Discussion: Dear Diary....

This Week’s Topic: Dear Diary...

In a Nutshell Reviews

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Accidentals - Sarina Bowen

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I can't wait for The Accidentals!

The Accidentals
Sarina Bowen

Series: n/a
Release Date: July 10, 2018

Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing LLC

Waited on by: Sam

Goodreads

Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.

I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.

My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.

When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of – not at this cost. Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul. There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.

My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.

Top Ten Tuesday - Show Us Your PRIDE

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

Show Us Your

As Pride Month winds down, I thought I would share some of my favorite LGBTQIAP+ books.

Blog Tour: Your Destination is on the Left - Lauren Spieller

Your Destination is on the Left
Lauren Spieller
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Dessa Rhodes is a modern day nomad. Her family travels in an RV, their lives defined by state lines, exit signs, and the small communal caravan they call home. Among them is Cyrus, her best friend and long-time crush, whom she knows she can never be with. When your families are perpetually linked, it’s too dangerous to take a risk on romance.

Instead, Dessa looks to the future. She wants to be a real artist and going to art school is her ticket to success and a new life. There’s just one problem: she hasn’t been accepted…anywhere. Suddenly her future is wide open, and it looks like she’s going to be stuck traveling forever.

Then an unexpected opportunity presents itself: an internship working with a local artist in Santa Fe. Dessa struggles to prove to her boss—and herself—that she belongs there, but just as she finally hits her stride, her family suffers an unexpected blow. Faced with losing everything that she has worked for, Dessa has a difficult decision to make. Will she say goodbye to her nomadic lifestyle and the boy she loves? Or will she choose to never stop moving?

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Discussion: It's a Cliffy!

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where we discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging.

I know, I know. It's not Tuesday, but I was really interested in the topic, and this is where I could fit it. So, let's just call it Tell Me Something Friday, ok?

Love 'em or hate 'em, cliffhangers are one of those plot devices, which seem to pop up over and over again in most serials, be it a book, TV show, or movie series.

In a Nutshell Reviews

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Watch You Burn - Amanda Searcy

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I can't wait for Watch You Burn!

Watch You Burn
Amanda Searcy

Series: n/a
Release Date: Oct. 23, 2018

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Waited on by: Sam

Goodreads

Jenny didn't want to move to the creepy, possibly haunted town with her dad. But the cops are on to her, and the only way she can protect herself is by moving as far away from her hometown as possible and staying out of trouble.

But even after she moves, Jenny still gets the itch. The itch to light a match and then watch it burn.

It's something she hasn't been able to stop, ever since an accident years ago. Now, in a new town, Jenny has the strange feeling that someone is watching her every move. Will her arsonist ways be exposed? Or is the burning truth deep inside her a greater danger?

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Lovin'

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

Summer Lovin'!

Summer is quickly approaching, and when I think of summer, I think of summer reads. My favorite summer reads are usually on the lighter side, set in the summertime, and usually feature some romance. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite summer reads.

Review: Legendary - Stephanie Garber

Legendary
Stephanie Garber
Series: Caraval, #2
Genre/Age: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads 

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Blog Tour: The History of Jane Doe - Michael Belanger

The History of Jane Doe
Michael Belanger
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Dial Books
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

A poignant, deeply funny coming-of-age story about first love, first loss, and the power of history to give life meaning.

History buff Ray knows everything about the peculiar legends and lore of his rural Connecticut hometown. Burgerville's past is riddled with green cow sightings and witches' curses, but the most interesting thing about the present is the new girl--we'll call her Jane Doe.

Inscrutable, cool, and above all mysterious, Jane seems as determined to hide her past as Ray is to uncover it. As fascination turns to friendship and then to something more, Ray is certain he knows Jane's darkest, most painful secrets and Jane herself--from past to present. But when the unthinkable happens, Ray is forced to acknowledge that perhaps history can only tell us so much.

Mixing humor with heartache, this is an unmissable coming-of-age story from an exciting new voice in YA.

Discussion: Blog Design

As you may have noticed, WLABB has recently redesigned the blog to a new, Sloth-tastic theme! Today we'll discuss the inspiration behind the design as well as some of the elements of the new design.

Featuring American Sloth-ic

In a Nutshell Reviews

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

Top Ten Tuesday: Road Trip!

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

Road Trip!

Fact: I don't get to travel as much as I would like to, therefore, road trip books are some of my favorites. Besides taking me to places I have been or would like to visit, they are usually filled with fun hijinks and mishaps. Below are some road trip books I have read and really enjoyed.

Blog Tour: Not the Girls You're Looking For - Aminah Mae Safi

Not the Girls You're Looking For
Amina Mae Safi
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Lulu Saad doesn't need your advice, thank you very much. She's got her three best friends and nothing can stop her from conquering the known world. Sure, for half a minute she thought she’d nearly drowned a cute guy at a party, but he was totally faking it. And fine, yes, she caused a scene during Ramadan. It's all under control. Ish.

Except maybe this time she’s done a little more damage than she realizes. And if Lulu can't find her way out of this mess soon, she'll have to do more than repair friendships, family alliances, and wet clothing. She'll have to go looking for herself.

Debut author Aminah Mae Safi's honest and smart novel is about how easy it can be to hurt those around you even if —especially if—you love them.

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Review: Now I Rise - Kiersten White

Now I Rise
Kiersten White
Series: The Conquerers, #2
Genre/Age: Alternate History, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads 

She has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself.

After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada Dracul is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her.

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won…and souls will be lost.

Discussion: Let's Jump Ahead

We have recently bid a fare adieu to a show which held a special place in my heart, The Middle. I will dearly miss the Hecks and their chaos, but I am so thankful to the writers for that wonderful ending. You see, they did one of my most favorite things - they jumped ahead, and that is what I want to talk about this week.

Blog Tour: Just One of the Royals - Leah & Kate Rooper

Just One of the Royals
Leah and Kate Rooper
Series: n/a
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Star hockey player Daniel Sacachelli wants only two things: 1) for the Falcons to win next season, and 2) for his secret — the fact he’s actually the prince of Eldonia — to never make its way to Chicago. But if Daniel keeps avoiding his crown, their family will lose their kingdom forever.

Madison Myong can’t believe that her will-they-or-won’t-they best friend Daniel is really a prince! He’s always seemed more rebel than royal. But now, he needs to clean up his image, fast. Posing as his long-time girlfriend, Madison accompanies him back to Eldonia, intending to give Daniel a makeover fit for a king.

Only, the more royal Daniel becomes, the more Madison misses her best friend. And if she does her job right, she’ll lose him forever...

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Geography of Lost Things - Jessica Brody

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I can't wait for The Geography of Lost Things!

The Geography of Lost Things
Jessica Brody

Series: n/a
Release Date: October 2, 2018

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Waited on by: Sam

Goodreads

In this romantic road trip story perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson, a teen girl discovers the value of ordinary objects while learning to forgive her absent father.

After Ali’s father passes away, he leaves his one and only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—to his daughter. But Ali doesn’t plan on keeping it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. So when she finds a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast willing to pay enough money for the car to save her childhood home, Ali can’t wait to get going. Except Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift. But guess who does?

Ali’s ex-boyfriend, Nico. And Nico has other plans.

He persuades Ali that instead of selling the car, they should “trade up” the items they collect on their trip to eventually reach the monetary amount Ali needs. Agreeing with Nico’s crazy plan, Ali sets off on a unique adventure that is unlike anything she ever could have expected.

And it’s through Ali’s travels, through the strangers she meets and the things that they value—and why they value them—that Ali eventually comes to understand her father and how his life may not have been as easy and carefree as she previously thought. Because just like the seemingly insignificant objects Ali collects, not everything is exactly as it appears.

Top Ten Tuesday: California, Here We Come!

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

California, Here We Come!

This year, I embarked on a challenge to Read All 50 States, and what I have been noticing is that I read A LOT of books set in California. This week, I am sharing some books I read this year, which are set in California.

In a Nutshell Reviews

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

The Game Can't Love You Back
Karole Cozzo
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Eve is used to being the odd woman out. As the only girl on her school's baseball team, she knows exactly how to put sweaty, macho baseball players in their place, and she's focused on one thing and one thing only—being the best pitcher she can be.

But when a freak accident forces her high school to be absorbed by the neighboring town, Eve has to contend with a new group of guys who aren't used to having a woman on their team. And the new team's star pitcher, Jamie, has no interest in being ousted from his throne. He can't afford to give up his starting slot to a new pitcher—even worse, to a girl.

As the competition between Jamie and Eve starts to heat up, so does their attraction to each other. Can they keep their heads in the game, or will they end up getting played?

Sundays with Sam - The Sunday Post

Sundays with Sam is a combination of Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Blog Tour: The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik - David Arnold

The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik
David Arnold
Series: n/a
Genre/Age: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Viking
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

This is Noah Oakman → sixteen, Bowie believer, concise historian, disillusioned swimmer, son, brother, friend.

Then Noah → gets hypnotized.

Now Noah → sees changes—inexplicable scars, odd behaviors, rewritten histories—in all those around him. All except his Strange Fascinations . . .