Books

April 2022 Reads

2022, Books, Reading

Kincaid’s Hope– Grace Greene

To be honest it has been awhile since I read this book. I don’t remember anything about it other than I liked it enough to look more into the author and read more of her books.

A Stranger in Wynnedower– Grace Greene

This was actually the first book of Grace Greene’s that I read. It was a bit of a thriller in the sense that it kept me on the edge of my seat but wasn’t truly scary in the sense of thriller novels. I was booked on this author after reading this book and if you can’t tell I spent a lot of time reading her novels.

Cub Creek– Grace Greene (Virginia Country Roads Series)

The main character in this story stumbles upon the town of Cub Creek and a property for sale. She feels the pull to move out to the country and start a new chapter in her life. As the first book in this series, the story is well written and kept me reading until the end.

Leaving Cub Creek– Grace Greene (Cub Creek Series)

Libbie is back in the second installment of the series. Everything seems to be going great for her until its not. When things get tough, they get really tough. Libbie wants to leave town but does she? I loved finishing this series and could not wait to read more of Grace Greene’s books.

Beach Rental– Grace Greene (The Emerald Isle, NC Series)

The first book in a trilogy is about a woman who rents a beach house and finding friendship. There is a small twist in the story but it helps the story continue in the stories of Beach Winds and Beach Wedding. Beach Rental is a great and easy beach read. Make sure you download and the rest of the series before when you are ready to read it.

Beach Winds– Grace Greene (The Emerald Isle, NC Series)

As the second story in the series you are introduced to new characters. This story is a great sequel to Beach Rental. You won’t be disappointed you read this book.

Beach Wedding– Grace Greene (The Emerald Isle, NC Series)

In the last book in the series, you can’t leave this on unread. I am keeping this series in my Kindle App to read again and again.

March 2022 Reads

Books, Reading

It’s In His Kiss– Julia Quinn

Hyacinth is finally grown up. This installment in the series tells her story of how she found love and solved a mystery. Never one to let go of anything, she keeps you on your toes during this read.

On the Way to the Wedding– Julia Quinn

This is Gregory Bridgerton’s story. While he is finally grown he is still out causing trouble.

The Bridgerton’s: Happily Ever After– Julia Quinn

This book holds a second epilogue to all of the books in the Bridgerton series. It also includes a story about Violet Bridgerton. I really enjoyed getting to revisit each member of the family and hear more about their stories.

The Island of Sea Women– Lisa See

The Island of Sea Women is the story of women on the island of Jeju starting in the 1930’s during the Japanese colonization of Korea. This book was a fascinating read because I learned so much about the culture and the times. The sea women, have an entire culture that is being lost to time and this book works to teach and remind us of all that they did and stand for. If you haven’t read this book, I highly, highly recommend it. It will open your eyes to an entire culture that you never knew existed.

February 2022 Reads

2022, Books, Reading

Titans- Leila Mecham

I have read a number of Mecham’s books and when I saw this one at the library I had to check it out immediately. This book is set in North Texas near Fort Worth. As you can imagine, being about Texas the oil industry plays a part in the story, but the time frame is near the beginning of the oil boom. The young heiress to the ranch has other ideas about what she wants to do with her life and how to manage her family’s ranch. I loved this book and can’t wait to read my next Lelia Mecham.

A Low Country Wedding- Mary Alice Monroe

I found this book on the Kindle store. I honestly choose a ton of romance novels off the name or the cover and this one did not disappoint. This particular story is about a family and weddings in Charleston’s LowCountry. A scandal involving the family is written into the story but it makes it so much more interesting. If you need a beach read this and the other’s in the series are great.

The Summer of Lost and Found- Mary Alice Monroe

This book is the first that I have read that has incorporated COVID into it. It is a fairly new book, published in 2021. It tells the story of a family, who has their lives tossed up due to the pandemic and how they have to change their plans, not only short term, but long term. I really liked this book because it was a new perspective on the pandemic. It was very optimistic about the changes the characters were going through. I will say it reminded me of Elin Hildebrand’s work and I highly recommend it.

Empire of Pain- Patrick Radden Keefe

If you haven’t heard of this book, then you need to check the news occasionally. This book details the history of the Sackler family and the rise of their pharmaceutical company. This is the family that created OcyContin and how this pill led to the opioid crisis that the U.S. has been experiencing. It is a mind-blowing read. I am still in shock about how they got away with so much and the damage that they caused.

To Sir Phillip, With Love- Julia Quinn

I got back on the Bridgerton train and I loved Eloise’s story. Definitely not what I expected from her, but it made me love her so much more.

When He Was Wicked- Julia Quinn

This story lets you into the life of Francesca, who is noticeably absent in most of the stories. She is mentioned here and there, throughout the series but her book may be the shortest one yet, but really fills you into who she is. K

The Long Way Home- Karen McQuestion

This particular book is not what I expected at all. This was another one of my Kindle store finds. This story finds four women who have very little in common traveling across the country to help one of them. In the end they each find what they have been missing for years and they can finally move on to the next phase of their lives.

January 2022 Reads

2022, Books, Reading

The Viscount Who Loved Me – Julia Quinn

I wont lie, I love the Bridgerton series. Each book is amazing and I wish they would go on forever. This book doesn’t disappoint.

An Offer from a Gentleman- Julia Quinn

As I continued through the series, I have loved getting to know the family. Each story brings you closer to the family.

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton – Julia Quinn

This is the book I was waiting for. After the first book and watching the series, I was dying to see how this story played out. It was so great. You have to read this one.

December 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

The French for Love — Fiona Valpy

This book is so amazing. It is a light hearted romance, which had me laughing in several places. This story follows a young woman who has lost her job and moves to a property she has inherited to get it ready to sell. No matter what she thinks she has planned, life has something else planned for her. I felt as if I were actually in France right along with the characters. I seriously loved this book and think that I have found a new author to love.

The Dressmaker’s Gift – Fiona Valpy

This book sealed the deal for me. Fiona Vaply is one of my new favorite authors. This book is so heartbreakingly amazing. It takes place in two time frames, current day and during World War II. Harriet finds a photograph of her grandmother and travels to Paris to work an internship. During her time she finds out what happened to her grandmother during her time in Paris and the role she played in the resistance.

I think that this book resonates in a way that is different from so many others because it is from two time periods and you can see the correlation between the girls, even though their stories take place 75 years apart.

There really are no words to express how great this book is and how it truly opened my eyes to what went on in France during World War II. I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you read it, let me know what you think.

Honeysuckle Season- Mary Ellen Taylor

I could not put this book down. I am a sucker for a romance novel and one that has a good backstory gets me every time. The story starts out with the main characters life falling apart and follows her as she finds out who she is really is. I want to read this book all over again. It is definitely going on my top 20 list. (I have a long list of favorite books)

Dovetail – Karen McQuestion

I started off not liking this book but the more I read, the more I came to enjoy it. It definitely didn’t follow the path that I though it would, which was a nice surprise. The more I think about it, the more I remembered how much I loved it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a love story that has a number of twists in it.

Murder in the Dark- Betsy Reavley

The second book in a series about two detectives, this book was not bad. It will say that I prefer to read books about places that I have been, so I can get a better feel for the setting. That said, I did enjoy this book and think that if you like mysteries, especially shorter ones that are not as dark as some can get, this book is for you.

Murder at the Book Club- Betsy Reavley

This book was a part of a book club that I was invited to. I didn’t join, but I did read the book. This book is in a series that follows two detectives. As you can guess, a member of a book club was murdered. The main suspects are the other members. It was an ok read, I normally prefer a mystery that has more depth in the back story. If you are new to mystery’s or want an easier read, I would recommend this one as a starting point.

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October/November 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

Northern Spy – Flynn Berry

I believe I got this book from a friend, not knowing what it was about. I was surprised at how much I liked it and how much I learned. The story takes places in Belfast and is about the IRA. The story is written in first person and takes you along the journey of a news producer becoming a spy. I good book to read if you are looking for something that will stimulate your brain.

Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel– A.W. Jantha

I am a huge Hocus Pocus fan and that is an understatement. I have Hocus Pocus shirts, I have a Hocus Pocus cross stitch and I watch the movie year round. This book is actually two books in one. The first book, which is based off the screen play and mirrors the movie we all know. The second part is the new sequel, based on the new movie, which should be on Disney+ in time for Halloween this year. The first part is great and I actually really enjoyed reading it. The new sequel…was terrible. The story would have been great if they didn’t have to go and through in a bunch of stuff that, in my opinion, wasn’t necessary. I know that in today’s culture we have to be super inclusive of all people and I am all for it, but I felt like it was added only to check boxes off a list. I don’t want to go into detail because I want everyone to read the book and for their own opinions, but for me it really did nothing for the storyline. When I was done I felt like a balloon that had been popped.

A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children- James T. Webb

I read this book as part of a parenting class for my oldest daughter. She is in the Gifted program in our school district and I was encouraged to do the class by a friend. I will say that if you have a gifted child, you should really read this book. It has helped us so much, not just in parenting but understanding how my child thinks and reacts to things.

Where is the White House? – Megan Stine

I read this one with my oldest, as she has been interested in the White House. This book in just one in a very large series about all sorts of people, places and things. I highly encourage all parents who have kids who are interested in something to look into this series and see if there is a book for your topic.

The Skylark’s Secret- Fiona Valpy

I have become a huge fan of Fiona Valpy. Her books are well written and suck you into the lives of the characters right from the start. This particular story is about a young girl who leaves London to head back to the Scottish Highlands after her mother passes. With her tail between her legs she returns as a single mother, not wanting to admit that she failed at her dreams. While back in her childhood home she learns so much about the past of her grandmother, mother and the entire town and the part they played in World War II. A wonderful read that I will definitely be reading again.

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September 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear – Kate Moore

I read this book as part of a book club and I loved it. I seriously could not put it down. This a a true story of what one woman went through and how she changed the laws for every woman in America. This is a MUST read!! I am still mind blown about how women were actually treated and just how powerless we were. I give this a 10/10 and highly recommend it to everyone.

When We Believed in Mermaids – Barbara O’Neal

I ended up loving this book and it was not what I expected. This story is about two sisters who have had a rough childhood and adult hood doesn’t seem to be much easier. This is a great beach read for those who are looking for one.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars– Glendy Vanderah

When I first started this book I thought it was going to be about aliens. I almost gave up but decided to give it a couple of chapters. It turns out to not be about aliens but a little girl who has run away. It was a good read and I am glad that I finished the book but I am not sure I would ever read it again.

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August 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

The Lost and Found Bookshop– Susan Wiggs

You must go read this book now! It is such a crazy wonderful story that will leave you wanting more. The story is so well written with extremely well developed characters. I can’t go into much detail or I will give the entire book away, but the main character goes through some changes right at the beginning of the book. AHHH! I want to tell you more but if iI do I will be giving away too much! I I will be reading this book again for sure.

The Summer Guests – Mary Alice Monroe

This book actually took me a couple of tries to start. It was not the typical romance novel that I thought it was going to be but it was still a good read once I got going. This particular story has a number of characters in it who are all brought together by a hurricane. There are love triangles and major life changes going on in the story. I definitely would recommend it for those who want a little more than your average romance.

The Book of Lost Names – Kristin Harmel

This book takes place in two time settings, World War II and present day. (You will see this is a theme of a lot of books I read this year that I didn’t plan on). I have already recommended it to so many people and I can’t wait to read it again. There were so many everyday people in Europe that fought against the Nazi Regime in their own way trying to make a difference and this is just one more example of that. If you love history and want read more about small players in WWII this book is for you.

Shackles – Diane J. Wilson

This book was one that I had downloaded from the Kindle store because it was free. I didn’t read it for a long time but once I did it was not what I expected. I would put this book in the mystery/suspense category as there are some twists and turns that happen. I did what to give up on it a couple of times in the first few chapters, so don’t give up and give it a chance.

The Canyon’s Edge – Dusti Bowling

I read this one, which is a book of poetry, with my oldest daughter. It is on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list and she had a hard time reading it herself. At first I was skeptical about it being a kid’s book but the overall message of the book was a great one.

Girl Last Seen – Nina Laurin

Ok, this book is a great read, however it is a little on the dark side. As you may guess from the title, the story is about a girl who has disappeared. I would put it in the thriller category and it a challenge for your mind because there are a few twists and turns.

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July 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

Ladies of the House: A Modern Retelling of Sense and Sensibility – Lauren Edmondson

I have never read Sense and Sensibility but it is on my list to read. I saw this book and decided to give it a try since it is a modern day version. I was hooked from the beginning and vow that in the next year I will read the original version. I highly recommend this book for any book lover out there.

American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI – Kate Winkler Dawson

I read this book as part of the book club that Sharon McMahon (@sharonsaysso) hosts. I love a good mystery and can’t get enough of true crime tv shows, stories and podcasts. This book is the product of years of research done by Kate Winkler Dawson. This book is all about the man who literally created the Forensic Science protocols that we know today. It is such an interesting read and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves true crime stuff.

Destination Wedding – Aaron Stander

My dad turned me onto Aaron Stander when bought the first two books of this series in the Cherry Capitol Airport in Traverse City, Michigan. Stander is a local Michigan author and all of his novels are based there. If you love a great mystery with twists you should pick up one of these books. This is the most recent book released and it didn’t disappoint. I read the whole thing while I was waiting in the airport and on the plane ride home.

Golden Girl – Elin Hilderbrand

This is Elin Hilderbrand’ most recent book. I was hesitant to read it after the way that Sumer of ‘69 was written. This book goes back to Hilderbrand’s normal style and it did not disappoint. I couldn’t put it down and was sad when it came to and end. I will say this book had a twist that I didn’t see coming until the very end of the book. If you like Elin Hilderbrand this is a must read.

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June 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

A Cold Creek Homecoming – RaeAnne Thayne

I have read some of RaeAnne Thayne’s books and something keeps bringing me back to her. This book is your typical romance novel but a fun and relaxing book to read when you want to relax.

Coming Home to Crimson – Michelle Major

If you have read a romance novel chances are this story will be very familiar to you. I enjoyed it as I do many romance novels and recommend it for an easy read when you need to get your mind off of everything going on.

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May 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

The Beekeeper’s Promise– Fiona Valpy

I chose to read this book because I love bees. I have to admit that I am one to choose a book by it’s cover and most of the time I haven’t been disappointed. This is the first book that I have read by author Fiona Valpy and I am hooked on her. This book takes place in two different eras. The past, during World War II and the present of modern day. I loved this book because it gave an insight to what people went through in everyday life in Europe during WWII. If you haven’t read this book you are missing and and need to ASAP.

True Colors – Kristin Hannah

I love Kristin Hannah and all of her books. I will have to say that this one while it is a great story it is towards the bottom of the list for me. The story is well told and I loved the way that Hannah weaved the stories of the three sisters. If you love Kristin Hannah this is a great

The Country Guesthouse – Robyn Carr

Robyn Carr is an author I started reading because I liked the title of a book. This story has a familiar story but she takes it way past the surface level that other novels stop at. I will say that with this book I thought I knew what was coming next as far as the romance side goes and I was pleasantly surprised when it was a little different. I would recommend this book and it would make a great beach read.

The River – Peter Heller

This book was super good but also creepy. I loved reading it and it was a totally different type of book for me. If you like thrillers and suspense novels this is a great one for you. But I can promise you I will not be taking any rafting trips any time soon.

Carnegie’s Maid – Marie Benedict

To be honest I chose to read this book solely based on the title. I really enjoyed this book and it was not what I was expecting. If you need an easy, uncomplicated read this is a great one.

As I Lay Dying – William Faulkner

I am not one to read a ton of the so called “Classics”. I have read a few of them but most have been a struggle for me to get through. I have read a few of Faulkner’s books over the years and this one falls in the middle of the road for me. I think that if you like Faulkner you will enjoy this read, but if you are not a fan of him you can pass on it. For those of you who are wondering A Light in August is my favorite Faulkner novel.

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March-April 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

In March and April I did not read a lot. I just honestly was not feeling like reading and so I didn’t. This is not unusual to read a lot in a short period of time and then to take some time off. This is also why I set my reading goal at 52 books. I did read some good books, so here they are.

Books I read:

Magic Hour– Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. I know that when I start on of her books it may take a little time to really get into the book but once I am hooked I can’t put it down. Magic Hour was no exception to this. This story is about a girl who wanders into a town and no one knows where she came from. She is a feral child and Hannah writes the story beautifully.

Under the Almond Blossoms – Aknja Saskia Beyer

Under the Almond Blossoms was a quick download on my Kindle App one night. I liked the cover of the book and the title. The is a book that has set me on to a number of books that talk about World War II in a different light. It is from the prospective of younger generations and how the main character has to search to find out about her past. If you need a weekend read you should really check this one out.

The Sea Glass Cottage– RaeAnne Thayne

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February 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

In February I did more reading for myself and crossed a book off of my Reading Bucket List. I also found a new author that I am fan of. If you haven’t signed up for GoodReads you really need to. You can follow authors and track books that you have read. I created a shelf that keeps a list of the books that I want to read.

Books I read:

No Other Way– Mari Carragii

I needed an easy read after working my way through Leaves of Grass. This one fit the bill and was a quick read. It is a book in a series and I have not read any other books in the group. I enjoyed it and plan on circling back around to it when I read the entire series.

Leaves of Grass– Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass has been on my “To Read” list for years. My goal is to read a vast number of the classics. This was such a hard read for me. I am not a poetry person but I forced myself to finish it. There were some poems that I did enjoy but some were super hard for me to get through. Although it is not one of my favorites I highly suggest that everyone should read it.

Murder On Sugar Island– Michael Carrier

My parents picked out this book for me last summer. They were in Michigan at some market and this local author was selling his books. I love reading books where I know somewhat of the layout of the area where the story is taking place. This was really interesting and a great read. I can’t wait to read more of his books.

Spring House– Mary Ellen Taylor

I have become a fan of Mary Ellen Taylor and have read another one of her books. I got caught up in this book very easily and could not put it down. I high suggest this book if you want to get sucked into a good book on a long weekend.

Going Down Easy– Carly Phillips

Honestly I don’t remember much about this book. I downloaded it from the Kindle store one night when adding new books to my Kindle app. It was a quick and easy romance novel to read.

Layla– Colleen Hoover

Holy mind blowing twists and turns! If you want a mind blowing thriller this book is for you. From the first page on the book messes with your mind and no matter how much you think you have figured things out, you haven’t. I was stunned when I finished this book. I loved this book so much and it will probably be one of those books that I read every year.

The Duke and I – Julia Quinn

After hearing so much about the show, I decided to watch it. I ended up binge watching the entire 1st season. I loved it so much that I had to read the book. Julia Quinn did a great job writing this story and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

The Gunners– Rebecca Kauffman

This book was picked out for me by the staff at Between the Covers in Harbor Springs, Michigan. It is a story about a group of youth who are lost in who they are and how they come

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January 2021 Reads

Books, Reading

In January I started my reading challenge. At some point a few months ago I realized that my Kindle App needed to be cleaned up. There were a number of books that I had downloaded at some previous point and have never gotten around to reading. I decided that this was a good place to start my reading challenge since I would be doing some housekeeping as well.

As you will see from the list of books below, The Boxcar Children made an appearance. I normally would not count these, but I am trying to instill my love of reading in my daughter, so I have been reading to her. It took us a couple tries but we finally found a series of books that she is into and looks forward to reading.

Books I read:

The Dying Hour– Rick Mofina

This book is about a rookie reporter and a story that falls into his lap. There are almost two separate stories taking place at the same time but eventually they come together. I really enjoyed this one and if you are looking for a mystery/thriller you should give it a try.

The Windy City Mystery – Gretrude Chandler Warner

The Woodshed Mystery– Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Mountain Top Mystery– Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Mystery at the Fair– Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Mystery in the Old Attic– Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Last Monument– Michael C. Grumley

The Last Monument takes you on a thrilling adventure through South America in search of clues from WWII. It was a fairly easy read and I kept wanting to read more. It is a great book for a relaxing read while on vacation.

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