Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco

That was a wild ride....Like all of the Indiana Jones and Tangled vibes, with the Romanian feel. I never left my goth phase.
I said it before, and I will say it again.... I love Thomas.
480 Pages

Haikyu!! Volume 43 by Haruichi Furudate

Kenma living his best life.
And they were roommates
Family reunion.
..they...they got....they got together....someone help me. I've fallen and I can't get up
208 Pages

Ruined by Amy Tintera

*singing* Everyone's uncomfortable and awkward.
I love Caz
Also her name is Em... She could go by Em as in eM in Mary and get away with it....
Awkward finger guns.
Please tell me y'all see this mess. Bless this mess but someone fix and clean up this mess.
384 Pages

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Awww Ben, you innocent marsupial.
Hazel is so smart. I love her.
Can I keep Jack?
(Also I kind of read this because I heard about the cameos they make in the Queen of Nothing)
368 Pages

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

This whole book reminds me of a Sherlolly fic I read.....wait...
I am suspicious of everyone. EVERYONE.
Is Thomas Basil of Baker Street...A doggo named Toby.....
Thomas is so snarky, and I love him...
Alexa play "The Greatest Show"
And now I need Indian food
I am #stressed
Aaaaand my theory was correct
416 Pages

Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels #10). By Ilona Andrews.

Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels #10). By Ilona Andrews. 2019. Ace Books. ISBN-13: 9780425270721 (paperback).

Diane take note, the Kate Daniels series is a damn fine cup of coffee.

439 pages

The Collagen Diet: A 28-Day Plan for Sustained Weight Loss, Glowing Skin, Great Gut Health, and a Younger You. By Josh Axe.

The Collagen Diet: A 28-Day Plan for Sustained Weight Loss, Glowing Skin, Great Gut Health, and a Younger You. By Josh Axe. 2019. Little Brown Spark (ARC eBook).

Supported by research, Dr. Axe lays out the importance collagen plays in creating and maintaining healthy joints, hair, gastrointestinal tract and more. And as the title suggests, there is a diet plan included which aims to guide readers in which foods to include or eliminate while incorporating collagen-rich foods or supplements into their daily consumption. Overall, The Collagen Diet will act as a good reference book for collagen research and recipes. 

266 pages

Wildcrafted Fermentation: Exploring, Transforming, and Preserving the Wild Flavors of Your Local Terroir. By Pascal Baudar.

Wildcrafted Fermentation: Exploring, Transforming, and Preserving the Wild Flavors of Your Local Terroir. By Pascal Baudar. 2020. Chelsea Green Publishing (ARC eBook).

A colorful and informative foray into fermentation. I was looking forward to learning recipes beyond kombucha and traditional sauerkraut and boy does this book deliver.

304 pages

Z is for Zoom: A Scientific Alphabet of How Things Go, from Alternator to Zerk Fitting (Baby University). By Ashley Malec, Illustrator: Teresa Bellon.

 

Z is for Zoom: A Scientific Alphabet of How Things Go, from Alternator to Zerk Fitting (Baby University). By Ashley Malec, Illustrator: Teresa Bellon. 2020. Sourcebooks eXplore. (ARC eBook).

What a great way to structure a book so that it can be revisited over time, introducing new elements as the child grows. And the illustrations of rabbits, foxes and alligators cruising down the road are adorable and also clearly demonstrate the parts, mechanisms and actions of each A-Z word. 

26 pages

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Summary: "After returning from war, the Duke of Ashbury decides he needs an heir and offers a marriage proposal to Emma Gladstone, a vicar's daughter-turned-seamstress who appears in his library wearing a wedding gown."

SO GOOD!

389 pages

goodreads | MOBIUS

The Warrior's Curse by Jennifer A Nielsen

Harlyn. Ugh.
Anyone else getting "Monster" from Broadway's Frozen vibes...
Me watching this hot mess:

Me, naively hoping: When you hit rock bottom there's no way to go but up.
This whole lot of dinguses: I've brought my shovel and I'm ready to dig.
Maybe it's the amount of caffeine in my system, but they are giving me so much anxiety. Joth....
Rack is the true MVP
"The Next Right Thing"
.......So I have feelings and I need fanart....
368 Pages

Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin

So we're just gonna ignore are all the incorrect Catholic things going on there...


Tbh I came for the marriage of convenience trope and all of the other fanfic tropes.... I am the trash queen.
Reid is great. I love him. He is such a sweetie. Someone please protect him. He is a gentleman. He brings honor to us all. #husbandgoals
Ansel is a puppy and is too pure for this world.
....Also Reid's favorite book....Anyone else worried about the sequel....
No one: .....
Reid:

544 Pages

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I realized on my first read-through I didn't add the first three books to the blog! And re-watching the series made me want to reread.

In 1945, Claire Randall has happily reunited with her husband for a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands after World War II caused them to unwillingly part. When Claire is suddenly forced through the stones at the circle known as Craigh na Dun, she becomes a "Sassenach"--an outsider--in 1743 Scotland. Sent back in time by unseen and unknown forces, Claire must grapple with a past that threatens her very life. In the past, Claire meets Jamie Fraser, a young Scottish warrior, leaving her torn between two very different men, and the different versions of the future they might hold for her.

Book #1 in Outlander series. 627 pages.

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein

Andrew really is the "Excuse my potty mouth" vine.
....so the Midwest team dressed up as a cross of frat guy and FFA member....I don't know how to feel about that...Is that the Midwest stereotype?
Preach about banned books. YAAAS.
Look at all those Catholics killing it, being awesome role models.
...A priest... Yas, Fr. Mike.
320 Pages

33 Days to Merciful Love by Fr. Michael Gaitley

Sooooo I love St. Therese, and I love her way of looking at Jesus... She's a freaking Doctor of the Church. How sick is that?
(Yes I have a 6 inch statue of her that hangs out at my desk; she's amazing).
I just relate to her a lot, and I love getting to know her better every year. I love getting to know Jesus with her help. She's brilliant.
212 Pages

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

For some reason I picture Del looking like Jim Hopper from Stranger Things....
"The teenage boy and the man are as close to wild animal observation as anything I've seen."
And I'm feeling things
416 Pages

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Do I need to write a synopsis? I think y'all know by now. I needed something fun to listen to in the background as I worked and I just love this story. Never get bored with it and I can easily go in and out without missing a beat.

Pages: 374

Girl Meets Duke series by Tessa Dare

 The Duke of Ashbury has just returned from the Napoleonic Wars with severe injuries that paint him as a monster to those who lay eyes on him. He has a big dilemma though, he is in need of a wife to provide an heir to his dukedom. Luckily Emma shows up to his house already in a wedding dress! Will their marriage be a simple arrangement or will love win out.

Pages: 389

 Alexandra Mountbatten has just lost her livelihood as a clock setter and needs a new job. Chase Reynaud has two wards who have a penchant of running off governesses. You see where I'm going with this? Alex comes in and disrupts the life of the known rake Chase and perhaps love is in the air?

Pages: 373

Lady Penelope Campion has a heart of gold and takes in any and all animals that are in need. Gabriel Duke, named the Duke of Ruin by the ton, is a self made man who has just bought the house next door and intends to renovate and sell it to the highest bidder. His only obstacle is the eccentric lady next door. She wants to maintain her independence from her family, but has to make some hard changes to her life. Can they help each other?

Pages: 368




These books were adorable! I ended up reading all three of these in less than four days and now I'm mad that I have to wait until August for the last one in the series. The meet-cutes are all adorable and each "Duke" is ever so hunky in their own way. I love that all the women have passions that could support them and the happenstance of the money their duke has isn't a means to anything. Highly recommend if you need a fun and fast read.

The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson

I still love Nate and his sense of humor..
David is such a little ish...somehow his dad is super relevant...for no reason whatsoever....
...I just realized that the name Alice is a combination of Albert and Iris..... Al(bert)(Ir)is.... Way more classy than Stephanie Meyer's Rennesme.

Stevie:

I'm crying. I have feelings.
"Are you trying to make me emotion" Same.
Moose.
400 Pages

The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson

Screaming meditation... What a mood.

"The best ride is Dumbo"
....I love Larry.
The whole The Great Gatsby/1984 vibe/reference.
Nate is too pure and needs to be protected.
400 Pages

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

"I'll drink the living blood of trees" Iconic.
The librarian is doing my dream job.
"But, Stevie wondered" .... seriously?!
I love Nate.
...I'm confused.
448 Pages

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

German Fairy Tales (kind of), World War II, Social Issues, Music, and some magic--these are the things I live for.
Alexa play "Edelweiss"
#Protect Friedrich Squad
Alexa play "It's a Hard Knock Life"
I have so many feelings. Siblings. Ugly sobbing... Mike loves Frankie so muuuuuuuch. I love Mike. Like there's not enough space to tell you how much I love Mike and his adorableness.
Older brothers in every sense give me all the feels.
How dare they make me feel things.

...Ok but this was an amazing audiobook... Cause there was music. And it was great.
587 Pages

33 Days to Greater Glory by Fr. Michael E Gaitley

I loved the analysis of the Gospel of John. I'm fine. I'm not crying. I didn't underline like the first half of the book... I loved that it was focused on growing in relationship with the Father. It was really appropriate reading for Lent.
224 Pages

Jesus of Nazareth: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger)

This was a really good book to read during Lent. I loved how much he went into detail about Holy Week (I mean obviously he went into detail; the whole book is about Holy Week). But he brought in scripture passages from the Old Testament and customs and practices from the time of Jesus. I love how thorough his research is (like obviously, he's a scholar and a theologian, but still).
384 pages

The Deceiver's Heart by Jennifer A Nielsen

...There's some Ella Enchanted vibes (there's one scene).
I love how devoted Simon is. Simon is so pure and honestly deserves to be protected. Can we stop trying to kill him all the time please. Caves. Forests. Bridges. Rivers. Mean people.
I love the mythology of this series and how the magic works.
Harlyn. *Rolls eyes*
I'm just stressed all the time... Can people stop being so grey and just be trustworthy for once....

384 Pages

The Traitor's Game by Jennifer A Nielsen

I love Simon.
Kestra is so spunky and headstrong and I love her.
400 Pages

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler and Frank Miller

Avatar Zuko GIF from Avatar GIFs

Not to get on my Catholic soap box (because it's fiction) but insert *That is not correct* vine.
I liked the second half of the book way better than the first half. I really like the concepts...
My precious.
408 Pages

On the Eucharist by St Pope John Paul II

The Eucharist is my favorite thing ever (I mean it's Jesus, sooooo).
John Paul II talks about the importance of the Eucharist, "the source and summit of Christian life," and how crucial it is to growing in holiness, the spiritual life/journey, and keeping a community together, and because of that why the Eucharist deserves so much reverence. Seriously this encyclical slaps.
68 pages

Haikyu!! Volume 42 by Haruichi Furudate

Kenma... "a friend"..... Sobbing.. You know what that is. Growth
My seniors.
My babies.. Oh the places they go; I knew Yamaguchi would grow up to be great...
Time jumps, y'all.
This new arc is so fun. Enemies play together.... I'm not stressed.
Hinata totally Neveled up... I love a man with shoulders..
200 Pages

A Madness of Sunshine. By Nalini Singh, Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld.

A Madness of Sunshine. By Nalini Singh, Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld. 2019. Penquin Random House Audio Publishing Group. ISBN-14: 9780593153512 (Unabridged audiobook, 10 hrs, 59 mins).

Singh is unquestioningly a talented writer. I enjoy reading her Psy-Changeling series and I find her hybrid urban fantasy/paranormal romance series, Guild Hunters, to be downright awesome; so I was naturally curious about her sojourn into the mystery genre. A Madness of Sunshine is a pretty strong showing. This atmospheric thriller in a rugged coastal New Zealand town is full of shadowed pasts and captivating characters. Topped off with excellent narration.

352 pages

The Friend Zone (End of the Line #1). By Sariah Wilson.

The Friend Zone (End of the Line #1). By Sariah Wilson. 2019. Montlake Romance. ASIN: B07L5M7DYY (Kindle).

An entertaining read it if you like the slow burn, college jock/tutor & forbidden relationship tropes.

299 pages

Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1). By Sarina Bowen, Narrators: Nicol Zanzarella, Rock Engle.

Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1). By Sarina Bowen, Narrators: Nicol Zanzarella, Rock Engle. 2016. Blackstone Audiobooks. ISBN-13: 9781504755887 (Unabridged audiobook, 9 hrs, 53 mins).

Hockey romance full of heart, humor and heat. Engle and Zanzarella deliver excellent narrations for rookie Leo Trevi and team publicist Georgia Worthington.

Entertaining, Page-turner, Happily Ever After, Romantic, Original, Great world building, Steamy, Wonderful characters, Excellent narration

326 pages

Power Play (Blades Hockey #1). By Maria Luis, Narrators: Elizabeth Hart, Joe Hempel.

Power Play (Blades Hockey #1). By Maria Luis, Narrators: Elizabeth Hart, Joe Hempel. 2017. Tantor Audio. ASIN: B0787KDC6S (Unabridged audiobook, 5 hrs, 14 mins).

The Blades golden boy and a struggling sports journalist pair up for this series’ opener of sexy hockey players heating up the ice.

Entertaining, Romantic, Wonderful characters, Great narration

194 pages

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This is one that my mom gave me to read, and I actually read it in one sitting. Do I think this one will stand the test of time? No, but it was a good read and I highly recommend it as a pandemic binge read!

Pages: 384

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Boys are stupid. Daisy deserves the world and she should be protected.
Ahh ducks.
A dog. Named Oscar Wilde. Perfect.
Alastair... a beautiful cactus
Thomas is a sweetie.
All of my ships.. beautiful
Me catching all of the hints Clare is dropping and guessing plot twists/evil characters:


624 Pages

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare

Will and Tessa's stories continue! Well, through their kids but I'll take it. Loving the Edwardian times, shadowhunter shenanigans, and unrequited romance freaking everywhere.

Pages: 624

Haikyu!! Volume 41 by Haruichi Furudate

Hinata. Heart eyes. You keep jumping, love.
Short coach Tanji finally coming around.
....My baby... My baby.... I'm signing the adoption papers.
184 Pages

To Have and to Hoax. By Martha Waters.

To Have and to Hoax. By Martha Waters. 2020. Atria Books (ARC ebook).

One year into their happy marriage, Lady Violet Gray and Lord James Audley had a big fight and have since spent the last four years far from wedded bliss. When an accident occurs, miscommunication escalates to outrage, confusion, feigned illness, actors, mother-in-laws, faux mistresses and facepalming friends. As the obstacles in their relationship build, the renewed sparks flying between husband and wife threaten to burn them down. Violet and James may or may not prove equal in manipulation, but can they prove equal in love?

This was a Regency romance read that managed to merge several different tropes to appreciative affect. If you are looking for a new author, pick this entertaining and romantic book up.

367 pages