Monthly Wrap Up {September}

September is over. How? It was a whirlwind month that's for certain. Every year I can't help but think of the Green Day song "Wake Me Up When September Ends". Between that song, and September by Earth Wind and Fire, I am constantly singing. 

September kicked off with my kids returning to school. That always brings on mixed emotions. Honestly though, it was a summer, so this time apart will be good. That week my husband also had off of work. We didn't accomplish as much as we wanted, but enjoyed the time together. My new oven was delivered, and the old one taken away. My kitchen is closer to being complete. I've been baking a ton, and trying to cook more as well. That new oven is just calling to me.

Now for the reading wrap up.

Monthly Wrap Up {August}

 

Almost caught up! It's time to mention all the books I read in the month of August. 

Once again I read 15 books! I did the math, and that equated to roughly 4,196 pages. That's not too shabby if I do say so myself. That averages out to about 280 pages per book. Again, not horrible.

In August, I had just ONE 5 star read, and it also happened to be my favorite of the month. That book was:

The Penalty Shot
Totally Pucked #5
Maren Moore

What was my favorite of the month? 

I mentioned it above, but my favorite was The Penalty Shot by Maren Moore. This book had suspenseful moments, it had steamy moments, there was romance, there was hockey, and there was a geeky hero. I loved it so.

Here is the full list of books that I read in August 2022. All of my reviews are linked to my Goodreads account, as, once again, nothing was posted here on my blog.

Let's jump in...

Defy by Caitlyn Dare

The Make Out Artist by Sara Ney

Asher by Samantha Whiskey

Wolf by Anna Hackett

Sweet Like Poison by Julia Wolf

My Fake Fiancé by Piper Rayne

Sinful Queen by Emily Bowie

Pass Interference by Emily Silver

Waiting by Xavier Neal

After We Fall by JH Croix

Cold As Ice by Piper Rayne

Deflected Hearts by Cali Melle

Resisting the Grump by Ashley Munoz

The Penalty Shot by Maren Moore

Combust by Laramie Briscoe

There you have it folks. You are up to date on what I've read since taking the summer off. September is looking to also be a 15 book month, but only time will tell. In October reviews will be returning to the blog! I want to switch up my style a bit, so I need to research, do some testing, and find what works for me. All while conveying my love for the books that I've read.

Hope you all had a wonderful summer of reading, and adventures.

Laura

What Laura's Reading participates in the Amazon Affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission through purchases made using my links.

Monthly Wrap Up {July}

 

In the month of July I read another 15 books!

If you’ve been around for a while, you might be thinking that number appears to be a bit low. In the past my numbers have been in the 20’s, so what’s going on? Honestly I’ve slowed my pace a bit. It all started when I picked up a few physical copies of books, and from that point on, I’ve been savoring a bit more. Don’t get me wrong, binge reading still happens, but not to the extent of the past. I’m actually preferring this slightly slower pace.

The 15 books that I read, equated to 4,630 pages! That was a really good page count for me. I mean that makes my average book 308 pages.

My favorite of the month was Rebel by S Massery. It was the third book in the Sterling Falls series, and OH MY WORD! That cliffhanger just about did me in. Rebel was also my only five star read of the month.

Here is the full list of books that I read in July 2022. All of my reviews are linked to my Goodreads account, as nothing was posted here on my blog.

Are you ready? Let's jump in...

Tight Ends & Tiaras by Lex Martin
My Scorned Best Friend by Piper Rayne

Rebel by S Massery

Big Puck Energy by Elise Faber

Campus Legend by Jennifer Sucevic

Powerful Deception by Jocelyne Soto

Temptation by Kim Loraine and Meg Anne

The Crash by Skye Warren and Amelia Wilde

The Whole Package by JS Wood

Drive by Kate Stewart

Out of Bounds by Julia Connors

Perfect Storm by Elise Faber

Cross Checked Hearts by Cali Melle

Mine to Hold by Natasha Madison

Unraveling Mack Ryder by Anna Brooks

The Mate Games series is complete now, so if you want to read what was probably my favorite series of the summer, then go grab it. This reverse harem paranormal romance was captivating. Loved it!

Tell me your favorite read for the month of July!

Laura

What Laura's Reading participates in the Amazon Affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission through purchases made using my links. 

Monthly Wrap Up {June}

June was the month that brought on chaos. My kitchen was still under construction, plus the kids were home for summer break, and everything was just flipped upside down. It was a month, that's for darn sure.

In the month of June, I read 15 books. I did the math and that equated to roughly 3,894 pages. This month I also had a DNF, and I was disappointed about that as the book seemed really interesting. Yet I've since gone back and skimmed the reviews, and it sounds like I wasn't alone in my thought process regarding the book. So there's that. Because of that DNF, my average page count dropped for the month, and it was 259 pages per book.

Typically I would mention tropes I read, and give a quick run down of numbers. Let's just say that June was a heavy sports romance month, and leave it at that. Also when you see my list of books, you'll notice that one author in particular was a frequent flyer. I loved every minute of that too.

This month I only had one 5 star read. Now don't get me wrong, there were a few books that were close to it, but only one received the full 5 stars. That book was....

Possession

The Mate Games #3

Kim Loraine and Meg Anne

What was my favorite of the month? 

My favorite was Possession by Kim Loraine and Meg Anne. I continued to be enthralled by the storyline, the setting, and the characters. I had to know what happened next with this group, and I could not put the book down.

Here is the full list of books that I read in June 2022. All of my reviews are linked to my Goodreads account, as nothing was posted here on my blog.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
That Second Chance by Meghan Quinn
The Final Score by Maren Moore

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

Roughing the Kicker by Emily Silver

More Than a Passing Shot by Tomi Tabb

Keep Me Close by JH Croix

Possession by Kim Loraine and Meg Anne

Cap by Elise Faber

Broken Play by Alison Rhymes

Off Grid by JS Wood

Broken Lies by Gina Azzi

Saving My Soul by Gina Azzi

Twisted Truths by Gina Azzi

Brawler's Weakness by Gina Azzi

I did not link a review of Saving My Soul by Gina Azzi, as apparently I did not write one. That is not like me, so I'm a bit perplexed. I do know that I enjoyed the story, and the characters called to me. So sorry about that.

There is my list for June! Have you read any of these titles? If so, what were your thoughts on the books?

Laura

What Laura's Reading participates in the Amazon Affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission through purchases made using my links.

Monthly Wrap Up {May}

 

As you may know, I took the summer off from blogging. I am a mom with 4 kids, and they were home all day every day, and so having time to write just wasn't going to happen. Something had to give, and it was my hobby. 

Now though my kids are back in school, and I can play a little bit of catch up. So let's jump into my monthly wrap ups! I have FOUR to share with you. But will space those out over four days.

In the month of May, I read 15 books. I did the math and that equated to roughly 4,816 pages. That averages out to each book being about 321 pages. That's pretty good for me if I'm being honest.

I read 6 sports romances, a duet, 3 reverse harems, and so many other tropes/subgenres. This month I finished 3 series! What series were they?
 

Hockey Hotties by Piper Rayne
Sin by Aleatha Romig
Boneyard Kings by Becca Steele & C Lymari

In May, I had THREE 5 stars reads! I am so finicky when it comes giving a book 5 stars. Everything has to be just right for me to dole it out. What books met my criteria? 

Obsession
The Mate Games #1
K Loraine & Meg Anne

Rejection
The Mate Games #2
K Loraine & Meg Anne

Mine to Have
Southern Wedding #1
Natasha Madison

What was my favorite of the month? 

Obsession by Kim Loraine and Meg Anne stole the show for me. If you know me at all, you know I do not read a lot of paranormal romance. Yet there was something about this one that lured me in. I think it was the X-Men beginnings vibe that the description gave off. Then as I read the story, I found myself immersed in the world, and not wanting the story to be over. Sunday and her men were so fascinating, and the world building was top level. 

Here is the full list of books that I read in May 2022. All of my reviews are linked (whether they were on my blog or Goodreads).

A Greene Family Vacation by Piper Rayne

Hot Shot's Mistake by Gina Azzi

First Love by Xavier Neal

Obsession by Kim Loraine and Meg Anne
Ruthless Kingdom by Becca Steele and C Lymari

Wild About You by Rebecca Jenshak

Ryker by Samantha Lind

On the Edge by Julia Connors

Nothing Feels Better by Brit Benson

Last Love by Xavier Neal

Offsides with #55 by Piper Rayne

Mine to Have by Natasha Madison

Rejection by Kim Loraine and Meg Anne

Black Knight by Aleatha Romig

Jock Wanted by Kate Meader

I know May was a few months ago, but what was your favorite read for that month?

Laura

What Laura's Reading participates in the Amazon Affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission through purchases made using my links.

Monthly Wrap Up

Oh what a month April was!

April was filled with birthdays, celebrating Easter, and of course being ecstatic that my Mom and Stepdad had returned from wintering in Florida. I am longing for warmer temps, and sunshine. In April we also took the kids to see two movies (Sonic 2 and The Bad Guys), and both were fun to watch. One of these years I'll be able to watch an entire movie in the theater without having to take a kid to a million bathroom breaks. Oh the joys of parenting. Another fun thing that we did was go to the carnival that our elementary school was hosting. My kids had a blast, and we stayed almost the entire time. Many memories were definitely made.

I mentioned birthdays up above, and that includes mine! As my brother pointed out, I've had as many years pre-2000 as I have post. Only he would think of that, and bring it to my attention. Gotta love your siblings. My birthday was very low key, and if you know me, you know that is 100% how I like it.

Enough about all that. Let's get back to reading...In the month of April, I read 21 books. I did the math and that equated to roughly 5,439 pages. There was a novella (Lucas by Amber Ford) that I read that wasn't posted on Goodreads, so I'm not entirely certain of the page count on that. But I did my usual calculation (location/20=page count) to get an approximation. 

I read 7 sports romances, a firefighter romance, one MC romance, a couple organized crime type romances, and so many other tropes/subgenres. This month I finished SIX series! What series were they? 

• Only One
• Fool Me
• Red Ridge Sinners
• Vegas Aces: The Tight End
• Carolina Reapers
• Broken Boys 

April was the month of 5 star reads too. This is quite possibly the most that I have had in a month since I started keeping track. In April, I had SIX 5 star reads! SIX! That's wild. What books were they? I'm glad you asked!

• Only One Forever by Natasha Madison
• Fool Me Thrice by Lizzie Morton
• Reason to Believe by Rebecca Yarros
• Maxim by Samantha Whiskey
• Caught Looking by Aven Ellis
• The Comic Con by Dee Lagasse

What was my favorite of the month? 

There were once again a few books that stood out above the rest, and so I had to sit and think on it for a bit. That being said, my mind automatically went to Caught Looking by Aven Ellis. Caught Looking is the fourth book it the DC Soaring Eagles baseball series, and I have been anticipating this one for a while now. Chase and Meghan are amazing together, and I loved every moment of their love story. I'm still working on finishing up my review, so that will be posted in a couple days. What I will say is that I love the characters and worlds that Aven Ellis creates. They are people I would want in my life, and I would love to live in their world as well. Every time I read one of Aven's stories, I always fall head over heels. Highly recommend all of her books.

Here are all the books that I read in April. If a review has been written (and published here on the blog), it is linked.

Bonds We Break by Paula Dombrowiak

Lucas by Amber Ford

Sinful Bodyguard by Emily Bowie
Second Shot with #76 by Piper Rayne

Only One Forever by Natasha Madison

Take Me There by JH Croix

Tight End by Lisa Suzanne

Sinful Vow by Emily Bowie

Broken Boys Crave Chaos by JB Heller

The Secrets to Heartbreak by Brittany Taylor
The Scorecard by Maren Moore

Fool Me Thrice by Lizzie Morton

Reason to Believe by Rebecca Yarros

Maxim by Samantha Whiskey

Baby Got Pack by Xavier Neal

Rule by Caitlyn Dare

The MRS Degree by Sara Ney

Caught Looking by Aven Ellis

The Comic Con by Dee Lagasse

Nova by Dee Lagasse
The Wrong Boy by Ashley Munoz

Tell me about the books you read in April! What was your favorite? Do you have any books that you're anticipating for May? I have quite the list!

Laura

What Laura's Reading participates in the Amazon Affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission through purchases made using my links.

Monthly Wrap Up

Happy last day of March!

Where did this month go? I feel like I have said that in January and February, but seriously! 2022 is cruising by, and it's a bit much.

I will say that March was a really good month. Not just on the reading front. We took a family vacation to Wisconsin Dells where we had an absolute blast. My kids did all the activities. We ate out way too often. We splurged. We made memories. Of course one of those memories was me finding a low spot in the floor, and ever so slightly twisting my ankle. Leave it to me to find those little things. My poor ankles are never going to heal from all these falls. Sigh. Oh, and my kids all picked out new stuffies from Build A Bear.

After our trip, my husband and I also celebrated 16 years of marriage. Our celebration was having strawberry cheesecake after the kids were in bed. 🤣 Hey that's what happens when the grandparents are out of town, and babysitters are crazy expensive. You enjoy a quiet night at home. If you know me though, you know that home is where I prefer to be.

March also had us beginning the process of our kitchen remodel. Appliances and cabinets were ordered, as were a new garage door, and a new front door. It was a ridiculous amount of money spent, but I am so excited for the finished product. I am so excited about my new stove, and I just hope that it comes in before December. 

Back to reading...In the month of March, I managed to read 18 books. I did the math and that equated to roughly 3,996 pages. I say roughly as I didn't have a specific page count for the four novellas I read. So I had to calculate the page count using the locations. (The formula I use is: page count =location/15~20. I choose to divide by 20.)

I read 8 sports romances, a rockstar romance, two MC romances, quite a few organized crime type romances, and so many other tropes/subgenres. I also started a series finale, I continued a few series, and I started one as well.

All in all it was an outstanding month. I will say that I was a bit disappointed in my page count for the month, but that is what happens when you read 4 novellas. At the same time, almost 4,000 pages is nothing to complain about.

What was my favorite of the month? I'm going to go with Shed My Skin by Nola Marie. Maddox's story was one that I had been anticipating. This man has been through so much in his life, and it's all becoming too much. The pain he deals with on a regular basis is intense. His demons continue to haunt him, and his usual "treatments" are no longer working. Maddox's story is dark. It's deep. It's intense. It's emotional. It's amazing. Just like the man himself. Now I just have to wait for Breathe Again to be released, so that I can find out how his story concludes. (My review for this book will be posted on April 2nd. If you want to read my abbreviated thoughts, head over to Goodreads.)

Here are all the books that I read in March. If a review has been written (and published here on the blog), it is linked.

Dare by Caitlyn Dare
Tied Down by Kim Loraine
Twisted Debt by Xavier Neal & Amarie Avant
Nero DeLuca by Xavier Neal & Amarie Avant
Vicious Queen by Becca Steele & C. Lymari
Big Deck Energy by Kim Loraine
Reap by Caitlyn Dare
Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne
Shed My Skin by Nola Marie
Like I Never Said by C.W. Farnsworth
Deking the Beauty by Crystal Perkins
Campus God by Jennifer Sucevic
Tutoring the Player by Rebecca Jenshak
Worth Every Second by Jocelyne Soto
Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne
Gold Lust by Aleatha Romig
Fighter by S. Massery
Bright Like Midnight by J. Wolf

What did you read in March? Did you have a favorite? Any anticipated reads for April? I have quite the list, and will share those tomorrow!

Laura

Monthly Wrap Up

Um, excuse me, where did February go? Was it not just the first day of the month? How are we already at the end of the month? WHERE DID THE TIME GO? Oh wait, that's right, life jumped up and said "hey, I'm here to cause some mayhem".

February started off a bit rough in my household. Thankfully it has all calmed down, and I feel comfortable saying that life is back to "normal". My mama heart still has the what if's playing in the back of my mind, but even that has quieted a bit.

Reading wise though, February was marvelous. This month I was able to read a few books that I was highly anticipating, and those books did not disappoint. They just made me love the characters, the settings, and the authors that much more. In February, I did have my first DNF of the year. So that put a slight damper on things. It was just one of those things where the book and I just did not vibe. It was not a fit, and I wasn't going to risk a reading slump just to say I read the book. Will I go back and try the book again? Eh, I don't know. So I'll say maybe. This book does not appear in my wrap up. I just wanted to document that I did have one.

In the month of February, I managed to read 21 books. I did the math and that equated to roughly 4,815 pages. I say roughly as I didn't have a specific page count for Roar or Trouble, as they were both free novella downloads from the authors. I had to calculate the page count using the locations. (location/15~20=page count. I use 20.)

I managed to read 8 sports romances, 2 fire fighter romances, a duet from a new to me author, and many many more. A series finale was read, I continued a few series, and I started a few. All in all it was an outstanding month.

What was my favorite of the month? This was difficult to choose. There were four books that I was going back and forth between. Ultimately though, I have to go with my gut. This book was also on my February anticipated reads list, and I kind of foreshadowed it there.  So what is it? The Edge of Redemption by Kristin Turnage! This was my absolute favorite. To say I'm obsessed with this small town romance series would be an understatement. I want to move to this community, and befriend the characters. Okay fine, I'm old enough to befriend their parents. Doesn't matter. I'd still be with these people in this small town community. My heart.

Here are all the books that I read in February. If a review has been written (and published here on the blog), it is linked.

Ruin by Caitlyn Dare

The Lies You Love by Rachel Robinson
Roar by Xavier Neal

It Went Viral by Stacy Stone

The Plan by Karla Sorensen

Mine to Kiss by Natasha Madison

The Edge of Redemption by Kristin Turnage

The Player Hater by Sara Ney

Fall For Me by JH Croix

Saving Jen by Ellie Masters

Up In Smoke by Kate Meader

Push by Sadie Rose

Pull by Sadie Rose

Trouble by Lisa Suzanne

Tight Spot by Lisa Suzanne

The Score Keeper by Gina Azzi

Only One Love by Natasha Madison

Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher

Sneaking Around with #34 by Piper Rayne

Tight Hold by Lisa Suzanne
All Geek To Me by Allie York

I am still working on finalizing my reviews on the books that are not linked, so those will be up in the next 10 days. If you're curious about some of my thoughts, you can go check my Goodreads!

What did you read in February? Did you have a favorite? Any anticipated reads for March? I have quite the list, and will share those tomorrow!

Laura

Monthly Wrap Up

January was a pretty phenomenal month when it came to reading. There was a weekend that I was forced to ignore my kindle. We were out of town visiting family after having been delayed at Christmas due to being quarantined. So, I had been sharing a hotel room with my youngest two, and my "baby" told me she can't sleep with a light on so I needed to turn off my book. Darn kid.

In the month of January, I still managed to read 19 books. I did the math and that equated to roughly 5,293 pages. I say roughly as I didn't have a page count for Thrill, as it was a free download from the author's website.

I managed to read 4 sports romances, 2 rockstar romances, 2 fire fighter romances, 2 greek mythology romances, and many many more. A series finale was read, I continued a few series, and I started a few. All in all it was a wonderful month.

What was my favorite of the month? Ooh, good question! That honor is going to Break Me Down by Nola Marie. Ryder's story is so intense, and I had been eagerly anticipating it for quite a while. Really the count down to his story began the moment I was introduced to him.

Here are all the books that I have read in January. If a review has been written (and published), it is linked. 

Our Finest Hour by Jennifer Millikin

Sincerely the Puck Bunny by Maren Moore

Shattered Desires by Victoria Ellis

Decker: Changing the Play by Kayley Loring & Connor Crais

Broken Boys Break Hearts by JB Heller

The Baby Proposition by Kim Loraine

Break Me Down by Nola Marie

Ignited by Sierra Hill & SE Rose

Thrill by S Masssery

Green Envy by Aleatha Romig

Broken Boys Fight Harder by JB Heller

Thief by S Massery

Rookie by Laramie Briscoe

Notes on Love by Naaz Spencer

My Famous Frenemy by Piper Rayne

Broken Boys Despise Deceit by JB Heller

The Joker by Ashley Munoz

Caught by Elise Faber

Soft Like Thunder by Julia Wolf 

What did you read in January? Did you have a favorite? Any anticipated reads for February? I have quite the list, and will share those tomorrow!

Laura

2021 Year in Review

 
It is time to say goodbye to 2021, and start looking forward to 2022! 

Who would have thought that, after almost 2 years, our world would still be dealing with this major event. The latest version recently visited my house, and it was an unwelcome guest. Thankfully we are bouncing back, and all returning to our usual selves.

In 2021 my kindle was very well used. Very few days went by where it wasn't utilized. For someone who used to question the need for an e-reader, I sure have changed my tune. Now I buy very few physical books, and instead opt for the e-book. Well that is unless it's an absolute favorite, then I HAVE to own a physical copy for my trophy shelf.

I have continued to utilize Goodreads to keep track of my quantity of books, my average rating, and also at the end of the year it lets me know how many pages I have read. One of the questions below is most read genre, and we all know what genre wins.

Let's answer these questions. I'm curious to see what has changed from 2020!

The first book that I read in 2021 was High Risk Rookie by Odette Stone. This was such an anticipated read, and I remember being surprised when it was released. I don't recall any promo for it leading up to release day, and oh how quickly I "ran" to Amazon to download it. 

My current read is The Hustler by Gina Azzi. It is the 8th book in her Boston Hawks hockey series, and it is a hidden identity book. I'm here for it. If you want to read it, it is coming out on January 6th.

At the time I am writing this, I have read 321 books. I am confident that I will at least finish The Hustler, and maybe just maybe I can fit in one more book. Time will tell.

As of today my page count is 54,498. That makes my average book length about 169 pages.

Oof that is down from 2020! In 2020 I had read over 80k pages and my average was closer to 250 per book. Oh well.

I have actually selected a favorite of 2021! I shared that info in my 12 days of Christmas book tag. So go see what book I selected.

I also have my favorite by the month too. Which was how the yearly favorite was chosen. Curious what titles made the list? Go read my Monthly Favorites of 2021 post.

In no particular order:

• Aven Ellis
  
• Natasha Madison
• April Canavan
• Samantha Lovelock
• Kristin Turnage
• Laura Lee

I read quite a few "new to me" authors in 2021! Some of these made their debut in 2021, others have been around for a smidgen longer. No matter what, I have found them, and I'm here to support them.

• Samantha Lovelock
• Kristin Turnage
• April Canavan
  
• Mary Morano
• Lisa Suzanne
• Anna Brooks
• Paula Dombrowiak
• Ellie Masters
• Gina Azzi
• Rebecca Jenshak

Do we even need to discuss this one? 🤣  It's romance.

Um, non-fiction, or really any other genre than romance. 

Oh I wrote an entire post about this! I do need to go back and add a couple to the list, that is for certain. Those two additions are Only One Mistake by Natasha Madison, and The O Zone by Kelly Jamieson. Oh my heart.

I LOVE BOOK SERIES!

That being said, I also answered this question on my 12 days of Christmas post. It was by a new to me author, and she is now an auto-buy author for me.

My reading goal is once again going to be 150 books.

Also, I've said it before (maybe not here, but elsewhere) I want to read The Lord of the Rings. They are sitting on my bookshelf just staring at me, and I feel like it's time. Plus then I can have a Peter Jackson movie marathon once I'm done. I freaking love those movies.

As for reading challenges...In 2022 I plan on participating in the A-Z title challenge, as well as the A-Z author challenge. I am also joining the Buzzword-athon that Books and LaLa hosts. Other challenges may pop up here and there, but I'm not even thinking about those right now.

In regards to my blog, I am still formulating those goals. One that I have set in stone is to have one non-review post go up per week. I may increase this as the weeks go on, but that is my one set in stone goal.

When it comes to social media, I am also still thinking on that. I do want to resume my Instagram, and find ways to grow that space while sharing the books I am reading. So I am currently thinking of how I can create content, and what the appropriate amount of posting is for me. I also am researching IG Reels, as I want to delve into that space. For Facebook, that is still where I share a lot of new release promo materials (cover reveals, teaser blasts, release day announcements), share my blog posts, and also the occasional meme/graphic. My plans for 2022 are to continue doing just that.

Let's talk my goals surrounding advanced reading copies. Because I have them. In 2021 I started off light and easy. Then suddenly April hit, and my calendar became overfilled. This continued through November. So in 2022, I am pulling back slightly. I am going to become a bit choosier about the books I receive, as well as the authors who I work with. There's a fine line there that I want to walk. Especially since I want to read more of what is already on my kindle. 

Tell me about how your reading went this year! Also, what are your bookish goals for 2022?

Happy Reading,

Laura