So many words. So little time.
Tag: what I’ve been reading lately
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 Metempsychosis Collection, by Nicholas Conley. I don’t generally read short story collections, but these were all engaging and unique, and I enjoyed reading them.
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 Metempsychosis Collection, by Nicholas Conley. I don’t usually read scifi or short story collections, but these tales were al unique and kept me engaged. This was a good read!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Tomorrow Is Another Day 