Fast Five for  the 42nd

Feb11

Today is the 42nd day of 2026. I also completed reading my 42nd book of the year, Maya Alden’s new release, Love is in the Air. Here’s my fast Five take on it:

  1. I really appreciate that while Alden writes a grovel novel, they aren’t all the same formula. There are some authors that you know when you hix X percentage, Y will happen. Sometimes the betrayal is early, sometimes late.
  2. A perfect Valentine snack of a book. Even opens on Valentine’s Day in Paris!  Although I’m single, this fit the romance of the holiday perfectly. (I’ll be off to a Gal-entines day with my sister on the day)
  3. OW drama without cheating! Not even the hint of it in this one. The OW drama all came from his ex wife.
  4. I didn’t like how the translations of French and Spanish terms was handled. There was a little list at the end of the chapter. In a previous book, with the Italian language, it was easier to tell what was being said through context clues. I ended up using the Kindle to translate what I needed to.
  5. Even though her books are available on KU, I started pre-ordering them. Why? Because I get them much quicker. Release day was today, but it was in my Kindle at 11pm last night (oh the struggle was real!). The last one I waited for KU on, I didn’t see available until 2 or 3 am (I was awake because of something else).

I really wish there was a way to get on a list to beta read for an author. In Truth and Tinsel there were two inconsistencies, and in this one there was one.l regarding where the heroine, Tara lived. I’d have to reread it to pinpoint why, but at first I thought she was from and lived in Los Angeles. Them it comes to light that she was living in Philadelphia. That kind of threw me… And then even more when she went home to LA and her family, got fired from her job in Philly and NEVER WENT TO GET HER STUFF. Where did it go? She thought she was going back. Was it in storage? Subletting her place? Where’d her stuff go? Tiny detail, but with the confusion before, it starts that thread that I keep pulling at. I’m done with ARC reading, they just want sound bites for promotion on platforms I won’t use. But Beta reading? For Maya Alden? Oh my gosh, I’d love that. But I am not going to win any points by bringing up the little things that bug me with an author. Sigh

What have you been reading? Have any favorite new authors?

Being Proud of Yourself

Feb5

I was out and about, getting ready to come home and really needed some coffee. I’d had to have a fasting blood test done, so…. Imperative mode activated. Thought of McDonald’s, but didn’t want the drive thru lane. Then I thought hey, what about Casey’s? Good coffee, GREAT breakfast sandwiches, and the podcast I listen to mentions them so often!

And then I thought…. Hey. How about you be proud of yourself, go home and make a pot of coffee and your own breakfast sandwich.

The thought stopped me. Tripped me up. Being Proud of myself. I don’t often think about it, about progress made, things I’m proud of. I’m just getting through the day.

At the end of 2025 I made a plan for 2026. Picked out a word of the year, even. It’s Live, for those who are wondering. I got too into hermit mode again, and need to get out more and do more

It  means I’m cooking again. I don’t enjoy cooking, but I cook once and eat for 3 days. Salads almost every day because I enjoy them. It means spending the night once a month with my sister. It means doing crafts while on a video call with my niece. And decluttering on video call with one of my besties.  It means doing easy, beginning workout so this summer I can walk to the parade route and not have to worry about parking. Just take my chair and go. 

I’m not writing as much, but nothing fiction wise stuck. I am writing letters. My Coffee Epiphany happened at the post office, where I had dropped off 6 letters with family photos and sent them where they belong. I’m writing the letters for care home residents, they’ll be ready to go tomorrow. I am writing, just not the way people feel I should. 

Mostly, I’m taking control. Instead of tucking in and reading a book, I’m crafting, writing letters, redecorating , de cluttering, getting healthier and and and…. And I’m still reading.

But if I hit 464 new books in a year again, I don’t know that my body will recover. And that total– that’s only the new books, not the re-reads. I’m still reading, just also living.

I’ll be back to Fast Fives soon.

What are your goals for this year?

Bookish Fast 5: Emotional Triggers

Jan20

I am currently in my hurt/comfort/grovel era of romance books.. Currently, the author I’ve been reading and re-reading is Maya Alden. Sometimes I have to walk sideways into her books. They can be very emotional. Sometimes I skip them entirely.

Ienn Bullard is another author who I read that hurts my feelings on purpose. She, as well as Alden, is very vocal about telling the reader that our mental health matters more than page reads for them. Here’s his w they protect us from walking into a reading situation that might affect that me tap health

  1. Social Media. Jenn is vocal on when her books might push a person over the edge. Her Unhinged-verse is extremely unhinged. Based on the trigger warnings, I skipped the last book. I just couldn’t.
  2. Most authors now have Trigger Warnings listed at the beginning of the book. Make sure you read them. You may need to check on their website, some authors tell readers at start of book to go to website for full list of triggers– I firmly believe this is a copout. If you’re
  3. Newsletters. Sometimes, like with Alden, in the newsletter they mention not only trigger warnings, but include an excerpt that will give you an idea of what goes on around the trigger. The feel of the book, if you will.
  4. In book warnings. I am reading Maya Alden’s newest Wildflower Canyon book, and just came to the end of a chapter. Instead of the next chapter, there is a page detailing the trigger warning. It tells the reader to either skip the chapter, or close the book, because our mental health matters.
  5. The last line of defense for readers is our brethren. Check out the reviews on Amazon and Goodreads or wherever you go to get info on books.

Authors– please keep your reader in mind. While it may be necessary for the story, some things should never be thrown on a reader without knowledge before hand.

Readers- take care of yourself. I’m still staring at that chapter break for the trigger warning, deciding if I should continue on. I probably will. It’s not on page, is being talked of in the past.

But it is my decision, as the reader, whether or not to read it thanks to an author taking care of her readers.

Fast Five: Your Reading Jornal

Jan14

When I go on YouTube and watch Reading Jornal videos,  sometimes I get inspired. Other times I think to myself “That is never going to be me.” Artistic, intricate and beautiful. Works of art. Some print the covers of the books they’ve read, others draw books on shelves and write the titles in.

There are the store bought reading journals, that come with pre-drawn bookshelves, places for book reviews and TBRs and Book Club reads. They end up both too much and not enough. Too many things I won’t use– if I write a book review, it’s almost always broad strokes before I write it here, good reads and/or Amazon. I don’t do it for every book. I read too much for that LOL. Book club? No, thank you. And the book shelves? Never enough space for all the titles I read.

So if it isn’t a one size fits all– how do you go about making a Reading Journal that you’ll enjoy? That you’ll use and get joy from it?

  1. Decide what type of .journal you want. This goes beyond pre-made or self made. If you’re making it yourself, what kind of notebook/journal do you want? Spiral notebook? Composition book? Journal? For me, I use a Big sized Happy Planner notebook. I like being able to take paper in and out, and the paper is heavy enough I can write on it with felt tip markers and it not bleed through.
  2. Think about what you want in it. For the list of books I’ve read, I’m perfectly ok with just a list. It’s numbered, with the title and date finished on it. I made a bookshelf with washi tape and hand drawn books  only for my 5 star reads. Some people want space for book reviews. Do you want multiple bingo cards or just one?
  3. Play around with it. There’s no right or wrong way to make your journal. Play with the format. Have fun. One of my bff’s (and family member) is trying to figure out how to make stickers scratch n sniff
  4. Whether you like stickers, making your own artful pages or prefer tables and graphs to art, make sure it appeals to you. You are the one who has to make it and use it. Chances are, you’ll use it more if you enjoy it. I have a page that is a pretty pink scrapbook paper covered in romance book trope & smutty book stickers. I love it.
  5. Have fun. Relax. Experiment. This isn’t a YouTube tutorial. It’s a hobby that should make you feel good. It should help you relax, give you a little joy.  If it’s your first one, don’t worry if you don’t use all the pages you made. It just let you know what you can leave out next year.

I hope you give making your own Reading Journal a go.

If you already have one, what are some of your favorite pages in it? I’ve  got room to add!

Fast Five: Why Non-Readers Need Libraries

Jan3

As a reader it’s no shock that the first thing I scope out when moving (after groceries and gas) is the library. It is a great community resource even for non readers.  Here’s your Fast Five for why Non-Readers should be going to the library.

  1. Kids & Teen programs. Libraries have several kids programs, from story time to arts. Some even have service dogs that will sit and listen to a child read aloud. Most also do things for teens, including homework help, crafts and more.
  2. Access to technology. Can’t afford a computer, a new printer or WiFi? You can afford a library card, which is generally free to locals. There may be a nominal fee for the printer, but the computer use is free.
  3. Meeting other adults– my local library has a craft day for grown ups. This Friday, I’m going to attend a Murder Mystery party. They are supposed to also be starting a meet time for adults to come in (kinda like a grown up play date with no safety issues and no booze).
  4. Services & Classes. Mine has a notary for a small fee. They will also proctor exams. What services does your have? They may also have classes on things like: using the computer, coding, gardening, caring for elderly family members. I have seen all of the above at a library. For free.
  5. Other things (non books) to check out. Almost everyone knows about DVDs and CDs. My local library also checks out STEAM kits for kids, puzzles, telescopes, fishing poles and binoculars.

While libraries are great for books and magazines, what they are the very best at? Being the center of the community.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a reader. What other things does your local library offer that surprised you? It shocked me to learn mine has telescopes and fishing poles 😀

Also, make sure your non-reading family and friends know the services that are available to them.

Here’s to keeping the Libraries open and thriving in 2026!!!!

Fast Five: SJ Tilly’s 1st POV

Nov23

Hello my lovelies! How are you today? I’m reading the third book in S.J. Tilly’s Mountain Man series and I have to share some thoughts about Tilly’s use of Alternating 1st Person POV. These books are Romance, so some of these comments are going to tie specifically into that specific genre.

  1. Remember how the old romance novels used to slip between perspectives, especially in the spicy scenes? Making the scene well rounded on both sides of the relationship and keeping the pacing? She is able to do this…. How? Well…..
  2. Chapters vary in length, some only a few paragraphs (I want to say one was only a sentence, but I could be wrong.)This tightens suspense, especially in a predator / prey or romantic chase  type of way.
  3. In the shorter chapters, the sentence length changes as well, leaving the reader slightly breathless. It makes the pacing completely on point for spicy scenes.
  4. In the longer chapters we get more depth– varied sentence length as well as the gamut of emotions– heart break to hilarity. These books have both made me laugh so hard I cried, and just ugly cry for the character.
  5. I don’t really have a 5. I feel in love with the way she uses the structures of writing to help tell the story, both in chapter and sentence lengths.

Have you read anyone lately who makes you think about writing a little differently? I have a few more books to review through the lens of how’d they do that writing edition LOL. So I’ll see you very soon!

Fast Five: Writing Goals

Oct25

Hello, My Lovelies! So it’s been a minute since I’ve done a Fast Five on my writing goals.

Embarrassed? Eh. Partially, but I am not currently a professional writer, or even trying to break in. Even when I send stuff in, it’s a 50/50 on whether it’s because I want to “Be Published” or just share my stories.

So here we go!

  1. I unfortunately missed my deadline for LoH for the first time. It doesn’t feel good. Yes, there were reasons, but a missing story is a missing story.
  2. Currently, I am writing poetry sideways. Not necessarily one a day, but when inspo strikes I am  writing it down.
  3. And instead of writing in a Word document, I am writing it out long hand. In a pretty pretty journal/notebook.
  4. I have entered the era of letters. Some are fan letters, some are actual letters. The actual letters are for a memory care home for patients with dementia. There’s less than 25 residents, and I’m trying to do one batch per quarter. The fan letters are to authors.
  5. Trying to have fun again. Did one of those fan letters where it was a poem/story that if you read the first letter of each line going down it is their name. Silly? Yes. Fun? Absolutely. Will I ever share or send? Ummmm debatable. HahHaha

I’ve started to wonder about what I’m trying to write. Especially as I’m uncomfortable with parts of it. I think I’m just going to continue playing with words for the rest of the year and see where I’m at on what my goals should be for 2026.

Fast 5 plus 1: Bound to the Beasts

Oct12

Bookish Thoughts on Bound to the Beasts
by Ari Wright

First of all, I was blessed with an ARC of Bound to the Beasts by Ari Wright for an honest review.

Rating 4 Starz.
I really enjoyed Bound to the Beasts and it was almost a Five Star read. 

Bound to the Beasts is a Reverse Harem Omegaverse retelling of Beauty and the Beast

Fast Five PLUS 1!!!
1. Retelling of Beauty and the Beast, one of this reader girls favorites—and comes with ALL THE BOOKS LOL
2. Dane, the Masked Man, is just honestly the best of the male characters. Cillian, the Pack Lead was fun to read, his whole Dominance thing playing well off of the Beasts softness.
3. I’m not sure what a “Black Cat” female character in a romance is—she’s feisty and stands up for herself? I liked Briar, though!
4. Rhys, another male lead, was damn near irredeemable. More on him in below
5. This is not just darker than Ari’s  other books, it is much twistier. And let me tell you, I can normally sniff a twist out a mile away. My son and I will watch a show and I’ll say “he did it” and the Princeling is annoyed bc I’m right. I did not see this type of  twisty coming. I AM HERE FOR IT!!
6. I know- I can’t count!!! But the reason for the downgrade in stars is because Rhys (see above) reminded me too much of one of the MMCs in Knot her Catch (MVP Book 5). Also one of their nicknames for the FMC (“Pretty Baby”) felt like one from the same MVP book. Note—it is not. But Briar’s story felt similar in the dynamics, which resulted in the loss of 1 star. The twist and her feistiness brought it up from a 3.

Overall, I’d recommend this book in a heartbeat. I’ll probably reread it, too.

Fast Five Goal Catch Up

Sep29

Oh my goodness! It’s been a minute!  But summer is well and truly over, and it’s time to knuckle under again 😳 Heres a really quick update on the goals I had for this year:

  1. Reading goal has been crushed three months early according to Good Reads. I don’t know why this irritates me– but it does. I have days of re-reading old favorites, but I don’t count them. So I think the goal was appropriate, just… I feel let down that the goal was accomplished early instead of closer to the end time.
  2. ARCs are still a thing I love. I’m happy to report that I’ll have 2 upcoming for you. One, I’ve already read and am just collecting my thoughts. The other I’m awaiting with bated breath.
  3. Writing has been different (see below). I haven’t been writing as much, as my writing buddy and I seem to have taken the summer off. The poem a day is so far behind and I’m not sure if I want to resume it or not.
  4. I still doodle around with my fiction. I say I have several stories that I keep hopping around in, but they are all built in the same world so I’m not sure how good or bad that is. I’m having fun and that counts..
  5. I have been keeping up with writing for the Ladies of Horror Picture Prompt. You should go and read some of these amazing stories and poems! If you’re more of an audio type person, there are reading in YouTube done by the lovely Elaine Pascale, The Godmother of Horror here

Ta for now, my lovelies! Let me know if I got the links wrong and I’ll get them long form lol

Hurt Feelings? Bookish Talk

Jul30

I’m a mood reader. Grade A, 100%. I range from Rom-Com to this book will dehydrate you with the amount of tears you’re going to shed.

There are two books that I started and had to stop reading them. One by Jenn Bullard, and one by Sadie Kincaid. My heart hurt too much to read them at the time.

My mental health matters and so does yours. Even if it means putting down a book only 10% in. Or 85%.

I read a lot of rom-com after putting those down. Happy, bright, no tears for me. I’m not sure why I needed it. I enjoy them, some have even elicited belly laughs.

But I started Dancing almost every “Rom-Com” or “cozy” sorry I started.

I needed my feelings hurt.

That might sound strange to someone who doesn’t read. Or use it this way. But when I need a good cry, and  Jenn made me bawl and I’m pretty sure Sadies’s on the same trajectory…

Sometimes, you need a good cry. But the tears won’t come.

And the right book can help.

Even fiction can help you heal.