Books in Progress: What I’ve Been Reading Lately – May 2020

Anybody else feeling a little disoriented by the rapidly shifting seasons? I mean, I know that they aren’t actually changing more swiftly than usual, but it seems like they are.

I attribute this illusion to the fact that my kids only went to school for about half of the semester, so they have been having what feels like summer break during winter/spring weather. Now the actual warm temperatures are here and we are less than a week away from what would have been their last day of school and my internal calendar is all out of whack.

The good news is that none of this confusion has had a detrimental impact on my reading life, as you can see from the list below. One of the things I love most about books and reading is that I can count on them. No matter what is going on in my house and the world at large, there will always be more great books than I can ever read just waiting for me to pick them up.

I find that fact comforting. And occasionally overwhelming, but mostly comforting.

Do you find that your reading changes during different seasons? I think I tend to read whatever I feel like regardless of the time of year, although I do get in moods around certain holidays sometimes. This year I found myself in the mood to do some ‘summer reading’, so I designed a Summer Reading Bingo printable to use through the next few months. I hope you’ll consider joining me, and I think a few of the books on this list might just work for some of the categories on the bingo card.

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Just Finished:

American Royals

I finally got to read this wildly popular book about what America might have been like if we had embraced a monarchy instead of a presidency. I found the concept fascinating and ate up all the YA relationship drama. I can’t wait for the next one in the series to come out this fall!

The Socialite

I wrote a full review of this one last week so I won’t spend a ton of time on it here, but I really enjoyed this WWII novel about two British sisters stuck in Nazi occupied Paris. The scenery is rich and the relationships are complicated and relatable. Two thumbs up!

In Progress:

Carolina Breeze

Last summer I read Lake Season in less than 24 hours, so imagine my delight in picking up its follow-up, Carolina Breeze. I just started it and I can already tell I’ll be reading this one pretty quickly as well. It’s about Mia, an actress who runs away to the Bluebell Inn to avoid false accusations of a scandal, and finds herself spending time with the handsome inn-keeper Levi. I think there’s supposed to be a mystery involved and maybe some other stuff, but honestly I didn’t read the description before I requested it. I was 100% confident I would like it based on every other Denise Hunter book I’ve ever read.

The Runaway Bride

Speaking of authors I’ll always read no matter what, Jody Hedlund is also on that list. In The Runaway Bride, Annabella Lawrence has just disembarked from a bride ship docked in British Columbia and finds herself having to choose between two men – one a cultured, affluent lieutenant and one an outcast baker. And of course there is the secret of the circumstances that caused a lady like her to board a bride ship to begin with. Can you guess who I’m rooting for? I’ll give you a hint — I like a man who knows how to make bread.

Beyond Awkward Side Hugs

I’ve only just started this one but I tentatively suspect I’m going to get a lot out of it. This book deals with how Christians can be super weird about interactions between men and women. While there are reasons to be cautious, I think we often take things too far, and I love that she is addressing this issue and viewing it through a biblical lens.

Code Name Helene

Anyone else been seeing this book popping up everywhere? I’m listening to it on audio and I honestly am not sure what to expect from it. It’s got an interesting cast of characters and a unique leading lady, plus plenty of action so far. It takes place in 1936 and apparently is based on the true story of a female spy.

Up Next:

Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that I love books about chefs. From the description I think this is going to be an enemies-to-lovers story about two chefs who are forced to work together on a cooking show, despite their mutual disdain for each other. Sounds intriguing, no?

The Fight to Flourish

I know next to nothing about this book (I’m beginning to sense a theme in this month’s list) except that the cover is beautiful and it’s about learning to thrive even in the midst of difficult situations. I can’t wait to start on it and be inspired and encouraged like all the other readers leaving it five star reviews.

For more reading recommendation fun, hop over to Modern Mrs. Darcy’s monthly quick lit roundup.