Thursday, February 28, 2019

Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2019



So, we've had a very crazy month here, weather wise. We had, like, no snow all of December and January, but come mid-February and it's snowing like it's Christmas! Lol. I went on vacation last week to Mexico, and when I came back this weekend I was hoping it would be gone. It's not. Lol.


Saturday, February 23, 2019

Down the TBR Hole #4



Most of you probably know this feeling, your Goodreads TBR pile keeps growing and growing and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You keep adding, but you add more than you actually read. And then when you’re scrolling through your list, you realize that you have no idea what half the books are about and why you added them. Well that’s going to change!

And thank the gods for that because I desperately need it! Lol. And thanks to Lost in a Story, as well, for creating this amazing meme!

Friday, February 15, 2019

Review: The Best Friend 2 (Fear Street #50) by R.L. Stine

The Best Friend 2 (Fear Street, #50)
Title: The Best Friend 2

Series: The Best Friend #2 | Fear Street #50

Previous book in this series: The Best Friend

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: November 1997

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Becka is relieved. She's finally ready to forget all the horrible things her "best friend" Honey did to her real friends. She can even forget the way she was blamed for it all. So why does she keep seeing Honey everywhere she goes? At first she thinks it's her imagination. But then the threats begin. Honey is back. And this time she won't stop—until Becka is dead.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

The only good friend is a dead friend...

After the craziness that happened in The Best Friend, that ending especially, I was very much looking forward to reading this sequel. Unfortunately, it left much to be desired.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Review: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)
Title: City of Bones

Series: The Mortal Instruments #1

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: March 2007

Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Source: Purchased OG hardcover & 10th anniversary edition

Add it on Goodreads

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

Synopsis:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

My rating: ★★★★★

This book, man, where do I even begin. I’ve read this book SO many times, and on my recent re-read I thought, well, it’s time for a review. Lol.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop!



I am giving away two books and there will be two winners! And yes, they both have romance 😉

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Review: Spider's Trap (Elemental Assassin #13) by Jennifer Estep

Spider's Trap (Elemental Assassin, #13)
Title: Spider's Trap

Series: Elemental Assassin #13

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4) | Spider's Revenge (#5) | By A Thread (#6) | Widow's Web (#7) | Deadly Sting (#8) | Heart of Venom (#9) | The Spider (#10) | Poison Promise (#11) | Black Widow (#12)

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) | Thread of Death (#5.5) | Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks (#8.1) | Kiss of Venom (#8.5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: July 2015

Published by: Pocket Books

Source: Borrowed from library

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Keep your friends close but your enemies within stabbing distance.

One important lesson I’ve learned in the assassination business is that to be the best you have to roll with the punches. Now that I’m queen of Ashland’s underworld—by default, not by choice—a lot more punches are being thrown my way. But I suppose that’s the price of victory for taking down some of the underworld’s top dogs. Good thing I have my Ice and Stone magic to help me survive my volatile new position. Just when I think things are finally settling down, someone tries to murder me during a hush-hush underworld meeting. But the real surprise is how strangely familiar my shadowy assailant seems to be.

My job is to maintain order among killers, crooks, and thieves, and soon I’m embroiled in a bloody game where the ability to keep secrets could be the greatest superpower of all. My enemies have all sharpened their knives and laid their traps, waiting for me to fall. But this Spider weaves her own webs of death…

My rating: ★★★★★

If you thought things would calm down for Gin now that she killed M.M. Monroe, well, you’re wrong. Against her own wishes, she’s become the new queen of the Ashland underworld where she must keep the peace between the crime bosses. Yeah, that happened. Poor Gin. Lol.

Monday, February 11, 2019

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Sunday Post #194



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!

Saturday, February 9, 2019

Down the TBR Hole #3



Most of you probably know this feeling, your Goodreads TBR pile keeps growing and growing and it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You keep adding, but you add more than you actually read. And then when you’re scrolling through your list, you realize that you have no idea what half the books are about and why you added them. Well that’s going to change!

And thank the gods for that because I desperately need it! Lol. And thanks to Lost in a Story, as well, for creating this amazing meme!

Friday, February 8, 2019

Review: The Best Friend (Fear Street #17) by R.L. Stine

The Best Friend (Fear Street, #17)
Title: The Best Friend

Series: The Best Friend #1 | Fear Street #17

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: YA, horror, mystery thriller

Publication date: December 1992

Published by: Archway Paperback

Source: Purchased paperback

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

Best friends... to the end!

Who is Honey Perkins? She’s been telling everyone in Shadyside that she’s Becka Norwood’s best friend. But Becka’s sure she’s never met Honey before.

Honey systematically moves in on Becka’s life, copying her in every way. But when Becka presumes to have more than one “best friend,” the horrible accidents begin.

Does Honey just want a friend? Becka wonders. Or does she want more—much more!

My rating: ★★★★☆

Sometimes friendship can be murder...

This book was fucking insane! One afternoon Becka is minding her own business, hanging out with her two friends in her room, when all of a sudden this girl bursts into her room. But for a change, in a Fear Street book, this time it isn’t a killer. Instead it’s a girl Honey who embraces Becka claiming to be her long lost childhood best friend. But Becka has never seen this girl before! Does Becka just have an awful memory, or is this Honey chick absolutely insane?

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Review: Black Widow (Elemental Assassin #12) by Jennifer Estep

Black Widow (Elemental Assassin, #12)
Title: Black Widow

Series: Elemental Assassin #12

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4) | Spider's Revenge (#5) | By A Thread (#6) | Widow's Web (#7) | Deadly Sting (#8) | Heart of Venom (#9) | The Spider (#10) | Poison Promise (#11)

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) | Thread of Death (#5.5) | Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks (#8.1) | Kiss of Venom (#8.5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: November 2014

Published by: Pocket Books

Source: Borrowed from library

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Book DepositoryThrift Books

Synopsis:

There’s nothing worse than a cruel, cunning enemy with time to kill—and my murder to plan.

With wicked Fire elemental Mab Monroe long gone, you’d think I could finally catch a break. But someone’s always trying to take me down, either as Gin Blanco or my assassin alter-ago. Now along comes the Spider’s new arch-nemesis, the mysteriously named M. M. Monroe, who is gleefully working overtime to trap me in a sticky web of deceit.

The thing is, I’m not the only target. I can see through the tangled threads enough to know that every bit of bad luck my friends have been having lately is no accident—and that each unfortunate “coincidence” is just one more arrow drawing ever closer to hitting the real bulls-eye. Though new to Ashland, this M. M. Monroe is no stranger to irony, trying to get me, an assassin, framed for murder. Yet, as my enemy’s master plan is slowly revealed, I have a sinking feeling that it will take more than my powerful Ice and Stone magic to stop my whole life from going up in flames.

My rating: ★★★★★

When Gin killed the infamous Mab Monroe she thought all her problems would be over. Boy was she wrong. Because it turns out that Mab had a secret daughter, and said daughter has come to town to become the new queen of the Ashland Underworld... and you know, kill Gin along the way.

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Review: Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen

Evil Librarian
Title: Evil Librarian

Series: Evil Librarian #1

Author: Michelle Knudsen

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: September 2014

Published by: Candlewick Press

Source: Borrowed from library

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon | Book Depository | Thrift Books

Synopsis:

#EvilLibrarian He’s young. He’s hot. He’s also evil. He’s . . . the librarian.

When Cynthia Rothschild’s best friend, Annie, falls head over heels for the new high-school librarian, Cyn can totally see why. He’s really young and super cute and thinks Annie would make an excellent library monitor. But after meeting Mr. Gabriel, Cyn realizes something isn’t quite right. Maybe it’s the creepy look in the librarian’s eyes, or the weird feeling Cyn gets whenever she’s around him. Before long Cyn realizes that Mr. Gabriel is, in fact... a demon. Now, in addition to saving the school musical from technical disaster and trying not to make a fool of herself with her own hopeless crush, Cyn has to save her best friend from the clutches of the evil librarian, who also seems to be slowly sucking the life force out of the entire student body!

From best-selling author Michelle Knudsen, here is the perfect novel for teens who like their horror served up with a bit of romance, plenty of humor, and some pretty hot guys (of both the good and evil variety).

My rating: ★★★★★

I can’t believe I had never heard of this book before, because not only did it sound amazing, it was a very fun read! I really enjoyed it! Right from the start (literally, like, on page one) I fell in love with our main character's voice! I knew I was going to have fun following her around!

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Review: Clockwiser (Clockwise #2) by Elle Strauss

Clockwiser (Clockwise, #2)
Title: Clockwiser

Series: Clockwise #2

Previous book in this series: Clockwise

Author: Elle Strauss

Genre: YA, fantasy, time travel, historical

Publication date: March 2012

Published by: ESB Publishing

Source: Purchased ebook

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it: Amazon

Synopsis:

The last year has been smooth sailing for Casey Donovan. She and her boyfriend Nate are doing better than ever, and things at home are good, too. Everything’s been so calm, she hasn’t even “tripped” back to the nineteenth century.

Then the unthinkable happens and she accidentally takes her rebellious brother Tim back in time. It’s 1862 with the Civil War brewing, and for Tim this spells adventure and excitement. Finding himself stuck in the past, he enlists in the Union army, but it doesn’t take long before he discovers real life war is no fun and games.

Casey and Nate race against the clock to find Tim, but the strain wears on their relationship. It doesn’t help that the intriguing new boy next door has his sights on Casey, and isn’t shy to let her know it.

Can Nate and Casey find Tim in time to save him? And is it too late to save their love?

My rating: ★★★★☆

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Clockwise, so I was super excited to read this one. But it was a little bit of a disappointment. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, just not as much as the first book.

Sunday, February 3, 2019

Sunday Post #193



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!