Shon's May 2019 Wrap Up & Book Haul!

May Book Haul

Fresh Ink: An Anthology by Lamar Giles (Editor)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Slytherin Edition; Black and Green Hardcover by J. K. Rowling
Thick: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman
The Paris Mysteries by James Patterson
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas**
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston**
The Nature of the Game by Amy Aislin**
Top Secret by Sarina Bowen,  Elle Kennedy**
Unchained by Helen Hardt**
Cavalier by T.L. Smith**
**not pictured, eBook

May Wrap Up

Halo by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

Viper by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

Angel by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

Top Secret by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves by Glory Edim

Backdraft by Cole McCade

Crescendo by Cole McCade

You guys!! May was such a great month for books!! There were so many new releases, and I'm thrilled to add some of them to my collection.

I didn't read as many books this month as I did last month, but I did manage to read 7 books.

Now it's time to say Goodbye to May, and Hello to June, and all the books I plan to read next month!

How many books did you read in May?

And what new books did you add to your TBR?!

Happy Reading!!!

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting on Wednesday #70:

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting On Wednesday #CWW #WOW

Title: Sorcery of Thorns
Author: Margaret Rogerson
Expected Publication: June 4th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.
What are you waiting for this Wednesday?  Let us know in the comment section below.

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.

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting on Wednesday #69:

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting On Wednesday #CWW #WOW

Title: Ghosts of the Shadow Market
Author: Cassandra Clare,  Maureen Johnson, Sarah Rees Brennan, Robin Wasserman
Expected Publication: June 4th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

The Shadow Market is a meeting point for faeries, werewolves, warlocks and vampires. There the Downworlders buy and sell magical objects, make dark bargains, and whisper secrets they do not want the Nephilim to know. Through two centuries, however, there has been a frequent visitor to the Shadow Market from the City of Bones, the very heart of the Shadowhunters. As a Silent Brother, Brother Zachariah is sworn keeper of the laws and lore of the Nephilim. But once he was a Shadowhunter called Jem Carstairs, and his love, then and always, is the warlock Tessa Gray.

Follow Brother Zachariah and see, against the backdrop of the Shadow Market’s dark dealings and festive celebrations, Anna Lightwood’s first romance, Matthew Fairchild’s great sin and Tessa Gray plunged into a world war. Valentine Morgenstern buys a soul at the Market and a young Jace Wayland’s soul finds safe harbor. In the Market is hidden a lost heir and a beloved ghost, and no one can save you once you have traded away your heart. Not even Brother Zachariah...

Ghosts of the Shadow Market will be co-written with Maureen Johnson, Robin Wasserman, Sarah Rees Brennan and Pulitzer finalist Kelly Link and will initially be available digitally.

The first eight stories will be published as e-books from around March 2018 monthly, with the final two available in a print bind-up of all the stories, to be published in 2019.
What are you waiting for this Wednesday?  Let us know in the comment section below.

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.

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting on Wednesday #68:

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting On Wednesday #CWW #WOW

Title: We Hunt the Flame
Author: Hafsah Faizal
Expected Publication: May 14th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways.

Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.

War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.

Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands

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

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.

Shon Review: Top Secret

Top Secret
Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
Website | Twitter | Website | Twitter

Publication Date: May 7th 2019
Publisher:  Tuxbury Publishing LLC and Elle Kennedy Inc
Pages: 319
Genre: M M Romance | New Adult | Contemporary
Source: Bought

Synopsis

Bestselling authors Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy return with their first Male / Male romance in 3 years.

LobsterShorts, 21. Jock. Secretly a science geek. Hot AF.

LobsterShorts: So. Here goes. For her birthday, my girlfriend wants…a threesome.

SinnerThree: Then you’ve come to the right hookup app.

LobsterShorts: Have you done this sort of thing before? With another guy?

SinnerThree: All the time. I’m an equal opportunity player. You?

LobsterShorts: [crickets!]

SinnerThree, 21. Finance major. Secretly a male dancer. Hot AF.

SinnerThree: Well, I’m down if you are. My life is kind of a mess right now. School, work, family stress. Oh, and I live next door to the most annoying dude in the world. I need the distraction. Are you sure you want this?

LobsterShorts: I might want it a little more than I’m willing to admit.

SinnerThree: Hey, nothing wrong with pushing your boundaries...

LobsterShorts: Tell that to my control-freak father. Anyway. What if this threesome is awkward?

SinnerThree: Then it’s awkward. It’s not like we’ll ever have to see each other again. Right? Just promise you won’t fall in love with me.

LobsterShorts: Now wouldn’t that be life-changing...

My Thoughts:

Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy just might be my favorite writing duo. I enjoy both of their separate work. But, when they get together it is pure magic.  I have loss how many time have read and re-read Him & Us. When I saw that they were back with an new Male / Male romance. I was all for it!

I'm a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I like the book but I didn't enjoy it. It felt like something was missing. The only part I enjoy was the texting between Luke and Keaton.

I don't see myself re-reading this book again.

Love In Bloom Readathon | Shon's TBR

Love In Bloom Readathon runs from May 13th to 19th! This readathon has a few reading and photo challenges you may wish to complete.

These are the reading challenges! You can have one book count for as many challenges as you want and you can read the books in any order you want.

1. A book with a name in the title
2. A book from a genre you haven't read yet this year
3. A book with a beautiful cover
4. A hyped book OR a book that has been recommended to you
5. A book published in Spring
6. A non-fiction book

These are the photo challenges! You can share your phots on social media with the hashtag #tb2k19challenge

• Day1: TBR Stack - a photo of all the books you plan to read during the readathon
• Day 2: #Shelfie - a photo of your bookshelf!
• Day 3: National Chocolate Chip Day - a photo of book & cookies
• Day 4: Pink Books - a photo of pink books
• Day 5: Bookmarks - a photo of your bookmarks
• Day 6: Naked Books - a photo of books without the covers
• Day 7: Book and Planner - a photo of how you planned for the readathon week. It can be your planner, a list pad, a spreadsheet, whatever.

TBR

• Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
• With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
• Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves by Glory Edim,  Jesmyn Ward, Lynn Nottage, Jacqueline Woodson , Gabourey Sidibe, Morgan Jerkins, Tayari Jones and Rebecca Walker 

It's a fairly ambitious list, I'll admit, especially with a full-time nine to five job.

Happy Reading!

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting on Wednesday #67:

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting On Wednesday #CWW #WOW

Title: Red, White & Royal Blue
Author: Casey McQuiston
Expected Publication: May 14th 2019
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Young Adult

A big-hearted romantic comedy in which First Son Alex falls in love with Prince Henry of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends...

First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.

The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him.

As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?

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

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.

Shon's May 2019 TBR

Happy First Day of May, Bookworms!!

I can't believe it's May already! Though I have to say, I'm super excited for it to finally be here. Not only because I have a really awesome TBR this month,  but also we are hosting our first Readathon, Love In Bloom Readathon runs from May 13th to 19th! I will be posting a separate TBR for the Readathon so keep an eye out for that.


This month I have a pretty awesome TBR planned out! It's full of awesome new and upcoming releases, as well as a few older releases. 


So many things to look forward to this month. Let's get started with my May TBR!!

Books I'm Reading:

• Top Secret by Sarina Bowen &  Elle Kennedy
• Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
• We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
• Criminal Intentions: Crescendo by Cole McCade
• The Nature of the Game by Amy Aislin
• Intercepted by Alexa Martin
• Deal with the Devil by Meghan March
• The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

    

So, yeah... in case you didn't notice, May is going to be an AWESOME month for books!  I am going to try to read as many of these as I can, and I can't wait to dive into them all.  (And hopefully I can keep up!) 

That's all for me! What's on YOUR TBR this month??

Happy Reading!!!

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting on Wednesday #66:

Can't-Wait Wednesday / Waiting On Wednesday #CWW #WOW

Title: With the Fire on High
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Expected Publication: May 7th 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.


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

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.