October Book Pick

 Hello Reading Pals,

I promised myself I was not going to pick a WWII book for the October pick, yes I sure did, but it appears I have lied to myself.  I could not help it, this book is exceptional.  I did not expect to love it as much as I did, and since I did I had to share with you. 

The October pick is The Paris Secret, by Natasha Lester.  The book grabs your instantly when  a little girl named Skye shows off her underwear to a boy she just met.  They become good friends in their youth and are pulled apart because of Skye's upbringing.  Fast forward a few years and Skye is living a life that is different than her dreams and Hilter is trying to scoop up everything he can.  Skye is a talented pilot, but the problem is she is a girl so she can't fight in the war like a man would be able to.  

That is all I am telling you about the plot, what you need to know is Skye is awesome!!! She is tough as nails and an inspiration to every girl she meets, every girl but one that is.  The one who may be the key to her happiness or undoing.  

If you have never read any of Natasha's books you should give the others a try too, she is a brilliant writer who loves to set her stories in Paris.  

The Read with Michelle September book pick is here!!!

 Hello fellow readers!

2020 may be the weirdest year on record, but it has also flown by...Happy September!!!  To me, September is all about fall. I have put up the summer decor and brought out all the fall goodness... yellow and orange leaves, purple flowers, acorns and of course pumpkin everything.  I thought about picking a fall type book, but I found nothing that I thought was exciting so I went back to the stack of new releases that I had.  One cover stood out, then I read the story and I was like oh THIS is THE book!  

The September book pick is The Lions of 5th Avenue by Fiona Davis.  

Fiona has been one of my go-to authors for a while because every book she writes is set in the most interesting places in NYC.  Here is a list of her books because you really need to read them all:

                                 

The Dollhouse-about girls who want to be models and secretaries and live in the Barbizon Hotel. 

The Address (my personal fave)-is all about the Dakota Hotel from the time it was built to the first occupants.  This one shocked me at the end.

The Masterpiece-this journey starts by a girl tripping over a suitcase in Grand Central Station and takes you to an art school that made its home in GCS.

The Chelsea Girls-Hazel and Maxine live in The Chelsea Hotel and have dreams of making it big on Broadway meanwhile Joseph McCarthy is out looking for communists.  

Fast forward to Fiona's new release and you will see a beautiful setting of the New York Public Library and if that is not enough, she gives us an apartment over the library (folks really did live there once upon a time), a book theft, death and family estrangement.  This one has it all!!!! 

Read with Michelle July book club pick

Good afternoon to you all!

Nothing More Dangerous
by Allen Eskens

It is time to drop the July book club pick and I must say I am super excited for you to read this one.  It is about Broady who is living with his mom in a little bungalow in Ozark.  His dad was a sheetrock hanger (I am not sure of the real term), and died leaving both of them alone and in a mess.  Broady kind of does what he can to just get by.  He doesn't have many friends and has a dream of chucking it all and starting from scratch.  One day a kid named Thomas moves in across the road and suddenly everything changes.  Broad offends him by using a phrase that was very offensive, and once they make up Thomas, along with his parents, change Broady's life.  Broady and Thomas will change the town and discover a murder.  The murder is not the main focus of the story, but it fits in beautifully with the main focus.  I really think you will like this one. 

Read with Michelle-June book pick

June Book Club Pick

The Queen's Secret by

Karen Harper

I love a good book about the Royal Family and I do enjoy a Karen Harper novel too, so when I saw that this one was coming out, I put in on hold and planned for it to be my June book pick. I also am mad about the cover, even though it shows a woman's back (I am so tired of that design), but it is the Queen Mum and those stockings!!!!! 

The book is about the Queen Mum.  I don't know if you remember her because she died in 2002, but she was this cute little old lady (like 100) that I didn't really know much about.  That is how I could enjoy a fictional book about her.  She is portrayed a lot differently than I imagined her to be. I knew she was a hands on mom, but that was about all.  She seems to be a strong leader, and a great companion to Bertie   (George VI).  I will have to do some studying on her because there are some things I found kind of shocking and now I want to know if they are true. 

I am not quite finished, only 65% complete, but the review will be up on the blog by the end of the week. I will tell you that I am loving it!!!

Oh I forgot, my favorite royal/non-royal, Wallis Simpson has a little part too!!!!