Reading Archives - Angel Reads

Last Five Reads | June

Jun 19, 2022

It’s time for another last five reads post. I’m really enjoying doing these types of posts. It’s a great way for me to talk about books that I am reading before I do my monthly wrap-up. But it also lets me go a little more in-depth than I normally would.

So let’s get right into it. I’ve been in a little reading slump recently, but I am feeling like I’m getting out of it. And here are the books that I have read recently that have helped with that.

Kings of Mayhem MC #1-#6 by Penny Dee: I’m putting all these books together because then it would just take up my whole post. But one of the things I do to get out of a reading slump is re-read. And I kept seeing this series pop up on my tiktok read, so I went ahead and re-read them.

It was really nice being back into this world and reading an MC romance. I sometimes forget how much I love reading MC romanes and this one sparked my love for it again.

I really enjoyed this series the first time I read it, and I felt the same when I re-read this month. It’s fun and a little dark, but it’s also emotional as hell and I love that.

I think my favourites have to be Kings of Mayhem, Off Limits and Bull

Kulti by Mariana Zapata: I’ve been wanting to read another Mariana Zapata for a while now and I just felt like a good sports romance. I’ve read quite a few Mariana Zapata now and this has definitely jumped up to one of my favourites.

If you haven’t read a Mariana Zapata be prepared for a slow burn. And this was slow. But it was so good. It was sexy, romantic and a classic Zapata. The romance was really interesting and while I did want a little more angst between them after they bother realised they liked each other, I was still pretty happy.

Overall, I really did enjoy Kulti a lot. I would have also enjoyed it if we were also on his pov. But it’s okay.

Knight’s Legion MC #1-#2 by Naomi Porter: Now that I’m on a MC romance kick, I picked the first books in this series up. And in all honestly, I’m not sure how I feel.

Firstly I wasn’t a massive fan of the writing. It went from feeling childish to all macho man. It was like whiplash. I couldn’t really like Storm, the male protagonist a whole lot. He was so 180. And couldn’t make up his mind. This meant that the story just kept on flipping.

I liked the premise of the book, but I didn’t feel that it was done so great. Again there was just so much in here, and I could not keep up. But the thing is. I want to keep on reading the series, just so I know how all the books turn out. And what happens with everyone else. I’m just not sure what I am going to do.

Three of Hearts (Harpies of a Feather #1) by Lillian Lark: I’ve been wanting to read a Lillian Lark book for a little while now, and I also wanted something quick and short. And this was the perfect book for that.

While I didn’t fall in love with this book. I really did enjoy it. It’s fast-paced, a hot romance and some supernatural creatures that really interesting. Three of Hearts is a romance between a werewolf, a demon and a Harpy. Which I found so interesting and why I picked this book up.

The romance was very fast-paced and while it did move just a little too quickly for what I normally like. The book is under 200 pages. So it’s not bad in that perspective. I liked all three of our protagonists and I enjoyed that we got to see a little bit of each of them. This book was just a lot of fun. And if you are looking for a quick, supernatural romance then pick this up.

Alight (The Firecracker Cousins #1) by A.H. Cunningham: I hadn’t heard about this book until Ely showed me something that featured it. I didn’t know too much about it when I picked it up either, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.

I’m not a massive contemporary reader. It’s probably the sub-genre that I read the least, but this one was not only fun, but emotional, and I didn’t want to put it down.

The romance in this was a second chance romance and oh I loved it. It was these best friends who no longer talk to one another, who come together again and just. It was also sexy and sweet. I cannot wait to continue reading this series, because I will be doing that for sure.

And there we go. Those are my last five reads as of me writing this post. What have you read recently? did you enjoy them? Let’s Chat!

Why Reading Out of Your Comfort Zone is Beneficial

Aug 16, 2020

I never thought that I would change my reading habits. For a very long time, I only ever read YA fantasy/paranormal. Seriously from the ages 12-16, I pretty much only read that. But then I started blogging and became more involved in the book blogging community, and that started to change what I read. I started reading out of my comfort zone. And you know what? It’s one of the best things I have done for my reading.

It’s not an easy thing to do—reading something that you aren’t used to, that you don’t know. But it can be an amazing experience. Because it can change your comfort zone. You can love something that you never thought that you would. It can also show you something that you might not like, but you will never know until you at least try it.

Photo by Fabiola Peñalba on Unsplash

I think one of the easiest things to do as a reader falls into a comfort zone. To start reading a genre or readership and just stick with it. And for the most part – I think that is totally fine and nothing to be ashamed of. I think to fall that easily into a genre or readership is pretty amazing and perfect. However, I also think that one of the best things you could do to start reaching out your comfort zone and read something that you didn’t think that you would.

I think a lot of this has to do with the bias and stigma we have against other genre’s and readerships. I wrote about this a couple of months ago and I still stand by it now. When I started to really read, I loved having a romance in all my books, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I took the plunge. It is then I started to read books that would class solely as romance. I didn’t believe everything that has been said about romances, but I didn’t know if I was reading to start reading it all – just in case.

But I took the leap. And it’s the best thing that I ever did. Romance makes up 80% of what I read now, and I love it so much. I still read heaps of YA and paranormal, but now there is so much more for me to choose from. There is so much more that can grab my attention. If you ask me 10 years ago if I would be reading romance more and more each year – I would have laughed in your face.

Photo by Nicole Wolf on Unsplash

One of the best ways to read out of your comfort zone. Is to do it slowly. Read something that is similar to what you love and then move out from there. If you like YA fantasy, but haven’t read an adult fantasy. See if there is an author that you love in YA that has also read adult fantasy. Start from there and then read books that are similar. Or read an adult fantasy that has characters in their earlier twenties.

Don’t jump straight from YA to literary fiction. It’s not the way to go. Pick up a YA that is along those lines first. Something that stands out from the crowd in the writing and all the other trademarks of lit fic. It doesn’t necessarily have to be literary fiction, but close enough that you can get a feel for the writing style. And then you can pick up something more.

Once you are in the genre or readership, it’s easier to move around and find something that you like. In the case for me. I started by reading New Adult romances and then slowly moved more mainstream romance. And in doing that, I found the things that I love and the things that I don’t. From NA romances I found that I love sports romances – a lot. And then I slowly started to like historical romances, MC romances and many different other subgenre’s.

Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

And while I talk about here the success of moving out of your comfort zone. It doesn’t always work that way. You can try and genre or readership, and it just doesn’t work for you. And that is totally fine, because you tried. I’m not a massive fan of non-fiction. I’ve picked it up here and there, but I don’t think it’s for me. I rather watch a documentary or mini-series at this moment. But that also doesn’t mean I won’t ever try non-fiction again. Especially when it’s such a massive genre and has so many subgenres.

One of the best suggestions I have for reading out of your comfort zone is – don’t do if you are not in the mood. If you go in thinking you are going to hate the book, you most likely will. Try and keep an open mind and pick it up when you feel like it.

Reading out of your comfort zone isn’t easy to do. It’s not something that you can do overnight and be gone with it. You have to think about it and work out which way you would like to go. Don’t push yourself to read out of it either. Read something different when you think you are ready. Reading something that you never thought that you would and loving it, is such a great experience. And if it’s something that you are truly thinking about – do it. It is fun at least.

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Have you read out of your comfort zone and love what you picked up? Has it been the opposite? What are your thoughts on reading out of your comfort zone? Let’s Chat!

Books That Are Perfect For Winter

Jun 2, 2020

Before I start I do want to say a few things. Right now the world needs your voice. Black lives need your voice. Use it. And use it right. Here are some ways to help as well as some resources, please check them out. I’ve been posting and RT’ing more things on twitter. So please head over there and let your voice be heard. #BlackLivesMatter.

This week I’m sharing the books I think are perfect for winter! Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl.

Winter isn’t my favourite season, it’s my least favourite really. I’m mostly a spring and autumn time of girl. And right now it’s getting pretty cold here. So I’m all rugged up in bed, writing this post up. But one of the things I do love about winter. Is curling up in bed and reading. So today I’m sharing the books that I think are perfect to read in winter. Like always these are in no order.

The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas: If this isn’t perfect, I don’t know what is. I love this book and series so much. If you are thinking about picking any historical romance series – this is the one. It’s so much fun and perfect to binge read in winter – or any time of the year.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune: One of my favourite typed of books to read during winter are feel-good ones. And this book is up there. One of my favourites so far in 2020. This book will make you smile, laugh and just have a good time. You can check out my full review now.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand: When I’m all rugged up inside, I can have a good cry and no one can see me. And this book will make you cry. But it’s also such a beautiful story that I loved reading. It left me a mess, but I am okay with that.

Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1) by Sarina Bowen: What is better than reading a winter sports romance in winter? Not much. This one of my favourite books from Sarina Bowen and I love this series so much, especially the first three. This one just makes me smile a whole lot.

Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett: Being able to curl up and fall into a good detective and mystery story is so much fun. I adore Jenn Bennett and this one here is a blast to read. The protagonists are amazing and I just loved it. If you love a good mystery with some romance then this is the book for you.

Life on the Edge (Edge #1) by Jennifer Comeaux: Another sports romance that is perfect for winter. I always have so much fun reading this series. It’s just something that you can fall into and just love reading. It’s not heavy, but it also looks at things in life.

Midnight Pursuits (Killer Instincts #4) by Elle Kennedy: It is a few books into the series, but it’s also one that always makes me think of a cold, cold winter. We rarely see snow in my parts. So as soon as the snow is involved I love it. This is an action-packed romantic suspense and I love it.

The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give #1) by Angie Thomas: I haven’t talked about this book in a while, but right now I think I need to. If you haven’t read this book. Please do. It’s important. It’s one you need to take your time and read. The Hate U Give is a book that you need to sit down and just take everything that you read in.

When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah: If you haven’t picked this one up please do. Its another one of those books that aren’t always a present read, but it’s the right one. I’ve say this all the time, but it show be on every school book list.

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler: I don’t talk about this book enough. This is such a sweet, YA romance that I love so much. It’s one to make your feel all warm inside and perfect for winter. If you want to read a book that will make you smile then this one is it.

That is it for this post! What are some of the books that you think are perfect for reading in winter? Do we share anything that is the same? Let’s Chat!