Monthly Wrap Up | June 2020


WHAT HAPPENED IN JUNE
  • Two and a half months of working from home ended in June. I returned to the office on June 1st and it was a ghost town those first two weeks. Most people returned on the 15th. It was a new normal with no in-person meetings, masks being worn in the office, and frequent rounds by the cleaning crew, but it also made the transition back to the office easier.
  • I got an Apple Watch at the beginning of the month and now it harangues me about standing up from my desk all the time. So that's entertaining - especially when I'm busy and tell it to quit being so bossy. 
  • The COVID cases in Florida took a dramatic upturn in June and we saw day after day of record-high positive cases. And people were still walking around without a care in the world, not wearing masks, going to restaurants, shopping. It's mind-boggling.
  • A family health issue kept our minds occupied throughout the month. The results were mostly very positive and the relief was almost overwhelming.
  • And now the year is half over and what a strange year it has been. Scary and troubling and disturbing, but with bright spots in between. Despite what is going on the world, I am filled with such gratitude. I'm employed, I have a roof over my head, I have food on my table, The Husband is (as always) my rock and my touchstone, and my mother and my sisters remain healthy. I am so thankful.

WHAT I READ IN JUNE


I read ten books in June which is slightly more than my norm. So yay me. No five star reads, and a couple that were just okay, but it was still a good reading month overall.

That Forever Girl - Meghan Quinn | 4 stars
Dirty Charmer - Emma Chase | 4 stars
What You Left Behind - Jessica Verdi | 4 stars
The Clover Chapel - Devney Perry | 4 stars
Fight For Me - Corinne Michaels | 4 stars
That Secret Crush - Meghan Quinn | 3.5 stars
The Kingmaker - Kennedy Ryan | 4.25 stars
Losing the Field - Abbi Glines | 2.5 stars
Perfect Love Story - Natasha Madison | 3.25 stars
Inked - Sarah Darlington | 3.25 stars

FORMATS
Total Read: 10
4 physical books
3 audiobooks
3 Kindle/e-books
(1 ARC: Inked)

TOP OF THE HEAP
The Kingmaker
While I didn't have a five star read in June, The Kingmaker did stand out above the rest. Kennedy Ryan has a way of writing about serious, timely issues without being heavy-handed (and never preachy). And at the same time she weaves in characters and relationships that pack an emotional punch. Lennix and Maxim were such fully realized characters and their story unfolded in such a unique way. And that ending was the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers!  

THE ONE THAT WAS A BUDDY READ
What You Left Behind
What You Left Behind had been sitting on my shelf for almost five years. So it was kinda past time to read it. Sam and I decided to do a buddy read and I'm so glad we did. (Both our reviews can be found here at her blog.) It was easy to feel for main character Ryden. A single father at seventeen, this kid was dealing with way more than most of his peers. There were times I wanted to steer him in another direction, when I wanted to step in give him a reality check, but he figured it out in his own time. 

THE ONE THAT MADE ME RAGEY
Losing the Field
This book. Oh my goodness, it made me crazy. I came to dislike both main characters so hard. Nash was hypocritical and self-absorbed. Tallulah only lost weight for "revenge" (nice message to send there) and was also unbelievably clueless (are we actually supposed to believe that a teenager in 2018 doesn't know what a vlog is? Seriously?). Like most of Abbi's "heroes", Nash treated the girl he supposedly cared about like crap, assumed the worst of her (as did everyone else), and when he wised up at the very end she instantly forgave him. There was so much more but I'll leave it at that. (Until I read the next book in the series because I swear I just can't stay away. It's a sickness. Someone send help.)

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BLOG

I had 18 blog posts in June and shared six reviews: 

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING
     

King - T.M. Frazier
The Player - Claire Contreras
I'm totally into King - the book and the character. :) How Frazier manages to make these guys so likable is beyond me. I mean, she writes these guys that I would cross the street to avoid in real life. Total badass, on the wrong side of the law, and who generally just aren't good men. But Frazier shows a softer side (that's pretty well-hidden) and I find myself actually pulling for the guy. 

The Player still has me feeling kind of meh. I still don't feel I know much of anything about the main characters. Camila is super judgey about anyone with money and Warren's sole focus seems to be getting Camila into his bed so he can hit that before he leaves town in two weeks. So yeah... not a lot to make me care about either of these people or their outcome.   



WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE READ IN JUNE?

24 comments

  1. It is so crazy that we are already well into July. The year really is flying by, even if it feels like I haven't really done much. Also, I've been working from home now for longer than I've physically been at work this year. How crazy!

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    1. Wow, that's kind of bizarre - the fact that you've WFH more than in the office this year. 2020 is one for the history books!

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  2. I really liked What You Left Behind! Glad you finally read it and enjoyed it.
    Times have definitely been weird. I don't understand people just going around like everything is normal and refusing to wear masks in public places. Like, why?? What's so hard about being a decent person. I don't get it. I'm glad you and the family are safe and that the health news is mostly positive!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. "What's so hard about being a decent person?" Yep, there's the big questions, Lauren. Sadly, it just seems to be beyond some. :(

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  3. I'm glad your transition back to work has been pretty smooth. Our governor is now asking people to wear masks in public places where social distancing isn't possible, and he's getting a lot of flack for it.

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    1. Flack for trying to protect everyone... how crazy is that?

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  4. I love that your watch bosses you around too lol! I have a Garmin and it has changed my life so much since I got it. I have found so many ways to clear that move bar like even walking in place while brushing my teeth....I know, I'm ridiculous ha. And on no for cliffhangers, here's hoping you don't have to wait too long for that next book ♥.
    Jen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog

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  5. I love that you count your blessings.

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  6. These watches are so bossy, I have a Fitbit one, it’s always buzzing at me! I was supposed to fly to Orlando with my family in October, as I’m in Scotland we aren’t allowed to fly to the States just now but I’m kinda glad it was cancelled, it sounds like the cases are climbing, I’m not sure opening a Disney World is the best idea but I suppose the economy needs to be thought of too.
    It is mandatory to wear face coverings now in shops, it’ll be interesting to see if people do it.

    Stay safe!

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    1. Yeah, probably best it was cancelled, Heather. Things are definitely not good in Florida right now. We just recently had over 15,000 new positive cases in ONE DAY. It's a mess. :(

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  7. You had a great reading month! I'm glad you had so many positives this month to think about despite the rise in COVID cases. I hope you're staying safe and well!

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    1. Thanks Deanna. It's easy to get caught up in the negative so I try to focus on the positive.

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  8. I'm glad to hear that your transition back to the office has been pretty smooth and that the family health situation turned out okay as well. I loved reading your list about everything you feel grateful for. I find it very helpful during this stressful time to look for those bright spots in life. I hope you have a wonderful week!

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    1. Same here, Suzanne. I think it's important to remember what we have. It's not *all* doom and gloom.

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  9. I can't believe it when I see people without masks on in public, and I just read a headline that Florida just surpassed a daily record of Covid cases. Over 15,000! Wow! Glad your office is taking measures to keep everyone safe.

    I will have to try TM Frazier someday.

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    1. Yep, over 15,000 positive cases in one day. And the governor refuses to close anything down and impose restrictions. It's maddening.

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  10. I didn't know you were in a competition with your mom. LOL 10 books is not bad, and what, one stinker?

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    1. In competition with my mom? I think I missed something. LOL

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  11. What a strange year, indeed! I too am immensely grateful that I have my job, a roof over my head, food on the table and my family (and friends) have remained healthy throughout it all. Fingers crossed it remains that way the second half of the year for us all!

    10 books is pretty good! I've not been doing well with reading lately but The Song of Achilles and Daisy Jones and The Six rocked June's reading for me :)

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    1. I sure hope the second half of 2020 is better than the first... but at the current rate it's not looking great.

      Daisy Jones was such a great reading experience!

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  12. Glad the health scare wasn't more serious!! And it definitely sounds like you have a lot to be thankful for! I've been seeing people being laid off right and left here, and my heart goes out to them. Definitely thankful my husband's job is still safe for the moment!!

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    1. It's hard to see so many who have lost their jobs because of what's going on. I'm glad your husband's job hasn't been effected!

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