Monthly Wrap Up | April 2020

WHAT HAPPENED IN APRIL

• April was another looong month. How is it possible we're only four months into 2020? This year already seems endless. 
• I shopped online all month and apparently considered the delivery guys my connection with the outside world. Whatever works, amiright?  
• I went into the office twice during the month, only briefly - an hour or two each time, and it was surreal. Empty parking lot, empty hallways... and each time my boss and I had a big reunion (from a distance) and acted as though we hadn't seen each other in a year. LOL
• My younger sister had a birthday and The Husband retired. We couldn't celebrate either of those events but we'll make up for it when we can. 

WHAT I READ IN APRIL

I read eight books in April, same as March, so apparently that's my new normal. (I was watching a BookTuber last night who read 31 books in April. What the heck? That's more than a book a day!) I had one that I struggled to get through, but I also had a few that were big hits so I'm calling it a successful reading month.

Hold on Tight (Sea Breeze #8) by Abbi Glines | 3.5 stars

Risky Play by Rachel Van Dyken | 3.5 stars

Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon | 5 stars

Until the End (Sea Breeze #9) by Abbi Glines | 3.5 stars

Cake (Cake #1) by J. Bengtsson | 4.5 stars

The Coppersmith Farmhouse by Devney Perry | 4.25 stars

A Stone in the Sea by A.L. Jackson | 2.75 stars

Sure Shot (Brooklyn #4) by Sarina Bowen | 4.25 stars

FORMATS

Total Read: 8

2 physical books

3 audiobooks

3 Kindle/e-books

(2 ARCs: Where the Lost Wander, Sure Shot)

TOP OF THE HEAP

Where the Lost Wander

I did a post in March, I think, of five star predictions and Where the Lost Wander was on that list. I'm happy to say it totally lived up to my expectations, and even exceeded them. Amy Harmon always impresses me and she truly wowed me with her latest. Where the Lost Wander was tough to read at times because these characters on a wagon train from Missouri to California had more then their fair share of danger and loss and heartache. But it was also a phenomenal story of courage and family and endurance and love. It was also a pretty great reading experience because The Husband and I read it at the same time and discussed it as we went.  

THE ONE THAT WAS A CLOSE RUNNER UP

Cake

I'd had Cake sitting in my Audible library for ages before I finally decided to give it a listen. I'm not sure what I was expecting but I for sure wasn't anticipating a story that had me so completely sold on both characters. Casey was so down to earth and Jake's background was heartbreaking. I was pulling so hard for those two... and Bengtsson strung me along till the very end. LOL I'll definitely be continuing on with the companion books in the series.

THE ONE THAT INTRODUCED ME TO A NEW AUTHOR

The Coppersmith Farmhouse

I've been saying "I really want to read something by Devney Perry"  for at least two years. And in April I finally made that happen. The Coppersmith Farmhouse was such a good reading experience. I can't even say that it was super original or remarkable, but I just enjoyed reading it so, so much. Loved the female main character, loved the protective nature of the male MC, loved the sub-plot, the writing, the romance. It was just a great read and I'm ready to read more by Perry.

THE ONE THAT TURNED ME OFF AN AUTHOR

A Stone in the Sea

I'd actually forgotten that I'd already read something by A.L. Jackson. Or rather, that I'd tried to read something by Jackson. Because I disliked the writing style so much that I DNF'd it in the second chapter. So there was that. I started A Stone in the Sea and quickly took a dislike to the writing style but I stuck with it because I was curious about the story. Not only was there so much about the writing that annoyed me, but the story was overly dramatic and ended on a cliffhanger. So it's official: I am d-o-n-e with A.L. Jackson. 

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BLOG

I had 16 blog posts in April and shared four reviews: 

• Birthday Girl - Penelope Douglas
• Come Back For Me - Corinne Michaels
• Great and Precious Things - Rebecca Yarros
• Where the Lost Wander - Amy Harmon

I shared my favorite book recommendations from friends, I talked about books I loved but rarely mention, and I even invented some bands from book titles.

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING

Big Summer - Jennifer Weiner

So when I first requested Big Summer it had a release date of May 19. I started it last Friday knowing that I had plenty of time to read and review it. Well, surprise, sometime in the interim the release date changed to May 5. I'm only about 30% in so obviously my review won't be posted by release day (which is probably when this post is going up) but what can you do?  

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE READ IN APRIL?