Summer is in full swing at our house. We are hitting playgrounds, splash pads, and beaches as much as possible and you know I never go anywhere without my Kindle. Summer is the perfect time to read for pleasure. Below are four new book reviews for the month of June. There are definitely books I would highly recommend this month.

This post contains affiliate links. Please see affiliate disclaimer here.

Wilde Wagers

Let me start by saying that Wilde Wagers was written by my aunt. If I hadn’t loved it, I wouldn’t have reviewed it. But I did love it! It’s a fun read with a number of twists to keep things interesting.

An actress in Victorian England becomes part of a bet amongst a group of wealthy friends. The wager is about her ability to pass herself off as the sister of a wealthy man to fool the people he is going to visit. During their trip, a murder occurs and the actress is accused of stealing jewelry.

Meanwhile, back in London, the actual sister decides to place another wager on her own ability to convince people she is the well-known actress but she gets herself into some hijinx.

I enjoyed how more about each character is gradually revealed throughout the book. It’s a very satisfying ending. Will the actress be found guilty? Who will win these wagers?

Mother Land

The first third of the Mother Land novel enraged me and I’m not exactly sure why.  I think the premise of an older person feeling entitled to do whatever they want just because of their age makes me super angry.  But as the book went on I calmed down and enjoyed it to an extent. 

A white American woman moves to India with her husband (his homeland). Soon after settling in, her mother-in-law lands on their doorstep saying she is leaving his father and is going to live with them now.  Then the mother-in-law starts changing everything in their apartment and how the couple does things. The older woman complains about the cleanliness, she wants a cook, takes their bedroom, etc.  The husband often gives in to the mother and takes her side over his wife’s. 

The wife is feeling lonely, unproductive, and pushed out of her home. Maybe having a quick wedding and moving to India wasn’t the best idea after all? But as time goes on the two women might have more in common than they think.

Topics such as cultural differences, generational differences, marital problems, traditions, expectations, and happiness are touched on in this novel.  The book definitely gets better over time but it is not a must-read in my opinion.

Moloka’i

Moloka’i is fantastic. Obviously, I have a type and that’s historical fiction.  I try to add variety into my book reviews but I can’t help it if I think these types of books are the greatest.  It’s wonderful storytelling and I learn more history (my favorite topic in school).

The book starts in the late 1800s. A young Hawaiian girl enjoys her family life until she contracts leprosy and is exiled to Molokai, the island where all the lepers of Hawaii go.  During her time there she grows up getting to spend time with her beloved uncle who was also sent to the island, his girlfriend, and the friends she makes at the girls’ home. 

Throughout the book, there are friendships, romance, historical events, and obviously a ton of death.  Rachel outlives many people on Molokai living a full life.  If you get queasy reading about medical conditions this may not be the book for you.

This book will break your heart, give you hope, and teach you about what a number of people went through being outcasts because of their medical condition.  Historical events like Hawaii becoming a state and WWII certainly play a part in this story.  The book almost made me cry (twice!). It’s long but absolutely worth it.

The Hunting Wives

The Hunting Wives is a good read but a little too crazy and unbelievable for my taste.  I would recommend it if you are looking for an easy beach or road trip book.

A woman and her young family have recently relocated to a small Texas town. She becomes slightly obsessed with a local socialite and attends a party in hopes of meeting this woman. At the party, the socialite extends an exclusive invitation to this newcomer to join her small group of friends for their weekly target shooting night.

Soon, the newbie gets in over her head with this group often coming home very late, hungover, and after making a number of poor decisions. She is about to distance herself from these women when a teenage girl, who is dating one of her new friend’s sons, is found murdered on the shooting property. Now some of the women may be suspects. Is someone out to frame her?

The twists in the story were good but I thought the ending wrapped up way too quickly, it felt rushed.

Check out my book reviews from May for more recommendations!