Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Can't Wait 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. 


Release Date: May 15th, 2018
Author: Julia Heaberlin
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 368

Because Carl's past has finally caught up with him. The young woman driving the car is convinced her passenger is guilty, and that he's killed other young women. Including her sister Rachel. Now they're following the trail of his photographs, his clues, his alleged crimes. To see if he remembers any of it. Confesses to any of it. To discover what really happened to Rachel. Has Carl truly forgotten what he did or is he just pretending? Perhaps he's guilty of nothing and she's the liar. Either way in driving him into the Texan wilderness she's taking a terrible risk. For if Carl really is a serial killer, she's alone in the most dangerous place of all . . .




Why I'm Waiting: Dude... This books sounds intense and I'm pretty sure I need right now. Here's hoping Carl isn't a serial killer..

HAPPY READING!!

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

HAPPY RELEASE DAY - CatStronauts: Robot Rescue


Author: Drew Brockington
Pages: 184

Cat-Stro-Bot has been with the CatStronauts through it all. But now he's stranded on Jupiter's coldest moon after a mission gone wrong--and his best friend/creator Blanket isn't about to leave him behind. When CATSUP refuses Blanket's rescue mission request, he creates robo-stand-ins for the team so they can sneak off into space. Soon, the rest of the CatStronauts, Major Meowser, Pom Pom and Waffles, are off on their longest journey ever with experimental new technology. The robot rescue is afoot! In this full-color graphic novel, author/illustrator Drew Brockington takes the CatStronauts to new heights, adding in mounds of robot glitches, wonky cover-ups, and fish jokes by the ton!


I adore this comic series, it's so cute! I ran across these through my local library and picked it up on a whim. So glad I did. These stories are super cute and something I can sure with my younger cousins! As well as a fun read after a long day.

HAPPY READING!!

Monday, April 23, 2018

The Mermaid - Review

Author: Stephen Franck
Genre: Graphic Novel
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336



Once there was a mermaid who longed to know of more than her ocean home and her people. One day a fisherman trapped her in his net but couldn't bear to keep her. But his eyes were lonely and caught her more surely than the net, and so she evoked a magic that allowed her to walk upon the shore. The mermaid, Amelia, became his wife, and they lived on a cliff above the ocean for ever so many years, until one day the fisherman rowed out to sea and did not return.

P. T. Barnum was looking for marvelous attractions for his American Museum, and he'd heard a rumor of a mermaid who lived on a cliff by the sea. He wanted to make his fortune, and an attraction like Amelia was just the ticket.

Amelia agreed to play the mermaid for Barnum, and she believes she can leave any time she likes. But Barnum has never given up a money-making scheme in his life, and he's determined to hold on to his mermaid.


Okay, so I finished this book days ago, and since then have been trying to put into words all of my feelings about this book. I should start off by saying I was super lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this through the Penguin Random House booth at Emerald City Comic Con back in March. What follows is my honest review of The Mermaid by Christina Henry.

This is my second book by Christina Henry, and I can say I'm a huge fan of her writing style. She has an amazing way of telling a story that pulls right in and doesn't let me go. Even with story lines I'm not sure I'm going to love, she hooks me right in. I wasn't sure how I was going to fair on a book about a mermaid. But I'm happy I gave it a go.

Christina Henry's mermaid isn't like the ones your thinking. She's not human at all, but a creature of the ocean. One that has business with PT Barnum. It was absolutely wonderful to see the world through Amelia's eyes, especially a time period where women were very much seen and not heard. To understand that despite the glitz and glamour of the Gilded Age, there was darkness and a lot of things that just made very little sense.

I loved that PT Barnum wasn't made out to be a good guy. Christina Henry didn't throw any punches with his character and how far he'd go for freed. It was something I enjoyed. I also enjoyed watching Charity's character growth her knowing Amelia was amazing to see. Amelia herself is amazing. She knows who she is, and she knows that being a women doesn't hinder her in anyway. Though she's far from perfect. We get so the chinks in her armor, we get see her strength, and we get to see her grow as she learns about the world and what it means to human. Which isn't always a good thing.

The detail about the American Museum itself shows the amount of time and research went into this story. As well as the small glimpses of the fashion of the era.

I felt the entire story flowed so well together and all the pieces came together wonderfully. This had started out as my bus, but quickly became the only thing I was reading between work and life. To the point I fell asleep inside the book more than once! It's that good!

However, I'm not a hundred percent okay with how the book ended. It's a little bit about how things between Levi and Amelia changed toward the end of the book, and a little because it felt a bit rushed there at the end. Maybe it's because it left me wanting a little more time with Amelia. Maybe I wasn't ready for the book to done. But, that's why four stars instead of five. I just wasn't real happy with the ending.

The book as a whole, loved it! I just cannot gush enough about the writing, Amelia as a character as whole. It was a wonderful read and I'm glad I didn't have to wait until June to pick this up!

Buy, borrow, skip: You mean you haven't pre-ordered it already? Haven't put it on hold? What are you waiting for! Go now! And, pick up one of Christina Henry's other books while you wait!

HAPPY READING!!

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon

The time is has come for Dewey's 24 Hours Readathon! In one week you can dedicate your whole day do nothing but reading. You can chose where to celebrate and with who. It's wonderfully low stress, and a lot of phone. Gather snack, friends, and those books you've been meaning to read. Take a break to meet other readers, and maybe find your next read as people finish books throughout the day.

Can't spend the whole day reading? No big deal! You can dedicate every second of spare time to reading. Unplug for the day where you can and lose yourself in a good book.

I've done Dewey's to some degree for the last three years. Sadly I haven't been able to dedicated the 24 hours every time, but I've always tried to dedicate as much of day to reading as I can. This is year is one of those years where I won't be spending the whole day reading, but I will spending it around books and sharing books with friends for SeaBookstore Day!

So if your interested you can click the image above to check out their website! If you've already decided that your all in, click here to sign-up!

HAPPY READING!!

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Can't Wait 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. 

Release Date: May 29th, 2018
Author: Aaron Mahnke
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 320

Here are the incredible true stories of some of the mortals who achieved notoriety in history and folklore through horrible means. Monsters of this sort - serial killers, desperate criminals, and socially mobile people with a much darker double-life - are, in fact, quite real . . . including H. H. Holmes, the infamous Chicago serial killer; William Brodie, the Edinburgh criminal mastermind who inspired The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; and Bela Kiss, a Hungarian tinsmith with a most disturbing hobby: collecting women in gasoline drums.





Why I'm Waiting: I enjoy Aaron Mahnke's podcast of the same name, and I liked the first book in the series. It made for a fun night time bus read. Though this volume is a little more up my alley since it's about those wicked mortals.

HAPPY READING!!

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

HAPPY RELEASE DAY - Noir


Authors: Christopher Moore
Pages: 352

San Francisco. Summer, 1947. A dame walks into a saloon . . .
It’s not every afternoon that an enigmatic, comely blonde named Stilton (like the cheese) walks into the scruffy gin joint where Sammy "Two Toes" Tiffin tends bar. It’s love at first sight, but before Sammy can make his move, an Air Force general named Remy arrives with some urgent business. ’Cause when you need something done, Sammy is the guy to go to; he’s got the connections on the street.

Meanwhile, a suspicious flying object has been spotted up the Pacific coast in Washington State near Mount Rainer, followed by a mysterious plane crash in a distant patch of desert in New Mexico that goes by the name Roswell. But the real weirdness is happening on the streets of the City by the Bay.

When one of Sammy’s schemes goes south and the Cheese mysteriously vanishes, Sammy is forced to contend with his own dark secrets—and more than a few strange goings on—if he wants to find his girl.


I've been waiting for this book since I heard Christopher Moore talk about it a couple years back. I love a good Noir book.  Plus, the writing style of one of my favorite authors, hell yes!?

HAPPY READING!!

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Can't Wait 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. 

Release Date: May 29, 2018
Author: Jay Kristoff
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 416

On an island junkyard beneath a sky that glows with radiation, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap.

Seventeen-year-old Eve isn't looking for trouble--she's too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she spent months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, she's on the local gangster's wanted list, and the only thing keeping her grandpa alive is the money she just lost to the bookies. Worst of all, she's discovered she can somehow destroy machines with the power of her mind, and a bunch of puritanical fanatics are building a coffin her size because of it. 




Why I'm Waiting: You had me at robot gladiator and Jay Kristoff. Then you had a character name Lemon Fresh. Dude, I'm all in!

HAPPY READING!!

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

HAPPY RELEASE DAY - Beyond a Darkened Shore


Authors: Jessica Leake
Pages: 384

The ancient land of Éirinn is mired in war. Ciara, Princess of Mide, has never known a time when Éirinn’s kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores. 

The people of Mide have thankfully always been safe because of Ciara’s unearthly ability to control her enemies’ minds and actions. But lately, a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn, but the entire world. 

Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara’s enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he, too, shares her prophetic visions, she knows he’s something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara’s strength in battle the two might have a chance to save their world. 

With evil rising around them, they’ll do what it takes to defend the land they love…even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.


I've always loved storied based around myths and legends. So this sounds right up my alley. Plus who doesn't a love a badass female lead?!

HAPPY READING!!

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Mini Reviews








The more of this series I read the more I like it. Martha is quickly becoming my favorite character, and I think I might be figuring out what's going on. Maybe.. I'm not sure but I have theories on what's happening in this little town. Volume 3 is already on hold!










So Sledge isn't exactly my favorite character in the Silver series. She's rash and a wild card and I just want to shake some sense into her. However, you can't help but to feel bad for her after everything she went through in this book. Though with a name like Van Helsing it had to be something bad, the don't exactly have a happy shiny life in stories. Being cursed and all.



Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Can't Wait 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. 

Release Date: May 15th, 2018
Author: Stacy Horn
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 304


Today it is known as Roosevelt Island. In 1828, when New York City purchased this narrow, two-mile-long island in the East River, it was called Blackwell’s Island. There, over the next hundred years, the city would send its insane, indigent, sick, and criminal. Told through the gripping voices of Blackwell’s inhabitants, as well as the period’s city officials, reformers, and journalists (including the famous Nellie Bly), Stacy Horn has crafted a compelling and chilling narrative.






Why I'm Waiting: I've heard of Blackwell's Island, but I don't know much about except for who they use to ship there. 

HAPPY READING!!

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

HAPPY RELEASE DAY - Dread Nation


Series: Dread Nation
Authors: Justina Ireland
Pages: 464

Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville—derailing the War Between the States and changing America forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. But there are also opportunities—and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. After all, not even being the daughter of a wealthy white Southern woman could save her from society’s expectations.

But that’s not a life Jane wants. Almost finished with her education at Miss Preston’s School of Combat in Baltimore, Jane is set on returning to her Kentucky home and doesn’t pay much mind to the politics of the eastern cities, with their talk of returning America to the glory of its days before the dead rose. But when families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies. And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.


The whole premise of this books intrigues me. It's set in one of my favorite time periods, and honestly I good retelling. Even a historical one!

HAPPY READING!!

Monday, April 2, 2018

March Wrap Up

I got to see Hamilton! Which is probably the best thing that happened this month. I mean it was a pretty good month all said and done. But, Hamilton definitely it at the top. Which was then followed by Emerald City Comic-Con. Which was amazing as always! Met a great group of Hufflepuffs and some other book bloggers. Add on to the fact I got see Space Jam again on the big screen after more years than I care to divulge here. Still while I read a lot thanks to the fact I'm back to having time to read on the bus. April is gearing up to another good month, and I'm counting down the days until I get to fly home to see my family!



Books Read: 6
Pages Reads: 840
BINGO Books: 1
Currently Reading: Mermaid by Christina Henry
BINGO Books: 1 (Middle Grade)


I had the awesome opportunity to see both Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff talk about their books series the Illuminae Files, and even a bit about their new series. It was amazing and so glad my boss was able to cover the last few hours of my double so I could. You can read about that night here!

For April: Hopefully I'll be able to flip my schedule so I can go see Christopher Moore talk about is new book, Noir.

HAPPY READING!!