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Book Club Books

What I #read in April. ’23 & what I #amreading!

Today the IWSG Book Club launches our May discussion about what we are reading. It doesn’t have to be a book club selection just something you are excited about. Let’s all share what we are reading, and perhaps, we’ll find something to add to our own TBR lists. Click this link to go straight to the discussion. I’m currently reading Brides of Maracoor. I plan to start others but want to finish this first.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads, VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.

In April 2023, I completed 1 and ½ titles. My goal was 2-3. I had to DNF one title and decided to hold off on a picture book for a while. I am still on track with my Goodreads Challenge.

2023 Reading Challenge

2023 Reading Challenge
Toi has
read 2 books toward
her goal of
36 books.
hide

Below you’ll find my star ratings and review tags for each title I completed in the indicated month. You can also click the images to see the thorough reviews. There may even be a video for you to watch below, but I make no promises.

Rating: 5.0 – Review | Amazon | Bookshop

Rating: 2.0 – Review | Amazon

Check out my Goodreads Wrap-Up video or watch my Book Review video below (I elaborate on the public reviews I’ve posted).

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IWSG BOOK CLUB THEME CHALLENGE

#iwsgbookclub

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So tell me, what are you currently reading?
Did you read anything interesting in April?
Are you going to try the May theme challenge?

Thank you for making it this far down the virtual page. Kudos to you! I’d love to know what you thought of this post in the comments below. Stay safe and be blessed.

Categories
Book Club

#iwsgbookclub Dec. 2021 Poll & What I #read in Nov.

Please join the IWSG Book Club today on Goodreads for a short general poll. Aside from spotlighting two IWSG member books each month, we also want to engage in bookish whimsy and encourage others to have a healthy reading lifestyle. You don’t have to be reading or have read the 2 current featured books to be able to participate in this poll, so please, join in the festivities. Click the image below to see our fun poll. This month the topic is about TBR lists.

Dec. ’21 General Poll

In November 2021, 1 superhero preview graphic novel, 1 very short story (a western- IWSG), 1 YA mystery (second chance tale), 1 paranormal comedy, 1 time-travel novella (IWSG), 1 middle-grade fantasy adventure, and 1 romantic suspense. Check it out.

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge
Toi has
read 48 books toward
her goal of
50 books.
hide

Below you’ll find my star ratings and review blurbs for each title I completed in the indicated month. If you have not signed up for my newsletter, please consider doing so. That’s where I post my thorough book reviews (and sometimes TV and movie stuff) as well as talk about my love of reading while offering tips for having a healthy reading lifestyle. You can also click the Goodreads links to see the thorough reviews. At the bottom of this post, you’ll also be able to watch a video of my monthly reviews, if that’s more your style.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads (Coastal), VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.

 

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5.0 – Great spin-off and series starter.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

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5.0 – Good preview to the full book.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

3.0 – I wanted more.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

4.0 – Dreamy man, nice small town.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

5.0 – Love it. Need to say more later.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

3.0 – Already got the next book.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

4.0 – Good second chance tale.

 

Goodreads | Amazon

You can watch my update video here.

Click below to watch my review video.

So, did you read any good books in Nov. or did you try either of the IWSG Book Club Books?

What did you think of the ones I read?

Any recommendations?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter

Categories
Book Club

#iwsgbookclub Sept. 2021 Micro Discussions

Please join the IWSG Book Club today on Goodreads for two short discussions about the two books we featured in the month of September, there’s still another week left in this month so there’s no rush. We are hosting 3 short questions for each book we featured and encourage you to share your reviews and or thoughts. Discussions will remain open indefinitely, so stop by anytime, even if you haven’t read the book(s). Scroll down for a small surprise. 

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any amount I make goes towards my dream to host a book fair in Hampton Roads, VA. Please see my About page for more details. Thank you for your support.

Parallels: Felix Was Here, an IWSG Anthology. Please click the image below to join the short discussion.

Find it on Amazon.

Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime an IWSG Anthology. Please click the image below to join the short discussion.

Find it on Amazon.

Because I was able to acquire some special questions from the winning author of the Tick Tock contest Gwen Gardner (A Stitch in Crime), I have a few more questions to share here for anyone interested (She provided the questions and my (Toi) answers are in italics). Comment below with your answers and please be sure to visit the group discussions if you have a chance.

Thank you Gwen Gardner for the following questions:

A Stitch in Crime is a cozy mystery and has a happy, feel-good, ending. Given the chaotic state of the world, do you prefer this gentler approach, or do you prefer a harsher, more twisty or ambiguous ending?

I enjoyed the feel-good ending to this story. There is a place and time for something harsher, which we get later in the anthology, but I thought it was refreshing to start the collection off this way.

A Stitch in Crime is character-driven, featuring Indigo Eady, the ghost-whispering sleuth, and her sidekick, Franny Bishop, the ghost of a former madam of some repute. Do you prefer stories that are character-driven, or do you read for plot/mystery first?

I do enjoy a good mystery. I’ve read countless stories where I didn’t care about the characters but enjoy the plot. In this case, I feel the characters are what really make the story work.

A Stitch in Crime is one of the few paranormal stories in the anthology. Do you prefer a ghostie or two to “liven” things up? Or do you prefer more realistic stories?

I feel I’m right down the middle when it comes to this question. While speculative genres are my usual read, when it comes to mystery, I don’t need the additional supernatural elements- not that I’m complaining. I may not need them, but I do enjoy them when they show up in a good mystery.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter