September Book Pick of the Month

 I really like the books that Melanie Benjamin writes, she tends to drop me, the reader, in spots that I could never find myself in and they are all very interesting.  This month's pick is one that is set on the beach, that in itself is a place I don't much care for (the sand!), but I found myself sucked into this one from the start.  It is the story of two sisters, Mindy and Ginger, that bonded in childhood simply because they were afraid social services would tear them away from their mom.  Their mom wasn't an abuser, she was just a mom. that wasn't present.  Her life revolved around surfing and doing whatever it took to keep her top surfer status.  She would cart the girls off to many different locales but would tend to ignore them so she could compete.  The system the girls put in place worked beautifully for a while and then the girls were old enough to surf with mom.  Here is where the story gets interesting, think about it, two girls about to go through puberty and trying out their talents at their mom's sport.  

Fast forward a bit and the girls are apart, they don't even know where the other one is living. You will have to read to find out what happens to cause this and how the book ends, but I think you will enjoy the ride.

Isn't the cover gorgeous? 

2023 Summer Reading Guide

 The new guide is here!! This summer I chose books that I loved that I hoped you would love too.  I added some different categories that could fit into our busy lives.  I would love to know what you think about any of the books on this list.  

Click the link for a downloadable copy and thank you for stopping by.  

June Book Pick

 I will be the first to admit that I don't enjoy country music, but I will also admit that there are some excellent stories in those classic country songs.  This book was like a country song from start to finish, trials, tribulations, sex, cheating, rags to riches....it is all here.  

Lillian Water's doctor told her she will soon lose her health battle and the voice that made her a country music mini-queen.   She knew she had to go out and do the thing she loved the most, play music. She gathers her band and heads out for that Farewell Tour.  While we travel with Lillian through life and touring, she gives us a look into her past.  It is an ugly past full of alcohol and forced sexual encounters (this is a warning if you don't like to read about these subject matters).  

Lena was born poor, she went to work when she was a child because it was the only way that she could eat.  From an early age she loved music and one day she figured out how she could get that first guitar.  Once the guitar goal was obtained she headed to make her dreams come true. The guitar was her everything.  She escaped her horrible young life for a life of music, but here at the end of her career, she needs to go home to fix some broken fences.  

I read the print book because of the cover, I mean look at this, it is gorgeous, then I loved the book so much that I did the audio.

  I am going to recommend the audio because the narrator embodies what you think Lena/Lillian would sound like and in a couple of spots, she sings to us.  

May book pick

 I finished this book back in November and could not wait to share it with the world!!! Susan Meissner is my top favorite author right now.  She always writes a book that gives me a story I didn't expect, a setting that is familiar, but not like other books and she gives me a book that I have trouble putting down.  I would love to know what you think about this one.  It hasn't become my favorite Meissner book, but I would say it is a solid #3.  What are 1 and 2???? A Fall of Marigolds and As Bright as Heaven

Here is my review from November....

Susan can always tell a story that will pull me right into the middle and make me feel all of the emotions and this one is no exception. This one is about a young lady named Rosie, who is raised on a vineyard where her father was employed. One day her family was killed in an accident and she was the sole survivor. The vineyard owners, Truman and Celine, took Rosie in as her guardians. The whole plan was to use Rosie as a maid and not raise her as their child. The story pivots on one fateful night and Rosie later discovers that she is pregnant.

There is a second storyline that features Truman's sister, Helen, as a caregiver for children overseas in pre-war Europe. She and Rosie had developed a relationship over the years whenever Helen visited the vineyard and Helen had written letters to Rosie. They both had a deep friendship.

War then breaks out and uproots everything. Pregnant Rosie is sent away and Helen is struggling to survive in Europe. Each of them longs to talk to the other one and is trying to discover a way out of the turmoil around them.

You're going to love this one!!

April Book Pick

 I was in a Daisy Jones and the Six vibe because everyone has been talking about the book again (thanks to the TV show) so I picked up this book.  I loved this dual timeline book from the first chapter.  Jackie is the niece of a famous rock star and her well-to-do parents let her go speed the summer with her uncle and her first cousin, Willa at a home named The Sandcastle.  Jackie tells us all about the things they did, the places they hid, the family fights, and how she longed to stay at The Sandcastle forever.  Forever lasted about two years, until someone dies and someone never returns.  

Fast forward to 1999, Jackie inherited The Sandcastle and wants to get rid of it as quickly as possible.  There is a musician on-site
recording an album and the two of them form a friendship and figure out how a person can heal from their past.   

March Monthly Book Pick

 I have been waiting for this book to be released so I can share it with you.  I really tried to not pick too many WWII books, but I can't help it with this one.  Pam Jenoff is one of the greats and you won't be sorry if you read this one.  

Here is the review that I wrote last month....

Ms. Jenoff is one of my favorite WWII writers.  She always tries to come up with a unique story about a woman that tries to save something.  This time Hannah is trying to save Jewish people in a Sapphire Network.  She ends up making a mistake that will cost her cousin, Lilly everything.  Hannah will now have to try and make amends to her cousin, while still trying to keep herself safe and the man she loves.  There's a little twist with that man, watch out for him.  

This is a WWII story, there will be death, there will be suffering, there will be sorrow, and war is hell after all....but Ms. Jenoff always finds some good and I think she was so successful.  I hope she has a brilliant launch to this book because it is superb.  

Please let me know what you think about this one, and if you have never tried a book by Pam before and loved this one, please try another, they are all wonderful.  

Review: Code Name Sapphire

Code Name Sapphire by Pam Jenoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

February Book Pick

 Not a WWII book, I am trying so hard to get out of that genre...this one interested me the second I saw the cover.  As a matter of a fact, I didn't even read the synopsis, I just started reading and I am glad that I did.  Obviously, it features Memphis, TN in some way, but what you can't tell by the cover is this book covers a couple of generations of a family. I just adore these kinds of books that will take us through the lives of a family over the years.  Even though there are many characters, I believe Joan is the main one. You see things happen to Joan when she is a child and then see her become an adult that uses art to hopefully change lives.  

When I finished the book I read about it, I now see it is a debut novel (exceptionally well done, I must add) and the author said it was the type of fairy tale she wanted to read as a child.  Actually, I am going to quote the synopsis from Goodreads because it is written much better than I could.

Inspired by the author's own family history, Memphis--the Black fairy tale she always wanted to read--explores the complexity of what we pass down, not only in our families, but in our country: police brutality and justice, powerlessness and freedom, fate and forgiveness, doubt and faith, sacrifice and love.

This book is perfect for now!!! So far, it is my favorite book of the year (book #12).   

 

First Read with Michelle book pick of 2023

If you are returning to my book pick list, thank you for coming back.  If you are new to Read with Michelle, thanks for stopping by and I hope you find some inspiration.  Whichever category that you belong to, please be sure to return to my Facebook page and share your thoughts on this book, or any book for that matter, sharing is caring!!! Near the last day of every month, I would love it if you would share all your books that you read that month, whether it is one book or twelve, please just share your love of books!!! 

 

*If you are looking for a way to sum up your 2022 reading life, I have created a list here.  I find it fun to rate the books I have read in a top ten list and other random facts. I have been making top ten lists since 1996 and it is fun to look back on some of these books and smile at the memory or wonder why did I choose that one? 

*If you are looking for a challenge in 2023, here is my reading challenge. I encourage you to be creative with the prompts and remember to read what you like.  If you don't like a category, change it!!! 

*Follow me on Goodreads if you want to learn about books that are soon to be published, I read a lot of fiction books before they hit your shelves and many of them will end up as a monthly book pick before the year is over.  

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Now for January's book pick.  I was looking for something fresh and different and NOT a World War II book.  What I found was a book about a future First Lady that I found unique and worthy of a share.  

Imagine reading about an icon before she was a household name? We all know her name, Jackie Kennedy, but do we know how she became "Jackie Kennedy"? 

  Jacqueline Bouvier wasn't sure what she wanted to do outside of spending a year in Paris.  Somehow she convinced her mother to let her go to school in Paris for her junior year of college.   It would be a year that Jackie would experience freedom from her home life and what was expected and she could just be Jackie.  While she is discovering her path, she is traveling through a countryside that still felt the sting of WWII.  You will see the characters weave in and out of areas still feeling the destruction from the Occupation and see the strength of Parisians during the rebuilding.  I couldn't just quit the WWII books that easily :). 

It was nice to see a Jackie that I didn't know, a carefree young woman discovering who she wants to be and experiencing love with Paris as a backdrop.  

Thanks again for stopping by, I hope you will enjoy this year's monthly books. There are many on this year's that are simply spectacular!!! I will try to publish the next pick around the 20th of each month, just in case you want to read the book during that month, but feel free to skip around, mix it up, and do your own thing.  Come back and share what you thought on the blog or the Facebook page, Read with Michelle.  

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2023 Read with Michelle Reading Challenge

 Good day to you,

I hope you are doing fantastic today!  We are getting so close to the start of 2023.  I realized today that I needed to get on my yearly reading challenge and so here it is for you.  

Remember that I never want you to look at anyone's reading habits/achievements but your own!! You own your reading life.  It is never about the number you read, or the genre you choose unless you wish for it to be that way.  If you read one book a year, or 200, you are a success in your reading life!!  

I release a challenge for fun.  If you want to use it to motivate you, please do so.  If you want to use it to inspire yourself, please, I would be honored if you did so.  If you wish to bypass this post, then I support you in that too.  My goal is for you to be a happy reader!!! I think you are a successful reader and I just want you to be happy!!!  

I hope I do inspire you to get out of any box you feel you are in, and I encourage you to inspire me too!!! I would love to hear how your reading life is going, and new books that you love and I would love to hear about any books you think I MUST read.  

I look forward to reading with you in 2023, thank you for your support.  

December book pick

 When I was a high schooler, I did enjoy the required reading of The Scarlett Letter.  I have probably read it 10 or 15 times over the last 35 years.  This book attracted me because of the cover, and then I found out it was about the inspiration behind the telling of The Scarlett Letter.   

 Isobel married for what she thought was love, to a man she thought she would love forever.  He was going to provide everything she needed and he dabbled in medicine.  Isobel was a brilliant seamstress, almost witch-like with the needle she was which was fitting as she was descended from witches.  

I won't tell you how she and her husband arrived in Salem, but they did.  They lived in a little cottage in a town that once murdered "witches". Here is where Isobel meets Nathaniel Hawthorne and the sparks fly, the townspeople mention witchcraft and a book is born.  

That's it, I will tell you no more.....just read this, it is a scandalous tale in so many ways, and beautifully written.  The cover is equally attractive....look at this gorgeous thing!! 

November Book Pick

 It is no secret that I am a big fan of Gill Paul.  I think I have loved every book she has written.  My favorite is still the one about Wallis Simpson and Diana Spencer, The Other Woman's Husband, but I think this one might be my second favorite.  I simply love to read about this time period, the Jazz Age.  This book is about four women, three of which are writers, and one is an actress, that forges a deep friendship over a game of bridge.  

They each have different experiences with romance and careers, but their lives still intertwine at every intersection and with every relationship.  Three of the women have their lives more together than Dorothy Parker does, and they seem to always be there to help her in the latest crisis.  Dorothy is pretty much all about sex, booze, and jazz, and every once in a while she puts together some brilliant writing.  

I could not help thinking the whole time I was reading this, if Dorothy really lived this hard, I just can't imagine how she ever wrote a thing.  

Oh, one more thing, one of the girls in this novel, in real life co-founded The New Yorker.  I found that fascinating.   ENJOY!!

October book pick

 Good day to you all,

I am so excited to bring my October book to you, I read this book many months ago and found it thrilling!!!  Actually, today, September 20, is the publication day for this book! 

It is by Susan Ella MacNeal, the author of the Maggie Hope book series (if you have not read Maggie's books and like WWII fiction, check them out).  Susan Ella has written a stand-alone book this time around that kept me on my toes and had me constantly turning the corner and seeing a new surprise. 

The book starts out in a controversial way, the daughter, Veronica is caught up in some drama with a married man.  Mom, Violet, sees they have no choice but to relocate to California to start a new life in every way imaginable.  Once WWII breaks out, each of the women gets caught up in espionage involving the war effort.  

Here is my review on NetGalley....

I am going to tell you one thing that you must know, if you have not read one of Susan Ella MacNeal's novels, you must remedy that soon.  Every book that she writes is full of intrigue and moments where I go "NO, that can't happen!!".  

This book is NOT part of the Maggie Hope series, this one is about a mother and daughter who have to leave their life in New York for a new life in California.  Almost immediately they become entangled in a web of Nazi sympathizers and have to figure out a way to bring them down, and enter the spying.    

I was not happy I had to go to work because I would have loved to finish this book in one sitting.  This is perfect for an afternoon by the pool or an excellent road trip accompaniment.

September book pick

 Good day to you all,

A couple of years ago, I discovered Sara Ackerman and found her books exciting. She writes books set in Hawaii during WWII.  The first one that I read was Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers in case you want to check it out too.  

This book is all about Izzy and how the death of her brother completely changes the course of her life. I love books that feature the setting as a character and this one falls right into that category.  

Here is what I wrote on Goodreads:

This dual timeline book is set in Hawaii during WWII and the mid-1960s. During the wartime plot, Pearl Harbor was attacked and Walt was killed. We meet Izzy a code breaker who has joined the war to avenge the death of her brother, Walt. She also tries to spend all of her free time doing the Hawaiian things her brother loved so much.

In the 1960s timeline, we meet Lu who has been sent to photograph a fancy hotel opening. She spends her time with the hotel owner and a local photographer. When they discover a body in a cave, it brings back the photographer's past and ties the two timelines together.

August book pick

My August book pick is late because I have been at work, I apologize for that.  Still, this book is worth waiting for.  I have always been a big fan of Jamie Ford, always.  I read his first book (On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet) because it was the local "meet the author" event at our local community college.  The book was spectacular!! Jamie sent out a digital book on one of the characters from that book and with those two books, I knew I was going to read anything he would write from now on.   Fast forward to November 2021, this book was scheduled to be published in early 2022 and I got ahold of an advanced reader's copy.  I just adored it!!! The book got delayed and I read it again because I loved it so much.  I decided that when it was published, it would be my monthly book pick.  The day has finally come, and before I could tell you how much I loved it, Jenna Bush Hager picked it for her monthly book.  I am telling you, it is spectacular!!!!!  Here is what I wrote on Goodreads:  First of all, this was a complete departure from anything I have ever read. Secondly, once I started reading I did not stop until I finished the book, it just sucked me right into its grasp. I was a bit wary of keeping all the women straight, but I worried for nothing because the book was written so that you didn't get lost in the characters, you got lost in the story. Dorothy is our main character and she struggles with life, mentally. Dorothy is a former poet laureate and married to a man that she really doesn't love (maybe doesn't realize it), and absolutely adores her little girl. Her problems arise when her husband tries to make her feel she is inadequate and she feels haunted by the past (enter all the other characters). The book takes you on. the journey of how Dorothy seeks therapy and experimental treatment that is supposed to help her connect these bridges to her past (and the other characters).

July book pick

For this month, I chose a book that was spectacular, but I have never featured it as a monthly book pick.  

This book is based on the true story of Belle da Costa Greene, the first curator of the Morgan Library. Belle's father was the first black student and graduate of Harvard and he championed civil rights.  Belle's father and mother split up and the mother raised the children as white.  When Belle got hired as the curator of the Morgan Library, she knew that her boss was a racist, but also knew she deserved this job.  Belle did a wonderful job in collecting the materials and continued on as the main librarian even after JP Morgan's death. 

Marie Benedict always selects strong women for her books and this one is no exception.  

2022 Summer Reading Guide

 I like summer books that suck you in and don’t let go.  Sometimes you need a book that you can read in one or even two settings….Sometimes you need an epic adventure, but often (to me) a summer read is just an escape from everyday life.  I am going to provide you with some books I think can fit a perfect escape.  I have broken the books down into categories, that may be seen as quirky, but they also can be fun.  

Click here for a printable version.

Celebrity Gossip and Tell-Alls

Hello Molly!-Molly Shannon 

A tragic accident shapes Molly and turns her into a comedy queen. Can be enjoyed by anyone.  

The Storyteller-Dave Grohl

A fan of rock music makes rock music. It is fun and not your typical rock n’ roll book.  Dave is a rock superfan! Both the book and audio are good. Dave reads the audio.  

The Boys-Ron and Clint Howard

Two brothers recount the lives of their actor parents and their own journey through life, love, drugs, and Hollywood. I didn’t expect to love this, but I did. I highly recommend the audio here.  

You watched the show, now read the book (these are not quick reads but worthy of a binge read)

Bridgerton (it is a series)- Julia Quinn

We have all seen the shows, don’t forget about the book series, there are prequels too!

Bad Blood -John Carreyrou

The story of how a smart kid can lie and claw her way to the top, and get caught and will now pay the price.  Read the book or listen to the audio, they are both great. 

When you only have one afternoon to read

The Keeper of Lost Things - Ruth Hogan

This was so cool.  A man that has always collected objects leaves the object to his maid and she needs to find their owners. 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse- Charlie Mackesy

Yes, this is in the children’s section, but the message is powerful for all of us, please read this.  

Granny’s Got a Gun-Harper Lin

Harper Lin makes my list every year.  You can’t go wrong with any of her books. 

Books that will become movies/tv-shows soon—read the book first because all of these are showstoppers

Daisy Jones and the Six-by Taylor Jenkins Reid

This book is told as if the rock band is conducting an interview, it has a surprise ending.

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman

A housewife decides to solve a 1960’s murder, set in Baltimore, MD

Where the Crawdads Sing-Delia Owens

I very much liked this book, and most people I know that have read it absolutely love it.  In this book, we meet Kya who has lost everyone and has raised herself.  This book will warm your heart and make you want to hug Kya.  

Historical Fiction books that I couldn’t put down

Little Souls-Sandra Dallas

Helen and Lutie moved to Colorado during the last days of the Spanish flu pandemic, renting out a room in their home to save money.  A murder happens in this rented room and changes everything.

Until We Meet-Camille Di Maio

In this book, we follow Dottie, Gladys, and Margaret.  One is pregnant, one is writing to a boy she has never met, and one wants to change the world.  While it is a typical WWII book, it was nice meeting these young women.

Great or Nothing-Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, and Jessica Spotswood

This book is supposed to be a reimagined telling of Little Women. I have never read Little Women, but I loved that it was set during WWII. It shows us four sisters and how some of them are doing all they can for the war effort.  

When the Summer Was Ours-Roxanne Veletzos

Eva is engaged to be married in a pre-war Hungary.  Everything is going great until she meets a man that will rock her world.  She plans to ditch everything and be with Aleandro, but war tears them apart.  The book gets ugly when describing the war, but war is ugly, and Eva is right in the middle of things. 

On Gin Lane-Brooke Lea Foster

Everleigh has the best life, a huge trust fund, and is about to be married. One night she will be awakened from sleep, her home (a hotel) is on fire and the fire changes her life forever. 

Sitting on the “edge of my seat” thrillers

Nine Lives-Peter Swanson 

Nine people are mailed a list of names.  The list has their name on it and these people start noticing the people on the list are being murdered.  It is a bit like the Agatha Christie book, “And Then There Were None”.

Sparring Partners-John Grisham

I loved that is a collection of novellas.  Read one, or read them all, I think this collection is perfect for summer reading.  Each story takes place in Ford County (where “A Time to Kill” took place) and features three different lawyers.  

The Sundown Motel or The Book of Cold Cases-Simone St. James

I love this author so much that she can tell a fantastic story that keeps me guessing and wanting more.  Sundown is about a rundown motel that may be inhabited by ghosts.  Viv is a clerk there and is completely caught up in some murders that happened at the hotel in the past.  

Cold Cases introduces us to Shea, who was abducted as a child and is now obsessed with solving the Lady Killer murders.  She is writing a book about how she plans to solve the murders, and needs to interview Beth, the woman everyone suspects of committing the crimes. There’s something in Beth’s house that is not happy Shea is snooping around.  Beware of ghosts.   

Upcoming books I am excited to share with you, some of these could become a book pick of the month.

 August 2022

 December 2022

 August 2022

 June 2022

 September 2022

 June 2022

June Book Pick

 Hello to you all!  Hope your summer plans are shaping up nicely.  

My Summer Reading Guide will drop at 6 pm on June 6, so please come back to the blog for that. I will put the link in this post, once it is active.  

For June I picked a high drama historical fiction book set in 1918 Denver, Colorado

Lutie and Helen are sisters that decide to move to Colorado after the death of their parents.  Helen secured a job as a nurse before they ever moved and Lutie would find a job in advertising when they arrived.  To help with expenses they rent out their basement to a family of three, Ron, Maud, and Dorothy.  Ron and Maud have a volatile relationship and Ron leaves.   Things are going fine until Dorothy's biological father shows up and Helen murders him.  The girls decide to hide the body out in the open....out in the park where people take their family members that have died of the flu.  All of this drama happens at the very beginning of the book!!!

I hope you enjoy, please let me know what you think.