ARC Review: Serious Moonlight

Posted April 3, 2019 / Book Reviews / 6 Comments

Initial Excitement & Summary I’m a huge fan of Jenn Bennett. Seriously, huge. All of her books have been major successes in my eyes. She always creates somewhat unique situations for romance and develops her characters in wonderful ways. Her three releases before SERIOUS MOONLIGHT each earned 4.5 stars from me… so clearly I’m a fan. From an overall plot perspective, with the mystery solving and quirky settings across Seattle, this had the right setup to be another favorite by Bennett. Birdie and Daniel meet under interesting circumstances and find soonafter that they’ll be working together during the night shift at a famous Seattle hotel. They move past the awkwardness of their first meeting to solve a mystery together – an author, who remains anonymous and uses a pseudonym, is staying at their hotel each week, and they want to confirm his identity. Birdie is big into mystery novels and hopes to be a detective of some kind someday. Daniel loves magic and has a talent for woodworking. Both of them also have secrets they’re hiding from each other… Storytelling & End Feels I’ve never been to Seattle but I can say with certainty that I want to visit even more now! I know the hotel was made-up but the rest of the city felt real to me. I’d love to take a ferry to the island and explore the market on the other side. There were so many cool shops, like the bookstore (mysteries!) and magic shop, that made […]

Top Ten Tuesdays #229: Read-Bait

Posted April 2, 2019 / Top 10 Tuesdays, Weekly Memes / 14 Comments

Things That Make Me Pick Up a Book Top Ten Tuesdays were started by The Broke and the Bookish and are now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, where we make lists of our top ten books (or something else!) based on that week’s prompt. The topics are provided ahead of time and can be found here. Book links bring you to Goodreads or my review. The topic for this week is about the things that make you pick up a book. This is a similar topic or question to my read-bait series of posts, where I discuss the words or phrases within a book’s synopsis that immediately draw me in. I’ll highlight a good portion of those (because the majority of them still ring true!) and also some of the other factors (aside from what’s directly in the synopsis) that make me pick a book up or add it to my TBR. There’s another TTT here with some topics too, in case this isn’t thorough enough! The books you see mixed in are those that really hit the nail on the head for Lauren-bait. Read-Bait Topics or Words Wishes being granted or fulfilled (could be by a genie or some paranormal/magical realism etc.) Travel-related meet cutes (people who fall in love/meet on a train or in an airport etc.) Disappearances “Everyone is connected somehow” (coming together over shared event, etc.) Winning the lottery and/or rich people Bucket lists Family drama or reunions (people coming back together or secrets being unveiled) Memory loss Stuck in […]

Bookmark Lit Bulletin | March 2019

Posted April 1, 2019 / Bookmark Lit Bulletin, Features, Wrap-Ups / 3 Comments

The Bookmark Lit Bulletin wraps up the last month in reading and what was on the blog, as well as what’s coming up next. You can check out my book haul, books read, posts shared, challenge updates, etc. You can read past bulletins here. If you’re looking for more personal updates, you can check out my Lauren Lately feature; it highlights my life events and non-bookish fun from the previous 30 days. I’m happy I increased my reading numbers, meaning I’m super ahead on my Goodreads challenge! I read SO many books in March. The middle portion of this year will be challenging for reading, with a decent amount of trips planned and weddings to attend between April and August. In any case, it was a good reading month where I kept up some momentum and continued to love my bullet journal! Related not-as-bookish sidenote: I asked you guys where you want to see wrap-ups for my bujo pages (if you did at all) and there was even split between “yes make a separate post” and “yes wherever you want to post it.” I’ve decided to do a bi-monthly bujo wrap-up post! All of the books from this month: Check out my 2019 challenge sign-up post for more details, goals, etc.! Popsugar Reading Challenge 7 read this month | 20 read total | 50% complete L-R: Zodiac/astrology term in the title, based on a true story, retelling of a classic, extinct or mystical creature, about a hobby, inspired by folklore/myth/etc., weird/no chapter […]

[ARC] April TBR

Posted March 29, 2019 / Book Lists, Features, TBR Lists / 11 Comments

My monthly TBR feature here shows my progress based on last month’s TBR, my plans for this month, and anything else I might be thinking about from a reading perspective. Sometimes I feature a little poll at the bottom so you guys can help me figure out a certain title I should read from a group of books. March Progress I did a fucking great job with my TBR this past month! I was determined to get some challenges going (okay yes just the Retellings Challenge) while finishing up required reading (book club picks, review copies, blog tour, etc.). I did DNF the first book listed above because I couldn’t get into it. Oh well. I only read one book that wasn’t on my TBR because I didn’t realize I’d be able to get it so quickly through Hoopla. Up Next in April As I’ve done in the past, I’ll use the months starting with A for focusing on reading ARCs! There’s the actual ARC August challenge but sometimes I make my own little ARC April. I’ll be definitely doing that this month, with the exception of audiobooks (unless it’s an already-published review copy I have that now as an audiobook available) and my book club/required reading picks as needed. You’ll see, based on individual goals below, I’m hoping to make at least 6 books review copies during April (but ideally I would read more like 8-10, or all of the books I read) Review Copies (Egalleys) Past […]

Currently… On My iPhone

Posted March 28, 2019 / Currently, Personal / Information / Etc. / 3 Comments

On My iPhone | March 25, 2019 I really enjoy writing “Currently” posts, where you share the things you’re loving, watching, wearing, etc. in a very straightforward format. Plenty of bloggers do them and they’re some of my favorite posts to read too! I thought it might be fun to share an iPhone-oriented version of this, where I screenshot various things on my iPhone to show what I’m currently seeing on there, favorite apps I’m using, things I’m listening to, etc. On my Lock & Home Screens Lock screen: Even though we’re out of football season, this has remained on my lock screen! Chris and I haven’t taken a lot of great photos lately (lol) and I really enjoy having him on my front screen. This is when we went to Charlotte for my birthday and got to meet Sir Purr, the mascot! Home screen: This is my main group of best friends from college. I always have them on my home screen too. This photo is also from September, from Natasha’s wedding. This is one of the pictures from the professional photographer and we all look so good. On my Podcast List Currently listening (bottom bar): I usually listen to podcasts on Tuesday and Wednesday (sometimes Saturday/Monday depending on what I get to), so I only have a quick one from this morning. I listened to the preview/intro to the Bellas new podcast! By the time this posts, it will have had its first episode already. Up next: I have a weird […]

Review Round Up | The Fairest Kind of Love, Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee, The Winter Sister, and I’ll Be There For You

Posted March 27, 2019 / Book Reviews, Review Roundup / 2 Comments

In an effort to cut down on posts and burnout, my Review Roundups will feature 2-4 books I’ve read or listened to recently. Sometimes they’re newer releases and sometimes they’re all backlist titles. My ARC reviews usually get the solo treatment. Enjoy the mini reviews! This series is something I would call a guilty pleasure if I believed in that term. I genuinely don’t. BUT it’s a whimsical, short, breezy, easy, and cute series. There isn’t a lot of substance involved but I love the magical beings and seeing what Amber gets up to next! This is the final book in the series, I believe, and it’s one I’ve remained loyal to over the past few years of new releases. I saw it on Hoopla and immediately downloaded it, of course. Amber is gearing up to meet with a matchmaker to determine a few things – can she get her powers back and functioning properly? AND, is Charlie her soulmate? Since her abilities have gone haywire, she’s been trying to figure out how to get them back and move on with her life after graduating high school. I liked that this installment involved fairies, my fave magical creature, and some of the classic elements you’re familiar with (like wishing using fairy dust and having to be very specific about what you want!). This one felt cheesier than the last two. I’m not sure if it’s just because there’s been enough time in between where I forgot what they were like, or if […]

Top Ten Tuesdays #228: Audio

Posted March 26, 2019 / Top 10 Tuesdays, Weekly Memes / 12 Comments

Audio Freebie: Favorites Top Ten Tuesdays were started by The Broke and the Bookish and are now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, where we make lists of our top ten books (or something else!) based on that week’s prompt. The topics are provided ahead of time and can be found here. Book links bring you to Goodreads or my review. The topic for this week is an audio-related freebie. I probably spend more of my week listening to podcasts than I do listening to audiobooks, but I’ve done a good job balancing them lately. The first few days of the week will usually involve podcast episodes (since I have some scheduled to come out each weekend and in the early part of the work week) and the rest of the week will be more audiobook-focused. I thought I would highlight some very broad categories of audio-related favorites, including narrators, services, and books themselves for this freebie topic! Favorite Narrator: Julia Whalen She will easily be my favorite narrator, forever. I’ve listened to her narrate some TJR books (excellent) and a few others. She just has the best voice and I can’t get enough of it. I think you’ll see her on a lot of people’s lists this week because she seriously knows what she’s doing. Listened to already: Here are some of the books I’ve already listened to and enjoyed her narration for… even if the book wasn’t perfect lol. (Note: I have listened to all three books in the Charlotte Holmes series but […]

What a Reading Year So Far

Posted March 25, 2019 / Discussions, Features / 8 Comments

Every time I finish a great book, I say to myself “DAMN what a reading year I’m having!” … and every time I remind myself it’s only MARCH somehow, I picture this: Seriously though, it’s been quite a good year already for me. I am having so much success with the books I’ve been picking out. I’ve talked about my lack of five-star ratings from 2018 as well as me generally getting pickier with the books I choose to read and rate so highly, but I’m doing REALLY well so far. Honestly I’m just here today to be excited about some books, share my thoughts on this bizarre phenomenon, and more. Books read so far: 32 Average rating: 3.9 5 Star Reads Girls with Sharp Sticks was one of my most anticipated reads, and I genuinely can’t believe I had the ARC in my possession for months and didn’t read it. I promise you, this book is perfection. I LOVE Suzanne Young and each of her books/series gets better than the last. If you want to hear my entire saga with this duo and thoughts on Crooked Kingdom itself, click that link. Long story short: I put off reading it because I was nervous and then realized I HAD to read it before KoS. It did not disappoint, clearly. And finally, last but certainly not least, The Bride Test (review to come) was an utterly perfect rom-com for me. It didn’t have some of the slightly cheesy sexual dialogue from […]

Skincare and Makeup Lately: Hits and Misses

Posted March 22, 2019 / Health & Beauty, Personal / Information / Etc. / 8 Comments

Skincare My focus lately, for the most part, has been on new skincare items and routines. I have this problem where if something doesn’t work immediately (or breaks me out initially), I quit using it and assume it won’t work. I really need to give things a fair shake and see if they last. Tatcha’s Starter Kit After reading Sydney’s post about her experience with Tatcha, a brand I’ve been looking to try, I decided to buy the two week starter kit. I have oily skin but it’s been very tame in the winter months this year. This is probably due to a combination of a few things, which I’ll talk more about later, but it starts with skincare. The Starter Ritual Set (Normal to Oily Skin): I think I’ll talk about each item individually because I have mixed feelings about some of them. I like the kit in general though because the small-ish sizes are big enough to definitely last more than two weeks, in my opinion. Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil: ?? So I’ll admit that cleansing balms and oils are just not for me. People who wear a LOT of makeup on a regular basis – do any of these work nicely for you?! I have to use 5 pumps to get everything off, I hate using it on eye makeup, and it just feels weird on my skin. It’s not the oil’s fault here because it’s ALL oils and balms, but I won’t bother with this in the […]

ARC Review: The Princess and the Fangirl

Posted March 21, 2019 / Book Reviews / 6 Comments

Initial Excitement & Summary I adored GEEKERELLA and was SO excited to see a companion sequel. I already need there to be a million books in this series. The first book was basically a love letter to being a fan, attending cons, and geek culture as a whole. I’m not QUITE as into fandom things (for anything really) as many of my friends, but I totally get it. While the first book was a Cinderella retelling, this was a Princess and the Pauper retelling – the classic situation where two people look like each other and switch lives for a few days. In this case, the actor who plays Princess Amara in Starfield (Jess) switches place with Imogen (a Starfield fan and leader of the “Save Amara” movement). The two switch lives so Jess can track down who leaked the new Starfield script. Storytelling & Characters Just like the first book, this was filled with geeky references that I loved. (Sometimes it feels like a little too much, but not bad! – I liked that Jess was not really a geeky character so the references were only during one of the POVs.) The Princess and the Pauper trope was really well done and super fun to follow in a con setting. I enjoyed both Jess and Imogen as main characters. Jess was hard to get used to in the beginning because she didn’t like Starfield; it was off-putting to hear her grouchy inner monologue. This definitely changed throughout the book […]