Do you ever give yourself reading assignments? It sounds like kind of a wacky thing to do, but I’ve given myself several assignments recently, three in the form of goals for the year, and one that popped up in response to my daughter.
The two ‘assignments’ that are guiding my reading choices right now are 1). Reading as many Kindle Unlimited books as possible in February because there are so many great books on that service that get pushed aside in favor of library books, review copies, etc; 2). Re-reading Harry Potter to catch up with my 10-year-old, who has just discovered the joys of this beloved modern classic.
It just so happens that these two pursuits play nicely with each other since the Harry Potter books are all included on Kindle Unlimited. I also have a long, long list of other KU books that I want to read, but my daughter is a reading machine so it’s taking my best effort to catch up to her. We went to the library just before lunch on Saturday to get her books three and four, and by Sunday night she had finished The Prisoner of Azkaban and read about 100 pages of Goblet of Fire.
I wish I had as much time to read as she does!
If you are thinking my list this month will be 99% Harry Potter, never fear! I have several other books that I’ve recently read or plan to read soon that have no magic in them at all and are written just for grown-ups.
(Although while we are talking about Harry Potter, did you know that all the books are available through Kindle Unlimited? That is a steal of a deal, especially if you are doing the free trial!!)
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Just Finished:
I posted a full review of this one last week, so I won’t go into too many details here, but I really enjoyed this romantic suspense by a new-to-me author. It had a great sense of place with the Alaska setting really coming alive, and I enjoyed the fast pace and surprises as the story unfolded.
This suspense novel kept me guessing until the big reveal. I tried hard to guess who the villain was and the author did a great job of continuing to drop clues throughout that moved the plot forward but also threw suspicion in different directions. This is a pretty dark book with some content warnings, so be aware before picking it up, but I enjoyed the ride and thought the ending wrapped up nicely.
This is my favorite of Kimberly Duffy’s books so far. She writes historical romances and this newest one is set in a 1911 circus environment. It follows Mabel, a strong woman performer, on her journey from Italy to America to find the mother she believed was dead. Isabella thought she was making the best decision for her daughter when she left Mabel all those years ago. Now, mother and daughter have a chance to reconcile their past, present, and future as they determine what it means to be strong and whether or not it’s worth it to trust anyone with your heart. I loved the rich historical details and all the descriptions that really made the circus and its performers come alive.
In Progress:
Remember how I mentioned Harry Potter at the top? I’m currently in book three, The Prisoner of Azkaban, reading like crazy to catch up. Since everyone is already pretty familiar with this series I won’t give any description, but I will say it’s so fun to re-read this series and remember all the details of the story with the end already in mind. It really is such a masterfully plotted series.
If you are like me, you are 100% here for a fake relationship story. This book really kicks off when Poppy claims a handsome stranger as her boyfriend in a coffee shop — only to find out later that he is a notorious hockey player with a serious bad-boy image. This is totally my jam. Also, the cover is adorable.
Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools
It seems appropriate to round out my current rom-com/middle-grade reading list with a more serious nonfiction book about prayer. As a Christian, prayer is something that I always desire to take seriously and learn more about. The author of this book “addresses common roadblocks to prayer and gives you the confidence to come to God just as you are.” I heard him interviewed recently and was impressed by his genuineness, so I’m excited to see what I can learn here.
Up Next:
This book is a romantic suspense book following small-town Police Chief Jane Hardy who has just been reunited with her son, Will, after fifteen years apart. She is working to solve a murder while also learning how to parent and how to interact with Will’s dad, Reid. There is attraction still simmering between them, but can she trust him? It’s the second installment in the Pelican Harbor series.
I recall this being perhaps my favorite Harry Potter book, so I’m super excited to start reading it and see if it’s as good as I remember! It’s also the second-longest book in the series, so it might take me a little while to get through.
Merritt and Her Childhood Crush
I’m going to sneak in one more rom-com from one of my favorite duos, Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor. They both write stories that are hilarious and full of heart, so they make a great team. This book is about a young woman who returns to her hometown to lay low after a personal and professional breakdown, only to find herself working with her the boy she loved as a teen. Now he’s all grown up and things are different…but the attraction they feel is still the same.
You can find more book recommendations in Modern Mrs. Darcy’s monthly quick lit post — don’t forget to scroll to the comments for even more current reads lists by other book bloggers!