Book Haul | June 2023

Have you gotten some new books lately? Here’s what I got!

NETGALLEY::

The fates of two bitter enemies with opposing magical abilities are swept together in The Hurricane Wars, the spellbinding debut in a fantasy romance trilogy set in a Southeast Asia-inspired world ravaged by storms, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and R. F. Kuang.

The heart is a battlefield.

All Talasyn has ever known is the Hurricane Wars. Growing up an orphan in a nation under siege by the ruthless Night Emperor, Talasyn has found her family among the soldiers who fight for freedom. But she is hiding a deadly secret: light magic courses through her veins, a blazing power believed to have been wiped out years ago that can cut through the Night Empire’s shadows.

Prince Alaric, the emperor’s only son and heir, has been forged into a weapon by his father. Tasked with obliterating any threats to the Night Empire’s rule with the strength of his armies and mighty Shadow magic, Alaric has never been bested. That is until he sees Talasyn burning brightly on the battlefield with the magic that killed his grandfather, turned his father into a monster, and ignited the Hurricane Wars. In a clash of light and dark, their powers merge and create a force the likes of which has never been seen.

Talasyn and Alaric both know this war can only end with them. But a greater threat is coming, and the strange new magic they can create together could be the only way to overcome it. Thrust into an uneasy alliance, they will confront the secrets at the heart of the war and find, in each other, a searing passion–one that could save their world…or destroy it.

An exquisite fantasy brimming with unforgettable characters, sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance, and richly drawn worlds, The Hurricane Wars marks the breathtaking debut of an extraordinary new writer.


#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey delivers a sexy, hilarious standalone holiday rom-com about the adult children of two former rock stars who team up to convince their mothers to play a Christmas Eve concert…

Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.

Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite–the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.

While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything–the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.


A poignant and powerful story of a grieving girl willing to risk everything, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson.

On prom night, Hannah MacLaren sits in the headmaster’s office in her fanciest dress, soaked to the bone. She is in huge trouble after pulling the fire alarm right as the prom was about to be crowned. But Hannah had her reasons . . .

One year ago, her cousin Sophie, who was also her best friend and the person she loved most in the world, died of an overdose. Drowning in grief, Hannah became obsessed with one Who gave Sophie those pills? Who is refusing to give her family the closure they deserve?

Then she concocted a enroll at her cousin’s fancy private school with a new look and a mouthful of lies, and finally uncover the truth.

But Hannah didn’t expect all the lines to blur. She didn’t expect Sophie’s friends to be so complicated. She didn’t expect to fall for her longtime enemy. Now, she must choose to either let herself really mourn Sophie and move on, or see her search through to its explosive end–even if it means destroying herself.


Full Metal Alchemist meets Vampire Diaries in this fun and clever dark academia series…

High school is supposed to be about studying, socializing, and marching-band practice. Not fighting vampires. Then one night flipped my world inside out―now, my life sucks. But it isn’t all bad. I’m at a slayer academy, learning things like the real origin of vamps and how to make serious weapons out of thin air.

Every last one of them will pay for what they did. I’m doing great.

Until I come face-to-face with the actual vampire prince…and I’m not sure of anything anymore. Vampires are supposed to be soul-sucking demons. But Khamari is…something else. He’s intelligent and reasonable―and he seems to know things about me that could change everything.

He’s also hiding something big, even from his own kind. And when a threat from an ancient evil is so extreme that a vampire will team up with a slayer to take it down, it isn’t just my need for revenge that’s at stake anymore.

It’s the whole damn world.

KINDLE UNLIMITED:

A magical prince wants to date me, but there’s one big problem.

This prince has claws.

Everyone at Shadow Hills Academy desires the dark and powerful Jarron Blackthorn. But I’m the only one who has seen the terrifying beast beneath his magical façade.

When my sister is murdered, and the case mysteriously dropped, I know where to begin my own investigation—Shadow Hills Academy, an elite school for supernaturals. Technically, I have zero magic, but just enough skills with potions to be accepted. Now I have the means to get close to the most likely culprits—powerful people like the demon prince Jarron.

I was friends with Jarron years ago, before I saw his true form, but I’m still shocked when he reacts to news of my sister’s death with a fierce determination for vengeance. He has an insane plan to help me get access to Elite Hall, where the most powerful students reside—by pretending to date me.

Dating a demon was NOT how I expected this year to start, but his plan will work. Hang on the arm of Jarron Blackthorn, the heir of the Under World, and everyone in school will be so desperate for my friendship they’ll spill their darkest secrets.

I just have to make sure Jarron never learns he is my number one suspect.

Keep your enemies close, right?

KINDLE Bought E-Books:

Kresley Cole’s New York Times bestselling Arcana Chronicles series comes to a spectacular and fiery conclusion in this final installment.

When even the gods hold their breath . . .

To defeat the Emperor and Fortune, Evie, the great Empress of Arcana, must repair her bond with Death, despite the earth-shattering developments between them.

And danger lurks in every shadow . . .

Their allies—a sea witch, a band of roving warriors, and more than a couple of rogues—overcome terrifying obstacles to help them. But when Jack makes a shocking discovery, the fallout threatens to tear their alliance apart.

One girl could deliver salvation—or doom.

If the Empress and her friends can remain united, will their powers be enough to defeat a catastrophic curse on the world, or will hellfire reign forever? The end looms for us all until the best hand wins. . . .

ONLINE LIBRARY:

When Dimple Met Rishi meets Loveboat, Taipei in this hilarious YA rom-com about a Chinese-Filipina girl in Manila whose father sets her up on a marathon of arranged dates in hopes of convincing her to stay close to home for college.

Chloe is officially off the waitlist at USC, and thus one step closer to realizing her dream of becoming an animator in the United States. But before she leaves home, her auntie insists on planning a traditional debut for Chloe’s eighteenth birthday (think sweet sixteen meets debutante ball). To make matters worse, her father, intent on finding Chloe the perfect escort for the party, keeps setting her up on one awkward kaishao—or arranged date—after another. But . . . why does her dad suddenly care so much about her love life? And what happens when she actually starts to fall for one of the guys, only to have to leave at the end of the summer?


Annie Walker is on a quest to find her perfect match-someone who nicely compliments her happy, quiet life running her flower shop in Rome, Kentucky. Unfortunately, she worries her goal might be too far out of reach when she overhears her date saying she is “sounbelievably boring.” Is it too late to become flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favorite romance movies? Maybe she only needs a little practice…and Annie has the perfect person in mind to become her tutor: Will Griffin.

Will–the flirtatious, tattooed, and absolutely gorgeous bodyguard–is temporarily back in Rome, providing security for Amelia Rose as excitement grows for her upcoming marriage to Noah Walker. He has one personal objective during his time in town: stay away from Annie Walker. But no sooner than he gets settled, Will soon finds himself not only breaking his rule, but tasked with far more than simply providing security.

Will wants no part in changing the sweet and lovely Annie, but he can’t bring himself to say no to her request, so he officially agrees to teach her how to be the next leading lady of Rome, Kentucky, and find the love of her life-even if he doesn’t believe in love himself. Between faking a relationship so the meddling town doesn’t catch on to what’s really happening on their practice dates, and tutoring lessons that convince Annie to add passion to her list of must-haves in a mate, it doesn’t take long for the lines of their friendship to blur…

PHYSICAL BOOKS:

Nothing can stop the demon tide….

Newly exposed as the Black Witch of Prophecy, Elloren Gardner Grey is on the run, not knowing if she’ll find friends or foes. With her fastmate, Lukas Grey, either dead or in the hands of High Mage Marcus Vogel, Elloren knows the only chance of turning the tide of the coming war is to seek allies who will listen long enough not to kill her on sight.

In the Eastern Realm, Water Fae Tierney Calix and Elloren’s brother Trystan have joined the Wyvernguard to prepare for Vogel’s attack. But Trystan is fighting on two fronts, as the most despised and least trusted member of the guard. And Tierney’s bond with Erthia’s most powerful river has exposed a danger even more terrifying than the looming war.

The Black Witch is back, and the Prophecy is at hand. It’s time to fight. But Vogel has one more earth-shattering revelation for them all.


After recovering from a life-changing injury, a teen girl must navigate a new summer job, an ex-best friend, and two surprisingly attractive coworkers in this romp of a rom-com for fans of Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian.

Hannah used to be all about focus, back before she shattered her ankle and her Olympic dreams in one bad soccer play. These days, she’s all about distraction—anything to keep the painful memories of her recent past at bay, including the string of bad decisions that landed her at boarding school for a year.

Enter Bonanza, the local entertainment multiplex and site of Hanna’s summer employment. With its mini golf course, bowling alley, and arcade—not to mention her hot, flirty coworker Patrick—Bonanza seems like the perfect way to stay distracted. Until her boss announces the annual Bonanza tournament, a staff competition that brings her past Olympic nightmares crashing back into her present.

On top of that, the Bonanza staff includes Brie, the ex-best friend she cut off last year, and Ethan, her brother’s best friend who became unreasonably attractive in her year away and who accepts her, even knowing her worst secrets. Under the neon lights of Bonanza, Hannah must decide whether she can find a way to discover a new self in the midst of her old life.

What did you get in your latest book haul?

WWW Wednesday | 6/21/23

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

I’m back from my trip, and I think I’m over my jet lag now but there were a few weird nights where I was up and reading because my internal clock was off! But I’ve worked through a few books which is nice.

What are you currently reading?
What have you just finished reading?

A Court This Cruel & Lovely by. Stacia Start ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Taste of Torment by. Stacey Trombley ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Drop of Anguish by. Stacey Trombley ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A Dose of Agony by. Stacey Trombley ⭐️⭐️💫

The Scarlet Alchemist by. Kylie Lee Baker ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Together We Rot by. Skyla Arndt ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

House of Marionne by. J. Elle ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Immortal Longings by. Chloe Gong ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Her Radiant Curse by. Elizabeth Lim ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What are you going to read next?

What are you reading right now?

Weekly Wrap Up | 6/18/23

Aloha friends!

I’m back from my two week adventure in Okinawa, Japan and what a trip it was! First off we flew on the day when a Typhoon Mawar was making it’s way to Okinawa so yes, our connecting flight from Tokyo to Okinawa was cancelled. Thank goodness we found out the night before our flight and booked a hotel at Haneda airport. And it was a nice hotel too! So at least we had a chance to rest and acclimate ourselves to Japanese and using Yen for our currency. My body seriously needed to stretch out on a bed that night anyway after the 8 hour flight from Honolulu to Tokyo and my kids got the twin beds and yes…I got the tatami futon bed on the floor which I actually appreciated. I needed back support. 😅 My kids loved the fancy toilets, but the shower on the floor next to the tub was something to get used to (there is a drain in the floor).

All the toilets are fancy all over Okinawa (and I’m assuming mainland Japan). It’s got the bidet options, the sounds…the public restrooms at the airport have bars to help people who need it, toddler urinals for moms using the bathroom have have kids with them! Even a spot to put a baby, that holds them in place so you can use the toilet! It’s so considerate and thoughtful. And the sinks were lower so that kids could reach!

And we loved flying with Japan Airlines! It was our first time and they fed us a lot – we even got Haagen Dazs ice cream – children were served first (even though my kids did not want the food served) they ate some of it and I helped them eat some of it. They kept us hydrated all flight and gave my kids souvenirs they got to choose from each flight. So we flew on 4 planes, let’s just say they came home with a bunch of souvenirs 😅. They even gave my kids cute chopsticks! My kids definitely need to practice using chopsticks. The flight from Tokyo to Okinawa, the typhoon remnants were lashing Tokyo and we flew in that storm – we were delayed about 20-30 minutes on the runway and warned it may be turbulent. NO KIDDING. I was terrified with how much swaying we did on the runway just from the wind alone so yes there were moments we were gripping our armrests and my kids were scared but I’m so proud of them. My daughter got motion sickness and the attendants noticed right away and brought her water, which was so observant of them.

My hubby’s apartment was 3 bedrooms, thank goodness because 7 of us went on this trip, so my nephews slept on the couches – which they didn’t mind at all. Okinawa reminds me of Hawaii but also has that Southeast Asia humidity lol…so it reminded me at times of the Philippines with the big bugs. A huntsman spider greeted us on my hubby’s car when he picked us up from the airport and he hitched a ride, hiding among our luggage. 😩 So already I was freaked out about the bugs. They like to come out at night for sure…because every morning we found something waiting for us in the driveway – barely dead moths, beetles, never dead spiders lol…there were huge grasshoppers and the sound of cicadas (which we don’t have in Hawaii), pretty loud in the evening and mornings. My dad loved the bugs. And he also found that the fruit bats flew every evening to the trees behind the apartment – I love the bats more than I love the insects!

View from my hubby’s apartment

We did a lot of things when we were there. And it’s been awhile since my grown, teenage nephews visited a zoo and aquarium lol…so I’m glad they enjoyed themselves. We went to the Okinawa Zoo, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa World, Shuri Castle and Katsuren Castle, and everyone’s favorite because it was indoors – Rycom Mall. It was HOT. I mean to me, Hawaii is hot, but there is always a gentle breeze…the humidity in Okinawa was killer. I was so grateful for all the vending machines around and yes…Japan loves their vending machines and we loved it! We spent a lot of our yet buying water, and even ice cream! We had to stay hydrated with all that heat. And who knew I’d eat so much ice cream in Okinawa! My daughter had ice cream every day I think. She survived on pizza, cheese, bagels, toast, french fries, fruits and ice cream. Yes, she’s my picky eater!

Our FAVORITE ice cream in Okinawa! ❤️
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

We did a lot of walking and a lot of climbing hills or stairs, which was unexpected but it kept us burning those calories from all the food we were trying and eating. Because Hawaii has always had a big tourism industry and Japanese tourist, I felt like all the foods were familiar to me and things I ate in Hawaii anyway. But what I love was how organic and fresh their fruits tasted. Even their ice cream feels lighter. My mom and dad raved about their vegetables and fruits. Their egg yolks are so yellow/orange, and a carton cost about $2.50. 😭 So many things were super affordable, it made me want to cry when we came back and I had to buy groceries. I paid $7.99 for eggs. 🙄

Pokemon Store at Rycom Mall
My daughter with all the things her dad bought for her and her brother at the Pokemon store.
The other stuff they bought…

My mom, dad and nephews pretty much traveled with empty luggages which was smart since they could wash clothes at the apartment. You wouldn’t believe the amount of goodies my mom bought LOL. We always ended up helping her carry stuff back to the car – it’s amazing it all fit in their luggage! 😅 The popular treats in Okinawa are Chinsuko cookies which taste like shortbread. And Okinawan sweet potato treats (beni-imo). Some of their local dishes featured veggies Filipinos use in cooking also like bitter-melon and calamansi (which I think in Okinawa was called Shikuwasa) which is like a tiny lemon/lime fruit.

Okinawa Chinsuko cookies

Even though we were dying from the heat I’m glad we got to enjoy the outdoor stuff before the rain came at the end of our trip. And my parents did pretty good (they are both 70 climbing up rocky castle ruins in high humidity! The playground my hubby took the kids too was so amazing and fun, even for my older nephews! My oldest nephew turned 18 in Okinawa so the playground trip and dinner afterwards was a perfect way to saying bye to childhood and entering adulthood. I was happy to see him sliding and climbing.

Katsuren Castle
Pirate Playground at Araha Park

The people in Okinawa are so nice. They even drive nicely and politely! My American self who is used to anxiety, violence, people arguing or road rage found it such a relief to have a feeling of being SAFE somewhere, and in a foreign country no less where we don’t even speak the language. We got around with pointing to menu items, and communicated with the little Japanese I spoke (I forgot what I learned in high school!), and what little English they knew (but they knew more at tourist spots). I’m going to miss bowing my head and saying Arigato Gozaimasu (thank you very much), Sumimasen (excuse me), Hai (yes), Oishi (delicious lol), Kawaii (cute). My nephew knew more, and helped out where he could.

Kokusai-Dori Street, we didn’t even leave this covered shopping alley because it was SO hot outside
Yes we ate at EVERY Blue Seal ice cream place we saw lol even at the airport!
Okinawa World Cave with Stalactites
Somebody wanted out! My kids got to touch this snake.
Fruit bats (Ryukyu Flying Fox) having dinner in the trees
Okinawa Rainbow outside our window

It was an amazing trip filled with bugs that scared me and humidity that was trying to kill me BUT it was the first family trip I had with my nephews and parents along with my kids. We were missing my sister and her husband but honestly my husband’s van could only fit 8 and with our luggage it was a seriously a tight fit.😅 The people of Okinawa are so nice and welcoming and polite. I spent a lot of yen at vending machines and those Gacha capsule vending machines 😆. My kids had a blast! I felt like I missed taking so many good photos because I was trying to keep an eye out for the whole group at times, making sure no one got lost, or I was holding too many bags😅, or I was just hot and exhausted. It was a memorable trip for sure and probably our one time going to Okinawa. My kids want to now explore mainland Japan so I think that will happen in March. I’m already planning it!

It was a fun trip, and quite an adventure! I’m glad to be home though, we missed our dog a lot and my bed (had to sleep on a floor futon for 2 weeks!) but thankfully he did well with the dog sitter even if he was wary of her for the first days. By the time she dropped off the key to me upon my return he was barking and jumping on her excitedly and trying to get her to play with him, which was kind of sad. I’m glad they bonded.

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:


Currently Reading:

I’m struggling to get into Immortal Longings! Which is a bummer. I hope it gets better the more I push through.

Shows/Movies I Watched:

  • Top Gun 2 – finally watched it on my trip and it was pretty good!
  • Never Have I Ever (Season 3)

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

WWW Wednesday | 5/31/23

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

I’m leaving a plane today for Okinawa, Japan. We fly to Haneda Airport in Japan then have to catch a connecting flight to Okinawa so wish me luck! I hate the airport and airplane part of the trip – it’s exhausting. I’m hoping everything goes smoothly.

What are you currently reading?

I got Carrie Soto is Back as an audiobook!

What have you just finished reading?

Well Matched by. Jen DeLuca ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Stolen Throne by. Abigail Owen ⭐️⭐️💫

What are you going to read next?

I’ll get to these when I come back from my vacation. Or maybe finish them there? We shall see…

What are you reading right now?

Weekly Wrap Up | 5/28/23

Aloha friends!

Well what a week! After my nephew’s graduation my son had a sore throat the next day. I took him to urgent care and sure enough he had strep throat so he was home with me for 3 days. And it was the last week of school, so he did miss two fun events at school but at least he could participate in the pizza party they had on the last day. My daughter was a bit emotional all week, some tears every time I picked her up from school and we talked and she said she’s sad because she’s going to miss Kindergarten. Awww…my son is also sad he is leaving fourth grade because his teacher is his most favorite he’s ever had. I hope they have fun in their next grades and class.

We went to a pool party on Saturday and I have relatives visiting from California so it’s been nice seeing family I haven’t seen in awhile.

Today is my nephew’s graduation party and then that’s it for all the events on my May calendar. On Wednesday we are headed to Okinawa, Japan! So I won’t be blogging for two weeks although I have a lot of pre-written posts that are scheduled while I am gone. I cannot believe we are almost in June…can you believe it?!

I hope all of you have a good week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:


Currently Reading:

I’m listening to When You Wish Upon a Lantern and Carrie Soto is Back as an audiobook. I hope I can get to finish both before my trip but I might now. I feel like I’ve been struggling with The Stolen Throne because I’m not in the mood for it? I’m determined to finish it before my trip in 3 days! But who knows…if not, I’ll pick it up when I come back.

Shows/Movies I Watched:

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

Book Haul | May 2023

Have you gotten some new books lately? Here’s what I got!

NETGALLEY::

Gideon the Ninth meets the Game of Thrones White Walkers in this dark young adult fantasy about a disgraced ghost-fighting warrior who must journey into a haunted wasteland to rescue a kidnapped prince.

Ready your blade. Defeat the undead.

In the Dominions, the dead linger, violent and unpredictable, unless a bonesmith severs the ghost from its earthly remains. For bonesmith Wren, becoming a valkyr—a ghost-fighting warrior—is a chance to solidify her place in the noble House of Bone and impress her frequently absent father. But when sabotage causes Wren to fail her qualifying trial, she is banished to the Border Wall, the last line of defense against a wasteland called the Breach where the vicious dead roam unchecked.

Determined to reclaim her family’s respect, Wren gets her chance when a House of Gold prince is kidnapped and taken beyond the Wall. To prove she has what it takes to be a valkyr, Wren vows to cross the Breach and rescue the prince. But to do so, she’s forced into an uneasy alliance with one of the kidnappers—a fierce ironsmith called Julian from the exiled House of Iron, the very people who caused the Breach in the first place…and the House of Bone’s sworn enemy.

As they travel, Wren and Julian spend as much time fighting each other as they do the undead, but when they discover there’s more behind the kidnapping than either of them knew, they’ll need to work together to combat the real a dark alliance that is brewing between the living and the undead.


A teen girl looking for the truth about her missing mother forms a reluctant alliance with her former best friend…in exchange for hiding him from his cult-leading family.

Wil Greene’s mom has been missing for over a year, and the police are ready to call the case closed–they claim she skipped town and you can’t find a woman who wants to disappear. But she knows her mom wouldn’t just leave…and she knows the family of her former best friend, Elwood Clarke, has something to do with it.

Elwood has been counting down the days until his 18th birthday–in dread. It marks leaving school and joining his pastor father in dedicating his life to their congregation, the Garden of Adam. But when he comes home after one night of after a final goodbye with his friends, already self-flagellating for the sins of drinking and disobeying his father, he discovers his path is not as virtuous as he thought. He’s not his father’s successor, but his sacrifice. For the woods he’s grown up with are thirsty, and must be paid in blood.

Now on the run from a family that wants him dead, he turns to the only one who will believe him: Wil. Together, they form a reluctant partnership; she’ll help him hide if he helps her find evidence that his family killed her mother. But in the end they dig up more secrets than they bargained for, unraveling decades of dark cult dealings in their town, led by the Clarke family.

And there’s a reason they need Elwood’s blood for their satanic rituals. Something inhuman is growing inside of him. Everywhere he goes, the plants come alive and the forest calls to him, and Wil isn’t sure if she can save the boy she can’t help but love.


A bloodstained tale of a girl torn between her vows and her heart, where falling in love may be the deepest sin of all…

Everline Blackthorn has devoted her life to the wardens—a sect of holy warriors who guard against monsters known as the vespertine.

When a series of strange omens occur, Everline disobeys orders to investigate, and uncovers a startling truth in the form of Ravel Severin: a rogue vespertine who reveals the monsters have secrets of their own.

Ravel promises the help she needs— for a price. Vespertine magic requires blood, and if Everline wants Ravel to guide across the dangerous moorland, she will have to allow him to feed from her.

It’s a sin for a warden to feed a vespertine— let alone love one— and as Everline and Ravel travel further across the moorland, she realizes the question isn’t whether she will survive the journey, but if she will return unchanged. Or if she wants to.


From Boston Globe/Horn Book Award–winning author Brandy Colbert comes the story of four generations of a Hollywood family—an unforgettable tale of ambition, fame, struggle, loss, and love in America.

The Blackwoods. Everyone knows their name.

Blossom Blackwood burst onto the silver screen in 1962, and in the decades that followed, she would become one of the most celebrated actors of our time—and the matriarch of the most famous Black family in Hollywood. To her great-granddaughters, Hollis and Ardith, she has always just been Bebe. And when she passes away, it changes everything.

Hollis Blackwood was never interested in fame. Still, she’s surrounded by it, whether at home with her family or at the prestigious Dupree Academy among Los Angeles’ elite. When private photos of Hollis are leaked in the wake of Blossom’s death, she is thrust into the spotlight she’s long avoided—and finds that trust may be a luxury even she can’t afford.

Ardith Blackwood has always lived in the public eye. A television star since childhood, she was perhaps closer with Blossom than anyone—especially after Ardith’s mother died in a drug overdose. Ever since, she has worked to be everything her family, her church, and the public want her to be. But as a family secret comes to light and the pressures from all sides begin to mount, she wonders what is left beneath the face she shows the world.

Weaving together the narratives of Hollis, Ardith, and Blossom, award-winning author Brandy Colbert tells an unforgettable story set in an America where everything is personal, and nothing is private.


Frederieke Teitler and her older sister, Astra, live in a house, in a city, in a world divided. Their father ran out on them when Rieke was only six, leaving their mother a wreck and their grandfather as their only stable family. He’s done his best to provide for them and shield them from antisemitism, but now, seven years later, being a Jew has become increasingly dangerous, even in their beloved home of Czernowitz, long considered a safe haven for Jewish people. And when Astra falls in love and starts pulling away from her, Rieke wonders if there’s anything in her life she can count on—and, if so, if she has the power to hold on to it.

Then—war breaks out in Europe. First the Russians, then the Germans, invade Czernowitz. Almost overnight, Rieke and Astra’s world changes, and every day becomes a struggle: to keep their grandfather’s business, to keep their home, to keep their lives. Rieke has long known that she exists in a world defined by those who have power and those who do not, and as those powers close in around her, she must decide whether holding on to her life might mean letting go of everything that has ever mattered to her—and if that’s a choice she will even have the chance to make.

Based on the true experiences of her grandmother’s childhood in Holocaust-era Romania, award-winning author Elana K. Arnold weaves an unforgettable tale of love and loss in the darkest days of the twentieth century—and one young woman’s will to survive them.


A girl discovers a surreal hotel where no one ever leaves. When the clock strikes midnight she’ll be trapped there forever unless she’s able to break free from magic that in turn breaks all her rules. Perfect for fans of Caraval and The Starless Sea!

The night is perfect and glorious and sparkling, too beautiful to be real. Like magic.

Anna may have grown up in glitzy Las Vegas, but she’s determined that no one will ever call her shallow. While her older sister Emily is the star of the family, Anna is the diligent stage manager, making sure that both their lives go perfectly to plan. But when Emily reveals a startling betrayal, Anna flees in the middle of a raging storm and takes shelter in a boutique establishment she’s never seen before: The Houdini.  

Inside, Anna discovers a magic hotel . . . and a magical boy. Earnest, curious Max has lived his entire life inside the Houdini. Over the course of one surreal evening, he becomes Anna’s guide to the curious building. For the first time in her life, Anna is center stage, in a place that anticipates her every desire, with a boy who only has eyes for her.  

But that’s because the Houdini has no other guests. No one ever enters the Houdini . . . and no one ever leaves. When the clock strikes midnight, Anna will be trapped in the Houdini forever. If Anna’s ever going to find out who she is on her own in the real world, she’ll first have to make an impossible escape. But will she be able to do it if it means leaving Max behind?


From the New York Times bestselling author of SIX CRIMSON CRANES comes a tale of two sisters—one as beautiful as the other is monstrous—who must fight to save each other when a betrothal contest gone wrong unleashes an evil that could sever their bond forever.

One sister must fall for the other to rise.

Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna—the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.

Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath—launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.

Weaving together elements of The Selection and Ember in the Ashes with classic tales like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching fantasy that explores the dark side of beauty and the deepest bonds of sisterhood.


From New York Times bestselling author J. Elle comes a modern-day YA romantic fantasy series opener about a glamorous magical world of social elites, forbidden love, and a dark magic that could destroy it all.

A must-read for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Stephanie Garber, and Bridgerton.

RICH IS THE BLOOD OF THE CHOSEN.

17 year-old Quell has lived her entire life on the run. She and her mother have fled from city to city, in order to hide the deadly magic that flows through Quell’s veins.

Until someone discovers her dark secret.

To hide from the assassin hunting her, and keep her mother out of harm’s way, Quell reluctantly inducts into a debutante society of magical social elites called the Order that she never knew existed. If she can pass their three rites of membership, mastering their proper form of magic, she’ll be able to secretly bury her forbidden magic forever.

If caught, she will be killed.

But becoming the perfect debutante is a lot harder than Quell imagined, especially when there’s more than tutoring happening with Jordan, her brooding mentor and— assassin in training.

When Quell uncovers the deadly lengths the Order will go to defend its wealth and power, she’s forced to choose: embrace the dark magic she’s been running from her entire life or risk losing everything, and everyone, she’s grown to love.

Still, she fears the most formidable monster she’ll have to face is the one inside.

Brimming with ballgowns and betrayal, magic and mystery, decadence and darkness, House of Marionne is perfect for readers who crave morally gray characters, irresistible romance, dark academia, and a deeply intoxicating and original world.


Sixteen year-old Shur is one of the first to see the creatures. While staring out the window in history class, she spots one floating over the soccer field. It looks like a monarch butterfly—but it’s huge. Within minutes, her classmates’ phones are buzzing with emergency alerts. These things are everywhere, and though nobody’s exactly sure why the alerts are telling them to take cover, Shur knows it can’t be good. It’s only when she’s left school and headed home that she what the creatures do: they attack.

By the time Shur, her two brothers, and their two best friends make it back to her house, it’s clear the five of them must survive whatever comes next on their own.

As the “butterflies”—new hybrid creatures thought to be created by climate change—multiply and swarm outside, anxiety-prone Shur focuses on what she can control: boarding up windows, stocking food, and preparing a shelter in the basement. They lose internet and power while vigilantes create terror outside. Meanwhile the creatures begin to fulfill their ultimate purpose: multiplying via parasitic load, and before long, the butterflies aren’t the only thing trying to get in. To protect her family and survive the invasions, Shur must find the strength to protect their sanctuary at any cost.


In this beautifully dark and enthralling YA, four sisters with unusual talents investigate a mysterious disappearance in their secluded Appalachian town. For fans of House of Hollow and Wilder Girls!

In rural Caball Hollow, surrounded by the vast National Forest, the James women serve up more than fried green tomatoes at the Harvest Moon diner, where the family recipes are not the only secrets.

Like her sisters, Linden was born with an unusual ability. She can taste what others are feeling, but this so-called gift soured her relationship with the vexingly attractive Cole Spencer one fateful night a year ago . . . A night when Linden vanished into the depths of the Forest and returned with no memories of what happened, just a litany of questions–and a haze of nightmares that suggest there’s more to her story than simply getting lost.

Now, during the hottest summer on record, another girl in town is gone, and the similarities to last year’s events are striking. Except, this time the missing girl doesn’t make it home, and when her body is discovered, the scene unmistakably spells murder.

As tempers boil over, Linden enlists the help of her sisters to find what’s hiding in the forest . . . before it finds her. But as she starts digging for truth–about the Moth-Winged Man rumored to haunt the Hollow, about her bitter rift with Cole, and even about her family–she must question if some secrets are best left buried.

KINDLE UNLIMITED:

Ripped from the man I’m bound to. Thrust into fresh danger. And this time I must go alone.

Except the task I’m burdened with should belong to a more powerful fae—my mother. Listening to her brought me to this moment of heartache and loss. Perhaps the time has come for a new approach, no matter the consequences.

With my trusty gold bat, a tormented Aaden, and a potty-mouthed land kelpie for company, I have an oath to uphold before I can untangle the web of deceit and half-truths in this next quest. Because as it turns out, the child thief I defeated was merely a henchman of the master of darkness. And this master?

He has another henchman.

I barely survived the encounter with the child thief, and with drained bodies dropping from the sky, can I make sense of the magic and ribbons before humans, fae, and the very realms we live in are claimed?

Failure has never been an option. Unfortunately, now it seems like the only one.

KINDLE Bought E-Books:

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

ONLINE LIBRARY:

Hallie Piper is turning over a new leaf. After belly-crawling out of a hotel room (hello, rock bottom), she decides it’s time to become a full-on adult.

She gets a new apartment, a new haircut, and a new wardrobe, but when she logs into the dating app that she has determined will find her new love, she sees none other than Jack, the guy whose room she’d snuck out of.

Through the app, and after the joint agreement that they are absolutely not interested in each other, Jack and Hallie become partners in their respective searches for The One. They text each other about their dates, often scheduling them at the same restaurant so that if things don’t go well, the two of them can get tacos afterward.

Spoiler: they get a lot of tacos together.

Discouraged by the lack of prospects, Jack and Hallie make a wager to see who can find true love first, but when they agree to be fake dates for a weekend wedding, all bets are off.

As they pretend to be a couple, lines become blurred and they each struggle to remember why the other was a bad idea to begin with.


Acclaimed author Gloria Chao creates real-world magic in this luminous romance about teens who devote themselves to granting other people’s wishes, but are too afraid to let themselves have their own hearts’ desires—each other.

Liya and Kai had been best friends since they were little kids, but all that changed when a humiliating incident sparked The Biggest Misunderstanding Of All Time—and they haven’t spoken since.

Then Liya discovers her family’s wishing lantern store is struggling, and she decides to resume a tradition she had with her beloved late grandmother: secretly fulfilling the wishes people write on the lanterns they send into the sky. It may boost sales and save the store, but she can’t do it alone . . . and Kai is the only one who cares enough to help.

While working on their covert missions, Liya and Kai rekindle their friendship—and maybe more. But when their feuding families and their changing futures threaten to tear them apart again, can they find a way to make their own wishes come true?

**my ebook expired but I got the audiobook, so hopefully I will finish it this time**


When Japanese-American Izumi Tanaka learned her father was the Crown Prince of Japan, she became a princess overnight. Now, she’s overcome conniving cousins, salacious press, and an imperial scandal to finally find a place she belongs. She has a perfect bodyguard turned boyfriend. Her stinky dog, Tamagotchi, is living with her in Tokyo. Her parents have even rekindled their college romance and are engaged. A royal wedding is on the horizon! Izumi’s life is a Tokyo dream come true.

Only…

Her parents’ engagement hits a brick wall. The Imperial Household Council refuses to approve the marriage citing concerns about Izumi and her mother’s lack of pedigree. And on top of it all, her bodyguard turned boyfriend makes a shocking decision about their relationship. At the threat of everything falling apart, Izumi vows to do whatever it takes to help win over the council. Which means upping her newly acquired princess game.

But at what cost? Izumi will do anything to help her parents achieve their happily ever after, but what if playing the perfect princess means sacrificing her own? Will she find a way to forge her own path and follow her heart?

**audiobook**

PHYSICAL BOOKS: 0

What did you get in your latest book haul?

WWW Wednesday | 5/24/23

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

My son had a sore throat Sunday evening and Monday I took him to urgent care because he was coughing and our trip is next week. Good thing I took him because he has strep throat. He has antibiotics and is on the mend, but he also has a cold with with his strep – so it’s been rough for him and it’s the last week of school! He gets to go back tomorrow if he feels better or on Friday which is the last day. Poor kiddo. I’m trying to keep his sister away from him and I’m masking in the house because I cannot afford to get sick. Our trip to Okinawa is in exactly one week and I’m anxious (mostly about making sure I have everything I need for the trip) and excited because we get to go somewhere completely out of our comfort zone. But first we need to get and stay healthy!

What are you currently reading?
What have you just finished reading?
What are you going to read next?

What are you reading right now?

Weekly Wrap Up | 5/21/23

Aloha friends!

My oldest nephew graduated from high school yesterday! Woohoo! But it was a long night for me and the kids since the venue was a bit far, a little long and since we live in Hawaii, it is custom to find the graduate and give him leis. Fresh flower leis are so pricey these days and I don’t have a plumeria tree to make my own leis from the flowers so instead I made yarn and ribbon leis. I was making them all last week actually.

I made this eye lash yarn lei which was super easy and you can find lots of tutorials on youtube. His school colors and it’s my alma mater too is Maroon and White. I also tried my hand and making ribbon leis, which I found super relaxing to do. I even taught my mom so she could make a bunch for him also.

Then I made one more lei using this other yarn that reminded me of feathers. Anyway I think he had enough leis. Hawaii goes all out with giving leis. I remember my high school graduation where I could barely see out of the leis around me. 😅 Fun times!

This week is the LAST week of school for public school kids so I am excited, and my kids are excited. Then we have a few parties this weekend, a birthday and a graduation one…then we go on our trip! I’m kind of freaking out, just trying to make sure I have EVERYTHING for the trip. It helps that if I forget anything we are staying with my husband anyway and we can get it there…but I’m just more anxious about making sure things like passports don’t get lost.

I hope all of you have a good week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:


Currently Reading:

I’m listening to Tokyo Dreaming as an audiobook.

Shows/Movies I Watched:

  • Never Have I Ever – Season 3 (Netflix) – I felt like laughing and this show always makes me giggle. Looking forward to the next season, and I’m sad it will be the last one!
  • XO, Kitty (Netflix) – aw I love that Kitty from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before gets her own show! Kitty was always so quirky and now she’s grown up and moved to Korea to attend the same school as her long-distance boyfriend. It’s like an American K-Drama, and it has so much romance drama – maybe too much of it. I binged it in one day because the episodes are short but I thought it was cute and I’m team enemies to lovers, Kitty and Min Ho. 😅 But I felt so bad for Dae’s storyline – poor guy!

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!

WWW Wednesday | 5/17/23

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

Third week of May and I did much better finishing books! I think because I want some pre-written posts to be ready for when I go on vacation.

What are you currently reading?

I’m listening to 10 Truths and a Dare as an audiobook!

What have you just finished reading?
What are you going to read next?

What are you reading right now?

Weekly Wrap Up | 5/14/23

Aloha friends!

Happy Mother’s Day to all who celebrate! For those who find this is a painful holiday, I hope you find some comfort today. ❤️ In summary I hope everyone has a good day today.

I’m going to head to my mom’s for lunch so it will be an easy Mother’s Day. Honestly all I want for a gift is to go to a concert: Beyonce, Taylor Swift or Black Pink…lol…but I know I can’t this year. I can dream…but honestly all I want is to get through May and June so I can maybe relax in July before school starts again in August. I actually got to laze around and do nothing this week. I napped, and read, and just had a very easy week.

Anyway, I hope you had a great week!

Blog Posts:

Books I Read:


Currently Reading:

I’m listening to The House in the Cerulean Sea!

Shows/Movies I Watched:

  • Queen Charlotte (Netflix) – that ending. 😭💔❤️

How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!