The Sunday Post #222

   

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 share what's coming up on your blog in the week ahead. 
The Husband and I went out last Monday night to grab some curbside pick-up for dinner and I realized it was the first time I left the house in nine days. I got ready like I was going to be center stage at Madison Square Gardens. Never mind that I never even got out of the car. :)

I came across this video a couple days ago and it made me smile. This kid in the middle is killing it! 


I've been totally slaying the exercise/activity thing. (Note: In this case, slaying only means that I've actually been getting exercise. Not that I have a shred of strength or endurance. LOL) I fire up a YouTube video every morning around 6 AM and go to it. I haven't missed a day in two weeks. And a big thanks to Nick who recommended Team Body Project. I'm loving their videos and instructors. 

I'm taking part in the August of Books Giveaway so if you haven't entered yet you can do that HERE. Last week to enter! You could win a book of your choice and who wouldn't want that? 

This week's 80's music fix is Say It Again (1988) by Jermaine Stewart. Love the song but I still haven't figured out what the girl is wearing. Two leotards over bike shorts? I don't remember that being a thing. :)

Wednesday, August 19

WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK


Listened to:


WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING

     

Reading:

Listening to:


Nothing this week.



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

Reviews: King, Tyrant, Lawless, Soulless | The King Series Books 1-4 by T.M. Frazier

 I read the first four books in T.M. Frazier's King series in July and I was hooked. I'd been itching for something dark and gritty and Frazier certainly delivered that. These stories focus on men who choose to live life on their on terms, outside the law. They definitely fall into the realm of anti-heroes. These books are big on drama with plenty of action and intensity, but Frazier counters all of that with surprisingly emotional relationships and characters that forge strong connections, romantic and otherwise.

Frazier's style is graphic (both sex and violence) but it's also fiction, and at the end of the day I was entertained, which was what I was after.


    

Doe was a girl with no memories. King was fresh out of prison. Their story was far from conventional but I ate it up. Doe was lost, afraid, and her future seemed as empty as her past. Her first encounter with King forged a connection between them and while their relationship got off to a rocky start (he basically kept her because her friend stole from him) it was soon obvious that these two people were like two halves of a whole. King lived life on his own terms (on the wrong side of the law) and was completely unapologetic. This wasn’t a man looking for redemption or to turn his life around. He was badass to the core and lived on the edge. As Doe’s past and King’s endgame drew to its conclusion, I was completely riveted. Frazier took the story darker and grittier that I anticipated but it’s exactly what I was in the mood for. King’s friend Preppy provided some unexpected lightness and humor and it was impossible not to love him (in all his twisted glory). The cliffhanger ending had me picking up the next book immediately. 4 STARS

King ended with one heck of a cliffhanger so when I started Tyrant I was desperate for answers. Doe was back at home in a life she didn’t recognize. Learning who she was held less appeal since she’d created a new life with King. But there were complications that meant she couldn’t just walk away from her old life and return to King. Her memories returning brought fear instead of relief and she was desperate to find a way out of her current situation. It said a lot that this girl was so willing to walk away (actually run) from a comfortable, sheltered existence and get back to a life with an outlaw who lived life on his own terms. Doe and King’s story played out in a dramatic and violent fashion and I was so there for it. Admittedly, Frazier’s brand of dark romance isn’t for everyone (graphic violence, drug use, taboo subject matter), but if you’re in the mood for something gritty (of if dark and twisted is just your jam), I definitely recommend Frazier’s King series. 4 STARS

    

Lawless was Bear’s story, a character that appeared in both of the previous two books in the King series. Where King had always forged his own path and been something of a loner outlaw, Bear was born into the MC. It’s the life he’d always known but it had changed. When a girl he met years ago came to him for help, he found someone he was willing to put above the club. Bear went through hell in the previous book (Tyrant) and he wasn’t in a good place when Thia found  him. Her circumstances at home meant she had to grow up fast and take on a lot of responsibility but now she was in over her head and needed help. Bear was intense but loyal to a fault and he committed to making things right for Thia – even if it meant going against his own club, and his own family. I loved the way Bear was willing to put it all on the line and the sacrifice he was willing to make was staggering. Once again, Frazier ended right at a pivotal moment and I would have been ready to pull my hair out if I didn’t already have the next book ready to go. 4 STARS

Soulless was the conclusion to Bear and Thai’s story and it didn’t disappoint. Bear now had a target on his back and the MC, his former brothers, was gunning for him. A person from his past also complicated matters and he was still making personal sacrifices to keep Thia safe. Bear knew that a war was coming and he, along with King, was prepared for battle. The whole series has been a little over the top but Soulless took that extra step and was just shy of Crazy Town. There was kidnapping, violence, traitors, and shocking twists. It was a wild story and I just hung on for the ride. As I’ve said before, Frazier’s brand of dark and gritty story telling isn’t for everyone. She pushes the boundaries and then decides to go even further. But I’ve grown attached to these wrong-side-of-the-law characters and can’t wait to continue the series. 4 STARS

HAVE YOU READ THIS SERIES?
DO YOU ENJOY DARKER THEMES?

WWW Wednesday #101 | August 19, 2020

 

I missed out on yesterday's Top Ten Tuesday topic even though it looked like a fun one. Just didn't find the time to generate a post. Maybe I'll keep in it mind for the next TTT freebie week.

Any ASMR fans? I watch ASMR videos often on YouTube, sometimes as background while I'm at the computer working during the day, sometimes to unwind at night. If you follow any ASMR creators on YouTube, who are your favorites? I'm always looking for some new ones. If not on YouTube, maybe an ASMR podcast? I'd love to hear your faves so I can try some new ones.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

     


Currently reading: I haven't made much time for reading over the past several days so I'm only a few pages into The Girl in the Love song. But, as with any Emma Scott book, I was pulled in right away and I'm already loving Miller and Violet. I have a feeling this one will break my heart and I'll love every minute of it. :)
Current progress: page 20/364 (5%)

Currently listening: I've been doing more listening than reading this week so I've made quite a bit of progress in American Prince. I wasn't loving the male narrator in this one (since it switched to Embry's POV) but I've grown used to it. I do wish there wasn't so much back and forth with the time jumps. I'd much rather just get the backstory and then move on to the present. But overall I'm enjoying it and I really want to get back to a present-day chapter because stuff is happening and I need to know where it's going. 
Current progress: 68%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

     


Read: Virgin River wasn't a book I would have picked up on my own, but when I saw that Maureen was having a very informal/casual book club read of it this month I decided to join in. I doubt that I'll continue with the series on my own, but it was still a sweet, small town romance and I enjoyed getting to know the people there. 

Listened to: Ridgeley's book made for interesting listening, especially since he provided the narration himself, but I found myself wishing for more. At just shy of 6 hours, it felt like Ridgeley provided just enough to be considered a book and left it at that. There was a lot of time spent on their very early years, since they'd been friends since the age of thirteen or so, and it was fun to hear about those times, when they were still unknown and working their way to who they would become. But, with a few exceptions, I didn't feel like I learned a lot beyond what I could have read from from anyone else who had done their homework on the band.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?

     


What comes next is up in the air, as always, but maybe Wild at Heart (finally!) and the finale of the New Camelot trilogy. 

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

The Sunday Post #221

  

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 share what's coming up on your blog in the week ahead. 
It's rained pretty much every day this week with the thunderstorms rolling in each afternoon/evening. I love a good thunderstorm so no complaints here. (Well, one complaint... because it's still brutally hot.)

Otherwise it's been a decidedly uneventful week. I had my Tuesday morning meeting with my boss (FaceTime), worked during the day, and watched the hockey playoff's in the evening. I don't think I left the house all week other than for our early-morning walks. 

Other than hockey, my entertainment has been shopping on Amazon. I've been hitting it pretty hard lately so I should probably give it a rest. :) In the past week it's been some workout wear, some baskets for the bathroom (storage), a book, some new bands for my Apple watch... yeah, I need to find some cheaper entertainment. LOL

I'm taking part in the August of Books Giveaway so if you haven't entered yet you can do that HERE. You could win a book of your choice and who wouldn't want that? :)

Since I just finished listening to Andrew Ridgeley's story of he, George and the band, this week's 80's music fix can only be Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (1984) by Wham!.



Tuesday, August 11

Wednesday, August 12

WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK

     

Read:

Listened to:


WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING

     

Reading:

Listening to:


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

WWW Wednesday #100 | August 12, 2020

 

I switched up this morning's activity and the best that I can say is: I survived. The Husband and I go for a walk each morning, leaving the house by about 6:15 so that (1) I can get back in time to get ready and get logged on to work by 8:00, and (2) because that's the only time of day that is not miserably hot. This morning I just couldn't face the sticky humidity outside and decided to do a workout through my WW app instead. Feeling quite clever, I chose a low intensity (*cough* liars *cough*) cardio workout and immediately stopped feeling so clever. I made it through... kind of... but suddenly my outdoor walk in the humidity doesn't seem so bad. :)

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

     


Currently reading: I decided to take part in Maureen's book club this month and I picked up this month's book, Virgin River. I've never read anything by Carr before and I'm discovering that her style isn't really my thing. (She apparently writes romances that are on the sweet side and if I read the word "fanny" one more time I will gag.) But the story is interesting enough and it's been fun to chat about it on Maureen's book club Facebook page. 
Current progress: page 273/398 (68%)

Currently listening: Wham! was one of my favorite groups in the 80's and I continued to follow George Michael's solo career for many years. He was such a gifted songwriter and his voice was simply amazing. I'm really enjoying listening to Andrew (he narrates the book himself) recount their early days and their journey to success.
Current progress: 52%

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

     


Read: Blood To Dust was a wild ride. These were some twisted people who did some messed up stuff and didn't feel bad about it. There came a point where it all started to feel a little too over the top but overall it was an entertaining read, if a bit dark.

Listened to: American Queen was quite a ride. Spanning many years, it was easy to get immersed in the story and I found myself listening to it every chance I got. It felt a bit long (even though I checked and the printed book is only 400 pages) and Simone seemed to take a long time to build up to the actual story, but that's a minor quibble. It ended on a cliffhanger and I will definitely be continuing on with the trilogy.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU"LL READ NEXT?

     


What comes next is up in the air, as always, but I'm thinking I might read a physical copy of The Girl in the Love Song and listen to American Prince.

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