Hey everyone!!

Sam’s Update

It’s been Bookconline this weekend and I am loving being lazy on my couch and seeing all these fab folks talking about books.

I’ve also been watching the news and the Twitters about all the protests surrounding the death of George Floyd. First, I am really proud to see folks of all races come together to honor those who were unjustly murdered and to plead for change. I really and truly hope that this is it. That this is the time that the message will be heard and taken to heart. #BlackLivesMatter

What Sam Finished:

• Deep Roots by Nick Sullivan: This is the third book in a mystery (?) series, sorta. Boone and Emily are scuba instructors and they hop from place to place, and every time they go, something happens and they get dragged in to it. This one is set in Belize. Nick did it again. He surprised me with the ending. It’s literally impossible to predict the end of his books.
• Five Dark Fates by Kendare Blake: I’m gonna be totally honest, I wasn’t going to pick this book up. It’s the 4th book in the Three Dark Crowns series… I was super disappointed in the last one. This is the final installment and it was just as BLAH as the last one. It’s not even worth a full review. My main thoughts are… welp, four books to do exactly what they were supposed to do.
• Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha: This is a near-future post-apocalyptic romance. Nina, is a leader in her community. She and her team are archivists and they print books for folks. They use the money to help the community out. Knox is a former captain who is on the run with his team. One of his team has been captured and the blackmailer wants Nina. So Knox tricks Nina and her team into “helping them break into another archive/library” when really he’s taking her to the blackmailer. That’s not going to end well at all. I started this having absolutely no idea it was a romance novel. It felt a lot like a fade to black YA, and THEN things got steamy. Anyway, full review to come but long story short, I inhaled this book. It was very VERY good.

What Sam is Currently Reading:

• Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb: This is the first book in the Liveship Traders series n the same Farseer world as the love of our lives, Fitz. I really adored that series and plan to keep reading the books in this world. I’ve finally re-started the audio. Let’s see if I’m ready yet.
• A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow: I literally just started this. I’m in chapter 3. But it’s been pitched to me as a Black Mermaid story and I’m here for that. Especially right now.

Minda’s Update

Feeling refreshed after getting out of town for the week and seeing family. Glad we did it.

What Minda is reading now:

• The Jewel Thief by Jeannie Mobley – After being accused of stealing King Louie XIV’s diamond, she only has one chance to convince him of her innocence and win back her true love. I’m 60% done and so far it’s pretty good.

What Minda finished:

• Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb – Emmy-nominated TV writer and New Yorker contributor pens a true story as told to her from her grandmother. If you’ve ever had a grandma you were close to , this one is a real tear-jerker.

Ginny’s Update

Happy Monday.

I would already like another 3-day weekend. But managed to actually get some reading done. But I also started an additional three or four books that I put down after about five pages. I’m apparently super picky right now with what actually gets attention.

What Ginny Finished:

• You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero: Honestly, this was the worst possible time to read this book. There’s a whole chapter about “Fear is your fault” saying there’s nothing in life that fear should keep you from… and while a lot of the messages were solid the book also felt a little condescending…
• More than Neighbors by Shannon Stacey: We received this book as an arc and I will definitely be reviewing. I thought this book had a problem with pacing and tone. Meredith and Cam were perfectly nice, if not slightly predictable.
• The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper: Main character’s dad gets accepted to the astronaut program which is being followed by a reality tv show. He falls in love with one of the sons of another astronaut and also deals with his very popular live-streaming news show. It’s a cute and very quick read. 
• Jinxed by Amy McCulloch:  This book was freaking cute. Lacey is a preteen who wants to go to the school attached to the Apple-esque company that created “companion robots” called Baku. She finds a mysterious Baku and suddenly is accepted to the school. This book is at the youngest end of the YA spectrum and was a delight. The stakes all felt real, and appropriately frustrating. This book ends on a cliff-hanger and I’m definitely going to end up reading the next one.
• Running Full Tilt by Michael Currinder: This book hurt. The summary on the back probably gave too much away b/c there’s a twist at the end that may have been better as a surprise. Leo, the main character, starts running when his developmentally disabled brother starts attacking him with little warning. After a move, a new school, a strained relationship between his parents, etc, running is the perfect getaway. Leo’s character was incredibly interestingly built b/c he tends to go with other people’s flow in all ways, which makes sense once you take all the portions of his life into account

What Ginny is Currently Reading:

• The Vicar’s Daughter by Josi S. Kilpack: I’ve had this on my tbr since my very first bookcon. Cassie sends letters “from” her sister to a man her sister met b/c her parents are determined her older sister needs a match before her own debut. I find this kind of plot to be iffy, it can be done really well or done really painfully. And frankly, I’m worries this might be on the end I don’t prefer.
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown: Yeah, another one of these so close to the last one. But hey, that’s how library holds tend to go. I’m liking this one a little better b/c this book deals with “how to live wholeheartedly” which  means accepting your faults and recognizing the good. That’s a little more my speed.

Until next time, we main forever drunkenly yours,

Sam, Ginny, and Minda