Books – DreamingAndReading

TTT – Top Ten Tuesday – Books On My Fall 2018 TBR

September 18, 2018September 15, 2018Posted in TTT - Top Ten TuesdayTagged Books, Books For Fall, Classics, Fall TBR, Fantasy, Halloween, Magic, Murder, Spooky, Top Ten Tuesday, TTTLeave a comment

Hey Everyone,

I am back with TTT, I kind of missed doing these in August. I wanted to give myself a little break from doing these, I felt worn out and unmotivated to do them.

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and has now been transferred to The Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s theme is books on my Fall 2018 TBR, or Autumn if you’re from the UK. I love Autumn, their air is crisp, leaves are changing colour and I can pull out all of my jumpers. I am excited. I have kind of picked books that I feel fit during the season as well as books that I want to get to at the end of the month. I am one book away from my Goodreads Reading challenge and it’s weird that I have almost read 65 books before the end of the year. This is the part where my reading goes downhill and my TBR starts growing and growing.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

The TV series has just started and already I am feeling in the mood to pick up the series again. I am so happy that this book finally turned into a TV series, the first episode was really good, I really enjoyed it. The cast is amazing and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.

It by Stephan King

Ambitious, scarred and even nervous reading this book. I have been saving this book to read in the month of October before Halloween. Mainly because I have been persuaded from watching Zoe by ReadbyZoe on Youtube who read It in over A DAY, a day! that is insane. You should watch the video, it’s so much fun to watch and I think I have seen that video at least 10 times, maybe more I can’t remember. I also have the audiobook, so maybe on my commute to work, I’ll listen to it.

Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

I read Stalking Jack the Ripper earlier this year and I know that Escaping Houdini is set to come out soon or it’s already out, I’m not sure. It is another book that I would like to get to in the month of October. I am trying to push myself and read a lot of books that fit in the theme of Halloween.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

I tried to read this book back in 2015 but I wasn’t getting very into it and put the book down. I want to give the book another chance so maybe for the remainder of the year, I could finally get to this book.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

This is another book that I have tried to get into but didn’t finish. I tried to read it back when I was in secondary school and that was about 10 years (wow just realised that it was 10 years at this time I was in my final year of school before I went to sixth form, time flies).

The Crow Girl by Erik Axlsund

I got this book last year around the time when The Snowman The Movie came out. I remember some of the reviews were comparing to The Snowman and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. With it being a thriller crime novel, it nice to read about a murder in the winter or autumn (A nice way to let people know I like to read about murder, serial killers and deadbeat cop, although I have no idea if the police offer in this one is a dead-beat.)

Witches of Eastwick by John Updike

I have been wanting to read this book. I’ve seen the movie and the TV show and I really enjoyed it and I wanted to read the book. I don’t know what to expect but with the fact that it has been turned into a movie and Tv show I hope it’s good.

Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson

This is a book I would like to casually read. The book is filled with short stories by Jackson and after reading The Lottery I don’t need to rush. I have some expectation that it might be some of Jackson’s horror-ish style as I really enjoyed We Have Always Lived In The Castle.

The Tennant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

I started this book earlier in the Spring and I want to actually finish the book. I have to book on Audible, so maybe that would motivate me to read more of it. It’s still in the same place as I left so I just have to pick it up and continue reading.

Runemarks by Joanne M.Harris

This is another book that I would like to re-read. I got the older copy of this book years ago but I gave it away (stupid of me) but when I found out that Joanne was turning into a series and also a change of the cover, I immediately bought a new copy and I want to read it soo bad. I remember really enjoying the book. so hopefully I will be able to get to it soon.

Happy Reading xx

A Week Catch Up In Reading (3 Books)

September 12, 2018September 11, 2018Posted in Book ReviewTagged Abigail Owen, Anna Bradley, Books, Lucinda Riley, More Or Less A Temptress, The Boss, The Seven SistersLeave a comment

Hey everyone,

Hope you are all well. I know that my last post was over a week ago but I was unable to review anything due to an issue with my laptop, it’s fixed don’t worry. I thought of doing a catch-up post since I have had a lot to talk about, I hope you don’t mind.

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

Maia D’Apliese and her five sisters gather together at their childhood home, “Atlantis”—a fabulous, secluded castle situated on the shores of Lake Geneva—having been told that their beloved father, who adopted them all as babies, has died. Each of them is handed a tantalizing clue to her true heritage—a clue which takes Maia across the world to a crumbling mansion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Once there, she begins to put together the pieces of her story and its beginnings.

Eighty years earlier in Rio’s Belle Epoque of the 1920s, Izabela Bonifacio’s father has aspirations for his daughter to marry into the aristocracy. Meanwhile, architect Heitor da Silva Costa is devising plans for an enormous statue, to be called Christ the Redeemer, and will soon travel to Paris to find the right sculptor to complete his vision. Izabela—passionate and longing to see the world—convinces her father to allow her to accompany him and his family to Europe before she is married. There, at Paul Landowski’s studio and in the heady, vibrant cafes of Montparnasse, she meets ambitious young sculptor Laurent Brouilly, and knows at once that her life will never be the same again.

Goodreads Star Rating: 4/5

My expectations for this book were very low, I have been slowly getting into reading Historical Fiction and I really enjoyed this one. Maia is the older sister of six, she feels more comfortable staying in her family home and translating foreign books into French when after the death of her adopted father, Pa Salt and he left letters to all of his daughters and Maia decides to know where she is really from and head towards Rio, Brazil.

I love both Maia and Izabella’s story, both characters are different but their journey throughout the book made me want to learn more about Brazil. While Maia’s Story was learning about her great-grandmother and Izabella is about falling in love for a man who is not her fiance, it gave a sense how both women closed off from love for different reasons and yet they yearn to know and understand it more. With Maia learning about her biological family, it made me feel content that she was not upset about being adopted. And with Izabella makes me wish that she didn’t follow her families choices and should have made a choice that was right for her.

The Boss by Abigail Owen

Finn Conleth leads his team of enforcer dragon shifters with an iron fist and a cold heart. Every dragon seeks his destined mate, but the process to turn the woman he once thought was his killed her and devastated him. He will never risk his heart again. His team is his family now. When his body eventually gives out, he’ll leave, living his last days alone.

Delaney Hamilton moved across the country to escape the freak fires that plague her. But when another suspicious fire erupts and rapidly escalates around her, her hopes for a new life go up in smoke. She has no choice but to turn to the mysterious men who come to her aid.

Finn knows the fire is dragon-caused, which puts Delaney’s problems directly in his jurisdiction. No matter how her wounded grey eyes call to every part of him, he refuses to risk her life in the mating process.

Until another dragon threatens to claim Delaney for his own, and Finn has to sacrifice everything to keep her alive…

Goodreads Star Rating: 4/5

I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

I mean, what is not to love? Strong sexy dragon-shifter but he is also a fireman. This book was very steamy. It has been quite a long time since I have read a paranormal romance novel and this was a really good book to get me back into it.

While I was interested in the concept and the history of Dragon-shifters, although thinking back to the relationship between Finn and Delaney, while Finn is a very interested character I don’t know how I feel about Delaney, at the end of the book it left me with a question as to what the significance of Delaney to the Dragons, it wasn’t explained properly.

More or Less a Temptress by Anna Bradley

A beautiful debutante in Regency London seems destined to make a good match. But the Somerset sisters have made courtship and matrimony a deliciously scandalous affair . . .

Hyacinth Somerset’s debut is the most anticipated event of the season, as it will be the reclusive young lady’s first public appearance. But within moments of being asked to dance by a dashing stranger, Hyacinth calls him a murderer, then faints dead away! Now all the ton is aflutter over Hyacinth’s baffling shun of their most intriguing newcomer—the wildly handsome Lachlan Ramsey . . .

Recently arrived from Scotland, Lachlan only wishes to claim his place in society to secure his sister’s future. When that is threatened by the accusations of a hapless slip of a girl, he will do anything protect his family. Yet it appears Hyacinth has only damaged her own hopes, inspiring the label of hysteric—and ultimately inspiring Lachlan to shelter her from harm. Now if only there were a defence for the surge of feeling he has every time Hyacinth turns her gaze his way. If only there were a way to make her his—while keeping the true secret in his past from destroying everything—and everyone—he cares about . . .

Goodreads Star Rating: 4/5

I also got this book on NetGalley for an honest review.

I really liked this book, Hyacinth the third of the Somerset Sister who is expected to debut into society but with her social anxiety, she struggles to be confident enough but also her sisters consider her to be a fragile doll and constantly treat her like a sick child but Lachlan doesn’t buy it. Lachlan arrives in Regency London because of an event that leads to him and his siblings to leave Scotland, while staying in London, Lachlan offers to help Hyacinth only to spark an interest in her.

I really liked this book, I would love to read the previous books in the series as I believe the third and final book in the series. It’s quite predictable being a romance novel and it does a good job in making a theatrical Regency London with gossiping neighbours and fancy parties.

And that concludes the books that I have read last week. I hope you are having a lovely day.

Also, I am trying to get back into uploading photos on Instagram, I haven’t been uploading much since June so I want to get back into the rhythm of uploading more, even if it’s stories I am going to try.

Happy Reading

Why I am Enjoying Reading Multiple Books?

September 5, 2018September 5, 2018Posted in MiscTagged Books, Multiple Books2 Comments

Hey everyone,

I watched a Youtube video by Jesse the Reader talking about the pros and cons of reading multiple books and I thought about expanding on why I enjoy reading Multiple books.

This year I have been getting into reading multiple books and I am loving it. Before I was a noob and read only one book, years ago before I even heard of booktube and started my blog I never even thought about trying to read more than one. Back then I was determined to read only one book but obviously, my tastes have changed and my reading has evolved.

I am a mood reader, I like to pick a book that I feel most drawn to, most of the time it is a book that I have recently purchased. The books I am more drawn to are Fiction, Historical Fiction and Fantasy, I have a few books in other genres but I am rarely into picking them up.

Here are a few things that I have done while reading multiple books.

The Rory Gilmore Way

Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls is a huge bookworm, she would read so many books that she would pack her school bag with books that she would read on the bus as well as books that she would read for lunch (watch the clip here) I have done a similar way as well. I categorise my books by ‘bus’ book, ‘work’ book and ‘home’ book but then my bus book became my home book and then my plan was ruined.

Using Other Types of Reading Methods

Sometimes reading physical books can be annoying. Sometimes you get a papercut, your hand starts to hurt from holding the book too long and sometimes the book gets damaged. While I will always love reading physical books, I find that I feel more comfortable to read in bed with a Kindle in my hand, it does get uncomfortable to read when your lying in bed. I also like listening to book while on my commute to work or at work, that way I am focusing on the task and listening to a book. Just to mention, I work in a Stockroom at a retail store hence why I am able to listen to music or books while working.

You Can Take A Break And Read Something Else

I think that it’s one of the things that I really like about reading more than one book because sometimes you are not getting into a book and you don’t want to force yourself to read it, so it is nice to go for another book.

There is no rush

Personally, I think watching Booktubers showing how many books read in a month can be a challenge in itself. It’s like a fighting battle of mastering 10 books a month but I don’t do that. Sure there are some books that I go through very quickly but there are some books that I like to take my time with. There are some books that I want to learn more of the lore or the characters and even the plot can be something I like to take my time with.

Big Ones, Little Ones

I think one of the things to go for is trying various sizes of books, whether if it’s over 500 pages or under, it is good to have a variety of books to not push yourself. It can be a book under 300 pages or a book over 500, I like to think it is a nice balance in reading.

So what about you? Do you read multiple books? How to do you do it? Let me know I would love to try new ways to read more.

NetGalley Reviews (4 Books)

August 28, 2018September 11, 2018Posted in Book ReviewTagged Book Review, Books, Darcy Burke, Erica Ridley, Kimberley Woodhouse, Leslie North, Lighting Fire, Lord of Vice, NetGalley, The Duke of Seduction, The Patriot Bride1 Comment

Hey Everyone,

So this is a combination of all the book that I have received from NetGalley today, I don’t usually do this but I thought it would be much easier to combine the books that I got on NetGalley than review them individually, just in case I miss a book or didn’t want to do an individual review.

The Patriot Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse

Published: 1st August 2018
Publishers: Barbour Books
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Format of Reading: Kindle

Goodreads Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟

I received the book at the same time as The Captured Bride while I found the book to be really good, I did find myself not connecting to this book than the previous one.

While I found myself really liking Faith and Matthew’s relationship, I was more interested in the setting of the book. After reading it, it was set before 4th July Independence Day and I was very much interested in that. Honestly, I felt that the relationship between Faith and Matthew felt a little pushed but also it was just a bit predictable.

A Duke of Seduction by Darcy Burke

Published: 21st August 2018
Publishers: Darcy Burke Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance

Format of Reading: Kindle

Goodreads Star Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟

I have never tried Historical Romance before I never found an interest in it until this book. Lavinia is someone who is more interested in rocks and spending time outside, while her family want her to think about marriage and finding a husband. William Beckett or Beck as he likes to be called is a secret poet, he calls himself the Duke of Seduction. He writes poems of eligible woman who he believes needs more assistance in the Marriage Mart. He writes a poem about Lavinia but Lavinia doesn’t appreciate it, but even though he writes a poem for her, he develops feelings for her.

I found the book to be very fun to read, I enjoyed the moments between Lavinia and Beck but I also liked how the history of how Beck decided to write poems for women. It’s something I think you need to read and find out because it’s seen throughout the book and I don’t want to spoil it. I got myself very attached to this book. I am considering reading the rest of the series since I really enjoyed this book.

Lighting Fire by Leslie North

Published: 26th August 2018
Publishers: Relay Publishing
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance

Format of Reading: Kindle

Goodreads Star Rating:🌟🌟🌟

What is not to love? Fire and hot Fireman. This book follows Chase, Fireman from Alaska, he agrees to volunteers to help with the forest fires in California. He is known to be a ladies charmer but is even more charmed to be with the Chief’s sister, Sookie who works for the National Guard. Sookie and her brother Hank have a lot of issues, issues that don’t reveal much in this book, maybe in Hank’s book when it’s set to release. I felt a little bit disappointing to not know what happened between the two but I enjoyed the relationship between Sookie and Chase. I honestly think that they got together really quickly but skipped getting to know one another and went straight to the sex.

Lord of Vice by Erica Ridley

Published: September 8th 2018
Publishers: WebMotion
Genre: Historical Romance

Format of Reading: Kindle

Goodreads Star Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book is set to come out next week but I wanted to give it a review because I really enjoyed it.

This book follows Vice Merchant Maxwell Gideon, he co-owns a building called The Cloven Hoof which is a gambling room. He wants to buy out his silent partner but discovers that he is a she, Bryony Grenville is one of the youngest and is eligible to marry. Her mother has sent high standards and Bryony is more focused on what Maxwell Gideon is like.

This was a really enjoyable book to read, I loved Maxwell and Bryony’s relationship. I liked their conversation and their attraction to one another. Their relationship grows even more when they connect over music, sewing and maths. Bryony wants someone to accept the skills of being a mathematician and not be considered as one of the women who only think about their status and money.

That is all the book from NetGalley that I have received from them so far. I hope you enjoyed it and have given a go of reading the books. It might become a regular thing but we shall see… Xx

TTT – Top Ten Tuesday – Sequels I am Dying (In My TBR) Read

August 7, 2018August 6, 2018Posted in TTT - Top Ten TuesdayTagged Books, Sequels, Top Ten Tuesday, TTTLeave a comment

Hey Everyone,

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and Bookish and has now been transferred to The Artsy Reader Girl.

The theme for this month was to mash up two books together to make a good story but honestly, I struggled a lot with this topic and decided to do a different topic instead. So I picked Sequels I am Dying to Read, it’s really more books in series that are on my TBR that I have yet to read.

I hope you enjoy it.

Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon – I read Outlander two years ago after watching the first season and I remember really enjoying it. But I haven’t seen the second or third because I was worried that it would spoil the book for me because the first season was so detailed to the book.

Flowers On Main by Sheryl Woods – I got into the Cheasepeake Shores Tv series and I enjoyed The Inn at Eagle Point. I just haven’t gotten in the mood to continue with the series.

Imprudence by Gail Carriger – I got very into Gail Carriger in 2016 and I really enjoyed Prudence. I know the third book has recently been released and I would like to continue on with the series.

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon – I read The Bone Season (again) two years ago and I really enjoyed the use of clairvoyant abilities in a dystopian future. I really wanted to get to The Mime Order but I have been unsure to continue on with the series.

Police by Jo Nesbo – I have always enjoyed Nesbo’s work and I really enjoyed the Harry Hole series. I read Phantom years ago and I remember really not enjoying it, I felt the pacing too clunky and I didn’t enjoy the premise entirely. I think the reason why I haven’t continued on because of the previous book.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare – I have been wanting to get into this series, the TV show is good and the fact that Cassandra Clare is a writing machine in expanding the world, and I want to get into the series. I read COB earlier this year and honestly, it was not that good.

Before The Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray – I have been a huge fan of Libba Bray for YEARS and I really enjoyed the first two books in the Diviners series. I did read Lair of Dreams last year, so I am not rushing to pick the book up. But I really like the characters and the dark plot is so intriguing.

Tatiana and Alexander by Paullina Simons – I LOVED The Bronze Horseman and I really do want to read the book since it has been a while since I read the first one. I might pick it up sometime at the end of the year because I feel that a book like this deserves my full attention and at the moment I am still frazzled over losing my job.

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J.Maas – I have been UMing ad AHing this book since it came out, I love the series and I am looking forward to the Kingdom of Ashes being released at the end of the year. I would like to get to it soon.

Justice League Dark Issue #2 – This has yet to be released but I have started it and I am eager for the second issue. I loved the New 52 JLD and I am even more excited for the new series. I have found a website where I can read comic’s online and it’s a really good website.

I hope you are having a lovely day xx