Books I Read this March
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To be honest, most of my February was figuring out how to get this blog started and didn’t make time to read. So, come March I was excited to get some balance back into my life which included reading again. A majority of the books I read over the past month are recent publications. Still trying to chip away at my never ending “want to read” list, I did read a few that are a few years old. Hope you find some new books to add to your “Want to Read” list! For some more suggestions check out my post for the list of books I read in January!
Real Easy
I wish I could remember how I came across Real Easy by Marie Ruthkoski. The book’s description fit with other books that I would gravitate towards, so I had to check it out. This book is Ruthkoski’s debut book for adults, while her other novels are young adult (YA) books. This book has short chapters and many different viewpoints. Centered around a strip club, one night Samantha offers to give the new girl a ride home. The next morning, the car and one body are found. As expected, a twisty investigation begins. Everyone has their secrets which keeps you on your toes and guessing throughout the book. I can’t wait to see what Marie Ruthkoski writes next. Rating: 5/5
Homicide and Halo-Halo
The second installment in Mia P. Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series, Homicide and Halo-Halo picks up right where Arsenic and Adobo left off. Lila Macapagal is working to reignite her love of baking for her new shop that she’s opening with her best friends. Their town is gearing up to host their annual teen beauty pageant, and all of your favorite characters come out to play. Lila is a judge, and while the time commitment interferes with the bakery, she’s willing to help. Tensions are high. Before the pageant begins, one of the judges is found dead. After the death is ruled suspicious, everyone becomes a suspect. A lighthearted and fun mystery, in the same style as her first book, this one will keep you on your toes. Rating: 4/5
Reckless Girls
I loved Rachel Hawkins’ novel The Wife Upstairs, so I couldn’t wait to read her new book Reckless Girls. I’m not going to lie, I went in blind. After reading the book, I read the description and didn’t feel like it would have given me the right basis for the story. A couple living in Hawaii, who are on the island working to save money to fix their boat, are asked to take two girls to a remote island. After a few days of sailing, they arrive to the island to find another boat. The six strangers have the island to themselves and quickly become friends. There are rumors swirling about how the island was used in World War II. Then a seventh person shows up, and tensions build. As things begin to cool down, one person is found dead and suddenly no one can trust anyone. Rating: 5/5
Lease on Love
I saw a review of this book on Instagram and figured I needed a lighter book up next. Lease on Love is Falon Ballard’s debut novel and did not disappoint. Sadie is fresh out of a job and looking for a new place to live. By chance she meets Jack, who is willing to let her move in to his Brooklyn brownstone. Sadie enlists her best friends to check out his place and were stunned to find that it’s immaculate. Jack is grieving the death of his parents and willing to welcome the vivacious Sadie into his life. As Sadie tests out a new venture, Jack is there to support her along the way. The two are polar opposites, but they both start to realize what the other has to offer. This story was captivating, the characters were imperfect and lovable, and I couldn’t put it down. Rating: 5/5
Road of Bones
Road of Bones by Christopher Golden was another book outside of my typical choices. A two man crew heads to Siberia to film some background footage to hopefully sell a documentary about a road built on top of the bones of prisoners who built it. With temperatures way below zero degrees, and the remoteness ever present, the two men begin to wonder just what they signed up for. After meeting up with their guide, they head to a remove village that seems to be recently and abruptly abandoned. Except for one little girl. Then chaos ensues and as they try to escape, nothing is as it seems. Had I read the entire book description, I’m not sure I would’ve read this one. It reminded me of books by Stephen King, and while good it was very different for me. Rating: 4/5
Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead
Having read Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan is Killing It last year, I couldn’t wait to read the next installment in the series: Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead. You fall in love with Finlay and can’t help but root for. She’s a writer with writers block, who’s navigating life as a single mother to two children and dealing with a disgruntled ex-husband. Her live in nanny is a plus, thanks to the sale of her last book. Oh, and the woman who paid her for murdering her husband. When she finds out someone is after her ex-husband, she and her nanny begin to investigate to save her children’s father’s life. The same lovable characters from the first book make an appearance in this story. I enjoyed getting to know the cast even more this time around. An easy read, that captivates you from the beginning, I loved this book. Rating: 5/5
The Night Shift
I really enjoyed Alex Finlay’s novel Every Last Fear, so I couldn’t wait to read his newest: The Night Shift. In 1999, on New Years Eve, a man attacks five Blockbuster employees working the night shift and only one survives. The police quickly arrest a suspect but then he flees when released on bail. The next day, he disappears and the case goes cold. Fifteen years later, another man attacks the night shift employees at the local ice cream shop and again, one survives. The survivor of the first attack, who is now a psychologist, arrives at the hospital to speak with the new survivor. The brother of the original suspect, who is now a public defender, joins the case, as well as an FBI agent assigned to help the locals. I couldn’t put this book down. There were twists I couldn’t see coming and I had to keep reading to see what happened. Rating: 5/5
The House on the Cerulean Sea
T.J. Klune’s The House on the Cerulean Sea was different. I’ve seen this book pop up a few times in the past two years and was always curious. The cover is colorful and fun, and while I’m sure I read the description when it first came out, I picked it up without remembering what it was. This book’s genre is fantasy. Which is not normally what I read, but it was so cute. The story follows Linus as he visits the orphanage where six magical children live. They are very dangerous. And for one month, he must observe them and report back to headquarters. As you can imagine, he forms connections with them and starts to care for them. The story was very heartwarming and a good change of pace for me. Rating: 5/5
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