I rarely spend over 24 hours between finishing a book and picking up another, but I have a few times this month. My brain needs a break.
Here's what I've been reading since the last linkup.
Buy it links are affiliate links and buying through them supports this link up.
When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O'Neal - Gah this book. My heart was in my throat the last 20% and quite a few spots throughout. So good. So beautifully written. So emotional. So many hard things. I want the world to read it and if you don't like it I don't want to know about it. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review | buy it
Shamed (Kate Burkholder #11) by Linda Castillo - I swear I wait for the next book in this series to come out for like 11 months and read it in five minutes. This did not disappoint, but then Kate novels never do for me. OCNJ library hard cover | buy it
Crash & Burn (Tessa Leoni #3) by Lisa Gardner - This was more about Wyatt than Tessa for me, but enjoyable all the same. I'll read more. OCNJ library hard cover | buy it
Buried (Agent Sayer Altair #2) by Ellison Cooper - If you're looking for a new series, you need to check this one out. The follow up to the first novel was fast paced and a great story - I liked it more than the first. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review | buy it
Mean Streak by Sandra Brown - This one was long but good. I read without trying to figure anything out but I can see this as one of those books where people are like "I knew what was happening early on." Solid vacation read for me. Paperback, bought used from library book sale | buy it
Passed the Time Just Fine
The Six Gifts: Part 1: Secrets by Christie K. Kelly - This was recommended to me by cousin Crystal as it was written by her friend's mom. I wasn't sure what to expect, and going into it it didn't seem like my kind of book, but I found myself pretty into it and read it in less than 24 hours. It started out one type of book and finished in another genre entirely. It's pretty unique to me in that way. Anyway I'll read the second part when it comes out and there are quite a lot of you on this link up who wold probably like this book. Amazon kindle book, own | buy it
Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand - I loved the bones of this book. I would have altered the execution slightly. Good summer read and tie ins to pop culture and iconic events of the actual Summer of '69. OCNJ library hard cover | buy it
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell - Solid effort from Lisa Jewell - not as loved as her previous ones, but still an intriguing premise and an okay book. Do not pick this one up thinking you're getting Then She Was Gone or Watching You. You're not. But if you adjust your expectations, you might enjoy it. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book comes out November 5, 2019
A Murder on Jane Street by Cathy Cash Spellman - I thought this would be a sweet cozy little mystery. While the characters and some of the writing lend themselves to that, it is much more. Smart and very involved. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal - This reminded me a little of a Fannie Flagg novel. I liked the characters and how they all connected. I liked the food talk and recipes too. OCNJ library hard cover
A Drop in the Ocean by Jenni Ogden - This could very well be in the not worth it category, but something about it pulled at me. Maybe it was the solitary existence of a year by the sea that ended up not so solitary. Maybe it was a 49 year old woman finding the power to be who she is despite societal pressures to marry. I don't know. It's been on my kindle for an eternity. Amazon kindle book
Close to Home (Tracey Crosswhite #5) by Robert Dugoni - Fast paced and thoughtful. A solid four reading experience. OCNJ library paperback
A Steep Price (Tracy Crosswhite #6) by Robert Dugoni - Good, but not my favorite, as far as the Tracy novels go. As an aside, it's interesting to see Dugoni inject some more of the conservative POVs into books over the past few years. Amazon kindle unlimited book
Before He Kills (Mackenzie White Mysteries #1) by Blake Pierce - The first in a series by the same author of the Avery Black series, which I enjoy. I liked this one. It seemed super short though. I'll read the next. Paperback, own
The Black Book by James Patterson and David Ellis - I read this on vacation and less than a month later I had to go back and jog my memory of what it was about. That's not unusual for me - I read a lot of books and I don't have endless brain space to store details of them all - but this one was a little hard to swallow. Lots of very fucking fantastical stuff, James Patterson and co-author David Ellis. Hard cover, own, bought used at library sale
Not Worth It
Her by Britney King - Maybe I just don't get Britney King...I started a book of hers on vacation and never picked it up when my niece took it from me. This one was just bizarre, and not in a way where I was like wow so weirdly good after. OCNJ library paperback
Beach Rental (Emerald Isle, NC #1) by Grace Greene - I think this has been on my kindle since the last time I went to Emerald Isle before this time, which was in 2017 I think. I read it on my last day there in July. This book was...not good. I read it in under two hours. I think other people might like it but I am not those people. Amazon kindle book
Normal People by Sally Rooney - Every time I've mentioned this book people have been like YES, NO, ONLY AT THE END, etc. There were opinions on this book. I liked the writing but I am solidly in the no category. Hard cover, own, bought at library book fair
Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison - I'm shocked that I didn't like this or didn't finish it. I've liked her books so far, usually at the end I'm like oh that was okay but the whole reading experience has been can't put down. This one felt super off and I couldn't do it. Free e-copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book comes out December 31, 2019
The Banker's Wife by Cristina Alger - This was way too detailed for the type of read I was wanting at the time. I don't find swiss banks and shit associated with them or women who willingly give up their identities for men super interesting either. OCNJ library hard cover
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal - I was looking forward to this after Kitchens/Midwest. I tried. It was a super slow build and with very little movement for over 50 pages, I was out.
What have you been reading?
Linkup Guidelines:
This link up is the second Tuesday of every month. The next linkup is September 10, 2019
1. Visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & me, and check in with as many in our reading circle as you can - give some love to the later linker uppers! 2. Link back to us in your blog post - if you want the button you can get it from that link
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell me what you think, leave a comment! I'll reply to you via email if you have an email associated with yourself, otherwise, check back here for my reply. Your data will not be used to spam you or sold for others to contact you.