Last Bookmail in July

Hi there!

I finally fired up the ol' desktop today and while I was waiting for Norton to update all the anti-virus things, I thought I'd edit another video for you all.

July was a great month for bookmail - I only wish I hadn't ordered all this myself! There are still some items that are currently MIA, however, I have high hopes that the AbeBooks will arrive in the next week or so... but that Powell's order from the US is still not here, and I am getting rather antsy about it.

Okay, I'm off now.  Hope your July reading was wonderful, and that you found something new and interesting, or rediscovered an old favourite.  Thanks for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Mid July Reading Update

Woo-wee, is it cold! Thanks to an Antarctic front that's blustering up from the south, I am freezing my butt off.  In an attempt to get a little bit of sun - and to try a different filming location - I rugged up and ventured out into the back yard.  By more dumb luck than good management I happened to choose a time where the winds had died down for a good half hour, but it was still colder than it looks.  Seriously, if the temperatures drop below freezing there should be mandatory snow.  Winter here in rural QLD looks no different than high summer, except for the winter woolies I'm sporting.

On the bookish front, I have been rereading some of my urban fantasy series that have new books coming out soon.  I also read a little bit more from The Count of Monte Cristo, which I'm hoping to finish next month, perhaps, and just listening to more audiobooks as I go about my daily routine.  As it's been so cold here, I haven't spent any time in the office/library. I really need to start filming and creating extra videos so that I have a buffer for times like this.

Anyway, my fingers and toes feel like they are about to drop off, so I'm going to say thank you for watching, and until I see you next time,

 

Early February Reading Wrap Up

Phew, just got this up in time ;-D

Trying to keep this post nice and short, so all I'm going to say is that I'm trying a slightly different format for my end of the month reading wrap ups (to try and keep the run time down), so I hope you like it.

Thanks for watching, and drop me a line below if you have any ideas or book recommendations for me ;-D

And until I catch you next time,

 

Reading Update, November 2018

Hello, my lovelies!

It's been a bit longer than I'd anticipated.  Things are just all over the place here.  At the beginning of last week I undertook the massive task of scrubbing all the floors in the house - and promptly started paying for it with my Achilles troubles flaring up, as well as my back issues roaring back to life... and we won't even talk about what happened with my carpal tunnel.  

Results... clean floor,  but I was stuck in bed for a few days.

This did, however, lend itself to getting some more books read.  I had already earmarked an Agatha Christie or two to pick up, and with some of my most anticipated books coming out, well I was perfectly content to become a hermit for a few days ;-D

Luckily, by the end of the week I was feeling pretty good, and was able to resume normal day-to-day activities.  Picked up some boxed sets of Poirot (series 4, 6 and 7&8 which are combined), and had a great weekend just flaked out on the couch with the AC running (mini-heatwave here in QLD), while I enjoyed revisiting with Poirot.  We won't even talk about the new remake of Murder on the Orient Express, because I just can't.

Anyway, I have some plans for future videos that I'm trying to nail down at the moment.  Still, there's always time to pick up a book, and I have quite a few I'd like to get read before the end of the year - but that's another video ;-D

Thank you for watching, and until I see you next time

 

Back in the swing of things

This heatwave is ridiculous!

Hi there, my lovelies!  This is only going to be short so I can get hurry back to the AC in the living room as it's getting very very hot and muggy.  Seriously, what's up with this weather?

Anyway, I don't have any hauls planned for the next couple of videos, but I'm hoping some Top 5, or perhaps a bookshelf tour might be on the cards.  Let me know below if there is a specific video you would like me to do, and I'll put it on the list ;-D

Okay, I'm roasting in this room.  Thank you for watching, and until I see you next time...

 

Reading Progress July

Just keeping it short today.  It's been almost 2 weeks since I even turned on my computer, so getting it filmed and edited in a few hours was tiring.  I haven't read as much as I would have liked to, but what I did read I enjoyed, so that's a bonus.

I will be continuing on with my The Green Mile read-a-long next week.  Almost half way through and I'm loving it.  Will definitely have to watch the movie afterwards.  It's one of the few Stephen King film adaptations I've never watched - even though the blu-ray has been gathering dust on the dvd bookcase for nearly 18 months *hangs head in shame*

Anyway, I hope to start The Palace Job this weekend, or perhaps next week, and I have to film an unboxing because some bookmail arrived after I had edited this video.  Isn't that always the way? But I might start one of those books first.  Decisions, decisions....

So that's all for now.  I hope you're enjoying your reading and until I see you next time,

 

Reading Wrap-up

Yep, I ended up back in bed over the weekend thanks to some heavy lifting too soon after I tweeked my hip over Easter.  I decided, in my wisdom, to move my large solid wood bookcase back down to the other end of the house to sit with all my other bookcases.  You'd think I'd have learned my lesson by now ;-D

Anyhow, I've only included the books that I physically had.  There are a handful of eBooks that I breezed through that I will be including in a separate upcoming video.

I hope you enjoy my recommendations.  Let me know in the comments if you've read any of these titles, and what you thought of them.  I'm always interested in hearing what people think of these lesser mentioned popular books.

Oops.  Have to dash.  I just remembered that my lunch is in the oven!!!

Easter Book Haul

Hello again.

Due to unforeseen circumstances (aka, pulling a muscle in my back/hip) the video I'd planned on filming has been put on the back burner for now.  Instead I filmed a really quick video on Easter Sunday so I could share with you the bookmail that had been trickling in over the last week.

I was hoping to save all my parcels, and some still aren't here!, until I had them all in a glorious pile and then I'd open them on camera.  However, I got so excited when I ended up with 5 parcels in one day that I forgot about that and tore into them - oops! ;-D

Anyway, I've already devoured two of the Amanda Quick titles, Til Death Do Us Part and The Girl Who Knew Too Much, and they were just the thing I needed to get me out of the reading funk I'd slipped into after binge watching seasons 1 & 2 of Wynonna Earp (ps. such a great urban horror/western series!).

Still have to get to the two cozy mystery books, as well as the final two Jayne Ann Krentz novels and The Immortals (which I have my fingers crossed for because I love a good urban fantasy with gods and goddess' in a modern setting).

So with all that reading still to do I'm going to love you and leave you.  And until I see you next time,

 

Reading Update

Well, hello there!

It has been a hot minute since I posted something here (or on BookTube), so after filming 2 other scrapped reading updates over the last couple of weeks, I finally sat down in front of the computer and just got to it.

I'd like to be able to say that my reading over the last couple of weeks has been amazing, and intellectually uplifting and that is why I've taken so long to post something... but the truth is that everyday life has been getting in the way of my bookish wants.  Had to call the plumber in last month - on a Sunday no less! - because the hose under the kitchen sink ruptured and I had water EVERYWHERE!  A complete nightmare.

Then the car had to go in for a service, and of course it needed stuff done (well, she's 17 years old so it's only to be expected).  I've had the battery replaced as well as the plugs and leads so we're good for the moment, but it is still stressful to have all this happen within about three weeks.  Never mind the damage it's doing to my bank account ;-D

Meanwhile for the most part, my reading has dropped of significantly and I've been watching more TV.  Free to air programing is abysmal, so I have been falling back on TV series like The Murdoch Mysteries and Threshold, with a little bit of Mapp & Lucia thrown in for good measure.  I'm almost through season 7 of TMM and I do love the releationship between Det. Murdoch and Dr. Ogden.  They are so perfectly suited.  Anyway, after I get this post up I'll be heading back to finish up a few more episodes so I can continue on to season 8.

I did manage to read the ILL copy of Cycle of the Werewolf by Stephen King that I ordered late in February.  I ordered it early because I thought that there may be some issues trying to get a copy for loan.  However, after a few problems locating a copy, it arrived early so I had to read it out of publication order, but that's okay because I've been putting off reading Cujo any way I can.  I so don't want to read about an animal in distress.  I am, however, currently rereading the Goddess with a Blade series by Lauren Dane and enjoying the hell out of it.  Ah, urban fantasy.  My comfort genre.

So that's it.  I haven't been terribly active online, or anything like that.  In fact, this is the first time my computer has even been on in over a month (and boy, did Norton not like that!) and I haven't missed it in the slightest.  Having said that, I am eagerly awaiting books in the mail as I may have gone a bit overboard over the weekend and ordered 13 books.... oops!  I'll haul them to BookTube, and post a link here, when I get them, so I have a week or so before I have to think about filming anything else.

Okay, I'm off.  Washing waits for no man. 

I hope you have had a great reading month, and until I see you next time,

 

January Wrap-Up

Hey there!

This is just a quick-ish wrap-up of what I read in January.  I found a few new authors, and series, that I am excited to continue reading, as well as some old favourite series that are still dropping new titles.

The weather has been nuts here in QLD.  It was nearly 40°c on Tuesday, and yet yesterday it didn't read 17°c, and it was pouring all day.  I even had to dig out some winter woollies early and put a thicker bedspread on the bed so I didn't freeze!  Weird, but it's given me some more reading time so I'm very happy to be rained in.

If you've read any of the books I talk about, let me know in the comments what you thought of them.  I'd love to chat with you.

And until I see you next time,

 

#T5W is back with Hidden Gems

Hello there!  Yes, I've finally decided to get back into Top 5 Wednesday.  This week we are exploring Hidden Gems.  Your favourite books in your favourite genre that don't get a lot of hype.

Now some of these books I have never seen on BookTube, while others make a rare appearance, but they all have one thing in common - they are all some of my favourite Urban Fantasy series.  I've put the book synopsis down below for your convenience.  So without further ado, here are my Top 5 Favourite Urban Fantasy Hidden Gems

Most Anticipated New Releases

So many great books coming out this year!  Here are a few of the books I'm most looking forward to getting during the first half of 2018.

A quick reading update

Yes, this is just a really quick update on what's on my desk at the moment.  I am currently rereading Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh for the umpteenth time (I adore this series, but the author is running out of characters to centre her books on!) and after I finish AH I'll be picking up Archangel's Viper, again.  This is one of those series that I can reread over and over again without becoming bored.

Also, I did walk up to the Post Office after filming this only to be told that they hadn't even opened the bag containing parcels, let alone got them sorted *le sigh*  I hate it when this happens.  Looks like I'll be making an extra trip.  Good thing my PO is quite close so it's only a few minutes walk, but still... I don't want to do it.

So, my video is edited and posted, I've put my laundry on the line and now I need to get my butt in gear and start some general cleaning so the bedrooms don't look like a bomb has gone off in them.

Cheerio for now, and until I see you next time

 

October sucked

Yep, it's true.  October sucked.

At the beginning of the month a good family friend, and our neighbour for almost 25 years, passed away.  It was expected, and unexpected at the same time, but it threw everything I had planned out the window.  There was no way on earth that I felt like reading all the Stephen King books I had planned for my Kingoween challenge, so instead I fell back to my old favourites like the In Death series by JD Robb and Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series.

We are all slowly recovering our equilibrium after this, but it takes time.  I haven't been on the computer for almost 3 weeks, just disappearing into a book to escape and try to put all the sadness behind me for those few hours.   But I've hit the turning point where I can go for a day or two without it being in the back of my mind.

Perhaps I'll try to get to some of my Kingoween books this month.  Perhaps not.  However, I think all this time away from the TV has done me a world of good.  I think in the last month I've watched about 8 hours of TV!

Okay, that's about all that I can tell you.  I didn't do anything amazing, or travel anywhere.  Just spent the month at home, enjoying the wet weather that closed in around us and reading my favourite books.  I hope your month was better than mine.  If you discovered a great book, let me know in the comments as I'm looking for new books all the time.

So, until I see you next time,

Stress buying is a thing update

Hi again, 

This is just a quick update to last nights post about all the books I bought because I was stressed out.   Like a complete space cadet, I forgot to mention the books that I had actually been reading since my Stephen King Halloween TBR has been thrown right out the effing window!

I am regrouping fairly well at the moment, so I'm hoping to get up the Halloween tags and other stuff I was planning to film last week out before Halloween.

Have to go as a severe thunderstorm warning went out a while ago and I don't want to be online if there is lightning again like there was yesterday afternoon (it was glorious!).

So until next time,

 

A big week in books

I had such a great week!  Found some amazing books - including one that I have been eying off for ages (and it costs a fortune) - at the annual booksale that takes place at the Town Hall here.  Spent a good 3 hours wandering around on the first day with my mother, and found some great books.  I had to go back the next day to see if there was anything else - and there was!  A much sort after King! *sigh*

Anyway, I bought a stack at the booksale, and then picked up some more books during the week - as well as ordering some more titles online (but that's for another video!).

In the meantime, I had the bright idea to move a huge bookcase into my bedroom (so I could have all my favourite books nearby when I want them), but now I have to finish sorting and shelving hundreds of books before the electrician is due on Thursday.  Why do I do this to myself?

Let me know in the comments if you've read any of these books, I'd love to know what you thought of them - but please, no spoilers ;-D

So that's all from me at the moment.  Have to get off the computer and back to hauling books.

And until I see you next time,

 

Archangel's Heart here!

So I had planned on rereading A Discovery of Witches today, in honour of Halloween and all, but when I walked up to the post office to get my mail, there it was - one of my most anticipated releases of 2016, Archangel's Heart!

My fingers were itching to open this puppy and start reading, but I managed to curb my excitement until I got home... and here I remained until I finished the book about 2 hours ago.

I loved it!  Even though it wasn't a long book (only about 381p.), I flew through it as I wanted to know if Elena uncovered the truth about the vampire in her lineage.  This is the story I've most anticipated ever since it was mentioned in Archangel's Consort.

The story was great, the characters were both amazing - even the baddies - and I now have to wait at least another 10 months for more.

Will definitely be doing a review once I've had a day or two to think about it, so be sure to check in again soon for that.

Hope your Halloween reading was as much fun as mine, and until next time,

From beneath the sea they came

On Friday I picked up this interesting book, The Blood in the Beginning by Kim Falconer, and on Sunday night I devoured it in one sitting!

The storyline was interesting, fast paced and action packed.  Characters were fleshed out enough that they weren't wooden and one dimensional, and the author's twist on a mer-people species was refreshingly different from the usual syereotypes.  These guys, and gals, are tough as nails, brutal, and as cold as the sea.  Good times ahead for this series I feel.

If you can find a copy I'd recommend giving the Ava Sykes series a go!

Until next time,

Grumpy reader at the moment

Hello, my lovelies!

I hope you're having a better July than I am.  I have two neighbours (in my unit complex) who seem to think that the only good music is extremely loud heavy metal and techno/dance music!  Earlier this month I even bought some noise cancelling headphones to try and dampen the sound, but it still bleeds through.  Reading is difficult at any time, but especially at night, and I've literally had to plug those headphones into my iPod to watch movies, or listen to a local radio station on my phone, to try and distract myself from going nuts!  Arrrrrgh!

However, you really don't want to hear any more of that, so on to some happy news - my latest bookmail!

Evie Nyxx likes the box most of all!

On Wednesday the courier dropped off a rather large box that only contain five books.  Yes, five smallish books all wrapped up in some amazing bubble wrap and held in place by those air pockets to make sure that my items were not going to move in the slightest.  It's so funny when you rip open the box as you have to make your way through all the protective wrapping to get to the books ;-D

Phrynekinns wouldn't get off the bed (or my pillow!), so she got surrounded by the books ;-D

In this haul I took advantage of Booktopia's free shipping period and bought some long standing items from my wishlist. 

I couldn't resist trying one of the graphic novel adaptations of Agatha Christie books.  I've seen them hauled and review quite a bit on BookTube recently, but the titles I would have loved to get (The Man in the Brown Suit, Death on the Nile, And Then There Were None, and Murder on the Orient Express) were all unavailable, or worse still - out of print!  So, I bought Hallowe'en Party, and I was very happy with it.  I read it that afternoon and it took no time at all as it's only 45 pages long.  Liked the art style, it was interesting but without being so odd or weird that it was distracting.  However I adore the cover art.  So good! 😸

Then I read Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones.  This is the seventh book in the Charlie Davidson series, and while it is still okay, I'm not sure that I will be continuing to buy these in hardcover - unless I come across some amazing bargins (books 1-3 for $1.49 each on Book Outlet, but the p&h was just highway robbery!).  Thankfully, this book was only $10, so I'm okay with that.  Will try and get a mini-review up at some point in the future.

The last three books are on my TBR pile.  Unseemly Science sounds amazing, but I don't know if I have to read The Bullet Catcher's Daughter first, or if I can just jump straight in?  So that's why it's on the back-burner at the moment.  Next is Shakespeare Undead, which sounds like a hoot and a half - and an odd coincidence as I reread Shadow of Night on Tuesday, and I love that books as we see Kit Marlowe as a daemon, and young Will Shakespeare as a wannabe playwright hanging around with the members of the School of Night - and eventually stealing Marlowe's work (given to young Annie).

Finally there is Stray Souls by Kate Griffin.  This sounded amazing when I read the synopsis online, and I love this style of contemporary urban fantasy that mixes element of mythology.  Since the Dark Heavens series finished earlier this year, I have been on the lookout for a new series (or stand alone) that can fill the void.  Hopefully, this may be it.

And that my lovely ladies and gentlemen, is what came in the mail for me this week.  Next week I am expecting the new release of the illustrated edition of Neverwhere.  I nearly bought the previous release of the author's preferred text edition (I love that cover!), but when I found out from an IG account I follow that this was on it's way - I had to pre-order it as I love Chris Riddell's illustrations!  So look out for a pic of that when it arrives ;-D

Until next time,

 

I think I went a tad overboard...

Books and cats - a great combination!

I really think I had a few too many books on hold at the shop, but hey - at least I'm supporting local business, right? ;-D

Just before Christmas I was in the shop, browsing for gift ideas, when I spotted all five of the Ben Aaronovitch books!  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I grabbed those puppies up before someone else bought any (or just one) so that I could have the complete set.  Thinking that this was a pretty good score, I was just about to leave when two white spines caught my eye further down the shelves.  Yep, it was parts one and two of the Words of Radiance book.  Another score.  And finally, I spotted a copy of The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss.  Seriously, by that time I knew I had to get out of there before I bought even more books!