All I Want For Christmas – Maggie Knox

Author: Maggie Knox
Date: October 4, 2022
Pages: 352
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Son
Instagram
Twitter

SUMMARY:

Will they hit the right notes this holiday season?

When Sadie and Max are selected as contestants on the famed reality singing show Starmaker, each thinks they’ve finally gotten their big Nashville break. But then they’re paired up for duet week and stun the world with their romantic onstage chemistry. With fans going wild for #Saxie the network demands that they remain a duo on and offstage, or exit the competition. Faking a relationship until their final performance in the Starmaker holiday special shouldn’t be too hard, except for one small problem—Sadie and Max can’t stand each other. 

But with their dreams just within reach, they agree to the ruse. Will their fake relationship be exposed before they can win? Or might their phony connection turn real by the Christmas finale?

REVIEW:

I could not put it down. It so fun, cute, and would have been a quick read if I didn’t have too many other things to do. I mostly read the book at night. I loved how Sadie and Max connected on certain levels! It takes place during Christmas time so reading it in February is a little bit different. I loved the cozy cabin and snow element that the author threw in.

So when Sadie and Max have to fake a relationship, it was not what either one wanted but they both wanted to make their break. Time goes on as they do develop feelings for each other but both have a hard time telling each other that. There’s drama up and down, cute moments, not so cute moments and such a lovely festive vibe throughout the book.

It’s a must read if you like enemies to lovers type of trope with cute moments. I really enjoyed the book and will be on the lookout for more from the author.

I spy this YA Book

So I saw this book in the bookstore while I’m on vacation….anyone else read it yet?

My name is Ari Helix. I have a magic sword, a cranky wizard, and a revolution to start. I’ve been chased my whole life. As a fugitive refugee in the territory controlled by the tyrannical Mercer corporation, I’ve always had to hide who I am. Until I found Excalibur. Now I’m done hiding.  When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Then she meets Merlin, who has aged backward over the centuries into a teenager, and together they must break the curse that keeps Arthur coming back. Their quest? Defeat the cruel, oppressive government and bring peace and equality to all humankind. No pressure

Book Tag

BookwormBlogger Lucy did a book tag that I thought was fascinating.
I’m going to give it a go!

Where do you typically write your blog posts?

I tend to write the blog posts on my laptop at home at the table or on the couch.

How long does it generally take you to write a book review?

Well that depends on a few factors. Sometimes it’ll get done in one day or other times I take time to reflect on what I have read. Other factors that pop up are: busy with life, kids or just need to catch up on sleep which may have me do a review a bit later.

When did you start your book blog?

Oh gosh…originally started back in 2008ish time. I did my own blog and I also co blogged with another lovely lady who eventually decided to not do it anymore. Then I stopped for a while due to life situations and the I started again because I love doing it.

What is the worst thing about having a book blog in your opinion?

To remember to post something!

What is the best thing about having a book blog in your opinion?

To share my love for books that I enjoy. To let others know what books that are out there! Promote reading. To connect with others who share the same kind of books that I do!

What blog post have you had the most fun writing so far?

Almost every post I do I have fun doing it.

What is your favorite type of blog post to write?

All of them? Right? If I had to choose in order: Arc reviews that I enjoyed, books that I enjoyed reading, seeing new books out there, and book tags!

When do you typically write?

When I have time. Most of the time it’s in the morning but I do sometimes pull the night owl routine.

Do you review every book you read?

Only the ones that I finish and that sit well with me. If there are books that I cannot finish or just did not click with me, I don’t review them.

How do you write your book reviews? With a cup of coffee or tea? With Netflix? Cuddled with your fur baby?

Sometimes I write my reviews with a cup of coffee or tea or water, sometimes it’s in an atmosphere with the tv on or in complete silence. It all depends on my mood!

When do you write your book reviews? Right after finishing the book? Two weeks after finishing the book?

Depends on the book! Sometimes it’s right after I finish, sometimes it’s after I jot notes down, sometimes it’s later because other things pop up in life that I need to attend to.

How often do you post?

II am trying to post every day which is not always easy. The key is : TRYING.

I thought this book tag was fun. You should give it a try. Consider yourself tagged!

I spy Nonfiction books today

I spy nonfiction books today!

Which one interests you?
Will you read them?

Ditch your nine-to-five and become your own boss with this insider’s guide to freelancing from Martina Flor, a leading designer, educator, author, and entrepreneur. The Big Leap covers all aspects of starting your own business, from practical skills like identifying potential clients and pricing projects to important big-picture topics like managing time and finances, diversifying income streams, and taking care of your most important tool—you!

Flor demonstrates each concept with helpful case studies pulled from her own journey from freelance designer to influential, international business owner. Creatives across disciplines will benefit from this thorough and easy-to-follow career guide, including designers, illustrators, photographers, programmers, writers, and editors.

Don’t you think it’s time for a break? Plagued—as we are!—by nonstop pings and notifications, we have lost the knack of zoning out. Kicking back. Slacking off. Even when pandemic-induced lockdowns forcibly cleared our calendars, many who thought I’m free! filled their days with Netflix and doomscrolling. How can we reclaim our free time (planned or not) to truly rest and reset?

The Dutch have it figured out: with niksen. Perhaps their best-kept lifestyle secret, niksen is the art of doing, well, nothing. It’s the opposite of productivity, and it’s incredibly good for your . . .

  • MIND—it makes you calmer.
  • BODY—it offers rest on hectic days.
  • CREATIVITY—it clears a space for brilliant ideas.
  • WALLET—it’s free!

If you’re waiting for an invitation to go lie down in the sunshine, this book is it.

t was the Golden Age of Radio and powerful men were making millions in advertising dollars reaching thousands of listeners every day. When television arrived, few radio moguls were interested in the upstart industry and its tiny production budgets, and expensive television sets were out of reach for most families. But four women—each an independent visionary— saw an opportunity and carved their own paths, and in so doing invented the way we watch tv today.

Irna Phillips turned real-life tragedy into daytime serials featuring female dominated casts. Gertrude Berg turned her radio show into a Jewish family comedy that spawned a play, a musical, an advice column, a line of house dresses, and other products. Hazel Scott, already a renowned musician, was the first African American to host a national evening variety program. Betty White became a daytime talk show fan favorite and one of the first women to produce, write, and star in her own show.

Together, their stories chronicle a forgotten chapter in the history of television and popular culture.

But as the medium became more popular—and lucrative—in the wake of World War II, the House Un-American Activities Committee arose to threaten entertainers, blacklisting many as communist sympathizers. As politics, sexism, racism, anti-Semitism, and money collided, the women who invented television found themselves fighting from the margins, as men took control. But these women were true survivors who never gave up—and thus their legacies remain with us in our television-dominated era. It’s time we reclaimed their forgotten histories and the work they did to pioneer the medium that now rules our lives.

This amazing and heartbreaking history, illustrated with photos, tells it all for the first time. 

Over four decades, Lisa Robinson has made a name for herself as a celebrated journalist in a business long known for its boys’ club mentality. But to Robinson, the female performers who sat down with her, most often at the peak of their careers, were the true revelations.

Based on conversations with more than forty female artists, Nobody Ever Asked Me about the Girls is a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the effects of success on some of music’s most famous women. From Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Donna Summer, Bette Midler, Alanis Morissette and Linda Ronstadt to Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Adele, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and numerous others, Robinson reveals the private obsessions and public distractions that musicians contend with in their pursuit of stardom. From these interviews emerge candid portraits of how these women―regardless of genre or decade―deal with image, abuse, love, motherhood, family, sex, drugs, business, and age.

Complete with reflections from Robinson’s own career as a pioneering female music writer, Nobody Ever Asked Me about the Girls offers an overdue consideration of how hopes, dreams, and the drive for recognition have propelled our most beloved female musicians to take the stage and leave an undeniable, lasting musical mark on the world.

Update in the world of reading

Currently Reading

Finished reading:

Want to read next

I preordered this book and it did not arrive on time.
The book is suppose to be coming this week — Can’t wait!
(I think everyone is experiencing delays in getting things)

I need to go find this book ASAP!
I have read the previous books and I must find out what happens next.
Plus the author is awesome

Have you read any of these?

Will you read any of these?

What do you think of my selections?

Notice my theme here??

Harsh Line by Ann Gimpel

  • Author: Ann Gimpel
  • Publisher : Ann Giimpel Books, LLC
  • Series: Cataclysm
  • Date : March 2020
  • Paperback : 296 pages

Summary:
My very existence is under attack. I’ve kept a low profile, told myself the craziness sweeping the world would pass me by. Yeah, it was wishful thinking, actually an outright lie, but it’s kept me sane.

I’ve been hiding out forever in one guise or another. Currently, I run a nightclub. Ascent is an “ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no lies” haven. For everybody. I’m a Vampire. Far be it from me to judge.

My closest ally is a shapeshifting dire wolf. I adopted him when he was a scrawny puppy, but I’m getting ahead of my tale.

The fragile détente between supernaturals and humans has crashed and burned. I can’t avoid the truth any longer. Lucky for me, mortals don’t know exactly what I am. When I moved to Seattle, some vampiric sixth sense urged me to play my cards close to my vest, but I’m done burying my secrets.

And my power.

It’s past time for supernaturals to get over their stupid infighting. Meh. So what if Witches hate Druids? Or Fae never deal with Sorcerers? We have to pull together, or we’ll have no chance at all.

Not that it’s likely, but if any mortals see the light and sign up for our side, we’d damn well better welcome them.

I’m Ariana Hawke. No more skulking in the shadows for me.

My Review:
Okay so I saw another book blogger mentioning of Ann Gimpel book with vampires so I decided to click on it and read the entry. Well the words “Giovanni Clan” was mentioned in the entry. I immediately thought of Vampire the Masquerade. Ahh the good ole days of role playing Vampire the Masquerade….that’s another post for another time and has nothing to do with book…athough there are books related to how to roleplay the game. Anyways……..

I had to check this author out! I ended up reading the summary of the book on her website. She has written tons of books. I decided to get the first book of this series to see what it was all about. Vampires, magic, wolves, and more supernatural elements drew me in from this book. They always do. Vampires are my weakness.

I was excited when the book arrived. The cover is stunning! The story is narrated by Ariana Hawke who’s a vampire that owns a club that allows all to join as long as they do not cause drama. She also has a bond with a shapeshifter wolf named Conan who is always near her. They have an interesting relationship. Both have their own secrets which makes me wonder if more of that will be spilled into the next volume. The setting of the book is that supernaturals band together to stay safe from humans. If humans found out there was a supernatural, the supernatural would be arrested and worse case of scenario would happen.

A new vampire comes to town, well he awakens from his slumber and his name is Nicholas Giovanni. (Nicholas is such a cool name! The name also reminds me from the tv show “Forever Knight”…heheh once again — vampires!) Nicholas awakens along with two of his clansmen. He isn’t aware of how the world works and somehow manages to end up at Ariana’s club. He learns! It was interesting to see how this character reacts to a new world. While he is adjusting, drama starts to happen. Someone tips off the cops about the club and Ariana takes matters in her hands by being sneaky. You have you read how she bypasses the cops. She then begins to think who would tip off the cops? Plus Conan and a few other supernaturals sense some darker magic happening also. Is it a coincidence? Too many thing are happening at once. Ariana wants to figure this out and she’s not alone! Even I want to know what’s going to happen next. Even I wan to know if there

I have fallen in love with this story and the characters. I want to know more. I could visualize the whole story taking place while I was reading. The story kept attention, I could not put the book! If you like tons of supernatural, action and a bit of desire, then you’ll like this book. I did order the rest of the volumes and I am waiting for them to arrive! I’m looking forward to it.

Crush by Tracy Wolff

  • Author: Tracy Wolff
  • Publisher : Entangled: Teen
  • Date : September 29, 2020
  • Hardcover : 704 pages

What the book is about:
Everything feels off―especially me. I’ve returned to Katmere Academy, but I’m haunted by fragments of days I have no recollection of living and struggling to understand who, or what, I really am. 

Just when I start to feel safe again, Hudson is back with a vengeance. He insists there are secrets I don’t know about, threatening to drive a wedge between Jaxon and me forever. But far worse enemies are at our doorstep. 

The Circle is caught in a power play and the Vampire Court is trying to drag me out of my world and into theirs. The only thing Hudson and Jaxon agree on is that leaving Katmere would mean my certain death.

And not only am I fighting for my life, but now everyone else’s is at stake―unless we can defeat an unspeakable evil. All I know is that saving the people I love is going to require sacrifice. 

Maybe more than I’m able to give. 

My Review:
This is the second book. You need to read the first book before you move onto this one. The first one is called “Crave.” Both are really good. Although I am going to focus on this second here because it was so amazing. I could not put it down. I wanted to pull an all night but sadly sleep overcame me. Anyways there was so much going on that it kept me wondering what was going to happen next with Grace. What challenges was she going to face from coming back!?

The setting picks up a few months after the first book. When she came back I was shocked how she returned. It was just awesome. At first I was thinking is this story going to be go back to normal? Then I thought about it some more and these questions lingered in my mind: What are the consequences of Grace returning? Plus why would the author make it normal storyline? There was to be more. Oh Boy there was more! Tons more!

I felt like there was more action in this book which I loved! I am not going to give away every bit of this book. Action and adventure. This world: witches, vampires, and werewolves is amazing. I love this kind of thing. It is my jam. It makes me happy. Does this make me weird?

The whole book focused on Grace. She is so amazing in this story. She figures things out in this part of the story. It is almost like a journey for her. She interacts with all kinds with all kind of characters. Some of it was bickering, some of it was fun, some of it was sadness and some gave all the feels! She and Jaxon are still connected in a way but another new character pops up which makes Grace see Jaxon a bit differently. That was a surprise!! I was not expecting this. I kept reading the book and had a thought “The bond between Grace and Jaxon: would it affect them a great deal and not make them see clearly on things? ” I got my answer to that while finishing up the book. I cannot wait to see what happens next because the ending literally leaves you hanging!

Can I please have book 3 now? Good thing that it comes out in March! I cannot wait.

Books for my to read pile

These books are going into my to read pile….how about you? What is in your pile that is new?

Chloe Wang is nervous to introduce her parents to her boyfriend, because the truth is, she hasn’t met him yet either. She hired him from Rent for Your ’Rents, a company specializing in providing fake boyfriends trained to impress even the most traditional Asian parents.

Drew Chan’s passion is art, but after his parents cut him off for dropping out of college to pursue his dreams, he became a Rent for Your ’Rents employee to keep a roof over his head. Luckily, learning protocols like “Type C parents prefer quiet, kind, zero-PDA gestures” comes naturally to him.

When Chloe rents Drew, the mission is simple: convince her parents fake Drew is worthy of their approval so they’ll stop pressuring her to accept a proposal from Hongbo, the wealthiest (and slimiest) young bachelor in their tight-knit Asian American community.

But when Chloe starts to fall for the real Drew—who, unlike his fake persona, is definitely not ’rent-worthy—her carefully curated life begins to unravel. Can she figure out what she wants before she loses everything?

When Anna Pendragon was born, Merlin prophesied: “Through all the ages, and in the hearts of men, you will be forgotten.”

Married at twelve, and a mother soon after, Anna – the famed King Arthur’s sister – did not live a young life full of promise, myth, and legend. She bore three strong sons and delivered the kingdom of Orkney to her brother by way of her marriage. She did as she was asked, invisible and useful for her name, her status, her dowry, and her womb.

Twenty years after she left her home, Anna returns to Carelon at Arthur’s bidding, carrying the crown of her now-dead husband, Lot of Orkney. Past her prime and confined to the castle itself, she finds herself yet again a pawn in greater machinations and seemingly helpless to do anything about it. Anna must once again face the demons of her childhood: her sister Morgen, Elaine, and Morgause; Merlin and his scheming Avillion priests; and Bedevere, the man she once loved. To say nothing of new court visitors, like Lanceloch, or the trouble concerning her own sons.

Carelon, and all of Braetan, is changing, though, and Anna must change along with it. New threats, inside and out, lurk in the shadows, and a strange power begins to awaken in her. As she learns to reconcile her dark gift, and struggles to keep the power to herself, she must bargain her own strength, and family, against her ambition and thirst for revenge

Leia Scott has sworn off love. Fresh from a messy, public divorce from her hockey player ex, the twenty-six-year-old fashion designer temporarily trades New York for London to heal and embrace her freedom. Her vow? To protect her heart, steer clear of relationships, and say yes to flings without strings. She throws herself into designing upcycled dresses and exploring London with her sister. But Leia’s carefully curated plan encounters a flirty complication with an irresistible British accent.

Wealthy, charming, and devastatingly attractive, Tarquin Balfour is tired of meaningless hookups and dates that go nowhere. For years, he has played the bon viveur with reckless abandon, throwing decadent parties, sleeping with a parade of women, and diving into extreme sports around the globe. But now the young property developer wants more. He craves love and commitment, to prove his kind heart matters more than the abundance of zeroes attached to his bank balance. Struggling with undiagnosed depression, Tarquin worries he’ll never find The One…until he meets his princess, a fashion designer named Leia.

Afraid of falling in love and fearful of being alone, Leia and Tarquin enter into an entanglement that threatens to hurt them both.

Gelya is a Vessel, a girl who channels the word of the One True God through song. Cloistered with the other Vessels of her faith, she believes—as all Ovinists do—that a saint imprisoned Elath the Great Demon centuries ago, saving humanity from earthly temptation.

When Gelya stumbles into a deadly cover-up by the Ovinists’ military, she reluctantly teams up with Tavik, an enemy soldier, to survive. Tavik believes that Elath is actually a mother goddess who must be set free, but while he succeeds in opening Her prison, he inadvertently turns Gelya into Elath’s unwilling human vessel.

Now the church that raised Gelya considers her a threat. In a race against the clock, she and Tavik must find a way to exorcise Elath’s presence from her body. But will this release stop the countdown to the end of the world, or will it be the cause of the earth’s destruction?

And as Tavik and Gelya grow closer, another question lingers between them: What will become of Gelya?

Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.

Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who’s mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.

Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery’s most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.

Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross…and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.

Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery’s fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it’s complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.


Budding photographer Josie Saint-Martin has spent half her life withher single mother, moving from city to city. When they return to her historical New England hometown years later to run the family bookstore, Josie knows it’s not forever. Her dreams are on the opposite coast, and she has a plan to get there.

What she doesn’t plan for is a run-in with the town bad boy, Lucky Karras. Outsider, rebel…and her former childhood best friend. Lucky makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the newly returned Josie. But everything changes after a disastrous pool party, and a poorly executed act of revenge lands Josie in some big-time trouble—with Lucky unexpectedly taking the blame.

Determined to understand why Lucky was so quick to cover for her, Josie discovers that both of them have changed, and that the good boy she once knew now has a dark sense of humor and a smile that makes her heart race. And maybe, just maybe, he’s not quite the brooding bad boy everyone thinks he is…

This or that?

So I saw Sofi : A Book Thought blog about a tag. I decided to write my thoughts and replies on it too. This is something a bit different to do than writing reviews!

Read on the bed or the couch? 

For me it varies. Bed would be mostly at night. Once in a while I’ll go in there to read in the afternoon if the sun is shining nicely. The couch is mostly during the day so I can keep an eye on my kids if they need me.

Read at night or in the morning

Morning would be on the weekends sometimes. I read mostly at night. Night owl reader!!

Male main character or female main character? 

I do not have a preference.

First person POV or third person POV?

I’m open to either one.

Trilogies or quartets? 

Both!

 Libraries or bookstore?

Libraries are my favorite! I even work in one. Bookstores I used to go all the time when I was younger and now I still go but watching my budget since it’s called being an adult. I still buy books.

Books that make you laugh or cry?

Both! I think most books I have read make me laugh or scream no. As for crying there has a handful of them.

Black book covers or white book covers? 

All the colors!! I may have to do a survey of what color books I have.

Character-driven or plot-driven? 

Both!

So tell me what your “this or that” would be? Do you have a favorite color for books? Do you use your library? Let me know.

Review: Kingdom of the Wicked

  • Author: Kerri Maniscalco
  • Hardcover : 448 pages
  • Publisher : jimmy patterson
  • Date: October 27, 2020
  • Twitter Instagram

    I received an e-arc from Netgalley and publisher for an honest review! Thank you!

    Summary:
    Two sisters.
    One brutal murder.
    A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…And an intoxicating romance.


    Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

    Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is at is seems…

    My Review:
    Oh my gosh this book, I could not stop reading. I have read Kerri Maniscalco books before and this one met my expectations. This one was filled with adventure, action and magic! Plus the cover is just perfect for it. I have to buy it. Yup I will buy it.

    The summary is listed up above. I am not going to repeat it. I just want to express how I felt and what jumped out at me while reading this amazing story.

    The beginning was a little slow but gave me a background on Emilia and her sister. I enjoyed the stories that Emila’s grandmother passed down to her and her sister tied to magic, witches and demons. As I continued to read on and on waiting for the book to kick up some action, I eventually got my wish! I was hooked! I could literally feel Emilia’s emotions in everything from being innocent, to sadness, to revenge, to being bold, to feeling lust and desire, and feeling strength to kick butt! It was awesome, so awesome. I wanted to know what was going to happen next for Emilia with each page I turned. There were twists and turns that kept my attention. I could not stop reading it.

    Emilia, she goes on adventure to find her sister’s killer which ends up having lots of things happening. One heck of a roller-coaster! You should have seen me turning the pages to wanting to know. Now some of the creatures that show up in this story are pretty freaky. I could picture them appearing before my eyes and I would be running away unless I had power to take them down. (I can dream can’t I?) Some of the other characters in this story are related to magic such as Wrath and his brothers. My my..the story gets more interesting!

    Wrath shows up. Damn! The way he and Emilia just talk just sends sparks. Anyone else feel that? These two just connected. I cannot explain it. Maybe it’s enemies to friend thing to sweet on each other thing? I do not know. I thought at first they were just using each other, but my hunch told me there could be more? I could be wrong. The way the story ended, it could go either way.

    Anyways, the way Wrath conducted himself was interesting because he did come across as a demon and yet was particular about clothes. He is a clothes snob? I loved that! Will he be particular about clothes in the next book? I was still trying to figure him out and is still trying to figure him out. What was his next move?

    I have to wait for the next book. I want it now. Anyone else feel that way? What did you think of this story when you read it? Would you want to be Emilia? If you read the book, do you think her decision at the end was worth it?

    FYI: the mention of food in the book sounded soooo yummy while I was reading it. I actually craved for Italian food. Maybe I should order some take out one day.

    Can’t wait to read your comments!