January 2015 - The Month of Indecisiveness... and Morpheus

OK, so I’ll NEVER be indecisive about Morpheus! He is just perfection, my mind is made up, and that decision is set in indestructible concrete for all eternity.

I will steal a football pundit saying that January has been a month of two halves. (YES, I just may be anxious about a certain football match this evening… COME ON CHELSEA!! … *cough* I digress…) The first few weeks of January was as normal, but the last two… I can’t make up my mind on ANYTHING! I’ve kept up my New Year’s resolution to eat better, and to try and to get up to date with some NetGalley books… but everything else – NOPE!

Thank goodness my dog is the only one that sees me when I’m trying to decide what to read next! I swear, I stand at the bookcase in my room for twenty minutes and I have an internal debate on each book I want to read… but to make it worse, I end up NOT choosing a book!! While this is going on, Jade is lounging on the bed watching me. When I try to move her so I can get into bed early, I either get “the glare” (NOTHING can give an evil glare like a Siberian Husky!) or a look that’s even worse… worry mixed with sympathy!!

You really do begin worrying when your DOG starts worrying about you!

I’m linking up to both Stacking the Shelves and The Sunday Post memes this weekend.

I read 7 books this month, but comparing this to January 2014, I’m WAY behind – I read 14 this time last year! I keep telling myself not to become obsessed with that little widget on Goodreads but, it’s so HARD! It’s always right there when I log in.

The BIG difference this year though? I rated all 7 books 3 Stars and above! I’m SO HAPPY about this and it more than makes up for being behind on my yearly challenge. I’ve become so used to one or two books that I’m very disappointed in each month, and it’s a real treat to enjoy them all. I can’t remember the last time it happened, but I’m secretly hoping this good-book-streak lasts!! (*Touches wood, looks for a four leaf clover… or maybe I should look for a horseshoe?! I’m open-minded, I’ll try anything!)

My favourite book, or my Book of the Month if you will, was easy to choose - ENSNARED. I don’t think anyone will be surprised by this! I’ve become even more obsessed with Morpheus, and I didn’t think it was possible. He is just pure awesomeness in Ensnared, and if you haven’t read this series, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?

All the Books I Read in January 2015

Books I Got This Week

I got these via NetGalley, and Thank You to both publishers for them!

Books I Read this week:

Elsker, and I just started Gone yesterday. I can't believe it's been sitting on my shelves for almost TWO YEARS, and I'm only reading it now. I really regret this - it's amazing so far!

Challenge Updates

I’ve set all my counters to the minimum amount for each challenge level – I really would like to read more… but it’s best to have a little breathing room!

Re-Read Challenge

0/10 Rereads

None yet. I’m trying to tackle those Netgalley’s first – I know once I begin rereading, I won’t stop! The Hunger Games is calling to me though…

Fairytale Retelling Challenge

1/10 Retellings

YAY, some progress! I read Ensnared – review here.

2015 New Release Challenge

2/16 books

I've read two 2015 releases so far: Ensnared by A.G. Howard and Tunnel Vision by Susan Adrian.

Posts I loved

Tracy asks about Book Buying Bans. I tried a ban for a month last year, and it COMPLETELY backfired. I ended up buying over TRIPLE the amount of books I’d normally get. I admire anyone that can stick to them… but they definitely don’t work for me! She also chatted about Bad Boys in YA Literature this month – and while I liked Beautiful Disaster when I read it, I completely agree with her. It was the first NA book I’d read, and it was new and shiny… if I read it now, I don’t think I’d enjoy it as much. Oh, and yes, MORE MORPHEUS! Always this *nods* :D

Cait asks What is the point of negative reviews? I love all the points she raised in her post. I think negative reviews can be just important as positive reviews – everything needs a little balance! Stay away from trashing people though - that's just NOT OK!

Becca talks about DNFing and wrote an excellent post In Defence of the DNF. For 2015 I’m going to be more relaxed with dropping books that don’t work for me. I’ve always tried to grit my teeth and push through… but it makes me miserable! Life really is too short to do something that upsets you.

Kristen chats about Our Audience Also Being Our Competition - Maybe I’m a little naïve, but I’ve never thought of other blogs and bloggers as competition! I see each and every one as a fellow reader and book lover, and that equals potential friend in my eyes. I LOVE what she said in this post – and the links she provided to Spreading Kindness and Book Bloggers Love-a-thon. We need to nurture respect, support and love in this community. It’s a precious place for us all of us, we need to try and keep it that way :)

Trish got inspired by a book she recently read, and chats about Wearing Masks, and how each of us can use a different mask, depending on the situation. It's true, we all do juggle different parts of ourselves, and we have a separate mask for each one!

Becca gives us 10 Reasons to Date a Boy Who Reads. I LOVE all her reasons… but now, the challenging part – to FIND one of these lovely rare creatures! ;-D

On the Blog this Month

Reviews:
Review: Ensnared by A.G. Howard
Review: Spiders by Tom Hoyle
Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Review: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas
Review: Tunnel Vision by Susan Adrian
Other posts:
Ten 2014 Releases I Meant to Read, But Didn’t
February 2015 Releases I Need to Read
10 YA Books I’d Love to Read With a Book Club
My Bookish Resolutions for 2015

Soundtrack for the Week

Have a great week, and Happy Reading!!