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Friendly book club promotion: Join us at 7:30pm Central Time on Friday 26 June as we discuss Deanna Raybourn’s A Curious Beginning (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery Book 1). If you’re ready to sign up, you can do so here. 

Ashley IN MEDIAS RES

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine  by Mike Michalowicz
• You Learn By Living by Eleanor Roosevelt
• Sidecar Crush (Bootleg #2) By Claire Kingsley with Lucy Score
• The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drotsen

Nikki IN MEDIAS RES

• Sanditon, Lady Susan, & The History of England: The Juvenilia and Shorter Works of Jane Austen by Jane Austen
• The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile
• You Learn By Living by Eleanor Roosevelt
• Sidecar Crush (Bootleg #2) By Claire Kingsley with Lucy Score

Ashley FIN

• Ninja Selling: Subtle Skills. Big Results by Larry Kendall *April
• Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
• Rafferty’s Rules (Aussies #3) by Donna Alam
• Liar, Liar Hearts on Fire (Bro Code #3) by Pippa Grant
• Axel by Samantha Whiskey
• The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
• Mr. Fixer Upper by Lucy Score
• The Connector’s Way by Patrick Galvin 
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
• Whiskey Chaser (Bootleg Springs #1) by Lucy Score with Claire Kingsley
• Behind the Veil by Kathryn Nolan
• Lift Like a Girl: Be More, Not Less by Nia Shanks
• The 10 Commandments for Losing Fat the Sane and Simple Way by Nia Shanks
• Jock Blocked (Cooper Valley Fireballs #1) by Pippa Grant

Nikki FIN

• Lift Like a Girl: Be More, Not Less by Nia Shanks
• My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
• Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden, illustrated by Brenna Thummler
• Rafferty’s Rules (Aussies #3) by Donna Alam
• Sexy Shorts by Kathryn Nolan
• Liar, Liar Hearts on Fire (Bro Code #3) by Pippa Grant
• Marrying My Billionaire Boss by Nadia Lee
• Rough Love (Tannen Boys #1) by Lauren Landish
• Mr. Fixer Upper by Lucy Score
• Whiskey Chaser (Bootleg Springs #1) by Lucy Score with Claire Kingsley
• Rough Edge (Tannen Boys #2) by Lauren Landish
• Pemberley: Mr. Darcy’s Dragon (Jane Austen’s Dragons #1) by Maria Grace
• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Buck Wild (Bennett Boys Ranch #1) by Lauren Landish
• Behind the Veil by Kathryn Nolan
• The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drotsen
• Jock Blocked (Cooper Valley Fireballs #1) by Pippa Grant
• Lord of Pirates by Scarlett Scott

Firstly, today is Memorial Day; thank you to all of those in the armed forces who have given the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country and thank you to their families that have lived without them. Secondly, I would like to point out that there are literally 6 more days in the month of May. I don’t feel like this May Reading Life Review is going to be giving you a solid overview of all of the books that we will have completed by the 31st of this month. There is oh so much more potential for adding to our Fin lists. I have every intention of completing three of my In Medias Res and potentially 2-3 more titles. There’s also my habit of starting more books before I finish one title… so my in progress titles will technically be different by this time next week.

Because of our Kindle Unlimited subscription, and as explained in previous posts, Nikki and I have focused our romantic buddy reads on the weekends, to conserve sleep and family schedules. We average 2-3 Romances a weekend, typically starting on Friday night and finishing Sunday night/Monday morning. [The long weekend has allowed us more flexibility as we don’t have ‘typical Monday things’ on the agenda, and can justify sleeping in after a late night of reading. I am NOT sad about that at all. You’re probably reading this while I am in bed.] Besides my last minute completion of Anne of Green Gables just hours before Virtual Book Club on the first, every other selection of mine has come from KU. I’m trying to read as many titles as possible before it ends next month.  I started the Carolina Reapers Series by Samantha Whiskey, which is the immediate follow up to her Seattle Sharks hockey romance series. I might not be able to finish the entire 5 book series during this KU season, and I’m OK with that. But, I’m going to at least aim for a hat trick. #hockeypuns

As for my non-fiction choices, I finished The Richest Man in Babylon that I had begun during our last subscription. It was underwhelming as far as me learning anything regarding personal finance. The language is stilted, but the lessons are quality, it would be an excellent book to introduce these concepts about work, income, investing, and giving to middle-graders. The Connector’s Way which is a non-fiction business book about how to create success by “taking a genuine interest in others—and not worrying about turning every conversation into a business opportunity.” I read this at the behest of a member of a mastermind I have been participating in since the beginning of the pandemic. It’s a great reminder and how-to of connecting with people in one’s community to foster relationship before fostering business. It was a quick and short read, and I have taken a lot of the lessons to heart for when we’re actually able to connect again in person in the future. As for the Nia Shanks titles, those were in preparation for Thursday’s post, so you’re going to have to wait until then to get the details. 

~Ashley

Oh dear readers, we have been busy reading this month!  As discussed, we both got Kindle Unlimited subscriptions at the end of April and we have been reading almost exclusively from them.  Some of our reading has been things to share with you all and some has been just because we can and it all makes our readerly hearts happy.  As we were still very much staying at home during May and our area became full of political commentary and arm-chair experts came out of the woodwork, we needed to escape, and in case you didn’t know, books in general provide amazing escapes.  We highly suggest romance novels specifically when the world is a hot mess because they always end in Happily Ever After (if it doesn’t, then it’s in the wrong genre).  

I had a few stand outs this month, which are on the list of potential titles to bring to the blog later, so I won’t dig into those (they’re all starred on Goodreads, so you can check out the four and five star books for clues).  I do want to talk about two titles that are a bit outside of my norm though.  First, a friend and fellow reader saw our May Book Club announcement and asked if I’d read Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden, illustrated by Brenna Thummler.  No, but I have now, and it was a super fun experience!  Thanks for the recommendation friend!  Two quick notes, it does have slight deviations from the original text.  Some simply because it’s an adaptation, some because, who knows.  One minor detail stood out (likely because I’d read Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy and then Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery and the detail was fresh from both of those) and it was just plain wrong.  Did it matter?  Nope.  Did it bother me?  100%  Did it detract from the gorgeous illustrations in this graphic novel?  Not. A. Bit.  Graphic novels aren’t really my thing, but I’m glad I picked this one up!  

The other book I wanted discuss a bit is Pemberley: Mr. Darcy’s Dragon (Jane Austen’s Dragons #1) by Maria Grace.  So readers, if you were with us in January, you know we did a deep dive into Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and assorted sequels, retellings, and even some screen adaptations.  When Ashley sent me this title, I looked at the page count (335 pages) and decided to try the first one.  My little people are obsessed with dragons, so I thought the meshing of their interests with mine would at least be interesting.  It was fun, creative, and intriguing.  Some of the original dialogue was included, but there was plenty added as well because, well, dragons. 

This book ends shortly after the ball at Netherfield, so to continue through the rest of Austen’s storyline, you’ve got to keep going in this five-book series.  With the next two titles coming in near 400 pages, I decided the mediocre writing and the addition of the dragons (yes, plural) just wasn’t enough to keep me reading, at least not now.  I do tend to judge books by their covers, and if I’d have seen a different cover first, I might have judged differently.  If you adore Austen and appreciate some creativity added to her tales, consider giving this a try.  I may have a vampire adaptation (which is also at Ashley’s suggestion) to discuss with you next month, at least it’s in my Kindle Unlimited Library right now.  Only time will tell.  

[Ashley here: please note, dear readers, I ‘suggest’ these books not because I have read them but because I think the concepts are often hilarious and likely to intrigue someone else. As Austen is only just acceptable (not a favorite author) and I am glad I have read a few novels, I am considerably more particular in the retellings that I consume than Nikki. I will not be reading these, nor would I have volunteered to read them ‘for the team.’ Nikki decided to go on that adventure on her lonesome and she can NOT blame me for how mediocre they may be. Now back to your regularly scheduled Reading Life Review.]

~Nikki

What’s helping you feel like a person?  Binge reading? Online learning groups? Virtual Book Club?  Bickering with your reading partner?  Maybe that last one is just us, but if it’s not [and you want it to be!], let us know in the comments.