By Tessa Pulyer Posted on

Books I Am Reading This Week – February 1, 2023 #wwwwednesday #ReadersCommunity #BookTwitter #BookLover

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

  • What am I currently reading?
  • What did I just finish?
  • What am I reading next?

I haven’t read a Jonathan Kellerman book in a few years. I’m starting Unnatural History today. It’s another one set in Los Angeles and sounds really good!

  • Genre: Mystery / Murder Thriller
  • Pages: 302 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books
  • Publication Date: February 7, 2023
The most enduring detectives in American crime fiction are back in this electrifying thriller of art and brutality from the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense. Los Angeles is a city of stark contrast, the palaces of the affluent coexisting uneasily with the hellholes of the mad and the needy. That shadow world and the violence it breeds draw brilliant psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware and Detective Milo Sturgis into an unsettling case of altruism gone wrong. On a superficially lovely morning, a woman shows up for work with her usual enthusiasm. She’s the newly hired personal assistant to a handsome, wealthy photographer and is ready to greet her boss with coffee and good cheer. Instead, she finds him slumped in bed, shot to death. The victim had recently received rave media attention for his latest project: images of homeless people in their personal “dream” situations, elaborately costumed and enacting unfulfilled fantasies. There are some, however, who view the whole thing as nothing more than crass exploitation, citing token payments and the victim’s avoidance of any long-term relationships with his subjects. Has disgruntlement blossomed into homicidal rage? Or do the roots of violence reach down to the victim’s family—a clan, sired by an elusive billionaire, that is bizarre in its own right? Then new murders arise, and Alex and Milo begin peeling back layer after layer of intrigue and complexity, culminating in one of the deadliest threats they’ve ever faced.

I’m going to say something about Not the Plan by Gia Cadenet that I don’t think I’ve ever said before – this book bored me, particularly the first half. It did get more interesting in the second half with political scandal, a mystery, and serious discussions on the destructiveness of mental health disorders on loved ones and racism in expected ways and unexpected ones.

  • Genre: Women’s Fiction
  • Pages: 314 pages
  • Publisher: Dell
  • Publication Date: February 7, 2023
After nearly a decade of experience in state politics, Isadora Maris is damn good at her job. Aggressive lobbyists and stonewalling senators are no match for her diplomacy and her unflappable commitment to her principles. If all goes according to her meticulous plan, she’ll soon be managing her boss’s successful campaign for U.S. representative and finally land her dream role: congressional aide in Washington, D.C., where she can really make a difference. But Isadora’s cool professionalism is knocked off-kilter when she meets Karim Sarda. Karim is gorgeous and brilliant and seems to share many of her ideals. So why is he working for the California senate’s most detestable scumbag? Given their bosses’ fierce political rivalry, Isadora finds she can’t risk tarnishing her reputation by flirting with the enemy, and she’s been betrayed enough times to want to keep people at a distance. So she deems Karim off-limits—no matter how flustered she feels whenever he enters the room. Karim knows that struggle all too well: Still processing the wounds from his failed marriage, he’s ready for a fresh start. But Karim can’t hide his attraction to Isadora’s commanding presence. Her strength is captivating, even as he recognizes something fragile beneath its surface. When Karim and Isadora succumb to their undeniable chemistry, their initial desire blossoms into something more—something real. But if Karim’s boss takes control of the California senate, everything Isadora worked for could be destroyed. Will workplace politics shatter their chance at love?

I pretty much will read anything if there is magic involved, so you can see the attraction of Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher – a romance between a witch and a demon in a romantic comedy story. I look forward to reading this one this weekend.

  • Genre: Romantic Comedy
  • Pages: 349 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin’s Griifin
  • Publication Date: February 7, 2023
For her entire life, Rose Maxwell trained to become the next Prima on the Supernatural Council. Now that she’s stepped down, it’s time for this witch to focus on herself. And not think about her impulsive one-night stand with Damian Adams, a half-Demon Veterinarian who she can’t get out of her head. Neither of them is looking for a relationship. But when Rose is sentenced to community service at Damian’s animal sanctuary it becomes impossible for them to ignore their sparking attraction. A friends-with-benefits, no feelings, no strings arrangement works perfectly for them both. After a sequence of dead-end jobs, it’s not until Rose tangos with two snarly demons that she thinks she’s finally found her path. However, this puts Damian back on the periphery of a world he thought he left behind. He doesn’t approve of Rose becoming a Hunter, but if there’s one thing he’s learned about the stubborn witch, it was telling her not to do something was one sure-fire way to make sure she did. Working—and sleeping—together awakens feelings Damian never knew he had…and shouldn’t have. Because thanks to his ex’s hex, if he falls in love, he’ll not only lose his heart—but his humanity.

What are you reading? Do you love it?

18 Replies to “Books I Am Reading This Week – February 1, 2023 #wwwwednesday #ReadersCommunity #BookTwitter #BookLover”

  1. Jenny Mcclinton says: Reply

    Hope you enjoy your next reads more, I have just had one like that. I ended up skimming through it & now don’t know how to review. Have a great reading week 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says: Reply

      I usually start with writing about what I didn’t like – to get it out there – and then I write about what I did like and try to edit it to sandwich the bad in between the good.

      Like

    1. Lady Tessa says: Reply

      I wanted to DNF it so bad but I had already declined to review a book from Random House so I didn’t want to follow that with a DNF. That felt like too much.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Mae Clair says: Reply

    As always, you have a diverse collection lined up. I really need to pick up one of Kellerman’s Alex Delaware books (I may even have one buried on my Kindle). they always sound good.

    I’m currently reading the latest Pendergast novel (The Cabinet of Dr. Leng) from Preston & Child. It’s mind boggling!!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. D. Wallace Peach says: Reply

    Kellerman’s novel sounds good, Tessa. I hope you’re enjoying it. Too bad Not The Plan wasn’t all you hoped for. It sounds like your next one will be fun. 🙂 Happy Reading.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says: Reply

      I’m glad I’m not alone. I found reviews that said exactly what I was feeling but so many more were saying how wonderful it was. Which of course leads to the “did you read what I read” feelings.

      Like

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