#romanceopoly

[firstdegreefangirl]

June 2023 Reading Wrap-Up!

Halfway through the year, and I'm excited to report that I'm either on track or ahead of all my reading goals for 2023! I've just got to focus more on reading books I already have, instead of buying new ones. Should be easy enough, right? ;-)

As always, stats up here, mini reviews under the cut. Click through to see what had me swearing at my empty living room at 1:30 a.m.

Total books read: 7 

Total pages read: 1,816 

Days read: 23/30 

Average star rating: 4.33/5 

Challenge Prompts Filled: 13 in June; 66 total. Popsugar: 6(23)/40.   Romanceopoly: 3 (18)/36. CRAD: 1(6)/12. BTBL: 3(19)/52 

Happy Singles Day by Ann Marie Walker 

⭐⭐⭐⭐(¼) 

This was cute! I picked it up on a whim, when I found myself with some free time at the big library branch across town, because I liked the idea of a romance novel celebrating singlehood. I liked watching the MC figure out who she is outside of her job, and her love interest was such a compelling dude. Between his daughter and his sister, and his bed and breakfast, he really made the story for me. It wasn’t quite grumpy/sunshine, because Lucas opens up as things progress, but something about his reluctance to even be invovled in the story at all really entertained me. The only thing I’d say really bugged me was the dog. Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs. Like, so much. But the cover has a picture of a little terrier shaped pup, and then the text describes the dog as a “pit bull/boxer mix,” and it drove me nuts every step of the way. A little detail, maybe, but the discrepancy really threw me off. 

Prompts filled: Popsugar – A book about a vacation 

Summer on Blackberry Beach by Belle Calhoune 

⭐⭐⭐(¾) 

What a fun little summer read! I’ll admit, I was expecting there to be some sort of Christmassy detail, given that the town is called Mistletoe, but once I got past that, this was so delightful! I grabbed it from a book thrift store while my friend was in town visiting, after the teacher/Navy SEAL fake dating plot caught both of our attentions. I liked watching the characters learn how to move past their respective losses, and that they communicated really effectively through much of the story. Too many times, the plotline falls apart if the characters would just have like one mature conversation, so I really enjoyed that they did that here and the story held up. It was refreshing to watch these characters grow together and find the futures they didn’t think they deserved. 

Prompts filled: Popsugar – About a holiday that’s not Christmas; Romanceopoly – Soldier Street/One of the MCs are in the military 

Biting Through The Skin: An Indian Kitchen In America’s Heartland by Nina Mukerjee Furstenau 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

I’ve had this on my shelf for … probably two years now? At least a year and a half; I’m pretty sure I bought it at the library fall book sale on Fill A Bag day. Food as a vessel for culture has always interested me, and the idea of a memoir pairing Indian food with Midwest culture (where I’ve lived my entire life) was particularly fascinating. Turns out the author spent most of her childhood like three hours from where I grew up/live, in the same small town where one of my friends is from! Every chapter includes stories about the Indian foods that flavor her memories, and the recipes are at the ends of the chapters. I haven’t cooked any of them yet, but maybe someday! The essays were heartfelt and compelling, like I could feel myself in the kitchen right alongside the author and her family, with the warm, hearty spices and sentimental stories.  

Popsugar – favorite prompt from past challenge (2022 – a book with a recipe in it); BTBL – Epistolary/unusual writing style (recipes) 

Darcy by RJ Scott, Meredith Russell 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

At some point, I got this for free on my Kindle, and it got the callup this month for being something short enough that I could read it in a couple of days, but compelling enough to hold my attention (also, for having a five-letter title!). I’m admittedly a sucker for fake dating-turned-romance, but usually the “dating” couple is the endgame, so it was interesting to read a story that turned the trope on its head. Darcy and Adrian had such an instant attraction, but more than just sexually. I loved seeing them open up to each other, and how supportive Darcy was through the whole story, of both Adrian and his sister, and especially at the ending. I’m definitely planning to pick up the rest of the series at some point.  

BTBL – less than 170 pages; CRAD – half as many letters as May; Popsugar – Forbidden Romance; Romanceopoly – Passion Place/slow burn or instant heat contemporary romance 

The Water Baby by Roz Denney Fox 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Finally, I got back around to reading this for the first time in … 15 years or so? I don’t remember exactly when I read it for the first time, but I do remember picking it up from my mom’s book stack when I was probably too young for Harlequin romance novels. I liked it then, and saved it from a garage sale pile a few years later. It’s well-loved and rough around the edges, but the best books always are. Luckily, it’s just as good now as it was years ago, and absolutely worth the shelf space for all this time. 

Prompts filled: BTBL – released at least 23 years ago; Popsugar – Set in the decade you were born 

Egghead: or, you can’t survive on ideas alone by Bo Burnham 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

I don’t have much to say about this one that I haven’t said before. I love poetry, I love Bo Burnham, and some of my favorite poems ever are in this book (look at you, The Letter!). This particular reread was just shy of an hour, sitting on the floor of my denbrary, looking for something to spark inspiration for an upcoming writing project I'm trying to plan. I’m not sure yet, but I think I figured it out, at that! 

Prompts filled: None 

The Last Flight by Julie Clark 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Fuck this book. Five stars. I’m writing this right about an hour after I finished devouring the book in three days. Mostly two days – the first day I only had time to read like the first chapter. Usually, I’m not one for thrillers, but this caught my eye at the same thrift store as Blackberry Beach up above. Once I realized it’s a signed copy, and was only three dollars, I basically had to give it a try. And holy HELL, am I glad I did! I was sucked in from the first few pages, absolutely enthralled right down to the end. In fact, on page 142, I actively shouted “what the fuuuuuuck?!?” out loud to my empty apartment. It’s that sort of a book. I had a loose suspicion of how it would end, but there were a lot of things I didn’t see coming. I’d KILL to see this one as a movie, and I’m absolutely going to read the author’s other thrillers. Sometimes, there’s a benefit to stepping outside my wheelhouse, because I have a feeling this is going to be a top 10 for 2023.  

Prompts filled: Popsugar – A book about divorce; Romanceopoly – Killer Crescent/a thriller of your choice 

#katie reads #june 2023 #kr23 #reading #bookblr #reading update

[myromancebooksworld]

Like I said before I planned to finish my first round of the #romanceopoly this month … well the “moon” part.  Next month, I’ll start with the “sun” challenges!  I might do 2 weeks of challenges instead of one since the Rare in Edinburgh is also postponed to next year ... Anyway, these are the books I choosed (on this day I almost read them all except 3) for the following challenges:

- Beau Boulevard: “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han - Sleuth Street: “He Will Be My Ruin” by K.A. Tucker - BFF’S House: “Breaker” by Harloe Rae - Post Office: “Dirty Letters” by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward - Burger Joint: “Halfway To The Grave” by Jeaniene Frost - Fated Folly: “Dark Lover” by J.R. Ward - Rainbow Row: “Danger Zone” by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine - Spring: “Timid” by Devney Perry  - Campus Corner: “The Score” by Elle Kennedy - Lany Lane: “Yours In Scandal” by Lauren Layne - Coffee Shop: “Bad Apple” by Elle Kennedy - Past Eaves: “The Widow Of Pale Harbor” by Hester Fox - The Cobbles: “Bed Of Flowers” by Erin Satie - The Vault: “When Sinners Kneel” by R. Scarlett

For “The Gym” challenge, I started to read “Fake It 'Til You Break It” by Meagan Brandy but it wasn’t for me and I DNF it.  I will see later this month what I’ll ended up reading for it.

#romanceopoly #jenny han #ka tucker #harloe rae #vi keeland #penelope ward #jeaniene frost #JR Ward #ella frank #brooke blaine #devney perry #Elle Kennedy #lauren layne #hester fox #erin satie #r scarlett

[books-on-a-wire]

Just One More Page BPC - Nov 4 - Gives Me the Giggles Romanceopoly Social Challenge: You and your favorite book of the year

My favorite romances of the year (of my physical books). I am never in my book photos, so a thumb is all you’re gonna get ;) 

#justonemorepage #jompbpc #romanceopoly #romanceopolybookandi #helen hoang #casey mcquiston #sara ney #abbi waxman #romance novels #contemporary romance #books #booklr #bookworm #bookstagram #booklover #bibliophile #bookish

[thebookishisland]

I somehow always end up being late for the challenges. Even for the #romanceopoly readathon. . So here's the one for the 8th. ❤ Red on the Cover - #romanceopolyathon . I also happen to have finished my first book and the first challenge with Kiss Cam. 😎 I talk about it in my stories. 😄 . . . . . . #bookstagram #bookworm #booksofinstagram #booklove #bookstagrammer #amreading #bookphotography #booknerd #bookaddict #igreads #igbooks #reader #bibliophile #instabook  #bookflatlay #romanceopoly #janeausten #melissadelacruz #kiaralondon https://www.instagram.com/p/BwD_0I5ngdK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wqgp0ph5v2f6

#romanceopoly #romanceopolyathon #bookstagram #bookworm #booksofinstagram #booklove #bookstagrammer #amreading #bookphotography #booknerd #bookaddict #igreads #igbooks #reader #bibliophile #instabook #bookflatlay #janeausten #melissadelacruz #kiaralondon

[mimireadsromance]

#Romanceopoly roll #2 Bad Boy Circus : Honor by @jay.crownover #mimireadsromance2019 #mimireadsromance #contemporaryromance https://www.instagram.com/p/BsYTvEFlGEB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3zgmty3ljse6

#romanceopoly #2 #mimireadsromance2019 #mimireadsromance #contemporaryromance

[caseycassidy]

Finished my first #romanceopoly read (Memory Lane - An Extraordinary Union 5🌟) and rolled for my second choice which ended up being Sweet Street, which I think I’ll be reading From Scratch for. . . #currentlyreading #bookstagram #amreading #romance #2019readingchallenge #readingchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/BsOjbbznZJE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qq9bwhvg8pje

#romanceopoly #currentlyreading #bookstagram #amreading #romance #2019readingchallenge #readingchallenge

[michker]

Reading my first book of #romanceopoly rolled the dice and got the library space which Isa free choice. Also first book of the year. #romantic #suspense #romancebooks #romanceopoly #romanceopolyboard #library #goodreadschallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/BsLxd1-gElT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=153j3odj3c0s2

#romanceopoly #romantic #suspense #romancebooks #romanceopolyboard #library #goodreadschallenge

[mars1030]

Those books were my favorite during the moon board of the #romanceopoly!

I hope have more chance with the sun board!

#melanie harlow #skye warren #Bianca scardoni #jennifer l armentrout #sarina bowen #charlie cochet #ar breck #elle kennedy #romanceopoly

[firstdegreefangirl]

January 2023 Reading Wrap-Up

I'm trying something new this year, where I make little mini-reviews for the books I read and share them at the end of the month. There might be a few spoilers, but I'm not dissecting plots here, and it's all for good fun and games. Summaries will be up here, breakdowns by book will be under the drop.

Let me know if there's anything that caught your eye/that you enjoyed too/that made your TBR!

Here we go!

Total books read: 10 

Total pages read: 3,103 

Days read: 29/31 

Average star rating: 3.93 

Challenge Prompts Filled: 5 total. Popsugar: 2/40. Romanceopoly: 2/36. CRAD: 1/12. 

How to Keep House While Drowning by K.C. Davis  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  I don’t want to be the person who’s all “this self-help book changed my life,” but … this self-help book changed my life. For the first time since I moved out, I wouldn’t be mortified if someone dropped by unannounced, and it feels like keeping my house functional is actually something I can achieve. This book helped me break down tasks and changed the rhetoric I use for household upkeep to break the shame cycles that people have around disorganization. It wasn’t really the plan to make this the first book I read, but I knocked it out in like three hours on New Year’s Day, and it’s left me convinced that this is the year I might finally be able to make my space something that works for me. Biggest takeaway: My space should work for me, I should not work for my space. 

Built to Last by Erin Hahn  ⭐⭐⭐(¾)  This was cute! I picked it up from the new additions shelf at my local library because the cover was cute (sue me, I judge books by their covers, blame the Legally Blonde Musical, but I digress). It’s second-chance friends to lovers, but I loved learning how Shelby and Cameron find their ways back to each other. The only reason I didn’t rate it higher is because I don’t think I’d read it again. It was fun, I liked it a lot, but it’s not something that’s going to stick with me forever and ever, y’know? 

Challenge Prompt: Romanceopoly Amour Avenue (read a contemporary romance with an illustrated cover) 

Playing the Palace by Paul Rudnick  ⭐⭐⭐(¼)  I found this at my favorite Salvation Army store while I was Christmas shopping last month (and no, the irony of finding a gay romance novel at SA is not lost on me) and left it at a Little Free Library after I finished reading. The writing was good, the story checked out, but it didn’t hook me quite as well as some of the other books I’ve read in a similar vein. Prince Edgar was delightful, the Queen was by FAR my favorite part of the book, but Carter grated on my nerves in a few places. Overall, glad to have knocked it off my TBR, and I hope that whoever picks it up next loves it more than I did.  

 The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  I’m so glad that I finally got through to reading this book! Given that I pre-ordered for release day last year, it’s been a hot minute, but here we are. I read and adored the prequel (The Worst Best Man) and was excited to hear there’d be another book in the series, but I kept putting it off because I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to the hype I’d created for myself. I was wrong; it absolutely did. This was laugh-out-loud funny in places, and sure made a few night shifts go by faster. I read close to half of it in the first sitting, right after I finished PtP, and surprised both my trainee and my GM by the fact that I can actually read overnight without falling asleep, especially for hours at a time. I dunno, it’s hard to fall asleep when the books are this riveting.  

Challenge Prompt: Chantel Reads All Day January (a book with ‘a’ or ‘the’ in the title) 

Straightforward by Martin Parnell  ⭐⭐(¾)  Honestly I’m still not sure if I liked this one or not, so I know I didn’t like it well enough to be any more than three stars. I got the eBook for free, because I was intrigued by the overarching question: Can a straight country cowboy and an effervescent gay man be friends? The first third-ish dragged on, then I read the last 2/3 in a single sitting, finishing at 5 a.m. curled up in bed because all of a sudden I was dying to know how it ended. I … didn’t love the ending, at least at first (unrequited love isn’t usually my thing, but the ending wasn’t inherently unhappy), but I keep thinking about if I liked it or not, so maybe I do? I don’t know. It wasn’t what I expected, and the writing style wasn't remarkable. It felt like the story might have been building toward a plot twist that never came, but the ending did feel tied down and well rounded. I loved that Cowboy Ty’s first sentence was “Goddammit! Shit piss motherfucker hell goddammit!” if only because that feels so relatable for many days in my own life.  

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade  ⭐⭐(½)  I didn’t enjoy this. You might, but it wasn’t for me. I wanted to like it, but I didn’t. The writing style is fine, the story was … alright, I suppose, but I didn’t like the characters. Again, to each their own, but I was irritated with both MC’s by the middle of the story, and almost DNF’d 60 pages from the end.  

The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantu  ⭐⭐⭐⭐(½)  I wanted a break from contemp romance after the last two books, so I turned to the nonfic section on my shelf, and I’ve been meaning to read this for literally over a year. It was one of the books I put in my “$5 for anything that fits in this bag” library sale bag in fall of 2021, and sounded like an interesting take on immigration policies. This book made me cry, openly, at work, in front of my trainee, at 5 a.m.. It’s that good, that moving. There were definitely some parts that changed my perspective on policy issues, and I’m wholeheartedly recommending it to anyone looking for firsthand accounts of the government side of border policies. Even if it’s a little outdated, it definitely gave me some things to think about. 

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  23 ½ hour read time. I was hooked by the first page, and spent most of the first sitting trying to decide if I should keep reading to find out what happens next or slow down so I could savor it all. Ended up reading over half of it the first time, and finishing it on my shift the next night. This was the first I’ve read by Christina Lauren, but if it’s all this good, I’ll definitely be back for more. Hands down the funniest book I’ve read all year. Toward the end, we brushed up a little bit against one of the tropes I generally don’t much care for, but CL handled it beautifully and it ended up making a beautiful, heartfelt wrap-up. This year, the goal is to unshelf books I own if I don’t see myself reading them a second time, but I’d made up my mind on keeping this one before I finished the prologue. There’s no WAY I won’t be rereading!  

Challenge Prompt: Popsugar – A book that you think your best friend would like 

The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery  ⭐⭐⭐⭐(½)  Honestly, I’m not even sure why I picked this one up when I did. I ordered it from BookDepository AGES ago (the UK cover is prettier than the US one, and I’ll die on this hill), but then it got put on my shelf and left to ferment. But like a fine wine (a theme in the book), it was fantastic when I finally cracked it open. I wasn’t sure how I’d like a story balancing three romances across one plot, but everyone’s story was riveting in its own way and they fit together so well! 40 pages from the end, I said out loud “there’s no way they’ll be able to resolve everything,” but I was so wrong. Three for three on the HAE, which is exactly how I take my romance novels, with a hearty dose of friendship and family dynamics along the way. Susan Mallery has long been one of my favorite authors, and this was a friendly reminder of exactly why.  

No Mercy (A Valerie Law FBI Suspense Thriller - Book One) by Blake Pierce  ⭐⭐⭐  Thrillers aren’t usually so much my thing, but I like reading outside of my usual taste, and I was looking for something short to round out the month. This is under 200 pages, and the FBI element sparked my fancy, since I am a huge fan of crime dramas. It was … alright? Not painful to read, by any means, but it fell a little flat for me in places. Maybe the rest of the series will pick up, but I don’t think I’m curious enough to find out. That said, there are worse things I could have spent three days reading. 

Challenge Prompts: Popsugar – The shorted book (by pages) on your TBR); Romanceopoly Slueth Street (read a thriller or mystery where one of the main characters are a detective or private investigator) 

DNF: Our First Puck by Kat Obie 

#katie reads #kr23 #january wrap up #books #bookblr

[myromancebooksworld]

The last covers of the books I will (already) read for the #romanceopoly this month!

#romanceopoly

[books-on-a-wire]

Heading across the pond for this month's #romanceopoly2020 with Courtship Row: The Wallflower Wager, Past Eaves: Bringing Down the Duke, Library: Romantic Outlaws

Not Pictured include Killer Crescent: Whispers in the Dark, BFF's House: Just Love

#tessa dare #charlotte gordon #evie dunmore #romanceopoly #historical romance #nonfiction #book photography #booklr #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #books #bibliophile

[thebookishisland]

I don't really own that many romance novels. 😞 Which is so weird because I love romantic stories. The amount of romantic movies I've watched is so much too. 😲 So I need to get my hands on more of them. Bring on the love! 😄 . Illustrated Cover - #romanceopolyathon . . . . . . #bookstagram #bookworm #booksofinstagram #booklove #bookstagrammer #amreading #bookphotography #booknerd #bookaddict #igreads #igbooks #reader #bibliophile #instabook  #bookflatlay #romanceopoly https://www.instagram.com/p/BwIFtLKH44l/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=f0mxfjszitu4

#romanceopolyathon #bookstagram #bookworm #booksofinstagram #booklove #bookstagrammer #amreading #bookphotography #booknerd #bookaddict #igreads #igbooks #reader #bibliophile #instabook #bookflatlay #romanceopoly

[mimireadsromance]

#romanceopolyshelfie Beanies Coffee Shop: My bookshelves. Nothing fancy. Just the cube shelving system. Minimal decor because I have SO many books! Nearly 1500 in my print collection. #romanceopolysocialchallenge #bookchallenge #romanceopoly #books #bookstoread #mimireadsromance2019 #bookshelves #booksmakemehappy https://www.instagram.com/p/BvaO83YgcMH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=psm6rt396l0k

#romanceopolyshelfie #romanceopolysocialchallenge #bookchallenge #romanceopoly #books #bookstoread #mimireadsromance2019 #bookshelves #booksmakemehappy

[bookmama]

📖Book Review📖

.

Thank you to @readforeverpub and @carlybloombooks for the free copy of Big Bad Cowboy! This was a super fun romance that I am using for The Drive-In Movie space on #romanceopoly2020 , which is a romance that begins based on a ONS❤️

.

Synopsis from the publisher: After one too many heartbreaks, Travis Blake hung up his cowboy hat and put Big Verde, Texas, behind him. But when he gets the call that his young nephew needs him, he knows he has to return home. His plan is to sell the family ranch and hightail it back to Austin, but there's a small problem: the one person who stands in his way is the one person he can't resist. Maggie is pretty sure she hates Travis Blake. He's irritating, he's destroying her business, and . . . and he's just so frickin' attractive. But when they're forced to work together, Maggie discovers that the Most Annoying Man in the World is more than he seems. He's sweet with his nephew, he helps out in the community, and he makes her heart flutter. Maggie doesn't want to risk everything on a man who wants to leave, but what if she can convince this wayward cowboy to stay?

.

I read this as part of the #bigbadreadalong with @readforeverpub and @angelareadsbooks This book was steamy, fun, and sweet with a hot cowboy!!!! The chemistry between Maggie and Travis was 🔥🔥🔥 especially while Maggie didn’t realize that Travis was her one night hook up. I also loved the special sweet relationship between Travis and his nephew. The family drama added an extra layer of suspense. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#big bad cowboy #carly bloom #read forever pub #bigbadreadalong #romanceopoly #romancereads #cowboy romance

[paperprincessinspo]

Romanceopoly Update

We’re just past the halfway mark for Romanceopoly now. So far I have read 13 of the 36 spaces so I’m falling a bit behind. I really want to focus on completing this before December. I never get much reading done over Christmas so I want to finish up before then. I’d like to get as much done as possible during the summer cause I think romances are great summer reading.

[youtube=https://www.…

View On WordPress

#BookTube #five star books #readathon #romance books #romanceopoly

[caseycassidy]

Just finished this one last night! Finally been feeling in a reading mood again. This one was even better then expected and finished my 13th challenge for #romanceopoly. . . #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #books #romance #currentlyreading #amreading #books #historicalromance https://www.instagram.com/p/BxFqNgJH3Xc/?igshid=12bupowqxzvna

#romanceopoly #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #books #romance #currentlyreading #amreading #historicalromance