September Wrap Up

It was a slow month for me. Only three books read. They were all pretty enjoyable, though. I'm looking forward to really kicking my fall reading into high gear in October.

A Curious Beginning

This book generated a lot of discussion on the Modern Mrs. Darcy book club site. I mostly enjoyed it. The main character was plucky and intelligent. She was also very annoying and overly chatty. It took me a while to get used to her personality. I also had issues with the resolution of the mystery. I'm not sure if I will continue with the series or not.

The Solace of Water

This book was very heavy. It covered pretty much every sad topic there is: depression, self harm, child death, alcoholism, family dysfunction. I'm probably forgetting a few. It was very well done, and full of hope. I would recommend it if you are okay with heavier literature that deal with sadder themes.


At First Glance

This was a contemporary romance. It was a quick read with a good message about accepting yourself.  I really enjoyed it and I'll probably pick up more by this author in the future. Recommended if you enjoy contemporary romance.

What did you read this month? Let me know in the comments.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

I'm linking up with Book Date to share this week's TBR.

Currently reading

Hope's Highest Mountain

Up Next

When Silence Sings

What are you reading this week? Let me know in the comments.

First Line Friday ~ At First Glance by Susan Tuttle

I'm linking up with Hoarding Books to share the first line of my current read.


At First Glance

"For once, she should have listened to her Mom's advice."

What are you reading this weekend? Let me know in the comments. Happy reading.

My Fall TBR

I love the change of seasons. Especially when we change to the milder ones. I'm looking forward to cooler temps and shorter days and a cup of hot tea in the afternoon with a good book. Here's the stack of books I'm planning on tackling this fall season.

 

After the Flood

This Tender Land

The Orphan of Salt Winds

Hope's Highest Mountain

Echoes Among the Stones

When Silence Sings

The Bridge to Belle Island

Thief of Lanwyn Manor

Flight of the Raven

The Bookman's Tale

Daughter of Fortune

Grief Cottage

What books are you planning to read this fall? Let me know in the comments. Happy reading!

Book Review: The Spice King

The Spice King

Although I found this story a little hard to get into, I loved all the historical detail included by the author. I learned a lot about the food industry, Cuba, and the Mckinley presidency. There was good chemistry between the two main characters as well. It's nice to read about a smart, scientific heroine, and the hero was swoony and brooding. They were a good match. I would recommend this novel to readers of historical romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher  and Netgalley for the purpose of review.

Favorite Summer Reads

I thought it would be fun at the start of a new season to take a moment and reflect on some of my favorite reads from the past few months. Fall will be bringing some changes to my family as we attempt to sell our home and buy a new one. I say attempt because we have tried before, and it hasn't gone well. I try to balance optimism and realism in my life. It's exhausting.

I read some great books this summer and anticipate some great fall reading as well. There's something about reading as the weather cools down and the days grow shorter that begs for cozy reading. Be on the look out for my fall TBR in the next few days. Here are my summer favorites.


The Gown

I loved this book. It will probably be one of my favorites of the year. I'm a bit obsessed with the royal family anyway, and this book has just enabled me further. I highly recommend this novel if you enjoyed the Netflix series The Crown. It's so well researched, and I loved the characters. This is a mostly heart warming, clean read, but there one violent scene that may cause some triggers.


The Accidental Beauty Queen

This was a fun little rom-com. I read it in a couple of days. It's set in Orlando, FL which is a huge plus for this Floridian. The sisterly love is wonderful, and the romance was a lot of fun. I don't know a lot about pageant culture, but I thought this book handled it well. Highly recommended.

 
All Manner of Things

All Manner of  Things is a beautifully written, character driven novel set during the Vietnam conflict. I loved the characters and the small town Michigan setting. The writing style is lyrical and poetic. Faith plays a dominant role in the story. The faith of the main characters grows immensely through out the book. This is a quiet novel, but a lot happens by the end. Be prepared to have your heart broken. It's a sweet coming of age story, and it tackles a lot of difficult subjects. I highly recommend this books to readers who enjoy literary fiction or small town settings.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for the purpose of review.


The Mother in Law
I loved this thriller. Loved, loved, loved it. I listened to it on audio, but I think it would have been great in any format. Easily my favorite thriller of the summer. Highly recommended.



King's Shadow

Angela Hunt is an all time favorite author of mine. I love her writing style. This series has been fascinating. I knew a little about the time period between the Old and New Testaments from history class, but she has really made these characters come alive. This final installment about Herod's family has been one of my favorites. Salome is an interesting and complicated character, and I loved her handmaid, Zara. If you enjoy ancient history, you will love The Silent Years Series. Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book for review.

How was your summer reading? Let me know in the comments. Happy fall, y'all!

My Hurricane Dorian TBR

I'm linking up with The Book Date to share this week's TBR.

We are currently prepping for hurricane Dorian. If it stays on course it should hit us tomorrow morning, but he's been really weird so far, so we'll see. Here's what I'm planning to read over the next few days to keep my mind off the storm.

A Curious Beginning

Daughters of the Northern Shores

The Heiress of Winterwood

What are you reading this week? Let me know in the comments.