My Year in Books! (UPDATED!!!)

I was able to squeeze in one last book before the end of the year so I have updated my totals below! Look for the review to come later today!!

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I thought I'd recap my year in books for you all. Thank goodness for Goodreads! I use that site religiously to keep track of the books I read each year. And they tally everything up for you! So here's some stats about my reading this year:

• Read 103 books, beating my challenge goal of 100!
• 36,778 total pages;
• Shortest book: 132 pages (Beautiful Surrender by Priscilla West)
• Longest book: 780 pages (The Boy Who Granted Dreams by Luca Di Fulvio)
• Average Length: 357 pages
• Average rating: 3.3 out of 5 stars
• Favorites of the year: 
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
• An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
• The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

This has been a great year for reading. I could list at least 20 books that I couldn't put down. Check out my reviews on all the above here on my blog. Just check the archives! This year, I started this blog with the intention to simply share my thoughts on books with others and it has grown to be so much more! I've read more than I thought I would, wrote more than I thought I was capable of, and had endless opportunities to continue to grow and improve upon with reading and reviewing. I'm glad I started this journey and hope to continue to grow and learn over the next year! I've decided to increase my reading goal to 150 books for next year. I already have a stack of ARC's and lists of books I'm looking forward to reading this coming year! I can't wait to share my thoughts with you and hear your feedback! Thank you for the support thus far! 

Happy reading fools :) 

"Dead to the Last Drop" - Cleo Coyle

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Today's review comes to you from the latest in the Coffeehouse mysteries by one of my favorite cozy mystery writers, Cleo Coyle! I couldn't wait to get my hands on Dead to the Last Drop and devour the latest from master roaster Clare Cosi. And devour it I did! Make sure to check out my other reviews on her books in the series as well as her Haunted Bookshop mystery under her other pseudonym, Alice Kimberly! Cleo is a fantastic cozy writer! I anxiously await the arrival of her books!

After the White House asks coffeehouse manager and master roaster Clare Cosi to consult on the coffee service for a Rose Garden Wedding, she discovers a historic pot was used as a CIA “dead drop” decades before. Now long-simmering secrets boil over, scalding Clare and the people around her…
 
Clare’s visit to the nation’s capital is off to a graceful start. Her octogenarian employer is bunking with her in a charming Georgetown mansion, and she's invited to work with a respected curator on the Smithsonian's culinary salute to coffee in America.
 
Unfortunately, Clare’s new Village Blend DC is struggling to earn a profit—until its second-floor jazz club attracts a high-profile fan, the college-age daughter of the U.S. President. Clare’s stock rises as the First Lady befriends her, but she soon learns a stark lesson: Washington can be murder.
 
First a stylish State Department employee suspiciously collapses in her coffeehouse. Then the President’s daughter goes missing. Is she a runaway bride or is something more sinister in play? After another deadly twist, Clare is on the run with her NYPD detective boyfriend. Branded an enemy of the state, she must piece together clues and uncover the truth before her life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness come to a bitter end.

Oh, Clare Cosi, how I love thee! While this book is similar in terms of the same characters loyal readers have come to love and the charades they endure, it takes on a different personality from the other books. With the opening of a new Village Blend location in D.C., Cosi has not only the problems associated with running a new restaurant/coffee shop/jazz club but also with her normal antics of always being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When an unlikely pianist starts playing at open mic night, Clare has no idea to what extent and issues will follow. Add to the mix a terrible head chef caught in contract, D.C. politics, and the sketchy boss of the one and only NYPD Detective Michael Ryan Francis Quinn, things are bound to go haywire. And, of course, Clare and the Village Blend are caught up in the mix! Dead to the Last Drop is full of mystery, suspense, and witty banter. Cleo Coyle writes such fun and relatable characters that keep readers coming back for more! I love the back and forth banter and love between not only Clare and Mike, but the relationship that all of the characters have with each other. The Village Blend sounds like an amazing family to be a part of. Recipes, coffee tips, and presidential coffee history are a nice bonus section at the end of the book. I learn more every time I read her books from coffee tips to new recipes. Cleo. you are at fault for coffee related items constantly plaguing my Christmas and birthday lists :) 

The worst part about these books is waiting for the next one to come out! Readers, check out this series. They are the perfect cozy mystery books! To find out more about Cleo Coyle, her series, and tons of delicious recipes and coffee tips CLICK HERE! As always, feel free to share your thoughts, comments, or suggestions. I'd love to hear what you think!

Happy reading fools :) 

Blog Tour: "Shadows of Angels" - L.G. Rollins

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Welcome to my stop on the Shadows of Angels blog tour presented by author L.G. Rollins and Cedar Fort Publishing & Media. Huge shout out to both for the advanced copy and opportunity to review! Shadows of Angels is the first book in a the upcoming Zaad Stone triolgy by debut author L.G. Rollins. Check out my review, excerpt, and synopsis below!

After the forest dwellers destroy her home and kill her father, Aerbrin sets off on a journey to find the truth about her people, her kingdom, and the mysterious Zaad stone that contains a power she never imagined. Magic and mystery join forces in this intriguing fantasy world. Full of shifting alliances and twists you won't see coming, it's a can't-miss read.

This is a great start to the trilogy. The characters, settings, and plot line are all very imaginative and creative. While I did struggle with the first few chapters of the book, in terms of figuring out all of the characters (especially their names!) and what everything in the story was (creatures, places, settings), once I got past that part, I couldn't put the book down. The book flips back and forth between the different characters and their roles in the story. They are all connected yet have their own paths to go down to reach the end goal. I liked the back and forth; I liked reading the different perspectives. There are great messages within each character and their role. I saw similarities from other books that I enjoyed growing up. Narnia, Wizard of Oz, as well as strong and courageous female lead characters. It's fantasy. It's suspense. It's imaginative. Would be a great book for readers 14 and up. Great debut series! I'm going to be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to see where things go from here!

Excerpt:
"Stay calm, her father’s words echoed in her head. When you find yourself in danger, above all, stay calm. Aerbrin took a deep, steady breath and leaned down, reaching for her bow. one of the Forest Dwellers charged. It collided with her and knocked her to the floor. Raising a knotted fist, he bashed her head. Sparks exploded across her vision. She tried to raise an arm, tried to call out. Her body wouldn’t respond. The Forest Dwellers grunted again. The creature above her raised its fist again. She looked up. This was the end, she knew. When these monsters attacked, they killed everything. Animals, plants, and particularly humans. No one survived. Closing her eyes, Aerbrin forced her body to relax. This time, there was no pain."

About the Author:
L. G. Rollins grew up in a far off land fighting dragons, stealing talismans, and traveling with dwarfs and elves. She is especially skilled at bribing giants with sweets. Currently, her husband and four kids live in Utah so that is where she spends most of her time. She may, or may not, have a Zaad Stone. To learn more about L. G. Rollins and her books visit LGRollins.com.

As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Click HERE to buy the book on Amazon!

Happy reading fools :)

Clean Slate Read-A-Thon!

Hello fellow bibliophiles! I apologize in advance for the lack of reviews recently! December is unfortunately my busiest month in my real-life job :( I wish we could all just read, drink coffee, talk books, and be happy. Alas, this has put me behind in my books I planned to read this year sooooo, I'm participating in this year's Clean Slate Read-A-Thon hosted by Lost In Ink, Novel Ink, & Latte Nights Reviews! The Read-A-Thon runs from January 10 - January 17 to read all the 2015 books you hoped to read and weren't able to get to! Join me and we can clean our slates to kick-start the year off before we start on the new books for 2016!

Here are the titles I hope to finish throughout the week of Jan. 10th - Jan. 17th:

           

                                                   

Sign up HERE to join me in cleaning my slate! Prizes and give-a-ways throughout the read-a-thon so make sure to sign up before JANUARY 10! Let me know when you join by posting your books to read in the comments. I'll be updating my progress throughout the week!

Happy reading fools :)

"Death Before Decaf" - Caroline Fardig

Hello fellow bibliophiles! Finally, a book that kept my attention and was really good! Finding books lately  has been a huge issue. (Check out my reading struggles post here) Big shout out to Netgalley for the opportunity to read today's ARC! Thank you! Another cozy mystery series to add to my list.

"Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich and Diane Mott Davidson, Caroline Fardig's captivating new mystery novel takes readers behind the counter of a seemingly run-of-the-mill coffeehouse... where murder is brewing.

After her music career crashes and burns spectacularly, Juliet Langley is forced to turn to the only other business she knows: food service. Unfortunately, bad luck strikes yet again when her two-timing fiance robs her blind and runs off with her best waitress. Flushing what's left of her beloved cafe down the toilet with her failed engagement, Juliet packs up and moves back to her college stomping grounds in Nashville to manage an old friend's coffeehouse. At first glance, it seems as though nothing's changed at Java Jive. What could possibly go wrong? Only that the place is hemorrhaging money, the staff is in open revolt, and Juliet finds one unlucky employee dead in a dumpster out back before her first day is even over. 

The corpse just so happens to belong to the cook who'd locked horns with Juliet over the finer points of the health code. Unimpressed with her management style, the other disgruntled employees are only too eager to spill the beans about her fiery temper to the detective on the case. Add to the mix a hunky stranger who's asking way too many questions, and suddenly Juliet finds herself in some very hot water. If she can't simmer down and sleuth her way to the real killer, she's going to get burned."

This book was the perfect mix of all things cozy. Bumbling main character constantly finding herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, witty side characters, mystery, intrigue, a hunky secretive man, and romantic tension, not to mention a coffeehouse! I loved it. I was kept guessing from start to end about what the actual crime was and who committed it. I liked the dynamic between main characters, Juliet, and her partner/friend, Pete. Great cozy mystery book. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series. I'm really interested to see where the story goes from here! Thanks again Netgalley for the ARC! As always, feel free to share any comments, suggestions, or recommendations. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading fools :)