So I’m not freaking out about the middle of the year? Are you?

Best Book I’ve Read So Far

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

This book was the easiest pick for this post I think I made. I laughed, I cried (I ugly cried people!). Lenny lost her best friend to cancer and is not doing well. At all. She takes a nanny job for a little girl who recently lost her grandfather and meets the little girl’s estranged uncle, Miles. The journey through grief here can be triggering, so be forewarned before you read. Also, this is a romance, but it’s a heavy one. For some reason, I love books that deal with grief, and I will be revisiting this book again and again. This also happens to be the best audiobook I’ve listened to so far this year.

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far

The Path to Loving Him by Meghan Quinn

Another book that deals with grief. I promise this isn’t a trend. Ryland is raising his late sister’s little girl. He also happens to be the coach of the local high school baseball team. Imagine his surprise when the one night stand he can’t stop thinking about ends up being not only his new assistant coach, but she’s also the new tenant in his garage apartment. This is the third book in the series, and, in my opinion, it’s also the best one.

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick

I’m going to be completely honest with you, I have no clue what this book is even about, I just saw that one of my favorite authors wrote another book and I snatched it up from my friendly local book store. This is her second book and I’m hopeful it will be a good one.

Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year

I don’t have one? I was looking through my pre-orders and while there is some good stuff there, nothing has me going “I need this now I can’t wait for it to come out”.

Biggest Disappointment

I got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t DNF this book, I was just disappointed that it didn’t live up to the potential of the author’s previous works. And by potential, I mean laugh out loud funny. It still had some silly moments, but it was like the author was trying too hard to live up to that potential. It does get bonus points for the talking lion.

Biggest Surprise

I was told this book was going to be weird, and it absolutely was. But it was also beautiful. I read both the physical and audiobook versions of this, as the book has such a unique writing style. My heart broke for a few of the characters too. But this one really surprised me.

New Favorite Author

Is it possible to have a few cemented in your brain this year? Abby Jimenez really positioned herself as a favorite with Say You’ll Remember Me. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by her, but this title really hit home for me and now I’m obsessed.

I’m also making my way through Meghan Quinn’s back catalog. Her newer stuff is better, and she is a very prolific author. But she also never forgets to include emotion in her stories. Till Summer Do Us Part was her most recent release and the audiobook was amazing.

I just finished reading my way through Chloe Liese’s back catalog. At least one character in her main couple has a disability which no one seeks to cure or fix. She treats these disabilities with respect and care and I really appreciate it.

Newest Fictional Crush

Apparently my yearly answer of “no one compares to my Husband” is still true. Although Xavier from Say You’ll Remember Me is the definition of “if he wanted to he would” so…

Newest Favorite Character

I cannot tell you because it would give it away, but there is a roommate situation in this book for one of the characters. Love the roommate. The Roommate is the best!!!

Book That Made You Cry

See Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone…again. Look, lots of books have made me cry this year. This one made me cry the most. My own grief journey has been interesting, and for some weird reason, I love reading about other peoples journeys, as long as they have HEA’s!!!

Book That Made You Happy

For Whom The Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

Okay, not gonna lie, I am kind of obsessed with the author’s Hells Bells series on TikTok. And I normally don’t go out and by the “I’m an influencer and I wrote a book” books, but I read the version she posted to AO3 and knew I had to have this one. It’s such an interesting take on the afterlife and a fun romantasy to boot. It made me grin from ear to ear to read, and Bel is such a sweetie and Sharkie is the best.

Favorite Book to Movie Adaptation That You Have Seen So Far?

Superman got its start as a comic book (you have to read the words, so it counts!) and has a ton of iterations. David Corenswet is right up there with Christopher Reeves, in my humble opinion. If you haven’t seen this movie, what are you waiting for! This movie was perfectly cast, the music was fire (I still have Punkrocker in my head) and its message is more important than ever.

Favorite Review You’ve Written This Year

Hah! You’re funny. Asking this question when you know full well that I haven’t written a single review all year.

Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year

You can’t see me, but I am shrugging. I don’t think any of them are the most beautiful. They all have their art and are beautiful in their own way.

What Books Do You Really Need To Read By The End of The Year

My Libby and Cloud Library Holds. I have a lot of them and I can’t always get the first book finished before the next 13 become available. Or, I accidentally return a book before I’m done (looking at you Caught Up). Need to finish those Library Books.

Favorite Community Member

All of you. That’s not a cop out, I swear. Bloggers build their communities one member at a time, and to signal one person out is kinda rude. You all make a difference and I’m thankful for each and every one of you!

Hope you enjoyed my answers! Leave a comment of your favorite book and have a great Sunday!!!

How, exactly, does one start a blog when one has been missing from the blog scene for almost a year?

Surprise? Hey, I’m alive? Or, a tried and true “Hello there” followed by the obligatory Obi Wan Kenobi GIF?

How about Hi!

I fooled ya! It’s OG Stitch!

So, Where have I been? I promise I’ll keep it short.

In the fall I got promoted to full time, which killed all my extra free time. Then mom needed surgery, at which point I found myself jobless but still no free time. Mom’s okay, btw’s, she was just off her feet and needed care she couldn’t provide herself.

Now mom is mostly healed and I am back at work, but part time and with a different job title. All good things, I promise!

And on top of all that, I still managed to read 162 books last year and really focus on crochet as a relaxing hobby. Audiobooks are totally my jam now. I fully took advantage of my local library to be able to read a lot of those books.

So yeah, it’s been hectic. But good all at the same time.

So how’s my reading been going this year? Decent. I’m only at 37 books, but my goal is 80, so that’s not too bad. I’m sure I’m not going to hit 162 again. Pretty much ever. And that’s okay.

I just finished the Bergman Brothers series by Chloe Liese. It’s a very good romance series and deals heavily with real world disability issues.

As far as blog plans go, I’m going to post! I’m not yet what that means, but at least once a week for now. Possibly every Sunday for the first few months!

What about you, how have you been doing?

Well hello beautiful people! This was not the post I was expecting to write today. It seems that I am unable to access my blog on my computer.

I’ve already contacted the help desk/customer support, but since I have to go through the app, it’s going to take a while. How long, well, the bot tells me they should get back to me any time between 48-96 hours.

So yeah. It’s going to be a minute.

So I apologize in advance for my lack of content and will do my best to keep you updated on this as I am able. In the meantime, read some good books!

Well hello! And how are you doing today? Have you remembered to take some time to decompress lately? It’s hard trying to find the time with our busy schedules and the media screaming at us, but take a minute to breath in, breath out, and focus on some me time.

Today’s self-care reminder has been brought to you by WWW Wednesday!  It’s the day when we answer the three W’s: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next? It’s hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words but was previously hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm.

What are you currently reading?

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

It’s the follow-up to Get a Life, Chloe Brown, and I’m really enjoying the audiobook (narrated by Ione Butler). You can find the entire series on Scribd, if you are so inclined. I haven’t read a whole lot of romance yet, but fake dating seems to be a trope I am drawn to.

The Impossible Us by Sarah Lotz

So I just started this one as an ARC, even though it was released yesterday. I’m enjoying it, but I will say I wish the synopsis hadn’t spoiled the point of them…well. I’m not going to spoil it again. Suffice it to say the synopsis spoils a major plot point, and I would have like to have gone into that bit blind.

What did you recently finish reading?

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

I finished this last week and really enjoyed the audiobook. I enjoyed the mental health discussions and the disabled persons’ rep. And the two main characters being absolutely adorable doesn’t hurt.

Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

I finished this book just last night. I have a full review that is coming tomorrow. But, just as a sneak peek between friends, this book was great.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Portrait in Death by J.D. Robb

I haven’t been doing very well with my In Death re-read, but this will be book 16 to be read. I’m coming precious!

Today is also my first day at my job! I am super stoked and can’t wait to start! Wish me luck!

Hello beautiful people! I hope you are all feeling well! Me? Well, I have COVID.

Well, we think it’s COVID. It could be a mild cold but we are taking precautions as if it’s COVID.

I am fully vaccinated, though I haven’t had my booster yet. And why is a long story that I won’t go into here.

My symptoms are mild and the Hubs is taking good care of me. I’m getting plenty of rest, the Hubs insists!

In the meantime, I’m taking a break from the blog to fully rest, which means no posts for the rest of the week. Hopefully I’ll be back next week with new content for you! 🤞

Well hello!  And how are we doing this fine Monday before Christmas?  Doing that last minute Christmas shopping?  I have one gift left to buy and it will just have to patiently wait on me to pick it up!

In the meantime, I read a book I think you should know about.  Absynthe by Brendan P. Bellecourt.

Liam Mulcahey, a reclusive, shell-shocked veteran, remembers little of the Great War. Ten years later, when he is caught in a brutal attack on a Chicago speakeasy, Liam is saved by Grace, an alluring heiress who’s able to cast illusions. Though the attack appears to have been committed by the hated Uprising, Grace believes it was orchestrated by Leland De Pere–Liam’s former commander and the current President of the United States.
 
Meeting Grace unearths long-buried memories. Liam’s former squad, the Devil’s Henchmen, was given a serum to allow telepathic communication, transforming them into a unified killing machine. With Grace’s help, Liam begins to regain his abilities, but when De Pere learns of it, he orders his militia to eliminate Liam at any cost.
 
But Liam’s abilities are expanding quickly. When Liam turns the tables and digs deeper into De Pere’s plans, he discovers a terrible secret. The same experiment that granted Liam’s abilities was bent toward darker purposes. Liam must navigate both his enemies and supposed allies to stop the President’s nefarious plans before they’re unleashed on the world. And Grace is hiding secrets of her own, secrets that could prove every bit as dangerous as the President’s.

Let’s just get this out of the way.  I loved this book.  I had a lot of fun reading it.  It’s set in an alternate history 1920’s after World War 1.  A war in which The United States were the aggressors.  That made for a very interesting plot point, let me tell you.   Liam and his squad were given an experimental treatment that allowed them to use telepathy between them.  It made them extremely efficient.  But somewhere along the way, Liam lost his memory, and when Grace comes along to unlock it, well, that’s when the fun begins. 

I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this book.  Some of them I saw coming, and others I did not.  I thought I had the big twist figured out, but alas, I was wrong.  It was nice to be wrong…for a change. 

This book does take you on a bit of a journey through Liam’s history.  It will flash back to his time in the service for a chapter, sometimes two, to help move the plot along.  But it does it well.  Sure, there are some overly done expositiony bits, but I actually enjoyed those.  And that’s a testiment to how much I liked this book, because usually, I do not like those moments.

The characters were vibrant and engaging.  However, it does feel like Grace, who is an important character, doesn’t get enough page time.  Which is disappointing, but also makes sense given the scope of the story.  Liam is hopelessly lost at the start of the book, and it’s fascinating to watch him start to put his life back together as he searches for his kidnapped friend, Morgan.

The setting of an alternative America was fun to explore.  I loved getting to see prohibition era Chicago.  And it’s also kind of steampunk-esque, with its mechanized men and the hoppers they used to fight in the Great War.  To say anything else about the setting would give away plot points, so I’ll just avoid doing that for your reading enjoyment. 

I would say that you need to read this. It’s a very fun, twisty read that will leave you guessing until the very end. 5 stars!