Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker.

Here are the rules:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.

YES! I am FINALLY reading this one!!

"A nightmare, I told Tamlin.

I was the nightmare." p 50

TITLE: A Court of Wings and Ruin
AUTHOR: Sarah J. Maas
PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
GENRE: Fantasy YA
RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic is: Books that Have Been on my TBR the Longest & I STILL Haven't Read...But Still Want To!

*in no particular order

**okay, I'm pretty much taking these right off of Goodreads from when said books were added! It's gonna be scary! LOL!

 10. DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY by Terri Garey--I got this recommended to me from a blogger friend in the early days! I don't think she's blogging anymore. Sigh...even sadder? I bought this (along with the others in the series at the time--as I do believe another might have been added but only as an ebook) at BORDERS! Excuse me a moment...*sobs uncontrollably.

9. NIGHT WORLD: VOLUME 1 by L.J. Smith--sniff, another book I bought at Borders during their closing sales! Along with the above book/series. I actually found Volume 3 at TJ Maxx for $3, which prompted me to head on over to Borders to get the first two volumes. And this might have been that terrible, terrible day I learned of it closing! I really can't remember if that's 100% accurate.

8. DARK VISIONS by L.J. Smith--another book I found at TJ Maxx. Ironically ever since that year (2009-2010?) I've never really found a good collection of books at that store again! Sigh. I loved L.J.'s Forbidden Game and Vampire Diaries, so I wanted to try her other books out too!

7. RUBY RED by Kerstin Gier--this was one of the very first books I ever won! I think it was from a blog and I was so excited to read it...but then it just got buried in the TBR pile because I was buying quite a hoard of books from Borders too, you see.

6. THE ROSE BRIDE by Nancy Holder--I picked this one up some odd years ago--likely in that 2009-2011 or 2012 timeframe--when Nancy and her co-author Debbie Viguie visited my humble little city! I was ecstatic to meet them as I adored their Wicked Series! This Once Upon a Time series was another fave of mine that I never really completed, but I picked up her additional book because why not?!

5. SAVOR by Megan Duncan--I can't remember why I bought this one. More than likely I read a review I liked and it really got me interested so I downloaded it on my kindle. Think that's on my first kindle too! So I'll likely need to move it to my new one! Lol!

4. DARK HEART FOREVER by Lee Monroe--another ebook I bought when I read another review about it that really made me want to read it! This one was a werewolf story, if the cover didn't clue you in! Lol! I still would like to read this one as well someday!

3. EMBERS by Laura Bickle--this one I picked up at an RT Conference. Possibly in 2010 if not 2012! I actually got both books so it was pretty cool...I just need to read it! Lol!

2. A TASTE OF THE NIGHTLIFE by Sarah Zettel--another book I acquired at RT! I think I won it in a game of some sort! When I went to get it signed later, because I was one of the first, I got the second book free as well! Super cool! Vampire mystery series, I seriously need to get on this!

1. TOUCH OF FROST by Jennifer Estep--lastly, I acquired this one--and pretty much the entire series--at another RT Conference! I seriously ended up getting all of them but like the 5th book I think. So I bought that one! All 6 books are stacked up in a pretty little stack just waiting to be read! If only I didn't need to sleep...sigh...that would solve soooo many TBR issues! Lol!!

 

 

ARC Review--The Sweetest Kind of Fate by Crystal Cestari

GREAT. I’ve somehow found myself tangled up with a siren, a mermaid, and a homicidal wicked witch who once tried to strangle me to death. Way to go, Amber!

Amber Sand, legendary matchmaker, couldn’t be more surprised when her arch nemesis, Ivy, comes asking for her help. Ivy’s sister, Iris, is getting married, and Ivy wants to prove her sister is making a huge mistake. But as Amber looks into Iris's eyes, there doesn’t seem to be a problem—Iris has clearly found her match.

It seems happily ever after is in the cards, but when Iris seeks out a dangerous, life-altering spell, it’s up to Amber and Ivy to set aside their rivalry and save the day.

While Iris is willing to put everything on the line for love, Amber continues to wrestle with her own romantic future. Her boyfriend, Charlie, is still destined for another, and no matter how hard she clings to him, fear over their inevitable breakup shakes her belief system to the core.

Because the Fates are never wrong—right?

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.


The Sweetest Kind of Fate is Crystal Cestari’s second installment in the Windy City Magic series. It continues Amber’s adventures in matchmaking although this time around, her nemesis, Ivy, comes to her and asks her to check out her sister and see if her true love is really her match. And when Amber complies the answer is not to Ivy’s liking and so begins the tale of the mermaids!

So I got ahead of myself there, as we know already, Ivy is a siren as is her sister, Iris. Ivy loves to use the power of her voice to get what she wants. When her sister falls in love with a mermaid and wants to find a spell that will allow her to turn into a mermaid as well, Ivy wants to put a stop to it in any way possible. For Iris will basically be leaving land, never to return.

But Ivy’s family drama is only the beginning of Amber’s problems. Lately, she’s been trying to be nice to Kim, the new girl in school who also happens to be Charlie’s soulmate, the girl she sees him with in his happily ever after future. She sees Charlie within Kim’s eyes as well, and it puts a strain on the friendship she has with Kim for she is genuinely a great person and super nice. When it seems Charlie is spending an ample amount of time with Kim lately, Amber goes off the fritz.

But this story doesn’t just focus on possible romances all around, there’s still some good old fashion mystery elements in here too! Amber is looking into her mother’s past through her old grimoires. Add in the return of the wicked witch Victoria and you got on your hands quite the page turning read!

This book series is really turning out to be a cute read! The humor is so quirky! It’s definitely the lighter side of paranormal reads if you’ve ever wanted to read one but didn’t want it to be all dark and doom like! It surprises me that I enjoy it so much since nearly all my paranormal reads are dark and doom filled! Lol! Guess we all gotta take a bit of a break once in a while! Like switching from white cake to yellow cake! I’m sure Amber would appreciate that sentiment!

There’s not a great deal of kissing in this one. Things are light and fluffy in the beginning but by the middle, things are on the rocks. But there are still a few surprises thrown our way that doesn’t totally throw romance out of the book! It’s just not the romances you’d expect to see after everything that’s happened!

The ending to this one leaves me befuddled. While the first one didn’t quite end on a cliffhanger, it did end in a way that leads you to believe the story is far from over. While I can’t say that the story ends all happily ever after like, it does end in a fairly decent place. Nothing to really worrywart over, perhaps a one or two straggling questions. That’s what makes me wonder if there might be at least one more book! I feel like the characters were just starting to make some progress when I realized I came upon the last page! So much harder to tell when that happens when reading on a kindle! The Sweetest Kind of Fate will sweep you up with its tale of magic, love, and friendships…throw in some decent humor and a healthy dose of action and you’ve got quite the read in your hands!


Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars


The Sweetest Kind of Fate releases February 13, 2018

 

It's Monday! What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. It's a fun meme where we gather to share what we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read:

Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop (4.5 stars)

Tempt by Alyssa Rose Ivy (ARC) (5 stars)

Moonlight Sins by Jennifer L. Armentrout (ARC) (5 stars)

Review That Was Posted:

This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong (ARC) (5 stars)

Currently Reading (FINALLY!):

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

What I Hope to Maybe Start:

Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton

Other Posts of Interest:

IT'S MY BLOGOVERSARY!!!! Time for a Giveaway!!

Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays

Waiting on Wednesday 

Random Thursday 

Book Blogger Hop

Challenges Wrap-up: January

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking the Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! The meme is now hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality.


This was a pretty good week all things considered. I got a lot of my preorder swag, and for except for one, they all arrived safely and unharmed! As you might have seen me crying early this week on twitter! It's devastating when these things happen to books and bookish items! DEVASTATING! 

But anyways, here's what I bought this week:

Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton--the UK edition because I can't wait until March to find out what happens! LOL! Wires and Nerve Volume 2: Gone Rogue by Marissa Meyer & Ill. by Stephen Gilpin & Douglas Holgate The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert--SIGNED!* Wild Card by Rachel Vincent--SIGNED!   Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen--SIGNED!*
*too tired and lazy to take pictures the other night after getting home with them! Lol! But they were signed!  

Then some of my preorder swag included:

Daughter of the Siren Queen: bookmark, book plate, and exclusive map/postcard

Reign the Earth: Map!

Other goodies I acquired:

Disney Store: a hat that says My Happy Place overlaid on top of Cinderella's castle--to wear on my trip in October!!!

a Beauty and the Beast pin of the rose in the glass window style of colors! The picture doesn't do it justice!

And that was my haul this week! Pretty good all things considered! What did you all get?

Challenges Wrap-up: January

CHALLENGE 1: 2018 New Release Challenge

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu  (1/2/18)

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black  (1/2/18)

The Sweetest Kind of Fate by Crystal Cestari  (2/13/18)

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo  (3/6/18)

#murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil  (8/7/18)

Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes  (2/6/18)

Tempt by Alyssa Rose Ivy  (1/23/18)

Got off to a pretty good start! I read 7 new releases in January alone!! Though as you can see, three were ARCs so those reviews aren't up yet. Though 2/3 will be up later this month!

CHALLENGE 2: Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018

Doll Bones by Holly Black  (5/7/13)

Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop  (3/3/15)

Until Dawn by Erin Kellison  (10/1/16)

Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop  (3/8/16)

Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop  (3/7/17)

5 titles surprised me! Lol! I was itching to read new releases before I met the authors, but I still managed to read 5 old books! Including finishing up a series!!

CHALLENGE 3: 2018 Discussion Challenge

Roswell Revival/Redo

I Remember Borders

The Downfall of Instagram

Why I Will Likely Kill My Laptop this Year

What's the Point of Oreo Thins?

Rocko's Modern Life Oddities

The Need for a Beauty and the Beast Library/Bookstore Lego Piece

I managed 7 posts this month!! Wow! It's funny, though! Every time a random topic came to mind I wrote about it! As you can see...they got really random! LOL!

CHALLENGE 4: 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge

 

Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes (Falling Kingdoms)

Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop (The Others)

I finished up 2 series in January. While it's true, The Others series isn't exactly "over", Meg's story is. The new series is still in the same world and is going by the same name, yet we have completely different characters. My brain is saying Etched in Bone is the end of Meg's series of The Others, but The Others will continue with the new people! Lol!

CHALLENGE 5: Goodreads Challenge

As you can see from the titles I listed in the first two challenges, I've read 12 books out of my pledge of 100!

ARC Review--Moonlight Sins by Jennifer L. Armentrout

New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout delivers the unforgettable story of a woman whose new life has just begun—but may end in murder... 

Julia Hughes has always played it safe until she learned a very painful lesson. Now Julia’s starting over with a job in the Louisiana bayou—and a scorching encounter with a stranger, only to discover he’s Lucian de Vincent . . . her new employer. The de Vincent brothers share a massive fortune and a dark reputation. Julia cares for their troubled sister, but a menacing presence in the mansion—and the ever-present temptation of Lucian—prove dangerously distracting.

Lucian’s grandmother claimed de Vincent men fall in love once—and hard. Apparently, it’s Lucian’s turn. Julia’s compassionate care of his twin makes Lucian want to lay himself bare. But some secrets are better for Julia not to know.

The recent “suicide” of Lucian’s father is the latest in a string of deaths on the estate. Someone is eliminating the de Vincents. And the best way to get to Lucian may be through Julia....

I received this ARC in a contest that I won on Instagram. My review is completely honest and voluntary; I was in no way compensated for this review.

Jennifer L. Armentrout has been one of my favorite authors for as long as I can remember! Her books, her very words always amaze me and hold me captive! Whether it’s YA, NA, or Adult, it doesn’t matter! She is truly one talented lady and I love the books she writes! This time around, we have an adult novel on our hands, Moonlight Sins is the first in a trilogy about the three de Vincent brothers. In this first installment, we meet the playboy Lucian, who is the youngest of the three and how he will finally meet his match in the woman that’s about to take care of his sick sister.

Julia has just taken a job to be a live-in nurse for a very wealthy family. She doesn’t have many details at first, but since she’s trying to go for a big change in her life and take risks, she practically jumps at this opportunity. Though she has no idea what she’s getting into when she arrives at the incredibly huge mansion. The de Vincent family is one of the wealthiest families in the country. She is to take care of the only daughter in the family who was claimed to have vanished ten years ago, but has quietly returned one day, but her mind is not the same. She’s invalid and can’t do much for herself, hence the reason why Julia was hired.

Lucian though has become quite enamored with Julia, unlike he’s ever had before. As mentioned, Lucian is not the commitment type. He’s more free spirit in his sexual encounters, yet for some reason he feels like Julia is different from the women he usually sleeps with. He can’t stop thinking about her and has made it his mission to win her over. Julia will not be swayed by a pretty face, though she does have her weak moments. But who are we kidding? We know something will happen with these two!

There’s also somewhat of a mystery going on in the old mansion. The place is huge and it’s rumored that the land it sits on is cursed, that the de Vincent family is cursed. Bad things happen to women who attach themselves to the family and if Lucian’s sister’s state is anything to go by, their mother’s suicide ten years ago also contributes to things. There are strange noises at night though that lead Julia to think that the house may in fact be haunted. Shadows that appear and disappear, odd noises, doors opening…it’s pretty creepy!

The air of mystery runs pretty thick in this one! The brothers all seem to have their secrets and since the trilogy will give each of them a turn at playing hero, I am eager to learn more about them. Since this is Lucian’s story we only get to see glimpses of his brothers, Gabriel and Devlin though I am eager to know what will eventually happen with these two. Some lines are being lead for Gabriel as he is the next brother up. I will be curious to see what happens with each of them in the time to come!

Naturally, since this is a Jennifer L. Armentrout book you can expect the most spine-tingling romance ever! Lucian is a bit of a flirt in his quest to win Julia over. There’s plenty of teasing moments and plenty more of moments that are more satisfying in the romance area! Needless to say I was positively blushing throughout reading this one!

The ending was most shocking! I started to suspect some inkling of things, but the reveal is always a bit of an eye-opener! As is the aftermath, because whoa! Though I can’t help but feel like one piece of the puzzle wasn’t quite revealed, unless I missed it because I had to stop reading the other day just before all these astonishing reveals were happening! Even without being sure of that one little detail, I can still say that this was one incredibly amazing read! Though that’s pretty much a given these days when you see Jennifer L. Armentrout on the cover! If you’ve yet to read one of this woman’s amazing books, I highly recommend that you do! Moonlight Sins was positively incredible and I cannot wait to read more about the de Vincent brothers!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


Moonlight Sins is out now!  

 

Book Blogger Hop

This meme is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addict!

 

 

This week's question is: Do you prefer to blog about (a) specific book genre(s), or do you have an eclectic blog? (submitted by Maria @ A Night's Dream of Books)

 

 

MY ANSWER: My blog is mostly geared towards paranormal and fantasy reads, be they adult or YA or even NA if I can find one! There are a few random thrillers or horrors; the cozy mysteries I read tend to be of a paranormal sort so those kind of fall under paranormal! So I guess it's a widespread branch of paranormal titles as sometimes I consider fantasies like paranormals since magic is involved. It's all the "not normal/ordinary/real life" genres! Lol!

Random Thursday

Time to once again return to That's a Fact Jack: A Collection of Utterly Useless Information [Updated] by Harry Bright and Jakob Anser! I got to admit, I think I like this book just a tad better than the Disney one! Only because those are based on questions particular people asked and they wouldn't be anything I'd ask! Lol!!

(image borrowed from Prevention)

"Lucifer is Latin for 'light-bringer.'"

I think I remember this from somewhere...

(image borrowed from Amazon)

"One twenty-fifth of the energy released by an incandescent light bulb is light. The rest is heat."

Wow. That's impressive!

(image borrowed from Amazon)

"The incredible stable adhesive known as Super Glue was invented by accident in 1942 by Dr. Harry Coover. While trying to make optical coating materials, Coover would test their properties by placing them between two prisms and shining light through them. When he tried cyanoacrylate, he couldn't get the prisms apart."

(image borrowed from Wikipedia)

"High-quality crystal produces a clear ringing sound when struck, hence the phrase 'crystal clear.'"

Naturally my mind went to Miss Congeniality when Sandra's character started running her finger around her glass. Tried to find a gif of it, but I have zero luck when it comes to finding specific gifs!

(image borrowed from inhabitat)

"Ice is a mineral."

(image borrowed from Wikipedia)

"A 'rusticle' is a rust formation similar to an icicle. It occurs under water when wrought iron rusts, as on shipwrecks."

For some reason I always thought it was just hard algae!

(image borrowed from Dandong Foundry)

"One ton of iron will produce a ton and half of rust."

That's weird! Lol!

(image borrowed from The Spruce)

"Bamboo is stronger than concrete."

Duuuude!!!