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!

The Dreamers

I just finished 'The Dreamers' by Karen Thompson Walker last night. It was a great read! I actually was totally freaked out at midnight last night when I finished up and I ended up having some bizarre dreams.

The story is about a mystery sleeping sickness that spreads through a college town, source unknown. Nobody knows how it started, how it spreads, and there seems to be no cure. The story bounces around between several different characters and locations in the town, so it can be a little tricky to keep up with. At first, I wasn't sure how I liked that the story is told in third person, but in the end I decided that it helped with the creepiness factor. For me, there was a nagging feeling of needing to know what the heck was going on. I kept reading and reading, trying to figure out what was causing this- aliens, chemical or biological warfare, the apocalypse, or something completely new and unknown?! No spoilers- so no worries!

I really liked the book, but I am still wondering what the point of it was. It ended and I felt like I was missing the point. I am sure that is how the author intended it to be, but I like endings to be neatly tied up, with a bow. ha!

If you like suspense with just a hint of sci-fi, I suggest you give this book a try! Happy reading, friends!

Review Time Again

I think I jinxed myself when I said I would have more time to blog once school was out. Yet, here I am, catching up on reviews again.

I have been able to read a ton lately, I guess that is where all my spare time goes. Well, that, kids appointments, Stranger Things Season 3, and hanging out with friends and family. All good things!

So, here we go!

The first in today's reviews is 'Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll' by Ann and Nancy Wilson. I absolutely loved this book! I love their music group and this was such a fun insight into how they got their start, all  the trials along the way, and also their personal lives in the time periods they wrote about. I felt like I was sitting in a room with them, listening to them tell their tale. It was a slower read for me and I cannot put my finger on why. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to any Heart fans out there!

The next book I read was 'Tommysaurus Rex' by Doug TenNapel. This was a graphic novel that my friend Alex loaned me. I had never read a graphic novel before now and I doubt I will read one again. It just wasn't for me. Although, I did enjoy the story of it. It was a cute tale about a boy who loses his best friend, his dog. Shortly afterward, he befriends a real live T-Rex. The chaos and fun that ensues made for a quick read.

My next read was another book I really enjoyed. If we have ever had a conversation about books, you know I love suspenseful books that have some twists and turns. This book did not disappoint in either of those aspects. 'The Wife' by Alafair Burke was a roller coaster of emotions and surprises. The story focuses on Angela and Jason Powell, a couple who have a seemingly perfect life in their upscale neighborhood with their son. Allegations about Jason come up that make Angela question everything she thought she knew about her husband. She also is forced to relive her own tumultuous past and come to grips with decisions she didn't think she would have to make. I'm telling you, this book ended and I was completely floored! Such a great read if you are looking for something to keep you guessing!

As you all know, I am a huge fan of Amazon First Reads and this month they gave us two free books! I eagerly snatched up one I have been looking forward to reading and a second one that sounded amazing. The first was 'A Fire Sparkling' by  Julianne MacLean. This was a part present day/part historical fiction work. It starts out in present day with Gillian Gibbons, who is smack dab in the middle of a major life change. She goes to her family home to seek comfort and advice from her father and his mother. When she is there, her and her dad start to uncover some of the grandmother's hidden past that they knew nothing about. That is where the story goes into historical fiction mode-back to England in 1939, and the threat of Nazi Invasion is looming. I have only read one other book of Julianne's but I love her writing style. She has such a smooth way of telling stories, they go so fast! I loved the plot and how the story went, even a few twists and turns! If you are a historical fiction fan, this is a must read!

My other Amazon First Reads book was 'What You Did' by Claire McGowan. This book was crazy, in a good way! It centers around six friends from university, meeting for a weekend of fun and reliving memories. A horrible crime is committed and everyone is forced to question how well they know each other. It gets ugly. Really, really ugly. I spent the entire book trying to figure out who did it and I was wrong until the very last chapter. This book really kept me guessing! It was a great read if you want something fast paced and super suspenseful.

I have really been trying to read some books outside of my usual genres and so far I have enjoyed the ones I have read. 'A Job You Mostly Won't Know How to Do' by Pete Fromm was really emotionally charged and very raw feeling. The story opens with Taz and Marnie slowly working on gutting and remodeling their seemingly very rundown house. Marnie is expecting a baby and actually does not make it through childbirth. The rest of the book is about Tax navigating through life in his new role as a father to this baby that he has no idea how to care for, all while grieving his wife. It was incredibly sad for a lot of the book but there were also a lot of really funny points. even though it was highly emotional, it was a pretty easy and low key read.

And, lastly, I read a few Debbie Macomber novellas. 'The Way To A Man's Heart', 'Wanted: Perfect Partner' and 'The Apartment' all thoroughly entertained me, as only Debbie Macomber can do. I love reading her books because they are familiar story lines and just feel comfy, if that makes sense. She is a wonderful writer and I love her books! They are my go to for a fun and quick read.

I hope you read some of these and let me know what you think, too! 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!

Stella and The Timekeepers

This past week I had the privilege of reading a book by a brand new author, M. Shawn Petersen. He is my friend Elaine's brother and she loaned me his book. The book is Stella and The Timekepers and it was a really fun book. This book is clearly for a younger reader than myself, but I enjoyed it.

The book starts out with the main character, Stella Merriss, and her parents in a boat in some rough waters. After some struggles, she loses both of her parents overboard. Her rescuer not only knew her parents, but has been waiting for her to arrive. She quickly learns why she has led a life of moving, running, and never settling in one place. Stella is shocked to learn that she is half mermaid, half angel. She learns that there are many special things about her and she is sent to train as an angel apprentice. Throughout the story Stella grows into who she was destined to be, all the while battling the forces of evil in the form of Lord Sylvain who wants to destroy the world she is now part of. The battle of good vs evil!

You know I don't like spoilers, so you won't find them here. I would recommend this book for readers ages 8(ish) and up. I think the younger audience would love the world and the characters that M. Shawn Petersen has created.

Thank you for loaning me your book, Elaine! Happy reading, you guys!