Finished listening to Filthy Rich Fae

Hello Bookies,

I'm going to say it, I hated the ending of this book. Not only did it take almost the whole book to have the two main characters finally giving in to the sexual tension, but also the ending scenes could have been written better. That is just my opinion. To me it feels like the author rushed the ending because they just wanted the book to end because they were running out of ideas. That is literally what the last 20 percent of the book felt like to me. The author achieved the goal of the main characters finally giving into their desires, then didn't know where to go from there. The book was going to get a full solid three out of five stars from me, but then the ending ruined it. So the book dropped to two stars. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the book and the storyline, but I feel like we could have taken out the romance and things would have turned out fine. Plus this book literally leaves you with so many questions. Nothing is explained at the end and it forces you to get the second book. I would have liked some of the questions answered by the end, instead I was confused and unsatisfied. 

So until next time...

-Lys 

Listening to Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee

 

Hey there Bookies,

I am on my long road of recovery after destroying my wrist. Audiobooks are still my best friend but downside is that no one leaves me alone to actually listen to the book. Anyway I have been listening to Filthy Rich Fae and all I can describe the two thirds of the book I have gone through as just a load of sexual tension. Our main female character, Kate, is a nurse that pretty much sold her soul to save her foster brother. And the person she supposedly sold her soul was a very powerful man who owned half the city named Lockland Gage. And it turns out she literally sold her soul and was stuck in a bargain with Lock until she figured what he could get out of it. Time limit being a month. But a lot can happen in a month. Especially in an enemies to lovers trope. Of course it doesn't help when Kate thinks that Lock was using some kind of magic to make her attracted to him. The whole time I am listening I am sitting there thinking 'You find him attractive because you are attracted to him' and continue to listen about the never ending sexual tension. At this rate, the book will be almost over by the time they finally give in. Well at least I can say that it keeps you reading/listening to the book. I personally hate slow burns and I find them boring as hell. But at least the fantasy part of this book keeps me entertained. The romance? Not so much. I am starting to think this book is just an urban fantasy novel with a hint of romance. Maybe I will update again when I finish the book. Unless nothing continues to happen. I would really like to find a book that is more than three stars at this point. I feel like all the romantasy books have just been the same. Some dark prince getting into some agreement with a strong willed woman and they pretend to hate each other because the woman is attracted to him but she doesn't want to admit it because it goes against what she believes. We can have strong willed female characters that don't come off contradicting and kind of a spoiled brat. I am starting to think the writers are getting this whole strong female thing wrong.

So until next time...

-Lys

Listened to King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

 

Hello Bookies, 

Still recovering from surgery here but i finished another book. We have an enemies to lovers trope. The book starts with our main female character who is named Isolde. She is a princess of a time where mortals live in fear of monsters. She gets in a fight with the commander she was having relations with and storms off back to the castle without him. On the way she runs into a monster, defeats it, and then runs into a vampire who heals her wounds. Isolde returns to the castle and realizes that she was highly attracted to the vampire she encountered. She tries to take care of things but gets interrupted by her lady in waiting. News of the blood king's arrival has been released and so Isolde does the princess thing and stands by her father's side as the blood king joins them in talks of peace. But when the blood king comes in the room, Isolde realizes that it's the vampire from before and he is asking for her to be his wife. Isolde accepts her fate and marries the blood king. She does try to kill him a few times but he still ends up consuming her in a spicy kind of way. Of course Isolde is disgusted with herself for being with the vampire king in such an intimate way. But as she learns more about the vampires, the more she learns they aren't what she was taught. Now this is the part where I struggle telling you about the book without spoiling it. Let's just say Isolde finds out she can't trust who she thought she could. Especially her father. Anyway I did enjoy the book. Can't say that loved it but I do plan on getting the second book to read. If I could, the book would get three and a half out of five, but I can't. I will have to settle with three stars out of five. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Listening to Pucking Around by Emily Rath

 

Hello Bookies,

I am a little disappointed that my library only has the digital audiobook for this book. Sure, it's convenient for me because of my injury, but it would be a pain if I wanted the actual physical book. Also it gets awkward when things get spicy and your mother shows up. Anyway this book is a 'why choose' romance. The main female character is named Rachel and she becomes the team doctor of a new hockey team. There she runs into her former one night stand and things take off from there. When I say take off, I mean this book is spicy. I literally went from mild spice to extra spicy. This book isn't any dark romance, but it does mention some kinks in a subtle way...ish. But if you really like spicy books with some intense steamy scenes, this book is probably for you. I am not much of a sports romance kind of person, but I am enjoying the book. It will probably still get three out of five stars from me. I liked it, but i didn't love it. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Listened to Enemies by Tijan

 Hey Bookies, 

I am loaded up on audiobooks until I recover from my wrist surgery. The first book I listened to was Enemies by Tijan. It's a sports romance with a enemies to lovers trope. But I am thinking that the whole enemies thing was just in the main female character's head. But I can see where she was coming from. Stone's family did kind of ruin things for her family. Anyway our main female character is named Dusty. She was named after her uncle who passed too young. Anyway Dusty is trying to escape something but we don't know what yet. We have an idea due to the prologue but nothing is quite clear yet. But when she arrives to the location she found to rent online, the person who gave her the place ended up lying. Dusty shows up to the house in full party mode and she is dreading it. But she sucks it up and manages for a bit. Her stepmother likes to send her texts to encourage her to contact her childhood friend Stone, but Dusty doesn't want anything to do with him. Eventually Stone and Dusty fight over the phone that results in Dusty calling her stepmother to stop harassing Stone's family. Shortly after, Stone shows up at where Dusty lives with some news and Dusty reacts only to get into an accident. I'd give more details but that would ruin the story. Anyway Dusty is stuck living with Stone for a while because he promised her mom that he would take care of Dusty. Dusty at one point has a panic attack and for some reason that leads to her and Stone doing the dirty deed. They then somehow become enemies with benefits for a while until Dusty starts to get feelings. She breaks it off and works to earn her keep. Eventually her and Stone make amends after her secret gets out. And that is pretty much how it ends. Of course the epilogue has them happily married with a little one just to wrap up everything in s little bow. Now the book has an okay character growth with Dusty. She could have grown a little more, maybe got therapy or something that didn't involve sleeping with her childhood friend. The spicy scenes were pretty good too. Nothing to write home about. More mild than anything. If that is your vibe, this book is for you. This book gets a three out of five from me. It was okay and I did enjoy it, but I feel like there was room for improvement. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Had to return some books

 Hey there Bookies, 

It's still a little hard for me to get back into ready. I am trying. But since it takes me so long to read one book, I decided to return a few with the ones that had to go back. Howl's Moving Castle is one of the books that had to go back. But I do have a copy of the book somewhere, I just need to remember where my copy is. Anyway my injury is still taking a long time to heal, which also makes me want to read anymore. You really lose motivation when you can't really do as much as you used to. Hopefully my wrist will get better, which will hopefully put me in a better mood.

So until next time...

-Lys

Started reading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

 Hello Bookies,

This is an oldie but a goodie. Since I am trying to get back into reading after everything that has happened in my personal life lately. Injury included. One of my co-workers suggested I read this book, but she did warn me that it is nothing like the movie. As I am a quarter of the way through the book, I have notified differences already. One being how Sophie actually got into Howl's castle. So far the book is okay. It is taking a whole to read because of my focusing issues. I'm also starting to think that maybe I am just not in the right head space to actually enjoy this book. We'll see if I can get halfway. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Read Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

Hey there Bookies,

We are on to the next book I read. Well listened to because I'm still injured. I seemed to have forgotten to write down when I actually stared this book, but I know it took me a few days to get through. The story is different points of view through four different characters. Beth, who is the oldest child. Nicole, who is the middle child. Michael, who is the youngest child. Then there is Laura, the mom. We start the book off with Laura on her deathbed while Beth is trying to get ahold of her two youngest siblings. She wants them to be able to say goodbye to their mom before she passed but it doesn't look like they will make it. Laura eventually passes but not before she whispers to Beth, 'Your father didn't disappear. Don't trust.' Beth is confused and decides to not tell her siblings, which makes you question why. The siblings then get reunited, meet with a lawyer they didn't know their mother had. They learn she also had a will and two bank accounts. This makes the siblings question things but figure their mom had her reasons. The siblings then goes through things in the attic and find a VHS that held a very deep secret. The video involved a little neighbor girl that went missing when they were all kids. The book then drags on as the siblings either dig into more about the neighbor girl's disappearance and arguing if they should tell anyone. The only thing, in my opinion, that kept the book going were the few chapters in the mother's point of view. It showed how much she was beginning to distrust her family. Eventually towards the end the siblings get into a big fight and go their separate ways. Beth goes into the nearby woods to look for bodies, Nicole goes to the bank to steal whatever was in the safety deposit box, and Michael go we s home. Of course, the two sisters learn the truth and the book picks up again as the truth of what really happened with the neighbor girl when they were little. The book was okay in my opinion. Not a whole lot happens and I probably expected more than what I got. The book ended up getting two out of five stars from me. I liked it but it just wasn't for me. I wished I gave the book a higher rating but the fact that it dragged on throughout the middle of the book, hurt it. The ending was good though, it had a twist you don't really expect because you are so focused on the red herring in the book.

So until next time...

-Lys

Read Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers

                                                   

Hey there Bookies,

I know it's been a while. A lot of personal things have happened. Also recently I was clumsy and tore a ligament in my right wrist. So I've been adjusting to an injury that might take longer to heal than planned. Anyway, let's get talking about the books I've read during my injury started. Starting with Little Stranger.

I started reading Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers on May 9th and it only took me about 24 hours to finish it. Before I start talking about the book, I will have to say an unpopular opinion. I did not like the dynamic of the two main characters. It's not because they are adopted siblings, but due to their similar history, I felt like they were just trauma bonding. I said what I said and I am sure that once I read the second book, my feelings will be confirmed. Anyway the book starts with our two main characters, Olivia and Malichai, meeting when they were kids. I think 8 and 9.  Olivia is excited to get an older brother but Malichai isn't what she expected. Especially when he drags her away from their adopted parents and was already calling her 'his.' Early on we learn that Olivia is also adopted after being found abandoned in her home holding her younger sibling's deceased body. Their parents, who we will call Mom and Dad, are actually pretty well off as well. Mom is a judge and Dad is a well known defense attorney. Olivia is very open about her love for her parents, while Malichai is not. But early on, you can tell that Olivia and Malichia have created a co-dependent relationship with each other. Even when they get separated after Malichai kissed Olivia on the lips, they still find a way to be together to sleep at night. By the time they are 18 and 19, we learn that Malichai and Olivia have some expectations made for them that they don't want to live up to. Malichai is supposed to take over Dad's law firm while Olivia is expected to marry a rich young man that her parents have picked for her. Olivia ends up with two suitors. One suitor is named Parker and the second suitor is named Adam. Parker is the son of one of Dad's business partners. Adam became a suitor after talking to Olivia and getting attacked by Malichai for it. So in order for Malichai to not be charged, Olivia is arranged to date Adam instead. The whole book is basically Olivia denying her feelings for Malichai while their mom is being the worst. Worst being that she even paid someone to take her virginity. Eventually the book progresses to Olivia agreeing to give Malichai 'lessons' on certain topics. Or should I say actions? Either way, things are good for a while until Olivia overhears one of her cheer squad mates talking about sleeping with Malichai. Olivia gets bad, confronts Malichai, tries to leave, then gets assaulted by Malichai because pleasure will surely make her stay...Not. Father catches them, a fight takes place where the father ends up dying on the floor and Malichai pretty much takes advantage of Olivia in the chaos. Then the book skips eight years later and you find out that Malichai has been in prison for attempted murder. Olivia has been living her life, but is secretly keeping tabs on Malichai in hopes that he will save her from her planned out life. Of course, what she doesn't know is that Malichai has been spying on her with hidden cameras he installed while she was at work. Also he may have drugged all of her drinks in the house with sedatives where after she is out, he continues to take advantage of her. Yes, I know that this is a certain kink but this isn't in my opinion consensual in anyway. All because he is secretly drugging her without her knowledge. Trust me when I say that the kink could have been played out a little bit differently in this book. Just seeing how the kink is portrayed in the book makes me feel like the author didn't quite understand the kink they were going for. But that is just my opinion. Anyways, eventually Malichai kidnaps Olivia and then tortures for a weeks. Now here is an unrealistic play on when he reveals himself to Olivia...She gets mad not because he had her tied up and was torturing her. No, she was mad because he didn't come to her sooner. So sadly the book got three out of five stars from me. I didn't hate it but I also didn't love it. Will I reading the second book? I have no idea yet.

 So until next time....

-Lys 

Read Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

 

Hello Bookies,

I've been working on my audiobooks. This one only took me about four days. Not by choice because of work and life, but I still got it done pretty quick. Also we are getting hit with our last snow storm of the year, so I have nothing better to do than listen to books as I do projects around the house. This book I decided to read because it is one of the books on my shelf that was given to me by one of my brothers. He thought I would like it, so don't tell him that I didn't really care for the book. I feel like this book was not for me. The book is about a girl who was cursed at a young age to be poisonous. So if she is to touch someone, they would die instantly. This girl ends up being hidden away in her palace while her twin brother rules the world. But when her brother, who is king, comes to the palace with a new guard. With this new guard, our main female character's life gets flipped upside down. She goes through half of the book looking for answers instead of  just asking her mother straight out for the truth. And then a third of it of her trying to escape from the person who captured her and took over her kingdom. Then the last third is actually the interesting part that feels like it only takes one chapter with the main female character taking back her kingdom. I don't remember much that has happened in the book, so I can't really tell you everything that has happened in the book. But feel free to check out the book and share what you felt like the book. Sadly the book gets two stars out of five from me on Goodreads.

So until next time...

-Lys

Been listening to We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

 

Hello there Bookies,

I've been working on audiobooks again. I just don't have the focus to actually read a book, so listening it is. Now this book gets crazy. I'm not sure what to tell you about it. It becomes a bit of a fever dream or the main character isn't reliable. The book starts out okay but it gets crazy as our main character falls into madness. Is it all really happening? Or, is she really going crazy? I'm about three fourths through the book and I still don't have an answer. This will probably be the only post I will do about this book because I want you to read it as well. I wouldn't say that I love this book. It's a little too slow for me. It will probably get three out of five stars. I liked it, but didn't love it. And, to think that this whole madness in this book started when a family of strangers ended up at our main character's house stating that they used to live there and wanted to look around. Then things just hit the fan and went wild. The book does have breaks in the story that I'm not sure how it relates to the story. They are like documents or interviews. I'm not sure if they are about the house or not. I think that is why I'm confused with this book as well. Maybe I'm being nice with giving this book three out of five stars. I'm sure if I really sit and think about it, this book would probably get a lower score. Who knows? Anyway I do recommend this book. It has a good story line, but I think it would be better and maybe a little bit shorter if we didn't have those breaks in the story.

So until next time....

-Lys

Finished reading Tell Me What Really Happened

 Hello Bookies,

Well I finished my audiobook and I'm kind of glad that I listened to this book over actually reading it. I don't think reading the book would have given the same affect. There are a few twists and turns in the book but that is probably because we are seeing all the different points of view of four different characters. This is like their police interviews. I feel like it is pretty realistic because depending on your personality determines how you handle the interview with the police. Anyway I don't know what I can really share about this book. They do find the missing girl but she is sadly deceased. Then you are listening to the interviews as they try to figure out what happened that led to the death of this girl. I won't say what happened because I want you to read the book and find out yourself. I give this book a three out of five stars. It was a good concept and interesting. But the downside to books like this is that you are pretty much missing a few elements of the story that make it interesting. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Started reading Tell Me What Really Happened by Chelsea Sedoti

 

Hello Bookies,

Sorry that I've been away for a while. Something happened in my personal life that involved a lot of readjusting and feeling lost. Now I'm getting back to into reading. I still don't have the motivation to actually read a book, so I've been doing audiobooks lately. Also the book I'm reading right now is probably best as an audiobook anyway. This book I've heard about and it's been on my TBR for a while. A group of friends goes camping and one ends up missing. The format of this book is basically just the friends going though police interviews as the police try to figure out what happened to the missing girl. Each friend also has a different background/personality. We have the best friend who is the daughter of a cop. The boyfriend who is the main suspect and everyone keeps mentioning 'the accident'. We have the best friend's brother who is huge into conspiracy theories. Then we have the quiet girl that grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. That is all we have with this book. Then your job is to listen to each of their interviews which is broken up by the way to 'tie' in their stories together, then figure out what really happened to the missing girl. I'm about a quarter of the way through the book already and I'm now sure if I like it yet. I do like the concept of the story though. It's very different.

So until next time...

-Lys

Read The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson

 

Hello Bookies,

Things got a little tough for me in the past few weeks. Due to personal reasons I couldn't post while reading the book. I'm pretty sure I didn't even listen to half of it. Our lead character is a woman named Vaasa that starts the book with her wedding night. She pretty much ties up her groom and then flees into the night. But he eventually finds her in hiding and brings her back home. Well he had to give her a bargain first in order for her to play nice. Vaasa also learns that her curse is more uncontrolled magic than a curse. Her husband, Reid, gets her in touch with the coven in his territory and she learns to control this magic. A lot happens in the book that I feel like if I talk about in detail, it would ruin the surprise of the book. But after pretending to love Reid, Vaasa actually falls in love with him. Also there is only one really spicy scene in this book and it is at the very end. There is another smaller spicy scene about halfway through the book, but not much really happens. Just Reid using methods to help Vaasa control her magic. The ending does get intense and it does end on a cliff hanger, which is not fair, in my opinion. Now I have to wait for who knows how long until I can get the next book and that is if the library even has it. I do recommend this book for those that like a book focused on storyline and character development. There is romance but it plays such a small part in the story. The book gets three out of five stars from me. Only because I did enjoy it and I liked it, but I didn't love it. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Been reading Fairest of All by Serena Valentino

 

Hello Bookies,

The wheel has selected another book. This one has been on my list for a long time and it's about time I read about it. This is a story based off the stepmother of Snow White. I probably won't cover too much about this series since we all know the fairytales and these books are just the back stories of the villains in those fairytales. Also I won't isolate these posts to be under their own page. Just a warning. Anyway in this one, Snow White's stepmother was a peasant who was the daughter of a famed mirror maker that the king fell in love with. We learn that the stepmother's father wasn't a kind man and thought that she somehow enchanted the king in order to marry him. And, it even appears that in death the woman is not safe because every mirror that is gifted to her has her father's face in it, taunting her. I pretty much took a break to write this post after the king has tragically died in battle. I will not update you on how this book ends but I can assume that due to the king's death, that is the reason why she suddenly became so evil. Right now she has just been a loving mother to Snow White, but we know the fairytale because she becomes the evil queen some how. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Finished reading How to End a Love Story

 

Hello Bookies,

It didn't take me long to finish this book when I actually had time to listen to the book. Anyway I will have to say that this book was way spicier than I expected. So with that in mind, I added it to the list for my program at the library I work at. I know the perfect person to give this book to. But other than that, this book wasn't for me. It was a little dull for me. The formula is still the same. Two people fall in love but don't want to admit it. They break up because one gets too scared when things get too serious. Then they live in misery for a while until the one that got scared finally gets the courage to say the right things and everything ends in happily ever after. I feel like I learned nothing from this book. Don't get me wrong. It's a good book, just not for me. I found it boring and like every other contemporary romance I've read. But this is probably the perfect book for one of the people in my program, so I will be handing it to her next month. Sadly the book gets two stars from me. I didn't hate it, but it just isn't for me.

So until next time...

-Lys

Listening to How To End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

 

Hello Bookies,

I've been listening to this new book that got selected through the spin of my random wheel. This book is the whole enemies to lovers kind of romance. Our two main characters actually don't get a long due to the fact of the lead female character's sister dying. I won't explain how that happened, but I will suggest reading the trigger warnings in the beginning in the book because they just kind of jump right into it. It's a heavy scene and I know it might be too intense for some readers. Anyway the book is okay so far. I feel like it still follows the typical romance formula. Only this time our main female character is a successful author while our main male character is a struggling script writer. They have history involving female character's sister, but they are forced together because the books that our female character wrote are being turned into a movie. That is as far as I got. I just have to listen more in order to see how this book plays out. But so far the book is a little boring at this point. Romance books are kind of getting a little plain for me. Maybe that is why I like reading dark romance more.

So until next time...

-Lys

DNF The Only Good Indians

 

Hey there Bookies,

I tried and I feel like I was missing something with this book. I just couldn't get into it. I got about halfway and understood none of it. I'm sure that this is a good book, but it just wasn't for me. This was a book that just didn't vibe with me. But at least I gave it a try. I wish I could tell you what the book was about but I don't even remember anything. It's like my brain refused to absorb any of it. I guess I'll just have to move on to the next book. Sorry I couldn't update you with more on this book. If you are curious, feel free to check out the book and maybe you can explain to me what this book is all about.

So until next time...

-Lys

Almost done reading Onyx Storm

 

Hello there Bookies,

Well this will be my last post on Onyx Storm. I'm not sure what to tell you because a lot happens, and I mean a lot. I really can't tell you pretty much anything going on in this book because it will just ruin the second book in the series. And honestly, I don't remember all that I've already told you. We have Violet in search of a new dragon breed. Xaden trying to keep control. Conflict of the war going on. The usual stuff. I have like seven chapters left and I plan to finish those tonight. But I still like that this series has an actual plot than focus on the romance part of the book. Now I will probably have to wait two or three years until the fourth book comes out, but I will be sure to sign myself up to get the book through the library as soon as it's available. Again the book gets four stars. I enjoyed it and loved it, but it wasn't a five star read. Unless at the very end it breaks my heart. But you'll never know. 

So until next time...

-Lys

Started reading The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

 

Hey Bookies,

I put an app on my tablet to pick books for me and this is the first book it picked. I know nothing about this book but I think it is a horror. I'm not sure though. The only way I will find out is if I read the book. So far I've only read a few pages. So far I have learned that this book has Native American people in it. That is all. You know me, I like going into books blind. But this book has been on my library holds list for a while and it's time I finally work my way through it. Reason why I got the random picker on my tablet. Anyway I plan on starting on reading this book soon. It's time I get back to reading and sharing my thoughts with you again.

So until next time...

-Lys