Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 51

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 19 December 2022

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! Happy Monday! I spent most of this last week devouring Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell in every spare moment I had. Now I’m hoping my next read is equally as thrilling and spooky…

Last Week I Read:Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

I’m really glad I gave this one a chance! It was such a spooky, freaky read!

Dead Tide by Leighann Dobbs

It’s been a while since I read the first two books and the beginning was alright, but I’m not in a cozy, witchy mystery mood right now so I’m setting this one aside.

Currently Reading:The End of Temperance Dare by Wendy Webb

I just started this one and the prologue was really interesting. I can’t wait to get more into it!

Next Read:How The Grump Saved Christmas by Claire Kingsley

I keep seeing this one on Instagram and if it’s in Kindle Unlimited I might check it out for a Christmas read later this week.

Do you have KU? I’ve been trying to figure out what subscriptions to cut after the first of the year but I don’t think I would last without KU! What are you reading and loving this week? What book do you plan to read over Christmas weekend?

The Sunday Post: Cookie Parties, Snowy Days, and Free eBooks

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme.

Cookie Parties, Snowy Days, and Free eBooks

Hey Bookdragons! Happy Sunday! We’re one week out from Christmas, can you believe it? I guess I better start wrapping presents and pick up those last couple items.

Last Sunday my family and a couple friends had a Christmas cookie making party. I swear I have never seen that many cookies in one place in my life but it was a lot of fun.

Whelp, it finally happened. Wednesday night we were finally hit with a substantial snowstorm. I came home from work Tuesday night and the sidewalks were covered in freezing rain which turned to snow that continued most of Wednesday. I’m not impressed and dreaming of 80 degree days and sunshine.

On Friday, my author friends Tyffany Hackett, A.J. Torres, and Hannah Marae and I teamed up to have a massive free ebook day for one day only. 8 of my books were included and at the end of the day 192 copies total had been downloaded. The highest was my book Headless at 34 copies!

It’s Monday! What are you reading? – 12 December 2022

First Chapter, First Paragraph: Tuesday Intros – Stolen Tongues

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books On My Winter 2022-2023 TBR

Can’t Wait Wednesday… A Girl Called Monster!

Audiobook Review: The Christmas Pact by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

Book Review: My Fake Bad Boyfriend by Sara Whitney

The Friday 56 – Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

Book Blogger Hop: Which time of day do you prefer to read: morning, afternoon, or evening?

Book Review: Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up A Wizard by Tom Felton

It’s Monday! What are you reading? – 19 December 2022

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros – The End of Temperance Dare

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Hope Santa Brings This Year

Can’t Wait Wednesday… The Midnight Game!

Book Review: Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

The Friday 56

Book Blogger Hop: Did Santa bring you any books?

2023 Audiobook Challenge Sign-Up Pledge

The Bookish Box (September)

Goodreads Giveaway: No Check Out

📖 Book Review: Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up A Wizard by Tom Felton

Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up A Wizard by Tom FeltonBlurb:

From the magical moments on set as Draco Malfoy to the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, get a backstage pass into Tom Felton’s life on and off the big screen.

Tom Felton’s adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame in beloved films like The Borrowers catapulted him into the limelight, but nothing could prepare him for what was to come after he landed the iconic role of the Draco Malfoy, the bleached blonde villain of the Harry Pottermovies. For the next ten years, he was at the center of a huge pop culture phenomenon and yet, in between filming, he would go back to being a normal teenager trying to fit into a normal school.

Speaking with great candor and his signature humor, Tom shares his experience growing up as part of the wizarding world while also trying to navigate the muggle world. He tells stories from his early days in the business like his first acting gig where he was mistaken for fellow blonde child actor Macaulay Culkin and his Harry Potter audition where, in a very Draco-like move, he fudged how well he knew the books the series was based on (not at all). He reflects on his experiences working with cinematic greats such as Alan Rickman, Sir Michael Gambon, Dame Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes (including that awkward Voldemort hug). And, perhaps most poignantly, he discusses the lasting relationships he made over that decade of filming, including with Emma Watson, who started out as a pesky nine-year-old whom he mocked for not knowing what a boom mic was but who soon grew into one of his dearest friends. Then, of course, there are the highs and lows of fame and navigating life after such a momentous and life-changing experience.

Tom Felton’s Beyond the Wand is an entertaining, funny, and poignant must-read for any Harry Potter fan. Prepare to meet a real-life wizard.

My Review:

I don’t read non-fiction or autobiographies often but I kept seeing this one everywhere and decided to give it a try. I’m really glad I did!

Tom is humorous, open, generous in his praise of the actors and film industry people he’s worked with through the years, a great storyteller, and shows us that he is far removed from the sneering, cruel character he played on screen for years.

It was fascinating to read about his journey from child actor to present, as we see that not everything was cheery all the time and beneath the humor of his tales of mischief there is something so raw and open about his own personal struggles. On the flip side, it was also very cool to read what they actors he worked alongside were like off-screen.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m glad I took a chance on it.

My Rating:

5/5 Stars!

Book Blogger Hop: Which time of day do you prefer to read: morning, afternoon, or evening?

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings or a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

December 16-22, 2022QOTW:Which time of day do you prefer to read: morning, afternoon, or evening?AOTW:

I love reading at night, either before bed or sometimes later, staying up until the small hours with a book I can’t seem to put down.

What about you? Let me know in the comments or drop me a link to your post!

The Friday 56: Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

The Friday 56 is a weekly blog meme hosted by Freda’s Voice. How to participate: Grab a book, any book. Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. If you have to improvise, that is okay. Find a snippet, short and sweet. Post it, and link up on Freda’s Voice so everyone knows to visit.

This week I’m participating with: Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

Blurb:

A romantic cabin getaway doesn’t go exactly as planned. High up on the windswept cliffs of Pale Peak, Faye and Felix celebrate their new engagement. But soon, a chorus of ghastly noises erupts from the nearby woods: the screams of animals, the cries of children, and the mad babble of a hundred mournful voices. A dark figure looms near the windows in the dead of night, whispering to Faye. As the weather turns deadly, Felix discovers that his terrified fiancée isn’t just mumbling in her sleep – she’s whispering back.

Originally a contest-winning story on reddit.com’s horror community NoSleep, Stolen Tongues has received widespread acclaim and has been optioned for film.

The Friday 56 Excerpt:

“They believed the At’an-A’anotogkua had come to the mountain, and called out to the children in the night. He killed a few of them and stole their skin and hair, and hung them up in the trees for the villagers to find. Then, posing as a child, he led the rest deep down into the mines. They were never seen again, but their voices still echo on the mountain.”

Two things you have to know about me:

1. I don’t scare easily

2. I’ve been known to laugh at certain unrealistic horror movies

That being said, this book freaks me out! I can’t put it down and I’m loving it, but reading it late at night unnerves me!

Would you or have you read this book?

📖 Book Review: My Fake Bad Boyfriend by Sara Whitney

My Fake Bad Boyfriend by Sara Whitney Blurb:

I don’t just need a fake boyfriend. I need the worst fake boyfriend in the world. Gabe says he’ll pretend to be my boyfriend for the holidays. The perfect guy to get my parents off my back about my perpetually single state.

But what I really need is someone who’ll make my family beg me to never bring anyone home again. Gabe promised he was up to the task, but he turns out to be a little too good at being bad. We have so much fun with our game, in fact, that I start to forget it’s all for show. By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, Gabe’s the only thing I want to unwrap. But if I do, I’m afraid he’ll turn out to be a gift I don’t want to return. My Fake Bad Boyfriend is a hot standalone holiday novella that’s sweet as a candy cane, funny as Elf, and spicy as fireball whiskey in your hot chocolate.

My Review:

It started out as a fake dating scheme, a boyfriend so bad that Darby’s parents and siblings would never comment on her love life again. But she never expected to fall for Gabe…

Oh dear me, Gabe is seriously one of my favorite bookish boyfriends even if he acts so naughty in this book! From “birds aren’t real” to the amazing chemistry he has with Darby, you’ll fall for him too.

I like Darby, but like all characters in her situation I can’t relate because I’d be more assertive and tell my family to back tf off if I didn’t like all of their “helpful hints” about my love life.

Despite my wish for Darby to stick up for herself more, this is a fun, quick, holiday romance that I absolutely loved from start to finish! It features the following tropes: fake dating, only one bed, and forced proximity. Plus there is an age gap where Darby is older than Gabe.

This was another reread for me and I enjoyed it just as much the second time around!

My Rating:

5/5 Stars!

🎧 Audiobook Review: The Christmas Pact by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

The Christmas Pact by Vi Keeland and Penelope WardBlurb:

Eggnog. Check. Roaring fire. Check. Hot romance audiobook. Check!

Riley Kennedy’s emails keep getting crossed with her male colleague, Kennedy Riley. The infuriating man forwards them along with his annoying commentary and unsolicited advice. At least she never has to see him in person, since they work in different locations… until they come face to face at the office holiday party.

As luck would have it, Kennedy turns out to be outrageously handsome…though still a jerk. Yet somehow he’s able to charm her out on the dance floor -and convince her to participate in his crazy scheme: he’ll go home with Riley for a Christmas party and pretend to be her boyfriend, if Riley agrees to be his date to a wedding.

It sounds easy enough. Little by little, however, the act they’re putting on starts to feel like so much more than a Christmas pact-and Riley’s about to learn there’s more to Kennedy than she ever imagined.

Romance audiobook dream team Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward join forces again to deliver an engaging, funny, and sexy story that will make listeners laugh while it sets their hearts racing. Narrated by the double audio act of Andi Arndt (inducted into The Audible Narrator Hall of Fame in 2017) and Sebastian York, this sizzling novella will heat up the holidays…all year long.

My Review:

An obnoxious Christmas letter, a mix-up in an email response to an advise columnist, a main character and the male lead with names that are the exact same but in reverse, a fake dating scheme for the holidays, the only one bed and forced proximity tropes await you in The Christmas Pact. It’s a humorous slightly steamy read perfect to put you in a cheery mood for the holidays!

Riley and Kennedy have such amazing chemistry and it’s such a fun read watching their fake dating scheme turn into real feelings. My favorite off-page character this time (this was a reread for me) was Soraya the assistant to Ask Ida, I found her email responses to be totally awesome and badass. She’s the type of person to give you tough love and cheer you on!

This is a short, enjoyable holiday romance. If you’re a fan of this writing duo and you haven’t checked this one out yet, what are you waiting for? I do recommend it in the original audiobook version.

My Rating:

5/5 Stars!

Can’t Wait Wednesday… A Girl Called Monster!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by 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.

A Girl Called Monster by Paige Lavoie

Standalone, Dark Fantasy Horror

eBook

March 14, 2023 by The Parliament House

Blurb:

Monnie was born into darkness, and in darkness is where she is destined to stay. She knows what she is—an experiment, and nothing more; a secret to be kept safe in the cellar where she was created. Her only home is made of stone walls, and her only friends are Victor, the charismatic young scientist who gave her life, and his kind assistant, Igor.

But when Monnie discovers there is an entire world outside, one full of color and beauty she’s never known, she realizes her home isn’t a home at all—it’s a prison.

So, she does what any prisoner dreams of.

She escapes.

In this heartbreaking reimagining of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a girl who was once seen as nothing but a monster must learn what it truly means to be human, and how far she is willing to go to take control of her own life.

Why I Want to Read A Girl Called Monster:

I love retellings, especially of darker stories and I love the sound of this genrebent Frankenstein tale. I first saw this one on my friend Tyffany’s Bookstagram and it feels like I’ve been waiting forever for it to release!

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books on My Winter 2022-2023 To-Read List

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and The Bookish and currently hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Books On My Winter 2022-2023 TBR

This week’s TTT is about the books on our Winter 2022-2023 TBR. I actually just did a post for this (not for TTT) but I’ve read a couple of the books already so I’ll list the unread ones here…

1. Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore (reread)

I always reread this one around New Year’s Eve so it’s almost time for my annual reread!

2. The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (reread)

This is another reread for me. It’s kind of a creepy winter read perfect for a night you might be snowed in!

3. The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston (reread)

I read this one a few years ago and loved it, I want to see if I still enjoy it.

4. Ledge by Stacey McEwan

This one has been on my TBR for months. I don’t think my library has it so I’ll have to either get the ebook or hardcover off Amazon.

5. In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund (reread)

I loved this series and it’s another reread I want to do this winter!

6. Sun Touched by Becky Moynihan

I can’t wait to read this one! I’m just waiting for my signed copy to arrive.

7. Immortality by Dana Schwartz

I have an eARC of this one and I’m looking forward to the continuation from Anatomy!

8. Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

I’m reading this one right now and slowly letting it creep me out!

9. Winter, White and Wicked by Shannon Dittemore

This one has been sitting on my shelf for a while, so what better season to read it during!

10. Dead Voices by Katherine Arden

This one has been on my shelf for a while too and since it’s set in winter and has snow on the cover I’m adding it to my list.

What books are on your winter TBR list? Did any of mine make the cut? Let me know in the comments or drop me a link to your TTT! To see my original post including books I didn’t mention here and the first three which I’ve already read, visit here!

First Chapter, First Paragraph: Tuesday Intros – Stolen Tongues

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Socrates Book Reviewswhere you share the first paragraph of one of the books that you are currently reading. Each week bloggers will choose a book or books of the week (which will be one of the books that you are currently reading) and that book will take part in this book blog meme.

My book of the week is: Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

Deep in the Rocky Mountains, at the top of a howling peak, sits a cabin. It is a lonely and unremarkable thing, nestled at the end of a winding gravel road and surrounded by a crescent of woods. There are no other houses nearby, and if not for the distant town it overlooks, a visitor to this cabin might get the impression that she was entirely cut off from the world.

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

Blurb:

A romantic cabin getaway doesn’t go exactly as planned. High up on the windswept cliffs of Pale Peak, Faye and Felix celebrate their new engagement. But soon, a chorus of ghastly noises erupts from the nearby woods: the screams of animals, the cries of children, and the mad babble of a hundred mournful voices. A dark figure looms near the windows in the dead of night, whispering to Faye. As the weather turns deadly, Felix discovers that his terrified fiancée isn’t just mumbling in her sleep – she’s whispering back.

Originally a contest-winning story on reddit.com’s horror community NoSleep, Stolen Tongues has received widespread acclaim and has been optioned for film.