How is your reading year going?

Happy Monday! I hope you’re all doing well.

Today's post is going to be my midpoint checkup for my reading challenges for 2023. We're going to see how I did according to my list from the beginning of the year.

1. Is the classic Goodreads challenge. I wanted to hit 200 books before end of the year. I'm at 106 books at the moment I'm writing this post. I should be at 110 books finished by the time the post goes up. I am 14 books ahead of schedule so I'm doing good. I'm not too worried about hitting that goal considering that I did really good the first couple months of the year. Then I had a little bit of a reader slump and I think I'm back on track so I'm not too worried. I never really feel like I'm not going to achieve it and if I feel like I'm not going to I'll just adjust to a lower number.

2. Continue to read sequels / work on finishing off series I’ve started. I don't think have pick up one book form a series this year. I'm on a standalone kick at the moment.

3. Expand My Horizons and read at least 5 fantasy books. Check.

4. Read 3 non-fiction books this year. Yea, that's gonna be a no from me dawg.

5. Re-read 5 books. She Shoots, She Scores.


Did you have any goals this year? Leave a comment, I’d love to chat!

xoxo,

Shon

Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag 2023

1.Best book you’ve read so far in 2023
The Reaper by Garry Michael

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2023

Don't Let Me Go by (A Whisper in the Dark #3)Chani Lynn Feener

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.

LOT 62 (From Nothing #2) by Nordika Night

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

After Hours Lectures by Kimberly Knight and Rachel Lyn Adams

5. Biggest disappointment.

His Revelry by Bailey Nicole

6. Biggest surprise.

Garron Park (From Nothing #1) by Nordika Night

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)

Chani Lynn Feener

8. Newest fictional crush.

Mat and Peyton from The Sinner's Penance by K.C. Carmine

9. Newest favorite character.

Devon Sawyer and Maddox Kane from Garron Park & LOT 62 by Nordika Night

10. Book that made you cry.

11. Book that made you happy.

Hunter's Descent (Mischief and Monsters) #2 by Alice Winters

 
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received).

Worthy: A Pride Anthology the Romance Cartel Book Box Special Edition Foiled Hardcover with sprayed edges

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

The Stablemaster's Heart (Tales of Lilleforth #2) by Sarah Honey

I would love to hear your answers in a comment section.

xoxo,

Shon

Shon's 2022 Reading Goals | New Year Booktuber Tag

Happy Monday! I hope you’re all doing well.

Ah, it’s that time of year again – to discuss my goals for the year. Hey guys! Let's have a bit of fun and answer some questions today so I thought I would do New Year Booktuber Tag which I saw on Jessen Reads Romance. I wasn’t tagged by anyone. I’m not going to tag anyone myself, but if you feel like writing this post consider yourself tagged! Let’s get into it shall we?

What are you most excited about for 2023?

All the new books coming out in 2023 and participating in a couple of reading challenges.

Do you have a Goodreads challenge goal, and why that number?

Yes, my Goodreads goal for 2023 is 100 books. I feel it is a safe number.  Last year was a good year for reading.  I read 180 books.  

List three 5-star predictions!

1. Can't Say Goodbye by Eden Finley
2. The New Guy by Sarina Bowen
3. The Husband Hoax (Accidental Love #1) by Saxon James

What genre, subgenre, or trope do you want to read more of?

I want to read more Fantasy.

What trope do you think will be the most popular in 2023?

A trope I will never get tried of is Fake Boyfriend.

Name three bookish goals for the year!

1. Continue to read sequels / work on finishing off series I’ve started.
2. Expand My Horizons. I want to read at least 5 fantasy books and 3 non-fiction books this year.
3. Re-read 5 books

Name three personal goals for the year!

1. Do better at being organized. Both online and in real life!
2. Do better at blogging and social media. Because I am the absolute WORST at staying caught up.
3. Save Money. I buy way to MANY books and planner stickers.

What do you want to leave behind in 2022?

Negative.

That’s it for  New Year Booktuber Tag. Please let me know your answers to the questions in the comment below. 

xoxo,

Shon

2022 Year in Review

Hello friends!! Happy New Year’s Eve / Happy New Year to you all! So this post is more like yearly warp up since I have not post a monthly wrap since February 2022.

Stats for 2020

• 44,194 pages read
• 180 books read
• Shortest Book: 22 pages
• Longest Book: 678 pages
• Average book length in 2022: 248 pages
• My average rating for 2022: 3.1 stars

Books read in March: 23
Books read in April: 27
Books read in May: 17
Books read in June: 20
Books read in July: 10
Books read in August: 9
Books read in September: 16
Books read in October: 13
Books read in November: 10
Books read in December: 6

Happy New Year and may your 2023 be filled with good health, happiness, love, joy and, of course, books.

xoxo,
Shon

BEST MM ROMANCE NOVELS OF 2022

MM Romance novels make up 99% of the books I reads.

I find the world of MM Romance is quite expansive. It has most (if not all) of the tropes you’d find in a MF romance novels and layered with tension and angst that can only be found in a same-sex relationship.

These stories engaging and compelling stories will have you invested in seeing these characters fight their demons and find their happily ever after together.

If you have yet to experience the amazingness that is MM romance novels, I would suggest you start now. I highly recommend every single book on this list.

• Studious (IOU #2) by Leslie McAdam This was fun!  A cute take on the nerd/playboy trope. Things I like: virgin MC, playboy MC & office romance.
• Hostile by Nicole Dykes Opposites attract. I loved this.
• Never Trust a Guy With Fangs (Covens of Eaton Falls #1) by Mia Monroe This was a lot to take in. This was so out of my comfort zone. You name it and this book had it. I take that back the only thing missing where werewolves or shapeshifters.
• Break Me Daddy (Mafia Daddies #1) by Skyler Snow I'm not big fun of DDlb books. But I really enjoyed this one.
• About Last Knight (Knoxton Knights #1) by Michaela Cole I really enjoyed this book! I usually stay away from high school books, and I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it!
• Necessary Evils Series by Onley James This series is now my latest obsession.
• Nice Catching You (Bethesda Barracudas Hockey #1) by Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood I really enjoyed this one. It was very different from other sports romance that I had read.
• Frat Wars: King of Thieves (Frat Wars #1) by Saxon James This was a really cute. It's very low-angst.
• Bruised But Not Broken (Spark of Hope #1) by Nicole Dykes This was a super sweet, bi-awakening.
• One Step From The Dark by S.L. Dieruf A Kindle Vella series that has completed about a closeted cop and a closeted mob boss.
• Fight Me Daddy (Mafia Daddies #2) by Skyler Snow A fun and smutty read. I really enjoyed it.
• Off the Field Duet Series by Kimberly Knight and Rachel Lyn Adams Love this story
• P.S. I Loathe You by Isla Olsen Loved, loved, loved this one!
• Dysfunctional by Isabel Lucero I might have read this 2 time this year. Two serial killers who fall for one another what more can you ask for.
• The Dragon King's Assassin (The Dragons of Serai #1) by Amy Sumida I really enjoyed this story.
• Chasing Shadows (Daemons of San DeLain #1) by M.A. Church A great start to a new series!
• How I Stole the Princess's White Knight and Turned Him to Villainy by A.J. Sherwood I've thoroughly enjoyed everything I've read by AJ Sherwood, and this was no exception.
• Cracks in the Ice (Mohegan U Hockey #1) by Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood This was a super sweet, bi-awakening.
• Changing His Tune (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2022) by Blake Allwood This was just so cute.
• Learning Curve (Franklin U #6) by N.R. Walker My favorite as of today, from this series. Mainly because this is the only book in the series that I did not DNF.
• Kismet by Ashley James I've thoroughly enjoyed everything I've read by Ashley James, and this was no exception.
• Football Royalty (Franklin U #8) by Eden Finley At this post I will read anything by Eden Finley.
• Holiday Fling by Crystal Lacy A really super cute, sexy, and fun holiday read.

xoxo,

Shon

Mid Year Book Freak Out 2022

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2022

    The Black Prism (Lightbringer #1) by Brent Weeks

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2022
    Psycho (Necessary Evils #2) by Onley James

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.
    The Magic Between by Stephanie Hoyt

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.
    Lunatic (Necessary Evils #6) by Onley James

5. Biggest disappointment.
    Pack Master (Vampire Kings #3) by Loki Renard

6. Biggest surprise.
    About Last Knight (Knoxton Knights #1) by Michaela Cole

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)
    Onley James and Nicole Dykes

8. Newest fictional crush.

9. Newest favorite character.
    The Mulvaney

10. Book that made you cry.
    Bruised But Not Broken by Nicole Dykes

11. Book that made you happy.
    Moonstruck (Necessary Evils #3) by Onley James

12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received).
    The Final Empire (The Mistborn Saga #1) by Brandon Sanderson

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
    Night Trials (Midnight Magic #3) & Night Tremors (Midnight Magic #4) & Night Treasures             (Midnight Magic #5) by Richard Amos


I would love to hear your answers in a comment section.


xoxo,
Shon

The Worst Books I've read (so far) this year

We are near the halfway point of the year which means it's time for the halfway point best and worst books of the year so far we're starting off with the worst, next post will be the best. I have 7 books to talk about.

A King to Be Protected (Our King, Our Master #2) by Brea Alepoú: DNF at 26%. I kept trying to power through. Let me summarize what I did read in the first 26%. Sex. And sex. Sleep. Sex. And sex. Sleep. Did I mention the sex?

Super Hot Wingman (The Best Men #0.5) by Sarina Bowen, Lauren Blakely: Ugh.

Hot Seat (The Hot Cannolis #1) by Eli Easton, Tara Lain: This one didn't really work for me.

Mad Love (Dangerous Daddies #1) by April Jade: What the hell was that? I thought I was a pretty open minded reader. I guess not. I probably shouldn't have finished it. This one was a total waste of my time. I'm not going to elaborate. I've already spent to much time on this.

Metal Heart (Metal & Magic #1) by Michelle Frost: Sadly, I felt very disappointed with this one. At this point, I've struggled with three in a row from this author. It's time to maybe say that she's not for me. At the very least, I think I'll take a break because something isn't working at the moment.

Caring for Little Ollie (Different Hearts #1) by Izaia Winter: What the hell was that? Another book probably shouldn't have finished.

Pack Master (Vampire Kings #3) by Loki Renard: Um...Nope. What kind of ending was that?

Anyway those are some books that I didn't like. It's going to be a much longer list full of books that I thought were excellent so be looking out for that post.

Have you read any of these book. Let me know in the comment section below.

xoxo,
Shon