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Stacking The Shelves (24)

February 4, 2023 Leave a Comment

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves – which can be physical or virtual. Meaning, it can include books bought from stores or online, library books, borrowed books, and so on.

Click HERE to view all my ‘Stacking The Shelves’ posts.

On My Shelves

What’s on your shelf this week?

Filed Under: Features, Stacking the Shelves Tagged With: , ,

First Line Friday (4)

February 3, 2023 4 Comments

First Line Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Reading is my Superpower. Like the title suggests, you share the first line of the book you’re currently reading.

Click HERE to see all my ‘First Line Friday‘ posts.

First line: Three weeks after my family flew home from their Chirstmas visit to Paris – three weeks spent slothfully reading in bed or randomly walking around the city – I stood on the Pyrénees Metro platform, returning from a trek around Parc des Brutte Chaumont, daydreaming about, of all things, Moken Island, a remote dot of land in the vast Adaman Sea where my family and I had been stranded and almost died.

Title: Daisy and the Missing Mona Lisa

Author: J.T. Allen

Genre: Mystery, Middle Grade

Miss Daisy Tannenbaum, almost thirteen, and homeschooling in Paris with her Aunt Millicent, takes a break from the City of Light and her dreaded math homework, and heads to a rambling chateau in the Loire Valley to help her Aunt Mill’s friend, former-spy Felix, catalog his art collection.

But when Daisy receives a copy of the Mona Lisa as a thank you, strange things start to happen. This Mona is not just any copy, it’s one of two perfect forgeries created to fool the Nazis during their hunt for the real Mona Lisa during WWII.

Daisy’s best friend from the states, Lucia, a newly minted teen model, and in Paris to audition for the spring runway shows, thinks Daisy’s Mona is the real one. Real or not, it’s worth a fortune, and when Felix suddenly dies, his family accuses Daisy of stealing it.

Our plucky heroine must navigate a world of crazy, scheming, often criminal adults, not to mention traveling ghosts, ginormous pigs, testy lawyers, former spies, and obnoxious fashionistas, as she finds herself in a harrowing chase in and around Paris while trying to outwit them all to keep her beloved Mona.

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Waiting on Wednesday (81)

February 1, 2023 4 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that was previously hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases bloggers are eagerley anticipating. These can be debut novels, sequels, eBooks,…as long as they aren’t released yet. It is currently being continued in Can’t Wait Wednesday over on Wishful Endings.

Click HERE to view all my ‘Waiting on Wednesday‘ posts.

I’m waiting for…

Title: Snow & Poison

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling

Release Date: April 18, 2023

 

Love is stronger than poison in this lush retelling of “Snow White” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

Raven-black hair, red lips, and skin as white as snow—Lady Sophie has led a sheltered life. . . . But that tale ends here.

Duchy of Bavaria, 1621. The palace is abuzz with excitement. The widowed Duke Maximilian is marrying a lady named Claudia, and at last, introducing his daughter Sophie to Bavaria’s high society.

At the ball, Sophie charms the dashing Prince Philip, heir to the Spanish throne. But as days pass and Sophie and Philip fall deeply and dangerously in love, the king of Spain orders Philip’s return home and his engagement to a princess.

Heartbroken, Sophie finds comfort in Claudia. But might the rumors of her stepmother’s dealings with magic be true? And when conflict between kingdoms puts a target on Sophie’s back, can a vanished witch be the key ally she needs? A new tale begins: one where Sophie must shield her heart, fight for life life, and protect her home.

What are you waiting for this week?

Filed Under: Features, Waiting on Wednesday Tagged With: , ,

Month in Review: January 2023

January 31, 2023 Leave a Comment

In this meme, I talk about what I’ve been upto in the past month.

A new year, a new month, a new leaf. After being virtually absent from my blog for months, close to a year, I decided to pick up where I left off. I’ve always loved blogging but with being pregnant last year – now proud Mom of a beautiful baby girl – I didn’t have much time for blogging. But this year, I’m determined to keep up with the momentum, and I’ve even read a bunch of books that have been on my backlist for months.

Here’s a list of books I read in January 2023. A lot of horror this month.

  1. American Coven by Amy Cross
  2. The Devil, the Witch and the Whore (The Deal Trilogy Book 1) by Amy Cross
  3. One Star: A Horror Story by Amy Cross
  4. The Haunting of Hurst House (Mercy Willow Book 1) by Amy Cross
  5. The Blood House (The Blood and Gore Collection) by Amy Cross
  6. Last Wrong Turn (The Blood and Gore Collection) by Amy Cross
  7. Escape from Hotel Necro (The Blood and Gore Collection) by Amy Cross
  8. Poison Ivy (Stonehurst Prep Elite Book 1) by Steffanie Holmes

Some of the books I read counted toward the reading challenges I’m participating in. You can find the current status here. I didn’t read any books for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge, but I did read some books for the following challenges:

Read about my progress here.

6 / 30 books. 20% done!

 

Read about my progress here.

1 / 10 books. 10% done!

 

Read about my progress here.

7 / 20 books. 35% done!

 

I also participated in a bunch of features this month, which was a lot of fun! How was your past month?

Filed Under: Features, Monthly Round-Up Posts Tagged With: , ,

Teaser Tuesdays (90)

January 31, 2023 2 Comments

Teaser-Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by The Purple Booker. In this meme, we grab our current read, open it to a random page and share two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page with our readers.

Click HERE to view all my ‘Teaser Tuesdays‘ posts.

Here is my teaser:

Cassie leans down from the lowest porch steps and draws the face / vase illusion from the teacher’s handout in the dirt with a stick and it is so beautifully drawn, she thinks, that she needs to make it more permanent. She places dead green beetles where the eyes of the faces would be. She gathers pebbles and uses them to outline the silhouettes of the faces.

~ The Best of Our Past, the Worst of Our Future by Christi Nogle

What’s your teaser for this week?

Filed Under: Features, Teaser Tuesdays Tagged With: , ,

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (135)

January 30, 2023 9 Comments

itsmonday

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by BookDate. It’s where book bloggers gather to talk about what books they read and reviewed last week, what books they’re currently reading and what books they’re planning to read. This is a great way for me to plan my reading week, and to take a sneak peek at what others are reading.

It’s been ages since I participated in any of these weekly features, but one of my goals in 2023 is to post more often, so here we are…

Click HERE to see all my ‘It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?‘ posts.

Finished Reading

Reading Next

What are you reading this week?

Filed Under: Features, It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Tagged With: , ,

The Sunday Post (3)

January 29, 2023 16 Comments

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

Click HERE to view all my ‘The Sunday Post‘ blogs.

Last Week On The Blog

Next Week On The Blog

  • Book Review: Poison Ivy (Stonehurst Prep Elite Book 1) by Steffanie Holmes – book reivew
  • It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (135) – feature
  • Teaser Tuesdays (90) – feature
  • Waiting on Wednesday (81) – feature
  • Book Review: Poison Flower (Stonehurst Prep Elite Book 2) by Steffanie Holmes – book review
  • First Line Friday (4) – feature
  • Stacking The Shelves (24) – feature

What I’m Watching

My boyfriend and I had a movie night and we watched Palm Springs. It’s a little reminiscent of Groundhog Day, in that it’s about a day that is endlessly on repeat. Hilarity ensues. The movie wasn’t bad; it was quite entertaining, but nothing shocking or too surprising. Just a fun little comedy.

What I’m Crafting

Last week, I finished crafting a small gnome with an oversized hat.

You can read a more detailed post about how I crafted this gnome on my author blog.

What I’m Writing

Title: Hear All Evil (Academy for the Wicked #2)
Genre: New Adult, Reverse Harem, Paranormal Romance
Status: Drafting

I’ve finally discovered what I really am. A Nightmare.

The revelation hasn’t exactly made my life easier, though. The Nightmare King is determined to hunt me down. The Grim Reaper, death itself, has put a target on my back. Can I trust the Queen of Maggots–the monster that has tormented my dreams for years?

All I know is that without the guys’ protection, I would already be dead. Five guys who swore to keep me safe, no matter what.

There’s Damian, an ancient vampire with a penchant for reading and brooding.

Christian, a demon prince who prefers to soothe my pain rather than cause me pain.

Alec, the most powerful warlock at the Academy for the Wicked, who likes to inflict pain – but the kind of pain that is rather enjoyable.

Ronan, the mesmer who can influence people’s thoughts and who seems to hold more secrets than I can count.

And then there’s Tristan. The necromancer who betrayed me.

Despite their oath, I’m not sure if I can trust them. After all, the Academy for the Wicked is filled with monsters…

… And now I’m truly one of them.

Wordcount first draft

10,000 / 125,000 words. 8% done!

 

What I’m Playing

This week, we played Escape Room The Game – Prison Island & Mad House. In this game, you have to escape from a certain situation within 60 minutes’ time!

You can read my review of this game on my author blog.

Filed Under: Features, The Sunday Post Tagged With: , ,

Stacking The Shelves (23)

January 28, 2023 Leave a Comment

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves – which can be physical or virtual. Meaning, it can include books bought from stores or online, library books, borrowed books, and so on.

Click HERE to view all my ‘Stacking The Shelves’ posts.

On My Shelves

What’s on your shelf this week?

Filed Under: Features, Stacking the Shelves Tagged With: , ,

First Line Friday (3)

January 27, 2023 2 Comments

First Line Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Reading is my Superpower. Like the title suggests, you share the first line of the book you’re currently reading.

Click HERE to see all my ‘First Line Friday‘ posts.

First line: The morning sun, filtered through a veil of dust and smoke, fell feebly upon the intersection where Broadway crossed Seventh Avenue.

Title: The Cabinet of Dr. Leng

Author: Preston & Child

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Preston & Child continue their #1 bestselling series featuring FBI Special Agent Pendergast and Constance Greene, as they cross paths with New York’s deadliest serial killer: Pendergast’s own ancestor…and now his greatest foe.

AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

Astoundingly, Constance has found a way back to the place of her origins, New York City in the late 1800s, leaping at the chance, although it means leaving the present forever.

A DESPERATE OPPORTUNITY

Constance sets off on a quest to prevent the events that lead to the deaths of her sister and brother. But along the road to redemption, Manhattan’s most infamous serial killer, Dr. Enoch Leng, lies in wait, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.

UNIMAGINABLE ODDS

Meanwhile, in contemporary New York, Pendergast feverishly searches for a way to reunite with Constance—but will he discover a way back to her before it’s too late?

Filed Under: Features, First Line Friday Tagged With: , ,

Waiting on Wednesday (80)

January 25, 2023 9 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme that was previously hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases bloggers are eagerley anticipating. These can be debut novels, sequels, eBooks,…as long as they aren’t released yet. It is currently being continued in Can’t Wait Wednesday over on Wishful Endings.

Click HERE to view all my ‘Waiting on Wednesday‘ posts.

I’m waiting for…

Title: Silver in the Bone

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Release Date: April 4, 2023

#1 New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Bracken cements her status as one of the top fantasy authors writing today in this stunning series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . . .

What are you waiting for this week?

Filed Under: Features, Waiting on Wednesday Tagged With: , ,

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