Peach Blossom Spring

 

Author: Melissa Fu

Publisher: Little Brown

Year: 2022

🌺 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰🌺 

Peach Blossom Spring is sweeping multi generational story that spans decades. It is the story of family, love, perseverance, and determination. 

The novel begins in a China as Meilin and her young son flee their home along with her brother in law and his family as the Japanese army advances into China during WWII. This begins their treacherous journey to find someplace safe. 

After the war, Meilin and her son Renshu are forced to flee to Taiwan when civil war breaks out in China. Meilin’s perseverance and hard work enable her to achieve her goal of a stable life and a good education for Renshu. Renshu graduates from college and gets accepted into a master’s degree program in the U.S. With his uncle’s help, he sets off for his new life in America. But life in America presents it’s own perils. 

This is an exquisitely written story of survival and dreams. Meilin is a wonderful main character. I loved that she always had a fable to tell Renshu especially when times were difficult. 

If you’re looking for an epic historical fiction tale that is not Europe-centric, pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Glad I read this with @thereadingteapot and @rjs.readingnook. Can’t wait to chat with them about it! 

QOTD: are you looking forward to anything special in May? 

My daughter and my daughter in law both have May birthdays. They were born on the same day but a year apart. 

#peachblossomspring #melissafu #littlebrown #china #taiwan #wwii #historicalfiction #multigenerational #familydrama #war #survival #bookstagram #booksta #kindle #buddyread 

Book Mail 📪

 

Returned from our stay at the beach to find this book in the the pile of mail that was waiting for me at the post office.

Synopsis: PI Pete Fortunato wakes up one morning with a bad taste in his mouth. This is never a good sign. When a beautiful woman wants to hire him to find her husband, he doesn’t hesitate to say yes. Within a day, Fortunato finds the husband in the apartment of his client’s young, stud lover. He’s been shot once in the head. Case closed. But when his client’s check bounces, and a couple of Albanian gangsters show up outside his building and kidnap him, hoping he’ll lead them to a large sum of money supposedly stolen by the dead man, he begins to realize there’s a good chance he’s been set up to take the fall for the murder and the theft of the money. 

In an attempt to get himself out of a jam, Fortunato winds up on a wild ride that takes him down to Texas where he searches for his client’s lover who he suspects has the money and holds the key to solving the murder. 

I’m always intrigued by a hard-boiled mystery and this one sounds like it’s right up my alley! Thank you to Sonya at Claire McKinney PR and Down and Out Books for this #giftedbook! 

QOTD: how’s your week going so far? 

I feel like I’m playing catch up on everything after a few days of travel. My priorities yesterday were to visit my mom and get a much needed haircut. Accomplished both. It was wonderful seeing my mom after being away. 

#bookmail #bookmailisthebestmail #crimefiction #mysteryfiction #hardboiledfiction #murdermystery #bookstagram #igreads #grateful #alwaysreading #booknerd #bibliophile 

I’ll Be You

 

Author: Janelle Brown

Publisher: Random House 

Year: 2022

📖 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲! 📖

I loved @janellebrownie’s last novel Pretty Things, so I couldn’t wait to read I’ll Be You. It did not disappoint. 

This is more a slow burning character study that kept me riveted and wondering what would happen next. 

Here’s what I liked: 

👯‍♀️ the main characters, Sam and Elli, are identical twins but with different personalities and interests

👯‍♀️ The twins are childhood tv stars. I enjoyed the peek behind the Hollywood curtain. 

👯‍♀️ POVs - we get both Sam’s and Elli’s points of view. Sam narrates the first half of the book and Elli narrates the second half. 

👯‍♀️ there’s a cult! 

👯‍♀️a fun, quick, and entertaining read 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley  and Random House  for the digital review copy. 

QOTD: what book are you trying to squeeze in before the end of the month? 

I’m trying to finish The Lioness in the next day or two. If I get really motivated and find a shirt book, I might be able to get one more in this month. 

#illbeyou #jenellebrown #randomhouse #netgalley #twins #hollywood #cults #crimefiction #suspensebooks #characterstudy #slowburn #childsstars #publicationday #pubday 

Sunday Shelfie

 

📸 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐞 📸

This is a quick #sundayshelfie of the books I’m leaving here at our beach house. Hoping a guest or two will enjoy reading one on the beach this summer. 

Now I must get back to channeling my inner Molly the Maid 😉 to finish last minute cleaning before we hit the road. 

Interested in an affordable beach rental on the beautiful Outer Banks of NC? Check out our place! 

#sundayshelfie #sundayfunday #mollythemaid #bookstagram #booksta #igreads #beachreads #summerreads #thrillerbooks #crimefiction #historicalfiction #romancefiction #fallinlovewithreading #beachhouse #vacationrental #outerbanks #obx #beachvacation #beachreads #corolla #northcarolina 

Never Saw Me Coming

 

Author: Vera Kurian

Publisher: Park Row

Year: 2021

📖 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 📖

A college has a special program for a selected group of students. The program is for a small number of students who have been identified as psychopaths- students who lack empathy and can’t comprehend emotions like fear and guilt. What could go wrong? 

What I liked: 

▪️anti hero main character

Chloe is a schemer and a liar. She has her own agenda and you know right from the start what she’s planning. I liked her character and was rooting for her. 

▪️the college campus setting

▪️lots of red herrings and twists

▪️pacing was good and it was a pretty quick read

▪️all around a fun and entertaining read

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I would definitely read a sequel to this one. 

We’ve been working like fiends trying to tidy up our beach rental. We’ve had a change in plans and will be heading back north tomorrow. Sad to leave just as the weather is really starting to warm up. The drive tomorrow and Monday will give me a lot of audiobook listening time though. Guess I better find a book to listen to. 

QOTD: What are you reading or listening to this weekend? Or give me an audio recommendation!

#neversawmecoming #verakurian #parkrowbooks #crimefiction #mysteryfiction #thrillerfiction #murdermystery #psychopaths #collegelife #whatcouldgowrong #librarybook #lovemylibrary #bookstagram #igreads #antiheroes #bookrecommendation #alwaysreading 

Dark Horse

 

Author: Gregg Hurwitz

Narrator: Scott Brick

Publisher: Macmillan 

Year: 2022

🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧

Evan Smoak, aka the Nowhere Man, is back in Dark Horse. Evan, chosen and trained since childhood to be super secret government assassin Orphan X, now tries to atone for his past by helping ordinary people who find themselves in dangerous situations. 

The person who needs Evan’s help this time around isn’t so ordinary. Aragon Urrea is a rich and powerful drug lord whose beloved daughter has been kidnapped by a rival cartel. Evan doesn’t work “bad guys” and the head of a major drug operation must certainly be considered a bad guy. But Even soon discovers Aragon rules with a velvet fist- providing for the people in his small town and providing second chances. Aragon runs a bad business, but does that make him a bad man? 

Evan agrees to rescue Aragon’s daughter from a truly dangerous and vicious man. While Evan works to infiltrate the violent cartel to rescue the girl, there’s turmoil on his  homefront too. Mia, Evan’s neighbor and love interest, must deal with a sudden and life threatening medical issue. Can Evan be there for Mia and her young son Peter and still carry on his Nowhere Man missions? 

This is the seventh book in the Orphan X series and it shows the most growth of Evan’s character so far. He’s forced to confront his feelings for Mia and Peter. He learns to respect Aragon, a man who tries to do good things even though he runs a dirty business. Evan even finds a new understanding of and admiration for some of his annoying neighbors. 

This is an entertaining thriller series with lots of action and mayhem. With each new book in the series, Evan’s character grows and becomes less one dimensional. Author Gregg Hurwitz keeps the action fast and furious, and the changes to Evan subtle and real as Evan allows more people into his regimented life. Scott Brick does a superb job with the audiobook narration. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How’s your weather this week? We’re windy and chilly here at the beach, but the sun is out. It’s better than being back home in PA where it’s snowing and the power is out. 

#darkhorse #orphanx #thenowhereman #evansmoak #thriller #audiobook #crimefiction #kidnapping #bookstagram #igreads 

Currently Reading

 

📖 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 📖

I’m #currentlyreading Peach Blossom Spring. The story is set in China during WWII and the devastation caused when Japan attacked. I know very little about that region and time period, so this is very enlightening. Can’t wait to discuss this with @thereadingteapot and @rjs.readingnook. 

This week has really gotten away from me. We’ve been busy with errands and getting the house ready for the summer rental season. Lots to do and the distraction of warm sunny weather isn’t helping me stay motivated to clean! 

QOTD: any plans for the weekend? Or what are you reading this weekend? 

We might go out to eat on Sunday for Easter if we can get a reservation. I think my husband wants to go to the garden center today to buy some flowers and get them planted. 

#currentlyreading #peachblossomspring #kindlepaperwhite #kindle #bookstagram #igreads #historcalfiction #familydrama #survivalfiction #wartime #china #bookworm #booknerd