Ten Upcoming Releases

February 5, 2019February 1, 2019 Sarah1 Comment

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature currently run by That Artsy Reader Girl.

I don’t track a ton of upcoming releases, so instead of fulfilling the real prompt ‘Upcoming Releases I’m on The Fence About’, I’m going to just make a list of upcoming books I’m looking forward to. I’ll leave out the ones I listed here though. Since I’m on a book-buying ban *and* trying to read books I already own in 2019, I’ll probably only end up reading The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter. She’s an insta-buy for me, book ban or not.

The Invited ~ Jennifer McMahon
- I like the look of this one – a couple flees suburbia just to build a house and end up building a haunted one. I already own, but haven’t read, her other book The Night Sister.
The Last Letter ~ Rebecca Yarros
- I think this is the only romance on this list. I don’t know why but the letter in the description caught my interest.
The Missing Years ~ Lexie Elliott
- Missing dad + Scottish Highlands + creepy house + possible ghosts? Might be a contender for Creepy October/Blogoween.

The Confessions of Frannie Langton ~ Sara Collins
- This looks so amazing I can’t do it justice here – just go read the Goodreads description. I might have to get this from the library in 2019.
Never Tell (D.D. Warren #10)~ Lisa Gardner
- I may not get to this one for awhile, but I’ve read the first 7 D.D. Warren books and once I’ve read through some of the books I already own, I’d love to read 8 through 10.
The Night Olivia Fell ~ Christina McDonald
- A mother tries to figure out what happened to her daughter – a chain of events that ends with Olivia falling off a bridge while pregnant. Seems like a good mystery.

The Raven Tower ~ Ann Leckie
- I’ve been looking to get more into fantasy lately so this one caught my eye immediately when I saw it on the Goodreads giveaway page. The author is apparently a great sci-fi writer so we’ll see how that translates!
The Victory Garden ~ Rhys Bowen
- I love fiction set during and directly after WWI and the description of this novel seems really touching and I think it looks like a really good read.
The Lost History of Dreams ~ Kris Waldherr
- I got really into Gothic historical fiction last year and the reviews for this one are so, so good. If I decide to do creepy October again this year this might be one of the books I get for that.
The Last Widow (Will Trent #9)~ Karin Slaughter {not pictured}
- I cannot wait for this! It’s on the “okay to buy during No-Buy 2019” list. It’s been awhile since there was a Will Trent/Sara Linton book and I’m pumped.

Top Ten Tuesday

Books I Meant to Read In 2018 but Didn’t Get To

January 22, 2019January 21, 2019 Sarah3 Comments

There are SO many books I wanted to read last year and wasn’t able to. I may not even get to them this year because the books never stop being published.

Jackaby by William Ritter
- I’m not sure why this book caught my eye, but it definitely has. I can’t wait to read it!
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
- I love books with amnesia in them, but this one is even more interesting because my friends seem to either love this book or feel very ehhhh about it. The cover is super cool, too.
Florence & Giles by John Harding
- In keeping with my newfound love of gothic horror novels, I had to add this one. It looks so creepy and good!

The Girl Without Skin by Mads Peder Nordbo
- I mean, who doesn’t want to read a book called The Girl Without Skin? It has mummified Vikings, murders, and so forth. It looks super twisty and interesting.
Final Girls by Riley Sager
- This looks like a great thriller that will be a really fun read.
No Exit by Taylor Adams
- Another great thriller, with the added fun of being trapped in a rest stop with a kidnapper.
Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter
- Just sign me up for any Karin Slaughter book ever. She’s an auto-buy author.

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
- Scalzi is hit or miss for me, but this looks like a book I could really enjoy.
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
- I legitimately don’t understand how I didn’t read this in 2018. It has such rave reviews, and I read the first few pages when I first got it which hooked me immediately. But I was reading a different book and it slipped off my radar.
Avalon by Mindee Arnett
- I can’t wait for summer, because I think reading this on the balcony at night is going to be so much fun.

~Sarah~

Top Ten Tuesday

Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2019

January 8, 2019January 4, 2019 Sarah6 Comments

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
- I love a good mystery and this one looks like a great one. Who doesn’t want to know why a woman shoots her husband in the face and then never speaks again?
The Au Pair by Emma Rous
- The comparison to VC Andrews is enough to make me want to read this one. I’ll be requesting it from the library.
Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong
- Is it cheating to put a book that’s next in a series you’re reading? I really enjoy the Rockton series. I discovered it while I was packing to move and I had both audiobooks and ebooks so I could read or listen when needed.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
- The buzz around this one is big, and it looks like a very interesting fantasy novel. It’s also huge. I’m excited.
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
- Written by the authors of The Illuminae Files. That’s enough for me, but the description also sounds great.
Shadow Captain by Alastair Reynolds
- Not going to lie, I’m eagerly anticipating this one for Shane. He loves Alastair Reynolds and he can’t wait to read this one.
The Similars by Rebecca Hanover
- I need to read more YA sci-fi, because I really love it and haven’t read much of it lately.

The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs by Katherine Howe
- I love Katherine Howe. I’ve read all her books, and I’m not about to stop now.
The Summer Country by Lauren Willig
- I haven’t read much historical fiction set in Barbados, but I’m very interested in this mystery.
Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal
- Pride and Prejudice plus a culture I’m fairly unfamiliar with? Sign me up.

Reading · Top Ten Tuesday

Best Books I Read In 2018

January 1, 2019January 1, 2019 SarahLeave a comment

Happy New Year!

I hope that 2019 is the best year yet.

I realized while making this list that I read very few books I really loved in 2018. I can do better in 2019. Obviously not every book I read will be a winner, but I can definitely choose books that are more likely to be ones I really enjoy. Anyway, I’m fairly sick (thanks allergies), so I’m presenting this list without commentary.

City of the Lost – Kelley Armstrong
The Broken Girls – Simone St James
The Queen’s Poisoner– Jeff Wheeler

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride – Cary Elwes
Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber, and the Invention of Criminal Profiling – Michael Cannell
Classic Style: Hand it Down, Dress it Up, Wear it Out – Kate Schelter
The Bullet Journal Method – Ryder Carroll

Obsidio – Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman
About a Dog – Jenn McKinlay
Before We Were Yours – Lisa Wingate

I hope you have an excellent first day of 2019.

Blogmas · Top Ten Tuesday

Ten Books I Hope to Find Under the Tree!

December 25, 2018December 21, 2018 Sarah1 Comment

Merry Christmas! This week’s topic from That Artsy Reader Girl is a list of the books I want to find under the tree today. I love this idea! I actually got a ton of the books I really really wanted from my Secret Santa done by The Broke and The Bookish blog, but I always have more on the list!

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter ~ Karin Slaughter is one of my favorite authors. This is the only novel of hers that I haven’t read yet. I’m on the Holds list for it, but it’s going to take for-ev-er.
The Broken Girls by Simone St. James ~ This is the only book of Simone St. James I don’t own, and I loved it as much as the others so I’d like to own it as well.
Force of Nature by Jane Harper ~ I liked the first Aaron Falk book, and would love to give the sequel a try.

So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know by Retta ~ I follow Retta on Twitter, and loved her in Parks and Rec. I’m so interested in knowing more about her.
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King ~ Mr Rogers is the last great American {television} hero…along with Bob Ross, obviously. He’s inspiring and I want to read about what he was like outside of the show.
Becoming by Michelle Obama ~ Speaking of inspiration, who wouldn’t want to read Michelle Obama’s autobiography?

Florence & Giles by John Harding ~ There’s nothing about this book that’s not right up my alley. I can’t wait to read it!
The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir ~ An ultra-religious family with a pregnant but not married daughter? Sign me up.
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal ~ This seems like an interesting twist on the space race and apocalypse. I’m hooked.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells ~ The series is called The Murderbot Diaries. How could I not want to read this?

~Sarah~

Blogmas · Top Ten Tuesday

My Top Ten on My Winter TBR

December 18, 2018December 17, 2018 SarahLeave a comment

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature currently run by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Usually, I don’t really look at these TBR lists after making them, but I feel like this is a pretty accurate representation of what I’m going to be reading over the next couple of months. Especially Terminal World, I’ve been reading it off and on for months, and Shane (who loves it), is starting to get his feelings hurt. The rest of these fiction books are ones that I’ve been really looking forward to.

All the Weyrs of Pern ~ Anne McCaffrey
Terminal World ~ Alastair Reynolds
Avalon – Mindee Arnett
A Winter Flame ~ Milly Johnson
The Mysterious Affair At Castaway House ~ Stephanie Lam

On the non-fiction side, I’ve been looking at figuring out this whole ‘being a super responsible adult’ thing, hence the style books, the book on writing, and the book on bullet journals. The Murder Room is just going to be a great read.

The Curated Closet ~ Anuschka Rees
Classic Style: Hand it Down, Dress it Up, Wear it Out ~ Kate Schelter
The Murder Room ~ Michael Capuzzo
On Writing ~ Stephen King
The Bullet Journal Method ~ Ryder Carroll

Blogmas · Top Ten Tuesday

10 Horror Novels I Can’t Wait to Read

October 30, 2018October 29, 2018 Sarah10 Comments

I don’t really go for very horrific horror novels, if you haven’t been able to tell from my review choices this October. I love creepy books, though. When the suspense and eerie feelings ratchet up to a crescendo, that’s when I’m most intrigued. There’s a list on Goodreads called Space Horror that I keep meaning to go though and add to my TBR mountain, because I love two kinds of horror more than any others – gothic creepiness in Victorian mansions and terror in space where there can be no escape. That said, I don’t read as much horror as I’d like, so for my Halloween Top Ten Tuesday topic, here are some horror(ish) books I’d like to check out.

On to the list!

The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon ~ It’s got so much I adore in a novel! Complicated family relationships, generational curses (even if not actually cursed), abandoned motels, missing people, etc. I picked this up a library book sale and I’m pretty sure it’s a quarter well spent.

The Desolation of Solitude by Sean-Paul Thomas (also called Alone, apparently) ~ Here’s that space horror I enjoy, but in a novella (150 pages is a novella, right?). It’s got similarities with the movie Passengers from what I can tell, but has the creepiness raised a ton. No memories, waking up alone in space, lady companion also awakes, dark thoughts, ghostly visions. You can download it for free, so why wouldn’t I?

This House is Haunted by John Boyne ~ This has a governess in the mid 1800s who rolls up to her new employment but there are only children and no adults. Oh, and ghosts. It also has awesome cover art, and I won’t deny that helps.

Snowblind by Christopher Golden ~ Ghostly happenings in a blizzard? Yes please! This is definitely a book I’m looking forward to – snow is something I see *maybe* once a year or so and the thought of a full-on blizzard is kind of terrifying. Add ghosts/demons/the supernatural and it’s a definite fear inducer.

No Doors. No Windows. by Joe Schreiber ~ I enjoy novels that play tricks on with your mind – is he insane or haunted? This seems to meet that criteria, and seems generally spooky, so I’m looking forward to it!

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay ~ This is a home invasion story that’s not really my style but the description on Goodreads hooked me. I have to know more about what the men are up to.

Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey ~ I love Carey’s previous novels and I’m so excited to read another one! The reviews look excellent & I’m not surprised.

The Hunting Ground by Cliff McNish ~ I honestly don’t know anything about this book beyond the Goodreads blurb, but that was enough to add it to the list. I’m intrigued!

The Waiting Room by F. G. Cottam ~ An abandoned war-time train station waiting room with ghosts sounds like an amazing rainy day read. I also love the ‘ghost hunter isn’t really a ghost hunter, but is now a believer’ trope, so I’m in.

The Ghost Hunters by Neil Spring ~ I love the time period between the world wars, especially in the UK, so that in addition to the aforementioned trope in a creepy old rectory makes this book a must-read.

~S~

Reading · Top Ten Tuesday

Books By My Favorite Authors…That I Still Haven’t Read

September 25, 2018September 24, 2018 SarahLeave a comment

This one is tough, since I generally read everything an author has written as soon as I figure out I love that author. Please see Karin Slaughter & Simone St. James. However, I have plenty of ‘guilty pleasure’ authors & a couple of non-fiction authors that I read more sporadically.

My Guilty Pleasure Authors:

A Deeper Darkness by JT Ellison – I loved her Taylor Jackson series (I apparently missed one of those as well, but I’m not changing my list!), so I can’t wait to get started on the Dr. Samantha Owens series!
Find Her by Lisa Gardner – I’ve read all but 7 of Gardner’s books (not counting .5s or her romance novels) and I can’t get enough of them. This is the 8th in the D.D. Warren series & I’d like to catch up before the 10th comes out next year.
Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag – I rediscovered Tami Hoag this year and I’m a big fan. I’ve heard this is the weakest in her Oak Knoll series, but I’d like to find out for myself. Her weakest book is still stronger than most.
I’ll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark – Mary Higgins Clark is such a classic – I know what I’m getting into and that I’m going to enjoy to enjoy myself. Plus, a woman is on video kidnapping her own kid but she didn’t do it, I’m in.

The Non-Fiction:

The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston – I like Preston’s fiction works too, but this one has all the things I love. A lost city, mysterious illness, adventure, history, etc.
Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh – I connect with Allie Brosh’s illustrations and stories on a soul-level. I don’t know how I haven’t read this.
Hell’s Princess by Harold Schecter – I have quite a few of his books waiting on the shelves, but I’m very very interested in his take on Belle Gunness.

The Current ‘Favorite’:

I’m currently reading all the Charles Todd books I can. Well, I will be once I get done with all the books I need to read. I’ve been turning to British cozy mystery tv shows, so it’s no surprise that I’m drawn to (what I consider) British cozy mystery books. It may be a bit cheating to have 3 books from the same author, but I don’t care.

Wings of Fire (Inspector Ian Rutledge #2)
An Impartial Witness (Bess Crawford #2)
A Bitter Truth (Bess Crawford #3)

Tag: Top Ten Tuesday

Ten Upcoming Releases

Books I Meant to Read In 2018 but Didn’t Get To

Top Ten New-to-Me Authors I Read In 2018

Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2019

Best Books I Read In 2018

Happy New Year!

Ten Books I Hope to Find Under the Tree!

My Top Ten on My Winter TBR

Top Ten Cozy Winter Reads

10 Horror Novels I Can’t Wait to Read

Books By My Favorite Authors…That I Still Haven’t Read

My Guilty Pleasure Authors:

The Non-Fiction:

The Current ‘Favorite’: