I got a fair amount of books read this month, but not as many as I would have liked. Hopefully next month is better. I did read a lot of good books though. Hope you enjoy!
The Secret Garden on 81st Street by Ivy Noelle Weir and illustrated by Amber Padilla
Mary Lennox is a loner living in Silicon Valley. With her parents always working, video game and tech become her main source of entertainment and “friends.” When her parents pass away in a tragic accident, she moves to New York City to live with her uncle who she barely knows, and to her surprise, keeps a gadget free home. Looking for comfort in this strange, new reality, Mary discovers an abandoned rooftop garden and an even bigger secret…her cousin who suffers from anxiety. With the help of her new friends, Colin and Dickon, Mary works to restore the garden to its former glory while also learning to grieve, build real friendships, and grow.
This was a really good graphic novel. Deals a lot with grief and anxiety. I cried quite a bit.
People of Walmart.com: Shop and Awe by Adam Kipple, Andrew Kipple, and Luke Wherry
As Americans, we hold these truths to be self-evident: We will shop. And when we do, especially at our favorite supercenter, we will wear and do the most bizarre things possible. From the wildly popular website PeopleofWalmart.com, this photo collection of Americans in their natural shopping habitat (70 percent of which is brand new and never before included on the website) presents people of all shapes and sizes wearing and doing everything imaginable in full view of their fellow shopping public.
This was very funny. Super short and easy to read.
In A Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
The narrative alternates between scenes from the present, with Nora in the hospital after a car accident, and Nora’s spotty recollections of the weekend party that took place in the immediate past. Nora has a head wound and senses that something terrible happened, something that forced her to run desperately through the dark forest.
This took me on an insane ride. Very thrilling. It kept me guessing until the very end.
The Lost Sisters by Holly Black
While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall in love with the trickster, Locke. Half-apology and half-explanation, it turns out that Taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal.
This was so good! I loved getting to be back with these characters. I enjoyed getting to see this pov too.
Fakeout by Teralyn Mitchell
Every family has an outcast, and in the Kindall family, it’s Lou. Avoiding them is her go-to move, but unfortunately, skipping her grandparent’s wedding anniversary celebration is not an option. Going alone, though? Total disaster. So, when her sexy neighbor volunteers to go with her, she agrees—quickly. Now, if only she could learn to ignore her very real attraction to her new fake boyfriend… Jace Davenport knows exactly how it feels to be an outcast. His childhood certainly taught him that. That’s why he refuses to let Lou face her judgmental family on her own. Besides, maybe if he does a really good job pretending to be her boyfriend, she’ll consider upgrading him to the real thing… A few hot kisses and stolen moments later, their fake romance starts to feel all too real. But is a happily ever after in the cards for this ex-soccer player and the girl of his dreams?
So good! I read this in one sitting and can’t wait for the next book!
Sleet Kitten by S.J. Tilly
There are a few things that life doesn’t prepare you for. Like what to do when a super-hot guy catches you sneaking around in his basement. Or what to do when a mysterious package shows up with tickets to a hockey game because, apparently, he’s a professional athlete. Or how to handle it when you get to the game and realize he’s freaking famous since half of the 20,000 people in the stands are wearing his jersey. I thought I was a well-adjusted adult, reasonably prepared for life. But one date with Jackson Wilder, a viral video, and a “I didn’t know she was your mom” incident, and I’m suddenly questioning everything I thought I knew. But he’s fun. And great. And I think I might be falling for him. But I don’t know if he’s falling for me, too, or if he’s as much of a player off the ice as on.
This was so good! I loved it so much! It was so funny, cute, and sexy. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander
Jess Metcalf is perfectly content with her quiet, predictable life. But when her beloved grandmother passes away and she loses her job at the local library, Jess’ life is turned upside down. Determined to pick up the pieces, Jess decides it’s time for a new beginning. Unable to part with her grandmother’s cherished books, she packs them all up and moves to a tiny cottage in the English countryside. To her surprise, Jess discovers that she’s now the owner of an old red phone box that was left on the property. Missing her job at the local library, Jess decides to give back to her new community–using her grandmother’s collection to turn the ordinary phone box into the littlest library in England. It’s not long before the books are borrowed and begin to work their literary magic–bringing the villagers together… and managing to draw Jess’ grumpy but handsome neighbor out of his shell. Maybe it’s finally time for Jess to follow her heart, let go of her old life, and make the village her home? But will she be able to take the leap?
This was so sweet and heartwarming. I definitely teared up a few times.
OMG Christmas Tree by Stephanie J. Scott
Three nights before Christmas, and all Megan Campbell needs to do is to pick up a Christmas tree. Never mind she’s a city girl who has never bought a real live tree. The biggest and best tree in the lot should make her mom and her new stepdad happy–and forget how she’s neglected to visit them in their tiny town. Three nights before Christmas, and all Nick Bennington needs to do is to pick up a Christmas tree. The tree he should have picked up weeks ago for the charity event at the historic mayor’s mansion on Christmas Eve. The task his mother, Mayor Bennington herself, entrusted him with. Now the biggest and best tree in the lot is gone. After a slip off the icy roads sends Megan, her car, and her prized tree into the ditch, a rescuer in the form of Nick Bennington arrives. A rescuer with ulterior motives, Meghan discovers, as he angles to take the pesky tree off her hands. Falling for the country boy is not part of her holiday plans. But for Nick, stumbling upon this city girl might be just the wake-up call he needs.
I did enjoy this. I wish it was a bit longer so we could enjoy their relationship a bit more and see it grow.
The Ugly Stepsister by Megan Van Dyke
Only Anna knows the truth about Cinderella: The pauper turned queen wasn’t the victim, but the bully. Anna fled when the castle guards came to arrest her mother and sister on Cinderella’s orders. But leaving them in bondage at the Fairy Godmother’s workhouse? Out of the question. Disguised as a young man and taking the name of Ansel, she’ll do whatever it takes to free her family and set the record straight. Will, a former royal huntsman, was nearly killed for dissenting Cinderella’s rise as queen in the wake of the sudden death of the king and his son. He hatches a plan to take Cinderella down, and encounters Ansel, who wants revenge just as much as he does. Drawn together by a common goal and burgeoning feelings neither can ignore, Will and Ansel enact a plan to assassinate the queen. But when that goes awry and buried secrets come to light, they’ll have to choose: continue running from their pasts or accept themselves in order to forge a new future together.
This was so good! I loved the romance and the surprising twists thrown in the mix.
A Good Old-Fashioned Cowboy by Maisey Yates, Caitlin Crews, Jackie Ashenden, and Nicole Helm
When they were girls, best friends Hope, Charity, Pru and Kit made a pact. If, at thirty, they weren’t happy with their lives, they would return home to Jasper Creek, Oregon. And when Hope’s wedding implodes, they decide it’s time. While Hope is uncertain she’ll find her way back to the man she left behind, Kit finds herself kissing the man of her high school fantasies, good girl Charity decides to have some fun with a bad boy and Pru develops feelings for the one man she shouldn’t touch–her brother’s best friend. All they wanted was to make their small-town childhood dreams a reality. But along the way, these four women also have to contend with their very own good old-fashioned cowboys…
This was so cute! I loved this so much! The romances were adorable and the friendships were amazing too.
Game of Gravestones by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe
She suspects everyone of everything. Except her oldest friend. Who’s found next to a body. Holding the murder weapon. For the first time, things are just right for cemetery owner Jane Ladling. Her cat only kind of hates her sort of boyfriend, Special Agent Conrad Ryan, and she isn’t flat broke. When she’s asked to host a murder mystery fundraiser for the people of Aurelian Hills, Georgia, she’d totally on board. Champagne, intrigue, and community. Yes, please. Then game night happens and a fake murder turns into a red one, leaving her mentor and knitting buddy Fiona at the top of the suspect list, with heir best pal Beau a close second. Oops? Jane’s not about to leave the fate of her loves one to, well, fate. On the hunt for clues, she turns the small town upside down. As scandalous secrets surface, a single truth becomes clear: if she doesn’t solve the murder fast, Jane will be the next victim.
This was so cute! The ending was amazing and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!
Broken Like This by Bethany Monaco Smith
I promised her forever. But I’m not sure I can keep that promise. At least, not the way I’m supposed to. I’ll always want forever with her, but not like this. I’m broken. Falling apart. And I’m taking it all out on her. I’m too much of a mess for this, and she deserves more than that. More than the way I’ve been. More than me. I don’t want to do this without her, but I don’t know how to do it with her. There’s so much I have to figure out about myself and my future, and I have to do that on my own. I have to let her go. She might hate me, but it’s best for both of us. I just have to hope by the time I figure things out and am ready for us again, she’ll still want me—want us. I have to trust that she won’t give up on us, and we can still have the forever we were always meant to have. Will Rae and Aaron be able to fight through the hard things they face individually so they can build a beautiful relationship together? Follow all the love, heartache, drama, and angst in the third book of their love story.
This was so good and emotional. This book hurt, but it ends so well. I can’t wait for the next book!
Those are all the books I read in September! Hope you enjoyed. Until next time.