Friday Ramble

Somehow we find ourselves at the end of July - which is also the end of Summer Reading (?!) - and over halfway through the year. Have you been as surprised by the rapid progression of time as I have? How about a little Friday Ramble as we collectively catch our breath and brace ourselves for all that August holds ...

Reading Outside My Zone
Lately I've been reading outside of my "zone" - and, believe it or not, enjoying those reads! What have I been reading? Mysteries. I know, I know. Not nearly as shocking as you suspected, but for me, to read mystery after mystery is a big change. I've avoided them, largely, because I tend to figure out whodunnit early on and get bored. I did stick with the Hannah Swenson mysteries even when I cracked the cases because I love the small town setting and colorful characters. This year I'm stretching even further (thanks to some helpful nudging by a friend who reads across the the genre board). Some highlights:

• The Guest List (Lucy Foley) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  My first novel by Lucy Foley, but definitely not my last. I loved the format/chronology of the storytelling, and the multiple point(s) of view (POV) really added to the ambience and experience.
• Roanoke Ridge (J.J. Dupuis) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This was even more "outside my range" than the others in this list: It's a Bigfoot book. But it's also so much more, and the first in a new series that I'll be keeping an eye on. (In fact, I've just started reading the second book: Lake Crescent).
• Wild Women and the Blues (Denny S. Bryce) ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
  A mystery wrapped in historical fiction? Perfect. This one unfolded, layer after layer, as the dual narratives (one "present day" and one during Prohibition) worked together to reveal a twist I did not see coming!
• One by One (Ruth Ware) ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
  Another brand new author, and it might have been a 5-star read if I had not read it immediately after Lucy Foley's The Hunting Party. (Though very different, the two felt similar when read back to back - and it distracted me a little). This has a very atmospheric "Agatha Christie vibe" and kept me reading. I believe I knocked it out in 3 days? It was intense.
• A Deadly Inside Scoop (Abby Collette) ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
  So many new series to discover! This is another first book, and I was enchanted by the small town charm and the colorful characters. The foodie vibes (ice cream parlor! family chef nights!) had my stomach growling, and I look forward to seeing what mischief is still to come. The second book, A Game of Cones, is checked out and waiting for me to dive in to ASAP.
• The Last Thing He Told Me (Laura Dave) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  This was an incredible read. The format of the storytelling is perfection - with the flashbacks memories, gradually stepping back further in time, of seemingly "nothing" moments that gain whole new meaning in light of current events. I devoured this one, and gotta admit: it's worth the hype. Now to explore Dave's backlist ...

The Olympics
I'm not getting to watch quite as much as I'd like - those time zone differences make it rough, especially when you have to work in the morning! But I'm catching highlights and following results the best I can. I love the Olympics (actually the Winter Games are my favorite), the coming together to compete on such a stage. 
Are you watching? What's your favorite sport? 

Currently Reading:
Lake Crescent (J.J. Dupuis) as an ebook and The Hating Game (Sally Thorne) in paperback.

Hope you're all staying cool, safe, and healthy!
And if you've read any great books, let us know!