Saturday, December 31, 2016

December Rewind 2016

December Rewind 2016
What happened in December@ TRD

Not as many books this month as I had hoped. Lots of crafty, baking and family time though which isn't a big surprise with the holidays. 

I've been working on getting my bullet journal ready for 2017!





Read in December only 5 but that's because it was a crazy busy holiday month. 

I finished out 2016 with 150 books.



Sweet Venom by Gena D Lutz / Moonlight by Tim O'Rourke 
Help Wanted by RIchie Tankersley Cusick / Queen Heir by Jaymin Eve & Leia Stone / The SnowFang Bride by Merry Ravenell

January Goals
Bookish
I need to finish this growing review pile as well as knock a few off the TBR list. 
I need to read more manga's it's been weeks since I've read any in forever. I know with the holiday reading is going to be tough but I'm hoping for 20 novels this month. I can't wait for the new year because things will get back to normal. 

Crafty & Cooking 

A few messy bun hats, and maybe a few rows on last year's blanket I didn't finish. 


Steps goal 
Still walking towards my goal of 10k average. 

Instagram

Lots of Instagram challenges this month.  
Follow Me (Here)
Still an Instagram addict. It's been a great outlet for me. 
Stop by say hi and don't forget to follow me =D


What are your goals for the new month? New Year?

Have a great month!!!!

Book Review: Sweet Venom

Title - Sweet Venom
Author - Gena D. Lutz
Genre - Fantasy Paranormal
Published - December 13th 2016 
Format - Kindle 
Find it on (Amazon)
Add it to your (Goodreads)
My name is Cassis Dark, and I am a Spider Venin. My bite is venomous and can paralyze a man within seconds of exposure, and if I choose, it can kill.

When I was a teenager, my stepmother sold me into slavery. As a newly freed woman, I fight to protect the innocent from a world of pain with which I'm all too familiar.

The evils that stalk the night aren’t all human. Good thing for their intended victims…neither am I.

Review
Cassis has spent time at the hands of the Queen of the hellhounds as a slave due to her step mom. However, when she reached maturity as a spider venin with a poison bite she made her escape. Now that she’s free she’s going back to save her friend who’s still in the hands of the Queen. With the help of her friend Keri who’s a scorpion venin the duo infiltrate her lair and make it out with Cassis friend a snake venin who’s just coming into her own. 

Her landlord and friend Charlie’s sister has gone missing and Cassis is just the person to go into the supernatural world to rescue the missing Fairy. Determined to find her she heads to the Circus to speak with a shifter who last saw Finley. Little did Cassis know when she arrived at the Cirus that Jack would have two very attractive traits werewolf and musician. With the help of an alpha werewolf, a scorpion Venin and a little luck Cassis may just find Finley before it’s too late. 

I like Cassis she’s a girl with a good heart who’s a defender of the innocent and looks good doing it. I love that she’s not your typical supernatural creature as a spider Venin she has some unique magical abilities besides a deadly bite. I like Jack he may just be what she needs and who doesn’t love a hunky attractive alpha male. The chemistry between these two is sizzling and can’t wait to see how it’s going to play out. 

I knew the moment I saw it that I had to read Sweet Venom the cover is stunning and instantly captured my attention. Plus it’s not every day you see a spider hero as most people dislike them so much or even a scorpion. I think Cassis and Keri are both unique bad-ass heroines who totally kick ass in a fight and I love them. The story while it’s not new is very unique it’s filled with supernatural beings that we are familiar with as well as new ones. This isn’t my first book by the author, and it doesn’t disappoint a captivating fast-paced fantasy that was hard to put down. I’m anxiously waiting for the next one as I enjoyed this one so much. I highly recommend checking out this author’s books everyone has been amazing. 

2016 End of Year Book Survey

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Number Of Books You Read:150 
Number of Re-Reads: 2
Genre You Read The Most From: Young Adult


1. Best Book You Read In 2016?
(If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)
I've read a lot of amazing books over the year but I do have a favorite one. 
Not my traditional read but wow it knocked my socks off. This duo is such a talented pair of writers. I loved the story and the characters. I've been working my way through the whole series. 

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
I think I've been really lucky this year I didn't have very many books I didn't love in 2016. I can't even think of one single book I didn't enjoy. 

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  
Ashes In The Sky by Jennifer M. Eaton - This one has some huge shoes to fill because I loved Fire in The Sky so much and it exceeded my expectations. I'm excited to check out the next one. 

 4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

 Firstlife by Gena Showalter - I even had my bookclub read it which we all enjoyed it. The cover is kind of amazing too. 

 5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?
I feel like a fail on this one because I never read a series from start to finish this year. 
I think Vampire Girl by Karpov Kinrade was the best series I started in 2016 but I do have the sequel as well as the rest of the books. 

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?
Merry Ravenell the author of The SnowFang Bride is a very talented new author who quickly became one of my new favorites. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
Pennies by Pepper Winter & Dollars by Pepper Winter  This book was one that took me out of my reading comfort zone. It's unique and I enjoyed it so much more than I expected. I'm eagerly waiting for the next one to come out. 

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Traitor by Nicole Conway is the winner in the action-packed book. 

 9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
 This one is tough because I don't re-read very often in the next year. I typically try to wait a few years before I read it again only because it takes a while for me to not remember every little detail in the story. 

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?
 My favorite cover is Passenger by Alexandra Bracken - A beautiful cover to match a beautiful story. 

11. Most memorable character of 2016?
 Cassie from the Karma Inc series by Gillian Zane - She's one of those characters you can't help thinking you wish was taking care of those who deserve a dose of karma. 

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?
Dissension by Adrienne Monson - A beautifully written enchanting story that captured my heart as well as my imagination. The characters are easy to connect with I loved them. 

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2016?
I read only fiction and haven't really read any though provoking life changing books in 2016. I hope to change that with 2017 

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read? 


The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - This is one of those books that I had to read before seeing the movie. I actually loved the book and the movie equally in this action-packed whirlwind story. I have the 2nd one to read in the near future. 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?

I actually just shared these the other day but I think I need to share them here too. 

“If only he would keep his mouth shut, he'd be perfect. A piece of duct tape would do the trick. I had some in my desk that I'd occasionally pull out and fondle, hoping someday I could put it to good use.” 

***
“I didn't know," he whispered. "I didn't know I could love you so much.” 

***
“I woke up when my pillow was yanked out from under my head and Chloe mumbled something incoherent about spinach and hot dogs. The woman was a sleep-talking, restless bed hog.” 

***
“The flirting is all well and good, but I mean it when I tell you, I can't have you leaving me again. It almost broke me.” 

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016?

Shortest is The Trouble With Pixies by Gayle Ramage with 20 pages 
Longest is Passenger by Alexandra Bracken with 496 pages 

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most
(Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)
Sanyare by Megan Haskell - This one was full of twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. I actually had a little book hangover too. 

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)
Daisy and Owen are my ultimate OTP for 2016 It was a whirlwind adventure but the conclusion of their story didn't disappoint. The Allure series by Alyssa Rose Ivy 

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
True North by Nikki Jefford has the friend relationship. I love Aurora and Dante but they just work better as friends. They may have had a little attraction but they have learned they work better as friends. I can't believe it's over still hoping for more books. 

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

I've read books by Jaymine Eve before but this is my first time with Leia Stone. Queen Heir was better than I expected. I actually need to pre-order the next one. I can't wait to get my hands on it. 

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Solidify by Alexia Purdy was suggested to me knowing it was a shifter book from a author I love it was a must read. It's better than I expected and opened me up to the Woodland Creek series. 

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

I don't really get fiction book boyfriend crushes. So this one is hard to answer. 

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman - I didn't read many but this one was the best. 
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Secrets of Valhalla by Jasmine Richards is set in a beautiful world. 

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Love, Lattes and Mutants by Sandra Cox was a lot of fun to read. It's a interesting take on DNA mutations. 

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

Pennies by Pepper Winter & Dollars by Pepper Winter This duo was very emotional it made me cry a lot. Very powerful out of my comfort zone must read series.  

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Muerte En Las Vegas by Jack Thompson - One of my favorite detectives series. I don't think it get's enough attention that it deserves. 

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
I sound boring but I'm not sure if this year I had any crush my soul books. If any it would be the duo that made me cry the most above. 

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

Wynonna Earp by Beau Smith - A graphic novel was unique because I've only read manga's so far. 

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs - only because it meant I had to wait again at least a year. 


1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2016?
2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2016?

I love them all and don't have any favorites. 

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

Eek I'm super critical of myself so I'm not sure. 

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

Sadly no events this year but maybe next year. I did a lot of meme's over the year. 

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2016?

It's always the same making new bookish friends. 

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

When my husband deployed I kind of fell off the deep end. It 

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I wish they all did. 

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Hmm this is a tough one. I'm a creature of habit when it comes to sites. 

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
None.  I failed hard this year. However, it all started when the husband deployed next year will be better. My goal was 250 but I had to drop it down to 150. 


1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

The Nymphos of Rocky Flats by Mario Acevado - My husband wants me to read this series really bad. 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?
3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Caraval by Stephanie Garber 

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

I plan to read 250 books in 2017

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:
Sadly I haven't read any yet. 

I hope everyone has an amazing 2017


Top 16 of 2016 - Favorite Books

Top 16 of 2016 
Created by Kimberly Fay Reads 
Sign up (here)
I found this end of year challenge thanks to Lexxie @ (Un)Conventional Book Views and just had to join in. 

Favorite Books
I read so many amazing books in 2016 so picking my favorites is really hard. I'm going to pick a few that I really loved. 

Queen Heir by Jaymin Eve and Leia Stone
Vampire Girl by Karpov Kinrade 
Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren
Forbidden Alpha by Missy Lynn Ryan 


What are some of your favorite New-To-You authors?