It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (December 20, 2021)

 It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I will be combining my YA and adult reading and purchases on this one weekly roundup.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This was an interesting week weatherwise. We have been having abnormally warm temperatures for December and even set a temperature record by reaching 49 degrees one day. 

Then a storm rolled through which began with rain and thunderstorms and even a potential for severe weather. Overnight, the rain turned to snow and the temperatures dropped rapidly which raised the potential for black ice on the streets. The storm also brought strong winds and power outages, but ours was only out for a brief time. 

Most of the storm's impact was south of us. I think we only got three inches of snow when all was said and done. We even missed most of the ice. However, temperatures have become more December-like with highs in the 20s and lows approaching zero. 

I've been content to stay at home while my brother is working every day until Christmas. He began this schedule with no days off on Friday. Only two of his eight shifts before Christmas included working until midnight but all of them having him working 8-hour days. It is crazy trying to plan dinners together when he starts work anytime between 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM. After Christmas his schedule resumes a more normal pace with him having two days off a week.

I've finished all of my January review books and will probably begin reading February books this week. I did some work on my February calendar and filled in books around the review books that were already scheduled. I tried to lean heavily to audiobooks and also added some older titles. I am very, very gradually reducing my TBR mountain. 

I hit my newest Goodreads goal (365 books) this week and will likely read about a dozen more books before the year ends. 

Read Last Week

If you can't wait until the review shows up on my blog, reviews are posted to LibraryThing and Goodreads as soon as I write them (usually right after I finish reading a book.)

• Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop (Mine; Audiobook, Reread) -- This finishes up the five-book The Others series and was a wonderful story. I've read it many times and listen again when I need a comfort read.
• High Jinx by Kelley Armstrong (Mine; Kindle) -- This is the second is Armstrong's new urban fantasy series featuring curse workers and immortals who were once the Greek gods. It was a fun story. My review will be posted on January 19.
• Mariana by Susanna Kearsley (Mine since 2012; Kindle) -- This was another engaging story by one of my favorite newly discovered authors. My review will be posted on January 20.)

• The Body Reader by Anne Frasier (Mine; Kindle and audiobook) -- Excellent thriller set in a slightly alternate Minneapolis about a homicide detective who was abducted, tortured, and held captive for three years before escaping and who resumes her life a very changed woman. My review will be posted on January 22.
• Summer Days by Susan Mallery (Mine since 2012; Paperback) -- Engaging contemporary romance set in Fool's Gold, California. My review will be posted on January 25.
• Barbarian Alien by Ruby Dixon (Review; January 25) -- Second in the Ice Planet Barbarians series. This is erotic romance and light science fiction. My review will be posted on January 20.

DNF

• Undercover K-9 Cowboy by Addison Fox (Review; January 25) -- I read 30% waiting for something to happen either with the mystery or the romance, but I waited in vain. 

Currently

• Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearsley (Mine; Kindle and audiobook)
• Briarheart by Mercedes Lackey (Mine, Kindle)

Next Week

• Never Look Back by Mary Burton (Mine; Kindle and Audiobook)
• The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont (Review; February 1)
• In the Serpent's Wake by Rachel Hartman (Review; February 1)

• Behind the Lie by Emilya Naymark (Review; February 8)
• L. A. Burning by D. C. Taylor (Review; February 8)
• Live, Local, and Dead by Nikki Knight (Review; February 8)

Reviews Posted

• The Lonely Dead by April Henry (finished November 2)
• Reserved for the Cat by Mercedes Lackey (finished November 5)
• Damage by Lilith Saintcrow (finished November 12)

• McKettrick's Luck by Linda Lael Miller (finished November 13)
• The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore & Bar by Seana Kelly (finished November 14)
• Instant Gratification by Jill Shalvis (finished November 14)

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

I took advantage of lots of sales this week. All are Kindle copies.

• A Baby's Bones by Rebecca Alexander
• The Matzoh Ball by Jean Meltzer
• Deck the Halls by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark

• For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
• Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
• On Shadow Beach by Barbara Freethy

• Miz Scarlet and the Imposing Imposter by Sara M. Barton
• Miz Scarlet and the Vanishing Visitor by Sara M. Barton
• Miz Scarlet and the Holiday Houseguests by Sara M. Barton

• Nothing to Fear by Claire Boston
• Murder at the Filmore by Zelda White

What was your week like?