Tell Me Something Tuesday: Book Clubs

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

11/8: Do you belong to any book clubs?

At the moment I am part of a small little book club. Just three of us. We take turns picking and it is very casual. I love it. 

I have contemplated joining online ones like on Facebook and the like...but I feel like I barely have time for my mini one. 

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: The Next Best Day by Sharon Sala

Narrated by Amy Rubinate

Publication date Nov 8, 2022

Running time 11 hrs

Publisher. Tantor Audio

Romantic fiction / to review

This was romantic fiction with really dark undertones, so dark that I wanted to cry several times. It was one of the toughest beginnings I have read.

It starts with a school shooting, very traumatic, and Katie suffers from ptsd for the rest of the book. That, together with her fiance leaving her, makes her move to a small town. To see if she can ever teach again.

Bad things happens in small towns too, though this time at least not to her. Just crime gone bad.

But she finds a new meaning in life. New strength, and a budding romance with the hot single dad across the street.

Very low on actual romance, and more on dramatic relationships and suspense here and there. But there is a HEA. And she so needed happiness.

I liked it, but that beginning is tough.

Good narration, she kept me in it all the way through

A fresh start for a young teacher to build the life she's dreamt of

A second chance at romance for a single dad

The warm and uplifting small-town community cheering them on

After two back-to-back life-changing events, first grade teacher Katie McGrath left Albuquerque for a fresh start in Borden's Gap, Tennessee. She is finally back in the classroom where she belongs, but it will take a little while for her to heal and feel truly like herself. She'll need to dig deep to find the courage it takes to try again—in life and in love—but with some help from her neighbor Sam Youngblood and his adorable daughters who bring her out of her shell, her future is looking brighter than she dared imagine.

Best of October

Here are our best for October! We are a hair late because Carole had to travel for work the first week of November! 

Best Movie of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Nadda this month.

"It seems I never see any movies these days."

Carole - Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

"Such a fun sequel!"

Best Book of the Month:

Carole - What Moves the Dead by T Kingfisher

"I had 3 really good ones this month. This one takes the cake though. SOOO good and creepy!"

Blodeuedd - Happening by Annie Ernaux & Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths

"The best-written book was 'Happening' and 'Bleeding Heart Yard' was the most thrilling"

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd -  The Rookie (Season 1-2) & Bling Empire

"I got hooked on The Rookie, but damn the channel only had 2 seasons and now I am left in the worst cliffie. And gotta watch Bling Empire, they be crazy."

Carole - The Musketeers (Season 1)

"Loving the series so far!"

Best Cover of the Month:

Blodeuedd's pick - "Very cool!"

Carole's pick - "That pup!!!

B's Monday Review: Mr. Hotshot CEO by Jackie Lau

 

Narrated by: David Lee Huynh, Vivienne Moon Kells

Series: Kwan Sisters Series, Book 2

Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins

Release date: 10-18-22

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Contemporary romance / to review

This one was different. A romance, but with a big personal hurdle to get through. And one that was not magically solved by a p**n.

Courtney gets seriously depressed every 5th year, and in between that she is not free either. It is always there in some form, but she has learned to embrace everything good in life. Nothing better than really loving that latte you get every day.

Julien is a workaholic that will surely get a heart attack too soon if he keeps it up.

His family orders him to take a vacation and this is how he meets Courtney. He pays her to learn him to have fun. And of course they will fall in love. But he does not know about her depression, and she is not looking for something. Something that might fall apart and make her even more depressed. So depressed that it will push her over the edge.

Yes it dealt with some serious things and I liked that. Life and love is not always easy, but it is a romance, so they will make it work. But no one is magically cured. It does not work like that.

Two narrators that did a good job working together. I like it when they do it like that, you really get into their heads

As CEO of Fong Investments, I’m a busy man. In fact, my family claims I’m an obsessive workaholic, and when they force me to take two weeks off, I have no idea what to do with myself.

While brooding over an espresso, I meet Courtney Kwan, a biomedical researcher who savors the little things in life. And, suddenly, an idea strikes me—I will pay this woman to teach me how to enjoy my vacation from work.

Soon, I find myself doing crazy things like baking cookies, reading for pleasure, buying a phallic cactus, and falling in love. But Courtney is dealing with some serious issues of her own, and I fear that when I return to work, I won’t be able to give her what she needs, and I’ll lose her forever…