August Wrap Up

Well, this was strange little month. I applied for a job closer to home, thinking I wasn't going to get it because it's been years since I'd worked in a kitchen. To my surprise I landed it. Only now that means I'm training at the job while I'm closing out my current job. Needless to say I've been exhausted the last couple of weeks, but I'm loving my new job and I'm learning so much! Honeslty I'm shocked I managed to read 15 books! Because on top of all of that I had a freaking jury summons, but was lucky enough to not get picked to add to my already lapful of stress. 

I'm so close to my Goodreads Goal of 55 books, and I finally managed a BINGO!  I took my prize in the form of my new job! I'm still not going out any more than necessary which is probably why I managed to many books, but my roommate and I have started a re-watch of LOST. And, holy ducks so much happens in such a short amount of time on that show. We've been trying to remember everything, but for the life us cannot remember what happens season-to-season. I've also been watching the last season of Leverage because my dreams have come true and we're getting another season soon!

Not really sure what September will bring with the new job. So I kept the September TBR on the lighter side. My only goal for the coming month is to reach my Goodreads Goal, I'm only two books away so it's doable!

Books Read:  15
BINGO Books: 3
Backlist Books: 4

Pages Read: 2402

Currently Reading: Stalking Jack the Ripper

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!

Illumen Hall is an elite boarding school. Tragedy strikes when the body of a student is discovered at their exclusive summer party - on her back is an elaborate tattoo of a magpie.

When new girl Audrey arrives the following term, running from her own secrets back home in America, she is thrown into solving the case. Despite her best efforts to avoid any drama, her new roommate Ivy was close to the murdered girl, and the two of them can't help but get pulled in.

The two can't stand each other, but as they are drawn deeper into the mystery of this strange and terrible murder, they will discover that something dangerous is at the heart of their superficially perfect school.

Welcome to The Magpie Society.

HAPPY READING!!

Indie Bookstore Day!

HAPPY INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY!

I know this year is going to look different for most of us when it comes to our plans for the day. Normally Seattle goes all out and I spend out all store hopping with friends. But, this year things will be a little different and not just because of COVID. I've also started a new job! I won't be able to take the whole day and support as many of my favorite local bookstores like I usually do. However, I'm going to try to at least stop into the one closest to home and spend a little bit of money.

Whatever you end up doing today to celebrate, stay safe, and mask up! 

HAPPY READING!!

Peaky Blinders Cocktail Book - Review

Author: Sandra Houdre-Gregoire

Genre: Cookbook

Format: NetGalley

Pages: 112

Huge thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book for my honest review!

I have to say this was a fun and quick read. Naturally, all of the cocktails tie back into the show with characters having their own drink, along with some of the themes surrounding the show. As someone who has binged, and done many a rewatch, it was nice little touch to recall certain moments and characters that are no longer with us.

The cast photos were a nice touch as well. Not only is Peaky Blinders a wonderfully written show, but the costume department does a wonderful job as well. So the high res photos were a wonderful addition to get a closer look at those. The photos of the cocktails were a wonderful, and colorful, addition as well. One page held a quick and easy recipe while the next had a photo of what your cocktail should look like. Even though I read this as an ebook, I could see they set up the Hardback will have and I think it lovely.

I also liked the sketches the joined the recipes themselves, it helped to keep with the Peaky Blinders theme. 

The books has three different sections: Rum, Gin, and Other Spirits. Each section has a handful of cocktails that I'd personally never heard of before, and found a few drinks in each section I would love to try to make myself. And, a few I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try because I'm not really sure how I feel about marmalade in a cocktail. There is also a lovely index at the back of the book for a quick search of anything you are in the mood for.

Honestly, my biggest issue with this book had nothing to with the book itself. It was just very hard to read in ebook form. Some of the photos were distorted, and I had to turn the flip option off my phone to read a few pages they were set in a vertically instead of horizontally like the rest of the book. An issue that will not carry over to physical copies I'm sure.

For my first book gifted to me through NetGalley I was happy with it. It was a quick read, but an enjoyable one. In fact, I'd love to add this to my collection of cookbooks when it officially released. Hints have already been dropped about how this would make a wonderful of Christmas present.

Buy, Borrow, or Skip: If want to read a fun companion from the show I'd say snag this bad boy from your local library. If you, like myself, collect cookbooks I'd say buy. Not only is it a fun conversation starter, but the drinks are also easily made at home, and Tommy Shelby is on the cover.

Peaky Blinders Cocktail Book: 40 Cocktails Selected by The Shelby Company Ltd comes out on September 22, 2020!  

HAPPY READING!!

September TBR

Ugh, I don't want to talk about last month's TBR. It would seem other books distracted me from it, and I didn't manage to read a single book I'd set aside for August. Which is fine, it happens, what matters is I did read. So for September, I picked a smaller set of books that way I can weave in anything I get from NetGalley and the Library. The Witch of Willow Hall has been on my shelves for a couple of years and seems the perfect book for the start of Fall, and Kafka is a BINGO book because it's something I should have read in High School. As for Warlock well, I'm the worst at finishing series, especially when I know the ending might hurt. 

I'm pretty excited about three of these books. I'm not sure if I'll like Kafka, but I've been told it's my kind fo weird. So we'll see if that's true. I've got a few pieces on Hold at my local library that I'm excited about as well.

What's everyone else's September TBRs looking like? Any cozy mysteries or horror books in the running?

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 1982, two teenagers—serial killer survivor Emma Lewis and US Marshal candidate Travis Bell—are recruited by the FBI to interview convicted juvenile killers and provide insight and advice on cold cases. From the start, Emma and Travis develop a quick friendship, gaining information from juvenile murderers that even the FBI can't crack. But when the team is called in to give advice on an active case—a serial killer who exclusively hunts teenagers—things begin to unravel. Working against the clock, they must turn to one of the country's most notorious incarcerated murderers for help: teenage sociopath Simon Gutmunsson. Despite Travis's objections, Emma becomes the conduit between Simon and the FBI team. But while Simon seems to be giving them the information they need to save lives, he's an expert manipulator playing a very long game...and he has his sights set on Emma.

Captivating, harrowing, and chilling, None Shall Sleep is an all-too-timely exploration of not only the monsters that live among us, but also the monsters that live inside us.

Why I'm Waiting: I love a good crime drama, and this sounds like a great Fall read curled on my patio with a cup of tea.

HAPPY READING!!

New Release Tuesday

There's a lot from Tess's childhood that she would rather forget. The family who moved next door and brought chaos to their quiet lives. The two girls who were murdered, their killer never found. But the only thing she can't remember is the one thing she wishes she could.
Ten years ago, Tess's older sister died. Ruled a tragic accident, the only witness was Tess herself, but she has never been able to remember what happened that night in the woods.
Now living in London, Tess has resolved to put the trauma behind her. But an emergency call from her father forces her back to the family home, back to where her sister's body was found, and to the memories she thought were lost forever...

HAPPY READING!!

Bout of Books 29 Wrap Up

What a week?! Honestly, I thought between starting my new job, wrapping my soon to be an old job, and jury duty I wouldn't get any reading done. Somehow I have managed not only that, but I have also managed to get some sleep. This week I basically used Bout as an excuse to unwind from bouncing from one job to the next

Bout 29 Stats:

Books Read: 4

Pages Read: 219

Currently Reading: Stalking Jack the Ripper

Bout of Books will be back January of 2021 and will be my 13th Bout!! Hopefully, everyone else who was able to participate was able to get some reading done! Looking forward to seeing what everyone read.

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!

Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…

And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…

HAPPY READING!!

A Case of Possession - Review

Author: KJ Charles

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format: eBook

Pages: 151

This is such a fun, albeit dirty, series. It starts off just a few months after the first book ended, and does a nice job of summing up those events without spoiling anything. So if you were to read the books out of order you wouldn't be too spoiled. Maybe only slightly confused.

I thought A Case of Possession was a wonderful second installment to this series. The relationship between Crane and Stephen is starting to grow, and actually, feelings now seem involved. Though what I really liked about this story is the fact these two actually talk about the issue that are happening between them. They have discussions about things like a normal couple. A trope I find annoying in any genre. I don't think it took away from the drama but added to it.

The plot for this book plays a little more heavily in Crane's background when he was in China. So as the mystery unfolded you got a deeper look at things that were barely mentioned in the first book. Though I have a thousand questions about this warlord that Merrick keeps mentioning. The plot is also pretty fast-moving and I had a hard time finding a good place to put it down. Between the mystery itself and what was to come of Stephen and Crane, I ended mostly reading the book in one sitting, way past my bedtime.

As for the mystery itself, it did keep me guessing, but I'm pretty sure that's because I was sidetracked with the drama happening with Stephen and Crane. Still, I felt like it had some good twists and build-ups. I was also very satisfied with how things ended on that front. 

The romance in this book is definitely more present. I enjoy the banter between Stephen and Crane, and how their relationship works as a whole. Things have shifted for these two and I can't wait to see what that means for them in the next book. I just want them to be happy together!

Honestly, I find I really enjoy KJ Charles' writing style. She does a great amount of research to build the world these characters live in. I love the system of magic she's created, and I was glad to have finally met Ester Gold! She was everything I wanted her to be. Though I was sad we didn't get as much of Merrick. I do love that man.

All-in-all a great second book a fun read!

Buy, Borrow, or Skip: If you just putting your toe in the Romance world like me I saw borrow until you learn what you love. Otherwise, I say buy, I could see myself re-reading this series again.

HAPPY READING!!

Star Wars Golden Books - Review

I wanted to love this, and on some level I did. The artwork was adorable, but there were no women pilots. I know that the originals didn't have any, but that isn't an excuse. There are plenty of amazing female pilots that should have made this book. Especially since Poe and BB8 made an appearance because I'm sure there are at least two female pilots in Black Squadron! So I was prett2y disappointed with this. No even Rey got a mention..  2 Stars.

These four were adorable and such a cute introduction to the characters in the show. The pages are bright and filled with plenty of detail. I also like that some of them are interactive, especially I Am a Wookie! I also felt that I Am a Jedi was a bit more inclusive than the one above, but only in the means that a female Jedi was seen though not mentioned. It was nice to Mace in more than one page in that book as well. But, still super fun and a great way to unwind for me personally have a long day of working two jobs. This series is huge, but these are five I wanted to read, and these are the four I thought the best. Though, I Am a Wookie was hands down my favorite. Because who doesn't love Chewie? 4 Stars for the first three! 5 Stars for Chewie because I thought it told the best story of them all!

HAPPY READING!!