Monday, November 27, 2017

November Fairyloot Unboxing ♥

Another month, Another Box! And I love it! ♥ 



Above is my main picture and I will add the synopsis from the card and pictures of all the things ♥ 


We have an exclusive edition of "The Last Namsara" by Kristen Ciccarelli. I have the original hardback and this Fairyloot edition has different colors and it's smaller in size ♥ 

We also have an ARC of Furyborn by Claire Legrand! So Awesome! ♥

  
We have a freaking awesome book sleeve that is an Exclusive Slay Book Sleeve that features swords and books. How freaking cool is that! We also have a postcard from The Last Namsara and the ladies that slay bookmark and art. 

 
 Up next we have an Exclusive Blue's Brew tea. This tea is inspired by Blue Sargent from The Raven Cycle! I love Blue =) 

And the sticker is a quote from An Ember in the Ashes! 


We have an exclusive Fire Is Catching Badge from the Hunger Games. A pin from This Moral Coil! I ordered that book and I hope it's good =) 

  

And last but definately not least, we have a Hermione Granger candle! Yessssssssssssss! Hermione, gotta love it ♥ 

I am very happy with this months box.  I can't wait until the next months box. 

I hope you guys enjoyed the little tour! 

Happy Reading! 

Mel ♥  

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

The company says Otherworld is amazing—like nothing you’ve ever seen before. They say it’s addictive—that you’ll want to stay forever. They promise Otherworld will make all your dreams come true.

Simon thought Otherworld was a game. Turns out he knew nothing. Otherworld is the next phase of reality. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.

And it’s about to change humanity forever.
Welcome to the Otherworld. No one could have seen it coming.@goodreads 


 















There are guys online who swear it was heaven. They still sit around like a bunch of old geezers, swapping tales of epic storms, monstrous beasts and grisly battles. Talk to any gamer in their twenties and at some point they'll say: "You're too young to get it. You never saw Otherworld." 


I thought the book was okay enough. I thought it was going to be set mostly in the gaming world like a lot of books are these days. But this book has some gaming and a lot of crazy going on in the real world. 

Simon and Kat were best friends since childhood and later on have feelings for each other. But Simon is dragged away to another country with his rich parents and his connection to Kat gets further and further away. 

Simon gets himself into trouble so they have to leave the country and move back to their home. Simon's mother and father are both bigwigs in their own right. And I must say they are jerks. 

Simon gets inside Otherworld so he can talk to Kat, maybe find out why she's been avoiding him. They connect with each other a little bit but not so much. Even at school, Kat is acting weird. She's hanging out with a bad crowd of boys and other things. Simon knows this isn't Kat and is determined to get to the bottom of it. 

When Simon finally gets the story out of Kat and they are trying to get through it all alive, it's a whole other ball game then Simon realized. There are some very corrupt people out there willing to do anything for this game. 

I'm not sure if this is going to be a trilogy or a series of books but I would like to know what the end game is going to be. 
  
 *Thank you to BloggingForBooks for a print copy of this book.*
 

Thursday, November 23, 2017

The Speaker by Traci Chee

Having barely escaped the clutches of the Guard, Sefia and Archer are back on the run, slipping into the safety of the forest to tend to their wounds and plan their next move. Haunted by painful memories, Archer struggles to overcome the trauma of his past with the impressors, whose cruelty plagues him whenever he closes his eyes. But when Sefia and Archer happen upon a crew of impressors in the wilderness, Archer finally finds a way to combat his nightmares: by hunting impressors and freeing the boys they hold captive.

With Sefia’s help, Archer travels across the kingdom of Deliene rescuing boys while she continues to investigate the mysterious Book and secrets it contains. But the more battles they fight, the more fights Archer craves, until his thirst for violence threatens to transform him from the gentle boy Sefia knows to a grim warrior with a cruel destiny. As Sefia begins to unravel the threads that connect Archer’s fate to her parents’ betrayal of the Guard so long ago, she and Archer must figure out a way to subvert the Guard’s plans before they are ensnared in a war that will pit kingdom against kingdom, leaving their future and the safety of the entire world hanging in the balance.@goodreads 

















The girl is back. The boy is back. The book is back. The magic is back.

*I have to add that these two books in this series are freaking gorgeous in person and have the deckle edges. I love to pet them =)





Argo flipped him onto his back, straddled his chest, and raised a hand to strike.

In that moment, the nameless boy understood: This was the end. He was going to die.

He would cease to breathe. Cease to be. Cease to hurt. It would be easy.

But he didn't want to die.

And knowing that, knowing he wanted to live, however hard it was, however much it hurt, something opened up inside of him, something hidden and ugly and powerful.

Argo slowed.

Everything slowed.

••••••••••

Summoning her Sight again, she flicked her fingers. In the Illuminated world, the threads of light tightened and sprang back like bowstrings, sending ripples through the bands of gold. Ten yards away, on the slope leading toward Cascarra, a dead branch cracked.


Sefia and Archer are back and they make a bad ass team. Poor Archer is plagued with nightmares of his past, what he was forced to be, a killer.

Sefia has the book and reading the future and trying to find help right some wrongs her parents did and together they will help many.

Sefia and Archer are going around helping to free kidnapped boys that were forced to become killers or be killed themselves. They are also trying to put a stop to the evil people that are doing this. Some bloody battles ensue.

I don't want to say any more because I'm afraid I will leak a spoiler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved this book even more than the first book and I loved it a lot too! I really hope they can accomplish what they are setting out to do in the next book. So far they have made a step in the right direction. I hope! *tiny sob*

Happy Reading!


Mel ♥

GOODREADS REVIEW:

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2191082325

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Do You Realize by Kevin A. Kuhn

George is a middle-management, middle-class, middle-aged guy who hates his job and struggles to stay connected to his wife and teenage children. Most guys might end up with a steamy affair and a flashy car for their midlife crisis, but George gets a quirky, philosophical physics professor named Shiloh. Trapped with this mysterious misfit on his morning commuter train, George is dragged into awkward conversations about love, fear, music, and the meaning of life. Shiloh asks George to beta-test an app he wrote for the new Apple Watch--and with a free watch included, how could he say no?

When tragedy strikes, throwing George out of his uncomfortable comfort zone, he learns that Shiloh's app lets him journey through alternate versions of his past. As challenges mount in his own reality, George must make a decision that will change him--and possibly the entire multiverse--forever. @goodreads 


















Wow! Who knew Apple had it in them....



George is a middle age man that hates his job and is worried his life with his wife is getting dull. They have two kids and they are set up okay. I think wife is a little too bossy but it's the way it should be to a certain extent =)

One day on the train to work, George meets Shiloh and has a really great time talking to him. Shiloh is like a walking encyclopedia < -- some might not know what that is so, like a walking google of information!

They meet a few more times on the train and Shiloh asks George to beta his app on the Apple watch. Who knew a little watch could do so much, or should I say the app.

When something bad happens in the family George goes back in time to try to change everything. But things are not what they seem. To be honest I can't really tell you if this is something I would want or not. I think it would be great for when you're sad and want to go back but I think it could also make you sadder. Who knows, keep your creepy watch to yourself!




Some of the things in the book made my brain go numb when they talked smart stuff but over all I enjoyed this book.

I got to know the people and actually cared about them. There were some really sad things in the book but some of them had happy endings.


Mel ♥

GOODREADS REVIEW: 

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2191923189

BEING THANKFUL ♥



1) First and foremost I'm very thankful I have a family that supports me. We are not real close by any means and we snap at each other all of the time. I really wish those things would change, but at the end of the day we are always there for each other. Through thick and thin, through medical problems, through whatever is thrown at us. Thank you mom and dad. 

2) I'm extremely thankful for my dog Lucy. She is my best friend in the whole world. Her sweet little face and unconditional love helps with my suicidal tendencies and gives me a smile even when I'm crying. And I love so much when she looks me in the eye with nothing but love. I love our times spent on HER couch all tangled up together with her long legs piled on me. She is a greyhound of course =)

3) I'm thankful that I still have one real life friend in the world that I talk to every day and we watch shows over the phone on speaker. I'm thankful for the couple of real life friends that text from time to time or send an uplifting card. 

4) I'm thankful for the true friends I have met on Goodreads that have supported me for a very long time now. Some of those that we have exchanged phone numbers and actually keep in touch. Thankful for the fact that those that are close and that have stayed with me are very kind to me in whatever way they can be. Thankful to those that have emailed messages with me on there and talk about our worries, our fun times, our mental and medical issues and that we don't judge. Love you guys. 

5) I'm thankful that even though I don't really go outside any more due to my agoraphobia I can still see the wildlife through the windows and doorways. I can still capture some amazing pictures even though I'm inside. Who says a photographer has to give up! 

6) I'm thankful that I'm one of the lovers of nature and I can help animals and wildlife right from my home. 

7) I'm thankful that I can see the beauty in little things. Things people would thing is stupid or take for granted. I'm thankful that those things give me wonderful feelings because I don't have many wonderful feelings any more. 

8) I'm grateful I can listen to a song and it can transport me to somewhere wonderful or somewhere sad because both of those feelings are amazing in the right context. And the same goes for reading books.

9) I'm grateful I had a wonderful childhood with my grandparents. I miss those days so much. I wish we were all young again and I could start it all over and do it all right. I'm grateful I still have one grandmother even though she's not in the best of health. 

10) I grateful that I can have empathy with others and a good heart. I'm not grateful for my anger issues and other things along those lines. But hopefully these things can change. 

11) I'm grateful for really cold days because I can go outside and not panic and maybe even take a small hike with my dad and dog. I'm grateful for those cold sunny days and the cold crisp smell in the air, which I don't get enough of a smell of since I wear a mask. 

12) I'm thankful right now for being able to look out he window as I write and see the wind slowly blow through the leaves that are left on the trees. It's a surreal and calming feeling. 

13) I'm grateful for all of the truly nice people in the world. The people that do things that matter, that help with wildlife and people in need. The people that are out there trying to take care of our planet before it's gone. The people that are so kind in a world that is not always kind. 

There are many more things I could add but I'm going to stop on my lucky number. Peace be with you and I hope you have a very wonderful Thanksgiving. And for those that have no one, I hope you find someone or something nice for yourself on that day. 

Mel ♥


Last One Home by Debbie Macomber & Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout (Mini Reviews)

The reason these two wonderful books have mini reviews is because I didn't think I would like them so I listened to them on audio. They both qualified for challenges on Goodreads so I thought I will listen to them. I can't do a proper review the first time around listening to something. I only do audio primarily for re-reads and books I don't think I will love. Well, I loved these two. I am going to get the physical copies of these books to own and re/read  =) 


Growing up, Cassie Carter and her sisters, Karen and Nichole, were incredibly close -- until one fateful event drove them apart. After high school, Cassie ran away from home to marry the wrong man, throwing away a college scholarship and breaking her parents’ hearts. To make matters worse, Cassie had always been their father’s favorite -- a sentiment that weighed heavily on her sisters and made Cassie’s actions even harder to bear.

Now thirty-one, Cassie is back in Washington, living in Seattle with her daughter and hoping to leave her past behind. After ending a difficult marriage, Cassie is back on her own two feet, the pieces of her life slowly but surely coming together. Despite the strides Cassie’s made, she hasn’t been able to make peace with her sisters. Karen, the oldest, is a busy wife and mother, balancing her career with raising her two children. And Nichole, the youngest, is a stay-at-home mom whose husband indulges her every whim. Then one day, Cassie receives a letter from Karen, offering what Cassie thinks may be a chance to reconcile. And as Cassie opens herself up to new possibilities -- making amends with her sisters, finding love once more -- she realizes the power of compassion, and the promise of a fresh start. @goodreads 















I absolutely loved this book! I loved the characters, the story line and lets be real, I want to jump through the book cover because it's beautiful! 

This is for sure going to be one bought, re/read, and put on my bookshelf! 


Short story collection Anything Is Possible explores the whole range of human emotion through the intimate dramas of people struggling to understand themselves and others.

Here are two sisters: one trades self-respect for a wealthy husband while the other finds in the pages of a book a kindred spirit who changes her life. The janitor at the local school has his faith tested in an encounter with an isolated man he has come to help; a grown daughter longs for mother love even as she comes to accept her mother’s happiness in a foreign country; and the adult Lucy Barton (the heroine of My Name Is Lucy Barton) returns to visit her siblings after seventeen years of absence.
@goodreads
















Once again, here is another wonderful book that I read first on audio. I didn't think I would like it and I was only reading it for a Goodreads challenge and ended up loving it. I had no idea this was a second book, the first being Lucy Barton. Of course now I want to buy both physical copies and add them to my shelves. 

I  think by now, I need to stop thinking I'm not going to like something because many times I'm pleasantly surprised. Sometimes I judge books by their covers and that can get you in trouble quick as well! 


**I loved both books so very much and I'm glad I had that Goodreads challenge or I would have missed out! 

Happy Reading! 

Mel ♥


Sunday, November 19, 2017

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

The eagerly awaited sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Words of Radiance, from an epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson at the top of his game.

In Oathbringer, the third volume of the New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive, humanity faces a new Desolation with the return of the Voidbringers, a foe with numbers as great as their thirst for vengeance.

Dalinar Kholin's Alethi armies won a fleeting victory at a terrible cost: The enemy Parshendi summoned the violent Everstorm, which now sweeps the world with destruction, and in its passing awakens the once peaceful and subservient parshmen to the horror of their millennia-long enslavement by humans. While on a desperate flight to warn his family of the threat, Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with the fact that the newly kindled anger of the parshmen may be wholly justified.

Nestled in the mountains high above the storms, in the tower city of Urithiru, Shallan Davar investigates the wonders of the ancient stronghold of the Knights Radiant and unearths dark secrets lurking in its depths. And Dalinar realizes that his holy mission to unite his homeland of Alethkar was too narrow in scope. Unless all the nations of Roshar can put aside Dalinar's blood-soaked past and stand together--and unless Dalinar himself can confront that past--even the restoration of the Knights Radiant will not prevent the end of civilization.@goodreads 












CHECK OUT MY FREAKING PICTURES AFTER THE GIFS Y'ALL! OMG! ♥






Let simply start with the book itself before I show the freaking freaking freaking awesome inside pictures and map on the dust jacket! I'm am freaking happy!









I got the pre-order from Audible BUT I was waiting to read this beautiful book and listen at the same time. ♥


PART ONE ~ UNITED ~ DALINAR * SHALLAN * KALADIN * ADOLIN

I'm going to do a series of excerpts from each person. I'm not going to say what is going on or from what year. I want to keep it a little mysterious. Although, there will be some funny parts. There will probably be *****SPOILERS***** in some of the excerpts so if you haven't read the book just skip this or if you don't plan on reading the book and want to read the randomness, then be my guest. I decided to only do this for the first part of the book and the rest will be my regular review. So, lets crack on with it! 


DALINAR

Dalinar Kholin appeared in the vision standing beside the memory of a dead god.

***
Only six days had passed since their discovery of Urithiru. Six days since the awakening of the Parshendi, who had gained strange powers and glowing red eyes. Six days since the arrival of the new storm--the Everstorm, a tempest of the dark thunderheads and red lightening.

***
"And the Voidbringers?" Dalinar asked.
"They came to annihilate," Kalami said. "Their goal to wipe humankind from Roshar. They were specters, formless--some say they are spirits of the dead, others spren from Damnation."

***
A single awespren burst around around Dalinar, like a ring of blue smoke. "Stormfather! Thakka, before today, I'd have bet you half the princedom that such a shot wasn't possible." He turned to the archer. "What's your name, assasin?"

The man raised his chin, but didn't reply.

"Well, in any case, welcome to my elites," Dalinar said. "Someone get the fellow a horse."

"What?" the archer said. "I tried to kill you!"

"Yes, from a distance. Which shows remarkably good judgement. I can make use of someone with your skills."

***
"They can write?" Navani pressed. "The Voidbringers themselves are sending you contracts?"

***
Dalinar's shoulder protested as he stretched. He had found middle age to be like an assassin--quiet, creeping along behind him. Much of the time he would go about his life as he always had, until an unexpected ache or pain gave warning. He was not the youth he had once been.

***
Dalinar remembered.

Her name was Evi. She'd been tall and willowy, with pale yellow hair--not true golden, like the hair of the Iriali, but striking in its own right.

***
"Anyone?" Dalinar said. "You can show them to anyone?"

During a storm, I can approach anyone I choose, the Stormfather said. But you do not have to be in a storm, so you can join a vision in which I have placed someone else, even if you are distant.

Storms! Dalinar bellowed a laugh.

What have I done? the Stormfather asked.

"You've just solved my problems!"

The problem from The Way of Kings?

"No, the greater one. I've been wishing for a way to meet with the other monarchs in person." Dalinar grinned. "I think that in a coming highstorm, Queen Fen of Thaylenah is going to have a quite remarkable experience."

SHALLAN (Brightness Radiant)

She rested her freehand against the map. Stormlight poured off her, illuminating the map in a swirling tempest of Light. She didn't exactly understand what she was doing, but she rarely did. Art wasn't about understanding, but about knowing.

***
The one knocking would be Palona, who had once again noticed that Shallan had skipped dinner. Shallan sucked in a breath, destroying the image of Veil, recovering some of the Stormlight from her Lightweaving. "Come, she said. Honestly, id didn't seem to matter to Palona that Shallan was a storming Knight Radiant now, she'd still mother her all the--

Adolin stepped in, carrying a large plate of food in one hand, some books under the other arm. He saw her and stumbled, nearly dropping it all.

Shallan froze, then yelped and tucked her bare safehand behind her back. Adolin didn't even have the decency to blush at finding her practically naked. He balanced the food in his hand, recovering from his stumble, then grinned.

"Out!" Shallan said, waving the freehand at him. "Out, out, out!"

skip some...

"Oh for Damnation's sake, Shallan. Can I come in now? And just so we're clear, I'm a man and your betrothed, my name is Adolin Kholin, I was born under the sign of the nine, I have a birthmark on the back of my left thigh, and I had crab curry for breakfast. Anything else you need to know?"

"Sure. Fine. Anyway, we aren't alone. Pattern, come here please." She held out her hand, palm up.

He reluctantly moved down from the wall where he'd been watching. As always, he made a ripple in whatever he crossed, be it cloth or stone--like there was something under the surface. His complex, fluctuating pattern of lines was always changing, melding, vaguely circular but with surprising tangents.

skip some....

"Anyway," Shallan said. "Pattern, you're to be our chaperone tonight."
"What," Pattern said with a hum, "is a chaperone?"
"That is someone who watches two young people when they are together, to make certain they don't do anything inappropriate."
"Inappropriate?" Pattern said. "Such as . . . dividing by zero?"

skip some...

"Very well, you two," Pattern said. "No mating. NO MATING." He hummed to himself, as if pleased, then sank down onto a plate.

***
Pattern approached and tried to slide up her illusory dress, but then stopped, backing away and humming in pleasure at the lie. "I found him!" he proclaimed. "I found Adolin!"

"I see that, " Shallan said.

"He came at me," Adolin said, "in the training rooms, screaming that you'd found the killer. Said that if I didn't come, you'd probably--and I quote--'go do something stupid without letting me watch.'"

***
"Your imitation is pathetic," Shallan whispered. "Here. Let me show you how it's done."

Shallan drew in her Stormlight, going alight like a beacon. Things screamed, pulling away from her. As she stepped around the formation of worried bridgemen--wading into the blackness at their left flank--figures extended from her, shapes growing from light. The people from her recently rebuilt collection.


KALADIN

"Hello, Father," Kaladin said.

The guardsman finally caught up, shouldering past gawking townspeople and waving his mace toward Kaladin like a baton. Kaladin sidestepped absently, then pushed the man so he stumbled farther down the hallway.

"It is you," Lirin said. Then he scrambled over and caught Kaladin in an embrace. "Oh, Kal. My boy. My little boy. Hesina! HESINA!"

Kaladin's mother appeared in the doorway a moment later.

***
"I gave you people an order," Kaladin said. "I'm not fond of repeating myself."

"And what," Roshone said, "makes you think you can order anyone around, boy?"

Kaladin turned back and swept his arm before him, summoning Syl. A bright, dew-covered Shardblade formed from the mist into his hand. He spun the Blade and rammed her down into the floor in one smooth motion. He held the grip, feeling this eyes bleed blue.

Everything grew still. Townspeople froze, gaping. Roshone's eyes bulged. Curiously, Kaladin's father just lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"Any other questions?" Kaladin asked.

***
Kaladin crept through the rains, sidling in a wet uniform across the rocks until he was able to peek through the trees at the Voidbringers. Monstrous terrors from the mythological past, enemies of all that was right and good. Destroyers who had laid waste to civilization countless times.

They were playing cards.

***




No spoilers ahead..

I can't believe I just finished the 3rd book and there are, what is it now... 7 more to be written?!

I feel like I feel like I feel drained. I feel like I have come through so much. This book is by far better than the first two books, in my opinion. Oathbringer was filled with so freaking much. And yes, the first two books at 1000 + were filled too but it was just different. I felt like this book had more. I mean I would never not love the first two books and have them on my favorites list but this one just sealed the deal even more. I can't even imagine what else Brandon Sanderson can write in this world. I'm almost scared to know. Although, I don't think I will live long enough to finish the series since there are so many and what 2-3 years in between.

I loved every single character in this book, even more than I did before. Well, not so much the evil people but they were great too.

The back and forth stories, the past, the interludes, they were all perfect. I'm not saying that some didn't go over my head because all high/epic fantasy does that to me. I don't care. I will sort it all out some day with re-reads like I always do. =)

Lord though, the freaking battles! I had to fight off a panic attack! My peeps fought a crazy, bloody battle!

Brandon Sanderson, thank you for this wonderful book. Thank you for the art inside and out. Thank you for putting so much effort into this book. I don't see how you or any other author I love that writes these freaking murder weapon tomes can think up these worlds.

and that's all I have to say. Okay, a couple more things. I know that all Stormlight fans will love this book. If you don't then you fell off the cliff. I don't know. Now, I'm going to shut-up because this is my longest review to date and Goodreads isn't going to let me write much more =)

Happy Reading My Wonderful Stormlight friends.

Mel ♥


GOODREADS REVIEW: 

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1285088346

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman ~ Illustrations by Chris Riddell

National Bestseller

Selected as one of NPR’S Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of All Time

The #1 New York Times bestselling author’s ultimate edition of his wildly successful first novel featuring his “preferred text”—and including his special Neverwhere tale, “How the Marquis Got His Coat Back”

Published in 1997, Neverwhere heralded the arrival of a major talent and became a touchstone of urban fantasy. Over the years, a number of versions were produced both in the U.S. and the U.K. Now Gaiman’s preferred edition of his classic novel reconciles these works and reinstates a number of scenes cut from the original published books.

Richard Mayhew is a young London businessman with a good heart whose life is changed forever when he stops to help a bleeding girl—an act of kindness that plunges him into a world he never dreamed existed. Slipping through the cracks of reality, Richard lands in Neverwhere—a London of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels that exists entirely in a subterranean labyrinth. Neverwhere is home to Door, the mysterious girl Richard helped in the London Above. Here in Neverwhere, Door is a powerful noblewoman who has vowed to find the evil agent of her family’s slaughter and thwart the destruction of this strange underworld kingdom. If Richard is ever to return to his former life and home, he must join Lady Door’s quest to save her world—and may well die trying.

Neil Gaiman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, and is the recipient of numerous literary honors. Originally from England, he now lives in America. @goodreads 












I won this in a Goodreads/Firstreads Giveaway! Yay!

Look at these pictures! Sorry for the darkness. We were in the sunlight but it canceled us out.

Anyhoo! I am in love with the looks of this little book! It doesn't have a dust jacket! It's one of my fav hardbacks! I love them without the dust jackets. I have added a picture of the front and back. I have also added a picture of just one of the many illustrations through-out the book and the inside book flap that isn't really a flap but they made it look like one! Now if I can just love the book! =D








OMG! I sat here trying to think where I new Chris Riddell that did the illustrations through-out this book. As soon as I started and saw the picture of the older Richard Mayhew it freaking hit me! The picture looked like a grown up picture of Twig from The Edge Chronicles that Chris Riddell did the illustrations on =D I loved those books too.

Anyway, this was a dark little book but it also had hope for a man that was hopeless.

Richard Mayhew is living a life that is boring in my opinion. He goes to work doing boring work. He has a fiance, Jessica, that announces they are getting married and pretty much tells him everything to do, what to wear, etc. She's so beautiful that he just does it and he's a sort of a push over but I like him.

Once day a girl pops out of a door when Richard and Jessica are hurrying to a dinner with one of Jessica's clients. Richard stops to help the girl who is bleeding and pretty much blows Jessica off. Yay! Richard takes the girl named, Door, to his home and lets her rest as she doesn't want to be taken to a hospital.

Turns out these creepy dudes named Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar are after her. Suddenly Richard is dragged into the world of London Below. It's a very dark story in London Below. Richard is stuck there trying to help Door and some others. When he tried to go back home once, he didn't exist so he was stuck down below.


Richard wrote a diary entry in his head.

Dear Diary, he began. On Friday I had a job, a fiancee, a home, and a life that made sense. (Well, as much as any life makes sense.) Then I found an injured girl bleeding on the pavement, and I tried to be a Good Samaritan. Now I've got no fiancee, no home, no job, and I'm walking around a couple hundred feet under the streets of London with the projected life expectancy of a suicidal mayfly.


But over time, helping these people/creatures, Richard finds a meaning to his life. When he goes back to London Above, he realizes it's not where he belongs.

I loved the characters in this book, even the evil ones were written terrifically. I love, love, loved that Richard finally found his place in the world. He really is a good guy =)

Happy Reading!


Mel ♥

GOODREADS REVIEW:

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1314404914

Out Of The Ordinary by Jen Turano

When shipping magnate Harrison Sinclair's mother catches Gertrude Cadwalader, paid companion to the light-fingered Mrs. Davenport, returning a pilfered item, she comes to the wrong conclusion. However, Harrison is eager to mend fences once he realizes the error. After a real thief starts preying on society, can Gertrude and Harrison catch the culprit? @goodreads 



















This is book two which I didn't know at the time but it was fine for me as a stand-alone. 

Gertrude works for Mrs. Davenport. I loved the character of Gertrude and Mrs. Davenport was okay, although she had reasons for the way she acts. 

There are some funny parts in the book as well as a mystery. 

I can't believe Gertrude got herself into a predicament with a dress she was wearing a birdcage under. Do not ask read the book. 

Excerpt: 

When the thud was immediately accompanied by what sounded like a yelp, Harrison pushed open the door and stepped into the room. He froze on the spot, though, when his gaze went directly to Gertrude, who was standing in the library, rubbing a backside that seemed to be devoid of the expected clothing. 

Oh how funny that scene was and I love Harrison. The slow love between Gertrude and Harrison was sweet. 

Gertrude and Mrs. Davenport get caught up in something a little sinister but it all comes out in the end and we find out who the real culprit was. 

I enjoyed the side characters as well. 

Happy Reading! 

Mel ♥

*Thank you to Bethany House Publisher for a print copy of this book*  

Saturday, November 18, 2017

November 2017 Owlcrate Unboxing

IT'S HERE =) THIS IS THE MAIN PICTURE OF THE PACKED LITTLE BOX ♥







THIS TIME I'M GOING TO WRITE OUT THE WHOLE SPOILER CARD WITH ALL OF THE ITEMS BEFORE SHOWING THE CLOSE-UPS OF THE PICTURES 

NOVEMBER 2017

CASTLES, COURTS, AND KINGDOMS 

* USE YOUR EXCLUSIVE ELVEN BREAD SOAP FROM FIZZY FAIRY APOTHECARY AND YOU'LL INSTANTLY FEEL AS THOUGH YOU'RE ACCOMPANYING SAM AND FRODO ON THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH MIDDLE EARTH!

* WINTER IS HERE...BE SURE TO PROTECT YOUR LIPS! THIS YUMMY BLACKBERRY MINT LIP BALM, INSPIRED BY GAME OF THRONES AND CREATED EXCLUSIVELY BY GEEK FIRE LABS IS PERFECT FOR THE WINTER MONTHS. 

* JOIN THE SECOND ARMY BY WEARING YOUR NEW BROOCH MADE EXCLUSIVELY BY JUNIPER AND IVY DESIGNS. INSPIRED BY LEIGH BARDUGO'S GRISHAVERSE, WE SENT OUT THREE DIFFERENT AND EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS. WHICH ORDER OF GRISHA ARE YOU? 

* YOU'LL BY ABLE TO FEND OF DEMENTORS (AND CHILLY DAYS) WITH THIS EXCLUSIVE EXPECTO PATRONUM BEANIE! CREATED BY OWLCRATE JUST FOR YOU. STAY COZY! 

* WE HOPE THIS GORGEOUS NOTEBOOK, FEATURING A QUOTE FROM A COURT OF MIST AND FURY, INSPIRES YOU THROUGH DAYS GOOD AND BAD. USE IT TO WRITE DOWN YOUR BIGGEST HOPES AND DREAMS! DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR OWLCRATE BY STELLA'S BOOKISH ART. 

*  WIL IS THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF A POWER-HUNGRY KING, FORCED TO LIVE IN THE SHADOWS AS A SPY FOR HER KINGDOM. ONE DAY WHEN HER LIFE IS PUT AT RISK. WIL DISCOVERS SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO TURN LIVING THINGS TO GEMSTONE WITH JUST A TOUCH. WHEN THIS NEWFOUND POWER CAUSES TRAGEDY TO OCCUR, WIL FLEES HER HOME IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS AND A CURE. SHE ENDS UP FINDING MORE THAN SHE BARGAINED FOR WHEN SHE MEETS A CURSED PRINCE FROM AN ENEMY KINGDOM. THE GLASS SPARE IS A BEAUTIFUL FANTASY STORY ALL ABOUT THE BONDS OF FAMILY, AND WHERE YOUR LOYALTY LIES. WE ALSO HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SIGNED BOOKPLATE AND LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR LAUREN DESTEFANO AS WELL AS THE EXCLUSIVE GEMSTONE TATTOOS! 

HAPPY READING! AND THANKS FOR BEING AWESOME! 
~OWLCRATE 






I added the cute little card that tells what the December box will be ~ Seize The Day ↑





I'm loving my winter hat (beanie) =) 

Mel ♥

Friday, November 17, 2017

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both. @goodreads 













THAT was freaking awesome!!



Nova is a girl called Nightmare. She's part of the Anarchists group. They are the villains, but not everything is as it seems. The thing is, the Anarchists and the "good guys" the Renegades both have bad people in their groups and good people.

Nova (Nightmare) wants to take the Renegades down. She was raised by her uncle, Ace after her family perished. Ace was the leader of the Anarchists.

Both of these groups have powers. I will let you find out about those yourself. 



Let me add a little ***SPOILER*** in an excerpt of what happened to cause Nova to hate the Renegades.

Nova had been inspecting some reliquaries she'd found in one of the smaller chapels when Ace found her and sat her down on a worn wooden bench. He told her that one of the villain gangs--the Roaches--had demanded that her father craft them a collection of weapons using his gift. They had threatened David's wife and daughters if he didn't meet their expectations.

When her papa began to fall behind on their requests, he went to the Renegades and begged for protection. Captain Chromium himself had promised that no harm would come to him or his family, but only so long as he stopped making weapons for their enemies.

And so her dad did stop. And the Roaches, in retaliation, sent a hitman after him and his family.

Only, the Renegades hadn't kept their word. Captain Chromium hadn't kept his word. They were not there to protect David's family when they needed their protection the most.

When Ace finished telling this story, he handed Nova a cup of cold milk and two vanilla wafer cookies taken from plastic packaging that crinkled deafeningly loud. Nova, six years old and so small her feet didn't touch the stone floor as she sat on the bench, ate the cookies and drank the milk without comment. She remembered not crying. She remembered that in that moment, she had not felt sad.

She only felt anger.

Blinding, breathless rage.

As she stood up to leave so she could come to terms with the truth of her family's deaths, Ace had said simply, practically--"The Roaches were forty-seven members strong. Last night, I killed them all."


Hell yes he did. Just reading the part when Nova's family was being killed was horrible.

***END OF SPOILERS!!!***


So one day Nova is on an Anarchists mission to take out one of the Renegade leaders. Things don't go as planned and she meets the Sentinel. He's a new hero. He has an R on his suit but he's not with them. You can meet him in the book 😊

One of the Anarchists pushes Nova to become a Renegade and find out how to take them down. She becomes friends with Adrian, the son of the main dudes. She didn't see that coming. And there are lots of secrets.

Nova finds out a bunch of stuff that could devastate the world if it happens. And then there is Max. He's a secret 😊

The ending blew me away and holy shite balls I'm ready for the next book!!




Happy Reading!

Mel ❤️

GOODREADS REVIEW: 

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2064583836