Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books with Sensory Reading Memories

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. This weeks topic brought back a ton of good memories and reminded me that there are a few books I’d definitely re-read. These books are very near & dear to my heart because of the feelings and memories they invoke…

July 24th 2018: Ten Books with Sensory Reading Memories

💜 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #4)– This book is my favorite of the whole series for so many reasons but the very top one being that it’s the one I had in my hands when I met my hubby. I walked in to my 1st day at a new job with my copy and saw him sitting with his copy of Deathly Hollows and knew it was a sign haha! It was a constant game of “No Spoilers” that led to casual flirting smh 😉

💜 Heartless by Marissa Meyer– I buddy read this wonderful book with my book twin Gretchen @ChicNerdReads after scoring arcs at Bookcon in 2017. I had all my alerts ready on my phone when I saw Fierce Reads tweet out that they were giving out T-shirts at their booth. Whelp I went right over thinking it was just a shirt, told them the magic password & ended up with a arc copy!!! *GASP* I still remember flipping out on the phone to my book twin and since hubby was with me, he got her a copy as well. The buddy read was so much fun and had us thinking about baking & pastries all along 🙂

💜 Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem– My first college assigned read & it has stuck with me throughout the years. The MC Lionel has Tourettes and he finds himself working for a small time mobster. When the mobster who took him in as an orphan shows up dead, Lionel puts on his detective hat to find his killer. I was ABSORBED in this story & can remember discussing it in class as if it were just yesterday

💜 My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton (The Lady Janies #2)– I read this book in one day, two sittings. I started it on the train ride home and found myself laughing out loud without any reservation. I was having a very bad week and this book didn’t let my thoughts wander. I laughed hard & long and in turn made those around me laugh…a contagious fun read I will always turn to for some silliness 🙂

💜 A Million Junes by Emily Henry– This book stirred up memories of my dad and I found the tears streaming full force by the time I read the last page. I won’t say how because it would be spoilery for this book but it will always be THE book that moved me with thoughts of my own dad.

💜 Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (Six Of Crows #2)– I finished reading CK on my train ride to The Strand for a Leigh Bardugo signing & although that was EPIC! it’s not the main reason I remember it fondly. This is the day I met my book twin Gretchen in person! from watching her videos on Booktube to being motivated by her to start my own blog and going on a blogging journey with her to a Leigh Bardugo event we had so much fun in! Crooked Kingdom will always be the book that brought me to my twin 🙂

💜 The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslie Walton– Ok! this has to be one of the most beautifully tragic books I’ve ever read! & I had the pleasure of sharing the heartbreak with my best friend of 18 years. He wasn’t happy with the ugly crying this book put him through but he loved it just as much as I did & it even kicked off a buddy read binge. My BFF doesn’t really read much so this was definitely a time I’ll always remember fondly 🙂

💜 The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden– I don’t have a specific memory attached to this beautiful gem of a book but it’s one that will always feel, taste, sound like Winter whenever I think of the story within its pages. I read The Bear during the Winter and it couldn’t have been a more ideal read for the season.

💜 Nyxia: Unleashed by Scott Reintgen– I’ve gone ahead & linked to Melanie over at Meltotheany on this one cause I will always think of her when I think of this book. She & I buddy read a whole lot & I think that’s cause she has the patience of a Goddess cause ya girl lives life on the go & sometimes can fall behind Haha! anyways, we gush over this book for days & could NOT stop quoting front to back!

💜 A Dance With Dragons (A Song Of Ice & Fire #5) by George RR Martin– This is a bittersweet memory if there ever was one…where is book 6?!?! yea I know! haha! but it’s here because I remember buddy reading this 5th installment with my hubby while expecting our tiny human. Since I was limited due to a high risk pregnancy, weekends were spent reading Game Of Thrones in bed and trying not to read ahead for fear of spoilers…he still outread (totes should be a word) me though smh hehe 🙂

Happy Tuesday Bookworms! This post is going up wayyyy later in the day…it’s now night but somewhere in the world I am right on time! ❤ Hope you’re all reading amazing books & finding your next book obsession! 😉

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The Books Under the Tree Tag

Happy Saturday Bookworms!!! I’m currently enjoying my Christmas Eve Eve with the family but I’m taking a little break to come in here & spread a little tag joy. The Books Under the Tree Tag was originally created by Game Of Tomes two Booktubers that are new to me & I’ve already binge watched a TON of their videos, their channel is super cozy to watch. I was tagged by the wonderful Mel over @ Mel To The Any who I discovered just this year & OMYGAHHHH! seriously bookworms, check out her content & see for yourselves why she’s my newfound favorite!

Ok, it’s now 3:30am & I can’t sleep so I’ve returned to this tag since earlier today was hectic & I couldn’t finish. I’m beginning to wonder if my childhood excitement for Christmas Eve has stayed with me sub-conciously, keeping me up all night 🤔 not sure but my mind & body are not aligned 😂 not saying I’m grinching it but…On to the tag ☃️

What book would you like to find under the tree this year?

There’s only one book I’m looking for under my tree & it’s the U.K. edition of The Bear and the Nightingale *sighhhh* sold out on Book Depository, I’ve got notifications turned on for a re-stock but I’m not confident in that happening. Instead I will be ordering a copy from AbeBooks as a Christmas/Birthday gift to myself 🎁 and maybe I’ll even have it gift wrapped 😂

What is the best book you have ever received for Christmas?

2 years ago my sister got me the Deluxe 1st Edition of Fables. It’s hardcover and pretty and I LOVE it! the illustrations are BEAUTIFUL and eye catching. 2018 is the year I binge Fables 🤗

When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile.
Di
the normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters created their own secret society-within an exclusive luxury apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side-called Fabletown. But when Snow White’s party-girl sister, Rose Red, is apparently murdered, it is up to Bigby, Fabletown’s sheriff, and a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, to determine if the culprit is Bluebeard, Rose’s ex-lover and notorious wife killer, or Jack, her current live-in boyfriend and former beanstalk-climber.

What book gives you all the Christmas feels?

Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling always stirs up Christmas feels for me. Specifically the arrival of the Beauxbatons & Durmstrang schools at Hogwarts. There’s also a Christmas tree scene in The Goblet of Fire movie that is pretty vivid in my mind…

What book do you plan on reading to put you in the Christmas spirit this year?

I’ve actually already done this when I picked up The Girl in the Towerby Katherine Arden in anticipation of snow & Christmas. Although this book isn’t about Christmas, there really is no other book (other than Harry Potter) that puts me in the wintery holiday spirit. Atmospheric and covered in snow, this sequel was the perfect book to put me in the X-mas state of mind ☃️

What book have you read this year that you would like to throw out with the Christmas tree after the holidays?

Ha! a bit of a mean one here 😂 & I don’t typically have books that I’d toss out BUT there is one this year 😱…I really had high hopes for my very first Andy Weir read & it just didn’t even come close to what others felt about his other book The Martian. In fact, it really made me feel uncomfortable so no, I don’t plan on keeping my copy.

What is a book from this year that you would like to place under a friend’s tree?

Mel & I have the same book in mind for this prompt & that’s because this book should be read by EVERYONE. I have my sister currently reading The Hate U Give & can’t wait to discuss the themes with her. Poignant, relevant, soul searching, impactful, and heart-breaking are only a few of the words that come to mind when describing this book. 2018 is the year we see it hit the big screen & I for one am trying to have as many loved ones read the book before then 💙

Challenge: Create a stack of books in which the spines alternate green and red! Share the titles.

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The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Who do you tag?

I am a bit late with this tag since it’s now officially Christmas Eve 🙈but better late than never amiright? 😂 If you’re in the mood to do this tag, consider yourself tagged but in the spirit of the holiday, here are a few bloggers I have in mind for this tag (no pressure bookworms, it is the day before 😂)

Kristin Kraves Books

Socially Awkward Bookworm

Nerd Narration

WonderfilledReads

I wish you all a happy & wonderful holiday surrounded by those you love! 💕May your trees have a few books from your WISH-LISTS (if not all) waiting for you to unwrap. I will return next week with my highly anticipated 2018 reads🤗

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Top Ten Tuesday 12/19/2017

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! Each week, a new topic is put into place and bloggers share their top ten accordingly. This weeks topic is: Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings (If you celebrate a different Winter holiday, adapt this topic to fit it!). I don’t always have 10 to actually list for this meme & so being the rule follower that I am smh lol, I usually pass. I also didn’t think I’d have many to list for this week seeing as I have a self confessed problem with book shopping & for the most part I’m very blessed to own the books that I do. This list won’t contain much Young Adult because again lol, I book shop all year long & own my favorites. No, this list will appeal to my book vanity…yea, don’t judge me, chances are you too love a beautiful cover. It’s a weakness & I fully embrace it!

Book covers—> Book Depository = U.K. Covers

Amazon = U.S. Covers

On to the list…

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

1. The U.K. edition of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

If you’ve been around my blog for a while now, you probably know how much I love this book! It’s become an all time favorite of mine & I’m a bit OBSESSED with Katherine Arden’s writing & world building. I own a copy of the U.S. Edition & missed out on the opportunity to get a U.K hardback Edition when it was still available at Bookdepository. I’ve got my notifications on for whenever it’s re-stocked but chances are it’s not going to happen anytime soon so Santa if you’re listening I’ve been too good this year! HAHA!

2. The U.K. edition of The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

I actually just finished reading this AMAZING sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale & ahHHH!!! how can this have been even better than The Bear?!?!? How?!?! I still can’t believe it & will treasure these books FOREVER! I am in the process of getting my thoughts together for a GUSH review this week. I have an arc of this book & am patiently waiting for this hardback to be released in the U.K *eeeeeK*

3. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Illustrated edition by J.K. Rowling/illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gil

I mean…C’mon! if you’re a Potter head, chances are you either already own a copy or it’s on your wishlist. I was surprised to not have known this was even a thing! I’ve seen the U.K. edition which is a nice soft blue but there’s something about this red that I am in LOVE with! Really looking forward to flipping through what I can imagine are STUNNING illustrations *heart eyes*

4. An Illustrated History of Shadowhunters and Denizens of Downworld

This one has been on my wishlist for WAY TOO LONG! I started reading the Shadowhunter books way before I became a blogger & it’s probably one of the longest series I’ve pretty much stayed committed to. I haven’t loved all of the books but I have for the most part enjoyed most of them. The Infernal Devices trilogy will forever be one of my top faves. I’ve seen so much of the artwork in this Edition all over Bookstagram & OHMYGOODNESS! hats off to the illustrator! *heart eyes emoji*

5. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

I have not yet picked this one up & it’s not for lack of want. I do want to read this but there’s also a part of me that needs to mentally prepare for this read. I know it will rock me to my core & it’s one that I absolutely MUST read as I myself am a mother of a tiny human who one day will be a young black man. I will be reading Long Way Down in the New Year.

6. Tarnished City (Dark Gifts #2)

I thought I had completely gotten over Dystopia as a whole…until I came across Vic James’ Gilded Cage which was the first book in the Dark Gifts series. I am SOOOO ready to read Tarnished City which I’ve heard from some trusted bookworms, is EPIC!!! Well, unfortunately this isn’t out yet in the U.S. only in the U.K. & I am quite split between the covers…I love them all lol! but I’ve recently decided to go with the U.K. editions but then again that might just be me trying to read the sequel NOW! haha 😉

7. The Name of the Wind: 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Kingkiller Chronicle)

*Usher voice* This is my confession…jeje!I haven’t read Name of the Wind but again it isn’t for lack of want lol. I know I’m going to love this book, call it Bookworm radar? well, I haven’t started the series because I’ve heard that there are extensive waiting periods between books & I already have enough of that with dear Ol’ George RR Martin. Anyways, this Edition has red sprayed edges & that is yet another one of my bookish weaknesses I’ve come to accept so yea this is definitely on my Christmas wishlist 🙂

8. The Secret History: 25th Anniversary Edition by Donna Tartt

I’ve had Donna Tartt on my list of authors I’d like to get around to but haven’t been able to decide between The Goldfinch & The Secret History as a stepping stone. I finally decided after reading several non-spoilers reviews that this is the one I want to start with. TBH, a college setting just seemed more appealing to myself over the art world The Goldfinch is set in. This isn’t to say I wouldn’t read The Goldfinch, I just can’t resist college drama bahhha! also, I love the all white minimilistic paperback edition currently in the U.K. a ton more than the U.S. Edition, please don’t ask me why LOL!

9. Gray Sister (Book of the Ancestor #2) by Mark Lawrence

This is a arc I have requested from the Publisher & I’m REALLY hoping the book Gods put in a good word for me. I LOVED Red Sister to the moon & back! So I guess you can call this a Christmas wish to the publishers? I’m counting it! lol. Look at that cover?!?! Nona is one kick a** MC & I am SO ready to return to this world *fingers crossed*

10. The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #2) by Rain Chupeco

one of MOST highly anticipated sequels of 2018 & I CANNOT contain my excitement!!! It wouldn’t be a Christmas list if I didn’t include at least 2 Christmas miracles lol so this is my 2nd wish. I e-mailed the Publisher for a arc & was shooketh when I received response that a copy would be sent my way. I still haven’t received my copy & am patiently awaiting its arrival. Legit, I’m probably going to faint a million faints when it arrives!!! *fingers crossed*

Happy Tuesday Bookworms!!! If it isn’t a book or bookish related, I really don’t know what to say when over ones ask me what I want for Christmas smh. I think they’ve come to expect it by now lol, what are some of the books on your Christmas wish list? sound off in the comments below <3’s!

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The Sunshine Blogger Award

It’s 12am & I can’t sleep which means it’s time for a book tag! special thanks to the lovely Sarah over at The Clever Reader for tagging me, if you’re not already following her you probably should cuz she ROCKS! 💙 Sarah & I spoke about how the hard part is coming up with questions to ask afterwards so you’ll be seeing my attempts shortly 😂

The Rules

Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions your nominator has given you.
Nominate 11 other people and give them 11 new questions to answer.
List the rules and display the award

What is your favorite cover so far this year?

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell, this book is S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G in physical & ebook format! the matte velvety finish of the dust jacket combined with the raised shiny emblem of the coiled snake give it the dark & ominous feel. The good news is the story is just as good as the cover 😉

Do you enjoy Audiobooks or Physical/eBooks better?

Although I enjoy my audiobooks, nothing beats physical format for me. However, as much as I love physical books it isn’t what I use most. I read a ton and sometimes finish a book in the AM & need a book to come home with on my evening commute. Which is why e-books are my lifeline, also It’s how I consume the majority of my arcs. So if we’re talking enjoyment then I’d say physical over anything 💜

What is your 2017 reading goal?

CONFESSION! I MUST CONFESS! 😩…I started the year off with a goal of 100 smh haha! I thought, well last year I read 80 so what’s 20 more? yea, that isn’t going to happen but my more humble 50 is within my reach 🙌🏼

What is your favorite genre of YA?

Hands down FANTASY! It’s the genre I read most of & I wouldn’t change it for the world! It allows me to enter many fantastical worlds where reality is suspended. It also features mostly female heroines so hell yea! 🙌🏼 This year had been my favorite year reading YA Fantasy because of the inclusion of POC’s & the Own Voices authors debuting their works. So many great 2018 titles to look forward to.

If you could live in a book world which one would it be?

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray, I can totally see myself enjoying life hopping from planet to planet while living aboard a ship. I’d def have a preference, The planet called Kismet is described as a water-world with tropical weather & fun loving people/culture. The downside being that only the privileged wealthy can afford to lay up on Kismet but that wouldn’t stop me from trying to sneak in 😂

Who’s your book boyfriend/girlfriend?

This is a hard one since I don’t really see any of the protagonists in my books as boyfriend material lol. However, for a while there Wallace Warland from Eliza and her Monsters shot straight for my ❤️ & then there was a very douchey scene that left me a bit peeved at him haha!

What is your favorite mystical creature?

This little one is my fave as of late & in fact will be my next Funko Pop! So friggin cute & mischievous 😏

If you could meet any author who would it be?

I won’t go with the standard pick (JK Rowling) this time…Instead I’ll go with a new fave, Angie Thomas for many reasons. Mostly though because I think she’s amazing for writing about the hard topics & exposing a ugly truth that exists and is very relevant to our current times.

What is your anticipated read for the rest of this year?

This most certainly is The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden, the sequel to The Bear and the Nightingale! Katherine Arden blew me away with her lush world building & beautiful writing, I needed more! thankfully, I was approved for a eGalley & it legit makes me smile every time I see it in my reader 😃

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If you could have any power what would it be and why?

I’ve actually always wanted to have the power to control the weather since discovering Storm on X-Men. Ironically, It’s the one I really wish I had now more than ever given everything our world is experiencing…

What book in the Harry Potter series is your favorite?

Recently I was made aware that Goblet of Fire isn’t as well loved by most…this little bookworm however, LIVES for this book & movie! 🙌🏼 everything about this installment in the series from start to finish sucks me in. I can be doing a million things at once while I’m home but this scene in the giph will come on & time stops lol. I LOVE when each school makes their dramatic entrance haha!

My Nominees are…

@DarqueDreamerReads, @FlaviatheBibliophile, @DreamyAddictions, @ReadingEveryNight, @TheBookLagoon, @RoamingReader, @BionicBookwormBlog, @KourtniReads, @ByHookorByBook, @HuntressofDiverseBooks, @ZezeeWithBooks

My Questions…

1. Which HP house were you sorted into? and if you could switch out, which other would you choose?

2. Which supporting character would you swap with a main character w/out hesitation?

3. What is your favorite book to movie/tv show adaptation?

4. Name 1 book you’d love to see on the big or small screen

5. If you were to have 1 day of book shopping with either your fave author or fictional character, who would it be?

6. Which 2017 read surprised you the most?

7. What is your TOP favorite 2017 read so far?

8. Name your favorite debut author of 2017

9. Du-ologies or trilogies? do you have a preference?

10. Do you have a favorite long standing series you’re committed to seeing to the end?

11. Which 2018 read are you looking forward to the most?

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December Owlcrate & Book Of The Month Unboxing

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!!!

November Wrap-Up and Haul

Let’s be honest…November wasn’t the best of months for many & we’re all wishing for a much better 2017, well I know I am lol. November marks the beginning of my favorite time of year because of Thanksgiving. I have many beautiful memories tied to this holiday and i’m making new ones for my two tiny humans. This month was filled with family time and I managed to surprise myself with my reading because I really didn’t think I would get much done at all. Favorite read of the month goes to Heartless, it was just what I needed at the time and I was so glad to have buddy read it with Gretchen @Chicnerdreads. Every month I squeeze in a audiobook & it’s always a treat when I go with Gaiman, The Graveyard Book did NOT disappoint. Fractured was a fast paced page turner that hooked me in til the very last page. Crooked Kingdom was a bittersweet conclusion to what has now become my favorite duology *fingers crossed for more Dregs*

Heartless by Marissa Meyer ★★★★★ (5 Stars)

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman ★★★★ (4 Stars)

Crooked Kingdom (Six Of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo ★★★★ (3.75)

Fractured by Catherine McKenzie ★★★★ (3.75)

I seriously thought I had purchased way more than I actually did this month and for this I am very thankful LOL! Besides digging myself out of my ARC hole, I have also taken advantage of some e-book deals this month. I love adding to my physical library but for now, i’m scaling back just a smidge. In my haul I include my Owlcrate subscription (ongoing Valentines Day gift from hubby), Book of The Month subscription, physical books, e-books, and the random books/bookish items my hubby gifts me from time to time. So, Let’s get on with it…

Heartless was the November Owlcrate selection & The Trespasser by Tana French was the book I selected for my Book Of The Month subscription. I ordered Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them the same night I watched the movie cuz it was THAT good! hehe. The Sun Is Also A Star will be my 1st Yoon even though I own Everything Everything, I was hooked once I read the synopsis for The Sun Is Also A Star so I hope that it’s as good as what I hear its predecessor was.

Gifts from Lé hubby: Potter, Beasts & Blanket ❤

Kindle Deals I couldn’t resist for $1.99 or less, Blood Lust by Jill Cooper was a free book I found thanks to the lovely Liz at CoverToCover who featured a Sci-Fi & Fantasy Mega Promo on her blog mid November💕

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them was Fan-Frikkin-Tastic!!! Hubby and I felt a wave of nostalgia hit us as soon as we heard the Harry Potter theme music intro. As a matter of fact he turned to me & said “BABE! I’ve missed that intro” 😂😂😂 we completely fangirled/boyed out Lol. The actors were all pretty great but as many will probably agree, The Niffler stole the show haha. Also, major brownie points for taking place in the 20’s, my fave time period in history (Real & Fantasy) I’m looking forward to the upcoming movies in this new installment to a beloved world 💕

SoOo I am currently OBSESSED with This Is Us…it’s intense what I feel for this show lol. I recently watched the first 9 episodes on Hulu and every single one…hit me in the feels! all of them! every single time! This show has it all and then some, I don’t think there’s anything to compare to this show on tv at the moment. I’ve heard it be compared to The Parenthood but I never watched that show so I wouldn’t be able to confirm this to be true. The acting…The writing…I really can’t even describe how amazing of a show this truly is. Told in present day & flashbacks this show weaves the lives of this family together in a most seamless way. I love it & will sit back and wait for the Emmy announcements to start rolling in LOL 😉

Hope you all had a good November filled with good food and great reads! Although November was a bit rough, i’m hoping for a better December. What were some of your EPIC reads for November? watch anything new on Netflix/Hulu?

October Wrap-Up & Haul

Wrap-Up

October saw me reaching for cozy reads which I find mostly in mystery, suspense, and humor. I was lucky to have come across some quality reads, three of these were real page turners and 1 was an audiobook. I’m now interested in reading more books by Lisa Unger, Cyna Blog, and Anna-Marie McLemore. Personally, I love when I come across new or under the radar authors in my TBR’s that truly surprise me. October was a slow blogging month for me & I’m only now crawling out of my blog slump but I never stop reading. As a matter of fact, the rest of the year is going to demand that I organize my reading schedule & tackle some arcs. The month of October was pretty AMAZING for me with bookish experiences. I attended my very 1st Comiccon/Bookcon (event post here) with my husband & bookish twin Gretchen @Chicnerdreads where I met some AMAZING authors & scored some epic arcs. I attended 3 days out of 4 and learned some valuable tips & tricks all while having a blast surrounded by the book community. I loved my October & I’m looking forward to Bookcon 2017 since at the moment BEA is up in the air due to all of the changes taking place with the event (Publishers Weekly article). November is here & with it comes Thanksgiving & basically the start of all of the end of the year festivities. I’m hoping to take advantage of some of my days off to read on the go since mostly, I spend it with family. Next week on the 17th, I have a Crooked Kingdom Buddy read & i’m hyped up for that 🙂

When The Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore 5 Stars

Gemina by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman 5 Stars

The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer (audiobook) 3.5 Stars

Ink And Bone by Lisa Unger 4.75 Stars

Unnatural Deeds by Cyn Balog 5 Stars

Book Haul

My October Book Haul was humble…at least I think it is compared to previous months LOL. A major reason for this was that as I mentioned above, I attended Bookcon & came home with a good stash to keep me far away from the bookshop. Two of the books listed below were gifts from my hubby (Harry Potter & Vassa) and the others were either Bookoutlet, B&N, and Book Of The Month. I did purchase 1 Kindle book, I jumped when I saw The Underground Girls OF Kabul for $1.99 since this is a book that i’ve been itching to read since last year smh ~~*covers eyes*~~ Overall though, my book shopping is going to see a MAJOR slow down for the rest of the year. I won’t call Book Ban LOL cuz that would be setting myself up for failure haha! BTW I had to cancel Book Of The Month, they changed their plans after I subscribed for the very 1st time. Switching me from my preferred month-to-month plan to a 3 month plan at $48…yea no, as much as I love BOTM I am simply not rollin in the dough to give them all my $$$ so instead I’ll check out their monthly picks & continue buying books from their selections sans a subscription. If they ever bring back the month-to-month plan I would gladly sign right back up but until then, i’ll admire from afar 😉

A Study In Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes #1) by Brittany Cavallaro (Bookoutlet)

Every Heart A Doorway (Wayward Children #1) by Seanan McGuire (Bookoutlet)

Vassa In The Night by Sarah Porter (Owlcrate-recurring VDay gift from Lé Hubby)

The Mothers by Brit Bennett (Book Of The Month $5 for their 1st box)

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris (B&N Coupons & Sale =$5.99)

Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff (full price cuz it’s worthy LOL)

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (gift from Lé Hubby)

The Underground Girls Of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg (Kindle $1.99)

In Other News…

October saw me become OBSESSED with Luke Cage!!! every night I came home & after settling our 2 tiny humans in for the night, hubby & I would watch 1 episode a night. Netflix has been putting out some quality series & this one is no exception. Luke Cage touched on relevant current day issues taking place within black communities, thought provoking with it’s subtleties. I couldn’t stop watching this man who is bullet proof…a man of color…bullet proof…let that sink in my fellow bookies. Hands down, this show was one of the best i’ve watched in 2016 & I’m looking forward to any news of a 2nd season. Also, the soundtrack…I am truly old school with my music & when I say old school I mean old school hip hop. The series has WuTang on it’s soundtrack which was a perfect fit & gave it more character. If you’re into that old school feel with a mix of politics and kick a** scenes then Luke Cage is for you. It does have a bit of a slow beginning but the pay off is HUGE! This is the 3rd series after Daredevil & Jessica Jones (to be followed by Iron Fist last) that will tie into Marvel’s The Defenders (Youtube trailer here).

Hope you’re all having a great November, I’m a bit late with my October wrap-up & haul but if you’d like to share a link to yours, i’d love to take a gander 😉

A Very Potter Date Night

Saturday night was supposed to be an ordinary night with my hubby & 2 little ones, I certainly didn’t plan any of the things we ended up doing instead of Netflix & finger-painting. Earlier in the day we had taken a trip to the city & as usual stopped by Barnes & Noble right before heading home. We walked right into B&N staff running around in high spirits decorating & re-arranging for the Harry Potter release party which we were hearing about for the 1st time. I’ve mentioned it before on my blog, but here goes one more time lol. I met my husband 7 years ago when I walked into my new job with a copy of Goblet of Fire & he a copy of Deathly Hallows…the rest is history 😉

A zillion light bulbs went off in the hubs aka Lorenzo’s head. We didn’t have a sitter but we had hope lol. After a quick call to my sister who doesn’t have the most stable schedule (life of a flight attendant), we had reserved her for the night. Like any parents who don’t get many date nights…we wanted to do it ALL!!! We caught Star Trek Beyond from 8-10pm (EPICCCC!) & then headed over across the street to B&N for the Harry Potter release party. I already had pre-ordered a copy of the Cursed Child that I probably will receive Monday afternoon BUT we were easily persuaded to pre-order another copy in-store just to be a part of this major event lol smh. After pre-ordering, we were given purple wrist bands that would place us on the 1st floor line. B&N in Union Square NYC has 4 floors & the line extended all throughout. Each floor was themed, offering face painting, balloon making, a magic show, and an arts & craft center to design your own wand. Although we missed the wand making (SooO bummed about this lol), we managed to get a few pics & videos by taking turns on the line that had formed at 10pm.

HIGHLIGHT OF OUR NIGHT:

While waiting on line, we decided to read our e-books UNTIL I was approached by someone with a very deep voice asking “anything good?” I was sooo engrossed in my book that I was caught off guard & when I looked to see who was asking the question, I had to take a few steps back lol. In front of me stood a 7-foot-tall man dressed as Professor Snape…I mean he looked IDENTICAL to Snape! I’ll admit, I was a bit scared there for a few seconds & lost the ability to speak smh. Lorenzo found this HILLARIOUS as did everyone else standing near us lol. Snape continued to do his creep on with other customers on line who were very distracted, all very funny.

Midnight:

The 10 second countdown to midnight honestly made me a bit emotional, I have so many great memories attached to the HP world & to share that experience with Lorenzo was nice. When I finally had my copy in my hands, it was time to head home. We took the train to our car & it was insane seeing everyone in our train car reading a copy of Cursed Child. People from all walks of life, ages, young & old. I don’t really do fandoms but this is one that I’ll always take pride in being a part of <3!

July Owlcrate Unboxing

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Owlcrate’s July theme is Good Vs. Evil. The Owlery delivered yesterday & this month I received a ‘Good’ box. I did have my heart set on ‘Evil’ but that’s only because I had my eyes on Maleficent HAHA! Did anyone get her in their box? I’m in love with my little friend Dobby & very happy to have received a full sized Funko Pop. Super excited to receive This Savage Song by Victoria Scwab! It was on my highly anticipated 2016 new releases. Also in this box were the following items:

1 Millennium Falcon necklace from Vector Engraving
1 Alice in Wonderland magnetic bookmark (back of Alice’s head says “I know who I was when I got up this morning. But I think I must have CHANGED several times since the “-Lewis Carol

1 Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff hand designed quote sticker

1 booklet of YA book covers to color

1 personalized letter from Victoria Scwab

1 promotional bookmark for Kenneth Opel’s New book Every Hidden Thing

I LOVE This month’s box!!! Dobby now sits on my shelf next to Luna & Dumbledore (collection is growing) & This Savage Song is in the Hall Of Schwab. I’ll be buddy reading This Savage Song in the next couple of weeks with Gretchen over at Chicnerdreads 🙂

Top 5 Wednesday

Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme created by Lainey from Gingerreadslainey & is now moderated by Sam from Thoughts On Tomes. Each week there’s a different bookish related topic (this varies & isn’t always strictly books) & you get to list your top 5 books or bookish answers related to the topic.

This week’s topic is Favorite Character Names. This also being my 1st T5W, I thought about my top 5 ALL morning smh lol SO, here they are:

1. Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter)– her name as strange & lovely as she is. I love me some Luna 😁

2. Celaena Sardothien aka Aelin Galathynius (Throne Of Glass)– Any way you put it, her name says one thing…Bow Down Bit***!

3. Mustang (real name: Virginia au Augustus; Red Rising)– Loyal, smart as hell, & strategic. A force to be reckoned with.

4. Karou & Akiva (Daughter Of Smoke & Bone)– yes, I cheated a little and chose two but c’mon now, these names are as strange as Lainey Taylor’s beautiful (still weird) writing. I miss these two.