Monthly Wrap Up | October 2021

October was a good month! I didn’t push myself to read many books and it was actually nice to have a break. So let’s see what I read this month:

What I Read and Reviewed in October: 12 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:


ARC Reviews Posted in October: 6

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️:


ARCS I READ IN OCTOBER FOR FUTURE POST: 3

Once again, I’ve read 15 books – hmmm…does my brain know that I’ve hit the 15 mark each month and I can’t read anymore? I think it’s kind of cool that I always seem to read about 15 books without really planning to! How did you do? Are you hitting your reading goals? ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | September 2021

Bye bye September and Hello to one of my favorite months – October! I love Halloween and my daughter has been ready for Halloween since July. 🙂 We will be decorating the house this week, how fun!

I think I did pretty good with reading in September. There was a lull when my air conditioning broke and I didn’t feel like reading and sweating in bed. Plus I had a big order for Etsy to finish and that took me three sweaty weeks to finish. Most of my reading got dine in the last few days of September. So let’s see what I read:

What I Read and Reviewed in September: 15 Books

5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

4.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

**Review for Born of Blood and Flames was read in September but will be posted in October.**

4 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**Review for The Prison Healer was read in September but will be posted in October.**

3.5 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

3 Star Reads – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

**Reviews for Under the Black Banners and The Dark Bond: Vampire Hunter Society was read in September but will be posted in October.**


ARC Reviews Posted in September:

5 Stars – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:

3 1/2 Stars – ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫:

3 Star Reads ⭐️⭐️⭐️:

ARCS I READ IN SEPTEMBER FOR FUTURE POST: 0

So total books I read for September is 15! Wow, I read no arcs for future posts lol – oh well, I had no time. I also got my NetGalley list down pretty good so I only have a few on there that are books to be releases in 2022. I have time to read them!

How did you do in September? ~Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | August 2021

I was doing good in August until this last weekend since it was my son’s birthday weekend! Hawaii has been back to school since the beginning of August and we are going through another COVID wave here. 😒 So…it’s been stressful. Anyway, here is what I read in August:

What I read and reviews in August:

Total: 10 Books

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 –

A Dance with the Fae Prince by. Elise Kova

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ –

Forest of Souls by. Lori M. Lee

Red Tigress by. Amelie Wen Zhao

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 –

The Boundless by. Anna Bright

Second First Impressions by. Sally Thorne

⭐️⭐️⭐️ –

Hades Castle Trilogy – Fallen/Rapture/Possessed by. C.N. Crawford

Where Dreams Descend by. Janella Angeles

Bone Crier’s Moon by. Kathryn Purdie


ARC Reviews posted in July

Total: 3 Books

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-

The Jasmine Project by. Meredith Ireland

Defy the Night by. Brigid Kemmerer

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 

Bombshell by. Sarah MacLean


ARCS I Read in August For Future Post

Total: 5 Books


Total books read in August is 15, which is in my usual range it seems! How was your August? ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | July 2021

Another month is over – goodbye July, hello August!

I felt like July was a really long month, not in a bad way though. July coming end means my son is back in school the first week of August. Summer is over for us here in Hawaii (yet we have summer weather all year so what does it matter? lol). Here is what I read in July!

What I read and reviewed in July

Total: 13 Books –

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

The Infinity Courts by. Dawn Akemi Bowman

A Court of Honey and Ash by. Shannon Mayer and Kelly St Clare

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ –

Strange the Dreamer by. Laini Taylor

House of Hollow by. Krystal Sutherland

Kate in Waiting by. Becky Albertalli

People We Meet on Vacation by. Emily Henry

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

The Mixtape by. Brittany Cherry

Late to the Party by. Kelly Quindlen

⭐️⭐️⭐️ –

With You All the Way by. Cynthia Hand

Cruel Stakes by. Nina Walker

Simmer Down by. Sarah Smith

⭐️⭐️1/2

Crave by. Tracy Wolff


ARC Reviews Posted in July

Total Books – 10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by. Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 ~

A Lesson in Vengeance by. Victoria Lee

If the Shoe Fits by. Julie Murphy

The Right Side of Reckless by. Whitney D. Grandison (BLOG TOUR)

These Hollow Vows by. Lexi Ryan

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ~

The Sisters of Reckoning by. Charlotte Nicole Davis

Endless Skies by. Shannon Price

How We Fall Apart by. Katie Zhao

Radar Girls by. Sarah Ackerman (BLOG TOUR)

⭐️⭐️1/2 ~

The Dating Dare by. Jayci Lee


ARCS I read in July For Future Posts

Total Books – 2


July Total Books Read = 15

Blog Tours = 2

Not bad for July. It seems my monthly average so far in 2021 has been 13-15 books which is perfect. I had wanted to cut down on my reading and read when I wanted to at my own pace and it’s working. I’m pretty happy with my pace so far!

How was your July? ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | June 2021

Summertime is here and another month is gone. June was filled with family parties (now that restrictions have been lessened and vaccines are being distributed), and hot weather! So there has been a lot of pool and beach days going on in my life. I did manage to fit in some reading, so let’s take a look:

What I Read and Reviewed in June –

This Coven Won’t Break by. Isabel Sterling – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dead Lands (#3) by. Stacey Marie Brown – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Year of the Chameleon by. Shannon Mayer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meet Me in Paradise by. Libby Hubscher – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Chasing Lucky by. Jenn Bennett – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Gilded Ones by. Namina Forna – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Accidentally Engaged by. Farah Heron – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Black Sun by. Rebecca Roanhorse – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pumpkin by. Julie Murphy – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Vow so Bold and Deadly by. Brigid Kemmerer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

ARC Reviews Posted in June –

The Queen Will Betray You by. Sarah Henning – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Six Crimson Cranes by. Elizabeth Lim – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Small Favors by. Erin A. Craig – ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by. Kristin Harmel – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Importance of Being Wanton by. Christi Caldwell – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Legends of the North Cascades by. Jonathan Evison – ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (BLOG TOUR)

Devil in Disguise by. Lisa Kleypas – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

ARCS I Read in June For Future Posts –

Actual Books Read in June : 13

Blog Tours: 1


I think I did pretty good! I read a variety of romance, contemporary, fantasy and I felt like I was less in a slump so yay, that’s always good news. How did you do in June? Did you finish the books you were planning on reading?

😘 ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | May 2021

Hello readers! How has everyone been? I felt like May was a long month and I needed a lot of time to unwind because April was a busy, strenuous month for me. In this month I finished getting vaccinated, yay! I took a break from doing resin projects the last few weeks because it is HOT out here. It’s so humid and the only time I could really do resin is at 6am…and who wants to be doing that? Haha…yes, I work outdoors because of the fumes. So maybe I’ll switch to hand stamping metal keychains again while the weather is hot.

As far as reading goes? I am in a fantasy reading slump, which I’m afraid might be affecting my reviews. I am drawn more to contemporary romance lately. Funny how that happens but I always take it as a sign that I need a change of genre. Or I need to take a break from reading? I’m not sure but I’ve done both, taken a break and change the genre.

So let’s see what I’ve read this month…

What I Read and Reviewed in May:

Float Plan by. Trish Doller – 3.5/5 Stars

BLOG TOUR} The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer – 4/5 Stars

Open book by. Jessica Simpson – 3.5/5 Stars

ARC Reviews Posted in May:

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous by. Suzanne Park – 3.5/5 Stars

BLOG TOUR} Talk Bookish to Me by. Kate Bromley – 4/5 Stars

Better Together by. Christine Riccio – 2/5 STARS (DNF)

The Promised Queen by. Jeffe Kennedy – 4.5/5 Stars

14 Ways to Die by. Vincent Ralph – 3/5 Stars

A Chorus Rises by. Bethany C. Morrow – 3.5/5 Stars

The Soulmate Equation by. Christine Lauren – 5/5 Stars

Sixteen Scandals by. Sophie Jordan – 3/5 Stars

ARCS I Read in May for Future Posts:

Actual Books Read in May: 13 books

Blog Tours: 2

I didn’t do too bad! I thought I read less actually but arcs always make the bulk of it. There were a few library books online that expired before I could get to them so once more I need to borrow them (I keep doing that!).

Let’s see if my slump continues or I can get out of it. Maybe I am fantasy’d out, for now. I’ve also considered taking a mini break from blogging, we shall see. Anyway, how did you do in May?

On the Netflix and stuff…I watched/binged:

The Last Kingdom 😳 – but season 4 is dragging for me, I think I’m tired of the killing in the name of God and land for now. 😏

Ginny & Georgia – totally unexpected and wasn’t planning on watching but sometimes I need something on while blogging. Such drama, love triangles and emo teenage moments! But I definitely want to see what happens in season 2.

😘 ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | April 2021

What a month. I feel like April was the month of change and MAJOR spring cleaning for me. We took out the carpet in our house and put in vinyl flooring so there was a lot of stuff to move and remove. It was a lot of work and I’m so glad it’s done.

I also saw an old college friend visiting from California and that was so nice! And then I got my first dose of my COVID shot. Yay! I was so excited to get it. But that was my month of April – let’s see how I did with reading?

What I Read and Reviewed in April :

When We Were Infinite by. Kelly Loy Gilbert – 4.5/5 Stars

Concrete Rose by. Angie Thomas – 4.5/5 Stars

The Cousins by. Karen M. McManus – 4/5 Stars

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by. Jennifer L. Armentrout – 2/5 Stars

The Princess Will Save You by. Sarah Henning – 3/5 Stars

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by. Crystal Maldonado – 3.5/5 Stars

Year of the Chameleon (Shadowspell Academy, #5) by. Shannon Mayer – 2.5/5 Stars

We Free the Stars (Sands of Arawiya, #2) – 4.5/5 Stars

Fly with the Arrow (Bluebird’s Secret, #1)by. Sarah Wilson – 4/5 Stars

ARC Reviews Posted in April:

The Last Bookshop in London by. Madeline Martin – 3.5/5 Stars *Blog Tour

Slingshot by. Mercedes Melnwein – 3.5/5 Stars

Dustborn by. Erin Bowman – 4/5 Stars

The Beautiful Ones by. Silvia Moreno-Garcia – 5/5 Stars

These Feathered Flames by. Alexandra Overy – 3/5 Stars *Blog Tour

Take Me Home Tonight by. Morgan Matson – 3/5 Stars

Better Than the Movies by. Lynn Painter – 4.5/5 Stars

Hurricane Summer by. Asha Bromfield – 4.5/5 Stars

Spells Trouble by. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – 2/5 Stars

The Woman with the Blue Star by. Pam Jenoff – 4/5 Stars *Blog Tour

Sloppy Firsts by. Megan McCafferty – 3/5 Stars

ARCS I Read in April for Future Posts :

  • Actual books read in April = 14
  • Blog Tours = 3

I think I did pretty good considering it was such a busy month. I’ve been gravitating towards contemporary romance lately which has been a nice switch from young adult fantasy. How was your April? I hope you had a great month!

💕 ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | March 2021

Another month is wrapping up today – goodbye March! I feel like the months are going by so fast…but what did I read in March? Let’s see:

What I Read and Reviewed in March ~

  • Firekeeper’s Daughter by. Angeline Bouley – 5/5 Stars
  • Wild Lands (Savage Lands, #2) by. Stacey Marie Brown – 4/5 Stars
  • A Song Below Water by. Bethany C. Morrow – 3/5 Stars
  • Storm from the East by. Joanna Hathaway ~ 4/5 Stars
  • Southern SUN, Northern STAR by. Joanna Hathaway ~ 4/5 Stars
  • Shadowspell Academy: Year of the Chameleon ~ 4/5 Stars

Books Posted in March, but Read in Previous Months:

  • Kisses and Croissants by. Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau – 4/5 Stars
  • Gilded Serpent by. Danielle L. Jensen – 4/5 Stars
  • Namesake by. Adrienne Young – 4.5/5 Stars

ARCs I Read in March for Future Posts ~

Actually books read in the month of March: 10

For some reason it feels like I read more than that but maybe because I just finished one and haven’t written the review yet. I’m also in the middle of reading another book but it’s slow going – not because it’s bad, I love it, I’m just savoring it slowly. 😅

I hope you all had a great reading month and have an even better April! Happy reading!

🤓 ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | February 2021

Here goes another one! Good bye February and hello March. Wow. It’s going too fast. Let’s see what I read:

Books Read and Posted in the Month of February – 9 books

The Stolen Kingdom by. Jillian Boehme – 4/5 STARS

The Lost Apothecary by. Sarah Penner – 3.5/5 STARS

From Blood and Ash by. Jennifer L. Armentrout – 3.5/5 STARS (review to be posted in March)

A Court of Silver Flames by. Sarah J. Maas – 5/5 STARS

A Twist of the Blade by. S.M. Gaither – 4/5 STARS

Ladies of the House by. Lauren Edmondson – 4/5 STARS

Blood Casino by. Nina Walker – 4/5 STARS

Girlhood: Teens Around the World in their Voices by. Masuma Ahuja – 5/5 STARS

Dark of the West by. Joanna Hathaway – 4/5 STARS

Read in previous months but posted in February ~

Five Ways to Fall Out of Love by. Emily Martin – 2.5/5 STARS

The Conductors by. Nicole Glover – 3/5 STARS

Yolk by. Mary H.K. Choi – 4/5 STARS

Wings of Ebony by. J. Elle – 4/5 STARS

ARCS I read but reviews to be posted on my blog nearer to their publication dates: 7

Better Than The Movies by. Lynn Painter

The Dating Dare by. Jayci Lee

The Beautiful Ones by. Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Soulmate Equation by. Christina Lauren

The Right Side of Reckless by. Whitney D. Grandison

The Last Bookshop in London by. Madeline Martin

These Feathered Flames by. Alexandra Overy

*****

Actual books read in February? 16

Blog Tours: 1

How was your February? I hope you all have a great reading month in March! 😘~Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | January 2021

How are we already in February? January felt like an extension of 2020, not gonna lie. I don’t think I read many books. I’ve been trying to house break a puppy! It’s been chaotic! Here is what I read:

Every Single Lie by. Rachel Vincent ~ 3.5/5 Stars (ARC read before January) ~ Published Jan. 12, 2021

Shadow City by. Francesca Flores ~ 3.5/5 Stars (ARC read before January) ~ Published Jan. 26, 2021

New Year’s Kiss by. Lee Matthews ~ 3/5 Stars

The Four Winds by. Kristin Hannah ~ 4.5/5 Stars (ARC read before January) Published Feb. 2, 2021

One of the Good Ones by. Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite ~ 3.5/5 Stars (ARC read before January) Published Jan. 5, 2021

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by. Erika L. Sanchez ~ 3.5/5 Stars

Instant Karma by. Marissa Meyer ~ 3.5/5 Stars

Of Wicked Blood by. Olivia Wildenstein & Katie Hayoz ~ 4/5 Stars (ARC read before January) Published Feb. 2, 2021

Love Spells and Other Disasters by. Angie Barrett ~ 4/5 Stars

I Wanna Be Where You Are by. Kristina Forest ~ 3/5 Stars

The Princess Trials by. Cordelia K. Castel ~ 3/5 Stars

Greythorne by. Crystal Smith ~ 5/5 Stars

The Princess Games by. Cordelia K. Castel ~ 2.5/5 Stars

This Golden Flame by. Emily Victoria ~ 4/5 Stars (ARC read before January) Published Feb. 2, 2021

Fables & Other Lies by. Claire Contreras ~ 3.5/5 Stars

How to Build a Heart by. Maria Padian ~ 3.5/5 Stars

***

I’ve been lumping all my my books together ~ books I read months before but planned to published near publication date. But I want a true count of books I read in a specific month so I really have to do a better job at separating the info.

Books Actually Read in January 2021: 10 + 3 ARCs for future posts = 13

Book Reviews Posted: 16

Blog Tours: 3

I was feeling off my reading game in January but let’s see if I can make it up in February. I hope you all have a wonderful reading month!

🥰 ~ Yolanda