Y’all, I’m going to keep things short and sweet today because I know you know what I’m talking about when I say this time of year is bananas. Somehow everything but Christmas seems to fall between the mid-January and late-May every single year, and yet I’m never mentally prepared!
But the one thing that’s keeping me sane in the midst of the sports, mathletics, fieldtrips, and birthdays (why is everyone born in the spring?) is a constant supply of really good books to help me unwind. Keep scrolling to see what I’ve been reading!
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Just Finished:
I’m a sucker for a good Highland romance, and Nichole Van is a master at these. They are clean but swoony with a healthy dose of banter, humor, and heart. The stakes in this story are high as Lord Rafe Gilbert strives to get out from under his father’s thumb, the powerful Duke of Kendall who is essentially holding Rafe’s mother hostage ensure his son’s compliance. The duke is deadset against a match between Rafe and the one woman he admires more than any other—Lady Sophronia Sorrow, a bluestocking plagued by rumors of illegitimacy who only wants to be wanted. She is drawn to Lord Rafe despite having been hurt by him in the past, and is determined to resist his rakish charms. When an unexpected journey pushes them together, they have a chance to mend hearts and bridges while getting to the bottom of mystery that they don’t even know is keeping them apart. This is the second in the Brotherhood of the Black Tartan series, and I fully intend to read them all!
The follow up to Mortal Queens, this second book in the Fae Dynasty duology is full of surprises and intrigue as Thea continues her quest to survive her time as a mortal queen in the fae realm. Can she break the curse that requires a new human queen to be brought to the realm only to die every two years? I love that this is a clean YA fantasy that I would be totally comfortable handing to my 13-year-old but with all the twists and excitement of a fae fantasy. The story is fast-paced and full of deals and tricks that keep you turning the pages.
In Progress:
When famous singer Lia finds herself in the midst of a personal and professional crisis, she takes off for a week of complete solitude on a deserted island in Alaska. The only problem? A miscommunication with her rental host means that the island is not as uninhabited as she thought. The last thing the Forrester brothers were expecting to find in their house was a guest, but they decide to make the most of things. Of the three of them, Haydn finds himself inexplicably drawn to the pretty but secretive visitor, despite his commitment to the single life. As they spend more time together it becomes clear that she is attracted to him to, but with so many secrets between them, their budding relationship can’t go anywhere, can it? I’m here as an avid romance reader to assure you it can, especially with meddlesome siblings to help it along.
This book was a favorite of mine as a child. I read it and others in the series multiple times, and now I’m reading it to my girls as a read aloud! So far it’s living up to my memories, and I think they’re enjoying it too. It’s about an archeologist who takes his two children on an expedition to uncover an ancient city that is rumored to be filled with treasure. Another team has already died and it doesn’t take long for them to encounter some spooky stuff that points toward the legend of the curse of Toco-Rey. It’s exciting with lots of action and adventure, and I always like a story where the kids are portrayed as smart and competent, especially when paired with a parent they respect and who respects them. Lila and Jay Cooper are great role models! Plus there’s a faith element to these stories that I really like as well.
In an effort to keep up with my annual goal to read more nonfiction, I’m finally making time for this super popular book on trauma. I’m only a few minutes in, but I like the narrative style, and I’m interested to see how learning to shift the way we look at the events that have shaped us in the past can help shape our future. So far, I like the balance of stories and science as Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry highlight how trauma impacts our brains and thus the way we live our lives.
Up Next:
Annah Conwell is one of my favorite contemporary rom-com authors, so I’m excited to start on the first book in her new series. It’s a college/new adult romance, and I haven’t read many (if any?) of those so I’m curious to see if this will be a subgenre I enjoy. It’s billed as a rivals-to-more with a mashup of sports and academia about a cheerleader and a quarterback who don’t get off to the best start when they’re paired up in chess club. They both have plenty to prove and no time for distractions, but sparks fly as they continue to cross each other’s paths.
My favorite author of exquisitely plotted dual-timeline suspense novels has teamed up with her daughter to write a clean contemporary YA romance—and I’m so excited to see someone doing something to fill this hole in the market! I have this one locked and loaded on my Kindle to start as soon as I finish my current ebook. It’s about a teen who uses AI to invent a boyfriend, which backfires spectacularly when a boy who looks just like the deep fake photos she generated actually arrives at her school. I love the sound of this on every level and can’t wait to get started! Also, is this not the cutest cover?
For more great books to read, check out Anne Bogel’s monthly quick lit post!
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