking about her. So imagine his surprise when his coach asks him to teach his daughter Wylie a lesson about the real world by being his assistant. And Wylie is the girl from the bar!  As the weeks pass and his coach makes him demand menial tasks of Wylie, their mutual attraction is hard to deny. But she’s off limits. Until she isn’t. I finished in 4 days.

The Crash by Frieda McFadden (328 pages). Regan is 22 and 8 months pregnant from a one night stand. When the deal she was striking with the baby daddy falls apart, she decides to go visit her brother for advice. But a snow storm leads to a car accident. Tegan is lucky rescued by Hank. Who takes her home to his wife Polly. And this is where the craziness begins. Because Polly is a former nurse who struggles with infertility. And Tegan is an irresponsible young girl who can’t care for a baby. And Polly and Hank’s basement (where they cared for Polly’s mom) is a perfect  place to keep Tegan. Honestly, this wasn’t my favorite of McFadden’s books. I liked Tegan- she was, despite her injuries, quite feisty and loved her baby. But overall, I’ve read better from this author. I finished in 4 days.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence (302 pages). Lady Constance Chatterly loves her husband. But Sir Clifford returns from the Great War paralyzed from the waist down and so their marriage continues on as a partnership of agreeable minds. When the gamekeeper, a lower class man named Oliver Mellors, strikes her fancy, Constance begins an affair that reminds her that love is both a physical and a mental thing. This book was banned for profanity and obscenity. Oh, the sweet naiveté!  I’ve read far naughtier by Meghan Quinn and Emily McIntire! I finished in 3 days.

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall (364 pages). Every summer, best friends Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia spent all their time playing in the woods. Until the summer they were 11 and Naomi nearly died after being attacked. But the girls testified against a serial killer and he was convicted. Now, over two decades later, the secret of what really happened that day is threatening to be uncovered. There were a lot of twists in this one. I finished in 4 days.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (403 pages). Scarlett Dragna has wanted to experience Master Legend’s Caraval for as long as she can remember. The magic, the performances. When she receives tickets for herself and her sister Donatella to come to Legend’s island and experience it for themselves, she suddenly isn’t so sure. But Tella has convinced a sailor named Julian to help her get them off of their island home and take them to Legend’s island. When Tella is kidnapped to kick off the games, Scarlett realizes she must compete and win.  With Julian’s help, she searches for clues. But Caraval isn’t what it appears. There’s a lot more to Scarlett, Tella, Julian and Legend’s stories than meets the eye. I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it. It’s the first in a series and I doubt I’ll complete it. I finished in 2 days.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (331 pages). This was a special edition Once Upon a Book Club box. So gifties on social. Set in the 1930’s and modern day, Jacob is remembering his life as he waits for his family to pick him up from the retirement home for a day at the circus.  When Jacob was just 22, his parents died in a car accident and he left Cornell Veterinary School to join the circus. Literally. Uncle Al, the owner of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, is thrilled to have a show vet. Jacob is thrilled to have a purpose. He becomes friends with many of the performers and roustabouts. But his biggest connection is to Marlena, the ringmaster’s wife and the top performer of the show. When Uncle Al buys an elephant, Jacob forms another connection. As the economy (and Uncle Al’s shady business practices) wreak havoc on the circus, Jacob and Marlena try to decide if they can start anew. I loved this book when I read it nearly 2 decades ago. I loved it again. The movie could’ve been better but I still liked it. I finished in 3 days. 

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (353 pages). Another special edition Once Upon a Book Club box. Samantha is a social media marketing whiz. And a brand new cat mom when she meets veterinarian Xavier. Sparks immediately fly and they have an absolutely perfect first date. That ends with her telling him that she is moving home to California from Minnesota the day after their date. Her mother has dementia and the entire family has rallied together to keep her home. So while Sam’s mother is forgetting her, she hopes Xavier can as well. But true love doesn’t come along every day. And Sam and Xavier just can’t seem to forget each other. This one was a tearjerker for sure!  The idea of making memories and losing memories, all tied up into one beautiful love story. Because love stories aren’t just between husbands and wives, but parents and children, siblings, friends, people who help us find our path. I finished in 3 days.

This month’s favorite is……..Say You’ll Remember Me. 

I MAY have enjoyed a week of beach reading

 With a trip to the beach for a week and it being fully pool season, y’all knew your girl would get more read this month, right?  It was 10 books. 4,174 pages. An average of 135 pages a day. So let’s get to it!

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (522 pages). Why, oh why, did I pick up another weird book by Gaiman?  Shadow is about to be realized from prison when he learns that his wife has died in an accident. With nothing keeping him in Indiana, he takes a job with the enigmatic Mr Wednesday. As they travel all over America, Shadow learns the truth. America is a land of gods. The old gods who came to America with every soul who has come from another land and are slowly dying. And the new gods who are created all the time- technology, media, etc. And the gods must battle. Honestly, I didn’t like this book at all. And I will NEVER pick up another Gaiman book. Some people worship the religion of Gaiman- I find him to be not worth the hype. I finished in 4 days. 

Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes (435 pages). Samantha Kemp is having a hard time. Her boss is horrible, her husband is depressed and she feels like life is passing her by as she reaches middle age. Nisha Cantor is also having hard time. Her wealthy husband has decided he is done with their marriage and locks her out of their hotel penthouse with nothing, leaving her to figure out how to survive. An accidental mixup of gym bags one day means that Nisha has no clothes. And Sam now has a custom pair of red Louboutins. Turns out that walking a mile (or more) in someone else’s shoes can give you a second chance at life. Sam becomes more confident. Nisha becomes more self reliant. And both of them learn that life is easier to get through when you have friends by your side!  Super cute. I finished in 2 days. 

Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham (223 pages). If you have ever spoken to me for more than about 10 minutes, you know that Gilmore Girls is one of my all time favorite shows. I literally watch it every night to go to sleep. This was Lauren’s memoir. Honestly, I was in it for the Gilmore Girls stuff. Which did NOT disappoint. She and I agree that the final 4 words are really more of a cliffhanger than an ending. I teared up when she talked about Ed Hermann making his presence known on set during A Year in the Life. It wasn’t too deep. It was fun. It was cute. It was very Lorelai. I finished in 2 days. 

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes (291 pages). October 1994. North Carolinian Dara Willcox is in New York for a weekend trip. While at an art gallery, she meets British Austin Clarke. And sparks fly!  By the following May, at their engagement dinner, everyone is excited about the upcoming nuptials. Especially Dara’s mother Lee and grandmother Charlotte, both of whom are experts on marriage (heck, Charlotte even wrote a book about it!). But when news from home comes to Austin, the wedding is cancelled.  And Austin and Dara have to pick up the pieces of their destroyed lives. I finished in 3 days.

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman (434 pages). The sequel to Beartown. After everything that happened last spring, Beartown is falling. The hockey club is closing. And the residents are still reeling from the lies and truths that emerged. But it’s summertime now. And a different violence has come to Beartown. One that will again rock the town and end a life. But it’s always Beartown against everyone else. In hockey and in life. Especially against their rival town Hed. Y’all- this series!  It’s so beautifully written. I finished in 2 days.

The Winners by Fredrik Backman (670 pages). The third and final book in the Beartown series. It’s been 2 1/2 years since the scandal that tore through Beartown and Hed. But a truce finally exists. Or so they think. But underneath the surface lies the hatred of one boy. Hatred that will claim lives. But show Beartown and Hed that they can co-exist. Hockey will go on. And greatness will come out of this town. Y’all- again. I cried at this one. It was a beautiful ending to a series. Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. I finished in 2 days.

The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas (410 pages). Josie Moore, mayor of the small town of Green Oak, NC, spent most of her life not knowing who her father was. Turns out, he’s millionaire Andrew Underwood. And when that truth comes out, Josie becomes a PR nightmare for him. Because she has left four, yes four, men at the altar!  When her sister’s best friend Matthew shows up on her front porch in the middle of a misunderstanding with Andrew’s publicist, Josie states that he is her (fifth) fiancé. Matthew is willing to play along. But when a wedding date is set, it gets harder and harder to admit that this is a fake relationship. Honestly, I didn’t care for this one. And y’all know I love a good chick lit. At least there was no third act misunderstanding that caused a breakup. It was just kind of boring. And I didn’t find myself caring about the characters. I finished in 4 days. 

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (427 pages). It’s the winter of 1789 in Hallowell, Maine. A frozen body is pulled from the ice of the River and midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine the body. The body of Joshua Burgess. Martha knows he has been killed but the new doctor in town declares his death accidentally. But Joshua Burgess and Judge Joseph North have been accused of raping the minister’s wife. And Martha was a witness to the aftermath of the rape. As court hearings occur and more babies are born, Martha wants to learn the truth. I was fascinated to learn that this book was based on the real life diaries of Martha Ballard. A midwife who never lost a mother. The great-aunt of Clara Barton. And the great-great-grandmother of Mary Hobert, the first female physician in America (who amazingly enough specialized in obstetrics)! The author took liberties to make the story more whodunit. But I loved the story!  I finished in 3 days. 

Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon (395 pages). One of my favorite musicals is The King and I. Amazing songs, amazing sets, amazing cast. Anna Leonowens became a teacher for the court of King Mongkut of Siam in 1862. She was a widow and needed to provide for her children Avis and Louis. Avis was sent to England for school and Louis went with her to Bangkok. The musical either combined stories and characters or omitted them entirely. This book went into much more detail.  There were funny stories, heartbreaking stories, political stories, religious stories. Anna lived a very fascinating life for the five years she was in Siam. And had quite an effect on the Crown Prince Chulalongkorn- she introduced him to the life of Abraham Lincoln and inspired him to free the slaves of Siam when he became king.  All that to say, upon further study, Anna Leonowens was perhaps a little loose with the truth in her own diaries. Which were the inspiration for this book. Doesn’t make me love the story of The King and I any less!  Shall we dance indeed! I finished in 6 days. 

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand (367 pages). Hollis Shaw loves her life- she’s married to a handsome surgeon, she has a wonderful daughter in college and she has a successful food blog. But when her husband dies in a car accident and her daughter begins to distance herself, Hollis doesn’t know what to do. Until she reads about a widow who threw herself a five-star weekend- a girls weekend with a friend from childhood, from college, from prime of life and from middle-age. And she asks her daughter to be the videographer. But the weekend isn’t the perfect weekend she planned. But it is the perfect weekend. Secrets are revealed, grudges are forgiven. And each woman has a nice story. I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite is……..Fredrik Backman. I will not choose one over the other though. 

The beginning of pool season means the beginning of book season

Now that pool season has begun, I should get a lot more books read.  Evidenced by this month already.  Shall we get into it then?  11 books.  3,343 pages total.  An average of 111 1/2 pages per day.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (389 pages).  When they were 16, twins Desiree and Stella Vignes ran away from their small home town of Mallard, Louisiana.  A town where everyone was black, but none of them were dark-skinned.  14 years later, Desiree returns with a child.  A child she had with "the darkest man she could find."  Stella, on the other hand, went out into the white world and made a life for herself, getting married and also having a daughter.  Over the next 40 years, the twins' lives never intersect.  But their daughters' do.  Jude, Desiree's daughter who knows about her ethnicity, falls in love after she moves to California for college.  She eventually goes to medical school.  Kennedy, Stella's daughter who doesn't know she is black, is a struggling actress who travels everywhere trying to find herself.  I both liked and didn't like this one.  I love the idea of twins living such different lives, one embracing her black self with her daughter while the other spends her life passing and living a lie.  But the execution wasn't great- the story was a little all over the place for me.  I finished in 4 days.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (382 pages).  Haymitch's story!  It's the 50th Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell.  And this time, it's double the tributes from each district.  16 year old Haymitch Abernathy just wants this reaping to pass so he can care for his mother, younger brother and the love of his life, Lenore Dove Covey (yes, one of those Covey if you've read The Ballad of Songbirds and Serpents).  But he finds himself on his way to the Games, with a childhood friend, one of the meanest girls in town and the son of the odds-maker who bets on their deaths.  Haymitch will not let the Capital beat him, not without a fight.  So he makes use of his mentors, Mags and Wiress, and the advice of another mentor, Beetee.  Yes, characters we will see again in the 75th Games.  It's been 65 years since a long-forgotten tribute from District 12 has won (lucy Gray Baird).  But Haymitch has a lot to fight for and nothing left to lose.  Y'all- this one explained SO much about Haymitch.  I already liked him from the original series- yes, he was a grumpy alcoholic but gosh he was funny.  Now, I kind of love him.  And now that they have started announcing <chef's kiss> casting for the movie, I am so excited!  I finished in 3 days.

The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden (383 pages).  Millie is finally living her dream life.  She and Enzo have been married for over a decade and have two wonderful children, Ada and Nico.  And they have moved from their small apartment in the Bronx to a beautiful home on Long Island.  But dream lives aren't always perfect lives.  And Millie soon realizes that.  But when their neighbor is found murdered and Enzo is accused, Millie needs to learn the truth.  And fast!  Y'all- I love twists in books.  And I should expect them in the Housemaid series.  But I never can figure them out!  I finished in 3 days.

Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (390 pages).  On April 15, 4 debutantes are arrested.  9 months earlier, one of them, Sawyer, is offered a deal she cannot turn down.  Half a million dollars to give up 9 months of her life for debutante season.  The twist?  She'll be living with her grandmother, who kicked her mother out when she was pregnant.  As deb season gets underway, Sawyer quickly befriends her cousin Lily and Lily's best friend Sadie-Grace.  And as mysteries are uncovered, Sawyer learns who her father is, who can be trusted and that she isn't alone in the world.  I finished in 4 days.

 The Housemaid's Wedding by Freida McFadden (64 pages).  This was a little short story about Millie and Enzo's wedding day.  Technically, I should have read it BEFORE The Housemaid is Watching.  But I didn't know it existed!  It's Millie and Enzo's wedding.  Millie is pregnant.  And she wants everything to be perfect.  But when a threatening phone call starts her morning off on the wrong foot, everything seems to go wrong.  But Millie and Enzo are meant to be.  It was short.  It was sweet.  It was the perfect wedding day for these two!  I finished in less than an hour.

Deadly Little Scandals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (345 pages).  The second in the Debutante series.  On Labor Day, 2 girls are almost buried alive.  A few months earlier, on Memorial Day weekend (about a month after the first book), Sawyer Taft is still living with her grandmother.  She's learned who her father is (and a lot of other secrets along the way).  And she and her friends all get invited to join The White Gloves, a secret society.  One of the girls describes is as Junior League, by way of Skull and Bones.  Best.  Description.  Ever!  During the summer of initiation activities, the girls uncover a long buried secret that will rock all of their families.  As truths begin to come out, Sawyer finally learns that the family she'd been searching for is now by her side.  I finished in 3 days. 

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand (403 pages).  The Cousins family is thrown into an upheaval when Chess calls off her engagement to her picture perfect fiance just 4 months before the big day.  With absolutely no explanation other than she didn't love him enough.  When he dies a few weeks later in a freak rock climbing accident, Chess is beside herself.  So her mother Birdie, sister Tate and aunt India rally around her and head to the family summer home on Tuckernuck Island for a month.  An island off of Nantucket that doesn't even have electricity!  As the month goes on, each of the women come to terms with what has happened in their lives.  Birdie faces a first love after divorce that doesn't quite go the way she planned.  India must decide if opening her heart up again is a good idea, even though her husband committed suicide 15 years ago.  Tate learns that sometimes the crush of your childhood might be the love of your life.  And Chess learns that life doesn't have to be picture perfect to be perfect.  Honestly, it's a story where nothing really happens but SO much happens!  I finished in 2 days (hurray for the first pool day of the year!)

Dating Hamlet: Ophelia's Story by Lisa Fiedler (183 pages).  Hamlet.  But as a novel and from Ophelia's perspective.  In Ophelia's story, she and Hamlet are madly in love.  And when he learns of his uncle's treachery, together they hatch a plan of madness and murder.  But when Hamlet is sent to England to his death, Ophelia must go it alone to finish the job.  Through a very Romeo and Juliet trope, Ophelia fakes her own death.  With best friend Anne, her father the gravedigger and brother Laertes in on the plan, will Ophelia and Hamlet get the happily ever after that the play denied them?  Having exact lines from the play in the novel was perfection.  And such a great way to turn a classic play into a YA novel.  I finished in 2 days.

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander (318 pages).  When Jess loses her beloved grandmother and her librarian job in rapid succession, she decides she needs a change.  When she finds a little cottage in a small village, she realizes this place is the perfect spot to start her new life.  The oddest thing about the house?  It comes with a little red phone booth out front.  A phone booth that Jess turns into the smallest library in England with her grandmother's books.  As her grandmother's book work to revitalize the village and Jess begins to make friends with her new neighbors, she feels like she's finally found her place in the world.  I finished in 4 days.

Zero Days by Ruth Ware (354 pages).  In cybersecurity, a "zero-day" refers to a vulnerability in software or hardware that is unknown to the vendor or the public but has already been exploited by attackers.  This means that when the vulnerability is discovered, there are "zero-days" available to the vendor to develop a fix before attackers can fully utilize it.  Jack Cross and her husband Gabe Medway are the best in their field of penetration testing- Jack physically breaks in and Gabe does it through technology.  But when Jack returns home from a job to find Gabe murdered, the police begin to suspect her.  And Jack realizes that she has to find the real murderer.  And fast.  Turns out, Gabe had discovered a zero day.  And people were willing to kill him to keep it hidden.  I finished in 1 day (you guessed it, pool day).

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (132 pages).  Yes, Pippi.  The strongest girl in the world with her red pigtails sticking straight out and her freckles.  When Pippi moves into Villa Villekulla, next door to siblings Tommy and Annika, she brings with her adventures and stories and fun.  After all, what else can you expect from the daughter of a South Sea Island king and her monkey and her horse?  Each chapter focused on a different adventure- going to school, going to the circus, facing off against thieves.  Such a cute children's book!  As there is a Gilmore Girls episode that features the girls watching Pippi, I found myself singing the theme song nonstop.  But that's more of a me problem!  I finished in 1 day (actually during lunch).

This month's favorite is.....Sunrise on the Reaping.  I just love Hunger Games!  Although The Island was a very close second.

Spring has sprung (but not many books off my shelf)

 For a long month, I didn’t do a lot of reading. Only 6 books. 2,057 pages. An average of 66 pages per day. I think I read too many that were too good and way too many that were too bad. 

James by Percival Everett (303 pages). There are always 2 sides to every story. In the late 1800’s, we first met Huck Finn and read about his great adventure with Jim. Well, Jim had his own story in all of this. When Jim heard that he was going to be separated from his wife and child and sold, he decided to escape and eventually buy their freedom. But when he came across Huck, they joined forces. And their adventures on the Mississippi River began. Jim isn’t the slave you thought he was. He was educated and thoughtful. I’ve always been intrigued by hearing the other side of the story. And this one did not disappoint. I loved Jim’s connection to Huck, to his wife and child, and to other slaves who crossed his path. I finished in 3 days. 

Beartown by Fredrik Backman (415 pages). In Beartown, there is only one thing of any importance. And that is hockey. The town is dying, but finally, there have hope in their junior level hockey team. This team is going to win nationals and bring the promise of a hockey academy to town.  But an incident one night at a party changes everything. For the players. For the coaches. For the sponsors. For the whole town.  Y’all- I did NOT expect this book. I read portions of it to my husband. I laughed. I cried. I was seriously touched. Backmon is a phenomenal wordsmith. Painfully exquisite. Truly. I finished in 4 days. 

Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James (291 pages). Payton Kendall and JD Jameson are associates at a large Chicago law firm. They are both up for partner. They are both amazing lawyers. And they both can’t stand the other!  But when they are forced to team up to woo a new client, they realize that perhaps their hatred is misguided. And maybe they work better together than on opposing sides. It was cute and would’ve been perfect poolside. I finished in 2 days. 

The Wolf of Cape Fen by Juliana Brandt (288 pages). The inhabitants of Cape Fen live under a curse- they can never leave the town. And when the magical Baron Dire and his Wolf return at the first frost, the inhabitants know that bargains can be made. Sister Eliza and Winnie still miss their mother, who allegedly made a bargain to escape Cape Fen. But when the Wolf attacks Winnie, Eliza realizes that their mother’s bargain might not have been what she imagined. And Eliza will do anything to save her sister. Honestly, I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. The reviews were good. But I didn’t care for it. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it. I finished in 3 days. 

Girl Gone Viral by Arvin Ahmadi (402 pages). Picture a world where technology controls everything- drone delivery, driverless cars, VR life. Opal Hopper is a senior at a prestigious boarding school for science and technology. All she wants is to find out what happened to her father when he mysteriously disappeared years ago. She believes that a reclusive tech genius knows the answers and enters a contest to meet him. But she and her friends’ entry takes off in ways she never expected. I really couldn’t stand the book. It was boring. And confusing. And it had a lot of potential. I finished in 5 days. 

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (358 pages).  Pepper Evans and Jack Campbell are students at an elite school in New York. And both of them help out with the family business. Pepper’s family owns the wildly successful Big League Burger, a restaurant that is taking over the world. Jack’s family owns the local Girl Chessing deli, a NY institution. And when BLB steals a sandwich recipe, a Twitter war begins. With Pepper and Jack leading the charge. But behind the scenes, they have been talking for months on a secret app. With no idea that they are talking to each other. But they begin to connect in real life. And realize that they might have more in common than they thought. So cute!  I finished in 4 days.

This month’s favorite is……..Beartown. Without a doubt. 

The month of love-ing books!

 February is a short month. But I didn’t let that stop me. I read 7 books. A total of 2,442 pages. An average of 87 pages a day. So let’s get to it 

Romance Rules for Werewolves by Linsey Hall (272 pages). The third in the Charming Cove series. Isobel learns, after nearly a decade with her boyfriend, that he’s been cheating on her and basically taking advantage of her kindness. So when she learns that her grandmother has passed away and left her an ornery house in Charming Cove, she jumps at the chance to start her life over. And without a weak sorcerer of a boyfriend who kept her from using her magic. She makes friends with the coven. And Rafe, the lone werewolf who is living in the boat house. Isobel learns that Rafe has been cursed- he has no memory of his pack and they have no memory of him. So between fixing up her new house (which has a distinct personality) and recovering her power, Isobel vows to break the curse that has followed Rafe for 10 years. Y’all know I love some cute rom-coms. And having the other characters from the series appear as friends for Isobel was great. Super cute (possibly my favorite of the series!). I finished in 3 days. 

She Doesn’t Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke (321 pages). This was the Valentine’s Special Edition box from Once Upon a Book Club. So as always, gifties on social!  Best selling author Kate Valentine is a reluctant guest at the exclusive wedding of her editor and his wealthy fiancée. Reluctant because the groom is her ex-fiancé. But when the bride is poisoned and a guest ends up murdered, Kate puts on her sleuthing hat. After all, her best selling series features super sleuth Loretta. And the murder scene seems to be mimicking Kate’s latest book. So Kate and her biggest romantic regret Jake team up to find the murderer. Turns out Kate isn’t quite the sleuth that Loretta is. But as she begins to uncover clues, the truth begins to emerge. Honestly, not my favorite book from OUABC. Not my favorite gifts either. I finished in 3 days. 

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows (491 pages). I’ve always found Lady Jane Grey a bit of a fascinating character. Married at 16 to a total stranger so that when King Edward died, she could be catapulted onto the throne instead of Mary or Elizabeth. She reigned for 9 days before Mary staged a coup and took the throne. And with it, Lady Jane’s head. This book was literally the cutest reimagining. Instead of Protestants vs Catholics, it was Ethians (people who could shape shift into animal form) vs Verities.  It wasn’t even remotely factual (other than Jane’s marriage and brief reign). Instead, the authors created the ending that THEY would have loved. And I loved it too! I finished in 5 days.

The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen (394 pages). In 2017, Aurelia Leclaire has just inherited her grandmother’s apartment in Paris, an apartment she didn’t know existed. And in that apartment, she finds a veritable treasure trove of priceless art hidden in the walls. So she enlists the help of art expert Gabriel Seymour. In 1942, Estelle Allard lives a fabulous life in Paris. And when the Nazis take over, she decides that she can use her fabulous life to her advantage- by being part of the Resistance. Her path crosses with secret agent Sophie Seymour. Y’all know I love WWII historical fiction. And this one was great!  I finished in 4 days. 

The Dollhouse Academy by Margarita Montimore (306 pages). This was a special edition Once Upon a Book Club box. In 1998, one of the biggest stars in the world is 34 year old Ivy Gordon. She came from The Dollhouse Academy, the premiere star-making boarding school owned by Dahlen Entertainment. She’s been there what seems like her whole life and feels trapped in the TV role that made her a household name. 22 year old best friends Ramona Holloway and Grace Ludlow have long idolized Ivy and life at the Dollhouse Academy. And when they finally make it to the Dollhouse, they know their stars are starting to rise. But as Grace’s star skyrockets, Ramona struggles to find her footing. And they begin to learn that life is more sinister at the Dollhouse than they ever could have imagined. The book (and gifts) were great. Imagine a story about Fame, Stepford Wives and the movie The Substance. And then add in some crazy Hollywood conspiracy theories. I finished in 3 days. 

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (393 pages). In the early 1990’s, 19 year old college student Julia tells her friends she is going to head back to her dorm and leaves the bar. She is never seen again. And her family is shattered. Then 16 year old Lydia becomes a drug addict. 13 year old Claire becomes a people pleaser. And their parents divorce. After years of begging for answers, their father commits suicide. Fast forward 24 years. Lydia is now a mom and a small business owner who has gotten her life together. Claire is the coddled wife of a wealthy man. And the sisters are estranged. But when Claire’s husband Paul is stabbed to death in an alley right in front of her, Claire begins to learn some of the secrets her perfect husband had been hiding. This book was heavy and dark. Trigger warning- some truly brutal subjects are covered. But underneath it’s a story of resilience and family. I definitely needed some time after finishing it though. I finished in 4 days. 

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (265 pages plus 81 pages of notes and bibliography). This book was a look at the women who helped shape NASA. Black women who remained unknown, to a certain extent. I had seen the movies, so I had an idea of this story. The author went into much more detail (some of which was a little boring to be honest). But these women were inspirational. If you know nothing about them, do yourself a favor and google them. And watch the movie. Everyone should know about the human computers of Langley. I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite is……..My Lady Jane. It was creative. And I already love the story of Lady Jane Grey

Starting the year off right

After a slow year last year (I didn't read as many books as I'd planned), I decided to start the year out strong.  I read 8 books.  A total of 2,675 pages.  An average of 86 pages a day.  And let's face facts- I'm not going to get another book read today.  So let's get to it!

A Haunted History of Invisible Women by Leanna Renee Harper and Andres Janes (340 pages).  This was a compilation of stories about ghosts around the country.  Some of them I knew (Mary Surratt, the Winchester House), but most were completely unknown to me.  I really enjoyed the detail and research these two women did about the backstories of the ghosts.  It was a little dry at times, but overall pretty good stories.  Especially the one starring a ghost in Joan Rivers' apartment (yes, THAT Joan Rivers!).  I finished in 4 days.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig (321 pages).  This was the Up All Night special edition box from Once Upon a Book Club.  The box I look forward to the most because it's got the yearly 40 book challenge in it!  At 72, Grace Winters truly feels like her life is over.  She's a retired math teacher.  Her husband has passed away.  And she lost her son when he was only 11.  But out of the blue, she receives news that she has inherited a home from a former coworker, Christina.  A coworker she one time helped but then lost touch with.  So Grace goes to Ibiza to learn how Christina died and why she left Grace her home.  But what Grace finds is more than she bargained for.  Because the waters around Ibiza aren't just magical, they are mystical.  And they choose who they bless with their powers.  Haig might be the new king of magical realism.  Or maybe I'm just biased.  I finished in 3 days.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul (401 pages).  When famous white Hollywood icon Kitty Karr Tate passes away, she bequeaths her entire fortune (nearly a billion dollars of cash, real estate, etc) to the famous (and already wealthy) St John sisters.  Their father is a musician and their mother is an actress.  Elise and Giovanni are both actresses and Noele plans to become a lawyer (rebellious daughter).  But the St John sisters are black.  So why in the world would Kitty leave them her fortune?  The book told us Kitty's story- her rise to fame after she arrived in Hollywood from North Carolina in the 1950's.  And why she made her decision to leave her fortune to her neighbors.  I liked the premise.  I loved the stories.  I didn't love that it got a little political at the end though.  I finished in 5 days.

Arthur: The Dog who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home by Mikael Lindnord (274 pages).  Mikael is a Swedish adventure racer (no, I didn't know what that was before this book either).  But it's basically weirdos who travel to other countries and race as teams across various terrain (bike, running, canoeing, etc) on limited sleep and rest to see who can win.  Nope, doesn't sound like fun to me either.  But when a stray dog joins Mikael's team during a race in South America, Mikael is smitten.  Their relationship is amazing.  And Mikael vows that he will bring Arthur home to live with him in Sweden.  Y'all- this was the sweetest animal story ever.  And if you'd rather a movie, Marky Mark stars in Arthur the King (which is also a heartwarming Americanized version of Arthur and Mikael's story).  I finished in  3 days.

We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (398 pages).  In 1939 Europe, the Kurc family is as tight knit as possible, getting together for as many holidays as they can.  Parents Sol and Nechuma own a fabric store in Radom, Poland.  Their 31 year old son Gerek is a lawyer (although as a Jewish man, he's recently been demoted to legal assistant) and his wife Herta is ready to begin their family.  Their 29 year old daughter Mila is married to doctor Selim and is struggling with life as a new mother to 1 year old Felicia.  Their 25 year old son Addy is an engineer and composer in France who is the only child who is single and who doesn't live in Radom.  Their 23 year old son Jakob is in law school and a photographer who is in love with his longtime girlfriend Bella and ready for them to marry.  Their 22 year old daughter Halina is a medical assistant who is dating Adam, an architect.  But when the war breaks out, Sol and Nechuma are terrified- they lived through the Great War.  And as the war tears the family apart, sending them across the globe, they can only hope that they can find each other when the war is over.  The author is Addy's granddaughter.  So knowing that this is a true story is absolutely amazing.  Their hometown of Radom was home to 30,000 Jews at the beginning of the war.  300 survived.  This family was 12 of those survivors.  And now Sol and Nechuma's descendants number over 100.  I finished in 4 days.

Remedial Magic by Melissa Marr (322 pages).  Ellie is a librarian who loves her life.  Until a mysterious witch named Prospero shows up.  Ellie learns that she is actually a witch herself.  And that Crenshaw, the magical land where all witches live, is in danger.  And that all newly discovered witches must first attend remedial magic college.  But when Ellie arrives in Crenshaw with several other new witches, she learns that there is more to this land than she first thought.  And that there's more to Prospero than she could have ever imagined.  Honestly, I did not like this book at all.  I finished in 4 days.

If You Would Have Told Me by John Stamos (321 pages).  I was always a Full House girlie.  And Uncle Jesse was such a dream.  So reading a little more about his life was pretty cool.  He had some random connections throughout his life (the magazine editor who put him in Tiger Beat ended up married to the Night Stalker while he was in prison).  He had some highs and lows, both professionally and personally.  He has experienced losses (both of his parents, Bob Saget).  And now he's found joy in his marriage to his second wife and the birth of his first child.  I finished in 3 days.

How to Fake Date a Vampire by Linsey Hall (298 pages).  This is part of the Charming Cove series.  Emma moved to Charming Cove 2 years ago.  Because where else can an orphaned witch fin the perfect place to live?  But Emma is still an apprentice.  And when Alaric, the vampire Duke of Blackthorn, returns home, Emma decides to ask him if they can use his estate to host the annual Beltane Ball.  He agrees, if she will be his girlfriend.  At least, if his grandmother asks!  As Emma and Alaric begin to plan the ball (it has to be spectacular so that the witches can harvest joy to use for their spells- yes, their magic is powered by joy), they get closer and closer.  In true rom-com fashion, there is miscommunication.  But when a witch and a royal vampire are involved, everything works out!  I finished in 4 days.

This month's favorite is......Arthur.  As much as I loved WWII novels and rom-coms, there is something that warms my heart about a happy animal story

Happy New Readings! Here’s what I did in 2024

 I didn’t really do too well with reading this month. Only 5 books. 1,888 pages. An average of 61 pages a day. Which is all way below my average

The War Orphan by Anna Stuart (387 pages). In 1945, the war is almost over. But 16 year old Tasha Ancel and her mother Lydia are cruelly ripped apart. Tasha remains at Auschwitz with the other children, Lydia is forced on the death march. But they swear they will find each other. Alice Goldberger escaped Germany before the war truly began, but had to leave behind her beloved brother, sister-in-law and niece. But she finds a new purpose helping with war orphanages. Tasha finds herself under Alice’s care, in England. But she cannot shake the feeling that she will one day find her mother. Along the way, she gains an adopted little sister, the love of her life (a fellow survivor) and a new life skill. But her desire to find her mother never leaves her and her guilt at surviving seems almost overwhelming. Y’all know I love some WWII historical fiction. And this one was great. Alice was a real person, a woman who dedicated her life to the care of war orphans. And the places the children lived in England were also real places- Windemere in the Lake District and Weir Courtney estate in Surrey. And these were aspects of WWII I knew nothing about. So of course I stumbled down that rabbit hole. Loved it!  I finished in 3 days. 

Hexed by Emily McIntire (505 pages). A new book in the Never After series!  Venesa Anderson and Aria Kingston grew up in South Carolina, Aria the pampered princess daughter of the most powerful gangster in the South and Venesa the cousin who works as his enforcer. When Venesa heads up to New York to check on Aria, they save the life of Enzo Marino, a young man whose father is involved with the Cosa Nostra. And Enzo falls immediately into lust with Aria. But a year later, Enzo finds himself engaged to Aria, at the behest of their fathers. And when he meets Venesa, he realizes Aria was never the girl for him. I loved having this as a mafia love story. It was great!  And in typica McIntire fashion, the callbacks to the movie/story were great. Characters named Bastien or nicknamed Guppy, a bar called the Lair. Good stuff!  I finished in 4 days.

A Winter Wish by Emily Stone (346 pages). This was the special Christmas box from Once Upon a Book Club. So gifties on social (per usual). Lexie has been estranged from her father for years. So when she learns that she has inherited half of his business at his death, she is shocked. Especially when she learns that his employee Theo has inherited the other half. The caveat?  They must run the business together for one year before they can sell it. But this business is going to be hard for Lexie. Her father started a travel company that focused trips around celebrations and holidays around the world- something that he had done with Lexie before he left her and her mother. So it’s a tough pill for her to swallow. Not to mention that working with the handsome Theo is no picnic. But sparks fly on one of their recon trips. And Lexie begins to realize that the father she thought had abandoned her had never really stopped thinking about her. Y’all know I love a rom com. And a holiday themed one that made me want to travel was even better!  I finished in 4 days.

One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus (356 pages). The third in the One of Us Is Lying series. The original Bayview Four are now part of a larger group after younger siblings and friends got pulled into another cat and mouse game. This time around, the Bayview Crew is facing another fight for their lives. But there are always secrets. And like Simon said before (and after) he died, secrets always come out. Especially when Simon is a part of those secrets. It was fine. It had been so long since I’d read the others in the series that I had a hard time getting back into the characters. I finished in 4 days. 

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins (294 pages). The McTavish family is old money in North Carolina. And I do mean OLD. When matriarch Ruby passes away, she leaves everything to her adopted son, Camden. But Camden never wanted anything to do with the family or the money. He finally goes home to Ashby House with his wife Jules. And family secrets start coming out. Because Ruby lived a life- she was abducted as a child, widowed 4 times (under questionable circumstances each time) and adopted Cam late in life. I liked all the family secrets that came out while Cam and Jules were back at Ashby House. I finished in 3 days. 

This month’s favorite is……The War Orphan. Y’all know I love historical fiction. Although honestly, I really enjoyed all of the books I read this month!

But it’s also the end of 2024. So here’s a rundown of what I read this year

91 total books read

32,195 total pages read

An average of 88 pages a day

The year’s favorite(s) were The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The Women