Kate Reads

  Rating: 4.25/5⭐ This book was just what I needed.  It was a cozy, sweet, warm book that felt perfect for the season.  It was a "romance," yes but it was so much more than that.  I adored the budding relationship between Calla and Jonah as it was your typical enemies to lovers trope with some added forced proximity.  I think more than the romance aspect, I really enjoyed reading the relationship building between Calla and her father.  I fell in love with every character just as Calla did.  And I fell in love with Alaska just as Calla did.  The atmospheric way in which the author described the scenery, hardships and way of life makes the reader really appreciate the setting.  I can't wait to read the rest of this series! 

  Rating: 3/5 ⭐. I am a huge John Marrs fan.  I started with The One and have recommended it to just about everyone.  Since then I've read just about everything else he's come out with.  And liked just about everything he's come out with.  This one fell just a little short for me.  I don't know if it's being a mom and the ***possible spoiler alert*** child murder thing but it left me feeling ickier than most serial killer/murder mystery/thriller novels do.   I'm not usually squeamish or put off by such things.  And I won't necessarily say I felt that way with this book either, but it didn't sit quite well with me.  I guess such topics really shouldn't sit well with the reader, should they?  Ha.  It was an interesting take on the nurture side of "nature vs. nurture" and it's affect on what could be taken away from childhood (violence, neglect, etc).  

  Rating: 3/5 ⭐. It's currently 70 degrees here today.  It doesn't quite feel like the Christmas season and therefore, I'm finding it tough to find the Christmas Spirit.  In search of some "holly jolly" I decided to pick up this book.   I read it in a matter of hours and I think it's safe to say, I'm feeling a bit more holiday cheer.  This book is perhaps not worthy of any literary awards and doesn't necessarily make my list of top reads but it's worth dedicating the few hours it takes to read.   The Santa Suit reads like your basic, run-of-the-mill christmas movie.  If you have your TV tuned to the Hallmark Channel this time of year, you'll adore this book and it's hokey romance, seasonal imagery, and predictability.  

  First off, thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this before it hits shelves early next year (01/03/2023).  I'll admit that The Wife Upstairs has been on my TBR for ages and I have yet to read it.  When this one popped up though, I immediately requested the ARC.  Look at the gorgeous cover!   My rating: 3.5/5 ⭐  Two women, both authors, have been best friends forever but aren't quite as close as they once were.  One is a complete success and the other is having a rough time (divorce, health problems, etc.).  In an attempt to rekindle their relationship and work on their respective projects, they take a summer trip to Italy.  Where do they stay?  Only a villa where, in the 1970s, a murder involving a group of famous artist-types took place.   This book explores the relationship of Emily and Chess in the present and dives into the mystery of the past.  Renowned author Ma...

I read 9 books in the month of November.  Let's talk about them... :)  The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang :  4/5 ⭐.  T he world-building, character development, and general plot had me unable to put the book down.  The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang: 4.5/5 ⭐.  The world-building becomes even deeper and the character development more meticulous.  I liked the second installment even more than the first!  The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb: 3.5/5 ⭐.  Found this one to be a bit of a slow start with a premise that didn't quite land until a good ways into the book.  I saw the "twist" coming from the start.  That being said, I still enjoyed the book and found the world of classical music quite interesting!  The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren: 4/5 ⭐. This was adorable; enemies to lovers classic trope.  Exactly the light read I was hoping for.   The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang: 3/5 ⭐.  I found this one to be a bit s...

Hello! As the name of this blog clearly suggests, my name is Kate. As I get into this a bit more, I hope to come up with a more clever name but for now, I kept it simple. Kate Reads. I do. A lot. Not as much as I'd like but I probably read more than most. And I love to talk "books." This gives me a place to rant and rave about all my recent reads. It also provides a little more substance to this (only) hobby of mine :) A little background about myself: I was born and raised in Northern VA right outside of Washington, DC. After college, establishing my career, meeting my now-husband (Augie) and starting our family, we've relocated to Charlotte, NC. I work part time doing the absolute best thing ever: helping to take care of kiddos with cancer and blood disorders as a nurse. Then I come home and love on my own little ones. I have two girls who are 4.5 years old (Rosie) and 6 months old (Leana). I also have a goofy, fuzzy dog named Reggie. In my spare tim...