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

Monthly Wrap Up | December 2020

Here we are at the end of 2020 – HOORAY! We made it! I pray for a better 2021, I really do. Here’s what I read during this busy month ~

Light Singer by. Audrey Grey – 4/5 Stars

Maybe This Time by. Kasie West – 3.5/5 Stars

Uncaged by. Celia McMahon – 3/5 Stars

You Have a Match by. Emma Lord – 4/5 Stars

Moon Claimed by. Kelly St. Clare – 3/5 Stars

Among the Beasts & Briars by. Ashley Poston – 4.5/5 Stars

Unleashed by. Celia McMahon – 3.5/5 Stars

The Fallout by. Frost Kay – 3.5/5 Stars

To Whatever End by. Lindsey Frydman – 3/5 Stars

That’s all I read this month – it wasn’t a lot because there was just too many to do with the holidays. I had to help my son finish up his work and projects for school, we celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas so gift shopping, baking, cooking, and yes donating things to make room for new toys that my kids got. So packing up donations and carrying it off to be dropped off was work.

And then entertaining the kids during winter break AND making sure I got all my Etsy orders shipped on time. So I am glad this year is over, glad this month is over and on to the next. Let’s have a great 2021! Happy New Year everyone!

Monthly Wrap Up | November 2020

Oh November, you wild thing you. I started this month full of bad anxiety because of Election Day which turned into Election Week…of course my birthday fell on the day after Election Day. So yeah…it was the worst week ever. I never want to relive that, ever.😅

Because of all that anxiety – I barely read anything. I couldn’t, so this was the month I read the least I think. This was what my November was like:

Cast in Firelight by. Dana Swift – 5/5

These Violent Delights by. Chloe Gong – 4/5

Parachutes by. Kelly Yang 3.5/5

Grown by. Tiffany D. Jackson – 4/5

Deal with the Elf King by. Elise Kova – 4/5

Unravel the Dusk by. Elizabeth Lim – 3/5

Savage Lands by. Stacey Marie Brown – 4/5

Shadow Knights (Knights of the Realm, #2) – 2/5

Skin Curse (The Gate Cycle, #2) – 4/5

How was your November? What are you looking forward to reading in December? I don’t think I have anything I’m dying to read for December – I just want a nice break and catch up on NetGalley arcs I have to finish, but that’s it. I wish you all a Happy December!

🎄 ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | October 2020

I just realized, midway into November that I didn’t post an October wrap up because I was that crazily stressed out about our elections! 😲

So let’s see what I read in October:

Warriors of Wing and Flame by. Sara B. Larson – 4/5

The Code for Love and Heartbreak by. Jillian Cantor – 3/5

Daughters of Jubilation by. Kara Lee Corthron – 3.5/5

The Song of the Marked by. S.M. Gaither – 4/5

Kingdom of Sea and Stone by. Mara Rutherford – 3/5

A Golden Fury by. Samantha Coroe – 3.5/5

The Shadows Between Us by. Tricia Levenseller – 3/5

The Midnight Lie by. Marie Rutkoski – 3.5/5

Kingdom of the Wicked by. Kerri Maniscalco – 4/5

The Ravens by. Kass Morgan & Danielle Paige – 3.5/5

The Whisper Man by. Alex North 3.5/5

A Curse of Ash & Embers by. Jo Spurrier – 3/5

Heart Bones by. Colleen Hoover – 4/5

Skyhunter by. Marie Lu – 3.5/5

Shifter Wars by. Kelly St. Clare – 3.5/5

Send Me Their Souls by. Sara Wolf – 3.5/5

The Inheritance Games by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes – 5/5

That was October! Pretty sure November will be WAYYYYY less haha, it’s been a wild month.

😘 ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap Up | August 2020

August was an awful month for me personally – the Leo vibes were not working with me. I got into a car accident, then Hawaii’s COVID numbers started exploding and then I had that COVID scare with my family. Also, online schooling started for my son and the first week was a total, chaotic mess – for students, parents and teachers alike). It was a month filled with dread and anxieties.

On the book front – I did manage to read some books to take my mind off of things. But also, do you ever find yourself not being able to read when you are under a lot of stress? I just wanted to sleep the days away. So let’s see what I managed to read and post:

Out of these titles – I think I really only read 5 of these in the month of August, the rest I read months before but posted closer to their publication dates. I did read other arcs in August that will be posted later.

Fable by. Adrienne Young – 5 Stars

Chosen Ones by. Veronica Roth – 2 1/2 Stars

Secret Crush Seduction by. Jayci Lee – 4 Stars

The Damned by. Renee Ahdieh – 3 Stars

Here to Stay by. Adriana Herrera – 3 1/2 Stars

The Silvered Serpents by. Roshani Chokshi – 4 Stars

The Last Story of Mina Lee by. Nancy Jooyoun Kim – 4 Stars

Master of Poisons by. Andrea Hairston – 3 1/2 Stars

Havenfall by. Sara Holland – 3 Stars

These Vengeful Hearts by. Katherine Laurin – 3 1/2 Stars

How was your August? I hope you had a good reading month and let’s have a great September!

♥️ ~ Yolanda

Monthly Wrap-Up | July 2020

Here we are in the second half of the year and I’m exhausted but school starts up again for my son, so here we go…the challenge of August because, every month is something different, right? 2020…we need to like do a full on sage, cleansing, purge…I don’t know what…haha. Anyway, here is what I read and/or reviewed in July:

I’m usually so lazy about posting links to my reviews but I’m trying to be less lazy about that haha…so here are the ratings and links:

The Black Kids by. Christina Hammonds Reed – 4 STARS

Today Tonight Tomorrow by. Rachel Lynn Solomon – 4 1/2 STARS

Black Girl Unlimited by. Echo Brown – 5 STARS

Into the Crooked Place by. Alexandra Christo – 3 STARS

I’ll Be the One by. Lyla Lee – 4 1/2 STARS

Dark Skies by. Danielle L. Jensen – 4 1/2 STARS

More Than Maybe by. Erin Harn – 3 1/2 STARS

In the Neighborhood of True by. Susan Kaplan Carlton – 4 STARS

Daring and the Duke by. Sarah MacLEAN – 4 STARS

The Kinder Poison by. Natalie Mae – 4 1/2 STARS

The Dark Tide by. Alicia Jasinska – 3 STARS

Queen of the Conquered by. Kacen Callender – 3 STARS

Mayhem by. Estelle Laure – 3 1/2 STARS

The Lost City by. Amanda Hocking – 3 STARS

I think July was a good month until the hurricane came our way haha – then my anxiety levels went up and I was struggling to read but that was at the end of the month.

We shall see how August goes but I hope it’s a good month. I read a lot of arcs that are releasing in September and they are SO good. Anyway, some of those reviews will be posted this month.

How did your July reading go?

Monthly Wrap Up | June 2020

Hi Lovelies!

Hello July, goodbye June. I want to say goodbye 2020 with a vaccine on hand haha, I’m ready for 2021 folks. Anyway, I think I read more in June because Hawaii’s flattened our covid curve to 0 cases in June and then…it’s starting to creep back up again, but not high, just the usual range we had pre-lockdown. My anxiety lessened in June, but we shall see for July. My son starts 2nd grade in 4 weeks. 😱 And we aren’t sure what the rest of the year will be like…will schools shutdown again and I’ll be his 2nd grade teacher? 😩 Will dwell on that when it comes, but here’s what I read in June:

Eleven books, not bad! But I’m pretty sure I read a few others on Kindle Unlimited, but because it’s a series, I’m trying to wait for the last book to do a mini review of the whole series. Also I read some books that have later publications and those reviews won’t post until late in the year.

My goal for June was to add more black authors and yay, I reached my goal! I read 6 books written by black authors and 2 by POC-Asian authors.

How was your month of June? I hope you have an awesome July!