Linking up with Steph and Jana for another month of Show Us Your Books! I feel like a read a few really good ones this month. In fact, they were all decent reads.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

This book you guys!!! I had all the feels. I literally blubbered through sections of it and it was so captivating. Let’s get real for a second, shall we? Alzheimer’s scares the shit out of me more than most diseases. I mean, cancer is awful. But Alzheimer’s? It literally strips away every piece of you and leaves you a confused and lost soul. It is so hard for not only the victim of the disease, but the family and friends. I think that this book really put it in to the correct perspective and it was so beautifully done.

Bottom Line: Just read it!!!!

Rating: 5/5

Audio comment: I consumed this via audio book and the narrator wasn’t my favorite. She was sort of monotone but the story was so good I didn’t care.

Tempting Fate by Jane Green

I always feel like you can never go wrong with a Jane Green read. They are usually consistently good and easy reads. The premise of the book didn’t really excite me at first. I am not really a fan of reading about cheating in a marriage. I can’t understand that mindset. I have never, could never, would never cheat on anyone. Ever. So it is hard for me to read about it. However, the story line was very interesting. You really get to know the main character, Gabby, and all her thoughts and feelings.

There was one character that I got really mad at for the way she acted, but it was all part of the story and necessary so I get it. I felt like the author didn’t rush the story line and really let things build up and have a solid foundation. I will say that the ending was a bit too perfect of a bow.

Bottom Line: I really enjoyed this book. It had well developed characters and a decent plot. It was a solid read, what you would expect from Jane Green.

Rating: 4/5

Audio comment:Jane Green narrates this book herself so you get to hear it exactly as she meant for you too. I enjoyed it. And her English accent 🙂

The Restaurant Critic’s Wife by Elizabeth Leban

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book at first. Mainly I was irritated that Lila would let her husband’s job take over  her entire life. He didn’t want her to have friends or go back to a job she loved because he was afraid of being exposed. It’s one thing if you live cautiously for your job, but you can’t expect  your entire family to miss out on life happiness because of it! Besides that fact, I feel like we really got to know Lila as a character.

Bottom Line: The book dragged just a little in a few spots for me, but overall I enjoyed it. I would recommend it if you are looking for a light chick-lit type read.

Rating: 3/5

I received a copy of The Restaurant Critic’s Wife from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

This is my second read from Sarah Dessen. In the very beginning of the book, you get right to the main plot line…Haley receives a call from her best friend Scarlett while away at camp. Scarlett’s boyfriend just died in a motorcycle accident. Oh, and then we find out she’s pregnant with his baby.

This has your typical YA story line of the good girl falling for the bad boy, the transformation of a relationship with the best friend, an overbearing parent, and your typical high school drama. I really liked that things weren’t so perfect and the ending didn’t really wrap everything up in to a bow. It left something for you to wonder about.

Bottom Line: This is a solid YA read and I enjoyed it.

Rating: 3.5/5

Audio Comment: Decent narrator.

Don’t Tempt Me by Lori Foster

I actually read this book in about three sittings over two days. That is a rarity for me. What I really liked is that we got some character development before a romantic relationship ensues. I hate books where the relationship is rushed. I also really loved the plot line of this book with Honor’s issues with her family and her upbringing. The side characters had some development as well. I didn’t really care for the whole Lexi and Sullivan line because I felt like it was randomly thrown in. There is a little action in the book with crime going on in the neighborhood which was interesting too. The only thing I didn’t really care for is how perfect Jason was. No one is that amazing LOL.

Bottom Line: If you are in to love stories with a decent plot line, I would suggest this book. I appreciated that there was some depth.

Rating: 4/5

I received a copy of Don’t Tempt Me from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.

Sunset in Central Park by Sarah Morgan

This is a really cute love story between two people who were friends for a long time and realized they wanted more than that. It is the second book in a series, which I was not aware of until I went to add it to my Goodreads. You don’t need to read the first one to enjoy this one.

Bottom Line:  If you are looking for a light and fluffy love story, then this is it! There are a few hot and heavy scenes in the book, so I don’t recommend it if you are more conservative with your reads.

Rating: 3.5/5

I received a copy of Sunset in Central Park from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.

Currently Reading

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

I was really hoping to have this one completed for the link up but it is really long!!! I am doing it via Audible and I still have 9 hours left after listening to it for a week on my commute! I am enjoying it, but not as much as some of the other reads by her.

It’s book day! Crazy how fast that comes every month, right?! For June, my goal was to get through as many books on my shelf in Netgalley as I possibly could. You know, so I can request more and keep up my ration. Ha! But also to follow along with Dani and Erin‘s Read My Books challenge. Full disclosure, One True Loves was the only book that I did not have prior to this month, the rest I pulled from my Netgalley shelf from requests that were approved before June. A few of them may have been archived for more than a month….oops. Better late that never. Obviously I am also linking up with the queen(s) of books, Steph and Jana!

Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

This book is a retelling of Taming of the Shrew. One of my favorite movies, 10 Things I Hate About You is also a retelling of Taming of the Shrew. I found myself thinking of those characters a little as I read this novel. The book is short, less than 250 pages and I felt like Anne Tyler did a good job at retelling the famous comedy. The writing itself was great and if I didn’t know it was a retelling, I would have compared it to Taming of the Shrew.

Had this story been just a modern day tale, there are a few things that would have irked me about how Kate was just supposed to submit to her father and marry Pyotr. The way he is always expecting Kate to take care of him like its her life duty and such. But I appreciate all her snark and the contrast between her and her sister Bunny.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for a good retelling of Taming of the Shrew, this is it. It is a quick, summer read.

Rating: 3/5

I received a copy of Vinegar Girl from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I knew that when I saw this on Kristen’s list last  month. it would be right up my alley. I really enjoyed this book. What would you do if your husband was thought to be dead and you had moved on with someone else…..only to realize that he never died. I really liked the characters in this book, both guys were likable as was Emma. This was a beautifully told love story and I had my mind made up about half way through where I wanted Emma to end up in the end. And I loved loved loved the ending.

Bottom Line: Read it! I adored this book.

Rating: 5/5

That Darkness by Lisa Black

This book was just ok for me. There was a lot of action and an interesting story line, but it didn’t pick up as much as I would have liked until I was 80% in to the book.  While I appreciate all the crime scene analysis and details that make up the story, it was sort of boring at the same time. Perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood for this type of book when I read it? The book did make me question whether you should do the right thing or the legal thing. How I would feel if the justice system failed me. And my thoughts on vigilantes.

Bottom Line: If you are in to crime books, this would be a good option for you. I really did like the story line and concept of the book.

Rating: 3/5

I received a copy of That Darkness from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.

Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

I am a huge Janet Evanovich fan, I just love her Stephanie Plum series. I also recently read one of the books from her Fox and O’Hare series a few months back and it was great too. Curious Minds is (hopefully) a new series with Janet Evanovich pairing with Phoef Sutton. I really enjoyed this book!!! I liked Riley, the lead female character. She is sort of quirky like Stephanie Plum, but maybe put together a little more. And then there is Emmerson, the eccentric millionaire that grabbed my heart. These two made quite the team while trying to solve the mystery of fake gold in the Federal Reserve. I literally read this book in one day, that is how much I enjoyed it. I just flowed for me and I wanted to find out what was going to happen next!

Bottom Line: If you like the Stephanie Plum series or cozy mysteries in general, then this book is for you.

Rating: 4/5

I received a copy of Curious Minds from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

I was a little worried, as Giffin’s last book was pretty terrible, I knew this would have to be better. The chapters rotate between Josie and Meredith’s POV and I liked that. The book takes place in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. I lived in that area for several years and I loved hearing all the places I recognize like the OK Cafe, Tin Lizzy’s, Five Paces etc. I recognize all the street names and can picture everything as it is being described.

I liked that the characters of this book were relatable. You have one sister who seems to have the perfect life with the husband, the kid, the fancy career, etc and then you have the sister that is a little bit of a mess who appears carefree and selfish. But things aren’t as they seem. I liked that the characters weren’t perfect and it was a real sibling relationship.

Bottom Line: I really enjoyed this book. It was a great read and I really felt like I got to know the characters.

Rating:4/5

I received a copy of First Comes Love from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.

Wanting it All by Chrisi Barth

This is the second book in the Naked Men series. I reviewed the first book a few months ago. The Naked Men is actually a blog and podcast that a few best guy friends share where they are completely candid and uncensored about their real thoughts on topics. This book focuses on Knox, the incredibly successful and smart bachelor who typically goes through women like a buffet until he meets Madison. Madison is a strong and compassionate girl who has a one track mind to marriage. She is also in DC to find her long lost brother, none other than Knox’s best friend Logan. This was quite an interesting read watching Knox transform and see Madison adjust to big city living.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for a cute love story, this is it.

Rating:3/5

I received a copy of Wanting it All from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.

Currently reading:

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

It’s that time again. Book day!!! Let’s take a look at my books lately! After I got through the tragedy that was Exposure to a Billionaire, the book gods were kind to me and I had 4 really decent reads this month! I feel like I have something for everyone in at least one of these four books.

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley

You guys!!! Why do I do this to myself? All books with dogs are sad. You know you are going to cry. You torture yourself anyways for the beautiful, unconditional love story and this book delivers. Perhaps it is the timing of me reading this book, as my Gracie is climbing up in age and I know that her time here with me is limited. This book gave me all the feels. I broke out sobbing several times. Without giving too much away, Ted notices an Octopus(tumor) on Lily’s (dog) head one day and this book is about the emotional ride from that point forward, with a few looks back in the past. One piece of advice, make sure you have your tissues handy!

Bottom Line: If you liked Marley and Me or Art of Racing in the Rain then I would say this book is for you. If you have an 11 and 1/2 year old dog who is suffering from old age **cough cough me cough cough** and you need someone to relate with, then this book is for you. If you are looking for a good sob fest, then this book is for you.

Rating: 4/5

** I received an advanced copy of Lily and the Octopus from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Silver Bay by JoJo Moyes

This one started out a little slow for me, but once I got a few chapters in I was hooked! Don’t go expecting this book to be Me Before You, because it is not. And it isn’t fair to compare all of Moyes books to that one. This is still a great read. This is a slow building story that takes place in a sleepy seaside town in Australia. I really loved the characters and how they weren’t perfect. The book focuses around the locals love for marine life, in particular the whales and dolphins. The book is read in several points of view. I listened to it via Audible where the voices changed for each character so I had no problem keeping up but if you were reading it, you may take issue with it.

Bottom Line: I think this would make a great beach read. Or if you love marine  life! I would consider it your typical chit lit with a little love, a little drama, a little predictable.

Rating: 4/5

Fooling Around by Noelle Adams

This was a really cute love story that I can only describe as a romance version of Me Before You. I really enjoyed the characters and the story and it left me feeling happy. It isn’t profound or my blowing by any means, but I enjoyed it enough that I read it in two sittings. I rarely ever do that with a book.

Bottom Line:If you like cute love stories, this is a good one.

Rating: 3.75 or 4/5

** I received an advanced copy of Fooling Around from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Mug Shot by Caroline Fardig

This is the second book in the Java Jive series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. This series reminds me a bit of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. This book is set in Nashville and you have the resourceful heroine, the quirky set of friends, a little love triangle, and a fun plot to keep you interested the whole way through. Also, after reading this book I have officially picked up a new southern phrase that I can’t quit!!! Don’t be alarmed if you hear me exclaim “CHEESE AND CRACKERS!!!!” Next time something crazy happens.

Bottom Line: If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I would certainly give this series a try! If your are a Janet Evanovich fan, jump on this series!  It is a mystery but it has some cute and funny peppered in.

Rating: 4/5

** I received an advanced copy of Mug Shot from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

Other books I read this month:

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

Exposure to a Billionaire by Ann Menke

Plated by Elana Karp and Suzanne Dumaine

What I am reading now:

That Darkness by Lisa Black

Linking up with Steph and Jana. Have you read anything good lately?