Welcome to Books in Progress – Vacation Edition! If all goes according to plan, I will be traveling when this post goes live, so this list will be a little shorter than usual, since I’m just listing a few books I read recently and the books I’m planning to take with me.
Speaking of vacation reading, do you find that you have plenty of time for reading on trips? Or do you stay so busy that it’s hard to fit books in?
Typically, my experience is that I get way more reading done in my regular day-to-day routine than I do when we go on a vacation, with one exception. Trips that include plane rides provide a great reading opportunity because there is no expectation of activity. Sure, you might converse with your travel buddy some, but if you have a longer flight, settling in with your book/e-reader is perfectly acceptable. Nobody expects you to have bigger plans than that.
Even though I’m flying with kids for the first time, I’m still optimistic that there will be lots of time to read because they are looking forward to doing it with me! Both of my girls have set aside new books over the last few weeks in preparation for this trip, and I have the iPad loaded with ebooks and audiobooks for them to enjoy as well. And of course, we’ll also have some alternatives like coloring supplies and maybe a movie or two, in case they get tired of reading. Wish me luck, friends!
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What I read last month: Books in Progress – May 2022
Related Post: 18 Books About Books
What I’m Reading – June 2022
Just Finished:
I don’t really know how to describe this book. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but I’m not sure why because nothing much happened. It reminded me of The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, in that it was mostly just the story of a family with no big thrills or surprises. It jumps back and forth between three different characters in three different time frames, showing different perspectives on what happens before, during, and after the adoption of a little girl from Vietnam. If I had to say what I think the point of this story is, I would say it’s that relationships are hard and that we need to give each other grace.
Now this one is full of action and intrigue. Shelby Pearce has recently been released from serving a fifteen year prison sentence after confessing to the murder of her brother-in-law. Now she just wants to start over and live a quiet life making jewelry and minding her own business, but someone is after her. FBI Special Agent Denton McClure is ready to pick up where he left off, investigating Shelby for the money that went missing from her brother-in-laws account that was never found after the murder, but the threats and attacks she experiences make him question her guilt. Will they be able to work together to find out who is behind the attacks before one of them is successful?
Up Next:
I actually mentioned this one in my April books post as an ‘up next’ read, but after writing that post I decided to save it for the trip. This is billed as a rom-com about a young woman who agrees to be filmed by her brother’s roommate as she tries some out-of-the-box methods of finding true love. It should be light, fun, and engaging, perfect vacation reading.
Contemporary marriage of convenience. That’s all I needed to know to be on board with this book from one of my favorite authors, Emma St. Clair. Her rom-coms are hilarious and full of closed-door chemistry between witty, well-developed characters. Add on the fact that this story takes place in a town called Sheet Cake which the male lead’s father has just purchased and I think you have a recipe for success. This is a spin-off series from the Love Clichés book collection (highly recommend!), so if you were a fan of those you’ll be excited to hear that Harper’s brothers are getting a turn in the spotlight.
When I need a book with lots of action and drama, I turn to Susan May Warren. This is the first book in her Montana Fire series, and it’s about a pair of smoke jumpers who must find a way to work together despite their unfortunate romantic history. When an arsonist ramps up the pressure and secrets threaten to come to light, will they get a chance to rekindle their relationship or will everything they’ve worked for be destroyed?
Right behind marriage of convenience, forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes. In Where the Road Bends, Norah will do anything to save her family’s farm, including marrying a man she barely knows. Just days before her wedding, she finds an injured man on her property and knows she must help him, regardless of the consequences. Quincy knows he should leave as quickly as possible so that he doesn’t complicate things for Norah, but how can he walk away from someone who seems to believe in him the way she does?
As always, don’t forget to check out Modern Mrs. Darcy for more quick lit reading recommendations!