[Image] Welcome to my May version of Show Us Your Books, hosted by Jana Says and Life According to Steph. I've been joining in with these book bloggers this year to try and keep myself accountable for reading, and tracking what I've read.

Blogging and reading blogs has also been my most consistent social contact since lockdown started. Here in Michigan, we haven't had school since March 12, and stay home~stay safe has just been extended to the end of May (28th? 29th?). And I feel like the virus is similar to a toxic spill - I won't be the first one out there to test the air! Hahaha....

Made any fun purchases since you've been locked down? I got a pair of pj pants back around Easter, a new t-shirt celebrating my June birthday, and this excellent hoodie. Hopefully the weather will warm up soon and I won't be bundled in hoodies every day, but until then, I needed more to get by.

And now onto the ten books I read following last month's Show Us Your Books.

Finished Reading:
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Act of Murder by John Bishop MD: An interesting medical thriller tying some seemingly unrelated deaths together. I reviewed it as 3.5/5 stars here. Thank you to the publisher for my copy of the book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz: This graphic novel was published in early April to some pretty mixed reviews so far. It looks like diehard comic fans question some of the characterizations. While I"m admittedly not a big comic fan, I enjoyed this book (and so did my 12-year-old daughter). I gave it 3.5/5 stars in my full review here. Thanks to the publisher for our copy of the book, but as usual receiving it for free did not influence my review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kill Code by Clive Fleury: I loved this fast-moving dystopian story of a man's fight first for a more rewarding live, but what quickly turns to a fight for his very survival. I gave it 4/5 stars in my full review here. While it didn't influence my review, I did receive this book for free from the publisher. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Love, Life, and Lucille by Judy Gaman: Lucille was impossible not to love. Her enthusiasm with her life and any new experiences was so charming and uplifting to read. While we knew it was coming, losing Lucille kind of ruined the end of the book for me. Unreasonable, I know. I gave it 3/5 stars in my full review on Books I Think You Should Read. Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. ⭐⭐⭐

Rage and Ruin by Jennifer Armentrout: I was so excited to find out about this second book in the Harbinger Series. I reviewed the first one (Storm and Fury) almost a year ago, and was thrilled to get an advance copy of book number two from Edelweiss+ in exchange for my honest review. The characters in both books were unique and quite engaging for me. I'm a sucker for a well-imagined fantasy world. Wardens and demons and angels, oh my! My complete 4/5 star review is on my blog here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Secrets of Love Story Bridge by Phaedra Patrick: I enjoyed this heartwarming story of love and changing attitudes. Mitchell starts out as a grouch who hates all the locks left on the bridges in his town as tokens of love. The story of him getting back into life after the loss of his fiance is hopeful and cozy. Check out my full 3.5/5 star review here. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advance copy of the book. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman: One of the reasons I wanted to review this book was its setting in western Michigan. Iris is an old woman who no one has seen in years lives behind high walls at her lakefront house with beautiful gardens. She also owns and rents out the house next door, on the condition that they don't try to talk to her. But when Abby and Cory move into the rental along with their young daughter Lily, the rules start to change. I reviewed this one on my blog and gave it 3.5/5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for my unbiased review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez: I requested this one from the library when I started seeing reviews of the follow-up book, Happy Every After Playlist. I enjoy spending more book time with charming characters I already know. The Friend Zone was a fun read with a few plot twists for me. Check out my full 4/5 star review here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The American Crusade by Mark Spivak: This political thriller rings familiar with both events and characters, but it really is fiction. Some character attributes are definitely drawn from real politicians, and the suicide bombing of the Mall of America and other noticeable landmarks are inspired by the events of 9/11. For someone really into politics, this book was probably more entertaining. I reviewed it for Books I Think You Should Read and gave it 3/5 stars (by the way - there's a giveaway there through 5/12). Thank you to the publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. ⭐⭐⭐

Ten Days Gone by Beverly Long: A woman is being killed every ten days, and as the fourth body is found, they have ten days left to find a killer and save the next life. This was a suspenseful read that I gave 3/5 stars to in my full review. I'd love to work with these detectives again in a subsequent book. Thanks to Netgalley for sharing a copy of the book with me in exchange for my honest review. ⭐⭐⭐

Currently Reading:

With the new month, I've got a few promised dates for reviews coming up, so I've already cranked a few more books out. I finished My Kind of People yesterday (full review and giveaway here), and just got done with This is How I Lied today (review later this week). I'm starting Glorious Boy tonight, but I'm a little concerned with reading a pdf on my kindle. Last time I couldn't adjust the font size, so it was too small to read long comfortably. Wish me luck!

Planning to Read:

It looks like library holds will be bringing Always and Forever Lara Jean and The Conference of the Birds (the fifth book in the Miss Peregrine series) my way soon. I also requested Rodham from Edelweiss+ (fingers crossed!). Already on my shelf and moving up quickly are Breath Like Water and I'm excited to finally read The Electric Heir (follow up to The Fever King from last year).

What were some of your best reads from April?