Oh my goodness I am so exhausted. This week has been so tiring haha I have been all over the place. From getting car stuff done, to tons of grocery shopping for the month and just running errands all over the place. So now I honestly just want to relax on my couch, with a cup of tea and just read because I am tired. But I plan on doing nothing this week but reading haha I hope you all had a great first week of not only January but of the YEAR! Can you believe it? I still can’t. Even though it was a busy week I still managed to get some good reading in. Not as much as I wanted to though to be honest, but I had a super busy week. I did start participating in this fun thing on Bookstagram called “Trope Tuesday” and its been really fun.
Bookish Posts and Books Read of Week of January 1 through January 7th
This was a interesting reading week, I really got through some fun audiobooks this week. I did read 10 books this week which is pretty good considering how busy I was this week. But the books that I did read were pretty wonderful to read. I even found some Valentine’s themed books and loved those.
(All my books read and their reviews are on Goodreads, I have linked for you)
Book Read-Moonlight by Sarina Bowen–Rating 4 Stars—This was the first book of the year and I really enjoyed this one. It had some fun tropes to it and I really enjoyed the bantering which is what Sarina Bowen excels at.
The Lone Wolf’s Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells—Rating 4 Stars—I had a fun time with this one. I think if you want more PNR in your reading then I do recommend this author. She isn’t as polished as the more trad pub authors, but she has a unique take on some pack dynamics. I really enjoyed the connection and the hero’s motivations for the rejection.
Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan—5 Stars—This was a fabulous book to kick off the year with! I absolutely enjoyed this one here. I can see why its so well loved by the community and its well deserved. This is one of those books that is also great if you want to read romance. Its just a well balanced story, the angst is low and none of that crazy drama. Just endearing and a deep romance you can connect to. Yes it made me cry haha but not because it was super sad or anything, its just very heartfelt and I just had all these happy feels all the way through it.
Undertow by Sam Mariano—4 Stars—This was so interesting and fun. I have only read one other book by this author and its super dark! I mean don’t get me wrong Untouchable is amazing haha but its gritty and dark. But this one was sweet and the hero isn’t a bully to the heroine although there is bullying. The heroine’s neighbors are trying to push her out of the neighborhood, so she hires the hero as he is a lawyer to look for a legal way to deal with it. The next book will be a bully romance between their kids.
Book Read-The Duke’s Rules of Engagement by Jennifer Haymore—3.5 Stars—This was an interesting romance and thankfully it didn’t have any modernisms in it that would bother me at all. The writing style was super fun to read, the permise was so fascinating and I loved their connection.
Book Read-Secrets in Valentine Valley by Emma Cane—Rating 4 Stars—This was an amazing novella. If you read her Valentine books and enjoyed them, you will enjoy this one. It also has some aspects to suspense.
Audio Book Read-Wrapped Up In You by Ella Frank—Rating 4 Stars—What a fun novella. It starts out with a married couple and you get to see their love story and how they get together. It was really charming and sweet and my first Ella Frank so I am interesting in trying her other stuff. Also Valentine’s Day themed
Audio Book Read-Better Than A Box of Chocolates by Emily March—Rating 3.5 Stars—This was a charming small town romance with a heroine that is anti Valentines which is interesting because she is a wedding photographer so she is in the romance business lol
Audio Book Read-F-Bomb by Lani Lynn Vale—Rating 4 Stars—for a MC romance this was so SWEET and fun! I just had a blast with this book and was so wonderful! And it has fun Disneyland times.
Audio Book Read-Shifters in the Night by Molly Harper—Rating 4 Stars—This was a delightful read! I am just loving this series and I am almost caught up and its making me sad. But I loved this dynamic with the hero being a Selkie/Merman and the heroine being a deer and can see Aura’s.
Recommend It: Arranged Marriage
Audio Book Review-The Duke’s Rules of Engagement by Jennifer Haymore
Book Review-Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan
Week 1 of January Releases of 2023
Book Review-Moonlighter by Sarina Bowen
Bookish Posts To Look Forward To This Week
New Years Book Tag
Book Release Post
Review-Justice Ascending by Rebecca Zanetti
Review-The Warlord by Gena Showalter
Recommend It: Barbarian Warriors
Current Reads
My Current Audiobook is The Warlord, I just didn’t get to it last week but I am in the mood for some good PNR and I have been falling behind on Showalter of late. I just started Justice Ascending and nothing better than a Zanetti read right? I will be grabbing up the Fernando read as I received a ARC for it and I just haven’t read her lately, not sure why I used to binge all of her stuff. This historical I just found browsing through my Libby app and really intrigued and the cover is so sexy and pretty. These are the romance covers I want more of not less. Then I gotta return to the Aja James world.
Book Releases I am Excited For
A Long Time Coming by Meghan Quinn
A Chance Inheritance by Carolyn Brown
The Wicked in Me by Suzanne Wright
Destroy Me by Michelle Heard
My Weekly TBR
These are books that I have a rough TBR for, I normally don’t like a super strict TBR as I tend to be a mood reader, so I might get to these books but depending on my mood, I might not get to all of them, I have a good mix of library reads, purchased books and kindle unlimited. I have a couple of historicals, some Christmas contemporaries, a mafia and some romantic suspense.
Favorite Book of the Week
New Additions to A&R
Seduced by Darkness by Bec McMaster
Ruined Secrets by Neva Alta J
Oh Archer’s Voice is so wonderful! I just loved that book. I listened to the audio.
You shop once a month? That’s amazing.
Yep! I do. Well Mostly. I do my grocery shopping once a month, I mostly stick to Costco and higher quality produce stores, it might be a bit more expensive but I use air tight containers for my produce and most of it will last almost a full month so it saves me in the long run. Then just go to the grocery store throughout the month for the perishable stuff that doesn’t last very long like eggs, or Avocados or bananas.
We have to go to the grocery store every week and it is exhausting. I didn’t buy much this week but my husband drinks 4 to 5 gallons of milk per week so we have to go all the time. You had a fantastic reading week, especially with how busy you were. Have a great week!
Oh, how I wish I could read as much as you do. Some weeks/months are better than others for me. You had a great week! Can’t wait for next week.
It does seem crazy it’s already January. It’s going to be June before we know it with how time flies. I’m glad you enjoyed both Moonlighter and Archer’s Voice.
I hope next week will be more relaxing for you Renee!
Last week was a busy running around week for me, too. Way to go still getting to 10 books. Your latest picks look good. I haven’t read a Showalter or Fernando in a bit and I need to read the last in that Zanetti series.
Have a good week, Renee!
Sounds like last week was nonstop. Hopefully this week isn’t as busy. I loved The One for Me by Corinne Michaels. The whole series was so good.
I’m so excited to see what you think of Aja’s book!! I hope you were able to put your feet up for a bit 🙂
Ten books is a very impressive start to the year!
Wishing you a great reading week
I hope you get some rest! Errands seem to suck the life out of you, right? I loved Archer’s Voice (as you know) too!