2020 August and September Wrap Up

Do you ever put off looking back on the amount of reading you’ve done recently, convinced that you didn’t do nearly as much as you’d set out to read? Stopped yourself from thinking about it because you’re just a little disappointed in yourself for being lazy – because that’s the true reason you didn’t pick anything up. It’s not like there’s not time to read with the way the world is right now…

Well thankfully writing this post surprised me with how much I actually managed to read over the last couple of months. I was convinced I’d read next to nothing!

In the month of August I certainly got more reading done than I have in the last little while. Part of it had to do with putting aside more time for myself, to try and not feel pressured to always be “on”. With the way things are in the world right now, it’s nice to be able to relax a little bit, distress and take things one step at a time. But because I was putting this time away for myself, I didn’t think about the reading I did during this time as… well, as counting more or less.

That isn’t to say it shouldn’t count. Any reading you do counts – newspapers, comics, flyers… it all counts because you’re using your brain to process words on a page. You’re reading! You’ve picked something up in the spur of the moment just because? It counts! You got halfway through a book and then decided that book isn’t for you? It counts! I just have to remind myself of that sometimes.

I also got a nice chunk of reading done in September. Hard to believe since I posted virtually nothing this month, but I’m actually content with the amount of reading I’ve accomplished. Here’s hoping that the amount of reading I get done can be translated in a decent amount of posts over the next little bit.

However, I still need to work on creating a consistent upload schedule. (So thank you for being patient with me while I figure things out.) I’m going to aim to have 3 posts uploaded a week, but I make no promises. I’d love to have consistent days on which I upload things, but for now the first step is going to be attempting to upload three videos a week. As you can tell, I’ve been slacking a bit the last couple of months. In the past I’ve had very unsustainable goals with my upload scheduling, so here’s hoping that this format will make it possible for me to find some consistency in my blog posts.

As always, here are some pictures of my pup, Yzma. August was pretty chill for her, September full of hikes and playdates. (Shameless plug for her adorable PupStagram account @YzmaTheHound):

Without further ado, here’s my reading stats for August and September:

For reference: Physical books, eBooks, and AudioBooks. Library books.

Total books completed: 11

Total pages: 4245 pages (avg. 386 pages per book)

Total books completed in August: 6

Total pages: 3046 pages (avg. 508 pages per book)

Completed Books:

  1. (Mis)fortune by Melissa Haag (Judgement of the Six, Book 2)[3.5 stars]
  2. Nosatsu Junkie by Ry Ryoko Fukuyama (Charming Junkie, Vol 14 – 16)[Avg. 4 stars]
  3. Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer (The Twilight Saga, Book 5)[0.5 stars]
  4. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard (Something Strange and Deadly, Book 1)[4.5 stars]
  5. Emmitt’s Treasure by Melissa Haag (Judgement of the Six Companion Series, Book 2)[3.5 stars]
  6. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas (Crescent City, Book 1)[4.5 stars]

Total books completed in September: 5

Total pages: 1196 pages (avg. 239 pages per book)

Completed Books:

  1. Dreamthief by Tamara Grantham (Olive Kennedy, Fairy World M.D., Book 1)[3.5 stars]
  2. Holly Freakin’ Hughes by Kelsey Kingsley (Goodreads)[3 stars]
  3. Mistletoe Match by Lindzee Armstrong (No Match for Love, Book 6)[1 star]
  4. How to tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You by Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal) (Goodreads)[3 stars]
  5. Coffee, Tea, or Me by Rich Amooi (Goodreads)[3 stars]

Dedicated Blog Posts:

  1. Hope(less) by Melissa Haag
  2. Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
  3. Clay’s Hope by Melissa Haag
  4. Sea Glass by Maria V Snyder
  5. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
  6. Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer
Continue reading “2020 August and September Wrap Up” →

Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

Rating: 0.5 out of 5.

Pages: 662

Series: The Twilight Saga, Book 5

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampire, Romance, Supernatural

Publication date: August 4, 2020

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Until now, readers have only experiences Bella’s side of the events that happen in Twilight. Now, Midnight Sun gives the reader a chance to read things from Edward’s point of view.

Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing thing that’s happened in Edward’s long second life. As the reader learns more about Edward’s past and his inner thoughts as he struggles with being around her, it’s apparent just how hard he fights to keep Bella safe. Even if it’s from himself.

“And yet, though her thoughts had been so clear in her odd eyes—odd because of the depth to them—I could hear only silence from the place she was sitting. Just… silence.”

Midnight Sun, Chapter 1

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Continue reading “Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer” →

Something Strange And Deadly by Susan Dennard

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Pages: 544

Series: Something Strange and Deadly, Book 1

Genres: Young Adult, Steampunk, Zombies, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Romance, Horror, Supernatural

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Eleanor Fitt, of the Philadelphia Fitts, is heartbroken to discover her brother is missing. She’s terrified to know that his disappearance is tied together with the walking Dead in the streets, to know that the Necromancer has kidnapped him.

Doing what she can to rescue her brother, Eleanor enlists the help of the Spirit Hunters. This motley crew, hired to help protect the city from the Dead, is after the very necromancer that has Eleanor’s brother. As Eleanor spends more time with the crew, and their handsome inventor, the more dire the situation gets. Not only is her reputation at stake, but also her life.

“Don’t think I’ll look after you, though – the world would be better off with one less princess.”

“I’m not a princess,” I huffed, beating my brain for some worthy retort.

“A queen then?”

“No! That’s not what I meant – “

“Oh, an empress. I see. Pardon me, Your Majesty.” He swooped into a crouched bow, and when his torso sprang back up, a smile floated at the edge of his lips.

“N-no, not an empress either. I-I’m just…” The more I stuttered, the more pompous his smile became.

“You’re exasperating,” I finally groaned.

Susan Dennard, Something Strange and Deadly

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When Truthwitch came out, Susan Dennard hit my radar. I’d like to say that I read this book and loved it, but I have yet to actually give the series a read. The books in this series are certainly on my ridiculously long TBR, I just haven’t picked them up yet. The reason I bring this up is to show that Dennard’s books prior to Truthwitch were not on my radar. Something Strange and Deadly was even further removed from my “books to check out” radar since I hadn’t discovered my love for Steampunk yet. What brought the book to my radar – and Dennard’s amazing writing as a whole – was her amazingly perfect twitter thread about The Luminaries. As soon as I read this thread, I knew I had to get my hands on everything that Dennard had written.

I fell head over heels in love with her writing as I tuned in daily to see where The Luminaries was going to go. (Side note, I can’t wait until it’s possible to get my hands on a physical book that takes place in this amazing world. A book where the LumiNerd can’t mess with Winnie yet can still quench their thirst.) Her words while writing these twitter posts kept me engaged and waiting for more.

That’s why it came as absolutely no shock to me that I fell in love with Something Strange and Deadly from the very first line.

Since I got my car, I’ve loved listening to AudioBooks on my way to and from work on the days I need to go into the office. It took my a while to get through Something Strange and Deadly simply because I didn’t want the story to end. I found myself throwing other AudioBooks and Podcasts into the middle of my listen through because I didn’t want my time with Eleanor to end.

That is, until I remembered that I could easily grab the next book in the series and devour it just as soon as I finished Something Strange and Deadly. Suffice it to say, I listened to the second half of this story in one “sitting”. As I write this, I have A Darkness Strange and Lovely waiting for me on Audible. As soon as I’m done rambling on I’m going to jump right back into the world and see what Eleanor can get herself up to this time.

For someone who didn’t take such a roundabout route to find this book, here’s a quick breakdown as to why Something Strange and Deadly called to me:

In 2020 I discovered a love for the Steampunk genre in general. There’s something about the mixture of technology and historical fiction that calls to me. Dennard has done an amazing job at creating this Steampunk world. I found myself excited to see what the next invention was going to be, how it was going to help Eleanor find her brother, how it was going to help stop the Dead.

The world building itself – Steampunk elements aside – was done amazingly. I almost felt as if I was running around the streets with Eleanor, pretending to be a perfect High Society lady while frolicking in the darker parts of the city on a mission. I could imagine the places she went to, the opulence of her home and how it hid the truth of her family’s wealth. I could imagine in my mind’s eye the divide between the classes that was so glaringly obvious at this point in history.

But best of all, the characters Dennard was able to create were tangible personalities. I could guess how Eleanor and Daniel were going to react to something before it happened. I could see the way Eleanor’s face would contort in fury at just the right moment. I could feel the emotion coming from the story and sense the way it would impact what came next.

I’m not a huge fan of zombies in media – which could be the reason that this book wasn’t on my radar in the first place – but Dennard wrote this story in a way that it was even able to draw me into the mystery of the Dead. Necromancers have always fascinated me, but an army of the dead isn’t really my thing. And that being said, I enjoyed every second I spent in this world.

While this story continues to have less praise than her Witchlands books, Dennard has created a wonderful world that I can’t wait to jump back into. If you’re looking for a fun YA paranormal read, or even an interesting zombie story, I’d highly recommend giving this story a try. This isn’t your typical “walking dead” zombies are after you sort of story, so if this is what you’re looking for you probably won’t be please. However, I truly did enjoy the take on “zombies” that Dennard had here.

Continue reading “Something Strange And Deadly by Susan Dennard” →

Sea Glass by Maria V Snyder

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Pages: 379

Series: Glass, Book 2; The Chronicles of Ixia, Book 5

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Fiction, Magic, Magicians

Publication Date: August 25, 2009

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Opal has weathered rough waters and twisting currents, yet instead of finding a tranquil eddy she’s caught in a riptide. As if the fight for controlling Opal’s glass messengers – and therefore controlling Opal – isn’t enough to deal with, it’s also up to Opal to prove that blood magic is still being used. When no one believes her, it’s up to Opal to decide what to believe in and how to prove the truth to the world.

When we reached the beach, Leif fell to his knees with a dramatic cry. “Solid ground! I’ll never take you for granted again.”

“Are you going to kiss the sand?” I asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Now I’M the one being silly?”

“Yes.”

Maria V Snyder, Sea Glass

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Over the years I’ve certainly come to enjoy my time in Snyder’s worlds. She creates characters that are fun to be in the head of. She creates worlds that seem larger than life. She even creates conflict in ways I never would have thought of.

That being said, there’s definitely certain structural patterns to her stories that she doesn’t stray from. It’s clear that Snyder has found a pattern that works for her and she rarely strays from it. While this can be done in interesting ways, it’s starting to feel like her books are “Burger Essays” in book form.

Never heard the term “Burger Essay” before? It’s the kind of essay you’re expected to write in high school: introduction paragraph; first defense and example; second defense and example; third defense and example; concluding paragraph. Your first defense is always your second strongest point, the middle defense is your weakest, and the final point is your strongest to pull the entire paper together.

While this is a decent way to write essays in high school, it’s something you quickly learn to throw in the trash in post secondary school. No professor is going to give you a good grade on a Burger Essay. It’s a quick and easy way to bang out a paper, but never an interesting or unique read. Instead, your professor is going to expect you to change things up – make the essay interesting. Maybe you throw in a paragraph that’s a single sentence, maybe you add an extra example or defense to your paper. No matter what you do to change it up, there’s no way that you’re going to write to papers that can be placed side by side for your professor to say, “Oh yes, that’s exactly what I expected from this student. They’re near identical in structure.” Besides, can you imagine having to write a ten page burger essay? I’d fall asleep before the third page.

And that, my dear reader, is my long winded way to explain how Snyder’s works are currently feeling to me. While I enjoy reading them and spending time in the world, I find that I can’t read too many of them back to back. The events in the stories start to blend together for me. The characters begin to sound alike. I forget which major plot point we’re supposed to be following if I put the book down because they all follow the same formula.

While it may seem like I’m saying I didn’t enjoy this book, that’s not the truth at all. I did enjoy seeing Opal becoming her own person in this story. I did enjoy seeing her rise above her critics and prove that she was going to do what was right even if others didn’t see her side in things. I did enjoy watching her love story start to unfold. It’s just the elements of these plots points that were done before.

That isn’t to say you wouldn’t enjoy this story of Snyder’s writing style. I quite enjoyed my time in this book. What I mean is that you should expect exactly what all Maria V Snyder books are going to give you. It’ll be a fun visit into Snyder’s mind and this world of magic, but nothing exceptional to write home about.

Continue reading “Sea Glass by Maria V Snyder” →

Clay’s Hope by Melissa Haag

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Pages: 266

Series: Judgement of the Six Companion Series, Book 1

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifter, Supernatural

Publication date: April 25, 2015

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Clay is a man with few human talents, yet as a wolf he hunts well and can fight off a grizzly twice his size. The idea of a Mate is one he never seriously entertained since he knew the chances were nearly non-existent. Then he meets Gabby, a human girl. She hates him at first sight, but everything other than her has become unimportant. Winning her over has become the only thing that matters.

“A good home, huh? I wonder if Gabby likes dogs.”

Probably not. I sighed, laid my head on my paws, and have Rachel my best woeful look.

“Aw, I’m sure she does. Look at you. What’s not to like?”

My thoughts exactly.

Chapter 4

While some authors write the same story from a different perspective in what seems to be a simple a cash grab, this is definitely not what Haag has done. (Though I will have a review coming out in a couple of days about a book that does just this in my opinion.) Instead, this story manages to give great insight into the world from a werewolf perspective. While many of the scenes are the same as those in Hope(less), they read almost as completely different scenes coming from Clay’s perspective. And I love it.

This story shows Clay transforming from a sad and lonely werewolf to a man with passion and a reason to live. I adore it as it shows a man pulling himself out of a sense of hopelessness and into the light. It shows him coming to terms with his current shortcomings and putting the work in to overcome them.

It also shows the way that he struggles to be the man that Gabby needs him to be. Of course his patience works out in the end, but that doesn’t stop him from getting frustrated at the slow progression of their relationship. He grew up knowing the rules of his world while Gabby did not, Gabby grew up knowing the rules of the human world while Clay continues to struggle with understanding them.

But my favourite part of this story has to be getting so see the way the same interaction can be interpreted from both perspectives. By reading Hope(less) and Clay’s Hope back to back, it’s clear how different a situation might seem to the people in it. More on this later. If you’re looking for a cute little romance surrounding a shapeshifter plot line, you might enjoy this story. While the first book in a series that I enjoy reading from time to time, it also holds up as its own love story. However, if you read it – or the two of them – without carrying on with the story, be prepared for some plot lines that’ll never get resolved.

That being said, there are some very serious things that happen in this story that I am in no way endorsing in real life. While it’s not explicitly written this way, there are moments that could be considered stalking or coercion. These things are not things that should ever be done in a real relationship.

Continue reading “Clay’s Hope by Melissa Haag” →

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Length: 435 pages

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper, Book 2

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Historical, Horror

Publication date: September 19, 2017

Blank line!

We were all here to learn. He was the one who had a problem, not I. Perhaps it was time for fathers to teach their sons how to behave around young women. They were not born superior, no matter how society falsely conditioned them. We were all equals here.

(Ch 7, p. 69)

Following the revelation of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the charmingly arrogant Thomas Cresswell, Audrey journeys to Romania to join one of Europe’s best schools on forensic medicine.

When blood soaked discoveries start being made in the school’s foreboding castle, Audrey’s once again compelled to investigate. The investigation isn’t all fun and games, though, as Audrey learns she must also face her past and her fears in order to solve the case.

One of the things I love most about this series is how strong of a personality Audrey is. It couldn’t have been easy being a feminist in Victorian era Europe but that never stopped her from doing what she felt strongly about. Her father has finally seem the error of his ways in trying to lock her up and has let her attend this school for forensic medicine, but even he isn’t as progressive as Audrey needs him to be. Thankfully he’s not around to see what kind of mayhem Audrey gets herself into.

I really do enjoy the fact that Thomas is there for her whenever she’s going through things. While his attempts to be helpful are often misguided, he’s doing everything in his power to try to be there for her. Of course, he’s very out of his depths while doing so, causing his efforts to have adverse effects on his relationship with her. But of course, what’s a good YA romance without a little conflict here and there?

As with Stalking Jack the Ripper, Maniscalco does a fantastic job at pulling the reader into the world she’s created. It’s almost as if you’re there with Audrey as she explores the castle and tries to solve this latest case in Bran Castle. Who wouldn’t want to face hidden tunnels and dark secrets deep in the earth? To face their fears in the most visceral sense? No, just me? Cool.

More than anything, I really enjoyed being fully immersed in this tale with all of its twists and turns. Sure some of the twists were obvious but it was still fun to join the ride. The clues are laid out wonderfully in this story, making it that much sweeter when the truth is revealed. Reading a book with a writing style I adore always makes the read that much more enjoyable.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fun and mostly lighthearted mystery – with a touch of the gruesome thrown in there – you should check out this series. YA mysteries might not be your favourite cup of tea, but Maniscalco write this series in a way that transcends the typical YA tropes and brings light to this dark story.

*Spoilers ahead*

Thomas nearly broke my heart as he kept misunderstanding Audrey’s intentions. He kept trying to help her out since he could see how much pain she was in after the Jack the Ripper case, but instead of helping he kept hurting their relationship. Audrey was already rebelling against the idea of needing a man to help her get through life, of being this fragile little flower that should be seen and not heard. It makes sense that he was trying to help her the only way he knew how, but it was hard to watch how wrong his “help” was going.

In a similar strain to this, Thomas pretending to be dead in the castle’s morgue – and thereby playing a prank on Audrey – certainly didn’t end up the way he’d hoped it would. I’m sure that if he’d done this before Audrey found out that her brother was Jack the Ripper she would’ve reacted the same way that he expected her to. Alas, in her inability to face her grief head on or even put a name to it, she wasn’t acting the way she normally would have.

As much as their relationship was on rocky ground in this book, it truly made them a stronger couple. It proved that even through their very deepest lows they were going to be there for each other. Thomas was willing to climb the roof to get to Audrey and continue their investigation. If that doesn’t say commitment, I don’t know what does.

Their little confession session at the end of the book was a really sweet way to show their connection and how strong their bond was, too.

Moving away from their relationship, the other relationships in the story were extremely interesting as well. While I saw the major twist coming – that Anastasia was going to be the “Prince Dracula” that Audrey and Thomas were hunting – I still really enjoyed the way that this was all written. The missing girl that looked extraordinarily like her, how obviously she was keeping secrets from Audrey, and her disappearing into the night were all prime clues for the reader to suss out her identity. Yet my favourite was the clue that she was a descendant of Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed, or the Countess Dracula.

It must suck for Audrey, investigating two separate crimes that end up being committed by people she was close to. Yes, discovering her brother was Jack the Ripper had to hit harder than her new friend being a killer with a plot to take over Romania with Thomas, but neither could have been easy. Audrey was just learning to open her heart again, to let someone into her world, and then Anastasia goes ahead and hurts her. It’s amazing that Audrey decided to let Thomas get closer to her and didn’t end up freezing him out completely.

Meeting Thomas’ sister and Ileana must have helped mitigate the sorrow that Audrey felt with Anastasia’s betrayal – especially when Anastasia admitted to thinking about killing Audrey. However, Daciana and Ileana prove that it’s possible for Audrey to make real female friends – apart from her cousin, of course – and have them not end up being psychopaths. They might not have played the most prominently visible part in the story, but they certainly played a large part behind the scenes of things.

And, of course, their relationship was a great thing to witness. For Victorian era Europe it couldn’t have been easy to be in a same sex relationship – even if you worked exceptionally hard to keep it a secret from those around you. Yet neither female let the pressures of society get to them or force them apart. Being part of a secret society must also have been fun. Well, minus all the death that seems to come with the territory…

All of that being said, I look forward to continuing on with this series. Maniscalco has done a fantastic job at creating a world I’d happily visit… as long as I stay far away from the killers that Audrey seems to find herself following. Who knows what misadventures she’s going to get herself into next?

Other reviews for this series:

  1. Stalking Jack the Ripper (Book 1)

Hope(less) by Melissa Haag

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Pages: 315

Series: Judgement of the Six, Book 1

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Shapeshifter, Supernatural

Publication date: November 18, 2013

“It won’t be safe,” Sam said, interrupting my thoughts. He looked up from his half-empty cup. “You know it won’t be safe.”

“Sam, I’ll get a dog.” I could see by his expression that he was gearing up for another round in an old debate. Why couldn’t he understand that I’d rather get a dog than be Mated to a werewolf? I hurried around him for the bathroom down the hall.

Chapter 3

Gabby’s brain works like a human fish finder – useful when she wants to avoid people, but not without its own challenges. Like her unnaturally strong pull to men. In her search for answers as to why she’s so special, Gabby discovers a hidden community of werewolves. She immerses herself in their culture and world, until she meets Clay. Unkempt and prone to mood swings, he thinks Gabby is his. It’s up to Gabby to use every trick in her book to convince Clay to go away – and every ounce of willpower to not fall in love with the man underneath the rough exterior.

Judgement has begun…

This was most certainly not my first time reading this story, and it won’t be my last. It might be because I have a thing for werewolves, and it might be because I have an extra soft spot for werewolves named Clay – I’m looking at you, Clayton Danvers, from the mind of the amazing Kelley Armstrong – but I find myself coming back to this story every so often. While the story as a whole isn’t my favourite, I adore Gabby and Clay’s part in it. While I plan to reread the entire series to make reviews on the individual books, I oftentimes find myself just rereading this book or Clay’s companion story.

It also doesn’t hurt that parts of this series take place in Canada and I’m a sucker for stories that take place close to home. While the location of the Compound isn’t explicitly said, I like to think that it’s in Southern Ontario. Living here myself and adoring the pockets of nature that can be found, I love imagining that the compound isn’t too far away from me.

While my first thought is that werewolves can exist closely in fiction but stay away in reality, I wouldn’t mind if these werewolves were the ones that I ran into in real life. In general, these werewolves are compassionate and gentle. They understand that humans can be vicious and cruel, but that’s not all they are. But most importantly, they don’t go around terrorizing or hurting us pesky humans.

Looking at the meat of this story itself, I really enjoyed getting to know Gabby and Clay. Both can be quiet and reserved but also know how to stand their ground to get what they want. I can understand why Gabby didn’t want to Mate with a werewolf, to not want to be tied down when she finally feels free. I can also understand why Clay is willing to do anything – and I do mean anything – in order to keep the hope he sees in Gabby.

As much as I adored reading about Gabby and Clay, I really do like the way this series is written. Each novel follows a different protagonist. While the stories might feel a little disjointed at first, when they come together things fall into place. Each character is unique and stands on their own to the point where the male perspective novels – telling the same story just from a different perspective – read differently and can exist alone.

It also makes it that much more interesting to learn about the world. As the reader you get to explore the world as each person learns more about it and the unique situations going on. Gabby’s fish finder brain allows for a unique look at those around her, but can only take you so far. If you end up picking this story up, look forward to learning more about each female and their uniqueness.

If you’re looking for a cute and mostly lighthearted romance read, and don’t mind a fascinating werewolf spin to it, you might enjoy this story. Whether you feel like just picking up Gabby’s tale – which I’ve gone a couple of times since discovering it – or reading the entire series, it’s a fun read in a well developed world.

Continue reading “Hope(less) by Melissa Haag” →

2020 July Wrap Up

If the days haven’t started running together for you, I’m jealous. I can’t believe that it’s been such a long time since I’ve posted anything to this blog. I’ve certainly been reading slower than usual these last couple of months, but that’s no excuse to completely ignore things the way I have. Here’s my promise to you to get the reviews of the books I have read out sometime in the near future. I’ll find the motivation to actually sit down and write them instead of letting the words swim in my head.

As a thank you for coming back after such an extended absence, here are some pictures of my pup, Yzma. She had a great weekend at the cottage and discovered a love for water she’d never previously showed any signs of having. (Shameless plug for her adorable PupStagram account @YzmaTheHound):

Without further ado, here’s my reading stats for this month:

For reference: Physical books, eBooks, and AudioBooks. Library books.

Total books completed: 17

Total pages: 3805 pages (avg. 224 pages per book)

Completed Books:

  1. Wolf’s Curse by Kelley Armstrong (Otherworld: Kate and Logan, Book 2)[5 stars]
  2. Sea Glass by Maria V Snyder (Glass, Book 2; The Chronicles of Ixia, Book 5)[3.5 stars]
  3. Hope(less) by Melissa Haag (Judgement of the Six, Book 1)[4 stars]
  4. Clay’s Hope by Melissa Haag (Judgement of the Six Companion Series, Book 1)[4 stars]
  5. Nosatsu Junkie by Ry Ryoko Fukuyama (Charming Junkie, Vol 1 – 13)[Avg. 4 stars]

Dedicated Blog Posts:

None during the month of July, check out my June Wrap Up for my most recent reviews.

Continue reading “2020 July Wrap Up” →

2020 June Wrap Up

I know I’m not the only one, but the way things are in the world right now I’m finding it difficult to enjoy sitting down and reading as much as I used to. Of course I still enjoy immersing myself in stories, but it used to be such a relief to take a break from the world and dive into a world of mystery and intrigue. Now that I’m stuck at home most of the time it’s just not the same.

Plus the fact that my adorable little pup (who turned 1 this month!!!! Shameless plug for her adorable PupStagram account @YzmaTheHound) is with me almost all the time makes it harder to sit with a book. Sure she loves cuddling, but she also likes licking books… a habit I’m not quite to encourage. I’d much rather cuddle or play with my darling “little” girl than jump into a world I may or may not enjoy as much.

As always, here’s how adorable she was this month:

Without further ado, here’s my reading stats for this month:

For reference: Physical books, eBooks, and AudioBooks. Library books.

Total books completed: 7

Total pages: 2,291 pages (avg. 327 pages per book)

Completed Books:

  1. Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger (Goodreads)[4.5 stars]
  2. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (Goodreads)[3 stars]
  3. The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston (Once Upon a Con, Book 2)[3.5 stars]
  4. Return Addresses by Michael A McLellan (Goodreads)[4 stars]
  5. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco (Stalking Jack the Ripper, Book 1)[4.5 stars]
  6. Dangerous Beauty by J.T. Geissinger (Dangerous Beauty, Book 1)[2.5 stars]
  7. Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (Stalking Jack the Ripper, Book 2)[4.5 stars]

Dedicated Blog Posts:

  1. Shadow Frost by Coco Ma
  2. Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger
  3. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
  4. The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston
  5. Return Addresses by Michael A McLellan
  6. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
  7. Dangerous Beauty by J.T. Geissinger
Continue reading “2020 June Wrap Up” →

Dangerous Beauty by J.T. Geissinger

Rating: 2.5/5 stars Dangerous Beauty

Length: 264 pages

Series: Dangerous Beauty, Book 1

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Adult

Publication date: March 26, 2019

 

“It’ll be simple,” they said. “Just observe and report,” they said. Your first op, Naz, will be a walk in the park. Get a tan while you’re down there. Drink some beer. Make some easy money by spying on a Russian oligarch’s spoiled runaway wife.

Easy. Sure. Except apparently everyone, including her husband, underestimated this broad to a laughable fucking degree.

(Ch. 2, Naz)

Former Special Ops military man and bodyguard Nasir starts his new job thinking that it’s going to be a piece of cake. All he needs to do is trail a Russian mobster’s runaway wife in Mexico, enjoying the sun while observing and reporting back. The job comes with only one simple rule: don’t get too close. Yet it’s all Naz can do to not watch her every move. 

Evalina, on the other hand, believes she’s escaped her tormentor to live an untraceable life. Yet Eva knows there’s something that can’t be ignored about the dark, muscled stud who rescues her from a drug gang. Especially when they run into each other time and time again. Eva might have been spurned in the past but the mystery man might just show her that it’s okay to trust someone. 

 

Continue reading “Dangerous Beauty by J.T. Geissinger” →