January Wrap Up

Someone mentioned to me that January is the trial period for 2024. What happens after the trial period is over? Do we get to decide to go back to 2023? Or are we just billed for the remaining months of 2024? I suspect that we are just required to continue through 2024 after the January trial period is over.

This month COVID hit my house. Everyone has recovered from their bouts of COVID. And I remained COVID-free for this round. I tested almost everyday and each test reported the same thing: COVID cooties not detected. Definitely appreciated that.

This month I read seven books, four audiobooks and three books from Kindle Unlimited. I’ve heard there’s controversy whether audiobooks is considered to be reading. YES! is my answer. I love the flexibility that audio books provide. Depending on the narrator(s) and production, audio books can be very entertaining and exciting. Some have sound effects and music, which I love and really help me get into the story and heightens the drama or the action scenes of the book. I can listen to them in the car, while I’m walking, while I’m people-watching. I’m a heavy user of my public library. I tend to borrow audio books from my local library. I use Kindle Unlimited to read the books that my local library doesn’t have. The indie authors, some self-published authors, so I love the diversity here.

I posted about two titles from Kindle Unlimited: God of Malice and Unhinged. God of Malice was a dark romance title. Unhinged had me questioning my life choices up to the point. Okay, that was a bit dramatic, but maybe I should write a book. I bet I could be a top selling smutty romance novelist. Something I’m thinking about for sure.

I also read The Blood Trials and The Blood Gift by N.E. Davenport. The reviews are mixed on this series. I enjoyed the books. But I did prefer The Blood Trials, the first book of the duology, better. To me, most of the good action took place in the first book. The book isn’t quite young adult, but certainly is geared toward the young/new adult-aged folks.

I also read Thoroughly Pucked by Lauren Blakely. It’s a part of a new genre that I discovered last summer, Why Choose? or also reverse-harem. I’m here for it. The main female character has two, or more, partners (mostly male, but I read one that included a female partner too). I think they’re fun to read and they’ve all had a happy ending where the polyamorous grouping was accepted by everyone — family, friends, the world.

Picture this. I’m about to walk down the aisle when the groom decides to drop this news on me – he wants to dial it down to just f-buddies.
That’s when my brother’s two pro-hockey playing buddies help me escape seconds before the wedding march begins.
But what’s a runaway bride to do with a broken heart and a non-refundable honeymoon? Book an extra ticket and take two off-limits, totally charming, absolutely gorgeous star athletes who want to lift my spirits.
When we arrive there’s only bed in the hotel room.
And it happens to fit three. The goalie, the forward and me.

Looks like I’m about to get thoroughly pucked on my double honeymoon. Talk about lifting my spirits…

“We’re friends in public. But in private, we’re…
We’re your men.”
Lauren Blakely, Thoroughly Pucked

I also read the Black Witch by Laurie Forest. It’s a young adult novel. I have to remember to put aside my old adult mind to read young adult fiction. I really enjoy young adult fantasy novel. I just have to remember that the choices that the main character makes in the fiction are there to drive the story of the book and not to drive me crazy. The Black Witch does contain action, a young witch who’s coming into her powers. Elloren Gardner was over protected by her well-meaning uncle, but unfortunately, puts her in harm’s way when she goes off to university.

A new Black Witch will rise…her powers vast beyond imagining.
Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.
When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother’s legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.
As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of misfits…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to hate and fear.

I also read an ARC (advanced reader copy) of an upcoming book. I’ll post about it when it’s published.

And that’s it for January. I set a goal to 60 books in 2024. According to GoodReads, I’ve read 12% of my goal. Do you have any book recommendations for me? Feel free to leave them in the comments.