Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!
This week’s topic is:
Reasons Why I Love to Read
I’m Addicted – it started when I was a young child and I just cannot stop reading!
Escape – I mean where else can I escape into worlds of the fae, vampires, etc…? I get to travel to different countries, realms, even outer space by reading books.
Bond – I get to bond with other book lovers out there and it’s nice to be a part of a big community. I also bond with my kids through books which is amazing.
Exercise my brain – reading exercises my brain and God knows it needs it! lol
Feels – I love the feel of a book in my hand. I read a lot of ebooks too now, but there is just something about holding a physical book that feels like it’s magic or that I’m home.
All the Feels – I love how reading makes me feel every emotion possible! Books can make me laugh, angry and cry. It can make me fall in love.
Book Covers – why do they have to be so pretty? Book cover art is beautiful! I can’t help reading a book because of an enticing cover and title as well.
Words – I love words, and the art of crafting words into a story. I can’t do it very well, but these authors put their heart and soul, blood, sweat, tears into their work and it’s an art I want to keep supporting.
Representation – when I can relate hard to a book, I feel seen which is so important.
Categories: Young Adult/New Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
From New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes.
Brie hates the Fae and refuses to have anything to do with them, even if that means starving on the street. But when her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court to pay a debt, she’ll do whatever it takes to get her back—including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court.
Gaining unfettered access to the Seelie court is easier said than done. Brie’s only choice is to pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of Unseelie misfits with their own secret agenda. As Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she struggles to resist his seductive charm.
Caught between two dangerous courts, Brie must decide who to trust with her loyalty. And with her heart.
I am a sucker for stories about the Fae so I was intrigued by the premise of this book. This was like a combination of ACOTAR and Cinderella. I love the world building with the Fae world and the history between the humans Fae.
Brie has a problem – she needs to save her and her skills as a thief is the only want to help her. She gets caught in a power struggle game between the Unseelie and Seelie court and there is deception everywhere. But who can Brie really trust? I honestly didn’t know who to trust either as I read the book.
I liked the second half of this book way more than the first half. It had much more intrigue, reveals and twists that I wasn’t expecting. Also that part in the blurb that calls this book sexy…yeah well, things do get sexier in the second half!
The Princes – oh for Brie to be caught between two handsome fae princes? Lucky girl. Did she choose the right one? I still don’t know!
I got bored in the middle of the story, because of the love triangle and mistrust – it was a lot of angst and drama. I just didn’t care for the “Cinderella” or The Selection vibe to Prince Ronan finding’s a bride.
Love triangle (Think Tamlin/Rhysand from ACOTAR). I don’t blame Brie but she kept reminding herself she loved Sebastien. Does she really if she has to keep reminding herself?
I think this will definitely appeal to fans of ACOTAR because it has so many similar themes. I had trouble connecting to Brie but the story does get juicy at the end when some secrets are revealed. Will I be reading the sequel? Most definitely after that wild ending. It will be interesting to see how this story concludes.
I love crafting – it’s been a part of me for so long. It used to be just a fun hobby until I took the plunge and opened an Etsy shop almost 9 years ago now? It was while I was pregnant with my son (who is turning 9 next month) and I had stopped doing massage therapy because I just couldn’t do it in my 3rd trimester. So I made bracelets and keychains and sold them on Etsy. I’ve done various things over the years but today I just wanted to show you my yarn rainbows that I made last week.
It’s been so hot to do resin crafts, because I work outside which isn’t ideal but the fumes can be a little much, so that’s why I work outdoors. But living in Hawaii means it’s warm and humid which makes my resin harden way too fast. I have to work fast and it’s stressful so I’m going to hold off on that until the weather cools down.
I was looking up some crafts I could do that require minimal supplies and these rainbows made me feel happy so I wanted to try and make them. I looked through a few DIY videos on youtube and some pins on Pinterest to learn how to make them.
The first three rainbows I made were okay but the technique of hot gluing the layers together was not working for me. Maybe my glue gun stick is old? It left a mess and the layers wouldn’t stick together! 🤦🏻♀️ So instead I sewed each layer together with yarn. It’s holding together so far! I bought a new hot glue gun and I’ll glue the knots on the back from the sewing. That means yes, the front side is way nicer than the back side haha, but I still think they are cute!
I found it relaxing to make them once I got the hang of it.
Are you a crafter? What kind of arts and craft do you like to dabble in?
#SixforSunday is… it’s really just that. You choose 6 books (normally) that you’d choose to fit whatever the prompt is that week. This meme is hosted by A Little but a Lot and you can follow the link to find the prompts for July to September.
This week’s topic:
Summer-y Colours
I’m going to do this one a little but different since it is July 4th here in America and the birthday of our country. Happy July 4th!
Another month has passed and it’s time to take 5 more books off my Goodreads TBR list – I don’t even know if these help since all I do is add more books to my list…lol…but here are the 5 books:
Heartless by. Marissa Meyer – I love her books and was interested in this years ago, but not anymore.
Shadowcaster by. Cinda Williams Chima – my Goodreads list is pretty screwed up. I don’t think I even read the first book in this series, or maybe I was going to or started and never finished? Anyway, this one has to go. No interest now.
The Fates Divide by. Veronica Roth – I read book one but lost interest in finishing the series.
The Savage Dawn by. Melissa Grey – another series where I lost interest because I got invested in other books. I really should read a series when all the books are available lol.
The Last of the Firedrakes by. Farah Oomerbhoy – I loved this cover for so long but never got a chance to read the book.
I found this fun summer book tag from I’m All Booked Up and since I’m trying to add more book tag topics on my blog, this one is perfect for the season!
So let’s get started:
1. Iced Drink: A Refreshing Book
Pumpkin is fun, heart-warming, feel-good story and perfect for Pride Month!
2. Cotton Candy: A Book That Was Fluffy and Sweet
Paris, ballerians, criossants and love? This one was definitely a sweet book.
3. Sunglasses: A Dark Book
This isn’t dark just because of the amazing book cover, but from chapter one it’s pretty intense and graphic.
4. Picnic on a Rainy Day: A Sad Book
This book cover looks fun and summery but nope – this one made me cry and broke my heart. 😭
5. Sand: A Book That Irritated You
This was a DNF for me because I couldn’t stand how one of the characters often talked in caps.
6. Summer Blockbuster: Favorite Book to Screen Adaptation
I loved watching this series come to life on Netflix. I think they picked the perfect people to play these beloved characters and the movie aesthetic was spot on!
7. Dropped Ice Cream: A Book You Were Anticipating That Wasn’t Good
This series has amazing reviews and the first book was pretty good, didn’t love it but I liked it. Then I read the second one and I struggled to finish it. Told myself not to even bother with book three. I blame it on the hype and my high expectations haha. It’s not for me.
8. Palm Tree: A Large Book That You Loved
Her books are getting massive! 🤦🏻♀️ But I did love this one.
9. Bonfire: A Book You Want to Burn
I don’t hate it though it was one I DNF’ed – it’s just not for me and I’d never burn a book unless it was necessary for survival! 😆 But since we are talking about bon fires – this one had a bon fire scene!
10. Fireworks: A Book That Exploded Into the Scene
I was there when it exploded haha! I mean, it was undeniable but this series was a force to reckon with when it published in 2005 and the iphone wasn’t even out until 2007 – we didn’t even have bookstagram or all this social media to push it out into the world. I bought it because of the cover from Barnes & Noble. When it caught fire, with the whole series out, I lent my hardcovers to so many family and friends and these were people who didn’t even like to READ! That’s how powerful this series was. I even lent it to my Pentecostal Christian friends who are against vampires and paranormal anything and I respected their views but they were the ones asking me for the books lol 🤷🏻♀️. It was quite a phenomenon.
Categories: Romance, Young Adult, Friendship, LGBT+
Contrary to popular belief, best friends Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are not codependent. Carpooling to and from theater rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient. Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment. Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway.
But when Kate and Andy’s latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off script. Matt Olsson is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.
Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship.
How cute was this book? I haven’t read anything from this author but this looked like it would be a fun read and it didn’t disappoint me.
First off, this is a love story, a platonic love story between two best friends who have the same crush on Matt Olsson. Kate and Andy have been best friends for a long time, he’s the boy next door, he’s the boy she first kissed and she was the first one he came out to. They are tight as can be and the most adorable platonic couple ever. They made me laugh, they made me feel warm inside with all the affection they shower upon one another. They are each other’s hype person and we all need that someone! But their friendship is tested when the crush they have on Matt gets deeper. Personality wise, I love how Kate and Andy balance each other out. Kate is that romantic, head in the theater clouds kind of girl, with some bouts of anxiety when she starts over thinking things. Andy is super confident, funny, and says what he means.
Communal crushes are a bad idea – because someone is going to get hurt. But Kate and Andy thought they were stronger than that, and I loved their communication. They hit a bump in their friendship because of Matt but in the end, their friendship really wins out. I love that about the story a lot.
There is so much diversity in this book. Andy is gay, their other theater squad member, Raina, is transgendered and so much more.
I think books with theater kids are so fun to read. Maybe because theater is all about drama and it brings that natural to the story.
I thought Noah and Kate’s relationship was also cute. She’s very judgmental about jocks, though her older brother is one and his best friend, Noah. Kate was traumatized by an incident that involved being teased and bullied by jocks and since then she has judged them harshly but she gets to know Noah more than him just being her brother’s best friend.
Triggers: bullying, online bullying
Kate is judgmental when it comes to jocks. She and her squad refer to them as f-boys. (Insert 4 letter F word there, haha). If they are a jock and play a sport they automatically get categorized an F-boy or F-girl which I think is kind of harsh. It’s the popular, party kids that get labeled that but of course, not her dear brother, even if he is a jock. Noah is an f-boy until they decide he’s chill. So Kate had to open her eyes a little just to see Noah as something more than a jock.
I read this book in one sitting because I was in love with Kate and Andy despite their communal crush on Matt. You already know it’s a bad idea from the start but their friendship is everything and it stands strong against hurt feelings. I love the diversity in the story and how easily the story flowed. I enjoyed all the characters, even her brother Ryan who was pretty mellow and seemed like someone without much of a personality – but he cares for his sister in his older brother kind of way and that seemed realistic. This was a feel good, heartwarming, funny book that made me fall in love with friendship.
Summertime is here and another month is gone. June was filled with family parties (now that restrictions have been lessened and vaccines are being distributed), and hot weather! So there has been a lot of pool and beach days going on in my life. I did manage to fit in some reading, so let’s take a look:
What I Read and Reviewed in June –
This Coven Won’t Break by. Isabel Sterling – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dead Lands (#3) by. Stacey Marie Brown – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Year of the Chameleon by. Shannon Mayer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meet Me in Paradise by. Libby Hubscher – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Chasing Lucky by. Jenn Bennett – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Gilded Ones by. Namina Forna – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Accidentally Engaged by. Farah Heron – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Black Sun by. Rebecca Roanhorse – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pumpkin by. Julie Murphy – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Vow so Bold and Deadly by. Brigid Kemmerer – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
ARC Reviews Posted in June –
The Queen Will Betray You by. Sarah Henning – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Six Crimson Cranes by. Elizabeth Lim – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Small Favors by. Erin A. Craig – ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by. Kristin Harmel – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Importance of Being Wanton by. Christi Caldwell – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Legends of the North Cascades by. Jonathan Evison – ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (BLOG TOUR)
Devil in Disguise by. Lisa Kleypas – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
ARCS I Read in June For Future Posts –
Actual Books Read in June : 13
Blog Tours: 1
I think I did pretty good! I read a variety of romance, contemporary, fantasy and I felt like I was less in a slump so yay, that’s always good news. How did you do in June? Did you finish the books you were planning on reading?
Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Political Intrigue
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to Tor Teen for giving me a chance to read this eARC.
The breathtaking sequel to The Princess Will Save You in the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky duology — a brilliantly-executed YA fantasy homage to The Princess Bride
To stay together forever, Princess Amarande and her stableboy love, Luca, must part: Amarande to reclaim her kingdom from usurpers, and Luca to raise a rebellion and find his destiny. Arrayed against them are all the players in the game of thrones for control over the continent of The Sand and Sky. Facing unspeakable betrayals, enemies hidden in the shadows, and insurmountable odds, their only hope is the power of true love…
In this sequel to The Princess Will Save You, the political chess continues! Ama and Luca are separated throughout most of this story but they reunite near the end. Amarande has really uncovered a lot of secrets about her family, some good and some bad. Luca also learns more about his past. They achieve what they planned to do and maintain their sweet love for one another throughout because it’s true love! The Princess Bride fans will know what that refers to!
Now the person I thought was the most intriguing in this story, which surprised even me because he’s a villain, is Prince Taillefer. He did some vile things to Luca and obviously he’s in it for his own gains but he had no qualms playing the long game to get his kingdom even if it was against his own mother. That whole family was pretty toxic but as a character, he was the most fascinating.
There is a lot of action in this sequel, especially towards the end and that was fun to read.
Triggers: violence, death
The Warlord in this sequel is brutal and quite unexpected because for the most part it reads like a light young adult fantasy novel (to me at least). I welcomed the brutality from the Warlord just to lend the story some intensity but yeah, it definitely showed the depths the Warlord was willing to go to show her power.
Speaking of warlord, there are a lot of villains and political intrigue in this story. I thought it definitely kept the story moving as we uncover betrayals and personal motivations from the players in this fight for kingdoms. Not even blood ties can keep you safe, like in the case of Prince Taillefer and his family. Who can really be trusted? Even Ama and her own mother had history to deal with.
Ama and Luca get their true love moment and even Prince Traillefer gets his way in the end . It leaves everything fair and square and the bigger villains vanquished. I think as a duology it was fairly enjoyable, with some parts that resembled The Princess Bride. I found the villains fascinating and the love story sweet. Overall, if you like political intrigue and a dash of true love – you may enjoy this one.
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 