Best Books to Read Now - May 2018

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

My omnivorous book tastes are showing this month. Let's see what I'm currently obsessed with....

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Amazon || iBooks

I already posted about this last month, but this is probably still the number one book that people want to talk to me about. Pros, cons, 80's nostalgia, a VR future, everyone is having THOUGHTS about Ready Player One. 

Island of Sweet Pies & Soldiers by Sara Ackerman

Amazon || iBooks

This book has everything - a World War II narrative in a beautiful location, friends, family, love and a lion. Just trust me and read it.

What is everyone reading this weekend? Me? I'll be finishing up Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers! It's so good! #amreading #bookclubbook

34 Likes, 8 Comments - Lindsay Emory (@lindsayemory) on Instagram: "What is everyone reading this weekend? Me? I'll be finishing up Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers!..."

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Amazon || iBooks

I practically live-read this on instagram, sharing the bits and OH YASSS parts that I loved (and needed to hear?) It's a short, easy read that will inspire and motivate you and give you insight into the mind of a woman with a huge cultural impact on the world. 

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Amazon || iBooks

I have mentioned multiple times, but two of my favorite paranormal series are drawing to a close soon and I've been on the hunt for new ones to take their place. I am happy to announce that I've found two new ones that I'm very excited about (one to share next month as I haven't quite finished the book.)  I devoured this Steampunk/ urban fantasy/ vampire book and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series by the pool this summer.  

Oh I'm so glad that there are such good books in the world, aren't you?
 If you're not already, make sure you're signed up for my Inner Circle newsletter because BIG THINGS are coming. 

And my Women With Books podcast is closing out Season 2 with amazing guests and special royal wedding coverage.  I'm going to have an exclusive giveaway for Women With Books newsletter subscribers at the end of the month you won't want to miss out on!

All These Things That I Love - April 2018

A monthly roundup of things that give me life...

All my favorite reality shows lately. Southern Charm is back!  (And I just caught the premiere of Southern Charm - New Orleans at lunch today. Y'ALL. This cast. We'll have to talk after some more episodes.)

The Queer Eye reboot is EVERYTHING. Cry, laugh, moisturize with a new Fab Five that you'll fall in love with. And Bethenny & Fredrik drove me nuts but I'm a sucker for New York real estate. I was disappointed they didn't invest in the Hamptons remodel. That would have been my ideal show, TBH.

Slightly chilled Lodi wines on the patio. This one was around $10 at Trader Joe's and I wish I'd bought extra. 

To 80's music! Hubs and I both read Ready Player One and had a movie date night after and because we're children of the 80's we enjoyed all the references and music soundtrack. 

Have you seen the movie or read the book? Or both? What did you think?

You’ve probably seen them in some of my Instagram posts (above, with READY PLAYER ONE), but I’m so in love with this purse clip. It’s discreet  enough to clip on the outside of your purse (see above) and really easy to hang on tables at restaurants (or the inside of restroom stalls that don’t have hooks – MY BIG PET PEEVE!!!)

I have the gunmetal version because like I said – discreet. Honestly, this would be a good thing to buy a bunch of, to keep on hand for gifts. Doesn't every woman need a good way to hang their handbag?

Best Purse Clip Ever. 

Now that I look back at this list, I'm having a very basic month - wine, reality TV and date nights. But honestly, sometimes we all just need to get back to basics and enjoy the simple things that make us happy.   Let me know what you're loving lately in the comments below or on my Facebook page and Instagram! Especially if you have wine recommendations. ;-) 

Best Books to Read Now - April 2018

Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Because I skipped last month, I’m going to cover five books this month! Are you ready? These are good books, y’all. I think I’ve got something for everyone.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid

Amazon || iBooks

I really can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t like this. There’s old Hollywood gossip, glamour, love and drama. This is one that would be perfect for vacations and multi-generation book clubs. And I’m probably going to re-read it again at some point, like a classic movie.

The Trouble with Twelfth Grave – Darynda Jones

Amazon || iBooks

The penultimate book of the Charley Davidson series has got me feeling… a little emotional, to be honest. The series is coming to a close … next year? (I just checked. It looks like this was moved out from October ’18). There are very few series that I’ve read twelve books of and have been still this invested. Between this and the Kate Daniels series ending, I’m going to be jonesing for a new paranormal series to adopt. Y’all hit a girl up with some suggestions!

Tempest – Beverly Jenkins

Amazon || iBooks

A mail order bride in Wyoming who greets her husband to be by shooting him. With that premise you know you can’t go wrong, especially with Beverly Jenkins’  expert hand guiding you through a passionate love story rich in amazing historical details. As always, I was swept away and I learned so much! My favorite blend.

Next Year in Havana – Chanel Cleeton

Amazon || iBooks

Much in the vein of Tempest, above, this is another fantastic historical story with strong romance story threads and fascinating glimpses of Cuba during revolutionary times and today. Even I, a former Latin American studies major, found so much to sink my teeth into and I can’t wait for the sequel next year!!

The Secret to Southern Charm  - Kristy Woodson Harvey

Amazon || iBooks

I fell in love with the first book in the Peachtree Bluff series last year and knew I had to not only read the second book but invite Kristy Woodson Harvey onto my WOMEN WITH BOOKS podcast. Listen to the episode and you’ll hear ALL MY THOUGHTS on this book (which is out today! Congratulations Kristy Woodson Harvey!!)

OH! And the first book in the series, SLIGHTLY SOUTH OF SIMPLE, which i featured on the blog last year is on sale for $1.99!! Grab it because you'll want to read both together! 

What have you been reading lately? I can’t wait to tell you about what I’m currently reading… NEXT MONTH! *evil laugh *

All These Things That I Love - March 2018

A monthly round-up of things that give me life…

 ...Ozark

Okay, it took me a while to warm up to this. And maybe, given the fact that it’s about a family in mortal peril from Really Bad Guys (and maybe their own father?) it’s okay if I have mixed feelings about it?  I’ve finally come around and now it’s a must watch for Mr. Emory and me. The cast is fantastic (even though I’m old enough to be disturbed that the Silver Spoons cutie pie is a strangely cold money launderer).

...Fat Mascara podcast

Surely I’ve recommended this? This podcast is – superficially – about makeup and beauty topics, but every episode I find so much more in the conversation. This is really a podcast about female entrepreneurship, self-exploration and acceptance and economic power. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but listen to Jen Akin’s episode and tell me I’m wrong.

 … Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Beach 

As the weather gets a bit warmer and the sun starts shining again, I’ve discovered (shocker!!) I’ve become deathly pale in the past five months of staying indoors. So I’ve dug out this warmer palette and now I look like a healthy person again.  I can't find it on sale anywhere but a similar one might be this Urban Decay Heat palette. 

… with my Garmin VivoSmart

We now have the whole family hooked up to their Garmins and we have nightly step checks – driven by my kids, really, who are now super competitive and invested in mom sitting down so they can win our family challenges. It’s a pretty fun way for us all to interact and be healthy. And they’re waterproof! So much win.

What are you loving these days as winter turns into spring? I'd love to hear from you and the best way for us to keep in touch is my newsletter.  Newsletter subscribers gets exclusive story content and giveaways and more every month.  

Looking for a Great Read?

Argh! Because of my responsibilities judging RITA entries, I wasn’t able to get together my usual Best Books list this month.
 

So I thought I’d highlight some of the books I’ve been talking about on the Women With Books podcast.  Almost all my recent guests (and some more distant ones) have had new releases and/or sales.

Kate Clayborn’s award winning BEGINNER’S LUCK is on sale for $.99!  Try out the book that was nominated for Romantic Times 2017 Book of the Year! 

Megan Frampton’s  LADY BE RECKLESS which we talked about in the most recent episode of WWB has just released, if you're in the mood for a historical romance series loosely based on the Bennet sisters.

Alyssa Cole’s A PRINCESS IN THEORY, which we discussed in Chapter 16 is earning raves everywhere. If you are craving more modern royal romance, check it out.

Past superstar guest Penny Reid has a new book out this week: Marriage of Inconvenience!  I'm pretty sure it's a marriage of convenience story, though, so be warned. ;-)

And the lovely Tessa Dare has her LARP-ing historical romance book on sale: ROMANCING THE DUKE (the reason why we talked about LARP-ing and fan-fic on her episode)

And if you’re looking for more recommendations, as always, check out the books recommended by Women With Books guests on my  Goodreads Women With Books Bookshelf. I love that my guests bring a huge diversity of recommendations to the pod, from classics to science fiction and erotic romance. There's something for every book lover, for sure. 

Next month, I will be back with more of my personal list. Until then, keep reading!