January was a great month for reading. I really enjoyed reading most of these books. It was hard to pick a favorite because there were a lot of different genres. Did you read any favorites this month?
The Home For Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman was a heartbreaking story told in Canada in the 1950’s. A mother and daughter are separated because the mother was an unmarried teenager and her parents forced her to give the baby up for adoption. It was very well told and a great historical fiction book. Several parts made me cry and if you enjoyed this then I would highly recommend reading Before We Were Yours and Sold On A Monday.
10 Choices Successful Couples Make by Dr. Ron Welch is a book for married couples to read at any stage of marriage. Each chapter offered real life experiences and challenges for you to work through. He shared from his own marriage and from his experience working with other couples during counseling. I enjoy reading marriage books occasionally and seek ways to improve myself and my marriage after twelve years. This book had some points on communication that I hope to apply to my own marriage. Thank you to Revell for this review copy.
The Air You Breathe by Frances de Pontes Peebles is a popular book that I did not love. The writing was enjoyable, but the story was drawn out in parts. This is the story of two young girls from different economic statuses in Brazil. They follow their dreams to become singers. If you enjoyed this, then you may enjoy The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Fruit Of The Drunken Tree.
Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield was slow paced and had some mystery. This book had great reviews on Instagram. I enjoyed it, but did not love it. A little girl is believed to be dead and then comes back to life’s. No one knows who she is or where she came from. People claim she is their lost girl, but no one is certain where she belongs.
Sisters First by Barbara Pierce Bush and Jenna Bush Hager was great on audio read by the authors. I learned more about their lives with the secret service and about the Bush family. I was not too familiar with either woman and so it was interesting.
An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a new thriller. This is the first book which I have read from either author. This was an okay thriller. It was unrealistic at times. A young woman joins a psychology study to make some quick money and ends up involved in a twisty mess between a married couple.
The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildebrand is set in Nantucket for a wedding until a murder happens. I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed it. It had mystery and was told from different time periods and perspectives.
Only Ever Her by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen releases May 7, 2019. In a small town a woman goes missing a few days before her wedding. Mysteries are uncovered from the past when her mother was killed and the wrong person was sentenced to prison. This book is listed as a mystery and thriller and I would not consider it a thriller since it was not fast paced. Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy of this book. I enjoyed her other books more: When We Were Worthy and The Things We Wish Were True.
The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker is set in Alaska. This romance was predictable, but it was enjoyable. A young woman travels to Alaska to visit her estranged father after he is diagnosed with cancer. He owns an airplane company which made the story interesting and it was all very well done. I hope to one day travel to Alaska and would recommend also reading The Great Alone and The Snow Child.
Verity by Colleen Hoover is one of the best thrillers that I have read. This story is a romantic psychological thriller. It was very unique and the story was very twisty and I do not want to give away any spoilers. Fair warning, it is very steamy and descriptive in the romance scenes. I read it using a trial of Kindle Unlimited. You can sign up here for a free trial. I have also enjoyed All Your Perfects which is a romance about a couple going through infertility.
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls was wonderful. This book is the story of the author’s grandmother. The story is told in first person and was fascinating and very well told. Jeannette is such a talented author and I highly recommend The Glass Castle about her family growing up.
It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way by Lyse TerKeurst was an encouraging book that I listened to on audio. Lyse shares from her personal experiences of infidelity in her marriage and her diagnosis of cancer. Life is hard and she shares ways that God teaches us during those hard times. This will be a book that I will probably listen to again.
The Glass Ocean by Lauren Willig, Karen White, and Beatriz Williams. The story is told from three perspectives. Two are told from the time of the sailing of the Lusitania. The other is present day. The story was interesting and was about a historical event that I did not know very much about. If you enjoy historical fiction, I would highly recommend this book. I have also read and enjoyed The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams.
Kingdom Of The Blind by Louise Penny is the fourteenth book in the Inspector Gamache series. I had the privilege to meet Louise Penny on her book tour and get my book autographed. She was a wonderful speaker and it was one of my favorite author events. In this book, Inspector Gamache is investigating a murder near Three Pines. I love these books because there are usually several storylines going on at once. Now to wait patiently for her next book in this series. You do need to read this series in order beginning with Still Life. The first few books are slower than the rest, but all have great mysteries.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey was my first book in 2019 and the descriptions of winter in Alaska was a great read for January. This book has some fantasy as well as historical fiction and was written very well. I thoroughly enjoyed it. An older childless couple moved to Alaska and after building a snow girl one night they find a young girl running wild in the area. They wonder if she is their snow child. The girl grows up and they become like family.
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