That's What She Read

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar Sharp and intricate, this story will sweep you away on a magically mysterious adventure of risk, romance and intrigue. In 1780s London, a widower finds himself entranced by a mermaid... and that’s just the first enchanting thing to happen to Jonah Hancock...until he meets the desirable Angelica Neal and his life is forever changed. Angelica Neal might be one of my favorite literary characters I've met this year. She's risque but admirable. Even though she is thought scandalous, she knows how to take control and she wants what all women want: to be deeply in love and to be loved in return. Her journey as a woman throughout this story is captivating. I was completely enamored with this tale. It’s unique and unforgettable!  

A Well Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler  I didn't know much about the Vanderbilts before reading this book. After reading it, I find myself searching Google to find photos of the family and their mansions. I am utterly fascinated by the main focus of this book, Alva Vanderbilt. She chooses a partner for life based on social hierarchey and that decision is the catalyst for the journey the rest of her life takes. It's amazing to learn about the social status and traditions of society in the 1880s in New  York City. I loved this book's descriptions of the clothes, the architecture, the grandeur and luxurious lifestyle. But behind that curtain of opulence, there are lies, loveless marriages, blackmail and so much money that it's easy to see that nothing is as it seems. Alva Vanderbilt is determined to make a name for herself and save the social standing of her family's name, even if that means marrying a man based solely on his last name. When she and Willi...

"When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens." My review of Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens . This book will definitely be on my best of 2018 reading list! This slow and steady escape in to the marshlands of the North Carolina coast in the 1960s is indulgent and memorizing. Owens takes you on two adventures: one is trying to solve the murder of a young man whose body was found at the bottom of a fire tower with no clues on how he died. The other is the life of Kya Clark, a young girl left behind by her family and raising herself completely alone. Her skill, bravery and acute attention to the natural world that surrounds her kept my attention. Her marsh home is the only thing that she trusts and when one young man shows her compassion by visiting her and teaching her how to read, she begins to see a side of life and love that she never knew existed. As she grows up, Kya bec...

Sarah Jessica Parker said:  "This book. I read it in one day. I hear I'm not alone." Book review:  Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney And immediately to Amazon I went. "Buy now with 1-cick" and 2-3 business days later, I am three chapters in and can't stop reading.  Immediately, I was enraptured by the main character Frances. She and her ex-girlfriend Bobbie  have a relationship that grabbed my attention. Are they together, or are they not? If they were once lovers, how can they be such close friends now? They perform spoken word poetry at various clubs around Dublin. I could picture them:  Bobbie, bold and confident, reciting the words that quiet, observant Frances wrote herself. When they are approached by a writer who wants to feature them in a magazine article, they quickly say yes and go to the writer's house for dinner.  That dinner changes everything. There is a dramatic shift in the characters after that dinner, w...

Lovers of The Wife Between Us , It Happens All The Time and The Last Mrs. Parrish , there's one more you MUST add to your list:  Synopsis: Sophie’s husband James is a loving father, a handsome man, a charismatic and successful public figure. And yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to rip them apart. Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute the case: an experienced professional who knows that the law is all about winning the argument. And yet Kate seeks the truth at all times. She is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crimes. Who is right about James? Sophie or Kate? And is either of them informed by anything more than instinct and personal experience? Despite her privileged upbringing, Sophie is well aware that her beautiful life is not inviolable. She has known it since she and James were first lovers, at Oxford, and she witnessed how e...

Book Review: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones  This book had me hooked on the very first page. "There are two kinds of people in the world, those who leave home, and those who don't."- Great first sentence. "Home" is an interesting theme throughout this book. Roy and Celestial are newly married and at the precipice of living the American dream. After only a year of marriage, Roy is accused of a crime that his wife knows for a fact that he did not commit. But after he is arrested and sentenced to spend time in prison (this isn't a spoiler, the book jacket sets the scene right away). He's ripped away from the home they thought they were going to build together.  This couple started out with a once-in-a-lifetime love, one that they thought would stand the test of time and anything life might throw in their path. But maybe they were just being naive. I was equal parts happy and sad throughout this entire book. My heart was torn in two for...

Book Review: Mrs. by Caitlin Macy  First of all, can we all take a moment to talk about this cover? It's so gorgeous it makes "judging a book by its cover" a GOOD thing. And trust me, the book itself is just as delectable. I would love to meet Caitlin Macy. Judging by the wit and cunning charm woven into this story, I am sure she is clever and interesting. All of these characteristics are what make Mrs. such an engrossing read.  Though the writing is a bit heavy and some sentences were hard to get through, the writing style painted vivid pictures. I just had a hard time reading this leisurely, I really had to pay attention and read quite slow in order to follow along but that's all about of the experience. There are details woven through out the book that you must pay attention to.  This book is set in the Upper East Side. The women are elegant, rich and suspicious. Newcomers are not welcome and people who know deep secrets from your past are enemies t...

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah Words fail me as I think of how to explain what a wonderful book it is. I can't remember the last time I had such an emotional reaction to a book. I am utterly floored by this book. I felt like I've lived another life while reading it. What a formidable, unforgettable, gripping story. I am awestruck by Kristin Hannah. She's written a story I will never forget. The adventure of Alaska was wonderful alone. But the message about strength and domestic violence and resilience in so many brave female characters was healing for my soul. When Leni Allbright's parents take off for Alaska with nothing but their VW bus and a dream for a better life, the 13-year-old is hopeful but nervous. It's the 1970s, her father is a different man from who she knew before he returned as a POW in Vietnam. There was no word for it back then, but his PTSD was ripping their family apart. It led to drinking and eventually, to crippling domestic ab...

I am so excited to partner with Henry Holt Books to tell everyone about a new thriller that demands a spot on your TBR list.  Girl Unknown by Karen Perry is a must read!  This is a great thriller, a story about a family who seems to have it all together, until a student of Professor David Connolly shows up in his office and drops a bomb that rocks the foundation of his happy life.  Beautiful, young and waif-like, the girl claims that David is her father. David can't predict her next move and he doesn't know how out to navigate the rocky waters between doing right by this daughter he never knew about and also not betraying his wife and 2 children. Once the crack has started, it branches out and flaws and forgotten pasts resurface.  As David tries to keep everything together, lies and secrets he has been keeping are catching up to him. Even a vacation can't get them away from this problematic young girl who seems to have dark, ulterior motives....

It seemed to me that this book has been chasing me around for the past 2 years. I kept seeing it on all the blogs, bookshelves and lists for great reads but for some reason, I never added it to my reading list . Today I wanted to tell you how happy I am that I finally picked it up... My local library has a limited choice of audio books but I was between my audible credits so I grabbed it off the shelf and before I knew it, I was laughing out loud as I listened to it on my way to work. The first chapter is about a father trying to feed his daughter pureed pork shoulder. He literally has no idea what he's doing and it was funny, endearing and so engaging. I just finished it today. I find a really great joy in immersing myself in the novels I read, and that is especially easy to do when they give recipes as part of the story. I absolutely love that  opportunity to really experience whatever it is that that character themselves get to experience. This morning is a Saturday so ...

This list needs no introduction because we all know how wonderful it is to sit on the couch with a good book, with the cool autumn breeze coming in through the windows, a blankie on your lap, a hot cup of coffee with salted caramel creamer... fuzzy socks, James Bay on Pandora... a Yankee Candle Pumpkin Buttercream candle...  Where were we?  Oh yes, reading. Sorry, I drifted off an Autumn la la land for a minute there.  The temps are finally going to dip below 75 and that means it's my favorite time of year. The perfect atmosphere for reading on the couch. Here are the many, many books I hope to get my hands on this Fall and you should too! Karolina's Twins  by Ronald Balson - Inspired by true events involving childhood friends who survived the Holocaust together, this is a story told in retrospect of the secrets and sacrifices two young women made and how those decisions effected the generations that came after them.  The Wangs o...

I read some great books this month! I only wish I could have read more!  My favorite by far was One True Loves, read my review from last week here  If you have read any of these, please let me know what you think!  One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Re id -The first book to make me cry this year so far. It was the mushy, over the top love story that actually didn't make me cringe, because I usually think some love stories are just too mushy for me. But this, this was perfect. One woman, two men...one she thought she had lost forever and the other, the one she never thought she would love... like I said, it sounds like a Nicholas Sparks wishy-washy love story but it's actually really beautiful.  Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty  - Moriarty is the author of some of my all time favorites so I bought this without even reading the synopsis. So far, it's blah and just a lot of set up for whatever big mystery happened at an ill-fated barbecue....

Show Us Your Books is here, get your Goodreads account ready because you'll want to be adding these to your "To Read" list!  May seemed like a crazy month but now, looking back and compared to June, May was a breeze! I managed to read a TON, thanks to the hammock I got as a mother's day present, which has this magical pull it seems to put on me, makes me forget any household chores that need to be done and holds me captive and makes me lay down and read. I can't say I hate it. I also read poolside while the kids swam close by a couple of times, which is always so fun. Summer reading is my favorite- a little sun on my shoulders, the kids are always having fun and I get to just lay back and read. It's the best of all things!  I've put the books I read in May into 2 groups: First, that ones I would very highly recommend and am still thinking about, weeks after finishing them:  I posted my review for Sweetbitter last week, so be sure to check out my...