Weekly Reading Update 7/8 - 7/14/16!

Another week, another update! As always, click the title for more information.

It feels like I have been super busy this week, but I’m not sure that’s really true. I think I’m just exhausted. We’re down five employees at work, so we’re all rushing at work to get everything done. Unfortunately, this means I’m worn out by the time I get home, and so I haven’t read too much. Mostly shorter books.

I finally read Driven by K. Bromberg. I’ve read another book by this a while ago, a later book in the series. I can see why people are so obsessed with it. I had to request the second book from the library, and I’m not sure how much longer I can stand to wait for it. There were quite a few moments where I wanted to shake both of the main characters, so they would come to their senses about each other. But in general, the first book has that tension that I enjoy so much in my romances.

I read a couple more Tor.com novellas. I’m working my way through all the ones my library system owns - I’m pretty addicted. I read Pieces of Hate by Tim Lebbon, as well as The Last Witness by K.J. Parker. Honestly, Pieces of Hate didn’t work for me. It’s a classic case of “great idea in theory, not so much in execution.” sigh. But The Last Witness was good. Not as amazing as some of the other novellas, but still a good read.

I’m still working my way through the Aftershock series by Jill Sorenson. Book three, Badlands, is Owen and Penny’s story, and I have been looking forward to this since book one! Just like the previous books in the series, this was another awesome romantic suspense, and one that immediately went on my wish-list upon finishing. I already have the next book, which is a quick novella in a book with another author. Honestly, I’m so eager to read Jill Sorenson’s story that I might just skip the other story in the book…

I finally got the chance to read Stuck-Up Suit by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. I loved it! I can see why it got so much good press in the romance community. It was another instant wish-list book. And now I’m going to have to find what else these two authors have written together.

I read Someone Like You by Jennifer Gracen for Romance Reviews Today. It was a good read, I really liked it, but it took me forever to read because I had so much other stuff going on. Tossing in the titles of a few other quick reads from this week - Learning to Ride by Erin Knightley, Batman & Robin Eternal Volume 1 by Scott Snyder, and Dead Things by Stephen Blackmoore. I read Learning to Ride because I wanted to give one of those Bookshots novellas a chance.. But I hate James Patterson, so I refused to read one of his books. Luckily another couple authors joined in the trend. Batman & Robin Eternal was awesome, and I can’t wait for the next volume. And Dead Things was read for our paranormal book club at work - it was so good. Amazing character development and story, despite it being less than 300 pages.

See you next week!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Weekly Reading Update 5/20 - 5/26/16!

Another week, another update! Let's see what sort of trouble I got to up this week, hmm?

As always, click the title to get more information about each book!

Saturday was ALA’s annual Readathon, so I spent my day reading an 800 page book - The Fixed Trilogy by Laurelin Paige. This author is part of the writing team Laurelin McGee, so I’ve decided to try reading some books by both individual authors. So, since The Fixed Trilogy seemed to be Laurelin Paige’s most well known book, I requested a copy to read. 800 pages later, I’m still torn about my feelings. These characters are messed up, very very messed up. But it’s been several days since I finished it, and I still can’t stop thinking about it. So that says something about the author’s ability to write a compelling story - it definitely gets under your skin.

I also read a short novella (or novelette?) by Mary Robinette Kowal titled The Forest of Memory. This was a random find at work, and I’m so glad I read it. It was weird, but oh-so-good. If you like strange, haunting science fiction - definitely check out this short book. And by short, I mean 80-ish pages! Definitely perfect for a lunch break or stormy evening. I’ve already decided to hunt down more books by this author.

To finish off my weekend, I went on a graphic novel reading binge. Surprise, right? I read Figment and Figment 2: Legacy of Imagination, both by Jim Zub. I love love love all things Disney, so of course I had to pick these up when my library bought them. They were adorable! I want a Figment of my own. I also read Young Avengers 1: Style > Substance by Kieron Gillen. I’m not the biggest Young Avengers fan, but I really enjoy Kieron Gillen’s work, so I had to pick it up. And it was definitely worth a read. I already have the next volume requested.

Next up was Royal Wedding Disaster by Meg Cabot. Since the Princess Diaries series ended with Royal Wedding (though I will always hold out hope for more Mia!), I have to get my Michael Moscovitz fix in however I can - even if it means reading the diaries of Mia’s younger sister. But you know what, they are legitimately adorable books, just like the rest of Cabot’s work. The first book in this series, From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess was just as cute - and frankly, I think they will both have to be added to my wish list.

I moved onto the paranormal and science fiction route after that - reading The Devil You Know by K.J. Parker. This is another one of the short novellas/novelettes from Tor.com, like The Forest of Memory. It was a very interesting read, with devious characters and the whole selling your soul to a demon thing. After that, I moved onto Rocked By Love by Christine Warren. This is the fourth book in her Gargoyles series. Christine Warren is a go-to for me when it comes to paranormal romance. I have several of her books on my keeper shelves. And I love the direction she’s taking with this series.

I finished off this week reading Creed by Kristen Ashley. I read Knight a few months ago, and it really got under my skin. I didn’t think I liked the book, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.. So I searched out the second book. As of writing this, I’m only halfway into the book (hopefully finishing it

tonight), but it’s already got the same feel. I even dreamed about the characters last night! It’s just frustrating - I didn’t know I could like and hate something at the same time.

Happy Reading
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~