Early Reader Bedtime Story: Get a Hit, Mo! by David A. Adler and Illustrated by Sam Ricks

Read for: Early Reader Challenge

Synopsis: "Mo Jackson is a small boy with a big passion for sports. He may not be the biggest, the fastest, or the strongest kid on the team, but he won't let that stop him from playing!

Baseball season is has arrived and Mo is all set to play with his team, the Lions. But Mo always bats last, and he always plays right field – and no balls ever come to right field. Will Mo ever get his chance to help the Lions win?"

My Review: This is a great early reader book to pick up in spring during the start of baseball season. Munchkin really connected with this book as he is one of the smallest and youngest kids on his Rookie team. It is a nice reminder that you don't always get the hit or the ball but by continuing to show up you can help your team. It is a great level 2 book with longer sentences, more text on each page but still easy, sight words. Young baseball fans and players will really enjoy this one.

My Rating: This is a really great one for kids who might be lacking a little confidence in the team sports. We certainly enjoyed it and give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Review of The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay

Read for: Netgalley/ Requested Review

Synopsis: "Love, friendship, and family find a home at the Printed Letter Bookshop

One of Madeline Cullen’s happiest childhood memories is of working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly twenty years later, family troubles and her own bitter losses have hardened Madeline’s heart toward her once-treasured aunt—and the now struggling bookshop left in her care.

While Madeline intends to sell the shop as quickly as possible, the Printed Letter’s two employees have other ideas. Reeling from a recent divorce, Janet finds sanctuary within the books and within the decadent window displays she creates. Claire, though quieter than the acerbic Janet, feels equally drawn to the daily rhythms of the shop and its loyal clientele, finding a renewed purpose within its walls. When Madeline’s professional life takes an unexpected turn, and when a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions, she questions her plans and her heart. She begins to envision a new path for herself and for her aunt’s beloved shop—provided the women’s best combined efforts are not too little, too late.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is a captivating story of good books, a testament to the beauty of new beginnings, and a sweet reminder of the power of friendship."

My Review: Of course this cover immediately drew me in immediately so I was excited to read this one. For some reason I thought it would be a light read, but it ended up being much deeper than expected. This is definitely a book that needs to be savored slowly, with a lot of pondering. It leaves me wishing I had knew Maddie to have been so insightful of the people around her. I loved watching the characters change and grow throughout this book, they each had road blocks to stumble over and hands reaching out to help them but it was up to them to take that hand, which I really appreciated. This would be a great book to read on a vacation when you can take the time for all the wisdom throughout the book and how it could apply to your own life.

My Rating: It took me quite a while to read this one, longer than I expected and at first I didn't think it was going to suit my reading mood currently but the more I got into the story the more I appreciated it.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.

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

To find out more about Katherine Reay and her books check out her Goodreads Page or Website.

The Printed Letter Bookshop was just released on May 14th, so you can now pick up your own copy in digital or print formats from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or ask at your local library or bookstore.

Review of Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

Read for: Audio Book Challenge/Recently Added 

& Loved the First Book!

Review of Royals (aka Prince Charming)

Synopsis: "Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sort-of-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. And because Millie cannot stand the thought of confronting her ex every day, she decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools . . . the farther from Houston the better.

Millie can't believe her luck when she's accepted into one of the world's most exclusive schools, located in the rolling highlands of Scotland. Everything about Scotland is different: the country is misty and green; the school is gorgeous, and the students think Americans are cute.

The only problem: Mille's roommate Flora is a total princess.

She's also an actual princess. Of Scotland.

At first, the girls can barely stand each other--Flora is both high-class and high-key--but before Millie knows it, she has another sort-of-best-friend/sort-of-girlfriend. Even though Princess Flora could be a new chapter in her love life, Millie knows the chances of happily ever afters are slim . . . after all, real life isn't a fairy tale . . . or is it?"

My Review: I don't normally enjoy YA contemporary romances but the first book in this series was everything I could have ever wanted. So of course this one was highly anticipated. I decided to listen to the audio book this time again, which I highly recommend with all the fantastic accents! It took me a bit to get into as we started off with Millie, a completely new character, instead of with Flora as I had expected. I did however come to adore Millie. While we met Flora in the previous book and got to know her, we are again introduced to her from an outside perspective and it took a while to get back to what we had begun to learn about her personality in the previous book. We do get to see all the characters from the previous book, but only briefly, which is great if you hadn't read it, you can read each of them as standalone books if you really want. This was such a fun and light read that will have you chuckling and awe-ing over the romantic moments. It would be a great summer read, but again I highly recommend the audio books to get that lovely accent!

My Rating: This was once such a light, fun read.  It did seem to have a little more of a serious tone as opposed to the first book, which was mostly comedy.  I really hope there is more to come! I need a Seb book now!  I give this one a rating of Four Paws!

Review of A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Read for: Recently Added/ Subscription Box book

Synopsis: "Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she's pulled into a magical world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what's at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin."

My Review: I have been drifting away from re-tellings, especially in YA, I have been burned a few too many times. I did however receive this one in a book box and I have a soft spot for all things Beauty and the Beast so thought I would give it a shot. I ended up really enjoying this book. I like the world we are sucked into and the characters are unique. It was also so refreshing seeing diversity represented in physical ability. There are definitely so pacing issues, it does seem to slow way down in momentum at various points and there is little in the way of action or danger until the last 75 or so pages. While it was a slow moving story, and clearly a romance driven book, it still really pulled me in and was an easy page turner.

My Rating: I almost let this one go without reading it, I am glad I decided to pick it up, if for nothing but the diverse representation! But it ended up being so much more than I expected, maybe not the best book in the world but certainly an entertaining one.  I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

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

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
The Princess and The Fangirl by Ashley Poston
Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman (Bedtime Story)
In Her Sights by Katie Ruggle

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Nevermoor
Get a Hit Mo
Rhapsodic
Her Royal Highness

Currently Reading:

Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Raey - Ebook - on page 90 of 336

Pages Read/ Time Listened
286:36 Hours Listened (18:45 listened this week)
12,922 Pages Read (945 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
The Snow Gypsy
WarDance
Warsong

Lost Boy
Year One
Girl Who Drank the Moon
King of Scars
Dactyl Hill Squad
The Darkdeep
Lord of the Fading Lands

 Crown of Feathers

 Argos: The Story of Odysseus as told by his Loyal Dog

 Trial of Lightning

Wundersmith
A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Shadow of Doubt
Gates of Stone
Nevermoor
A Conspiracy of Truths
Viper
Vortex Visions
Through the White Wood
Descendant of the Crane
The Princess and the Fangirl
Holy Sister
Rhapsodic
A Strange Hymn
The Emperor of Evening Stars
Dark Harmony
The Black Bull of Norroway
We Rule the Night
The Opposite of Always
The Sea Queen
The Mountain of Kept Memory
Metamorphica
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 1
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 2
The Sea King
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Irresistible Force
Force of Attraction
Primal Force
Rival Forces
A Rogue by Any Other Name
A Scot in the Dark
The Day of the Duchess
The Pirate Bride
Pirate Stories
Man Made Boy
This Monstrous Thing
The Case of the Missing Moonstone
Dear Santa
An Endless Christmas
Christmas Magic
Falling Softly
Christmas Town
The Christmas Star
Crazy Rich Asians
Once and Future
Highland Crown
Her Royal Highness

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



I hope all you moms out there had a wonderful mother's day, whether you are a mom to kids, or furry kids, expectant mom, or wanting to be mom, a mom of loss or a mom figure, you all matter and you all do a wonderful job day in and day out!


It looks like we are going to have a gloomy week, so it should work perfectly with the Bout of Books readathon this week! I am ready to have some down time to curl up on the couch and read books. Especially after last week when we had 3 baseball games, a 1st birthday, Mother's Day and Hubby starting a new schedule, we are all ready for some down time.

I hope you all have a great week!

Bout of Books #25 Signup & Updates

Time again for my favorite readathon! I love how Bout of Books stretches throughout the whole week and allows for me to work it around my schedule.

Here is the information you need in case you want to sign up too!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 7th and runs through Sunday, January 13th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 24 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

  

So this post is going to be my base for the week, I will continue to come back and update it each day with my progress (as I already have a lot of posts planned for this week and don't want things too jumbled up).  I will also be updating on Instagram @EasternSunset9

Time Devoted to Reading

I would like to read between 3-4 hours each day and read about 300 pages each day.

Averaging about 1-2 hours and work and another 2 at home after Munchkin goes to bed.

  

My Goals

Read a total of 1,200 pages

Read at least 3 hours each day

Read a total of 4 books
Read/Finish 1-2 Requested Review Books

Books to Read

Printed Letter Bookshop - Currently on page 90 of 336 pages
Realm - 397 pages
Seal's Honor - 352 pages
A Strange Hymn - 384 pages
The Black Bull of Norroway - 224 pages

Other Possible Books

The Emperor of Evening Stars - 186 pages
Holy Sister - 368 pages
Trail of Lightning - 287 pages
Sniper's Pride - 352 pages
Things My Son Needs to Know about the World - 208 pages

Updates:

Monday
Number of Pages I've Read Today: 374
Total Number of Pages: 374
Time Spent Reading Today: 4.5
Total Number of Books I've Read: 4 (Currently Reading Printed Letter Bookshop & A Strange Hymn)
Books Completed: 2 (Untitled, The Black Bull of Norroway)
Thoughts: It was a surprisingly good reading day! I made some more progress on The Printed Letter Bookshop, read and finished Untitled and The Black Bull of Norroway and started A Strange Hymn. I am having a bit of a hard time focusing on what I am reading, I have so many books that need to be read right away for deadlines that I can't seem to focus on any one of them, but I am really drawn to the Bargainer series. So I decided I can read A Strange Hymn only in the evening if I have read at least a 1/4 of one of the other books I need to get done.

Tuesday
Number of Pages I've Read Today: 492
Total Number of Pages: 866
Time Spent Reading Today: 6 hours
Total Number of Books I've Read: 6 (Currently Reading: Printed Letter Bookshop, Things My Son Needs to Know about the World, Roller Girl & A Strange Hymn)
Books Completed: 2 (Untitled, The Black Bull of Norroway)
Thoughts: Another really fantastic reading day, I started listening to Fredrik Backman's newest book in the car and it is so good, I will definitely be finishing it today (Wed.).  I also received my library hold on Roller Girl for an upcoming project so decided to read it really quick, almost done and will finish it today too.  I also made a lot of progress on the Printed Letter Bookshop, it has been a slow read but I will hopefully finish it today as well.  I hope I keep getting these great reading days!

   Wednesday
Number of Pages I've Read Today: 264
Total Number of Pages: 1,130
Time Spent Reading Today: 3 Hours
Total Number of Books I've Read: 7 (Currently Reading: Sniper's Honor & A Strange Hymn)
Books Completed:  5 (Untitled, The Black Bull of Norroway, Roller Girl, Printed Letter Bookshop and Things My Son Needs to Know About the World)
Thoughts:  I think I have just about met all my readathon goals and it is only halfway through the week! It was not as great of a reading day yesterday, I had a lot of running around to do with Munchkin at baseball and other appointments so not much reading time other than audio books.  I did however manage to finish 3 more books! I have started another book that needs to be read before a requested review this month so Sniper's Honor is taking priority right now.  I was thinking about picking up Trail of Lightning later today as well because my library audio book hold became available.

Thursday
Number of Pages I've Read Today: 312
Total Number of Pages: 1,442
Time Spent Reading Today: 4.5 hours
Total Number of Books I've Read:  8 (Currently Reading A Strange Hymn & Trail of Lightning)
Books Completed: 6 (Untitled, The Black Bull of Norroway, Roller Girl, Printed Letter Bookshop, Things My Son Needs to Know About the World & Seal's Honor)
Thoughts: It was another really good reading day! I have managed to complete all my goals already.  I have also really been enjoying the books I picked for this readathon, some longer, some shorter and a nice variety.  I do need to catch up on some reviews today though.  I also hope to finish A Strange Hymn today (Friday) and maybe Trail of Lightning and Emperor of Evening Stars this weekend, I think that will be a very satisfying Bout of Books Readathon week!

Friday
Number of Pages I've Read Today: 
Total Number of Pages: 
Time Spent Reading Today:
Total Number of Books I've Read: 
Books Completed:
Thoughts: 


Saturday & Sunday
Number of Pages I've Read Today: 
Total Number of Pages: 
Time Spent Reading Today:
Total Number of Books I've Read: 
Books Completed:
Thoughts: 

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

Challenges:

I don't often participate in the challenges but if I do they will be posted here.