2016 Second Quarter Wrap Up Post!!

I've already read or listened to more books this year than I had anticipated/planned on reading in 2016. Originally, I had only planned to read 25 books this year. Instead, I've read or listened to 47 books so far during 2016. With reading 17 books during the month of June alone.

The break down of what I've read or listened to so far this year is as follows:

I've read 16 physical books.
I've read 10 eBooks.
I've listened to 21 audiobooks.

It's no surprise to me that I have listened to more audiobooks this year. I love listening to audiobooks. I'm also participating in the 2016 Audiobook Challenge hosted by both The Book Nympho and Hot Listens, so participating in this particular audiobook challenge also accounts for the higher number of audiobooks. 

See the following link about the 2016 Audiobook Challenge if you're interested in learning more about it.

My favorite 2016 reads/listens this have been the following ones:

1. Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim
2. The Good Traitor by Ryan Quinn
3. Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World by Aja Raden
4 My LIfe On The Road by Gloria Steinem
5. The Ghost and the Graveyard by Genevieve Jack
6. Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
7. The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Romance That Changed the World by Greg King & Sue Woolmans

8. Flight by Sherman Alexie

9. Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

10. Deadly Readings by Laura Bradford

So now that 2016 is halfway over with, how is your year in reading going for you? How many books have you read this year so far? Which books have been your favorites? Which books have been a disappointments?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

Seeing Stars by Vanessa Grant

Ebook Romance Novel

Seeing Stars by Vanessa Grant is the first novel I've read by Vanessa Grant. 

I read the ebook edition of Seeing Stars by Vanessa Grant on my Kindle. The ebook edition of this romance novel is approximately 256 pages in length. I was able to download Seeing Stars by Vanessa Grant for FREE from Amazon. 

Below is my unbiased review of Seeing Stars by Vanessa Grant.

For the most part, I enjoyed reading Seeing Stars by Vanessa Grant. I liked the story, the characters and the plot itself. 

What I didn't enjoy was the poor editing job in this novel like the misspelling of words and discrepancies on the ages of the two main characters (one moment Claire is 32 another time she's 31 and Blake's age is mentioned as 34 and 35). An author should keep all the facts surrounding characters and plot straight and consistent throughout the novel. 

I also didn't like how the author refers to the sex scenes as 'loving' instead of 'sex'... If a couple is having sex, then call it what it is. No euphemisms please. The main characters, Claire and Blake, also have an almost week long fling and have unprotected sex... There are other things to worry about other just pregnancy from unprotected sex -- like STIs/STDs, which weren't even vaguely discussed even in passing. Whether that's really relevant in this case I am not sure, but if one of the main characters (Claire) happens to mention Blake's bad boy past, then yes, STIs/STDs would be a topic to mention, even if it isn't in any great detail.

The following is a plot summary for Seeing Stars by Vanessa Grant from Amazon:

Arizona astronomer Claire Welland is anything but starry-eyed when it comes to romance. She knows her home on an isolated mountaintop observatory makes marriage to most men impossible, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have a little romantic fun. The last thing she expects when she comes home to Port Townsend, Washington, for her high school reunion is to be swept off her feet by Blake McKenzie.

Once the town bad boy, Blake is now a prominent shipbuilder dedicated to helping local teens. When he asks Claire to talk to one of his boys about astronomy, he’s only thinking she might give direction to a troubled kid. He certainly never dreamed she’d inspire him - to fall in love. Now Blake is determined to show Claire that their future together is in the stars…if she’ll only open her eyes.

I am giving Seeing Stars by Vanessa Grant a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Sex Criminals, Volume 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky

I've been slowly exploring more manga, comics, and graphic novels here and there in the past couple of years. 

I'd read a lot of good things about the Sex Criminals comic book series by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky and liked the premise of the series, so decided to read the first volume in the series titled Sex Criminals, Volume 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky.

Sadly, I wasn't impressed with the first book in the Sex Criminals series and will not continue reading this series in the future. The hype/expectation of this comic book just didn't do it for me. The artwork contained within its pages was good, but not great in my opinion... And as I've already mentioned earlier in my post, the story's premise is good for Sex Criminals, Volume 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky... Basically, you have two people who are able to stop time during sex and then decide on robbing banks. This is definitely unique concept for a book, but the flow of the story didn't translate very well for me. I felt it could have been a lot better.

Below is the plot summary for Sex Criminals, Volume 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky from Goodreads:

Suzie’s just a regular gal with an irregular gift: when she has sex, she stops time. One day she meets Jon and it turns out he has the same ability. And sooner or later they get around to using their gifts to do what we’d ALL do: rob a couple banks. A bawdy and brazen sex comedy for comics begins here! 

By Matt Fraction (Satellite Sam, Hawkeye) and Chip Zdarsky (Prison Funnies, Monster Cops).

Named one of Time Magazine's top 10 graphic novels for 2013.

I am giving Sex Criminals, Volume 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday--- FREEBIE WEEK!! Things I Don't Like to Find Inside Used Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

I love visiting used bookstores and buying used books because I don't like buying books at full price. I also like looking for out of print or rare books on occasion, so shopping at used bookstores is fun.

BUT there are things I admit that I don't like to find in used books. Here is my top ten list of things I don't like to find in used books:

1. Used books with weird smells inside of them (or smell like smoke, mold, musty, etc). A few weeks ago, I bought a book with a really bizarre/unidentifiable smell in it. How does one even get rid of weird book smells? Is it even possible to get rid of weird book smells?

2. Highlighted passages.

3. Writing of any kind on the pages by the previous reader/owner.

4. Bookplates inside used books with the previous owner's name on them.

5. Dog eared pages.

6. Mystery stains or stains of any kind really inside or on the cover of a book.

7. Missing dust jackets on hardback books.

8. Damaged book spines.

9. Torn pages.

10. Warped pages due to water damage.

Little Free Library in Concord, California!!!

So, I made it to another Little Free Library in Concord, California this past weekend! This makes the seventh Little Free Library I've visited. 

I love visiting Little Free Libraries... It's fun to share books with other readers. I left a single book at the Little Free Library in Concord, California, but I didn't take any books from this particular Little Free Library as none of them tickled my fancy.

I encourage you to visit a Little Free Library for yourself if you haven't already done so!! If you have visited a Little Free Library, which ones have you visited?

Until my next post, have fun visiting a Little Free Library!!

Margaret Atwood Has Written A Graphic Novel

I've learned that author, Margaret Atwood, has written a graphic novel titled, Angel Catbird, that will be released on September 6, 2015. 

Check out images for Margaret Atwood's Angel Catbird in a Bustle article titled Margaret Atwood Has Written A Graphic Novel?! A First Peek At 'Angel Catbird' Tells Us A Lot by Emma Oulton. In her article, Emma Oulton writes the following about Margaret Atwood's new graphic novel, Angel Catbird:

Margaret Atwood is a woman of seemingly endless talents — she's penned bestselling novels, children's books, poetry, nonfiction, and even television, radio and theater scripts — but somehow, she still managed to surprise us with her latest venture: Margaret Atwood has written a graphic novel. The news about Angel Catbird, which will be released by Dark Horse Comics, first broke at the end of 2015, and Atwood's had us all on the edge of our seats since then waiting to get a glimpse. Finally, the first images are here — and to be honest, they just make this project even more intriguing. 

Angel Catbird, which is hitting shelves in the fall, is about a superhero whose powers come from a tragic incident in which he was tangled up with a cat and an owl. The newly released Angel Catbird images show us exactly what happened — and it's all very mysterious. Here's what we know now: our protagonist's cat had run out into the road to chase a rat, when a car ran it over, simultaneously knocking into an owl which was swooping low to check out the possible prey. But while our protagonist is mourning his cat, the car goes into reverse, and comes back to hit him as well. But that's not all: the driver of the car then reveals that the rat was a deliberate, digitally-controlled lure. Whoa. This was no accident.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Little Free Library in Castro Valley, California

I had fun visiting my sixth Little Free Library in Castro Valley, California last week. I love visiting Little Free Libraries, but unfortunately, I do not visit them very frequently even though there seem to be many Little Free Libraries in the San Francisco Bay Area. I plan to visit more Little Free Libraries (hopefully) later this year.

I placed two books inside the Little Free Library, but I didn't find any books I wanted to take out of the Little Free Library to read when I cam home as most of the books within this particular Little Free Library were children's books.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Cat Mysteries: Hidden Treasure at the Cat-Nip Hotel by Luna Snow

I recently read the ebook edition of Cat Mysteries: Hidden Treasure at the Cat-Nip Hotel by Luna Snow on my Kindle. It's a 60 page mystery that I was able to download for FREE from Amazon and read in about 60-90 minutes. Below is my unbiased review of Cat Mysteries: Hidden Treasure at the Cat-Nip Hotel by Luna Snow.

I think that Cat Mysteries: Hidden Treasure at the Cat-Nip Hotel needs some minor editing work. Otherwise, I thought it was a decent read for a short story/novella. It wasn't great, but not bad either. I liked the story, the leading, Eleanor Hamilton, and the intriguing mystery that came with Eleanor inheriting her Great Aunt Bea's home.

Below is the plot summary for Cat Mysteries: Hidden Treasure at the Cat-Nip Hotel by Luna Snow from Amazon:

Bea Traverne, the famous author, recluse and cat lover has died, leaving her old and rambling house and contents to her great niece -Eleanor Hamilton. With five cats and an old mansion to look after Eleanor wonders what she should do, and finally decides to open a Cat Lovers Hotel. Bea has also left her great niece a draft of her final novel -yet to be published. When the strange Reginald Williams arrives and asks for a room in the hotel it is just the start of her adventure. The old eccentric man has a psychic gift and can hear the dearly departed Bea Traverne speaking to him from beyond the grave. What messages are the spirits sending? Is great aunt Bea's last book purely fiction and what exactly did happen to the Lost Blue Diamond of Jaipur? Not all is as it first appears in this cozy mystery full of intrigue, romance and of course cats!

I am giving Cat Mysteries: Hidden Treasure at the Cat-Nip Hotel by Luna Snow a rating of 3 starts out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Killing at the Carnival (Cassie Pengear Mysteries Book 1) by L. A. Nisula

Steampunk Mystery Novella

I love mystery (especially cozy mystery novels) novels... But I've had hit or miss success with steampunk novels... So, when I came across a steampunk themed mystery novella by a new to me author, I thought I'd give the novella a try.

I read the ebook edition of Killing at the Carnival (Cassie Pengear Mysteries Book 1) by L. A. Nisula on my Kindle. Killing at the Carnival by L. A. Nisula is approximately 127 pages in length. 

I was able to download this novella for FREE from Amazon. Below is my unbiased review of Killing at the Carnival (Cassie Pengear Mysteries Book 1) by L. A. Nisula.

There isn't much steampunk in the Killing at the Carnival by L. A. Nisula. It's mostly a cozy mystery novella. I enjoyed the story, plot, characters, and theme of Killing at the Carnival (Cassie Pengear Mysteries Book 1) by L. A. Nisula. I also thought the writing was good for Killing at the Carnival (Cassie Pengear Mysteries Book 1) by L. A. Nisula. Cassie Pengear makes for a great amateur sleuth!! 

Below is a plot summary for Killing at the Carnival (Cassie Pengear Mysteries Book 1) by L. A. Nisula from Amazon:

Cassie Pengear thought a visit to the carnival would be fun: see some shows, eat some sweets, help her landlady’s nephew decide if the cowboy was real or an actor. But then the cowboy shot the volunteer, and he didn’t get up. Now Cassie has a ten-year-old boy insisting the cowboy isn’t a killer and a landlady insisting she help solve the killing at the carnival. A cozy mystery with a steampunk setting 29,000 words, print version 126 pages This book is also available as part of a bundle.

In a Victorian England that almost existed, a steampunk London where tinkerers and clockwork devices exist alongside handsome cabs and corsets, murder is still solved by traditional observation and intuition. This is the London where American typist Cassandra Pengear finds herself stumbling over corpses and helping Scotland Yard detectives solve murders (although they inexplicably prefer to call it interfering). Follow her adventures in the Cassie Pengear Mystery series, beginning with The Killing at the Carnival.

I am giving Killing at the Carnival (Cassie Pengear Mysteries Book 1) by L. A. Nisula a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!! 

13 General Book Club Questions For Your Next Book Club Meet Up

As usual, I find interesting book related articles on Bustle's website. Yesterday, I discovered an article titled 13 General Book Club Questions For Any Discussion by Sadie L. Trombetta. In the article, Sadie L. Trombetta writes the following:

The perfect book club is made up of three key things: a great reading selection, yummy snacks, and a lively discussion. The first two things are easy to accomplish — just read anything by Gillian Flynn and have a good variety of cheese available — but getting a good dialogue going may be harder than you think, which is why you need a list of general book club questions that will work for any discussion. When the conversation starts to lull, these questions can bring it back to life.

Book clubs are often seen as simple social get together, a challenging way to read more books, or an excuse to drink wine on a weeknight (as if you needed one, right?), but they're so much more than that. Sure, book clubs are a great way to meet new friends, get together with old ones, and up your monthly reading quota, but they're also a place where book-lovers can come together and discuss, dissect, and disagree over every little detail of a book. They're a space meant for lively arguments over plot twists, character flaws, and alternative endings. They're like your high school English class, only this time, you read and actually liked the book your talking about, which makes the whole thing much more fun.

Click on the top link to discover 13 general book club questions that are good for your next book club meet up.

Until my next post, happy reading!

YouTube Channels For Readers!!

BookTubes on YouTube are something I am slowly getting into... I'm not personally doing my own book vlogging, but am slowly tuning into others who are book vloggers.

I discovered a Bustle article titled 6 YouTube Channels For Readers by Julia Seales. In the article, Julia Seales shares the following with readers:

If you spend all your free time reading books, reading articles about what books you should read next, talking about books, and going to book club... you need to be watching BookTube. And what is BookTube, you ask? Well, there is actually an entire community on YouTube where vloggers discuss all things books. From book reviews, to TBR suggestions, to book "haul" videos, the topics of these videos will make any lit lover hit "subscribe." These vloggers will give you serious bookshelf envy, too, because their book collections are absolutely beautiful. 

BookTube is an extremely welcoming and friendly part of YouTube, because the creators of the videos (and the viewers of them) just want to sit around and discuss books. If your book club just isn't enough for you — or if your friends don't have as many literary discussions as you'd like — this is a perfect place to get your fill of book talk. Plus, you can find some great reading recommendations while you're at it.

Click on the top link to see which YouTube channels readers should watch! 

The Witches by Roald Dahl & Illustrated by Quentin Blake

Paperback Edition

I've wanted to read The Witches by Roald Dahl for quite sometime as I enjoyed reading BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the past. So, choosing to read The Witches by Roald Dahl was an easy choice for me to make... You can't go wrong with a Roald Dahl novel and The Witches didn't disappoint!

The Witches by Roald Dahl was published in 1983 and it also won the The Whitbread Children's Book of the Year in 1983.

I also learned that The Witches by Roald Dahl has been a banned book. I learned from Wikipedia that The Witches by Roald Dahl "was banned by some libraries due to perceived misogyny.[2] It appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990 to 1999, at number 22.[3] Some critics consider the book sexist,[4] with one stating that the book is how boys learn to become men who hate women.[5] "

I also recently read a fabulous article about The Witches by Roald Dahl on Bustle titled 7 Feminist Lessons From Roald Dahl's 'The Witches' by Caroline Kepnes. After reading the article by Caroline Kepnes about The Witches I knew I wanted to read this novel even more.

All I can say is that I am glad that I read The Witches by Roald Dahl. Roald Dahl is a master storyteller. I enjoyed the characters in The Witches immensely. I also enjoyed story development as well. I was left wanting to know where the story was going to take me and how things were going to turn out in the end.

The following is the plot summary for The Witches by Roald Dahl from Goodreads:

'A REAL WITCH is easily the most dangerous of all the living creatures on earth.' 

That's a pretty horrifying thought. More horrifying still is that real witches don't even look like witches. They don't ride around on broomsticks. They don't even wear black cloaks and hats. They are vile, despicable, scheming harridans who disguise themselves as nice, ordinary ladies. 

So how can you tell when you're face to face with one? Read this story and you'll find out all you need to know. You'll also meet a real hero, a wise old grandmother and the most gruesome, grotesque gang of witches imaginable.

I am giving The Witches by Roald Dahl a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Orinda Books in Orinda, California

This past weekend, my husband and I visited an independent bookstore in Orinda, California called Orinda Books. Orinda Books has been in business for 40 years!! It was our first visit to Orinda Books and hopefully it won't be our last visit. 

We enjoyed our time spent browsing Orinda Books. I liked the open layout of their storefront. It's very inviting. I also enjoyed the comfy chairs to sit in during one's visit to Orinda Books. I liked seeing a rather large display filled with staff recommended books and also another section devoted to books written by local authors.

Orinda Books does host several Book Clubs each month at their store, which is awesome as there is (hopefully) a book club to suit different readers needs/interests.

Orinda Books also offers various in store events. They also sell cups of coffee and tea to patrons as well.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Bird Brain (Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy Murder Mysteries #3) by Liz Dodwell

eBook Novella.

I read the ebook edition of Bird Brain (Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy Murder Mysteries #3) by Liz Dodwell on my Kindle. Bird Brain (Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy Murder Mysteries #3) by Liz Dodwell is a novella approximately 120 pages in length. Bird Brain (Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy Murder Mysteries #3) is the first thing I've read by Liz Dodwell.

I was able to download Bird Brain (Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy Murder Mysteries #3) by Liz Dodwell to my Kindle for FREE from Amazon. The following is my unbiased review.

I thought the story, plot, writing, and characters were simply okay for Bird Brain (Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy Murder Mysteries #3) by Liz Dodwell. This novella is a fast read. I generally love cozy mysteries, but this novella wasn't all that special. There wasn't that much depth/substance to it. I just felt like the actual killer came out of left field and a lot more details were needed to make it a better story.

The following is a plot summary for Bird Brain (Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy Murder Mysteries #3) by Liz Dodwell from Amazon:

Polly Parrett meets Polly parrot. Together, can they solve a murder mystery?

Things just don’t always go the right way for pet-sitter, Polly Parrett. Dogs and cats can be tough enough; now she finds herself having to cope with a moody macaw, a volatile new resident at her mother’s halfway house for veterans, and oh yeah, a dead body.

What’s more, the parrot and Polly share the same name, which not only makes for a lot of confusion, but it just might be that the parrot is the smarter of the two.

I am giving Bird Brain (Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy Murder Mysteries #3) by Liz Dodwell a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

2016 Audiobook Challenge Semi-Annual Update!!

Thank you once again to both The Book Nympho (Jennifer) and Hot Listens (Melanie) for hosting the 2016 Audiobook Challenge!

My year is off to a good start so far in terms of listening to audiobooks! I've listened to twenty audiobooks so far this year.

Below is a short list of a few of my favorite audiobooks that I've enjoyed listening to this year in no particular order of importance. Click on the links below to read my review of each book:

1. Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim
2. The Good Traitor by Ryan Quinn
3. Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World by Aja Raden
4 My LIfe On The Road by Gloria Steinem
5. The Ghost and the Graveyard by Genevieve Jack
6. Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
7. The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Romance That Changed the World by Greg King & Sue Woolmans

Three of the above audiobooks are nonfiction, while the remaining four audiobooks are works of fiction.

Which audiobooks have really made an impression on you so far this year?

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe (Mystic Isle, Book One) by Selena Blake

eBook ~ Paranormal Novella

Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe (Mystic Isle, Book One) by Selena Blake is the 4th paranormal read I've read this year so far. 

I read the ebook edition of Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe (Mystic Isle, Book One) by Selena Blake. It's a paranormal erotica/romance novella approximately 96 pages in length. I was able to download this novella to my Kindle for FREE! Below is my unbiased review of Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe (Mystic Isle, Book One) by Selena Blake.

I'm usually not that into paranormal novels or novellas, but for some reason this year I have gravitated towards reading them more than the norm for me. I thought Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe (Mystic Isle, Book One) by Selena Blake was an okay read. I think paranormal novels are okay in general... I can take them or leave. My main criteria is that the paranormal novels/novellas must be well written and engaging reads for me to enjoy reading them. 

I wasn't into the 'instant love' between Coco and Grayson in Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe (Mystic Isle, Book One) by Selena Blake. Sure they'd fought on the battlefield a 100 years on opposing sides and had an instant attraction then, but that's all that happened between them -- attraction! They don't see each other again until they accidentally run into one other 100 years later at Mystic Isle. Coco and Grayson still have a strong attraction for one another. They delve in to their mutual attraction with heated sex scenes, but how can they really know they are in love when they've only had mind blowing sex? And the sex scenes weren't all that hot either. 

The story and characters weren't that intriguing either for Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe (Mystic Isle, Book One) by Selena Blake. I am not interested in reading the rest of the Mystic Isle series by Selena Blake.

The following is an excerpt of Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe (Mystic Isle, Book One) by Selena Blake that I discovered on Amazon:

He was alone. She was alone. There was no war, no battle between their kinds. Nothing standing in their way.

Except her friendship with Izzy. And despite what her coven might think, sex with a werewolf was just sex. Hot, sweaty sex.

She wouldn’t make the same mistake as last time. No. She would not sleep tonight without knowing the power of his kiss. But not here. Not in such a public place where word could get back to Izzy that Coco was kissing the enemy.

She glanced at him from beneath her lashes. Wolf.

He inclined his head, one single graceful nod. Vamp.

Coco wasn’t opposed to doing the chasing, but tonight she felt like being pursued. Letting her gaze linger a moment longer, she offered him an inviting smile.

Then she turned and strode toward the beach. At the edge of the terrace, she took the boardwalk back the way she’d come. A tendril of excitement wound around her. The sparks were still there, arcing between them. Perhaps if she didn’t stop at an almost-kiss this time, she could finally get him out of her head.

When she came to the end of the boardwalk and found an expanse of sand before her, she knew she’d gone the wrong way. That’s what she got for walking around preoccupied. Not to mention, she’d failed to memorize the map during the plane ride the way Ceara had. With tall trees and thick shrubbery surrounding her, it was hard to tell exactly where she was. But the path before her was clear and lit by small lanterns. And she had no doubt that her wolf was right behind her.

She stepped into the sugar-soft sand and the chunky heels sank. Her arms flailed as her ankles twisted. Years of battle had taught her how to stay upright in the toughest conditions. Her lightning-fast reflexes kicked in and she righted herself before frowning down at the shoes. Bending at the waist, she unbuckled the straps and slipped her feet out. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as a shadow fell across the sand at her feet.

“For a minute there, I thought you didn’t remember me.” Without even looking at his face, she knew the deep masculine voice belonged to her wolf.

I am giving Fangs, Fur & Mistletoe (Mystic Isle, Book One) by Selena Blake a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Rakestraw Books in Danville, California

I first visited the independent bookstore Rakestraw Books in Danville, California back in September 2014. They've since moved their storefront to a new location in Danville, California!! 

The new location of the Rakestraw Books is light and bright. I enjoy the new layout of their storefront. The staff at Rakestraw Books is friendly. Rakestraw Books hosts many author events and book signings throughout the year and a book club/reading group as well. 

As much as I do like their new storefront, I have a minor complaint about the current location... Rakestraw Books is located in a busy shopping center that's easy to find and offers free parking. However, I've noticed at peak hours of the day, like around noon on weekdays, parking is difficult to obtain. Normally, I would avoid visiting Rakestraw Books during this time frame to avoid the lunchtime crowd that visits this particular shopping center during weekdays. But last week, I wanted to attend the Arturo Perez-Reverte author/book signing event that began at noon at Rakestraw Books. Attempting to find parking was difficult and it took me 15-20 minutes of circling the very busy parking lot to find a spot to park my car for the event. Yikes, I almost missed the start of the event. Otherwise, I like the new location of Rakestraw Books.

8 Reasons You'll Love the 'Sex Criminals' Comic Series

Okay, I admit that I am curious about the Sex Criminals series, but have yet to read it. After reading an article on Bustle titled Why 'Sex Criminals' Is The ONE Comic Series Every Woman Needs to Read by Melissa Ragsdale, I now more than ever want to read this series!

In the article, Melissa Ragsdale wrote the following:

Even if you're not the biggest comic book nerd, you won't be able to resist the sex comedy comic series that is Sex Criminals. Superpowers meet sex in this wild, one-of-a-kind read. That's right, I said sex and superpowers. Who could ask for anything more?

Two years ago, my copy of Sex Criminals: Volume One arrived in the mail. "Enjoy your night out," I said to my roommate. "I'm going to take a bath and read." And it was a decision I certainly do not regret.

Sex Criminals is about two people, Suzie and Jon, who have the power to stop time by having sex. When they find each other, and are able to stop time together, they do what anybody would do: they start using their sexy superpowers to rob banks! But the duo soon finds out that they're not alone in the space between time, and suddenly they're being chased by a danger far greater than they could have dreamed.

Click on the very first link above to read Melissa Ragsdale's article and discover the 8 Reasons You'll Love the 'Sex Criminals' Comic Series!

Do These 12 Things Happen When You Read "Too Much"???

I came across an article on Bustle titled 12 Things That Happen When You Read "Too Much" by Julia Seales. I read a lot of books, but not "Too Much" as I only have 4 of the 12 categories mentioned in the above article fit me. Click on the above link to read the full article by Julia Seales.

Which Type of Reader Are You?

I read another nice article on Bustle titled 13 Types Of Readers Everyone Knows, Because We Aren't All Alike by Sadie Trombetta. In the article, Sadie Trombetta wrote:

Aside from a shared love of books, no two readers are alike. Some people stick to one genre while others spread the love; a lot of people are faithful to physical books but there are some who love e-readers; there are those who skim the books and others who underline their favorite quotes. The bottom line is, there are certain types of readers everyone knows.

Go to the bookstore, visit a library, or just look around your own book club and you'll see readers of every kind. From the bookworms who are trying to stay on top of recent bestsellers to those who are loyal to a small group of authors, each one has their own preferences, habits and quirks. If you're trying to decide what kind of reader someone is, ask them about they're currently reading, and you'll be able to figure it out in no time.

Click on the top link to read the full story. After reading the article, I noticed that I seem to fall into polygamist reader category!! Although I also see myself fall into a few of the other reading categories too.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

Books, Blogs & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom

Paperback Edition

Do you love chick lit/romance novels?? Then Books, Blogs & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom make just be the next novel for you!

I received a FREE finished, autographed, paperback copy of Books, Blogs & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom through GoodReads Giveaways. Below is my unbiased review of Books, Blogs & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom.

I think what initially appealed to me about Books, Blogs, & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom is the book's title and cover design... I love reading books, posting book reviews, and so on to my book blog. With that said, deciding to read this novel was a no brainer for me.  

I liked the idea of four women brought together due to their love of reading and blogging to become online friends telling each other things they wouldn't normally share with their real life family and friends. These women share their personal lives through online chats and blog posts. 

Generally, I am not a chick lit/romance fan, but I enjoyed reading Books, Blogs & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom overall. Books, Blogs & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom is a fast, fun novel to read and it makes for a great escape from everyday life. In fact, I'll go so far as to say this novel makes a great beach read! I enjoyed the characters and writing in this book even if a few of the characters exhibited some frustrating/annoying behavior. I also enjoyed the format of Books, Blogs & Reality... I liked seeing the chats between these four women, their blog posts, and reading about their lives in each chapter.

The following is a plot summary for Books, Blogs, & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom from GoodReads:

Life can suck…

When reality becomes overwhelming, seeking comfort in fictional fantasies keeps hope alive. And while this escape may be a little delusional, it’s also therapeutic.
Sharing secrets is daunting, but virtual friends don’t often judge and they are always ready to share a glass of wine…or three…while typing out life’s latest endeavors.

Brooke believes obstacles only add to romance, not detract. Rachael longs for a more intense relationship, or so she thinks. Lizzie misses the excitement in her life, but sometimes new situations find you when you’re not even looking. And Jess believes a tiger can change his stripes. It can’t.

Bound by a shared passion for blogging about happily ever afters, these four young women use keyboard therapy to work through their expectations, anxieties, and inadequacies, all with the hopes of achieving the perfection found in romance novels.

Completely blinded by what they think life should be, they navigate their unique paths in search of what they envision is right. But when reality taunts them with persistent curve balls, will they be strong enough to choose wisely? Or will their happy endings escape them?

I'm giving Books, Blogs & Reality by Ryan Ringbloom a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!! 

Arturo Perez-Reverte Visits Rakestraw Books in Danville, California!

Arturo Perez-Reverte at Rakestraw Books. A nice sized group of readers attended this event.

I so love it when authors I like visit local independent bookstores as I love attending author events and book signings. Additionally, I also love supporting independent bookstores by buying books from local businesses.

So, lucky me!! I was able to visit Rakestraw Books in Danville, California on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 @ noon and hear Spanish author, Arturo Perez-Reverte, speak about his writing style and his latest novel What We Become. 

Following his discussion, Arturo Perez-Reverte, answered questions from readers who came to hear him speak at Rakestraw Books. Quite a large group of readers attended this event, which was lovely. Arturo Perez-Reverte had a translator with him as he said his English speaking skills weren't that good. 

After answering audience questions, Arturo Perez-Reverte then signed copies of his latest novel, What We Become. I had my copy signed, which I look forward to reading. Below is a picture of me with Arturo Perez-Reverte.

Me with Arturo Perez-Reverte @ Rakestraw Books

Until my next post, happy reading!

Buried (A Twisted Cedar Mysteries) by C. J. Carmichael

eBook Edition

I read  the ebook edition of Buried (A Twisted Cedar Mysteries) by C. J. Carmichael over the course of a few days. This mystery novel is approximately 250 pages in length.

I was able to download this novel to my Kindle from Amazon for FREE. Below is my unbiased review of Buried (A Twisted Cedar Mysteries) by C. J. Carmichael.

Other than some minor editing issues, I though that Buried (A Twisted Cedar Mysteries) by C. J. Carmichael started off really well and enjoyed reading this mystery novel until the ending came along. The last chapter of the novel ruined this book for me completely. Buried (A Twisted Cedar Mysteries) by C. J. Carmichael has a cliffhanger ending... The reader is left hanging with no resolution as to who definitively killed four female librarians from the 1970s... There is some speculation as to may have done the killings, but the reader never ends up knowing for sure who the serial killer is for the 30+ year cold case. 

Also, I didn't enjoy the fact that in edition to no resolution as to the identity of the serial killer for the librarians, we do not definitely know for 100% certainty who the killer is for Daisy Quinpool. Sure we all assume it's her ex-husband, but the fact that this murder isn't resolved either is also bothersome.

I like it when an author wraps up the story in one book. As a reader, I want to know whodunnit in the novel and not be left hanging with so many unanswered questions as to the murderer's identity.

Here's a plot summary for Buried (A Twisted Cedar Mysteries) by C. J. Carmichael from Amazon:

Justice is overdue in the coastal town of Twisted Cedars where two unsolved mysteries lay buried in the past.

Over thirty years ago a series of murders targeting Oregon librarians was never solved. Now someone with inside knowledge is feeding clues to true crime writer Dougal Lachlan, promising him the best story of his career. Pursuing the leads means returning to Twisted Cedars, where his sister Jamie is about to marry a man he deeply dislikes.

Local Twisted Cedars librarian Charlotte Hammond prefers her mysteries--and her romances--between the covers of a good book, especially since the disappearance of her older sister, Daisy, eight years ago. But then the dark and tortured soul who is Dougal Lachlan walks into the Twisted Cedars Library asking for her help. 

Before long Charlotte realizes there is no safe zone. Not even in libraries...and especially not in Twisted Cedars.

I am giving Buried (A Twisted Cedar Mysteries) by C. J. Marshall 1 star out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Best & Worst Fathers In Literature

With Father's Day right around the corner, check out the Bustle article titled 13 Best (And Worst) Fathers In Literature To Revisit This Father's Day by E. Ce Miller. In the article, E. Ce Miller wrote:

Being a dad isn’t always easy (at least, based on what I gather from being a sometimes-high-maintenance daughter) but some of the dads on this list make fatherhood look great. Others, not so much — I’m talking to you, Humbert Humbert. From the good, to the bad, to the sort-of-in-between, here are 13 of the most memorable fathers from books.

To see which fathers in literature made the list, click on the top link and read on!

21 Songs For Book Lovers!!

Love Music? Love Books & Reading??? Then check out the article I discovered on Bustle titled 21 Songs Every Bookworm Will Love by Melissa Ragsdale to see which songs made the list! It's quite and eclectic mix of songs. 

Until my next post, happy listening!!

Nikolai (Her Russian Protector, Book # 4) by Roxie Rivera

I've already read the first three novels in the Her Russian Protector Series by Roxie Rivera, so decided to download and listen to the unabridged audio version of Nikolai (Her Russian Protector, Book # 4) by Roxie Rivera and narrated by Pinky Powell from Audible.

Listening time for Nikolai (Her Russian Protector, Book # 4) by Roxie Rivera is 9 hours, 22 minutes.

First off, let me state for the record that I wasn't impressed with Pinky Powell as a narrator. Ms. Powell is unable do a very convincing Russian accent... Her  Russian accent for the Russian characters in this novel was just all wrong. Plus, Vivian (Nikolai's love interest) has appeared in a previous book(s) written by Roxie Rivera, but I didn't feel that Pinky Powell captured Vivian how I envisioned her to speak and act.

As far as the novel, Nikolai (Her Russian Protector, Book # 4) by Roxie Rivera goes, I have mixed feelings about this novel after listening to it. I am glad I listened to it as I've already read the other novels in the series and like to try reading the entire series if I like it. But Nikolai (Her Russian Protector, Book # 4) by Roxie Rivera isn't the best novel in the series in my opinion. There were things that Nikolai has done in his life that I was surprised that Vivian wasn't very upset by or angry at Nikolai for doing. Also, for being a juvenile delinquent as a youngster, Vivian was a goody two shoes, which was surprising... And the sex scenes weren't all that hot. Additionally, the storyline/plot in general wasn't all that good either.

The following is a plot summary for Nikolai (Her Russian Protector, Book # 4) by Roxie Rivera from Audible:

After a brush with death as a juvenile delinquent, Vivian swore she'd never stray across that line again - but there's just one problem with her plan to stay on the right side of the law. She's completely, irrevocably and unabashedly in love with Nikolai, the Russian mob boss who saved her life.
From the moment Vivian appeared in his life on that tragic April night, Nikolai felt himself inextricably bonded to her. She's the bright light in his dark world and the only thing that keeps him from sliding deeper into a life of crime and violence - a mobbed-up life he can't escape no matter how hard he tries. 

After Vivian is ripped from his arms in a brazen blitz attack, Nikolai will stop at nothing to get her back - but rescuing her and keeping her safe in his arms isn't enough. Suddenly, Nikolai's only chance to keep her safe is to do the one thing he vowed never to do - he'll drag her deeper into his shadowy world and bind her to him forever.

Because their tangled pasts are about to collide and the shockwave threatens to bring Houston's criminal underbelly to its knees....

I am giving Nikolai (Her Russian Protector, Book # 4) by Roxie Rivera a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Happy Audiobook Month!!

I love listening to audiobooks!! Listening to audiobooks is something that I've only fallen in love with during the last three or four years... I've become an audiobook junkie as I've become somewhat of a lazy reader, preferring to listen to books than reading them when I can. 

I doubt I'll ever give up reading physical books entirely because there is always something appealing about holding a book in your hands and reading the written word as it appears on the page. Plus, the smell of new books and the way they feel in one's hands is awesome!

I find listening to audiobooks appealing as I like hearing someone read to me. Audiobooks are a great way to pass the time while traveling, doing chores, eating meals while at home alone, or even when you need to give your eyes a rest from reading a book.

If an audiobook has a great narrator and the audiobook production quality is clear and crisp, then audiobooks become even more magical... If not, then a poor narrator or poor audio quality can ruin one's listening experience.

Below is a video of author, Stephen King, explaining why he thinks audiobooks are terrific!

Until my next post, I hope you find yourself lost in an audiobook. Happy listening!!

Signs That Books Are One Of The Best Relationships In Your Life!!

I stumbled upon an interesting article on the Bustle website titled 11 Signs That Books Are One Of The Best Relationships In Your Life by Sadie L. Trombetta. In the article, Sadie L. Trombetta writes the following:

Boyfriends come and go, best friends move away, and family drive you crazy.... but books? Unlike people, books are always reliable, and if you're a reader, than you probably already display all the signs that books are one of the best relationships in your life.

If you're a true bibliophile, than books have a special place in your life. You constantly surround yourself with them, and unlike your romantic partner's crap, you never get mad when you find them laying around the house. You make sure that no matter where you go, you go together, and you always go to bed holding onto a book. Even if you're at work or out with friends, you're mind constantly wanders back to the same thing: books. You just can't help it, they're always on your mind and you miss them when you're apart. Try as you might, but there's no denying it: books are your true love, and one of the best relationships you have.

Click on the first link to read the 11 Signs That Books Are One Of The Best Relationships In Your Life!!

From Bodice Rippers to Trailblazers: Feminism through Romance

A Picture to Capture the Event Before It Began!!

I enjoyed attending another wonderful author event at the 2016 Bay Area Book Festival called 'From Bodice Rippers to Trailblazers: Feminism through Romance' with an author panel, which included authors Aya de Leon, Gail Carriger, Alice Gaines, Kristin Miller, and moderator, Beth Barany. 

All of the women authors who spoke at this event are new to me authors. I was intrigued as to what they had to share about feminism and romance, so looked forward to attending the event. I enjoyed learning how each of these women defined feminism and shared how they showcased feminism in their books.

I thought that 'From Bodice Rippers to Trailblazers: Feminism through Romance' was a very lively and engaging event to attend. Many book festival attendees came to this event. I enjoyed hearing the authors answers questions from the audience as well during this 75 minute event.

I look forward to reading books by both Beth Barany & Aya de Leon in the future.

'From Bodice Rippers to Trailblazers: Feminism through Romance' was held on the sixth floor of the Hotel Shattuck Plaza.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket

Hardback Edition

The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket is a children's book that I read over the course of a few days. 

I only decided to read The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket, when I discovered that the author was going to be speaking at the 2016 Bay Area Book Festival... I love attending author events and I love having books signed by the author. So with that thought in mind, I decided to purchase a used copy of The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket.

After reading The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket, I have mixed feelings about this novel. I liked the Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus, & Sunny) and the fact that the novel is written as a series on unfortunate events (as happy endings don't always happen in real life)... But sadly, the storyline for The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) just didn't do it for me. Needless to say, I won't bother reading the rest of the novels in the series.

I am giving The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) by Lemony Snicket a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim

I recently listened to the unabridged audio version of Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim and narrated by Bahni Turpin. Listening length for Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim is 8 hours, 21 minutes.

Yellow Crocus is a work of historical fiction and it is a phenomenal novel to read!! If you enjoy reading historical fiction, then this is the book for you. 

I really thought that Laila Ibrahim did an excellent job of writing Yellow Crocus! Bahni Turpin does a fabulous job narrating Yellow Crocus and really helps bring to life the characters and the story itself. I enjoyed this tightly written novel filled with good writing and well developed characters. The story line is a bit predictable in parts, but how the story unfolds and the way in which it is told makes this novel worth the read. I highly recommend listening to the book in the audio form.

The following is a plot summary for Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim from GoodReads:

Moments after Lisbeth is born, she's taken from her mother and handed over to an enslaved wet nurse, Mattie, a young mother separated from her own infant son in order to care for her tiny charge. Thus begins an intense relationship that will shape both of their lives for decades to come. Though Lisbeth leads a life of privilege, she finds nothing but loneliness in the company of her overwhelmed mother and her distant, slave-owning father. As she grows older, Mattie becomes more like family to Lisbeth than her own kin and the girl's visits to the slaves' quarters - and their lively and loving community - bring them closer together than ever. But can two women in such disparate circumstances form a bond like theirs without consequence? This deeply moving tale of unlikely love traces the journey of these very different women as each searches for freedom and dignity.

I am giving Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Below is a video of Laila Ibrahim discussing the inspiration for Yellow Crocus.

Until my next post, happy reading!!