2017 Second Quarter Reading Update

2017 is officially halfway over with, can you believe it?? I've read a total of 100 reads this year so far, which seems unfathomable to me as I've never read this much before in previous years to my knowledge.

Some of my best reads this year have included the following:

1. Kentucky On The Rocks by Gwendolyn Grace

2. The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

3. The Sound Of A Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

4. Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera

5. Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee

6. Imperfect Chemistry by Mary Frame

7. Eat Dirt by Josh Axe

8. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

9. All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle

10. Deenie by Judy Blume
11. Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh

I've also visited 13 new to me Little Free Libraries and exchanged books, which has been fun.

I've enjoyed seeing and hearing author, Lisa See, speak at a local independent book. 

Plus, I also attended the 2017 Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, California for the 3rd year in a row and had a blast. I attended three of the author speaking events and had five of my books sign by the author! Seeing and meeting Roxane Gay, Cornelia Funke, Aya de Leon, and Cathryn Jakobson Ramin at the Bay Area Book Festival was awesome.

How's your year in reading been going so far this year??

50/50 Friday --- Best/Worst Book Read in June

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @ The Butterfly Reads and Laura @ Blue Eye Books. This fun themed meme focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc). Every week a new topic will give bloggers the chance to showcase their answers.

This week's topic is the Best/Worst Book Read during the month of June.

Best Book Read In June

Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh
(Click on link above to read my review)

Worst Book Read In June

Supernatural Sleuth, Case File #1 by Angela Wallace

(Click on link above to read my review)

So, which books were your best and worst reads for June 2017?

Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle

I listened to the unabridged version of Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle and narrated by Caitlin Kelly from Audible. Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle is a young adult novel and re- imagining of the Cinderella fairytale.

Listening time for Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle is 2 hours, 50 minutes.

I have mixed feelings about Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle. I do love fairy tale re-tellings and love that Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) is a much darker version of the original Cinderella story. 

I also enjoyed the fact that there is no cliffhanger ending for Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle and that this novel leaves you wanting to discover the second novel in the series titled, Sneaky Snow White: Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series.

I did love how evil the Prince turns out to be! He isn't so charming at all. 

However, I thought that the Cinderella in Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle was bratty and conniving. I also felt that Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle was a bit too two dimensional for the most part and needed an extra pop to make it stand out and be stellar. 

Caitlin Kelly was a so-so narrator... Not great, but not bad either.

The following is a plot summary for Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle from Audible:

I'm not who they think I am. A docile girl who meekly obeys her stepmother and stepsisters. Some kind of sick angel who cheerfully bears their mistreatment. That's what I want them to think. Because then they won't suspect what I'm really up to.

The ball, the prince - it's all part of my plan to come out on top. Stepmother and her demented daughters will pay for every floor I have scoured, every sneer I have borne. They don't know about the white magic, how I use it to enhance myself. They can't see that my heart is black as midnight, rotten as a poisoned apple.

They're about to find out.

At this point, I am not sure if I'll be reading the second novel in the series, Sneaky Snow White: Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series.

I am giving Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series Book 1) by Anita Valle a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy rading!!

Little Free Library in Alameda, California

Last Friday, I visited a Little Free Library in Alameda, California with my husband! This was the 4th Little Free Library we'd visited in a week. It was a cute Little Free Library in a cute residential area.

Have you visited any Little Free Libraries lately?

Top Ten Tuesday --- Best Books I've Read In 2017 So Far

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.

The following is my list of best reads for 2017 so far.

1. Kentucky On The Rocks by Gwendolyn Grace

2. The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

3. The Sound Of A Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

4. Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera

5. Bone Deep by Bonnie Dee

6. Imperfect Chemistry by Mary Frame

7. Eat Dirt by Josh Axe

8. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

9. All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle

10. Deenie by Judy Blume

So, which books have been your favorite reads so far this year?

Book Quote of the Day!!

Mindspeak by Heather Sunseri

Unabridged Audio Version

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Mindspeak by Heather Sunseri and narrated by Amy Landon from Audible. Listening time for Mindspeak by Heather Sunseri is 9 hours, 54 minutes.

Mindspeak by Heather Sunseri is the first novel in the young adult series of same name. I thought that Amy Landon was an okay narrator, not bad, but not great either.

As far as Mindspeak by Heather Sunseri goes, it was a decent read and had a lot of potential... But I didn't love it either. The main character, seventeen-year-old Lexi Matthews is a bit of a drama queen. She has trust issues and is a bit on the nervous side.

I thought Mindspeak by Heather Sunseri was a bit on the slow side for the most part, but did pick up the pace by the middle of the novel. 

I also thought the same reoccurring issues of Lexi Matthews having trust issues and not always making the best decisions grew a little old throughout the novel. 

The cliffhanger ending was not great either! We found out one key piece of information by the end of the novel, but there was so much more that could have been shared with readers in this novel that (probably) have been put off for future novels.

The following is a plot summary for Mindspeak by Heather Sunseri from Audible:

She was created for a purpose so revolutionary, someone was willing to kill for it. 

Seventeen-year-old Lexi Matthews keeps two secrets from her elite boarding school classmates - she's the daughter of a famous and controversial geneticist, and she can influence people's thoughts. 

But after new student Jack DeWeese heals her broken arm with an anything-but-simple touch, he forces Lexi to face a new reality - her abilities reach much further than speaking to the minds of others. 

After Lexi's father goes missing and she receives threatening emails, she can't decide whether to fall into Jack's arms or run and hide. 

As Lexi seeks answers to what she and Jack are, she discovers a truth more unsettling than anything her science books can teach. And letting Jack into her life of secrets is not only a threat to her very existence, but it just might break her heart wide open.

I am giving Mindspeak by Heather Sunseri a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars. I have no interest in reading the rest of the 'Mindspeak' series.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

New Nonfiction Books By Women That Will Nourish Your Brain

I love to read nonfiction books every so often, especially books written by and/or about women. I discovered an article on Bustle's website titled 13 New Nonfiction Books By Women That Will Nourish Your Brain All Summer Long by Sadie L. Trombetta.

Six of the thirteen books mentioned in the above article sound like books worthy of adding to my ever growing reading wishlist.

Reading Quote of the Day!!

11 Bookish Things Every Bibliophile Should Do!!

As a bibliophile, I like to participate in all sorts of book related things! So, when I came across an article on Bustle's website titled 11 Bookish Things Every Bibliophile Should Do At Least Once by Kerri Jarema, I looked forward to discovering which bookish things made the list.

Since reading the article, I learned that I've already done six of the bookish things mentioned in Kerri Jarema's article:

1. I've already worked as a bookseller at two different university bookstores during my life.

2. I've joined an online book club before!

3. I've attended a book convention as part of my job working as a bookseller.

4. I've had several books signed by favorite authors.

5. I've browsed a local bookstore that isn't my own on several occasions.

6. And I've also donated books to the public library for them to sell at their FOL Bookstores to help raise funds to support the public library.

I'd still love to host and/or attend a book themed dinner party, go on a book themed vacation, and visit various libraries around the world!

9 Literary BookTubes to Watch on YouTube!

Check out this article titled 9 Literary YouTube Series To Watch This Summer When You Need A Break From Reading by Kerri Jarema. In the article, Kerri Jarema wrote the following:

These modern adaptations are not only a great way to get into some of the renowned stories you might have missed, but for those who were already fans of the original texts, are wonderful ways to see the stories in a whole new light. All of the 9 series have large followings, dedicated Tumblr blogs, and entire fandoms for you to join in on this summer. We bet you can't watch just one.

Some of these YouTube series sound really great. I am most interested in watching the 'Edgar Allan Poe's Murder Mystery Dinner Party' as I do love a good mystery!

50/50 Friday --- Favorite/Least Favorite Format of Books (HC, PB, ebook, etc)

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @ The Butterfly Reads and Laura @ Blue Eye Books. This fun themed meme focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc). Every week a new topic will give bloggers the chance to showcase their answers.

This week's topic is to highlight your Favorite/Least Favorite Format of Books (HC, PB, ebook, etc)!!

Favorite Book Format

For me it's a tie between mass market paperbacks

and unabridged audiobooks from Audible!

I like the feel of real books in my hands and being

able to actually turning pages...

But I also love to listen to unabridged audiobooks

when I am not in the mood to read a book

for whatever reason. 

Plus, listening to audiobooks

allows me to do other things while listening

to a book, like knitting, making and eating meals

when I am home alone, or  traveling, etc. 

I also enjoy being about to change

the listening speed on an Audible

audiobook in order to

finish listening to a book faster.

Least Favorite Book Format

I'd say a PDF version of a book and then reading

the book on my laptop or desktop would be my

least favorite way to read a book...

Also, have you ever tried reading a book on your

smartphone before? I did once and it's not great

either. The screen is too small on one's phone for

reading a book!!

So, what is your favorite and least favorite book format??

Have You Read the Most Popular Book From the Year You Were Born?

I discovered an article from the website 22 Words titled Have You Read the Most Popular Book From the Year You Were Born? by Abby Heugel. In the article, Abby Heugel wrote the following:

There are books that stick with you for your entire life, but do you know what book was most popular on the year that you were born?

Thanks to Good Housekeeping, you can now find out what people were reading the year that you entered the world.

How many of the top books from the past 87 years have you read?

Curious, I couldn't resist learning which book was popular the year I was born!! So, what are you waiting for??? I know you're curious, so go ahead a check out which book was popular the year you were born!!

Circus of the Dead by Seth Blackburn

Horror Short Story

Circus if the Dead by Seth Blackburn is a horror short story, approximately 32 pages in length that I was able to download to my Kindle for FREE from Amazon.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Circus if the Dead by Seth Blackburn.

Aside from Circus if the Dead by Seth Blackburn being FREE, I was additionally attracted to this short story's cover artwork, which looked really cool!! I also enjoy reading short stories because they are a great way to become acquainted with a new to me author's writing without having to make a commitment to reading a full length novel.

I thought Circus if the Dead by Seth Blackburn was okay. It was interesting enough to read from start to finish, but not a short story that will be memorable for me in the long haul. Seth Blackburn's writing was okay... I don't think I'll be going out of my way to read anything else by Seth Blackburn.

The following is a plot summary for Circus if the Dead by Seth Blackburn from Amazon:

Twenty years ago, the dead destroyed the world of the living. The survivors scattered in the wake of the Scourge, erecting small towns in the worlds' most sparsely populated areas.

For young Gabriel, the walking dead are merely the memories that haunt the eyes of those old enough and lucky enough to have survived. He is more concerned with his hard life in America's desert, where his chores keep him busy and the husks of books stashed beneath the cellar of the library are his only freedom.

Until the circus comes to town.

I am giving Circus if the Dead by Seth Blackburn a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Little Free Library in San Ramon, California!!

On Father's Day, my hubby and I found our 12th Little Free Library of 2017 in San Ramon, California!! It was a hot day in San Ramon topping off at a high of 105 degrees Fahrenheit.... Wow, summer has arrived! We waited until later in the day to leave a book and take a book at the Little Free Library we discovered.

So, do you exchange books at Little Free Libraries too?

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany

Hardback Book

Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany and illustrated by Jean-Francois Martin is one of the most unique reads I've read this year so far.

I love the layout and how the information is presented in Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany! A page or two is devoted to the villain, then a short excerpt from where the villain is found in literature is presented, which is then followed by a recipe that would be perfect for the the said villain. Plus, the amazing vintage artwork/graphics by Jean-Francois Martin are sprinkled throughout this book as well. I loved the author's sense of humor too in Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany.

I have not made/tried any of the recipes in this book and probably never will. I like to cook and many of the recipes do sound delicious, but some of the recipes contain ingredients I normally don't use all that frequently (if at all)  or the ingredients are found at specialty grocery stores. So, with that in mind, I do not plan on making any of the recipes.

The following is a blurb about Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany from Goodreads:

Thirty-two great hero-villains of literature lure the reader into the kitchen to sample their signature recipes. Estérelle Payany shares to-die-for recipes inspired by scoundrels from popular literature. Each chapter opens with an excerpt from the original story and quirky illustrations by Jean-François Martin featuring the criminal and his recipe. The Big Bad Wolf roasts three little pigs in their blankets while Snow White’s stepmother concocts bewitching caramel apples. The Queen of Hearts orders Alice to eat treacle tart while Long John Silver stocks the galley with sea biscuits. And although Shakespeare’s infamous Brutus can toss his Caesar salad in a mere ten minutes, Dracula’s paprika hendl is best when simmered from dusk until dawn. It is sure to be a duel to the end between Patrick Bateman’s truffled roast beef and Tom Ripley’s Venetian lemon chicken, but both can be paired nicely with a simple white bean salad from East of Eden’s Cathy Ames. This spirited collection drawing from fairy tales, literary classics, and contemporary favorites is as entertaining as the recipes are scrumptious (and harmless!). And with the winning ingredients in Recipe for Murder—famous literary thrillers and authentic home-style recipes—it would be a crime to pass up this diabolically scrumptious book!

I am giving Recipe for Murder: Frightfully Good Food Inspired by Fiction by Estérelle Payany a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh

Unabridged Audio Version

I finished listening to the unabridged audio version of Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh and narrated by Christian Rummel on compact disc.

Listening time for Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh is 11 hours, 45 minutes.

OMG, Christian Rummel is an amazing narrator!! Hollywood Moon is already a good book, but I felt Christian Rummel's narration only made it better.

I really enjoyed the quirky cast of characters in Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh. The plot was good and well written with a likable story.

The following is a plot summary for Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh from Audible:

There's a saying at Hollywood station that the full moon brings out the beast - or rather than the best - in the precinct's citizens. One moonlit night, LAPD veteran Dana Vaughn and "Hollywood" Nate Weiss, a struggling-actor-turned cop, get a call about a young man who's been attacking women. Meanwhile, two surfer cops known as Flotsam and Jetsam, keep bumping into an odd, suspicious duo - a smooth-talking player in dreads and a crazy-eyed, tattooed biker. No one suspects that all three dubious characters might be involved in something bigger, more high-tech, and much more illegal.

After a dizzying series of twists, turns, and chases, the cops will find they've stumbled upon a complex web of crime where even the criminals can't be sure who's conning whom.

Wambaugh once again masterfully gets inside the hearts and minds of the cops whose jobs have them constantly on the brink of danger. By turns heart-wrenching, exhilarating, and laugh-out-loud funny, Hollywood Moon is his most thrilling and deeply affecting ride yet through the singular streets of L.A.

I am giving Hollywood Moon by Joseph Wambaugh a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Little Free Library in Fremont, California #2

I love finding and visiting new to me Little Free Libraries!! My hubby and I visited Fremont, California yesterday. While we were in Fremont, California, we stopped by two Little Free Libraries to leave books for other readers to find and enjoy. 

I didn't take any books home with me from the Little Free Libraries we discovered, which was fine by me as I have so many books to read already in my ever growing 'To Be Read' pile.

Little Free Library in Fremont, California #1

I love finding and visiting new to me Little Free Libraries!! My hubby and I visited Fremont, California yesterday. While we were in Fremont, California, we stopped by two Little Free Libraries to leave books for other readers to find and enjoy. 

I didn't take any books home with me from the Little Free Libraries we discovered, which was fine by me as I have so many books to read already in my ever growing 'To Be Read' pile.

50/50 Friday --- Favorite/Least Favorite Book in the First Half of the Year

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @ The Butterfly Reads and Laura @ Blue Eye Books. This fun themed meme focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc). Every week a new topic will give bloggers the chance to showcase their answers.

This week's topic is Favorite/Least Favorite Book in the First Half of the Year!!

My Favorite Book This Year So Far

I've only given three books I've read this year a 5 star

review!!

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey

(click on above link to read my review)

My Least Favorite Book This Year So Far

I've written/rated ten books with 1 star

so far this year alone.... So,

it is difficult to chose which one of

these books is my least favorite!!

Darkness Blooms by Christopher Bloodworth

(click on above link to read my review)

So, which book have been your favorite and least favorite reads so far this year?

The Scent of Sunlight by Annie Bellet

Urban Fantasy Short Story

The Scent of Sunlight by Annie Bellet is an urban fantasy short story approximately 23 pages in length.

I was able to download The Scent of Sunlight by Annie Bellet to my Kindle for FREE from Amazon.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Scent of Sunlight by Annie Bellet.

I enjoyed reading The Scent of Sunlight by Annie Bellet. The characters are good and well developed for this tightly written short story. I liked the play of reality and fantasy and how they become intertwined... Where fantasy eventually becomes reality!

The following is a plot summary for The Scent of Sunlight by Annie Bellet from Amazon:

Single mother Queenie Hayes struggles to support her two young children and tells them stories of a world filled with sunlight instead of concrete, a world called the Veldt where magical creatures abound and her family roams, free from the trials of the real world. As a social worker threatens to break apart her family, the Veldt offers her family a chance to escape if she can find the courage, and imagination, to reach for it.

I am giving The Scent of Sunlight by Annie Bellet a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (The Horse Mistress #1) by R. A. Steffan

Unabridged Audio Version

I listened to the unabridged Audible version of The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (The Horse Mistress #1) by R. A. Steffan and narrated by in Gwendolyn Druyor one day!!

Listening time for The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (The Horse Mistress #1) by R. A. Steffan is 6 hours, 11 minutes.

R. A. Steffan is a new to me author. and I enjoyed listening to The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (The Horse Mistress #1). This novel contains many elements to it. It's historical fiction with elements of erotica, paranormal, and lgbt themes as well. I thought the story and characters were well developed and well written. I'd also like to add that Gwendolyn Druyor is a wonderful narrator, which always makes a book more enjoyable to listen to!

The following is a plot summary for The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (The Horse Mistress #1) by R. A. Steffan from Audible:

Carivel was born female, but she has been secretly living as a boy for years in her adoptive village of Draebard. The last thing she needs is to fall for not one but two unattainable men - a dominating warrior and a reluctant wolf-shifter with a horrific past. Now the Alyrion Empire is poised to invade, and Carivel must choose whether to keep her secret or reveal it - not only to the men she loves but also to the powerful female ruler whose army could help protect Draebard during the coming war.

Steamy and spellbinding, The Horse Mistress, Book 1 combines detailed world building and a heartfelt romance between three noble, damaged people who have no one to turn to but each other.

Author's note: This book contains descriptions of graphic sex, including sex between men, sex with multiple partners (MMF), and elements of fully consensual BDSM within a loving, established relationship. Additionally, it deals with issues of gender identity and gender fluidity. It is intended for a mature audience.

I am giving The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (The Horse Mistress #1) by R. A. Steffan a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars. I am not sure I'll read the rest of the novels in the 'Horse Mistress' series even though I enjoyed the first book in the series quite a bit.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Top Ten Tuesday ~~~ Books and Book Swag For Dad!!

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.

Here are my top ten tips for book related gifts to give your dad this year for Father's Day:

1. Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello ~~~ My dad has seen Elvis Costello twice in concert, so giving him this book is a no brainer!! 

Buying your dad a book about his favorite musician or band may be a good choice for Father's Day this year.

2. Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall ~~~ My dad has pretty much been a life long runner... So, buying him this book about a sport he enjoys participating in was a good choice. 

Perhaps buying a book about a sport your dad likes or about an athlete he admires may be the way to go!

3. NY Times Crossword Puzzle Books ~~ My dad has been doing crossword puzzles forever and they are another one of his passions, so buying him crossword puzzle books are always a great idea. 

How about buying a book about a hobby your dad enjoys may be the way to go for Father's Day!

4. My dad likes Ernest Hemingway's novels and has pretty much read almost everything by Hemingway. 

Buying a book by your dad's favorite author may be the way to go for Father's Day.  

5. Giving your dad a Kindle or other eReader would also make a great gift for Father's Day.

6. If your dad travels a lot and/or loves audiobooks, then buying him a Audible membership is a great gift idea for Father's Day.

7. Gift cards to your dad's favorite bookstore is another option for Father's Day.

8. Give dad book themed clothing. Out of Print Clothing is another great gift idea for dad this year for Father's Day.

9. Clear Acrylic Book Weight is another possible idea as a gift for dad for Father's Day!

10. Or how about a Personalized Library Embosser as a Father's Day Gift?

10 Of The Biggest Libraries In The World To Visit!!

I love libraries!! I now have 10 libraries to add to my bucket list of places to visit on vacations in the future. 

Check out the following article from Bustle's website titled, 10 Of The Biggest Libraries In The World To Add To Your Vacation Bucket List by Julia Seales to see which libraries made the list. 

I've heard of several of the libraries, but there are a few libraries that I have not heard of before... Like The National Diet Library in Tokyo.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

7 Coffee Shops for Book Lovers to Visit!

Love drinking coffee? Well, then you're not alone! Check out these seven coffee shops for book lovers that I discovered from Bustle's website titled, 7 Coffee Shops Every Book-Lover Should Visit In Their Lifetime by Joanna Novak.

So click on the above link to discover which coffee shops made the list!

The Dark Monk (The Hangman's Daughter #2) by Oliver Pötzsch

Unabridged Audio Version

Since I recently listened to the first novel in 'The Hangman's Daughter' series and I already had the second novel in the series in my possession, I decided to go ahead and listen to the unabridged audio version of The Dark Monk (The Hangman's Daughter #2) by Oliver Pötzsch and narrated by Grover Gardner.

Listening time for The Dark Monk (The Hangman's Daughter #2) by Oliver Pötzsch is 14 hours, 46 minutes.

I liked The Dark Monk (The Hangman's Daughter #2) by Oliver Pötzsch better than I did the first novel in 'The Hangman's Daughter Series' as it was more interesting and entertaining than the first novel. But, The Dark Monk (The Hangman's Daughter #2) by Oliver Pötzsch still didn't fully capture my interest as I hoped it would. I can't quite put my finger as to why that is, but let's just say that this historical novel was once again mediocre for me. I felt that the best part of this novel was Grover Gardner's narration and the author's notes and travelogue at the end of the novel were really engaging. Otherwise, as I've already mentioned, The Dark Monk (The Hangman's Daughter #2) by Oliver Pötzsch was simply mediocre.

The following is a plot summary for The Dark Monk (The Hangman's Daughter #2) by Oliver Pötzsch from Audible:

It is 1648, a small village in the Alps: In the thick of a blizzard,a town priest discovers he’s been poisoned. As numbness creeps up his body, he summons the last of his strength and scratches a sign in the frost that will lead the town hangman, his daughter, and the town physician in pursuit of a treasure of the Knights Templar. But the priest’s murderer is already on their trail, and he’s not the only one after the legendary fortune: a dark monk is not far behind,and a band of thieves is roving the countryside, attacking solitary travelers and spreading panic. The race is on, and the stakes are high.

Delivering on the promise of his first book, Oliver Pötzsch takes readers on a whirlwind tour through the occult hiding places of Bavaria’s ancient monasteries, bringing to life the compassionate hangman - who’s destined to join the ranks of literature’s most beloved characters.

I am giving The Dark Monk (The Hangman's Daughter #2) by Oliver Pötzsch a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars. I do not plan to read and/or listen to any of the other novels in 'The Hangman's Daughter' series.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Lilly and Fin: A Mermaid's Tale by Cornelia Funke

Hardback Children's Novel

Lilly and Fin: A Mermaid's Tale by Cornelia Funke is the first novel I've read by German born author and illustrator, Cornelia Funke.

I'd heard of Cornelia Funke and her Inkspell novels, but had yet to read anything she'd written until now.

I recently had the wonderful opportunity of seeing Cornelia Funke speak at the 2017 Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, California on Saturday, June 3rd. Ms. Funke gave an enlightening talk about her writing and answered sevearl questions from the audience, which was fabulous!

Cornelia Funke had read the first chapter of Lilly and Fin: A Mermaid's Tale while at the 2017 Bay Area Book Festival. I love mermaids and found the first chapter of Lilly and Fin: A Mermaid's Tale to be charming, so I decided to purchase a copy of this children's novel and have Cornelia Funke sign my copy of her novel.

First off, I love the color illustrations contained within Lilly and Fin: A Mermaid's Tale. The illustrations are fun, charming and drawn by the author, of course!!

Secondly, I enjoyed the characters of Lilly and Fin as well as that of the Kraken! The story and plot were also a lot of fun as well. Kudos to Cornelia Funke for creating such a wonderful children's book. I love mermaids, so was happy to read a book featuring mermaids.

And finally, the end of Lilly and Fin: A Mermaid's Tale by Cornelia Funke contains a link to find patterns to make four of the characters from Lilly and Fin: A Mermaid's Tale! I so want to knit the kraken at some point! There also hidden pictures in the illustrations to find within the book and also a Lilly and Fin game to play at the end of the book. These were cool extras!!

The following is a plot summary for Lilly and Fin: A Mermaid's Tale by Cornelia Funke from Amazon:

The beloved and bestselling author of Inkheart returns with a chapter book full of mischief, heart, and kid mermaids!

These mermaid friends are fishing for trouble!

Lilly and Fin are merpups—mermaid kids—who love to play and explore the caves outside the mermaid city. They aren’t really supposed to leave the city, but that’s what makes it so much fun! Surely all those stories about Two-Legs (you know, humans) and sea monsters are just made up to scare young merpups.

Little do they know, a real live human couple is on the hunt for a mermaid to add to their collection of rare sea creatures. If Two-Legs exist, what about sea monsters?

With fun full-color illustrations by the author herself, this adventure is sure to capture all two-legged chapter-book readers!

I am giving Lilly and Fin: A Mermaid's Tale by Cornelia Funke a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

50/50 Friday --- Best/Worst Place to Read

50/50 Friday is a meme hosted by Carrie @ The Butterfly Reads and Karen @ Blue Eye Books. This fun themed meme focuses on the opposite sides of books (best/worst, differing opinions, etc). Every week a new topic will give bloggers the chance to showcase their answers.

This week's topic/theme is to highlight the best and worst place to read.

Best Place to Read

Somewhere quiet, that is well lit, and offers
comfortable seating. This could be at home on a favorite
chair or sofa... Outdoors on comfy patio furniture,
at a beautiful park or the beach...
Even reading on a train or airplane can work
as long as it is quiet. Even a hot or cold beverage would be
enjoyable to sip on while reading.

Worst Place to Read

Anywhere where it is noisy, crowded, uncomfortable,

too hot or too cold temperature wise.
So, crowded/loud airports, train stations,
sporting events, etc. would all not work for me
as locations I would not want to read books.

Where is your perfect place to read??? Is there a place you dislike reading?? Tell me about it in the comments section below.

A Graphic Novel Version of 'To Kill A Mockingbird' Will Be Published in 2018!

Just read an article on Bustle titled, Harper Lee's Estate Just Endorsed A "To Kill A Mockingbird" Graphic Novel by Maddy Foley. In the article, Maddy Foley wrote the following:

In a statement earlier this week, Harper Lee's estate announced that the story of Scout Finch, whose childhood in small town Alabama is punctuated by a racially-charged trial and the heartbreaking aftermath, will soon hit shelves in a graphic re-telling. The project will be helmed by artist Fred Fordham, who recently collaborated with Phillip Pullman on The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship. "Adapting a story that means so much to so many – and finding the appropriate art style to give it life in a long-form visual medium – is a great honor and responsibility, and, mercifully, also a great pleasure," Mr. Fordham told The Guardian.

Wow, this is epic news indeed! I will be interested in reading the graphic novel version of To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I'm simply hoping that it will be a spectacular rendition and do the original novel justice.

Tired of Fake News?? Read These Books!!

The term 'Fake News' seems to be a phrase thrown around a lot during the past year give or take... So, when I came across the following article on Bustle titled, 8 Books To Read Before Getting Into Your Next "Fake News" Debate by E. Ce Miller, I decided to read the article and share it here on my book blog. In the article, E. Ce. Miller wrote the following:

While Kellyanne Conway has been credited with inventing “alternative facts” and a Donald Trump White House proclaims everything from crowd sizes to climate change as “fake news” the fact is that the history of fake news is centuries old — some citing ancient Greek writer Herodotus as the founder of selective sourcing; others claiming fake news began in 15th century Italy (where a Franciscan preacher named Bernardino da Feltre used a rumor to justify the mass-arrest, torture, and execution of members of the Italian Jewish community); and still more noting Orson Welles's 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds, first broadcast as a news bulletin. The fact is that fake news, whether it began 75 years ago or 2500, boasts a long and elaborate history that has very little to do with the Donald himself — though he and his cronies have undoubtedly harnessed its power in dangerous and disturbing ways.

I’m not saying that since fake news has been around longer than the organized news media itself, we should in anyway disregard the problem of a government that invents “facts” to suit its needs and disregards actual truth. But if you want to take on fake facts, you’ll want to arm yourself with as many real facts as you can first. The books on this list will take you into the history of journalism in the United States and around the world, demonstrating the ways a free press is critical to a free society and the ways media can be used to mislead and manipulate citizens, reminding readers that reporters risk their lives all over the world in pursuit of the truth, exploring how facts are used and abused by those in charge of them, and more.

Click on the top link above to discover which books made the list of books. Many of the books mentioned are ones I've never heard of before and would like to read. 

14 Careers For Readers!

I love reading books and have always wanted to get paid for reading books. It would be a dream job getting paid to read books, wouldn't it?! 

So when I came across an article on Bustle's website yesterday titled, 14 Careers For Readers, Because It Is Possible To Make A Living Off Your Love Of Books by Charlotte Ahlin, I couldn't wait to read the article and share a link to the article here on my blog! 

And, yes, a lot of the careers mentioned in the above article are obvious ones for book lovers, but a few of them are ones I hadn't thought about before. Click on the above link to read/learn more.

I Attended the 2017 Bay Area Book Festival!!!

Me @ the Bay Area Book Festival

Lucky me, I attended the 3rd annual Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, California!! The Bay Area Book Festival took place last weekend on Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th. 

This was my 3rd time attending the Bay Area Book Festival and I had a blast attending a few of the festivities with my husband... We only visited the Bay Area Book Festival on Saturday, June 3rd from 12pm to approximately 6:30pm.

During our time spent at the Bay Area Book Festival, my husband and I enjoyed visiting various book booths, hearing three different author speakers talk about their books and their writing, answer questions from the audience, discuss other topics, and of course, sign copies of their books.

Books I had signed by the author at the Bay Area Book Festival

I was able to have five books signed by authors who spoke at the Bay Area Book Festival this year to add to my ever growing collection of signed books!! I love meeting authors in person!

I was most excited about seeing and hearing, Roxane Gay, speak at the 2017 Bay Area Book Festival and having her sign copies of her books, Difficult Women and Bad Feminist. I am so glad that I was able to hear Roxane Gay speak at the 2017 Bay Area Book Festival this year. Roxane Gay is an amazing, thoughtful, and thought provoking speaker and I enjoyed hearing what she had to share with those who came to hear her speak. I'm looking forward to reading both of Roxane Gay's books that she signed for me!

Roxane Gay in conversation with Rafia Zakaria

I also enjoyed hearing author and illustrator, Cornelia Funke, speak at the Bay Area Book Festival and having her sign a copy of her novel, Lilly & Fin: A Mermaid's Tale for me!

Cornelia Funke (left) at the Bay Area Book Festival

Another amazing author speaking event that my husband and I had a chance to hear at the 2017 Bay Area Book Festival was a talk titled, 'When the Back Breaks: An Investigative Reporter Reveals All on the Back Pain Industry'. I enjoyed hearing investigative reporter Cathryn Jakobson Ramin talk about the back industry, hear her story dealing with back pain, and having Cathryn Jakobson Ramin a sign copy of her new nonfiction book, Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting on the Road to Recovery, for me.

Me and Cathryn Jakobson Ramin

I was also thrilled to have author Aya de Leon sign one of her books, Upton Thief, for me at the 2017 Bay Area Book Festival.

Me and Aya de Leon

I am looking forward to attending the Bay Area Book Festival next year as well! I can't wait to see who is coming to speak at next year's Bay Area Book Festival.

Until my next post, happy reading!!