40 in 2018: May

April has been an odd month for me... it started with school holidays and flu, as well as starting adventures in Essential Oils and Weight Watchers! I have definitely favoured 'easy' reads and known authors, which has meant that some of the harder books I'd hoped to read haven't been read.

Books I read in April

A Classic:
The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers Vol 2 by J.R.R. Tolkien
Not read.

Bookish Mamas Book Club:
Fingers In The Sparkle Jar by Chris Packham
I am still reading this book... It is an unusual one as I enjoy it whilst I am reading it but I not finding myself reaching for it very often. The style of the book is very different from the traditional biography style which I was expecting, and this makes for a tricky read. It is full of descriptive language and alternative viewpoints, which brings an element of confusion. I suspect this style is somewhat due to Chris Packam's autism and that he has written in the same way that he views life. Would I recommend it? Probably but with a caveat that it isn't an easy read.




Unfinished business:
(Nothing new this month!)

Others:
The Wrong Side Of Goodbye by Michael Connelly
I love a good Michael Connelly story and this one didn't disappoint, though I have to admit it wasn't my favourite. There are two main stories in this book which don't overlap (I love it when they link up in some random way!). In the first Harry Bosch is working as private investigator and has to track down the descendent of a billionaire; the second story is focused within his voluntary work with a police department and he and his colleague are tracking down a rapist. The suspense is there and the plot keeps you guessing to the end!

**Book of the month** The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley

In an action rare to me I preordered this book before its publication! This is the fourth book in the
Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley and I loved the first two and just had to get this one as soon as it was released (in paper back!). The series features sisters who have been adopted by Pa; following his death they are all left with clues relating to their own history. This book features the fourth sister CeCe and her journey of discovery to Australia. In typical style the book is split between CeCe's journey and the story Kitty, a emigrant to Australia in the 1900s. Through the story we see how Kitty and CeCe are linked and how CeCe discovers her birth family. Definitely a recommend and a reread for this book!

The Potluck Club, The Potluck Club: Trouble's Brewing and The Potluck Club: Takes The Cake by Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson
I am most definitly a fan of the real paper book, but I love having the Kindle App on my phone and having the ability to read whenever I can without habing to carry a book around with me. Most of the books on my Kindle are freebies (or cheapies) and The Potluck Club was one of those. I was expecting a lightweight amusing read, but I got so much more! These are most definitely easy to read books but they contain some heavy weight theological punches, not least in the area of healing and death. I enjoyed the style of multiple viewpoints and the recipes which are shared at the beginning of each chapter. I enjoyed the first free book so much that I went and bought the second two in the series! A great fun, but also edifying read.

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
What to say about this book... I remember reading it a few years ago after watching the film, and I can now remember how disappointed I was with the book! I was hoping for a book about the cooking journey of Julie over the year, but there is not enough 'foodie' content for me and too much whinging and swearing. It is such a shame as I love the idea of cooking through an entire recipe book and I wonder whether the original blog was better? Having had a quick skim through the reviews on Goodreads it seems that I am not alone!

The Lake House by Kate Morton
I found this book on my bookcase but have no idea whether I bought it or if it was given to me! Anyway, it was a great book and I really enjoyed it. The storyline contains two main threads separated by 70 years, and throughout the book we start to see how the stories interlink. I enjoy this style of book (it's very similar to Lucinda Riley's seven sisters books). The story of the missing toddler is a heart-wrenching one, but it twists and turns so many times! Looking forward to reading some more books by Kate Morton.

Gypsy Princess by Violet Cannon
Whilst I was ill I watched quite a few episodes of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and really enjoyed it. When I saw this book at the library I thought it would be a interesting read and help me learn more about this secretive group of people. I enjoyed the narrative and learned lots about the gypsy culture, but I found the writing style clunky at times.

Books I hope to read in May

A Classic:
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Vol 2 by J.R.R. Tolkien

Bookish Mama Book Club:
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Unfinished Business:
(I'm going to put The Lord of the Rings in this category too this month and actually get it read!)

Others:
Simplify by Bill Hybels
Walking the Himalayas by Levison Wood
For Better Or For Kids by Patrick and Ruth Schwenk
The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado

Total list of books read in 2018

* Book of the month*

8 books in April

34. Gypsy Princess by Violet Cannon
33. The Lake House by Kate Morton
32. Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
31. The Potluck Club: Takes The Cake by Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson
30. The Potluck Club: Trouble's Brewing by Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson

29. The Potluck Club by Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson

28. The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley

27. The Wrong Side Of Goodbye by Michael Connelly

8 books in March

26. Win, Lose or Die by John Gardner
25. Underwater Adventure by Willard Price
24. How To Stop Time by Matt Haig
23. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
22. Undercover Princess by Connie Glynn
21. Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford
20. Belgravia by Julian Fellowes
19. Remember by Karen Kingsbury, with Gary Smalley

7 books in February

*18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Vol 1 by J.R.R. Tolkien*
17. Five Give Up The Booze by Bruno Vincent
16. The Whistler by John Grisham
15. Grand Depart by Susan Perry
14. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
13. The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange

12. Redemption by Karen Kingsbury, with Gary Smalley

11 books in January

*11. Walking the Nile by Levison Wood*
10. Valley of the Shadow (Cornish Mystery 3) by Carola Dunn
9. The Black Ship (Daisy Dalrymple 18) by Carola Dunn
8. Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
7. The Power by Naomi Alderman
6. Without Warning (Elite Guardians 2) by Lynette Eason
5. Always Watching (Elite Guardians 1) by Lynette Eason
4. The Bloody Tower (Daisy Dalrymple 16) by Carola Dunn
3. Requiem for a Mezzo (Daisy Dalrymple 3) by Carola Dunn
2. Death of a Policeman (Hamish Macbeth) by M.C.Beaton
1. Black Raven (Shetland Book 1) by Ann Cleeves