My Virtual Bookshelf - TBR additions for April
At the end of each month I share the books that I've added to my TBR list - this month I added 14 books and read 9; there seems to be a bit of a shortfall on my 'net zero' attempt to keep my TBR under control!
When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
Genre: General Fiction
Published 2020, 326 pages
Why I added this book: rated highly by a GR buddy
Synopsis: a debut novel about a young girl with fetal alcohol poisoning who lives with her older brother and when their living circumstances become difficult, she devises a plan to become "legendary" based on her love of all things Viking
She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be by J.D. Barker
Genre: Thriller
Published 3/20, 776 pages
Why I added this book: recommended by a GR buddy and it sounds intriguing
Synopsis: fast paced thriller about a young boy who sees a girl reading a book at a cemetery where his folks are buried, sees her again and becomes obsessed; another young boy with strange powers grows up alone and lonely; a detective finds another murder every Aug 9; they are all connected in some way (can't wait to find out how!) Reviewed Here 5/4/20
The Sin Eater by Megan Campisi
Genre: Historical Fiction
Expected publication 4/20, 304 pages
Why I added this book: Hmm, don't remember where I heard of it, but the premise sounds fascinating & I love the cover
Synopsis: 16th century England women who are punished become sin eaters; they eat specific foods to absorb the sins of the dying; this story follows the a young girl as she tries to find her way in this terrifying situation
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Genre: Nonfiction
Published 3/20, 352 pages
Why I added this book: Reese bookclub choice and I need a self-help book for one of my challenge categories
Synopsis: how a woman finds her true self and how we can let go of preconceived roles and make our own way
Reviewed here 1/5/21
I'd Give Anything by Marisa de los Santos
Genre: General Fiction
Expected publication May 2020, 320 pages
Why I added this book: requested and received an ARC because I've loved the other books I've read by this author
Synopsis: an event in high school changes the course of a woman's life and the secret that she keeps eventually comes back to test her
The Finders by Jeffrey B. Burton
Genre: Mystery
Expected publication June 2020, 288 pages
Why I added this book: requested and was awarded an ARC from St Martin's Press
Synopsis: a man who trains cadaver dogs finds himself and his best retriever become embroiled in a complex murder case
Review here 4/17/21
Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan
Genre: Legal Drama
Published 2018, 392 pages
Why I added this book: free from Simon & Schuster
Synopsis: the story of a rape trial of a prominent man whose wife believes his innocence but the female prosecutor does not
Reviewed here 9/2/20
Hollywood Homicide #1 by Kellye Garrett
Genre: Mystery
Awards: Agatha & Anthony for 1st novel
Published 2017, 306 pages
Why I added this book: saw on a CrimeReads list of multicultural mysteries
Synopsis: a struggling black actress witnesses a hit and run accident and in trying to claim the reward, she gets drawn into a full investigation
The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong
Genre: Thriller (translated from Korean)
Published 2016, 309 pages
Why I added this book: saw on a CrimeReads list of multicultural mysteries
Synopsis: chilling psych thriller - young man who suffers from blackouts wakes one morning to find his mom dead & he's covered in blood; he spends next 3 days trying to figure out what happened.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Genre: Fantasy
Published 2019, 848 pages
Why I added this book: on a #BookRiot list of adult fantasy recommendations and it's not a series
Synopsis: 3 strong women face a crossroads in their lives - a queen, a lady-in-waiting magician, and a dragonrider, as their world comes ever closer to war
Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik
Genre: Thriller
Published 2019, 327 pages
Why I added this book: the premise is interesting and it's a free choice from Simon & Schuster
Synopsis: a young woman leaves her life behind and goes to the Bolivian jungle, meets a man and falls in love, but as they travel further into the jungle she ends up running for her life
Reviewed here 10/29/20
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy
Publish date 10/20, 448 pages
Why I added this book: Goodreads reader recommendation
Synopsis: in 1714 a young woman makes a bargain to live forever so she can be free but is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets; an interesting exploration of how that works in day to day life
Reviewed here 4/28/21
Fever Season #2 by Barbara Hambly
Genre: Historical Mystery (is that a thing?)
Published 1998, 395 pages
Why I added this book: from a list of 14 "mystery in the time of plagues" by Crime Novels, this is the one that caught my eye
Synopsis: 1833 New Orleans battling the yellow fever; protagonist is a free man of color and his antebellum family but as he treats victims of the disease he notices a number of deaths are not from the fever.
Let me know if you see any you've already read and can either recommend or tell me to avoid. Did you find something to add to your own TBR list? Which one caught your eye? Let's Talk Books!
