Movie Corner # 16

                 Hello happy movie fans!   This week has been a little crazy as I get ready to rotate shifts at work.  This is always a bit of fun.  Bella is doing well she has enjoyed her visit out to see my family in the country with the other dogs and the horses which at first had her a bit nervous but she warmed up quickly.  I'm also adjusting to the new Moviepass rules/guidelines this last week but I did manage to squeeze in 3 more before the limit kicked in and one with the new limit so far ;) That said here is what I’ve seen the last two weeks:

The Meg:  5 Stars

                This movie is everything you think it will be based on the trailers.  It is pure popcorn fun!  I loved it.  It isn't some amazingly deep movie it's a fun summer flick that you can enjoy.  It has some pretty awesome fun in there and I can't wait to see it again with some friends.  It's something I can totally see myself always putting on when it makes it to TV.  Added bonus Jason Statham used to be a swimmer and that works for the movie too!

               

Christopher Robin:  5 Stars

                This movie.  There were a lot of people in it when I saw it, and I think the parents might have loved it more than the little ones.  It is a super sweet story that has so much going for it.  All of your favorite characters you know and love growing up are back.  Little Christopher Robin is all grown up and needs his old friends to help him realize what is important in life.  I adored this movie.

Mile 22:  4.5 Stars

                I was ready to see this movie as soon as I saw previews.  It looked pretty interesting and I love a good action flick.  Plus it has Maggie from TWD!  I love the whole spy/covert ops aspect to it.  The whole best of the best team.  That is just awesome and come on who doesn't enjoy it.  The action scenes were pretty epic and on point.  They have some really smart moves that I appreciate and the hand to hand combat was a blast to watch. 

The Happytime Murders:  5 Stars

                Okay so this movie is so wrong in the most hilarious way.  Seriously the trailers do it justice.  It is another reason to love Melissa McCarthy.  She is amazing and this was a barrel of laughs.  It is so out there and strange and had me laughing the whole time.  This is so not a movie for kids!!!  There were a few things that were brought up or started and could have gave it more depth overall but it didn't and just went for quick and awkward hilarity and it worked for me. 

*****

                I have several movies I still want to see like Alpha, Kin, maybe A.X.L. but the most anticipated movie right now is Peppermint.  What movies have you seen recently?  What should I see?

Reading Challenge Wrap-Up: August

Bella with her cookie!

                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!  I'm a bit later than normal but I forgot today was the 25th until I was at the adoption event.  My first one as a foster of the beautiful Bella was great she did well but still came home with me but I'm not complaining!  

Goodreads Challenge:

Goal: 100

At: 43

Not looking the best as I'm not halfway there but I still hope to finish strong!

2018 Debut Authors (#DebutAuthorChallenge):

Goal: 12

At: 6 

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi (review)

2018 Series Ender Challenge:

Goal: 15+

At: 9

What I’ve Read:

 Nothing new...though when I started it I thought In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) was the last one but I was wrong...

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018:

Goal: 48

At:

What I've Read:

In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken

2018 New Releases Challenge:

Goal: 31-60

At:  27

What I've Read:

Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen # 2.5) by Roshani Chokshi (review)
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi
Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons #3) by Sarah J. Maas

2018 Audiobook Challenge:

Goal: 30

At:  23

What I've Listened:

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi AdeyemiCatwoman:  Soulstealer (DC Icons #3) by Sarah J. Maas
In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken

                I'd love to hear how you're doing so link back to your wrap up!

~Can't Wait Wednesday: The Darkest Star (Origin #1)~

                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:

The Darkest Star (Origin #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Out:  10/30

From Goodreads:

                When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she mees Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen…but he is in fact something much more powerful.  Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she’d only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head…

                #1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the universe of the Lux in this brand new series, featuring beloved characters both old and new. 

Why I’m Waiting:

                So I love this author!  JLA is a fav of mine and I am so very far behind in her books.  Seriously she puts out so many it’s hard to keep up lol.  But that is a goal!  The Lux series was the first I finished by her and I LOVED it so of course I am thrilled to check out that world again.  Though I do have some slight cringe issues at Evie…My name is Eve and I hate when people try to cute it up with Evie but for JLA I will overlook this!       

                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: Reading Slump fixes!

                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 to pull you out of a SLUMP

Sometimes I just need to swap up the format.  If I'm having no luck with reading then I see if maybe going to the listening route works better.  If not then I turn to re-reading a favorite to get me out of a slump.  Here are a few of the books I always go back to.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling- Does this need an explanation?

The Goddess Summoning Series by P.C. Cast- I regularly go back and skim through one of these on the regular just because I adore them so much and it will be on my mind.

Anna & the French Kiss Series by Stephanie Perkins- This whole series is so fast and fun it just gives you all the feels!

Anything my Sarah J. Maas!  They are long for sure but sometimes I just love to go back and skim or listen to sections again to get me back in the mood!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell- This is just an uber quite book that makes me love being a fangirl!

Geekerella  by Ashley Poston- On a similar note these books about being geeks and fangirls just make me want to dive back into what I love and remind me why I love it!

Angelbound Series by Christina Bauer- This is a super fun and fast series and each book I fly through and love!

Alpha Girl Series by Aileen Erin- Same as above as I found them at the same time they are some amazing books I can just plow through and enjoy the story and the characters.

Fifty Shades of Grey Series- by E.L. James- Given that I never thought I'd read them and now I have re-read them several times it's pretty fun.  They are something different than I normally read so I think it helps to get me out of my funk and go in fresh.

And last but not least….if re-reading or trying a different format (physical book / ebook / audiobook) then I just go to Netflix and binge watch a show/series and then dive back in!

             

                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!

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1)

                Hello happy readers!  So I finished another debut book and I am so excited!  Bella is also doing well she is enjoying the backyard even more now that the grass got cut, but in my defense it rained on all my days off so when was its supposed to be done?   Anywho today I'm so happy to talk about this new debut Children ofBlood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi.  Now I am sorry in advance but I listened to this on audiobook and knew instantly spelling was going to be tricky so I've looked up what I could find without having a physical book to reference, but that aside this book was amazing.

Rating:  5 Stars

                Magic used to be.  Until it disappeared the night of the raid when Zelie watched her mother die and her father be beaten.  When the world changed.  Zelie is a diviner, meant to become a full maji.  She is meant to have magic but even though it is gone she and others like her still pay a heavy price for what they should have become.  After a chance encounter Zelie has one chance to bring magic back to Orisha and strike against the tyrannical monarchy with the help of her brother and a rogue princess.  Still the king and his crown prince are determined to hunt them down and destroy magic for good.  But with magic back in play even in a small part there is much more to see as characters struggle not only with the outside influences but with themselves.

                So this book was amazing.  I was interested to start but once I got into it a small bit I was completely hooked.  Zelie is strong willed, impulsive, determined, and strong headed.  I love her.  She is so fierce and determined and sometimes that gets her into trouble.  Tzain is a loving brother willing to do anything to protect his sister, usually from herself.  But he has a kinder more open heart and softens her.  Amari is completely out of her element but comes into her own as she progresses through the story.  She is a beautiful contrast that just because you live in "luxury" doesn't mean you are worry or problem free.  The palace is a dark place too.  Inan…..he had an interesting story as well and his internal struggle was captivating as the paths connected and crossed.  Everyone was so beautifully written. 

"I won't let your ignorance silence my pain."

                The story of Orisha and what has happened to it.  What is common place just rocked me to my core.  As some of the things happened I just wanted to jump into the book and make them stop or help in some way.  After the book finishes there is an authors note where she brings up similarities to things in our current and very real world that I didn't see at the time because I was so entranced in the world of magic with these characters on this journey but it really pulled the fantasy into reality.  I love that this story is more than just an amazing fantasy story you can enjoy but it has a much deeper meaning which gives it even more depth.

"Courage does not always roar.  Valor does not always shine."

                I can't wait for the next book because we did leave off on a bit of a cliff hanger.  I know there was a lot of stuff happening and we have so much more to do.   There was some twists and turns and I did some serious character swaps throughout the story if that tells you anything.  Everyone is changed in this.  Every character grows in this story and being along for the ride, seeing what shapes them into who they become was amazing.  I loved seeing how one event in particular could put people on such different paths.  I did cry some in this and that made listening at work a bit difficult but yeah I did so have a tissue around just saying.  Adeyemi really crafted an amazing world with characters that make you feel for and with them.  You will be dragged right in there with them on this quest.

                Until next time…

~Stacking the Shelves #59~

                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. 

Physical Books:

The Darkest Legacy (The Darkest Minds #4) by Alexandra Bracken

Through the Dark (The Darkest Minds Novella bind-up) by Alexandra Bracken

Audiobooks:

Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons #3) by Sarah J. Maas

                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. 

Movie Corner #15

                Hello happy movie fans!  I hope all is going well with you.  I know I have been a bit MIA as of late and I am sorry for that, some of the Top Ten's I've missed have just left my mind blank unable to think of anything for it for too long but hopefully my brain can catch back up soon!  Also last weekend I may have gone and done something that has kept me rather distracted… I signed up to be a pet foster parent.  I see all the urgent foster needs and while my job hours are tricky my place sure beats boarding / shelter / or being put down.  So I had a home visit and got all the paperwork signed up, who knew there was so much, and we found my first foster.  Her name, which I didn’t choose but find kismet, is Bella.  So the cute puppy news aside here's what I’ve seen the last two weeks:

Bella!  

The Darkest Minds:  4 Stars

                So I read the first two books in the series back at the start of 2016 and was about 75% finished with the third book at the time of seeing this movie.  I was a bit foggy on some of the specific details from the book but even the trailer made it very clear like most book to movie adaptations there would be changes.  Overall as a movie I was mixed.  I found many moments and parts I enjoyed from the book.  Some of it made a really nice movie piece but I can recognize that the timing was skewed.  The connections built between Ruby, Liam, Chubs, and Zu are forged with some times but in the movie it seems to happen instantly.  The connection between Ruby and Liam isn't as strong.  Basically I felt everything was very rushed.  All the connection I felt was that I knew these characters and the connections already but non-readers may not.  I enjoyed myself well enough but some of the changes didn't make sense as a whole to the larger story I know having read the books.  Still I do hope they make more.

The Spy Who Dumped Me:  5 Stars

                By far my favorite movie I have seen this go and maybe even all year.  Seriously this movie was the best.  It was hilarious!!!  I was rolling and laughing so hard through 98% of the movie it hurt.  First let me say that half the stuff the MC is thinking / said and I have been there and her best friends name is Morgan who is a little wild and haha so is mine!  So the hilariousness is there for sure.  I couldn't stop laughing.  It was crazy and over the top in the best way.  I loved all the cast they did a great job, and it never hurts seeing Sam Heughan, just saying.  Really though the real stars were Kunis and McKinnon they did a great job and played off one another so well.  They look like they could be best friends who get into all sorts of issues!  I loved this movie and can't wait to see it again!

Mamma Mia!  Here We Go Again:  4 Stars

                So I saw this trailer and thought it looked good even though at the time I hadn't seen the first one.  So I watched it on Netflix and it was only okay.  Still the trailer for the second one looked much better even if I saw some continuity issues from movie one.  Anywho I went into it and I did enjoy it much more than the first.  I only new some of the songs and again my biggest issue was with some things I noticed off between movie 1 and 2 but still it was a fun time.  Some good singing and dancing to be had.

Slender Man: 1 Stars

                This is by far my flop.  This looked like it might be a cool horror movie I could laugh at, as you know I laugh in horror movies.  Well I was wrong.  It was very odd and I couldn’t care less about any of the characters as there was no development and unlike other horror movies I've seen there is no rules or understanding for it and everything just sort of happens without rhyme or reason.  Also on a person note one school scene, not a spoiler,  they are in science and most school science scenes always want to dissect something like it's what is done every day not sure where they go to school mine it was 1 year and 1 time and a frog not a flipping eyeball!!!  Who dissects and eyeball in class just saying the only legit freaky thing in the movie and it wasn't supposed to be just I have an issue with eyeballs.  Anywho as for the movie I'm not really sure what happened it just kind of blurred right by.

Crazy Rich Asians:  5 Stars

                I was so excited to be able to snag this one last night.  This is based on a book but I have not read it.  I only heard about it when the trailer came out and it looked really good. I was so excited to see it.  I loved the whole thing from start to finish!  The cast was amazing and talented and the visuals were just stunning.  It had a beautiful story of love and family and how culture among with other things can put those at odds.  It did make me want to check out the book, but I know I'll be seeing the movie again!

               

*****

                I still have some more movies I want to check out like The Meg, Mile 22, Alpha, Dog Days and more.  Still starting in Sept. I may be seeing less movies with the changes to my subscription.  If that happens I may end up turning this into a once a month post rather than every other week but we shall see how it plays out.  Still going to see as many as I can in the mean time!  What movies have you seen recently?  What should I see?

~Can't Wait Wednesday~ Shifters and Glyphs (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #2)

                Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings.  Waiting on Wednesday has been don for some time so I am switching it up for now!  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Shifters and Glyphs (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #2) by Christina Bauer

Out:  10/30

From Goodreads:

                After being raised by the meanest fairies in the history of ever, Bryar Rose is now free to live her own life. For the first time, she’s attending West Lake Prep, a regular high school.  Well, mostly regular.  Some of the students are actually hidden members of the Magicorum.  In other words, they’re really wizards, fairies, or shifters.  Bry doesn’t mind, though.  She’s thrilled to enjoy all the new experiences of being around normal kids her age, from locker pranks to lunchtime mystery meat.  Everything is going along great, except for one thing.

                Bry’s dreams about the pyramids of Egypt have gotten darker and more sinister.  Every night, she sees her new man Knox and her best friend Elle in danger.

                With no other choice, Bry plans to leave school to explore the pyramids on her own.  But her new man Knox discovers the scheme and is having none of it.  He wants to stay by her side, no matter what.  It’s a good thing too, because Bry must solve the mystery of her attraction to the pyramids and soon.  Otherwise, it could cost the lives of those she loves most…and that means not only Knox, but also her best friend Elle.

Why I’m Waiting:

                I have really enjoyed this series thus far from book one to the novella between then and now.  I am very interested in all of the characters, their stories, and the mystery of these pyramids.  Plus auto-buy author!

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

Stacking the Shelves #58

                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):

Magic Harvest (Fairy Trafficking #1) by Mary Karlik

Physical Book:

Being Alpha (Alpha Girl #7) by Aileen Erin- I won this, signed,in a trivia game by the author with my very own Ink Monster pin and signed bookmark!

                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. 

~Can't Wait Wednesday: Girls of Paper and Fire~

                Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Wishful Endings.  Waiting on Wednesday has been don for some time so I am switching it up for now!  Basically books that are not yet out that we are dying to get our hands on.  This week’s pick is:

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Out:  10/23

From Goodreads:

                Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king.  It’s the highest honor they could hope for…and the most cruel.

                But this year, there’s a ninth girl.  And instead of paper, she’s made of fire.

                In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara.  She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her.  Now, the guards are back, and this time it’s Lei they’re after—the girl whose golden eyes have piques the king’s interest.

                Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit a king’s consort.  But Lei isn’t content to watch her fate consume her.  Instead, she does the unthinkable—she falls in love.  Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive split that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyes country girl at heart, must decide just how far she’s willing to go for justice and revenge.

                Presented by James Patterson, Natasha Ngan’s lyrical, searing, visceral fantasy, Girls of Paper and Fire, will remind us how precious freedom is—and the price we must pay to achieve it.

Why I’m Waiting:

                 I am on the fence back and forth on this.  I’m not a huge fan of women being subjected to this but I like the revenge aspect of it and think I could really get down for her finding romance and revenge.  So I’m down to give it a go! 

                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.

Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5)

                Hello happy readers!  My days are a bit off but it works out even better because yesterdays review actually comes out today so win!  Yes I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of Star-Touched Stories (The Star-Touched Queen #2.5) by Roshani Chokshi.  I had the pleasure of meeting her a few times at book events before she was published as just a fellow book lover and since her publication and she is so sweet and I have enjoyed this world, I reviewed the previous two books here:  The Star-Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes.

Rating:  5 Stars

                Star-Touched Stories is a set of short stories or novellas.  There are three lush stories full of beauty and adventure. The three stories are : Death & Night, Poison & Gold, and Rose & Sword.  All three were brilliant and beautiful.  They each were a very decent size/length and just expanded the world we already knew.  I loved seeing characters I knew in a different and new way, and what has become of some.  There is such a beauty to the way Chokshi has written this world.  Everything is so vivid and jumps right off the page.  I can't really get into much more of these as I wouldn't want to spoil anything.  Just pull up a chair and enjoy these short stories as they pull you deeper into the rich and marvelous world of magic!  This is an enchanting addition to the series that anyone who has enjoyed the other books will devour instantly! 

                Until next time!

Movie Corner #14

                Hello happy movie fans!    So I haven't seen all the movies I had planned these last two weeks and I'm not sure which of the ones I want to see coming up I'll be able to see at the start of their run given the MoviePass issues.  Yes I have a MoviePass and it has been allowing me to see movies at my hearts content, basically a dream come true for me.  I'm holding out hope they work things out and continue to work.  Either way I'm going to use it while I have it!  That said here is what I’ve seen the last two weeks:

The Equalizer 2:  5 Stars

                So the first movie was awesome.  I like these type of movies and these type of heroes that do bad to help the little guys.  It’s always something you can get behind.  Like the first one it has some amazing action sequences where he uses his skills and the things around him to really kick ass!  It had a little story of his current life after moving on from his last place which grounds him as well as his personal connection to the only friend from the agency he has left.  The movie even managed to infuse some laughter in there as well which really rounded it out for me and I am sure will be a movie I turn on all the time when it's on regular TV as something I can always re-watch!

Unfriended:  Dark Web: 4.5 Stars

                I went into this thinking it might be a bit of cheesy horror fun but was honestly surprised.  It has the who theme of everything is seen from a computer screen which on the big screen but when I watched the first Unfriended on TV it was a bit harder to enjoy as you have to read IM's and texts on the screen and because it's the side of the screen depending on your TV size it sometimes is hard to catch.  It's an interesting movie for sure and it did keep me fascinated and including the dark web aspect with all the crazy and illicit things was a good idea.  It was creepy and suspenseful and really kept you focused.  I was honestly creeped out. 

Mission Impossible:  Fallout: 5 Stars

                A couple weeks ago I hadn't seen past the first two movies years ago.  But they always look interesting and fun.  So I got me a 5 pack movie for $20 and marathon watched all 5 previous movies from start to finish and found myself really loving the action and the impossible aspects of them mixed with a surprising amount of humor.  I was really excited to dive into the newest installment and it was just as good if not better than the ones before it.  I enjoyed the different levels of espionage and all mixed in with some awesome action and tying things back to the previous movies so seamlessly.  It didn't feel like so many years has passed from the first films because they flow together nicely.  I would highly recommend a binge watch and seeing the newest installment! 

*****

                That's all for now.  Hopefully MoviePass gets it's stuff together and I will still be able to see plenty of movies on the cheap.  That said this week alone I have several in mind top two being The Darkest Minds (because hello book to movie adaptation) and The Spy Who Dumped Me because it looks hilarious!  What movies have you seen recently?  What should I see?