September Reads

It’s been a grueling month for us over here—with a vacation to give a bit of reprieve. So you know what that means—lots of reading! So here’s the rundown: 

Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsdem

What a great and unusual WWII story! It told elements of history I had heard nothing about. Set in Hollywood in the 1930s, it concerns the rise of the Nazi party in California. It drew me in from the very first minute. 

Cook for Me by Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith has a new series! The Perfect Passion Company is a series of “shorts” about a matchmaking service in contemporary Edinburgh. This, the introductory story, was sweet and quirky, like all of AMS’s books. Which is why I love them. 

After Anne by Logan Steiner

I listened to this novel about L.M. Montgomery’s life after Anne of Green Gables was published before we went on our trip to Prince Edward Island. There were a few writing quirks I probably wouldn’t have noticed except in the audio version, but that aside, I kept waiting for some happiness in the story. There wasn’t much. It made me sad. Honestly, not the place I wanted to go during this stressful month, but there you go. If you want happy, this isn’t your book. But it was interesting. I just can’t decide if I’m happy I know all that heartache or not. 

Jilted by Carla Laureano

A lovely contemporary short romance set in Belize. We were supposed to go to Belize on a cruise one time and didn’t stop there due to weather. But after reading this, I kind of want to go! A much-needed “happily ever after” story. 

A Trail Untamed by Lacy Williams

Even though I read this as an editor, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, as I have this entire series. So many disasters on a wagon train! And yet every one of them believable. Can’t wait to see who gets together in the next book! 

Creed by Susan May Warren

Wow. A wild ride to finish the Minnesota Marshalls series. I love that Fraser’s and Creed’s story started in the first book and ended in the last one. The Royals in this series were a fun addition, too. 

Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder by Grace Ruth Mitchell

I have no idea how this book ended up on my list, but I’m so glad it did! What a delightful mix of cozy murder mystery and romance. The characters were fabulous and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. 

The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency by Lydia Travers

I picked this one up for a few reasons. First, Scottish. Second, historical cozy mystery. Third, I got both the ebook and the audiobook, so the delightful Scottish accents of the narrator plus the ability to finish it at night when I needed to know “who done it.” Apparently, it’s a series. I’ll probably read the next one at some point. 

The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maas

Mr. Maas taught from this book at the recent ACFW session I attended, so I was glad I already owned it and could come home and read the concepts in more depth. It was quite interesting in terms of writing, but I also found it fascinating in its insight into reading. I have a feeling I’ll be going back to this book a lot. 

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

Okay, not my cup of tea. I picked this one up on vacation because the used bookstore we were in had a “buy 2 get 1 free” sale. This was our free one. I chose it because we kept hearing about it when we visited Edinburgh last year. It’s a short book, and I kept waiting to discover the reason it’s a “classic.” I never did. I ended up leaving the book at our hotel, not even brining it back home. 

Looking forward to what’s up in October!