February and March (Months in Review 2016)

Whew!  Here we are already in the beginning days of April and I haven't even written up my monthly recap for February.  Looks like I am going to do a two for one deal with this post and catch you up with both months.  February was a decent month of reading, it wasn't my best month but it also wasn't my worst either.  March on the other hand was an AMAZING month in books!!  Wow, wow, wow!  I managed to read a large number of books and some of them were truly outstanding.  I don't think there was a bad one of the bunch and I'm six books ahead on my Goodread's goal for the year.  I have no complaints at all.  Life is about to get really busy around here though so fair warning if my blogging presence is a bit spotty here and there. We have soccer for the two "littles" who really aren't so little anymore and then baseball/softball for all three.  Add in spring training for football with my oldest and everything else that goes into our daily life and it is exhausting just to think about.  But a lot of fun as well so I won't complain one bit.

I'm getting off track though.  Here are the books that I finished in February:

• The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein
• The Sweetest Chase by Sharla Lovelace
• Find Her by Lisa Gardner
• Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle
• The Widow by Fiona Barton
• Purity in Death by J.D. Robb 
• Drive by Sidney Bristol 

Really when I think back that is a pretty decent month of reading.  I didn't have a bad one in the bunch but my favorite of the month is also really easy for me to pick out.  That is Find Me by Lisa Gardner which I found to be a very thrilling read (and one that I won't forget about any time soon)!

March was an even better month of reading if you can believe that.  I managed to finish ten books (WOW) and loved them all.  Here is what I finished in March:

• The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter
• Cinco de Mayhem by Ann Myers
• Portrait in Death by J.D. Robb
• Cuff Me by Lauren Layne
• Rage Against the Dying by Becky Masterman
• The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter
• Pop Goes the Weasel by M.J. Arlidge
• Silenced in the Surf by Kate Dyer-Seeley
• A Scandalous Proposal by Kasey Michaels
• It Takes One by Kate Kessler

Oh my goodness! I had some seriously amazing reading this past month.  I have a three way tie for my favorite book of the month (I told you that it was a great month).  I am declaring March to be the month of suspense as all three of my favorites were mysteries and thrilling reads.  They were Rage Against the Dying, Pop Goes the Weasel, and It Takes One.  Honestly there is a very good chance that all of these books may make my top reads list for the year.  Crazy but that is how much I loved them all!

I've gotten a lot of great reading finished but now I really need to focus on catching up on some of these reviews.  I'm working on coming up with a pile of books to read in April as well.  I'm thinking on focusing mostly on books on my ereader.  With all of the practices that I will be going to this month I am sure that I will find plenty of reading time in the evenings.  Now that the weather is changing and spring is here I am also planning on getting outside and exercising more.  That is my goal at least!

Tell me, what was your favorite read from last month? 

January Reading Recap (2016)

We are already at the end of January which is crazy to think about.  I'm glad though as we are that much closer to spring which I am really looking forward to this year.  I think it is the lack of snow that has me not as thrilled about winter as I usually am.  If it must be cold (in my opinion) then there really needs to be snow on the ground.  Overall though it has been a pretty good month.  Lots and lots of reading happened.  I worked out for the first part of the month (let's not talk about the second half).  I managed to post quite consistently this month although I am still ridiculously behind on replying to comments.  In a nutshell, it was a pretty darn good beginning to the new year and I can't complain.

I was a reading machine this past month and managed to finish ten books.  Ten books!  Who is this girl?  I attribute most of my reading to focusing on staying off the internet more in the evenings.  It is crazy how much time I waste just on Facebook and Twitter combined.  Making a point to stay off of those sites and allowing myself to just enjoy my current read meant I finished a fabulous number of books.  I should probably do this all of the time.  Ha!  I'm not as caught up with reviews as I would like to be but I am scheduling posts two weeks in advance or more which NEVER happens.  I'm loving it although once the sports schedules kick back in for all of the kiddos I'm sure everything will go back to normal (and I will be behind once again).  Here are the books that I managed to finish in January:

• Snow Angels by James Thompson
• City of Light by Keri Arthur
• Beside Myself by Ann Morgan
• Kill Without Mercy by Alexandra Ivy
• In The Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
• Cruel and Unusual by Patricia Cornwell
• Enraptured by Candace Camp
• The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves
• The Hunter by Kerrigan Byrne
• If I Run by Terri Blackstock

I've got my reviews written up for a few more of these but they won't be posting until February.  I read SO many good books this month and I struggled to pick a favorite.  In the end I decided that I was picking two favorites rather then one (and even that was really hard for me).  My two favorite reads in January were:

Completely different but both books left me feeling almost sad when I finished.  They were both just so good and I wasn't ready for them to end.  City of Light begins a new series that I will be following and The Hunter is the second book in a series that I now need to read book one for.  I highly recommend them both and cannot say enough good things about them!

The end of this month also brings me to wanting to give an update on my #COYER progress.  I feel like I'm doing pretty well for this challenge as I've read a total of six books for this challenge.  Woohoo!  That is six less books on my e-reader which really feels like progress.  At least it does until I think about all of the books that I have added to it as well.  Hence the reason why I participate in this challenge in the first place.  Here are all of the books that I have read so far for #COYER:

• On Thin Icing by Ellie Alexander
• Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• City of Light by Keri Arthuer
• Kill Without Mercy by Alexandra Ivy
• The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves
• The Hunter by Kerrigan Byrne

Plans for February include a ridiculous number of books which I will be sharing about later this week.  I've cheated and already begun reading from that pile (two of my January reads where from my February pile) but at least I am getting a head start.  I'm planning on getting motivated and back to my regular workout schedule.  Goals would be that 30 miles total of running like I had hoped to do in January and consistently doing the 30 Day Shred workout video as well.  Wish me luck that this month I will remain both focused and motivated for the entire month!

What was your favorite read in January?  What books are you hoping to read in February?  Do share!

August Reading Plans

 

I haven't made up a reading pile to choose from in a couple of months.  I always enjoy making up these posts and coming up with lists of books that I want to read.  I usually end up straying off track but that's okay.  Especially as pretty darn soon one of my very favorite reading challenges will be beginning and then all bets are off.  The majority of these books will fit in with this challenge too which just goes to show you how ready I am for some scary reading :)  Here are the books that I am hoping to read in August:

• Don of the Dead by Casey Daniels - 1st in a paranormal cozy mystery series and off of my own shelves.  I've been wanting to begin this series for some time, and I am in the mood for a good mystery.  I am looking forward to giving it a try!
• Grave Peril by Jim Butcher -  Reread and library copy.  I have been trying (with trying being the key word) to reread these earlier books before continuing on with this series.  Instead I have been distracted with other books, but now I am really craving some Harry Dresden so I am guessing I will read this one sooner rather than later.
• Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts - This is my current read and a library copy.  I had this one on hold since it released and because it finally came in for me I couldn't resist beginning it.  I'm enjoying this one even more than the first in this trilogy and should be finishing it up in the next day or two.  
• H is for Homicide by Sue Grafton - Off on my own shelves and part of one of my favorite mystery series.  It has been far too long since I last read G is for Gumshoe so it is time to get back to this series that I love. 
• Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran - Library copy and a book that is just pulling at me to read.  It has been entirely too long since I last read a historical romance.....and I am just in the mood to read this one!  I have only read one other book by this author but I really enjoyed it so I have high hopes for this one as well!
• Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey - Review copy and a book that I have been seeing some really good reviews for!  I completely skipped reading review copies in July so it is time to play catch up in August.  I am looking forward to seeing what the buzz is all about with this one!
• Bound by Night by Larissa Ione - Beginning of a new paranormal romance series and also review copy.  I have yet to try anything by this author but I have heard lots of great things.  Looking forward to giving her a try!
• The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier - Another review copy and book that I am eager to read thanks to all of the great reviews I have seen.  Are you guys seeing a trend here?  LOL!  This book sounds like it will be creepy so it is perfect for my current reading mood.
• Getting Life: An Innocent Man's 25-Year Journey from Prison to Peace by Michael Morton - I am currently reading this book as well and it is a review copy.  When I was pitched this one I couldn't help being intrigued by it so I had to say yes.  Plus, I have been in the mood for some nonfiction lately.  I've just barely begun it but I will be sharing my thoughts in a review when I finish.

Lots of great reading ahead of me if I stick to this pile.  And I am sure that I will still have some great reading ahead of me if I end up going completely off pile.  I've already finished one book this month (Remains of Innocence by J.A. Jance) so I am off to a pretty great start to my reading month.  Let's hope that I am able to to keep it up amid the craziness that August is sure to be. 

What books are you hoping to read in August??  Feel free to share!  Happy Reading!

June Reading Wrap-Up 2014

(I finally uploaded my pictures from Disney on to my computer!  Woohoo!)

The summer months just seem to fly by, don't they?  I feel like I just wrote up my reading wrap-up for May and yet here I am working on the one for June.  June was a month filled with t-ball and baseball games.  I felt like we were on the go all of the time during the week but it has been such a joy to watch my kids play.  My daughter especially has really begun to enjoy playing and hits the ball when her coach pitches to her rather than on the tee.  This is quite the accomplishment in my opinion.  My son continues to pitch which is a nail biting experience.  You just want your kids to have fun while doing well at the same time!  Next year the craziness will really begin as all three kids plan on playing.  Yikes!

I didn't read as many books as I had hoped to this month but I did get lots of quality reading in.  I'm still ahead on my Goodreads goal but only by two books now instead of the five book buffer that I had going.  Maybe in July I will be able to get ahead a bit more!  Here are the books that I managed to finish this past month:

• Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
• The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane
• The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters
• Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb (reread)
• Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart

My favorite read of this month was a tough decision because I just loved The Mummy Case so much but ended up being:

I just loved this one so much!  Filled with suspense, I found myself skimming ahead just so that I could know that everything would be okay.  Afterwards, I went back and reread so that I didn't miss a single thing.  I am so glad that I finally took the time to read this one.  Mary Stewart will be another one of those authors where I read anything and everything that she has written.

Plans for July are mainly just getting back to working out.  Now that the baseball seasons are starting to wind down, I'm not going to have any valid excuses for not working out.  (I didn't really have any before but....)  I'm hoping to get back into the swing of running, I have a planks challenge that I am participating in, and I would like to get back to the 30 day shred.  No excuses next month.  That should be my motto!

What are your goals for July?  What books did you read in June that just knocked your socks off?  And have you read Mary Stewart as well?  What other books of  hers are not to be missed?

May Reading Wrap-Up 2014

(Enjoying a beautiful summer day)

I have no words for how fast I feel like this past month has gone by.  School is ending, sports are in full swing, and everything has been a bit crazy.  The month of May was filled with travel for us.  Disney, Memorial Day weekend on my parent's houseboat, and my stepdaughter's high school graduation in Ohio.  All very fun but I cannot begin to tell you how glad I am to finally be home.  Blogging has fallen to the wayside a bit because of all these things and that is okay.  I'm hoping that June will allow for me to be a bit more present in the blogging world.  Time will tell if that actually happens though.  Because the month of May was so crazy, my reading definitely suffered as well.  There just wasn't enough hours in the day to actually find time to read.  I'm hoping that with life getting back to normal a bit that my reading will once again pick up.  (This is the plan anyways.)  Last month I finished the following books:

• All Day and a Night by Alafair Burke
• River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz
• Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb (reread)
• Binding the Shadows by Jenn Bennett
• Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells 

My favorite read of the month ending up being Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells.  I knew that I was going to enjoy this one but kept putting it aside to read something else.  My mistake because once I finally committed to reading it I was hooked!  This was a GREAT read, and now I have to try and wait patiently for the second book to release.  Blah!  But still so good :)

My plans for June are no plans.  Every time I make plans for the month I find that I don't follow through so this month I'm just going to relax with the goals.  We will see what happens.  I'm going to try to blog more, comment more, and read more.  I'm not sure if any of that will happen but I am going to try!

How was your month of May?  Any tips to getting more things done in the day?  Ha!  But seriously, how do you get it ALL done and then some.  Please share!

P.S.- This all makes it seem like I didn't have an AMAZING month of May but I really did!  It was actually one of the best months in a long time but boy did it wear me out :)

April Reading Wrap-up 2014 (and Unplugging)

This was taken last summer at the beach.  I am SO ready for days just like this coming up....this year is going by so fast already!  Somehow April is already over and May has begun.  April was a solid month of reading but it wasn't amazing.  I wanted to finish a few more books but just ran out of time.  I also wanted to post a few more reviews but just lacked the motivation.  Ehhh...what can you do?  May shall be better, maybe.  We leave for vacation this weekend though which means I am unplugging for the next week or so.  I will be taking tons of pictures and spending lots of quality time with the family.  I can't wait!  Before I leave though I wanted to share what I managed to finish in April.  In April I read the following books:

• Dark Witch by Nora Roberts
• Summoning the Night by Jenn Bennett
• Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams
• The Walking Dead: Volume 3, Safety Behind Bars by Robert Kirkman
• Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
• Under a Silent Moon by Elizabeth Haynes
• Something About You by Julie James

Seven books isn't so bad!  But I just realized that I haven't written reviews for any of them.  Oh dear!  I really will need to get my butt in gear for May when it comes to review writing.  I enjoyed all of the books that I read this month but my favorite would have to be

Rosemary and Rue was such an amazing start to this urban fantasy series and I cannot wait to continue on with it!  I should have never waited so long to read it (I do that too often).  But at least now I know how good it is and book two is already on my shelves!

When I return from vacation I am planning on doing the 30 day shred for 30 days straight.  It is going to take a lot of discipline on my part not to skip a day but I REALLY want to do it.  Other than that, I don't have any major goals for May.  Just read, read, read!

I'm off to finish up my packing.  I'm looking forward to some sunny weather and lots of fun times ahead.  I will be back in a week or so but until then, tell me what you read in April that was just amazing.  I would love to know!

December Reading Plans (Or All the Books)

I love this time of year!  I love that everyone is starting to post their best of lists, and I especially love how much these posts add to my ever growing TBR list (I'm addicted to adding to it if you didn't realize by now).  I also look forward to all of the posts that focus on upcoming releases in 2014.  It is all just so exciting and enough to put this book lover's heart in a state of bliss.  There is this last month of reading though in which I always want to read ALL OF THE BOOKS!!!  It is fun to try and cram in a few more good reads that could have the potential to make it to my favorites of 2013. 

I have lots of books that I would like to get read this month but finding the time to read them all just may pose a problem.  Because there are just so many and I want to read them all!!  For this month's reading plans I am only including print books seeing as I finished absolutely NONE of the books that I had on my reading list for last month (and those were mainly all e-reads). So consider each one of those books a likely candidate for this month as well.  Here are just some of the books that I would like to get read this month:

 

 

See what I mean about wanting to read all of the books??  I'm chomping at the bit to crack some of these open but especially Stranger In the Room considering I loved the first book in this series.  I may be overly ambitious but if I can get all of these books read then I will definitely make my goal of 75 books read this year (I'm at 67 as of right now).  I think I can...I think I can....

So please tell me, what book (or books) is a MUST read before the end of 2013?  Or better yet, what is your favorite book for 2013?  My TBR list will thank you!

August Reading Plans

August is here and moving along.  School will be starting soon, fall sports, and all of the other chaos that comes along with this time of year.  I'm okay with all of that though because I love this time of year.  I love the beginning of a new school year and the fact that fall is fast approaching.  R.I.P. Challenge anyone????  Yes, please and thank you!  Anyways I'm hoping for a good reading month in August despite all of the upcoming life stuff.  Even though my e-reader recently took a dump I'm still planning on participating with Staci in cleaning up my Kindle.  Because I have such an addiction to NetGalley there are plenty of books that have already released that I haven't read/reviewed that used to be downloaded on my reader.  I'm using this time in between e-readers to catch up on some of those books.  I'm managed to snag some of these books from the library so I need to get to reading.  Here is what I'm planning (hoping) to get read this month:

Lost is the only of one of these books that isn't a review copy from NetGalley or Edelweiss.  Instead, this is a drop everything and read book that I did a dance for when I found it at the library.  I feel like I've been waiting for this one for FOREVER!  I cannot wait to dive in!  Also on the reading list for this month are my current reads which are

There you have it.  My overachieving reading goals for the month of August.  Now the only question is how many of these I actually get read :)  What are you planning on reading this month??