whatcha readin'? 2020 {book 3::goal 30}

I know I say this all the time
about Philippa Gregory…
that she is a guilty pleasure of mine,
that I am always a little shy to say
how much I like her writing…
but…I really, really do.

And this book did not disappoint…
not me anyway.
I have seen some poor reviews for it
but I enjoyed it as much as I didn’t like
(despised) James…
I loved the descriptions of the marshy tidelands,
the primitiveness, the barren landscape,
I was on the edge of my seat at one point and
the writing took me away.

And I was very excited to learn that this is
actually the first in a series of books!
I am looking forward to more!

5 out of 5 ♥♥♥♥♥’s
NEXT UP:: CIRCLING THE SUN - PAULA MCLAIN

whatcha readin'? {2018::book 6 - goal 24}

Ok...can we all just give me a little
pat on the back here...
it's February and I'm already at 6 books read!
(actually, it's 7 but I am getting ahead of myself).

Yay me!

I just went back to compare where I was at
this time last year
and I had read 1 book.
ONE book.
By February 20th!
What on earth was I doing!
Any wonder I didn't make my goal last year!
Such a slacker.

So anyway.
I just finished The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory.
If you read this blog at all, you will know that I
always preface my "reviews" with ... (& I use the word review in the
loosest possible way...I really shouldn't even say review...
it's not a review...if anything it's a recommendation...
or maybe even the equivalent to a facebook thumbs up or down...
but I do not consider what I write here to be a review....
that requires work & thought & proper punctuation
and well...
I just wanna say hey...that book was super-awesome
or that book?  not so much and leave it at that.)

So anyway.
I got off on a tangent there and didn't even finish the sentence I started.
This is why I can't write reviews.
Anyway.  I always preface my reviews (*see above) of this author
with guilt that I am admitting I like these books. 
And I wasn't going to do that this time.
This time, I was going to be like damn it, I love these books
and I am not apologizing for that.

But then,
I didn't quite love this one.
I'm not sure why.  I really don't think it was the writing...I always love her
writing.  I think it might have just been where my own head is at and just
bad timing and I just HATED ELIZABETH SO HARD that
it kind of frustrated me throughout the whole story.

So if you like these books, please do not let this "review" (air quotes) stop you
from reading it.  If anything, go read it and then maybe we
can be united in hatred of Elizabeth. 

Again.  So not a review.  More of a book-related-ramble.  Rambles I can do.
(and Philippa Gregory, if you happen to come by and read this
please accept my sincerest apology.  I really do love your books!)

4 out of 5 ♥'s

NEXT UP:  YOU ARE A BADASS - JENN SINCERO
 

whatcha readin'? {2017::book 7 - goal 24}

i know i said this before
and i don't even know why
i feel the need to justify myself
every time i read one of these books
but...i still do...
but these books are
such a guilty pleasure for me.

i love them.

there.  i said it.
and i feel somewhat
sheepish about it
but i can't help it...
i love them.

i love her writing, i love the history mixed
in with fiction...or the fiction mixed with a bit of history...
whatever...i love the words...
tudor...katherine...court...aragon...perilous...loyalty...pawn...

maybe it's the covers
that make me want to apologize...
they slightly resemble bodice ripping historical romances...
and they're not!  really...they're not...
well...there might be a little...
but there are also beheadings and
betrayal and secrets.

anyway.
i love these books.
without apology.
:)

5 ♥♥♥♥♥'s out of 5

NEXT UP::  ICE QUEEN - ALICE HOFFMAN