November 2016 Wrap-Up

I decided to do a November Wrap-Up this month, for no real reason other than I wanted to do it, and it would count as more content on the blog. An added plus is, I guess it could be cool to look back and see all the things I read in the month.
In November, I had an average reading month. A couple novels and an equal amount of comic books. I have bypassed my GoodReads 2016 Challenge Reading Goal, Yayy Me!, so any other books I read for the year are just added bonuses.
Here's what I read in November 2016:

      

--The Hunt (The Cage #2) by Megan Shepherd-- Megan Shepherd is one of my favorite authors to read. I love her Madman's Daughter Trilogy. This series is about aliens, and it's been a little weird, but I still enjoy it. A lot of interesting developments happened in this volume. Some stuff that I didn't expect and shocked me. Can't wait to see where it goes in the 3rd book, which I believe will be the last in the series.

--The Twilight Zone: The Original Stories Edited by Martin Harry Greenberg, Richard Matheson, and Charles G. Waugh-- This was probably my favorite of the month. It was a bunch of Original Twilight Stories that became episodes. Each story had the date that it aired and the actors that starred in the episode. It was just really cool. I've been watching The Twilight Zone on Netflix and have been enjoying it. I've been impressed with what they managed to do with the screen technology that they had. I really liked the book because it read like a book written to be enjoyed. The main goal was in telling the stories, not trying to blow people away by super intellectual literary writing (which I don't tend to enjoy that much. Probably a big reason I don't like reading classics) I thought this was fun and will probably check out more Twilight Zone stories in the future.

--Buzz Kill by Beth Fantaskey-- This one grew on me the more I read it. At first, I wasn't sure if the main character was spunky and cute, or just extremely annoying. I'm still not exactly sure how I feel about her, but she did grow on me the further I read in the book. Buzz Kill is just a cute, almost cozy, mystery about the high school coach being murdered and trying to find the killer. It was good.

--Chew, Volume 5: Major League (Chew #21-25) by John Layman and Rob Guillory-- I always love a Chew Comic, and this one was no exception. These are just fun. They also remind me a lot of Lost. Of Miles and Sawyer teaming up as detective partners dealing with weird stuff.

--Y: The Last Man, Volume 7: Paper Dolls (Issues #37-42) by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Goran Sudzuka, and Jose Marzan, Jr.-- Another comic series that I enjoy. I'm also getting near the end of it, which is exciting and a little scary. It's about the last man on Earth after all the other men die from a mysterious sudden thing. Yorick (the last man) teams up with a doctor and an agent to find the cure and save the world.

--Gotham Academy, Volume 2: Calamity (Gotham Academy #7-12) by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kersch-- This was probably the most disappointing read for me the whole month just because I liked the first Volume so much and this one left me wanting. It started off weird, which threw me off, but by the end it got more on track with the story, so I enjoyed it more.

--Locke & Key, Volume 5: Clockworks by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez-- This is an interesting comic series. It's definitely fun to read. I've only got one more Volume to read and I can see how everything ends. This Volume was full of backstory, which was interesting to read.

Favorite Read of the Month

Shouldn't be that surprising. I liked it because it was fun.

Started But Didn't Finish

Ensnared (Splintered #3) by A.G. Howard

About halfway through. This series and I are not friends, will never be friends. I want to read the whole thing just so I can see how it all ends. I'm probably going to pick up the novella book too. I have a problem with quitting things. If I started it, I have to read them all, just to see if it gets better. Current thoughts: I don't like Morpheus at all and Alyssa's getting on my nerves too.

So that's how my November 2016 of reading went. How did yours go?

Review: Her Sky Cowboy (The Glorious Victorious Darcys #1) by Beth Ciotta

Title: Her Sky Cowboy (The Glorious Victorious Darcys #1)

Author: Beth Ciotta

Published by: Signet Eclipse

Released: November 6, 2012

Source: Library

Summary: When Amelia Darcy's beloved father dies in an explosion, she is heart broken. Her life continues to unravel as it is revealed that her father died penniless and left nothing for his family. When Amelia sees an advertisement in the paper, offering a huge monetary prize for an artifact of historical scientific significance, Amelia jumps at the chance of adventure and money to ease her family's woes.

Amelia sets off to find the artifact her father had once told her about. Along the way, she crashes into Tucker Gentry, the famous Sky Cowboy. They feel instant attraction for each other and team up to find the prize, while dodging enemies who want it too.

My Thoughts: I was hoping for a fun steampunk read, and while I did get that, I also got a massive amount of sexytime, which I wasn't really craving. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, because the title did kind of hint that it could be one of those books. I really ended up enjoying the adventure and the story.

My favorite part had to be the world building. The aspects of time travel, Vics, Mods, and the Freaks were really cool concepts to consider and was probably one of the best parts of the book. The downside was that there was just too much thought, attention, and detail put into sex.

Tucker Gentry always had SEX on the brain, and it got a tad annoying at times.

So, definitely an adult read with lots of sexy time, but for anyone who loves good, steampunk world building, you should definitely give this one a shot.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5

Really cool world full of skyships, time travel, Vics, Mods, and Freaks!

Reading Right Now! (92)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

--Ensnared (Splintered #3) by A.G. Howard-- This is the third and final book in the Splintered Trilogy (except for an extra book that has novellas in it and maybe like an epilogue thing) and I can't wait to be finished with it. I'm not the biggest fan of this series. And I know, what's the point of reading the books if you don't like them? Well, I have this weird thing, almost like a compulsion, where if I start something, I have to finish it eventually. I also like to give all the books a chance. The first book could suck, but say the third book is perfection! I don't want to miss potential awesomeness, and I don't want to give up without giving the read every opportunity to impress me. It's the same reasoning as to why I don't DNF books. I just don't like it, it gives me a weird feeling inside. Because of this compulsion, I have read some books and series that I was not a fan of at all. So far, this has been one of those series. My main problem with it has been the world is just waaaay too weird. I can't get down with it. I also hate Morpheus. And lately, Alyssa has been getting on my nerves as well.

I'm about 80 pages into this third volume, and I'm just feeling a great big pile of MEH so far. Things are happening and I just don't care. I don't feel any of the urgency or anxiety over what can/will/might happen to the characters. 

Once I finish this, I do plan on reading the extra novella book, just so I can say I read them all and close the Splintered chapter in my life.

What I Hope To Read Next...

--Lies I Told (#1) by Michelle Zink-- Randomly picked this up off the library shelf and I thought it looked good. After checking to make sure it was either the first in a series or standalone, (cause don't you hate when that happens!? You think you're just getting a book to read and it turns out to be the 2nd, 4th, or 15th book in a series! That just messes with me. I have to read them in order.) I checked it out. It sounds like something I would like. I've been a big fan of books that involve main characters who are involved in criminal enterprises. Like heists, cons, crime families, that sort of thing. I don't necessarily like that they are involved in crime, but just that they are usually characters who are okay with breaking the rules and being morally ambiguous. Anyway, I hope to get to this book, because I am out of renewals and the due date quickly approaches.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading? If you live in America, I hope you're having a fantastic holiday weekend, and if you live somewhere where it isn't a holiday, I hope you have a great weekend too!

Review: Undone (Outcast Season #1) by Rachel Caine

Title: Undone (Outcast Season #1)

Author: Rachel Caine

Published by: ROC

Released: 2009

Source: Library

Summary: Cassiel has spent centuries as a Djinn, a powerful being who watched the world's events from afar. Cassiel has no interest in humans, or humanity, and regards them mostly with apathy. When Cassiel rejects a command from her master Ashan, he throws her out of the Djinn, strips her of her powers, and traps her in a human body. Cassiel is now stuck as the one thing she hates, and to stay alive, she must draw power from a Warden.

Cassiel is partnered with Manny Rocha, and begins a journey into what being human really is.

My Thoughts: I'm going to do my best to keep my thoughts short and sweet as I make this mini review. This is the first Rachel Caine book I've ever read, and I'm kicking myself for waiting this long. I very much enjoyed this book. Granted, I was a little confused because this is a spin-off series to Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series, and I definitely should have started there first.

This book was awesome. It played out like a movie with all the twists, turns, and action. Really enjoyable reading. I also found the character of Cassiel to be pretty fascinating. She started off so foreign, so Djinn, but throughout the novel, she just grew more and more human.

And Ahhh that ending! It can't even be called an ending if it ends with a TO BE CONTINUED... 

I must pick up the next book ASAP!

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

I sense more books by Rachel Caine in my future!

Reading Right Now! (91)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...
I'm actually between books at the moment. I just finished one, and now I have to decide what I'm going to read next. I could get through all of these this weekend, or at least make dents in them. Here are my options.

   

--Chew, Volume 5: Major League by John Layman and Rob Guillory--

--Ensnared (Splintered #3) by A.G. Howard--

--Y: The Last Man, Volume 7: Paper Dolls by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, Goran Sudzuka, and Jose Marzan, Jr.--

--Gotham Academy, Volume 2: Calamity by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl--

Those are my options for the week. Have you read any of these? What did you think of them? And most importantly, What Are You Reading Right Now!?

P.S. Have a good weekend!

All book cover images come from www.goodreads.com

Review: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Title: I've Got Your Number

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Published by: The Dial Press

Released: 2012

Source: Library

Summary: Poppy Wyatt has lost the only thing she was never supposed to lose, her engagement ring! Not just any old engagement ring, but an antique, family heirloom of her fiance's. Poppy is desperate to find it, and when her cell phone gets stolen, she's desperate to find a replacement for that too!

Spying a phone in a trash bin, Poppy adheres to the old rule finders keepers, and takes it. Only problem is, that phone belongs to business man Sam Roxton, and he wants that phone back. Reaching a compromise, Poppy promises to forward all work emails to him in exchange for letting her borrow the phone. But when Poppy starts reading the emails and getting involved in the life of Sam Roxton, hilarity and something more ensues.

My Thoughts: What a wonderful, cute, fantastic, romantic, and just plain awesome book! I love Sophie Kinsella, and this book just further cements my love for her. I'm going to try to keep this gush fest short and sweet, because I loved this book, and there's only so much gushing I can do before it borders on annoying.

The things that make Sophie Kinsella's books great are the characters, the hilarious situations, and the sweet, romantic stories. Poppy Wyatt is a great character, who I loved from the first page. I could only laugh at all the various situations and messes she got herself into. Sam Roxton was such a cute businessman and heartthrob.

Great, great book. For all those readers out there who haven't picked up a Sophie Kinsella book, do so now! You won't regret it. In fact, you should start with I've Got Your Number. Fun, enjoyable reading from start to finish.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 5/5

Sophie Kinsella is the bestest and Poppy is a lovable snoop.

Review: In Office Hours by Lucy Kellaway

Title: In Office Hours

Author: Lucy Kellaway

Published by: Grand Central Publishing

Released: 2011

Source: Library

Summary: Stella and Bella both work at one of England's largest oil companies, Atlantic Energy. Stella is a forty something head of Economics at AE. She's married, with two kids, and a severe workaholic. When she's assigned a new trainee named Rhys, she embarks on a passionate affair that could just ruin her life.

Bella is a twenty something Personal Assistant and single mother, who falls for her new, married boss. She embarks on a passionate affair with him that has the chance of ending badly for her. 

In Office Hours is an interesting tale of office relationships, rises, falls, and consequences.

My Thoughts: A very enjoyable, no stress read, that involves affairs in the office. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone who wants a light, quick read about scandals in the office.

I really enjoyed the switches in perspective of Stella and Bella. It added a sort of quickness to the novel. I also really enjoyed getting to know the characters and entering their heads. While I didn't agree to all the decisions Stella and Bella made in the novel, I highly enjoyed hearing their stories.

The beginning and ends of Stella and Bella's affairs were nicely done. I'm glad it had a beginning and end, and I liked being privy to their stories.

I felt all the characters, with the exception of one, were well fleshed out, and helped me to understand where they were coming form. The only character whose overall intentions and goals weren't clear to me was Rhys. What attracted him to Stella? I'm still confused.

Just a fun, quick read that I enjoyed immensely.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.5/5

Scandalous!