Top 10 Tuesday | Top 10 Favorite Reads of 2017 So Far

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly tag hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s prompt is…

Top 10 Recommendations for Audiobook Listeners

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I swear I feel like 2017 just started but like … IT’S ALREADY ALMOST JULY?!

I know I have complained a lot about all of the disappointing book releases I have read this year, but I think it would be nice to point out the bright shining reads as well ❤

These are listed in a completely random order.

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Red Rising series by Pierce Brown

 

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The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer

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Monsters of Verity series by Victoria Schwab

 

 

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 Daughter of Smoke and Bone series by Laini Taylor

 

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Wayfarers series by

 

 

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Starflight series by Melissa Landers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

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The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

This one might be a bit tough of a listen for some people … because it’s heavy with the sexual content. Surprisingly I was fairly mature enough to feel

 

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What are your favorite reads so far this year? Comment below!

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Monthly Wrap-up | July 2017

 

Weekly Wrap-ups

Weekly Wrap-up | July.02.2017

Weekly Wrap-up | July.09.2017

Weekly Wrap-up | July.16.2017

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 Monthly Overview

This month I finished reading 4 books

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I read 1 books that were 2017 new releases

 

 

 

Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2) by Victoria Schwab

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I completed 1 series

 

Monsters of Verity series by Victoria Schwab

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I re-read 1 book

 

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

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I read 0 ARC

 

 

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My favorite read this month was …

 

 

Our Dark Duet (Monsters of Verity #2) by Victoria Schwab

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Monthly Book Haul

This month I purchased 16 new e-books

 

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Half a King (Shattered Sea #1) by Joe Abercrombie

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Foxhole Court (All for the Game #1) by Nora Sakavic

The Raven King (All for the Game #2) by Nora Sakavic

The King’s Men (All for the Game #3) by Nora Sakavic

The Girl at Midnight (The Girl at Midnight #1) by Melissa Grey

The Shadow Hour (The Girl at Midnight #2) by Melissa Grey

The Invasion of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #2) by Erika Johansen

Cage of Deceit (Reign of Secrets #1) by Jennifer Anne Davis

Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1) by Victoria Rossi

A Song of Ice and Fire (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin

The Bear and the Nightingale (The Bear and the Nightingale #1) by Katherine Arden

Heartstone by Elle Katharine White

For Darkness Shows the Stars (For Darkness Shows the Stars #1) by Diana Peterfreund

 

This month I purchased 21 new hardcover books

This month I purchased 3 new paperback books

 

 

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August Outlook

July will be a Kindle Unlimited month for me so expect a lot of KU reads.

I will also be participating in a Throne of Glass series buddy read (continuing with Heir of Fire) with two of my favorite people and bloggers in the world Chelsea @ The Suspense is Thrilling Me (Check out her blog and most recent post!) and Solomon @ The Bookish King (check out his blog and most recent post!).

The Falling Kingdoms Fantasy League will be kicking off again with Gathering Darkness the first week of July.

I’ll be in Florida visiting family and enjoying the beach for the first week of this month, so I may be a little sporadic with my posting and with my reading but I will try to stay on track!

As always, I wish everyone a happy and enjoyable month!

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How many books did you read this month? What was your favorite read? What are you looking forward to in the upcoming month?

I would love to hear about your month as well! Comment below!

Monthly Wrap-up | June 2017

 

Weekly Wrap-ups

Weekly Wrap-up | June.25.2017

Weekly Wrap-up | June.17.2017

Weekly Wrap-up | June.10.2017

Weekly Wrap-up | June.02.2017

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 Monthly Overview

This month I finished reading 12 books

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I read 6 books that were 2017 new releases

 

Roar (Stormhearts #1) by Cora Carmack

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas

The Black Witch (Black Witch Chronicles #1) by Laurie Forest

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Nenon

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

 

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I completed 1 series

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

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I re-read 1 book

This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1) by Victoria Schwab

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I read 1 ARC

Hearts are Like Balloons by Candace Robinson

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My favorite read this month was …

 

Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack

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Monthly Book Haul

This month I purchased 4 new e-books

A Different Blue by Amy Harmon

Furies of Cauldron (Codex Alera #1) by Jim Butcher

The Last Kingdom (The Savon Stories #1) by Bernard Cornwell

Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault (Glass Vault #1) by Candace Robinson

This month I purchased two new hardcover books

Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

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July Outlook

July will be a Kindle Unlimited month for me so expect a lot of KU reads.

I will also be participating in a Throne of Glass series buddy read (continuing with Heir of Fire) with two of my favorite people and bloggers in the world Chelsea @ The Suspense is Thrilling Me (Check out her blog and most recent post!) and Solomon @ The Bookish King (check out his blog and most recent post!).

The Falling Kingdoms Fantasy League will be kicking off again with Gathering Darkness the first week of July.

I’ll be in Florida visiting family and enjoying the beach for the first week of this month, so I may be a little sporadic with my posting and with my reading but I will try to stay on track!

As always, I wish everyone a happy and enjoyable month!

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How many books did you read this month? What was your favorite read? What are you looking forward to in the upcoming month?

I would love to hear about your month as well! Comment below!

Top 10 Tuesday | Top 10 Favorite Reads of 2017 So Far

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly tag hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s prompt is…

Top 10 Favorite Reads of 2017 So Far

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I swear I feel like 2017 just started but like … IT’S ALREADY ALMOST JULY?!

I know I have complained a lot about all of the disappointing book releases I have read this year, but I think it would be nice to point out the bright shining reads as well ❤

These are listed in a completely random order.

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Roar (Stormheart, #1) by Cora Carmack 

Hardcover, 380 pages

Published June 13th 2017

I just finished this book just over a week ago and I loved it SO so much! I still feel like I’m living in this world! My review is basically me fangirling for 15 minutes. Read the review here. 5/5 stars.

Roar | Why I Loved the Romance

 

Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack – and why I loved the romance in this book

This aside is about the romance in this book, and while I kept it major spoiler free, if you are sensitive to any sort of mild spoiler information, emotional progression etc. you may want to avoid reading!

Apparently there is a review going around that voices the opinion that the romance in this book is problematic and could be triggering to victims of domestic violence and rape. I actually find this to be baffling only because I felt so strongly the complete opposite. While I respect the reviewers opinion and right to have it, I am concerned with how some people are responding to it’s suggestions as fact. Many even lowering their own ratings because of it.

A book review is essentially a persuasive essay, including one point of view and only the evidence and facts necessary to support the writer’s opinion (including my own). I simply want to give voice to another reader’s experience here to consider.

The bottom line is, we all read a book and process I based on our own personal context. So I wanted to share my experience with the romance in this book being both a domestic violence and rape survivor.

Book Review | Roar

Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack

Hardcover, 380 pages

Published June 13th 2017

5/5 STARS SOOOO HARD OMG!!!

ASDGOEPRNRKGJAEGA:REGOAEWHATISLIFE?!?!

What kind of wrapping paper do you think Cora Carmack prefers?

Gold and white stripes … or funky cats?
because…

I AM GIFT WRAPPING MY SOUL AND SENDING IT TO HER AS PAYMENT for this beautiful boooooook OMG!!

I.
Am.
Wrecked.

I STAYED UP LITERALLY ALLL FRICKING NIGHT!!! Like I have not gone to sleep … and it is 8:30am now … so … I will not be sleeping … again … and IT WAS WORTH IT ❤

I see spots and I don’t think they are real?! My eyes are rebelling.

BUT why do I have to wait for things?! I need book 2 now though … the universe owes me AT LEAST THIS!!!!!

PREPARE THYSELF … because this review is going to be a lot of random fangirling, poorly flowing points and epic gushing because I really adored this book!!!

Also I am running on a crazy lack of sleep right now … so the writing on this review is going to be awful … oops

The Story

(Goodreads synopsis):

“Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.

To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage.

She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough.

Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.”

Weekly Wrap-up | June.17.2017

Weekly Wrap-up has moved to Sunday … because poor Sunday has been a bit neglected by me.

Weekly posts

Book Review | Gemina

Audiobook Monday | June.12.2017

Mid Year Book Freak-out | Book Tag

Book Review | A Court of Thorns and Roses

Top 10 Tuesday | Top 10 Favorite Fathers in Fiction

Book Review | The Notebook

Burn, Rewrite, Reread | Book Tag

Seven Deadly Sins | Book Tag

Book Review | Everything, Everything

First Lines Friday | Victor readjusted the shovel on his shoulder …

Book Review | When Dimple Met Rishi

Saturday Morning Cartoons | Vol. 1

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Currently reading

The Copper Promise (The Copper Cat #1) by Jen Williams

I continued reading The Copper Promise with a fellow GR friend and reviewer (Follow her Instagram @haileesbooksandstuff). I am enjoying this book but I have been reading through it in tiny bits at a time. But still a lot of snark, a lot of brutal stuff, and definite Indiana Jones vibes … AND DRAGONS! So basically ALL GREAT THINGS! I am very much looking forward to reading more of this story over the following week.

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Hearts Are Like Balloons by Candace Robinson

I was provided a copy of this book by author Candace Robinson and so far so good. This book starts out with a very personal and heart wrenching story of loss that had me literally tearing up. I am already connected to the MC in this book and look forward to the romance (I SEE THE SHIP! I SEE IT!). I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this story over the next couple of days. AND LOOK AT THAT ADORIBLE COVER ❤

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Finished Reading

Roar (Stormheart #1) by Cora Carmack

I HYPED THE FUCK OUT OF THIS BOOK! Like seriously I hyped it so hard you have no idea! If you follow me on Goodreads … then you already know! This book is so good! SO GOOD! My thoughts are all the hell over the place right now so I’m sorry for the epic fangirling. I was literally up all night last night reading this book! As in … I have not been to sleep yet and it is now 8:30am so I guess I won’t be sleeping. WORTH IT! This world is amazing, the magic system is epic, the shipping is SO FREAKING GREAT! I CRIED AND LAUGHED AND SO MUCH TENSION! Omg this is the least comprehensive paragraph even created! I have no chill right now. Oops.

This book was super refreshing for me after a sea of fantasy disappointments this year. So nice to be surprised with a new release finally! I LOVE THIS BOOK … omg I have been fangirling so hard you have no idea! askljfijeflQWTQ# UQ$EJejfiojf! 5/5 stars!!!!

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Rebel Spring (Falling Kingdoms #2) by Morgan Rhodes, Michelle Rowen

This week the Falling Kingdoms Fantasy League finished reading this book. We are going to take two weeks off before starting Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms #3). I have not yet rated this book but somewhere in the 2.5? 2? Department?

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The Black Witch (The Black Witch #1) by Laurie Forest

One of my Most Anticipated Book Releases of May 2017. I was finally able to really sit down and finish The Black Witch this week and I really enjoyed it! Like it was so good! This book has a slow build plot and a character driven plot, but these happen to be things that I like. It takes a while for anything substantial to happen, but there are definitely more subtle things building throughout as you read. This story is extremely well written and really well developed! Intricate world building, intricate political structure, intricate character relationships, and really heavy and important topics … all in a story of friendship and college and shippy goodness. There has been a lot of recent controversy over this book, and from my own experience and research, this controversy has been completely misrepresented and unwarranted. I will be working on my extremely long and detailed review of this book this week … so be prepared! I gave this book 4.5/5 stars … maybe even 5/5.

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When Dimple met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

One of my Most Anticipated Book Releases of May 2017, this book is full of cute interactions and cultural discussions which I did enjoy, but overall I ended up not loving this book. It wasn’t terrible, but the plot fell super flat for me. And … I had some rants. You can read my review for a more in-depth account of my likes and dislikes. I gave this book 2/5 stars.

 

 

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Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I listened to this book as an audiobook this week while doing things around the house. The narrators I thought did a really good job, but at the end of the day … I simply did not connect to this story in a positive way. I had a lot of issues with the plot and I just didn’t care about the characters at all. You can read my review for a more in-depth look at my likes and dislikes. I ended up giving this book 2/5 stars.

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Weekly Outlook

This next week I will be finishing up a few things on my Currently Reading list and adding a whole lot of new reads to the list!

I also look forward to posting so many new reviews! I will be adding my bookish bestie to the blog as a guest reviewer soon which should be great! She reads more contemporary books while I tend to sway more toward the fantasy genre. I think this will be an awesome new partnership and allow me to get more reviews up on the blog in both genres. We also have a new idea for a fun conversation style buddy read review feature.

As always, I wish everyone a happy and enjoyable week!

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What books are you currently reading? What books did you recently finish reading? What do you have planned for the upcoming week?

I would love to hear about your week as well! Comment below!

Most Anticipated Book Releases of June 2017

 

Can you believe June is already here?! Where does the time go?! I’m not crying about it though because there are some really awesome and highly anticipated releases coming out this June! Lot’s of great stuff to read while sitting on the beach or by the pool or wherever the summer may take you!