Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Show Us Your Books: February Book Love

Happy Hallmark holiday, you guys. I'm not into romance or sap, but I do love love. Romantic love, framily love, all kinds of love. I also truly love this community of readers that participates or comes to these posts every month looking for books; and I truly love reading; and I truly love talking about books and reading; so truly I love that this linkup falls on Valentine's Day this year. 

Linkup Guidelines:
This link up happens the second Tuesday of every month.
The one is  Tuesday, March 14, 2017 - aka my birthday eve
1. Please visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & me
2. Please display the button (need it? let me know) or link back to us on your blog post
2. Please visit a few other blogs who've linked up and get some book talk going!

Here's what I've read from the last linkup.

Engrossing Reads

The Mermaids Singing by Lisa Carey - I loved this. Maybe it's because I was recently in Ireland, maybe because it was not a comfortable read at a time when I needed a little discomfort, I don't know. It spoke to me. E-book from Amazon

Duplicity by Ingrid Thoft (Fina Ludlow #4) - I pre-ordered this because I am so into the Fina series. Via twitter, I knew this was coming out and I got it the day after it did and devoured it right away. Fina is my current favorite series and I'm already impatiently waiting on #5. hardcover, own

The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda - I loved this book - a quick, thrilling read with slippery characters at every turn. I was a fan of Miranda's book All the Missing Girls as well but I liked this one more. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Indiscretion by Charles Dubow - The cover looks like a trollop's tale, but it is much deeper and more nuanced. I liked the way it was told both in the writing and the point of view of the narrator. The end...oh, the end. I had to text Lauren about it right away since I found this on her best of list for 2016. paperback, own

Girls in the Moon by Janet McNally - I loved this book. Maybe because I love the moon, maybe because I love lyrics, maybe because I love the idea of a rock and roll backdrop. It was beautifully written. library hardback

Passed the Time Just Fine

It Started with Goodbye by Christina June - I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would given that I'm not big on romance books. Some of the YA aspects of this were cloyish and annoying (the stepmother's inexplicable coldness doesn't sit well with me) but overall I liked it, especially the peripheral characters. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The Longest Night by Andria Williams - A little slow here and there, but a good reminder of how different gender roles and societal attitudes were just 60 years ago. There's a good amount of tension around that and also high pressure jobs and isolation. Amazon e-book

The Night Bird (Frost Easton #1) by Brian Freeman - This was bizarre, there's no way around it. I mean, one of the characters is Francesca Stein (Frankie Stein). I assume there will be more. I wouldn't say no to reading them, but I won't be rushing to it either. E-book from Amazon

My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier - This book was also fucked. I was a little bored of reading the nuances of the psycho sister, but I did not see the end coming at all so that was a nice surprise. E-book from Amazon

Vanished (Callahan & McLane #1) by Kendra Elliot - Meh. Not a good or bad meh, but a meh. I always like to give a series two books to get on its feet, so maybe I'll read the next. The explanation for this whodunit was really out of left field. I'm interested in the characters but they're a little surface in this first pass book. e-book Amazon

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain - I wish this was a little more about eugenics, the shameful part of our history that we often choose to gloss over. It had a good pace for a book that is not set up as a mystery/thriller, and I motored through it. paperback, own

Not Worth It
The Goddesses by Swan Huntley - This seemed really long to me - maybe because I realized very quickly what it took the main character an eternity to get. At one point, I was like why am I still reading this? I liked the writing, but the storyline was tough in spots. It was hard to connect with or have sympathy or empathy or care for anyone in this book. I finished it because I wanted to see if the main character ever got it. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Local Girls by Caroline Zancan - I got to page 91 before I said fuck it and didn't finish. There might be something there, but I likely won't go back to it. It feels like it's trying very hard to be dark. Library paperback, did not finish

What are you reading?







48 comments:

  1. I think I'd like Girls in the Moon for all the reasons that you listed.

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  2. I need to start the Fina Ludlow series as it sounds like one I'd really enjoy. Also adding The Perfect Stranger to my TBR. I like slippery characters who keep me guessing! Indiscretion also intrigues me and added it to my TBR as well.

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  3. The Perfect Stranger definitely sounds intriguing - adding that to me list!

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  4. I will have to check out the Funa series, Indiscretion, Perfect Stranger...ok fine all the ones you loved!

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  5. I am always amazed at how many books you get in during a month.
    The Mermaids singing - not a comfortable book to read? Thats got me intrigued. Gotta go check it out

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  6. Definitely adding The Mermaids Singing and The Perfect Stranger to my library list!

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  7. added pretty much all of your engrossing reads to my list. i think i have the fina series on my tbr already, though i'm trying to wait because i'm not good at waiting on a series to finish.

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  8. The Mermaids Singing is now on my want to read list! Sounds very intriguing!

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  9. I love that you mentioned so many books I haven't heard of yet! Is The Perfect Stranger a continuation of All The Missing Girls, or is it just considered a second book because it's also about someone missing?

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  10. You're right about the pacing of Necessary Lies. It could have droned, but it did do well with going from one plot point to the next. I'm still so excited you read Indiscretion because it's so unique that I want it to have a good audience. I'm adding The Perfect Stranger now.

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  11. oooh I haven't read all the missing girls yet, but the perfect stranger sounds really good - adding to my tbr! do you have to read them in order?

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  12. So I still haven't read All The Missing Girls, but it's on my Netgalley list, and after reading your review of The Perfect Stranger, now I know that it needs to move up my list way faster! I also added The Mermaids Singing to my list as well. I remember Lauren talking about Indiscretion, so hopefully I get around to that one soon as well!

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  13. I wasn't a huge fan of All the Missing Girls, but I really enjoyed Megan Miranda's writing style so maybe I'll give A Perfect Stranger a go. Thanks for the recs!

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  14. Adding The Perfect Stranger to my list! I'm next up for All The Missing Girls at my library.

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  15. Adding Girls in the Moon. Seems like something I'd enjoy.

    I haven't read All the Missing Girls yet, it's on my TBR, and I didn't even know she had another book.

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  16. Going to have to check out Miranda, she keeps getting good reviews!

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  17. Just the titles The Mermaids Singing and The Girls in the Moon make me want to read them❣️ Now I am singing The Man in the Moon Andy Kaufman song in my head. Happy Valentine's Day to my first baby -gave me my first real kind of love. Now singing Michael McDonald song Real Love in my head. Love. Your. Momma. ❣️❣️❣️

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  18. I'm glad you have enjoyed all of the Fina Ludlow books! The first one was one of my better reads this month. Her character is SO awesome and the family drama too - whoa!
    Girls in the Moon sounds gorgeous!

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  19. I've had All the Missing Girls on my list forever but haven't read it. I might have to read The Perfect Stranger first though!

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  20. You read so many books! I wish I could surpass 4 a month :) I just feel my TBR is impossible :) Thanks for hosting!

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  21. I don't think I've heard of any of these, lol. (Which makes sense to me since you're a thriller reader and I'm not usually, haha.) I like that your engrossing reads section far outnumbers your other two categories, though!

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  22. Wow, a whole list of books I don't know anything about! I love a quick, thrilling read though...going to have to add The Perfect Stranger to my list.

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  23. I am excited to start reading for fun again soon! It has been far too long.

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  24. Forever impressed by the amount of books you read.

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  25. Girls in the moon sounds right up my alley. Wow you read a lot! I have a heard time reading my two book club books, I need to get back to my book worm roots!

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  26. I have to move All the Missing Girls up on my to read list! Necessary lies has been on my to read list for awhile.

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  27. So many I've never heard of. That's why I love this link up!!

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  28. Adding the Fina series to my TBR list - somehow I've never heard of that one even though you've probably mentioned it here a bunch of times.

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  29. I'm so glad you liked The Perfect Stranger even more than All the Missing Girls! So excited to read that one. I'm not sure why I ended up requesting The Goddesses on NetGalley because I didn't like Swan Huntley's first book. I guess the description sounded interesting.

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  30. I've been sitting on The Perfect Stranger even though I enjoyed All The Missing Girls. Moving it up on the TBR list. I love lyrics and the premise of Girls in the Moon, so I'm adding that one too. I love that you host this linkup every month- I'm always introduced to new and interesting reads!

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  31. Currently reading The Amber Keeper by Freda Lightfoot. Didn't much like the writing at first, but I stuck with it. Glad I did. I love historical novels because I can learn while I'm reading. This makes me think a little about Dr. Zhivago (which I am now thinking of re-reading). Frighteningly, it also parallels our present time more than I expected.

    Before that was Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. Now I need something that is NOT about mentally ill fascists and dictators...

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  32. I added the Fina Ludlow series because it sounds like my jam. Also, The Perfect Stranger, though I still need to read All the Missing Girls. I'm currently reading The Mothers, a rec from both you and Jana. and loving it!

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  33. I love what you said about the book you did not finish - that there might be something there, but that it's not likely you'll go back to it. That's how I felt about This is Where It Ends. Maybe I would have liked it more in a different time, but I doubt I'll give it a second audition.

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  34. I do want to read My Sister Rosa. It's been on my wish list for awhile now. I'm glad you enjoyed both Megan Miranda books. I'm SO hoping to read those soon.

    -Lauren

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  35. I totally had to go look at the cover for Indiscretion and you are right. It certainly not something I would normally read, but you have me intrigued!

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  36. Oh, I need to be catching up my reading list. Posts like this inspire me to get on with my reading. So, thanks!

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  37. All The Missing Girls & The Perfect Stranger both sound interesting! Girls in the Moon sounds good and definitely something different than what I've been reading lately.

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  38. I've been curious about My Sister Rosa for a while, I will have to pick it up sometime this year. I never really love that kind of book, I only read them as a change from reading mostly fantasy books, so I just hope that it will be somewhat entertaining for a while. That's good enough for me.

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  39. I seriously keep forgetting to request free books from Netgalley! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME. But, that aside, I'm going to add The Perfect Stranger to my list because it sounds good. So glad I was able to get my life together and join the linkup this time around. Need to put it into my calendar now for next month too. xo

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  40. The Perfect Stranger is on my TBR list! Glad you liked it! I can't wait to read it.

    www.justmurrayed.com

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  41. I have heard great things about the Fina Ludlow series. I am going to have to put them on my list!

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  42. I love your lists because I usually haven't heard of most of the books, but they always sound interesting. Girls in the Moon sounds like one I would enjoy.

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  43. Ooh Girls in the Moon sounds really good - added to my list!

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  44. I love how your list for the month is always like 87 books, while my past few months have been like... two. (insert crying laughing emoji here.)

    Girls in the Moon sounds awesome! (Mom can't remember if my first word was "moon" or "cookie", but they're both pretty important so I'm cool with either.)

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  45. So you read 13 books in a month?? Impressive!

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  46. I just started reading The Mothers. I've heard such good things so i'm excited!

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