So, every month I put a list together of the books that I either need to read for review or the books that I want to get around to reading (finally). I’m also trying to be more responsible with my Kindle Unlimited and Audible Escape subscriptions so I’m going to post my TBR Pile on the blog so you guys can keep me honest. This year, I’m going to start breaking my TBR Pile up into different sections so that I know which books I’m reading for what because in my old age, I need the reminders.

This month’s post is coming to you guys a little late because I had a slow start to the year. I blame that completely on my need to spend time with Baby Matalasi and Caiden while they were here for most of January. They were just too cute and so much fun to be around that I found myself wanting to be around them all the time. I also spent the last week of January until now in a state of mourning over the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi.

I’m a long time Laker fan and a fan of my hometown of Los Angeles and Kobe was a big part of growing up in L.A. I’ve seen him grow from a cocky asshole NBA player to a mature man who was raising four young daughters and loved being their Dad. I never had a personal connection with him but I was a huge fan of the way that he put the Lakers on his back and carried us to victory more times than I can count. I was a huge fan of the person that he became later in his career with the Lakers. How he did everything for us fans both on and off the court. I was a huge fan of the way that he made time for everyone. He helped young NBA stars on the rise, coached his daughter’s basketball team, supported his other daughter’s volleyball team, had Disney dates with his younger daughters, helped D1 colleges around the country but he also made time to coach up a small Christian college in Costa Mesa that my niece attended. He was pulled in so many different directions and yet, he made time for everyone and he was so gracious about it all. He was loved by the city of Los Angeles and it showed in the outpouring of love that we’ve seen everywhere we go. Murals have popped up everywhere from Manhattan Beach to Santa Monica to Downtown L.A. We’re in mourning and very protective of those he left behind. My thoughts and prayers haven’t strayed very far for Vanessa and the girls in the time since the accident and I doubt I’ll ever stop thinking and praying for them.

Kobe Bryant was L.A. and we miss him something fierce.

Here’s a breakdown of how I did on last month’s TBR Pile. I did pretty damn good.

Previous Month Stats

Books to Read: 10
Books Read: 10
Books Unread: 0
Pages Read: 3,164 | Hours Listened: 0
Favorite Read: Chasing Cassandra | Least Favorite Read: The Kissing Game

I read all of the books on my TBR Pile from last month. Sure, I cheated a bit since I read all of those books in January and the first part of February but still, I finished them all! Woo hoo! My favorite read from that bunch of books is Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas. I really enjoyed that one and loved seeing Cassandra and Tom figure out how to be together. Lisa Kleypas always writes great historical romances so I wasn’t surprised that I enjoyed this one. She did well on that one. My least favorite book of the bunch goes to The Kissing Game by Marie Harte. That one was just…not for me.

February’s TBR PILE

Book Club

Devious Lies (Cruel Crown #1) by Parker S. Huntington
Released on December 14, 2019
Publisher: Self Published
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 702
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited

From USA Today bestselling author Parker S. Huntington comes an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance full of revenge and a dash of fate.

“She could enjoy her pretty, perfect world a little longer. Soon enough, everything she owned would be mine.”

I had a plan to escape the friend zone.
Step one: sneak into Reed’s room.
Step two: sleep with him.

But when the lights turned on, it wasn’t familiar blue eyes I saw.
These were dark, angry, and full of demons.
And they belonged to Reed’s much older brother.

Four years later, Nash Prescott is no longer the help’s angry son.
I’m no longer the town’s prized princess.

At twenty-two, I’m broke, in need of a job.
At thirty-two, he’s a billionaire, in need of revenge.

Who cares if my family ruined his?
Who cares if he looks at me with pure loathing?
Who cares if every task he assigns me is designed to torture?

I need the money.
Simple as that.

I’ll suffer his cruelty in silence, knowing there’s one thing he wants more than revenge…

Me.

This year for book club is going to be the first year where a different member of the club is responsible for hosting the book club discussion and game. Normally, someone picks a book and where we’ll be meeting (we grab dinner out for our book club) and then I’d prepare a book discussion and game every month. But with my new job and how busy I’ve been over there, I’ve been struggling with book club discussions and games so this year we decided to share the responsibilities and I’m super glad about that. This month’s book was chosen by my friend Amie and she’ll be the first person outside of me and my friend Tasha to prepare a book club meeting. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with. I’m also mighty curious about this one and I’ll be listening to it at work tomorrow.

Buddy Reads

Stange Love (Galactic Love #1) by Ann Aguirre: I’ll be reading this book with my buddies Holly and Ames. I’ve never read an alien romance before so this should be interesting.

Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews: I’ll be reading this book with Holly this month. I’ve been meaning to catch up with this series and I just haven’t found the time to do it so thanks to Holly for letting me choose this one as our buddy read. If I’ve got someone depending on me to read it, I’ll read it. At least that’s the hope. Fingers crossed!

Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels #4) by Ilona Andrews: Ames is a gee because she’s helping me get the Kate Daniels series read by agreeing to read book 4 with me. I can’t wait!

Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6) by Lisa Kleypas: Every month, my Book Binge blog mates try to read at least one book together and this month, we’ll be reading this one. I can’t wait to discuss this book with them.

Review Pile

Undercover Bromance (The Undercover Bromance Book Club #2) by Lyssa Kay Adams
Yours in Scandal (Man of the Year #1) by Lauren Layne
First Comes Scandal (The Rokesbys #4) by Julia Quinn

TBR Pile

Pulling Doubles (The Wright Brothers #2) by Christina C. Jones
Bending the Rules (The Wright Brothers #3) by Christina C. Jones
Christmas with the Wrights (The Wright Brothers #4) by Christina C. Jones

Audiobook TBR Pile

P.S. It’s Always Been You, Pt. 1 by Lauren Blakely
Lucky Suit by Lauren Blakely

What books are on your TBR pile for February? Anything good that I should keep my eye out on? Please share the books you have on deck to read next month.