adult, contemporary, mystery, Romance, ya

📚 Down the TBR Part 18 📚

Another week! I haven’t gotten near as much reading done as I wanted to, but as I settle into a new routine I’m hoping that I can! Mostly it’s if I can stay off Animal Crossing and my kid lets me…

Let’s get to clearing this tbr! We are starting at 1825. I may do a few extra books today to try to get under 1800! Let’s do this!

✔ What I Kept ✔

Matters of the Heart by Danielle Steel
I am here for obsessive love and sociopaths.

Emergency Doctor by Edward Ziegler and Lewis R Goldfrank
I think I’ve read this one before. But I love true medical stories. Helps to remember why I chose this profession because some days, especially lately, I really wonder.

Breathe My Name by RA Nelson
I’ve been super into YA thrillers lately, and this one sounds amazing!

Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark
I love MHC. I read my first book of hers in ninth grade. I want to read all of her works.

Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
I’ll save this one for this year’s holiday season!

Ford County by John Grisham
This is a series of short stories all set in Ford County, Mississippi! I’m kind of a sucker for books set in MS.

Before I Say Goodbye by Mary Higgins Clark
Maybe I should buddy read some of these with my mom. I bet she’s read them all though.

Kitchen Privileges by Mary Higgins Clark
I love memoirs so of course I’d like to read about Mary!

When Chicken Soup Isn’t Enough by Suzanne Gordon
This is another book I think I have read but could stand a reread.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Isiguro
The synopsis of this kind of reminds me of Girls With Sharp Sticks. I loved that story so I definitely want to give this one a try!

Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
I think Chelsea is so funny, and I love books like this!

5th Horseman by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro
This sounds great. Mystery involving a hospital and angel of death. But does this series need to be read in order?

6th Target by James Patterson, Mazine Paetro
This one also sounds good. I may as well add the whole series…

✘ What I Deleted ✘

Til Death Do Us Part by Kate White
Good premise, but it’s a cozy and I have to really be in the mood for those. Plus it is #3 in a series.

A Place Called Home by Lori Wick
Girl gets death threats and moves to little no where town. But it’s not a mystery or thriller! It’s a chick fic.

A Song for Silas by Lori Wick
Book two from the series.

Bungalow 2 by Danielle Steel
A typical Steel novel, chick lit fiction.

Late Bloomer by Fern Michaels
I thought about keeping this one, but reviews were meh, so I decided to delete it.

The Rainmaker by John Grisham
I have to really be in the mood for a legal drama. They’re just not my jam.

The Brethren by John Grisham
Another legal drama.

Crown Jewel by Fern Michaels
Another chick lit that just doesn’t sound like it’s for me.

The Revelation by Beverly Lewis
We all know how I feel about Amish stories…

Cat and Mouse by James Patterson
I love FBI, but I’m not a huge fan of books like these. Plus it’s #4 in the series.

Roses are Red by James Patterson
Same as above, but this is #6.

London Bridges by James Patterson
Number 10 in the series.

Mary Mary by James Patterson
Number 11 in the series.

Whelp. That didn’t end how I thought it would. I kept way more than I thought. The most surprising were the James Patterson and John Grisham.

I’m ending my tbr at 1811. I was really hoping to make it under 1800. I may have to do a bonus post later this week!

What did you think of my choices? Have you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

contemporary, fantasy, LGBT, mystery, Romance, ya

🤩 April’s Most Anticipated Reads 🤩

Wow. April is kind of slim for me! I usually have to narrow down the list, but this month there’s not a ton I just can’t wait to read. I have three this month!

First off is Crave by Tracy Wolff! I got the arc box for this which I was super excited about. I am also excited about the return of vampy romances!

Release Date: April 7, 2020

Next is Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson. I fell in love with A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and I have forced many of my friends to read it. They all enjoyed it too! I cannot wait for the sequel!

Release Date: April 30, 2020

Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran. This YA fantasy has a spymaster, plotting, hidden enemies, and of course a love story! Everything I want in a YA fantasy!

Release Date: April 23, 2020

What are your most anticipated releases for April? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, mystery, three star book, thriller, ya

🎠 All The Pretty Things ARC Review 🎠

🎠 Title: All the Pretty Things
🎠 Author: Emily Arsenault
🎠 Publisher: Delacorte Press
🎠 Publish Date: March 17, 2020
🎠 Book Form: E-ARC
🎠 Pages: 352
🎠 Genre: YA, Mystery, Thriller
🎠 Dates Read: Mar 29 – Mar 30
🎠 Rating: 🎠🎠🎠.5

For fans of Sadie and The Cheerleaders comes an all new thriller about a boy who turns up dead under suspicious circumstances and the one girl who may be the key to solving the mystery of his untimely death.

For Ivy, summer means roller-coaster season, spinning cotton candy at the Fabuland amusement park, and hanging out with her best friend, Morgan. But this summer is different.

One morning, Morgan finds a dead body. It’s their former classmate and coworker Ethan. To make matters worse, Morgan is taken to a hospital psych ward only days later, and she’s not saying much–not even to Ivy.

The police claim that Ethan simply took a bad fall, but Ivy isn’t convinced and realizes it’s up to her to get answers. What she finds is unsettling–it’s clear that some people aren’t being honest about Ethan’s last night at Fabuland. Including Morgan. And the more secrets Ivy uncovers, the closer she gets to unraveling dark truths that will change her life forever.

– Goodreads

So, I’m one of those people who reads reviews before I start a book. I don’t know why, it’s just a craving I have. I have to know what others think and if I think the same. I don’t really think it messes with my interpretation of the book. Especially not in this case. The reviews I read said it was predictable and they knew the bad guy from chapter 3. I did not.

Ivy was a likable main character. She seemed genuinely concerned about her best friend, Morgan and solving Ethan’s cause of death. They said he fell, but not everything adds up. She had feelings that I think I would have at 17. She was my favorite character.

The side characters were all interesting and likable too. She had a unique relationship with each of them that seemed well thought out. She seemed like a real girl, which I really liked. Ivy was someone you’d meet in highschool any day.

Ivy’s dad was the worst. He was misogynist, creepy, and said the worst things. I hated seeing him on the page. I cringed every time and just could not fathom having any family member like that. Like, he was the literal worst. He was gross. I just can’t say enough about how much I hated him.

There ended up being two mysteries, neither of which I really figured out. I kind of had an idea about Morgan’s mystery, but not Ethan’s. It was a fast, easy read. It just didn’t quite stand up to other YA mysteries I have read recently.

Have you read All The Pretty Things? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, blog tour, contemporary, Erotica, fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, ya

☔ April TBR ☔

I am so excited for April! As I mentioned in my last post, Words & Whimsy has started their own reading game! The theme is dinos! 🦖 I’m team T-Rex! 🦖 Here’s a peek at our very open, interpretative criteria, our mini game, and instagram challenge!

Since you can see our criteria, let’s dive right in!

Okay, I know, I know. 14 books is A LOT. Like, I’m only reading about 10 a month. HOWEVER. As of right now, I’m only working about 20 hours a week. That’s like, almost 30 hours less than normal. I am going to use that time to read! And play with the toddler. But also read! One of his favorite things to do is cuddle in the chair and read or watch Blippi. I plan to take full advantage of that in the mornings before work.

So a little breakdown on why I chose what I did. 10 of my books are arcs, so I just fit them where I could. I love Marie Lu, so I had to include her newest book. I’ve been wanting to read Belle Revolte since I heard about it and begged asked for an arc. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Serpent and Dove. It was my most anticipated release the month it came out. I bought it on release day. So why haven’t I read it?! And finally, Hot Pterodactyl Boyfriend. I have heard nothing but bad things about this one. But it’s like a train wreck I think? Or Tiger King? So bad you just can’t.look.away. So obviously, for dino month, I had to give it a try.

What do you think about my TBR? What’s on your list for April? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, blog tour, contemporary, fantasy, Four Star Book, middle grade, three star book, two star book, ya

📓 March Wrap Up 📓

What an odd month. Life as we know it has changed for now, and I think we’re all still trying to adjust to the new normal. I know it took a toll on my mental health, so it definitely affected my reading.

I don’t know if that affected my ratings or not, but I read a lot of meh books this month. They weren’t great but weren’t bad either. Here’s what I read:

  1. Lovestruck by Kate Watson ⭐⭐.5
  2. Don’t Check Out This Book! by Kate Klise ⭐⭐⭐
  3. Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak by Adi Alsaid ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  4. The Queen’s Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  5. All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  6. We Are the Wildcats by Siobhan Vivian ⭐⭐.5
  7. Music From Another World by Robin Talley ⭐⭐⭐
  8. Hungry for Your love by Lori Perkins ⭐⭐⭐
  9. All the Pretty Things by Emily Arsenault ⭐⭐⭐

I didn’t really have a favorite this month. The middle of the month was best reading wise. I liked Brief Chronicle of Another Stupid Heartbreak, The Queen’s Assassin and All the Stars and Teeth. I liked that I read more fantasy this month. I may try to read more next month. It’s a great way to forget about the real world and get lost in a made up one.

My least favorite was We are the Wildcats. I was just so disappointed. It was my most anticipated this month and it was just a total let down.

✔️ Stats✔️

  • Goodreads Goal: 30/120. I lowered my goal this month. I’m not really reading a ton of audios, and my eyeball reading just isn’t cutting it. I read 9 ebooks this month, which is more than last month, so at least I’m improving!
  • I read 3134 pages, which is a little less than last month. But I did read one more ebook than last month! I didn’t do any audios this month. My average rating was 3.22⭐.
  • I consumed 1 romance, mystery, and horror, 2 fantasies, and 4 contemporaries.
  • For audiences, I read 1 middle grade, 1 adult and 7 YA.
  • I read seven ARCs, which is one more than last month! I am trying super hard to get through those and get caught up.

✔️ Yearly Goals Check In ✔️

  • Monthly Goal of 15 a Month: I read 9 this month. I think I will lower this goal to 10. Ten books a month is definitely doable, and I think I would have hit that had this month not been so weird.
  • TBR Goal: I kept doing the posts every Sunday, along with a bonus post. As far as reading 20 this year – well, I am at 4. But there is still time! And I’m only 28 away from getting it below 1800! I’m excited to see where we are at the end of the year.
  • Words & Whimsy: I did a chat with Eric Smith this month which was so much fun! Don’t Read the Comments is still my favorite book of the year! We also did an overhaul, added more mods, and started our own reading game! I’m excited to see what Words & Whimsy Reading Challenge looks like in April! It’s going to be a blast!
  • Book Battle: Words & Whimsy and Book Battle have parted ways. As I mentioned, we have our own reading game now!
  • Mithah Reads: I didn’t post as much as I wanted to this month, but I am determined to get back on track with April! I am going to do a couple blog tours next month that I’m really excited about!
  • I am still keeping up with my three reading spreadsheets, so I’m pretty proud of myself! I do love finishing a book and adding it to the sheet. It’s so satisfying!

What did you read this month? What were your favorite and least favorite reads? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, Erotica, Horror, review, Romance, three star book

🧟‍♀️ Hungry for Your Love Review 🧟‍♀️

🧟‍♀️ Title: Hungry For Your Love
🧟‍♀️ Author: Lori Perkins (anthology)
🧟‍♀️ Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin
🧟‍♀️ Publish Date: September 28, 2010
🧟‍♀️ Book Form: Ebook
🧟‍♀️ Pages: 384
🧟‍♀️ Genre: Horror, Zombies, Anthology, Romance
🧟‍♀️ Dates Read: Mar 23 – Mar 27
🧟‍♀️ Rating: 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️

Romance ain’t dead…it’s undead. In this thrilling zombie anthology, horror fans will finally get their fill of zombie-on-zombie action, zombie-human love, and zombie smut. Because why should vampires have all the fun?

– Goodreads

What an interesting read. I chose to read this book this month because it had been on my TBR the longest. I kept it during one of my Down the TBR posts! I wanted to see how zombie romance was done. It was interesting because the stories were all very different, but had a lot of the same elements – like zombies eating animal brains instead of humans.

I loved reading the intro by Lori Perkins that showed how she decided to write zombie romance. Everyone said it couldn’t be done. Well guess what guys? She did it.

Some of the stories were cringey. One was so explicit in the violence I almost felt like I couldn’t read it. Some were cingey in the ‘oh it’s a zombie having sex with skin falling off’ way.

My favorite story was White Night, Black Horse by Mercy Loomis. It involved voodoo and sorcerers and gave me old school New Orleans vibes. It instantly stood out to me and was a story I kept thinking about.

Overall, this book wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad. Most stories weren’t awful, just meh. Middle of the road. White Night, Black Horse was the only stand out to me. I might have liked this book more had I read it a few years ago when I was super into The Walking Dead and zombie stuff. If you’re a fan of zombies, I would definitely give this a try. You’ll see them in a whole new light!

Have you read Hungry for Your Love? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, fantasy, Romance, ya

📚 Down the TBR Part 17! 📚

Hey guys! Another week gone by. Hope everyone is staying safe and social distancing!

These past two weeks have been so hard on me mental health wise. The stress of getting screened before work, work hours being cut, but still having to go because I’m essential. It’s all a lot. I haven’t read as much as I wanted, and I haven’t blogged as much as I wanted either. Hopefully soon I will get into the routine of a new normal (for now). It hasn’t all been doom and gloom, thought! I’ve gotten to spend a ton of time with my son and I am taking all I can get! He will be three in a few months and I just want to cherish every moment with him.

Anyway, to this week’s tbr! We are starting at 1843. I don’t think I added any this week! Probably because I haven’t been as active on here or twitter, haha! Also, my life has become consumed with Animal Crossing. Let me know if you want to be friends. I have peaches!

✔ What I Kept ✔

Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz

This sounds like a spicy romance with a little bit of crime solving mixed in. And witches.

Night by Elie Wiesel

I think I’ve read this before, but I’ve always been drawn to books about the Holocaust. I’m not sure why.

Granny Dan by Danielle Steel

I’ll give this one a chance. There’s some historical romance aspects that are intriguing to me.

✘ What I Deleted ✘

The Extraordinary Adventure of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey

I love this cover, but the synopsis just isn’t speaking to me.

The Untelling by Tayari Jones

Eek. Just a little too chick lit for me.

Beneath the Surface by Anne White

A mystery, which I’d usually love. But something about it seems off-putting, I just can’t put my finger on what it is.

The Wedding by Danielle Steel

My mom loves Danielle Steel. I just don’t think I’m that into her work, though.

Nothing Can Keep Us Together by Cecily von Ziegesar

I hate I didn’t read these in my teen years. Now I just don’t know that I would like it.

A Painted House by John Grisham

I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything by John Grisham. This story just seems so… sad.

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

I went back and forth with this one. It’s about a football player, which I think I would like. But moving to Italy and playing football there… I just don’t know about it.

Impossible by Danielle Steel

Just another typical chick lit romance.

Sisters by Danielle Steel

Another very chick lit read.

Coming Out by Danielle Steel

I mean, same as above.

Nobody Else Has to Know by Ingrid Tomey

I think I own this book from years ago. But it just seems so sad. It may be my headspace right now, but I just can’t do sad books.

Big Girl by Danielle Steel

Another typical chick lit.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

I mean… it’s Nicholas Sparks.

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks

Again, Nicholas Sparks.

Family Blessings by Fern Michaels

Just another chick lit.

Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel

I almost kept this one. I may go back and add it. I can’t decide if it’s gonna be too chick lit or a good fiction novel.

Finders Keepers by Fern Michaels

This is about a two year old girl who was kidnapped. It’s just so sad. I can’t.

We are ending at 1826! So close to being under 1800! I only kept three, the most surprising to be the Danielle Steel novel.

Did I make any mistakes? Should I have kept any of these? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, blog tour, Historical Fiction, LGBT, three star book, ya

🎵 Music From Another World BLOG TOUR 🎵

🎵 Title: Music From Another World
🎵 Author: Robin Talley
🎵 Publisher: Inkyard Press
🎵 Publish Date: March 31, 2020
🎵 Book Form: E-ARC
🎵 Pages: 384
🎵 Genre: YA, LGBT, Historical Fiction
🎵 Dates Read: Mar 22 – Mar 23
🎵 Rating: 🎵🎵🎵.5

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

It’s summer 1977 and closeted lesbian Tammy Larson can’t be herself anywhere. Not at her strict Christian high school, not at her conservative Orange County church and certainly not at home, where her ultrareligious aunt relentlessly organizes antigay political campaigns. Tammy’s only outlet is writing secret letters in her diary to gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk…until she’s matched with a real-life pen pal who changes everything.

Sharon Hawkins bonds with Tammy over punk music and carefully shared secrets, and soon their letters become the one place she can be honest. The rest of her life in San Francisco is full of lies. The kind she tells for others—like helping her gay brother hide the truth from their mom—and the kind she tells herself. But as antigay fervor in America reaches a frightening new pitch, Sharon and Tammy must rely on their long-distance friendship to discover their deeply personal truths, what they’ll stand for…and who they’ll rise against.

A master of award-winning queer historical fiction, New York Times bestselling author Robin Talley once again brings to life with heart and vivid detail an emotionally captivating story about the lives of two teen girls living in an age when just being yourself was an incredible act of bravery.

– Inkyard Press

I didn’t really know what to expect going into this book. I knew it was epistolary style, which is my favorite. Sharon and Tammy were randomly paired as pen pals during the summer. This story it told through diary entries and letters to one another.

Tammy is a closeted lesbian living with her ultra-conservative, Christian family. They have even joined political campaigns against LGBT people. Sharon is still trying to figure her life out. She lives in San Francisco with her closeted gay brother and her mom.

Tammy and Sharon both had very distinct voices. I loved that it was super easy to follow who was speaking. I loved watching their pen pal letters grow into a friendship and then more. All of the side characters were interesting and had their own voices, too. There were a couple I would love to learn about if they had their own novel!

Music from Another World was a super quick read that was easy to follow. I’d recommend it if you like LGBT novels or historical fiction – this was set in the 1970s when Harvey Milk was elected.

Thanks again to Inkyard Press for allowing me to be a part of this blog tour! This was a great read!

Robin Talley studied literature and communications at American University. She lives in
Washington, DC, with her wife, but visits both Boston and New York regularly despite her moral
opposition to Massachusetts winters and Times Square. Her first book was 2014’s Lies We Tell
Ourselves. Visit her online at robintalley.com or on Twitter at @robin_talley.

Will you read Music From Another World? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, three star book, ya

🐾 We Are the Wildcats ARC Review 🐾

🐾 Title: We Are the Wildcats
🐾 Author: Siobhan Vivian
🐾 Publisher: Simon & Schuster
🐾 Publish Date: March 31, 2020
🐾 Book Form: E-ARC
🐾 Pages: 368
🐾Genre: Contemporary, YA, Sports
🐾Dates Read: Mar 20 – Mar 21
🐾 Rating: 🐾🐾.5

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

A toxic coach finds himself outplayed by the high school girls on his team in this deeply suspenseful novel, which unspools over twenty-four hours through six diverse perspectives.

Tomorrow, the Wildcat varsity field hockey squad will play the first game of their new season. But at tonight’s team sleepover, the girls are all about forging the bonds of trust, loyalty, and friendship necessary to win.

Everything hinges on the midnight initiation ceremony—a beloved tradition and the only facet of being a Wildcat that the girls control. Until now.

Coach—a handsome former college player revered and feared in equal measure—changes the plan and spins his team on a new adventure. One where they take a rival team’s mascot for a joyride, crash a party in their pajamas, break into the high school for the perfect picture.

But as the girls slip out of their comfort zone, so do some long-held secrets. And just how far they’re willing to go for their team takes them all—especially Coach—by surprise.

A testament to the strength and resilience of modern teenage girls, We Are the Wildcats will have readers cheering.

– Goodreads

This was my most anticipated read for March and I was so disappointed. I went back and forth about what rating to give. When I finished reading, I said a 3. Wasn’t as good as I hoped, but eh. Now the more I think about it, the more I want to bring it down to a 2.5.

This was first featured on First Impression Friday. So one of my predictions came true – I read it in two days thanks to the 24in48 readathon. Otherwise, I may have had some trouble getting more into it.

I loved the first two chapters, but SIX POV’s is A LOT. I would get confused about who I was reading and why I was switching story lines. Some authors can do multiple POVs and it’s great – like Queen Leigh Bardugo. Each character has a distinct voice. To me, all six girls had the same voice, same way of speaking. Sometimes I had to flip back to remind myself who I was reading at that moment.

The book was fast paced – it takes place just over 24 hours. The girls get chosen for the varsity field hockey team. Their coach is toxic and manipulative and emotionally abusive. From the synopsis, it seemed like they were going to realize that and take back the team. Like they say, “Team first, always.”

However, that was not the case. One girl realized his ways, but no one would listen. You see Coach’s favorite about to graduate. He’s already looking for another girl to mold. It wasn’t until late, LATE in the book where the girls realized who he really is and decided to get back at him. Most of it is all the girls but one defending him and harping about how it’s just his way and this is how he shows he cares. Ew. No.

The more I thought on it, this is the reason why I brought the book down to 2.5 stars. I just couldn’t justify three stars with the way the girls were toward this abusive man. It wasn’t the great feminist, burn the patriarchy book I wanted. I’m just real real mad about it.

Have you read We Are the Wildcats? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, blog tour, contemporary, Horror, three star book, ya

📚 24in48 Wrap up 📚

I had so much fun participating in the 24in48 readathon! I’d love to participate in more, so if you know of any let me know!

I read a total of 8 hours and 32 minutes. I wanted to hit 12 hours, but I did have my almost 3-year-old at home. Sunday he was more energetic than usual, and I was utterly exhausted. I got a lot of reading done after he finally passed out. I read about 4-ish hours a day, which I think is more than I read in a normal weekend! I really liked clocking my time. It also made me focus and just read – not check fb or twitter every 2 minutes. It worked so well for me I may try to start tracking daily time or weekly time!

As a reminder, here are the books I wanted to read –

Here’s how I did:

All in all, I am super proud of how I did! I think adding an extra two hours a day would have been pretty tough for me with my kid here. If he was at his grandparents I think it wouldn’t have been an issue at all!

Did you participate in 24in48? What’s your favorite readathon? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…