On My Nightstand: June Edition

Plans....I usually have lots of them even if I don't end up following through with all of them :)  This month I've got big reading plans as usual even if I'm reading little to none.  I hate that because it is my favorite way to relax but life gets crazy sometimes.  It sure doesn't mean that I'm going to not plan on reading bunches!  Because there is a week long read-a-thon coming up and a few quiet weekends hopefully in my near future.  Here are some of the books that I'm hoping to read in the month of June:

Yep, I'm going all out and submersing myself in Grant's Newsflesh trilogy!!!  I'm SUPER EXCITED to reread the first two books since reading them rocketed Grant onto my favorite author list!  I LOVED FEED AND DEADLINE SO MUCH THAT JUST TALKING ABOUT THEM MAKES ME EXCITED TO REREAD THEM ALL OVER AGAIN!  And then I'm going to do it.  I'm finally going to read Blackout and see how it all ends.  I'm nervous/excited/scared and all at the same time.  It's going to be great!!!!!!!  I'm also hoping to read a few other books like the following:

These are the latest books that I picked up from the library excluding The Chief which is a review copy.  I'm chomping at the bit (ha chomping) to read them all but first I'm diving back into Feed.  I'm pretty sure that June may end up being my best reading month ever with all of these books!!!  What are you planning on reading this month??

Knocking Out NetGalley Reads in April

I suppose that I should really say review copies for my e-reader since some of this are from Edelweiss as well.  Ehhh, technicalities.  Either way, I'm planning on spending the majority of the month with my nose in my Kindle.  Because I have entirely TOO MANY books on there waiting to be read and especially review copies.  Staci over at Life in the Thumb said that she was going to do this in April and I couldn't resist joining in (even if this is completely unofficial).  Since I have no self control it seems when it comes to requesting books, I need to take the time to actually read some of them (and write up the reviews of course).  I've also got a couple of physical review books that I want to get started on so we will see.  But I'm definitely focusing on my reader and all of the books on it!!  I decided to come up with a list that I particularly want to get read, and I'm going to TRY to stay on track.  LOL!  Here is what I'm hoping to get read:

I picked a varied bunch of books to help keep it interesting.  Unspoken was picked for me in one of the Goodread's groups that I belong to for my TBR read of the month.  I've been wanting to read A Most Scandalous Proposal since reading Lisa's review on it.  And Staci has Cover of Snow on her list also so I couldn't resist reading it myself :)  Now it's time to see how many of these I can actually get read!

So tell me, do you have no self control when it comes to NetGalley and Edelweiss?? 

January in Review and On My Nightstand (February Edition)

Whew!  I hate to say that I'm glad to see the tail end of January but after last week I am.  First my daughter tested positive for the flu virus, a day later and Jack came down with it, and the next day my youngest went down for the count.  Yup.  That's how I spent my week....taking care of sickies, cleaning, laundry, cleaning (I'm sure you get the picture).  I'm usually all about the cold weather and winter but I'm more than ready for spring at this point.  And some healthy babies would be nice!  But enough moaning and groaning.  I DID finish six books in January thanks in part to the A Winter's Respite Read-a-thon.  And of course I started my new job in January which is going just swimmingly.  It is both challenging and exciting which means that I'm loving it!

Although I'm really happy with how most of the month went I did see a down slide when it came to my exercising.  I can be SO inconsistent when it comes to it but I'm determined to get myself back on track!  I WILL run a 5K this year which means I need to get my butt in gear.  We are working on remodeling the boys' room so that is my focus for February.  And pictures.  I'm making it a personal goal this month to get my pictures off of my camera (and the tablet), loaded onto the computer, and printed out.  I never seem to do this and it is making me crazy!  I can't even remember the last time I shared some fresh pics of the little ones with you guys.  So those are my goals for February: remodeling, exercising, and pictures.  And reading of course :)

Speaking of reading here is what I managed to read in January:

These were all solid reads for me which made me very happy!  My favorite of the month though was definitely The One You Left Behind by Jennifer McMahon.  She is an author to watch!  I still need to write up my thoughts on the majority of these so I think I'll be playing catch up this week.  Since I have so many other posts that I want to share with you this week (reviews and another lovely library haul) I decided to also share my nightstand books with you for February here.  These are the books that I'm hoping/planning on reading this month.  Wish me luck on getting them all read!

 

  

 I'm currently reading A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen which is pretty darn good so far!  The Long Way Home is for a TLC Book Tour towards the end of this month.  And I'm finally taking the plunge with Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn after seeing EVERYBODY talking about it in 2012 (and thanks to one of the online book groups I belong to).  I stuck with six books but there are plenty more that are calling my name.  Just wait until you see my library haul....LOL!  I hope you all had a wonderful January and I promise to try and visit some of your blogs this week.  Once I sanitize everything in my house just one more time that is....

On My Nightstand: November Edition

 

(Sorry for the poor quality picture but I was being a bit lazy today)

Whew!  October has come and gone and now I find myself 4 days into November already.  I just can't keep up with this time of year.  Happily enough for me though, my reading has been coming along quite nicely.  Which is a major change since I feel like I went through a year long reading slump at times in 2012.  Now it just comes down to what books that I feel like I MUST read before the end of the year.  I can't even really make a list because there are just TOO many.  So instead of putting a bunch of pressure on myself to boost up my reading numbers (I'm at 47 if you are curious) and get some of those many books that I had planned on reading read, I'm just going to once again list a few books that I would like to read in November.  Here is what's on my nightstand for November:

• Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis-  I'm currently reading this and it is OH SO GOOD!  I'm seriously wishing I had started this series sooner but at least I have the next two books to read as well for it!
• House of Many Shadows by Barbara Michaels-  Because I can't finish out the year without reading at least one more book by Michaels and Jenny warned me off of one of the other ones sitting on my shelves.
• Naked In Death by J.D. Robb-  Reread and my 1st audiobook.  Haven't quite figured out how to get it on my MP3 player but when I do I'll be starting it.  LOL!
• On my Kindle I'm currently reading the same two books that I mentioned in the previous Monday reading post (Tarnished by Karina Cooper and When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck).  Because I totally bypassed my Kindle this week and read Too Wicked to Wed by Cara Elliott (which I adored).  
• Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes-  I've heard really good things about this thriller so I'm hoping to finally take the time to read it in November.
• The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton-  I just loved The House at Riverton by this author so it is beyond time that I read more by her.  Plus, the colder days just beg for a big chunky read like this so I'm looking forward to it.

Other than that I would really, really like to get back to IT this month which I had to send unfinished back to the library.  I hate when that happens :/   And I would love to knock out a few more books on my Kindle since I can't seem to stop buying them.  I already need to do another e-book post.  You know that saying of too many books and just not enough time, right?  Yikes!  What are your reading plans for November???

On My Nightstand (October Edition)

October is already here and I have lots of good reading ahead of me.  That is if I actually find the time to get some reading done.  Yikes!  Here are just a few of the books that I'm hoping to read in October. 

• My Scandalous Viscount by Gaelen Foley- This is a review book for a TLC book tour that I will be hosting on the 15th of October.  You'll have to check back then to hear my thoughts on it.
• Promises in Death by J.D. Robb-  I'm flying through this one which is kinda nice since my reading has been pretty pathetic lately.
• It by Stephen King-  Still chugging along with this one although I'm way behind when it comes to the read-a-long.  I'm loving the creepy feel of it too.  Perfect fall weather reading!
• On my Kindle I'm reading Tarnished by Karina Cooper.  Good so far but I have a tendency to read my actual physical books rather than ebooks.  Hmmm...
• The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters-  So I totally missed the read-a-long with this one but I'm still planning on reading it for Carl's R.I.P. event.  I've cracked this one open but haven't gotten very far yet.

What else am I planning on reading in October???  The list could go on and on but it just might be the 3 other TBR choice books from my Goodreads groups.  I didn't end up reading any of my September choices but I also had a pretty bad month of reading.  I'm hoping to chance that in October but I'm shaking my head right now just thinking about it.  There are just WAY too many books that I want to read.  Thank goodness there is a read-a-thon coming up soon!  I'm gonna need it!  What's on your nightstand for October??

On My Nighstand: August Edition

Is it time for Carl's R.I.P. Challenge yet??? I'm in the mood for horror, gothic, thrillers, creepy, and things that go bump in the night! I'm stockpiling up on books that will fit with this challenge even though I'm guessing that it is a month away. And my library ban just went to hell as I put at LEAST 15 books on hold. I'm not kidding. Oops :) Here are a couple of books that I'm hoping to find the time to read in August:







I'm already in the process of rereading Fool Moon by Jim Butcher. I love me some Harry Dresden so I'm already knee deep in his world. I'm also currently reading Tarnished by Karina Cooper on my Kindle. I find that I have an easier time setting books down when I read them on my reader so I haven't really delved too deep into this one yet. It's good so far though....

There are LOTS of other books that I would love to find the time to read but let's be realistic. Time gets away from me these days. That's what happens when you have two sixteen year old girls living with you for two weeks. Fun times were had but now it's back to reality. And laundry. Lots of laundry. Today will prove to be a difficult day as I have a visitation to go to this afternoon but maybe afterwards I'll find the time to do some bloggy visits. It has been TOO long since I've made my rounds :) Happy Sunday to all of you!

On My Nightstand: May Edition

So far this year I've managed to read 25 books which is a solid start to the year (in my opinion). And the one thing that I've really discovered so far in my reading is that I have LOVED all of the books for my Seconds Challenge. The Seconds Challenge is a challenge geared to reading books from authors that you've only tried once before. I have a tendency to read a lot of new authors each year but many times I never go back and read another book by authors that I love or even have enjoyed previously. Examples you ask....well how about My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier?? Loved, loved, loved Rebecca by her and then went for years without trying anything else by her. Feed and Deadline by Mira Grant. Most recently Phoenix Rising and The Janus Affair by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. These are just examples for this year. So in May I have four books that I really, really want to read and all four will be my 2nd book by those authors.





Yep, some amazing choices I have ahead of me. Now I'll just have to find the time to read them all :)

On My Nightstand: April

I'm keeping it simple since we are already 12 days into April....my blog break has put me WAY behind but it was nice to take a little break. Here are two books that I feel like I MUST read in April. We'll see if I actually follow through with these :)