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!

I finished one book in September and that was The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel. That book didn't live up to my expectations at all. After about 30% I lost interest in the plot and characters and forced myself to finish. I made some progress in Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters, but quickly put it down after I just didn't care what was to come. It was taking way too long to get there. I may pick this book up this month or next, but I'm unsure at this time. I also attempted to read The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. This book captured me from the very beginning, but due to it's visually detailed content I couldn't and can't read it all the way through without breaks. I'm really hoping to plow through it this month without being so emotional.

September was a difficult month. I had a death in my family and plenty of not-so-good health news. I was knocked off my feet a bit to say the least. But as we adults know that is life.... Expect the unexpected and know tomorrow can be a better day!

This month I'm excited about black romance, historical romance, urban fiction and always anything to do with Paris. However, Les Parisiennes is the story of the women who lived during the Nazi occupation. Not a light read, but one I'm sure to find informative. Hag-Seed is the retelling of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. I don't believe I've read that play so, this will be intriguing. The Other Einstein tells the story of Einstein's wife Mitza who was a physicist.

October 4

The Rancher Returns by Brenda Jackson

October 11

A Terrible Beauty by Tasha Alexander

Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood 

Diamonds and Pearl by K'wan

October 18

Les Parisiennes by Anne Seba

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

Have you heard, read or are excited for any of these October Releases?

There's a little bit of everything I love in this line up; historical fiction and romance, slavery, mystery, suspense, war and tea. The early reviews on all of these books have been stellar. I am excited. 

September 6

Luxe 2: A La La Land Addiction by Ashley Antoinette

A Deadly Affection by Cuyler Overholt

September 13

A Tea Planter's Wife by Dinah Jefferies

Darktown by Thomas Mullen

Fates and Traitors by Jennifer Chiaverini

The Orphan Mother by Robert Hicks

September 20

The Girl Who Fought Napoleon by Linda Lafferty

September 27

If I Had You by Heather Hiestand

The Girl In The Castle by Santa Montefiore

September 30

Slavery At Sea: Terror, Sex and Sickness in the Middle Passage by Sowande Mustakeem

Have you heard, read or are excited for any of these September Releases?

Bah! It's only the first week of May and I'm falling behind on posts and reading.  Already this month I've had to make a hard call on not finishing a book. I hate doing that, especaily when I've been excited for the book.  Anyway, more on that in another post.  Only a week behind, but these are my Most Anticipated releases for this month!

Release: May 3

Author: Todd Lockwood

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Evertide #1

Shelf: Library

Maia and her family raise dragons for the political war machine. As she comes of age, she anticipates a dragon of her own to add to the stable of breeding parents. Her peaceful life is shattered when the Summer Dragon—one of the rare and mythical High Dragons—makes an appearance in her quiet valley. Political factions vie for control of the implied message, threatening her aspirations, her aerie, her entire way of life.

Release: May 3

Author: Sarah Jude

Genre: Young Adult

Series: Stand Alone

Shelf: Library

Stay on the roads. Don’t enter the woods. Never go out at night.

Release: May 10

Author: Taran Matharu

Genre: Fantasy & Young Adult

Series: Summoner #2

Shelf: Library

More demons, epic battles, and fights to the death: introducing the unmissable next installment in the Summoner Trilogy...

Release: May 17

Author: Joe Hill

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Shelf: Library

The fireman is coming. Stay cool.

That's everything!  Four books this month have caught my eye, and already been added to my Holds list.  This month I've added something different.  Each book cover goes back to their Goodreads page so everyone can check out large synopses and any early reviews.   

What about everyone else?  Anything else coming out in May I should keep my eye on?