It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (August 4, 2025)

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.

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

Other Than Reading...

Despite the daily Air Quality Advisories, this was a good week. I went out to eat twice since I had two coupons to use at Texas Roadhouse. Otherwise, I did a lot of reading from my review stack. I also finished the 18+ hours of Angel-Seeker and threw in a 3+ hour In Death novella. 

I quietly celebrated my 75th birthday on Saturday. My brother did buy me a German Chocolate cake which we'll be eating for days. 

After I read the last 25% of my current review book, I will be able to finally read Framed in Death by J. D. Robb. I have been looking forward to that one for what feels like months. The previous book in the series come out in February. I've had this eARC for six weeks or so and have been chomping at the bit to read it but refraining until it's spot on the calendar arrived.

Even though I have 18 September releasing Review copies on my stack, I'll be able to fit in a couple of my own books this coming week. The review copies are bunched for later in September with 5 releasing September 16, 6 releasing on September 23, and two on September 30. I've been filling spots on my calendar with books I bought in 2025 rather than digging deep into TBR mountain.

I set up my September calendar and have been working on my draft posts as I listen to audiobooks or watch baseball. 

July Reading

I read 43 books in July. Twenty-two were mine and twenty-one were review copies. Nineteen of the ones that were mine were audiobooks including a number of the In Death novellas. I listened for about 145 hours in July. 

I added 44 books to my LibraryThing account including 22 Review copies and two audiobooks. One of the audiobooks was from Chirp. The other was an Audible Daily Deal. I bought a cookbook as my first hardcover of the year. I also won a Goodreads giveaway. Twenty of the new additions are still on the TBR pile.

My total collection has reached 8,079 items including 2669 marked TBR and 51 review copies still to be read. I have 785 books marked Read but Unowned which includes all the review books I've read since January 2020.

Here's my July State of the Stack post for more information about review books I've received and read. 

    
Read Last Week

• Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman (Review, August 26) -- Excellent mystery filled with Agatha Christie quotes and a very snarky main character. My review will be posted on August 19.
• A Lonesome Place for Murder by Nolan Chase (Review, August 26) -- The second Ethan Brand contemporary thriller. Great characters. My review will be posted on August 21.
• Death at an Irish Village by Ellie Brannigan (Review, August 26) -- Third Irish Castle mystery. Jam-packed plot, lots of needless repetition of plot points, a vast cast of characters, and a rushed ending. My review will be posted on August 20.

• Laying Down the Latte by Ellie Alexander (Review, August 26) -- 21st in the Bakeshop Mystery series takes Jules, Carlos and Andy to a coffee plantation in Costa Rica where a three-day weekend learning about coffee turns into a murder investigation. My review will be posted on August 21.
• A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber (Review, August 26) -- Latest in the Verity Kent series takes place in Dublin 1920 where Verity and her husband are trying to track down some poison gas cylinders and solve a jewel robbery along the way. Lots of and lots of politics and a cliffhanger ending. My review will be posted on August 23.
• Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley (Review, September 2) -- YA/New Adult thriller packed with Ojibwe culture and the trials and tribulations of a young girl stuck in the foster care system. My review will be posted on August 26.

• Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn (Audiobook, mine since March 14, 2022) -- Finale of the Samaria fantasy series. Follows the lives of two young women looking for their place in the world. My review will be posted on August 28.
• Chaos in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook, mine since June 5) -- Novella in the In Death series.

Currently

• River's End by Nora Roberts (Audiobook, Mine since September 15, 2021)
• If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia (Review, September 2)

Next Week

• Framed in Death by J. D. Robb (Review, September 2)
• The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens (Mine since October 27, 2009)
• The Deepest Cut by P. J. Tracy (Review, September 9)

• All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Review, September 9)
• Flash Point by Tracey Devlyn (Mine since July 24)
• The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens (Audiobook, mine since July 27)

Reviews Posted

• Murder at Marble House by Alyssa Maxwell (Mine, audiobook)
• Who Let the Dog Out? by David Rosenfelt (Mine, audiobook)
• Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner (Mine, Audiobook)

• For Duck's Sake by Donna Andrews (Review copy)
• The Locked Tomb Mystery by Elizabeth Peters (Mine)
• Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Tayler (Review copy)

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

Review:

• The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi (Review, September 16)
• Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict (Review, March 24, 2026)

Bought:

• Last Seen Alone by Laura Griffin (BookBub, $1.99)

What was your week like?