Bookish Thoughts: Charming by Elliott James

There's a reason that we refer to being in love as being enchanted. ~  Opening of Charming

Charming by Elliott James

Orbit, 2014

Fantasy (Urban); 390 pgs

Source: NetGalley

From Goodreads: 

John Charming isn't your average Prince...  

He comes from a line of Charmings — an illustrious family of dragon slayers, witch-finders and killers dating back to before the fall of Rome. Trained by a modern day version of the Knights Templar, monster hunters who have updated their methods from chainmail and crossbow to kevlar and shotguns, he was one of the best. That is — until he became the abomination the Knights were sworn to hunt.  

That was a lifetime ago. Now, he tends bar under an assumed name in rural Virginia and leads a peaceful, quiet life. One that shouldn't change just because a vampire and a blonde walked into his bar... Right?

Urban fantasy is one of my not-so-guilty pleasures, and I was eager to dive into Charming after it won my May TBR List Poll. It isn't a fairy tale--so if you are expecting anything related to Cinderella, you will be disappointed. There are minor references to the fairy tale, along with others, but that's as close as it comes.

John Charming comes from a long line of Knights, similar to that of the Knights of Templar. Their job is to keep magic in the shadows, away from those who know nothing about it. Known as monster hunters, witch-finders, and dragon slayers, they are a force to be reckoned with. John becomes one of the hunted through no fault of his own, however, and is forced to go on the run. He makes a new life for himself in a small town, working as a bartender in a local pub.

Then Sig, a tall blonde woman who is obviously not human, walks into the pub followed by a vampire, and John realizes it might be time to move on. Sig has other ideas though, and soon John finds himself joining her and her friends in investigating why so many people are going missing. He promises himself he'll stay just long enough to get the job done.

John isn't quick to trust anyone, which is understandable given his past. I liked him right away and would want him on my side in a fight. He is extremely resourceful and not at all full of himself. He is clearly grappling with his past, who he is and who--or what--he is becoming. It makes him question himself and everything he's learned over the years. I also really liked Sig's character. Strong and good in a fight, she holds her own well.

The author clearly has a sense of humor, and, as a result, the narrator, John Charming does too. Charming is high in action, fast-paced, and was an entertaining book to read. The world author Elliott James has created may have some familiar features, but it also has many of its own. There is a bit of romance, and a definite mystery to make this urban fantasy novel a fun read. I found myself reading it in every free moment I had one Sunday, and finished it that same night. I look forward to reading more in this series.


To learn more about Elliott James and his work, please visit the author's website. He can also be found on Goodreads and Twitter.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Where Is Your Bookmark? (06/07/2016)

Today I am featuring the book I hope to begin reading shortly, The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan. I enjoyed the author's book The Curiosity, which had been a bit outside my comfort zone. This one is more up my alley, and one I have been looking forward to reading for awhile now.

Summary from Goodreads: 

Deborah Birch is a seasoned hospice nurse whose daily work requires courage and compassion. But her skills and experience are tested in new and dramatic ways when her easygoing husband, Michael, returns from his third deployment to Iraq haunted by nightmares, anxiety, and rage. She is determined to help him heal, and to restore the tender, loving marriage they once had.  

At the same time, Deborah's primary patient is Barclay Reed, a retired history professor and expert in the Pacific Theater of World War II whose career ended in academic scandal. Alone in the world, the embittered professor is dying. As Barclay begrudgingly comes to trust Deborah, he tells her stories from that long-ago war, which help her find a way to help her husband battle his demons.  

Told with piercing empathy and heartbreaking realism, The Hummingbird is a masterful story of loving commitment, service to country, and absolution through wisdom and forgiveness.

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon. It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.

All I knew at the beginning was that the first two nurses assigned to the professor had no lasted twelve days, and now it was my turn.

When I drove to Central Office that morning to collect his medical records and case-management plan, I also checked the staffing file to see who had bailed on the old guy so quickly. Or maybe had had bailed on them.

Every Tuesday, Jenn from Books And A Beat hosts Teaser Tuesdays at which time participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.

Random Teaser from The Hummingbird :

I have seen people tell patients to keep fighting—typically sons speaking to fathers—when clearly all the exhausted patriarch wants to do is rest. I bide my time, then point out how hard the patient has fought already, and ask them to consider giving him permission to go. Sometimes the people listen, and the patient dies at peace. Sometimes they don’t listen, and the patient dies anyway. Nature will have her way.

What do you think? Would you keep reading?  

From the opening paragraphs, I get the distinct impression that the elderly gentleman in the novel is difficult to work with. 

What are you reading at the moment?  Is it anything you would recommend?

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

This week's  Top Ten Tuesday is Ten Reasons I Love X -- could be a certain book, character, author, your indie bookstore, a fandom, a tv show, reading, a hobby, a genre. I decided to list the Top Five Reasons I Love Reading Mysteries and Fantasy Novels, two of my very favorite genres. Great characters, good writing, and an entertaining story are just a part of the draw.

Reasons I love Mysteries:

Mysteries come in all shapes and sizes and I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite sub-genre. It's a genre I can turn to when I need a laugh, something thought provoking, want something dark and gritty, romantic and suspenseful, or just want something on the light side.

1. Mysteries are my best friend when I need distraction from my over-worked mind. I find it easy to get caught up in the characters lives and carried away by the story. So much so, I forget my own troubles or worries for awhile.

2. Solving a puzzle. I love puzzles and my mind just naturally begins to work out the puzzles a mystery offers as I read--even without my trying. I often guess the whodunit and sometimes the why of the crime before the end, but there's something to be said for being right--or proven wrong.

3. The psychology of it - understanding human behavior, motive, and experiencing how someone else copes, struggles with, and hopefully overcomes adversity. Whether the villain or the hero, I like  to see complexity and depth in the characters whose lives I become a part of for a short while. Sometimes it also offers a chance for self-reflection, makes me question my own beliefs and ideas. Who says mysteries cannot be thought provoking?

4. It's a thrill ride! Who doesn't like an adrenaline rush now and then? Whether it is the thrill of the chase or the thrill of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together.

5. Seeing justice served. Often, as a reader, I find myself on the side of the good guy, wanting to see right overcome wrong. There's something very satisfying in seeing the villains get what's coming to them.

Reasons I love Fantasy:

Like with mysteries, I like a variety of fantasy novels, although I probably favor urban fantasy. I also enjoy fairy tales and high fantasy, epic fantasy, dark fantasy, steampunk, sword and sorcery fantasy, must to name a few. 

1. The imagination is such a wonderful thing. Fantasy pushes the boundaries by taking us outside of the reality we know. Anything can happen--and often does.

2. The adventure of it. Diving into the pages of a fantasy novel, I often get to travel through unknown lands and meet a myriad of characters--both human and non-human. Flying on a dragon or casting a spell. Dancing with faeries or cuddling up with a gargoyle.

3. Magic - My husband is always quick to remind me that fantasy doesn't have to include magic. There are many fantasy novels that don't involve any at all. But frankly, magic is a must for me--well, maybe just strongly preferred. Wizards and witches. Supernatural beings. Paranormal abilities. There's just something about magic that intrigues me and sparks my imagination.

4. Escape. I am always amazed at how fully and completely I can become engrossed in a fantasy novel, blocking out everything going on around me other than what is happening in the book. Even when away from the book, I often feel the spell of fantasy novel lingering around me.

5. Fantasy is a playground for exploring morality. Whether it is good versus evil or shades of gray. Sometimes fantasy, as out there as it may seem, is a closer reflection of life than might appear on the surface. I like the reality of it as well as the fantastical elements.

Do you have a favorite genre? What about that genre draws you to it?

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: Seraphina & Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

I remember being born. ~ Opening of Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012
Fantasy (YA), 528 pgs
Source: I purchased my own copy.

From Goodreads: 

In the kingdom of Goredd, dragons and humans live and work side by side – while below the surface, tensions and hostility simmer. 

The newest member of the royal court, a uniquely gifted musician named Seraphina, holds a deep secret of her own. One that she guards with all of her being. 

When a member of the royal family is brutally murdered, Seraphina is drawn into the investigation alongside the dangerously perceptive—and dashing—Prince Lucien. But as the two uncover a sinister plot to destroy the wavering peace of the kingdom, Seraphina’s struggle to protect her secret becomes increasingly difficult… while its discovery could mean her very life.

I have wanted to read Seraphina since first hearing about it, but like so many other books, it took me awhile to finally get around to it. I suspected I would like it, and I did. Seraphina is such a relatable character. Smart and insecure. Thoughtful and compassionate. She is someone I could see being friends with.

All her life, Seraphina has had to hide a part of herself or risk terrible consequences. But she also knows she cannot hide at home forever, protected by her father. She has dreams of her own and so takes a job with the royal family. There she finds her confidence and learns she has much more to offer than she ever imagined, both in her music, her knowledge, and her very life.

I found Prince Lucien to be quite dreamy too, or at least I would have if I were a teenager like Seraphina. He's extremely bright and perceptive even in spite of his young age. He's had to be though, given his background. He has his own cross to bear, which has made him a stronger man in many ways.

Princess Glisselda proves to be a valuable ally to Seraphina over the course of the novel. She has a good heart and a good head on her shoulders. Sometimes I forgot she is younger than Seraphina.

There were many other characters that both helped and hindered Seraphina as she and Lucien worked together to uncover who was behind the murder and the attempts to destroy the fragile peace between the dragons and the humans. I was most fond of Seraphina's mentor, a dragon, whose attempts to remain untouched by Seraphina were so obviously feigned. It was clear he cared for her.

If I had one complaint about the novel, it would be that I didn't quite buy into how easily Seraphina was accepted into the murder investigation and in finding out who was behind the attempts to destroy the peace between the human and dragon species. Yes, she seemed to have more knowledge of the dragons than most of the humans in the realm. But she was so young and innocent--that Lucien would put her in danger so easily was hard to believe--and yet, it also could be seen as a sign of respect to her--treating her as an equal, which serves its own purpose, I suppose.

It really was a minor thing though in the scheme of things. I was caught up in the novel and the world Rachel Hartman has created. The idea of dragons being calculating and unfeeling, more interested in science and math, is a unique one. There ability to transform into humans and attempt to assimilate was an interesting twist. It's obvious both humans and dragons have skills and abilities that can benefit each other. And yet, even as the two species live in peace, it is a fragile peace. The humans still fear the dragons, especially in Goredd, and do not fully accept them. The dragons are not free to be themselves, not completely, forced to remain in their human forms the majority of their time and adopt the ways and beliefs of the humans.


I returned to myself. ~ Opening of Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Random House Books for Young Readers, 2015
Fantasy (YA); 610 pgs
Source: NetGalley

In Shadow Scale, the second book in the duology featuring Seraphina, the peace between dragons and humans is in a very precarious position. Civil war between the the dragons threatens to boil over into the human lands. The humans are divided as well. Support the dragons who are willing to live alongside them or fight them all because of the threat they may pose.

Goredd's very existence is at risk and the leaders are doing what they can to keep war from coming their way. Their options are extremely limited, and so they turn to Seraphina, whose special gift may be the only way to save their kingdom and the kingdoms around them. With the Crown's approval, Seraphina sets off to find others like her, in hopes of finding a peaceful resolution. She also has another motive in searching out these others. All her life she has felt like an outcast and she hopes that in bringing others like her together, she will finally feel like she belongs. It isn't as easy as she anticipates, however. Seraphina meets resistance on many fronts--including someone with his or her own agenda. As Seraphina is away, a new evil comes to Goredd, threatening everything Seraphina holds dear.

Seraphina is more of a straightforward novel. Whereas Shadow Scale takes everything to an entirely new level. As someone who finds the history of religion fascinating, I thought Hartman did an amazing job of developing the mythology and history of her world even more. We see some of that in Seraphina, of course, but it really comes to light--and under scrutiny--in Shadow Scale.

I did feel that Shadow Scale had less focus in some spots and would like to have seen some elements, particularly in terms of Seraphina's character, come out sooner. It all seemed so rushed at the end--at least in that one regard. I thought the opening and end of the story, the way it was told was a nice touch, especially given the story Shadow Scale tells.

Seraphina learns some hard but necessary lessons in Shadow Scale, and I appreciated how the author did not make it easy for her heroine. It added to the gravity of the situation as well as the realities of life. Both Seraphina and Shadow Scale see Seraphina try to figure out where she belongs, struggle with insecurities, and come into her own, all of which young people today can relate to--and maybe even some of us in the older crowd. Shadow Scale takes it even further, delving into behavior and motive, and how our past can play a part in both. As well as reminding us all actions have consequences.

I heard a rumor that the author is writing another book set in the same world as Seraphina and Shadow Scale. I hope it is true! There are so many directions she could go. I look forward to seeing what else she has in store for us.


To learn more about Rachel Hartman and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads and Twitter.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Sunday Post: Early Start to Summer & June TBR List Poll

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The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. 

Summer weather has made its appearance. Triple digits no less. We are doing what we can to stay cool. I wanted to jump in the pool with Mouse on Friday during her swim lesson. The water looked so inviting. Instead I spent a little time with my current book in the shade, which was no hardship at all. Free reading time is something to take full advantage of, after all. I only wish the lesson had been a little longer . . .

How are you on this fine (hot) weekend? What are you up to? Are you reading anything worthwhile? Please share!

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Do you reply to every comment on your posts? (submitted by Elizabeth) 

I do! I may not be able to reply right away, but I make an effort to reply to every comment. I also try to visit the blogs of those who leave me comments (if the commenter has one--or if I can find a link to that person's blog, which I am not always able to do, sadly). I appreciate every comment I receive--and am so grateful to all of you who take the time to leave me one.

What I Am Reading: May turned out to be a good reading month, both in quality and quantity. I read seven books and listened to one:

Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman
A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi
Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas by John Scalzi (audio)
Charming by Elliott James
June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
The Shadow Revolution by Clay and Susan Griffith
Stone Guardian by Danielle Monsch
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

I ended up reading all of my May TBR List books, not just the winner. I couldn't help myself. I was in the mood for urban fantasy. I hope to post the reviews soon. Of all my May reads, John Scalzi's Redshirts is my favorite--it was quite a ride. If I had to pick a print book though, it would be June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore.

I have now read six books for Carl's Once Upon a Time Challenge. If I remember right, I only committed to read one. I've also officially read two books for the What's In a Name Reading Challenge. I would say that's not too shabby.

I finished reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman just a half hour before this posting. Gaiman is one of those authors I intend to read everything he writes. Fortunately, I have a number of his books still to get to. I am not ready yet to start on another book. My thoughts are still too filled with the story of the Marquis de Carbasas, Door, Richard Mayhew, Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar.

What I Am Watching: I have been watching Jessica Jones on Netflix. My husband had talked me into reading the first Alias graphic novel when it came out, which is what the show is based on. I liked it, but never read beyond that first issue. I am enjoying the television show quite a bit. Jessica is a former superhero turned private investigator. The show is gritty and dark, and I am hooked. Not to mention David Tennant is in it.  Have any of you seen it?

Around the Blogosphere:

• Choose Your Own Comment Adventure! (2) - Leafing Through Life's Megan came up with this fun idea of posting about going on a commenting adventure. I may have to take her up on her offer to play along!
• Searching Images For Your Website Don’t Steal Them - Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Kimberly, talks offers some great resources for finding images for your blog. I imagine some people may not realize they are stealing images by using just any ol' image they find. And so this is a good reminder.
• June Movie Watch-a-thon Choices Stacy from Stacy's Books has started a Monthly Movie Watch-a-Thon for us movie lovers! Will you be taking part?
• Thursday Thoughts, May 12th - Diversity Rachel from R Squared: Reading + Rachel asks what diversity in reading actually means and how do you really know you are reading books that quality as diverse.

What's Going On Off the Blog: Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone. The unofficial beginning of summer. We spent the long weekend with my in-laws. Mouse was thrilled to be able to use their pool. And it renewed my interest in wishing we had one. Why do they have to be so expensive?!  She was also very excited to see her grandparents and uncle again, of course. She got to play Pathfinder Adventure with her uncle and dad, and we spent a morning at the park.

Playing at the Park

This is the last weekend of soccer for Mouse--at least with her current class. I think she would like to keep going this summer, if she could, but my husband and I are thinking a break is in order--to stay out of the heat and maybe free up our weekends to do a day trip now and then.

My family is known to extend birthdays for awhile, and with my husband's birthday this coming week, Mouse, Anjin and I had lunch at Farrell's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlour. It's always great fun.

The work week was busy. We are getting a new phone system in at work later this month, and everyone has to undergo extensive training in how to use it. Some of it is very basic--and repetitive--but I am sure we will appreciate the training when the new phones are in place.

This Past Week In Reading Mews:

• Where Is Your Bookmark? (05/24/2016) (Teaser for The Shadow Revolution & Ten (or so) Books I Feel Differently About After Time Has Passed
• Bookish Thoughts: A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi
• Where Is Your Bookmark? (05/31/2016) (Teaser from Salvage the Bones & Top Ten Books you should read if you are stuck at home alone on a stormy summer night)
• Bookish Thoughts: June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

Help me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Sunday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow. While I will attempt to post my review that same month, I make no promises--it may go up the following month. 

With just six more months to meet my goal for the What's In a Name Reading Challenge, I thought I would enlist your help in meeting at least one of the requirements. My choices this week all fall under the "title with a profession in it." Each of these book offers a little something different--Science Fiction, Historical Romance and a Mystery--and all are on my TBR List calling my name. Which one do you think I should read? 

Admiral by Sean Danker 

From Goodreads:  

“I was on a dead ship on an unknown planet with three trainees freshly graduated into the Imperial Service. I tried to look on the bright side.”

He is the last to wake. The label on his sleeper pad identifies him as an admiral of the Evagardian Empire—a surprise as much to him as to the three recent recruits now under his command. He wears no uniform, and he is ignorant of military protocol, but the ship’s records confirm he is their superior officer. 

Whether he is an Evagardian admiral or a spy will be of little consequence if the crew members all end up dead. They are marooned on a strange world, their ship’s systems are failing one by one—and they are not alone.

Within a Captain's Hold by Lisa A. Olech

From Goodreads: 

Captain Jaxon Steele is a tall, sun-bronzed, fierce-fighting Pirate King. He and the notorious crew of the Scarlet Night are both feared and respected for their ruthless reputation. The Captain’s only love is the open sea and the ship he calls home. When it comes to women, he has three rules: never sleep with another’s wife, don’t take virgins into bed, and most importantly, never bring a woman aboard—that brings the worst luck of all.

Annalise Gatherone has to leave London—tonight! Usually her only concern is the color of her latest gown, but now she’s choosing between life and death. Desperate to escape the clutches of an evil Duke, she stows away aboard the Scarlet Night, hoping she’s bound for Port St. Maria. Winning Captain Steele's affections, she just might sneak by unharmed. But when her plans are altered in ways she never imagined, she must batten down the hatches for a journey into unknown waters…

The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister

From Goodreads:

The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. One night in Waterloo, Iowa, with young policeman Virgil Holt watching from the audience, she swaps her trademark saw for a fire ax. Is it a new version of the illusion, or an all-too-real murder? When Arden’s husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later that night, the answer seems clear.

But when Virgil happens upon the fleeing magician and takes her into custody, she has a very different story to tell. Even handcuffed and alone, Arden is far from powerless—and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbinding. Over the course of one eerie night, Virgil must decide whether to turn Arden in or set her free… and it will take all he has to see through the smoke and mirrors.

Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think?



I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

Houses don't always dream.  ~ Opening of June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

Crown, 2016

Fiction; 400 pgs

From Goodreads: 

Twenty-five-year-old Cassie Danvers is holed up in her family’s crumbling mansion in rural St. Jude, Ohio, mourning the loss of the woman who raised her—her grandmother, June. But a knock on the door forces her out of isolation. Cassie has been named the sole heir to legendary matinee idol Jack Montgomery's vast fortune. How did Jack Montgomery know her name? Could he have crossed paths with her grandmother all those years ago? What other shocking secrets could June’s once-stately mansion hold?

Soon Jack’s famous daughters come knocking, determined to wrestle Cassie away from the inheritance they feel is their due. Together, they all come to discover the true reasons for June’s silence about that long-ago summer, when Hollywood came to town, and June and Jack’s lives were forever altered by murder, blackmail, and betrayal. As this page-turner shifts deftly between the past and present, Cassie and her guests will be forced to reexamine their legacies, their definition of family, and what it truly means to love someone, steadfastly, across the ages.

Guilt and regret weigh heavily on Cassie Danvers. She is clearly depressed, in the opening chapter of the novel, isolating herself from the world around her, preferring to sleep and dream with the ghosts of the house rather than actually live her own life. She isn't sure what to believe when Nick comes knocking on her door with the news she may be the granddaughter of a famous movie star. While the promise of money is nice, it isn't what most drives Cassie in wanting to know the truth about the movie star, Jack Montgomery, and her grandmother. Had her grandmother been keeping secrets from her? Why hadn't her grandmother trusted her? Who was her grandmother really?

Cassie's quiet life is upended by the arrival of Jack's daughter, Tate, and her assistants Nick and Hank. Tate appears to be perfection incarnate, and yet she is demanding and clearly troubled, her own life not quite as stable as it appears on the surface. She does not want to believe the fairy tale marriage of her parents was in fact a lie. Hasn't she already lost enough?

As the women peer into the past, hoping to find answers, the reader learns the story of June and her young friend, Lindie. In 1955, the town of St. Jude, Ohio was thriving. Hollywood was in town to film a movie and June was preparing for her upcoming wedding. It would be a summer neither women could forget.

I really enjoyed this book. The atmosphere of both time periods was rich and detailed. My favorite time period in the book was whichever I was in right at the moment I was reading.

For those who love stories about old houses, Two Oaks, will appeal to you. It comes alive with its spirit and those of the ghosts longing for life to fill the halls and rooms again. I would love to have explored the house more; so much history to be found there! St. Jude itself could also be said to be a character--from its hey day to it's decline with time and age, and yet still a jewel.

Although June is the title character in the book, this is also very much Lindie's story too. She and her dad live across the street from Two Oaks. Lindie's only friend is June. She wants nothing more than for June to be happy, and she worries that June's marrying Artie Danvers will be a mistake. She's enamored by the film people and takes a job as an assistant, running errands, helping with costumes and doing whatever else is asked of her.

This book is so rich in characterization. It's hard to know how much to go into without risk of spoiling something. June loves Two Oaks and St. Jude. She has a good head on her shoulders for the most part. She has a difficult decision to make--follow her heart or listen to her head. Lindie is a bit of an outcast. She hates wearing dresses and is often the butt of jokes among other girls her age. She knows she is different, knows her love will likely remain unrequited, and yet she takes what she can get, and will do anything for her friend, June.

Cassie seems like a lost soul in the beginning, but over the course of the book she grows as a character, coming back to herself, regaining control of her life. Tate Montgomery and her entourage are pure Hollywood. Wealthy, entitled and yet fragile. I especially liked Nick who would do anything for Tate, and yet had a soft spot for Cassie. Hank would also do anything for Tate--and she does. She always seems to have everything under control. There's also the other Montgomery sister, Elda, who has less a role in the novel but is an important character nonetheless. I'm still not quite sure what to make of her even after finishing the book. She's one of those people I imagine I wouldn't like at first, but would grow on me after awhile.

June has a bit of everything from a family saga, to romance to mystery and dual narratives, taking readers from the present back to 1955. There is drama and heartache. Hope and family. I was entranced as I read. I didn't want the story to end. And yet, what a great ending it was. I honestly didn't expect to be as taken with June as I was. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

To learn more about Miranda Beverly-Whittemere and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads and Twitter.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about June on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour.  Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.