Monthly Wrap-Up: December 2018

Happy New Year!! Can you believe the year has come to an end? I feel like these last couple of months just flew by! Wasn't it just Halloween? Lol.

Top Books I’m Most Looking Forward to in 2019

Just like last year, you'll notice a trend here in that most of these books are sequels or from authors I've previously read. What can I say? I like what I like. Lol.

Top Disappointing Books I Read in 2018

It's the end of the year and we all love to talk about all the books we loved. But what about those we maybe didn't love so much? Well, that's why I'm here today! Lol. This year I didn't give out any 1 stars to any books I read... I hardly ever give out just 1 star, tbh. But I did have a handful of 2-star books that were a bit of a disappointing read.

Top Books I Read in 2018

2018 is coming to an end so it's that time to look back at some of my favorite book I read in 2018!

Top Favorite Characters & Book Boyfriends of 2018

I read a good handful of books this year, and today I wanted to share some of my favorite characters as well as the most swoon-worthy book boyfriends I read this year!

Top Books I Wish I’d Read in 2018

The never-ending TBR pile... it's something I struggle with constantly. This year there were certain books I wanted to get to, but for one reason or another, I never did. This always happens to me. Always. Lol. Anyway, here are some of those books. And let me know if you read any of these books and what you thought of them!

Sunday Post #188

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Sunday Post #187: ALL the Book Boxes!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop!

Happy Holidays everyone! 😁

Sunday Post #186: Birthday

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Monthly Wrap-Up: November 2018

Is it really the end of the year already? Man! I can't believe it! Are you guys ready for the holidays? I am!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #141: I Love Jace

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #185: Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #140: All Jennifer Estep All the Time

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #184: I Hate Being Sick

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Gratitude Giveaway Hop!

It's that time of year to give thanks (in the US, anyway)... so thank you! 🤗 And you don't have to be from the US to enter... the giveaway is international!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #139

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #183: Just A Little Break...

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Top Finished Series *I* Still Need To Finish

I love reading series, but there is one thing I am really bad at when it comes to them: actually finishing them! I am so bad!! I start a series, I love it, but then for whatever reason, I just don’t finish it! I actually have a shelf on Goodreads dedicated just to my unfinished series. Let’s take a look at that...

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #138

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #182: Catching Up On My Shows

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Books I’m Grateful I Read Giveaway Hop!

Man, is Spooky Season over already? Well, it was nice while it lasted. I'm excited for the Holiday Season though!

Review: Wesley James Ruined My Life by Jennifer Honeybourn

Title: Wesley James Ruined My Life

Author: Jennifer Honeybourn

Genre: YA, contemporary romance

Publication date: July 2017

Published by: Swoon Reads

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Book Outlet | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Quinn Hardwick’s having a rough summer. Her beloved grandmother has been put into a home, her dad’s gambling addiction has flared back up and now her worst enemy is back in town: Wesley James, former childhood friend—until he ruined her life, that is.

So when Wesley is hired to work with her at Tudor Tymes, a medieval England themed restaurant, the last thing Quinn’s going to do is forgive and forget. She’s determined to remove him from her life and even the score all at once—by getting him fired.

But getting rid of Wesley isn’t as easy as she’d hoped. When Quinn finds herself falling for him, she has to decide what she wants more: to get even, or to just get over it.

My rating: ★★★★☆
So, I’m not a big contemporary reader. I love my books with some sort of supernatural element to them or maybe some murder. I have to be in a certain mood to pick up a book like this. But this one sounded really cute so I gave it a shot. And you know what, it wasn’t too bad! I think i’m getting turned around on this whole contemporary thing. Lol. (Also, this book takes place in Seattle and I read this book just after I was there for the weekend, so that was pretty cool! I like when a book is set in familiar place.)

The Spooky Halloween Tag!

I was looking for a fun tag to do for Halloween, and I found this one over at Mama’s Losin’ It! and I thought I’d give it a shot!

Monthly Wrap-Up: October 2018

I can't believe October is over already! 😩 But I'm actually already ready for the Holidays! Lol. But first...



😁

Review: Halloween Night II (Halloween Night #2) by R.L. Stine

Title: Halloween Night II

Series: Halloween Night #2

Previous book in this series: Halloween Night

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: September 1994

Published by: Scholastic

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

The chilling sequel to Stine's bestselling Halloween Night. This time Brenda's being terrorized by someone who's determined to make this Halloween night her last. Complete with the author's trademark page-turnging suspense, taut plot, and surprise ending.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆
It’s been a year since the awful Halloween party in which Brenda’s own friend stabbed her. This Halloween, Brenda is getting threatening messages again. Could it be her cousin Halley who is still living with her family? Or maybe one of her own friends... again?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #137: Finally Making Progress!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #181: Slashstreet Boys

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Literary Nails: Unfed (Undead #2) by Kirsty McKay

This nail art design I've been working on for a while. I actually chose the nail polish before I settled on the book and design. I ended up choosing this particular book because I thought it would be perfect for a nail polish called Zombie Crush. Lol. So, this nail art design was inspired by the second book in the Undead series, Unfed!

Review: You May Now Kill the Bride (Return to Fear Street #1) by R.L. Stine

Title: You May Now Kill the Bride

Series: Return to Fear Street #1

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror

Publication date: July 2018

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Paperback won in giveaway

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis: Two sisters, divided by time. Each with a terrible resentment she can barely contain.

Two Fear family weddings, decades apart... Each bride will find that the ancient curse that haunts the Fears LIVES ON. It feeds off the evil that courses through their blood. It takes its toll in unexpected ways, and allows dark history to repeat itself.

In this all-new Fear Street story, family ties bind sisters together—till DEATH do they part.

My rating: ★★★★★
So I actually really, really loved this! I say this because that last Fear Street series, the Fear Street Relaunch, was, overall underwhelming. I loved the original Fear Street series so I was looking forward to that relaunch, but it was just... okay. This book however, it was good! This is looking to be a very promising reboot!

Review: Haints and Hobwebs (Elemental Assassin #4.7) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Haints and Hobwebs

Series: Elemental Assassin #4.7

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4)

Short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5) | Wasted (#2.7) | Tangled Dreams (#3.5) | Tangled Schemes (#3.7) | Spider’s Nemesis (#4.5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 27th 2018

Published by: Jennifer Estep

Source: Anthology borrowed from library, novella preordered

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis: Even the Spider can’t escape a ghost’s web...

I’m being haunted.

As Gin Blanco, aka the assassin the Spider, I’m used to being haunted by all the bad things I’ve done over the years. I suppose it was only a matter of time before an actual ghost came back to haunt me. But for once, I’m not the bad guy, and I wasn’t the person who sent this ghost—this haint—into the afterlife.

But this haint definitely wants something from me, and I can’t help but think that it’s revenge on the person responsible for her untimely demise.

Good thing revenge is my specialty, whether it’s among the living or the dead . . .

Note: Haints and Hobwebs is an 11,000-word story that takes place after the events of Tangled Threads, book 4 in the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. Haints and Hobwebs first appeared in The Mammoth Book of Ghost Romance in 2012.

My rating: ★★★★★
Ghosts! We get ghosts in this Elemental Assassin novella, and it was awesome! This is actually the first time we see them in this world.

The first time I saw the haint was in the cemetery.
Shocking, I know, a ghost hanging out in a graveyard, but the pale, wispy figure still caught my eye, if only for the fact it was the first one I’d ever seen.
You’d think that I would have been visited by more haints in my time, given the fact that I was a semi-retired assassin–and I’d helped a lot of people move on from this life to the next with a slice or two of my silverstone knives.

My Favorite Horror/Halloween Movies!

My favorite movie genre is horror! I love it! I pretty much watch them on a daily basis! Mostly. Lol. I tried to do 31 days of Halloween or horror or whatever that's called, but I skipped a couple days. Ooops. Lol. Anyway, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Halloween movies today! I tried to keep it brief, but man there are a lot of movies out there. Lol.

Review - Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters by Peter Vronsky

Title: Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters

Author: Peter Vronsky

Genre: Adult, nonfiction, crime

Publication date: October 2004

Published by: Berkley

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

The comprehensive examination into the frightening history of serial homicide.

In this unique book, Peter Vronsky documents the psychological, investigative, and cultural aspects of serial murder, beginning with its first recorded instance in Ancient Rome, through fifteenth-century France, up to such notorious contemporary cases as cannibal/necrophile Ed Kemper, Henry Lee Lucas, Ted Bundy, and the emergence of what he classifies as the "serial rampage killer" such as Andrew Cunanan.

Vronsky not only offers sound theories on what makes a serial killer, but also provides concrete suggestions on how to survive an encounter with one-from recognizing verbal warning signs to physical confrontational resistance. Exhaustively researched with transcripts of interviews with killers, and featuring up-to-date information on the apprehension and conviction of the Green River Killer and the Beltway Snipers, Vronsky's one-of-a-kind book covers every conceivable aspect of an endlessly riveting true-crime phenomenon.

My rating: ★★★★★

The biggest mistake in trying to figure out why these people are this way is that we try to analyze them through our own standard behavior. They don’t think the way you or I think. We’re not sure why—but the point is they don’t.

I don't read very much nonfiction—not for fun anyway. Lol. This is probably the second nonfiction book I’ve read of my own volition. Lol. But I really liked it! I find serial killers very fascinating... and by that I mean the psychology behind why they do what they do 😅 When I was in nursing school, psychology was probably my favorite section to study! I just find it so intriguing! So yeah, I really liked this book and learning about the methods behind the madness, if you will. Lol.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #136: Still Haven't Caught Up

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #180: Scarywood!!

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Literary Nails: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

I'm back with another book-inspired nail art design! This one I decided on very last minute because it's a book that was released just recently. It's also very Halloween-y...

Review: The Thrill Club (Fear Street #24) by R.L. Stine

Title: The Thrill Club

Series: Fear Street #24

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: May 1994

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Talia Blanton could scare you to death.

She writes horror stories—stories that often give her friends starring roles.

Everyone loves Talia’s terrifying tales—until they start to come true. One by one, Talia’s friends become Talia’s victims.

Is Talia making her stories come true? Or is someone trying to turn Talia’s real life into a horror story?

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

They're dying to join.

I liked the idea of stories becoming reality and the characters dying the way they did in said stories. Unfortunately, that’s pretty much all I liked about this book. It’s even more unfortunate because this is one of the first Fear Street books I ever read... EVER! This was probably the first or second Fear Street book I read back when I was in middle school, so I had high hopes for it. Things did not go well (for me).

Review: Lucky Day (I Hunt Killers #0.2) by Barry Lyga

Title: Lucky Day

Series: I Hunt Killers #0.2

Novellas in this series: Down Time (#0.1)

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: April 2014

Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: Purchased ebook

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

This is the story of the small town sheriff who captured one of the world's most ruthless and cunning murderers.

It all started with Dead Girl #1 and Dead Girl #2, the first killings in the sleepy town of Lobo's Nod in decades. Two murders: just a coincidence, or something more sinister? One thing's for sure -- it was definitely inconvenient in a year when Sheriff G. William Tanner, a mourning widower, had to run for reelection.

With a trail gone cold, it's only luck that links the murders to the most notorious serial killer in memory. And in a town like Lobo's Nod, the killer must be someone Tanner already knows...

My rating: ★★★★☆

This is the story of the small town sheriff who captured one of the world's most ruthless and cunning murderers.

It was very interesting seeing how Billy Dent was finally captured after so many murders. There was a certain detail that propelled things forward and the sheriff completely missed it! I kept asking myself how he didn’t see that in the first place, but of course, I gotta cut him some slack since we knew what we were looking for.

My Favorite Horror Narrations!

I listen to A LOT of podcasts on my commute to and from work. Some of them are horror narrations which mostly consist of Creepypastas. Below I have gathered some of my absolute favorites! And because they are narrations, you can also read the stories instead!

Review: Down Time (I Hunt Killers #0.1) by Barry Lyga

Title: Down Time

Series: I Hunt Killers #0.1

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: August 2018

Published by: Hachette

Source: Purchased ebook

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

Billy Dent is the world's most notorious serial killer, but even killers need to go on vacation sometimes. When a mysterious death occurs in the hotel where Billy is staying, his "job" seems to call. Will his vacation truly be down time for him after all?

In this prequel novella to the I Hunt Killers trilogy, bestselling author Barry Lyga crafts a creepy, intricately plotted mystery.

My rating: ★★★★★
This was my first introduction to the world of I Hunt Killers and I absolutely loved it! It was SO good! So our serial killer Billy Dent goes off on vacation when suddenly he's got a murder on his hands. Funnily enough, it was one he didn't commit.

There was only one way to solve the problem, Billy realized. Without intending to, he chuckled at the very thought. He was going to have to solve this murder.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #135: Trying To Take Control Of My TBR List (Yeah, Good Luck With That...)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!

I hope you guys are having a fantastic month! This is certainly my favorite time of year! So, to celebrate, I am giving away an ARC of a fantasy book that came out at the beginning of the month, plus the first 2 books in a trilogy about reapers!! There will be TWO winners!

Sunday Post #179: Rewatching Spooky Movies

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Literary Nails: Croak by Gina Damico

Today I bring you some book-inspired nail art I've been wanting to do for, like, a million years! Well, actually, ever since the chrome nail powder craze first started. Lol. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's fine. You'll see 😉 lol.

Anyway, this nail art was inspired by...

Review: Wrong Number 2 (Fear Street #27) by R.L. Stine

Title: Wrong Number 2

Series: Wrong Number #2 | Fear Street #27

Previous book in this duology: The Wrong Number

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: January 1995

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Don’t answer that phone!

“You’re not safe anywhere. I’ll get my revenge!”

Can it really be Mr. Farberson on the line? He has to still be locked up after trying to kill Jade and Deena last year. Maybe the calls are just someone’s idea of a sick joke. But who else could possibly know the things the caller knows?

Then they realize that someone is nearby, watching them, close enough to know their every move. Someone who desperately wants revenge. Someone who wants to reach out... and kill them.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Call waiting... to kill!

Last time Deena, Jade, and Chuck made some prank phone calls... some that got them in trouble. But now they’re the ones getting the calls... threatening ones.

Review: The Wrong Number (Fear Street #5) by R.L. Stine

Title: The Wrong Number

Series: Wrong Number #1 | Fear Street #5

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: March 1990

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it to your Goodreads shelf

Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

It begins as an innocent prank, when Deena Martinson and her best friend Jade Smith make sexy phone calls to the boys from school. But Deena's half-brother Chuck catches them in the act and threatens to tell their parents, unless the girls let him in on the fun. Chuck begins making random calls, threatening anyone who answers. It's dangerous and exciting. They're even enjoying the publicity, and the uproar they've caused. Until Chuck calls a number on Fear Street.

To his horror, Chuck realizes he has called THE WRONG NUMBER. The jokes are over when murder is on the line. The murderer knows who they are and where they live — and they have nowhere to call for help.

My rating: ★★★★☆

It began as a prank... and ended in murder!

It all starts because Chuck doesn’t believe in Fear Street’s curse, even after Deena and Jade warn him that a lot of bad stuff has happened there. He makes a prank phone call to someone on who lives on Fear Street, but it’s more than he bargained for when they overhear a goddamn murder happen! Now they’re all caught up in this mess with the murderer threatening them. Thanks a lot, Chuck.

Lol