Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Anna and the French Kiss (Anna and the French Kiss #1)

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Publisher: Speak 2010

Genre: YA Romance

Pages: 382

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Teen, NPR Romance, 365 Days of YA; Ebook

Anna can't wait for her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a good job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's not too thrilled when her father unexpectedly ships her off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair, the perfect boy. The only problem? He's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her crush back home. Will a year of romantic near-misses end in the French kiss Anna awaits?

I absolutely devoured this book in a day and a half. This is such a great young adult romance. We get that initial meet-cute. We get the complications. We get a ton of will they or won’t they. And we finally get to see the two main characters come together. Even though there were some more serious parts, this was the light-hearted read that I needed for this week. I definitely was rooting for Anna and Etienne throughout the book. I loved the pretty straight-forward plotline propelling the romance. I loved the side characters, especially Rashmi and Josh. All of the characters act like late teens. Often in YA, we get 17 year olds acting either like 13 year olds or 25 year olds. It was nice to see appropriate teen behavior and though patterns. I finished the last page of the book and just sighed with a smile on my face. Lovely little book. I will definitely be reading the two companion books (not quite sequels, but involving some of the side characters).

Anna and the French Kiss

#1 Anna and the French Kiss
#2 Lola and the Boy Next Door
#3 Isla and the Happily Ever After

Next up on the TBR pile:

Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen

Title: Malice at the Palace (Royal Spyness #9)

Author: Rhys Bowen

Publisher: Berkley 2015

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 304

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Caught between her high birth and empty purse, Georgie is relieved to receive a new assignment from the Queen. The King’s youngest son, George, is to wed Princess Marina of Greece, and the Queen wants Georgie to be her companion: showing her the best of London—and dispelling any rumors about George’s libertine history.

The prince is known for his many affairs with women as well as men—including the great songwriter Noel Coward. But things truly get complicated when one of his supposed mistresses is murdered.

The Queen wants the whole matter hushed. But as the case unfolds—and Georgie's beau Darcy, as always, turns up in the most unlikely of places—their investigation brings them precariously close to the prince himself.

Another fun cozy mystery. I do so love the murders that befall people around Lady Georgie. They are always interesting and fun. I think cozy mysteries are becoming comfort reads for me. As for this one, I loved meeting more of the Royal Family including Princess Marina. Plus we get some good interactions between Georgie and some of the recurring characters. I was annoyed by Darcy and his constant reassurances without ever really explaining. I think Georgie should kick him to the curb for awhile, but alas, she seems to be of one mind when it comes to Darcy.

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
#13 Love and Death Among the Cheetahs
#14 The Last Mrs. Summers

Next up on the TBR pile:

After the Cure by Deirdre Gould

Title: After the Cure (After the Cure #1)

Author: Deirdre Gould

Publisher: Amazon 2013

Genre: Horror

Pages: 401

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Eight years ago the December Plague swept through the human population of earth. The Infected were driven mad by the disease, becoming violent and cannibalistic, killing even those closest to them without hesitation.

Six years ago, the tiny surviving community of Immune humans found a cure, and the Infected began to wake up and realize what they'd done. And what had been done to them.

Over time, society began to rebuild itself. Now it is ready to judge those responsible for the Plague. Nella Rider, the court psychologist and Frank Courtlen a defense attorney are trying to establish the truth. But more depends on it than they know. They race to find the answers they need before the fragile remains of humanity vanish for good.

I enjoyed this after the plague novel dealing with the question of “who takes responsibility for the zombie apocalypse?” I immediately fell for Nella and Frank and wanted to see them gain some kind of peace after the tragic events of the December plague. I was intrigued by the questions of “how to revive society?” and “what does it mean to be human?” This book was a lot more thought-provoking than I thought it would be initially (and especially due to the cover). I slowly started to understand what was actually going on and was horrified by the actions of a few to the determent of the entire world. The second half of the book kicks into high gear and we actually encounter a few infested people. More is revealed about the horrors of the plague. And we get a satisfying conclusion. But then, there’s one last chapter to the book and I just couldn’t. I understand authors wanting to write series, but the set-up for the rest of the series really felt shoehorned in there. I did not like. I don’t think I will be reading the rest of the series. I am choosing to think of this as a one-off book.

After the Cure

# 1 After the Cure
#2 The Cured
#3 Krisis
#4 Poveglia
#5 The 40th Day

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Deep by Rivers Solomon

Title: The Deep

Author: Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes

Publisher: Gallery 2019

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 175

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Yetu holds the memories for her people—water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners—who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by everyone, save one—the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu.

Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface, escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities—and discovers a world her people left behind long ago.

Yetu will learn more than she ever expected to about her own past—and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they’ll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity—and own who they really are.

Inspired by a song produced by the rap group Clipping for the This American Life episode “We Are In The Future,” The Deep is vividly original and uniquely affecting.

This was such a beautiful and incredibly sad and angering book. It’s less a book with a plot and more an examination of the legacy of slavery in America. The fantastical elements allow Solomon the leeway to explore concepts of memory and history and responsibility. It took my a few days to wade through these pages as they are so incredibly dense and yet lyrical. It is a hard book to read if you think about the real life situations the book mirror. I’m pretty sure Rivers Solomon is now on my must-read author list. This is amazing…

Next up on the TBR pile:

Saltwater Kisses by Krista Lakes

Title: Saltwater Kisses (The Kisses #1)

Author: Krista Lakes

Publisher: Zirconia Publishing 2014

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 216

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

When small-town girl Emma LaRue won a vacation to an exclusive tropical island, a last minute cancellation meant she would be going by herself. Shy and studious, she never had time to fall in love, and often wondered if she was just meant to be alone. However, that all changed when a handsome stranger literally walked into her life while on the beach and sparks began to fly.

New York's most eligible billionaire bachelor Jack Saunders thought this vacation would be the perfect escape, one last hurrah, before taking full control of his father's company. When an innocent Emma didn't recognize him, he figured that he might get a chance to have a vacation from being rich. He didn't tell her about the cars, the yacht, or the penthouse. All he did was let her fall in love with him.

That was terrible… The first half of the book was okay. We get an instant love story at beach resort. Fine fine. A bit unrealistic, but a sweet love story with a few steamy scenes. But then the second half of the book goes in a completely different direction. Our male lead becomes a major asshole. Emma becomes a naive whiny sheep willing to do anything to keep Jack’s family happy. Things turn really bad relationship wise and yet she does everything he wants (or at least what his people say he wants; we rarely see Jack in the second half). This is a relationship gone wrong. Emma should have run as fast as I could away and back to Iowa. And no, an “I love you” does not magically fix things. Terrible story.

The Kisses

#1 Saltwater Kisses
#2 Rainwater Kisses
#3 Freshwater Kisses
#4 Sandcastle Kisses
#5 Hurricane Kisses
#6 Barefoot Kisses
#7 Sunrise Kisses
#8 Waterfall Kisses
#9 Island Kisses

Next up on the TBR pile:

Grave Minder by Melissa Marr

Title: Grave Minder

Author: Melissa Marr

Publisher: William Morrow 2012

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 352

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Rebekkah Barrow never forgot the tender attention her grandmother, Maylene, bestowed upon the dead of Claysville. While growing up, Rebekkah watched as Maylene performed the same unusual ritual at every funeral: three sips from a small silver flask followed by the words, “Sleep well, and stay where I put you.”

Now Maylene is gone and Bek must return to the hometown—and the man—she abandoned a decade ago, only to discover that Maylene’s death was not natural . . . and there was good reason for her odd traditions. In Claysville, the worlds of the living and the dead are dangerously connected—and beneath the town lies a shadowy, lawless land ruled by the enigmatic Charles, aka Mr. D. From this dark place the deceased will return if their graves are not properly minded. And only the Graveminder, a Barrow woman, and the current Undertaker, Byron, can set things to right once the dead begin to walk. . . .

Such a muddled mess of a book. There are so many interesting ideas and world building aspects to this book, but the characters and plot just don’t do it justice. I was thoroughly confused by certain aspects of the world, but willing to accept some things are just fact in the book. Okay fine. But then we turn to the characters and I got so incredibly annoyed. Rebekkah is just a spoiled, indecisive person. Quickly I got sick of her internal monologue of “should I or shouldn’t I”. Very boring and repetitive. Byron was a bit better, but still a bit whiny for my tastes. Both of the main characters acted more like they were teenagers than in their mid-20s. I just didn’t buy it. And don’t get me started on Maylene and William. Why was is necessary to completely keep your successors in the dark as to the entire world of Claysville? The secret keeping just caused so many problems. I could have fixed the entire story in the first chapter avoiding the entire conflict. Last note: Why are the undead not zombies? They sure seemed like zombies to me… Very confusing.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb

Title: Daughters of the Lake

Author: Wendy Webb

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing 2018

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 319

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows. Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as its mother. No one can identify the woman. Except for Kate. She’s seen her before. In her dreams…

One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved. It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets. As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations. Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.

As the drowned woman reaches out from the grave, Kate reaches back. They must come together, if only in dreams, to right the sinister wrongs of the past.

I really wanted to like this book. The opening chapter is amazing and very very intriguing. I was sucked into the story very quickly. But then, things just started going off the rails. I was constantly annoyed by the the characters randomly stopping and drifting off into memories every so often. It was so clunky and really pulled me out of the present narrative so that when the character came back to the present, I had to really remind myself where we were in the story. Annoying. Beyond the writing style, I was ultimately bored with the story and the characters. The constant references to the various ghosts wasn’t really intriguing; it was a weird intrusion. Overall, I was just bored of the book.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis

Title: The Dollhouse

Author: Fiona Davis

Publisher: Dutton 2016

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 306

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

When she arrives at the famed Barbizon Hotel in 1952, secretarial school enrollment in hand, Darby McLaughlin is everything her modeling agency hall mates aren't: plain, self-conscious, homesick, and utterly convinced she doesn't belong—a notion the models do nothing to disabuse. Yet when Darby befriends Esme, a Barbizon maid, she's introduced to an entirely new side of New York City: seedy downtown jazz clubs where the music is as addictive as the heroin that's used there, the startling sounds of bebop, and even the possibility of romance.

Over half a century later, the Barbizon's gone condo and most of its long-ago guests are forgotten. But rumors of Darby's involvement in a deadly skirmish with a hotel maid back in 1952 haunt the halls of the building as surely as the melancholy music that floats from the elderly woman's rent-controlled apartment. It's a combination too intoxicating for journalist Rose Lewin, Darby's upstairs neighbor, to resist—not to mention the perfect distraction from her own imploding personal life. Yet as Rose's obsession deepens, the ethics of her investigation become increasingly murky, and neither woman will remain unchanged when the shocking truth is finally revealed.

My second Fiona Davis book and I do enjoy her focus on historical geographic locations. This book’s focus on New York City and specifically the Barbizon Hotel was such fun. I loved learning more about the actual history of the Barbizon Hotel while focusing on fictional characters. The story itself was good, although the tension sometimes was a bit much. Often there is a little too much melodrama in the story. I would have liked a little less from the chaos of Rose’s life and more focus on Darby and Esme. Ultimately, I did like the book and will read another Fiona Davis book.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

Title: Horrorstor

Author: Grady Hendrix

Publisher: Quirk Books 2014

Genre: Horror

Pages: 240

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring bookshelves, shattered Glans water goblets, and smashed Liripip wardrobes. Sales are down, security cameras reveal nothing, and store managers are panicking.

To unravel the mystery, three employees volunteer to work a nine-hour dusk-till-dawn shift. In the dead of the night, they’ll patrol the empty showroom floor, investigate strange sights and sounds, and encounter horrors that defy the imagination.

I picked this ebook up on Kindle sale and sped through it the other day. I loved the mounting dread within the store over the course of the chapters. I couldn’t stop reading as I was pushed along by the story. I had to find out what was going to happen next. I had to figure out the fates of the characters. I liked Amy, but really Basil become my favorite character in the book. Very fun horror story for a random afternoon’s reading.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Last Debutante by Julia London

Title: The Last Debutante (The Secrets of Hadley Green #4)

Author: Julia London

Publisher: Pocket Book 2013

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 370

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Who is the captive and who is the captor? When a sexy laird holds a spirited English lady for ransom, she turns the tables and steals his heart.

The last person Daria Babcock expects to find in her grandmother’s home is a brawny, naked Highlander. She doesn’t buy Mamie’s explanation about finding the poor man shot in the woods. Nor does she trust the gorgeous laird, who insists his own memory fails him. But Daria came to Scotland looking for adventure and romance, and after the intriguing stranger kidnaps her, she gets her wish—and so much more....

A fitting end to the Hadley Green series. We get to see what happened to Lord Ashland and the jewels. We get to see Daria finally settled where she belongs. She definitely seemed out of place in the previous books. We get to see more from Charity and Captain Mackenzie. I just wish we would have had a bit more resolution instead of the usual rushed ending chapter. I always want a bit more at the end with these type of books. But I did enjoy the journey to the ending. I loved Jamie and the various inhabitants of Dundavie. Geordie was especially a favorite. Good series overall.

The Secrets of Hadley Green

Next up on the TBR pile:

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters

Title: Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody #1)

Author: Elizabeth Peters

Publisher: 1975

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 262

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Theme - March

Amelia Peabody, that indomitable product of the Victorian age, embarks on her debut Egyptian adventure armed with unshakable self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course, a sturdy umbrella. On her way to Cairo, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been abandoned by her scoundrel lover. Together the two women sail up the Nile to an archeological site run by the Emerson brothers-the irascible but dashing Radcliffe and the amiable Walter. Soon their little party is increased by one-one mummy that is, and a singularly lively example of the species.

Strange visitations, suspicious accidents, and a botched kidnapping convince Amelia that there is a plot afoot to harm Evelyn. Now Amelia finds herself up against an unknown enemy-and perilous forces that threaten to make her first Egyptian trip also her last . . .

This series has been on my TBR list for decades. Probably since I was a teen… I finally got around to reading this one and was pleasantly surprised. I expected a bit of outdated language and conventions and they were there. It’s hard to tell if some of these are due to attempting to place the story in the time set or because of the time period it was written. Either way, I tried to look past some of those problematic areas and found a delightful wry story of adventure and intrigue. I love Amelia and her commentaries on people and situations. I At times she really reminded me of a Jane Austen heroine. The big mystery wasn’t really that big, but I realize that this is the first book in a very long series. I look forward to exploring Amelia’s world more.

Amelia Peabody

#1 Crocodile on the Sandbank
#2 The Curse of the Pharaohs
#3 The Mummy Case
#4 Lion in the Valley
#5 The Deeds of the Disturber
#6 The Last Camel Died at Noon
#7 The Snake, The Crocodile, and The Dog
#8 The Hippopotamus Pool
#9 Seeing a Large Cat
#10 The Ape Who Guards the Balance
#11 The Falcon at the Portal
#12 He Shall Thunder in the Sky
#13 Lord of the Silent
#14 The Golden One
#15 Children of the Storm
#16 Guardians of the Horizon
#17 The Serpent on the Crown
#18 Tomb of the Golden Bird
#19 A River in the Sky
#20 The Painted Queen

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Title: The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Publisher: Redhook 2019

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 385

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; TBR Jar Random

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.
Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

I can’t stop smiling a bout this book. I loved diving into the January and Julian and Adelaide’s world of doors and terrors. This was definitely my kind of fantasy. We get some romance, some terror, some adventure, and most of all, a story of growing up. Mr. Locke and the his fellow society members were great villains setting up just enough terror to keep the other characters on their toes. Havemeyer was particularly terrifying. I loved visiting all the other worlds and eventually spending more time in Written. I can just imagine January and her tattoos and words. I will be rereading this one soon I imagine.

Next up on the TBR pile:

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: After I Do

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Publisher: Washington Square Press 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 353

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.

I loved Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six so I thought I would read some of her backlist titles. Unfortunately this one just fell really flat for me. I wasn’t invested in the main relationship at any point in the novel. Lauren and Ryan just didn’t seem like a relationship that I wanted to root for. Plus we only really get Lauren’s perspective which irked me. I wanted to see both sides of the story before attempting some type of resolution. The ending was basically a non-ending to me. Nothing was actually resolved and I was annoyed…

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Christmas Secret by Julia London

Title: The Christmas Secret (The Secrets of Hadley Green #1.5)

Author: Julia London

Publisher: Pocket Books 2011

Genre: Fiction - Romance

Pages: 128

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

When Eireanne O'Conner returns to Ballynaheath, her home in Ireland, for Christmas, she finds that her brother has married, her new sister-in-law's family is ever-present, and her friends, the Hannigan twins are up to their usual tricks. During the twelve days of Christmas, there are secrets and surprises that will either sink Eireanne deeper into the scandals that have surrounded her family, or send her to London to find a titled husband who will hopefully add some dignity to a family who can't seem to keep away from scandal!

I picked this short story up for a steal on Kindle. I liked the story of Eireanne and Henry, but everything really did feel too rushed. I would have liked to see the story unfold in a more leisurely pace. I would have liked to see more of the relationship between the two main characters. And don’t get me started on Eireanne’s immaturity. It really didn’t track well with me. I read it mostly because I am a completionist. Moving on to the next book.

The Secrets of Hadley Green

#1 The Year of Living Scandalously
#1.5 The Christmas Secret
#2 The Revenge of Lord Eberlin
#3 The Seduction of Lady X
#4 The Last Debutante

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'Meara

Title: The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick

Author: Mallory O’Meara

Publisher: Hanover Square Press 2019

Genre: Nonfiction - Biography

Pages: 368

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Theme - January

As a teenager, Mallory O’Meara was thrilled to discover that one of her favorite movies, Creature from the Black Lagoon, featured a monster designed by a woman, Milicent Patrick. But for someone who should have been hailed as a pioneer in the genre, there was little information available. For, as O’Meara soon discovered, Patrick’s contribution had been claimed by a jealous male colleague, her career had been cut short and she soon after had disappeared from film history. No one even knew if she was still alive.

As a young woman working in the horror film industry, O’Meara set out to right the wrong, and in the process discovered the full, fascinating story of an ambitious, artistic woman ahead of her time. Patrick’s contribution to special effects proved to be just the latest chapter in a remarkable, unconventional life, from her youth growing up in the shadow of Hearst Castle, to her career as one of Disney’s first female animators. And at last, O’Meara discovered what really had happened to Patrick after The Creature’s success, and where she went.

A true-life detective story and a celebration of a forgotten feminist trailblazer, Mallory O’Meara’s The Lady from the Black Lagoon establishes Patrick in her rightful place in film history while calling out a Hollywood culture where little has changed since.

Why have I sat on this book for almost a year? I have no idea. I was so excited about this one coming out that I even preordered it and then it sat on my Kindle for almost a year before I picked it up (this is why I really need to prioritize books I own). Anyway… I really enjoyed this biography of Milicent Patrick crossed with Mallory O’Meara’s own sexist experiences in the film industry. We flip back and forth from Patrick’s life to O’Meara’s anecdotes and experiences while working as a film producer and author. My favorite parts were strictly about Milicent Patrick and her very interesting varied career. I loved diving into a fascinating woman at a very strange time in Hollywood. I was less impressed with the feminist asides. Mostly it was a rehashing of a lot of information I already knew. Those passages didn’t open my eyes to anything really, but I think they were necessary for the overall story O’Meara was attempting to tell. Overall this was a very interesting biography. I might just want to own it in physical form (the paperback version is releasing in March).

Next up on the TBR pile:

Wool by Hugh Howey

Title: Wool (Silo #1)

Author: Hugh Howey

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2013

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 528

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Theme

In a ruined and toxic future, a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep. There, men and women live in a society full of regulations they believe are meant to protect them. Sheriff Holston, who has unwaveringly upheld the silo’s rules for years, unexpectedly breaks the greatest taboo of all: He asks to go outside.

His fateful decision unleashes a drastic series of events. An unlikely candidate is appointed to replace him: Juliette, a mechanic with no training in law, whose special knack is fixing machines. Now Juliette is about to be entrusted with fixing her silo, and she will soon learn just how badly her world is broken. The silo is about to confront what its history has only hinted about and its inhabitants have never dared to whisper. Uprising.

This series has been on my list for awhile now. Overall I did enjoy the story, but I was slightly confused about the form. I thought it would be one continuous story. Instead we get a bit of jumping in characters and timelines. In the end, I did enjoy the story and the world created. The silos are an interesting concept. I had hoped to learn more about the apocalypse. Maybe in the continuing stories.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey

Title: The Glittering Hour

Author: Iona Grey

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 480

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Selina Lennox is a Bright Young Thing. Her life is a whirl of parties and drinking, pursued by the press and staying on just the right side of scandal, all while running from the life her parents would choose for her.

Lawrence Weston is a penniless painter who stumbles into Selina's orbit one night and can never let her go even while knowing someone of her stature could never end up with someone of his. Except Selina falls hard for Lawrence, envisioning a life of true happiness. But when tragedy strikes, Selina finds herself choosing what's safe over what's right.

Spanning two decades and a seismic shift in British history as World War II approaches, Iona Grey's The Glittering Hour is an epic novel of passion, heartache and loss.

This was our book club selection for January and I didn’t quite know what to think of it. I ended up absolutely loving this book. I actually ended this book in sobbing tears. It was just so good with an amazing emotional connection to the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the part o the story focused on Selina’s life during the 1920s. I don’t read many book set during the 1920s and it was really a fascinating time period to highlight. I feel like I need to read more books set during the 1920s. I really wanted a bit more focused on Alice and her life, but overall I was still very engaged in this book.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid

Title: Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City #1)

Author: Penny Reid

Publisher: Cipher-Naught 2013

Genre: Romance

Pages: 376

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn't know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store.

To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan—aka Sir McHotpants—witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn to make her an offer she can't refuse.

A book club friend recommended this series and I’m so glad I picked it up! This is such a fun romp with fun characters and a great premise. I found myself laughing out loud at a few of the interactions between characters. Janie was annoying at times, but a decent lead character. Quinn was much more interesting. But I was very intrigued by the rest of the knitting group. I can’t wait to read their stories!

Knitting in the City

#1 Neanderthal Seeks Human
#1.5 Neanderthal Marries Human
#2 Friends Without Benefits
#3 Love Hacked
#4 Beauty and the Mustache
#.475 Ninja at First Sight
#5 Happily Ever Ninja
#6 Dating-ish
#7 Marriage of Inconvenience
#8 Neanderthal Seeks Extra Yarns

Next up on the TBR pile:

This Christmas by Jeannie Moon

Title: This Christmas (Christmas in New York #1)

Author: Jeannie Moon

Publisher: Tule Publishing 2014

Genre: Holiday Romance

Pages: 141

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook

Single mother Sabrina Gervais has built a happy life with her daughter Charlotte in their eastern Long Island hometown of Holly Point. Having Charlie meant putting some of her own dreams on hold, but Sabrina is content to surround herself with family and friends, safe from the realities of the outside world. She had enough of that when the man she loved broke her heart.

Jake Killen’s career in professional hockey has brought him many rewards on and off the ice, but returning to New York brings back a flood of memories. When he sees Sabrina again, he discovers that he didn’t just run away from her ten years ago, but also from their unborn child.
Struggling with anger, guilt, and chemistry that’s off the chart, Sabrina and Jake wonder if they can find love again and, this Christmas, make all their wishes come true.

One of those free Kindle reads that I picked up at some point. I am always ready for a holiday romance this time of year. Unfortunately this one fell a bit flat for me. I really enjoyed Jake and Charlie. They were amazing characters! Sabrina was just way too immature and annoying. I couldn’t deal with her. Not great and definitely not for me.

Christmas in New York

#1 This Christmas
#2 Christmas Light
#3 All I Want for Christmas
#4 A Match Made at Christmas

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: