1. My name is Jacqueline, but most people call me Jackie.
2. My husband and I have been married for nearly four years. We have four cats, Snickers, Spike, Luke, and Leia, and a dog named Zeus.   
     
3. I’ve always loved to read, but only for fun. I’ve always hated assigned reading, even if it was an alright book. Something about being forced into it, being told what I should think about it or what the author may or may not have been trying to say never sat well with me. 
4. While I’ve always been a reader, it wasn’t until the past few years that I really started devouring books, and I’m much happier for it.
5. I can knit, crochet, and cross stitch!
6. I’m not much of a cook, but I love to bake. 
7. I only recently started building back up my book collection. A few years ago, when we moved, I gave away almost all my books. Afterward, I only checked books out from the library and/or read ebooks. I’m so happy to finally be filling up my bookshelves!
     
8. I don’t watch much tv. I can’t just sit and watch something, I have to be doing something at the same time or else I feel lazy. Typically I’m cross stitching, or writing a blog post, or something.
9. If it hasn’t been obvious from my various instagram posts and other blog posts, I’m a gigantic Potterhead. 
   
10. I work a full time day job, but my dream job would be to own my own bookstore-cafe. Short of that, I’d give anything to work in the publishing industry, but there are no such jobs in the Sacramento area.

I want to preface this review with the fact that I picked up, and put down, Rebel of the Sands twice before picking it back up and sticking with it until the end. It had an interesting premise and I was excited to read a desert themed tale with an independent, female, sharp shooting lead, but it just didn’t have that pull to make me dive right in and hook me. My favorite parts were the different tales and legends of the various gods, Djinn, and ghouls.

I could appreciate Amani’s determination, fighting tooth and nail to get out of her dead end life, but for the most part I didn’t feel a strong connection to the remaining characters. I was surprised by a lot of her choices, choosing herself, over and over again - not the typical, predictable YA hero. And I found myself hoping Amani and Jin didn’t end up together. I think I’m over the whole YA trope of girl and boy meet, go through dire situation, and fall in love in a short amount of time. This was Amani’s first time out of her town, first experience with any crush, and it’s love? Is it too much to ask for characters to just be, without there being love?

I appreciated the exploration of women and their lack of rights. In a world where this still exists in many places, it’s interesting to see a situation where women and young girls are married off against their will, with no rights to property, money, or their own bodies. Amani finds herself in this very same situation, and who can blame her for not wanting to accept the status quo? It was nice that other characters also took this viewpoint. Hopefully this can inspire positive thinking and actions.

The writing had a tendency to jump forward in time, then after a paragraph or two go back and explain what happened in the gap. After going back and double checking I didn’t skip a page the first few times, it was a very easy read.


Overall I’d rate Rebel of the Sands 3.5 stars. The potential is definitely there and I plan to read the sequel, Traitor to the Throne.

A tragic kidnapping leads to an unlikely friendship in this novel about finding light in the midst of darkness from the author of The Truth About Alice. 

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 re-adjusting 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. But after the media circus surrounding the kidnappings departs from their small Texas town, both Caroline and Ethan find that they need a friend--and their best option just might be each other.

Four years ago, Ethan was kidnapped and never heard from again. A week ago, Caroline’s autistic brother, Dylan, was taken. The odds of a tiny Texas town to be struck by two kidnappings is slim to none and by some miracle, Dylan’s kidnapping leads to both his and Ethan’s rescue.

Afterward is a thought provoking novel told from the viewpoint of Ethan and Caroline, living in the aftermath of this horrific event. Caroline’s family is struggling to keep it together, not sure how to move forward, or how to help someone who can’t articulate what happened to him, and Caroline herself who blames herself for her brother being taken. Ethan, is struggling with coming back to his family after living with his kidnapper for four years, with parents who love him and want to get him all the help he needs (and may not want), who can’t quite come to terms with what happened to him or figure out where the blame rests. When Caroline realizes that her parents aren’t going to do anything to help her brother, she decides to take charge and talk to the only other person around who might have some answers about what happened to him. They become an unlikely duo in the aftermath of this chaos.

What struck me about Afterward was how raw it was. Situations like this are a million to one. Most children who are taken are not given the opportunity to be reunited with their families in a positive way and I think that makes Ethan’s story unique. While it’s a work of fiction, for me it was a very emotional. Ethan has to work through four years of psychological torture and come out the other side into a world that has moved on without him. The world and his family are the same, but not. Caroline’s world seems to be slowly unraveling with no upward swing in sight. She doesn’t have two caring, put together parents willing to face what’s happened to her brother or the financial means to get him the help he needs. She’s hanging on by a thread, getting on day-by-day holding on to anything that might make her feel good.

I give Afterward 5 out 5. It really just hit me right in the gut - I cried more than once and that hasn’t happened in a long while. If you’re in the mood for a contemporary YA read, with a real story that will grab your heartstrings, this is it.

*I received a copy of book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis: 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 marks on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…

I don’t want to get into The Cursed Child too much here because I want to avoid spoilers for those who haven’t read it yet, and I wrote a long rant post about it you can read here, but let’s just say the nostalgia of being back in the HP universe only carried this one so far.

Me Before You was my book club read for August and I found it a bit eh. I was so looking forward to reading it and it just didn't live up to the hype for me.

If I had to pick one book off the list to recommend, I’d say you should read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. It was nothing like I expected and everything I needed it to be. It was beautifully written, perfectly narrated by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and heart wrenchingly honest.


I managed to happen upon my local library’s Friends of the Library book sale one Saturday when accidentally getting there too early to pick up my book. I lucked out and found copies of Ready Player One, Anne of Green Gables, and The Magicians. I’m still eyeing this hardcover box set of The Magicians but I couldn’t pass up a used copy of book one! I’ve also been hunting for a decent, unmarked used copy of Ready Player One for ages, so score! I adore Anne of Green Gables so I had to have this lovely hardcover copy. It’s from 1992, and I don’t know if it’s supposed to have a dust jacket, but I couldn’t wait to add it to my collection.

I made progress on both my Hogwarts crest this month and my Steotchalong. So technically I should be finished with my Steotchalong, but by making time for my crest, I’ve fallen behind, but I’m okay with that. Progress is progress! I wish I had two sets of arms, hands, eyes, and two brains and heads so I could read and cross stitch at the same time!
Sometimes I listen to an audiobook while I stitch, but it’s much easier to listen to an old tv show in the background then to risk zoning out on a good book or flubbing a pattern and having to frog a lot of hard work.


My brother-in-law got married at the beginning of the month, so much of our time was spent celebrating nuptials and new family ties. My husband was the best man, doesn’t he look smashing :) It was a hometown wedding fit for the cover of Country Living, and it was gorgeous.


This has been the summer of baseball. Managed to squeeze in two more games this month! This time watching my home team, the Oakland A’s square off against the Chicago Cubs, then the Sacramento Rivercats vs. the Iowa Cubbies.


I’ve been trying to enjoy the summer while it lasts. I can’t believe it’s September and almost fall! Pumpkin spice yuck is about is invade everything and it will be time to pack up my shorts and sandals for another year. Not that I the fall doesn’t have it’s bonuses, but I’m just not ready yet.
How was your August? Ready anything good? Do anything exciting? Have any life changing news or book recommendations for me?

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?