Bookish Posts and Books Read of Week of June 18th through June 24th
ITs officially Summer and we have also reached the longest day of Summer, so now each day will get shorter haha I used to struggle with long days, but I have really enjoyed the longer days. I absolutely adored this past week. Nothing significant, it was just a solid fun week. Work was really good this week. My family left for Disneyland, but they sent me pictures so I could bask in their fun haha. I am enjoying getting back to a steady schedule of swimming, I had forgotten how much I loved it. This week is Book Bonanza, so I hope if any of you attended, you all are having a blast with it and connecting with authors and grabbing the beautiful books. Also this past week, Passionflix put out a release of Gabriel’s Rapture, Part One. Definitely had a blast with that one. I really love how they have adapted these books. The chemistry is so wonderful to watch. Also new features have been released for Season 3 of Bridgerton. Its rumored that they are staying close to the book this season. I am crossing my fingers on that. You all know how angsty I am over Season 2.
This week of reading: I had a very great week of reading. Read the books for the Breeds Read Along and really loving getting back to this series. It’s been so fun to discuss these books as we move along on it. Its also a week of reading through some ARC’s. I also was able to finish up some series too. I read 10 books this week. I also created a new template for my reviews on Goodreads. As I am doing more for my reviews on Goodreads, I decided to add more into them. I have been wanting to do this for a long while, but wasn’t sure how to go about it. But when there was a valid discussion happening on bookstagram this past week, I bit the bullet and focused on getting a better template happening for Goodreads. So starting implementing in my past few books read, I will * next to the reviews so you can see what I have done. Feel free to let me know what you think of it. The primary reason I am doing this is to do a more thorough review and provide more detailed feedback.
(All my books read and their reviews are on Goodreads, I have linked for you)
List and Link book reviews with ratings and description of opinion via goodreads
Book Read-Wrecked Palace by Catherine Cowles—Rating 5 Stars—This story was so delectable. I loved this sweet romance. Catherine Cowles really delivers on dimension of emotion. And I adored the whole grumpy sunshine and the pining heroine and how the hero is with her siblings.
Book Listened-Captivate Me by Ryan Michele—Rating 4 Stars—This book really threw me for a loop here. I absolutely adored everything about this one here. It definitely worked on my emotions here, and so much SUSPENSE implemented into the plot. Each time I pick this author up, the more I fall in love with her.
Book Read-Knight Awakening by Rebecca Zanetti—Rating 4 Stars–This was a combo read of both listening and physically reading. This was the finale of the series, so it had a bittersweet feeling to it. But absolutely adored seeing the growth in the characters and seeing this series come to a close and a sense of hope being delivered. This is honestly one of my favorite series from this author, so its a bit sad to see it be done. I would love to see her do some novellas or something connecting to this series in the future.
Book ReRead-Elizabeth’s Wolf by Lora Leigh—Rating 5 Stars—This one was done as a reread. Its part of our Breeds read along and this is also one of my favorite pairings. I love Dash Sinclair and he is such a good father figure. It’s warm and endearing.
ARC Book Read-Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke—Rating 4 Stars—What a wonderful historical romance. I loved the mix of retellings the author implemented and the fantastic witty banter that was written here. Also loved that the heroine fights for the hero in the end.
Book Read-Deviant Hearts by Jagger Cole—Rating 4 Stars—This was such a fascinating read and written by a male author, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. I also loved how the elements of angst and arranged marriage was arranged in this story. And the plot was so solid.
*Book Read-Beast by Anna Hackett—Rating 5 Stars—What a BOOK!! My favorite of the series so far. I absolutely adored this one. Its really sweet and really emotionally provoking in ways that I didn’t expect.
*Book Read-Capture The Sun by Jessie Mihalik—Rating 3 Stars—I really struggled with this one here. The plot was really solid, but the character development affected the overall enjoyment of this one here.
Book Read-Kiss of Heat by Lora Leigh—-Rating 4 Stars—This was a BLAST to get back into and loving reading Sherra and Kane’s book. Its definitely one of the more angsty installments of the series but really had a fun time with this one.
Audio Book Listened-Twisted Lies by Ana Huang—Rating 5 Stars—Loved this book. The endearing slow burn, the beautifully built tension and all the secrets that get revealed and the hero was NOT what I expected but had a blast with his character. He had so much mystery surrounding him.
Book Review-Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke
Bookish Posts To Look Forward To This Week
Mid Year Freak Out Tag 2023
Week Release Post
Review-InstaFamily by Linda Kage
Review-Hollow Heathens by Nicole Fiorina
Recommend It: Blue Collar Characters
Current Reads
The Audio for the weekend is “Lucky Stars” by Kristen Ashley and I am really enjoying it so far. There is nothing better than a classic KA novel. I just started Instafamily and its so so fun! I just know that this one will be a winner of a read. Hollow Heathens is a book that was recommended to me by Genesis from Whispering Chapters, she really loved Bone Island the most, but this is the first book. Rouge by Greer Rivers is a retelling of Moulin Rouge but mixed with mafia. Then to lighten things up and change it up will be picking up Notorious by Minerva Spencer. Not a fan of the cover, but I have really enjoyed her writing style.
Book Releases I am Excited For
The Notorious Lord Knightley by Lorraine Heath
I’ll Just Date Myself by Lani Lynn Vale
A Rogue at Stonecliffe by Candace Camp
His Queen by Bella J
My Weekly TBR
These are books that I have for what I term a flexible TBR shelf for the week. As some of you know, I have been working on switching from being a mood reader to a TBR reader where I just work around a flexible weekly TBR. So for this week I am mixing in plenty of sub genres. I do have a ARC I need to get to (why do I keep forgetting about these haha I am so bad lately), then some off of my Summer TBR and series I am working my way through. Looks like I am in for a very good week!
Favorite Book of the Week
New Additions to AR Library
Nothing this week!
That’s awesome that you are getting back into the swimming. Great way to pass your time. I have never been to Book Bonanza. I did find out that ALA was happening while I was here in Chicago, but I didn’t try to get any tickets. I haven’t been to a book festival since 2018, I think?
Sometimes it’s just a feel-good week even without anything major happening. 🙂 Love seeing the Cowles book get 5 stars! I’ll probably move on to that series next since I just finished the Sutter Lake series. Seeing Him on your TBR gives me all the feels. It’s an all-time top fave. Knotted was dark but I totally enjoyed it.
Rebecca zanetti, and Lora Leigh, are a couple of my favorites. I love their books. I’m glad you had such a good week I hope the coming week is another good one for you.
I’ve seen so much Book Bonanza posting this weekend by friends. I wish I would have been able to go!
I really must look for Bridgerton season 3! Them taking liberties with the books did not bother me because I haven’t read them save the first one! Have fun swimming Renee!
I’m glad your last week was fun and happy. Nicely done getting through ten books, getting back into your swim routine, and knocking out ten books including a couple series. I just finished Knight Awakening too. I hope she does those follow up novellas she was planning.
Have a good week, Renee!
I’ve seen so many book bonanza posts this week! It looks like everyone had a good time! Enjoy the swimming!
My daughter and the grandkids were at Disneyland with her in-laws this last week, too. Looked like a lot of fun. I’ll get back there with them someday. Nice to hear you’re enjoying swimming. I need to check out that Anna Hacket book. Bummer about the Mihalik book.
I hope you love Him! Such a good read!
I have a pool so I should be swimming but I am not. Good for you for getting out there. You read so many great books this week! Capture the Sun wasn’t my favorite of the series but I think that I liked it a bit more than you did. I hope that you have a great week!