July Reads

Sorry to be late again, but ramping up for the school year has warn me out!  

• Autumn Masquerade by Josi Kilpack, Donna Hatch, and Nancy Campbell Allen 
• 5 Stars 
• This is a lovely set of three clean, Regency romance novels.  I needed something light after my adventures in Orisha, and this fit the bill beautifully! 
• Katharine Parr, the Sixth Wife by Alison Weir 
• 4 Stars 
• Weir's entire Six Tudor Queens series has been a fascinating glimpse into the lives of Henry VIII's six wives.  While I still think I prefer Phillipa Gregory's story-telling style, Weir's collection is worth the read; it's not her fault the all end sadly!
• Scarlet & Tuck by Stephen R. Lawhead 
• 4 Stars 
• I enjoyed the last two installments in Lawhead's King Raven series, but I was ready to be done reading them.  The plot twists got to be frustrating by the end.  
• The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks 
• 3 Stars 
• I skimmed through this one since I enjoyed Devolution by the same author.  It was interesting and creative if not terribly interesting. 
• The Solace of Water by Elizabeth Byler Younts 
• 5 Stars 
• This was our book club pick for July, and I adored it.  It was a beautifully real and emotional look at a unique friendship that transcended culture, race, and tragedy. 
• John Eyre: A Tale of Darkness and Shadow by Mimi Matthews 
• 4 Stars 
• Much different than Matthews's typical fare, I really loved this twist on both Jane Eyre and Frankenstein!  
• Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner 
• 5 Stars 
• I went on a Susan Meissner kick when a bestie and I made plans to attend a Book Talk for her most recent novel.  Set in London during the Blitz, I think this one might be my favorite!!  
• Breathe: Making Room for Sabbath by Priscilla Shirer 
• 4 Stars 
• Some friends and I got together to complete this study over the summer.  It was an interesting take on the idea of Sabbath, and I've already implemented weekly changes as a result. 
• As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner 
• 4 Stars 
• This Susan Meissner novel was set in Philadelphia during the 1917 Spanish Flu Pandemic.  The story was enjoyable, and the topic ironically timely! 
• The Betrayed by Kiera Cass 
• 4 Stars 
• While I didn't love this two-part series as much as I did The Selection series or The Siren, this sequel ended much more satisfactorily than its predecessor.