Monthly Wrap-Up : May 2020 & Weekly Wrap-Up (1/6/’20) #MonthlyWrapup #WEEKINREADING #WeeklyWrapup #BooksTeacupnReviews

Hello Readers! This month was good in terms of reading. I read 9 books. Thanks to being awake till late night or sometimes till early hours of morning. Half the time my daughter doesn’t sleep till 2:30 a.m. and rest of the time, I can’t sleep. I’m used to this unusual sleeping schedule now. I received 4 more NetGalley widgets so now total NetGallely books to read are 18. I hope to read at least 7 NetGalley books in June and if possible finish Clifton Chronicles. All books were great so far but I was reading the series since last year! Finally I can put all 7 books on far side of shelf and start new series. Possibly Grishaverse or Jenny Colgan’s books. After roasting in 44 °C for a month FINALLY IT RAINED yesterday for 3 hours. Now it’s 36 °C outside but it feels good in home. Weather is showing rain today and tomorrow as well. I hope temperature stays down after tomorrow.

Books I read in May :

Books Read : 9
Pages Read : 2985

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Breaking Storm (White Wattle Creek #1) by Vikki Holstein — [Review] ★★★★★

Romantic suspense that revolved around Kelsey- who was trying to save her daughter Pipa and Brian- who was trying to mend relationship with his sister and seek justice against a drug dealer who had ruined many lives. It was about finding hope, happiness and home, having faith, believing in yourself once again, and getting back the control and confidence in life. Intriguing, suspenseful, and emotive romantic suspense with amazing characters and family dynamic. I recommend this to fans of this genre.

Pretty Things by Janelle Brown — [Review] ★★★★☆

Slow-burn mystery thriller that revolved around two women from different background, one a con with plan of heist and other rich heiress spending her time in loneliness. It was about grifting, con, gap between rich and poor and their mindset about it, social media and its illusion, pretty things and its not-so-pretty reality, dysfunctional family, friendship, love, deceit and betrayal. Impressive, deceitful, and twisted tale of two women with lots of secrets. I recommend this to fans of this genre, specifically those who don’t mind slow pace and descriptive, philosophical writing.

New Wave by Kevin Nguyen — [Review] ★★★☆☆

General fiction that revolved around two friends Margo and Lucas, Lucas discovering more about Margo after her death, and coping with grief and loss. It was about technology and start up tech companies in 2000s, music, work and living in New York, and mainly friendship, loss and grief, racism at workplace and in society. Different read than usual. Some things I like, some I didn’t but definitely very observant fiction. 

Shadowed By Despair (Laith #3) by Candace Robinson — [Review] ★★★★★

Amazing dark fantasy, final book in Laith trilogy. It revolved around adventurous journey of Perin and Tavarra to break curse but this time not Tavarra’s but Perin’s curse. It was about not judging whole species based on bad experience, two sides of the world that has both evil and good in it, love, new friendship, and for a change let others help and care for you. Gripping, adventurous, page-turner, and twisted fantasy with amazing world and characters. I recommend it to all dark fantasy lovers, but note it should be read it order.

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All the Pretty Things by Emily Arsenault — [Review] ★★★☆☆

YA small town mystery that revolved around Fabuland amusement park, Ethan’s death and reason behind Morgan’s silence. It was about workplace harassment, health risks at amusement park, motivated perception and ignorance. It wasn’t exactly thriller. Characters were interesting but not in depth. Dialogues were not good.  If you want an easy mystery, love amusement park and mystery in it with a little creepy feel, go ahead.

As Much As I Ever Could by Brandy Woods Snow — [Review] ★★★★★

Wonderful YA contemporary romance that revolved around CJ grieving loss of mother and sister in accident, about getting over loss, giving second chance to life and love, learning to love yourself again, accepting the reality than running away, forgiveness, friendship, family, and racing. Compelling contemporary with refreshing characters, summery setting and amazing emotional roller-coaster. I highly recommend this book to fans of YA Contemporary.

Just Me by Deidre Huesmann, Roxas James, Kate Larkindale, Medeia Sharif — [Review] ★★★★★

Collection of four lovely and refreshing YA, LGBTQ stories about feelings and life of queer young adults that included problems they face in the world, self-identity as queer for first time, their feelings on coming out to world and family, accepting and expressing true feelings, love, friendship and family. each stories represented relationships wonderfully. It’s perfect for LGBTQ readers.

Mightier Than the Sword (The Clifton Chronicles #5) by Jeffrey Archer ★★★★☆

Another stellar book in this compelling Historical fiction series that revolved around two family and their never ending problems. It was about, good vs bad, don’t get greedy, sticking to morals and principles will always be rewarding, fight for yourself at right time, fate, family, love and passion. Review will be up tomorrow.

Other Posts:

Book of the month-

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What I read Last week-

Proximity (iMe #1) by Jem Tugwell

I enjoyed this near future techno thriller. I haven’t read anything like this before. I loved pros and cons of technology represented in this through iMe technology and characters’ view and experience with it. I liked the idea and theme. It was both fascinating and intimidating at the same time. It will be easy 5 star from me. I highly recommend this book. Review will be up this week.

Currently Reading-

Cometh the Hour (The Clifton Chronicles #6) by Jeffrey Archer

Cometh the Hour opens with the reading of a suicide note, which has devastating consequences for Harry and Emma Clifton, Giles Barrington and Lady Virginia.

Giles must decide if he should withdraw from politics and try to rescue Karin, the woman he loves, from behind the Iron Curtain. But is Karin truly in love with him, or is she a spy?

Lady Virginia is facing bankruptcy, and can see no way out of her financial problems, until she is introduced to the hapless Cyrus T. Grant III from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who’s in England to see his horse run at Royal Ascot.

Sebastian Clifton is now the Chief Executive of Farthings Bank and a workaholic, whose personal life is thrown into disarray when he falls for Priya, a beautiful Indian girl. But her parents have already chosen the man she is going to marry. Meanwhile, Sebastian’s rivals Adrian Sloane and Desmond Mellor are still plotting to bring him and his chairman Hakim Bishara down, so they can take over Farthings.

Harry Clifton remains determined to get Anatoly Babakov released from a gulag in Siberia, following the international success of his acclaimed book, Uncle Joe. But then something unexpected happens that none of them could have anticipated.

Cometh the Hour is the penultimate book in the Clifton Chronicles and, like the five previous novels – which were all New York Times bestsellers – showcases Jeffrey Archer’s extraordinary storytelling with his trademark twists.

I finished 40% of this book and so far it’s interesting. First few chapters I enjoyed as they were the end and wrap-up of previous book but then I felt moody, tired of Virginia and another plot from enemies but then Giles’ new girlfriend and secrets about her picked my interest and now I want to read more.

No Signal (iMe #2) by Jem Tugwell

In a breathtaking follow-up novel to ‘Proximity’, Serge says it’s the ultimate Augmented Reality game. He’s chosen his Ten carefully – the reckless, driven and strong. He tests them. Ten become Four.


DI Clive Lussac wants to fight the system that controls everything, but he’s ill and losing the people closest to him. In the middle of eco-
protests, he’s lost four tourists.


As Clive’s world unravels, he and his partners DC Ava Miller and DS Zoe Jordan race to find the tourists and the true reason behind the game. It may already be too late.


A CONTROLLED POPULATION
The UK has embedded technology – iMe.
It knows where you are… all the time. It controls what you eat.
It has eradicated crime and made everyone healthy.


A DEVASTATED WORLD
The world is on the brink.
The Government talks but doesn’t act.
It thinks it’s safe.


TIME FOR CHANGE
Who will ignite it
Who has the determination to see it through?
What will be sacrificed for the cause? 

Finished 25% of this book. I’m enjoying the game planned by culprit and so many are involved in it. I can’t wait to see what their ultimate plan is and how is it going to affect Clive and government.

Next this week-

From the Shadows (Monica Kennedy #1) by G.R. Halliday

A stunning, atmospheric police procedural set against the grit of Inverness and the raw beauty of the Scottish Highlands, this is the first book in the DI Monica Kennedy series.

Sixteen-year-old Robert arrives home late. Without a word to his dad, he goes up to his bedroom. Robert is never seen alive again.

A body is soon found on the coast of the Scottish Highlands. Detective Inspector Monica Kennedy stands by the victim in this starkly beautiful and remote landscape. Instinct tells her the case won’t begin and end with this one death.

Meanwhile, Inverness-based social worker Michael Bach is worried about one of his clients whose last correspondence was a single ambiguous text message; Nichol Morgan has been missing for seven days.

As Monica is faced with catching a murderer who has been meticulously watching and waiting, Michael keeps searching for Nichol, desperate to find him before the killer claims another victim.

From the Shadows introduces DI Monica Kennedy, an unforgettable new series lead, perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves’ Vera, Susie Steiner and Peter May.

I downloaded Dark Waters second book in this series without knowing it was part of series but luckily I got NetGalley widget of this first book from publisher. from what I have heard this is great book. Can’t wait to read this one.

How was your month in reading? Have you read any of these books or are you going add to your TBR? Which book(s) was your favorite this month? What are you reading in June?

Happy Reading!

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