Wowserz! December came & is already almost gone *eeeeK* my Owlcrate & Book Of The Month arrived very early this month since the subscription services were attempting to beat the holiday rush that is inevitable with snail mail. I held off on posting it since I know some prefer to be surprised. I honestly haven’t been surprised lately with the exception of Vassa In The Night, which had me diggin’ for clues LOL. I’m not sure why but I quite enjoy figuring out what they’re going to send each month. Yes, I already have a 99% positive educated guess on what the January selection will be *winks* Book Of The Month recently started the option of “ship now for free” whenever you add a past months selection to your current box. I added All the Ugly and Wonderful Things since i’ve had it on my mind ever since hearing the synopsis read aloud by a favorite Booktuber of mine. I struggled a bit this month with selecting my BOTM book & hope that I don’t regret going with Swimming Lessons. I know now that the option to skip is available but still holding out hope for my pick, it also happens to be an advanced reader copy (finished) since it isn’t set to hit shelves til’ February 2017 😉
- Of Fire and Satrs by Audrey Coulthurst (GR Synopsis also below)
- Harry Potter Funko Mystery Mini Figure
- The Lord of the Rings Pin
- Dark Horse Game of Thrones Coasters (hands down favorite items in the entire box!)
- A Darker Shade of Magic Sticker (this was missing in my box. 1st time an item was left out)
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Mini Card
Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.
Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine—called Mare—the sister of her betrothed.
When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two become closer, Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. And soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.
But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.
Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller
Ingrid Coleman writes letters to her husband, Gil, about the truth of their marriage, but instead of giving them to him, she hides them in the thousands of books he has collected over the years. When Ingrid has written her final letter she disappears from a Dorset beach, leaving behind her beautiful but dilapidated house by the sea, her husband, and her two daughters, Flora and Nan.
Twelve years later, Gil thinks he sees Ingrid from a bookshop window, but he’s getting older and this unlikely sighting is chalked up to senility. Flora, who has never believed her mother drowned, returns home to care for her father and to try to finally discover what happened to Ingrid. But what Flora doesn’t realize is that the answers to her questions are hidden in the books that surround her. Scandalous and whip-smart, Swimming Lessons holds the Coleman family up to the light, exposing the mysterious truths of a passionate and troubled marriage.
All The Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood
As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible “adult” around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father’s thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.
What are your thoughts on December’s Owlcrate? Do you prefer to be surprised each month or go full on Nancy Drew? For my fellow BOTM subscribers, what were your selections for December?
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Weekend XOXO!!!
LairOfBooks 
I want an OwlCrate so bad! It looks awesome, you are so lucky! It would be awesome to receive a free book and other bookish swag every month!
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Thank you Kayla 😊💕 it’s a recurring Valentine’s Day gift from my hubby ☺️ it’s def cool having bookmail every month, hope you’re able to sub or maybe put it down as a bday wish 😉
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No problem☺️💜 and that’s so nice! You’re so lucky! And thanks, I agree!
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Stop reminding me that I need to stop being so tight with my funds just subscribe already haha. I also love those coasters! I saw the pic and was like “Are those GoT coasters?” and then you said they were haha. I was super excited!
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Haha! You really should sub Danielle, it’s so much fun getting this little box each month & they really do amazing curating of their boxes 👌🏼the GOT coasters are so cool, I have to keep my eyes on them cuz I suspect the hubby wants them for himself even though I’ve explained that they’re coasters! 🤣🤣🤣
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I am just so tight with my funds haha. I am thinking maybe come Spring though 😛 Right now I am shelling out a ton for too many things, not fun related haha.
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Understandable, this is t something I’d be splurging on myself but it’s a recurring gift from the hubs. I may just ask him to renew come next Valentines Day 🤣🤣🤣
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Haha, yeah I think I may ask for a sub next holiday for fun 😉 I know he would not complain because it would be easy.
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Awesome! 👌🏼💕
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These both look like amazing boxes for December Lilly, and it’s great you managed to get them before Christmas well, that’s always a worry I have with subscription boxes. Also I enjoy guessing what the book will be. I had no clue what it would be for the December Fairy Loot box but I’m 99% sure I know what it will be for January, have they released the Owl Crate January theme yet? Any ideas what the book will be if they have.
Anyway the goodies inside look amazing, I especially love those Game of Throne coasters as well, and I hope you enjoy all the books as well! 😀
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I was very lucky to have received them in time Beth, thank you! the Owl Crate theme for January is Classic Remix & I am now 99% sure it will be RoseBlood. It’s based off of The Phantom Of The Opera & is the only book being released in January to fit the Classic Remix bill. Thanks again Beth, happy holidays 🙂
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That’s all right, and I guess maybe subscription boxes try and get out to people before Christmas. When I got my Owl Crate last December it arrived before Christmas and I was all the way over in the UK.
Ahh, that’s what I would have guessed as well for that theme. Guess now it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing if you’re right! 😀
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That’s pretty awesome that you got your box before Christmas in the U.K. I actually placed an order from Bookdepository about 3 wks ago when they were promising delivery before Xmas…whelp they defaulted on their promise 😩😩😩 still waiting Beth Lol.
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Yeah i was definitely thrilled about that, postage from other countries always becomes an issue around Christmas.
God that’s terrible about Book Depository though, what if it had been a Christmas present or something?
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Exactly thankfully it was just my birthday present to myself 😂😂😂
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Ahh, birthday presents to yourself are always fun aren’t they? 🙂
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The best 💕
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I’ve seen several unboxings for Owlcrate this month and am a little jealous. I do have the GoT coasters, but they’re super old and worn out by now. I wouldn’t mind getting another set! Also, Of Fire And Stars sounds soo good. I am definitely keeping that one on my radar.
I think I told you before that I skipped December’s Book Of The Month? Maybe…anyway, I did, but there were some good choices. I mostly skipped it because, omg, I am trying my hardest to read the books I already own and slow down on my new book acquisitions. January has 2 readathons I’ll be joining, so that will hopefully help me chip away at my TBR.
Lovely photos, btw. ❤
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Of Fire and Stars looks AMAZING! & honestly is a score for me since I tried many months ago to get a eGalley but epically failed haha! I’m excited to dig into this one. I don’t blame you for skipping, tbh I wasn’t too sure if I was interested in any of their choices and didn’t know about their skip option till it was too late. Hopefully January has some that really call out to me if not I will be skipping. I have never participated in a Readathon but plan to in 2017 just to check it off my list of “To-Do’s” LOL. My schedule really doesn’t allow me much time to read so I find myself squeezing it in whenever I can or breaking night which is really just terrible smh. I have begun my cracking down on my arc tbr & for the next two months I have some major reading to do lol. I wish you the best of luck in making a dent in that TBR! & thank you Naz ❤ 🙂
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Those freaking coasters are everything!!! So pretty!!
Of Fire and Stars sounds great as well. Going to see if I grab a copy from the library next year. Sooooooo if you’re right with January, which I’m 100% you are, what are you going to do with the dnfed book?
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Thanks Gray! they are pretty dope actually lol, I don’t even want to use them & get them all messed up smh. Of Fire and Stars is one that I was trying to get my hands on early but epically failed so now its time to see if I was missing out or not lol. As for the January Owlcrate, I may keep it & give it another shot later on. Danielle already received the arc I sent her and said she’d be reading it after a couple of books she’s currently in the middle of. I’m curious to see what she thinks & whether or not its worth a second go around. We shall see, if not then GIVEAWAY!!!! LOL!
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Gotcha!! Totally understandable ❤
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I honestly was a little disappointed with this month’s OwlCrate. I thought it was still a relatively good box, but I don’t know, I guess I was expecting more from it 😛 I got Hermione in mine too which I’m really happy about because I love her. I’m also super excited about the book. I’ve been looking forward to this one for months.
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You know, I do feel that this one could’ve been a bit better now that you mention it but I think their teaming up with Dark Horse for the GOT coasters may have tapped them out lol. Its seems that whenever they have a major goodie in their box, that there are less items as a whole. I’m not a fan of the mini’s btw & would’ve loved the full sized Hermione funky since she’s the only one I’m missing (odd cuz she’s my fave). I am also very excited for Of Fire and Stars, I tried getting a copy earlier through Edelweiss but that was during a time that I couldn’t score a single yes for the life of me LMAO! thanks for stopping by Kourtni 🙂
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Yeah, I think so too. Unfortunately for me, GoT was the one fandom in the box that I don’t care about hahaha But my older brother loves GoT so I ended up giving it to him for Christmas 😛 I don’t think I would’ve bought a mini for myself because I’d also rather have the full size ones, but I still think she’s cute haha
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Ha! Awesome use of those coasters since they seem to be a fan favorite for GOT lovers like myself. She is still cute even if she’s not full size 🤣
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I would squeal every time that box comes! I love watching your unboxing, bc you’re always so excited about it! 😊
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Omg! I really want to read Of Fire and Stars. I would’ve been so thrilled with that box!! Will you be reading it soon?
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