When I first decided to take on a 52 Book Challenge last January I had no idea it would evolve into what it has become a year later. I wanted a way to remember all of the books I read while completing my resolution, just a way to track what I was reading and so about 8 months into the challenge, The Booked Mama began. Now blogging, reviewing, photo staging and sharing my thoughts with the collection of followers that have joined me along the way has become something I get so much enjoyment out of. Not a hobby I thought I would ever pick up but a fun one nonetheless. So when 2018 ended and 2019 began there was no way that the change of calendar was going to stop The Booked Mama from continuing on. I have officially become a reading addict. A big thank you to everyone who has commented, shared and followed over the past year. (@thebookedmama on Instagram/Twitter) I can’t wait to see where the next twelve months goes. So without further ado, here are the first 10 books of 2019…Enjoy!

“Persons Unknown” by Susie Steiner

A murder occurs in the middle of a park one late December afternoon. Manon, a detective with the Cambridgeshire police, is being kept out of the investigation having just been moved to the Cold Case department. When it comes to light that the man who died was the estranged father of Manon’s two year old nephew things begin to get complicated. As if Solly losing a father isn’t bad enough, now Manon’s adopted twelve year old son is being accused of his murder. Manon puts everything in jeopardy, including her unborn child’s health, while trying to uncover the truth in order to get Fly released from prison. Time is running out to figure out who Jon-Oliver’s killer is and whose name he whispered as he lay dying in a strangers arms. “Persons Unknown” is a multi-POV story that is filled with all the twists and turns of a murder mystery without all of the gory details that sometimes fill those kind of books. I was unaware until after reading this that “Persons Unknown” is the second book in a series with “Missing, Presumed” being the first book to feature Manon’s story. I didn’t find it necessary to have read the first book to follow along with this one. I am usually very good at figuring out the who-done-it when it comes to mysteries but this one really kept the crime’s mastermind a secret until the very end!

“The Night the Lights Went Out” by Karen White

Merilee Dunlap’s life has just been turned upside-down. Her recent divorce from her husband has caused her and her two children to move into a cottage on the property of Sweet Apple, Georgia’s oldest resident, Sugar Prescott. On the first day at the new private school Lily & Colin are attending, Merilee meets Heather the Alpha Mom at Windwood Academy. The two form an unlikely friendship over committee meetings, shopping trips and playdates. It’s Heather’s daughter Bailey who informs Lily that her family is being gossiped about on the anonymously written town blog. Now everyone in town knows about the scandal that caused Merilee to uproot their life. While trying to keep it all together, Sugar begins to let Merilee in by sharing stories of her family’s past and reassuring her that the town moms are also harboring secrets behind their “perfect” exteriors. “The Night the Lights Went Out” started out a bit slow for me but loved as the mystery developed. I enjoyed all of the characters and appreciate how White took her time introducing them and letting you in to Sugar’s backstory a little bit at a time. I wish the plot took off a bit sooner than it did, though. I think the reader is able to figure out fairly early on what the twist is but keeps you hanging on hoping that karma prevails.

“Seven Days of Us” by Francesca Hornak

After completing her time in Liberia treating patients with the deadly Haag virus, Olivia is being sent home to England. Due to her being high risk for contracting the illness she must undergo a mandatory seven day quarantine once she lands. Unfortunately for Olivia, this means she will be trapped with her parents and sister at their estate over Christmas. The Birch family has not been together for the holidays in years, mainly due to Olivia volunteering in one country or another making this forced family time all that more awkward. Olivia and her younger sister Phoebe have almost nothing in common, her relationship with her father Andrew is non-existent and her mother Emma will spend the next week trying to keep the peace. As the week drags on the secrets they think they have all buried deep creep to the surface. “Seven Days of Us” is filled with heartbreak, loss and life-altering changes. Told from each of the Birches perspectives, Hornak has created the anti-fairytale giving the reader a taste of real life family drama at its finest. Even though the Christmas season has passed, “Seven Days of Us” is the perfect book to snuggle up by a fire with on a cold winter night.

“Since We Fell” by Dennis Lehane

When Rachel’s mother passes away in a tragic accident, she takes with her the answer to the question Rachel has been seeking her whole life – who is Rachel’s father? Having little information to go on she attempts to hire a private investigator to find the man her mother wanted to keep hidden. After PI Brian Delacroix is unable to find him, Rachel continues on with her life and builds a career as a successful journalist. A particularly distressing assignment causes Rachel to suffer a mental breakdown and she becomes a virtual shut-in. While wallowing in her destroyed life over a glass of vodka a person from her past walks back into her life and leads Rachel down a path filled with deception, conspiracy and danger. Will Rachel be able to come to terms with all of the lies she has been told and find the strength to pull herself out of the mess she is in. “Since We Fell” is a true thriller set in and around the Boston area that will keep you saying “just one more chapter” until the final page. This is a must read for all you mystery lovers.

“The One That Got Away” by Bethany Chase

Serina Mahler is a 31 year old up and coming architect living with her best friend, Danny, in Austin, Texas. Her comfortable four year relationship with her boyfriend, Noah is being challenged now the two are separated by thousands of miles while he begins work in Argentina for almost a year. A big commission job lands in Serina’s lap when Eamon Roy, the famous Olympic swimmer who also happens to be Danny’s friend, hires her to completely redesign his new home now that he has decided to retire back to the Austin area. Only problem is 8 years ago Serina fell head over heels for Eamon before he left her scratching her head when he disappeared after a week of romantic emails and the best night of her life. Being forced to spend so much time with Eamon, Serina eventually lets her guard down and the two fall into a caring and chemistry riddled friendship. When Noah begins to show his true intentions towards Serina, she is forced to ask herself what it is she wants out of life and ultimately who she wants to spend hers with. “The One That Got Away” is not just a love story but really one of self-discovery. I loved getting to learn the details that go into Serina’s job and following her through different stages of multiple projects. At the back, Bethany Chase includes a brief preview of a spin-off book that I hope is still in the works. If you are headed away for spring break or need a happy distraction from the day to day this is the perfect book to pick up.

“Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After” by Heather Harpham

Heather, a California girl at heart and Brian, a New York City professor have a beautiful albeit unconventional relationship. When Heather discovers she is pregnant Brian sticks firm to his decision that he does not want to be a father. Heather chooses to return back to California to be near her mom. The next five months are filled with the support and love of lifelong friends and her sidekick dog, Lulu. Then Gracie is born. Just days after she enters the world something is noticeably wrong with Amelia-Grace. Doctors realize Gracie needs a blood transfusion immediately and they get sent via ambulance across the Golden Gate Bridge to the larger hospital in the city. This journey begins their family’s whirl-wind story of reconciliation, determination, defying the odds and conquering life’s scariest situation for any parent. How do you go on when your child is gravely ill and her fate is out of your hands? Heather Harpham has written the most beautiful memoir (the confetti scene had me in tears) that you won’t want to put down. Gracie’s battle to overcome the illness that is threatening to take her life is one that will touch your heart and make you squeeze your own children a little longer. This is a must add to your TBR list.

“The Room on Rue Amélie” by Kristin Harmel

Having been swept off her feet by a Frenchman, newlywed Ruby Benoit is adjusting to her new life in Paris. Leaving behind her home in California wasn’t difficult for Ruby who is excited to explore this beautiful city with her new husband, Marcel. Charlotte Dacher, their 11 year old Jewish neighbor, grows attached to Ruby and the two form a bond as rumors grow that the Nazis are closing in on France. Marcel begins to grow more and more distant as Ruby suspects he is doing something dangerous and prays he isn’t assisting the Germans who have recently invaded the city. Thomas Clarke, an RAF pilot, is eager to get to work fighting the Germans after his mother is killed during a blitz in London. On a mission over France, Thomas is shot down. He has been told of a man that has been assisting downed Allied pilots through an escape channel and begins to make his way to Paris to find the man who lives at the apartment with the red door near the Eiffel Tower. However, when he arrives at Rue Amélie what he finds changes his life forever. “The Room on Rue Amélie” is a beautifully heartbreaking story. Kristin Harmel gives the reader an unexpected twist at the end that will truly leave you hanging until the last page. Having read numerous books set in France during WWII, I would highly recommend reading “Sarah’s Key” by Tatiana de Rosnay and “Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall Kelly before reading this to full grasp a few of the events and places written about in this book. Be sure to add this to your TBR list, historical fiction lovers!

“Blind Kiss” by Renée Carlino

Penny, a Dance major in her senior year of college, volunteers to help her friend with her senior psychology experiment. The subjects are to be blindfolded and partnered up to kiss someone, without knowing what they looked like, after answering a series of questions. Penny and her partner Gavin have instant sparks and two become attached at the hip. Gavin wanting nothing more than to be with Penny and Penny wanting to keep her eye on graduation, Gavin is left with a promise to always be there for Penny until she was ready to be with him. Unfortunately, the one night she really did need Gavin…he was no where to be found. Fast forward fourteen years, Penny is unhappily married with a son who is about to leave for college. Gavin is in and out of relationships but remains a constant figure in Penny’s life. When Gavin comes back to town to help his dying father their unresolved feelings become complicated. Penny and Gavin need to decide how or if they will remain in each others lives. Even though other reviewers have fallen all over this book, “Blind Kiss” was just okay for me. I had issues with these characters all the way through. I can’t imagine anyone’s husband being accepting of Gavin & Penny’s relationship. I initially added this to my TBR list because of the dance theme but even some of that was off for me (no one majoring in dance needs to practice a grande jeté that often). I’d save yourself the $15.00 and skip this one.

“The Vacationers” by Emma Straub

The Posts are heading on vacation. A home in Mallorca for two weeks seemed like the perfect destination for Jim, Franny, their daughter Sylvia, their son Bobby, his girlfriend Carmen, Franny’s lifelong friend Charlie and his husband Lawrence…until Jim decided to cheat on Franny with someone almost as young as their college bound daughter. Unwilling to cancel their trip, this unlikely crew find themselves tripping over secrets, building walls and experiencing humiliations beyond the imagination. Each chapter is a new day in their 14 day trip and bounces from the perspective of each character. With spring break almost upon us, “The Vacationers” seemed like the perfect book to get me in the mindset – I was sorely mistaken. There isn’t a destination on Earth I would like to visit with any of these people. This book is disguised as a light-hearted beach read when in reality it’s a depressing lesson on who not to get involved with. Cheating, debt, age shaming, subtle racism, more cheating, even more cheating; these characters should be sent far away from each other not on a vacation together. Sadly, this one was another let down for me.

“My (Not So) Perfect Life” by Sophie Kinsella

Cat Brenner is longing for the life she has always dreamed of. She left her country farm life and her real name, Katie, behind her and ventured to London to try and pursue a career in design at the branding firm of Cooper Clemmow. The position she lands isn’t exactly her dream job but Cat is willing to work her way up and attempts to get her designs in front of her boss, Demeter, whenever she gets the chance. Though Demeter may be the most scatter brained person she’s ever met, Cat thinks she has the most perfect life – stunning home, kids, handsome husband, ritzy parties with celebrities and the job of all jobs. When one day Cat’s dreams for her future come to a crashing halt she is forced to return to her family’s farm and revaluate who Cat/Katie is meant to be. All is well until her London life shows up in Somerset. “My (Not So) Perfect Life” is a great reminder that even though we may share a picture perfect existence on social media…all is not always what it seems. Finding acceptance in her day to day flaws and realizing that being real is better than pretending to be perfect is extremely freeing to Katie, a wonderful resolution for all. This is the second book I have read by Sophie Kinsella (“Surprise Me” being the first) and I have to say I loved this one even more. A heartwarming book to add to your TBR list.

Til next time,

E

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