20 Books of Summer: Update

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I’m really loving the idea of this challenge, reading books off my tbr is life!!!

I didn’t do an update in June but I made sure that I stayed on track, woohoo!

I did swap a couple of books out due to a dnf and interest! Maybe picking so many up front wasn’t the way to go!

Here are the books I read in June and July:

  • An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
  • By a Charm and a Curse by Jaime Questell
  • Knuckle Down by Chantal Fernando
  • Daughter of the Siren Queen By Tricia Levenseller
  • Hothead by Stella Rhys
  • Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas
  • Legendary by Stephanie Garber
  • A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A Cole DNF
  • Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
  • From Here to You by Jamie McGuire
  • Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
  • One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake
  • Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
  • Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff

So in August I need to read the books below to complete the challenge! Wish me luck!

  • Beneath the Haunting Sea By Joanna Ruth Meyer
  • Ink, Iron and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare
  • Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody
  • This Savage Song by VE Schwab
  • Our Dark Duet by VE Schwab
  • Hideaway by Penelope Douglas

Review: Throne Of Glass by Sarah J Maas

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Ok, I know I am so late to this party!

I don’t know why I haven’t read this series sooner and now I am regretting it! To put it simply, I am in love with it! All of it! The world. the writing, the characters and I cant wait to see what happens next!

Anyway…..I wont bore you with the blurb as I am sure that everyone has read but you can purchase here

CJR THE BRIT REVIEW

Superb. Just superb.

I was hooked. Couldn’t get enough of Celaena, Chaol and Dorian and all the shannanigans surrounding them!

And the intrigue! I was on tenterhooks!

And the promise of magic.

And the promise of friendships.

And the promise of love.

The promise of what could be.

Blew me away.

‘You could rattle the stars, You could do anything, if you only dared. And deep down, you know it, too.’

And in 5 words, near the end of this book, my excitement (and hope!) for this series soared…..

Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

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The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s UK

Buy on Amazon

Oh wow, really this book is just wow!  I didn’t really know what to expect when I dived in but I am so glad I did!  This was my first book by this author and it won’t be my last!

Here is the blurb:

 

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Two centuries ago, in the small, isolated town, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town. Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return from the depths, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them down to their watery deaths.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into or the fact that his arrival will change everything…

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

 

(Note the fancy box!  I am trying a few things out!!!)

 

CJR THE BRIT REVIEW

Oh bloody hell this book was beyond wonderful, I was entranced…..just like the boys who fall under the Swan Sisters spell…

Penny is a Sparrow veteran, well Lumiere anyway and she knows her fate….’Your fate lies at the bottom of a teacup.’

Bo has come to the island for reasons unknown….’He reminds me of someone who has left his past behind.’

And then we have the Swan Sisters. Beautiful, wild killers.

This story captivated me like no other. I read in 1 sitting as there was no way I was putting this down…..and it’s firmly on my reread pile!

Fairyloot Unboxing – June *spoilers*

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I could not have been more happy with this box. I was so happy when I opened it!

June’s theme is REBELS IN BALLGOWNS!

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  • An exclusive ‘Corvere’ candle by Geeky Clean inspired by Nevernight in honour of the Great Tide Gala. Strawberry and pepper scented, which I thought was odd but actually is rather lovely!
  • Cushion cover by Miss Phi featuring a quote from Legendary. My bed is going to be full of cushions soon and I couldn’t be happier!
  • Shatter Me magnetic bookmarks by Taratjah Art. Some of mine are getting a bit dog eared so these couldn’t have come at a better time!
  • A completely fabulous Masquerade Mask Necklace which I am going to wear on nights out.
  • Iron on patch by Ink and Wonder that I’m going to iron on to one of my book sleeves.
  • And the creme de la creme……an exclusive READING JOURNAL designed by Fictiontea Designs and Stella’s Bookish Art. Guys, this is just the best ever. I need something like this in my life and believe I actually screamed when I saw it! In fact I may do a future post on how I get on with it!
  • The book of the month is Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart and it’s an exclusive hardcover! Apparently it’s a feminist fantasy that has fierce sisters, rebellion and yes, a ball!

PREVIEW: Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren….

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I’m so happy that I got an arc of this so thank you to Christina and Simon and Shuster!

I really wanted to read this as I’ve heard from my book friends that Hazel is unique and quirky. Can never get enough of that in my book life!

Get ready for the release on September 4th by pre-ordering on Amazon.

Here is the blurb:

Most men can’t handle Hazel. With the energy of a toddler and the mouth of a sailor, they’re often too timid to recognize her heart of gold. New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Christina Lauren (Roomies, Beautiful Bastard) tells the story of two people who are definitely not dating, no matter how often they end up in bed together.

Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.

Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them…right?

Will you be reading?

Let me know your thoughts if you have read already.

CJR The Brit: My best reads from the first half of 2018!!!

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Here we are again, the first half of the year done!

What a great reading half year it has been!

So here are my books that I fell in love with in the first half of 2018 (not necessarily released then, I just read then!)

Turn by Cora Brent

See  my review here.

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

See my review here.

 

Crux Untamed by Tillie Cole

See my review here.

 

Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

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Yes the whole series!  See my reviews here.

 

And there we have it!

What were your best reads from the first half of the year?

 

CJR The Brit Review: Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

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I was really excited to read this but I didn’t get the great feeling I had when I read DOTPK, which was so disappointing but gave this 3.5 stars.

 

Here is the blurb:

Alosa’s mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he’s under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father’s justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

Here is my review:

‘I may not have been born in the sea, but I was born to rule it.
I am the daughter of the siren queen.’

Alosa is back and has the three pieces of the map but she also discovers a secret her father has been hiding. Then Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race for the treasure…..

It was action packed, fun and I loved the family that Alosa has built but for some reason, and I don’t even know what, I just didn’t gel with this book like DOTPK which makes me sad……but Riden is just delish!

 

CJR The Brit Review: Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh

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Title: Smoke in the Sun

Series: Flame in the Mist #2

Author: Renee Ahdieh

 

I was so excited to read this!

I loved Flame in the Mist and I couldn’t wait to get my grabby hands on Smoke in the Sun!

Here is the blurb:

After Okami is captured in the Jukai forest, Mariko has no choice—to rescue him, she must return to Inako and face the dangers that have been waiting for her in the Heian Castle. She tricks her brother, Kenshin, and betrothed, Raiden, into thinking she was being held by the Black Clan against her will, playing the part of the dutiful bride-to-be to infiltrate the emperor’s ranks and uncover the truth behind the betrayal that almost left her dead.

With the wedding plans already underway, Mariko pretends to be consumed with her upcoming nuptials, all the while using her royal standing to peel back the layers of lies and deception surrounding the imperial court. But each secret she unfurls gives way to the next, ensnaring Mariko and Okami in a political scheme that threatens their honor, their love and very the safety of the empire.

 

Here is my review – its a short review as I didn’t want to ramble on and on!

I couldn’t wait to see what happened after the ending of Flame in the Mist.

What would become of Okami?
Would Mariko marry Raiden?
Would Kenshin totally lose himself?
Would Yumi step up to the woman I knew she could be?

All I know from this book is that, not only was it an amazingly breathtaking conclusion but, Okami owns my heart even more:

‘I imagine the moon would be a thing of beauty on a night like this. But I prefer what I’m looking at now.
You likely say that to all the girls who rescue you.
They are a candle in the sunlight compared to you.’

 

CJR The Brit Review: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

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Oh what a magical read!

I absolutely loved Caraval so to get this was a no brainer – in fact I got the e-book and also ordered a signed paperback which has pride of place on my shelf!

Want to know what I thought?  Here is my review:

 

Caraval was a fantastic read for me and now Legendary. It was absolute perfection.

‘A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.’

I can’t even properly form the words to describe it!

At 30% I think I had guessed who Legend actually might be.

Then I decided I was wrong.

Then I decided I may have been right originally.

Or was I?

Then I questioned everything, myself, my life, the universe.

I simply loved Tella. I wasn’t sure about her in Caraval but she just exploded into my life in this book and I adored her. ‘Unfortunately Tella wasn’t the sort of girl people saved— she was the one they left behind.’

This story was just magical. I don’t really want to say anymore as I wouldn’t want to ruin this spectacular read for anyone, but if you loved Caraval and it’s twists, turns and general magical-ness, then you need to read this.