May Happenings!

A Fantastical, Fantasy-Filled May…

My tbr this month is nearly all fantasy books that have 5-star rating potential! I made sure to include some YA fantasy, a genre I haven’t read much of lately, so that needs to be rectified asap. And to continue the “spring cleaning” theme there are owned books that have been at the top of my tbr for far too long.

This May, I would like to read:

Roar by Cora Carmack (currently reading)
Wolf Kissed by Heather Renee (currently reading)

Under the Whispering Moon by TJ Klune (arc)
Flash Fire by TJ Klune (arc)
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (arc)
Forged in Fire and Stars by Andrea Robertson
These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch
Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

Hopefully, there will be time to read more than this, but for now this is what I can managed this month with work back to full five days. I’m about halfway through both my current reads so it’s possible.

Your Mental Health Matters…

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. If you need a break, take a break and breathe. It’s okay to not be okay. Remember that you are loved. You are enough. There is always someone willing to listen and resources available when you need them.

Your mental health matters. You matter.

24/7 Support That’s Here For You

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

The Trevor Project
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
1-866-488-7386
TrevorChat available
Text START to 678678

Crisis Text Line
www.crisistextline.org
US and Canada – Text HOME to 741741
United Kingdom – Text HOME to 85258
Ireland – Text HOME to 50808

National Alliance On Mental Illness
https://nami.org/Home
NAMI Helpline – Call 800-950-NAMI
Or in a crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741

To Write Love On Her Arms
https://twloha.com/

National Domestic Violence Hotline
thehotline.org
espanol.thehotline.org
1-800-799-7233
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
CONNECT WITH ME | Goodreads | Instagram

April Happenings!

Gooooooals!!!

For the most part I accomplished my March goals, so I have good feeling I’ll be able to put forth the same effort again this month. My goals for April are:

• finish all received arcs
• reach my target reading goal
• draft at least 5 new content posts
• draft new graphics for summer, the blog, future posts

Immediate TBR Focus….

As stated in some of my most recent post I’m making a concerted effort to read books I own because it’s been long overdue. The best thing about my spring tbr is that most of it contains physical books, which I’m excited about as my eyes could use a break.

My target reading goal is at minimum 8 books:

• Gilded Serpent by Danielle L. Jensen (currently reading)
• A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
• Drawn Together by Minh Lê
• One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (arc)
• The Right Side of Reckless by Whitney D. Grandison (arc)
• Roar by Cora Carmack
• Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
• Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
• Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune (arc)
• Unplugged by Gordan Korman

Change Is Hard Sometimes…

So I don’t know when this happened but when I logged on the other day my dashboard and everything else had change.

I can’t use the classic editor anymore (or maybe it’s hiding from me like everything else). I can only get to the dashboard through the address bar. Trying to do the micro editing I do (like working in html) was a challenge. There’s so many buttons!

This is the first post I’m writing with the block editor. I’m hoping that this post will still look like all the others in this recurring post.

Did this change happen to anyone else? I know some have had to switch to block editing. Mine did too but I could still use the classic editor and WordPress itself didn’t change.

Everything is so…block-y. *insert dramatic sigh*

It’s going to be slow learning, but I’ll make it work somehow.

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As Always, Happy Reading!!!

CONNECT WITH ME | Goodreads | Instagram

TBR At A Glance – 2/15/21

Royalty Free Image via Pixabay | Edited in Paint

CURRENTLY READING

• These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy (ARC)

 

READING NEXT

• Wednesday Wilson Gets Down to Business by Bree Galbraith (ARC)

• Tarnished Empire by Danielle L. Jensen

 

RECENT REVIEWS

• The Iron Raven by Julie Kagawa

• Brothersong by TJ Klune

• Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Jonah Winter, Illustrated by Shane W. Evans

• The Boss by Abigail Owen

• The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, Illustrated by Oge Mora

 

REVIEWS COMING SOON

• FEB 18 – Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Amanda Reed, Illustrated by Nneka Myers

• FEB 19 – Bread for Words: A Frederick Douglass Story by Shana Keller, Illustrated by Kayla Stark

• FEB 25 – Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston

• FEB 27 – Snapped by Alexa Martin

January Happenings!

In Retrospect, My Goodreads 2021 Reading Challenge…

I was going up my goal to 175 books but decided on 100 books, which is significantly lower than last year (186/125). Sometimes it’s hard not to focus on the numbers. I chose to go lower in order to give myself more time to savor books but also to allocate more time to other hobbies. It’s possible I might increase the goal later on.

TBRs: A Suggestion, Not A Requirement…

My 2021 TBR is now live along the blog’s side widgets. I love this year’s list a lot. A good portion of the books are fantasy, middle grade, adult contemporary romances, books by black/poc authors, and indie authors.

For the first time, I have a winter tbr but it’s more like suggestions than a list that has to be completed. The next couple of months mostly include arcs and priority reads that I didn’t get to last year. For January, I want to read:

The Iron Raven by Julie Kagawa (ARC)(currently reading)
Blood Sworn by Scott Reintgen (ARC)
Brothersong by TJ Klune
Celestial by Olivia Wilenstein

Book Hauls Forthcoming…

I was gifted gift cards for my birthday and Christmas (which are close together), so I’ve already started adding more fun books to my bookshelf that I am excited to read. I’m hoping more arrive later this month.

5 – Year Blogiversary Coming Soon…

The Bookshelf Corner turns 5 years old on the 22nd. This blog has changed so much and it’s still evolving into the best possible version I can make it. If there’s time I’d like to do something this month to commemorate it.

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!

CONNECT WITH ME | Goodreads | Instagram

December Happenings: 25 Days of Book Reviews (Year 2)

Happy Tuesday, Bookworms!

Welcome to the 2nd year of
25 Days of Book Reviews!

I’m hoping this is the start of something new for the blog. This series is my bookish spin-off of those 25 days of Christmas specials you see on TV. For the next 25 days up until Christmas, I will be posting a review per day PLUS bonus content.

Last year went well so I wanted to attempt this again. My first review of the month is now live – Secret Nights With A Cowboy by Caitlin Crews.

This series eventually leads up to my “Best of” posts where I spotlight the best of the best from my 2020 reading year.

I hope you enjoy these posts and maybe find your next big read!

AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!
CONNECT WITH ME | Goodreads | Instagram

November Happenings!

A Small Step Back To Make A Giant Leap Forward….

I’ve decided that at least for this month to not post every day. Sometimes posting every day is a little exhausting and stressful. This pandemic and election have also been taking its toll. I’m hope that by taking a step back, I can get back to things with more if not renewed vigor come 2021.

Another Super-Packed List But With Much More Romance…

My tbr this month is more a list of suggestions – 15 books total. I don’t expect to read everyone on it. My only priority reads are a few arcs and Inferno. I put several short reads as well to do some catch-up on the overall Fall tbr list.

Acca by Christina Bauer (currently reading)
Secret Nights With A Cowboy by Caitling Crews (ARC) (currently reading)

Ace of the Diamonds by Yuji Terajima (vol. 1-8)
An Indecent Invitation by Laura Trentham
Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala (ARC)
The Boss by Abigail Owen
Brave Enough by Kati Gardner
Defy by Sara B. Larson
Inferno by Donna Grant
Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
Of Wicked Blood by Olivia Wildenstein (ARC)
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
Recommended For You by Laura Silverman
The Wolf At the Door by Charlie Adhara

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AS ALWAYS, HAPPY READING!!!

CONNECT WITH ME | Goodreads | Instagram

TBR At A Glance – 10/15/20

Royalty Free Image via Pixabay | Edited in Paint

CURRENTLY READING

• About A Vampire by Lynsay Sands

• The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill (ARC)

 

READING NEXT

• Trial By Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

• Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

• Secret Nights With A Cowboy by Caitlin Crews (ARC)

 

RECENT REVIEWS

• Muffled by Jennifer Gennari (ARC)

• Kingdom of Sea and Stone by Mara Rutherford (ARC) (Blog Tour/Inkyard Press)

• Soul of the Crow by Jessaca Willis

• The Princess Knight by G. A. Aiken (ARC)

 

REVIEWS COMING SOON

• OCT 19 – Skyhunter by Marie Lu

• OCT 20 – About A Vampire by Lynsay Sands

• OCT 23 – The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill

 

 

~ ~ ~ November 3, 2020 ~ ~ ~

Block Editor First Impressions

Royalty Free Image via Pixabay

On Thursday, adding new posts switched over to the Block Editor. I know this has been a thing for months now and I don’t know why mine is just now converting.

The Block Editor is as hard to navigate as other bloggers have mentioned. Writing is the easy part. Formatting is much harder to do.

To be fair, this was my first time using the new editor so of course it would be challenging in the beginning. BUT I would much rather use the classic editor, which is while limited in options is more user friendly (at least for me) than the Block Editor.

It looks like you can still use the Classic Editor for creating new posts, but the Block Editor is now the default.

I may go back at another time to test out all there is to know and what you can now do with the Block Editor. But until then, I am sticking to what I know for efficiency and continuity’s sake.

Have a great weekend, Bookworms!

And, As Always, Happy Reading!

October Happenings!

It’s Hard To Say Goodbye, My Love…

My final #1 most anticipated release is being published, Brothersong by TJ Klune, on October 13. It is the last book of Klune’s Green Creek series. This series has been humorous, heartbreaking, and a gazillion feels. I feel ready to read but am also nervous.

I haven’t pre-ordered a copy because I don’t know if I want an e-copy of physical copy. And even though I have been waiting months to read Brothersong, I probably won’t read it until November. One, because there are other books that I’ve been putting off for too long. And, two, it’s 500+ pages. But it will happen before the year is over and it will be gloriously bittersweet!

Paranormal Takeover…

There are currently around 50 books on my Fall TBR. It’s been a bit of a rough start with okay-ish books but I’m not gonna let that stop me. Plenty of very promising reads still to come.

I normally don’t do a themed October list but I want to try. Instead of horror or thrillers, I’ll be reading mostly paranormal romances and fantasy (with a few exceptions). Below are what I hope to get throughout in October:

The Princess Knight by G.A. Aiken (ARC) (currently reading)
Soul of the Crow by Jessaca Willis (currently reading)

About A Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Acca by Christina Bauer

Black Butler (Vol. 29) by Yana Toboso

The Bright and Breaking Sea by Chloe Neill (ARC)

Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen

Inferno by Donna Grant

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Trial By Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This list is subject to change because I requested several of my top-tier anticipated reads that I’m hoping to get approved for as well as books on hold from the library. I have no shelf control! 😊

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As Always, Happy Reading!!!

CONNECT WITH ME | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM

[Official] Fall 2020 TBR List & My 1000th Blog Post!!!

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Happy Friday, Bookworms!

Today I bring you the post I’ve been promising all month: my Official Fall 2020 TBR List! There are a total of 52 books, half of which are YAs. I’m starting several book 1s of series this season as well, so I’m very excited about all of this.

Today is also a special day because this post is also ….

MY 1000th BLOG POST!!!

I have been blogging about my books for 4 1/2+ years and it’s wild to think that I’ve written so many posts. I’m thinking a self-congratulatory book gift is in order…??? 😉

Once again thank you, readers, for stopping by and reading my posts. It really does mean a lot. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Here are all the awesome books on this season’s TBR list:

Manga

Snow White with the Red Hair (Volumes 8 & 9)

Yona of the Dawn (Volumes 7-10)

Ace of the Diamond (Volumes 1-8)

Black Butler (Volume 29)

 

Middle Grade

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Muffled by Jennifer Gennari (ARC) (currently reading)

 

Young Adult Fantasy

Of Wicked Blood by Olivia Wildenstein (ARC)

Hidden Huntress by Danielle L. Jensen

These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

Roar by Cora Carmack

Seafire by Natalie C. Parker

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Last Battle of the Icemark by Stuart Hill

Defy by Sara B. Larson

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Forged In Fire And Stars by Andrea Robertson

 

Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Brave Enough by Kati Gardner

A Totally Awkward Love Story by Tom Ellen & Lucy Ivison

Recommend For You by Laura Silverman

 

Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Acca by Christina Bauer

Crave by Tracy Wolff

Trial By Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

Adult Contemporary Romance

Looking For A Cowboy by Donna Grant (ARC) (currently reading)

The Bridal Suite by Donna Grant

The Last Second Chance by Lucy Score

Secret Nights With A Cowboy by Caitlin Crews (ARC)

The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler

The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

 

Paranormal Romance

Inferno by Donna Grant

The Boss by Abigail Owen

About A Vampire by Lynsay Sands

 

Fantasy

The Princess Knight by G. A. Aiken (ARC)

Soul of the Crow by Jessaca Willis

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

 

LGBTQ+ Contemporary/Paranormal/Romance

Brothersong by TJ Klune

I’ll Be The One by Lyla Lee