Stephanie Perkins Audio Books

Last month I listened to Anna and the French Kiss. I enjoyed it so much that I sought out more audio books by Stephanie Perkins.

 There were a few options, but I decided to follow it up with Isla and the Happily Ever After because it featured a character I'd already met in Anna in the French Kiss. Both of these books made great, easy to listen to audio books and I highly recommend!

I'm going to have to get Lola and the Boy Next Door soon now...

To Review: "Life After" by Katie Ganshert

I'm excited and a little nervous to being reading Life After by Katie Ganshert. I lived in Chicago for a while, so I am interested in reading about familiar locations. However, given that the premise of the book is a Chicago train being bombed, I think it will be a very difficult read. It's a Christian book, though, so I know at least it'll be God-centered and have a message of hope and peace.

Review: "In the Shadow of Denali" by Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse

In the Shadow of Denali is a pretty straightforward christian love story. The main story line involves a young woman, Cassidy, who is suddenly attracting two men at the hotel where she works. However, the main love interest, Allan, has come to Alaska to learn more about his father's death, which could have been the cause of some mystery and suspense, but is not presented that way. Cassidy's father ends up being a christian mentor to both Allan, and the smitten-with-Cassidy young kitchen hand, Thomas.

The relationship between Cassidy and her father is quite endearing. He shares a lot of wisdom with her and it is obvious throughout the book that she has taken his lessons to heart.

There's also an interesting story to the head cook with whom Cassidy works, Mrs. Johnson. She seems more genuine than the other characters and willingly shares her struggles with Cassidy. The parts where Cassidy and Mrs. Johnson talk about God and faith are more engaging than other moments where the interactions between characters seem forced.

As a work of historical fiction, the book performs admirably. I learned a lot about Denali from reading it. It includes some interesting passages where the President visits the mountain. There's a few pages at the end of the book that explain all of the historical context and what necessitated fictionalization. It was an interesting insight both into the available information (gaps included) and the writer's process.

However, overall the book fell flat for me with repetitive monologues from characters pining over one another, assuming that feelings were unrequited. If you're looking for a quick read that ties up all story lines in a nice little bow, has a tiny bit of suspense, and characters who fall in love with the idea of one another, you may enjoy this book more than I did. There were many places this book could have been more mysterious but chose to give everything away and spell things out for the reader. It ends in a tired way, leaving nothing for the reader to think or wonder about.

I received a free copy of this book, but was not required to write a positive review.

Audio books, audio books, and MORE audio books!

I was given the great gift of an audible member ship for my birthday and Christmas. Now I'm ready to select out a bunch of books...

Here's what's on my list so far:






Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins












The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson















The Magicians by Lev Grossman

To Review: "In the Shadow of Denali" by Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse

I love Alaska and wilderness books...so I'm happy to say I'll soon be reading and reviewing In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse! It's book one of The Heart of Alaska series. I can't wait to share my review with you!

"Hillbilly Elegy" by J.D. Vance

I haven't read much nonfiction lately, so I am looking forward to reading and discussing Hillbilly Elegy with a book club through my church. I'd had a few people mention how much they enjoyed the book, so when it was announced as our January book club selection, I was ready to jump in right away.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

What were the best books you read in 2016?

I read a lot of good ones! If I had to choose, these would be the top-tier of my 2016 reading!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Door that Led to Where by Sally Gardner
This Is Not the End by Jesse Jordan
Dark Places and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

And, what are you looking forward to reading in 2017?