May was a wild month- not my usual and I was all over the place as far as topics.
The Lost Bookshop
This book was just something I didn’t expect. It was heartbreaking- highlighting the terrible treatment of brilliant women through the ages, that is unfortunately- still a struggle in modern times. It speaks to the soul that LONGS to open their own whimsical bookstore (erm, like me) and made me feel like anything is possible. It has a strong dose of magic and a beautiful plot twist at the end that just stuck with me. One of my favorite reads of 2024 so far!
Story Synopsis:
Present-day Dublin. Martha has escaped an abusive marriage and is trying to stand on her own feet by working as a housekeeper to the eccentric ex-actress, Madame Bowden.
Henry is a Ph.D. student who is obsessed with an old manuscript, and is ready to do anything to locate it.
Connecting the two, unknown to them, is a missing bookshop, which should have been next door to Madame Bowden’s house, but isn’t! But as Henry and Martha learn more about the bookshop, the bookshop also seems to want to be found by them.
The story comes to us in the first person perspectives of Martha, Henry, and Opaline – whose timeline beginning in 1921 England offers us some background to the events in the contemporary timeline.
The Last Garden in England
I had been on the waiting list for this ebook since DECEMBER! But then it became available as a physical copy and a friend from church happened to have it and dropped it off to me.
What a beautiful book- it is set in three different timelines- present day/1907 and 1944- around one amazing property in England. There is laughter, friendship, HEARTBREAK and so much more. I just rented it again and am trying to get Olive to read it.
The Rise and Ruin of Everwood
This was my first ever ARC (Advanced Readers Copy)!
This isn’t the typical book I reach for- it is post apocalyptic and modern. It also is more YA/New Adult than I typically read.
It was a fun book- great world building. I loved the tree-top village ( very reminiscent of Dragon Lance)
I love a good “He Falls First” and “Amnesia” storyline- so those hooked me in. I found the second half of the book picked up for me and then time flew!
I’m excited to see how book 2 unfolds!!!!
After the Forest
This is set in 1650, in The Black Forest, Wurttemberg.
I kept getting it recommend to me on Goodreads- so I requested it from the library.
It is set 15 years after Greta and Hans kill the witch in the gingerbread house- and it takes on a whole different setting with werewolves, shapeshifters and magicks. I was really bored at first and almost DNFd it halfway through, but in the end I am glad that I stuck it out. It had a magical second half and a strong finish.
A Fate Inked in Blood
This was a funny pick- I had thought I was getting a YA fantasy book. Not that I mind spice- because I read a LOT of spice. But it just wasn’t what I thought I was picking.
The book itself was BEAUTIFUL- it had gorgeous blue metallic edges and was just fun to read. The story was also fun- I enjoyed the unique world building and the adventure of the whole story was fantastic. I almost wish I hadn’t read it until the second book was ready to be released though- the ending was a cliffhanger and I am eager to know what happens!
The Lost & Found Series
Ok, so a while ago I read a book that I saw an ad for on instagram. I thought it was a one-off and then AFTER finishing it, realized that I had jumped the gun and read BOOK 4. My desire to read the other books evaporated because you kind of have many spoilers by book 4… it follows 5 siblings. But again, I was reminded of this series on instagram and decided to go back and start from the beginning. It had been awhile and most of what I was spoiled for was forgotten.
I enjoyed the whole series and fell in love with the Hartley family- I ESPECIALLY loved the last installment that wraps it up, that is focused on Lawson, who was my favorite from the beginning.
This series had a bit of a script it followed- tiny girl in DANGER- a huge hulking (with oh so many feelings) man as protector…. another dangerous man after tiny girl. Some sort of “oh no! bad guy twist” and then happy ending.
Kinda crazy that one family had all these SIMILAR things happen- but also- Im 5’3 and I’m here for the adrenaline rush, serotonin release and added spice… so it was a great fit!
I LIKE thriller/mystery when I know it will all work out in the end. It’s like the Hallmark Murder and Mystery channel. It was EXACTLY what I was looking for- exactly.
The whole series was a great time- highly recommend each one.
The Dreamland Billionaires Series
AFTER the suspense/thriller romance binge- I mentioned to Olive that I was in the mood for a “millionaire boss” book. It is one of my favorite tropes and I hadn’t read one in a really long time. She knew of the Dreamland Billionaires from a friend and though she would NEVER read something like this- she is an endless source of good books. Like having my own librarian on site.
I read it in 1 day. It may not be everyone’s cup- but if you are looking for a grumpy/sunshine and billionaire boss romance- it doesn’t get better than this! It’s a 5 star for being ADORABLE and very fun. The 🌶️ was natural and waaaaaay less obscene than I expected from some reviews!
I also saw some grumbles about the love/lust at first sight, or the relationship going “too fast” but I had love at first sight with my husband – and a whirlwind romance- and am still married 20 years later 😂 So I LOVE the insta-love!
I ALSO enjoyed book 2- it was a fake marriage, friends to lovers, close proximity romance that unfolded HILARIOUSLY and I loved the softening of Declan.
Book 3??? Ugh, it almost lost me many times. I don’t read romance to get super triggered by alcoholism and abandonment. This one had an extreme tone shift from the first 2 books. It ended up being sweet- but just much more drama than I was after.
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