Tiger Wars by Al Cimino

  Huge thank you to @netgalley for the free ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

The global smash-hit Netflix documentary mini-series Tiger King introduced viewers to the weird, crazy and chaotic life of private zoo owner and big cat breeder Joe Exotic, and his war against Carole Baskin. Baskin, who runs the Big Cat Rescue in Florida, a sanctuary for abused and abandoned wild cats, waged a long legal battle to have Joe’s exotic animal park in Oklahoma shut down for the maltreatment of his animals. But Carole had her own dark past and Joe wasn’t going down without a fight; he responded by plotting to have her murdered. Tiger Wars delves deeper into this stranger-than-fiction tale and tells the shocking story of this big cat war, the cult-like characters involved and the spiral of obsession that landed Joe Exotic in jail and exposed the dark heart of America’s big cat obsession.

Genre? Non-Fiction

Backlist? Yes. Published September 1, 2020.

New to me Author? Yes.

What did I think? 

Like a large number of people, I spent the first part of quarantine 2020 binge-watching the Tiger King on Netflix. So I felt like I was well aware of Joe Exotic and his eccentric ways and Carole Baskin and her whole deal. I definitely did (and still do) have a strong opinion on whether Joe should be found guilty and spend time in jail or whether Carole killed her husband and fed him to the tigers. 

However, this book definitely added a huge new layer of depth to what I thought I knew. Where Tiger King, the series, skimmed the surface of what was going on behind the scenes at G.W. Park, Tiger Wars dug deep and told us even more of the scoop. The Netflix series focused a lot more on Joe being the good guy, where as Tiger Wars shows us what others in his own park thought of him. 

This book was super interesting. It dug into Joe's trial, which I knew nothing about. I would definitely recommend it if you watched the series during quarantine. 

2021 Book-ish Goals

Many readers that we know create reading goals for the year. For some, that may be to reach a certain number of books finished. Others want to tackle their huge TBR shelf. Some try to complete different challenges like Book Challenge by Erin, the POPSugar Reading Challenge, Book of the Month's new challenge, reading a book with a title for each letter of the alphabet....The list goes on.

We also like to set some goals and we'd like to share them with you to try to help keep ourselves accountable!

Jayme's 2021 Book-ish Goals

1. Complete 125 books.

2. Review all ARCs before publication date. (I know my current ARC was just published, but beyond this one this will be my goal.)
2a. Read/Review at least one ARC a month.

3. Read at least 2 of my Book of the Month books per month.

4. Read at least 5 classic novels (This was a goal last year and I only read one.)

5. Be more intentional with representation in my reads & using my tracker.
5a. Have 15% of my reads be written by male authors. (Last year = 12%)
5b. Have 20% of my reads be written by BIPOC authors. (Last year = 13%)
5c. Keep better track of my successful recommendation sources & successful publishers.

I'm also trying a few reading challenges this year - Book Challenge by Erin, POPSugar Reading Challenge 2021, and Book of the Month (which should be covered with #3).

Meghan's 2021 Book-ish Goals

1. Complete 100 books

2. Complete 12 Audiobooks

3. Keep up-to-date on my tracker

4. Read one BOTM book a month

5. Read 25 of my personal backlist bought before this year.

6. Like Jayme's said have better representation in my reads

6a. Have 10% of my reads be written by male authors(I unfortunately quit tracking in June)

6b. Have 5% of my reads be written by BIPOC authors

The Best, The Worst, The Unexpected...Part 2

  

Hey everyone, its Meghan! The year 2020 is FINALLY behind us and I for one am glad to see it go! But, one good part of 2020 was the fact that, with most of the world shut down, I had way more time for reading. As a quick little wrap-up of my year in books, I thought I would introduce you to some of the best books I read this year, some of the worst books I read this year (in my opinion -- obviously others will love them and I greatly respect the authors for their time and their craft), and some of my reading stats.

Before we get to that, here's a quick wrap-up of my December reads:

One Tuesday Morning ☕☕☕☕

Beyond Tuesday Morning ☕☕☕☕

The Notebook Girls ☕☕☕

Beach Read ☕☕☕☕

Through the Lens ☕☕☕

Johnny Cash ☕☕☕☕

Ready? Let's go.

The Best...

Y'all, this category was SO HARD to choose books for!

Best Fiction: Things you Save in a Fire

Best Romance: Ties that Tether

Best Historical Fiction: I actually dont think I read a single historical fiction book in 2020 🤦‍♀️

Best Thriller: No Exit by Taylor Adams

Best Young Adult: Adorkable by Cookie O'Gorman

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy: I did not read a single sci-fi or fantasy book this year

Best Memoir: Know my Name by Chanel Miller

Best Classic: Nope. Again didn't read any classics 🤦‍♀️

Best Standalone Novel: I looooved The Book of Essie

Best Series: The Brew Series by Molly McAdams

Best Audiobook: I only listened to one, and that was A Mother's Reckoning

2020 Five Star Reads: 19

Just want to add a small disclaimer here. I'm using "The Worst" because it's what goes along with "The Best". But I know that just because a book doesn't work for me, doesn't mean it's a bad book. I firmly believe there are NO BAD BOOKS because obviously someone liked it to publish it. Authors are amazingly talented. These just weren't for me....

The Worst...

Least Liked Book I finished: Code Name Verity

2020 DNF: I didn't DNF a single book this year 

If 2020 was good for anything, it taught us that things don't always go as planned. Here's some twists I did not expect....

The Unexpected..

Book I thought I would love, but didn't:  The Notebook Girls

Book I thought I would hate, but loved: Big Summer

Most unexpected thriller twist: The Other Woman

Books over my Goodreads goal:  -9

Any other unexpected bookish happenings?

 Not that I can think of. 

The Best, The Worst, The Unexpected...Part 1

 

Hey y'all, it's Jayme. The year 2020 is FINALLY over and I'm pretty sure I've aged like 5 years. But, one good part of 2020 was the fact that, with most of the world shut down, I had way more time for reading. As a quick little wrap-up of my year in books, I thought I would introduce you to some of the best books I read this year, some of the worst books I read this year (in my opinion -- obviously others will love them and I greatly respect the authors for their time and their craft), and some of my reading stats.

Before we get to that, here's a quick wrap-up of my December reads:

Craigslist Confessionals ☕☕☕☕.25

Heart Bones ☕☕☕.75

The Last Flight ☕☕☕.75

Still Missing ☕☕☕☕75

Better Luck Next Time ☕☕☕☕.5

Buried in Secrets ☕☕☕☕.25

It ☕☕☕.25

Home Before Dark ☕☕☕.75

Invisible Girl ☕☕

In A Holidaze ☕☕☕☕

Layla ☕☕.75

The Valentine ☕☕☕.75

Now to kick 2020 to the curb! Ready? Let's go!

The Best...

Y'all, this category was SO HARD to choose books for!

Best Fiction:

This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Best Romance:

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Best Historical Fiction:

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Best Thriller:

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer

Best Young Adult:

Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy:

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

Best Memoir:

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Best Classic:

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Best Standalone Novel:

The Only Plane in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff

Best Series:

Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich

Best Audiobook:

I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

2020 Five Star Reads:

The Wives - Tarryn Fisher

I Can Be A Better You - Tarryn Fisher

Let It All Burn - Denise Grover Swank

The Killer Across the Table - John E. Douglas

Her Scream in the Silence - Denise Grover Swank

A Nearly Normal Family - M.T. Edvardsson

The Only Plane in the Sky - Garrett M. Graff

When the Bough Breaks - Denise Grover Swank

Know My Name - Chanel Miller

The Substitute - Denise Grover Swank

One Foot in the Grave - Denise Grover Swank

Dear Wife - Kimberley Belle

This is How it Always Is - Laurie Frankel

The Book of Unknown Americans - Cristina Henriquez

Night - Elie Weisel

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder - Holly Jackson

Jay's Book Challenge by Erin 13.0 Final Tally

Remember the post a few months ago where I told you about my Book Challenge by Erin 13.0 list? 

If you've forgotten, twice a year, I like to take part of a fun reading challenge called Book Challenge by Erin. There are ten categories and you get to choose your own book. The only rules are: you have to start and finish the book within the timeframe of the challenge, books must be over 200 pages, only one re-read allowed.

Before this, I had only successfully completed this challenge twice (once being earlier this year!), but I made 13.0 another success by squeezing in my last completed book just hours before the deadline. Here are a look at the books I chose or changed and what I rated them. 

Freebie - Read any book that's at least 200 pages: Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich 

☕☕☕☕

Starts with an "S": Sizzlin' Sixteen by Janet Evanovich ☕☕☕☕

Preposition in the Title: The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver ☕☕☕☕

Odd Number in a Series: Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich ☕☕☕☕

Set in a Different Country: The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye by David Lagercrantz ☕☕☕.25

Female Police Officer/Detective: Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (I was told a bounty hunter worked) ☕☕☕☕

Immigrant Main Character: The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez 

☕☕☕☕☕

"Thing" in Title: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (Yes, I'm aware of the controversy with her, but I've owned this for a long time)

Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing by Allison Winn Scotch ☕☕☕.75

October themed: Home Before Dark by Riley Sagar

The Shadows by Alex North ☕☕☕

City/Town/Village in Title: Misadventures of a City Girl by Meredith Wild ☕☕☕

Five Star Friday - Things You Save in a Fire

 This week's Five Star read was read by Meg! (Jay also rated this 5 stars, but it was before this blog came to be)

Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads: Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's excellent at dealing with other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it's an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because she doesn't fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don't date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she's worked so hard to be taken seriously?

Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt, affecting novel about life, love, and the true meaning of courage.

Genre? Contemporary Romance

Backlist? Yes. Published August 13, 2019.

New to me Author? Yes.

Why I rated it 5 stars? 

I loved the characters, I loved the setting. This was one of those books that I couldn't help wanting to be the characters friends and wishing I could catch up with them after the book was long finished. 

Meg's Book Challenge by Erin 13.0 Update & Bonus Round

Remember when I posted my Book Challenge by Erin 13.0 list? Well, for the second time ever, I FINISHED IT (with plenty of time too!) Here's what I rated each book, as well as my list for the bonus round!

Ratings: 

Otherwise Engaged by Lindsay J. Palmer ☕☕☕
Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres ☕☕☕☕

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline ☕☕☕☕☕
One Foot in the Grave (Carly Moore #3) by Denise Grover Swank ☕☕☕☕☕
Steve and Me by Terri Irwin ☕☕☕☕
B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton ☕☕☕
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon ☕☕☕☕☕
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center ☕☕☕☕☕
Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (Mental Health)☕☕☕☕☕
Paper Towns by John Green ☕☕☕☕

Favorite Read: After Anna

Least Favorite Read: Otherwise Engaged

What surprised me?: Otherwise Engaged, I had heard it raved about in the book world and it just fell short for me.

I wouldn't have normally chosen to read: These books were actually all on my TBR list surprisingly, I just don't know if I would have prioritized to read them when I did.  4 of the ten books were 5 star reads though.  That just goes to show you I picked great books this go around.  On to the bonus round!  

Bonus Round List:

Freebie - Read any book that's at least 200 pages: Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams

Starts with an "S": The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Preposition in the Title: One To Watch by Kate Stayman-London

Odd Number in a Series: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Set in a Different Country: Bear Town by Fredrik Backman

Female Police Officer/Detective: Unsub by Meg Gardiner

Immigrant Main Character: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez

"Thing" in Title: Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

October themed: Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren

City/Town/Village in Title: Beach Town by Mary Kay Andrews

   

   

 

It's not too late to join! The challenge runs through October 31st. If anything, it's fun to read through other people's lists to find more for my TBR!

[Side note from Jay -- I'm currently four books through my first round.]

The Shadows by Alex North

Thank you NetGalley for my free eARC! All opinions are my own.

Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads: The haunting new thriller from Alex North, author of the New York Times bestseller The Whisper Man

You knew a teenager like Charlie Crabtree. A dark imagination, a sinister smile--always on the outside of the group. Some part of you suspected he might be capable of doing something awful. Twenty-five years ago, Crabtree did just that, committing a murder so shocking that it’s attracted that strange kind of infamy that only exists on the darkest corners of the internet--and inspired more than one copycat.

Paul Adams remembers the case all too well: Crabtree--and his victim--were Paul’s friends. Paul has slowly put his life back together. But now his mother, old and senile, has taken a turn for the worse. Though every inch of him resists, it is time to come home.

It's not long before things start to go wrong. Reading the news, Paul learns another copycat has struck. His mother is distressed, insistent that there's something in the house. And someone is following him. Which reminds him of the most unsettling thing about that awful day twenty-five years ago.

It wasn't just the murder.

It was the fact that afterward, Charlie Crabtree was never seen again...

Genre? Thriller/Horror

Backlist? No. This was just published July 7, 2020.

New to me Author? No

What did I think? Alex North is a great storyteller, especially when it comes to horror and ghosts. If you read his earlier book, The Whisper Man, know that The Shadows has that same creepy, intense vibe to it. When certain things start happening, Paul Adams starts remembering what happened that awful night 25 years ago. It seems that a copycat killer has popped up. No matter how much Paul wants to forget, he just can't. Soon, his mom starts talking about something in the house. What is going on?

The audiobook narrators were great. I would listen to them again.

Overall, this was a pretty good book. But personally, I don't think Alex North is the author for me. I thought that with The Whisper Man but thought I would try again with The Shadows. It was good, but not for me.

Meg's "Book Challenge by Erin 13.0" List

Jay explained the premise of Book Challenge by Erin last week. So here's my chance to share my list! (I was successful last time so fingers crossed!)

Freebie - Read any book that's at least 200 pages: Otherwise Engaged by Lindsay J. Palmer

Starts with an "S": Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres

Preposition in the Title: After Anna by Lisa Scottoline

Odd Number in a Series: One Foot in the Grave (Carly Moore #3) by Denise Grover Swank

Set in a Different Country: Steve and Me by Terri Irwin

Female Police Officer/Detective: B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton

Immigrant Main Character: The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

"Thing" in Title: Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

October themed: Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (Mental Health)

City/Town/Village in Title: Paper Towns by John Green



             

             

                                              


It's not too late to join! The challenge runs through October 31st. If anything, it's fun to read through other people's lists to find more for my TBR!

[Side note from Jay -- I've read 7 of these books and greatly approve of Meg's list!]

Jay's "Book Challenge by Erin 13.0" List

Twice a year, I like to take part of a fun reading challenge called Book Challenge by Erin. There are ten categories and you get to choose your own book. The only rules are: you have to start and finish the book within the timeframe of the challenge, books must be over 200 pages, only one re-read allowed.

I've only successfully completed this challenge twice (once being earlier this year!), but I'm determined to make 13.0 another success. Here are a look at the categories and the books I've chosen. (As of this posting, 7/14/2020, I've barely started one book).

Freebie - Read any book that's at least 200 pages: Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

Starts with an "S": Sizzlin' Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Preposition in the Title: The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver

Odd Number in a Series: Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Set in a Different Country: The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye by David Lagercrantz

Female Police Officer/Detective: Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich (I was told a bounty hunter worked)

Immigrant Main Character: The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez

"Thing" in Title: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (Yes, I'm aware of the controversy with her, but I've owned this for a long time)

October themed: Home Before Dark by Riley Sagar

City/Town/Village in Title: Misadventures of a City Girl by Meredith Wild



             

             

                                              


It's not too late to join! The challenge runs through October 31st. If anything, it's fun to read through other people's lists to find more for my TBR!