Ink Blood, Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs (ARC Review)

Ink Blood, Sister Scribe by Em..

Posted February 25, 2024 by Alana in Book Reviews, Fantasy / 0 Comments

I’ve found it difficult to categorize this book! A contemporary fantasy with a hefty dose of mystery and some suspense. Magical books tucked away in private libraries that are protected ruthlessly from unscrupulous individuals… Kinda. Also, these books require blood to activate and read and some don’t just stop with a little blood. Törzs juggles three POVs: Esther, Joanna, and Nicholas. Each POV distinct and enjoyable, though I think Nicholas was my fav to follow around. Don’t jump into this […]

The Traitors by C.A. Lynch (Review)

The Traitors by C.A. Lynch (Re..

Posted February 15, 2024 by Alana in Book Reviews, Horror, Mystery/Thriller/Suspense / 0 Comments

The Traitors was my first introduction to C.A. Lynch’s books! Before I get to the story, the narration was on point though I did need to speed it up as some of the dramatic pauses grated on my nerves. With zero exaggeration, I binged this read in one session. Lynch really leans into the unlikable and flawed characters for this “locked room” thriller. You don’t need likable characters to enjoy this story. Lynch crafted believable, and occasionally off-putting, thoughts and […]

WWW Wednesday (Jan 24, 2024)

WWW Wednesday (Jan 24, 2024)

Posted January 24, 2024 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: What are you currently reading? I’m reading both Only When It’s Us (a gifted arc) and revisiting Rival by Penelope Douglas. Both are so easy to sink into and get lost in. What did you recently finish reading? This was a great reading week! I devoured A Spindle Splintered and I’m really looking forward to reading the next in […]

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Meant to Read in 2023

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Meant..

Posted January 23, 2024 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 2 Comments

  Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here! Truthfully, 2023 was a rubbish reading year so I have a huge stack of books that I wanted to get to but didn’t. Some of these were soft DNFs and others I just didn’t have a chance to open. Here are […]

WWW Wednesday (1/17/2024)

WWW Wednesday (1/17/2024)

Posted January 17, 2024 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: 1. What are you currently reading?2. What did you recently finish reading?3. What do you think you’ll read next? Currently Reading I’m currently reading these three here. I have a library copy of The House Across the Lake and I’m slowly trudging through it. Every time I put it down though it gets a little harder to pick up […]

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (ARC Review)

Emily Wilde’s Map of the..

Posted January 16, 2024 by Alana in Book Reviews, Fantasy, Romance / 0 Comments

*Note: This is the second in the series and it definitely isn’t a standalone so treat yourself and read Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. I can’t tell you how excited I was to delve back into the world of Emily Wilde! The diary entry delivery gives this series a distinctly cozy fantasy feel as the urgency isn’t as sharp as in other stories. This just shows me that cozy fantasy is absolutely my jam because I am in love with […]

Never Met A Duke Like You by Amalie Howard (ARC Review)

Never Met A Duke Like You by A..

Posted January 15, 2024 by Alana in Book Reviews, Historical Romance, Romance / 0 Comments

I think 3.5 stars is my true rating for Never Met a Duke Like You. A cute historical romance with a light amount of angst that really serves up a delicious amount of snark and snipes between Vesper and Aspen. Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Howard sneaks in a former friend edition and I was incredibly excited! A bit of forced proximity in an attic? Yes, please. Aspen is intense and he was so much fun to […]

Top Ten Tuesday: Anticipated Releases For Early 2024

Top Ten Tuesday: Anticipated R..

Posted January 9, 2024 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

  Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here! This is always a fun prompt because I’m a little out of touch with what is coming out in the year ahead unless I’m obsessed with an author. 2024 is shaping up to be an amazing year of releases from so […]

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Bookshops & Bonedust by T..

Posted January 7, 2024 by Alana in Book Reviews, Fantasy / 0 Comments

It’s rare when I come across a book that I desperately want to live inside. I’m going to start this out with a confession… I enjoyed this one more than Legends and Lattes. But I mean, when I say enjoyed… I mean I want to force everyone I know to read this book. You, dear reader. I am attempting to peer pressure you into reading this gem of a cozy fantasy.  A young Viv gets the taste of the slow […]

WWW Wednesday (3 Jan 2024)

WWW Wednesday (3 Jan 2024)

Posted January 3, 2024 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: 1. What are you currently reading?2. What did you recently finish reading?3. What do you think you’ll read next? Currently Reading I’m currently listening to You’re Gonna Die Alone by Devrie Donalson and I’m enjoying it! I’m also making my way through Capture the Sun by Jessie Mihalik and Never Met a Duke Like You by Amalie Howard. Romance making […]

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books of 2023

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book..

Posted January 2, 2024 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 7 Comments

  Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here! This past year of reading has been so odd for me! 2023 started with a book slump for the ages and it took forever to crawl back. That’s not to say I didn’t have a healthy sprinkling of gems over the […]

WWW Wednesday (20 Sept 2023)

WWW Wednesday (20 Sept 2023)

Posted September 20, 2023 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: 1. What are you currently reading? 2. What did you recently finish reading? 3. What do you think you’ll read next? Currently Reading These are the books I’m actively reading at the moment. I am LOVING The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary. I haven’t read anything of hers since The Flatshare (one of my absolute favorites) and I’m kicking myself […]

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Fall 2023 To-Read List

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My F..

Posted September 19, 2023 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 6 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here! Autumn is starting to show where we are slowly and I’m so excited to be embracing the fall temperatures and activities! It is my absolute favorite season! School has started and my available reading time has gone up significantly with the little […]

Review: Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Review: Business or Pleasure b..

This was my first Rachel Lynn Solomon book and it won’t be the last! From deliciously awkward meet cute with terrible sex (outright hysterical) to a sweet HEA, Chandler and Finn’s friendship and romance was a joy to read! Both MCs were well-crafted and relatable. Chandler had moments where I truly wanted to throttle her, but Finn was a delight. Bonus, he was a quick study with the dirty talk! Mid-level spice with some really amazing, frank conversations between Chandler […]

State of the TBR: NetGalley (May 2023)

State of the TBR: NetGalley (M..

Posted May 19, 2023 by Alana in Bookish / 0 Comments

Every once in a while I need to sift through my various TBRs to make sure I haven’t missed too may deadlines. I always enjoy going through other people’s Netgalley TBRs! October 2022 This one is definitely a bit of late ARC shame! It feels like every time I pick it up I’m not in the mood for Schitt’s Creek type characters. I will need to try it again ASAP. Out now! April 2023 Magic Corrupts, Magic Conquers was on my […]

Guest Post: Ex Ethics by Emma Barry

Guest Post: Ex Ethics by Emma ..

Today, I’m excited to share a guest post from Emma Barry! Before we get to her take on ex’s in romance, let me share some info on her new release, Funny Guy! Ex Ethics Is anyone treated worse in romance than the main characters’ exes? Heck, some villains have entire fan clubs, and villain redemption arcs are common in long series. But exes are an entirely other matter. They’re often treated as obstacles to the couple getting (or staying) together […]

Review: Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller

Review: Hotel of Secrets by Di..

Diana Biller has been an auto-buy author for me since The Widow of Rose House. Hotel of Secrets, written with the same care and thoughtfulness, takes readers away from Moore family and brings us Hotel Wallner set in Vienna. Actually, I believe this was my first historical romance with a Venetian setting. Add in the drama of Maria trying to bring the hotel back to it’s former self while hotel patron shenanigans and exceedingly complex family entanglements (complete with a […]

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Indie/Self-Published Books

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Indie..

Posted April 4, 2023 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 5 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here! I’m always happy to shower admiration and recommend my favorite books on fellow readers. Especially when the books have been self-published! Indie / Self-published books have a special place in my cold heart so buckle up! Some of these have been highlighted […]

WWW Wednesday (Mar 29, 2023)

WWW Wednesday (Mar 29, 2023)

Posted March 29, 2023 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: 1. What are you currently reading?2. What did you recently finish reading?3. What do you think you’ll read next? Currently Reading I’m in the middle of several books at the moment. I’m listening to Killers of a Certain Age. I wanted to pick up another KJ Charles book so I’m binging An Unseen Attraction. So far, I like country […]

WWW Wednesday (Mar 15, 2023)

WWW Wednesday (Mar 15, 2023)

Posted March 15, 2023 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: 1. What are you currently reading? 2. What did you recently finish reading? 3. What do you think you’ll read next? Currently Reading I’m thoroughly enjoying each of my current reads! I’m listening to The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine a few years ago and this book reminds me of that same heartache and […]

WWW Wednesday (March 1, 2023)

WWW Wednesday (March 1, 2023)

Posted March 1, 2023 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: 1. What are you currently reading? 2. What did you recently finish reading? 3. What do you think you’ll read next? Currently Reading I am so thrilled with all my books that I’m reading at the moment! I’m tearing through The Man Who Died Twice. I love tracking all the moving pieces in Osman’s work and I’m happy to […]

ALC Review: Exiles by Jane Harper

ALC Review: Exiles by Jane Har..

Posted February 9, 2023 by Alana in Book Reviews, Mystery/Thriller/Suspense / 1 Comment

Harper is back! I was lucky enough to get a chance to listen to an advanced copy of Exiles narrated by Stephen Shanahan and I’m so glad I stuck with audio for my read. This is the third in the series and while you don’t have to read them in order, I recommend starting with The Dry for the best experience with Falk. Harper has expertly layered Aaron Falk’s character from the start and this book it really shines. Exiles […]

WWW Wednesday (February 1, 2023)

WWW Wednesday (February 1, 202..

Posted February 1, 2023 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: 1. What are you currently reading? 2. What did you recently finish reading? 3. What do you think you’ll read next? Currently Reading I’m in the final chapters of Exiles and it has been such a great read/listen! I finished my last Romanceopoly read so I have rolled again and landed on Courtship Row: pick a historical romance with a […]

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books for Your Beginning Readers

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books for..

Posted January 31, 2023 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 17 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here! Now, this batch of recommendations might feel like it is coming out of left field since I typically read romance and true crime with a sprinkle of SFF. It might look REAL strange to someone that knows what sort of books I […]

WWW Wednesday (Jan 25, 2023)

WWW Wednesday (Jan 25, 2023)

Posted January 25, 2023 by Alana in Bookish / 2 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: 1. What are you currently reading? 2. What did you recently finish reading? 3. What do you think you’ll read next? Currently Reading I’m listening to Exiles by Jane Harper and it has been so hard to put down!  I picked up The Duke who Didn’t by Courtney Milan and I’m enjoying it! I’m rereading All Systems Red with […]

Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2022

Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Aut..

Posted January 24, 2023 by Alana in Bookish / 7 Comments

  Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here! This is such a fun prompt because I feel like I don’t read a lot of new authors but it turns out that is definitely not the case. Over half of my reads were new-to-me authors in 2022! To narrow it […]

The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe (ARC Review)

The Fixer Upper by Lauren Fors..

If you’ve been here a while, you’ll know that I’m a sucker for romantic comedies with the enemies to lovers trope. Even better if you have a vibrant group of friends and some forced proximity. But before I dive in, I wanted to thank G.P. Putnam and the author for the advanced copy for review! Aly was a fun, complicated character. Her relationship with her parents (Mom, really) has had a huge impact on her life and relationships. (Duh. I […]

WWW Wednesday (Jan 11, 2023)

WWW Wednesday (Jan 11, 2023)

Posted January 11, 2023 by Alana in Bookish, Reading Memes / 0 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam from Taking on a World of Words. The three questions to answer are: 1. What are you currently reading? 2. What did you recently finish reading? 3. What do you think you’ll read next? Currently Reading I’m currently reading How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie and it is darkly amusing so far. This was recommended to me by Storygraph and so far it is right up my alley! I was also […]

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

A Hard Day for a Hangover by D..

Posted January 6, 2023 by Alana in Book Reviews, Mystery/Thriller/Suspense / 0 Comments

Its always a little bitter sweet to say farewell to beloved characters. The only thing keeping me from tears is knowing that Jones will bring back her trademark humor, wit, and good times in a new story. Also that I still have yet to finish up Charley’s books. I always compare the Vicram series to Gilmore Girls and I stand firm on that comparison. Sunshine Vicram remains firmly on my book girlfriend list. I would list all her great qualities […]