Grab a Book & Play Booktivity! discussion

2025 - Can you believe that we are quarter of the way through this century?!

We wish you many, many good reads in the next twelve months. Please share with us your year's reading journey.

Tell us......
1. FINISHED
What have you finished reading?
a. What did you think about it? (in 3 or 4 sentences)
b. Did you like it or not like it? ( how many stars ★★★★★)
c. Do you recommend it to others?

2. CURRENT
What are you reading now?

3. NEXT
What do you plan to read next?


Happy reading!

.

Baby Teeth -Zoje Stage
Genera: Horror
4.5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Girl They Took - Leslie Wolfe
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
4.5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Book of Dragons – E Nesbit – 3***
This collection of short fairy tales was first published in 1899. Nesbit populates her stories with all manner of dragons … big, small, hungry, kind, fierce, curious, sleeping. Some feature children as the heroes. All of them are delightful and all feature marvelous illustrations by H. R. Millar.
LINK to my full review

On The Edge - Annabeth Albert - (Oregon, a little bit Utah)
Mount Hope Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Gap
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

What Feasts at Night - T. Kingfisher - (Poland)
Sworn Soldier Series Book #2
Genera: Gothic Horror
5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Chestnut Man - Soren Sveistrup - (Denmark)
Genera: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
4.5★
Possible Trigger: Mutilation
Reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Snowbody Like You- Ariella Zoelle
Genera: M/M Romance
Suite Dreams Series Book #1
2.5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mary - Nat Cassidy - (New York)
Genera: Horror
4★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Rule of Law - Isla Olsen - (California)
Narrator: Kale Williams
The Goode Life Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance
3★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Note:
The 3-star rating had nothing to do with the book not being one I would recommend. The rating came entirely for how aggravating something that I explained in the review was. As far as the book goes, I would absolutely recommend it,

Loathed Lagan- Nora Phoenix - (Washington)
The Foster Brothers Series Book #3
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Ballad of Tom Black - Victor Lavalle - (New York)
Genea: Paranormal/Dark Fantasy/Novella
3★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Trail of Lightening - Rebecca Roanhorse - (Arizona/New Mexico)
The Sixth World Series Book #1
Genera: Fantasy/Native American Legend
4★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

You Again- Dianna Roman - (Washington)
Men of Olympus Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Nestlings- Nat Cassidy - (New York)
Genera: Horror
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Budding Attraction - Saxon James
Divorced Men's Club Series Book #3
Narrator: Nick J. Russo
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Midnight Assassin - Patricia Bryan & Thomas Wolfe- (Iowa)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/True Crime
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Nicked Nordin - Nora Phoenix - (Washington)
Foster Brothers Series Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance
5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Read the 4 books in order as there is always brotherly interaction.

Counting Miracles - Nicholas Sparks - (North Carolina)
Genera: Contemporary Romance
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Until You Say Otherwise - Kate Hawthorne
Lonely Hearts Series Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance/Heavy BDSM
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just Bromantically Invested - Saxson James - (Washington)
Accidental Love Series Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance/Friends to Lovers
Narrator: Teddy Hamilton - 4.5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Rolling In The Deep - Mira Grant - (California -The Mariana Trench)
Genera: Horror /Fantasy
5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Eyes Only For Me - Andrew Grey - (Pennsylvania)
Eyes of Love Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Friends to Lovers
5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I Found You - Lisa Jewell - (England)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
4.5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Flirty Vet - Casey Cox - (Australia)
Boys Down Under Series Book #1
Narrator: Rupert Channing
Genera: M/M Romance
4★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A Sea of Unspoken Things - Adrienne Young - (California)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
4★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Off Balance - Brigham Vaughn - (Georgia)
Peachtree Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Age Gap
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Warsaw Protocol - Steve Berry - (Poland, Belgium)
Cotton Malone series Book #15 (Group read for the Mystery & Suspense group on LibraryThing)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense Thriller
4.5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead - Jenny Hollander - (New York)
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Psychological Thriller
4.5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Tropic of Serpents – Marie Brennan – 3.5***
Book two in the “Memoirs of Lady Trent” alternate history / fantasy series. It is written as a memoir by the elderly Isabella Camherst, recalling her youth and adventures as a natural historian specializing in dragons. Isabella is a wonderful heroine – intelligent, tenacious, confident, intrepid, resilient and courageous. I also really appreciated how Brennan wove in some political issues involving colonialism, economics, the cultures of different indigenous groups, and the devastation of fragile ecological systems in the name of “progress.”
LINK to my full review

Always Eli - Charlie Novak
Forever Love Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance/Drag Queen
4★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

NOTE: The 4 stars was not in any way about the book not being "recommendable"...the rating came from the length of the story that could/should have been longer...and issues that could have been better handled.

Sulfur Springs - William Kent Krueger - (Arizona/Mexico)
Cork O'Connor Series Book #16
Genera: Mystery & Suspense/Thriller
4★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Bully & Exit - Brigham Vaughn - (Kalamazoo, Michigan/last few chapters in Chicago)
Midwest Series Book #1
Genera: M/M Romance - 4.5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Not Dating Material- Saxson James - (Washington)
Accidental Love Series Book #2
Narrator: Teddy Hamilton
Genera: M/M/F Romance
3★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Cross Her Heart - Melinda Leigh - (New York/Pennsylvania)
Bree Taggart series Book #1
Genera: Mystery & Suspense
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

No Quick Fix - Mary Calmes - (Montana)
Torus Intercession Series Book #1
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Bay - Gianni Holmes
The Smoky Vale Alliance - Book 1
Narrator: John Solo
Genera: M/M Romance/Mystery/Bikers
4★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Fix It Up - Mary Calmes - (Mostly California)
Torus Intercession Series Book #3
Genea: M/M Romance/Tours Intercession Bodyguards
5★
Possible Trigger - Some graphic description of animal cruelty that had already happened years ago.
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Gunner - Gianni Holmes
Smokey Vale Alliance Series Book #2
Genera: M/F Romance/Enemies to Lovers
4.5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Fix Is In - Mary Calmes - (Oregon)
Torus Intercession Series Book #4
Genera: M/M Romance/Bisexual/Bodyguards
5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Marine Biology - G.L. Carriger - (Ireland)
San Andreas Shifters series Prequel
Genera: M/M Romance/Fantasy/Short Story
4★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Little Eve - Catriona Ward - (Scotland)
Genera: Horror
5★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Once Upon A Second Chance - Davidson King
Part of Once Upon A Holiday series by various authors (2024)
Genera: M/M Romance/Christmas Short Story
5★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Big Fix - Mary Calmes - (Thailand Mostly)
Torus Intercessions Series Book #5 - (Jared & Owen's Story)
Genera: M/M Romance/ Action & Adventure/ Espionage
4★
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Kiss Curse - Erin Sterling
Graves Glen Series Book #2
Genera: Small town Rom Com Romance/Witches/Magic
3★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

3 stars
1812: The War That Forged a Nation by Walter R. Borneman

Taken from the Goodreads synopsis "Although frequently overlooked between the American Revolution and the Civil War, the War of 1812 tested a rising generation of American leaders; unified the United States with a renewed sense of national purpose; and set the stage for westward expansion from Mackinac Island to the Gulf of Mexico. USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," proved the mettle of the fledgling American navy; Oliver Hazard Perry hoisted a flag boasting, "Don't Give Up the Ship"; and Andrew Jackson's ragged force stood behind it's cotton bales at New Orleans and bested the pride of British regulars. Here are the stories of commanding generals such as America's double-dealing James Wilkinson, Great Britain's gallant Sir Isaac Brock, Canada's heroine farm wife Laura Secord, and country doctor William Beanes, whose capture set the stage for Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner." During the War of 1812, the United States cast off its cloak of colonial adolescence and -- with both humiliating and glorious moments -- found the fire that was to forge a nation."



Overall, the book was a good collection of stories about the events leading up to the war, during the war and ending the war. Quote from the book, "In some respects, it was a silly little war--fought between creaking sailing ships and inexperienced armies often led by bumbling generals. It featured a tit -for-tat, "You burned our capital, so we'll burn yours," and legendary battle unknowingly fought after the signing of a peace treaty. In the retrospect of two centuries of American history, however, the War of 1812 stands out as the coming of age of a nation. "

I know we will never know the whole truth of why and how the events occurred because let’s face it, people like to build things up to be more than it was but overall, I agree it was a big turning point for a young nation. Just wish a little more care in researching some of the people's intent in the moves they made, was it more of personal vendetta, improve political empowerment or was for the good for the people of the nation. The book is a dry read but it did hold my attention plus I don't get a full cohesive overall picture of what all was going on. That is why I am giving it three stars.

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Phantom Messages - William J. Hall
Genera: Supernatural
3.5★

Join The Club - Charlie Cochet -(Florida)
Four Kings Security #3
Genera: M/M Romance/Bodyguards
5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Witchcraft For Wayward Girls - Grady Hendrix - (Alabama)
Genera: Teenage pregnancy/Witches
3.5★
Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

4 stars
Taken from the Goodreads synopsis. "In April of 1846, twenty-one-year-old Sarah Graves, intent on a better future, set out west from Illinois with her new husband, her parents, and eight siblings. Seven months later, after joining a party of emigrants led by George Donner, they reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains as the first heavy snows of the season closed the pass ahead of them. In early December, starving and desperate, Sarah and fourteen others set out for California on snowshoes and, over the next thirty-two days, endured almost unfathomable hardships and horrors."

I have read a few other books about the Donner party but not one that follows one person's story. Sarah Graves may have been the main focus, but Daniel does get into the others story here and there about their interactions within each other. As straight forward as this story is it still lacks the very raw emotion of their hardships. The dry writing style of just stating the facts is the contributing factor to the not fully loving the book.
Poor choices made on their way to start need lives. What a horrific yet Fascinating tragic story.