Travel months are usually good reading months for me.
Not this time!
Between a jam-packed, eleven-day Europe trip and a ten-day trip to visit family, my reading time significantly diminished! (Although plane rides did mean I finished two audiobooks this month.) I’m hoping to make up for lost time in June, because my Kindle is teeming with unread books, as is my physical TBR pile! And I am nearly at the halfway point in three books at the moment!
Let’s start with audio:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
I know I’m late to the game on this one (I usually am on “popular” books!), but I’m so glad I finally read it. Or rather, listened to it, as many reviews raved about the audio version. Such a creative and sweet story. I can’t wait to see the movie version with Sally Field as Tova! One note: of the four POVs in this book, one is a cusser. It fits the character, but I wanted you to know that curse words are a staple in his language.
The Bird of Bedford Manor by Michelle Griep
Historical romance with mystery. I liked the story, but the narrator did bother me a bit. Her accent was so posh it almost felt fake. But the story prevailed.
Two great historical novels this month:
The Women of Oak Ridge by Michelle Shocklee
I like Michelle’s books because they are not primarily romance. They really center on some historical tidbit. This dual-timeline (1970s & 1940s) was an exploration of the work on the atomic bomb at Oak Ridge, TN. Michelle weaves a great story with fact and fiction. So, so good.
Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill
When I read the first book in Crystal Caudill’s first series, I found myself wanting to know her friend’s story—a writer married to a police detective. Guess what? Her second series starts with that story! It made me so happy. Lots of action and danger—and romance. Looking forward to the rest of this series!
Contemporary romance had its share of books, too:
A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham
I do love a good rom-com, and Pepper is my current go-to for that! Loved this fun rivals-to-lovers story about a tea shop owner in a small North Carolina town whose world in completely upended by a pub-owning, coffee-drinking Brit next door!
The Top of the World by Elizabeth Camden
I loved the characters and their history in this book! And the Greenland setting was so interesting and unique. As usual, Elizabeth spins a great story with characters you want to root for.
Protector by Jennifer Pierce
Third book in the Heroes of Renegade series. I enjoyed this one a lot. Action. Suspense. Romance. And yet another question to answer for the overarching series story!
That’s it for this month. Hope it helps you find something good to read.
What was the best book you read in May?