Summer reading is the best reading, isn’t it? This month, however, I do not have any beach reads to recommend!
Instead, I have a few gems that I enjoyed and can highly recommend to you. I started off the month noticing that I had several books on my shelf that had the word ‘half’ or ‘moon’ in them and thought that would be a great blog post.
Unfortunately, one of those books was really awful and I DNF. So, this post has no theme- just great books to try!
In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. This will not create extra costs for you at all! It will help me keep this blog running!
Halfway to You by Jennifer Gold
A recluse living in the San Juan Islands, a famous writer, and a love story… and that is only one of the characters!
Ann Fawkes left the United States as a young woman. Estranged from her mother, Ann decides to travel Europe and the Mediterranean using inherited money.
Her life is changed by two chance encounters with two men. One of those men will help her become the much-loved author of a bestseller. The other is the love of her life. Now an elderly woman, Ann decides she wants to be interviewed about her life.
The interview takes place with a young woman named Maggie.
Maggie is a journalist looking for a story that will be a big break for her career and interviewing a famous author is just what she needs. The only problem is that Ann will not tell her story unless Maggie agrees to keep it all off the record. She refuses to be taped as part of the deal.
Maggie desperately wants to complete the interview but why is Maggie so intrigued? Well, it seems that she and Ann share some history. How are these two women connected?
I enjoyed this book although it did have its moments when I had ti shake my head a little. Occasionally during her life Ann would react to something totally out of character. It was a little confusing. I will also honestly tell you that one of the men in this story was not likable AT ALL. YOu will have to read this book to find out which one.
I give this one 4 stars because I did love it! I was pleased by its resolution and I think you will like it, too!
The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane
Jess is an attorney and Malcolm has purchased a bar, the Half Moon, and the building that houses it. The purchase of the building was an expense the two could not afford due to the crippling debts incurred from fertility treatments.
Malcolm, despite his wife’s objections, made a deal with the previous owner and now owes more than he can repay from the profits, or lack thereof, from the bar. He is occasionally visited by a relation of the previous owner who threatens him.
As their marriage disintegrates, Malcolm and Jess face disappointments with their lives, their marriage, and their small town. Will they work it out? Will their story end tragically?
I give this book 4.5 stars. I loved it and can recommend it to you!
Drowning by T. J. Newman
If you follow book review posts, bestseller lists, or Goodreads, you have probably seen this author’s work.
Last summer the hype was all about her book Falling. I read that book and it was a wild ride.
The backstory is that Ms. Newman is a former flight attendant and she uses her knowledge of flying to write compelling stories. In Falling, Newman wrote about a plane that takes off with 143 people aboard and then the pilot is notified that he must crash the plane.
His family has been kidnapped and if he wants them spared he must kill all aboard the plane. A wild ride, indeed!
In Drowning, the story opens with a plane in flight that quickly crashes. Those aboard the plane must ditch the plane after it lands in the ocean. As it sinks a few people remain on board and somehow they are trapped in an air pocket and survive. Can they be rescued?
The characters include two children, an elderly couple, and a flight attendant. One of the engineers involved in the rescue is the wife of one trapped passenger which adds to the intensity of this story.
I listened to this book using Audible and suggest you do so as well. The narrators were excellent.
The story is fast-paced and you will be on the edge of your seat as you read (or listen). The backstories of each of the main characters are told as the drama continues, and there is a nice little surprise at the end. 4 stars for this thriller.
Try Audible books! I listen to something everyday- while walking, doing household chores or yardwork, and while driving.
Enjoy your books this fun summer month! Maybe I will feature a summertime beach read next month:)
I also read these books this month:
- The Comanche Kid (4 stars for this interesting fast-paced western)
- Starfish (4 stars for this poem-style book about weight issues
More Favorite Books!
