I will list the rating and to the side add commentary. 

5 Stars

 None

4 Stars

Breakfast in Bed by Rochelle Alers (solid read)

Seeking Sarah by Reshonda Tate Billingsley (solid read)

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander (fantastic story, pleasantly surprised)

Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebeyo (unforgettable stand out read)

Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Damian Duffy (Liked this, LOVE book) 

3 Stars

Surrender to Me by Donna Hill (solid read)

Pretty, Nast, Lovely by Rosalind Noonin (interesting story)

Gravel Heart by Abdulrazak Gurnah (good story)

2.5 Stars

The Mothers by Brit Bennett 

* I've been thinking what to say about my displeasure with this book. It was an okay read for me. Such a hyped book that I did everything possible to get my hands on it for months; giveaways, egalleys and such. To only be disappointed. There's nothing new here for me. It definitely wasn't what I expected in terms of the storyline. Maybe it's my age. I've read a lot of books and many heavy hitters at a young age. It takes a lot to impress me in story and writing. However, both don't have to be great. I'll take a good story with subpar writing or a well written book with just okay plot. Many love this one. It just wasn't for me. Beautiful cover and great publicity with a new up and coming author, I do believe Ms. Bennett is definitely one to watch!

The attraction is as spicy as the backdrop in Rochelle Alers', Breakfast in Bed. Love and fresh starts don't have an age limit. The romance is more mature but still as electric as ever.  New Orleans is a hodgepodge of cultures, suspense and delicious cuisine.  Why not make it the capital of romance as well?  

I want Gage! Can I find a human with his character traits? Tonya and Gage's relationship is realistic, mature and slow (for romance novel). So nice to revisit the ladies friendship and to read about all the yummy Louisiana Cuisine. I'm a foodie and need to visit The Big Easy in the near future.

There are many more August releases than the ones I've chosen to read. In choosing books that interest me, I'm trying to discern if the writing and plot are enough. I've listened to about 2-5% in each of these books and know, thus far, we will do well. 

I realize that it's best for me to get in with more than one book so, that I'm already interested to move on to the next. Reading one book at a time and then picking up another that doesn't hold my attention leaves me blank for days. I lose steam and dawdle. Already I have finished 6 books in July, with this method, and am so pleased. I could've read more if I would've adopted this way much sooner.

Here's the release dates for these books and others that aren't shown that I may read;

August 1

Gravel Heart by Abdulrazak Gurnah

The Address by Fiona Davis

Locked in Temptation by Brenda Jackson

Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo

Surrender to Me by Donna Hill

August 8

The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal

All is Beauty Now by Sarah Faber

To Wager Her Heart Tamera Alexander

A Promise of Ruin by Cuyler Overholt

August 15

Seeking Sarah by Roshanda Tate Billingsley

The Party by Elizabeth Day

The Wardrobe Mistress by Meghan Masterson

August 22

The Other Girl by Erica Spindler

August 29

Pretty, Nasty, Lovely by Rosalind Noonan

Breakfast in Bed by Rochelle Alers

Hello friends it's been awhile since I've been on Booklikes. Every time I would try to make an update or post the website would run soooooo slow. I couldn't take waiting and waiting. However, those who are on Goodreads as well as BL I didn't feel out of touch. I missed you all who I've come to appreciate and value on BL. I want to be an active participant again and hope this site stays user friendly for those like me who are clueless when it pertains to websites and computers.

I set my reading goal this year at 50 books. I would like to get back up to the 100 books I used to read in 2011-2013. Last year I barely squeaked by at 30 books, I think. I'm going for it all in 2017 and am discontinuing activities that were time wasters. I'm also going to stop reading books that are not of my favorite genres, doing so slows me down.

My to be read books for February are very exciting. There are new releases by a few of my favorite authors, new books in series I've read and others that are about some of my favorite topics. Let's hope I stay focused next month. So far in January I've finished 5 books. 

Happy reading everyone!