My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Title: My Brilliant Friend (Neapolitan #1)

Author: Elena Ferrante

Publisher: Europa Editions 2012

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 331

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Random TBR Pick; Alphabet Soup - F

The story begins in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. Growing up on these tough streets, the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else. As they grow - and as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge - Elena and Lila remain best friends whose respective destinies are reflected and refracted in the other. They are likewise the embodiments of a nation undergoing momentous change. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between her protagonists.

Our book club pick for this month and I was pretty disappointed. I just couldn’t really dive into this world and these characters. The storytelling felt stilted at times. And all the characters were so incredibly unlikeable. I know many many people have loved this series. I just don’t think this one is for me at all.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Kiss of Christmas by Jillian Eaton

Title: A Kiss of Christmas

Author: Jillian Eaton

Publisher: Bay Horse 2014

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 246

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Two Christmas novellas guaranteed to warm your heart this holiday season...

THE WINTER WISH

Lady Sarah Dawson has one simple wish for Christmas: to gain the attention of Devlin Heathcliff, the handsome viscount whom she has loved for as long as she can remember. All hope seems lost...until one afternoon fate steps in and Sarah learns that sometimes, with a little holiday magic, winter wishes can come true.

Hmmm…. I wanted to really like this story, but it was a little too time-rushed for me. I just didn’t buy Devlin’s sudden transformation. I needed more from him to understand the why. And Sarah was just a bit too much for me.

THE RISQUE RESOLUTION

Due to a clause in her father's will, Lily has until Christmas to find a husband. It's a seemingly impossible task...until she meets the mysterious, insufferable, and oh so handsome Captain James Rigby. But the last thing on the embittered soldier's mind is marriage, especially to Lily Kincaid, a woman who is as infuriatingly stubborn as she is beautiful. With time running out, can Lily convince James - and herself - that true love really does exists?

Another super rushed story. I really wished to spend more time with Lily and James, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Once Upon a Royal Christmas by Robin Bielman

Title: Once Upon a Royal Christmas (Palotays of Montana #2)

Author: Robin Bielman

Publisher: Tule Publishing 2016

Genre: Romance

Pages: 244

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Literary Escapes - Wyoming

Rowan Palotay hopes she never runs into the too-handsome Prince Theodore Chenery ever again after she leaves an embarrassing first impression. But fixing her mistake garners even more attention from the prince, and when he requests she be his reporter for a news story, she can’t say no.

Prince Theo is completely enchanted with Rowan and finds her special brand of kindness and honesty impossible to ignore. Back home, his choices are made for him, but here in this small town where his mother grew up, he feels connections he never has before. And the more time he and Rowan spend together, the more he wants her—all of her.

When obligations back home take a turn he didn’t see coming, he’s ready to stake his claim. But when his father and the media get wind of his relationship with Rowan, Theo must decide whether to follow his heart or his royal duty.

Another fun and fluffy romance for this month. I really enjoyed Rowan and Theo’s story. It was nice to be back in Marietta, even if we didn’t spend much time with any of the other characters. And hoo boy! This had some very steamy scenes!

Palotays of Montana

#1 Falling for Her Bachelor
#2 Once Upon a Royal Christmas

Next up on the TBR pile:

Twenty-one Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks

Title: Twenty-one Truths About Love

Author: Matthew Dicks

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 2019

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 341

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Daniel Mayrock's life is at a crossroads. He knows the following to be true:

1. He loves his wife Jill... more than anything.
2. He only regrets quitting his job and opening a bookshop a little (maybe more than a little)
3. Jill is ready to have a baby.
4. The bookshop isn’t doing well. Financial crisis is imminent. Dan doesn't know how to fix it.
5. Dan hasn’t told Jill about their financial trouble.
6. Then Jill gets pregnant.

This heartfelt story is about the lengths one man will go to and the risks he will take to save his family. But Dan doesn’t just want to save his failing bookstore and his family’s finances:

1. Dan wants to do something special.
2. He’s a man who is tired of feeling ordinary.
3. He’s sick of feeling like a failure.
4. He doesn't want to live in the shadow of his wife’s deceased first husband.

Dan is also an obsessive list maker; his story unfolds entirely in his lists, which are brimming with Dan’s hilarious sense of humor, unique world-view, and deeply personal thoughts. When read in full, his lists paint a picture of a man struggling to be a man, a man who has reached a point where he’s willing to do anything for the love (and soon-to-be new love) of his life.

I loved the idea of this book, told completely in lists. Unfortunately, it just didn’t land for me. I couldn’t stand the main character and saw absolutely no growth throughout the book. I felt so much sympathy for his wife. He kept so many secrets that there was no way that I could have liked him at all. Definitely not a book for me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Santa's On His Way by Lisa Jackson, Maisey Yates, Stacy Finz, and Nicole Helm

Title: Santa’s On His Way

Author: Lisa Jackson, Maisey Yates, Stacy Finz, Nicole Helm

Publisher: Zebra Books 2018

Genre: Romance

Pages: 346

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Literary Escapes - Oregon

A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS * Lisa Jackson
The uneventful Christmas Annie McFarlane expected is suddenly anything but. First, there’s the adorable baby left on the snowy doorstep of her Oregon cabin. Second, there’s the extremely attractive, yet extremely angry man claiming to be the father. Liam O’Shaughnessy may be intimidating, but this is one precious gift Annie isn’t giving up so easily . . .

My least favorite of the anthology. I just couldn’t really buy the romance of Annie and Liam at all. Everything was so incredibly rushed. I would have loved to have spend much more time with them seeing the relationship develop over time.

WHAT THE COWBOY WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS * Maisey Yates
When Meg O’Neill’s longtime boyfriend lets her down, again, on Christmas no less, she braves an Oregon blizzard to get to her best friend Noah’s comforting arms. But this time Noah’s not telling her what she wants to hear—he’s telling her the truth, from his heart . . .

This story was so steamy! Seriously, I wasn’t expected that steamy of a story starting it. But, it was really really good.

SNOWED IN * Stacy Finz
Rachel Johnson has found the perfect spot for her second Tart Me Up bakery in Glory Junction, California. Except she’s in fierce competition with hunky bar owner Boden Farmer. Worse, while the icy rivals await the city’s decision, they end up catering the same Christmas Eve mountaintop wedding—and getting snowed in . . .

This was my favorite story! I loved Rachel and Boden and their unintended Christmas. I loved the little town of Glory Junction. I loved the fun progression of their story. Really enjoyed this one.

A COWBOY WEDDING FOR CHRISTMAS * Nicole Helm
Big city art teacher Lindsay Tyler isn’t just back home in Colorado for her brother’s wedding at the Barton Christmas Tree Farm and Ranch. She’s back for good. She just hasn’t told anyone yet—including Cal Barton, the ex-boyfriend she left behind . . .

Hmmm… a decent story, but not the bestest story. I was not quite a fan of Cal even understanding his past traumas. Lindsay is a great character and I loved Sarah and Mrs. Tyler. Just wish the romance was a bit better.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Falling for Her Bachelor by Robin Bielman

Title: Falling for Her Bachelor (Palotays of Montana #1)

Author: Robin Bielman

Publisher: Tule Publishing 2016

Genre: Romance

Pages: 206

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Literary Escapes - Wyoming

When Navy firefighter Nick Palotay returns to Marietta to go on the bachelor auction block for a good cause, he expects it to be risk free. But when he needs someone safe to bid on him and his sister's best friend is coaxed into stepping up, Nick isn’t prepared for the effect Cassidy has on him. She sends his mind to all kinds of dirty places…places his battered heart can’t afford.

Freelance photographer Cassidy Ware is in waaay over her head. She’s always been Nick’s other little sister, but she’s all grown up now and just a glance from him leaves her hot and bothered. Still, she can stay immune to his charms and keep him at an emotional distance because she’s got an agenda, too. She’ll help the too-handsome Nick with his charitable deed, and, in return, he’ll help her keep an unwelcome suitor at bay.

A deal’s a deal, but when their “business transaction” turns into more pleasure than duty, can they walk away from each other without losing what matters most?

A cute little story of an off-limits romance. I really really liked Nick in this story, Cassidy a little less. I would have liked a bit more story in the in-between scenes. This could have been turned into a great full length novel. As it stands, I really did enjoy this story.

Palotays of Montana

#1 Falling for Her Bachelor
#2 Once Upon a Royal Christmas

Next up on the TBR pile:

Man-Eaters Vol. 1 and 2

Title: Man-Eaters Vol. 1

Author: Chelsea Cain, Kate Niemczyk, Lia Miternique

Publisher: Image 2019

Genre: Comics

Pages: 128

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Adolescent girls can be real monsters. Maude is twelve, about the age some girls turn into flesh-eating wild cats. As her detective dad investigates a series of strange mauling attacks, Maude worries she may be the killer. Collects #1-4

A friend lent me these two trades because he thought I would like them. And boy did I! I love this feminist tale of female growth and empowerment. The storyline is thoroughly original and the characters are great fun. I sped through this volume and then had to go back and reread my favorite advertisements and extras. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Title: Man-Eaters Vol. 2

Author: Chelsea Cain, Kate Niemczyk, Lia Miternique

Publisher: Image 2019

Genre: Comics

Pages: 128

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Twelve-year-old, Maude, has a case of puberty-induced pantherism, a missing friend, a detective dad who thinks she may be a killer, a mom with a big secret, a unicorn hiding in her bedroom, and a plan to overthrow the patriarchy.

From the creative team that brought you the groundbreaking and Eisner-nominated series Mockingbird, this trade paperback collects the second arc of the unconventional coming-of-age tale―including the mental hygiene guide for girls, “WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME AND HOW CAN IT BE STOPPED?” Collects MAN-EATERS #5-8

Another great volume. I loved how the story developed in these issues. The mystery has deepened and Maude has became such a great main character. Love it!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Christmas with the Black Sheep by Natalie-Nicole Bates

Title: Christmas with the Black Sheep

Author: Natalie-Nicole Bates

Publisher: Books to Go Now 2014

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 44

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

It’s Christmas time, and Eriah Jameson has returned home to restart his family’s business. Due to his wild child past, no one is friendly or welcoming to Barrow Haven’s black sheep.

Aylin Myers lost her job when Eriah’s father took ill. She knows Eriah needs her help getting his business up and running again, but she doesn’t trust him. If he fails, she knows it will dishonor his father’s memory. And Aylin knows that at Christmas, it’s the right thing to help your fellow man—no matter how wretched he might be.

As Aylin gets to know Eriah, she sees a side of him Barrow Haven never saw. That perhaps the black sheep has changed for the better. Still, can she be sure this side of Eriah is real, and not just a facade he’s perfected over time to get his own way?

Decent little short story featuring a Holiday romance. In truth, I gave this three stars because it just didn’t seem like it was finished. There was way too much missing and unsaid in this story. I would have liked it better if it had been twice as long.

Next up on the TBR pile:

My Christmas Curse by Joan Gable

Title: My Christmas Curse

Author: Joan Gable

Publisher: 2013

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 160

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Rbook

Megan Blake has been cursed with bad luck every Christmas season for as long as she can remember. This December, in an attempt to make light of her Curse, Meg—a travel journalist—writes a daily Christmas column chronicling her past misfortunes. As Christmas and her trip home to Indiana near, Meg waits for her Christmas Curse to strike again. Or has it already, causing her father’s depression? In the meantime, her walk down memory lane is conjuring up startling revelations about her present.
She discovers that there is more to her mother than just being a parent. As Meg and her mom bridge their generation gap, can these two women help with her father’s depression? When she learns that Crush—the first boy she ever liked—will also be in Indiana for the holidays, she can’t help but wonder if he’s still single or happily married with children. Will Crush turn out to be as meaningless as her ex-boyfriends of Christmas past? Will her blasts from the past leave her questioning her future?

Another dud of a holiday romance for me. It was another free Kindle book so I shouldn’t be too upset. The characters really fell flat. I didn’t like Megan at all. And we didn’t get to spend much time with any of the other characters. I spent almost 3/4 of the book wondering when the story was going to get started. Slow and uninspiring.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Christmas Lovebirds by Rachelle Ayala

Title:Christmas Lovebirds (Have a Hart #1)

Author: Rachelle Ayala

Publisher: Lovely Hearts Press 2015

Genre: Romance

Pages: 314

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Melisa Hart has a soft spot for her brother Connor’s ex-best buddy, Rob Reed. Unfortunately, Rob slept with Connor’s girlfriend and is no longer welcome with any of the Harts.
Melisa lends her pet lovebird for a Christmas Toy Drive, but a mix-up brings her face to face with Rob and his lovebird. Melisa is drawn into a whirlwind romance with Rob and discovers he hasn’t told her the entire story.
Can two little lovebirds and Christmas cheer open Melisa’s heart to giving Rob another chance?

Oooooffff! This book was such a dud for me. Melisa was a very annoying main character. I just wanted to smack her so many times. The romance was okay but nothing very exciting. But my biggest problem with this book was the many many many many chapters about birds and bird care. I felt like I was reading a freaking veterinary pamphlet so many times. I was so incredibly bored. Judging by this volume, I suspect that the rest of the series is similar, just switching out the animals from lovebirds. I just couldn’t find myself enjoying this book at all.

Have a Hart

#1 Christmas Lovebirds
#2 Valentine Hound Dog
#3 Spring Fling Kitty
#4 Blue Chow Christmas
#5 Valentine Wedding Hound
#6 Summer Love Puppy
#7 Dog Days of Love
#8 Valentine Puppies and Kisses

Next up on the TBR pile:

Unexpected Gifts by Elena Aitken

Title: Unexpected Gifts (Castle Mountain Lodge #1)

Author: Elena Aitken

Publisher: Ink Blot Communications 2011

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 184

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Snowed in for Christmas…She only wants to ignore it. But he’s determined to show her everything the season has to offer…including love.
For Andi Williams, Christmas represents everything she’s supposed to have—and doesn’t. Running away to a remote mountain lodge seems like the perfect way to escape the season. And it would have been if it weren’t for the snow storm and a booking mix-up that finds her stranded. That is, until a rough around the edges, green eyed stranger offers a solution.

There was no way in good conscious that Colin Hartford could leave the woman with nowhere to stay. Especially on Christmas. He knows all too well what it’s like to be alone for the holidays. It isn’t long before Colin’s determination to enjoy the festivities he’s missed for so long sweeps Andi into the season of joy that she’s not so sure she’s ready for.

If Andi can allow herself to open up—just a little—she might finally have the chance to experience everything the holidays can really offer…including love.

Another fun Christmas book. I really enjoyed Andi and Colin’s story snowed in at the Castle Mountain Lodge. This is a sweet romance with a hint of heat in a few scenes. I wanted a bit more heat at times, but it was a good story. My only issue was the rushed ending. Doesn’t it seem like I’m always complaining about a rushed ending? That’s because it very negative trend. But I did really enjoy reading this little romance. I’m not sure I will continue with the series (mainly because I got this as a free book), but it’s a good series so far.

Title: Unexpected Endings (Castle Mountain Lodge #2.5)

Author: Elena Aitken

Publisher: Ink Blot Communications 2013

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 48

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Return to the beautiful, rustic and romantic Castle Mountain Lodge and catch up with Andi and Colin who prove that sometimes Unexpected Gifts have equally Unexpected Endings.

While I was reading the first book, I noticed that this short story was the follow-up. I tacked it onto the end of the first book. It was good, but I really really wanted more. Still a fun little read.

Castle Mountain Lodge:

#1 Unexpected Gifts
#2 Hidden Gifts
#2.5 Unexpected Endings
#3 Mistaken Gifts
#4 Secret Gifts
#5 Goodbye Gifts
#6 Tempting Gifts
#7 Holiday Gifts
#7.5 Accidental Gifts
#8 Promised Gifts

Next up on the TBR pile:

Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen

Title: Heirs and Graces (Royal Spyness #7)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2013

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 295

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Finishing the Series; Cloak and Dagger

London, 1934. Entrusted by Her Majesty the Queen with grooming Jack Altringham—the Duke of Eynsford’s newly discovered heir fresh from the Outback of Australia—for high society, Georgie now has the luxurious opportunity to live in one of England’s most gorgeous stately homes. But upon her arrival at Kingsdowne Place, Georgie finds herself in a manor full of miscreants, none of whom are pleased with the discovery of her new ward.

Then the duke announces he wants to choose his own heir and causes quite the hubbub. Somewhere along the way Jack’s hunting knife ends up in the duke’s back. Eyes fall, backs turn, and fingers point to the young heir. As if the rascal weren’t enough of a handful, now he’s suspected of murder. But while Jack may be wild, Georgie would bet the crown jewels it wasn’t he who killed the duke...

Still enjoying this series, but this volume was a slight disappointment. I didn’t love the setting, story, or reveal. I really wanted a more sinister plot and conclusion. I did enjoy some of the side characters especially the old aunties. The seances were a fun inclusion to the storyline. But Georgie’s interaction with the family wasn’t much fun. And don’t get me started on Belinda. She was definitely shoe-horned into the story. No thank you. I still enjoy the fun cozy mystery and will continue reading. Here’s hoping the next volume is better.

Her Royal Spyness:

#0.5 Masked Ball at Broxley Manor
#1 Her Royal Spyness
#2 A Royal Pain
#3 Royal Flush
#4 Royal Blood
#5 Naughty in Nice
#6 The Twelve Clues of Christmas
#7 Heirs and Graces
#8 Queen of Hearts
#9 Malice at the Palace
#10 Crowned and Dangerous
#11 On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service
#12 Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

Title: A Hundred Summers

Author: Beatriz Williams

Publisher: Berkley 2013

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 369

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Literary Escapes - Rhode Island

Lily Dane has returned to Seaview, Rhode Island, where her family has summered for generations. It’s an escape not only from New York’s social scene but from a heartbreak that still haunts her. Here, among the seaside community that has embraced her since childhood, she finds comfort in the familiar rituals of summer.

But this summer is different. Budgie and Nick Greenwald—Lily’s former best friend and former fiancé—have arrived, too, and Seaview’s elite are abuzz. Under Budgie’s glamorous influence, Lily is seduced into a complicated web of renewed friendship and dangerous longing.

As a cataclysmic hurricane churns north through the Atlantic, and uneasy secrets slowly reveal themselves, Lily and Nick must confront an emotional storm that will change their worlds forever...

My favorite Beatriz Williams book that I’ve read so far. Like many of her books, this one starts out fairly slowly, setting the scene and the characters. But about 50% of the way through, suddenly the plot starts moving faster and faster until it comes to the big conflict. Loved this story so much. I love the setting on the fictional Seaview, Rhode Island and New York City. I could see the summer community and every single cottage and building. I immediately fell for Lily and was rooting for her throughout the book. She’s definitely too much of a wallflower in the beginning, but eventually she finds her strength. I loved the romance between Lily and Nick. At times, I wanted to slap both of them, but that’s kinda the point. Miscommunication, lies, and omission all created their situation and it’s up to them to untangle the problem. The last 30 pages was a bit rushed (would’ve loved to have spent a bit more time with the aftermath of the hurricane), but overall I really really enjoyed this historical fiction.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Christmas Layover by Robert Tate Miller

Title: The Christmas Layover

Author: Robert Tate Miller

Publisher: Entangled Bliss 2018

Genre: Romance

Pages: 252

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Literary Escapes - Colorado

The weather forecasters said the snowstorm would miss the eastern seaboard. They were wrong. When Ally Henderson’s flight from Southern California to get married in New York City for Christmas gets diverted to the tiny Midwestern town of Bethlehem, she’s desperate to get back in the air and back to the Big Apple. But with all the airports closed, she’s forced to rely on Midwestern hospitality to wait out the storm. And she soon learns that she has a storm of her own to weather. One that could shatter her life.

Living with a kind stranger is one way to spend a snowed-in Christmas, but when she meets the local diner owner, Jake, sparks fly. Only, Ally’s a big-city girl with big-city dreams, and Jake will always be a Bethlehem boy.

This one was a mixed bag for me. I loved the overall storyline of the diverted flight. I really enjoyed Ally and Jake. I especially loved the interactions between all the characters. Unfortunately the book had major problems. So many times, there were abrupt transitions leaving me confused and lost. I had to reread so many chapter sections to understand exactly what was going on. This story would definitely have benefited from another editing pass.

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Christmas Bride by Hope Ramsay

Title: A Christmas Bride (Chapel of Love #1)

Author: Hope Ramsay

Publisher: Grand Central 2016

Genre: Romance

Pages: 295

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Motif - Seasons; Literary Escapes - Virginia

'Tis the season in Shenandoah Falls and the first time Willow Peterson has been home in years. But she's determined to fulfill the wishes of her recently deceased best friend and restore Eagle Hill Manor to its former glory-all in time to host the perfect holiday wedding. She just has to get the owner of the historic inn to hire her. Unfortunately, that means dealing with Scrooge himself...

After the death of his wife, David Lyndon has a bah-humbug approach to Christmas. But as December counts down and the wedding planning is in full swing, it's harder and harder to stay immune to the charms of Willow, especially when he sees how much joy she brings his eight-year-old daughter. After a simple kiss under the mistletoe turns into something more, David is hoping he can turn the magic of the holiday season into the love of a lifetime.

Such a cute Christmas story. I loved following David and Willow’s story through conflict to love. Light and fluffy is just want I want to read during the holiday season. I loved the side characters, especially Poppy and Walter, but Natalie might have been the best. I loved the town of Shenandoah Falls. I’ll be continuing to read this series soon.

Chapel of Love:

#1 A Christmas Bride
#2 A Small-Town Bride
#3 Here Comes the Bride
#4 The Bride Next Door

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Title: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

Author: Kim Michele Richardson

Publisher: Sourcebooks 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 308

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: UnRead Shelf; Literary Escapes - Kentucky

The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything―everything except books, that is. Thanks to Roosevelt's Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome's got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter.

Cussy's not only a book woman, however, she's also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy's family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she's going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler.

Our book club selection for this month and a definite recommendation. I was immediately intrigued by the back story of the Pack Horse Librarians. I always love learning about the hidden stories from history. And this one is such a good one. From there, the reader gets the added storyline of the blue people of Kentucky. Definitely intriguing. Beyond the storyline, I didn’t know how I was going to enjoy Cussy’s narration of this story. After a few chapters, I got used to the style and it didn’t bother me at all. I think this would be a great book on audio. If the narrator was good, the storytelling would be great.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane

Title: The Upside of Falling Down

Author: Rebekah Crane

Publisher: Skyscrape 2018

Genre: YA Contemporary

Pages: 247

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

For Clementine Haas, finding herself is more than a nice idea. Ever since she woke up in an Irish hospital with complete amnesia, self-discovery has become her mission.

They tell her she’s the lone survivor of a plane crash. They tell her she’s lucky to be alive. But she doesn’t feel lucky. She feels…lost.

With the relentless Irish press bearing down on her, and a father she may not even recognize on his way from America to take her home, Clementine assumes a new identity and enlists a blue-eyed Irish stranger, Kieran O’Connell, to help her escape her forgotten life…and start a new one.

Hiding out in the sleepy town of Waterville, Ireland, Clementine discovers there’s an upside to a life that’s fallen apart. But as her lies grow, so does her affection for Kieran, and the truth about her identity becomes harder and harder to reveal, forcing Clementine to decide: Can she leave her past behind for a new love she’ll never forget?

Random Prime Reading selection from Amazon that I finally started and finished all in about 36 hours. It’s a sweet romance couched in a finding yourself novel with an outrageous beginning. I really enjoyed Clementine’s search for self and the colorful characters she meets along the way. I was fully on board the story all the way until the last 20 pages or so. I even forgave a lot of the YA cliches. It’s a sweet YA story, I’m okay with some cheesy lines here and there. The way-too-coincidental ending and reveal knocked it down a star for me. Just no… Otherwise, I really enjoyed this one.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

Title: The Lager Queen of Minnesota

Author: J. Ryan Stradal

Publisher: Viking 2019

Genre: Literary Fiction

Pages: 353

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Two sisters, one farm. A family is split when their father leaves their shared inheritance entirely to Helen, his younger daughter. Despite baking award-winning pies at the local nursing home, her older sister, Edith, struggles to make what most people would call a living. So she can't help wondering what her life would have been like with even a portion of the farm money her sister kept for herself.

With the proceeds from the farm, Helen builds one of the most successful light breweries in the country, and makes their company motto ubiquitous: "Drink lots. It's Blotz." Where Edith has a heart as big as Minnesota, Helen's is as rigid as a steel keg. Yet one day, Helen will find she needs some help herself, and she could find a potential savior close to home. . . if it's not too late.

Meanwhile, Edith's granddaughter, Diana, grows up knowing that the real world requires a tougher constitution than her grandmother possesses. She earns a shot at learning the IPA business from the ground up--will that change their fortunes forever, and perhaps reunite her splintered family?

I really really enjoyed this one. But coming so soon after reading Stradal’s first book. Kitchens of the Great Midwest, I found myself comparing the two. I really enjoyed Diana and many of the side characters in this book. While rough around the edges, Diana is really someone who cares deeply for her family. Edith and Helen were less sympathetic and frankly interesting characters. I was very annoyed by their choices. Edith was selfless to the point of being harmful to herself, while Helen never seemed to care about anyone but herself. I get what Stradal was trying to do with the two sisters, but I was often annoyed. I was just hoping to get back to Diana’s story quicker. This sound very negative, but I really did enjoy this book. I was intrigued by the storyline and hoped for a satisfying conclusion. Thankfully, the ending has me tearing up. It’s not a “happily ever after” ending (that would have been too far-fetched for the characters), but we do get a satisfying ending. A definite recommendation.

Next up on the TBR pile:

What's a Rogue Got to Do with It by Samantha Holt

Title: What’s a rogue Got to Do With It (Rogues of Redmere #4)

Author: Samantha Holt

Publisher: Helstone Press 2018

Genre: Romance

Pages: 168

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Finishing the Series

Lewis Knight left behind his life as the son of nobleman years ago. The rough, scarred man is quite content to use his brute force and bad reputation to help the Earl of Redmere with his smuggling—a ruse to aid the war effort. Knight doesn’t care too much about the reasons behind the subterfuge, so long as he gets paid.
And stays busy enough to forget his past for good.
That’s not so easy, however, when he’s forced to return home. And thanks to the earl’s meddling, he’s accompanied by the woman who plagues his thoughts far too often…
Louisa has been too busy running her inn to think too much about the dark, brooding Knight. Even if she does steal the occasional glance at those broad shoulders. However, when a man arrives in Cornwall with lifechanging news and Louisa’s inn is threatened, she must investigate. With Knight’s help, she digs into this stranger’s past and stirs up more danger than she thought possible.
Now that Knight is driven to protect her, the barriers between them feel harder than ever to keep in place. Somehow, she keeps working her way under his unyielding exterior. But Knight knows he’s not worthy of a woman like Louisa—not while his past shadows his every move.

And we’ve now come to the end of the Rogues of Redmere series. Thankfully it ends well with an entertaining travel story featuring Knight and Louisa. I would have liked a bit more towards the end, but that’s usual with the romances I read. I did enjoy this coupling more than books two and three, so yeah! A decent short romance series that I finished this month.

Rogues of Redmere

Next up on the TBR pile:

Waiting for a Rogue Like You by Samantha Holt

Title: Waiting for a Rogue Like You (Rogues of Redmere #3)

Author: Samantha Holt

Publisher: Helstone Press 2018

Genre: Romance

Pages: 158

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Finishing the Series

He knows trouble when he sees it.
Fortunately, Drake likes trouble, especially when it comes in a particularly attractive package. While he and his crew of smugglers are waiting for their next job, Julianna makes a welcome distraction from the damned ache in his leg and the scars making his skin itch.
A shame Julianna doesn’t like him one jot then, not even when he rescues her and promises to bring her to her brother. She knows a rogue when she sees one and the last thing she needs is another man in her life telling her what to do. Not even her brother…
A brother who happens to be the face of the smuggling operation Drake partakes in. And a terrifying face at that. Knight is the muscle behind the crew, ensuring their cover remains in place so that they can help the war effort whilst making a pretty penny. Knight won’t be too happy when he finds out Drake has decided Julianna is a challenge he more than welcomes.
It’s a risk he’s more than willing to take.

So the third book in this series. I definitely liked Julianna more than Patience, but I wasn’t as fond of Drake as I was of Nathan. Overall, an enjoyable Regency romance, but not my favorite. I’m hoping that the last book in the series really draws me in.

Rogues of Redmere

#1 You’re the Rogue that I Want
#2 When a Rogue Loves a Woman
#3 Waiting for a Rogue Like You
#4 What’s a Rogue Got to Do with It

Next up on the TBR pile: