Monthly Wrap-Up - August 2020

 Hello, my friends! Well, it's been a month since I posted a "What Are You Reading?" post, and I joked the last time that I might as well post a "Monthly Wrap-Up" instead. Haha, so that's what I'm doing! I was in a gigantic reading slump all summer. I think it might be over - fingers crossed! 

Here's what I read in August:

Serious Moonlight* by Jenn Bennett - I finally finished this after starting back in February. I can't remember why I set it aside then, but I did pick it back up. It was okay, but it just never grabbed me. Maybe I still wasn't in the mood for it. 

Vassa in the Night* by Sarah Porter - I received this book a couple of years ago in a YA book subscription box and decided to give it a try.  This story is so bizarre and dark. Like Alice going down the rabbit hole, Vassa gets caught in an odd and dangerous convenience store. The story kept drawing me in; I had to find out what happens to Vassa and her magical doll! Although strange, I really enjoyed it! 

The Woman in the Window* by A.J. Finn - I loved this suspense/thriller! Anna Fox is stuck in her house; she's an agoraphobic who has panic attacks every time she steps out of her home. That in itself is interesting, add in that she sees something she shouldn't, and it's gripping! I liked how you weren't sure what was real and what was Anna's imagination. Did she really see what she thought she did? Also, I loved all the Hitchcock and old movie references! 

Eleven* by Patricia Reilly Giff - This is a great middle-grade mystery about a boy who finds a newspaper clipping of a missing boy in the attic, and it's him! Now he has to figure out who he is and who are the people he's living with. 

Audiobooks

The Scarlet Letter* by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I'm glad I listened to this one. It's was a little too wordy for me, I would have never gotten through it otherwise! It's an interesting look into the Puritan life and early America - also how guilt can slowly eat at you.

The Aussie Next Door* by Stefani London - This was a fun romantic comedy to listen to! The narrator, Summer Morton (no relation, lol), did a fantastic job with the character voices!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* by J.K Rowling - Listening to this on a long drive was wonderful! It's my favorite of the Harry Potter books. 

*Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 

I took a long road trip to Montana to visit a friend. It was so nice to get away and see another part of the country! We had planned to go hiking in Glacier Park and had reservations at a hotel there, but our plans where canceled due to COVID. Still, we had a good time hanging out at her house. We did a short hike and some kayaking. It was so beautiful! 

 

So, what was your August like? Did you get to venture out? As always, let me know what you are reading! It's a great way to find new books! Thanks! I hope you all are doing well! 

What Are You Reading? ~ May 29, 2019

* * Post contains affiliate links. * *

Happy Wednesday, my friends! I took last Wednesday off, so below is what I've been reading the previous two weeks. 

What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 

Here's my list: 

Current Read:

I started reading A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin. Now that the HBO show is over, I thought I'd pick up where I left off in the book series. As with the first three books, I will probably go slow through this one, and read other books at the same time. 






Finished Reading: 

I recently finished reading Turbulent: A Post Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Bk 1) by T L Payne. I really enjoyed this one and can't wait for the next in the series that's due out in June! 

I also finished reading The Darkdeep by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs. This was a great middle school book. I really enjoyed it, and I think it will appeal to both boys and girls. 4 stars

The week before I finished reading Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne. I loved this story! I'm hoping to write a review for it very soon. 5 stars!








What's next?

I'm not sure what to read next. I've picked up a couple of books, but haven't decided on one. I think I'm trying to make myself read something for a reading challenge that I'm not quite in the mood for right now - just to check that off on a list. That's probably not a good idea. Have you ever done that? Did it turn out well, or did you wish you had waited?

FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 

Have a great week, friends! Be sure to share what you've been reading! 

What Are You Reading? ~ May 15, 2019

* * Post contains affiliate links. * *

Hey there, friends! Happy Wednesday! I hope you've had a great week! Mine hasn't been bad. :)

What are you Reading?  Let me know what your current read is, what you recently finished reading, and what you plan on reading next! 


Here's my list: 

Currently Reading:

I just started reading Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne. I'm literally only a few pages in, so nothing to report yet except that I'm excited to read this! And that it's a Jane Eyre retelling set in space!

I'm almost finished with the first half of Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. We are discussing the first half at Saturday's book club. Looking forward to it!








Recently Finished:

I finished reading Tell Me Everything by Sarah Enni. Sometimes I want to read a book without reading the book blurb. Of course, I know the genre and a few things about it, but I like to go in somewhat blind. That's what I did with this book. 

The first half was a little slow, and I wasn't quite sure where it was going. It did pick up, and I liked that Ivy wanted to encourage her fellow artists, but I cringed at some of Ivy's big plans. She had a lot to learn. I did like the overall thought about not being afraid to be yourself. 3.5 stars. 

Side note: Sarah Enni has a fantastic podcast called First Draft. You should check it out! 

I finished reading The Girl I Used To Be by April Henry. I really enjoyed it! It's a quick YA murder mystery thriller. 4 stars.








What's next?

I have my eye on The Darkdeep by Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs. It looks like it might be a middle school story. I've heard it has a Stranger Things/Goonies vibe, and I loved both of those!







FTC Disclaimer: Links to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks!



Have a great week, friends! And, tell me, what are you reading?  

The Mother Daughter Book Club Series

Hi Everyone! I wanted to take a moment a to share these wonderful books with you. I haven't read them but I would love to! I bought four of them for my daughter a while back and this summer she picked them up and can NOT stop reading them! 


In each book the club reads a classic book. I've listed each below with a book description. The book that first caught my eye at the book store was, of course, Pies and Prejudice! 

Book Description:


The book club is about to get a makeover....

Even if Megan would rather be at the mall, Cassidy is late for hockey practice, Emma's already read every book in existence, and Jess is missing her mother too much to care, the new book club is scheduled to meet every month.

But what begins as a mom-imposed ritual of reading Little Women soon helps four unlikely friends navigate the drama of middle school. From stolen journals, to secret crushes, to a fashion-fiasco first dance, the girls are up to their Wellie boots in drama. They can't help but wonder: What would Jo March do?

Acclaimed author Heather Vogel Frederick will delight daughters of all ages in a novel about the fabulousness of fiction, family, and friendship.

Book Description:

The mother-daughter book club is back! This year the mothers have a big surprise in store for Emma, Jess, Cassidy, and Megan: They've invited snooty Becca Chadwick and her mother to join the book club! But there are bigger problems when Jess finds out that her family may have to give up Half Moon Farm. In a year filled with skating parties, a disastrous mother-daughter camping trip, and a high-stakes fashion show, the girls realize that it's only through working together -- Becca included -- that they can save Half Moon Farm. Acclaimed author Heather Vogel Frederick captures the magic of friendship and the scrapes along the way in this sequel to The Mother-Daughter Book Club, which will enchant daughters and mothers alike. (Anne of Green Gables is the book feature in this one.)




Book Description:


Could the book club break up? When Jess is offered an anonymous scholarship to a prestigious boarding school, she's not sure that leaving home -- and her friends -- is what she wants to do. Meanwhile Megan's grandmother comes for a long visit and turns everything in the Wong household upside down; Emma crusades against her middle school's new uniforms; and Cassidy fi nds out there's a big change ahead for her family. Inspired by Jess's unexpected opportunity, the book club decides to read Jean Webster's classic Daddy-Long-Legs, and there's an added twist this year when they become pen pals with the girls in a book club in Wyoming. There's plenty to write to their new friends about, from a prank-filled slumber party to a not-so-secret puppy -- and even a surprise first kiss. In this third book in the beloved Mother-Daughter Book Club series, the girls learn that as long as they have one another -- and a good book -- they're ready for whatever eighth grade has in store!





Book Description:


Right before the start of freshman year, Emma’s family unexpectedly moves to England. The book club members are stunned—but thanks to videoconferencing, they can still keep the club alive, and they decide to tackle Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice . And when the girls try to bring Emma home by starting a bake sale, it becomes a thriving business: Pies & Prejudice. But when the plan they cook up falls short, they are left wondering if their club will ever all be together again….






Book Description:

This Christmas season, join the girls of the mother-daughter book club for a variety of holiday-themed adventures! Becca, Megan, Emma, Cassidy and Jess have plenty of reading material to bring on their trips, too, because the book club is tackling the Betsy-Tacy series before their next meeting on New Year’s Eve.

But unfortunately, nothing goes quite as planned for any of the girls. On a Christmas cruise with their families, Megan and Becca fight over the dashing son of the ship's captain. Cassidy and her family fly back to California to visit Cassidy's sister Courtney... but when the West Coast causes homesickness for their former life in Laguna Beach, the family begins to question what state they should call home. And a disastrous sledding accident causes both Emma and Jess to completely change their holiday plans.

Between squabbles, injuries, and blizzards, everything seems to be going wrong. Will the girls be able to find their holiday spirit in time for Christmas?

I have not heard of  the Betsy-Tacy series. Have you?

Coming Soon!! To be release on Oct. 23, 2012.

Book Description:

The book club says bon voyage to Concord and bonjour to France!


It’s a dream come true for Megan, who’s jet-setting to Paris for Fashion Week with Gigi. Meanwhile, back in Concord, Mrs. Wong decides to run for mayor, so Emma and Stewart team up to make her campaign a success. Jess and Cassidy are also hoping for victories, Jess in the a cappella finals with the MadriGals and Cassidy in the national hockey championships with her teammates. In the midst of it all, the girls—along with their Wyoming pen pals, who drop in for a visit over Spring Break—dive into Charlotte BrontË’s classic Jane Eyre. Some real life romance follows, as Becca may have found a Mr. Rochester of her own.

And then there’s the matter of a certain wedding. The book club girls, their families, the British Berkeley brothers, and even Stinkerbelle will be attending the ceremony, which means there might be some bumps before the bride waltzes down the aisle….



I mean really, who could resist these! And then to find my daughter, who's 12, loving them! Well, to me that's fabulous! 

To purchase a copy of one, click a link below:

The Mother Daughter Book Club

Much Ado About Anne

Dear Pen Pal

Pies & Prejudice

Home for the Holiday

Wish You Were Eyre

What a great way to introduce young girls to the classics! It's my hope that my daughter will be encouraged to read them herself. 

What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you!