Dear Readers,

I wanted to take a moment and say, "Hi!", and to also let you know where I've been and what I've been up to the last few months.

Some of you may have noticed that I haven't posted in a while, and if you follow me on social media, you'll know it's because I've made the epic decision to apply for business school for the fall. I spent the last two months taking a GMAT prep course and studying my butt off for the GMAT exam. It was not fun. Because of this, I had virtually no free time and no social life. I barely took breaks from studying.

I finally too the GMAT a week or so ago and can now put that nightmare behind me, only to start on the even bigger task of applying to schools, asking for letters of recommendation, writing statements of purpose, and playing the waiting game for acceptance letters. If and when I get in, I'm sure the homework and study cycle will start up once again.

I hope to keep up with the blog, it's been such a fun project for me and I want to keep it going, but my posts will most likely be less frequent, due to less time to read, craft, and review. I'm trying to post some short reviews on Goodreads in the meantime, so feel free to friend me there.

I want to say thank you for your patience and I hope you stick around! Have a wonderful summer, stay cool, and read on!

February was gone in the blink of an eye! The month of so many wonderful book releases, Valentine's Day, and lots and lots of rain.



We acutally were really disappointed with the Aquarium, which was geared almost exclusively toward children, and was packed with rude people who expected you to move out of the way and cater to them and their kids simply because we didn't have kids of our own. We only stayed for about an hour and a half before we had to leave. Don't get me wrong, I love kids, and I have no problem with them! I have a problem with parents who think they and their children are entitled to push you out of the way or cut in front of you simply because they have kids and you don't.

October went by in a flash! I felt like it was gone in the blink of an eye and I hardly had a moment to sit down. I only managed a few blog posts, but I did get through more books than I had thought, so that’s a plus. Can you believe it’s already November and the holiday season is upon us???


I'm actually pretty surprised I read 9 books in October. I didn't think the number was quite so high until I was putting this list together. Falling Kingdoms was my 100th read of the year! I have officially met my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal for 2016. At this point I'm ultimately going to try for 120 finishes, we'll see if I can make it!

There are a lot of great books coming out this month! I know a few are new installments in series, some of which I need to catch up on - or even start - but all are getting great reviews. I'm most intrigued by Replica; a unique idea, two books in one that you flip and read two intertwining stories.

I'm also looking forward to Aerie and Gemina. I still have to start the Young Elites series - eep! I'm so behind there.  

Replica by Lauren Oliver - October 4
Gemma has been in and out of hospitals since she was born. 'A sickly child', her lonely life to date has revolved around her home, school and one best friend, Alice. But when she discovers her father's
connection to the top secret Haven research facility, currently hitting the headlines and under siege by religious fanatics, Gemma decides to leave the sanctuary she's always known to find the institute and determine what is going on there and why her father's name seems inextricably linked to it.

Amidst the frenzy outside the institute's walls, Lyra - or number 24 as she is known as at Haven - and a fellow experimental subject known only as 72, manage to escape. Encountering a world they never knew existed outside the walls of their secluded upbringing , they meet Gemma and, as they try to understand Haven's purpose together, they uncover some earth-shattering secrets that will change the lives of both girls forever...

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills - October 4
Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.

Aerie (Magonia, #2) by Maria Dahvana Headley - October 4
Aza Ray is back on earth. Her boyfriend Jason is overjoyed. Her family is healed. She’s living a normal life, or as normal as it can be if you’ve spent the past year dying, waking up on a sky ship, and discovering that your song can change the world.

In this stunning sequel to the critically acclaimed Magonia, one girl must make an impossible choice between two families, two homes—and two versions of herself.


Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig - October 4
Flynn's girlfriend has disappeared. How can he uncover her secrets without revealing his own?

Flynn's girlfriend, January, is missing. The cops are asking questions he can't answer, and her friends are telling stories that don't add up. All eyes are on Flynn—as January's boyfriend, he must know something.

But Flynn has a secret of his own. And as he struggles to uncover the truth about January's disappearance, he must also face the truth about himself.

The Midnight Star by Marie Lu - October 11
The thrilling finale to the New York Times bestselling Young Elites series from “hit factory” Marie Lu.

There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.

Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all that she’s achieved.

Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff - October 18
Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.



What about you? Are you looking forward to any of these? What’s your most anticipated release in October?

There are a lot of great books due out this month! Below are the ones that I’m most looking forward to releasing this September. I can’t believe Empire of Storms is finally here! I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to find out what happened to Aelin and I’m fit to bursting. What about you?

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas - September 6
The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those don't.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman - September 6
book two in the Invisible Library series. Librarian-spy Irene is working undercover in an alternative London when her assistant Kai goes missing. She discovers he's been kidnapped by the fae faction and the repercussions could be fatal. Not just for Kai, but for whole worlds.  ||  My Review

Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu  - September 6
Two small town Texas teenagers whose lives are linked by a terrifying crime. When Caroline's little brother is kidnapped, his subsequent rescue leads to the discovery of Ethan, a teenager who has been living with the kidnapper since he was a young child himself. In the aftermath, Caroline can't help but wonder what Ethan knows about everything that happened to her brother, who is not readjusting well to life at home. And although Ethan is desperate for a friend, he can't see Caroline without experiencing a resurgence of traumatic memories.

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova - September 6
Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives. Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can’t trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange markings on his skin.   ||   My Review

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake -  September 20
Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown.

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess -  September 20
Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she's brought to London to train with Her Majesty's sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter -  September 20
A modern retelling of the Russian folktale “Vassilissa the Beautiful”

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo -  September 27
Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.


Are you looking forward to any of these? What’s your most anticipated release in September?

This is the first post in my new book/craft blog. I have big hopes and plans for this thing, so here's goes nothing!

My goal for this blog is to write fairly short and concise reviews for the books I read. To tell you about the books I'm excited for, the covers I love, and other bookish things to my heart's content. I've challenged myself to read 100 books this year and I hope to write a review for at least half. I've read 4 since January 1st, so I'm already behind.

I tend to ready mostly young adult and fantasy, but I enjoy murder/mystery, literature, historical fiction, and a ton of other genres as well. I go through books like the world is ending - reading a physical book, an e-book, and listening to an audiobook all at the same time. You'd think it would be easy to get stories mixed up, reading more than one book at a time, but I think the different mediums help to keep them separate in my head. Plus, I can't drive and read at the same time (well, I can, but the police don't take too kindly to it) so I use my time wisely by listening to audiobooks during my commute. I also carry a book on me at all times. Yes, I'm one of those - and I am not ashamed.


I'm also into crafty things like cross stitch, sewing, knitting, crochet, etc. I'll probably post about these things too while I'm at it. I've recently undertaken a huge cross stitch project that you will probably see a lot of during its progression. It doesn't seem like it, but this baby will be nearly 20" x 24" when it's done. Yikes.

I am a huge Harry Potter nerd (if you couldn't tell from the above), and a fan of most things geeky and sci-fi - think Firefly, Star Trek, Supernatural, Buffy, comics... I'm sure you get the picture. I currently live in California with my husband, our four cats, and our dog. I work full time and squeeze in reading whenever I can. Be my friend on Good Reads! Follow me on twitter or instagram.

If you've read this far, I thank you, and hope you will join me for the rest of this journey!