Down the TBR Hole #34.5
down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #34.5

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It’s time for a new round of Down the TBR Hole! This is where I go through my Goodreads ‘Want to Read’ shelf and do a bit of cleaning up. If you want to see the full description of what this post is all about, check out my first round HERE.

Hello, reader!

I hope you are having a lovely Thursday. I feel like I hit the ground already behind today, myself, haha. Just so much to do and too little time! That’s why this round of Down the TBR Hole is going to be a bit truncated. Instead of going through ten books and deciding whether or not they get to stay on me ‘Want to Read’ shelf, I’ll only be doing five. We shall see if I manage to remove any at the end of this round, haha.

That being said, I ended last round at 712 books on the TBR and I’ll be starting this one 711 books! Which is almost unheard of for me to not start with more books than I ended with previously 😂 Let’s see how this round goes… we might be sitting at the same number at the end.

Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan

I honestly don’t remember why I added this to my TBR. I’m not usually one who picks up contemporary novels on a whim. Though the concept sounds interesting, I don’t see myself picking this one up any time soon. Especially with how many books are on my TBR! So… I think this one will have to go, for now.

Verdict: Remove

The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

This is the sequel to one of my favorite books, The Shadow of the Wind. Though I don’t think it’s a direct sequel, but set in the same world? I think… Either way, after falling in love with the first book, I definitely want to give this one a try! I didn’t even realize The Shadow of the Wind was part of a series, but now I want to read them all.

Verdict: Keep

Continue reading “Down the TBR Hole #34.5” →
WWW Wednesday: Jul 27, 2022
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: Jul 27, 2022

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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:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. 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

  • Jade City by Fonda Lee: I’m not too far into this book but it certainly starts off with a bang! I also kind of already love Hilo and this seems like a bad choice to make? I dunno, there’s something about that hot-headed idiot that entices. The entire Kaul family are an interesting bunch and I can’t wait to learn more about them. I’m loving the writing, as well! So… so far, so good.
  • Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett: I’m finally continuing on reading the Discworld books! I’m glad that you can kind of pick these books up at your own place and easily fall back into the story. And I had forgotten how much I enjoy Sir Pratchett’s writing! I love the humor and the wit. The fact that this story centers around a girl who is determined to become the world’s first female wizard is certainly making this an interesting read. Esk is such a great character and I can’t wait to watch her kick the patriarchy’s butt.
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: Jul 27, 2022” →
Top 5 Tuesday: Illustrated
top 5 tuesday

Top 5 Tuesday: Illustrated

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Top 5 Tuesday is a fun, weekly meme that asks you to pick 5 books that fit that week’s theme. It was created by Bionic Bookworm and is currently being hosted by Meeghan Reads. You should check out their wonderful blog for more details and the list of prompts!

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Top 5 Tuesday! This week, it took me a bit to find five books to feature because the topic is all about illustrated books. This could be books with full on pictures or just pretty chapter headers or end pages. But I quickly realized that I haven’t read a ton of books with illustrations! Thankfully, I did find five books I’ve truly loved to put on my list.

With that said, let’s get to the post!

#1. Frostheart by Jamie Littler

I read this book earlier this year and fell in love with the characters and the story. The fact that it had beautiful illustrations throughout the book was a bonus! They added to the fun of the novel and made me love it even more. I’m excited to continue on with the series at some point. Also, I feel like adult books should be taking a page from middle grade and start throwing in some illustrations!

#2. A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

This book has a combination of illustrations and beautiful chapter headers that were just stunning. I wasn’t expecting it when I picked the book up and was pleasantly surprised! It gave the novella a storybook feel, which makes sense since it’s a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. This was a quick and engaging read that featured Alix E. Harrow’s beautiful writing. I’m hoping the sequel is just as incredible with more fantastic art peppered throughout.

Continue reading “Top 5 Tuesday: Illustrated” →
June 2022 Wrap Up
wrap up

June 2022 Wrap Up

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Hello, reader!

Here I am, once again bringing you a very late monthly wrap up 😅 Perhaps in August I’ll get my act together, but, let’s be honest, probably not. This summer months have been busy and stressful and, though I’ve been reading quite a bit, I’ve been terrible at keeping track the way I used to that made making my monthly wrap up posts easier. So then I just put it off until I finally make myself sit down and do it, haha.

We’ve arrived at that point, so it’s time to tell you all about the books I read in June!

Books Read

  • The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James: This was my first Simone St. James and, though I enjoyed my time with it, I have to say I was a little underwhelmed. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book. I thought they were intriguing and messed up and definitely interesting to follow. But this is a book that bounces back and forth between POVs and timelines and I found the timelines set in the past so intensely dull. Still, I enjoyed the spooky elements and the writing was good. That plus the great characters helped me pull through the duller chapters. ★★★
  • The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake: I went into this one unsure of how I was going to like it. I’m a fan of dark academia, but there are so many mixed reviews about this book! Thankfully, I fell on the side of loving it. The vibes were incredible, the characters were fascinating, and I loved the (admittedly convoluted sometimes) plot. There were moments were the writing felt a tad overwrought and boring, but those were few and far between. All in all, this was a wild ride and I’m eager to read the sequel. ★★★★
  • Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan: Here’s another book that has a lot of mixed reviews. And, again, I ended up on the side of loving it! This book was absolutely beautiful, inside and out. The writing was stunning! Like, so beautiful there were passages I listened to over again because I just loved them so much. The plot is fast-paced and intriguing and the worldbuilding is fantastic! The best part of this book, however, is the characters, especially Xingye. She’s such a nuanced and fierce character to watch grow throughout the story. Definitely looking forward to the sequel! ★★★★
  • Son of Shadow by John Lenahan: I read this book for a blog tour hosted by The Write Reads. It’s a fantasy that is focused around Irish mythology and it was quite a bit of fun! I loved how this book was a fantasy with a very contemporary feel. And the land of Tir na Nog was enchanting to read in this book. I have to admit to feeling a little lost for most of the book because this is the first book in a new trilogy, but there’s an entire trilogy before this. It felt like I was missing a lot of information because I hadn’t read that series. Overall, though, I had a good time with this book. You can read my full review here. ★★★
Continue reading “June 2022 Wrap Up” →
Sundays In Bed With… Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
sundays in bed with

Sundays In Bed With… Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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Sundays in Bed With… is a meme that dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

Hello, reader!

Happy Sunday! I hope you’ve been having a relaxing day, so far. I’ve been doing a lot of chilling and a lot of reading this lovely day. Partly because it’s a billion degrees outside and, even though I love hot weather, I don’t feel like melting today. And partly because I’ve been quite engrossed in my current read.

So let’s jump into the post so I can tell you more about it!

My Sunday Read Is…

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I kept saying that this book has utterly surprised me and I feel like I need to qualify that statement. It’s not like I went into this book expecting it to be bad. Quite the opposite. I’ve enjoyed two other books by TJR, so I know I enjoy her writing. It’s the fact that I’ve come to care so much about a quartet of famous people and all their problems. Which, thinking about it now, I should have known better. The books I’ve read by TJR both feature famous people and I came to care about those characters, as well! I suppose I don’t like books about celebrities… unless they’re written by Taylor Jenkins Reid 😂

Goodreads Synopsis

Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.

Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them… and what they will leave behind.

What are you reading this Sunday? Are you enjoying whatever you are reading? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

Book Blogger Hop: Jul 22 – 28
book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Jul 22 – 28

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The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Crazy-For-Books and is currently being hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. Every Friday, a new question is posted for book bloggers to answer in the coming week. The purpose of the hop is connection and community. You can discover new blogs to follow, new books to read, and you may end up with some new followers, as well!

This Week’s Question

Is there a hard-to-find first edition that you would love to own? If so, why?

Submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer.

Continue reading “Book Blogger Hop: Jul 22 – 28” →
First Lines Friday #54
first lines friday

First Lines Friday #54

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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 (I cheat a little bit here *cough*)
  • Finally… reveal the book!

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

Hello, reader!

We’ve reached another Friday and I’m ready for a weekend of rest and relaxation! Which means, of course, a ton of reading. I’m hoping to get through a few more books before the month is over. It’s mindboggling to me that’s already almost August 😳 One of the books I’m planning to read this week is also my featured book for First Lines Friday! I’ve already started reading this book and, I have to say, the first line certainly snagged my attention.

Now, we’re gonna see if it can snag yours!

The Line(s):

“I was going to kill Zoe.

Heat simmered in my belly as I crept up behind her. She was oblivious to my presence, gazing over the stone balcony toward the forest. Rotting tree stumps littered the field below, but nobody lurked in the shadows.

Now was my chance to take her out.”

The Hints:

This is a YA thriller that was released earlier this year.

It has an obnoxiously bright, red cover!

Games play an integral part in the story.

The Reveal:

Continue reading “First Lines Friday #54” →
The Cheesy Goodness Book Tag
book tag

The Cheesy Goodness Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s Thursday and that seems as good a day as any for another book tag! Today, I’m doing one that combines two of my favorite things: books and cheese! Makes me want to whip up a charcuterie board and have a snack whilst reading after I finish this post 😂 But maybe first I should tell you what it actually is… The Cheesy Goodness Book Tag!

Before I start, I must thank two incredible bloggers for tagging me! Shoutout to both Ashley @ Books Are 42 and Danni @ _ForBooksSake for thinking of me! You should definitely check out both of their blogs because they are fantastic. Lots of wonderful, bookish content!

Now, it’s time to get to the tag 😊

The Rules:

  • Pingback the original creator (Sydney at Fire and Rain books) so she can see all your cheesy goodness answers.
  • Pingback the person who tagged you or you stole this from (Thanks Ashley and Danni!)
  • Have fun!

The Prompts:

Cheddar – The Traditional Cheese: Name Your Favorite Classic Novel

Oh, it has to be The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas! I was so nervous about reading this book. Mostly because my experience with classics has been very hit or miss, but also partly because this book is THICK. Eventually, though, my curiosity won out and I picked up the audiobook. I absolutely fell in love with the king of all revenge stories! This was such an incredible novel and it made me want to explore more books by Dumas.

Swiss – A Hole-y Cheese: Name an Emotional Roller Coaster

I just finished Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley yesterday while I was at work. I probably should have held off until I got home because, dear lord, does this book pack a punch! My heart was in my throat for most of the last few chapters, from both joy and sadness. I was prepared for an intriguing thriller that kept me engaged. I was not prepared to have my feelings bounce around like a ping-pong ball 😂 Suffice it to say, I loved this book!

Blue Cheese – The Controversial Cheese: Name an Unpopular Book Opinion You Have

I’m slowly starting to realize that I’m not a fan of e-books 😬 I love the concept of them! I love that they make books more accessible and easy to bring wherever you go. But the actual experience of reading them? No thank you. I don’t know if it’s because I stare at screens all the time and adding one more screen to my routine is too much or if I just really prefer having a physical book in my hand, but they’re definitely my least preferred reading format.

Brie – The Favorite Cheese: Name an Author You Always Want More Of

Top of the list has to be Erin Morgenstern. She has written two of my favorite books of all time. She’s one of the few authors where I read one book they wrote and immediately added them to my ‘favorite authors’ list. And I cannot wait til whatever she’s working on next is announced! I just need more of her beautiful, lyrical writing and the fantastical worlds that she creates. Until then, I’ll just have to re-read The Night Circus and The Starless Sea until my books fall apart 😂

Continue reading “The Cheesy Goodness Book Tag” →
WWW Wednesday: Jul 20, 2022
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: Jul 20, 2022

kerrimcbooknerd5 Comments

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:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. 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

  • Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Not gonna lie, I only picked this book because it’s a book of the month pick for one of my Goodreads groups. Nothing about the synopsis really appealed to me because it sounded like it was just going to be a story of rich people making terrible decisions. Which… it kind of is, but it’s more so a story about family and familial bonds. And I’m kind of loving it!
  • Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert: I started this book yesterday and stayed up way too late because I did not want to stop! I loved the other books in the Brown Sisters series, but this book? This book is top-tier, chef’s kiss, cannot be beat. Eve and Jacob? Jacob and Eve?! I adore them so much and I want nothing but wonderful things for these precious beans. I’m currently deep enough into the book that I am dreading the probable third act breakup because why can’t they just be happy?! I mean… I know they will be in the end, but why can’t they be noooow 😭
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: Jul 20, 2022” →
Top 5 Tuesday: Magic Systems
top 5 tuesday

Top 5 Tuesday: Magic Systems

kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Top 5 Tuesday is a fun, weekly meme that asks you to pick 5 books that fit that week’s theme. It was created by Bionic Bookworm and is currently being hosted by Meeghan Reads. You should check out their wonderful blog for more details and the list of prompts!

Hello, reader!

I’m enjoying a day off this Tuesday and it’s been quite relaxing! I’m loving hanging out with the family and, of course, reading a ton. Now, it’s time for another Top 5 Tuesday! I’m excited for this week’s theme because I get to talk about my favorite magic systems. As a fantasy reader, good magic systems are like my life blood. Of course, it also means I had a hell of a time narrowing this list down to my top five 😂

All that being said, let’s jump into my list!

#1. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

We all knew this was going to be at the top of the list! This blog is a little bit of a Raybearer hype vehicle because I will talk about this book/series at any opportunity possible! That being said, the magic system is one of the reasons I adore this book so much. It was interesting and diverse, with tons of different abilities and a fascinating explanation of how they work. It makes sense, within this world, and I loved it!

#2. The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson

The magic system in the first Mistborn trilogy is one of the most unique ones I’ve ever read! I love that it’s based around different metals and how different metals give different powers. It makes for such an intriguing world. It also makes watching Vin learn all her powers that much more fun. I was definitely never bored as I was reading the first book! I still need to finish this trilogy, but I’m sure the last book will wow me just as much as the first.

Continue reading “Top 5 Tuesday: Magic Systems” →