Shelf Love

Welcome back to the monthly book linkup. I actually managed to do this one ahead of time and schedule it so hello from the past!

Here's what I've been reading.....


Kate Daniels Series Continued- I won't go on about this too much but I'm continuing through the Kate Daniels Series and loving each book more and more. I will say there was a bit a fit thrown when I realized as I was reading what I thought was the next book in the series only to find out there was a novella that had key information that came before the book but was never mentioned. This is what happens when you come to a series late. The books are awesome however and anyone that likes modern fantasy should check them out. 10/10.

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes- Again I'm late to the party. I know most people have read this already but I finally got around to it and I'm really glad that I did. The basic concept is simple enough, saying yes to things that make you uncomfortable and getting new life experiences out of them but the big takeaway I got from this is that while saying "yes" to everything she finally started saying "yes" to herself as well. Also this was hilariously written (I mean come on Shonda KNOWS writing) but I highly recommend the audio book because she actually reads it and it is awesome when author's read their own stories. If you are looking for a little self help without it being 'self help' check this one out...unless of course I'm the last person on earth to read it which is totally possible.

Be sure to join the linkup.

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What I've been reading

So I totally missed the big book linkup that happened on Tuesday because honestly my life is just getting away from me. As they say the days are long but the years are short and every day with a baby in the house makes remembering that I have things outside of mom and wife stuff hard to remember. Still I wanted to share what I've been reading lately because I have read some AWESOME stuff lately! 


First and Foremost-----

The Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews. OMG you guys. I had vaguely heard about this from other bloggers, had seen people post that they were reading it on GoodReads, and even one of my favorite podcasts mentioned it and it was only just a few weeks ago that I finally gave in and said "Fine. I'll give it a shot." I tend to avoid series lately because I just don't have the emotional capacity to invest in characters at the moment. Also some series just never end and others end without proper endings and I just didn't know what to expect. WELL. I am 3 books in and very impatiently waiting on the 4th to come in at the library and already have the rest of the books available on hold so I don't have to play this waiting game anymore. 

These books straight up rock. I love Kate and think she is hilarious and bold and my kind of bad ass female lead. I love that the love story bits are second hand and are taking their time to build instead of just jumping in and being like "HERE! LOVE STORY! ENJOY MINDLESS SEX SCENES!" Oh no we get some anticipation and build up and I am here for it. The world building is done so well without being tedious each book going back and explaining things over and over. Honestly I am hooked and am dying to get my hands on the 4th so I can continue. 10/10 would recommend to anyone that loves modern fantasy and magic settings. 

Endling the Last by K.A. Applegate- This is the first in what will be a series or I think trilogy maybe? Anyhow I picked it up because I liked the cover and also I have enjoyed K.A. Applegate since back when she wrote the Animorph series. This book is another high fantasy but for a bit younger crowd who maybe can't get into Lord of the Rings yet. I loved the characters and yay for more strong female leads! Basically it follows Byx who is afraid that she will be the Endling...the very last of her kind left in the world and goes on the quest with her as she meets new friends and enemies. Highly recommend if you like fantasy and are partial to younger fiction books. This isn't really YA as it reads a little younger in my opinion but the story is a great one and I'm excited for the next book. 

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren- Okay so this is a linkup book. I've seen several bloggers post this one and thought it sounded fun and easy which I was ready for after some heavy fantasy reading. This book was brilliant. I laughed so hard I cried. I adore Hazel and her "too muchness". I loved reading from Josh's POV as well and actually really enjoyed him as he wasn't what I consider the "typical" male lead. I mean sure this book is silly and predictable and ties things up in a nice little bow but honestly....couldn't we all use a little happy right now? Lighthearted and fun I would recommend to any hopeless romantics out there. 

And my Not So Awesome Pile- 


Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch- Oh I wanted to love this. I loved Love and Gelato and was so excited to see this book from the same author. I was even excited to see some characters that I knew. However this book just fell flat for me. I didn't like the characters. I felt like the "mystery" was being drug out and ultimately wasn't that big of a deal. I found myself putting this book down a lot and actually dreading picking up again because I felt the need to finish. It was a swing and a miss for me. Such a bummer. 

So that's what I've been reading lately. If you are looking for more books to check out be sure to click back to the epic linkup that I missed! 

What have you been reading lately? 

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What I Read This summer

I didn't get much reading done this summer since I was busy with a newborn but I did get a few things read and I've really missed the linkup so I managed to gather up my small list so I could join in today! 

Crazy Rich Asian Series by Kevin Kwan- I picked up this series simply because I saw the trailer for the first movie and thought it looked like fun. I am so glad I did because I absolutely adored this series! It was funny, dramatic, a little over the top, and just plain awesome. I would highly recommend the entire trilogy to anyone and especially anyone that like myself enjoys reading about Asian customs or also has a slight affinity for over the top practically royal antics. I cannot wait to see the movie! 

Call The Midwife by Jennifer Worth- I've watched the whole series on Netflix and thought it would be fun to listen to and I wasn't disappointed. The narrator is perfect and the stories are just so fascinating and compelling and it is hard to picture that this life wasn't so long ago. I'm so grateful for all the advancements in medicine and birthing options since then. I will admit I waited on this one until Ty was born but I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of the series now that he's safely arrived and won't go into a panic attack. 

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn- This was actually a short story which I wasn't aware of at the onset but it was pretty decent and on par with Flynn's novels. Creepy and disturbing but some very interesting characters. 

Girl Logic by Iliza Shlesinger- I found Iliza on Netflix one dull day and managed to binge watch all her specials in just a week. I really enjoy her brand of humor as I relate to it being an "Elder Millennial" myself. When I found out she had written a book I knew I had to pick it up. It was extremely funny and honestly if I was still a single girl living on my own then it would have been completely relatable but since I'm an old married (ha) it didn't apply much to me. Still it was funny and I love her take charge attitude and her story of how she made her way in a career that is traditionally a male dominated field. At the very least you should check out her comedy specials. 

So what have you been reading lately?

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What I Read: April 2018 Edition

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman- This is the prequel to Practical Magic and I have to say I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than that one. Though I think I would enjoy that one more if I wasn't so in love with the movie. This book focuses on the Aunts and honestly I loved every minute finding out more about them and their lives before Sally and Jillian. This book was so much fun to read and honestly just fascinating. If you are at all into Practical Magic either the movie or the book then you should definitely check this one out. 

One of Us is Lying by Karen M McManus- I heard so many great things about this one and I have to say I was not disappointed. I actually did keep putting it down so that I could take my time finishing and it kept me guessing until the end. Great read. (I want to write so much about this but I don't want to spoil it and honestly that would be super easy to do and I don't want to ruin it!) 

The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth- Another book that showed up on my holds list that I don't remember putting there but I am so happy it did! This was a light and quick read and while at times predictable it was still so very good. The love story was sweet. The story between the 3 generations of women was amazing. Lots of baby stuff and some of it could be tough for those that are squeamish or have never given birth before. Still it's a great read. 

What have you been reading this month? Be sure to join the linkup! 

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What I Read: March 2018

When Dimple Met  Rishi by Sandhya Menon- I so wanted to like this. I love silly romance and I love YA but I just couldn't get into this one. For one I really hated Dimple. She was just this back and forth and back and forth and really judgmental while screaming about being judged and I thought we were going to get more of her as a strong female character but she just fell flat for me. Rishi was likable enough but I felt like he was getting the raw end of the deal because he kept trying and Dimple kept being just meh. I know so many who loved this and honestly am bummed that I didn't. 

I Heart My Little A-Holes by Karen Alpert- I don't know how I stumbled upon this but I did and as a currently very pregnant person I was interested in reading something "mom" related. This book was pretty hilarious and it was nice to see a mom that was okay talking about the less glamorous parts of being a mom. Sometimes it is super hard and while you wouldn't change a thing it isn't Instagram perfection around here like....ever. I enjoyed this one but if you aren't a mom or into reading "mommy blog" style stuff give it a pass.

I want my Epidural Back: Adventures in Mediocre Parenting by Karen Alpert- I picked this one up because I really did enjoy the first however this one was just more repeat of the first one and felt like she just threw some blog posts into a book and published it. It repeated a lot of the first book and just didn't have the humor this time around to keep it going. I actually didn't finish it.

Books on Deck:

One of Us is Lying- I am so hooked but trying to savor this one! So far it's amazing.
The Rules of Magic- Again trying to savor it.
Thunderhead- Audio book that I'm trying to listen to but am kind of saving for my road trip next week!

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What I Read in February 2018

Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan- I loved everything but the love story in this book! I loved the idea of the bakery. I loved the side characters. I loved the baby puffin. I loved the baking and planning and the changing your whole life around bit. I did not love the love story. In fact I thought all the "love interests" were the most boring people on the planet. The characters were never fully flushed out for me and I just never liked them. She could have left that bit out and still had a great book. So for me this one only gets 3 out of 5. 

Caraval by Stephanie Garber- This book was all over my "Suggestions" feeds it seems. I had at least 4 people tell me I would love it and so of course I put in on hold and waited the long wait to see what the fuss was about. So what did I think? Meh. I really wasn't that impressed. Another book that suffered from lack of character development and I never really felt like I cared about the main character. Actually she kind of annoyed me. I doubt very much I will continue the serious. Another 3 out of 5 if only for some neat magical elements that I enjoyed. 

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson- I have no idea how I even got this book. I must have put it on hold at some point because it came it at the library and after finishing Caraval I was craving something more so I ended up reading it in less than 12 hours. To be fair it wasn't terribly long but I will say that it was very intriguing. I liked the main character because I felt like she could really hold her own when it came down to it and that is one of my favorite things. If the female lead can totally stand on her own without the love interest then I am game. I loved a lot of the lore in this one and if there ends up being more I would be more than happy to dive back into that world once again. Again some awesome magic and this time with fairies! Solid 4 out of 5. 

Be sure to join the linkup and share your books! 

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Show Us Your Books: First of 2018!

I'm finally back for the best linkup of the month! Let's see those books!


Clothes Make the Girl (Look Fat) by Brittany Gibbons- I really love Brittany's voice. I listen to her weekly podcast and am part of the Curvy Girl Community. I loved her first book Fat Girl Walking so I knew I would be purchasing this one once it came out. I devoured this book. I finished it in less than 24 hours but to be fair it isn't that long. However I relate to her so much in this book. Shopping has always been rough for me. I'm never the same size in any store and when I'm in the plus section I'm usually reduced to tears in the dressing room because everything is designed for the elderly or it's some form of animal print. As if since I'm plus size I'm suddenly all to eager to look like a leopard or a zebra. I could totally relate to all the experiences that Brittany discusses in this book and I love her letter to her daughter about learning to love who you are just as you are. If you too have struggled with clothing and fashion I'd imagine you'd be right on board with this book too!

So Much I want to Tell You by Anna Akana- I've watched Anna on YouTube for a few years now and I've always found her to be super funny and very honest but this book was just something all together more. This book is a set of letters that she has written to her sister who committed suicide as a teenager. It's powerful in some places, sob worthy in others. I really loved how she faces the whole thing head on and admits her faults and embraces her strengths when it comes to life and how she handled her grief. Great read but maybe bring tissues.

The Troop by Nick Cutter- Yuck. Seriously that is the first word that comes to mind when I think of this book. I picked it up because I was in the mood for something scary and this was at the top of many lists. I didn't find it really scary though, mostly I was just grossed out and horrified. I can see how some people might find this scary but I spent so much of it horrified and grossed out that I wasn't scared at all just vaguely ill. This book can best be described as slightly Lord of the Flies meets Slither? Or some other disgusting gore flick. Can't say I would recommend this one but if you are into gross and creepy well...maybe it's for you.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman- Some may know Shusterman from the Unwind series which I didn't really get into but this series is another story! I loved this new dystopian world because it was very different from the other dystopian novels that I've read. Without giving too much away, Death has been cured. No one dies anymore. Not from disease or accident or anything they are immediately revived and go about their lives. But death is still necessary and so it is the Scythe's job to select random persons to die a permanent death. By any means. This book is so intense and the characters are just amazing. I could go on and on but honestly I don't want to give anything away and ruin it for you! This one is a 10 out of 10 and even more exciting the second book comes out today!

So there are my reads this month! Be sure to join the linkup and share your books!

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What I Read: Summer 2017 Edition

Since I have missed the linkup these past few times I thought I would just go ahead and group my summer reads into one big post. Also I didn't get much reading done in June so I had to do some catching up in July and it just made sense to put them together instead of trying to separate them. 

So here's what I've been reading! 


Confessions by Kanae Minato- This book was strange. I liked it but at the same time it was really strange. I was never sure how I felt about any of the characters until the end and by then I pretty much disliked them all. But at the same time I really enjoyed the book itself. I liked getting to see the story from all the perspectives and I liked how they all tied together in the end but I'm still not sure how I feel about this book other than it kind of still creeps me out and makes me low key stressed out at the same time. But the fact that I am still thinking about it makes me sure that I actually did enjoy it. If you are into weird ones you might like this. 

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins- Now this one I know I liked. I actually liked this one so much more than Girl on the Train. I loved this story and getting to know the characters and their dark secrets. I wanted to know more about the pool and why the women were drawn there. Or why they ended up there at any rate. I thought this novel was so well written and it had me on edge the entire time and I finished it in less than 24 hours. It may not please those who really loved Girl on the Train (which I greatly enjoyed but this one was better.) but it is a great read for anyone who loves that genre. 

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hanna Tinti- I know several people have raved about this one already and I can add my own praises to that list. I loved the writing and the characters however I will be honest and tell you it took me a bit to get this one read as I kept getting distracted. It had a slow burn for me and that wasn't really what I was looking for. It was still a brilliant book and I feel like I will reread it in the future to give it a real shot but for now I can say that it was good. 

A Court Of Thorns and Roses Full Trilogy by Sarah J Maas- Okay I am just grouping these three into one to save on space and time because I could honestly go all in and rave about these for hours. I know some might be inclined to judge because these are YA but I will tell you right now that I am hook line and sinker for these books. I read them all within a few days only delayed by the fact that I had to wait for the third to come in at the library. I already have the full set of hardbacks on pre order from Amazon because I must own them all. They are SO GOOD. The stories are well written the characters are amazing and I cannot sing the praises of this series enough. I could go on and on and honestly I want to fangirl out so badly here but I don't want to spoil anything. I have never read the Throne of Glass series by this author but I will having read these. However I guess Throne of Glass is still going while this trilogy ended. There are supposed to be more in the world but following different main characters and that is actually really awesome because I like when things have a full ending and I'm not waiting around forever. If you are a fan of Throne of Glass or of fairy tales in general I think you will love these. Word of warning however the audio book narrator sucks on these so just read the actual books instead. I wanted so badly to pick up the entire series on audio book to listen to whenever I wanted but was sorely disappointed by the choice of voice actor. (She takes weird pauses and tends to gasp a lot and that irritates me) Seriously these are bomb. New fandom acquired. 

So that's what I read this summer! What have you been reading? Be sure to join the linkup and share!

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What I Read: April 2017

The Week Before the Wedding by Beth Kendrick- Another Kendrick book and another fairly predictable love story. I actually liked this one a lot even though it wasn't set in the Black Dog Bay series. The characters were enjoyable but I did get slightly annoyed at the main character's complete devotion to following everyone's wishes but her own. Sure I know people just like that and that is absolutely a thing but it was so frustrating. I would say if you are a fan of Kendrick you will love this and if you are just looking for a light summer read you will also probably really enjoy this one. 

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney- This book has me feeling some type of way. I was hooked pretty early on and the characters had me intrigued even though it was really hard at times to keep them straight since the story flashes from past to present throughout the entire thing but by the end I was just left with this sense of meh....followed quickly by undeniable anger and then eye rolling frustration at the author for having trapped me in a book with a lackluster ending. Honestly I don't even know what I think now. I gave it a three star rating but I am really considering dropping it to two now that I have thought about it a little longer. I'm just not sure. Also some SERIOUS trigger warnings: rape, infant loss, physical abuse. Just to warn you ahead of time if you are considering this book because I wish I would have known so I could have avoided it. 

That was all I finished this past month but I have about 5 that I am currently reading included Neil Gaiman's American Gods which I am listening to on audio book and am constantly trying to sneak off and listen to on my own so I can fully appreciate it. So far it is really good! 

So what have you been reading? Be sure to link up! 

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What I Read: March Edition

It's time for my favorite link up again! I actually did a decent amount of reading this month though admittedly I did get hung up on one particular author. Oops.

New Uses for Old Boyfriends by Beth Kendrick- This is actually book 2 in the Black Dog Bay Series. Basically Black Dog Bay is THE place to go after you have had your heartbroken. Everything in the town is themed (The Whinery, The Jilted Cafe, Better off Bakery...etc) This book was fun, silly, and predictable but that was exactly what I was in the mood for. If you are someone who likes cozy romance books with happy endings. You'll like this one.

Put A Ring on It by Beth Kendrick- The third in the Black Dog Bay series. Again lighthearted and fun. I love how old characters turn up in these books and honestly out of the four books in this series this one was my favorite. I loved seeing characters from before get even more fleshed out into actual main stars of the show.

Once Upon a Wine by Beth Kendrick- The fourth in the series. 
Again sweet, fun, predictable. I really want to move to this town and meet all these characters. I suppose that is why I keep coming back for more! Hopefully this isn't the last in the series because I really love them!

The Bake-Off by Beth Kendrick- Another Kendrick but this time not set in Black Dog Bay. This one is a stand alone but I really loved reading about the two VERY different sisters and of course reading about all the delicious baked goods. Romance and pastry...I mean the two go hand in hand right?

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling- Okay so I have read this before but when I saw that Eddie Redmayne was reading the audio book version I picked it up immediately on Audible. I love that this edition includes even more creatures and I love that Eddie has given Newt Scamander life in this audio book as well as on screen. Delightful.

Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt- All this sweetness there was bound to be one sour right? This book was just miserable to read and I honestly did not finish. Misogynistic and plain violent toward the female characters (although they were all vapid and awful anyhow) plus the author was literally OBSESSED with breasts. Just UGH. I put it down and never looked back. Hard Pass. 

Be sure to join the linkup and share your books!

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