Tag: book battle

adult, ARC, contemporary, Erotica, fantasy, Memoir, middle grade, Sci-Fi, thriller, ya

January 2020 TBR

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Hey guys! Here’s my TBR for January! I have two books off my TBR list, a libby book, some arcs and other ebooks to read!

I said I was going to try to read 15 books a month, so here is what I plan on reading! 11 are for Book Battle criteria, and four will count as freebies – if I read them before the 26th! That’s when Battle ends.

Book Battle Reads

Freebies

So far, I am only 43% into Grey. It’s one of my TBR books and my libby hold came in, so I wasn’t thinking it would be my first book of the year. So far I’m not loving it. Grey makes me aggravated with this thoughts. But I feel like I’m too far in to DNF. So a more thorough review to come when I finally finish it.

I have a blog tour coming up for Cub on Jan 6. Be sure to come back and check it out!

Halfway to the Grave was recommended to me by my friend and fellow Book Battle and Words & Whimsy modmin, Jordan. I’m excited to read it! She always gives the best recs.

My ARCs for this month are: The Weight of a Soul, Every Other Weekend, Cub, Second Star, Lost Boy, Don’t Read the Comments, The Weight of the Stars, Center of the Universe, You Too?, A Beginning at the End and Say Something.

Here are the Goodreads links to the books I plan on reading this month!

  1. The Weight of a Soul by Elizabeth Tammi
  2. Halfway to the Grave by Jeanine Frost
  3. Every Other Weekend by Abigail Johnson
  4. Cub by Cynthia L. Copeland
  5. Grey by EL James
  6. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
  7. Second Star by JM Sullivan
  8. Lost Boy by JM Sullivan
  9. Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith
  10. The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum
  11. Center of the Universe by Ria Voros
  12. The Wives by Tarryn Fischer
  13. You Too? by Janet Gurtler
  14. A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen
  15. Say Something by Cathy Morrison

Until next time…

adult, cozy mystery, three star book

The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop Review

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  • Title: The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop
  • Author: J. A. Whiting
  • Book Form: E-Book
  • Pages: 204
  • Publisher: Self-Published
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Rating: ★★★

Angie Roseland runs The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop in the seacoast town of Sweet Cove, Massachusetts. The building’s new owners are not renewing the bake shop’s lease and Angie is running out of time to find a new location. When one of the town’s long-time residents is murdered, Angie finds herself on the suspect list. With the help of her three sisters and a huge orange cat, Angie works to uncover the killer’s identity. 

A cozy mystery with recipes ! 

– Goodreads

Cozy mysteries aren’t usually my thing. I often read them when I need a palate cleanser of sorts, like if I’m in a slump. The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop would be good for that. It was a fast read. It didn’t take long to get into. I read it in less than a day.

I picked up this book because we have an Ice Cream theme in Book Battle, and I needed a book set in a restaurant.

So The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop follows Angie as she tries to identify who murdered one of her regular customers. I found it kind of odd at times. She flirts with one of the realtors who purchased the building where her shop is located. However, she inherits the Professor’s mansion after she dies – and invites all of her sisters to live with her. Now Angie is an adult, so I kept thinking – ‘Ok, when her and this guy get together, he’s gonna be living in a house full of her sisters…?’ I thought that multiple times throughout this book. It’s just a little odd to me.

The story was ok as far as cozy mysteries go. It wasn’t the best I’ve read, but it wasn’t the worst. I wasn’t super surprised at who the killer was. One of my favorite things was the Professor’s cat. The cat apparently knew who did it, but no one paid attention to him. Poor kitty. I didn’t find that Angie and her sisters did a lot of investigating though? It was more like, oh what if this happened? Speculation, I guess.

Overall, this was a quick read. It wasn’t very fulfilling. There wasn’t a ton of depth. It’s nice to read if you’re in a slump and need somthing quick to break you out.

It does include recipes in the back for all you bakers!

Until next time…

Four Star Book, three star book, ya

April Plan

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Okay so I was going to post this days ago, but I have a sick two year old who only wants momma. So all those plans flew out the window.

This month I’m leading a team in book battle! I’ve never been a leader before, so it’s exciting!

I currently have nineteen books I want to read this month. And here they are! *drumroll please*

Nine of these are ARCs! So far two are audio, but I’ll probably sprinkle more audios in while working.

So far I’m having an issue committing to a book. I don’t know what the deal is.

Here’s a little update since we’re a few days in April:

– I finished Picture Perfect Love. 3 stars. It’s a typical love story with HEA. This was a novella. I was quite interested in the characters and I think I would have liked it more if it were longer.

– I finished Recalculating. 4 Stars. This was a good suspense novella. The story was intriguing and I have never read a book with this suspense plot line. I was only sad that it was 40 pages so I couldn’t count it for book battle!

– I’ve tried starting and restarting The Antidote about three times now. I’m just confused and can’t get into it. Can anyone convince me to read it?

That’s all for now. Warrior of the Wild and The Program reviews will come as soon as sick baby allows!

Until next time…

contemporary, LGBT, three star book, ya

How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom Review

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  • Title: How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom
  • Author: S.J. Goslee
  • Book Form: E-Arc
  • Pages: 240
  • Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
  • Genre: LGBT, YA, Contemporary, Romance
  • Rating: ***

Nolan Grant is sixteen, gay, and (definitely) still a virgin. He’s never had a boyfriend, or even been kissed. It’s not like Penn Valley is brimming with prospects. And when his big sister stages an elaborate “prom-posal” so Nolan can ask out his not-so-secret crush, Nolan freezes. He’s saved from further embarrassment by bad boy Bern, who, for his own reasons, offers to fake-date Nolan.

Nolan thinks it’s the perfect way to get Daphne off his back and spend the rest of the year drawing narwhals, tending to plants, and avoiding whatever died under his bed a few weeks ago. What he doesn’t think about is Bern’s ex-girlfriend, who seriously wants to kill him.

-GOODREADS

I received a free copy of this book from netgally and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

Man. This book had so much potential. Lets start with the things I liked about How (Not) to Ask a Boy to Prom.

I love teenage, highschool, lgbt romances. They are usually just so cute and fun, and this was no exception. I liked the two MCs, even though Nolan could be a jerk. He comes to realize this, which makes me like him more.

There’s also the fake dating troupe, which I find fun. You know they’re going to end up liking one another, and I loved hearing the past between Nolan and Bren. SUPER CUTE!

Lastly, I love stories where the siblings are close, and Nolan and Daphne are very close. Nolan was adopted into a loving family, and that’s something I haven’t seen much of. I loved seeing that represented!

Now for what didn’t work so well for me. I felt like the plot kind of drug on at times. Almost like there was no plot? There were just days and days of his life? That’s okay for some people, but I was left thinking ‘where is this going?’

Overall this was a cute story. I loved the ending and the fake dating troupe. I would probably recommend this book!

Until next time…

two star book

The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project Review

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  • Title: The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project
  • Author: Lenore Appelhans
  • Book Form: Egalley ARC
  • Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
  • Genre: YA, Contemporary
  • Rating: ★★


Riley lives in TropeTown, where everyone plays stock roles in novels. Riley, a Manic Pixie Dream Boy, is sent to group therapy after going off-script. Riley knows that breaking the rules again could get him terminated, yet he feels there must be more to life than recycling the same clichés for readers’ entertainment. Then he meets Zelda, a Manic Pixie Dream Girl (Geek Chic subtype), and falls head over heels in love. Zelda’s in therapy too, along with several other Manic Pixies. But TropeTown has a dark secret, and if Riley and his fellow Manic Pixies don’t get to the bottom of it, they may all be terminated.

– Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and feelings are my own.

So. I’ve put off writing this review for two days. I just don’t really know what to say. I was not a fan of this book.

This is about Riley, the manic pixie dream boy, who lives in TropeTown – where all the bookish tropes live and get called into jobs aka books.

The idea is catchy. I was like, oh this sounds cool! It seemed fun and campy. And I love campy. I just….. could not get into this book.

Riley has to go to therapy daily because he went ‘off script’ from what the author was writing. There he meets Zelda, another manic pixie in therapy, and he falls for her. But in his current job, he finds himself actually falling for Ava. So there’s this love triangle, which I felt like had so much potential, but it didn’t really go anywhere for me.

I felt like there was just no progression in the story. I kept waiting for something to happen. Or for the book to end. And I hate feeling that way about a book.

All in all, I just didn’t enjoy the book. I was just counting down the minutes until it ended. I wish I would have liked it more because it was such a fun idea!

Until next time…

Four Star Book

The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One Review

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  • Title: The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in This One
  • Author: Amanda Lovelace
  • Pages: 210
  • Book Form: Egalley ARC
  • Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
  • Genre: Poetry, Feminism
  • Rating: ★★★★


Goodreads Choice Award-winning poet and USA TODAY bestselling author Amanda Lovelace presents the mermaid’s voice returns in this one — the third and final installment in her “women are some kind of magic” series, featuring a foreword from Lang Leav and 13 guest poems from leading voices in poetry such as Nikita Gill, KY Robinson, and Orion Carloto.

The mermaid is known for her siren song, luring bedroom-eyed sailors to their demise. However, beneath these misguided myths are tales of escapism and healing, which Lovelace weaves throughout this empowering collection of poetry, taking you on a journey from the sea to the stars. They tried to silence her once and for all, but the mermaid’s voice returns in this one.

– Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts and feelings are my own. 

This was another great collection of poetry by Amanda Lovelace. I was so excited when someone told me her third book was available on Netgalley! 

I love that the central theme in this book was hope and healing. Yes, terrible, horrific things happened, but there’s always a chance for healing. It’s such a great message that’s so pertinent today. 

I did have a harder time connecting with this book, but I think that’s because the issues discussed have never happened to me. The poems were still beautifully written and I liked the inclusion of other poets. The subject matter did not take away from the book at all, even though it wasn’t something I had experienced. 

This was another amazing book of poetry that empowers women to take back their lives after tragedies and gives them hope to be able to heal. I would definitely recommend this book, along with her others.

Until next time…

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March Planning

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Hey guys! This is the post where I’ll let you know my reading plan for the month! Reading plans are subject to change, and in all honesty, probably will.
First I’ll show you the Book Battle theme, let you know what team I’m on, and let you see the criteria for this month!

This month is themed around an 80s classic, The Breakfast Club! I’m team Princess! #bbPrincess It’s my 5th month to help and I’m super excited to get this rolling!

Criteria

  • Book with Green Cover
  • Female POV
  • Book Set in a School
  • Criteria Choice #1
  • Criteria Choice #2
  • Club Read #1
  • Club Read #2
  • Book With a Face on the Cover
  • Irish POV
  • Book About a Group of Misfits
  • Team Book

Criteria Choice Options

  • ARC
  • Book with a Crime/Heist
  • Dr. Seuss Book
  • Book with Detention
  • Book with a Clover on the Cover
  • Book with a Purple Cover

Club Reads

  • Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
  • City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
  • Year One by Norah Roberts
  • The Outsiders by SE Hinton
  • The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
  • The Disasters by MK England
  • Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M McManus
  • King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
  • Hunted by Megan Spooner
  • Enchantée by Gita Trelease
  • The Queen’s Rising by Rebecca Ross
  • February Owl Crate Book – Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto AND Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill
  • February Owl Crate Jr. Book – The Lost Girl by Anne Ursa

So for the first time ever, I don’t have a TBR based around the criteria. I have a group of physical books and ARCs I’ll read, and I’m just hoping I can fit them!

Physical Books

ARCs

So that’s the plan! I’m hoping since it’s an easy month and back to the normal amount of time, I’ll be able to get to all/most of these. I’m so excited so share my reviews with you! Look for The Tea Dragon’s Society coming up next!

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Month In Review

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Guys! Can you believe February is over? This year is flying by already.
In this post I’ll be doing a round up my month of Book Battle. If I finished criteria, what I read for each criteria, and if my team placed!
I’ll also let you know my favorite and least favorite reads of the month! Let’s dive in!

BOOK BATTLE
Criteria:

  • Your Team’s Retelling (Snow White): The Shadow Queen by CJ Redwine ★★★★ (Finished after book battle ended)
  • Another Team’s Retelling (Sleeping Beauty): Spindle Fire
  • Contemporary: You by Caroline Kepnes ★★★★★
  • Second Book in a Series: Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi ★★★★★
  • Badass Female MC: Corpse & Crown by Alisa Kwitney ★★★
  • Book with a Castle: Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi ★★★★★
  • Club Read #1: Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi ★★★★★
  • Club Read #2: Scythe by Neal Shusterman ★★★★★
  • Criteria #1 – poetry: The Witch Doesn’t Burn in this One by Amanda Lovelace ★★★★
  • Criteria #2 – romance: The Billionaire’s Bride for a Day by Shadonna Richards ★★★
  • Book with Love in the Title
  • Book with a Princess: The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace ★★★★★
  • Black POV – Dear Martin by Nic Stone ★★★★
  • Book with Kiss in the Title: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang ★★★★
  • Book with Pink Cover: Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde ★★★★★

So I did not finish criteria. I was two books away. I was liking The Shadow Queen, I just couldn’t stay up to finish it. I never got to book with love in the title, which surprised me. This is only my second time ever to not finish criteria. Both were on short months – December we ended early for Christmas holidays and now February. I don’t like short months!

FAVORITE READ: This one is tough! I read a lot of good books this month. I think my favorite is You. It was weird. It was creepy. It was everything I wanted in a psychological thriller. I can’t wait to listen to Hidden Bodies this month.
Runners up: Scythe, The Gilded Wolves

LEAST FAVORITE READ: I didn’t like Billionaire’s Bride for a day. It got a 3 star rating, but I might have even gone down to 2 star. It just wasn’t for me.

I didn’t rate Spindle Fire. This book came highly recommended by a friend. I listened to the audio and honestly, I was confused throughout the whole book. I’m still fairly new to audios, and some books just don’t translate well for me in that format. This may have been one of those books. I am looking forward to a re-read soon in either print or ebook so I can really see what this book is about!

What were your favorite and least favorite reads for February? Let me know in the comments below!

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What’s Coming Up!

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Not a lot has been going on lately! Book battle ended on Feb 22. Snow White won! We had the best most chill team! They were amazing.

Next Sunday, at 4pm EST, we are having a live author chat with Kendra Saunders! Come join us over at Words at Whimsy!

Starting, March 1, the new month of Book Battle will begin! This theme is probably one of my favorites! Come join us for an easy month and see where you fit in!

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Shadow Queen Review

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  • Title: Shadow Queen
  • Author: C. J. Redwine
  • Book Form: Ebook
  • Pages: 416
  • Genre: Fantasy, YA, Retellings (Snow White)
  • Rating: ★★★★


Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

– Goodreads

This book took me a bit to get through. It wasn’t the writing. It wasn’t the story. It wasn’t anything about the book.

I think it was me.

I was on Team Snow White this month. We won! YAY! But at first, I was not excited. Snow white is my least favorite fairy tale. And I think I just had a mental block of ‘I don’t want to read about this chick. I hate her.’ But really, this book was great! And C.J. Redwine is the sweetest! If you ever see her ask her about her worst wardrobe malfunction. You won’t be disappointed.

Now, for the review.

I loved how badass Snow White, er, Loralei was. She was amazing. She was a warrior through and through who could think on her feet and could always find a way out of sticky situations. She always put the good of her people and her kingdom before the good for herself, and that’s what makes a really great leader.

Kol was nice too. I liked how he and the Eldrans could turn into dragons and had a human heart and a dragon heart. That was a unique twist on the story and really caught my attention.

Irina was awful, as all villains are. But this book makes you think about her. It shows you backstory and things that happened to her. It makes you feel for her. Like CJ said in her chat, she was one decision away from being good or evil. You could really see that in this book and you kind of feel for her.

Overall, I gave this book a 4/5 star rating. I loved the battle at the end. I loved the action scenes, and the relationship that unfolded between Loralei and Kol. Places were slow moving for me, but again, that could have just been my mental block against Snow White.

This is a good, clean read for young readers who are maybe above their aged reading levels. Read it if you love Snow White. Read it if you love fantasy, action, and dragons. I’ll be reading the sequels.