Before posting the reviews of books read in May, I went early this morning to do some mini triathlons practice at the beach located near El Condado. It was perfect. I saw a little turtle
🐢❤️This practice was to support a friend in her first sprint triathlon 🏊🏽‍♀️ 🚴🏼 🏃🏽‍♀️ which will be next Sunday in Rincón.

With the first book read in May, Feel The Bern, I accomplished my GoodReads reading goal to read 52 books in 2023📚🤗52 books for me is a comfy reading goal because is an average of one book per week. Now everything I read for now on is an extra reading ☺️📚📚📚

My goal is to read more books from my old tbr and complete series I started long ago😳

I read 12 books in May (one book was the #CBBC reading and I don‘t own that book).
Only one bingo but I read #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin books I read more books in the free spaces😂
No bingo in the #ISpyBingo May @TheAromaOfBooks @Clwojick

Two books were not completed. I will try to finish them during this month. They are:
The Splendid and the Vile #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville
Clothes-Pegs #FurrowedMiddlebrow @LeahBergen

Read in May- another oldie in my tbr. I loved this book. I know it has been criticized about the polarized characters development, others say they are not realistic but still. The story is about all these wars and political conflicts in Afghanistan. The author will explain some history events, specifically the role of women, through the eyes of Mariam and Laila😢It is a heartbreaking story. I loved it and I‘m glad I read it. ❤️ ⬇️

Read in May- Lena‘s sister, Desiree, was well know in social media and was found dead apparently due to an overdose. Lena didn‘t see her sister for the last 2 years but she is not convinced that her sister death was for this reason. The story is about Lena to try to find out what really happened to her sister, to discover how was her life for the last 2 years. Many family secrets will be revealed. But this is another novel where the death motive⬇️

Read in May- Inspired in the life and events around Catherine Dior during the end of WWII. I found this one so interesting, it motivated me to read about the Dior‘s family and Catherine involvement in the resistance movement. At the end, the author mention which characters were fictional or not. I thought about those sad moments in history but also made me think about what Ukraine is living now, in this present war😢 ⬇️

Read in May-this was okay. Alex has the opportunity to participate in a writing retreat with Roza Vallo, a well recognized writer who she admired since early in her life. But her best ex friend also will attend this retreat in this remote area. Something happened between them that she doesn‘t want to see her. During the retreat things will happen even a murder but why? In a writing retreat? What is the motive? That was for me the weakest part⬇️

Read in May- another dual timeline- the main story is about Nour and her family when her mother decided to go back from NY to Syria. So interesting in terms how Nour needs to adapt to this country unknown to her in which she doesn‘t know the language. So well described the places and the culture. Then, there is an old story about a legend that will describe the changes that Nour us experiencing. I didn‘t enjoy much these parts, sometimes boring⬇️

Read in May-What was this?🤦🏽‍♀️Two timeline stories, one is about the present, Indigo, her husband and the story of the house. The other story is about the friendship, between Indigo and Azure. Dysfunctional? I think so. I enjoyed more this story. Something in the house is gothic, magical that will affect these two girls and Indigo‘s husband will discover the secret. But the Indigo you see at the beginning is not the same as you see at the end⬇️

Read in May-I liked the way the story was narrated from present to past- in a court room, Noah accused for murdered his stepdaughter (it‘s in the blurb) then you go one chapter to the past and one chapter to the present. Not a perfect crime or suspense novel because there were some obvious things that you will say, really? But the development of the story kept my attention all the time. I liked the audiobook too.

3.75/3.8⭐️

Read in May. Predictable since page one. I can‘t say much without spoil the story. I didn‘t see that twist coming but maybe not a surprise for some readers. So what I liked in this book? Those psychological dark personalities dynamics description. I think author knows pretty well the correctional system but some actions were a little bit exaggerated. Slow pace. I liked it not love it. But it was okay for me. It has low rating in GR(so-so)3⭐️

Read in May-1st book in this new duology🤷🏽‍♀️But related with These Violent Delights world, it should be read in order. I‘m still need to read the companion novellas🙄. I really enjoyed this story. It is about Rosalind. There are some twists and full of intrigue and action. The romance parts are very YA tone but they are cute and I some are funny. That ending😱Great! For a YA fantasy genre, 4⭐️
#AsianAuthor #MagnificentMay Readathon @Andrew65

For those of you who celebrate this activity, Happy Mothers Day/Feliz Día de las Madres. For those who are mothers, were mothers, for those who wanted to be but couldn‘t, or choose not to be but has that role as an aunt, friend, godmother etc, for those who just has that love and instinct....There are not perfect mothers, only real ones, who laugh, create, support, get tired sometimes but next day, they try again....with love (free translation)

I was checking my posts and I thought I posted my last #travellingstars2023 package My apologies @Erinsuemreads This was a beautiful card, stunning😍and I‘m enjoying the messages. Those stickers are beautiful and I love the bookmarks, perfect to use them with my books in these topics. Answering your questions, I don‘t know much about these topics but I have a friend who is taking classes in various of these topic and I‘m learning with her⬇️

I picked up the package last Friday and I forgot to post the picture 🤦🏽‍♀️Thank you so much @BethM 🥰The coffee smells so good and it will be better with those cookies that look delicious😋The honey butter tiramisu almonds will disappear tomorrow 😋 The book sounds cute

I will send my package this week priority mail @BookwormAHN
#CBBC @mommamanzi

I enjoyed this novel, because it was so interesting to know about these immigrant Muslim families , how some of them integrated themselves better to a new culture without leaving their religious beliefs and traditions. Khalid and his mother were more traditional. I liked Ayesha, Nana popular/literary wisdom and Nani. Love the quotes and Ayesha poem and glad that the work discrimination was discussed and resolved. But⬇️

Mixed feelings with this novel. I liked the “fortune” folklore/myth/story and the dynamic of this family. But sometimes characters actions/behaviors seemed to me like short stories/chunks without a well story integration, as a whole. It has some funny scenes but also some scenes were like “forced” to be funny. But it seems that this is an unpopular opinion with this novel🤷🏽‍♀️ 3⭐️

Unpopular opinion, this one didn‘t work for me. It has hilarious scenes but it was too political with a real politician which didn‘t work that combination for me🤷🏽‍♀️ But most people enjoyed it. 2.5/3⭐️

#CBBC @mommamanzi
#ISpyBingo May animal that was made into an emoji (cat) #TheAromaOfBooks @Clwojick
#BooKSpinBingo (#1) @TheAromaOfBooks

April wrap up report: I read 10 books (one book is not in the stack because it was the #CBBC book). No bingos but I read #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin books. No bingo either for #ISpyBingo I only need to read 2 books by Ruth Ware: snowflakes and the new release Zero Days.
Best book this month: The Home-maker
Liked very much: Joyland, Hercule Poirot‘s Christmas, Memphis and Queen‘s Shadow.
#BookSpinBingo

Last book read this month but it didn‘t work for me🤷🏽‍♀️I didn‘t/couldn‘t connect with the characters and Emily was so unrealistic for me in many aspects. That O‘Connell too possessive, controller😐. I inhaled, deeply, in various of his expressions. Nope. No way. But their stories were so difficult😳There are a couple of triggers here. 2/3⭐️ Wonderful body but about his mind and personality?🤔😕

3rd and last book read for #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville
Four friends in a boarding school who participate in Lying Game. A story narrated of what happened in the past and why they need to reunite again, 17 years later due to a secret they share. Characters personalities will be described through the 4 major rules to follow in this game. But someone is lying about what happened 17 years ago. Who? Why? A new rule will be developed. ⬇️

2nd book read for #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville
Book published in 2015 but I read You‘re Invited, Shiver and Unwanted Guest that are very similar, specially You‘re Invited.
Leonora, Nora, is invited to Clare‘s Hen Night (first time I heard this activity-so curious☺️) she decided to go with her friend Nina. But Clare hasn‘t seen Clare since 10 years ago. Why she was invited? What happened between Clare and Nora? ⬇️

I read 3 books by this author this month for #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville This book was published in 2016 but I have read a couple of recent thrillers and they are very similar in topics.
Lo works for a travel magazine and she will substitute someone from her job to go in this luxury cruise. Lo has drinking problems and when she reported what she saw, probably a missing person, no one believes her. She is an unreliable witness. ⬇️

From the cover, I thought it had horror elements but not, it is more a mystery suggesting some mild paranormal elements. But the story is more than that. It‘s about Devin, how his life will change after he took a job at Joyland. The story has some sad scenes, at least for me, how Devin and his father were still dealing with grief, his constant suicidal ideations. But it is also how Devin grew, it‘s about friendship. A very slow pace reading⬇️

This one was for #AgathaChristieClubR2 (February😳getting there🤣) but I already answered the questions @ferskner What can I say? I enjoy Poirot who sometimes sounds arrogant and narcissistic☺️I like the way he develops his deductive reasoning to discover the murderer. This time he will analyze “...the character of the dead man” (p.173). I enjoy all these arguments about characters‘ personalities. 3/3.5⭐️ #BookSpinBingo (#8) @TheAromaOfBooks

I know this one has mixed reviews but I liked it, it was interesting to see this family dynamic through different generations, the romance between Hazel and Myron and how Memphis was described. However, I felt past and present were not well integrated, sometimes I felt confused where I was. I can understand that Miriam wanted to change, break the domestic violence cycle but going back to that house was a way to victimized her daughter⬇️

#PersephoneClub2023 (February) When at the beginning of this novel, I saw Mrs. Knapp behavior, I couldn‘t stand her, a controller OCD mother-woman. But then, behind her behavior I saw a frustrated, depressed woman repressed for not fulfilled her goals in life, but “obliged” to follow “society stereotypes mother-woman roles”. What a change in the dynamic of this family after Lester accident. The roles in each member will change, for good⬇️

In order to read January #StarWarsBuddyRead book, I needed to read the first books in this trilogy. I‘m having a good experience going through this world and remembering the characters. This one was a little slow pace. When Padmé will take another political position, she will encounter betrays but also loyalty by her friends. Beautiful friendship. That ending😱What??? Need to continue the adventure. 3.5/3.8⭐️ @BookwormAHN

I read this book at the beginning of April after a couple of serious hard emotional books. So, it was a fun and relax reading time. Melanie decided to buy and restore an old house with her grandmother Liza to open a B&B. But the house is “haunted”? They discovered a skeleton which is related with an incident in that house. Liza decided to “investigate” the incident in order to accelerate the opening of their B&B. Such a funny character⬇️

No much reading today but I brought more books to my home, adding books to my shelves meaning, adding happiness to my life 📚🙌❤️
I bought different genres: romance, fantasy, manga,, mystery, historical fiction, book translated from the Italian and books in Spanish. I only visited one bookstore (BookmarkPR) but ordered by phone two books from another independent bookstore located in Old San Juan, Libreria Laberinto.

I‘m behind my readings due to many life things but one reason is that I was in training for today‘s virtual marathon. Let‘s say that I finished it within the time limit😜It took me forever to completed it🤪🙌
But now, I can finish this book. Here I am in recovery with coffee and my book📖 ☕️ 🤗

The #CBBC package arrived yesterday but I picked up today. Thank you so much @BethM the kitchen towel set is in my kitchen already😍and I tasted the coffee too ☕️ 😋Perfect since I already consumed (Am I using the correct word?🤷🏽‍♀️) the last month coffee☺️

My package will be out this week

@mommamanzi

#WondrousWednesday
🌷In childhood, teacher, later something related with psychiatry
🌷Yes, it is related. I finished three majors during BA so I could work during graduate studies, yes I worked as an elementary school teacher as I wanted as a girl during the master, not for me. Then as a professor during dissertation. Yes, doctorate and profession are related with behavioral sciences.
🌷Eclectic-you don‘t want to know what I listen when I run😳⬇️

Yesterday I couldn‘t access Litsy🤷🏽‍♀️
Only 10 books read on March. No bingos #BookSpinBingo No bingo #ISpyBingo March but I made one bingo line in the #MarchMadnessBingoCard @Andrew65
I‘m still behind....very behind in my readings for book clubs/buddy read activities but I will catch up...soon...I guess...I‘m trying😳☺️ I have to because I‘m keeping buying those books🤗

Do you think it will be safe to buy books in bookdepository this month? 🤔

One of those long books that you don‘t feel it long at all because you want to know more about the story, about this family. A good book with a sad story. Difficult social-political times. That ending, trying to go on. The mother, Ma, is a strong female character in this story. 4.5/5⭐️

#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville
#MarchMadnessReadathon @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @Andrew65 ⬇️

I received this book and bookmark in 2020 from @Endowarrior21 during #LittleChristmasSwap hosted by @bookish_wookish
Beautiful middle grade story with splendid, stunning illustrations. At the end of the book, the author explains what motivated him to write this story. I recommend also to read it in conjunction with the book. 4.5⭐️

Thank you @Endiwarrior21 🥰

This month was dedicated to slow pace, character driven with dysfunctional family novels. Most of them by Irish authors which suggest that I like that writing style. I liked this novel. One of the #Women‘s fiction prizelonglist novels. This is about Cushla and her forbidden relationship with Michael Agnew a barrister. About how much harm religious prejudices can make and how dangerous can be to defend the injustice. ⬇️

First time I heard this expression of “snowflake”. Debbie is in the process to start college in Dublin and she comes from a farm village. She travels every day because can‘t afford to stay in the city “commute girl” that‘s how they call her. This is about her process to adapt to this new life, to discover herself and understand better her family. There are some triggers in this novel, family mental illness, bipolar disorder, depression⬇️

Second book in this trilogy. A little bit slow but again, it has absurd unrealistic funny situations. Ready for book 3 next month. Finlay and Vero are a peculiar dynamic amateur sleuth duo☺️Again, I laughed out loud with this one.
3⭐️
#MarchMysteryMadness YouTuber @TooFondForBoojs prompt #3
MarchMysteryMadness @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @Andrew65

I think most of you know the premise of this story. Finlay is talking with her editor about her novel and someone heard words like contract, kill him, payment, and thought they were talking about a hitperson and now wants to hire Finlay. This is an absurd, unrealistic contemporary adult cozy mystery for me. So funny. I was laughing on all the time. It was good after all my busy month and after serious books. This is for laugh. Don‘t expect more ⬇️

The cup was a gift😍unpopular opinion here but it was me because I couldn‘t stand the main character. But if you like family drama with dysfunctional characters, this is for you. Usually I like that type of stories but I don‘t know what happened with this one. Sunday left her home, town, away from her family after a traumatic experience, no support to manage it. Then, one day decided to go back.⬇️

When you buy a book without knowing that it will be the book selected in your subscription box🤷🏽‍♀️
I enjoyed this book more that the first series. I like the world, the plot with action and some kind of mystery. Clones??? Or something like that? We will see an active Ronan. His romance with Adam is so cute❤️ For a YA fantasy 3.8/4⭐️
#TheForgottenBookClub ⬇️

Another slow pace reading, character driven story. Set part in London and part in Ireland. Two time lines. Olivia inherited her grandfather‘s bookshop and there is a photo of two girls and a manuscript that connect these girls with her grandmother who has now Alzheimer. These girls claimed that they saw fairies. Olivia will search the truth behind the photos. Also about family relations/secrets, second chances and what is home for Olivia⬇️

First book read by this author and it was perfect for me. A slow pace character driven kind of mystery. Cal hooper an American retired cop decided to move to a small place Ireland. There, he will be involved almost by accident in a search of a missing person. This novel will be perfect for a sequel. I really enjoyed it but it is pretty slow in case you like more action 4⭐️

So sorry I‘m posting everything so late. March was a busy month with family & friends situations but I‘m glad I could help and I‘m still here for them. Not much reading and April seems to be a similar month🤷🏽‍♀️
@BookwormAHN I love everything, those stickers, bookmarks, prints😱beautiful😍Yes, that article describes me in many ways I wish I could find things like that for all of you. Thank you so much🥰❤️ #TravelingStars2023 @staceghost

#WondrousWednesday
📖 Either way, they certainly add to the story but are not necessarily essential.
📖A beautiful cover related with the story, not necessarily has to be implicit, it could be an abstract concept, sprayed edges, designs under dust jacket, pretty end pages, design in each chapter, illustrations. Also quality of paper and binding.
📖Comfy seat, comfy clothing, fall/winter bc less hot here, quiet, coffee, snack, outside or home

Thank you @BethM for the coffee and the chocolate which arrived melted but I resolved it immediately. I put it in the fridge and then it melted again....but this time.... in my mouth 🤣🍫 😋mmmm I need to try the coffee.
I love that cover.

I sent my package and it should arrive next Tuesday 🤗
#CBBC @mommamanzi

Thank you so much @wanderinglynn for these lovely stickers and bookmark related with my zodiac sign😍I loved your analysis and explanation of my zodiac sign. I could say it quite describes me😱the only thing is that I like to work and being alone. I can be around people but not much, love my solitude space, I need it. I have trying to check the time I born but my mom doesn‘t remember the exact time. So interesting. I‘m learning⬇️

Again, No bingo this month 🤷🏽‍♀️But it is fun to look for the clues
@TheAromaOfBooks
@clwojick

I read 16 books during the month of February 2023: 7 books were by #BlackAuthors; 5 for #AuthorAMonth.
Best ones:
The Poet X
The Cost of Knowing
Peach Blossom Spring
We Are Not Like Them

But I really enjoyed the books by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Attica Locke and Gloria Naylor. I‘m glad I read these 16 books. 1 box less from Once Upon A Book🙌They take space.
No bingos I made the #DoubleSpin only🤷🏽‍♀️
Super behind in my reading😳@TheAromaOfBooks