Top Ten Tuesday – I Went With Option 2!

Whew! I’m beat! Not sure about you guys but we had quite the busy day here. Goodwill is open! AND they’re accepting donations ❤ yessss! Yesterday and this morning I purged what I could, though not as thoroughly as needed, and then hauled our happy butts an hour away from home to donate. Our little town doesn’t have a Goodwill, plus a great many other things. Anyway, my son just fell asleep (two hours past normal bed time) and I decided I wont be making dinner tonight. As it is I can barely keep my eyes open! That explains the red beer and bologna sandwich sitting here, hah!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week; June 23: Option 1: pick a past TTT topic you’ve done and re-do/update it (Perhaps you’d remove certain books you put on the list back when you first wrote it, or perhaps you have 10 MORE books you’d add to that list now. You could also re-visit TBR posts, whether seasonal or series you need to finish, etc., and tell us if you’ve read them yet or not. Any variation of this idea works. Feel free to be creative.) Option 2: pick a past TTT topic you wish you’d done, but didn’t get a chance to do (the list of topics is below).

Top Ten Authors I Would Die To Meet!

• Marissa Meyer

• Richelle Mead

• Victoria Aveyard

• Rin Chupeco

• Zoraida Cordova

• Neil Shusterman

Neal Shusterman , american writer of young-adult fictio

• Susan Maupin Schmid

• J.R.R. Tolkien

The late British author J. R. R. Tolkien pictured in Oxford, 1972.

• Dr. Seuss

• Jane Austen

These are the faces behind the magic. The are the faces of those who have shaped the reading world in one way or another. For a few of them, in several ways that have lasted and will continue to last generations ❤

What do you think? Who would you love to meet? Also if you actually have met any of these authors, with the exception of Miss Austen of course, I am EXTREMELY JEALOUS!

Top Ten Tuesday – My 2020 Summer TBR!

Hi guys! First let me just apologize for my absence the past week. With everything going on, the way it’s affecting my family it just still gets me down. I’ve decided to quite social media until the world rights itself. I just cant look at any of it anymore and I have never before been so thankful that we don’t have cable (by choice). So as last Monday rolled around I realized that in my heart I wasn’t feeling my blog. Writing any post would have been unfair to you because there would have been a massive lack of personality in them.

Alrighty! I don’t have a full list for you today (sorry!) but I’m happy to share anyway. Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week; June 16: Books on My Summer 2020 TBR (or winter if you’re in the southern hemisphere)

1. Cemetery Boys
Never before have I read anything regarding transgenders. Not on purpose, I just never picked one up. This will definitely be one that I remember either way. Witches, Transgenders, Latin roots/traditions, all elements that are just calling my name.



2. Incendiary
After my first Zoraida Cordova book, I was hooked on her writing! I’m currently waiting for my copy of this to arrive and I can’t wait to crack that spine open!



3. The Sword of Summer
I did these out of order and number 3 should be number 4. Ah well. Same thing applies here, fingers crossed I’m not reading these the way out of order and won’t spoil anything.



4. The Lightning Thief
I know this band wagon has long since passed us all by, still I would really like to give this series a shot. Honestly I have no idea if I’m even starting in the right place when it comes to Rick Riordan! If you’ve read his books please please point my in the right direction.



5. Then There Were Nun (Nun of Your Business Mysteries)
Ok, mysteries have’t been my thing since jr high. Shiloh, Wishbone, Hank and Encyclopedia Brown saw the end of my mystery interests. However I decided to give this a try to fill a reading prompt. I started reading this at the beginning of the year, I’m on page……..who even know? I’ll have to start over. This could be a hard one.

6. Wayward Witch
This book doesn’t actually come out until September 1st. I’m just really excited about it so it’s at the top of my 2020 TBR (which changes frequently). This is the last book in the Brooklyn Brujas series and I have been anticipating this highly!

As you can tell none of these are what you would call “summery books.” You won’t really find too many contemporary books here so if you have any real summer recommendations by all means share them with me! I love chatting and I love adding books to my TBR.
Seriously though if you can give me any advice on Rick Riordan please let me know! There are so many books!

Today is our Friday!!! For the rest of the world it’s only Tuesday……..if we’re being honest I don’t envy you!

• 

• 

What Are You Reading Wednesday

Well now, this is proving to be quite the stressful week so far. Currently my toddler is refusing to take his nap for the second day in a row. Oh also we’re burning down our own nation. But there’s always books! Hah!

What I’m Reading

This is actually a book I recently hauled, which I’m hoping to share the entire haul with you soon! I keep hearing a lot of mixed opinions about the Caster Chronicles but I really enjoyed the movie and so I’m hoping the books will be much better.

Beautiful Creatures by Kim Garcia and Margaret Stohl

If you’re like me then you prefer the original book cover to the movie edition. Unfortunately I have the movie edition because I waited too long when the original cover was available. (Face palm) I’m still hoping it will come back and I can grab it. Then give the other one away. Fingers crossed!

What I’m Watching

While trying to keep my mind off of things I decided to binge this. It’s actually pretty good and despite myself I keep trying to figure out who it is, even though I have no idea what’s going on where celebrities are concerned. Or even who a lot of them are anymore! Still only in Season 1 and being blown away by the Monster. His voice is mesmerizing!

What I’m Listening To

As said in my Monday post, this is my other current read:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Have you heard all of the HP audiobooks? Or read the Caster Chronicles? What do you think of The Masked Singer?

Top Ten Tuesday – Opening Lines

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week; May 26: Opening Lines (Best, favorite, funny, unique, shocking, gripping, lines that grabbed you immediately, etc.)

I don’t have a full set of ten for you today. Here are some of the books that really stood out to me when I read them, right from the beginning. Books that were so gripping they demanded I never set them down until I had finished.

1. In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.
   The Hobbit – JRR Tolkein
   
2. This book is largely concerned with Hobbits, and from its pages a reader may discover much of their character and a little of their history.
   LOTR The Fellowship of the Ring – JRR Tolkein
   
3. Mr. and Mr.s Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
   Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone – JK Rowling
   
4. Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grace, though he may claim otherwise.
   The Bone Witch – Rin Chupeco
   
5. Once upon forever, in an ancient, crumbling palace, two sisters, Love and Death, played their eternal game.
   Jennifer Donnelly – Beauty and The Beast Lost In A Book
   
6. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
   Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
   
7. It goes by many names: “The Crisis,” “The Dark Years,” “The Walking Plague,” as well as newer and more “hip” titles such as “World War Z” or “Z War One.”
   World War Z – Max Brooks

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

I actually own the 1945 edition of Pride and Prejudice. It’s one of my most prized books that I own, if not THE number one favorite.
Do you have any favorite first lines that got you hooked immediately? I’d love to hear some of them!

Top Ten Tuesday, Reasons Why I Love YA Books.

Happy Tuesday everyone! 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. However you can still find past posts at the original site.

Why I Love YA Books, let me count the ways…….

Something for Everyone

The YA genre is incredibly diverse. In characters, in plot settings, especially in worlds. You can find a little bit of everything here. Anything you happen to be in the mood for is all in one place. Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction, Contemporary, Non-Fiction, LGBTQ, Historical Fiction, Graphic Novels, Horror/Paranormal. The list goes on!

You’re Never Too Old For YA

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a good adult sci-fi or fantasy book now and again. More and more you see full grown adults reading YA. (“Full grown” is in the eye of the beholder anyway, let’s be honest.) I have just reached my 30’s and have never been more entranced by a book than when I read YA. There is something about it that opens your mind to sensitive topics. The community is so accepting and diverse. Especially on social media pages. It feels really good to be a part of such a big community that gets you excited about what is coming next. Be it a new book or even the book to movie adaptations!

More Character Drive

I have read many adult novels. While it’s a nice way to cleanse my book palette I have found it a bit deficient when it comes to characters. Adult novels seem to be more plot driven. In YA all the characters have very real elements to them. You can relate, you can feel what they feel. They also stick around for the entirety of the book. Which makes a huge difference. It’s hard to feel anything for a character who suddenly dies before you can connect to them and is just as easily replaced before the books end.

Who Doesn’t Love A Good Escape?

The worlds, oh the many many worlds! I’m the type of person who prefers fantasy to just fiction. Drama is an everyday part of our reality, no matter who you are. Why would I want to read about someone with problems that could reflect my own? For me? It is about the escape. Its about taking a break so I can dive into a book where the worlds are intricate, fanciful and completely unlike our own. I can enjoy a good contemporary now and again to refresh myself from dragons, magic and the fey. The majority of the time though, its fantasy all the way baby.

It didn’t occur to me that I should have listed ten reasons. After all it is called Top Ten Tuesday. Hah!

Top Ten Tuesday’s

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.

Today’s Tuesday meme is – The Ten Most Recent Additions to My To-Read List.

Royce Rolls

The Toll (Arc of a Scythe #3)

Currently there is no cover for this upcoming book.

Everless

Evermore (Everless #2)

The Library of Ever

The Starlight Slippers (100 Dresses 3)

Let Me Hear A Rhyme

The Invisible Library

The Romaov Empress 

The Lost Books: The Scroll of Kings

 

Top Ten Tuesday

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.

Happy Tuesday! This weeks Top Ten is Books I Meant to Read In 2018 but Didn’t Get To.
A little while ago I wrote a post about coming back to my blog after almost a year hiatus. Here is where I go into a lot more detail. 2018 was……….euphoric. It’s one thing to say “So much has changed in my life.” It’s another to say “My ENTIRE life has changed.” With everything going on, reading was a luxury that time did not exist for. That being said, here is my list of books left from 2018.

A Court of Mist and Fury – Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) –
A forbidden romance.
A deadly plague.
Earth’s fate hinges on one girl . . .
CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She’s reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she finds herself at the center of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen – and a dangerous temptation.
Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth’s future.

This one would actually have been a re-read. I bought the hardcover last year and have been dying to re-read this. The whole series was phenomenal and I fully intend to revisit the world

Court of Frost and Starlight – Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve.
Yet even the festive atmosphere can’t keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated–scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court.

American Street – On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.
But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.
Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?

Dumplin – Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.
Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

 

Popular YA Books I Secretly Don’t Want To Read

Hey guuuys! Long time no blog huh? Just wanted to give you a quick update on what I’ve been up to before I jump into the post.

A couple weeks ago I fostered some lost poodles, very cute and friendly ladies. It made me realize something, I really miss having a dog. Someone to be there when I get home, someone to go on walks with, someone to pet and cuddle. Someone to take care of ❤ So after the dogs were gone I decided to go to the shelter and just take a look.

What I saw was of course incredibly heart breaking. So many dogs, all needing someone to take them home and care for them and love them. One dog, with the saddest pair of dark brown eyes caught my attention. Where the other dogs barked at my intrusion he just stared at me, head down right where he way laying. Quiet yet intrigued. (At least that’s what his slight tail wagging told me.)

I did a meet and greet with him, to see if maybe we would be a good fit for each other. He was perfect. Friendly yet timid, trusting but cautious, playful but not overly hyper and he wasn’t a barker. He wasn’t even a jumper! I was in love. For two days I missed him and couldn’t stop picturing his face. So I did what any other person would do……….I went back and adopted him ❤

Today I’m the proud proud owner of a 3 year old very handsome black German Shepherd. He keeps me more than occupied on my days off and when I get home from work. I almost feel as though I’m constantly babysitting. My cat is so independent that she doesn’t need much. Somewhere down the line I obviously got used to that. It’s nice to be needed now. Anyway I’d like you all to meet…………

ROSKO

It’s only been about a week that we’ve had him so he’s still pretty skinny. I’m hoping to see that start to change very soon. Other than that he is a happy camper. With a huge backyard all to himself and two new parents to spoil him how he could he not be? I do feel bad thinking that someone somewhere must have been missing him. The shelter had him for a couple of weeks and said no one came to look for him. They put him on social media and checked for a chip but……nothing. I only wish his previous family, if he even had one, could know that he is being well looked after.

OK! Since it’s been a while I wanted to do something fun. I decided to do my own Top Ten today. Here’a list of some very popular books that I don’t really have an interest in reading. A lot of these books have gotten so much hype, so hopefully no one shames me for this. 

1. Six of Crows 
    
2. The Selection Series
    
3. And I Darken
    
4. Illuminae Files
    
5. My Lady Jane
    

   
   

6. Flawed Series
    

   
   

7. Lady Midnight (I changed my mind and actually it doesn’t sound that interesting to me)
    
8. This Savage Song
    
9. The Raven Cycle
    
10. Divergent Series
     

    
     

Ah, I can almost feel the collective gasps and sighs. I know I know, how do those not sound interesting??? I don’t know, they just don’t. Not to me.

Sometimes I look up these books and think “eh, I could give it a try.” Except that there are just so many other books I would rather be reading. I love that so many people have enjoyed these. I love reading the reviews. I can get by on just that. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if someone told me all about these books, including spoilers. Because chances are I will never read them.

What about you guys? Are there any popular YA books that you secretly don’t want to read? Maybe there’s a book on this list that you actually really loved and think I should reconsider it. I’m all ears if you want to tell me how good it is 🙂 I might consider giving it a chance. A real chance. 

Top Ten Tuesday!

Woo Top Ten Tuesday! I don’t know about you guys but I love partaking in weekly meme’s 🙂 they are so much fun.
As you all know Top Ten Tuesday is hosted weekly by The Broke and The Bookish. Today’s topic, Top Ten 2016 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn’t Get To (But TOTALLY plan to).

1. A Court of Mist and Fury
   
   Yes, I read ACOTAR. No, I did not pick up the sequal afterwards like I totally totally should have.
2. Harry Potter and The Cursed Child
   
   “But Miss Elizabeth, didn’t you get that for your birthday in October??” Why yes, yes I did. Woops! I don’t know guys. I’m still on the fence about this one. I’m a little afraid to read it.
3. Stars Above
   
   Also afraid to read this but only because I don’t want the series to finally be closed in my mind.
4. Three Dark Crowns
   
   Ohhhh I want to read this book!
5. The Shadow Queen
   
   I’ve been reading way too many books about Royals and courts and such. So I’m not sure when I’ll get to it, I just know that I will.
6. Passenger
   
   “But……don’t you have the book and the audio book?”…….*face palm*
7. The Unexpected Everything
   
   In my defense I only recently got this.
8. What Light
   
   I love Jay Ahser, and I really can’t wait to pick up this book.
9. Love and Gelato
   
   
10. A Study In Charlotte
    
    I’ve seriously been wanting to read more books like Sherlock Holmes and I can not wait to start.

These are the books I had every intention of reading in 2016.  We all know that sometimes life happens and for whatever reason we can’t always find the time to sit down and read to our hearts content. Much as we would all love to.
What books were hoping to read but didn’t get to?

 

Top Ten Tuesday

Hey there guys, ugh today was not as great as it probably could have been. For some reason my scalp felt incredibly soar all day and gave me a splitting head ache. While I was working, so that was fun. All was not lost though. We did go out for curry tonight which was delicious and I get to relax next to the Christmas tree ❤ while writing this post.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s post is  “Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read For The First Time In 2016.”

1. Rainbow Rowell
   
   FanGirl has been the only book by Rainbow Rowell that I have ever read and I gotta say, I wasn’t really impressed.
2. Liz Braswell
   
   A Whole New World ( A Twisted Tale) was the first book I read by her and I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to pick up more Twisted Tale books.
3. Sarah J. Maas *
   
   ACOTAR, I LOVED this book. Still haven’t read ACOMAF yet. Not sure I’m going to get to it this year but maybe it will be part of my Book New Years Resolution 😉
4. Cassandra Clare
   
   The Mortal Instruments, for all it’s hype, didn’t impress me at all. BUT, there is something about Clare’s writing that kind of made me want to read more. However I’m really not impressed with the story line. Shadow Hunters seems to be all she writes about so that kind of sucks when you’re interested in her writing, but not her story.
5. Erin Morgenstern *
   
   The Night Circus ❤ this boooooook!!!!! Everything, EVERYTHING about this book was exquisite. NC is the only thing she’s written so far. I heard rumor that she’s working on another book, fingers crossed!
6. Markus Zusak
   
   The Book Thief, sooo many emotions. His writing got me right in the feels.
7. Victoria Aveyard
   
   While I absolutely love her writing, her Red Queen series seems to be a bit of a knock of The Lunar Chronicles. Maybe that’s just me! Maybe it was because I read this right after reading Winter, I don’t know. They just seem so similar.
8. Gayle Forman
   
   If I Stay and it’s sequal Where She Went were two of the most inspiring books I read this year.
9. Stephanie Perkins *
   
   Etienne! ❤ This was one of my favorite contemporaries of this year and I just recently got a copy of the next book. I’m pretty excited to read it.
10. Zoraida Cordova *
    
    Labyrinth Lost was hands down a favorite read. I’m seriously extremely happy that I got to read an ARC of her book.

Well guys, these are the authors that I was introduced to this year. For the most part I really enjoyed a lot of their books and plan to continue reading from them. Especially the ones I put little asterisks next to 😉
Welp, my hand is freezing from being on the mouse looking for photos, turning in for the night. Good night guys ❤