book reviews

Book Review: Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel




Two destined rivals fall desperately in loveโ€”but the fate of medieval Europe hangs in the balance.

โ€œA pair of thrones between us, and my heart clutched like a rosary within his hands …โ€

Twelfth-century Europe. Newly-crowned King Philip of France is determined to restore his nation to its former empire and bring glory to his name. But when his greatest enemy, King Henry of England, threatens to end his reign before it can even begin, Philip is forced to make a precarious alliance with Henryโ€™s volatile sonโ€”risking both his throne, and his heart.

Richard, Duke of Aquitaine, never thought he would be King. But when an unexpected tragedy makes him heir to England, he finally has an opportunity to overthrow the father he despises. At first, Philip is a useful tool in his quest for vengeance… until passion and politics collide, and Richard begins to question whether the crown is worth the cost.

When Philip and Richard find themselves staring down an impending war, they must choose between their desire for one another and their grand ambitions. Will their love prevail, if it calls to them from across the battlefield? Teeming with royal intrigue and betrayal, this epic romance reimagines two real-life kings ensnared by an impossible choice: Follow their hearts, or earn their place in history.

Continue reading “Book Review: Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel”
first lines friday

First Lines Friday: January 30th, 2026


First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?  If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but donโ€™t give anything else about the book away just yet โ€“ you need to hook the reader first
  • Finallyโ€ฆ reveal the book!

If youโ€™re using Twitter, donโ€™t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!


Hello, reader!

For today’s First Lines Friday, I decided to pick a book randomly off my shelf. I have so many stacks of books just chilling around me that I thought “Why not?” haha. This is a Book of the Month pick that I got last year and, as I am wont to do, I still haven’t read it. I know, I know… yet another reason why my physical TBR is out of control! So I suppose featuring this book for this post will give it a chance to finally move over to the “currently reading” pile.

Let’s see if the first few lines can capture my attention as well as yours!


The Line(s):

In the city of Nuremberg in 1938, a man told his daughter a bedtime story.”


The Build Up:


The Reveal:

Continue reading “First Lines Friday: January 30th, 2026”
monthly tbr

February 2026 TBR

Hello, reader!

If you’ve been around the blog awhile, you probably know that I’m not typically a big monthly TBR person. That’s because, at heart, I am and will always be a mood reader. There’s something about setting a TBR that makes my mood reader brain immediately wants to read something else, lol. The thing is, though, that I’m also extremely indecisive. I have so many options for books (over 300 unread books on my TBR… and that’s just the physical ones ๐Ÿซ ) so when I let my mood dictate my read, I stand staring at my bookshelf for ages and can’t make a decision!

So I’m gonna do a little experiment! I’m going to try setting up monthly TBRs in 2026 but they are not going to be strict TBRs. I suppose that makes them more of “monthly hopefuls”, but I’m still going to call them TBRs. Hopefully this will work much better for my weird little brain, haha.

With that being said, let me share with you my February TBR!


There are three online book clubs that I participate in on a semi-regular basis: the Weirdo Book Club, the Always Fully Booked (AFB) Book Club, and the Literally Dead Book Club. There are months where I’m not interested in the book picked, of course, but in February I’m intrigued by all three. Hopefully I can squeeze them all in!

  • Weirdo Book Club
    • I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
    • I have seen this book talked about all over the place, so I’m happy to jump on-board the book club read. It sounds weird and intriguing, which kind of makes it perfect for Weirdo Book Club!
  • AFB Book Club
    • One by One by Ruth Ware
    • I’m not gonna lie, Ruth Ware had a bit of a falling out after I started reading her backlist because I enjoyed The Turn of the Key so much. I just haven’t liked any of the other books I’ve read from her as much as that one! I’m happy to give her another chance, though… perhaps this will be the one to blow me away.
  • Literally Dead Book Club
    • How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
    • I was on the fence about whether or not I wanted to read this one, but then it popped up as an add-on through Book of the Month and it found its way into my box somehow ๐Ÿ˜‚ This is why my physical TBR is ridiculous, y’all! Still, this does sound intriguing and this will help me read my BotM book the same month I got it!
Continue reading “February 2026 TBR”
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: January 28th, 2026


Itโ€™s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think youโ€™ll read next?

If youโ€™d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.


Current Reads

  • Solomon’s Crown by Natasha Siegel: I finally picked the audiobook back up and the action/drama has certainly ramped up! These two doomed idiots are keeping me on the edge of my seat. I don’t know if I was just feeling anxious and that’s why I couldn’t handle the angst, but now I’m back on board, haha.
  • Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman: It feels so good to be back in Carl’s world! I mean… Carl’s world is just getting increasingly more dire, but I’m having a good time ๐Ÿ˜‚ Can I just say, I love a main character that is both strong and clever. Carl certainly fits the bill! It’s a treat watching him think up these half-baked plans that are truly creative. I’m eager to dive back into this one!
  • Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly: I quite literally just started this book today (as in, I just got through the prologue) so I don’t have a lot a thoughts about it yet. I’m enjoying the author’s tone, though. Tone is so important to me when it comes to non-fiction. If it reads like a textbook, I’m going to bored the entire time, even if the information is fascinating. Give me a narrative non-fiction any day.
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: January 28th, 2026”
top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors From 2025

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was โ€œborn of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.โ€


Hello, reader!

Though 2025 was a bit all over the place, I did read some incredible books last year. I also read quite a few new-to-me authors that I’m eager to read more from in 2026. So today’s Top Ten Tuesday theme, 2025 Bookish Discoveries, gives me the perfect opportunity to share them with you! Quite a few of these are authors that have been around for ages, but I finally picked them up in 2025. Some of them are debut authors that captured my imagination with their first novel. All of them make me want to read more!

Now, let’s get to the list.


Kylie Lee Baker
B.K. Borison
Costanza Casati
Delilah S. Dawson
Tananarive Due

Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday: New-To-Me Authors From 2025”
goodreads monday

Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 26th, 2026

Goodreads Monday/TBR Monday is a bookish meme hosted by Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog invites you to post about what books are on your Goodreads โ€œto readโ€ lists or TBR lists, the progress you have made on your current books and reading challenges, and any other bookish news!


Hello, reader!

Well, for once the meteorologists got it right and we got absolutely dumped on here in New England. Not the most snow that I’ve ever seen, but there’s quite a bit! So, while I’m waiting to go into work since we’re on a delay (the joys of working in healthcare… no snow days), I figured I would do my Goodreads Monday post!

I hope all of you who also got a ton of snow are staying warm and safe.


Book:
Vinegar Girl

Author:
Anne Tyler

Publisher:
Hogarth

Publication Date:
June 1st, 2016

Pages:
237

Genre:
Literary Fiction/Romance/Retelling

Synopsis:
Pulitzer Prize winner and American master Anne Tyler brings us an inspired, witty and irresistible contemporary take on one of Shakespeareโ€™s most beloved comedies.

Kate Battista feels stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, sheโ€™s always in trouble at work โ€“ her pre-school charges adore her, but their parents donโ€™t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.

Dr. Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. Thereโ€™s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr, all would be lost.

When Dr. Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, heโ€™s relying โ€“ as usual โ€“ on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time heโ€™s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two menโ€™s touchingly ludicrous campaign to bring her around?

Continue reading “Goodreads/TBR Monday: January 26th, 2026”
the sunday post

The Sunday Post: January 25th, 2026

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme created by @CaffeinatedReviewer! It gives you a chance to post a recap of your last week, whether that pertains to books or not. You can talk about however much (or however little) you would like.


Hello, reader!

Happy snowy Sunday, depending on where you live, haha. I was skeptical we would be getting as bad of a storm as they predicted but… well… New England is proving me wrong ๐Ÿ˜… I’m so glad I didn’t have to work today and could enjoy the snow from my cozy house. I do have to work tomorrow so wish me luck out there!

For now, though, it’s time to recap last week in my Sunday Post! Let’s catch up on what I’ve been getting into.


Ya girl was in pain this past week. I was having a lot of abdominal pain, so much so that I ended up calling out of work one day and going to urgent care. Apparently, I have a UTI ๐Ÿซ  Clearly I have not had a lot of those cause I thought there was something way worse going on, lol. No one told me a UTI could hurt so bad! Thankfully, I’m now on antibiotics and I’m feeling a lot better. I did catch up on some reading whilst I was curled up in bed with my heating pad, though. I’ve already read 7 books this month, which is one more than I read last January! I’m pretty happy about that.

I was off this weekend which meant that I got to go hangout with my best friend on Saturday. She lives in actual Boston (unlike me, living my best life out in the ‘burbs ๐Ÿ˜‚), so we don’t get to see each other nearly as much as I would like to. Like, ya know… every day. We went to yoga, had brunch at this tapas place called Barcelona with some yoga gals, and went to visit our mom (she’s pretty much adopted me at this point). Mom isn’t doing great and is currently in rehab trying to heal from a broken arm. Thankfully, my best friend has a job where she can visit almost every day, so at least mom isn’t alone. Still, I can’t wait til she’s well enough to get out of there.

Today, since we were most definitely not going anywhere, I broke out the January This Month’s Craft box! My husband got me a subscription for Christmas and it’s become a fun activity for my son and I to do together. Last month was soap making and this month is pottery! We made pinch pots (or bowls from the way the shapes turned out, lol) and are currently letting them dry before we do the decorating. I’ll make sure to share photos of the final products!

Continue reading “The Sunday Post: January 25th, 2026”
book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Books & Snacks


The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Crazy-For-Books and is currently being hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. Every Friday, a new question is posted for book bloggers to answer in the coming week. The purpose of the hop is connection and community. You can discover new blogs to follow, new books to read, and you may end up with some new followers, as well!


Which book pairs perfectly with a certain snack in your opinion?ย 

Submitted byย Billy,ย Coffee Addicted Writer

Continue reading “Book Blogger Hop: Books & Snacks”
first lines friday

First Lines Friday: January 23rd, 2026


First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?  If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but donโ€™t give anything else about the book away just yet โ€“ you need to hook the reader first
  • Finallyโ€ฆ reveal the book!

If youโ€™re using Twitter, donโ€™t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!


Hello, reader!

We made it to the end of the week ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿพ I’m excited to spend the next couple of days not thinking about work before I have to potentially fight through a foot of snow to get back to it on Monday, lol. Welcome to New England! But we’re gonna think “cozy” and my pick for this week’s First Lines Friday should help with that! Now, this novella may not be the epitome of the cozy vibe, but it certainly left me feeling warm and comfy!

Let’s see if the first few lines will pull you into the story.


The Line(s):

Interrupt
Wake up processor
Restore memory
Decoding request for service
‘Water detected’
Property protection protocol
Queue Command check
Command check timed out
HEEI main start
Relay emergency notification
Emergency
Emergency
Emergency”


The Build Up:


The Reveal:

Continue reading “First Lines Friday: January 23rd, 2026”
book reviews

Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman




The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl seriesโ€”now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.

You know whatโ€™s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know whatโ€™s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. Thatโ€™s what.

Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriendโ€™s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the worldโ€”or just get to the next levelโ€”in a video gameโ€“like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon thatโ€™s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ainโ€™t your ordinary game show.

Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.

Continue reading “Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman”