It's Monday! What Are You Reading? August 14, 2023 #IMWAYR

      

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

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Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

The One That Got Away

by Charlotte Rixon

eARC

Pub date ~ August 15

Seekers

Apocalypse in Eden, Book 2

by Ann Swann

Narrated by Matthew Hyland Cook

audiobook gifted from author

Published July 7, 2023

What I recently finished

Random Acts of Kindness

by Dete Meserve & Rachel Greco

Narrated by Karl T. Wright

audiobook gift from author

Published August 3, 2023

Read my thoughts here

The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove

(Dove Pond #3)

by Karen Hawkins

eARC

Pub date ~ August 15

Read my thoughts about book #1 and book #2

California Golden

by Melanie Benjamin

eARC

Published August 8, 2023

Read my thoughts here

A Boob's Life: How America's Obsession Shaped Me...and You

by Leslie Lehr

print from publisher

Published May 9, 2023

Takers

(Apocalypse in Eden #1)

by Ann Swann

Narrated by Matthew Hyland Cook

audiobook gift from author

Published November 2022

What I am going to read next

Nobody Told Me

(Hart's Ridge #6)

by Kay Bratt

eARC

Pub date ~ August 21

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

New Release! California Golden by Melanie Benjamin ~ My Thoughts #CaliforniaGolden

Congrats Melanie

on the recent release of

California Golden!

California Golden by Melanie Benjamin

Historical Fiction, 368 pages
Published August 8, 2023 by Delacorte Press

Two sisters navigate the turbulent, euphoric early days of California surf culture in this dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and longing for a family they never had, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator's Wife.

Southern California, 1960s: endless sunny days surfing in Malibu, followed by glittering neon nights at Whisky A-Go-Go. In an era when women are expected to be housewives, Carol Donelly is breaking the mold as a legendary female surfer struggling to compete in a male-dominated sport--and her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, bear the weight of her unconventional lifestyle.

The Donnelly sisters grow up enduring their mother's absence--physically, when she's at the beach, and emotionally, the rare times she's at home. To escape questions about Carol's whereabouts--and chase their mom's elusive affection--they cut school to spend their days in the surf. From her first time on a board, Mindy shows a natural talent, but Ginger, two years younger, feels out of place in the water.

As they grow up and their lives diverge, Mindy and Ginger's relationship ebbs and flows. Mindy finds herself swept up in celebrity, complete with beachside love affairs, parties at the Playboy Club, and USO tours to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Ginger--desperate for a community of her own--is tugged into the vibrant counterculture of drugs and cults. Through it all, their sense of duty to each other survives, as the girls are forever connected by the emotional damage they carry from their unorthodox childhood.

A gripping, emotional story set at a time when mothers were expected to be Donna Reed, not Gidget, California Golden is an unforgettable novel about three women living in a society that was shifting as tempestuously as the breaking waves.

My thoughts about California Golden ~~ 

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"The surf giveth, and the surf taketh away—thus said the Surf God every morning, noon, and night in his church, which was the universe, the planet, California, the beach, the waves. On this holy day, the surf would most definitely giveth."

When I think of historical fiction, I think of books written about wars and events that happened way far back in the past. A book written about a time that I remember is not what I would normally think of as historical fiction. That being said, California Golden is about a time in the somewhat way back past and captures the feel and culture of that time splendidly. I guess I'm just having a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around how much time I have personally spent on this rotating planet but that's my own personal problem. 

California Golden, along with being a true snapshot of the lifestyles of the 50's and 60's is also a heartwarming, yet heartbreaking, story of family dynamics and the expectations of women at that time. The storyline covers so much of what was going on at the time—women's rights and/or duties, the Vietnam war, drugs, love, and hippies—all things we shouldn't forget about. This is a great story that rolls that all up together for a very enjoyable, memorable tale. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, not only for the fabulous characters and the great story, but also for my stroll down memory lane that helped me remember what times were like back then. I highly recommend California Golden! 

I received an ARC of California Golden from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

About the author

Melanie Benjamin is the author of the New York Times bestselling novels THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE and THE AVIATOR'S WIFE, as well as the national bestseller ALICE I HAVE BEEN, and THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB, THE GIRLS IN THE PICTURE, MISTRESS OF THE RITZ and THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD. Her next novel is CALIFORNIA GOLDEN, a dazzling saga of mothers, daughters and sisters set in the vibrant surf culture of 1960s California. It will be out in August 2023.  ~ Goodreads

Connect with Melanie

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? August 7, 2023 #IMWAYR

     

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

**************************************

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

California Golden

by Melanie Benjamin

eARC

Pub date ~ August 8

A Boob's Life: How America's Obsession Shaped Me...and You

by Leslie Lehr

print from publisher

Published May 9, 2023

Takers

(Apocalypse in Eden #1)

by Ann Swann

Narrated by Matthew Hyland Cook

audiobook gift from author

Published November 2022

What I recently finished

Late Bloomer: Finding My Authentic Self at Midlife

by Melissa Giberson

print ARC

Pub date ~ August 8

What I am going to read next

The One That Got Away

by Charlotte Rixon

eARC

Pub date ~ August 15

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

*************************

Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? July 31, 2023 #IMWAYR

    

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's an opportunity to visit other blogs and to comment on their reads. And ... you can add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are! 

**************************************

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a good week. 

Happy reading!

What I'm currently reading

California Golden

by Melanie Benjamin

eARC

Pub date ~ August 8

A Boob's Life: How America's Obsession Shaped Me...and You

by Leslie Lehr

print from publisher

Published May 9, 2023

Takers

(Apocalypse in Eden #1)

by Ann Swann

Narrated by Matthew Hyland Cook

audiobook gift from author

Published November 2022

What I recently finished

Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm

by Kimberly Behre Kenna

print ARC

Pub date ~ August 3

Gone Tonight

by Sarah Pekkanen

eARC

Pub date ~ August 1

What I am going to read next

Late Bloomer: Finding My Authentic Self at Midlife

by Melissa Giberson

print ARC

Pub date ~ August 8

I really love my reading life!

What are you reading this week?

*************************

Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!