Where'd June go?

June Wrap up!


What a crazy month! 

I swear I don't know where the past few weeks went. 
Life got crazy busy, and so did the books, and just... *zoom* good bye month. hello July! (Happy Canada Day too!) 

let's get down to business... no, there were no Huns in my month. 

What I read:
- Crystal Storms (FK 5)
- Queens of Geek
- Mortal Instruments 1 - 5
- the MindF* ck Series 1- 5
- Petals on the Wind
- Taran Wanderer (Prydain 4)
- A Wrinkle in Time 

Plus, for my sister site, I read 4. slow, slow, slow but authors are not sending in their books after their request gets approved which is ridiculous so the other 4 I had booked didn't work out.

That makes for a total of 19 books. Plus I started book 6 of TMI but only a few chapters in ;)


2017: 102/200 ~~ just over half way! ~~ 

If you're following me in IG, you'd have seen my TBR posted for this month.
It includes the following*:

- The Life of Elves (research for my book) 

- Calvin
- The Book Jumper
- Strange the Dreamer
- Gone with the Wind
- The Scarlet Letter (which I'm already half way through. Should be done today)
- Oliver Twist
- The Sword in the Stone
-Frankenstein
- Guilliver's Travels
- Treasure Island
- Count of Monte Cristo


Plus finishing up the TMI series because HELLO LM AND LOS! I want to devour you!

*i am trying to read more "classics" this year, so July should get a bunch out of the way.

and I need to go book a few for my sister site (which I'll do after this!) 

Luckily, July isn't too busy right now (except all my weekends) so I should have plenty of time. Right? Who knows.
Hubby and I never finished our GOT marathon and it starts next week so EEK! We're thinking of a getaway weekend to Niagara Falls next week which should be nice, but I doubt the hotel has HBO.

Besides work being crazy in June, nothing new is really going on. Quiet life is okay by me.
and I like how busy work is, but I WANT TO READ MY BOOKS! I got 20 new ones this week (16 from BookOutlet alone) and no time. Sigh.

I just ordered food since Hubby has left me for the weekend, with the car, and we didn't do groceries, and I am off to read!
Also, in the mood to watch 'a streetcar named desire' ; don't ask me why.


that's all folks!

xo

Bloggers tag!

I was tagged by Emily @ thatweirdgirllife.blogspot.ca to do a bloggers tag!
Which involves answering 11 random questions that she's asking, and then I'll ask 11 and tag some people :)

Official Rules: 

1. Answer the 11 questions that your nominator has asked you.

2. Nominate 11 other bloggers (with under 200 followers)

3. Ask your nominees 11 questions.

4. Let them know that you have nominated them!

Alright, here we go! 

1. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I had a few ambitions; maid, marine biologist, actor... but ended up as a Sign language Interpreter. which is a job i love to the point that even if I won the lottery and never had to work again, I'd still do it. 

2. What time of day do you do your blogging? Do you usually work in the daytime or are you a night owl?

Depends on when the mood strikes. Sometimes I wake up and spend a few hours doing prep, sometimes I come home from a day of work and write for a few hours. 

3. If you could only eat one candy or chocolate for the rest of your life, what would it be?


Hmm. This is a difficult one. Chocolate bar would be Twix I think. Candy is probably lollipops. Orange flavour. 

4. What is your go to movie to watch when you're feeling sad or upset?


The original Willy Wonka. Or the animated Beauty and the Beast.

5. Has there been a book that has changed your life?

Many have had an impact, for sure. As far as made me change my beliefs or some aspect about my life, nope. 


6. Which Disney movie scared you the most as a kid?


Ironically, Beauty and the Beast haha. Now I can't get enough of it (both versions). 

7. What is the hardest thing for you about blogging?

Coming up with ideas, besides reviews. and being consistent. The month of june was spent reading and real-life work and I don't think I posted a single thing... oops. 


8. If you had to recommend one musician/band that everyone should listen to, who would it be?


The Spill Canvas. Esp their 'one fell swoop' CD. *swoon* 

9. If you could sit down and chat with any fictional character (from a book, movie. or TV) who would it be? And what would you talk about?

Oh gosh. uhm... Magnus Bane, but he'd have to be willing to open up because I want to hear his stories. and Rhett Butler for the same reason. and Rhys - I don't care what we talk about, I just wana stare at him.
and All the girls from the Lunar Chronicles. I just wana be their friend :(
and Arya. 


10. What is something that no matter what, always makes you laugh?

Minions.
and Friends.
and Calvin and Hobbes. (oh, add Calvin to #9)
and my neices and nephew <3


11. And if you had to pick: cake or pie?

CAKE. always. but, good cake. some cake is just gross.
major sweet tooth for pastries.


SO FUN! Thanks Emily!



MY 11:

1. What book character would you like to switch places with?
2. Did you have any childhood friends? Names, occupations?
3. What's your fave Disney Song?
4. Tin Man, Scarecrow, or the Lion? 
5. What are your goals with your blog?
6. Do you have any other  hobbies?
7. Can you read in the car?
8. Do you collect different editions/languages/covers etc of books?
9.  What's on your desk?
10. What's one of your idiosyncrasies ?
11. Do you collect anything non-book related?


Can't wait to read everyone's answers! 

Review: Frozen Tides (FK Book 4)

 Frozen Tides
 Falling Kingdoms Book 4
 Morgan Rhodes


As Gaius' hold on Mytica grows with each passing day, those who rebel against him grow as well.

Cleo knows where her alliance is. She will do anything, and everything to take back her land and her home.

Lucia and her beloved Watcher did not work out as planned, but then she meets a stronger ally who convinces her that he is the one who can help her so long as she helps him first. After all, he is one of the Kindred.

Jonas and his friends know what must be done: to end the war that is coming, they must kill the King. The fact that Cleo is on their side is a huge advantage, but never underestimate those who are power hungry.

Princess Amara has become a bigger inconvenience to this story plot since she was introduced. Back in her fathers kingdom, she is cautious of what he has planned for her. Especially when King Gaius shows up trying to bargain a partnership between their kingdoms.

The secret of where the Kindred orbs are located, the power that is thrown around and taken away in the same sentence, the love, the hate, the anger that all pours off each page is captivating. Make sure you have time to just sit and read these books since you will not want to put them down.

and don't get too attached to anyone. honestly, why does everyone have to die in books these days?! 

The heart stopping cliffhangers on each chapter will have you groaning in frustration but you cannot help but love everything that happens. You have to believe in the magic, you have to believe in karma and fate, you have to believe that Rhodes won't be too cruel in the next book.

May wrap up!

May was a fun month, but it definetly went too quick for me. 

I think it's mostly because I had 2 author-chats this month:

1) Sarah J Mass at Sherway Gardens Indigo.
 I was about 20 minutes late for getting a wristband to meet her, but I hung out for the day anyways and listened to her talk. (if you search #indigoACOWAR you'll see highlights from that day). She is just amazing to listen to. 
The crowd was crazy though, but I met some fun people so it was worth it. 

because of this event though, I knew she would be talking about ACOWAR and I had yet to touch the series. With everyone freaking out on twitter about it, I totally jumped on the bandwagon: went out one night and got all 3 books, and they were done in about a week. I came home from the Indigo Chat, crawled into bed, and finished the last little bit of ACOWAR before crying myself to sleep haha. What a great night! 

   

                 

this was at chapters; so packed!

2) There was a YA-Fantasy chat with Morgan Rhodes, E.K Johnston and Elly Blake in London ON. I went for Morgan but all 3 ended up being fantastic to listen to. Falling Kingdoms had been on my TBR for a long time, and I've been reading about 1/day that week to get ready for the chat.

Some points from that chat include:

[EKJ: The great thing about YA is you just need a tennager and you can pretty much do hatever you want.

MR: I was never compelled to write a book until Buffy the Vampire was on

EKJ: [on editing] I should just take up turnip farming ..

and the most important part from all 3: don't threaten authors online. It's not a joke.*
[*referring to some threats made to MR once about who she needs to keep alive in the next book. but seriously people, stop being rude to authors. There has been a lot of threats made to them and it is uncalled for. It is not funny] ]

  

love her! she was so great to chat with <3 

So! Onto the books!
What did I read this month?

- I finished Afterworlds
- Everything, everything (in a couple of hours)
- Lion (and then I watched the movie)
- The Handmaids tale
- Web of Dreams (by accident) so then Tarnished Gold by VC Andrews
- ACOTAR series
- Falling Kingdoms Book 1-4
- Castle of Llyr (Prydain book 3)
- Beauty of Darkness

Under my sister site of TDC Book Reviews, I only read 4 books this month. Slow, but lately they have not been my style so oh well. My nickname over there is Canadian Rebel. (and we are hiring if you're interested! Experience required)
so book total as of May 31st 11:59pm : 83/200 = happy dance from me! 

My book haul is on instagram so if you're curious, come follow! 

June I have decided to go on a Book buying ban; and I have high hopes. It'll force me to focus on the series I am half way through... and my goals. 

i am focusing on The Mortal Instruments series since I have yet to read Lady Midnight and got Lord of Shadows the other day so yay! --This world is fantastic; if you havent started it yet, it comes highly recommended--

and then a few randoms just to keep it interesting *winks*

I decided to join a challenge this month on IG as well ( #bookishsunshine ) so that'll be fun! First timer over here.

JUNE IS MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLOG *cake for all* so I will be doing a giveaway of some kind this month on twitter! Keep your eyes peeled.

 

Life outside of books has been pretty boring; may was my birthday month so that was fun but May went quick so meh! I finally got my haircut which made me super super happy (even though i cried because its SO SHORT now!)

It rained a lot so I spent most days inside. I didn't get a lot of writing done because I was too busy reading - them's the breaks.

and the other day our kitchen sink broke and my mom reminded me I have a dishwasher so i had a full sink for NOTHING. silly me. 
work started off slow, but the end of the month and June is starting to pick up so fingers crossed it stays like this through the summer; which is usually my slow time of the year.

so that is it for MAY!

HELLO JUNE AND WARMTH! How I have missed you. 
Summer time is the greatest time.

:)

Review: Gathering Darkness (FK book 3)

 Gathering Darkness
 Falling Kingdoms Book 3
 Morgan Rhodes

Cleo is not impressed with being forced into a marriage with the son of her enemy, but she does the best she can. It helps that she has befriended Lucia, her new sister-in-law helps her stay focused, sane and alive while being imprisoned in her own home.

Lucia is struggling with her magic. When the mysterious man from her dreams appears in front of her, he will help her find control .. and purpose.

Jonas' rebel group gets smaller by the day, but he reuses to give up. With the help of a new friend, his goal to kill the king is alive and well... but when do his plans ever work?

The hunt for the Kindred has grown. now that a few parties know how to awaken them, the chase is on as to who will reach them first.

This series is just amazing; I struggle to find a better word for it. The build up for a) who will survive each chapter (and be constantly screaming "common, you didn't see that dagger coming?!") and b) who will be the one to get to Kindred elements first will have you awake all night as you race to the end of this installment.

The deception and alliances go deeper and get stronger and weaker with each passing event. Those who were once enemies, begin to share a common goal..

but no one knows who to trust.