Can’t Wait Wednesday – WHISPER NETWORK by Chandler Baker

/36 Comments/by

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is WHISPER NETWORK by Chandler Baker.  This one caught my attention because it just seems so timely because of the Me Too movement and more and more women feeling empowered enough to fight back against men who behave inappropriately.  I also read on Netgalley that it has a humorous angle to it as well, which immediately brought to mind the old 9 to 5 movie with Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin.  (BTW – If you haven’t seen that movie, you are really missing out. It’s hilarious!)

 

WHISPER NETWORK by Chandler Baker

Publication Date:  July 2, 2019

 

From Goodreads:

Four women learn their boss (a man who’s always been surrounded by rumors about how he treats women) is next in line to be CEO—what will happen when they decide enough is enough?

Sloane, Ardie, Grace, and Rosalita are four women who have worked at Truviv, Inc., for years. The sudden death of Truviv’s CEO means their boss, Ames, will likely take over the entire company. Ames is a complicated man, a man they’ve all known for a long time, a man who’s always been surrounded by…whispers. Whispers that have always been ignored by those in charge. But the world has changed, and the women are watching Ames’s latest promotion differently. This time, they’ve decided enough is enough.

Sloane and her colleagues set in motion a catastrophic shift within every floor and department of the Truviv offices. All four women’s lives—as women, colleagues, mothers, wives, friends, even adversaries—will change dramatically as a result.

“If only you had listened to us,” they tell us on page one, “none of this would have happened.”

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Things That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book

/50 Comments/by

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Things That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book.  This was a pretty easy topic for me because I definitely have some “go-to” qualities that I always seem to gravitate towards when I’m looking for new books.  This of course is not an exhaustive list because let’s face it, as a book nerd, just about anything will at least make me pick up a book and give it a second look, lol.

 

* * * * *

10 Things That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book

 

1.  Kick Ass Heroine

I’m all about girl power, so it’s pretty much a guarantee that I’ll be interested in a book if it features a pretty epic heroine.

 

 

2.  Location, Location, Location

If a book is set in a city I love or in some place I’ve always wanted to visit, it’s going to automatically pique my interest.

 

 

3.  WWII

I love pretty much all historical fiction, but the books that are almost always guaranteed

to grab my attention are those that are set during WWII.

 

 

4.  Dual Timeline

I’m such a sucker for a book that features a dual timeline.

 

 

5. Retellings

If it’s a retelling, it’s going on my TBR, especially if it’s a retelling of one of my favorites like Beauty and the Beast.

 

 

6.  A Focus on Family and Friendships

I’m all for a heartwarming read about the importance of family and/or friendship.

 

 

7. Time Travel

I don’t know what it is about time travel that appeals to me so much, but it’s guaranteed to make me pick up a book.

 

 

 

8.  Pretty Covers.

I know, I know, never judge a book by its cover right?  But sometimes I totally do and if a cover is pretty, I automatically want to know more about the book.

 

 

 

9.  Books or Book Lovers are featured

If your book features book or book lovers, it’s basically written for me so of course I’m going to pick it up. 🙂

 

 

10.  Relatable and Realistic Romance

If you want to entice me to pick up a book that features a romance, make it something relatable and realistic like a first love,

a second chance romance, or even something like enemies to lovers.

 

* * * * *

 

What kinds of things are guaranteed to make you pick up a book?

Can’t Wait Wednesday – ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER by Hazel Prior

/30 Comments/by

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER by Hazel Prior.  The beautiful cover for this book caught my eye right away, but the story itself really appeals to me as well. It just sounds so sweet and Dan sounds like a character that I’m just going to love so much.

 

ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER by Hazel Prior

Publication Date:  August 6, 2019

 

From Netgalley:

A rich, heartwarming and charming debut novel that reminds us that sometimes you find love in the most unexpected places.

Dan Hollis lives a happy, solitary life carving exquisite Celtic harps in his barn in the countryside of the English moors. Here he can be himself, away from social situations that he doesn’t always get right or completely understand.

On the anniversary of her beloved father’s death, Ellie Jacobs takes a walk in the woods and comes across Dan’s barn. She is enchanted by his collection. Dan gives her a harp made of cherrywood to match her cherry socks. He stores it for her, ready for whenever she’d like to take lessons.

Ellie begins visiting Dan almost daily and quickly learns that he isn’t like other people. He makes her sandwiches precisely cut into triangles and repeatedly counts the (seventeen) steps of the wooden staircase to the upstairs practice room. Ellie soon realizes Dan isn’t just different; in many ways, his world is better, and he gives her a fresh perspective on her own life.

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Audiobooks to Try Even If You Think You Don’t Like Audiobooks

/56 Comments/by

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is audiobook freebie.  Now in year’s past, I’ll be honest — I probably would have skipped this topic because audiobooks have historically been a struggle for me.  I’d lose track of what I’m listening to because I was trying to listen to them while I was working or else I’d just zone out because the narration was too slow for me.  It always bummed me out because I loved the idea of audiobooks and everyone else I know seems to love them.  Well, this past year, something finally clicked with me and now I can’t get enough of them.  Instead of trying to listen to them while I’m at work, now I listen to them in the car, or while doing chores, or even in the evenings just before I’m ready to go to sleep.  I also changed up the genres I was trying on audio and found that contemporaries were the best fit overall for me.  Technology helped quite a bit too.  Now that I can get audiobooks as mp3 files, I can speed up the narration to 1.25x, which really helps keep me focused on what I’m listening to.

Below are ten audiobooks that I’ve really enjoyed this past year.  If you’re struggling to get into audiobooks, I’d definitely recommend giving any of these a try.  I thought that the stories themselves were very compelling and that the narration in each case really added so much to the stories.  I was an especially big fan of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The audio version just really helped make Evelyn seem larger than life.

 

* * * * *

10 Audiobooks to Try Even If You Think You Don’t Like Audiobooks

 

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid

GEEKERELLA by Ashley Poston

CRAZY RICH ASIANS by Kevin Kwan

WHAT IF IT’S US by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater

CATWOMAN: SOULSTEALER by Sarah J. Maas

I HAVE LOST MY WAY by Gayle Forman

LOVE & GELATO by Jenna Evans Welch

GIRL OUT OF WATER by Laura Silverman

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS by Agatha Christie

 

* * * * *

 

Do you enjoy audiobooks?  Have you listened to any of these?

Can’t Wait Wednesday – AURORA RISING by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

/38 Comments/by

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is AURORA RISING by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff. Yes! The dynamic writing duo behind The Illuminae Files is back with a new series!  The Illuminae Files is one of my favorite sci-fi series so I’m thrilled Kristoff and Kaufman are at it again.  The cast of characters in this new series sounds fantastic too.  I predict lots of action and adventure, with a heavy dose of snark and sarcasm, and I can’t wait!  I unfortunately already got rejected for an ARC, but thankfully May is just around the corner.

 

AURORA RISING by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Publication Date:  May 7, 2019

 

From Goodreads:

From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…

A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering

And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

They’re not the heroes we deserve. They’re just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday – Top 10 Books on My Reading List for Spring

/41 Comments/by

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Books On My Spring 2019 TBR.  I’ve got what I think will be a lot of great reads planned for this spring.  As I mentioned in my Weekly Update, I’ve hit a bit of a wall when it comes to reading fantasy.  To switch things up a bit, I’ll be reading primarily contemporaries this spring.  There’s one fantasy, one thriller, and one historical fiction on my list as well just so that I have some variety for my inner mood reader, but I’m mostly feeling the need right now for fun modern reads or maybe even some sweet, heartfelt reads that will make me cry.  Hopefully this list will fit the bill. 🙂

 

* * * * *

Top 10 Books on My Reading List for Spring

 

LOST ROSES by Martha Hall Kelly

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TRUE by Susan Kaplan Carlton

ONE SUMMER IN PARIS by Sarah Morgan

CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT by Brigid Kemmerer

RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE by Casey McQuiston

SOMETHING LIKE GRAVITY by Amber Smith

WE WERE KILLERS ONCE by Becky Masterson

THE UNHONEYMOONERS by Christina Lauren

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT SWEETIE by Sandhya Menon

DESCENDANT OF THE CRANE by Joan He

 

* * * * *

 

Are any of these books on your Spring TBR?

Can’t Wait Wednesday – THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK by Adrienne Young

/48 Comments/by

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK by Adrienne Young. The Girl the Sea Gave Back is a companion novel to Young’s Viking novel, Sky in the Deep, and it features one of my favorite characters from that novel, Halvard, 10 years after the events of Sky in the Deep.  I can’t wait to revisit Young’s Viking world and the main character of this new book sounds fantastic.  I’m looking forward to seeing how she and Halvard end up crossing paths and also if we’ll get to see any other characters from Sky in the Deep.

 

THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK by Adrienne Young

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

 

 

From Goodreads:

For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.

For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home.

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Standalone Books That Need a Sequel

/52 Comments/by

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Standalone Books That Need a Sequel.  I actually found this topic extremely difficult, mainly because so few of the books I read aren’t standalones.  I’m a huge series reader so I had to think long and hard to come up with ten books that met the criteria.  What all of my picks have in common is that they’re all contemporaries and they don’t all necessarily need a sequel.  It’s more a case of I became so attached to the characters in them that I’d love to be able to just check back in with them and see how they’re doing.

 

via GIPHY

* * * * *

 

10 Standalone Books That Need a Sequel

 

STARFISH by Akemi Dawn Bowman

FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell

FAR FROM THE TREE by Robin Benway

THE BEAUTY THAT REMAINS by Ashley Woodfolk

THE UPSIDE OF UNREQUITED by Becky Albertalli

WHAT IF IT’S US by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas

A QUIET KIND OF THUNDER by Sara Barnard

I HAVE LOST MY WAY by Gayle Forman

DEAR MARTIN by Nic Stone

 

* * * * *

What are some standalone books you’d love to read sequels for?

Can’t Wait Wednesday – LOVE FROM A TO Z by S.K. Ali

/32 Comments/by

 

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, which encourages fellow bloggers to spotlight upcoming releases that we’re excited about.  It is a meme that I have  loved participating in for over a year now, but as Jill is no longer actively posting, from now on I’ll just be linking to Can’t Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, which is a spinoff of the original WoW meme.

* * * * *

My selection for this week is LOVE FROM A TO Z by S.K. Ali.  I thought S.K. Ali’s debut Saints and Misfits was such an incredibly moving read.  I loved her writing style and the characters she brought to life, so I am really looking forward to seeing what her new book brings.  The cover is adorable, and just from the synopsis, I’m already rooting for Zayneb and Adam.

 

LOVE FROM A TO Z by S.K. Ali

Publication Date: May 7, 2019

 

From Goodreads:

A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together.

An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are.

But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry.

When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break.

Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her.

Then her path crosses with Adam’s.

Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam’s stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister.

Adam’s also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father.

Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals.

Until a marvel and an oddity occurs…

Marvel: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

Oddity: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

 * * * * *

 

I’d love to hear what upcoming book releases you’re waiting on this Wednesday? Leave me your link in the comments below and I’ll stop by and check out your CWW selection for this week. 🙂

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Fictional Characters I’d Like to Switch Places with for a Day

/38 Comments/by

 

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!

This week’s TTT topic is Characters I’d Like To Switch Places With.  I tweaked this topic a little, mainly just because I couldn’t think of any characters I’d want to permanently switch places with.  I could think of plenty of characters I’d love to switch places with for a day though, just to walk in their shoes for a bit, so to speak. And as you can tell from my list, apparently I just really want to be a badass, even if it’s just for a day, haha!

 

* * * * *

10 Fictional Characters I’d Like to Switch Places with for a Day

 

1. HERMIONE GRANGER from the Harry Potter series

Oh, to be as smart and quick witted as Hermione, even if it’s just for one day!

 

2. MINERVA MCGONAGALL, also from the Harry Potter series

There’s something about Professor McGonagal that just always makes me feel like it would be so cool to be her.

I think it’s that combination of being feared, revered, and yet still beloved by her students.

 

3. EMIKA CHEN from Warcross

I’d just love to be able to play in the Warcross Games. Plus, Emika’s hacking skills would be pretty great too.

 

4. ART3MIS from Ready Player One

Again, it’s a video game thing.  I’d just love to play in the Oasis for a day and be a total badass like Art3mis.

 

5. DIANA from Wonder Woman: Warbringer

I mean, seriously.  Who wouldn’t want to be a superhero for a day?

 

6. LILA BARD from the Shades of Magic trilogy

Pirate for a day?  Yes, please!

 

7. DAENERYS TARGARYEN from the A Song of Ice and Fire series

Again, just for a day and mainly because I want to fly on a dragon’s back and call myself the Mother of Dragons, lol.

 

8. NANCY DREW from the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories

This one is mainly for the nostalgia factor since she’s a childhood favorite.  And oh, to have her amazing detective skills.

 

9. ROBERT LANGDON from The Da Vinci Code

If I’m not being a badass for a day, I’m apparently drawn to characters who are intelligent and skilled at following clues

because I’d love to have Langdon’s ability to solve seemingly impossible puzzles, even just for a day.

 

10. JO MARCH from Little Women

Another childhood favorite, Jo is probably the only character I’d want to switch places with for more than a day,

simply because she becomes a writer, and oh what a dream come true that would be.

 

* * * * *

What characters would you like to trade places with for a day?  Do we share any?