Goodreads - My Year in Review

 

At the time this came out I've read 206 books and 51,115 pages. So that's pretty dang good for me! I always have a personal goal of reading 200 books or more. So I made that goal for 2020! 

Best Books of 2020

 2020 has been the worst of my life. I don't just say that because of the pandemic. Lots of terrible things have happened. So that would make sense that since my mindset hasn't been the best, the stuff I've read I've not given the best ratings. So I only have nine books that I felt deserved to be on this list. But anyway, let's just jump into this list! 

Merry Christmas!

 

Even though this Christmas may be different, I still hope this post finds you well. I hope that you enjoy this day to the fullest, even if that means Zoom calls with your family instead of a large gathering. Hopefully, things will all be back to normal next year, and 2020 will be nothing but a tiny blimp in the review mirror. 

This Christmas will be the same as always for my family. My partner's grandmama and step-grandpapa will come over, and I'll make the dinner. Next year, I'm hoping I'll be able to see my family for once. This year has taught me to really value the people in my life now because they could be gone tomorrow.

I hope you're getting some reading done and maybe sitting by a fireplace enjoying the sounds and smells. Or, if you're like me, using your TV as a fireplace. 

Since I've been OBSESSED with Outlander recently, I've been watching the Yule Log videos to read and relax. Sure, I don't get that wonderful fire smell, but I can enjoy the sound with a nice mug of hot cocoa. So maybe you can cuddle up on this day with a drink of choice and read a great book. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Yule, Winter Solstice, or whatever else you may celebrate this time of the year, I hope it's magical. Stay safe, dear friend. 

2 Dark Manga Reviews

A WITCH'S CURSE

Guideau: a feral girl with long fangs and the eyes of a beast. Ashaf: a soft-spoken man with delicate features and a coffin strapped to his back. This ominous pair appears one day in a town that's in thrall to a witch, who has convinced the townsfolk she's their hero. But Ashaf and Guideau know better. They have scores to settle, and they won't hesitate to remove anyone in their way...

Music Monday - Lindsey Stirling Christmas

This meme is hosted over at Always Me

Every year I pull out Warmer in the Winter and play it so much my partner wants to throw the CD out the window by the time January comes. But I just love her style so much! So I'll be sharing two of my favorites. Hope you enjoy! Have a great week and stay safe little butterfly! 

December Reading Update

 

Hello, Butterflies! I hope your month is going well. I hope you're reading lots of great books, staying safe, and enjoying the most wonderful time of the year. Well... as much as one can during this pandemic. At least there is hope! A vaccine is slowly rolling out! Hopefully, by this time next year, we will go back to normal! Won't that be amazing! I know the first thing I want to do is go and visit my family. Then start planning a trip to Scotland. What about you? What's the first thing you want to do when it's safe again?

In Order to Live - Book Talk

Human rights activist Park, who fled North Korea with her mother in 2007 at age 13 and eventually made it to South Korea two years later after a harrowing ordeal, recognized that in order to be "completely free," she had to confront the truth of her past. It is an ugly, shameful story of being sold with her mother into slave marriages by Chinese brokers, and although she at first tried to hide the painful details when blending into South Korean society, she realized how her survival story could inspire others. Moreover, her sister had also escaped earlier and had vanished into China for years, prompting the author to go public with her story in the hope of finding her sister.

Music Monday - Celtic Woman Christmas

This meme is hosted over at Always Me 

More Christmas music! It's one of the best things about this time of the year! It's always so upbeat and feels me with warmth. 

Today I'm sharing two songs from Celtic Woman. If you've never listened to their stuff you're going to love this!

Hope you enjoyed! Have a safe and happy week! 

Travel - Singapore

In January 2013, I got to spend 11 days in a wonderful place called Singapore. If you love the city, you'll love this country! It's small but so jammed packed full of amazing things to do! It's the second safest country in the world to live in! It's also been voted as the fourth safest place to live during this pandemic. The regular citizens aren't allowed to own guns but I'd never felt so safe in my life. I even went walking by myself around midnight and never once looked over my shoulder worried some creep was following me. 

Singapore is rated as the 11th most beautiful city in the world in 2019. Which is well deserved! It's also the cleanest place I've ever visited. I swear the sidewalks were cleaner than some of the Walmart floors I've seen here in the states. Hell, even some restaurants around here are much dirtier than Singapore roads.

December TBR

 I don't normally make these kinds of posts because I'm a mood reader. But ever since my father passed away in August, I've not been reading like I should. It just doesn't do it for me like it before. Sorry, I won't go any further into that. Point is, I want to push myself to read more, hoping it gets me back on track. So without further ado my little butterflies! Let's get to the books I want to read this month! 

Music Monday - Pop Christmas

This meme is hosted over at Always Me

It's that time of the year butterflies! Christmas is upon us! While it's going to be much different for most of us, we should still enjoy it as much as we can! This year has taught me that every single day counts and to make the best of it. 

So now I'm going to share two cute Christmas pop songs! Hope you enjoy! 

 

HUGE Book Haul

 So I asked you guys on Twitter if you wanted to see a book haul and you said yes. I don't usually do these kinds of posts because I know it can make some feel felt out and sad when they can't afford to buy new books, which I completely understand! So I will NOT be making this a normal thing on the blog unless you want me to. 

I also wanted to point out that only a handful of these books are new. I hate paying full price for just about everything and that includes books. That being said, I've VERY picky when it comes to the condition of my books. They have to be like new or better. I just can't handle books with bent spines. I once bent a spine by accident and ended up selling that book just to buy another copy where the spine was perfect. Yes, I'm THAT person with it comes to my books. 

If you'd like to know where I get my books let me know and I could make a post about it. 

Shine by Jessica Jung - Review

A Korean American teen is thrust into the competitive, technicolor world of K-pop, from Jessica Jung, K-pop legend and former lead singer of Girls Generation.

What would you give for a chance to live your dreams?

For seventeen-year-old Korean American Rachel Kim, the answer is almost everything. Six years ago, she was recruited by DB Entertainment—one of Seoul’s largest K-pop labels, known for churning out some of the world’s most popular stars. The rules are simple: Train 24/7. Be perfect. Don’t date. Easy right?

Not so much. As the dark scandals of an industry bent on controlling and commodifying beautiful girls begin to bubble up, Rachel wonders if she’s strong enough to be a winner, or if she’ll end up crushed… Especially when she begins to develop feelings for K-pop star and DB golden boy Jason Lee. It’s not just that he’s charming, sexy, and ridiculously talented. He’s also the first person who really understands how badly she wants her star to rise.

Whisper Me A Love Song - Manga Monday

 

An adorable new yuri manga for fans of Kase-san and Yamada and Bloom Into You. One day, high school girl Himari sees a girl, Yori, sing in a band, and it awakens feelings she doesn't understand... but Yori does!

Bubbly, energetic first-year high school student Himari falls head over heels for her senpai Yori after hearing her band perform on the first day of school. Himari tells Yori she just loves her, and, to Himari's surprise, Yori says she loves Himari back! But when Himari realizes that she and her senpai are feeling two different kinds of love, she begins to ask herself what "love" really means...

Manga Breakdown

I hate to admit this but I've never read an f/f manga. I know! What took me so long! So I set out to change that by picking up this Yuri (what the Japanese call f/f manga) book and give it a go! It's cute and follows our two girls: Himari and Yori when they first meet each other and from there the story goes on. The art is stunning, a little bit childish looking to my eyes but it's pretty. 

Not too much happens in this volume because the mangaka was really setting up the characters but I feel in the next volume the story will move along nicely and we'll get to see just what is in store for these two. 

***This title was given to me in exchange for an honest review***

Video Game Nonesense - Urbz: Sims in the City

The Sims have moved to the City where there's always action and where reputation means everything. In the Urbz: Sims in the City, you can go to work at such locations as the Sushi Bar, Chop Shop, or Bootleg Fireworks, Inc. Success at work brings promotions, access to new power socials, and gear to influence your new lifestyle. It's up to you whether your Urbz become big-time players on the street or are lost in the crowd. It's all about reputation as The Urbz are living the dream in a City that never sleeps.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was a game I played as a little one back in the day. It was released holiday 2004 and I didn't get it till around 2007 when I saw my friend playing on her Game Boy Advance. My parents ended up getting me a DS and I played that version of the game. Which isn't much different. This was the first time I ever got to play the Sims but not the first I'd heard of them. I'd had a friend three years older who had gotten the PS Sims game but her parents had taken it away from her because the Sims characters can have sex. Nothing graphic at all. I know in Sims 3 and 4 they just hide under the blankets or go under the water. 

It didn't matter though because we both grew up in a very strict religion and it just wasn't allowed. This game was rated E (Everyone) instead of T (Teen) so my parents thought it would be okay. They were right. This game is safe for all ages and so much fun to play! 

I spent two or three months on this game and fell in love with the Sims because of it. It's a pretty easy to play game. With the Sims you have to care for their needs and that's true for this game but you've also got missions you need to complete that move the story along. Which is different form other Sims game where it's just open to whatever you want. 

In every Sims game you have to have money and here is a really cool system that I love to this day, fun little mini games! From card games, to hidden objects, shooting hoops, and doing a stand up comedy routine. It really breaks up the game and is fun to play. 

The game strongly encourages you to make friends with everyone and it some missions you have to reach a certain level of popularity before you can continue. Which I think is good, the characters here are all different and some are quite weird. I think it shows that you can be friends with anyone, you don't have to stay in your own friend group. 

Now, being a game that came out in '04, it's not the best looking game but I don't care. Even when I recently played it, I still loved it. It was sure easier to beat this time around though! That's for sure! This game will always hold a place in my heart and it got me to love the Sims! 

Music Monday - Icon for Hire

This meme is hosted at Always Me

How is everyone doing this week? I've been so busy with my new seasonal job that I've not been really doing anything but working and sleeping. To go from being a stay at home mummy to 40 hour week was a little rough on my body but I'm slowly adjusting. Thanksgiving is this week! I hope you're all going to stay safe and sound. This will be my first Thanksgiving without my father so I'm going to try extra hard to make it special for my mum and sister. Wish me luck! 

I hope you enjoy these two songs by one of my favorite bands, Icon for Hire. They've been having some new stuff come out and so far I've liked most of it. I'm not the biggest fan of seeds because I just don't like how they choose to do the word seeds and how it fits with the music, plus it reminds me a lot of BMTH with Kick Me When I'm Down. That's just me, it's still a decent song, just not one I'll replay a lot. I do love that the two of them have decided to go heavier, it's really working for me.

Hope you enjoyed these! Have a great week! Stay safe!  

3 Mini NetGalley Reviews ( Memory Lane, Insatiable Hunger, & The Haunting of Beatrix Greene)

Beatrix Greene has made a name for herself in Victorian England as a reputable spiritual medium, but she’s a fraud: even she knows ghosts aren’t real. But when she’s offered a lucrative job by James Walker—a scientist notorious for discrediting pretenders like her—Beatrix takes the risk of a lifetime. If her séance at the infamously haunted Ashbury Manor fools him, she will finally have true financial freedom. If she fails, her secret will become her public shame.

But James has his own dark secrets, and he believes only a true medium can put them to rest. When Beatrix’s séance awakens her real gift—and with it, a vengeful spirit—James finds that the answers he seeks are more dangerous than he could have imagined. Together, with a group of supernatural sleuths, Beatrix and James race to settle the ghost’s unrest before it strikes— or else they might not make it out of the haunted manor alive.

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, along with Ash Parsons and Vicky Alvear Shecter, weaves darkness, death, and a hint of desire into this suspenseful mystery for fans of Sherlock Holmes and Crimson Peak. 

Mini Review 

Yes! It's been a while since I've read anything by Serial Box but this was AMAZING! It's creepy, romantic and wonderfully gothic! What more could I ask for?

A strained mother-daughter bond. An experiment with memory implantation. A murder.

New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series Sara Shepard teams up with author Ellen Goodlett (author of the Rule duology) for this sci-fi thriller perfect for fans of Inception and Blake Crouch’s Recursion.

Mini Review 

DUDE!!! This was epic! It feels a lot like Assassin's Creed with a wonderful touch of family drama that kept me on the edge of my seat! This is worth the read!

His unbridled appetites

could cost him everything.

She’s just a friend…

But he craves so much more…

Ryan Hathaway isn’t about to let his friend marry the wrong guy—not when the right guy is him. But getting out of Jessie Acosta’s friend zone could destroy his plans to become Black Crescent’s CEO. He can’t afford to give in to the overwhelming temptation of wanting her. But with another man looming in Jessie’s life, Ryan can’t afford not to…

Mini Review 

A second chance romance. If you like those, you'll like this. It's well written and flows fast. Nothing to write home about but it will pass the time.

***All these titles were given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an HONEST review***

A Five Star and One Star Review

A Sensual, Powerful, And Thought Provoking Tarzan Retelling

Eden Matthews stumbled upon the discovery of a lifetime while photographing wildlife deep in the heart of Africa…

A gorgeous god of a man living in the wilds of the African jungle among a family of gorillas…

When he saves her life she’s compelled to uncover the man’s tragic past and the fate which led him to grow up in the wild.

But Eden soon learns she can take man from the wild, but she can’t take the wild out of the man…

When her savage savior soon shows her just want he wants of her…her sensual surrender, she finds she can’t resist him teaching her how to love…in the wild.

Mini Book Breakdown

So.... no. I didn't like this one. The writing was great. It flowed perfectly, I never had to stop and wonder what I'd just read. But what got me was the story itself... insta-love, magic caves, and really not much character development. This was basically a worse version of the Disney movie but with sex and weird magic stuff.

It's a no for me.

~~~~~~~~~         ~~~~~~~~~         ~~~~~~~~~         ~~~~~~~~~         ~~~~~~~~~         ~~~~~~~~~         

Prepare to dip your toe into the biggest adventure of your life, Cancer. There's romance in the air, and it smells deliciously salty.

Dumped by the fifth girl in two years and abandoned by his best friends, Reid Glover is alone and in need of a home.

Desperate, he interviews to become a live-in manny aboard widowed Sullivan Bell’s yacht, the Aquarian.

The job? Not to look after thirteen-year-old Joanna. No, this child-mastermind needs Reid to befriend her dad, urge him to participate more in family life, encourage him to date, oh, and become his closest confidant and help him unleash his bottled emotions.

No pressure.

At least he’s not entirely out of his depth.

Okay, so he may have a slight aversion to the ocean. And possibly attract more than his fair share of misadventure.

But he is a pro at crying.

Watch out, Sullivan. Reid is on his way with a family-sized carton of tissues. He will help Sullivan through his fears. Will help him find love again.

Will absolutely not fall for him in the process . . .

Caution, Cancer, how long will you fool yourself?

Mini Book Breakdown

Why oh why did I take so long to read this one!?

I've never disliked an Anyta Sunday novel. Not once. So I knew I was going to love this as soon as I saw it was coming out. And surprise, surprise, I loved it!

Reid is adorkable and so sweet that even Sullivan can't seem to resist him. We get to watch this clueless young man fall for a single father who lost his husband. Don't forget the teenage daughter! She's freaking awesome! I loved this book so much I read it all in one day, just couldn't put it down! Don't sleep on this series if you love m/m romance!

Amazon's Censorship

 If you've been around my blog long enough, you'll know that I hate censorship! I believe that we have the right to express our artistic views however we wish. It should be a personal choice or a parent's choice for their child. But a company making my choices for me? Or a book reviewer who didn't like a book getting the choice of deciding if that book is now even going to be published? NOPE! 

   But we're not talking about a person today. We are talking about the company. Not just any company; Amazon. 

   Yes, I know that they are allowed to sell or not sell whatever the heck they want and we can shop somewhere else. 

   BUT

   Where does it end? And is this the start of something? Also, if big companies start censoring things, it makes them harder to find and thus the creator might not be able to continue doing what they love if not enough people know about it and support it. Lastly, why is it only certain titles that get this treatment?

  What started this was a manga series that my partner got me last year for Christmas. 

Blurb: At an all-boys’ boarding school deep in the mountains, hapless transfer student Takashi Tono joins the Photography Club, only to learn too late that the club’s main extracurricular activity is offering its sexual services to the student body! Now that Takashi’s surrounded by bedroom aces, can this virgin survive a day—much less the whole school year—as part of the school’s most lascivious club?

    This manga is rated M for Mature. It says on the front explicit content. You can tell just from reading the back of the manga that this is not for young ones. But Amazon deemed it inappropriate and now you can buy it on their website. Only the first and third volume are available, the other is not. Actually, I take that back, you can get volume 2 in German. 

    BUT

    This isn't the first time I've seen this happen! It was with another m/m manga that I was reading at the time. 

    

BLURB: Aidan has always dreamed of a different life, one that was somehow more than what he knew. Desperate times force him and his adoptive family to move to Grandfather Patrick’s house on Devil’s Ridge, a tiny, rural town, that is far more than what it seems.

    On the Ridge, Aidan finds a world filled with magic, monsters and terrifying beauty. He has discovered his “different life” but it isn’t at all what he expected, and not all of it is good.

    With most of the townspeople involved in the Clan, a dark cult, and Grandfather Patrick as the Clan’s head, Aidan knows he isn’t just imagining that the whole town is out to get him. When Aidan is lured by an ancient force literally in his own backyard, he is rescued by the mysterious and handsome Asher Vane, who his grandfather calls a “demon”. Is Asher something terrible? More importantly, is Aidan?

     This manga has to be censored because there was male nudity. Also one of the volumes was too racy for Amazon. 

  Which makes me wonder... I've read a manga where there were uncensored topless women that I bought from Amazon. Not to mention all the erotic sold on Amazon. Why is it different? I want to know why is it okay to have smut in written books but not in manga? I've read far more raunchy things in books I've bought from Amazon than what The Dark Earth showed. 

  So my question really boils down to two parts. One, why is just the m/m stuff? If there is f/f or m/f stuff I'm missing please let me know! But I've personally not seen any. The other is where do we draw the line? Sex in manga is too much but hey, sex in this book is totally fine! Even sex with more than one partner! But not this manga that shows two guys together! That's too much!

  Am I just reading too much into this? Have you come across any titles that Amazon won't sell that you want? Let me know your thoughts on this whole thing. 

   Stay safe, stay happy! Read a good book! 

 

Music Monday - She Wants Revenge

 

This meme is hosted over at Always Me

    If you've been around here long enough, you'll know how much I love goth music. The themes just speak to my little black heart. So I wanted to share two of my favorites with you today. I hope you had a great weekend and stayed safe! Without further ado, let's get to the tunes! 

    So what did you think? Let me know below! Have a great week! Happy Reading!

3 NetGalley Manga Reviews (Bleach, RWBY, and Fly Me to the Moon)

    First comes marriage, then comes an earthbound love that is out of this world!

    From the day his parents named him, Nasa Yuzaki has been destined for outer space…or so he believes. But while trying to join the space program, he is thrown for a loop when an accident introduces him to Tsukasa, a mysterious girl with strange powers. Is she an alien, a moon goddess or something else? Since she insists on marrying him, Nasa has plenty of chances to find out!

Mini Manga Breakdown

    A cute romance manga? YES PLEASE! The art is so pretty. I do feel the beginning is a little jarring... like it just throws the reader into the story and I wasn't sure if I'd missed something or not. Once, I caught on, it was great and the story is cute. Can't wait to read more!

    

    

    Hisagi must throw himself into a new fight as the mystery that Kaname Tōsen left behind resurfaces. The story reveals more details about the four Noble Houses, the Soul King, Arrancar and Fullbringers.

Mini Book Breakdown

    I thought this was a manga but it's actually a light novel. I have this love-hate relationship with light novels because I'm so used to seeing this world and these characters on the page that when I just have to picture them in my head... it's lost in translation.

    That being said... I really enjoyed the story here and will continue this series. I love Bleach, the anime, and manga. Adding this new format just makes me happy to know we're still getting Bleach in some form.

    Experience the introductory arc of the international smash hit series RWBY in a whole new way—manga!

    In the world of Remnant, monsters known as Grimm wreak havoc. They’re kept in check by Huntsmen and Huntresses, highly skilled warriors experienced in monster extermination who utilize their special abilities on the field of battle. Ruby is a ferociously talented young girl who comes to Beacon Academy to hone her skills and serve as a Huntress herself. Alongside her sister Yang Xiao Long, rival Weiss Schnee and newfound friend Blake Belladonna, Ruby leads Team RWBY, the coolest new group at Beacon!

    Ruby takes her first step on the road to becoming a Huntress by enrolling at Beacon Academy, eager to take on the battery of tests, challenges and difficulties that follow. Ruby knows her talents will take her to her goal, but is she ready to clash with Weiss Schnee, haughty scion of the Schnee Dust Company?

Mini Manga Breakdown

    Action packed! Great art! Cute moments and even a few funny ones. I've never seen the anime and now I really want to change that!

Music Monday - SKÁLD

 

This meme is hosted over at Always Me

    Today I thought I'd share two new songs by one of my favorite groups! It's epic viking music. One is soft and the other makes you want to grab an axe and find the nearest boat to hope aboard for an epic adventure.

    I hope these songs find you happy and safe. Have a great week my friends. Let me know which was your favorite of the two below.

Daughters Unto Devils By Amy Lukavics - Book Breakdown

God bless the little children

When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner's family decides to move from their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past winter; of her sickly Ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain. The boy whose baby she now carries.

When the Verners arrive at their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is obvious to Amanda that something isn't right on the prairie. She's heard stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can't be sure if the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.

~~~~~~~~~

I've been getting into horror recently and I saw this on the Overdrive app. Sure, they also had a copy ready at the library but I am not stepping foot into that place right now. Also, I just want to mention how much I miss my library. 

Moving on, I wanted to start on this one ASAP and it only took me a few nights to read because I couldn't put it down. It's creepy. Very creepy.

Amanda and her family have been suffering since last winter when Ma had a baby that was born blind and deaf and where Amanda got cabin fever. To make things worse, she's been meeting with a boy who got her pregnant and shocker, doesn't want to marry her and take care of her.

Did I mention this was set in the 1800s?

Her family is super religious, which means she's scared to tell them. But Pa decides they need to move somewhere better and bigger. After a rough trip, they make it, but the cabin they decide to settle into is covered in blood. That's the first thing to go wrong and honestly the least freaky thing to happen.

This book is dark, not just when it comes to horror but there's even a miscarriage. It's not an easy read at some parts because Amanda is fighting demons of her own. Even the demon that got her Ma said she's already got one in her. Plus, that ending! It should NOT have ended there! I needed to know more. I NEED the answer!

The writing is great!  It keeps the story flowing perfectly! I was never bored but I often found myself huddled under my blanket, unable to put the book down.

If you're looking for a very creepy book that's not too scary, then I say give this one a go! I really liked it!

  

Werewolf Magick: Authentic Practical Lycanthropy - Book Breakdown

 

    Unleash the wolf within you with the help of this empowering guide to lycanthropic magic. Denny Sargent shows you how to improve your confidence, authenticity, and personal power using werewolf rituals, spells, meditations, folklore, and more.

    Werewolf Magick teaches you to shed the restrictive bindings of the modern world and answer the call of your feral side. Once you embrace the wolf within, you'll transform into your fearless animal self and enjoy a more honest, primal, and intuitive way of being. Explore the modalities and invocations of werewolf magick. Discover shamanic shapeshifting, wolf deities and spirits, and werewolf herbalism. This book reveals deep secrets of primal magick and encourages you to awaken your full potential.

Book Breakdown 

    Thanks to NetGalley for this title in exchange for an honest review

    You ever finish a book, close the page and place it on the shelf, and think to yourself, you know, I'm glad I read that book but it wasn't for me at all? Well, that's how I felt with this one. I've never read a book about werewolf magick before so when I saw it, I just knew I had to give it a go. Werewolf magick is not for me at all. Some parts of this book just had me blinking and wondering how it even worked but it takes all kinds to make the world go round.

    It's well written the author seems very down to earth, very in touch with his animalistic self. Sometimes it's good to simply focus on our base needs most problems can be found in these simple areas we often overlook. That was something I took away from this book personally.

    So if you're into werewolf magick, are just curious like I was, I do say give this a try, you might learn something nifty.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - Mini Review

 

    The iconic anthology series of horror tales that's now a feature film!


    This is a new edition of the complete original book. Stephen Gammell’s artwork from the original Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark appears in all its spooky glory. Read if you dare!


    Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a timeless collection of chillingly scary tales and legends, in which folklorist Alvin Schwartz offers up some of the most alarming tales of horror, dark revenge, and supernatural events of all time.

Mini Book Breakdown

    Full of cute little stories that would have freaked me out as a little one. As an adult, they aren't scary at all, naturally. But most are still entertaining, and I read the whole book in one sitting. As a child, my father would tell me this scary story about the "vindow viper' I never knew where he'd heard the story, but it creeped me out! It was in this book! My father never read, and he was most older than this book. It was still cool to see.

    "I vish to vash and vipe the vindows." - The Viper

    Now my favorite story is one that talks about this couple who spent the night with an elderly pair. They put some money on the table and left. When they arrived at the next town they learned the place they had stayed at and the people they'd stayed with were much different! Sure enough, when they went back, the house was burned, had been for years. No one lived there. Yet, their money lay untouched on a table.

    This is perfect for parents who want to read to their kids but still enjoy themselves. It's really an easy but fun read.

    This is one of the books I read for ScreamAThon so it's nice to knock one off the list! 

Music Monday - Vampyr Soundtrack

This meme is hosted over at Always Me 

    So Playstation Plus members always get two free games every month. This month one of the options was the game Vampyr. I've wanted to play this game since it came in 2018 but never got the chance. When my partner saw it was free... he got it for me. I am in LOVE with this game. I can't stop playing it. I even dreamed about it once night I'm that obsessed! 

    I'm only going to share one thing today but it's over an hour long so it more than makes up for it. If you like Peter Grundy or darker instrumental music; you'll love this! It's so great for this time of year! 

  

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    Well, that's it for this post! Hope you have a safe and happy week! Until next time, happy reading!

Watch Her Vanish (Rockwell and Decker #1) by Ellery A. Kane - Mini Book Breakdown

 

    Fear hits her like a wave crashing against the sheer cliffs nearby. She sees the woman’s feet first, then the legs bent like broken driftwood. Then, the blouse strewn open; the marks on her beautiful neck. Her knees buckle as a hand grabs her elbow to break her fall.

    Forced home to Fog Harbor, California, to look after her little sister, Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell is struggling to adjust to life in a town so small she can hardly breathe. Until, at church one morning, the sound of a scream leads her to the body of a missing local teacher in the shallows nearby. All the evidence points to Olivia’s most threatening patient, Drake, who is safely locked up behind bars…

    Convinced of Drake’s innocence—and desperate to believe in the system that’s keeping her own murderer father behind bars—Olivia gets to work on her own suspect list. All her life she’s run towards trouble, but this time she’s treading on the toes of brooding and handsome Detective Will Decker.

    Then a second woman’s body is discovered, strangled while out on an evening jog. The strip of blue material used to choke her implicates Drake once again, forcing Olivia and Will to admit they are out of their depth and must work together to crack the case.

    The deeper they dig, the deadlier the trail becomes. It’s clear more innocent women will die if they don’t get one step ahead. But then a note written on a scrap of paper found in the last victim’s car leads them to a terrifying realization: the killer has his sights on Olivia’s little sister as the next victim…

    An addictive and unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night. Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Mary Burton.

Mini Book Breakdown

    If that opening doesn't grab you and make you want to keep reading then I don't know what to tell you because that opening was epic!

    This author just keeps getting better with her new book that comes out. I can see so much improvement from her YA trilogy! But enough about that, let's just talk about this fast-paced read, shall we?

    Olivia and Deck are our main characters and boy do they both harbor some deep secrets that we get to slowly uncover. We get to watch them try and figure out who is killing women that work at the prison before anyone else gets killed. The book rally speeds up towards the end and makes you feel like the killer is waiting in the shadows.

    Overall, I can't complain, this was amazing! Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the chance to read this great book! It's a perfect read for this time of the year!

Gotham High By Melissa de la Cruz - Book Breakdown

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Alex and Eliza and The Witches of East End comes a reimagining of Gotham for a new generation of readers. Before they became Batman, Catwoman, and The Joker, Bruce, Selina, and Jack were high schoolers who would do whatever it took--even destroy the ones they love--to satisfy their own motives.

After being kicked out of his boarding school, 16-year-old Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City to find that nothing is as he left it. What once was his family home is now an empty husk, lonely but haunted by the memory of his parents' murder. Selina Kyle, once the innocent girl next door, now rules over Gotham High School with a dangerous flair, aided by the class clown, Jack Napier.

When a kidnapping rattles the school, Bruce seeks answers as the dark and troubled knight--but is he actually the pawn? Nothing is ever as it seems, especially at Gotham High, where the parties and romances are of the highest stakes ... and where everyone is a suspect.

With enchanting art by Thomas Pitilli, this new graphic novel is just as intoxicating as it is chilling, in which dearest friends turn into greatest enemies--all within the hallways of Gotham High!

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    So, I have no idea what I just read. My partner, who loves Batman, says this is terrible and they and I quote: "Butt fucked the characters." I told him some of the stuff that happened and he just shook his head and begged me to stop telling him. Now, I don't normally read this kind of stuff but I've been branching out, and, if you've been around here long enough you'll know that I love Blue Bloods by this author. A great series! You should read it! So I wanted to try this...

    Oh Lord, here we go.

    So, I'm trying to figure out how to start this without just ripping this graphic novel into pieces. Honestly, I feel like the perfect way to describe this book is an SJW checklist. That's all this felt like to me, not a story that you want to get lost in but a list that hit all the boxes that people are looking for now just so you'll be convinced to buy it. But there's no story to keep you gripped once you start reading.

    But this boils down to the true problem I have with some books that are geared towards the SJW crowd. They often forget to tell a story! It's all just one talking point to the next or just showing you this diverse character and then doing nothing else with them. Just to show off what they know people want to see, but it's like a tease. They give us these things but only halfway.

(Joker) Jack's Obsession - Creepy

    When did we stop telling a story?

    So Batman is now a brooding Asian-American that is trying to solve who keeps kidnapping rich kids from his school. Joker is some weird white trash guy that's way too into Catwoman. And Catwoman just wants to get money to help her father. But don't even get me started on Selina! She's a bitch! Sorry for the language but she is. She plays both the boys and then proceeds to let them think she killed herself for money for her very sick father.

    Even when Bruce offers to help with her father, she won't accept it because she has to do this on her own! She's an independent woman! Don't you dare forget it! And that means, as a strong woman, she can't take help from anyone! Heaven forbid!

    I love a strong female character! I mean, I read mainly female lead stories for this reason, BUT, when did being a strong woman mean you have to be mean to everyone and never accept help? That's what I've seen in some stories recently and it just doesn't sit well with me. I don't care how strong you are, everyone is going to need help at least once in life.

    This could have been something very good but I just felt it was trying to tick boxes off a spreadsheet rather than tell a story. I don't understand why it's hard to create a story that still flicks off their lists and gives everyone what they want. For this graphic novel, it was too much to ask I guess.

    Don't even get me started on the love triangle... nope. We're not going there! I'll also skip on the art but it's not the best either.

    So, we're just going to end this here, I don't recommend this graphic novel. I don't think this is going to save comics either. Sorry.

Music Monday - Demos + New Episode of Kouples Korner!

 

This meme is hosted over at Always Me

    Alright! I've been lurking in the deep parts of YouTube recently and found some awesome songs that never made it out into the public. Which is tragic as these are some great songs! Or there is one that was given to another artist instead and made into almost completely different song. I wanted to share two of those with you today! 

 

 

        Well, that's all for Music Monday this week! I hope you enjoyed these two songs! Lastly, I just wanted to say that the new episode of Kouples Korner is up! We're talking about a horror film since it's the month of October! 

         Well, that's it for this post! Have a great week! 

ScreamAThon TBR

 

    ScreamAThon is a book reading challenge that takes place during October 1st -31st. Here's the link if you wanna know more. The goal is to try and get a bingo by the end of the month or if you really wanna be a crazy reader, blackout the whole board! 

    I know there's no way I can blackout the board so I've chosen a route to get a bingo and just leave it at that. I'll still be winning and having a blast! 

    Sidney Prescott: The Final Girl - Slasher Novel

    Don't Blame the Movies - Book to Movie Adaptation 

    FREE SPACE!

    Joel the Camera Man - Contemporary

    Maureen Prescott - Paranormal Book

    My goal will be to read one book per week, which should be very easy if I pace myself well. None of the books are too long and they're all ones I've been wanting to read for a while I haven't gotten to do so. 

    So I'm excited to get to reading these! Not only do I love October for its spooky time and horror movies and books: the weather finally starts to cool down and it kicks off the holidays! Which I adore! 

     But enough of that, let us talk about the books I've selected for each category, shall we? 

Slasher novel  - There's Someone Inside Your House 

    Love hurts...

    Makani Young thought she'd left her dark past behind her in Hawaii, settling in with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska. She's found new friends and has even started to fall for mysterious outsider Ollie Larsson. But her past isn't far behind.

    Then, one by one, the students of Osborne Hugh begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasingly grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and her feelings for Ollie intensify, Makani is forced to confront her own dark secrets.

Book to Movie Adaptation - Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

    This spooky addition to Alvin Schwartz's popular books on American folklore is filled with tales of eerie horror and dark revenge that will make you jump with fright.

    There is a story here for everyone—skeletons with torn and tangled flesh who roam the earth; a ghost who takes revenge on her murderer; and a haunted house where every night a bloody head falls down the chimney.

    Stephen Gammell's splendidly creepy drawings perfectly capture the mood of more than two dozen scary stories—and even scary songs—all just right for reading alone or for telling aloud in the dark.

    If You Dare!    

Free Space - Vampire Knight: Memories Volume 3

    Immortal tales of the past and present from the world of Vampire Knight.

    Vampire Knight returns with stories that delve into Yuki and Zero’s time as a couple in the past and explore the relationship between Yuki’s children and Kaname in the present.

    Yuki and Zero have decided to become a couple. Though relations between the Hunter Society and vampires have improved, bombs have been set off in the city and the “Vampire King” is claiming responsibility. Yuki, Zero, Aido and Kaien enter the battle to protect those they care about.

Contemporary - Strange Ink

    Spine-chilling horror in the vein of Joe Hill. After moving into a new house, journalist Harry Hendrick wakes up with tattoos that aren’t his...

    When washed-up journalist Harry Hendrick wakes one morning with a hangover and a strange symbol tattooed on his neck, he shrugs it off as a bad night out. But soon more tattoos appear: grisly, violent images which come accompanied by horrific nightmares – so he begins to dig deeper. Harry’s search leads him to a sinister disappearance, torment from beyond the grave, and a web of corruption and violence tangled with his own past. One way or another, he has to right the wrongs.

Paranormal Book - Alice in Zombieland 

    She won't rest until she's sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

    If anyone had told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that's all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

    Her father was right. The monsters are real.

    To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn't careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies.

    

    Well, that's all she wrote folks! There is my ScreamAThon TBR! Wish me good luck! I really wanna get that bingo! Until next time, stay safe, stay happy, and read a good book! 

Forbidden Lust (Dynasties: Seven Sins #2) - NetGalley Review

 

Feel the drama and passion in the Dynasties: Seven Sins series!

Next stop, paradise—With the man of her forbidden fantasies?

Giving in to desire with her brother’s best friend…

A secluded island resort is the perfect romantic setting for the night of passionate abandon Allison Randall plans to share with Zane Patterson. Her elder brother’s best friend has always been off-limits…and Zane is determined to keep it that way. But when a storm strands them together, neither can hold back. Everything Allison dreamed of is finally in reach…until unwelcome revelations threaten a rude awakening!

Harlequin Desire: Luxury, scandal, desire—welcome to the lives of the American elite.

One man’s betrayal can destroy generations. Fifteen years ago, a hedge-fund hotshot vanished with billions, leaving the high-powered families of Falling Brook changed forever. Now seven heirs, shaped by his betrayal, must reckon with the sins of the past. Passion may be their only path to redemption. Experience all Seven Sins! - Goodreads Blurb

Book Breakdown

    I've have half a dozen read to review books on backlog from NetGalley that I'm gonna try and get through. I started with an easy one. Forbidden Lust isn't a long book and it reads so fast that I finished it in two hours. So if you're looking for a steamy quick read, this is for you! 

    I'm a little saddened by this series because it was not what I was hoping it would be. I was thinking of a 'grown up' version of the TV show Dynasty . This just felt like any other Harlequin Desire book. So that was a real let down for me. I have one more in the series to review so hopefully it's more like I was hoping it would be. 

    That's not saying this book is awful. That's not true! It's a good book. An average book. You'll enjoy it while reading but forget about it not long after you're finished. I hate to say that but it's true. But it does provide a nice escape from the world we're currently living in and that is worth its weight in gold. 

Music Monday - Ava Max

 

This meme is hosted over at Always Me

    Okay, I have a lot of music to catch up on and no idea where to start. To choose, I just closed my eyes and clicked a random YouTube video in my Music Monday playlist. So today is Ava Max: she just recently dropped her debut album and it's... not bad. There are three songs that I really enjoy. While the rest are alright but nothing special in my opinion. 

    They've got some great beats. Rumors is a superb dance track and Belladonna is dark and inviting. Enough talking! Let's just jump into these two songs, shall we? 

    That's a wrap for this week! I hope you're all doing great and staying safe! Until next time, happy reading little butterflies! 

Second Episode of Kouples Korner, My Partner Has a Short Film, & A Cookbook Review

     Another long post but I just wanted to add a few things onto this one. First off, my partner got one of his shorts filmed! It's about ten minutes long and it turned out pretty dang well! He's very proud but says it also feels very surreal. I hope this is the start of something great for him! 

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    Another thing I wanted to add; the second episode of Kouples Korner is now live! We were a little excited and recorded another one. But after spending all day editing, we are going to stick to once a week, only on Friday's schedule. Editing really takes a lot of time! My eyes were so blurry by the time I finished that I walked into the kitchen counter.... yeah. I'll take more breaks for next week's episode. You can listen to the Youtube video or click the link HERE to find it on your favorite podcast site. I usually listen through Apple Podcasts myself. Please enjoy! This one turned out a whole lot better! 

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"Let me guess... someone stole your Sweetroll?" - Skyrim

Now, I no longer have to care if my Sweetroll is stolen because I can just make my own! 

I've been getting into cookbook more recently and when I saw this was a thing; I had to read it! A cookbook based on one of my favorite video game worlds of all time?! Heck yeah! 

I have a lot of recipes lined up to make, Sweetrolls are one of them! But there's also the Potato Cheddar Soup and Boiled Creme Treat, Stewed Apples and Eidar Cheese! 

I wish I could show you all these amazing pictures from the book but I think I'd get into trouble if I shared all the ones I wanted to make. 

Something I find fun is before each recipe, there's a little mention of how the dish relates to the Elder Scrolls world and which race created the dish. It's so thorough that I feel like these are real places the author talks about and not a video game world. It's amazing! When I make a few of these dishes I want to take pictures and put them on Instagram. Let me know if that's something you'd want to see. 

    Bottom line: I love this! Until next time, stay healthy, stay happy, and read a good book!