Top 5 Tuesday is brought to you by Shanah at the Bionic Bookworm, see her original post here.
Theme = Anticipated books for 2020
So many. Oh so many that my bank account is quivering with fear!
But these are my most anticipated:
Crescent City by Sarah J Maas
How to Love Your Elf by Kerrelyn Sparks
Aurora Burning Jay Kristoff
Empire of the Vampire Jay Kristoff
Bridge of Souls by Victoria Schwab
What are your ‘must have’ books releasing in 2020?
I don’t normally feature cover reveals but for this, I couldn’t resist!
Lookie……👀……aaaaaah…….
Title: Frozen Stiff Drink
Series: Braxton Campus Mysteries #6
Author: James J Cudney
A winter blizzard barrels toward Wharton County with a vengeance. Madam Zenya predicted the raging storm would change the course of Kellan’s life, but the famed seer never could’ve prepared him for all the collateral damage. Nana D disappears after visiting a patient at Willow Trees, leaving behind a trail of confusion. When the patient turns up dead, and second body is discovered beneath the snowbanks, Kellan must face his worst fears. What tragedy has befallen his beloved grandmother?
Kellan’s brother Hampton learns essential life lessons the hard way after his father-in-law accuses him of embezzlement. While trying to prove his innocence, Hampton digs himself a deeper hole that might lead to prison. Sheriff Montague wants to save him, but she receives the shock of her life as the past hurtles forward and complicates her future.
Between locating Nana D and solving the scandalous murder of another prominent Braxton citizen, Kellan and April’s worlds explode with more turmoil than they can handle. Too bad neither one of them knows what to do about the psychic’s latest premonition. The suspicious deaths happening around town aren’t ending anytime soon.
About the Author
James is my given name, but most folks call me Jay. I live in New York City, grew up on Long Island, and graduated from Moravian College. I spent fifteen years building a technology career in the retail, sports, media, and entertainment industries. I enjoyed my job, but a passion for books and stories had been missing for far too long. I’m a voracious reader in my favorite genres (thriller, suspense, contemporary, mystery, and historical fiction), as books transport me to a different world where I can immerse myself in so many fantastic cultures and places. I’m an avid genealogist who hopes to visit all the German, Scottish, Irish, and British villages my ancestors emigrated from in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Writing has been a part of my life as much as my heart, my mind, and my body. I decided to pursue my passion by dusting off the creativity inside my head and drafting outlines for several novels. I quickly realized I was back in my element growing happier and more excited with life each day. My goal in writing is to connect with readers who want to be part of great stories and who enjoy interacting with authors. To get a strong picture of who I am, check out my author website or my blog. It’s full of humor and eccentricity, sharing connections with everyone I follow—all in the hope of building a network of friends across the world.
When I completed the first book, Watching Glass Shatter, I knew I’d stumbled upon my passion again, suddenly dreaming up characters, plots, and settings all day long. I chose my second novel, Father Figure, through a poll on my blog where I let everyone vote for their favorite plot and character summaries. It is with my third book, Academic Curveball, the first in the Braxton Campus Mysteries, where I immersed myself in a college campus full of so much activity, I could hardly stop thinking about new murder scenes or character relationships to finish writing the current story. Come join in the fun!
The places to find Jay…….
Websites & Blog
Website: https://jamesjcudney.com/
Blog: https://thisismytruthnow.com
Social Media Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/James-J.-Cudney/e/B076B6PB3M/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamescudney4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesJCudneyIVAuthor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BraxtonCampusMysteries/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jamescudney4/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamescudney4/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jamescudney4
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescudney4
@jamescudney4 @Shalini_G26 @NextChapterPB #NextChapterPub
After Crooked Kingdom ate my heart up and spat it out, I needed to read this immediately for some reassurances that everything would be ok…..is that weird?!!
Series: Nikolai Duology 1 (Grishaverse 6)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.
Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.
This was everything I dreamed about!
And my review is entitled: ‘4 reasons I am giddy about this book’!!
Nikolai and Zoya – so wanted these 2 together. I hated Zoya in the beginning of the Grishaverse trilogy but slowly warmed up to her. In this book I loved her!
Nina and Nikolai – yes I know what I said above but my gawd I also wanted Nina with Nikolai! She absolutely broke my heart in this book. She deserves this. As you can tell I am still apoplectic at the injustice of what happened in Crooked Kingdom!
Nikolai – I mean come on. He is simply the best character out of all these books, even better than The Darkling. Yes. I went there.
Nikolai’s personality – witty, charming, intelligent, vulnerable and he is a King! What more could you want?
Yes I know my 4 giddy reasons all contain Nikolai and I do not care. I love him. In my opinion Alina should’ve shot Mal and married Nikolai!!!!!
But can we just talk about that ending? No. No I cant. I actually cant talk about it as my jaw is still on the floor.
January seems like the worst month of the year doesn’t it?!
The Christmas excitement is over, it’s cold, it’s a long month and the early December pay has ran out.
So I thought, let’s have some laughter…..and I think we all agree that there is nothing better than books!
Top 5 Tuesday is brought to you by Shanah at the Bionic Bookworm, see her original post here.
I don’t think I am a ‘critical’ reader by any means but I know what I like and I know what I love.
Over the past year I think I’ve been more picky about what rating I give a book so this topic was perfect for me!
Theme = Top 5 Reasons I Rate a Book 5 Stars
Pacing 🏃♀️
I’m one of those who wants it not too fast but not too slow. I want it all!!!!!
Writing Style ✒
If I don’t like the authors/books writing style it’s going to have an effect on what I think of the book.
Plot 📖
It needs to be interesting, make sense and have no holes! If there are holes, it totally takes my concentration away as I’m thinking about it!
Feels 😿😹
How the story makes me feel. I want all those feels! Well not in real life, just in the world that I am currently inhabiting!
Recommend 🏆
If I want to plaster the book all over social media, if I want to discuss with a book friend who has read and if I push the book on my book friends then it’s a winner for me!
What about you? What makes you rate a book 5 stars?
I got this book in my Fairyloot box and followed along with their readalong….so good!
Title: A River of Royal Blood
Author: Amanda Joy
Sixteen-year-old Eva is a princess, born with the magick of marrow and blood–a dark and terrible magick that hasn’t been seen for generations in the vibrant but fractured country of Myre. Its last known practitioner was Queen Raina, who toppled the native khimaer royalty and massacred thousands, including her own sister, eight generations ago, thus beginning the Rival Heir tradition. Living in Raina’s long and dark shadow, Eva must now face her older sister, Isa, in a battle to the death if she hopes to ascend to the Ivory Throne–because in the Queendom of Myre only the strongest, most ruthless rulers survive.
When Eva is attacked by an assassin just weeks before the battle with her sister, she discovers there is more to the attempt on her life than meets the eye–and it isn’t just her sister who wants to see her dead. As tensions escalate, Eva is forced to turn to a fey instructor of mythic proportions and a mysterious and handsome khimaer prince for help in growing her magick into something to fear. Because despite the love she still has for her sister, Eva will have to choose: Isa’s death or her own.
A River of Royal Blood is an enthralling debut set in a lush North African inspired fantasy world that subtly but powerfully challenges our notions of power, history, and identity.
This is a debut from the author? Well it was fabulous! I took part in Fairyloot’s readalong but couldn’t help reading more than the intended chapters each day as I wanted it all!!!
Let me start off by saying I thought this story had fab world building. A world with a rich and tragic history where 2 sisters have to fight to the death to take the throne….only 1 can survive.
There was also a great backstory throughout the book that had me hooked!
I must admit I didn’t take many notes throughout this book but here are the bits I loved….
The magick system,
The characters; Prince Aketo, Falun and Bacha (although I found it odd that he just appeared and was accepted instantly but I get Eve was desperate!!!)
Whilst we are on the subject of Aketo (we were weren’t we?!) I will just say that I love him. Like actually loved him, horns and all!
But that ending….I need that next book and I need it now!
Look what arrived!!!
The Fairyloot special edition of A Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer!
When I heard it had been delivered my heart gave a little jump!
It came with a postcard…
And a lovely holographic spine…..
It’s signed and has a ribbon bookmark………
And now to dive in and hopefully get the same feeling I had when reading A Curse So Dark and Lonely!
January seems like the worst month of the year doesn’t it?!
The Christmas excitement is over, it’s cold, it’s a long month and the early December pay has ran out.
So I thought, let’s have some laughter…..and I think we all agree that there is nothing better than books!
(That owl though!)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Welcome to the world of the Grisha.
Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives.
Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties.
A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets – a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.
It’s a good job this was an audio book or my kindle would’ve blown up from my tears!
Now that’s out the way I’ll say no more and get on with it (between sobs, I’m devastated!)
This book continues from where Six of Crows left off….getting Inej back and thwarting Van Eck.
I knew I wanted loads of action from this book. I wanted loads more Nina and Matthis. I wanted Kaz to get his finger from out his behind and get Inej!
And, oh my. Oh my. I am nearly lost for words. I got it. I got it all.
As in the first book, the world they live in was totally amazing, there was loads of action and I was totally hooked.
Even though I’m totally gutted where the plot went, I liked it. Also do you think there could be more? Like a where are they now?
CJRTB Books 