It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 22 August, 2022

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! It's been a busy couple weeks both at home and at work. I decided to DNF one of the books I mentioned last week while I savored another fantasy novel. Then I was surprised with book mail from Entangled Teen and it sounded to good I had to start it right away. Here's what I've been reading... 

What I Read Last Week:

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

I keep trying with this author's books but I think I'm at the point where I've tried and failed to get through 4 books by her (A Darker Shade of Magic, City of Ghosts, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, and now Gallant) so I'm giving up and writing V.E. Schwab off as an author whose books I just don't enjoy. It's not that the writing was bad, that's not at all what I'm saying. It's just that the story didn't hold me. It was predictable and a bit too young for my reading tastes. 

DNF @ Page 153

Fire Heart by Emma Hamm

I've been wanting to read this author's books for a while now and when I saw a The Bookish Box exclusive edition of it come up on PangoBooks I decided to get it since I had some PangoBucks and a credit from selling. I loved this book so much! I definitely will check out more by this author and I can't wait to read the next book.

Currently Reading: 

Fate Touched by Becky Moynihan

I started Fate Touched at work on Thursday and although I didn't have a ton of reading time, it was so easy to fall back into this series. Becky is a master storyteller and if you haven't discovered the A Touch of Vampire series yet, what are you waiting for?

The Liar's Crown by Abigail Owen

Entangled Teen surprised me with a book box for this book and it looked so good I put it at the top of my TBR list. I just finished Fire Heart last night so I'll be starting this one sometime today.  

 

Next Read

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

I've been trying to make myself wait to read this one until closer to the beginning of September but I can't wait any longer! The ARC has been sitting on my shelf begging to be read. 

*** 

 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 8 August, 2022

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! I was able to catch up on a lot of reading this past week during down times at work and I'm on track to get back to my August TBR Hopefuls. I hope your month is off to a good start!

What I Read Last Week: 

My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey

I finished this one last Monday and I really loved it. It was high on spice and humorous in spots, although I thought the murder mystery got a little lost with all the sexy times and was a bit thrown together in the end. I'm wondering now if Jude will get his own book. I kind of hope so?

Chaos & Carnage by Stacey Rourke

This was a quick read, which I was expecting. I finished it in about an hour at work. I admit, I liked the first three books in this series that focused on Tempest more. I'm still kind of iffy on Malaria as a main character. 

The Dark One by Nikki St. Crowe

The first book on my August TBR. I read this one during one of my overnight shifts at work and now I can't wait for the 3rd book to come out in September! I loved seeing more of this version of Neverland and all of the sexy times, but I really want some chapters in Vane's perspective. I hope we get some in the third book. We also learn more about Cherry in this book (ugh, I hate her!!) and we get to meet Captain Hook!

Currently Reading: 

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

I started this one on Thursday night and I really liked the way it's written at first and can see why it has Crimson Peak comps. The main character seems a little more Middle-Grade age appropriate so far than what I was expecting. And I'm finding it to be such a slow read that I'm not really sure I want to finish it. I feel like I know where the story is going but it's taking so achingly long to get there. It literally took me 6 hours to read 70 pages at work the other night. Normally I could have either finished a book or almost finished a book in that time. 

 

Next Read

Fate Touched by Becky Moynihan

Fate Touched has been on my TBR since I finished reading Curse Touched a few months ago. I got my copy in June and was going to read it while I was in Deadwood but I didn't have much reading time. It's about time I see how this trilogy ends!! 

*** 

 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 1 August 2022

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! I didn't have much reading time this past week because I had a ton of paperwork and meetings to do for work. I'm hoping to catch up more this week with a few short ebooks. 

What I Read Last Week: 

My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey

(Picture Below)

I only had about 100 pages left last week but, like I said, I barely had any reading time. I'm down to about 50 pages now. 

Currently Reading: 

My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey

I'm hopefully going to finish this one by the end of my work shift today. I love the story though, it's funny, it's spicy, and I've been savoring it. A few scenes I've even had to refrain from "squeeing" out loud at work. 😆

Next Read

Chaos & Carnage by Stacey Rourke

My pick for last week, Gallant, is still on my immediate TBR but I'm going to take a break with these books because I know that I'll breeze through both Chaos & Carnage (which is bound to be a 45 minute read) and The Dark One (which is a dark, sexy retelling I'm bound to devour.)

*** 

 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 25 July 2022

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! I had a decent reading week last week. I worked last Monday night so I had six solid hours of reading and was almost able to finish Surviving Savannah. I came home, slept, and then finished listening to the audiobook. That's what I love about nightshifts, usually I can spend 80% of my shift reading. 

What I Read Last Week: 

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

Mini Review:

This book was beautifully written, painstakingly researched, and so moving. When I first looked up this book, I had never heard of the Pulaski disaster but I put it on my TBR because I'm planning a trip to Savannah in the next year and love to get the feel for places I'm visiting through books. Now? Now I'm completely obsessed with the fascinating, horrific tale of the doomed steamship, Pulaski. Full Review here.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Currently Reading:

The City of Dusk by Tara Sim

I was able to make about 30 pages process in The City of Dusk last week. I'm thinking of getting the audiobook edition to see if I can move through it quicker. 

My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey

I started reading this one on Thursday and I'm almost finished with it. It's as spicy as I was expecting from reading It Happened One Summer and Hook, Line, and Sinker. I'm also really enjoying the mystery aspect of it. Did I mention the female main character is named Taylor? (like me!)

Next Read

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

I've been wanting to read this one since it came out. I'm a bit nervous when a book comps itself to Crimson Peak (my favorite movie) but I'm hoping to really enjoy this one. 

I have a few upcoming September ARCS to read but I'll focus on those next week.  

*** 

 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? - 18 July 2022

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! After 10 months away from book blogging I'm slowly getting back into things. July has been a stressful month for me so far so I'm not reading as much as I'd like but here are a few books I've read this month, what I'm currently reading, and what I'd like to read next. 

What I Read Last Week: 

Never Coming Home by Kate Williams

Mini Review:

I will forever read any retelling of “And Then There Were None!” This one was one of my favorite takes on it and impossible to put down. Ten influencers are lured to an island, which really connects the story to today’s world. I found myself rooting for certain characters although I knew they had done awful things. Others I was happy to see go 😆 I will definitely reread this one in the future.  

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Boogeyman Booty Call by Harpie Alexa

This book was recommended to me on KU based on other books I have read. And I'm left wondering what, oh what, did I read that I deserved to plod through this book. It was 117 pages, a fast-read for sure, but a lot weirder than what I usually go for in smut reads. 

Currently Reading:

City of Dusk by Tara Sim

I started reading this one before I went on vacation last month and set it aside because I didn't want to drag this massive doorstopper all the way to Deadwood with me. I'm about 100 pages in and I have to get back into it one of these days. 

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

My library loan for this one finally came in. I've been wanting to read Surviving Savannah for a couple months now. So far the storytelling is fantastic. It follows dual timelines with Lilly Forsyth, a passenger aboard the steamboat Pulaski  in 1838 and Everly Winthrop in 2018 Savannah as she curates an exhibit of the Pulaski not long after the wreckage was found. I'm loving it so far, but I'm also kind of savoring the story and reading slow. 

Next Read

My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey

I was going to start My Killer Vacation last weekend but then my hold on Surviving Savannah came in so this one is just sitting on my bedside table until I finish Surviving Savannah. I'm hoping to start it soon. 

*** 

 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 7 June 2021

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! I hope you had a great first week of June! We got the screens on our windows last Wednesday so I've been enjoying the breeze coming in while I read before bed. This past weekend was a scorcher so the open window and the fan felt wonderful. 

What I Read Last Week: 

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

I have no idea why but I just couldn't get into this book. I think it might have something to do with my dislike of the prologue. Maybe I should have skipped over it... 

The Wicked Aftermath by Melissa Foster

I really, really loved this book! My review goes up Friday as part of the release week blitz and review tour! 

Drive Me Wild by Melanie Harlow

I think I found a new auto-buy author! This book was such a great, fast read and the sexy scenes... wow!  

Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen

As you may be able to tell, The Wicked Aftermath spurred a contemporary romance binge, and I've been meaning to actually read some of the books I've put on my kindle this year. I wasn't sure after reading and loving The Wicked Aftermath and Drive Me Wild that I would love this book as much but once I got into it I couldn't put it down!

Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

I finished my reread of Escaping from Houdini on Saturday. Unlike Kingdom of the Wicked, I can just get swept away with this series and the mystery unfolding. This is still my least favorite of the series because of the way Audrey Rose treats Thomas. I know she claimed it was something to do with a sleight of hand but to me it was just so unfair.

Flipcup by Kim Hartfield

I signed up for Kindle Unlimited because I was offered two months free, which works out because I have a lot of ebooks that are KU that I've been wanting to read. Flipcup was a perfect choice for pride month that really fell flat for me. I'm still thinking about how I want to review it but I didn't enjoy it and probably won't read anything else by this author.

Currently Reading:

Make Me Yours by Melanie Harlow

I obviously loved the first book in this series (Drive Me Wild, mentioned above) and I couldn't wait to read the next book. I'm 30% in and just as hooked as I was with the first book. 

Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco

I'm starting my re-read of Capturing the Devil today. 

Next Read

Tentative Second Week of June TBR

More Info:

Call Me Crazy by Melanie Harlow

*** 

 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 24 May 2021

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Happy Monday Bookdragons! We're nearing the end of May! I'm enjoying the warmer weather but hoping it will get sunnier out soon so I can go out and enjoy it. In the meantime I'm enjoying staying in and reading. I didn't read as much last week but I did still finish an audiobook and an ARC that I reviewed yesterday.

What I Read Last Week: 

Fresh Brewed Murder by Emmeline Duncan

I finished listening to Fresh Brewed Murder at the beginning of last week and I really enjoyed it. I don't know when the next book comes out but I already know it's an auto-buy for me!

No Way Out by Fern Michaels

This was a DNF book for me. I just didn't enjoy the way it was written and couldn't get past the first few chapters. 

He'll Be Waiting by Liz Alterman

This was an ARC read for me. I reviewed it yesterday on the blog and I really enjoyed it. I almost didn't give it a chance because whoever formatted the ARC did a poor job - the words "uncorrected galley, no distribution or sale" appeared randomly on each page - sometimes in the middle of a paragraph and there were no hard breaks between chapters. But the story itself was great. More than a thriller it was a heartbreaking story of grief and learning to move on. 

Currently Reading:

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

I'm giving this book another chance tonight. I tried reading it once before and couldn't get into it, but at that point I wasn't in a fantasy mood. 

Next Read

Corpse Queen by Stacey Rourke

I just got this book recently and it sounds so good that I can't put off reading it any longer. 

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 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?