May Readin' Roundup

For me, May was filled with lots of really good books.  I was able to finish seven books.  Four of them I gave 5 stars, the other three were 4 stars.  I was able to listen to two audio books, 3 of the books were released within the past couple of months, 1 is set to release in July and 1 was a highly acclaimed book from last year.   

Unfortunately, my June isn't starting out as great, but hopefully it will get better. 

FIVE STAR REVIEWS

Never Be Alone by Paige Dearth

Released in March 2018.  This book is by an independent author, who was at times homeless herself. 

Joon is eight years old when her parents are killed and she is put into the foster care system. For 4 years, she is with the same family, but the way they treat her is worse than you would an enemy. When Joon has her chance, she runs away an tried to make a life for herself on the streets. She sees more in her short life than many people experience in an entire lifetime. Will Joon be able to survive on the streets or will she succumb to the pressures of drugs and prostitution?

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Released in April 2018, this book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.  

Ten years ago, Ellie Mack went missing. The police think she is just another teenage runaway, but her mother, Laurel, doesn't believe that for a second. Ellie's disappearance destroyed the family and now that her remains have been found, Laurel will finally have some closure. When she meets Floyd, it's like she's getting a second chance at life. But when she meets his daughter, Poppy, life comes to an alarming halt. Poppy looks so much like Ellie, but why? Of course people look like other people all the time, but there is just something about this child that keeps Ellie at the forefront. When Laurel discovers a connection between Floyd and her family, she embarks on a journey to find out exactly what happened to her daughter and who did it.

The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn

Released at the end of last year, I had seen this book on Instagram, Goodreads, and Facebook and everyone I know enjoyed it, so I had to give it a try.  It was a great story, with a twist I didn't see coming.  

Dr. Anna Fox has been in her house for the past ten months. After an accident involving her husband, daughter and herself, she became agoraphobic. She now spends her days staring out of her windows, spying on her neighbors and keeping up with all the comings and goings of the neighborhood. When a new family moves in across the park from her, she is immediately drawn to the mother and the son, a single child family like her own. They come over to introduce themselves and she feels an instant connection. But then Anna thinks she sees a crime being committed at the neighbors house. Did she really see something or is the combination of medications and alcohol blurring the lines of reality and fantasy? Will the authorities believe her or will they believe the family and the rest of the neighborhood that Dr. Fox is just a crazy, drunk, cooped up lady. 

Dares, Lies & Geminis by Kat Alexander

Released in May 2018, I received a request from this author to read this book about a week before it's release.  I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish the book on time, but I was determined.  I shouldn't have worried.  This book was so hard to put down from the very beginning.  The twist in this book, which you normally don't see in a romance novel will leave your jaw on the floor. 

Tristana and Peter live as roommates in a boarding house in Virginia. When they first meet, there is an instant connection between the two. Tristana, though, is too involved in her work and Peter is still working out issues of his own after the death of his brother. 

Seraphina is a club girl who likes going out and finding the bad boys. Men that are willing to cheat to have a piece of her. Nathan stand on the sideline and watches her, trying to figure out why she is doing this to herself. But he is always there to step in in case there is a problem. 

Will these couples ever get their lives together in order to be much happier as partners instead of singles? Will Tristana be able to break out of her shell around Peter? Will Nathan ever reveal himself to Seraphina and tell her his true feelings?

FOUR STAR REVIEWS

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

This book doesn't come out until July.  I was graced with an Advanced Reader's Copy and this book is very creepy.  Makes you want to watch your back around your kids. 

Hanna is seven years old and the apple of her father's eye. In his mind, she is his perfect little girl, his "lilla gumman". Suzette is Hanna's mother and she does all she can for Hanna, by home schooling her. But Hanna refuses to speak and has gotten kicked out of a few schools for her bad behavior. Is she not speaking because something is wrong or because she chooses not to? After countless doctor's visits, Suzette and Alex are at their wits end to find out what is wrong with their daughter. Hanna does not like her mother and will stop at nothing until it's just her and Daddy. 

The Fix by David Baldacci

My mom first introduced me to David Baldacci's books.  My son loves to listen to the Amos Decker books with me.  This is book #3 in the series. 

It's a typical day for Amos Decker. He is on his way to the Hoover Building in downtown Washington, DC when a man pulls out a gun and shoots a woman right in front of FBI Headquarters. Then he turns the gun on himself. What the hell just happened and most importantly for Decker to find out, why? This is Decker's second case working for the FBI and they've moved him and Jamison from Quantico up to the Washington Field Office. Why would someone choose to shoot another person in front of the FBI building? Why would a successful businessman with a family do such a thing? What did the woman he kill do? Will Decker and his team be able to answer these questions before it's too late?

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult's books always feel like stories ripped from the headlines.  They make you think and ponder life and all that is going on in our world. 

Sage is also in a grief group and has been since she lost her mother 3 years earlier. There is where she meets Joseph Weber. Joseph doesn't say much during the group, but when he shows up at the bakery just before Sage is about to start her shift, they strike up a friendship. Then Joseph asks Sage to do something that she can't imagine. When he tells her why, her feelings are mixed about what she should do. Joseph was an SS Officer for the Reich during WWII and Sage's family is Jewish. Joseph is a beloved member of the community so trying to match that person with someone who would have done so much evil in the world is hard for Sage to grasp. 

Click on any of the book titles above to see my full review of the book.  Dares, Lies & Geminis also includes an author interview. 

Share with me the books you read in May.

To order any of these books for yourself or a friend, click on the book covers below: