The Sunday Post #175


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's a chance to share news - a post to recap the past week on your blog, 
showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is
coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:
Sunday Post Meme

  • Was it just me or was this the longest, slowest work week in history?
  • I've said it before but it's worth saying again: I am so over summer! The calendar may say it's Fall, but Florida never seems to get that message until November. It should be another 90-degree day today. {insert long-suffering sigh}
  • Does anyone have fun plans for today? It's likely just going to be the usual Sunday fare here: grocery shopping and laundry (and maybe a nap... ).
  • And now for this week's 80's music fix: Whether it was the German version or the English version, I was a fan of Nena's 99 Luftballoons. In 1983 I had no idea what the lyrics meant, I just knew that it was super-catchy, had an awesome bass line, and the keyboard player was cute. LOL



Monday, September 23
Fall Book Tag

  Tuesday, September 24
Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR Edition

Wednesday, September 25
WWW Wednesday #63

Friday, September 27
Why I'm Weird Tag


WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK:

    
The Burning Shadow (Origin #2) - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Vision In Silver (The Others #3) - Anne Bishop
Misbehaving (Sea Breeze #6) - Abbi Glines
The Burning Shadow was a big hit. I loved being back in the Lux world and this second book in the Origin spin-off series was even better than the first. So much happened! Listening to Vision In Silver was a reminder of why it's one of my favorites in the series. That last scene... gets me every time. On the flipside, Misbehaving was not my favorite in the Sea Breeze series. Ugh. I always liked Jason as a secondary character in the previous books but as the main character in this one? Nope! OMG, I couldn't stand him. He acted like an ass and did/said so many things that got me all ragey. Fingers crossed that he doesn't appear much in future books.

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 
    
   
Fireworks (True North #6) - Sarina Bowen
Fix Her Up - Tessa Bailey
I just started Fireworks yesterday but I'm already loving being back in the True North world. Fix Her Up is a lot of fun. Georgie is so likable! The jury is still out on Travis (can't decide about him yet) but I'm enjoying it.


KINDLE BOOKS:
Team Player 2: A Sports Anthology
I'm still bummed that I can no longer get Team Player 1, but happy that I snagged this one. I'm super excited for Kennedy Ryan's story that takes place in the Hoops world.


One of the many reasons The Husband and I are such a perfect match. 
He is the extrovert to my introvert. :)




How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
I'd love to hear about it!
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Why I'm Weird Tag


 Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addition tagged me for this one (never mind that it was three months ago... ) so thanks for tagging me, Nicole! The tag was originally created by Dellybird.

I'm guessing the point is just to share ten things that make me weird. We're all full of quirks so this should be easy... I think.
#1 - I DON'T DRINK COFFEE. EVER.
I've never liked coffee. On the rare occasion that I want something hot to drink, I go for a chai tea latte or a hot chocolate. Coincidentally, The Husband doesn't drink coffee, either. 

#2 - I INVENT REASONS FOR LISTS
I'm a big list-maker. Never met a list I didn't like. It appeals to my Type A(ish) personality. I like to catalog things, to keeps things orderly, to have things grouped together. Hence, the lists. And when it comes to a to-do list, often I'll write down stuff I've already done just so I can cross them off. Über satisfying.

#3 - I READ MAGAZINES BACK TO FRONT
I hardly ever read magazines any more but I used to be a total magazine junkie. And I always read them back to front. I have zero explanation for this. It's just a thing. Go with it.

#4 - I LIKE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE
No, I'm not hanging out at gas stations huffing, but I do like the smell. 

#5 - MY BEAR HAS A PASSPORT
Max has been around for a long time and he's a very well-traveled little bear. In fact, he has his own passport... with stamps in it. Sometimes Customs agents cannot resist his charms and they stamp his passport. This pleases him greatly.

#6 - I MAKE UP WORDS
Sometimes you just don't have the right word to properly express a feeling or a thought. So you have to take matters into your own hands and make up your own. My favorite is extanguinate. It's kind of a combination of exasperated + frustrated. It comes in quite handy.

#7 - I'M PARTICULAR ABOUT VOLUME
When listening to the radio in the car, the volume must be on an even number or a multiple of 5. No, I don't know why. I just know it's important.

#8 - I GUZZLE WATER TO WARD OFF SICKNESS
If I think I might be getting sick, I immediately start guzzling water. A lot. My theory: all the water will flush out the sickness. Yes, I know that it makes no sense and that my theory is scientifically illogical, but I don't let logic stop me.

#9 - I RARELY WATCH TV
I am not a TV watcher. And this puts me in a minority so small that I feel like a three-legged unicorn. We have one TV in our home and I can go days and days without ever turning it on. I do not follow any shows (I loathe feeling tied to the TV and having to keep up with a show week after week). And I don't have Netflix or any other streaming/subscription service. 

#10 - I HAVE NO SWEET TOOTH
Here we go... I saved the best for last. This is the one that always seems to make people gasp. LOL I've never been much of a sweets eater - even as a kid. (I gave away most of my Halloween candy because it held no interest for me.) When I snack, I want something salty or savory. Once in a great while I will have something sweet (like the cheesecake at Copeland's last weekend) but then I'm good for a long, long time. I don't even eat things like pancakes or waffles because I can't stand syrup (so sickeningly sweet... ugh).

So what makes you weird? :)

I'm tagging the following blogger friends, but if you don't feel like doing it, no pressure. And if I didn't tag you but you want to join in, go for it!



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WWW Wednesday #63 | September 25, 2019


WWW Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.
Just answer three questions and share what you're reading.


Is it just me or is this the longest, slowest week in creation? 
How is it only Wednesday???


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

     

Misbehaving (Sea Breeze #6) - Abbi Glines
Fix Her Up - Tessa Bailey
Can we take a moment to appreciate the epic cheesiness of this cover? :) I plan on starting Misbehaving during my lunch hour today (assuming I have time). I'm not thrilled that the female lead is Jess, the local "bad girl" but I'm interested in Jason's story so we'll see how it goes. 

 I started listening to Fix Her Up this morning and got about 30 minutes into it. I'm enjoying the narration (my first time listening to Charlotte North) and I'm liking what I know so far of Georgie and Travis. Travis is obviously at a low point but it seems like there's a decent guy in there somewhere.


WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?
I stayed up till after 11 PM last night reading The Burning Shadow (something I never do). I made it to the 98% mark and fell asleep. As soon as the alarm went off at 5:15 AM I reached over, grabbed my Kindle and read the final few pages. Wow, what a wild ride that was! The second half was like a speeding train with nonstop action and plot turns that shook me. This one hasn't even released yet and I already need book three! I need more!

 My re-read (well, re-listen) of The Others series continues and I finished Vision in Silver on my drive home from the office yesterday. I was reminded why this is one of my favorites from the series. I love the escalating tension between the Others and the humans (the humans just never learn and always seem to think they are at the top of the food chain... they're not) as well as the shifting dynamic between Simon and Meg. The ending of this one never fails to give me all the feels.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?
  
     
        
I'm mulling over a couple possibilities for what to read next. It all depends on what I feel like at the time but some contenders are: Fireworks by Sarina Bowen, Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren, and Bad For You by Abbi Glines.

What are you currently reading?
I wanna know! :)

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Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR Edition

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Books on My Fall TBR

My Fall TBR is a mix of backlist books I'm dying to read with my last few ARCs mixed in. Chances of me actually sticking to this TBR are slim (because I'm a total mood reader and never make TBR lists) but it's fun to pretend this will actually happen. 


Call It What You Want - Brigid Kemmerer
Regretting You - Colleen Hoover
Blitzed - Alexa Martin
Twice in a Blue Moon - Christina Lauren
The One For You - Roni Loren
Fireworks - Sarina Bowen
The Bromance Book Club - Lyssa Kay Adams
The Queen of Nothing - Holly Black
What He Never Knew - Kandi Steiner
The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah

What's at the top of your Fall TBR?

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Fall Book Tag

This tag was originally created by Bionic Bookworm.

Happy Fall, y'all!
I recently saw Tracy do this tag and since today is officially the first day of Fall it seemed appropriate. (Never mind that it's almost 90 degrees here today. I'll just think cool thoughts.)


  

This is hardly a new one, but I'm still impressed with Black's original take on vampires. I loved the unique spin on vampirism and the world building was so well done that I felt like I was watching a movie as I read the book.




I'm currently reading a book from the Lux spin-off series (The Burning Shadow) so I definitely have the Lux world on the brain. Because of that, when I thought of an ending that blew me away Opal immediately came to mind. The last pages were so dramatic and intense and I was just stunned.



Josh and Hazel were so perfect together and their story was filled with so much humor and fun. This one just made me happy. :)



I'll do you one better... not only does this cover have red, orange and yellow, but autumn is even in the title. Y'all know that I'm a big pusher fan of Lora Richardson and this latest release is such a good one.



There was always so much going on in this one. While I felt like its predecessor, The Cruel Prince, started a little slow, that sure wasn't the case with The Wicked King. This one moved at lightning speed with nonstop action and twists and turns.



Any new release from Colleen Hoover is reason for me to rejoice, but the early reviews I've been seeing for Regretting You have me extra excited!

______________________________________________________

Are you having actual Fall weather where you are? If so, color me jealous! I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you decide to do the tag I'd love to see your answers.



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The Sunday Post #174


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's a chance to share news - a post to recap the past week on your blog, 
showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is
coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:
Sunday Post Meme

  • It's been a pretty uneventful week. And that's been nice.
  • My mom returned yesterday from her coach tour/trip. She had a wonderful time and I'm so proud of her for going on her own. She met a lot of people and when we went to pick her up yesterday she was exchanging phone numbers with some fellow passengers. :)
  • Had a delicious dinner last night at Copeland's. I don't know why we don't go there more often since it's one of my favorites. One of my sisters joined me and The Husband for dinner and it made for a fun evening. We all split some bananas foster cheesecake for dessert and it was divine.
  • K.A. Tucker announced that she's releasing a sequel to The Simple Wild in March 2020. I am so excited for this one! More of Calla and Jonah's story? Yes, please!
  • And now for this week's 80's music fix: hands-down, one of the best videos to come out of the 80's. And the song is still awesome, too.



WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK:

Heidi's Guide to Four Letter Words - Tara Sivec & Andi Arndt
Zany/silly humor isn't really my thing but this was still a fun listen.

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 
    
 
The Burning Shadow (Origin #2) - Jennifer L. Armentrout
Vision in Silver (The Others #3) - Anne Bishop
I'm about 65% through The Burning Shadow and, oh my goodness, there is some crazy stuff happening. I have so many questions. I'm a little over halfway though my re-listen of Vision in Silver and I'm remembering why this was one of my favorites from the series.


KINDLE BOOKS:
       
Justified (Loveless #1) - Jay Crownover
The Chase (Briar U #1) - Elle Kennedy
Because I read the Loveless novella and want to continue the series.
Because I'm certain that one day I will finish the Off Campus series and then move on to the Briar U series. One day...





How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
I'd love to hear about it!
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Short Take Reviews: Heidi's Guide to Four Letter Words and Top Secret

HEIDI'S GUIDE TO FOUR LETTER WORDS
Tara Sivec & Andi Arndt
Publication date: September 3, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook, 6 hrs 15 min
Source: Audible (provided for review)
3.5 STARS
GOODREADS 

Nothing good ever comes from drinking a box of wine alone. So when I decided to entertain my drunken self by setting up some hand-me-down podcasting equipment and reading the steamy parts from romance novels, I never thought anyone would actually listen. The fact that I admitted my huge crush on my sexy next door neighbor made the whole thing even more mortifying. But sometimes life surprises you, and that’s how my podcast, Heidi’s Discount Erotica, was born.

Now I, Heidi Larsen, a sweet former kindergarten teacher in Waconia, Minnesota, lead a scandalous double life reading erotic novels to the listening world. And with each episode, I find myself embracing my new alter ego more and more. Now I’m starting to feel more comfortable in my own skin and do things I never would have dreamed of - like kissing my neighbor.

Look out, Waconia, because Heidi’s on the loose! She’s in your ears, in your hearts, and down your pants...wait, that didn’t sound as good as it did in my head. Well, you get the picture, don’tcha know!
M Y   T H O U G H T S

I have mixed feelings about Heidi's Guide. For the first half of the book I found Heidi (and several other characters) super annoying and downright prissy. Their reactions to anything even remotely risque were so over the top that it was hard to take seriously. (Yes, I know this is a rom-com, with a big focus on the comedy aspect.) But the way they were so completely shocked and offended by romance books that (gasp!) contained sex scenes and dared to include (double gasp!) "dirty words was ridiculous. Was this supposed to be 2019 or 1919? Also, the (over) involvement of Heidi's mother in her life, and Heidi's need to please her mother, bugged me as well. This is supposed to be a mature, self-supporting, independent woman but she often came across as sheltered and juvenile.

The second half of the book was a big improvement. Heidi started making changes and becoming more confident. Her podcasts were a fun part of the story and I enjoyed seeing her loosen up and push her boundaries.  Another highlight was Brent, the sexy next door neighbor. He was 100% of the too-good-to-be-true variety but I didn't care. He was super sweet, patient, and obviously smitten with Heidi. But the true shining star for me was Andi Arndt. She's always been one of my favorite narrators but here she proved just how good she is. She had the ability to take a character that I really wasn't all that wild about and make me find sweet and funny and endearing. Andi brought Heidi to life and infused so much emotion into her narration... big gold star for that! While this type of silly/zany humor really isn't my thing, this was still a fun, light read that was made even better by top-notch narration.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Audible. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.
TOP SECRET
Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
Publication date: May 7, 2019
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Format: Trade Paperback, 272 pgs
Source: Purchased
4.25 STARS
LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF.

LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome.

SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app.

LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy?

SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You?

LobsterShorts: [crickets!]

SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF.

SinnerThree: Well, I’m down if you are. My life is kind of a mess right now. School, work, family stress. Oh, and I live next door to the most annoying dude in the world. I need the distraction. Are you sure you want this?

LobsterShorts: I might want it a little more than I’m willing to admit.

SinnerThree: Hey, nothing wrong with pushing your boundaries...

LobsterShorts: Tell that to my control-freak father. Anyway. What if this threesome is awkward?

SinnerThree: Then it’s awkward. It’s not like we’ll ever have to see each other again. Right? Just promise you won’t fall in love with me.LobsterShorts: Now wouldn’t that be life-changing...?

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy. Actually that should be more like: SARINA BOWEN & ELLE KENNEDY!! These two authors are wonderful apart and sheer magic together. They have an ability to create characters that I never fail to love. That held true for Keaton and Luke - two characters that could not have been more different but I cared for them both and pulled so hard for them. Starting off as fraternity brothers and enemies, their backgrounds were worlds apart but both had private struggles. When they connected on a hook-up app, without knowing one another's true identity, there was a connection and chemistry that took them both by surprise. And when they did learn who the other was? That's when the sparks really flew!

I’m just a guy, standing on a beach in nothing but his favorite pair of lobster shorts, waiting for the right man to love me.
My heart hurt for both of these guys at times. For Keaton - and the pressure he felt from his father. For Luke - because his family kept trying to drag him back down no matter how hard he fought to make his life better. Top Secret was filled with Bowen/Kennedy's signature humor and snarky banter in perfect balance with the more emotional aspect. I adored the dual POV and the ending gave me all the happy feels I was hoping for.


HAVE YOU READ EITHER OF THESE BOOKS? 

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