Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 23
February 10, 2024
The Sunday Post: Training, Shelf Organization, and eARCs
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.
Training, Shelf Organization, and eARCsHey Bookdragons! Happy Sunday! How was your week? It was another busy one for me work-wise.
We started training at work for our new system that will be going live on February 27th. Pretty soon our dispatch screen will look more like what you see on shows like 911 and we’ll be less like Mayberry 
The training so far hasn’t been bad, it seemed like a complicated explanation of something that wasn’t quite so hard but the training schedule messed up my sleep schedule a bit this week and I was dragging. We have a week off before we get the rest of the training.
I started working on my home office Monday but as I was moving one of my bookcases it collapsed on me and I currently have it propped up between another bookcase and a book cart until I can disassemble it. Guess I’m going bookcase shopping. I did get my desk assembled and my main workspace is ready to use luckily!
On the 5th I was approved for an eARC of my favorite author’s upcoming release! I’m really excited to read it! It’s The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich and you can see the gorgeous cover below!
Last Week on the Blog:
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 5 February 2024
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Home is Where the Bodies Are
Time Travel Thursday February 2014-2024
Book Blogger Hop – February 9-15, 2024
Stacking the Shelves – 10 February 2024
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 12 February 2024
ARC Review: Until the Stars Fall by Vanessa Rasanen
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Bad Like Us
Time Travel Thursday
Book Blogger Hop: Do you keep an active list of favorite authors—that you would spend your milk money on—to have it when they publish a book?
Stacking the Shelves – 17 February 2024
Around the Book Blogging World:Murder, Thrillers, Suspense: Book Review – Death is in the Details (I love how Jody can find so many thrillers I haven’t heard of that I immediately put on my TBR!)
Caffeinated Reviewer: Bride by Ali Hazelwood (this one is on my TBR and I was curious what Kimberly thought of it!)
Shelley Rae @ Book’d Out: Review: The Silence in Her Eyes by Armando Lucas Correa (the cover of this one grabbed me and I enjoyed reading the review of this one. It sounds interesting enough to give a chance but I’m glad to know going in that it’s a slow-go)
Kristin Kraves Books: January Wrap Up (A few of these mentioned are on my TBR and it was nice to see Kristin’s opinions on them!)
February 9, 2024
Stacking the Shelves – 10 February 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:eARC:
As soon as the author announced this was on Netgalley I put in my request and I was approved a couple days later! I can’t wait to read this one! Dawn Kurtagich is my favorite author.
Blurb:Beware what waits in the shadows…
With one unexpected email from her estranged best friend, Lucy, Mina Murray’s carefully curated life is turned upside down. Leaving behind her psychiatric practice in London, along with her routine and the calm it brings, she returns to the windswept shores of Wales. Faced with everything she’s left behind, she soon discovers that Lucy’s symptoms mirror those of her mysterious patient with amnesia hundreds of miles away.
With nothing but an untreatable sickness connecting the two women, and with Lucy’s life on the line, Mina finds herself asking questions and being drawn ever-deeper into a web of secrets, missing girls, and the powerful, nameless force at its center—one that has been haunting her for years.
As terrible, ancient truths begin to reveal themselves, Mina prepares to confront her own darkest secrets, and with them, an evil beyond comprehension. Together with a group of smart, savvy women, Mina seizes one last, desperate chance to stop the cycle that began so long ago. But there are dangers to inviting the attentions of what might not be a man, but a monster…
What books did you add to your shelves this week?
Book Blogger Hop – February 9-15 2024
The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings or a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
February 9-15, 2024 Question of the Week:
Answer:No, I usually don’t unless I’m part of a release day blitz.
What about you? Do you post happy release day posts on social media for ARCs you’ve read?
February 7, 2024
Time Travel Thursday: February 2014-2024
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.
This week I’m traveling back to February 2014 for a fun coincidence!Ten years ago this month I was reading the Sweep series by Cate Tiernan for the first time and now ten years later I am currently rereading it!
There are 15 books in the series but they’re all under 200 pages so they’re fast reads. I’m a few books behind where I was 10 years ago today (book 5 vs book 9) but it’s been interesting rereading them. I almost died of embarrassment when the main character described a store clerk as “an older guy, probably in his early 30s,” in book 1. I’m a 31 year old woman and it’s making it sound like I’m a senior citizen! 
Something is happening to me that I don’t understand.
I see things, feel things in a new way. I can do things normal people can’t do. Powerful things. Magical things. It scares me.
I never chose to learn witchcraft. But I’m starting to wonder if witchcraft is choosing me.
Do you reread books? Have the rereads ever been around the same time of year or just random?
February 6, 2024
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Home Is Where the Bodies Are
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.
Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
Thriller, Standalone
ebook, Hardcover, Audiobook, 270 pages
April 30, 2024 by Blackstone Publishing
Blurb:From New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage and You Shouldn’t Have Come Here, comes a chilling family thriller about the (sometimes literal) skeletons in the closet.
After their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate.
Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom, caring for her until the very end.
Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm’s length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction.
Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn’t been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before.
While going through their parent’s belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends. Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.
Why I Want to Read This Book:I really enjoyed You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by this author when I read it last year. This is set in a small town in Wisconsin and I, who live in a small town in Wisconsin, love reading creepy books set in my home state. I’m excited to see the twists in this book!
Will you be checking this one out? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?
February 4, 2024
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 5 February 2024
#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.
Hey Book Blogger Friends! I had a busy week last week between work and working on revisions on my next novel and I’ve been rereading a series where the books are under 200 pages each.
Last Week I Read:Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan
The Coven by Cate Tiernan
Blood Witch by Cate Tiernan
These are quick reads but while I rated them higher the first two times I’ve read them I rated them between 3-4 star this time.
Currently Reading:Katharine of Aragon: The True Queen by Alison Weir
I’m nearing 75% in this book and considering it’s 22+ hours long, that’s a good thing. I’m going to continue with the rest of the books but Iron Flame is next up on my audiobook TBR.
Dark Magick by Cate Tiernan
Book 4 of 15
Next Reads:Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Awakening by Cate Tiernan 
What are you reading this week? Have you read any of these? What is the longest series you’ve ever read?
February 3, 2024
The Sunday Post: Hello February
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.
Hello FebruaryHey Bookdragons! Happy Sunday! How was your week?
Mine was busier than normal. We had a lot of weird calls at work and between work and doing revisions on my novel I didn’t get much free time.
I did finish my second round revisions on my novel and will be working on the third round revisions this coming week once I set up my home office. My desk should be arriving Tuesday and I assembled my office chair yesterday.
I had a self-care day yesterday and had my nails done and today I’m going to see Argylle.
Last Week on the Blog: It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 29 January 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2023
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 5 February 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Quick Reads/Books to Read When Time is Short
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Home Is Where the Bodies Are
Time Travel Thursday
Book Blogger Hop: Do you post Happy Publication Day posts for books you read?
Stacking the Shelves – 10 February 2024
Around the Book Blogging World:None This Week
January 29, 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors I Discovered in 2023
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: New-To-Me Authors I Discovered in 2023This week’s TTT is about authors we discovered in 2023. Here are some that were new to me that I enjoyed books by…
1. Cynthia Murphy
2. Catherine Steadman
3. Rachel Hawkins
4. Chanel Cleeton
5. Jeneva Rose
6. Brittany Kelley
7. Elsie Silver
8. Catherine Cowles
9. Sangu Mandanna 
10. Catherine Mack
What authors were new to you in 2023? Were any of mine on your list?
January 28, 2024
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 29 January 2024
#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.
Hey Bookdragons! I got a little reading done last week but it was pretty busy and I’m still working on a couple current reads.
Last Week I Read:Death Unfiltered by Emmeline Duncan
I really enjoyed this one! It may be my favorite of the series but I’ve really loved all the books.
It’s One of Us by J.T. Ellison
This was a solid 3 star read for me. There were parts I liked and parts that I didn’t care for. Just be sure to check triggers, as this book talks a lot about fertility issues and miscarriages.
Currently Reading:The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
I’m going to finish this book this week. I’m at 60% and I’m going to push through. It’s good, that’s not the issue, I just keep starting other books.
Katharine of Aragon: The True Queen by Alison WeirI’m about 50% into this audiobook and I’m enjoying it. I just recently watched The Tudors and I’m a bit obsessed at the moment.
Next Read:Book of Shadows by Cate TiernanThis will be my 3rd reread of this series. I need some short reads for a palate cleanser.
What are you reading this week?
January 27, 2024
The Sunday Post: Yummy Recipes, Travel Planning, and Readying the Home Office
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.
Yummy Recipes, Travel Planning, and Readying the Home OfficeHey Book Blogger Friends! How was your week? I actually accomplished things this week and finished the first round edits of my next book. I also binged all 4 seasons of The Tudors. Now maybe I can catch up on reading.
This week I tried out 5 different recipes I found on Pinterest and they were all really good. My favorite was the Garlic Butter Cod with Lemon Asparagus Skillet (below).
I put my 2024 vacation days into the work scheduler last week and they were approved so now I’m heavily into travel planning mode. My April trip to Charleston is as planned as I can do right now (airline and hotel booked, museum tickets and restaurant reservations to be made closer to my trip) so I’ve been working on outlining my fall trip. I’ll be heading to New England – starting in Maine and coming down the coast to New Hampshire for a couple days before ending up in Salem, Massachusetts which I’ve dreamed of going to since I was a kid. (Lifelong Halloween and Hocus Pocus fan here)
Meanwhile I’m readying to move into my mom’s old bedroom and turn my current bedroom into my home office so I’m picking out furniture on Amazon as well as decorations.
Last Week On the Blog: WWW Wednesday – 24 January 2024
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Murder Road
Time Travel Thursday – 25 January
Stacking the Shelves – 27 January 2024
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 29 January 2024
Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2023
Can’t Wait Wednesday: Home Is Where the Bodies Are
Time Travel Thursday – 1 February
Book Blogger Hop: What was the last book you read in one sitting?
Stacking the Shelves – 3 February 2024
Signed!
Signed!eARC:
Around the Blogosphere:#bookreview ~ A Lovely Lie by Jaime Lynn Hendricks on Mystery, Thrillers, Suspense – definitely adding this one to my TBR.
