-
MY TOP 10 READS OF 2020
-
BOOKS I DNFed OR PUT ON HOLD (Part 2)
I rarely post reviews of books lower than 3-stars because usually I can’t be arsed to finish them. Also, I’m such a mood reader that sometimes, no matter how good a book is I still couldn’t finish it if I’m not feeling right.
So here are more books I lost motivation for or not feeling right now…
Broken by Colette Davison
Rule #1: Keep running.
I loved the prequel, Unbreakable, and I was expecting more of that fluffy, humorous feel. Broken is angstier which is fine but I wasn’t feeling the chemistry even though I’m midway through already. I liked the Heaven and Hell boys so I would probably get back to this when the mood strikes.
Bitter Legacy – Dal Maclean
Detective Sergeant James Henderson of London’s Metropolitan Police Murder Investigation Team is no ordinary police officer.
I really felt bad about DNFing this. This was beautifully written, I love the British book feels, the mystery was engaging but gad why does it have to have CHEATING? And not just once but multiple times. I could deal with poly but a blatant disregard for a partner’s feelings who was obviously not okay with an open relationship? I’m definitely walking away.
The Bodyguard by X. Aratare
Sean’s attraction to the vulnerable Dane gives him new purpose, but his past is not escaped so easily, and his sixth sense tells him that there is more to the Ydrath than even Dane knows.
Written in typical X. Aratare style which I loved but unfortunately wasn’t working that well here. It’s so romance-centric that it felt more like nothing was happening, just two guys sending UST vibes to each other. Normally, I would be all over that sort of thing but I was just bored this time. I will get back to this someday because the backbones of the series is interesting enough for me.
A serial killer stalks the streets of Flint, Ohio. The victims are always found in pairs, one human and one vampire.
This one was a plain bore. The characters were flat, the dialogues were blah. Even the great Michael Ferraiuolo couldn’t save it.
(Part 1 here)
How do you feel about DNFing a book? Are you a mood reader too?
-
BOOKS I DNFed OR PUT ON HOLD
I rarely post reviews of books lower than 3-stars because usually I can’t be arsed to finish them. Also, I’m such a mood reader that sometimes, no matter how good a book is I still couldn’t finish it if I’m not feeling right.
So here are some books I keep promising I would get back to…
Rocket Science by K.M.Neuhold
Relationships aren’t rocket science. If they were, I might stand a chance of figuring one out.
Normally, I’d be all over the awkward nerdy types but unfortunately, I wasn’t connecting with either MCs. I read up to the middle up but I’m not sure I would continue with this one.
NoX by Adrienne Wilder
One is a dying man.
The other is a man who died to live.This is a really good take on the shifter trope and a very gripping story too but all the intensity, the haunted memories and primal lust was too much for me. I kept imagining how these people stink to high heavens with their 15-man orgy and being cooped up in a van. I got tired of people going on and on about Luca’s brother Koda. He took over the story but I wanted more focus on Luca and NoX. I wanted Dr. Dante to have a happy ending too.
I started this last year and kept promising to get back to this but up until now, I’m still stuck in the middle.
Criminal Past by Gregory Ashe
It all starts to go wrong at the shooting gallery.
I love this series. I love Hazard and Somers. I simply got tired of Hazard’s ‘voice’ and thought processes. This series is written in dual POV but it’s really Hazard’s story. Which means from his POV, everybody was described in unflattering ways except Somers who is all sunshine and rainbows.
I am a pessimistic person myself but jeez, lighten up will you..
The Seven of Spades has upped the ante. If Levi and Dominic don’t play their cards right, they’ll end up losing everything.
This picks up after Levi and Dom’s break up which was kind of stupid really because they still end up having sex when they bump into each other. This is fine.
What I didn’t like was how everybody was poking their noses on Levi and Dom’s business. I know their friends mean well, but I didn’t feel like going through all their nagging. I’m putting this on hold until I’m in the right headspace. I’ll still continue with this because I need to see if my guess as to the identity of the SOS is on the money.
Thrown to the Wolves by Charlie Adhara
Agent Cooper Dayton is going to meet his boyfriend’s werewolf family. Unarmed. On their turf.
And he’s bringing his cat.I was on my shifter binge when I started this. Unfortunately, the mood petered halfway. I will pick this up again when the mood strikes again. I had enjoyed the first two books so far so I know I’m gonna like this too.
How do you feel about DNFing a book? Are you a mood reader too?
-
MY TOP 10 READS OF 2019
-
DREAMY COVERS BOOK TAG: Book Edition
Totally judging books by their covers with another Dreamy Book Covers tag.
-
15 LGBTQ READS I WANT TO SEE ON SCREEN
So far I’m happy that we get to see some LGBTQ books turned into movies like Love, Simon and Call Me By Your Name. I am still hoping that someday Netflix would pick up more of these books until such time LGBTQ movies and tv series would be a common everyday show for everybody.
Here are some of the titles I think should be adapted to the screen.
-
Book Addiction Tag
Found this tag here.
1) What is the longest amount of time you can comfortably go without picking up a book?
A couple of days to a week when I am on a slump. The worst one was a 3 year-book slump in the early 2010s when every YA book seemed to feature special snowflake white girls, broody asshole love interests and the dreaded love triangles. Hooray for diversity!
2) How many books do you carry on your person (or kindle) at any one time?
I used to carry at least one small paperback but now I have my tablet so it packs A LOT. Funnily enough, I hardly read when I am out. Just the thought of all those books with me is a comfort though.
3) Do you keep every book you buy/receive or are you happy to pass them on to make space for more?
I hoard so no matter how bad the book is, it still has a place on my shelf. I even used to keep termite eaten books because I was so attached. I have reformed, somewhat.
4) How long would you spend in a bookshop on a standard visit?
We have only two sources of books in my town both of which are located inside major malls. One is a used book chain where I could browse as long as I want which can take 30 mins to a couple of hours. The other is a giant book store chain where the security guards seem to think I am a weirdo they need to constantly monitor which is not really conducive to leisurely browsing.
5) How much time per day do you actually spend reading?
An hour or two now that I have been warned by doctors after having dry eyes. Who knew dry eyes could cause serious migraines, vomiting and a stay in the hospital.
6) Where does the task ‘picking up a book’ appear on your daily to-do list?
Every time I step inside a mall, I have the urge to drop by the aforementioned bookstores so I really make a conscious effort to avoid them or else my budget is whacked!
7) How many books do you reckon you own in total (including e-books)?
More than a thousand is my guesstimate
8) Approximately how often do you bring up books in conversation?
I almost never do. Because hardly anybody reads around here. Also, I tend to keep my hobbies and interests to myself mostly because I know people are not interested in them.
9) What is the biggest book (page count) you have finished reading?
1110 pages of Caesar and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullugh. Gone were the days when I consider this light reading. Now, I’m all give me something short and gay
10) Is there a book you had to get your hands on against all odds (i.e searching bookshops, online digging, etc.)?
Still pining for that out of print edition of Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. Also, I’m dying to get my hands on the Abarat books by Clive Barker and first editions of the Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman
11) A book you struggled to finish but refused to DNF?
There’s a bookmark stuck in the middle of The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch. It has been there for more than a year. I refuse to give up on Locke and Jean.
12) What are 3 of your main book goals for 2019?
- Take better care of my eyes so I can still read books when I’m old.
- Finish ARCs on time.
- Read more books from my TBR list rather than always starting randomly on any shiny new tome that catches my fancy. This is probably the most difficult goal of the three.
13) Have you ever had the privilege of converting someone into a reader (maybe via inspiration or incessant nagging)?
I am happy that my father and sister read some of my collection but like I said, hardly anybody around here is interested in reading. I have even offered to lend my Harry Potter books to younger relatives (something I never do under normal circumstances) but nobody budged.
14) Describe what books mean to you in five words.
It’s my cup of tea.
-
A to Z Book Survey
I thought it would be fun to do this survey. I found it on Howling Libraries and it was originally created by Perpetual Page Turner
Author you’ve read the most books from:
Definitely my favorite, K.J. Charles. The plan is to read all of her books. The ones I had finished so far:
- A Charm of Magpies series
- A Society of Gentlemen series
- Remnant
- Sins of the Cities series
- Spectred Isle
- The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal
- Think of England
- Unfit to Print
- Wanted, An Author
- Wanted, A Gentleman
For the longest time, there weren’t any clear pictures of KJC on the interwebs. Found the pic above from her interview with a German website.
Best Sequel Ever:
I have yet to read the best sequel ever. Though I really liked The Dream Thieves more than The Raven Boys.
The Raven Cycle review here
Currently Reading:
Typically, I have several books going for when the mood strikes
Drink of Choice While Reading:
I don’t drink while reading. I chug down a huge mug of room temperature coffee like people chug beer then read.
E-reader or Physical Book?
Physical books but I also have an e-reader for when I go out.
Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:
Hah! I have a hard time answering this as I rarely consider dating a fictional character because I am too busy shipping them with another character.
Ok…lemme think…
Shit! I really don’t know.
Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:
Never Understand by Bbong
I didn’t like the art at first. And I thought there were too many chapters since I rarely read anything with more than 10 chapters. I gave it a try because the premise was kind of interesting then it proceeded to blew me away.
Review here
Hidden Gem Book:
Futari Hyakkei: Kaze no Owari Haru no Hajimari by Mita Ori
My number 1 manga for 2018. I wish people would notice this more because this has some of the sweetest, most fluff-tastic manga moments. Like I said, relationship goals.
Review here
Important Moment in your Reading Life:
Way back in elementary, a classmate introduced me to Nancy Drew books which turned me into a bookworm. Also seeing the cover of the Japanese edition of Captive Prince which very effectively put my 3-year book slump to death and put me on the road to becoming a book blogger.
Just look at them!
Review here
Just Finished:
Leo Loves Aries (review to come)
Haphaven review here
Star Collector (review to come)Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:
I don’t read any religious, erotica, or sports-centric books. Also, I don’t go for hardcore yaoi stuff. Books with love triangles are big turn offs and cheating is a deal-breaker.
Longest Book You’ve Read:
For now, The October Horse: A Novel of Caesar and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough at 1110 pages.
But it will be Special Forces by Alexander Voinov once I find the courage to embark on a 3000-page saga.
Review of Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series here
Major book hangover because of:
Where Death Meets the Devil by L.J. Hayward
because Jack and Ethan is OMG!!!
Death and The Devil review here
Number of Bookcases You Own:
One big bookcase that doubles as a TV stand and two small bookshelves on a wall.
One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:
Spectred Isle by K.J. Charles
Read the book twice then the audiobook because I loved Ruairi Carter’s narration
Captive Prince trilogy
Read the ebook, then the physical books and audiobook because I wasn’t too obsessed, no.
Preferred Place To Read:
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:
I’m thinking I should memorize this so I could use it when the opportunity comes. This was one of my favorite book moments.
I could go on and on about His Quiet Agent by Ada Maria Soto but really, just read it and be charmed by Arthur and Martin’s sweet, soft romance.
Review here
Reading Regret:
Throwing away an out of print edition of Night Watch by Sergey Lukyanenko because it got wet and heavily damaged. For purely sentimental reasons, I should have kept it. Now there’s a gaping hole in my collection and it is forever haunting me.
Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):
Specter (the first series) by Jordan L. Hawk
I’ve read the first 5 books of series 1 and I have Summoner of Storms on standby. I’m just prolonging the agony because I need to be in the right mood for that big finale.
Review here
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
Also holding out on the last book The Raven King because I don’t want the adventure to end
Shades of Magic by Victoria Schwab
I hesitate to read the second book because I like to imagine Kell and Rhy end up together and Lila as an aro ace and/or the whole series as entirely romance free.
Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:
Spectred Isle review here
Exquisite Corpse review here
His Quiet Agent review hereUnapologetic Fangirl/Fanboy For:
Yes, these dorks. Review here
Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:
I was giddy with excitement last December waiting for Why The Devil Stalks Death by L.J. Hayward. This could very well be the best sequel ever but as of now I am afraid to touch it because my expectations are so high.
Worst Bookish Habit:
I am a mood reader. I start on something, then quickly lose interest and not pick up the book again for a very long time. I also need to take better care of my eyes. I use the laptop for hours on end then even when my eyes are too tired I still try to read. So my vision keeps getting worse.
X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th bookJ
On my physical shelf: Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
I love the Gentleman Bastards! What is Locke’s real name? Willing to wait till I’m a dried up skeleton for The Thief of Emberlain. Just make it good, Scott. No pressure.
On my e-reader: A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick
This I haven’t read yet. The 2006 animated movie looks interesting tho. There’s RDJ having a Kafka moment.
Your latest book purchase:
Rich People’s Problems by Kevin Kwan
Love this trilogy! I read the ebooks and my father liked Crazy Rich Asians so I bought the physical books to make it easier for him to read. I haven’t watched the movie. I probably will when they show it on HBO. I still haven’t gotten the hang of the Netflix and chill thing because slow ass internet is anything but chill.
Review here
ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
Leo Loves Aries by Anyta Sunday
This kept me up until 6 AM, good thing it was a Saturday. This is also another book I was glad I gave a chance. I thought it would a boring relationship-centric contemporary but holy heck, what a delicious memorable slow burn dance it was!
RTC
-
My Top 10 Reads of 2018
-
Psycop: Body and Soul – Jordan Castillo Price
Thanksgiving can’t end too soon for Victor Bayne, who’s finding Jacob’s family hard to swallow. Luckily, he’s called back to work to track down a high-profile missing person.
Meanwhile, Jacob tries to find a home they can move into that’s not infested–with either cockroaches, or ghosts. As if the house-hunting isn’t stressful enough, Vic’s new partner Bob Zigler doesn’t seem to think he can do anything right. A deceased junkie with a bone to pick leads Vic and Zig on a wild chase that ends in a basement full of horrors.
Took me two tries before I got Body and Soul right. In the first try, Vic’s pill popping is so off-putting and I was like, I didn’t want to read about a junkie. Second try succeeded because I had a change of perspective and told myself Vic is taking meds and everybody takes one or two to keep going. Heck, even I got my own daily maintenance. So I’m sorry, Vic.
Victor Bayne is a person with a difficult personality. He’s neurotic, socially awkward and has a lot of bad memories of psych-wards just waiting to be triggered. That’s not to say he’s not without his charm because Jacob Marks is head over heels in love with him. And I personally love Vic’s bland attitude towards most things. That and his commentaries.
Jacob is looking for a place they could both move into, someplace free of ghosts. Vic is sure there must be a place somewhere in a city as big as Chicago. Turns out it’s harder to find one than they think. Major points to Jacob for having the patience of a saint and for indulging Vic.
Also I was listening to this in the small hours of the morning, which is the prime time for anxieties and dark thoughts. I was fervently hoping my subconscious do not pick up on the images of dead people with half their heads attached or those nasty voodooed things Vic and Zig found in the basement. What my stupid brain projected in my sleep was that of a toddler with hideous features and bendy limbs. Must be that ghost baby in Vic’s laundry room. Good job creeping me out, JCP!
Despite their ,IMO, rather abrupt start, Vic and Jacob’s relationship is going extremely well. Jacob is still the image of a perfect (sometimes too perfect) boyfriend but I’m cottoning on to the idea that there are good, dependable boyfriends in the world and one of them happens to love Vic. Also, I enjoyed tagging along with Vic and Zig in their investigation and it looks like Vic is starting to like Zigler as his partner. Zig’s a good guy so I hope he sticks around.
Yay! I am finally getting the hang of Psycop and I’m in it for the long haul.
P.S.
What on earth happened to Lisa?
Nonsensical comments on book 1, Among the Living here
Blathers on book 2, Criss Cross hereRating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead
Artist: Cannibal Corpse
Album: The Bleeding(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6978605-body-and-soul)
