Monsters & Angels by Anne Marie Andrus excerpt + GIVEAWAY!

Well, a few of you may have noticed that I’ve taken a bit of a break from blogging lately. Have no fear, I will be back. I’m just feeling burnt out of it for now.

Buttt I wanted to introduce you to one of the coolest-sounding books I’ve heard of in awhile… (You can read a full excerpt and find a giveaway at the end!)

Monsters & Angels by Anne Marie Andrus
Publication date: October 11th 2017
Genres: Historical, New Adult, Paranormal Romance

Synopsis:

Fledgling nurse Sorcha Alden knew she had the skills to save lives, but she never dreamed that her own life would be the one in danger.

Driven by tragedy to honor her family name, Sorcha embarks on a journey that takes her from the bleak but familiar streets of New York, through the sultry and seductive city of New Orleans, and into the brutal jungles of Nepal. Forging friendships and carrying on her mother’s mission of healing was her dream. Plunging into a love affair with the mysterious Dr. Ashayle could have been a fairytale.

Being murdered and waking up as a blood-thirsty monster—became her living nightmare.

Torn away form a life that had just begun, Sorcha returns to New Orleans as a newborn vampire, forced to start over in a cutthroat underworld of devilry and decadence. Complicated politics, bitter rivals and jealous ancestors stand between her and the promises she’s still determined to keep.

In a realm where the boundary between good and evil is as murky as the Mississippi River and immortal does not mean invincible, will Sorcha ever risk her shattered heart and love again? Can the magical harmony of the Crescent City give her enough courage to fulfill her eternal destiny?

The Saturday Evening Girls Club – Once Upon a Book Club box review – July 2017

The Once Upon a Book Club box is different than any other book subscription box out there. (At least that I’m aware of. Tell me if I’m wrong.)

It includes a new release book, along with a few wrapped gifts labeled with page numbers. You open each gift as you come to the listed page so you’re fully immersed in the book.

Another neat thing about Once Upon a Book Club box is that they encourage interaction through discussion questions. (Discussions are held on their website, I believe.)

They have both Young Adult and Adult box options.

Here is what the July Adult box contained!

6 Books That Feature Characters Who Are Soldiers

I love a good war book. I love WWII, especially, but I love reading the stories of all soldiers: the people who risk their lives and must choose to be brave in the face of horror.

 

So this is…

6 Books That Feature Characters Who Are Soldiers

 

1. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Sorrynotsorry for using this book in basically all of the lists I’ve ever made. It’s one of my very favorites. In this book, Alexander Belov is a captain in the Soviet Union’s military.

 

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell book review

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars ★★★★
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical
Source: Purchased, received in July LitJoy box

When Esta was just a toddler, she was found in a park by a man called “The Professor.” Esta has magical abilities and was raised in a place with other magical people (“Mageus”) where she developed those abilities to perfection. She can bend time; so effectively that with the help of a magical item, she can time travel. She uses this ability specifically as a master thief.

Magic like Esta’s is all but extinct in her modern-day New York City. There is a magical force around the city called “The Brink” which allows the Mageus to come in, but never to leave. They are trapped. The Professor sends Esta back in time to 1902, when The Brink was just put in place.

All in an attempt to destroy it once and for all.

I’ve discovered something about myself recently: If I enjoy a fantasy book, it’s almost always because it’s based in the real world. My real world. I personally need stories based in a world I can relate to because world-building bores me, plain and simple. So the fact that this book was set in New York City was a plus on my list.

8 Things I’ve Learned Since I Started Blogging

Some people do “Things I’ve Learned in my First Year of Blogging” posts, but I want to do one now. There’s no special occasion or anything. I’ve just been thinking about my experiences while blogging.

 

8 Things I’ve Learned Since I Started Blogging

 

Side note: When I first thought about starting this blog, I spent weeks reading advice posts on different blogs. Not only book blogs, but mommy blogs, lifestyle blogs, any blog you can think of.

I wanted to know everything I needed to do. Because research.

(I ended up learning a lot and then getting super overwhelmed so I started without feeling like I was really prepared anyway.)

So when you see the words “I read a blog post” throughout this post, you’ll know what’s up. Because I’ll say it a lot.

 

1. First of all, blogging is a constant doubting-yourself game. 

Not trusting yourself, not believing in yourself, and so on. I had no idea. I thought having a book blog would mean slapping out some book reviews and people would love it, just like that. Not so.

Anyway. I’ll go into more depth in my points below.

 

Top 6 Books on my Fall TBR

Oh Fall. The season of sweaters, crisp wind, pumpkin spice, and apple cider. If Christmas didn’t exist, Fall would be my favorite time of the year.

Here are the books I’m looking forward to reading this Fall. With a hot cup of tea next to me, preferably.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee book review

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars ★★★★
Genre: Historical, Young Adult
Source: Purchased, received in SpearCraft book box

Eighteen year old Henry “Monty” Montague is the privileged and very badly behaved son of an English Duke. After being kicked out of his last boarding school, his father is allowing him to go on one last “Tour” across Europe in the hopes that he’ll grow out of his lewd and outrageous ways and come home to manage the family estate. Monty has no intentions of any such thing. He’s interested primarily in partying it up as much as he can, and he’s not thinking beyond that.

Along for the ride is Monty’s best friend Percy and his younger sister, Felicity. After Monty makes some silly and impulsive decisions, the three of them are thrown onto a wild ride that carries them all across Europe.

This book is essentially a mash-up of two things we know and love: Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean. (I’ve been reading a lot of if-these-two-things-were-mixed books lately. At least this one was successful.)

Anyway, I’ll explain:

Let’s pretend that Harry Potter was actually set in 18th century, non-magical England. Hermione is exactly the same, but Ron is less goofy and Harry is very sexually promiscuous. Through no plan of their own, they are thrown into a wild adventure that takes them to many different places, meeting interesting people and coming into harm’s way more often than they’d like. Oh, and Harry and Ron have the hots for each other.

Why I hate real people on book covers

I’m sure most readers have opinions about the appearance of the books they read. Some people complain about cover designs, quotes on the covers, those “permanent” stickers.

I have forceful opinions about beautiful titles, but I also feel strongly about something else: Photos of real people on book covers.

I will elaborate…

When I read a book that I love, it’s almost as if I’m seeing a movie in my mind. When the characters are speaking to each other, running for their lives, laughing, etc., I see it…

I love that while the same characters are described in books, the characters I see are probably different than the characters you see. Even if we’re reading the exact same book.

5 of My Favorite Books Since I Started Blogging

I have read so many good books lately. Of course, I’ve read some ehh or pure awful books, too. But the good ones have been really good. Here are some of them, for your TBR-adding pleasure!

 

5 of My Favorite Books Since I Started Blogging

 

1. The Last to See Me by M. Dressler

Ahh, this book was so good. It’s a story of a haunted house, but from the viewpoint of the ghost herself. So different and so interesting. And perfect for Halloween. Read it, I’m telling you!

Read my full review here.

The Sunday Post – September 10

Happy Sunday, everyone! 

I’m merging “The Sunday Post,” hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer and “It’s Monday, What Are You Reading?” hosted by Book Date. Because I do what I want.

These handy little posts are a place to share what you’ve been reading and what’s coming up next. And to add books to your own TBR pile, of course!

 

First of all, in my real life… 

1. In the biggest news right now… Hurricane Irma is coming.

I am usually the person who sits back when natural disasters are forecasted, thinking, “Why is everyone freaking out…?” But I am not happy about this hurricane at all. They’re saying it’s the strongest hurricane in recorded history (which is insane) and it’s leaving “unprecedented” destruction behind. Ugh. It looks like it might be passing by us in Eastern North Carolina.

My thoughts are with those who are being affected. 😦

2. I recently binge-watched “The OA” on Netflix. It was really good, but I have so many questions??? And I have a feeling that my questions won’t be answered, even if there’s another season. Like, what was the deal with needing to leave the front doors open?

It was very interesting and good, though. Don’t let my confusion scare you away.

3. I often tag the authors and publishers of the books I post on Instagram. It’s always so cool when they see it and comment! 😀

4. This is teeny tiny potatoes for some (most?) of you, but I reached 100 followers on my blog last week! So 100+ people get an email every time I hit Publish. That’s an awesome feeling. Thank you to everyone who visits, comments, and remembers me enough to come back. You are majorly appreciated, my homies.

 

Onto the books!