Blogging News and Personal Life
July was both a month of good and bad, at times there was some good things that happened, and it also kicked my butt!! So I want to get the negative stuff out of the way. My job hasn’t worked out as I planned, not making the income I was promised and after all those months of not having a job, yeah looking for something better now. Then a couple of days ago my car wouldn’t start. I think its the starter, and praying its not my alternator. My
poor baby….is hurt and I am going stir crazy without my car even though its only been a couple of days!! On the other side, July was a special month of birthdays for my family. My sister and cousin both have birthdays in early July. So even though I don’t even live close to them, it was fun face timing them. Don’t you just love technology sometimes. My sister is in Chicago and my cousin in Canada.
As for the blog, some great things have been happening. As some of you may know, the past few months I have been working on a book database for romance novels. Its basically a list of recommendations, with links to individual pages for buy links, addy’s to goodreads and basic info about each book. Under all sorts of categories of heroes, heroines, tropes, themes. And upcoming I will start working on time era’s and genres. I also changed to a homepage, I wanted a change. I have read some amazing books this month though, some of the best books I have read all year have been read this month, so as far as reading goes—it has been AMAZING!!! First off there were two books that were the most inspiring of books, some of the others listed below were too…but these two made me want to dance and just made me feel so happy. First off was The Last Outlaw and boy was that good, and it was a bit bitter sweet, since Jake and Miranda are my favorite couple of all time and I was so sad to see the their story end…or NOT. The author did hint that she had plans for future books involving the family, like the kids so we shall see what happens. *crossing fingers* that this is not the end for Jake and Miranda. But yeah this book made me cry buckets….but also brought plenty of smiles and laughter. The second book I just had to point out was The Sea King. And man….I want to re read it now, it was so dang good. 600 pages and I read it in one sitting. Yep, that is how good it was. I personally think it was better than The Winter King, but it is a bit different. So overall July wasn’t a bad month or anything, but August I plan on doing some summer fun even if it kills me hehe
Books Read and Reviewed
- [2 Jul] Welcome to Last Chance by Hope Ramsay ★★★★
- [3 Jul] The Highland Commander by Amy Jarecki ★★★★
- [4 Jul] The Scottish Duke by Karen Ranney ★★★★
- [8 Jul] Built by Jay Crownover ★★★★
- [10 Jul] The Pirate and I by Katharine Ashe ★★★
- [12 Jul] Warrior Rising by P.C. Cast ★★★★½
- [19 Jul] Kiss My Boots by Harper Sloan ★★★★
- [22 Jul] No Other Highlander by Adrienne Basso ★★★★½
- [22 Jul] Knight on the Texas Plains by Linda Broday ★★★★½
- [24 Jul] Monster Among the Roses by Linda Kage ★★★★½
- [24 Jul] The Scandal of It All by Sophie Jordan ★★★★
- [24 Jul] Crown of Crystal Flame by C.L. Wilson ★★★★★
- [26 Jul] Bliss by Lynsay Sands ★★★½
- [27 Jul] Red Wolf by Jennifer Ashley ★★★★½
- [29 Jul] Escape to You by Jennifer Ryan ★★★★
- [29 Jul] So I Married a Sorcerer by Kerrelyn Sparks ★★★★★
- [30 Jul] Together by Linda Lael Miller ★★★★
Reading Challenges Updates
[challenge-progress for=”Bad Boys of Romance 2017″]
[challenge-progress for=”Books N’Tunes Reading Challenge 2017″]
[challenge-progress for=”Audio Book Reading Challenge 2017 “]
[challenge-progress for=”Oldie But A Goodie Reading Challenge 2017″]
[challenge-progress for=”Out Of This World Reading Challenge 2017”]
[challenge-progress for=”Spooks Howls and Fangs Reading Challenge 2017 “]
[challenge-progress for=”Read It All Reading Challenge-Beverly Jenkins”]
Goodreads Reading Challenge-165 books out of 300–9 Books Behind of Schedule–I am a little behind, but hopefully I will be able to get ahead this next month.
Top Picks
I’m sorry your July wasn’t the greatest. It’s sucks when you think you’ll be getting one thing and get another. I hope August is much better for you. You read and reviewed some wonderful books.
I’m so sorry to hear about the job not working out and about your car. *hugs* let me know if there’s anything I can do to help <3
I like and hear the crying ones
They end up being my favorites.
I am impressed that you read a 600 page in one sitting, it must have been crazy good. I like your new layout as well. You have worked hard, and organized things really well. Go Renee! I hope that you find a new job soon and that it is all that you hoped.
oh yes, normally 600 pages will take me a day or two to read, but I only read it in a few hours. But C.L. Wilson does that for me. I wasn’t sure how my readers would think about my homepage, but so far I have only heard positive feedback. So I am glad I made the change.
I love your blog changes. Your database is super cool! And I am jealous you had 2 five star reads last month. I didn’t have any 🙁 I am excited to read So I married a Sorcerer though!
I’m sorry to hear about the job and the car. That sucks! Hopefully August will be better on the personal front!
Thank you. I was lucky to get 2 five star…but those books were pretty dang good!! You will love Sparks new book, especially if you loved book one. I can’t wait to hear what you think of that one.
Love the updated design! I am definitely going to take advantage of your database! I’m sorry about your job and car. Hopefully, everything will get back on track soon. Yeah for some good reads in July!
Oh you definitely should Jennifer!! It took months to put together, but I wanted something special for my readers. Hope you are well and have missed seeing you. 🙂
I think your classification pages are awesome. Go Renee! I hope the car is an easy fix, and that a better job comes along. So happy July was a stellar reading month!
Oh thanks darling. Hope you enjoy them.
I hope my car doesn’t take much to fix *crossing fingers*.
And yes July was a good reading month for me. Hope you have a wonderful month hun.
Wow, the project will be so helpful. Hoping something good comes soon for a job and with your car.
Great picks for your faves. I still need to read Knight of the Plains and Last Outlaw. I’ll keep the tissues close. 😉
Wishing you are great August, Renee!
Oh good….hope you take advantage of it Sophia!!
You will love Knight of the Plains and Last Outlaw, I am super stoked to see what your thoughts are on those. But yeah both get pretty emotional, so you will need tissues.
“August I plan on doing some summer fun even if it kills me hehe” <- Me too! lol
I’m so stinkin’ sorry about your car!! I hope she’s back home soon!! And that also sucks about the job! I’ve had that happen before and it always sucks to have to look for a new job!! Grrrrrrrrr… But HEY! It’s a new month and you’ve got a great database of romance books!! I ALWAYS wanted to do a database of my reviews but I never have the time to sit and work on it. YAY for you!!! Here’s to a great month *cheers*
Car issues are the worst! I hope things work out for you. And it was great that you could facetime with your cousin & sister. Most of my cousins live fairly close, so I’m lucky that way. And wow, talk about a great reading month. I’m actually pretty excited because I think I’m finally coming out of this reading slump. Thank heavens! Have you read Katie Ruggle before. I’m on my second of her books and loving it!
Aww booooo, I’m sorry to hear that you’re not loving the job and now you’re having car troubles. Cars are honestly the worst, even when they are great!
My birthday was early July! July is such an awesome month. 😉
Gosh I still need to read The Sea King. I go in chronological order and I’m still in my late August and September books! Plus it is so long and I know I’m going to want to read it all in one go. Sometimes I feel like I want to throw out of review copy schedule, but I mean too much of a control freak for that. O_O I am so so so glad that you loved it!
Have a wonderful day, Renee. =)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
I love my car…but yes they can be so annoying and frustrating too!!
You SO need to read the Sea King. I know its long and all, but really its amazing. I understand why you keep to your schedule, you are much more patient than I am. Because the moment I got it I read it hehe Is that bad? But yes I would say you will want to read it in one sitting. Happy Birthday too!!
Hope August is a great month for you.
That’s too bad your job ended up not working out *and* you have car issues at the same time. Jeesh. Hopefully August will be a bit kinder to you! Oh, I have to say I love what you’ve done with the blog. The database is terrific! 🙂
Yeah I was pretty disappointed, especially with the income promised but I hope I can find a good offer soon. I just hope fixing my car won’t be too much to fix. I am glad you like the database, I was very curious to see what you thought of it.
Oh dang on the work front but glad there were some good things in July to help balance it out 🙂 Good luck with the job hunt!
Sorry that your job isn’t working out as promised. Plus your car…No fun 🙁 It sounds like you had such a great month with reading and blogging. I loved Knight on the Texas Plains! I am working my way through the Outlaw Hearts series this month and also plan to read So I Married a Sorcerer.
Aww so sorry aout your new job not working out for you… and your car! Gaahh don’t know what I would do if my car wouldn’t start!
I have been super excited to read The Sea King but I still have a number of books I need to read first. Also, I have been in a semi slump so I have basically been rereading my favorites!
Hope August will be better! Good luck with job hunting!
Oh yes….life sometimes sucks right? All that adult responsibility. hehe But yeah I will admit I am going crazy not having a car right now. But hopefully I will have it fixed by the weekend. *crossing fingers*
You will love The Sea King. I guarantee it, it was so dang good.
Hope you are well and enjoying your Sunday.