Cradled (Beholder #4.5)

                Hello happy readers.  I hope you are having a good Monday.  My weekend was not as productive as I would have hoped but the new season of Orange is the New Black dropped Friday so could I have done anything other than marathon it?   I think not.  That said I am happy to have a quick review of an epilogue novella.  Yes the Beholder series by Christina Bauer that I have enjoyed comes out with a quick novella, Cradled (Beholder #4.5).  It comes out tomorrow and I am excited to have gotten a chance to read it early before my pre-order as I was provided an ARC in exchange for my honest review.  I reviewed the previous Beholder books here:  Cursed, Concealed, Cherished, and Crowned.

Rating:  5 Stars

                Elea and Rowan have been through a lot and still have lots more to do in complete unity between their peoples.  But given the family drama on both sides children were something they were going to forgo…..But sometimes fate has other options.

                So I went in not knowing much.  I hadn't even read the summary just that it was more Elea and Rowan and that was good enough for me.  The title kind of gave me some hint but yeah that was it.  I thought it'd be a quick little tale dealing with pregnancy or something but what I got was so much more.  There is an attack, kidnapping, crossovers, battle, redemption, and so much jam packed into this novella!  Seriously there is so much happening I loved it.  There was even a cross over with some other characters I just adore so having them all in one spot kind of made my day!

                There is a little of everything and again all of her books fly by for me but this was a novella that easily felt like a full on book with such an interesting story.  I highly recommend it to fans of the series it's a sweet treat!

                Until next time…

Reading Challenge Wrap-Up: July

                Hello happy readers!  The challenges are pretty self-explanatory but for full details on the challenges themselves please visit the challenge tab.  Also please share your yearly wrap-up / challenges as well I’d love to see how everyone else did! 

Goodreads Challenge:

Goal: 100

At: 39

2018 Debut Authors (#DebutAuthorChallenge):

Goal: 12

At:  5

Nothing new to report yet.  But next month…

2018 Series Ender Challenge:

Goal: 15+

At: 9

What I’ve Read:

I’m lacking but working on it.

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018:

Goal: 48

At: 15

What I've Read:

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout (review)
By Your Side by Kasie West (review)

2018 New Releases Challenge:

Goal: 31-60

At: 24

What I've Read:

A Study in Shifters (The Adventures of Marisol Holmes #1) by Majanka Verstraete (review)
Being Alpha (Alpha Girl #7) by Aileen Erin (review)

Cradled (Beholder #) by Christina Bauer

2018 Audiobook Challenge:

Goal: 30

At: 21

What I've Listened:

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout
By Your Side by Kasie West

                I've got some serious catching up to do.  I'd love to hear how you're doing so link back to your wrap up!

~Can't Wait Wednesday: Sugar Spells (The Spellwork Syndicate #2)~

                Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Sugar Spells (The Spellwork Syndicate #2) by Lola Dodge

Out:  10/30

From Goodreads:

                For Fans of Hex Hall, The Magicians, Practical Magic, and Food Wars!

                After her run-in with a jealous warlock, apprentice baker Anise Wise can’t wait to get back to the kitchen where she belongs.  But thanks to her brush with death, the land of the living isn’t all cupcakes and marshmallows.

                Anise’s magical mojo is way out of whack and her evolving powers are stirring up trouble.  As the town buzzes with news that Anise can bake deathly spells, unsavory characters start lining up for a taste.  They’ll stop at nothing for a chance to use Anise and her witchcraft to further their own plots.

                She plans to hole up researching magic recipes until the attention dies down, but then she discovers the horrifying terms of her bodyguard’s contract.  Wynn has saved her life so many times, she can’t leave him trapped.  But doing the right thing will mean risking death or worse—being cast out of her dream job.

               

                For this witch, justice might not be as sweet as advertised.

Why I’m Waiting:

                I really enjoyed the first book and the mix of magic and baking.  It made me want to bake and try new recipes constantly while reading too!  I am excited to see what is going to happen with the story and learning more about this way of life. The cover just dropped for this sequel and yep it has encouraged me to go for it and give macarons a try.  

                 

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your CWW as well so I can check it out.

Top Ten Tuesday: Sensory Memories

                Hello everyone!  Top Ten Tuesday is just how it sounds, a topic is picked and we put our Top Ten for that in a post and share and check out everyone’s answers.  Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. 

The top ten today is:  Books with sensory memories

Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer- This series got me back into reading as I flew through all 4 books in just couple of days despite my full time college class load and full time job. 

Harry Potterand the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter 5) by J.K. Rowling- So I didn't start with HP as a child.  I started with book 5 having seen the first 4 movies and ready to see the next.  I had just finished the Twilight series and realized how much I missed reading and a friend told me I had to read this book before the movie or I wasn't allowed to go.  I was ready and finished it quickly.  I then got the rest of the books and read 6 and 7 (which came out as I was finishing 6 so score on timing) then read 1-7 from start to finish.  It was amazing but as my first book in the series it was so beautiful and it made me cry.

The ScorchTrials (The Maze Runner #2)  by James Dashner- So I really enjoyed the first book back when I read it and was still new to reading again and the whole having to wait for books to come out thing was not something I was fond of.  So when I saw the sequel came out on my day off from work I was excited to make my trip to town and get it.  Well no one had it.  I checked the one Books a Million we have, both Walmarts, Sams Club (where I got book 1) and Target.  No one had it they were all set to get it the following week.  I was determined though so I called the Barns and Noble an hour away and confirmed they had it, like I had the sales person get it and hold it in their hand and I picked up my friend and we made the hour drive there to get it and had a little adventure that night. 

VampireAcademy Series by Richelle Mead- So this series I waited until all the books were out because I didn't want to have to wait for books.  I was so happy I did that because I flew through these but more specifically the end of one book I was highly upset.  I was in tears and just couldn't stop. 

Divine by Choice (Partholon #2) by P.C. Cast- This book.  I had been enjoying the HoN books that were out at the time and I enjoyed her writing and checked out her other books.  First this set.  Book one was amazing and I loved it.  I had gotten all 3 at once from my local BAM that was still 30 mins out but I was so ready for book 2.  I started it and when it about 75% in the book was defective.  It had the same few chapters from before again instead of the next chapters.  I was so upset!  I called the store to see if they had another copy and if it was correct it too was defective so I had to have them order it for me which took 2 WEEKS!  This is also before I discovered Amazon.  When it finally came in I was there and started reading where I left off in the store and finished. 

Reign of Shadows (Reign of Shadows #1) by Sophie Jordan- I think this is the first audiobook I ever finished in one listen.  I put it on just to start one night before bed.  Figured I'd get a few chapters in then turn it off for sleep but nope around the time I would shut it off I was captivated and despite sleep calling my name I was hooked and had to finish. 

Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3) by Stephanie Perkins- So this one I remember got to me more than the others.  I remember going back and forth with one of my reader friends about this book and how upset I was about certain parts.

A Court ofMist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas- Okay so this is similar I love this book so much now but as I was first reading it I got a bit upset.  See I have issues with forgiving characters (or RL people) when they don't even apologize or try to acknowledge their wrong doing.  It's a pet peeve.  So when I started to enjoy a character in this book and want to root for it, but I was still pissed at them for book 1 things that were just brushed away I was a bit peeved.  But then the apology came and I was able to let myself like them!  But yeah my one friend was loving my anger at them to start because she was already on that team and knew I would be too in the end.  She was right but wow the angry rants she would get as I read….

                It's only eight but those were the ones that first came to mind and if I go look in the library for too long to think of more I'll end up with way more than ten so this seems best.  So what do you think?  Tell me what you think of my list in the comments below.  Also please link back to your Top Ten as well so I can check out your list and see what I missed!

By Your Side- My first Kasie West book!!!

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you had a great weekend.  I managed to listen to a cute little audiobook in some of my down time at work so I call that a win.  What I don't call a win is humidity so high it set off some smoke detectors….yeah that happened.  Fun.  Still I got to read/listen to my first book by Kasie West.  I had the pleasure of getting to meet and hang with her a couple years back.  I've had several of her books for a while always finding the covers and summary so cute and adorable but always getting pushed back but now I have done it, I started.  The first book I went with was my audiobook, By Your Side. 

Rating:  4.5 Stars

                Locked in the library for an entire long weekend.  This is what happens to Autumn when she makes a last minute run to the bathroom before leaving with a group of friends.  Trapped without any supplies or access to any phones or computers as it snows outside and you realize you will be trapped for the long holiday weekend.  But she is not alone.  She finds Dax Miller, the school loner and bad boy who did time in juvie and may be a druggie, is also in the library this weekend.   Autumn is convinced in the start that her friends will realize she is missing and come back for her, especially Jeff the guy she has a crush on and has been flirting back and forth with for a while.  But no one comes.  Instead they have to make the most of their time and try to live off the food left over in the fridge and maybe try to get to know one another or at least that is Autumns now plan.  But can the things learned in a long weekend stuck together survive the library and being pulled into real life?

                So this caught my eye because come on stuck in a library….as a book lover it sounds like an awesome idea.  But as a practical person I realize that it would suck because at least my library never had the most comfy furniture, no food, and iffy comfort supplies so being locked in not the best.  Books….yes.  Basic hygiene products and food…no.  Add to it the cold and I'd have to say not a dream location any longer.  All things Autumn, who isn't a huge book nerd, comes to realize as well.  She also has another problem….she has anxiety and doesn't have her medication and this is the definition of a stressful situation.  I liked that Autumn was very down to Earth and relatable.  She has anxiety, which I think was handled very well.  She also reminded me a lot of myself in that she doesn't feel comfortable in the spot light and wants to please everyone hating the idea of someone not liking her, even if it makes her uncomfortable to participate. 

                Dax on the other hand does seem to enjoy the library and reading time.  But Autumn is ready to get to know him.  She finds many different things to try and pass the time, from the TV in the break room with a couple of channels to the games she comes up with.  I loved it.  I would have enjoyed some book related games as well but you can't win them all.  Slowly she starts to understand Dax much better and sees he isn't what everyone says.  He is a very interesting character and I wanted to help him in any small way.

"Possibilities are exciting and endless.  Realities are final."

                The whole store doesn't take place in the library.  Half is library half is after.  I really enjoyed the library moments for sure but what happens after really upped the game.  There is a lot happening and it would stress anyone out but to add that on to normal anxiety and it's a pot at boiling point.  Dax and Autumn can both offer the other something they need.  Dax is so set on no commitment or friends but maybe Autumn has worked her way in there.  Autumn is so set on making others happy she never thinks about her own wants and needs, maybe Dax rubbed off on her a little too.  The story was very interesting for sure and I loved the slow build up of characters and romance.  Autumn and Dax are central for sure but I loved seeing her friend group as well and how it functioned nicely where you can have a large group but most of the times there is that one best friend like Lisa.  I could have enjoyed a story completely set in the library but seeing the aftermath of getting out really made things real. 

                All and all this book was uber cute and I can't wait to dive into many more of my Kasie West books.  I highly recommend it.  If you have read her other books which should I dive into next? 

                Until next time…

Stacking the Shelves # 57

                Welcome to Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga and the full details can be found on her page.  Basically you showcase the books you bought or received each week.  Little, or not so little, weekly book hauls. 

E-Book (Review):

Crooked Raven by Talis Jones

Cradled(Beholder #4.5) by Christina Bauer

                Another good small week.  I have some pre-orders I’m waiting on but I never count them until they arrive.  Share a link below with what goodies you got this week. 

Being Alpha (Alpha Girl #7)

                Hello happy readers!  Another weekend is here and I can’t believe July is almost over.  This is seriously insane.  Still that being said I have a review of a new book in a series I adore today, Being Alpha (Alpha Girl #7) by Aileen Erin.  I received an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review but as with the other books in this series I already had that baby on pre-order, that arrived this Tuesday, I just get it a bit early this way ;)  This is the 7^th book in the series which might be intimidating but they are so good and super-fast reads.  I have reviewed all the books in the series if you’re interested or need a refresher:  Becoming Alpha, Avoiding Alpha, Alpha Divided, Bruja, Alpha Unleashed, and Shattered Pack.

Rating:  5 Stars

               

                In the last book we stepped away from Tessa for a bit and got to follow what was happening with Meredith and Donovan in Ireland.  After defeating the evil witch Luciana, Tessa and Dastien were able to go on vacation / honeymoon after seeing their friends’ full moon ceremony and it is glorious and much deserved.  But Tessa hasn’t been able to have a vision and there is a nagging feeling that something is amiss….oh and a magical attack that nearly kills her might have been a sign something is up.  Now they have to end their vacation and go back into the thick of things, because even with Luciana dead her mess isn’t over. 

                It is so nice to dive back in with Tessa and the gang well minus Mer in person as she’s back in Ireland but she was just a call away.  More it was nice to see Tessa and Dastien get some much needed time together.  They have been from one disaster to the next and this was no exception but at least they got a break in there for a little bit.  They are so cute and I love how they are adapting to the bond.  They have a real healthy relationship and I adore how they work together and balancing one another out.  It was fun to see how the different pairs worked together as well.  I like the unity they all show.  Many are Were and loyal by nature but even the others there is this great loyalty between them tried and true forged in battle.  Even when they don’t see eye to eye on things they still hear one another out.  This is friendship goals!

                Tessa has grown so much since we got to know her in the first book.  She continues to grow as she comes to terms with what she has become.  She is powerful in both respects plus she was raised a human so she can see things from different angles.  She is ready to jump in and help anyone and takes on more than her fair share of responsibility but still she doubts herself as ever being a true alpha.  I love the character development for her and others as they grow from being teens to something more with what they have been forced to endure and adapt too. 

                In books past, and this one as well we always have lots of evils to fight with but in this we had another different battle to win as well.  A super powerful demon is trying to take Tessa and she has to battle not just physically but with her mind and soul which was different and fun.  I loved seeing the different tethers between the characters was cool.  We also got to see how a new generation may be young have a different set of priorities and willingness to work together and break down walls and bound together.  Unity is a real theme and I really enjoyed that and of course the combination of Weres’, witches, and fey.  The different levels of power between the factions and inside them was present.  This book sent shivers down my arms in many moments and had me laughing so hard it hurt at others.  Tessa is for sure one of a kind and I love her inner thoughts because I was right there with her.

“I didn’t look to see who followed me as I raced out the door.  The ones that trusted me would come.  The rest could f&@k themselves, because I wasn’t waiting.”

                The story in here is intriguing mixing all the different supernaturals and we even got introduced to some new ones I can’t wait to learn more about.  Samantha and Eli both seem like huge stories for the telling and oh yeah the whole quick pop over to the Lunar Court….yeah totally have to explore that more in time because that looks amazing!  I love that this is seven books deep and we still have so much we can explore and do.  Each chapter as you read pulls you in and flies by, the pacing is really on point, add that with amazing characters and fun story and it is gone in a blink leaving you needing more.  I’m excited for the next book in the series, and like in books past we are jumping to different characters.  I like that the series does that as well as it gives the reader a deeper insight into characters we already know and love and it also provides a break and a way to explore new worlds!

                Bottom line = I LOVE this installment and this series is an autobuy for me.  I already have book 8 on preorder!  Come on 2019!

                Until next time…

Movie Corner #13

                Hello happy movie fans!   I've had a good couple of weeks I have seen every movie at my local theatre except one as of right now but not to worry new movies come out tonight!  That said here is what I’ve seen the last two weeks:

Ant-Man and the Wasp:  5 Stars

                So first I just have to say you should see all the previous movies first.  Seriously they are in order for a reason.  There are spoilers for up to Infinity War.  Just saying be warned some people didn’t realize this and were confused and then upset they were spoiled for something.  Aside from that this movie is a much more light hearted film.   I really enjoyed it.  Hope takes a real central lead in this which I liked but it also seemed like the skills/brains of Scott were downplayed some.  I think it could just be his uncertainty with the dynamic after everything that happened so it never really hit me until after the movie when I was thinking about my thoughts for the review.  I think it was beautifully timed for the laughs and fun after we left off in Infinity War, because it was hilarious.  There was a lot happening with lots of action and a fast pace.  We got to know a few new characters but more important we got to know the others better.  The cast was phenomenal and did an amazing job and I really liked the effects they really have found a way to de-age for flashbacks that doesn’t look super cheesy and that is just the tip of the effects.  It was a huge treat and I look forward to catching it again.

Sicario:  Day of Soldado:  4 Stars

                I watched the first movie the day before.  I had never seen it but the sequel looks intriguing.  I don't know if seeing the first one was totally necessary to see this one.  I think they cover the idea of who he is and what his "team" does pretty well.  Though it did give more back story which I appreciated.  It was an interesting movie.  It had a lot of violence and such for sure but it also filled in some character work with a pretty interesting story.  It's something I am glad I saw but it's not the type of movie I see myself putting on again.  It's not a feel good movie you can always re-watch and that is okay it wasn't intended to be that. 

Skyscraper:  4.5 Stars

                This movie is full of over the top action scenes and the rock being the rock and laughing in the face of reason.  And I loved it.  It was the huge action movie full of all the crazy stunts and action that you wonder how the person hasn't died of something by now in the best way.  It had a pretty easy to follow story behind the characters and I enjoyed it.  Everything is over the top and very predictable but I enjoyed myself the whole time, well minus the group who sat beside me and kept getting up and down to move seats and go get things and even checking tinder during the movie, seriously some people should just be banned from the movies.  Skyscraper is what you expect it to be and that is what I love about it.  Some action, cool scenes, and lots of little funny moments in there to keep it light and not take itself too seriously.

Hotel Transylvania 3:  Summer Vacation:  5 Stars

                I only recently watched any of these movies.  I had never seen them but my besties kids love their "vampire movie" and we watched the first one while I was there one day and I really enjoyed it.  So of course I had to watch the sequel and be ready for the new one!  This one is super sweet full of the fun moments you are used to in the others with lots of laughs and fun but also a deeper and sweeter underlying message which I can appreciate.  It also has some hilarious music which is fun to bop along with.  I look forward to seeing it again with the bestie and her little ones!

The First Purge:  4.5 Stars

                The Purge movies are interesting to me.  Mostly because I've always found talking about the idea of the purge theory with people fascinating.  That said this is a good installment.  I liked the idea of showing how it started.  We see what it evolves into but to see the start and see how things went from an experiment into this huge dangerous thing….wow.  I liked the story here and I like that it brought up a different aspect to the purge than "murder night" because there is more crime than murder and it is at least addressed in this one. 

*****

                This was a pretty good week I actually saw everything at my local theatre but one movie as of yesterday.  What movies have you seen recently?  What should I see?  The next couple weeks I plan to see a couple more sequels, seems to be a theme, The Equalizer 2, Mamma Mia!  Here We Go Again, Unfriended:  Dark Web, and Mission:  Impossible- Fallout, which I am ready for having done a MI marathon of 1-5 this week!

~Can't Wait Wednesday: Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7)~

                Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings.  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas

Out:  10/23

From Goodreads:

                The FINAL installment to the Throne of Glass series.

                Captured by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin is trapped inside an iron box in a secret location, with seemingly no hope for escape.  As she endures months of torture, her friends scatter to different fates.  Without Aelin to protect them, soldier Aedion and shapeshifter Lysandra need to defend their homeland at all costs.  Also left to forge their own paths in order to change history are Chaol, the witch Manon, and the golden boy Dorian-while Aelin’s mate, the fae male Rowan, searches the world over for his lost love.

                As Aelin gathers the strength to save herself and fight the ultimate battle of her life, all of their destinies hang in the balance.  Some ties will bond even tighter together, others will be severed forever, and mysteries will be revealed in this action-packed, heart wrenching series finale.

Why I’m Waiting:

                 MONTHS?????? Okay so yes I love this series and this is where it all ends.  I need to know what happens next after how Empire of Storms left off but then I finally got to read the summary and again….MONTHS!!!!!!!  NO!!!!  I have so so so many needs in this book.  I need it ASAP of course but in the book itself I have so many things I need to happen and I am not please it’s going to take at least MONTHS to happen. But yeah the cover dropped finally and I knew this was next and my most anticipated book of this year!

                What are you waiting on?  Tell me below what you think of this title and leave a link to your CWW as well so I can check it out.

Top Ten Tuesday: Novellas / Short Stories

                Hello everyone!  Top Ten Tuesday is just how it sounds, a topic is picked and we put our Top Ten for that in a post and share and check out everyone’s answers.  Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. 

The top ten today is:  Novellas / Short Stories

A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.1) by Sarah J. Maas

Duty Bound (Angelbound Origins #0.5) by Christina Bauer

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

Night of Cake & Puppets (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2.5) by Laini Taylor

Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles #4.5) by Marissa Meyer

Unite Me (Shatter Me #1.5 & 2.5) by Tahereh Magi

The House of Night Novellas by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Happily Ever After (Selection #0.4, .5, 2.5, 3.1, & 3.5) by Kiera Cass

Folktales from Ravka by Leigh Bardugo

Covenant Novellas and Extras by Jennifer L. Armentrout

*****

And I totally forgot this was a novella bind up until I saw it on another post but it's one of my favorites...

The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass #0.1-0.5) by Sarah J. Maas

               

                So what do you think?  Tell me what you think of my list in the comments below.  Also please link back to your Top Ten as well so I can check out your list and see what I missed!

~Stacking the Shelves #56~

                Welcome to Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga and the full details can be found on her page.  Basically you showcase the books you bought or received each week.  Little, or not so little, weekly book hauls.  So it's been a few weeks since I had anything to post about on one of these.  I've been sticking to my budget pretty well but when I come into some amazon credit….well you know I use it for books! 

Physical Book:

A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes #3) by Sabaa Tahir

E-Book:

Yumi (A Flame in the Mist #1.75) by Renee Ahdieh

                A very small haul but I'm happy with it.  I do have a couple pre-orders that are months away and so many books I want but I'm being very careful lol.   Share a link below with what goodies you got this week.