I almost let December get by without sharing What I Read In November. As usual it’s more of a “What I Listened To” as I rely heavily on audio books. Sometimes I switch between reading and listening to the same book just to make quicker progress.
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
I picked this up in hardcover at the thrift store two or three years ago and just got around to starting it in October and finishing it in November. And what a waste of time! It was highly promoted and tauted to be perfect for fans of Gone Girl, but this is no Gone Girl.
“As a teenager at the prestigious Bradley School, Ani FaNelli endured a shocking, public humiliation that left her desperate to reinvent herself. Now, with a glamorous job, expensive wardrobe, and handsome blue blood fiancé, she’s this close to living the perfect life she’s worked so hard to achieve.”
This book involves some serious topics but Ani is such a shallow person it’s hard to find sympathy for her. 2 stars
This one was disappointing also. I read The Woods by Harlan Coben last year and loved it. This one not so much. I think some of it had to do with listening vs reading. The narrator was flat. It may be a better story to read.
“Suburban New Jersey Detective Napoleon “Nap” Dumas hasn’t been the same since senior year of high school, when his twin brother Leo and Leo’s girlfriend Diana were found dead on the railroad tracks—and Maura, the girl Nap considered the love of his life, broke up with him and disappeared without explanation. For fifteen years, Nap has been searching, both for Maura and for the real reason behind his brother’s death. And now, it looks as though he may finally find what he’s been looking for.
When Maura’s fingerprints turn up in the rental car of a suspected murderer, Nap embarks on a quest for answers that only leads to more questions—about the woman he loved, about the childhood friends he thought he knew, about the abandoned military base near where he grew up, and mostly about Leo and Diana—whose deaths are darker and far more sinister than Nap ever dared imagine” 3 stars
Faith in Flowers by Rachael Bloome Poppy Creek #5
I love everything about this series so far. I love the tight knit group of friends in Poppy Creek and how little by little they grow and allow others in. The series builds on each character. In book 5 Olivia Parker has come home to plan her brother’s wedding. She is hiding a secret from her family- her husband divorced her and she is ashamed. She also finds herself falling for her childhood/teenage friend Reed Hollis who is the florist/ nursery owner in charge of flowers. He struggles to control his feelings as he also thinks she’s married. If you need some “feel good” books full of hope, jump into this series. 5 stars Read and listened via Kindle Unlimited/Audible
The Whisper In Wind by Rachael Bloome Poppy Creek #6
A sweet opposites attract story. Lucy Gardner is ready to settle down into a permanent job. Her brother Jack ask her to do a promotional video on Poppy Creek and surrounding areas to draw business to his new inn. He assigns his employee Vick Johnson to help. Vick is ready to skip town before he becomes attached, and has no intentions of falling for Lucy even though he’s clearly attracted. Both have secrets and issues they need to resolve but find help in each other to do so. 5 stars Read and listened via Kindle Unlimited and Audible
The Color of Time (The Color of Heaven Series Book 9) by Julianne Maclean
The Color of Heaven is another interesting series I have enjoyed so far. This one was a little confusing as it tracked Sylvie through her dreams and two possible paths for her life. It all has to do with her coming to terms with a summer romance at 16 that ended tragically when she has to return to the seaside town where it all took place. 4 stars Read and listened via Kindle Unlimited and Audible
The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop by Carolyn Brown
Cute, funny and entertaining! Stella’s mama puts her on the prayer list at church because she wants her to find a husband. She doesn’t know Stella already has a man she had to keep secret for a bit. Heather, the leader of the prayer group, decides a ball and “marriage ministry” is a great way to elevate herself. Stella and her friends come up with a scheme to sabotage the ball. 4 stars Listened via Scribd