Tag: contemporary fiction

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Amazon First Reads July – December

One of the perks of having Amazon Prime is getting a free book each month from a short list of editor’s picks.  Sometimes we get a bonus short story or even a second book for free.  It’s a great deal, and even better because I have Amazon Prime at a discounted price since my son is on Medicaid.

Here’s what I have added to my Kindle for free over the last six months:

July 2024 – We could choose two free books that month, although I ended up only picking one of them.  I chose The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman.  It is the second in a series of short stories called The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories, so I also purchased the first story, The Bookstore Sisters, and pre-ordered the third one, The Bookstore Keepers.

August 2024 – We got one book free plus a short story.  I chose Fatal Intrusion by Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado for the book.  The short story was Natural Selection by Erin Hilderbrand.  I have read the short story and it was good but I would have liked it to be longer.

September 2024 – We got one book free plus a short story.  I chose The Anti-Heroes by Jen Lancaster for the book.  The short story was When We Were Friends by Jane Green.

October 2024 – We were able to pick two books from the list that month.  I chose When We Were Widows by Annette Chavez Macias and Grave Talk by Nick Spalding.

November 2024 – We were again able to pick two titles from the list.  I chose Nobody’s Perfect by Sally Kilpatrick and The Answer is No: A Short Story by Fredrik Bakman.

December 2024 – We were able to pick one free book from the list and, after that, we got to pick a free book out of another list.  I chose Happy After All by Maisey Yates and The Autumn of Ruth Winters by Marshall Fine.  The Amazon original short story collection Under the Mistletoe is also free this month for Amazon Prime members.  There are five stories, so I downloaded all of them.  From the descriptions, it sounds like they might be a little bit spicier.

All together, I got seven free books and nine free short stories. Not bad!

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Library Haul

I have been reading ebooks almost exclusively for a few years now, but there are some books on my TBR that I haven’t been able to locate for free electronically.  So I have started going back to the library for physical books at times.

Here is my most recent haul from the library:

  • The Taste of Ginger by Mansi Shah
  • Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
  • Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
  • The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society by Darien Gee

First up is Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors.  I am excited for this one because it is the first in a series that are based loosely on Jane Austen.

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What I’m Reading – December 2024

What I’m Reading Now

The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg – I am almost done with this book, and it is really good!

UnClobber by Colby Martin – This book addresses the “clobber passages” from the Bible that are often used to condemn homosexuality and also tells Martin’s own story of how his views on the subject changed and how it has affected his life. It is very easy to read and I am enjoying it.

What I Recently Finished

The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley by Mercedes Lackey – This is #16 in the Elemental Masters series and was very enjoyable, as all of them have been.

Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews – This was a Christmas-themed short story and was a cute romance.

Gryphon in Light by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon – This is #1 in Kelvren’s Saga and who knows what book in the entire Valdemar series. It took me a little while to get into the story, but I ended up liking it by the end.

The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley – This is a heartwarming holiday romance. I couldn’t put it down – very sweet!

Nantucket Summer House by Pamela M. Kelley – This is #9 in the Nantucket Beach Plum Cove series. It wasn’t my favorite in the series but I did still enjoy it.

Faith Unraveled: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask Questions by Rachel Held Evans – I loved this book. I will share a more detailed review in a few days.

The Cookbook Club: A Novel of Food and Friendship by Beth Harbison – This was a fun book about three women who start a book club based on cookbooks. It was charming and I really enjoyed it.

Close Knit by Jenny Colgan – I have read a lot of Colgan’s books and I still like them, although not as much as I used to like her older books.

What I Added to my TBR

  • Nobody’s Perfect by Sally Kilpatrick
  • The Answer is No by Fredrick Backman
  • Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith by April Ajoy
  • Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison
  • Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison

TBR Stats

  • I currently have 111 books on my TBR
  • Of those, 17 are non-fiction and 94 are fiction
  • All but 1 of the books were added in 2024. I plan to read the last book added in 2023 this month

If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!

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What I’m Reading – November 2024

What I’m Reading Now

The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley by Mercedes Lackey – This is #16 in the Elemental Masters series. I added it to my TBR back in January 2022 and kept waiting for it to be added to the Libby app so I could borrow it. I recently decided to start investigating all the different ways I could access books (Hoopla, Kindle Unlimited – not a current member but could join if there were a lot of TBR books available there, and physical books from the library). I found several books from my list available as physical books, so I’m going to start from the oldest and work my way forward.

Gryphon in Light by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon – This is the 1st book in the Kelvren’s Saga series, but the 56th book in the overall Valdemar world. This is another one that has been on my list for a while, since July 2023, and I was able to get a physical copy from the library.

What I Recently Finished

Passions in Death by J. D. Robb – This is #59 from the In Death series about Eve Dallas, a police detective in futuristic New York City. Amazing, as always!

Open House by Elizabeth Berg – This novel is about a woman finding her way after divorce.  Samantha’s husband has left her and, in order to keep the house she and her son Travis live in, she takes in roommates and begins working temp jobs.  Along the way, she makes new friends and discovers the self she lost a long time ago. It seemed a bit slow at first, but as I relaxed into the pace of the story, I found myself drawn into it.  The style of this book reminds me a bit of Jamie Langston Turner, who is one of my favorite writers.

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson – The whole time I was reading this book, I had the feeling I had read it before. So much of it seemed very familiar. I didn’t remember the ending, but it is still possible I had previously read it. I really enjoyed it.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams – I very much liked this debut novel about a teenager and a widower who bond over a reading list. The story weaves the books they are reading around the events happening in their lives in a compelling way.

Ambush at Sorato by John Flanagan – This is #7 in the Ranger’s Apprentice: The Royal Ranger series, which is a spinoff of the original Ranger’s Apprentice series. I have read all of Flanagan’s books and always look forward to a new one coming out. Even though they are written for kids, I find them very readable and fun.

Freckles by Ceclia Ahern – I wanted to like this book because I have enjoyed several others by Ahern, but I just couldn’t. Perhaps it is because I could acutely feel the main character’s confusion at the situations she gets herself into due to her lack of understanding of how the world works and of people and relationships. This is one of the more obviously autistic-coded characters I have read, and I can see so much of her in myself as well as other autistic people I know.

What I’ve Added to my TBR List

  • When We Were Widows by Annette Chavez Macias
  • Grave Talk by Nick Spalding
  • I’ll Be Seeing You: A Memoir by Elizabeth Berg
  • Durable Goods by Elizabeth Berg
  • Joy School by Elizabeth Berg
  • True to Form by Elizabeth Berg
  • Ordinary Life: Stories by Elizabeth Berg
  • The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted: And Other Small Acts of Liberation by Elizabeth Berg
  • Lies and Other Love Languages by Sonali Dev
  • A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber

Did Not Finish

Her Gates Will Never Be Shut: Hope, Hell, and the New Jerusalem by Bradley Jersak – I have tried twice to read this book and have finally given up. The writing is very dry and I just can’t stay focused on it while reading. I am interested in the topic, but I think I’ll stick to listening to podcasts about it from now on.

If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!

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Recent Reads from Elizabeth Berg

Elizabeth Berg is a prolific American author that I have enjoyed reading for many years.  I recently made a sweep through my Goodreads author list to see what books of theirs I hadn’t read yet, and I found several of Berg’s to add to my TBR.  In the last few months, I have read four of them.

Earth’s the Right Place for Love (2023) is the story of two young people growing up in Mason, Missouri.  One of those people is Arthur Moses, who is the main character in The Story of Arthur Truluv, published in 2017.  It focuses on love and grief and is an insightful, compelling story.

Tapestry of Fortunes (2013) is the enjoyable story of four women who live in a house together.  They decide to take a road trip together, each of them looking for a specific outcome.  It is great for anyone who enjoys feel-good books celebrating women’s friendships.

Once Upon a Time, There Was You (2011) follows Irene and John, divorced parents who are forced to come together when their daughter Sadie faces a tragedy.  There were some details that felt a bit contrived, but I still liked the book.

Open House (2000) is about a woman finding her way after divorce.  Samantha’s husband has left her and, in order to keep the house she and her son Travis live in, she takes in roommates and begins working temp jobs.  Along the way, she makes new friends and discovers the self she lost a long time ago. It seemed a bit slow at first, but as I relaxed into the pace of the story, I found myself drawn into it.  The style of this book reminds me a bit of Jamie Langston Turner, who is one of my favorite writers.

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Books About Books That I Recommend

I recently posted books about books that were on my TBR, and this time I wanted to post books about books that I have read and enjoyed. I just love reading books that have something to do with books, whether it be a book club, a bookshop, a library, or even the publishing world.

  • The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
  • The Break-Up Book Club by Wendy Wax
  • The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick
  • The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson
  • The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser
  • The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
  • The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
  • The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
  • The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore
  • The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson
  • The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
  • The Lending Library by Aliza Fogelson
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What I’m Reading – October 2024

What I’m Reading Now

Passions in Death by J.D. Robb – This is book #59 of her In Death series about Eve Dallas, a homicide detective in futuristic New York City. I always love these!

Freckles by Cecelia Ahern – I have enjoyed several books by this author. This one is middling for me so far.

Her Gates Will Never Be Shut: Hope, Hell, and the New Jerusalem by Bradley Jersak – I had put this book down a few months ago and recently picked it up again. I have read some other nonfiction in the meantime that I liked, so I’m hoping this will be easier for me to read this time.

What I Recently Finished

Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg – Berg never disappoints. I raced through this enjoyable novel about a woman who makes major changes in her life after the death of her best friend.

The Fifth Avenue Apartment by Pamela M. Kelley – This was a fun, lighthearted read about a woman who has been searching for what she wants to do with her life and how she finds a career that seems right for her. It was enjoyable. The author also released a bonus short story that set the stage for a possible second book.

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum – This book was recommended by someone on Instagram, and I am so glad I took a chance on it. It was very thoughtful and warm. I appreciated both the story and the lessons shared as the characters grow.

The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon – Very well-written book that is part memoir and part informational discourse on the issues that arise for people who don’t fit or start to question the church. I really liked this book.

Natural Selection by Erin Hilderbrand – Nice short story about a woman in love who has things turned upside down on what is supposed to be a romantic trip to an exotic location.

Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins – A fake relationship romance with a twist. Cute book.

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio – Loved this magical realism novel about a woman whose life changes in an instant and how she copes with her new reality. I wrote a longer review of this a couple of weeks ago. Highly recommend!

What I’ve Added to my TBR List

I added a lot of books again this month. A lot of them are my standard fare, but I’m also trying to expand my horizons a bit:

  • The Anti-Heroes by Jen Lancaster
  • When We Were Friends by Jane Green (short story)
  • Smells Like Tween Spirit by Laurie Gelman
  • Nantucket Summer House by Pamela M. Kelley
  • Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
  • The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
  • The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
  • More of Less Maddy by Lisa Genova
  • The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick
  • The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
  • Rise & Shine, Benedict Stone by Phaedra Patrick
  • The Secrets of Love Story Bridge by Phaedra Patrick
  • Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
  • Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
  • Summer Island by Natalie Normann
  • The Hygge Holiday by Rosie Blake
  • The Healer’s Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson
  • Crime Scene by Jonathan Kellerman
  • Lethal Prey by John Sandford
  • Gryphon’s Valor by Mercedes Lackey
  • Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb
  • Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld
  • Open Season by Jonathan Kellerman
  • Billy Straight by Jonathan Kellerman
  • UnClobber by Colby Martin

If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!

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Books about Books on my TBR

I recently added a post to Instagram featuring books that I have on my Goodreads Want to Read shelf that are about books or bookstores. I have come across quite a few of this type recently and am looking forward to reading them as I usually enjoy them.

Here is the list of books pictured:

  • The Library by Bella Osborne
  • The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
  • The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak
  • The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
  • The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
  • Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
  • The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
  • The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
  • The Cookbook Club by Beth Harbison
  • Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
  • What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama
  • Welcome to the Huyanam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

I actually just started reading the last one on the list and am finding it very enjoyable so far.

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What I’m Reading – September 2024

What I’m Reading Now

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio – This is Holly’s debut novel, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. The main character, Lauren, returns home one night to find that reality has somehow shifted and she is married. As she tries to figure out what is going on, her husband goes to the attic to change a light bulb and disappears and a different husband comes down the ladder. So fun!

What I Recently Finished

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes DuMez – This was a fascinating account of the development and evolution of white evangelicalism in America written by a historian. I found it very easy to read and extremely educational.

Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins – This novel is about a man whose wife wrote him letters before she died and had them delivered to him every month for the first year after she passed. It was reminiscent of P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern – in a good way!

The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore – I love books about books, and this novel features a librarian who discovers a 60-year old love story written in the margins of books. It was a charming book!

Earth’s the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg – This is a another great installment from a writer I have admired for many years. It is a coming of age story which provides the backstory for the Arthur Moses, the main character in The Story of Arthur Truluv.

Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg – This is the story of John and Irene, who are divorced but are still connected by their 18-year old daughter Sadie. It is beautifully written, as are all of her books.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare – This is Book 1 of the Infernal Devices series, which is the prequel to the Mortal Instruments series. Both of these series are part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles. It was a recommendation from my friend Kim, who is a big fan of young adult romance and fantasy books. I don’t always love her selections, but I really enjoyed this one and am going to continue reading the series.

What I’ve Added to my TBR List

I added quite a few books to my list this month:

  • The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman (short story)
  • The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman (short story)
  • The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman (short story)
  • Fatal Intrusion by Jeffery Deaver
  • Natural Selection by Erin Hilderbrand (short story)
  • Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman
  • The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
  • Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
  • Close Knit by Jenny Colgan
  • The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin
  • The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers
  • The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
  • Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
  • The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak
  • The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
  • Found in a Bookshop by Stephanie Butland
  • The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
  • The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
  • Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
  • Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
  • What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama
  • Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
  • Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
  • Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
  • The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon

If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!

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What I’m Reading – August 2024

What I’m Reading Now

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes DuMez – I am just a few chapters in and I am totally engrossed in this book.

Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins – I just got this one on my Libby app; haven’t started it yet.

What I Recently Finished:

The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery – I gave this one five stars. It was so well-done.

The Excellent Lombards by Jane Hamilton – I gave this one two stars, which is pretty rare for me. I did finish it, but it just wasn’t my favorite style of writing.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center – This was an enjoyable book about two writers writing and falling in love. Very good.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle – Another five star book. I loved the premise and I didn’t guess the twist, which doesn’t happen very often.

The Summer Book Club by Susan Mallery – This was a good read.

Toxic Prey by John Sandford – Yet another five star rating – I have hardly given any this year and now I have three in one month! This is listed as #34 in the Lucas Davenport series. Goodreads also has it filed as #3 in the Letty Davenport series since it includes her as well (she is Lucas’s daughter.) I flew through this one.

What I’ve Added to my TBR List:

Miss Amelia’s List by Mercedes Lackey – This is #17 in the Elemental Masters series

Nashville Dreams by Pamela M. Kelley

If you’re on Goodreads, feel free to add me as a friend. I’m always looking for new recommendations!