Friday, December 29, 2017

Reading Right Now! (146)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...


-- The Diabolical Miss Hyde (Electric Empire #1) by Viola Carr -- I'm still reading thissssssss waahhh. It's been such a slow read for me. I kind of just want to be done with it. I'm almost done with it though, I've got less than 100 pages, yayy!
I'm not loving this that much. The weird thing is, I'll probably end up torturing myself and read the other books in the series. It's this messed up thing that I do where once I start, I need to read them all.
Why am I not loving this book? Well, it's slow, unnecessarily slow. I thought it was going to be mainly a murder mystery kind of thing with a gender swapped Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde thing. And it is that, but it jams all this other crap into it. I just want to solve the mystery, that's all. I also don't really like the main character Eliza Jekyll. I think she's kind of stupid and mean. She's a man-hater character, which has gotten more annoying the more I've read. I don't get why a strong female character has to bash men all the time. It's annoying. If that's the kind of feminist slant it's going for, I'm not going to raise my fist in solidarity. Eliza has this mindset that she's the greatest, but she's stupid. I also think the world is a little weird. It's this odd mix of Victorian Era Steampunk, which I can be a fan of, but it's mixed in this weird fey creatures element. The two things don't gel well together. And then it's got this almost salem witch trials esque vibe where all these people are getting arrested for weird science and getting burned at the stake. There's just too many things going on. I will finish it though. I will prevail!!!

What I'm Gonna Read Next!!!


-- The Dry (Aaron Falk #1) by Jane Harper -- I'm excited to start this! I've heard good things about it. I also won an arc of the second book through a GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway, so of course I have to read the first one first.

And that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Review: The Little Red Wolf by Amelie Flechais


Title: The Little Red Wolf
Illustrated by: Amelie Flechais
Published by: Diamond Book Distributors
Released: October 3, 2017
Source: NetGalley Review Copy and Diamond Book Distributors

Summary: There once was a Little Red Wolf who was sent to deliver a basket of food to his Grandmother's house. He was told to stay on the path, not to wander, but he didn't listen. The Little Red Wolf got lost in the woods, started walking in circles. He meets a little girl who promises to help him, and he follows her to a place of secrets. It's dangerous in the woods, more dangerous then the Little Red Wolf ever knew.
My Thoughts: I saw this as a Read Now option on NetGalley and I went for it. So, I'd like to say thanks to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for providing me with a free e-copy to review. All my thoughts and opinions about The Little Red Wolf are 100% honest, and 100% my own.
The cover intrigued me on The Little Red Wolf, it just looked really pretty. I'm so glad I fell for that cover, because I really enjoyed the book. I guess it would be categorized as a picture book, and it was beautiful. All of the illustrations were gorgeous. I loved the colors, how the drawings filled up the pages. It was just really, really pretty.
As for the story, it was dark, but at the same time cute. It was a twist on Little Red Riding Hood, where the wolf is the vulnerable little creature going to visit Grandma. There really wasn't a whole lot of text in the story, it depended a lot on the illustrations to tell it, or really enhance it.
This was a very cute book with fantastic illustrations. I'd definitely recommend it. It's just so pretty! Thank you Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley for providing me with an e-copy to review.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5
Gorgeous Illustrations. So Pretty!

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Top 5 Wednesday: 2018 Wishlist!

I've been so sporadic with my Top 5 Wednesdays. I should be better, but then I remember who I am. I'm lazy and unmotivated 65% of the time, sometimes, I just don't like the topics. This week's Top 5 Wednesday is a general kind of wishlist of things I want in 2018. Not specific book titles, but kinds of books that I want to see. I'm not sure I have a full five that I can think of right now, but I've got a couple.

--Space and Sci-Fi Books-- I'm really into the space books. I find them to be fun. Especially when there's adventure mixed in with them. I know that YA has done space books, but I just want more. Same goes for Sci-Fi. I've been getting more into Sci-Fi and would love to see more YA Sci-Fi. I don't like it when it's super heavy on the confusing science, so preferably a book that dumbs it down for me.

--Books with Pirates, Mermaids, Sea-faring Adventure-- I love, love, love PIIRATES!! If you've been following my blog for a while, you know this. But I think I just want more seafaring books in general. Mix in some mermaids, some other mythological sea creatures. A good quest! I'd be in.

--Adventure Books-- I really enjoy a good adventure, so I hope to find some really good, fun, adventure books.

--Scary/Thriller Books-- Some people might be tired of the thriller books, because we did get a lot of them after the success of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, but I'm up for me. I find them to be very addicting and entertaining. The endings don't always live up to the journey, but they are fun to read. I also love a good scary book, so I'd like more of those. Maybe even a good book about someone who is cursed. Could be fun!!

--More Superheroes Please-- I might have worded this one wrong, Super Powers is what I'm really hoping for. I know that a lot of Canon Superhero books are coming out from recognizable authors, but I would love new, original super hero stories. That would be fun. Please make it happen.

So that's my Top 5 Wednesday: 2018 Wishlist. What kind of books/tropes/subjects do you hope to see in 2018? Let me know in the comments below. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should! Each Wednesday is a fun, new topic to contemplate and consider. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers HERE!

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Review: The New Hunger (Warm Bodies #1.5) by Isaac Marion


Title: The New Hunger (Warm Bodies #1.5)
Author: Isaac Marion
Published by: Emily Bestler Books/Atria
Released: 2015
Source: Library

Summary: Three different stories, three different people. Julie is on a road-trip with her parents, but all the tourist spots are either abandoned or filled with the Walking Dead. They are searching for somewhere safe, somewhere with people.
Nora and her brother Addis are all alone. Abandoned by their parents, Nora must find a way to protect her brother. Danger lurks around every corner and responsibility hangs heavy.
R wakes in a forest. He's confused, different, unsure. He's not alive, but not dead either. What's his purpose?
Before Warm Bodies, these are the journeys that shaped Nora, Julie, and R.
My Thoughts: This has made it in to my TOP NOVELLAS Bracket. This was soooo good! It felt needed. It added something to the Warm Bodies world. Some novellas I come across are pointless to the series they occupy, but this one was fantastic!
I got sucked in to all the separate stories. I was curious, I was invested. It also gave me a The Road by Cormac McCarthy vibe.
I was probably the most invested in Nora's story, but everybody's was good.
There was such a great mix of tension, heartbreak, and ultimately satisfaction. I got to see what happened to these characters before Warm Bodies and how they all ended up connected and together.
I still do have questions of how the world ended. Little tidbits were thrown in about nuclear bombs, radiation, and some crazy, religious sounding cult, but I would have loved a more concrete story as to what really happened. I'm a curious person, so if I'm going to be dropped into a post-apocalyptic world, I always want to know how and why. I rarely get answers, which disappoints me.
This Novella was a win for me! I was gripped from page one and had to race to the end. I definitely recommend reading this one. I didn't realize how much I missed the Warm Bodies world.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.5/5
Great Scott! This Was Fantastic!!

Friday, December 22, 2017

Reading Right Now! (145)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...


-- The Diabolical Miss Hyde (Electric Empire #1) by Viola Carr -- Eeehhhhh... I don't know about this one yet. Picked it up because of the cover, I can be a sucker for steampunk. I'm over 100 pages in and I'm just not sure about it. It hasn't grabbed me yet. It's all right, but not magnificent so far.
The title miiiight give it away, but this is about a Lady Doctor named Eliza Jekyll who works with the police examining bodies, crime scenes, and the unexpected. Eliza does have a dark side, that goes by the name of Lizzie Hyde. The premise and cover are what got me.
I feel like, even though this is the first book in the series, there's something I've missed. Like this isn't actually the first book, no matter how many times I'm reassured by looking it up on GoodReads, but rather the continuation of an ongoing thing. There's references made to a case Lizzie solved before, a madman that she helped capture.
The world is also not really gelling with me so far. It's Steampunk London mixed with seedy, underworld non-human creatures. I'm just unsure.
I don't know how I feel about the Eliza/Lizzie thing, it's kind of odd to read. I'm getting a little more used to it, but it was kind of jarring when I first started. Eliza Jekyll is also all I'm Woman Hear Me Roar! and I'm kind of like all right, all right, I get it. You're strong woman, talk about something else now, or go solve a case, or something.
So I don't know how I feel about this. I'm not hating it. I'm not loving it. If I had to predict the future star rating of this book, I'd say it would get a 3/5.

That's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Review: Like A River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy #2) by Rae Carson


Title: Like A River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy #2)
Author: Rae Carson
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Released: 2016
Source: Library

Summary: After an arduous journey, Lee Westfall has finally made it to California. The gold is here, and it is singing for her. Lee has formed a sort of family with her wagon train friends. They look for the spot to make the best claim, and with Lee's ability, they are sure to find their fortune. Lee still has to worry about her Uncle Hiram finding her. He knows what she can do, and won't stop until he has her ability for his own.
Can Lee make a fresh go in California or will her past catch up? The road to gold is filled with danger.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the first book, Walk On Earth A Stranger, so I was really excited to read the sequel. I really enjoy historical fiction, and the time period of the California Gold Rush is really interesting and exciting to read about. In the end, I'm just kind of mixed about Like A River Glorious. I don't think it was as good as the first book.
This book started off pretty good, it had an exciting, action-packed start. I enjoyed Lee and her friends setting up the place that would be Glory, California. I did think everything was going too smoothly in the beginning. I thought there had to be a trap coming up ahead. I wish that Lee had spent more time in Glory, because that was the part I enjoyed most.
My love for the sequel started to fade during the middle section. Lee started to annoy me more during the middle. Considering the predicament she was in, she was very bossy, and made a lot of useless commands. I just felt like she was kind of useless. I didn't always understand the way her mind worked, and I had trouble sympathizing with her character. I just didn't enjoy Lee very much. She was very hot and cold, and judgey.
I also just felt very uncomfortable at the Hiram and Lee dynamic that was going on. It just felt kind of icky. It didn't feel like Hiram saw her as a niece, but rather as someone he was attracted to. I might have read into it wrong, but that's just the feeling I got. Hiram was a messed up character. I wouldn't even say pure evil, but just mentally disturbed.
I think the biggest reason I lost love for the book was the preachy tone it took on. It sort of felt like a barrage about the evils of the white people. A lecture into why everyone should hate the white man. I'm not stupid, I know bad things happened in history. When I read historical fiction though, I like reading a more romanticized version of it. I would think that other people do too. In a way, this book just felt very PC and liberal in its hit-them-over-the-head messaging. I didn't enjoy that.
And that is what brings me more annoyance towards Leah's (Lee's) character. She didn't feel super authentic to her time, to the thoughts and ideals she grew up in. I mean, think about it, she has no problem following the Manifest Destiny mindset. Exploring and moving to a new territory, putting down a claim, but then criticizing others for taking native land.
Lee also had a sometimes frustrating view on her own gender. Sometimes she acted so disdainful when people would bring up her gender. Her thoughts on marriage were kind of irritating. Again, she didn't act like a character of her time. Sure, married women didn't have a lot of rights, but I don't think unmarried women were any better off. Lee was just kind of a puzzle that I grew irritated of.
I also felt the power element was just not as exciting as I thought it would turn out to be.
So, this sequel was just kind of meh. The preachy, lecturing tone really took away my enjoyment. Personal preference, I don't want to be hit over the head with all the injustices of history. If I'm going to go back in time, I want an experience not overly focused on misery. I'm curious to see where the last book goes. Hopefully Lee gets less irritating, they all find heaps of gold, and everyone lives happily ever after.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.5/5
Not as Magical as the First.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Review: Doubt 1 by Yoshiki Tonogai


Title: Doubt 1
Author: Yoshiki Tonogai
Published by: Yen Press
Released: 2013
Source: Library

Summary: Rabbit Doubt is a popular mobile game where players have to find the hidden wolf before he kills them all. The wolf is one of them, disguised as a rabbit, but has evil intent.
Five players of the game decide to meet in real life. They have a good time, until they wake up disoriented in an abandoned building, with one of the players already dead. The players also discover barcodes tattooed on each one of them.
How did they get here? What happened? Is there a wolf hiding in their midst? In order to make it out alive, the players will have to find a way out of the building, and a way to keep themselves safe from the wolf.
My Thoughts: This one won me over after a slightly rocky start. I only say rocky start just because I felt thrown into the beginning. All these kids are essentially just meeting each other, but it almost didn't feel like a first meeting. It also had some of that fan service feel with one of the girl characters. The whole huge boobs and tiny schoolgirl skirt.
Once the kids woke up in the abandoned creepy place, it got really good. It was gory, mysterious, and I have no idea as to who the wolf is, or what's going on. I'm definitely intrigued by it all. It's intense. I'm unsure of everyone, so I don't know what to think.
It was creepy, good, and I must find out what happens next. It was a fun, fast read, and I definitely recommend it.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5
Who's the Big Bad Wolf?

Friday, December 15, 2017

Reading Right Now! (144)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...


-- The Devil's Only Friend (John Cleaver #4) by Dan Wells -- Guys, guys, guys... I'M FINALLY CONTINUING ON WITH THIS SERIES!!! I read the original John Cleaver series quite a while ago, (I Am Not A Serial Killer, Mr. Monster, and I Don't Want To Kill You) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a messed up story about a teenage sociopath, and his first adventure happens when a serial killer starts terrorizing his town. John Wayne Cleaver lives by very important rules, rules he follows so he doesn't succumb to his dark thoughts and kill people! He's a twisted teen. I'm not going to spoil anything for the first books, or at least try not to. In general terms, John Cleaver becomes a hunter of killers by killing them.
I was super excited to learn that John Cleaver's adventures would continue in more books. John is now part of a secret government team that hunts down killers. It's giving me vibes of Criminal Minds and Supernatural. John doesn't like being a part of this team, but he's stuck for the time being.
I'm definitely enjoying it. John still creeps me out, but he's such an interesting character. I can't wait to read more and see where everything goes. I definitely recommend this series!!!

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you Reading?

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

BLOG TOUR and REVIEW: The Sweetheart Sham (Southern Charmed #1) by Danielle Ellison


I'm very excited to be part of the Blog Tour for The Sweetheart Sham (Southern Charmed #1) by Danielle Ellison. I received a review copy from Entangled: Crush via NetGalley for an honest review. I was interested in the story because the synopsis brought to mind on of my favorite shows, Hart Of Dixie! So keep on reading to hear my review/thoughts about The Sweetheart Sham.


Title: The Sweetheart Sham (Southern Charmed #1)
Author: Danielle Ellison
Published by: Entangled: Crush
Released: December 4, 2017
Source: Review Copy from Entangled: Crush through NetGalley

Summary: Culler, South Carolina is the epitome of a small, southern town. Everyone knows each other, and everyone knows everyone else's business. Georgia Ann Monroe has lived in Culler all her life. Sure, sometimes she longs to go see the world and explore, but she loves her town. She also loves her friends.
Her best friend Will Montgomery is hiding a big secret. A secret he feels he can't share with anyone but Georgia Ann. Will is gay. He doesn't feel like his family, and his town, will accept him. Will and Georgia hatch a plan. They will fake a relationship so Will can keep his secret.
Everything is going smoothly until Beau Montgomery strides back into town. Beau broke Georgia Ann's heart when he left in the middle of the night. Now that he's back, she still feels the spark between them, but he thinks she is someone else's girl. This fake relationship is turning out to be more complicated than Georgia Ann ever could have imagined.
My Thoughts: I want to thank Entangled: Crush and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review. I'm also really excited to be on the Blog Tour for The Sweetheart Sham by Danielle Ellison. I was drawn to this book as soon as I saw it contained a fake relationship and was set in a small southern town. I was hoping it would give me the same kind of vibes as one of my favorite, guilty pleasure shows, Hart of Dixie. I love cute little romances and small town settings.
I thought The Sweetheart Sham was really cute! Super cute! It also was a very fast read that I just flew through. I loved the setting of Culler, South Carolina. And it did end up giving me some very faint Hart of Dixie feels. There were a couple of characters that gave me Lemon Breeland vibes.
The story was told from the two viewpoints of Georgie and Beau. I think I enjoyed reading Beau's chapters a little more than I did Georgie's. Beau had more conflict, and just more going on.
The fake relationship aspect was very background and minimal, which could maybe disappoint some people.
I also feel like the author had a message that she very strongly pushed, and depending on how you feel or view things, it could be a bit of a turnoff. I won't say I went into the story really focused on that, I was more into the sweet romance than wanting to be hit over the head with that message.
I'm not sure how much I really like Georgie's character. Sometimes she could be pushy, sometimes a pain, sometimes a drama queen. I enjoyed Beau more than her.
There was a little over the top drama near the end, which kind of felt a little eye-roll inducing, but then just reminded me I was dealing with teenagers.
All in all, I thought this story was sweet, cute, and fast. I enjoyed it. I definitely want to come back to Culler and hear more stories. It was a cute little romance. I would recommend it to people wanting a sweet romance read. Thank you again Entangled: Crush for providing me with an early copy to review, and Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for letting me be on the Blog Tour. The Sweetheart Sham was very cute, and I enjoyed reading it.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.7/5
Very Cute!

If you'd like to purchase The Sweetheart Sham then look at these!


The Author

Danielle Ellison is a nomad, always on the lookout for an adventure and the next story. In addition to writing, she’s the founder and coordinator of the NoVa TEEN Book Festival. When she’s not busy with books, she’s probably watching her favorite shows, drinking coffee, or fighting her nomadic urges. She is newly settled in Oklahoma (for now) with her cat, Simon, but you can always find her on twitter @DanielleEWrites.



Check Out the Other Tour Stops Here!

Monday, December 11, 2017

Review: The New Dead: A Zombie Anthology edited by Christopher Golden


Title: The New Dead: A Zombie Anthology
Edited by: Christopher Golden
Published by: St. Martin's Griffin
Released: 2010
Source: Library

Summary: The dead are rising... in popularity! What's better than a good zombie story? Nothing! Zombie stories explore what we think about death and how humanity will deal with an apocalyptic event.
Multiple authors come together in this Anthology to thrill, chill, and scare with these zombie tales.
My Thoughts: I really liked this anthology. It had more stories I enjoyed then ones I didn't like. Anthologies can always be a gamble, but they can be a lot of fun too. I love zombie stories. I think it's because I like that end-of-the-world setting. I just like reading them. I'd definitely recommend this Anthology.
Some of my favorite stories were: In the Dust by Tim Lebbon, Life Sentence by Kelley Armstrong, The Wind Cries Mary by Brian Keene, and Ghost Trap by Rick Hautala.
There was also a story that won for most disturbing for me, that was Kids And Their Toys by James A. Moore.
I had a lot of fun reading this zombie anthology. If you like zombies, then I'd give this a shot!
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5
Zombies, Zombies, Zombies OH MY!

Friday, December 8, 2017

Reading Right Now! (143)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...


-- The Sweetheart Sham (Southern Charmed #1) by Danielle Ellison -- I'm on a blog tour for this. My blog tour date is December 13, 2017, so look for my full review then. I've got to buckle down and finish it. True procrastinator here haha. But I'm liking this one. It's very cute. It's on the very edge of giving me Hart of Dixie feels. I'm getting Lemon Breeland vibes from some of the characters. It's so far been a really fast read too. I'm enjoying it. I think I can finish this for the weekend and get my review up on time, yayy!

That's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Review: Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3) by William Ritter


Title: Ghostly Echoes (Jackaby #3)
Author: William Ritter
Published by: Algonquin Young Readers
Released: 2016
Source: Library

Summary: Jenny is finally ready to solve her own murder. Things are happening in New Fiddleham, dark things. The past is close on its way to becoming present. Can Jackaby and Rook save the day? Or are the forces too dark and strong?
My Thoughts: Well, that was disappointing. I LOVED the first two books. I thought they were so fun, quirky, with really cool supernatural twists. All the things I loved about the first two books, this wasn't. I didn't hate Ghostly Echoes, but it wasn't what I was expecting, wasn't what I wanted. I wanted a book in the vein of the first two, not a book that took all the fun away.
My main problem with Ghostly Echoes was the humor was all gone. The lighthearted adventure aspect was gone. Jackaby was a lot less fun. The book was a lot less fun. Without the humor and lightheartedness, this series just turns into an average read. Since this third book decided to abandon the humor, it was just average. It wasn't as much fun to read, and because of that, I read it slower.
I also wasn't a fan of the beginning. It didn't do a good job of easing the reader in. It was a little jarring, because of that, it took me a little while to get into the story. 
The ending was also meh. There was no real closure, no feeling of having solved anything.
My last gripe was the character added/introduced for no other reason than to say, Look At My Diverse Character! The character wasn't really needed, and just felt so forced. The "help" they gave was unneeded. Jackaby could have figured it out without them there. I don't know if the author got flack for having a main white cast or what, or if that was even the reason, but that character was just wasted ink.
You might think I hate this book, but I don't. It was an okay book. I'm disappointed because it could have been an awesome book, if it had followed the path of the first two. It just wasn't the fun ride I was expecting and wanting. I'm a little leery of what the last book is going to be. I hope it's awesome, but if it is like this third book, I don't know if it will be. I definitely recommend reading the first two books, (Jackaby and Beastly Bones) because they are a lot of fun! This third one is just meh. 
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.5/5
Disappointed.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

November 2017 Wrap-Up!

I had a pretty good reading month in November, pretty good.

THE BOOKS
  
 
 

-- Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale (#3) by Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Chris Samnee -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5 -- Very short, but really good. I love Firefly. Don't read this unless you've watched the Serenity movie, because this does contain spoilers for that.

--A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5 -- Wow, wow, wow was this dark. It was good though, in that shocking, I can't look away way. It's kind of the story about a family falling apart, in a way. Plus possible demon possession and reality tv.

-- The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5 -- I was on a blog tour for this and my review has already been posted on here and on my goodreads page. This comes out January 9th, although, I think I saw it as a Book of the Month Club Subscription pick, so you can probably get it earlier if you have that subscription service. This was fun. It had an unreliable narrator, and was super twisty and turn-y. I was surprised by a couple of the twists it took. Definitely would recommend, especially if you're a fan of those kind of twisty, turn-y thrillers.

-- Sweet Tooth, Volume 2: In Captivity by Jeff Lemire, Jose Villarrubia, and Pat Brosseau -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.3/5 -- I'm mixed on this comic series so far. The story is super dark and depressing, but I'm interested in seeing where it is going. I'm also not the biggest fan of the art style. I do want to read more of it to see where everything goes.

-- Paper Girls, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, Matt Wilson, and Jared K. Fletcher -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.2/5 -- Ehh I wasn't the biggest fan of this first volume. I found the story to be really confusing and not enough build up to the craziness. It was just kind of weird. I did really like the art though, and the colors, that was pretty to look at.

-- Ones and Zeroes (Mirador #2) by Dan Wells -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 5/5 -- Loved this!! Can't wait for the third book!

-- A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.3/5 -- Ehh. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. I didn't really enjoy the main character. I found her very weird. I'm also not sure how I feel about the ending. I didn't agree with some decisions made. I thought the writing was pretty good though. 

-- Chew, Volume 11: The Last Suppers by John Layman and Rob Guillory -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5 -- I LOVE CHEW!!! This Volume was good. I'm sad that I only have one left, but I'm excited to see what happens next.

FAVORITE BOOK OF THE MONTH

Ones and Zeroes (Mirador #2) by Dan Wells
I LOVED IT! It had heists, a Virtual Reality Video Game tournament. It was just a lot of fun to read.

THE TV/MOVIES


The only thing I watched in entirety and finished TV wise in November was The Walking Dead: Season 7 which finally finally popped up onto Netflix. This was a tough season! It was suuuper dark. That premiere episode hurt me. I'm still not over it. The first half of Season 7 was really dark. It was kind of hard to sit there and watch my poor, poor characters. The second half of the Season got more exciting, the fight back was happening. And the finale, man, it left me hanging. Right when the fight really began, and now I have to wait for a whole new season to pop up on Netflix. I know I'll already know all of the spoilers before it comes on Netflix, but still.

And that was my November Wrap-Up for Books and Movies/TV. How was your November?

Monday, December 4, 2017

Review: Chew, Volume 8: Family Recipes (Chew #36-40) by John Layman and Rob Guillory


Title: Chew, Vol. 8: Family Recipes (Chew #36-40)
Written by: John Layman
Art by: Rob Guillory
Published by: Image Comics
Released: April 2014
Source: Library

Summary: The craziness continues in Chew, Volume 8. Tony gets haunted. Olive helps out. And John is involved in a plan, and breaking the law!
My Thoughts: I Love Chew! Each Volume is a lot of fun for me to read, and this Volume was no different. I think I can admit that Chew is my favorite comic series, at the moment. I haven't found any comic series that makes me laugh more, or that I enjoy more.
Rob Guillory's art is soooo good. I love it. I love how the art just compliments the story. I don't think Chew would be half as good if Layman and Guillory weren't creating it together.
I love the humor in this series. The easter eggs in the background. The pure zaniness of this series.
This Volume was a good one. I was interested in all the stories, all the different missions. I can't wait to read the next Volume.
I love Chew! I really enjoyed this Volume. If you haven't started this series yet, do!! I highly recommend it. Tony and John are the perfect crime fighting duo.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.5/5
I Love It, I Love It, I Love It!

Friday, December 1, 2017

Reading Right Now! (142)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

 

-- Blood of Wonderland (Queen of Hearts Saga #2) by Colleen Oakes -- This is the book I'm mostly reading this week. I read Queen of Hearts maybe last month, or the month before that, and I really liked it! So obviously, I wanted to continue with the series. This second book started out a little slower than the first one, it took me 40ish pages to really get into it. Not that the beginning was bad, but after the crazy ending, I was expecting it to pick up with action right from the start. I'm into it now though. So far, this series has been fun for me. Hope to finish this this weekend.

-- The Sweetheart Sham (Southern Charmed #1) by Danielle Ellison -- I'm on a blog tour for this one, so I better start reading it. My Blog Tour stop is December 13, 2017 and I will have a review for The Sweetheart Sham. I was drawn to this book because it's a Southern love story kind of thing. I'm really hoping I get some Hart of Dixie feels from it. I binged Hart of Dixie on Netflix, and was so sad when they canceled it on the CW and I just got 4 Seasons. I binged it a couple years ago, so it's a show that has stayed with me. I mean, it's kind of a guilty pleasure show, but I enjoyed it so much!!! I'm hoping this book gives me some of the same feels. I don't expect a Wade Kinsella in the pages, but it would be nice.


So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading? Any Hart of Dixie fans out there? I miss it.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon


Title: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Published by: Delacorte Press
Released: 2015
Source: Library

Summary: Madeline hasn't left her house in 17 years. It's not by choice, but by necessity. Madeline has a disease that makes her allergic to everything. Going outside means death.
To pass the time, Madeline reads a lot of books, goes to online school, and has fun with her mom. She can't miss having a life when she's never really had one.
Everything changes the day a moving truck pulls up to the house next door and out jumps Olly. Madeline can't take her eyes off him. He's so vivid, free, and cute!
Does Maddy choose safety or love? Is life any fun when you're not really living it? Madeline is determined to find out everything, everything.
My Thoughts: What is this? I'd been wanting to read this because of all the hype I'd heard about it. I was also interested because this is going to be a movie. I was disappointed by this. I feel like I'm missing out on what exactly made it so good, why everyone praises it. There are so many glowing reviews for this book, and I just don't get it. If this is your favorite book, then maybe don't read my review, because it's not my favorite book. That's the cool thing about books, how everyone can view a story differently. My view, I found this book to be ridiculous.
I'll start by being nice, with the pros. I thought the writing was very enjoyable and easy to get in to. The story was also very fast. It seemed like in no time, I was done.
Now the cons, which was everything, everything else! Haha, I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. That weak joke was just too easy. So mainly, I thought this whole story was pretty ridiculous. So many instances of Why? Just Why?
The biggest irritant was the insta-love. It was bad, real bad. I didn't feel the development of their relationship. Everything just happened too fast.
I should have know I wouldn't really like it from the start, when Maddy bragged about the amount of books she read. How she was a more accomplished reader than anyone else. I don't like characters who have an inflated sense of self.
And I don't know how I feel about the illness portion of the book. It never really felt real. If you're really allergic to EVERYTHING, how does online shopping work? Wouldn't there be the threat of allergens on everything? Like her mom coming home from work... at a hospital? I don't know. I just didn't buy it. And for a girl who is sick, why would Maddy make such stupid decisions? I get that she wants to have a life, but she needs to consider the consequences to things.
I'm also irritated, irritated at that ending. It just felt like the biggest cop-out. I just wasn't impressed.
Other minor irritants: Who's gonna pay for that credit card she applied for? It's not like Maddy has a job. And what about her future? I don't think she's thought anything through.
I still come back to that romance though. It just felt so unnatural, so rushed. It's like everything had to be crammed into it, and it felt ridiculous. It could have been cute if it had taken 7 or 8 months, or even a year to happen, instead of being crammed into three months. I just didn't buy it.
I was disappointed in this book. This was another classic case of overhype. Too many ridiculous situations, a horribly rushed romance, and a cop-out ending. I expected something more, something better. The writing was fine, and it was a fast read, but I was just frustrated by it. Maybe this is why YA contemporary isn't my favorite thing.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5
not my everything, everything

Monday, November 27, 2017

Review: Chew, Volume 7: Bad Apples (Chew #31-35) by John Layman and Rob Guillory


Title: Chew, Volume 7: Bad Apples (Chew #31-35)
Written and Lettered by: John Layman
Draw and Colored by: Rob Guillory
Published by: Image Comics
Released: August 2013
Source: Library

Summary: Tony Chu is out for revenge. He's determined to find the "vampire" that stole from his family. When he finds him, he's going to kill him. Of course, he still has cases to solve. Tony and John have been brought back to the FDA! They are Agents again!
There's a cult going around town, killing chicken eaters, so Tony and John have to deal with that. The team is back together, and they are ready for action!
My Thoughts: I love this series! Soooo much fun. It's so funny, and usually, light hearted. They can be super weird too, but it's always in a funny way.
This series is always a good time for me. John Layman's stories are weird. Sometimes, the adventures Tony finds himself in doesn't always flow from Volume to Volume, but his adventures are always a good time.
I love Rob Guillory's artwork. It's so fun, creative, and different than anything else I've ever seen. I also love finding the Easter Eggs in the panels. Layman and Guillory make a great duo.
This Volume was fun. I'd read reviews of people who said this Volume wasn't their favorite because of how intense Tony was, but I liked it. Tony had his reasons for being intense. And it was so satisfying to see him standing up to Appleby, and Appleby's reaction.
John's love life fiasco is interesting to watch. I wonder if he will ever get out of that one. I really enjoyed the new developments. I can't wait to see what happens next! I definitely recommend the Chew Comics. They are always a fun time, and I Love Them.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.2/5
Just What I Wanted!

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Reading Right Now! (141)

I'm sorry I've been such a horrible blogger this week. I guess it's just Thanksgiving Break coupled with laziness. I also have a cold, which is making me really not want to do anything but veg out in front of the television, and sometimes read my books. But anyway, I'll try to be better this week.
What I'm Reading Right Now! is...


-- A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo -- As far as explaining what this book is about, I don't feel like I can say much. I don't want to spoil what it is. In general, it's about a girl named Jess, who has a crush on her best friend Angie, and then Angie starts dating a new girl named Margot. Jess doesn't like Margot. Jess is jealous, and it kind of puts a strain on her friendship with Angie.
I was drawn to this book for two reasons. The first one being obvious, which is the cover. The second reason is I was watching BooksandLala's YouTube channel or instagram stories, I can't really remember, and she had recently read this book and liked it.
I'm 200 pages through and I'm not sure what I think of it so far. I think the story is compelling enough, interesting enough, but I don't really like the main character Jess. Jess is kind of weird, and before you get all offended and yell at me, it's not because of her sexual orientation or anything like that. Jess is very jealous, she's a loner, the only friend she seems to have is Angie, she seems to have an angry sort of chip on her shoulder, and she's not good at expressing her feelings. I don't really like her.
I'm getting near the end, so I'm interested to see what happens. Right now, I'd rate this a 3.3/5. It's okay, but maybe I'd be more into it if I liked the main character more.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

Monday, November 20, 2017

BLOG TOUR and REVIEW: The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen


I'm super excited to be a part of The Wife Between Us Blog Tour! Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for having me. Check out my review below.



Title: The Wife Between Us
Authors: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Published by: St. Martin's Press
Released: January 9th, 2018
Source: NetGalley Review Copy from St. Martin's Press

Summary: Here's how the story seems at first glance, a jealous ex-wife, her replacement, and the husband between them. That's how it seems, but what if it's not? What if there is more hiding beneath the surface? To find out just what this story really is can't be assumed, the only way to know is to unravel the strings that tie this knot together.
My Thoughts: Well, that was a thing that certainly kept me reading! It was very addictive, twisty, and fun! I'd like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy, and inviting me to be on the Blog Tour for The Wife Between Us. My review and opinions are 100% honest and 100% my own.
I really enjoyed this. It was very addictive, fast-paced reading. The narrator was unreliable. As a reader, I never knew just what was what. The story was super twisty too. There were so many twists and turns that I wasn't sure what to expect next. It was definitely a twisty, unexpected thriller.
The Wife Between Us subject matter wasn't exactly groundbreaking. It's a subject that has been told many different times in many different ways. What made The Wife Between Us different was the way it was told. It was surprising.
Vanessa is an unreliable narrator in the deepest sense. I felt like she dragged out her story just to keep her audience on edge and really wanting to know just what it was that happened. She could have laid it all out on the table pretty quickly and succinctly, but the way she told it made it maybe longer than it should have been. In the end, I also still had questions that Vanessa never really answered. I don't think she was 100% sure of some of the details herself. Vanessa was a narrator I couldn't really trust, and I think she worked really well for this story.
One of the twists definitely shocked me. I wasn't expecting it. The other twists were fun too. That first twist held the most punch for me though.
The Wife Between Us was a fun time to read. I'd definitely recommend it. I see it becoming a best-seller when it comes out easily. It's a great twisty, turny thriller, with a narrator who isn't giving the full story. Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for letting me read an early copy, and also for letting me be on the Blog Tour! I definitely enjoyed it.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5
Twisty, Turny, and Shocking!


PURCHASE HERE!! But remember, it doesn't come out until January 9th, 2018.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Reading Right Now! (140)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

 

-- The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen -- I signed up for a blog tour for this one and got it for review from NetGalley. I'm really enjoying it. It's one of those unreliable narrators, twisty, domestic thriller type of things. It's really enjoyable. I keep wanting to pick it up and read it. I don't know who's telling the truth. I don't know who to trust. It's had some twists that I didn't see coming. I'd definitely recommend this one so far. I'm almost finished with it, about 80% of the way through, and I'm really curious to see how everything is going to end.  Look out for my full review blog tour. This comes out in January 2018. I'd definitely say add it to your list.

-- Ones and Zeroes (Mirador #2) by Dan Wells -- My poor Ones and Zeroes got pushed to the side so I could read The Wife Between Us. I'm sorry Ones and Zeroes. As soon as I finish The Wife Between Us, I'm going to finish this one. I've made really no progress on it since last week. I am over halfway through it and enjoying it a lot. I love Dan Wells' stuff. This, so far, has been a really fun heist story. Definitely going to do my best to finish it. This one is recommended too.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you Reading?
I'm also sorry that I haven't been posting so much this week. I got a little lazy.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Review: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch


Title: Dark Matter
Author: Blake Crouch
Published by: CROWN
Released: 2016
Source: Library

Summary: Jason Dessen is happy with his life. He is married to the love of his life, has a 14 year old son, and works as a Physics Professor at a local college. Most people would consider his life average, but he's happy with it. Jason has kind of taken his life for granted.
On the way back home from a get together at a bar, Jason is ambushed. Knocked out and drugged, he wakes up in a strange place, in a strange world. In this place, Jason finds out that he never married, never had his son, instead he focused on science, and ended up inventing something fantastic.
Jason must figure out how to get home. How to find his family again. There's also a bunch of people after him, so he has to figure out how to survive that too.
My Thoughts: What a fun ride! This book is definitely worth the hype. It plays out like a great movie, which I think it might be one day.
I felt like I sped through this book. It was such a fast read, and I was always curious to see what was going to happen next.
I thought the concept was really cool. And that's all I'll say about that, because I think it's the most fun to go into this book not knowing much about it. I did feel like the end got bogged down with too many adversaries. It was easier for me when there was just one ultimate foe. And because of all the adversaries, it really made me question who I should be rooting for. When you read it, you'll understand. It just left me conflicted, confused, and wondering who deserved to win in the end.
I really enjoyed this read. It was fun, it was quick, and I had a good time reading it. I definitely recommend picking this up!
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5
One Fun Ride.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Reading Right Now! (139)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...


-- Ones and Zeroes (Mirador #2) by Dan Wells -- This is the sequel to Bluescreen. Can I just say that I'm a Dan Wells fan! Everything I've read by him, I like. Now granted, I've only read the first three books in his John Wayne Cleaver series, and the first book in the Mirador series, but they've all been really good. I'm enjoying Ones and Zeroes a lot. It's set in 2050 Los Angeles, and it's full of tech and danger. Our main character Marisa lives her life in the virtual world, but that technology comes with a price. The city she lives in is poor. Robots have taken over so many human jobs that it's hard for people to find work. Internet connection is a necessity for businesses and the prices keep going up. Marisa is trying to help her family stay afloat. She's also a pretty good hacker.
This is the sequel, so I can't tell you everything because I'll spoil stuff. I'll say this, Marisa is trying to find Grendel. Her Overworld team has been selected to compete in a pretty big deal tournament. (Overworld is a snazzy online team game), and she's met a mysterious individual called Alain who has ideas.
This has been really fun so far. I'm on page 200, so getting towards that half way mark. So far it's been full of action. It's really fun reading. Hopefully I'll finish this soon, then I'll just have to do that wait for the third book.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you Reading?

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Review: A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2) by Sabaa Tahir


Title: A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes #2)
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Published by: Razorbill
Released: 2016
Source: Library

Summary: Laia and Elias are on the run, trying to escape the city while a Scholar Rebellion rages. Their new mission is to rescue Laia's brother from the dreaded Kauf prison. Obstacles will stand in their way, enemies will slow them down, and some characters will have to separate honor from loyalty.
In a world of darkness, Laia and Elias hope to bring light.
My Thoughts: I thought this book was fun, fast, and entertaining. I enjoyed reading it. I wasn't blown away by it though. It was fun, a nice distraction, but I don't think it will be making its way onto my favorites list. No shade. I kind of felt the same way about the first book, An Ember in the Ashes, which received massive hype when it came out, but just underwhelmed me. I'm interested in the series, but I'm not blown away by it.
One of my problems with this book is that I'm not the biggest fan of the world. It's just too dark for me, too violent. I don't like reading about torture, and I just don't like the hopelessness that permeates it. I think the author did a good job of creating it, but it's just not a world I like being in.
I also don't like the main villain, The Commandant. I like villains where you can sort of understand how they got there. Kerris just doesn't seem to have a heart, like she's never had a heart. I don't understand the hatred she has for her son. And her hatred for the Scholars in this book was excessive. She was like Hitler. I don't understand her. I think if I could understand the why, I would be able to buy into and believe in her evilness more.
I'm also not a fan of any of the love triangle/love square things going on here. It just feels unnecessary. I'm not really rooting for any of the couples.
I'm also not really sure how to feel about Helene. I get that she's conflicted, but it's hard to wrap my head around her job and her duty. I would want her to be more loyal to her friends then an Emperor who hates her. I also really wanted to slap the Commandant for stealing her special Trial Run Vest and take it right back.
There were some interesting twists and surprises that I didn't see coming. I'm interested to see what happens next.
I thought this book was fine, entertaining. but not worth all the hype. Just my opinion. If you love this book, that's awesome! That's what makes reading fun.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.7/5
So Much Death... and Violence.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

October 2017 Wrap-Up!

Here's everything I read and watched in October 2017!

THE BOOKS

  
 
 

-- Better Days And Other Stories (Serenity #2) by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, Will Conrad, Zack Whedon, Patton Oswalt, Chris Smanee, Jim Krueger, and Patric Reynolds -- I love Firefly and Serenity! This graphic novel was great! I loved the artwork and just getting the chance to be back in the Verse. This Volume was made up of more short stories then a beginning to end plot based one. I liked it a lot and am already continuing on with the series. If you haven't watched Firefly, do it NOW! But then be prepared to be heartbroken because it was canceled after one season. BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 5/5!

-- iZombie, Volume 3: Six Feet Under and Rising by Chris Roberson, Gilbert Hernandez, Mike Allred -- This Volume was fun. It had a storyline where a lot was happening in it. I really like the art style and color, it reminds me a lot of Scooby-Doo, which might very well be what they are going for because this Volume contained a Scooby-Doo reference. I need to get my hands on the next Volume to find out what happens. Maybe I should try to watch the CW show too. I know they are very different, but I could like it since I like the comics.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

-- Ten by Gretchen McNeil -- I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. It was perfect Halloween reading. It's about these kids who get invited to a party on this out-of-the-way island. There's a bad storm, the power goes out, and bad stuff starts happening. There's a killer in their midst, and he/she is picking them off one by one. It really plays out like a teen slasher movie, and I loved it. So much fun. I was tricked a little bit with who the killer was, but I feel like I was on the right track.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.5/5

-- Dead Letters: An Anthology of the Undelivered, the Missing, the Returned... edited by Conrad Williams -- I'd been reading this Anthology for a while and finally got around to finishing it in October. I enjoyed it. Not all the stories were the greatest, but I was interested. I really liked the premise for this Anthology. It's pretty much weird stuff showing up in your mailbox. Packages that might or might not be intended for you, and some of them are dangerous. I thought it was a good Anthology, I enjoyed it.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.7/5

-- Death Note, Volume 8: Target by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata -- After the ending of Volume 7, I waited quite awhile to read Volume 8. The ending of Volume 7 kind of broke me, and I didn't know just how the story would continue. The first little chunk of Volume 8 was kind of confusing, probably because I waited so long between volumes, but I quickly got into it. It's just craziness. Light has some new adversaries and he has to think, think, think like he always does to outsmart them and stay on top. I'm interested to see where it all goes, and I'm slowly but surely getting to the end of this manga series. Then I can maybe watch the anime series and then the movies, although I've head the Netflix Original one is not good for fans.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

-- The Scarecrow Princess by Federico Rossi Edrighi -- I got this for review from NetGalley and I didn't like it. The story felt kind of rushed, I didn't like the art work, and I was generally confused for most of it. The main character was also a teenage brat, which I'm never really a fan of. Happy I got the chance to read and review it though.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 2/5


-- The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike translated by Deborah Boliver Boehm -- This book was interesting, but very, very slow. I started it during #Spookathon and I thought it did make for a perfect Halloween read. I don't know if it's because it was a translated work, but I just felt like this was very wordy. When the scares came, they were good, but there was just a lot of filler the rest of the time. It's a story about a family who buys an apartment in the middle of a graveyard, and creepy things start happening. The ending was kind of crazy though. I wouldn't say don't read it, just go in knowing it's not going to be a fast read.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.3/5

THE SHOWS


-- Blacklist Season 4 -- Watched on Netflix -- I won't say I'm addicted to this show, but I find it very interesting. I like the criminal of Raymond Reddington. Sometimes you forget he's a bad guy, but then he does things that make you remember he is. James Spader is pretty much what makes this show. The character of Elizabeth Keen is just meh. Meh Meh Meh. I mean, I really do want the truth of whether Raymond is her father, but that's pretty much all I care about when it comes to her. I enjoy her husband's character a lot more. And I have a question. Does anyone know if Blacklist: Redemption is coming to Netflix? Because I'd love to watch that and I know it was canceled after one season.


-- Stranger Things 2 -- Binged on Netflix -- I, like the rest of the world, binged this as soon as it came out. It was good! I really liked it. There was only one real episode that messed up the flow of the season and that was Episode 7. To those that have seen it, I'm talking about the one with Eight. This Season was a lot of fun, and now comes the long wait for Season 3. It's sad that I watched this thing in 5 days, it makes the waiting soooo much looooonger!!!

So that was my October 2017. How was yours? Did you read anything good? Watch anything good? Let me know!