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The end of a season means it’s time to share what books I’ve read. From romance to murder mysteries, from historical fiction to tips on being a new mom, this seasons book list has a wide variety of genres. Here is part 1 of what books I read this past winter.
Meg’s hand-lettering skills are the talk of NYC. From wedding invitations to planners, Meg is the Planner of Park Slope. But Meg has another talent within her lettering, adding a code, a secret message in Reid Sutherland and his fiancé’s wedding invitation after Meg knew the marriage was doomed from the beginning. A year later Reid tracks down Meg and wants to know how she knew his marriage would not work out. Reid somehow cracked the hidden message within the invitation. As Meg is creating a major project for a big corporation, she doesn’t have time to face Reid’s questions. Instead she has him accompany her on her journey to regain her creative inspiration. Love Lettering is about destiny, signs from the universe, and finding creativity everywhere you go.
Review
At first I had a hard time getting into the book. It wasn’t that I did not enjoy it or wasn’t interested in what was to happen, I just felt it started off slow. But once Reid and Meg started their journey to walk around the city looking at signs for creative inspiration, I was intrigued. Plus there are a few situations that completely surprised me. By the end of the book I couldn’t put it down. After I finished Love Lettering I felt really inspired. Although I am not a Hand Writer (wish I was, what a talent to have), I do understand creative blocks. I have never thought about looking at the signs in front of stores before, but now I catch myself always looking to see what kind of lettering they use or graphics for details. It’s a brand new source of inspiration for me. This book proves that we can find inspiration anywhere as long as we are wiling to open our eyes and minds to what is around us. Anyway, I loved that it was more than just about her blooming romance with Reid. It’s about accepting each other for who they are, flaws and all. About opening up and being vulnerable to people, and that it’s ok to be. Meg also has issues with her childhood best friend Sibby. As we grow we drift away from people. I think what frustrated me with Meg and Sibby is that they wouldn’t communicate well most Sibby. Problems do not go away if we sweep them under a rug. Communication is a reoccurring theme.
I have been a fan of Cameron Eubanks since the Real World: San Diego. But like most of the Real World cast prior to social media, they vanish from our radar. This was until she rejoined the reality tv world with Southern Charm on Bravo. I absolutely loved the show until Cameron and a few of the other women left, then I stopped watching. Still I follow Cameron on Instagram and feel like we could be good friends. I love her taste in clothes, decor, and humor. When I saw that Cameron wrote a book, I knew I had to read it. One Day You’ll Thank Me is life lessons that Cameron has learned from being a new mom. As someone who isn’t a mom yet, hope to be one day, I enjoyed her parenting tips. What I liked about Cameron’s book – and everyone needs to adapt this- it isn’t mom shaming. She is simply telling you to do you. Do what you feel is best for your child, but this is what worked for her if you needs tips. Cameron also does not sugarcoat anything. She tells it like it is and talks about things that are taboo about being a mom and having a baby. She also talks about her dating life prior to Jason her husband. As well as their courtship. I love that Jason didn’t kiss her until the 5th date. What a gentleman. She talks a little about her time on tv and why she chose to do the Real World at such a young age. And why she went back to reality tv for Southern Charm. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I listened to it on Audio. Cameron, herself, narrates it.
A group of college best friends get together every year for New Years. This time they are heading to a remote lodge in the wilderness in Scotland. A little out of their comfort zone. They are completely alone in the wilderness besides the staff and a couple passing through on their travels. After a major snowstorm traps and isolates them even more from the outside world they come to find that someone at the resort will not make it out alive, and someone else is the murderer. Not a spoiler- it happens within the first few pages of the book. You do not know who did it or who is murdered until the end. The Hunting Party is about friendship, the secrets we keep, and of course, a who done it mystery.
Review
Murder mysteries are not my go-to genre but I absolutely loved this book! My cousin recommended it to me, so I decided to give it a try. I could NOT put it down. There are so many twist and turns. You do not know who was murdered and who is the killer until the end. You spend the entire book trying to guess who is either / or. I basically suspected most of the characters at one point. However, I accurately guessed at the beginning who did it and who was the victim. It isn’t obvious, just a lucky guess based on a hunch. Besides the murder, it’s about the friendships we hold on to because we think we have to. The ones where you have known each other for so long, your past is the only thing that ties you together. We all have friendships from childhood or college that are not as strong as they used to be. We drift apart from people as we grow. We move, change jobs, start families, travel. You start to connect with people who share similar interest and values instead of a common zip code. But then there are the friends who you know will always be there for your through thick and thin. The ones you can randomly call and it’s like no time has ever past. Anyway, I highly recommend this book.
