Top Ten Tuesday: The Books I Anticipate/Avoid

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
The Books I Anticipate/Avoid

This week's topic is actually about the books we avoid for whatever reasons. The length is intimidating, we're scared it won't live up to the hype, etc. But I don't avoid books for those reasons. My reason isn't about avoidance... it's all about anticipation. Sometimes I think I enjoy the anticipation of reading a book as much as the reading experience itself.

 There are certain books that I am certain I am going to love. Ones that will have a big emotional impact. Become all-time favorites. It could be because it's a sequel and I already fell in love with the previous book(s). Or it could be a standalone that I just have a good feeling about - one that seems to check all my boxes for tropes I love. I love the anticipation of reading those special books. The feeling that an extraordinary reading experience is right at my fingertips. And apparently I enjoy prolonging that feeling of anticipation because I have some books that I have been putting off (or, for the sake of Top Ten Tuesday, avoiding) for years. So here are 10 books that have me basking in the anticipation... and loving every minute of it.

Five Years Gone | Marie Force        The Last Letter | Rebecca Yarros
The Great Alone | Kristin Hannah       The Story of Us | Tara Sivec       Fisher's Light | Tara Sivec


What the Wind Knows | Amy Harmon          Punk 57 | Penelope Douglas        
The Son & His Hope | Pepper Winters          Tatiana and Alexander | Paullina Simons     
Damaged Like Us | Krista & Becca Ritchie


HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS?
IS THERE A BOOK YOU AVOID?

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The Sunday Post #172


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

  • This past week was filled with Hurricane Dorian. Watching the updates, tracking its path, shopping for supplies and protecting the house and yard. My sister lives at the beach and had to evacuate so she was at our house for several days. Thankfully Dorian stayed off the coast of Florida and did not make landfall. We had some strong winds and rain on Wednesday but overall were very, very lucky.
  • Between all the stress of the hurricane (the watching, the waiting) and then Thursday and Friday at the office were exhausting, I was absolutely DONE by the end of the week. Mentally drained. Isn't it crazy how our mental state can have such an effect on our physical well-being? I was definitely feeling it: run down, body aches, and just basically feeling the need to retreat. I declared it a self-care weekend and never stepped foot outside the house yesterday. I stayed in comfy clothes, read, took two naps... and it helped. Hopefully today will bring more of the same and I can fully shake off last week and start the new week refreshed.
  • How was YOUR week? Were any of you along the east coast impacted by Dorian? Did you (my U.S. friends, anyway) enjoy a short work week after Labor Day?
  • Now for something fun to further boost my mood. And what better way to do that than with some Abba music from the closing credits of Mamma Mia? :) Turn up your speakers and enjoy... I know I am!




WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK:

The Flatshare - Beth O'Leary
It happened! I finished The Flatshare! *applause, applause*
It took two weeks (gah!) but I finished it. I don't know if it was me (there have been plenty of distractions over the last two weeks), the book, or a combination of both, but I can't remember the last time it took me weeks to finish a book (especially one that was only 325 pages). This one will be hard to review because I feel like had I read it at another time I might have enjoyed it more.

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 
    
Sometimes It Lasts (Sea Breeze #5) - Abbi Glines
I thought about taking a little break after The Flatshare but I really did feel like reading something. I decided to dive back into the Sea Breeze series. These books are like brain candy (very little thought required LOL) and just what I wanted right now.


AUDIOBOOK FOR REVIEW

Heidi's Guide to Four Letter Words - Tara Sivec & Andi Arndt
I first heard this one mentioned on an Audible podcast and found it interesting that one of my favorite narrators (Andi Arndt) was branching out and actually co-writing with Tara Sivec. So color me surprised when I was offered the audiobook for review! I'm really looking forward to this one and it sounds like a lot of fun.





How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
I'd love to hear about it!
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Monthly Wrap Up | August 2019


WHAT HAPPENED IN AUGUST
  • The entire month was day after day of sweltering heat. Not a fan. Zero stars - do not recommend.
  • Had to get a new computer at the beginning of the month. I'm still fine-tuning things, like loading my favorite anti-virus software and setting up folders, etc. And I still haven't set up Carbonite on the new PC. Need to do that soon (or maybe The Husband will look into that for me... hint, hint, Robert :).
  • Had my annual physical and all is well but I'm also at the age where one appointment seems to result in two or three others. LOL
  • One of my favorite shows from the late 90's/early 2000's got a reboot. I watched the first episode of BH90210... and decided some things are better left alone. 
WHAT I READ IN AUGUST

*Note: Yes, I know the graphic is crooked but I just can't be bothered to re-do it. 

August was a pretty mediocre reading month - with the exception of one 5-star read. I read six books which is low even for me. (This might even be lower in September since I've been reading the same book for a week and a half.) 

The Last Post by Renee Carlino | 3.5/5 stars
Breathe by Abbi Glines | 3/5 stars
Because of Low by Abbi Glines | 3.25/5 stars
While It Lasts by Abbi Glines | 3.25/5 stars
Just For Now by Abbi Glines | 3.25/5 stars
The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greewood | 5/5 stars

The Last Post and The Reckless Oath We Made link to full reviews on the blog. I didn't have enough to say about the Abbi Glines titles to review them here so they are linked to short (and a little snarky) reviews on GoodReads.

FORMATS
Total Read: 6
4 physical books
2 e-books
2 ARCs

TOP OF THE HEAP
The Reckless Oath We Made
Bryn Greenwood did it again and created two main characters that felt so human and so flawed and so real that I was 100% invested in their story. The Reckless Oath We Made was totally unique and I loved every minute of it.

THE ONE THAT WAS SURPRISINGLY EMOTIONAL
Just For Now
Despite my issues with this one (the male main character ran so hot and cold that I wanted to do him bodily harm), it took a turn I didn't expect and actually managed to eke out some real emotion.

THE ONE THAT LEFT ME WANTING MORE
The Last Post
Renee Carlino has written some that I've loved and some that I've been on the fence about. With The Last Post I just wanted... more. It was good but I wished for more connection with the main characters. It just felt a little lacking overall.

THE ONE THAT INDUCED MUCH EYE-ROLLING
Breathe
Have there ever been two more annoying main characters? If so, I don't want to know. Sadie was saccharine sweet, naive beyond belief and basically a clueless Mary Sue. Jax was possessive, insanely jealous and irrational. They deserve each other and should go far, far away. Fingers crossed they don't show up often in the rest of the series. 


WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BLOG
I had 16 blog posts in August which included 4 reviews: Hope and Other Punch Lines, Birthday, The Last Post, and The Reckless Oath We Made. I also shared my least favorite cover redesigns, characters I want as my BFF, and my favorite romance tropes.

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING
I'm on Day 11 (maybe 12?) of reading this one and I honestly don't know if it's me or the book. It's not even a long one (325 pages) and yet I'm still only on page 235. I enjoy it well enough when I'm reading it, but it's not like I think about it and am itching to pick it up again. I don't know if I'm in a bit of a book hangover after The Reckless Oath We Made, if I've just been busy, or if the book just isn't thrilling me. Either way, I'm going to make a concerted effort to just finish it in the next few days.


WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE READ IN AUGUST?
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Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books from Outside My Comfort Zone

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Books Outside My Comfort Zone

Browsing through my read shelf on GoodReads to gather ten books for this week's topic reminded me of something: I don't often read outside my comfort zone. And I'm okay with that. I know what I like and I'm fairly good at finding those books. But there are times when something else catches my eye. Sometimes it doesn't work out and I scurry back to my happy place. But sometimes the risk pays off... and that's what happened with the books shown here.


Sarah J. Maas
I am not a fantasy reader. I like the stories I read to be planted firmly in reality. But in 2015, when I saw the cover of ACOTAR and read the synopsis, I was hooked. And it's now one of my favorite series.

R.J. Palacio
I never read middle grade. It holds zero appeal for me. But Sam twisted my arm and, because I adore her, I read it. Thank goodness I did because it was such a special, precious story.

Lisa Jewell
I read everything Lisa Jewell wrote back in the day (c. 2000 when she was writing romance/women's fiction). Then she shifted genres and I took a long hiatus. I came back around last year and, even though mystery/suspense is not something that holds any real interest for me, I knew I enjoyed Jewell's writing. Now I'm hooked on her blend of mystery/suspense/domestic drama.

Hillary Rodham Clinton
It's exceedingly rare that I'm drawn to nonfiction, but HRC's account of the 2016 election was fascinating.

Anne Bishop
I'd never read urban fantasy before picking up Written in Red. Thank goodness I did because I was introduced to some truly memorable characters and it is now one of my favorite series ever.

Anna Kendrick
Memoirs are not my thing (and celebrity memoirs even less so) but I like Anna Kendrick and the fact that she narrated the audio version herself made for a fun experience.

Holly Black
Again with the fantasy (not my thing) but I'd read one book previously from Holly Black (The Coldest Girl in Coldtown) and loved it so I The Cruel Prince a go. What a hit! And the follow up, The Wicked King, was even better.

Liz Nugent
I forget how I even heard about this one but the synopsis intrigued me (and the multiple narrators/points of view was a big draw) so I gave it a try. Totally enjoyed it and definitely want to read more from Nugent.

Debbie Tung
Graphic novels aren't my thing but the fact that this one was all about being an introvert (in a noisy world full of talkative, social extroverts) sold me. I still don't feel led to read more graphic novels, but this one in particular worked for me.

Jessica Redmerski
I'd read a few books from Redmerski before but when this one came out my first thought was... dystopian? Really? But I dove right in and never looked back. And Everything Under the Sun was a 5-star read and one of my favorites on 2018.


HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS? 
DO YOU EVER READ OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

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The Sunday Post #170


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

  • The big news here is Hurricane Dorian. It's pretty much all anyone talks about and we stay glued to The Weather Channel for the storm track updates (every 3 hours). Things were looking rather grim on Friday but Dorian is now expected to take a turn to the east which is good for us. It might not make landfall in Florida at all. This is great news since this is an incredibly powerful storm, but now it looks like North Carolina could take a big hit... and that's where my husband's family is. Needless to say, we are still keeping a very close watch since anything could change in the next few days.
  • I won concert tickets this week (yay!)... and ended up declining the offer (boo!). Anyone remember O.M.D. (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) from the 80's? If you're under the age of 40, it's doubtful you will know who I'm talking about. LOL Anyway, when I checked the venue I saw that it was general admission with no seating. Say what? That's great for outdoor concerts but I'm well past the point of being packed in like sardines with no seating to watch an indoor show. So I declined the tickets. Instead, spent Friday night at home, had my mom over for dinner and a movie. Time well spent. :)
  • I finally found the artwork I wanted for the master bedroom (yes, that project is still in-work). The prints were digital downloads from etsy so I got them printed, found the frames I liked, and The Husband hung them for me. So, so close to be finished with the whole makeover project!
  • Hooray for a three-day weekend! Today will be the usual Sunday stuff (grocery shopping, laundry) and that leaves tomorrow open for... whatever. Maybe even reading? *gasp!* What's on your agenda today?
  • And now a little O.M.D...




Tuesday, August 27
Review: The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood

Wednesday, August 28
WWW Wednesday #60

Friday, August 30
The Romance Book Tag


WHAT I COMPLETED IN THE LAST WEEK:

That would be nothing. Absolutely nothing.


WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 
    
The Flatshare - Beth O'Leary
I'm enjoying this one but I'm not exactly flying through it. Today makes a week since I started it and I just reached the 50% mark. I think it's more me than the book, though. 1) I think I'm a bit slumpy since finishing The Reckless Oath We Made. And 2) the past week has been spent on everything but reading (mainly hurricane preparations). I am enjoying the story, though, so hopefully I'll finish it in the next few days.


eARC FOR REVIEW

Blitzed (Playbook #3) - Alexa Martin






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