I can’t believe I’m writing my November Wrap Up post. It seems like just yesterday I started this blog and wrote my October Wrap Up Post. I know it’s only been a month, but I’ve had so much fun already.  As always, there will be links to books I actually reviewed as well as mini reviews/my opinions for each one I didn’t.

Month: November, 2015

Books Read: 18

Jackaby

Jackaby #1

by William Ritter

3.5 Stars

This was actually my first review on this blog.  You can read it here.

 

The Spiritglass Charade

Stoker and Holmes #2

by Colleen Gleason

2.5 stars

I actually listened to the audiobook for this one. I would listen to it whenever I was in the car and while  they are cute books and the mysteries are interesting, I think I might be done with the series.  Although this one did end on a bit of a cliffhanger so maybe I’ll get it from the library at some point.

 

Cinder; Scarlet; Cress; Winter

The Lunar Chronicles

by Marissa Meyer

I did a reread of the first 3 books and finished the series with Winter. You can read my mini-reviews here.

 

Illuminae

Illuminae Files _01

by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

4 stars

Read my review here

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book about Horrible Things

by Jenny Lawson

Audiobook

3.5 stars

An honest, and often hilarious insight into one woman’s struggle with mental illness. I loved Jenny Lawson’s first book, Let’s Pretend this Never Happened and while Furiously Happy is more focused on her struggles with mental illness, it is still pretty funny at times.  Not only that, but it is also a rallying cry for better and more honest discussions of mental illness, something our society is in serious need of.

Dark Reunion

The Vampire Diaries #4

by LJ Smith

1.5 stars

Honestly, the only reason I am even reading this series is because I already own it on my kindle.  I bought it years ago on a trip to the Grand Canyon when I had hours in the car to waste.  I loved the show (I say loved, because after season 3 it started going downhill. I haven’t even watched this season) so I figured I would try the books. BAD IDEA.  They are so bad.  The writing is horrible, the plots are boring and the insta-love is atrocious.  I honestly think this series should have ended with the 3rd book, The Fury, with Elena dying ( I actually gave it 3 stars mainly because she died).  But noooo. Not only was there this book, but then there are spin off series.  Unfortunately I already own The Vampire Diaries: The Return and The Vampire Diaries: The Hunter so I’ll be suffering through those eventually.   Maybe in a few months when I have forgotten how bad they are.

Sleigh Bells in the Snow

O’Neil Brothers #1

Sarah Morgan

4 stars

Sleigh Bells In the Snow started off my Christmas-themed books for 2015.  You can read my review here.

The Good Girls

by Teresa Mummert

1.5 Stars

Read my review here.

Four to Score

Stephanie Plum #4

Janet Evanovich

3.5 Stars

I’ve been slowly making my way through this series by listening to it.  It was a few months between book #3 and book #4 and I’m glad I took a break.  After 3 books it was starting to feel a bit old, but I was able to go into it with a fresh perspective.  I laughed more in this book than I had in the previous one, and I really ended up liking Joe Morelli. I mean, he still comes off as somewhat sexist, but I was able to look past it in this one while it had been annoying me more in the previous books.  Plus, Stephanie and Joe finally take their relationship to the next level! Only like, 20 more books to go until I’m caught up.

The Princess and the Penis

RJ Silver

3.5 stars

I’m not even sure I should count this as a book since it technically wasn’t.  It was only 71 pages but it was hilarious.  If you enjoy phallus-themed jokes (and who doesn’t every now and then) go check it out.  It’s free on Amazon for the Kindle.

Inherit the Stars

Inherit the Stars #1

Tessa Elwood

1 Star

Read my review here.

The Trouble With Destiny

Lauren Morrill

2.5 Stars

Read my review here.

Dashing Through the Snow

Debbie Macomber

3 Stars

Another Christmas book. I just posted the review earlier today so you can read it here.

Nuts

Hudson Valley #1

Alice Clayton

4 Stars

I’m from the Hudson Valley region of New York.  My hometown is almost exactly 60 miles north of New York City, more commonly called The City. There are no other cities to New Yorkers (even those from the boonies known as “Upstate”).  And this book was adorable.  It was Adult Romance, a genre I’ve recently been reading a lot more of, and thankfully picking some gems.  It was so good that I was almost able to look past the inaccuracies of “Upstate” life.  I really liked Roxie, and oh my sweet Lord I need to find myself a farmer.  Forget lawyers (sorry babe, love you). Farmers are where it’s at. The romance was so sweet and so hot.  AND SO MUCH FOOD.  Don’t read this book on an empty stomach.  I am eagerly awaiting the second installment and will definitley check out Clayton’s other work.

Ok. Sorry. I just can’t end this without talking about a few things.  Besides portraying it as extremely rural, the only thing that really annoyed me was that Roxie kept claiming to live in the Catskill Mountains, which just isn’t true.  They are west of the Hudson, not East ( and she clearly lived on the East side of the Hudson).  But these things are probably only annoying to me (I really shouldn’t read books set in locations I know and love), because otherwise I really loved how she described the Hudson Valley.  It’s beautiful. Go visit.

This Raging Light

by Estelle Laure

3 Stars

The review for this should be posted in a few days, but for now just know that I was very conflicted and this book made me rant, quite a bit.