January Wrap-Up and February TBR

During January, I read a total of 17 books.

So this past month to kind of start off my reading year, I read a short novella to jump into a series that I am going to try to read this year, and that was One Night with You by Marie Force, along with a teaser scene, Future of Work: Compulsory, from the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, which is a collection of short novellas that I also plan to read sometime during this year. Another shorter book that I read was poetry by Amanda Lovelace, the author of The Princess Saves Herself in This One, which was To Make Monsters Out of Girls.

I also listened to a short novella from Lisa Unger, called Burning Girl. This is the second part of a three part novella collection that make up a part of Unger's Hollow series. Then I listened to another Ruth Ware novel, Death of Mrs. Westaway, and I really enjoyed it. Next book I listened to was Binti. You can read my review here. Another thriller I listened to was New Neighbors by Simon Lelic, which I also reviewed here.

I also started three new graphic novel series. One, which is very popular that I have seen mentioned a lot on booktube and book blogs, which is Saga, and I flew through the books in this series that are currently out. The other graphic novel is the first in a new series called Black Bull of Norroway, and I cannot wait to read more of this series because I absolutely loved it. The final series that I started and completed is the Spill Zone, which I also loved.

I would like to read the eight and ninth volumes of Saga. Then I am aiming to complete two big books because I am already behind on that challenge. I am aiming to complete Passage and Shadow of What Was Lost. I also want to complete a nonfiction book this month called Killers of the Flower Moon.

Review: Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.

Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the centre of it.

Format: Audiobook

Narrator: Imogen Church
Published By: Harvill Secker/Simon Schuster Audio
Genre: Adult - Mystery, Thriller

Rating:
✮✮✮✮

Review:
Death of Mrs. Westaway was about a young woman who receives a letter for an inheritance that shouldn't be hers, and she decides to go and claim the money. What starts out as a deception soon turns into something more dangerous and deadly.

Out of all of Ruth Ware's novels that I have read to this date, this one was definitely my favorite. Unlike the first two novels I read of hers, In a Dark, Dark Wood and Women in Cabin 10, Hal isn't an unreliable witness and I found that I enjoyed her character more because of that. She also is a very strong character, and I was able to connect with her.

Like Ruth Ware's other books, I was able to figure out what the twist at the end was going to be, so it wasn't a shock when it was revealed. This is the one thing that always leaves me a little disappointed with her books because I would love for a twist that I don't see coming.

I would definitely recommend Death of Mrs. Westaway, if you are a fan of Ruth Ware's books and if you haven't read any of her books yet, and you love thrillers - I would probably start with this one because I consider it to be her best.

January TBR

In the month of January, to start the year off, I have decided to read four books during this month. I have three other books for my YA books, which might make it possible, but I tend to read more YA than I do Adult books, so I am hoping with fingers crossed that I will read these four books.

The first book that I would like to read this month is part of the big book challenge that I am attempting to complete. If you want to know more about this challenge, you can find out more from Emily over at BookswithEmilyFox. I am still currently deciding between Passage by Justin Cronin and Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington.

I am also trying to catch up on the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham, and have two books for that series that I would love to complete during the month of January. Those two books are Night is Watching and Betrayed.

The final book that I hope to complete during this month is the first book that I will be reading by Marie Force, and that is Fatal Affair.

June Wrap-Up and July TBR

In the month of June, I read a total of 6 books.

The first book that I finished this month was a nonfiction audiobook about the Titanic, called Iceberg Right Ahead! The Tragedy of the Titanic. This was a really short book about the sinking of the Titanic, and the before and after regarding the ship. It was informational and I enjoyed listening to it.

Following that, I finished one of the two books that I definitely wanted to complete during this month, Anatomist's Wife. I loved this book, and am looking forward to finishing the series as soon as possible.

The next nonfiction audiobook that I listened to was Terrible Typhoid Mary. I gave this book 2 stars, and it wasn't necessarily because it was a horrible book - although it was slightly boring the way it is told, and because I found some of the information to be unnecessary. My problem was that I felt there was a lot of bias from Susan Campbell Bartoletti, and how she makes a lot of assumptions throughout the book. I might also be somewhat biased in my opinion of the book because I have a degree in Biology. Which leads to the other reason I didn't really like this novel, it didn't really add any new information in regards to what I already had learned about Mary Mallon in my classes, which was a little disappointing.

I also listened to my first audiobook by Erica Spindler, Justice for Sara, which was a fantastic introduction to this author. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook. And my first book by Elizabeth Hoyt, For the Love of Pete, which was another audiobook that I was able to get done.

The next book that I read in the month of June (which technically I didn't read all of the book because it's a choose-your-own romance, and I only read the romance plots that intrigued me) was My Lady's Choosing. I wasn't a fan and was rather disappointed because this was one of my highly anticipated releases for this year.cnav

For the month of July, I have some of the same books on my TBR because I did not get to read many of the physical books on June's TBR and instead listened to a lot of audiobooks.

Two of the books that are a top priority for me to finish this month are Sweet Revenge and Mortal Arts. Both of these books are books that I have already started, and hope to complete fairly soon. That being said, I am also going to try to complete as many of Anna Lee Huber's Lady Darby Mystery books that I can (because I am hoarding the series from my library in both physical and ebook copy). Another priority is the audiobook that I am currently listening to, and that is Hating Game.

Three other books that I would love to get to during this month are Anatomy of Death (also known as Dissection of Murder), Anatomist's Apprentice, and Silent in the Grave. These books were also on my TBR for last month and still remain. Along with these three, I have also added one more book to the list that I would love to get to and that is Mesmerized.

The next books on my TBR are an "if I get the chance" read, but I'm not aiming to complete them, and that is two more books by Elizabeth Hoyt writing under Julia Harper, and they are Hot and Once and Always. And one book by Sarah McCoy that I received an ARC of, which is Marilla of Green Gables.

Review: My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris

My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris

The romance novel that lets you pick your path, follow your heart, and find happily ever after
You are the plucky but penniless heroine in the center of eighteenth-century society, courtship season has begun, and your future is at hand. Will you flip forward fetchingly to find love with the bantering baronet Sir Benedict Granville? Or turn the page to true love with the hardworking, horse-loving highlander Captain Angus McTaggart? Or perhaps race through the chapters chasing a good (and arousing) man gone mad, bad, and scandalous to know, Lord Garraway Craven? Or read on recklessly and take to the Continent as the “traveling companion” of the spirited and adventuresome Lady Evangeline? Or yet some other intriguing fate? Make choices, turn pages, and discover all the daring delights of the multiple (and intertwining!) storylines. And in every path you pick, beguiling illustrations bring all the lust and love to life.

Pages: 352

Format: E-Book

Published By: Quirk Books

Genre: Adult - Historical, Romance

Rating:
✮✮

Review:
This is the second interactive book that I have read this year (well the first was more of an attempt), and I am reviewing this one because I read a lot more of this book than I did of my first attempt, and after reading these books, I just feel like Interactive Books aren't my thing. In My Lady's Choosing, you can pick a few different routes - you can stay in London, you can go to Scotland, or you can travel to Egypt. If I am correct in my thinking two of the paths allow you to stay in London, but one just didn't intrigue me at all.

Out of all plotlines or paths, I read three of the four (if I am correct in that line of thinking). I liked staying in London and going to Scotland. I wasn't that impressed with the Egypt storylines. So even liking the two, I had major issues with this book.

First, as I said I liked the storyline but I didn't love them - I honestly didn't like "Me", and I was indifferent with the romantic choices. Secondly, the writing was silly at times, and made it hard for me to enjoy the book. I just wanted to shut the book so I didn't have to read the cringe-worthy writing. And third, I just didn't really like any of the plotlines that much, and it's because these are fairly short stories, but I just couldn't really get into them.

Overall, I wasn't impressed which is upsetting because this was one of the top books that I wanted to read this year, and I did, and it was a huge letdown from my expectations.