Hello Readers! We have arrived at the last month of the year, and I’m still trying to figure out how that happened. Ready or not, here we are! Nanowrimo took all my extra time in November. All you have to do is take a look back at my blog posts for the month and you’ll see they’re all Top Ten Tuesdays. 🤦♀️😃 But despite being busy with Nanowrimo, I still managed to read 6 books (mostly in the wee small hours of the morning), which I was very happy about. I mostly read Romance, but I did end up with 2 last minute ARCs, as well.
To save time, I’ll be combining my Wrap-Up and Haul again this month. 🥰
Let’s see what I read and what I added to my TBR!
Be sure to check out The Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction!
(Link to synopsis on Goodreads through the book title.)
November Wrap-Up
I started the month with a kind of mood read, which was nice. I just glanced through my Kindle library and opened Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese. I was happy to discover it was set in the fall, too! I enjoyed it, especially the representation, sex positivity, and quite the cute meet-cute at the beginning.
➤My Rating: ★★★★
Next I picked up Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus when my waitlist became available through Libby. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this one or just watch the new adaptation, but many of you convinced me to give it a try, and I’m happy I listened! Very unique and entertaining. I’m currently watching the adaptation on Apple TV+ and enjoying it, as well.
➤My Rating: ★★★★½
I finally picked up my first book by Sarina Bowen, Bittersweet, and I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance set on an orchard in Vermont. I loved meeting Audrey and Griff, and especially Griff’s wonderful family, who run the orchard.
➤My Rating: ★★★★
When I got an early invite to read Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, I read it right away! This is the third installment in the Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships series and I adored the first two, as well as this one! However, I did miss the yacht a bit. 😉
➤My Rating: ★★★★¼
➤Review to come closer to publication date
➤Expected January 2, 2024
I picked up a free copy of Penelope in Retrograde by Brooke Abrams as my Amazon First Reads choice in September. As soon as I learned it was set around the Thanksgiving holiday, I knew I wanted to read it then, as well. I laughed out loud throughout this novel, thoroughly enjoying all the dysfunctional family drama.
➤My Rating: ★★★★
Lastly, I read Lost Kingdom by Laurel Black more slowly, especially since I had a physical copy kindly supplied by the author. But it didn’t take me longer because I lacked interest, it was quite the opposite. It was more like Nanowrimo just got in my way, but I’m glad because it allowed me to soak this one in and languish in the fabulous world the author has created. Lost Kingdom may be the novel to reignite my love of YA Fantasy!
➤My Rating: ★★★★★
➤My Review
➤Expected January 17, 2024
November Book Haul
In November, I mostly added eARCs for 2024 and some free ebooks. But I did get a couple of used paperbacks, as well.
My eARCs
Technically Bride by Ali Hazelwood showed up in my inbox on Dec. 1st, but I decided to include it with November’s haul. I might have squealed with delight when it arrived. I’m super excited about this paranormal fantasy romance by one of my new favorite authors.
Synopsis:
A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again…
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she’s ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
Expected February 6, 2024
When I was invited to join the blog tour for Conditions of a Heart by Bethany Mangle, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to commit to a review, but the early reviews seem good for this YA Romance.
Synopsis:
For fans of Talia Hibbert and Lynn Painter comes a funny and unflinchingly honest story about a teen who must come to terms with her disability and what it means for her identity, her love life, and her future.
Brynn Kwan is desperate for her high school persona to be real. That Brynn is head of the yearbook committee, the favorite for prom queen, and definitely not crumbling from a secret disability that’s rapidly wearing her down. If no one knows the truth about her condition, Brynn doesn’t have to worry about the pitying looks or accusations of being a faker that already destroyed her childhood friendships. She’s even willing to let go of her four-year relationship with her first love, Oliver, rather than reveal that a necessary surgery was the reason she ignored his existence for the entire summer.
But after Brynn tries to break up a fight at a pep rally and winds up barred from all her clubs and senior prom, she has nothing left to prop up her illusion of being just like everyone else. During a week-long suspension from school, she realizes that she doesn’t quite recognize the face in the mirror—and it’s not because of her black eye from the fight. With a healthy sister who simply doesn’t understand and a confused ex-boyfriend who won’t just take a hint and go away like a normal human being , Brynn begins to wonder if it’s possible to reinvent her world by being the person she thought no one herself.
Expected February 20, 2024
I have yet to read a Tarah DeWitt book, but they have not gone unnoticed. Those covers are eye-catching! So when an invite arrived for Savor It, her next book, I accepted right away. Aaaand it didn’t hurt that there’s a mention of Forks, Washington in the synopsis. 😉
Synopsis:
Summer won’t last forever.
Sage Byrd has lived in the coastal town of Spunes, Oregon (not to be confused with Forks, Washington) her entire life. She’s learned to love her small world, with the misfit animals on her hobby farm, and her friendships with the town’s inhabitants. But when her 5-year relationship ends and her ex, town-golden-boy Ian, suddenly gets engaged, Sage needs a win―something that will convince everyone to stop pitying her all the time, and to put Ian in his place. The Festival of Spunes, the town’s annual summer competition, would be the perfect opportunity. She just needs a partner.
Fisher Lange was a hotshot chef in New York City until the loss of his sister left him numb, grieving, and responsible for his teenage niece Indy. When Fisher loses his Michelin star along with his love of cooking, his boss sends him and Indy to Spunes on a much-needed summer sabbatical to consult on a restaurant opening. But when clashes with the townspeople threaten his last chance to redeem himself and a kiss with his new neighbor Sage leads to dating rumors, a strategic alliance might just be the best way to turn things around.
A deal is struck. Sage will improve Fisher’s image in the eyes of the town and remove the roadblocks he is facing with the restaurant, and Fisher will be Sage’s partner for the competition. But as their pact quickly turns into steamy rendezvous, emotional wounds begin to heal, and the pair tries to savor every moment, they start to realize that summer is racing by much faster than they would like…
Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.
Expected May 21, 2024
Lastly, I couldn’t resist an invite for Rules for Second Chances, a debut romance by Maggie North. Not only is the cover stunning, but the synopsis hooked me!
Synopsis:
Liz Lewis has tried everything to be what people want, but she’s always been labeled different in the boisterous world of wilderness expeditions. Her marriage to popular adventure guide Tobin Renner-Lewis is a sinkhole of toxic positivity where she’s the only one saying no.
When she gets mistaken for a server at her own thirtieth birthday party, Liz vows to stop playing a minor character in her own life. The (incredibly well-researched and scientific) plan? A crash course in confidence . . . via an improv comedy class. The catch? She’s terrible at it, and the only person willing to practice with her is a certain extroverted wilderness guide who seems dead set on saving their marriage.
But as Liz and Tobin get closer again, she’s forced to confront all the reasons they didn’t work the first time, along with her growing suspicion that her social awkwardness might mean something deeper. Liz must learn improv’s most important lesson—“Yes, and”—or she’ll have to choose between the love she always wanted and the dreams that got away.
Brimming with heart and heat, Rules for Second Chances explores the hardest relationship question of all: can true love happen twice . . . with the same person?
Expected June 25, 2024
Free Romance eBooks
Included in Sarina Bowen’s newsletter this month was a list of free romance ebooks offered from a variety of authors, so I snagged a few that caught my interest. Let me know if you’ve read any of them!
- Kissing Tolstoy by Penny Reid
- Boyfriend by Sarina Bowen
- Help Me Remember by Corinne Michaels
- One for the Money by Skye Warren
- Love You Right by Julia Kent
Paperbackswap Books
I did snag two physical books through Paperbackswap books: Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent and Skeleton Crew by Stephen King.
Amazon First Reads
In November I chose Salt & Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher as my Amazon First Reads choice. It’s a gothic Jane Eyre retelling that sounds captivating. The early reviews are glowing, as well!
Published on December 1, 2023
How was your reading month? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
I read four of those books, all solid hits for me. Six books and writing all month and the rest of life – good job!
It was a lot in November! 😅
YAY! I love seeing you enjoy Bowen’s book. She’s a trusted, always read author for me.
Yes! I definitely need to read more of her books!