Tuesday, December 31, 2019

2019 Reviews


Looking Back at the Decade, 2010's Version

Time for my first (but hopefully not last) Looking Back at the Decade post! I actually asked the internet whether this decade ends on December 31st, 2019, or the last day of 2020. The whole, no 0 year, argument, was beat out by the whole decade used to mean a collection of 10 years, which we can decide where it starts, and social conventions (an example was given that we wouldn't call someone born in 1970 a 60's baby) means that this is the end of a decade that started January 1st, 2010.

What happened in that decade, for me, personally? A lot, especially of milestones. I mean, this is my 3rd decade of life-0 to 10, 11 to 20, 21 to now. I was 15 at the start of this decade. I finished high school. I went to college. Had a bit of time off. Finished college. Basically did nothing. Finally got a job this year, so that's pretty great!

I also started blogging in 2011, so I've almost been blogging for 10 years now, which is pretty crazy. In the 9 years that I've been using Goodreads, it's tracked that I've read 379 in 2011, 790 in 2012, 849 in 2013, 562 in 2014, 555 in 2015, 702 in 2016, 580 in 2017, 594 in 2018, and now 557 in 2019, for a total of 5568 books, novellas, short stories and deleted scenes in the decade. I mean, I did read in 2010, and in 2011 before I started on Goodreads, but I have no idea, because I didn't track then. But yeah, to read on average, 500 books a year, that's pretty great, and I'm happy with that, and hope to continue in this coming decade!

There were some ups and downs. Most notably, of my dog, Winky, on January 1st, 2019. That it's going to be the 1 year anniversary tomorrow is a little heartbreaking, because it doesn't feel like it's been that long that we've been without out her. Dobby is getting older, he's had cancer removed from one spot twice, the last time 1 1/2 years ago, and it's already back. Unfortunately, we're probably not going to remove it this time. He's almost 12, and he's tired, so we're in the final stretch of time with him. I'm trying to make sure to document as many memories as I can with him, and with Jax, too.

There have also been some fantastic moments, because we adopted Jax, and he's just a ball of energy, I didn't realize how less energetic Dobby had become. He's a kissing fool, as my mom says, though I'm the only one really allows it, to the point that if other family members want kisses, and I'm there, well, they don't get many kisses. He's also lost weight, and he's about healthy weight now, though we'll see when we go to the vet in a couple of months. But from the one thing that I remember-that you're supposed to look down at a dog, and have the area after the ribs be a little smaller than the ribs, but without the ribs being stick thin, that's the healthy spot for dogs. And Jax is about there. He'll always be our hefty boy, he's pretty solid, that's his breed, I think. He also snores less, which may or may not be part of the weight loss. He's also a strange one that almost always has to lick whatever he's going bed on, to the point that I've put down a blanket on my bed. He sometimes dominates blankets, too. I have no idea if it's just his personality, if he's got issues with having been given up for adoption, if it's a "I'm stressed" or stress-revealing action or what. Comment if you know, please!

I started working on being healthy, on losing weight. As in, I was over 100 pounds over what's the highest weight for a female of my height. In the 16 months since I've started, I'm in a much better place, though I still have a long way to go. Also taking care of myself is part of it, though I have some ups and downs, espcailly with skin care. I had gotten into a good habit, then I got hives and thought the products I was using were causing it. Turns out it was my food, which I had no idea, but by the time I found out, I'd already stopped, and haven't really picked the habit back up again. Going to try again, though!

Yeah, those were some of the highlights of my decade. What I want to happen in the 2020's? I'll be 35 in 2029, which is so weird to think about. Continue on being healthy, get to a healthy weight, take care of myself. I would like to buy a house, maybe a car, but definitely going to try for a house. Read a lot, of course. I'm trying to convince my mom that we should adopt another doggie, but if I move out, then I'd like a dog, probably, of my own. Yeah, that's about all that I want.

What about you guys? Hope you've had a great decade, and I wish you a wonderful new one! Happy reading!

What I Wanted to Read in 2019

This was a pretty good year for books, I think I did a decent job of scheduling books, though I did end up reading a good deal of books the week after I wanted to read them, which was just me being weird. But yeah, here's the books that I wanted to read in 2019:

Week 52:
Heart of Flames by Nicki Pau Preto, Mages by Assembly by Terah Edun, Off Planet by Aileen Erin, Off Balance by Aileen Erin, Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost

Week 51:
Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao, Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare, Fireborn by Katie MacAlister, Starborn by Katie MacAlister, Hindsight by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen, The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren, The Last Odyssey by James Rollins, The Pretenders by by Rebecca Hanover, Wicked as You Wish by Rin Chupeco

Week 50:
Nothing planned!

Week 49:
Infinity Son by Adam Silvera, Just Breathe by Cammie McGovern, Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen, Origin by Jessica Khoury, The Sign of the Jaguar by Jessica Kkoury, Vitro by Jessica Kkoury, Kalahari by Jessica Kkoury, Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst, Wicked Hour by Chloe Neill

Week 48:
A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, The Lost Sisters by Holly Black, The Wicked King by Holly Black, The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black, Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan, Seven Crows by Kate Kessler, Starsight by Brandon Sanderson

Week 47:
Chasing the Shadows by Maria V. Snyder, Chosen by Kirsten White, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison, The Last First Girl by Stephen Graham Jones

Week 46:
Blood & Ash by Deborah Wilde, Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stifvater, Heartstone by Elle Katherine White, Dragonshadow by Elle Katharine White, Flamebringer by Elle Katherine White, Novice Dragoneer by E.E. Knight, A Sanctuary of Spirits by Leanna Renee Hieber, Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz, Spartan Destiny by Jennifer Estep, Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw

Week 45:
The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White, Leopard's Wrath by Christine Feehan, Tears of Frost by Bree Barton, The Toll by Neal Shusterman

Week 44:
Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland, Christmas in Silver Springs by Brenda Novak, Z by Larissa Ione, Razr by Larissa Ione, Hawkyn by Larissa Ione, Her Guardian Angel by Larissa Ione, Dining With Angels by Larissa Ione, Cipher by Larissa Ione, Reaper by Larissa Ione

Week 43:
Nothing Planned!

Week 42:
The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas, Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd, What Doesn't Kill Her by Christina Dodd, Strangers She Knows by Christina Dodd, Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia, Zenith by Sasha Alsberg by Lindsay Cummings, Nexus by Sasha Alsberg by Lindsay Cummings, We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Week 41:
Black River Falls by Jeff Hirsch, The Body in the Garden by Katharine Schellman, A Constellation of Roses by Miranda Asebedo, The Eleventh Metal by Brandon Sanderson, The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson, The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey, The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, Our Year in Love and Parties by Karen Hattrup, Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard

Week 40:
All the Things We Do in the Dark by Saundra Mitchell, As She Ascends by Jodi Meadows, When She Reigns by Jodi Meadows, The Athena Protocol by Shamim Sarif, The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams, Be Not Far from Me by Mindy McGinnis, The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones, Clique Bait by Ann Valett, There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool, 99 Days by Katie Cotugno, 9 Days and 9 Nights by Katie Cotugno

Week 39:
Before Now by Norah Olson, Deacon Locke Went to Prom by Brian Katcher, The Gentleman's Guide To Getting Lucky by Mackenzi Lee, The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee, Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes, The Grace Year by Kim Liggett, Immortal Born by Lynsay Sands, The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy, Nyxia by Scott Reintgen, Pulse by Patrick Carman, Scared Little Rabbits by A.V. Geiger, The Third Mrs. Durst by Ann Aguirre, Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

Week 38:
The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker, Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman, Fortuna by Kristyn Merbeth, Hood Academy by Shelley Wilson, Leviathan by James Byron Huggins, Siren's Song by Karen Chance, The Survival List by Courney Sheinmel, Wickedly Unraveled by Deborah Blake

Week 37:
The Blacksmith Queen by G.A. Aiken, Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett, Met Her Match by Jude Deveraux, Seventh Born by Monica Sanz, Mirror Bound by Monica Sanz, Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton, A Twist of Oleander by Raven McKray

Week 36:
A Brush With Death by Anna Lee Huber, An Artless Demise by Anna Lee Huber, Dark Illusion by Christine Feehan, Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff, Magic Outside the Box by Honor Raconteur, More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera, Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth, Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan,Vendetta in Death by J.D. Robb

Week 35:
Angel Mage by Garth Nix, Death of Darkness by Dianne Duvall, Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews, Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews, Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff, The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith, Sword and Pen by Rachel Caine

Week 34:
A Study in Death by Anna Lee Huber, A Pressing Engagement by Anna Lee Huber, As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber, Betty Bites Back Anthology, The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen, Summer Knight by Jim Butcher, Death Masks by Jim Butcher, Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz, Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron, The Seeker by Heather Graham, Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin, Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

Week 33:
The Beckoning Shadow by Katharyn Blair, Burn Out by Kristi Helvig, Strange Skies by Kristi Helvig, Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford, Crown of Oblivion by Julie Eshbaugh, The Duke's Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan, Fan the Fame by Anna Priemaza, The How & the Why by Cynthia Hand, The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie, Midnight Beauties by Megan Shepherd, Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson

Week 32:
The Anatomist's Wife by Anna Lee Huber, B is for Bigfoot by Jim Butcher, Grave Peril by Jim Butcher, House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig, How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards, A Pack of Blood and Lies by Olivia Wildenstein, A Pack of Vows and Tears by Olivia Wildenstein, A Pack of Love and Hate by Olivia Wildenstein, Save the Date by Morgan Matson, #murderfunding by Gretchen McNeil

Week 31:
Dark Reflections by Kelsey Ketch, The Last Guest House by Megan Miranda, T-Minus by Shannon Greenland, These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch, These Divided Shores by Sara Raasch, Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

Week 30:
The Arrival of Someday by Jen Malone, The King by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Soul of Stars by Ashley Poston, Tamiko and the Two Janitors by Forthright

Week 29:
Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre, The Lying Woods by Ashley Elston, Nocturna by Maya Motayne, The Quiet You Carry by Nikki Barthelmess, Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne, Umbertouched by Livia Blackburne, This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher, What She Found in the Woods by Josephine Angelini

Week 28:
Criminal Behavior by Amanda Stevens, Incriminating Evidence by Amanda Stevens, Killer Investigation by Amanda Stevens, Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh, Ōkami by Renée Ahdieh, Yumi by Renée Ahdieh, Smoke in the Sun by Renée Ahdieh, The Great Jewel Robbery by Elizabeth McKenna, Immunity by Erin Bowman, Storm Born by Richelle Mead, Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead, Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead, Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead, Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik

Week 27:
The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman, Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepard, A Lady in Disguise by Lynsay Sands, Sworn to Justice by Terah Edun, Tricks for Free by Seanan McGuire, That Ain't Witchcraft by Seanan McGuire, The Measure of a Monster by Seanan McGuire

Week 26:
Destroy All Monsters by Sam J. Miller, Dev1at3 by Jay Kristoff, My Favourite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren, Roar by Cora Carmak, Rage by Cora Carmak, The Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren, Wherever She Goes by Kelley Armstrong

Week 25:
The Burning Shadow by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Containment by Caryn Lix, The Eyes of Tamburah by Maria V. Snyder, The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter, Smokescreen by Iris Johansen

Week 24:
The Beholder by Anna Bright, The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg, Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Week 23:
I'm Not Dying with You Tonight by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal, The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessan, Shadow & Flame by Mindee Arnett, Shadow Warrior by Christine Feehan, War of the Bastards by Andrew Shvarts, Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh

Week 22:
Bridal Boot Camp by Meg Cabot, Middlegame by Seanan McGuire, PERfunctory AfFECTION by Kim Harrison

Week 21:
Again, But Better by Christine Riccio, Kingsbane by Claire Legrand, The Summoning by Heather Graham

Week 20:
Silver Silence by Nalini Singh, Ain't No Party Like A Bear Party by Nalini Singh, The Gypsy King by Maureen Fergus, Tomb of the Ancients by Madeleine Roux

Week 19:
Deadmen Walking by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Death Doesn't Bargain by Sherrilyn Kenyon, At Death's Door by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, Blind Spot by Brenda Novak, Broken Throne by Victoria Aveyard, No Judgments by Meg Cabot

Week 18:
Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong, Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier, Den of Wolves by Juliet Marillier, The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Last Things by Jacqueline West, Nocturna by Maya Motayne

Week 17:
Nothing Planned!

Week 16:
An Anatomy of Beasts by Olivia A. Cole, The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot, Cellar Door by Trisha Wolfe, Cop Town by Karin Slaughter, Rising Darkness by Thea Harrison, Falling Light by Thea Harrison, The Veil by Chloe Neill

Week 15:
American Witch by Thea Harrison, Dreaming Darkly by Caitlin Kittredge, The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter, Love and Other Curses by Thomas Michael Ford, Martians Abroad by Carrie Vaughn, The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr, The Switch by Lynsay Sands

Week 14:
Defy the Fates by Claudia Gray, Shadow Me by Tahereh Mafi, Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi, Furyborn by Claire Legrand, Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller, Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller, Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton

Week 13:
Spelled by Betsy Schow, Wanted by Betsy Schow, Banished by Betsy Schow, Dark Tribute by Iris Johansen,The Dating Game by Kiley Roach, The Dragon Throne by Ava Richardson, Here There are Monsters by Amelinda Bérubé, Legacy of Light by Sarah Raughley

Week 12:
Broken Souls by Stephen Blackmoore, Hungry Ghosts by Stephen Blackmoore, Burn by Deborah Wilde, Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, In Another Life by C.C. Hunter

Week 11:
All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater, Bang by Barry Lyga, Court of Shadows by Madeline Roux, Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout, A Lethal Legacy by Heather Graham, Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton, To Best the Boys by Mary Weber, 29 Dates by Melissa de la Cruz

Week 10:
Dead Things by by Stephen Blackmoore, The First True Thing by Claire Needell, Missing, Presumed Dead by Emma Berquist, The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu, Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell, Titanshade by Dan Stout, Wild Country by Anne Bishop

Week 9:
Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout, White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout, False 9 by Megan Erickson, The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana, The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, Unforgettable You by Brenda Novak

Week 8:
Nothing Planned!

Week 7:
The Cerulean by Amy Ewing, Dark Queen by Faith Hunter, Circle of the Moon by Faith Hunter, The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye, The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye, The Spring Before I Met You by Sarah Rees Brennan, The Summer Before I Met You by Sarah Rees Brennan, Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan, The Night After I Lost You by Sarah Rees Brennan, Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan, Unmade by Sarah Rees Brennan

Week 6:
The Beast of Nightfall Lodge by SA Sidor, Fury from the Tomb by SA Sidor, Connections in Death by J.D. Robb, Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers, Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre, Vengeance Road by Christine Feehan, Watcher in the Woods by Kelley Armstrong

Week 5:
The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas, The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas, The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas, Scythe by Neal Shusterman, Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman, Toxic Game by Christine Feehan

Week 4:
Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Beth Durst, The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Beth Durst, The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Beth Durst, The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey, The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey, The Savage Dawn by Melissa Grey, Undying by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson

Week 3:
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire, A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire, An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire, Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire, One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire, Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire, Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire, Full of Briars by Seanan McGuire, The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire, Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen, The Dragon Sickness by Ava Richardson, Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep, Protect the Prince by Jennifer Estep

Week 2:
Unbinding by Eileen Wilks, Mind Magic by Eileen Wilks, Dragon Spawn by Eileen Wilks, Dragon Blood by Eileen Wilks, The New Kid by Eileen Wilks, The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi, Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox by Forthright, Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal by Forthright

Week 1:
Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks, Mortal Danger by Eileen Wilks, Blood Lines by Eileen Wilks, Night Season by Eileen Wilks, Good Counsel by Eileen Wilks, Cyncerely Yours by Eileen Wilks, Mortal Sins by Eileen Wilks, Human Nature by Eileen Wilks, Blood Magic by Eileen Wilks, Blood Challenge by Eileen Wilks, Death Magic by Eileen Wilks, Mortal Ties by Eileen Wilks, Ritual Magic by Eileen Wilks, Originally Human by Eileen Wilks, Inhuman by Eileen Wilks

Teaser Tuesday #455, December 31st

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Today's teaser comes from The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett, page 9.

"You, Miss Fox, are no lady! You're a she-demon who attracts anarchy and bedlam."

Well, that's not very kind of the speaker! A speaker whose very near future actions make me so angry at her! I went back to get this teaser. Can't wait to read more! What about you guys?

Monday, December 30, 2019

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #447, December 30th

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!

What happened in the past week:

Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #446
Teaser Tuesday #453
WWW Wednesday #453
WOW #449
Will the Time Come #446
Third Sentence Thursday #436
Random Reads #422
First Lines Friday #449
The Reward Challenge Update #432
Book Blogger Hop #115
How Well I Stuck to It #283
Wrote that Review Update #280

Week 52 Reviews:
Hindsight
Wicked as You Wish
Snapshot
Legion
Skin Deep
Lies of the Beholder
The Last Odyssey
The Honey-Don't List

OK, so I got 18 posts in 7 days, it was a pretty good week, and a pretty good Christmas, I hope everybody else was the same or better! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want! Free week!

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Wrote that Review Update #281, December 29th

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!
If you want to participate, set a certain amount of reviews to write, and once you make that goal, you can get a reward!

My reviews to reward is writing all of the reviews of the week, and I motivated myself to write my review for Hindsight, Wicked as You Wish, Snapshot, Legion, Skin Deep, Lies of the Beholder, The Last Odyssey, The Honey-Don't List, so I have 6 of 6 reviews written!

And as always, I want to review this week's reviews!

What about you guys? Happy reading!

How Well I Stuck to It #284, December 29th

So I decided that I should have accountability on sticking to what should be in a week, so I'm doing How Well I Stuck to It every Sunday, because my schedule should be fixed in by now!

Nothing planned! So it's all good for this week! Can't wait to read whatever I want!

Week 52:
Heart of Flames by Nicki Pau Preto, Mages by Assembly by Terah Edun, Off Planet by Aileen Erin, Off Balance by Aileen Erin, Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost

vs.

Hindsight by Iris Johansen and Ray Johansen, Wicked as You Wish by Rin Chupeco, Snapshot by Brandon Sanderson, Legion by Brandon Sanderson, Skin Deep by Brandon Sanderson, Lies of the Beholder by Brandon Sanderson, The Last Odyssey by James Rollins, The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren

Yeah, I didn't read any of what I planned, but it's pretty balanced out, so I'm happy, and I hope to read some of these missed books next week! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Week 52 Review: The Honey-Don't List

From Goodreads:
From the New York Times bestselling author behind the "joyful, warm, touching" (Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author) The Unhoneymooners comes a delightfully charming love story about what happens when two assistants tasked with keeping a rocky relationship from explosion start to feel sparks of their own.

Carey Douglas has worked for home remodeling and design gurus Melissa and Rusty Tripp for nearly a decade. A country girl at heart, Carey started in their first store at sixteen, and—more than anyone would suspect—has helped them build an empire. With a new show and a book about to launch, the Tripps are on the verge of superstardom. There's only one problem: America's favorite couple can't stand each other.

James McCann, MIT graduate and engineering genius, was originally hired as a structural engineer, but the job isn't all he thought it'd be. The last straw? Both he and Carey must go on book tour with the Tripps and keep the wheels from falling off the proverbial bus.

Unfortunately, neither of them is in any position to quit. Carey needs health insurance, and James has been promised the role of a lifetime if he can just keep the couple on track for a few more weeks. While road-tripping with the Tripps up the West Coast, Carey and James vow to work together to keep their bosses' secrets hidden, and their own jobs secure. But if they stop playing along—and start playing for keeps—they may have the chance to build something beautiful together…

From the "hilariously zany and heartfelt" (Booklist) Christina Lauren comes a romantic comedy that proves if it's broke, you might as well fix it.

My Review:
This book was just so hilarious and awesome! I loved the idea of two assistants to a husband and wife duo whose brand it is is that they're happily married-and they're not. It was such fun, and I really enjoyed spending time with Carey, James, and the Tripps!

We know right away that something went wrong. Given that it starts off with a police interview. But we get the story of how they got to that point, from the party that lead to Carey and James going on the tour, and all the shenanigans there. Such fun to read!

I felt bad for all of them. Carey who'd worked for the Tripps when they just had a store, before they were famous. Who's used the years when she was young and could've gone to school for this company, but is still just an assistant. James was hired to be an engineer, but is instead a assistant. Rusty, whose wife went a bit crazy with the fame, who isn't the women he married. Melissa, who had her husband cheat on her. Yeah. They all had their problems!

How it was all resolved, well, I would've liked a bit of a longer ending, with more shown then told, but yeah, it was such a great read, and such a quick, easy, and fun one! Really enjoyed that ending, where all these characters were!

This book was fantastic as always from Christina Lauren, and I can't wait for more from them!

Author: Christina Lauren
Read: December 27th, 2019
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love their writing, and it's a SAC 2019 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Gallery Books
Expected Publication: March 24th 2020
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: The Last Odyssey

From Goodreads:
To save the world and our future, Sigma Force must embark on a dangerous odyssey into an ancient past whose horrors are all too present in this page-turning thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author James Rollins that combines cutting-edge science, historical mystery, mythology, and pulse-pounding action.

For eons, the city of Troy—whose legendary fall was detailed in Homer’s Iliad—was believed to be myth, until archaeologists in the nineteenth century uncovered its ancient walls buried beneath the sands. If Troy was real, how much of Homer's twin tales of gods and monsters, curses and miracles—The Iliad and The Odyssey—could also be true and awaiting discovery?

In the frozen tundra of Greenland, a group of modern-day researchers stumble on a shocking find: a medieval ship buried a half-mile below the ice. The ship's hold contains a collection of even older artifacts—tools of war—dating back to the Bronze Age. Inside the captain's cabin is a magnificent treasure that is as priceless as it is miraculous: a clockwork gold map imbedded with an intricate silver astrolabe. The mechanism was crafted by a group of Muslim inventors—the Banū Mūsā brothers—considered by many to be the Da Vincis of the Arab world—brilliant scientists who inspired Leonardo's own work.

Once activated, the moving map traces the path of Odysseus's famous ship as it sailed away from Troy. But the route detours as the map opens to reveal a fiery river leading to a hidden realm underneath the Mediterranean Sea. It is the subterranean world of Tartarus, the Greek name for Hell. In mythology, Tartarus was where the wicked were punished and the monstrous Titans of old, imprisoned.

When word of Tartarus spreads—and of the cache of miraculous weapons said to be hidden there—tensions explode in this volatile region where Turks battle Kurds, terrorists wage war, and civilians suffer untold horrors. The phantasmagoric horrors found in Homer's tales are all too real—and could be unleashed upon the world. Whoever possesses them can use their awesome power to control the future of humanity.

Now, Sigma Force must go where humans fear to tread. To prevent a tyrant from igniting a global war, they must cross the very gates of Hell.

My Review:
Oh, man, this was a wonderful, fantastic read! I just absolutely adore this series and James Rollins' writing, it's such a great combination that keeps me on the edge of my seat! I mean, I read this on the day I had my 2nd part of Christmas, and I finished it in the car on the way over. I just couldn't put it down!

The whole idea of the Greek Hell, Tartarus, being a real city, that waged war in the time of the Greek Dark Ages? Burning World War Zero? Yeah, that was pretty fantastic, as was the Arab Golden Age, going into the European Golden Age of the Renaissance. This book was pretty heavy on the history! There wasn't really much modern day science, but a lot of historical inventions, which it always amazing me how easily believable it is that previous generations had that level of technology, either actually in real life, or fiction for this book.

This is the book where we see Gray and Seichan as parents, and it was great to see how their dynamic had changed. There's plenty of doubts on both sides, because a child is a big change in their lives. It was a great story line to follow with their characters!

If you remember the epilogue from The Bone Labyrinth-the book where Kowalski and Maria met? Well, it made it seem like these two weren't going to end up together. And this book played with that, wondering if they were right for each other. I totally didn't expect where it went!

This book was such a fantastic read, and I can't wait to see where this book goes!

Author: James Rollins
Series: Sigma Force #15
Read: December 26th, 2019
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love his writing and this series so much! And it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: William Morrow
Expected Publication: March 24th 2020
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 52 Reviews: Legion, Skin Deep, Lies of the Beholder



From Goodreads:
Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society.

From Goodreads:
Stephen Leeds, AKA "Legion," is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the new story begins, Leeds and his "aspects" are hired by I3 (Innovative Information Incorporated) to recover a corpse stolen from the local morgue. But there's a catch. The corpse is that of a pioneer in the field of experimental biotechnology, a man whose work concerned the use of the human body as a massive storage device. He may have embedded something in the cells of his now dead body. And that something might be dangerous…


What follows is a visionary thriller about the potential uses of technology, the mysteries of the human personality, and the ancient human need to believe that death is not the end. Legion: Skin Deep is speculative fiction at it most highly developed. It reaffirms Sanderson's place as one of contemporary fiction's most intelligent—and unpredictable—voices. 

From Goodreads:
In the Legion series, distinctly contemporary novellas filled with suspense, humor, and an endless flow of invention, Sanderson has revealed a startling new facet of his singular narrative talent. Stephen Leeds, AKA "Legion," is the series' hero, a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills.

The third and final entry in the series, Lies of the Beholder, is perhaps the strangest, most unpredictable installment to date.

The story begins with two seemingly unrelated events: the disappearance of Armando, one of Stephen's many "aspects," and an unexpected cry for help from Sandra, the woman who, many years before, helped him learn to live with his condition. These events lead Stephen, along with several of his aspects, to a sinister high-tech firm specializing in advanced methods of human incarceration.

The result is a visionary meditation on the mysteries of the human personality. Like the volumes that preceded it, Sanderson's latest is original, challenging, and utterly absorbing. In Stephen Leeds, a man constantly struggling to understand and control his own divided nature, he has created one of the most compelling heroes in recent popular fiction. Like the best of Sanderson's work, Lies of the Beholder is something special. It is the clear product of a master storyteller, and it is not to be missed.

My Review:
This series was such a great read! I loved this idea of the aspects, holding different specialties of knowledge, and all the psychological questions that it brought up. And utilizing those aspects to solve mysteries was fantastic to read!

All three stories had interesting mysteries, to recovering a camera that could take pictures of the past, to recovering a body that had information stored in its DNA, to the aspects going wild while a potential upgrade to prisons using gaming tech, was just so awesome and original and interesting to read! 

Stephen was pretty interesting character to read about. After all, his has his aspects, and that he made all of them pretty interesting-and they all have a mental condition, from phobias to schizophrenia. All the while, he tries to make himself as bland as possible. It was an interesting situation to read about!

The ending was a bit confusing, I'm not quite sure what happened, but I was also confused the whole series, so there wasn't anything new there! I mean, I don't understand the solution that Stephen came up with to host his aspects.

Watching Stephen go on this journey was so fantastic, I really enjoyed all of these stories so much!

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: Legion #1, 2, 3
Read: December 23rd, 23rd, 23rd, 2019
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love his writing and it sounded good, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Books! And Lies of the Beholder is a End of Series 2019 Book!
Publisher: Subterranean Press
Published: August 31st 2012, November 30th 2014, November 30th 2018

Legion:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars









Skin Deep:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars









Lies of the Beholder:
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: Snapshot

From Goodreads:
Snapshot is a Science Fiction detective story following Anthony Davis, a cop assigned to Snapshot Duty. In this vivid world that author Brandon Sanderson has built, society can create a snapshot of a specific day in time. The experiences people have, the paths they follow—all of them are real again for a one day in the snapshot. All for the purposes of investigation by the court.

Davis's job as a cop on Snapshot Duty is straight forward. Sometimes he is tasked with finding where a criminal dumped a weapon. Sometimes he is tasked with documenting domestic disputes. Simple. Mundane. One day, in between two snapshot assignments, Davis decides to investigate the memory of a call that was mysteriously never logged at the precinct, and he makes a horrifying discovery.

As in all many stories, Snapshot follows a wonderfully flawed character as he attempts to solve a horrific crime. Sanderson proves that no matter the genre, he is one of the most skilled storytellers in the business.

My Review:
This story was so fantastic! I loved the world with the snapshots, it was so interesting to read! And that it's used as an investigative tool, that was pretty awesome, because we had this incredible world, but we also had cops trying to solve mysteries. So great!

Davis was an interesting character, he was focused on this one time that was going to happen, and we didn't know what was going to happen there. But then he starts investigating, and while it's only over the course of a day, well, a lot happens!

There were so many little elements to this book! The different mysteries, the world that was built, how a snapshot worked, Davis' interactions with his partner. The weird lady who gave him her number. It was all so delicately woven and so fantastic to read!

I didn't catch the clues, because apparently, we were supposed to wonder about this snapshot that they were in. I didn't get that, so that part, well, all the parts, of the ending caught me off guard. But it was really fantastic to read!

Loved this story, and I would love to spend more time in this world!

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Read: December 22nd, 2019
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Sounded really great and I enjoy his writing, and it's a SAC 2019 Book!
Publisher: Dragonsteel Entertainment
Published: February 17th 2017
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: Wicked as You Wish

From Goodreads:
An unforgettable alternative history fairytale series from the author of The Bone Witch trilogy about found family, modern day magic, and finding the place you belong.

Many years ago, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left desolate and encased in ice when the evil Snow Queen waged war on the powerful country. Its former citizens are now refugees in a world mostly devoid of magic. Which is why the crown prince and his protectors are stuck in...Arizona.

Prince Alexei, the sole survivor of the Avalon royal family, is in hiding in a town so boring, magic doesn't even work there. Few know his secret identity, but his friend Tala is one of them. Tala doesn't mind—she has secrets of her own. Namely, that she's a spellbreaker, someone who negates magic.

Then hope for their abandoned homeland reignites when a famous creature of legend, and Avalon's most powerful weapon, the Firebird, appears for the first time in decades. Alex and Tala unite with a ragtag group of new friends to journey back to Avalon for a showdown that will change the world as they know it.

My Review:
This book was utterly fantastic, I just couldn't put it down! I loved this world, with fairy tales being a part of history, the magic and the rules there, and the country of Avalon, with it's different quirks. Such a fantastic read!

Of course, the characters inhabited this world with such life, I loved reading and watching the adventures of Tala, Prince Alexei, and the gang! Their journey from Arizona to Avalon was strange and exciting and terrifying. Loved it so much!

One thing that I absolutely loved about this book were the chapter headings, I believe, that were hilarious and gave a brief synopsis of something that's going to happen that chapter. Those were just such fun to read!

We were mainly in Tala's head, but there were times when there were parts of the story where she wasn't there, and it was pretty funny to see these other characters have these experiences that you have to laugh, smile, and roll you eyes at the antics that they got up to!

That ending, oh, man, it was just so epic! We're given hints and clues as to what would happen, after all, we're given prophecies. But those are always vague. And we didn't see all of them play out yet, and I can't wait to find out how they are! So excited for more from this series!

Wow, this book was just so fantastic, I loved and devoured it, and I can't wait for the sequel!

Author: Rin Chupeco
Series: A Hundred Names for Magic #1
Read: December 22nd, 2019
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really fantastic! And it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Expected Publication: March 3rd 2020
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: Hindsight

From Goodreads:
Investigator Kendra Michaels -- whose former blindness has left her with uniquely insightful observational skills -- must put her life on the line to catch a terrifying murderer setting his sights on some of society's most vulnerable in this electrifying new novel from the #1 New York Times and Edgar Award winning writing duo Iris and Roy Johansen.

Dr. Kendra Michaels, blind for the first twenty years of her life before gaining her sight via a revolutionary surgical procedure, is a renowned investigator known for her razor-sharp senses--honed during her years in the dark--and keen deductive abilities.

Now her skills are needed uncomfortably close to home. Two staff members have been murdered at a school for the blind where Kendra spent her formative years. But the murders are puzzlingly dissimilar: one victim was brutally stabbed, while the other was killed by a bullet to the head. Are the crimes related? Or is Kendra on the hunt for more than one dangerous killer?

With the killer (or killers) still on the loose, Kendra must put her life on the line to unravel a terrifying conspiracy. But Kendra soon discovers that she herself may hold the key to the deadliest secret of all..

My Review:
Reading this book was so fantastic! It does start off pretty soon after the end of the previous book, but then the mystery of this current book is delved into, pretty quickly, given a few factors including how personal it is for Kendra! This was a really awesome read!

Kendra and Lynch have a pretty intense first chapter, and the fallout happens for most of this book. I loved watching them deal with each other while emotions were running pretty high, and not all of them were positive and loving ones, given certain actions that you'll know about right away!

The last book got to be a bit heavy, what with the private military group manipulating things at the expense of the government military. This book is lighter in that regard, there's murder, but it's not quite at the global scale of Double Blind.

How all the different characters got to utilize their strengths in this book was so great to read, especially in the end, Kendra pulls out all the stops, she's creative, and there's this one action that just gets to me! That ending was fantastic to read!

Loved this book so much, it was such a great read, and I can't wait for more of this series!

Authors: Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
Series: Kendra Micheals #7
Read: December 22nd, 2019
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love their writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Expected Publication: January 7th 2020
5/5 Hearts
5/5 Books
5/5 Stars

Friday, December 27, 2019

Book Blogger Hop #116, December 27th

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer's permission, I relaunched the meme on February 15, 2013. Check out the hop here

Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end on Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop's purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

The Question of the week is: What bookish goodies did you get for the holidays? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

I didn't get any books officially for Christmas, but I did get money, which I did spend on books, 2 Book Outlet orders that I'll post about once I get them. Can't wait! What about you guys? Happy reading!

The Reward Challenge Update #432, December 27th

The Reward Challenge is almost the complete opposite to a book buying ban as you'll end up buying lots of new books throughout the challenge but only after you've completed a certain amount of reading. It was hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly, so thanks to her for starting it!

OK, so I read Hindsight which counts 4 times as a NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book and a WoW Book, Wicked as You Wish which counts 4 times as a NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book and a WoW Book, Snapshot which counts twice as a SAC 2019 Book, Legion which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Books, Skin Deep which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Books, Lies of the Beholder which counts 3 times as a End of Series 2019 Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Books, The Last Odyssey which counts 4 times as a Edelweiss Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2019 Book and a WoW Book, The Honey-Don't List which counts 4 times as a NetGalley Book, SAC 2019 Book and a WoW Book.

So I have 25 counts which translates to $12.50 this week! I'll use it to buy books!

First Lines Friday #450, December 27th

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. We encourage all of our fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

-Grab your current read(s)
-Share the first line(s)
-Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists!

"The matriarch of House Kore was running late for a dinner. In the normal course of insight, she did not care for punctuality. Punctuality, with its unseemly whiff of eagerness, was for peasants And she was neither a peasant nor eager to endure a meal with the mongrel heir of House Nyx." -The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

Well, I don't like her at all! The unsightliness and the "mongrel" yeah, she doesn't sound very nice! But I can't wait to read more! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Random Reads #423, December 26th

Random Reads is a monthly meme (that I'm going to do weekly) hosted by I'm Loving Books to read some books that have been on our TBR piles for a long time. Using Random.org, I got 2130 which turned out to be Boys that Bite by Mari Mancusi! It's been on my TBR pile since February 18th, 2011, and I added it because it sounded really good! Happy reading!

Third Sentence Thursday #437, December 26th

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!


Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme which likes to watch fireworks especially while eating a cookie!
1) Take the book you are currently reading and open it to a random page. Share the third full sentence on that page. (If there isn't a third one – like at the end of a chapter or a blank page – you can share the third sentence of the book or just choose another random page.) Feel free to share more than one sentence, if you feel the need to do so.
2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)
3) Post a link to your sentence at Words I Write Crazy (This Blog)
4) Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentences!

"He reached forward, probing with one leg, then the other, as he crossed the bronze landing." -The Last Odyssey by James Rollins, page 335.

Well, that sounds a bit precarious! Must read more!

What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below!

Will the Time Come #447, December 26th

Every Thursday I am going to list a book which I really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are mostly books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it! Thanks to Jodie from Books for Company for this meme!
Want to Join?
-Pick a book you have been meaning to read
-Do a post telling us about the book    
-Link the post up in the linky  
-Visit the other blogs

He's lost all hope...until she changes everything.

Master illusionist Lorenzo wants nothing to do with the Pyr. His dragon nature is just another secret to hide and another detail to juggle, like ensuring that each of his Las Vegas magic shows is a true spectacle. Until he feels the burn of his firestorm and his whole world shifts....

Cassie Redmond is tired of photographing celebrities. She wants to pursue her dream of serious photography—despite the lucrative offer for a shot of a dragon shifter. Las Vegas is the last place she wants to be, but Lorenzo arouses more than her curiosity when he shifts shape as the finale of his show. Instead of forcing him to reveal his secrets, Cassie gets swept away by this illusionist’s masterful touch.

Lorenzo wants to satisfy the firestorm and put it behind him. But Cassie is hard to forget—and he can’t ignore the danger when Slayers target the mate Lorenzo didn’t believe he wanted...

Why the time hasn't come yet...
It's been a while since I read the other books int he series, so I'm going to have to do a reread. But hopefully soon, since I loved this series! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Waiting on Wednesday #450, December 25th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

The Darkest King by Gena Showalter
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2020
From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with a brand-new addition to her explosive Lords of the Underworld series featuring William, the story her fans have been clamoring for.

A merciless prince feared by all...

Cursed by a vengeful witch, William of the Dark will die if he ever falls in love – murdered by the woman who steals his heart. His lone shot at redemption is a book filled with indecipherable code. Break the code, break the curse. Now, centuries later, he's condemned to a string of one-night stands...until he finds the only woman in the worlds able to set him free.

A rare creature of myth and power...

One of the last living unicorn shifters, Sunday 'Sunny' Lane works from the shadows as a cryptanalyst, on the run from assassins and poachers. Then the darkly seductive William abducts her, holding her captive in Hell. The closer they get, the more she hungers for his touch...and the stronger a mystical desire to kill him becomes...

Both forever doomed?

At war with his brother, Lucifer, and determined to become a king of the underworld at long last, William must resist the irreverent beauty who threatens his future. But every day Sunny tempts him more, his hunger for her unmatched. Will he risk his heart – and his life – or will the curse ensure his end?

Imaginary Numbers by Seanan McGuire
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2020
From Goodreads:
The ninth book in the fast-paced InCryptid urban fantasy series returns to the mishaps of the Price family, eccentric cryptozoologists who safeguard the world of magical creatures living in secret among humans.

Sarah Zellaby has always been in an interesting position. Adopted into the Price family at a young age, she’s never been able to escape the biological reality of her origins: she’s a cuckoo, a telepathic ambush predator closer akin to a parasitic wasp than a human being. Friend, cousin, mathematician; it’s never been enough to dispel the fear that one day, nature will win out over nurture, and everything will change.

Maybe that time has finally come.

After spending the last several years recuperating in Ohio with her adoptive parents, Sarah is ready to return to the world–and most importantly, to her cousin Artie, with whom she has been head-over-heels in love since childhood. But there are cuckoos everywhere, and when the question of her own survival is weighed against the survival of her family, Sarah’s choices all add up to one inescapable conclusion.

This is war. Cuckoo vs. Price, human vs. cryptid…and not all of them are going to walk away. 

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2020
From Goodreads:
You are alone in the woods, seen only by the unblinking yellow moon. Your hands are empty. You are nearly naked.

And the wolf is angry.

Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She’s kept mostly to herself. She’s been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou’s past and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods—frightened, but not alone.

Elana K. Arnold, National Book Award finalist and author of the Printz Honor book Damsel, returns with a dark, engrossing, blood-drenched tale of the familiar threats to female power—and one girl’s journey to regain it. 

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2020
From Goodreads:
Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

Twisted Fates by Danielle Rollins
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2020
From Goodreads:
The thrilling follow-up to Danielle Rollins’ epic time travel romance Stolen Time, which Kirkus called “pure fun with an explosive twist.”

As far as anyone in New Seattle knows, Dorothy has disappeared. The stowaway from 1913, the girl that Ash maybe—possibly—could’ve loved: she’s gone. And in her place is bloodthirsty Quinn Fox, silver-haired and vicious. But even though he saw her fall through the anilon their last ill-fated mission through time, Ash can’t stop himself from looking for Dorothy around every dark corner. What he doesn’t know, though, is that the girl he fell in love with is the very same one who is fated to kill him.

As Ash and his friends grow increasingly desperate searching for a way to head off the devastating earthquake threatening to tear down New Seattle for good, Quinn and Roman are working to take down mob boss Mac Murphy, who is attempting to use them to control time travel for his own selfish purposes. When they collide, can they change the course of the future entirely?

How to Love Your Elf by Kerrelyn Sparks
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2020
From Goodreads:
Following the success of Kerrelyn Sparks's HOW TO TAME A BEAST IN SEVEN DAYS, SO I MARRIED A SORCER and EIGHT SIMPLE RULES FOR DATING A DRAGON, HOW TO LOVE YOUR ELF is a winning combination of high fantasy and romance, sure to please the New York Times bestselling author's legions of fans.

In another time on another world called Aerthlan, there are five kingdoms. Four of the kingdoms extend across a vast continent. The fifth kingdom consists of two islands in the Great Western Ocean. These are the Isles of Moon and Mist. There is only one inhabitant on the small Isle of Mist--the Seer.

Twice a year, one of the two moons of Aerthlan eclipses the other, or as the people call it, embrace. Any child born when the moons embrace will be gifted with a magical power. These children are called the Embraced, and traditionally, the kings on the mainland have sought to kill them. Some of the Embraced infants are sent secretly to the Isle of Moon, where they will be safe.

For many years, the Seer predicted continuous war and destruction across the four mainland kingdoms. But not any more. Now he claims a wave of change is sweeping across Aerthlan, change that will bring peace to a world that has known violence for too long. And it is happening because of five young women from the fifth kingdom--Luciana, Brigitta, Gwennore, Sorcha, and Maeve.

The women were hidden away as infants on the Isle of Moon, and there, they grew up as sisters. They knew not where they had been born, nor if they had any family. They only knew each one of them was Embraced. This is Sorcha's tale.

Knight Awakening by Rebecca Zanetti
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2020
From Goodreads:
The Line Between Obsession and Love has Disappeared

The world has changed. Any rules that might’ve been in place before the Scorpius bacterium ripped through civilization and decreased its population are no longer in place. Obsession and survival are the new reality. So, Marcus Knight, after a hellish time in captivity that stole most of his memory and all of his soul, has one focus, and that’s keeping Dr. Penelope Kim safe in the aftermath. She’d risked her life to save him once, and she’s all that matters. For months, he’s kept his distance, protecting her from afar, because he knows that one touch—one sigh—one kiss—from her will never be enough.

Passion is a Dangerous and Deadly Temptation

Penny Kim is one of the few doctors still living, and she alone holds the key to ensuring the human race continues. Several of her friends are pregnant, and the clock is ticking down on their survival. Her days are filled with experiments and hope, while her nights are consumed with visions and dreams of the hard-bodied and powerful soldier who’s made her safety his one and only mission. She should be wary of him; she should be terrified of him. Yet all she feels is an unreal craving for his touch that gets stronger every day. Life is short, and she’s unwilling to wait, unaware of the danger already hunting them both. Some risks are worth it, even in this new and dangerous world.

The Truth App by Jack Heath
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2020
From Goodreads:
In this pulse-pounding techno-thriller, Jack Heath creates a world where everyone knows when you lie—and telling the truth doesn’t always set you free.

Jarli likes to think he’s an honest guy. He’s a big believer in telling the truth, no matter what. So he develops The Truth App, a mobile application that listens in on your conversations and can tell when someone’s lying. Then his app goes viral and, suddenly, Jarli is an internet sensation.

But, soon enough, Jarli realizes that being famous can be dangerous—especially when you’ve just exposed everyone’s deepest, darkest secrets. Now his entire town is out to get him; kids at school, teachers, the police, even his own family.

Also, an underground network of criminals has just added Jarli to their hit list. Sometimes, exposing the truth comes with a price… 

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow
Expected Publication: February 25th, 2020
From Goodreads:
Don’t miss this spectacular debut novel… Can a girl who risks her life for books and an alien who loves forbidden pop music work together to save humanity? This road trip is truly out of this world! A beautiful and thrilling read for fans of Marie Lu and Veronica Roth.

Two years ago, a misunderstanding between the leaders of Earth and the invading Ilori resulted in the deaths of one-third of the world’s population.

Seventeen-year-old Janelle “Ellie” Baker survives in an Ilori-controlled center in New York City. With humans deemed dangerously volatile because of their initial reaction to the invasion, emotional expression can be grounds for execution. Music, art and books are illegal, but Ellie breaks the rules by keeping a secret library. When a book goes missing, Ellie is terrified that the Ilori will track it back to her and kill her.

Born in a lab, M0Rr1S (Morris) was raised to be emotionless. When he finds Ellie’s illegal library, he’s duty-bound to deliver her for execution. The trouble is, he finds himself drawn to human music and in desperate need of more. They’re both breaking the rules for love of art—and Ellie inspires the same feelings in him that music does.

Ellie’s—and humanity’s—fate rests in the hands of an alien she should fear. M0Rr1S has a lot of secrets, but also a potential solution—thousands of miles away. The two embark on a wild and dangerous road trip with a bag of books and their favorite albums, all the while creating a story and a song of their own that just might save them both.

Yeah, oh, wow, some really amazing authors and series having books released on the 25th! I've read Red Hood, and I can't wait for the rest of them, they sound so fantastic! What about you guys? Happy reading!