The Deceiver's Heart by Jennifer A Nielsen

...There's some Ella Enchanted vibes (there's one scene).
I love how devoted Simon is. Simon is so pure and honestly deserves to be protected. Can we stop trying to kill him all the time please. Caves. Forests. Bridges. Rivers. Mean people.
I love the mythology of this series and how the magic works.
Harlyn. *Rolls eyes*
I'm just stressed all the time... Can people stop being so grey and just be trustworthy for once....

384 Pages

The Traitor's Game by Jennifer A Nielsen

I love Simon.
Kestra is so spunky and headstrong and I love her.
400 Pages

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler and Frank Miller

Avatar Zuko GIF from Avatar GIFs

Not to get on my Catholic soap box (because it's fiction) but insert *That is not correct* vine.
I liked the second half of the book way better than the first half. I really like the concepts...
My precious.
408 Pages

On the Eucharist by St Pope John Paul II

The Eucharist is my favorite thing ever (I mean it's Jesus, sooooo).
John Paul II talks about the importance of the Eucharist, "the source and summit of Christian life," and how crucial it is to growing in holiness, the spiritual life/journey, and keeping a community together, and because of that why the Eucharist deserves so much reverence. Seriously this encyclical slaps.
68 pages

Haikyu!! Volume 42 by Haruichi Furudate

Kenma... "a friend"..... Sobbing.. You know what that is. Growth
My seniors.
My babies.. Oh the places they go; I knew Yamaguchi would grow up to be great...
Time jumps, y'all.
This new arc is so fun. Enemies play together.... I'm not stressed.
Hinata totally Neveled up... I love a man with shoulders..
200 Pages

A Madness of Sunshine. By Nalini Singh, Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld.

A Madness of Sunshine. By Nalini Singh, Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld. 2019. Penquin Random House Audio Publishing Group. ISBN-14: 9780593153512 (Unabridged audiobook, 10 hrs, 59 mins).

Singh is unquestioningly a talented writer. I enjoy reading her Psy-Changeling series and I find her hybrid urban fantasy/paranormal romance series, Guild Hunters, to be downright awesome; so I was naturally curious about her sojourn into the mystery genre. A Madness of Sunshine is a pretty strong showing. This atmospheric thriller in a rugged coastal New Zealand town is full of shadowed pasts and captivating characters. Topped off with excellent narration.

352 pages

The Friend Zone (End of the Line #1). By Sariah Wilson.

The Friend Zone (End of the Line #1). By Sariah Wilson. 2019. Montlake Romance. ASIN: B07L5M7DYY (Kindle).

An entertaining read it if you like the slow burn, college jock/tutor & forbidden relationship tropes.

299 pages

Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1). By Sarina Bowen, Narrators: Nicol Zanzarella, Rock Engle.

Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1). By Sarina Bowen, Narrators: Nicol Zanzarella, Rock Engle. 2016. Blackstone Audiobooks. ISBN-13: 9781504755887 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 53 mins).

Hockey romance full of heart, humor and heat. Engle and Zanzarella deliver excellent narrations for rookie Leo Trevi and team publicist Georgia Worthington.

Entertaining, Page-turner, Happily Ever After, Romantic, Original, Great world building, Steamy, Wonderful characters, Excellent narration

326 pages

Power Play (Blades Hockey #1). By Maria Luis, Narrators: Elizabeth Hart, Joe Hempel.

Power Play (Blades Hockey #1). By Maria Luis, Narrators: Elizabeth Hart, Joe Hempel. 2017. Tantor Audio. ASIN: B0787KDC6S (Unabridged audiobook, 5 hrs, 14 mins).

The Blades golden boy and a struggling sports journalist pair up for this series’ opener of sexy hockey players heating up the ice.

Entertaining, Romantic, Wonderful characters, Great narration

194 pages

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This is one that my mom gave me to read, and I actually read it in one sitting. Do I think this one will stand the test of time? No, but it was a good read and I highly recommend it as a pandemic binge read!

Pages: 384

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Boys are stupid. Daisy deserves the world and she should be protected.
Ahh ducks.
A dog. Named Oscar Wilde. Perfect.
Alastair... a beautiful cactus
Thomas is a sweetie.
All of my ships.. beautiful
Me catching all of the hints Clare is dropping and guessing plot twists/evil characters:


624 Pages

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Will and Tessa's stories continue! Well, through their kids but I'll take it. Loving the Edwardian times, shadowhunter shenanigans, and unrequited romance freaking everywhere.

Pages: 624

Haikyu!! Volume 41 by Haruichi Furudate

Hinata. Heart eyes. You keep jumping, love.
Short coach Tanji finally coming around.
....My baby... My baby.... I'm signing the adoption papers.
184 Pages

To Have and to Hoax. By Martha Waters.

To Have and to Hoax. By Martha Waters. 2020. Atria Books (ARC ebook).

One year into their happy marriage, Lady Violet Gray and Lord James Audley had a big fight and have since spent the last four years far from wedded bliss. When an accident occurs, miscommunication escalates to outrage, confusion, feigned illness, actors, mother-in-laws, faux mistresses and facepalming friends. As the obstacles in their relationship build, the renewed sparks flying between husband and wife threaten to burn them down. Violet and James may or may not prove equal in manipulation, but can they prove equal in love?

This was a Regency romance read that managed to merge several different tropes to appreciative affect. If you are looking for a new author, pick this entertaining and romantic book up.

367 pages

Fair Weather Enemies. By Sawyer North.

Fair Weather Enemies. By Sawyer North. 2020. Entangled: Scandalous (ARC eBook).

After several harsh winters in which crops and mills have suffered, Adam Ashford and Jane Hancock have found themselves in debt to a London creditor and a dismal future awaiting both of them. The Ashfords and Hancocks of Oxfordshire have long feuded between their families and Adam and Jane have vexed each other since they were children, but when secrets of their shared history are unearthed, the two adversaries enter into a contract that has them trekking across England in search of a long lost treasure. Along the way, their respect and attraction for each other grows and they begin to wonder whether it’s too late for new beginnings.
 
Fair Weather Enemies is a delightful debut in the historical romance genre for North. Adam and Jane are such likeable characters and if you like the enemies to lovers trope, road trips, riddles and colorful characters popping up along the way, you’ll want to pick this book up. This was a fun read from start to finish! 

289 pages

 

The Highland Rogue (Lords of the Highlands #7). By Amy Jareki.

The Highland Rogue (Lords of the Highlands #7). By Amy Jareki. 2020. Forever (ARC eBook).

Left by her clan on the desolate Scottish isle of Hyskier, Divana Campbell has survived the last two years on her own by digging up clams and pelting birds with rocks. Now there is an injured man on her beach and she has seen too much of death to not help him.

Sir Kennan Cameron’s ship and crew were set upon by the notorious pirate Jackson Vane and Kennan would not have survived the aftermath if not for the fiery and compassionate Divana. Kennan knows they must leave the isle. Divana deserves a real home within the safety of his clan, and he has every notion to set sail after Vane to get his revenge. As the heir to a powerful chieftan, Divana knows Sir Kennan can not marry someone of her lower station. But she can’t stand to part from him, so she find herself taking to the high seas with Kennan on an adventure full of dangerous pirates and powerful desire.

Looking for a well-crafted Scottish historical romance with a capable and endearingly flirtatious heroine and a rugged Highlander, then look no more. An entertaining read and another great installment in the Lords of the Highlands world! 

352 pages

Haikyu!! Volume 40 by Haruichi Furudate

Kageyama laughing maniaclly while he serves.

Stop hurting my teddy bear Asahi.

...How dare they give the other team a player with anxiety. I did not... I did not sign up for this. I signed up for hating enemies.

Asahi.... self-doubt and stuff....adsjklgqsadjkl; "Today I'm  going to be on my own side" Kermit holding phone to his chest meme.

I love how they have to grab Nishinoya by the back of the shirt to keep him from getting too excited and rushing the court after an awesome play. He's so little... He could be on a toddler leash.

Hinata like a little frog... My brain literally played "Red Eyed Tree Frogged Man" theme song.

2m guy to Hinata:

Tsukishima is smiling. I don't care that it's kind of smug; it's beautiful

HE DID A LOW-KEY PEACE SIGN TO HIS BROTHER. MY HEAD IS GONNA EXPLODE FROM JOY.

184 Pages

Haikyu!! Volume 39 by Haruichi Furudate

Short little Rise of the Guardians Jack Frost guy..
I live for the forest imagery.
Oh how the turn tables...rotation tables... I'm funny
...I somehow missed the fact they were wearing orange for two sets....
....And when did Asahi's bun come back? He's gonna go bald...
200 Pages

Surviving Schizophrenia: A Family Manual by E Fuller Torrey M.D.

I love that the author, Torrey, came from the perspective both as someone who knows someone with schizophrenia (his sister) and as a researcher. I don't know whether or not my relative has schizophrenia yet, but if he does, I'm really glad that I have this as a resource. Torrey didn't sugar-coat things, but also didn't crush all hope of anything ever being good again. I loved how thorough and organized it was as a book. It literally covered everything I could think of, and I appreciate that it's been updated and revised to keep up with changes through the years. It was easy to read, and he offered a lot of other resources to consult, with his own annotations and thoughts on which would be most helpful and accurate.
528 Pages

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

I am so glad we have pipes for water.....
Also can moms just stop being so awesome at doing all the home things.... Like.... seriously....
Farms! I love farms. I didn't grow up on a farm, but I feel like this tells about my childhood, because I grew up around farms.
384 Pages

The Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero Who Infiltrated Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather

The Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero Who Infiltrated Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather

In Nazi-occupied Poland, Witold Pilecki accepted a mission to infiltrate a mysterious new camp called Auschwitz along the Reich's border. His goal was to report Nazi crimes and raise an army to revolt. For the next two and a half years, Witold smuggled evidence of the Nazis' atrocities to the Allies, eventually shaping their response to the Holocaust. Yet after his show trial and execution in 1948, Witold's name was forgotten for decades--until the 1990s, after Poland's return to democracy.  

528 pages.

1984 by George Orwell

I never liked Julia...
Ahhh the mob mentality.
Big Brother: Destroying Humanity since before 1984
I was rooting for Winston so much.
I never did like rats. Ugh. Just that whole scene. It really makes me think "how does one control humanity" and then I compare it to the martyrs, and I guess I try to see what was different, that made the martyrs remain so steady.
304 Pages