My March reading is all over the place, but I’m having a lot of fun reading new and different stories. With no further ado, here’s what I’ve consumed.
The Life in Palmyrton series by S.W. Hubbard
I was searching for some Women’s Fiction books that are similar to what I write and I stumbled upon S.W. Hubbard. She has several series, but the Life in Palmyrton Women’s Friendship Fiction caught my eye. I’ve made it through books one through three and plan to read book four soon.
Here is a short summary of book one:
Lydia Eastlee has skipped a decade of her life.
When she married a much older man, Lydia took a shortcut from grad student to middle-aged matron. Do not pass go. Do not drink jug wine or buy Ikea bookshelves.
Now Lydia finds herself a 45-year-old widow. She’s got a suburban McMansion she doesn’t want, a hole in her day where her job used to be, and a bunch of married-couple friends eligible for Social Security. Lydia wants to start over and recapture the endless possibilities life offers at age 25.
She adopts a shelter dog with issues. Buys a charming little starter home on the verge of collapse. And accepts a job she doesn’t know how to do. Lydia soon learns that youth isn’t for the faint-hearted. Her dead husband is trying to control her future through the terms of his will. And her impulsive decisions may cost her some new friendships she can’t bear to lose. But with the help of a quirky dog trainer, a hilarious colleague, and a hunky young carpenter, Lydia may get a second chance at the life she missed.
What else I’m reading
I’m also listening to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. It is a long audio book, somewhere around 11 hours and it flips back and forth between present time in New York City and the 1700s in France. The concept is great. A young woman sells her soul for eternal life. But it comes with a cost (naturally). No one remembers her.
Taking this concept to the extreme, the author creates memorable encounters that make me pause and say “Wow, I never considered that possibility.” The layers of meaning and double meaning makes it an entertaining listen as well.
A note on audiobooks
I’ve heard from several readers that audiobooks can get expensive. There are some alternative places to buy audiobooks that do not require a subscription. Chirp is a great website to check out if you are looking for deals. You buy what you want rather than having to pay a monthly subscription rate. And you don’t have to worry about losing access to the book if you cancel your subscription, because there is no subscription.
The app is easy to download and lots of good books, including the first three books in the My Best Series, are available.
April plans: finish up S.W. Hubbard’s series, indulge in a thriller and listen something while I clean out closets (because, spring cleaning.)
Until next time…