Category: Monthly Wrap-Up (Page 1 of 9)

Monthly Wrap-Up: August – October

October 31, 2022 / Jen / 5 Comments

During our Monthly Wrap-Up, we’ll take a look at what has happened around here in the last month. That’ll include what’s happened in my life, what we’ve read, any other posts we may have had, and our most popular Instagram posts..

*We linked this post to the October Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction*

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Jen’s Life:

✮ The last three months have been a whirlwind. My oldest qualified for state in swimming and my youngest got chosen to be on the All-Stars team for soccer, so sports have continued to be 6 days a week for us. We also got to watch The Blue Angels, go to a concert in South Lake Tahoe, do rock wall climbing, visit Southern California and have so many play dates with friends and family dinners that make my heart oh so happy. Today I’m looking forward to watching my kids trick or treat with their friends while I get to walk around while chatting with my friends. Happy Halloween everyone!

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What We Read:

5 Stars:
✮ The Awakening: As Told by the Boys by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
✮ Never Enough Cowboy (Creedence Horse Rescue #4) by Jennie Marts
✮ Dissent: A Charity Romance (Prove It by Lauren Stewart)
✮ Hat Trick Heart (Thunderclap #1) by Ella Market
✮ The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2) by Stephanie Garber
✮ The Sweetest Game (Southern U O’Brien Brothers #3) by Cookie O’Gorman
✮ House of Beating Wings (The Kingdom of Crows #1) by Olivia Wildenstein
✮ Dauntless (In Vino Veritas #6) by Victoria Denault
✮ Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch
✮ Forbidden Legacy (Fallen Fae #1) by Theresa Kay

4.5 Stars:
✮ Much Ado About Dukes (Never a Wallflower #2) by Eva Devon
✮ Wildfire (In Vino Veritas #1) by Garrett Leigh
✮ Unmanageable (In Vino Veritas #3) by Leslie McAdam
✮ Wonderland (In Vino Veritas #5) by Rachel Ember
✮ Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy (Avalon Bay #1)
✮ A Little too Late (Madigan Mountain) by Sarina Bowen
✮ The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn
✮ A Little Too Late (Madigan Mountain #1) by Sarina Bowen

4 Stars:
✮ Stealing Infinity (Stolen Beauty #1) by Alyson Noel
✮ Underdog (In Vino Veritas #4) by L.A. Witt
✮ Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy (Avalon Bay #2)
✮ The Perfects by Rachel Van Dyken
✮ A Little Too Close (Madigan Mountain #2) by Rebecca Yarros

3.5 Stars:
✮ The Dark King (Deviant Kings #1) by Gina L. Maxwell

3 Stars:
✮ Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

2 Stars:
✮ A Year to the Day by Robin Benway

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Our Favorite Books of the Month:

Chelsea’s Choice – The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2) by Stephanie Garber
I am crumbling, tumbling, disintegrating into a pile of ash as I slowly lose my mind over what this evil. Chaotic. Out to freaking KILL me author has done to my not-so-innocent soul. That’s right. She got me. She got me BLEEPING good.

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Jen’s Choice – House of Beating Wings (The Kingdom of Crows #1) by Olivia Wildenstein
With a richly imagined world, a dark and luscious story and characters that were brilliantly done, House of Beating Wings was a phenomenal start to a new series! This story kept me glued to the pages and consumed my every waking thought.

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Arielle’s Choice – Hat Trick Heart (Thunderclap #1) by Ella Market
Second chance romance, friends to lovers, a great supporting cast, the perfect amount of drama, and men groveling, lollll. This might be Ella Market’s first book but if THIS is her baseline for quality writing, I honestly can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

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Cassie’s Choice – Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy (Avalon Bay #1)
Good Girl Complex literally came out of nowhere and surprised me in all the best ways possible. I struggle to find (and love) contemporary romance books. I’ve had a handful launch their way into my favorites, but so, so many have been 3 stars or less. I’m so happy this one was a winner and has made excited to read more of Elle Kennedy.

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Instagram:

Here were our most popular posts last month, from each of us ♥.

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So this was our last few months….did you read any of the same books that we did? Or share the same favorite book as us? If not, then what was your favorite book?

Here’s hoping you all had a wonderful last few months. And cheers to November being fabulous for all of us!

Monthly Wrap-Up: July

August 1, 2022 / Jen / 3 Comments

*We linked this post to the July Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction*

Jen’s Life:

✮ This is the first monthly wrap up I’ve done all year *gasps*. Life has been crazy busy and I’ve just been thankful to have time to read and review books. This winter we spent our weekends snowboarding and once school got out we’ve just been having as many play-dates at the beach with our friends that we can. Throw in sports 6 days a week, for a good portion of the year, and family dinner each weekend and other family and work events and yeahhhhhhh it’s just been go, go, go! Here are a few pics from the last 7 months. In the two bottom pics that’s my oldest standing up paddling by himself and then my youngest giving me and his good friend a ride ♥.

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What We Read:

5 Stars:
✮ The Fallen Kingdom (The Falconer #3) by Elizabeth May
✮ Glow (The Plated Prisoner #4) by Raven Kennedy
✮ Cowboy Ever After by Jennie Marts
✮ The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken
✮ Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle
✮ Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
✮ Misfits Like Us (Like Us #11) by Krista and Becca Ritchie

4.5 Stars:
✮ Love Lessons (Brooklyn #7) by Sarina Bowen
✮ Boyfriend Bargain (Hawthorne University #1) by Ilsa Madden-Mills

4 Stars:
✮ The Vanishing Throne (The Falconer #2) by Elizabeth May
✮ The Anti-Fan and the Idol by Rachel Van Dyken
✮ Boyfriend Material (Hawthorne Univeristy #2) by Ilsa Madden-Mills

3.5 Stars:
✮ All of Our Demise (All of Us Villains #2) by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman

3 Stars:
✮ The Falconer (The Falconer #1) by Elizabeth May

2 Stars:
✮ A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young

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Our Favorite Books of the Month:

Arielle’s Choice – Misfits Like Us (Like Us #11) by Krista and Becca Ritchie
I probably should just come out and say it—I think this is my favorite book of this series so far.

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Chelsea’s Choice – Glow (The Plated Prisoner #4) by Raven Kennedy
All that being said, I really think what I’m trying to encapsulate [in a super circumvent way] is that these books grow, they build, and they continue to only get better. I’m sorry, but this SHOCKS me. I picked these books up by MISTAKE, and now they are kind of a big part of my recent ‘These books are my whole life, my whole world, my very existence and next breath’ movement (I can be a bit dramatic, we know this) and I just…I’m so grateful.

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Jen’s Choice – The Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken
The Godparent Trap was an emotional powerhouse that was impossible to put down. I don’t think I have ever laughed or cried so much while reading a book. This story easily reached into my heart and owned every part of me! It was heartwarming, beautiful, memorable and going on my favorites list!

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Instagram:

Here were our most popular posts last month, from each of us ♥.

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So this was our July….did you read any of the same books that we did? Or share the same favorite book as us? If not, then what was your favorite book?

Here’s hoping you all had a wonderful July. And cheers to August being fabulous for all of us!

Monthly Wrap-Up: November & December

January 6, 2022 / Jen / 14 Comments

*We linked this post to the December Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction*

Jen’s Life:

✮ These last two months our lives have been consumed with the two puppies my parents got. They have been such an amazing addition to the family and my husband, boys and myself have fallen in love with them too. We spend every free moment we can at my parents house lol. You can see pictures of them here, here and here.

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What We Read:

5 Stars:
✮ Everything He Isn’t by Lauren Stewart
✮ Aurora’s End (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
✮ How to Cowboy (Creedence Horse Rescue #3) by Jennie Marts
✮ A Scoundrel of Her Own (Sinful Wallflowers #3) by Stacy Reid

4.5 Stars:
✮ Christmas in Silverwood by Dorothy Dreyer
✮ Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart) by Stephanie Garber
✮ Holiday Hotel (Simona Island #1) by Poppy Minnix
✮ Iron (The Queen & The Assassin #1) by Lisette Marshall
✮ My Summer in Seoul by Rachel Van Dyken
✮ The Bachelor on the Shelf (Reindeer Falls #6) by Jana Aston
✮ The Christmas Pact by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
✮ The Paid Bridesmaid by Sariah Wilson

4 Stars:
✮ Elves with Benefits (Reindeer Falls #4) by Jana Aston
✮ One Night with a Nutcracker (Reindeer Falls #5) by Jana Aston
✮ Scrooged by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

3 Stars:
✮ Wildflower Season (Carolina Girls #1) by Michelle Major

2 Stars:
✮ Eight Days of Christmas (Pineridge #1) by Starla DeKruyf
✮ Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis

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Our Favorite Books of the Month:

Jen’s Choice – A Scoundrel of Her Own by Stacy Reid & Everything He Isn’t by Lauren Stewart
I’m sorry but there’s no way I can decide between these two.
A Scoundrel of Her Own was a story of star-crossed lovers that was passionate, emotional and impossible to put down. This book had the most wonderful HEA and was another huge hit and instant favorite by Stacy Reid!
Everything He Isn’t consumed my every waking thought. With friendship, romance, banter, steam and tons of heart filling the pages, I loved this book with my whole heart!

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Arielle’s Choice – Aurora’s End (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
This series and these characters will live in my mind and in my heart for the rest of my life. I was reminded throughout this entire book, but especially at the end, that this series and these characters are so special because of their love for one another. They are each other’s CHOSEN and found family and not even centuries of time and zillions of lightyears is going to change that. Without going into any detail their love for one another saved each other and the entire galaxy and that is what is going to stick with me the most.

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Instagram:

Here were our most popular posts last month, from each of us ♥.

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So this was our November & December….did you read any of the same books that we did? Or share the same favorite book as us? If not, then what was your favorite book?

Here’s hoping you all had a wonderful November & December. And cheers to January being fabulous for all of us!

Monthly Wrap-Up: September & October

November 4, 2021 / Jen / 10 Comments

*We linked this post to the October Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction*

Jen’s Life:

✮ In September we went hiking with some friends. It was 6 miles in the mountains and all 5 of our boys did great! It was so nice finally being smoke free, from the fires, and being able to get out and run around. You can see some of my pictures from our hike here.
✮ My youngest made All Stars for Soccer! If you aren’t familiar with that, it’s where local areas pick the best player or two from each of the surrounding teams and then make an All Star Team with them. He was so honored to be chosen and his team has been working so hard getting read for their upcoming tournaments! They’ll be going up against other All Star Teams from California and Nevada. I’m so proud of how hard he’s worked and he’s only 8!
✮ I love Halloween! We celebrated at my parents house the day before with a party and then trick or treated with family and friends the day of for hours. You can see two pictures of our costumes here and here.

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What We Read:

5 Stars:
✮ Broken Skies by Theresa Kay
✮ The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
✮ Fireproof (Busy Bean #8) by Delancey Stewart
✮ Afterglow (Busy Bean #10) by Aria Wyatt
✮ A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
✮ Boyfriend (Moo U #0) by Sarina Bowen
✮ To Sir, with Love by Lauren Layne
✮ Office Hate by Rachel Van Dyken
✮ Cupcake by Cookie O’Gorman

4 Stars:
✮ Sidetracked (Busy Bean #7) by R.L. Kenderson
✮ Footnote (Busy Bean #9) by Alexa Gregory
✮ A Stormy and Sultry Sea (Witches of the Island #2) by Katie McGarry

3.5 Stars:
✮ Doubletalk (Busy Bean #6) by Teralyn Mitchell

3 Stars:
✮ A Christmas at Gingerbread Falls by Katie Mettner

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Our Favorite Books of the Month:

Arielle’s Choice – Afterglow (Busy Bean #10) by Aria Wyatt
I’m just going to say it. This is my TOP, TOP favorite book in ALL of The World of True North series. I just really am going to need everyone to run and go read the entire series BUT ESPECIALLY this one. I could honestly gush all day. There is not a single part of this book that I didn’t like and you better believe that once there is an audio of this I will be SPRINTING to buy it so I can listen to Declan’s sexy Irish brogue in my ear holes. *shivers*

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Jen’s Choice – A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Shadow in the Ember slowly seeped into my heart and consumed my every waking thought. I couldn’t stop the laughter from bubbling up at the most inappropriate times, the smile that kept appearing or the tears that kept falling down my face. This story became an instant favorite and is a must read for all fantasy lovers!

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Instagram:

Here were our most popular posts last month, from each of us ♥.

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So this was our September & October….did you read any of the same books that we did? Or share the same favorite book as us? If not, then what was your favorite book?

Here’s hoping you all had a wonderful September & October. And cheers to November being fabulous for all of us!

Monthly Wrap-Up: July & August

September 3, 2021 / Jen / 10 Comments

*We linked this post to the November Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up Link-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction*

Jen’s Life:

✮ Last month we went to Southern California to visit family and spend our days at the beach. I was not ready to come back home to the smoke, it was such a wonderful reprieve! We got to surf, boogie board, kayak, look for ocean creatures in the tide-pools and hang out with family and friends. It was a blast and I’m counting down till we get to go back down there in October!
✮ My boys started 5th and 3rd grade and it’s just been a crazy school year. The majority of their recesses have been inside, because of the smoke from Caldor Fire, since it’s so very close to us. Our air quality constantly goes over 500, ash keeps falling and our skies are orange or red, but we’re still safe! Right now we’re hoping and praying that the firefighters can save as much of our area as they can and that everyone stays safe!

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What We Read:

5 Stars:
✮ Grace and Glory (The Harbinger #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
✮ The Perfect Play (Southern U O’Brien Brothers #2) by Cookie O’Gorman
✮ Waylaid (True North #8) by Sarina Bowen
✮ OUR VIOLENT ENDS (These Violent Delights #2) by Chloe Gong
✮ All of Us Villains (All of Us Villains #1) by Amanda Foody
✮ Starlight (Speakeasy Taproom #7) by Christine DePetrillo
✮ Stargazer (Speakeasy Taproom #8) by Wendy S. Marcus

4.5 Stars:
✮ Wildflower (Speakeasy Taproom #5) by Mae Wood
✮ Stronghold (Vino & Veritas #14) by Ana Ashley
✮ Forever Starts Now by Stefanie London
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4 Stars:
✮ Arsenic and Adobo (Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery #1) by Mia P. Manansala
✮ Showstopper (Vino & Veritas #17) by Regina Kyle
✮ Attraction (Hypothesis #1) by Penny Reid

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Our Favorite Books of the Month:

Jen’s Choice – Grace and Glory by Jennifer L. Armentrout & The Perfect Play by Cookie O’Gorman
I’m sorry but I refuse to choose between a Paranormal and a Contemporary. I loved them both with my whole heart! Grace and Glory was a stunning conclusion to The Harbinger Series! With tears, laughter, friendship and love splashed across the pages, this book was such a huge win! If you’re a fan of Jennifer L Armentrout or paranormal stories then you definitely need this series in your life! And The Perfect Play was an instant favorite! Cookie’s books always make me laugh and smile, and again this one was such a huge hit! If you’re looking for a romance story that is swoon worthy and will make you fall in love, then look no further, this is your book!

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Arielle’s Choice – Waylaid (True North #8) by Sarina Bowen
I knew I needed a book about Rickie from the first time we laid eyes on him in Heartland. He was such an enigma to me and I knew that if we were to get a glimpse into what him, him that I would consume it in a day (I did).

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Chelsea’s Choice – OUR VIOLENT ENDS (These Violent Delights #2) by Chloe Gong
Gong restored my faith in books. She restored my faith in how I can be addicted and pine and hope for a certain path to be taken and for the author to write certain things, it not go my way (I am veryyyy picky with my romance and enemies to lovers and peril), and STILL love how it goes. Not one thing felt forced. Not one moment blemished by rushing and trying to fit everything in. It all felt real, it felt natural. That is the mark of a true author. THAT is how you create forever fans. THAT is how you CRUSH the YA world.

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Instagram:

We thought it would be fun to share our most popular posts for August. And they were….

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A post shared by Star-Crossed Book Blog (@starcrossedbookblog)

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So this was our July & August….did you read any of the same books that we did? Or share the same favorite book as us? If not, then what was your favorite book? Or have you read any of the books I just added to my TBR?

Here’s hoping you all had a wonderful July & August. And cheers to September being fabulous for all of us!