Reading Recap

 The Intruder

I LOVE a Freida McFadden thriller and her books automatically make it into my Audible library as soon as they come out. The Intruder didn't disappoint.  It was a unique premise and, like always, was entertaining, twisty and dark.  If you're a McFadden fan you'll definitely enjoy The Intruder.

"Who knows what the storm will blow in…

Casey's cabin in the wilderness is not built for a hurricane. Her roof shakes, the lights flicker, and the tree outside her front door sways ominously in the wind. But she's a lot more worried about the girl she discovers lurking outside her kitchen window.

She's young. She's alone. And she's covered in blood.

The girl won't explain where she came from, or loosen her grip on the knife in her right hand. And when Casey makes a disturbing discovery in the middle of the night, things take a turn for the worse.

The girl has a dark secret. One she'll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning."

Lessons in Chemistry

This was an audible recommendation and I downloaded it without knowing much about it. It was SUPER unique and I absolutely adored it.  The characters were SO well developed and Elizabeth Zott has my heart forever.  What I really loved was that literally EVERY character was unique and quirky and so well thought out. If you're looking for something completely unique, thought-provoking, quietly funny and INTERESTING this is the one for you ;) 

"Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo."

She Didn't See It Coming

This was interesting, suspenseful and I really liked that information was revealed to the reader at the same time it was revealed to the detective working the case. The characters were likable until they weren't ;) and it kept me turning the pages. There were lots of red herrings and twists and I liked how the whole thing wrapped up.  

"Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple.

Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden–working from home that day–has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.

Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.

How can she have disappeared from her own home? And did she even leave the building at all?

With every minute that passes–and as questions swirl around their community–Bryden and Sam’s past seems a little less perfect, their condominium less safe, their friends, neighbors and relatives no longer quite so reliable . . ."

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

This book was so much fun. It was a really enjoyable and sweet read and, again, different than my norm which is exactly what I was looking for.  The romance aspect of it was unexpected and lovely and overall I just found myself smiling while reading.  

"As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules...with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when peril comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for...."

Is Your Daughter Ready?

Y'all know I am a BIG Kari Kampakis fan - I've shared her parenting wisdom dozens of times over on Instagram and always enjoy reading her content in longer form.  This book was an "easy" read - I breezed through it on a day trip to Waco last week - but it definitely kept my highlighter busy ;)  I found myself dog-earring pages to share with Griffin and took several photos of paragraphs to send to various friends.  Raising girls is NOT for the faint of heart (neither is boys - but the social/emotional part of middle school girls has been next level and has blown anything my boys dealt with out of the water) and I am ALWAYS welcoming in wisdom and insight from moms who have traveled the path before me!  If you have a teen/tween (or even late-elementary) daughter this book is FULL of great tidbits of wisdom.

"The journey of a girl mom often presents tricky terrain. In the early years, moms focus on the good. Being kind. Noticing beauty. Having faith and hope for the future. All the while, wondering: Can we help them believe in goodness yet not be naïve? Can we prepare them to handle hard realities without letting reality harden them?

Bestselling author Kari Kampakis champions you in this paradoxical journey. Like a big sister who's seen the wilderness and come back to report what's ahead, Kari offers a realistic yet optimistic framework.

Is Your Daughter Ready? is your anthem for raising a powerful force for good in a world that's deeply hurting. With Kari as your guide, learn how to intentionally pack the essentials your daughter will need for her life journey by:

• instilling the love and light of Christ in her heart to empower her to be a light in the world;
• modeling healthy relationships to set her up for success in personal, professional, and romantic connections;
• providing her with the tools needed to have tough conversations with confidence and grace;
• cultivating a mission mentality so she can look beyond her circumstances to see God's purpose; and
• creating an environment of trust in God, assuring her that He will conquer any darkness.

Reclaim the joy of motherhood and the power of your home as you lovingly pour into your daughter, teach her to stand on her own two feet, and pray for the day when she outruns you and begins to empower her own generation."

HAPPY Tuesday and happy reading, friends!!!