Where Becky Talks All Things Books!
This meme was created by Leslie at Books Are The New Black
Rules
I went with finding diamonds on the cover for this month’s choices!
Hello Friends! Here are some of the books that I am excited for in the month of May! I am hoping to also get two more of these read before release day but who knows! What books are you excited for this month? Are there any I should add to my list?
Witch King by Martha Wells – 5/30 New fantasy by the author of Murederbot!
Once More With Feeling by Elissa Sussman – 5/30 Romance that I am excited for because I really enjoyed her previous book.
The New Mother by Nora Murphy – 5/30 Thriller
Drowning by T.J. Newman – 5/30 I love the premise for this one and can’t wait to read it!
Hi Friends! I am finally here with a round up for April! My reading has been pretty slow this month. Im not sure what it is but nothing is making me WANT to read, Im enjoying the books while reading them but just have no desire to pick them right back up. Hopefully I can get in a few more this weekend!
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty – 4 Stars I have heard a lot of good things about this authors Daevabod Trilogy so I was excited to try their new book that is a historical fantasy that deals with pirates! This story is about Amina al-Sirafi who is a retired pirate and living a quiet life with her daughter when a woman comes to her with an offer she can not refuse. This starts Amina on the path to get her ship back as well as some of her old crew as they go in search a young runaway. I really enjoyed the writing and the characters! Their relationships were so fun to see and I can’t wait to read more about the shenanigans they get up too! The story is also told as if Amina in telling us the reader the story while a scribe is writing it all down with interjections of their own from time to time. Highly recommend this one on audio. Thank you Edelweiss and Harper Voyager for my gifted copies for review!
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth – 3.5 Stars While this one was not my favorite by this author I still enjoyed reading this one. This story follows a couple who purchase a house next to a well known suicide spot and the husband tries talking to them to get them to back away from the ledge. One night when he goes out there to talk with a woman he doesn’t save her and when the wife looks up she is not sure what she saw. I really enjoyed certain parts of this story especially the flash back chapters of the woman who jumped. There were a few twists, some I saw some I didn’t. If you have read and enjoyed any of this authors other works than I would recommend picking this one up as well. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for my gifted copy for review.
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren – 4 Stars After reading and absolutely loving The Soulmate Equation I was so excited to read Fizzy’s book! While I still enjoyed this one it just didn’t live up to the first. This story follows Fizzy who is in a rut and gets asked to appear on a dating show that centers around an app that uses DNA to find a soulmate. So Fizzy says yes and hopes it sparks her creativity again. While filming the show she befriends one of the creators Connor and the two spend time together while not working. I loved their chemistry and all the family dynamics that go in this book but I just struggle with the trope where someone dates many people for whatever reason whether it’s a bet or a game. The person always ends up with someone else and I just find this to not be a favorite of mine. I will say that this one did mostly work because she was never interested in any of the other men and the way they were picked was hilarious! Still highly recommend this one especially if you are a fan of their writing! Thank you Gallery Books and Edelweiss for my gifted copy for review!
To Swoon and To Spar by Martha Waters – 4 Stars This is the fourth book in The Regency Vows series by Martha Waters. This one follows Viscount Penvale who has been trying for years to buy back his ancestral home. The opportunity finally arrives but on the condition he must marry the currant owners ward. Jane Spencer wants nothing more than to live in her home with no man to tell her what to do. She agrees to marriage and decides to find away to keep her new husband away in London instead of at his home. This book was really funny and I laughed out loud more than once but I did find it was a little slow to start. Once they were married and spooky things started happening at the house it really started to pick up! Highly recommend this one and bonus the books don’t really need to be read in order!! Thank you Atria Books and Edelweiss for my gifted copy for review!
For April’s spell the month I went with books that covers make me think of spring/summer. We are still getting snow here in Colorado and I am just so ready for warm weather and vacations!
A – Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler – This one is a contemporary fiction/romance that came out 4/18. Still need to read this one.
P – The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester – Historical fiction about a female pilot before and after WWII. Have had this one on my TBR for ever!
R – The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle – Really cute romance about a bodyguard and the neighbor next door. I gave this one 5 Stars.
I – Island Time by Georgia Clark – This is categorized as a romance but I heard its also a lot about a family. One day I will get to this one.
L – Love For Beginners by Jill Shalvis – I always enjoy Jill’s books because they are about so much more than just a romance and this one was so good! 5 Stars
Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived by Sam on Taking on a World of Words. All you have to do is answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
What are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments below!
Hi Friends! I went a little crazy in March with books and brought in 17! I have read 4 and half of them and have plans to read some of the other’s soon. I also want to state that I work in a bookstore that is sent ARC’s and that is were some of mine come from. Hope everyone is having a good April so far! Here in Colorado we are still getting snow and I am over it! I am dreaming of vacations with beaches and sunshine and endless reading time!
What books did you get this month that you are excited about?
Book Boxes
Bought For Myself
Books From Publishers/PR
Hello Friends! It’s Sunday and so I thought I would share my “Sundays in Bed With….” a meme dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning. The meme was originally hosted by Midnight Book Girl but I found it over on One Book More’s Blog.
The Connelly’s of County Down by Tracey Lange
288 Pages
Publishes 08/01/2023
From Goodreads:
When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile facade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now.
While she works to build a new career and hold her family together, Tara finds a chance at love in a most unlikely place. But when the Connellys’ secrets start to unravel and threaten her future, they all must face their worst fears and come clean, or risk losing each other forever.
The Connellys of County Down is a moving novel about testing the bounds of love and loyalty. It explores the possibility of beginning our lives anew, and reveals the pitfalls of shielding each other from the bitter truth.
What are you reading in bed today?
Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived by Sam on Taking on a World of Words. All you have to do is answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!
What are you currently reading?
Silver In The Bone by Alexandra Bracken – Buddy reading this one and doing it on audio, finally made it to 20%. Might need to find this one in physical or ebook because the audio is a little slow for me. Still curious about the story though!
The Connelly’s of County Down by Tracey Lange – Buddy reading this with some from friends on Instagram for a read a long hosted by Celadon. I am 32% in to it and enjoying it but I made no new progress this week. Been in a bit of a reading rut.
A Lady’s Guide To Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin – Picked this one up last night and so far it’s cute but I am not very far into it.
The Last Word by Katy Birchall – Started this one a few days ago. The book comes out the first week of May and I heard it was a slow start so I wanted to get start on reading it.
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
What are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments below!
Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived by Sam on Taking on a World of Words. All you have to do is answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!
What are you currently reading?
Silver In The Bone by Alexandra Bracken – Buddy reading this one and doing it on audio, I don’t have a lot of time to listen right now so I am only about 15% in but enjoying it so far.
The Connelly’s of County Down by Tracey Lange – Buddy reading this with some from friends on Instagram for a read a long hosted by Celadon. I am 32% in to it and enjoying it.
If Only You by Chloe Liese – Started this one as soon as it dropped on my kindle Monday night and got to 32% before bed last night, I am off today so I plan on reading it all day today!
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?
What are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments below!
“Chanel Cleeton shows just what an exceptional talent she is in her new book, The Cuban Heiress. While I’ve loved every one of Chanel’s books, I absolutely adored this one. Take one heiress with more than a few secrets, throw in a roguish jewel thief and put them aboard a glittering cruise ship sailing from New York to Havana and you have the perfect historical novel. As soon as I’d finished it, I wanted to read it again. Do not miss this book.”
—Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre
The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton – Historical Fiction
336 pages
4/11/2023
About the Book
In 1934, the ultimate vacation becomes a fight for survival as the secrets of two women’s pasts collide aboard a luxury cruise liner on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s page-turning new novel inspired by the true story of the tragedy of the SS Morro Castle.
New York heiress Catherine Dohan seemingly has it all. There’s only one problem. It’s a lie. As soon as the Morro Castle leaves port, Catherine’s past returns with a vengeance and threatens her life. Joining forces with a charismatic jewel thief, Catherine must discover who wants her dead—and why.
Elena Palacio is a dead woman. Or so everyone thinks. After a devastating betrayal left her penniless and on the run, Elena’s journey on the Morro Castle is her last hope. Steeped in secrecy and a burning desire for revenge, her return to Havana is a chance to right the wrong that has been done to her—and her prey is on the ship.
As danger swirls aboard the Morro Castle and their fates intertwine, Elena and Catherine must risk everything to see justice served once and for all.
My Thoughts
Chanel Cleeton does it again with her newest release! This story follows two woman who are on the luxury cruise ship the SS Morro Castle for different reason but may end up needing help from one another. First we have heiress Catherine Dohan who is traveling with her fiancé and then there is Elena Palacio who is thought to be dead and is on the cruise ship to get revenge. I loved both woman and their stories and how everything connects together. Chanel Cleeton is an all time favorite author of mine and she never disappoints. Her characters are always filled with so much life and personality. Another reason I love her books is that they usually teach me something from history that I didn’t know. I loved learning that the SS Morro Castle was a real cruise ship that sank one night due to a fire which just happens to be the setting for this story! Highly recommend if you have read her before or love a good historical fiction. Thank you Berkley for my gifted copy for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This one gets all the stars!
About the Author
Originally from Florida, Chanel Cleeton grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London, and a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
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