My Blog’s Name in Books

I saw this tag over on Fictionophile not too long ago and thought it looked fun. The basic rules are to use your current TBR list (no cheating!) to spell out your blog’s name. This might take awhile, folks.

S

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

T

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering

E

Exposed (Rosato & DiNunzio #5) by Lisa Scottoline

P

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

H

Hangman (Detective Williams Fawkes #2) by Daniel Cole

A

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline

N

Nearlyweds by Beth Kendrick

I

It’s Always the Husband by Michele Campbell

E

The Echo Killing (Harper McClain #1) by Christi Daugherty

‘S

Silent Scream (D. I. Kim Stone # 1) by Angela Marsons

B

Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda

O

One Small Thing by Erin Watt

O

Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall

K

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

R

Rolling in the Deep (Rolling in the Deep #0.5) by Mira Grant

E

Each Little Lie by Tom Bale

V

Visions (Cainsville #2) by Kelley Armstrong

I

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

E

The Ever After by Sarah Pekkanen

W

Watching You by Lisa Jewell

S

Still Me (Me Before You #3) by Jojo Moyes

Do we have similar books on our TBRs? Did you find anything you wanted to add to yours?

Feel free to tag yourself if you’d like to play.

How I Read Book Tag

I was tagged for this awhile ago by Deanna over at A Novel Glimpse. I don’t think I ever did it and I am in the mood for a book tag, so I thought I would do it now. Thanks for the tag, Deanna!

How do you find out about new books to read?

Mostly by blog hopping or Good Reads. Book bloggers are the best source for recommendations I think. Also, by browsing NetGalley.

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How has your taste in books changed since you got older?

I’ve always enjoyed mysteries and I think that has just intensified as I got older. Over just the last year or so I’m finding that I’m having less interest in YA titles. Not all, of course. There are still plenty of YA authors I love and YA books I’m looking forward to, I just used to pretty much read anything and everything YA and I have a little less patience with some of them now.

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How often do you buy books?

A couple times a year. I’m super stingy when it comes to buying things. I’ve actually bought way more books so far this year than I normally do (I think I’ve bought 5), but they’ve almost all been on the cheaper e-book side.

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How did you get into book reviewing?

When I first started to get really back into reading a lot I joined Good Reads. It was when I was reading someone’s review that said there was an early copy of a book I really wanted to read available at NetGalley that I started researching what that was and I wanted to have a place to be able to review so I could request it.

 

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How do you react when you don’t like the end of a book?

I don’t usually have a super strong reaction. I’ll just feel disappointed.

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How often do you sneak peak at the ending to see if there is a happy ending?

Never! The only time I will ever peak at the ending is if I have decided to stop reading the book. Usually if I decide to DNF I don’t even care what happens, but sometimes I want to know.

How do you read books? Do you agree/disagree with any of my answers?

Feel free to tag yourself if you would like to do this!

The Nope Book Tag

I saw this a little while ago over on Read by Chris and thought it looked fun. In an effort to not repeat the same old answers I always use, I’m going to try and stick with books I’ve read this year. Feel free to tag yourself if you’d like!

1. NOPE. Ending: A book ending that made you go NOPE either in denial, rage, or simply because the ending was crappy. 

I actually do not remember the ending to Six Stories by Matt Weslowski, but I put in my short review that I found the ending really unsatisfying. In fact, this whole books was a big, fat “NOPE” for me.

2. NOPE. Protagonist: A main character you dislike and drives you crazy. 

Isa from The Lying Game by Ruth Ware. I can not even believe the crap she put her baby and her boyfriend through. She’s the worst!

3. NOPE. Series: A series that turned out to be one huge pile of NOPE. after you’ve invested all of that time and energy on it, or a series you gave up on because it wasn’t worth it anymore. 

Ok, this one is kind of hard because I haven’t really discontinued any series this year. I’m going to go with Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh even though it’s the first book in a series because I don’t really have any interest in continuing in.

4. NOPE. Popular pairing: A “ship” you don’t support.

I don’t really think this is a “popular” pairing, but I’m going to go with Rose and Archie in Public Relations by Katie Heaney & Arianna Rebolini. I thought Archie was way, way too good for self-absorbed, immature Rose.

5. NOPE. Plot twist: A plot twist you didn’t see coming or didn’t like. 

Lacey’s Wedding by Sharon Bolton. I love Sharon Bolton, but I thought this short story was a bit of a cruel twist for Lacey Flint fans. There just better be more books coming in this series!!!

6. NOPE. Protagonist action/decision: A character decision that made you shake your head NOPE. 

Georgie in Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne. While I really enjoyed this book and did like Georgie, there were many times her actions really frustrated me.

7. NOPE. Genre: A genre you will never read.

This is always my answer, but Dinosaur Erotica. Yes, it’s a real thing.

8. NOPE. Book format: Book formatting you hate and avoid buying until it comes out in a different edition

I honestly can’t think of anything. I mostly buy e-books so I guess anything that has lots of illustrations (like Illuminae) I would have to get in an actual physical format.

9. NOPE. Trope: A trope that makes you go NOPE. 

Surprise pregnancy or surprise-you’re-a-father!

10. NOPE. Recommendation: A book recommendation that is constantly hyped and pushed at you that you simply refuse to read. 

Harry Potter. Sorry, I’m just never going to read this.

11. NOPE. Cliche/pet peeve: A cliche or writing pet peeve that always makes you roll your eyes.

The “graceful neck” description. I have never once looked at someone’s neck and thought to myself, “Wow, that’s graceful. *Swoon*”.

12. NOPE. Love interest: The love interest that’s not worthy of being one. A character you don’t think should have been a viable love interest.

Kieran in Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare. He’s kind of a love interest for two people (who are also love interests to each other – Please, please, please don’t make threesomes the new “thing” we all have to champion in YA), but I just don’t like him. Like, at all.

13. NOPE. Book: A book that shouldn’t have existed that made you say NOPE. 

There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins. This book was awful and can not be considered horror. It’s Romance, with a little bit of murder thrown in.

14. NOPE. Villain: A scary villain/antagonist you would hate to cross and would make you run in the opposite direction.

The bad guys in Dead Scared by Sharon Bolton. No spoilers, though!

15. NOPE. Death: A character death that still haunts you.

I’m not going to spoil who it is, but the major death in Making Faces by Amy Harmon. I ugly cried hard.

16. NOPE. Author: An author you had a bad experience reading for and have decided to quit.

While there were books I definitely didn’t care for, there weren’t any I read this year that really made me say, “I’m never reading this author again.” I think the closest I came to that was Staci Hart when I read With a Twist. I just don’t think her writing is for me, but if she puts something out that I think looks really interesting, I still might give it a try.

Chocolate Book Tag

I was tagged for this by Deanna over at A Novel Glimpse (she’s awesome, check her out). Thanks Deanna! I’m going to try and keep my answers to only books I have read this year.

Dark Chocolate: A book with a dark theme/content

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter. There are definitely some parts that are hard to read in this book. But it’s so good!

 

White Chocolate: A light-hearted/humorous read

Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren. I smiled my way through this whole book.

 

Milk Chocolate: A book with a lot of hype that you are dying to read

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo. Honestly, I don’t really care that much about the whole super hero thing that’s so popular these days, but since Leigh Bardugo wrote it, I want to read it!

A Wafer-Free KitKat: A book that surprised you lately

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. Even though I didn’t really enjoy most of the book and figured a lot of stuff out, the very final twist definitely surprised me and I loved it!

Chocolate With a Caramel Centre: A book that makes you feel gooey on the inside

Only You by Denise Grover Swank. I was shipping Kevin and Holly so hard during this whole book.

Snickers: A book you are going nuts about

Daisy in Chains by Sharon Bolton. This is one of my favorite books of the year and I tell everyone to read it. READ IT!!!

Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream and Marshmallows: A comfort read that you turn to again and again

My Lady Jane. Since I’m trying to stick with books I’ve only read this year, this is one of the few re-reads I’ve done. It’s so funny and cute and I love it.

 

Box of Chocolates: A series that has something for everyone

What’s a tag without mentioning Red Rising? This is another re-read this year. It has actions, twists, romance, space, politics, romance, and terrific writing.

To Not To Read Book Tag

I was tagged for this To Not To Read tag by Deanna over at A Novel Glimpse. Thanks Deanna! All the answers have to be books you DNF-ed. I used to never DNF anything (book OR series), but over the last few years I’ve learned how to put down books I don’t think will be worth my time. Feel free to tag yourself if you’d like.

What book would you be willing to finish?

Tiny Pretty Things. I only read a couple chapters before I gave up and I’ve read many positive reviews on it, so it might have just been my mood when I tried it. And I still love the cover.

A dystopian book that you put down.

Landry Park. I didn’t make any notes on this on to how far I got or why I stopped, so I don’t quite remember what made me put it down. I think I didn’t like the main character, though, and by the time this came out I was pretty over dystopian.

A book that you just didn’t want to finish at all.

Passenger. I read a little more than half and I just didn’t care.

A sequel.

The Queen of Zombie Hearts. While I originally shipped the main romance, by this book I simply could not take the two of them anymore. And I didn’t like the supporting characters.

A book you’ll never again pick up.

Anatomy of a Player. New Adult is not at all my genre, but I liked the first book in this series so I decided to give this one a try and it was just a big NOPE for me.

A book with too much hype.

A Study in Charlotte. I saw some rave reviews on this, but I just didn’t care about it at all. I stopped reading in the middle of a chapter.

A haunting read.

The City, maybe? None of the books on my DNF list really fall under this category, but this might be the closest.

A contemporary.

The Replacement Crush. I had no patience at all for the main character.

A book you were unsure of.

The Flood Girls. At the beginning of the e-ARC I had for this there was a letter from both the author AND the publisher. The fact that I needed a letter explaining the book and then another letter about how great the book is before I even started really turned me off.

Blogger Stats Book Tag

I saw this tag awhile back over at Cover to Cover (go check her out!) and thought it looked fun. Feel free to tag yourself if you’d like.

The last three books you read?

   

The Party by Robyn Harding, Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, Always My Girl by Samantha Chase

Spoilers or spoiler free?

I usually try to write my reviews spoiler free, but sometimes I can’t help myself and need to talk about something specific and spoilery. I always put up a spoiler warning, though. When it comes to reading other people’s reviews I’m fine with spoilers as long as there’s a warning. There are some books I go looking for spoilers for and others that I don’t want to know anything about.

How long have you been book blogging?

Almost 4 years. Crazy!

A book you read in one sitting?

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills

Your favorite genre?

This year has been mostly mysteries and suspense. I’m finally getting back into contemporaries, though, too.

Preferred book size? (novella, tome, etc)

I read most books on my Nook and the page count is always way off from what Good Reads says. But in Nook world, I would say I like around 250-350 pages.

Amount of books on your TBR?

473.

A book you have DNF’d?

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I hated the main character and just couldn’t get into the story at all.

Recent awards or milestones?

Nothing I can really think of.

Best interaction with an author you enjoy?

Meeting Leigh Bardugo was pretty cool.

Average number of books you read per month?

Around 10 or so

Top three publishers?

I don’t really have favorite publishers. I just read what looks interesting.

Social media sites your blog uses?

Twitter.

Average amount of time you spend on networking?

Um, about zero. I know, I suck.

Most comfortable blogging position?

I do all my blogging while sitting on my couch.

Music or quiet when writing reviews?

Tv on in background, but if I’m having trouble writing one I need quiet.

Can you sum up your blogging style in 5 words?

When I Feel Like It.

A blog you looked up to starting out?

There isn’t really one in particular. I didn’t really look at blogs before I started mine. But probably all the ones I followed in the beginning helped shape mine.

The best book you have reviewed so far?

 

So far this year the best ones have been Daisy in Chains by Sharon Bolton and Making Faces by Amy Harmon.

Best piece of blogging advice?

Don’t force content. I know everyone says you should post every day, but if you’re not feeling it or just throwing something together so you have a post, it shows. Some people can come up with great stuff and post every day and that’s great for them. But I started having much more fun with my blog when I stopped trying to keep up.

The Jingle Bell Tag

I saw this tag over on A Novel Glimpse and thought it looked fun, so I decided to steal it. Feel free to steal it yourself if your blog is in need of a little holiday book cheer.

“All I Want For Christmas Is You…” | What book do you want to see under the Christmas Tree?

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills. This was one of my favorite books of the year and probably my favorite cover of the year. I definitely need a copy to go on my shelf!

“Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time…” | What book that you have read this year have you enjoyed the most?

I’ve enjoyed so many books this year so to narrow it down I’m following Deanna’s example and picking my most recent most enjoyable read, which is My Lady Jane.

Elf | What book unleashes your inner child?

I don’t know about my inner child, but reading the Backstage Pass series made me really nostalgic for the boy bands of my early teen years.

“It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” | Which book has  the most festive look to it?

I’ve been really into holiday romances this year and I think Wrong Brother, Right Match by Jennifer Shirk is just like a Hallmark Christmas movie – even the cover of it – which is one of my favorite things about this time of year.

The Grinch | Your favorite villain…

Joe from the You series by Caroline Kepnes is more an anti-hero than villain, but there is no denying this guy does totally villainous, messed up things. But I still root for him the whole time.

The Holiday | Name your favorite TWO couples…

  

Kaz and Inej from Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom

Lucy and Josh from The Hating Game

What book would you like to give as a present to your followers?

Red Rising of course! Everyone needs to read this series!!

The Anonymous Bookaholics Tag

I was tagged by Deanna over at A Novel Glimpse (check her out!). Thanks Deanna!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BUYING NEW BOOKS?

This year I tried to only buy books when I hit weight loss goals or MyFitnessPal milestones. So when I bought a book I knew it was a reward for doing something healthy.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU BUY NEW BOOKS?

Not as often as I like. As I mentioned before, this year especially I tried to only do it as weight loss rewards. But I also don’t have a lot of disposable income, so…

BOOKSTORE OR ONLINE BOOK SHOPPING – WHICH DO YOU PREFER?

I usually do online for Nook Books. If I get a physical book it depends on what coupons I have to whether I’ll get it online or go to my local bookstore.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE BOOKSHOP?

The only bookstore we have around here is Books-A-Million and I like it. There used to be a Walden’s Book Store at the mall, but I’m not sure if that exists anymore and if it doesn’t, if anything has taken it’s place (I tend to avoid the mall at all costs).

DO YOU PRE-ORDER BOOKS?

No. I think I’ve only ever pre-ordered one and it was on my Nook and it didn’t download right away on release day so I figured it would be easier to just purchase new ones when they become available. When it comes to physical books, I’m always afraid there will be a delay – I heard a lot of people got The Raven King really late, even though they pre-ordered.

DO YOU HAVE A MONTHLY BOOK BUYING LIMIT?

Since I don’t buy a lot of books (see above answers) not really.

BOOK BUYING BANS – ARE THEY SOMETHING FOR YOU?

If it ever became a problem then I would probably try them, but as it is now, I never really needed one. I get a ton of books from the library on my Nook.

HOW BIG IS YOUR WISHLIST?

My Good Reads TBR shelf has 377 books on it right now – which actually isn’t that bad!

WHICH THREE BOOKS FROM YOUR WISHLIST DO YOU WISH TO OWN NOW?

 

Iron Gold by Pierce Brown (no cover or release day yet!), On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins, By Your Side by Kasie West.

Feel free to tag yourself if you’d like to participate!

Birthstone as Books Book Tag

I saw this tag over at Bookish Things and Tea and thought it looked like a fun one. Feel free to tag yourself if you’d like.

GARNET (JANUARY)- Associated with warding off negative forces and dark energies, name a book with the darkest/evilest character you can think of.

Most of the books I think of are YA fantasy/paranormal books, but the villains almost always have some type of redeeming quality/tragic backstory that makes us feel sorry for them. I can’t think of one that’s just straight up evil. So instead I’m going to go with adult mystery and go with about any killer/bad guy in a Karin Slaughter book. Her books usually have some really dark material and the things the bad guy does often makes me sick to my stomach.

AMETHYST (FEBRUARY)- Purple is associated with royalty, name a book with regal qualities…You can base your choice on characters or choose the king (or queen) of all books.

I think I’ll take this one literally and go with The Royal We.

AQUAMARINE (MARCH)- Washed out, name a ‘wishy washy’ character, a character who is not strong or is a follower.

Shay from An Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter. When it came to the relationship with Travis she is always one step forward, three steps back. It drove me crazy.

DIAMOND (APRIL)- A diamond in the rough, name a book that you loved but is not well known.

I’m going to go with the whole Anna Curtis series by Allison Leotta. I do not see nearly enough of her and she is amazing!

EMERALD (MAY)- Said to balance energy, name two characters who balance each other well.

I’m going to go with McKenzie’s answer and go with Shazi and Khalid from The Wrath and the Dawn series. The strongest thing for me in the series was their relationship and I felt like they’re one of the few YA couples that really are a pretty evenly matched team.

PEARL (JUNE)- Associated with loyalty, name a character who is loyal to the end.

Kai from The Lunar Chronicles. Even when things looked really bad for Cinder, he was always trying to look out for her.

RUBY (JULY)- Blood red, name a book that made your blood boil, one that made you angry.

The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter. Lucy was selfish and hypocritical and it took until the very end of the book for her to admit to any blame whatsoever.

PERIDOT (AUGUST)- It pales in comparison to other gems, name a supporting character who you like better than the main character.

Bianca and Leo from The Art of Lainey. I would have much rather read a book about them than about Lainey and Micah.

SAPPHIRE (SEPTEMBER)- Blue like the ocean which is calming, name a book that had a calming affect on you.

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West. Her books just make me so happy,

OPAL (OCTOBER)- Iridescent, name an iridescent book; this can be with a beautiful cover (shiny, colorful) or you can base it off a character (quirky? unique?).

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills. I will never stop hyping this book.

TOPAZ (NOVEMBER)- Associated with resilience, name a book with a character who rises to the top in a time of adversity.

Emma from One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She has so much to deal with and she works her way through it.

BLUE ZIRCON (DECEMBER)- Associated with friendship, name a book with a friendship you want to be a part of.

The crew from Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. I want to pull off a heist with these guys.

‘Tis the Season Book Tag

With only one more day until Christmas I figured I better hurry up and do this ‘Tis the Season Book Tag! Thanks to Eve Messenger’s OtherWORDly Endeavors for tagging me!

 1. Do you have a favorite winter read?

I don’t really read based on the seasons.

2. Find a book with blue on the cover!

I don’t really know why a blue cover is on a Christmas related list? Why not red or green? But anyways, this is one of my favorite books this year.

3. Find a book you’d use as the star on a Christmas tree!

I’m totally stealing Eve’s answer and going for an angel on top of the tree instead of a star and I think this cover is beautiful (wish I was more impressed with the actual story, though…)

4. Pick one fictional place that would be perfect for a winter vacation!

Luna, because it doesn’t snow on the moon. Although, so far (luckily for us), I’m really enjoying this weather we’re having right now. Yesterday I wore short sleeves and no coat – two days before Christmas in Ohio!

5. Pick one fictional character you’d take with you on your winter vacation!

Kaz Brekker. Because he’s my favorite new character of the year and I would take him anywhere.

6. Name one book on your wish list this year!

Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

7. Favorite holiday drink, treat, & movie?

Drink – Cinnamon Dulce coffee (my mom just discovered these Starbucks K-cups and my whole family is obsessed with it now)

Treat – Buckeyes (I’m from Ohio! And you can’t go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter!)

Movie – All I Want for Christmas (from 1991 with Ethan Embry and Thora Birch – and I just realized I haven’t watched it at all this year!)

Feel free to tag yourself if you’d like to do this! Thanks again, Eve, for tagging me!