Two Year Blogging Anniversary!

Hey guess what? I remembered this last Friday, and intended to make a post of it, and then the actual day (8th of May) came around, and I was so busy that I forgot! But hey, life is hectic. Anyway, anniversary post!

  

So, yes, yesterday, officially, my little blog turned two!

 While two isn't as big a deal as the first anniversary, or even as impressive as other blogs out there, it's still something I'm so, so proud of! This little corner of the internet has become so important to me. Being able to express how much I love books, talk about OTP's and upcoming releases with other bloggers... it's been fantastic. In the last two years I've met some amazing people (some I talk to daily, even if they're halfway across the world), who share my interests, and learn more and more about what it takes to keep a blog up to date and improving my posts all the time. Two years later and this has still been one of the best decisions I have ever made, and it has helped keep my love of books alive and always challenge myself.

Unfortunately, I have no giveaway or contest for you guys, just this post, and my absolute gratitude and love. If you guys weren't around, I know I wouldn't have the motivation to blog as much as I do. While I don't have as many followers as other blogs do, I'm happy with this small circle of followers I do have. It's been a wild ride, and I cannot wait to see what Year 3 brings me!

So what did I accompish in the last year?

- I updated the blog's design a little and changed the font and arrangement. I may still not have an avatar or anything cool like that, but I love my simple design and I'm really happy with it.

- I got in contact with a publisher of one of my favourite authors, Jennifer L Armentrout, and for the entirety of 2016 I got ARCs of all of Jen's books that she released that year! It was such a proud achievement for me.

- I also have received loads of requests for authors to read their books, and I can't even tell you how many I've read in the last year! It's one of the best things about being a blogger.

- I made some amazing new friends who all share my interests in authors and genres, and we constantly keep up to date with what we're all reading. We were going crazy waiting for the release of A Court of Wings and Ruin, and we plan on buddy-reading that book soon! So watch this space for that review!

And that's it! I know it's not as impressive as other blogs, but this is mine, my baby, and that means I love it no matter what. Who knows what this next year is going to bring?

 

Review: The Struggle by Jennifer L Armentrout

 

Book: The Struggle by Jennifer L Armentrout

Series: Titan series #3

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton 

Release Date:  March 20th 2017

A bloody path has been chosen…

The war against the Titans continues, and they remain determined to wreak havoc on the world, but Seth has become something all gods fear. Now the most dangerous, most absolute power no longer resides in those who have been freed from their tombs.

The Great War fought by the few is coming…

All may doubt and fear what Seth has become. All except the one woman who might be his final chance at redemption. Josie will do anything to prove that Seth is on their side, but fate has a nasty way of changing lives, of changing people.

In the end, the sun will fall…

The only way they can save the future and save themselves is by facing the unknown together. It will take more than trust and faith. It will take love and the kind of strength not easily broken. No matter what, their lives will never be the same.

For what the gods have feared has come to pass. The end of the old is here and the beginning of the new has been ushered in…

April 2017 Wrap Up

 How are we at the end of another month already? Jeez, this year is flying. I feel like April was a great reading month for me, mostly because I had two weeks off for Easter so I was able to catch up on all my books, and not spend a month reading something that I could normally have finished in a few days. And now that summer is around the corner, and college is slowly dying down, I may finally finish all those books I've been planning to read for God knows how long.

Reviews:

Till Death by Jennifer L Armentrout

Alex Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Long Way Home by Katie McGarry

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

 Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

Discussion:

13 Reasons Why Review (and rant) 

****

Wow, now that I've written them down, I actually had a very productive reading month! Go me. Hopefully May will be just as productive.

(And I also realised that they were all stand alones, or their sequels weren't out yet!)

Did you read many great books this month? And did you have a good April in general?

Happy Reading!

Review: Till Death by Jennifer L Armentrout

Book: Till Death, Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: stand-alone

Publisher: William Marrow

Release Date: February 28^th, 2017

In New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s gripping new novel, a young woman comes home to reclaim her life—even as a murderer plots to end it. . .

It’s been ten years since Sasha Keaton left her West Virginia hometown . . . since she escaped the twisted serial killer known as the Groom. Returning to help run her family inn means being whole again, except for one missing piece. The piece that falls into place when Sasha’s threatened—and FBI agent Cole Landis vows to protect her the way he couldn’t a decade ago.

First one woman disappears; then another, and all the while, disturbing calling cards are left for the sole survivor of the Groom’s reign of terror. Cole’s never forgiven himself for not being there when Sasha was taken, but he intends to make up for it now . . . because under the quirky sexiness Cole first fell for is a steely strength that only makes him love Sasha more.

But someone is watching. Waiting. And Sasha’s first mistake could be her last.

Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Book: Caraval, Stephanie Garber 

Series: Caraval #1 
Publisher: Flatiron Books 
Release Date: January 31^st, 2017

Remember, it’s only a game…

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.

13 Reasons Why: A TV Show Review (and rant)

I'm sure you’ve all heard or seen on the interwebs, that 13 Reasons Why, a new miniseries that aired on Netflix recently, has taken the world by storm, and everyone has been binge-watching it, and getting their friends to binge-watch it, and trying to understand the feelings and pain that this show brings. And it brings a lot of pain over what happens to the characters in this show. I will be talking about the TV show here, not the book, as the TV show strays quite a bit from the 288 page YA novel by Jay Asher. So, warning! If you have not read the book or seen the TV show, there will be major spoilers. I have just finished watching the last episode, and I have a lot to say about it. This may technically be called a review, but it is also a rant.

Review: Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

Book: Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

Series: Flawed #1

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Release Date: April 5^th 2016

 You will be punished…

Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan.

But then Celestine encounters a situation where she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found flawed.

In her breathtaking young adult debut, bestselling author Cecelia Ahern depicts a society where perfection is paramount and flaws lead to punishment. And where one young woman decides to take a stand that could cost her everything.