Category: Books/Writing

Nov 04

Sunday Post #22 – Family Drama

Hey everyone! Back with another Sunday Post update, via Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I’m patterning mine off of Kimberly’s, at least for now. Maybe one day I’ll get creative and make my own graphics!

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Life Update

Well. Remember a few weeks ago I said my dad and I seemed to be patching up our relationship? Scratch that. This weekend he told me that, until I agree to have a relationship with my mother (something I tried for years to do, but eventually realized through A LOT of emotional and mental work wasn’t healthy for me as she is a classic narcissist, user and manipulator), he will not have one with me either. Really didn’t see that coming, and I would bet my bottom dollar she had something to do with it, but okay. Whatever. Still, it was a huge emotional and mental hit and I am trying my best not to feel devastated. Reminding myself that I have an amazing family, one that might not be related to me by blood but with whom I have ties of shared experience and beliefs that are (obviously) much stronger than any made by DNA.

Oh, I was also in a car accident this week. My fault, as I rear-ended someone. No one was hurt beyond a little soreness, but my Subaru Forester sustained some damage (that’s what happens when you hit a Nissan Titan that’s twice your vehicle’s size, I guess), so we’re also dealing with all that. Meh.

Also, NaNoWriMo started! I’m writing a story in a completely different genre than my usual this year. Also writing under a pen name, so I’m not linking my profile here – but good luck to everyone!

I have, obviously, somewhat fallen off the blogging bandwagon in the last week! I’ll be trying my best to get back at it this week, but due to the weird headspace going on right now…not a whole lot of promises. 🙁

Weekly Dose of Adorableness

My loves. These boys are my heart.

Next Week on the Blog

Around the Blogosphere

A library patron in North Carolina brought a BAG OF SNAKES into the library. I actually like snakes, but IN A BAG?!? IN THE LIBRARY?!?! There are not enough exclamation points…
Book Riot talks about “library tourism,” which definitely needs to be a thing and I am so here for it.
This debut YA novel got a 7-figure book deal, and for once I’m actually still eager to read the book!

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Oct 27

A Ghost of a Chance – Book Blitz!

Lizzy Book Tours, Books/Writing 0

I was so excited by this book’s description I pre-ordered it!

A Ghost of a Chance
Debbie Cassidy
(The Nightwatch #1)
Publication date: October 22nd 2019
Genres: Urban Fantasy

They say the dead don’t speak. That’s a lie. They speak to Kat Justice, but most of the time, she chooses not to hear them.

I’m a Nightwatch agent, a nightblood charged with enforcing the supernatural laws. Humans can’t know the shit that goes bump in the night is real. It’s sweaty, tough work, with crappy pay, but I love it.

Things would be perfect if not for my secret.

Pureblood Nightbloods can’t see or hear the dead. The fact that I can exposes my mixed breeding. I’m not meant to exist, and if the council find out about my secret it’s the executioners block for me.

Keeping a lid on my ghost whisperer ability is a must.

So, when my gramps orders me to head to the arse end of nowhere, a nowhere that just happens to be the most haunted place on the bloody map, I’m a little confused.

This transfer doesn’t jive with trying to keep the ghost chat to a minimum.

But with my golem partner and gargoyle companion in tow, I’m sure I can figure out why I’ve been sent to this weird coastal town. I mean, they even have a ghost bar.

You’d think the local souls would be eager to chew my ear off, right? Wrong.

For the first time in forever, the dead aren’t talking.

Now I need to know why…

A kick ass Urban Fantasy Adventure filled with fey, demons, vampires, gargoyles and golems.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

Author Bio:

Debbie Cassidy lives in England, Bedfordshire, with her three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuits are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Obsessed with building new worlds and reading about them, she spends her spare time daydreaming and conversing with the characters in her head – in a totally non psychotic way of course. She writes Urban Fantasy, Fantasy and Reverse Harem Fantasy. All her books contain plenty of action, romance and twisty plots.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads

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Oct 16

Can’t Wait Wednesday #23 – A Murderous Relation

Lizzy Books/Writing 0

I’m joining in the fun with a Can’t-Wait Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Usually the books are ones yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Can’t Wait Wednesday #23 – A Murderous Relation

A Murderous Relation (Veronica Speedwell, #5) by Deanna Raybourn
Published by Berkley on March 10, 2020
Pages: 320

, Buy on Amazon

Veronica Speedwell navigates a dark world of scandal and murder in this new adventure from New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Veronica Speedwell and her natural historian colleague Stoker are asked by Lady Wellingtonia Beauclerk to help with a potential scandal so explosive it threatens to rock the monarchy. Prince Albert Victor is a regular visitor to the most exclusive private club in London, known as the Club de l'Etoile, and the proprietess, Madame Aurore, has received an expensive gift that can be traced back to the prince. Lady Wellie would like Veronica and Stoker to retrieve the jewel from the club before scandal can break.

Worse yet, London is gripped by hysteria in the autumn of 1888, terrorized by what would become the most notorious and elusive serial killer in history, Jack the Ripper--and Lady Wellie suspects the prince may be responsible.

Veronica and Stoker reluctantly agree to go undercover at Madame Aurore's high class brothel, where another body soon turns up. Many secrets are swirling around Veronica and the royal family--and it's up to Veronica and Stoker to find the truth, before it's too late for all of them.

I’m actually caught up with this series now!! I am so so so excited for the fifth book. Things actually seemed to HAPPENING in the last one and OMG I simply can’t wait! Deanna recently announced that she’s signed a contract for books six and seven as well, so I am even more stoked. Hehe. If you enjoy historical fiction and mystery I highly recommend this series. You can read my reviews of books one, two, three, and four here and on GoodReads!

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Oct 09

Can’t Wait Wednesday #22 – Fireborne

Lizzy Books/Writing 0

Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle, #1) by Rosaria Munda
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers on October 15, 2019
Pages: 448

, Buy on Amazon

Game of Thrones meets Red Rising in a debut young adult fantasy that's full of rivalry, romance... and dragons.

Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone—even the lowborn—a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders.

Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn’t be more different. Annie’s lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, while Lee’s aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet.

But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.

With war on the horizon and his relationship with Annie changing fast, Lee must choose to kill the only family he has left or to betray everything he’s come to believe in. And Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs.

From debut author Rosaria Munda comes a gripping adventure that calls into question which matters most: the family you were born into, or the one you’ve chosen.

Oh. My. God. This book sounds AMAZING. I can’t even put into words why, but I have it coming as my Book of the Month pick for October and just…

Is anyone else as excited as I am??

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Oct 06

Sunday Post #20 – Milestones and Busy-ness

Lizzy Books/Writing, Life 0

Life Update

What a week! School was pretty much normal, but my grandmother was admitted to the hospital on Thursday for a procedure – which was “routine,” but at 83 years of age few things are completely routine. My grandmother is very much loved and about 15 members of my extended family ended up in the waiting room while the procedure was being performed. I love my family, large crowds of them packed together, not so much. Also, my dad showed up (haven’t spoken to my parents in almost two years because of…THINGS that happened), and he and I were able to have a bit of a heart to heart and put at least a few things straight between us. I’ve missed my dad, and have high hopes that maybe we can at least have a semi-communicative relationship now.

All that caused a SHIT TON of emotional exhaustion, which makes me feel physically exhausted as well. Thankfully my grandma is also okay and back home now.

OH! I almost forgot. This happened:

It kind of snuck up on me! I was really kind of shocked when I got the notification.

I’ve whizzed through a ton of novellas recently, so that’s what really pushed me over. I’m slightly tempted to raise it (again, my original goal was 52 books this year), but I don’t know. There’s just less than three months left in the year, maybe I shouldn’t push my luck.

Weekly Dose of Adorableness

Throwback! I *think* this was the morning after the first night Samson slept on the bed with us. Where he has slept every night since, even though he weighs almost 100 lbs more. #noroomformom #weneedakingsizebed

Last Week on Blog

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) – urban fantasy/paranormal review
Can’t Wait Wednesday #21 – The Silvered Serpents
October 2019 New Book Releases
Naughty in Nice (Her Royal Spyness #5) – cozy historical mystery review

Next Week on the Blog

Magnetic – reverse harem, urban fantasy, paranormal review
Can’t Wait Wednesday
The Twelve Clues at Christmas (Her Royal Spyness #6)

Around the Blogosphere

One of my favorite books turned 10 years old this week! If you haven’t read Soulless, by Gail Carriger, you are seriously missing out.
Oh look, more censorship – the Guardian reports that Turkey has decided to partially ban the sale of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, meaning it can only be sold to adults and has to be hidden from view in stores.
The October 2019 Discussion Challenge post is up, hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction. I’m thinking of trying to start posting more discussion type posts.

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Oct 02

Can’t Wait Wednesday #21 – The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2)

Lizzy Books/Writing 0

Can’t Wait Wednesday #21 – The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2)

The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves, #2) by Roshani Chokshi
Published by Wednesday Books on February 4, 2020
Pages: 416

, Buy on Amazon

Returning to the dark and glamorous world of her New York Times instant bestseller, The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi dazzles us with another riveting tale as full of mystery and danger as ever.

They are each other’s fiercest love, greatest danger, and only hope.

Séverin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost ― one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Séverin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God.

Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into icy heart of Russia where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all.

As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined.

A tale of love and betrayal as the crew risks their lives for one last job.

I absolutely loved The Gilded Wolves when I read it earlier this year, and am so so SO excited for the next installment of this trilogy! It’s killing me to wait until February but I didn’t even bother requesting an ARC because 1) I think it’s going to be super popular and I’m a rather small blogger, and 2) ARCs of highly anticipated books tend to stress me out in a major way. Yes, I know, I’m weird. Also, I can’t wait for the ACTUAL cover to be released! Apparently this is just a placeholder. I really hope it matches the first one in some spectacular way…

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Oct 01

October 2019 New Releases

Lizzy Books/Writing 0

Welcome to the October 2019 new releases list, per moi, and the books I’m most excited about. The top part of this list is just, as always, the books I have pre-ordered, it is by no means an exhaustive list of all the books being published this month…just the ones I absolutely couldn’t live without! I did include a secondary list this month because I didn’t pre-order as many books as I wanted to for October…I’m trying to be good to my wallet. There are just SO MANY good ones coming out this month! And I know I’m missing quite a few…if you want to see the top 200 for October according to GoodReads adds click here.

All covers link to GoodReads!

Pre-Orders

Not Pre-Ordered But Fingers Crossed My Library Gets Them Quickly

Some other October Release lists you might enjoy:

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Sep 29

Sunday Post #19 – Hello, October!

Lizzy Books/Writing, Life 0

Life Update

This week I have felt more normal, yay! Still low energy and coughing but not quite as much like I’m at death’s door, so that’s been awesome. I also got some reading done, and some blog posts, and a friend and I took Saturday and went to the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Festival, which was awesome and also WAY too hot for the end of September (yes, in another side of my life, I’m a fiber/yarn/fabric geek).

It WOULD be really great if we could get some fall-like weather here in Virginia. It’s been miserably hot, and dry, and this coming week is supposed to be in the 90s for at least 3 days. WAAAAH!!! I’m planning to pull out my fall decorations tomorrow, maybe that will convince the weather gods to send some cool breezes our way…

Weekly Dose of Adorableness

My two babies, hanging out together. A rare sighting, since usually they’re wrestling.

Last Week on Blog

Covers link to GoodReads, descriptions to my reviews!

Pawsitively Poisonous – cozy paranormal mystery review – 3 stars
House of Salt and Sorrows – eARC YA fantasy/horror review – 2.5 stars
Can’t Wait Wednesday #20 – War Girls

Next Week on the Blog

Some backlist titles this week!

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) – urban fantasy
Naughty in Nice (Her Royal Spyness #5) – cozy historical mystery
October 2019 New Releases – this month is a DOOZY for publishing! At least of books that appeal to me.
Can’t Wait Wednesday

Around the Blogosphere

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books debuted a bookfinder page that is AWESOME, especially for romance readers.
New York’s newest public library in Queens cost $40M and it looks amazing, can we invent transporters already? I want to visit but have no desire to drive in New York traffic again any time soon.
Annemieke at A Dance With Books wrote about trigger warnings and put together a great list of some you might want to consider when writing reviews and recommending books in general!

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Sep 25

Can’t Wait Wednesday #20 – War Girls

Lizzy Books/Writing 0

War Girls (War Girls, #1) by Tochi Onyebuchi
Published by Razorbill on October 15, 2019
Pages: 464
Buy on Amazon

Two sisters are torn apart by war and must fight their way back to each other in a futuristic, Black Panther–inspired Nigeria.

The year is 2172. Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of earth unlivable. Only the lucky ones have escaped to space colonies in the sky.

In a war-torn Nigeria, battles are fought using flying, deadly mechs and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radiation-heavy climate. Across the nation, as the years-long civil war wages on, survival becomes the only way of life.

Two sisters, Onyii and Ify, dream of more. Their lives have been marked by violence and political unrest. Still, they dream of peace, of hope, of a future together.

And they're willing to fight an entire war to get there.

Acclaimed author Tochi Onyebuchi has written an immersive, action-packed, deeply personal novel perfect for fans of Nnedi Okorafor, Marie Lu, and Paolo Bacigalupi.

This book just sounds amazing. Especially for the representation. It’s set in an alternate version of Nigeria (as were the author’s previous books, which I haven’t read). I’ve preordered and am eagerly awaiting it! Comes out October 15, and you can read an excerpt from the first chapter here!

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Sep 22

Sunday Post #18 – Continuing On

Lizzy Books/Writing, Life 0

Life Update

I’ve been sick, and I feel like it’s ENTIRELY too early in the season to be sick. It’s not even officially fall yet! But after 10+ days of coughing my lungs out I went to the doctor and turns out I have/had bronchitis. I’m still coughing but no fever now, so yay? I’m soooo glad I went with only three classes this semester or I’m sure I would have absolutely collapsed trying to keep up. Husband has been sick too, though not as bad. Yay, go us. 😛

Had my first two exams this week. Not great taking them sick, but life goes on. I just might have needed a good stiff drink afterwards, though whiskey and honey would probably have been the better option. I generally settled for tea and honey and bed.

Weekly Dose of Adorableness

Throwback! They were so leetle but grew up so fast!

Last Week on Blog

I actually posted things! *gasp* All covers link to GoodReads, and titles to my review.

The Necromancer’s Bride – paranormal historical romance review –
The Wolf in the Whale – historical fantasy review

Next Week on the Blog

Beasts of the Frozen Sun – YA fantasy tour + review
House of Salt and Sorrows – YA fantasy review
Pawsitively Poisonous (Witch of Edgehill #1) – paranormal cozy mystery review
Can’t Wait Wednesday #20

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Pre-Orders

Not Pre-Ordered But Fingers Crossed My Library Gets Them Quickly

Some other October Release lists you might enjoy:

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