January Book Haul 2016 ~Bonnie

One thing I really wanted to do this year was to not buy so many books. Or to not spend so much money on books. I have really not accomplished that at all this month. I don't think I am really surprised by this. I still ended up with 14 books this month. I also may or may not have some more on order. 

I have done really well with not stepping foot into a book store. I believe there were only three visits the entire month and only one of those was to my favorite bookstore. That was torture! There is this great place called Reader's World and I absolutely love it there. It's not too big but everyone there is super helpful and very friendly. Most of the time I go not to buy a book (which I still end up doing) but to get my fill of book talk with the manager.

Maybe next month I will be able to cut back. There are so many great books coming out this year, I doubt it will be possible. I apparently have absolutely no will power, but I guess we all have our flaws. And I suppose it could be something worse than books. 

Anyway, I better get started.

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

I feel like this one was a given. All the talk going around on BookTube and every where else about it. How could I not be sure to have a copy of this book!? Even though this has nothing to do with them I am working on finishing her Darkest Minds trilogy first. I just feel like I should have them read before I start her new set. It is very high on my to read list though. 

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Another one that is a given. Had to have a copy of this, though I purchased it on my kindle. I may or may not have a physical copy on order. I admit to nothing! I have read a tiny bit of this one already. I have not formed an opinion or anything on just 20ish pages, but I have to say I am slightly worried. I like the very tiny bit I have read but I am not sure I really understand any of it. I have heard others say that they pushed through and by the end they got it and loved it. So, I will keep going when I sit down to actually read it.

Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

I have not even started The Cuckoo's Calling but I felt the need to go ahead and get the second one. This comes from one of the conversations with the wonderful manager I spoke of earlier. I trust her opinion in books and the way she talks about them I am pretty sure, when I do get to them, I will love them as well.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

In my last post I believe I talked about my love for books taking place during the Second World War. So, why not a book about an alternate world where things played out different and the main character set out to kill Hitler. Very excited to pick this one up!

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Emily and I have made a list of 12 books for the year. Each month we both read the same book. This is one of the books she picked out, so of course I have to have it in order to read. We are both on the hunt for the rest of them in the larger paperbacks. For some reason we can find all but the second book in the larger paperback. I don't get it, it has to be out there somewhere. I really hope we both enjoy this book when we finally get to reading it this year. The month has not been determined yet.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

I listened to this book last year on audio. I think I may have done a review on it, I am not 100% sure. Somehow, I missed on Goodreads that this was the first book in either a trilogy or series. I am not sure which it is planned to be. I was so crushed at the ending of this book that I have to wait until the next one! I enjoyed it so much though that I decided I had better pick up the hardcover pretty soon so that I can keep it on my shelves. It is a must have for me. I am thinking I may try to re-read it soon.

Poison Study by Maria V Snyder

This was in my last post as one I really want to get read this year. Since I have never been able to find it in any store I have ever been to, I had to get it ordered online this month. So, now I have it and I hope to read it pretty soon!

Leviathan by Scott Westfeld

This was pretty much an impulse buy. Emily has a copy of this book already and even though it isn't on the list of 12 we plan to read, I thought I would still pick it up. Things change, our list is not set in stone. Why not have a spare that we both already own? And hello, new book for me.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

This is another one that I listened to on audio last year. I loved this book to pieces! It was so beautifully done! It was well written, the emotions you feel while reading it. It is another one that I felt the need to buy a copy and keep it in on my shelves. This book was a favorite. Please read it if you haven't, it was amazing!

In the Woods and The Likeness by Tana French

In the Woods was another one that Emily already has a copy of, so when we found it I picked it up as well. I mean why not, gotta have those options right? The Likeness I found at Half Price Books yesterday on clearance for two dollars! The second book - for just two whole dollars. Of course I had to get it!

The Search for Wondla by Tony Diterlizzi

This is one that I have added to the little shelf of books for my daughter when she is old enough. I am still holding out hope that she will eventually turn into a reader like myself. Of course I plan on reading it myself as well. But a few months ago I accidentally picked up book two thinking it was the first. So, I had still had to pick up the first. When I found it the other day and Half Price I had to get it.

Blood Song by Anthony Ryan

I have absolutely no idea about this book. I know it is high fantasy, I know it looks pretty cool and I am hoping it is a great read. I read the blurb about it but honestly, I can't even remember what it said. I haven't bothered to look up the rating on Goodreads or maybe I have and I have forgotten that already as well. All I know is that it is supposed to be an epic fantasy and I want to go into it more or less blind. I have high hopes for this one.

Winger by Andrew Smith

This is one purchase this month that I am not to sure about. I see this book all over the place and I have heard really great things about it. But I am just not sure if it something I really want to read. I think I am going to give it a try though. I found it pretty cheap yesterday so I figured what the heck. I'll give it a go and if I don't like it I can always take it back to Half Price Books later.

That's all I have for this month! Hopefully I can be better about sticking to my goals next month. Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading!

~~~~~Bonnie

Books I Want to Read in 2016 ~Bonnie

This post is pretty late! I intended to post it a little bit closer to the actual beginning of the year. As I have not read any of these yet, well I figure I will just get this post up now. There are still 11 months to get these done. Most of these books have been on my TBR for over the last year. Why haven't I just read them already?! I really don't know.

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

I am pretty sure I have had this one on another list somewhere of what I want to read. It has been sitting there waiting for me for a long time. I don't think I have heard anything bad by anyone about this book. This year... this is the year. I can feel it! The third book is expected to come out later this year. I can read them all this year. What am I waiting for?!

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

I kind of go back and forth on this one. I do want to read it but it seems like sometimes I question that. Do I really want to? I am not sure all the time. I keep it on my shelf though so how about I go ahead and just do it.

Poison Study by Maria V Snyder

This book was recommended to me a really long time ago. I have kept my eyes open for it ever since but it is a really hard book to find! I finally broke down and just ordered it online this month. Now I am struggling to find the rest of the series in the same covers! Why is it so hard to find them?! Print more please!

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

This is another book that was recommended to me by a good friend quite a few years ago. In the last year or so I have seen it all over the place. Everyone seems to be talking about it and Brandon Sanderson. I should have read it years ago when I was first told about it. Maybe I just want to be sure have good books to read all the time.

The next two are fairly new additions to my really want to read list.

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

I watch a lot of people on BookTube, I find it is a great way to find out about new things! I love historical fiction of pretty much any time period. I really enjoy reading about Second World War for some reason and I haven't read one in a really long time. So, when I started seeing this one pop up in a few favorites videos of people I really enjoy watching, I had to add it to the list.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

I think this one is a book I knew about previously, but again have seen it a bunch on BookTube lately. I am not 100% sure about it, but with all the positive feedback on it, I am going to give it a try. Maybe it is the size of the book or all the details. I have read plenty of large books, like Outlander. I was a bit intimidated by that one before I picked it up too though. I really think it is going to depend on the writing for me.

That's it for now. Of course there a billion more I hope to get to read this year. These are the ones I am most hoping to get to though! Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading!

~~~~~ Bonnie 

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

I really think this book is what I needed this week. I suffer from depression and this week I hit a pretty large low. Through friends and this book I was able to see that I truly am not alone. Now I know that next time I am in a big low my mind will lie to me again and tell me I am all alone. 

Mental illness is a serious thing but being able to find humor in it is important. If we cannot find humor in things and start taking our lives so seriously then we become very unhappy people. They (whoever they are) say laughter is the best medicine. And I find this to be very true.

When my mind starts lying to me and telling me how seriously messed up I am, I have to find laughter. I have to find the bright side. It is there, somewhere in the darkness of my mind. I laughed so much reading this book. This book is one that I will pick up again when I am need of this.

I find her arguments with her husband to be some of the best. I have my favorite chapters dog eared so that I can find them so easily. But the epilogue spoke to me the most. It's almost like it was done in a letter to me personally. There is part of a paragraph that really spoke to me.

"You are alive. You have fought and battled them. You are scarred and worn and sometimes exhausted and were perhaps even close to giving up, but you did not."

This is something I think is important, we have to remember that we have won this battle multiple times. We have succeed in this and we will succeed again. There is no light right now but it is out there. You will find it and succeed again.

If you suffer mental illness or know someone that suffers read this book. Don't take it too seriously either though. I didn't take it as a complete "how to" type of book. But it is helpful and gives you an insight into the minds of those you love that suffer. Or if you suffer it just may be something that help you find the humor and laugh. Something that help you find the brightness a little sooner.

Thanks for reading!

~~~~~Bonnie

Series I Want To Read in 2016!

Hey Everybody!

I decided this year will be all about series reading.  (Even though I just made a TBR shelf and there are about 30ish books on it, that I would like to read this year as well).  I have many series that my sister has recommend, some that I've seen on BookTube and one that I just need to re-read.

Without further adieu - here are the series I must read in 2016!

1) Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown

Since the third and final book is coming out Feb 9th, I decided it was probably time to read this one.  Every one I know has been talking about this trilogy.  This is about Darrow, who is a Red which is the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future.  It seems like this is another redemption series but come on we all love those!  (BTW, have you seen the author for this trilogy?!  Holy Moses he is gorgeous!)

2) Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

Here is another series that I have seen all over and every one truly enjoys it.  This follows Celaena who is an assassin, and all she wants is freedom.  She takes on twenty-three killers, thieves and warriors in a competition.  Then her competitors start dying, horribly, one by one.  Sounds like I'm going to love this series!

3) Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

This one for me is the re-read series.  I read the first and second book back before the got popular and I just didn't like the series.  I lost interest in book three.  I'm hoping now that I am into reading a bit more, that I will end up liking this series.  (No, I will not be watching the TV show.. I have too many to watch already)!

4) Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

This one I've wanted to read for a while.  I've put it off because people say you should read Mortal Instruments first so you can pick up on little things in this series.  Hence, why I have both series on this list.  I know I can read Infernal Devices by itself but I might as well get them both out of the way. 



I thought I would start small for the series reads of this year because, I'm also picking a book each month off my TBR self.  My goal is too pick one of the series books and one other book.  Plus my sister and I are doing something cool this year and I'm super excited! 

We each picked out 12 books that both of us has a copy.  For each month we will read the same book.  And for the year we have chosen to read The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.  We know it's a beast of a book; which is why we decided this one would be for the year. 

See you in my next post!  Hope y'all have a great reading year!!

**Emily**

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken - Spoiler

First, I want to say that I really enjoyed The Darkest Minds when I read it last year. I really should not have waited so long to read this second book. I think I gave that one 4/5 stars. This book I gave 5/5 stars. I loved almost everything about it. 

It kept me on my toes for the most part. There were moments where I may have been slightly disappointed that Alexandra Bracken went "there." But those moments weren't enough to sway my overall view of the entire book.

There have been plenty of books that I have read that kill off loved characters. But I have to say this one hurts pretty damn bad. Jude was a wonderful character all around. I think it hurts so bad because he was like the little brother I never had. He wanted to know about everything, and had so much life in him. When Liam gave Ruby the compass, it was like my life shattered.

Even though I finished this last night I am still so sad over the ending to this book. I just don't know how I am going to continue on.

If you have read this let me know what you thought in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

~~~~~Bonnie

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

I would have to give this book about a 4.25 to 4.5 stars out of 5. Though I enjoyed the beginning, it was still somehow hard to stay into it. I only slightly wanted to see where things were going at that point. When I got about half way through it really started taking off for me. 

Technically, I am not even currently done with it. I still have about 20 pages or so left. I am finding it hard right now to continue on. Not because of anything with the book but because I don't have book two! Once I finish that's it for me. I have to wait until I can track down the next one.

This is a middle grade book and it is one that I will keep around for my daughter. Right now she doesn't seem to be interested in books, but I am determined to change this!

Thanks for reading!

~~~~~Bonnie

2016 New Releases!

Hey y'all!

It's been a while since I've posted anything!  It's been crazy at work, but I'm ready to get back into it. My goal for 2016 is to read a more diverse set of books.  More Sci-Fi, Adult Contemporary, a little Mystery. 

Here are my top 8 new releases for the first half of 2016!

1) Passenger by Alexandra Bracken (January 5, 2016)

I have seen this one all over booktube and everyone is liking it.  It's about Etta Spencer who is a violin prodigy and she loses everything she knows and loves.  Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years form home.  Doesn't that sound like an awesome set up to a book?!

2) We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson (January 19, 2016)

This one caught my eye because of the cover. It just looks amazing.  This one I haven't heard to much about, but the premise sounded interesting.  

Henry Denton doesn't know why the aliens chose to abduct him when he was thirteen, and he doesn't know why they continue to steal him from his bed and take him aboard their ship.

3) Blackearts by Nicole Castroman (February 9, 2016)

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors.  but once h was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands.  

This one caught my attention because of that description.  I've always secretly been a fan of pirates & this book seems to be right up my alley.

4) Rebel Bully Geek Pariah by Erin Jade Lange (February 16, 2016)

The description on this one is what caught me.  "The Breakfast Club" gets a modern, high stakes reboot in this story of four very different teens and a night that changes them forever.
UM I love "The Breakfast Club" - it is my second favorite movie.  I don't expect this one to be very similar to the movie, but I'm excited to see what reboot it got.

5) The Crown by Collen Oakes (February 14, 2016)

Surprise, I have a Wonderland retelling on the list; that I'm excited for.  (Don't worry your pretty little heads, it won't be the only one for 2016).  This one caught me because the main character is not called Alice, but Dinah; which, if you remember from the original Alice In Wonderland, Dinah was her cat.  The description reads: As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah's days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts.

6) Firstlife by Gena Shawalter (February 23, 2016)

I have seen this one everywhere!  This cover is amazing, as well.
This one is about "Ten" who is an average 17 year old girl, who has spent the past 13 months locked inside the Prynne Asylum.  She is locked there because of her refusal to let her parents choose where she'll live - after she dies.
This just sounds like a great premise to a book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

7)  Nora and Kettle by Lauren Nicolle Taylor (February 29, 2016)

I saw this on booktube (I cannot for the life of me remember who had it in their video).  It sounds like a cute story.  The description reads:  What if Peter Pan was a homeless kid just trying to survive, and Wendy flew away for a really good reason?  This is about 17 year old Kettle who is an orphaned Japanese American struggling to make a life in the aftermath of an event in history not often referred to - the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII.
I wanted to read more diverse books this year, and this is right up that alley.

8) A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro (March 1, 2016)

This one, honestly, just sounded cool to me.
This is about 16 year old Jamie Watson, who is the great-great-grandson to John Watson.  It also has a girl named Charlotte Holes, who is the famous detective's enigmatic, fiercely independent great-great-granddaughter.




Let me know which books y'all are excited for in the first half of 2016!

See ya with another post! **Emily**