In May We Read Books With Pink Covers

Okay, it's not a hard-fast rule that we read books with pink on the cover. I was merely inspired by Emily Henry's bright cover and ran with it. Unlike several other book reviewers/vloggers I follow, I actually enjoyed Happy Place. For more on my thoughts regarding The Magic of Emily Henry, click here.

Now, back to the pink . . .

It started out as a brilliant idea . . . Not only was my Kindle library full of books with pink covers, but many had been there for ages, constantly getting passed over for newer titles that captured my attention. This was a way of forcing me to read some of these older, neglected books.

Then it quickly became obvious why I was constantly passing over some of these titles . . . This is the first year I've been rating the books I've read. It was the resolution I thought I'd give up on first, and surprisingly it's the one that's held out. The unspoken caveat that I wouldn't rank anything lower than three stars, however, has fallen this month.

Right up there with not speaking ill of the dead, I'd rather not discuss the books that disappointed me. Therefore, let's focus on the ones I enjoyed.

Along with Happy Place, there were two other four-star reads - A False Start and Waking Olivia.

Both are by favorite, solid authors. Both are age-gap romances.

The only downside to the Elsie Silver read is that until her much anticipated new release in June, I have now caught up on her backlist. Otherwise, I loved Nadia and Griffin's story. That being said, of the four Gold Rush Books, the third, Front Runner is my favorite.

I'm close to reading all of Elizabeth O'Roark's backlist as well. I've been putting off her newest for a time I'm prepared for angst because I've heard it's full of it. Apparently, I'd been doing the same with Waking Olivia, and rightfully so, because . . . Oh. My. God. The angst. The slow unraveling of Olivia's trauma was beautifully written. Combined with emotionally charged sex scenes, this book, will be the one that will stick with me and get recommended.

Side note - You know how sometimes you read several books in a month and there seems to be a coincidental theme? This month it was pets dying/getting murdered. It makes me yearn for the month that had several books featuring clowns. Just sayin' . . .

In other news of the month, I published! Breaking the Curse is a fun little standalone story set in the same universe as The Tempest Trilogy. Sadie Collins is certain her family has been cursed. No woman in the past three generations has lived to see thirty. After her sister's death, she finds a bucket list of sorts and is determined to tick off the items before death comes to claim her. Things go awry when she meets Declan Kincaid. She thinks he's going to be her 'one night stand.' He has other ideas . . . Pick up a copy here today! Did I mention it's free to read on Kindle Unlimited?

As I'm writing this, the clock has just ticked past midnight. It's the last day of May. If I get off my keister and finish up the epilogue, I'll also be able to happily report finishing off the first draft of Mia's story. Like many first drafts, the story kind of went off the rails. Characters refused to cooperate as characters do . . . Mia's best friend, Daniel, refused to remain in the friend zone so . . . ugh, I can't believe I'm saying this . . . the story basically turned into a polyamorous romance with absolutely no graphic sex scenes. While I still love it, and adore the characters, I'm ready to shelve it. I'll figure out what to do in a year or so when it's time to tackle the second draft.

That being said, the plan going forward is to finish the story off and then RELAX. The first of June has me spending the day hanging out in airports (something I absolutely love because it means uninterrupted reading time!), followed by a nine-hour, overnight flight. Perhaps a few days in Paris will inspire my next story!

Au revoir,

C.J.