Well, if you read this blog very often then you'll know at least one of the books I've read this month because I wouldn't shut up about it!

Yes, Outlander. Obviously I was taken with this book. It had that twist of science fiction that I like, romance, intrigue, battle, and so much more. I initially insisted that it should be read from an actual book, as the dialogue could get a bit confusing initially. But I must confess that I alternated between reading the hardback version I'd borrowed from the library and the Kindle version on my phone. I've never done that before, and it only happened this time because there were brief moments when I couldn't pull the book out, but I could read on my phone. Clearly I recommend this one, though it isn't for the faint of heart. There is a fair bit of language, violence, and sex, so be warned. It's also a bit long but totally worth it. $4.99 for Kindle.

I also read Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore. I thought it got off to a rather boring start; the character descriptions bogged things down a bit. But I'm glad I stuck with it, because it turned out to be a pretty good read! I loved seeing the old knowledge of books and letters and typography intertwine with the new knowledge of software, hardware, and technology in general. This book was intriguing and pretty delightful by the end. If you can make it through the initial set-up of the story, you're in for a treat. $7.99 for Kindle

The Lady of the Rivers is the first book (chronologically) in the Cousins' War series. It tells the story of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, an interesting figure during this tumultuous time in England. She started out in the House of Lancaster but ended up firmly in the House of York (the two great royal families who battled for the crown during this time). She was the mother of Elizabeth Woodville, the Queen of England by way of marriage to King Edward. That makes her the grandmother of the two boys who mysteriously disappeared from the Tower, the boys who were allegedly murdered by their uncle King Richard after the death of Edward. Reading her story (albeit a fictional version) was incredibly interesting and shed light on the events leading up to the reign of King Henry the 8th, arguably the most notorious King in the history of England. Or at least the most known by us Americans, with the possible exception of King George was in power when America declared independence. If you have any interest in British history and like reading it in a historical fiction way, read this one! $10.74 for Kindle. Try your library first.

Honestly, I didn't care for this one. I've read several by Emily Giffin and usually like them, but this one was a struggle for me to get through. It tells the story from two different perspectives: Valerie and Tessa. Valerie is a single mom whose son is injured at a sleepover and is treated by Nick, Tessa's husband. What follows is a complicated "romance" between the single mom and married Nick, bringing up all kinds of ethical questions. Maybe the only thing I liked about this book is that it tied into the Something Borrowed and Something Blue books. Tessa's brother is Dex, the male lead in Something Borrowed and Darcy of Something Blue is mentioned as well. I really can't recommend this one unless you are just a big Emily Giffin fan. $6.55 for Kindle. Not worth it in my opinion, check out your library for it.

I read most of this one yesterday because I couldn't put it down. I liked it much better than the other Emily Giffin book. Maybe because college football plays such an integral part of this book, and I love me some college football! I had a hard time accepting the love story that was being told at first, but by the end I was cheering them on. This one is definitely worth the time, especially if you are a college football fan. I also appreciated that Giffin mentions a character that was initially brought up in the Heart of the Matter. I do like hearing a little more about characters from her other books. It makes it seem like it's own little universe. One interesting thing about this book is that it was the first that I've borrowed electronically from the library; I'm so glad that is an option now! $10.99 for Kindle

Until I inserted that Amazon link above, I didn't realize the Starz series was based on this book! I'll have to go back and watch the first season now, because I really liked this story. It continues where Lady of the Rivers left off, telling the story now from Elizabeth Woodville's point of view. Which means it is the story of the War of the Roses from the York side; I'm currently reading the Red Queen which tells the Lancaster side of things. Again, if you're a history buff, check it out! $5.99 for Kindle, probably available at your library.

I'm still working on Attachments, the Interestings, and the Red Queen. I'm about to start Dragonfly in Amber, the follow-up to Outlander. But I have to admit, I'm on the fence about the Interestings, I may call it quits. What do you think? Is it worth pushing through?

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