My August 2018 Wrap Up & Book Haul!

Happy FRIDAY, Bookworms!!

The last day of August has arrived, and I can't believe the month is already over!
(Now if Summer could be over!)

August was a pretty great month for books!
I added a lot of new books to my collection, and read a LOT as well!
(And reached my Goodreads Challenge goal of 150 books read!)
It's been a great month, now I'm ready to tackle SEPTEMBER!!

Here's my wrap up for the month!!

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (Movie Tie-In Edition) by Jenny Han
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins
City of Lights by Victoria Schwab
The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken
These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch
Nevertheless, We Presisted by Amy Klobuchar
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas



* = Re-reads

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han *
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling *
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Legend by Marie Lu
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake *
One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake *
These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch
Cinder by Marissa Meyer *
The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare *


(Audiobooks & eBooks)

 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer *
In Another Time by Caroline Leech
First We Were Four by Alexandra Sirowy
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
And the Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness
Adorkable by Cookie O'Gorman



So, yeah... August was a great month all around for books!!
I'm hoping I can keep this up for the rest of the year, as I'd really like to knock more books off my TBR.

I'm SUPER pumped to get started on my September TBR now!!

That's my wrap-up for August! How was your month??

My Thoughts: One Small Thing by Erin Watt (Audiobook)

One Small Thing
by Erin Watt
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Publication Date: June 26th 2018
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 299
ISBN: 9781335017277
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance
Source: Edelweiss

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Beth’s life hasn’t been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she’s thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems a small thing, just for her.

Only Beth doesn’t know how big her secret really is…

Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth’s sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.

Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again. (Goodreads)

I first discovered One Small Thing by Erin Watt right while I was in the middle of reading The Royals series, and I have to admit, I was curious to check this book out to see how it would compare to that series. (I also have When It’s Real on my TBR to check out, but have not yet done so.) Having read the book, I’m not really sure how I feel about it, to be honest. There were some parts that I liked, and some parts that I didn’t.

Soooo, what to say about this book…

The first thing that drew me to One Small Thing was the book cover. It’s very pretty, and obviously very eye-catching as well. I was even more drawn to the book when I realized that it was written by the same author(s) of the current series I was reading, The Royals, and I was curious to check it out. To be honest, I almost put this book down at one point, but there were quite a few things I liked about the story, and that’s what kept me going with it. The book definitely has an interesting storyline. It was dramatic enough to grab my attention and keep me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next, (which is also the reason why I’m hooked on the Royals series). And, I just really wanted to see how the book was going to end, and I’m glad I stuck with it. I should also add that I opted to listen to the audiobook version of this book, and the narrator, Charlotte North, did a really great job of reading the story to me.

I think it was the characters of the book that didn’t quite do it for me. I could relate to the main character, Beth, for a lot of the things she goes through in the novel, but she does a few things in the story that were a little irritating, and I think that’s what threw me off. That, and Beth’s parents were probably my least favorite thing about the book. Being a parent myself, I always try to see a story from the book parents POV, but these parents were a little over the top, and that was a big turnoff for me. But, Beth’s love interest in the story, Chase, was pretty interesting, and I like that he stood out a bit from what I expected, so there is that.

Overall; While I didn’t absolutely love One Small Thing, I did find it to be an addictive read, and I definitely plan to read more books by Erin Watt in the future, including When It’s Real, and The Royals book 4 & 5, which I have not checked out yet, but am curious about. And while I didn’t love this book, that doesn’t mean that you won’t, so definitely check it out if you’re a fan of this author, or if you love a good contemporary novel. I hope you enjoy it!

Waiting on Wednesday #328 - Give the Dark My Love & A Room Away from the Wolves

Give the Dark My Love
by Beth Revis
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Publication Date: September 25th 2018
Publisher: Razorbill
ISBN: 9781595147172

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When seventeen-year-old Nedra Brysstain leaves her home in the rural, northern territories of Lunar Island to attend the prestigious Yugen Academy, she has only one goal in mind: learn the trade of medicinal alchemy. A scholarship student matriculating with the children of Lunar Island's wealthiest and most powerful families, Nedra doesn't quite fit in with the other kids at Yugen, who all look down on her.

All, except for Greggori "Grey" Astor. Grey is immediately taken by the brilliant and stubborn Nedra, who he notices is especially invested in her studies. And that's for a good reason: a deadly plague has been sweeping through the North, and it's making its way toward the cities. With her family's life--and the lives of all of Lunar Island's citizens--on the line, Nedra is determined to find a cure for the plague.

Grey and Nedra continue to grow closer, but as the sickness spreads and the body count rises, Nedra becomes desperate to find a cure. Soon, she finds herself diving into alchemy's most dangerous corners--and when she turns to the most forbidden practice of all, necromancy, even Grey might not be able to pull her from the darkness. (Goodreads)

So, I just recently realized that I have SO many of Beth's books on my TBR, but I have yet to check any out. *blush* This new book sounds awesome, and it seems like a great place to start with her books! I am super excited to check it out.

A Room Away From the Wolves
by Nova Ren Suma
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Publication Date: September 4th 2018
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
ISBN: 9781616203733

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Bina has never forgotten the time she and her mother ran away from home. Her mother promised they would hitchhike to the city to escape Bina’s cruel father and start over. But before they could even leave town, Bina had a new stepfather and two new stepsisters, and a humming sense of betrayal pulling apart the bond with her mother—a bond Bina thought was unbreakable.

Eight years later, after too many lies and with trouble on her heels, Bina finds herself on the side of the road again, the city of her dreams calling for her. She has an old suitcase, a fresh black eye, and a room waiting for her at Catherine House, a young women’s residence in Greenwich Village with a tragic history, a vow of confidentiality, and dark, magical secrets. There, Bina is drawn to her enigmatic downstairs neighbor Monet, a girl who is equal parts intriguing and dangerous. As Bina’s lease begins to run out, and nightmare and memory get tangled, she will be forced to face the terrible truth of why she’s come to Catherine House and what it will take for her to leave... (Goodreads)

And apparently the same as above goes for this author as well! I have so many of her books on my TBR that I've not yet read. I must remedy that soon! (And possibly with this book! It sounds great!)

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

My Thoughts: The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken

The Darkest Legacy
(The Darkest Minds #4)
by Alexandra Bracken
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Publication Date: July 31st 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 576
ISBN: 9781368023245
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Sci-fi
Source: Own

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Five years after the destruction of the so-called rehabilitation camps that imprisoned her and countless other Psi kids, seventeen-year-old Suzume "Zu" Kimura has assumed the role of spokesperson for the interim government, fighting for the rights of Psi kids against a growing tide of misinformation and prejudice. But when she is accused of committing a horrifying act, she is forced to go on the run once more in order to stay alive.

Determined to clear her name, Zu finds herself in an uncomfortable alliance with Roman and Priyanka, two mysterious Psi who could either help her prove her innocence or betray her before she gets the chance. But as they travel in search of safety and answers, and Zu grows closer to the people she knows she shouldn't trust, they uncover even darker things roiling beneath the veneer of the country's recovery. With her future-and the future of all Psi-on the line, Zu must use her powerful voice to fight back against forces that seek to drive the Psi into the shadows and save the friends who were once her protectors.

From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a harrowing story of resilience, resistance, and reckoning that will thrill loyal fans and new readers alike. (Goodreads)

I was a little late to the party when it came to reading The Darkest Minds trilogy, but I just recently finished the series, and I really enjoyed it! And I was thrilled that I finished the books just in time for this first new series to release, and I really enjoyed it as well!!

The Darkest Legacy is the fourth book in The Darkest Minds series, and while it’s set in the same world as the previous books, the story is told from Suzume’s point of view this time around. The storyline for the book picks up a few years after where In the Afterlight leaves off, and though 5 years have gone by, the world felt very much like it did in the previous books, with prejudice and hate against the Psi kids, despite all of the fighting that Suzume and others have done for the rights of these kids. When one horrific event goes wrong, Susume finds herself on the run once again, doing her best to stay alive.

The storyline for this book very similar, yet very different to that of the previous books. It was interesting to see the story through Susume’s eyes, including the flashbacks that had happened over the past few years. SO much has happened over that time, though it feels like very little progress was made, which felt very realistic to the world today, unfortunately. The storyline for the book was definitely addictive, and I was hooked on the story. The book ends in a way that will definitely have you pining away for the next book, and I am hoping that we will get information for that book soon!

As I mentioned above, this book is told from Susume’s point of view, and I love that she is our narrator! She was so quite through most of the first three books, and I really enjoyed getting to know her more in this story. The book has a lot of interesting new characters, as well a some of the characters we know and love from the previous books, and I love this the most about the book! I’m super curious to see what’s going to happen next for ALL of these characters.

Overall; fans of The Darkest Minds series will definitely want to check out this newest book! I really enjoyed diving back into this world, and I really can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in the next book, which I can’t seem to find any information on, but will definitely be keeping an eye out for! I really enjoyed this book, so check it out!!

My Thoughts: In Another Time by Caroline Leech

In Another Time
by Caroline Leech
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Publication Date: August 28th 2018
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780062459916
Genre: Young Adult | Historical Fiction | WWII
Source: Edelweiss

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Love is worth the fight

It’s 1942, and Maisie McCall is in the Scottish Highlands doing her bit for the war effort as a Women’s Timber Corps lumberjill. Maisie relishes her newfound independence and her growing friendships—especially with the enigmatic John Lindsay.

As Maisie and John work side-by-side felling trees, Maisie can’t help but feel like their friendship has the spark of something more to it. And yet every time she gets close to him, John pulls away. It’s not until Maisie rescues John from a terrible logging accident that he begins to open up to her about the truth of his past, and the pain he’s been hiding.

Suddenly everything is more complicated than Maisie expected. And as she helps John untangle his shattered history, she must decide if she’s willing to risk her heart to help heal his. But in a world devastated by war, love might be the only thing left that can begin to heal what’s broken. (Goodreads)

In Another Time is the second book that I’ve read by the awesome Caroline Leech, and I have to tell you that I enjoyed this book SO much! I read Caroline’s first book, Wait for Me, last year and really enjoyed the story, so I absolutely couldn’t wait to dive into this new book. I just knew that I would love it, and I DID!!

Like her previous book, In Another Time is set during World War II, but this book was all about the Women’s Timber Corps, which was an organization created during the war and recruited women to replace forestry workers who had been sent off to serve in the war. These women could do everything from cutting down trees, to sawing and hauling logs, to working in the sawmills, and I have to admit, I was absolutely fascinated with their story! The fictional tale that Caroline created around this real organization was completely captivating, and the story has stuck with me long after I turned the last page. I even had to do a little extra research about the WTC, and I found so many fascinating stories and photographs online to check out. It’s so interesting!

And, while the story is interesting, I was completely charmed by all the characters as well! I love Maisie and all the women that were in the WTC with her. I flew through the pages as she told their story of training for the WTC, and then moving on to being a full time worker. I can’t even imagine myself doing any of the things she did in this story, but I couldn’t get enough of reading about it through Maisie’s point of view. I also really enjoyed the slow-building romance between Maisie and a fellow lumberjack John Lindsay, and boy does he have quite the story to tell as well.

I also want to add that I also really loved the setting for this book. I have not read nearly enough books that I are set in the Scottish Highlands, and the descriptions were so well written, I could picture everything perfectly in my mind. It’s definitely a place I would love to visit on day, and I would especially love to visit the Women’s Timber Corps memorial as well.

Overall; Caroline Leech definitely has another hit on her hands with In Another Time! I enjoyed this book just as much as I did her previous book, Wait For Me, and I hope she will continue writing this stories in the future, as I definitely need more! If you’re looking for a good historical novel, do check out In Another Time, and also Wait for Me as well! I hope you enjoy them both.

My Thoughts: These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch (Audiobook)

These Rebel Waves
(Stream Raiders #1)
by Sara Raasch
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Publication Date: August 7th 2018
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 480
ISBN: 9780062471505
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Edelweiss/Own

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Adeluna is a soldier. Five years ago, she helped the magic-rich island of Grace Loray overthrow its oppressor, Argrid, a country ruled by religion. But adjusting to postwar life has not been easy. When an Argridian delegate vanishes during peace talks with Grace Loray’s new Council, Argrid demands brutal justice—but Lu suspects something more dangerous is at work.

Devereux is a pirate. As one of the outlaws called stream raiders who run rampant on Grace Loray, he pirates the island’s magic plants and sells them on the black market. But after Argrid accuses raiders of the diplomat’s abduction, Vex becomes a target. An expert navigator, he agrees to help Lu find the Argridian—but the truth they uncover could be deadlier than any war.

Benat is a heretic. The crown prince of Argrid, he harbors a secret obsession with Grace Loray’s forbidden magic. When Ben’s father, the king, gives him the shocking task of reversing Argrid’s fear of magic, Ben has to decide if one prince can change a devout country—or if he’s building his own pyre.

As conspiracies arise, Lu, Vex, and Ben will have to decide who they really are . . . and what they are willing to become for peace. (Goodreads)

I have to say that I was SUPER excited to get started on These Rebel Waves, the first book in a brand new trilogy by the talented Sara Raasch! I’ve read the first two books in Sara’s Snow Like Ashes series, and really enjoyed both of those, (and yes I still need to finish the series!), but I was super excited to see how this new series would compare. It was a really interesting read!!

To be honest, it took me a little while to get into this book at first. I think it was because I opted to listen to the audiobook for it, and there was just SO much going on in the beginning of the book, that I found myself confused more than a few times. I had to go back and restart the audiobook a few times to make sure I was getting all the information right, but then at some point the story finally clicked, and I was able to really get into it. I am definitely planning to go back and read the actual book at some point, but the audiobook was really great as well.

One thing I really like about this book was the world-building. It was both well written and completely fascinating, though I can’t even imagine living in the world in which this book is written in. The storyline is pretty captivating as well, and I LOVE a good book about pirates. ARGH!! But, while all of this was great, it was definitely the characters that made the book. The story is told from three different perspectives, and I loved reading Lu, Ben, and Devereux’s stories. I’m super curious to know what’s going to happen next for all of these characters.

Overall; These Rebel Waves was an interesting start to what should be another awesome series by Sara Raasch! I am really looking forward to getting my hands on the next book so I can see what’s going to happen next, and it’s definitely going to be a long wait until we can get our hands on the next book, These Divided Shores, which is currently set to release in August 2019! And while I wait, I will definitely be re-reading the first two books in the Snow Like Ashes series, so I can FINALLY read the third book to see how that story will end! If you’re looking to start a few fantasy series, do check out These Rebel Waves!

My Thoughts: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Audiobook)

The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
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Publication Date: February 28th 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 453
ISBN: 9780062498533
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Own

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Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life. (Goodreads)

I have had The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas on my TBR for way too long, and I was determined to finally read the book, not only because the movie is set to release soon, but also because I have seen SO many good reviews for it, and I really wanted to finally check it out. Now that I’ve officially read the book, I am totally kicking myself for not having read it sooner. This book was so good.

The Hate U Give definitely lives up to all the hype that I had heard about the book. The story was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, and though it is a work of fiction, it is very much relevant to what’s happening in the world today. The story is shocking and heartbreaking, and so very real. There are some parts in the story that are extremely painful to read, and it’s really disheartening to know that the stuff that happens in the book happens in real life. But, these are the stories that need to be told, and Angie Thomas did a fantastic job telling her story in this book. While the story was hard to read at times, she also managed to get her message across, all while making you fall completely in love with the main character, Starr, and her wonderful family. This book was everything, and I hope you read it and agree!

I also want to add that I opted to listen to the audiobook for The Hate U Give, mostly because it is narrated by the amazing Bahni Turpin, who has also narrated the audiobooks for Children of Blood and Bone and Dread Nation, both of which I also really enjoyed. I also discovered that she narrates the audiobooks for The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon and They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera, as well as Angie Thomas’s next novel, On the Come Up, and SO many more! I am really looking forward to listening to all of these, and if you haven’t yet checked out an audiobook that is narrated by Bahni, I highly recommend you give one a try!

Overall; I am so glad to have finally read The Hate U Give, and it is totally one of those books that I wish I had read sooner. It was such a powerful read, and I really enjoyed Angie’s writing style. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of her books, including On the Come Up, which I mentioned above, and which is currently set to release in February 2019. I can’t wait to check it out! If you’ve not yet picked up The Hate U Give, you should definitely do so ASAP!

Waiting on Wednesday #327 - Wildcard & Vengeful

Wildcard
(Warcross #2)
by Marie Lu
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Publication Date: September 18th 2018
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780399547997

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Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo's new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she's always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.

Determined to put a stop to Hideo's grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Someone's put a bounty on Emika's head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But Emika soon learns that Zero isn't all that he seems--and his protection comes at a price.

Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves? (Goodreads)

Is anyone else super excited for this book??

I finally read Warcross last month, and now I'm SO excited for this sequel!
I hope it's great!!

Vengeful
(The Villians #2)
by V.E. Schwab
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Publication Date: September 25th 2018
Publisher: Tor
ISBN: 9780765387523

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Eli Ever and Victor Vale were only medical students when their mutual discovery that near-death experiences can, under the right conditions, manifest extraordinary abilities.

They were best friends, and rivals, and then enemies. They were dead, then alive, and then---Eli killed Victor, once and for all.

Or so he thought---but Sydney Clarke felt otherwise, and used her own superpower to tip the scales. Now, a trio hides in the shadows, while another takes advantages of post-death life to take over the city of Merit.

If there can be life after death—will there be calm after vengeance, or will chaos rule?

Vengeful is yet another book I am really excited for!
I just recently read Vicious earlier this summer,

and I'm SO curious to dive back into this story.
I'm really looking forward to reading this book already!

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

My Thoughts: When We Found Home by Susan Mallery

When We Found Home
by Susan Mallery
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Publication Date: July 10th 2018
Publisher: Hqn
Pages: 424
ISBN: 9780373802500
Genre: Adult Fiction | Romance
Source: Netgalley

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Becoming a family will take patience, humor, a little bit of wine and a whole lot of love...

Life is meant to be savored, but that's not easy with no family, limited prospects and a past you'd rather not talk about. Still, Callie Smith doesn't know how to feel when she discovers she has a brother and a sister--Malcolm, who grew up with affection, wealth and privilege, and Keira, a streetwise twelve-year-old. Callie doesn't love being alone, but at least it's safe. Despite her trepidation, she moves into the grand family home with her siblings and grandfather on the shores of Lake Washington, hoping just maybe this will be the start of a whole new life.

But starting over can be messy. Callie and Keira fit in with each other, but not with their posh new lifestyle, leaving Malcolm feeling like the odd man out in his own home. He was clever enough to turn a sleepy Seattle mail-order food catalog into an online gourmet powerhouse, yet he can't figure out how to help his new sisters feel secure. But affection isn't Malcolm's strong suit...until a beautiful barista teaches him that an open heart, like the family table, can always make room for more.

In this emotional, humorous and heartfelt story, Susan Mallery masterfully explores the definition of a modern family--blended by surprise, not by choice--and how those complicated relationships can add unexpected richness to life. (Goodreads)

Susan Mallery is one of the first authors I read when I first started reading romance books way back when, and I’m ALWAYS interested in checking out something new by her! When I discovered When We Found Home, I was really curious to check it out. It sounded like a really interesting read, and it was! I really enjoyed the story.

I want to start this by saying that for some reason I thought this book was a young adult book, as I thought I had seen that information somewhere, but it is not. It’s definitely a chick-lit book, and it was a fun, quick read which was just what I needed to read at the time.

There are a lot of characters in this book to love, and the story is told from a few different narratives, which was a lot of fun! The story is basically about three siblings who had absolutely no idea either other existed, yet find each other and become the family they never expected to have. But the story is not that easy, as there are a lot of twists and turns and arguments and more along the way, but that just made the story even more realistic, and I loved it.

Overall; When We Found Home was sweet, quick read about family and love and finding yourself, and I really enjoyed the story. Reading this book has reminded me that I still have SO many other books by Susan to check out, including the Girls of Mischief Bay series, which I have been meaning to read for FOREVER, and I’m now super excited to check it out asap. If you’re a fan of cute, quick contemporary reads, do check out When We Found Home!!

Waiting on Wednesday #326 - Two Dark Reigns & Escaping From Houdini

Two Dark Reigns
(Three Dark Crowns #3)
by Kendare Blake
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Publication Date: September 4th
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 9780062686145

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake returns with the highly anticipated third book in the Three Dark Crowns series!

Katharine sits on the throne, Mirabella and Arsinoe are in hiding, and an unexpected renegade is about to wage a war of her own. The crown has been won, but these queens are far from done. (Goodreads)

YOU GUYSSSS!!
Is anyone else super excited for this book??
I am!!
I am starting my re-read of the first two books in the series soon,

and I'm hoping to have them both read before the new book is released.
I can't wait to see what's going to happen next!!

Escaping from Houdini
(Stalking Jack the Ripper #3)
by Kerri Maniscalco
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Publication Date: September 18th 2018
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
ISBN: 9780316551694

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In this third installment in the #1 bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series, a luxurious ocean liner becomes a floating prison of scandal, madness, and horror when passengers are murdered one by one…with nowhere to run from the killer. .

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale? (Goodreads)

And here is yet another book that I can't wait to get my hands on!
I've only read the first book in this series so far,

but I'm hoping to read Hunting Prince Dracula and this book back-to-back!

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

My Thoughts: Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

Dance of Thieves
(Dance of Thieves #1)
by Mary E. Pearson
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Publication Date: August 7th 2018
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781250159014
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Review Copy/Own

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A new novel in the New York Times–bestselling Remnant Chronicles universe, in which a reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty lock wits in a battle that may cost them their lives—and their hearts.

When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty's resentment and anger.

At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfill their own secret missions. (Goodreads)

Dance of Thieves is the first book in a brand new duology by Mary E. Pearson, and is also a spin-off of The Remnant Chronicles trilogy, which happens to be one of my most favorite series ever! Dance of Thieves was one of my most anticipated reads for 2018, and I was SO very excited to finally read this book. Having finally read it, I definitely was not disappointed, and I think it’s a perfect start to what should be a really awesome duology!

Before I started Dance of Thieves, I decided to re-read The Remnant Chronicles to refresh my brain before starting this new book, and I’m so glad I did. Not only did I enjoy diving back into that series again, but it also gave my brain a nice refresher, and reminded me why I love the series so much. I definitely plan to re-read the series again soon, and if you haven’t yet checked it out, you totally should!

Dance of Thieves was full of a LOT of awesome new characters, and I fell in love with SO many of them, including Kazi, the main character in the story, and her crew. They definitely made the book special, and I’m super curious to see what’s going to happen next in the series for them, as well as Jase and the Ballenger crew, who we also get to know really well in the story. And while all of these new characters are great, one of the things I loved most about this book was getting to see some of my most favorite characters from the previous series! You don’t get to see them much, but definitely enough to put a happy smile on my face, and I’m hoping we get to see them more often in the next book.

The setting of the book reminds me a lot of the previous series, yet it feels completely different as well, which was fun. Mary did an excellent job with the world-building for the book, and I could picture everything so perfectly in my mind. The storyline was very addictive, and I found myself flying through the pages a whole lot quicker than I expected to. The book ends with a pretty massive cliffhanger, one that kind of made my jaw drop open, and I’ll definitely be pining away until I can get my hands on the next book to see what’s going to happen next!

Overall; I really, really enjoyed Dance of Thieves, and I do believe it’s a great beginning to what should be another awesome series by Mary E. Pearson! I will definitely be pining away until I can get my hands on the next book in the series, which is currently untitled, but set to release sometime in 2019, which is definitely not soon enough for me. *grin* I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more information on the sequel, and I can’t wait to check it out when it’s released!

My Thoughts: #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil

#MurderTrending
by Gretchen McNeil
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Publication Date: August 7th 2018
Publisher: Freeform Books
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781368010023
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery | Thriller
Source: Review Copy

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WELCOME TO THE NEAR FUTURE, where good and honest 8/18 citizens can enjoy watching the executions of society’s most infamous convicted felons, streaming live on The Postman app from the suburbanized prison island Alcatraz 2.0.

When eighteen-year-old Dee Guerrera wakes up in a haze, lying on the ground of a dimly lit warehouse, she realizes she’s about to be the next victim of the app. Knowing hardened criminals are getting a taste of their own medicine in this place is one thing, but Dee refuses to roll over and die for a heinous crime she didn’t commit. Can Dee and her newly formed posse, the Death Row Breakfast Club, prove she’s innocent before she ends up wrongfully murdered for the world to see? Or will The Postman’s cast of executioners kill them off one by one? (Goodreads)

When I first discovered #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil, I was intrigued! To be honest, I’m kind of a big chicken when it comes to scary stories, and because of that, I was a little weary about starting this book. But, I was more curious than I was weary, so I decided to check it out anyways, and I’m SO glad I did!!

Let me first say that #MurderTrending has a very interesting storyline. Imagine a twisted reality tv show where you can watch the executions of convicted felons live on a streaming app from a prison island called Alcatraz 2.0. That’s not exactly something I would be into in real life, but it did make for an addictive read! I also liked that while this was obviously fiction, it included SO MUCH that’s relatable to the world today, like the reality star president and government that seemed too similar to our current government. I have to say, it would be awesome if the last chapter of the book would happen in real life. *grin* Just sayin’.

#MurderTrending is full of interesting characters as well, including the main character, Dee, who finds herself right in the middle of Alcatraz 2.0 after being wrongly convicted of a crime that she didn’t commit. Dee has a really interesting backstory, one that is actually quite terrifying, and I can’t even imagine being in her shoes in this story. The things this girls has gone through in the past, and then goes through on the island, are pretty insane. But at least she has the help of some other fascinating characters on the island, while trying not to get killed by some terrifying psychos in the process.

Overall; If you like a good thriller story, #MurderTrending may just be right up your alley! This book was definitely an addictive and quick read. I think it’s a standalone book, but the ending was definitely written in a way were the could totally be a sequel, so I'm curious to know if there’s going to be a second book in the future. If so, I will totally check it out! Fans of Gretchen McNeil, or fans of thrillers in general, do add #MurderTrending to your TBR now!