It’s Monday! What are you reading? – 29/12/25

First seen over on Book’d Out, I’m going to try to do this post regularly, linking to It’s Monday! What are you reading? at BookDate.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas or a good break if you don’t celebrate Christmas. I had a good day. I had pancakes at my niece’s house with my other niece and nephews, which was lovely. Then I went to my Mum’s for lunch with my sister and her family, then back to my niece’s to catch up with more family, so it was a busy and enjoyable day.

I got one book for Christmas, The Lightning Ridge Ladies by Fiona McArthur, always a favourite author of mine. Did you get any good books for Christmas?

I’m still going strong on my book-buying ban, putting the money aside into my e-account every time I don’t buy one I really want to buy. I’m up to nearly $80 in 2 months. I probably should get rid of KU in the new year, so that I read some of the books I own and don’t keep reading new ones, but I’ll see how I feel.

I’ve had a great reading/listening week and finished off a couple of books that have been half-finished for a while, and a few ARCs whose reviews I’ll be writing up this week.

I think I forgot to show you all my reading nook now it’s all set up, the rug finally arrived, and it’s very cosy.

Last week I read/listened to

The Question of Us (Fisher & Church #2) by Jay Hogan (Audiobook ARC)⭐⭐⭐⭐ this was book 2 in the Fisher & Church series and picks up not long after that novel finishes. There is a lot happening as they pursue the bad guys from book 1 and move there relationship forward. I’m looking forward to book 3 when it comes out. RTC

A Boy Called Lovesong by Robin Knight (Audibook)⭐⭐⭐⭐ I read A Boy Called Rainbow and loved it. While this is a completely separate novel, I wish I’d read it rather than listened to it because I feel I didn’t quite get the emotional connection I’m used to in Robin’s work, and wonder if this would have made a difference.

At First Irritation: The Unwilling Adventures of Harlow & Fox (Book 1) by Shelby Rhodes (Audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I met Shelby at GLO and againat RARE back in September and October. She is a lovely person and a lot of fun to chat to. Her books are full of quirky characters and over-the-top craziness, and this book was a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to reading/listening to the rest of the series.

Prince of Nightmare by Hannah Penfold ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hannah is a local author I met at a book event last year and I bought this then, it’s a spin off of her duology The Crimson Scar and The Sapphire Crown, but can be read as a standalone read, I do wish I’d read the duology first because I felt I was missing a lot of background. I’ve been dipping in and out of this book for months and decided it was time to pick it up properly and finish it, I’m glad I did and look forward to reading the duology next

Singapore Sapphire (Harriet Gordon #1) by A.M Stuart – this was a reread that I originally read in 2019, and I’ve been wanting to read the rest of the Harriet Gordon series, so a reread was in order before I could do that. My Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐. Also, I am looking forward to meeting Alison when she comes to Perth in May for Wild Out West.

Just a Little Joy (Just a Little #4) by Kerry Kilpatrick (ARC) I really enjoyed this sweet daddy/little romance ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’m going to go back and read the first 3 books in the Just a Little series as the characters from those are all in this one.

Zero Pucks Given (Arctic Titans of Northwood U #9) by Hayden Hall (ARC) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ another sweet, spicy read in this series. RTC

Growing Up in Flames by Zach Jones (ARC) This book came out nearly 4 years ago, and I’m ashamed to say it’s taken me until now to read it. A Young Adult novel, it was a very dark read and quite bleak. There was a little bit of sunlight at the end for one of the characters. I’m not sure I really enjoyed it, even though I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. ⭐⭐⭐💫

This week I’m reading/listening to

Robbie (Confessions #1) by Ella Frank. This is a re-reread, the first 4 books in the Confessions series are ones I consider my comfort reads, and I’ve read them all several times. I had some credit on Audible and thought I’d grab the first 2, but I’m not enjoying the audiobook as much as I’d hoped, and I can see myself reading more than I listen to this one. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Champagne War by Fiona McIntosh (Audiobook). This is the first in the Vineyards of War series, and even though I have the book, I was browsing my to-read list in Borrowbox and decided I’d listen to the audiobook because it’ll be a while before I get to reading it otherwise. I’m a big fan of Fiona McIntosh’s work, so I’m sure to enjoy this one.

Tenderfoot by Toni Jordan, I picked this because the cover screamed read me! Isn’t it gorgeous? Then I saw it was in the top 2025 reads of my friend Theresa from Theresa Smith Writes, and I’m now sure I’ll like it for more than just the cover.

Heart by Jesse H Reign (ARC) I always enjoy Jesse’s writing so I was pleased to get an ARC of this novel, which comes out early January.

I’m sure I’ll finish Tenderfoot and Heart before next week, and I’ll have to pick something else from my overflowing pile. The question will be, what?

Did you read any good books last week? Are you reading anything good this week? I’d love to hear in the comments.

Until next time, which will be 2026! So, HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉🎊, and happy reading.

It’s Monday! What are you reading? – 22/12/25

First seen over on Book’d Out, I’m going to try to do this post regularly, linking to It’s Monday! What are you reading? at BookDate.

It’s been a few weeks since I posted, I’ve been super tired and haven’t had the brain energy to post.

I’ve completed two paintings since I last posted, I’m very happy with both.

I’ve been walking in the national park a few mornings a week with a couple of friends, this morning they cancelled so my dog got a run on the beach instead, which she loved.

I’ve read/listened to 260 books this year with just over a week to go. And yesterday I finished my best book of the year. I plowed through it in a day and a half, barely getting any house stuff done yesterday because all I wanted to be doing was reading.

Last week I read/listened to

The Promise by Piper Scott (audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐✨

Vengeance by Beck Grey (ARC) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

Tentacles are coming to Town by KC Carmine (ARC) ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This Might Hurt by Riley Nash (Audiobook ARC) ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ My review

Her Buried Bones by Fiona Tarr ⭐⭐⭐✨ I didn’t like the narrator, if I continue with the rest of the series I will read them.

The Names by Florence Knapp ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is my book of the year. I wish I could read it again for the first time. My review

This week I’m reading/listening to

Prince of Nightmares by Hannah Penfold – I’ve been reading this in bits and pieces for a while, but I’d like to finish it before the end of the year, so I’ve picked it up properly, currently at 30%

Growing Up In Flames by Zach Jones, this is a long overdue ARC, I’m currently at 60%

The Question of Us by Jay Hogan (Audiobook ARC) currently at 55%

Zero Pucks Given by Hayden Hall (ARC) currently at 6%

Did you read anything good last week? Are you reading anything good this week? I’d love to hear in the comments.

Until next time, happy reading and if you celebrate Christmas have a good one.

New Release Book Review: Vengence by Beck Grey

This was really something very different for Beck Grey, but since I love their work, I was more than happy to go with the change in genre.

First up, I really appreciated the glossary being at the beginning of the book; reading through it made the characters and the world-building easier to follow, and the author has done a great job of building the world of Amagi. Being at the beginning also made it easier for me to flip back if I needed to and still find my furthest read page; saying that, I didn’t feel the need to skip back once I started.

I really enjoyed being drawn into the world of Amagi, and its magic system and political intrigue. There were some pretty brutal moments when our hero takes out the bad guys, but they deserved it!

Zayd and Nico made a great couple, and I loved how they became a team by the end of the book. Nico really changed everything for Zayd, not the least his aversion to becoming emotionally entangled with another person, and I enjoyed seeing this change as feelings became involved that he was unable to fight. Nico being able to accept Zayd for who he was and what he did (assassin) made it easier for Zayd to let down his walls.

This was a fast-paced read, and I hope in the next book we get more of Zayd and Nico’s story and see how things are evolving in Amagi.

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About the book

They say the Shabah doesn’t exist.

They’re wrong.

I know because I was one of them—an assassin trained to kill without question and then vanish without a trace. Five years ago, on a mission with my closest friend, Kas, the unthinkable happened. We were ambushed by one of our own. I still see Kas’s blood on my hands and the confusion in his eyes as he died. Like a coward, I ran.

Now I’m back.

Amagi hasn’t changed. Same powerful Guilds, same rot beneath the surface. But I’m not the same man who fled. I’ve spent five years planning—waiting for the right moment to strike. I’ll figure out who was responsible, and every name on that list will pay. Slowly. Painfully. They took my brother-in-arms. They took my peace. I’ll take everything from them in return.

The Shabah think they buried their secret. They believe I’m gone.

They’re about to learn that ghosts don’t always stay dead.

Vengeance is an LGBTQ+ fantasy romance featuring a morally gray assassin sworn to avenge the past, a charming merchant unaware of the secrets in his own, and the dangerous connection that binds them. It’s a standalone introduction to the Amagi Chronicles universe.

Audiobook Review: The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder

4.5⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

I listened to the Audiobook version of The Unlikely Pair (#3 Unlikely Dilemmas), by NZ author Jax Calder, narrated by Gary Furlong, who I know from many books, though I think they are all done in a Kiwi accent, which he does so well, but he obviously has a talent for accents because he did a great job of the two british men in this book and the secondary characters from the previous book, one of whom is American. He certainly brought this bickering pair to life.

Toby and Harry are on opposite sides of the political divide and are constantly throwing shade at each other. I wasn’t sure when I started this if I was going to be able to get my head around all the political speak at the start of the book, but as I got drawn into the story and the two men crash land in the scandinavian forest, pursued by international terrorists, I started to really enjoy their bickering which slowly (or quickly) turns into a genuine connection.

In what is a life-or-death situation, these two both step up and support each other, drawing on their strengths to make it through. I really enjoyed seeing these two fall for each other, and I was saddened by both of their backstories in different ways as they opened up to each other.

When it came to the pointy end of the story, I hoped one of them would step up and take the plunge and admit how they felt and find a way to work things out despite their political differences and the expectations from their families and political parties. I think I may have held my breath for some of this time while chanting “come on, guys” in my head.

I am going to go back and read book one, The Unlikely Heir, and then read book three, The Unlikely Spare.

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Purchase directly from the author

Coming soon to Audible

About the book

What happens when you find yourself stranded in the wilderness with your political enemy?

Getting stranded in the freezing wilderness with my archenemy wasn’t on today’s to-do list. But somehow, that’s where I’ve ended up.

Harry Matheson, my political rival, has always been smarmy, arrogant, and entitled. It figures that even this plane crash has barely ruffled his well-coiffed hair.

It’s all fine, though, because our pilot has gone to call for help and rescue should be imminent.

Fast forward a few frigid hours…

Umm…maybe it’s not so fine, because it appears our pilot is part of an international terrorist group intent on kidnapping us.

Now Harry and I have to flee through the wilderness—together.

Unfortunately, being adept at political debates and parliamentary procedures doesn’t exactly prepare you for the basics of finding food, keeping warm, and evading the local wildlife while playing high-stakes hide-and-seek with armed terrorists.

The only way Harry and I have any hope of surviving is to stick together.

The problem is, the line separating hate and love has begun to blur, and the last thing I need is to fall for my enemy.

The Unlikely Pair is an enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a romp through the political wilderness where hearts, quite literally, go off the beaten path.

Top Ten Tuesday – 2/12/25

I saw this post on Portobello Book Blog and thought I might join in too, when I can anyway so maybe not every week but we will see.

Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post. Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists. Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

Now, this week’s topic was a freebie, so I’ve gone with the 10 books next to my bed because that was all my brain could come up with.

A Catalogue of Love by Erin Hortle

Touched by Kim Kelly

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV & Desmond Tutu (Douglas Carlton Abrams, Translator)

Pilbara by Judy Nunn

Broken Brains by Jamila Rizvy & Rosie Waterland

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

Tenderfoot by Toni Jordan

The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Joukhadar

Shadows of Wildstone by Mandy Magro

A Country Practice Christmas by Stella Quinn, Penelope Janu, Pamela Cook & Renae Black

Have you read any of these? What’s next to your bed? I’d love to hear in the comments.

Until next time, happy reading.

It’s Monday! What are you reading? – 1/12/25

First seen over on Book’d Out, I’m going to try to do this post regularly, linking to It’s Monday! What are you reading? at BookDate.

I had a big week last week. I finished a couple of books that had been sitting at 50% since September, it was nice to get them finished and I enjoyed them both.

My book buying ban is going well. I opened an E account with the bank and whenever I think ooooh I want that book, I have been transferring the money into my new account. It’s been super hard because of all the black Friday sales the last week or so. I would have spent at least $41 last month on books, some of which are in KU so I can still read them.

Last week I read/listened to

The Adventuress of Albany by Darry Fraser (ARC) ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ review to come

The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder (ARC, audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ review to come

His Death Bringer by Courtney W Dixon ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth (Audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Winning Loves Lottery by Zoe Piper ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Boys by BL Maxwell (novella)⭐⭐⭐⭐

Home Hearts Hooves by Becca Jackson ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Hold Me Under by Riley Nash (Audiobook) this was a relisten it’s been a couple of years and I actually loved it even more this time round ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My review

This week I am reading/listening to

A Catalogue of Love by Erin Hortle currently at 64%

Voidbringer by Elaine Ho (ARC) currently at 14%

Cabins Cows Critics by Becca Jackson currently at 64%

Make Me Fall by Riley Nash (Audiobook) this is a relisten too, I’m going to listen to the whole series again, so when I finish this in a couple of days I’ll start book 3 Show Me Wonders. Currently at 47%

Did you read anything good last week? Are you reading anything good to this week? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Until next time, happy reading.

Audiobook Review: Hold Me Under by Riley Nash

I enjoyed this even more the second time round. The narrators do such a great job.

Hold Me Under was an enemies-to-lovers novel totally different to any I have read before. Victor and Ethan were very different people, from very different backgrounds who have both had to deal with some terrible experiences (read the trigger warnings before reading).

Both of these characters had things I didn’t like about them, but Victor grew on me quicker than Ethan (I think I may be the odd one here). We don’t get the whole of Victor’s story until near the end, but I had already started working out most of what we discover from the start, so I had a great deal of empathy for Victor and what I thought he had been through and I could understand where his attitude and behaviours were coming from. He had built so many walls and cages for himself and had no one he could truly trust or rely on to have his back and help him deal with the trauma he had been through. My heart broke for him the whole way through.

Ethan, was wonderful where his care for his mother was concerned and I could see little glimpses of how he might have some care for Victor now and again, I know he had his own losses he was dealing with and I did empathise with him for these, but I felt he should have realised that there was far more to Victor’s trauma and behaviours than met the eye. There were so many signs pointing to what might have happened to him that I couldn’t understand how he couldn’t see this. I found him slightly self-absorbed for a lot of the book.

It wasn’t until the last quarter of the novel that I started to feel the emotional connection between Victor and Ethan and could only hope that these two really found each other before it was too late. Once this connection shifted I could feel the emotions from both of them and under the hate, I could feel something deeper. I could see how Ethan could be that one safe space and person for Victor because he had the strength in him to hold him and help him heal if only he could see through the mask and lies that Victor used to shield himself.

It was an emotional read, where trauma and abuse play a big part in the behaviour that comes across as arrogant and spoiled. Victor’s father was a horrible person and I couldn’t understand how a parent could be as cold and heartless as this man was towards his son.

A novel that hopefully makes people think twice about what might truly be going on in a person’s life and encourages empathy and understanding to people who are struggling to hold themselves together.

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About the book

Love is cheap. Love is cruel. Love can’t save us.

Victor Lang had everything—looks, money, fame. A chance to become the greatest swimmer in history. Until a failed dope test brought him crashing down.

According to the rumors, he turned into a recluse, a drug addict, a whore. Broken beyond repair. Incapable of love.

And for some reason, he’s set his sights on me.

A freak accident in his pool throws me into a world of wealth and status and people who are willing to do anything to get what they want. Before I know it, I’m being paid to fly to Italy and pose as his boyfriend. Trapped at his side, I learn what it means to truly hate someone.

Turns out, that’s exactly what he wants.

I can’t save him, and I can’t love him. But as things fall apart and I discover the truths he’s hiding, I learn that hate can be greater than love—an obsession, a prayer, dark days and darker nights, a need to be the only one who hurts him. Hate can heal the worst wounds love leaves behind.

But I have problems of my own, a broken spirit and loved ones to protect. And I’m scared to face the things he’s waking up inside of me.

A gritty, emotional, epic hate-to-love slow burn with an inexperienced top and his bratty bottom, hurt/comfort, obsession, and healing.

Contains dark themes, adult content, and potential triggers, though every effort was made to portray them thoughtfully and sensitively.

Specific triggers (potential spoilers): sexual abuse (off the page), suicidal ideation, drug abuse, disordered eating, trauma, death, mental illness, homophobic language.

Top Ten Tuesday – 25/11/25

I saw this post on Portobello Book Blog and thought I might join in too, when I can anyway so maybe not every week but we will see.

Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post. Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists. Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.

Now, this week’s topic was Thanksgiving/Thankful freebie. We don’t do Thanksgiving in Australia so I looked up what the themes were around Thanksgiving and family was one of them. So, I’ve gone with books with family in the title. Though some may not be your happy families.

These are all from my physical or digital bookshelves and I seem to have read less than half of them, according to Goodreads. But I’m sure I’ve read 2 of them I just wasn’t using Goodreads at that time. I’m going to try and read or reread those I haven’t read or don’t remember in the new year.

Family of Strangers by Fiona Lowe

Just an Ordinary Family by Fiona Lowe

Family Baggage by Monica McInerney

A Family’s Trust by Louise Guy ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ My review

The Family Farm by Fiona Palmer

Love and Family by Kelsey Hodge ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ My review

The Perfect Family by Jacquie Underdown

The Family We’re Born With by Kaje Harper

Treasures and Found Family by Sammi Cee

Family Home by Blake Allwood ⭐⭐⭐⭐ My review

I look forward to checking out other people’s lists this week.

Until next time, happy reading.

It’s Monday! What are you reading? – 24/11/25

First seen over on Book’d Out, I’m going to try to do this post regularly, linking to It’s Monday! What are you reading? at BookDate.

Last week was a pretty hot one with a couple of days in the 30s, it’s looking cooler this week though it won’t stay that way as we head into summer.

On Saturday I did a 3km walk in the Pride fun run in the city with a friend, it was, well, fun 😁

I’m making myself a book nook, I might have already said. I got my comfy chair delivered yesterday, I thought it was uncomfortable and asked for a refund then realised one of the legs had come out of its hole and once I rectified that it seemed pretty good. Now I have to try to cancel the refund lol. I’m waiting on my new rug then I’ll post the finished space.

Last week I read/listened to

Elizabeth’s Star by Rhonda Forrest (Audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Walking Free by Munjed Al Muderis (Audiobook) ⭐⭐⭐ I ended up biting the bullet and finishing this just so I could get it off my currently reading list. My review

The Nokk and the Jock by Leslie McAdam ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Selkie Santa by Lilith Stone ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This week I am reading/listening to

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth (Audiobook) I’m at 74% but I’ve had to pause my listening because I received an ARC of the next audiobook so that takes priority. I’ll get back to finish it after I finish the ARC.

An Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder (ARC) (Audiobook) I’m at 9%

A Catalogue of Love by Erin Hortle I’m at 25%

The Adventuress of Albany by Darry Fraser (ARC) I’ve nearly finished this, I’ll probably finish tonight I imagine if I don’t mess around wasting time on my phone.

His Death Bringer by Courtney W Dixon this wasn’t a planned read but I’m really enjoying it, I’m at 46%

Jacked by KM Neuhold (ARC) I didn’t get around to picking this up again last week. I’ll definitely try this week.

What did you read last week that you’d recommend. What are you hoping to enjoy this week? I’d love to hear in the comments.

Until next time, happy reading.

New Release Book Review: Tempting the Teammate by Hayden Hall

4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

I enjoyed this friends-to-lovers story (one of my favourite tropes), Andrei and Griffin were best friends and made a great couple once they both opened up about their feelings. I’ve felt the author’s writing a bit flowery lately, and I liked that this one seemed to pull back on that. The build-up and the pining between the two were at times amusing, at others emotional, especially when one of them pulls away because they are afraid the other might know how they feel.

I would hate to have an unreality show made about me, and I don’t know how these boys and the rest of the team put up with it for so long. The way they twisted the storyline to suit their purposes was pretty disgusting. In real life and in the story, the TV people seem to forget they are playing with real people’s lives and emotions; they are people without morals.

I loved catching up with people from previous stories. This team has a special bunch of people who are there to always support each other. I’m looking forward to seeing these boys again in future books.

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About the book

Andrei Sokolov has been my best friend for as long as I can remember.

We have played defense together since peewee hockey. We have been inseparable through every game, every road trip, and every bad decision.

Now we are back for our sophomore year at Northwood U, living in the same team house, chasing the same championship dreams, and stuck in the middle of a brand new mess.

The Arctic Titans have been turned into the stars of a season-long docu-series, and apparently, I am the Ladies’ Man. Andrei is the Bad Boy Defenseman. We are supposed to play it up for the cameras, but being told who to be makes me itch. And when the edits start leaning into our so-called bromance, things get complicated.

Because lately, I cannot stop noticing the way Andrei looks at me when the cameras are not rolling. Or the way I have started looking back.

One kiss turns into a secret. A secret turns into late-night skates, empty locker rooms, and moments that feel too much like falling in love. And the closer we get, the harder it is to pretend it is just friendship.

Andrei says sneaking around costs him too much. I say I cannot risk losing what we already have. But with the whole world watching, I am running out of ways to hide what is real.

Maybe it’s time to give them a storyline worth streaming.

Tempting the Teammate is a standalone novel set in the world of the Arctic Titans of Northwood U and reading earlier entries is not necessary for your enjoyment of this story. It’s a best-friends-to-lovers, gay awakening story playing out before the cameras and the whole wide world. Get ready for secret kisses, steamy nights, and the found family unique to the Arctic Titans series. Return to Northwood U for the happiest ever after in all of romance.