Vacation Time Reading 2019

It is that time of year again--vacation time. Whether vacation is hanging out at home and not running the daily work rat race or going somewhere special, we all need the time to get away. We are leaving for the Outer Banks on Saturday after dance recital, so the week is going to be hectic. Not sure what I will get done before I leave, but my books are already packed. I went through them today and took a few out to lighten the load and added a couple I had just bought.

Here is what is making the trip:

What are some books you're looking forward to taking on vacation?

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases of the Second Half of 2019

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Oh, two weeks in a row I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday. Could this be a trend? Probably not, but I will do my best.

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases of the Second Half of 2019

Things set in this time period often interest me and this book sounds amazing.

Debbie Macomber is so consistent with her stories, they always attract me. 

An interesting setting, secrets, and romance. What's not to like?

This one looks fascinating. Love the cover too.

Not my typical read, but it sounds fun.

Also, not my typical read. The blurb drew me in.

A mysterious book, a masquerade party in New York, a secret club and more? Count me in.

I have to, have to, have to catch up on this series. I love it, and this one is sure to please. 

I have enjoyed this series as well. I'm taking The Liberty Bride on vacation. I have three more to read before I get to this one.

What are some books you're eagerly awaiting? Are any of my books on your list?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - June 17

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome back to Monday. I hope all those dads and granddads had a nice Father's Day. We got together with family on Sunday, so my father-in-law and his two boys could have dinner together.

Work was unexpectedly busy this past week, so I didn't read as much as I would have liked. However, I did manage to review these two:

 Right now,  I am reading these two books:

I downloaded this book to read one day. It was a Kindle freebie for a while. It's the first book in Marilyn Meredith's Tempe Crabtree Mystery Series. I've loved this series since I started it, but I came in somewhere in the middle. I want to go back and read the previous ones.

I still have these that I need to review:

I am getting closer to being caught up, but it still might take me a while; especially with my devices on the fritz. 

What are you reading right now? Have you picked up anything outside of your usual genres lately? What is a summer read you are looking forward to diving into?

Book Review: Moments That Made America by Geoff J. Armstrong

If you enjoy reading about American history, you'll want to grab a copy of Moments That Made America by Geoff J. Armstrong.

In this first book of a planned series, Armstrong takes the reader from the birth of a continent that would one day contain the United States, through to the discovery of gold in California.

With this engaging historical perspective on America, one can learn about bits of history they forgot or didn't know much about. It's also a new way for history lovers to experience the past. It discusses historical figures, shares historical documents, and even mentions events that happened outside of the country that had an impact on America.

Other than the great storytelling, the other thing I enjoyed is that the sections were manageable enough in size for me to read a bit and then put the book down to go back to it another night.

I look forward to future books.



File Size: 1218 KB
Print Length: 236 pages
Publisher: History Publishing Company LLC (October 15, 2018)
Publication Date: October 15, 2018
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07JW2S9L6

I received a free copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Top Ten Tuesday: Unpopular Bookish Opinions

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Can you believe it has been four months since I participated in Top Ten Tuesday? Shame on me. This is one of my favorite memes and I haven't posted anything since February. Well, when I saw this week's topic, I figured it would be easy enough to share some thoughts. Here are my...

Top Ten Unpopular Bookish Opinions

1. Unexpected cliffhanger endings. I've paid for the book. Don't make me wait (and spend more money) to see how it ends.
2. Reading a book or series because it is wildly popular. I'm just not a very good follower. I remember the Harry Potter craze. Standing in line for a midnight launch would never be for me. I didn't even read the series until 2015. Still haven't read the Twilight series or The Mortal Instruments series. I haven't even cracked open the first book of the Outlander series, and I promoted the book for its twentieth anniversary.
3. Does it grate only on my nerves when someone says YA historical isn't popular? I knew a multi-published author whose agent wanted her to rewrite the whole book because YA historical doesn't sell. Is that really true? The BNTeen Blog came out with this list of YA historical novels they were looking forward to this year. There are a variety of lists from previous years too. 
4. Can we abolish the third person omniscient point of view? Give me a deep point of view from a character or characters. I don't want to see it all and know it all. I want to experience a story through its characters' eyes.
5. When all of an author's books seem the same. I have had to stop reading an author from time to time because every one of her stories seemed the same with different people. I'm not talking about knowing a genre well and writing to form. I'm talking not enough difference in the plots to distinguish book number one from book number six. 
6. Prologues that are more than one page shouldn't exist. We've heard people don't read prologues (well, I do). If that is true, why would they read a prologue that is multiple pages? 
7. Claiming authors are racist or prejudice when they are writing about their experiences during a certain point in time. In 2018, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award was renamed because the Association for Library Service to Children was opposed to Wilder's depictions of Native and African Americans. News flash: we can rename every award, we can topple every Confederate statue, and change the name of every street and building in America that bears a slave owner's name or the name of a member of the Confederacy, but it won't change America's history. There are dark parts to American history. Evil has existed since the beginning of time. It will exist despite our best efforts. Instead of trying to eradicate our past, teach the past to our youth, and teach them to be kinder, more loving, and more tolerant than those who came before them.
8. There's a lot of talk of empowering girls and young women. I support it and search it out for our daughters. But, boys and young men are the ones who now seem left behind. How about we focus on books that empower kids and young people.
9. Bad editing. No editing. I am the worst self-editor. I can't even imagine trying to edit my own work before it is published. It should never happen. Get references before you pay any money, but please have a professional editor polish your book.
10. Book descriptions that don't match the contents. Thankfully, I've only read a few of these. When you dive into a book expecting one thing, yet, get another, it's disappointing. 

What are some of your unpopular bookish opinions?

Free on Kindle: Deadly Omen, Book 1 of the Tempe Crabtree Mystery Series by Marilyn Meredith

A candidate for princess is murdered at a Native American pow wow while Tempe Crabtree is working there in her capacity as deputy. Tempe's investigation takes her onto the Bear Creek Indian Reservation. Her search for the killer puts her job in jeopardy, strains her marriage, and almost gets her killed.

File Size: 2916 KB
Print Length: 213 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1096900319
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: 31 Months LLC; 3 edition (May 4, 2019)
Publication Date: May 4, 2019
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07RGCVSYK

Book 1 of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. Purchase here!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Jun 10

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

It is the second week of June. How is it the second week of June already? Didn't spring just start? Now, we are closer to summer. Well, at least that means vacation is on the horizon.

I've already put together my reading pile for the two weeks in NC. Both my Kindle and Kindle Fire are acting cranky, so I'll bring them, but not sure what I'll be able to read on them. Grrr!

In case you missed it, I reviewed this one on Friday. You can read the review here.

I finished this book and my review will appear this Friday at An Imperfect Christian Mom.

I am currently reading these three. 

This pile is going on vacation with me at the end of the month. 

Yes, Marilla was supposed to be my first read of the year. I started it, but got busy with books to review. I'm determined to read it while we are away.

I just bought this one. No, I don't need more books. This is just one I really wanted. The hubby wants to read it too, so that made spending the money on it easier.

This is for a review. August, I think. 

What is on your list this week? Anything new and exciting to share?