Books Over TV

I will be finishing up the Hollywood High series and starting on a duology (haven't heard of a third book thus far) by A. C. Arthur that I've put off for way too long. I'm having such a good time reading and catching up with the girls in the Hollywood High series. These books are easy reads that really are a fun escape.

You'll realize that I'm not sticking to my March reading list. Some books really do take me forever to read and days were passing by without me picking up my kindle. I decided to re-adjust my tbr and read some backlogged books that would surely get me going again. I will eventually get to the books on my March TBR, but I will feel better with books read, under my belt, than none at all or only a couple at months end. I wish I could read multiple books at a time, but I can't.

I don't have plans for the weekend so, these four books seem doable.

Happy weekend reading everyone!

These books are fast paced page turners. Ni-Ni Simone really knows how to keep it interesting. I would give her books four stars for the inventive language alone. Even though their home lives are anything but ideal, they use all the energy to wild out at school and with their frenemies. 

UPDATE

Rich and Heather have no idea that the news, just revealed, will be their worst nightmare. I can't wait!

This is the third book in the Hollywood High Series. These young girls are rich, but not all that glitters is gold. They have no loyalty, discipline, scruples and have learned, at a young age, that money changes and buys everything and everyone. I love the frenemy relationships and the language. Oh, the language is hysterical. After finishing book three I will continue with four and five. Book five was released at the end of February.

Two months checked. Ten more to go. How did you do in the shortest month of your 2017 reading challenge? Have a look at BookLikes bloggers February bookish summaries and see if you've read all February books.

If you've missed the January wrap up post, don't worry, you can check it here: January wrap-ups!

Another great month by the numbers, but in context, there were a lot of short books again this month.  I'm trying to get my TBR pile down quickly by going for the low-hanging fruit.

So 27 books read in February, and I've been good about updating my book editions with the correct page numbers, so I know I've read 5,024 pages this month... continue reading

My reading has slowed down a bit this month, due to some health issues in my family. Also, I'm in the midst of a few books that seem like they'll never end!

Graphic Novels

Fatale Deluxe Edition: Volume 2

Incognito: Volume 2 Bad Influences 

Both of these were written and drawn by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, respectively... continue reading

If you've missed a February wrap up, have a look at the following BookLikes book bloggers posts and feel invited to read and join :)

If we did not mention you in the list below, please feel free to let us now in the comment section below and we'll add your piece up right away.

February Wrap-Up by Line Bookaholic ->

February 2017 Report by Irresponsible Reader ->

Books I Read This Month (February 2017) by Obsidian Blue ->

February Wrap-up by Lora's Rants and Reviews ->

February 2017-- A Wrap Up by Midu Reads

February Read Roundup by Whiskey in the Jar Romance ->

February 2017 Wrap Up by Tea, Rain, Book ->

Angel’s Monthly Wrap Up – February 2017 by Angel's Guilty Pleasures

February Wrap-up by Bark's Book Nonsense ->

February Recap 2017 by Nothing better than a good book...->

I only read three books in the month of February. I had such great ambitions to get through my tbr. February I participated in the hashtag #readsoullit started by Dee @browngirlreading on Youtube, Twitter and Instagram. I didn't participate in the challenge, but did post books by black authors for the 28 days on Instagram and Twitter. It was great fun and I loved seeing all the post from the participants.

Also, I continued with my goal of downsizing my life. In January I donated over 200 books to The Book Den, culled my kitchen and bathroom cabinets, removed unwanted and unworn clothes and shoes from my closet. Now in March I will research and find proper homes for all these goods. Also, In February I downsized my planner and craft collections. Whew! That was a task to go through everything and then reorganize. I feel lighter and brighter.

Now for the books I read. I gave Pachinko 4.5 stars. I deducted half a star because of the ending. Forged In Desire is really a 2.5 star read. It's the first book in a new series that I will not continue. Some books may have a new story but the pattern (can't think of correct word) is always the same. I can't anymore. House of Silence is a book I started in January, but didn't finish. Well, I actually put it down because I lost interest. I gave it 3 stars.

I hope that I can stay on track in March and catch up on some of the books I didn't complete this month. 

There's a bit of all that I love in this line up for March. The early reviews for these are promising. I've been waiting for The Orphan's Tale and A Bridge Across the Ocean for, it seems like, over a year. Have you heard about any of these and are they on your March TBR list?

March 1

The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff

March 2

In The Name of The Family by Sarah Dunant

March 7

Havana: A Subtropical Delirium by Mark Kurlansky

Edgar and Lucy by Victor Lodato

March 14

Love In An English Garden by Victoria Connelly

A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner

The Fall of Lisa Bellow by Susan Perabo

March 28

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

This is just a quick post of my most memorable reads. I highly recommend all of them and do suggest them to anyone who will stand still long enough to listen. I'm passionate about them and own them in several forms.

I'm halfway and am really enjoying the journey. I'm so pleased to be reading Pachinko. I love family sagas and learning a bit of history too.

I will be reading Pachinko over the weekend. It is definitely a page turner, but dense and will require my full attention. This will be a slow read and I welcome it. Japan occupies Korea. Koreans are treated horribly; no work, high food prices, poor housing conditions (those that own land are being taxed to death).

Kimberla Lawson Roby never disappoints. She is one of my favorite authors and her novels are auto-buys for me. I always get excited when I receive notification that she has a new book release. I know I'm in for a good read. Why do I love her writing? Mrs. Roby knows how to engage the reader. She knows her way around developing a good plot and characters you either love deep or hate immensely. However, let me stop gushing and explain a bit about Copycat.

First I'll just start by saying Simone is a scary character, but very relevant. With social media and all the show and without tell we've become a society of envy and resentment. It's not ideal to just see the good in people and dismiss their bad/strange behavior. I wanted more character development. That would've entailed a longer book. However, Copycat was an entertaining page-turner. I read it in one sitting. This book will elicit lots of discussion. At what point does too much admiration and idolization become unhealthy?

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Copycat.

Always love learning about the history of the period. Suffragette movement, Geronimo escape and the black experience.

Beverly Jenkins is one of my favorite Black historical romance writers. She not only shares black history, but familial relations and love. I've read more than seven of her large catalogue of books, mainly her historical romance.

In Breathless we revisit characters that I'd fallen in love with. Rhine and Eddy's love in Forbidden was enduring. I'm waiting for my Rhine. After learning about Eddie's sister's neglect of her nieces I was concerned and couldn't wait to revisit them. Breathless is Portia's story.

Portia is determined, strong, smart and a bit afraid of men (due to her past with her mother). From the very beginning of Kent's arrival I knew He'd have his work cut out for him. In Breathless Ms. Beverly shows that people can mature and grow and I appreciated that. I Just can't get enough about the town, people and the conflicts they encounter.

All in all Breathless was a 4 star read for me. A book I will revisit and share with other historical romance lovers and even with the romance naysayers.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Avon for the opportunity to read and review Breathless.

I read 7 books in January. I'm so proud of myself that I stayed focused and tried to read everyday. There were a couple books that I did have to put down, but I'm happy I did. Leaving books that aren't working for me is something I promised to do in 2017 and obviously with 7 books read it's working. 

I read;

Breathless by Beverly Jenkins                    4 stars

Man on the Run by Carl Weber                   4 stars

The Score by Kiki Swanson                         3 stars

The Mark by Kiki Swanson                          3 stars

Copycat by Kimberly Lawson Roby             3 stars

A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander   3 stars

Luxury & Larceny by Ty Marshall                2 stars

It was a good month and in February I'm expecting to read more and hopefully read more 5 and 4 star reads.

Hello friends it's been awhile since I've been on Booklikes. Every time I would try to make an update or post the website would run soooooo slow. I couldn't take waiting and waiting. However, those who are on Goodreads as well as BL I didn't feel out of touch. I missed you all who I've come to appreciate and value on BL. I want to be an active participant again and hope this site stays user friendly for those like me who are clueless when it pertains to websites and computers.

I set my reading goal this year at 50 books. I would like to get back up to the 100 books I used to read in 2011-2013. Last year I barely squeaked by at 30 books, I think. I'm going for it all in 2017 and am discontinuing activities that were time wasters. I'm also going to stop reading books that are not of my favorite genres, doing so slows me down.

My to be read books for February are very exciting. There are new releases by a few of my favorite authors, new books in series I've read and others that are about some of my favorite topics. Let's hope I stay focused next month. So far in January I've finished 5 books. 

Happy reading everyone!

I finished one book in September and that was The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel. That book didn't live up to my expectations at all. After about 30% I lost interest in the plot and characters and forced myself to finish. I made some progress in Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters, but quickly put it down after I just didn't care what was to come. It was taking way too long to get there. I may pick this book up this month or next, but I'm unsure at this time. I also attempted to read The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. This book captured me from the very beginning, but due to it's visually detailed content I couldn't and can't read it all the way through without breaks. I'm really hoping to plow through it this month without being so emotional.

September was a difficult month. I had a death in my family and plenty of not-so-good health news. I was knocked off my feet a bit to say the least. But as we adults know that is life.... Expect the unexpected and know tomorrow can be a better day!