Book Mail

I cannot believe this got here so soon! With everything going on I thought it might take a few extra days to get packed and shipped. But, to my surprise I had a package arrive in our HUB this morning. I'm super excited this got here so quick so I could add it to my May TBR! Not that I don't have a hundred other things to read, but I've been excited for this one for months. So with Bout of Books 28 just a few short weeks away, I'm pumped. Plus it's gorgeous!

I'm in love with this cover! Even more so now that it's in my hands. I pretty much showed it off to everyone yesterday because it's amazing and should be seen by all! Anyway, despite everything I should be reading in May this is definitely going to jump the queue. Because it sounds as amazing as it looks and I'm super excited for it!

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.

Ara has always known about the legend of the Loresmith: the blacksmith who served alongside the kings and queens of every generation to protect the kingdom. It was her fate to inherit the title–though she never truly believed it would come to pass since the monarchy’s downfall years before.

But when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara from her quiet life with a mission to retake the throne–and take her place as the Loresmith–her whole world turns upside down. Their journey will take Ara on a dangerous adventure to discover new truths about her family’s legacy, and even to face the gods themselves. And with a mysterious thief as an unexpected companion, Ara must use all her skills to figure out just who she can trust, and forge the right path forward–for herself, her kingdom, and her heart.

Why I'm Waiting: You had me female blacksmith!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

I am Renata Convida.
I have lived a hundred stolen lives.
Now I live my own.

Renata Convida was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King's Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a Robari, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata's ability to steal memories from royal enemies enabled the King's Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people.

Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown and helping the remaining Moria escape the kingdom bent on their destruction. The Whispers may have rescued Renata from the palace years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred--or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she turned "hollow" during her time in the palace.

When Dez, the commander of her unit, is taken captive by the notorious Sangrado Prince, Renata will do anything to save the boy whose love makes her place among the Whispers bearable. But a disastrous rescue attempt means Renata must return to the palace under cover and complete Dez's top secret mission. Can Renata convince her former captors that she remains loyal, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it.

But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the entire fate of the kingdom--and end the war that has cost her everything. 

HAPPY READING!!

Dewey's Wrap Up

I honestly had a really good Readathon even though I started an hour late, and didn't quite make it to all the way to the end. This year I did something different and started with two smaller books and moving into my bigger ones. At least that way I felt like I'd accomplished something even when I stopped to fold laundry, or if a nap over took me. Which the latter happened a couple of times. Still I made it halfway through Warlock Holmes: The Study of Nine, and I feel asleep the last time right when the The Living Dead started to kick off.

This was also sort of a bittersweet readathon as well. First being the co-host of Dewey's for as long as I've been participating, Andi and Heather, are stepping down. And, why I wish them the best of luck their future endeavors, it's sad to see them go. I am excited to how the new co-host take this readathon and run with it! Second, I normally participate in this readathon with my friend Sarah. We have a whole thing over at my place and this year we didn't get to do that. So we tried to stay connection via the internet.
 

Books Read: 2
Pages Read: 303

Hours Read: 20

Currently Reading: Warlock Holmes: The Sign of Nine & The Living Dead

I have my fingers crossed there will be another Reverse Readathon this summer! Really enjoyed that last year, but if not there is always this Fall. I hope everyone had a great Saturday reading. It was great to see what everything was reading and connect with other readers! Until next time.

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sundays

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!

Teagan Frost’s life is finally back on track. Her role working for the government as a psychokinetic operative is going well and she might even be on course for convincing her crush to go out with her. But, little does she know, that sh*t is about to hit the fan . . .

A young boy with the ability to cause earthquakes has come to Los Angeles – home to the San Andreas, one of the most lethal fault lines in the world. If Teagan can’t stop him, the entire city – and the rest of California – could be wiped off the map. 

HAPPY READING!!

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon

Good morning!  I'm really excited about all three books on my TBR today. The Witcher is something that came to my attention via Netflix. Since I've been meaning jump further into that world, and the Graphic Novel seemed like a great place to start while I wait for the book to arrive. As for the other two, I'm definitely going to try to get into them both today. Because The Living Dead is definitely not one you marathon through.

Dewey's TBR:

I have all kinds of snacks ready to go for the day and quick things to grab for lunch and dinner. My goal is to get through as much of the next 24-hours with only one nap. We'll see how that works out for me! 

This year will be a little different for me since me usual reading buddy won't be able to join due to Social Distancing. But, we'll be staying connected thanks to social media today! I hope everyone is staying safe in these weird times, and if you have a Twitter account you keep up with all the shenanigans @_sullybear_! I'll posting throughout the day on there with the #readathon! 

HAPPY READING!!

Warlock Holmes: My Grave Ritual - Review

Author: GS Denning

Genre:  Mystery / Humor / Paranormal

Format: Paperbak

Pages: 432

I had one hundred percent forgotten how much I love this books and it's duo. It's an absolute delight to read. Warlock and Watson are one of my favorite literary duos right now, and Warlock is most definitely one characters of all time. He's such a precious bean! 

Where to start with this gem?! It's hard because I loved so much about this book. I think one of my favorite things is how seamlessly GS Denning managed to remind the readers of what happened in the last book, Hell-hound of Baskervilles, without making it feel like we relived the whole book again. There were just quick little off hand comments made by Watson that had it all flooding back to me. Which was great since sadly it had been a year and some change since I read the last book.

I'm the absolute worst at keeping up with series!

Grave Ritual is a little bigger than the other two books, but it follows a cohesive timeline during one winter for our duo. I love how the cases started to interconnect as you went through the book. Some had some little pieces here in there. Some had bigger ones that certain characters, Warlock, forgot to mention. 

It's a honestly a wild ride from start to finish. It's outrageous, funny, and honestly hard to put down. I've definitely been reading past my bedtime, and reading when I should be doing things like putting laundry away. I just had to know what was about to happen next. 

And, even though you know the end world is coming to an end. It's hard to care when comes to the crazy things that comes out of Warlock's mouth, or the random things that he does. 

One thing I felt in this book, that I don't remember thinking the last one, is how much more like a team Watson and Warlock feel like. Two years have passed and you can definitely feel it. In the way that Warlock knows Watson, and the way that Watson knows when shenanigans are about to happen. There is definitely more trust between the two, and the really sort of feel like a found family. Warlock really cares about his friend. It's lovely!

Hands down my favorite thing is the story The Red Headed League. Only because it's told from Warlock's point of view, and I need more of this! It was an absolute ride! I laughed my through his dialog and I was sad to when the story was over. Not that I don't love Watson, but I love the way that Warlock sees the world. The little weirdo.

Honestly there were only a couple of things in this books I could have done without, and it has nothing to do with how wonderfully these stories were written, or how much fun it seems GS Denning had retelling these stories in such away. It all boils down to personal reasons. I honestly could have done without the creepy dolls. Did not like that at all. Also the very melted man. While kudos on the description there, I gagged a lot. Just ew...

All-in-all, I loved it and it was the perfect I need with what's going on in the world. It's a whole lot of fun and wonderful, comical, take on the cannon I love so much.

Buy, Borrow, or Skip: I saw buy. This is one of those series I could go back and read again and again.

HAPPY READING!! 

Book Mail

After being reminded how much I love this series, and that the stimulus check is suppose to help support our communities, I bought some more books. Two of which were pre-orders so they'll trickle in over the next few months. Sadly one was pushed back to an August release date, but that just gives me something to look forward to in my fall reading. But! The fourth Warlock Holmes book has finally arrived! LOOK AT IT!!

I had honestly forgotten how much love this series and humorous writing style of GS Denning. Warlock and John are two of my favorite duos right now, and I'm so excited to get lost in their next weird little adventure. I also can't wait to see all the books next to each other on my shelf! Though, I may not be emotionally prepared for the this book, or the installment due in August.

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.

They were leaning over the edge of the unknown and were afraid of what they would discover there.

Meet the World War II female scientists who worked in the secret sites of the Manhattan Project. Recruited not only from labs and universities from across the United States but also from countries abroad, these scientists helped in-and often initiated-the development of the atomic bomb, taking a starring role in the Manhattan Project. In fact, their involvement was critical to its success, though many of them were not fully aware of the consequences.

The atomic women include
Lise Meitner and Irène Joliot-Curie (daughter of Marie Curie), who led the groundwork for the Manhattan Project from Europe;

Elizabeth Rona, the foremost expert in plutonium, who gave rise to the "Fat Man" and "Little Boy," the bombs dropped over Japan; and

Leona Woods, Elizabeth Graves, and Joan Hinton, who were inspired by European scientific ideals but carved their own paths.
This book explores not just the critical steps toward the creation of a successful nuclear bomb, but also the moral implications of such an invention.

Why I'm Waiting: I need to know more about these amazing women!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

May 4, 1970.
Kent State University.

As protestors roil the campus, National Guardsmen are called in. In the chaos of what happens next, shots are fired and four students are killed. To this day, there is still argument of what happened and why.

Told in multiple voices from a number of vantage points -- protestor, Guardsman, townie, student -- Deborah Wiles's Kent State gives a moving, terrifying, galvanizing picture of what happened that weekend in Ohio . . . an event that, even 50 years later, still resonates deeply.

HAPPY READING!!

Book Mail

Finally! I have been checking my email every single day hoping to get a notification that I have a package in the hub, and finally that email came! I've been so excited for this bad boy to arrive since I found I was getting an early release copy. Scary stories have always been my bread and butter. I started out reading Goosebumps as a kid and slowly graduate up to Stephen King and beyond. Anything that'll force me to sleep with the lights is one of my favorite things. And, George A. Romero's movies have always done that. Now I'm hoping with the help of Daniel Klaus, his last novel will do the same.

This is probably the worst time to jump into a zombie novel with the way of the world, but honestly it might just be the distraction I need. Even with the rumors that life might slowly be able to start going back to normal. But, who knows what normal will be what is what a few weeks ago. I honestly have no idea what my job will look like, or my social life, or anything. So it seems like the perfect time to hide in six hundred pages of a Zombie novel!

HAPPY READING!! 

Cover Runway Sundays

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!

Sixteen-year-old Nate is a GEM—Genetically Engineered Medi-tissue created by the scientists of Gathos City as a cure for the elite from the fatal lung rot ravaging the population. As a child, he was smuggled out of the laboratory where he was held captive and into the Withers—a quarantined, lawless region. Nate manages to survive by using his engineering skills to become a Tinker, fixing broken tech in exchange for food or a safe place to sleep. When he meets Reed, a kind and fiercely protective boy that makes his heart race, and his misfit gang of scavengers, Nate finds the family he’s always longed for—even if he can’t risk telling them what he is.

But Gathos created a genetic failsafe in their GEMs—a flaw that causes their health to rapidly deteriorate as they age unless they are regularly dosed with medication controlled by Gathos City. As Nate’s health declines, his hard-won freedom is put in jeopardy. Violence erupts across the Withers, his illegal supply of medicine is cut off, and a vicious attack on Reed threatens to expose his secret. With time running out, Nate is left with only two options: work for a shadowy terrorist organization that has the means to keep him alive, or stay — and die — with the boy he loves.

HAPPY READING!!

Hidden History of Kansas - Review

Author: Adrian Zink

Genre:  Nonfiction

Format: Paperbak

Pages: 192

So I am the nerd that will go to the National Park and see all the amazing things, find the gift shop, and then buy a book. This however is not one of those books. This was a wonderful gift from my parents, and the got me a good one.

I really enjoyed Hidden History of Kansas. While there was a few bits I did know, as a whole I learned a lot about the State a grew up in. Places that I didn't know existed, but have found their way onto my bucket list to visit. It was a lot of fun for both me and flatmate when something new popped up that neither of us knew about. We both got to learn something new.

My favorite thing about this book was how easy it was to read. Adrain Zink does a great job at telling you about this piece of history without taking a side, but it's not dry. Never once did I feel like I was reading a history book for some class. Zink will throw in a bit of humor here and there, or some random thought about what he is telling you. It's engaging and fun.

Plus, the photos are a nice touch. A nice visual of who this section is about, or a visual of what is being talked about. They are a nice break from the story telling, but they don't take away from what your learning.

Honestly I didn't know so many weird and interesting things happened in my home state. I feel a little cheated from the Kansas History class I took back in Junior High, which may have been a bit ago.

There were a few editing issues here and there: miss spelled words and a couple a times where words were missing. But, as a whole it was a really fun book that I absolutely devoured. Normally it takes me a bit to get through a nonfiction book. That was not the case with Hidden Histories I devoured it in two days!

The best part of the whole book is a few the places that were mentioned had some great memories attached to them. Either from being able to go myself with my family, or stories my family tells from trips before I was even a thought. So that was really fun as well.

Buy, Borrow, or Skip: I'd say buy. I'm definitely going pass my copy along to someone I know who would love to read it. It's one of those books that can be passed around.

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

This is one of two of Jeffery Brown's cat related books, and now I've been able to enjoy both of them. It's a quick and enjoyable read that any cat owner can related to. The artwork is also fun and what I've come to expect from any of Jeffery Brown's books. I had a lot of fun and laughter with this, and realize I really should read his Star Wars series! 4 Stars! 

Being a Girl Scout who went to camp who then turned into a counselor at the same camp, this one definitely caught my eye. I'm really glad that it did. Because the story Vera had to tell is an important one for a lot of kids out there, not just girls. And, sometimes camp is a great way to find like minded people, and sometimes it does what it did for Vera. Shows what we already have. This was an adorable story that a again a lot of kids probably need to hear. It's dramatic in places, fun, and even broke my heart a little bit. It was an afternoon well spent with Vera. 4 Stars!

 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.

Set adrift by his pirate crew, Pocket of Dog Snogging—last seen in The Serpent of Venice—washes up on the sun-bleached shores of Greece, where he hopes to dazzle the Duke with his comedic brilliance and become his trusted fool.

But the island is in turmoil. Egeus, the Duke’s minister, is furious that his daughter Hermia is determined to marry Demetrius, instead of Lysander, the man he has chosen for her. The Duke decrees that if, by the time of the wedding, Hermia still refuses to marry Lysander, she shall be executed . . . or consigned to a nunnery. Pocket, being Pocket, cannot help but point out that this decree is complete bollocks, and that the Duke is an egregious weasel for having even suggested it. Irritated by the fool’s impudence, the Duke orders his death. With the Duke’s guards in pursuit, Pocket makes a daring escape.

He soon stumbles into the wooded realm of the fairy king Oberon, who, as luck would have it, IS short a fool. His jester Robin Goodfellow—the mischievous sprite better known as Puck—was found dead. Murdered. Oberon makes Pocket an offer he can’t refuse: he will make Pocket his fool and have his death sentence lifted if Pocket finds out who killed Robin Goodfellow. But as anyone who is even vaguely aware of the Bard’s most performed play ever will know, nearly every character has a motive for wanting the mischievous sprite dead.

With too many suspects and too little time, Pocket must work his own kind of magic to find the truth, save his neck, and ensure that all ends well.

Why I'm Waiting: Because Pocket is back!

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

Everyone knows Emma. Neesha’s her best friend, Aiden’s her basketball star boyfriend, and Evan’s her shadow, following Emma’s every move. She stands out, which is hard to do at Redemption Prep, a school where every student has been handpicked to attend its remote campus in the forest of Utah. So when she goes missing in plain sight, everyone notices. And everyone becomes a suspect, especially at a school with strict rules: Don’t skip mass. Don’t break curfew. Don’t go into the woods.

Emma’s disappearance ignites an investigation, and Neesha, Aiden, and Evan all want to find her—for different reasons. But they each have their own secrets to hide, and not everyone wants Emma to be found.

As the search continues, the students realize that they’re not the only ones trying to hide something. Redemption Prep has secrets, too—secrets bigger than any of the students could have imagined, and Emma could be the key to finding out the truth… if anyone can find her.

HAPPY READING!!