I’ve had a busy month. Spring  Summer seems to be in full swing here. I’ve ordered the girls each a box from Owlcrate for Easter. They are so excited. I’ve been chipping away at my reading list, acquiring books for summer reading. Apparently, I wanted to read one book so bad I bought it twice 🙂 I haven’t accomplished much writing but I have been busy submitting my work to publishers, agents, and magazines. So that is something.

My books:

• Caraval by Stephanie Garber- I enjoyed this, it’s a beautiful book, but I don’t know if I like it enough to read the next one.
  
• The Positive Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
• The Urban Setting Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi. I skimmed through both of these. I’m not counting them as true reads.
• Body Trauma by David W. Page, MD. I read the introduction and first chapter before I moved this to my research shelf. It’s a bit dry but will make a great resource when writing scene’s involving death and/or injury. Not including it in my reading count.
• The Ice Dragon by George R.R. Martin. I read this in one sitting. Tiny little read with beautiful illustrations. Hated the ending. But a nice read.
• Out of the Silent Planet Book 1 of the Space Trilogy by C.S.Lewis. I tried to read it I really did. I love C.S. Lewis but I could not get through this. I may try again later.

Library Books:

• Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Didn’t finish.
• If I Stay by Gayle Forman I enjoyed it more than expected but not enough to read more of the series.

Kindle Books:

• Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia. I loved it. Is that wrong? I knew the voice, it’s so Southern. I swear I grew up in that little town.
• Auntie Mamie by Patrick Dennis. Again, I tried and failed. It just “read” so dated. That’s my issue with most older fiction– it’s old.

WOW! I actually tackled every book on my list. That’s a new record!

Books also read:

• Double Strike by Gretchen Archer If you have not read a Davis Way Caper give it a go. It is crazy funny.
• Double Jinx  by Gretchen Archer– a short story
• Blubber by Judy Blume — this was my selection for a banned book. I borrowed it from the library and someone went through and blacked out the curse words. So I guess it was banned and censored 😉
• The Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. This was my selection for a book recommended by a librarian. I really enjoyed it, the book is written similar to an autobiography. It was different, I’ll look into reading the next two in the series.
• Pillow Stalk (Madison Night Mystery #1) by Diane Vallere. I received this book through a giveaway with Henery Press. I’ve had my eye on this book for a while. Women who look like Doris Day are being murdered in present-day Dallas! The book is dotted with names and references from the film Pillow Talk. I remember watching that movie as a kid. I loved it. And let’s face it, Rock Hudson is still dreamy.

That’s 9 books this month with a total of 22 out of 80 for the year.  I think my favorite book was Pillow Stalk. I just really enjoyed the characters and the mystery.

What was your favorite read this month?

-CK