Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 23

Book Blogger Hop: 8-14 March 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.

March 8-14, 2024 Question of the Week:

Do you use a book’s synopsis for your review? 

Answer:

For the actual review I might throw in a word or two from the synopsis, rewording things as I summarize the story. In the post itself, the way I lay out my reviews on my blog is I share the cover, then the synopsis, then my review, and finally my rating.

Do you use the synopsis of a book in your review?

Time Travel Thursday: March 7

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.

7 March 2023

Fallen is I believe the 13th book in the Kate Burkholder series by Linda Castillo which follows the Kate, a former Amish woman turned police chief.

Currently Reading:

One Poison Pie is the first book in the Kitchen Witch Mystery series.

Comparison:

Well… there is murder in both of them and I started both of them on March 7th but that is where the similarities end. Fallen is a grittier thriller where One Poison Pie is a cozy mystery.

Have you read either of these books?

Time Travel Thursday: 29 February

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.

29 February 2016 (Leap Day)

I had to go back to 2016 to find me actively reading a book on Leap Day and it was Hotel Ruby, the original title and cover of what is now Hotel for the Lost.

Currently Reading:

Right now I’m currently rereading In the Hall with the Knife. This is my 3rd read-through of it and I’m a bit late because I love to read this trilogy on stormy winter nights like in the book – but other than the inch or so of snow we got the other night it’s been a mild February.

Comparison:

Both books have mystery elements – though In the Hall with the Knife is a murder mystery and Hotel Ruby is more paranormal in nature as the main character unravels the secrets of the hotel. In the Hall with the Knife is a “Clue” inspired mystery with multiple POV whereas Hotel Ruby has an underlining of sadness.

Have you read either of these?

Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Couple in 5B

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.

The Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger

Standalone, Adult, Thriller

eBook, Hardcover, Audiobook, 384 Pages

March 5, 2024 by Park Row Books

Blurb:

A couple inherits an apartment with a spine-tingling past in this binge-worthy thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six.

Rosie and Chad Lowan are barely making ends meet in New York City when they receive life-changing news: Chad’s late uncle has left them his luxury apartment at the historic Windermere in glamorous Murray Hill. With its prewar elegance and impeccably uniformed doorman, the building is the epitome of old New York charm. One would almost never suspect the dark history lurking behind its perfectly maintained facade.

At first, the building and its eclectic tenants couldn’t feel more welcoming. But as the Lowans settle into their new home, Rosie starts to suspect that there’s more to the Windermere than meets the eye. Why is the doorman ever-present? Why are there cameras everywhere? And why have so many gruesome crimes occurred there throughout the years? When one of the neighbors turns up dead, Rosie must get to the truth about the Windermere before she, too, falls under its dangerous spell.

Why I Want to Read This Book:

Like locked door mysteries, another one of my favorite thriller tropes are real estate inheritances with dark histories. I always love when characters inherit a home that seems too good for it to be true… for it to turn out to be exactly that. I’ve read one other book by this author and enjoyed it.

Will you be checking this one out? What books are you looking forward to?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 26 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 Bookdragons! Happy Monday! Did you get a lot of reading time in over the weekend? Are you planning to use the extra day of February this week as a reading day?

Last Week I Read:The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich

I loved this one! I can’t wait to get a physical copy when it releases in August!

Damaged Goods by LJ Shen

This was a 3 star read for me. There were more things I disliked than liked.

Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir

This was a solid 3.5 star read for me. The writing was good and the story kept me engaged, it’s just that the subject matter – Jane Seymour herself, was kind of dull.

Currently Reading:In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund (Reread)

This is a reread. I watched Clue again recently and felt like reading this series again.

Next Reads:Anna of Kleve: The Princess in the Portrait by Alison Weir

I’m looking forward to this one. I think Anne of Cleves will be my favorite of Henry VIII’s wives.

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

I’m planning to read this one between In the Hall with the Knife and the next Clue mystery.

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

The Sunday Post: The Hardest Decision, Brain Overload, and Fish Tacos

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.

The Hardest Decision, Brain Overload, and Fish Tacos

Hey Book Blogger Friends! How was your week. Mine was extremely busy… and extremely emotional.

Last Sunday I made the hardest decision I’ve had to make. The decision to rehome my dog, Toby. He’s a nearly 2 year old bernedoodle and I’ve been struggling lately with my work and sleep schedule that he’s spending more time than is fair in his kennel and I never have time to take him on walks or give him the attention he needs. My mom had gotten him roughly a year before she passed away and was able to hang out with him all day while she was home. I’m sort of shocked how fast everything moved. By Tuesday he was picked up by the rescue to go to his foster home and I believe as of today he might have been adopted. I promised myself I wasn’t going to cry, but I’m tearing up typing this.

In the midst of that I had the rest of my training at work on our new system. I learned so much.. to the point that my brain feels a little overloaded. Our launch for the new system is Tuesday and I’m hoping it goes smooth.

Obviously it’s been a long, at times challenging week. Friday I had to get out and have a self-care day so I got up early and went to my favorite brunch spot for fish tacos to cheer myself up.

Last Week on the Blog:

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 19 February 2024

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Wild Love

Time Travel Thursday – 22 February

Book Blogger Hop: 23-29 February 2024

Stacking the Shelves: 24 February 2024

This Week on the Blog:

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 26 February 2024

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Book TBD

Time Travel Thursday: 29 February

Book Blogger Hop: What was your gateway book—the book that made you want to read more—into reading or into a specific genre?

Stacking the Shelves: 2 March 2024 with Anticipated Additions from Cozy Con 2024 (March 3, 2024 in Plover, WI)

New Book Mail on My ShelvesPhysical:eBook:Around the Book Blogging World:

None this Week!

Stacking the Shelves – 24 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:Physical:

After a delay with Amazon I finally got my paperback copy of Until the Stars Fall by Vanessa Rasanen.

eBook:

I’ve read other books/series by Ella Maven and I borrowed this one from Kindle Unlimited when I saw it in her newsletter yesterday.

What books did you add to your shelves this week?

Book Blogger Hop: 23-29 February 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 23-29, 2024 Question of the Week:

How do you organize your bookshelves?

Answer:

Right now my bookshelves are a little chaotic as I’m putting together a new bookcase and then I’ll reorganize. The only one not unorganized is my indie author bookcase which is organized by author’s last name. On my “favorites” bookcase I keep series together and then go by author last name. The last set have no rhyme or reason to organization.

How do you organize your bookshelves?

Time Travel Thursday: 22 February

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.

22 February 2023

One year ago today I started reading Lightlark by Alex Aster. I haven’t read the second book yet but I really loved this one. (And I’m disappointed that The Bookish Box didn’t do a matching edition for the second book).

Currently Reading:

Today I’m about halfway through the audiobook of Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir

Comparison:

Lightlark is a YA fantasy in which the rulers of different kingdoms compete in a completion where the winner will break the curse that has been plaguing their kingdom. Jane Seymour is obviously historical fiction about the 3rd wife of King Henry VIII of England. Both are about royals, but they’re vastly different.

Have you read either one of these?

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Wild Love

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.

Wild Love (Rose Hill Book 1) by Elsie Silver

Romance

eBook, Paperback, 464 Pages

April 9, 2024 by Bloom Books

Blurb:

She’s been driving him wild for years.

The good kind of wild. The bad kind of wild.

But mostly, the kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend’s little sister and knowing you can’t have her.

Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World’s Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he’s her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend’s sister, Rosie Belmont.

After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm’s length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay―friction that soon turns to blistering heat.

Ford knows damn well he shouldn’t cross this line. But shouldn’t and can’t are two very different things.

And the only thing he truly can’t do is resist her.

Why I Want to Read This Book:

I started reading Elsie’s books last year and fell in love with them. I believe Ford is the brother of Willa from the Chestnut Springs series, so maybe we’ll see a cameo in this book? Either way it sounds like it’s going to be a fun contemporary romance read. Not to mention it has a gorgeous cover.

Will you be checking this one out? What books are you looking forward to?