Quick Update

This is just a quick update. I changed my blog banner. For Christmas this year my sister-in-law made this graphic for me. I'm so excited about it. If you would like to hire her for your own graphic art contact her at celistial.witchh on Instagram. That is all until I get to my regularly scheduled content.

End Of Year Book Tag 2022

Time for another book tag. I might do this special end of year book tag every year. I get so caught up in Christmas, that I don't do anything for New Years. My husband has been stuck with holidays at work, so we have had to get creative with celebrating them. He might barely get home in time for the New Years kiss. If not, this post may end up being a bigger tradition in my life. I'm kidding! Note: I get all my book tags from Pinterest. I don't give credit because often no credit is taken or given. So, I have no idea who started these. If you ever see a book tag on here, that is yours send me your name and blog post url. That way I can give you credit.

1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish? 

As of now, I have no deadlines. I have no ARCs to read. All the books on my Kindle is stuff that I can carry over to the new year.

2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

I'm not sure what the writer meant by this. The dictionary definition is having to do with Autumn, which I don't think is seasonally appropriate. I'm going with the colloquial definition of a couple in their autumn years. Midlife. And I have actually asked the breeder reader Facebook group for some suggestions. Not sure that makes sense for the season either. I Googled it, best I can do.

3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for?

Not yet. I'm keeping an eye out for new books by Sofia T Summers, Sofia Finn, Ava Gray, Alexis Winter, K.C. Crowne, and Natasha L. Black.

4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

I can't. There are a lot more than three left to read. I'm still reading Christmas books. 

5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

I started reading Wrong by Adelaide Forrest and it had some NONCON in it, which is kind of a trigger for me. So many people have raved about it, that I want to finish it and see. This book is supposed to have straight up breeding scenes in it, which is a kink I like to read about.

6. Have you already started making reading plans for 2023?

I have decided to aim for 400 books again. I have probably already read more than that this year (I also read on Hoopla and listen to audiobooks). My husband has been feeling left out, this year from so much reading. I don't want to aim for more and cut him out over books. Even though I love reading like a man loves fishing.

My Christmas 2022

Tis the season. Halloween may be my favorite holiday, but I go all out for Christmas. 4 years ago was the last time we decorated for Christmas.  My mother-in-law was just diagnosed with cancer and we were spending all our time in the hospital instead of around the tree. We ended up leaving the tree up until she passed that March. As we're were taking the six foot tree down we decided that it was too much for us. We sold the tree, and bought a three foot tree. We didn't set it up until this year, though.

I do not set up the perfect tree. My sister has a tree that looks like it belongs in Better Homes And Gardens. My mom rearranges the ornaments I place on her tree. I'm so terrible at ornament placement. We couldn't use most of my mother-in-law's Christmas ornaments, they were too heavy for the branches of a smaller tree. One ornament I made sure to use is the homemade one with my brother's name. He passed away 15 years ago from a tragic drug overdose. It was the 30th overdose that county had in that month. We didn't feel very much in the Christmas spirit for two years. We pushed through. (Note: if you have lost someone to a drug overdose, my inbox is always open to talk).

After setting up my tree, I hung the wreath on the front door. I really want to replace it with a store bought one. I suffer greatly in the creativity department. My homemade Christmas wreath, fills a temporary position. Just to have something hanging up. We haven't had a chance to get rid of that shade yet. I am definitely not my sister.

As soon as November 1st hits I start reading Christmas books, watching Christmas romance movies, and listening to Christmas music. I have a non Christian Christmas playlist on YouTube here. I made it myself. I'm always working on it to make it something the whole family would enjoy. I have been reading a few Christmas stories from last year, but I've been obsessing over this year's batch too. 

This year we started getting presents kind of late in the season. We buy for five of my nieces and nephews, there are over 20 nieces and nephews (and great- nieces and nephews) on my husband's side. As much as we would love to have gifts for them all, we just can't afford that. I also got a "big" ($40) present for my husband and his adult son. My husband gave me my "big" gift early (its a coat and I really couldn't brave the elements in a Hoodie any longer). I also decided to begin the tradition of stockings in our family. I carefully chose stocking stuffers for my husband and his son. However, because we started shopping so late in the season we ran out of money and time to fill my stocking. Oops. I thought about putting of our family Christmas a payday out, but my mom talked me out of it. She said it wouldn't be fair to my husband's son. I'll probably just give up on getting a stocking for myself this year. If this happens again next year I'm scrapping the stockings, it's a lot of work.

For Christmas at my mom's house it is packed. There are six out of seven kids left. My one sister lives out of state and one brother travels for work. So, that leaves four siblings to show up. Five out of ten grandchildren for my mom. We buy for the kids and play rob your neighbor. I don't think the kids should be included in that because they get so many presents from the adults and it kind of ruins the game for adults to get stuck with kids gifts. I spend a lot of time picking out nice gifts for rob your neighbor, I don't want to end up with a cheap toy. But, as families change and grow you have to make these kinds of choices. I'm not against kids, I'm just tired of the kids in my life being used as pawns to order me around. It's easier to keep my distance and protect myself.

What are your Christmas traditions?

My Reading Journey

My reading journey has been a long and complicated one. I think it may be your typical story for girls raised like me, but not many woman grew up like me. I have referred to a lot of stuff in this post before, I'm including it in this post again to give a better picture. I would like to note that even though my parents were Fundamentalists, and it was a hard teenage years for me, both of my parents have left that life behind. I currently get along and talk with both of them. I do not hold a grudge against them. However I stay as far from that lifestyle as possible. 

I started reading at four. My parents had decided to homeschool their kids. My mom was anxious to get started so she bought some McGuffy Readers and taught me to read. If you aren't in the know, McGuffy Readers are what was used in one room school houses. I vividly remember when it "stuck" for me and I started reading ahead. By six I was reading the King James Bible. My mom says I was comprehending it, I'm not so sure. When I was five I became obsessed with American Girl dolls. I had a few of the books, but I wasn't allowed to read all of them. This is when my books started being monitored. 

As I got a little older I was allowed to read classics. But, not all classics. My mom had to talk my dad into letting me read The Diary Of Anne Frank because she had a crush in the story. I was not allowed to have crushes, thankfully my mom was able to get him to let me read it. 

Around 12, I became interested in love stories. My poor dad! He started with letting me read Jane Austen books, Gone With The Wind, Shakespeare (my favorites were adapted so I didn't have to push through scripts). I read all of them. I really  liked a little known series called Elsie Dinsmore, it's the more religious version of Little Women, the writers were friends. After awhile I wanted more, so my dad reluctantly agreed to Christian romance. But, he always reminded me that kind of love was fake. This was during the start of "Purity Culture" my dad took me aside at 13 and had me sign a contract that I was going to let him pick my husband and I would not look at boys at all. Naively I signed the contract. I was encouraged to read I Kissed Dating Goodbye (which wasn't strict enough, I was told) and When God Writes Your Love Story. I totally bought the whole thing. 

At 17, I got a job at the public library. For the most part I stayed a "good girl" I remember putting away a sex positions book. I looked at it, but wasn't really interested in it. I did pick up a novel at the library that I thought was a novel about nuns. It was not. I finished the book, but didn't get anymore like it yet. Around this time our pastor referred to our church as a cult and I flipped out. I refused to go anymore, I demanded that we destroy my contract. My dad had his hands full. Even with my freak out I was still a pretty good girl. I snuck out with my brother's and my cousin to watch Oh Brother Where Art Thou. I didn't really like it. My dad kicked me out because he thought I was reading my horoscope. My aunt took me in. She introduced me to her romance books. My favorites were Amanda Quick and Johanna Lindsay. I had never heard of Julia Quinn until Netflix released Bridgerton. 

For the next 15  years I read these types of books. 14 years ago I met my husband. After a year of dating, he decided to gift me a Nook for Christmas. It was a simple paperwhite, but there was a lot of free smut. Because I was pretty poor, I stuck with free reads. The smut I read back then was really filthy and cheesy. When I got my Kindle I ended up getting Kindle Unlimited and the quality of my smut has been a lot better.

I have even faced my past and read some smut about escape from Purity Culture. 

I still love classics. These days I have a free audiobook app on my phone plays classics. I will never read Christian romance again. 

Like I mentioned before, both my parents and I get along great now. My dad lives half a continent away from me now, but we text often. My mom lives nearby, we spend a lot more time together. We like to look up stories of people that were former Fundamentalists or those that escaped Purity Culture. 

Christmas 2022 Reads

I love Christmas.  My family did not celebrate when I was growing up. So, Christmas means the world to me now. Admittedly it's pretty much about the gifts for me. I love giving and receiving the perfect gift. Every Christmas season you can find me curled up with the seasons latest Christmas novels. I will probably be reading them till February, to be honest. I will also be watching the Christmas romance movies as well.

Note: these are just my favorites that I have read this year. I'm sure not all of them were actually written this year.

Desiring Best Friend's Sister by Sofia Finn

She hires her brother's best friend to help her with her business. Their attraction becomes to hard to ignore. Just around the time she takes a pregnancy test, her brother finds out. 

Christmas With My Dad's Best Friend by K.C. Crowne 

One night, at a party, she kisses her Dad's best friend. He takes her home and they hook up. It was only supposed to be the one time, but they can't stay away from each other. After she finds out she is pregnant, they figure it's time to tell her parents. (I could not find this book by simply searching for it. I found it on my Kindle home page. I seem to have been the only one with this issue, though).

Baby Surprise by Ava Gray 

After an adventurous night out, she is pregnant with barely a first name to call him. 4 years later and she walks into her new job to find out her one night stand is her new boss. As their relationship develops, she continues to keep it a secret. Until the fact that she even has a kid, comes to light.

Holiday Daddy by Kelly Myers 

When he desperately needs a nanny, and she is just as desperate for a job, he hires her on the spot. But, he can't stay away from her. They fall into a relationship until she gets pregnant.  When she tries to feel him out on whether he is open to fatherhood, she is sorely disappointed. Without telling him she is pregnant, she quits.

Christmas In The Cabin by Sofia T. Summers 

One Christmas, she is snowed in with her Dad's best friend. They hook up, but he regrets it the next morning. She went back to her life until she found out she was pregnant. She kept her child's father a secret to protect him, but he figures out he has a child. They decide to get to know each other as a family, still keeping everything secret. Nothing can go wrong, right?

Once Upon A Holiday by Claudia Burgoa

A one night stand turns into a fling when it turns out that he is her landlord. Which turns into a miracle pregnancy. He immediately is all in, but she doesn't believe him. After all, he had said he didn't want a relationship or children, the question is: what changed his minds?

Dashing Mr. Snow by Alexis Winter 

She is asked to deliver a contract to him, but accidentally walks into his bedroom, instead of his home office. Even more exciting he is completely naked. A few days later they get stuck in the elevator. Soon they are spending the holidays together and getting close. She is, however, afraid that it's a rebound.

Oh Mr. Grump by Ashlie Silas

He inherited an assistant that hates him... at first. Soon they are hooking up in secret. He feels that she is "the one." She is terrified of love. He is her protector, but she doesn't really like it. When he goes behind her back to help her, she loses it.

A Fake Fiancée For Christmas by Ava Gray 

She runs a match making company. He needs a fake fiancée for Christmas with his family. It wasn't supposed to be real. Lines are crossed, a baby is made. When his ex-fiancee shows up to take him back, all seems lost.

His Christmas Gift by R.S. Elliot 

When her high-school bully buys out her aunt's gym, she is stressed but determined to keep the gym the same. Then she needs a fake fiance, and he volunteers. As they spend Christmas with their families, they begin to fall in love.

December 2022 My TBR List

Time for this month's TBR list. I read a lot of last month's TBR list. Added a few more and read them as well. Unfortunately some books are still sitting on my Kindle, not sure if they will be there long term or just for a month or two. I'm not done with Christmas books, I just need to find unread ones.

Baby Mistake by Alexis Winter 

This author is one of my favorites. This is a billionaire boss, romance. I'm working on a listicle of this trope. The "research" has been a pleasure. This will probably be my first read of December. 

Billionaire Boss by Natasha Black

See above for why I'm reading another billionaire boss romance. These are both supposed to be surprise pregnancy romance. I think I've read some of this author's books before, I'm going to pay attention to this book to see if this author is a favorite. 

The Handoff by Sarwah Creed

I'm not always in the mood for reverse harem reads. This one looks like it might be funny. I think it's three brothers dating the same girl, and she doesn't even know! This is probably an offensive book, but I do put up with a lot of inappropriate reads so, I'm not too worried. 

The Baby Whisperer And The Brute by Tru Taylor

It looks like I need to write another Nanny Romance listicle. Last month I read a new one after posting and just slipped it under another trope. I don't like to do that if a book has a main trope. 

The Ritual/Triple Beat/Wrong

All books from last month. I've gotten pretty far in Wrong. I had to take a break because it has some big triggers in it. Especially for me. I have to really talk myself through the hard bits. It comes highly recommended by the Breeder Readers group on Facebook. So does The Ritual. I really want to read it, shinier books get in the way.

Bossy Trouble by Sofia Finn

This author is fast becoming a favorite of mine. I picked up this book exactly because of the author. According to the synopsis it's a brother's best friend, billionaire boss, secret baby romance. That's a lot of tropes!

Simply Mine by Laura Pavlov 

I'm seriously considering finishing this series. I prefer the firefighter MMC, but the other is really good. Each book focuses on a sister in a family with a firefighter dad. This is the best friend's brother romance. I think I'll read it.

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