Review – Royals by Rachel Hawkins

I was given the ARC of this book at the Texas Library Association Conference by the publisher G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and the finished edition will be released on May 1st.

 

Royals is the story of Daisy Winters, little sister to the future queen of Scotland. Daisy is an American, born and raised in a fairly normal household in Florida. Her sister goes off to college and manages to land the prince of Scotland, the future king. Now that they are engaged, Daisy must give up her summer plans with her best friend to go to Scotland and try to win over the royal family with her charm and wit. Disaster ensues, chaos, etc.

Okay first off, I knew immediately that this was a sort of Princess Diaries tale because there is no royal family of Scotland and so it is a warped sense of realistic and historical fiction. That being said, I did take this to be a light-hearted contemporary book, and not something where the author was just trying to give us a warped sense of Scotland or trying to pass off false facts as truth. There are so many reviews of this book where the reviewer thought that it was embarrassing for the real Scotland, but I just viewed this as a book written from the point of view of an American and the facts and history that we are fed here through pop culture.

This did take me back to the days when I read The Princess Diaries book because like those, the main character does not fit into the royal life very well, she is strong, independent, quirky and funny. I enjoyed this book for the humor and the nostalgia throughout the story.  Daisy is a memorable character who gave me some laugh-out-loud moments like when she is at a very fancy horse race where everyone has those big fancy hats on, and this woman is sneering at her because she is a common American, and Daisy compares her hat to Big Bird’s butt. The romance aspect to this book is cute and very PG. The ending is wrapped up very nice which is a relief, and I didn’t feel that it was dragged out.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars, because it was great but not one of my absolute favorite novels of all time and because of the skewed view of Scotland throughout the novel. I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books with royalty or who loved The Princess Diaries.

Here is the link on Amazon to Pre-order this novel:

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Wickwythe Hall Review

 
WICKWYTHE HALL
by
Judithe Little
Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII
Publisher: Black Opal Books
Date of Publication: September 30, 2017
Number of Pages: 324

*Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist*
*2018 Reader Views Readers’ Choice Award for Historical Fiction*
*Winner of the Tyler R. Tichelaar Award for Best Historical Fiction*

 

*Official selection of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club*
  
Scroll down for the giveaway!

May 1940. The Germans invade France and the course of three lives is upended. Annelle LeMaire is a French refugee desperate to contact her Legionnaire brothers. Mabry Springs, American wife of a wealthy Brit, is struggling to come to terms with a troubled marriage and imminent German invasion. And Reid Carr, American representative of French champagne house Pol Roger, brings more than champagne to Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Their paths entwine when Churchill and his entourage take refuge at Wickwythe Hall, the Springs’ country estate hidden from the full moon and German bombers beneath a shroud of trees. There, as secrets and unexpected liaisons unfold, Annelle, Mabry, and Reid are forever bound by the tragedy they share.
Part Downton Abbey, part Darkest Hour, Wickwythe Hall was inspired by an actual confrontation between the British and French navies in July 1940 and is a story of love, loyalty, and heartrending choices.

PRAISE FOR WICKWYTHE HALL:

“…a riveting and enlightening mix of history and fiction that puts a human face on the costs of war…engaging…”  — Foreword Reviews

“Little’s characterization of Churchill is so well done. She makes his personality and presence so real. Mabry was a character to be admired for her decisions and actions. A good read with a satisfying ending.”   — Historical Novels Review

“Judithe Little tackles war and masterfully boils it down to personal moral dilemmas. Beautifully written and rich with atmosphere…Wickwythe Hall is a stellar achievement.”  — Ann Weisgarber, author of The Personal History of Rachel DuPree and The Promise

“…an emotional and touching story about the lives of three people during World War II, at the time of Hitler’s invasion of France in 1940. Inspired by real people, places and events in history, this whirlwind novel will no doubt leave an imprint on your heart long after you finish reading.”  — Reader Views

“If you love history, beautifully rendered characters, and stories that will tug at your heart, add Wickwythe Hall to your list.”  — Book Perfume
CLICK TO ORDER ON:
┃  Amazon  ┃  Barnes & Noble  ┃

Judithe Little grew up in Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. After studying at the Institute of European Studies and the Institut Catholique in Paris, France, and interning at the U.S. Department of State, she earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law where she was on the Editorial Board of the Journal of International Law and a Dillard Fellow. She lives with her husband, three teenagers, and three dogs in Houston, Texas, where she’s at work on her next historical novel set in France.  
 ║Website ║ Facebook ║ 
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║ Pinterest  ║ Goodreads ║

 

Review!

Wickwythe Hall was one of the best adult historical fiction books that I have ever read without an overwhelming love story. I enjoyed the complexity or the characters and mystery of the plot from beginning to end. In some historical fiction novels, it is easy to know where the plot is heading because of the historical events that the novel surrounds, however, this was a piece of history I knew little to nothing about, so it was easier to get swept up in the story without anticipating certain historical events. This story switches between the points of view of three of the main characters in this story, but the chapters flow together nicely and the story is easier to follow because of the different points of view. The story ends with a happy ending with all loose strings wrapped up nicely. I love when books have a happy ending and leave me feeling hopeful and satisfied.

Annelle LeMaire is one of the main characters in this novel and she flees from France desperate to find her brothers. I loved her story best of the 3 main characters because her character was so complex and realistically flawed, yet she was so strong through all her troubles and never gave up hope for the fate of her two brothers. Mabry Springs is the wife of the man who owns Wickwythe Hall in which the majority of this book takes place. She is an American living in Britain in a marriage that seems to be unraveling around multiple miscarriages. Mabry is also a strong female character and is resilient in her hope for a better future. I wasn’t sure how Mabry’s future would end up throughout this novel but I LOVED the way the author concluded Mabry’s struggles.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction or WWII novels. A fantastic 5 star read from me!

 

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THREE WINNERS
1ST: Signed Copy of Wickwythe Hall + $50 Amazon Gift Card
2ND: Signed Copy of Wickwythe Hall + $25 Amazon Gift Card
3RD: Signed Copy of Wickwythe Hall  + $15 Amazon Gift Card
MARCH 27-APRIL 5, 2018
(US ONLY)
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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

3/27/18
Guest Post 1
Books in the Garden
3/27/18
Bonus Post
Hall Ways Blog
3/28/18
Review
Syd Savvy
3/29/18
Excerpt
The Librarian Talks
3/30/18
Guest Post 2
Chapter Break Book Blog
3/31/18
Review
Books and Broomsticks
4/1/18
Notable Quotable
Book Fidelity
4/2/18
Guest Post 3
StoreyBook Reviews
4/3/18
Review
Momma on the Rocks
4/4/18
Guest Post 4
The Page Unbound
4/5/18
Review
#Bookish
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DAM NATION 
BOOK RELEASE BLITZ 
Bonnie and Clyde #2
by
CLARK HAYS AND KATHLEEN McFALL
Genre: Historical / Alternative History / Romance 
Publisher: Pumpjack Press
Date of Publication: March 24, 2018
Number of Pages: 266
CLICK TO PURCHASE

Bonnie and Clyde: Defending the working class from a river of greed.


The year is 1935 and the Great Depression has America in a death grip of poverty, unemployment and starvation. But the New Deal is rekindling hope, with federally funded infrastructure projects, like Hoover Dam, putting folks back to work. So, why is someone trying to blow it up? That’s what Bonnie and Clyde set out to uncover in the novel Dam Nation by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall, the second book in a provocative speculative fiction series that re-imagines the outlaws’ lives. 

“A rollicking good read!” — Midwest Book Review 

EXCERPT
WHAT IF?
The Texas Ranger looked up at Sal, a mixture of fear, respect and revulsion in his eyes. “Let’s pretend for a minute it wasn’t Bonnie and Clyde in that ambush,” he said. “Why? Why would it be different people in that car?”
“How would I know?” Sal asked. “I work for the government. I trust that the government has my best interests at heart. I follow orders. You didn’t.”
“I won’t be quiet about this unless you can tell me why anyone would try to save them outlaws.”
“If they were still alive, I would tell you that everyone has a purpose in life, and perhaps they are fulfilling theirs. And if they were still alive, I would tell you that you don’t use good dogs to guard the junkyard, you use the meanest goddamn dogs you can get a collar around.”

CLICK TO PURCHASE
       





ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Clark and Kathleen wrote their first book together in 1999 as a test for marriage. They passed. Dam Nation is their sixth co-authored book. 


BONNIE AND CLYDE: DAM NATION
COMING TO

LONE STAR BOOK BLOG TOURS
MAY 17-26, 2018
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Killing in C Sharp Review

KILLING IN C SHARP
A Gethsemane Brown Mystery, Volume 3 
by
Alexia Gordon
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Publisher: Henery Press
Date of Publication: March 6, 2018
Number of Pages: 288

Scroll down for the giveaway!

She saved Carraigfaire—but can she save her friends? Gethsemane Brown fought off an attack by a sleazy hotel developer who wanted to turn her Irish cottage into a tourist trap. Now she must face a vengeful ghost determined to exact revenge for her murder centuries ago. This ghost’s wrath spares no one—not Gethsemane’s students, Inspector Niall O’Reilly, fellow teacher Frankie Grennan, or a group of ghost hunters descended on Dunmullach to capture proof ghosts exist. Proof Gethsemane has to quash to keep Eamon, her resident ghost and friend, from becoming an internet sensation. As if a spiteful specter wasn’t bad enough, a crooked music reviewer turns up dead in the opera house orchestra pit, a famous composer is arrested for the crime, and Gethsemane must team up with a notorious true-crime author to clear his name. If she doesn’t, friends will die, a ghost she cares about will never know peace, and she’ll star in a final act gruesome enough for any opera.

PRAISE FOR THE GETHSEMANE BROWN MYSTERY SERIES:

Book 1, Murder in G Major
Winner of the 2017 Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel
2016 Agatha Award nominee for Best First Novel
Suspense magazine “Best of 2016” selection in Debut Novel category
Book 2, Death in D Minor
Runner-Up, 2017 Lone Star Bloggers’ Choice Awards, Best Mystery/Suspense
Short List, 2017 Lone Star Bloggers’ Choice Awards, Best Series
Book 3, Killing in C Sharp
Starred review, Publisher’s Weekly, January 29, 2018
CLICK TO ORDER ON:
┃  Amazon  ┃  Barnes & Noble  ┃  iBooks  ┃  Kobo  ┃

A writer since childhood, I put literary endeavors on hold to finish medical school and Family Medicine residency training. Medical career established, I returned to writing fiction. I completed SMU’s Writer’s Path program in Dallas, Texas. Henery Press published my first novel, Murder in G Major, book one of the Gethsemane Brown mysteries, in September 2016. Book two, Death in D Minor, released July 11, 2017. Book three, Killing in C Sharp, comes out March 6, 2018. Murder in G Major won the Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best New Novel and was selected one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Debuts.
I listen to classical music, drink whiskey, and blog at Miss Demeanors, voted one of Writers’ Digest magazine’s 101 best websites for writers, and Femmes Fatales. 
 ║Website ║ Facebook ║ Instagram║
║ Pinterest  ║ Twitter ║   Google+
║ Goodreads ║

Review.jpg

Gethsemane Brown is back in Killing in C Sharp! Gethsemane Brown is a musician and music teacher for a rowdy boys’ orchestra, but she is witty and always seems to find trouble. Or perhaps, trouble always seems to find her. Either way, she seems to always end up in the most crazy of circumstances and they usually involve murder and ghosts. She is a lovable character especially for fans of leading ladies who are funny, sharp, and can stand on their own without a man. I thoroughly enjoyed this character and her cast of friends in this novel. In this installment of the series, a vengeful ghost is summoned during an opera that was written by Gethsemane’s friend. When the first born sons start turning up ill and dead, Gethsemane starts investigating ways to get rid of the vengeful ghost and the reasons behind some murders happening within the town. Gethsemane keeps us laughing the whole time with her quirkiness and her relationship with her best ghost buddy and roommate, Eamon.
This is the third in the Gethsemane Brown Series, but any of these books could stand alone, although if possible, I would recommend you read in order as I seemed to be missing some of the back story with this read since I hadn’t gotten a chance to read the first two novels. Overall, I loved this book and gave it 4.5 stars, but rounded down to 4 on Goodreads. There were moments in the book where random characters seemed to appear out of nowhere which distracted me from the story line which is the only reason why I couldn’t give this novel a perfect 5. This of course, could seem this way because I did not read the previous novels, which is another reason why I would recommend starting with book one.  I would recommend this book to fans of the TV series Supernatural who will enjoy the back story line of the ghost hunters TV show which reminded me of the lovable Ghostfacers on Supernatural. I would also recommend this series to fans of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, because I feel like the characters of Gethsemane and Stephanie really reflect each other in so many ways.

 

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HOW ABOUT A BOOK AND A BOURBON?
One winner receives a signed copy of Killing in C Sharp and 
a bottle of Koval Bourbon Whiskey

Winner must be at least 21 and shipping of alcohol permitted by laws of the state where prize is being delivered. In the event above conditions not met, an alternate prize will be awarded.
MARCH 13-22, 2018
(US ONLY)
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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

3/13/18
Notable Quotable
Texas Book Lover
3/13/18
Promo
Book Fidelity
3/14/18
Review
Hall Ways Blog
3/14/18
Bonus Post
Dressed to Read
3/15/18
Notable Quotable
Books and Broomsticks
3/15/18
Review
Momma on the Rocks
3/16/18
Author Interview
StoreyBook Reviews
3/16/18
Author Favorites
Tangled in Text
3/17/18
Review
Reading by Moonlight
3/18/18
Review
Forgotten Winds
3/19/18
Excerpt
The Page Unbound
3/19/18
Notable Quotable
The Librarian Talks
3/20/18
Review
#Bookish
3/21/18
Scrapbook Page
A Page Before Bedtime
3/21/18
Promo
Syd Savvy
3/22/18
Review
The Clueless Gent
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Beneath the Surface Book Tour – Top Five

BENEATH THE SURFACE
Dive Team Investigations
Book One
by
Lynn H. Blackburn
Genre: Suspense / Romance / Christian
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: March 6, 2018
Number of Pages: 352

Scroll down for the giveaway!

Dive into the depths of fear with an exciting new romantic suspense novel, Beneath the Surface. This gripping tale from award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn will capture readers from the first page and won’t let them go until the final, heart-pounding scene.
After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston moves home to Carrington, North Carolina, to leave behind her troubled past. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present.
Homicide investigator Ryan Parker finds fulfillment in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff’s Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer—one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all. 

PRAISE FOR BENEATH THE SURFACE:

“With this book, author Lynn Blackburn has moved from the status of an upcoming author to watch and cemented herself as an author to note. Her exceptional storytelling skills shine as she weaves an intricate plot, populated with characters we care deeply about. Another up-all-night-because-I-can’t-put-down-the-book read.”
—Edie Melson, award-winning author, blogger, and director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference
“Beneath the Surface is a swoon-worthy romantic suspense that packs a punch from page one. The nonstop action will keep you guessing until the end.”
—Rachel Dylan, author of the Atlanta Justice series
“Just when you think you can relax, Blackburn brings you back to the edge of your seat in this riveting, high-tension suspense story.”
—Patricia Bradley, author of Justice Delayed
WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER FOR 
BENEATH THE SURFACE:


CLICK TO ORDER ON:
Baker Book House  ┃  Amazon  ┃  Barnes & Noble  ┃  iBooks
┃  Christianbook.com  ┃  Books-A-Million  ┃  Kobo  ┃  Lifeway  ┃
Top Five
Top 5 Favorite Foods
According to Character Leigh Weston
from Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn
5. Cookies – I make a mean chocolate chip and toffee cookie and I love to send batches
to the sheriff’s office . . . if I can keep Ryan out of the cookie dough!
4. Chicken and dumplings – my mom’s recipe. Always a favorite. Southern comfort food
at its finest.
3. Roast, potatoes, carrots, onions – a Sunday tradition in the Weston household.
2. Omelets with bacon, sautéed onions, feta, maybe some fresh tomato. Yum!
1. “Better than anything” cake – Ryan’s favorite. And who can resist chocolate, caramel,
toffee and whipped cream?

Lynn H. Blackburn is the author of Hidden Legacy (Love Inspired, June 2017) and Covert Justice, winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.
 ║Website ║ Facebook ║ Instagram║
║ Pinterest  ║ Twitter ║   
║ Goodreads ║————————————-

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Grand Prize: Print Copy of the Book, Library Card Socks, 
Gone Reading Sign (wooden, 5″x7″), Reading Mug; 
2nd Prize: Print Copy of the Book + $25 B&N Gift Card;
3rd Prize: Print Copy of the Book + $10 Starbucks Gift Card
MARCH 6-15, 2018
(US ONLY)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

3/6/18
Author Interview
Texas Book Lover
3/6/18
Bonus Post
Hall Ways Blog
3/7/18
Review
Reading by Moonlight
3/8/18
Guest Post
StoreyBook Reviews
3/9/18
Character Interview
Tangled in Text
3/10/18
Review
The Clueless Gent
3/11/18
Top 5
#Bookish
3/12/18
Review
The Love of a Bibliophile
3/13/18
Author Interview
Chapter Break Book Blog
3/14/18
Top 5
The Page Unbound
3/15/18
Review
A Page Before Bedtime
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LEAVE TOMORROW:

My Ride to the 

Bottom of the World

by

Dirk Weisiger

  

Genre: Memoir / Travel / Inspiration

Date of Publication: October 27, 2017

Number of Pages: 232

Trip Pic 2

 

Scroll down for the giveaway!

After building a successful business, Dirk Weisiger was ready for something new. But he wasn’t sure what. Maybe a motorcycle adventure, I’ve never done that! 

What followed was a fourteen-month, solo motorcycle journey from Austin, Texas to Ushuaia, Argentina, filled with unexpected adventures, surprises, and lessons about life and travel.  

In this book, you’ll not only enjoy Dirk’s adventure and insights, but find inspiration for your own journey.

(A portion of proceeds from this book help sponsor children at the Colegio Bautista El Calvario private school in Managua, Nicaragua.) 

PRAISE FOR LEAVE TOMORROW:

I may not ride a motorcycle to the bottom of the world, but my soul comes alive when I hear about people smashing fear and following their dreams. This book will truly inspire you.

–Abigail Irene Fisher, traveler and speaker

 

Leave Tomorrow is a fun, engaging, and thought-provoking read. If you are looking for a blend of humanity, culture, scary moments with a medicine man, military police, attempts at extortion, and unexpected challenges–along with insightful observations and humor, this book will definitely spark your imagination to “live your own movie.”  

–Steve Scott, business coach and author of Wings to Fly

 

This inspiring and entertaining book is just the tonic needed to get you up out of your chair and ready to “Leave Tomorrow.”

–Julie Mundy, Guidebook Author and Travel Blogger, Australia

 

For everyone thinking of a new adventure, a new life, or even a new venture: DO IT.

–Jim Rogers, bestselling author of Investment Biker and Street Smarts 

This is not the first book I’ve read on riding to Ushuaia, but it is probably the most enjoyable. Dirk writes about his experiences in an upbeat manner, taking each experience and each day in perspective.

–Muriel Farrington, Ambassador, BMW Motorcycles of America

 

 

>>CLICK TO PURCHASE<<

A portion of proceeds from this book help sponsor children at the Colegio Bautista El Calvario private school in Managua, Nicaragua.) 

Dirk Weisiger is a travel trekker, trick roper, and storyteller. He’s the author of the new book, Leave Tomorrow: My Ride to the Bottom of the World. Dirk has always enjoyed speaking to groups, spinning tales, ropes, and offering lessons he’s learned in adventures of life and business. He’s traveled to five continents and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Most of all Dirk loves people and believes that making new friends is the best part of travel.

 ║ Website║ Facebook ║

║ Twitter ║  LinkedIn

║ Instagram ║

║ Amazon Author Page ║

————————————-

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Three Readers Each Win a Signed Copy + $5 Cash!

FEBRUARY 21-MARCH 2, 2018

(U.S. Only)

 

 

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

2/21/18

Author Video

StoreyBook Reviews

2/22/18

Guest Post 1

Texas Book Lover

2/23/18

Review

Reading by Moonlight

2/24/18

Guest Post 2

Forgotten Winds

2/25/18

Trip Pic

Books and Broomsticks

2/26/18

Review

Missus Gonzo

2/27/18

Trip Pic

A Page Before Bedtime

2/28/18

Guest Post 3

The Librarian Talks

3/1/18

Review

Bibliotica

3/2/18

Review

The Clueless Gent

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Netflix and Books Tag

I grabbed this tag from Mikaela over at The Well Thumbed Reader I love this idea because my whole life revolves around Netflix and books!

Recently Watched

Name the last book you finished reading!

Winter

Winter by Marissa Meyer

This book was the last in The Lunar Chronicles series and I ADORED IT SO MUCH. I cannot get enough of this series and I have been adding Lunar Chronicle inspired bookmarks, candles etc onto my Etsy wishlist ever since I finished this. This series was a brilliant fairytale retelling that takes place in the future.

RECENTLY WATCHED ON NETFLIX 

Shameless

I started binge-watching Shameless when I had the flu a couple weeks ago. This Showtime show is both a drama and a comedy which makes it SO binge-worthy. I love the dynamics of the characters in this show and it makes me feel all the feels. I am currently about halfway through Season 7.

Top Picks

Name a book/ or books that have been recommended to you based on books you have already read.

 

So for this one I couldn’t think of anything any particular person has told me to read based on something else I liked so I got on Amazon to see what my top 3 recommended books were and here they are!

The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth

The Hazelwood by Melissa Albert

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

The Fates Divide is the sequel to Carve the Mark which I own, but have not read and Legendary is a Caraval story.. which I own and have not read. BUT The Hazelwood looks SO GOOD. I actually would like to read all 3 of these.

TV SHOWS RECOMMENDED TO ME:

So all 3 of these shows have been recommended to me by friends or family based on shows I like or books I have read! I have actually watched a couple episodes of each and just haven’t finished any of them! I need summer to come so I can binge watch ALL THE THINGS.

Recently Added

Name the books you recently bought:

I recently joined the Book of the Month Club and my pick for February was The Philosopher’s Flight by tom Miller and I got a free add on so I picked A Million Junes by Emily Henry. I love that each month I get a $15.99 hard back book and I can add a 2nd and 3rd book to my box for just $9.99 each. Plus I get to pick my books so I am not stuck with something I don’t really want to read. If you are interested in joining the Book of the Month Club try it using my referral link so that you can get a FREE BOOK!

TV Shows I have recently added to my queue: 

I have watched the 1st episode of all 3 of these and so far have love all 3 shows. I just need more time for TV like I said before. C’mon summer! 

popularonnetflix

Name 4 books that everyone knows about: 2 you have read and 2 you have no interest in reading.

So I just looked at the most popular books of all time on Goodreads and picked 2 that I had read: The Hobbit and The Book Thief and I picked two that I don’t have any desire to read at this point in my life: The Da Vinci Code and Les Miserables. Nothing about these two novels piques my interest at all so until they do I shall read books I want to!

Same as above but TV shows: 

Once again Google is my best friend. The first two most popular shows listed were Orange is the New Black and Stranger Things which I have watched and LOVED and somewhere on the list was House of Cards and Arrested Development both of which I started and DNFed because I just couldn’t get into them. ‘

Comedies

Name a funny book and show:

The comedic book I picked had to be a Rick Riordan book. Rick Riordan is the king of randomness which of course leads to laugh out loud moments of humor in his novels. I found The Hidden Oracle to be particularly funny. The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is one of the most ridiculous comedies on Netflix and I LOVE IT.
Dramas

Name a dramatic character from a book and your favorite TV drama:

20170520_113533

TAMLIN is one of the dramatic characters that came to mind. His fits are childish AF. I could rant about other mishaps in his personality, but I could write a whole post about the relationship between Tamlin and Feyre.

Favorite TV Drama:

Greys

I have been watching this show for almost 10 years. I was a little young when it started but I caught up my senior year of high school and have continued watching this drama as it has evolved through the years. There are like 4 remaining characters from the first season and a billion new characters have filtered through the years but I really enjoy this show. Although, I kinda hate Meredith. I just love everyone else.

watchitagain

Name a book or series you want to reread:

DSC_0030

I actually have 3 series that I have been itching to reread including ACOTAR. The other 2 I want to reread is Hunger Games and Red Queen. I read ACOTAR really fast last summer so I feel like I didn’t absorb everything like I should have. I read The Hunger Games trilogy in 3 days when I was 20 years old which was almost 7 years ago (HOLY COW). Even though I didn’t rush through Red Queen, with the finale coming out this year I really just want to reread it.

Shows that were so Good I had to Rewatch:

I have rewatched Friends like a billion times and have been since 1999. Parks and Rec is one of those shows I always have on in the background while I am working. It is either that or The Office. I am currently in my first full rewatch of Supernatural but I love this show so much and there is so much of it.

actionandadventure

 

Name an Action Packed Book:

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is completely full of action – murders, dragons, wars, battles, crazy fights, swords, dragons, sex, dragons. DID I SAY DRAGONS YET? I am also going to use this for my TV show that is action packed even though it isn’t technically on Netflix.

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Name some new releases/soon to be releases that you are excited about:

I did end up pre ordering these two books and I have never Pre-ordered anything EVER. So I am really excited about these two. I need more ACOTAR and I cannot wait to see how the Red Queen series ends.

Thanks for sticking through this post with me. I had so much fun! If you are reading this, you are now tagged! Have fun 🙂

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Welcome to The Book Robin Hoods

Hello!! I have recently received some very happy news… I am part of The Book Robin Hoods Bloggers! We are a group of bloggers who help review and promote author’s books. Please check out The Book Robin Hoods Webpage found here.

I am at the very bottom of this list but my blog is next to so many amazing ones! I cannot wait to get paired with some authors and read their books!!

friends

 

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My January Book Challenge

So this year I am working on a number of challenges all at once.

I am trying to complete the Popsugar challenge for 2018 which can be found here.

I am also working on the A to Z challenge posted by a Goodreads group.

And for both lists I am reading from my current TBR pile which contains over 300 books. YIKES. This is part of #TheUnreadShelfProject2018 which you can find out more about on instagram.

There are also 20 bluebonnet nominees that I need to read found here. And my group of librarians will be picking 20 books for nominees for the Lectio Awards sometime soon. So I will need to read all 40 of those.

So I am breaking things down month-by-month and trying to read as many books as possible and cross referencing them to as many challenges as possible. This month, on instagram, @FoxandWit posted a fun January challenge with prizes if you finish.

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On the first of this month I finished Cruel Crown which is the novella Prequel to The Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard. That was before I had found this challenge and it didn’t really count towards anything. I picked the last challenge to complete first and finished This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab next. You can read my review here. 

This Savage Song

Next, I decided to just go ahead and make my list so I knew exactly what I was going to read.

I have been buddy reading the Lunar Chronicles with a group of bookstagrammers and have been loving it. The first half of this month they were reading Cress so I decided to read that for “A Retelling of a Fairy Tale or Legend You’ve Never Read. I had to order that one, so while I waited I picked up Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld for “A Steampunk Fantasy”.

Currently, I am about halfway through Cress so I still have three more categories and books which means I am about to start binge reading.

A Book with Snow in the Title: Blood Red, Snow White by Marcus Sedgewick 

A Book Published by an Independent Author: James Potter and the Hall of Elders’ Crossing by G. Norman Lippert

A Book that Sounds Interesting but has an Ugly Cover: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan

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I also need to read one middle grade novel for school this month and I started back to classes. I have 13 more days to read. Do you think I can do it?

Have you read any of the books I mentioned above?

Next month I am participating in Read-a-thin February hosted by the lovely Jessica. You can find information on her Youtube Channel here.

I have also been asked to join a Texas Writer’s Blog Group so look for information on that soon!

 

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Review: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

This Savage Song

This Savage Song takes place in a world where violence breeds monsters. August is one of the rarest form of monsters, created by only the most violent of acts. August desperately wants to be human and tries to force the monster in him to hide. Kate Harker is the daughter of a man who is scarier than the monsters he controls within the city. Kate has been getting kicked out of every boarding school her father has sent her to, trying to prove to him that she can come home and be a daughter he can be proud of.

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I love that this book ended with a clean wrap-up so that you wouldn’t HAVE to read the Sequel, but you definitely will want to.

Our Dark Duet

Victoria Schwab is a genius. Her writing style is so easy to follow and this world she has created is dark, demented, and bloody. I couldn’t wait to go to bed each night so I could just pick up this book and continue to turn the pages of it.

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The characters in this book are so relatable. Although August is a monster who eats the souls of people tainted with violence, he acts desperately human for the majority of the novel. Like any teen, he wants to fit in and be good. He has a hard time giving into his monstrous appetite.

Kate’s story, though she is human, is much darker than August’s. I enjoyed her story line more just because she knew how cruel and relentless she could be, yet she was desperate for attention from the one parent she had left. I also enjoyed her more and more as the story went on and she started to remember more about her childhood and what really happened the night her mother died.

Would recommend this to readers of dark YA fantasy novels or dystopain YA readers. Solid 5/5 stars for me!

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