It's been a while, and I've found myself missing this space. This place where I can share my thoughts on books, about the series I love, the characters I have fallen for, and everything else that I love about books and reading. Not to mention it is a place where I can share my love for different tropes, and perhaps suggest books by said trope. 

So what's been going on in my life? Well there's raising my kids, reading plenty of books, listening to some amazing tunes, and working. To be honest when I started driving for doordash, ubereats, instacart, and shipt back in  October, I wasn't certain how long I would continue with it. Yet here we are, and I am still loving it. I find myself working more than I want some weeks, but at the same time it is necessary because bills. Oh adulting is fun.

While I've been away from my little blogger home, I've been on and off of my Facebook page. I share book promo there, as well as fun book memes and graphics. What I haven't been sharing lately is my reviews. I don't know why, but Facebook just doesn't fully feel like the place for that. Yet I want to write about the books I've read. Share about those characters and the things they had to deal with. So that has me coming back to my home. A place where I can write freely so to speak. 

Now am I going to be jumping in full blast? Probably not. But I will be dipping my toes in, sharing bits and pieces as I go. Hopefully by summer time I can be back into the groove. Find that sweet spot, and the balance between it all. 

If you're curious what I've been reading lately, then head over to my Facebook page, or follow me on Goodreads or Bookbub.

See you all soon.
Laura

Happy 2024!

 

Allow me to clear the cobwebs off my little space here on the interwebs. 

First things first, Happy 2024! We made it to another year, and that's always a good thing.

Time for a bit of honesty. A raw conversation so to speak. 2023 was a strange year for me when it came to social media. I was finding myself a bit lost, and wondering where I fit in. The book community continues to grow, yet I felt lost, stagnant, and uncertain. This place has always been accepting, yet my socially awkward self was doubting it all. I couldn't see how I could anything new and/or beneficial to the community. I decided to shut down the What Laura's Reading blog, and focus solely on Facebook. Well, I didn't like it. Not at all. It just felt like I was posting nothing but promotional material. I was still losing myself. Losing that online voice. I tried rebranding as My Fictional Favorites, and it just wasn't right. The spark was missing, and it didn't feel like home. Plus my original name kept calling me back! So I figured January 2024 was the perfect time to return.

That's right, 2024 is the year that I return to What Laura's Reading. Where I return to share my reviews of the books I read, a list of the books I want to read, random book tags, where I share my "a series conversation" posts that I tried to start on My Fictional Favorites, and where I share other bookish content. I'm returning to the content I love, and I'm excited.

Please be patient with me as I get back into routine. I'm ready to begin this adventure again after a lengthy break.

Let the bookish talk resume!

~Laura

Find me on Facebook!

You may have noticed that I've been missing here on the blog. A lot of that has to do with my kids being home all day every day for summer vacation. I know, trust me. My attention has been pulled elsewhere. 

That being said, I've made the decision to close down the blog, and move it all over to Facebook.  So please come find me there. I'll be sharing book teasers, cover reveals, new releases, reviews, and of course memes/graphics. 

I also have my instagram. Have I been posting there? Well no, but I am going to change that. 

Thank you for your support here on this little blogspot domain.

Where to find me:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/whatlaurasreading
Instagram: https://instagram.com/whatlaurasreading
Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/whatlaurasreading

Enjoy your summer, and hope you read many fabulous books!
Laura

Hate You Always by Jennifer Sucevic {a review}

Have you ever read a romance novel where the heroine has a bucket list that she wants to complete, and the hero steps up to offer assistance? If not, allow me to introduce you to Hate You Always by Jennifer Sucevic. This is a college sports romance that just released on May 26, 2023. It tells the story of Juliette, Ryder, and her long forgotten list. 

The description for Hate You Always is what pulled me in. How can it not when it mentions someone helping another complete their bucket list? Add in that it's a hockey romance, and I'm pretty easily sold. I knew I was getting a college romance between two people who had known each other for most of their lives. I figured the attraction was mutual, and that it was just all fronting on their parts.

What to expect: 

🏒 Brother's Best Friend & Teammate

♥️ Childhood Friends

🏒 Enemies to Lovers

♥️ Hate to Love

🏒 Opposites Attract

♥️ Secret Relationship

Juliette and Ryder struggle to get along. They've known each other for YEARS, and they've been annoyed with each other for just as long. Obviously though underneath that annoyance there is an attraction. Who knew it would be a bucket list that would finally get them to admit their true feelings. 

So how does this bucket list even get discovered? For Julia it was when she flipped through a book, and stumbled upon it. She thought she had thrown it away, but clearly that wasn't the case. Ryder finds the list when he helps Juliette to her apartment after a party. He was making sure she got home safely, had some water and medicine, and was tucked in. He happened to flip through that romance book, and found the list. Naturally he was shocked, and then knew he was the one to help Juliette with these 10 items.

Juliette is a very relatable character. I personally loved that she wasn't into the party scene. Juliette's degree choice was impressive. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting her to be pre-med, but it fits. I also loved the friendship that she and Carina had. When it comes to Ryder, Juliette acknowledges the pull, yet she is fighting it tooth and nail. 

Ryder is everything you want in a hockey romance book boyfriend. He is simply the best, not to mention protective, and he is going to get the girl. The storyline regarding his last year of college hockey was an interesting one to read. Seeing him struggle was not my favorite. Add in that certain teammate, and I understood what he was dealing with. I do wish we had gotten closure with that character.

Loved this romance, and the journey through the bucket list. Also, that pool scene?!? OH MY! I look forward to returning to the Western Wildcats for additional stories. Especially Carina's.

Do you read college romances? I've said it before that I am well past college age, but honestly I still enjoy the stories. I'm a sucker for a good romance. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on Hate You Always. Please let me know! I'd love to chat with you about the book.

Laura

Please note:

I participate in the Amazon Affiliates program.

Purchases made through links above allow me to earn a small commission.

Thank you!

Thank you Jennifer Sucevic, and Wordsmith Publicity, for providing me with an advanced copy of Hate You Always!

Off-Ice Collision by Cali Melle {blog tour}

One moment in time, one freak accident, and my entire hockey career was over.

Off-Ice Collision, an all-new grumpy-sunshine hockey romance from USA Today bestselling author Cali Melle is available now! Want to read my review on the book? I posted that yesterday, so please visit that post!

Vaughn

One moment in time, one freak accident, and my entire hockey career was over.

Two years have passed since my injury and I am still mentally struggling with this loss.

Mad at the world and everyone in it, I sought solace at my parents' lake house for the summer.

It was supposed to be somewhere for me to be alone and heal.

But when London Hayes walks back into my life, the universe has different plans.

And I need to find a way to derail them because I refuse to drag her down with me.

London

It had been over two years since I'd last seen Vaughn Carter.

And he feels like a stranger.

Cold and distant, abrasive and angry.

He’s a shell of a person compared to the version I used to know, but I know he’s still in there.

Somewhere deep inside is the boy I used to love, but he needs help finding himself again.

And I won’t be the one to give up on him, even if it costs me my own heart in the end.

Start reading today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/officecollision

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/officecollision

"London Hayes needs to learn to stay as far away from me as possible. Because I will only destroy her in the end."

“He really believes he's broken beyond repair. And I'm here to show him he's wrong."

"We all have scars, Vaughn... They become a part of us and mix with the beauty. There's nothing ugly about them at all."

“I want to fix you.”

—“I’m broken beyond repair, baby.”

"Who the hell am I anymore? I don't know who I am without hockey."

 "You're Vaughn Carter. One of the funniest, sweetest people that I've ever met," she says softly as her fingertips trace invisible patterns along the back of my neck. "You just have to let me in so I can find you."

I swallow. "You belong in the light, not the darkness."

"I'm not afraid of it," she breaths, her breath fanning across her face. "I'll follow you into the dark."

“Maybe I don’t like talking to anyone but you.”

Strong and steady, like an anchor that holds a boat from drifting out to sea during the darkest storms.

London Hayes is my anchor...

As long as I don't fray the rope that holds us together.

Learn more about Cali Melle and her releases by visiting her website: https://calimelle.com/