Goodbye, April!

April was a mess of emotions. A conundrum of esoterica (yes, I just rewatched Series of Unfortunate events (the Netflix one, obviously) again--its a mood). But today, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing, and the sky is blue, and the grass is green, and there's a small breeze, and the possibilities of life seem bright and endless (aka the exact opposite of last month--and the first half of this month).

2024 Resolutions:

     (1) Don't stop reading
            (b) Complete Monthly Reading Challenge(s)
     (2) Make memories
     (3) Share love of books/writing
     (4) Be kinder to myself

(1) Books read this month: 36 (might get one more in there before midnight though).
    (b) Monthly Reading Challenge(s): Shape = Raindrop. Got some A-Z stuff recorded. Tried to catch up on the backlogs. 

(2) April Memories: I had dinner with my friends. I quit my job. I took a much needed self-care vacation into nature where I focused on healing, positive intentions, and planning my next steps. I tried not to feel guilty too, when I took some time to also binge tv or binge-read books. I started a few new adventures in the last day and a half (updates next month). I talked with my sister a lot (she was my rock this month; I wouldn't have survived March or April without her). 

(3) Posts this month (including this one): 23.

(4)  Ehh. I started eating less. There were a few days where I ate a lot of fruit. There were a few days where I ate a lot of gunk. Some days, I'm super hydrated, but more often than not, I'm barely making 40oz. But my mental health has gotten better as the month progressed, and that's what's most important to me at the moment. Hopefully soon, I can focus on my physical self as well.

Anyone still holding onto their resolutions?

Any exciting May reads?
Anything I should check out?

#newyearsresolutions #goodbyeapril #hellomay #hello2024 #keeplearning #dontstopreading #monthlyreadingchallenge #makememories #shareloveofbooks #bekindertoself #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Brutal Titan (North Shore Titans #2)

Here's E.V. Olsen's latest series North Short Titans. The second novel in this series is "Brutal Titan."

["Jackson Reed has been a thorn in my side since the day we met–always running his mouth, always itching for a fight. Our rivalry on the ice has left us bruised and bloodied countless times.

When our teams end up at the same hotel for the Regional Championships, the brutal Titan gets under my skin in a whole new way. A fight turns into a chase through the woods, and when I’m caught, it ignites a forbidden fire within me that can’t be stifled.

Our secret encounters grow more intense, and I find myself craving his touch, his taste, his infuriating smirk that both turns me on and makes me want to punch him in his perfect face.

As captain of the South Shore Serpents, getting involved with the star of our rival team is reckless. A betrayal.

Forbidden.

But Jackson Reed doesn't stop until he gets what he wants, and this time–it's me.

Falling for the brutal Titan was never part of the plan.

Except he's the most addictive bad idea I've ever had, and I can't get enough."]

These two. Fucking hell, these two. 

They fell in lust and then in love in a single weekend. It was glorious!! Granted, those feelings might have always been there in one way or another, but wow. Just wow. 

So much hate and possession and obsession and anger. So much fluff and love and caring disguised as fights and bruises and nasty words. 

Honestly, kinda obsessed with them. 

Trigger Warnings: bullying, violence, hockey related violence, homophobic tertiary character, mention of suicide, physical assault, and more.

#savagetitan #brutaltitan #unhingedtitan #northshoretitans #northshoretitansseries #evolsen #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Wild Match (Perfect Match Agency: Springtime #5)

Here's Amy Bellow's "Wild Match." It's the fifth and final novel in a new multi-author series called "Perfect Match Agency: Springtime."

["Leo is constantly getting photographed doing things he shouldn’t. Like multiple alphas at the same time, for instance. In a room full of other people.

The scandals are adding up, and his agent isn’t happy.

When he almost loses the lead role in a high budget film because of his wild behavior, he’s given an settle down with a boring alpha to clean up his image, or his agent won’t represent him anymore.

The problem is finding a respectable alpha who will have him. That’s where the Perfect Match Agency comes in. They promise to match him with an upstanding member of society in exchange for a little publicity.

Leo doesn’t expect to like the guy. He certainly doesn’t expect to be so drawn in by him that he goes into heat early.

But Leo has always been a little wild…"]

This book was so freaking cute!!! Like I need to add Amy to my to-binge list cute! I need to read her other things, but I also NEED to know the backstory and future of the other characters in this novel. Each and every one of them were so full and wonderful (and nerdy as hell).

I looooved Leo and Steve. They were perfect for each other. They accepted each other's fault (and self-doubts) and embraced each other's dreams. They talked and talked and got to know each other and each other's needs/wants. They were respectful as hell, which, just like competency, shouldn't be as wildly attractive as it is, but that's the state of romance for you these days. ;) 

This was a nice ready in between murder mysteries (which I have multiple started) and dark romances (which I also have multiple started). And it was a nice excuse to continue to ignore ALL of the books I have half-started around here. 

#exmatch #enemymatch #doublematch #lusciousmatch #wildmatch #perfectmatchagency #perfectmatchagencyseries #perfectmatchagencyspringtime #perfectmatchagencyspringtimeseries #mmfarmer #annawineheart #roehorvat #wendyrathbone #amybellows #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

How to Hide Your Stolen Baby (Closet Baby Chronicles #4)

Here's Anna Winheart's "How To Hide Your Stolen Baby." It's the fourth novel in her Closet Baby Chronicles series. Because its part murder boyfriends (for the greater good) and part crack (soooo much crack).

["Ex-thief Joey has been sent to live with a policeman. Thing is, he stole his baby.

Ever since Joey stole a dragon-shifter baby, his life has become infinitely more difficult. The bad guys are after him, and Joey has absolutely no experience with flame-breathing little children.

So when his new friends set him up to stay with an upstanding policeman, things should take a turn for the better, right? Blade is huge, handsome, and Joey has an ever-growing crush on him.

Blade makes sure Joey has good food, he helps to patch up Joey's injuries. Blade looks at Joey like he wants to devour him, and Blade is also not human.

How long does Joey have until Blade figures out that he stole Katie, and decides that Joey isn't the mate he's looking for? Joey doesn't doesn't think his heart will survive it."]

This series! D: I flipping love this series! It's so sweet and spicy and the perfect combination of possessive and obsessive and that feeling of rightness while falling in love and learning to trust and AH D: 

It took Joe 0.5 seconds to fall for Blade, and arguably, it took Blade even less than that. Between their supportive friends and more meddling than good butlers and fate itself, it didn't take them long to succumb to the feelings of lust and love. 

And just when you think the series might be winding out, Anna introduces two new characters with their own magical babies who need protecting and who's hearts (their own) need claiming. 

Trigger Warnings: past child abuse, violence, and more.

#howtohideyourdragonbaby #howtohideyourwolfcub #howtohideyourvampirekid #howtohideyourstolenbaby #howtohideyourmermaidchild #closetbabychronicles #closetbabychroinclesseries #annawineheart #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Restless (Squad Goals #2)

This is "Restless," the second book in Willow Thomas's Squad Goals series (because I need something easy, angst-less, cheesy as hell).

["The Cheerleader and the Football Star

Gio
Kissing Tucker Evans at a frat party was a stupid idea. He’s still getting over his cheating ex and there is no way I am anyone’s rebound guy.
Except when he gets injured, somehow I find myself volunteering to help look after him.
In every sense.
So maybe I will be his rebound. If I know what the score is going in, I can’t be hurt.
Solid plan.

Tucker
Kissing Giovanni Russo at a frat party was a brilliant idea. There was more chemistry in that one kiss than there ever was with my ex.
Now I just have to convince him to give me a chance.
Sharing a bed at his parents house leads to some epic fun times, but he has it in his head that I just want a rebound.
With Gio I want everything."]

This book was fabulous! It was fun and cute and fluffy and spicy and filled with soooo many well-intended, meddling friends/family members (so. many.). And fabulously cliched tropes. And a few accidental grand gestures (and one really big one).

I also love how it kept hinting at what the next book could be about (love that for us).

#clueless #restless #dateless #squadgoals #squadgoalsseries #willowthomas #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Let That Shit Go: A Journal For Leaving Your Bullshit Behind and Creating a Happy Life

Trying to do a few things for myself, to better myself, to better my mental health. Monica Sweeney's "Let That Shit Go: A Journal For Leaving Your Bullshit Behind and Creating a Happy Life" is definitely helping.

["Journal your way to feeling weightless as f*ck!

Harboring grudges and plotting revenge take a lot of energy. While the wait for one true moment of schadenfreude sounds oh so sweet, true bliss can be found in simply not giving a fuck. With 'Let That Sh*t Go.' you'll find moments of profanity-laced catharsis and joy though journaling activities and inspirations that are positive as f*ck. Within these truly charming pages, you'll find ways to let go of the bullsh*t and lift your spirits a little fu*king higher.

*Find serenity in the little things around you that are happy and helpful.
*Say farewell, motherf*cker to the shit that bothers you
*Make peace and following your f*cking rainbow."]

Lots of lists (if you know me, you know I love my lists). Thinking about what I want, what I need, what needs cut, what needs to change. How I can be better to myself, better to others. How I can cultivate something brighter, something healthier.

I really enjoyed this interactive journal. It was funny as hell but also motivational. I felt like some of it was repetitive, but that won't necessarily stop me from checking out Monica's "Zen as Fuck" journal. ;)

#letthatshitgo #letthatshitgoajournalforleavingyourbullshitbehindandcreatingahappylife #ajournalforleavingyourbullshitbehindandcreatingahappylife #monicasweeney #journal #selfhelpbook #selfhelpjournal #journalling #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

What We See In The Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky

I found "What We See In The Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky" by Kelsey Oseid while taking a little mental health trip into nature. And what a nice read it was!

["A richly illustrated guide to the myths, histories, and science of the celestial bodies of our solar system, with stories and information about constellations, planets, comets, the northern lights, and more.

Combining art, mythology, and science, What We See in the Stars gives readers a tour of the night sky through more than 100 magical pieces of original art, all accompanied by text that weaves related legends and lore with scientific facts. This beautifully packaged book covers the night sky's most brilliant features--such as the constellations, the moon, the bright stars, and the visible planets--as well as less familiar celestial phenomena like the outer planets, nebulae, and deep space. Adults seeking to recapture the magic of youthful stargazing, younger readers interested in learning about natural history and outer space, and those who appreciate beautiful, hand-painted art will all delight in this charming book."]

I know a lot about space, the planets, the stars, ect (thank you fifth grade obsession). But it's always nice to reread some facts and learn some new ones. 

And the illustrations in here?!?! MY GOD! They're beautiful and glorious and filled with so many shades of navy that you'd think it wouldn't quite so engaging. If I wasn't a firm black-inc tattoo gal, I'd consider getting the moon Kelsey painted in this book on my body somewhere, because wow, just wow. 

It's also sad to continue to read books that claim Pluto isn't a planet anymore (yes, I know it's been 20+ years, but I'm still sooooo bitter). One of these days, maybe I'll stumble upon a book that is equally as sad as I am about it (any suggestions?). 

#whatweseeinthestars #anillustratedtourofthenightsky #whatweseeinthestarsanillustratedtourofthenightsky #kelseyoseid #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks