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.