Recently Read | Volume 12

Happy Tuesday, friends! I hope you all had a nice long weekend. I think I’m finally ready for fall and have pulled out some of our decorations, but the stores are really not going full fledged fall yet, which is surprising! Switching gears, I have 5 books to share, which is more than I’ve read in such a long time. I had to make a conscious effort to read more! To do that, I actually cancelled my Kindle Unlimited membership and opted for the local library. Sounds counter intuitive, but the library has access to so many online books and I don’t have to spend $$$ on all the books I want to read. Most, if not all libraries offer digital books through Amazon and it downloads to your Kindle app. The vast majority of my “to be read” list is available and I’m quickly making my way through so many books!

The First Wife’s Secret || I flew through this book and really loved the storytelling. The book alternates between two sisters, but I did find it odd that the third sister wasn’t part of the alternating chapters – that she didn’t have her own voice dedicated in the book. Their father has a big announcement he wants to make at an anniversary party, only before he’s able to get to it, he suffers a major stroke. As they await the news of their father, questions and answers start to come to light about his first wife as well as Dinah & Vaughn’s mom. Lottie on the other hand is his daughter from his second marriage and can’t shake that her dad is hiding something about his first wife. As things start to come together it also brings the sisters closer together. I really liked the way the secrets came out and the writing of the book! Definitely one to check out!

Paper Cranes || Cassie is reeling because at the age of 31, she finds herself as a widow with two kids. After more than a year a friend from her past come back and is exactly what she needs. There were a few twists along the way and it wasn’t this heart-wrenching story you would expect being that its about a young widow. I liked the story that built around Matt (the new / old love interest) and Cassie, but truthfully she wasn’t that likable of a character. There was also this big secret the author kept alluding to throughout the book that you wish they would have just gotten over with. If you have kindle unlimited – check it out, if not, no need.

Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty || If you’re a fan of the Devil Wears Prada and anything written by Lauren Weisberger, then you will also enjoy this book. Peyton is a nationally recognized television host, seemingly having it all with a daughter getting ready to go off to college and a husband that adores her. Skye is Peyton’s sister and is reeling from feeling completely out of place in sweet suburbia. Max is Peyton’s daughter and has hopes of going to film school, but unfortunately one little secret derails everyone’s summer. I really loved this book and enjoyed the twists that it took, but I think the ending was a bit abrupt even 300+ pages in. Other than that, it was a great read!

The Honey Don’t List || I’m a fan of Christina Lauren – their writing style is fun for me. This was a light hearted read and you can’t help but think of Chip and Joanna Gaines while you read this book. Carey and James are the right hands for Melissa & Rusty, the home renovation / design duo that have risen to fame over the last 20 years. Only the biggest kept secret is that they can’t stand each other anymore and with a new Netflix show about to premier, it’s all about appearances. One thing Carey and James didn’t expect to get quite as hot and heavy with one another while playing babysitters to their bosses. A few fun character adding chapters here and there made this a great summer / vacay read!

Marriage on Madison Avenue || This is part 3 of a series and I read the other two a long time ago, but surprisingly you could read this book on it’s own. Audrey really isn’t sure that marriage is for her, especially with her track record of falling for the wrong guys. She’s in the spotlight and after a rumor gets started, she goes to her best friend Clarke to see if he would be up for a little engagement between friends! Lauren Layne is a fun author and the writing is fast paced and easy to fly through Overall a fun and engaging (pun not intended) read!

What are you reading right now?