The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

The Unhoneymooners 

By Christina Lauren

I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and sweet. A nice lighthearted beach read. 

Olive and Ethan end up on a "honeymoon" in a Hawaii...only they are not married and they do not get along. It is supposed to belong to Olive's twin sister and Ethan's brother but everyone at the wedding gets food poisoning except for Olive and Ethan.  Ten days sharing a room and pretending to married...how hard can it be?

This is my first Christina Lauren book.  I think I found a new favorite author. I will be looking for more of her books as soon as I finish this post.

Definitely worth reading!

Goodreads Giveaway: Aly's Fight

Aly's Fight

By Aly and Josh Taylor

Goodreads giveaways are an amazing way to be introduced to new books and new authors.

I am looking forward to reading more about Aly's story. They were first introduced to me through a TLC show called Rattled.  Honestly most of the couples I did not enjoy watching but Aly & Josh were my favorite. The show touched on Aly's fight with cancer and the couple's fight to have children. 

This is a beautiful family and I am looking forward to reading more about them. 

The book is really a beautiful book with multiple pages of color photos in the back.

May New Release: Familiar Strangers

Familiar Strangers

By Jackie Walsh

Mystery & Thrillers

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are my own.

This is a debut book by Jackie Walsh.  Becca has many issues in her life. Her mom has early onset Alzheimers, she is only 55 years old and living in a care home.  She is mostly nonverbal and cannot care for herself.  Becca had a  very close relationship with her mom and feels a great emotional loss.  When her mother tells her that she is not her daughter and that she took her, Becca does not know what to believe. Of course, she believes it is impossible but the thoughts about it start to haunt her.

Soon she makes some not so good choices and her life starts to fall apart.  A women who is missing is looking for her but she does not know this woman.  The police start questioning her. She has problems at work and problems with family.

According to Amazon this books is available on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.

Here is my Netgalley review:

Becca is working two jobs to live on her home. Her mother has Alzheimers and is in a care facility. One day while visiting her mom tells her that she is not her daughter and that she took her. Her mom is mostly nonverbal so Becca cannot get anything else out of her mother. While this thought is running over and over through her head strange things start happening. A missing woman who was looking for her, the police asking questions, and she thinks someone has been in her apartment.

Becca does not know what is real and what is not. Her world is thrown into a tailspin and starts to one piece as a time fall apart. Did her mother take her? If so, how and why?  Who else knew?

The book also touches on the loss a family feels when living with a family member with Alzheimers.  There is a deep emotional loss between Becca and her mother.

This is a debut book by Jackie Walsh. It moves at nice pace and keeps the reader interested.  I enjoyed this book and would de definitely read more from this author. 

Thank you Netgalley and Hera for the opportunity to read and review this book. 

Mystery & Thrillers 
Pub Date: May 20, 2019

What am I reading?

Sunset Beach

By Mary Kay Andrews

There seems to be a bit of mystery in this new release from Mary Kay Andrews.  I love her beach reads when summer is getting near.  I am only 25% into this book but I very curious where it's going.

Drue has lost her mother and moved back near her father. She inherits her grandparents beach cottage and starts working for her father's law firm.  So far she is sticking her nose where her father thinks it doesn't belong.

As far as I'm concerned you cannot go wrong with Mary Kay Andrews. I have loved everything I had read by her.

New Release Cookbook: Plant-Based on a Budget

Plant-Based on a Budget

By Toni Okamoto

Release Date: May 14, 2019

I have been looking forward to this cookbook. Toni Okamoto has some great videos on YouTube.  (I have a bit of a cookbook addiction in addition to my book addiction.)

May 2019 Release: Lost Daughter

Lost Daughter

By Ali Mercer

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are my own.

As a mom I really enjoyed this book.  How do you know if you're a good mom?  No one is perfect.  I'm not sure what I was expecting but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It covers love, loss, and friendship.

Here is my Netgalley review:

Lost Daughter is a very touching story about being a mother. It tells the stories of Rachel, Leona, and Viv while alternating between the past and the present.  There is love and loss. Anyone who has suffered from depression will understand the feelings of the main character, Rachel.

After a serious accident Rachel is left to only see her daughter once a week. She is devastated but also feels that everything is her fault.  She becomes friends with Leona and Viv as she tries to put herself and her life back together. 

It is a story of a mother's love for her child. 

I look forward to reading more from Ali Mercer. 

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Literary Fiction
Women's Fiction 
Release Date: May 14, 2019

New books for Mother's Day

Thank you to my son for my Mother's Day books. He knows me very well.  Dogs and Anne are perfect choices.

Anne is a nice addition to my large Anne of Green Gables book collection.  I'm not sure why but I keep buying more copies. Most likely because I love beautiful books.

Toby's story looks adorable but usually books like this bring on tears.  I guess we will see whether it is happy or sad.

They are both Barnes &Noble exclusives which means more content in Toby's story.

Happy Mother's Day! Who is your favorite book mom?

Who is your favorite book mom? There are many great moms in literature.

One of my favorites is Mrs. March aka Marmee. Marmee is gentle and kind.  She teaches her daughters to be giving to others. Little Women is one of my favorite books and movies.

Caroline Ingalls aka Ma shows her girls how to be strong. She protects them and works hard as her family moves from place to place. It was not an easy life but she always made where they were into a home. The Little House series is a wonderful series.  I grew up watching the TV series which is is where my love of the Ingalls family began.

What am I reading?

A Love Letter Life

By Jeremy & Audrey Roloff

My husband and I have watched Little People, Big World on TLC for years. This season while searching fb to see why Jeremy and his family were not regulars on the show I came across this book. I put myself on the waiting list at the library immediately.   

I am only about a third of a way into the book but I am enjoying the beautiful story of how they met and started dating.  Their dating was full of handwritten and typed love letters. I do feel some parts are too advice heavy but still a sweet read.

Lost Daughter

By Ali Mercer

Due to coming down with a cold or something I haven't read very much the last few days.  I am only one chapter into this book but I am curious about it.

Look for a full review on Tuesday for the release of Lost Daughter.

What are you reading?

May 2019 New Release: Things My Son Needs to Know About the World

Things My Son Needs to Know 

About the World

By Fredrik Backman 

Biographies & Memoirs

Release Date: May 7, 2019

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I voluntarily reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. 

Fredrik Backman has a new release today. He is one of my favorite authors. A Man Called Ove and Beartown are just two of his popular books.

Things My Son Needs to Know About the World is a sweet book of memories to his young son with a bit of witty advice and humor. It is a short and enjoyable read.

I laughed at his IKEA advice.... basically follow the arrows. I have only been to IKEA once but I definitely agree with this advice. 

A must read for Backman fans. 

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy from Netgalley for review. Here is my Netgalley review:

This book is lovingly written like a diary or journal to Backman's young son. It tells him funny stories about his childhood and gives him advice about the future. 

Backman's sense of humor shines as he describes becoming a dad and raising a child. A definite must for Fredrik Backman fans. 

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Biographies and Memoirs 
Expected Release Date: May 7, 2019

Greater St. Louis Book Fair

The Greater St. Louis Book Fair is once a year, usually the last weekend in April or the first weekend in May. 

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie short stories.  I was happy to find both Hercules Poirot and Miss Marple. These will be a nice addition to my Agatha Christie collection.

Louisa May Alcott

A Whisper in the Dark, 12 Thrilling Tales by Louisa May Alcott. I did not know she wrote anything like this. I am very curious about this book.

I couldn't pass up a very old copy of Little Men. Now I will be looking for the Little Women to match. It is in very good condition for it's age. 

Fredrik Backman

I honestly think I already have this book but I'm not positive so I bought it. This copy looked like new for $4.  Backman is one of my favorite authors. His writing beautiful.  

Backman's new book will be out May 7, 2019. Things My Son Needs to Know About the World. 

Pooh

I love all things Pooh. I do realize that some of the books are duplicates but for .50 each I just grabbed the entire stack when I found them. Extra books will be put up for future grandchildren. (Yes, I am ready for grandchildren. Lol)

Star Wars

My daughter is a 4th grade teacher and these are for her classroom. She has a lot of Star Wars fans.

I definitely had more books in my cart but I am trying to only buy books that I collect the author or series.  I have been reading a lot on my kindle oasis and buy ebooks regularly when they go on sale. I also use Libby and Hoopla through my library. I probably have 5,000 books and need to organize them before adding too many more books to my collection. 

What am I reading?

Dark Storm

By Karen Harper

Pub. Date: May 28, 2019

I am trying to catch up on my ARCs this week.  I am currently reading Dark Storm and just finished Window on the Bay.  I will have full reviews on their publication dates.

Window on the Bay

By Debbie Macomber

Pub. Date: July 16, 2019