November Reading Wrap-Up (2019)

I honestly cannot remember the last time that I did a monthly reading wrap-up.  There is a good chance that I haven't done one at all this year.  I would love to get back in the habit of it just because it's nice to look back on my month of reading (or lack thereof).  November was a really solid month of reading for me.  I was able to finish seven books total which ended with me hitting my Goodread's goal of 60 books read for the year and then surpassing it by one.  I also participated in #NetGalleyNovember this month and managed to finish two books for it (I'm also about 30% into another book which I didn't finish by the end of the month).  There is one thing that I think that I would like to do a bit differently in regards to my monthly wrap-ups.  On the blog, I don't share star ratings of books when I write up my reviews.  I've always struggled a bit with comparing a five star read to another.  I think though with my monthly write-ups that I will include my star rating.  We'll see if it works for me or not if I do start sharing my wrap-ups on a consistent basis.

In November I read the following:

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager - A creepy and slightly terrifying read that I just could not stop reading!  It was making me anxious, I knew bad things were going to happen, and yet I loved every minute of it.  My full review is here if you are interested but I can highly recommend this author (having read two of his books and loving them both)!  Five stars

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin - Wow!  Now I finally know what everyone was talking about in regards to this trilogy and how amazing this book is!  I was in the mood to just sink into a long book and new to me world which is exactly what I did with this one.  And it was absolutely AMAZING!  I'm honestly at a loss for how I'm going to talk about this one but expect my review shortly because it deserves a gushing post!  Five stars

The Wife and The Widow by Christian White - This is my 1st finished 2020 review copy (courtesy of Minotaur books) and what a book it was!  I absolutely flew through the pages of this book!  I probably won't share my full thoughts on this one until closer to the release date but it was such a good read.  It was unexpected but I won't say how for fear of spoilers.  I am really looking forward to discussing this one with other readers! 4.5 stars

A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny - This is the 2nd book in the Inspector Gamache series and was a delightful addition to this mystery series.  These character and Three Pines itself are already becoming fast favorites of mine - I'm going to have to pace myself or I will burn through the entire series before I know it.  Review to come. 4 stars

The Cost of Honor by Diana Muñoz Stewart - This is my 2nd book in this romantic suspense series and just as enjoyable as the first (which is actually book two, this is book three in the series).  I've already shared my thoughts on this book here if you are interested. This was a review copy courtesy of the publisher. 4 stars

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert - This book is getting ALL of the hype on bookstagram and it really does deserve it in my opinion.  It features a chronically ill, woman of color main character and I was here for ALL of it.  This book was one of those books where I found myself smiling while reading.  It was just that delightful and I cannot wait to read more by Hibbert.  My full review is here if you are interested.  This was a review copy thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. 4.5 stars

Vanishing Girls by Lisa Regan - This book begins a new detective mystery series that I am absolutely planning to continue on with.  I wasn't sure how I felt about Josie (our main character) at first but before long I was absolutely hooked on the mystery that she was investigating.  This book was much darker than I expected but really good!  I hope that more readers find this series because it is one that I'm very excited about!  I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. 4 stars

What a solid month of reading that November turned out to be!  I'm still in the middle of two books that will carry over into my December reading.  I would love to carry my reading steam into December and finish out the year strong.

What books did you read and love this month?

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!

March Reading Recap (2015)

(Love these three!  This was taken at our weekend away last month)

March was the month of reading ALL of the books.  I really had an amazing month of reading (for me anyways) as I was able to finish ten books in March.  That is almost unheard of for me.  I now find myself three books ahead in my Goodread's challenge and am feeling quite accomplished.  If I always read this much I would have no problem reading 80 books for the year but we all know by now that it probably won't go that way.  Life happens and to be honest I am completely okay with that.  Some days I read a ton and others I don't read hardly at all.  This was just a month filled with books and I enjoyed the heck out of it.  Here are all of the books that I managed to read in March:

•  If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey (ebook)
• This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
• Clean by Alex Hughes
• Dark Alchemy by Laura Bickle (ebook)
• The Kill Shot by Nichole Christoff (ebook)
• Silent Scream by Angela Marsons (ebook)
• Scene of the Climb by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley
• Slayed on the Slopes by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley (ebook)
• Sealed With a Curse by Cecy Robson
• Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler (ebook)

Wow!  I didn't do so well when it came to writing up reviews for all of those books that I was busy reading.  Guess I know what I need to focus on in April.  While I enjoyed each and every book that I read, it was also very easy for me to pick out my favorite of the month.  Hands down, my favorite read in the month of March was Silent Scream by Angela Marsons.

This was such a chilling read and I could not put my Kindle down the entire time that I was reading it.  I'm trying to write up my thoughts on this one but all I can say is READ IT!!  Hence, I'm still working on that review.  Ha!  I can tell you that I am chomping at the bit to get my hands on book two!

Goals for April are workout, workout, and workout.  I cannot seem to get myself in a good workout rhythm so I really would like to focus on this in April.  That being said if I manage to read this much again I will also be very happy.  And reviews!  I really, really need to catch up on reviews.  Also eating healthier thanks to Trish and Lisa's 30 day reset.  I refuse to give up my coffee creamer but I am willing to give up sugar in everything else.  I just might focus on eating healthier, snacking healthier, and just go about it that way.  I haven't quite decided yet but this week will be the ultimate test with Easter candy in house.  Gah!  I have no self control when it comes to chocolate.  Must hide the chocolate.  And we circle back to the reason on why I need to find a better workout schedule.  LOL!

Tell me what your favorite read of March was!  Or better yet, what reading plans do you have scheduled for April?  I would love to know!

February Reading Recap (2015)

 (This was taken a year or so ago at our last hotel waterpark trip. I haven't uploaded on the computer the new pictures from this past weekend.)

I'm behind in sharing my February reads thanks to a short weekend getaway last weekend.  We took the kids to an indoor waterpark hotel for the weekend which was very, very busy but also lots of fun.  The kids had a blast which was the point so we were all happy.  And then very happy to be home afterwards :)  I had a really great month of reading in February as I was able to finish seven books!  That's a really great amount of reading for me so I was pretty happy.  I'm actually caught up in regards to my Goodread's reading challenge which is the first time so far this year.  I doubt it will last but it was fun to actually see that I was "on track".  Here are the books that I finished in February:

• Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
• In Flames by Richard Hilary Weber
• Cane and Abe by James Grippando
• The Witches of Echo Park by Amber Benson
• Night is the Hunter by Steven Gore
• The Walking Dead: The Heart's Desire by Robert Kirkman
• What the Fly Saw by Frankie Y. Bailey

The most amazing thing is that I have actually already posted my thoughts on four out of seven of those books!  That hardly every happens!  I really struggled with picking a favorite for the month as the majority of these books are what I would consider four star reads.  And they were all really great for various reasons.  That being said Slave to Sensation was my pick for the month of February.  This is why I read paranormal romance.  For books just like this!

 I'm skipping doing the challenge wrap up as I haven't a clue which challenges I read for this month and am feeling a bit too lazy to go look.  Suffice it to say that each book I read fit in for at least one reading challenge so I was happy with that.  I still have a few reading challenges that I haven't read any books for.  That is something I hope to fix in the month of March.  I didn't cook as much as I did last month so I am going to focus on that as a goal for March.  I am also continuing to work out but it is very hit or miss.  Another thing that I really need to focus on!  Gosh, it looks like I have lots to work on in March and we are already a week in. 

What was your favorite February read?  Any suggestions for keeping me motivated to work out the ENTIRE month?  I couldn't definitely use those kind of tips! 

January Reading Recap (2015)

(Me and my beautiful family-picture not taken in January lol!)

January has already come and gone which is kinda crazy when you think about it.  Above is one of the rare family pictures when everybody is actually looking at the camera.  Rare but priceless!  This was a really good month of reading for me in terms of quality.  Every book that I read I would rate (if I actually rated books that is) at least four stars.  I had hoped to finish more books but maybe in February.  Overall I am pretty happy with my reading progress even if I am constantly one book behind in my Goodread's goal of 80 books for the year.  Here are the books that I finished in January:

• Fear the Darkness by Becky Masterman
• Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep
• Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves
• India Black by Carol K. Carr
• The Girl With a Clock For a Heart by Peter Swanson

My favorite read of the month was my first book finished for the year, Fear The Darkness.  One of the best thrillers that I have read and one that I want to recommend to just about everyone.  All of these were really good though so I have to admit that this one won out just by inches.  I've managed to write up my thoughts on two of the five books so that is a pretty good start as well.
 

I've gotten a good start on a few of the challenges that I've joined although there are also some that I haven't even started yet.  Oh well, they are for fun so no need to worry too much.  I've managed to read books for the following challenges:

• New Author Challenge (3 books)
• Snagged @ the Library Challenge (1 book)
• NetGalley & Edelweiss Challenge (1 book)
• Prequel & Sequel Challenge (1 book)
• Cloak & Dagger Challenge (3 books)
• Official TBR Challenge (knocked Web of Lies off of my list)
• COYER Challenge (2 books)

Overall, I am calling January a success!  I could have worked out more but I got started so I just need to continue on with it.  I have been cooking more and even tried out a few new recipes.  I just need to get back on my quest to learn how to crochet and I will be a happy camper.  I'm leaving my February plans completely open.  I have a few upcoming blog tours this month.  I also need to figure out which book I am reading off of my TBR Challenge list.  Decisions, decisions.

Bring it on February!!

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!

July Reading Wrap-Up (2014)

(Yet another Disney picture since I can't seem to take time to share an entire post.)

July....yet another one of those months that was jam packed which meant that for me the month flew by.  I ended up taking a step back from blogging as we just had SO MUCH going on every weekend that I couldn't keep up.  Combine that with a desire to lose myself in some good books and you had a very absent blogger.  It was much needed though as I needed the break to prepare myself for the going back to school craziness that begins in August.  This I am not ready for and neither are the kiddos :)  Actually that isn't quite true.  They are ready but to varying degrees when it comes to going back to school. The oldest is ready for football to start but not ready to go back to early mornings (I swear he thinks he is a teenager already the way he sleeps) and my daughter is super excited to go back but also nervous (apparently first grade is tough...LOL!).  Before all the chaos begins though, let me tell you about my reading month in July.

July was apparently meant to be the month of comfort reads and rereading.  I only read books from series that I love and I didn't crack open a single review copy.  o.O (I can't remember the last time that happened!)  It was an amazingly satisfying month of reading.  I felt like I read more when I looked at the numbers but really each book in the Grant trilogy is 500+ pages so I really did read a ton this month.  Here are the books that I managed to finish:

• Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb (reread)
• Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
• Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews
• Feed by Mira Grant (reread)
• Deadline by Mira Grant (reread)
• Blackout by Mira Grant (reread)

 

Favorite read of the month??  I am honestly not even sure how to answer this as I LOVED each book that I read this month.   Every book in the Newsflesh trilogy is excellent/fantastic for their own reasons.  The Kate Daniel's series has become one of my very favorite urban fantasy series.  And you all know how much I love me some J.D. Robb.  These earlier books in the Robb series are just such great reads!  When it comes down to it though, Blackout ends my very favorite zombie trilogy leaving me satisfied but sad as I don't want it all to end so it gets top honors for the month.  Best zombie books ever!!!  And definitely worth an epic reread!

August reading plans are forthcoming.  I'm starting to get excited for fall and the upcoming R.I.P. challenge so my reading pile will probably reflect that.  As I have all three of my children participating in sports (football for the oldest and soccer for the younger two), I am just going to work on finding lots of time to read hopefully.  I am tired just thinking about it.  Ha!

What books are you hoping to read in August?  What was your favorite read in the month of July?  Please share as I am a nosy reader and love to hear about books that you loved :)

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?