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Ashley IN MEDIAS RES

• Pillars of Wealth: How to Make, Save, and Invest Your Money to Achieve Financial Freedom by David Greene
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk*
• Think and Grow Rich for Women: Using Your Power to Create Success and Significance by Sharon L. Lechter * 

*Ashley’s still waiting for these two titles to come back off hold at the library…struggle bus.

Nikki IN MEDIAS RES

• Daughter of Snow and Secrets (Defying the Crown #3) by Kerry Chaput
• The Duke’s Counterfeit Wife (Surprise! Dukes #3) by Caroline Lee
• Walking in the Wilderness: Seeking God During Lent by Beth A. Richardson
• The Self-Care Prescription by Robyn L. Gobin, PhD

Ashley FIN

• Token Black Girl by Danielle Prescod
• Have We Met? by Camille Barker
• Freedom Is a Constant Struggle by Angela Y. Davis
• House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City #3) by Sarah J. Maas
• House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2) by Sarah J. Maas
• The 4 Financial Languages: The Secrets to Communicating About Money by Tarra Jackson

Nikki FIN

• Carnal Urges (Queens and Monsters #2) by J.T. Geissinger
• Token Black Girl by Danielle Prescod
• Late, Lost, and Unprepared: A Parents’ Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning by Joyce Cooper-Kahn
• Ruthless Creatures (Queens and Monsters #1) by J.T. Geissinger
• Have We Met? by Camille Barker
• Freedom Is a Constant Struggle by Angela Y. Davis
• House of Blood and Earth (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas
• Soul Reset by Junius B. Dotson

Darling readers, you’ve seen us say before, don’t should on your reading life, and here we are, up in our feelings, trying not to should on our reading lives.  Maybe I’m projecting on Ashley, maybe not, you’ll have to read on for that, but as for me, I’m trying really hard just to acknowledge and move on.  In retrospect, I don’t know what about February was so hard (I do know a few things about January that made it rough though).  I do know that when I hit a wall and just needed an escapist, spicy, engaging novel, a friend of the blog came through with the sub-genre I didn’t know I needed to experience – mafia romance.  It’s not for everyone, and trigger warnings should abound, but for a couple of books, it was a fun hang, and was the mood read I didn’t know I needed, but my friend knew, and I am so grateful!  

The other book I read that we haven’t discussed was Late, Lost, and Unprepared.  Three of the four people in my house have some struggles with executive function, in slightly, but not entirely, overlapping ways.  I’m not sure if the youngest just isn’t there yet, or if he’s learning from our mistakes.  There were tips and tricks, but mostly it was telling me we’re on the right track, for our child and ourselves.  If you’re reading a book about raising a child, please remember that if you are concerned enough about how you’re raising young people to read a book about any aspect of it, you’re already doing great!  

Goodreads says I’m on track to complete my goal, so I guess I’m doing ok.  I also sort of on purpose renewed my Kindle Unlimited subscription for another month, so that won’t hurt the numbers, or my ability to read titles that are fun hangs, which feels very necessary as I desperately await more sunlight and true spring.  

How are you feeling about your reading life at this point in the year?

~Nikki 

In this instance, Nikki is allowed to should on me, because February as a reading month was less than stellar. I started with finishing some Maas distraction and jumping straight into our February reads… and then I just couldn’t find my reading stride. I had weeks of ‘not feeling like reading.’ It wasn’t just not feeling what I was reading, but I just didn’t feel like reading. I played video games. I watched TV. I took continuing education classes for four work days in a row and fried my brain to take in any other information. On top of some home emergencies, who puts the hot water heater in the attic?!, I was just overwhelmed and even my favorite hobby couldn’t calm and focus my brain.

I am currently, as of this late writing, 10 books behind schedule in reaching my reading goal for the year according to GoodReads. This might be an insurmountable obstacle to overcome without plans to read a few short, delightfully quick titles, preferably filled with smut. Maybe some shifters. I, too, renewed my KU, though I have yet to use it, like, at all. I also hope to keep up more for March’s titles, so here’s to the end of Black History Month and a jump into Women’s History!

~Ashley

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