The Sunday Post [43]

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight what's planned for the week ahead.

News: 

I love checking in with everyone on Sundays! I know the world is a chaotic mess right now, but we seem to be finding small bright spots in all the madness. Like spending more time with family, or getting to do certain home improvement projects we've been putting off! There are hassles, sure. Homeschooling when you're not prepared for it, being stuck in one place with said family, and being unable to find everything you need for those home improvement projects, but we're all making do with what we have.

My husband has been collecting wood other people are tossing out and turning it into wonderful and useful items for the house! (He does ask for and then clean everything he uses, haha.) We've been getting the garden ready for planting, and I've been talking with a local nursery about picking up some flowers and plants. It's important we continue to support our local businesses during this time (for those of us who can), because they're getting hit really hard right now. We want them to still be around when this is all over!

I know a lot of you are buying gift cards for bookstores, and I think that's fantastic! I love seeing those giveaways, and want to do one of my own. There are people being assholes right now, yes. They're hoarding essential items, or trying to make a profit by overcharging for them. However, there's still kindness to be found. People are leaving toilet paper on their porches for delivery drivers, or placing some in a Little Free Pantry. A lovely person knew we were struggling with finding toilet paper in our area, and sent some to us when they found a surplus in theirs. If we could all work together during this crisis, and not solely for ourselves, I think weathering this storm would be less scary.

Previous week on the blog:

• Sunday: NA
• Monday: The Sunday (on Monday) Post [42]
• Tuesday: The Honey-Don't List by Christina Lauren (★★★⋆☆)
• Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday [86]
• Thursday: DNF&Y [27]
• Friday: State of the ARC [20]
• Saturday: Court of Savages by Christy Sloat Release Week Blitz + Excerpt & Giveaway

What I'm currently reading:

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett 

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig 🎧

Night of the Dragon (Shadow of the Fox, #3) by Julie Kagawa 

• Chasing Lucky still isn't wowing me like I'd hoped it would, simply because the main character is incredibly frustrating. 
• House of Salt and Sorrows has been a wonderful audiobook so far! The narrator is fantastic, and I'm very invested in what's happening to the Thaumas sisters. Right now I'm suspicious of everyone, so I'm constantly second-guessing what people do and say.
• Night of the Dragon is everything I wanted and more! Things are slowly coming together, although I'm sure Kagawa isn't finishing throwing me for a loop. I cannot wait to see how this series concludes! 

What I plan on reading next: 

What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume

The Roxy Letters by Mary Pauline Lowry

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

Roberta from Offbeat YA and I are going to buddy read A Song Below Water, and I cannot wait to dive into this one with her! Pun definitely intended! ;)

What I'm watching:

We were disappointed when there wasn't a new LEGO Masters this week, and were worried it had something to do with the coronavirus. Fortunately, that wasn't the case, and there will be a new episode on the 8th! They're almost to the finals, so we are very invested, haha. I'm trying to limit my television time so I can squeeze in more reading, but it's hard when the kids are watching something I also want to see. For example, they watched Onward yesterday, and I kept sitting down instead of doing housework (which was the reason they were getting to watch a movie in the first place). 

Challenge updates:

• Read the Alphabet Challenge 7
• Audiobook Challenge 9 / 50+
• Beat the Backlist Challenge 20 / 110
• Discussion Challenge 1 / 1-10
• Goodreads Challenge 110 / 365

Something funny I stumbled across this week:

"Out for a hike. Just crossed paths with a guy who warned us about ticks. “No one likes Corona with Lyme,” he said. Granted I’ve been trapped inside for a long time, but I found that pretty darn amusing." 𑁋 J. Courtney Sullivan, @jcourtsull

Court of Savages by Christy Sloat Release Week Blitz + Excerpt & Giveaway

 

Court of Savages by Christy Sloat is new to me, but the synopsis has definitely piqued my interest! I'm also in love with its stunning cover! This blitz also includes an eBook giveaway from Christy’s collection (courtesy of Christy and Rockstar Book Tours), so be sure to enter at the bottom! :)

Title: COURT OF SAVAGES (The Savage Hunt Series Book 1)
Author: Christy Sloat
Pub. Date: March 31, 2020
Publisher: CHBB Publishing
Pages: 180
Formats: eBook
Find it: Amazon, Goodreads

High atop a mountain crest sits the grand Gahana Royal Hotel. The world’s most elite are dying to see what lies beyond its iron gates, yet only a select few earn an invitation.

How do they find themselves on that VIP list? By being truly monstrous human beings capable of the most fiendish acts. Once an invitation is extended, the evaluation begins. The Court of Savages thrive off the hunt, the thrill of the chase and the delight of the feast. Yet they adhere to a strict code. Never will they harm a human who is innocent, good, or reformed. Their beastly pallets require the most vile of beings and an invitation to the secretive resort has just been extended to London Stiles.

Can she prove there’s enough goodness in her to save, or will her check-out date be postponed indefinitely?

𑁋𑁋𑁋

Excerpt:

The last to speak was Nola. When she spoke, everyone listened intently, her presence commanded silence. Especially when it came to Lathan. His dark eyes constantly watched her, even as she was just merely watching others. Whether she knew he was looking her way was never known.

She pulled her red hair out of her face.

“And these humans you hired as staff, they’ll keep our secret?”

Amon nodded.

“How can you be sure?” she urged. Amon smiled at her. She was his favorite, not because he was in love with her like Lathan was, but because he respected her more than the others.

“Do you doubt me?”

Without hesitation, she said, “I do not trust humans, Amon. Do you not remember how my family died? How the humans hunted us down like we were the monsters. All we killed then were their livestock and they killed my family like they were killing their children. All we took from them was their food. What would the humans do here, if they knew we were killing their own kind?”

A good question for Amon, who didn’t look shaken by it. Still, she didn’t trust Amon’s plan. He leaned forward and touched her cold cheek.

“My dear Nola, you must understand that I have this under control. I am older than all of you put together. I have seen the earth before humans inhabited it. Before they became the kings and queens that ruled. My life has given me one thing, and that’s an understanding of how they work.

“I know what makes them tick. What they desire. And that is to see their kind suffer. Not the ones who are innocent, no. The humans who deliver nothing but cruelty. The hatred they have for their kind that do bad onto others. The evil they hold in their hearts for those who have hurt them. It’s delicious. Can you not taste it, my friends?”

Amon pressed a button and the door to their room opened. In walked fifty humans, dressed in Amon’s strict uniform as the new staff of the hotel. Their fear apparent on their faces and in the air.

“Taste it, friends,” Amon said quietly before he addressed his staff. “Humans, tell my court here how much you hate the humans who have hurt you. But, do not use your words. Use your mind. Think of how they damaged you inside and how badly they deserve to die by our hands. Go ahead, you are safe with us.”

With that they closed their eyes, or stared at the monsters who sat in front of them. And Nola sniffed the air around her, her teeth-baring and she rubbed her throat as the familiar feeling of hunger clung to her senses. Mariet’s teeth chattered as she gripped the table in front of her; hunger boiling in her belly.

Lathan stared at Nola as he had learned to control his hunger, but not to control his desire for Nola. God how he’d love to pull her onto the table and undress her. He wanted nothing more than to stare down at her bare pale body and treat her like the goddess she was.

The twins writhed in their seats, barely able to control the burning rage in their bones. They were born to deliver justice to these people. The Sister’s Karma, they were sometimes called, but sirens of the sea they truly were. For them the hunger was overpowering, for they truly only fed on humans who did the worst. Siren’s often got overlooked the most.

“Do you believe me yet?”

As they all anticipated feeding, now more than ever, Amon dismissed his staff. He addressed his friends once again.

“Well, what say you? Are you to be in my court? To trust me in taking care of you and delivering justice to those humans who have been wronged. I assure you, you will be treated as the royalty you are.”

Lathan smiled at Amon, and gave his nod of approval. The twin’s both said, “Aye,” in unison. Mariet made Amon promise that the humans who resided in the sleepy town some miles away would never know what was happening. Once he did, she seemed content.

It was Nola who was the hardest to convince. There were too many what if’s for her to consider. She’d seen too much horror in her life and she wanted a peaceful existence.

“Nola,” Lathan said, addressing her from across the table. “You lost a family, let Amon give you that back. With us you’ll have safety. Out there, there are no promises.”

Something struck a chord within as she seemed to relax a bit more. Lathan was known to calm many. Perhaps it was his dashing good looks, or maybe his deep voice. But whatever the reason, she said, “I’m trusting you here. Do not make me regret it.”

“Oh, I won’t,” Lathan assured her. He meant it.

“Well then it’s settled, we are the Court of Savages, truly and surely. Welcome to your new home.” Amon said.

𑁋𑁋𑁋

About Christy:

I am Southern California native, now living in New Jersey! How did that happen? I am married and have two beautiful little girls who love to read just like Mommy. I have had a passion for books since I was a little girl and an imagination for just as long. I hope my books can inspire others to read and to write too.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win an eBook from Christy’s collection, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

State of the ARC [20]

State of the ARC is a monthly meme hosted by Avalinah at Avalinah's Books! It's an opportunity for readers to catch up on their long overdue ARCs, but right now I'm using it to keep up with my upcoming ARCs instead. It helps me stay organized!

What I Like About Me by Jenna Guillaume (4/1)

We Didn't Ask for This by Adi Alsaid (4/7)

Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner (4/7)

To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters (4/7)

The Roxy Letters by Mary Pauline Lowry (4/7)

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead (4/7)

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer (4/14)

Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer (4/14)

This Boy by Lauren Myracle (4/14)

In the Role of Brie Hutchens... by Nicole Melleby (4/21) (6/30)

Spark and the League of Ursus by Robert Repino (4/21)

Seven Endless Forests by April Genevieve Tucholke (4/28)

Admission by Julie Buxbaum (5/5) (12/1)

Hello, Summer by Mary Kay Andrews (5/5)

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett (5/5) (11/10)

Lobizona (Wolves of No World, #1) by Romina Garber & Romina Russell (5/5) (8/4)
Premeditated Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries) by Elizabeth C. Bunce (5/5)
The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad by Mike Birbiglia (5/5) (7/14)
Deal with the Devil (Mercenary Librarians, #1) by Kit Rocha (5/12) (7/28)
More Than Maybe by Erin Hahn (5/12) (7/21)

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson, K.M. Jackson (5/19)

Breath Like Water by Anna Jarzab (5/19)

The City of Tears by Kate Mosse (5/26)

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner (5/26)

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner (5/26)

Out Now: Queer We Go Again! by Saundra Mitchell, Eliot Schrefer, C.B. Lee, Mark Oshiro, Kosoko Jackson, Hilary Monahan (5/26)

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow (6/2)

The Court of Miracles (A Court of Miracles, #1) by Kester Grant (6/2)

Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins (6/9)

American Demon (Return to the Hollows, #1) by Kim Harrison (6/16)

What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin (6/23)

Girl, Unframed by Deb Caletti (6/23)

The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor (6/23)

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis (7/14)

Where Dreams Descend (Kingdom of Cards, #1) by Janella Angeles (8/25)

Note: Some of the publication dates have changed, likely due to the coronavirus outbreak. I will try to update these as they change. So far, it has only been Where Dreams Descend, Lobizona, and More Than Maybe. I hope everyone is staying safe!

DNF&Y [27]

DNF&Y is used to explain why I gave up on certain books, and what about them just didn't work for me. What I disliked about a book might be something you love, so it helps to share your thoughts even when they're negative! If you would like additional information, please click on the DNF&Y tab at the top. If you want to join, you can link up at the bottom!

There were no DNFs this month! February and March were slower reading months for me, but I'm happy there were no unfinishable books. I thought being stuck at home would mean more reading time, but I was very wrong! However, I can't complain about all of the time I'm getting to spend with my family. We've been able to slow down and just be together, which has been a huge positive in all of this chaos.

A few of my March favorites:

1. Miles Morales: The End #1 by Saladin Ahmed, Rahzzah, Damion Scott (★★★★★)
2. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune (★★★★★) Review
3. The Raven and the Dove (The Raven and the Dove, #1) by Kaitlyn Davis (★★★★★) Review
4. With a Little Help from My Friends by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Henry Cole (Illustrations) (★★★★★)
5. Bug Zoo by Andy Harkness (★★★★★)

*Share your DNF&Y post! Please leave the direct link to your DNF&Y post and not just your blog's URL. Thank you for participating and happy reading!

Can't-Wait Wednesday [86]

My Weekly Pull is something I do every Wednesday to show which comics I had pulled for me that week! If you're into comics, or you're looking to start, please join me! If you decide to do your own post, there's a link-up at the bottom. I would love to stop by and check it out!

My Weekly Pull has been postponed until further notice. "As you probably know by now, starting April 1, 2020, Diamond Distribution will temporarily discontinue shipping products to comics book retailers."𑁋ComicList.com

I'm really bummed we won't be getting new comics every week, but still trying to look on the bright side... now I finally have a chance to catch up! We've also been cleaning out our current collection, and decided to sell some on Mercari (if you're interested, ask for the Friend Discount). ;)

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly feature that's hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings. It highlights the upcoming releases we're really excited about reading! CWW is a spinoff of the feature Waiting on Wednesday (WoW), that was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Emerald Blaze (Hidden Legacy, #5) by Ilona Andrews
Expected publication: August 25th 2020

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author, continues her spellbinding series set in the Hidden Legacy world where magic controls everything…except the hearts of those who wield it.

As Prime magic users, Catalina Baylor and her sisters have extraordinary powers—powers their ruthless grandmother would love to control. Catalina can earn her family some protection working as deputy to the Warden of Texas, overseeing breaches of magic law in the state, but that has risks as well. When House Baylor is under attack and monsters haunt her every step, Catalina is forced to rely on handsome, dangerous Alessandro Sagredo, the Prime who crushed her heart.

The nightmare that Alessandro has fought since childhood has come roaring back to life, but now Catalina is under threat. Not even his lifelong quest for revenge will stop him from keeping her safe, even if every battle could be his last. Because Catalina won't rest until she stops the use of the illicit, power-granting serum that's tearing their world apart.

𑁋𑁋𑁋

I love this author duo! The Hidden Legacy series is amazing, and while I miss Nevada and Rogan, I've enjoyed seeing Catalina take charge and run the family business. It's so good being back in this world! Everything is familiar, just experienced through someone else's perspective.