Monday, August 31, 2020

September Bookstagram Challenge • #AlltheBooksSept20

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEW_d7EJWP9/

Bookworms & Bookstagrammers!! @loriimagination and I are super excited to share with you #AlltheBooksSept20, our September Book Challenge!! It’s going to be another fun month, and we hope you’ll join us over on Instagram!!
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It’s almost September, Bookworms!! (Which means it’s almost fall! YAY!!) Lori and I have another fun challenge planned this month, and we would love for you to join us!! Why join along?? Book challenges are a great way to fill your feed full of lots of bookish awesomeness, and are also great way to discover new books, and new book friends as well! AND you get to talk about the best things ever... BOOKS! Sound like fun? It will be!
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To join along, just share a photo for each daily photo prompt and use the hashtag #AlltheBooksSept20. Check the hashtag often to see all the photos that have been shared for the challenge. And, feel free to interact and/or post as little or as often as you’d like. You can also follow both @loriimagination and myself as well to see our daily photo shares and more! (**Tagging us in your photo or stories is not necessary!**)
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📚 Helpful Bookstagram Tips:
• Take a few days worth of photos at one time! It helps to plan a few days ahead in case you get busy.
• Natural light is your friend! Grab your book and head to the nearest window or door. It's amazing what natural lighting can do for your photos.
• Interact! Bookstagramming is a great way to meet new friends who love books just as much as you do, so get out there and interact with others in the challenge.
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📚 If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!! We hope you'll join us, and we can't wait to share all the bookish things in August!!

Friday, August 14, 2020

My Thoughts: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49629448-a-song-of-wraiths-and-ruin
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
(A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #1)
by Roseanne A. Brown
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: June 2nd 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 480
ISBN: 9780062891495
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Narrated By: Jordan Cobb & A. J. Beckles
Audiobook Length: 12hrs 4min
Audio ASIN: B07XM8PJ9B
Source: Own, Library Borrow

Add to Goodreads

Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Audible | Libro FM | Scribd


The first in an fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction.

For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts Malik’s younger sister, Nadia, as payment into the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal—kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.

But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.

When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death? (Goodreads)


I ran across A Song of Wraiths and Ruin one day while scrolling through Twitter, and while that absolutely stunning book cover drew me in, the summary sold the book! This is the first book in brand new duology by debut author Roseanne A. Brown, and it was an absolutely fantastic read!

To be quite honest, I don’t read nearly as much fantasy as I used to. The few fantasy novels that I have tried to read have failed to really capture my attention, and it’s not usually the book's fault, as much as it is mine. (I’m seriously having the hardest time reading lately.  Thanks 2020.) But this book... well, this book was different. It was absolutely fantastic!

I loved so much about this book. The characters were awesome, I absolutely adore both Malik and Karina! I love how their paths started off so differently, yet intertwined over the course of the book in a way that will have you completely hooked. (It’s the best kind of enemies-to-lovers trope, you guys!) I am super curious to see what’s in store next for Karina and Malik.

I also l really loved the magic and fantasy aspects of the book. And the setting was fantastic as well, especially the festival! I definitely am in the mood to read more fantasy now, and if I could get my hands on more fantasy books like this one, I would definitely pick up the genre more.

Also, Jordan Cobb and A. J. Beckles did an amazing job of narrating the audio for this book! I borrowed the audiobook from my library and read along with the book, and these narrators made it such a good read. I hope they will be in the narrators in the second book as well!

Overall; A Song of Wraiths and Ruin was such a great read! The story was unique, and the characters were fantastic, and the book just left me wanting more. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book in the duology, A Psalm of Storms and Silence, which is set to release in 2021 by Balzer + Bray!

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

My Thoughts: Well Played & A Rogue of One's Own

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50089191-well-played
Well Played
(Well Met #2)
by Jen DeLuca
Website | Twitter | Instagram
Publication Date: September 22nd 2020
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9781984805409

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Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Another laugh-out-loud romantic comedy featuring kilted musicians, Renaissance Faire tavern wenches, and an unlikely love story.

Stacey is jolted when her friends Simon and Emily get engaged. She knew she was putting her life on hold when she stayed in Willow Creek to care for her sick mother, but it's been years now, and even though Stacey loves spending her summers pouring drinks and flirting with patrons at the local Renaissance Faire, she wants more out of life. Stacey vows to have her life figured out by the time her friends get hitched at Faire next summer. Maybe she'll even find The One.

When Stacey imagined "The One," it never occurred to her that her summertime Faire fling, Dex MacLean, might fit the bill. While Dex is easy on the eyes onstage with his band The Dueling Kilts, Stacey has never felt an emotional connection with him. So when she receives a tender email from the typically monosyllabic hunk, she's not sure what to make of it.

Faire returns to Willow Creek, and Stacey comes face-to-face with the man with whom she’s exchanged hundreds of online messages over the past nine months. To Stacey's shock, it isn't Dex—she's been falling in love with a man she barely knows. (Goodreads)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
I am SO excited for this book! I read Well Met this past spring, and loved the book SO much. I can't wait to get started on Stacey's story!



https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49202118-a-rogue-of-one-s-own
A Rogue Of One's Own
(A League of Extraordinary Women #2)
by Evie Dunmore
Website | Twitter | Instagram
Publication Date: September 1st 2020
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 9781984805706

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Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

England, 1879. Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar, has earned herself a place among the first cohort of female students at the renowned University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship, she must support the rising women's suffrage movement. Her charge: recruit men of influence to champion their cause. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain's politics at the Queen's command. Her challenge: not to give in to the powerful attraction she can't deny for the man who opposes everything she stands for.
Sebastian is appalled to find a suffragist squad has infiltrated his ducal home, but the real threat is his impossible feelings for green-eyed beauty Annabelle. He is looking for a wife of equal standing to secure the legacy he has worked so hard to rebuild, not an outspoken commoner who could never be his duchess. But he wouldn't be the greatest strategist of the Kingdom if he couldn't claim this alluring bluestocking without the promise of a ring...or could he?
Locked in a battle with rising passion and a will matching her own, Annabelle will learn just what it takes to topple a duke....
A stunning debut for author Evie Dunmore and her Oxford Rebels, in which a fiercely independent vicar's daughter takes on a duke in a fiery love story that threatens to upend the British social order. (Goodreads)
And this was ANOTHER book that I read this past spring that I absolutely LOVED!
Obviously, Berkley is putting out all the awesome books this year,
and I am SO here for it!

I can't wait to read both of these sequels!

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Monday, August 10, 2020

My Thoughts: You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50160619-you-should-see-me-in-a-crown
You Should See Me in a Crown
by Leah Johnson
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: June 2nd 2020
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 328
ISBN: 9781338503265
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Narrated By: Alaska Jackson
Audiobook Length: 7 hours 18 minutes
Audio ISBN: B0868WKW76
Source: Own / Library Borrow

Add to Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Audible | Libro FM | Scribd

Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.

But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.

The only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. She's smart, funny, and just as much of an outsider as Liz. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true? (Goodreads)


You Should See Me in a Crown if the very first release by debut author Leah Johnson, and WOW... what a book! I really did not expect to love this book as much as I did, but it was SO good, and just what I needed to read right now!

For most of 2020 I have been in a pretty massive reading slump, (as I am sure a lot of people are), and I’m always on the lookout for *the* book that will hopefully pull me out of that slump. This book is the book that did just that. I loved SO much about it!

For instance...

The characters in the story were great. ALL of them! But especially Liz, and her crush, Mack, the new girl in school who is also running for prom queen with Liz. They were SO cute, you guys! And I loved watching their relationship grow over the course of the story. Also, I love Liz’s family, and her friends as well. Books with great friendships are the best.

The storyline for this book has it all. It’s both cute and fluffy, while also tackling a lot of the heavier topics as well. These are the kinds of stories that we need out in the world right now. This book will leave you with a smile on your face as you turn the last page, and you’ll be rooting for the characters right up until the end. I really did not want the story to end.

Also, while I own a print copy of this book, I opted to check out the audiobook after listening to a sample of Alaska Jackson narrating the story. She did such a good job with the voices and telling the story, that I absolutely had to give it a listen. I’m so glad I did!

Overall; if you haven’t noticed... I really, really enjoyed You Should See Me in a Crown! This book was a fantastic read, and JUST what I needed to pull me out of my reading slump. I devoured it and wanted more at the end. Leah Johnson is definitely going on my list of auto-buy authors, and I can’t wait to read more by her in the future!

Sunday, August 9, 2020

5 Things You Can Do on National Book Lovers Day!


Happy Book Lovers Day, fellow Bookworms!
(Yes, every day is Book Lovers Day for most of us!)

Does anyone else *really* love when we get days to celebrate books?? I do! Are you doing anything special to celebrate? I actually get to spend the day at home today, (which hasn't happened often lately), and I plan to spend the day curled up with a good book. (And and an audiobook while I do laundry and clean house. haha!)

Want to do something special today as well??
Here are 5 things YOU can to on this National Book Lovers Day!

1. Read a Book.
Grab a snack, a drink, and that book you're currently reading, or have been meaning to read, and curl up somewhere quiet and get your read on!

2. Buy a book.
Need a new book (or three)?? Purchase a few new books from your local bookstore, or visit and grab a few you've been meaning to buy. Not only will you be treating yourself, but you'll also be supporting authors and bookstores as well! (Don't forget to wear your mask and social distance!)

3. Buy a book for someone else.
One of my most favorite things to buy for other people is books! Do you know someone that loves to read? Send them a book or two!

4. Visit your local library or order curbside.
I know some libraries are open and welcoming patrons, so stop by and pick something out real quick, or pick up something curbside! (Just be safe if you do go! Wear your mask and social distance!)

5. Leave a review.
Have you read a book you loved recently? Leave a review for it! It's another great way to show an author your support, and show the world how much you loved a book!

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Waiting on Wednesday: The Lost Book of White & The Tower of Nero

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34605974-the-lost-book-of-the-white
The Lost Book of White
(The Eldest Curses #2)
by Cassandra Clare
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: September 1st 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781471162091

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

From #1 New York Times bestselling authors Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu comes the second book in the Eldest Curses series and a thrilling new adventure for High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood, for whom a death-defying mission into the heart of evil is not just a job, it’s also a romantic getaway. The Lost Book of the White is a Shadowhunters novel.

Life is good for Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. They’re living together in a fabulous loft, their warlock son, Max, has started learning to walk, and the streets of New York are peaceful and quiet—as peaceful and quiet as they ever are, anyway.

Until the night that two old acquaintances break into Magnus’s apartment and steal the powerful Book of the White. Now Magnus and Alec will have to drop everything to get it back. They need to follow the thieves to Shanghai, they need to call some backup to accompany them, and they need a babysitter.

Also, someone has stabbed Magnus with a strange magical weapon and the wound is glowing, so they have that to worry about too.

Fortunately, their backup consists of Clary, Jace, Isabelle, and newly minted Shadowhunter Simon. In Shanghai, they learn that a much darker threat awaits them. Magnus’s magic is growing unstable, and if they can’t stop the demons flooding into the city, they might have to follow them all the way back to the source—to the very realm of the dead. Can they stop the threat to the world? Will they make it back home before their kid completely wears out Alec’s mom? (Goodreads)

Ahhhh! I am sooooo very excited for this book!
I love Magnus and Alec, and I absolutely can't wait to dive back into this story.
Hurry September 1st!


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48717744-the-tower-of-nero
The Tower of Nero
(The Trials of Apollo #3)
by Rick Riordan
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: October 6th 2020
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
ISBN: 9781484746455

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Available for Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

At last, the breathtaking, action-packed finale of the #1 bestselling Trials of Apollo series is here! Will the Greek god Apollo, cast down to earth in the pathetic moral form of a teenager named Lester Papadopoulos, finally regain his place on Mount Olympus? Lester's demigod friends at Camp Jupiter just helped him survive attacks from bloodthirsty ghouls, an evil Roman king and his army of the undead, and the lethal emperors Caligula and Commodus. Now the former god and his demigod master Meg must follow a prophecy uncovered by Ella the harpy. Lester's final challenge will be at the Tower of Nero, back in New York. Will Meg have a last showdown with her father? Will this helpless form of Apollo have to face his arch nemesis, Python? Who will be on hand at Camp Half-Blood to assist? These questions and more will be answered in this book that all demigods are eagerly awaiting. (Goodreads)

And here's another book that I am SOOOO excited for!
I can't believe that this is the last book in the Trials of Apollo series.
I don't want it to end, but I can't wait to get my hands on the book as well.

:)

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**


Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books with Colors In the Titles


August 4: Books with Colors In the Titles

Happy Tuesday, Bookworms! It's been a while since I've participated in a TTT post, so I wanted to try to pick them back up this month! The prompt for this week was really fun. I loved searching my shelves for books with colors in the title! Here's what I've found...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17699853-chain-of-gold https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40275288-the-priory-of-the-orange-tree

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8709523-the-golden-lily https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22328546-red-queen

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150487-red-white-royal-blue https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31449227-ramona-blue?

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21936937-blackhearts https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6357708-sisters-red

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/119322.The_Golden_Compass https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7090447-the-red-pyramid

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan


Monday, August 3, 2020

My Thoughts: Love, Creekwood by Becky Albertalli (Audiobook)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53239539-love-creekwood
Love, Creekwood
(Simonverse #3.5)
by Becky Albertalli
Website | Twitter | Instagram

Publication Date: June 30th 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 111
ISBN: 9780063048126
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary

Narrated By: Adam Crouch, Bahni Turpin, Kate Rudd, James Fouhey
Audiobook Length: 2 hours 47 minutes
Audio ISBN: 9780063048157
Source: Own / Audio from Library

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Available for Pre-Order:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Audible | Libro FM

Fall in love all over again with the characters from the bestselling Simonverse novels in this highly anticipated epilogue novella. Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, the movie Love, Simon, and the new Hulu series spin-off, Love, Victor!

It’s been more than a year since Simon and Blue turned their anonymous online flirtation into an IRL relationship, and just a few months since Abby and Leah’s unforgettable night at senior prom.

Now the Creekwood High crew are first years at different colleges, navigating friendship and romance the way their story began—on email. (Goodreads)


Love, Creekwood is a brand new novella in the Simonverse world by Becky Albertalli, and I’m so thrilled to have this book in my collection! It’s no secret that I’m a pretty big fan of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Leah on the Offbeat, so I was very much looking forward to reading the story.

What can I say about this novella?? It was SO nice to get a little check-in with Simon, Blue, Abby, Leah, and all of the rest of the Creekwood High Crew. They have all graduated, and we get to see a little of what their lives are like now that they are in college. It was so nice to get to spend a little time with these characters again! My only complaint was that it was way too short. I was enjoying it so much, and I totally didn’t want it to end.

Also, while I had a physical copy of the book, I opted to listen to the audiobook instead. One reason was totally because of the narrators. Michael Crouch narrated Simon Vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and he was the perfect *voice* for Simon. (He also narrated the Magnus Chase books, which I also adore, and SO many other great audiobooks as well.) Bahni Turpin, (who I LOVE), is also a narrator in the book, along with Kate Rudd and James Fouhey. SO many great voices! I am definitely glad that I decided to listen to the audio.

Overall; Love, Creekwood was way too short, but I loved it so much. Catching up with all of the characters in the Simonverse was awesome, and the story left me with a smile on my face. (And wishing that I had more!) This definitely makes me want to re-read the original books and watch the movie, and TV show, again as well!

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Most Anticipated August 2020 Releases


August has arrived, and with it comes new books, and hopefully the last of the summer weather. (It's really hot here in the south, y'all.) While there aren't a ton of books coming out this month, there are still quite a few that I'm looking forward to reading!

Scroll down to check them out! I'll start with the contemporaries, and work my way down to the fantasy, both of which I seem to be reading a lot of lately. :)

I hope you find something that you can add to your list as well!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48842183-the-switch
The Switch
by Beth O'Leary

Eileen is sick of being 79.
Leena's tired of life in her twenties.
Maybe it's time they swapped places...

When overachiever Leena Cotton is ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, she escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty. She'd like a second chance at love, but her tiny Yorkshire village doesn't offer many eligible gentlemen.
Once Leena learns of Eileen's romantic predicament, she proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love. Meanwhile Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire. But with gossiping neighbours and difficult family dynamics to navigate up north, and trendy London flatmates and online dating to contend with in the city, stepping into one another's shoes proves more difficult than either of them expected.
Leena learns that a long-distance relationship isn't as romantic as she hoped it would be, and then there is the annoyingly perfect - and distractingly handsome - school teacher, who keeps showing up to outdo her efforts to impress the local villagers. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, but is her perfect match nearer home than she first thought?

Add to Goodreads


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https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52703433-the-friendship-list
The Friendship List
by Susan Mallery

[ ] Dance till dawn

[ ] Go skydiving

[ ] Wear a bikini in public

[ ] Start living
Two best friends jump-start their lives in a summer that will change them forever…

Single mom Ellen Fox couldn’t be more content—until she overhears her son saying he can’t go to his dream college because she needs him too much. If she wants him to live his best life, she has to convince him she’s living hers.

So Unity Leandre, her best friend since forever, creates a list of challenges to push Ellen out of her comfort zone. Unity will complete the list, too, but not because she needs to change. What’s wrong with a thirtysomething widow still sleeping in her late husband’s childhood bed?

The Friendship List begins as a way to make others believe they’re just fine. But somewhere between “wear three-inch heels” and “have sex with a gorgeous guy,” Ellen and Unity discover that life is meant to be lived with joy and abandon, in a story filled with humor, heartache and regrettable tattoos.

Add to Goodreads


•     •     •

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49089437-kiss-my-cupcake
Kiss my Cupcake
by Helena Hunting

As two neighborhood shop owners battle for business, they prove opposites attract in this outrageously funny romantic comedy from the USA Today bestselling author of Meet Cute.

Blaire Calloway has planned every Instagram-worthy moment of her cupcake and cocktails shop launch down to the tiniest detail. What she didn't plan on? Ronan Knight and his old-school sports bar next door opening on the very same day. He may be super swoony, but Blaire hasn't spent years obsessing over buttercream and bourbon to have him ruin her chance at success.


From axe throwing (his place) to frosting contests (hers), Blaire and Ronan are constantly trying to one-up each other in a battle to win new customers. But with every clash, there's also an undeniable chemistry. When an even bigger threat to their business comes to town, they're forced to call a temporary time-out on their own war and work together. And the more time Blaire spends getting to know the real Ronan, the more she wonders if it's possible to have her cupcake and eat it too.

Add to Goodreads


•     •     •


The Black Kids
by Christina Hannonds Reed

“Infused with honesty, heart, and humor, The Black Kids is a true love letter to Los Angeles, highlighting the beauty and flaws of the city, and the people who call it home.” —Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of Little & Lion

Perfect for fans of The Hate U Give, this unforgettable coming-of-age debut novel explores issues of race, class, and violence through the eyes of a wealthy black teenager whose family gets caught in the vortex of the 1992 Rodney King Riots.

Los Angeles, 1992

Ashley Bennett and her friends are living the charmed life. It’s the end of senior year and they’re spending more time at the beach than in the classroom. They can already feel the sunny days and endless possibilities of summer.

Everything changes one afternoon in April, when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King half to death. Suddenly, Ashley’s not just one of the girls. She’s one of the black kids.

As violent protests engulf LA and the city burns, Ashley tries to continue on as if life were normal. Even as her self-destructive sister gets dangerously involved in the riots. Even as the model black family façade her wealthy and prominent parents have built starts to crumble. Even as her best friends help spread a rumor that could completely derail the future of her classmate and fellow black kid, LaShawn Johnson.

With her world splintering around her, Ashley, along with the rest of LA, is left to question who is the us? And who is the them?

Add to Goodreads


•     •     •

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50158128-raybearer
Raybearer
(Raybearer #1)
by Jordan Ifueko

The epic debut YA fantasy from an incredible new talent—perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and Sabaa Tahir

Nothing is more important than loyalty.
But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?

Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? With extraordinary world-building and breathtaking prose, Raybearer is the story of loyalty, fate, and the lengths we’re willing to go for the ones we love.

Add to Goodreads


•     •     •

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41022295-the-faithless-hawk
The Faithless Hawk
(The Merciful Crow #2)
by Margaret Owen

Kings become outcasts and lovers become foes in the thrilling sequel to Margaret Owen's The Merciful Crow.

As the new chieftain of the Crows, Fie knows better than to expect a royal to keep his word. Still she’s hopeful that Prince Jasimir will fulfill his oath to protect her fellow Crows. But then black smoke fills the sky, signaling the death of King Surimir and the beginning of Queen Rhusana's merciless bid for the throne.

With the witch queen using the deadly plague to unite the nation of Sabor against Crows—and add numbers to her monstrous army—Fie and her band are forced to go into hiding, leaving the country to be ravaged by the plague. However, they’re all running out of time before the Crows starve in exile and Sabor is lost forever.

A desperate Fie calls on old allies to help take Rhusana down from within her own walls. But inside the royal palace, the only difference between a conqueror and a thief is an army. To survive, Fie must unravel not only Rhusana’s plot, but ancient secrets of the Crows—secrets that could save her people, or set the world ablaze.


Add to Goodreads

•     •     •

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30622326-igniting-darkness
Igniting Darkness
(Courting Darkness Duology #2)
by Robin Lafevers

From New York Times best-selling author Robin LaFevers comes the follow up to “sharp and breathless” (Kirkus Reviews) historical fantasy Courting Darkness. Set in the world of the beloved His Fair Assassin series, this is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Game of Thrones.

When you count Death as a friend, who can stand as your enemy?

Sybella, novitiate of the convent of Saint Mortain and Death’s vengeance on earth, is still reeling from her God’s own passing, and along with him a guiding hand in her bloody work. But with her sisters on the run from their evil brother and under the watchful eye of her one true friend (and love) at court, the soldier known as Beast, Sybella stands alone as the Duchess of Brittany’s protector.

After months of seeking her out, Sybella has finally made contact with a fellow novitiate of the convent, Genevieve, a mole in the French court. But when Genevieve mistakenly draws the attention of the French king to the convent of Saint Mortain and its deadly arts, she may do her sisters (and herself) more harm than good. Sybella, having already drawn the ire of the French regent, may not be able to depend on her sister and ally as much as she hoped. Still, Death always finds a way, even if it’s not what one expects.

No one can be trusted and the wolves are always waiting in this thrilling conclusion to the Courting Darkness duology, set in the world of Robin’s beloved His Fair Assassins trilogy.


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So many awesome books coming out this month! I know there are some that I forgot to add to my list, but these are the ones I am MOST excited for. :)

Are there any August releases that you're super excited for??

Saturday, August 1, 2020

22 Book Blog Post Ideas for August!


Happy August!

Welcome to my very first-ever list of monthly blog post ideas! Why am I sharing this post? Well, I really want to get back into blogging, and I am hoping that having a premade list of ideas to choose from will give me the motivation and inspiration to post every month. (At least it did last year when I did this for Blogtober and Blogmas!) I am in the worst blogging funk lately, so I am really hoping this helps!

Below are just a few ideas for things I am hoping to post this month! (Fingers crossed!) If you're participating in the August Bookstagram Challenge hosted by @Loriimagination and me over on Instagram, you may recognize a few of these prompts from that challenge! I am always thinking that some of the prompts from our challenge would make good blog posts, so I plan to (hopefully) share them here as well!

(Credit to Lori for her prompts from the challenge! Check out her Blog and Instagram!)


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18 Bookish Things You Can Post About This Month...
(In no particular order!)

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1. Your August TBR:
Share what books you're hoping to read this month!

2. Upcoming August Releases You're Excited For:
Share what books you can't wait to read this year!

3. Book Reviews: 
 Have you read any awesome books lately? Share what you thought of them!)

4. Waiting on Wednesday / Can't Wait Wednesday
(Now hosted by Wishful Endings!)

5. Top Ten Tuesday
(Hosted by ThatArtsyReaderGirl!)

6. # Reasons why you like __!
(Ebooks, audiobooks, paperbacks, mysteries, contemporary, etc!)

7. Book Series Spotlight
Are you reading or just finished a book series that you love? Share what you thought of it!

8. Have You Read This??
(Recommend a book, (or books), that you love.)

9. Newly Discovered Authors
Have you discovered any new authors lately? Share their names and books!

10. __ Popular Books You Still Haven't Read
Are there any books that you just haven't read yet??

11. Reasons Why You Love Your Current Favorite Genre
What genre do you absolutely love at the moment, and why?

12. Book Cover Love
Share a few book covers that you LOVE!

13. Weekend Reading
What are your weekend reads? (Also #FridayReads)

14. Last, Current, and Next Read
Share what you're reading!

15. Oldie But Goodie Books
Share some books you read way back when, but still LOVE!

16. Your Favorite Fictional Tropes
Share which you love and why!

17. Bad Book Covers
This pretty much explains itself.

18. Reading Challenge Update
Are you participating in any reading challenges?? If so, share your progress!

19. Book Blogger Love
Share some book bloggers that you love or recently discovered!

20. Your Favorite Reads of August
Share what books you really, REALLY loved this month!

21. Your August Book Haul
Share all the new books you added to your collection this month!

22. Your August Wrap Up
How was your reading month in August??

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There you go, Bookworms! I hope this post helps give you some ideas for blog posts, should be in need of them. I am hoping that it helps me get back to blogging, at least. (Fingers crossed!) If this goes well, I'll post some new prompts in September!

Happy Reading... and Posting!

My August 2020 TBR!


Happy First Day of August, fellow Bookworms!

Did you have a great reading month in July? I hope that you did! My reading in July was a bit better than June, so I am hoping that means I am finally getting out of this massive reading (life) slump that I have been in lately. (Fingers crossed!) I am very much behind on my reading challenge this year, so if I want to get caught up, I must read like crazy for the next few months. lol!

That being said, I am very much looking forward to reading in August! I only have a few books on my TBR for this month that I want to tackle, mostly because I really, REALLY want to spend some time this month catching up on the books that have been on my TBR in the past few months that I haven't had the chance to read yet. There are so many books, and I can't wait to read them all.

Here's what I'm reading in August!

Books I'm Reading:

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan
The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen

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That's it. That's my TBR! I am very excited to continue with my re-reads of the Rick Riordan books, and the Remnant Chronicles series. (These are the books that are getting my through lately!) But these are the only books I am determined to read this month. Then I'm focusing on some of the books I'm behind on. :) Hopefully, when I write my wrap-up post at the end of the month, it will be full of all the books I read this month. (Wish me luck with that!)

That's what I'm reading in August! What's on your August TBR??

August Bookstagram Challenge • #AlltheBooksAug20

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJ2xw7pHYE/

August has arrived! And with it comes a brand new book challenge!

Are you guys ready for #AlltheBooksAug20, the August Book Challenge hosted by @loriimagination and me? It's going to be another fantastic month full of fun prompts, and we would absolutely love for you to join along.

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Why join a book challenge??

It's a great way to fill your feed with ALL the Bookish Things!!

The daily prompts give you ideas for daily Bookstagram posts!

You get to meet awesome fellow bookworms who love books as well!

You will discover SO MANY new books!
(Seriously, SO MANY new books!)

It's so much fun!

I hope to see you on Monday when we officially start #AlltheBooksAug20!!