Saturday, December 22, 2018

Advent Reads Day 22: Graphic Novel: Northstars Vol. 1.5 by Jim Shelley & Haigen Shelley & Illustrated by Anna Liisa Jones

Read for: Recently Added & Graphic Novel

Other Books in the Series:

Synopsis: "Continuing the holiday adventures of Holly, the daughter of Santa Claus and Frostina, a Yeti Princess. In this issue, La Befana, the Christmas Witch of Italy, enlists Holly and Frostina’s help to stop the monstrous Badalisc from destroying her garden. The Badalisc is big and furry, but is he all bad? Or is the real threat the evil wolf of Gubbio! Join us for the fun, all ages romp!"

My Review: I really enjoyed the first Northstars volume and was excited to see that it is being continued. This is a rather short one but I loved it just as much if not more than the first. I love how it is light and fun and great for young readers; and it also incorporated folk tales, traditions and beliefs for one country, Italy. I really hope they continue this will more traditional holiday stories. This will definitely be added to my shelves and I think both me and Munchkin will enjoy reading it and anymore to come!

My Rating: I am absolutely loving this series, this short little one in particular because it pulled in folk tales and holiday traditions that I wasn't aware of and it had information at the end about them too.  I give this one a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

Friday, December 21, 2018

Advent Reads Day 21: Bedtime Story: Santa's Underwear by Marty Rhodes Figley & Illustrated by Marty Kelley

Read for: Children's Book Challenge

Synopsis: "It's Christmas Eve and Santa is busy getting gussied up for the big night. But when he goes to put on his warm, cozy (holey, ragged) Christmas underwear, they're nowhere to be found! With undies for every occassion, he tries on the rest of his collection. But nothing is quite right. Just when he's about to give up he find a surprise from his considerate team of reindeer. Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!"

My Review: Munchkin loves silly books, just like all kids, and there is nothing funnier to a kid than underwear. This was a fun holiday book to read, Santa can't find his red long undies so he goes through trying all the other holiday underwear. Munchkin couldn't stop laughing. But wrapped up in all those funny moments is a great message about gifts that have meaning.

My Rating: We had a lot of fun with this book and I think it will be a favorite for us in the future. We give it a rating of Four Paws!


Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Only 4 more sleeps!

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Advent Reads Day 20: Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle

Read for: Mount TBR

Synopsis: "A recently divorced woman and her daughter look for a fresh start by moving to a small town that embraces them in ways that only fate and the magic of Christmas can explain.

Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays. 

Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born. 
But when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell."

My Review: I have been anxiously waiting to read this for a whole year, I wanted to read it right before the movie premiered on Hallmark channel. I was not disappointed! I love how much this one centers around a bookstore. It has a great cast of characters and that small town holiday feel that I love in my Christmas themed books. I enjoyed the development of Syndey and Mac's relationship, even with all the ups and downs, Nancy gaves us as much of a slow developing romance as possible in a stand alone novel. This book will take you on an emotional ride full of happy warm moments, frustrating moments, sad moments and most important an overall feeling of hope. A great holiday read to cozy up with on a winter night.

My Rating: I really enjoyed this book and the characters, I particularly enjoyed the fact that while it is a romance novel and you do get a happy ending, so things are rushed a bit, but it isn't so completely over the top unbelievable.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!



Note: I haven't gotten to see the movie yet! I don't have the Hallmark Channel on my cable so I downloaded the Hallmark Now App on the Amazon Fire Stick but it doesn't have any of the new movies on it, so don't go that route if you want to see the movie!!

Down the TBR Hole: Conquer your TBR Challenge

I came across this challenge on Jenniely's Blog the other day, while she put a unique holiday spin on it, I thought it would be a fun way to work on that TBR pile I have.  The challenge was originally created by Lia at Lost in a Story and her format is a little more what I will be following. 

I recently took a look at my physical TBR and was a little intimidated and shocked to find it sitting at over 300 books, not including the Children's books, Early Reader books or Graphic Novels/Comic Books! Yes you read that right, over 300 books just on my physical shelves! I don't even want to take a look at my ebooks or audio books!  So I definitely think it is time to Conquer my TBR!

So here are the steps and rules . . .

Go to your Goodreads to-read Shelf
Sort by Ascending Date Added
Take the First 5 (or 10) Books
Read the Synopsis of Each Book
Decide to Either Keep it or Remove it

This Challenge was originally designed to continue weekly until all books on the To-Read Shelf have been sorted.  

I have 1,230 books on my Goodreads To-Read Shelf! If I only sorted 5 books a week that would take nearly 5 years of posting weekly! I think you guys might get a little sick of it.  So I will start with some here and continue to sort off page. I may come back and post every so often with an update and another challenge post.  So shall we take a peek at those first added To Read books? I started my Goodreads account back in February, 2011, so I expect to find a lot of books that no longer interest me as my reading tastes have changed so much.


 Synopsis: "Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time, Slaughterhouse-Five, an American classic, is one of the world's great antiwar books. Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim's odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we fear most."


Thoughts: I know this is one of those classics that most people read in high school.  And I know it is on a lot of those top 100 books to read before you die lists but I am not picking up as many classics anymore, and the ones I do plan to pick up are usually re-reads or ones that really interest me.

Verdict: It goes.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Synopsis: "Paulo Coelho's masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different—and far more satisfying—than he ever imagined. Santiago's journey teaches us about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, of recognizing opportunity and learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, most importantly, to follow our dreams."

Thoughts: I don't think I own a physical copy of this book, that is why it keeps getting forgotten.  It does sound like an intriguing and inspiring book. It is also a short book at only 197 pages.

Verdict: It stays but with the contingency of if it is not read by the end of 2019, it goes.





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Synopsis: "Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.

Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other."


Thoughts: I have been wanting to read this book forever, but I have been waiting until I have all the books in the series. I haven't been making it a priority to purchase them though.  Munchkin is almost old enough to enjoy these books with me as well.

Verdict: It stays.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Synopsis for Eldest: "Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns…Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider. Ages 12+.
Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns…
Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn't know whom he can trust.
Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in even graver danger. 
Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . . . "

Thoughts: Ugh, this book and the next have been taunting me from the shelves. These were some of the first books my husband purchased for me, and he got me the whole series.  And they are about dragons and their riders! But I struggled so much with Eragon! I had seen the movie first and it was so different from the book that each page was an effort.  And again, I feel like these books might be some Munchkin would enjoy in a few more years.  Even my non-reader friend read these books! Why can't I convince myself to read them?!

Verdict: Alright, I am going to keep them a little longer and reassess next year.









~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Synopsis: "In The Wisdom Paradox, world-renowned neuropsychologist Elkhonon Goldberg argues that though some mental abilities (such as recent-memory recall) decline as the mind enters the “autumn season” of our life span, the brain becomes more powerful in its ability to recognize patterns. As a result, we are able to make decisions at more intuitive and effective levels—a late- emerging mental strength he terms “wisdom.” In lively, accessible prose, Goldberg delves into the mechanisms of the mind, outlining how the elegant structures of the brain develop and change over the course of a lifetime as they work increasingly in concert. Drawing on recent and historical examples of leaders and artists who achieved their greatest successes late in life—from Roosevelt to Thatcher to Reagan, from Goethe to Grandma Moses—Goldberg illustrates the effects of an emerging scientific understanding of the biology of wisdom. Drawing on the latest research in brain function, he takes to task outdated neurological concepts and argues that new neurons can be created throughout our lives, the left brain’s specialization in pattern recognition accounts for its increased activity as we age, and the strengthening of neural pathways in later years accelerates decision-making processes. Most provocatively, he outlines how a “cognitive fitness” program can both curtail the negative mental effects of aging and enhance our decision-making powers."

Thoughts: I honestly think I already removed the physical copy from my shelves. I was very interested in how the brain worked at one point, even wanted to be a neurosurgeon but now my reading pretty read for enjoyment and not education.

Verdict: It Goes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Synopsis: "This breakout novel from the author of The Jump-Off Creek tells the heartwarming story of a determined young woman with a gift for gentling wild horses. 

In the winter of 1917, a big-boned young woman shows up at George Bliss's doorstep. She's looking for a job breaking horses, and he hires her on. Many of his regular hands are off fighting the war, and he glimpses, beneath her showy rodeo garb, a shy but strong-willed girl with a serious knowledge of horses. 

So begins the irresistible tale of nineteen-year-old Martha Lessen, a female horse whisperer trying to make a go of it in a man's world. It was thought that the only way to break a horse was to buck the wild out of it, and broken ribs and tough falls just went with the job. 

But over several long, hard winter months, many of the townsfolk in this remote county of eastern Oregon witness Martha's way of talking in low, sweet tones to horses believed beyond repair and getting miraculous, almost immediate results and she thereby earns a place of respect in the community.
Along the way, Martha helps a family save their horses when their wagon slides into a ravine. She gentles a horse for a dying man a last gift to his young son. She clashes with a hired hand who is abusing horses in unspeakable ways. Soon, despite her best efforts to remain aloof and detached, she comes to feel enveloped by a sense of community and family that she's never had before."

Thoughts:  If you have been around here for any amount of time, you know the way to get me to buy any book is to make it about horses or throw a horse on the cover.  I am still intrigued by this book.

Verdict: It stays but I am going to once again put the must read in 2019 contingency on it.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Synopsis: "Once in nine lives, something extraordinary happens... 

The last thing Gwen Cooper wanted was another cat. She already had two, not to mention a phenomenally underpaying job and a recently broken heart. Then Gwen’s veterinarian called with a story about a three-week-old eyeless kitten who’d been abandoned. It was love at first sight.

Everyone warned that Homer would always be an "underachiever," never as playful or independent as other cats. But the kitten nobody believed in quickly grew into a three-pound dynamo, a tiny daredevil with a giant heart who eagerly made friends with every human who crossed his path. Homer scaled seven-foot bookcases with ease and leapt five feet into the air to catch flies in mid-buzz. He survived being trapped alone for days after 9/11 in an apartment near the World Trade Center, and even saved Gwen’s life when he chased off an intruder who broke into their home in the middle of the night.

But it was Homer’s unswerving loyalty, his infinite capacity for love, and his joy in the face of all obstacles that inspired Gwen daily and transformed her life. And by the time she met the man she would marry, she realized Homer had taught her the most important lesson of all: Love isn’t something you see with your eyes."

Thoughts: Why haven't I picked this one up?! Probably because I don't want to cry.  

Verdict: It Stays!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Synopsis: "Everything readers expect from Follett is here: intrigue, fast-paced action, and passionate romance. But what makes The Pillars of the Earth extraordinary is the time the twelfth century; the place feudal England; and the subject the building of a glorious cathedral. Follett has re-created the crude, flamboyant England of the Middle Ages in every detail. The vast forests, the walled towns, the castles, and the monasteries become a familiar landscape. 

Against this richly imagined and intricately interwoven backdrop, filled with the ravages of war and the rhythms of daily life, the master storyteller draws the reader irresistibly into the intertwined lives of his characters into their dreams, their labors, and their loves: Tom, the master builder; Aliena, the ravishingly beautiful noblewoman; Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge; Jack, the artist in stone; and Ellen, the woman of the forest who casts a terrifying curse. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, each character is brought vividly to life.

The building of the cathedral, with the almost eerie artistry of the unschooled stonemasons, is the center of the drama. Around the site of the construction, Follett weaves a story of betrayal, revenge, and love, which begins with the public hanging of an innocent man and ends with the humiliation of a king."

Thoughts: A friend loaned me this book easily 12 years ago and I just have never felt the need to pick it up. It does sound interesting but not nearly 1,000 pages interesting. I have so many other big books that I want to read.

Verdict: It Goes.  I wonder if she wants her copy back (oops).


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



 Synopsis: "On the night of Guinevere’s birth, a wise woman declares a prophecy of doom for the child: She will be gwenhwyfar, the white shadow, destined to betray her king, and be herself betrayed. Years pass, and Guinevere becomes a great beauty, riding free across Northern Wales on her beloved horse. She is entranced by the tales of the valorous Arthur, a courageous warrior who seems to Guinevere no mere man, but a legend. Then she finds herself betrothed to that same famous king, a hero who commands her willing devotion. Just as his knights and all his subjects, she falls under Arthur’s spell.    At the side of King Arthur, Guinevere reigns strong and true. Yet she soon learns how the dark prophecy will reveal itself. She is unable to conceive. Arthur’s only true heir is Mordred, offspring of a cursed encounter with the witch Morgause. Now Guinevere must make a fateful choice: She decides to raise Mordred, teaching him to be a ruler and to honor Camelot. She will love him like a mother. Mordred will be her greatest joy–and the key to her ultimate downfall."
Thoughts: I love Arthurian Legend re-tellings and I have started this one before but got intimidated by it's size.  I think it is time to pick it up again.

Verdict: It Stays! And I am going to add it to my 2019 TBR.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



So there we have the first 10 books on my Goodreads To-Read list.  I did okay I guess. I only removed 3 books but did put contingencies on 2 more.  It does feel good to go through and clear out some of those books that don't interest me any more.  I also like looking at it from the beginning and getting excited about so of these books again. It will be inspiring for kicking off the new year!

Have you gone through your TBR at all recently? How many books are on your shelf or Goodreads list?


Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Advent Reads Day 19: A Merry Christmas and Other Stories by Louisa May Alcott

Read for: Mount TBR & Classics Challenge

Synopsis: "A Merry Christmas collects the best holiday stories of Louisa May Alcott, from the yuletide festivities of Marmee and her 'little women' to the moving 'What Love Can Do'. Deeply influenced by real-life events, including characters based on Alcott's family members and drawing from her experiences participating in the suffrage and abolitionist movements, these stories have the authentic texture and detail of Christmas in nineteenth-century America."

My Review: I honestly don't recall ever reading Little Women, and I honestly didn't think it was something that would appeal to me until I read this collection of Christmas Stories. I am not sure how many of the stories in this book are actually from Little Women but I really enjoyed her writing style, my favorites were the stories that followed Kate. I also enjoyed Mrs. Podger's Teapot. My favorite by far was Rosa's Tale, you hand me a book told from the horse's point of view like Black Beauty and you have me hooked. This was really a lovely collection of Christmas stories, each are easily read in a single sitting, and nearly all of them have a message about the meaning of Christmas.

My Rating: I wasn't sure how this would go, but I really enjoyed these short stories. They made for nice little reads in between holiday season business and I didn't need to have read the books or be familiar with the characters to enjoy them.  I give this one a rating of Four Paws!

Top 5 Wednesday: Anticipated 2019 Releases

Top 5 Wednesday is a group on Goodreads hosted by Sam from Thoughts on Tomes on Youtube.


So today's prompt is all about those books being released next year that we cannot wait to read, and of course being nearly the end of the year, I have been planning my challenges and TBRs for next year and coming across all the books I want to read next year. I couldn't settle on just 5 books to list, so I thought I would make 2 lists, one for series continuations and conclusions and a second for first book in series, companions and stand alone books. 


So let's start with my anticipated releases that continue (or end) a series:


I have been really intrigued by this series and found it enjoyable for the most part so am looking forward to book 4 coming out January 8th. It will be a nice short little book to hold me over until some of my other anticipated releases come out.


Holy Sister is the 3rd and I believe maybe the final book int he Book of the Ancestor series by Mark Lawrence (the first two were Red Sister and Grey Sister).  I read the first two earlier this year and am in love with this series but have to wait until April 9th for it to be release (unless I am lucky enough to be approved for an ARC). 

This year I read Grace and Fury, and it left off on a major cliffhanger, I NEED Queen of Ruin now, but have to wait until July 2nd for the conclusion! Also, I need this second cover and need to find out how to get my hands on it!



I have an even longer wait for Darkdawn, the 3rd and final book in the Nevernight Chronicles.  Again I read both Nevernight & Godsgrave early this year and was completely sucked into the story and my love for Mr. Kindly. We have to wait until September 3rd to finish this exciting trilogy.

Capturing the Devil is the 4th and final book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper Series, and I cannot wait! I never expected to get sucked into this series and fall for these characters quite like I did, and I binged the first 3 books late this year but have to wait until September 26th for this one to come out!!


(I am not technically counting this one because it doesn't have a date)
Not confirmed but I can hope and cross my fingers that Blight of Blackbirds, the second book in the Seven Kennings Series by Kevin Hearne comes out in 2019. I read A Plague of Giants earlier this year and was completely blown away and I am still obsessed with it!



And now on to Companion Novels, Start of New Series & Stand Alone Books:


Just the cover alone is amazing but do yourself a favor and go read the synopsis for Crown of Feathers  and tell me you don't want to read it right now, but like me you probably will have to wait until February 12th to try this new series!

February might end up being one of my busiest reading months in 2019 because this new stand alone viking book comes out February 26th! I cannot wait for this!

I have yet to read a Star Wars book featuring Padme, and I love her, so I am beyond excited for Queen's Shadow being released on March 5th!


I have already put in an ARC request for Wicked Saints but if not approved I will definitely be pre-ordering so I can start this one on release day of April 2nd!

I don't know exactly how I stumbled upon Spin the Dawn but between the cover and tag line of Project Runway meets Mulan, I am ticking down the clock to the July 30th release date!


Okay, I couldn't leave this one off the list
The Girl the Sea Gave Back is the companion novel to Sky in the Deep, another one of my favorite reads this year and it is scheduled for release on September 3rd and I am beyond excited!!





And because I can't control myself, here are a few more books that I want to bring to your attention . . .
White Stag Releases January 8th (YA Fantasy)
Who in the World is Carmen Sandiego?  Releases January 22nd  (Middle Grade)
King of Scars Releases January 29th (YA Fantasy)
Ruin of Kings Releases February 5th (YA Fantasy)
In Her Sights Released March 26th (Adult Romance)
Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc  Releases March 26th (Poetry/Historical Fiction)
The Unbound Empire Releases April 25th (YA Fantasy - Book 3)
We Hunt the Flame Releases May 14 (YA Fantasy)
The Storm Crow Releases July 9th (YA Fantasy)
Anya and the Dragon Releases September 24th (YA Fantasy)



Okay, I am going to stop now.  I have completely blown the point of Top 5 Wednesday but honestly what did you expect?! What are some of your most anticipated releases of 2019?



Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Advent Reads Day 18: Young Scrooge by R. L. Stine

Read for: Recently Added

Synopsis: "Rick Scroogeman hates Christmas. He can't stand the carols and the pageants. He can't stand the lights and the mistletoe. But what he hates the most is having to watch the old movie A Christmas Carol every year at school. Since his name is Scroogeman, all of his classmates start calling him Scrooge. And he hates being called Scrooge.

But everything starts to change when three ghosts visit him. At first, he thinks it's a dream. But then he realizes that it might be a nightmare. A nightmare that could become real.

Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story is a funny, scary middle-grade send up of A Christmas Carol, about a boy who hates Christmas, from bestselling Goosebumps author R. L. Stine."

My Review: As a kid, I wasn't a huge fan of the Goosebump books because I didn't like scary, but I thought I would give this one a try for Christmas instead of all the happy feel good books. While this wasn't as spooky as I remember Stine's books being, it was still a bit on the darker side. It was a great book for the target audience, addressing bullying and respect and appreciation, all wrapped up in a Christmas Carol inspired story. I did find that Rick had a rather abrupt turn around but as it is for a younger audience and the story was starting to get a bit long for that age, I can see how it was necessary. It is was a fun switch from my usual holiday reads and I think it would have a lot of appeal for his fans and younger readers.

My Rating: This was a fun read, I am sure some kids will find it scary and others will love that thrill, it is up to you to decide if it is good for your kids. It is not a book for Munchkin but I found it to be an quick entertaining read, though more appropriate for a younger audience.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Advent Reads Day 17: The Winter Riddle by Sam Hooker

Read for: Netgalley/ Requested Review


Synopsis: ""Will it bring an end to the world as we know it?" This is the most basic test to distinguish a good idea from a bad one.

Bad ideas have a way of wrecking solitude, and that's all she wants. When the Winter Witch can't get a moment's peace in the North Pole, she'll try anything: swearing at the top of her lungs to convince people to leave her alone, or casting a spell to become nearly invisible; or, if those don't do the trick, she'll forge an alliance with Santa (a retired warrior who's anything but jolly) and save the world from a riddle devised by the daftest pair of libertines ever to have lived.

Hopefully, the swearing works. She knows some good swear words she's been dying to try out.

Will the Vikings of Midgard take up arms against the rising darkness? Will the White Queen see through the treachery of an evil necromancer? Can reindeer be made to fly, and can everyone who isn't the Winter Witch please stop meddling with dark forces beyond mortal comprehension for a bit?"

My Review: I saw this book and the synopsis sounded like an interesting take on the Santa origin story. I did really enjoy the fantasy influence as well as the various myths that are pulled into the book. Unfortunately, I did struggle with this one, it is a slow and cumbersome read, which I don't always mind but during the busy holiday season, it was a bit much for my liking. I also struggled with the satire humor, I have said this before that I struggle with this in books and this one had a lot of it. I think a lot of readers who enjoy that humor influence in their books will really enjoy it.

My Rating: I did really enjoy several elements in this story, particularly Santa being a Viking-like warrior.  This was just not the right book for me at the right time.  I still give it a rating of Two Paws and a Stump Wag.


I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley, the above is my honest opinion.

If you would like to find out more about Sam Hooker and his books you can visit his Goodreads Page or Website.

If this sounds like a book for you, you can obtain your own copy in print format from Barnes & Noble or in print or digital format from Amazon or request it at your local library or bookstore.

Monday Reading List


It is Monday again, and time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.



Reviews Posted Last Week:
Links will take you to my review

The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron
The Lost Gift by Kallie George (Bedtime Story)
A Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas by Katie Ruggle
The Christmas Note by Donna VanLiere
Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas by Rubin Pingk (Bedtime Story)
The Grinch of Starlight Bend by Jennifer Probst


 Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

The Christmas Light
The Lost Gift
Grinch of Starlight Bend
A Family for the Rugged Rancher
Light as Air


Currently Reading:
Beneath the Same Stars by Phyllis Cole-Dai - Kindle - 15%
A Gift to Remember by Melissa Hill - Print - on page 23 of 416



Pages Read/ Time Listened
614:58 Hours Listened (10:13 listened this week)
39,933 Pages Read (304 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
To the Sky Kingdom by Tang Qi
Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Reflections of Yesterday by Debbie Macomber
Jedi Search by Kevin J. Anderson
Caging the Merrow by Heather Rigney
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
The Scandalous MacKenzies by Jennifer Ashley
The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride by Jennifer Ashley
Hard to Serve by Laura Kaye
Mastering Her Senses by Laura Kaye
Theirs to Take by Laura Kaye
Nightblade's Vengeance by Ryan Kirk
Tomorrowland by Steven Kotler
The Wolf by Leo Carew
My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran & Larissa Zageris
Beyond the Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake
Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso
True North by Marie Force
The Sorting Room by Angelina Singer
Lost Stars by Claudia Gray
Frankenstein Dreams by Michael Sims
The Belgaraid by David Eddings
Death Sworn by Leah Cypess
Sherlock Holmes and the Army of Dr. Moreau by Guy Adams  UNHAUL
Zenith by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings
In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Queen of Sorrow by Sarah Beth Durst
Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Princesses Behaving Badly by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie
Fight for Everything by Laura Kaye
Light as Air by Mari Carr
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper
Half Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Theodore Roszak
The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely UNHAUL
Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
Assassin's Gambit by Amy Raby
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier
None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio
Words We Don't Say by K.J. Reilly
The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth - UNHAUL
Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer
The Christmas Light by Donna VanLiere
The Phoenix Empress by K. Arsenault Rivera
Royals by Rachel Hawkins
Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke
Kill the Farm Boy by Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson - DNF
Monster: The Story of a Young Mary Shelley by Mark Arnold
Mammoth by Jill Baguchinsky
Anything but Okay by Sarah Darer Littman
The Storyteller by Traci Chee
The Carols of Christmas by Andrew Grant
Special Gifts by Cynthia Rylant
Pioneer Sisters by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Animal Adventures by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura & Nellie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
School Days by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
Carne the Ruby by Rich Feitlberg
Wolf Kiss by Christine DePetrillo
Wolf Fire by Christine DePetrillo

Wolf Vow by Christine DePetrillo
Wolf Angel by Christine DePetrillo
Waiting for You by Rose Grey
All of Me by Rose Grey
Pangaea: Sunslinger by Bolivar Beato
Pangaea: Revelations by Bolivar Beato
Wastelander: Awakening by Bolivar Beato
Come, Bos by Lucille Benoit
The Promise: A Perilous Journey by Hank Ellis
Grinch of Starlight Bend by Jennifer Probst




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Gosh it was a busy week last week and an even busier weekend! So busy that I missed an Advent Reads day for the first time. Sorry but life is what it is.  We had a blast with our Grinch Day, granted we did find out that Munchkin shares my allergy to Christmas trees. We also spent Sunday cleaning, wrapping and purging Munchkin's room. Santa leaves him a gift in his room on Christmas morning if his room is nice and clean. This both keeps him occupied in his room until mom and dad are ready to get up and also guarantees a clean room for Christmas!

This will be another busy week full of Christmas fun, including Munchkin's first concert, a field trip to see the Nutcracker and friend get togethers.  Hopefully in all that busy schedule I will get some time to read because I have a stack of books I want to finish still!

What are you reading this week?