Tag: romance blogger

The Sunday Post #3

January 12th, 2020
Hello and happy Sunday, lovelies!

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer.

This post recaps the past week in my personal life and on the blog, spotlights the non-book media I enjoyed, and shares what’s coming up this week on the blog.

Personal

I went to a local cat cafe/lounge with a close friend–as a Christmas gift to her–and it was really fun. I realized that hanging out in a comfortable lounge with a bunch of cats can serve as self-care; who knew? We’re definitely going back.

I have two months until my wedding reception/celebration(!). Although it’s going to be low-key and small, I have all of the decorations to make, so my frequency of posts on here will probably decrease during the next eight weeks.

Media I Enjoyed Last Week

Fated Mates: a Romance Novel Podcast with Sarah MacLean and Jen Prokop. Probably my new favorite podcast.

Smart Podcast Trashy Books: I’ve been listening to their (four) episodes about their reviewers’ favorite books of 2019.

Last Week on the Blog

Ten of My Most Anticipated Book Releases of 2020

Three More of My Most Anticipated Book Releases of 2020

Book Review: The Suspect

First Lines Fridays

2020 Reading Goals: Audiobook Challenge

This Week on the Blog

Trying Dot Journaling to Track My Reading Plus a Mini Book Review

TTT: Five Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2019

Mini Book Review: Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers

Audiobook Review: The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean

First Lines Fridays

I hope you’re enjoying your Sunday and happy reading!
First Lines Fridays

January 10th, 2020
Hola and happy Friday, my fellow readers!

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words.

What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?
- Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
- Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
- Finally… reveal the book!
This is not the way to spend a beautiful spring morning! Elena Klovis thought, as she peered around the pile of bandboxes in her arms.

Want to know which book these first lines begin?

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey

Goodreads

Summary

In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can’t carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale…

Elena Klovis was supposed to be her kingdom’s Cinderella–until fate left her with a completely inappropriate prince! So she set out to make a new life for herself. But breaking with “The Tradition” was no easy matter–until she got a little help from her own fairy godmother. Who promptly offered Elena a most unexpected job…

Now, instead of sleeping in the chimney, she has to deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who keep trying to rise above their place in the tale. And there’s one in particular who needs to be dealt with…

Sometimes a fairy godmother’s work is never done…

I was gifted The Fairy Godmother last year. It’s one of Mercedes Lackey’s many backlist titles. I’m about a hundred pages in and enjoying this fairy tale retelling of Cinderella.

It’s the December 2019/January 2020 read for the book club for nerdy/geeky women that I co-moderate IRL. Each month, we read and discuss a science fiction or fantasy novel.

What are you reading this week? Feel free to let me know below. 🙂
Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Book Releases for the First Half of 2020

January 7th, 2020
Hello and happy Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018.

This week’s Top Ten theme is Most Anticipated Book Releases for the First Half of 2020.

My Most Anticipated Book Releases
Links, Publication Dates, and Blurbs
Check, Please!, Book 2: Sticks and Scones by Ngozi Ukazu
Pub. Date: April 7th
Eric Bittle is heading into his junior year at Samwell University, and not only does he have new teammates―he has a brand new boyfriend!
I love Eric “Bitty” Bittle.
House Rules (Uptown #3) by by Ruby Lang
Pub. Date: February 10th
ROOMMATE WANTED to share a gorgeous sun-filled apartment in Central Harlem. Must love cats. No ex-husbands or wives need apply.
Second chance contemporary about ex-spouses living together as roommates? Sign me up!
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Pub. Date: July 1st
Wanted: One (fake) boyfriend. Practically perfect in every way
Contemporary with fake boyfriends by a queer author whose writing I enjoy.
Forever Strong (True Heroes #6) by Piper J. Drake
Pub. Date: January 28th
On the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, not all is paradise in this high-stakes, action-packed romantic suspense. He’ll risk his life for her . . . but will he risk his heart?
A new-to-me author. Romantic suspense isn’t one of my go-to sub-genres, and I’m reading more of it in 2020.
The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel
Pub. Date: May 12th
A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy debut about first impressions, second chances, and finding the love of your life in the most unexpected way.
Headliners (London Celebrities #5) by Lucy Parker
Pub. Date: January 20th
Sparks fly when two feuding TV presenters are thrown together to host a live morning show in Lucy Parker’s latest enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance.
I love the author’s writing. The first book in the London Celebrities series, Act Like It, is one of my favorite books.
Honor and Desire (Gold Sky #3) by Rebel Carter
Pub. Date: January 29th
For as long as anyone can remember Seylah Wickes-Barnes has been at the side of August Leclaire, her best friend and the boy her fathers took under their wing.
A new-to-me author I’m excited to try! Historical is another sub-genre that I don’t read much of.
A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee
Pub. Date: July 14th
Korean-American author Jayci Lee delights with this delicious and light-hearted romantic comedy that readers will devour and ask for more.
There is baking. 🙂
Whiteout (Survival Instincts, #1) by Adriana Anders
Pub. Date: January 28th
Angel Smith is ready to leave Antarctica for a second chance at life. But on what was meant to be her final day, the research station is attacked. Hunted and scared, she and glaciologist Ford Cooper barely make it out with their lives…only to realize that in a place this remote, there’s nowhere left to run.
I really liked the author’s Under Her Skin, a dark romance with an abuse survivor heroine.
Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
Pub. Date: May 19th
When their foster-turned-adoptive mother suddenly dies, four brothers struggle to keep open the doors of her beloved Harlem knitting shop, while dealing with life and love in Harlem.
Contemporary that takes place in Harlem and another new-to-me author.
Are you looking forward to reading any of these books? What are your most anticipated book releases of 2020? Let me know!