Hi everybody, and welcome to my April wrap up!
April was quite a busy month, as we had some home renovations done that took up a lot of free time both before and after the actual renovations. So I’ve been a little less active than usual, but I am surprised that I still managed to read a good amount of books! So without further ado, let’s get into the wrap up:
From Blood and Ash / A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Re-Read)
I re-read these books in preparation for the release of book 3, The Crown of Gilded Bones, and I loved it. Actually, while I had some issues with book one during my first read, this time I just enjoyed the ride and didn’t really feel those issues anymore. And book two was just as amazing the second time as it was the first. The romance is so addictive, the characters are complex, the mystery is killing me and the humor is just the right amount of sass for me. Overall, this series is definitely one of my favorite current reads and I’d definitely recommend them!
Also, I buddy-read these with my real-life BFF (it was her first read) and I’m happy to say she loved it just as much!
Rating: 4,5 stars
The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout
I was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint. I love these characters and their journey so much. This third installment was once again epic, edge-of-your-seat (though a little slower near the middle) and had a major cliffhanger that will have me utterly frustrated for the next year until the next one releases!
Rating: 4,5 stars
Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel #1) by Linsey Hall
As I may have mentioned a few times already, I’m always looking to find new adult urban fantasy books that can hook me as much as Annette Marie’s books have hooked me. I’ve had mediocre successes so far, and honestly, Once Bitten was just that: mediocre. I really want to try more though, and hopefully book 2 will have that hook I need.
Rating: 3 stars
One Grave at a Time (Night Huntress #6) by Jeaniene Frost
I’m still making my way through this amazing series and I am constantly torn between wanting to take my sweet time with it to prolong the experience for as long as possible and speeding my way through it so I can consume all of the goodness at once. I just adore this series so much and this sixth installment in Cat and Bones’ story was still just as awesome as the previous ones. In fact, I may have loved it even more because all of the relationship drama is behind us, Cat and Bones are solid and still just as sizzling as ever AND we get to just enjoy a good gold-fashioned ghost hunting. Scary new foes, fun new characters and good times with well-know characters. This was a definite win in my book.
Rating: 5 stars
Rule of Wolves (King of Scars #2) by Leigh Bardugo
I can’t even properly review this book. I made me a sobbing mess, it made me a smiling mess, it made me a wooping mess. Long story short: I am a mess and this book is like 90% of the reason why ๐ Also, I’ve given up trying to pick a favorite character between Nikolai, Zoya and Nina. I love ’em all, okay?
Rating: 4,5 stars
The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
After reading The Roommate last month, I was eager to read the next installment featuring Naomi. And well, I’ve got to say that this intimate, steamy, slow-burn romance between a former porn star and a rabbi was everything I could have asked for. I personally loved The Roommate just a little bit more, but Naomi and Ethan were still adorable together and so much fun to read about.
Rating: 4 stars
Top Ten Tuesday
Bookish Tropes I’d Gladly Throw Into The Ocean
Dark Book Covers That Own My Heart
Colorful Book Covers That Own My Heart
8 Werewolf/Shifter Books On My TBR
Quote It Wednesday
Can’t Wait Wednesday
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall
April has been very good to my playlist, here’s just a small selection of what I listened to the most. (I also listened to the Romance Is A Bonus Book soundtrack A LOT).
MY FAVORITE: ONE OK ROCK – Renegades
One of my favorite bands returned with a new song that was co-written by Ed Sheeran? YES PLEASE!
Hoshi – Spider
I never thought I’d like a song called spider, but here we are.
Kang Daniel – Antidote
Kang Daniel has been steadily releasing songs I love and Antidote is no exception.
Against The Current – Weapon (Acoustic)
I already featured this song last month, but this month they released an acoustic version and I MAY LIKE IT EVEN MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL?
So, Shadow and Bone released this month but I have to admit that I’ve only watched like 1-2 episodes yet. So stay tuned for that.
I did watch a few other things, like a few episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 2 and I continued my third rewatch of my beloved kdrama Romance Is A Bonus Book (I even got my husband to watch with me, and he surprisingly enjoyed it as well!).
Overall, not a lot, but I’m hoping to watch some more in May!
You may have noticed I’ve been a little less active the past few weeks and that’s because we had some major renovations to our house done. ALL of our windows and doors were replaced (and it was possible to save money with window tinting) and though the renovations themselves only took 3 long days, we spent a lot of time in the weekends and evenings before preparing and after cleaning. But the end of this renovation tunnel is in sight, so hopefully things will get back to normal-ish soon!
Things that made me happy this month:
- I’VE GOT A TICKET TO RARE 2022 (Romance Author & Reader Event) IN PARIS! AND YOU KNOW WHO WILL BE THERE? MY FAVE AUTHOR, ANNETTE MARIE!!!! Okay, sorry for the capslock, but I’m so excited! And of course there are so many other authors present, some I know, but a lot I’ll still be able to discover before then! Any of you going?
THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH:
- Finally being able to binge all episodes of Shadow and Bone.
- So many bookish releases but I’m mostly looking forward to People We Meet On Vacation and The Soulmate Equation.
How was your April? What did you read? What did you listen to and what did you watch? What are you looking forward to in May?
I wish I could go to Rare 2022 too. I know Natahsa Boyd is coming too and I love her so much. I’m sure it’s gonna be amazing for you!
I’m sorry to hear you won’t be able to go to Rare and meet Natasha Boyd! Hope you’ll still get a chance some day!
That’s so great that the home renos are in the final stretch! Have a great May!
Yes, it was quite the chaos haha ๐ Thanks!
Glad that things are wrap up on the home renovation front, I know those can be a hassle. Also yay for getting your best friend to read from Blood and Ash with you, always fun to be able to share books you love with friends ๐the Jeanine frost book you shared caught my attention, I havenโt read anything by her yet but it sounds pretty good. Currently looking forward to reading House of always and catching up with the A Touch of Darkness series and have a couple of buddy reads this month as well
Thanks! Yes buddy reads are so much fun, I love sharing books I love with friends – it doesn’t happen often, but I’ll enjoy every chance I get ๐ I DEFINITELY recommend the Jeaniene Frost books, they are so good and so addictive!
I thought about going to RARE Paris to see Anette Marie but compared to two years ago, I stopped reading romance a lot and so it didn’t seem worth it. Have fun though!
Aww sorry you won’t be going but I definitely understand that it’s not really worth it for just one author!