I’ve been nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award and as I haven’t done a tag in a while I thought, why not!

“Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion.
– Okoto Enigma

I would like to start off by thanking Lucy the Bookworm Blogger for nominating me. I first came across Lucy’s blog through 20 Books of Summer, go check her out!

RULES

Put the award logo on your blog

Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog

Mention the creator of the award. The creator of this award is Okoto Enigma

Answer the five questions you were asked

Tell the readers three things about yourself

Nominate ten to twenty bloggers

Notify the bloggers that you nominated them by commenting on one of their posts

Ask your nominees five questions with one weird or funny one.

3 things about me

✔ I have celiac disease and a crumb of bread cripples me!

✔ I can’t touch velvet. Ugh just thinking about it makes me cringe!

✔ I ask a lot of questions. About everything!

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Here are the questions that Lucy gave to answer:

What is your ultimate comfort food?

My Mum’s chilli con carne without a doubt! I have the recipe but it doesn’t taste the same if I make it!!!

Which book format do you prefer to read (physical, eBoook, audio etc) or do you like to mix it up? If you had to choose one format which would you go for?

I read physical and ebooks and also listen to audio books but I think my favourite is an ebook! I read on my phone so I find myself snatching bits of my current read wherever I go!

Name a book or books that have had a big impact on you or changed your views?

This is hard and I really don’t know an answer! I deliberated over this question for ages. Then I felt really guilty and shallow for not being able to think of anything (but I bet as soon as this goes live I’ll think of one!)

What was a TV show or film that you loved as a child?

Don’t laugh but Knightrider. What’s better than an intelligent, talking car?!

What are your favourite type of blogs to do?

Wrap ups. I love to see how many books I’ve read in that month (or give myself a kick up the bum to do better the next month!!)

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Here are my 5 questions:

1) Do you participate in blogmas?

2) What book format do you prefer to read?

3) Your favourite read this year so far is….

4) Would you rather be covered in fur or covered in scales?

5) Do you take part in wrap up posts?

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I haven’t nominated anyone but please feel free to take part.

With Shanah being super busy and taking a well deserved blog break, there is no Top 5 Tuesday for July so I thought I’d have a go at doing my own (not all the time, I struggled to come up with this!!!)

Ok its not top 5 it’s top 4!!!

I love a bookmark as much as I love a bookish candle so here are my faves!

My Skyward magnetic bookmarks, we have Spensa, Doomslug and M-Bot!

 

My Wicked King bookmark with Cardan looking all tortured and schmexy with the famous, fab quote on the reverse!

 

I mean who doesn’t love Jay Kristoff? You all should because the man is a genius. This also reminded me that I don’t have enough bookish merch from Jay’s series so I am off to Etsy to look for more!

 

No ACO fans should be without their bookmarks and I have Rhys and Feyre flitting around my room in the shape of these magnetic bookmarks!

How about you, what bookmarks do you treasure?

Just a short one today and I hope this doesn’t come across as a rant!

I have a tbr of probably 150 books and deciding which one to read next is hard!

I agonised last night about what to pick up next and also again this morning when I got up, crazy right?!!

I have an old skool notebook of my tbr, I looked through them a few times, read blurbs, looked at covers, made a shortlist. But still I wavered.

So here I am now and still haven’t got a book that I’m going to read.

Its driving me crazy!

Apart from arcs, what’s your process?

Send help and tips, I need this!

Firstly….please don’t hate me!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!

I’m a certified Christmas nut! I mean it’s the most magical time of the year and whilst I don’t put deccies up or swap gifts etc in July, I want to remember the magic…..but put a Summer twist on it!

And let’s be honest we need some joy in our lives right now because of the stinker of the year so far!

Here are some things I thought I might try out……and you could to!

Instead of a Christmas tree, decorate a few pineapples!

That great Summermas drink, chocolate milkshake instead of hot chocolate!

Here’s a lovely recipe:

Do a Christmas themed jigsaw!

If you all don’t want to smack me yet, tell me if you celebrate Christmas in July….and even if you don’t, do you like the sound of any of the above?

Fairyloot – June 2020

Theme = A Different Kind of Magic

‘Celebrate unique magic systems − magic that is a little out of the ordinary, or not quite what you have come to expect. The types of magic that make you think, that make you wonder, that make you wish!’

Items inspired by The Bone Season, Avatar The Last Airbender, The Starless Sea, The Shadows Between Us, Alice in Wonderland and Blood Heir.

Included was:

🖤 Bone Season Socks

🖤 Starless Sea Patch by @dustandpages

🖤 Shadow Pin by @jezhawk

🖤 Elemental Coasters by @noverantale

🖤 Wonderland Tea Strainer

🖤 Tarot cards: Inspired by ToG by @Gabriella.bujdoso

🖤 Blood Heir Art Print by @arz28

🖤 Exclusive edition of The Guilded Ones by Namina Forna. This has a foiled filled cover and sprayed edges! (Release date Spring 2021)

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Forest of Souls by Lori M Lee

EXCLUSIVE COVER (with light green text) ✔

ARTWORK ON REVERSE OF DUST JACKET by @arz28 (and look at that spider!) ✔

SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR ✔

With Shanah being super busy and taking a well deserved blog break, there is no Top 5 Tuesday for July so I thought I’d have a go at doing my own (not all the time, I struggled to come up with this!!!)

Anyway, you know those book pretties that you love way too much because they essentially are your babies and they have a strict no touching rule? Well these are mine!

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

(Fairyloot exclusive and one of my fave reads from last year so no fingers allowed to touch!)

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

(Just Amazon bought but was such a brilliant read that no sticky fingers can go near it as I plan to reread, a lot!!)

A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy

(Fairyloot exclusive again – a fab read and the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen….so only look, no touch for anyone else!)

Only Work, No Play by Cora Reilly

(My fave by this author and its signed and personalised to me so I treasure it!)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

(Embarrassing story, I (wrongly) thought I had a first edition because of the 10 series of numbers and after doing the happy dance, I actually did the right research….and found out it wasn’t but no one can still touch it! 🤣)

Title: The Beginning of Everything

Series: The Rising #1

Author: Kristen Ashley

Once upon a time, in a parallel universe, there existed the continent of Triton. The land was filled with beauty, but it was also splintered by war. Out of the chaos grew a conspiracy to reawaken the Beast, a fearsome creature who wrought only tragedy and devastation. The only way to stop him was to fulfill an ancient prophecy: Triton’s four strongest warriors must wed its four most powerful witches, binding all nations together and finally bringing peace to the land.

This is the story of their unions: the quiet maiden Silence and the savage king Mars. The cold warrior Cassius and the fiery witch Elena. The steadfast soldier True and the banished beauty Farah. And the pirate king Aramus and the mysterious queen Ha-Lah. Their unions will not be easy, but each couple must succeed, for the fate of their world is at stake….

Omg I was so excited to dive in! More Fantasyland from the Queen KA!

This first book seemed to be setting the scene. The characters (there were a lot!), the history, the prophecy, the lands and the drama!

So here we have simultaneous love stories, well not love yet….but couples together with a purpose.

I must admit that Elena was my utter fave. A witch, totally talented, a warrior but totally femine and compassionate. Her mentors taught her well and this really resonated with me: ‘And she’d taught me much, including the fact that we had two eyes, two ears and only one mouth for a reason. Watch. Listen. And then make your decisions or carry forth your acts.’

And that ending. And a bargain that I don’t have to wait long until the next book….the Beast is almost here……

Title: A Favor for a Favor

Series: All In #2

Author: Helena Hunting

When I joined Seattle’s NHL expansion team, I thought it was the start of something great. But nothing ever goes the way you expect. Take my introduction to my new neighbor. She came rolling in on the hot mess express at midnight, making a racket while she tried to get into my team captain’s apartment. Did I mention that he’s married to a woman who definitely was not her?

Imagine my surprise when I end up with an injury that has me out of the game for weeks, and she’s the one to offer to help me. I should probably add that she’s not the captain’s mistress. She’s his sexy, pastel-haired younger sister.

So we come up with an arrangement: she rehabs me so that I can get back on the ice sooner, and she can add a professional athlete that isn’t her brother to her client list. Seems simple enough. As long as I can keep my hands to myself and my hormones in check.

Can I let you into a little secret? I loved this book! Loved! Everything!

I love Stevie. More than life. I mean who could not love someone who thinks like this ‘Not in a terrifying “Do you shoot porn?” kind of way but more of a “That would be a welcome stretch.’ You can make your own mind up of what its about!

Oh the anticipation of Stevie getting her hands allll over Bishop had me on the edge of my seat!

Bishop was moody, growly, superb and he totally had my fave, Violets number ‘I’ve been warned about Waters’s wife. We all have. By Waters.’ Hahaha aha!

This was hate to intrigue to attraction to love. Fan.flamin.tastic.

As I said earlier, I loved this book, even better than book 1 so now I can’t wait for book 3!

Title: A Lie for a Lie

Series: All In #1

Author: Helena Hunting

Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.

Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a monthlong sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.

A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey’s keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.

Firstly I cannot tell you how happy it made me in the first few paragraphs when I saw my fave characters name, Randy Balls!

But no more thinking back on the past….now for a future crush!

A funny, drama filled kids birthday party brings Rook face to face with his summer crush, Alaska girl aka Lainey

‘I should tell him my own truth. But for now we’re tied: a lie for a lie.’

Loved this one, a heartfelt, humorous, happy ever after read.