The Book Bit: March 2018 Ed.

I don't know about you guys, but the weather this month has been nothing short of depressing. And cold. Growing up in Oklahoma, I figured I had ample experience with weather roulette, but Nebraska (did I mention we moved to Nebraska?!) has a whole other thing going on. The weather here is bananas. It's cold, rainy, snowing, windy, then maybe it will be sunny, for like, an hour. Possibly. I don't feel like I'm asking for much over here! I just want to take the kids to the park (they are driving me nuts!) or be able to sit on the front porch and read a book, you know, regular things one could do in the SPRINGTIME! *deep breath* Moving on.

This month has been crazy busy for us because moving never takes just a few days of your time, but I put away two exceptional books. Both of which are the first books of their series. I know! As if I don't already have at least ten series going right now, but I'm a sucker for them. And, in my defense, one of them was a book club selection, so I had no control. Nevertheless, both outstanding books.



"If I Run"- Terri Blackstock

This book hooked me right from the beginning, and it was a book I bought at a book sale not long ago. I finally dug all my books out of their boxes, spotted this one, and decided to read it this month. I mean, I didn't even have a library card yet, so my personal collection was all I had at hand. It did not disappoint. We meet Casey Cox at the scene of a crime, but it isn't just any crime scene; it's the scene of her best friend's murder. Her prints are everywhere, she has no alibi, and she's harboring a past secret that she thinks is the reason she's being framed for murder. Casey runs. Dylan Roberts is a young war veteran with a severe case of PTSD. Unable to continue being a soldier and having trouble landing work in his current state, he gets lucky when he gets hired as a private investigator to help find Casey. As Dylan digs deeper into Casey's past and unravels the secrets of her life, there are aspects of the murder that don't add up, and Dylan begins to wonder if Casey is innocent. This book is one wild ride, and you will have no trouble reading it in one sitting. I got deeply invested in each of these characters, and I had to finish it as fast as possible. The dynamic between Casey and Dylan is fantastic and the anticipation never stops. I'm itching to start the next one.



"The Cuckoo's Calling"- Robert Galbraith

Wow. This was the book club selection this month (shout out to Jessie for picking a kickass book!), and it delivered big time! Also a murder mystery and also the first of a series, I had no trouble reading this book in a few days time. It's one of those books that will keep you up late telling yourself, "Just one more chapter." It's fantastic! The most popular and beautiful model in London shows up dead one night, by all appearances a suicide off her top floor balcony. No one could explain it, she seemed so happy, at the height of her career, but there was no evidence of foul play. The case was closed, and Lula's friends and family were left without closure. Cormoran Strike is trying to make ends meet being a private investigator. He's broken up with his girlfriend, again, and is currently living in his office. The debt collectors are calling, and he's down to his last client. When he gets asked to investigate the Lula Landry death, he almost feels bad about taking the money. His experience in the military has taught him a lot about suicides, and usually, they are exactly how they look; he doesn't want to give anyone false hope. But even just some cursory glances at the case file and a few interviews have Strike scratching his head. It doesn't take long for him to start believing Lula didn't kill herself; she was murdered. Joined by his ever clever secretary, (dare I say sidekick?) Robin, the pair begin to unravel the mystery that is Lula Landry's death. This was such a hit for me; I loved every page of it. Also, in case you're not sold on reading it, Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling. That's right! Regardless of that, the book is fantastic, and I really hope you read it.


That's all I have for you this month! I hope everyone had a lovely Easter and not too many pranks for April Fools. Do you have some recommendations for me? Sometimes I feel like I get stuck in my little reading ruts, so suggestions are always welcome! The lineup for April is going to be excellent; I can already feel it. See you guys soon. Happy Spring!