I’ve done Blogmas for 6 years running now and have absolutely loved doing it (and reading other peoples posts) so decided to do it again!
I’m hoping this will be a fun series of posts on the blog starting on 2nd December and ending on Christmas Eve!
I know that’s more than 12 days………..
I’ve seen most bloggers participate in Blogmas and post on consecutive days but I didn’t want to pressure myself that much over the Christmas lead up so I’ll be posting Blogmas posts every other day. I won’t be posting any book reviews (sorry in advance for when I post them all in January!!)
Anyway, the prompts I’ll be using for Blogmas are:
I’m on the countdown to Christmas now! Look out for my blogmas posts starting tomorrow!
May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.
‘Mankind is a great, an immense family. This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas.’ – Pope John XXIII
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.” – How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Dr. Suess
Calladia Cunnington knows she’s rough around the edges, despite being the heir to one of small-town Glimmer Falls’ founding witch families. While her gym obsession is a great outlet for her anxieties and anger, her hot temper still gets the best of her and manifests in bar brawls. When Calladia saves someone from a demon attack one night, though, she’s happy to put her magic and rage to good use . . . until she realizes the man she saved is none other than Astaroth, the ruthless demon who orchestrated a soul bargain on her best friend.
Astaroth is a legendary soul bargainer and one of the nine members of the demon high council–except he can’t remember any of this. Suffering from amnesia after being banished to the mortal plane, Astaroth doesn’t know why a demon named Moloch is after him, nor why the muscular, angry, hot-in-a-terrifying-way witch who saved him hates him so much.
Unable to leave anyone in such a vulnerable state–even the most despicable demon–Calladia grudgingly decides to help him. (Besides, punching an amnesiac would be in poor taste.) The two set out on an uneasy road trip to find the witch who might be able to restore Astaroth’s memory so they can learn how to defeat Moloch. Calladia vows that once Astaroth is cured, she’ll kick his ass, but the more time she spends with the snarky yet utterly charming demon, the more she realizes she likes this new, improved Astaroth . . . and maybe she doesn’t want him to recover his memories, after all.
Let me just start off by saying the dedication in this book was like it was written for me! ‘For all the angry girls who were told they were too much.’
From Fake Dating we know that Calladia, Mariel’s bestie, is prickly, aggressive, and a bit emotionally damaged.
We also know that Astaroth of the Nine, Demonic High Council member, is a bit of an arrogant you know what!
And thirdly, we know that Calladia kicked his behind for what he tried to do to Oz and Mariel.
Well….not only did Astaroth get his behind busted, he also faces punishment from the council for losing a bet and is sent to Earth where Calladia happens upon a very different version of him!
Calladia and Astaroth begin a quest! Cue snark, banter, confusion, corruption, werewolves, woods, crazy mothers and found family all wrapped up with spiciness!!!!
This was a funny and cute read and I wonder if there will be another book in the universe as I want more Lilith!
I normally do another Backlist challenge but for 2024, I thought I’d do my own!
Feel free to join in and let me know in the comments how many books you’ll go for!
Information:
* An annual challenge to read your tbr!
* THE GOLDEN RULE: The books you read must be published in the previous year or earlier, ie not in 2024.
* Set your goal and if you want, name your books, no pressure!
* Audiobooks, ebooks, paperbacks, hardbacks; they all count!
I set my goal in 2023 at 20 but I managed to read 28. I also added another rule for myself that these books must have been on my actual tbr with a date before 31 December 2022 and not bought/borrowed before this date.
So for 2024 I’m going to stick to the same, 20 books that have been on my actual tbr at 31 December 2023.
I’m not going to name books as I’m a mood reader but I have 98 books on my tbr so plenty to choose from!
Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Topic: Books Set In Or Around Forests
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd Jones Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw The Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood The Luminaries by Susan Dennard For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten Happyhead by Josh Silver In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
The faeries of Witchwood Manor have stolen its young lord. His governess intends to steal him back.
Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young charge transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t believe in faeries—which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself.
Witchwood Manor is bigger than its inhabitants realise, however, and full of otherworldly dangers. As Winnie delves deeper into the other side of the house, she enlists the aid of its dark and dubious faerie butler, Mr Quincy, who hides several awful secrets behind his charming smile. Winnie hopes to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot through wit and cleverness… but when all of her usual tricks fail, who will she dare to trust?
Absolute banger!
When Winifred Hall arrives at Witchwood Manor for her job as governess, she meets the butler, Mr Quincy. But both of them are hiding something as are others in the Manor!
Winnie is there to protect the Dowager’s Grandson from the malevolent spirits but there’s much more going on!
A gothicy, fantasy/horror lite story with an enemies to lovers plot, total spooky vibes, a very cute romance AND a fiesty undead cat. What more could you want?
I adored Winnie! She is unflappable, so strong, so matter of fact, a liar and so very determined. Oh and also utterly hilarious without even trying. ‘Oh dear. It seems a faerie has just stolen all of my unmentionables.’
This was a fantastic read and I need more! I’m off to stalk the authors socials to see if there are any hints of a next book!
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.
Hi everyone, hope you’ve had a good week and a great Thanksgiving if you celebrate!
It’s been a normal week here apart from my internet provider did me dirty and didn’t tell me they were taking down the internet in my area for maintenance so that meant a lot of stress on Tuesday when I couldn’t work! Had I known in advance I could’ve gone to the office so now I’ve had to give up a days holiday I had booked in December. I am not amused!
I’m on fire listening to audiobooks again this month. I’m loving Bookbeat and also my library (apart from the wait times!) so I think I’m going to cancel my audible membership in January as 1 book a month doesn’t cut it for me and I’m not buying more credits anymore!
New Arrivals
Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
What I’ve Read
🎧 Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Tyrants Tomb by Rick Riordan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Look out for my reviews soon!
You might have missed…..
Review – Throne of Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco Review – Reblogging Review – Heartsong by TJ Klune
All Robbie Fontaine ever wanted was a place to belong. After the death of his mother, he bounces around from pack to pack, forming temporary bonds to keep from turning feral. It’s enough—until he receives a summons from the wolf stronghold in Caswell, Maine.
Life as the trusted second to Michelle Hughes—the Alpha of all—and the cherished friend of a gentle old witch teaches Robbie what it means to be pack, to have a home.
But when a mission from Michelle sends Robbie into the field, he finds himself questioning where he belongs and everything he’s been told. Whispers of traitorous wolves and wild magic abound—but who are the traitors and who the betrayed?
More than anything, Robbie hungers for answers, because one of those alleged traitors is Kelly Bennett—the wolf who may be his mate.
The truth has a way of coming out. And when it does, everything will shatter.
Although I was confused about what was going on with the timeline at the start, I think this is my fave of the series so far!
Tip – make sure you remember what happened at the end of Ravensong then you won’t be confused!
We met Robbie Fontaine in the 2 previous books and this is the story of how he got where he was and what happens after, a continuation.
Ezra/Robert and Michelle, aka the enemy, are up to it again and the Bennett pack find themselves slap bang in the middle of it!
Kelly and Robbie make my life! ‘For when you’re ready.’ ‘Love, love, love, my heartsong.’
I don’t think this book was darker than the other 2 books but maybe more sinister. I’m so emotionally invested in this series and so addicted!
There’s something about these books, this found family, that makes me want to wander round in a wood and see if I can find them!!!!
OMG I was in awe of this book but I know the next one is going to be explosive!!!!!!
CJRTB Books 