Wrap-Up #1: July 2014

2014 July Wrap-Up

Hey Everyone!

Here is my list of books I've read for the month of July this year.

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 One Is Enough by Love, Julianne Neville was a quick love story like any other manga one shots, but Boys Love! I am obsessed with Yaoi and the like, even if there is no plot or story behind it, I still swoon over it. Yes, I know, sounds crazy, but I just can't resist. The only thing that can put me off is horrible illustrations, then I'll mentally place a 'KEEP AWAY' tag over it. This manga, however, had a decent, simple storyline and great visuals. Cannot go wrong with that 'cause sometimes less it more.

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 Scandalous Summer Nights by Grace Callaway was  my first anthology ever! I cannot stress how much I ADORE historical romance. The Victorian and Regency and what I've mostly read. But reading this was a great gateway into highlander territory. I completely fell for the Scottish brogue I've read about in these wonderful stories. Just great. The dialogue from that place in time was so authentic and the way society was in that time period is completely different, almost a totally different world compared to how things are now. That fantastical feeling of something historical, but not particularly all fiction is what makes the content utterly rich.

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Yes, Chef! by Lisa Joy was something different but not quite. To be honest, I'm not that into chic-lit because first of all, I am a girl so I know what girls go through daily, and I know that we get annoying, I even annoy and irritate myself at times. I just couldn't shake the annoying-ness away while reading this story. A bunch of girls and a lot of complaining. I also don't like that as a reader, the author reveals something the main character knows absolutely nothing about. I usually am able to turn a blind eye and still enjoy the rest of the story unfold, but this time did not work out too great. I knew the moment the people made eye contact. It was literally described in the book how huge the moment was and the main character went along their own business completely obtuse. It irked me because throughout the book, it made its way the be the center of attention many of times and it just would not click. Do not get me started on the antagonist, it was well played and disgusted me to no end. In the end, I was glad to have finally finished it and survived through everything that happened so I think it was overall alright.

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Mastering the Marquess by Lavinia Kent was the epitome of Historical BDSM. Just right. It reminded me of Fifty Shades of Grey, but maybe it was 'cause I had just finish watching the live stream online and again on TV, and replayed the trailer for the umpteenth time. Besides, this story is way better anyways. I highly recommend this lovely story!

The Real Thing by Cassie Mae was such a fun read, I had a blast getting to know the characters and experience their friendship and sparkling romance. Nice writing style, I adjusted automatically and flew through this wonderful story. I will upload my Blog Tour post with my review and an excerpt, as well as a giveaway on Aug. 26th so save the date!

What A Lady Craves by Ashlyn Macnamara was a very intriguing story and a unique story plot. I wasn't that sucked in but was very much entertained and never felt put off. Again, historical romance is something I absolutely love, so I couldn't not read it. I'm uploading the Blog Tour post on Aug. 18th  along with my review and a giveaway so be on the look out!

There were a few that I had started but didn't get to finish....yet!

Gilded Lily by Delphine Dryden was something I don't know much about since I only read a few pages before I ended up reading Scandalous Summer Nights. I knew that this was a bit historical and kind of dystopian, I think. Although, once I began reading I knew that there was something missing, like something that was common knowledge but I didn't know what it was and I felt uncomfortable to continue to read. I also found out that it is the third book of a series. Thus explaining my uneasiness with reading the book. I was in the middle of the story and had no idea! Hopefully I'll be able to pick this back up once I read the first two in the series, but until then, it'll move back down my TBR list.

Cleft Heart: Chasing Normal by Karl Schonborn is really and truly an amazing read as far as I've read. It's not that long, compared to other books I've read and/or currently still reading, but I wanted to take my time, and thoroughly dissect this book because I was interested in someone having a cleft. I have a cousin that was born a few months prior with a cleft. To be honest I didn't know how to react or any of the medical terminology behind it (which is sad for me because I had medical terminology classes in high school) I wanted to learn more and see from that person's perspective how they portray things in daily life. Hopefully I'll finish this sometime soon. This is just too great.

This month wasn't a very progressive time pertaining to the amount of books I've read, but I think it balances out with the many giveaways, blitz, and blog tours, I've had and are being scheduled at the moment. I still think things are looking up though. And hopefully next month I'll be able to buckle down and read around what I normally read a month. Until next time!

Happy Reading :]

Book Haul #1: July 2014

July 2014 Book Haul

Hey you guys!.

I thought it'd be cool if I did a book haul.

In the very beginning of me starting this blog, I had done a Transformation Tuesday of my bookshelf. I didn't quite go into specifics, I basically just went by shelves and genres. So, I thought it would be sensible enough to show the books I got after I took those shots because I have a few that I still haven't mentioned. If you can already guess, I didn't receive them in the mail (which is what I've been posting about lately). I'm pretty sure I got them in July, so if you notice that it was already in my previous post, please let me know. Thanks.

Goodreads Giveaway:

You Can Love Again by Jan Haldane

Personal by Lee Child

Barnes & Noble:

Me And The Devil by Nick Tosches

The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

Rain by Amanda Sun

Publisher:

The End of Innocence by Allegra Jordan

Other:

The Stone Girl by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

The only one up for a near-future review is The End of Innocence because I received the ARC from Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for one, so stay tuned for that. I have a previous post with the story's synopsis, you can check it out here.

The one book that is under 'Other' is the one book that has a story behind the story. It was given to me from my mother. She said that she saw it was only $1 so she got it for me. At first, once I read the synopsis, I thought it was totally ironic and hilariously stupid. The day before, we where talking about losing weight and trying to diet, and eat healthy. My sister was calling me fat, my little brother was calling me my new nickname 'moo-moo', and everybody laughed. All the while I was eating my breakfast (I can never catch a break). But it doesn't really bother me because I know I'm fat, and they are too (I do wish that nickname went away though). The Stone Girl is about a girl with anorexia or bulimia. I think its both. I know bulimia is binge eating and then spouting it right back out. Anorexia is not eating, skipping meals, over exercising, or abusing laxatives. I know the basics about those disorders, but I suggest looking it up to get a more accurate or medical explanation. The whole time I was thinking to myself, great. I shake my head and contemplate on whether or not I'll read it anytime soon. I told my mom about it and she laughed too. I for one, would never, never go down that road. Heck, I love food too much. I can't exercise at the moment because I have a ruptured ACL, etc. Plus, I have brittle bones, so I've sprained and broken a few just by walking. Oh, and I am low on Vitamin D (not enough sun) so that explains my brittle bones. I am not that ashamed of my body, and I know I'll find someone who'll love my voluptuous self! I still think its pretty funny how that happened, but I do take the issue the book is discussing very serious. I know there is a toll-free number people can call for when they have self-harming thoughts, so if you do, call that number!

On a lighter note, I previously posted about receiving Rain in the mail. I AM SO HAPPY!!!! I remember picking up the first book in the series when I went to the beach in Corpus. And I had actually sprained my ankle that day, now that I recall. That was why I was able to get a book, because I wasn't able to play volleyball or get in the water (not that I would anyway, I hate the wet sand in my toes and up my butt crack). We had went to H-E-B for some stuff and I saw the cover... GORGEOUS! I knew I had to get it. I am in love with Japanese culture. And I could tell from the cove that it had something to do with art (I draw a bit) and Asian culture. It just so happened to be one of my favorite Asian cultures (so far its Korean, Malayan, Filipino, Thailand , and Japanese). I literally wanted to marry it, or at least be Katie Green and really experience her romance with a hot sexy Japanese guy. Unfortunately, I am unable to read the second book just yet because I have others ahead in line. Once I am free though, I will devour it whole, and then go back and dissect it. Every last word. This book will more than likely be in my August TBR so be on the look out!

The other books I am sad to say I don't know what they are about. I know a little about You Can Love Again. I was given to me by the author who is from New Zealand. I still have the package with the stamp on it. I remember when my Grandma gave me the package and telling me where its from. I had no idea I had won the giveaway on Goodreads. I didn't receive a confirmation or anything. To be completely honest, I totally forgot all about it. I opened it up and I was in shock and very happy that I won my very first giveaway. I do plan one reading it but I doubt that it'll be anytime soon, but if I ever find the time to do so, I'll let you know!

I bought Me And The Devil and The Inn at Rose Harbor because they were on sell at the time and had interesting covers, and one of them I read the synopsis. $6 for for a hardcover is such a bargain ya'll!

Personal was a giveaway I entered randomly, but also because I saw the Jack Reacher movie, well, bits of it. So I was pretty stoked to have won the giveaway. It won't be on my TBR any time soon because I know it is an installment in the middle of a series and that's the one thing I don't like. I'll have to start from the beginning of the series and work my way through. When it gets time to do so, I'll let ya'll know!

Well, this is my book haul, I didn't really plan on doing one but I thought I'd be able to give it a go so I did. Look out for my July Wrap-Up coming up soon.

Hope You Enjoyed It!