Bookish Posts and Books Read of Week of November 12 through November 18th
How on earth are we on Week 47 of this year already? Its really coming down the wire here. This week was pretty eventful. Work was strong and steady. I got the rest of my books in this past week AND I got my brand new vacuum in this week. It was on sale and its super nice. For anyone wanting a new vacuum, its the Tineco S3 series, its a wet/dry vacuum. And does a pretty great job, I am impressed so far and its super quiet. My reading wasn’t quite as strong as I would have liked. To be honest, I had zero interest in listening to audiobooks this week so my reading just wasn’t quite as much. Those audio’s really make a difference on the amount of books I read every week. I did get some solid books read and I think I found my favorite author for Mafia Romance haha But also my weekend was great with the games played on Saturday. I was mostly proud of BYU. They played an amazing game against some horrible odds and almost beat a top team in the country. Loved seeing them play their best game of their year against such a good team that was predicted by just about everyone to be a horrible blowout. So it can be so much fun seeing your team struggle all year and finally after the adversity to come out stronger than anyone expected.
(All my books read and their reviews are on Goodreads, I have linked for you)
List and Link book reviews with ratings and descriptions of opinions via goodreads
Book Read-Anything but a Gentleman by Elisa Braden–Rating 5 Stars—What an incredible read! Elisa Braden never ceases to amaze me in how she writes her historicals. They are so engaging and the relationships are done so well and so authentic for a good historical feel. If you are tired of modern historicals, this is an author to try out for sure.
Book Read-Man of Honor by Bella Di Corte—Rating 4.5 Stars—This book! *sigh* was stellar. The writing was so poetic and well detailed. I literally could almost feel the weather and imagine so easily the settings that we saw in this one. It was so vibrant. And this isn’t your typical mafia romance either which I am really loving. It definitely is more contemporary these early books and I believe the mafia stuff happens in later in the series. And this is a one couple series and I love that. Even though this one ended in a cliffhanger I just had to grab onto the second book here. So if you like mafia romance but want to see an author with more talent on the writing style, I guarantee this is for you.
Book Read-Queen of Thorns by Bella Di Corte–Rating 4.25 Stars—I really enjoyed this, just not quite as much as the first book. It was still a solid turnout, I just had some issues with the heroine at times and the angst in the second half of the story felt unnecessary to be honest. I hope the rest of the series we see more outer relationship angst and that they worked through their issues in this one.
Book Reread-It Ain’t Me Babe by Tillie Cole—Rating 5 Stars—I did a reread of this one, and I enjoyed it better than the first time. I loved getting back to Mae and Styx and their story especially after I recently was able to pick up their novella. I definitely want to do a reread of Flame and Maddie’s book soon.
Book Read-Control Me by Michelle Heard—Rating 3 Stars–I wanted to love this one so badly but it just didn’t execute fully for me. I did love the hero in this one. But the heroine was annoying lol there was something about how she interacted with the hero that felt almost like sexual harassment and the way it was done just rubbed me the wrong way. I know its dark romance but I feel like in romance many times heroines get away with much more than they allow the heroes.
Book Listened-The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen—Rating 3 Stars—This book was a struggle. I knew that it would be. I never have enjoyed this heroine so it takes alot for a heroine to be redeemed for me. My biggest issue was how the heroine treated the hero because he wanted stability and long-term relationships. Now eventually she realizes her mistake and how she should have treated him but I just didn’t feel the redemption and no grovel. *shrugs* I did love the hero and that he stood by his convictions. And there were elements that I really enjoyed, it just didn’t quite be a story that worked for me.
Book Read-King by S.J. Tilly—Rating 4 Stars–Such a solid read. I am really loving this author and how she writes some dark romance. Its very compelling and you get so swept away into the story. I enjoyed Nero more than this one. But it was still a good story to enjoy.
Book Read-Cyclone by Jamie Crouch–Rating 4 Stars—This was an interesting read. I did like it for a new to me author. I am not sure if I will continue the series to be honest. It wasn’t a bad book but it also didn’t blow me away either.
Book Read-The Joker by Nikki J. Summers—Rating 3 Stars—This book was not a keeper for me. I had such high hopes for his book but I was disappointed in this. The heroine was awful, I just struggled so much with her character. And she kept using phrases of things like (smash the patriarchy) and personally that turns me off instantly. Especially when it was constantly through the story. Because from my perspective it was a heroine not willing to take accountability and attacking someone out of ignorance so she didn’t impress me at all and wanted so much more for this hero as he is my favorite of the group.
Book Read-Too Good to be True by Kristen Ashley—Rating 2 Stars—I believe I am DONE with this author, at least her current stuff. The only reason I tried this book was I told it had similarities to her classic stuff. But did we read the SAME book? This just showed how much KA has changed and is being reflected in her writing. It was packed with cynism and almost bitterness. Very preachy politic wise and this hero —beta and so mediocre. At first, I thought he had promise, but the more I got into this book, it was all about the heroine and him practically letting her run all over him. I do think her divorce has really affected how she writes now and I am sorry but I don’t read romance to be preached to, and I certainly don’t read KA to feel the bitterness of a relationship gone bad. That is just how this book felt. It had a good mystery though so I stuck with this one for that alone. But the characters just didn’t have the spark that her classic novels have. I am not sure why ppl think her writing style hasn’t changed, when its very obvious how different her classic books are from these. They are like night and day. And to be honest I am just tired of authors changing their writing for politics or to fit the modern social narrative because all I got from this is the women are the power and the men just fall in line. That is the message and I am tired of that messaging in romance. Sorry, I had to rant y’all. This book just got me upset and frustrated and heartbroken that KA has changed so much that she has LOST what made her books so special for all of us. I will die for her classic books, those are true treasures!
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Book Release Post
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Recommend It Post
Current Reads
My audio for the weekend is Fury of Persuasion, I have really enjoyed this series. This one has some plot intrigue and undercover work so I am interested to see how its implemented. Then we have Crux Untamed very eager to read this one here. I am very excited to have this one here and it’s a menage so that should be interesting for sure. But also I just don’t know if or when Amazon will remove it so really need to read it before its too late. Lord of the Vampires is one I am eager for. I have been wanting to explore the rest of this series. Nash is more of the Marked Men. I really enjoy this author so much and she really delivers some great vibes in a contemporary. You’re the Duke I Want is a grease retelling historical style, or at least that is what I have heard. So I am really curious about it. Especially as its been a while since I read this author.
Book Releases I am Excited For
There Should Have Been Eight by Nalini Singh
Make Believe Match by Melanie Harlow
Beautiful Chains by Anna Zaires
Clown Motel by Lani Lynn Vale
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. This weekly is working through my KU library and some series I am trying to finish up here.
Favorite Book of the Week
New Additions to AR Library
This week was a good one for adding books to my library. These are all books I have read, I just wanted to get physical copies of. I have to say if you love the Rock Chick series, I recommend these collector editions. You can easily find them at B&N. They have extra chapters. I haven’t read them yet, I am waiting till I have the series completed. I am also wanting fresh copies of the Tairen Soul Series. Mine are really falling apart and they are redoing these covers and not a real fan (they aren’t horrible just generic). And with the Off Campus series getting new covers soon, I wanted to get these copies. These are my favorite covers. I have read King of Wrath, but don’t have it in print yet. So wanted to get a copy of that. Then I received an ARC of “Play Dirty” and very excited for it.
When did we come to an age where we revel in purchasing new appliances? Wet/Dry can be really useful. I am glad you are happy with your purchase. Audiobooks really do make a difference. I used to be able to listen to them at work, and I would get through 4 or more a week. Now, I get through usually one, but that’s ok. You still read a lot of books.
haha I know right…oh the glories of adulthood. Seriously it felt like Christmas haha So if you need a good vacuum, I recommend this one, it will clean the carpets too with this wet solution so its super nice and easy to maintain.
Yeah Audiobooks really make a difference on the number of books you can read. Especially if you are doing it at places like work that take up so much of our days.
I’m in love with the way you ranted about KA. I haven’t read a ton of her new stuff, but even I can tell the difference. I read romance to escape so authors need to save the preaching for church and the politics for their future career 🤣. Hopefully you get your audiobook fix in the coming days. Have an amazing week 💜
haha yeah I definitely did a rant. But this book could have had so much promise too. I would say read anything from her Dream books and previous are good to read. Anything post that isn’t that good and I wouldn’t recommend. Yeah hopefully this week will be much better for audiobook listening.
I’m just in awe with the amount of books you read in a week. Amazing! I’m so excited to see Where We Started on your TBR. I loved that book! I can’t wait to read your thoughts about that one.
I hope you enjoy Nash. I loved that series.
I’m definitely going for quieter when I purchase my next vacuum. Glad you found one you really like. Very exciting to see your football team play at their optimum in a big game. A big chunk of my reading time lately has been audios, too. Bummer some of your reads were so-so because of bad heroines or preachy writing. I’d dislike that, too. Neat that you’re collecting the new Rock Chicks with special edition extras.
Have a good Thanksgiving, Renee!
I haven’t read most of KA’s newer stuff. I tried one but it didn’t hold my attention or I wasn’t in the mood or something. I’m not a fan of preachy books. I enjoyed Nash a long time back. I’m reading There Should Have Been Eight and it’s a little slow going.
I can’t believe we’re at week 47 of the year! Where did the time go? Hope you have a lovely week and enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday! 🙂