Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 8
December 12, 2024
First Line Friday: 13 December
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…
Danger on the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer
And the first line is…
The metallic groaning of the giant ocean liner pulling away from the dock at Southampton was nearly drowned out by the frenetic calls from both ship and shore.
What is the first line of the book you’re reading this week?
December 11, 2024
Time Travel Thursday: 12 December 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…
12 December:The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
One year ago today I started reading this cozy witchy read!
Currently Reading:Danger on the Atlantic by Erica Ruth NeubauerThis week I’m reading the third book in a cozy mystery series I started earlier this year.
Comparison:Both last year’s read and this year’s have cozy vibes. One is about witches and the other is a murder mystery set on an oceanliner.
Have you read either of these books?
New Release – 1 Year Ago Today:Death in the Dark Woods by Annalise Ryan
I actually have read this one but it’s the only one I could find on Goodreads that released on December 12.
New Eyes on An Old Review:
Audiobook Review: It Waits In The Woods by Josh Malerman
A year ago I reviewed the short horror story, It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman. It was a 4-knife read (listen) for me.
December 4, 2024
Time Travel Thursday: 5 December
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…
5 December:It Waits in the Woods by Josh Mallerman
One year ago today I listened to this short horror audiobook in one sitting and loved it!
Currently Reading:Christmas in Coconut Creek by Karissa Kinword
This week I’m reading this holiday romance.
Comparison:While I’m just starting Christmas in Coconut Creek, I can tell you with absolute certainty that these two books have nothing in common. One is horror with forest monsters the other is a romance set at Christmas.
Have you read either of these books?
New Release – 1 Year Ago Today:The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
This one has been sitting on my Audible wishlist since earlier this year and I hope to get to it soon!
New Eyes on An Old Review:
A year ago I reviewed 3 Hercule Poirot mysteries. I’m still devouring the series when I get the chance.
December 3, 2024
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.
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 MonthThis 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 Unger
2. Claus and Effect by Piper Rayne
3. Christmas in Coconut Creek by Karissa Kinwood 4. The Christmas Party by Kathryn Croft
5. The Madman’s Hotel by Niall Breslin
6. Reckless Games by Eva Simmons
7. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie
8. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 
9. Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
10. Danger on the Atlantic by Erica Ruth NeubauerWhat did tou pick for today’s Freebie? Have you read any of the books on my TBR?
December 2, 2024
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?
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 UngerIt’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
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
Library Audiobook Borrows:
Audiobook:
November 29, 2024
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?
November 28, 2024
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?
November 27, 2024
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 ReidI’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 SimmonsI 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!
