I read some REALLY good books this month. Like, books that are now in my Top 5 all time favorite books. I also read A LOT. Part of that is thanks to 32 hours spent in the car driving to and from Colorado. I used to get incredibly car sick if I read in the car, but I think God knew I needed something to do this time or I would GO CRAZY because I was able to read for hours and not get nauseous at all.
[5] Roses by Leila Meacham (Fiction, 2010): I LOVE THIS BOOK. Amazing historical saga of three families in the south.
[5] Somerset by Leila Meacham (Fiction, 2013): I LOVE THIS ONE TOO. This is the prequel to Roses, but it is perfectly fine to be read after Roses. In fact, I think it makes it richer because you can put some pieces together. Oh my goodness, such a gripping, emotional story to get swept away by. Both of these books are just over 600 pages, so prepare yourself. But SO WORTH IT.
[3] Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke (Fiction, 2001): This is the second book in the Hannah Swensen series. I’m finding these aren’t the most well-written books and the dialogue can be pretty awkward, but they are fun, light murder mysteries.
[5] Tumbleweeds by Leila Meacham (Fiction, 2012): Though this is written by Meacham, it is not related to Roses and Somerset, it’s a stand-alone book set in modern day that focuses on three friends and tells the stories of their lives and friendship through the years. Not as good as Roses and Somerset, but it’s still a good book.
[4] The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley (Fiction, 2014): I loved this book until the end. It’s always so disappointing when you are totally engrossed in a book, and the end just falls flat. It’s like Buckley realized she had written over 400 pages and needed to quickly tie it all up. A lot of the depth of the story lines got lost in the quick ending. But that disappointment doesn’t take away from the engrossing, suspenseful story. It tells the story of a kid with “XP”- a deadly sensitivity to light. It was interesting to learn about that disease and how it impacted his life, and the life of his family.
Y’all, for real. Read Roses and Somerset.
What have you been reading?
Hubby, Hound, & Home 