Hello, friends! Welcome to the June edition of Books in Progress. Below you’ll find a list of the books I’ve been reading lately plus what I plan to read next.
Summertime has slowed my reading down considerably. I’ve been taking a few books slow and steady, trying not to get in a hurry since reading time is limited with the change in routine this season brings. I am, however, going on a beach trip in the next few weeks, so I plan to make up for lost time during our lazy days by the ocean. Most of the books on the ‘up next’ section of the list are ones that I’ve set aside to take with me.
Without further ado, here’s my June list!
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Just Finished:
This paranormal historical fantasy was unique and surprising. Signa has always been able to see spirits and even Death himself. Shuttled from guardian to guardian after her parents’ passing, she wants nothing more than for Death to leave her alone and let her live a normal life. But that is simply not an option when she finds herself taken in by yet another guardian, this one living in a manor house shrouded in mystery. The house is home to more than one spirit, along with a young woman who is deathly ill with the same malady that recently took her mother. Signa takes it upon herself to solve the mystery of both women’s ailments with the help of some unlikely allies. I enjoyed the fast pace and the elements of mystery in this story and was genuinely surprised by a couple of twists near the end. You might expect with this many spirits and Signa’s relationship with Death that this is a scary or creepy story, but I didn’t find it to be.
This book is a fascinating (though somewhat dense) look into how our food is made and the dangers of processed foods and ingredients. Ultra-processed foods have now been around long enough for us to be able to study the long-term impact that these products have on our health, and the results are not pretty. I’ve been skeptical of overly processed food for a while and while we aren’t health nuts over here, we do limit things like sodas, cheese puffs, and margarine. Now, I’m taking baby steps to be even more intentional about the foods we eat. By the way, the tone of this book is not at all prescriptive or judgemental. The author does a great job of presenting the information without looking down on those of us who love a good bowl of ice cream!
In Progress:
The second in the Naturals series, this book picks up a few months after the first one left off. Teenage profiler Cassie and her friends in the FBI’s special program for youth with gifts that help solve crimes face another murder, just as gruesome as the last. But this one seems to have some link to Dean’s past, hinting at the crimes his father committed years ago. Will the team be able to circumvent the rules placed by the new agent overseeing them and help solve the case? And, more importantly, will Cassie make any progress in deciding if she should choose Michael or Dean? If it sounds like I’m making fun of this YA mystery series, I’m definitely not. I love this stuff and I’m Team Dean (unlike Gilmore Girls where Dean was my least favorite boyfriend and Jess is the only right choice).
Nichole Van has been reigniting my love of historical romance with her Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir series set in Scotland and England in the early to mid 1800’s. Her characters are so likable even when they make questionable choices, plus the banter and chemistry between the lead characters is perfection. I’ve been listening through the series on audio and the narrator is a genius with the different voices and accents. Lady Allegra and poet Ethen Penn-Leith have a questionable history and many secrets. They must beat all the odds that society and an overbearing brother can throw at them in order to gain the freedom to be together.
Y’all know I’m an Annah Conwell fan girl so it should come as no surprise that I’m reading her newest release and loving it! She does romantic comedy so well with lots of funny moments and chemistry between the characters that hits just right. This one is about Ellie, who finds herself hired to be an assistant to Miles, a professional golfer, despite the fact that she thinks gold is totally stupid. She is not shy in expressing that opinion and sparks of all kinds fly! It’s just delightful.
Up Next:
If WWII novels are your jam, this one’s for you. While I don’t love the cover, I am excited to read this story of an unlikely friendship that forms between a soldier and a socialite who meet at a wedding and begin a correspondence. Sarah Sundin is great at writing historical fiction that feels very realistic with compelling characters. Can’t wait to pick this one up!
Doesn’t this look like the perfect beach read? I love a good rom-com and this one promises lots of hilarious wedding and family drama as Liv tries to help her best friend beat out Liv’s cousin for the coveted spot on the cover of a magazine, all while finishing law school and helping plan her cousin’s wedding. Gracias to my sister for gifting me this book for my birthday! Birthday books are the best books.
Speaking of sisters giving birthday books, a different sister (I have several, y’all) gave me this YA fantasy novel and I’ve been saving it for the beach. I haven’t even read the description — literally all I know is that there’s magic, I’ve enjoyed this author before, and it’s got some beautiful artwork on the inside cover, which is all I need.
I recently read Miles Bailey Gets Down on One Knee and promptly realized that I had to read all the Bailey Brothers stories! I’m expecting a fun and funny grumpy/sunshine with an age-gap romance based on the description — what’s not to like?
If you never get tired of talking about books, you should definitely check out this month’s quick lit post by Anne Bogel and see what other readers are sharing in the comments.