“Because when you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worth while.” – Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
 
Lively and enthusiastic Anne Shirley couldn’t wait to experiences the many adventures she will have at Green Gables. The Cuthberts were very surprised to have made her acquaintance as they wanted to adopt a boy to help out at the farm. Who knew that a mix-up such as this could change their lives forever?
 
I might be a little biased as I’ve already seen the TV series starring Megan Follows as Anne Shirley and I’ve adored the quirkiness and enthusiasm of the show. The cast really brought these characters to life for me so I was looking very forward to reading the classic. I will admit that I did have a hard time getting into it and the same had went with the others in our local Book Club. I love the idea of reading classics. They’ve been around for so long and have had such an impact to literature today. The writing was just different for me and I had to get used to it more and more as I kept reading. One girl at the meeting had mentioned how it would be such a cool idea if someone would create a modernized version of Anne of Green Gables. We felt like it would probably do really well as there are so many aspects that you could relate to in this story. Though the writing was difficult, I did love the story and its linear writing style. There were so many quotes that I would love to write down to read again later. It’s just overall such an uplifting story.
 
We give this beautiful classic 3.5 out of 5 feathers! 

Mel.

March 27th, 2017
What I'm listening to: Great Gatsby Soundtrack
Drink of the day: Cafe Mocha from Tim Hortons
How I'm feeling: Joyful 

I had such a blast this weekend! We've been helping my boyfriend's sister prepare for her Roaring 20s themed stag and doe and it was an absolute success! We had a bunch of casino-style games, everyone was dressed up and in character and the music was perfect. Half way through the night, I was so comfortable in my character that I started to feel like I must have been born in the wrong era. I loved the style and just everything about it. It really got me in the mood to find a book that was set in the 20s! I looked on Goodreads to see if there were any that would pique my interest and so I came to notice that I actually own one. I am definitely moving my copy of The Diviners by Libba Bray from my old bookshelf to my bed-side pile so it can be one of the next ones that I read! I don't usually get to read many historical fiction novels but it's definitely a genre I would love to explore!

Does anyone have any historical fiction recommendations? 
I highly recommend My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows! It's super fun and imaginative!

​Melanie.

Oh my gosh! Thank you Balie @ Nerd in New York for nominating me! Balie is an amazing blogger and so full of energy in her posts. You guys should really check her blog out!

The Rules:

• Share the link of the blogger who has shown love to you by nominating you.
• Answer the questions.
• In the spirit of sharing love and solidarity with our blogging family, nominate 8-13 people for the same award.
• Ask them three questions.

Balie's Questions:

1. What are some of your favorite book(s)?

Right now, I can say that my favorite series is the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard but my favorite book is Caraval by Stephanie Garber. Also, my favorite author is Colleen Hoover because every book that she's written are masterpieces.

2. E-books or physical books?

I definitely prefer physical copies! E-books are great when I have to travel but there's just something about holding an actual physical copy.

3. What type of music do you like listening to? 

I listen to a bunch of different types. While driving to work early in the morning, I listen to pop music to wake me up. At the apartment, we always have country songs playing in the background but I love listening to acoustic songs and alternative pop/rock. My favorite artists right now are Lights, especially her acoustic albums, Paramore and Halsey.

I Nominate:

• Lea @ A Shelf of Dreams and Tales
• M & D @ The Nocturnal Book Club
• Sushmita @ Fervently Curious
• Esther @ Chapter Adventures
• Nandika & Tanishka @ Yours A-Fiction-ately
• Susan @ Susan Loves Books
• Melissa @ The Bookworm's Fantasy
• Amanda @ Go Book Yourself
• Jenny @ World of a Bibliophile
• Abby @ Sweetheart Reads
• M @ A Blog of One's Own
• Wren @ For the Love of Books

My Questions

1. What was the one book that started your reading obsession?
2. If you could only pick one character, who do you relate to the most?
3. Could you name three books you can never, ever part with and why?

Hi guys! I can't believe we're already half way through March! I feel like the new year is going by way too quickly. For my mid-month post this month, I wanted to share with you guys my signed book collection. Most of my signed books have either been from subscription boxes such as Uppercase Box and OwlCrate, some of them have been gifted to me by some awesome indie authors and others have either been bought through Chapters, from the authors' websites or at a signing. There is one collection though that I haven't had the chance to get signed yet but I hopefully will someday! I will mention which books I'm talking about at the end of this post but for now, here is my current signed book collection!

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
I received this book through my Uppercase Box subscription. Technically, the book itself wasn't signed but the Uppercase Box usually sends us a book with a signed bookplate from the author. Sometimes they do send signed books as well so it's a mystery! If you would like to see the Unboxing Post from way back, I will link it right here! 

Not if I See You First by Eric Lindstrom
This is another book that I was very happy to get through my Uppercase Box subscription. It was also a bookplate that was signed and not the book itself but I'm still just as excited to have an author's signature! I will also post the Unboxing Post right here if you would like to check it out!

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
This book was actually from OwlCrate and I was super excited to get this one. This is also one with a signed bookplate but sometimes they do include signed books! I will post my Unboxing Post right here if you would like to check out the Once Upon a Dream Box.

After Oil by Kristan Cannon
This book was actually the first one that I've read for an author as a blogger. I had only been blogging for a few months at the time and so reading and reviewing this book was a big milestone for me in terms of being a book blogger. It was a really good book and I still recommend the series to this day! I'm going to be reading the second and third installment very soon and I'm looking forward to it! Here's a link to my spoiler-free review!

The Boy with Words by C.E. Wilson
C.E Wilson is an amazing writer and I've loved her books thus far. I've had the chance to read and review three of her books on this blog and I can't wait to read her new one that came out on Valentine's Day! The Boy with Words was the first I've read by her and it will always have a place in my heart. It was such a wonderful story. I've written a spoiler-free review if you'd like to check it out!

Burning September and Pretty Waste, both by Melissa Simonson
Burning September was a fantastic book! I haven't had the chance to read Pretty Waste yet but it's on my bedside table screaming my name. Melissa Simonson is such a sweet person to have sent me Pretty Waste as a surprise! If you would like to read the review that I wrote for Burning September, I will link it right here. You guys need to read this book. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
When this book first arrived in stores, I believe the first batch of books were all signed by John Green so I jumped at the opportunity to get myself a signed copy. I remember looking through every copy so that I can find one with one of my favorite colors! He signed using various colors so each book had a different colored signature. I'm a proud owner of a copy with a purple signature! 

Redeemed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Since my high school days, I've kind of grown up with the House of Night series by P.C. Cast so when the series was coming to a close, I've decided to order the last book on P.C. Cast's website where they sell signed copies. It felt like these books were a big part of my teen years so to have the last installment signed was very special to me. I also just found out that for their 10th anniversary, they're coming out with an eBook called Loved where the main character is now 18 years old and they all reunite for her birthday! My goodness, I'm going to have to pre-order this. My childhood, guys.

Amber Smoke by Kristin Cast
I was excited to hear that Kristin was branching off into her own series after the end of the House of Night! I had to order her first book through her website! 

In Other Worlds by Margaret Atwood
I was very excited to go to her dinner/book signing! Everyone had dinner while there were people performing and talking about the release of her book In Other Worlds. It was a very interesting night and she was such a nice person! 

Those are the 11 signed books that I currently own but I know that this collection will one day expand. I have been obsessing over Colleen Hoover's books lately and I'm praying that she comes to Ontario sometime in the fall for the release of her upcoming book titled Without Merit. I actually almost did a Colleen Hoover Book Tag today but then realized that I've already done it last summer! I would love to complete my collection by owning all of her books and hopefully one day I can get them all signed somehow. I would dedicate a whole shelf for this collection.

So far I only own three of them but I'm hoping to get two more for my birthday. We'll see!

​Mel.

(I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.)

The islands of O’Ceea are like no other. People there have an ability to create projections. You could create anything you can ever imagine but they are only illusions. When someone masters the art of projection, he or she might be on the way to being a great magician. This is the dream most have as the title itself could very well change their lives. The Magician’s Workshop, Volume One follows a group of kids as they aim to rise in their endeavors and follow their dreams to one day be members in The Magician's Workshop, even if some minor mishaps tend to get in their way.
 
The world that Christopher Hansen and J.R. Fehr have created is phenomenal. I couldn’t get over how intricate everything is. They have definitely not left anything out and have thought of everything in order to make this world as real as it is. The whole way through this book, I was basked in the magic of the story. I have seen every projection and felt every hope and fear in their journey. At one point, I even wanted to know what color would have been pulled from me if I were part of their world. If the authors ever make a quiz that could tell me what color and/or my strengths in terms of projection making, I would love to try it out. And that cliff hanger! I need to get myself the next volume now to see what happens next!
 
When J.R. Fehr first contacted me about their book, his email was so theatrical and fantastic that I couldn’t wait to see how their storytelling would be. I was definitely not disappointed.
 
I HIGHLY recommend reading this series. It’s quite the magical ride!
I give this book 5 out of 5 feathers!

Mel.

March 13th, 2017
What I'm listening to: She Used to be Mine by Sara Bareilles
Drink of the day: 7up
How I'm feeling: Productive
 
Happy Monday and beginning of March Break! I guess technically the beginning was last Friday but I haven’t had the chance to really sit down and enjoy the break until now. I have a week off of work and I know deep down that it’s probably going to go by much quicker than I would like but I have a list of things I would love to accomplish before it comes to an end. I plan on being productive around the apartment this week by getting started on spring cleaning. There are still some boxes that we never got around to unpacking and I love the feel of lounging in a clean apartment at the end of the day. As for my blog, now that I’m home for a week I have no excuses and so I would definitely be posting at least once a day all week which is a good thing because I’ve been really behind on my reviews! And though I know that cleaning will take a while, I don’t want to solely dedicate my week off to chores. I would love to read at least 3 books this week if I can! My only problem right now is to pick which one to start with. Both of these books are screaming my name right now.
 
Which one should I read first? Please let me know in the comments below!

“I took him with me,
Like a lantern,
Into the forest of my heart.
And I forgot
That he was made of fire,
That his touch
Could make things burn.” – Away from Shore by Mary McCormack Deka

​(I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
 
Away from Shore is a collection of poems that greatly describe the magic and vulnerability in falling in love, the crumble and uncertainty of a broken heart and the self-discovery and relief in finally moving on.
 
Mary McCormack Deka had created such a wonderful collection of poems that you could truly relate to. I’ve only ever gotten the chance to read collections that have contained one specific subject as its focus so it was a first for me to read one like this that contained the journey itself of falling in and out of love. Love is an adventure in its own right and it definitely is a whirlwind of emotion. Deka had no trouble in portraying this in her picturesque writing. I read through this collection in one sitting and felt a connection with the narrator as though it was I in her place. I was entranced in the wonder of finding love and the confusion of it slipping away. The structure and imagery were stunning and perfect and I truly have nothing but good things to say about this collection overall. It is definitely a must-read!
 
I give this collection a 5 out of 5 feathers! 

I've yet to read their books but they all sound very interesting! Once my new Kindle comes in, I plan on ordering Whispers From the East and now I absolutely have to pre-order their upcoming release of Beauty of a Monster: Seduction! This title will be released on May 2nd of this year and I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing it for you guys. The blurb and other details of Beauty of a Monster: Seduction will be posted right below the book cover reveal. What do you guys think of this gorgeous cover??

BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:
Beauty of a Monster: Seduction by Eleanor Lloyd-Jones & Katie Fox
Publication date: May 2nd 2017

Synopsis:
A house filled with well-kept secrets.
A delicate balance of order and control.
A story of a life ripped apart by grief and blame...
... and the whirlwind of color and optimism who turns his existence upside down...
... with the strength of her love.

EXCERPT:
Beauty of A Monster: Seduction (Beauty of A Monster Duet, #1)
Text Copyright © 2017 Eleanor Lloyd-Jones & Katie Fox
All Rights Reserved

Swallowing the dryness from her throat, Josephine dug her fingers into her hips and bit down on her lip, the sensual movement acting like a direct switch to Will's dick. "Are you asking me or telling me?"

"I'm telling you, Miss Bell."

Author Bios:

Eleanor Lloyd-Jones
Raised in a little village in North Wales, a fierce love of books and reading was instilled in me by my parents from a very early age, and I have vivid memories of reading secretly under the blankets with a torch for hours after lights out, often getting caught! I was blown away by the Borribles Trilogy - Michael De Larrabeiti at nine years old, and it was then that I fell head over heels with the idea of imaginary worlds.

A persistent and professional daydreamer, something I still pride myself on being, I spent most of my early childhood inside my own head making up stories or scenarios, climbing trees, building dens or doing anything 'arts and crafts'.

Music also played a huge part of my young life. Growing up on The Beatles, U2 and Status Quo, my obsession with Top of the Pops and vinyl twelve inches grew into a love affair with music that has only expanded over time: there is rarely a moment where music is not playing in my life, and in turn, rarely a time when I am not singing, even if it is only in my head!

I had always thought I would write a book some day—it has been an ambition for as long as I can remember—and I have always been told that I 'have a way with words'. Over the years, I've dabbled in the odd piece of prose, helped friends to write letters and résumés and I pride myself on her hilarious lyrical genius when composing poems for friends' birthdays! ;)

Life, however, got in the way and my dream was stored on the back burner as I put myself through university and started a family. It was only when I was nearing the ‘forty’ milestone that I decided it was time I got some of the ramblings and chatterings in my head down on paper.

A creative mum of one boisterous boy, I class myself as a Yorkshire gal now after moving to Leeds when I was eleven. I work full time as a teacher, but I grab every spare minute I can to write, be it on the train to work or by foregoing sleep for an extra hour or two in the evenings.

My hope for the future is for people to fall in love with my characters as much as I do. Not a big ask really!

Katie Fox
Katie Fox was born in Florida and raised in Pennsylvania, where she still resides with her gamer husband and four-year-old son. An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she is a sucker for a good love story. When not found with her nose buried in a book, she's usually spending time with her family or in her writing cave, giving life to the voices in her head.

Since a very young age, writing has been her passion.

“Then perhaps we should carve a world one day where the strength lies in who you are rather than in what they expect you to be.” – The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
 
Tea wasn’t like her sisters or anyone else for that matter. With the dreadful news of her brother’s passing, her grief caused something quite unexpected to happen at his funeral. She brought him back to life. Tea was a bone witch. Set out on a journey with her undead brother and a newly acquainted bone witch named Mykaela, she had to find her strengths and her place in a not-so open and forgiving world. This is her tale.
 
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this reading opportunity! I loved the general idea of this book. The beginning was very strong, unique and dark and I was very excited to read it. Even the way it was written was very cool to me. I loved that I got to see our main character in the future in between chapters as she’s sort of narrating her story of how she came to be who she presently was. That was definitely a really neat way to separate the present and the past. Everything started out very promising. I hate to say it but almost half way through, I just had a hard time with it. I felt like the plotline was very slow and lacked a lot of depth. The history and the magic was very well-explained but the plot-line itself felt like it was missing something. I did love the beginning though and I really enjoyed where Rin Chupeco went with the ending.  
 
It’s a great book for readers who love dark and magical reads and even though it felt a little long for me, others might think differently!
 
I give this book a 3 out of 5 feathers!

​Book of the Month!
I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned this already but this year, we’ve decided to do book club a little bit differently. Instead of picking books at random, we’ve decided to go by genre. We do a draw for it a month in advance so that it gives us time to each find a book in that specific genre and so then we get to discuss and figure out which one will be our pick of the month. January ended up being Fantasy while February was Romance. This month, we ended up choosing Classic! I, for one, have only ever read classics while I was in school and I’ve never enjoyed them as much as I could have if I had read it for me and not for a paper due. I’m very happy to announce that the book pick of the month is Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I remember loving the cartoon as a kid and adoring the TV series starring Megan Follows in my pre-teens. There’s even a new show called Anne that will be premiering later on this month and I can’t wait to see where they go with it. The story is about an orphan girl named Anne and her time at Green Gables with the Cuthberts family. Anne has always been such a lively spirit and I can’t wait to read the book. Our Book of the Month review will be posted on the 31st of March if you would like to join the conversation!