Weekend TBR Stack!

Every week, I like to post a pic of my To-Be-Read stack and here's the one for this weekend:

You might be wondering why there I've pasted the cover of Brentwood's Ward onto the wall... simply because it's on my Kindle and I have no other way to show it.

Brentwood's Ward by Michelle Griep - I've joined the online book club at bookfun.org and this is the August book. Discussion starts on 8/21/18, so feel free to join us!

The Hope of Azure Springs - I'm eager to read Rachel Fordham's debut novel. I recently signed up for her newsletter and responded to one of her questions via email. She picked me as a winner of her novel and now, here it sits, ready to be read!

The Note - Found this novel at the little used book store I adore and the novel sounds so good.

The Lady of Tarpon Springs - My local book club chose this for our October reading. We'll take a group trip to Tarpon Springs to eat Greek food and watch a diver harvest sea sponges.

So, I plan to read Brentwood's Ward this weekend, starting sometime tonight after the kids are in bed. The Lady of Tarpon Springs will be sitting in the stack for awhile as I plan to read the novel closer to when we'll be discussing it in book club. The others will get worked in on the weekends. 

What are you reading this weekend?

The Books I'll Spend the Weekend With....

It's Friday afternoon! The weekend is when I do most of my reading and I'm eager to spend some time with my books over the next few days.

Here's my current TBR stack:

I'm about two-thirds of the way through Home by Julie Andrews. So far, it's been a fascinating story and I have learned much about this unique woman.

I intend to read A Refuge Assured this weekend as the book club I attend will discuss it this coming Thursday.

Unfortunately, this was a busy week and I didn't get to take a trip to the little used book store nestled in the back of my local library.  So, I added The Note, which I found in the book store last week, to my stack.

My TBR stack is shrinking. I think I need more books.

Yesterday's Book Finds...

My local library branch has a used book store tucked back past the fiction section.  I have a hearty enthusiasm for this bookstore.

The prices are great: Hardback books are $1. Softcovers are $.50.  But, for the last few weeks, all paperbacks have been buy one, get one.  BOGO!!!  That's two books for $.54 (because there's tax)!

So this is what I came home with yesterday:

I haven't read either of these novels and I think I've read only one of Angela Hunt's other books.  I added The Note directly into my TBR stack and The Widow of Larkspur Inn went in one of my unread book boxes.

I love books... old books, new books, used books, good books!

Esther: Royal Beauty by Angela Hunt

The Biblical tale of Esther recounts the life of a Jewish maiden as she rises from obscurity to queen of Persia. Taken from her home by the edict for beautiful women to be gathered for the king to choose his new queen from, Esther finds favor with those around her while retaining the secret of her heritage. After Esther is crowned queen, a law is issued to exterminate all Jews. To save her people, Esther must risk her life by violating Persian law in order to convince the king to save her people.

I almost passed over Esther: Royal Beauty by Angela Hunt. Some time ago, I'd read another version of Esther's story and disliked the romanticism and idealism. However, the stunning cover stands as an example of how a cover can positively affect a book's appeal and convinced me to try it.

Ultimately, I was glad that I choose to read Esther, the first in Angela Hunt's Dangerous Beauty series. I didn't get too much idealism and the plot was well-written. I liked the perspective changes between Esther (Hadassah) and the king's attendant as it added depth and, at times, suspense to the story line. The plot captured my interest early on and didn't drag – I finished the book in two days.

The ending seemed a bit rushed. The author spent substantial time throughout the book adding in fictional, but appropriate, details that made for a good work of fiction. However, the finale recounted the Biblical ending without much fictional addition. This isn't necessarily bad, but it just felt different from the rest of the book. I still will reread the book in the future and recommend it to people who enjoy Biblical retellings.

An excerpt from Esther by Angela Hunt is available at the publisher's site.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."