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2020 MID-YEAR WRAP UP
You know what they say about living in interesting times. 2020 has been interesting indeed. A little too interesting really. I hope we all live to tell the tale.
As I mentioned before in my 2019 MIDYEAR WRAP-UP, I don’t set reading goals because they’re jinxed. I go where my mood takes me or when I have an ARC to finish. I was lucky to be sent some audiobooks from exciting authors. We’ll get to that.
First, some updates…
Updates
The biggest one so far is YAY! My blog has a new home!
Neverhollowed.com is up, alive and kicking! Bigger, better, still with the same two dorks gazing at each other silly.
Also, I’m so happy about this too, Never Hollowed By The Stare has reached 128 followers!!! Love you all for sticking with me!
On a personal note, I started a new job last March. Just in time for the lockdowns to start. I’m lucky I got into a good company who did not kick little rookie me out and instead allowed me to WFH. So yeah, messy year aside, my family is safe, I have a job, I have my blog. I have a lot to be thankful for!
Mid-Year Reads
As of June 20, I have read a total of 65 book. Last year I have dabbled in non-fiction and graphic novels, but this year, it’s all MM romances.
Between her Nothing Special series, The Bounty Hunters, and Bishop‘s story, A.E. Via is my most read author so far. I’m totally trash for her brand of romance. I’ve finished 11 books and still can’t get enough.
I’ve only finished 2 series as of the mid-year.
Exit Strategy by Jocelynn Drake – a pair of squeetastic mercenary boyfriends fighting for their freedom from the biz. (4 stars)
Fog City by Layla Reyne – a twisty, action-suspense assassin story that ended with less bang than I expected. (3 stars)Standalones are harder to find as most books are part of a series. Here are some standouts.
The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish – a whimsical, oh so soft story about two wonderful people finding that magical connection. (5 stars)
Freckles by Amy Lane – a fluffy tale of a cute puppy bringing two do-gooding people together. (4 stars)
Kiss Me Again by Garrett Leigh – a sweet hurt/comfort story of two men who met at the hospital and made each other’s lives more colorful (4.5 stars)
Falling for My Roommate by Garrett Leigh – another hurt/comfort gem about two roommates who were so much, much more than that. (4 stars)I am stingy with my stars but the first half of this year saw 5 books earning that golden 5-star rating:
The Vampire’s Club Book 5 by X. Aratare – this little vampirelicious obsession of mine just keeps getting better and better
Promises Part 4 by A.E. Via – I knew early on Brian King’s book will be good but man, it really blew me away.
The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish – I really love those soft magical boys!
Tallowwood by N.R. Walker – police procedural, hurt/comfort at it’s best. Also, August has a dimple!
Any Old Diamonds by K.J. Charles – outstanding characterization and tension you can cut with a knife made this one of the author’s best.What books made it to your 5-star list?
Future Reads
I’m still trying to overcome my procrastination and get to those books that are part of the series I’m currently committed to. Those are my future reads.
Check out SERIES STUFF: Ongoing Series for a-rundown of the series I need to finish.
I received an ARC of Redemption by Garrett Leigh. The blurb reads:
Reformed gangster Luis falls hard for his boss. When friendship turns to love, itโs up to Paolo to convince him second chances are worth the pain.
This is going to be good, I just know it!.
I love audiobooks and I currently have 3 that are up for a listen.
Promise is an ex-con/cop romance with a single dad on the run and an adorable daughter to protect. I just finished this. It fell something between like and love. I posted a review here.
I enjoyed most Garrett Leigh books so I immediately jumped on a chance to sign up for a review copy of Rented Heart, a rent boy romance. Expect a lot of angst.
The Young Americans is a series about actors. The second book, True Faith was just released. I’m excited to read that but first, I have the audiobook for Just Like Heaven! Yay!
What are your audiobook picks for this year?
TAGS and MISC Posts
NEW YEARS TAG
THE MUSIC TAG
BOOKS I DNFed OR PUT ON HOLD
BOOKS I DNFed OR PUT ON HOLD (Part 2)
ALPHABETICALS BOOK TAG: A
ALPHABETICALS BOOK TAG: B
SERIES STUFF: Begin the Begin
SERIES STUFF: The Finished Ones
SERIES STUFF: Series I Dropped
SERIES STUFF: Ongoing Series
Possible Queer Story Prompts Inspired by Songs
MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: From Rom-Coms to Serial Killers
MINI MOVIE REVIEWS: A Bit of Drama and Some Hokey Vampires
FAVORITE COVERS: May 2020
So thatโs my midyear wrap-up for 2020. Hereโs hoping the rest of the year treats us well!
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2019 MIDYEAR WRAP-UP
I’m not very good at this wrap-up thing. I started doing it January then promptly forgot for the rest of the year because I’m a lazy, lazy blogger.
I didn’t set reading goals for this year because reading goals is a sure-fire way to get into a reading slump for me. Like that currently reading shelf jinx in GR where putting a book on the currently reading list automatically assures that I will not be picking up that book again. I have 6 books stuck in that shelf for more than a year already. Anybody else ever experienced this jinx?
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Future Readings: ARCs & TBRs for February
NETGALLEY PICKS:
Tea – Matthew J. Metzger: This looks like one cozy read!
Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks – Nathan Burgoine: Very promising title. If you can go anywhere, where would you go?
Parallel Larry – Jacqueline Rohrback: I love the parallel lives premise. A second change romance with a sci-fi twist
Star Collector Vol. 1 – Anna B & Sophie Schonhammer: I just liked the cover. Also, shounen ai manga always gives me life.
Foreign To You – Jeremy Martin: Also liked the soft colors on the cover. That, and the fantasy element.
REVIEW REQUESTS:
Ripe: Letters – Alan Semrow: Addressing the men in his life in the form of letters. The nosy nancy in me is intrigued.
To Be His Life – George Leedy: I need to read this ASAP, it’s due soon. A gay-for-you story. Let’s see how far the straight man will stray.
NYV: Goth – K.D. Mcquain: calls to mind the 1980s goth scene. Time to break out the hair spray and black lipstick.
Fabulous! An Opera Buffa – Laury A. Egan: I’m especially excited to read this one because of the sheer number of singing transdivas in my country
Darkness on the Horizon – Christopher Renna: This is due soon too. Dark secrets, murder, deception. Yep, the good stuff.
The Illuminati Circle – Robert J. Ristino: Who can resist those good ole illuminati stories?
A Flight of Broken Wings – Nupur Chowdhury: It’s not just romance all the time. Sometimes we need good stories about friendship too! This one might be it.
The Blood Prince – Josie Jaffrey: Kind of drives me crazy that I don’t have a copy of The Silver Queen yet but I got this ARC already. Can’t wait to find out what happened to Cam and Felix.
