Hey everyone! Today it’s time for another Movie Monday. Movie Monday is a feature on my blog where I compare and discuss books and their movie or television adaptation!
Today I’m discussing the 2018 Little Women mini-series from Masterpiece Theater.
Hey everyone! To celebrate the recent release of Tied to Deceit by debut novelist, Neena H. Brar, I’m reviewing the book for my stop on the blog tour!
Title: Tied to Deceit by Neena H. Brar
Pages: 328
Genres: Mystery
Published by: Penguide (Aug. 4th, 2018)
Summary
On a drizzly August morning, the inhabitants of the hill town of Sanover, Himachal Pradesh, wake up to the shocking news of the murder of the exquisite, secretive, malicious, and thoroughly immoral Devika Singh.
As Superintendent of Police Vishwanath Sharma begins to sift through the hidden secrets of Devika Singh’s life, it becomes evident that everyone who knew her seems to have a clear-cut motive for killing her.
Faced with the investigation of a crime that appears to have as many suspects as there are motives, Vishwanath Sharma probes the sinister web spun around a tangle of lies and deception.
Praise for Tied to Deceit:
“A remarkable whodunit that’s as sharp as it is concise.
Brar enhances her taut murder mystery with an engaging setting that effectively incorporates the local culture. The smart, believable denouement will have readers looking forward to Brar’s next endeavor.”
-Kirkus Reviews
“A literary mystery saga that includes far more depth and psychological and cultural insights than your typical murder mystery’s scenario.”
-D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review
What I Thought
When I first read the synopsis for Tied to Deceit, I was instantly intrigued! I love a good mystery, and this one looked like it would not disappoint.
Hello! Today I’m going to share with you all the classic books I hope to read during the month of August for the #ClassicsAThon, hosted by Lucy Powrie, AKA, Lucy The Reader! This is a super chill readathon, and it started August 1st, and goes throughout the entire month of August, ending on the 31st. I’m jumping in a few days late, but that’s okay, I’m going with it! The goal of the readathon is simply to read as much, or as little, classic literature as you want.
I’m sure I won’t get to all the books on my TBR, especially since I have other, non-classic books that I hope to read this month as well, but it would be really nice if I was able to read as many of them as I can. I also think the #ClassicsAThon will really compliment my own #2018ClassicsChallenge, and help cross off a few more books!
So, without further ado, here’s all the classic books I want to read this month:
The Count of Monte Cristo
I’ve been reading The Count of Monte Cristo off and on all summer. One of my summer goals was to read a large classic, and with over 1,000 pages, this book has been doing its job! That being said, I’m only on chapter 20, so I still have quite a while to go. While I don’t know if I’ll be able to actually finish the entire book this month, I’d really like to get a good chunk of it read!
The Trees
I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about this book. I found out about The Trees from my grandma, and it’s supposed to be really good. It takes place in Ohio at the end of the 18th century, and from what I’ve gathered, it’s a bit of an Ohioan classic. Since I live in Ohio, I thought I’d give it a read!
Elsie’s Holiday at Roselands
This series is considered a Christian classic, but it’s also a bit controversial. It was written back when slavery was still acceptable, and so, there are some derogatory comments and abusive actions in this book. That being said, the series was rewritten and revised in the early 2000’s and that series was one of my favorites when I was growing up. Now that I’m older, I’m curious about the original series though, and I’ve started reading it. Elsie’s Holiday at Roselands is book 2 in the series!
Anne of Ingleside
Many of you know my love for Anne! So, it’s no surprise that I would want to add a book from this series on my TBR. I’ve been hesitant to read the rest of the Anne series for the simple fact that I love these books so much I don’t wan them to end. That being said, I still really want to finish the series. So, I’ve decided it’s time to continue on!
Rebecca
I can’t even tell you how many wonderful things I’ve heard about Rebecca! This book sounds so intriguing, and it is one that has been on my TBR for so long now. I am so excited to read this book!
And there you have it! That’s my TBR for the #ClassicsAThon! Like I said, I probably won’t get these all read, but I’m hoping to get a good amount of reading done this month, so we shall see.
Let me know if you’re participating in this readathon, and if you are, what’s on your TBR? Even if you’re not participating this time around, share with me your favorite classic book in the comments!
Thanks for reading!
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Title: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett
Pages: 432
Genres: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Published by: Simon Pulse (April 3rd, 2018)
Summary
Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best friends-turned-best enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern day, Californian version of the Montagues and Capulets.
But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.
What could go wrong?
With no one but each other for company, Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to hash out their issues via witty jabs and insults as they try to make their way to safety. But fighting each other while also fighting off the forces of nature makes getting out of the woods in one piece less and less likely.
And as the two travel deeper into Northern California’s rugged backcountry, secrets and hidden feelings surface. But can Zorie and Lennon’s rekindled connection survive out in the real world? Or was it just a result of the fresh forest air and the magic of the twinkling stars?
What I Thought
I’d been seeing quite a bit of buzz about Starry Eyes, so I knew it would only be a matter of time before I picked it up. Well, I finally picked it up from the library a couple weeks ago for Bookshelf Tee’s Book Club July pick, and I am so glad I did!
Can you guys even believe that it is August?! Summer is flying by! We still have a month left, though, so I’m going to appreciate it and soak up every second of summer that I can.
Altogether, I read six books in July!
BOOKS READ
– Illusion by Nadette Rae Rodgers (ebook) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (reread) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– The Blood Race by K. A. Emmons (ebook) \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– After the Storm (Heartland #2) by Lauren Brooke \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
– Breaking Free (Heartland #3) by Lauren Brooke \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STANDOUT BOOK OF THE MONTH
I have to go with Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett. This book was so fun, adventurous, and romantic. It made a great summer read, and made me really want to go camping!
BOOKS REVIEWED
Save the Date by Morgan Matson \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Borrowers by Mary Norton \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Goldie Vance Vol. 1 by Hope Larson \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Blood Race by K. A. Emmons \\ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BOOK HAUL
I received a copy of The Orphan’s Wish by Melanie Dickerson as part of the Just Reads Publicity Tour!
MISCELLANEOUS
Here’s all the TTT’s I participated in during the month of July:
- Top Ten Books I’ve Read in 2018 (So Far!)
- Favorite Novellas/Short Stories
- Books That Bring Back Memories
- Books That Lived Up to Their Hype
This month I only had one Waiting on Wednesday to share with you guys:
I was also a part of the Worlds Beneath Blog Tour in July!
Overall, it was a bit of a quieter blogging month, but I still managed to post quite a bit and keep up a little bit of a posting schedule, and so, I am content. Also, compared to last July’s stats, I received over double the amount of views and visitors and over three times the amount of likes and comments. So, I am celebrating how far The Calico Books has come since last year!
Here’s to a really great August!
Thanks for reading!
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It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! This week’s topic is:
BOOKS THAT LIVED UP TO THE HYPE
You know those books that everyone just loves so much, you don’t know how you could possibly love it as much as everyone else seems to? I’m reading one right now (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and had this been next week’s topic, let me just say, this book might have been on it!), and while it’s super intimidating to start books like that, sometimes they actually do live up to the hype. Also, while I usually explain each of my choices, I’ve decided just to list the books, because otherwise I’d be saying the same thing for every choice: “I’d heard so many great things about this book that I didn’t think I would be able to enjoy it as much as everyone else. But guess what, I did!” lol
So, here’s 10 books that did just that for me!
Let me know about some books that lived up to their hype for you!
Thanks for reading!
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Hello! Today is my stop for the Worlds Beneath blog tour! Worlds Beneath is book 2 in The Blood Race series, which was released on July 1st. To celebrate, I’ll be sharing my review of book #1, The Blood Race, as well giving you the chance to enter to a win a signed, paperback copy of it!
Alright, let’s get this party started!
Title: The Blood Race (The Blood Race #1) by K. A. Emmons
Pages: 318
Genres: YA, Fantasy/Sci-fi
Published by: Self-published (July 27th, 2017)
Summary
I’ve been running from my past for one hundred years. And I’m still just a teenager.
I was selected by my teacher, Sensei, to train in The Dimension: a secret place of refuge for the ‘anomalies’ of past, present, and future earth. Here I would learn to connect to my ‘warrior within’ as Sensei calls it – to channel energy orbs, commute between realms, and even shape-shift into an alternate form. But never did I guess that my training would include taking on an anomaly student of my own: a loose cannon of a college guy named Ion.
Late one evening, I invite him over to Sensei’s house for a little chat; one that will turn his life upside-down. Shoving him into the broom closet turned portal, I drag Ion into the Dimension, opening his eyes to his true homeland: a realm of anomalies. His kin.
As we train to become Protectors of future Earth, battling each other as well as our own demons, I begin to realize that there’s more to Ion than I originally thought: a darkness he’s spent his life running from. And beyond that, a looming threat hidden in plain sight – something that could destroy me, him, and the future of Earth.
The Blood Race is K.A. Emmons’ debut novel, and the first book in a riveting and fresh YA sci-fi/fantasy thriller series. Pick up your copy of The Blood Race today!
What I Thought
*I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! A huge thank you to author and Livy Lynn Blog Tours!*
Going into this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. When it comes to sci-fi/fantasy novels, I sometimes struggle to connect to the story, and often get confused. I’ll be honest, I was hesitant to even read this book because of that. The synopsis just kept drawing me in, though. I’m so glad I decided to give this book a chance!
It’s Top Ten Tuesday again! It’s a weekly bookish list hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! This week’s topic is:
Books That Bring Back Memories
This week’s topic was so unique and intriguing! The books for this week are ones with very specific memories attached to reading them. Some of these memories are meaningful, while others are completely random, yet, I still have strong memories attached.
Junie B. Jones Has A Peep in her Pocket
I received Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket for my 6th birthday. It was the first chapter book I ever remember getting, and I was SO excited. I have a super distinct memory of unwrapping this gift and then, later that day, reading the first chapter of it in my sister’s room.
The Clue in the Old Album
The Clue in the Old Album was the first Nancy Drew book I ever read. I have a super specific memory of reading this book while driving to a Christmas tree festival we go to every year. At the part of the book I was at, Nancy was at a formal concert, and then, when we walked into the Christmas tree festival, there was also a little concert going on. This memory doesn’t seem very significant, but for some reason, to this day, I still always think about that scene in The Clue in the Old Album every year I go to the Christmas tree festival.
The Diviners
Okay, so I read The Diviners a couple years back when I was looking for a spooky, October read. Well, this one definitely delivered. So, one night, I was reading this book, while the rest of the house was asleep (bad move, Theresa, bad move…), and I got to a really creepy part of the book, in which the bad guy was whistling. Well, I had my window open a crack and what do I hear?! Someone walking down the street, whistling!! 😭😭😭 It was probably almost midnight! Why was some random person walking down my street whistling?! After that, I was traumatized and never read this book at night again.
Twilight
My grandparents bought me Twilight in the summer of 2008, just because they were at the bookstore and knew how much I loved to read. One of the employees there recommended Twilight to them as a book I might like. At the time, I was a lot less aware of which books were popular, and I had never heard of it before, but I was so excited and intrigued! My sister was also really obsessed with I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab for Cutie at the time. So, I have really vivid memories of sitting on my back porch and reading huge chunks of this book in one sitting, because I just couldn’t get enough, while that song was playing in the other room. 😂 It still reminds me of Twilight to this day!
Since You’ve Been Gone
Since You’ve Been Gone brings back such fun and summer-y memories for me. It was the first Morgan Matson book I ever read, and I remember checking it out from the library just in time for summer vacation. I finished reading it while waiting for a parade to start, and I just remember feeling so in the prime of summer while reading this book.
That wraps up this week’s Top Ten Tuesday. It was only a Top Five this week, but that’s because I wanted to stick with books that featured memories that really meant something to me.
What are some books that you’ve read that bring back strong memories?
Thanks for reading!
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Title: Goldie Vance Vol. 1 by Hope Larson
Pages: 112
Genres: Graphic Novel, Mystery, YA
Published by: BOOM! Box (Oct. 11th, 2016)
Summary
GOLDIE VANCE IS ON THE CASE
Sixteen-year-old Marigold “Goldie” Vance has an insatiable curiosity. She lives at a Florida resort with her dad, who manages the place, and it’s her dream to one day be the hotel’s in-house detective. When Walter, the current detective, encounters a case he can’t crack, together they utilize her smarts, skills, and connections to solve the mystery…even if it means getting into a drag race, solving puzzles, or chasing a helicopter to do it!
What I Thought
I discovered this book on Hoopla Digital, and after looking it up on Goodreads and seeing all the praise it received, I had to check it out. I’m so glad I did, too, because this book is adorable and really is just as good as everyone promised!
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:
Imposters
RELEASING SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2018
Set in the Uglies future, a decade after Tally’s revolution has changed everything. As she once said, “Freedom has a way of destroying things.” Impostors is about dealing with the consequences of ending the Pretty Regime. The story starts in a city where things did not work out well. Bad people are in charge. But we also will travel to other cities where things aren’t all bad. This new series is about all the expressions of human nature that popped up after more than ten years of social upheaval.
Tally is a character in the world. But she’s not a point-of-view character (in the first book, anyway). She’s more like a famous person in the background.
The new installment follows a girl named Frey, who’s been raised from birth to pretend to be someone else. She’s a body double. A bodyguard. An impostor! It’s about the roles that our parents and society force upon us, and how we fight to create our own identities, to invent selves that really belongs to us.
Y’all I am SO excited for this book! I love the Uglies series so much. It was one of the first dystopians I ever read, I and just absolutely fell in love with the world and its characters in this series. I’m so excited to meet Frey, and see what has been going on in this world since we last saw Tally!
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the calico books 