It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at the Book Date and is a place to meet up and share what you just finished, what you are reading now, and what's on deck. It's also a great opportunity to visit and comment, and add to your TBR pile!

I barely squeaked by finishing my #Sixtybooks goal but I'm so glad I put in those extra minutes! Time to start on the 2017 goal!

Last week I finished Morrigan's Cross.  I really liked the story but since I listened to this one on Audible, I will say that I disliked the narrator so if I do grab the second one, it will be in print.

This week, I am reading the third book in the Stoker and Holmes series titled, The Chess Queen Enigma.  I love this little series and hope that a fourth book might be written in the future.

Finally, in the hopes that I get this one finished this week, next week my plan is to begin reading Everland, which I have been putting off. I read a great review for it this past week so have now put it back on top of the pile.

Happy Reading!

#SixtyBooks in 2017

It’s time for #SixtyBooks in 2017!

In 2016, we had over 300 people sign up for the challenge and we are hoping to beat that number this year by spreading the word and getting even more people to make reading a part of their daily lives.

For those who are new to our fantastic group of readers, the goal is simply to make reading a regular part of our daily lives and encourage other people to do the same. It's not a competition (the only person you are competing with is yourself!) and it's not just about the number.

For this year’s challenge, we will be sharing our #SixtyBooks updates on Twitter and Facebook. We will also be using the #SixtyBooks hashtag on Instagram for those who want to share their reading in pictures. Our goal is to be active on all three by sharing more about our progress and the books we are reading. We are planning some new activities as well:

• Week long “#SixtyBooks sprints” that we dedicate to catching up on our reading a few times per year 
• At least two or three live Twitter chats during the year. 
• A book giveaway raffle just before summer. 

As always, you can keep track of your books however you like. Both Melissa and Laura use Goodreads to keep track and Laura also uses Google Maps to pin books by setting -- which is a lot of fun!

Signup is the same as last year. Simply fill in the #SixtyBooks in 2017 form by clicking here.

We are looking forward to another great year of reading!

Laura and Melissa

December Reading: A Listening Extravaganza

I haven't posted in a while, but I have a good reason...or two.  Not only was the last part of November soccer tournament season for my son but I have also been spending every passing free moment I had with earbuds in my ears listening to a book series I stumbled upon by complete accident.  In the last month I have listened to all seven of the main books (there are two bonus books) in the Emperor's Edge series.  Needless to say, Audible got some good business and my husband was less than thrilled with me going over my monthly book budget. 

It's hard to explain the setting of this series.  It does have a steampunk aspect to it but I personally think it is more fantasy.  The plot in a few sentences? Hmmm... Enforcer goes rogue and teams up with assassin in order to save a prince who is being plotted against; gathers up unusual yet lovable team of misfits to help and goes up again incredible evil to save the world they live in. Yup, that about sums up the whole series.  Is there action and adventure? Almost constantly.  There is never a dull moment where the pace slows down too much.  Romance?  Yup, but nothing happens for several books so it is a slow build but worth the wait.  Humor? There were many moments when I laughed out loud at the antics of the team.  

If I could give a series more than five stars, I would. I highly recommend it but also warn you that you may get sucked in rather quickly and not come up for air until the seventh book is finished. Click the links below to read the synopsis and the reviews on Amazon.

The Emperor's Edge on Amazon
The Emperor's Edge on Goodreads

Review: The Girl with All The Gifts

I listened to The Girl With All The Gifts in audio format and the narrator did a really nice job. The story wasn't exactly what I was expecting but I did really like it. It is a sort of zombie apocalypse-type genre and it took a while to really figure out what was going on. Most of the beginning of book was set in a cell block with a bunch of children strapped to chairs in cells who go into a classroom each day to learn. Yeah... it was odd, and it took a few chapters to figure out what was happening and why these kids were prisoners. It was eventually revealed and at that point, I had my "a-ha" moment and I was hooked.  Once we left the cell block, things escalated quickly and both the pace and my engagement level increased substantially.

For the most part, the story revolves around five main characters. Two I loved from the start, one developed my trust and respect as the story went on, one I never really attached myself to, and one I hated the whole way through the book and I kept hoping her demise would arrive quickly. It didn't... I still hate her.

There are some really disturbing parts to this book as well, both mentally and graphically but without them, the realistic aspect of the book would have been lost. What really got me however, was the way it ended. No spoilers here but I will say that I did a lot of thinking of how the future would play out for those who were left once the final scene was finished.  It will be interesting to see if the movie holds true to the story.

Novella November is Upon Us

Tomorrow is November 1st and that means it is time to appreciate all of the short novels out there. It's also a great time to catch up on your reading.  There are so many novellas out there and both Kindle and Nook have specific areas on their sites where you can search for titles.

Kindle Singles

Kindle Short Reads

Nook Snaps 

I usually take this month to read some short historical non-fiction as well as my usual go-to genres.  This month, I'm planning to start with the books below:

I would love to hear any novella recommendations from other readers so please feel free to comment with titles and opinions about what you are reading this month. 

Happy reading!

Review: Empire of Storms

Empire of Storms is the fifth book in the Throne of Glass series and I have to say that every time I read another book, I kick myself for putting off the series for as long as I did. Sarah J. Maas is probably now one of my favorite authors of all time.  Her writing style has had me completely engrossed in the stories from beginning to end.  I can honestly say that there is not one single part that had me bored or wanting to put the book down, even for a minute.  Every character, Aelin, Aedion, Rowan, Lysandra, Manan, and Dorian, was written beautifully. Each has come from their own backstory and they have now all joined together for a common cause, the saving of Terrasen and the defeat of Erawan and his dark forces. 

In this installment, I was most moved by Manan's story. Wow!  It used to be that I couldn't wait to get back to Aelin's or Dorian's perspective but in this book, Manan became one of my favorite characters.  It was one of her scenes that had me on the edge of my seat crying my eyes out as I read frantically to see what would happen next.  Beautifully written and heart wrenching at the same time. I love that as the story moved forward, she began to find a bit of humanity and that she and Dorian may be developing a relationship in the future.  

As for the ending? It had me both satisfied and just a tad frustrated. It wrapped up well in the sense that everyone has a purpose and is moving on to the next stage in their adventure.  As a reader, I can feel that events are all coming together for that final push to the end. However, I was also quite upset by the events in the last two chapters and by some of the decisions that were made, even though I knew that something like this had to happen. I'm wondering what path the author will decide to take for the final book. The continuation of this story cannot come fast enough for me!

                                                                                                                                      

Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

I was just a little bit hesitant about picking up Harry Potter and the Cursed Child because, although I love Harry Potter, I thought that the script format might take away from the story.  I could not have been more wrong.Once I got going, I almost didn't even notice the format anymore and the story flowed just as smoothly as any other book I read.  The new Harry Potter was definitely a page turner and I finished it pretty quickly.  I enjoyed every moment and have now passed the book on to my son, who I know will love it just as much.

Synopsis from Amazon:
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

My Review:  

As I shared above, I loved the book.  Harry himself really doesn't have that large a part but  the part he does play is crucial and his presence is felt throughout the entire story.  The characters who do take the main stage are so well written and fun that you get lost in their adventures just as you did in the original HP series.  It was nice to see Harry as a father struggling to make good decisions for his family and to see his son Albus trying to find himself in the shadow of his father's fame.  I loved the friendship that developed between Albus and Scorpius.  It was a perfect fit and I look forward to reading more about these two and their lives at Hogwarts.

I have to say, I did not go into this book expecting another Harry Potter epic.  I think that some people really compared this to the other books and so may have been disappointed.  I however, was not and think this book stands perfectly on its own while still giving the reader the pure joy that comes with being a Harry Potter fan.