This week was such a fun week if I am being honest! We finished off the last week of August, my new roommates moved in and they are nice and quiet so I think we will get along just fabulous haha I probably will get my own place soon, but as an introvert its good to force myself to be around people sometimes. We also got a new washer and dryer, one of those energy efficient ones with the windows, so having fun with those, they have so many fancy stuff they do. I didn’t read too much this week as I had some busy stuff happening. I had to finish off saving the stepback photos from Goodreads as those were going to be deleted on the 1st of September. So I wanted to make sure I had those all saved as they can be hard to find in other places and most of them had the cover artist attached. (and yes I will be implementing them back onto this site once I get all the romantic treasure line books found). Although if you are looking for other places, Instagram is a good place too if you search for “stepbacksaturday” just a hint. lol But as we started off a new month this week, I brought out all my Fall and Autumn decor out and got my candle warmers out. For Halloween I might buy some for October for Halloween has they have some really adorable ones, but I don’t like Scentsy scents that much, I prefer Ashman Candles more. But I did find a pretty Autumn one that also matches my decor style which is Farmhouse style. And yes I brought out my pumpkin spice scents and my pumpkin hot chocolate. There was also a big thing that came out about BYU, and my faith. I just wish the player would do an apology for what she did as she was in the wrong. Then one of my favorite bookstagrammers, had a very thoughtful perspective on Drive by Kate Stewart which caused the whole “canceling” of a book written five years ago, she read the book and shared her honest thoughts. I really appreciate an honest take from this gal who read it from a Latina perspective. I will only have this up for 24 hours but wanted to share her perspective with you all. But I will say her thoughts on this book this week, convinced me to buy all the books from this author to support her through this. But she also five-starred this book (which she is one of those readers that rarely five stars a book) so that convinced me I needed to read it. Warning there is some swearing.
As for my reading this week I actually read some great books even if there was a lot going on and didn’t get as much reading done. I am completely done with my TV shows that I binged on so I will be reading more. As this week I finished up the latest season of Blue Bloods, I hadn’t realized I hadn’t watched it so wanted to binge it before September.
Bookish Posts & Books Read of Week August 28th through September 3rd
(All my books read and their reviews are on Goodreads, Storygraph and Literal Club)
Book Read-Beautiful Lies by Stasia Black and Alta Hensley-This was really fun to get back to this series and its a bit dark, so fair warning on that. What women are especially put through is pretty intense. Now I didn’t care for the ending at all, it just didn’t feel satisfying but in a way it did fit the hero as he never really wanted to be a part of the group but they went through a lot so I felt a bit disappointed in a way.
Book Listened-Goddess of the Sea by P.C. Cast-I adored this book!! This was a mermaid romance, mixed in with a bit of time travel and historical romance. It did work out for me but the ending was typical of mermaid romances but not the way I feel satisfied with haha But I am really enjoying this writing team, and I want to read more of these books.
Intimidating Romances That Terrify Me but …Someday
Quickie Book Review-The Girl’s Got Secrets by Linda Kage This was such a wonderful and sweet read! I adore Linda Kage and is one of my favorite authors for new adult romance. This dynamic was so interesting and something we rarely see in a contemporary setting, you see it way more often in historical romance.
Book Review-Royally Not Ready by Meghan Quinn I will say that I adored this book, like top read of the month and top read of the YEAR! And also the best book I have read from this author so far. I know I haven’t read that much by her yet, but this book was EVERYTHING and so poignant at times. I love the level of emotion that Quinn works in her rom com’s. Most rom com’s are so fluffy and don’t deliver on the emotion and heart, but Quinn does this so well.
Bookish Posts To Look Forward To This Week
Fall and Spooky Vibe Books on my TBR
Book Review-Dagger Star by Elizabeth Vaughan (I am buddy reading this one Monday, if any of you want to join, DM me on Instagram)
Author Deep Dive-Jennifer Ryan ( I totally forgot to post this one last week, will have it posted this week)
Current Reads
My current Audiobook Twisted Games, or I will be starting it today. I am excited, and even though I have it in print, I just haven’t been in the mood to read a print book so I decided to grab it up on Audio. Playing With Fire I started last night and I am already hooked and there is plenty of action, the heroine is strange but I think she will work for me. Then I realized its been a while since I have read a Lisa Renee Jones trilogy so I decided to get back to her (and her books are always super engaging and not easy to put down and I haven’t read one of those type of reads in a while). For those that have read this author, know why this author probably keeps me hooked and she is a good palette cleanser when I have had a slow reading month (even if that’s my fault for binging on TV haha)
Book Releases I Am Excited For
(low release week so not too much)
Dark Alpha’s Command by Donna Grant
Almost Beautiful by Jamie McGuire
Force of Nature by Skye Warren and Amelia Wilde
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. So what we have is first “Lady Gallant” I have been on a waiting list for a month for the Suzanne Robinson, I think it’s just a popular one right now. And I love old-school westerns. As it’s September I do want to get some gothic reads in, and Lacybourne is one of the few KA books that I have left to read. I am taking my time with her backlist as I don’t want to get to the point where I have read them all, haha Then we have Drive by Kate Stewart. After listening to the stories by a instagrammer (who is Latina by the way and thought the scandal was ridiculous which I explained more above and last week). I instantly downloaded this one, and also I have purchased it in print just to support the author. Then I got an ARC of this Sands, and it’s getting published this month, so I do want to get this read before publishing date.
Favorite Book of the Week
New Additions to A&R
Drive by Kate Stewart –Physical and eBook Copies
Archangel’s Ressurrection by Nalini Singh–ARC via Berkley Publishing
In Her HIghlander’s Bed by Lynsay Sands –ARC via Avon Books
Pride and Pleasure by Sylvia Day-Library eBook
Woodrose Mountain by RaeAnne Thayne—Library Audiobook
I’ve seen BYU in the news twice recently but only know the the very basics about it. I heard something about racists at a game and the protestors against the LGBTQ+, I think. After reading this, I want to look more into it.
Yeah so the first thing is that the player said that a person called out a racist slur, now it was done during a serve. Which if you haven’t watched volleyball, when you serve its super quiet. The police did a thorough investigation and there was nothing in the game that was recorded that there was a slur and no one else came forward saying that there was a slur. So after investigating they came to the conclusion it actually never happened. I wish that the student would do a apology and when issuing an accusation just as calling BYU racist, that you better be serious about it and that it really happened. I just hate how people went out and kept calling BYU and our faith racist when we are the least racist Christian religion out there. I mean talk to any black player that has played for BYU, they always say good things about their experience and how accepted they were. For the LGBTQ, there was a drag show to happen, for little kids, and from the ad that they put out it was pretty sketchy and portrayed it like a stripper like show and I am sorry that is NOT appropriate for kids. Its not against transpeople at all, just its a conservative area where parents don’t want their kids exposed to that and I agree. Kids are innocent and some of these drag shows that are done are not for little kids, they are for more mature ages.
I have never had a roommate! I think that it would be nice to live with someone especially if you have similar personalities. Yay for a new washer and dryer. I don’t like mine but it still works so it’s not time to replace it just yet. I hope that you have a great week!
Hope all is going well with the new roomies. I think I would have a hard time living with people. I have a lot of quirks. I hope you are enjoying all your pumpkin spice delights. I know I look forward to it every fall.
I received After The Bite by Lynsay Sands from NetGalley and loved it.
I’m an introvert too and really dislike being around people. lol
Glad the new roomies turned out nice and yay for new appliances. I need to take down my summer decor and get out my fall stuff, too. I don’t keep up with much on social media so I appreciate your quick share on that. I’m with the gal in your video about people needing first hand facts when it comes to other posts on social media stirring stuff up and doing unnecessary harm. Hadn’t heard about the BYU stuff, but sounds like, again, people too quick to conclusions.
Yay for finishing what you wanted to watch and now back to books. Looks like some good ones in your queue. I’ve got Archangel’s Resurrection, too.
Have a good week, Renee!
It’s good that you shared that story. But frankly I am just so fed up with people attacking authors for nearly everything. If an author makes one of her characters insult the other wisth “you’re just a white skinny b!tch” I wouldn’t make a fuss! I get that people have their own past and some have been really hurt throughout their lives. They are entitled to feel hurt. Because feelings are personal. But please, DM one author explaining your feelings instead of attacking her publicly and leading the blood hounds!
Yeah I am really tired of it too. Even in the early part of book blogging when an author behaved badly, we didn’t go out and cancel the author. We just made a personal decision on whether or not to read her or him. It wasn’t trying to drive the community into not reading them. Its such a toxic aspect of our community that I hate so much, and its driven by true bullies and the majority of the time they haven’t read these books or authors that they call out ya know? But I have seen white insults and I don’t let it bother me haha I think most ppl just get offended too easily these days. And I only follow some of them so I know what authors and books I SHOULD support and read because rarely are they in the right of what they are doing and most authors have honest good intentions and just make mistakes and never mean to hurt anyone, which is just being human. Its just sad how our community has evolved in this way.
I hope all goes well with the new roommates. Hooray for all the fall decor! I went to Hobby Lobby last week and bought several items to “Fall-i-fy” (yes, it’s my made up word) my tray in the kitchen. Pink pumpkins were the order of the day. 🙂 Looks like you have plenty of good reads coming up!
It’d be hard for me to live with roommates other than my husband. Glad yours are working out!
I think it’s unfortunate if the author was attacked by people who hadn’t even read the book. From what the blogger said I wouldn’t think the reference was offensive in the context used, but what do I know? For the most part I have no idea any of this is going on and I’m happy to stay out of all the gossipy negativity.
I want that Lynsey Sands and I’m looking forward to the new Nalini Singh too.
I love fall! While I don’t decorate I do enjoy seeing what others decorate for Fall and Halloween. I have read some books by P.C. Cast so I will have to check out Goddess Of The Sea. Have a great week!