Where did September go? I feel like it was just Labor Day. What happened?
 
Okay, so we went on a cruise to Alaska for a week. Then we went to North Carolina for a weekend to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday and to meet our new niece. So I do know where September went :) It also went with these books. With the exception of the first and last "new" books I've read, they're all books that take place in England (and/or feature English characters). Now this is making me want to go back to London and have high tea at Dawaat. Crap.
 
Anyway. If you're looking for a great book, check out one of the below.
 
xoxo,
E

Looking for something to add to your reading list this "school year" (even if you're not in school!)? Try one of these books! Happy reading!

Welcome to the month of mediocre! I don't know if it's just me, or the books, or if it's both, but everything I read this month was just kind of...meh. I mean, none of these books are terrible - don't think that. I think they're worth reading once. But none of them really lived up to my expectations (or to the reviews I'd read about them).  But you should judge for yourself.
 
Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you thought in the comments!
 
xoxo,
E

Summer is officially upon us, y'all. I've read a LOT of books this month, and you'll notice most of these are young adult titles. What better to read on the beach than something easy and fun? If you've got further questions about any of these titles, don't hesitate to leave me a message in the comments section. I love talking about good books with good friends! (Taylor, we're going to have a serious Court books discussion at Seabrook ;) )
 
xoxo,
E

If you're tired of trying (and failing) to live up to impossible standards, then Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life, is for you. It's an invitation to be a part of something more meaningful and intentional than chasing the seemingly perfect life. It's an invitation to believe that a flourishing life is possible, right where you are.
 
Written as part encouragement anthem and part practical guide, Cultivate, which comes out June 27, offers wisdom from God’s Word alongside lessons Lara has learned in her garden.

Okay, I actually have a few books for you this month. Part of it is because some hold requests I had at the library came due, and I had two weeks to read the books. One of them (The Magnolia Story) had a waiting list of something like 90+ people when I got on it, and it took several months to work my way up the line, so I didn't want to miss it.

Anyway. If you're looking for a good read for the beach, pool, or park, try one of these.

xoxo,
E

I've never actually been to Wisconsin, having grown up in the southeast, but after reading The Simplicity of Cider, by Amy E. Reichert, now I kind of want to go.

Um, you might notice there wasn't a books on tap last month. There was an author on tap, and it was a godsend I had that opportunity, because, well, I didn't really finish an entire book the month of April.

Yes, I still have a pulse. I am not in the Greenville County morgue. I've just been busy...doing some creative writing. And when I write the way I have been lately, I can't make myself focus on a novel. I can't let myself be distracted by another writer's voice. As B succinctly put it, "You're in output mode, not intake."

Leave it to the engineer to get straight to the point. 

Last October, I had the privilege to read and review The Yellow Envelope, by Kim Dinan. She hooked me with this phrase:

Does this ring any bells? Sound like anyone you might, just might, know?
 
Oh, and to really ratchet up the creepy factor, she too has a husband named Brian. Look, I can't make this stuff up.

I know in this space, in this Books on Tap, I talk a lot about good books. And that's important. Writing a book is a lot of hard, hard work. When you do it well, it should be rewarded.

But what about the not-so-good books?