Welcome to The Book Report where we run down everything that happened in the month and update you on challenges, giveaways, reviews and more!
Sophia Rose’s Update
April showers bring May flowers, right? Does that still count if they are snow showers? Haha! It was funny to see we got almost as much snow in April as we did in February. Spring is trying, but it is really got a wrestling match going on with Winter. As a result, I’ve got a new admiration for the hardiness and tenacity of our spring flowers, bushes, and trees that have bloomed and started budding, bow under the weight of the snow, and keep springing back each time. And, yes, feel free to take from that your own metaphors about hanging in there through our viral season.
Personally, I’m blessed. We made Easter a special day while at home. We’re healthy and safe, we have all our basic needs met, we’re keeping busy with productive as well as fun things, and this is true of the majority of our circle of acquaintance. Here in Michigan, we’re still under stay at home until mid-May, but I was glad to see that some of the restrictions were lifted so some non-essential businesses can open back up and get their people back to work, we can shop in gardening centers and go into the non-food sections of the big box stores. People who have cabins or boats may now use them. I’m also pleased for those who get to go into Phase One in their states. Great pick me up! How’s that coming for you in your state, province, or country?
As to bookish news, I’ve just finished the spring semester of the Reading Assignment challenge hosted by Michelle and Berls @ Because Reading and I’ve signed up for summer semester with the same goal of all four professors (Authorluv, Genre, Mix-Up, and Ann Thology) for one book each for four months- total 16 books. There is still time if you wish to sign up for Summer Semester: https://www.becausereading.com/register-for-your-summer-semester-2020hw/
I also just wrapped up the COYER Instagram Challenge that ran the whole month of April. I did the photo prompt for each day. Woohoo! If you’re interested in seeing my pics (not that I’m a pro at picture taking), you’re welcome to follow me on Instagram: @sophiarose1816
I completed my first goal for the COYER ‘Build a Skill’ Challenge. We had to set goals for skills we either let get rusty or are brand new to us and complete the goals by May 15th. I set myself three goals- learn to sand and stain furniture, start learning to play the guitar, and relearn crochet again. Happily, I have sanded my first piece of furniture- a replica antique drop-leaf coffee table. I’m now ready to stain it whenever the weather warms up enough for the stain to set (unheated garage for workshop). Next, it’s picking up my guitar and my how to book and DVD to start learning the fingering. This is a fun addition to our regular COYER (Clean Off Your E-Reader) Challenge that Michelle came up with.
As I’m typing this, we’re getting ready to start the first of two Readathons for the Romanceopoly Challenge hosted by the gals at Under the Covers blog and Jess at Peace Love Books vlog. We have to hit 7 prompts between 4/27-5/3 that also match incomplete game board squares. With some strategizing, I’ve got two books that complete all 7 prompts and 2 board squares. Definitely doable!
And, finally, I signed up for the first of two Can You Read a Series in a Month challenges hosted by Michelle and Berls @ Because Reading. Usually, I agonize over my pick, but I have arrived at the last three books in the Lady Darby series just in time for the challenge so presto, there’s my goal- all 3 in the month of May. There is still time if you wish to sign up for this challenge: https://www.becausereading.com/can-you-read-a-series-in-a-month-may-2020-join-the-challenge-signup-seriesinamonth/
Total Read for April: 33 Books
Reading Breakdown: 7 NetGalley (98%), 12 author/publish requests, 2 library, 12 TBR, 11 audio, 10 new to me authors, 5 new series
Reading Challenge Update:
Because Reading’s COYER Quarantine: 25-60 books
Unconventional Bookworm’s New Release: 49/100 books
Angel’s Guilty Pleasures and Books Are My Heart’s Library Love: 7/23 books
Austenesque Lover’s TBR: 15/50 books
My Reader’s Block’s Mt. TBR: 41/100 books
Because Reading’s Reading Assignment Spring Semester: 16/16 books COMPLETED
Delighted Reader’s Series That Never Ends: 5/12 books
Passage to the Past’s Historical Fiction: 43/100 books
Delighted Reader’s Literary Pickers: 73/100 books
Under the Covers and Peace Love Books’ Romanceopoly: 38/78 books
Caffeinated Book Reviewer’s Audio: 35/100 books
Delighted Reader’s Books N Tunes: 16/50 books
Book Girl of MuryCastell and Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings’ Romance BINGO: 23/25 books
How’s your spring been going? Started a garden? Did some spring cleaning or DIY projects? Any new crafts or hobbies? Do tell!
This Month’s Reviews
Did you miss a review? No fear! Here’s what we wrote about.
- [5 Apr] A Study in Death by Anna Lee Huber ★★★★
- [7 Apr] A Bad Day For Sunshine by Darynda Jones ★★★★
- [8 Apr] Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie ★★★★
- [12 Apr] A Ghostly Demise by Tonya Kappes ★★★★
- [13 Apr] Alone in the Wild by Kelley Armstrong ★★★★½
- [17 Apr] Do Me a Favor by Christina Hovland ★★★★
- [18 Apr] Hunted by Rebecca Zanetti ★★★★
- [19 Apr] A Ghostly Murder by Tonya Kappes ★★★½
- [20 Apr] High Moon by Kati Wilde ★★★★
- [20 Apr] Tempted by Rebecca Zanetti ★★★★
- [21 Apr] Temper by Chantal Fernando ★★★★
- [23 Apr] Duke Darcy's Castle by Syrie James ★★★½
- [26 Apr] Beginnings by Laurie R. King ★★★½
- [27 Apr] The Sweet Temptations Collection by Marilyn Brant ★★★½
- [29 Apr] Consumed by Rebecca Zanetti ★★★★
Shari
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- Spotlight & Giveaway: Touch of Evil by Cecy Robson - October 13, 2020
- Spotlight: HOME FOR THE BABY’S SAKE by Christine Rimmer - October 10, 2020
- Review: Taking It Easy by Erin Nicholas - October 2, 2020
Lots of stuff to keep you busy. Our state started a slow open yesterday.
Yes, LOL! My SIL says she’s bored and going nuts and can’t find anything to do at home and gets a funny laugh when I tell her that my days are pretty full and I’m actually more tired.
Oh neat that you guys are getting to crack the door open a bit in your state. 🙂
Wow lots of books and lots of challenges. You are doing great! I’m looking forward to the Series in a Month. Lady Darby is a great choice! I have yet to get going on this one. Sigh.
Yes, I’m not sure if I’ll keep up with the challenges, but I love trying. I do love the Lady Darby’s so I hope that is incentive enough to push through getting to all three. 🙂
I’ve loved seeing everyone ramp up the content while they have the time at home!
My brother lives in Wisconsin, so he’s been having all the unusual snow. Meanwhile here in Texas, we are have 90 degree days already. Spring is definitely here!
Yes, lots of fun posts and events to participate in, Ethan. 🙂
That makes me laugh to think that one brother lives far north and the other far south so you get such diverse temps and geography. 🙂 Just since I wrote this post, we’ve had lovely spring days and no frost so maybe it has finally come. 🙂
What a great month it seems you have had. And learning to stain furniture sounds like such fun. There is so much that you can do with that. And good luck learning the guitar. ITS so much fun to learn.
Thanks, Renee!
I was doing great with the staining, but then did a bit of a booboo with the polyurethene coat. When they say swiftly brush it over with the grain of the wood, they mean swiftly. LOL
Yes, I’ve got a couple sore fingers from guitar practice, but my nephew said I will eventually get calluses so it won’t hurt. This was his version of hang with it. Haha!
I am impressed! Not only did you read a ton of books, but you also worked on furniture and started to learn to play the guitar! So much snow in April is crazy! I do hope that things go well as states start to open up. I hope you have a wonderful May, Sophia Rose!
I have wanted to learn how to sand and stain for a while. My sister in law restores old furniture and I got the bug about it from her, but she lives far away so my husband who is also good with wood took me to task. LOL And, the guitar is a lifelong wish. I wanted to learn as a kid, but my mom insisted on piano lessons (which were fun, too, eventually). I’m not working, but I still wanted to feel productive and have a sense of accomplishment. Thanks, Carole, and you have a good May, too.
The bees around our house are so confused! On warm days they are EVERYWHERE! They hover around the flowers, try to come through our sliding glass door (the carpenter bees are tough cookies), and annoy our dogs. Then it’s super cold one night, and we don’t see them for several days. What do they do? Take a nap? When I lived in Texas, we had snow in April one year! No snow before that, but hey… the weather is fickle. 😉 I know what you mean! I feel like I never have enough time these days. Between my husband needing… Read more »
Those poor bees. It’s just nuts for our bees, too. One day its bumping 80 and then it can drop into the 40’s within 24 hours. We’ve got a frost warning for the latter half of the week and maybe more snow flurries. Oys!
Whew doggy, you do have a crazy busy day, Lindsi! I couldn’t even imagine keeping up with kids and trying to get stuff done. Hats off to you!
23/25 books?? dang girl! you are killing it with the BINGO challenge! I’m so behind! loll
I’ve been having a blast, Carole. I need a Highlander and then the last is a free spot. I might do the board again. 🙂