2025 Book Round Up

This year hasn't been my worst year in terms of numbers. That award goes to 2023 with 55 books. This year I had 60 books read (or listened to) including five re-reads on my birthday. Unfortunately, I have 54 reviews to write (some from 2024 *cringe*), so you'll see nearly all without links for now. Eeek! 

2025 has been another year to remember. Mostly in a good way. My brothers and I sold the family farm (very sad) and I used my inheritance to pay for my divorce and do some major renovations to my house. From February until November we've had work going on and while it's been very stressful, it has turned out gorgeous. I absolutely love what's been done! And hopefully, 2026 means I will have more time to read. AND write reviews. 

Anyway, 60. Not as bad a year as I thought I would have only because I listened to audiobooks from Chirp when driving my son to and from work. About 45 minutes a day (M-F and some Saturdays) when I'm alone in the car. Then Anna started working at the same place in October and my audiobook listening went down to nothing. Except when he had to go in early and she didn't.

33 audiobooks

7 tour books (BBNYA & The Write Reads)

It's been a pretty good year in terms of quality, 

with 42 of the 60 rated 4 bites or above.

5 bites ~ 14

4 bites and a nibble ~ 17

4 bites ~ 11

Cold Backed Audio Blitz

Author Candace Carrabus and the Audio Flow are delighted to share Cold Backed: A Dream Horse Mystery Prequel narrated by Melissa Moran. You can listen for FREE. Come check out this murder mystery and look for the rest of the audio series coming this summer! Don’t forget to enter the giveaway. 

Audiobook Challenge 2020

Hosted by Hot Listens and Caffeinated Reviewer

I'm joining the #2020AudiobookChallenge

Sign up here if you want to play along.

I'm aiming for: Level ~ Stenographer (10-15)

I used to listen to audios all the time, but now that I'm not listening each night with the kids (they're adults now) or delivering the newspaper, I just can't seem to carve out any time to listen. And since I don't live alone I can't exactly put a book on, out loud, while I clean. However, I bought a new 7" Fire just so I could have Audible. My old 1st gen Fire doesn't support that app anymore, so the new one should be perfect. It would be even better if I had some wireless headphones, but I didn't get any for Christmas. I guess I just need to buy them for myself. What else is new? *shrugs* I'm going to attempt 1 audiobook a month which seems a reasonable number to me since I'm trying to get back into the swing of listening. Plus, I'd like to get back on the treadmill, so 1 book a month should work to keep me occupied. We'll see how it goes. 

First, I need to clean up the old guestroom that is now the cat room and get stuff out of my way and off the treadmill. I mean, do the cats really need an old car seat box with a blanket in it on top of the treadmill? Well, yeah, they probably do, but it's got to go. lol I wish the room were bigger, but the treadmill and the elliptical take up nearly all of the floor space. Also, we'll see what the podiatrist says about my left foot. I did something to it a few months back when I was mowing and it's not getting any better. It would probably heal if I kept off it and remembered to take ibuprofen on a regular basis. Oh, well. I have appt with him today, so we'll see.

Audio Blitz ~ The Journals of Octavia Hollows

Do you like urban fantasy and snarky heroines? Then you'll want to meet necromancer Octavia Hollows and her sidekick Bacon. We are celebrating the release of The Journals of Octavia Hollows by Stacey Rourke on Audio. This collection features all six journals in the series and was published by The Audio Flow. Come fall in love with this feisty heroine, her pet pig, and the brilliant narration provided by Brenda Scott Wlazlo.

My Beautiful Suicide

Book source ~ Blitz. 

My review is voluntary and honest.

My Beautiful Suicide

My Beautiful Suicide, #1

Author ~ Atty Eve

Narrator ~ Michelle Sparks

Young Adult | Dark | Suspense

11 hrs 40 mins

My Beautiful Suicide Audio Blitz & Giveaway

Today I am delighted to share a dark, disturbing, addictive audiobook series perfect for fans of the hit series Dexter. Come meet Cosette and her group of young friends as author Atty Eve takes us on a journey into one young woman's disturbed mind.

My Beautiful Suicide Series by Atty Eve

This series is a dark, twisted, unsettling tale. Though the main character is sixteen, it is definitely NOT for young teens. You've been warned.