Wednesday Reads

I found another way to scale back. I’ve changed some of the Yahoo groups I’m in so that I will now get the e-mails in batches instead of individually. It was do that or unsubscribe, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to go that far…yet. Just that little bit has really reduced some of the stress I was feeling. Who knew e-mails could do that to a person?

Here’s what I read the past week (another 2-book week!):

Book #1

Dates read: March 24-29
Title: “How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days”
Year of publication: 2017
Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Genre: Fantasy romance
Series: Book 1 in The Embraced series
# of Pages: 394
Paper or plastic: Mass market paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: As one of the Embraced—one born with magical powers—the beautiful, innocent Luciana escaped certain death after her father hid her away on the Isle of Moon. Now, nineteen years later, her father has returned with a frightening request. He will be executed unless Luciana returns to the mainland and marries a man feared throughout the land: a terrifying brute known as the Beast..
   Luciana accepts her fate and agrees to wed the Beast—Lord Leo—in order to save her father. Soon she learns that her betrothed is also one of the Embraced. With the ability to wield lightning, Leo’s immense power strikes fear into the hearts of men…and his mere touch can put an end to a woman’s life. But Luciana cannot deny the passion that burns between them. How can she resist the man who scorches her soul and makes her feel intoxicated with desire—even if surrendering to him could destroy them both?
My thoughts: Set in a world without technology or any kind of power (except for the magical kind), this book read like an historical. I enjoyed it very much, though (lots of danger and suspense), and will continue to read this series.

Book #2

Dates read: March 30-31
Title: “The Education of Dixie Dupree”
Year of publication: 2016
Author: Donna Everhart
Genre: Fiction
Series: N/A
# of Pages: 299
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from Book: In 1969, Dixie Dupree is eleven years old and already an expert liar. Sometimes the lies are for her mama, Evie’s sake—to explain away a bruise brought on by her quick-as-lightning temper. And sometimes the lies are to spite Evie, who longs to leave her unhappy marriage in Perry County, Alabama, and return to her beloved New Hampshire. But for Dixie and her brother, Alabama is home, a place of pine-scented breezes and hot, languid afternoons.
   Though Dixie is learning that the family she once believed was happy has deep fractures, even her vivid imagination couldn’t concoct the events about to unfold. Dixie records everything in her diary—her parents’ fights, her father’s drinking and his unexplained departure, and the arrival of uncle Ray. Only when Dixie desperately needs help and is met with disbelief does she realize how much damage her past lies have done. But she has courage and a spirit that may yet prevail, forcing secrets into the open and allowing her to forgive and become whole again.
My thoughts: For fear of saying too much about this book, I’m finding maybe I shouldn’t say anything at all. A lot of disturbing things happen (in detail) and could be triggers for some people (it wasn’t for me, but then I’m used to reading horror). So if you want to know what, e-mail me and ask. I’ll tell you. Otherwise, I’ll just say… While this is not the type of book I normally read, it intrigued me (especially since some people compared it to To Kill a Mockingbird—which this is not like, let me say that now) and once I started reading…well, I couldn’t put it down (as you can see, I read it in two days). Dixie is an interesting young girl, but this is a very dark book and I’m not so sure the blurb portrays that.

Since mentioning my Facebook Group in my newsletter (which went out last Friday), membership has picked up. Yay! If you’d like to join, just click HERE!

So… What are you reading now? Anything good?

Happy Reading!

Stacy