When I Was You

Identity theft or paranoia? 

I recently read 'When I Was You' by Minka Kent. It was a good read! It seemed fast paced and kept me guessing about two thirds of the way through. 

The story starts with the main character, Brienne Dougray, going through some of her personal history. She tells how she was brutally attacked and the lasting effects it has had on her life. Before her attack, she lived alone in a house that she grew up in and that she inherited from her grandparents. She decided to take on a roommate after her attack, to help her feel less alone and a little more safe. She finds a roommate in Dr. Niall Emberlin and they become friends. Brienne feels like she can trust him and they fall into an easy routine.  Brienne starts to try and work through her fears and anxiety and makes good strides towards a somewhat normal life...until she receives some mail that makes her question everything she has built. 

Brienne receives a key in the mail, along with a letter that states that her rent has been paid in advance and she can move in whenever she wants to. She goes back and forth about what this is and if it was a mistake. She eventually does some research (and a little spying) and finds someone who is pretending to be her. What happens next is for you to find out. 

I have read one other book by Minka Kent (The Thinnest Air) and I would recommend either book if you are looking for some suspense and twists and turns. They are fast reads and will keep you guessing. Happy reading!

The Unhoneymooners

Imagine going on an all expense paid vacation....with the one person you loathe. Now you are set for The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.

I have to start by saying that this book was such a fun and fast read. The concept of this story is so hilarious- I would have never thought of it. The book starts on the wedding day of Ami and Dane. Ami has an identical twin sister, Olive, and the two could not be more different. Olive is a self proclaimed unlucky person and Ami wins everything. Thanks to various contests and drawings she has entered, her entire wedding, reception, and honeymoon have been paid for.  At the reception, everyone except for Olive and the groom's brother, Ethan, enjoy a buffet complete with shellfish/seafood. Consequently, everyone except Olive and Ethan end up with extreme food poisoning. In the mix of it all, Ami and Dane insist that their siblings take their ids and go on their honeymoon for them...much to their dislike.

As they embark on the trip, they start to learn more about each other, whether they want to or not. Once in Hawaii, they have to pretend to be newlyweds and it comes with many hilarious instances of them pretending to be madly in love and physically affectionate. They have ten days together and anything is possible. I loved how this story unfolded and how the dynamic changes between Olive and Ethan.

No spoilers for what happens, but this was so hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book. And the characters, main and minor, are all so relatable and entertaining. I highly recommend picking this up for your next read! I need to check out Christina Lauren's other books. Other reviews I have read mentioned that this book did not disappoint compared to her previous books. I love finding new authors that I enjoy!

I hope this new year finds you happy and healthy. If you are still here following this blog, I appreciate you hanging in there! I want to make reviewing here a priority for 2020! Until next time, happy reading!

The Bookshop On The Shore

I was recently able to get a copy of Jenny Colgan's newest book, 'The Bookshop On The Shore' and I loved it! I have read quite a few books by Jenny Colgan and I enjoy her writing style. My personal favorite book of hers (so far) is 'The Bookshop On The Corner'. This new one is the second in the Scottish Bookshop series, with 'The Bookshop On The Corner' being the first. While it is part of a series, it has it's own characters and story line. A few of the characters from the first book make appearances and I loved "catching up" with them.

This story is about Zoe, a single mother living in London. She desperately needs a change for her and her son, Hari. Hari's dad is not a reliable guy and does nothing to help them out and she lives in a small studio type residence in a run down building, in a less than desirable area of town. She feels like she is hitting rock bottom when a job opportunity and new place to live opens up for her and Hari. She moves to the Scottish Highlands and becomes a live in nanny and part time book bus driver/seller.

From the moment she arrives, she has a difficult time with the three children she is looking after, as well as the housekeeper. The father is a single parent and never home, due to work. Zoe works her way into their hearts slowly but surely, but not without many trials and a lot of learning along the way. I loved how Zoe's story was woven in with Nina, Lennox, and Surinder's stories (first book characters), but also very much a new story to love. And I really loved how Hari changed and grew throughout the whole story. Being with the kids in Zoe's care was what he needed to know what a family is about, and living on the loch provided him with an amazing place to grow and play. It was all so well written!

Jenny Colgan always has just the right amount of humor in her books to keep you reading, as well as a desire to know how it all ends. I'm always sad when the book is over because I get so caught up in the lives I am reading.

I would highly suggest 'The Bookshop On The Corner' as well as 'The Bookshop On The Shore'. If you read these, let me know how you liked them! Happy reading, friends!

Review Blitz

Once again, I am behind on book reviews. In my defense, the last week of school was a little crazy! Now we are on summer break and enjoying a much more relaxed pace. I love it!

If you have read any of my previous posts or know me personally, you know that I am a fan of Debbie Macomber books. I have devoured series of hers and am slowing working my way through her other books. Last week I read 'The Man You'll Marry' and it did not disappoint. It ended up being two novellas in one book together and I loved them both! The first story started out with the main character Shelly receiving a package from her great aunt- her wedding dress, which she has always said has magical powers to find your true love. According to her great aunt, once you receive the dress, the first man you meet after is the man you will marry. Shelly is dead set against getting married and is horrified to meet a man right after she receives the dress. How the story unfolds is hilarious and really sweet. The second story in the book was centered around Shelly's best friend who receives the wedding dress as a gift from Shelly. Again, the story of meeting her future husband starts off a chain of events that is entertaining. Both ladies end up discovering more about themselves and their lives, through the dress and the circumstances that happen throughout the story. I love Debbie's books because she is so wonderful at making characters and their emotions so real. If you haven't read anything by Debbie Macomber, shoot me a text or message for some recommendations, in addition to anything I have posted in my blog.

My next book was 'The Lost Husband' by Catherine Center. I enjoyed Catherine's book 'How To Walk Away' so much that I looked up other books by her and found this one. I loved it just as much, if not more. The story is about a woman named Libby and her two kids moving to Texas to start a new life at her Aunt Jean's farm. Libby lost her husband a couple of years back and has been floating along in a daze, trying her best to take care of the kids and to please her mother, who they live with. Moving to Aunt Jean's farm ends up being exactly what they need- a new life, a new outlook, and a family that they never had. If you are a fan of redemption type stories, you will love this one. Libby goes from feeling like she is weighted down and gasping for breath, to feeling like she is worthy of living a good life with family and friends who love and support her. Finally finding your place in the world is the best feeling!

Each month Amazon selects a handful of books that are due to publish the following month and offers them for free with a Prime account, or $1.99 without. I got this next book as an Amazon First Reads book and I really enjoyed it. I like a bit of suspense and mystery. I think I like it more when I can figure it out half way through, if I am being honest. 'False Step' by Victoria Helen Stone is about a little boy who got was lost and then found on a hiking trail by Johnny Bradley, who was seemingly in the right place at the right time. His wife, Veronica, isn't sure about it, though. We quickly learn that they are not the happy family that they seem to be. As the story unfolds we learn all kinds of secrets that both Johnny and Veronica have. I really enjoyed the suspense and the second guessing I did of the characters. There were quite a few graphic descriptions of personal relationships that I could have easily done without, though. All in all, it was a good read.

The last book for my review round up today is 'Finding Ever After: Four Fairytale-ish Novellas' by Pepper Basham, Rachel McMillian, Ashley Clark, and Betsy St. Amant. I love novellas! There is something so satisfying about whizzing through a novella and realizing you have time for more! The novellas were so fun, if you are a fan of fairy tales. They each were set in different time periods and were representing different fairy tale story lines. In each story the characters all come into possession or the book Finding Ever After. It is a book of fairy tale stories that is created in the first novella and is passed through each story and time period. I thought it was genius! It is also super awesome to me that in each novella, one or both of the main characters are book lovers.
The first was Stairs and Stardust, set in Asheville, NC in 1913. It represented a Cinderella story and I think it was my favorite. A talented illustrator meets a charming but down to earth gentleman and their friendship grows. They are both surprised when they realize they are both more than they let on to be. It was a really sweet story and I will likely read it again.
The next story was Entanglements and it represented Rapunzel. A teacher and piano tuner is hired to practice with a woman who would like to perform a concert before she is married off into a word she hates and to a man she doesn't love. The attraction is instantaneous and mutual but they both fight it because of their circumstances. Eventually, that gives way to freeing the woman and a happy ending, as per usual for a fairy tale. It was a fun story.
Twice Upon A Time was a great story also, and my second favorite in the book. It represented Beauty and The Beast. A woman comes home to prepare her family home and land for sale and meet with a buyer. Turns out the buyer is her ex fiance who has a plan to reconcile with her. It was comical and sweet and I enjoyed the story very much.
The last novella was Once Bitten and it represented Snow White. A handsome woodsman, seven geeky friends, a stepmother and stepsister, and one eligible bachelorette round out this story. The main character is a book store owner that hires the handy man to accompany her to a family get away in an attempt to impress her stepmother and stepsister. It was a very entertaining story and a great nod to Snow White.
All in all, I thought all of the novellas were a great representation of the fairy tales that we all know and love. A somewhat modern day twist on them was a great change of pace without butchering them. I would highly recommend this collection of novellas if you are in the mood for some light and fun reading this summer.

I am still plugging away at my Goodreads reading challenge. I am closing in on 40 books read and that feels good! In addition to the challenge, the Summer Reading Program has started at our library. The kids and I have been waiting for it to begin and we are so happy to be taking part in it again! We are still working our way through the Harry Potter series together and they have books of their own they are reading or listening to. I am currently reading 'Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll' by Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson. I love Heart and this was a fun find on Amazon Prime Reading. Does your library have a summer reading program? If so, are you participating? Drop my a line or a comment and let me know what you are reading!

Happy reading, friends!

One Day In December

You guys, I am on a roll! Two blog posts in two days AND I have finished 4 books this week! This is so fun!

My latest book is 'One Day In December' by Josie Silver. I absolutely loved this book! It was funny and at times, cringe worthy. The story is about a woman named Laurie who sees a man from a bus window and is convinced that she has just experienced love at first sight. She feels very strongly that the man also felt the same connection, without ever speaking. She tells her best friend and roommate, Sarah, about him and they go on a year long search for "bus boy". He never turns up and she starts to try and move past the image of him and what could have been. Then Sarah brings home her new boyfriend the following Christmas....guess who?! Bus boy, AKA Jack, meets Laurie and instantly knows that is the women he saw on the bus a year ago. Neither of them say anything to Sarah and they both move forward trying to forget it. This book spans years in their lives and they all grow and change, as do their relationships. All the things that happen to the characters feel so real. The author did an outstanding job of making this realistic and plausible.

The vibe of this book was at times like Bridget Jones and at times, Notting Hill with a dash of My Best Friend's Wedding. It was just such a fun read. I whizzed right though it and was left wanting more.

I hope you get the chance to read this! Let me know what you think, if you do! This would be the perfect beach read!

Happy reading, friends!

Deborah Harkness Series Review

I love book series. I especially love book series that keep me wanting more! In February I started the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness and immediately fell in love. I have waited this long to review any of the books because I also read a stand alone by her, with a lot of the same characters in it. Reviewing these books all together felt like the right thing to do since the transition from book to book was so seamless.  I read somewhere that these books were like Twilight and Harry Potter mixed and that is exactly what I felt like they were! I loved them!

The first book in the series is called 'A Discovery of Witches'. It follows Diana Bishop, a historian and professor, in her quest to find a missing book that happens to be magical. She also discovers her powers as a witch and learns more about herself and her family history throughout the series. She meets Matthew Clairmont who happens to be a vampire. They set off together to find Ashmole 782, a historical text that all magical creatures are searching for, thinking that it holds the secret to life. Matthew and Diana race around the globe and encounter many creatures, both friends and enemies. By the end of the book they are inching closer to finding out the secrets of Ashmole 782 but there is a lot that stands in their way. Not surprising, they fall in love through the course of this book. I love a little romance mixed with historical aspects. Add a dash of magic and I'm happy! 

The second book in the series is 'Shadow of Night'. It starts out with Matthew and Diana time traveling back to Elizabethan London (my favorite!) in search of witches who can help her learn and harness her powers. They realize the success of finding Ashmole 782 lies in Diana's abilities. Her parents had spellbound her as a young child, before they were killed, so Diana never knew the extent of her powers. I loved all of the historical characters and places that were featured in this book. I have a deep love for historical fiction so this book really grabbed hold of me. I loved how Diana learned more about her powers and her family. I adored the love story between her and Matthew. Not only did they learn about each other's pasts and Diana's magical abilities, but they also learned how to create a life they love and can carry into present day. They have become two of my very favorite fictional characters. This book was so hard to put down- I spent an entire day reading it from cover to cover. (My family is super awesome for giving me a day to nerd out!)

In the third book, 'The Book of Life', Diana and Matthew are back in present day, armed with knowledge and power to find Ashmole 782. They go up against some of Matthew's family and Diana's past to forge through every kind of struggle you can imagine. Finding Ashmole 782 and learning its secrets are vitally important not only to Diana and Matthew, but to other creatures as well. Creatures with evil intentions. I won't spoil anything, of course, so I will stop there. Just know that the suspense is real in this book! I could hardly put it down at times as real life got in the way of reading. Deborah Harkness is a wonderful storyteller who knows how to create such an amazing magical connection to our own reality. 

Lastly, the stand alone book 'Time's Convert'. This book has a lot of the same characters that are in the trilogy but also introduces some new ones as well. This book focuses on Marcus MacNeil, one of Matthew's "sons" from the previous books. It is his story of his life before he met Matthew and how he became a vampire. Again, the story has a lot of historical fiction, as it takes place during both the American Revolution and present day, where Marcus and his love, Phoebe Taylor go through the process of making her a vampire as well. Phoebe chooses life as a vampire and goes through the process to become one. Meanwhile, Marcus must stay away for 90 days until Phoebe is no longer in her newborn phase. There are a lot of rules and traditions that take place and in the midst of them all, we learn all about Marcus and his personal history. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the trilogy. I think it boils down to the American Revolution. It does not hold my interest as much as other time periods and historical events. I did love learning about Marcus and I loved reading more about the Clairmont family. 

I'm not even sure if this review does any of these books justice. If anything, I hope I have caught your attention to at least try it out. I hope that if you do,  you will tell me what you think. For me, this series will be one that I read again and again. I just love when you find books that become favorites!

Happy reading!

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Last week I read 'The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle' by Stuart Turton. It has taken me a few days to get around to reviewing it because life happens and also I'm not entirely sure how to put into words what I read. Ha! The book was really good and I gave it a 5 star review on Goodreads but it confused me so much at times!

So, let's see if I can do it any justice at all. The story is about a man, Aiden, who is caught in a time loop to try to figure out who killed Evelyn Hardcastle on the night of a party at Blackheath. The catch is that Aiden wakes up in the body of a different party guest each day. Then he has to figure out who he is that day and how they might be able to help figure out who the killer is. He is given eight days and eight hosts to try and solve the crime.

Not long after he wakes up on the first day, Aiden is met by a person dressed as an old plague doctor, mask and all. He gives him clues of what to do and how to navigate this task he has been given. If Aiden can tell the "plague doctor" who the killer is by the eighth day, he is free to go back to his life. The only problem is he doesn't remember his life or how he got to Blackheath. As he goes along, Aiden realizes this may not be possible but he doesn't give up. All of his hosts know something that the previous one didn't. Aiden figures out a way to start keep tabs on hosts that can help him later and also how to give himself clues on what is coming next or progress that he made. This was the most confusing part for me. I lost track of what was going on so many times, I often had to reread to know what was happening in the story. That's not a bad thing, it's just not what I am used to. I told my husband that I hated not knowing who the killer was and being able to figure it out early on, as I am able to do most of the time. That was a great challenge for me!

As always, I don't like spoilers or even clues that can help you figure out what happens in the end. I will say this- if you love books with suspense and mystery, this is definitely for you. It is also great if you enjoy a good murder mystery or anything that involves time travel. This book basically covers a ton of likes and genres. Ha! For a debut novel, that is pretty good!

Look this book up if you are in the mood for something just a little bit different. If you do read it, let me know what you thought!

Happy reading!

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.