I really need to stop writing my Sunday posts the same day. It takes up so much time and I have so much blog catch up to do from comments to writing actual posts. I feel like I used to have time management skills and I use them in my job but when it comes to blogging all of that goes right out of the window.
It’s been a quiet week this week. There’s been no work drama, but they did finally announce the Christmas party and release the menu (why yes we are having redundancies and a Christmas party, I’d have a problem with it but I need a night out and I’d already booked my hotel room for the party so I’m not complaining). I actually have now broken up from work for a week (does everyone say broken up when it comes to holiday from work? I feel like the more I blog the more I question if a phrase is a universal phrase or just a weird British thing… and don’t even get me started on regional differences when it comes to things, that would be a blog post in itself). I plan to spend my week Christmas shopping and trying to get organised when it comes to the house. Also, I need to get my hair cut because it is a mess, I meant to call them Friday and forgot and forgot again Saturday so now I have to wait until they open Wednesday… or treat myself and go to the fancy salon down the road from me… but I always feel like I don’t fit in there. But yeah, no exciting plans for next week but hopefully I’ll be finished with my Christmas shopping in time for Black Friday where I can treat myself to something (I’m eyeing up a new iPad because I kind of want one I can use with an Apple Pencil because I want to get back into drawing… but that’s a whole other thing).
This week has been the laziest of lazy weeks. I’ve not seen friends. I’ve barely blogged. I’ve been chilled and not really read loads or anything and just been relaxing. Honestly, I’ve spent most of my time playing Stardew Valley on the Switch. It’s weirdly addictive and very relaxing just maintaining your farm. Doing a little fishing. Doing a little mining. Progress could be faster but I think that’s what keeps you playing, you make that little bit of progress and you want more. I am planning on playing some Sims 4 again, as well. Basically, I’ve been all about gaming this week but chilled relaxing gaming.
What I’ve Been Reading
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It’s been another slow, not great, reading week. I finished Get A Life, Chloe Brown and it was amazing! Loved it in every possible way. I then began reading Recurve which has been on my Kindle a while and it was meh. It’s short but by 25% I just was not feeling it. It was very tell tell tell, rather than you seeing stuff happening and so I felt too distant from it. It wasn’t terrible and it was an original concept the writing just didn’t work for me. And then there was Kill the Queen. I was so psyched to read Kill the Queen and I DNFed before the royal family even all got killed because it was so predictable. I saw it a mile off and I don’t want my fantasy to be predictable. Was I being too judgey? Should I give it a second chance? I don’t know. Thankfully, Trail of Lightning was there to save a day. I had to force myself to start reading as it’s an ARC which is being published here in the UK on Thursday so I was like read it and then you’ll have read all of your November ARCS (I know, go me). I am so glad I did, it was brilliant. I was speeding through just to find out what happened and I will be reviewing next week… I will also be waiting outside of my local bookshop next Thursday to try and get a physical copy of it and get my hands on the next book.
New To Me
Only one new purchase this week and that was my preorder of Queen of Nothing. I am getting ready to read the whole series with the release of that book so wish me luck.
And I finally got approved for the arc of Headliners on Netgalley! I am so excited for this book to come out and I worried I wouldn’t get approved as my Netgalley rating has looked better but I did! A reread of the whole series is in my future.
And that was my week, boring as it may be. What have you been up to? What have you been reading? And please tell me if I’ve been too judgey about my DNFs this week.
Get A Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters #1) – Talia Hibbert
Published: 5th November 2019
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
My Rating:
Talia Hibbert delivers a witty, hilarious romantic comedy about a woman who's tired of being 'boring' and recruits her mysterious, sexy neighbour to help her get a life - perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Jasmine Guillory and Helen Hoang!Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan and a list. After almost - but not quite - dying, she's come up with seven directives to help her 'Get a Life', and she's already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family's mansion. The next items?- Enjoy a drunken night out.
- Ride a motorcycle.
- Go camping.
- Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex.
- Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage.
- And... do something bad.But it's not easy being bad, even when you've written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job.Redford 'Red' Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He's also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit.But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe's wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior...
This was my second attempt at reading a Talia Hibbert book and I have to say the second time was most definitely the charm. This book! This book convinced me I was probably wrong and should go back and try and reread that first book I tried because it seems it was most likely me not the book with the issue.
All the stars to this book.
I was charmed from the beginning with this one. We met Chloe on a normal walk right before she almost gets hit by a drunk driver and see the very immediate aftermath for Chloe. She realises that she is boring and she needs to do something to get out of her rut of carefully structured routine and what better way than to write a list? I mean, when your immediate reaction of figuring out how to get a life is writing a list to be less boring… that just shows you what kind of person Chloe is. She is structured even in her quest to be more exciting and break from routine. And she has to be. She suffers from chronic pain and her fibromyalgia has meant she has had to form structure and routine in order to get through her day to day and that is brilliant, but it has also meant she has become rigid and has lost some of the spontaneity she used to have. Seeing her slowly break from her shell and realise that routine is good, but having fun is also good, especially when you have someone there to support you if you push yourself too far.
And Red! That man deserved a big hug because he had gone through a lot. He is actually the super at the flats Chloe moves into in her first step to getting a life and the two end up winding each other from the very beginning. Red can’t help but poke and prod at her because he can tell she has some kind of issue with him. And Chloe’s issue? That damn spark she felt from the first time they shook hands and his general cheerful manner to everyone. The man was nice to one and all, too nice! So her need to be extra sarcastic struck out and the two were sniping at each other with every meeting. That is until Chloe realises Red can be of some assistance conquering a few items on her list. She then forms a mutually beneficial plan that has the pair growing closer together and boy was that a treat to read.
Red and Chloe on the page together were just the best. Like I said, they poke and prod and have their sarcastic bickering and it is just so much fun to read. I was grinning practically the whole time reading this book because they were just so much fun. Even before they gave in to the chemistry brewing between them you could tell they were going to be the best together. Red was there driving Chloe out of her comfort zone and Chloe helped Red do better and pursue his career. They were meant to be. And that’s before I even start telling how hot the sex is between them. Look, all I’m gonna say is if a couple is about ready to bang in the street they must be good together (and the author must be talented at having me believe they would be up for that because I’m sorry, UK streets be shady and you know some idiot would interrupt being all ‘wahey what you pair up to’ because English me, and especially drunk English men are idiots). But the thing is yes they have chemistry but they still made each other laugh even when they were in bed together. That is relationship goals right there.
It may have taken me a while to finish this book but it was so worth it. My only regret is waited so long to read something by Talia Hibbert and thought I might not give her a second chance. Here's hoping the rest of her books are as good.
Have you read this or any of Talia Hibbert’s books? Which should I try next?
It’s a late Sunday post today because I’ve had a busy few days and Sunday morning is the first chance I’ve had to sit down and turn my laptop on. I know you guys won’t mind but I always like to explain myself anyway.
This week has been another weird week. Work hasn’t been bad, though, no terrible news for you there. We are all waiting for more news on a work Christmas party but since they’ve been giving us continual bad news I think they’re waiting to reveal anything more. So far, we had the date confirmed almost two months ago and then had nothing further. I currently have a hotel room booked along with a few other people on my team, so it may be a case of us all having a really good night out that night instead. I think we would all like that. It would be a great way to let off some steam, but I would like some confirmation on the Christmas Party. I’ve been putting off sorting my outfit and I hate rushing about last minute.
We saw our first sprinklings of snow on Thursday! It was exciting but also… not fun because that just proves how cold it is outside! Also, it came on a day where it pretty much rained all day. It was miserable and I was going out to meet friends and that just made me want to go home and curly up in my fluffy pjs. I didn’t, but Thursday definitely drove me to wanting to cancel. Because of the heavy rain my train got cancelled and that just had me in such a bad mood getting a taxi home. Thankfully, meeting up with friends that evening was exactly what I needed. Catching up and unwinding over a couple of drinks was perfect. I’m always so glad I've managed to keep in touch with a couple of school friends and we even put a date in the diary in a couple of weeks. Normally it takes us about three months to arrange another meet up.
My weekend has been taken up with two things: Christmas shopping and home improvements. Unfortunately, the home improvements aren’t on my house. That whole process is dragging out with various queries to the seller and we won’t get into that, but it’s frustrating to say the least. No, these home improvements are at home on my mom’s house. my step dad decided he would lay the new laminate flooring in the hallway and landing. He did a plastering course and replastered the walls, he painted the walls and now he’s laying flooring and putting the skirting boards back on the wall. This has taken about a month but it looks like it’s almost over! It has meant I spent no time with my laptop Saturday as I usually would, though. That means I’ll be playing catch up Sunday and that is never fun, I predict a slower blogging week for me. My other distraction has been Christmas shopping. I am so far behind this year and I have ne friend I am really struggling with what to buy her as all my ideas I feel like I’ve got her variation of that previously. I’ll think of something but it’s tough. I’m finally making a dent in my shopping, though. I made the mistake of heading to our local shopping centre, I suppose what you Americans out there would call a mall, and I should never go on a Saturday. I went early but it got so busy and by midday I was ready to murder someone. I remember why I don’t like heading into actual shops and started doing more of my Christmas shopping online. Even though the shops were frustrating and slightly rage inducing, it did help me get a few ideas of what to buy for people and that was the whole point of my mission.
What I’ve Been Reading
I don’t know what has been wrong with me this week but I’ve not been in the reading mood. I started reading No Judgments and couldn’t get into it at all. I ended up skimming through to the end to see if it would grab my attention… and it didn’t. It’s sad as I used to love Meg Cabot but that book just… it didn’t work for me. It wasn’t bad but there was nothing stand out about it either. I loved the cute animals, Gary was cute (the cat… the toothless cat) but the two MCs did nothing for me. I could tell from the start they were alluding to things with Bree and her past that I wasn’t going to enjoy and Drew just came across bland. I felt like he was meant to be grumpy at the start and would warm to Bree as the story progressed, but I just felt nothing. he was bland, beige, boring. Ugh, it was a me thing, I’m sure others enjoyed it and I probably would have if it came out when I was reading Cabot’s other books. I guess my tastes have changed. but you’re not here for a review of that book. I did start reading Get A Life, Chloe Brown as well. I am loving it but I’m not even halfway in and I started reading Wednesday? Thursday? I don’t know, I’ve been reading a for a few days and that’s all I know. Hopefully I’ll finish it during the rest of my Sunday, we’ll see.
New To Me
I’ve not bought that many books. I’ve tried to be really good (tried). No ebooks have been purchased, but one physical book snuck into my shopping on Saturday. It was a hardcover for £5 people! I couldn’t resist, I did text my brother first, though, I’d originally thought it could be a Christmas present for him but he had already read it. But I knew I needed to buy as it was a special edition and he enjoyed that series and friends on Goodreads have enjoyed it. Look, my Joe Abercrombie book was a bargain and you can’t convince me otherwise.
What have you been up to this week? Please tell me I’m not alone in not finishing or even being close to finishing Christmas shopping.
Source: Kindle First
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
My Rating:
Tracy Crosswhite has spent twenty years questioning the facts surrounding her sister Sarah’s disappearance and the murder trial that followed. She doesn’t believe that Edmund House—a convicted rapist and the man condemned for Sarah’s murder—is the guilty party. Motivated by the opportunity to obtain real justice, Tracy became a homicide detective with the Seattle PD and dedicated her life to tracking down killers.When Sarah’s remains are finally discovered near their hometown in the northern Cascade mountains of Washington State, Tracy is determined to get the answers she’s been seeking. As she searches for the real killer, she unearths dark, long-kept secrets that will forever change her relationship to her past—and open the door to deadly danger.
I love when a book comes out of nowhere and surprises me by being an enjoyable read. I do feel wrong calling a mystery about a woman's murdered sister an enjoyable read but it was. I was hooked from the beginning and was dying to unravel the mystery of whodunit. Turns out I would never have guessed but that's what makes it so fun!
I got this book years ago as a Kindle First read and this freebie sat unread ever since. I actually began reading the first chapter thinking I'd DNF within a few minutes.
I was wrong.
What I should have learnt by now is that I am often wrong and should never trust my instincts on a book. But I might learn. One day. I'm glad I gave this book a shot though
Tracey has never let the disappearance of her sister go. She knows she is probably dead but as the body has never been found and the trial to convict a man of the murder never sat right with her when the evidence was so circumstantial. When she gets the call to say a body has been found she knows that is her sister and she knows she can finally get the closure she needs by proving who actually did it.
Yes, this book probably does follow the usual plot of other mysteries. The MC is a woman on a mission. You know she'll be the one seeing the truth and older folks will be out to stop her. And there's a minor and cute romance. But I didn't care.
I admit the big reveal at the end threw me a little. It was unexpected (at least to me) but I didn't totally believe it and did kind of wish there was a different answer to it all. But the reveal was believable and I was surprised and I think that's kind of the most important thing with a mystery. I want to know who did it in the end. I don't want to have figured it out halfway through cos it's just not as fun. You don't get the same kind tension to figure it all out then.
I enjoyed it and was so pleasantly surprised. I can only hope I can stumble across more winners like this as I clear up my kindle shelves. I'll definitely continue the series.
What was the last book you assumed you wouldn’t like and ended up really enjoying?
This time we have a new feature here on the blog and it links up with me clearing off my shelves. I wanted to talk about the books which have bit the dust and been placed on my digital ‘Never going to read’ shelf or the physical books which have been moved to the charity shop pile. I really wanted to create a way to celebrate these books and feature them on the blog because they may be moving off of my reading list but I still wanted to read them at some point and it’s unfair for them to not at least have a quick mention to you guys.
This time around I’m trying to keep the number of books low. I’ve probably cleared off more books than this lately, but I am featuring the more recent removals. I’ve been trying to work from old to new when it comes to clearing off my shelves as the older books are the ones which are now less suited to my current reading tastes. I’ve moved on and some of these books may not be very me anymore.
These two books have been on my shelf for a while. A loooong while. In fact, I bought the first book way back in 2014 and I bought it because dragons! Do I need to say more? It sounded like a really cool idea and I was excited to read… and then didn’t. I had actually forgotten what this series was about and so read the summary of each book in this series and even now it does sound pretty exciting. This is a fun concept and I think if I’d read these books when I first purchased Talon I would have loads of good things to say, but unfortunately, I didn’t. Now, I just feel like this series is a big commitment and one I am not ready to undertake and the summaries sounded fun… but not something I would be ready to invest my time into reading anymore. Julie Kagawa is also an author who I’ve read before and found her writing often doesn’t really work for me.
It’s sad to see these ones go… but if I’ve not read the first book in almost 6 years then it’s really not going to happen, is it?
Never Never Series – Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
This is another series which I bought a loooong time ago and honestly, I think I only bought it because Colleen Hoover’s name was on it. The vague description for the first part did nothing for me and I saw a couple of bloggers mention it… and I probably shouldn’t have bought them. Colleen Hoover has slowly drifted off of my TBR list since 2015. I don’t hate her books, I actually really enjoyed some of her past ones… but I kind of feel like her high drama reads aren’t for me and they are filled with a whole heap of angst, as well. I just, can’t motivate myself to read as the books I look forward to reading are a bit lighter and that is not something that comes to mind when I think Colleen Hoover. It was time to admit I wasn’t reading this series and place them on the ‘Never gonna read shelf’.
A Thousand Perfect Notes – C.G. Drews
I feel terrible saying I’ve placed this on the charity shelf. I think we all know this book from Cait at Paper Fury. I have loved her blog for a good long while so when she announced she was writing a book I, like many others, wanted to read it/I actually ended up getting it in an Illumicrate box and I was so excited… and I never picked it up. I tried a few times to start reading and I could hear Cait’s voice coming through with what little I read, but it also felt like it wasn’t a book for me. I didn’t connect with it and it’s probably a case of a book coming to me after I’d moved on from that genre/type of book. If I read this a few years ago it might have totally worked for me, but sadly it wasn’t me now. I finally admitted defeat a few weeks ago and some other lucky person can discover this in a charity shop and feel the joy of reading I didn’t get to have.
The Girl of Ink & Stars – Kiran Millwood Hargrave
This book was a case of being shallow and buying for looks. The cover is beautiful, isn’t it? And then the inside is even prettier with maps and the pages have pictures around the edge and the book just feels beautiful in your hands. Honestly, it is just the nicest book to look at… but the writing just isn’t for me. This kind of sits in a middle ground between Young Adult and Middle Grade and if I had taken the time to read up about this book I would have known it completely didn’t work for me and is not to my usual tastes. I held on to this book for so long for the sheer prettiness of it and I knew it was time to place it on the charity pile as I just know someone will discover this book and will hopefully give it the love and appreciation it deserves.
Have you ever gone through your shelves and admitted defeat on reading some books? And have you bought books for the pretty rather than reading what the book itself was about?
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