Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 45
February 26, 2023
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 27 February 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! Last week I finished one book and started two others…
Last Week I Read:Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie
Still one of my favorite books!
Currently Reading:Lightlark by Alex Aster
I just got this gorgeous edition from The Bookish Box and it stared at me from the shelf until I picked it up. I like it so far!
Phantom by Greer Rivers
I joined the Facebook group “Spicy Booktok” and this book was recommended. I love The Phantom of the Opera and have been needing a good spicy read lately so I grabbed it on KU. Once I got into it I liked it and haven’t wanted to put it down so I’m alternating between it and Lightlark.
Next Read:TBDI’m still in a mood reader mode. There are a few more spicy books that sound interesting I added from KU and of course probably hundreds on my shelf I should actually pick up so I can sort out some books I want to clear out. So stay tuned to see what I picked…
What will be your last read of February?
February 25, 2023
The Sunday Post: Snowpocalypse, Spring Cleaning, and Hair Appointments
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.
Snowpocalypse, Spring Cleaning, and Hair AppointmentsHey Bookdragons! Happy Sunday! How was your week?
Well, I survived the snowpocalypse. Yes, I’m being dramatic. It was nowhere near as bad as the April 2018 snowstorm that dumped 30-33 inches of snow on my little Wisconsin town. But the blowing winds and drifting snow Wednesday into Thursday was miserable, even just waking to and from work which is about 500 feet from my house. The only thing keeping me going is the reminder that my Charleston trip is less than 2 months away now.
While there is still a ton of snow on the ground and more predicted tomorrow, I went into this week itching to get started on spring cleaning. My bookshelves are a mess, I want to get rid of some stuff I’m not using, organize my closet, and get rid of a rag rug our pet pig ripped up in my room over a year ago. I only made a little progress this week. I finally folded my laundry from 3 weeks ago just in time to do more laundry this week, swept my hardwood floor and gave it a thorough scrub with the Swiffer mop.
Tomorrow I’m heading in for my much needed cut and color at the hair salon (if it doesn’t get cancelled due to weather). I took a selfie with my book the other day and gasped to see how black my hair looked (I prefer to be a redhead). I’m already cringing to see how much length will have to go since I haven’t cut my hair since 2018. I’ll show you guys how it turns out next week!
The Sunday Post: Stress, Day Trips, and Valloween
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 20 February 2023
First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Maybe This Time
Can’t Wait Wednesday… Ghosted!
Top Ten Tuesday (On A Thursday): 10 Favorite Heroines
The Friday 56: Maybe This Time
The Sunday Post: Snopacalypse, Spring Cleaning, and Hair Appointments (You Are Here)
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 27 February 2023
First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Lightlark
Top Ten Tuesday: Genre Freebie – 10 Thrillers That Should Be On Your Radar
Can’t Wait Wednesday… The Fae Princes
The Friday 56: Book TBD
Book Review or February Wrap Up
Kindle Unlimited:
February 22, 2023
Top Ten Tuesday (on a Thursday): 10 Favorite Heroines
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 Favorite HeroinesThis week’s TTT is all about our favorite heroines. My post is a few days late because my schedule is still so messed up. I’m aiming to be back on my blogging schedule as normal next week.
1. Audrey Rose Wadsworth (Stalking Jack the Ripper Series by Kerri Maniscalco)
2. Andromeda Miller (Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie) 3. Elena Michaels (Women of the Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong)
4. Amy Goodnight (Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore)
5. McKenna Belmont (A Touch of Vampire Series by Becky Moynihan)
6. Tempest Mortem (The Death Digger’s Handbook Series by Stacey Rourke)
7. Castor Gravebriar (Gravebriar by Casey L. Bond)
8. Claire Hunter (Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison)
9. Harlow (Barbarian Mine, Ice Planet Barbarians Series by Ruby Dixon)
10. Kaitlyn Johnson (The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich)
Who are some of your favorite heroines? Did any of mine make your list?
The Friday 56: Maybe This Time
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: Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie
Blurb:Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways forever. A very distant cousin of his has died and left North as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs a very special person to take care of the situation and he knows Andie can handle anything.
When Andie meets the two children she quickly realizes things are much worse than she feared. The place is a mess, the children, Carter and Alice, aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers. What’s worse, Andie’s fiancé thinks this is all a plan by North to get Andie back, and he may be right. Andie’s dreams have been haunted by North since she arrived at the old house. And that’s not the only haunting.
What follows is a hilarious adventure in exorcism, including a self-doubting parapsychologist, an annoyed medium, her Tarot-card reading mother, an avenging ex-mother-inlaw, and, of course, her jealous fiancé. And just when she thinks things couldn’t get more complicated, North shows up on the doorstep making her wonder if maybe this time things could be different between them.
If Andie can just get rid of all the guests and ghosts, she’s pretty sure she can save the kids, and herself, from the past. But fate might just have another thing in mind…
What do you think? Would you read this book? This is one of my favorite books and I just reread it last week into the beginning of this week.
February 21, 2023
Can’t Wait Wednesday… Ghosted
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.
Ghosted: A Northanger Abbey Novel by Amanda Quain
Standalone, YA Contemporary Romance
eBook, Hardcover, 384 pages
July 25, 2023 by Wednesday Books
Blurb:Never Have I Ever meets The X-Files in Amanda Quain’s Ghosted, a gender-bent contemporary retelling of the Jane Austen classic, Northanger Abbey.
Hattie Tilney isn’t a believer. Yes, she’s a senior at America’s most (allegedly) haunted high school, Northanger Abbey. But ever since her paranormal-loving dad passed away, she’s hung up her Ghostbusters suit, put away the EMF detectors and thermal cameras, and moved on. She has enough to worry about in the land of the living–like taking care of her younger brother, Liam, while their older sister spirals out and their mother, Northanger’s formidable headmistress, buries herself in her work. If Hattie just works hard enough and keeps that overachiever mask on tight through graduation, maybe her mom will finally notice her.
But the mask starts slipping when Hattie’s assigned to be an ambassador to Kit Morland, a golden retriever of a boy who’s transferred to Northanger on—what else—a ghost-hunting scholarship. The two are partnered up for an investigative project on the school’s paranormal activity, and Hattie quickly strikes a deal: Kit will present whatever ghostly evidence he can find to prove that campus is haunted, and Hattie will prove that it’s not. But as they explore the abandoned tunnels and foggy graveyards of Northanger, Hattie starts to realize that Kit might be the kind of person that makes her want to believe in something—and someone—for the first time.
With her signature wit and slow burn romance, Amanda Quain turns another Austen classic on its head in this sparkling retelling that proves sometimes the ghosts are just a metaphor after all.
Northanger Abbey is my favorite Jane Austen novel and this retelling sounds right up my alley.
Will you be checking this one out? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?
February 20, 2023
First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Maybe This Time
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: Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie
First Chapter, First Paragraph:Andie Miller sat in the reception room of her ex-husband’s law office, holding on to ten years of uncashed alimony checks and a lot of unresolved rage. This is why I never came back here, she thought. Nothing wrong with repressed anger as long as it stays repressed.
Blurb:Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways forever. A very distant cousin of his has died and left North as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs a very special person to take care of the situation and he knows Andie can handle anything.
When Andie meets the two children she quickly realizes things are much worse than she feared. The place is a mess, the children, Carter and Alice, aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers. What’s worse, Andie’s fiancé thinks this is all a plan by North to get Andie back, and he may be right. Andie’s dreams have been haunted by North since she arrived at the old house. And that’s not the only haunting.
What follows is a hilarious adventure in exorcism, including a self-doubting parapsychologist, an annoyed medium, her Tarot-card reading mother, an avenging ex-mother-in-law, and, of course, her jealous fiancé. And just when she thinks things couldn’t get more complicated, North shows up on the doorstep making her wonder if maybe this time things could be different between them.
If Andie can just get rid of all the guests and ghosts, she’s pretty sure she can save the kids, and herself, from the past. But fate might just have another thing in mind….
What do you think? Would you read this book? This is a reread for me and one of my favorite books.
February 19, 2023
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 20 February 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 has your reading been going this month? Life has been keeping me busy and exhausted so I haven’t had much reading time.
Last Week I Read:When She’s Pregnant by Ruby Dixon
I needed something short and spicy to breeze through so I turned to Ruby Dixon. I enjoyed this one, even if I came into this book blind about the series.
Currently Reading:Maybe This Time by Jennifer CrusieThis is a reread and one of my favorite books. I’m about halfway through and savoring it.
Next Read:Undecided. I’m very much a mood reader this month and I won’t know what I’m reading next until I pick it.
What has been your favorite read so far this month?
February 18, 2023
The Sunday Post: Stress, Day Trips, and Valloween
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.
Stress, Day Trips, and ValloweenHey Bookdragons! I took a one week break from blogging because I honestly had no spare time at all. I’ll explain in a minute.
I’ve been under a lot of stress the past week or so. I’m not really supposed to talk about work but I have a coworker that calls out “sick” a lot. We work a six days on, three days off schedule. Since the beginning of the month she has only worked 3 days. And when she calls in, they call me trying to drag me in on days off and for extra hours before my own full time schedule. I worked 48 hours (my normal schedule) from last Saturday through Thursday. If my boss and coworkers had their way I would have worked 72 (including my day off on Friday). Then when I refuse to take extra shifts my coworkers guilt trip me because they had to watch the desk until I got there for my shift (I’m a dispatcher). The stress got to me so much this week it actually affected me physically.
On a brighter note, Tuesday was Valentines Day… a holiday I hate. But I did something else this year… I celebrated Valloween. A day where you reject Valentine’s Day and watch horror movies instead.
I obviously was due for some self-care this week so my mom and I took a day trip to Milwaukee. We went to our favorite pizza place, got some Italian groceries from the Italian market, and did a little window shopping.
(Two Weeks Ago)
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 6 February 2023
First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: In the Hall with the Knife
Can’t Wait Wednesday… The Island!
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 20 February 2023
First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Maybe This Time
Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Heroines
I Can’t Wait for… Ghosted!
The Friday 56: Maybe This Time
The Saturday Review Catch Up
Kindle Unlimited:
February 7, 2023
Can’t Wait Wednesday… The Island!
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 Island by Natasha Preston
YA, Thriller
eBook, Paperback, Audiobook, 336 Pages
February 28, 2023 by Delacorte Press
Blurb:
Hot on the heels of the New York Times bestsellers The Twin and The Lake, another pulse-pounding read from the undisputed queen of YA thrillers!
They said goodbye to their friends and family for the weekend. They weren’t counting on forever.
Jagged Island: a private amusement park for the very rich—or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley—social media influencers with millions of followers—have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. They’ll make posts and videos for their channels and report every second of their VIP treatment.
When the teens arrive, they’re stunned: the resort is even better than they’d imagined. Their hotel rooms are unreal, the park’s themed rides are incredible, and the island is hauntingly beautiful. They’re given a jam-packed itinerary for the weekend.
But soon they’ll discover that something’s missing from their schedule: getting off the island alive.
This author’s books have been on my TBR for a while and this one sounds especially good. It’s giving me vibes of Never Coming Home, And Then There Were None and other locked door mysteries that I love.
Will you be checking this one out? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?
February 6, 2023
First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: In the Hall with the Knife
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: In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund
First Chapter, First Paragraph:The office of the headmaster of Black-brook Academy looked like a high-budget, if not particularly imaginative, movie set.
Teaser Tuesday:Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Ambrosia @ The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Teaser:Scarlett Mistry supposed there were natural disasters everywhere. But it was all so very inconvenient.
Blurb:A murderer could be around every corner in this thrilling YA trilogy based on the board game CLUE!
When a storm strikes at Blackbrook Academy, an elite prep school nestled in the woods of Maine, a motley crew of students—including Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlet Mistry—are left stranded on campus with their headmaster. Hours later, his body is found in the conservatory and it’s very clear his death was no accident. With this group of students who are all hiding something, nothing is as it seems, and everyone has a motive for murder. Fans of the CLUE board game and cult classic film will delight in Diana Peterfreund’s modern reimagining of the brand, its characters, and the dark, magnificent old mansion with secrets hidden within its walls.
What do you think? Would you read this book? This was a reread for me that I read last week and enjoyed just as much the second time!
