Tag: what I’ve been reading lately

The Best Books I Read in November (2024)

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.

The Sunflower House, by Adriana Allegri. Such a good historical fiction read! I love a good World War II read, and this one did not disappoint.

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.

What I Read in November (2024)

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.

Midnights with You, by Clare Osongco. This was an okay read, but Deedee’s mom was pretty horrible, and Deedee herself was no picnic.

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.

The Sunflower House, by Adriana Allegri. Parts of this were so hard to read, but I loved the story. SO full of hope!

Heist Royale by Kayvion Lewis. Thoroughly enjoyed this heist adventure story even more than the first book.

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.

A Legend in the Baking, by Jamie Wesley. This was an okay read, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The Serpent and the Wolf, by Rebecca Robinson. I loved this romantasy! I was captured from the very first page, and can’t wait to read more.

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.

The Best Books I Read in October (2024)

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.

What I Read in October (2024)

Books Read in October: 24
Books Read for the Year:  191/215

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
The Quarry Girls, by Jess Lourey (TBR): This was an engrossing read that I found myself drawn into quickly.
The Blonde Identity, by Ally Carter (TBR): I LOVED this. So much fun.
The Other Half of the Grave, by Jeanine Frost (TBR):
Highland Spy, by Madeline Martin (TBR): I enjoyed the first half of this a lot, but the second half less so.
Full Blast, by Janet Evanovich (TBR): Meh.
Hell’s Spells, by Devon Monk (TBR, audio): Loved this!
Sealed with a Tryst, by Devon Monk (TBR, audio): These audio books are so fun!
Nobody’s Ghoul, by Devon Monk (TBR, audio): I really enjoyed this one!
Catching Echoes, by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): I liked this one. It was nice to see a totally different take on this world.

For Review:

Betrayal at Blackthorn Park, by Julia Kelly. I really love these WWII female-spy novels. I found this one a lot of fun, and stayed up late to finish reading it.

The Fabled Earth, by Kimberly Brock. This historical fiction read ended up being such a good book! I found the setting—for both timelines—fascinating, and the characters were so vivid!

I Did Something Bad, by Pyae Moe Thet War. I wasn’t too sure how this was going to be, based on teh cover blurb, but this was a fun read!

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge, by Nancy Naigle. This was a solid romance read, but nothing unexpected.

The Stone Witch of Florence, by Anna Rasche. This was a good historical fiction in a setting that I’d never read before. I found it quite interesting.

Love Is for the Birds, by Diane Owens Prettyman. The setting alone made me want to read this, but I ended up regretting that choice. I don’t recommend this at all.

The Christmas Cookie Wars, by Eliza Evans. This was a fun, enemies-to-lovers read!

For She Is Wrath, by Emily Varga. I loved the setting and culture in this read! The focus on revenge and retribution wasn’t so great for me, but the world itself was fascinating.

Fondue or Die, by Korina Moss. This was the perfect read for a fall afternoon: not too heavy, some fun moments, and let’s not forget the food and cheese talk.

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza, by Mindy Quigley. This isn’t a bad read, but the MC comes across as way too nosy for me. Yes, it’s a cozy mystery, so some of that is to be expected, but she takes it too far.

The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door, by H. G. Parry. I enjoyed this quite a bit. The world was fascinating, and I liked that friendship was the center of everything, not romance or magic.

The Debutantes, by Olivia Worley. This creeped me out quite a bit–because it was so believable!

Thieves’ Gambit, by Kayvion Lewis. This was a lot of fun! Reminded me quite a bit of Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Inheritance Games.

Streetlight People, by Charlene Thomas. I’m still not sure exactly what I think of this book, but I highly recommend it. It’s absolutely riveting and I could not put it down.

The Gardener’s Plot, by Deborah J. Benoit. This was a decent cozy mystery read, but nothing extraordinary.

Left Unfinished:

Some Like it Cold, by Elle McNicoll. This felt very juvenile and the writing just wasn’t developed.

Best Hex Ever, by Nadia El-Fassi. I’m just not the target audience for this.

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, by Lynda Cohen Loigman. Yeah, I just didn’t feel any connection to this cranky old lady.

Red in Tooth and Claw, by Lish McBride. I read about 10% of this before putting it down. It felt slow, and the setting was a little too The Handmaid’s Tale for me.

A New Lease on Death, by Olivia Blacke. I read about 15% of this before bedtime. It was okay, but I had no desire to pick it up and keep reading.

Sundays are for Writing #297

This has been a great writing week! I got in five fiction sessions. I also wrote three book reviews, A Song to Drown Rivers, by Ann Liang, How to Help a Hungry Werewolf, by Charlotte Stein, Betrayal at Blackthorn Park, by Julia Kelly . I also wrote my September reading post and my Best Books I Read in September post.

Happy writing!

The Best Books I Read in September (2024)

In September, I read 19 books, bringing my total books read for the year to 167. Of those, several of them were excellent reads.

A Song to Drown Rivers, by Ann Liang. I found this really engrossing. The culture was fascinating, and I loved the main character. I did not love the ending, but it made sense.

The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams, by Karen Hawkins. Like the rest of the Dove Pond books, this was a magical read. I love the setting, and I liked these characters, too.

The Break-Up Pact, by Emma Lord. This was such a fun read! I loved the setting, and the relationship of the characters. This is an excellent weekend or beach read.

What I Read in September (2024)

Books Read in  September: 19
Books Read for the Year:  166/215

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:

Rock Paper Scissors, by Devon Monk (audio, TBR): Loving this series!
Dime a Demon by Devon Monk (audio, TBR): These dramatized audio books are excellent!
I See Us by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): I really liked the nding of this.
Silent in the Grave, by Deanna Raybourn (TBR): Why have I not read this series before?
Cursed Luck, by Kelley Armstrong (TBR): This was a lot of fun.
The Wicked and the Dead, by Melissa Marr (TBR): I enjoyed this and want to read more.
A Secret Scottish Escape, by Julie Shackman (TBR): A good weekend read.
The Mystery of Albert E. Finch, by Callie Hutton (TBR): I wasn’t really a fan of this. It felt a bit draggy.

For Review:

The New Camelot, by Robyn Schneider. This was a quick, fun read, and although I hadn’t read the first two books in the series, I didn’t have trouble with it. Quite a liberal interpretation of Arthurian legend, so not believable, but fun nevertheless.

The Break-Up Pact, by Emma Lord. I don’t recommend reading this if you’re trying to give up sugar, a many of the scones sounded delectable, but this was absolutely a cute, fun read. I loved the banter between the characters and the small town feel. The would be a perfect beach read.

The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams, by Karen Hawkins. I’ve really enjoyed the Dove Pond books, and this was another charming read. Both timelines were engrossing, and I rooted for all the characters to work everything out for the best.

The Booklover’s Library, by Madeline Martin. This was a lovely read! World War II historical fiction is my jam, and Martin does it so well! I loved the characters, the struggles, the setting…all of it!

Casket Case, by Lauren Evans. This was very much a “meh” read for me. The MC was so passive, the insta-love wasn’t believable, and in general it just felt so slow.

The Slowest Burn, by Sarah Chamberlain. This was decent read, but the male MC kind of got on my nerves.

All I Want Is You, by Falon Ballard. I enjoyed this a lot! The tropes made it very fun.

The Lightning Bottles, by Marissa Stapley. I’d have enjoyed this more if a book set in the decade I graduated high school wasn’t marketed as historical fiction…

A Fire in the Sky, by Sophie Jordan. I enjoyed this a lot, although the last quarter of the book felt a little rushed.

A Song to Drown Rivers, by Ann Liang. I thought this was a heck of a read!\

How to Help a Hungry Werewolf, by Charlotte Stein (review forthcoming). Yeah, probably better to just pass on this. It felt a bit like juvenile, wannabe erotica, with an added layer of nonsense and the MC not having to struggle for anything.

Unfinished:

Given Our History, by Kristyn J. Miller. I only made it about 10% of the way through this before realizing I just didn’t care about the MC.

The Book Swap, by Tessa Bickers. Neither of the MC kept my interest at all.

Mysterious Ways, by Wendy Wunder. Yeah, I DNFed this at about 10%. The multiple, seemingly-unconnected POVs made this feel like absolute chaos, not to mention the author’s political views being shoehorned in all over the place. No, thanks. Not for me.

The Christmas Tree Farm, by Melody Carlson. I read about 10% of this and it wasn’t bad, but I didn’t find myself eager to get back to reading it when I had to put it down to do something else.

Before We Were Us, by Denise Hunter. I normally love Hunter’s books, but when Lauren woke up in the hospital, I just didn’t like her. I kept reading for a bit, hoping she’d show a tiny bit of likability, but that didn’t happen.

Tiny Threads, by Lilliam Rivera. I just could not get into this. The pacing felt very monotonous.

When the World Tips over, by Jandy Nelson. The POV felt very chaotic and I didn’t connect with the characters.

The Best Books I Read in August (2024)

In August, I read 23 books. Most of these were solid reads, some were “meh,” and a few were excellent.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars, by Glendy Vanderah. I liked this read that had been lingering on my TBR for far too long. It felt like a touch of magic, and the cover is gorgeous.

Cast in Atonement, by Michelle Sagara. I’ve loved all 18 books in this series, so this was a no-brainer. Kaylin’s adventures are always engrossing—and usually good for a laugh or two.

The Story Collector, by Evie Woods. I enjoyed The Lost Bookshop so much, and couldn’t wait to read this. Loved these characters–in both timelines–and had a hard time putting this down. I definitely recommend it.

What I Read in August (2024)

Books Read in August: 23
Books Read for the Year:  147/215
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
Gods and Ends, by Devon Monk (audio, TBR): I really enjoyed this on audio! Loving this series so far.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars, by Glendy Vanderah (TBR): I really enjoyed this book! It felt very magical.
Elsewhere, by Dean Koontz (TBR): The ending felt a little rushed, but I always enjoy Koontz’s work.
Awaken Me Darkly, by Gena Showalter (TBR): THe ending of this was rushed, and a little too good to be true. While I enjoyed the first 75% of this read, the ending made me decide I don’t want to read more of the series.
The Grandest Game, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (TBR): Love this new spinoff!
Artifacts, Dragons, and Other Lethal Magic, by Meghan Ciana Doidge (TBR): Another fun read in this series.

For Review:

My Favourite Mistake, by Marian Keyes. I didn’t really like the MC—she was too whiny for me—but I enjoyed the writing, the setting, and the secondary characters so much that I kept reading.

Second Tide’s the Charm, by Chandra Blumberg. This was a fun read! I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters, and the setting was a new one for me, keeping me hooked.

The Fiance Dilemma, by Elena Armas. This had me snorting with laughter! So many shenanigans! I didn’t understand why the MC was so against marriage, though.

Serenity by the Sea, by Jennifer Vido. I loved the setting here, but the transition from enemies to friends to more was so abrupt it felt choppy.

Ne’er Duke Well, by Alexandra Vasti. I enjoyed this a lot! Bright characters and a lot of spiciness.

It’s All Relative, by Rachel Magee. The MC was a bit annoying and selfish, but I enjoyed this read.

The Thirteenth Husband, by Greer Macallister. This was an interesting read, although it felt a bit plot-less.

Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch, by Codie Crowley. Entertaining in a campy way, although the MC was a bit of a…well, the title says it all.

Medici Heist, by Caitlin Schneiderhan. I enjoyed this historical fiction quite a bit. I love a good heist story, and this fit the bill perfectly.

Strange Folk, by Alli Dyer. This was solidly “meh” for me. It was pretty dark, and I really didn’t care for it much.

The Story Collector, by Evie Woods. I’ve really enjoyed this author’s work, and I loved this one, too. Both timelines were intriguing, although I wished for a slightly different ending in the historical one.

Cast in Atonement, by Michelle Sagara. As with the rest of the books in this series: I loved this.

The Winged Tiara, by J’nell Ciesielski. I really enjoyed this historical fiction/jewel heist caper. Lots of fun!

Fire and Bones, by Kathy Reichs. I’ve enjoyed most of the reads in this series, and I liked this one, too, although Tempe was a bit much in a couple of places.

Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies, by Abigail Hing Wen. This was a cute read. Felt a bit like a tween movie on the scale of believability, though. I liked the male POV. That was a nice change from a lot of YA reads.

The Housekeeper’s Secret, by Iona Grey (forthcoming). I really loved this read! I was invested in the characters from the start, and couldn’t wait to see what happened.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel, by Kate Bateman (forthcoming). This was a fun and charming romance!

Left Unfinished:

The Bookshop Sisterhood, by Michelle Lindo-Rice. These characters got old really quick.

A Great Marriage, by Frances Mayes. This was just too leisurely-paced for me.

Magical Meet Cute, by Jean Meltzer. This is the third book by this author I’ve DNFed, so I probably just need to stop trying, but I couldn’t get behind the idea of the MC being “Jewitch.”

Our Narrow Hiding Places, by Kristopher Jansma. The beginning felt very slow and I couldn’t get into it.

Till Death Do Us Part, by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn. I made it about 25% of the way before realizing 1) I was bored, and 2) I didn’t like any of the characters.

A Pair of Wings, by Carole Hopkins. I just didn’t care for the writing style in this.

The Best Books I Read in July (2024)

In July, I read 17 books, bringing my total for the year to 124 books read. Most of those were solid reads, but some were exceptional.

Winter Lost, by Patricia Briggs. Because all of the Mercy Thompson series is fantastic, and this was no exception. A bit chilly for me, though.

The Iron Vow, by Julie Kagawa. A fitting ending for the Iron Fey series. I’m a bit late to the party, but I re-read the entire series and fell in love with the world and characters all over again.

The Lost Story, by Meg Shaffer. I really enjoyed this immensely. This had Chronicles of Narnia vibes and was just a magical story in itself.