Sometimes bloggers kick these posts off by saying, “I had a pretty terrible reading month” and then go on to review 7-11 books. Lol. That ain’t me. I had a terrible month and, as evidence, I present to you one single book.

Hahaha.

Linking up with Steph & Jana for Show Us Your Books!

I admire those who consider 7 books a “bad month.” I’m not picking on you. I have no real excuse except general disinterest and overall exhaustion. I think some of that is starting to subside but the struggle has been real.

I’m so glad I finished this book, though, because it was an ARC from NetGalley and, as pathetic as this is, it’s my first one that I read & reviewed from there. I feel less like a poser now. Ha.

Also, I pushed hard to even finish this one- turning the final page last night.

The Darkling Bride by Laura Andersen
★★★★/5; Historical Fiction, Gothic
If nothing else, Andersen did her homework when it comes to Irish geography and folklore. This story jumps between present day, the early 90s, and the late 1880s, but predominately follows the Gallagher family. Carragh is brought in as an outside contractor and is intimately swept up in the family mystery of the Darkling Bride and, more recently, the Gallagher family murder-suicide. There were some slow and disconnected moments, but the story was engaging and I loved Aidan. How I wish the moments between he and Carragh had been a little… steamier, haha. But still, it was an enjoyable partnership. I figured out the motive for the violence before I figured out who dun it. But all that happened for me at the end anyway and unfolded beautifully. It’s a 3.5 star book for me, but I round up.
Read it? If you really enjoy a slow historical fiction gothic mystery, yes.
*ARC provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

That’s all, folks. What did you read this month? Tips on getting my reading mojo back?

*If you want to participate in the next #24in48 readathon you can now sign up! It’s happening July 20 & 21. Sign up here!