ARCs
The Victoria in My Head by Janelle Milanes – DNF pg 182, review
Invictus by Ryan Graudin – Currently Reading
A Dangerous Year by Kes Trester
Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones
Berserker by Emmy Laybourne
Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott
Other
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer – Currently Reading
So far this month I’ve only managed to DNF one book. Reading has been going super slow for me and I can’t quite figure out why.
I think I’ve been watching too much TV lately instead of reading and blogging. Actually, to be honest, I usually get posts written during down time at work and work has been SUPER busy recently. So there’s that. But anyway…on to these mini-reviews.
Refine by Nichole Van
I just like all of these books. They’re nice, clean romances with a combination of both modern and regency storylines. I like how we keep catching up with old characters and learning more about secondary characters. This is the fourth book in the series and I would actually recommend reading them in order. I know there’s at least one more after this one as well. Our main character in this one was just as delightful as all the other main characters have been. I was really glad to get more insight into Linwood’s character because he really had been portrayed in a pretty poor light in the previous books. I honestly think I could read hundreds of these books without getting tired. Van does a good job of not being too formulaic. 4/5
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows
This book is so fun! It’s told from three alternating perspectives, but I honestly loved them all. I’m not sure if each author took one perspective to write or if they all worked on all three, but the whole thing was just so good. It was a really funny and fun take on an alternate history and it actually made me want to look some stuff up afterwards. This isn’t a part of history that I’m super familiar with, so it was definitely interesting to actually learn some things. I thought the chemistry between characters was really well done as well. My only issue was that I wished the shape-shifting had a little more logic to it. Why do people turn into the animals that they do? And why is there a flash of light? I just wish that aspect of the book had been a little more fleshed out. But overall, I REALLY enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to more from this series! 5/5
You Are Here by Jennifer E Smith
For some reason it’s taken me a really long time to read this book. I started it a while back, but just never finished it. It’s not my FAVORITE Jen E Smith book, but it’s also not my least favorite. I think the main character was a little aloof and hard to connect with at times. It was interesting getting the two perspectives because I felt like our main character was one way in her head, but then came off completely different when Peter is just observing her. I obviously liked the road trip aspect of the book (always a good time) and I liked their dog as well. Though…let’s be honest, the three-legged dog was a LITTLE random and didn’t really add much to the story. 4/5
P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
Lately, I hadn’t been super impressed by Kasie West’s books. I really enjoyed her first one and moderately enjoyed the next one, but she’s had a few that I just really didn’t connect with. This one was different. A lot of times I find the enemies to lovers trope a little tiresome, unrealistic, or cliche. Luckily, this one broke the mold a little for me. I thought both characters were pretty fun and I really liked Lily’s family. Her interactions with them seemed so genuine and her parents really just seemed like some of the coolest people. I definitely recommend picking this one up. 4/5
So there you guys go. Proof that I’m still alive and reading stuff.
ARCs
Shimmer and Burn by Mary Taranta – DNF 43 pgs, review
Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust – Read, review coming
I Hate Everyone But You by Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin – DNF 115 pgs, review
Odd & True by Cat Winters – Read, review coming
When I Cast Your Shadow by Sarah Porter – DNF 8%, review
Other
Stars Above by Marissa Meyer – Currently Reading
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro – Read, review coming
Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins – Currently reading
Dream a Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher – Read and reviewed
By Your Side by Kasie West – Read, review coming
Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch – Read, review coming
I had a ton of stuff going on this month so I wasn’t able to read as much as usual, but I did have time to finish 6 books with 3 DNFs.
ARCs
The Victoria in My Head by Janelle Milanes
Invictus by Ryan Graudin
A Dangerous Year by Kes Trester
Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones
Berserker by Emmy Laybourne
Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott
Other
Captive Rebel by Erin McDermott
What's She Reading? 