I’ll be the first to admit it, September was a slow reading month for me. I didn’t read as many books as I typically do, and my choice of books was on the lighter side, with a couple of exceptions. The reason for my reading slump was the fact that I was so preoccupied with migrating my blog to this new site. I was in fear that I would lose all my past content over the past 18 years of blogging, but fortunately, I found a skilled tech guy who saved it all and got me set up here.

So, let me tell you about the great books I read, and the lighter books I enjoyed but didn’t take up too much brain space while I was stressed out.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan has been described as “sweeping”, as it follows a small town cast of characters throughout their entire lives. In Bonhomie, Ohio, as WW2 winds down, a stolen moment of passion has aftershocks that effect the characters and their families for decades, These characters seem as if they are personal to the author and the reader comes to care for them very much. The small town setting is vivid, and the characters super realistic. To be sure, in this story there are secrets, estrangements, reconciliations, and heartbreak, but ultimately the book is hopeful and so very well written. 4.5 stars

The Names by Florence Knapp was such a thought-provoking book. Cora and her nine-year-old daughter are on a mission to register her new son’s birth at the town hall. She has been instructed by her controlling husband to name the infant after him. Cora, however, is considering her options: Gordon (her husband’s name), Julian (her choice), and Bear (the nine-year-old sister’s choice). The book unfurls into the story of three parallel lives of the child and the family, each based on the name he is given. The author probes identity, legacy, domestic abuse, and how a single choice can ripple across generations. This one will give you food for thought. Trigger warning for disturbing domestic abuse. 4.5 stars

The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover is a book about a bed and breakfast inn for the broken-hearted, and much more. This light read was just what I needed to get my mind off my troubles. Laura is dumped by her wealthy boyfriend and is now unable to afford the rent on the gorgeous home she has made for the two of them in the mountains of Colorado. She persuades her grumpy (but gorgeous) landlord to let her turn the place into a B&B for the recently heartbroken. Of course sparks soon fly between Laura and her hot landlord, and the influx of guests at the inn is quite entertaining. This book was moderately spicy, but those parts are easily skipable. 4 stars

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is one of those books that is all about it never being too late for new beginnings. On the cusp of turning 80, Augusta Stern is newly retired from her long career as a pharmacist. She has just moved into a retirement community in Florida, where she unexpectedly discovers that one of her neighbors is the man who broke her heart sixty years ago. Augusta may just find she has a chance to finally get everything that matters. Very sweet and funny book. Free on Kindle Unlimited 3 stars

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak is part family drama, part thriller. I’d call it “domestic suspense”. UPS driver Frank, is dumbfounded when his estranged daughter Maggie calls him after 3 years to tell him she is getting married and that he is invited to attend a weekend of festivities. Frank is thrilled at the chance to straighten things out with his daughter. However, when he arrives at the magnificent estate of her betrothed’s billionaire family, he soon senses that something is very “off”. Even though he feels very out of place, he observes that the future bridegroom seems anything but enthusiastic, his daughter seems to be avoiding him, and the locals apparently despise the family his daughter is marrying into. This book was engaging and moved along quickly. Of course the plot is unrealistic, but it was a good romp. Free on Kindle Unlimited 3.5 stars

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis took a while to get going, but it didn’t disappoint in the end. In this book, dual timelines in 1936 and 1978 weave together mystery, history, and personal grief. In 1936, anthropology student Charlotte Cross joins a dig in Egypt, where she uncovers what may be the tomb of Hathorkare, a female pharaoh whose legacy has been suppressed. A tragedy strikes that changes Charlotte’s life forever, propelling her back to New York where she becomes a curator at The Met. In 1978, she’s researching Hathorkare when a priceless Egyptian artifact disappears during the Met Gala. Charlotte teams up with young assistant Annie Jenkins to recover it, forcing Charlotte to confront her past — and the truths about Hathorkare. I think many of you will enjoy this book. 3.5 stars

You know I am having a stressful month when I turn to Elin Hilderbrand to get my mind off things. This month I read not one, but two of her books, both of which were a perfect escape.

Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand was so good. Popular food blogger Hollis Shaw seems to have the perfect life until her husband dies suddenly in an accident. In her grief, she gets the notion to gather four friends from different phases of her life and have a long weekend with them at her beachfront home in Nantucket. She is expecting to immerse herself in the support and love of these important women in her life and assuage her grief. Should we be surprised when the weekend goes off the rails? Why no, we should not. Over the weekend, old tensions surface, secrets spill, hearts are tested — and Hollis learns what truly matters: healing, friendship, and self-discovery. Let me just say this book will keep you on your toes until the last page. 4 stars

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand was a great companion read to The Last One at the Wedding. In this book, hours before the wedding, a body is discovered (by the bride, no less), and everyone in the wedding party becomes a suspect. Everyone is hiding a terrible secret, and it seems clear there is no such thing as the perfect couple. This book was an excellent escape- plenty of food and fashion description and you will be guessing “who done it” until the end. Netflix just released a tv drama series based on the book. 3.75 stars

As always, I hope you enjoyed my book reviews. Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought!