"I preferred crushes on unattainable people actors, musicians, or characters in books. Fictional boyfriends were way more satisfying in my experience. They always say the right thing and when you got bored with them you just put them back on the shelf."

-Jill

We ended up being in the direct path of Hurricane Beryl and it was a rough one. Thankfully we are all safe and no damage to anything besides branches. Lots of trees down around the area though. Hoping we get power back soon but I'm staying cool with the pups since we have a generator.

I hope any close by Litsy and #LitsyLove friends are safe as well!

I started this one last month for #ReadYourKindle but unfortunately I finally just bailed on it. I thought a cute romance plus dog themed would be perfect for me but this one just wasn't. I didn't really connect with the characters or storyline. I did find out this was book 2 of a series so I don't know if that made a difference or not. So a DNF for me but also a "win" for reading through my kindle books.

@cbee #ReadYourKindle #ReadYourEbooks

I'm just writing this about the whole series in general. I loved the characters. I always love a good funny family dynamic. There are lots of different paranormal species in Hollow Cove. I liked that the author went with a different type of main character shifter than the typical wolf. This one features a big gorilla. I also think she also did a good job with some more unique storylines especially towards the last few books.
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I got so excited to see the final 3 books of the Black Hat Bureau series by Hailey Edwards were released in audiobook form. So that's what I'll be busy with this weekend

Relaxing day around here. I took Chase for a ride to get a snowcone for me and a pupcup for him. Then spent my evening listening to Magic Gone Wild while I worked on my diamond painting.

#LitsyLove Hope you all have a good week as well!

Here's what I finished reading in June. I mostly read the Innkeeper series and then read a lot of the Witches of Hollow Cove series. The other two reads were just okay for me.

It's one of those cases where I feel like I read a different book than everybody else. All the reviews I've seen have been glowing and high ratings. I unfortunately found this one boring. I guess I just expected more crazy shenanigans and more of a feisty side to the old girls that are behaving badly. If you are looking for a quick and simple mystery story though you may like it

Thank you everyone for all of the birthday wishes!

Not in my top favorites of the year but still a good read. In The Year of Second Chances the MC Robin learns that her deceased husband set her up a dating profile for her to move on a year after his death. The book follows her along the journey of really dealing with her grief and ultimately finding herself with what is next. She learns it's ok to take care of yourself after she's taken so much time caring for everyone else.

Here's the #ReadYourKindle book I read for May. @CBee

There wasn't anything wrong it was just an okay book for me. I didn't really care about the characters and it was all over the place until the end. Then again that adds to the dark gritty chaotic feeling of the book. I don't think I plan to continue the series though.

The start of the Innkeeper series by Ilona Andrews may be one of my favorites of the year so far. More specifically the full cast "Graphic audio" book version. It was a fun immersive ride. Now onto the book itself I loved how it explained how different creature species came from. It was different from your typical Werewolf and Vampires. Small hint it involves intergalactic beings and portals.

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#litsylove

"Is that Mom riding a grizzly bear?"

-Isabel

I was looking for something a little different than I've been reading lately when I stumbled across Bad Bones. It's the start to an urban fantasy series that follows a reanimated skeleton woman named Prue. Without spoiling too much she died as a small child but her mom was a witch who couldn't let her go. As she got older a woman gives her a magical gift to look human again so she can have a normal life.

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Part 3 of my April reads. I loved The Great Witches Baking Show series

Part 2 - I really enjoyed most of the books from last month. Has anyone read any if these?

Part 1 of my books from April 💜

Has anyone read any of them?

My stats from last month. I participated in a book club challenge so I read even more than usual. 29 books and the equivalent of 8033 pages. Two were graphic novels and two were written in verse. My favorite of the month was The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong. I can't wait for the next book to release.

Do yall read the novellas or short stories from a series as well? I do or at least the ones I can find. Though most are just not as good for some reason.

Trying to get some reading in before going to sleep but my 2 reading buddies don't make it easy. Chase my big dog on the left and my dachshund is the Chewbacca looking lump on the right 🤣

Currently reading 📚

Heirs of Chicagoland is the spin off series to Chicagoland and has 5 books. It involves the next generation of the core friendship group from Chicagoland approximately set 20 years in the future. The main character of this is Merit's daughter Elisa the only vampire ever born. Then her circle of friends finding their place in the supernatural world.

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Just my general thoughts on the whole Chicagoland Vampires series. There are 13 books and some novellas. Once the characters grew on me I had to binge the rest of the series. It has more spice and language than I usually prefer. If you like books like the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones I think you'd enjoy this series as well. The main supernaturals throughout the series are vampires, shifters and sorcerers.

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Part 2 of my March reads. The Hollow Places by T Kingfisher was quite weird and creepy in a "good" way. Quince was a cute graphic novel. My favorite of the month though was A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong. I've already finished the 2nd book and thankfully the 3rd is releasing next month.

Part 1 of the books I read in March. The majority of my reading was the Chicagoland Vampires and spin off series Heirs of Chicagoland. My least favorite this month was In Want Of A Knife by Nancy Warren. I was happy to see a new one of her books had been released but it just wasn't as good as her other books to me. I also wasn't a fan of the nonfiction graphic novel Roots.

I had no idea I've read that much so far. It's only now April 🤣

I was excited for a new book in the Vampire Book Club series by Nancy Warren. I've loved her books that I've read so far. Unfortunately though In Want Of A Knife didn't hit the mark for me. The concept of the story felt rushed and seemed out of place compared to the rest of the series. First there is Jane Austen herself and then a "director" came to town to shoot an adult film version of Pride & Prejudice. I missed the magic of Ballydehag.

I stumbled across this travel memoir graphic novel about the author's project to find out more about her genealogy. She wants something to help get her mind off the break up. So that concept sounded interesting. However I'd say the story spends most of the time on "will they or won't they" with her friend she traveled with. The art is pretty though

If you enjoy a cute and sweet romantic read I recommend you check out Love Letters on Hazel Lane by Jennifer Page. I didn't realize it is actually book 2 but it still worked well as a standalone. I will be reading the book 1 tjough soon. I loved the premise of the story being built up around the character's passion for Scrabble. I also appreciate how relatable and "normal" the characters are.

I was looking forward to reading this book from the same author as The Age Of Miracles. The premise of an unknown sleeping sickness racing through a college campus sounded interesting. Unfortunately it just didn't click for me so I'm bailing on it.

It's late but I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas

I came across the paranormal mystery series Afterlife Adventures and thought the premise was interesting. In Beyond Dead Bridget dies and finds out that the afterlife is a lot different than she anticipated it would be. She learns it's a lot of work and having to follow a lot of rules. She also is struggling alot with her new PO and housemates. If that wasn't bad enough someone is killing ghosts and blaming her by stuffing them in her locker.

If you liked the book Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer I think you would like this one as well. It's about how life goes on even in the midst of all these scary events and the slowing down of the Earth's rotation. It was creepy in a way because it reminded me a lot of the events of the last few years that we have all gone through. *Review continues in a comment.*
#LitsyLove
#RestingGrinchFace #WinterGames @Julsmarshall

I saw this graphic novel version of A Christmas Carol and had to read it. It's created more for the younger crowd but all ages would enjoy it. It's short and to the point. The Ghost of Christmas Future may be a bit scary to younger kids. I plan on sharing the book with my nephews this Christmas though

#RestingGrinchFace #wintergames @Julsmarshall

Officially bailing on this series and putting it on my DNF list. It wasn't great but ok entertainment in audiobook form. However the characters and their relationships just continue to get worse for me. I was hoping by the 2nd or 3rd book there would be more substance in the world building and character building. Also that they would address things that have happened. This is book 5 and it just isn't happening.

Just finished up with If The Broom Fits. Honestly it was just ok. Quick and entertaining enough but not something I'd recommend. I read a lot of cozy paranormal mysteries so i know that they can get repetitive sometimes. I just didn't find anything creative or interesting in this one. Another negative is double the insta love within days of moving to town.

##RestingGrinchFace #wintergames @Julsmarshall

I've been busy reading this month! Mostly paranormal cozies which aren't too long. I've read more this year than ever.

#RestingGrinchFace #wintergames @Julsmarshall
@Airykah13 @katiekat311 @Bookworm54 @AmandaBlaze @tdrosebud @Coueriamb @Sarahreadstoomuch

Here's my points for the first check in. My total number was 24,083

Woohoo!
#RestingGrinchFace #wintergames @Julsmarshall
@Airykah13 @katiekat311 @Bookworm54 @AmandaBlaze @tdrosebud @Coueriamb @Sarahreadstoomuch

I'd love to see everyone's answer! Feel free to repost tag and share.

This question was inspired by the audiobook of The Coldest Girl I'm Coldtown by Holly Black. It has random spooky sounding music that makes it sound like something is coming. It just doesn't seem to make sense where it's placed. I think it would be really cool if it is saved and used at just the right moment.

#BookishAnswers

#RestingGrinchFace #wintergames @Julsmarshall

Taking advantage of the perfect weather outside

#RestingGrinchFace #WinterGames

I tried to read this in the past but just couldn't get into it. I tried the audiobook version this time and found it easier to understand. I liked the different voices and interview style of the book. Fantasticland is about what could happen to a group of mostly young people get stranded and lose hope as well as their humanity along the way. A hurricane is scary enough but when rescue seems nowhere in sight paranoia and chaos ensues

Happy to report I liked the 2nd book of the Winter Witches of Holiday Haven better. I'm glad I gave it a shot because I love Danielle Garrett's books already. The series has a different author for each book. So they are all their own little stories that exist in the same world. I'm interested to see if the characters cross over later. *continued in comments*

#RestingGrinchFace #WinterGames @Julsmarshall

I've been saving this festive paranormal cozy mystery series to read for Christmas time. It's a longer series with each book written by a different author. It caught my attention because I'm a fan of some of the authors already. Unfortunately I added this 1st one to my DNF list. I'm going to try at least one of the other authors contribution to the series though.

#RestingGrinchFace #wintergames @Julsmarshall

I just saw my book goal for the year. I thought 75 would be a stretch but I've been burning through the books this year.

##RestingGrinchFace #WinterGames @Julsmarshall

This one wasn't listed on here yet so I just tagged the 1st book of the series. I loved them all. Usually novellas aren't as interesting to me but I really enjoyed how this one was set up. All the stories were set up around the same event but each story followed a different character as they work together to solve the mystery involving Santa.

#RestingGrinchFace #WinterGames @Julsmarshall

|Actual review in comments|
I was on the fence to share this one because I don't know what happened to the book/author. I don't know if it was pulled out of pub and they just didn't tell Everand. You can't find info anywhere and can't find the author in general. Nonetheless I read it and maybe will save you valuable time if you stumble across it like i did. Just pass on by.

#WinterGames #RestingGrinchFace @Julsmarshall

Danielle Garrett has quickly become one of my new favorite authors for cozy paranormal mysteries. These are all the first books of her series I've read so far. They all take place in the same world and the familiar characters pop up everywhere. Now I'm reading her Nine Lives Magic series

If you like an interesting mystery book I'd recommend this one. It goes between two timelines in the life of Edie. Edie in her 80s with Alzeheimers and 1950s Edie with her friend Lucy. She's held on to many secrets for her friend that went missing and her family for many years. She forgets a lot now but is determined to find what really happened to Lucy. It follows the timelines as she has moments of clarity that help her to put pieces together.

1. Definitely! I used to make one under the kitchen table. Though more often I made a cozy little cave in my moms big walk-in closet growing up. She always knew where to find me.

2. I can think of a bunch of options for this question. I reread the Little House series often growing up

@Thespineview #Two4Tuesday

For the second half of the month i got 619 points. Just finished my last book just in time! I think I read more than I ever have this month

#scarathlon @BookwormAHN #blackcatcrew