Well, for the first time since I’ve started sharing books (that’s quite a while!), I didn’t have time to share what I read in August.
That’s because…
…and apparently, besides May and December, it’s one of the busiest months with back to school.
So, while this post is a bit late, it’s also kind of pitiful because I only read one book (that I finished last week).
Here’s…
Here is my one book for this month:
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
Swan Song:
Summary:
After thirty-five years serving as the Chief of Police on the island of Nantucket, Ed Kapenash’s heart can no longer take the stress. But his plans to retire are thwarted when, with only three days left to serve, he receives a phone call. A 22-million-dollar summer home, recently purchased by the flashy new couple in town, the Richardsons, has burned to the ground. The Richardsons are far from hurt—in fact, they’re out on the water, throwing a lavish party on their yacht—but when news of the fire reaches them, they discover that their personal assistant has vanished. The Chief is well-acquainted with the Richardsons, and his daughter is best friends with the now-missing girl, leaving him no choice but to postpone his retirement and take on the double case.
On a small island like Nantucket, the Richardsons shook things up from the second they stepped on to the scene, throwing luxurious parties and doing whatever they could to gain admittance to the coveted lunches at the Field & Oar Club (with increasing desperation). They instantly captured the attention of local real estate agent Fast Eddie, and the town gossip Blond Sharon, both dealing with their own personal dramas. Blond Sharon is going through a divorce, and in order to avoid becoming a cliché, she’s enrolled in a creative writing class, putting her natural affinity for scandal towards a more noble purpose. To solve the case of the fire and track down his daughter’s best friend, the Chief will have to string together the pieces of the lives of all of these characters and more, rallying his strength for his final act of service to the tight-knit community he knows and loves.
Quick Thoughts:
This book is Hilderbrand’s last, so I liked that the title (I assume?) had double meaning. It’s her “swan song” as a writer as well as the title of the book.
Fun fact about me…I always like reading the dedications and acknowledgements. I loved that Elin thanked her ex-husband, and highlighted their time together, their family, and how they’ve stayed in each other’s lives.
As for the book…I just thought it was ok. I appreciated the Nantucket setting, the variety of characters and the bit of action, but I had a hard time finishing it.
I’m glad I read it though, and I’m sad to think that it’s her last book.
Rating:
3.5 stars
Summer Reading Update:
It was a great summer of reading…until August…when I greatly lacked the time and energy to read.
When I put these books on my summer reading list, I didn’t think I’d get to read them all, but I’m happy to have read many of them.
Here’s how my summer turned out.
Read: Swan Song, The Darlings, The Summer Pact, The Summer of Songbirds, This Summer Will Be Different, and A Hundred Summers
Didn’t get to read:On Fire Island (I actually had this one on my Kindle at the start of summer, but never got to read it. Now, it has a long wait to read it from the library). A Happier Life (I had this book, but just returned it since I didn’t have time to read it. I’ve found I prefer my Kindle, so now I’m on the waitlist for the Kindle version), and The Comeback Summer (maybe I will read this one on fall break?)
I’d like to hope September will be better, but it’s the 10th day of the month, and I’ve only just started reading a book.
I hope you’ve been having a great week. I’ve spent the past two days at home working on school stuff, finishing up some of my summer “to do” list and watching the Olympics. It’s been fun to watch events like gymnastics “live,” so I’ve been taking advantage of having the time to do that.
Well, it’s officially the last day of the month, so I’m sharing the books I read in July.
Your girl was on a reading roll this month!
Here are the books I read this month:
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Darlings:
Summary:
On a secluded stretch of Cape Cod, a wedding is being planned at a beloved beach house—only for a long kept secret to emerge that hurtles both the wedding and the family off course, in this fresh, lyrical new novel from the acclaimed author of the “charming and warmhearted” ( PopSugar ) The Summer House.
At age ninety-two, Tish Darling is the matriarch and protector of what’s left of the Darling family fortune, including the decades-old beach house, Riptide. Located on the crook of Cape Cod, it’s a place she once loved but has not returned to in decades, since a tragic family accident one perfect summer day. Still, she is determined to keep Riptide in the family. Even if that means going back there on the cusp of her granddaughter’s wedding. Even if it means revealing someone else’s truth.
Her daughter-in-law Cora has her own complicated feelings surrounding Tish’s return as well as doubts about her place within the Darling family. After all, Cora came into the family carrying a secret that her husband promised to keep for her forever. Tish’s sudden return to Riptide may force everything they’ve worked so hard to protect out into the light.
Meanwhile, Cora’s eldest daughter, Andi isn’t exactly looking forward to her little sister’s wedding so soon after her own divorce. To make matters worse, her ex has arrived on the Cape with his insufferable new girlfriend. Andi has no idea how she’ll be able to survive this family reunion…until she bumps into an old friend from the past. A friend who may just offer her a second chance.
As the three distinct generations of Darling women arrive at Riptide, they have no idea that this summer will forever change them. One old secret, kept with the best of intentions, threatens to not only divide the family, but shatter each member’s sense of who they really are. Can the ties that bind survive, when the history you’ve always been told turns out to be untrue?
Quick Thoughts:
This book was one of my summer reading list books. Like Nantucket, I enjoy reading books set in beach towns like the Cape. I appreciated the elements of drama that come with having a large family. Overall, this was an easy read that I enjoyed.
Rating:
A Hundred Summers:
Summary:
Memorial Day, 1938: New York socialite Lily Dane has just returned with her family to the idyllic oceanfront community of Seaview, Rhode Island, expecting another placid summer season among the familiar traditions and friendships that sustained her after heartbreak.
That is, until the Greenwalds decide to take up residence in Seaview.
Nick and Budgie Greenwald are an unwelcome specter from Lily’s past: her former best friend and her former fiancé, now recently married—an event that set off a wildfire of gossip among the elite of Seaview, who have summered together for generations. Budgie’s arrival to restore her family’s old house puts her once more in the center of the community’s social scene, and she insinuates herself back into Lily’s friendship with an overpowering talent for seduction…and an alluring acquaintance from their college days, Yankees pitcher Graham Pendleton. But the ties that bind Lily to Nick are too strong and intricate to ignore, and the two are drawn back into long-buried dreams, despite their uneasy secrets and many emotional obligations.
Under the scorching summer sun, the unexpected truth of Budgie and Nick’s marriage bubbles to the surface, and as a cataclysmic hurricane barrels unseen up the Atlantic and into New England, Lily and Nick must confront an emotional cyclone of their own, which will change their worlds forever.
Quick Thoughts:
This was another book on my summer reading list, and I loved it. I’m not sure if I’ve read any other Beatriz Williams books, but this won’t be the last one of hers that I read. Some of the characters were likable, whereas others weren’t, but that’s something I liked about the story. Also, the story was told flashing back about seven years , and I liked seeing how the story and character progressed. You know I love historical fiction, and this one was my only five star book of July.
Rating:
Boys in the Boat:
Summary:
For readers of Unbroken, out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times—the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant.
It was an unlikely quest from the start. With a team composed of the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast and Great Britain, yet they did, going on to shock the world by defeating the German team rowing for Adolf Hitler. The emotional heart of the tale lies with Joe Rantz, a teenager without family or prospects, who rows not only to regain his shattered self-regard but also to find a real place for himself in the world. Drawing on the boys’ own journals and vivid memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, Brown has created an unforgettable portrait of an era, a celebration of a remarkable achievement, and a chronicle of one extraordinary young man’s personal quest.
Quick Thoughts:
So, I’d heard of this movie, and I remembered that I wanted to see it in the theater but never did. When the movie was out, that’s when I realized it was a book. Anyway, on the flight home from Seattle to Cinci, it was one of the movie options. I rarely watch movies or shows on the plane, but I jumped at the chance to watch it. Anyway, I loved it! I even quietly clapped when the guys won gold. Hayden nudged me because I was “cringey” embarrassing.
Anyway, the book didn’t disappoint either. It went into more detail about the athletes’ lives, their college years, the training, and more. I really loved both the book and the movie. Also, there’s a young adult version of the book. I think Hayden would like it!
Anyway, if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, I definitely recommend them both.
Rating:
The Summer Pact:
Summary:
Four freshmen arrive at college from completely different worlds: Lainey, a California party girl with a flair for drama; Tyson, a brilliant scholar and law school hopeful from D.C.; Summer, a recruited athlete and perfectionist from the Midwest; and Hannah, a mild-mannered southerner who is content to quietly round out the circle of big personalities. Soon after moving into their shared dorm, they strike up a conversation in a study lounge, and the seeds of friendship are planted.
As their college years fly by, their bond intensifies and the four become inseparable. But as graduation nears, their lives are forever changed after a desperate act leads to tragic consequences. Stunned and heartbroken, a pact is made to be there for each other in their time of need, no matter how separated they are by circumstances or distance.
Ten years later, Hannah is anticipating what should be one of the happiest moments of her life when everything is suddenly turned upside down. Calling on her closest friends, it soon becomes clear that they are facing their own crossroads. True to their promise, they agree to take a time out from lives headed in wrong directions and embark on a journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and acceptance.
In this tender portrayal of grief, love, and hope, Emily Giffin asks: When things fall apart, who will be at our sides to help pick up the pieces?
Quick Thoughts:
I’ve read quite a few Emily Giffin books, and this one was also on my summer reading list. I was on the library wait list for quite some time, so I went ahead and bought it.
This book covers the serious topic of suicide, but from it the bond between the other three friends grows stronger. I liked how different the friends were and how they were there for each other. I appreciated the setting of Capri, Italy and loved following along on their journey there. There were some parts of the book that just seemed a little odd like some of the plot changed quickly and sometimes I was like, “huh?” but anyway, it’s a good summer read for sure.
Rating:
I continued my new found hobby of enjoying listening to memoirs and listened to two books.
Matthew Perry’s Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing:
Summary:
“Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.”
So begins the riveting story of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, taking us along on his journey from childhood ambition to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, there was five-year-old Matthew, who traveled from Montreal to Los Angeles, shuffling between his separated parents; fourteen-year-old Matthew, who was a nationally ranked tennis star in Canada; twenty-four-year-old Matthew, who nabbed a coveted role as a lead cast member on the talked-about pilot then called Friends Like Us. . . and so much more.
In an extraordinary story that only he could tell—and in the heartfelt, hilarious, and warmly familiar way only he could tell it—Matthew Perry lays bare the fractured family that raised him (and also left him to his own devices), the desire for recognition that drove him to fame, and the void inside him that could not be filled even by his greatest dreams coming true. But he also details the peace he’s found in sobriety and how he feels about the ubiquity of Friends, sharing stories about his castmates and other stars he met along the way. Frank, self-aware, and with his trademark humor, Perry vividly depicts his lifelong battle with addiction and what fueled it despite seemingly having it all.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thingis an unforgettable memoir that is both intimate and eye-opening—as well as a hand extended to anyone struggling with sobriety. Unflinchingly honest, moving, and uproariously funny, this is the book fans have been waiting for.
Quick Thoughts:
I loved watching Friends, and like most everyone was stopped in my tracks upon hearing about Matthew Perry’s death less than a year ago. He was certainly a guy who fought demons for quite some time…more than I assume most people realized.
The opening line of the book that’s at the beginning of the summary is haunting. Hearing him tell his life story was also a bit haunting.
His childhood was interesting, and I’d forgotten that he was a good tennis player and that his mother is married to Keith Morrison from Dateline NBC. Of course, I loved hearing about the in’s and out’s of Friends. I felt sad for him in many ways. I think it was difficult for him in relationships, and it was sad when he’d talk about relationships that never worked out…or how he wished he’d had children.
Overall, I’m glad that I listened to this book, and hearing him read it made more of an impact as well.
Rating:
Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights:
Summary:
From the Academy Award®–winning actor, an unconventional memoir filled with raucous stories, outlaw wisdom, and lessons learned the hard way about living with greater satisfaction.
I’ve been in this life for fifty years, been trying to work out its riddle for forty-two, and been keeping diaries of clues to that riddle for the last thirty-five. Notes about successes and failures, joys and sorrows, things that made me marvel, and things that made me laugh out loud. How to be fair. How to have less stress. How to have fun. How to hurt people less. How to get hurt less. How to be a good man. How to have meaning in life. How to be more me.
Recently, I worked up the courage to sit down with those diaries. I found stories I experienced, lessons I learned and forgot, poems, prayers, prescriptions, beliefs about what matters, some great photographs, and a whole bunch of bumper stickers. I found a reliable theme, an approach to living that gave me more satisfaction, at the time, and still: If you know how, and when, to deal with life’s challenges – how to get relative with the inevitable – you can enjoy a state of success I call “catching greenlights.”
So I took a one-way ticket to the desert and wrote this book: an album, a record, a story of my life so far. This is fifty years of my sights and seens, felts and figured-outs, cools and shamefuls. Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality. Getting away withs, getting caughts, and getting wets while trying to dance between the raindrops.
Hopefully, it’s medicine that tastes good, a couple of aspirin instead of the infirmary, a spaceship to Mars without needing your pilot’s license, going to church without having to be born again, and laughing through the tears.
It’s a love letter. To life.
It’s also a guide to catching more greenlights – and to realizing that the yellows and reds eventually turn green too.
Good luck.
Quick Thoughts:
I was on the library wait list for a bit for this book, but it was worth the wait. I absolutely loved hearing Matthew McConaughey share his story. I usually listen to podcasts or books on 1.5 setting, but I had to slow down to 1.25 to understand Matthew’s words as he read. His accent is great, but even better was the way he told his story. If there was an exciting part, he narrated as if he was telling the story to his best friend. He’d stop and chuckle or change the cadence or inflection in his voice.
I loved hearing about his time in Australia after college…what an experience! How he got into acting, the movies that he was in, how he met and fell in love with his wife, how he walked away from acting for a couple of years to kind of “reinvent” himself, and more.
I really enjoyed listening to his story, his bumper sticker sayings, poems he wrote, and hearing the famous, “Alright, alright, alright!”
I love the idea of looking for “green lights” along the way in life.
Rating:
Do you have any suggestions of good audio books for me to listen to? I just am not sure I can follow a plot on audio which is why I think memoirs have been working for me.
Summer Reading Update:
I’ve done a pretty good job chipping away at my summer reading list.
Read: This Summer Will Be Different, The Summer of Songbirds, The Darlings, A Hundred Summers, and The Summer Pact
Ready to Read:A Happier Life and Swan Song – I just got both of these books from the library after being on the wait list for a bit. The Comeback Summer is on my Kindle.
On library wait list:On Fire Island
Even with what I’m sure will be a busy August getting back to school, I hope to at least read Swan Song and A Happier Life in August.
When people ask if I’m ready go to back to school, my response is always “no” and that I will miss having more time to read. haha
How’s your week going? Y’all, my long travel day on Sunday and then hitting the ground running on Monday caught up with me! Yesterday, I woke up from a dead sleep at 9:30! I got almost 11 hours of sleep. I can’t believe it…but clearly I needed it.
I also can’t believe that it’s already the second Wednesday of the month which means I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look.
This month’s topic is let’s look at…podcasts and shows we binge.
Podcasts:
Well, I still don’t listen to a lot of podcasts. That being said, I finally reconnected my phone to my car, so maybe I will start listening to more podcasts when I have time.
On the podcast app on my phone, I do have downloaded random episodes of:
Absolutely Not (you know I love Heather McMahan!)
Hey Dude, the 90s Called (I love that Christine Taylor and David Lascher interview so many actors from the 80’s/90’s!)
I’ve Had It (Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan are hilarious!)
Let’s Be Honest (Kristin Cavallari doesn’t hold back!)
Two podcasts that I listen to regularly are:
Calm Down (Erin and Charissa talk about sports, news, travel, gossip and more!)
& …New Heights with the Kelce Brothers.
Just FYI – I was listening to this podcast before Travis and Taylor started dating! These two are also fun to listen to.
Audio Books:
I’ve just gotten into listening to audio books thanks to a few road trips and travel.
I listened to these two audio books last month:
This month, I’ve listened to Matthew Perry and Matthew McConaughey’s books, both narrated by them. I will share more in my July book review, but I really enjoyed both. There were definitely parts of Perry’s book that were hard to listen to knowing of his now untimely death.
I could listen to McConaughey’s voice all day long…just not on 1.50 speed like I usually listen to books and podcasts. haha!
Shows:
Recently, I watched Twelve Final Days about Roger Federer’s final twelve days before retirement. It’s on Amazon Prime, and I think it was just under two hours long. So, it’s not episodes, but a short documentary.
He’s definitely one of my favorite tennis players, and I loved seeing him off the court with his family as well.
On Netflix, I’ve been watching America’s Sweethearts about the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, and I’ve really enjoyed it. I watched it last week when I was in KC, and I still have one episode left.
Also on Netflixis Sprint about the US sprinters in the year leading up to the Olympics. Of course, this is a family favorite.
My summer guilty pleasure is always the Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip on Peacock. It’s been fun to see the NY ladies again.
Travis and I have been watching Presumed Innocent on Apple TV. I think we’ve watched the first four episodes. Our viewing has been kind of sporadic as we watched the first episode before vacation, and then watched a couple more before I left for KC. A new episode comes out every week, so hopefully we can keep the momentum going.
Right now, Hadley is re-watching all of All-American before the next season comes out…
…and Hayden’s been watching Friday Night Lights. Travis and I used to watch that show together when it was on TV. We were telling the kids how we used to look forward to watching it live every week…and that went over their heads. haha
Travis and I both stop and watch some of the episodes when Hayden has the TV on. Who doesn’t love Coach Taylor and Tammy?!?
Movies:
On our flight home from Seattle, I watched The Boys in the Boat, and it was SO good. I’d wanted to see it when it was in the theater, but that just never worked out. Now I want to read the book. I highly recommend it.
I love having extra time in the summer to watch shows that aren’t normally on during the year, or finding the time to get caught up on shows or movies that I’ve missed out on. Usually, my reading time dips a bit in the summer, but I’ve been good and keeping that up too!
Do you have any suggestions on shows I should watch? We have Netflix, Prime, Peacock, and Apple TV.
This month, I definitely found my reading groove and for the first time ever I listened to a couple of books.
It felt really nice to have so many books downloaded on my Kindle that I was excited to read.
Here are the books I read this month:
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
After Annie:
Summary:
When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centered their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie’s support. It is Annie’s daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.
Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.
Quick Thoughts:
This book was sad, but beautiful and inspirational as well. I liked how it was organized by season following the year of Annie’s death.
Rating:
3.5 stars
The Last Life Boat:
Summary:
1940, Kent : Alice King is not brave or daring—she’s happiest finding adventure through the safe pages of books. But times of war demand courage, and as the threat of German invasion looms, a plane crash near her home awakens a strength in Alice she’d long forgotten. Determined to do her part, she finds a role perfectly suited to her experience as a schoolteacher—to help evacuate Britain’s children overseas.
1940, London : Lily Nichols once dreamed of using her mathematical talents for more than tabulating the cost of groceries, but life, and love, charted her a different course. With two lively children and a loving husband, Lily’s humble home is her world, until war tears everything asunder. With her husband gone and bombs raining down, Lily is faced with an impossible keep her son and daughter close, knowing she may not be able to protect them, or enroll them in a risky evacuation scheme, where safety awaits so very far away.
When a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the S. S. Carlisle carrying a ship of children to Canada, a single lifeboat is left adrift in the storm-tossed Atlantic. Alice and Lily, strangers to each other—one on land, the other at sea—will quickly become one another’s very best hope as their lives are fatefully entwined.
Quick Thoughts:
Oh my word! I loved this book. Of course, you know I love historical fiction, but the premise of this one hooked me from the beginning. There were tense, heart-warming, sweet, sad and hopeful moments throughout the plot. I loved that it was inspired by a true story, and this was a page turner for me.
I really appreciated the historical note at the end as it just shared so much insight, explanation, and meaning.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
The gift of reading, a love of books, was something she would have forever, could take with her wherever she went.
Speaking about the ocean – Water has a memory, Alice, a soul.…and it knows the way home. It remembers.
…Because she knows that even in the profound sadness of death, there will always – must always – be a place for the astonishing, enduring beauty of life.
Rating:
This Summer Will Be Different:
Summary:
This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won’t give into temptation. This summer will be different.
Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.
It’s easier said than done.
Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.
If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.
When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.
Quick Thoughts:
I’ve read the other two summer books by Fortune, and this one was similar to those in regards to setting, plot elements, and “R rated” scenes. It was organized by present day and flashback and the story came together bit by bit. It’s definitely a summer book for sure.
Rating:
3.5 stars
Summer of Songbirds:
Summary:
Four women come together to save the summer camp that changed their lives and rediscover themselves in the process.
Nearly thirty years ago, in the wake of a personal tragedy, June Moore bought Camp Holly Springs and turned it into a thriving summer haven for girls. But now, June is in danger of losing the place she has sacrificed everything for, and begins to realize how much she has used the camp to avoid facing difficulties in her life.
June’s niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, during a fateful summer at camp. They’ve all helped each other through hard things, from heartbreak and loss to substance abuse and unplanned pregnancy, and the three are inseparable even in their thirties. But when attorney Daphne is confronted with a relationship from her past—and a confidential issue at work becomes personal—she is faced with an impossible choice.
Lanier, meanwhile, is struggling with tough decisions of her own. After a run-in with an old flame, she is torn between the commitment she made to her fiancé and the one she made to her first love. And when a big secret comes to light, she finds herself at odds with her best friend…and risks losing the person she loves most.
But in spite of their personal problems, nothing is more important to these songbirds than Camp Holly Springs. When the women learn their childhood oasis is in danger of closing, they band together to save it, sending them on a journey that promises to open the next chapters in their lives.
Quick Thoughts:
I loved this book! I’ve read quite a few books by Woodson Harvey including the entire Peachtree Bluff series, and while I enjoyed all of those books, this one is my favorite.
I think the camp setting immediately reminded me of my love for The Parent Trap, and my mind kept thinking of that movie. I enjoyed the three main characters equally, and their friendship was so special.
A few fave quotes:
“…because she knows that even in the profound sadness of death, there will always – must always- be a place for the astonishing, enduring beauty of life.
“Just like every year, every phase of our life had its seasons. Cold ones, windy ones, sunny ones, warm ones. We could not choose which part we were living; we could not predict how our future would play out.
This is definitely a perfect book to read in the summer.
Rating:
Birdie & Harlow:
Summary:
The funny and poignant story of one woman’s wonderfully codependent relationship with her dog – and what he taught her about chosen family and the reward of motherhood. Birdie & Harlow is the story of a baby and a dog. But motherhood is never quite that simple. In Taylor Wolfe’s case, it’s a long, zigzagging and winding road. Meant to be a last-minute anniversary gift for her then boyfriend (and now husband), the highly-energetic and loud-mouthed Vizla puppy named Harlow turns out to be the best snap decision twenty-year-old Taylor ever makes—and the beginning of the most epic friendship she ever has. As Wolfe’s resistance to 9-5’s and traditional adulthood grows, Harlow becomes the perfect companion for her eccentricities in a world that thrives on conformity. Wolfe’s twenties—full of pitfalls and surprises, sad days and silver linings—led her to the realization that life is too short to spend your days in a crate (or a cubicle), that parks are meant to be enjoyed, and most importantly, she wants to be a mom. But really, isn’t she one already? A charming and touching memoir, Birdie & Harlow is a tribute to the many expressions of modern motherhood, to both human and fur babies alike. Taylor’s story reminds all of us that life will surprise you and that families should come in every shape and size.
Quick Thoughts:
If you are on Instagram, then you probably follow Taylor (@thedailytay). She is so funny! Her Instagram reels just crack me up. Anyway, I remember when she shared that her beloved dog passed away, and then later sharing about her book. I think she linked it to Audible, so I bought it. I listened to it off and on over the past month, and finished it on my car ride to KC a few weeks ago.
I really enjoyed Taylor reading it and truly hearing her voice as she shared about her life, upbringing, career, Harlow, becoming a mom and more. She even shared Harlow’s internal dialogue which was endearing and sweet.
Anyway, I thought it was a good book, and it was a great one for me to listen to as my first audio book.
Rating:
The Office BFFs:
Summary:
An intimate, behind-the-scenes, richly illustrated celebration of beloved The Office co-stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey’s friendship, and an insiders’ view of Pam Beesly, Angela Martin, and the iconic TV show. Featuring many of their never-before-seen photos. Receptionist Pam Beesly and accountant Angela Martin had very little in common when they toiled together at Scranton’s Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. But, in reality, the two bonded in their very first days on set and, over the nine seasons of the series’ run, built a friendship that transcended the show and continues to this day. Sharing everything from what it was like in the early days as the show struggled to gain traction, to walking their first red carpet—plus exclusive stories on the making of milestone episodes and how their lives changed when they became moms— The Office BFFs is full of the same warm and friendly tone Jenna and Angela have brought to their Office Ladies podcast.
Quick Thoughts:
I’ve watched quite a few episodes of The Office, but I’m not a huge super fan. I think both Jenna and Angela are so funny. So, since I knew I had a car ride back to KC with time to kill, I downloaded it from the library Libby app.
I really enjoyed this insight and background info. It was fun hearing them narrate this and hearing their relationship in real life. I’ve listened to some of their podcast episodes too, and I’m assuming there’s some overlap, but overall, I thought it was light-hearted and heart-warming.
Rating:
Summer Reading Update:
I was able to read a couple of summer books this month!
Read:This Summer Will Be Different and The Summer of Songbirds
Ready to Read:On Fire Island, The Comeback Summer, and The Darlings
On library wait list:A Hundred Summers
Not out yet:The Summer Pact,Swan Song , A Happier Life (just recently released)
I think July will be another good reading month for me. Thanks to listening to some books, I’m back on track with my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 40 books. I’m up to 19/40 books that I hope to read this year.
…and it’s Father’s Day! I hope all the dads are feeling the love today. I know there are many missing their dads. My thoughts and prayers are with them as I can only imagine how their heart feels today.
As our summer continues on, I’m sharing another Summer Sunday post.
While the summer provides some more time for reading and catching up on shows, my family also seems to watch quite a few movies when we can.
Today, I’m sharing my top 5 faves plus a few more movies that are perfect for summer.
1.
My #1 favorite movie of all time is The Parent Trap…the Hayley Mills version.
I’ve seen this movie a countless number of times, and it’s my favorite movie from my childhood (and it was a classic movie then!)
The Lindsay Lohan version is great too.
2.
A League of their Own is another one of my faves, and my kids love it too. “There’s no crying in baseball!” Classic.
3.
The Goonies is one of my brother’s favorite movies, and I’ve seen it so many times. Just a couple of weeks ago, Hayden was watching it, so I stopped what I was doing to watch it with him.
“Goonies never say die!”
4.
Top Gun (the original) is one of those movies that I remember watching as a teen and feeling like a big kid. It was just more of a grown up movie, but my friends and I loved it.
We enjoyed seeing Maverick a couple of years ago as a family (with some of our friends), and it’s really great too.
5.
I remember watching Overboard at my friend Jeanna’s house when we were kids. We watched it over and over. It still brings me a sense of nostalgia when I watch it.
Other great summer movies:
Here are some other movies that are faves from my childhood (and some of my kids’ faves) that are all around classics to watch in the summer:
Well, after today, it will officially be summer for me…which means hopefully I will have more time to read.
I can’t wait to dive into my summer reading list.
I hope my summer can look like this:
This was my summer reading list in 2021:
2022:
2023:
….and this is my reading list for summer 2024:
Last summer, I read all but one book on my list, so I’m adding it to this year’s list.
Here are my book choices this summer:
On Fire Island: I’ve never read a book by Rosen, and this book looks to be a heart-breaker, but I will still give it a go.
The Comeback Summer: I read The Beach Trap by Ali Brady, and loved it. So, I have high hopes for this book too.
Swan Song: This book is out June 11, and it’s apparently Hilderbrand’s last Nantucket novel? How is that so?
The Darlings: This book has been saved on my Goodreads list for a while, and I hope to get to it this summer.
A Happier Life: I love Kristy Woodson Harvey books. If you haven’t read her Peachtree Bluff series, you should. I can’t wait to read her newest book out on June 25.
The Summer Pact:Emily Giffin is another author I think of for summer reading. I enjoyed Meant to Be when I read it two summers ago. The Summer Pact comes out on July 9th,and I have it marked on my calendar.
The Summer of Songbirds: This was the one summer book I didn’t get to last summer, and I’ve already picked it up from the library to read in June.
This Summer Will Be Different: I’ve read Every Summer After and Meet Me at the Lake. I didn’t know there was a third summer book until my friend (hi, Allison!) mentioned it a few weeks ago. Of course, I had to add it to my list.
A Hundred Summers: I think I’ve only read one book by Williams, but I love historical fiction, so I thought this would be a fun one to add into he mix.
I hope you had a great weekend. Did you catch my post on Saturday?
We spent all of Saturday at the middle school state track meet. It was a hot and long day, but the kids ran great races. Sunday was more of a relaxing day, and we really needed the downtime. We had two major storms blow through, but thankfully we didn’t have any damage. Yesterday, we were back in Louisville for our niece’s college graduation party.
As the month wraps up, I’m sharing the books I’ve read in May.
This month I read three books that included two memoirs and one mystery.
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
A Beautiful, Terrible Thing:
Summary:
What do you do when you discover that the person you’ve built your life around never existed? When “it could never happen to me” does happen to you?
These are the questions facing Jen Waite when she begins to realize that her loving husband–the father of her infant daughter, her best friend, the love of her life–fits the textbook definition of psychopath. In a raw, first-person account, Waite recounts each heartbreaking discovery, every life-destroying lie, and reveals what happens once the dust finally settles on her demolished marriage.
After a disturbing email sparks Waite’s suspicion that her husband is having an affair, she tries to uncover the truth and rebuild trust in her marriage. Instead, she finds more lies, infidelity, and betrayal than she could have imagined. Waite obsessively analyzes her relationship, trying to find a single moment from the last five years that isn’t part of the long-con of lies and manipulation. With a dual-timeline narrative structure, we see Waite’s romance bud, bloom, and wither simultaneously, making the heartbreak and disbelief even more affecting.
Quick Thoughts:
A quick glance at the cover, and you might read the name as “Jen White” and not “Jen Waite!” haha
I read this book because a mom friend told me she was listening to the audio book, and I thought it sounded interesting.
Like who am I to be a book critic, but I didn’t enjoy this book at all. I think my biggest issue was how it was written. There were too many simple sentences, too much repetition, and many times where I thought details needed more explanation. I felt like I was reading a bad essay the whole time. Maybe the audiobook was better?
Rating:
2.5 stars!
The Many Lives of Mama Love:
Summary:
No one expects the police to knock on the million-dollar, two-story home of the perfect cul-de-sac housewife. But soccer mom Lara Love Hardin has been hiding a shady secret: She is funding her heroin addiction by stealing her neighbors’ credit cards.
Lara is convicted of thirty-two felonies and becomes inmate S32179. She learns jail is a class system with a power structure somewhere between an adolescent sleepover party and Lord of the Flies. Furniture is made from tampon boxes, and Snickers bars are currency. But Lara quickly finds the rules and brings love and healing to her fellow inmates as she climbs the social ladder to become the “shot caller,” showing that jailhouse politics aren’t that different from the PTA meetings she used to attend.
When she’s released, she reinvents herself as a ghostwriter. Now, she’s legally co-opting other people’s identities and getting to meet Oprah, meditate with The Dalai Lama, and have dinner with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. But the shadow of her past follows her. Shame is a poison worse than heroin—there is no way to detox. She must learn to forgive herself and others, navigate life as a felon on probation, prove to herself that she is more good than bad, and much more.
Quick Thoughts:
This was Shay’s April Book Club book, and I love a memoir, so I thought it would be a book I enjoyed. Since it’s an Oprah book, there was a long wait at the library. So, I didn’t read this book until May. Anyway, I really enjoyed it!
Obviously, since she’d written the book, I knew her life must have been turned around and gotten back on track, so I think that helped me as I read during the hard times that Lara went through.
Honestly, I think her story is amazing, and while she had many difficult years and a few hiccups along the way, her children were her motivation to get back on track and make something of herself. I thought her story was so interesting, and it’s a true testament to the fact that when others believe in you and give you a chance, it can truly be life changing.
Rating:
The Darling Girls:
Summary:
For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.
But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?
Quick Thoughts:
This was another one of Shay’s Book Club books…but I would have read it anyway because I enjoy Sally Hepworth books. I was actually at my favorite book store a few weeks ago and bought the book.
This book was a good one! What I like about Hepworth’s books is that they are set in Australia, so I love those references. I loved how different the sisters were, but how they were united they were as adults. How the book was organized made it a quick read. It goes back and forth from “then” and “now” with each sister as well as Ms. Fairchild too. As the plot develops, more secrets are shared. There are some tough topics covered in this book. The plot is filled with mystery, laughter, serious and light moments. The ending has a few twists too.
This quote sums it up perfectly: “You really got more than bargained for when you came here. Dysfunctional sisters, criminal charges, a run-in with monster of a former foster mother.”
It’s definitely a great summer read.
Rating:
So, this month had one three star, one four star, and one five star book. That’s a pretty good month of reading.
Come back tomorrow because I’m sharing the books on my Summer Reading List.
Today is the kids’ 8th grade promotion ceremony. They are more than ready to wrap up this school year. I feel the same way!
How was your week? We had amazing weather, but I feel like the temps heated up quickly! It was nice to be outside a bit more, go for walks, and enjoy some time on my front porch.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Well, I know I share about track every week, but this really is a fun season (of track…and of life), and I can’t say enough how much I love that track is the one thing they both still do.
Friday night, I got this sweet pic of Hadley cheering Hayden on as he ran the 3200, finishing with a state qualifying time.
Don’t get me wrong…there are many times they don’t get along, but I do think they encourage each other more often than not.
Hadley has had her eye on the prize trying to run a state qualifying time in the 200m, and she’s accomplished that the past couple of meets.
Friday night was a late one, but my mom got this pic of the kids after the meet, and I think it’s a good one!
The last cotillion dance was a fun one! Hadley’s dress was my favorite one she’s worn so far. It’s the “fun is calling”dress from Hello Molly, and it comes in a variety of colors.
The moms of the girls in this group have shared some dress stories…some dresses never arriving, wrong material, not what they ordered, etc.
Thankfully, for these dances, we’ve had lots of luck from Hello Molly and Lulus. (FYI for returns, Lulus will give you a full refund if return within the window of time…but Hello Molly only does store credit. Believe me, I learned that the hard way. haha)
I stopped by Aldi’s for a few snacks, and this “charcuterie party platter” was a hit.
My mom came to visit last week, and we celebrated her birthday a bit early. I was going to order a bundt cake, but I thought an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins sounded good.
It was pretty and tasted delish.
Smiles and ready for cake…
I shared some new book trackers and added them to my Instagram highlight.
These have been a fun and creative outlet for me.
Feel free to use them to share what you are reading! Tag me if you do. 🙂
I ordered this in early spring, and I was excited to wear it yesterday now that the weather is warmer. It’s the “Taylor” dress, and while sizes do seem limited, there are a few colors. I wear my typical size large, so I think they do a great job running true to size with what they design.
Favorite Mom Meme:
Honestly, I am surprised that I don’t feel like we have more laundry than we do. Sunday continues to be laundry day, and everyone usually has one load. One thing that still is an issue is getting the laundry put away! The kids put their own clothes away, but tend to be on their own timelines for that. haha!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
I’m sure I share this every year, but the week of Derby is big around here…even at school…especially elementary schools.
The kids made these hats in kindergarten, and were so excited to show them to me when they got home.
Weekly Recap:
Here are my posts from the week in case you missed one:
We have a slight break from sports this weekend, but today is the Kentucky Oaks, and tomorrow is the “most exciting two minutes in sports” is when the Kentucky Derby horses “run for the roses.”
I’m kicking off the month sharing the books that I read in April. After a slow start to 2024, I’ve had a couple of months of my average of reading three books. This month, I loved two of them, and thought one was ok.
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Women:
Summary:
An intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.
Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over- whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.
But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.
The Womenis the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.
Quick Thoughts:
This book is pretty popular, and I can certainly see why, as it was heartbreaking, inspiring, uplifting, and beautiful. Honestly, I don’t know that I’ve read anything set during the Vietnam War. Of course, with war, we think of the soldiers, but I’d never thought about other heroes of war…the doctors and nurses tending to and trying to keep the wounded soldiers alive. Even more heartbreaking was thinking about the PTSD that these women suffered while having their emotions and concerns brushed aside.
Some quotes that stood out to me:
In reference to the women not being seen for the work they were doing
“The world changes for me, Frances. For women, it stays pretty much the same.”
In a letter to Frances from her mother:
“I imagine it would feel wonderful to be good at something that mattered. That is something that too many of the women of my generation didn’t consider. With love, Your mother”
Rating:
I bet this book will be in my top 5 for 2024!
None of This is True:
Summary:
Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.
A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.
Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.
But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.
Quick Thoughts:
I’ve read and liked Lisa Jewell books in the past, but this book was just odd to me. Of course, it is a psychological thriller…but I just didn’t enjoy the characters and I thought some of the plot was disturbing. I did want to keep reading to see the lies unfold and clarified, but it was just a book that felt odd and flat to me.
Rating:
3.5 stars, to be fair.
The Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI:
Summary:
In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.
Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. One of her relatives was shot. Another was poisoned. And this was just the beginning, as more and more Osage were dying under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered.
As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case, and the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including a Native American agent who infiltrated the region, and together with the Osage began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.
Quick Thoughts:
I’d heard quite a bit of hype in regards to this movie, so when my friend let me borrow the book, I was interested in reading it. From the first page, I was hooked. What the members of the Osage nation went through was so heartbreaking, but the making of the FBI was so interesting. The book also had so many pictures, and it was neat to put faces to the names.
I’m torn on if I want to watch the movie or not, but the book is definitely one that I will always remember…and for sure another top read in 2024.
Rating:
It’s hard to believe, but I’m going to start working on my summer reading list. Some books I usually want to read in the summer don’t come out until mid-summer or have long library wait lists, so I want to prioritize and get organized for my summer reading!
I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday…and it’s the last week of March. While February tends to feel like a slow month, March has flown by.
Today, I’m sharing the books I read in March.
I saw this on Instagram and laughed. Now, I don’t think I ever really lied on my reading logs in school. I’ve always enjoyed reading. That being said, as a teacher, I know there have been kids through the years who haven’t been fully honest with their reading logs.
I shared this with my brother, and he reminded me of the time I forged my mom’s signature on his band practice card. He remembers the craziest things! 😆
Y’all, your girl finally read her “typical” monthly average of three books. Honestly, I actually thought I might get a fourth book in, but I’ve started one at least.
Looking at this month is interesting. I read a five star, four star, and three star book…at least based on my rating!
Also, coincidentally, all the book I read this month I had added to my reading list thanks to Shay.
This month I read:
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Frozen River:
Summary:
A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.
Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.
Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.
Quick Thoughts:
This was one of Shay’s book club books, but I didn’t get it from the library in time.
I enjoy historical fiction, but I don’t think I’ve read books that are set in the 1700’s!
I loved Martha’s character. She’s a strong and independent woman. I love that we saw all sides of her…as a midwife, community member, wife, and mom. The plot held my attention from the beginning, covered serious and light-hearted topics, was suspenseful and eye-opening.
Some meaningful quotes:
“Memory is a wicked thing that warps and twists. But paper and ink receive the truth without emotion, and they read it back without partiality. That, I believe, is why so few women are taught to read and write. God only knows what they would do with the power of pen and ink at their disposal”
“The joy of having sons is that they worship their mothers. Until one day, suddenly, they don’t. Then, that boy – once small and sweet – begins the long, hard process of separation, until at last he rips the seam. But the holes where mother and son were once knit together remain.”
“It rains upon the just and the unjust, love. And we no more deserve this than our friends or neighbors do.”
“This is a new, bittersweet milestone of motherhood. They have gotten bigger, as have their problems. But they have also grown wiser, and this is a miracle because wisdom is not a thing you can acquire for your children.”
Rating:
I truly think this will be one of my top reads in 2024!
John Stamos: If You Would Have Told Me:
Summary:
We think we know John Stamos. The beloved actor of television (Full House, ER, General Hospital), film, and Broadway grew up in front of the cameras and drummed his way into our hearts as an honorary Beach Boy. In this candid memoir, readers can peek into the heart of this familiar face. It’s a rollicking insider look at Hollywood, fame, fortune, and failure. It’s a tender treaty on love, friendship, and fatherhood. Throughout it all, Stamos maintains a sense of wonderment captured in the title If You Would Have Told Me.
Quick Thoughts:
Well, “Have mercy!” This book wasn’t on my radar, but the Kindle version was available at the library, and I figured it would be a quick read. I love reading memoirs/ autobiographies as they are “permission to be nosy” 😆. I knew this one would include all about Full House, Stamos’ marriage to Rebecca Romijn, the Beach Boys and more!
It was an easy read that I really enjoyed. John Stamos sure is insightful. 😉 Another book with some favorite quotes:
“Life is both solid and fragile, isn’t it?”
“Not everything that hurts is an emergency. Sometimes we need to test our pain threshold to see how well we heal.”
“Your reward for hard work, more work.”
(On parenting) “At the end of the day, you might not win a trophy or get a ring, but if done correctly, you’ll have a more compassionate, intelligent, and loving version of yourself out there in the world. The essence of it all: Sacrifice.”
Rating:
The Heiress:
Summary:
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains. In the aftermath of her death, that estate—along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish—pass to her adopted son, Camden.
But to everyone’s surprise, Cam wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.
Ten years later, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.
Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.
But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what’s written in a will—and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave.
Quick Thoughts:
This was another of Shay’s book club books, but again, it wasn’t available at the library when she suggested it.
This was a quick read, but I didn’t love it. I felt like so many of the characters just seemed so crazy. I don’t mind a crazy character, but this was just hard to relate to.
There were surprises along the way, and everything was tied up pretty nicely in the end. I’ve read at least one other book by Hawkins…The Wife Upstairs and really liked it. A friend recommended The Villa, so I’ve downloaded it to my Kindle.
Rating:
Sorry if you read Shay’s blog and mine. This might have been a boring recap. I want to participate in her book club, but most of the books have library wait list, so I’m reading them just whenever they become available for me.
Maybe April will be my four book month! Having spring break should help.
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