Tangled 'N' Books: July 2017

Monday, July 31, 2017

Shon's July Reading Wrap Up & Book Haul

~ July Book Haul ~

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #3) by Rick Riordan

Like a River Glorious (The Gold Seer Trilogy #2) by Rae Carson

Frost Like Night (Snow Like Ashes #3) by Sara Raasch

Flamecaster (Shattered Realms #1) by Cinda Williams Chima

A Million Worlds with You (Firebird #3) by Claudia Gray

The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #1) by Rick Riordan

The Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #2) by Rick Riordan

The Titan's Curse: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #3) by Rick Riordan

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy #1-10) by Cassandra Clare

Windwitch (The Witchlands #2) by Susan Dennard

Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies (Pottermore Presents #1) by J.K. Rowling*

Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists (Pottermore Presents #2) by J.K. Rowling*

Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide (Pottermore Presents #3) by J.K. Rowling*

* ebook/audiobook, not pictured

~ July Wrap Up ~

The reading slump is over, I read 9 books and DNF 1 book this month.

Empty Net (Scoring Chances #4) by Avon Gale
3/5 stars - The story started off okay, but then turn into an after school special and I lost interest.

Coach's Challenge (Scoring Chances #5) by Avon Gale
4/5 stars - I really like this one. Book two still always my favorite out of the series. But this one who was such a cute and enjoyable read. I found myself laughing out loud for most of the book.

Him (Him #1) by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
5/5 stars - Even though my TBR is 200+ book long. I had to go back and reread this book. I really enjoy this book, is so cute. I'm a sucker for a good romance novels and adding elements of hockey in it just a cherry on top.

Us (Him #2) by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
5/5 stars

Good Boy (WAGs #1) by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy
DNF at 22%. I just couldn't go on. At least I made it to the wedding reception.

Regret (Under My Skin #1) by Christina Lee
3.75 / 5 stars - I think I would have given this book a higher rating if it wasn't for the ending. This story would not end. It just kept going and going and going. I feel like it should have ended five chapters ago.

Goodbye Paradise (Hello Goodbye #1) by Sarina Bowen
4/5 stars - Think was the first book I read that was set in a cult

Hello Forever (Hello Goodbye #2) by Sarina Bowen
4/5 stars

Heart of the Steal by Avon Gale & Roan Parrish
4/5 stars - Me likey.

Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall
4/5 stars - This was such a cute and fun book to read. Little disappointed that it was so short. I was turning the page like where is the rest of the story? I want more!!! More I say!

How was your month?? What books did you add to your collection??

Happy Reading!

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

"Waiting On" Wednesday / Can't-Wait Wednesday #41: Trust by Kylie Scott

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Title: Trust
Author: Kylie Scott

Expected publication: July 18, 2017
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Being young is all about the experiences: the first time you skip school, the first time you fall in love…the first time someone holds a gun to your head.

After being held hostage during a robbery at the local convenience store, seventeen-year-old Edie finds her attitude about life shattered. Unwilling to put up with the snobbery and bullying at her private school, she enrolls at the local public high school, crossing paths with John. The boy who risked his life to save hers.

While Edie’s beginning to run wild, however, John’s just starting to settle down. After years of partying and dealing drugs with his older brother, he’s going straight—getting to class on time, and thinking about the future.

An unlikely bond grows between the two as John keeps Edie out of trouble and helps her broaden her horizons. But when he helps her out with another first—losing her virginity—their friendship gets complicated.

Meanwhile, Edie and John are pulled back into the dangerous world they narrowly escaped. They were lucky to survive the first time, but this time they have more to lose—each other.

What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comment section below.

-Shon

Blue Bottle Tree Live-Action Book Trailer

Watch the live-action book trailer for the upcoming paranormal romance title, Blue Bottle Tree by Beaird Glover. There’s no such thing as Voodoo. At least, that’s what most of the Baptists in Bellin tell themselves. But Seven LaVey knows better.

Filled with betrayal and revenge, two families struggle with a curse that stretches back to Queen of the Voodoos Marie Laveau in this contemporary Southern Gothic adventure. Prepare for a wildly original twist on the paranormal.

Watch the trailer below!

Blue Bottle Tree by Beaird Glover will be released October 24th and is available now for pre-order.

Pre-Order Blue Bottle Tree now...

Amazon | Google Play | Kobo

Add to your GoodReads here.

About the Author:

Beaird Glover grew up on a farm in rural Tennessee. He graduated from The Evergreen State College of Olympia, Washington, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in creative writing. He then moved to Southern California and wrote Secret Ciphers of the 1876 Presidential Election (Aegean Park Press). He has traveled extensively and lived in eleven of the United Sates, and Taipei and Buenos Aires. His poems have been published in the New York Quarterly and his chapbook of poetry was selected by the Austin Chronicle as one of the Top 10 Best of 1994. More recently, he acquired a Bachelor of Science degree from Long Island University in Brooklyn and has worked as a physician assistant. Beaird now lives in New Orleans with his wife Kim and their cats.

The author’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bluebottletree/

The Parliament House

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Friday, July 21, 2017

Friday 56! July 20, 2017

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice. Grab a book, any book. Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader. Find any sentence, or few, just don't spoil it. Post it.

"With his finger he began to trace the words against her skin- it was something they had been doing there whole lives, ever since they realized they needed a way to silently communicate during boring study sessions or time with adults. A-R-E-Y-O-U-A-L-L-R-I-G-H-T?"

From: Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1)

by Cassandra Clare

Happy Reading

Xo,

Wendy

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

"Waiting On" Wednesday / Can't-Wait Wednesday #40: The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana

Title: The Library of Fates
Author: Aditi Khorana
Publisher:Razorbill
Expected publication: July 18, 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

A romantic coming-of-age fantasy tale steeped in Indian folklore, perfect for fans of The Star-Touched Queen and The Wrath and the Dawn

No one is entirely certain what brings the Emperor Sikander to Shalingar. Until now, the idyllic kingdom has been immune to his many violent conquests. To keep the visit friendly, Princess Amrita has offered herself as his bride, sacrificing everything—family, her childhood love, and her freedom—to save her people. But her offer isn't enough.

The unthinkable happens, and Amrita finds herself a fugitive, utterly alone but for an oracle named Thala, who was kept by Sikander as a slave and managed to escape amid the chaos of a palace under siege. With nothing and no one else to turn to, Amrita and Thala are forced to rely on each other. But while Amrita feels responsible for her kingdom and sets out to warn her people, the newly free Thala has no such ties. She encourages Amrita to go on a quest to find the fabled Library of All Things, where it is possible for each of them to reverse their fates. To go back to before Sikander took everything from them.

Stripped of all that she loves, caught between her rosy past and an unknown future, will Amrita be able to restore what was lost, or does another life—and another love—await?

What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comment section below.

-Shon

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

COVER REVEAL + GIVEAWAY | The Fangs of Freelance by Drew Hayes

We are sharing the cover and synopsis of The Fangs of Freelance which is the fourth book in the hilarious series following Fred, the vampire accountant, and the misadventures he finds himself in.

The Fangs of Freelance (Fred, the Vampire Accountant 4)
Drew Hayes
Goodreads

Summary:

When Fred formed his own parahuman clan out of necessity, he understood that it was going to come with new responsibilities. Much as he hoped those tasks would center around extra paperwork and perhaps the occasional mandatory class, enough time around the supernatural has taught him to be ready for anything. Or so he thought.

As a freelance accountant for the Agency, Fred soon finds himself being tossed into new, unexpected, and perilous situations. From inventorying ghostly castles, to exploring unsettling amusement parks, to negotiating with dangerous mages, it seems there is no end to the uses for an accountant of Fred’s specialty. But dangerous as the new jobs are, the greatest threat may come from the past. An old enemy is making waves once more, an enemy who would go to great lengths to destroy Fred and everyone he loves. And this time, they've brought backup.

The Fangs and the Freelance releases July 25, 2017 from REUTS Publications, LLC. What did you think of the cover?

PRE-ORDER THE BOOK

REUTS | Amazon

Pre-order off the REUTS website and get it a weekend before everyone else!

Haven’t read this series yet?

#1: The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, The Vampire Accountant

REUTS | Amazon

#2: Undeath & Taxes

REUTS | Amazon

#3: Bloody Acquisitions

REUTS | Amazon

About the Author

Drew Hayes is an aspiring author from Texas who has written several books and found the gumption to publish a few (so far). He graduated from Texas Tech with a B.A. in English, because evidently he's not familiar with what the term "employable" means. Drew has been called one of the most profound, prolific, and talented authors of his generation, but a table full of drunks will say almost anything when offered a round of free shots. Drew feels kind of like a D-bag writing about himself in the third person like this. He does appreciate that you're still reading, though.

Drew would like to sit down and have a beer with you. Or a cocktail. He's not here to judge your preferences. Drew is terrible at being serious, and has no real idea what a snippet biography is meant to convey anyway. Drew thinks you are awesome just the way you are. That part, he meant. Drew is off to go high-five random people, because who doesn't love a good high-five? No one, that's who.

Visit him at: http://www.drewhayesnovels.com for the latest book news, and fun extras.

Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a brand new Kindle fully-loaded with the entire REUTS collection (including The Fangs of Freelance!): http://www.reuts.com/new-website-kindle-giveaway-party-time-excellent/

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

"Waiting On" Wednesday / Can't-Wait Wednesday #39: The Ends of the World by Maggie Hall

Title: The Ends of the World (The Conspiracy of Us #3)
Author: Maggie Hall
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Expected publication: July 18, 2017
Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary

The Circle is hers.

But Avery West has lost everything else: her mother, the family she’d just found, and the one boy she trusted. In their place are unfathomable power, a staged relationship that makes her question every real feeling she’s ever had, and a mission to find the cure to the virus that’s made her own blood a weapon.

Then disaster strikes, turning Avery, Stellan, Jack, and Elodie into the most wanted people in the world. To clear their names and the growing rift between the families of the Circle before the world dissolves into World War Three, they’ll have to make a desperate, dangerous final race for Alexander the Great’s tomb. What they will find inside will mean the world’s salvation—or destruction.

Avery will have to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice—for the world, for family, and for love—in this thrilling conclusion to the Conspiracy of Us series.

What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comment section below.

-Shon

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

"Waiting On" Wednesday / Can't-Wait Wednesday #38: Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine

Title: Ash and Quill (The Great Library #3)

Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Berkley
Expected publication: July 11, 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

The unforgettable characters from Ink and Bone and Paper and Fire unite to save the Great Library of Alexandria from itself in this electrifying adventure in the New York Times bestselling series.

Hoarding all the knowledge of the world, the Great Library jealously guards its secrets. But now a group of rebels poses a dangerous threat to its tyranny....

Jess Brightwell and his band of exiles have fled London, only to find themselves imprisoned in Philadelphia, a city led by those who would rather burn books than submit. But Jess and his friends have a bargaining chip: the knowledge to build a machine that will break the Library’s rule.

Their time is running out. To survive, they’ll have to choose to live or die as one, to take the fight to their enemies—and to save the very soul of the Great Library....

What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comment section below.

-Shon

Monday, July 3, 2017

Monday Reviews: American Kingpin (The True Story)

American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the
Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road
Written by Nick Bilton
Published May 2nd 2017 by Portfolio
Genres: Non-fiction, Crime, Cyber Crime, History, Biography
Page: 354
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Review by: Tina

Synopsis

True story of the man who built a billion-dollar online drug empire and almost got away with it.

In 2011, a twenty-six-year-old libertarian programmer named Ross Ulbricht launched the ultimate free market: the Silk Road, a clandestine Web site hosted on the Dark Web where anyone could trade anything--drugs, hacking software, forged passports, counterfeit cash, poisons--free of the government's watchful eye.

The Silk Road quickly ballooned into $1.2 billion enterprise, and Ross embraced his new role as kingpin. He enlisted a loyal crew of allies in high and low places, all as addicted to the danger and thrill of running an illegal marketplace as their customers were to the heroin they sold. Through his network he got wind of the target on his back and took drastic steps to protect himself--including ordering a hit on a former employee. As Ross made plans to disappear forever, the Feds raced against the clock to catch a man they weren't sure even existed, searching for a needle in the haystack of the global Internet.

Review

Reading a non-fiction novel was not a 2017 goal of mine. I happen upon the title when going through an email list of recommended readings I received from audible.

What luck! It's captivating. Engrossing. Thrilling. It is almost like reading a real life story of Heisenburg! What a way to start the month of July!

Unbeknownst to Ross Ulbricht, the creator of a small startup website known as the Silk Road, he became the Kingpin on the dark web. With no tech background and self taught, he rises up from one fail dream to another and became the web persona, the infamous Dread Pirate Roberts.

I can't fathom all the events that occur as true; they are just too out of character for Ross. But let me say, I became completely immersed in the world of cyberdom. The experience is eye opening and shocking. Exhilarating fantastic read!