tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214875669145246302024-02-23T21:03:50.409-05:00The Literary HedonistRosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-32240643179190589052018-04-18T08:00:00.000-04:002018-04-18T08:00:05.772-04:00Re-reading an Old Favorite (...and Why I Wished I Hadn't)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji69rI7lWYfj89DUWMfvsjMYrURgkNa-jXqHgG86DZIaJ8-mSRU4g3h2-PpssLpLhcR67qYpJtePG_Pc7bGJdJ7fF1soTKllXUEHbYS0iUxoqReJZGBK6LhErp2iKYLxhwV8T9vuEDL04p/s1600/Hot+Ice+by+Nora+Roberts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="469" data-original-width="318" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji69rI7lWYfj89DUWMfvsjMYrURgkNa-jXqHgG86DZIaJ8-mSRU4g3h2-PpssLpLhcR67qYpJtePG_Pc7bGJdJ7fF1soTKllXUEHbYS0iUxoqReJZGBK6LhErp2iKYLxhwV8T9vuEDL04p/s400/Hot+Ice+by+Nora+Roberts.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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I first read <i>Hot Ice</i> by Nora Roberts when I was 14. I found a well-worn mass market paperback copy of it in my high school library. I picked it up because it had a pink cover with a high heel on it. It was my first ever Nora Roberts novel. It was my first ever romance novel, for that matter. A gateway drug. I was so obsessed with it, that when I was finished with it, I read it three more times back to back. I haven't read it again since, and it's held a very fond and important place in my heart and on my bookshelf. </div>
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I was thinking about it recently, how I loved it and wanted that rush of being obsessed with a book again. So, I dared to tempt fate and tried re-reading it again--and immediately wished I hadn't. I could tell after only 5 pages that this was just not going to hold up. Even in 2002, this book was dated by about 15 years. It screams '80s, and the cheesiness that once had me swooning as a teen dipping a toe into the romance genre, now had me rolling my eyes and cringing. </div>
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I stopped reading at 25 pages in, trying to subvert my disillusionment. Why oh why did I taint my adoration of this book? I've had it on a pedestal for 15 years! </div>
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Hard lesson that I already knew after re-reading <i>Twilight</i> but was hoping would not be the case here: Tastes change. People mature. The way books are written evolve. Maybe, one sweet day in the future, I will find another unicorn of a book that will be so good that it demands to be read several times in a row. And when I do, I won't dare try reading it again decades later, and I will simply savor the delicious memory of it instead.</div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-24564953365737840952018-04-17T15:01:00.000-04:002018-04-17T15:01:17.579-04:00Book Review Rant: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXbjtIN8i4Ym0jHeZGpKh6LLmlZ6-P7t6MVmU4-RwCK2dKZmAyVXpeCylwFxtr9AC0z6wS9xwLqyDJsX_eS0fNoEMb6E8P3hXt_cZva04C3aNieZhFQLl3LMRp3_Fu7WMyixm5DVhrVe5/s1600/Review+of+Me+Before+You+by+Jojo+Moyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Review of Me Before You by Jojo Moyes" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXbjtIN8i4Ym0jHeZGpKh6LLmlZ6-P7t6MVmU4-RwCK2dKZmAyVXpeCylwFxtr9AC0z6wS9xwLqyDJsX_eS0fNoEMb6E8P3hXt_cZva04C3aNieZhFQLl3LMRp3_Fu7WMyixm5DVhrVe5/s1600/Review+of+Me+Before+You+by+Jojo+Moyes.jpg" title="Review of Me Before You by Jojo Moyes" /></a><b style="font-weight: bold;"></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">Author:</b> Jojo Moyes</div>
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<b>Pub Date:</b> December 31st, 2012</div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">Publisher:</b> Penguin Audiobooks</div>
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<b style="font-weight: bold;">Format:</b> Audio CD</div>
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<b>ISBN: </b>978-1-6117-6235-8</div>
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<b>Description: </b><br />
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Louisa Clark is an ordinary young woman living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair-bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.<br />
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Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.<br />
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A love story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?</div>
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<b><b>Review:</b></b></div>
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<i><b>SPOILERS!</b> Fair warning...</i><br />
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</i> This review is not even delving into the ableism that this book is criticized for, which you can read about <a href="https://theestablishment.co/we-must-protest-the-disability-representation-in-me-before-you-8d36c7d0ebd2">here</a>, <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/me-before-you-criticism-disability">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.hercampus.com/entertainment/im-disabled-i-think-me-you-harmful-representation-community">here</a>. This is focused solely on the poor quality of writing.<br />
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Taken from my gut-reaction <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2306604807" target="_blank">Goodreads review</a>:<br />
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Wow, an unexpectedly bad read. I feel lied to; I thought I was getting a tear-jerking romance. Instead I got a total snoozefest.<br />
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One of the biggest problems is that the pacing is so off. Anytime anything remotely interesting starts to happen, you get a shift into another character's negligible point of view--for a single chapter, barely any impact--and anything potentially good gets totally glossed over. The night they spent together at the hotel, the highly-anticipated vacation, then Dignitas. <br />
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Also, I read this as an audiobook that I thought was a full cast reading. But aside from the Luisa's voice actor, the other actors only got one chapter each throughout, which I find odd and disappointing.<br />
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In summation: lazy writing mostly about a boring main character who I barely cared about at the end.<br />
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<br />Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-65372140779433248792017-11-03T21:14:00.001-04:002017-11-03T21:14:39.806-04:00Book Review: Classics Reimagined Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAwy8-dIhbykPcWwz1FFB3NHkLDCnkOwshQD1P3sC6pHQpS9hRvDk-ON4DiayQZp3C6KcX3gjv5QL24iXLXBe48FVndTuUqCRibF-DVtBDb6DpmHLbvyaLkf77usbpCp8lAvFdQcgWt0O/s1600/9781631593697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1205" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAwy8-dIhbykPcWwz1FFB3NHkLDCnkOwshQD1P3sC6pHQpS9hRvDk-ON4DiayQZp3C6KcX3gjv5QL24iXLXBe48FVndTuUqCRibF-DVtBDb6DpmHLbvyaLkf77usbpCp8lAvFdQcgWt0O/s400/9781631593697.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Author:</b> Lewis Carroll</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Illustrator:</b> Andrea D'Aquino</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pub Date:</b> October 17th, 2017</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Publisher:</b> Rockport Publishers</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Format:</b> Paperback Original</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>ISBN:</b> 9781631593697</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Description: </b><br />
<p style="text-align: justify;">A classic tale returns, unabridged, with dazzling modern illustrations; perfect for gift giving! Enjoy Lewis Carroll's <i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</i> as you've never seen it before. Andrea D'Aquino's modern, illustrative interpretation of this classic tale follows Alice on her fanciful journey down the rabbit hole.<br><br />
Join her as she meets friends like the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, and the Caterpillar! The lush, multi-faceted images breathe new life into this classic novel, making it a collectible for new readers and art lovers every where.<br><br />
The Classics Reimagined series is a library of stunning collector's editions of unabridged classic novels illustrated by contemporary artists from around the world. Each artist offers his or her own unique, visual, interpretation of the most well-loved, widely read, and avidly collected literature from renowned authors.</p></blockquote><br />
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</div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Review:</b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">I received this beautifully illustrated paperback edition of <i>Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</i> in a Goodreads giveaway from Rockport Publishing, an imprint of Quarto. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It has a sturdy matte cover and purple page edges, which I love. As a book designer with experience on the production end as well, I think it's a really special touch that some publishers don't go for because it can be quite pricey, and page edge colors aren't an immediate selling point for books sitting on a shelf. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The full-color interior boasts modern-looking collage illustrations on just about every other page. I think what helps this edition stand out from the countless others is that the illustrations are intricate and abstract, and therefor more geared toward adult readers. They're still fun and whimsical, but they're also eclectic and different. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is definitely my new favorite copy, and I have 3 or 4 editions.</div><div><div><div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.1px; text-align: justify;"></div></div></div></div></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-85621873309513367432017-04-28T13:01:00.000-04:002017-04-28T13:01:28.313-04:00March & April 2017 Reads<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAcblD_Pwmc-ZATaJnyCe_wMJxVa_-pCgQUAuux2MECObEVvSWWRO4ln0opb4-8dvWQejlJ-4lnu_wDe8X7l3wKos5clY2_AOjta9qUa0fbE8WOKL6QGtHSPIHSZmhPe2jpuf4v4XrznB/s1600/novels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAcblD_Pwmc-ZATaJnyCe_wMJxVa_-pCgQUAuux2MECObEVvSWWRO4ln0opb4-8dvWQejlJ-4lnu_wDe8X7l3wKos5clY2_AOjta9qUa0fbE8WOKL6QGtHSPIHSZmhPe2jpuf4v4XrznB/s1600/novels.jpg" /></a><br />
<p class="test1">Novels</p><ul><li><i>A Night to Surrender (Spindle Cove #1)</i> by Tessa Dare </li>
<li><i>Once Upon a Winter's Eve (Spindle Cove #1.5)</i> by Tessa Dare </li>
<li><i>A Week to Be Wicked (Spindle Cove #2) </i>by Tessa Dare </li>
<li><i>A Lady by Midnight (Spindle Cove #3) </i>by Tessa Dare (Goodreads Author) </li>
<li><i>Beauty and the Blacksmith (Spindle Cove #3.5) </i>by Tessa Dare </li>
<li><i>Any Duchess Will Do (Spindle Cove #4) </i>by Tessa Dare </li>
<li><i>Lord Dashwood Missed Out (Spindle Cove #4.5) </i>by Tessa Dare </li>
<li><i>Do You Want to Start a Scandal (Spindle Cove #5) </i>by Tessa Dare </li>
<li><i>The Lover's Dictionary</i> by David Levithan </li>
<li><i>The Midwife's Apprentice </i>by Karen Cushman </li>
<li><i>Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) </i>by Morgan Rhodes </li>
</ul><br><br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd5fH_d2-4uFdEJrcdRoSg0SC0l7OiR_jNAgp819QVIR7RJZwiV7mWOJ5iCS2diIHggUuH2L1rM39kKNRnOEcSDZ8eWU1xh7Nz20c26YZXx73fS3atmN2eIyISotkbb4B8qITE08FXP9D/s1600/tessa+dare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd5fH_d2-4uFdEJrcdRoSg0SC0l7OiR_jNAgp819QVIR7RJZwiV7mWOJ5iCS2diIHggUuH2L1rM39kKNRnOEcSDZ8eWU1xh7Nz20c26YZXx73fS3atmN2eIyISotkbb4B8qITE08FXP9D/s1600/tessa+dare.jpg" /></a></div><br><br><br />
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<br><br><p class="test1">Graphic Novels</p><ul><li><i>Sabine's Notebook (Griffin & Sabine #2) </i>by Nick Bantock </li>
<li><i>The Golden Mean (Griffin & Sabine #3) </i>by Nick Bantock </li>
<li><i>The Pharos Gate: Griffin & Sabine's Lost Correspondence (Griffin & Sabine) </i>by Nick Bantock </li>
<li><i>Belle's Tale (Disney Beauty and the Beast #1) </i>by Mallory Reaves </li>
<li><i>The Little Mermaid </i>by Metaphrog </li>
</ul><br><br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisduNoY0uFP44Bq4uWxqzzoi6nnaZQYbjStD8xRN4jjQ7o0_mRQOwpvWFElG97ORh_IVfF3rGCIrXos8sFhBSpbDQQFGHfpG6u2RD_mTn9CPrT5gD6pRsEa15QolQDjc_1lhU8Vsebc71W/s1600/graphic+novels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisduNoY0uFP44Bq4uWxqzzoi6nnaZQYbjStD8xRN4jjQ7o0_mRQOwpvWFElG97ORh_IVfF3rGCIrXos8sFhBSpbDQQFGHfpG6u2RD_mTn9CPrT5gD6pRsEa15QolQDjc_1lhU8Vsebc71W/s1600/graphic+novels.jpg" /></a></div><br><br><br />
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<br><br><p class="test1">DNF </p><ul><li><i>Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2) </i>by Laini Taylor </li>
<li><i>Curious Minds (Knight and Moon #1) </i>by Janet Evanovich, Phoef Sutton </li>
<li><i>Echoes in Death (In Death #44) </i>by J.D. Robb </li>
<li><i>Sweet Revenge (A Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #14) </i>by Diane Mott Davidson </li>
<li><i>On the Surface (In the Zone #1) </i>by Kate Willoughby </li>
</ul><br><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiM0rz8_C7fjej_NIJkdx1oBDOMN9hStauOaffaLr70JSlCQbikChLCP6cZGGxTI362KJNqrsfcJjsv82pZRgPSWI2VIzGcqeaPWZOyT8UHeng64jnp0rJs7etn1N0wCBHwEGoudxIKqp/s1600/def.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiM0rz8_C7fjej_NIJkdx1oBDOMN9hStauOaffaLr70JSlCQbikChLCP6cZGGxTI362KJNqrsfcJjsv82pZRgPSWI2VIzGcqeaPWZOyT8UHeng64jnp0rJs7etn1N0wCBHwEGoudxIKqp/s1600/def.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-34320793504753843652017-02-27T13:02:00.000-05:002017-02-27T13:02:40.803-05:00January & February 2017 Reads<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq83hU3b6Gjks2UpFT1F-A-YYQTczHb7pRnJ96BCMp_U9lhDIACuCwacIR5fFzY7sczMTYQnzyEoZFu9ZEwcI1OTLpXoaRk-95mKb514DwChiSQxe_TBNBkAFXLK6ImmdfZOaWUDB8phJ/s1600/Jan+%2526+Feb+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq83hU3b6Gjks2UpFT1F-A-YYQTczHb7pRnJ96BCMp_U9lhDIACuCwacIR5fFzY7sczMTYQnzyEoZFu9ZEwcI1OTLpXoaRk-95mKb514DwChiSQxe_TBNBkAFXLK6ImmdfZOaWUDB8phJ/s1600/Jan+%2526+Feb+2017.jpg" /></a><br />
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<p class="test1">Novels:</p><ol><li><b><i>How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/180353-the-embraced">(The Embraced #1)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2357.Kerrelyn_Sparks">Kerrelyn Sparks</a></li>
<li><b><i>Alanna: The First Adventure</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/43928-song-of-the-lioness">(Song of the Lioness #1)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8596.Tamora_Pierce">Tamora Pierce</a></li>
<li><b><i>The Chemist</i></b> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/941441.Stephenie_Meyer">Stephenie Meyer</a></li>
</ol><p class="test1">Graphic Novels:</p><ol><li><b><i>Besties</i></b> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14888945.Leah_Goren">Leah Goren</a></li>
<li><b><i>Beasts!: Book One</i></b> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/59539.Jacob_Covey">Jacob Covey</a></li>
<li><b><i>The Pied Piper of Hamelin</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/138959-russell-brand-s-trickster-tales">(Russell Brand’s Trickster Tales)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/884168.Russell_Brand">Russell Brand</a></li>
<li><b><i>Lucy</i></b> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/508622.Randy_Cecil">Randy Cecil</a></li>
<li><b><i>How Mirka Got Her Sword</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/99144-hereville">(Hereville #1)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4192028.Barry_Deutsch">Barry Deutsch</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1247237.Jake_Richmond">Jake Richmond</a> (Colorist)</li>
<li><b><i>Griffin and Sabine</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/72709-griffin-sabine">(Griffin & Sabine #1)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/28699.Nick_Bantock">Nick Bantock</a></li>
<li><b><i>Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/189581-miss-peregrine-s-peculiar-children-graphic-novels">(Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Graphic Novels #1)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3046613.Ransom_Riggs">Ransom Riggs</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5377476.Cassandra_Jean">Cassandra Jean</a></li>
<li><b><i>Hollow City</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/189581-miss-peregrine-s-peculiar-children-graphic-novels">(Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children Graphic Novels #2)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3046613.Ransom_Riggs">Ransom Riggs</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5377476.Cassandra_Jean">Cassandra Jean</a> (Visual Art)</li>
</ol><p class="test1">Children’s/Illustrated:</p><ol><li><b><i>The Dragon Hunters</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/151773-the-dragon-brothers-trilogy">(The Dragon Brothers Trilogy #1)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7867083.James_Russell">James Russell</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7876039.Link_Choi">Link Choi</a> (Illustrations)</li>
<li><b><i>You Can't Be Too Careful!</i></b> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1188393.Roger_Mello">Roger Mello</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/162159.Daniel_Hahn">Daniel Hahn</a> (Translation)</li>
<li><b><i>Me Tall, You Small</i></b> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6000123.Lilli_L_Arronge">Lilli L'Arronge</a> (Illustrations)</li>
<li><b><i>Liam Takes a Stand </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/599077.Troy_Wilson">Troy Wilson</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4507748.Josh_Holinaty">Josh Holinaty</a> (Illustrations)</li>
<li><b><i>A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School... </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/464393.Davide_Cali">Davide Cali</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15021151.Benjamin_Chaud">Benjamin Chaud</a></li>
<li><b><i>A Doll For Marie </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/221464.Louise_Fatio">Louise Fatio</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12713.Roger_Duvoisin">Roger Duvoisin</a> (Illustrations)</li>
<li><b><i>Adventures with Barefoot Critters</i></b> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5429310.Teagan_White">Teagan White</a></li>
<li><b><i>Secret Tree Fort </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6897718.Brianne_Farley">Brianne Farley</a></li>
<li><b><i>Rosie Revere, Engineer</i></b> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/379125.Andrea_Beaty">Andrea Beaty</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3056384.David_Roberts">David Roberts</a> (Illustrator)</li>
</ol><p class="test1">Misc. Genres:</p><ol><li><b><i>You Are Here: An Owner's Manual for Dangerous Minds</i></b> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5272674.Jenny_Lawson">Jenny Lawson</a></li>
</ol><p class="test1">DNF:</p><ol><li><b><i>Burning Glass</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/156796-burning-glass">(Burning Glass #1)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10315278.Kathryn_Purdie">Kathryn Purdie</a> </li>
<li><b><i>The Art of Sinning</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/141484-sinful-suitors">(Sinful Suitors #1)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50886.Sabrina_Jeffries">Sabrina Jeffries</a> </li>
<li><b><i>Flat-Out Love</i></b> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/99730-flat-out-love">(Flat-Out Love #1)</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22159.Jessica_Park">Jessica Park</a></li>
</ol>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-91043683926871221452016-12-31T00:00:00.000-05:002017-01-04T21:26:11.793-05:00December 2016 Reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcIfjc2Et_kS1FoGKWWBSTGUIPlJPIvBJvJ3-wAcupBuwPulb7_S8sWkH6DhyphenhyphenoV3cDscFqoKNmjo8kpfEaEjdG3ovJBjj3yooaXlZX7JQBEPbG8xHTsH3YDO-G0ZqTpKAhctPT3yrQ1IB/s1600/Dec+2016+Reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcIfjc2Et_kS1FoGKWWBSTGUIPlJPIvBJvJ3-wAcupBuwPulb7_S8sWkH6DhyphenhyphenoV3cDscFqoKNmjo8kpfEaEjdG3ovJBjj3yooaXlZX7JQBEPbG8xHTsH3YDO-G0ZqTpKAhctPT3yrQ1IB/s1600/Dec+2016+Reads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Novels </b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Behind Her Eyes</i> by Sarah Pinborough </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b>Graphic Novels </b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Rick and Morty: Lil' Poopy Superstar Volume 1</i> by Sarah Graley, Marc Ellerby (Contributor), Mildred Louis (Illustrator) </li>
<li><i>Dog Man (Dog Man #1)</i> by Dav Pilkey <i>Love Volume 4: The Dinosaur (Love #4) </i>by Frédéric Brrémaud, Federico Bertolucci (Contributor) </li>
<li><i>I Feel Bad: All Day. Every Day. about Everything. </i>by Orli Auslander </li>
<li><i>Dog Night at the Story Zoo </i>by Dan Bar-el, Vicki Nerino (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>One Trick Pony </i>by Nathan Hale </li>
<li><i>Charlaine Harris' Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly Graphic Novels #2) </i>by Charlaine Harris, Royal McGraw, Ilias Kyriazis (Contributor) </li>
<li><i>Ghoul Scouts: Night of the Unliving Undead </i>by Steve Bryant, Mark Stegbauer (Contributor), Jason Millet (Contributor) </li>
<li><i>The Slanted Life of Emily Dickinson: America's Favorite Recluse Just Got a Life! </i>by Rosanna Bruno </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>Children’s/Illustrated </b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Daddy Long Legs </i>by Nadine Brun-Cosme, Aurélie Guillerey (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>Mr. Postmouse Takes a Trip </i>by Marianne Dubuc </li>
<li><i>Clearful and the Queen </i>by Mel Exon </li>
<li><i>Remarkable Animals </i>by Tony Meeuwissen </li>
<li><i>The Night Before Christmas: The Classic Edition </i>by Clement C. Moore, Charles Santore (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>Here Comes Santa Cat (Here Comes Cat) </i>by Deborah Underwood, Claudia Rueda (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>The Queen of the Frogs </i>by Davide Cali, Marco Somà (Illustrations) </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>Misc. Genres </b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Journal Sparks: Fire Up Your Creativity with Spontaneous Art, Wild Writing, and Inventive Thinking </i>by Emily K. Neuburger </li>
<li><i>The Princess Saves Herself in This One </i>by Amanda Lovelace </li>
<li><i>I Love My Love </i>by Reyna Mays </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>DNF </b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Because of Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys #1) </i>by Julia Quinn </li>
</ol>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-9953554538496798702016-11-30T14:11:00.000-05:002016-11-30T14:11:53.676-05:00November 2016 Reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3R3xI4yEluIrx9eQgymyxoY1JVDUaqNG_eaptWIFxdXCMwk3XJKabOmhNLqK7lrXQAOeY62qPvwKP_ycMkcIrIQ0_ier-GzuaKZhDaHpIfcHQTnbHRY5Lj-FfWzLLxzUbSU9H7URl0cI/s1600/November+2016+Reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3R3xI4yEluIrx9eQgymyxoY1JVDUaqNG_eaptWIFxdXCMwk3XJKabOmhNLqK7lrXQAOeY62qPvwKP_ycMkcIrIQ0_ier-GzuaKZhDaHpIfcHQTnbHRY5Lj-FfWzLLxzUbSU9H7URl0cI/s1600/November+2016+Reads.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><b>Novels</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>We Are the Ants</i> by Shaun David Hutchinson</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><b>Graphic Novels</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Animals of a Bygone Era: An Illustrated Compendium</i> by Maja Safstrom</li>
<li><i>Ghosts </i>by Raina Telgemeier</li>
<li><i>It's All Absolutely Fine: Life Is Complicated So I've Drawn It Instead</i> by Ruby Elliot</li>
<li><i>Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation</i> by Octavia E. Butler, John Jennings (Illustrations), Damian Duffy (Adapted by) </li>
<li><i>Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt: A Narwhal and Jelly Book</i> by Ben Clanton </li>
<li><i>Brave New Girl: How to Be Fearless</i> by Lou Hamilton </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><b>Children’s / Illustrated Books</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>My Name Is Zedonk</i> by Jia Han </li>
<li><i>The Fog</i> by Kyo Maclear, Kenard Pak (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>Little Blue Chair </i>by Cary Fagan, Madeline Kloepper (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>Harry and Clare's Amazing Staycation</i> by Ted Staunton, Mika Song (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>Count Your Chickens</i> by Jo Ellen Bogart </li>
<li><i>A Pattern for Pepper</i> by Julie Kraulis </li>
<li><i>There, There</i> by Tim Beiser, Bill Slavin (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>Princess Lemonella </i>by Saarein te Brake, Sassafras De Bruyn (Illustrations) </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><b>Misc. Genres</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>The Dim Sum Field Guide: A Taxonomy of Dumplings, Buns, Meats, Sweets, and Other Specialties of the Chinese Teahouse</i> by Carolyn Phillips</li>
<li><i>Samu-Shamu: The Sonam Stories </i>by Suzie Sims-Fletcher (Editor) </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><b>DNF</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms #1) </i>by Erin Summerill</li>
<li><i>Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1)</i> by Jim Butcher</li>
</ol>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-72104832232127361532016-11-21T16:48:00.000-05:002016-11-21T16:48:10.728-05:00Book Review: Samu–Shamu by Suzie Sims-Fletcher<div style="text-align: justify;">Let me preface this review by saying that this is not a book I would usually read or would naturally pick up if I saw it on a shelf, but when a publicist asked if I was interested in reviewing it for my blog, I thought, “why not?” I’ve been meaning to read more books about cultural experiences outside of my own. So if this book seems out of place on my more YA-oriented book review blog, that’s why.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA46KmPijU1iLra6MjNJA7EItCqv6EVNEHSxQlUDkXoZsEqjXrRAuT7PN-yzbFNtrXebm9f4JpJF4pXJCeS18Yn6I6_GVvVcHQrnXlzH-g7jcFpIl2OBYs4EGj0wdTqfJmPHJkbszGE1Tp/s1600/32947456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA46KmPijU1iLra6MjNJA7EItCqv6EVNEHSxQlUDkXoZsEqjXrRAuT7PN-yzbFNtrXebm9f4JpJF4pXJCeS18Yn6I6_GVvVcHQrnXlzH-g7jcFpIl2OBYs4EGj0wdTqfJmPHJkbszGE1Tp/s320/32947456.jpg" width="210" /></a><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div>Pub Date:</b> November 11, 2016</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Publisher:</b> MapleInk Publishing</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Format:</b> PDF</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Samu-Stories-Narratives-Childhood-Bhutan/dp/1931407231" target="_blank">Amazon</a> // <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25422120-samu-shamu" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>Description:</b> <br><br><span style="text-align: justify;">On a remote campus in the Black Mountains of the Himalayas, students at the Institute of Language and Culture Studies, Royal University of Bhutan, were asked to recall stories of their childhoods. Suzie Sims-Fletcher, their English lopen, taught them how to move from the oral tradition in Dzonghka to written composition in English. These selected tales are at once uniquely provincial yet poignantly universal. The collection offers striking memories of family and community, learning and growth, illness and death, tradition and celebration. An adaptable lesson guide to the story project (ESL, listening skills, writing), glossary of Dzongkha words and phrases, as well as vibrant full color photos of Druk Yul, Land of the Thunder Dragon, round out the 156 pages. Whether you are a tourist, teacher, or culture collector, </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Samu-Shamu: The Sonam Stories</i><span style="text-align: justify;">, captures the mist and earth of this magical kingdom in the sky.</span></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Review:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Samu–Shamu: The Sonam Stories, Narratives of Childhood in Bhutan</i> are stories written from childhood memories by students in Bhutan for an assignment by the author. It is a representation of final projects created by first year students in the author’s 2012 Academic Skills classes at ILCS (Institute for Language and Culture Studies, Royal University of Bhutan). It also documents the change in culture due to the introduction of technology and exposure to international influences (including the import of goods, availability of entertainment, and opportunities to travel).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of my favorite aspects of this book is all of the photographs of the people of Bhutan. It gives insight into their economy, careers, fashion, architecture, religious celebrations, food, and overall culture. I found myself eagerly flipping through the pages to see more to better understand the book and the Bhutanese.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think <i>Samu</i><i>–</i><i>Shamu</i> is a hard book to read all in one sitting, but it is written through narratives in a way that makes it easy to jump from one story to another without feeling like you are missing anything. All in all, this isn’t my personal cup of tea, as I do not gravitate towards non-fiction in my spare time. But even though it’s of a genre I tend not to read very often, I found myself enjoying this book. It gets a solid 3 out of 5 stars from me. I’d probably recommend <i>Samu–Shamu</i> to educators, as it has a more academic-bent to it. But whoever you are, it definitely won’t hurt to read it; you may even walk away a better person for having read it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>About the Author:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Suzie Sims-Fletcher is an international communications consultant and accent reduction specialist. She has previously published a teacher's guide to Voice and Articulation (Crannell), an encyclopedia entry on Betty Page, and countless stories and poems. An intrepid explorer and collector of stories, in addition to her unusual journey from Boston to Bhutan, her experiences range from extreme desert camping to racing hermit crabs, and wearing handmade costumes in national parades to spinning fire on an island beach. When not traveling the world practicing radical self-reliance, she hikes up to her fifth-floor apartment in New York City.</div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-5353179806849243672016-10-30T14:45:00.000-04:002016-10-30T14:45:07.820-04:00October 2016 Reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqGC5v60jagmHFbai8jycJiENp7f1vlfvTDeDSoK0b0IQp25h-c9U3DH5-AN6UYW41lZ6TnxNQskOP3ojM2X_6QNW7fle6_vYT0D7WEHFODzM-tvHZ07qY6ujCbDbO3bgC_ZNCQS_E0Iz/s1600/oct+16+reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqGC5v60jagmHFbai8jycJiENp7f1vlfvTDeDSoK0b0IQp25h-c9U3DH5-AN6UYW41lZ6TnxNQskOP3ojM2X_6QNW7fle6_vYT0D7WEHFODzM-tvHZ07qY6ujCbDbO3bgC_ZNCQS_E0Iz/s1600/oct+16+reads.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><b>Novels </b><br /><ol>
<li><i>Into the Wild</i> by Jon Krakauer </li>
<li><i>The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3)</i> by Mary E. Pearson </li>
<li><i>Sugar </i>by Deirdre Riordan Hall </li>
</ol>
<br /><b>Graphic Novels </b><br /><ol>
<li><i>Disney Manga Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas</i> by Jun Asuka </li>
<li><i>The Trouble with Women</i> by Jacky Fleming </li>
<li><i>The Snow Queen: A Tale in Seven Stories</i> by Hans Christian Andersen, Sanna Annukka (Illustrations), Jean Hersholt (Translator) </li>
<li><i>Lunch Witch #2: Knee-deep in Niceness (Lunch Witch #2)</i> by Deb Lucke </li>
<li><i>Goodnight Batcave</i> by Dave Croatto, Tom Richmond (Illustrations) </li>
</ol>
<br /><b>Children’s / Illustrated </b><br /><ol>
<li><i>You Belong Here</i> by M.H. Clark, Isabelle Arsenault (Illustrator) </li>
<li><i>The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles</i> by Michelle Cuevas, Erin E. Stead (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>Thunder Boy Jr. </i>by Sherman Alexie, Yuyi Morales (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>This Is Me: A Story of Who We Are and Where We Came From</i> by Jamie Lee Curtis, Laura Cornell (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>I Love You with All My Butt!: An Illustrated Book of Big Thoughts from Little Kids</i> by Martin Bruckner </li>
<li><i>The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation (The Princess in Black #4)</i> by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, LeUyen Pham (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>Wade's Wiggly Antlers</i> by Louise Bradford, Christine Battuz (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>The Thing Lou Couldn't Do </i>by Ashley Spires </li>
<li><i>Spork </i>by Kyo Maclear, Isabelle Arsenault (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>A Horse Named Steve</i> by Kelly Collier </li>
<li><i>Stop Feedin' da Boids!</i> by James Sage, Pierre Pratt (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>The Last Tree</i> by Ingrid Chabbert, Raúl Nieto Guridi (Illustrations) </li>
<li><i>The Way Home in the Night </i>by Akiko Miyakoshi </li>
<li><i>Miss You Like Crazy</i> by Pamela Hall, Jennifer A. Bell (Illustrations) </li>
</ol>
<br /><b>Misc. Genres </b><br /><ol>
<li><i>Traditional Jewish Baking: Retro Recipes Your Grandma Would Make… If She Had a Mixer </i>by Carine Goren </li>
<li><i>Walt Whitman's Guide to Manly Health and Training</i> by Whitman </li>
</ol>
</div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-41432546701637126342016-10-09T00:00:00.000-04:002016-10-09T00:00:18.790-04:00Beautiful Book Quotes II<div style="text-align: justify;">I was feeling creative and I had a little time to spare, so I made some more shareable book quote graphics. You can see the ones I made in the past <a href="http://www.literaryhedonist.com/2016/03/beautiful-book-quotes.html" target="_blank">here</a> or on my <a href="http://rosiekgutmann.wixsite.com/work/shareable-graphics" target="_blank">portfolio site</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsatuOMwX2U9qkkJbvgecOxYb8XOGoOhrWZWpVkoXmCsD29GrqWNsiYyUqei4g5Gr3Vh6VvRtPXoeH7dLgKURAL38DqPYEPiLCtsfbCjF-Nn8PY286jRmaor-ImiS5dooyu3s5kqS8SWr/s1600/Live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsatuOMwX2U9qkkJbvgecOxYb8XOGoOhrWZWpVkoXmCsD29GrqWNsiYyUqei4g5Gr3Vh6VvRtPXoeH7dLgKURAL38DqPYEPiLCtsfbCjF-Nn8PY286jRmaor-ImiS5dooyu3s5kqS8SWr/s400/Live.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jPO82GovUBlmXX_uUpIltLYzKXTT8Xa8zba66hxh6AQCt8V_f1vRVJyUZitKu-NZLYeWxzb6Ter2B62sje4QKTAycZQRV5MlfhnohCFMRCdbp5biIfZz6l6vq5g1nZk8udlA_XZHNkiB/s1600/Literature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jPO82GovUBlmXX_uUpIltLYzKXTT8Xa8zba66hxh6AQCt8V_f1vRVJyUZitKu-NZLYeWxzb6Ter2B62sje4QKTAycZQRV5MlfhnohCFMRCdbp5biIfZz6l6vq5g1nZk8udlA_XZHNkiB/s400/Literature.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtybjkMFn0q1mfuRaH_-m24xtZk9AXXX5qQYC-DzTPydmETcKtq3fDRCRXNI58mbyx7QPxxjxQk8J2sMMf6_c2XtkrnR4Qe1MpzG6tHwGW9tvDH1HYgwZ2jksbiDI1eHQcm8xwDSDon9uR/s1600/Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtybjkMFn0q1mfuRaH_-m24xtZk9AXXX5qQYC-DzTPydmETcKtq3fDRCRXNI58mbyx7QPxxjxQk8J2sMMf6_c2XtkrnR4Qe1MpzG6tHwGW9tvDH1HYgwZ2jksbiDI1eHQcm8xwDSDon9uR/s400/Books.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What do you think? Should I make more? Any quote requests? <br />
<p class="test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: initial;">Please feel free to share them on your social media channels!</span></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-42039186320889827022016-10-05T00:00:00.000-04:002016-10-05T00:00:27.392-04:00Waiting On Wednesday: Poison's Kiss by Breeana Shields <div style="text-align: justify;">Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly book meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Kezv2xbv_s5JnHzS_2yYBo4FoQLJYr8IbFSuoBT1-2wqh1iXuJ5OYr6ghxJSazjprxzjwL6c68i278s7cuh8jk12QP7Jtszyh2mMEkg8tsQatNgJJWRtULubriOBi30Wjl89C24BGaib/s1600/25081261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Kezv2xbv_s5JnHzS_2yYBo4FoQLJYr8IbFSuoBT1-2wqh1iXuJ5OYr6ghxJSazjprxzjwL6c68i278s7cuh8jk12QP7Jtszyh2mMEkg8tsQatNgJJWRtULubriOBi30Wjl89C24BGaib/s400/25081261.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br><br />
<b><i>Poison's Kiss <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/181028-poison-s-kiss">(Poison's Kiss #1)</a></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13582922.Breeana_Shields">Breeana Shields</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.randomhousekids.com/" target="_blank">Random House Books for Young Readers</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Expected Publication:</b> January 10, 2017</div><br><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Description:</b><br><br><i>A teenage assassin kills with a single kiss until she is ordered to kill the one boy she loves. This commercial YA fantasy is romantic and addictive—like a poison kiss—and will thrill fans of Sarah J. Maas and Victoria Aveyard.</i><br><br />
Marinda has kissed dozens of boys. They all die afterward. It's a miserable life, but being a visha kanya, a poison maiden, is what she was created to do. Marinda serves the Raja by dispatching his enemies with only her lips as a weapon.<br><br />
Until now, the men she was ordered to kiss have been strangers, enemies of the kingdom. Then she receives orders to kiss Deven, a boy she knows too well to be convinced he needs to die. She begins to question who she's really working for. And that is a thread that, once pulled, will unravel more than she can afford to lose. <br><br />
This rich, surprising, and accessible debut is based in Indian folklore and delivers a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.</blockquote></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I have to say, this book sounds a bit like Robin LaFever's <i>Grave Mercy</i>—you know, with the whole femme-fatale assassin vibe—but it seems to have enough of a spin on it to make me want to read it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: initial;">Which books are you waiting on?</span></p></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-63861087309623589872016-10-01T00:00:00.000-04:002016-10-01T00:00:06.322-04:00September 2016 Reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcOe6q5DSsgXDYTHeKzK5RWFlBgFQKhGdG5oBB-Gjid1N5AvFaWEaKHq1Bxjoy3B2cqomejgR4usbEhWAW6RUjilsguGbSQ9CSh2rSP-TFxM7B3MWeGAMztSceBC4S2kK9YHqKEoh-6NI/s1600/September+2016+Reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcOe6q5DSsgXDYTHeKzK5RWFlBgFQKhGdG5oBB-Gjid1N5AvFaWEaKHq1Bxjoy3B2cqomejgR4usbEhWAW6RUjilsguGbSQ9CSh2rSP-TFxM7B3MWeGAMztSceBC4S2kK9YHqKEoh-6NI/s1600/September+2016+Reads.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Novels:</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>The Beautiful Ashes <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/95167-broken-destiny">(Broken Destiny #1)</a> </i>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/669810.Jeaniene_Frost">Jeaniene Frost</a></li>
<li><i>The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40957-hitchhiker-s-guide-to-the-galaxy">(Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1)</a> </i>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4.Douglas_Adams">Douglas Adams</a></li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Graphic Novels:</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Light </i>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7421877.Rob_Cham">Rob Cham</a></li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Children's/Illustrated Books:</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Sloppy Wants a Hug</i> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1077899.Sean_Julian">Sean Julian</a></li>
<li><i>Whose Poop Is That?</i> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8084927.Darrin_P_Lunde">Darrin P Lunde</a></li>
<li><i>Dreaming of Mocha</i> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6577810.An_Swerts">An Swerts</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6577809.Eline_van_Lindenhuizen">Eline van Lindenhuizen</a></li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Misc. Genres:</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Of Cats and Men: Profiles of History's Great Cat-loving Artists, Writers, Thinkers, and Statesmen</i> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7289688.Sam_Kalda">Sam Kalda</a></li>
<li><i>Bad Girls of Fashion: Style Rebels from Cleopatra to Lady Gaga</i> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8264084.Jennifer_Croll">Jennifer Croll</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14878303.Ada_Buchholc">Ada Buchholc</a> </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>DNF:</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Last Seen Leaving</i> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13552274.Caleb_Roehrig">Caleb Roehrig</a></li>
</ol>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-61442446890306655732016-09-27T00:00:00.000-04:002016-09-27T00:00:13.300-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Fall 2016 TBR List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZHa3Nu50N1PbaZplFR6tCyLgU2Ddu49HcT3ojOcmO2ZgtZk_BO3lvYjrmTpmoi7LlVHt5kNQnaXr7n5jx5ZMoPfzfn7oewFfM_9qucuTydmbxwGbC67-HTVOlx1fnAiqEEpqBHOr1_bd/s1600/TTT+Fall+2016+TBR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZHa3Nu50N1PbaZplFR6tCyLgU2Ddu49HcT3ojOcmO2ZgtZk_BO3lvYjrmTpmoi7LlVHt5kNQnaXr7n5jx5ZMoPfzfn7oewFfM_9qucuTydmbxwGbC67-HTVOlx1fnAiqEEpqBHOr1_bd/s1600/TTT+Fall+2016+TBR.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The last TBR list I drafted up was also for a Top Ten Tuesday, in which I talked about <a href="http://www.literaryhedonist.com/2016/03/top-ten-tuesday-spring-tbr.html">my Spring 2016 TBR</a>. Guess what? I read ZERO of the ten books I listed. It seems to always play out that way. I make a list, and then promptly ignore it. It's mostly because I am a total mood reader, and I can't force myself to read books if anyone tells me to, even if that person is ME. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This time, though, I made a commitment to read books for a Mock Printz Award, which I am really jazzed about. I think that's really going to hone my focus. Plus, I am accountable to someone other than myself, so that also helps motivate me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Without any further ado, here are the top ten books on my fall TBR list:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li><b><i>The Beauty of Darkness <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/96821-the-remnant-chronicles">(The Remnant Chronicles #3)</a></i></b> <br>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/123463.Mary_E_Pearson">Mary E. Pearson</a> <br>I read the first two books of the series and really enjoyed them, so I bought this final book to end the series. I wasn't counting on it being utterly massive and double the size of the previous two books, so I've been dragging my feet on picking it up.</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><ul><li><b><i>With Malice</i></b><br>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1049315.Eileen_Cook">Eileen Cook</a> <br>This book was gifted to me by a dear friend for my birthday. I've heard a lot of great things about it, so I'm looking forward to cracking it open sometime in the fall season before someone spoils it for me.</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><ul><li><b><i>The Reader <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/158304-sea-of-ink-and-gold">(Sea of Ink and Gold #1)</a></i></b><br>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6567825.Traci_Chee">Traci Chee</a> <br>Here is one of the books I am going to read for the Mock Printz. I got an ARC of it at BEA, though a friend cautions me that it may not have all the elements that are in the final book, which is very important to the overall enjoyment. </li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><ul><li><b><i>The Sun Is Also a Star</i></b><br> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7353006.Nicola_Yoon">Nicola Yoon</a> <br>I loved Everything, Everything, so I was thrilled to get a copy at BEA. This is another book I am going to read for the Mock Printz.</li></ul><div><br />
</div><ul><li><b><i>We Are the Ants</i></b><br> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3130410.Shaun_David_Hutchinson">Shaun David Hutchinson</a> <br>This one comes highly recommended, and is also a Mock Printz contender. After reading the premise, I decided this one is going to be my next read. Actually, I plan on starting it tonight...</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><ul><li><b><i>The Lie Tree</i></b><br> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/119830.Frances_Hardinge">Frances Hardinge</a> <br>This one has been out for a while, but I hadn't heard of it until I became involved in the Mock Printz. From what I understand, it has a big shot at winning this year.</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><ul><li><b><i>Salt to the Sea</i></b><br> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3407448.Ruta_Sepetys">Ruta Sepetys</a> <br>I actually met Ruta at BEA, and she signed a hardcover copy of this book for me. I've wanted to read it for ages, and now that it is a Mock Printz hopeful, I finally have a reason to pick it up already.</li></ul><div><br />
</div><ul><li><b><i>Caraval <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/169095-untitled">(Untitled #1)</a></i></b><br>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14137787.Stephanie_Garber">Stephanie Garber</a> <br>This is another book I was lucky enough to snag at BEA. It pubs in January, so I'd like to read it before then.</li></ul><div><br />
</div><ul><li><b><i>The Witchcraft of Salem Village</i></b><br>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13388.Shirley_Jackson">Shirley Jackson</a> <br>So here is one of two books about Salem that I'd like to read this fall. Because I work in Salem, and because I've been obsessed with the Salem Witch Trials since I was a kid, I figured it's time to read more about them. I'm hoping I can get to this book right around or a bit before Halloween.</li></ul><div><br />
</div><ul><li><b><i>Six Women of Salem: The Untold Story of the Accused and Their Accusers in the Salem Witch Trials</i></b><br>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51408.Marilynne_K_Roach">Marilynne K. Roach</a> <br>Here is the second Salem book and the final book in my fall TBR. I actually bought it two years ago during my first visit to Salem. I have no idea why I haven't read it yet. Well, actually, it's probably because I am more of a fiction than nonfiction reader. But this is a book I can see myself loving.</li>
</ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, there you have it. Ten books to read before December. Think I can swing it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class= "test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: initial; text-align: center;">What's in your Top Ten Tuesday?</span></p></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-40338146028895178092016-09-21T12:00:00.000-04:002016-09-21T12:00:16.074-04:002016 YA Fantasy Wish List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsyyxMxwIR93X9EYBVbQwZ45qQLRYQhlIKDZKS0ewEzu2zj8gvYTZdUf2fkElQzM7Q_aWoqf45whZdU9FCikFLZWmQ-KItI4y4IS48UPpZcTeuWxu8QktSgMd-fcyf72C7qn98NCWSnoX/s1600/2016+YA+Fantasy+Wish+List.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsyyxMxwIR93X9EYBVbQwZ45qQLRYQhlIKDZKS0ewEzu2zj8gvYTZdUf2fkElQzM7Q_aWoqf45whZdU9FCikFLZWmQ-KItI4y4IS48UPpZcTeuWxu8QktSgMd-fcyf72C7qn98NCWSnoX/s1600/2016+YA+Fantasy+Wish+List.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's been such <a href="http://www.literaryhedonist.com/2014/11/underrated-ya-fantasy-wish-list.html">a long time</a> since I've formally compiled an actual wish list, that I figured I'd draft one to keep track of the books I don't own yet but desperately want to. Each of these books has already pubbed this year, and though I entered giveaways for all of them, they never actually ended up in my hands. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Burning Glass <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/156796-burning-glass">(Burning Glass #1)</a> </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10315278.Kathryn_Purdie">Kathryn Purdie</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published March 1, 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Rebel of the Sands <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/169683-rebel-of-the-sands">(Rebel of the Sands #1)</a> </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13505420.Alwyn_Hamilton">Alwyn Hamilton</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published March 8, 2016 by Viking Books for Young Readers</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>The Star-Touched Queen <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/180274-the-star-touched-queen">(The Star-Touched Queen #1)</a> </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13695109.Roshani_Chokshi">Roshani Chokshi</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published April 26, 2016 by St. Martin's Griffin</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>The Crown's Game <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/164995-the-crown-s-game">(The Crown's Game #1)</a> </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13467894.Evelyn_Skye">Evelyn Skye</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published May 17, 2016 by Balzer + Bray</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Ivory and Bone <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/176994-ivory-and-bone">(Ivory and Bone #1)</a> </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8628046.Julie_Eshbaugh">Julie Eshbaugh</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published June 7, 2016 by HarperTeen</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>This Savage Song <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/137916-monsters-of-verity">(Monsters of Verity #1)</a> </i></b>by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3099544.Victoria_Schwab">Victoria Schwab</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published July 5, 2016 by Greenwillow Books</div></li>
</ul><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maybe by writing out this list, the universe will somehow get these books to me without me having to personally buy them. Yes, I'm on yet another book buying ban. I actually haven't purchased many books for myself in the last two years, but I still want to keep my book-spending to a minimum. At least, that's the plan. We'll see how much self-control I can muster.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: initial;">Which books are you wishing for?</span></p></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-67237400946001493692016-09-18T00:00:00.000-04:002016-09-18T00:00:07.795-04:00Book Review & Blog Tour + Giveaway: The Storybook Night (#storybookknight)<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Two reviews and giveaways in a row! So much fun stuff going on on the blog lately. Again, a big thank you to the <a href="http://www.sourcebooks.com/" target="_blank">Sourcebooks</a> team for making this possible.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LDL9fBCTNkXJI5FZAvIePZchMhkHe3lZ7Yk1Lr4nEx28vOBrkFY62HEcpA5KIk6yd8NG2e0L0qHwxJJOYXNMedo5HsSTeuaHjHhgUkx3N41A7Ga8qdRg66IozmVNyuPX2JwKDChr6kl6/s1600/61u-Jv-yalL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LDL9fBCTNkXJI5FZAvIePZchMhkHe3lZ7Yk1Lr4nEx28vOBrkFY62HEcpA5KIk6yd8NG2e0L0qHwxJJOYXNMedo5HsSTeuaHjHhgUkx3N41A7Ga8qdRg66IozmVNyuPX2JwKDChr6kl6/s320/61u-Jv-yalL.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29152096-the-storybook-knight">The Storybook Knight</a></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7041051.Helen_Docherty">Helen Docherty</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49092.Thomas_Docherty">Thomas Docherty</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sourcebooks Jabberwocky</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published September 6, 2016</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Description:</b><br><br>Even dragons can’t resist a good story… <br><br>Even though Leo would rather sit at home and read, his parents send him out into the world in the hopes that Leo will become a famous knight. But when Leo comes up against the land’s most fearsome beasts, he soon discovers that scary monsters enjoy a good book as much as anyone…</blockquote><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><br><br><br />
<b>Review:</b></div></b><div style="text-align: justify;">This children's book is FANTASTIC. I gave it an immediate 5 out of 5 stars. The storyline is super-cute and meaningful, with the message being that you don't have to resort to violence to solve problems-- you can use your brains! I also think this book is especially beneficial for the young bookworms of the world who may get (wrongfully) judged or teased for being bookish. It's a truly delightful read that both parent and child will enjoy. Highly recommend!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmBDGXuxKzPiKDEluBDtXEKaRUwejvj9HdovV4zjwS3skNRvuGWrfKyRmt5qomB6-WSv2Vt1wgskmoiXP44dIKzwq0CEB5XDVEIJZ-a8b8jyZSA6TZVhQ4flpq7C5gm26JUiXDHGhVAKO/s1600/bf8d7bd2-spreads_0ea0de0e90de000000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmBDGXuxKzPiKDEluBDtXEKaRUwejvj9HdovV4zjwS3skNRvuGWrfKyRmt5qomB6-WSv2Vt1wgskmoiXP44dIKzwq0CEB5XDVEIJZ-a8b8jyZSA6TZVhQ4flpq7C5gm26JUiXDHGhVAKO/s1600/bf8d7bd2-spreads_0ea0de0e90de000000.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Now for the fun part:</b> enter for a chance to win an original sketch of Leo and Ned by illustrator Thomas Docherty! </div><br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7399/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="54ca7af7399" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_x36x12uy">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<br />
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know you are going to love this book, regardless of your age. This is a timeless children's book I can easily see enduring through the years. Check out the <a href="http://books.sourcebooks.com/the-storybook-knight-join/">landing page</a> for <i>The Storybook Knight</i> for more info and fun stuff. Also, here are some author links for ya:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Thomas Docherty:</b> <a href="http://www.thomasdocherty.co.uk/">www.thomasdocherty.co.uk</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Twitter:</b> @TDIllustration </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Helen Docherty:</b> <a href="http://www.helendocherty.com/">www.helendocherty.com</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Twitter: </b>@docherty_helen</div></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-50495212466736034762016-09-17T00:00:00.000-04:002016-09-17T00:00:01.185-04:00Book Review & Blog Tour + Giveaway: Ed Vere's Max at Night (#maxatnight)<div style="text-align: justify;">As you know, I really love children's books. Not only do I like to read them to find books to buy my goddaughter, but I personally enjoy them myself. I believe children's books aren't just for children. They can bring joy to adults, too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When the lovely folks over at <a href="http://www.sourcebooks.com/">Sourcebooks</a> contacted me about participating in a blog tour for Ed Vere's <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27969101-max-at-night"><i>Max at Night</i></a>, I jumped at the opportunity. I really enjoyed the first book in this children's series (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25773980-max-the-brave"><i>Max the Brave</i></a>), and I may have liked this one even more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KE14cl8RqrnU3wvNdXpHbMQKbkZ6aLnsuQuqBhZcNwv5FWRA9Li7a6GdkIs20Wan9cc1hVNKW8x8DqmWB2EVg1wbfoYIEIWeT7-x2UhMoplhqtSZNI8i7pYM51vemg5QELJ45sT9HP87/s1600/Max-at-night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KE14cl8RqrnU3wvNdXpHbMQKbkZ6aLnsuQuqBhZcNwv5FWRA9Li7a6GdkIs20Wan9cc1hVNKW8x8DqmWB2EVg1wbfoYIEIWeT7-x2UhMoplhqtSZNI8i7pYM51vemg5QELJ45sT9HP87/s400/Max-at-night.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><b>Max at Night <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/159366-max">(Max)</a></b></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/703010.Ed_Vere">Ed Vere</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sourcebooks Jabberwocky</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Published September 1, 2016</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><br><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Description:</b><br><br><i>This is Max. Max is very sleepy. It's way past Max's bedtime. Max has drunk his milk. Max has brushed his teeth. Max has cleaned behind his ears. Now Max just needs to say goodnight...</i><br><br> Max is tired and all ready for bed, but when he can't find the moon to say goodnight to, he sets out to find it. But that's not as easy as Max had hoped... <br><br>Witty and heart-warming, this stylish and beautifully illustrated book is the perfect bedtime read.</blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br><br><br><b>Review:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm going to keep this short and to the point: you need this for your child's library. As a grown human, this book made me chuckle, so I know a young reader would be entertained by it, too. It's adorable and sweet, and the illustrations are simple yet delightful and eye-catching. The bright color scheme is perfect for the playful vibe of the storyline. Check out the images below for a better idea of what I mean:</div><div><br><br><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUTfrzo8W9PJt7EFg8fWwDfFxcWpJPVsmuOqjOsMogQ9Q3RokrcbJoqNkfrJewrKXtb-X894zufKum7LoDNTm54p-IKpUzelpIu9xJ3n1yb-XYjdWHKoZQsciwVEKvFZWgY76J5_OAqmC/s1600/96d21149-spreads.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUTfrzo8W9PJt7EFg8fWwDfFxcWpJPVsmuOqjOsMogQ9Q3RokrcbJoqNkfrJewrKXtb-X894zufKum7LoDNTm54p-IKpUzelpIu9xJ3n1yb-XYjdWHKoZQsciwVEKvFZWgY76J5_OAqmC/s640/96d21149-spreads.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br><br />
<b>Now for the fun part: </b>Enter for a chance to win an original sketch by author and illustrator Ed Vere and a copy of Max at Night!</div><br><br><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7400/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="54ca7af7400" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_q15ak57c">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<br />
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. Check out the <i>Max at Night</i> <a href="http://books.sourcebooks.com/maxatnight/" target="_blank">landing page</a> for even more info. I'm also including some author links for you to visit, if you are so inclined:</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Website:</b> <a href="http://www.edvere.com/">http://www.edvere.com/</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Twitter:</b> @ed_vere</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Instagram:</b> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ed_vere/">https://www.instagram.com/ed_vere/</a></div></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-32336739589463199072016-09-14T00:00:00.000-04:002016-09-14T00:00:01.840-04:00Waiting On Wednesday: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill<div style="text-align: justify;">Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly book meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzpu83-MLW5bXTxnCA5uK6UbFmQ_i4mXdmxKEQulD8oveJO9K3NAka-YLmCBkf6DC5Nnn496lBxhxyfe4gRtjWwHdH8qytjUS1ZLGIhYInKj67uxShTAiGEr2kULzEj5vHPugBblj_taU/s1600/ever+the+hunted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgzpu83-MLW5bXTxnCA5uK6UbFmQ_i4mXdmxKEQulD8oveJO9K3NAka-YLmCBkf6DC5Nnn496lBxhxyfe4gRtjWwHdH8qytjUS1ZLGIhYInKj67uxShTAiGEr2kULzEj5vHPugBblj_taU/s1600/ever+the+hunted.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Ever the Hunted <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/169050-clash-of-kingdoms">(Clash of Kingdoms #1)</a></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8171797.Erin_Summerill">Erin Summerill</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.hmhco.com/" target="_blank">Harcourt Children's Books</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Expected Publication:</b> December 27, 2016</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Description:</b><br><br>Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer. <br><br>However, it’s not so simple.<br><br> The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.</blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br><br />
<div>This book sounds fantastic. So much intrigue and danger. I can't wait to read it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: initial;">Which books are you waiting on?</span></p></div><br />
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-42618425562042146932016-09-04T20:34:00.000-04:002016-09-04T20:34:15.440-04:00August 2016 Reads<div style="text-align: justify;">
Eh. Not proud of my reading this month, but I had a lot going on between travel, moving, and social engagements. Maybe September will be the month I get back on track.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic6VVPMlaFqEB_tLJ0JPN5baVC7PIUs4FmsbwSVIZ-Xo5Xm_0WGDSoRPpNIMsSH4LDof_84WenJ2gd6UQ4gTp49BOMrl3HxqjdUb9BgimkPHQtzGmjZMZl22aC0wxWCD1DDDI0yDuwmvB/s1600/August+2016+Reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhic6VVPMlaFqEB_tLJ0JPN5baVC7PIUs4FmsbwSVIZ-Xo5Xm_0WGDSoRPpNIMsSH4LDof_84WenJ2gd6UQ4gTp49BOMrl3HxqjdUb9BgimkPHQtzGmjZMZl22aC0wxWCD1DDDI0yDuwmvB/s1600/August+2016+Reads.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Novels</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter #8)</i> by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne</li>
<li><i>The Girl on the Train</i> by Paula Hawkins</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><b>Graphic Novels</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Business Cat: Money, Power, Treats</i> by Tom Fonder</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><b>Children’s & Illustrated Books</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Thérèse Makes a Tapestry</i> by Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs, Renée Graef</li>
<li><i>I'll Hug You More</i> by Laura Duksta, Melissa Iwai</li>
<li><i>Abigail the Whale</i> by Davide Cali, Sonja Bougaeva</li>
<li><i>Maxwell the Monkey Barber</i> by Cale Atkinson</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><b>Misc. Genres</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><i>Being a Girl</i> by Hayley Long, Gemma Correll</li>
</ol>
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Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-53776328070402506952016-08-03T13:06:00.000-04:002016-08-03T13:06:25.163-04:00Waiting On Wednesday: Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer<div style="text-align: justify;">Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly book meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.<br />
<br />
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZscFpy_FSh3aj-uOdawhLAqjHF2CEaZ1ypmv1Dd2GXpFR_z6YobOGXVScXqi70GdsiOJr-S1foPdf1ZGwMD7B4oJ5AcvgRhdhi-FKqisZ-XAlE7f0OTIb_Ih4rhxS_h8uPT0v-1K18bl/s1600/SF%252Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZscFpy_FSh3aj-uOdawhLAqjHF2CEaZ1ypmv1Dd2GXpFR_z6YobOGXVScXqi70GdsiOJr-S1foPdf1ZGwMD7B4oJ5AcvgRhdhi-FKqisZ-XAlE7f0OTIb_Ih4rhxS_h8uPT0v-1K18bl/s400/SF%252Bcover.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30163661-spindle-fire" target="_blank"><b><br />
Spindle Fire (Spindle Fire #1)</b></a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">by <a href="http://www.lexahillyer.com/" target="_blank">Lexa Hillyer</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/childrens" target="_blank">HarperCollins</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Expected Publication</b>: April 11, 2017</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Description</b>:<br />
<br />
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, <i>Spindle Fire</i> is an enthralling, wholly original re-imagining of a classic faerie story.<br />
<br />
Half-sisters Isabelle and Aurora are polar opposites: Isabelle is the king’s headstrong illegitimate daughter, whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and voice on the same day. Despite their differences, the sisters have always been extremely close.<br />
<br />
And then everything changes, with a single drop of Aurora’s blood, a Faerie Queen who is preparing for war, a strange and enchanting dream realm, and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.<br />
<br />
<i>Spindle Fire</i> is a tour de force fantasy set in the dwindling, deliciously corrupt world of the fae, and featuring two truly unforgettable heroines.</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fairytale retellings are so huge in YA right now. I wonder when this publishing fad will end, but until it does, I plan to continue to enjoy it by reading this book.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: initial;">Which books are you waiting on?</span></p></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-43456335049206003112016-07-31T17:43:00.000-04:002016-07-31T17:43:10.193-04:00July 2016 Reads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had a great reading month! I read 6 full-length novels, 4 graphic novels, 4 children’s & illustrated books, and 4 books of assorted genres. I DNF’d one book I really thought I’d like, but it happens sometimes. Here’s hoping August is just as good if not better!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG9elmaxU5sfSW5pd9LF3WFXP4Emcjms-4JugliZBN0pTQC2GdBPYltXBd4MtNRvArmpA7bM2xAUbGExPUHDU1XrGegPNgyQ6cTLUYw3DYDqnFmYzniGiTUFcl3CPR6LqJuAUQ5T8y1OD/s1600/July+2016+Reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG9elmaxU5sfSW5pd9LF3WFXP4Emcjms-4JugliZBN0pTQC2GdBPYltXBd4MtNRvArmpA7bM2xAUbGExPUHDU1XrGegPNgyQ6cTLUYw3DYDqnFmYzniGiTUFcl3CPR6LqJuAUQ5T8y1OD/s1600/July+2016+Reads.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Novels</b></div><ol><li><i>Frostblood (Frostblood Saga #1)</i> by Elly Blake</li>
<li><i>The Lovely Reckless</i> by Kami Garcia</li>
<li><i>Once Burned (Night Prince #1)</i> by Jeaniene Frost</li>
<li><i>Twice Tempted (Night Prince #2)</i> by Jeaniene Frost</li>
<li><i>The Secrets of Wiscombe Chase</i> by Christine Merrill</li>
<li><i>Bound by Flames (Night Prince #3)</i> by Jeaniene Frost</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Graphic Novels</b></div><ol><li><i>Cat vs Human Fairy Tails</i> by Yasmine Surovec</li>
<li><i>Razzle Dazzle Unicorn: Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure</i> by Dana Simpson</li>
<li><i>Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy</i> by Doug Savage</li>
<li><i>Snow White: A Graphic Novel</i> by Matt Phelan</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Children’s & Illustrated Books</b></div><ol><li><i>What Color Is a Kiss?</i> by Rocio Bonilla</li>
<li><i>Sam and Emma</i> by Donald Nelsen, Edward Gorey</li>
<li><i>King Baby</i> by Kate Beaton</li>
<li><i>The Green Umbrella</i> by Jackie Azúa Kramer, Maral Sassouni</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Misc. Genres</b></div><ol><li><i>Grumpy Cat's All About Miserable Me: A Doodle Journal for Everything Awful</i> by Jimi Bonogofsky-Gronseth</li>
<li><i>Cat Selfies</i> by Charlie Ellis</li>
<li><i>Island Escape: My Caribbean Coloring Book</i> by Jade Gedeon</li>
<li><i>Rainforest Escape: My Island Animal, Exotic Flower and Tropical Plant Color Book</i> by Jade Gedeon</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>DNF</b></div><ol><li><i>Red Queen (Red Queen #1) </i>by Victoria Aveyard</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: center;"><p class= "test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: initial; text-align: center;">How was your July?<br>Get any quality reading time in?</span></p></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-38296347506828880552016-07-17T13:31:00.000-04:002016-07-17T13:31:13.614-04:00Stacking the Shelves: Romance Haul<div style="text-align: justify;">I've been on a real romance kick lately. So far this month I've read three romances: <i>The Secrets of Wiscombe Chase</i> by Christine Merrill, <i>Once Burned (Night Prince #1),</i> and <i>Twice Tempted (Night Prince #2)</i> by Jeaniene Frost. I decided I wanted to get the third book in the Night Prince series, so I went to my local Barnes and Noble and proceeded to lose control of myself there, buying 4 more books on top of that. Some paranormal, some historical; all romance. What can I say? It's just what I seem to be in the mood to read.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskSOiBrbZxb1IBxBTJsVGW-gOeWD2uqgZAgQBbJxSodkLQc0g8ylMdRfl5IjrXDcpWMkdB9ZwgVA6a09Xrk-wSURfYBILyWwOSmyaT_EwyJhfpvoXRWkIvl6-uEQGMredleBT73D438wS/s1600/Romance+Haul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskSOiBrbZxb1IBxBTJsVGW-gOeWD2uqgZAgQBbJxSodkLQc0g8ylMdRfl5IjrXDcpWMkdB9ZwgVA6a09Xrk-wSURfYBILyWwOSmyaT_EwyJhfpvoXRWkIvl6-uEQGMredleBT73D438wS/s1600/Romance+Haul.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>From top to bottom:</b> <i>Because of Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys #1)</i> by Julia Quinn, <i>Lady Bridget's Diary (Keeping Up with the Cavendishes #1)</i> by Maya Rodale, <i>Bound by Flames (Night Prince #3) </i>by Jeaniene Frost, <i>The Beautiful Ashes (Broken Destiny #1)</i> by Jeaniene Frost, <i>Stars of Fortune (The Guardians Trilogy #1)</i> by Nora Roberts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class= "test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-align: center; text-transform: initial;">Buy any new books lately?</p></span></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-74610737621426773532016-07-09T00:00:00.000-04:002016-07-09T00:00:10.265-04:002016 Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlTsIddGA11i0-_t-b7QjloK7XoAdaGemiNKy0G6ebc8DQjWT5ezHG1cPPVt2JMwRXnIQ_bxI-VlYSqLg91TGYzhkkCt4xpsWfgAraO5LkYZ7htUa2njW3GUheVG-X7oDZfSzWyAsBTGo/s1600/2016+book+tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlTsIddGA11i0-_t-b7QjloK7XoAdaGemiNKy0G6ebc8DQjWT5ezHG1cPPVt2JMwRXnIQ_bxI-VlYSqLg91TGYzhkkCt4xpsWfgAraO5LkYZ7htUa2njW3GUheVG-X7oDZfSzWyAsBTGo/s1600/2016+book+tag.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Originally created by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ReadLikeWildfire/videos" target="_blank">ReadLikeWildfire</a>, I spotted this meme on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrPH9RI0NbY" target="_blank">Piera Forde’s booktube</a> channel. I thought it sounded fun, so here goes nothing!<br /><br />Questions:</div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li><b>Best book you’ve read so far in 2016.</b><br /><i>Sarah, Plain and Tall</i> by Patricia MacLachlan. Yes, this book is over thirty years old and was written for second graders, but it is hands-down the best book I’ve read this year.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Best sequel you've read so far in 2016.</b><br /><i>Siege and Storm</i> & <i>Ruin and Rising</i>, the sequels to <i>Shadow and Bone</i> in the Grisha trilogy. They are also the only sequels I’ve read this year.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>New release you haven't read yet, but want to.</b><br />All of them. I need to read all of them.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.</b><br />I have an <a href="http://www.literaryhedonist.com/2016/06/top-ten-tuesday-most-anticipated-book.html" target="_blank">entire Top Ten list</a> dedicated to this question!<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Biggest disappointment.</b><br /><i>Truthwitch </i>by Susan Dennard. There was SO MUCH HYPE surrounding this book. I think it fell way short of the mark.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Biggest surprise.</b><br />C.L. Wilson’s <i>The Winter King</i>. The cover is pretty but very cheesy, so I was expecting a run-of-the-mill romance novel (which I still love to read, btw), but this one is stellar as far as mass-market paperback romances go.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)</b><br />I don’t know if I have one yet. But Peadar Ó Guilín is definitely a contender. I’m obsessed with <i>The Call</i>.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Newest fictional crush.</b><br />The ever-so-complicated and brooding Kaz Brekker from Leigh Bardugo’s <i>Six of Crows</i>. I was definitely crushing on him while reading this book, though I’m still undecided if I want to continue the series or not. <br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Newest favorite character.</b><br />Arsinoe from Kendare Blake’s <i>Three Dark Crowns</i>. She is by far my favorite character in this book (and there are many [almost too many] heroines to choose from).<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Book that made you cry.</b><br /><i>Almost a Full Moon</i> by Hawksley Workman. It’s a children’s picture book, but it is so beautiful that it moved me to tears. The words are literally lyrics from a song, and the illustrations of a diverse community coming together really affected me.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Book that made you happy.</b><br /><i>The Raven King</i> by Maggie Stiefvater. I mean, overall this book was just OK for me, but the ending gave me everything I wanted, so I guess I was happy? <br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received).</b><br /><i>Everything, Everything</i> by Nicola Yoon. Yes, the cover art is beautiful, and so is what’s inside.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>What books do you need to read by the end of the year?</b><br />I have so many ARCs from BEA that I need to read! <i>Stealing Snow</i> by Danielle Paige and <i>Replica </i>by Lauren Oliver are just a couple that come to mind.<br /><br /></li>
<li><b>Favorite Book Community Member (Blogger, Booktuber and Bookstagrammer)</b><br />I don’t particularly like this question because I don’t want feelings to get hurt. And I absolutely don’t like popularity contests. Just know that I love interacting with everyone in the book community, whether it be here on my blog, on twitter, with publishing professionals, or other bloggers.</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />I had fun with this tag, especially because I’ve read so many books in the last 6 months that it helps to reflect on them in order to remember what I’ve read. If you choose to do this tag, leave your link in the comments so I can check it out!<br /></div>
Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-40882544371521432952016-07-05T00:00:00.000-04:002016-07-07T18:42:58.078-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Enjoyed That Have Under 2000 Ratings On Goodreads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLp_DX47KUiHpTuU416p9joetq35iRpvbqgBuigCekD7QutYCur3WTJrLwH9R723mSiInPzgcaooSeNUL4KFQ4T51NI9KUpw-lTrnvdiuDljUFbLRV28LZ3kEthOcOWXKtlV81NqzGoaY/s1600/top+10+under+2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLp_DX47KUiHpTuU416p9joetq35iRpvbqgBuigCekD7QutYCur3WTJrLwH9R723mSiInPzgcaooSeNUL4KFQ4T51NI9KUpw-lTrnvdiuDljUFbLRV28LZ3kEthOcOWXKtlV81NqzGoaY/s1600/top+10+under+2000.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<br />
It’s time for another very cool top ten list by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" target="_blank">The Broke and the Bookish</a>. This topic is a new way to talk about underrated books, especially when calling a book <i>underrated </i>is subjective. An easy way to figure out your own list is to go to Goodreads, select your “read” list, and at the top of your read list where it says “settings,” you can add a column for “# of ratings.” From there, you can sort your list from least to most ratings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
So without any further ado, in order from least to most ratings, here are ten books I enjoyed with less than 2000 ratings on Goodreads: </div><br />
<ol><li><i><b>Yes, Let's</b></i><br />
by Galen Goodwin Longstreth, Maris Wicks<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16000413-yes-let-s" target="_blank">183 Ratings</a><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i><b>Stories</b></i><br />
by Doris Lessing<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/300452.Stories" target="_blank">195 Ratings</a> <br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i><b>Spread, Vol. 1: No Hope (Spread #1-6)</b></i><br />
by Justin Jordan, Kyle Strahm<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24935407-spread-vol-1" target="_blank">222 Ratings</a><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i><b>Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula</b></i><br />
by Andi Watson<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21469148-princess-decomposia-and-count-spatula" target="_blank">533 Ratings</a><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i><b>This Monstrous Thing</b></i><br />
by Mackenzi Lee<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22811807-this-monstrous-thing" target="_blank">750 Ratings</a><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i><b>In the Shadows</b></i><br />
by Kiersten White, Jim Di Bartolo<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18527495-in-the-shadows" target="_blank">951 Ratings</a><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i><b>The Wind Blows Backward</b></i><br />
by Mary Downing Hahn<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/462706.The_Wind_Blows_Backward" target="_blank">957 Ratings</a><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i><b>A Curious Tale of the In-Between</b></i><br />
by Lauren DeStefano<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20499923-a-curious-tale-of-the-in-between" target="_blank">983 Ratings</a><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i><b>Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures (Pip Bartlett #1)</b></i><br />
by Jackson Pearce, Maggie Stiefvater<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23310214-pip-bartlett-s-guide-to-magical-creatures" target="_blank">1,066 Ratings</a><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><i><b>Ethel and Ernest</b></i><br />
by Raymond Briggs<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/402252.Ethel_and_Ernest" target="_blank">1,201 Ratings</a></li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Have you heard of or read any of the books I mentioned? I’d love to talk more about them, especially because they are so very deserving of love and attention!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-align: center; text-transform: initial;">What's in your Top Ten Tuesday?</span></p></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-1826737001223015252016-07-02T12:18:00.000-04:002016-07-02T12:18:14.185-04:00June 2016 Reads<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZWwlZ0pJcaOqD_j-hC66b4sYYbipOeiGSc8qUcIgUFv422FQWoUO1dtyVaugVKC4aiFc6VBWuAUwNm-YRYtqvEiqNVUPSyDzUn8HyhWy2TSL0ygA8pDerFk_3tbWm8J86DdV50tk1qfD/s1600/June+2016+Reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZWwlZ0pJcaOqD_j-hC66b4sYYbipOeiGSc8qUcIgUFv422FQWoUO1dtyVaugVKC4aiFc6VBWuAUwNm-YRYtqvEiqNVUPSyDzUn8HyhWy2TSL0ygA8pDerFk_3tbWm8J86DdV50tk1qfD/s1600/June+2016+Reads.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Wow, I read a TON of children’s books in June. I think I was unconsciously using them to get back into the flow of reading every day. I did manage to read two full-length novels that I really enjoyed. I can feel myself wanting to read again, which is great, because I was so uninterested in settling in with <a href="http://www.literaryhedonist.com/2016/06/may-2016-reads.html" target="_blank">a book in May</a>. Here’s to hoping this is just the beginning of a summer filled with reading! <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Novels</b></div><ol><li><i>Three Dark Crowns (Untitled #1)</i> by Kendare Blake</li>
<li><i>The Call</i> by Peadar Ó Guilín</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Graphic Novels</b></div><ol><li><i>Ghostbusters International</i> by Erik Burnham, Dan Schoening</li>
<li><i>Ghostbusters: Who Ya Gonna Call?</i> by Erik Burnham, Dan Schoening</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Children’s and Illustrated Books</b></div><ol><li><i>The Branch</i> by Mireille Messier, Pierre Pratt</li>
<li><i>The Pruwahaha Monster</i> by Jean-Paul Mulders, Jacques Maes, Lise Braekers </li>
<li><i>Metropolis</i> by Benoit Tardif</li>
<li><i>The Day I Became a Bird</i> by Ingrid Chabbert, Raúl Nieto Guridi</li>
<li><i>Lucy and Company</i> by Marianne Dubuc</li>
<li><i>You Belong to Me</i> by Mamoru Suzuki</li>
<li><i>Mr. Matisse and His Cutouts</i> by Annemarie van Haeringen</li>
<li><i>Pug Man's 3 Wishes</i> by Sebastian Meschenmoser</li>
<li><i>Little Kong</i> by Freya Hartas</li>
<li><i>Baby Bear's Not Hibernating</i> by Lynn Plourde, Teri Weidner</li>
<li><i>Henry Hodges Needs a Friend</i> by Andy Andrews</li>
<li><i>Madeline Finn and the Library Dog</i> by Lisa Papp</li>
<li><i>The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold</i> by Maureen Fergus, Cale Atkinson</li>
<li><i>The Storm</i> by Akiko Miyakoshi</li>
<li><i>Pablo Finds a Treasure</i> by Andrée Poulin</li>
<li><i>Lila and the Crow</i> by Gabrielle Grimard</li>
<li><i>The Fox Who Ate Books</i> by Franziska Biermann</li>
<li><i>A Squiggly Story</i> by Andrew Larsen</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>Misc. Genres</b></div><ol><li><i>The Art and Craft of Handmade Books</i> by Shereen LaPlantz</li>
<li><i>The Night Voyage: A Magical Adventure and Coloring Book</i> by Daria Song</li>
<li><i>100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings: How to Get By Without Even Trying</i> by Sarah Cooper</li>
<li><i>Overview: Unexpected Images of the World We've Shaped</i> by Benjamin Grant</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<b>DNF</b></div><ol><li><i>The Scourge</i> by Jennifer A. Nielsen</li>
</ol><div style="text-align: center;"><p class= "test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: initial; text-align: center;">How was your June?<br>Get any substantial reading time in?</span></p></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621487566914524630.post-74052329556668982012016-06-29T00:00:00.000-04:002016-06-29T00:00:08.905-04:00Waiting On Wednesday: A Shadow Bright and Burning<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Waiting On Wednesday</i> is a weekly book meme, hosted by <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a>, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.<br />
<br />
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gY_8CkMct2tYGjROBnT5HiKqlpDzzIaK9Co60oRfFKK7_2d9dnwFxizqSlIfdefOpgOCTZHfiDm-LdUk9qFXGlt141-bbjOBv8HnazikCZw8Q2pb2CVhqKats0WtZb_K2UpFXH8sQ9GN/s1600/27284765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gY_8CkMct2tYGjROBnT5HiKqlpDzzIaK9Co60oRfFKK7_2d9dnwFxizqSlIfdefOpgOCTZHfiDm-LdUk9qFXGlt141-bbjOBv8HnazikCZw8Q2pb2CVhqKats0WtZb_K2UpFXH8sQ9GN/s1600/27284765.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27284765-a-shadow-bright-and-burning" target="_blank">A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1)</a></b><br />
by <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JessCluess" target="_blank">Jessica Cluess</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.randomhousekids.com/" target="_blank">Random House Books for Young Readers</a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Expected publication:</b> September 20, 2016 </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Description:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>I am Henrietta Howel.<br />
The first female sorcerer in hundreds of years.<br />
The prophesied one.<br />
Or am I?</i><br />
<br />
<b>Henrietta Howel can burst into flames.</b><br />
Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers.<br />
<br />
Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.<br />
<br />
<b>But Henrietta Howel is <i>not </i>the chosen one.</b><br />
As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?<br />
<br />
Exhilarating and gripping, Jessica Cluess's spellbinding fantasy introduces a powerful, unforgettably heroine, and a world filled with magic, romance, and betrayal. Hand to fans of Libba Bray, Sarah J. Maas, and Cassandra Clare.</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This sounds so good! It has an original spin to it I haven't really heard before. And the cover is purty.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="test1"><span style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: 2px; text-transform: initial;">Which books are you waiting on?</span></p></div>Rosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01994285270885710998noreply@blogger.com8