May Wrap-up

Monthly Wrap-up
This month I completed both my monthly TBR and also my Bout-Of-Books TBR. I have also placed myself on a book buying ban until I get through my book jar (or a good chunk of it at least).

In non-bookish news I went to the Windsor casino for an evening with friends and attempted to do some wedding stuff (I slack off often).


The Books I Wanted To Read

Violins of Autumn- Amy McAuley
The World of Pooh- A.A. Milne
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet- Jamie Ford

Shades of Grey- Jasper Fforde

Above- Leah Bobet

The Angel Experience: Maximum Ride- James Patterson

Sundays At Tiffany’s- James Patterson

Eleanor and Park- Rainbow Rowell

Dead Silence- Kimberly Derting

This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Bout of Books TBR

Shades of Grey- Jasper Fforde
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns- Frank Miller
Violins of Autumn- Amy McAuley
This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Small Medium at Large- Joanne Levy

The List

Books I own: 15

Borrowed from the Library: 5

E-Books: 3

Book Jar Books: 1
Total: 20

Violins of Autumn- Amy McAuley
The World of Pooh- A.A. Milne
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet- Jamie Ford

Shades of Grey- Jasper Fforde

Above- Leah Bobet

The Angel Experience: Maximum Ride- James Patterson

Sundays At Tiffany’s- James Patterson

Eleanor and Park- Rainbow Rowell

Dead Silence- Kimberly Derting

This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns- Frank Miller

Small Medium at Large- Joanne Levy

Out of Boneville- Jeff Smith
Pivot Point- Kasie West
City of a Thousand Dolls- Miriam Forster
Among the Nameless Stars- Diana Peterfreund
The Swan Kingdom- Zoe Marriott
My Soul To Take- Rachel Vincent
Smart Girls Get What They Want- Sarah Strohmeyer
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen- Lucy Knisley

What did you read this month?

Unbreak My Heart- Melissa C. Walker

Title: Unbreak My Heart
Author: Melissa C. Walker
Source: Bought new (Kindle)
Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5















Goodreads Summary:

You can’t help who you fall in love with. It’s a lesson Clementine Williams knows all too well. She’s headed into the summer with a broken heart and zero social life. So even though her parents’ plan to spend the summer (trapped) on their sailboat should make Clem break out in hives, she doesn’t really mind the chance to float away for a while. Even if it means most of her social interaction will be with her nine-year-old sister.

Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story from magazine writer/editor and rising star, Melissa Walker.

This was on sale on Kindle a few weeks ago for $1.99 so of course I bought it because it's Melissa Walker how could you not. I was a huge fan of her Violet on the Runway series which I completely devoured and this one had me hooked from the first page. I read this in one sitting. It's a summer time, fast paced contemporary story about Clementine.

The main character is spending the summer on her family's boat after being heart-broken and dropped by her friends.  Clementine is not overly keen to have to spend the summer (trapped) with her nine year old sister on a sail boat and then James comes along. He is spending the summer with his dad sailing and following the same route as Clementine and her family. He gets her out of her shell and the pieces of what happened start to form and the story unfolds.

Clementine played the sullen teenager well, but when you wanted to get mad at her you couldn't because she would acknowledge her selfishness and another piece of the story would be revealed. I really liked how she grew over the summer and her sister was so sweet and tried to bring her out of her shell. I also liked how Jame's story was played out. He had also been dealt a unfair hand but he handled it completely differently from Clementine. I liked how the author showed both ways to deal with grief and sadness.

I really liked the story, I love how it was laid out. I felt like this was a situation in some way that everyone can connect to. It may not have been exactly the same as Clementine's story but I know personally I have been there when I have fought with a friend and how disconnected you can feel. This book is a summer read and I cannot wait to re-read it. I want to re-read it to see if I can pick out the subtle hints in the story that let me know what directions it is going to take.

I gave this a 5/5 because it deserves nothing less and I hope more people read this book because it is so so good.

What Happens Next- Colleen Clayton



Title: What Happens Next
Author: Colleen Clayton
Source: Borrowed from the library
Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5








Goodreads Summary:

Before the ski trip, sixteen-year-old Cassidy “Sid” Murphy was a cheerleader (at the bottom of the pyramid, but still...), a straight-A student, and a member of a solid trio of best friends. When she ends up on a ski lift next to handsome local college boy, Dax Windsor, she’s thrilled; but Dax takes everything from Sid—including a lock of her perfect red curls—and she can’t remember any of it.

Back home and unable to relate to her old friends, Sid drops her college prep classes and takes up residence in the A/V room with only Corey “The Living Stoner” Livingston for company. But as she gets to know Corey (slacker, baker, total dreamboat), Sid finds someone who truly makes her happy. Now, if she can just shake the nightmares and those few extra pounds, everything will be perfect... or so she thinks.

First though about this book: There is no way this a a debut novel. This is so good and put together. This novel felt like she has written hundreds and she knows exactly what the reader wants and she delivers it.

Sid is a cheerleader who does not fit the cheerleader look like her team mates think she should, she has two awesome best friends and she is a straight a student. Her family is amazing, her mom is a single mom raising her and her adorable brother. Sid begs her mom to be able to go on a ski trip with her two best friends and she relents. One night she is invited to a party by a college guy name Dax and she goes. The next morning she is missing a lock of hair and her memory of the night before is non existent.

Sid withdraws into herself after the ski trip, she blocks out her family and friends as she tries to work out what happened and how to deal with it. She starts running because it makes her forget, she also becomes friends with Corey who is listed as the school's biggest stoner.  I sympathized with Sid, she was trying to deal with what she was feeling the best she could. She also realized how unhealthy she was dealing with the situation but was not able to find any other way to deal. Corey is a surprisingly deep character, on the surface he seems like a laid back guy who likes hanging out in the AV room but there is more to him, he is sweet and compassionate.  Her best friends are so supportive, they reach out to her and when she pushes them away they wait until she is ready and are supportive  and help her in anyway they can.

This story is emotional, and scary because unfortunately horrible things like this happen to people. Sid is just one of  thousands people that this has sadly happened to. What makes her different is how compelling her story is. I wanted to hug Sid and I want everyone to read this book.  You are never alone. There is always someone there for you, even if you feel like you cannot go forward, you can and this book shows you how to do just that.

Stacking the Shelves (73)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

I am trying to limit the amount of books I am buying until I get through a good chunk of the books in my book jar.

Gifted
Shadow and Bone- Leigh Bardugo
The Woman in White- Wilkie Collins
I'm Not Her- Janet Gurtler (Free on Kindle)

Borrowed from the Library
Pivot Point- Kasie West
City of A Thousand Dolls- Miriam Forster

For Review
Tails of the Mouse- Graeme Scott

What did you get in your mailbox?

Eleanor and Park- Rainbow Rowell

Title: Eleanor and Park

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Source: Borrowed from the library

Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Summary:

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

How do you explain a book like this and why it is so amazing, I don’t think it is possible. It has comic books and first love and music. It made me smile and made my heart hurt a whole lot.

This is the story of a girl name Eleanor and a boy named Park. They live in the 80’s and meet my riding the bus together. Park is a Korean boy who tries to make himself invisible while Eleanor has red hair that makes her noticeable to  the people Park is trying to hide from. Park introduces Eleanor to comic books and music and they fall in love. Park is super sweet but realistic. He is not perfect, and sometimes he can be a little judgmental but overall he is a sweet guy with a awesome family. His family is not always accepting but they are a typical family and they are there for each other when they need someone. Eleanor comes from a completely different background. There is a lot of tension and betrayal.   She jumped at Park at things that at times seemed ridiculous but I understand she is only a teenager and sometimes her emotions took over.

The story does a little bit of everything to your emotions. I laughed and felt like my heart was getting stomped on constantly.  First love is a subject that is brought up in a lot of books but not always handled well. This book made it realistic and made me think of meeting my fiancee in high school. I totally thought it would be just a high school thing (I was a Eleanor and quite a pessimist. I can admit it) while my fiancee says he knew as soon as we met that I was the one and he gets a little offended that I was at all doubtful.

I recommend this book to everyone. It is a really good standalone, I felt like my questions were sort of answered but she left a lot up to your imagination with the ending.

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan Audio Book Clip

I was recently contacted by Macmillan to provide a clip of the audio book version of Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan now available as an audio book through Macmillan audio. 

I listened to the clip and from what I listened to, it sounds like it is going to be a good narration. I have included a link to the clip below and I hope you check it out.

Glow Audio Clip

Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Bout of Book Days 5-7

My goal
1) Shades of Grey- Jasper Fforde
2) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns- Frank Miller
3) Violins of Autumn- Amy McAuley
4) This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald
5) Small Medium at Large- Joanne Levy

Book started: 5
Books Read: 4

Currently Reading: Shades of Grey- Jasper Fforde

Day 5-7 Overview:

Day 5-7: I will combine these two because I read absolutely nothing. It was a long weekend in Canada so I thought I would get tons of reading/wedding/garden stuff done. I got a ton of gardening done (still not done sadly) and no wedding stuff and no reading. I did spend a ton of time with friends and family instead which made up for it.

I had a lot of fun during this bout of books and I am pretty proud that I finished 4/5 books and started the final book in my list even though I had a crazy busy week. I hope that I can get caught up on everything on Tuesday and be reading steadily by Wednesday (hopefully...). I hope everyone else who participated had as much fun as I did and I cannot wait for the next one.

Stacking the Shelves (72)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.


I do not even know what to say besides Amazon has so many good deals on right now and I think everyone should check them out!


Bought New (Kindle)

Smart Girls Get What They Want- Sarah Strohmeyer ($1.99 on Kindle)

Tangled- Carolyn Mackler ($1.99 on Kindle)

Among the Nameless Stars- Diana Peterfreund ($2.99 on Kindle)

Bought Used

The Catcher in the Rye- J.D. Salinger
Into the Wild- Jon Krakauer
If I Stay- Gayle Forman
Tweaked- Katherine Holubitsky
A Wolf At The Table- Augusten Burroughs
Before I Go To Sleep- S.J. Watson (I think someone borrowed this and never returned it...)


Borrowed from the Library

The Program- Suzanne Young

What did you get in your mailbox?

Bout of Books Day 3-4

My goal
1) Shades of Grey- Jasper Fforde
2) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns- Frank Miller
3) Violins of Autumn- Amy McAuley
4) This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald
5) Small Medium at Large- Joanne Levy

Book started: 3
Books Read: 2

Currently Reading: Violins of Autumn- Amy McAuley

Day 3-4 Overview:

Day 3: I read a few pages of This Side of Paradise but I did not get too much done since I was gone for most of the day.

Day 4: I finished This Side of Paradise then I picked up and finished Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. I am ending the day with starting Violins of Autumn.

Angelology- Danielle Trussoni

Title: Angelology

Author: Danielle Trussoni

Source: Bought new

Series: Yes. Book one.

Rating: 3/5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodreads Summary:

 

Sister Evangeline was just a girl when her father entrusted her to the Franciscan Sisters of. Perpetual Adoration in upstate New York. Now, at twenty-three, her discovery of a 1943 letter from the famous philanthropist Abigail Rockefeller to the late mother superior of Saint Rose Convent plunges Evangeline into a secret history that stretches back a thousand years: an ancient conflict between the Society of Angelologists and the monstrously beautiful descendants of angels and humans, the Nephilim.

 

The premise of this book was certainly interesting but I found that it read a lot like a text book. I understood the author wanted to show how much research she put into this novel and that the characters in the novel were scholarly but I found myself reading it slowly because it did not grab my attention like I thought it would. I enjoyed the flash backs into the past and to see where the older characters started and what events occurred to shape them into the people they were today but I was hoping for more of a story.

 

There is a lot of people in this book to keep track of, it takes a little getting used to because characters start to overlap. I liked the author started to show connections between characters which made them easier to keep track of.

 

The ending was disappointing. It felt really rushed while the rest of the novel was at a slower pace, it did not match the feel of the novel and it felt quite out of place. I did not like how fast characters changed sides and I felt like a lot of things were unresolved. The ending felt like it needs to sequel to answer the questions remaining. I was hoping this book would feel more like a standalone with the option of reading the sequel to continue the story. This is a book I will be passing along, I gave it a 3/5 due to the fact that it was well written, but it was just not for me.

 

Bout of Books Day 2

My goal

1) Shades of Grey- Jasper Fforde
2) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns- Frank Miller
3) Violins of Autumn- Amy McAuley
4) This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald
5) Small Medium at Large- Joanne Levy

Book started:1
Books Read: 0

Currently Reading: This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Day 2 Overview:

I got a little reading done at work today but not as I hoped to get done sadly. I am hoping to read to at least page 100 in This Side of Paradise since it is taking me a lot longer to get through it than I thought it would. I will post day 3-4 together since I will be in Toronto tomorrow for a concert!! I am super excited!

Bout of Books Day 1

I set my self with a large goal this time but I am determined to try to reach it.

My goal
1) Shades of Grey- Jasper Fforde
2) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns- Frank Miller
3) Violins of Autumn- Amy McAuley
4) This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald
5) Small Medium at Large- Joanne Levy

Book started:1
Books Read: 0

Currently Reading: This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Day 1 Overview: I was hoping to get more reading done today but I am currently on page 38 and I do not know how much more reading I will be getting done tonight. I am trying to get some stuff done for the wedding which is cutting into my reading time so I hope for more time tomorrow.

Stacking the Shelves (71)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Chapters was rocking the sales this week and so was Kindle so I loaded up. I would almost feel guilty if I did not get so many good deals.

Bought New

Bright Young Things- Anna Godbersen (Only $2!!)

The Lives We Lost- Megan Crewe

In The Shadow of Blackbirds- Cat Winters

The Elite- Kiera Cass

Frost Fire- Olivia Rivers (Free on Kindle)

City of Fallen Angels- Cassandra Claire

Jessica Z- Shawn Klomparens

The Graveyard Book- Neil Gaiman ($2.99 on Kindle)

Let The Sky Fall- Shannon Messenger ($2.99 on Kindle)

The Vincent Boys- Abbi Glines ($1.99 on Kindle)

The Vincent Brothers- Abbi Glines ($1.99 on Kindle)

Peaches- Jodi Lynn Anderson ($1.99 on Kindle)

I Heart New York- Lindsey Kelk ($1.99 on Kindle)

World of Shell and Bone- Adriana Ryan ($2.97 on Kindle)

Up in Flames- Nicole Williams ($3.96 on Kindle)

Gifted

Once Every Never- Lesley Livingston

Etiquette & Espionage- Gail Carriger

Nothing More, Nothing Less- Ashley Dukart (Received for review)

What did you get in your mailbox?

Clash- Nicole Williams

Title: Clash
Author: Nicole Williams
Source: Bought new (Kindle)
Series: Yes
Rating: 5/5

 

 

 

 

Goodreads Summary:

 

The only easy thing about Jude and Lucy’s relationship is their love for one another. Everything else is hard.

Especially when it comes to reining in Jude’s trigger touch temper and Lucy’s increasing jealousy of Jude’s Spirit Sister on the cheer squad who’s attached herself to him in just about every way a girl could. Feeling the stress of trying to hang on to her quintessential bad boy while becoming the foremost dancer in her class, Lucy knows something’s going to break. She wants both. She needs both. But if she doesn’t make a choice, she risks losing everything.

I was having a bad day and I mean like an over the top horrible day so I needed something sweet and frustrating. This book fits the bill perfectly. It starts off where Crash left off. Lucy and Jude are still fighting to keep there relationship, like any other couple they fight and make up. Lucy and Jude are working on there trust issues with each other but they still do not trust each other completely.

Jude is a lot more stable than he was in the first book but his flashes on anger and jealousy still rears it's ugly head up and makes his relationship with Lucy strained. I appreciate how hard he was trying and I felt at times Lucy was not giving him the credit he deserved. Granted I understood her reaction to Adriana Vix. She is a complete manipulative cow. However, she did not cut him any slack and hurt him repetitively. I wanted to shake her and make her realize what she was doing to him.  Sometimes I feel like there relationship was like a train wreck, you know it's going to crash and be devastating but you can't stop looking. India was back and I was glad she was. She is hilarious and she makes Lucy stop and think when she has her blinders on. I also give her points for sticking up for Jude when he needs someone on his side.

The story continues on where the first one left off, but know Lucy and Jude are in college. They are five hours apart and the strain this causes is noticeable. They are both trying to see each other as much as possible. Lucy is concentrating on her dancing and Jude is still the star of the football team. I have to warn you, the ending will leave you wanting, begging for the next book. I made the mistake of reading a synopsis of the next book that gave away the ending for this one. I still loved it and highlight a ton in this book but I really wish I did not know how it would end going in because it would have been sweeter.

I loved this book and I can honestly say I liked it more than the first one, Lucy and Jude are a realistic couple, they are struggling to keep there relationship together. They both know love is not enough and they are trying there best to stay a float. They made me laugh and sad all at the same time and I hope I feel that way about the third book. It was a 5/5 read for me. I devoured it within a few hours.


The Runaway King- Jennifer A. Nielsen

Title: The Runaway King
Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Source: Borrowed from the library
Series: Yes. Book 2.
Rating: 4/5








Goodreads Summary:

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?
This is a series that I feel does not get the love it deserves. This book did not disappoint being a sequel. If you have not read the first book do so before reading this post or else things will be given away and this is a series you do not want to see spoliers about. There is so much awesome.

Jaron has now taken his rightful place on the throne but things for Carthya are still not going as smoothly as he hoped. There is an assassination attempt made against him and things start to get bloody. The rumors of war are finding there way into the castle and causing the regents and the citizens of Carthya to have doubts about Jaron. He is forced to decide if staying or leaving is the best option for Carthya's future.

Jaron is still his same arrogant self that I could not help but laugh out loud at the situations he gets himself into. He insults people left and right but still manages to charm his way out of trouble. I felt like he matured since he came to the throne but his personality is still there. He is always pushing the boundaries. Imogen was also another steady character, she put Jaron in his place when he needed it. Tobias and a lot of other characters from the first novel were intertwined into this novel.

This is a great continuation of this series. The story has even more adventure and mysteries and the ending. I just need to know what happens next, this cannot be the end for these two characters. I want to believe things will work out regardless that it will throw everything into chaos. I selfishly want this. If you have read the first book and agree or have a different opinion let me know. I would love to hear from other people who have read this series.

Stacking the Shelves (70)

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

I was having a bad day so I bought some books to make it a better one.

Bought New (Kindle)

Both were on sale for $1.99 and since I have the first book I thought why not.

Son of a Witch- Gregory McGuire
A Lion Among Men- Gregory McGuire

Borrowed from the Library

Dead Silence- Kimberly Derting
War Brothers: The Graphic Novel- Sharon E. McKay
Eleanor and Park- Rainbow Rowell

Bought Used

The Cat in the Hat- Dr. Suess( 99 cents and looks like it has never been read)
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell- Susanna Clarke

What did you get in your mailbox?

May TBR

I have so many awesome looking books to read this month. I just went through my shelves and chose some books at random. I am being pretty ambitious this month but hopeful.

This month I plan to read...

Violins of Autumn- Amy McAuley
The World of Pooh- A.A. Milne
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet- Jamie Ford
Shades of Grey- Jasper Fforde
Above- Leah Bobet
The Angel Experience: Maximum Ride- James Patterson
Sundays At Tiffany’s- James Patterson
Eleanor and Park- Rainbow Rowell
Dead Silence- Kimberly Derting
This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald