What I’ve Been Reading

Not much to be honest, something about blazing hot days and being unable to comfortably sit out in the yard has led to a surprising absence of books.  It doesn’t help that more than ten or fifteen minutes spent outside reading on an electronic device results in the device telling me it is too hot to continue.  Lesson learned for next year, save the physical books to read in the blazing heat and use the electronic devices the remaining eight months of the year outside.

  Read in July and unfortunately while decently written, it is completely unrealistic.  A distraught single mother meets a contractor who unintentionally poses as her psychologist, results in them developing a relationship resulting in marriage.  A relationship started on such a fundamental lie results in the fairy tale ending?  Unbelievable and implausible, which is probably why it took so long for me to finish the book.

  Another installment in the Spellman family series of mysteries so reminiscent of the Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh that I loved so much as a child.  I hate to say this but the adventures of Izzy Spellman and her family are becoming predictable and formulaic.  Don’t misunderstand me, the books are still enjoyable but their charm is beginning to grow thin.

  The fourth installment in the Crimes of Fashion mystery series does not disappoint in any sense.  Set in Washington D.C., Paris, and New Orleans our intrepid fashion reporter takes readers on an adventure for the lost corset of Romanov legend.  Perfect read for those that love vintage fashion, well written novels, and an ongoing and maturing romance.

  Brilliant first installment in a mystery series where the dog is more than just a pet, he is the hero and main character.  Seriously, I can’t tell you how incredible the job this  book is.  It is humorous, touching, and well written.  It made me laugh, it made me cry, and I will be reading the rest of the series.

  A great read from an undiscovered author about a librarian who has her life turned upside down in a week and comes out on top.  I have a bit grumble with that though although, my grumbles may be cleared up in the pages in the rest of the series I have yet to read.  Minneapolis to London and back again results in a delightful read for a lazy Sunday morning with a good cup of coffee and the rising sun. 

  The ninth installment in the Kincaid/James series, this one set in the beautiful and haunting Scottish highlands.  There is truly no such things as a bad book in this series and as usual, this book did not disappoint.  Gemma departs on a long weekend and mayhem ensues, but it is matched by the unexpected happenings at home. 

And that folks, I am embarrassed to admit is the sole sum of my reading over the summer.  I didn’t even manage to finish an audio book over the summer months.  I’m also unhappy to admit I’ve only read thirty books this year and I had hoped to one hundred books this year.  Being seventy books behind with one-hundred and nineteen days remaining in the year is roughly a day and a half per book if I want to meet my goal.  Guess I better get my book loving rear in gear and start reading!