I told you guys that I get lots of reading done on vacation and the three books I read this month all happened in the one week I was on vacation with Aaron. I love to sit by a pool or beach with nothing but a book and a drink. It's one of my top favorite things to do in the world.

My books this month varied so much, but I guess that's what makes it fun. Reading different types/genres keeps us on our toes. Here's what I read:

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I have no idea how I made it through high school without reading this. Actually I do have an idea … I never read anything I was required to read in high school (sorry Mrs Kelley) and didn't even start enjoying reading until a few years ago. With the release of Go Set A Watchman arriving I wanted to read this one first before I jumped into the new book.

I of course knew the premise of this book, and have probably seen the movie, but it was mostly all new to me. I devoured this book and towards the end found myself shedding tears for the bravery throughout the pages.

If for some reason you haven't read this book, I highly recommend that you do. Highly.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Let me just start by saying that this book is DARK. It was hard to read in some places, and I know I do not want to see the movie. Now, I'll also say I could not stop reading this book. It had me hooked from the beginning and kept me wanting more each chapter.

I read another novel by this same author, Gone Girl, and loved it. It wasn't as dark as this one, but both of them seem to have this edginess to them that might not be the right fit for all readers.

I read this while on vacation and took it with me on a boat trip in the Caribbean. You know a book is good when you have to keep reading even when you are surrounded by the most beautiful water you have ever seen.

*I would for sure rate this as an R rated book for the violence and sexual talk. Do what you  need with that info.

Simply Tuesday by Emily P Freeman

I read this book right after Dark Places, so it was a breath of fresh air!

This book is about slowing down and seeing the simple things right in front of us. Our life is so fast and busy that sometimes what we need is to move slower, embrace the mundane, and live in the “tuesday's” of our lives.

This is a great book for anyone that is trying to create something. Emily encourages us to leave competition behind and embrace each other. This is a great book for anyone that feels as though life is moving too fast and furious. Emily encourages us to model Jesus and embrace the small things all around us.

I really enjoyed this book and I'm super excited that Emily will be joining me on The Happy Hour soon. We had a great time chatting about her book, our kids, and so much more fun stuff.

**If you would like to listen to any of these books, they are all on audible and when you sign up for a free trial you can get any of these for free. Free Trial: Audible**