It’s Monday again and… is it just me or do the Mondays seem to be coming around more quickly as we approach the year’s end?!

Anyhoo, time to share my reading and reviewing agenda for the past week and upcoming week. 

What I’ve been reading

I read David Baldacci’s latest novel in the John Puller series. It’s a fairly large book so took three nights to read, but definitely worth it. My review of The Escape  is already live.

I also read a novella by Dan Newman. I read and reviewed Dan’s debut novel last year and even interviewed him later. The Clearing  was published through Angry Robot (Exhibit A books) and he had deal for his second novel (The Journalist) but he’s been left hanging after the closure of Exhibit A. I’ve reviewed the novella And With The Shadow People Be  in Goodreads and it’s available now via Amazon.

I also read The Job  by Stephanie Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. I hadn’t realised this was the third in a series. I’ve read almost all of the Stephanie Plum series (PS. I’m pretty sure I’m #TeamRanger in case you’re wondering!) and bits and pieces from Evanovich’s other series, but seemed to miss this one completely. My review will be up in the next week or so, but it’s an enjoyable read – you just need to go with the flow and not question the feasibility of some of the antics of FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare and her CI (former con-man and thief) Nick Fox.

And I’ve finally started the novel, Five, which I’ve now talked about for three weeks running!

NaNoWriMo update

I’m writing this blog post on Sunday 9 November and I’ve done about 17,000 words on my novel(s). Oh yes – that IS a plural… I got part way through my crime fiction novel and decided I wasn’t terribly motivated to continue, so started on a chick lit type novel idea I had. It makes no sense as I don’t read chick lit so I’m trying to actually write bits on both over the month. I’m pretty much where I want to be word-wise however. But the biggest challenge for me is to remember the first draft is just all about dumping words on paper (or a screen).

Blog posts

As well as my review of The Escape  I’ve published a review of the Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke collaboration – The Cinderella Murder  which is an enjoyable start to a new series.

Early last week I published a post about my slightly-embarrassing fetish for the new TV show Scorpion. (And was heartened by comments from fellow fans!)

I also wrote about my ‘hometown’, the Fraser Coast. I struggle with Wordless Wednesday posts but try to publish something on a Wednesday to keep some continuity after my Monday posts. I’m not a particularly visual person and it takes me at least twice as long to put together something with pictures than it does to write a blog post.

Next week’s reading

Obviously I need to finish Five  and unless something interesting pops up in my inbox I’m going to take it easy on the reading front.

I am however salivating over new releases from Lisa Gardner, Lisa Scottoline, Jonathon Kellerman, JD Robb, Alex Kava, Allison Brennan, Karen Rose, John Sandford and many others.

I need to focus on my NaNoWriMo writing AND I’m going away for a couple of days to celebrate my sister-in-law’s upcoming 50th birthday.

So there you have it, my reading and reviewing agenda over the past week and coming up. Any of my recent reads of interest? Anything I should add to my list?

I’m linking up again with Sheila from Book Journey to share my weekly reading.