The Stolen Bride by Jo Beverley

Title: The Stolen Bride (Renfrew/Kyle #3)

Author: Jo Beverley

Publisher: Signet Eclipse 

Genre: Regency Romance

Pages: 274

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seasonal Series - Set in Summer

When Beth Hawley journeys to Lord Wraybourne's castle to help young Lady Sophie Kyle prepare for her wedding, she has to share her carriage with two unexpected travelers, the rakish Sir Marius Fletcher, who is stranded after his curricle overturns, and an unidentified elderly woman, found unconscious in a wrecked carriage. 

As the date of Sophie's wedding draws near, Beth realizes some mysterious shadow from the past seems to haunt the bride and groom. The elderly woman, suffering from memory loss, may hold the key. Beth turns to Sir Marius for help, but her efforts are thwarted at every turn as she encounters a most unlikely villain-while her only ally seems to have his mind set more on romance than the danger at hand...

This volume is a great addition to the series. I loved seeing the continuation of Randal and Sophie's love story even if I wanted to knock their heads together every few pages. But beyond them, I really loved Beth and Marius's story and even the introduction of Ver. I especially can't wait for Ver's story in the next volume. The big mystery wasn't hard to figure out, but I still appreciated the story and call back to previous volumes. 

Renfrew/Kyle

• #1 The Stanforth Secrets
• #2 Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed 
• #3 The Stolen Bride
• #4 Emily and the Dark Angel
• #4.5 If Fancy Be the Food of Love
• #5 The Fortune Hunter
• #6 Deirdre and Don Juan

Next up on the TBR pile:

Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay

Title: Picnic at Hanging Rock

Author: Joan Lindsay

Publisher: 1967

Genre: Classics

Pages: 198

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Share-a-Tea

It was a cloudless summer day in the year 1900. Everyone at Appleyard College for Young Ladies agreed it was just right for a picnic at Hanging Rock. After lunch, a group of three girls climbed into the blaze of the afternoon sun, pressing on through the scrub into the shadows of the secluded volcanic outcropping. Farther, higher, until at last they disappeared. They never returned. . . .

One of those books that I have wanted to read, but never actually got to it. This is our book club selection for July so I had to read it. This book was great! I loved the characters and Lindsay's descriptions of said characters. I didn't know exactly what I was getting into, but quickly I dove into the mystery of the disappearance. I didn't quite realize that the focus of the story was on the side character more than the disappeared. I love that the mystery is never truly resolved, but left to the reader's imagination. I can't wait to watch the movies and new mini series. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed by Jo Beverley

Title: Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed (Renfrew/Kyle #2)

Author: Jo Beverley

Publisher: Signet Eclipse 1988

Genre: Regency Romance

Pages: 283

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seasonal Series - Second Book

Even if the handsome, debonair Lord Wraybourne is only marrying Jane Sandiford for her fortune as she suspects that does not diminish the powerful sway her betrothed seems to hold over her. The Sandiford Heiress has lived a sheltered life and is known for being stuffy, so her passionate responses to her fiancé's attentions catch her by surprise.

As confused and mortified as she is by her own emotions, Jane is even more scandalized when the dread Whisperer, the scourge of polite Society, rasps unspeakable vileness into her ear. And she is troubled by the news that someone is assaulting young women ?of the middling class? in the streets of London. Yet she remains unaware that an adversary closer to home schemes to sabotage the relationship between Lord Wraybourne and his betrothed? 

At first I was very confused about how this book connected with the first book that I read in this series. But then I realized that Lord Ashby was the connector. Okay so I group loosely connected but different stories in each volume. While I enjoyed Jane and Sophie as characters, Lord Wraybourne's wasn't the most interesting male protagonist. I wish he had been a bit more fleshed out. At any rate, it was a typical fluffy Regency romance. It was a nice quick enjoyable read. 

Renfrew/Kyle

• #1 The Stanforth Secrets
• #2 Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed 
• #3 The Stolen Bride
• #4 Emily and the Dark Angel
• #4.5 If Fancy Be the Food of Love
• #5 The Fortune Hunter
• #6 Deirdre and Don Juan

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Anomaly by Michael Rutger

Title: The Anomaly

Author: Michael Rutger

Publisher: Grand Central 2018

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 352

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Share-a-Tea; Seasonal Series - Cool Drink

If Indiana Jones lived in the X-Files era, he might bear at least a passing resemblance to Nolan Moore -- a rogue archaeologist hosting a documentary series derisively dismissed by the "real" experts, but beloved of conspiracy theorists.

Nolan sets out to retrace the steps of an explorer from 1909 who claimed to have discovered a mysterious cavern high up in the ancient rock of the Grand Canyon. And, for once, he may have actually found what he seeks. Then the trip takes a nasty turn, and the cave begins turning against them in mysterious ways.

Nolan's story becomes one of survival against seemingly impossible odds. The only way out is to answer a series of intriguing questions: What is this strange cave? How has it remained hidden for so long? And what secret does it conceal that made its last visitors attempt to seal it forever?

My June selection from Book of the Month. I picked it to get away from the dysfunctional family and Gone Girl-esque books that are the usual offerings. This one sounded like a fun spooky thriller with strains of Indiana Jones and Ghosthunters. Thankfully the book delivered all that I hoped for and was a very fun and enjoyable read. The first three chapters were a bit slow, but once the expedition hit the canyon, everything sped up dramatically. I immediately fell for the motley crew of characters and their approach to the mystery of Kincaid's Cave. By the time the halfway mark arrived, I was speeding through the pages on edge just waiting to find out what was going to happen next. Very creepy I must say. And I love the slightly ambiguous ending. Could there be a sequel in the works?

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Stanforth Secrets by Jo Beverley

Title: The Stanforth Secrets (Renfrew/Kyle #1)

Author: Jo Beverley

Publisher: 1989 

Genre: Regency Romance

Pages: 312

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR

Though the widowed Chloe Stanforth loves her house by the sea, a series of puzzling incidents has left her unsettled and anxious to find a new home. Her situation is complicated by the arrival of her husband's cousin, for whom she has long harbored a deep and guilty attraction. 

Back from the war, Justin Delamere hopes he can finally woo Chloe, until he suspects her guilty of treason-and murder. Can he trust the woman he's always desired, and can Chloe surrender her most private secrets to the man who controls her freedom and now her heart?

I needed a fun Regency romance series for this month and I think I have found it. Apparently the copies I have of this series are the reissues from the 2000s. The series was originally writing in the 1980s and 1990s. I started with #2 according to release date, but #1 according to chronology. At any rate, I really enjoyed this fun story of espionage and romance. Justin and Chloe were a fun couple. I will definitely be picking up the next in the series. 

Renfrew/Kyle

• #1 The Stanforth Secrets
• #2 Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed 
• #3 The Stolen Bride
• #4 Emily and the Dark Angel
• #4.5 If Fancy Be the Food of Love
• #5 The Fortune Hunter
• #6 Deirdre and Don Juan

Next up on the TBR pile:

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Title: Anne of Green Gables (Anne Shirley #1)

Author: L.M. Montgomery

Publisher: 1908

Genre: Classics

Pages: 198

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsguar - Mentioned in Another Book; Seasonal Series - Set in Spring

When a scrawny, freckled girl with bright red hair arrives on Prince Edward Island, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert are taken by surprise; they'd asked for a quiet boy to help with the farm work at Green Gables. But how can you return a friendless child to a grim orphanage when she tells you her life so far has been a 'perfect graveyard of buried hopes'? And so, the beguiling chatterbox stays. Full of dreams, warmth and spirit, it is not long before Anne Shirley wins their hearts.

Somehow I have lived for 36 years having never read this book. As a child I was a huge fan of The Secret Garden and Little Women, but never picked this one up. Strange. Having read it, I understand the appeal to young children. Anne is a precocious and entertaining character. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but I chalk that up to being a grown woman. 

Anne Shirley:

• #1 Anne of Green Gables
• #2 Anne of Avonlea
• #3 Anne of the Island
• #4 Anne of Windy Poplars
• #5 Anne's House of Dreams
• #6 Anne of Ingleside
• #7 Rainbow Valley
• #8 Rilla of Ingleside

Next up on the TBR pile:

For Darkness... Short Stories by Diana Peterfreund

Title: Among the Nameless Stars (For Darkness Shows the Stars #0.5)

Author: Diana Peterfreund

Publisher: 2013

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Pages: 54

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR

Four years before the events of FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS, the servant Kai left the North Estate, the only home he’d ever known, and Elliot North, the only girl he ever loved, in search of a better life. But the journey was not an easy one.

Loved this little short story focusing on Kai's adventures directly after he left the North estate. I loved meeting some interesting characters and the overall progression of the story. 

Title: The First Star to Fall (For Darkness Shows the Stars #1.5)

Author: Diana Peterfreund

Publisher: 2013

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Pages: 34

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

New Pacifica was designed to be a tropical paradise, a refuge for humanity filled with natural wonders and technological marvels. A place of perfect peace where "war" was only a world out of history... or so the privileged teen Persis Blake was always taught.

But then comes the revolution and the death of a queen, and suddenly it's no longer enough for Persis to trust the words of her parents, the lessons of her teachers, and the decrees of the men in power. 

One terrible night, Persis witnesses the truth: there are those who will stop at nothing to destroy her world... but is there anyone who can save it?

So this was definitely a departure from the pervious story. I'm intrigued by where this is going... Guess it's time to pick up the companion book.

For Darkness Shows the Stars

• #0.5 Among the Nameless Stars
• #1 For Darkness Shows the Stars
• #1.5 The First Star to Fall
• #2 Across a Star-Swept Sea

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bedwyn Saga #4-6 by Mary Balogh

Title: Slightly Tempted (Bedwyn Saga #4)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell 2003

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Finishing the Series 

Young. Ravishing. Exquisitely marriageable. From the moment he spies Lady Morgan Bedwyn across the glittering ballroom, Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorn, knows he has found the perfect instrument of his revenge. But wedlock is not on the mind of the continent’s most notorious rake. Nor is it of interest to the fiercely independent Lady Morgan herself…until one night of shocking intimacy erupts in a scandal that could make Gervase’s vengeance all the sweeter. There is only one thing standing in his way: Morgan, who has achieved the impossible—she’s melted his coolly guarded heart. For Gervase, only the marriage bed will do, but Morgan simply will not have him. Thus begins a sizzling courtship where two wary hearts are about to be undone by the most scandalous passion of all: glorious, all-consuming love.

Eh. I wasn't the biggest fan of this volume. Morgan and Gervase's entire relationship had its issues. I just didn't love how everything played out.

Title: Slightly Sinful (Bedwyn Saga #5)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell 2004

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 368

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Finishing the Series 

As the fires of war raged around him, Lord Alleyne Bedwyn was thrown from his horse and left for dead—only to awaken in the bedchamber of a ladies' brothel. Suddenly the dark, handsome diplomat has no memory of who he is or how he got there—yet of one thing he is certain: The angel who nurses him back to health is the woman he vows to make his own. But like him, Rachel York is not who she seems. A lovely young woman caught up in a desperate circumstance, she must devise a scheme to regain her stolen fortune. The dashing soldier she rescued from near-death could be her savior in disguise. There is just one condition: she must pose as his wife—a masquerade that will embroil them in a sinful scandal, where a man and a woman court impropriety with each daring step...with every taboo kiss that can turn passionate strangers into the truest of lovers.

Oh my. I really loved this one. Rachel and Alleyne were so much fun to follow. I loved every bit of their relationship. Definitely the winner of the series. 

Title: Slightly Dangerous (Bedwyn Saga #6)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Delacorte 2004

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 400

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Finishing the Series 

All of London is abuzz over the imminent arrival of Wulfric Bedwyn, the reclusive, cold-as-ice Duke of Bewcastle, at the most glittering social event of the season. Some whisper of a tragic love affair. Others say he is so aloof and passionless that not even the greatest beauty could capture his attention. But on this dazzling afternoon, one woman did catch the duke’s eye—and she was the only female in the room who wasn’t even trying. Christine Derrick is intrigued by the handsome duke…all the more so when he invites her to become his mistress. 

What red-blooded woman wouldn’t enjoy a tumble in the bedsheets with a consummate lover—with no strings and no questions asked. An infuriating lady with very definite views on men, morals, and marriage, Christine confounds Wulfric at every turn. Yet even as the lone wolf of the Bedwyn clan vows to seduce her any way he can, something strange and wonderful is happening. Now for a man who thought he’d never lose his heart, nothing less than love will do.

With her trademark wit, riveting storytelling, and sizzling sexual sparks, Mary Balogh once again brings together two polar opposites: an irresistible, high-and-mighty aristocrat and the impulsive, pleasure-loving woman who shows him what true passion is all about. A man and a woman so wrong for each other, it can result only in the perfect match.

Not as excited about this volume. It had its entertaining parts, but overall I wasn't that excited. Not quite as weak as the volume featuring Freyja, but still not my favorite at all. 

Bedwyn Saga

• #0.1 One Night for Love
• #0.2 A Summer to Remember
• #1 Slightly Married
• #2 Slightly Wicked
• #3 Slightly Scandalous
• #4 Slightly Tempted
• #5 Slightly Sinful
• #6 Slightly Dangerous

Next up on the TBR pile:

Circe by Madeline Miller

Title: Circe

Author: Madeline Miller

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company 2018

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 394

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Share-a-Tea 

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power--the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

My Book of the Month selection for April and I definitely picked the right book for me. This is a wonderful retelling of the myth of Circe told from her perspective. I'll admit that the book started out a bit slow. Once Circe was exiled to her island, I really dove into the book and loved every word. Miller tells a compelling story with a gorgeous voice. Miller makes her fair share of changes and expansions of Circe's story, but every choice made sense. I really loved the twists and turns. Overall, a great read!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

Title: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of American's Shining Women

Author: Kate Moore

Publisher: Sourcebooks 2017

Genre: History

Pages: 496

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Nonfiction Adventure; Mount TBR

Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the "wonder" substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives...

Our book club selection for April. I've been super excited to read this history and it did not disappoint. I was horrified reading the trials all of these "radium girls" had to suffer through during their (in most cases) very short lives. I knew their stories weren't going to necessarily end well, but holy cow, it was even worse than I imagined. The devious dealings of the various radium companies and lawyers depressed me. However, the strength shown by the women involved was amazing. A very fascinating history of a little know story. I can't wait to discuss at book club.

Next up on the TBR pile:

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

Title: NOS4A2

Author: Joe Hill

Publisher: William Morrow 2013

Genre: Horror

Pages: 720

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsguar - Meant to get to in 2017; Seasonal Series - Read while listening to the rain

Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”
 
Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son.

Holy hell was that a creepy book... Definitely a winner. I finally picked this one up and started to read it after the book sitting on my Kindle app for at least a year. Don't know why I waited so long. Hill has taken a ton of pointers from his father (Stephen King), but has made the horror genre his own. I was sucked into this very creepy story right from the beginning. I eagerly ripped through the pages (actually clicked through as I read it on my iPad) desperate to find out what happened to Vic and Wayne, horribly anticipating the appearance of Christmasland, and hoping for some kind of explanation for all the weird events. I loved the cast of characters (especially Maggie) and the various settings of the book. The descriptions were just enough for my mind to create a vivid landscape. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

Title: The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower #2)

Author: Stephen King

Publisher: Plume 1989

Genre: Horror

Pages: 406

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - About Mental Health; Seasonal Series - Read a book while sitting outside

Beginning just less than seven hours after The Gunslinger ends, in the second installment to the thrilling Dark Tower Series, Roland encounters three mysterious doorways on a deserted beach along the Western Sea. Each one enters into a different person’s life in New York—here, he joins forces with the defiant young Eddie Dean, and with the beautiful, brilliant, and brave Odetta Holmes, to save the Dark Tower.

Picked up the second volume in The Dark Tower series. And seriously, this is one weird book. We travel with Roland into three different time periods in our own world meeting three travelers along the way. I was totally on board with Eddie. Very straight forward story. But then later we meet Odetta and things get even weirder. This is only a story of Stephen King fans. Thankfully I like his weird storytelling. Very interested in where this crazy adventure is going...

The Dark Tower:

• #0.5 The Little Sisters of Eluria
• #1 The Gunslinger
• #2 The Drawing of the Three
• #3 The Waste Lands
• #4 Wizard and Glass
• #4.5 The Wind Through the Keyhole
• #5 Wolves of the Calla
• #6 Song of Susannah
• #7 The Dark Tower

Next up on the TBR pile:

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

Title: Not That I Could Tell

Author: Jessica Strawser

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 2018

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 324

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Share-a-Tea

When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal.

By Monday morning, one of them is gone.

My Book of the Month selection for March. I picked this one as it was a read-alike to Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. I really loved that book and was hoping for an intriguing mystery with interesting characters. Unfortunately, this book lacked the hook that got me invested in the characters. For the most part, I just didn't care about them. I wanted to figure out what happened to Kristin, but wasn't perched on the edge of my seat with suspense. The plot line was okay. I was just really not connected to any of the characters. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller

Title: The Philosopher's Flight

Author: Tom Miller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2018

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 422

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Published in 2018; Share-A-Tea

Eighteen-year-old Robert Weekes is a practitioner of empirical philosophy—an arcane, female-dominated branch of science used to summon the wind, shape clouds of smoke, heal the injured, and even fly. Though he dreams of fighting in the Great War as the first male in the elite US Sigilry Corps Rescue and Evacuation Service—a team of flying medics—Robert is resigned to mixing batches of philosophical chemicals and keeping the books for the family business in rural Montana, where his mother, a former soldier and vigilante, aids the locals.

When a deadly accident puts his philosophical abilities to the test, Robert rises to the occasion and wins a scholarship to study at Radcliffe College, an all-women’s school. At Radcliffe, Robert hones his skills and strives to win the respect of his classmates, a host of formidable, unruly women. 

This was my Book of the Month selection for February, but I wasn't quite sure what I picked. Turns out, this is exactly the type of book that I enjoy reading. We're drawn into an alternate history where women (and a few men) have discovered and begun practicing a version of science/magic. This, of course, has impacted the course of history in very interesting ways. The book itself is set decades after the discovery of these powers and we connected to an unusual man who has the ability to do empirical philosophy. Obviously there is a fantastical element to the book. But really the book connects us to interesting characters that go on a journey of self-discovery. Slow-moving in certain parts, but overall a really entertaining read. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

Title: Cranford

Author: Elizabeth Gaskell

Publisher: 1853

Genre: Classics

Pages: 257

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Movie I've Already Seen; A to Z - C

Cranford is an affectionate and often moving portrait of genteel poverty and intertwined lives in a nineteenth-century village. One of Elizabeth Gaskell's most beloved works, it centres on a community dominated by women and governed by old-fashioned ways. The formidable Miss Deborah Jenkyns and the kindly Miss Matty's days revolve around card games, tea, thriftiness and an endless appetite for scandal, until change comes into their world - whether it is the modern ideas of Captain Brown, a bank collapse, rumours of burglars or an unexpected reappearance from the past.

Classic that has been sitting on my shelf for too long. I enjoyed this one, but it's definitely not for everyone. I love how Gaskell has structured the book as more of vignettes than cohesive consecutive chapters. The reader gets little slices of life in Cranford filled with colorful characters and insights into relationships. I see this as a mix between Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. I'm not a huge fan of Dickens, but I adore Austen. This was a good mixture of the genres. While the book is very good, I loved the BBC miniseries starring Dame Judi Dench as Miss Matty. She is a treasure! 

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh

Title: A Summer to Remember (Bedwyn Saga #0.2)

Author: Mary Balogh

Publisher: Dell 2003

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 384

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Finishing the Series; What's in a Name - Season

Kit Butler is cool, dangerous, one of London’s mostinfamous bachelors—marriage is the last thing on his mind. But Kit’s family has other plans. Desperate to thwart his father’s matchmaking, Kit needs a bride...fast. Enter Miss Lauren Edgeworth.

A year after being abandoned at the altar, Lauren has determined that marriage is not for her. When these two fiercely independent souls meet, sparks fly—and a deal is hatched. Lauren will masquerade as Kit’s intended if he agrees to provide a passionate, adventurous, unforgettable summer. When summer ends, she will break off the engagement, rendering herself unmarriageable and leaving them both free. Everything is going perfectly—until Kit does the unthinkable: He begins to fall in love. A summer to remember is not enough for him. But how can he convince Lauren to be his...for better, for worse, for the rest of their lives?

A fluffy romance was just what I needed this week. I accidentally read the related series to the this one before so the ending was a bit spoiled (although most of these books are easy to predict the endings). I did enjoyed the story of Kit and Lauren. I especially liked seeing Lauren come out of her ice queen shell from the last book. This volume was quick and enjoyable. Just what I like in my Regency Romances. 

Bedwyn Saga

• #0.1 One Night for Love
• #0.2 A Summer to Remember
• #1 Slightly Married
• #2 Slightly Wicked
• #3 Slightly Scandalous
• #4 Slightly Tempted
• #5 Slightly Sinful
• #6 Slightly Dangerous

Next up on the TBR pile:

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner

Title: As Bright as Heaven

Author: Susan Meissner

Publisher: Berkley 2018

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 387

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - About Death or Grief; Share-a-Tea

In 1918, Philadelphia was a city teeming with promise. Even as its young men went off to fight in the Great War, there were opportunities for a fresh start on its cobblestone streets. Into this bustling town, came Pauline Bright and her husband, filled with hope that they could now give their three daughters--Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa--a chance at a better life.

But just months after they arrive, the Spanish Flu reaches the shores of America. As the pandemic claims more than twelve thousand victims in their adopted city, they find their lives left with a world that looks nothing like the one they knew. But even as they lose loved ones, they take in a baby orphaned by the disease who becomes their single source of hope. Amidst the tragedy and challenges, they learn what they cannot live without--and what they are willing to do about it.

I really enjoyed the other book I've read by Susan Meissner, so I had high hopes for this Book of the Month selection (from January, but shhh.... I'm a bit behind). This book had a very different field, but I really did enjoy this story. Taken as a whole, the story is a beautiful exploration of death and grief within one family. The story takes us on a journey that I wasn't quite expecting. The level of tragedy surprised me, but I was completely on board. The switch between chapters narrated by the four Bright women added another level of interest. At times I was drawn out of the story by the youngest daughter's voice, but for the most part I was right there with all of the characters. 

I enjoyed this book while drinking multiple cups of Stash's Acai Berry Herbal Tea. It has a very strong berry flavor, but was a good choice before bed. No caffeine to keep me up all night, but warm tea to comfort me.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Title: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Author: Neil deGrasse Tyson

Publisher: Norton and Company 2017

Genre: Nonfiction - Science 

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Modern Mrs. Darcy - Essay Collection

What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson.

But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.

While you wait for your morning coffee to brew, for the bus, the train, or a plane to arrive, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry will reveal just what you need to be fluent and ready for the next cosmic headlines: from the Big Bang to black holes, from quarks to quantum mechanics, and from the search for planets to the search for life in the universe.

Our book club selection for February (actually the meeting isn't until next weekend due to last weekend's retreat). I was looking forward to learning more about astrophysics and this did not disappoint. I have always enjoyed Tyson's way of relating scientific information. This collection of essays has some great pieces with a ton of information about the universe. I know I didn't really retain all the information and will have to reread this one soon. But that's okay, Tyson's style of writing will make that reread enjoyable. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell by Mira Grant

Title: The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell (Newsflash #3.6)

Author: Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit 2014

Genre: Horror 

Pages: 105

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; What's in a Name - Word "the" used twice

A new Newsflesh novella from the New York Times bestselling author that brought you Feed, Mira Grant.

Outside the classroom walls the Rising was spreading, but inside was a carefully protected sanctuary against the growing threat. 

Or so the teachers and students thought.

I thoroughly enjoyed Grant's original Newsflesh trilogy a few years back and have been enjoying the additions of the short stories and continuations of the story. This short little story was full of all the horror and expert writing I have come to expect from Grant. I was completely horrified by this tale of a teacher attempting to save herself and her students from the unspeakable horror of the infected. I sped through this story and loved very bit of it. Such a great story!

Newflesh:

• #0.5 Countdown
• #0.75 San Diego 2014
• #1 Feed
• #1.5 Fed
• #2 Deadline
• #3 Blackout
• #3.5 How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea
• #3.6 The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell
• #3.7 Please Do Not Taunt the Octopus
• #4 Feedback
• #4.5 All the Pretty Little Horses
• #4.6 Coming to You Live

Next up on the TBR pile:

The English Wife by Lauren Willig

Title: The English Wife

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 2017

Genre: Historical fiction

Pages: 376

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Share-a-Tea; What's in a Name - Nationality

Annabelle and Bayard Van Duyvil live a charmed life in New York: he's the scion of an old Knickerbocker family, she grew up in a Tudor manor in England, they had a whirlwind romance in London, they have three year old twins on whom they dote, and he's recreated her family home on the banks of the Hudson and renamed it Illyria. Yes, there are rumors that she's having an affair with the architect, but rumors are rumors and people will gossip. But then Bayard is found dead with a knife in his chest on the night of their Twelfth Night Ball, Annabelle goes missing, presumed drowned, and the papers go mad. Bay's sister, Janie, forms an unlikely alliance with a reporter to uncover the truth, convinced that Bay would never have killed his wife, that it must be a third party, but the more she learns about her brother and his wife, the more everything she thought she knew about them starts to unravel. Who were her brother and his wife, really? And why did her brother die with the name George on his lips?

This was my first Book of the Month selection from December 2017. I didn't get the book until I returned to California, but was super excited to read it. I loved Willig's Pink Carnation series and hoped this volume would also keep my attention. And keep my attention it did! I immediately dove into this historical murder mystery. Who killed Bay? What happened to Annabelle? I loved the premise and then really fell for the characters. Janie was my favorite character. I loved her growth throughout the book. I loved the family intrigue and secrets. Overall I really enjoyed Willig's story and writing. There were passages that reminded me of her Pink Carnation series even though this book was a lot more serious and straight forward. Definite recommendation!

I'm counting this book for part of the Share-a-Tea Reading Challenge. This was the perfect book to read while enjoying a nice cup of tea. For this particular book, I was enjoyed Zhena's Gypsy Tea's Raspberry Earl. Loved the hints of sweetness overlaying a classic black tea. Yummy!

Next up on the TBR pile: