Honestly, I thought buying a cleaning book last year would set the tone for adulting. But boy was I wrong.

This probably has to be the most adult book I've ever owned. And for good reason too.

It's a book how about...wait for it... How to Set a Table! Crazy right? I know.

This book will actually be my savor these next holidays and step up my hosting game. Did I think I would be this excited for a hospitality book? No. But then again, I never had this tiny book of wonder.



*disclaimer: I recieved this book in from Blogging for Books in exchange for a honest review*

This story was everything you possibly would ever want a book to be. It was both funny, sad, witty and told the story of a man faced with injustice and finding himself at the same time. He wasn't a perfect man, like most real people aren't and it gave the authenticity to feel for him and root for him. I couldn't recommend this book enough.

So what were some of your favorites for last month or currently loving this month? Let's talk about in the comments below (:

Now to why I loved it!:

I loved this electric story of two star crossed lovers going against all the odds in 1980's New York. It brings the feel of Romeo & Juliet but lifts it and creates a version completely captivating. From the first page I was hooked!  It was both raw, sexy and addicting reading on how these two people would fall in love. 

I wasn't even born in the 80's but the feel and the descriptions make it feel like I was living in it. Elise is this powerful force to be reckoned with woman who's had to be tough with the life was raised in but somehow opens herself up to Jamey was raised fairly sheltered and wealthy. The author truly did do an amazing job with weaving these two characters thoughts and voices together without being too much. 

Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It has magic. It has a unique setting. It has "Rebellion" in the title. I had good hopes for this book.

The premise of the story was sufficient enough that it caught my eye. And a lot of people were comparing it to the Red Queen series, which I did enjoy. So I thought, "yessss, get me on board." But I found that the only similarity was that people were separated by their class & magic abilities.

The character, Anna is among the higher class of people called the Luminate who are granted the the power of magic during a binding ritual. It is said that she however is barren & the ritual didn't take. But during her sisters' debutante spell casting, Anna breaks the spell & reveals a power that other's would either take advantage of for a rebellion or kill her to prevent one.

It had me there. I was pretty much stoked to have her be a kickass character and not let others define what she should do. But she wasn't. She was ehh. Honestly her cousin Matyas seemed to outshine her. I was also hooked to be introduced to this awesome rebellion that could happen. But it somehow didn't stand out as much as I would have liked it to. And as much as I enjoyed the magic system or the abilities characters throughout the book had, it wasn't enough to binge read through.

However, I did really enjoy the historical setting. And how the author intertwined Hungarian mythology and 19th century history in a fictional fantasy setting. It's probably the only reason I kept reading. I'm also happy that she included a glossary to help the reader get informed about the right way to say and read Hungarian names and phrases. I would recommend that you read that first or bookmark it to reference back to while reading.

Although, the book didn't end on a high note with me, I'm glad I read it. It's not often I will read a book and end up wanting to read about the actual historic events during the period. But I did, and I wouldn't have known about the authors' choices for adding/inventing certain things for the book if I didn't read towards the end for her authors note.

It's not often I dislike a book. I hate it when I do. I actually enjoy most books I read. And try my best to always see the great things the author did in the story. And despite what I didn't like, the author still did really great things. And I would recommend it for just that. If you enjoy mythology, read this. If you enjoy a Eastern European setting, read this. If you enjoy a good easy read, this isn't a hard book to get through. And most importantly, if you enjoy debut books from authors, read this.




*disclaimer: I received this book from the Blogging for Books  program in exchange for an honest review.*

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I did end up reading Wintersong by S. Jae Jones. I posted a review of what I thought of it on my Goodreads page.
Check it out here : http://fave.co/2o9XAUk

Then I read This Savage Song by V.E Schwab. I read the shades of magic trilogy before and I was itching for more of her writing. Again I also posted a review of what I thought of it on my Goodreads.

Check it out here : http://fave.co/2orVw6i
After I decided to pick up Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. I've heard really good things about it so I figured why not.

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. 

Now that I told you what I read, now I can tell you what I'm currently reading.

I've just started Stranger the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. I'm almost done with Caraval  by Stephanie Garber.

Either at the end of the month or beginning of next month I'll then write a wrap up of all the books I got through this month. But for now I thought iIt'd be nice to have a little update. It's always nice to not only have a reminder for myself of my goals but to also encourage you guys. Just because you set a specific goal for yourself doesn't mean that you can'
t succeed it and more. That aiming high can be fun and exciting and rewarding. And because I aimed high, I read more books then I thought I would.

Since the beginning of this year I did a little post about my reading goals. So far I have only hit one book slump and I think that's pretty good considering its four months in. And for this month I am feeling a little motivated. I don't know what it is about spring that gives me this energy for life and determination to do all the things I wanna do. But I'm rolling with it. I'm taking this new found spur of energy and reading as much fantasy books as I can, since this month that's the genre I'm really into.

Things We Lost in the Fire: Stories by Mariana Enríquez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was jam packed with short stories that left me wanting more. It sounds strange that I would want to read more of a book that was haunting, traumatizing and intoxicating. But Mariana Enriquez wrote them is such a beautiful way. Each story carried its own and supplied such intense details worthy of a camp fire setting. It was full of suspense, monsters and horror all surrounded in a contemporary Argentina. I haven't read anything like this in a while.

Now, this book isn't for the faint-hearted. Its heavy, dark and saddening. Each of the stories grips you and makes you feel as if you were right there experiencing those moments too. Its hard not to just want to keeping reading story after story but I wouldn't recommend it. Each one leaves you with a feeling that needs to be sunk in and evaluated and makes you question why your reading this in the first place, " are you that morbid" trails in your thoughts. But you realize, its these stories and how Mariana writes them. They captivate you and draw you in. At the end of the book; you feel as if you didn't read fiction at all, that these stories happened and that what makes it brilliantly frightening.

*disclaimer: I have received this book in exchange for a honest review for Bookstr.*

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This is my review from Good Reads. To Check it out and follow me click the link below,
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Do you ever find yourself utterly captivated with a book cover and simply hope for the best?

Its exactly what I had hoped from when reading this book.
The synopsis, the reviews, the cover. Everything I could have possibly needed to come out strong at the end of this book. But then I found myself stuck.

Book synopsis from Good Reads: 
Upon her arrival in London, an 18-year-old Irish girl begins anew as a drama student, with all the hopes of any young actress searching for the fame she’s always dreamed of. She struggles to fit in—she’s young and unexotic, a naive new girl—but soon she forges friendships and finds a place for herself in the big city.

Then she meets an attractive older man. He’s an established actor, 20 years older, and the inevitable clamorous relationship that ensues is one that will change her forever.

A redemptive, captivating story of passion and innocence set across the bedsits of mid-1990s London, McBride holds new love under her fierce gaze, giving us all a chance to remember what it’s like to fall hard for another.

Brilliantly executed. It was intriguingly satisfying to read! It took everything I had to not put this book down. I can officially say that I experienced my first book hangover. I couldn't have picked a better book for it.

This historical fiction story is about 19 year old Gwendolyn who is newly married to a tea planter. Hence the title of the book.  She finds herself excited and delighted by the idea of her new marriage and her new life with him. She then finds herself tackling the issues of the 1900's and what it means to actually be married to a tea planter.

At first, I did the whole don't read a book by its cover thing.. I know I know.. what was I thinking?! Not only was the cover beautiful but the story was even more so. It tackles issues from the 1920's like racism, what a wife should appear to others as, and labor workers. Although it's filled with political and social issues that story doesn't steer away from Gwen and her marriage to a  influential tea planter. The author did a incredible job of intertwining important issues with love and the curiosity of Gwen. As much as Gwen wants her marriage to be all she hoped for and more, the author makes us want to root for them too.


*disclaimer: I received this book from the Blogging for Books  program in exchange for this review.