January – March Book Haul: A Bookish New Year!

Hello everyone! Welcome to the first book haul of 2020! It’s been a long time since I’ve did a book haul post and I’m way overdue for posting a new one. My reading goal for 2020 is 150 books once again. So far it’s been going well. I’m getting back on track with Netgalley reads and other review copies. I’ve also been busy with participating in some reading challenges. Stay tuned for those reviews!

As with the last couple of years, besides the holiday season when I tend to splurge on books, I find myself self buying less books. My shelf space has been overflowing since I don’t have the room for larger bookcases to hold my collection. I’m still continuing to downside my collection and donate my books to other good homes. Already, I’ve been able to read quite a few books that have been back listed on my shelves so I’m very happy about it.

Now onto the book haul!

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Bought

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Things in Jars by Jess Kidd – In the dark underbelly of Victorian London, a formidable female sleuth is pulled into the macabre world of fanatical anatomists and crooked surgeons while investigating the kidnapping of an extraordinary child in this gothic mystery. (Review to come soon!)

The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare – A powerful, emotional debut novel told in the unforgettable voice of a young Nigerian woman who is trapped in a life of servitude but determined to fight for her dreams and choose her own future. (Review to come soon!)

The Sun-Down Motel by Simone St. James – The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn’t right at the Sun Down, and before long she’s determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden there. (Review to come soon!)

ARCs/Review Copies

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A Taste of Sage by Yaffa S. Santos – This is a spicy novel in which two feisty cooks go head to head in the kitchen. Told in alternating povs, our main characters, Lumi and Julian, give us glimpses into their life as a chef. (Review to come soon!)

Never Too Soon by Tamika Christy – This is an easy read to get into and I found myself immediately invested in the characters lives. Though this novel is lighthearted (for the most part), I appreciated that it tackled numerous difficult issues. It gave the story an overall realistic feel. (Review)

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi – The Henna Artist is a novel set in is set in 1950s India. Our main character, Lakshmi, is a henna artist who discovers she has a younger sister named Radha. I also enjoyed the themes about familial ties and journeys of self-growth. (Review)

Binding Shadows by Jasmine Silvera -Hunting lost books is more than a job; it’s a way for Barbara to hide her powers in the mundane world of the university library. After years of battling to cage the beast within him, Tobias returns to Prague and the safety of his pack of brothers. When an enchanted book triggers unpredictable surges in Barbara’s magic, unleashing his beast may be their only defense against the malevolent spell buried in its pages. (Review to come soon!)

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Temporary Wife Temptation by Jayci Lee – Temporary Wife Temptation reads very quickly and is overall and entertaining romance. The witty banter, and flirtatious looks had me hooked into the romance. The attraction was always there but seeing the two fall for each other was incredibly sweet. (Review)

Don’t Read The Comments by Eric Smith – This is a books that is centered around the internet and the world of gaming. It also touches on toxicity and the bullying that happens with online gaming as Divya faces harsh criticism, trolls, sexism and racism. (Review)

A Love Hate Thing by Whitney D. Grandison – Upon reading A Love Hate Thing, I immediately got Fresh Prince vibes. The two main characters Nandy and Trice come from two different backgrounds. They spend their summer becoming reacquainted after so long, but will their differences continue to keep them apart? (Review)

Obscura by Luke Cartwright – The story follows William who is the son of a funeral home owner. Later in life, he marries a childhood acquaintance and they try to move on from the past that haunts them. The two strike up a con business in “spirit” photography, but how long can they keep up the facade? (Review)

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The Unwilling by Kelly Braffet -While the plot is interesting, it’s so slow moving that sometimes I would lose interest in the story. I felt that the book is entirely too long and that many parts could have been cut down. (Review)

Horizontal Collaboration by by Navie (Author), Carole Maurel (Illustrator) – This graphic novel covers the taboo subject of “sleeping with enemy” within the context of World War II. It’s complex, emotional, and a very deep story that had me hooked from the very first page. (Review)

The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick – It spreads awareness about a dark part of history while also weaving a narrative of two sisters with unbreakable bond.  It’s real, raw, and very heartbreaking.(Review)

To Have and To Hoax by Martha Waters – In this fresh and hilarious historical rom-com, an estranged husband and wife in Regency England feign accidents and illness in an attempt to gain attention—and maybe just win each other back in the process. (Review to come soon!)

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Giveaway Wins

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Boleyn Curse by Deborah Cohen – Ellie has always believed her parents’ death to be an accident, but this mysterious message hints at a secret murder. As a skeptic of all things supernatural, she ignores this bizarre advice, until her research forces her to face the truth about her parents’ murders and the astonishing connection between the Bowlan and Boleyn family line. (Review to come soon!)

On The Corner of Hope and Main:A Blessings Novel by Beverly Jenkins – Trent July has been the mayor of this historic town for the past four years, but now he’s ready to let someone else take up the mantle. But when a surprise candidate also enters the ring, the town has opinions on who would be the best candidate. (Review to come soon!)

Ashes of Onyx by Seth Skorkowsky – Kate Rossdale once held all the promise of becoming Baltimore’s greatest sorceress. When she’s offered the restoration of her power by a man she doesn’t know or trust, Kate sets in motion the retribution of her enemies. (Review to come soon!)

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That concludes my January-March book haul! What books did you buy these past months? What books have you recently added to your TBR? Tell me in the comment section below.