Spring is in the air which means more daylight hours to read by. Win-win 🙂

Here is what I have read since the last book link-up…

The Huntress by Kate Quinn

If you have read Quinn’s previous book The Alice Network, then you know just how good of a writer she is and her penchant for storytelling is all kinds of awesome. Her latest book, The Huntress, did not disappoint.

This book takes place right after World War II, where a group of Nazi hunters are looking for the elusive German murderess known as The Huntress. It goes back and forth between the current time (late 1940’s) to what happened during the war, and it is sooooooo good. Seriously. Do they end up catching her? Read it and find out!

Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

Y’all, I raved about this book on Instagram and I meant every word. I LOVE when I can’t figure out who did it and am totally surprised by “whodunnit”.

A murderer leaving clues in another person’s personal diary??? Yes. Weird and creepy atmosphere? Yes. And it takes place in England? Yup! Another must-read for the win!

The Banker’s Wife by Cristina Alger

This book was just okay for me. It does pull you in, I will give it that, but there were too many anomalies for me to really recommend it to an overwhelming degree. I found editing mistakes for example, where one character is talking and then they refer to that same character with another person’s name, who is definitely not that person. Also, the title is a misnomer for anyone who gets bugged by these things: she is not technically a banker’s wife, she is a lawyer’s wife who happens to work for a major bank. He is not actually a banker. Yes, it may sound nitpicky, but the predictable storylines mixed with the bad editing and too much detail given to parts of the story that are really not pertainable, just made this “meh” for me.

Make Something Good Today by Erin and Ben Napier

This married couple have a series on HGTV called Hometown and I absolutely love it! They are trying to fix up Erin’s hometown of Laurel, Mississippi one house at a time. They have even helped revitalize the downtown area which had become dilapidated since businesses had left in previous years. When I heard they had written a book, I knew I had to scoop it up. This book isn’t really about the show until maybe the last chapter or two, but the main thrust of the book is all about their lives; separately before they met, them coming together, and getting married and starting their businesses, and just everyday stuff. It is also told from both points of view of Erin and Ben, which gives it a conversational feel, like they are right in front of you sharing their story.

Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

I really was looking forward to this book about how to trade busy for simple, how to be present in the everyday stuff and focus on what is right in front of you, but alas…

This book is basically the author saying her life had just become sooooo busy with all of her speaking engagements and all her book writing, and jet-setting and time in hotels and away from her family and she finally started saying no to events more, so she could spend more time with her family at their lake house in the summers and when she is at home, cook lots of dinners for all of her friends and family who she sees all the time, all told haphazardly through the lens of “finding grace”.

*sigh*

This woman who is by all accounts a “Christian-based” author, left much to be desired in this book.  She had to know that her audience does not relate to her life in any way shape or form, and for this book to be marketed as a self-help of sorts, I don’t see how this helps anyone, to be honest with you. I felt she missed a great opportunity to really connect with her audience and offer more concrete examples of being “present over perfect” and really being in the moment.

Any good books that you can recommend? 🙂

Hey all! A quick word before I dive into my book review post… Some of you guys didn’t see or receive my last post explaining my change-over from a free WordPress site to my new home here at mackenziecarose.com. It is still me! 🙂 Just a proverbial butterfly spreading her blogging wings!

Now on to the show…

The Minimalist Home by Joshua Becker

This is a good book if you are just starting off in your decluttering/minimizing journey. If you are a seasoned pro and clutter is basically a four-letter word to you, then go ahead and skip it.

The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox by Katie Wells

Good overview about why being healthy is important not to just ourselves, but to our children. Chockfull of natural cleaning ideas/methods/way of life. I found it interesting. Also, you don’t need to be a “mama” to read this book. It really is for everyone.

Cocaine Blues: A Miss Fisher Murder Mystery by Kerry Greenwood

I love, love, love the series which is on Netflix right now, staring Essie Davis. It is sooooo good 🙂 I thought hey, let me read the first book in the series since I am watching the show. Meh… Not enamoured. That’s okay though. The series is worth watching guys, trust me!

Essential by The Minimalists

I enjoyed this book. It is full of essays from their website focusing on specific topics such as finances, health, relationships, technology and minimalism, just to name a few.

Mrs. McGinty’s Dead by Agatha Christie

Now y’all know I could not do a book review post without mentioning my girl!! All I have to say about this book, is that you’ll never guess who did the crime and why Mrs. McGinty had to die. Great page-turner!

A Pale Horse by Charles Todd

Scotland Yard inspector Ian Rutledge has to find out why a dead man was left in the abbey of a monastery with a WW1 gas mask covering his face, when it also is apparently obvious that he wasn’t killed there. Intrigued now, aren’t you? 🙂

That’s it! Any great books that you guys can recommend?