It's Monday, What Are You Reading (141)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

I am so happy that April is here! Hopefully winter is behind us. Today it was sunny and in the 60s and a really beautiful day. It finally felt like spring!

I was able to get caught up on some reviews this past week and weekend and I am working my way through my review TBR pile. I also made a (very small) dent in housework that I've neglected. It feels good to get caught up after the craziness of last month.

Books read:

Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

This book was a big disappointment for me and the members of my book group felt the same way. While we admired the author for wanting to make a difference in the lives of the Afghan women, we also had issues with the way the book was written, it's truthfulness, and the content she chose to include that could endanger the subjects.

The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

I thought this was a pretty good YA suspense novel though I sometimes thought the protagonist made dumb decisions. It was interesting reading about someone in witness protection and trying to solve the mystery.

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

While it could have used some editing, I thought this novel was fantastic and loved the story of Jean Valjean. I think reading this book really enriched my understanding of the characters and made me like the movie even more.

His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal

This was more of a spy novel than a mystery but there was quite a bit of suspense as Maggie is undercover in Nazi Germany. I found it to be a page turner and a book I devoured in a day.

Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

Ally Carter's books are always fun and this proved to be a quick and entertaining read. I liked getting a look at Hale's family and seeing his relationship with Kat develop further. 

A Spear of Summer Grass by Deanna Raybourn

This book was not quite what I was expecting. I loved the setting but didn't care that much for the protagonist. We would not have been friends :)

Books reviewed:

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Currently reading:

The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig

This book is also (partially) set in Kenya in the 1920s as well as England in the early 1900s and modern day New York. So far I like it a lot more than A Spear of Summer Grass as far as the characters go anyway.

What I plan to read next:

Golden by Jessi Kirby

I've read some positive early reviews of this and I enjoyed the author's debut, Moonglass. I am hopeful that I will like this too. It will be good to read a YA contemporary after all the historical fiction!

Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

This is one of my book group books for April. I am looking forward to it. I've heard it is an emotional story.