Reading Wrap Up

Another week has come and gone.  Spent a fun weekend playing with my grandson.  He is going to be a giraffe for Halloween (pictures to come!).  There was left over paint from the kitchen so the bathroom has a fresh coat of paint. The leaves are starting to fall.

Kiss Me by Susan Mallery

Phoebe has been temporarily suspended from her job because of actions by a a co-worker.  Her friend Maya invites her to come home with her as she needs to check in with her brothers Chase and Zane.  Her youngest brother has gotten himself in a bit of trouble by selling ticket's to a cattle drive that doesn't exist.  In order to avoid criminal charges Zane decides to take the tourists on the drive.  Phoebe tags along and charms Zane.  Always great to visit with characters from Fool's God.

Facing the Music by Andrea Laurence

Pop star Ivy is asked to be the headliner for her hometown's fundraiser to rebuild the gymnasium after a tornado.  Ivy is reluctant to go because the song that shot her to stardom, "Size Matters" was written about her hometown boyfriend Blake who has moved back to town after a career ending NFL injury.  Needing to stay out of the limelight for a bit as well as wanting to help out her hometown she agrees. Not everyone is glad to have her back in town. A funny, heartwarming second chance love story. 

Two Across by Jeff Bartsch (audio)

Stanley and Vera meet as teenagers at a National Spelling Bee Championship in 1960.  They end up a co-winners that sets off a long and complicated relationship.  Vera is a math whiz and can't wait to get to college.  Stanley lives under the thumb of his agoraphobic mother who has grand plans for him, but he just wants to get away.  Stanley comes up with a plan that he and Vera fake a marriage and split the presents so he can move away. He plans to create crossword puzzles. Vera goes along with the plan, because she loves Stanley. The story is told in their voices, gets off to a great start, falls a bit in the middle, but ends well.  A debut novel narrated by Andrew Eiden. 

*Thanks to Hachette Audio for this review copy*

At The Water's Edge by Sara Gruen

After Maddie, her husband and their friend Hank make fools of themselves at a 1945 New Year's Eve party, Ellis has the perfect idea to get them back into his parent's good graces.  They will travel to Scotland and finish his father's search for the Loch Ness Monster.  The trip over there is horrendous, and Maddie's eyes are beginning to be opened to Ellis's character.  Once they arrive Maddie begins to realize just how selfish a life she has been living. Ellis and Hank disappear for days at a time and she befriends those at the Inn.  As things unravel, Maddie has grown as a person and is looking for a different life than the one she has been living.  While the ending it a bit over the top, it was a satisfying story.

What I Plan To Read Next:
I Crawl Through It by A.S. King
The Mask by Taylor Stevens
Target Engaged by M.L. Buchman




Linking to these memes:

Sheila at Book Journey has passed the baton on to Kathryn at Book Date to host this weekly event where we celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.