So, we’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is:Books for My Younger Self (these could be books you wish you had read as a child, books younger you could have really learned something from, books that meshed with your hobbies/interests, books that could have helped you go through events/changes in your life, etc.)
Over the last couple of days I’ve been thinking a lot about the middle grade fantasies that I’ve read and that I still really want to read, and these thoughts fit so well with this week’s prompt, so I was quite excited to dive right in. Then I realised that I actually have more MG reads on my TBR than ones I’ve read so this week I’ve split the post into read and unread books, but they’re all books that I think my younger middle-school self would’ve very much enjoyed reading!
Welcome back to Goodreads Monday! It’s been a very hot minute since I did one but I figured I might as well get back into it! This weekly meme was started by @Lauren’s Page Turners and it invites you to pick a book from your TBR and explain why you want to read it. Easy enough, right? Feel free to join in if you want to! I’ll be using a random number generator to pick my books from my insanely long GR Want-to-read list.
This week’s featured book is Columbine by Dave Cullen. This is a true crime non-fiction that was published in 2009 and it has a 4.28 star rating on Goodreads.
So, we’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s prompt is:Books that Make Me Hungry (They could have food items on the cover, foods in the title, be about foodies or have food as a main plot point… they could be cookbooks or memoirs, etc.)
Ooh, this is an interesting prompt and it’s one that I don’t think I’ve ever done for any of my weekly memes, so yay for something new! I’m a big foodie and can wax poetic about my favourite foods but I don’t think I’ve ever searched out a book because of food. Though I’ll admit that when there’s food on covers (especially if they’re bold/colourful illustrations/images) I’m much more likely to pause and read the blurb 😂
The books I chose aren’t 100% about food but they all made me hungry at some point, whether it’s craving something specific that a character eats or makes in the story, or other random dishes from the same cuisine. Just writing this out now and thinking about the scenes in the books I chose is actually making me quite hungry (and I’m now really looking forward to my next snack/meal) 😂
that secret crush – our hero is a chef who’s opening his own restaurant. he cooks for the girl he wants to woo. i was swooning and hungry while reading this book.
soudrough – yes, this book is about sourdough but it does go beyond that. the cravings for sourdough and delicious soup was so strong i think i ate this combo for a few days after i finished reading! so good.
wicked as you wish – the big scene with the filipino feast did me in. of the countries we’ve lived, we stayed in the philippines the longest (9 years) and for me, comfort food is synonymous to filipino food. the food scenes in this book are guaranteed to make you just as hungry as i am now!
pumpkinheads – this whole book was a big adventure through a pumpkin patch and it was chock full of delicious fall foods that had me literally drooling. i also blame the amazing artwork by faith for making the food look even MORE delicious. i swear i could taste and smell everything!
summer at swallowtail bay – there’s a lovely summer food fest in this book and reading about the various (food and drink) vendors really had me craving some of my favourite comfort foods from when i lived in the UK. Like pork pies, scotch eggs, bacon butties, pork baps with apple sauce… 😭
the ingredients of us – this was a bittersweet story that really tore at my heart. but the baking/food was a definite bright point of the story and well, it kind of made me want to eat my feelings 😂 i loved that recipes were included in this one!
the astonishing color of after – the descriptions of the food in taiwan were so drool worthy and made me incredibly hungry. i’m pretty sure that i ordered my favourite taiwanese street food snacks (thank goodness it’s a popular thing here) immediately after i finished bawling at the end of this book.
the particular sadness of lemon cake – yes this starts with cake and there are plenty of food mentions in the story but the lemon cake at the start got me. i love lemon everything!
the little wedding shop by the sea – this one had me craving the rich decadence of wedding cakes. the really fluffy, buttercream covered wedding cake goodness that i love.
harry potter – i know, i know… but i can’t not mention this book because the feasts! the feasts were mind-blowing. i still remember how awed and a lottle envious (and hungry) i felt about all the delicious foods that would pop up during the school feasts. just… UGH. i still want it! 😂
Welcome back to Goodreads Monday! It’s been a very hot minute since I did one but I figured I might as well get back into it! This weekly meme was started by @Lauren’s Page Turners and it invites you to pick a book from your TBR and explain why you want to read it. Easy enough, right? Feel free to join in if you want to! I’ll be using a random number generator to pick my books from my insanely long GR Want-to-read list.
I’m back with another Algonquin blog tour and this time it’s for this gem of a debut: His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie. Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Goodreads: His Only Wife Publisher: Algonquin Books Release Date: 01 September 2020 Genre: Contemporary Fiction, African Literature Panda Rating:
Afi Tekple is a young seamstress whose life is narrowing rapidly. She lives in a small town in Ghana with her widowed mother, spending much of her time in her uncle Pious’s house with his many wives and children. Then one day she is offered a life-changing opportunity—a proposal of marriage from the wealthy family of Elikem Ganyo, a man she doesn’t truly know. She acquiesces, but soon realizes that Elikem is not quite the catch he seemed. He sends a stand-in to his own wedding, and only weeks after Afi is married and installed in a plush apartment in the capital city of Accra does she meet her new husband. It turns out that he is in love with another woman, whom his family disapproves of; Afi is supposed to win him back on their behalf. But it is Accra that eventually wins Afi’s heart and gives her a life of independence that she never could have imagined for herself.
A brilliant scholar and a fierce advocate for women’s rights, author Peace Adzo Medie infuses her debut novel with intelligence and humor. For readers of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Candice Carty-Williams, His Only Wife is the story of an indomitable and relatable heroine that illuminates what it means to be a woman in a rapidly changing world.
When I first looked at today’s prompt I was stumped and *almost* decided to pass up on doing this or choosing a different topic. Just the thought of meeting my favourite authors let alone getting the chance to ask them questions already has me tongue tied and honestly? I’m just really bad at coming up with good/smart questions 😂 So that was pressure on my little brain that I didn’t know if I could handle today… Until I decided that I would just think of ten random/silly questions, and so I did. I’m not going to be identifying my favourite authors below but as I was writing down these questions I did have these authors in mind: V.E. Schwab, Neil Gaiman, Jay Kristoff/Amy Kaufman, Leigh Bardugo, and Laini Taylor. It goes without saying that these are just some of my favourites (in random order). Now without further ado…
How much time do you usually spend on research while writing a book?
Do you have any weird/quirky superstitions or rituals that are part of your writing process?
What’s one of your favourite quotes from one of your books?
What’s the funniest/weirdest/coolest moment that struck as inspiration for one of your books?
Do you have a favourite out of the books you’ve written (for sentimental or any other reason)?
Do you write with music or shows/movies on? If yes, what is your favourite band/show/movie to listen to?
If you could see one of your books be adapted into a series/movie which would you pick?
What are three of your favourite tropes to read or write about?
Would you survive living in the world(s) in your book(s)?
Can you describe your most popular book in the most boring way you can think of?
Welcome back to Goodreads Monday! It’s been a very hot minute since I did one but I figured I might as well get back into it! This weekly meme was started by @Lauren’s Page Turners and it invites you to pick a book from your TBR and explain why you want to read it. Easy enough, right? Feel free to join in if you want to! I’ll be using a random number generator to pick my books from my insanely long GR Want-to-read list.
This week’s featured book is Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano. This is a contemporary fiction/coming-of-age story that was published in January 2020 and it has a 4.16 star rating!
I’m back with another blog tour and this time it’s for The Heart of a Peach by Jess B. Moore. Thanks to Rachel @ Rachel’s Random Resources for organising this blog tour, and to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Be sure to click on the banner below to check out the rest of the bloggers on tour!
Goodreads: The Heart of a Peach Release Date: 14 August 2020 Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romance Panda Rating:
Olivia Hamilton can do no wrong. Or at least that’s what the community of Fox River, North Carolina thinks of the odd but sweet young lady. She’s hiding a past she’d rather forget, engaged to the town’s most eligible bachelor, and longing for someone to see past the mask she wears. Olivia wants to find herself, forgive herself, and fall in love with someone who sees and embraces her flaws.
Denver MacKenna grew up the fiddle-playing prodigy of not only his hometown of Fox River but of North Carolina and the surrounding states. He plays obsessively and tours as often as possible, escaping a life of loneliness at home. Until he meets a beautiful siren who calls to him and has him making plans to settle down. Denver knows it’s wrong to covet the elusive Olivia, but finds himself inexplicably drawn to the brief glimpses she gives him of her true self.
I’m back with another blog tour and this time it’s for Starcross Manor by Christie Barlow. Thanks to Rachel @ Rachel’s Random Resources for organising this blog tour, and to Harper Collins – One More Chapter and the author for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Be sure to click on the banner below to check out the rest of the bloggers on tour!
Goodreads: Starcross Manor (Love Heart Lane Series #4) Publisher: Harper Collins – One More Chapter Release Date: 14 August 2020 Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romance Panda Rating:
When Julia Coleman meets Flynn Carter again in the cosy village of Heartcross it can only mean trouble. Flynn might be rich, brooding and sexy, but Julia knows first-hand he’s ruthless and she plans to watch his every move.
When Julia discovers Flynn’s plans for beautiful Starcross Manor her greatest fears come true. Because Flynn’s dreams of turning Starcross into a luxury hotel could ruin Julia’s dreams…and finish off the community of Heartcross for good.
Flynn makes it clear he doesn’t want trouble, and he’s not the man Julia thinks he is. As he sets about convincing the community he’s changed, he hopes he can convince Julia to give him another chance too…
I’m sharing a book spotlight today for Losing Control by Rachael Stewart. Thanks to Rachel @ Rachel’s Random Resources for organising this blog tour!
Happy book birthday to Losing Control!
Be sure to click on the banner above to check out the rest of the bloggers on tour!
Goodreads: Losing Control Publisher: Mills & Boon Publish Date: 20 August 2020 Genre: Romance
She watched him walk away…
…and now he’s back to claim her!
A family feud forced me to walk away from the woman of my dreams, Alexa—but I didn’t expect her to betray me by falling into my brother’s arms. Now, after a tragic accident, I’ve returned home to find Alexa leading the family business…and the chemistry between us is hotter than ever. The sparks reignite our electrifying connection, but can we learn to trust each other again?
dinipandareads 