22: Books to get you out of a reading slump

#SixforSunday is a meme hosted by A Little But A Lot. This week’s topic is books to get people out of reading slumps. I tried to think of a different reasons someone might be in a reading slump when choosing my recommendations. Some of them are just really fun and that’s what we need when we’re in a slump. Others appeal to a range of readers or depart from what is expected in their genre.

Recursion was a departure from my usual reading habits that turned out to be one of my favorite reads last year. It’s filled with twists and turns that make the reader think.

Silent in the Grave is the first book in the Lady Julia Grey series. This book is a perfect blend of mystery, historical fiction and romance. The quirky members of the Grey family add plenty of comic relief as well.

The Bookshop on the Corner is a book about matching people to books, that will make you laugh out loud. What better way to get out of reading slump?

The Last Train to Key West was my favorite read of 2021. This follows the formula of a lot of contemporary fiction, with multiple stories that are interconnected. It just does it better than most of them.

My (not so) Perfect Life is one of the funniest books I’ve read. But, it also makes a statement on the affect social media has on all of our perceptions of those around us.

Let’s Pretend this Never Happened was recommended to me on goodreads. At the time I wasn’t familiar with Jenny Lawson’s blog. I’ve since become a follower. You’re so busy laughing that you don’t even realize that your reading about serious problems.

March 20, 2022

Top Five Wednesday- Favorite Villains

I know I’m a day late with this post, but couldn’t let this topic go without participating. Villains are what make stories interesting. I am drawn to villains who evolve over time. Therefore, all of my picks are from series.

Nellie Olsen- Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Nellie Olsen is a lesson to us all that we should always be kind. You never know when the girl you tease my grow up to be a famous author. While the character of Nellie Olsen is a combination of a couple of Wilder’s childhood nemeses, the name has been synonymous with spoiled brats everywhere.

Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan: The Wrath and the Dawn and The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

This is a retelling of One Thousand and One Nights. Khalid is the evil prince who takes a bride each night, only to strangle her come morning. But, there’s more to the story.

Rhysand from A Court of Thorn and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

I debated about whether to even call Rhysand a villain, but to the majority of his world he is viewed as the villain. An image he has carefully cultivated.

Trent Kalamack The Hollows series by Kim Harrison.

There are many great villains in this series, but wealthy bachelor, councilman and drug lord Trent Kalamack is my favorite.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

The only villain on my list who is the protagonist, Artemis is an evil genius by the age of twelve.

Who are your favorite book villains?

March 17, 2022

Spring TBR- Top Ten Tuesday 3/15/22

Top Ten Tuesday is sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl . This weeks theme is ten books on your spring tbr pile. Spring is an “anything goes” period of reading for me compared to my holiday themed books of December or beach reads of summer. Aside from seasons, a lot of my reading is determined by books people choose from me in swaps in the games forum at paperbackswap. So I will start with the three books I am reading at the moment, and then add others that I am currently offering in swaps.

This may not seem like a “spring” book, but I am reading it now for Women’s history month. I have read a lot of Tudor fiction, including others by Alison Weir. The Six Wives of Henry VIII is a nonfiction account. I have only gotten as far as Arthur’s death so far, but I am enjoying it. While it cites research, it is written in a very reader-friendly manner.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum of a historical biography, I’m reading Shadow and Bone a YA fantasy. I read Six of Crows first which is a spin-off of this series. It probably would’ve helped to read this first, but the stories are unique enough, that you can still understand one series without the other. Again, I am really early into this book, but the action draws you in immediately.

See Jane Score (Chinooks Hockey Team, #2)

See Jane Score, along with the rest of the Chinooks Hockey Team romance series has been on my tbr for a long time. I finally read the first book last month and immediately started book two. It’s a fun, light contemporary romance read.

Under the Whispering Door is described as A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place. When Wallace dies, he realizes he wasted his life and goes about living a lifetime while he waits to cross over. This premise is so fascinating, I can’t wait to read it.

Criminal Confections (Chocolate Whisperer, Bk 1)

A chocolate themed cozy with recipes, how could I resist? Criminal Confections is book one in the Chocolate Whisperer Mystery series. This one has been on my shelf for a long time and I think it may be time to finally read it.

April is Holocaust remembrance month. Since I am not teaching eighth grade this year, this is the first year in over a decade that I have not read Diary of Anne Frank and Hitler Youth. It might be time to read Sons and Soldiers.

I try to read most of the Goodreads award winners. The Guest List was the won for the mysteries and thrillers category in 2020. I tend to read lighter mysteries, but every once in awhile I like a good thriller.

Snow White and Rose Red is an older book, but I just got it this week. I love retellings and books with a floral name or title are very popular for spring reading challenges.

Bridgerton’s second season will be released soon and I still haven’t read The Viscount Who Loved Me , Anthony’s story. The Netflix series has taken many liberties from the original series, but on principal I always read the book first.

The Cadillac, Texas series is a lot of fun and The Yellow Rose Beauty Shop looks like a perfect floral read for spring.

What books do you want to read this spring?

March 15, 2022

The Book Was Better!!!

We’ve all been there. You read that one of your favorite books is being made into a movie. You are filled with anticipation and scour social media looking for more information. The first disappointment comes when the cast is revealed. The actors look nothing like the characters in your head. Then, the previews start, and you notice subtle changes. Scenes don’t look quite right, characters say things they would never see. Part of you wants to skip the movie know, but you can’t resist. Out of loyalty to the book, you have to see it.

At the theater, you bite your tongue to keep from shouting out. Why are they in a different city? Why is it now a comedy? Why are characters who were twelve in the book now being played by adult actors- and where did that love triangle come from?

But nothing could prepare you for the ending. The screenwriter probably had good intentions. They genuinely thought they were improving the story by making the ending happier or more dramatic. But it really did was change the entire message of the story. This person clearly did not understand the story at all.

There are exceptions, but the book just won’t live up to the book in most cases. Part of it is inattention to detail. Part of it is that some things don’t translate to the screen, primarily if the book focuses more on characterization than action. But your brain just isn’t as engaged watching something created by someone else as when it has to formulate the movie in your head from the words on the page.

March 14, 2022

Six for Sunday- 3/13/22

#SixforSunday is a meme hosted by A Little But A Lot . Today’s prompt is characters with floral names. I have a mix of fantasy, romance, YA , historical and classic literature all of which were great reads.

Princess of the Midnight Ball (The Princesses of Westfalin Trilogy, #1) — The Princess of the Midnight Ball

March 13, 2022

MG Takes on Thursday

Middle Grade Thursday is a weekly celebration of middle grade books sponsored by Book Craic . To participate:

Post a picture of the front cover of a middle-grade book which you have read and would recommend to others with details of the author, illustrator and publisher.
Open the book to page 11 and share your favorite sentence.
Write three words to describe the book.
Either share why you would recommend this book, or link to your review.

Image result for a single shard — A Single Shard

Title: A Single Shard

Author: Linda Sue Park

Illustrators: Jean and Mou-sien Tseng

Publisher: Clarion Books

My favorite sentence from page 11:

“Using his foot to spin the base of the wheel, he placed dampened hands on the sluggardly lump, and for the hundredth time, Tree-hear watched the miracle.”
Linda Sue Park

Three words to describe the book:

educational, inspirational, historical

My recommendation:

Everything Linda Sue Park writes is golden. I love A Single Shard because it has a positive message about perseverance. The book is set in 12th century Korea where orphan, Tree-Ear, ends up working for a master potter in order to pay off a debt. When he is sent to the King’s Court, his life is changed forever. Park’s meticulous research shines through transporting the reader to an often-ignored time and place.

March 10, 2022

Goodreads Top 5 Wednesday

Welcome to Top 5 Wednesday! Hosted by Goodreads T5W group this week it is books with 3 word titles. I can never resist book lists, so I’m excited to join this group. Here are five books I rated with five stars on goodreads that have five words in the title.

Me Before You (Me Before You, #1) — Me Before You

March 9, 2022

Top Ten Tuesday 3/8/22

Top Ten Tuesday is a book tag sponsored by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl . This week’s topic is to post books with your favorite theme/trope. My favorite romance trope is the fake relationship or arranged marriage. For a long time I wasn’t sure why I was drawn to those stories. I finally realized that there you really get to see the relationship evolve, and there tends to be more character development, since the characters usually don’t know each other well at the beginning of the story. Here are my ten favorite.

The Cinderella Deal — Goodreads synopsis: Daisy Flattery is a free spirit with a soft spot for strays and a weakness for a good story. Why else would she agree to the outrageous charade offered by her buttoned-down workaholic neighbor, Linc Blaise? The history professor needs to have a fiancée in order to capture his dream job, and Daisy is game to play the role. But something funny happens on their way to the altar that changes everything. Now, with the midnight hour approaching, will Daisy lose her prince, or will opposites not only attract but live happily ever after?

3523638 — Goodreads synopsis: Against the scandal and seduction of Regency England, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh introduces an extraordinary family—the fiery, sensual Huxtables. Vanessa is the second daughter, proud and daring, a young widow who has her own reason for pursuing the most eligible bachelor in London. One that has nothing to do with love. Or does it? The arrival of Elliott Wallace, the irresistibly eligible Viscount Lyngate, has thrown the country village of Throckbridge into a tizzy. Desperate to rescue her eldest sister from a loveless union, Vanessa Huxtable Dew offers herself instead. In need of a wife, Elliott takes the audacious widow up on her unconventional proposal while he pursues an urgent mission of his own. But a strange thing happens on the way to the wedding night. Two strangers with absolutely nothing in common can’t keep their hands off each other. Now, as intrigue swirls around a past secret—one with a stunning connection to the Huxtables—Elliott and Vanessa are uncovering the glorious pleasures of the marriage bed…and discovering that when it comes to wedded bliss, love can’t be far behind

12935956 — Goodreads synopsis: Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, good friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share it with, however, she just can’t seem to get it right.

After yet another relationship ends, Anne comes across a business card for what she thinks is a dating service, and she pockets it just in case. When her best friend, Sarah, announces she’s engaged, Anne can’t help feeling envious. On an impulse, she decides to give the service a try because maybe she could use a little assistance in finding the right man. But Anne soon discovers the company isn’t a dating service; it’s an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. She initially rejects the idea, but the more she thinks about it — and the company’s success rate — the more it appeals to her. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, so why wouldn’t it work for her?

A few months later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack. And against all odds, it seems to be working out — until Anne learns that Jack, and the company that arranged their marriage, are not what they seem at all.

The Pretend Wife — Goodreads synopsis: What would life be like with the one who got away?

For Gwen Merchant, love has always been doled out in little packets—from her father, a marine biologist who buried himself in work after her mother’s death; and from her husband, Peter, who’s always been respectable and safe. But when an old college boyfriend, the irrepressible Elliot Hull, invites himself back into Gwen’s life, she starts to remember a time when love was an ocean.

What does Elliot want? In fact, he has a rather surprising proposition: he wants Gwen to become his wife. His pretend wife. Just for a few days. To accompany him to his family’s lake house for the weekend so that he can fulfill his dying mother’s last wish. Reluctantly Gwen agrees to play along—with her husband Peter’s full support. It’s just one weekend—what harm could come of it?

But as Gwen is drawn into Elliot’s quirky, wonderful family—his astonishingly wise and open mother, his warm and welcoming sister, and his adorable, precocious niece—she starts questioning everything she’s ever expected from love. And as she begins to uncover a few secrets about her own family, it suddenly looks like a pretend relationship just might turn out to be the most real thing she’s ever known

Ashes in the Wind — Goodreads synopsis: Disguised as a boy, lovely Alaina MacGaren flees the Yankee troops ravaging her Virginia plantation. When the young orphan is accosted by a group of soldiers, Yankee surgeon Cole Latimer rescues the “lad”–never guessing that love for the rebel beauty will set duty against desire, ultimately testing his loyalties, his trust and his honor.

24974122 — Goodreads synopsis: Sophie Dupont, daughter of a portrait painter, assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. She often walks the cliffside path along the north Devon coast, popular with artists and poets. It’s where she met the handsome Wesley Overtree, the first man to tell her she’s beautiful.

Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother’s neglected duties. Home on leave, he’s sent to find Wesley. Knowing his brother rented a cottage from a fellow painter, he travels to Devonshire and meets Miss Dupont, the painter’s daughter. He’s startled to recognize her from a miniature portrait he carries with him–one of Wesley’s discarded works. But his happiness plummets when he realizes Wesley has left her with child and sailed away to Italy in search of a new muse.

Wanting to do something worthwhile with his life, Stephen proposes to Sophie. He does not offer love, or even a future together, but he can save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he believes he will, she’ll be a respectable widow with the protection of his family.

Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie agrees to marry a stranger and travel to his family’s estate. But at Overtree Hall, her problems are just beginning. Will she regret marrying Captain Overtree when a repentant Wesley returns? Or will she find herself torn between the father of her child and her growing affection for the husband she barely knows?

The Winter Bride (Chance Sisters, #2) — Goodreads synopsis: Damaris Chance’s unhappy past has turned her off the idea of marriage forever. But her guardian, Lady Beatrice Davenham, convinces her to make her coming out anyway—and have a season of carefree, uncomplicated fun.

When Damaris finds herself trapped in a compromising situation with the handsome rake Freddy Monkton-Coombes, she has no choice but to agree to wed him—as long as it’s in name only. Her new husband seems to accept her terms, but Freddy has a plan of his own: to seduce his reluctant winter bride.

Will Damaris’s secrets destroy her chance at true happiness? Or can Freddy help her cast off the shackles of the past, and yield to delicious temptation?

Faking It (Losing It, #2) — Goodreads synopsis: Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

The Seduction of an English Scoundrel (Boscastle, #1) — goodreads synopsis: Award-winning author Jillian Hunter pens a delightful romp of passion and tantalizing trickery proving all is fair in matters of love.

It would have been the wedding of the year–had the groom, Sir Nigel Boscastle, bothered to put in an appearance. To the shock of her distinguished guests, the respectable Lady Jane Welsham is left humiliated at the altar. Yet truth be told, although outwardly ruined she is elated to have escaped marriage to a man she does not love.

Enter Grayson Boscastle, the irresistible Marquess of Sedgecroft (and cousin to Nigel). Grayson’s duty is clear: salvage the young lady’s pride and reestablish the family’s good name, while repairing his own tarnished reputation as one of London’s most notorious scoundrels. Their whirlwind affair is the talk of the ton. Yet nothing is as it seems between the bewitching Lady Jane, who knows that her wedding was cleverly sabotaged, and her charming rogue, as they are drawn into an amusing game of seduction and secrets.

Ravishing in Red (The Rarest Blooms, #1) — Goodreads synopsis: Armed with her cousin’s pistol, Audrianna travels to a coaching inn, to meet with a man who may have information that will clear her dead father’s name. She does not realize that the handsome man of commanding sensuality who shows up is not the person she expected, but instead Lord Sebastian Summerhays, one of her father’s persecutors, lured to the inn by the same advertisement that brought her there.

When the pistol accidentally fires, the situation becomes mortifyingly public, and thoroughly misunderstood. Audrianna is prepared to live with the scandal. Lord Sebastian has other ideas…

March 8, 2022

Six For Sunday- 3/6/22

Nicole’s Nook is now more than six months old. I have spent a lot of time exploring other book blogs. One of the features I love is book tags. In an effort to post more consistent content, I am choosing a few of my favorites. Starting today with, #Six For Sunday, hosted by A Little But A Lot. Today’s prompt is Books with green covers.

#Six For Sunday

March 6, 2022

My favorite read of February 2022: The Pirate Vishnu by Gigi Pandian

Pirate Vishnu (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery, #2) — The Pirate Vishnu

Goodreads Synopsis:

A century-old treasure map of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast. Sacred riches from India. Two murders, one hundred years apart. And a love triangle… Historian Jaya Jones has her work cut out for her.

1906. Shortly before the Great San Francisco Earthquake, Pirate Vishnu strikes the San Francisco Bay. An ancestor of Jaya’s who came to the U.S. from India draws a treasure map…

Present Day. Over a century later, the cryptic treasure map remains undeciphered. From San Francisco to the southern tip of India, Jaya pieces together her ancestor’s secrets, maneuvers a complicated love life she didn’t count on, and puts herself in the path of a killer to restore a revered treasure.

My Thoughts:

This is the second full length book in the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery series. The character relationships will make more sense if you’ve read Artifact, but it could be read as a standalone. All of her life, Jaya Jones has been told stories about her Great Uncle Anand who died rescuing a friend during the San Fransisco Earthquake. But, then a lawyer shows up at her door with a treasure map that implies he might not have been so heroic after all. When the lawyer is murdered, Jaya knows there’s more to the story. I really like Pandian’s storytelling technique. She alternates between Jaya’s investigation and flashbacks of her ancestor. It’s a light, cozy mystery series, but I also learned about Indian history and culture.