Reading Wrap-up - February Edition!

 

Hello guys and welcome to a brand new post! Today, I'm here to share with you the books that I managed to read during the month of February! The new year has brought back my thirst for reading tenfold and I'm on a roll so I obviously had to share my progress with you! It's not that I didn't read at all throughout the last couple of years, but being an actual adult has cost me time away from doing things I love and cherish, one of them being my beloved ritual of forgetting about the world itself and getting completely lost in a book! I read a total of seven books in February and in this post, I'm going to rate them, give you guys a brief overview of my thoughts and tell you whether I recommend them or not! I was thinking about including a to be read list, but I'm such a mood reader that I have no idea what I might be up to reading in March so I'm just going with the flow, as always!

How many books did you manage to read during February? Make sure to let me know whether you enjoyed them or not in the comments!

*Wallbanger {Cocktail #1} By Alice Clayton

Publication Date: November 2012

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Do you guys know how many years I actually waited to pick this one up? Well, let me tell you... Almost a decade! Now that I think about it though, the timing was perfect because I obviously wouldn't have wanted to read it when I was fourteen years of age, I guess. I had completely forgotten about it, until I stumbled upon an ad on Facebook Marketplace that had it listed for dirt cheap and here we are! It was everything I thought it would've been and even more, it gave me butterflied, kept me on edge and I had a delightful time reading it! The only reason I gave it a four star rating on dear old Goodreads is the ending. It was a bit too rushed for my liking and I would've liked some more closure in terms of their moments actually being together!

Would I recommend this? 

YES! Get ready for the butterflies in your tummy to start beating their wings in the sound of your heartbeat!

*A Beauty So Cruel {Beauty & the Beast #1} By Beena Khan

Publication Date: February 2021

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Another four star rating, A Beauty So Cruel was such a difficult, but well written book and I cannot help but direct your guys to my review, which was also part of a promotional tour for the book's release! To make a long story short, I was intrigued by the synopsis and I just knew that I had to read it and have my heart broken by the events unfolding in its pages. It's quite different from what you'd normally expect from a mafia boss and the girl he decides to basically imprison in his home and keep as a hostage because he can't bring himself to actually kill. Be warned though, it does deal with some sensitive topics and I would advise you to read the trigger warnings first, before deciding whether you'd like to read it or not!

Would I recommend it though?

Definitely!

*Simply You {Hope Valley #1} By Maggie Wild

Publication Date: January 2021

Genres: Contemporary, Romance

Another book I got for review, in order to participate in a promotional tour, Simply You was jut not it. It was my first and only DNF of the year, this far at least, and I cannot tell you guys how much it disappointed me! The synopsis did make it sound like a romance I'd enjoy, since it was right up my alley in terms of what I'm looking for in a book before I decide whether to buy or request it! Overall though, it was poorly written and reminded me of something I would've read on Wattpad. It just fell completely flat for me personally, even though it had some potential right before it started getting too much. Not in a good way, obviously. I might bring myself to write a complete review in order to put my thoughts in order but for now...

Would I recommend it?
Sadly, no.

*A Curious Beginning & A Perilous Undertaking {Veronica Speedwell #1-2} By Deanna Raybourn

Publication Date: July 2016

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

If you've followed me for a while, you'll be well aware of my obsession with this series! Veronica Speedwell has become one of my all time favorites in the span of four years, one book released per year since 2016 that is! I've just gotten my hands on the fifth book in the series and wanted to reread it before picking it up, so these are both books I've read in the past. The rating is as high as it can go and if you're wondering...

Would I recommend them?
The answer couldn't have been more simple. Get yourselves a copy now and thank me later!

*Her Royal Spyness {Royal Spyness Mysteries #1} By Rhys Bowen

Publication Date: July 2007

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

After reading and immensely enjoying Molly Murphy, I decided to get my hands on Her Royal Spyness and immerse myself in more cozy mysteries because they've definitely become my go to genre this past year, as you might've noticed! This one was quite enjoyable, quick and easy to read with just enough suspense to keep me going, which is why I gave it a three star rating. It's not one of the best Historical Mysteries I've come across, but it has potential. It's the first book in a long series, which means that it kind of had to create the setting for the story itself and set the pace for the rest of the books in the series. I've already gotten my hands on the next couple of books in the series and cannot wait to see what they have in store for me, since I do enjoy Rhys Bowen's writing style and character development!

Would I recommend this one?

Kind of... Only if you're looking for something light and fun to read. It's quite interesting, but don't expect to be awed by it. Perfect for getting away from the heavy stuff though!

*The Daughters of Gentlemen {Frances Doughty #2} By Linda Stratmann

Publication Date: April 2012

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

I started this series last year and truth be told, I didn't plan on picking up the rest of the books, but found them on Awesome Books for a fraction of the price and decided to just go for it! Can't say that I regret it, since I enjoyed this one so much more than its predecessor. Definitely a four star read that kept me on edge and blew my mind during some immensely well written parts and unexpected revelations! I would say that you don't even have to read the first one in order to move on to the next. The Poisonous Seed, even though equally intriguing, definitely lacked the spontaneous energy and the suspense of this one!

Would I recommend it?
If you enjoy a good mystery as much as I do, definitely!

That was if for today's post guys! Looking back at the books I managed to read during February and sharing them with you was so much fun and I can't wait for next months wrap up! I might even include a small list of the books I might end up reading during April... Getting ahead of myself here since we've only gone through the first week of March, but a girl can hope! 

So, until the next post,