December Wrap Up

Again I feel like I didn't do much outside of going to work and going home. Of course there was a few day of Christmas shopping for my family, which was fun! I also found time to decorate my office at home for the Holidays. I can never tell if things are slowing down at work, or if I'm just getting use to the new chaos that is my job. Either way, the last few weeks have definitely been a lot easier to cope with.

I did have a house full for Christmas this year which was fun. Enjoyed our new Disney+, and seeing a friend who I haven't been to see since I think September. So it was great that she got to spend a couple days with us. Got to Skype in with my family which was amazing! I haven't seen my parents since their visit in October, and I haven't seen my Mim since July. So even through my phone is was nice to see them.

Rest of the month has been spent trying to reach that last little bit of my Goodreads Goal for this year, and getting the blog set up for 2020. Which I cannot believe is a day away!

Books Read: 8
BINGO Books: 1

Pages Read: 926

DNF: 1

Currently Reading: Sorcery for Beginners  

• Adam Silvera (Infinity Son #1) Event

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

Holy crap how cute was this?! It's been sitting on my shelf with the rest of my Sherlock Holmes books, and I finally picked it up. Maybe because we finally got Disney+. Maybe because I need to reach my Goodreads Goal. Whatever the reason I'm glad I did. This was so freaking adorable. Basil is a toned down version of Sherlock, and Dawson is everything I love about Doctor Watson. The mystery was quick and easy to follow about the dangers of talking to strangers. I thought it was an adorable introduction to the Sherlock Holmes series. 4 Stars!

I love this series! My library was amazing and order this volume for me, and I've been penitently waiting for it to arrive. I didn't waste any time cracking it open. I'm glad Phillip was back in this volume. Geoff didn't deserve how the last volume ended, and I had my fingers crossed that he was able to save Phillip. And, they'd be okay. The Allen family is back at to their old tricks in Volume of Four of the October Faction. Even though it had been a few months since I read Volume Three, it easy to pick up where we'd left off.  The story was good, finally a chance for the kids to prove themselves capable of the family business. And, for Phillip to meet the family. We also got to new additions to the family, Eric the Ghoul and the cutest little demon. I've really been enjoying this series, and I hope my library can get in the next volume! 4 Stars!!

How cute was that?! I totally picked this up to help me reach my Goodread's Goal, knowing I didn't have any more days off in 2019. And, I'm really glad I did. This was super adorable. The artwork is fun and bright, and the story super cute. I could definitely see how much this could be as a bedtime story. Just super cute. Also a quick and fun read for me in between bouts of catch up on paperwork this afternoon. 5 stars!!  

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way they're all going to find their way here!

After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler: Get out of town, stay alive, and head west to California to find her mother.

But nothing is easy when you're a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to a protected village called Nicodermus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880's America.

What's more, this safe haven is not what it appears - as Jane discovers when she sees familiar faces from Summerland amid this new society. Caught between mysteries and lies, the undead, and her own inner demons, Jane soon finds herself on a dark path of blood and violence that threatens to consume her.

But she won't be in it alone.

Katherine Deveraux never expected to be allied with Jane McKeene. But after the hell she has endured, she knows friends are hard to come by - and that Jane needs her, too, whether Jane wants to admit it or not.

Watching Jane's back, however, is more than she bargained for, and when they both reach a breaking point, it's up to Katherine to keep hope alive - even as she begins to fear that there is no happily-ever-after for girls like her.

HAPPY READING!!

January Tackle TBR

This year I'm trying to get off on the right foot and knock a handful of books off my physical TBR. So for the entire month of January I'll putting any book buying on hold and I won't be picking anything up from the library. The only books I'll be picking up will be books currently stacked on my side table that is days away from crashing down on my cat when he sniffs at them. I worry every time he jumps there that there will a crash as the crush him. Really is a good thing he's a fat cat. But, I digress.

Tackle TBR Books:

These are four of the books I really wanted to get to last year. I even managed to start  Six of Crows, but sadly things came up and I put it down and then got distracted by other books. I'm hoping with Bout of Books starting on Monday I'll be able to manage all four. I'm not the fastest reader ever, so this is going to be a challenge for me, but I'm up for it. This month I'm thinking big with my reading goals. May not shoot me in the foot!

HAPPY READING!!

Happy Christmas!

No matter what, or even how, you celebrate I hope it was warm and full of good friends and family. May you favorite Holiday movie be on TV, and you don't have to watch The Christmas Story a thousand times. Because that's what family does. On mute for at two full viewings while we chit-chat. I also hope there is plenty of book under your tree, shrub, or what have you. Maybe your hot chocolate be boozy and full of marshmallows. Mostly just stay warm. Cause I hate being cold. 

As for me I'll be in the kitchen today making a fantastic dinner while peaking in on the Christmas movies we'll be consuming throughout the day.

Hopefully everyone's homes are filled with warmth and laughter today!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

Bout of Books 27

It's about that time again! There's no better way to start out the new year of reading than with another round of Bout of Books. My books have already been picked out for this round as it will fall during my flatmate and I's Tackle TBR challenge for January as we try to work through some of the books we own. Also, after the hectic month I've just had, it'll be nice to unplug for a week and get back to reading. Maybe we'll even get some of that snow they've been promising!

Bout TBR:

Bout of Books is one my favorite readathons because it's super low stress. I just fit in reading in between whatever I'm doing at work: on the bus, pause my shows I'm streaming, offline when not doing paperwork. It's great! Plus, this one is a great way to get into good reading habits for the new year. You even don't have to a blog to join, just social media of some kind. Or, a friend who does. My flatmate and good friend take part, but don't post about it. They use it as an excuse to unplug.

Sign up here!!

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

I really wanted to like this book. Because it has all the elements I love, but sadly this one fell a little short with me. I wasn't overly fond of our main character, he was just so-so. I spent a lot of time confused on where things were going, or how we got to where we were. Maybe it was designed that way because our main character (whose name I cannot remember despite reading this on the bus on the way home) loses time, or not. The werewolf aspect was strange and only randomly popped up. It was a bit of a hot mess for me, and I probably won't be finishing this series. 2 Stars!

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way they're all going to find their way here!

You are alone in the woods, seen only by the unblinking yellow moon. Your hands are empty. You are nearly naked.

And the wolf is angry.

Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She’s kept mostly to herself. She’s been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou’s past and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods—frightened, but not alone.

Elana K. Arnold, National Book Award finalist and author of the Printz Honor book Damsel, returns with a dark, engrossing, blood-drenched tale of the familiar threats to female power—and one girl’s journey to regain it. 

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

This was a fun twist on the story of how Klaus became Santa, and was everything I've come to expect from a Grant Morrison story. The artwork was colorful and helped to carry the story wonderfully. It's a classic hero/villain story, but with an old world twist. I was in love with Lilli, and Magnus is a great villain. As a whole I enjoyed the story. I couple of times I stuttered as I read, confused about what exactly what was happening. There were a few times it felt like a started this story on the wrong volume, but by the end it all came together. And I loved the surprise pop up of Krampus! 3 stars!

HAPPY READING!!

Most Anticipated Releases of 2020 pt.1

I cannot believe that there are only a few short days left in 2019. Somehow this been the longest and shortest years I can remember. In fact I've read a lot of good books, and put even more good books on the over growing stack next to my bed. Books I wanted to get to, but just didn't have the time for. A stack that is only going to get grow into a second stack as 2020 rolls along. Because so many good books are coming out this year. So many sequels and so many new series by authors I adore. Honestly it's going to be hard to be my next read in 2020. I have reached the point of too many options. But, here is a look at some of the books I'm excited to get my hands on during the first half of 2020!

Most Anticipated Books Jan - July:

And, these are just the ones I'm itching to get my hands. The ones I will definitely be picking up after they came out. Some I've already pre-ordered. Others I'll pick up during SeaBook Store Day. This doesn't even include the second of the year! Or, that I just don't know about. Plus the books I was suppose to read this year and last year, and way before that. Which is why my TBR will never end It's a fact I've come to accept. Some goals are unreachable. Clearing out my TBR is one of those.

One that is for certain, 2020 is going to be an amazing year in books!

HAPPY READING!!

Book Mail - The Institute

Okay, so this time I'm not really that sorry for getting the song stuck in anyone's head. Why? Because I won a free copy of The Institute by Stephen King. My Ma and I share a love for his books. In fact, she's the one who got me hooked on him, and it''s been ages since I read one of his book. Honestly I don't have a good reason as to why. He's put enough books that I should have. In fact I've picked a few from my local library and never got around to them. Now, I have a reason to. Because I'm actually really excited to read this one. 

Thank you Goodreads Giveaway! This is the second lovely book I've gotten from then this year. However, unlike last time, this one I'm sure I'll end up shipping of to my Ma so she can read it once I'm done. After all, I came back the reading bug naturally thanks to her and my Mim.

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally they are books that have yet to be released, but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

In 17th century Hungary, Anna Darvulia has just begun working as a scullery maid for the young and glamorous Countess Elizabeth Báthory. When Elizabeth takes a liking to Anna, she’s vaulted to the dream role of chambermaid, a far cry from the filthy servants’ quarters below. She receives wages generous enough to provide for her family, and the Countess begins to groom Anna as her friend and confidante. It’s not long before Anna falls completely under the Countess’s spell—and the Countess takes full advantage. Isolated from her former friends, family, and fiancé, Anna realizes she’s not a friend but a prisoner of the increasingly cruel Elizabeth. Then come the murders, and Anna knows it’s only a matter of time before the Blood Countess turns on her, too.

Why I'm Waiting: Elizabeth Bathroy a strange woman, and one who doesn't have a lot books written about her. I'm interested to see who this one tells her story.

HAPPY READING!!