Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: November 2024

BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR!

Favorite books this month:

  • Perfect Distraction
  • Pictures of You
  • Lost and Lassoed
  • The Muse of Maiden Lane
  • If It Makes You Happy
  • Five Stolen Rings
  • Broken Harbor
  • The Road of Bones
  • The Shadowed Land
  • A Reign of Rose
  • Brielle and Bear
  • The Myths of Ophelia
  • Yuletide Bride
  • Not in My Book
  • Oathbringer
  • Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love

Least favorites:

  • Merry Ever After
  • Perfect Distraction by Allison Ashley
  • The Quit List by Katie Bailey
  • [ARC] Pictures of You by Emma Grey
  • Lost and Lassoed (Rebel Blue Ranch #3) by Lyla Sage
  • Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder
  • [ARC] The Muse of Maiden Lane (Belles of London #4) by Mimi Matthews
  • Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore
  • If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
  • The Temptation of Magic (Empyreal #1) by Megan Scott
  • [ARC] Five Stolen Rings by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • Bane of Asgard (Runestone Saga #2) by Cinda Williams Chima
  • Creatures of Chaos (Creatures of Chaos #1) by Julie Hall
  • [ARC] Broken Harbor (Sparrow Falls #3) by Catherine Cowles
  • [Novella] A Royal Possibility (Royal Hearts #4.5) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • The Blood Orchid (The Scarlet Alchemist #2) by Kylie Lee Baker
  • [Novella] Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe #1) by Ali Hazelwood
  • [Novella] Merry Ever After (Under the Mistletoe #2) by Tessa Bailey
  • [Novella] All by My Elf (Under the Mistletoe #3) by Tessa Bailey
  • [Novella] Merriment and Mayhem (Under the Mistletoe #4) by Alexandria Bellefleur
  • [Novella] Only Santas in the Building (Under the Mistletoe #5) by Alexis Daria
  • Saved by Noel by Tracy Baack
  • The Road of Bones (The Ashen #1) by Demi Winters
  • [ARC] The Shadowed Land (The Lost Queen #3) by Signe Pike
  • A Reign of Rose (The Sacred Stones Trilogy #3) by Kate Golden
  • [ARC] Brielle and Bear (Once Upon a Time Vol. 1) by Salomey Doku
  • [ARC] The Myths of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #4) by Nicole Platania
  • The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
  • Wreck My Plans by Jillian Meadows
  • Christmas With a Crank by Courtney Walsh
  • The Shadows Rule All (Dominions #3) by Abigail Owen
  • Yuletide Bride (Regency Christmas Brides) by Kasey Stockton
  • [ARC] Not in My Book by Katie Holt
  • [Novella] The Best You’ve Ever Had by Amelia Chasen
  • [Reread] Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archives #3) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [ARC] The Seaside Homecoming (On Devonshire Shores #3) by Julie Klassen
  • Fledgling by S.K. Ali
  • Heist Royale (Thieves’ Gambit #2) by Kayvion Lewis
  • [ARC] Izzy and Her Off-Limits Love (Oakley Island #3.5) by Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair
  • Where the Library Hides (Secrets of the Nile #2) by Isabel Ibanez
  • Only in Your Dreams (The Mountains are Calling #2) by Madison Wright
  • The Songbird and the Heart of Stone (Crowns of Nyaxia #3) by Carissa Broadbent

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: September 2024

How did September get here???
I made it another month without having any books in the under three star (or least favorite) category and had plenty of great books to choose from!

Favorites this month:

  • Sunday Supper
  • The Key to Deceit
  • Heir
  • Words of Radiance (reread)
  • Guy’s Girl
  • Playing it Safe
  • It’s Always Us
  • The Christmas You Found Me
  • A Sky Full of Dragons
  • An Academy for Liars
  • An Improper Proposal
  • Locked in Pursuit
  • The Games Gods Play

Least favorites:

  • NONE!
  • [ARC] Sunday Supper by K. Sinko
  • The Girl with No Reflection by Keshe Chow
  • [ARC] Phantasma (Wicked Games #1) by Kaylie Smith
  • The Key To Deceit (Electra McDonnell #2) by Ashley Weaver
  • Little Monsters by Kara Thomas
  • The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas
  • The Champions by Kara Thomas
  • [ARC] Heir (Heir Duology #1) by Sabaa Tahir
  • All out of Love (Boys of Riverside #3) by Gracie Graham
  • [ARC] The Scarlet Throne (The False Goddess #1) by Amy Leow
  • [ARC] Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep
  • [Reread] Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archives #2) by Brandon Sanderson
  • [ARC] Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
  • Guy’s Girl by Emma Noyes
  • Playing it Safe (Electra McDonnell #3) by Ashley Weaver
  • [ARC] It’s Always Us (The Abandoned Brothers #3) by Stacy Williams
  • Loyally, Luke (Skymar #3) by Pepper Basham
  • [ALC] The Christmas You Found Me (Heart of the Wilderness #1) by Sarah Morgenthaler
  • Cole and Laila are Just Friends by Bethany Turner
  • A Dawn with the Wolf Knight (Married to Magic #5) by Elise Kova
  • [ALC] A Sky Full of Dragons (The Wand Keepers #1) by Tiffany McDaniel
  • [ARC] A Queen’s Game (A Queen’s Game #1) by Katharine McGee
  • An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson
  • An Improper Proposal (Improper Agreements #4) by Audra Wells
  • The Shadow of the Gods (Bloodsworn Saga #1) by John Gwynne
  • Locked in Pursuit (Electra McDonnell #4) by Ashley Weaver
  • A Royal Promise (Royal Hearts #4) by Amanda Schimmoeller
  • Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas
  • On a Flight to Sydney (Love Along the Way #1) by J.A. Forde
  • The Cheerleaders (The Cheerleaders #1) by Kara Thomas
  • One Last Thing (The Seddledowne #1) by Susan Henshaw
  • The Games Gods Play (The Crucible #1) by Abigail Owen
  • Unbearably Yours (It’s Always Been You #3) by Elodie Colliard
  • [ARC/ALC] The Courting of Bristol Keats (The Courting of Bristol Keats #1) by Mary E. Pearson
  • The Heart of the World (The Isles of the Gods #2) by Amie Kaufman
  • [ARC] Across the Star Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawks

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Monthly Wrap-Up: April 2019

I can’t believe it’s May.

My sister graduates COLLEGE (yeah, I feel old) this month. My husband’s work-load lightens a bit for the summer. Our babe is growing like a weed. I see promise for an amazing summer ahead!

I had a really great month of reading. THREE 5 stars and FIVE fours stars. That’s a pretty dang stellar time if you ask me.

  • Again, but Better by Christine Riccio
  • Defy Me (Shatter Me #5) by Tahereh Mafi
  • In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton
  • Age of Myth (The Legends of the First Empire #1) by Michael J. Sullivan
  • The Falconer (The Falconer #1) by Elizabeth May
  • The Traitor’s Kiss (The Traitor’s Circle #1) by Erin Beaty
  • Storm Siren (Storm Siren #1) by Mary Weber
  • The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy #1) by S.A. Chakraborty (RTC – ☆☆☆☆☆)
  • Kingdom of Exiles (The Beast Charmer #1) by Maxym M. Martineau (RTC – ☆☆☆)
  • The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker (RTC – ☆☆☆☆☆)

Favorite this month: The Traitor’s Kiss, The City of Brass & The Simple Wild (DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE)

Least Favorite: Storm Siren

Have you read any of these? What’s on your TBR? Lets talk in the comments!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Things to Do While Listening to An Audiobook

For Top Ten Tuesday this week it’s an Audiobook freebie! I’ve thought all week about what I wanted to do and finally this idea popped into my head.

Some people are wary of audiobooks (I totally was too), but now I see how much other stuff I can do while listening to one! It’s multi-tasking at its finest. Put an audiobook on and get down to whatever business you need to.

So here’s a list of 10 things that you can do while listening to an audiobook!

Laundry

I’m one of those weird people who enjoys laundry. I love an empty basket and all the clothes put away (even if it only lasts a few hours, okay who am I kidding, 5 minutes). My favorite thing to do is play an audiobook while folding clothes! Makes everything go by much faster.

Shower

May be crazy sounding, but I figured out if I put my phone in a certain spot I can hear it well AND shower! Taking me time to a whole new level. Or better yet if you have a waterproof speaker you can easily listen that way.

Insomnia (Or whatever is keeping you up late)

Maybe it’s been a long day, but your mind won’t rest. Maybe you’re a parent who needs to rock a child back to sleep. This is a great chance to pop in some headphones and listen softly to a favorite audiobook. I used to do this when I was nursing our little one and loved it!

Exercise

This was one of the first ways I utilized audiobooks. I run a lot (or did – as I’m still in a boot *sigh*). I digress, this was a great way to spend the time! If I’m feeling it, I’ll listen while I lift weights or do some yoga.

Driving

Road trippers unite! My husband travels a lot for work and I convinced him to try out audiobooks and he really enjoyed it. I do as well, especially because it means no commercials. Get in the car, put on a book, an be on your way.

Instagram/Blogging

A new way I’ve been adding listening to my day is to do so while I’m taking Instagram photos (or scrolling forever). I’ve also added in listening while I’m blogging. Since I don’t have to be super focused on these tasks I can easily take in both!

Relax

I don’t know if you’ve experienced this, but occasionally my eyes/head will hurt from all the reading I’ve done (especially if I have read a lot in one day). What’s great about audiobooks is that you can close your eyes, let your head relax and still get reading done!

Cooking

Sometimes I listen to music while making dinner, but if not, I’ll put a book on! It’s a great way to spend the time and make cooking not seem like a chore (for me it can be some days).

Hobby/Craft

If you’re into jigsaw puzzles as much as I am, this is a great opportunity! Or coloring in a book, sewing, stitching, whatever you’re good at doing! Even better, learn a new craft while you’re listening!

Work

Since I’m a stay-at-home Mom right now, my job consists of keeping a tiny human alive. I try to keep the TV off for most of the day, so I’ll play a book we can listen to while playing! At your office (or other environment) you could listen while on break, or lunch, or even while working!

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