Monday, September 30, 2019

Top Ten Tuesday | Book Titles With Numbers In Them



Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week is dedicated to book titles that have numbers in them. I've read all fifteen books on the list. It turned out to be surprisingly easy to find books with numbers in them.

11223478. sy475  38225791. sy475  40048276. sy475
159296 37545347. sy475  7946737
281979 35265200
23394099. sy475  7217762 29002386 30259055
36840299 18667855 28691794 

This is as far as I could go before the numbers became part of years, and given my love of non-fiction, that is just plain old cheating; so many books I have read include years in the titles or subtitles.

Have you read any of these? Are any on your TBR? Leave a link to your TTT also and I will be sure to visit.

Happy Reading!
Sarah

Tackling the TBR | Week 36: Sept 22 - Sept 30, 2019



Basically, I have a huge TBR and often end up reading new books that are not even on my list instead of trying to whittle down the list that continues to balloon on Goodreads. I am going to make a real effort to get those books read instead of always grabbing new ones and thus never making a dent in the physical and digital stacks I already have. It will also gives me a chance to take a good look at my list and see if there are ones I'm no longer interested in. I will be posting on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and the last day of the month.

Previous Week's TBR Total: 3,227

Currently Reading: 8

Books Added to TBR: 2

Books Removed from TBR: 1

Books Read: 2

Books DNF-ed: 0

Duplicates Removed: 0

New TBR Total: 3,224

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Stacking the Shelves #63


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature co-hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality. It is a chance to showcase all the goodies you've collected throughout the week, whether they're bought on-line or in-store, an ARC or a final copy, borrowed from a friend or the library, physical or digital, etc.

Library Treasures
36742978

What did you add to your stash this week?

Happy Reading!
Sarah

Thursday, September 26, 2019

First Line Friday #75


First Line Friday is brought to you by Hoarding Books. Playing along is easy: open the book nearest you and share the first line. Then check out the link to see the other first lines offered up this week.

38243828


"Fotheringhay Castle once loomed majestically over the slow bend in the meandering River Nene. Today only a single lump of stone, fenced off at the bottom of the mound of earth on which it once stood, remains to offer a hint of past splendors."

*SIGH*


So many castles that I will never get to see because they were allowed to decay and crumble, lost to us forever. Though, given that this is the place where Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded after unlawfully being held prisoner in England for nearly twenty years, perhaps it's best that it is gone.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Happy Reading,
Sarah

Books From The Backlog #13



Books from the Backlog, hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books, is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your shelf unread.

I am featuring books in the order that they were added to my Goodreads To-Read shelf, so sometimes there will be a couple weeks in a row of books on the same topic.

Neglected Book of the Week
543013

Why did I add Catherine of Aragon to my TBR?

Because Catherine embodied grace and dignity her entire life, even when Henry sought to take it away. Catherine remains the true queen, though she deserved far better than Henry VIII.

Have you read this book, or is it somewhere on your TBR? If you've read it, would you recommend it to others?

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Top Ten Tuesday | Fall TBR



Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's topic is about the Fall TBR and let's be honest, there is only one book I am freaking out about, and it will be in my hands on October 1st thanks to Prime.

43899574

Happy Reading!
Sarah

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Book Review | Two Can Keep a Secret


38225791. sy475

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Holy hell. I didn't think McManus could top One of Us is Lying but shiiiiiiiiiit this book was SO GOOD. So, so good. So good.

I read this one ages ago and am just now reviewing it because sometimes I love a book so much, I don't know how to talk about it except to say "READ IT!" over and over again to anyone and everyone I meet. And while this might convey my enthusiasm for the book, shouting "READ IT!" over and over doesn't really provide any evidence for why.

So, I am going to attempt to do so as intelligently as possible, while simultaneously waiting for One of Us is Next to pop up on NetGalley. And if it doesn't, so help me God...

I do not read a lot of YA. I don't read a lot of fiction, period. But it was suggested to me by a book blogger friend to give One of Us is Lying a try and that book sealed my fate in regards to any future YA thrillers that Karen McManus writes. I was not at all disappointed by this one and as I was reading, I felt it was solidly on par with OOUIL, a very very solid four stars.

That last line though? The last line of the whole book, after Ellery and Ezra and the whole town went through their latest round of trauma with the disappearances and murders? That line alone was worth the additional star. It is THAT good.

It is hard to go too much into the plot without accidentally giving something away. The very bare bones of the story is this: Ellery and Ezra are twins, moving to Echo Ridge to live with their grandmother. Their mom is in rehab and is a hot mess. And of course picture perfect little towns are never really what they seem. Echo Ridge is no different. Ellery and Ezra's aunt disappeared nearly two decades earlier and new mysteries pop up just in time for the twins' arrival.

I have to stop there, because I don't want to give anything away, and I want everyone to read this one. Everyone. EVERYONE. And read One of Us is Lying, while you're at it. And get in line for the sequel to One of Us is Lying, which is One of Us is Next. But get in line after me, because I have been waaaaaaaiting and compulsively checking NetGalley every day to see if it available yet. You should also follow Karen McManus on Twitter, because she is pretty neat.

Anything else I say will pretty much just be me fangirling over this one, so perhaps it is best to just end with this: It'll keep you on the edge of your seat and the twists and turns are quite a wild ride. 

Highly recommended.

Book Review | Never Have I Ever


36679186

Spoilers ahead. You have been warned.

Rating: ⭐

What the fuck did I just read?

The Goodreads' blurb was so very promising. I do not read a whole lot of fiction, so it takes something pretty unique to grab my attention. A mysterious new mom breezes into town with her son in tow, blackmails the main character, worlds collide, secrets could be exposed...riveting, right?

Right, Except not.

Here is a better summary:

A Suburban Mom who used to be overweight and her bff (both were social outcasts in high school) were high and drunk at 3 AM and get into a car accident, killing a young mother, with her two children in the car. She's kept this secret for decades and even though she was a hot mess back then, she straightened up her act, stalked the kids of the woman she accidentally killed in order to take care of them and all their financial needs, while doing the same for her former bff who went to jail for three years as he was the one actually driving. Or maybe he wasn't, maybe she was, we never really get confirmation either way.

Anyway, in comes this Skanky Mom to the neighborhood who somehow knows Suburban Mom's secret about the accident and threatens to tell everyone, unless Suburban Mom pays her the money that she has been using to take care of the kiddos who are now grown, who lost their mom in that accident. Suburban Mom thinks she might have been the one driving the car and is worries about going to jail, but feels guilt of her former bff going to jail for it. Basically then it is just page after page of the two trying to outdo each other, Skanky Mom being a raging be-yotch and Suburban Mom being surprisingly good at outwitting her.

Then comes the end, where it turns out Skanky Mom is actually a child molester and the boy with her is not her son, but a 14 year old she is "in love with" and whom she has kidnapped from his mom and abusive dad in Seattle. His real mom had left his monster of a dad and has been looking for him. We find out that Skanky Mom is a child molester because of what Suburban Mom saw through the window as she was sneaking around outside the house. Suburban Mom goes in to save the boy, Skanky Mom grabs a gun, Suburban Mom somehow gets the gun (I skimmed a while after the yuck scene involving Skanky Mom and the 14 year old. Definitely was not necessary) and shoots Skanky Mom. The end.

I had heard some really good things about this book, but it was so boring, until the end with the scene with Roux (Skanky Mom) and Ezra (14 year old boy). It was wholly unnecessary and served no purpose except to get the dumbass Amy (Suburban Mom) to go into the house to stop it, and to start the final confrontation. And even had that short scene not been in the book, the book would still be terrible because it was so booooooooorrrrrrrring. It's just a couple hundred pages of  Amy and Roux outwitting each other and bargaining and all kinds of nonsense.

Hard pass.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Tackling the TBR | Week 35: Sept 15 - Sept 21, 2019



Basically, I have a huge TBR and often end up reading new books that are not even on my list, instead of trying to whittle down the list that continues to balloon on Goodreads. I am going to make a real effort to get those books read instead of always grabbing new ones and thus never making a dent in the physical and digital stacks I already have. It will also gives me a chance to take a good look at my list and see if there are ones I'm no longer interested in. I will be posting on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and the last day of the month.


Previous Week's TBR Total: 3,244

Currently Reading: 6

Books Added to TBR: 3

Books Removed from TBR: 20

Books Read: 3

Books DNF-ed: 0

Duplicates Removed: 0

New TBR Total: 3,227

Stacking the Shelves #62


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature co-hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality. It is a chance to showcase all the goodies you've collected throughout the week, whether they're bought on-line or in-store, an ARC or a final copy, borrowed from a friend or the library, physical or digital, etc.

Library Treasures
38915935 9054550
36679186 32620332. sy475

What did you add to your stash this week?

Happy Reading!
Sarah

Thursday, September 19, 2019

First Line Friday #74


First Line Friday is brought to you by Hoarding Books. Playing along is easy: open the book nearest you and share the first line. Then check out the link to see the other first lines offered up this week.

41454014. sx318


"The people who lived these stories are mortal. The force advancing on them is...time. Now, as never before, their stories need to be saved, protected, and moved to a new location: the hearts and minds of people who will carry their legacies and their mission forward."

I cheated a little bit and took this paragraph from the first PAGE of the introduction because it was far more powerful than the first line. I've never been a rule-follower anyway!


Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Happy Reading,
Sarah

Books From The Backlog #12



Books from the Backlog, hosted by Carole's Random Life in Books, is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your shelf unread.

I am featuring books in the order that they were added to my Goodreads To-Read shelf, so sometimes there will be a couple weeks in a row of books on the same topic.

Neglected Book of the Week
234671

Why did I add Bloody Mary to my TBR?

Because Mary deserves better than she has been given. I feel that the psychological trauma inflicted on her in her youth turned Mary into the queen she became. That doesn't excuse or justify any of the executions that she ordered, but it does put things into perspective.

Have you read this book, or is it somewhere on your TBR? If you've read it, would you recommend it to others?

Monday, September 16, 2019

Top Ten Tuesday | Favorite Things to Eat/Drink While Reading




Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week is a fun book-related topic - favorite things to eat and/or drink while reading.

I used to guzzle Mountain Dew by the 2 liter, until I gave it up cold turkey on account of it being, you know, TERRIBLE for me. I am not a coffee or tea drinker, and while I actually gave up all soda for the most part, I enjoy an occasional Sprite.

Mainly though it is my fave flavors of MiO, because I just can not handle plain old water - black cherry, blue raspberry, fruit punch, and acai berry storm are my faves.

As far as snacking goes, I try not to snack too much as I read - it is really easy to eat a lot and not even know it. BUT, I sometimes enjoy these yummy treats
product image zoom or Red Vines Licorice Twists 5-Ounce Trays - Original: 24-Piece Box

What snacks and drinks do you enjoy with a good book? Leave a link to your TTT also and I will be sure to visit.

Happy Reading!
Sarah

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Tackling the TBR | Week 34: Sept 8 - Sept 14, 2019



I am desperately trying to get my TBR under control. I have a huge backlog of books and often end up reading new books that are not even on my list, instead of trying to whittle down the list that continues to balloon up on Goodreads. I am going to use this as a chance to get those books read instead of always grabbing new ones and thus never making a dent in the physical and digital stacks I already have. It will also gives me a chance to take a good look at my list and see if there are ones I'm no longer interested in. I will be posting on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and the last day of the month.


Previous Week's TBR Total: 3,232

Currently Reading: 6

Books Added to TBR: 13

Books Removed from TBR: 0

Books Read: 2

Books DNF-ed: 0

Duplicates Removed: 0

New TBR Total: 3,244


Oops.

Stacking the Shelves #61


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature co-hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality. It is a chance to showcase all the goodies you've collected throughout the week, whether they're bought on-line or in-store, an ARC or a final copy, borrowed from a friend or the library, physical or digital, etc.

Library Treasures*
18051929 40697606 40696945
42354188 42036560 42963285. sy475
34275220 35270694 44577407
  
Borrowed From a Friend
25189315. sy475

What did you add to your stash this week?

Happy Reading!
Sarah

*I went to the library to get the Nazi/Serial Killer book and that was supposed to be all. The others jumped into my arms before I could leave.