Tag: reading

The Best Books I Read in September (2019)

I read 21 books in September, for a total of 165 books so far this year.

Sadly, most of them were just “good,” not “great.”

Here are the top 3.

today we go home

Today We Go Home, Kelli Estes. This two-stories-in-one tale is about Larkin, still struggling to cope with what happened in Afghanistan, and Emily, who disguised herself as a man to fight for the Union in the Civil War. An excellent historical!

the wendy

The Wendy, by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown. This re-telling of Peter Pan was fantastic! Loved all of it, and can’t wait for the next book in the series (out next week).

sword and pen

Sword and Pen, by Rachel Caine. The final book in The Great Library series wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped, but it was still excellent. I’m sad to see these characters go.

Book Review: The Lies We Tell, by Debra Webb

the lies we tell
Image belongs to Harlequin/Mira.

Title:  The Lies We Tell
Author:    Debra Webb
Genre:  Romantic Suspense
Rating:  4 out of 5

A serial killer is after her. Dr. Rowan Dupont knows this. And she’s ready for the waiting to be over. But first, she wants answers. She was just a child when her mother took her own life, and now she realizes she didn’t know her mother at all. How well did the killer know her mother? And what secrets was her mother hiding?

When a bizarre double murder leads to even more horrible discoveries, Rowan works with her lifelong friend Billy, now chief of police, to uncover the truth. But Rowan’s childhood home—a Victorian funeral home—has seen more dark secrets than Rowan can imagine. And her desire for answers only leads to more questions.

I have not read the first book in this series, but that didn’t significantly detract from reading this one. I had no problem catching up with the backstory and settling myself into this story. Rowan is struggling with the horrors from her past—and there are a lot of them—as well as waiting for the serial killer she’s known for years to come after her. She knows he’s watching, but she can’t just not seek to find answers to her questions. This a is a solid suspense read, with just a hint of romance.

Debra Webb is an award-winning, bestselling author. The Lies We Tell is her newest novel, the second in The Undertaker’s Daughter series.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Mira via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

What I Read in September (2019)

Books Read in September:  21

Books Read for the Year: 165/175

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:

Amanda, by Deborah White Smith (TBR). Found this one moderately annoying.

Seeking Him by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (spiritual). A solid read.

Wives and Daughters, by Elizabeth Gaskell (classic). Do you know how mad I was when I realized the author died before finishing this? It was slow to start, but I ended up enjoying it immensely.

What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman (nonfiction). Eh. Not a fan.

The Rabbit Girls, Anna Ellory (cultural). This was so difficult to read, but so good!

For Review:

29seconds

29 Seconds, by T.M. Logan. What would you do if you could make one person disappear—and no one would ever know? When Sarah rescues a young girl, the girl’s father offers her this chance…and she decides to take it to get rid of her intolerable boss. Nothing about this book was an easy read.

trapeze

Trapeze, by Leigh Ansell. Corey has been part of the circus her whole life, as a trapeze artist. When the circus catches on fire, she finds herself living a “normal” life in a small town, where no one knows who she is. But secrets—no matter how big or scary—are hard to keep.

The Color of the Sun, by David Almond. I don’t even know what to say about this. I finished it, but decided not to review it. I can’t tell you what the plot was, or the point, or really anything.

echoes of war

Echoes of War, by Cheryl Campbell. I love this cover, but the book was merely meh. Fascinating dystopian premise—but the execution left something to be desired, along with the MC.

widow of pale harbor

The Widow of Pale Harbor, by Hester Fox. I loved Fox’s first book, The Witch of Willow Hall, but didn’t enjoy this one quite as much. It tried really hard to be gloomy and atmospheric—and succeeded—but I guessed the killer pretty early on, and the romance between the two main characters felt a little forced to me. Still an enjoyable read, though.

9780778308720.indd

The Stranger Inside, by Lisa Unger. This was an interesting murder mystery/flashback to childhood trauma/healing from the past read.

what happened that night

What Happened that Night, by Deanna Cameron. Clara’s sister killed the neighborhood golden boy for what he did to Clara. Or did she? Clara thinks she knows why her sister did it, but the truth is far darker than she can imagine.

Six Goodbyes We Never Said_FC

Six Goodbyes We Never Said, by Candace Ganger. Naima is grieving for her father, a fallen Marine, and struggling with her crippling OCD and other mental health issues. Dew still hasn’t processed his parents’ deaths or learned how to handle his anxiety. Can the two of them help each other process?

the immortal city

The Immortal City, by Amy Kuivalainen. Part murder mystery, part scientific mystery, part myth, this wasn’t a bad read, but parts of it were a little too rough-draft for me.

coming home for christmas

Coming Home for Christmas, by RaeAnne Thayne. An enjoyable romance read dealing with mental illness.

 

a wedding in december

A Wedding in December, by Sarah Morgan. Talk about family drama! This is three romances in one book, and very enjoyable.

pretty guilty women

Pretty Guilty Women, by Gina LaManna. When four women confess to the same murder, it’ll take a while to sort out the truth. Loved this thriller!

the wendy

The Wendy, by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown.  I loved this re-telling of Peter Pan, and I can’t wait to read the second one next week!

today we go home

Today We Go Home, Kelli Estes.  I really enjoyed this tale of Larkin, who fought in Afghanistan and is still reeling from the choices she made there when she finds the diary of Emily Wilson, who disguised herself as a man to fight with the Union army during the Civil War. An excellent read!

Just Because:

Sword and Pen, by Rachel Caine. The final book in the Great Library series. I wanted to absolutely adore this book, like I did the rest of the series, but I didn’t quite like it as much as the other books in the series.

Every Body Yoga, by Jessamyn Stanley. I loved the voice and body positivity in this!

Book Review: Today We Go Home, Kelli Estes

today we go home
Image belongs to Sourcebooks Landmark.

Title:  Today We Go Home
Author:    Kelli Estes
Genre:  Fiction
Rating:  5 out of 5

Larkin Bennett doesn’t know what to do with herself now:  she’s out of the military, trying to heal, and cannot forget what happened in Afghanistan. She knows she must live with the consequences of the choices she made that day, but she’s not sure she has the strength. Until she finds a treasure:  the diary of Emily Wilson, who disguised herself as a man to fight for the Union army during the Civil War.

In 1861 Indiana, Emily is happy with farm life with her family. Until her father and one brother leave for the war—and don’t come home. Longing for change, Emily disguises herself as a man—knowing in this case, her own comrades are just as dangerous to her safety as the enemy soldiers. But pretending she’s someone else allows Emily to get to know herself, and her reasons for fighting, even better.

I loved this book! And I don’t generally choose to read or like military books (or movies, for that matter). I loved seeing the journeys of these two women, Larkin and Emily, and the obstacles they faced. Both are strong, believable characters, and I never knew there were so many well-known cases of disguised women soldiers in the past! Now I’m completely intrigued by the subject. An excellent read!

Kelli Estes grew up in Washington state and used to work for an airplane manufacturer, allowing her to travel. Today We Go Home is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Wendy, by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown

the wendy
Image belongs to Trash Dogs Media LLC.

Title: The Wendy
Author:    Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown
Genre:  YA, fantasy, fairy tale
Rating:  5 out of 5

In 1789 London, all Wendy Darling wants to be is a ship’s captain. That’s a big dream for any orphan, but for a girl, it’s even more impossible, since women aren’t allowed in the Royal Navy. Then she learns the Home Office is accepting a few women into its ranks, and she’s eager to take the first step to realizing her ultimate dream, fighting an enemy she never imagined:  magic.

It’s her job to keep watch for the Everlost, but she doesn’t know what they really are—or if they truly exist. Until she encounters Peter Pan and his flying band of misfits, and realizes she knows nothing about what’s really going on. Peter is the only one who sees beyond her gender, but are the secrets he’s keeping worth betrayal, even if does get her where she’s dreamed of being?

I loved this take on the Peter Pan mythos! Wendy is a great character:  spunky, determined, and smart—and she’s not willing to let other people’s perceptions of her stand in her way. Peter Pan is much more the J.M. Barrie version, not the Disney one, so he’s got depth and darkness to go along with his mystery. As for Captain Hook, well, I’m not sure what to think of him just yet, but Disney or Dustin Hoffman he is not. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown write sci-fi and fantasy. The Wendy is the first in their Tales of the Wendy series.

(Galley courtesy of Trash Dogs Media LLC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Pretty Guilty Women, by Gina LaManna

pretty guilty women
Image belongs to Sourcebooks Landmark.

Title:  Pretty Guilty Women
Author:    Gina LaManna
Genre:  Mystery, thriller
Rating:  4 out of 5

At the exclusive spa where the Banks wedding is about to take place, the luxurious surroundings promise a peaceful, posh vacation where old friends can catch up and relaxation is key. Until a man ends up dead—and four different women claim they murdered him.

Kate is used to excess and luxury—but not to being dumped at the front desk by her wealthy boyfriend. She’s used to being envied, but she is the one feeling jealous on this trip as she meets up with her college roommates and sees the lives they have.

Ginger has just about had it with the chaos of family life. Her kids won’t listen, her husband is oblivious, and everyone depends on mom to hold things together. Ginger just wishes she were a bit more carefree—like her college days before her best friend betrayed her.

Emily just wants the pain to stop. She’ll eventually drown it in a bottle, like always, but seeing her old friends dredges up secrets she’d prefer to keep hidden.

Lulu’s used to love being easy-come, easy-go, but she really loves her fifth husband. Now he’s hiding something, and she’s determined to find out the truth—or else.

This book was well-written and engrossing from the first page. All these women are fascinating, and I was drawn into their stories immediately. I love how the story is told in bits and pieces from each of their viewpoints, while drawing out the mystery of what really happened. Entirely binge-worthy, this is a book that will keep you hooked as you race to find out what really happened.

Gina LaManna lives near the beach. Pretty Guilty Women is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: A Wedding in December, by Sarah Morgan

a wedding in december
Image belongs to harlequin/HQN.

Title:  A Wedding in December
Author:   Sarah Morgan
Genre:  Romance
Rating:  4 out of 5

Maggie White is looking forward to a family Christmas at home. Decorating, cooking—it’s her favorite time of year. Of course, this year she’ll have to tell her daughters she and their dad are getting divorced. Until a middle-of-the-night phone call reveals her younger daughter, Rosie, is getting married. Now the family is headed to Aspen for the ceremony, and Maggie and Nick agree to pretend to still be in love, for the sake of their daughter’s wedding. Will the pretense turn to reality?

Katie, Rosie’s older sister, just knows Rosie is making a mistake. Her sister is impulsive and changes her mind all the time, so how can she know this guy’s “the one” when she’s only known him a few months? Katie’s determined to stop her sister from making a huge mistake—getting married—but the best man, Jordan, keeps getting in her way. And her thoughts.

Rosie is getting married. She knows she loves her fiancé, but is she really sure? With her sister interfering and her parents acting embarrassingly in love, Rosie’s just not sure anymore, but she knows she has to figure out what her heart wants.

I loved the White family, and that this was really three romances in one. I fall somewhere between Rosie and Katie, so I could relate to both of them. The switches in viewpoint were seamless, and every character’s journey was absorbing. An excellent read!

Sarah Morgan is a bestselling author. A Wedding in December is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/HQN via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Immortal City, by Amy Kuivalainen

the immortal city
Image belongs to BHC Press.

Title:  The Immortal City
Author:    Amy Kuivalainen
Genre:  Fantasy
Rating:  3 out of 5

Dr. Penelope Bryne has been shunned and ridiculed by the scientific community for her theories about Atlantis. Until a woman is sacrificed in Venice, and an ancient script is found at the murder site and the police need Penelope’s help.

Alexis Donato has spent the last few years trying to destroy Penelope’s career from afar, so she doesn’t discover the truth about Atlantis:  it did exist, and seven of its magicians escaped its destruction.

With Carnivale erupting around them, Penelope and Alexis will have to work together to keep dark magic from pulling Venice into the sea—just like Atlantis.

I love the tales of Atlantis and I love archeology, so this book sounded exactly suited for me. However…this felt more like a rough draft than a polished novel. Some of the relationships (like Penelope’s friendship with the detective) escalated too quickly to be believable, and there were a few too many instances of things conveniently/coincidentally working out for me to be fully invested in and believing the story. At this point, I wasn’t satisfied enough with the writing to want to read more of the series, as fascinating as the premise was.

Amy Kuivalainen likes to combine fantasy, mythology, and magic in her writing. The Immortal City is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of BHC Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Coming Home for Christmas, by RaeAnne Thayne

coming home for christmas
Image belongs to Harlequin/HQN.

Title:  Coming Home for Christmas
Author:    RaeAnne Thayne
Genre:  Romance
Rating:  4 out of 5

Seven years ago, when Luke Hamilton woke up one morning, his wife, Elizabeth, was gone. She’d struggled with postpartum depression after the births of their two children and the loss of her parents, and she’d never found her way out of that darkness. Luke thought she was dead when she disappeared. Until a few months ago, when his sister’s fiancée tracked her down, living in a different state under a different name. Now Luke is about to be charged with her murder, so he goes to get her, knowing she is the only one who can prevent it.

Depression and grief weighed down Elizabeth’s very soul, then a car accident stole her memories and who she was. It took years for her to remember her children and her husband. Now she wants to mend those fences, but she’s been gone so long and done so much damage she’s not sure she can ever repair the damage.

I’ve only read one of the other Haven Point books, but these are linked standalone novels, so that’s no problem. Elizabeth has been through horrible difficulties, and this book explores what postpartum depression can look like and feel like. I enjoyed seeing things through her eyes and through Luke’s eyes, and the strength of both characters was a joy to read.

RaeAnne Thayne is the author of the Haven Point series. Coming Home for Christmas is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/HQN via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Blog Tour: Six Goodbyes We Never Said, by Candace Ganger

Six Goodbyes We Never Said_FC
Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title:  Six Goodbyes We Never Said
Author:    Candace Ganger
Genre:  YA
Rating:  4.2 out of 5

Naima Rodriguez is aware she’s not like other people:  between her OCD, her GAD, and her PTSD, she’s juggling the entire alphabet of things that make it hard for her to interact with other people. Especially without her dad, a fallen Marine, around to be her buffer and understand all her little quirks, like separating the marshmallows from her Lucky Charms into six—and only six—bags. Her dad understood her, but no one else does, and Naima doesn’t really care.

Dew hasn’t really death with the deaths of his parents and his anxiety—both social and not—makes it hard for him to interact with others, so he uses his trusty voice recorder to filter his observations. But when he finally meets Naima, he understands that helping someone else might end up being the very thing he needs to heal himself.

Six Goodbyes We Never Said wasn’t an easy book to read. Both Naima and Dew have things going on that make their lives harder and sharper than other people’s. They’ve both experienced unthinkable loss, and they feel broken. But sometimes only another broken person can truly understand. The characters are vibrant, although Naima’s jagged edges make her a difficult character to sympathize with at times. She knows she’s hurting other people, but she does it anyway, and that’s not easy to read.

Candace Ganger is an author, a contributing writer to HelloGiggles, and a marathoner.  Six Goodbyes We Never Said is her new novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)