The Books I Read In June
I enjoyed so many great beach reads this month even if we did only make it to the beach once. I hadn't even sat out on our patio much since it's been pretty cool, rainy, and windy. That's OK though as I can still dream about the beach and live vicariously through the stories I read.
1. Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews--When Drue's mother dies and she reluctantly accepts a job working at her father's law firm she has no idea that she is going to get sucked into investigating two cases-- an old missing persons case and a two year old murder. Though everyone tells her to just ignore them and let them go Drue cannot stop wondering and poking and prodding.
2. Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey-- I don't want to give too much away in case anyone has not yet read the first two books in this series so I'll keep it short and sweet...in this third book of the Peachtree Bluff series Emerson is planning her wedding while dreading a medical diagnosis, Caroline is heading back to the city with her family, and Slone's work as a painter is really taking off. Ansley and her girls have a real breakdown in communication with one another and fears that Jack might leave her.
3. The Huntress by Kate Quinn-- After reading The Alice Network, I just knew I had to give The Huntress a try and I am so glad I did! It was another amazing book. In post WWII Ian, Tony and Nina are trying to hunt down Nazi's who have gone into hiding; focusing on one main woman known only as "the Huntress." Meanwhile, 19 year old Jordan, is growing up in Boston with her father when she begins to have unsettling feelings about her soon to be new step-mother. While seemingly perfectly nice on the outside Anneliese may be covering up something more than just a sad past. I thought I knew almost right away how all these stories were going to come together but there were many plot twists that kept me gasping and turning pages until the very end. I simply devoured the Author's note in the back too and learned so much about both WWII and the post war era.
4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens-- Kya grew up in the marshy swamps of North Carolina and was always largely misunderstood by those in the town around her. When a possible murder takes place in the town it shakes everyone up and many point fingers at Kya. Told in two parts-- one in 1969 with the murder and police investigation and one starting in 1952 of Kya's childhood it was a pretty compelling story.
5. Queen Bee by Dorethea Benton Frank-- Holly has her hands full taking care of her newly widowed neighbor, his two boys, her mother, and her bees. Holly is a beekeeper in the low country of South Carolina. Through the book Holly begins to blossom and her relationship with her sister and mother grow as all three of them become increasingly interested in the lives of those around them. I really enjoyed this feel- good novel and watching these relationships develop.
6. Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer-- When sister's Lily, Abby, and Emma all find themselves living back at their family home on Nantucket for the summer they band together to form a new business doing odd jobs for people vacationing on the island. Lily divides her time between writing for the society pages of the newspaper and helping an old lady keep track of her wardrobe, jewelry, and social life. Abby becomes a babysitter for a young boy and finds herself falling in love with his father, Emma begins reading to an elderly lady with macular degeneration and finds herself spending lots of time with her grandson as well.
7. Inheriting Edith by Zoe Fishman-- Maggie is struggling to make enough money cleaning houses to support her two year old daughter when she finds out that old friend and employer has died and left her a house in Sag Harbor and with a substantial amount of money too. But there is just one catch-- the inheritance comes with the deceased's elderly mother who is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's.
8. Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand-- I really enjoyed this throwback to 1969! The Levin family have always summered on Nantucket but this year proves to be quite different. Blair, the oldest daughter is stuck home in Boston hugely pregnant and miserable. Kirby, the middle daughter who has been rebelling with civil rights and war protests and getting arrested decides to spend her summer on Martha's Vineyard working. Tiger, the lone son of the family has just been shipped off to Vietnam and 13 year old Jessie (the youngest daughter) is dreading a summer alone on Nantucket with her mother and controlling grandmother.
What have you been reading?
1. Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews--When Drue's mother dies and she reluctantly accepts a job working at her father's law firm she has no idea that she is going to get sucked into investigating two cases-- an old missing persons case and a two year old murder. Though everyone tells her to just ignore them and let them go Drue cannot stop wondering and poking and prodding.
2. Southern Side of Paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey-- I don't want to give too much away in case anyone has not yet read the first two books in this series so I'll keep it short and sweet...in this third book of the Peachtree Bluff series Emerson is planning her wedding while dreading a medical diagnosis, Caroline is heading back to the city with her family, and Slone's work as a painter is really taking off. Ansley and her girls have a real breakdown in communication with one another and fears that Jack might leave her.
3. The Huntress by Kate Quinn-- After reading The Alice Network, I just knew I had to give The Huntress a try and I am so glad I did! It was another amazing book. In post WWII Ian, Tony and Nina are trying to hunt down Nazi's who have gone into hiding; focusing on one main woman known only as "the Huntress." Meanwhile, 19 year old Jordan, is growing up in Boston with her father when she begins to have unsettling feelings about her soon to be new step-mother. While seemingly perfectly nice on the outside Anneliese may be covering up something more than just a sad past. I thought I knew almost right away how all these stories were going to come together but there were many plot twists that kept me gasping and turning pages until the very end. I simply devoured the Author's note in the back too and learned so much about both WWII and the post war era.
4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens-- Kya grew up in the marshy swamps of North Carolina and was always largely misunderstood by those in the town around her. When a possible murder takes place in the town it shakes everyone up and many point fingers at Kya. Told in two parts-- one in 1969 with the murder and police investigation and one starting in 1952 of Kya's childhood it was a pretty compelling story.
5. Queen Bee by Dorethea Benton Frank-- Holly has her hands full taking care of her newly widowed neighbor, his two boys, her mother, and her bees. Holly is a beekeeper in the low country of South Carolina. Through the book Holly begins to blossom and her relationship with her sister and mother grow as all three of them become increasingly interested in the lives of those around them. I really enjoyed this feel- good novel and watching these relationships develop.
6. Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer-- When sister's Lily, Abby, and Emma all find themselves living back at their family home on Nantucket for the summer they band together to form a new business doing odd jobs for people vacationing on the island. Lily divides her time between writing for the society pages of the newspaper and helping an old lady keep track of her wardrobe, jewelry, and social life. Abby becomes a babysitter for a young boy and finds herself falling in love with his father, Emma begins reading to an elderly lady with macular degeneration and finds herself spending lots of time with her grandson as well.
7. Inheriting Edith by Zoe Fishman-- Maggie is struggling to make enough money cleaning houses to support her two year old daughter when she finds out that old friend and employer has died and left her a house in Sag Harbor and with a substantial amount of money too. But there is just one catch-- the inheritance comes with the deceased's elderly mother who is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's.
8. Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand-- I really enjoyed this throwback to 1969! The Levin family have always summered on Nantucket but this year proves to be quite different. Blair, the oldest daughter is stuck home in Boston hugely pregnant and miserable. Kirby, the middle daughter who has been rebelling with civil rights and war protests and getting arrested decides to spend her summer on Martha's Vineyard working. Tiger, the lone son of the family has just been shipped off to Vietnam and 13 year old Jessie (the youngest daughter) is dreading a summer alone on Nantucket with her mother and controlling grandmother.
What have you been reading?
I want to read Summer of 69, I have enjoyed some of her books in the past!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed it a lot.
DeleteThanks for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 2! Shared ♥
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing!
DeleteWow, so many of these look amazing! Adding them to my list of books I need to read. It never gets any shorter...
ReplyDeleteMine never does either! There are so many great books out there it's hard not to keep finding ones to read.
DeleteI see several that I want to read. May not be at the beach, but my deck holds a peaceful place for me. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love reading on our deck or patio too.
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