APRIL⤏ RECAP

MONTHLY RE-CAP

APRIL

April is going to go down in history, well, at least my history, as the month I finished the most books ever.  I see everyone else posting how they can't get into any book, with what's going in the world...but I'm been on a listening streak.  Audiobooks have taken my mind off the crap-tastic-ness quite well, but I haven't been able to read anything at all...other than book reviews.  I had two super stand-out listens this month, that I rated 5+ Stars.  They are In An Instant and Race the Sands.  My 5 Star listens are The Female of the Species and  Be The Girl.  Some other stand-outs include The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Dark Corners of the Night, From A Certain Point of View, The Vanishing Deep, and Where All Light Tends To Go...all with 4½ Star ratings.

MY RECAP FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL⤏

22 AUDIOBOOKS ( 12,240 MINUTES)

7,967 PAGES (CONVERTED TO PAGES BY PAGE # FOR KINDLE VERSION)

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AUDIOBOOK
UP IN FLAMES 
BY NICOLE WILLIAMS


NO LINK TO REVIEW (NO REVIEW)

BOOK TAGS⤏
⤏ MY RATING⇢2✰STARS✰
⤏ OUTRIGHT CHEATING
⤏ DIDN'T LIKE THE MC
⤏ ROMANCE --IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ This is just so wrong...the writing was good, the story had great flow, but it was just wrong.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/01

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AUDIOBOOK
THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF ADDISON STONE
BY ADELE GRIFFIN

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ ARTIST WHO BURNS BRIGHT
⤏ MENTAL ILLNESS
⤏ DAMAGED PEOPLE FALLING FOR EACH OTHER
⤏ FANS OF DAISY JONES COULD LIKE THIS
⤏ FULL CAST NARRATION

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ Addison Stone felt like a real person, not a made-up one, she is one of those people who burns so bright...and then, sadly, burns out way too young.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/02

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AUDIOBOOK
IN AN INSTANT
SUZANNE REDFEARN

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ A TRAGEDY
⤏ LIFE, DEATH AND EVERYTHING INBETWEEN
⤏ HEARTBREAKING
⤏ A NEW FAVORITE

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ It's not just heartbreaking, it's also heart-mending.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/03

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AUDIOBOOK

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO

BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ THE LIFE STORY OF A FICTIONAL ACTRESS
⤏ RISE TO FAME IN THE FILM INDUSTRY
⤏ HER MANY RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGES
⤏ LGBT
⤏ A SPLASH OF MYSTERY

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ The story itself (outside of the narration) is fantastic, her chase for that elusive Oscar...and of course, the epic love story with a twist of sorts.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/05

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AUDIOBOOK

WHEN WE WERE LOST

BY KEVIN WIGNALL

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ PLANE CRASH
⤏ ALL THE SURVIVORS ARE TEENS
⤏ LOW DRAMA
⤏ CAN THEY WORK TOGETHER TO SURVIVE?

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ It was sort of like The Breakfast Club meets the first few episodes of Lost with a South American jungle setting.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/06

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AUDIOBOOK
FRAGMENTS OF THE LOST
BY MEGAN MIRANDA

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
⤏ PIECES OF HIS CAR OUR FOUND WASHING UP FROM RIVER...BUT NOT A BODY
⤏ HOW WELL DO WE REALLY KNOW SOMEONE
⤏ SECRETS & LIES
⤏ YA

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ I found this not only engaging...but filled with one secret after another secret...more like secrets begetting secrets, and twists that I didn't see coming and maybe didn't quite believe all the time...but overall not game-changing.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/07

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AUDIOBOOK
THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES
BY MINDY MCGINNIS

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ DARK & PROPULSIVE YA
⤏ SOMETHING TO GET YOUR SECRET VIGILANTE HEART PUMPING
⤏ LOVE & STUFF
⤏ RAPE CULTURE
⤏ A COLLISION COURSE OF WTF

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ Dark, raw and powerful to the point of explosive...that ending, wow!

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/08

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AUDIOBOOK
CRUSH THE KING
BY JENNIFER ESTEP

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ CROWN OF SHARDS SERIES REVIEW
⤏ FANTASTICAL WITH A MIX OF CONTEMPORARY
⤏ MAGIC SYSTEM
⤏ SEX, LANGUAGE & VIOLENCE
⤏ EVEN MORE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ I think this series could have been scaled down to two books easily, with fewer assassination attempts and if she could have stopped repeating certain phrases over and over again (i.e. is hot spicy Jalapeno scent, or she plays the long game, and the list goes on)it was maddening. 

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/09

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AUDIOBOOK

NO BAD DEED

BY HEATHER CHAVEZ

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ MY RATING⇢2¼✰STARS✰
⤏ A TWISTED MYSTERY
⤏ DOMESTIC THRILLER
⤏ NON-STOP PACING
⤏ EVERYONE ELSE LOVES THIS
⤏ I FOUND IT RATHER UNBELIEVABLE

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ The pace of this is frenetic and doesn't let up, and maybe that is why so many have rated this highly, they didn't have time to stop and analyze all the reveals.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/11

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AUDIOBOOK

THIS DARKNESS MINE

BY MINDY MCGINNIS

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
⤏ LOVE & STUFF
⤏ SLIGHTLY HORROR-IF-IC
⤏ YA
⤏ WEIRD AF

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ On one hand, I want to say this a masterpiece and on the other hand, I want to say it's a freaking nightmare...so, nightmarish masterpiece it is.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/12

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AUDIOBOOK

ONE OF US IS NEXT

BY KAREN M MCMANUS

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ A NEW GAME
⤏ REVENGE
⤏ HIGH SCHOOL GOSSIP/DRAMA
⤏ TWISTY

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ Indulgent, fun and twisty...you can never wrong with that.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/14

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AUDIOBOOK

BE THE GIRL

BY KA TUCKER

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ CONTEMPORARY
⤏ LOVE & STUFF
⤏ BULLYING
⤏ AUTISM

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ Timely, and poignant, with indelible characters and a little bit of twist that I didn't see coming.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/15

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AUDIOBOOK

THE DARK CORNERS OF THE NIGHT

BY MEG GARDINER

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ 3RD BOOK IN UNSUB SERIES (CAITLIN HENDRIX)
⤏ SERIAL KILLERS
⤏ FBI PROFILING
⤏ MYSTERY/THRILLER/SUSPENSE

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ If you're like me and you find the intricacies of profiling fascinating, then this is definitely a series you would like.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/17

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AUDIOBOOK

THE LAST WOMAN IN THE FOREST

BY DIANE LES BECQUETS

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ THE WILDERNESS
⤏ SERIAL KILLER MYSTERY
⤏ SOME AWKWARD ROMANCE
⤏ LIMITED, GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF RAPE & MURDER
⤏ RESCUE DOGS

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ Have you ever had someone offer a ride when you're broke down on the side of the road, this is the story of what could happen when you ignore your gut reaction and say yes, anyway. 

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/18

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AUDIOBOOK
SISTER OF MINE
BY LAURIE PETROU

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ THE BOND OF SISTERS
⤏ WEBS OF DECEIT
⤏ THE TRUTH COMES OUT
⤏ THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ An atmospheric read/listen that leaves a taste of melancholy in the air...and, left me feeling sort of depressed.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/19

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AUDIOBOOK
FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW
(STAR WARS)
BY VARIOUS AUTHORS

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ STAR WARS
⤏ ANTHOLOGY
⤏  DEEP SPACE

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ This is an entertaining collection of stories, it is even more fun to listen on Audio since the narration has basically a full-cast of voices and sound effects.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/21

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AUDIOBOOK
THE VANISHING DEEP
BY ASTRID SCHOLTE

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ DYSTOPIAN/FUTURISTIC TECHY
⤏ WATERWORLD-ESQUE
⤏  LIFE & DEATH DEALERS
⤏ DEALING WITH GRIEF
⤏ AN INTRIGUING SLIGHTLY FANTASTICAL WORLD

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ With a Water World-Esque-ness that is less rapey, and more techy...there were a lot of things that could have been done with this incredible world that the author has created...and we only got a glimpse of what it could embody.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/22

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AUDIOBOOK
WHERE THEY FOUND HER
BY KIMBERLY MCCREIGHT

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ WHERE THEY FOUND HER DIDN'T REALLY MATTER ALL THAT MUCH???
⤏ MYSTERY
⤏ BABY MAMA DRAMA AND THEN SOME
⤏ SECRETS, LIES & BETRAYALS
⤏ TWISTY-ISH, I GUESS...

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⤏ Too many characters, too many POVs, too many time jumps, and too many babies Mama's, Daddies, and whatnot, I couldn't keep track of it all.

FINISH DATE⤏ 04/23

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AUDIOBOOK
ECHOES BETWEEN US
BY KATIE MCGARRY

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ QUIRKY HEROINE
⤏ CLIFF-JUMPING HERO
⤏ YOUNG LOVE
⤏ ADDICTION & BRAIN TUMORS
⤏ CANDIDATE FOR THE WORSE MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⇢ The MC has a lot of heart and sorta made the story feel more believable for me or at least made it so I was to overlook what felt wrong and focus on what was right. 

FINISH DATE⇢ 04/25

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AUDIOBOOK
RITES OF PASSAGE
BY JOY N HENSLEY

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ MILITARY ACADEMY
⤏ MISOGYNY
⤏ MYSTERIOUS SECRET SOCIETY
⤏ YOUNG LOVE
⤏ CONTEMPORARY

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⇢ First off, you can really tell that this Author knows about Military School, being a Military Brat, and how it feels to be one of the only girls in something that men/boys feel is only for them and not for the "weaker sex"...the misogyny is strong in this one. 

FINISH DATE⇢ 04/27

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AUDIOBOOK
WHERE ALL LIGHT TENDS TO GO
BY DAVID JOY

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ THE REALIST SOUTHERN GRIT-LIT
⤏ METH, DEATH AND TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING
⤏ BORN OF CIRCUMSTANCE
⤏ SERIOUSLY, THERE IS NO JOY IN DAVID JOY'S BOOKS

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⇢ I've now listened to two books by David Joy, and I feel that I can safely say that he doesn't do the quintessential happy ending.

FINISH DATE⇢ 04/28

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AUDIOBOOK
RACE THE SANDS
BY SARAH BETH DURST

LINK TO REVIEW

BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏ FANTASY-WORLD
⤏ BASED IN AND AROUND REINCARNATION
⤏ WITH RACING MONSTER-COMBINATIONS (KEHOKS)
⤏ LIES & BETRAYALS
⤏ SOME COURTLY INTRIGUE
⤏ STAND-ALONE

MY REVIEW IN ONE SENTENCE⇢ A phenomenal world, that is completely unique, and unlike anything I ever read/listened to, with inspiring characters that shine bright, insane action and moments that are heartfelt and uplifting.

FINISH DATE⇢ 04/30

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MY PICK FOR BEST COVER OF THE MONTH...IS ALSO MY FAVORITE OF THE MONTH