Lauren's Most Recent Broke and Bookish Book Haul

We haven't done a book haul in a while because.. well life. I haven't bought that many new books lately, but I thought I'd share the ones I have.

• Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness -- I've already read these and have different editions, but when one of your favorite series is back up for grabs with amazingly gorgeous matching covers... you buy them.
• A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab -- Who wouldn't buy a book by Schwab?
• Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld -- A tried and true author. I thought I'd give this one a shot.
• The Fold by Peter Clines -- I loved the author's other novel, 14. I've heard this one is just as bewitching.
• Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard -- I bought the first book in this series, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I've heard marvelous things, so I went ahead and picked the second book up on impulse at Target. Hey... don't judge.
• The Inventions, Researches and Writings of Nikola Tesla -- I geek out at Barnes and Noble sometimes. Yup.
• Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy -- My last copy got beat up pretty badly so... I had to buy another, right?
• The Greek Myths by Robin Waterfield -- I like Greek mythology. What can I say?
• The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber -- The author wrote The Crimson Petal and the White. Yeah, that's all I got. 
• What is the What by Dave Eggers -- We all need a little more Dave in our lives.
• In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick -- YES. Just... yes.
• Raging Sea by Micheal Buckley -- Another one of those, "I already have the first book, so why not?"
• The Witches: Salem, 1962 by Stacy Schiff -- FINALLY. I've been wanting to buy this book since it was released, but damn... hardcovers can get expensive. I caught this one on sale at Target and snatched it like a madwomen.

So... what books have you splurged on and bought yourself lately?

February Faves & March TBR

Here's what we loved in February and what's on our priority list of things we plan to read in March!


February Faves

Jamie's Pick

Losing the Light by Andrea Dunlop

OMG this book was so intoxicating and addictive from pretty much the first couple of pages. I was swept up in the friendship and the study abroad opportunity in France to the point that I completely forgot about going to bed and stayed up until 2am (with a 6am wakeup) because I HAD to finish it. 

Lauren's Pick

Our Lady of the Ice by Cassandra Rose Clarke

This novel is gorgeously written. It is incredibly refreshing to see new concepts come to life in the Sci-Fi genre. I loved it and can't wait to read more novels by the author. 

Julia's Pick

Of Silk and Steam by Bec McMaster
Book 5 in the London Steampunk series. This one was super climactic and an amazing conclusion to what was building in the last few books. Plus I loved the romance between the two leads.


Daisy's Pick

Night Study by Maria V. Snyder

I LOVE Maria V. Snyder's books and this one has got to be one of her best. I adore this universe!

Bridget's Pick 

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

This is the first in the Southern Reach trilogy and I finished it on my way back from Ireland a few days ago! It was very good; not quite what I expected, but I thought the prose was stunning. 

March TBR

Jamie's Pick 

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro 
YA Sherlock retelling. ALWAYS HERE FOR THAT.


Lauren's Pick

The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber

Why haven't I read this novel yet? I don't understand. This will be rectified. 

Julia's Pick

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

I think I found this book on NPRs book list for 2015? I just started reading it the other day and am super excited to keep going! 

Daisy's Pick

A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

I NEED THIS!! A Darker Shade of Magic was AMAZING and I just need to know what happens next!

Bridget's Pick

Authority and Acceptance by Jeff Vandermeer

These are the second and third books in the Southern Reach trilogy. The first ended on something of a cliffhanger, so I'm excited to dig into the next book!

Tell us one of your faves from February and a book you plan to read in March!

Top Ten Books If You Are In The Mood For Something Sci-Fi

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

This week's topic...

Top Ten Books If You Are In The Mood For Something Sci-Fi

Lauren here... so I might have hijacked this week's Top Ten Tuesday post, but I just had to spread some Sci-Fi love this week. The following novels are not by any means my favorite Sci-Fi books of all time, nor are they ranked. They are simply novels I think anyone who is in the mood for something a little outside of the normal might enjoy. So... enjoy.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Loosed Upon the World: The Saga Anthology of Climate Fiction by Margaret Atwood, Paolo Bacigalupi, and many more 

Wool by Hugh Howey

The Passage by Justin Cronin

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Pure by Julianna Baggott

   

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

Tin Star by Cecil Castellucci

Hit us with some of your favorite Sci-Fi books!!

Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

When I saw that Louise Rennison was trending on Twitter, I first assumed that she'd done an interview or released another book. It broke my heart to learn that she had passed away. 

She was a brilliantly funny author, I have thoroughly enjoyed her books. A coworker recommended them to me and I devoured the audio books. When life gets a little too stressful or crazy, it's a relief to jump into the world of Georgia Nicolson. You can't take yourself too seriously when you're viewing life through the eyes of someone so delightedly self centered. 

Who else has read her books? If you haven't already, I highly recommend them. If you HAVE read them, give the audio books a try. They are a DELIGHT. 

Ten Books We Enjoyed Recently that Weren't Our Typical Genres

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

This week's topic...

Top Ten Books We Enjoyed Recently that Weren't Our Typical Genre or that Were Out of Our Comfort Zone

Julia's Picks

1 -- Every Day by David Levithan

This isn't too far out of my comfort zone, but recently I haven't been reading much YA, so it's not my typical genre anymore. I really enjoyed this one and all of the thoughts it raised for me.

2 -- The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin

While this is a historical romance, it is definitely not the normal historical romance as it is set in ancient China instead of recent history Europe. It was a good book, and I loved reading about a different part of history.

3 -- The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

Mystery crime novels are not something I usually read but I have been really enjoying this series. I can't wait to read book three!

Lauren's Picks

4 -- F*ck Feelings: One Shrink's Practical Advice for Managing All Life's Impossible Problems by Michael I. Bennett & Sarah Bennett

If anyone knows me well, they know I am an advocate of therapy. I am still in the beginning stages of my own personal healing, but I know how much it has helped others and how it continues to be a source of comfort for me. I've never once picked up a self help book... maybe out of fear of becoming a stereotype, maybe because I didn't care. I came across this at my local bookstore, read a few random paragraphs, and bought it. The book is what it is titled. It an actual fun read, rather than how I imagine a typical self help book would read. It is completely practical and the authors are not pretentious, but would rather you look at every life situation and take what you can learn from it and move on. I even showed it to my therapist and he wrote the title and author's names down. Yes, it does have curse words, if you haven't already gathered. It is NOT a book just of f-bombs and the like. Sometimes humans need to express themselves, no matter what the emotion being. When anger hits its boiling point, doesn't a few well placed cuss words just make you feel a little better? YES. And that is how this book uses it allotment of curse words. They are meant to release tension and help you deal with the world around you. (Did this just become a book review?!?)

5 -- Landline by Rainbow Rowell

This book could fall into a few different genres. Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit... all of which I don't typically read. But I friggin loved this book. It was cute, relatable, and yes... it had some mushy feels. That I actually enjoyed. Don't judge. 

6 -- Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Now mythology (of any origin) is a favorite genre of mine. But this book was a humorous tale starring the Greek gods we know so well. I was apprehensive when I picked this up because I love the mystery and adventures of the Greek gods and I was worried this would be a book that went overboard. Well... it did go overboard... and I liked it. It's not a 5 star book for me, but definitely 4 stars. The author made me laugh with her unique way of making the gods and goddess's personalities shine. 

Daisy's Picks

7 -- Maid-Sama! Vol 1 &2 by Hiro Fujiwara

So this was the second (and third) manga I read and while it's getting there a bit more, it's still a bit out of my comfort zone and it definitely was when I read this. But it's fun and cute and I love the characters!

8 -- The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

So this is YA fantasy which is obviously my comfort zone, but books about fae in particular are very much not and this is actually one of the few (along with A Court of Thorns and Roses) that I did enjoy!

9 -- The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

I read this with my book club, I'd had it on my shelf for AGES but I don't really read a lot of books that are considered literature. Because it's not really my thing usually. And this one is HUGE. But obviously I should have know to trust J.K. Rowling to bring the awesome, no matter what genre, and I really liked it! Took me some time to really get into it, but then this book and I got along very well.

10 -- The Lie by C.L. Taylor

I don't really read a lot of mysteries/thrillers, but this one was REALLY good! It's creepy and there's lots of crazy and a cult (which is a good recipe for creepy/crazy things going down). 

What books have you read that were out of your comfort zone recently?

Julia Reviews The Groom Wore Plaid by Gayle Callen + a GIVEAWAY

Title/Author: The Groom Wore Plaid by Gayle Callen

Publisher/Year Published: Feb 23, 2016 by Avon

How I got this book: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Why I read this book: I love historical romances and I haven't read one in Scotland in a while!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary: 

Maggie McCallum’s dreams about her new fiancé aren’t the romantic sort. It’s not just that she was bartered to Owen Duff like a piece of property to end a clan feud. She’s also haunted by premonitions of his death on their upcoming wedding day. Yet the exasperating Highlander won’t let her call it off, even though his life and his clan are both in jeopardy. Owen has wanted Maggie in his bed since he first glimpsed her years ago. If their union restores peace between their clans, so much the better. But while lusting after another chief’s sister had its risks, growing to trust Maggie is far more dangerous. Owen is falling deeply in love with the one woman he cannot hope to claim…and survive.

Review:
It's been quite some time since I have had the chance to read a romance set in Scotland. Going into this book, I had no idea that it was the second in a series, but that didn't effect my enjoyment. We meet Maggie as she is arriving at her future husband's home for the first time. We follow Owen and Maggie through flashbacks of how they first met and their past together before this new development. And the new development is an old contract that is forcing their hand into marriage. Neither of them really mind, until Maggie has a dream that she is convinced is an omen and spends the rest of the book trying to break off the marriage lest what she dreams comes to pass.

My favorite part of this book are the characters, and it is primarily a character driven book. Maggie is trying to fit in a new family (who has hated her clan for years) and Owen is trying to step out of the shadow of his dead father, who was a horrible leader. Their romance is so cute and was my favorite thing to read. The sexytimes were also pretty nice to read, too. On a scale of bland to ghost pepper, the heat of the scenes was sort of in the middle.

I do think that the plot was the weakest part of this book. It focused too much on Maggie's dream to further the plot. I thought there could have been enough to focus on with the moving to a new place with a sort of Romeo and Juliet sort of family feud without adding the dreams into a mix. But even so I still enjoyed the book enough to glomp through it in one plane ride.

Giveaway!!
If you are interested in reading some historical romance set in Scotland I would definitely recommend you check this out and excitingly, Avon has given us a review copy as part of their book tour! Not only that but the first book in the series The Wrong Bride is included for the three lucky winners! The book officially comes out tomorrow but here is your chance to win your own copy!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again to HarperCollins and Avon for the chance to read this one early and for the giveaway!! 

Why I've Embraced My eReader

Surprisingly, I was a fairly early adopter of the eReader concept.  I got my first one for my college graduation back in 2010.  I loved the idea of being able to carry hundreds of books with me at once because that meant carrying fewer books whenever I'd leave my apartment.  I loved having options.  Granted, I still packed physical books, but I had hundreds on reserve.  Despite this, I rarely used my eReader.  I'd bring it with me, but typically wind up reading one of the physical books I brought or nothing at all.

I bought a second generation eReader.

I bought an iPad and downloaded the reading apps--Kindle, Nook, Oyster (R.I.P).  Still--I rarely really used my eReader.

Until recently.

Now I can't seem to get enough of it.  My iPad is a constant companion whenever I leave the house.

Here are a few reasons why I've suddenly embraced my eReader...

1.  No one knows what I am reading.  I really like this aspect of it.  I have hardly read any books to completion since starting law school because I hardly have any time to read for fun.  I've been doing better about making time at night before bed.  But still, I can't really count on having the time to truly sink into a book, so I flit around quite a lot.  I used to agonize about this.  Now I'm totally cool with it because I'm reading what I need to read when I need to read it.  Anyway, the eReader allows me some anonymity so that people can't tell how many books I've started and abandoned in a given hour, day, or week.

2.  Takes up way less space in my bag.  I hate feeling like a bag lady.  I have always loved big purses.  But I really don't want back problems later on (and I refuse to get a wheely bag like some of my fellow classmates) so I limit myself to one bag for all of my stuff, which mostly consists of school stuff.  That little iPad mini takes up way less space than a paperback, let alone a massive hardcover tome.

3.  Allows me to do side research if I have any questions.  I am in full-on research mode.  Everything I see leads to questions, which leads to research.  I love being able to flip from my book to Wikipedia or the internet to find out a little bit more about what I'm reading.  Yes, I could flip from a physical book to my iPhone, but this is much easier and I won't lose my place.

4.  Greater variety.  Yes, this is still a factor for me.  I have a variety of novels, non-fiction, short stories, and essays on my eReader.  I can find something to fit my mood whenever I have time to read.  And I love that.  Plus I have synched my New Yorker, Atlantic, and New York Times accounts so I have even more variety available.  Further, I can buy something any time with just one click...which can also be dangerous, yes.

5.  I feel like I read faster on my screen.  I don't know why this is, but I feel like I read the pages much faster when it's from the screen.  Maybe it has something to do with the font size I use.  I don't know.  But I like feeling like I'm taking in more.

6.  No one knows what I am reading.  This is such an important factor that I'm listing it again.  Seriously!  No one know how many books I abandon!  I don't have to feel guilty.  I know I shouldn't feel guilty in the first place, but I do.  Or maybe it's that I feel awkward when someone asks whether I finished such and such book that I was reading last time they saw me and inevitably I have just stopped reading it.  NO QUESTIONS!  I love it!


Basically, my eReader has come to be a slice of freedom for me.  I can read what I want, when I want, with fewer questions.  And that is just what I need right now.