The Bodyguard

Book 48 in 2023.

“The Bodyguard” by Catherine Center.

This is the second book of Catherine Center’s that I have read lately. She writes a great story, fairly clean and keeps me wanting more.

Hannah Brook’s is a bodyguard. She may not look like one, but she can take anyone down. Her philosophy is to be so prepared and aware that physical altercations won’t be needed. She is assigned to the famous actor, Jack Stapleton who is home to be with his sick mother, and doesn’t want any trouble from a stalker.

I thought this was great. Silly, serious, mystery, action, drama all mixed into one story. Will they fall in love?? Ha. Overall afterthought, cute.

July Books

Here we are at the end of July! I thought since I was majorly behind ,( surprise surprise- ha) I will just do a quick review of what I’ve been reading. Hope you are enjoying your summer soaking up the sun with a good book.

Book 32 in 2023. “Now I am Known, by Peter Mutabazi.

I follow Peter Mutabazi on Instagram. I can’t even remember why I started following him. This is his amazing story. Such an inspiring read. Overall afterthought, so good.

Book 33 in 2023. “Cassandra in Reverse” by, Holly Small.

Time travel. Love story. Kinda science fiction. Kinda funny. Kinda sad. Overall afterthought, good read.

Book 34 in 2023. “Eight Hundred Grapes” by, Laura Dave.

I picked this up before and didn’t finish. A lot of family drama going on. I’m glad I picked it up again, because it really was just a great story about a family and their vineyards. Overall afterthought, I liked it.

Book 35 in 2023. “A Holly Jolly Diwali” by Sonya Lalli.

Awe I needed something quick and cute. I have read other books of Sanya Lalli’s and liked them. It was a little cheesy, but sometimes you need a lighthearted love story. Overall afterthought, cute.

Book 36 in 2023. “The Lost Paris Girls” by, Pam Jenoff.

I recently read a different Pam Jenoff story and really liked it. WWII genre stories are pretty much my go to books. This was a difficult read, I had a hard time getting in to it. Overall afterthought, not my favorite.

Book 37 in 2023. “Things You Save in a Fire” by, Katherine Center.

I really liked this book. It was a sad read though. It had some hard mother/daughter relationship stuff in it. Some hard life things to walk through. There was also a little “I am woman, hear me roar” tone to it. Which is ok, but was sometimes too much. Despite me sounding negative, it kept me reading and invested. Overall afterthought, loved it.

Book 38 in 2023. “The Cheat Sheet” by Sarah Adams.

Two heavy books in a row called for something fluffy! I am becoming a Sarah Adams fan. The characters really were adults despite the young looking cover. Cute story about a ballerina and an NFL quarterback. Overall afterthought, awe.

Book 39 in 2023. “The Light We Left Behind” by, Tessa Harris.

I really wanted to like this. I kept seeing it on must read lists. It was interesting part of WWII I have not really read about before. Sometimes when books are based on true events they can lack in story. There is too much to fill in from what actually went down. Overall afterthought, just ok.

Book 40 in 2023. “The Flight Attendant “ by Chris Bohjalian.

This is my third Chris Bohjalian book I have read. I loved them all. What a great story teller. Murder mysteries at their finest. The way the stories come together are so wild. I will definitely pick up another. Overall afterthought, good stuff.

The Enemy

Book 30 in 2023.

“The Enemy” by Sarah Adams.

Whew I needed light and fluffy after my last few books. Even though this was slightly angsty, it was a great cute story to lighten my book mood.

Man and woman are enemies from high school.

It’s been twelve years since they’ve been apart.

Obviously they actually are in love with each other.

What must they do to tell each other the truth.

Will her bakery and his restaurant ever be able to allow them to see each other?

When will they finally share their true feelings.

Awe, all the feels. Chick lit at its finest. Overall afterthought, loved it.

Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat

Book 26 in 2023.

“Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat” by, Sonya Lalli.

First day of summer break for this substitute teacher! This school year was one for the books. I not only worked pretty much every day in all different types of classes and schools, I ended the year in two long term positions. To say the least I learned a lot, not just about the ins and outs of education, but about myself. Hug a teacher today and tell them you appreciate them. They are amazing.

I actually started this book a solid two weeks ago and did not have time to finish it. It was a great way to kick off my summer break. I will definitely be checking out some more of Sonya Lalli’s books. The title alone sounds a little bit racy, but it really wasn’t.

Thirty something Jasmine just ended a four year relationship and decided to go on a seniors cruise with her parents and their 200 +community of busy body aunties and uncles. She met Jake the first day on the ship and remembered him as a boy she once babysat. Five years her junior he had just finished law school and was the only person remotely close to her age on the cruise.

Even though I sometimes feel a little old to read some of these chick lit stories, I thought this was cute. I love a good love story. Overall afterthought, great story.

So Not My Thing and Book Lovers

I know these are two totally different books. By two completely different authors. I still thought I would just bundle them up together 🙂

Book 23 in 2023.

“So Not My Thing” by Melanie Jacobson.

If you are looking for a quick, light, chick lit. Here ya go. I do believe it got just a little saucy though. It was a nice break from all the drama I’ve been reading! Overall afterthought, cute.

Book 24 in 2023.

“Book Lovers” by, Emily Henry.

I read a different Emily Henry book and loved it. This was a little bit more intense then what I thought I was going to read. It was also definitely more saucy than I was expecting! Lots of skipping for this lady. Ha. Overall afterthought, good not great.

Sunrise by The Sea

Book 17 in 2023.

“Sunrise by The Sea” by Jenny Colgan.

I have read several of Jenny Colgan’s books. Some I absolutely loved , others I could care less. Ha! How’s that for some clear perspective. This is book #4 from the “Little Beach Street Bakery” series. I don’t think you need to necessarily read the other ones first. But that is definitely up to you. For the most part I really enjoyed this story. Some parts I felt were just added in to meet a checklist of characters that all new novels have. Which I have a hard time with. It was a little bit of a sad story, but still had a happy ending. I’ll probably read book 5, if there is one, just to see how everyone is doing. Overall afterthought, it was a good read.

The Littlest Library

Book 16 in 2023.

“The Littlest Library” by Poppy Alexander.

This has been a very busy school year for me. I am a substitute teacher and took a long term position from February 15 through May 16th! I am used to going to a different classroom every day, so this was a huge change for me. With all that change, reading definitely got put on the back of the list of things to do. I am now in a different long term position until June 9th. So hopefully reading will pick up again when school is out. I apologize for the flux of posts I am about to make but I definitely wanted to catch up before I missed another month!

Ok on to the book! I absolutely loved this small town book about a tiny library. Are you kidding me? All the characters, little budding love story, local drama, and lots of charm. Overall afterthought, super cute, fluffy read.

Some Books I’ve Been Reading

I completely missed writing about the books I read in February. To be honest I thought I had read a lot more. Ha. Life has been a whirlwind lately, sometimes that puts books in the back seat. I wanted to at least catch up on writing before I got too behind. Just a little bit on the books I’ve been reading.

Book 9 in 2023. I have really enjoyed both of the Chris Bohjalian books I have read. They are a little intense. Great plots and totally different from what I usually read. This is about a women’s boyfriend who goes missing in Vietnam, and her pursuit of the truth to what happen. So good.

Book 10 in 2023. I was looking for something cute and fluffy. This was a little bit more dramatic, but worth the read. Two authors end up living next door to each other. The challenge themselves to write outside of their genres to get out of writers block. Thought it was great!

Book 11 in 2023. Cheese fest to the umpteenth degree. I read this because it is part of a series. This is probably where I will end. The angst. The drama. The romance. I will say it was very clean. Which I appreciate. Eh, it was fine, just not my favorite.

Book 12 in 2023. This was so far out of the box from anything I read. It is about a small band of thieves from rural Alabama in 1897. Their rise and fall was a wild ride. Tom Franklin is quite the story teller. Interesting and kept me reading.

Book 13 in 2023. This was a March book club read. I don’t know if I would of finished it if not. So much going on. However, the last half of the book was very endearing and I was happy how it ended.

Book 14 in 2023. I knew nothing of this when I picked it up. I saw someone was reading it on Facebook and liked the bass clef on the cover. Ha. Very interesting story of a group of business men and politicians from around the world who end up hostages at a birthday party watching a world famous opera singer. I enjoyed it, glad I picked it up.

Book 15 in 2023. I love to throw in a nonfiction every once in awhile. I have heard of Olive Oatman before and have always wanted to read her story. As fascinating as it was, I felt like maybe this book stretched it out way to far beyond her experience. However, human endurance stories are always a good read.

I have a whole stack of books in my room waiting to be read. Even though my reading has slowed way down, I am still going to try and get to them all. So much to read, so little time to do it!

To Con a Gentleman

Book 6 in 2023.

“To Con a Gentleman” by Sarah Adams

I loved Sarah Adam’s “When in Rome” so much I thought I would try another one of her books right away. This is supposed to the first book in a series. I have not looked up how many there are.

Rose is a con artist. She has rubbed elbows with the wealthy and robbed them blind . Until she meets Carver Ashburn Earl of Kensworth and he changes everything. Oh man, I can’t decide if I liked, loved, or hated this. Ha! It is quite a bit of unbelievable cheese love story. Which is ok sometimes. It was clean and respectable. And I of course will probably pick up the next book in the series. Overall afterthought, super cute-sy.

When In Rome

Book 4 in 2023.

“When In Rome” by, Sarah Adams.

Well after my last two books I read, I was looking for something super light and fluffy. I am so glad I picked this up. I will definitely be looking for some more Sarah Adams books. It was light, fluffy, clean, and not too cheesy. All the things I wanted.

Super star country singer needs a break.

She loves Audrey Hepburn and the movie “Roman Holiday”

She decides to take a solo trip to cute, hometown USA, Rome, Kentucky, not too far from her home in Tennessee.

Car breaks down in front of slightly bitter, handsome, thirty something, owns a bakery man’s house.

Friendship ensues.

Could it be more?

But she is a famous county singer, it could never work out.

Could it?

She will have a couple weeks in this quaint town with all it’s people to decide.

Why do I love books like this? I think it’s one of those, you either do, or you don’t. ha. Rom-com of the 1990’s feels for this one. Did I just date myself? Either way, I thought it was cute. Overall afterthought, give me all the happy endings.