Off-Topic Summer Reading

[annette]

I read Never Lie by Freida McFadden. It was a quick read that held my interest. I thought I had it figured out early on but I was wrong! Now back to Mussolini's Daughter. I started it a few weeks ago but needed a break.

[toaster]

A few days ago I started One Amazing Thing by Chitra Divakaruni - I'd read the author before, and I need a quick read before our vacation. It's better than the other novels I've read by her and I've been so engrossed in it that I'm almost finished.

The book I have for vacation by Agnes and the Hitman author Jennifer Crusie is Maybe This Time. I have also read her Welcome to Temptation, which was entertaining but not as good as Hitman, IMO.

[Schnauzeritis]

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[Laura S.]

I read Susan Wiggs' newest, Welcome to Beach Town. I inhaled it and didn't read anything else until I finished it.

Now I'm reading The Doublet Affair by Fiona Buckley and The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor, both of which I am enjoying.

[Rivercat]

I got The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni from the library earlier in the week and stayed up way too late the first night blowing through nearly half of it. Then it just kind of petered out and I struggled to finish. The central mystery is interesting but I didn't care what happened to the characters (except the dog). An ok light read but way too many details and threads that never really pan out.

[toaster]

I just got back from a week-long vacation; I finished 2 books and started a third (and am about halfway through that after reading on the plane).

Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie - a fun read from this author, similar to what I recall from Agnes and the Hitman, which I loved

A Little Romance by Roland Merullo - I LOVED the Breakfast with the Buddha series from this author, but this was just so-so; I couldn't get into the main characters

Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag - I mistakenly read the 2nd book in this "Oak Knoll" series first; it's a quick-read thriller and I like it so far

[Cleda]

And moving on.

Finished "Agnes and the Hitman". It was a quick read. I was sorta meh, but then it picked up.

stopped by the library on Thurs. to return my books. They are closing until August 21st for construction (new septic and something else). Didn't have some recommendations (that I got here and from my other librarian) but did put in for a hold on one of them. Got browsing around.

Picked up "I Will Find You" by Harlan Coben on the "new" shelf. Holy Mackeral! Started it on Friday, finished it Sat. morning. Not a big person for a thriller, but what a page turner. LOVED IT.

Now I'm on to "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt (didn't have the other Tartt book that was recommended upthread). A little daunting to me since it's so big. But I'll manage.

I also upped my good reads goal for 2023. I started conserative (cuz I don't read like you guys!!!) at 12, but have upped it to 20 having passed 12 already. Should still be fine.

Have a great day!
Cleda

[Carol K]

Donna Tartt should have come out with another novel by now, since she's published the last three 10 years apart. I'm following her on Goodreads, because if there's another one, I want to know as soon as possible.

I finished The Theory of (Not Quite) Everything and I loved it. I don't think it was expected to do well, because it just came out this year, but in paperback and my library system only ordered one copy. I had to rush to finish it because someone else in Chicago wanted to read it. I'm following that author as well.

[Laura S.]

I'm finished An Evil Heart by Linda Castillo. I enjoy this series and this book I enjoyed more than usual. I didn't see the twists that came in the story.

Now, I've started Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly by Marie Bostwick. It has taken me longer than usual to get into one of her books, but I'm enjoying it now.

And I'm finishing The Doublet Affair by Fiona Buckley.

[difit]

Here are a few new releases for August. Happy Reading!!

1st
Out of Nowhere - Sandra Brown
Death in Print (St. Just Mystery, book 5) - G M Malliet
A Troubling Tail (Bookmobile Cat Mystery, book 11) - Laurie Cass
Gone Tonight - Sarah Pekkanen
The Narrow - Kate Alice Marshall
A Deadly Dedication (Open Book Mysteries, book 4) - Margaret Loudon
The Hanging City - Charlie N Holmberg (fantasy)
Just Another Missing Person - Gillian McAllister
Tom Lake – Ann Patchett
Birder, She Wrote (Meg Langslow, book 33) - Donna Andrews
The Apology – Jimin Han
The Keeper of Hidden Books – Madeline Martin
To Catch a Storm – Mindy Mejia

8th
Find His Grave (Detective Chris Bailey, book 4) – Kate Watterson (kindle)
Honey Drop Dead (Tea Shop Mysteries, book 26) - Laura Childs
The Inheritance – Samantha Hayes
None of this is True - Lisa Jewell
The Paris Assignment - Rhys Bowen
Read to Death at the Lakeside Library (Lakeside Library Mystery, book 3) - Holly Danvers
Dead and Gone (Detective Annalisa Vega, book 3) - Joanna Schaffhausen
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store - James McBride
Mrs Porter Calling (Emmy Lake Chronicles, book 3) - AJ Pearce
Canary Girls - Jennifer Chiaverini

15th
Beneath Dark Waters (New Orleans, book 2) - Karen Rose
The Invisible Hour - Alice Hoffman
Thornhedge - T Kingfisher
Lion & Lamb - James Patterson and Duane Swierczynski
The Trade Off – Sandie Jones
The Bee Sting – Paul Murray

22nd
Talulah's Back in Town (Coyote Canyon, book 1) - Brenda Novak
Catch Me if You Candy (Bakeshop Mystery, book 17) - Ellie Alexander
Five Years After (John Matherson, book 4) – William R. Forstchen
Nine Lives and Alibis (Cat Cafe Mystery, book 7) - Cate Conte
Murder at a Cape Bookstore (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery, book 5) - Maddie Day
House of Odysseus (Songs of Penelope, book 2) - Claire North (fantasy)
State of Denial (First Family, book 5) – Marie Force

29th
Promise Me - Jill Mansell
Good Bad Girl – Alice Feeney
The Breakaway - Jennifer Weiner
Learned by Heart – Emma Donoghue
Happiness Fall – Angie Kim
A Chateau Under Siege (Bruno, Chief of Police, book 16) – Martin Walker