Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 10

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Beautiful Ugly

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Thriller, Standalone

eBook, Hardcover, Audiobook, 320 Pages

January 14, 2025 by Flatiron Books

Blurb:

The million-copy bestselling Queen of Twists Alice Feeney returns with a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage. . . 
. . . and revenge.

Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.

A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He can’t sleep, and he can’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible – a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.
Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do.

Why I Want to Read This Book:

Alice Feeney has been an auto-buy author for me for a while and this one sounds nice and twisty. Throw in a setting in Scotland which is a future (2026) vacation pick of mine and I’m sold. I just hope it makes up for her last release which I did not like as much.

Will you be checking this book out? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I Want to Read This Month

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish and currently hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books I Want to Read This Month

This week’s TTT is a freebie and I’m a bit stumped but as it’s the beginning of a new month and the last month of 2024 I thought I’d do 10 Books on my December TBR! (I average 15+ books per month)

1. Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger2. Claus and Effect by Piper Rayne3. Christmas in Coconut Creek by Karissa Kinwood 4. The Christmas Party by Kathryn Croft5. The Madman’s Hotel by Niall Breslin6. Reckless Games by Eva Simmons7. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie8. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 9. Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey10. Danger on the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer

What did tou pick for today’s Freebie? Have you read any of the books on my TBR?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? And WWW Wednesday: 2-4 December 2024

This week I’m linking up to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date and WWW Wednesday hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words!

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

WWW Wednesday was created by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and was taken over by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. To participate answer the 3 W’s:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:Shattered (The House of Crimson and Clover Book 2) by Sarah M. Cradit

I just started this one and I’m seriously concerned with the character Jon’s behavior. He’s kind of an odd duck but there’s an uncomfortable scene coming up on the next page that I feel is kind of unnecessary.

The Whispering Night by Susan Dennard

I’m about 1/5 into this one and excited to see how this trilogy ends!

Recently Finished:The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

I enjoyed this one and was surprised by the killer. I for sure thought it was a completely different character. I’d love to watch the adaptation that came out last year on.. I think Britbox? I don’t have that app.

The Storm and the Darkness (The House of Crimson and Clover Book 1) by Sarah M. Cradit

I really enjoyed this one. It had witches, romance, a deranged killer and a vibrant setting both in New Orleans and Maine.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

I was so nervous to read this one because I watched the show first but this is one that I loved both the show and the book. There are some differences between the two but I feel they are both really strong and I was able to fully devote myself to the story told in the book.

Reading Next:Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

It’s time for holiday themed reads! I’ve been wanting to listen to this audiobook since last year!

What are you reading and loving this week? Have you read any of these?

The Sunday Post: Thanksgiving, Holiday Shopping, and Traditions

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

Thanksgiving, Holiday Shopping, and Traditions:

Hey Book Blogger Friends! How was your Thanksgiving if you celebrate? This Sunday post is a couple days late as I had a very busy weekend.

I had a really nice, relaxing Thanksgiving where I tried out a few new recipes. I also ended up eating way more than I usually do and ended up having to take an evening nap.

While I didn’t get to catch all of it, I did catch part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Is that a tradition for your family? It always was in mine. Another tradition is Chinese food for dinner on the night before Thanksgiving. My grandmother and I used to get take out so we didn’t have a ton of cooking or clean-up with so much to come on Thanksgiving itself. I do not, however, partake in Black Friday shopping (although I did some online shopping).

Have you ever just been the mood to splurge a little? That’s me right now. I’m planning to start my holiday shopping for my sister this Friday but I’ve already done a little shopping for myself. I’m easier to shop for than she is hahaha.

Last Week on the Blog:

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? And WWW Wednesday – 25-27 November 2024

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books I’m Thankful I Gave a Second Chance

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Nightweaver!

Time Travel Thursday and Throwback Thursday

First Line Friday

Stacking the Shelves

This Week on the Blog:

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? and WWW Wednesday: 2-4 December 2024

Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie Post

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Beautiful Ugly

Time Travel Thursday: 5 December 2024

First Line Friday: 6 December 2024

Stacking the Shelves: 7 December 2024

New Book Mail on My Shelves:

Library Audiobook Borrows:

Audiobook:

Stacking the Shelves: 30 November 2024

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual.

Books Added to My Shelves This Week:

This week I borrowed one audiobook from my library’s Hoopla system and unpaused my Audible account, used my credit, and added a few audiobooks that didn’t require me to use a credit…

Library Audiobook Borrows:Audible:

What books did you add to your shelves this week? Have you/do you plan to read any of these?

First Line Friday: 29 November 2024

This week I’m joining First Line Friday. First Line Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Carrie @ Reading is My Superpower! So grab the book nearest you, your current read, or the book on top of your TBR stack and share the first line.

My pick this week is…

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

And the first line is…

“Lady?”

She looks up and out the window of the carriage; night has fallen with a swift and total blackness.

I had to go a little further since the first line was only one word. What is the first line of the book you’re reading this week?

Time Travel Thursday and Throwback Thursday: 28 November 2024

Time Travel Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Budget Tales Book Blog where readers take a look back at what they were reading this time last year (or the year before or the year before that…) and compare it to what you are reading now. I’m also joining Susan @ Susan Loves Books and linking up to Davida @ The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog for Throwback Thursday which discusses books you want to read that were published one year ago and also shares a past review so here we go…

28 November:

First off, Happy Thanksgiving to my friends here in the U.S! I hope you have a very relaxing day!

Bad Things Feel Best by Ivy Smoak

One year ago today I was just finishing this romance. I enjoyed it but it was definitely a weird read. I remember thinking “what is this book?” Gothic romance? Paranormal romance?

Currently Reading:Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

I’m reading a retelling this week, Lady Macbeth!

Comparison:

These are about as far apart as you can get! One is romance, the other a feisty feminist retelling.

Have you read either of these books?

New Release – 1 Year Ago Today:Reckless Games by Eva Simmons

I didn’t get to this one last holiday season but hopefully this year!

New Eyes on An Old Review:

Book Review: A Ghost of A Chance by Brittany Kelley

Here is my review of Ghost of a Chance which I mentioned last time I posted for Time Travel Thursday!

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Nightweaver!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released.

Nightweaver by R.M. Gray

Young Adult, Romantasy, Nightweaver Series #1

eBook, Hardcover, 432 Pages

March 4, 2025 by Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

Blurb:

Violet Oberon had never stepped foot on land. Six hundred years after the Nightweavers claimed human lands for their own, the ocean is a haven for seventeen-year-old Violet and her family. Notorious pirates of the Western Sea, the Oberon clan are undefeated in battle-until an Underling murders Violet’s brother, and she discovers there are monsters more fearsome than the Nightweavers that have taken them captive. When the son of a wealthy Nightweaver shows Violet and her family mercy, offering employment at his estate rather than enslavement, Violet vows not to forget that he is everything she hates. But as she adjusts to her new role as a kitchen maid at Bludgrave Manor, she finds that hatred is a curious thing. Arrogant, entitled, right hand to the wicked prince, William Castor might be the key to avenging her brother-and reclaiming her freedom. But mercy always comes with a price. As Violet hunts the Underling responsible for her brother’s death, dark secrets threaten to unravel everything she thought she knew about the Nightweavers, herself, and her world. Torn between family loyalty and a chance at revenge, the cost of learning the truth about her brother’s murder could be her life.

Why I Want to Read This Book:

Ok I confess that part of the reason I’m so excited for this book is the stunning hardcover edition with all the bells and whistles! It’s so pretty! Also, I follow this author on instagram and I love all the aesthetic posts she’s shared for the book.

Will you be checking this book out? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books I’m Thankful I Gave A Second Chance

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish and currently hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books I’m Thankful I Gave A Second Chance 

This week’s TTT is a Thankful/Thanksgiving Freebie. I decided to do books I’m thankful I gave a second chance. I DNF books and sometimes for whatever reason, I’m compelled to give them a second chance. It’s a case of it’s not the book, it’s me in the original moment I tried to read it. Sometimes I still don’t like the book, but other times I end up loving them the second time around. I have a whole shelf devoted to these “give-a-book-a-second-chance reads.”

1. Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

This was a case of I watched the tv show first and had to learn to separate the two.

2. The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich

This book kind of grossed me out the first time I read it but now it’s my favorite book hands down.

3. Glitter by Aprilynne Pike

I’m not sure why I didn’t like this one the first time, maybe the genre? But I enjoyed it the second go-round!

4. Ally by Anna Banks

I think this one was more that I was meh about the first book, Nemesis, but chose to read Ally anyway and liked it so much more.

5. Ever the Brave by Erin Summerill

I loved the first book in this series but struggled getting into Ever the Brave. After two tries I finally gave it 3 stars when I finished.

6. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

This was a case of some books are just better in audiobook format.

7. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I read Empire of Storms first (yes I know it’s book 5) and was completely lost the first time I tried to read this one. So I read the series backwards from Empire of Storms.

8. The Similars by Rebecca Hanover

This one didn’t interest me the when I got it as an ARC so I set it aside. Flash forward a few years, I picked it up and loved it.

9. In A Dark, Dark Wood

I tried to read this as a physical and audiobook at the same time and had trouble following as some of the dialogue tags get dropped in the audiobook. I tried it again just in audiobook and didn’t have any issues.

10. Final Girls by Riley Sager

Another case of the audiobook was better. Still my 3rd least favorite of Riley Sager’s books.

What did tou pick for today’s Freebie? Do you DNF books? Do you ever go back and give them a second chance?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? And WWW Wednesday – 25-27 November 2024

This week I’m linking up to It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? Hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date and WWW Wednesday hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words!

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

WWW Wednesday was created by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and was taken over by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. To participate answer the 3 W’s:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

I’m about 1/2 into Lady Macbeth and enjoying it so far! I really like this author’s writing style so far.

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

I’ll be starting this audiobook while doing my workout this afternoon and I’m definitely in the mood for another Poirot mystery.

Recently Finished:The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard

I really enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to read the third book!

Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie

While not my favorite Poirot book, I definitely thought this one was inventive!

Reading Next:Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

I think this will be my last audiobook borrow from the library for November.

What are you reading and loving this week? Have you read any of these?