Monthly Wrap Up: February 2026

Good morning, readers! After a sort-of-slumpy, not really feeling like reading sometimes month, I ended up reading 7 books in February (5 audiobooks, 1 eBook, and 1 physical book).

If you’re not following me on Storygraph, you should! This is my page. Like a lot of people, I mostly stopped using Goodreads.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #33

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

What a week! The snow from the crazy storm like two weeks ago finally completely melted on Friday and I finally saw the grass. Then on Sunday afternoon we got hit with a ridiculous blizzard! After it was all said and done we probably got 20″ of snow on the ground. My husband finally came in the house from his last snowblowing escapade and I was making him some food to eat. We sat down at the kitchen table and all of a sudden we hear this loud bang and the house shook. Turns out our neighbors old ass tree snapped a huge limb and it hit the roof and slid down the side of the house into our yard, landing on our AC unit. Now my husband gets to deal with our insurance company, which is always unpleasant.

I took this photo the morning after it happened.

I’m putting February behind me and looking forward to my March TBR I semi- planned out.

In typical fashion, reading on my Kindle has been slow-going, so I am still reading Served Him Right. I am liking the story though so I hope to have it finished by next weekend.

I am listening to Taming Demons For Beginners by Annette Marie. I want to start the month off strong and I know I will enjoy this book!

For a reading challenge I am doing the prompt is read a book by a Japanese author. I found Strange Houses by Uketsu at my library. I am pretty much going into this book blind and hoping for the best.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

My husband and I binge watched the whole season of A Knight of The Seven Kingdoms this week. The series is only six episodes (boooooo!) which felt so short. We definitely liked the show and the twists were typical Game of Thrones worthy. Highly recommend if you’re into Game of Thrones or House of The Dragon.

Monthly Wrap Up: February 2026
Review: Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams
WWW Wednesday
The Sunday Salon/ The Sunday Post #34

Books Acquired In February 2026

Good morning readers! These are all of the books that I acquired/received/borrowed onto my shelves, virtual and/or physical, for the entire month of February:


I borrowed all of these from Libby.

I did not choose a First Reads book this month.

Scene of The Crime Early Readers Program sent me a widget on NetGalley for this one on audiobook.

I found this eBook in the Free Section on Bookbub.

Acquired: 7

Total spent this month: $0.00

Total spent this year: $0.00

Review: Demon Magic and a Martini by Annette Marie

Title: Demon Magic and a Martini
Author: Annette Marie
Format: audiobook
Length: 7 hours 15 minutes
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: April 23, 2019

Demon Magic and a Martini was an absolute blast from start to finish. Annette Marie nails the perfect balance of humor, action, and urban fantasy vibes, making this a story that’s incredibly easy to fall into and hard to put down. The pacing is spot on—there’s always something happening, but it never feels rushed or overwhelming. Each scene flows naturally into the next, keeping the tension high and the momentum strong.

One of the biggest highlights is the cast of main characters. Every single one of them shines, with distinct personalities, great banter, and believable chemistry. The protagonist is especially fun to follow, and the supporting characters add so much charm and depth that the story feels alive and dynamic. Their interactions are just as entertaining as the plot itself. Highly recommended for fans of urban fantasy with heart and humor.

Library Stats and Savings For February 2026

I absolutely LOVE using my library for all my books and audiobook needs. I do not have a lot of money to blow on a hobby, so I found a good way to support my community, my library and my reading habit! The library has a ton of resources and I always check there first for audiobooks I want to listen to or books I want to read. Libby is my friend and I have multiple library branches hooked up to my account for maximum borrowing.

I thought it’d be fun to post monthly updates about my library stats, on top of keeping up with my official challenge page.

*I use Amazon pricing, or the price on the receipt when I leave the library*

WWW Wednesday – February 25, 2026

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

On my Kindle I am reading Served Him Right by Lisa Unger, a NetGalley ARC that publishes next month. I should have it complete by pub day, woohoo!

I was sent an audiobook ALC of A Place To Die For by A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent thanks to Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse. This book publishes next month so I decided to start listening to it today.

My five star review of You’ve Been Warned. The first one completed for my Personal Stack Challenge.

My review of Her Last Breath will be posted on the blog next week.

Two Kinds of Stranger is an ARC I have that is publishing in March. Might as well get to it sooner rather than later!

If I get stuck in a rut or feel a slump hitting I am gonna go to the next read in the Read-along I am doing with Taming Demons for Beginners. I’ll be way ahead, but it’ll keep me motivated to read.

For a prompt in HRCYED 2.0 I am pulling out an unread Amazon First Reads and reading The Silent Watcher. I have not read a bad Victor Methos book yet, and I am hoping it keeps me wanting to read on my Kindle.

Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!

Review: You’ve Been Warned by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

Title: You’ve Been Warned
Author: James Patterson and Howard Roughan
Format: Hardcover
Length: 306 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Publication Date: September 10, 2007

The story follows Kristin Burns, a New York photographer whose life begins to unravel when her dreams start bleeding into reality. At first, it’s small things, moments of déjà vu and unsettling coincidences. But soon the line between waking and dreaming collapses entirely. People she’s never met recognize her. Events she only remembers from dreams seem to have actually happened. And then there are the warnings, cryptic messages that suggest she is both in danger and somehow responsible for what’s happening. 

What makes this novel so gripping is its relentless uncertainty. The authors expertly manipulate perception, keeping both Kristin and the reader disoriented. Just when you think you’ve grasped the truth, the narrative shifts. The short chapters (a Patterson trademark that I love) intensify the pace, creating a breathless, almost cinematic rhythm. It’s nearly impossible to stop reading because every chapter ends with a hook that makes you keep turning the pages. 

Kristin herself is a compelling protagonist. She’s not a hardened detective or a fearless action hero. She’s an ordinary person whose mind may be betraying her. Her vulnerability makes the suspense more intimate and disturbing. As her world destabilizes, so does ours. The paranoia is contagious.

Exploring themes of guilt, memory, and identity, You’ve Been Warned delivers plenty of twists and a bold, haunting conclusion. Dark, gripping, and deeply unsettling, it’s a thriller that lingers after the final page. 

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #32

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

Work has been a complete shit show this entire week! I’ve actively been looking and applying to jobs since before Thanksgiving… no luck yet.

Both of my children came home from college this weekend!!!! They haven’t been home since we dropped them off a month ago. This is the longest either one of them has been away… our schedules just didn’t work out to go pick them up. ANYWAY! We had a great weekend, literally zero plans but just spending time together (we ended up playing two board games after dinner last night), and they’ll be going back to their colleges later this afternoon.

We are supposed to be getting 12″ to 18″ of snow today. WHAT THE ACTUAL F***!!!! The snow from three weeks ago only melted on Wednesday, are we kidding right now!!!! Lets pray that it does not snow that much and the kids can get back to college safely, and my husband there and back safely.

Legit, February has been my WORST reading month in a long time. I DNFed books left and right (I would read a couple of pages and just put the book down not wanting to read it). I honestly can’t even give an exact number because I didn’t even mark down that I started &/or DNF the book on Storygraph or my reading spreadsheet. I also was so stoked to listen to Malice by John Gwynne, and about 30 minutes into the audiobook I turned it off and can’t get back in to it. It’s definitely ME and not the story. But now I have to put myself back on the waitlist with Libby for it again and that’s annoying since I waited all this time for it to begin with. UGH!

ANYWAY! What I actually AM reading. I started reading a book off my bookshelf, as part of my Personal Stack Challenge this year. You’ve Been Warned by James Patterson is “a dark, propulsive psychological thriller for readers who crave moody, big-city atmosphere, breathless pacing, and the intoxicating dread of chasing desire while disaster whispers just off-frame.” – Storygraph. It had that old school Patterson vibe, the quick chapters that just grip you and you wanna keep turning pages! THIS is what I need right now!!

I haven’t gotten too far into Served Him Right by Lisa Unger. The book comes out in March so I do have a little bit of time to get through it and have a review up before publication date. Gonna use this one for a HRCYED 2.0 prompt as well.

After a small snafu (it was on my end, ssshhhhh!) with my Scene of The Crime audiobook I received last week, I got the widget link to finally work and have been listening to Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams. This one is starting off really good!!!! The small space vibes is definitely creeping me out, in a good way.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

I am currently trying out Pagebound. This is my profile page if you’d like to be friends on the app. P.S. I barely use the app and only remember it when I make these Sunday posts. By March I may just ditch it altogether…. we’ll see.

Did not watch TV this week.


WWW Wednesday
Library Stats and Savings For February 2026
Review: Demon Magic and A Martini by Annette Marie
Books Acquired In February
The Sunday Salon/ The Sunday Post #33

WWW Wednesday – February 18, 2026

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

I started reading a book off my bookshelf, as part of Personal Stack Challenge this year. You’ve Been Warned by James Patterson is “a dark, propulsive psychological thriller for readers who crave moody, big-city atmosphere, breathless pacing, and the intoxicating dread of chasing desire while disaster whispers just off-frame.” – Storygraph.

I am currently listening to Malice by John Gywnne. I unsuspended my hold (since I wasn’t ready for it when it was available to me) and it came in the next day. Is my mind ready to handle an epic fantasy right now? Probably not. But it’s gonna be what it’s gonna be I guess. I definitely DID want to read/listen to this book this year so I am hoping when I start this later today I’ll be into it!

I switched up the book I am reading on my Kindle. For whatever reason, this year I am NOT feeling Kindle books in the slightest. I have DNFed a TON of them and it’s only February. I do not think it’s the books I think it’s the timing, and honestly, it’s totally me. ANYWAY, I picked up Served Him Right by Lisa Unger, a NetGalley ARC that publishes next month.

My review of Mastered By Desire by Calista Jayne

My review of The Chef by James Patterson and Max DiLallo

Two Kinds of Stranger is an ARC I have that is publishing in March. Might as well get to it sooner rather than later!

Scene of The Crime (William Morrow) sent me an ecopy of Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams. This one just published so I think I am throwing into the “next pile” lol.

If I get stuck in a rut or feel a slump hitting I am gonna go to the next read in the Read-along I am doing with Taming Demons for Beginners. I’ll be way ahead, but it’ll keep me motivated to read.

Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!

Review: When I Kill You by B.A. Paris

Title: When I Kill You
Author: B.A. Paris
Format: audiobook
Length: 7 hours 52 minutes
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: February 17, 2026

I listened to this last year so it counted for last years challenges.

When I Kill You is another gripping, emotionally charged thriller from B.A. Paris, and I was hooked from the very first page. The tension builds beautifully throughout the story, with Paris’s signature blend of atmospheric suspense and deeply personal stakes. I found myself completely immersed, not just in the plot but in the way the story unfolded with such precision and psychological depth. I did guess the plot twist before it happened, but it did not ruin the book for me.

If you’re looking for a thriller that keeps you on edge while delivering strong character insight, When I Kill You is absolutely worth the read. 

I received a complimentary ALC through NetGalley.

Stacking The Shelves #9

From the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and The Last Word comes a story of two friends who embark on an ill-fated caving expedition—and the dark truth of what happens deep underground. 

After years of excuses, Tess has finally agreed to go caving with her best friend Allie. Their lives have diverged sharply since high school—Allie is a self-made travel influencer, while Tess is a shy (and claustrophobic) legal assistant struggling to pay for law school. Maybe she’s a little jealous of Allie’s globe-trotting life. Who wouldn’t be?

As Tess and Allie descend into the depths, they realize they’re not alone. A stranger who claims to be a fellow caver harasses them. Confident, take-no-shit Allie insults the guy—and he retaliates. Soon, Tess is trapped inside a narrow crawl space hundreds of feet underground, fighting to stay alive.

Twenty-four hours later, as a hospitalized Tess recounts her harrowing story of survival, the detective interviewing her shares new and shocking secrets about Allie’s true past. Together, they begin to suspect the brutal attack wasn’t so random after all.

Who was Allie, really? Why did this man target them? And did Tess really leave the danger behind when she escaped the cave?

Proof of Price: $0.00

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #31

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

Nothing too exciting happened this week, which is nice.

On Friday my husband and I both had the day off of work, so we went out to lunch at a new resturant that opened up a few towns south of us. The food was just alright, but we had fun trying out the Duck Pin Bowling.

Saturday was Valentine’s Day. Since we went out to lunch the day before we decided to order in food and eat at home. Normally we do the heart shaped pizza from the local pizzeria but we are trying to eat better and passed on it this year.

Today no real plans are planned. I always get the Sunday Scaries because I am just not a fan of my new work place… a post for another time lol.

I am going to start a book off my bookshelf, as part of my Personal Stack Challenge this year. You’ve Been Warned by James Patterson is “a dark, propulsive psychological thriller for readers who crave moody, big-city atmosphere, breathless pacing, and the intoxicating dread of chasing desire while disaster whispers just off-frame.” – Storygraph

I am making slow progress with In His Wake by Chad Zunker. I am hoping to make a good dent into it this week.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

I am currently trying out Pagebound. This is my profile page if you’d like to be friends on the app.

Pretty much obsessed with Curling so I am watching it whenever I can. Or at least catching up on highlights!

Stacking The Shelves #9
WWW Wednesday
The Sunday Salon/ The Sunday Post #32

Stacking The Shelves #8

Going once, going twice, sold…to my best friend’s brother.

My best friend’s older brother has always kept me in the friend-zone. It doesn’t hurt my feelings when he ruffles my hair and puts on the protective brother act. And when he glowers at my recent ex who keeps sniffing around, it’s because he cares. Not because he wants me for himself.

At least, that’s what I tell myself until one night changes it all. The BDSM club where he works puts on an auction once a month. I need money, and this is the fastest way to get some.

When I get up on stage, everything changes.

Because at the end of this night spent with him and another man, the boundaries around the friend-zone are shattered. I know what he tastes like and he’s seen my O face, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Mastered by Desire is the first book in a ménage romance series loaded with sexytimes and melodrama. If you like MFM romance, kinky fun, and angst, fall in love with this threesome today!

This book does not stand alone. For content warnings, please visit the author’s website. https://calistajaynebooks.com/

Proof of Price: $0.00

Spotlight: The Valet by Bonnie Traymore

Title: The Valet
Author: Bonnie Traymore
Format: e-ARC
Length: 241 pages
Publication Date: February 12, 2026

In this twisty domestic suspense novel with a touch of dark humor, a struggling valet driver with a shady side hustle and a soft spot for the ladies suspects that one of his targets might be a serial killer.

You never know what hides behind a smile.

It’s tough to get by in Honolulu these days. Prices are high. Salaries are low. Which is why Johnny Silva tells himself he’s not doing anything that bad. The people he and his girlfriend target have a lot of insurance—and a lot of jewelry.

But when not one, but two guests from the resort where he works turn up murdered in a similar manner, Johnny starts to suspect that one of his targets, a regular at The Grand Royal Hotel, is the serial killer terrorizing Honolulu.

When the cops start questioning him, Johnny suspects that someone is trying to frame him. Does his girlfriend know he’s been chatting up his ex? Does his co-worker know his dark secrets? Are there other enemies out to get him?

Then Johnny becomes a person of interest in the case, and he’ll stop at nothing to find the real murderer, even if a stone-cold killer might be a little too close for comfort.

And even if it might cost him his life.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Kaira Rouda, Daniel Hurst, Emily Shiner, and Shari Lapena.

I received a complimentary e-ARC through Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #30

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

I honestly have BARELY been on social media this whole entire week! After I got home from work I would listen to an audiobook and do a puzzle. It’s been a breath of fresh air actually. I finished two puzzles this week, which is a huge accomplishment for me.

The dog decided to chew three of the pieces

Wednesday my husband and I went out to dinner with our friend and his wife. We had a great time hanging out, just catching up, and the food was delish!

I am making my way through Dead In The Water by John Marrs. So far it’s a good book. Some themes in this book are hard for me to read and this is why I am taking my time with it.

I am dual reading/listening to Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio. I tried just reading it back in November and life got in the way and the book got put on the backburner until it had to be returned to the library. The audiobook hold came in via Libby so I borrowed it along with the book again. I only had the audiobook for two weeks from the library and they are gonna take it back later today (OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!) because at the time of writing up this post I am only 81% in, aka I have FIVE AND A HALF HOURS LEFT in the audiobook! Let’s pray I can finish it before Libby snatches it out of my grasp!

I am going to start In His Wake by Chad Zunker today on my Kindle. He’s a familiar author whose books I enjoyed and I need something of a palate cleanser from the denseness of Empire of Silence.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

I am currently trying out Pagebound. This is my profile page if you’d like to be friends on the app.

If I am not listening to an audiobook while doing a puzzle, I put The Golden Girls on as background noise. The show is on Hulu. It’s a classic and still cracks me up!

Spotlight: The Valet by Bonnie Traymore
WWW Wednesday
The Sunday Salon/ The Sunday Post #31

WWW Wednesday – February 4, 2026

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

I just started reading Dead In The Water by John Marrs. A friend of mine received a paperback ARC and lent it to me to read.

I threw myself on the Libby waitlist for the audiobook of Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio. Yes, I did borrow the hardcover from the library last year and started the book, but it took a backseat at some point and I ended up returning the book to the library a month later. The audiobook is totally keeping my attention and I am invested in Hadrian’s journey!

For HRCYED 2.0 I needed a book with 7+ colors on the cover. You Shouldn’t Be Here by Lauren Thoman is a First Reads backlog book that fits this prompt. I totally forgot what the book is even about so I am gonna go in blind later tonight.

I finished reading The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo. I gave this book an average rating because it was just alright to me.

I finished listening to Nine Pines by Kiersten Modglin. I was not a fan of this one.

A new month is about to start, so new plans have emerged. These are the books I am trying to get to in February.

Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!

Stacking The Shelves #7

From #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author P. C. Cast—a passionate and magical epic bringing alive Celtic legend, perfect for romantasy fans who love Sue Lynn Tan and Thea Guanzon and historical fantasy fans of Madeline Miller.

Step into the mystical world of the Isle of Skye in 200 BCE, where legends come to life, goddess and gods walk the mortal earth, and the Queen of Shadow holds court. But Scáthach is no ordinary queen. Daughter of the Underworld goddess Bēfionn, golden-haired Scáthach is not just a brilliant trainer of warriors, her divine mother has gifted her with the ability to pass between the living world and the Underworld and has granted her dominion over shadows.

Scáthach dedicates her life to training the most talented warriors from across the ancient world at Dunscaith Castle, her impenetrable fortress on the magical Isle of Skye. When Cuchulainn, the Hero of Ulster, son of the Irish god Lugh, arrives asking to become one of her students, Scáthach reluctantly agrees to train him—even though she has serious misgivings about his violent past and the mindless berserker who sleeps within him and whose rage, once awakened, has always been uncontrollable…until the Hero of Ulster meets the Queen of Shadow. Scáthach soon realizes Cuchulainn is much more than the brutal, emotionless warrior everyone expects him to be. And the Hero of Ulster begins to believe he might take control of and even change his foretold fate.

As their growing attraction deepens, Cuchulainn’s father, the God of Light, forces him to retrieve a weapon that will seal Cuchulainn’s fate and forever take him away from the Queen of Shadow. But when Scáthach joins him on the quest through the most dangerous and disturbing parts of the Underworld, Scáthach discovers that her fate may lie in the Underworld and, perhaps, she might be able to forge a future for herself and Cuchulainn by tricking death herself….

Proof of Price: $0.00

Monthly Wrap Up: January 2026

Good morning, readers! Somehow…. I read 7 books this month. Thank goodness for audiobooks at this point. I overwhelmed myself with lots of plans and I ended up scratching all of them and going to comfort books to help my reading along. ALL of my ARCs were neglected – it happens :(

If you’re not following me on Storygraph, you should! This is my page. Like a lot of people, I mostly stopped using Goodreads.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #29

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

Life was pretty good this past week. Had a day off of work on Monday because of all the snow and ice, so the husband and I spent the day in the living room doing our hobbies (him video games and me reading). Tuesday I had a delayed opening so I was expected into work at a later time, obviously. The work day went by so quick! Wednesday my husband had an after work meeting, Thursday he bowls after work and Friday he went to a concert with some work buddies… which means I was home after work with the dog those three days. Did I get a lot of reading done? OF COURSE NOT! :( I got a lot of a puzzle done while listening to The Golden Girls in the background lol. What a slacker if you ask me.

Saturday I was asked to work. School isn’t open on the weekend, how can you work? It’s what we call a “catering”. A school activity is taking place and they need use of the kitchen. To ensure safety someone who works in the kitchen must be present. My manager (who is the person who normally does it) could not attend due to a prior commitment so she asked me if I would like to. I agreed.

I am going to start Dead In The Water by John Marrs today. I am borrowing this ARC copy from a friend. I actually really like Marrs’ books so I am not sure why I am having a hard time starting this one.

I needed one more book to complete a category for HRCYED 2.0 and chose a book I already own that fits the prompt. I am not far into You Shouldn’t Be Here by Lauren Thoman. The premise is interesting but there’s a character already that is making me want to put the book down and never open it again. We shall see if I can get past it…

I am dual reading/listening to Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio. I tried just reading it back in November and life got in the way and the book got put on the backburner until it had to be returned to the library. The audiobook hold came in via Libby so I borrowed it along with the book again. At the writing up of this post I am 13% into the book and liking it so far.

If you’d like to be friends with me on Storygraph, this is my profile page.
I stopped using Goodreads and refuse to go back.

I am currently trying out Pagebound. This is my profile page if you’d like to be friends on the app.

Like I said above, I threw on the first season of The Golden Girls while sitting doing a puzzle. The show is on Hulu. It’s a classic and still cracks me up!

I liked another Harlan Coben TV show and Netflix has now suggested a ton of them for me to watch. This one was pretty good too!

Monthy Wrap Up: January 2026
Stacking The Shelves #7
WWW Wednesday
The Sunday Salon/ The Sunday Post #30

Books Acquired In January 2026

Good morning readers! These are all of the books that I acquired/received/borrowed onto my shelves, virtual and/or physical, for the entire month of January:

I borrowed all of these from Libby.

Acquired: 12

Total spent this month: $0.00

Total spent this year: $0.00