February 2022 Wrap-up

I am happy to share that I was able to keep up the momentum with my reading, that I started last month. Do you ever just feel like you’re in the zone to read? I think that is where I am right now. While I didn’t read any 5 star books during the month of February, I did enjoy the books I read.

Total Books Read in February: 6
Total Books Read in 2022: 13

Source: Goodreads

I’ve Got Your Number
By: Sophie Kinsella
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4/5

Source: Goodreads

A Holly Jolly Diwali
By: Sonya Lalli
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3.5/5

Source: Goodreads

Living Simply: A Teen Guide to Minimalism
By: Sally McGraw
Genre: Non-fiction, Self-help, YA
Rating: 3.5/5

Source: Goodreads

Heartstopper: Volume One
By: Alice Oseman
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA Lit, LGBT, Romance
Rating: 3/5

Source: Goodreads

Things You Save in a Fire
By: Katherine Center
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Rating: 3.5/5

Source: Goodreads

A Vineyard Valentine
By: Nina Bocci
Genre: Novella, Audible Original, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 2.5/5

The Stats

Total Number of Books Read: 6
Total Number of Fiction: 5
Total Number of Non-Fiction: 1
Total Books Sent for Review: 0
Total Books Read from My Shelves: 3
Total Library Books Read: 3

Formats Read

Physical Books: 2
eBooks: 3
Audio Books: 1

March TBR

I plan on focusing on reading both middle grade and mystery books during the month of March. 2 different read-a-thons are happening for those genres this month. And although I’m not officially participating in either, I would like to join in on some of the fun.

For more information on these read-a-thons, search March Mystery Madness and/or Middle Grade March on YouTube.

Currently Reading

Source: Goodreads

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January 2022 Wrap-up

I kicked off 2022, with a very successful reading month. Fingers crossed I can keep up this momentum throughout the year. I decided to read whatever my heart desired this month and that paid off because I had a total of three 5-star books!

Total Books Read in January: 7
Total Books Read in 2022: 7

5 Star Reads of January

Pumpkinheads
By: Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Rating: 5/5

The Elite
(The Selection, 2)
By: Kiera Cass
Genre: Ya, Series, Dystopian
Rating: 5/5

A Winter’s Tale
(The Wrecck of the Florizel)
By: Cassie Brown
Genre: Nonfiction, History
Rating: 5/5

Also Read

The Thousand Dollar Tan Line
(Veronica Mars, 1)
By: Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
Narrated by: Kristen Bell
Genre: Mystery, Series, Audio book
Rating: 4/5

Open Heart, Open Mind
By: Clara Hughes
Genre: Memoir, Autobiography, Nonfiction
Rating: 4/5

An Unwanted Guest
By: Shari Lapena
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 3/5

Sent for Review

Bet on It
By: Jodie Slaughter
Genre: Romance
Rating: 2.5/5

The Stats

Total Number of Books Read: 7
Total Number of Fiction: 5
Total Number of Non-Fiction: 2
Total Books Sent for Review: 1
Total Books Read from My Shelves: 5
Total Library Books Read: 1

Formats Read

Physical Books: 5
eBooks: 1
Audio Books: 1

Currently Reading

December 2021 Wrap-up

I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season and wishing you a very happy new year!

Today I am sharing my final wrap-up for the year 2021. After a couple of months with very little progress, I am very pleased with the amount of reading I accomplished this month. I even surpassed my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal!

Total Books Read in December: 6
Total Books Read in 2021: 54/52

Reading My Favourite Authors

I started this TBR back in October and I am very pleased to say that I finally completed it this month. Although these books are from authors that I have loved in the past, unfortunately none of them earned 5 star ratings.

Favourite Authors Read: 3/3

The Lake House
By: Kate Morton
Genre: Dual Timeline, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Rating: 4/5

The Notebook
By: Nicholas Sparks
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Rating: 2/5

Seasonal Reads

Two of the books I read in December were set near Christmas or were Christmas themed. The other book, features a winter sport.

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping
By: Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 3/5

Ice Magic (Silver Blades 16)
By: Melissa Lowell
Genre: Middle Grade, Series
Rating: 3/5

The Holiday Swap
By: Maggie Knox
Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, ARC
Rating: 3.5/5
NOTE: I was sent a copy of Maggie Knox’s The Holiday Swap, from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Additional Book Completed

From Cradle to Stage
By: Virginia Hanlon Grohl
Genre: Non-fiction, Audio Book, Biography, Memoir, Music
Rating: 4/5

The Stats

Total Number of Books Read: 6
Total Number of Fiction: 5
Total Number of Non-Fiction: 1
Total Books Sent for Review: 1
Total Books Read from My Shelves: 5
Total Library Books Read: 0

Formats Read

Physical Books: 4
eBooks: 1
Audio Books: 1

Currently Reading

Monthly Wrap-up: September 2021

Total Books Read in September: 6
Total Books Read in 2021: 44

Series September Challenge

For the month of September I challenged myself to read books from series that I have in progress. I was able to get to all of the physical books I mentioned in my TBR post. However I wasn’t able to finish A Royal Pain in time.

Series Books Read:

Royal Wedding (Princess Diaries 11)
By: Meg Cabot
Genre: Series, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Rating: 3.5/5

The Bookshop on the Shore
(Scottish Bookshop 2)
By: Jenny Colgan
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Series
Rating: 3.5/5

Fly Away
(Firefly Lane 2)
By: Kristin Hannah
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Series
Rating: 5/5

Sweet Little Lies
(L.A. Candy 2)
By: Lauren Conrad
Preformed by: Jenna Lamia
Genre: YA Lit, Series
Rating: 3/5

Also Completed:

Of Mice and Men
By: John Steinbeck
Read by: Gary Sinise
Genre: Classics, Audiobook
Rating: 4/5

Flight from the Fortress
By: Lyn Cook
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Rating: 2.5/5

The Stats

Total Number of Books Read: 6
Total Number of Fiction: 6
Total Number of Non-Fiction: 0
Total Books Sent for Review: 0
Total Books Read from My Shelves: 3
Total Library Books Read: 3

Formats Read

Physical Books: 3
eBooks: 1
Audio Books: 2

Currently Reading

TBR: Series September

I intended to have this posted nearer to the beginning of the month, but technical difficulties put a wrench in that plan. So better late than never. Here are the books that I have been reading and will continue to concentrate on during the month of September.

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A post shared by Melissa Lee Spurrell (@melissaleesredhousereviews)

I am also working my way through The Bookshop on the Shore (Scottish Bookshop 2) by Jenny Colgan.

Monthly Wrap-up: August 2021

Total Books Read in August: 6
Total Books Read in 2021: 38

Backlist Catch-up TBR: 7 /7

I am happy to have completed all the books in my backlist catch up in the month of August.

Backlist Catch-up Books Read in August:

The Devoted
(The Bishop’s Family 3)
By: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction, Series
Rating: 4/5
NOTE: I was sent a copy of The Devoted by Suzanne Woods Fisher, from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Trouble and Strife
By: Johanne Levesque
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 2/5

The Winter Sister
By: Megan Collins
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 3.5/5
NOTE: I was sent an ebook ARC of The Winter Sister by Megan Collins, from the publisher via Netgalley. I alternated between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook.

Additional Books Read:

Alone with the Stars
By: David R. Gillham
Genre: Historical Fiction, Audiobook
Rating: 4/5

Clap When You Land
By: Elizabeth Acevedo
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5

Muddy Bottom
(Palmetto Island 1)
By: Ashley Farley
Genre: Contemporary fiction, novella
Rating: 3/5

The Stats

Total Number of Books Read: 6
Total Number of Fiction: 6
Total Number of Non-Fiction: 0
Total Books Sent for Review: 3
Total Books Read from My Shelves: 2
Total Library Books Read: 1

Formats Read

Physical Books: 2
eBooks: 2
Audio Books: 2

Currently Reading

Monthly Wrap-up: July 2021

Total Books Read in July: 4
Total Books Read in 2021: 32

Backlist Catch-up TBR: 4/7

Backlist Catch-up TBR Books Read in July:

The Lake of Dreams
By: Kim Edwards
Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 3/5
NOTE: I won a copy of The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards, from Goodreads and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Lieutenant’s Nurse
By: Sara Ackerman
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3/5
NOTE: I was sent a copy of Sara Ackerman’s The Lieutenant’s Nurse, from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Additional Books Read:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
By: Roald Dahl
Genre: Children’s Books, Children’s Fiction, Classics, Chapter Books
Rating: 3/5

Murder at Blackhead
By: MK Staple
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 1/5

DNF

All My Love, Detrick
By: Roberta Kagan
Genre: Historical Fiction

The Stats

Total Number of Books Read: 4
Total Number of Fiction: 4
Total Number of Non-Fiction: 0
Total Books Sent for Review: 2
Total Books Read from My Shelves: 4
Total Library Books Read: 0

Formats Read

Physical Books: 3
eBooks: 0
Audio Books: 1

Currently Reading

Monthly Wrap-up: June 2021

Total Books Read in June: 5
Total Books Read in 2021: 28

I am officially over half way to my goal of reading 52 books in 2021! If I can keep up with the pace I am reading, I believe I will meet my goal, which is so exciting. Did you set any reading goals this year? How are they going?

In a previous post, I shared my current TBR, which was to my backlist books that I have been sent. Below is the progress I made this month:

Backlist Catch-up TBR: 2/7

Backlist Catch-up TBR Books Read in June:

Inheriting Edith
By: Zoe Fishman
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 3/5
Note: I won a copy of Inheriting Edith from Goodreads and plan to share my honest review in a future post.

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine
By: Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Rating: 4/5
NOTE: I won a copy of Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite from Goodreads and plan to share my honest review in a future post.

Additional Books Read:

Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy
By: Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters, Brooklyn Allen
Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy
Rating: 4/5

For the Love of Friends
By: Sara Goodman Confino
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Rating: 3/5
Note: I was sent a copy of For the Love of Friends by Sara Goodman Confino, from the publisher, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Vanishing Half
By: Britt Bennett
Genre: Historical Fiction, Audiobook
Rating: 4/5

DNF

Cut and Run
By: Ben Acker & Ben Blacker
Narrated by: Meg Ryan, et. Al.
Genre: Audiobook, Comedy
Reason for DNF: The concept of a comedic presentation about organ harvesters, was interesting, however I found it rushed and wasn’t invested enough to keep track of the characters.

The Stats

Total Number of Books Read: 5
Total Number of Fiction: 5
Total Number of Non-Fiction: 0
Total Books Sent for Review: 3
Total Books Read from My Shelves: 4
Total Library Books Read: 1

Formats Read

Physical Books: 2
eBooks: 2
Audio Books: 1

Currently Reading

TBR: Backlist Catch-up

Note: I have been trying to use my Instagram more for book posts, so the following is one I shared a couple of weeks ago. If you aren’t following me on Instagram, you can find me at this link: Melissa Lee Spurrell (@melissaleesredhousereviews) • Instagram photos and videos

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A post shared by Melissa Lee Spurrell (@melissaleesredhousereviews)

Additional Note: I can never tell if I’m correctly inserting IG photos onto my blog posts. If you are seeing this, could you comment below if you are able to see the image. Thank you! Happy reading.

Monthly Wrap-up: May 2021

Total Books Read in May: 7
Total Books Read in 2021: 23

Tinaca Jones
By: Matt Boren
Narrated by: Retta
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Humor, Audiobook, Short Story
Rating: 2/5

The New Elizabeth
(Sweet Valley High, 63)
By: Francine Pascal & Kate William
Genre: YA Lit, Middle Grade, Series
Rating: 3/5

100 Ways to Motivate Yourself
By: Steve Chandler
Narrated by: Steve Chandler
Genre: Self Help, Non-fiction
Rating: 3/5

Anna’s Crossing
(Amish Beginnings, 1)
By: Suzanne Woods Fisher
Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.5/5

Secrets of the Lighthouse
By: Santa Montefiore
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Rating: 3.5/5

American Duchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt
By: Karen Harper
Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon
Genre: Historical Fiction, Audiobook
Rating: 4/5

The Stats

Total Number of Books Read: 7
Total Number of Fiction: 6
Total Number of Non-Fiction: 1
Total Books Sent for Review: 0
Total Books Read from My Shelves: 5
Total Library Books Read: 2

Formats Read

Physical Books: 3
eBooks: 1
Audio Books: 3

Currently Reading