June's Book of the Month

 

Hello Everyone! I chose the picture posted above because it reminds me of reading to my daughter Mareena when she was little. Every afternoon until she was about eight or nine years old, we would take one of her books that she wanted to read or that she was reading and we would curl up together on my big bed. 

We would spend an hour or so reading a chapter of her book, and then take a nap together. Her absolutely favorite author at that time was an English author named Enid Blyton. Ahh, nice memories... 

My picks for 'Books of the Month' will be decidedly more adult these days, but they will be from almost any genre. June's Book of the Month is:

I Couldn't Love You More: A Novel by Jillian Medoff

  Published as: I Couldn't Love You More in May 2012

Publisher: 5 Spot 

Birth Name: Jillian Medoff
Born: 21 August 1963 in Atlanta, Georgia

Canonical Name: Jillian Medoff
Pseudonyms: None

I Couldn't Love You More: A Novel by Jillian Medoff was the fortieth book that I read in 2015. I have had this book on my TBR shelf since December 19, 2014 and it took me four days to read. This book is definitely a keeper for me. 

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Donna VanLiere - The Christmas Promise: A Novel

43. The Christmas Promise: A Novel by Donna VanLiere (2007)
The Christmas Hope Series Book 4
Length: 206 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 28 June 2015
Finished: 29 June 2015
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2015
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and had read and enjoyed The Angels of Morgan Hill by the same author in the past. 

Seven years ago, Gloria Bailey suffered a devastating family tragedy that almost took away her faith completely; as it was, Gloria's idyllically happy life was shaken down to its very foundation. Since then, she has struggled to comprehend the reason why her life was turned upside down; and to somehow find the strength of will to carry on. Each Christmas she places a card inside an envelope on her tree, acknowledging and solemnly restating a promise she had made to her husband just before his death.

Now, having moved from her small town and all the painful memories it held, she is slowly building a new life for herself by helping those in need. Whether it's a young mother who can't pay her electricity bill or a family who needs some extra food, Gloria always finds a way to be of service. She seems to have found her life's purpose again, and Gloria is - if not living the type of life that she had once envisioned - at least living a tentatively pleasurable life.

Gloria's faith is also slowly being rekindled; faith in herself and faith in others. Then, there is Miriam Lloyd Davies, Gloria's elderly neighbor. Gloria is convinced that Miriam is a thorn in her side: a constant annoyance that Gloria does her best to avoid at all costs. Miriam is constantly critical; a disapproving and mean-spirited neighbor who looks with suspicion at all the good things that Gloria does. When a twist of fate makes the women roommates instead of neighbors, it is the ultimate test of patience and faith.

Chaz McConnell has a really good job as head of security for Wilson's Department Store, but he is also terribly lonely; returning home each night to his empty apartment. He longs for a wife and family of his own but also realizes that the choices that he has made in life have alienated him. He soon befriends a young boy whose mother has fallen on hard times, allowing Chaz the chance to have the sort of life he once thought impossible.

In The Christmas Promise: A Novel, the lives of all these characters collide and we learn that the past is never far behind, even as we move ahead. And when we are forgiven much, we love much. In this warmly humorous and deeply poignant story, we are reminded that the ultimate Christmas Promise is the promise of second chances.

I had read and enjoyed one of Donna VanLiere's previous books, The Angels of Morgan Hill, back in February of 2012. In my opinion, The Christmas Promise: A Novel was really quite good; a quick and engaging read that I enjoyed very much. I found this to be a feel-good story; touching and sweet and truly heart-warming. The story's plot may have been slightly far-fetched, but I still found it enjoyable. I give this book a B+!

B+! - (85-89%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Danielle Steel - A Good Woman

42. A Good Woman by Danielle Steel (2008)

Length: 327 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Started: 25 June 2015
Finished: 27 June 2015
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 20 July 2012
Why do I have it? I like historical fiction and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

Born into a life of luxury and raised among the privileged classes of New York society, nineteen-year-old Annabelle Worthington has spent the majority of her life mingling with the afluent and cherished elite, as a part of the glittering world and the glamorous ballrooms of the Manhattan social set. With glorious family homes on Fifth Avenue and also in Newport, Rhode Island, Annabelle has been raised to expect only the best that life has to offer - taught to rely on her family's name and their stellar reputation to pave her way in life. Yet Annabelle's life as she knows it is irrevocably swept away on a bitterly cold day in April of 1912, when the sinking of the Titanic shatters her life forever. Drawing on an indomitable source of strength from somewhere deep within her grief, Annabelle pours herself into volunteer work.

It is while nursing the poor, that Annabelle finds her true purpose - igniting a desire in medicine, a passion that will never be extinguished - something which will inevitably shape the course of her life far into the future. But for Annabelle, it is her first love, and a seemingly idyllic marriage which will soon bring her yet more grief and an incalculable heartbreak. Devastated and betrayed by the revelation of her husband's deepest secrets, Annabelle flees New York for war-ravaged France, pursued by a scandal she does not deserve. Hoping to lose herself in a life of service, Annabelle will dedicate herself to the fulfillment of others.

There in the heart of war-torn France - at the height of World War I - in a ground-breaking field hospital run entirely by women, Annabelle finds her true calling. Working as an ambulance medic on the front lines; studying medicine; tending to the gravely sick and grievously wounded; doing what she can to save lives. And when the war ends, she begins her new life in Paris - as a respected doctor, a mother, and with her past put firmly in its place; her devastating memories almost entirely forgotten...until a fateful meeting opens her heart to the world she had left behind.

Finding strength in the unlikeliest of friendships, pulling together the broken fragments of her life, Annabelle will return to New York once more - this time as a changed woman; a woman of rare substance; someone who was forged by life's experiences; and infused with her hard-won knowledge of harsh circumstances. Annabelle will finally find joy in building a future filled with hope...growing out of the rich, fertile soil of the past.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; I found it to be well-written, richly detailed and well-grounded in the historical period. In my opinion, this was slightly different from Ms. Steel's usual work, and Annabelle Worthington was a vibrantly strong character, who I immediately related to - and felt for - as I read further into the story. I would certainly give A Good Woman by Danielle Steel an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

When There Are Puzzles Available, 'Puzzle Mania' is Still Going Strong!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

Well, I just finished doing my second jigsaw puzzle that I bought from the Library Book Sale that Mareena and I went to on Monday, June 1st. It's of a very pretty pastoral scene at sunset. This was the  same puzzle that Mistress Lollipop single-pawedly dismantled so early on Wednesday morning, June 17th! ;) There weren't even any cats in this puzzle - LOL!!!

Actually, considering that I was basically starting over fresh with this particular puzzle thanks to Ms. Lolli's overly eager assistance, it's slightly surprising to me that I finished this puzzle in only eight days! I was expecting it to take so much longer. I'm getting pretty fast at doing jigsaw puzzles, apparently.

Anyway, I just started reading A Good Woman by Danielle Steel this morning Thursday, June 25th! This is a book that I acquired from a Library Book Sale that Mareena and I went to in July of 2012. So, it only took me slightly less than two years to start reading this book! Oh well! - ;) 

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Anna Quindlen - Every Last One: A Novel

Reread. Every Last One: A Novel by Anna Quindlen (2010)
Length: 299 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Originally Read: 24 November 2013
Reread Finished: 22 June 2015
Where did it come from? Originally from a Library Book Sale, then from my "keeper" shelf.

I first acquired this book during a Library Book Sale that Mareena and I went to in November of 2013. I read it for the first time in November of 2013. This was actually the first book that I chose to read when we came home from the library - and it only took me two days to read - from November 22nd to November 24th, 2013.

My reread took place in June of 2015. Actually it took me two days to read in total - from June 20th to June 22nd, 2015. I'll certainly be reading this book at least one or two more times in the future.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

My 'Puzzle Mania' Has Made a Brief Reappearance!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

I just started doing a jigsaw puzzle that I bought from the Library Book Sale that Mareena and I went to on Monday, June 1st. It's of a very pretty pastoral scene at sunset. I actually started doing this puzzle on Monday evening, June 15th, and managed to finish up about one third of it. Incredibly early on Wednesday morning, June 17th - roughly about 5: 30 or 5:45 A. M. I think - I was jolted awake by a tremendous crash.

I jumped out of bed, my pulse racing, and was immediately and very enthusiastically greeted by Ms. Lollipop purring at the bottom of my bed. I'm absolutely sure that I groaned aloud, but I'm less sure if I may have teared up slightly as I took in the scene spread out before me. It was an absolute mess! ;) lol!!!

My puzzle table was tipped over, and my partly-finished puzzle was scattered all over the floor. And the culprit was cuddled up at my side, calmly kneading my bedspread, head-butting and nuzzling my arm in a shameless ploy for attention. It only took me about ten or fifteen minutes to clean up the mess, but I'll admit that Ms. Lollipop and I had a very stern conversation about her absolutely atrocious (ahem!) behavior while I picked up the pieces of my puzzle.

There were many frowns and loud groans directed towards Ms. Lollipop, and Mareena was sadly shaking her head, glancing down at a patrolling Lollipop and sighing as she helped me collect the pieces. We studiously avoiding looking at each other, because if we had someone would probably have started laughing - Lollipop was proudly strolling around, completely oblivious that she was the reason for her humans being wide awake; she only wanted her favorite treat - 'Dairy Flavored Kitty Crunchies'! After all, we were up and about, so of course, Lollipop must be fed! ;) lol!!!

Anyway, I started reading Ellen Foster: A Novel by Kaye Gibbons on Tuesday, June 16th! This was a relatively short book that I acquired from a Library Book Sale that Mareena and I went to in April of 2014. It's a very good book, I think, but I'm not that far into it as yet.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Jillian Medoff - I Couldn't Love You More: A Novel

40. I Couldn't Love You More: A Novel by Jillian Medoff (2012)

Length: 410 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Started: 11 June 2015

Finished: 15 June 2015

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 19 December 2014

Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and Jillian Medoff is a new author for me. 

Thirty-eight-year-old Eliot Gordon is a working mother who lives a conventional yet, for her, fulfilling life in suburban Atlanta. She would do absolutely anything for her family - her longtime partner, Grant Delaney, and their three lovely daughters: fourteen-year-old Charlotte, seven-year-old Gail, and four-year-old Hailey. In truth, while Hailey is Eliot's and Grant's daughter, Charlotte and Gail are Grant's daughters from a previous marriage. The distinction of 'stepdaughters' is one that Eliot is always reluctant to make with regard to Charlotte and Gail - as she loves both of the older girls just as much as the child that she gave birth to - and Eliot valiantly attempts to maintain a safe, happy home for them all. 

By anyone else's estimations, Eliot is living the sort of life that may be considered unremarkable and quite tedious - yet by Eliot's own standards she is quite comfortable and very much content with her life and family. Then Finn Montgomery, Eliot's long-lost first love, appears. His sudden and unexpected return sets into motion a shocking chain of events that threatens to unravel everything she has worked so hard for. How Eliot ultimately survives - and what she loses in the process - is a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever loved a child.

With hilarious honesty, heart-wrenching depth, and a knockout plot twist, Jillian Medoff creates a story that is poignant and eternal. I Couldn't Love You More illuminates the unbreakable bonds of family and reveals the lengths that we will go to to save each other, even as we can't save ourselves. Ultimately, I Couldn't Love You More: A Novel by Jillian Medoff is a true love story - both familial and romantic - as well as a story about loss, change and finding your own sense of normalcy - even when the life around you feels utterly abnormal.

I must say, that while it took me some time to get into this story, by several pages in I found myself utterly engrossed in the book. The story was poignant and well-written, and I immediately connected with the characters on a deeply emotional level. This was a remarkable story and I give it a definite A+! This may be the first book by Jillian Medoff that I have ever read, yet I made sure that I put this author's name at the very top of my Wish List. I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of two more of her books, and look forward to reading them as soon as I receive them.

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

My 'Puzzle Mania' is Baaaaack!

Hello everyone! I hope that you're all just fine this morning - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing so far.

I just started doing a jigsaw puzzle that I bought from the Library Book Sale that Mareena and I went to on Monday, June 1st. It's of a summer garden party scene. I actually started doing this puzzle on Monday evening, June 8th and at 500 pieces I thought that it would be relatively simple to do. I think that I may have misjudged the level of difficulty for this one - It's way trickier than I expected! ;)

I'm currently reading I Couldn't Love You More: A Novel by Jillian Medoff. This was a book that I bought from a Library Book Sale that Mareena and I went to in December of 2014. I'm enjoying the story very much so far, even though I waited so long to start reading it. I actually started reading the book on Thursday evening, June 11th.

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Harlan Coben - The Woods

39. The Woods by Harlan Coben (2007)

Length: 404 pages

Genre: Contemporary Mystery

Started: 8 June 2015

Finished: 11 June 2015

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 9 April 2014

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Harlan Coben is a new author for me.

On his deathbed, Paul Copeland's father grabs his hand and urgently whispers one final directive to his son: "Paul, we still need to find her." Two decades before, four teenage campers had wandered into the woods one sultry summer night. Some time later, two of the missing campers were found murdered, but the other two teens were never seen again. The lives of four families were changed forever. Now, twenty years later, they are all about to change again.

Paul 'Cope' Copeland's life was turned upside down twenty years ago with the loss of his younger sister, Camille. Even now, he still feels the muted pain of that loss, although life has inevitably moved on for him. He is now the county prosecutor for Essex, New Jersey - a widower who recently lost his wife to cancer; learning to parent his six-year-old daughter as a single father. Balancing family life and a rapidly ascending career as a prosecutor distracts Cope from all his past traumas, but only for so long.

When a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to Cope, the long-buried secrets of the prosecutor's family are threatened. Might this homicide victim actually be one of the campers who disappeared with his sister? Could Camille still be alive? Cope can't be entirely sure, but he knows that he needs to find out.

Yet, investigating this case will ultimately force Cope to face so many things from his past; people and emotions he believed he'd effectively left behind during that summer of twenty years ago. There will be Lucy, Cope's first love; his estranged mother, who abandoned her family; and the secrets held by his Russian parents, secrets which they might have been hiding even from their own children. Cope must decide what is better left hidden in the dark and what truths can be set free into the light.

This is the first book by Harlan Coben that I've ever read, although I do have a least two others hidden somewhere on my bookshelf. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; I found it to be very well-written and the story itself completely held my attention. I also really felt connected to the characters, and was quickly engrossed in the plot. I give this book an A! and this will most definitely not be the last book by Harlan Coben that I read.

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Jenny Milchman - Cover of Snow: A Novel

38. Cover of Snow: A Novel by Jenny Milchman (2013)

Length: 326 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Mystery 

Started: 4 June 2015

Finished: 7 June 2015

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2015

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Jenny Milchman is a new author for me.

Nora Hamilton went to bed one wintry evening married to a wonderful man named Brendan - a man who loved his wife dearly, valued his profession deeply, and had an unwavering affection for his quaint hometown nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Nora Hamilton woke up the next morning in her old farmhouse, to find that overnight her world had effectively shattered into a million pieces. Her husband, Brendan Hamilton - the trustworthy, by-the-book police officer - had committed suicide. Nora is left feeling bereft and thoroughly confused.

Then a disturbing awareness slowly settles in: Brendan left no note and gave absolutely no indication that he was contemplating taking his own life. So, why then would a rock-solid policeman with such an unswerving devotion to his wife, his job, and his community suddenly choose to end it all? Unraveling her husband's final days, Nora searches for an explanation - but seems to be meeting with an extraordinary amount of resistance that she can't seem to penetrate, no matter how hard she tries. 

It seems utterly bewildering to Nora that everyone she speaks with - from Brendan's best friend and partner, to his fellow police officers, to his brittle mother - are remarkably reticent about speaking to her. It quickly becomes apparent to Nora that she is asking questions no one wants to answer; looking for answers that no one is prepared to give. For beneath the soft cover of snow lies a powerful conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep its presence unknown...and its darkest secrets hidden.

First of all, let me say that I really enjoyed reading this book. The mystery was interesting, intriguing and full of dramatic twists and turns. It was certainly a remarkably good story, and I was drawn into the plot right from the beginning. It was well-written and dramatic, and I found myself really connecting with the characters. I must say that I was enthralled and wanted to know what would happen next. 

This was the debut novel written by Jenny Milchman and, even though I believe that I have at least one more book by this author somewhere on my bookcase, Cover of Snow: A Novel is the first book by this author that I've read. I will say that despite the fact that the book was very good - and it held my attention all the way through the story - I found the mystery just a bit too complex; it was slightly more complicated than I thought it would be. There were also details about the plot that I, personally, found a little implausible. I read best with the theory that 'Simplicity is the Best Policy' securely in my mind; although I would still give Cover of Snow: A Novel by Jenny Milchman a definite A! I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Anita Gustafson - Guilty or Innocent?

37. Guilty or Innocent? by Anita Gustafson (1985)

Length: 150 pages 

Genre: True Crime 

Started: 30 May 2015

Finished: 3 June 2015

Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 28 May 2015

Why do I have it? I like true crime and have read and enjoyed Lost...and Never Found by the same author in the past.

Guilty or innocent...this is the decision that juries all across America grapple with each and every day as an integral part of the American criminal justice system. It is a process whereby twelve ordinary citizens are expected to reach a unanimous verdict based on the facts of the evidence placed before them. It is a time-consuming process - one which should be treated with the utmost seriousness and respect - a verdict reached after much deliberation and weighing of the evidence. However, it is also a verdict that is dead wrong more often than one might expect.

In this book, Anita Gustafson gives the reader a chance to become a member of the jury in ten of the most controversial criminal cases in history. In criminal cases from the early 1600s to 1981, Ms. Gustafson presents the details of each crime and the arguments for both the prosecution and the defense of the accused. Then, after revealing the actual verdict, she goes on to discuss the peculiarities of each case and the possible reasons why the particular verdicts were reached.

Was Lizzie Borden's trial influenced by the fact that she was a woman? Did Sacco and Vanzetti suffer from prejudice against their foreign backgrounds? Were the Sam Shepard and Lindbergh trials swayed by the media and the effects of an angry mob mentality?

Guilty or Innocent? by Anita Gustafson offers a fascinating combination of intriguing criminal cases, fast-paced reading and insightfully comprehensive analysis that reaches one inescapable conclusion about our legal system: Sometimes the verdict rendered is determined by much more than just the letter of the law.

I found each case to be interesting enough to hold my attention, and despite this being a fairly involved book for me to read; I still enjoyed it immensely. Of the ten cases discussed, I would perhaps consider five or six of them to be modern 'Crimes of the Century' - primarily because of the level of celebrity of the victims and/or the accused, the crime itself, and the controversy of the verdict. My opinion is based only on my knowledge of the cases that have become infamous throughout history.

There were perhaps four cases that I knew nothing about when I started reading, although I am sure that each of these cases were considered by many to be 'Crimes of the Century' - at least during whichever century a particular crime occurred. As I said, I found that this was an intriguing book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it; although I occasionally found my reading to be somewhat slower than I would have liked. My opinion may only be due to my own leisurely pace while reading and nothing more. Overall, I would give Guilty or Innocent? by Anita Gustafson an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Our Library Visit For June

Hello Everyone! How are you on this fine Monday? I'm doing just fine. :) Well, today is Mareena's birthday and as her special birthday request she wanted to go to our local library's perpetual book sale and buy up the place. Of course, I granted her request and told her 'the sky's the limit' as regards the number of books she could have. However, I planned to be really strict with myself and not buy that many books as I really don't know where I would put them all - my bookshelves are absolutely crammed full!

I think that Mareena said to me: "As Birthday Girl, I decree that I be allowed to choose some of my mother's reading material today, and if 'the sky's the limit' for me, then that must also extend to my choice of books for my mom. As Birthday Girl, this is my decree, and I only ask that my mother doesn't limit me - Please!?!" LOL!!! Well, what could I say to that? I suppose I could always build another wing on to the house if it came to that. Hmmm...I might have to look into that!

Mareena and I got to the library at approximately 12:45 P. M., and a couple of close family friends met us there to wish Mareena a very happy birthday and drop off a surprise picnic lunch for us to eat. It was drizzling rain very lightly, so Mareena and I decided to save the picnic until we arrived home. That left us carrying two coolers around with us until about 3:30 P. M. It actually worked out fairly well, as we set both coolers down beside a bench - the coolers were both slightly obscured from the sight of others, but still visible to us while we browsed the book sale that was set up in the same room.

Between us, we bought 50 books - 22 paperbacks and 28 hardcovers - and 5 jigsaw puzzles. We spent approximately $69 - $59 on books, and $10 on jigsaw puzzles. It turned out to be a pretty good haul for a birthday outing, if I do say so myself. ;) We actually ended up leaving the library with a total of seven full bags - that would be the two full coolers, a canvas bag, paper bag and two plastic bags full of books, and another paper bag for the jigsaw puzzles. We were loaded right up, but we had so much fun together.

At the moment, I'm reading Guilty or Innocent? by Anita Gustafson which I started on Saturday, May 30th! Mareena requested this book for me from Paperback Swap, and it arrived through the mail on Thursday, May 28th!

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Reading Wrap-up For May at Moonshine and Rosefire

Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Rosefire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog. I originally posted my reviews over at my daughter's blog, Emeraldfire's Bookmark but am now in the process of transferring them all over to my own blog. My daughter makes blogging look like so much fun that I thought that I would try it out for myself! :)

Anyway, I started out May with 1,039 books lying around the house and ended the month with 1,030 books unread. All the books that I acquired this month came from Paperback Swap.

Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Changes to the TBR pile

Rereads
- The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve
- Fortune's Hand by Belva Plain
- Stardust by Robert B. Parker

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- Secrets by Danielle Steel
- Lost...and Never Found by Anita Gustafson
- Third Girl by Agatha Christie
- Domestic Affairs: A Novel by Eileen Goudge
- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
- Total Joy by Marabel Morgan

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! Not too bad though, I suppose:))
- Guilty or Innocent? by Anita Gustafson

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))
- Bargello Magic: How to Design Your Own by Pauline Fisher and Anabel Lasker
- Erica Wilson's Embroidery Book by Erica Wilson
- At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
- Lost by Gary Devon
- Laceworks by Yoko Suzuki
- Service of All the Dead by Colin Dexter
- Assumed Identity by David Morrell
- King's Oak by Anne Rivers Siddons
- The Light at the End by John Skipp and Craig Spector
- The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky
- Lost...and Never Found by Anita Gustafson
- Neighborhood Watch: A Novel by Cammie McGovern
- Adam and Evil by Gillian Roberts
- The Violet Closet by Gary Gottesfeld
- The Year of Jubilo: A Novel of the Civil War by Howard Bahr
- Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier
- Domestic Affairs: A Novel by Eileen Goudge
- Angell, Pearl and Little God by Winston Graham

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 9
Pages Read: 2,593
Grade Range: A+! to B+!

So, there you go! The reading month that was May. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight