I have large stacks of books TBR (To Be Read) on my nightstand, plus electronic stacks of books lined up in my Kindle.  As I read these books, I love to share my thoughts and opinions of what I’ve read here because I enjoy sharing my passion for books with others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Disclosure:  I use Amazon affiliate links to help pay for the costs of this website.  Any and all posts on this site may contain affiliate links.  Finally, the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.  Thank you!)  I hope you enjoy this series.

Book #1: 

The Animators  by Kayla Rae Whitaker (Length: 386 pages).  Overall, this is an excellent, yet disturbing novel (ie, drugs, pedophilia are frequent themes so it’s not for everyone!).  And there is quite a bit of navel-gazing (not my favorite).  I put down this novel several times, with the intention of just giving up, but the incredibly strong character development throughout kept drawing me back in . . . just to see what happens to the two main protagonists (Mel and Sharon).  There is also a lot of very interesting background on the world of indie animation (not my thing, but I love to learn about new subjects).  So, the beginning dragged on a bit, but I’m glad I didn’t give up.  

From the publisher:

ONE OF THE BEST DEBUT NOVELS OF THE YEAR—Entertainment Weekly
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—NPR, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage

She was the first person to see me as I had always wanted to be seen. It was enough to indebt me to her forever.

In the male-dominated field of animation, Mel Vaught and Sharon Kisses are a dynamic duo, the friction of their differences driving them: Sharon, quietly ambitious but self-doubting; Mel, brash and unapologetic, always the life of the party. Best friends and artistic partners since the first week of college, where they bonded over their working-class roots and obvious talent, they spent their twenties ensconced in a gritty Brooklyn studio. Working, drinking, laughing. Drawing: Mel, to understand her tumultuous past, and Sharon, to lose herself altogether.

Now, after a decade of striving, the two are finally celebrating the release of their first full-length feature, which transforms Mel’s difficult childhood into a provocative and visually daring work of art. The toast of the indie film scene, they stand at the cusp of making it big. But with their success come doubt and destruction, cracks in their relationship threatening the delicate balance of their partnership. Sharon begins to feel expendable, suspecting that the ever-more raucous Mel is the real artist. During a trip to Sharon’s home state of Kentucky, the only other partner she has ever truly known—her troubled, charismatic childhood best friend, Teddy—reenters her life, and long-buried resentments rise to the surface, hastening a reckoning no one sees coming.

Book #2: 

Our House  by Louise Candlish (Length: 416 pages).  My mom checked out this book from the library and let me read it after she was finished.  I thought this was a very fun read!  It will appeal to those who enjoy the “Gone Girl” suspense genre.  Very fast-paced (with a bit of a slow-down in the middle) and the most interesting premise I’ve seen in a while–coming home to your house that’s been sold without your knowledge or permission.  The writing is good, and the ending was a total twist (think Gift of the Magi).  I actually missed it the first read since I was speed-reading, and went back and re-read it for my a-ha moment.  Definitely worth reading!   

From the publisher:

There’s nothing unusual about a new family moving in at 91 Trinity Avenue. Except it’s her house. And she didn’t sell it.

When Fiona Lawson comes home to find strangers moving into her house, she’s sure there’s been a mistake. She and her estranged husband, Bram, have a modern coparenting arrangement: bird’s nest custody, where each parent spends a few nights a week with their two sons at the prized family home to maintain stability for their children. But the system built to protect their family ends up putting them in terrible jeopardy. In a domino effect of crimes and misdemeanors, the nest comes tumbling down.

Now Bram has disappeared and so have Fiona’s children. As events spiral well beyond her control, Fiona will discover just how many lies her husband was weaving and how little they truly knew each other. But Bram’s not the only one with things to hide, and some secrets are best kept to oneself, safe as houses.

Book #3: 

I’ll be Your Blue Sky  by Marisa de Los Santos (Length: 325 pages).  I LOVE this author!  She is such a talented writer, and evokes feelings and emotions with descriptive writing that never feels over-wrought.  This particular novel is the third in a “trilogy” (while I loved the first book–Love Walked In–I didn’t read the second one (Belong to Me) based on poor reviews.)  You can definitely read this particular novel without going back and reading the first two (although Love Walked In is also fantastic, and it’s so nice to reunite with a few of my favorite characters from the first novel–Clare and Dev). Both the plot (featuring an underground railroad of sorts for abused women in the 1950s) and the character development make this a worthwhile read.

From the publisher:

On the weekend of her wedding, Clare Hobbes meets an elderly woman named Edith Herron. During the course of a single conversation, Edith gives Clare the courage to do what she should have done months earlier: break off her engagement to her charming—yet overly possessive—fiancé.

Three weeks later, Clare learns that Edith has died—and has given her another gift. Nestled in crepe myrtle and hydrangea and perched at the marshy edge of a bay in a small seaside town in Delaware, Blue Sky House now belongs to Clare. Though the former guest house has been empty for years, Clare feels a deep connection to Edith inside its walls, which are decorated with old photographs taken by Edith and her beloved husband, Joseph.

Exploring the house, Clare finds two mysterious ledgers hidden beneath the kitchen sink. Edith, it seems, was no ordinary woman—and Blue Sky House no ordinary place. With the help of her mother, Viviana, her surrogate mother, Cornelia Brown, and her former boyfriend and best friend, Dev Tremain, Clare begins to piece together the story of Blue Sky House—a decades-old mystery more complex and tangled than she could have imagined. As she peels back the layers of Edith’s life, Clare discovers a story of dark secrets, passionate love, heartbreaking sacrifice, and incredible courage. She also makes startling discoveries about herself: where she’s come from, where she’s going, and what—and who—she loves.

Book #4:  

A Noise Downstairs  by Linwood Barkley (Length: 368 pages).  Another suspense novel, a la Gone Girl, but this one is different enough to make it stand out from the pack.  I had suspicions about the ultimate resolution, but when they were satisfied about 75% of the way through, there were enough loose ends to keep me reading.  The writing quality is decent.  The characters are not very likeable (except for 2), but the plot progression is satisfying enough to pique a reader’s interest.  Worth a read.   

From the publisher:

College professor Paul Davis is a normal guy with a normal life. Until, driving along a deserted road late one night, he surprises a murderer disposing of a couple of bodies. That’s when Paul’s “normal” existence is turned upside down. After nearly losing his own life in that encounter, he finds himself battling PTSD, depression, and severe problems at work. His wife, Charlotte, desperate to cheer him up, brings home a vintage typewriter—complete with ink ribbons and heavy round keys—to encourage him to get started on that novel he’s always intended to write.

However, the typewriter itself is a problem. Paul swears it’s possessed and types by itself at night. But only Paul can hear the noise coming from downstairs; Charlotte doesn’t hear a thing. And she worries he’s going off the rails.

Paul believes the typewriter is somehow connected to the murderer he discovered nearly a year ago. The killer had made his victims type apologies to him before ending their lives. Has another sick twist of fate entwined his life with the killer—could this be the same machine? Increasingly tormented but determined to discover the truth and confront his nightmare, Paul begins investigating the deaths himself.

Book #5: 

The High Tide Club  by Mary Kay Andrews (Length: 465 pages).  I cannot, for the life of me, remember why I had a Mary Kay Andrews book on my TBR list.  I’m thinking I wanted a good beach read for the summer–but it just now popped up on my reserved library books ready to be loaned.  Anyway, I really enjoyed this cute, very fast-paced novel.  There is a bit of a mystery set on a small island in Georgia, but I figured it out almost immediately.  Again, there was enough of a hook that I wanted to keep reading.  The author does a great job of setting the scene, as there’s a fantastic sense of place.  The dialogue is a bit too juvenile and stilted in places (randomly so) but overall, a nice palate-cleansing “beach read”.  

From the publisher:

When ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons Brooke Trappnell to Talisa Island, her 20,000 acre remote barrier island home, Brooke is puzzled. Everybody in the South has heard about the eccentric millionaire mistress of Talisa, but Brooke has never met her. Josephine’s cryptic note says she wants to discuss an important legal matter with Brooke, who is an attorney, but Brooke knows that Mrs. Warrick has long been a client of a prestigious Atlanta law firm.

Over a few meetings, the ailing Josephine spins a tale of old friendships, secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved murder. She tells Brooke she is hiring her for two reasons: to protect her island and legacy from those who would despoil her land, and secondly, to help her make amends with the heirs of the long dead women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club—so named because of their youthful skinny dipping escapades—Millie, Ruth and Varina. When Josephine dies with her secrets intact, Brooke is charged with contacting Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bringing them together on Talisa for a reunion of women who’ve actually never met.

The High Tide Club is Mary Kay Andrews at her Queen of the Beach Reads best, a compelling and witty tale of romance thwarted, friendships renewed, justice delivered, and true love found.

Book #6: 

Moody Bitches  by Julie Holland (Length: 420 pages).  This book came highly recommended by a CrossFit pal after I mentioned to her how impressed I’ve been with CBD oil (for hot flashes, anxiety, inflammation, etc).  This is indeed a fantastic resource regarding the effects of various (often over-prescribed) medications on our mood.  The author discusses the pros and cons of various drugs as well as the link between food and our mood.  Her suggested strategies for regulating mood are obvious (exercise, sleep, diet) and not so obvious (natural therapies such as CBD to reduce and eliminate inflammation in our body’s systems).  This was a super-fast and well-written “self-help” book that’s not preachy in the slightest.  Two thumbs up from this middle-aged reader.  😉  

From the publisher:

As women, we learn from an early age that our moods are a problem. Bitches are moody. To succeed in life, we are told, we must have it all under control. We have to tamp down our inherent shifts in favor of a more static way of being. But our bodies are wiser than we imagine. Moods are not an annoyance to be stuffed away. They are a finely-tuned feedback system that, if heeded, can tell us how best to manage our lives. Our changing moods let us know when our bodies are primed to tackle different challenges and when we should be alert to developing problems. They help us select the right tool for each of our many jobs. If we deny our emotionality, we deny the breadth of our talents. With the right care of our inherently dynamic bodies, we can master our moods to avail ourselves of this great natural strength.

Yet millions of American women are medicating away their emotions because our culture says that moodiness is a problem to be fixed. One in four of us takes a psychiatric drug. If you add sleeping pills to the mix, the statistics become considerably higher. Over-prescribed medications can have devastating consequences for women in many areas of our lives: sex, relationships, sleep, eating, focus, balance, and aging.  And even if we don’t pop a pill, women everywhere are numbing their emotions with food, alcohol, and a host of addictive behaviors that deny the wisdom of our bodies and keep us from addressing the real issues that we face.

Dr. Julie Holland knows there is a better way. She’s been sharing her frank and funny wisdom with her patients for years, and in Moody Bitches Dr. Holland offers readers a guide to our bodies and our moodiness that includes insider information about the pros and cons of the drugs we’re being offered, the direct link between food and mood, an honest discussion about sex, practical exercise and sleep strategies, as well as some surprising and highly effective natural therapies that can help us press the reset button on our own bodies and minds.

In the tradition of Our Bodies, Our Selves, this groundbreaking guide for women of all ages will forge a much needed new path in women’s health—and offer women invaluable information on how to live better, and be more balanced, at every stage of life.

I often post short reviews of books I’ve read in my personal social media pages, as I love to share my passion for books with others.  I’m listing the books I’ve read each month here on this blog, with my thoughts on each as well as whether I’d recommend them to others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Most, if not all, of the books below include links to the Kindle store on Amazon, and the page numbers reflect the number of Kindle pages).  I hope you enjoy this series on my blog!

Book #1: 

Say You’re Sorry by Melinda Leigh (Length: 338 pages).  This is the first book in the Morgan Dane series.  Bottom line, I thought the writing in this novel is a bit cheesy, but I’m hopeful the quality of the writing will improve as the series progresses because I did enjoy reading this book.  There’s not much character development in this initial book, but the plot progression is very fun and exciting, to the point that I pictured the movie in my head as I was reading.  This series is reminiscent of the books by Greg Iles (who is a much more talented writer, to be honest).  I will read more by this author and in this series when I’m in the mood for a fast-paced, fun read.  

From the publisher: In this thrilling series from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh, former prosecutor Morgan Dane faces the most personal—and deadly—case of her lifetime.

After the devastating loss of her husband in Iraq, Morgan Dane returns to Scarlet Falls, seeking the comfort of her hometown. Now, surrounded by family, she’s finally found peace and a promising career opportunity—until her babysitter is killed and her neighbor asks her to defend his son, Nick, who stands accused of the murder.

Tessa was the ultimate girl next door, and the community is outraged by her death. But Morgan has known Nick for years and can’t believe he’s guilty, despite the damning evidence stacked against him. She asks her friend Lance Kruger, an ex-cop turned private eye, for help. Taking on the town, the police, and a zealous DA, Morgan and Lance plunge into the investigation, determined to find the real killer. But as they uncover secrets that rock the community, they become targets for the madman hiding in plain sight.

Book #2: 

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (Length: 340 pages).  Whoa!  This is the best true-crime book I think I’ve ever read (right up there with In Cold Blood by Truman Capote).  This book was meticulously researched, but with an incredibly well-written narrative woven throughout.  The author’s life was cut short way too soon, and I’m so sad about that . . . her sense of empathy shines through each and every sentence.  Be sure to Google the Golden State Killer after you finish reading this amazing book.  

From the publisher:

For more than ten years, a mysterious and violent predator committed fifty sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated ten sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area.

Three decades later, Michelle McNamara, a true crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com, was determined to find the violent psychopath she called “the Golden State Killer.” Michelle pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the online communities that were as obsessed with the case as she was.

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark—the masterpiece McNamara was writing at the time of her sudden death—offers an atmospheric snapshot of a moment in American history and a chilling account of a criminal mastermind and the wreckage he left behind. It is also a portrait of a woman’s obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth. Utterly original and compelling, it has been hailed as a modern true crime classic—one which fulfilled Michelle’s dream: helping unmask the Golden State Killer

Book #3: 

The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, et al (Length: 564 pages).  I’m a fan of first-person travel books, especially at this stage of my life when such travel isn’t a real possibility.  However, I’m not a fan of this particular book.  Firstly, the writing style is very juvenile; it is almost like a teenager’s diary written in three different perspectives.  However, the content itself is fascinating, and armchair travelers (like me) will enjoy visiting far-flung locales via this trio’s escapades.  I enjoyed reading specific details about the various modes of travel, the cultural differences and where not to visit.  Worth a library check-out!

From the publisher: Three friends, each on the brink of a quarter-life crisis, make a pact to quit their high pressure New York City media jobs and leave behind their friends, boyfriends, and everything familiar to embark on a year-long backpacking adventure around the world in The Lost Girls.

Book #4: 

Less: A Novel by Andrew Sean Greer (Length: 273 pages). Ugh.  I tried.  I read the first 15% of this book on my Kindle (via a library check-out, at least).  Then I gave up, because honestly, there are over 100 books on my TBR list and only so much time to read them.  While the writing itself is excellent (and I’m assuming Pulitzer-Prize worthy), I didn’t care for the (dare i say, whiny?) narrator/protagonist, and there was not a sufficient plot hook to keep me engaged and continuing to read.  Maybe you’ll have better luck?

From the publisher: WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE
National Bestseller
A New York Times Notable Book of 2017
A Washington Post Top Ten Book of 2017
A San Francisco Chronicle Top Ten Book of 2017
Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, the Lambda Award, and the California Book Award
Who says you can’t run away from your problems? You are a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: your boyfriend of the past nine years is engaged to someone else. You can’t say yes–it would be too awkward–and you can’t say no–it would look like defeat. On your desk are a series of invitations to half-baked literary events around the world. QUESTION: How do you arrange to skip town? ANSWER: You accept them all.
What would possibly go wrong? Arthur Less will almost fall in love in Paris, almost fall to his death in Berlin, barely escape to a Moroccan ski chalet from a Saharan sandstorm, accidentally book himself as the (only) writer-in-residence at a Christian Retreat Center in Southern India, and encounter, on a desert island in the Arabian Sea, the last person on Earth he wants to face. Somewhere in there: he will turn fifty. Through it all, there is his first love. And there is his last.  Because, despite all these mishaps, missteps, misunderstandings and mistakes, Less is, above all, a love story.

Book #5: 

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin (Length: 336 pages).  I really loved this book!  This is the second book I’ve read from this author (check out my June review of A Life Intercepted), and I enjoyed it as much as the first one I read.  While Charles Martin is known as a faith-based author, I don’t find his writing to be overtly religious (which I appreciate as I’m not an organized religion fan).  As in his other books, this novel contains great factual details about a few subjects, namely the human heart and open-heart surgery techniques, as well as carpentry and boats.  I love learning something while I’m also being entertained.  I also enjoyed the strong character development as well as the excellent plot pacing.  While there is a smidge of emotional manipulation in the plot, in my opinion, I’m not annoyed enough to not continuing to seek out and read more of this author’s books.  Let me know what you think if you read, or have read it!

From the publisher:

A man with a painful past. A child with a doubtful future. And a shared journey toward healing for both their hearts.

It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl’s pretty yellow dress can’t quite hide the ugly scar on her chest.

Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he’s restoring at a nearby lake. The stranger understands more about the scar than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives.

Before it’s over, they’ll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry . . . and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners.

I often post short reviews of books I’ve read in my personal social media pages, as I love to share my passion for books with others.  I’m listing the books I’ve read each month here on this blog, with my thoughts on each as well as whether I’d recommend them to others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Most, if not all, of the books below include links to the Kindle store on Amazon, and the page numbers reflect the number of Kindle pages).  I hope you enjoy this series on my blog!

Book #1: 

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (Length: 352 pages).  This book has been on so many recommended book lists, and I finally was able to get it off the Reserved list at the library.  Not sure it was worth the wait.  This book is VERY well-written, but it was too depressing for me (and I LIKE dark books!).  Essentially this is about four different siblings who have knowledge of the day they will die.  Each sibling is a dysfunctional human being, and each isn’t inherently likeable, which made it difficult for me to get emotionally involved with the novel.  The quality of the writing here is clearly why this book was an instant bestseller, but sadly, it’s not my cup of tea.  

From the publisher: If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life?

It’s 1969 in New York City’s Lower East Side, and word has spread of the arrival of a mystical woman, a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they will die. The Gold children—four adolescents on the cusp of self-awareness—sneak out to hear their fortunes.

The prophecies inform their next five decades. Golden-boy Simon escapes to the West Coast, searching for love in ’80s San Francisco; dreamy Klara becomes a Las Vegas magician, obsessed with blurring reality and fantasy; eldest son Daniel seeks security as an army doctor post-9/11; and bookish Varya throws herself into longevity research, where she tests the boundary between science and immortality.

A sweeping novel of remarkable ambition and depth, The Immortalists probes the line between destiny and choice, reality and illusion, this world and the next. It is a deeply moving testament to the power of story, the nature of belief, and the unrelenting pull of familial bonds.

Book #2:  

Force of Nature by Jane Harper (Length: 329 pages).  This novel is a bit of a sequel to “The Dry” which was a bit annoying to find out after  I received it from the library, as the repeated references to the protagonist (Federal Agent Aaron Falk) were oblique in nature.  The plot (five women are on a team-building hike for their company and one goes missing) is interesting enough that I wanted to keep reading further.  The writing in this mystery novel isn’t exactly “stunning” or “breathless” per the reviews, but it’s definitely worth a library check-out.  In my opinion, this novel is more about the relationships among the various characters than the mystery-driven plot, so if you read this with that proviso in mind, you’ll enjoy it as well.

From the publisher:

Five women go on a hike. Only four return. Jane Harper, the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry, asks: How well do you really know the people you work with?

When five colleagues are forced to go on a corporate retreat in the wilderness, they reluctantly pick up their backpacks and start walking down the muddy path. But one of the women doesn’t come out of the woods. And each of her companions tells a slightly different story about what happened.

Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk has a keen interest in the whereabouts of the missing hiker. In an investigation that takes him deep into isolated forest, Falk discovers secrets lurking in the mountains, and a tangled web of personal and professional friendship, suspicion, and betrayal among the hikers. But did that lead to murder?

Book #3:

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware (Length: 384 pages).  This is the fourth novel by this author (I’ve read all three of her previous books:  In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, and The Lying Game).  I’m a fan of British authors and settings in general, but while I haven’t been overly-impressed with Ms. Ware’s first three novels, I really enjoyed this fun read!  As Meredith Gray would say, “It’s very dark and twisty.”  I loved the setting and scenery in this book (Gothic manor in England), and I’m now eager to read my copy of  Rebecca  by Daphne du Maurier as this book apparently was influenced by that classic novel.  The author’s character development really shines in this book in comparison to her first three, but I was also pleasantly surprised at how difficult it was (for me at least) to solve the mystery at the book’s center.  Definitely check this one out!  

From the publisher: On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.

Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it.

Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, this is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

I often post short reviews of books I’ve read in my personal social media pages, as I love to share my passion for books with others.  I’m listing the books I’ve read each month here on this blog, with my thoughts on each as well as whether I’d recommend them to others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Most, if not all, of the books below include links to the Kindle store on Amazon, and the page numbers reflect the number of Kindle pages).  I hope you enjoy this series on my blog!

Book #1: 

North by Scott Jurek (Length: 305 pages).  I really enjoyed this read about the setting of a new speed record northbound on the Appalachian Trail (47 days!) in 2015.  I’ve read two of Scott Jurek’s previous books and I am a fan of his writing style, and of his ultra-running abilities.  Very impressive guy!  In this book I enjoyed his  anecdotes regarding his vegan diet and the race support his wife provided.  This was a bit stressful to read whilst lounging on the couch 🙂 but definitely worth the library check out.  

From the publisher: From the author of the bestseller Eat and Run, a thrilling new memoir about his grueling, exhilarating, and immensely inspiring 46-day run to break the speed record for the Appalachian Trail.

Scott Jurek is one of the world’s best known and most beloved ultrarunners. Renowned for his remarkable endurance and speed, accomplished on a vegan diet, he’s finished first in nearly all of ultrarunning’s elite events over the course of his career. But after two decades of racing, training, speaking, and touring, Jurek felt an urgent need to discover something new about himself. He embarked on a wholly unique challenge, one that would force him to grow as a person and as an athlete: breaking the speed record for the Appalachian Trail. North is the story of the 2,189-mile journey that nearly shattered him.

Book #2: 

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood (Length: 338 pages).  This is a really charming book about a friendship between a 104-year old woman and an 11-year old boy.  I’m a fan of character-driven novels, with excellent writing and witty dialogue, and this book meets all 3 requirements in spades.  This book is reminiscent of A Man Called Ove, so if you’re a fan of that type of novel, definitely check this one out!

From the publisher: The story of your life never starts at the beginning. Don’t they teach you anything at school?

So says 104-year-old Ona to the 11-year-old boy who’s been sent to help her out every Saturday morning. As he refills the bird feeders and tidies the garden shed, Ona tells him about her long life, from first love to second chances. Soon she’s confessing secrets she has kept hidden for decades.

One Saturday, the boy doesn’t show up. Ona starts to think he’s not so special after all, but then his father arrives on her doorstep, determined to finish his son’s good deed. The boy’s mother is not so far behind. Ona is set to discover that the world can surprise us at any age, and that sometimes sharing a loss is the only way to find ourselves again.

Book #3: 

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Length: 546 pages–a LONG one!).  SUCH a fun read!  I’ve had this one on my Kindle for the past 4 years, and just now got around to reading it (after a few false starts).  With the movie coming out, I thought it would be a nice summer read, and I was right!  The chapters are organized by characters, all centered around one plot line.  The plot is a bit flimsy, and the characters aren’t very well-developed, so don’t expect an award-winning read.  However, I enjoyed learning about the culture in Singapore/China, as well as the lives of the mega-rich young billionaire society.  Very interesting and fun read!  

From the publisher: The acclaimed international bestseller (“A dizzily shopaholic comedy.” —The New York Times) soon to be a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh and Gemma Chan!

When New Yorker Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home and quality time with the man she hopes to marry. But Nick has failed to give his girlfriend a few key details. One, that his childhood home looks like a palace; two, that he grew up riding in more private planes than cars; and three, that he just happens to be the country’s most eligible bachelor.

On Nick’s arm, Rachel may as well have a target on her back the second she steps off the plane, and soon, her relaxed vacation turns into an obstacle course of old money, new money, nosy relatives, and scheming social climbers.

Book #4: 

Our Little Secret by Roz Nay (Length: 256 pages).  I couldn’t put down this thriller because it was well-written, with strong character development.  I kept reading to find out what happened with the characters I came to know.  However, be warned that the protagonist isn’t likeable, and the ending isn’t very surprising, but it is an interesting plot to follow throughout.  The plot construction itself (a flashback from inside a police station) reminded me of the movie The Usual Suspects.  

From the publisher:  

A cracking read…Our Little Secret builds to a deliciously dark conclusion.” —Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10

Roz Nay’s Our Little Secret is a twisted tale of love, pain, and revenge that will stay with the reader long after they turn the last page.

They say you never forget your first love. What they don’t say though, is that sometimes your first love won’t forget you…

Angela Petitjean sits in a cold, dull room. The police have been interrogating her for hours, asking about Saskia Parker. She’s the wife of Angela’s high school sweetheart, HP, and the mother of his child. She has vanished. Homicide Detective J. Novak believes Angela knows what happened to Saskia. He wants the truth, and he wants it now.

Book #5: 

A Life Intercepted by Charles Martin (Length: 328 pages).  I stumbled across this author (and novel), discovered he has many, many fans, and now I know why.  This particular book is about a football quarterback, and clearly has been written by someone who loves the game of football.  While I do not, I did enjoy learning about the intricacies of the sport.  This novel features very well-developed characters, with a bit of a surprise ending.  The resolution of the plot is a bit too pat, but overall, it’s well-constructed and makes me want to read more from this author.  

From the publisher: Twelve years ago Matthew “the Rocket” Rising had it all. Married to his high school sweetheart and one of the winningest quarterbacks in the history of college football, he was the number one NFL draft pick. But on the night of the draft, he plummeted from the pinnacle of esteem. Falsely accused of a heinous crime with irrefutable evidence, it seemed in an instant all was lost–his reputation, his career, his freedom, and most devastatingly, the love of his life. Having served his sentence and never played a down of professional football, Matthew leaves prison with one goal–to find his wife, Audrey, whom no one has seen since the trial. He returns to an unwelcoming reception from his Gardi, Georgia, hometown to learn that Audrey has taken shelter from the media with the nuns at a Catholic school. There she has discovered a young man with the talent to achieve the football career Matthew should have had. All he needs is the right coach. Although helping the boy means Matthew violates the conditions of his release and–if discovered–reincarceration for life, he’ll take the chance with hope of winning back Audrey’s love.

Book #6: 

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (Length: 354 pages).  Wow!  This book is officially on my top 10 book list, and it’s a MUST-READ for every citizen of the United States, regardless of your political beliefs.  As a former prosecutor, I have my own stories about the justice system, and I’ve seen a lot that I’m not proud to have seen, but this biographical account from a fellow attorney just blew me away!  His account of the various injustices on death row are heart-breaking, and must be heard for things to changes.  While this book follows the case of one individual who was wrongfully-convicted, in alternate chapters the author reveals other individuals (even children) who should not be on death row, and even individuals who were executed who were later found to be innocent.  Even as a member of the legal profession, I wasn’t aware of those cases.  This isn’t a sad or depressing book, but it is an important read.  

From the publisher: Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Nonfiction | Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction | Winner of a Books for a Better Life Award | Finalist for the Los Angeles Book Prize | Finalist for the Kirkus Reviews Prize | An American Library Association Notable Book

A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time
 
Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.

Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice.

I often post short reviews of books I’ve read in my personal social media pages, as I love to share my passion for books with others.  I’m listing the books I’ve read each month here on this blog, with my thoughts on each as well as whether I’d recommend them to others.  I do have an eclectic taste in books, and will choose books based on my mood, or what’s going on in my life that week.  (Most, if not all, of the books below include links to the Kindle store on Amazon, and the page numbers reflect the number of Kindle pages).  I hope you enjoy this series on my blog!

Book #1: 

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin (Length: 348 pages).  I LOVED this book!  So much fun!  I had read that this was the book version of the TV show Gray’s Anatomy, and I’d have to agree . . . if we’re talking about the show’s early seasons with a splash of comedic timing and adding very high-quality writing.  I thought the character development in this novel is excellent, and I enjoyed the “surprise” ending.  The novel is a touch confusing with chapters alternating between the two main characters, as well as alternating between past and present, but after reflection, I think this was a somewhat necessary narrative device.  TWO enthusiastic thumbs up for a fun, well-written beach read!

From the publisher: Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2018 by Southern Living, Elite Daily, and Writer’s Digest

A debut novel set against a background of hospital rounds and life-or-death decisions that pulses with humor and empathy and explores the heart’s capacity for forgiveness…

Zadie Anson and Emma Colley have been best friends since their early twenties, when they first began navigating serious romantic relationships amid the intensity of medical school. Now they’re happily married wives and mothers with successful careers–Zadie as a pediatric cardiologist and Emma as a trauma surgeon. Their lives in Charlotte, North Carolina are chaotic but fulfilling, until the return of a former colleague unearths a secret one of them has been harboring for years.

As chief resident, Nick Xenokostas was the center of Zadie’s life–both professionally and personally–throughout a tragic chain of events in her third year of medical school that she has long since put behind her. Nick’s unexpected reappearance during a time of new professional crisis shocks both women into a deeper look at the difficult choices they made at the beginning of their careers. As it becomes evident that Emma must have known more than she revealed about circumstances that nearly derailed both their lives, Zadie starts to question everything she thought she knew about her closest friend.

Book #2: 

Mastering the Art of French Eating by Ann Mah (Length: 270 pages).  This book is an interesting memoir of a three-year period in Paris, written from the perspective of a lonely diplomat’s foodie wife.  I’m not a foodie (at all!) but I adore Paris, traveling and history, so this read was definitely worth it in those aspects.   The author is a very strong writer, and I enjoyed reading the many descriptive passages.  This one is a worth checking out from the library.    

From the publisher: 
When journalist Ann Mah’s diplomat husband is given a three-year assignment in Paris, Ann is overjoyed. A lifelong foodie and Francophile, she immediately begins plotting gastronomic adventures à deux. Then her husband is called away to Iraq on a year-long post—alone. Suddenly, Ann’s vision of a romantic sojourn in the City of Light is turned upside down.

So, not unlike another diplomatic wife, Julia Child, Ann must find a life for herself in a new city.  Journeying through Paris and the surrounding regions of France, Ann combats her loneliness by seeking out the perfect pain au chocolat and learning the way the andouillette sausage is really made. She explores the history and taste of everything from boeuf Bourguignon to soupe au pistou to the crispiest of buckwheat crepes. And somewhere between Paris and the south of France, she uncovers a few of life’s truths.

Like Sarah Turnbull’s Almost French and Julie Powell’s New York Times bestseller Julie and Julia, Mastering the Art of French Eating is interwoven with the lively characters Ann meets and the traditional recipes she samples. Both funny and intelligent, this is a story about love—of food, family, and France.

Book #3: 

Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman (Length: 320 pages).  This was a guilty pleasure read for me.  The subject matter (the history of The Bachelor TV show franchise) is very cheesy but the writing quality is really good.  The author includes dozens of little factoids about the show and behind the scenes action that I wasn’t aware of previously.  This book is a great look at reality TV overall, and it was worth a library check out.  

From the publisher:  For fifteen years and thirty-five seasons, the Bachelor franchise has been a mainstay in American TV viewers’ lives. Since it premiered in 2002, the show’s popularity and relevance has only grown–more than eight million viewers tuned in to see the conclusion of the most recent season of The Bachelor.

The iconic reality television show’s reach and influence into the cultural zeitgeist is undeniable. Bestselling writers and famous actors live tweet about it. Die-hard fans–dubbed “Bachelor Nation”–come together every week during each season to participate in fantasy leagues and viewing parties.

Bachelor Nation is the first behind-the-scenes, unauthorized look into the reality television phenomenon. Los Angeles Times journalist Amy Kaufman is a proud member of Bachelor Nation and has a long history with the franchise–ABC even banned her from attending show events after her coverage of the program got a little too real for its liking. She has interviewed dozens of producers, contestants, and celebrity fans to give readers never-before-told details of the show’s inner workings: what it’s like to be trapped in the mansion “bubble”; dark, juicy tales of producer manipulation; and revelations about the alcohol-fueled debauchery that occurs long before the fantasy suite.

Book #4: 

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (Length: 496 pages).  I picked up this 2017 National Book Award Finalist to see if I’d like to read it next.  An hour later, I looked up and realized, yep, I want to read this book!  😉  The storyline sucked me in, with its sweeping saga of a Korean family in Japan in the 20th century (from early 1900s to present day).  This book is very lengthy with dozens of characters, but the chapters reminded me of a daisy chain, with one character linking to the next.  This method reduces confusion for the reader, and makes the plot easy to follow.  The writing is excellent (I should hope so!) and this novel is more plot/narrative driven than character driven, but the characters are still fleshed out sufficiently to make the reader care about what happens to them.  I LOVED this book!

From the publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER * USA TODAY BESTSELLER

In this gorgeous, page-turning saga, four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family fight to control their destiny in 20th-century Japan, exiled from a home they never knew.

“There could only be a few winners, and a lot of losers. And yet we played on, because we had hope that we might be the lucky ones.”

In the early 1900s, teenaged Sunja, the adored daughter of a crippled fisherman, falls for a wealthy stranger at the seashore near her home in Korea. He promises her the world, but when she discovers she is pregnant–and that her lover is married–she refuses to be bought. Instead, she accepts an offer of marriage from a gentle, sickly minister passing through on his way to Japan. But her decision to abandon her home, and to reject her son’s powerful father, sets off a dramatic saga that will echo down through the generations.

Richly told and profoundly moving, Pachinko is a story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty. From bustling street markets to the halls of Japan’s finest universities to the pachinko parlors of the criminal underworld, Lee’s complex and passionate characters–strong, stubborn women, devoted sisters and sons, fathers shaken by moral crisis–survive and thrive against the indifferent arc of history.