What I Read in June

Hey y'all,

I'm behind on sharing my June reads since I took so much time off of blogging. I was able to get a few books off of my "to-read" list in June including a book I have owned for over a year. While I missed the usual monthly book link-up with Stef and Jana while I was on vacation to my parent's here's what I read in June:

Brazen and the Beast

When Lady Henrietta Sedley declares her twenty-ninth year her own, she has plans to inherit her father’s business, to make her own fortune, and to live her own life. But first, she intends to experience a taste of the pleasure she’ll forgo as a confirmed spinster. Everything is going perfectly... until she discovers the most beautiful man she’s ever seen tied up in her carriage and threatening to ruin the Year of Hattie before it’s even begun.
When he wakes in a carriage at Hattie’s feet, Whit, a king of Covent Garden known to all the world as Beast, can’t help but wonder about the strange woman who frees him—especially when he discovers she’s headed for a night of pleasure... on his turf. He is more than happy to offer Hattie all she desires... for a price.

Soon, Hattie and Whit find themselves rivals in business and pleasure. She won’t give up her plans; he won’t give up his power... and neither of them sees that if they’re not careful, they’ll have no choice but to give up everything... including their hearts. 

This is the second in the Bareknuckle Bastards series and was a fun and quick read. Hattie at the age of 29 no longer cares for society’s standards for her future. She wants to inherit her father’s shipping company but on the first night of the year of Hattie, she discovers a man tied up in the carriage and learns how her brother has been involved in a scandal that has harmed her father’s business. She strikes a deal with Beast that she hopes will help her complete her list for the year of Hattie but issues arise. ⭐⭐⭐/5

You are Not Alone

You probably know someone like Shay Miller.
She wants to find love, but it eludes her.
She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end.
She wants to belong, but her life is so isolated.
You probably don’t know anyone like the Moore sisters.
They have an unbreakable circle of friends.
They live the most glamorous life.
They always get what they desire.
Shay thinks she wants their life.
But what they really want is hers.

Shay who running late misses a subway train and by that 22-second delay she witnesses a crime. It’s told across multiple perspectives as Shay learns more about the victim’s friends and family. It was a pretty quick read but I still think The Wife Between Us was my favorite from the duo. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Be the Bridge : Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation

A leading advocate for racial reconciliation offers a clarion call for Christians to move toward relationship and deeper understanding in the midst of a divisive culture.
With racial tensions as high within the church as outside the church, it is time for Christians to become the leaders in the conversation on racial reconciliation. This power-packed guide helps readers deepen their understanding of historical factors and present realities, equipping them to participate in the ongoing dialogue and to serve as catalysts for righteousness, justice, healing, transformation, and reconciliation.

In learning and lamenting, I decided to start with Morrison‘s Be The Bridge after hearing her on a few podcasts and joining the Be a Bridge Builder Facebook group. This book reminds us that we need to lament the sins of racism, acknowledge the past (like the Tulsa massacre which I never knew about, confess the sin, seek forgiveness, and work towards restorative reconciliation. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

The Betrothed

When King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, Hollis is shocked—and thrilled. After all, she’s grown up at Keresken Castle, vying for the king’s attention alongside other daughters of the nobility. Capturing his heart is a dream come true.
But Hollis soon realizes that falling in love with a king and being crowned queen may not be the happily ever after she thought it would be. And when she meets a commoner with the mysterious power to see right into her heart, she finds that the future she really wants is one that she never thought to imagine. 

After enjoying the Selection series by Kiera Cass I was excited to read The Betrothed that focuses on Lady Hollis who is the favorite of the King of Corona. However, she quickly learns that becoming Queen comes with both gifts of stature, it does mean she is giving up her identity and hopes for her future. I’m intrigued to finish the tale is the sequel but it wasn’t my favorite fantasy YA. ⭐⭐.🌟/5 

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

1987. There's only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that's her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn's company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June's world is turned upside down. But Finn's death brings a surprise acquaintance into June's life—someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.
At Finn's funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn's apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she's not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most.

A few days after my book club I finally finished June’s pick. Tell the Wolves I’m Home is about a young girl, June, whose uncle is dying of AIDS. Set in 1987, June begins to learn all about her uncle’s past while dealing with her family’s complicated relationships especially her mother and uncle’s past. While slow to start it was an interesting book on family dynamics how jealousy can cloud everything.

You can find all of these books on my 2020 reads list here at Bookshop to shop your favorite independent bookstore.

What are you currently reading?