#5OnMyTBR – Contemporary

July 17, 2023 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook where you chose five books from your to-be-read pile that fit that week’s theme. If you’d like more info, head over to the announcement post!

Hello, reader!

It’s the start of another work week and that means it’s time for another 5 On My TBR! This week’s theme is contemporary books and I’m gonna be honest… I don’t gravitate towards contemporary books. So I twisted it a little bit and I’m going to share five contemporary romances that I want to read soon. I’ve been really getting into the romance genre lately and contemporary romance is my happy place, at the moment. So there were quite a few from which I could choose, but these are the five that are at the top of the pile.

Now let me share them with you!

#1. The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert

I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read by Talia Hibbert, so of course The Princess Trap is high on my TBR! This one contains a trope I haven’t explored much in romance: royalty. The cover is what pulled me in, too, because just look at it! I’m hoping this as fun and steamy as Talia Hibbert’s other adult romances. And then I continue exploring her backlist while I wait for whatever else she’s going to write for forever.

#2. Codename Charming by Lucy Parker

The main reason this book got onto my TBR is because of how much I loved the first book in this companion series, Battle Royal. I especially loved Pet, who stars in this book. The fact that this is also grumpy x sunshine, which is one of my favorite tropes, just sealed the deal. I’m hoping that I love this book just as much as I loved the first one and that there’s plenty more to come.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday #78

July 14, 2023July 14, 2023 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We’ve reached the end of the standard work week, which means it’s time for another First Lines Friday! This week, I’m featuring a romance that I recently picked up after hearing about it all over the bookish community. I read this book in two days, so I see why so many people were gushing about it!

I got pulled into the story fairly quickly, so let’s see if the first few lines can do the same for you.

The Line(s):

“The last time I attended a funeral, I ended up with a broken arm. The story made headlines after I threw myself into my mother’s open grave.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: Jul 12, 2023

July 12, 2023July 19, 2023 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.

Current Reads

11/22/63 by Stephen King: I’ve been reading this book for… almost a month now. It’s a long one, I’ll give it that, but it’s mostly because portions of it feel like such a slog. I’m finding myself easily distracted by other books and that’s never a good sign. Is it a bad book? No. When the main purpose of the story is the focus (some random dude going back in time to stop the Kennedy assassination) I’m all in! It’s when it drifts into the subplots that I start getting bored. Either way, I will finish it… eventually 😅
The Fine Print by Lauren Asher: On the opposite side of the spectrum, I just started this book this morning and I’m already over halfway through! I’ve been curious about the Dreamland Billionaires series for quite some time and have checked this book out from the library more than once. I always ended up having to return it before I managed to pick it up. I finally broke through whatever mental block was stopping me and I’m so glad I gave this a chance! It’s the perfect steamy romance to indulge in on a lazy day off from work.

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book tag

Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023

July 10, 2023 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

We’re going into the second full week of July and the year is officially over halfway done. Which completely blows my mind! I can’t believe that we’re already steaming towards a new school year because I feel like that last one just ended, haha. But with the year being half over, it’s time for the Mid-Year Book Freakout book tag! I always enjoy doing this tag because I get so lost in the sauce during the year and it’s nice to look back at all the books I’ve read. Even if there are a lot of “Oh, I read that this year???” moments. Time has no meaning, y’all 😂

Now, sources seem to differ on who created this tag. I’m going to say it was originally created by ReadLikeWildfire and Earl Grey Books because that’s the version of the tag I’ll be completing today. Thank you to them and all the other credited creators with slightly different tags for such a fun idea.

Alright, now let’s get to it!

Best Book You’ve Read So Far In 2023

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury

This was one of my first reads of the year and, oof, has it stuck with me. I find myself thinking about it randomly even in the heat of summer! It was wonderfully terrifying, with incredible atmosphere and compelling characters. It deals with some heavy topics, so, if you need them, please check trigger warnings. That being said, it’s a powerful book that had me devouring the pages. A perfect spooky read for the upcoming fall season!

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far In 2023

Network Effect by Martha Wells

Honestly, I could put all of the books from the Murderbot Diaries into this category (beyond the first one, of course). The full length novel, however, stands out as my absolute favorite. Probably because we get so much more Murderbot! Who will, perhaps, make another appearance in this post 👀 Either way, this series is incredible and I cannot wait for the new book that is coming in November!

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To

The Golden Frog Games by Claribel A. Ortega

There are so many I could name, but this is definitely at the top of the list. I loved the first book in this middle grade fantasy series, Witchlings, so I was excited to receive an ARC. Then life happened and I still haven’t gotten a chance to continue Seven, Valley, and Thorn’s story. If this story is anything like the first book, it’s going to magical with a lot of heart. I’m looking forward to finally giving it a read.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday #77

July 7, 2023 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

I’m back on my BS, which means I’m back to one of my favorite posts: First Lines Friday! I’m a sucker for a good guessing game, what can I say? Now, the book I’m featuring today is one that I recently started reading because I enjoyed a previous book from the author. So far, I’m having a lot of fun with it and, now, I’m hoping I can get you to read it by luring you with the first few lines.

Let’s see if my plan will work!

The Line(s):

“There was a vulture on the mailbox of my grandmother’s house. As omens go, it doesn’t get much more obvious than that.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

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cover reveal

Cover Reveal: Sign of the Slayer by Sharina Harris

July 5, 2023 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Hello, reader!

Today, it is my pleasure to join Hear Our Voices Tours in a very exciting cover reveal for Sign of the Slayer by Sharina Harris! Why is it so exciting? Well, there’s a few reasons. The book has been comped to Fullmetal Alchemist so I was already 100% onboard. I get to share an excerpt with y’all today, so that made me extra hyped. And then I saw the cover! If you’ve been around my blog for any amount of time, you know that I am a sucker for a beautiful cover. This one had me instantly adding the book to my ever-growing TBR!

Before I pull back the proverbial curtain, I want to thank Hear Our Voices Tours for letting me be a part of this cover reveal! I always have a good experience working with the people behind the scenes and this tour was no exception.

Now, let’s get to the post!

Full Metal Alchemist meets Vampire Diaries in this fun and clever dark academia series…

High school is supposed to be about studying, socializing, and marching-band practice. Not fighting vampires. Then one night flipped my world inside out―now, my life sucks. But it isn’t all bad. I’m at a slayer academy, learning things like the real origin of vamps and how to make serious weapons out of thin air.

Every last one of them will pay for what they did. I’m doing great.

Until I come face-to-face with the actual vampire prince…and I’m not sure of anything anymore. Vampires are supposed to be soul-sucking demons. But Khamari is…something else. He’s intelligent and reasonable―and he seems to know things about me that could change everything.

He’s also hiding something big, even from his own kind. And when a threat from an ancient evil is so extreme that a vampire will team up with a slayer to take it down, it isn’t just my need for revenge that’s at stake anymore.

It’s the whole damn world.

So are you ready to see this cover? Drum roll, please!

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5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Water

July 3, 2023 kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

Hello, reader!

Look who’s back! I’m sorry for my random and protracted absence. I can’t even fully explain what caused it other than IRL stress leading to doomscrolling leading to not want to actually interact with any form of social media. Pile that all together and my poor blog suffered. But I feel myself turning a corner and I’m missing yapping about books with y’all. I decided to ease myself back in with one of my favorite posts, another 5 On My TBR!

This week’s theme is all about one of my favorite things: water. If I could live on/near the water, I would be a happy gal. It’s my happy place so I was stoked to go through my TBR and find some books that deal with water in some way. I have a surprising lack of books set on or near water on my TBR, though! I managed to find five that I’m super excited to read, but I’m definitely open for more suggestions.

That being said, let’s get to my list!

#1. Rise of the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste

This is the second book in a wonderful middle grade series called The Jumbies. It is steeped in Caribbean culture and is so vividly written. I loved the characters, the lore, and how you felt like you were on the island with the characters. The second book in this series deals with creatures that leave beneath the waves, so it fits perfectly on this list. I can’t wait to read it!

#2. A Restless Truth by Freya Marske

After reading A Marvellous Light and giving it five stars, I immediately added the next two books in the series to my TBR. Imagine my added joy when I found out the second book was sapphic! And, the reason it’s on this list, it’s set at sea! This promises to be an intriguing adventure featuring a character I wanted to learn more about in the first book. I’m eager to follow Maud as she strikes her own path.

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blog tour · book reviews

BBNYA 2022 Winner Tour: Toby and the Silver Blood Witches by Sally Doherty

June 28, 2023 kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Hello, reader!

As BBNYA 2023 starts off, it’s finally time to sing the praises of our winner from 2022, Toby and the Silver Blood Witches by Sally Doherty! I didn’t get to read this book as a panelist, so I was eager to join in on this tour and get my chance! I love that a middle grade novel won last year’s competition and, having read it, I can certainly see why.

But, before I go on, let me tell you more about this award. BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website http://www.bbnya.com or Twitter @bbnya_official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

And, now, let’s talk about this book!

Title: Toby and the Silver Blood Witches
Author: Sally Doherty
Publisher: Soaring Skies Publishing
Publication date: July 5th, 2021
Length: 240 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Age group: Middle Grade
Content/Trigger Warnings: Experimentation, violence, kidnapping, imprisonment

Book Links

Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

A sinister plot. A hidden city in the sky. A boy with an impossible choice.

Twelve year old Toby has little time for friends or football since his mum fell ill. All he wants is to stay at home and keep an eye on her.

But mysterious things are happening beyond his garden hedge. Who is the figure at the window behind the barbed wire fence? And why is there a strange woman in his attic with a broken broom and bothersome pet bat?

Toby becomes entangled in an adventure of flying dogs, sparking hiccups and dangerous escapes. An innocent, young witch has been captured by a secretive organization which will stop at nothing to find out how magic works. Toby must rescue her and time is running out.

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blog tour · book reviews

Blog Tour: The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams by Victoria Williamson

June 8, 2023 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Hello, reader!

It’s been a minute, but today I have a blog tour stop to share with y’all! I’m happy to be able to participate in another tour hosted by The Write Reads and I’m extra excited because this is for a new middle grade fantasy. The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams by Victoria Williamson was a fun, quick read that I think younger readers would adore.

But, before I get to my review, I have people to thank. First, thank you to Dave @ The Write Reads and all of the crew for giving me a spot on this tour! Second, thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC of the book so that I could participate in this tour. It is, as always, appreciated!

Now, let’s get the post!

Title: The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams
Author: Victoria Williamson
Publisher: Tiny Tree
Publication date: May 11th, 2023
Length: 214 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Age group: Middle Grade

Book Links

Bookshop::B&N::Amazon::
Goodreads

In a strange little village called Witchetty Hollow, eleven-year-old Florizel is the first to run into the curious visitors who’ve come to open a brand new Daydream Delicatessen and sack-baby factory.

At first, it seems the daydream confection and cheap sack children are the best things that could have happened to the poor folk of the Hollow – after all, who has the money to rent their child from Storkhouse Services these days? But after a few weeks, Florizel starts to notice something odd happening to the adults of the town. First, they seem dreamy, then they lose all interest in their jobs and families. Soon they’re trading all their worldly goods in the newly-opened Pawnshop for money to buy daydreams. With no money for rent payments, the children of Witchetty Hollow are being reclaimed by Storkhouse Services at an alarming rate. Florizel needs to act.

A magical tale of intrigue and adventure from award-winning children’s author Victoria Williamson

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wrap up

April 2023 Wrap Up

May 30, 2023 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

Here I am, keeping up my new routine of waiting until a month is almost over to go over my reads from the month prior 😂 Look, life has been especially hectic in the McBookNerd household lately and my blogging has reflected that! Still, I want to talk about my reading in April because, honestly, it was a fantastic reading month. It was the Orilium Spring Equinox, which always is a ton of fun. I managed to read everything I needed to move my character along on the path to becoming the greatest Beast Master of all time! And I participated in an ARC reading challenge that got me to finally read one of the oldest books on my Netgalley shelf. On top of that, I just really enjoyed pretty much all of the books I read in April. All in all, it’s gonna be a tough month to beat!

That being said, let me share what I read in the month of April.

Books Reads

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill: I had so much fun with this middle grade fantasy! It was the March pick for Middle Grade Marvels and I’m so glad that pushed me into finally reading it. It’s been on my radar for awhile, but I just never picked it up. Now I’m firmly on the hype train because this was such a great read! It was whimsical, magical, and had me crying in public at a McDonald’s 😅 It made me want to read more from this author! ★★★★
Dark Eyes: White Lies by M.R. Noble: This is the sequel to a book I read for a tour hosted by The Write Reads, so when I saw it was going on tour with them, as well, I jumped on board! I enjoyed the first book in this series and this one was equally as enticing. The action picks right up from where it ends in the first novel, but things get a lot more intense very quickly. I enjoyed this read and the ending left me eager to continue this paranormal series! You can read my full review here. ★★★★
Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy: I read this book for a blog tour hosted by Hear Our Voices Tours. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this contemporary adult romance, but I had a great time reading it! The fact that it featured Black characters and book nerds just made my heart happy. And the steam was definitely on point! You can read my full review here. ★★★★
Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah: I spent a lot of April trying to catch up with Netgalley books and this was one that had been on my TBR for a minute. This YA horror ended up being an atmospheric, compelling read that hits on some dark topics in an interesting way. I thought the story was compulsively readable though the characters felt a little all over the place. In the end, though, I overall had a good time with this book. You can read my full review here. ★★★

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