2021 Popsugar Challenge Potential TBR

Posted February 17, 2021 / Book Lists, Features, TBR Lists / 0 Comments

I’ve posted ideas for this challenge each year that I’ve participated in it. I’ve taken different approaches to it but it primarily serves as a jumping off point for me (and maybe others) to think of books that fit certain prompts. I tend to fill out this challenge as I go, when I read a book and then check the list to see if it fits something, but sometimes I need a little inspiration. Published in 2021 This one is honestly too easy for most people. I’m not even going to suggest any books because I’m sure the majority of people have something for this on their TBR 😉 Afrofuturist Books in this genre “addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through technoculture and science fiction” according to Wikipedia. SLAY was on my TBR already and seems to fit the prompt, per the author! I’m really excited about this one. Heart, diamond, club, spade on cover I did a whole post on hearts on book covers for the Valentines Day TTT so check that out for some heart-based image ideas. Knowing me, that’s the direction I’ll go. I’m putting THE HEART PRINCIPLE here because I missed it on my post and it’s probably the one I’m most excited about reading this year. Author with same zodiac sign as you Apparently there are a ton of great Virgo authors! I still have two books to read by Angie Thomas (featuring CONCRETE ROSE here) and a ton of Agatha Christie books […]

Top Ten Tuesdays #327: Mardi Gras

Posted February 16, 2021 / Top 10 Tuesdays, Weekly Memes / 2 Comments

Mardi Gras Book Covers Purple, Yellow, and Green Top Ten Tuesdays were started by The Broke and the Bookish and are now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, where we make lists of our top ten books (or something else!) based on that week’s prompt. The topics are provided ahead of time and can be found here. Book links bring you to Goodreads or my review. I did a cover-related freebie for last week’s TTT too but am naturally thrilled to do it again! It’s Mardi Gras today, apparently, so here are some book covers in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, yellow, and green. I decided to do some covers of books on my TBR that haven’t been released yet.

Review Round Up | Behind the Red Door, The Wife Upstairs, and The Cousins

Posted February 10, 2021 / Book Reviews, Review Roundup / 2 Comments

In an effort to cut down on posts and burnout, my Review Roundups will feature 2-4 books I’ve read or listened to recently. Sometimes they’re newer releases and sometimes they’re all backlist titles. My ARC reviews usually get the solo treatment. Enjoy the mini reviews! I met Megan Collins at a book signing/talk when she released THE WINTER SISTER. I didn’t love that book but did enjoy her writing style. Collins is a local Connecticut author who teaches creative writing at the college Chris went to for a bit. I’ll always read and support her books for these reasons! However, this one was definitely a bit disappointing for me. Fern is headed to help her terrible father pack up his house so he can move to Florida. As a character, I enjoyed reading about her – she has major anxiety, has an amazing and thoughtful husband, and works as a social worker. When she and her husband see that Astrid Sullivan, a girl who went missing and returned somewhat unharmed as a child, has gone missing again, Fern feels like she knows her somehow. But how? She starts to find out bits of information from her past, as well as a shared history or common locations with Astrid, when she’s at home with her dad in New Hampshire. There are a ton of suspicious people and red herrings all around New Hampshire and Maine that Collins brings in to divert the reader. There are a lot of times where I SAY that […]

Top Ten Tuesdays #326: Valentines Day

Posted February 9, 2021 / Top 10 Tuesdays, Weekly Memes / 4 Comments

Valentines Day/Love Freebie: Book Covers with Hearts Top Ten Tuesdays were started by The Broke and the Bookish and are now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, where we make lists of our top ten books (or something else!) based on that week’s prompt. The topics are provided ahead of time and can be found here. Book links bring you to Goodreads or my review. I think you can kind of always count on me to share book covers for TTT freebies, right? I decided for this love/Valentines Day freebie, I would share some of my favorite book covers with hearts on the cover or is super Valentines Day-ish.

February TBR

Posted February 8, 2021 / Book Lists, Features, TBR Lists / 0 Comments

My monthly TBR feature here shows my progress based on last month’s TBR, my plans for this month, and anything else I might be thinking about from a reading perspective. Sometimes I feature a little poll at the bottom so you guys can help me figure out a certain title I should read from a group of books. February TBR Another late TBR post, but here we go. There are a lot of books carrying over AS USUAL but I finally admitted defeat on a few. They’re just going to get bumped off for now. Owned Books to Read All repeats from January and/or February. Whoops. I really hope to get to INSTANT KARMA since Scribd has an audiobook too. I have SEX AND VANITY (physical copy) and MAJESTY (ebook) too, which I’m excited for… but just lazy because they’re long or physical copies. Review Copies I made it my goal to read three egalleys ahead of their pub dates to get them up and running. A PHO LOVE STORY was just published this week so you’ll see that coming here soon. I started reading THE PROJECT last month but it’s taken me a little while. ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED is coming next month. SNAPPED is another holdover from last year so we’ll see… ugh. Library Books I currently have VANESSA YU’S MAGICAL PARIS TEA SHOP out from the library and the other two (ACROSS THE GREEN GRASS FIELDS and A VOW SO BOLD AND DEADLY) are out on hold. I have […]

Bookmark Lit Bulletin | January 2021

Posted February 5, 2021 / Bookmark Lit Bulletin, Features, Wrap-Ups / 0 Comments

The Bookmark Lit Bulletin wraps up the last month in reading and what was on the blog, as well as what’s coming up next. You can check out my book haul, books read, posts shared, challenge updates, etc. You can read past bulletins here. If you’re looking for more personal updates, you can check out my Lauren Lately feature; it highlights my life events and non-bookish fun from the previous 30 days. I’m thrilled to be off to a good start on my Goodreads challenge this year. I stuck with my challenge from last year when I reduced it to 100 books. I have a good feeling about it because I’m not starting super behind like I did last year. I can fairly easily get through 8ish books per month. Here’s how I started off my 2021! 8 books read in December 6 new books • 2 rereads • 0 DNF Pages read: 3217 • Average rating: 4.25 stars Sources: 3 review, 3 borrowed, 1 BOTM, 1 library Formats: 3 egalley, 2 audio, 2 mixed, 1 hardcover Genres: 3 mystery/thriller, 2 contemporary, 2 fantasy, 1 historical fiction Age Target: 5 adult, 2 new adult, 1 young adult Check out my 2020 challenge sign-up post for more details, goals, etc.! Popsugar Reading Challenge 6 read this month | 6/40 read total Three generations, family tree, free book, do-overs/fresh starts, something broken on cover, gem/mineral/rock in the title A-Z Reading Challenge 6 read this month: A, B, M, R, S, W January: Acquired […]

Cover Reveal: The Summer Cottage – Somerset Lake Series by Annie Rains

Posted February 4, 2021 / Features / 0 Comments

I am thrilled to help share the cover of the first book in Annie Rains’ new series – Somerset Lake! The first book, The Summer Cottage, debuts on May 25th. Here’s a brief synopsis from Goodreads ahead of the official summary: One woman must keep her past — and her heart — hidden, but the man next door is just as determined to bring it to light in the first book in a new small-town series from USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains. It’s no secret that I adored her first Forever series, Sweetwater Springs, so I can’t wait to explore a new town just a few hours away! Without further ado, here is the cover: SO CUTE. I always want more dogs in books now and I specifically can’t wait for this pup because I understand a little bit of the context/backstory, perhaps, from Reunited on Dragonfly Lane. Add it to your TBRs from Goodreads HERE!

ARC Reviews: Sandcastle Beach and Reunited on Dragonfly Lane

Posted February 3, 2021 / Book Reviews / 0 Comments

I think Jenny Holiday was my author of the year in 2020. I read three of her books, two of which are in this Matchmaker Bay trilogy, and all of them were wonderful. 4.5-5 stars across the board. Seriously, this series is perfect. I knew I had to start 2021 with a winner and this finale did not disappoint. I’m glad I still have another series to read by Holiday but I’ll miss this setting! Matchmaker Bay (actually called Moonflower Bay) is an adorable Canadian beach town… just the kind of small town romance-filled setting I love to read about. This book follows Maya and Law (Ben). I loved them both and definitely saw this romance coming from a mile away. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Holiday writes low-drama romances without a stupid miscommunication or something to ruin everything, which I SO appreciate. The two were basically enemies, always bickering, even if one of them didn’t know why they were fighting so much in the first place. This turned into a months-long friendship and then later romance. I’m really sad to leave this location behind! It’s very charming and that’s a major reason I’m not ready to go, but there are at least 3 new characters that totally could get their own books! Two women move to town in this installment and Maya’s brother also returns home. I would love to learn more about any combination of these people in more books 😉 Overall, this was yet […]

Top Ten Tuesdays #325: Before I Was Born

Posted February 2, 2021 / Top 10 Tuesdays, Weekly Memes / 2 Comments

Books Written Before I Was Born: Read & Want to Read Top Ten Tuesdays were started by The Broke and the Bookish and are now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, where we make lists of our top ten books (or something else!) based on that week’s prompt. The topics are provided ahead of time and can be found here. Book links bring you to Goodreads or my review. I was born in September 1991, so all of these books were published sometime before then… sometimes even just a few months before! I’ve read some classics during high school, of course, but am trying to include more recent reads here. There are a few books I’ve already read and a handful that I hope to read. Recent Reads I read MUDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS a few years ago because I was hoping to watch the movie (which I mostly enjoyed). I’ve been adding some Agatha Christie books to my TBR as of late and this was one of the two I’ve read in general (I read AND THEN THERE WERE NONE in high school). I also read THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON in maybe middle school? and randomly decided to reread it a few years ago. I’ve been meaning to continue the series but haven’t yet. When I was introduced to Serial Reader back around 2017, I read TWELFTH NIGHT and ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND to cross a few classics off my TBR. The app breaks a bunch of books into […]

Reunited on Dragonfly Lane // Release Week Interview with Annie Rains

Posted January 27, 2021 / Features / 2 Comments

Happy Wednesday and belated book birthday to Annie Rains and REUNITED ON DRAGONFLY LANE! My review will be going live next week but I’m here today with a fun interview with Annie about both the Sweetwater Springs series and her upcoming series later this year – Somerset Lake. This book is the final installment in the Sweetwater Springs series, which makes me incredibly sad, but there’s a wonderful setup to ease into Somerset Lake. 😉 There’s a pretty amazing story about one of my very favorite books in the series, CHRISTMAS ON MISTLETOE LANE, in the interview below! Did you pull any inspiration from real life, your hobbies, your own personality, etc. when developing the characters Chase and Sophie? There have been characters in the past where I added little pieces of myself to their lives and backstories. I didn’t do that for Sophie or Chase in this book though. I have never been a climber, hiker, or any of the outdoor things that Sophie and Chase once enjoyed doing together. I did enough research on these activities that I feel like I have been out there on a mountain though. When writing a companion series like this, did you have to map out certain main characters you were hoping to feature and plan out love interests? Chase was a new addition introduced in the last book, so I’m curious about how far out you’d plan couples and stories! I planned out the series for the first three books, expecting […]