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June 4, 2019 By Ricci 18 Comments

What I’m Reading – April 2019

This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Tuesday! I feel like I’m playing a game of catch up since I took a little blogging break that lasted practically the whole month of May (not sorry about that at all, btw) and now I’m super behind on things I wanted to post about. Specifically my “what I’m reading” posts. If you know me at all then you know I LOVE to read. I also like to document on here the number of books I read a year because it’s one of my New Year’s Resolutions. This year my goal is 120 and I feel like it’s totally doable.

Since I haven’t been blogging much I have spent a LOT of time reading and so I am proud to announce that for the month of April I read nine books which brings my yearly total to 49 books so far. Almost half way there!!

I get asked a lot how I read so much and I have one word for you. AUDIOBOOKS. I actually read an article recently that a lot of people don’t consider audiobooks to be true books but I disagree. I count them as books because if not for them I wouldn’t get to read as many amazing books as I currently do.

Anyway, enough rambling, let’s get “what I’m reading”!

ONE. Divine Evil by Nora Roberts. I started my month off with a little psychological thriller/murder mystery book and I loved it! I haven’t read much from Nora Roberts in a while and I always forget how much I love her books until I read one and then I’m hooked again. HA!

Anyway, this book is about a woman who moves back to her hometown to face the demons of her past, both figuratively and literally. While she’s there she reconnects with an old flame, rekindles old friendships and finds some clues about her father’s death. Overall I loved this book and it kept me on the edge of my toes the whole time I was reading it!

TWO. One Night Gone by Tara Laskowski. This book will be released October 1 and I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Continuing my psychological thriller theme, this book is about two women who run away to the same small beach town 30 years apart. Both are outsiders, both are looking for a fresh start but only one survives. This book was great and had lots of twists and made for some great reading!

A heart-wrenching and suspenseful novel of betrayal and revenge. Stunning! – Carol Goodman, award-winning author of The Night Visitors

THREE. The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine. This book is actually the second in the Ravenspire series (the first was The Shadow Queen which I read back in April 2017) and is based on the tale of Rumpelstiltskin. In this version an orphan princess must take on the evil Rumple to figure out his name and save her brother’s soul.

A welcome feminist revision of the classic fairy tale. – School Library Journal

FOUR. The Traitor Prince by C.J. Redwine. The third book in the Ravenspire series, this one tackles The Prince and the Pauper and I couldn’t put it down! It made a few references to characters in the previous books and i loved that.

An action-packed narrative of monsters, violence, and political intrigue. – School Library Journal

FIVE. The Blood Spell by C.J. Redwine. The final book in the Ravenspire series this book takes on Cinderella. I realize there are many versions of Cinderella out there but I have to say that this is one of my faves!

A splendid addition to any collection that includes fairy tales retold. – Booklist

SIX. Defiance by C. J. Redwine. If you know me then you know once I find an author I love I have to read all of their books! Defiance is the first book in the Courier’s Daughter series and is a postapocalyptic YA fantasy that has something for everyone! It’s about a girl named Rachel who was brought up learning how to hunt and fight rather than be the perfect homemaker and those skills come in handy when she has to go look for her father after he doesn’t come home from a courier mission. What follows is pure chaos and I loved every minute of it!

C.J. Redwine’s DEFIANCE is a gritty, thrilling adventure sprinkled with moments of breathtaking tenderness. I read it in one sitting. – Rae Carson

SEVEN. Deception by C.J. Redwine. The second book in the Courier’s Daughter series, Deception is a continuation of the first book and I don’t want to go into details because that would give away the first book!

Spellbinding, romantic, and impossible to put down. – Julie Kagawa

EIGHT. The Crowning Glory of Calla Lili Ponder by Rebecca Wells. Y’all. I have loved Rebecca Wells since she wrote Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood back when I was in high school. I became obsessed with that series and was super pumped to find this new book from her in a local book store!

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder is set in deep south Louisiana and is about a sweet girl named Calla Lily who leads the most perfect childhood until tragedy strikes and she loses her mother. In order to make her mother proud, Calla decides to follow in her footsteps and goes to beauty school to learn how to “fix hair” and she learns so much about herself in the process. This is a true coming of age book set in the deep south and it honestly makes me want to move to Louisiana and learn how to make gumbo the right way! If you love southern chick lit then you will love this book!

Charming and luminous . . . A perfect summer indulgence that’ll have you peeking out your window on a muggy night in search of the Moon Lady, who’ll wrap her nurturing arms around you from afar. – Austin American-Statesman

NINE. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Let me start by saying that this book was so completely weird and I absolutely loved it! In this book introverted, unapologetic Eleanor learns the importance of friendship and human connection through the most unlikely source. This book will have you laughing out loud and then crying a little at the end. It’s also being made into a movie and I will definitely be watching it when it comes out!

This wacky, charming novel. . . draws you in with humor, then turns out to contain both a suspenseful subplot and a sweet romance. . .hilarious and moving. – People 

And there you have it, all of the books I read in the month of April. You can also check out all of the books I read in January, February and March. And if we have the same taste in books you can check out my favorite chick lit authors here!

What have you been reading lately??

what I'm reading

Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: books, entertainment, reading

Hi! I'm Ricci and let me be the first to welcome you to Ricci Alexis, my lifestyle and beauty blog! I am a 36 year old single lady and am currently living in central Arkansas. My current obsessions include my dog Sophie, McDonald's frappes, the smell of DryBar hair products, the Royal Family, anything leopard print and celebrity gossip. Read More…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amber Myers says

    June 4, 2019 at 7:16 am

    Yay for books! I love to read, especially over the summer. I usually read when my kids are in the pool. I need to check these out.

    Reply
  2. Christine says

    June 4, 2019 at 8:24 am

    Adding some of these to my tbr pile!!

    Reply
  3. Jeanette says

    June 4, 2019 at 8:34 am

    I need a few good books for the summer. I am traveling a lot and I need to read while I am flying. I will definitely grab a few of these.

    Reply
  4. Tasheena says

    June 4, 2019 at 11:07 am

    What a wonderful list of reads. I have to make sure to check these out. I just got finish reading the Life Changing Magic of Tidying.

    Reply
  5. Katie Moseman says

    June 4, 2019 at 12:15 pm

    I remember seeing Eleanor Oliphant on another reading list somewhere. I have so many books to catch up on this summer that I am not going to be able to stop reading for, like, 3 months…. :)

    Reply
  6. Terri Steffes says

    June 4, 2019 at 2:56 pm

    What a great list! I don’t read many thrillers but all of the ones you talked about sound amazing! I want to read the Eleanor one and the Ya Ya author’s new book.

    Reply
  7. Sarah Bailey says

    June 4, 2019 at 3:34 pm

    What some awesome sounding books to be getting stuck into – I have to admit summer always makes me want to read! Perhaps I need to add these to my list!

    Reply
  8. Beth says

    June 4, 2019 at 8:03 pm

    I really need to start listening to audiobooks! I miss reading but have started to read a little bit. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is on my next to read list. I just ordered it :)

    Reply
  9. Kathy says

    June 4, 2019 at 9:13 pm

    Sounds like you’ve done a lot of reading. I love to read, I just haven’t made much time to do so lately. I definitely want to get back to it this summer though.

    Reply
  10. Melanie says

    June 4, 2019 at 9:14 pm

    I always like it when I can find a series by the same author that I like. I am looking for a new book for an upcoming trip. I will have to try one of these.

    Reply
  11. Gervin Khan says

    June 5, 2019 at 8:50 am

    I do love reading a lot and but sometimes not able to do that because of my busy days. You have a good lists of books to read and I want to read this book The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder the story sounds really beautiful and interesting.

    Reply
  12. Ruth I says

    June 5, 2019 at 9:34 am

    Great insight on Audiobooks, since I haven’t tried it yet but encouraged to download my first today! :) Got my interest with your fave Cinderella version in ‘The Bloodspell’ because yep, am one great fan of fairytales! Thanks for sharing :)

    Reply
  13. Shoshana Sue says

    June 5, 2019 at 9:37 am

    I have heard awesome reviews about Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and I have had it on my TBR pile for some time now. I think it is about time I moved to the Reading shelf! I am intrigued by our other reads apart from Nora Roberts- I am not a fan haha

    Reply
  14. Jenn @ EngineerMommy says

    June 5, 2019 at 9:43 am

    There are so many good book recommendations here. I love having a few books I’m excited about over the summer. I think I found a few titles.

    Reply
  15. Heather says

    June 5, 2019 at 11:02 am

    I hardly have any time to read anymore, but I’d love to have a beach read this summer. This looks fun!

    Reply
  16. Nikka Shae says

    June 5, 2019 at 9:08 pm

    You picked some great books! I need a quiet place in my house so I can get back reading some good books!

    Reply
  17. Heather says

    June 6, 2019 at 7:57 am

    Look like great reads. I’ll have to check them out. I’m always looking for something new and exciting to read.

    Reply
  18. Diana @ Nanny to Mommy says

    June 6, 2019 at 6:28 pm

    I’m glad you found a way to add books into your daily routine even if it is listening. ;)

    Reply

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ricci

Ricci is a 39 year old digital content creator from central Arkansas. She is passionate about skincare, travel, reading, and being an advocate for women's health issues. She is dog mom to Sophie, cat mom to Rooster and Poppy and an aunt to 10 amazing kiddos. riccialexis83@gmail.com

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