May Wrap Up

May Wrap Up

May was a good reading month.  I read a total of 32 books and 7653 pages. My average rating was 3.4 I had two 5 star reads this month.    I finished two series.  My unfinished series is at 33 because even though I finished two series one of those series I actually started this month. My owned books started at 36, I read (4) owned books and received two books in Owlcrate and got one book for my birthday.  So my TBR pile is now at 35. It’s not going down as fast I as I want but at least it am not increasing either. I am keeping it balanced at least. I read all book two books from my TBR list for this month.

The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Don’t Forget Me by Victoria Stevens

Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke

The Rancher’s Homecoming by Arlene James

When Trains Collide by Amber Stokes (review Book)

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan (review book)

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar (review book)

The Sea Before US by Sarah Sundin DNF

The Rancher’s Homecoming by Arlene James (owned book)

 Gal Gadot: Solider, Model, Wonder Woman by Jill Sherman

Roomies by Christina Lauren

 Kat Writes a Song by Greg Foley

High Risk Reunion by Margaret Daley

 Where Trust Lies by  Janette Oke

Don’t Forget me by Victoria Stevens

 Her single Dad Hero by Arlene James

 Her Cowboy Boss by Arlene James (finished series)

 The Bagel King by Andrew Larsen

Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams

Pete the Cat’s Groovy Bake sale by James Dean

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan (audio)

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (owned book)

The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness by Ryan J Dowd

 A Match Made in Alaska by Belle Calhoune (owned book)

 How to trick the Tooth Fairy by Erin Danielle Russell

 The Other Ducks by Ellen Yeomans

The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables by Catherine Reid

Sleepy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

Fluffywuffy by Simon Puttock

Kale to the Queen by Nell Hampton

Murder on Union Square by Victoria Thompson

Flowers and Foul play by Amanda Flowers

Jane Seymour, The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Where Hope Prevails by Janette Oke (finished series)

Where Train Collide by Amber Stokes

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia (owned book)

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Asfhar (review book)

Her Texas Family by Jill Lynn

Lord of the Pies by Nell Hampton 

Review of Reunited with the Bull Rider

Title: Reunited with the Bull Rider

Author: Jill Kemerer

Pages: 224

Genre: Christian romance

Rating: 4 Stars

When Nash Bolton left town without so much as a goodbye he left Amy Deerson's heart shattered. Now he's back in town with a kid. Amy wants to mentor children as she feels she will never have any of her own.  She didn't plan on being the mentor to the little girl Nash has brought back, when she learns that Ruby the little girl is Nash's sister she more inclined to help, but she doesn't want to be around Nash.  However, it seems that God and Ruby have other plans. 

I enjoyed this sweet romance about two flawed people learning to let go of the mistakes of their past and learn to trust God with their future.  And Ruby was such a sweet little girl that you couldn’t help but love. The Bible verse that Amy Clings to in the book Isaiah 6:8 was in my life group lesson the day I started this book, and it’s been popping up a lot in by devotions and Bible. Sometimes even Christian Fiction novels can get you thinking as well as help fuel the desire to dive into God's word. 

Overall I enjoyed this sweet read. I would recommend to anyone who loves clean romance with a sweet little girl and two people learning to follow God's plan. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Reading this week

Reading this week

Finished

Don’t Forget Me by Victoria Stevens

The Rancher’s Homecoming by Arlene James

Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke

Her Single Dad hero by Arlene James

Her Cowboy Boss by Arlene James

Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan (audio)

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

The Librarians Guide to Homelessness by Ryan J Dowd

A Match Made in Alaska by Belle Calhoune

 The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables by Catherine Reid

Kale to the Queen by Nell Hampton

Murder on Union Square by Victoria Thompson

Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower

Currently reading

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

When Hope Prevails by Janette Oke

Non-fiction reading

Getting ready to read

The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep

Falling for You by Becky Wade

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas

The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Love in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillian

Better off Read by Nora Page

When God Calls the Heart: Devotions from Hope Valley by Brian Bird

Classics

Audio on the way to work

Books reading for school

Reviewing

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan

Where Trains Collide by Amber Stokes

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

A Date with Darcy by Tiffany Schmidt

I was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon

A Court of Frost and starlight by Sarah J Maas

Better off Read by Nora Page

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of The Soldier's Redemption

Title: The Soldier’s Redemption

Author: Lee Tobin McClain

Series: Redemption Ranch book 1

 

Pages: 224

Genre: Christian Romance

Rating: 3 stars

Finn Gallagher has a hard time of letting go of his past.  He feels that he has to carry the guilt for the rest of his life.  Its part of the reason he moved to Colorado. He wants to focus on the retreat for other veterans to give them a place to heal.  Kayla White and her son are running from her past and she just wants to start over some place safe. She thought Redemption Ranch in Colorado would be the place, but Finn doesn't really want her there.   

However it seems that God has other plans.  Finn's friend try to help him see that maybe Kayla and her son have come to Redemption ranch for a reason and maybe just maybe the three of them can become a family.   

I've read other books by Lee Tobin McClain and enjoyed them, and The Soldier's Redemption the first book in the Redemption Ranch series is no different.  Just like other books in the Love Inspired line, this is a sweet Christian Romance that is clean.  I would recommend this book to those readers who enjoy reading Christian fiction, Christian Romance and PG Romance novels. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of Death by Dumpling

Title: Death by Dumpling

Author: Vivien Chien

Series: A Noodle Shop mystery book 1

 

Pages: 343

Genre: Cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

In Death by Dumpling Lana Lee is back working at her parent's Chinese restaurant a place she didn't think she would come back to. But yet here she is.  She keeps telling herself it’s only till she finds another job.  Then when the property manager is found dead after eating take out from her family's restaurant that she delivered Lana and the restaurant are Prime suspects.  It doesn't help that the detective in charge happens to be easy on the eyes. Lana and her friend decide to take matters into their own hands to clear Lana and the restaurant.   Throw in a match making Chinese mom and her friends and Lana's got more than she bargained for.   

Death by Dumpling is cute and cozy mystery set in a Chinese restaurant and around China town. Though I have read plenty of food and restaurant themed cozy mysteries, this is the first one that I have read taking place in a Chinese restaurant. I loved the relationship Lana had with her parents especially her mom. Even though she didn't want to back working there she was willing to do anything she could to save the restaurant.   I am looking forward to the next book in the series.  I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy mysteries. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of Lost Books and Old Bones

Title: Lost Books and Old Bones

Author: Paige Shelton

Series: Scottish Bookshop Mystery

 

Pages: 320

Genre: Cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Delaney has been working as a bookseller in Edinburgh for almost a year now. She has made friends outside the bookshop including three medical school students.  Dating her pub owner Tom and enjoying living in the city that has become home to her. When she literally stumbles over a new mystery when one of the medical school students is killed outside the bookshop. 

Unlike the other books in this series, this third book Lost Books and Old Bones kept me guessing from the beginning as to who the killer was.  Just when I thought I had it figured out a new twist would be thrown in. But Delaney is determined to find the killer and in the process try to solve a decades old crime as well.  Little does anyone know that the present crime is tied to the past one?   And again when Delaney gets too close to the killer her life is in danger. 

Lost Books and Old Bones is a quick and interesting read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading cozy mysteries and books set in Scotland.  I did not see the twist at the very end coming but it was a welcomed twist.  It is best to read the books in order, the first book being The Cracked Spine and book two Of Books and Bagpipes. There is also  A Christmas novella called A Christmas Tartan that can be read after the second book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone

Review of The Recipe Box

Title:  The Recipe  Box

Author: Viola Shipman

Chapters: 36 Plus Epilogue

Pages: 336

Genre: women’s fiction

Rating: 3.5 stars

In the Recipe Box  by Viola Shipman Sam doesn't really know what's she's doing with her life. She left her small town in Michigan for culinary school in the Big Apple. She's always enjoyed baking it seems to be in her blood.  She has recipe's and her own recipe box handed down to her when she turned 13 from her mother and grandmother.   

The main purpose of the novel and focus of the novel is the recipe box and recipes. As well as the family orchard and Sam's baking.   I enjoyed the dual timelines  in the box. While the main story takes place in the present focusing on Sam and her journey. The novel does going back in time so to speak and includes the stories of Sam relatives when they were younger.   

While I didn't love the book I did enjoy the story and the lessons that can be gleamed from the book. I do plan to read something else from Viola Shipman in the future.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

May TBR

I haven't done a TBR List for a while but I need to get at least 7 of these read this month. Because three books on the list or review books.

The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Don’t Forget Me by Victoria Stevens

Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke

The Rancher’s Homecoming by Arlene James

When Trains Collide by Amber Stokes (review Book)

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan (review book)

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar (review book)

The Sea Before US by Sarah Sundin