In February, I read 23 books, bringing my total for the year to 42 books read. Several of those were really excellent reads.
The Lost Passenger, by Frances Quinn. I really enjoyed this historical fiction read about a woman in a loveless marriage who loses everyone but her small son when The Titanic sinks, and she uses the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her son. Such a good read!
Holy Terrors, by Margaret Owen. I loved Vanya’s voice and snark in this. Her wry observations on life and the people around her made this such a great read.
The Wandering Season by Amie K. Runyan. I love a good travel novel and I love Ireland. Combine that with the foodie aspect of this story, and this was definitely a winner for me.
Books Read in February: 23 Books Read for the Year: 42/225
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books: Onyx Storm, by Rebecca Yarros (TBR, audio): This series on audio is absolutely enthralling. Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo (TBR, audio): I really enjoyed this! Already got the second one on audio, too. The Answer is No, by Fredrik Backman (TBR): This short story really made me laugh. I love Backman’s quirky characters. The King of Koraha, by Maria V. Snyder (TBR): I generally love Snyder’s books, but this trilogy wasn’t as good to me. Misfits, Gemstone, and Other Shattered Magic, by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): That ending, though. Hearing God, by Dallas Willard (TBR), spiritual: Excellent read. Dance of a Burning Sea, by E.J. Mellow (TBR): Still loving this trilogy. Deeper than the Dead, by Debra Webb (TBR): I liked this first book in a series, and pre-ordered the second. The Dark Enquiry, by Deanna Raybourn (TBR): I think I’m done reading this. The MC is really getting on my nerves. Under the Magnolias, by T.I. Lowe (TBR): LOVED this.
For Review:
A Circle of Uncommon Witches, by Paige Crutcher. This was just a meh read for me. It felt pretty done to be, like I’d heard it all before, and it was pretty predictable.
The Lost Passenger, by Frances Quinn. I really loved this read! The MC was great, strong and determined, and I loved her tenacity as she learned to be a whole new person.
Southern by Design, by Grace Helena Walz. Loved this Southern fiction read! Charleston itself was a big character in the novel, and I’d love to visit. The characters were great, although the mother was TERRIBLE.
Spring Fling, by Annie England Noblin (forthcoming). This was a cute small-town, second-chance romance. All the characters were great–so many quirky people! And the raccoon…
The Filling Station, by Vanessa Miller (review forthcoming). It was terrible to read about this horrific event, but the book itself was a good read, although I kept getting the two sisters mixed up.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage, by Charlotte Stein (review forthcoming). This was a meh read. It came across as wanna-be porn and just did not work for me.
Mother of Rome, by Lauren J. A. Bear (review forthcoming). I am ashamed to say I went into this expecting to DNF if because most mythology re-tellings I’ve read have been horribly slow. Instead, I binge-read the entire thing in one sitting, and I highly recommend it.
The Bane Witch, by Ava Morgyn (review forthcoming). This was a little slow for me at the beginning, but it soon drew me in. If found it kind of fascinating, and king of horrifying, but the premise was unique and I enjoyed Piers.
His Mortal Demise, by Vanessa Le (review forthcoming). I enjoyed this second book in this duology. There dual POVs/dual-timeline actually worked really well.
The Deathly Grimm, by Kathryn Purdie (review forthcoming). A solid fantasy read, although who the murderer was really wasn’t much of a surprise.
Holy Terrors, by Margaret Owen (review forthcoming). The sheer level of snark in this alone made this read a winner! I didn’t have a clue who the murderer was, but I enjoyed every page of this read.
The Wandering Season, by Aimie K. Runyan (review forthcoming). I do love a good travel/finding yourself novel, and that’s what this was, combined with a lot of great foodie things.
Love, The Duke, by Amelia Grey (review forthcoming). This was just a meh read for me, as both MCs were obstinate and unwilling to see the other’s POV.
Left Unfinished:
All the Hidden Monsters, by Amie Jordan. I was intrigued by the premise of this, but the execution just didn’t work for me. The characters bored me, and I just couldn’t stay interested enough to keep reading.
True Life in Uncanny Valley, by Deb Caletti. This just did not capture my attention. The whole spying-on-her-famous-father thing didn’t work for me, because, really? Someone this well-known and wealthy would not have a house you could just sit there and look into for hours. Not believable.
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, by Gregory Maguire. This was altogether to disjointed and hard-to-follow for me. I didn’t like the writing style at all.
Song of the Forever Rains, by E.J. Mellow. I loved the cultures here, and the sisters and their relationship were just so much fun! Looking forward to reading the next one.
The Dressmakers of London, by Julia Kelly (my review forthcoming closer to pub day). It’s Julie Kelly, so you know it’s going to be a good read, but I loved this! I enjoyed both sisters’ POVs, and was engrossed in both of their lives and how they mended things between them.
Books Read in January: 19 Books Read for the Year: 19/225
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
Song of the Forever Rains, by E.J. Mellow (TBR): I ended up binge-reading this, and really enjoyed the characters. Looking forward to the next one. Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn (TBR): I’m still enjoying this series, but Julia got on my nerves a little bit in this one. Champagne, Misfits, and Other Shady Magic, by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): The City of Zirdai, by Maria V. Snyder (TBR): Praying Upside Down, by Kelly O’Dell Stanley (spiritual, TBR): I really enjoyed this! Leaders Eat Last, by Simon Sinek (TBR): This had some interesting stuff in it. The Dryad Storm, by Laurie Forest (TBR): I’ve been waiting for this to come out for like a year and a half. Maybe that break gave me time to see it with fresh eyes, because WHY IS EVERYTHING HYPHENATED?! I feel like the author just flung random words together, sticking them together with a little dash, and it felt like lazy writing, honestly. This ended up being a disappointing read, especially considering the delayed release.
For Review:
Capitana, by Cassandra James (review forthcoming). Ximenia wasn’t my favorite character ever, but I enjoyed this read a lot.
All Better Now, by Neal Shusterman (review forthcoming).. This was not a light and fluffy read. It really showed how truly terrible some human beings can be.
Last Twilight in Paris, by Pam Jenoff (review forthcoming). I enjoyed both characters/timelines in this story–and was so relieved at the ending.
See How They Hide, by Allison Brennan. Reading about cults creeps me out, and this book did, too. I’ve enjoyed all the Quinn & Costa books, and this one was good, too.
A Better Nightmare, by Megan Freeman (review forthcoming). This was an okay read, but there weren’t really any surprises in it.The MC felt very passive throughout, and I wouldn’t read more.l
Get Lost with You, by Sophie Sullivan (review forthcoming). This was another okay read. I liked the setting and the secondary characters, but it felt like there was no conflict for the MCs to overcome to end up together.
The Queens of Crime, by Marie Benedict (review forthcoming). Feeling a bit like a broken record, but this was an okay read. The POV felt a little distant, but it was neat to see the famous women writers as characters in this murder mystery.
The Perfect Rom-Com, by Melissa Ferguson (review forthcoming). I enjoyed this read a lot, but it’s not a rom-com. I wouldn’t even classify it as a romance. Great storyline, though.
The Dressmakers of London, by Julia Kelly (review forthcoming). I love Kelly’s historical fiction, and I really enjoyed this one! Loved both sisters and their journeys and found it difficult to put this down.
Never Planned on You, by Lindsay Hameroff (review forthcoming). I liked this, except for the part where the MC thought it was okay to date a guy with a fiance (even if it turned out to be a marriage of convenience). Not okay with that.
I Am the Cage, by Allison Sweet Grant (review forthcoming). Excellent writing here, especially the poetry, but I enjoyed it far more once the MC stopped being passive about her past and life.
Just Because:
This is the Way (Gateway Publishing). My church’s January devotional.
Left Unfinished:
This Will Be Fun, by E.B. Asher. This felt like a terrible farce and it gave me a headache.
In December, I finished 25 books, bringing my total for the year to 238 books. Of those, several were just okay, most were good, and a few were excellent.
The Stolen Queen, by Fiona Davis. I thoroughly enjoyed both timelines of this archeological/finding yourself novel, and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
A Language of Dragons, by S. F. Williamson. The dragon/human politics and dynamics were fascinating to me, and the culture just kept getting more interesting the further I read. The MC was completely clueless about reality at the beginning, but soon got a clue or two.
Books Read in December: 25 Books Read for the Year: 238/215
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books: The Blue Parakeet, by Scott McKnight (audio, TBR): Audio wasn’t the best choice for me with this. The Hexed and the Hunted, by Melissa Marr (TBR): I enjoyed this read. Silent on the Moor, by Deanna Rayburn (TBR): Still loving this series! Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, by Joya Goffney (TBR): I DNFed this very quickly, because the MC wasn’t a likable person, and there wasn’t any reason for so much animosity between her and the main guy character. Just ugly to each other. Totally Folked, by Penny Reid (TBR): This was a solid read. I Heard God Laugh, by Matthew Kelly (TBR): I enjoyed this a lot! Unleashing Echoes, by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): Quite an ending for this trilogy. The Eyes of Tamburah, by Maria V. Snyder (TBR): Loved the world/setting of this. For Review:
The Last Fashion House in Paris, by Renee Ryan. I do love WWII historical fiction, and I really enjoyed this. Even the fashion parts were fascinating!
The Stolen Queen, by Fiona Davis (review forthcoming). I enjoyed this a lot! Both timelines were fascinating.
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange (review forthcoming). This should have felt slow, but it didn’t. Instead, I was drawn into the characters’ lives and histories from the very first page.
A Language of Dragons, by S. F. Williamson (review forthcoming). Really enjoyed this military/alternate history fantasy adventure.
Work in Progress, by Kat Mackenzie (review forthcoming). The MC was really a terrible person for a long time–for no discernible reason–but she eventually improved.
Earl Crush, by Alexandra Vasti (review forthcoming). This was a sweet, fun read, perfect for a weekend or a long afternoon.
Only in Your Dreams, by Ellie K Wilde (review forthcoming). This steamy second-chance romance was a solid read.
Brewing Up a Bad Boy, by Katherine Garbera (review forthcoming). Don’t bother. This was solidly in the meh category, and needed another in-depth editing pass to make it consistent.
Here Beside the Rising Tide, by Emily Jane (review forthcoming). I can’t say that I recommend this. It was like a bad B-rate movie.
A Sea of Unspoken Things, by Adrienne Young (review forthcoming). This was a wonderfully-written story, and I read it straight through in one sitting.
Just Because:
Blessed Endings, Beautiful Beginnings, by Nicki Koziark. The Tony Evans Study Bible My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers God is with You Every Day, by Max Lucado. Bedtime Blessings, by Charles Swindoll Champagne and Commitments, by Melissa Marr. I enjoyed this novella. Lowcountry Lost, by T.I. Lowe. Sweet Southern fiction.
Left Unfinished: Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, by Joya Goffney (TBR): I DNFed this very quickly, because the MC wasn’t a likable person, and there wasn’t any reason for so much animosity between her and the main guy character. Just ugly to each other.
Ex Marks the Spot, by Gloria Chao. I didn’t make it very far in this, because the characters just didn’t interest me, and the animosity between Gemma and Xander just seemed to be pointless.
All the Water in the World, by Erin Caffall. I made it about 20% of the way into this, but it felt so slow. My attention completely wandered.
The Lost House, by Melissa Larsen. I read over a third of this, but it just dragged, and the MC wasn’t very likable to me.
She Doesn’t Have a Clue, by Jenny Elder Moke. Is it bad that I read 12% of this, and didn’t realize it was a romcom? Kate just seemed like a bumbling idiot, and things kept slipping side3ways into her MC’s POV with no warning. If found this jarring and off-putting.
In November, I read 20 books, bringing my total for the year to 214 (according to Goodreads. My count in my reading list is 217, but I can’t figure out where the discrepancy is, and I already gave myself a headache with this). I also DNFed three books (not bad). Of those 20 books, several were excellent reads.
The Keeper, by Charles Martin (Review coming closer to publishing date in April 2025). Yes, Charles Martin is my favorite author. And yes, the Murphy Shepherd books are my favorite of all of his. That doesn’t stop this from being a fantastic read! I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down.
A Monsoon Rising, by Thea Guanzon (review forthcoming). Once I started reading this, that was it. I couldn’t put it down. Tons of action and intrigue, secrets, tension, and such a slow burn.
Books Read in November: 20 Books Read for the Year: 214/215
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
Tangled Echoes, by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): Another solid read in this series.
Now or Never, by Janet Evanovich (TBR): I’ve been dying to read this, since the cliffhanger ending of last year’s book. Did Stephanie’s choice surprise me? No. Sadly. Was I disappointed? ABSOLUTELY.
Silent in the Sanctuary, by Deanna Raybourne (TBR): I’m really enjoying these mysteries!
The Kiss and the Killers, by Melissa Marr (TBR): I like the mythos of these books, so I’ll probably continue to read.
Brute of all Evil, by Devon Monk (TBR, audio): This was a lovely ending to this series! (I assume).
High Jinx, by Kelley Armstrong (TBR): This was a fun duology to read!
For Review:
The Keeper, by Charles Martin (review forthcoming). I don’t have the words to tell you how excited I was to read this novel, my favorite series by my favorite author. And it DID NOT disappoint.
Rules for Camouflage, by Kirstin Cronn-Mills. Not going to lie, the octopus tentacles on the cover were what caught my eye, because I love octopi! And Aretha was my favorite character in this novel, but this was a solid YA read.
All’s Fair in Love and Treachery, by Celeste Connally. This was a solid read, although the MC really flipped and instantly beloved the worst of the man she loved, without a shred of evidence to back it up, which wasn’t super believable to me.
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins, by P. Djèlí Clark. I liked the characters and the world here quite a bit, except the patois the gods used near the end. That was almost unintelligible to me and made that pivotal scene almost incomprehensible.
On Heaven’s Hill, by Kim Heacox. I enjoyed this slower-paced read, but I could have done without the politics and the author’s negative view of anyone religious.
What the Woods Took, by Courtney Gould (review forthcoming). This was pretty creepy. The MC was not the most likeable for me, but the secondary characters were great.
Booked for Murder, by P. J. Nelson. This didn’t really work for me. The MC kept changing her mind every three seconds, and her actions did not make sense to me.
A Monsoon Rising, by Thea Guanzon (review forthcoming). I’m still loving this world and these characters! The enemies-to-lovers aspect is so well done, and I was never sur what was going to happen next!
Just Because:
Demon’s Bluff, by Kim Harrison. This is one of…two series that I buy in hardback on release day, so I’m not sure how I missed this, but I loved it, as I have all the other books in this series. Loved the surprise return of one of the characters from early on in the series.
Left Unfinished:
A Forty Something Fury, by Paige Andrews and Bryon Cahill. I just wasn’t impressed with the writing style.
Arthur the Soldier, by Chris Gidlow. The pacing felt very slow in this, and my attention kept wandering.
Not in My Book, by Katie Holt. Rosie was so bitchy–to a ridiculous extreme–that it destroyed any interest I had in reading more.
In October, I read 24 books, bringing my total for the year to 191 books read. Most of those were solid reads, but a few were really excellent.
Betrayal at Blackthorn Park, by Julia Kelly I’ve loved most of Julia Kelly’s books, but I’m really liking the Evelyn Redfern series. Excellent writing, vibrant characters, and enough mystery to keep me hooked.
The Blonde Identity, by Ally Carter. I LOVED this. I was hooked from the opening sentences and could easily have binge-read it in one sitting. Lots of action, steamy flirting, and the banter was fantastic.
Streetlight People, by Charlene Thomas. I enjoyed this so much, but I’m still not quite sure what to make of it. The friendships were so well-done and believable I wanted to hang out with these people! I had no clue what was going on with the candies—or what was going to happen—but I was desperate to find out.
Tomorrow Is Another Day 