Bit late posting this but I had to as I LOVED it!

Fairyloot: December

Theme = Defying The Odds

Another great box….and I actually screamed when I saw the arc!

Bookish Microfiber Cloth

Design by @literarylifeco, How many chapters can you read in 1 night?!

Fire Breathing Queen Pin

Designed by @bookmarks.tattoos. Inspired by Aelin from ToG.

Bookish Socks

By Fairyloot Inspired by The Wrath and the Dawn.

Pouch

By @chattynora. Inspired by Red Rising.

Game of Pencils

By Fairyloot. Colours and motto’s of the Houses from GoT.

Magnetic Bookmarks

Designed by @pigeon.princess. Characters from Skyward.

Bookish Tea

Made by @thetealeafcompany. Blend inspired by Ead from The Priory of the Orange Tree.

 

BOOKS (yes plural!)

An arc! Yes an arc!

Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco

To be released March 2020

Exclusive cover ✔

Signed bookplate ✔

 

Eight Will Fall by Sarah Harian

Exclusive cover ✔

Embossing ✔

Signed ✔

Art of reverse of jacket ✔

This was a beta read for me and then another reread with the arc. Oh gawd I was waiting for this story!

Title: Twisted Hearts

Author: Cora Reilly

Savio Falcone has a few non-negotiable rules when it comes to girls.
They need to be hot as f*ck.
Spread their legs without much prompting.
And leave as soon as the fun is over. Preferably minus any bitching or tears.
With his easy-going bad boy attitude, a last name that rules over Las Vegas and a body to die for, girls have always been at Savio’s disposal.
Unfortunately, the hottest girl in Vegas comes with a price Savio isn’t willing to pay. For Savio to get Gemma he’d need to seal the deal and put a ring on her finger. Settling down is out of the question, no matter how hot a piece of ass waits at the altar.
Gemma Bazzoli has had a crush on Savio from the first moment she came face to face with his arrogant smile, but for him she was always his best friend’s annoying little sister—until her hard-earned curves catch even his attention.
But Savio likes it easy, and Gemma is anything but. When she’s promised to another man, Gemma resigns herself to the fact that the man she’s wanted all her life, doesn’t want her badly enough.
Savio has to decide how much work he’s willing to invest, because bending the rules in his usual style might not be enough to get the girl that haunts his wet dreams.

The Bull and his Kitty…..
Get ready for this ladies as you will feel every emotion. Throwing my kindle across the room was my most felt emotion! Luckily this was replaced with joy and cheers!
I thought I loved Savio but for a lot of this book I wanted to kick him in his man bits! Saying this, I just ate this story up as I needed it all!
I just love the family dynamic. As screwed up as their lives are, it’s still beautiful.
‘We lived for each other. Each of us would die for the other.’
Just look out for Nonna. She is my spirit animal.
A final note to say my expectations were blew out the water. Love it when a book does that!

Following swiftly on from listening to the Siege and Storm trilogy, I couldn’t wait to get back to the Grishaverse world!

Title: Six of Crows

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

Audio listen – I was worried I was going to get confused with the different narrators but I didn’t and it was fab, Jesper’s voice was just dreamy! Saying this I think I would still like to read the actual words (good job I have on ebook too!)

A group of criminal teenagers trying to break into an unbreakinable (is that a word?) prison. So…..is it worth the hype?

OMG yes. And let me tell you why…..

Let me just say that The Dregs are just everything. Everything. Kaz warmed my heart. He really has been through it and his back scenes really broke my heart.

But my absolute fave was Nina. She is snarky and sassy but totally soft and loveable. Her friendship with Inej warmed my heart, 2 women standing together.

But it all comes down to this for me….I have never wanted something so much more than Nina and Matthias. Enemies to lovers. Gaaaaah, yes! I lived for them!

This book was genius. A clever, creative plot, fabulous characters, fantastic banter and this review just proves to me that I am totally led by my heart when it comes to my reading!

Bring on Crooked Kingdom!

After loving Skyward so much, I needed this book in my life!

Title: Starsight

Author: Brandon Sanderson

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she’s a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing.

Spensa is sure there’s more to the story. And she’s sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars–and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie.

But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself–and she’ll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.

It’s no secret that I LOVED Skyward (I mean I was obsessed!) and I had the lovely Fairyloot hardback version. Starsight, I listened to on audio.

Isn’t it weird how you say a name in your head but then when you hear it pronounced out loud, your like, whaaaaaat? In the physical copy I said her name as Spen-za. Audio – MBot was calling her Spencer. It really bugged me!

Anyway, minor confusion out the way!

One thing I knew before I went into this is that I needed more Doomslug. I needed more MBot and I needed more kick ass Spensa. Oh boy did I get all of that and more!

This was a solid sequel, maybe a bit slow at times but I loved the new direction it took. I was totally hooked!

Here are some (v short!) notes I took along the ride:

Loved the Kitsen (especially Hesho)

Loved Cuna from the start (!)

Winzik was just vile.

Hated Brade, untrustworthy swear word!

Was so, so intrigued by the Delvers.

And now, with that ending I need more!

 

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!

My favourite Friday night!

Ok, I know I said no challenges for 2020 but…..I couldn’t resist!!!!

I am getting into audio listens and am realising that I love them. Simply love them!

It’s hosted by Hot Listens and Caffeinated Reviewer and you can see the sign up post here.

I’m going to go for 10-15 listens, Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) You can see the other levels below.

Challenge Details

* Runs January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020. You can join at anytime.

* The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2020 than you did in 2019.

* Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)

* ANY genres count.

* Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.

* You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.

Updates plus a giveaway will be posted twice during the year. First update in June 30, 2020 and last update in December 15, 2020.

Levels

Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5

Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10

Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15

Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20

Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30

My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+

Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+

The 100 Club (Audiobook Elite) 100+

Out with the old, in with the new: may you be happy the whole year through. Happy New Year!

Bring on 2020!!!

Title: Ruin and Rising (Grishaverse 3)

Author: Leigh Bardugo

The capital has fallen.

The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation’s fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova’s amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling’s secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

All in all this was a great conclusion to the series but…..lets just get my irk out the way before we get to the good stuff!

Wasn’t the never ending saga of Mal and Alina trying not to be together just absolutely exhausting?!!!

One person that still has my heart in this book is The Darkling aka Aleksander, no matter what he did, I didnt care….still loved him! I miss him already!

And the other who has my heart, Nikolai. My poor heart! I cannot wait to dive into King of Scars….but Six of Crows calls!

Hi! Hope you had a good reading month and a great Christmas?

We had a lovely Christmas spent with family along with loads of food and great company! And now soon we have to tackle January, what feels like the longest, most boring month of the year!

December was actually a great reading month for me, I read (and listened to) 14 books!!! That’s a record for me, think these winter nights make me want to read!

Please excuse all the ‘see my review soon’ comments. I didn’t want to bombard everyone with posts from me so whilst Blogmas was on, I saved up my reviews!

Christmas in the City – Various

See my review here.

All Wrapped Up for the Holidays – Various

See my review here.

Wicked Hexes by Amelia Hutchins

This was a ‘me’ quick read (4 stars) and my review was a one-liner so wont post here!!!

Twisted Hearts by Cora Reilly

Beta read – review to come on release day (7th January)

A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy

Look out for my review soon!

Baiting Him by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Look out for my review on release day (14 January)

The Night Country by Melissa Albert

Look out for my review on release day (9 January)

 

And an impromptu series reread! I love the Fantastical series by Kristen Ashley and if I’m ever feeling a bit slumpy, then this helps!

Wildest Dreams

The Golden Dynasty

Fantastical

Broken Dove

 

🎧 Audible Listens 🎧

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Look for my review tomorrow!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Look out for my review soon!

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Look out for my review soon!

 

Tell me…how was your Christmas?