WWW Wednesday #124 | April 19, 2023

 

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.
Just share your answers to three questions:
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

Happy Wednesday, friends... we're halfway through the (work) week! I'm in a particularly good mood this morning since the Tampa Lightning won Game 1 (of Round 1) in the playoffs last night. They took down the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-3. Woo hoo! Unfortunately, the win wasn't without some injuries. :( Three Lightning players were injured and had to leave the game. Fingers crossed they'll all be well enough to play tomorrow night!


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?


Audio: You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows by Piper Rayne

Currently listening: The only thing I have going right now is the last 15-20 minutes 
of this audiobook by Piper Rayne. (See below for why I do not have a current Kindle 
book in progress.) This one is the first in Piper Rayne's Kingsmen Football trilogy 
and has been a fun. I'm sure I'll finish it on the drive home from this office this afternoon.
Current progress: 92%


WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?


Kindle: Wolfsong by T.J. Klune - ★★★★

Recently read: I finished Wolfsong last Saturday and haven't been able to start another 
book since then. We're talking massive book hangover. I can't stop thinking about it. 
And I can't seem to let go of that world enough to pick up another book. Wolfsong was 
my first 5-star read of the year and will (obviously) be among my favorites of the year - 
if not the favorite. I have no idea how I'm going to write a review. It just slayed me with 
how good it was.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?

      

Assuming that at some point (soon?) I'll be able to move on from Wolfsong and 
start another book, it will probably be the next book in the Hades Hangmen
series, Deep Redemption, or next up in the Psy-Changeling series, Play of Passion.


WHAT ARE YOU READING TODAY?


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Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Songs

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.


This Week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic:
Favorite Songs
 
This week's TTT prompt is a non-bookish freebie, which basically means anything goes. Music has always been such a big part of my life, and I love including some favorites in my Sunday Posts. So today I'm sharing ten of my favorite songs. (Not necessarily my top ten faves - because who could pick just ten?! - but just ten that I love. Some of these may have made an appearance in a Sunday Post over the years, but I can't be bothered to go back and check. :) Oh, and fair warning: based on my age and my musical preferences, I don't think any of the songs came out post-2000, and most are from the 80's. Enjoy!

1. I WILL GO WITH YOU (CON TE PARTIRO)
DONNA SUMMER


There are many beautiful renditions of Con Te Partiro (most in Italian), but I'm partial to this version by Donna Summer. There is a note she holds at the end that gives me chills every single time. 

2. GOD ONLY KNOWS
PENTATONIX


This is a Beach Boys classic, and while the original is breathtaking with the amazing harmonies, the remake by Pentatonix is just as stunning.

3. ONLY YOU
ALISON MOYET


Alison Moyet first released this song back in the early 80's as one-half of the band Yaz (or Yazoo). I love this version that she performed at a Burberry show a few years back.

4. LESSONS IN LOVE
LEVEL 42


This one truly is an all-time favorite. It lifts my spirits every time I hear it, gives me all the good feels... and it has a killer bassline. :)

5. EVERLASTING LOVE
CARL CARLTON


There have been so many remakes of this song over the years, but my favorite will always be Carl Carlton's version from the mid-70's. This one is an instant mood-lifter for me.

6. WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER
SARAH BRIGHTMAN


Sarah Brightman's cover of this Queen song is so hauntingly beautiful. Her voice slays me.

7. ROMEO'S TUNE
STEVE FORBERT


A forever favorite.

8. TRIP THE LIGHT
ALICIA LEMKE


Another feel-good entry that always lifts my mood (are you seeing a theme here?) :) 

9. DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY
THE COMMUNARDS


There are so many versions of this song out there, starting back in the mid-70's, but my favorite will always be this 1986 version by The Communards. Love it!

10. KISSING A FOOL
GEORGE MICHAEL


Oh how I miss George Michael and his gorgeous voice.



Do you know any of these songs? :)
What's one of your favorite songs?

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The Sunday Post #332 | April 16, 2023

 

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 WEEK IN REVIEW

Hi friends! I hope everyone has had a good week. It was a busy but productive week at the office. Nothing exciting at home - other than The Husband taking care of dinner two nights this week. :) On Monday and Thursday he put together dinners in the slow cooker while I was at the office. Coming home to dinner practically ready was a total treat!

The Tampa Bay Lightning had their last regular season game Thursday night and they killed it, winning over the Detroit Red Wings 5-0 (sorry Greg 😏). Plus, our center Brayden Point scored his 50th goal of the season. Super exciting. And now the fun begins... the Stanley Cup playoffs start next week. Woo hoo!


BookBub shared 14 Books to Read If You Love Taylor Jenkins Reid. I've only read one of them (Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover), but a couple others are already on my TBR.

And speaking of Colleen Hoover, she's included in Time Magazine's list of Most Influential People of 2023! It amazes me that she's been publishing since 2012 but over a decade later is now a "TikTok sensation." 😉


This week's throwback song is Nightshift (1985) by The Commodores. It was their tribute to singers Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, both who had passed away the previous year. Enjoy!


 

ON THE BLOG

Tuesday April 11

Friday, April 14


WHAT I READ

       


Kindle: Wolfsong by T.J. Klune - 5★ (All. The. Stars.)

Audio: Say You'll Stay by Corinne Michaels - 4★


CURRENTLY READING


Audio: You Had Your Chance, Lee Burrows by Piper Rayne


NEW ADDITIONS


Kindle: Destined For Me (A Come Back for Me/Say You'll Stay Crossover Novella) -
by Corinne Michaels


TOTALLY RANDOM



HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?


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Short Take Reviews: The New Guy, Cannon, What Was Meant to Be, Right Man Right Time

 



The New Guy
by Sarina Bowen
Series: Hockey Guys #1
Tropes: single dad, professional athlete, groveling

Sarina Bowen + hockey romance is always going to equal a good time. Gavin is a widowed single father who has recently moved to Brooklyn for a new job as an athletic trainer with an NHL team. Hudson is perpetually the "new guy", traded from one team to another. Sparks fly when they meet at a bar, but when Hudson realizes Gavin is the new trainer for his team he quickly pulls back for fear of being outed. These guys were dealing with different issues and at different stages in life - Gavin is focused on raising his daughter, Hudson is struggling for more career stability and is hiding his sexuality - but I loved how they accepted one another where they were at.  Gavin's daughter Jordyn was a total joy, and the narration by Teddy Hamilton (an absolute favorite) and J.F. Harding was perfection. 4.25 stars



Cannon
by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Pittsburgh Titans #6 
Tropes: widower, sports romance

Cannon left hockey for a time to care for his terminally ill wife. Now a widower for almost a decade, he is also the youngest head coach in the NHL. A friendly flirtation with a barista turns into more, even as he cautions her about his demanding career and his desire to keep things casual. Ava lost more than her boyfriend when her ex dumped her. She lost her home, her job, and a hefty dose of self-confidence. A no-strings affair with Cannon is just the boost she needs. The more time they spent together the more Cannon's boundaries began to blur. This series continues to be such a hit for me. I loved the development of Ava's character and the growth she showed as the story progressed. I was frustrated by Cannon's mixed signals and cheered for Ava when she called him on it and drew a hard line. (Go Ava!) The inclusion of the other players and previous couples was a highlight. 4 stars 

by Q.B. Tyler
Series: NA
Tropes: forbidden/taboo, age gap, second chance

I'll say upfront that this one won't be for everyone. There is a 20+ year age gap between Jacob and Whitney and their affair started when she was eighteen. Add to that, her parents have been his best friends for almost 30 years, and he is her godfather. If any of that is a hard pass for you, consider yourself warned. Jacob and Whitney acted on their mutual feelings when she was eighteen and carried on a secret affair for two years. When Jacob realized that going public would fracture Whitney's relationship with her parents, and he would likely lose his lifelong friends, he chose to end their affair, hoping that Whitney would move on. Three years later he receives her engagement announcement and returns home, unable to stay away any longer. What ensues is a steamy, angsty, and emotional story with touch-her-and-die vibes from the hero. Whitney came across a bit immature, and she and Jacob were back together in a flash. But I enjoyed the story of a couple so devoted that they were willing to defy conventions to be together and deal with the inevitable consequences.  4 stars

by Meghan Quinn
Series: Vancouver Agitators #3
Tropes: rom-com, professional athlete, age gap

*Disclaimer: I'm not really a rom-com kind of girl, so take my opinions of this one with a grain of salt. 😉

Unpopular opinion time: I did not love Right Man, Right Time. In fact, there were some aspects (I'm looking at you Ollie) that I didn't even like. After a meet-cute in a bar, Silas and Ollie agree to a fake-dating arrangement that will benefit them both. Ollie, to save face in front of a work rival; Silas to put some distance between him and his ex. Let it be said: I adored Silas in all his grumpy glory. I loved the little pieces of vulnerability he doled out bit by bit. I loved his teammates, their banter, and their group texts. The camaraderie was everything. What I didn't like? Ollie. I won't get on my soapbox and rant so I'll just say that virtually nothing about her worked for me. She was immature, she was bratty, she was insufferable. This is one too many of Quinn's books where I've found the female main character truly unlikeable (over-the-top silly and just ridiculous). I think I'm breaking up with Meghan Quinn. 3.25 stars (all for Silas, Posey, Pacey, Eli, and Halsey)


HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS?


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Top Ten Tuesday: Lions and Tigers and... You Get the Idea | Animals on Book Covers

 

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.


This Week's Top Ten Tuesday Topic:
Animals on Book Covers
 
I'm not particularly drawn to book covers with animals so this seemingly easy prompt was a tricky one for me. I had to a deep dive on my Goodreads shelves to come up with ten. And by deep dive I mean that I had to back more than a decade on my "read shelf". I did manage to find ten, though, and ended up with an assortment from wolves, bears and horses, all the way to birds, butterflies and snakes.



Wolfsong - T.J. Klune
The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater
The Belle of Belgrave Square - Mimi Matthews
Written in Red - Anne Bishop
Tell the Wolves I'm Home - Carol Rifka Brunt
Good Boy - Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
The Queen of Nothing - Holly Black
Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
Point of Retreat - Colleen Hoover
Furiously Happy - Jenny Lawson

Have you read any of these books?

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