Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 42

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 10 April 2023

#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! How was your weekend? With the weather warming up, are you reading outside more? What have you been reading this past week?

Last Week I Read:The Resort by Sarah Goodwin

I shelved this as “Not Right Now” because I’m in a bit of a reading slump right now and I don’t feel like a winter thriller right now.

Currently Reading:Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts

When in a reading slump, reread a book you loved before. I just started this one and it’s been so long since I last read it, I didn’t know the main character had moved from Charleston! (The movie adaptation is set in North Carolina I believe, not South, and I’ve watched that multiple times since I last read this one).

When She Dances by Ruby Dixon

I actually picked this one up because I saw a negative review of it. I’m a few chapters in so far and Ruby’s books are always quick reads.

Next Read:Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

I know I was going to listen to The Ballad of Never After next but I really, really want to listen to this one next.

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

The Sunday Post: Madison, Stomach Bugs, and Getting Things In Order

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.

Madison, Stomach Bugs, and Getting Things In Order

Hey Bookdragons! It was a busy week for me, how was yours?

Tuesday was Election Day so my mom and I went out and voted as she was running for municipal judge for the townships in our part of the county. (She won! By 7 votes, but she did win). We did some shopping and I got my nails fixed as my last nail tech epically screwed up my nails and my regular nail place was horrified.

Wednesday my mom had her follow-up appointment for her clinical trial so I tagged along since I was off work. I’ve never been to Madison before this week and I honestly wasn’t impressed. I mean the hospital was fine, it was the city itself I found boring.

Later Wednesday I either picked up food poisoning from something I ate or developed a stomach bug that I’m still struggling with today. I hope it goes away quickly.

It’s only 13 days until my Charleston trip! It’s pretty much word vomit whenever I talk to anyone lately and I’m sure I’m annoying them with my chatter but I’m so excited. I just made reservations for some restaurants I want to go to and bought tickets some of the attractions/museums I want to go to this week and my new Ghostface pajamas came so I can get started packing next weekend.

I missed Can’t Wait Wednesday this week because I received an ARC of the book I was going to pick and didn’t have a chance to get another book/post ready because of the busyness of earlier this week. I also missed The Friday 56 because of my stomach bug (I even had to leave work early Friday morning)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 3 April 2023

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Sun Touched

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Indie/Self-Published Books

What I’m Binge-Watching – March- 6 April 2023

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 10 April 2023

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Carolina Moon

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Titles with Animals In Them and/or Covers with Animals On Them

Can’t Wait Wednesday… You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight!

What I’m Binge-Watching – 13 April 2023

The Friday 56: Carolina Moon

The Saturday Review

Free eBooks:

96 Mystery and Thriller Recommendations by Mood and Setting

What I’m Binge-Watching – March- 6 April 2023

What I’m Binge-Watching is a weekly meme to document all of our favorite binging obsessions. Follow along and let me know what you’ve been binge-watching lately!

Hey everyone! I haven’t done one of these since I was on my old blogger blog. I missed sharing what I’ve been watching!

Last Month:The Stranger (Limited Series – Netflix)

My sister watched this before my mom and I but watched it again with us and I really liked it! My mom even liked it and she can’t watch shows where people have accents

The Night Agent (Netflix)

My sister picked this one and we binged it in one day. I liked it but it kind of ended in a way I didn’t like.

The Haunting of Hill House

This was a re-watch for me and I enjoyed it more the second time around.

The Watcher

I still don’t know how I feel about this. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it. It kind of reminded me of The Amityville Horror because they couldn’t really afford the house then weird things started happening.

Ongoing:CSI

We’re watching this again since we finished watching Criminal Minds a month or so ago and need an ongoing murder show.

Southern Charm

I’ve been trying to catch up on this one. I think I’m in season 5. It’s giving me my Charleston fix until my trip in a couple weeks.

Want to Watch:

I want to start this one. I read the book when it first came out and I’m dying to watch the show.

What are you currently binge-watching? Let me know in the comments! Happy binging!

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Indie/Self-Published Books

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 Indie/Self-Published Books

This week’s TTT is all about my favorite type of books! Indie and Self-Published! As an indie author myself, with a lot of talented author friends, I have you covered!

1. Shadow Touched by Becky Moynihan2. Imber by Tyffany Hackett3. Corpse Queen by Stacey Rourke4. Resurrection Road by Hannah Marae5. Gravebriar by Casey L. Bond6. The Monsters of Selkirk Series by C.E. Clayton7. The Reunion by Kiersten Modglin8. Her Villains by Jade Presley9. The Insatiable Hunger of Trees by Samantha Eaton10. No Check Out by Taylor Fenner (Me)

Who are some of your favorite indie authors? I highly encourage you to check these out and other works by these authors if you haven’t already!

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Sun Touched

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Socrates Book Reviews where you share the first paragraph of one of the books that you are currently reading. Each week bloggers will choose a book or books of the week (which will be one of the books that you are currently reading) and that book will take part in this book blog meme.

My book of the week is: Sun Touched by Becky Moynihan

First Chapter, First Paragraph:

The call came when I was minutes away from the castle.

Blurb:

A little sun never hurt anyone . . . unless you’re me.

Ever since I was turned into a vampire, my private investigator job has been my life. Then my sire, Kade Carmichael, crashes back into it. I try to shake him, but he has other plans.

When I’m asked to investigate a homicide case, Kade manages to make himself my partner. The more time I’m forced to spend with him, the harder it is to deny feelings I thought were long buried.

To make matters worse, a mysterious stalker is obsessed with exposing me as the murderer. Soon, not only is my career at stake, my very life is.

Kade might be the only one who can help me, but that means letting him in. And losing my life doesn’t scare me nearly as bad as risking my heart.

SUN TOUCHED is a standalone enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, second chance romance told from Isla and Kade’s point-of-view, and a continuation of the A Touch of Vampire world intended to be read after Fate Touched.

*This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Best suited for ages 17+ due to sexual situations.

What do you think? Would you read this one? I loved this whole series and I wish I had read this one sooner!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – April 2023

#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! What is your first read of April? How many books did you read in March? I read/listened to 9 books, not counting a few I DNF’d.

Last Week I Read:The Fear by Natasha Preston

I ended up DNF’ing this one. It didn’t keep my attention sadly.

Impact Winter by Travis Beacham

I really loved this and I’m so pleased to hear there is a second and third season coming because the ending leaves you wanting more.

Sun Touched by Becky Moynihan

I did it! I finally read this one and I’m glad I finally made time for it.

Currently Reading:The Resort by Sarah Goodwin

I read the sample of this one last weekend and was hooked so I picked up the ebook copy this week. Now I just have to find some reading time in the next few days.

Next Read:The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis

I just got an eARC of this one and I can’t wait to start it!

What books are you reading and enjoying this week?

The Sunday Post: Hello April, Coffee Mornings, and Little Splurges

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 April, Coffee Mornings, and Little Splurges

Hey Bookdragons! Happy April! Is it starting to feel like spring by you yet? Nah, not here either sadly. Hopefully this coming week will look better.

Now that it’s April 2nd, it’s only 20 days until I leave for my Charleston trip! I’m so excited. Honestly, looking at pictures from their social media accounts has been the only thing keeping me moving forward since the beginning of February. A light at the end of the tunnel.

It’s been another pretty uneventful week. My mom and I went out for a coffee and a bagel breakfast sandwich at the local coffee shop on Tuesday morning since she and my sister had to head back to Madison the next day for follow-up. I’m quickly becoming addicted to the coffee shop’s breakfast sandwiches.

Working all of this overtime lately has at least allowed me to reach my travel budget this week and I had a little left over to splurge on a few little things I’ve been eyeing online. Nothing too crazy, just some face cream (my skin is dry) and a set of Ghostface pajamas. But it felt good to splurge.

The Sunday Post: Uneventful Week, Mud Season, and Fun Book Mail

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 27 March 2023

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: The Insatiable Hunger of Trees

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books for People Who Liked Agatha Christie

Can’t Wait Wednesday… The Game She Plays!

The Friday 56: The Fae Princes

The Sunday Post: Hello April, Coffee Mornings, and Little Splurges (You Are Here)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 3 April 2023

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Sun Touched

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Indie/Self-Published Books

Can’t Wait Wednesday… The Stolen Throne

What I’m Binge-Watching – 6 April 2023

The Friday 56: Sun Touched

The Saturday Review: March Wrap Up

None this week

The Friday 56: The Fae Princes

The Friday 56 is a weekly blog meme hosted by Freda’s Voice. How to participate: Grab a book, any book. Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay. Find a snippet, short and sweet. Post it, and link up on Freda’s Voice so everyone knows to visit.

This week I’m participating with: The Fae Princes by Nikki St. Crowe

Blurb:

I thought Peter Pan was a myth and Neverland a fairytale. A story spun by my mother who had lost her mind a long time ago.

But there was no denying the overwhelming shadow cast by Peter Pan when he was standing in my house.

Pan took me captive to Neverland and I somehow found my place among him and the Lost Boys.

I’ve never looked back.

Now I’m entangled right alongside him in a war we can’t seem to escape. We thought we had defeated our enemies.

We thought we could finally have our happily ever after.

But there was one enemy we never saw coming.

A fairy who has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The fairy with golden wings and a dark, twisted heart.

She wants Neverland and she’ll stop at nothing to have it. Including destroying anyone who stands in her way, even her own flesh and blood.

NOTE: The Fae Princes is a reimagining of Peter and Wendy. Characters have been aged up for this darker, grittier version. If you like your enemies to lovers romance with hot, ruthless, morally gray love interests, you’ll enjoy this series. You can expect hate kissing, fighting, bickering, and ‘touch her and I’ll unalive you’ vibes. The Fae Princes is the final book in the main storyline for the Vicious Lost Boys Series.

Please check the author’s website for CWs.

The Friday 56 Excerpt:

The room is exactly as I remembered it, with a garden window on the left, the shelves inside full of small potted flowers and herbs. In the center of the room, is one long worktable, the wood base well-worn, the marble top spotted with stains, but still smooth to the touch.

I read an eARC of this one and I tried to find a non-spicy, non-spoilery excerpt for you.

Can’t Wait Wednesday… The Game She Plays!

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 Game She Plays by Siena Sterling

Standalone, Thriller

eBook, Paperback, 384 pages

June 6, 2023 by William Morrow Books

Blurb:

From the author of Tell Us No Secrets comes a twisty new novel. A young American woman is thrust into the closed social circle of English aristocrats, but beneath their charm and glamor lay secrets and dark betrayals that follow them—and her—around every corner. Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Sherry Lapena, Ruth Ware, and Gilly MacMillan.

To everyone else it was “just” a weekend house party—complete with a pheasant shoot, inside jokes, and after-dinner games. But for American Nicola Harris, swept off her feet by aristocratic Englishman James Shuttleworth, the weekend is her first chance to penetrate his close-knit circle of posh friends—people with names like Badger and Trez, people who will soon have the titles of Earl and Countess. Nicola is eager to fit in, but she can’t seem to navigate this insular world, where everyone speaks a private language and secrets are hinted at behind the jolly jokes and witty barbs.

Just as Nicola begins to feel welcome, Juliet arrives. Mysterious, stunning, charismatic Juliet is also James’ first love—the one who left him heartbroken ten years before. Juliet holds the men in thrall and the women under her spell. And although it seems she can do no wrong, outsider Nicola senses something poisonous in her presence, something that sparks insecurity, jealousy, betrayal, and violence. Because Juliet is a champion game-player, able to lure you into her circle by finding your most vulnerable spot….and when the game she plays turns deadly, everyone is a suspect.

Why I Want to Read The Game She Plays:

As you know by now, I love poisonous friend groups with dark secrets and the setting sounds like something out of one of my favorite shows or movies.

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

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books for People Who Liked Agatha Christie

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 for People Who Liked Agatha Christie

This week’s TTT is all about book recommendations for people who liked a certain author. I picked Agatha Christie because of my love of And Then There We’re None. Here are 10 books that give me those vibes…

1. The Island by Natasha Preston2. Ten by Gretchen McNeil3. The Guest List by Lucy Foley4. Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict5. The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict6. One by One by Ruth Ware7. Shiver by Allie Reynolds8. Never Coming Home by Kate Williams9. Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney10. Nine Lives by Peter Swanson

Have you read any of these? Which author did you choose this week?