It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 1 August 2022

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! I didn't have much reading time this past week because I had a ton of paperwork and meetings to do for work. I'm hoping to catch up more this week with a few short ebooks. 

What I Read Last Week: 

My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey

(Picture Below)

I only had about 100 pages left last week but, like I said, I barely had any reading time. I'm down to about 50 pages now. 

Currently Reading: 

My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey

I'm hopefully going to finish this one by the end of my work shift today. I love the story though, it's funny, it's spicy, and I've been savoring it. A few scenes I've even had to refrain from "squeeing" out loud at work. 😆

Next Read

Chaos & Carnage by Stacey Rourke

My pick for last week, Gallant, is still on my immediate TBR but I'm going to take a break with these books because I know that I'll breeze through both Chaos & Carnage (which is bound to be a 45 minute read) and The Dark One (which is a dark, sexy retelling I'm bound to devour.)

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 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 31 May 2021

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! Happy Memorial Day (or Happy Monday to everyone else!) I hope you're having a great day whatever you're up to. 

What I Read Last Week: 

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

I've tried twice but I just can't get into this book. I'm blaming this on the fact that I never really liked Alice in Wonderland and I haven't really enjoyed any of the retellings, by any author. It's really nothing personal to this author.

Corpse Queen by Stacey Rourke

If you like Tim Burton, Beetlejuice, and Sassy Take-No-Prisoners heroines you'll love this book! Full review will be posted Friday!  

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

This was a DNF book for me. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be going in and I probably won't read anything else by this author. 

One Year Gone by Avery Bishop

This book releases in August. The author sent me an advance copy and I devoured it last week. I liked how it was told in the mother's perspective after her daughter's disappearance and in the daughter's perspective before and leading up to her disappearance. The dual timelines worked for me.

Currently Reading:

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

I feel like I've been sitting on this book forever. Everyone I know who has read it loved it but I put it off for some reason. I'm starting it tonight so we'll see how I fare. 

Next Read

Tentative First Week of June TBR

More Info:

The Wicked Aftermath by Melissa Foster (eARC)

Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco (reread)

Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison (audiobook)

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 What are you reading this week? Have you read any of my recent reads?

I Can't Wait For... MY CONTRARY MARY!

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released.

I loved the Janies books and I can't wait to read the first "Mary" book...

My Contrary Mary

Mary, Book 1

by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
YA Historical Fantasy Retelling
eBook, Hardcover, Audiobook, 512 Pages
June 22, 2021 by HarperTeen

Blurb:

Welcome to Renaissance France, a place of poison and plots, of beauties and beasts, of mice and . . . queens?⠀
⠀
Mary is the queen of Scotland and the jewel of the French court. Except when she's a mouse. Yes, reader, Mary is an Eðian (shapeshifter) in a kingdom where Verities rule. It's a secret that could cost her a head—or a tail.⠀
⠀
Luckily, Mary has a confidant in her betrothed, Francis. But after the king meets a suspicious end, things at the gilded court take a treacherous turn. Thrust onto the throne, Mary and Francis are forced to navigate a viper's nest of conspiracies, traps, and treason. And if Mary's secret is revealed, heads are bound to roll.

Add to Goodreads | Amazon | Snowbound Books (Help Support My Favorite Indie Bookstore)

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Will you be checking this book out? 

I Can't Wait For... THE ANATOMY OF DESIRE

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released.

I like that this book is allegedly going to be told as if you are viewing a true crime docuseries and reading transcripts...

The Anatomy of Desire

Standalone
by L.R. Dorn
Thriller
eBook, Hardcover, Audiobook, 320 pages
May 11, 2021 by William Morrow

Blurb:

A modern tale of American striving, social media stardom, a fatal love triangle, and a young woman on trial for murder—a mesmerizing reimagining of Theodore Dreiser's classic novel of crime and punishment, An American Tragedy.

Claire Griffith seems to have it all, a thriving career, a gorgeous, successful boyfriend, a glamorous circle of friends. She always knew she was destined for more than the life her deeply conservative parents preached to her. Arriving in Los Angeles as a flat broke teenager, she has risen to become a popular fitness coach and social media influencer. Having rebranded herself as Cleo Ray, she stands on the threshold of achieving her most cherished dreams.

One summer day, Cleo and a young woman named Beck Alden set off in a canoe on a quiet, picture-perfect mountain lake. An hour later, Beck is found dead in the water, her face cut and bruised, and Cleo is missing. Authorities suspect foul play and news about Cleo’s involvement goes viral. Who was Beck and what was the nature of her and Cleo’s relationship? Was Beck an infatuated follower who took things too far? If Cleo is innocent, why did she run? Was it an accident? Or was it murder?

As evidence of Cleo’s secret life surfaces, the world begins to see just how hard she strived to get to the top— and how fast and far the fall is from celebrity to infamy.

L. R. Dorn’s reimagining of Theodore Dreiser’s novel, told in the form of a true crime docuseries a la Serial and The Jinx—with characters speaking through the “transcripts” of recorded interviews—The Anatomy of Desire exposes the ambition, sexual passion, and dark side of success that readers will find as achingly poignant as they did a century ago.

Add to Goodreads | Amazon | Snowbound Books (Help Support My Favorite Indie Bookstore)

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Will you be checking this book out? 

If You Like That... Read These (Sleepy Hollow)

 

Hey Bookdragons! Fall is Coming! (although let's be honest, September 1st is the beginning of the fall season to me.) I don't know about you, but I have plans to read all kinds of thrillers, mysteries, and spooky books to get the feeling of the season. And one of my favorite classic books and it's movie adaptation is the perfect fall read...

Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is the quintessential fall read and if you love it as much as I do you'll want to devour all the retellings. Retellings you say? Yes!! Retellings aren't just for fairy tales! There have been quite a few amazing Legend of Sleepy Hollow retellings and I'm here to tell you about them. Each of these are unique takes and reimaginings of the classic story. There's a little something for every reader. Most of these I've read and loved but there are a few that are still on my to-be-read list...

The Hollow (The Hollow Trilogy Book 1) by Jessica Verday

The Hollow trilogy by Jessica Verday is the first Sleepy Hollow retelling I read. It also blossomed my interest in perfume making. 

Wake the Hollow by Gaby Triana

While not my favorite Sleepy Hollow retelling, I did really enjoy this book. It's a standalone, so no cliffhanger endings. It also brings in one of my favorite female authors, Mary Shelley. Diversity alert: The main character Micaela is half Cuban. 

The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck

I almost don't want to include this book on this list since it was a near DNF for me but it is supposed to be a Sleepy Hollow retelling... before the author got sidetracked maybe? Anyway, I see some people on Goodreads liked it so I guess it's hit or miss. Like I always believe, you need to be the judge. You may love what I dislike and I may dislike what everyone else loves.

Crane (The Legends Saga Book 1) by Stacey Rourke

Crane is the most recent Sleepy Hollow retelling I've read and it's my second favorite after the Hollow Trilogy. Ireland is a spunky lead and I love that Stacey incorporated Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle into the Legend's origin story. P.S. the second and third books bring in Edgar Allan Poe and H.G. Wells so if you love classic gothic lit you must read these books!

Before I move on to retellings I haven't read here's some Shameless Self Promotion...

Headless by Taylor Fenner

Headless is my new adult debut and much sexier than any of my other books. As for the retelling part, our heroine Cora is the Headless Horsewoman taking vengeance on the men of modern-day Sleepy Hollow. 

Grab a Copy!

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo

This one sounds like an interesting historical fiction retelling and one of the few retellings I've seen set during the actual time period which The Legend of Sleepy Hollow takes place. And Katrina turning to witchcraft? Sign me up!

For all these books and more including tv show and movie novelizations visit:

Goodreads Listopia - Sleepy Hollow Retelling

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 20 April 2020

 

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! I unexpectedly disappeared the past couple weeks but I'm back. My dad died on April 1st (from cancer, not coronavirus related) and I've been under a lot of stress so I needed to take a step back. Understandably I haven't been reading much either but I did manage to finish a couple things. 

What I Read Last Week(s):
The Return by Rachel Harrison

This one is a serious contender for one of my favorite books of the 1st 1/2 of 2020! It's creepy and atmospheric AF with a supernatural monster that isn't so much named on the page as given the feeling of. 

The Winter Witch by Karpov-Kinrade & Heather Hildenbrand

This is a cool Beauty and the Beast retelling. It's short - only about 96 pages but it's definitely worth a read!

The Alien's Future by Ella Maven

This series was introduced to me during a chat in Virtual ApollyCon (since Apollycon was cancelled due to the virus) and I really enjoyed this novella introduction to this sexy sci-fi series!

The Mist by Stephen King

One of my goals this year is to read some of Stephen King's backlist and this was a quick, eerie book that ironically fit being in 'safer-at-home' mode lately. 

Currently Reading / Still-in-Progress
Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer

I'm about 30% into this one but I put it on the back burner while I listen to Aurora Rising for the read-along.

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

 Yesterday wrapped the second week of the read-along covering chapters 10-15. I caught up on the reading listening to the audiobook while I dyed my hair yesterday.

Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey

I was making great progress with this one about a week and a half ago and then I just... didn't feel like reading about corpses and funeral homes and vampires. I want to try to finish it this week. 

Up Next
I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick

I recently joined the street team for this upcoming YA thriller and I can't wait to dive into it. 

What have you been reading lately?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 30 March 2020

 

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! My reading slowed down last week but I’m still making progress...

What I Read Last Week:

 I'm still working my way through this one but I honestly was in no mood for reading last week. Depression hit me hard with news of the 'Safer at Home' order put into place here in Wisconsin last Tuesday. 

Currently Reading

When you don't feel like actually reading... pick out a new audiobook. Which was what I did. Libro.fm had this and a few other books on sale so I indulged and supported my favorite indie bookstore at the same time.

Up Next

This one is still next on my TBR and I'll get to it just as soon as I finish Hideaway. 

I'm also going to join in on the Aurora Rising read-along leading up to the release of Aurora Burning. I loved AR in audio and since physical books are taking me forever to get through I'll be re-listening to it along with my friends. 

Here are details on the read-along hosted by the authors, Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff:

[Blog Tour] THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE - Book Review

Happy Sunday Bookdragons! Today is my leg of the The Raven and the Dove Blog Tour...

The Raven and the Dove
The Raven and the Dove Book 1
Kaitlyn Davis
Published by Amazon Digital Services, LLC. 
Release Date: March 9, 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings


BLURB:
Four fates collide in this avian-inspired, epic fantasy retelling of  Tristan and Isolde perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!

A princess longing to be free...

On the dawn of her courtship trials, Princess Lyana Aethionus knows she should be focused on winning her perfect mate, yet her thoughts wander to the open sky at the edge of her floating kingdom. One final adventure calls. Upon fleeing the palace, the last thing she expects to find is a raven prince locked in a death match with a dragon.

A bastard aching to belong...

Reviled son of a dead king, Rafe would do anything for his beloved half-brother, Prince Lysander Taetanus, including posing as him in the upcoming courtship trials. When a dragon interrupts their secret exchange, he orders his studious sibling to run. After suffering a fatal blow, Rafe is saved by a beautiful dove who possesses forbidden magic, just like him.

Fate brought them together, now destiny will tear them apart...

Unknown to the world above, on the foggy sea ten thousand feet below, a young king fights a forgotten war. He believes Lyana is the queen prophesied to save the world, and with the help of his favored spy, hidden deep in the highest ranks of the dove royal house, he will stop at nothing to have her.

Three shocking betrayals. Two star-crossed lovers. One unforgettable journey. If you like fierce heroines, brooding heroes, forbidden romance, and action-packed magical adventures with twists you'll never see coming, don't miss The Raven and the Dove!
My Review:I was drawn to this book initially for two reasons: the stunning cover (I’m really loving illustrated covers lately!) and that it’s a Tristan and Isolde retelling but this book is everything the blurb promises and more.
I couldn’t put it down when I started reading. I love the avian magic Rafe and Lyana possess, the characters, and the worldbuilding. I know there were a couple books out in 2019 that had avian ties (in different ways of course) but as a comparable I liked this book so much more.
There were a few things I didn’t like but with three more books to come the author has given herself plenty of time to allow the characters to grow and plot holes to be filled. 
Pros to this book: a seemingly solid friendship cast over with dark secrets ready to come out, brooding boys, and captivating worldbuilding.
Cons: not a great disability rep, brothers bound to become enemies over something stupid, and insta love (which can be a love or hate for me). 
Overall this book is a thrilling adventure that although not a 5-star for me, lays the groundwork and potential for the coming 3 books. 

My Rating:

4 of 5 Stars

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Buy Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Book Depository | Kobo | Google Play Books
About the Author: 

Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. Publishers Weekly has said, "Davis writes with confidence and poise," while USA Today has recommended her work as "must-read romance."

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found playing fetch with her puppy, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her at: KaitlynDavisBooks@gmail.com

For her contemporary romances written as Kay Marie, visit Kay's Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/kay_marie


Visit the Rest of the Blog Tour:
Tour Schedule
Giveaway:
Prize: Win a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card (INTL)
Starts: March 10, 2020
Ends: March 24th, 2020
Enter Here: 
Direct Link to Rafflecopter 

I Can't Wait For... Cinderella is Dead

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released.

I kept hearing about this book in ARC trader groups but I didn't know what it was about and finally ended up looking it up and adding it to my TBR...

Cinderella is Dead

by Kalynn Bayron
YA, Fantasy, LGBT, Retelling
eBook, Hardcover, 400 Pages
July 7, 2020 by Bloomsbury


Blurb
It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the fairy tale is over. Teen girls are now required to appear at the Annual Ball, where the men of the kingdom select wives based on a girl’s display of finery. If a suitable match is not found, the girls not chosen are never heard from again.

Sixteen-year-old Sophia would much rather marry Erin, her childhood best friend, than parade in front of suitors. At the ball, Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee, and finds herself hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum. There, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her step sisters. Together they vow to bring down the king once and for all–and in the process, they learn that there’s more to Cinderella’s story than they ever knew . . .

This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository | Snowbound Books (Support My Favorite Indie)

What do you think? Will you be checking this one out?