tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38739920347037416592024-03-13T08:10:32.842-04:00Rally the ReadersA blog for everyone who loves reading! Book reviews, discussion posts, & more!Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.comBlogger1203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-30198927724795689932023-12-29T16:29:00.001-05:002023-12-29T16:29:40.795-05:002023 Rewind<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEKcje6imFVr9ESAWnUcUY7R9Nhbnrc6f7Fndr2m74w5hwYuJlcFpOpFhJFk4YkZ7HxwXAoyPG6OGhplaOz4FZBLzi8zxml5ARpyRMIdrBfeZsEaciUhPuCljVScH2bQrS4g8YFM9j8v9IrvMwwvS6N2vscJsbCOrP0t3TYkV1ec80P6-1FHdSJ3mvaMa/s1600/2023-rewind.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="858" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEKcje6imFVr9ESAWnUcUY7R9Nhbnrc6f7Fndr2m74w5hwYuJlcFpOpFhJFk4YkZ7HxwXAoyPG6OGhplaOz4FZBLzi8zxml5ARpyRMIdrBfeZsEaciUhPuCljVScH2bQrS4g8YFM9j8v9IrvMwwvS6N2vscJsbCOrP0t3TYkV1ec80P6-1FHdSJ3mvaMa/w400-h289/2023-rewind.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<p>
Apparently, writing and posting one whole book review this year has motivated me to do a whole year rewind post. 😂 Let’s go!
</p>
<h4>2023: A Totally Insane Year. Am I Right?</h4>
<p>
It feels like the world has been living in some alternate universe the past few years, so I’m not trying to sound special when I say, 2023 has been a completely crazy year. Like, the kind where one year feels like three, and you hardly recognize your life anymore.
</p>
<p>
On the personal side, in 2023 I: went back to NYC for the first time in 10 years, got married, left my job of almost 10 years, started a business, ate some incredibly delicious food, drank a lot of coffee, cried a lot, and otherwise tried to keep my shit together. And again, I’m sure many of you can relate.
</p>
<h4>I Read Some Books, Too!</h4>
<p>
I actually completed my Goodreads Reading Challenge for the first time in TEN years! There’s that number 10 again, lol. I even OVERACHIEVED by reading 24 out of 23 books- YEAH! As I write this post, I might even SUPER OVERACHIEVE by squeezing in another book before 2023 ends. I can’t even!
</p>
<p>
I read a steady diet of self-help and business books this year, which is a very good indicator of how 2023 went. I was actually in the mood for a Christmas-y book this year, so I picked up <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2023/12/review-twelve-days-of-dash-lily-by.html">The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily</a></i>, which ended up being one of my favorite books of 2023. I only read 2 fiction books, <i>Dash & Lily</i> being one of them. Getting back into fiction made me realize how much I’ve missed it and that I need to read more of it in 2024.
</p>
<p>
I also attended a local bookstore event with Chloe Gong in September. She did a Q & A and then very graciously signed everyone’s books. It was a lot of fun to listen to her talk about her books and writing, and she was super sweet chatting with everyone while signing their books.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysqpj7Y7rpKuRRE8DPIzUI-AbKWHOudDfznHlMVjeEcfFCwIedhgsMyZ3sVsNiLGBIV1HLTgYRKyZm99QeAprOIBh8UQ7mQiXwogaqswUXUEdQgWhvGcm9e1fsnX_-mX46lPag9OmWeJIhfuzOSXrTN9zsBE6Ck3iwUBsllLGeHQ9I_s5_ZZEdQy859jl/s4032/IMG_3487.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysqpj7Y7rpKuRRE8DPIzUI-AbKWHOudDfznHlMVjeEcfFCwIedhgsMyZ3sVsNiLGBIV1HLTgYRKyZm99QeAprOIBh8UQ7mQiXwogaqswUXUEdQgWhvGcm9e1fsnX_-mX46lPag9OmWeJIhfuzOSXrTN9zsBE6Ck3iwUBsllLGeHQ9I_s5_ZZEdQy859jl/s400/IMG_3487.jpeg"/></a></div>
<h4>Dear 2024: Please Be Kind to Everyone</h4>
<p>
Seriously. 😂 I hope 2024 brings everyone peace, happiness, and lots of good books!
</p>
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-16140780460729609392023-12-25T17:02:00.000-05:002023-12-25T17:02:15.786-05:00Review: The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59HTc2OTflzYyE1OUUP3QMkBiTOn1wonEpXhuMmIkC1PUdJstRfOcPw11oQe92CNI4G5VEiD-o-eiJkVdkYfgMYVwCNsFaNA5yzmZ6FlzOnusNU-gVdVPswf8b5cJoIjN2wnLPzoROmCWR7l_rkOmhg8BBZBUNEAgO8BmE3Cwc9o1xFpqvXvSV2VTQABO/s400/the-twelve-days-of-dash-and-lily-rachel-cohn-david-levithan.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59HTc2OTflzYyE1OUUP3QMkBiTOn1wonEpXhuMmIkC1PUdJstRfOcPw11oQe92CNI4G5VEiD-o-eiJkVdkYfgMYVwCNsFaNA5yzmZ6FlzOnusNU-gVdVPswf8b5cJoIjN2wnLPzoROmCWR7l_rkOmhg8BBZBUNEAgO8BmE3Cwc9o1xFpqvXvSV2VTQABO/s320/the-twelve-days-of-dash-and-lily-rachel-cohn-david-levithan.jpg"/></a></div>
<b>The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily (Dash & Lily #2)<br />
By Rachel Cohn & David Levithan<br />
Publisher:</b> Ember<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> It’s Lily’s absolute favorite time of the year, but the Christmas season just isn’t the same with all of the changes happening in her family. As much as Dash has tried to be there for her, Lily worries that things just aren’t right between them. Now it’s up to Dash, not exactly the biggest Christmas fan, to try and revive Lily’s holiday spirit.
</p>
<p>
<b>Review:</b> It’s been a hot minute since I read a YA book. It’s been an even hotter minute since I wrote a book review. And just to belabor the point, I last read a <a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2019/03/review-afterlife-of-holly-chase-by.html">Christmas book</a> in 2018.
</p>
<p>
So what prompted 2023’s sudden burst of motivation to do all the things? A strong possibility is the steady diet of self-help and business books I’ve been reading all year. It was time to switch gears, and what better way to do so AND get into the holiday spirit by catching up with some familiar fictional characters?
</p>
<p>
I loved <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2012/12/review-dash-and-lilys-book-of-dares-by.html">Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares</a></i> and felt a bit dismayed when I saw meh reviews for the follow-up, <i>The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily</i>. But it’s been such a strange year that I summoned some optimism and dove in.
</p>
<p>
First, let me say how wonderful it was, indeed, to read about these two characters again. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed Dash’s snark and Rachel Cohn and David Levithan’s gift for capturing New York City’s incomparable character, especially during the holiday season.
</p>
<p>
I get why some readers viewed the book with mixed feelings. We quickly learn that Lily’s beloved grandfather has suffered a heart attack and is still undergoing a challenging recovery, with Lily insisting upon being his primary caregiver. All the time she’s been spending with her grandfather has not only meant seeing less of Dash, but it’s also put a huge damper on Lily’s normally indomitable Christmas spirit. Dash is trying to support his girlfriend as best he can, but sometimes Lily longs for more from him, especially with expressing his feelings.
</p>
<p>
I admit that at first, Lily wishing that Dash fit the perfect boyfriend mold prompted a small eyebrow raise from me because it came across kind of petulant in a, “Why can’t Dash just do X?” “Why can’t Dash be more Y?” way. But Lily learns from some older and wiser adults in her life that Dash can’t read her mind. That’s when I also called myself out for also being guilty of the same expectation. So then I applauded Lily’s character growth for its realism.
</p>
<p>
While Lily is understandably not the ebullient Lily from the first book, that’s not to say there’s not lots to love about this sequel, like anatomically correct gingerbread men, glitter-related injuries, the logic (or lack thereof) of Dash’s friend, Boomer, and the sage observations of Lily’s great-aunt, Mrs. Basil E. If you enjoyed <i>Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares</i>, go ahead and give this one a read.
</p>
<p>
<b>All in All:</b> Just what Santa ordered in a Christmas read.
</p>
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GPf51Zvnj_c/T5jD6leaUnI/AAAAAAAAAPU/z8YfWqkFlIY/s1600/4halfstars.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" />
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" style="margin-left: -0.3em;" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-3712606952062443142021-08-10T19:46:00.001-04:002021-08-10T19:48:54.706-04:00Review: Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd1nWfSty3U/YRMNTso94jI/AAAAAAAAGYw/Z3W3t8TxnVgzLYN1Y2l5KvL1-RW7jMN6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/ghost-girl-ally-malinenko.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1356" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd1nWfSty3U/YRMNTso94jI/AAAAAAAAGYw/Z3W3t8TxnVgzLYN1Y2l5KvL1-RW7jMN6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/ghost-girl-ally-malinenko.jpg" alt="Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko" /></a></div>
<b>Ghost Girl<br />
By Ally Malinenko<br />
Publisher:</b> Katherine Tegen Books<br />
<b>Format:</b> eARC<br />
<b>Source:</b> Sparkpoint Studio
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> In the small town of Knobb’s Ferry, not far from the famous Sleepy Hollow, Zee Puckett stands out, and not in a good way. All Zee wants is to tell her spooky stories and hang out with her best friend Elijah, but her shock of white hair makes her an easy target for teasing at school. It also doesn’t help that it’s just Zee and her older sister, Abby, having lost their mother when Zee was born and their father now gone in search of work elsewhere. As long as Zee has her stories and her friendship with Elijah, though, she can weather anything until a storm rolls through Knobb’s Ferry and seems to bring something very sinister with it. Zee soon learns that while she may love spinning scary tales, it’s a completely different thing to actually find herself living in one.
</p>
<p>
<b>Review:</b> With Halloween not that far away, now is the perfect time to start getting into the ghostly groove with a chilling read like <i>Ghost Girl</i> that also manages to warm your heart. Zee Puckett is a sixth grader in the small town of Knobb’s Ferry, which the book mentions is near the fabled Sleepy Hollow. Ally Malinenko does a great job of establishing a setting where everybody knows everybody and their business, the type of place where a girl like Zee, with her white hair, unusual name (Zee is short for Zera), and love for telling scary stories, attracts unwanted attention from other kids. It’s a good thing Zee has her best friend Elijah, the only person in Knobb’s Ferry who really gets her. Their friendship is one of the book’s standout parts.
</p>
<p>
The paranormal aspect starts creeping in when a fierce storm rocks the town and little by little begins affecting its residents. Zee and Elijah quickly realize that something is very amiss and that they are central to whatever is going on. While the identity of the villain isn’t all that hard to figure out, there’s still a good amount of mystery surrounding what exactly is happening in Knobb’s Ferry. Malinenko builds just the right amount of suspense, punctuated by some wonderfully frightening moments.
</p>
<p>
<i>Ghost Girl</i> also focuses on some very human elements, such as standing up for yourself and not assuming that you know everything that another person may be going through based solely on outward appearances. Perhaps the most important point that the book addresses is that no one can take something away from you that is not given freely. Although these may sound like heavier themes for a middle grade read, Malinenko incorporates them in a manner that’s subtle yet powerful.
</p>
<p>
With an ominous atmosphere, deep character development, and ample thrills, <i>Ghost Girl</i> more than lives up to the expectations of its eerie title. I definitely hope to see more adventures featuring Zee and her friends.
</p>
<p>
<b>All in All:</b> A perfect read for the fast approaching spooky season that will appeal to readers of all ages!
</p>
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dIsH2A2F2M/T57gyVpRfSI/AAAAAAAAAQU/ndVAqul-kKo/s1600/4stars.png" />
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-61437660003057031972021-02-08T09:00:00.002-05:002021-02-08T09:03:53.188-05:00Review: Game Changer by Neal Shusterman<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT_OMY1bY20/YCCwHnZTriI/AAAAAAAAGTY/Pkgo3pexJfIo7Z8Davo2DIt31BEa0r5dQCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/game-changer-neal-shusterman.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-right: 1em;""><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1356" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT_OMY1bY20/YCCwHnZTriI/AAAAAAAAGTY/Pkgo3pexJfIo7Z8Davo2DIt31BEa0r5dQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/game-changer-neal-shusterman.jpg"/></a></div>
<b>Game Changer<br />
By Neal Shusterman<br />
Publisher:</b> Quill Tree Books<br />
<b>Format:</b> eARC<br />
<b>Source:</b> Publisher<br/ >
<b>Publication Date:</b> February 9, 2021
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> Ash Bowman is a high school football player with a seemingly normal life until a hard hit during a game leaves him with the feeling that things aren’t quite right—and they aren’t. Ash, however, appears to be the only person who fully realizes that the world has changed, and not necessarily for the better. Whatever is happening around him also awakens Ash to the fact that he truly hasn’t been seeing what life is like for people who aren’t as privileged as he is. As the world continues to shift, Ash discovers that he may be able to bring about positive change, but even the smallest slip could create a new, bleak reality that is permanent.
</p>
<p>
<b>Review:</b> Neal Shusterman’s <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/search/label/Arc of a Scythe">Arc of a Scythe</a></i> trilogy blew me away with its unique premise and brilliant writing, and so I was thrilled to dive into his newest release, <i>Game Changer</i>. One of my favorite things about the <i>Arc of a Scythe</i> series was its deft, multilayered storytelling, and Shusterman doesn’t disappoint in that department here with <i>Game Changer</i>.
</p>
<p>
At first <i>Game Changer</i> appears to be a novel about an archetypal All-American high school football player named Ash Bowman. But when Ash takes a particularly hard hit on a play during a game, it literally shakes his entire world. Blue stop signs are now the norm. Ash knows something is amiss, but most of his family and friends do not. As he maneuvers this seemingly new world, Ash begins to discover that blue stop signs are the least alarming aspect.
</p>
<p>
Finding out the impact of that single event during the football game as Ash does makes for compelling reading. What exactly is going here to cause these shifts in the world? The answer involves a sci-fi twist that I thought was well done, and I’m not much of a sci-fi reader. This book reminded me a bit of David Levithan’s excellent <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2013/05/review-every-day-by-david-levithan.html">Every Day</a></i>. As he did with <i>Arc of a Scythe</i>, Shusterman is so great at immersing you in a world that, sometimes very eerily, isn’t too farfetched from what we know.
</p>
<p>
The heart of this book, though, lies in its timely exploration of some of the most pressing social issues we face, including racism, homophobia, and sexism. At the beginning of the novel, the extent of Ash’s social awareness is his diverse circle of friends. As he finds himself thrown into alternate universes, his white, heterosexual male privilege becomes more and more glaringly apparent to him.
</p>
<p>
While some readers may feel that the novel tries to take on too many weighty topics at once, and granted, each of them individually could absolutely be the subject of their own book, for me the takeaway here was the overall development of Ash’s realization of just how privileged and comfortable his life was back in his original world. And although his attempts to effect sweeping change and correct the injustices he can now see more clearly are sincere, they can come off seeming a bit of a simplistic approach to extremely complex problems. On the whole, though, this is a thought-provoking read that challenges how we often view the world only through the lens of our own experiences and demonstrates the need to continue the work of truly seeing and listening to the multitude of perspectives that exist.
</p>
<p>
<b>All in All:</b> This is the fourth Neal Shusterman book that I’ve read, and I love how he blends an impactful look at societal issues with a sci-fi/alternate universe twist. I find that his books leave me thinking about them for some time after I’ve read the last page, and <i>Game Changer</i> will definitely be staying with me for a while.
</p>
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dIsH2A2F2M/T57gyVpRfSI/AAAAAAAAAQU/ndVAqul-kKo/s1600/4stars.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" />
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" style="margin-left: -0.3em;" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-52301357649771027752020-08-03T20:20:00.000-04:002020-08-03T20:20:00.381-04:00Review: The Enforcer Enigma by G.L. Carriger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jD69ZrkINTU/Xyil73FIylI/AAAAAAAAGEo/EXR3RU9-1XQWXLIynjUUI6y_g0imqIOywCPcBGAYYCw/s1024/the-enforcer-enigma-g-l-carriger.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Enforcer Enigma by G.L. Carriger" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="684" height="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jD69ZrkINTU/Xyil73FIylI/AAAAAAAAGEo/EXR3RU9-1XQWXLIynjUUI6y_g0imqIOywCPcBGAYYCw/w219-h328/the-enforcer-enigma-g-l-carriger.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<b>The Enforcer Enigma (San Andreas Shifters #3)<br />
By G.L. Carriger<br />
Publisher:</b> Gail Carriger<br />
<b>Format:</b> eARC<br />
<b>Source:</b> Author
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> After spending many years of his werewolf existence searching for a pack where he felt he truly belonged, Judd seems to have finally found a home with the San Andreas Pack. And then there’s Colin—Judd’s pack mate and the person whom Judd can picture himself being with for the rest of his life. Colin, however, is used to being invisible and doesn’t feel he has anything to contribute to his pack, let alone to a relationship. As the pair attempt to work through the obstacles in the way of their happiness together, they also find themselves caught up in some intrigue involving selkies who also happen to gangsters as well as a rather unwelcome figure from Colin’s past.
</p>
<p>
<b>Review:</b> The San Andreas werewolf pack has returned, and not a moment too soon! <i>The Enforcer Enigma</i> is the third book in Gail Carriger’s paranormal romance <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/search/label/San Andreas Shifters">San Andreas Shifters</a></i> series, this time centering around Judd, one of the pack’s enforcers, and Colin, the pack’s quietest member who was basically abandoned by his parents and as a result, struggles with finding a sense of worth not only to the pack, but also to himself. Kind and patient Judd would love nothing more than to call Colin his mate for the rest of their lives, but Colin’s insecurity and Judd’s hesitation over their age difference pose challenges to a possible future together. The book follows their burgeoning relationship while also featuring a subplot with an otter shifter/barista, a country music superstar/Alpha werewolf, and selkie mobsters. Intrigued? You definitely should be!
</p>
<p>
One of the hallmarks of this series is how much you find yourself rooting for the main character pairing to get together and get their happily ever after. Judd and Colin could not be sweeter as a couple. The development of their relationship is just so wonderfully written, with neither wanting to pressure the other into moving too quickly or making a long-term commitment. Seeing Judd, who has lived a long life as a werewolf, perhaps finally find love at last, and Colin, who has been starved of affection for the majority of his young life, become the center of another person’s universe will melt your heart.
</p>
<p>
As in the previous two books, the deep bond between the members of the San Andreas Pack shows its strength here. Not only does the pack have each member’s back, but it also embraces an extended family of supernatural friends. That circle widens with each book, and it’s simply lovely to see familiar faces from the other novels pop up.
</p>
<p>
I absolutely love, love, love the humor that Gail Carriger incorporates into all of her books, and <i>The Enforcer Enigma</i> won me over on the first page with a café named Bean There, Froth That. I’m still chuckling typing that! And who wouldn’t welcome some laughs right now? Not only that, and more significantly, there’s also a sweet story about finding acceptance, love, family, and home and learning that everyone unconditionally deserves a family who loves and accepts them for who they are.
</p>
<p>
<b>All in All:</b> An excellent follow-up to <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2018/11/review-omega-objection-by-gl-carriger.html">The Omega Objection</a></i>! And yes—<em>still</em> giggling over Bean There, Froth That!
</p>
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dIsH2A2F2M/T57gyVpRfSI/AAAAAAAAAQU/ndVAqul-kKo/s1600/4stars.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" />
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" style="margin-left: -0.3em;" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-10170535671345834702020-05-03T14:48:00.000-04:002020-05-03T14:48:00.391-04:00Review: Defy or Defend by Gail Carriger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mRMIYMDrXsY/Xq8JMfLF77I/AAAAAAAAGB0/IyzpCgj5BowNtPi_JJlg53PtthhdmftNACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/defy-or-defend-gail-carriger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mRMIYMDrXsY/Xq8JMfLF77I/AAAAAAAAGB0/IyzpCgj5BowNtPi_JJlg53PtthhdmftNACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/defy-or-defend-gail-carriger.jpg" width="214" height="320" data-original-width="317" data-original-height="475" alt="Defy or Defend by Gail Carriger" /></a></div>
<b>Defy or Defend (Delightfully Deadly #2)<br />
By Gail Carriger<br />
Publisher:</b> Gail Carriger<br />
<b>Format:</b> eBook<br />
<b>Source:</b> Author
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<b>To Sum It Up:</b> Dimity Plumleigh-Teignmott, alumna of Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality, is now a seasoned intelligencer, skilled at espionage all while being irrepressibly effervescent. Settling down with a family is now very much in Dimity’s thoughts, though, and she already has a potential partner in domestic bliss in mind—Sir Crispin Bontwee, who’s previously looked after Dimity’s safety on missions. The two are assigned to work together again to investigate a vampire hive that has gone Goth. Armed with a prodigious eye for interior design, Dimity must put her talents into action quickly before time runs out for the hive.
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<b>Review:</b> Sometimes you read a book at EXACTLY the right moment, and that was 100% the case with Gail Carriger’s <i>Defy or Defend</i>. This short novel is the second installment in her <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/search/label/Delightfully Deadly">Delightfully Deadly</a></i> series, which is set in the paranormal/Victorian steampunk world of Carriger’s Parasolverse works and follows the characters from the YA <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/search/label/Finishing School">Finishing School</a></i> series as adults. During this time of real world uncertainty, <i>Defy or Defend</i> was a most welcome escape and an absolute joy to read.
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In <i>Defy or Defend</i>, we catch up with Dimity Plumleigh-Teignmott, best friend to <i>Finishing School</i> protagonist Sophronia Temminnick. Despite being a stellar spy (code name: Honey Bee) for the War Office, Dimity finds herself contemplating leaving life as an intelligencer behind and settling down. She would love nothing more than to win the heart of Sir Crispin Bontwee, her security on some past missions, but he seems immune to her formidable charms. What Dimity doesn’t know is that Sir Crispin does in fact have a soft spot for the Honey Bee. When the pair must work together again, masquerading as a married couple no less, they’re given the perfect opportunity to make their feelings for each other known. There is, however, the not insignificant matter of their mission: to discover what has driven the Nottingham vampire hive to go Goth and to set things to right before BUR, the authority that oversees paranormal affairs, steps in and takes drastic action.
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In addition to a very sweet romance, <i>Defy or Defend</i> features Goth vampires who are quite in the throes of gloom, the entire makeover of a vampire abode, overwrought poetry, and ballet. If all of that weren’t enough, there may be a familiar name or two from the Parasolverse. I love how existing characters are incorporated—there’s just enough of an appearance to thrill readers already familiar with the Parasolverse without making newcomers to the world feel that they need to have read previous books. If anything, I think that these cameos spark curiosity about the characters and entice new readers to pick up the other books.
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As much as I rooted for Dimity and Cris, who are an adorable couple, to sort out the situation between them, I also rooted for the Nottingham hive to find some cheer (which mostly takes the form of Dimity). Dimity is truly a makeover maven with irresistible magic and every bit suited to Cris’s nickname for her, Sparkles. But I also love how Sparkles has her other, lethal side that honed her proficiency in all matter of deadly arts at finishing school.
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<i>Defy or Defend</i> was perfect from beginning to end: the romance, the mission to save the hive, the friends from other Parasolverse stories, and as always with Gail Carriger’s books, the humor! This book and its wonderful heroine and her gallant tuppenny knight are just what I needed in my life right now.
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<b>All in All:</b> 5 sparkly stars!
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<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-69419645263845230412020-04-11T23:39:00.000-04:002020-04-11T23:39:06.635-04:00Eight Years of Blogging!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I'm racing against the clock a bit to get this posted while it's still officially this blog's eighth blogoversary, lol. OK, so I spent a good chunk of my day playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, OK? I think we can all agree 2020 has been suck-tacular thus far, and we all have our coping mechanisms. Mine has turned out to be fishing, collecting bugs, picking fruit, and constantly owing money to a raccoon. In that strange way that the universe works sometimes, I played the OG Animal Crossing on the Nintendo GameCube during an extremely stressful time, and it seems we've circled back around.
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But enough about AC: it was eight years ago today that this blog launched! It's gotten quieter over the past few years as Ally, Melissa, and I have all gotten busier with our non-reading and non-blogging lives, but popping in every once in a while to post and chat books still brings me joy.
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I'm really proud that I didn't recycle the same graphic for like the fifth year running, lol. Melissa very kindly agreed to utilize her artistic gifts to create this new, snazzy graphic for this year's blogoversary post. Thanks again, Melissa!
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I hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy and that books are bringing you some much needed comfort during these very uncertain times. ♥♥♥
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<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-90937074036154269662020-03-02T09:00:00.000-05:002020-03-02T18:02:08.559-05:00Review: Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman<h4 style="margin-bottom: 1.5em;">* This review may contain spoilers for the previous book, <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2020/02/review-scythe-by-neal-shusterman.html"">Scythe</a></i>. *</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ue_Di7_pzQ4/Xlwk9hO81yI/AAAAAAAAF_I/N9CCRUWa3FkaH0XWRXJ-ULc8hNyDFdbBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/thunderhead-neal-shusterman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ue_Di7_pzQ4/Xlwk9hO81yI/AAAAAAAAF_I/N9CCRUWa3FkaH0XWRXJ-ULc8hNyDFdbBACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/thunderhead-neal-shusterman.jpg" width="212" height="320" data-original-width="314" data-original-height="475" alt="Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman" /></a></div>
<b>Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe #2)<br />
By Neal Shusterman<br />
Publisher:</b> Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> Although they began their journey together as scythe’s apprentices, Citra and Rowan’s lives could not be any more different now. Citra has become Scythe Anastasia, an increasingly rare junior scythe who seems to adhere to the principles of the old guard amidst a growing new order that wants to glean without boundaries. Rowan, meanwhile, is now the notorious Scythe Lucifer, the self-appointed deliverer of justice to dishonorable scythes. As Rowan tries to evade capture by the Scythedom, Citra finds herself targeted by a yet unknown enemy. It seems that conflict within the Scythedom is inevitable, and the Thunderhead, the sentient artificial intelligence that benevolently rules over humanity, is powerless to do anything about it because it cannot intervene in scythe affairs.
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<b>Review:</b> After the genius that was <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2020/02/review-scythe-by-neal-shusterman.html">Scythe</a></i>, I couldn’t wait to dive into the sequel, <i>Thunderhead</i>. <i>Scythe</i> was such a thrilling, exhilaratingly unpredictable read with a note perfect ending that I was a bit about nervous how <i>Thunderhead</i> would measure up to its predecessor. It turns out that I need not have worried for a second.
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<p>
When we catch up with <i>Scythe</i>’s two protagonists, Citra and Rowan, we find them on rather opposite sides of scythe law. As Scythe Anastasia, Citra is following in the footsteps of her mentor, Scythe Curie, and doing her best to perform her duties with honor. This is even as the so-called new order within the Scythedom that wants to loosen restrictions on gleaning continues to gain traction. Citra and her mentor’s adherence to the old ways appears to come at a price when they become the targets of an unknown adversary.
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As for Rowan, his path has detoured down a much darker road. He has taken it upon himself to mete out justice to nefarious scythes by gleaning them. Rowan’s vigilantism is not without consequences. In addition to being the Scythedom’s most wanted criminal, AKA “Scythe” Lucifer, his deeds cost him in ways he couldn’t have imagined.
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While Citra and Rowan remain central to the series, we gain the perspectives of additional characters in <i>Thunderhead</i>, including the <span style="white-space: nowrap;">titular . . . entity</span>? The Thunderhead is such a unique character. It’s essentially a highly evolved version of the cloud (as in cloud computing) that governs humanity except for the Scythedom. Not only is the Thunderhead an authority figure, but it also literally takes care of the people it rules. In the case of new character Greyson Tolliver, the Thunderhead has basically parented him.
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As we see inside the Thunderhead’s thoughts, its concern over what is happening within the Scythedom grows significantly. A shift in political climate doesn’t affect just scythes; it inevitably ripples to affect every single human being. Although the Thunderhead cannot take direct action to protect its charges, it is more than clever enough to find ways to circumvent the separation between scythe and state. And Greyson Tolliver becomes a key figure in the Thunderhead’s plans.
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At the beginning of the novel, Greyson is a nondescript student at the Nimbus Academy, training to become an agent under the Thunderhead’s authority. Having essentially been raised by the Thunderhead, Greyson is quite content with his career path. The Thunderhead, however, has other ideas in store for him, and by the end of the book, Greyson Tolliver has experienced quite the adventure.
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One of the things I loved most about <i>Scythe</i> was its seemingly never-ending supply of surprises. <i>Thunderhead</i> ups the twists and turns exponentially. I’m not joking. When I finished the book, I needed a bit to process all that had happened between page one and the final page. It. Is. Insane.
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The ending also makes you wonder where the story can go from there. Seriously—this ending changes EVERYTHING. Whatever follows, though, is sure to be just as brilliant as everything about <i>Thunderhead</i>.
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<b>All in All:</b> This is no lightweight middle book! I loved reading from the Thunderhead’s POV, and I’m still in awe over how Neal Shusterman pulled off shocker after shocker.
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<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-36PZdpdUoO4/T48AuK-LcXI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/f_HUoWOVYg4/s1600/5stars.png" />
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-34386263221233896932020-02-24T09:00:00.000-05:002020-02-24T09:00:06.751-05:00Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ISKoAgSGTaU/XlMOCu7adiI/AAAAAAAAF-s/m74_oPt6PpAr5u7B4MzhSlAu2f3xISNTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/scythe-neal-shusterman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ISKoAgSGTaU/XlMOCu7adiI/AAAAAAAAF-s/m74_oPt6PpAr5u7B4MzhSlAu2f3xISNTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/scythe-neal-shusterman.jpg" width="212" height="320" data-original-width="314" data-original-height="475" alt="Scythe by Neal Shusterman" /></a></div>
<b>Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1)<br />
By Neal Shusterman<br />
Publisher:</b> Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> In a future where disease has been eradicated, the only way to die is to be gleaned by a scythe—those officially charged with delivering death. Scythes are supposed to respect the gravity of their role in society and adhere to a set of rules, but as newly selected apprentices Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch quickly learn, not all scythes are honorable. As division grows within the Scythedom, Citra and Rowan find themselves caught up in some deadly politics that test them as much as, if not more than, their training.
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<b>Review:</b> I’d wanted to read <i>Scythe</i> ever since I spotted the epic cover, but as usual, it took me forever to get to it. And once again, I was late to the “This book is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G” party.
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I’m not sure what I expected from a book that features what are essentially grim reapers—maybe a tone that was mostly gloom and doom and, you know, <em>grim</em>? But <i>Scythe</i> is so, so many layers deeper than that. Yes, death is a major component here, but we also have an extremely thought-provoking dystopian novel sprinkled with wit.
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I absolutely <em>loved</em> Neal Shusterman’s world-building. On the surface, the world of <i>Scythe</i> looks like a utopia. There is no disease. In the event of injury, the body’s nanites dull pain until healing is complete. Hunger and war do not exist anymore. The Thunderhead, an evolved, sentient version of the cloud, watches over humanity and administers to its needs. The watching part sounds rather Big Brother-esque, and as Facebook, Google, etc. track everything we do more and more, the idea of technology ruling over all of us doesn’t seem too far-fetched.
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And then there’s the Scythedom. Since humans no longer die from disease or injury, scythes are charged with controlling population growth by taking lives, or gleaning. Scythes are supposed to approach their duty with reverence and have ten commandments to follow. As the book unfolds, however, we learn that some scythes interpret those commandments more loosely than others, to the point where they’re almost flouting scythe laws. There’s a growing division between the old guard scythes, who keenly feel the weight of their role in society, and the new order scythes, who think the rules are antiquated and restrictive. A lot of political maneuvering goes on in the Scythedom, and it is this tense climate that main characters Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch find themselves thrown into.
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Citra and Rowan are both chosen to be the apprentices of Scythe Faraday, and at first the outcome is simple: only one of them can earn a scythe’s ring. The other will resume his or her life once the selection is made. A cruel twist, however, raises the stakes and puts Citra and Rowan on paths they never envisioned. This book was full of surprises, and I loved how it kept me guessing. I also loved the ending—sometimes I get frustrated when the first book in a series leaves you with nothing but a scream-inducing cliffhanger. <i>Scythe</i> nails the ending, though.
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This is a fantastic series opener with a gripping story, deft world-building, and stellar writing. I am officially a Neal Shusterman fan now and can’t wait to see what else he has in store for this series.
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<b>All in All:</b> A 5-star read from beginning to end. Just brilliant storytelling.
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Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-11425504284501583642020-01-29T21:35:00.000-05:002020-01-29T21:35:20.999-05:00Book Loot (40)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Straight from the Department of Better Late Than Never, here's my first post of 2020: my (mostly) Book Outlet haul <span style="white-space: nowrap;">from . . . Black</span> Friday 2019. Yikes!
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In my defense, the end of 2019 was bonkers. On top of the holiday rush, I got a whopper of a cold just in time for Christmas. Said cold didn't care when the new year dawned and continued to linger. I finally gave in and got it checked out because the nagging cough was keeping me up at night. The best guess was allergic bronchitis, and off I went with prescriptions for a disgusting tasting liquid and an inhaler. Those finally did the trick, and I'm happy to report that I can now get through a complete sentence without needing to stop to hack until my eyes water.
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Getting back on topic to books, I'd first heard about Book Outlet on Facebook, where I also saw that subscribers to their emails would receive early access to their Black Friday sale. This seemed like the perfect time to give the site a try, and <span style="white-space: nowrap;">ahhhhhhhh . . . . It </span> was a real challenge not to put EVERYTHING in my cart! Once common sense was restored, I narrowed down my selections to 8, lol. (I got both <i>The Epic Crush of Genie Lo</i> and <i>Sky Without Stars</i> from Amazon.)
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HeQXImwtnFk/XjI1rnfbZpI/AAAAAAAAF98/rKu0zGAixbE-Asp2I66OFilL_OJt6CcQACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191207_120708.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HeQXImwtnFk/XjI1rnfbZpI/AAAAAAAAF98/rKu0zGAixbE-Asp2I66OFilL_OJt6CcQACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191207_120708.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>
<h4>Bought:</h4>
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41104083-the-epic-crush-of-genie-lo">The Epic Crush of Genie Lo</a></i> by F.C. Yee<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32293966-the-twelve-days-of-dash-and-lily">The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily</a></i> by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38139529-there-s-someone-inside-your-house">There's Someone Inside Your House</a></i> by Stephanie Perkins<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297380-american-panda">American Panda</a></i> by Gloria Chao<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34513785-sky-without-stars">Sky Without Stars</a></i> by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7261699-eon">Eon</a></i> by Alison Goodman<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11736997-eona">Eona</a></i> by Alison Goodman<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20662728-clariel">Clariel</a></i> by Garth Nix<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28594830-goldenhand">Goldenhand</a></i> by Garth Nix<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43204703-a-curse-so-dark-and-lonely">A Curse So Dark and Lonely</a></i> by Brigid Kemmerer
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Have you read any of these? If so, I'd love to know what you thought! I hope your 2020 is off to an amazing start!
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<img style="margin-left: -0.3em; border: none;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-44483959412352163602019-12-10T19:53:00.000-05:002019-12-10T19:53:18.856-05:002020 Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.novelknight.com/btb2020/"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2HB3I-BmVFY/Xe20FGJIGRI/AAAAAAAAF8k/RmBcuLLRdQcCRSinKJSzY_FJqqpF3MVvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/BeatTheBacklist2020_Banner-scaled.png" width="400" height="190" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="759" /></a></div>
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Another year—and another decade—is almost in the books, so to speak, which means it's time to start thinking about reading goals for 2020! My never-ending TBR is loaded with backlist titles, which is why I'm joining Novel Knight's <a href="https://www.novelknight.com/btb2020/">Beat the Backlist challenge</a> again.
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It's a bit sad to admit this, but several of the books I'd hoped to read for this year's challenge are making return appearances on my list of planned reads for next year's challenge because I'm just not going to get to them in 2019. Oh well, lol. So here's what I'd really love to read in 2020:
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zyYmqSzqaxQ/WGnQYWsSM6I/AAAAAAAAE9Y/uSQeVVUkDbQ-ltif4zfPxh7SlhfF0y1yQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/the-dark-days-pact-alison-goodman.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zyYmqSzqaxQ/WGnQYWsSM6I/AAAAAAAAE9Y/uSQeVVUkDbQ-ltif4zfPxh7SlhfF0y1yQCPcBGAYYCw/s200/the-dark-days-pact-alison-goodman.jpg" width="133" height="200" data-original-width="315" data-original-height="475" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2U7_OYlu8Q/WGpcr2P6lRI/AAAAAAAAE-c/RLJXsmYhwoUyAoHY9TiPDpwPCGLEcMuzwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/lord-of-shadows-cassandra-clare.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2U7_OYlu8Q/WGpcr2P6lRI/AAAAAAAAE-c/RLJXsmYhwoUyAoHY9TiPDpwPCGLEcMuzwCPcBGAYYCw/s200/lord-of-shadows-cassandra-clare.jpg" width="133" height="200" data-original-width="315" data-original-height="475" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qf92aHD372M/WlQ3RooOc9I/AAAAAAAAFMI/hRdf0k96TrwtBZIa0qbxX62TDJ7oIKdCgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/lirael-garth-nix.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qf92aHD372M/WlQ3RooOc9I/AAAAAAAAFMI/hRdf0k96TrwtBZIa0qbxX62TDJ7oIKdCgCPcBGAYYCw/s200/lirael-garth-nix.jpg" width="131" height="200" data-original-width="312" data-original-height="475" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-co2nnmpAJ70/WlQ1YhHL8mI/AAAAAAAAFLw/ejmV13cRD38ZEHJFe0Ilcbf9XPZOemX1wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/tower-of-dawn-sarah-j-maas.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-co2nnmpAJ70/WlQ1YhHL8mI/AAAAAAAAFLw/ejmV13cRD38ZEHJFe0Ilcbf9XPZOemX1wCPcBGAYYCw/s200/tower-of-dawn-sarah-j-maas.jpg" width="132" height="200" data-original-width="313" data-original-height="475" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4E1HRWHQqk/W6BWor-h3KI/AAAAAAAAFgg/bXNkaiDsi4gbX3ONioboupuk5TTSJXDDACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/kingdom-of-ash-sarah-j-maas.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4E1HRWHQqk/W6BWor-h3KI/AAAAAAAAFgg/bXNkaiDsi4gbX3ONioboupuk5TTSJXDDACPcBGAYYCw/s200/kingdom-of-ash-sarah-j-maas.jpg" width="132" height="200" data-original-width="313" data-original-height="475" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uepr6pjVwQM/WrBbr2zeCBI/AAAAAAAAFXw/ONsmhnlqYZUSV1YHajjiLyyDUBQf56I-wCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/the-gentlemans-guide-to-vice-and-virtue-mackenzi-lee.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uepr6pjVwQM/WrBbr2zeCBI/AAAAAAAAFXw/ONsmhnlqYZUSV1YHajjiLyyDUBQf56I-wCPcBGAYYCw/s200/the-gentlemans-guide-to-vice-and-virtue-mackenzi-lee.jpg" width="132" height="200" data-original-width="314" data-original-height="475" /></a><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J_9BGLEsSTA/XfA718iDayI/AAAAAAAAF9I/yvERBbHc5Js0SB8eRGshLZvRCy0EpOvIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/you-caroline-kepnes.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J_9BGLEsSTA/XfA718iDayI/AAAAAAAAF9I/yvERBbHc5Js0SB8eRGshLZvRCy0EpOvIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/you-caroline-kepnes.jpg" width="109" height="200" data-original-width="259" data-original-height="475" /></a>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TSVLz7bYeGU/W6mLVuJXqHI/AAAAAAAAFh4/wPW8_2mXu68xPma_3JvZFgfB4Z7zy60TQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/the-dreadful-tale-of-prosper-redding-alexandra-bracken.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TSVLz7bYeGU/W6mLVuJXqHI/AAAAAAAAFh4/wPW8_2mXu68xPma_3JvZFgfB4Z7zy60TQCPcBGAYYCw/s200/the-dreadful-tale-of-prosper-redding-alexandra-bracken.jpg" width="133" height="200" data-original-width="315" data-original-height="475" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z04LJa8o3NY/W6mQuhXwSFI/AAAAAAAAFiM/3yf43hJjELoFmeAooIPthwzq_BfO-vV4QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/my-lady-jane-hand-ashton-meadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z04LJa8o3NY/W6mQuhXwSFI/AAAAAAAAFiM/3yf43hJjELoFmeAooIPthwzq_BfO-vV4QCPcBGAYYCw/s200/my-lady-jane-hand-ashton-meadows.jpg" width="133" height="200" data-original-width="315" data-original-height="475" /></a>
</div>
<p>
I'm also joining the team mini challenge. I am ALWAYS adding books to my TBR even though it's already impossibly long, so it's The TBR Stackers team for me, lol!
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr1KU4eRudg/XfA9MEo-8vI/AAAAAAAAF9U/zO59deDlR4cVrry_CTXjoaB5rannlGHQACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/BeatTheBacklist2020_Icon_TBR-Stackers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sr1KU4eRudg/XfA9MEo-8vI/AAAAAAAAF9U/zO59deDlR4cVrry_CTXjoaB5rannlGHQACPcBGAYYCw/s320/BeatTheBacklist2020_Icon_TBR-Stackers.png" width="320" height="310" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1551" /></a></div>
<p>
Are you joining any reading challenges for 2020?
</p>
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-84252952506045501782019-12-04T09:00:00.000-05:002019-12-04T09:00:02.857-05:00Book Loot (39)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iaOWjJBbvfA/U5TxQ8WnmNI/AAAAAAAADmw/nO0rzAZOASc/s1600/book-loot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iaOWjJBbvfA/U5TxQ8WnmNI/AAAAAAAADmw/nO0rzAZOASc/s1600/book-loot.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a>
</div>
<p>
Hello, friends! We're getting closer and closer to the end of 2019, and, the end of another decade—EEK!
</p>
<p>
For my part, it looks like I'm trying to amass as many new books as possible before 2019 ends, lol. Maggie Stiefvater's <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/search/label/The Raven Cycle">The Raven Cycle</a></i> is one of my favorite series <em>ever</em>, so of course I HAD to get a copy of the first book in the spin-off <i>Dreamer</i> trilogy.
</p>
<p>
Neal Shusterman's <i>Scythe</i> is one of my favorite 2019 reads. I've already started <i>Thunderhead</i>, and I'm loving it just as much as <i>Scythe</i> so far!
</p>
<p>
What books have you added to your shelves recently?
</p>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TWiHtTe_4ns/XecYokH1z-I/AAAAAAAAF74/8_u_YT-rNdwhr4DUNstwto9t37b-0Gu5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191127_074430.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TWiHtTe_4ns/XecYokH1z-I/AAAAAAAAF74/8_u_YT-rNdwhr4DUNstwto9t37b-0Gu5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191127_074430.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>
<h4>Won:</h4>
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43557477-the-jane-austen-society">The Jane Austen Society</a></i> by Natalie Jenner<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44280984-miss-austen">Miss Austen</a></i> by Gill Hornby<br />
Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press and Flatiron Books!!<br /><br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C4glzoFK7wI/XecZ6M5OonI/AAAAAAAAF8E/YTDu-iHXMeA2IHtoQ1obUlcfs4LKFm9owCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191118_073247.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C4glzoFK7wI/XecZ6M5OonI/AAAAAAAAF8E/YTDu-iHXMeA2IHtoQ1obUlcfs4LKFm9owCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191118_073247.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>
<h4>Bought:</h4>
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43884147-the-how-and-the-why">The How and the Why</a></i> by Cynthia Hand<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31373184-call-down-the-hawk">Call Down the Hawk</a></i> by Maggie Stiefvater<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36873039-thunderhead">Thunderhead</a></i> by Neal Shusterman<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37632682-the-toll">The Toll</a></i> by Neal Shusterman
</div>
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em; border: none;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-86439102289044980452019-11-30T23:26:00.000-05:002019-11-30T23:26:20.896-05:00Adventures at YALLFest 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8N0QrWScxos/XeMTmhw4jkI/AAAAAAAAF64/vUr9ez8f1F8kgX_aehbVS3kfpdix8994QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2019-yallfest-program.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8N0QrWScxos/XeMTmhw4jkI/AAAAAAAAF64/vUr9ez8f1F8kgX_aehbVS3kfpdix8994QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/2019-yallfest-program.jpg" width="380" height="400" data-original-width="1328" data-original-height="1399" alt="2019 YALLFest Program" /></a></div>
<p>
November has become one of my favorite months because it means it's time to go to YALLFest again! This was the fifth trip for Ally, Melissa, and me to Charleston for the two day young adult book festival, and it was just as much fun as the first year we attended.
</p>
<p>
After the requisite stop for coffee before hitting the road, we were on our way by around 3:45AM. It's about a 6 hour drive from Central Florida to Charleston, and for us, a big part of the adventure is the road trip itself. Will we have enough room in the car for our book hauls? What item did Lee forget to pack this year? Who will get hangry first? (It's usually me, Lee, but this year it <em>wasn't</em> me haha!)
</p>
<p>
Friday is YALLCrawl, which features some author signings and events. Jenny Han was signing as part of YALLCrawl again, so I got my copies of <i>P.S. I Still Love You</i> and <i>Always and Forever, Lara Jean</i> signed:
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QUxgDFA_z3I/XeMsY4lQQMI/AAAAAAAAF7c/YCQZCHZ2HPc7BvezIYSg08CI8_qVB8-CwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191119_072841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QUxgDFA_z3I/XeMsY4lQQMI/AAAAAAAAF7c/YCQZCHZ2HPc7BvezIYSg08CI8_qVB8-CwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191119_072841.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a></div>
<p>
While I was at the signing, Ally and Melissa headed off to check out the official YALLFest merch. We learned the hard lesson in our first year at the festival that we must buy our T-shirts and any other YALLFest goodies on Friday or they will be sold out by Saturday.
</p>
<p>
Since some of us had been awake since 2:30 in the morning, we opted for an early dinner again and then took our exhausted selves to the hotel to get a good night's sleep in preparation for a very, very busy Saturday.
</p>
<p>
We usually grab bagels for breakfast, but this time we tried a charming café called La Pâtisserie that we'd passed while browsing King Street on Friday. I had a ham and cheese croissant, and it was amazing! The delicious coffee also hit the spot on a chilly morning.
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p37IpJVniu0/XeMsJ87WvDI/AAAAAAAAF7I/oRaGzuGgUuIjeP9RRLH_5C66Vn2YMdhgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191109_074345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p37IpJVniu0/XeMsJ87WvDI/AAAAAAAAF7I/oRaGzuGgUuIjeP9RRLH_5C66Vn2YMdhgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191109_074345.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a></div>
<p>
After breakfast, we headed towards the Charleston Museum, where the line to pick up tickets for the Fierce Reads ARC giveaways already wrapped around the corner. We happily each received our tickets to return later for the ARCs and then got down to the business of running from line to line.
</p>
<p>
I've collected Shadowhunter posters from the Riveted/Simon Teen booth for the last 3 years, so I was thrilled to add another, this time of Matthew Fairchild from the upcoming <i>Chain of Gold</i>:
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zgv7t4Dhgwk/XeMsctAuHQI/AAAAAAAAF7k/Fv8V96wBHHMEEgvE9RBaP4weZ0K0FIVsACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/chain-of-gold-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zgv7t4Dhgwk/XeMsctAuHQI/AAAAAAAAF7k/Fv8V96wBHHMEEgvE9RBaP4weZ0K0FIVsACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/chain-of-gold-poster.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a></div>
<p>
Here's one of the better pics of us, lol, taken at the Pique booth during their ARC giveaway of Jordan Ifueko's <i>Raybearer</i>:
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQieGqezkno/XeMsDzXOS3I/AAAAAAAAF7E/_tTZHSTmL_82_xbzwTP8GOWwQlrQPzIDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191109_104208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQieGqezkno/XeMsDzXOS3I/AAAAAAAAF7E/_tTZHSTmL_82_xbzwTP8GOWwQlrQPzIDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191109_104208.jpg" width="225" height="400" data-original-width="900" data-original-height="1600" /></a><br />
L to R: Lee, Melissa, Ally</div>
<p>
Nic Stone was signing ARCs of her upcoming <i>Shuri</i> at the I Read YA/Scholastic booth, and she noticed the Marvel sweatshirt I was wearing and said it was perfect!
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a3NF4vuYDiY/XeMsT0Zeu-I/AAAAAAAAF7Y/GIhWMdeSOis002Q0WehllfE7vP-dbpSBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191123_114633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a3NF4vuYDiY/XeMsT0Zeu-I/AAAAAAAAF7Y/GIhWMdeSOis002Q0WehllfE7vP-dbpSBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191123_114633.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a></div>
<p>
Around 4PM, we realized that we were starving and practically sprinted to Five Guys to grab dinner. Back at the hotel, we collapsed for a bit and then organized our goodies to make departing in the morning a bit easier.
</p>
<p>
Once again, the weekend flew by in a blur of books. I can't wait to start reading these!
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HJrlgHqeaCw/XeMsRDPaEvI/AAAAAAAAF7Q/2bt80_8UaA8Y8jGBNIEHmIL85cXqqv0AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191112_123008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HJrlgHqeaCw/XeMsRDPaEvI/AAAAAAAAF7Q/2bt80_8UaA8Y8jGBNIEHmIL85cXqqv0AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191112_123008.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43908877-blood-countess">Blood Countess</a></i> by Lana Popvić<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38580109-rogue-princess">Rogue Princess</a></i> by B.R. Myers<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37844750-the-iron-will-of-genie-lo">The Iron Will of Genie Lo</a></i> by F.C. Yee<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40672188-the-last-confession-of-autumn-casterly">The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly</a></i> by Meredith Tate<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40950392-the-stars-we-steal">The Stars We Steal</a></i> by Alexa Donne<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46734428-the-winter-duke">The Winter Duke</a></i> by Claire Eliza Bartlett<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42070688-most-likely">Most Likely</a></i> by Sarah Watson<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38898560-only-mostly-devastated">Only Mostly Devastated</a></i> by Sophie Gonzales<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39334199-we-are-the-wildcats">We Are the Wildcats</a></i> by Siobhan Vivian<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36238055-between-burning-worlds">Between Burning Worlds</a></i> by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45701604-the-small-crimes-of-tiffany-templeton">The Small Crimes of Tiffany Templeton</a></i> by Richard Fifield<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44588106-rules-for-being-a-girl">Rules for Being a Girl</a></i> by Candace Bushnell & Katie Cotugno<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45429289-raybearer">Raybearer</a></i> by Jordan Ifueko<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48057537-shuri">Shuri: A Black Panther Novel</a></i> by Nic Stone<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46068791-you-re-next">You're Next</a></i> by Kylie Schachte
</div>
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-73826149209636642172019-11-12T00:19:00.000-05:002019-11-12T00:19:46.008-05:00Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Bookmarks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdafZcjkKkA/W3tgX8PyEoI/AAAAAAAAFe4/c-PiXPW9ZZ0tgv3cHAj_jRYtHkbdww9mACPcBGAYYCw/s400/TTT-NEW.png" width="400" height="162" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="203" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<p>Top Ten Tuesday was created by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html">The Broke and the Bookish</a> and is now hosted by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/">That Artsy Reader Girl</a>.
</p>
<p>
This week's topic is:<br />
<b>Favorite Bookmarks</b>
</p>
</div>
<p>
I LOVE collecting bookmarks, probably as much as I love adding books to my shelves, lol! And just like choosing my favorite books, it was also tough to choose my favorite bookmarks. Quite a few of them, like the Lisa Simpson bookmark in the photo below, have grown in sentimental value over the years because I've had them for so long. Often I'll try to find bookmarks of my favorite characters, and not just from books, but from movies and TV, too, as you'll also see from the photo. :D
</p>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VEdZPNpmVIk/Xco5ssM1-9I/AAAAAAAAF50/-IlHtCbRZ_4w-vFLKU0FFYNq4WMXlUCswCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191111_145005.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VEdZPNpmVIk/Xco5ssM1-9I/AAAAAAAAF50/-IlHtCbRZ_4w-vFLKU0FFYNq4WMXlUCswCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191111_145005.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a>
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>1. The Millennium Falcon</b><br />
A <i>Star Wars</i> bookmark is an absolute must have for this fangirl.
</p>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>2. The Avengers</b><br />
This bookmark was a tie-in for <i>Endgame</i>. It's currently holding my place in Neal Shusterman's <i>Scythe</i>.
</p>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>3. <i>The Raven Cycle</i></b><br />
I got these adorable bookmarks of the characters from Maggie Stiefvater's <i>Raven Cycle</i> from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyHelloCo">Happy Hello</a>.
</p>
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>4. Lisa Simpson</b><br />
I've been a Simpsons fan from the beginning, and I love the inspirational quote on this bookmark.
</p>
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>5. YALLFest</b><br />
I just picked this up over the weekend during YALLFest 2019, and this bookmark features this year's artwork for the festival.
</p>
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>6. Ron Weasley</b><br />
How cute is this bookmark of Ron?!
</p>
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>7. Keep Calm and Read On</b><br />
What I tell myself all the time. :D
</p>
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>8. Dumbledore</b><br />
I know I included two <i>Harry Potter</i>-themed bookmarks, but this is my favorite Dumbledore quote and one of my favorite quotes from the whole series.
</p>
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>9. <i>The Infernal Devices</i></b><br />
Another set from Happy Hello, featuring Will, Jem, and Tessa.
</p>
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<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>10. New York</b><br />
I got this at The Cloisters museum a few years ago during a trip to New York to always remember my hometown. ♥
</p>
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<p>
What are your favorite bookmarks?
</p>
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em; margin-top: 1em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-91701316624862046342019-11-06T09:00:00.000-05:002019-11-06T09:00:00.717-05:00Book Loot (38)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iaOWjJBbvfA/U5TxQ8WnmNI/AAAAAAAADmw/nO0rzAZOASc/s1600/book-loot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iaOWjJBbvfA/U5TxQ8WnmNI/AAAAAAAADmw/nO0rzAZOASc/s1600/book-loot.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a>
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<p>
Yikes—it's another Book Loot post already! I've dubbed this my Pre-YALLFest Haul because I'm taking some of these to hopefully get signed at YALLFest in Charleston this weekend. :D
</p>
<p>
I'm about halfway through Neal Shusterman's <i>Scythe</i>, and all I can say is: why didn't I read this book, or any of Neal Shusterman's books, sooner?! It's definitely going to be one of my 2019 favorites.
</p>
<p>
What books have you added to your shelves lately?
</p>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuS4f6_291c/XcIkzynRkxI/AAAAAAAAF5M/nYqGvGhjU0IScZKCquMMrzGQEwDZhx1cgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191028_115834.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuS4f6_291c/XcIkzynRkxI/AAAAAAAAF5M/nYqGvGhjU0IScZKCquMMrzGQEwDZhx1cgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191028_115834.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1naZsz4Atec/XcInYMFR_vI/AAAAAAAAF5Y/0Pj-vubdeHsP5Wmo4P1LhT1dfiOWF-fkQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/reveal-me-tahereh-mafi.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1naZsz4Atec/XcInYMFR_vI/AAAAAAAAF5Y/0Pj-vubdeHsP5Wmo4P1LhT1dfiOWF-fkQCPcBGAYYCw/s200/reveal-me-tahereh-mafi.jpg" width="133" height="200" data-original-width="316" data-original-height="475" /></a>
<h4>Won:</h4>
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41951611-angel-mage">Angel Mage</a></i> by Garth Nix<br />
Much thanks to Epic Reads!<br /><br />
<h4>Bought:</h4>
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26032825-the-cruel-prince">The Cruel Prince</a></i> by Holly Black<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31145133-i-believe-in-a-thing-called-love">I Believe in a Thing Called Love</a></i> by Maurene Goo<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20698530-p-s-i-still-love-you">P.S. I Still Love You</a></i> by Jenny Han<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35247769-always-and-forever-lara-jean">Always and Forever, Lara Jean</a></i> by Jenny Han<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28954189-scythe">Scythe</a></i> by Neal Shusterman<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39893545-the-vanishing-stair">The Vanishing Stair</a></i> by Maureen Johnson<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43514655-reveal-me">Reveal Me</a></i> by Tahereh Mafi
</div>
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em; border: none;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-71357492408042038172019-10-31T08:00:00.000-04:002019-10-31T08:00:05.178-04:00October 2019 Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HCVGnJ5KNvc/UJFsdescqLI/AAAAAAAABE0/VWLSeN8vZQ09oipLeIJ-739VwYUyFU32gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/october.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HCVGnJ5KNvc/UJFsdescqLI/AAAAAAAABE0/VWLSeN8vZQ09oipLeIJ-739VwYUyFU32gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/october.jpg" data-original-width="257" data-original-height="185" /></a></div>
<p>
Wow! There's actually a recap this month <span style="white-space: nowrap;">because . . . there's</span> some stuff to recap, lol!
</p>
<p>
Last week I got to see the touring production of <i>Les Misérables</i> at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando. I first saw the show about 20 years ago on Broadway when I was living in New York. I'm a bit of a Les Miz nerd, lol; I've watched the anniversary concerts and the movie adaptation of the musical with Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway more than a few times. ;) When I found out that the current tour was making a stop in Orlando, I jumped at the opportunity to see the show again.
</p>
<p>
I admit that I got chills when the orchestra began playing the opening notes! This was a wonderful production; everything from the performances to the sets was amazing! If you're a Les Miz fan and have the chance to catch this tour, don't miss it!
</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0aEHWE9zIhI/XbpQhHV2HDI/AAAAAAAAF4s/vFcEaXTU6D0HSIW-XXGDI4h2MUcXD_DBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20191024_193410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0aEHWE9zIhI/XbpQhHV2HDI/AAAAAAAAF4s/vFcEaXTU6D0HSIW-XXGDI4h2MUcXD_DBACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20191024_193410.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a></div>
<p>
On the bookish side, I read 2 books this month, and both were 4 star reads. I'm trying to keep that momentum going and am currently reading Neal Shusterman's <i>Scythe</i>, which has been very, very good so far.
</p>
<p>
Yesterday the temperature here in Florida was 90 and felt like 97. Um, hello? Tomorrow's November? We're hoping to <em>finally</em> experience some sweater weather when we head to Charleston next week for YALLFest.
</p>
<p>
How was your October?
</p>
<h4 style="text-decoration: underline;">Reviews Posted:</h4>
<ul style="margin-left: -1.5em;">
<li><i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2019/10/review-truly-devious-by-maureen-johnson.html">Truly Devious</a></i> by Maureen Johnson</li>
<li><i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2019/10/review-to-all-boys-ive-loved-before-by.html">To All the Boys I've Loved Before</a></i> by Jenny Han</li>
</ul>
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-21039293224050018152019-10-29T00:00:00.000-04:002019-10-29T00:00:01.167-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Spookiest Books I've Read<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WdafZcjkKkA/W3tgX8PyEoI/AAAAAAAAFe4/c-PiXPW9ZZ0tgv3cHAj_jRYtHkbdww9mACPcBGAYYCw/s400/TTT-NEW.png" width="400" height="162" data-original-width="500" data-original-height="203" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<p>Top Ten Tuesday was created by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html">The Broke and the Bookish</a> and is now hosted by <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/">That Artsy Reader Girl</a>.
</p>
</div>
<p>
It's a Halloween Freebie this week, so I've made a list of the spookiest books I've read. My list is actually a little short because I'm such a wimp when it comes to reading horror or anything close to it, lol.
</p>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>1. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9378297-anna-dressed-in-blood">Anna Dressed in Blood</a></i> by Kendare Blake</b>
</p>
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P7U2hZdFpQw/XbeZwyTF-zI/AAAAAAAAF4I/FxZvqYveq04GyMYRt6XNHQIC4228eezywCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/anna-dressed-in-blood-kendare-blake.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P7U2hZdFpQw/XbeZwyTF-zI/AAAAAAAAF4I/FxZvqYveq04GyMYRt6XNHQIC4228eezywCPcBGAYYCw/s320/anna-dressed-in-blood-kendare-blake.jpg" width="221" height="320" data-original-width="318" data-original-height="460" /></a>
<br />
It's a really good thing that the protagonist, Cas, is hilariously snarky because this is one <em>scary</em> book, and I probably would've been too much of a chicken to read it otherwise.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>2. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7728889-the-diviners">The Diviners</a></i> by Libba Bray</b>
</p>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Uq5v809_GI/UTZKuSNXNuI/AAAAAAAACXI/jsZrBuF3rco342DQUtXgm5PQmx6Ngb1WQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/the-diviners-libba-bray.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Uq5v809_GI/UTZKuSNXNuI/AAAAAAAACXI/jsZrBuF3rco342DQUtXgm5PQmx6Ngb1WQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/the-diviners-libba-bray.jpg" width="214" height="320" data-original-width="317" data-original-height="475" /></a><br />
I do most of my reading at night, and when I read this, I couldn't go to sleep right away because I was afraid of having nightmares from it, lol.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>3. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1.Harry_Potter_and_the_Half_Blood_Prince">Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</a></i> by J.K. Rowling</b>
</p>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0HSZIE2YMi0/XbeE1VAtyEI/AAAAAAAAF34/z5nxzzMeqAcYKjdgdcQjjmgNAjXVzJBwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-j-k-rowling.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0HSZIE2YMi0/XbeE1VAtyEI/AAAAAAAAF34/z5nxzzMeqAcYKjdgdcQjjmgNAjXVzJBwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-j-k-rowling.jpg" width="213" height="320" data-original-width="300" data-original-height="451" /></a>
<br />
The scene where Harry and Dumbledore fight the Inferi creeps me out more than anything else in the series, including any scene with Voldemort.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<p>
<b>4. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29589074-truly-devious">Truly Devious</a></i> by Maureen Johnson</b>
</p>
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_2oEEBrhNg/WlgdT0WNAKI/AAAAAAAAFM4/bZnPXCKBRnc78ovJ0cPgeC_S4K_PA_R0ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/truly-devious-maureen-johnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_2oEEBrhNg/WlgdT0WNAKI/AAAAAAAAFM4/bZnPXCKBRnc78ovJ0cPgeC_S4K_PA_R0ACPcBGAYYCw/s320/truly-devious-maureen-johnson.jpg" width="221" height="320" data-original-width="318" data-original-height="460" /></a><br />
This falls under mystery, but the sense of foreboding that pervades the book is as chill-inducing as a horror story.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>5. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1042542.Sabriel">Sabriel</a></i> by Garth Nix</b>
</p>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INSc_DUWju4/V7hT86ktNNI/AAAAAAAAE1s/c4CudSiR5R0HMsKiclwLAgHLaPFxNlRHACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/sabriel-garth-nix.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INSc_DUWju4/V7hT86ktNNI/AAAAAAAAE1s/c4CudSiR5R0HMsKiclwLAgHLaPFxNlRHACPcBGAYYCw/s320/sabriel-garth-nix.jpg" width="213" height="320" data-original-width="266" data-original-height="400" /></a><br />
The title character is a necromancer, and although she's a heroine, this book is still filled with plenty of scary moments.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>6. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7507908-the-replacement">The Replacement</a></i> by Brenna Yovanoff</b>
</p>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hbjEJqNYe5A/UcJwn7w36oI/AAAAAAAACu0/6G3si19XLzcjpOPMppy-bOoEatXWAzYlQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/the-replacement-brenna-yovanoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hbjEJqNYe5A/UcJwn7w36oI/AAAAAAAACu0/6G3si19XLzcjpOPMppy-bOoEatXWAzYlQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/the-replacement-brenna-yovanoff.jpg" width="207" height="320" data-original-width="300" data-original-height="463" /></a><br />
This novel about a changeling features some very creepy supernatural beings.
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.75em;">
<p>
<b>7. <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13595639-the-name-of-the-star">The Name of the Star</a></i> by Maureen Johnson</b>
</p>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QQ4HhVGjMAI/Xbed3ejzBeI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/CEFwLSa6IpsdEDxzvw1ihdZHPdNTefyFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/the-name-of-the-star-maureen-johnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QQ4HhVGjMAI/Xbed3ejzBeI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/CEFwLSa6IpsdEDxzvw1ihdZHPdNTefyFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/the-name-of-the-star-maureen-johnson.jpg" width="214" height="320" data-original-width="317" data-original-height="475" /></a><br />
Another Maureen Johnson title, this one about a Jack the Ripper copycat terrorizing modern day London. The paranormal element gives the book an eerie twist.
</div>
<p>
What are some of the scariest books you've read?
</p>
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em; margin-top: 1em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-5379657159052996212019-10-28T08:00:00.000-04:002019-10-28T08:00:00.780-04:00Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LvsaUFGlqJs/W6BbPKMXYpI/AAAAAAAAFg0/u3f21cUfQlgZCmGBo4tVF39hrxECiHBYgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-jenny-han.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LvsaUFGlqJs/W6BbPKMXYpI/AAAAAAAAFg0/u3f21cUfQlgZCmGBo4tVF39hrxECiHBYgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-jenny-han.jpg" width="212" height="320" data-original-width="315" data-original-height="475" alt="To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han" /></a></div>
<b>To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #1)<br />
By Jenny Han<br />
Publisher:</b> Simon & Schuster BFYR<br />
<b>Format:</b> Paperback<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> Lara Jean’s life is about to change in some big ways—the start of a new school year and the departure of her beloved older sister for college abroad in Scotland. Nothing can prepare Lara Jean, however, for the horror of seeing the secret letters she’s written to every boy she’s loved somehow mailed out to the recipients. In an equally bizarre twist, Lara Jean finds herself pretending to be the girlfriend of one of the addressees, Peter Kavinsky. At first she thinks she’s long over him, but as their supposedly fake relationship continues, Lara Jean realizes that she just might want it to be real.
</p>
<p>
<b>Review:</b> Once again, I’m way behind the curve in reading a massively popular book, in this case Jenny Han’s <i>To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before</i>. This book had been on my radar even before the release of the equally popular Netflix adaptation, in part thanks to the gorgeous cover. I don’t read much contemporary and so didn’t make this much of a priority read until Twitter exploded with all the love for the film. And then it <em>still</em> took me a while to finally read the book.
</p>
<p>
Seeing all of that love for the movie on social media made me feel like I already knew Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky before reading a single page. It took reading maybe five pages to fall in love with MC Lara Jean’s narrative voice. It was instantly engaging, and I also loved the immediate sense of closeness between her and her sisters. When the novel opens, eldest sister Margot is preparing to head off to college in Scotland, leaving Lara Jean to step up to being a mother figure for their younger sister, Kitty. Margot took on the role of looking after her sisters and their father a few years before after the death of their mother. Taking on more family responsibilities, having her sister in another country, and starting a new school year end up being the least of Lara Jean’s worries, though, when something unthinkable happens. The letters she’s written to every boy she’s loved and keeps hidden in a hatbox her mother gave her somehow get mailed to each boy.
</p>
<p>
Enter Peter Kavinsky, a past love of Lara Jean’s and therefore the recipient of one of her letters. In order to do damage control with another letter recipient, Lara Jean enters into a pact with Peter to fake being a couple, an arrangement that benefits Peter, too. At first Lara Jean finds him to be true to his reputation around school—arrogant, egotistical, and the kind of guy who eats the last slice of pizza. Peter is also pretty unfiltered and unapologetic about it, which may not appeal to everyone, but which I often found hilarious.
</p>
<p>
Part of Lara Jean’s growth in the novel is discovering that there’s more to Peter K.’s handsome face and too-cool-to-care attitude. He does, in fact, care about a lot of things. I thought that Lara Jean’s character development was well done. She can be petty and even mean at times and makes some less than wise decisions, but she has the self-awareness to call herself out.
</p>
<p>
I was very much enjoying this book until the end. I have to say, I was a bit disappointed with how things were left. I’m not into Hallmark Channel Christmas movie-perfect endings, but I felt this one could have some more closure, even if it is the first book in a series. On the upside, now I absolutely have to read the sequel to see if my questions are answered.
</p>
<p>
<b>All in All:</b> I typically don’t go for contemporary YA romance, but this was a sweet, winning read. Perfect if you love breezy novels like Stephanie Perkins’s <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2012/06/review-anna-and-french-kiss-by.html">Anna and the French Kiss</a></i>.
</p>
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dIsH2A2F2M/T57gyVpRfSI/AAAAAAAAAQU/ndVAqul-kKo/s1600/4stars.png" />
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-72318023274898079542019-10-21T08:00:00.000-04:002019-10-21T08:00:08.323-04:00Review: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_2oEEBrhNg/WlgdT0WNAKI/AAAAAAAAFM4/bZnPXCKBRnc78ovJ0cPgeC_S4K_PA_R0ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/truly-devious-maureen-johnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5_2oEEBrhNg/WlgdT0WNAKI/AAAAAAAAFM4/bZnPXCKBRnc78ovJ0cPgeC_S4K_PA_R0ACPcBGAYYCw/s320/truly-devious-maureen-johnson.jpg" width="221" height="320" data-original-width="318" data-original-height="460" alt="Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson" /></a></div>
<b>Truly Devious (Truly Devious #1)<br />
By Maureen Johnson<br />
Publisher:</b> Katherine Tegen Books<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> True crime buff Stevie Bell has been admitted to Ellingham Academy, an ultra-exclusive school with a tragic history. Its namesake and founder, Albert Ellingham, was a wealthy industrialist whose wife and daughter were kidnapped. Although someone was arrested and convicted of the crime, Steve doubts his guilt. So she’s at Ellingham to solve the case and finally discover the real identity of Truly Devious, the author of a threatening letter that Albert Ellingham received shortly before his family was taken. Soon, however, Stevie finds herself with two possible cases to investigate when another death occurs at Ellingham Academy and the clues increasingly point towards murder.
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<p>
<b>Review:</b> Having very much enjoyed Maureen Johnson’s <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/search/label/Shades of London">Shades of London</a></i> books, I was eager to check out <i>Truly Devious</i>, the first novel in a new series. I’m not a huge mystery reader, but after finishing this expertly plotted book, I have a new appreciation for the genre.
</p>
<p>
<i>Truly Devious</i> follows Stephanie “Stevie” Bell, a true crime fan who is about to begin her first year at the super exclusive Ellingham Academy, a private school that was once the scene of an infamous crime: the kidnapping of the wife and daughter of the school’s wealthy founder, Albert Ellingham. While an arrest was made and the case seemingly closed, Stevie is among those who do not believe that the authorities found the actual Truly Devious, the author of a threatening letter that Ellingham received days before the abduction of his family. Stevie arrives at the school ready to solve the case and uncover the real identity of Truly Devious.
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<p>
The book shifts between the present, where Stevie’s story takes place, and the past, where we witness firsthand, sometimes in agonizing detail, Albert Ellingham’s life unravel from the moment he receives the terrifying phone call that his wife and daughter have been taken. Johnson intertwines the two timelines brilliantly. Both Stevie’s sleuthing, which is the real thing and not amateurish at all, and the backstory behind her whole reason for applying to Ellingham Academy in the first place are equally compelling. If the entire book had been set during Albert Ellingham’s time, I still would have read it.
</p>
<p>
As much as Stevie is driven to solve the Ellingham case, she also finds herself dealing with adjusting to a new school that her parents don’t exactly approve of as well as managing her anxiety. The latter was something that I could absolutely relate to, and I thought it was portrayed very realistically.
</p>
<p>
Another layer is added to the plot when death strikes Ellingham Academy again, and Stevie starts to suspect that it wasn’t accidental. As she tries to piece together the full picture of the victim’s life, both Stevie and the reader learn that not everything is at it appears with her classmates. I love how the tension and suspense build around both cases. Who’s responsible for this latest death? Could one of Stevie’s own classmates be the culprit? Who was really behind the kidnapping of Iris and Alice Ellingham back in the 1930s? Could the two crimes possibly be related?
<p>
<p>
The answers to these questions are not fully resolved by the end of <i>Truly Devious</i>. I wasn’t disappointed by this, however. Quite the opposite—I liked that there were no easy solutions wrapped up in a bow here. One minor thing that I wasn’t so keen on was the romance. It felt rushed, and I wasn’t as invested in it as I was in seeing all of Ellingham Academy’s dark secrets revealed. I’m definitely hooked on this series now and can’t wait to dive into the sequel, even if it only deepens the mysteries surrounding this seemingly unfortunate school.
</p>
<p>
<b>All in All:</b> An absorbing mystery/thriller with just the right amount of suspense. You can really feel the ominous shadow of Truly Devious that hangs over Ellingham Academy. Highly recommended!
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<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dIsH2A2F2M/T57gyVpRfSI/AAAAAAAAAQU/ndVAqul-kKo/s1600/4stars.png" />
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-78246181044768757742019-10-16T08:00:00.000-04:002019-10-16T08:00:03.382-04:00Book Loot (37)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p>
Hello, friends! So I've been amassing books again, lol. Some of these, like <i>The Rise of Kyoshi</i> and <i>Reticence</i>, were pre-orders that I had been eagerly waiting for, and I also had a Barnes and Noble gift card that I finally put to good use.
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<p>
I had to show off the absolutely <em>stunning</em> cover for <i>The Ten Thousand Doors of January</i>. It's even prettier in person!
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What books have you added to your shelves lately? Have you read any of these?
</p>
<div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rghihGBYHeU/XaT_aO63AuI/AAAAAAAAF1I/p881vcjslAUck4PEYSGN2gUNSsD1svJJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20190914_145607.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rghihGBYHeU/XaT_aO63AuI/AAAAAAAAF1I/p881vcjslAUck4PEYSGN2gUNSsD1svJJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20190914_145607.jpg" width="400" height="225" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="900" /></a><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-piR2un5GMeI/XaT_-UF7sMI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/z4JK51rVWTAkMQvwqn5BViZlA0OxlFBkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/eliza-and-her-monsters-francesca-zappia.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-piR2un5GMeI/XaT_-UF7sMI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/z4JK51rVWTAkMQvwqn5BViZlA0OxlFBkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/eliza-and-her-monsters-francesca-zappia.jpg" width="132" height="200" data-original-width="314" data-original-height="475" /></a>
<h4>Bought:</h4>
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37076222-loki">Loki: Where Mischief Lies</a></i> by Mackenzi Lee<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41104164-the-rise-of-kyoshi">The Rise of Kyoshi</a></i> by F.C. Yee<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31570843-reticence">Reticence</a></i> by Gail Carriger<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43230045-cruel-to-be-kind">Cruel to Be Kind: The Life and Music of Nick Lowe</a></i> by Will Birch<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43798285-the-institute">The Institute</a></i> by Stephen King<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079806-a-king-s-ransom">A King's Ransom</a></i> by Sharon Kay Penman<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43521657-the-ten-thousand-doors-of-january">The Ten Thousand Doors of January</a></i> by Alix E. Harrow<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31931941-eliza-and-her-monsters">Eliza and Her Monsters</a></i> by Francesca Zappia<br />
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<img style="margin-left: -0.3em; border: none;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-44312576064305407102019-09-16T08:00:00.000-04:002019-09-16T08:00:05.777-04:00Review: City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYFArhPy5B4/WufPuW_x4EI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/Ci9FKGqMXv8jR-nomGYKxRUlykycJ8wqgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/city-of-ghosts-victoria-schwab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sYFArhPy5B4/WufPuW_x4EI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/Ci9FKGqMXv8jR-nomGYKxRUlykycJ8wqgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/city-of-ghosts-victoria-schwab.jpg" width="214" height="320" data-original-width="317" data-original-height="475" alt="City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab" /></a></div>
<b>City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1)<br />
By Victoria Schwab<br />
Publisher:</b> Scholastic Press<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> Cassidy Blake’s parents may write books about ghosts for a living, but for Cass, ghosts are all too real. After being saved from drowning by a ghost named Jacob, who becomes her best friend, Cassidy can step into the Veil, the curtain between the living and the dead. When her parents are given the opportunity to film a TV show about haunted places around the world, the family packs their bags for Edinburgh, Scotland, where Cassidy is about to discover that not all ghosts are friendly like Jacob.
</p>
<p>
<b>Review:</b> Victoria Schwab has become an auto-buy author for me, so of course I had to check out her middle grade novel, <i>City of Ghosts</i>. In it we meet Cassidy Blake, a girl whose near-death experience has given her the ability to cross into the Veil, the barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead. Cass’s best friend is Jacob, a snarky, comic book-loving ghost who saved Cass from drowning. Cass and Jacob’s friendship was definitely the highlight of the novel for me; I loved the banter between them.
</p>
<p>
Overall, though, I’m bummed to say that I just wasn’t feeling this book. While I loved the concept and the wonderful, thoroughly detailed descriptions of Edinburgh, the story itself seemed to be missing <em>something</em>. As spooky as some of Cass and Jacob’s forays into the Veil are, the sense of danger doesn’t feel all that palpable.
</p>
<p>
I also thought that the book took a while to get going, and even then, the plot is pretty straightforward. I think I expected more suspense and tension build-up given that this is a story about ghosts. I realize that this is middle grade, but I felt there was still room to add more layers to the plot and to the characters.
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Perhaps I’m too used to the complicated characters of Schwab’s adult novels to fully appreciate <i>City of Ghosts</i>. This one fell a bit short for me, but I do think that the book offers plenty of chills to thrill younger readers who will enjoy watching Cassidy and Jacob grow as characters as they continue their ghostly adventures together.
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<b>All in All:</b> Sadly, I didn’t love this as much as I’d hoped despite some snappy dialogue and an immersive setting. The plot was a tad thin for me to really get into the story. Middle grade readers, however, will very likely find <i>City of Ghosts</i> to be a promising start to the series.
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<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AuFj8XOF6a4/T6rlW71mSmI/AAAAAAAAAWc/tEDoOgwjyxc/s1600/3halfstars.png" />
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-39643561800872281592019-08-26T08:00:00.000-04:002019-08-26T08:00:03.082-04:00Review: Vengeful by V.E. Schwab<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NFiHwuGG7M/WufPDDkImKI/AAAAAAAAFZs/oF9yLvi_5h0gcvsTTtQeTm1fw-_BeaJBQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/vengeful-v-e-schwab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NFiHwuGG7M/WufPDDkImKI/AAAAAAAAFZs/oF9yLvi_5h0gcvsTTtQeTm1fw-_BeaJBQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/vengeful-v-e-schwab.jpg" width="207" height="320" data-original-width="307" data-original-height="475" /></a></div>
<b>Vengeful (Villains #2)<br />
By V.E. Schwab<br />
Publisher:</b> Tor<br />
<b>Format:</b> Hardcover<br />
<b>Source:</b> Purchased
<p>
<b>To Sum It Up:</b> It’s been five years since ExtraOrdinaries Victor Vale and Eli Ever faced off, with Victor seemingly killed and Eli captured. With the help of another EO, however, Victor is alive, though not well and deteriorating at an alarming rate. Meanwhile back in Merit, once the scene of Victor and Eli’s showdown, a new EO named Marcella Riggins is literally using her bare hands to destroy anyone who stands in her way of taking control of the city. Marcella’s power is so formidable that it may take turning to the currently imprisoned Eli for help in stopping her.
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<p>
<b>Review:</b> I <em>finally</em> read <i>Vengeful</i>, the highly anticipated sequel to <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2016/07/review-vicious-by-ve-schwab.html">Vicious</a></i>, one of the best stories about morally ambiguous characters EVER. I’d say THE BEST that I’ve ever read. And everyone continues to walk a fine line between good and evil in <i>Vengeful</i>.
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<p>
Once again, Victoria Schwab jumps back and forth between the present and the past to unreel her narrative. Five years have passed since Victor and Eli met for what appeared to be the final time. Eli is now the prisoner of EON, an organization headed by Joseph Stell, the former detective who locked Victor up. Stell thinks that EOs might be rehabilitated into using their abilities for something other than wrongdoing. Eli, who once hunted EOs down and killed them in his belief that they were abominations, finds this notion preposterous and insists to Stell that heroes are not in an EO’s nature. When a new EO named Marcella Riggins threatens to destroy Merit in her quest for power, Stell reluctantly realizes that his best hope for stopping Marcella may be Eli Cardale. Watching Stell and Eli try to stay one step ahead of each other is absolutely riveting.
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<p>
We also get some significant backstory for Eli that details the development of that carefully calculated veneer. I love how Schwab constantly challenges the reader, both in <i>Vicious</i> and in <i>Vengeful</i>, to rethink their views of the characters by making them so complex. You can’t help but wonder what Eli’s life would have been like if he’d had a different childhood, if he hadn’t ended up at Lockland University, and/or if he hadn’t met Victor Vale.
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As for Victor, we discover that Sydney’s EO ability to bring back the dead isn’t without consequences, and Victor’s time to find a permanent fix for his problem is running out. Here again this series questions the definitions of good and evil as Victor takes lives in in order to try and save his own. As much as you may want him to survive, you’ll probably also ask, <em>but at what cost?</em>
</p>
<p>
While <i>Vengeful</i> is still Victor and Eli’s story, new EO Marcella Riggins commands an equally powerful presence on the page. After her mobster husband Marcus’s failed attempt to kill her, Marcella wakes up in the hospital with the ability to reduce whatever she touches to dust and ashes. She also awakens, understandably, in a murderous mood towards Marcus. What begins as a thirst for revenge quickly escalates into an insatiable hunger for power. She teams up with two other EOs—Jonathan, who can shield himself as well as extend the shield to another person, and the mysterious June, who can take on someone else’s appearance—with a very interesting twist. Alone, Marcella and her destructive touch are formidable, but working with June and Jonathan, she seems unstoppable. Marcella puts the “Extra” in “ExtraOrdinary,” reveling in making a spectacle of everything she does. I do think her grandstanding slowed down the book’s pacing at times, making <i>Vengeful</i> not quite the feverish page turner that <i>Vicious</i> was.
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Overall, though, <i>Vengeful</i> is a not to be missed sequel. Once again, Victoria Schwab takes the superhero story and flips it every way imaginable, creating an unpredictable, deliciously twisted tale that you won’t easily forget.
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<b>All in All:</b> Although <i>Vicious</i> just edges this out as my favorite book in the duology, <i>Vengeful</i> is certainly not a sidekick of a sequel. These are some of the best flawed characters ever—perfectly imperfect and incredibly compelling to read about.
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<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GPf51Zvnj_c/T5jD6leaUnI/AAAAAAAAAPU/z8YfWqkFlIY/s1600/4halfstars.png" />
<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-87772570982276641182019-08-05T08:00:00.000-04:002019-08-05T08:00:09.928-04:00July 2019 Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p>
Happy August, everyone! Hope you're all enjoying summer! It's been an extremely hot summer even for Florida, as evidenced by the monthly horror story I call my electric bill. :( Ah, well—at least we have air conditioning to stay cool.
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<p>
I really slacked off in July, only reading 2 books and posting 1 review. :( I did finally get around to reading Victoria Schwab's <i>Vengeful</i>, which I was determined to cross off my 2019 TBR. Although I read consistently (I LOVE having a daily reading tracker in my bullet journal), most days I only got in a few pages either before work or late in the evening. Noticing this pattern has really made me think about how I spend my time and if there are any things in my daily routine that really aren't that high priority and which can be swapped out a few times a week for some extra reading and blogging.
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<p>
I also lost the past week to a whopper of a cold that made it difficult to do very much other than sneeze, blow my nose, and sleep. I can usually fight this kind of thing off in a day or two, but I think I was really run down this time. I'm finally feeling like myself again and trying to get back on track with reading and blogging.
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<p>
Have you read anything good lately? How has your summer been going?
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<h4 style="text-decoration: underline;">Reviews Posted:</h4>
<ul style="margin-left: -1.5em;">
<li><i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2019/07/review-place-on-dalhousie-by-melina.html">The Place on Dalhousie</a></i> by Melina Marchetta</li>
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<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-23135576857194440122019-07-10T08:00:00.000-04:002019-07-10T08:00:00.198-04:00Book Loot (36)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iaOWjJBbvfA/U5TxQ8WnmNI/AAAAAAAADmw/nO0rzAZOASc/s1600/book-loot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iaOWjJBbvfA/U5TxQ8WnmNI/AAAAAAAADmw/nO0rzAZOASc/s1600/book-loot.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a>
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<p>
I don't know about you guys, but I have a hard time not tapping that 1-click button whenever the Kindle edition of a book that I really want to read goes on sale for a really good price, lol. That's how I arrived at this Book Loot post, with my mini, mostly eBook haul, lol.
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<p>
Last month I also received my pre-order of the latest Shadowhunter short story collection, <i>Ghosts of the Shadow Market</i>. I also picked up this nifty <i>Avengers: Endgame</i> bookmark. I figured if they can save the world after The Snap/Blip, my place in my book should be in good hands haha.
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRQlaVMejgY/XSIebijGQXI/AAAAAAAAFyg/dmx2rFsdHC0BzpGggJ8lfYZOu0HLhJBbACLcBGAs/s1600/here-s-to-you-rachel-robinson-judy-blume.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRQlaVMejgY/XSIebijGQXI/AAAAAAAAFyg/dmx2rFsdHC0BzpGggJ8lfYZOu0HLhJBbACLcBGAs/s200/here-s-to-you-rachel-robinson-judy-blume.jpg" width="133" height="200" data-original-width="316" data-original-height="475" /></a>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KbQl3VvtzrU/XSIfL-BS38I/AAAAAAAAFyw/6rgoTF3BI-Aa-XzA1zSU1rQgvn6PdrOlwCLcBGAs/s1600/time-and-chance-sharon-kay-penman.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KbQl3VvtzrU/XSIfL-BS38I/AAAAAAAAFyw/6rgoTF3BI-Aa-XzA1zSU1rQgvn6PdrOlwCLcBGAs/s200/time-and-chance-sharon-kay-penman.jpg" width="150" height="200" data-original-width="128" data-original-height="171" /></a>
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<h4>Bought:</h4>
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36314220-ghosts-of-the-shadow-market">Ghosts of the Shadow Market</a></i> by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, Kelly Link, & Robin Wasserman<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40333989-the-priory-of-the-orange-tree">The Priory of the Orange Tree</a></i> by Samantha Shannon<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19007899-here-s-to-you-rachel-robinson">Here's to You, Rachel Robinson</a></i> by Judy Blume<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37913584-the-poppy-war">The Poppy War</a></i> by R.F. Kuang<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11255819-time-and-chance">Time and Chance</a></i> by Sharon Kay Penman<br />
<i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36120821-to-kill-a-kingdom">To Kill a Kingdom</a></i> by Alexandra Christo<br />
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Have you read any of these? I'd love to hear what you thought of them!
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<img style="margin-left: -0.3em; border: none;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3873992034703741659.post-65371285901406978812019-07-08T08:00:00.000-04:002019-07-08T08:00:11.693-04:00Review: The Place on Dalhousie by Melina Marchetta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xb5bA957Bg0/XRA4Yf_-lqI/AAAAAAAAFu4/Bf1aMVgqrKYl8hv9AX4ZZVIvSYMWBjUPgCLcBGAs/s1600/the-place-on-dalhousie-melina-marchetta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: -0.3em; margin-bottom: -0.25em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xb5bA957Bg0/XRA4Yf_-lqI/AAAAAAAAFu4/Bf1aMVgqrKYl8hv9AX4ZZVIvSYMWBjUPgCLcBGAs/s320/the-place-on-dalhousie-melina-marchetta.jpg" width="207" height="320" data-original-width="308" data-original-height="475" alt="The Place on Dalhousie by Melina Marchetta" /></a></div>
<b>The Place on Dalhousie<br />
By Melina Marchetta<br />
Publisher:</b> Ivy Press<br />
<b>Format:</b> eBook<br />
<b>Source:</b> Borrowed
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<b>To Sum It Up:</b> Rosie Gennaro and Jimmy Hailler meet during a flood in Queensland, and their brief time together forever changes both their lives. Two years later, Rosie has moved back to Sydney and into the house on Dalhousie Street that her father, Seb, was supposed to renovate for her and her mother, Loredana. Now it’s Rosie’s stepmother, Martha, who occupies that house and whom Rosie has never accepted because Martha and Seb married less than a year after Loredana lost her battle with cancer. Meanwhile, Jimmy has also returned to Sydney and back among the school friends who are like family to him. He’s never been this close to having a family to call his own, though, and it’s Rosie who may be able to help him finally find one.
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<b>Review:</b> First, let me say how absolutely <em>wonderful</em> it was to read one of the magnificent Melina Marchetta’s books again. Second, let me say that if you haven’t read any of her books, you need to fix that immediately because you’re missing out on sheer brilliance.
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It’s been almost five years since I last read a Marchetta book, and that book was, fittingly, <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2014/09/review-pipers-son-by-melina-marchetta.html">The Piper’s Son</a></i>, one of two companion novels to <i>The Place on Dalhousie</i>. We first met Jimmy Hailler, one of the latter’s protagonists, back in the equally superb <i><a href="http://www.rallythereaders.com/2014/09/review-saving-francesca-by-melina.html">Saving Francesca</a></i>. Two books later, we still didn’t know what happened to Jimmy, and finally, finally, finally, Marchetta has given us the answer. It turns out that Jimmy has been looking for his family, and this book sees him presented with the chance to truly have one that’s all his, though maybe not in the way he expected.
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<i>The Place on Dalhousie</i> also tells the story of Rosie Gennaro, whom Jimmy meets amidst a flood in Queensland. Like Jimmy, Rosie originally hails from Sydney, where too many painful memories drove her to leave. Two years after their short time together in Queensland, Rosie finds herself back in Sydney and back in the titular place on Dalhousie Street. It’s the house her father, Seb, was going to restore for his family. Rosie’s definition of family was never meant to include her stepmother, Martha, whom Seb married eleven months after Rosie lost her mother, Loredana, to cancer. Martha lives downstairs and is considering selling the house, which infuriates Rosie even though Martha has offered to split the money from the sale with her. In Rosie’s mind, Martha has zero right to the home that was supposed to belong to Rosie, Seb, and Loredana. Selling it means losing another part of her parents.
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At its core, <i>The Place on Dalhousie</i> is a story about family. Rosie, Jimmy, and Martha all learn that family isn’t limited to one’s parents or siblings but also includes friends and even the family of those friends. Watching the extended family in this book grow and grow as they laugh, fight, and cry together is sure to melt your heart because Marchetta’s writing makes you so invested in these characters’ lives, whether it’s Rosie or Jimmy or Martha or Rosie’s formidable grandmother Eugenia or Martha’s sort-of-boyfriend Ewan’s father, John. And don’t even get me started on how emotional I got whenever the name of a member of the St. Sebastian’s crew from <i>Saving Francesca</i>, where it all began, popped up.
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I knew as soon as this book had referenced <i>Game of Thrones</i> and Elvis Costello by the end of Chapter 3 that this was going to be an amazing read. I wasn’t wrong. Sometimes reading a book is like viewing a pleasing landscape painting. You enjoy it in the moment, but it’s not especially memorable. Then you read a book like <i>The Place on Dalhousie</i> in which the characters have been created with the detail of a Renaissance masterpiece that lingers in your mind long after you’ve had the privilege of viewing it. The latter experience is what reading a Melina Marchetta book is like—expert storytelling and unforgettable characters.
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<b>All in All:</b> Another stellar novel from Melina Marchetta. While I think you can skate by reading this as a standalone, I highly, highly recommend reading <i>Saving Francesca</i> and <i>The Piper’s Son</i> beforehand to get the most out of <i>The Place on Dalhousie</i>. After reading this, I wanted to reread the previous two companion books to relive their brilliance all over again.
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<img style="margin-left: -0.3em;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9NbFaJE4yY/T7r6vGedkQI/AAAAAAAAAac/5Zo6mtMc9wc/s320/lsig.png" />Lee @ Rally the Readershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316252000736657757noreply@blogger.com2