Can't Wait Wednesday: When the Stars Lead to You

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

When the Stars Lead to You by Ronni Davis

Pub. Date: November 12, 2019

Goodreads says, "Eighteen-year-old Devon longs for two things.  The stars  And the boy she fell in love with last summer.  When Ashton breaks Devon’s heart at the end of the most romantic and magical summer ever, she thinks her heart will never heal again. But over the course of the following year, Devon finds herself slowly putting the broken pieces back together.  Now it’s senior year, and she’s determined to enjoy every moment of it as she prepares for a future studying the galaxies. That is, until Ashton shows up on the first day of school. Can she forgive him and open her heart again? Or are they doomed to repeat history?  From debut author, Ronni Davis, comes a stunning novel about passion, loss, and the power of first love."

Who says beach reads are just for the summertime? I love the sound of this debut YA novel. What do you guys think?

Book Review: Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: July 23, 2019

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Set in the 1950s against the backdrop of Grace Kelly’s whirlwind romance and glamorous wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco, New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb take the reader on an evocative sun-drenched journey along the Côte d’Azur in this page-turning novel of passion, fate, and second-chances.  Movie stars and paparazzi flock to Cannes for the glamorous film festival, but Grace Kelly, the biggest star of all, wants only to escape from the flash-bulbs. When struggling perfumer Sophie Duval shelters Miss Kelly in her boutique, fending off a persistent British press photographer, James Henderson, a bond is forged between the two women and sets in motion a chain of events that stretches across thirty years of friendship, love, and tragedy.  James Henderson cannot forget his brief encounter with Sophie Duval. Despite his guilt at being away from his daughter, he takes an assignment to cover the wedding of the century, sailing with Grace Kelly’s wedding party on the SS Constitution from New York. In Monaco, as wedding fever soars and passions and tempers escalate, James and Sophie—like Princess Grace—must ultimately decide what they are prepared to give up for love."

James Henderson is a paparazzo for a tabloid magazine, but he likes to think himself as so much more than that as he as higher aspirations. It's the 1950s and his tabloid magazine assigns him to Cannes for the famous film festival.  Not a bad gig, right? This year James, also known as Jim, is hoping to get the much sought after shot of the one and only Grace Kelly. While in Cannes, Grace, annoyed at the persistent photographers, seeks refuge in a perfume shop run by Sophie Duval.  Grace is intrigued by the one of a kind perfumes and becomes fast friends with Sophie who helped her in her time of need.  While exiting the shop, Sophie has words with Jim as she thinks he is just another pain in the butt tabloid photographer, but Jim is immediately enamored with the mysterious Sophie.  Sophie is pleased to get such an amazing client like Grace Kelly, but is this enough to help save her shop which is on the brink of bankruptcy?   It doesn't help that Sophie's mother isn't supportive of her and Sophie's boyfriend, a business tycoon, wants her to sell the shop despite that it is her passion and her father's life's work.  Jim and Sophie's unlikely romance is set against Grace Kelly's wedding in Monaco, but when Jim receives news that he has to head home it appears that their luck has run dry.  Can they be together despite the odds or was it just a fleeting romance brought on by the romantic atmosphere of the royal wedding? Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb is a romantic historical read for not only fans of Grace Kelly, but also fans of love stories that span many years.

I really loved the character of Sophie from the start in Meet Me in Monaco. Her passion for perfumes practically leaped off the page and I love her dedication to her store despite the odds. Her dedication to her deceased father and their shared passion of the perfume store warmed my heart.  On the other hand, I really wasn't a fan of Sophie's boyfriend who was controlling and gave her horrible advice. I didn't trust him in the least bit and couldn't wait for Sophie to get away from his clawing grip.  When she meets Jim it isn't under the best of circumstances; after all, she is hiding Grace from photographers, but once they connect and Sophie sees him for who he truly is, their love story becomes very heartwarming.  Without giving too much away, let's just say it's a bit of a star-crossed tale.

Then there's Grace Kelly in Meet Me in Monaco. She's everything you would expect and more.  Gaynor and Webb truly brought her to life and at times she felt just a little too perfect and a little too Disney Princess for me, but perhaps she was just that incredible? Gaynor and Webb brought Grace to life so well that I found myself googling various things about her whether it was about her father, her sister, or her romance with Prince Rainier, I was extremely intrigued. In fact, I wish Gaynor and Webb spent just a little more time on her and her lavish wedding.

The setting of Monaco is the perfect setting for a beach read. It was all beautifully described and the glamour came to life.  Whether Gaynor and Webb included details about the luxurious dinners, the beautiful views, the perfume scents, or the wedding preparations, it was all very memorable and added to the sophisticated atmosphere of the story. 

If you love historical fiction with a strong side of romance, give Meet Me in Monaco a try this summer.  If you are a huge Grace Kelly fan, like me, then you will appreciate this novel the most even though you know how things end up for our one of a kind Hollywood star.  

Stacking the Shelves (102)

Books for Little Beach Bums (3)

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

Book Review: Montauk by Nicola Harrison

Coming up next week, I am sharing my thoughts on Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. It's a cute historical "beach read" set amidst Grace Kelly's wedding. If you are a fan of Grace Kelly, then you will especially appreciate this story. The setting of Monaco was fabulous!

The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz - Thanks to Dutton

Wardens of Eternity by Courtney Moulton - Thanks to Blink YA

Have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts. This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. Thanks for visiting!

Books for Little Beach Bums (3)

I've got an on-going list of my favorite summer and ocean themed picture books. I love sharing new books on vacation with my kids, especially ones that feature sea animals or summertime fun. Here's what we have been loving lately.

Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting - This is a cute story all about what ifs and of course, pirate adventures.  It reminded me a bit of I Love You Stinky Face in that it reassures children of their mother's love at all costs. 

The Last Peach by Gus Gordon - Two adorable bugs find the last peach of the summer.  Will they share it? Will they eat it? What if it's not a peach?  I thought this was a cute picture book that's perfect for peach season and sunny days. 

Too Many Tomatoes* by Eric Ode - This is a cute picture book all about a family's garden and a surplus of tomatoes.  This can happen frequently in a garden and I like that they share their tomatoes with friends and neighbors. I also like that this picture book is multi-generational and features grandparents. 

Steve, Terror of the Seas* by Megan Brewis - I absolutely love this picture book all about Steve, a scary fish in the ocean. But he is small and cute, so why is everyone afraid of him? I like how this book teaches you about different sea creatures all while making it so much fun!

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall - This was one of my favorite picture books of 2018.  It's absolutely stunning! It is all about what it takes to be a lighthouse keeper and it features his family as well.  This book captured my heart and I highly recommend it.

Spot Goes to the Beach by Eric Hill - You can't go wrong with Spot books, especially when there are flaps involved. This one is a perfect vacation-at-the-beach read.  Are you a fan of the Spot series of books?

Ocean Meets Sky by Terry and Eric Fan - This book was also a favorite of mine in 2018. The illustrations are amazing. Finn honors his grandfather by building a ship and going on a magical adventure. 

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall - This is a great picture book for year round, but I especially liked it for the summertime. It';s all about being brave enough to take that big leap. Whether it's the high dive or something new, it's important to be courageous in life and overcome your fears.

Strega Nona Takes a Vacation by Tomie dePaola - Strega Nona has a dream about her grandmother's beach house, so she decides to go and take a mini-vacation. What could go wrong? I adored the part of the picture book that featured Strega's memories of the beach with her grandmother. 

Sounds of Nature: World of Oceans by Claire Grace - This is one of my favorite books of the summer. I love how the book breaks down the different habitats and features over 60 ocean/animal sounds! 

On Our To Read List:

 

Plankton is Pushy by Jonathan Fenske

Chu's Day at the Beach by Neil Gaiman and Adam Rex

Llama Llama Land & Sun by Anna Dewdney

Books Featured  in 2017 and in 2016: 

Have you read any of these picture books? Let me know in the comments some of your favorite picture books that are perfect for sharing with your little ones on vacation or for a lazy summer day. *The books with an asterisk after their title are Usborne Books and More titles and can be purchased through my website interested. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

Pub. Date: March 5, 2020

Goodreads says, "Two Lives. Two Loves. One Impossible Choice.  Lydia and Freddie. Freddie and Lydia. They've been together for almost a decade, and Lydia thinks their love is indestructible.  But she's wrong. Because on her 27th birthday, Freddie dies in a car accident.  So now it's just Lydia, and all she wants to do is hide indoors and sob 'til her eyes fall out. But Lydia knows that Freddie would want her to live her life well. So, enlisting the help of his best friend and her sister Elle, she takes her first tentative steps into the world and starts to live - perhaps even to love - again.  But then something inexplicable happens, which gives her another chance at her old life with Freddie. A life where none of the tragic events of the past few months have happened. But what if there's someone in in her new life who wants her to stay? A heart-breaking, uplifting story for fans of PS I Love You and Jojo Moyes, this gorgeously romantic novel will make you laugh, cry and remind you of what a wonderful gift it is to love and to be loved."

The synopsis reminds me a bit of a Taylor Jenkins Reid's One True Loves as well as P.S. I Love You, but either way, I am excited about this novel, because I adored Silver's One Day in December.  What do you guys think?

 

Book Review: Montauk by Nicola Harrison

Pages: 388

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: June 4, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin's

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Montauk, Long Island, 1938.  A simple town on the brink of a glamorous future.  A marriage drifting apart.  A life on the edge of what is and what could be... An epic and cinematic novel by debut author Nicola Harrison, Montauk captures the glamour and extravagance of a summer by the sea with the story of a woman torn between the life she chose and the life she desires.  Montauk, Long Island, 1938.   For three months, this humble fishing village will serve as the playground for New York City’s wealthy elite. Beatrice Bordeaux was looking forward to a summer of reigniting the passion between her and her husband, Harry. Instead, tasked with furthering his investment interest in Montauk as a resort destination, she learns she’ll be spending twelve weeks sequestered with the high society wives at The Montauk Manor—a two-hundred room seaside hotel—while Harry pursues other interests in the city.   College educated, but raised a modest country girl in Pennsylvania, Bea has never felt fully comfortable among these privileged women, whose days are devoted not to their children but to leisure activities and charities that seemingly benefit no one but themselves. She longs to be a mother herself, as well as a loving wife, but after five years of marriage she remains childless while Harry is increasingly remote and distracted. Despite lavish parties at the Manor and the Yacht Club, Bea is lost and lonely and befriends the manor’s laundress whose work ethic and family life stir memories of who she once was.   As she drifts further from the society women and their preoccupations and closer toward Montauk’s natural beauty and community spirit, Bea finds herself drawn to a man nothing like her husband –stoic, plain spoken and enigmatic. Inspiring a strength and courage she had almost forgotten, his presence forces her to face a haunting tragedy of her past and question her future.   Desperate to embrace moments of happiness, no matter how fleeting, she soon discovers that such moments may be all she has, when fates conspire to tear her world apart…"

Beatrice, although she grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, now lives a life of luxury along with her banker husband, Harry.  Harry wants her to spend her summer at Montauk Manor, where all the other well-to-do wives stay for the summer while their husbands toil away in the city.  Montauk, in 1938, is an up and coming sleepy fishing town that at least for the summer is filled with the city's finest, so the Manor ends up employing many locals.  While there, Beatrice finds herself gravitating to the wrong crowd as opposed to the other wealthy wives.  She finds herself especially drawn to Elizabeth, the Manor's laundress.  While spending time with Elizabeth, she meets the lighthouse keeper, Thomas.  Sparks fly and it leaves Beatrice wondering if perhaps she made the wrong choice in marrying Harry, who has essentially left her all summer and she comes to find that he is up to no good in the city. Well, you know what they say? While the cat is away, the mouse will play!  Harry wants Beatrice to focus on what he wants her to focus on this summer, so when she comes in contact with a Manhattan journalist who wants her to write an anonymous column about life in Montauk, she initially declines. As her summer goes on, she decides she might do it after all and highlight some of the ridiculous things the upper class partakes in while summering in Montauk.  Montauk by Nicola Harrison is a decent historical beach read and while I really enjoyed parts of it, such as the time period and the setting, a lot of the story ended up being just ok.

Beatrice, also known as Bea, is someone I really initially liked in Montauk.  I felt badly for her that she is trapped in such a horrible marriage, but summering in Montauk doesn't sound like a bad trade off, right? Wrong.  Bea is like a fish out of water in Montauk. She finds herself relating more to the "help" and the locals instead of mixing and mingling with the upper class like her husband wants her to do to help his business.  Harry at first seems like a good guy, but once you peel back the layers of their relationship you see inside is a rotting piece of fruit.  He ends up being a pretty toxic character and in turn a bit of a caricature at times.  Even though I wanted Bea to escape his clutches, I didn't necessarily agree with her interest in Thomas.  I mean she is upset her husband is having an affair in New York City, so should she stoop to his level and do the same thing? Or perhaps this is true love?  Is this risk worth losing it all?

The setting of Montauk in 1938 is my favorite aspect of the novel.  I loved the time period, the Manor, and the dynamic between the locals and the wealthy.  The crazy antics that they partake in, such as mailing dirty diapers home to be cleaned is just unbelievable.  Rich people problems, I suppose?  I also enjoyed how Bea started working for a Manhattan newspaper and anonymously exposing some of Montauk's secrets.  The events at the Manor, the dinner parties, the cocktails, the lighthouse, the quiet fishing village, and beaches were all well done and my favorite parts of Montauk.

While Montauk was entertaining enough, I do wish that Harrison would have explored the characters a bit more and fleshed out some of the plot points.  I felt like Bea and especially Harry became a bit derivative at times.  Oh, and that ending!! It was over the top depressing.

Nonetheless, if historical beach reads are your go-to summertime read, then give Montauk a try, especially if you like a story that examines the important question of whether it's worth it to risk everything for love or is money more important?

Stacking the Shelves and Giveaway Winner (101)

Blog Tour and Giveaway: If I Were Human 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Reputation

Book Review: The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams 

I'll be sharing my thoughts on Montauk by Nicola Harrison, which was a decent historical beach read. I liked the setting, but I felt a few things needed to be fleshed out a bit more.  

Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin  - Thanks to Delacorte

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory - Thanks to NetGalley and Atria

 

Lady Takes the Case by Eliza Casey - Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley

Reputation by Sara Shephard - Thanks to Dutton and NetGalley

Congrats to the following winners:

The Monster Catchers - Cassandra

Beach Read Giveaway - Tina

I hope you enjoy your books!

Have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts. This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. Thanks for visiting!

Blog Tour and Giveaway: If I Were Human

So far this summer I've been featuring great new picture books to share with the little ones in your life and I've been hosting some fantastic giveaways.  I'm sharing another exciting one today! 

Do you have a dog lover at home?  If so, then you'll definitely want to enter for a chance to win this fun prize package.  I am hosting a giveaway for the picture book, If I Were Human by W.B. Tyler and it's perfect for emerging readers!  My boys are always wondering what our dog, Scout, is thinking and what it'd be like to be a dog. This picture book highlights that very idea and makes you wonder what exactly your dog is thinking! If I Were Human is all about Brina, a Scottish terrier, who wonders what it would be like to be a human. After thinking about it further, she realizes how special it is to be a dog.  

Learn More About If I Were Human:

"Publisher’s Synopsis: Brina, a Scottish Terrier, has lots of fun thinking about what she would do if she were a person! But when she shares those ideas with her friends, she begins to realize just how special it is to be a dog. The simplicity of If I Were Human makes it ideal for early readers, but with its imaginative story and entertaining illustrations, adults and children alike will love it. And who knows―you just may discover that you’d rather be a dog!"

Ages 5-6 | Publisher: wbtylercom, llc | July 1, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-1543972351 You can purchase If I Were Human at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound. You can also learn more about W.B. Tyler by visiting his website and you can find him on Instagram.

The Giveaway:

I've partnered with The Children's Book Review and W.B. Tyler to share with you guys an amazing giveaway.  One lucky winner will win a signed copy of If I Were Human by W.B. Tyler and an 8" plush toy Scottie dog and an 8" plush toy Westie dog.  How cute, right?  

Nine winners will receive an signed copy of If I Were Human.  The giveaway ends July 24, 2019 at 11:59 PM PST.  The giveaway is open to legal residents of Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and the 50 United States and District of Columbia, who are thirteen years of age or older in their state or territory of residence at the time of entry.  Void where prohibitied by the law.  W.B. Tyler is responsible for prize fulfillment and please refer to my giveaway rules.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you every wonder what your dog is thinking or do you have little ones at home who pretend to be dogs? Let me know what you think in the comments below and if you enter the giveaway, good luck!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Reputation

Can't Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Reputation by Sara Shepard

Pub. Date: December 3, 2019

Goodreads says, "In this fast-paced new novel from Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars, a tight-knit college town scrambles for answers when an e-mail hack reveals life-changing secrets and scandals.  Aldrich University is rocked to its core when a hacker dumps 40,000 people's e-mails—the entire faculty, staff, students, alums—onto an easily searchable database. Rumors and affairs immediately leak, but things turn explosive when Kit Manning's handsome husband, Dr. Greg Strasser, is found murdered. Kit's sister, Willa, returns for the funeral, setting foot in a hometown she fled fifteen years ago, after a night she wishes she could forget. As an investigative reporter, Willa knows something isn't right about the night Greg was killed, and she's determined to find the truth. What she doesn't expect is that everyone has something to hide. And with a killer on the loose, Willa and Kit must figure out who killed Greg before someone else is murdered.  Told from multiple points of view, Reputation is full of twists, turns, and shocking reveals. It's a story of intrigue, sabotage, and the secrets we keep—and how far we go to keep them hidden. Number one bestseller Sara Shepard is at the top of her game in this brand-new adult novel."

Sara Shepard has another adult novel coming out late fall? Yes, please! The creator of Pretty Little Lies writes such deliciously fun adult thrillers. I really enjoyed The Heiresses, so I am looking forward to this one. It sounds scandalous, right? What do you guys think?

Book Review: The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams

Pages: 480

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: July 9, 2019

Publisher: William Morrow

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: A Certain Age,  A Hundred Summers, 
Tiny Little Thing, Along the Infinite Sea,  Cocoa Beach,
The Summer Wives, The Wicked City, 
and The Secret Life of Violet Grant

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "The New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives and A Certain Age creates a dazzling epic of World War II-era Nassau—a hotbed of spies, traitors, and the most infamous couple of the age, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.  The Bahamas, 1941. Newly-widowed Leonora “Lulu” Randolph arrives in Nassau to investigate the Governor and his wife for a New York society magazine. After all, American readers have an insatiable appetite for news of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, that glamorous couple whose love affair nearly brought the British monarchy to its knees five years earlier. What more intriguing backdrop for their romance than a wartime Caribbean paradise, a colonial playground for kingpins of ill-gotten empires?  Or so Lulu imagines. But as she infiltrates the Duke and Duchess’s social circle, and the powerful cabal that controls the islands’ political and financial affairs, she uncovers evidence that beneath the glister of Wallis and Edward’s marriage lies an ugly—and even treasonous—reality. In fact, Windsor-era Nassau seethes with spies, financial swindles, and racial tension, and in the middle of it all stands Benedict Thorpe: a scientist of tremendous charm and murky national loyalties. Inevitably, the willful and wounded Lulu falls in love.  Then Nassau’s wealthiest man is murdered in one of the most notorious cases of the century, and the resulting coverup reeks of royal privilege. Benedict Thorpe disappears without a trace, and Lulu embarks on a journey to London and beyond to unpick Thorpe’s complicated family history: a fateful love affair, a wartime tragedy, and a mother from whom all joy is stolen.  The stories of two unforgettable women thread together in this extraordinary epic of espionage, sacrifice, human love, and human courage, set against a shocking true crime . . . and the rise and fall of a legendary royal couple. "

Lulu, a young widow, is on the gorgeous island of the Bahamas working for an American magazine.  The British Royal family is all the rage in the 1940s, especially Edward VIII and the woman he left the crown for--Wallis Simpson.  Lulu infiltrates their social circle one socialite at a time all while dealing with spies, politics, the ongoing war, and of course,  a budding romance.  The story jumps back to Switzerland and slowly shares the tale of Elfriede von Kleist who is stuck in a health clinic due to her postpartum depression.  Her husband, a Baron, has put her in this clinic indefinitely due to events that are slowly shared.  While there, Elfriede hits it off with Wilfred Thorpe, a solider recovering from an illness.  After their time together, they can't forget one another, but Elfriede is still married despite the fact that she never sees her husband or her young son.  At first, Elfriede and Lulu's story seem worlds apart. It's almost as if the stories will never collide, but Beatriz Williams slowly and surely weaves them together expertly like a tapestry whose picture slowly comes to fruition.   If you love war time stories featuring romance, a breathtaking tropical setting, espionage, and politics, you must read The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams this summer.  

I was very interested in Lulu's story and was completely captivated story in the Bahamas.  I loved that she was a journalist sharing the activities of the Royal Family and I also enjoyed her moxie.  While in the Bahamas, she meets Benedict Thorpe and they quickly become a couple. But Benedict is often gone for periods of time and he is holding a secret from Lulu.  Is he really who he says he is? The setting of the Bahamas in The Golden Hour was picture perfect. Williams captured the tropical island so very well, but also kept a dark cloud overhead with mentions of the war and the political intrigue.  Also, Williams' portrayal of the Windsors was fantastic.  I have always been really interested in Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson's story and I loved that they are featured in The Golden Hour.

Williams' depiction of the Bahamas in the 40s was done so well that I often felt like I was watching a classic movie like Casablanca.  There were so many cocktails that needed filling, thunderstorms rolling in, atmospheric bars filled with interesting people, spies, parties, and plenty of cigarettes.  I couldn't get enough of the setting in The Golden Hour.

Williams does switch back to Switzerland forty years earlier and Elfriede's story.  To be honest, I found myself not as interested in her as Lulu.  In fact, I was getting some of the characters confused. My advance copy didn't include a family tree, but I would have definitely benefited from one.  Once I realized that Elfriede's story was important to the overall story, I found myself having more patience.  Be forewarned, you must give The Golden Hour time to unravel this secondary plot line. Trust that it will all make sense eventually.

If you enjoy historical beach reads with dual narratives, definitely give The Golden Hour a try this summer.  It will have you daydreaming of spending the afternoon under a palm tree in the Bahamas.