Tuesday, July 31, 2018

*Top Ten Tuesday* Popular Books that Lived Up to the Hype


Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Joood - Hooligan of Platypire reviews bossed me into doing this, so I guess this is a thing I do now. 

This weeks theme is popular books that lived up to the hype. Now I don't end up reading a whole lot of "popular" books before they release, so I at least have that going for me here. However, I don't read a whole lot of "popular" books after they release either because they usually cost more than I actually want to spend on a book (and I'm anti-going to the library). And by the time I find the books on sale and then finally get around to reading them (usually about 2-3 years after I initially buy them), I've forgotten all the hype surrounding the books in the first place, if I was even aware of the hype to begin with. So let's see what I can come up with to fit this theme.


Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James - While I feel like this book has some problems surrounding the overall plot (it wouldn't be romantic if Christian wasn't rich for example) I feel like most of the hype surrounding the book was about how descriptive the sex scenes were. It seemed to be the first mainstream book with open door sex. And on that score, it absolutely lived up to the hype.


The Shining by Stephen King - Now I'll admit that I actually saw the made for tv mini-series version of this (not the movie starring Jack Nicholson) before I read the book. And the book is old enough that the hype existed before I did, but I can say that the book far surpassed the expectations set by the tv mini-series. 


The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - This has been made into a movie so I have to assume that there was a fair amount of hype surrounding it. I know I absolutely devoured this series when I read it because it was just so good and so engrossing. I definitely recommend it. 


The Immortal Life of Henreitta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - I don't know how much hype there was surrounding this book before Oprah turned it into a movie, but I read it when it was only around a year old so before that. And like with The Golden Compass, since it has become a movie, I assume there was some hype involved. While this is non-fiction, which can often be very dry, and about science stuff which is just not really a passion of mine, I found this story incredibly engaging and I read it much faster than I had anticipated. 


Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling - I know y'all didn't think I was going to forget about Harry Potter. It was pretty much a no-brainer for my list, because I absolutely love the books (and the movies) and am just a wee bit Harry Potter obsessed. It definitely lived up to the hype for me. 


The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - This book has so much hype surrounding it and in my opinion it lived up to it. I found the story engrossing and heartbreaking, just like it was supposed to be.


The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - I don't know if there is a lot of hype surrounding this book or not, but I've definitely seen it mentioned by other bloggers a fair amount, so I'm assuming there is. I absolutely adored this book and wish Le Cirque du Reve was a place I could actually go. 

So I'm finding it more and more difficult to find books on my read list that I feel fit both qualifications for this weeks theme, so I'm just going to pretend that seven is the new ten. 

What are some popular books that you feel lived up to the hype? - Katie 

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can stop by and check out your list.*

Saturday, July 28, 2018

*Deja Revu* 16 July 2018

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Déjà Revu is a weekly review round-up that is open to all book review blogs.

*Stacking the Shelves* 28 July 2018


(Titles link to Amazon via Amazon Affiliate links)

Stacking The Shelves is a feature/weekly meme created by Tynga’s Reviews in which you share the books you are adding to your shelves, both physical and virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Now, I already have a monthly post I do featuring the books I get in the mail (and it's a lot because I have a serious Goodreads First Reads giveaway addiction), and I'm posting my monthly Read-A-Thon posts again too, which covers the books I receive through Netgalley. So my STS post will feature all the books I've been one-clicking on Amazon. 

On that note, here are the books I picked up the past two weeks (because I skipped posting last week while I was at Book Bonanza '18). All Goodreads First Reads ebook wins unless otherwise specified.

Catastrophically Consequential by Stephen C Bird
The Mermaid Upstairs by Jami Lilo
Seed, Grow, Love, Write: One Man's Unexpected and Slow Journey to Fulfillment by John Markowski
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon - I snagged this book on sale for just $2.99 (still on sale) because I've heard great things about it from fellow bloggers and she was a Book Bonanza '18 attending author (although I did not get the chance to meet her). 
Rena's Promise: A Story of Sister's in Auschwitz by Rena Kornreich Gelissen and Heather Dune Macadam - I snagged this on sale (maybe) for just $1.99 (still just $1.99). If you follow my blog at all, I think you know why I bought this one. 
Interface by Tony Batton
Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey - I snagged this on sale for just $1.99 (no longer on sale). I've already seen the movie, but I'm sure the book is very different. 
The Road to Rescue: The Untold Story of Schindler's List by Mietek Pemper - I snagged this on sale for just $1.99 (no longer on sale). Much like Rena's Promise, this is a book that I just felt I desperately needed because of the subject matter. 
It's the Economy, Stupid by Christos A. Djonis
Everlife by Gena Showalter - I snagged this beauty on sale for just $2.99 (no longer on sale). This was definitely an impulse buy based on the cover...and the fact that I think I impulse bought the first book in the series a while back while it was on sale. 
A Killer's Mind by Mike Omer - This was a Kindle First Reads book for July, which I got for free because I'm a Prime Member and Prime Members were able to get all of July's books for free during #PrimeDay.
Beautiful Exiles by Meg Waite Clayton - This is another Kindle First Reads book that I got for free on #PrimeDay. 
The Tenth Island by Diana Marcum - Another Kindle First Reads book snagged on #PrimeDay.
The King Tides by James Swain - Yet another KFR book that I got on #PrimeDay.
Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King - Another KFR book that I got on #PrimeDay. This is the book I was probably going to be choosing for my July KFR book anyway though. 
What if Everybody Said That? by Ellen Javernick - My final KFR book snagged on #PrimeDay. This will likely be the first one I read since it's a children's book and it's been a while since I posted a verified review on Amazon. 
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis - I bought this book for full price on #PrimeDay because they were having a deal related to Amazon Charts books where I would get 75% of the purchase price in ebook credit, and this was the only Amazon Charts book I was even slightly interested in purchasing. After seeing Rachel's keynote address at Book Bonanza '18, I'm so glad I bought the book, although now I kind of just want to listen to the audio. 
The Language of Bears by John Eidswick
The 1% Rule: How to Fall in Love with the Process and Achieve Your Wildest Dreams by Tommy Baker
There is a Generation: Kids of "The Greatest Generation" by WH Buzzard
The Supernormal Legacy: Dormant by LeeAnn McLennan
Where Water Runs by F.E. Chaps
A Deadly Brew by Lynn Cahoon
Dark Rhapsody by Helaine Mario
Descendants of War: Magic's Demise by Ruby Fitzgerald
Proactive Parenting for Potty Training by Daphna Tayar
Aim for Justice by Ken Dickson
Giving In To You by L.M. Carr - I snagged this freebie (still free) in part because L.M. Carr participated in my shenanigans at Book Bonanza '18 (and because it's free). She was not an attending author, but she was there assisting one of my favorite authors, LB Dunbar, so I can assume that I will likely enjoy her style of romance. 
The Consequence of Loving Colton by Rachel Van Dyken - I snagged this book on sale for just $1.99 (used part of my credit from buying Rachel Hollis' book...No longer on sale) because Ms. Van Dyken participated in my shenanigans at Book Bonanza '18. At this point, I'm regretting not finding the ARC copy of The Bet that I've had on my shelves for years to get signed when I saw her. Guess I'll just have to go to more book signings. 
Fate by Cathlin Shahriary - I paid full price for this book because it's only $3.99, the author participated in my shenanigans at BB18, and I was super close to buying a signed copy while I was there (but I was operating on a budget and felt that food was important too). I absolutely love the cover and the way Ms. Shahriary explained the book, it sounds so good. 
A Killing by the Sea by Kathleen Bridge
Exile of the Seas by Jeffe Kennedy
The Winter in Lilly by Nicole Gray
The Ageless Beauty Grail by Sandra Bloom
More Than Friends by Monica Murphy - I snagged this freebie (still free) because Monica Murphy participated in my BB18 shenanigans and it's free. In case it's not clear, I'm planning on making an effort to read from the authors that participated in my shenanigans to promote them on my blog. 
This Thing Called Life: Living Your Ultimate Truth by Renee Chae
Shithole Countries or Shithole Values: 7 Steps to Change and Thrive in Any Environment by Dr. Joseph Adrien Emmanuel DEMES M.D. M.P.H. Ph.D.(c)
Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations by Mark C. Perna
Limericks Haiku and Other Short Poems by vanessa ngam
Deadly Harvest by Marissa Shrock
The Mills of God by Dermot O'Hanlon

So that's all the ebooks I've added to my library in the past two weeks. The list looks longer than it really is because of all my jabbering, but it is also a little bit longer than recent lists (of course it's two full weeks of books instead of just one but still). 

What new books have you added to your shelves recently? - Katie 

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can stop by and see all your new pretties.*


Friday, July 27, 2018

*Book Blogger Hop* 27 July 2018



We are on to a new week for the Book Blogger Hop hosted by the lovely folks over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This weeks questions is:
Do you agree or disagree with this statement: A blogger's first name should be in a prominent place on his/her blog. (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)
Neither. There is a little too much nuance to my answer for a simple yes or no. While I sign off all my blog posts with my actual first name, I don't think that every blogger should if they don't want to. Having been the victim of harassment because of a negative review, I can understand why bloggers might want to maintain some anonymity and not use their real names. That being said, I do think that they should have a name (be it real or a pseudonym) posted prominently on their blog so that it's clear that a specific person is behind the posts. If a blog has multiple bloggers, all of their names should be listed somewhere. That way readers can get a better feel for who the blogger is.

Your thoughts? - Katie

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can stop by and see your answer too.*

Monday, July 23, 2018

*Book Blogger Hop* 20 July 2018



We are on to a new week for the Book Blogger Hop hosted by the lovely folks over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This weeks questions is:
What's your proudest blogging milestone or achievement? (submitted by Cathy @ What Cathy Read Next)
I would have to say that my proudest blogging achievement would be that my review for The Sweet Life by Dulce Candy Ruiz is one of the top hits on a Google search for reviews of that book. The only website hits higher than mine are on Goodreads, YouTube and retail outlets. Because of this, that blog post has gotten a lot more hits than my average review or blog post honestly. I wish I knew what I did right with that review for it to hit so high so I could replicate it sometime, but maybe I'll get lucky again.

What's your proudest blogging moment? - Katie

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so that I can stop by and see your answer too.*

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

*Top Ten Tuesday* Favorite Novellas/Short Stories


Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Joood - Hooligan of Platypire reviews bossed me into doing this, so I guess this is a thing I do now. 

Y'all, Amazon Prime Day has me all out of sorts this week, trying to watch all the deals to find the funny or useful items. On top of that, I've been having issues with my right eye flaring again, and it's been slowing down my proofreading, so I'm just behind all around. And I was doing so well at getting caught up and organized before our unexpected trip back to Illinois.

But anyway, this weeks theme is favorite novellas or short stories. I don't read a whole lot of novellas or short stories (unless we're counting children's books, which I'm totally going to do) because there are just not enough hours in the day. However, there have been times when I've used short story freebies from Amazon to get a quick read and review in to help keep my verified review percentage up (because I believe that helps me escape Amazon's review purges. I have no proof to support this other than the fact that so far I've managed to not be hit by any of them). So let's see what kind of list I can cobble together, shall we?


There was really no way you were getting out of this list without at least one Tingle book making an appearance, so I figured I might as well start off with it. 


This is an absolutely adorable children's book that I don't hate to read. 


While I enjoy all the stories in this collection, I've always been particularly fond of "Twas the Night Before Solstice." 


If you enjoy Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol, you should definitely consider reading this as well. 


I love the message in this cute little children's book.


The Misunderstood Mister Yeti by John Hinterreiter
This is a fun book teaching kids not to judge people based on their appearance alone, because what they are deep down might surprise you.


The Trash Collector by Monica Shaughnessy
I had a love/hate relationship with this story. It's told from the POV of a very unlikeable character, and jumping into the shoes of someone I dislike is not really enjoyable. But the message of the story was amazing. 

And seven is the new ten this week, because I'm getting back to stories I read in 2015, and even with my reviews, I just don't remember enough about them off the top of my head to feel comfortable including them on this list. 

So what are some of your favorite novellas or shot stories? - Katie 

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can stop by and check out your list too.*

Saturday, July 14, 2018

*Stacking the Shelves* 14 July 2018


(Titles link to Amazon via Amazon Affiliate links)

Stacking The Shelves is a feature/weekly meme created by Tynga’s Reviews in which you share the books you are adding to your shelves, both physical and virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical stores or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Now, I already have a monthly post I do featuring the books I get in the mail (and it's a lot because I have a serious Goodreads First Reads giveaway addiction), and I'm posting my monthly Read-A-Thon posts again too, which covers the books I receive through Netgalley. So my STS post will feature all the books I've been one-clicking on Amazon. 

On that note, here are the books I picked up the past two weeks (because I missed last week due to an unexpected trip out of town). All Goodreads First Reads ebook wins unless otherwise specified.

Chipless by Kfir Luzzatto
The Madonna Model by T L Ashton
The Streets by Tom Sheridan
Fortune Kookie by Jean Gill
Discipled by Jesus by Robert Gelinas
Visions of Heaven: What my Near-Death Experience Taught me About Eternity by Jane Moe and Suzy Bills
The Summer Boyfriend by Christina Benjamin
Anxiety My Friend by Matthew B. Courtney
Blind Angel of Wrath by Nick Aaron
The Wardens of Light by Savanna Lee
The Embrace by Helen Matthews
Harder Than Steel by Jane Galaxy
The Land: Founding by Aleron Kong
What Autism Gave Me by Michael Haigwood Goodroe
Checkmate by Varun T.
Ana Rocha: Shadows of Justice by Ammar Habib and Glenda Mendoza
Wealth for All by Idowu Koyenikan
Nyxia by Scott Reintgen - I snagged this on sale for just $1.99 (still on sale). This is a book that I had guaranteed through Penguin's First to Read program, but failed to read it before the loan expired, so I was excited to catch it on sale.
Rooked by Caitlin Sara
In the Wrong Hands by Avi Domoshevizki
River of Angels by Abbe Rolnick
Roses by Midnight by Nicola Mar
The Baker's Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan - I snagged this on sale for just $1.99 (no longer on sale). It's set during WWII, so it was pretty much a must-have for me.
The Haunting of Stoke Water by Elizabeth Andrews
Divine Choreography of Redemption by William E. Jefferson
Colt by Kate Bridges
Humans: The Untold Story of Adam and Eve and Their Descendants by Joseph Luguya
Priceless by Zygmunt Miloszewski
Murder Girl by Lisa Renee Jones
Stars Bleed by Angus Nicneven
oozlumBoys by Thea Maii
Eris at Rest by Bruce Post
LaLa Feels Blah-La by Tela Kayne
Caleb's Window by John J. Siefring
On the Brink of the Nile by Mahi Wasfy
Perseaus by C.C. Wyatt
Larkin's Landing by S.K. Wee

So that's all the books that I got over the past two weeks. I only bought two books and the rest were Goodreads wins. Considering that this is for two weeks and covers the first of the month, it's a pretty small list for me, but that's just a testament to how few Goodreads giveaways there are now that Goodreads is charging for them and the novelty of being able to give away ebooks has somewhat worn off I think. And if you noticed the abs on both of my featured covers, I did that just for Lenoreo and Curly Carla of Celebrity Readers.

What books have you added to your shelves recently? - Katie

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can stop by and see all your new pretties.*



Friday, July 13, 2018

*Book Blogger Hop* 13 July 2018



We are on to a new week for the Book Blogger Hop hosted by the lovely folks over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. This weeks questions is:
Does a cluttered blog have you not returning? By cluttered I mean too many columns, small type, too many photos, difficult to follow, etc.  (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)
Kind of, yeah. I'm not particularly fond of blog setups with columns of extra stuff on both sides of the actual blog post, especially if there is more width dedicated to that stuff than the blog post itself. It makes it seem like the widgets are more important than the posts to me, and they shouldn't be. It won't necessarily stop me from visiting a blog again (because most of my blog visits at the moment are returning comments made on my blog), but it's definitely not a blog that I would follow when I finally get my life organized and can start doing that again.

What about you? Also, would you consider my blog cluttered? - Katie

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can stop by and see your answer too.* 

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

*Deja Revu* 2 July 2018

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Déjà Revu is a weekly review round-up that is open to all book review blogs.
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Meme
 
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Horror
 
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Contemporary
Historical
Paranormal
 
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Contemporary
Romance
 
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Fantasy
Historical
Non-Fiction
Romance
Science Fiction
 
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Paranormal
 

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

*Top Ten Tuesday* Top Reads of 2018 (So Far)


Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Joood - Hooligan of Platypire reviews bossed me into doing this, so I guess this is a thing I do now. 

This weeks theme is top reads of 2018 so far. Maybe I'm weird, but I am not a fan of making lists like this. Trying to look at all the books I've read so far this year and picking just a few as my favorites when so many of them were good in their own ways is just hard and I worry that I might offend someone by not including them in my list. It's just nerve-wracking all around. So rather than agonizing over which books I felt were the absolute best reads so far this year, I'm simply going to feature ten of my highest rated books in no particular order.


The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
Memoir
Review not yet posted.


Memoir

Here to Stay by Suanne Laqueur
Contemporary Romance
Review not yet posted.


Devoted by Ginna Moran
YA Paranormal Romance
Read my review.


Bound by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor
Paranormal
Review not yet posted.


180 Seconds by Jessica Park
NA Romance
Review not yet posted.


The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
Historical Fiction
Review not yet posted.


Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
YA LGBT Fiction
Review not yet posted.


The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir
Contemporary Fiction
Read my review.


Prey to the Heart by Kristen Banet
Erotic Paranormal Romance
Read my review.

So there you go, ten books that I have rated highly so far this year. This is not a complete list of my highly rated books for the year, nor should it be construed as the ultimate top ten books I've read so far this year, but these are ten books that I would definitely recommend in a variety of genres. (I apologize for all the books that are currently missing reviews, I'm just so behind on writing them at the moment.)

What are some of your highly rated books (or your top ten reads so far) this year? - Katie 

*If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can stop by and see your list.*
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