It is Day 4 of Blogtober and my first official post for Blogoween! Today’s post is all about witches! This blog prompt was created by Kaleena at Reader Voracious in honor of Blogoween, so be sure to check out her favorite books about witches, too! 🧙🏼♀️
The original prompt was supposed to be about sharing five of your favorite books about witches. Well, when I went to write this post, I realized I had a lot more books about witches that I wanted to read than what I already had. So, I decided to switch things up and share five books about witches that are on my TBR!
Waiting on Wednesday/Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature, started by Breaking the Spine and continued by Wishful Endings, that puts the spotlight on upcoming releases!
This week’s pick is:
Every Breath
RELEASING OCTOBER 16th, 2018
In the romantic tradition of The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks returns with a story about a chance encounter that becomes a touchstone for two vastly different individuals — transcending decades, continents, and the bittersweet workings of fate.
Hope Anderson is at a crossroads. At thirty-six, she’s been dating her boyfriend, an orthopedic surgeon, for six years. With no wedding plans in sight, and her father recently diagnosed with ALS, she decides to use a week at her family’s cottage in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to ready the house for sale and mull over some difficult decisions about her future.
Tru Walls has never visited North Carolina but is summoned to Sunset Beach by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. A safari guide, born and raised in Zimbabwe, Tru hopes to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his mother’s early life and recapture memories lost with her death. When the two strangers cross paths, their connection is as electric as it is unfathomable . . . but in the immersive days that follow, their feelings for each other will give way to choices that pit family duty against personal happiness in devastating ways.
Illuminating life’s heartbreaking regrets and enduring hope, Every Breath explores the many facets of love that lay claim to our deepest loyalties — and asks the question, How long can a dream survive?
I am such a sucker for a good love story, and Nicholas Sparks’ new one sounds so good! It sounds like it is going to have a vibe similar to more of his classic books, and that makes me quite excited. I can already tell this book is going to make me cry, but I still cannot wait!
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Hey everyone! In honor of Blogtober and Blogoween, I’ve decided to do a little feature on my blog that I’m calling Blogtober Book Quotes. It’s very similar to what I did during Blogmas except, instead of Christmas quotes (obviously, lol), I’ll be sharing quotes that remind me of autumn and Halloween.
Today, I’m starting things off with such a classic, October quote from one of my favorite books, Anne of Green Gables!
October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard were royal crimson and the wild cherry trees along the lane put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, while the fields sunned themselves in aftermaths.
Anne reveled in the world of color about her.
“Oh, Marilla,” she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it? Look at these maple branches. Don’t they give you a thrill—several thrills? I’m going to decorate my room with them.”
~ LM Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
Don’t you just love the beauty of October?
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Hey everyone, and welcome to the first day of Blogtober! In case you missed my announcement, I’m participating in Blogtober and Blogoween, which means you can expect a new post from me every single day during the month of October.
To start things off, today I’m going to be sharing some of the books I hope to get through this month. I don’t typically have set, monthly TBR’s, but because it is October, and Halloween is just around the corner, I have several, festive books I really want to get through this month.
So, without further ado, here’s my October TBR:
And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich
I recently picked this book up from my library’s book sale, and was instantly intrigued by the synopsis. I hadn’t heard of this book before, but it sounds so spooky and mysterious – perfect for the month of October!
Hocus Pocus & The All-New Sequel by A. W. Jantha
Like many of you, I feel like Hocus Pocus is such a classic Halloween movie. When I found out about this book, I was so excited. This is going to be such a fun and festive book to read!
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
I discovered this book while watching Mel to the Any’s Instagram stories. She ended up loving this book, and hearing her talk about how good it was really made me want to read it! Small Spaces looks like it’s going to be such a fun and quick, spooky read!
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
I’ve totally been meaning to read this book for the past two Octobers, and I just end up never getting to it. My fingers are crossed that this will be the year I actually read this book! Also, how cool is the cover for this one?!
Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie
Hallowe’en Party is another book I keep meaning to read and then never get to. I love a good mystery, and I’ve actually really been in the mood for a mystery, so I’m hopeful this is the year I actually read this one!
And there you have it! I actually have hopes to read other books, too, especially during the Sbooktober Readathon, but these are the books I really hope to get to the most. So, please wish me good luck, and hopefully, I’ll be able to get to all of these and more! 🤞🏼
What are some of the books on YOUR October TBR? I’d love to know!
Thanks for reading!
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Hey everyone! Today, I’m so excited to officially announce that I’ll be participating in both Blogtober AND Blogoween this October. I admit, I feel a bit intimidated by all of this, but I really think this will be so fun, and I cannot wait for October to begin now!
Now, you may be wondering, What is Blogtober and Blogoween? Basically, both events are all about celebrating blogging, autumn, and Halloween the whole month of October.
For Blogtober, the goal is to post on your blog every single day during the month of October. There are no rules with what you’re supposed to post, and the posts don’t have to be autumnal or Halloween themed, however, they often are.
Blogoween is a new event hosted by Clo from Book Dragons 247 as well as several other lovely co-hosts. The goal for this event is to specifically post Halloween or autumnal themed, bookish posts in October. You can get the full details here. There are three levels to choose from:
Level 1 is when you post any 13 days in October.
Level 2 is consecutively posting Halloween/fall themed posts from October 24th – 31st.
Level 3 is posting every day!
I have been constantly going back and forth between level 1 and 3 for about a week now. I don’t know why y’all, but this decision has been weighing on me. 😂 That being said, I’ve decided to go with Level 1. Honestly, I know I will probably post more than just 13 days of Halloween/fall themed content, but for my first time doing Blogtober and Blogoween, I just felt a little intimidated to commit to only seasonally themed posts.
So, what can you expect from The Calico Books this October? Lots of fun and festive content! Since Blogtober and Blogoween pretty much have the same, basic idea, I won’t be writing two separate posts each day. I’ll just consider each Halloween/fall post for both of them. That being said, I will have a few non-festive posts as well (such as Top Ten Tuesday and Waiting on Wednesday).
I’m really looking forward to this, and I hope you are all looking forward to reading it, and you won’t just get sick of me posting so much, haha! 😉
Please wish me luck for Blogtober/Blogoween, because I am going to need it! Also, let me know if you plan on participating.
Thanks for reading!
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Waiting on Wednesday/Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature, started by Breaking the Spine and continued by Wishful Endings, that puts the spotlight on upcoming releases!
This week’s pick is:
A MAP OF DAYS
RELEASING OCTOBER 2nd, 2018
The #1 bestselling series returns with a thrilling new story arc set in America!
Vintage photographs reveal the never-before-seen world of peculiar America with a stunning addition—full-color images.
Having defeated the monstrous threat that nearly destroyed the peculiar world, Jacob Portman is back where his story began, in Florida. Except now Miss Peregrine, Emma, and their peculiar friends are with him, and doing their best to blend in. But carefree days of beach visits and normalling lessons are soon interrupted by a discovery—a subterranean bunker that belonged to Jacob’s grandfather, Abe.
Clues to Abe’s double-life as a peculiar operative start to emerge, secrets long hidden in plain sight. And Jacob begins to learn about the dangerous legacy he has inherited—truths that were part of him long before he walked into Miss Peregrine’s time loop.
Now, the stakes are higher than ever as Jacob and his friends are thrust into the untamed landscape of American peculiardom—a world with few ymbrynes, or rules—that none of them understand. New wonders, and dangers, await in this brilliant next chapter for Miss Peregrine’s peculiar children. Their story is again illustrated throughout by haunting vintage photographs, but with a striking addition for this all-new, multi-era American adventure—full color.
Y’all, I am so excited for this book!! The Miss Peregrine series is one of my absolute favorites. I think this series is just so unique and well-written. So, when I found out about A Map of Days, I was so thrilled. I can’t wait to see where Ransom Riggs takes this series and it’s characters next!
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Hey everyone! Today on the blog, I’m going to be sharing with you all my thoughts about the poetry book Purple Kisses, as well as share how you can enter to win an e-copy! This is in celebration of the re-release of Purple Kisses, in honor of its new cover!
Title: Purple Kisses by Priya Prithviraj, illustrated by Niveditha Warrier
Pages: 23
Genre: Poetry, Art
Publisher: Linnet’s Wings Press (Dec. 31st, 2017)
Summary
Purple Kisses’ is a one-of-a-kind book of poetry written by Priya Prithviraj and illustrated by Niveditha Warrier.
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. A big thanks to Priya Prithviraj!*
Purple Kisses is probably the most unique book I’ve read all year! I don’t typically read a lot of poetry, but I have been getting into it more recently. So, when I was asked if I was interested in being a part of this tour, I just had to say yes. That being said, I didn’t know what to expect. With this book, it was about more than just reading it; it was an entire experience.
I do want to start by saying that there is only one poem in this book. Purple Kisses is not a poetry collection, it is simply a poem. At first, this surprised me a bit, because typically, poetry comes in a collection. However, the more I read (and reread) this poem, the more I decided that I liked the idea of it being one, individual poem. It allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the words, passion, and art that is found in this book without being distracted by what’s to come or what was already read.
The poem is short, but sweet. I could really feel the passion behind every single word. It is clear that the author put so much heart and soul into this book.
Another thing I loved, that I think really helped this book to stand out, was the art work. It is so gorgeous! The mixture of the colors and shapes perfectly capture the essence of Purple Kisses. Just like everything about this book, the artwork is so unique, and honestly I just loved looking at it.
Speaking about the new cover, I feel like it really shows readers what Purple Kisses is about. I love how minimalist the cover is, too. The simplicity, with the pop of color, was such a great choice for this book.
Overall, I really enjoyed Purple Kisses. My only complaint would be that I wish there was more! This book was over far too soon. That being said, I think that is a good problem to have. It shows just how well the author and illustrator did at capturing the excitement and wonder of love. I would recommend Purple Kisses to poetry fans as well as anyone who is looking for a short and unique read.
Purchase Purple Kisses here!
Add to Goodreads!
Enter to win an e-copy of Purple Kisses by clicking on the link below!
Purple Kisses Giveaway!
Priya Prithviraj writes poems which appear in journals such as Eastlit and the New Plains Review. She also writes about books, writing and publishing on her blog at priyaslitblog.com. Her book of illustrated poetry, ‘Purple Kisses’ is out now.
Follow Priya on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter!
Niveditha Warrier is a fine art photographer whose work has been published in international magazines like the International Contemporary Artists Magazine, Toer Magazine and White Crow Art Daily. Learn more about her at
nivedithawarrier.com.
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Hey everyone! Well, summer has officially come to a close, so I thought it was finally time to share with you all how my summer reading plans went. In the beginning of summer, I shared some of my reading goals. You can check out that post here.
Well, how did I do? Let’s find out:
1. READ AT LEAST 20 BOOKS | ✔
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day (which is what I count as my “summer reading”), I read exactly 20 books!
I actually really enjoyed reading them all, too. So, I’d say my summer reading was quite successful!
2. COMPLETE MY LIBRARY’S SUMMER READING PROGRAM | ✔
It’s no surprise to me that I finished my local library’s summer reading program. It’s something I do every year, and I always really enjoy. This year was no different!
3. READ A BIG CLASSIC | ✔
I still haven’t finished it yet, but I’ve started reading a “big classic,” and sometimes that’s the hardest part, in my opinion! After so many of you suggested it and told me how much you loved it, I decided to go with The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s definitely a big one though, so I’m really not surprised I haven’t finished yet, but I am really enjoying it!
4. PARTICIPATE IN A READATHON | ✔
I participated in the Cram-A-Thon for the first time this summer, and I actually did pretty great! I had so much fun, and ended up reading way more than I expected I would!
5. START A BOOKTUBE | ❌
I actually didn’t get around to starting a BookTube this summer. I attempted to a couple of times, but then something always came up, and I kept putting it off. I’d still love to make one someday, though!
6. READ MORE OF THE BOOKS I ALREADY OWN | ✔
This one’s kind of iffy, because about half of my summer reading was from books I already owned, and the other half were new releases or library books. That being said, I still feel like I picked up some books that had been on my TBR for quite a while now, and because of that, I’m saying I accomplished this goal!
7. POST CONSISTENTLY ON MY BLOG AND BOOKSTAGRAM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SUMMER | ✔
I actually think I did pretty well with my blogging and Bookstagram this summer, especially compared to how I did last year. I stayed quite consistent and actually posted pretty regularly on both platforms the entire summer. So, way to go me! 👏🏼
And that wraps up how my bookish goals went for Summer 2018! Overall, I did pretty amazing! I’m so happy with how my summer went, and that I was able to reach nearly all my goals. I cannot believe summer has come to a close now, but I’m looking forward to all the wonder that fall brings. Also, for the first time, I’ll be participating in #blogtober, so you can look forward to that!
I’d love to hear how your summer reading went! Be sure to share with me at least one bookish or non-bookish thing you’re proud of from this summer.
Thanks for reading!
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Title: Sweet Dreams (The Illusion Trilogy #3) by Nadette Rae Rodgers
Pages: 316
Genres: YA, Fantasy/Supernatural
Published by: Self-published (Sept. 15, 2018)
Summary
For years, Addison Smith wondered why she had such bizarre and frightening dreams.
In Illusion, the line between reality and the dream world began to blur, and Addison couldn’t tell what was real and what was just an illusion. Her world was turned upside down when the guy of her dreams, Zach Walker, literally tripped into her life.
The story continued in Echo, when Addison discovered that her family and the small town she grew up in had more secrets than she ever imagined. After graduation, she left on a journey in search of answers and healing.
Now, five years later, all of Addison’s dreams are coming true.
But when word of the infamous group of dreamers resurfaces, They threaten to turn Addison and Zach’s lives into a living nightmare.
With Mitch DeMize assembling a Dream Team to combat Them, and Addison travelling the world to find the other dreamers out there, Zach is dealing with a nightmare of his own.
In this final installment of The Illusion Trilogy, new secrets are brought to light, history repeats itself yet again, and the dreams begin to come to true.
Will Addison fall into the darkness that has taken the minds of so many dreamers before her?
When the odds are against them, will Addison and Zach get their happily ever after?
Will they get their sweet dreams?
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. A huge thank you to the author for sending me a copy!*
Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin. I loved this book so much! I discovered The Illusion Trilogy from Instagram a while ago, and when I finally got around to reading books 1 and 2, they were so much better than I even expected. I could not wait to read book three, Sweet Dreams. And let me just say, this book did not disappoint!
It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! This week’s topic is:
TOP TEN Books on My Fall TBR
Hello everyone! I apologize for being so quite on my blog this past week! September is always a busy month for me, and so my blogging and reading has slipped a bit these past few weeks. That being said, things are starting to be more manageable again, and my blogging should become more frequent again soon! 🎉
Alright, today I’m sharing with you ten of the books I hope to read this fall! My TBR is endless, so it was actually quite hard to narrow it down to ten, because I just want to read ALL the books.
So, without further ado, here’s my ten:
I’ve heard so many amazing things about The Miniaturist, and now with the new mini-series on PBS, I’m so excited to get to this book soon!
From what everyone tells me about this one, Greenwillow is such a delight to read! I checked this book out from the library a while back, and I’ve just kept renewing it. So, I really want to get to this one soon before I acquire a late fee! 🙈
Rebecca is another book I checked out from the library, so I really need to read this one ASAP! I’ve heard it’s such an incredible, gothic novel, and with it coming into fall, I think this one will make such a perfect read.
Okay, so if you celebrate Halloween, you know all about Hocus Pocus! It’s such a classic Halloween movie. So, when I found out about this book, I was super excited. This book is going to make such a great, Halloween read! 🎃
I keep meaning to read A Discovery of Witches, but then I always get distracted by other books and put it off. I’m really hoping to read it this fall, though. I think it’ll make another great, Halloween-y read. Plus, I saw the trailer for the TV show which really made me want to read this book even more!
Sunrise Cabin looks like such a fun and romantic story. Plus, it looks like it’s going to have a great, autumnal vibe, which is perfect for a fall TBR!
The Witch of Willow Hall sounds like such an intriguing and mysterious novel. I’m actually going to be participating in a blog tour for this book, later in October, so I am so pumped to read this one!
I love books about ballet, and Tiny Pretty Things has been on my TBR since it came out. So, when I found a copy at my library’s book sale for $0.25, I just had to get it! I’m so excited to read this book very soon!
I just have to laugh/cry to myself a little that The Sweet Far Thing is still on my TBR. It’s been on my TBR for SO long now, it’s almost embarrassing. Will I finally read it?!
I’ve been meaning to read One of Us is Lying since it was first released. I have a copy and everything, but for some reason, I just haven’t picked it up yet. So, I’m really hoping to actually get to this one soon!
That wraps up this week’s Top Ten Tuesday! Here’s hoping I actually get to all of these books this fall. Knowing me, I won’t, but I’m going to try! 😆
What books are on your fall TBR?
Thanks for reading!
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the calico books 