Four Months of Books: January to April

May 8, 2021

One thing I can say about the past four months: I’ve had no time to be bored.

Between research, writing, revising, and getting things ready for my summer backcountry escapes (all while trying to get through this pandemic unscathed), there are days I don’t even know where to start.

There’s been little time to read during the day, though I found picking up a book before bed helps turn off my brain. Novels (that aren’t mine & frustrating me to no end…) provide distraction and reminds me why I started writing in the first place: I love good stories.

Here’s the books I’ve read so far this year:

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
I have watched a lot of spy movies, but this was my first true spy novel. This book sat on my shelf for years. Now that I’ve read it, I was not disappointed. This novel was well-plotted, had a plausible story and felt authentic in all aspects of spy craft, both Russian and American. Considering it was written by a retired CIA operative, I expected nothing less.

Zenith & Nexus by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings
This duology was a lighthearted YA sci-fi series. The imaginations of these authors created the perfect amount of familiar and different in their sci-fi world.

Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger
This book had everything I enjoy, and lots I could relate to: small towns, winter, and tales of the Wendigo from Indigenous legends. It was a satisfying mystery that I finished in just four days. I will definitely be reading more of this Cork O’Conner series.

At the Mountain’s Edge by Genevieve Graham
Genevieve Graham’s goal is to breathe life back into Canadian history through fictional stories. This book does just that: set during the Yukon gold rush, it follows the hardships and tragedy faced by a Mountie sent to police the region and a family hoping to strike it rich. A throughly researched novel of an era of history I’ve always had an interest in.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Historical fiction novels by Kate Quinn are an automatic purchase and The Rose Code has become my new favorite of hers. The codebreakers of Bletchley Park are a fascinating piece of WWII history, one I knew very little about. This book has so many layers. I felt every high and low the characters faced and was kept guessing right up to that very satisfying ending. Kate Quinn never disappoints…