What I Read in May 2024

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  On Thursdays, I share something I'm thinking out loud about and invite you to link up and do the same. It's the first Thursday of the month and that's when I share the books I read last month.  Let's go ~

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

The Frozen River was a re-read for me, which I don't do very often.  But it was our library book club selection and I was going to be leading the discussion.  I loved the book the first time around and wanted to have my facts straight for the meeting.  It's a long book, 448 pages.  Second time around it was as good as the first time.  I've added another book by the same author to my TBR list titled Code Named Helene.  I've heard it's good too.  

Here's the summary of The Frozen River ~

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

Available HERE

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

I loved this book!  It was one of those that I had a hard time putting down and wanted to read every spare moment I had.  There were twists and turns I didn't see coming and it brought out all the feels.  I loved it so much, my next read was by the same author.  Here's the summary of this one ~

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

Available HERE

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

The Friend Zone was so fun to read!  It would make a great book to take on vacation.  This is book one of a three-part series.  Immediately after I finished it, I downloaded the other two books and wondered what had taken me so long to read her books!  Here's the summary ~

Kristen Peterson doesn't do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don't get her. She's also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.

Planning her best friend's wedding is bittersweet for Kristen -- especially when she meets the best man, Josh Copeland. He's funny, sexy, never offended by her mile-wide streak of sarcasm, and always one chicken enchilada ahead of her hangry. Even her dog, Stuntman Mike, adores him. The only catch: Josh wants a big family someday. Kristen knows he'd be better off with someone else, but as their attraction grows, it's harder and harder to keep him at arm's length.

The Friend Zone will have you laughing one moment and grabbing for tissues the next as it tackles the realities of infertility and loss with wit, heart, and a lot of sass.

Available HERE

Now it's your turn.  What are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

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