I recently finished 'The Library of Lost and Found' by Phaedra Patrick and really loved it. The story is about a librarian named Martha Storm and a mysterious gift she receives. When a book of stories that she had written with her deceased grandmother surfaces, Martha sets off to figure out who left it, who wrote it, and why the dedication to her, from her grandmother, is dated after she was already dead.
Martha Storm spends her life trying to help others, while her own life falls to shambles around her. Yet, she keeps going. At times, I cringed at how hard she tries to please the people in her life. I suppose we all have those moments, whether we care to admit them or not. As the story goes along, Martha discovers who she really is and what she should be doing with her life. She does this all while finding the missing pieces of her past that she sometimes didn't even know were there. The cast of characters in this book is so fun. Eccentric co-workers, domineering sister, care free grandmother, and an overly confident bookseller to name a few. I feel like a lot of people can relate to at least one of the characters in this book. They are all quirky in their own ways and it was the perfect mix of personalities.
The story is funny, heartwarming, and a bit sad. There are a few pretty emotional topics that Phaedra touches on, but they are an absolute must in order to know Martha's full story.
The story goes back and forth between Martha's childhood and present day and I felt like the transitions were really easy. Sometimes, flash back stories feel disconnected but it wasn't in this case.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I can safely say I will recommend this book to my friends. I will also be looking for other books by Phaedra Patrick to read since I enjoyed this one so much.
If you are in the mood for something light and fun to read, I highly suggest you try this one out! This book is available for purchase on March 26, 2019.
Happy reading!
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Monday, March 11, 2019
A Lily in the Light
Over the past weekend, I finished my seventeenth book of this year. I got 'A Lily in the Light' by Kristin Fields from Amazon as my March Kindle First Read choice. If you aren't familiar with Kindle First Reads, it's really a cool opportunity. Each month, Amazon chooses a handful of books that are set to come out the following month and offers them free or for $1.99 (depending on your Prime account) to read and be able to review before they are released. You can choose one book a month at the discounted price but are free to buy the others at their regular list price. I have loved choosing a book each month and one of my good friends and I often compare notes an discuss them together.
I really enjoyed this book, even though the story was really heavy at times. The story revolves around a family and how their lives change when the youngest child goes missing. I initially chose it because it sounded like a good mystery but I was pretty surprised by how it was more about what happens in the wake of a horrific family event and the grief that follows the characters around, years afterwards. It was very moving to read about the day to day struggles that the characters had as a result of this incident and I truly cannot imagine going through that myself. The way that Kristin writes is very forward and tangible. The emotions were raw and also incredibly vibrant at the same time.
I don't like spoilers for books (or movies) so that is all I want to say about the book. But, if you can get yourself a copy of it, I would highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed this book, even though the story was really heavy at times. The story revolves around a family and how their lives change when the youngest child goes missing. I initially chose it because it sounded like a good mystery but I was pretty surprised by how it was more about what happens in the wake of a horrific family event and the grief that follows the characters around, years afterwards. It was very moving to read about the day to day struggles that the characters had as a result of this incident and I truly cannot imagine going through that myself. The way that Kristin writes is very forward and tangible. The emotions were raw and also incredibly vibrant at the same time.
I don't like spoilers for books (or movies) so that is all I want to say about the book. But, if you can get yourself a copy of it, I would highly recommend it.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
A Few of My Favorites
Favorite books. Let's discuss. I have a small-ish list of the books that I absolutely love. A lot of these are books that I will almost always recommend to someone when asked what they should read.
I have so many books I would call my favorite but one book stands out from all others. My absolute favorite book of all time is 'The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe' by C.S. Lewis. I can read that book any time and it still holds the same magic for me as it did the very first time I read it as a child. I love the story, the characters, the battle of good versus evil, and the message of hope and love. I read this book once a year usually, just to enjoy it again. If you have never read The Chronicles of Narnia, do it! You will not be disappointed!
Have you ever read a book that felt like it had a life of its own and it sucked you in, body and soul? I have read two in the past couple of years that were that way for me. The first is 'A Man Called Ove' by Fredrik Backman. I had read great reviews about this book but I was not prepared for all the emotions it brought with it. I won't go into a full fledged review on this book but it is about an older gentleman and the grief that has consumed his life. New neighbors move in and his whole world is turned upside down. I am not one for spoilers so I won't say anything else, but look into it! I think everyone who has read it has enjoyed it on some level.
The second book that totally threw me for a loop emotionally was 'The Great Alone' by Kristin Hannah. I must have replayed the story in my head about a million times in the last year. This book sticks with you in a way that not every book will. Kristin Hannah has a way of drawing out such real and vivid images and emotions, you can't help but be invested in the characters and their stories as if it was your own life. Again, not a full fledged review but the book is about a teenage girl being uprooted from her suburban life and thrown into a new life in wild Alaska in the 1970's and 1980's, Everything in the story is big and heavy but also beautiful in a somewhat harsh way. Again, Kristin Hannah is an author that writes with a ton of emotion and weight. This is not a light read but it will grab you from the first chapter and won't let go. Make sure you have time to invest in this because you will not want to put it down.
These next two books will forever be classified together in my head. I read them around the same time and their plots are similar enough to group together. 'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins and 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth. Both are set in the maybe not so distant future of America. Both are books about the need for the survival of the human race but also for the upheaval of the corrupt ways that have led their societies to ruin. Strong female lead characters and plenty of action in both. I enjoy young adult reads when they are done well, as these two are. Of course, they were both made into movies but only The Hunger Games came out remotely close to the book. I always say "The book was better". 99.9% of the cases of this are true.
Any Disney fans out there? I love the princess stories and the magic. One of my favorite authors to read is Rachel Hauck. I got hooked on her books when I read 'Once Upon A Prince' years ago. All the magic of a Disney princess movie but for real life! I suppose you might be interested in this book if you are a fan of the British Royals also. This book is a story of a small town girl from Georgia who meets a real prince and all that ensues. It's a light read that is sure to make you smile. It's not quite Hallmark movie sweet but pretty darn close! Actually, it was made into a Hallmark movie. (I haven't watched it.) Rachel Hauck has written several other series and stand alone books that are very different than this and I would recommend any of her books.
My next book had a lot of hype and negative reviews that surrounded it because of the content. No, not 50 Shades. 'Me Before You' by JoJo Moyes was incredible. Oh, the emotions! If you haven't heard of this book (or movie), here goes. It's a story about a young woman who takes a job as a care giver for a man who is paralyzed from the neck down. The story of how their friendship grows and changes and how the characters themselves grow and change is amazing. No spoilers here, but the end wrecked me. Completely wrecked me. I'm a total crier when I read and this takes the cake. Truly, make sure you have plenty of tissues.
'Twilight' by Stephanie Meyer. Either you love it or you hate it. More people hate it and love to make fun of it. I love it and I have never cared what anyone else thinks! I just think it's so fun and I love it all!
And lastly, 'Dorthy Must Die' by Danielle Paige. Real fact- I love The Wizard of Oz the movie and do not like the book version. Crazy, right? I collect anything and everything that has to do with the movie and I even had a Dorothy dress made for myself when I was in high school. Obsessed? A tad. Anyway, I picked this book up a few years after I read the Wicked series by Gregory Maguire. I had to see what the other side of Oz was like and I loved it. Absolutely loved it! The series that Danielle Paige wrote is so twisted and fun. It definitely makes you think twice about how happy of a place that Oz really was. If it can make a Wizard of Oz nut really dislike Dorothy, you know it's got to be good!
The books I have mentioned today are just a small handful of books that I love and would recommend. I really do love suggesting books and read many other genres that I did not even touch on here. If you are looking for something good to read you can pop over to my Goodreads page or shoot me a comment or email! I would love to hear what some of your favorites are, so leave me a comment and tell me what you love and would recommend!
Happy reading, friends!
I have so many books I would call my favorite but one book stands out from all others. My absolute favorite book of all time is 'The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe' by C.S. Lewis. I can read that book any time and it still holds the same magic for me as it did the very first time I read it as a child. I love the story, the characters, the battle of good versus evil, and the message of hope and love. I read this book once a year usually, just to enjoy it again. If you have never read The Chronicles of Narnia, do it! You will not be disappointed!
Have you ever read a book that felt like it had a life of its own and it sucked you in, body and soul? I have read two in the past couple of years that were that way for me. The first is 'A Man Called Ove' by Fredrik Backman. I had read great reviews about this book but I was not prepared for all the emotions it brought with it. I won't go into a full fledged review on this book but it is about an older gentleman and the grief that has consumed his life. New neighbors move in and his whole world is turned upside down. I am not one for spoilers so I won't say anything else, but look into it! I think everyone who has read it has enjoyed it on some level.
The second book that totally threw me for a loop emotionally was 'The Great Alone' by Kristin Hannah. I must have replayed the story in my head about a million times in the last year. This book sticks with you in a way that not every book will. Kristin Hannah has a way of drawing out such real and vivid images and emotions, you can't help but be invested in the characters and their stories as if it was your own life. Again, not a full fledged review but the book is about a teenage girl being uprooted from her suburban life and thrown into a new life in wild Alaska in the 1970's and 1980's, Everything in the story is big and heavy but also beautiful in a somewhat harsh way. Again, Kristin Hannah is an author that writes with a ton of emotion and weight. This is not a light read but it will grab you from the first chapter and won't let go. Make sure you have time to invest in this because you will not want to put it down.
These next two books will forever be classified together in my head. I read them around the same time and their plots are similar enough to group together. 'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins and 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth. Both are set in the maybe not so distant future of America. Both are books about the need for the survival of the human race but also for the upheaval of the corrupt ways that have led their societies to ruin. Strong female lead characters and plenty of action in both. I enjoy young adult reads when they are done well, as these two are. Of course, they were both made into movies but only The Hunger Games came out remotely close to the book. I always say "The book was better". 99.9% of the cases of this are true.
Any Disney fans out there? I love the princess stories and the magic. One of my favorite authors to read is Rachel Hauck. I got hooked on her books when I read 'Once Upon A Prince' years ago. All the magic of a Disney princess movie but for real life! I suppose you might be interested in this book if you are a fan of the British Royals also. This book is a story of a small town girl from Georgia who meets a real prince and all that ensues. It's a light read that is sure to make you smile. It's not quite Hallmark movie sweet but pretty darn close! Actually, it was made into a Hallmark movie. (I haven't watched it.) Rachel Hauck has written several other series and stand alone books that are very different than this and I would recommend any of her books.
My next book had a lot of hype and negative reviews that surrounded it because of the content. No, not 50 Shades. 'Me Before You' by JoJo Moyes was incredible. Oh, the emotions! If you haven't heard of this book (or movie), here goes. It's a story about a young woman who takes a job as a care giver for a man who is paralyzed from the neck down. The story of how their friendship grows and changes and how the characters themselves grow and change is amazing. No spoilers here, but the end wrecked me. Completely wrecked me. I'm a total crier when I read and this takes the cake. Truly, make sure you have plenty of tissues.
'Twilight' by Stephanie Meyer. Either you love it or you hate it. More people hate it and love to make fun of it. I love it and I have never cared what anyone else thinks! I just think it's so fun and I love it all!
And lastly, 'Dorthy Must Die' by Danielle Paige. Real fact- I love The Wizard of Oz the movie and do not like the book version. Crazy, right? I collect anything and everything that has to do with the movie and I even had a Dorothy dress made for myself when I was in high school. Obsessed? A tad. Anyway, I picked this book up a few years after I read the Wicked series by Gregory Maguire. I had to see what the other side of Oz was like and I loved it. Absolutely loved it! The series that Danielle Paige wrote is so twisted and fun. It definitely makes you think twice about how happy of a place that Oz really was. If it can make a Wizard of Oz nut really dislike Dorothy, you know it's got to be good!
The books I have mentioned today are just a small handful of books that I love and would recommend. I really do love suggesting books and read many other genres that I did not even touch on here. If you are looking for something good to read you can pop over to my Goodreads page or shoot me a comment or email! I would love to hear what some of your favorites are, so leave me a comment and tell me what you love and would recommend!
Happy reading, friends!
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Readers Gonna Read
After some gentle nudging by friends who believe I have something to say, I took a leap and created this blog. Adventures await! If you are reading this, you have probably figured out that I like to read. That's almost an understatement. But, for the sake of starting things off right, let me tell you a little bit about myself.
I am an avid user of Goodreads and you can find my Reading Challenge on the right hand side of this page. If you haven't ventured into Goodreads yet, I highly recommend that you give it a try. Not only is it a great place to keep track of what you read, but you can also get so many great book suggestions.
I have a handful of favorite authors and you will likely see a theme at some point. I do read a variety of genres and try to branch out from my usual. One thing I am adamant about is this- if you are reading a book and you don't like it, can't get onto it, it isn't your thing....just quit! Do not waste your time on books that don't excite you. Marie Kondo your books- if it doesn't spark joy then just toss it! There are too many good books and not enough time to read them all.
Outside of reading, I have a pretty full life. My husband, Mike, and I have been married for almost 5 years. We have 5 kids between us, although only two live with us full time. They keep us on our toes on a daily basis. I also work full time as a para-educator at a local school and I volunteer for the PTO. We are active with our church and friends.
So, how do I find time to read? Any chance I get. I love my Kindle Paperwhite because I can take my books anywhere. Like the title says, Readers Gonna Read.
I have some ideas for some posts later in the week. I'm not really sure how often I will be posting, but I would like to post all my book reviews here. I hope you will find something good here and I am excited to see where this goes!
I am an avid user of Goodreads and you can find my Reading Challenge on the right hand side of this page. If you haven't ventured into Goodreads yet, I highly recommend that you give it a try. Not only is it a great place to keep track of what you read, but you can also get so many great book suggestions.
I have a handful of favorite authors and you will likely see a theme at some point. I do read a variety of genres and try to branch out from my usual. One thing I am adamant about is this- if you are reading a book and you don't like it, can't get onto it, it isn't your thing....just quit! Do not waste your time on books that don't excite you. Marie Kondo your books- if it doesn't spark joy then just toss it! There are too many good books and not enough time to read them all.
Outside of reading, I have a pretty full life. My husband, Mike, and I have been married for almost 5 years. We have 5 kids between us, although only two live with us full time. They keep us on our toes on a daily basis. I also work full time as a para-educator at a local school and I volunteer for the PTO. We are active with our church and friends.
So, how do I find time to read? Any chance I get. I love my Kindle Paperwhite because I can take my books anywhere. Like the title says, Readers Gonna Read.
I have some ideas for some posts later in the week. I'm not really sure how often I will be posting, but I would like to post all my book reviews here. I hope you will find something good here and I am excited to see where this goes!
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