Category: Bookish

Stacking The Shelves

Stacking the Shelves: 23 February 2019

the reading chemist11 Comments

Stacking The Shelves is hosted at Tynga’s Reviews & Reading Reality. It’s about sharing books that you are adding to your shelves regardless if they are virtual or physical. This means that you can include books you buy in a store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and ebooks!

Book loaned from a friend

I’ve been hearing such rave reviews about Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens since this book came out. However, it’s outside of my preferred genres that I typically read, so I wanted to borrow it from the library before I purchased it. I’ve been on the library wait list for MONTHS, and I am still 50 something away from getting this book! My friend surprised me this week with her copy to borrow!!! I can’t wait to see if this book lives up to the hype.

NetGalley Approval

I screamed when I read that I was approved for Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout!!! I am a huge fan of hers. I loved her Half-blood (demigod) series and the Lux series. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for gargoyles!!

Physical books

So I don’t know if everyone saw this sale last Saturday, but Target had buy two books get one free on special. All those books came in this week! I already read and loved both The Cruel Prince and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein but needed this for my shelves. I can’t wait to start reading books by Jay Kristoff because the man is a legend. I also had to get a psychological thriller because that’s just how I roll.

Also, my February Books for Coffee subscription from The Book Drop came in! I am one of their Brand Ambassadors (If you ever want to try their subscription, use my code CHEMIST to get 10% off your first order). I’m really looking forward to reading The Drowning by J.P. Smith. The Book Drop does an amazing job of hand curating the subscriptions (they are an independent bookstore), so this thriller will surely not disappoint!

Have you added any of these books to your shelves recently? What did you add this week?

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays: 20 February 2019

the reading chemist14 Comments

Hey bookworms!! It’s Wednesday! That means it’s time for another WWW Wednesday post hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Currently Reading

  • Little Darlings by Melanie Golding (ARC) – I’m over 100 pages into this one, and it is deliciously creepy dark fantasy. The story revolves around the idea of newborns being swapped with changelings.
  • The Everlasting Rose by Dhionelle Clayton (eARC) – I’ve been dying for this sequel! I am loving every minute of it. Camille is my spirit animal!!!

Recently Finished Reading

  • The Housewife by Valerie Keogh (eARC) – I’m such a sucker for psychological thrillers. This one definitely took me by surprise. This will be featured on my blog next week as a part of Bookouture’s blog tour.
  • The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves (ARC) – OMFG. This. book. was. amazing!!!! I finished it within a span of 24 hours. My review will be up next month where I’ll basically be trying not to scream on the page to buy this book.

Up Next to Read

  • The Shadowverse by John-Clement Gallo – a sci-fi adventure featuring an alien takeover and a band of friends with new supernatural powers 🙂
  • The Girl of the Tower by Paula Ottoni – A dark Rapunzel retelling?! YES PLEASE!!!
WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays: 13 February 2019

the reading chemist26 Comments

Hey bookworms!! It’s Wednesday! That means it’s time for another WWW Wednesday post hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. 

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Currently Reading

  • The Housewife by Valerie Keogh (eARC) – I’m only a few chapters in, and I’m already asking myself WTF. This is gonna be good.
  • The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves (ARC) – This is my romance novel for Valentine’s Day! I read 160 pages in one sitting. Oh my heart this is so good!!!

Recently Finished Reading

  • A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer: This was a brilliantly executed adaptation of the Beauty and the Beast. I fell in love with the characters as well as the authors dual POV writing style. 5 stars.
  • Of Rioters and Royals by M.L. Greye: This story was a lot of fun. My review will be up later this week. This was an adventurous tale full of magic, plot twists, deceit, and love. 4 stars.
  • Wicked Saints by Emily Duncan (eARC): OMFG. This book left me shook (pardon the euphemism). I’m still recovering. I am not okay. 4.5 stars (review won’t be up until 02 April 2019)
  • The Bone Garden by Heather Kassner (ARC): Never underestimate middle grade! Irreelle’s story is incredibly heartbreaking. Don’t fret though, she discovers her inner strengths on magic filled adventure to save her friends. 5 stars.

Up Next to Read

  • Little Darlings by Melanie Golding (ARC) – Adult dark fantasy/horror. If I can’t sleep after this, y’all know why.
  • The Everlasting Rose by Dhionelle Clayton (eARC) – YA fantasy. Finally!!! The long awaited (by my terms) sequel to The Belles (one of my favorite 2018 books!)

As you can tell, I’m playing ARC catch up this month! Have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR?

Cover Reveals · Uncategorized

Cover Reveal – Flower Power Trip by James J. Cudney #digitalreadsblogtours #CreativiaPub #CoverReveal

the reading chemist5 Comments
https://digitalreadsblogtours.wordpress.com/

Hey Bookworms! I am so excited to be taking in part in my very first cover reveal, which is being hosted by Shalini @ Digital Reads Blog Tours.

Title: Flower Power Trip

Series: Braxton Campus Mysteries, #3

Author: James J. Cudney

Release Date: March 30th 2019

Publisher: Creativia

Genre: Mystery

Synopsis

At a masquerade ball to raise money for renovations to Memorial Library, Kellan finds a dead body dressed in a Dr. Evil costume.

Did one of Maggie’s sisters kill the annoying guest who’d been staying at the Roarke and Daughters Inn, or does the victim have a closer connection to someone else at Braxton College?

As Kellan helps school president Ursula bury a secret from her past and discover the identity of her stalker, he unexpectedly encounters a missing member of his family. Everything seems to trace back to the Stoddards: a new family who recently moved in.

Between the murder, a special flower exhibit and strange postcards arriving each week, Kellan can’t decide which mystery in his life should take priority. But unfortunately, the biggest one of all has yet to be exposed – and when it is, Kellan won’t know what hit him.

Now for the gorgeous cover…..

Author Spotlight:

James is my given name; most call me Jay. I grew up on Long Island and currently live in New York City, but I’ve traveled all across the US (and various parts of the world). After college, I spent 15 years working in technology and business operations in the sports, entertainment and media industries. Although I enjoyed my job, I left in 2016 to focus on my passion: telling stories and connecting people through words. My debut novel is ‘Watching Glass Shatter,’ a contemporary fiction family drama with elements of mystery, suspense, humor and romance. To see samples or receive news from my current and upcoming books, please subscribe with your email address at my website: https://jamesjcudney.com

What do I do outside of writing: I’m an avid genealogist (discovered 2K family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read; between Goodreads and my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, I have over 500 book reviews which will give you a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I started the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice and bloopers. Lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dogs have segments where they complain about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real and show how I live every day.

A bit of humor: Everything doubles as something else when you live in NYC. For me, it’s the dining room, my favorite space in the apartment, where more than just my cooking is on display! As I look out the windows onto a 12th floor terrace, various parts of nature (trees, bushes, flowers, bugs & animals) inspire me to write. How else can you pen the best story possible?

View on Goodreads Pre-Order on Amazon

  • So what do you think about the book cover?
  • Are you excited for this mystery release?
WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays: 06 February 2019

the reading chemist12 Comments

Today is the start of my participating in WWW Wednesdays which is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. To take part in this challenge, you just have to answer the following three questions:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Currently Reading

  • A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer: I am absolutely loving this Beauty and the Beast retelling. This was one of my most anticipated reads this year. I am 50% through it, so my review should be coming soon!
  • Of Rioters & Royals by M.L. Greye: This book has taken me by surprise since I had not heard anything about it prior to being asked to review it. It’s fast paced, has magical elements, a brewing love story…basically all things I love in YA. I am about 30% through this one, and definitely enjoying every minute.

Recently Finished Reading

  • The One Who’s Not the One by Keris Stainton: This hilariously refreshing rom-com was a 5 star read for me. Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I can’t recommend this book enough!
  • Potency (Glow #1) by Aubrey Hadley: This was one of those rare below 3 stars for me. I gave it 2 stars. The premise of the book really pulled me in, but the execution was just not there. I had a really difficult time getting through this one, which is a shame because I love sci-fi; especially when viruses and plagues are involved.

Up Next to Read

  • The Bone Garden by Heather Kassner – middle grade fantasy
  • The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves – romance just in time for Valentine’s Day
  • The Housewife by Valerie Keough – psychological thriller

Have you read any of the books on my list this week? Do you have any books that you’d love to recommend?

Happy Wednesday!

Monthly Wrap Ups

January Wrap Up

the reading chemist4 Comments

This month I have been incredibly fortunate to read some really great reads!

  1. To Best the Boys by Mary Weber – 5 stars: This book hit in me all the feels! The story follows Rhen Tellur a 17 year old female scientist who disguises herself as a boy to prove that she can win a scholarship to the prestigious all male university.
  2. Bored to Death by Amanda Linehan – 3.5 stars: What happens when you can live forever? You get bored. This is a fun read that follows a century old vampire named Victoria and her friends as they defeat boredom by hunting down Victoria’s maker, Dr. Ivy, who now feeds off of vampires he turned in order to defy the laws of vampirism and immortality.
  3. Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young – 5 stars: What a terrific book! If you love The Stepford Wives, you need to read this. The girls of Innovation Academy are trained to obedient and subservient girls to men at all times. But what happens when the brain washing starts to wear off? This book is incredibly chilling since it’s not that far-fetched.
  4. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen – 5 stars: This psychological thriller messed with my mind the entire time. There were plenty of times that I was looking over my shoulder to see if Dr. Shields was spying on me. So so good!
  5. Ragnarok Unwound by Kristin Jacques – 3.5 stars: If you love Norse mythology, this is perfect for you! This is a great adventure that follows Ikepela Ives, a mortal who has the ability to not only see fates but change them as well! The caveat, she needs to save the world before the apocalypse. No big deal, right?!
  6. Killing Adam by Earik Beann – 4 stars: Calling all sci-fi fans! This book makes me reminiscent of iRobot meets Total Recall. Adam is an AI that controls the brain functions for the majority of society. Jimmy Mahoney suffered a brain injury to where he can’t have the altered reality chips inserted in his brain, so he’s the only one who can take down Adam. I really enjoyed not only the plot but the pace of this story as well.
  7. Poseidon’s Academy by Sarah A. Vogler – 4 stars: What would happen if Harry Potter and Percy Jackson were to cross paths? This story would be the prodigy. This was such a fun read. I love mythology and when you mix it with magic, it is a treasure waiting to be discovered. I really loved watching the story of Hailey, prophesized Zeus, and her destiny unfold.
  8. Finding Grace by K. L. Slater – 4.5 stars: I think every parent’s fear is if their child disappeared while walking home alone. I don’t have a child, but my heart was absolutely pounding. All the twists and turns kept me guessing.  
  9. They Called Me Wyatt by Natasha Tynes – 4 stars: This was a great read. This murder mystery follows the tragic death of Siwar, a 25-year old female college student from Jordan, but the kicker is that her consciousness has resettled into a speech delayed three-year old boy named Wyatt. Siwar was my spirit animal. From a young age, she pushes the envelope to fight against the conservative Jordanian expectations of women. She also curses like a sailor, which, so do I.
  10. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig – 5 stars: I could not put this down! This gothic retelling of The 12 Dancing Princesses was creepy as sh•t! I loved every minute of it.