It's Monday! What Are You Reading #703, November 25th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #702
Teaser Tuesday #710
WWW Wednesday #710
WOW #706
Will the Time Come #703
Third Sentence Thursday #693
Random Reads #679
First Lines Friday #706
Book Blogger Hop #372

Monthly ARC's Update 98
The Reward Challenge Update #688
Wheel of TBR #235
How Well I Stuck to It #540
Wrote that Review Update #537

Week 47 Reviews:
Us in Ruins

Fragments of the Lost

Family Portrait

Gifted & Talented 

Aftershock

Skyshade

Pure Magic

When Mimi Went Missing

The Giant

A Shift in Shadows

Graveyard Dog

This Dark Descent

A Simple Twist of Fate

Heart of Night and Fire

Dance of Stars and Ashes

A Crown of Silver

Clear Your S**t Readathon: 

Update 19

Update 20

Update 21

Next to be Published November: 

Update 25

Update 26

Update 27

Update 28

Update 29

Update 30

Update 31

Update 32

Update 33

Phase Out Your TBR: 

Update 17

Update 18

Update 19

Greek God-a-Thon The Labyrinth:

Sign Up

Update 1

Update 2

Update 3

Update 4

Update 5

Update 6

Update 7

Update 8

Update 9

Update 10 and Wrap Up

Random:

Lyra Selene Author Page

OK, so I got 55 posts in 7 days, it was a decent week, but also weird. But I can't wait for this coming week, I've pretty much finished my TBRs, so I can basically mood read, which is nice! I have a few books that I want to read, to fulfill my yearly goals, so I don't have to rush to try and finish them. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want! 

Week 47 Review: Graveyard Dog

From Goodreads:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Darynda Jones comes a new story in her Charley Davidson series…

Michael Cavalcante has one thing on his mind when he knocks on Izzabel Walsh's door at two in the morning, half-dressed and a bit toasted: fix the woman's heater and get back to bed. He'd vowed never to cover for his maintenance tech again, especially after he got tased and knocked out with a frying pan for his efforts.

Izzy thought she was safe. She'd dyed her hair, changed her name, and moved 1,500 miles away. And still they'd found her. When a member of her ex's motorcycle club knocks on her door in the middle of the night, supposedly to fix a perfectly good heater, Izzy panics. Not only have they found her, but they will soon discover she has a daughter. Aka, leverage. She needs time to think. To plan. To figure out how to keep the sexy neanderthal quiet. But she has no idea how, short of murder. Can she win him over to her side? Or will he be just like all the others once he finds out what she is capable of?

Michael has one chance to convince Izzy he doesn't want to harm her or her daughter, but more than that, he wants to know who does. And why. And where he can find them. After all, how else is he going to make sure the two sprites who have wound their way into his heart are safe?

My Review:
Reading this book was so great! I've loved the series from the beginning, and watching all these various couples find romance has been so wonderful! This latest couple, and their situation, I had to keep reading and see what would happen, I mean, whacking someone with a frying pan is not a normal thing!

The humour of Darynda Jones's books is always so much fun to read. These characters get in such crazy situations-a certain pan-that I can't get enough, and how they banter, they are adorable to watch as they fall in love!

This whole situation with the misunderstanding, that he's not after her or her daughter, he's really there for maintenance, was fantastic! I loved getting to know them, as they were dealing with all of that, and why she thinks that the club is after her. 

One thing that I'm wondering-if or when we're going to get full length stories in this world again, probably about . I love these stories, but I'm just wondering what's going to come in the future, what stories we might get. It has been a while since there's been a full length book in this series.

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to read more by Darynda Jones! 

Author: Darynda Jones
Series: Charley Davidson #13.9
Read: November 20th, 2024 
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Blue Box Press
Published: November 19th 2024 

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

WWW Wednesday #710, November 20th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?

Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing now A Daily Rhythm for starting this meme! And thanks now to Taking on a World of Words for reviving it! 

I'm currently reading Graveyard Dog, and I'm loving it! 

I read The Giant, and it was a great end to the series! 

I'm going to be reading Our Deadly Designs, and I can't wait, it sounds really good! 

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #696, September 11th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 

Graveyard Dog by Darynda Jones

Expected Publication: October 8th, 2024
From Goodreads:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Darynda Jones comes a new story in her Charley Davidson series…

Michael Cavalcante has one thing on his mind when he knocks on Izzabel Walsh’s door at two in the morning, half-dressed and a bit toasted: fix the woman’s heater and get back to bed. He’d vowed never to cover for his maintenance tech again, especially after he got tased and knocked out with a frying pan for his efforts.

Izzy thought she was safe. She’d dyed her hair, changed her name, and moved 1,500 miles away. And still they’d found her. When a member of her ex’s motorcycle club knocks on her door in the middle of the night, supposedly to fix a perfectly good heater, Izzy panics. Not only have they found her, but they will soon discover she has a daughter. Aka, leverage. She needs time to think. To plan. To figure out how to keep the sexy neanderthal quiet. But she has no idea how, short of murder. Can she win him over to her side? Or will he be just like all the others once he finds out what she is capable of?

Michael has one chance to convince Izzy he doesn’t want to harm her or her daughter, but more than that, he wants to know who does. And why. And where he can find them. After all, how else is he going to make sure the two sprites who have wound their way into his heart are safe?

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

Expected Publication: October 8th, 2024
From Goodreads:

Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas in a sexy, quirky rom-com where the golden-hearted Prince of Christmas falls for the totally off-limits Prince of Halloween.

Nicholas “Coal” Claus used to love Christmas. Until his father, the reigning Santa, turned the holiday into a PR façade. Coal will do anything to escape the spectacle, including getting tangled in a drunken, supremely hot make-out session with a beautiful man behind a seedy bar one night.

But the heir to Christmas is soon commanded to do his he will marry his best friend, Iris, the Easter Princess and his brother’s not-so-secret crush. A situation that has disaster written all over it.

Things go from bad to worse when a rival arrives to challenge Coal for the princess’s hand…and Coal comes face-to-face with his mysterious behind-the-bar Hex, the Prince of Halloween.

It’s a fake competition between two holiday princes who can’t keep their hands off each other over a marriage of convenience that no one wants. And it all leads to one of the sweetest, sexiest, messiest, most delightfully unforgettable love stories of the year.

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

Expected Publication: October 8th, 2024
From Goodreads:

Mattinesh Jay, dutiful heir to his struggling family business, needs to hire an experienced swordsman to serve as best man for his arranged marriage. Sword-challenge at the ceremony could destroy all hope of restoring his family's wealth, something that Matti has been trying—and failing—to do for the past ten years.

What he can afford, unfortunately, is part-time con artist and full-time charming menace Luca Piere.

Luca, for his part, is trying to reinvent himself in a new city. All he wants to do is make some easy money and try to forget the crime he committed in his hometown. He didn't plan on being blackmailed into giving sword lessons to a chronically responsible—and inconveniently handsome—wool merchant like Matti.

However, neither Matti's business troubles nor Luca himself are quite what they seem. As the days count down to Matti's wedding, the two of them become entangled in the intrigue and sabotage that have brought Matti's house to the brink of ruin. And when Luca's secrets threaten to drive a blade through their growing alliance, both Matti and Luca will have to answer the how many lies are you prepared to strip away, when the truth could mean losing everything you want?

How to Summon a Fairy Godmother by Laura J. Mayo

Expected Publication: October 8th, 2024
From Goodreads:

If a fairy godmother can get one sister into a marriage, getting another out of one should be easy… 

Lady Theodosia Balfour has certainly gotten the short end of the stick—her stepsister, the newly crowned Princess Beatrice, is telling everyone in polite society that Theo, her sister, and their mother are evil, wicked, and horrid people who treated her like a slave. Though Theo knows this isn't exactly true, it seems her life is thoroughly ruined by the rumor. With the Balfour family estate on the verge of bankruptcy, Theo's only path forward is a forced betrothal to the Duke of Snowbell, a foul-tempered geezer who wishes only to use her as a brood mare for spare heirs. 

Desperate for help, Theo clings to the only thing that might save the rumor of a fairy godmother, one that supposedly helped her stepsister secure a prince. After discovering a way to summon a fairy in Beatrice's old room, Theo thinks her prayers have been answered. But the fairy she meets isn't at all what she imagined. Drop-dead gorgeous, incredibly cunning, and slightly devious, Cecily of the Ash Fairies is much more interested in gathering powerful favors and smoking her pipe than providing charitable magic for humans in a bind.

Before she receives magical assistance, Cecily sets Theo to three tasks, seemingly to prove that Theo is a selfless and kind person. Helping her along the way are Cecily's familiars, the flirty human-turned-mockingbird Phineas and the aloof Kasra, a fox shapeshifter who should not be as handsome as he is for someone with such cutting remarks. As Theo works on her tasks, she shockingly finds kinship with the magical creatures she's helping, and starts to wonder if a continued life among her human peers is what she really wants after all.

From debut author Laura J. Mayo comes a hilarious new spin on the Cinderella tale!

Oh, some pretty great authors having releases coming out, I'm really excited for them! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #640, September 11th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #639
Teaser Tuesday #647
WWW Wednesday #647
WOW #643
Will the Time Come #640
Third Sentence Thursday #630
Random Reads #616
First Lines Friday #643
Book Blogger Hop #309

Monthly ARC's Update 49
The Reward Challenge Update #625
Wheel of TBR #172
How Well I Stuck to It #477
Wrote that Review Update #474

Week 36 Reviews:
A Deadly Education

The Last Gradate

The Golden Enclaves

Dawnbreaker

The Broken Ones

Where Darkness Blooms

Payback in Death

The Ex Hex

The Kiss Curse

The Grave Robber

The Narrow

The Devouring Gray

The Deck of Omens

A Duet With a Siren Duke

A Duet With a Siren Duke Bonus Scene

Rise Up from the Embers

Wicked Nights

Beauty Awakened

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

Update 45

Update 46

Update 47

SeasonAthon Academy: 

Update 3

Update 4

Update 5

Update 6

Pick-Pong-A-Thon: 

Update 3

Random:

Becca's Spookoplathon September 2023 Round Sign Up

OK, so I got 35 posts in 7 days, which was a pretty decent week, I took it easier like I wanted, so I'm happy with that, and I can't wait for next week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read Fall of Ruin and Wrath!

SHE LIVES BY HER INTUITION. HE FEEDS ON HER PLEASURE.

Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian―royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.

Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.

When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning―and promise. Today he'll bring her joy. One day he'll be her doom.

When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince's temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.

Calista must follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.

Week 36 Review: The Grave Robber

From Goodreads:

Eric Vause is done.

Done with ghosts. Done with hellhounds. And definitely done with asshole demons, mostly because he'd been possessed by one. Even now, five years later, the rage he absorbed from the creature has yet to wane, so he decides a road trip is in order. Surely some cool air, great scenery, and a case of Dos Equis will shake things loose. Unfortunately, supernatural events happen everywhere. When he meets up with a friend whose partner's daughter needs help with a pest problem—aka, a ghost—Eric takes that as his cue to leave.

Until he sees her.

He can tell Halle's house isn't the only thing that is haunted. The hopelessness behind her eyes tugs at something deep inside him. Something all too familiar. The fact that she's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen has nothing to do with his change of heart. And he vows to leave her in his rearview the minute he takes care of the poltergeist. Then again, vows were never his strong suit.

My Review:
This was another wonderful read from this series! I really enjoyed Eric and Halle's story! It was so fast paced, and so quick to read! I wish there was more, that we could've gotten Halle's perspective, but what we got was really good! 

I think Eric is the most irreverent narrator since Charley, he knows when things are serious, but the way he presents things, and makes jokes is the front and good portion of his personality that covers those serious parts. 

Reading their romance was so cute! Because she started off in horrible mental state, and they went on this adventure, and she learned about his abilities, combined with his looks and his personality, well, of course they would be good together!  

The whole mystery over her haunting-or whatever the heck was going on with her-was really intriguing to read! Eric quickly points out some suspicious facts, and oh, it was pretty awful what happened! And oh, that ending was pretty explosive! Loved how it wrapped up! 

This was a terrific read, and I can't wait to read more by Darynda Jones, in this world, and any others! 

Author: Darynda Jones 
Series: Charley Davidson #13.8
Read: September 6th, 2023
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: 1001 Dark Nights Press
Published: September 5th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday #638, August 2nd

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 

Sleep No More by Seanan McGuire

Expected Publication: September 5th, 2023
From Goodreads:

October is very happy with her life as the second daughter of her pureblood parents, Amandine and Simon Torquill. Born to be the changeling handmaid to her beloved sister August, she spends her days working in her family’s tower, serving as August’s companion, and waiting for the day when her sister sets up a household of her own. Everything is right in October’s Faerie. Everything is perfect.

Everything is a lie.

October has been pulled from her own reality and thrown into a twisted reinterpretation of Faerie where nothing is as it should be and everything has been distorted to support Titania’s ideals. Bound by the Summer Queen’s magic and thrust into a world turned upside down, October has no way of knowing who she can trust, where she can turn, or even who she really is. As strangers who claim to know her begin to appear and the edges of Titania’s paradise begin to unravel, Toby will have to decide whether she can risk everything she knows based on only their stories of another world.

But first she’ll have to survive this one, as Titania demonstrates why she needed to be banished in the first place—and this time, much more than Toby’s own life is at stake.

Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot

Expected Publication: September 5th, 2023
From Goodreads:

A witchy rom-com from New York Times bestseller Meg Cabot about a plus size witch who must team up with a handsome stranger to help protect her village from an otherworldly force--but will she be able to protect her heart?

It's Magic When You Meet Your Match

In her teenage years, lovelorn Jessica Gold cast a spell that went disastrously wrong, and brought her all the wrong kind of attention--as well as a lifetime ban from the World Council of Witches.

So no one is more surprised than Jess when, fifteen years later, tall, handsome WCW member Derrick Winters shows up in her quaint little village of West Harbor and claims that Jess is the Chosen One.

She's the Chosen One

Not chosen by West Harbor's snobby elite to style them for the town's tricentennial ball--though Jess owns the chicest clothing boutique in town. And not chosen finally to be on the WCW, either--not that Jess would have said yes, anyway, since she's done with any organization that tries to dictate what makes a "true" witch.

No, Jess has been chosen to help save West Harbor itself . . .

As Summer Ends, Her Power Grows

But just when Jess is beginning to think that she and Derrick might have a certain magic of their own--and not of the supernatural variety--Jess learns he may not be who she thought he was.

And suddenly Jess finds herself having to make another kind of choice: trust Derrick and work with him to combat the sinister force battling to bring down West Harbor, or use her gift as she always has: to keep herself, and her heart, safe.

Can she work her magic in time?

Payback in Death by J.D. Robb

Expected Publication: September 5th, 2023
From Goodreads:

Lt. Eve Dallas is just home from a long overdue vacation when she responds to a call of an unattended death. The victim is Martin Greenleaf, retired Internal Affairs Captain. At first glance, the scene appears to be suicide, but the closer Eve examines the body, the more suspicious she becomes.

An unlocked open window, a loving wife and family, a too-perfect suicide note—Eve's gut says it's a homicide. After all, Greenleaf put a lot of dirty cops away during his forty-seven years in Internal Affairs. It could very well be payback—and she will not rest until the case is closed.

The Grave Robber by Darynda Jones

Expected Publication: September 5th, 2023
From Goodreads:

Eric Vause is done.

Done with ghosts. Done with hellhounds. And definitely done with asshole demons, mostly because he’d been possessed by one. Even now, five years later, the rage he absorbed from the creature has yet to wane, so he decides a road trip is in order. Surely some cool air, great scenery, and a case of Dos Equis will shake things loose. Unfortunately, supernatural events happen everywhere. When he meets up with a friend whose partner’s daughter needs help with a pest problem—aka, a ghost—Eric takes that as his cue to leave.

Until he sees her.

He can tell Halle’s house isn’t the only thing that is haunted. The hopelessness behind her eyes tugs at something deep inside him. Something all too familiar. The fact that she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen has nothing to do with his change of heart. And he vows to leave her in his rearview the minute he takes care of the poltergeist. Then again, vows were never his strong suit.

Have You Seen My Sister? by Kirsty McKay

Expected Publication: September 5th, 2023
From Goodreads:

Gaia Gill is the last person in the world anyone would expect to go missing. Beautiful, athletic, and recently accepted to a prestigious college, she has everything to look forward to—but the night of her going-away party at the Moon Mountain ski resort, she disappears.

Gaia's younger sister Esme is supposed to be flying back to England with her family after the party, but she can't leave with Gaia missing—especially because nobody remembers Gaia leaving the party. Or if they do, they're not saying. Everyone at the lodge has their own secrets: the little rich girl, the ex-boyfriend, the ski instructor, the failed reality star.

Esme's out of her depth searching the dark, dangerous forests and icy slopes of Moon Mountain, until she teams up with a local boy who promises to help her. The clock is ticking, and it's down to Esme to piece the clues together and work out who—if anybody—is telling the truth.

Oh man, some really amazing books, authors, and series here! I'm so excited to read all of these books (and one of these books is the one I'm currently reading today, which is hilarious!) What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Waiting on Wednesday #599, November 2nd

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

Expected Publication: December 6th, 2022
From Goodreads:

Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there’s just too much going on right now. There’s a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There’s her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who’s out to singlehandedly become Del Sol’s youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there’s drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she’s loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

A Fire Endless by Rebecca Ross

Expected Publication: December 6th, 2022
From Goodreads:

In the stunning conclusion to the Elements of Cadence duology, A Fire Endless finds the delicate balance between the human and faerie realm threatened by Bane, the spirit of the North Wind, whose defeat can only come through fire, song, and heart-rending sacrifice.

East and West. Humans and Spirits. Breccans and Tamerlaines. The Isle of Cadence has always held itself and its residents in a tenuous balance. But now Bane, the spirit of the North Wind, has pushed everyone and everything in his path off-kilter in a bid to claim dominion over all.

In the West, Adaira struggles to adjust to the more brutal, bitter ways of life among the Breccans. Striving to find her place in the clan, she swiftly realizes that it just might be the last role she desires to hold. And while magic blooms effortlessly for the Breccans in the west, the spirits continue to suffer beneath Bane's harsh power, felt in every gust of wind.

In the East, Jack is adrift without Adaira until he sings to the ember-weak fire spirits, acquiring a dangerous mission he never expected. One that is destined to lead him westward. Likewise, Torin and Sidra are consumed by a new mystery as sickness spreads first amongst the crops, and then to the people of the Tamerlaine clan. While Sidra desperately searches for a cure, Torin dares to strike a bargain with the spirits--a precarious folly anytime, but especially now as the days grow darker.

With the island falling further out of balance, humans and spirits alike will need to join together to face Bane, and Jack's gift with the harp will be called upon once more. Yet no one can challenge the North Wind without paying a terrible price, and the sacrifice required this time may be more than Jack, Adaira, Torin, and Sidra can bear to pay.

The Ivory Tomb by Melissa Caruso

Expected Publication: December 6th, 2022
From Goodreads:

The Ivory Tomb concludes the wildly original epic fantasy series bursting with intrigue and ambition, questioned loyalties, and broken magic that began with The Obsidian Tower.

The Dark Days have returned. The Demon of Carnage mercilessly cuts through villagers and armies. The Demon of Corruption poisons/rots the land. The Serene Empire and the Witch Lords race towards war. And in the middle of it all stands Rxyander, the Warden of Gloamingard.

Burdened by conflicting loyalties and guilt, Ryx searches desperately for a way to defeat the demons before the world she loves is completely destroyed. To find answers, she’ll have to return to where it all started…the black tower at the heart of Gloamingard.

By blood the Door was opened and only by blood will the Dark Days end. 

A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

Expected Publication: December 6th, 2022
From Goodreads:

#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Selection series Kiera Cass is back with her most epic novel yet—a sweeping enemies-to-lovers standalone romance.

“Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time.”

Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort—but no amount of luxuries can change the fact that her life isn’t her own to control. The king, once her loving father, has gone cold, and Annika will soon be forced into a loveless marriage for political gain.

Miles away, small comforts are few and far between for Lennox. He has devoted his life to the Dahrainian army, hoping to one day help them reclaim the throne that was stolen from them. For Lennox, the idea of love is merely a distraction—nothing will stand in the way of fighting for his people.

But when love, against all odds, finds them both, they are bound by its call. They can’t possibly be together—but the irresistible thrum of a thousand heartbeats won’t let them stay apart.

Kiera Cass brings her signature sparkling romance to this beautiful story of star-crossed lovers and long-held secrets.

This Cursed Crown by Alexandra Overy

Expected Publication: December 6th, 2022
From Goodreads:

Awakening to find herself trapped in a strange tower, Izaveta knows she must find her way back to the Tóurensi palace and claim the throne. But even with an unexpected ally’s help, she worries she might not be able to get news of her survival to her sister and escape this frozen land.

Back at home, Asya enlists Nikov’s help to prove Izaveta is still alive, even as she finds herself forced to navigate the political world she always sought to avoid to save her queendom, her loved ones, and herself.

 

But as the sisters work independently to reunite, a dangerous force lies in wait, trying to regain power in order to overthrow the monarchy… 

The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford
Expected Publication: December 6th, 2022
From Goodreads:

Outsiders are always given a choice: the Forest or the lake. Either way, they’re never heard from again.

Leelo has spent her entire life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty Forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles to accept that her younger brother will be exiled by his next birthday, unless he gains the magic of enchanted song so vital to Endla.

When Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake, she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do. But in a moment that will change everything, Leelo betrays her family, her best friend, and Endla by making an unthinkable choice.

Discovery could lead to devastating consequences for both Leelo and the outsider, Jaren, but as they grow closer, Leelo realizes that not all danger comes from beyond the lake—and they can only survive if Leelo is willing to question the very fabric of her society, her people, and herself. 

Yeah, the start of December is off to an excellent start, and I can't wait for these books to come out, I've read a few and they were really great! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Week 41 Review: A Hard Day for a Hangover

From Goodreads:

Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there's just too much going on right now. There's a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There's her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who's out to singlehandedly become Del Sol's youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there's drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she's loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

My Review:
Well, I loved reading this book! I love this series, and I reread the first two once I had this one, which was great, because I forgot so much-and then I had to dive right into this one! And it was so freaking fantastic, it was such an amazing read!

This mystery, with the injured girl being found on the cliff, and the subsequent connections made, it was intriguing. I had a good idea of where it was going, but there was so much else going on as well, what with the threat that Clay posed to Levi.

All those developments with Sunshine and Levi, oh, I lived for them! We've been dancing around the two of them for 2.5 books, and I loved where things went with them! It was just so heartwarming to read, espcailly with Levi being Auri's dad, and how she reacted to the news.

I think there's two things that weren't wrapped up, one was was Quincy and Hailey. There was a pep talk, but I don't think they were mentioned again after that. I mean, I know they're going to work out, but it would've been great to have that confirmation. The other was who was controlling Nancy, I don't remember finding that out...

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait for more by Darynda Jones! 

Author: Darynda Jones 
Series: Sunshine Vicram #3
Read: October 9th, 2022
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a End of Series 2022 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Expected Publication: December 6th 2022

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #592, October 10th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #591
Teaser Tuesday #599
WWW Wednesday #599
WOW #595
Will the Time Come #592
Third Sentence Thursday #582
Random Reads #568
First Lines Friday #595
Book Blogger Hop #261

Monthly ARC's November Round Up

Monthly ARC's Update 24
The Reward Challenge Update #577
Wheel of TBR #124
How Well I Stuck to It #429
Wrote that Review Update #426

Week 40 Reviews:
Somebody That I Used to Know

Belladonna

Dark Room Etiquette

After the Bite

I Am Margaret Moore

A Bad Day for Sunshine

A Good Day for Chardonnay 

Nevermore

Enshadowed

Born of Blood

What Moves the Dead

Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox

Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal

Becca's BookoplAthon:

Update 3

Update 4

Update 5

Update 6

Update 7

Update 8

Update 9

Update 10

Update 11

Update 12

Update 13

ARCtober: 

Update 3

Update 4

Update 5

Update 6

Tours:

Twelve Graves of Christmas: Cover Reveal

OK, so I got 41 posts in 7 days, and it was an interesting week. I had the week off with vacation, but my dog had some health problems, which was pretty stressful, but for the past day he seems to be normal, which is good. What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read The Akseli, A Hard Day for a Hangover, and The Kraken's Sacrifice!

Simone has hunted and slain psychotic vampires night after night for hundreds of years and desperately needs a change. When the leader of the Immortal Guardians offers her an opportunity to guard ten mortal women who are venturing to another planet, she dives right in and finds traveling into space and meeting amazing alien races just as exciting as she'd hoped… until an enemy attacks. Simone saves everyone she can before she's thrust into an escape pod and the ship explodes. Alone, fearing some—if not all—of her friends have been killed, she vows to seek vengeance.

Despite his fierce reputation and propensity for violating the law, Janwar has formed a friendship with strait-laced Prince Taelon of Lasara. When the prince's ship is destroyed, Janwar joins the massive Aldebarian Alliance-wide search and rescue mission and soon locates the Gathendien ship that launched the attack. An odd thing happens, however, as he and his crew stealthily approach it. The lifeforms inside begin to perish, two or three at a time in quick succession. Much to his surprise, someone else has reached the ship first: one of the very Earth women he hoped to rescue.

Fascinatingly fierce, Simone bands together with Janwar and his crew to search for her missing friends and wreak havoc upon those who wish to harm them. She also widens eyes, drops jaws, and sparks laughter and mischief as she banishes the warriors' world-weariness and makes each day seem like a new adventure. The friendship that grows between Janwar and Simone swiftly deepens into love. But the enemy warriors they face are tenacious and boast more weapons in their arsenal than the alliance knows. Can Janwar, Simone, and such a small crew vanquish them?

Some people greet the day with open arms. Sheriff Sunshine Vicram would rather give it a hearty shove and get back into bed, because there's just too much going on right now. There's a series of women going missing, and Sunny feels powerless to stop it. There's her persistent and awesomely-rebellious daughter Auri, who's out to singlehandedly become Del Sol's youngest and fiercest investigator. And then there's drama with Levi Ravinder—the guy she's loved and lusted after for years. The guy who might just be her one and only. The guy who comes from a family of disingenuous vipers looking to oust him—and Sunshine—for good.

Like we said, the new day can take a hike.

Catalina only made her deal with the demon because she had nowhere else to go. The world has kicked her every chance it got, so she's all too happy to leave the realm she knows behind. What's the worst that could happen?

She doesn't anticipate being auctioned away to a kraken.

Thane is cold and distant…but he's not unkind. Isolated as they are, Catalina finds herself seeking his company again and again. And when she finally agrees to uphold her portion of the bargain?

That's when things get really interesting.

But she only gave the demon seven years, and when the time is up, she'll have no choice but to leave behind the kraken who's stolen her heart and return to the world that doesn't want her.

ARCtober Update 4

So I've read my next book for the ARCtober, and it was A Hard Day for a Hangover which is for the prompt A Highly Anticipated ARC, and I'll be reading A Forgery of Roses next! 

My Reading Journey:

Somebody That I Used to Know by Dana L. Davis

Prompt Fulfilled: Author of Colour

Started On: October 1st 

Finished On: October 1st, 4:01 PM 

Pages Read: 336

Dark Room Etiquette by Robin Roe

Prompt Fulfilled: October Release

Started On: October 2nd

Finished On: October 2nd, 3:56 PM

Pages Read: 512

I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin

Prompt Fulfilled: Already Released

Started On: October 3rd

Finished On: October 3rd, 5:15 PM

Pages Read: 336

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: A Highly Anticipated ARC

Started On: October 9th

Finished On: October 9th, 1:25 PM

Pages Read: 416

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson

Prompt Fulfilled: An ARC You Forgot You Had

Started On: October 9th

Currently On: Page 0 of 368

Prompts Left: 1st in a Series, Fits the Season, Everyone Is Talking About It, Oldest ARC, Favourite Colour on the Cover, Shortest ARC, A Sequel, An ARC from Your Favourite Publisher, Graphic Novel, Debut Author, Own Voices Rep/Marginalized Community, LGBTQ+ Representation, Cover Request, Heard About from Another BookTuber, Newest ARC, Underhyped/Nobody is Talking About It, Indie Published, Non-Fiction

Books Read: 4

Pages Read: 1600

Becca's BookoplAthon Update 12

So I read my next book for Becca's BookoplAthon, Roll as You Go edition, and it was A Hard Day for a Hangover which is for the prompt Highest Rated, and I'll be rolling for what I'm reading next below! 

My Reading Journey:

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
Prompt Fulfilled: Community Shelf
Started On: October 1st
Finished On: October 1st, 8:33 PM

Pages Read: 416

After the Bite by Lynsay Sands

Prompt Fulfilled: Chance Card
Started On: October 2nd
Finished On: October 2nd, 11:06 PM

Pages Read: 400

I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin

Prompt Fulfilled: Favourite Genre

Started On: October 3rd

Finished On: October 3rd, 5:15 PM

Pages Read: 336

A Bad Day For Sunshine by Darynda Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: Colour Wheel

Started On: October 3rd

Finished On: October 3rd, 9:50 PM

Pages Read: 416

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: Mood Read

Started On: October 4th

Finished On: October 4th, 9:20 PM

Pages Read: 416

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Prompt Fulfilled: Big Book

Started On: October 5th

Finished On: October 5th, 7:31 PM

Pages Read: 560

Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

Prompt Fulfilled: People

Started On: October 6th

Finished On: October 6th, 9:38 PM

Pages Read: 429

Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox by Forthright

Prompt Fulfilled: Dice Roulette

Started On: October 7th

Finished On: October 7th, 5:36 PM

Pages Read: 478

Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal by Forthright

Prompt Fulfilled: Favourite Genre

Started On: October 7th

Finished On: October 7th, 11:24 PM

Pages Read: 450

Game of Gravestones by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe

Prompt Fulfilled: Features a Mystery

Started On: October 8th

Finished On: October 8th, 5:05 PM

Pages Read: 184

The Hexed & the Hunted by Melissa Marr

Prompt Fulfilled: First Person

Started On: October 8th

Finished On: October 8th, 11:15 PM

Pages Read: 319

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

Prompt Fulfilled: Highest Rated

Started On: October 9th

Finished On: October 9th, 1:25 PM

Pages Read: 416

Books Read: 12
Pages Read: 4411

Day 9, Roll 13:

A 11. which gets me to Dice Roulette. 

A 5, which is a range of 225-274. I chose The Greatest Zombie Movie by Jeff Strand, it has 266 pages, so that works!

Week 40 Reviews: A Bad Day for Sunshine, A Good Day for Chardonnay

From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones is back with the brand-new snarky, sassy, wickedly fun Sunshine Vicram series!

Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o' joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose.

Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, its strong cups of coffee—and a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff—an election her adorably meddlesome parents entered her in—and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of it's reminding Sunny why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that trouble at her daughter's new school and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and Sunshine has her hands full.

Enter sexy almost-old-flame Levi Ravinder and a hunky US Marshall, both elevens on a scale of one to blazing inferno, and the normally savvy sheriff is quickly in over her head. Now it's up to Sunshine to juggle a few good hunky men, a not-so-nice kidnapping miscreant, and Doug the ever-pesky flasher. And they said coming home would be drama-free. 

From Goodreads:

From the New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones comes the second novel in her laugh-out-loud Sunshine Vicram mystery series, A Good Day for Chardonnay.

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff—and even fuller-time coffee guzzler—Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.

My first review of A Bad Day for Sunshine, A Good Day for Chardonnay

My Review:
I loved rereading these books! I really enjoyed them the first time that I read them, and now that book 3 is coming out, I had to reread them! I forgot so much, and they're so good, I love Darynda Jones' humor! And the mysteries were intriguing to read again! 

The main things that I remembered, was that Bo was dead, but they were hiding it because he was two weeks away from pension, there was a switcheroo mistaken identity with an escaped prisoner, and that Cruz's dad had died, and he was keeping it a secret. And vaguely that Auri contacting the family about the locket was a bad idea. Oh, and that Auri is Levis, and it was consensual, and that Levi killed his uncle, her kidnapper, to protect her. Other then that, it was almost like a blank slate!

Knowing the truth about Auri, that Levi's her dad, it just makes it all the more heartbreaking. That it wasn't true, and even if it was, her mom loved her. To know a child so young could be in such a state of depression, that was so sad!

The mysteries were all so entertaining to read, with Sybil missing, and then with Auri investigating a possible serial killer while Sunny deals with a bar fight that was much more, one that was connected to her first case as a detective she couldn't solve. Loved watching it all play out (and boo, hiss, Carver!)

These were fantastic, wonderful reads, and I can't wait to finish out this series! 

Author: Darynda Jones
Series: Sunshine Vicrum #1, 2
First Read: December 3rd, 2019, March 27th, 2021

Read: October 3rd, 4th, 2022
Source: Bought
Reason Why: Rereading, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Books!
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: April 7th 2020, July 27th 2021 

A Bad Day for Sunshine:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

A Good Day for Chardonnay: 

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars