Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 52

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 12 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 finished two books last week, got two more in the mail, and borrowed a bunch of KU books that all sound really good. And that’s totally separate from my Winter TBR.

Last Week I Read:Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up A Wizard by Tom Felton

I finished this one Thursday and I loved it! I’ll have my review up this Saturday!

My Fake Bad Boyfriend by Sara Whitney

I really enjoyed my reread of this one! It’s funny, it’s steamy, it’s a great holiday read! My review will be up Thursday!

Currently Reading:Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

I only just started this one but the prologue was so tense I could feel my apprehension creeping up my throat strangling me from the inside out. If the rest of the book is the same way I’m in for a truly creepy horror read! I’ve heard such good things about this one so I hope I’m right.

Next Read:The End of Temperance Dare by Wendy Webb

This one was recommended to me when I joined Storygraph based on other books I’d read so when I saw it on Kindle Unlimited, I borrowed it. It sounds really good.

How do you get books recommended to you? Friends/Family? Bookstagram/TikTok? Amazon/Goodreads/Storygraph? What are you reading and loving lately?

The Sunday Post: Full Moon, Pizza, and Basement Adventures

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.

Full Moon, Pizza, and Basement Adventures

Hey Bookdragons! Happy Sunday! How was your week? Mine was exceedingly busy and pretty stressful. I’m planning to relax for the next couple days while I can.

It was a full moon this week, did you notice? Believe me, I was well aware as I had the strangest calls at work. People are odd and it was exhausting. That is all.

The two last days of my work week, I came home in the morning and my cat Houdini (below) decided to scoot out the door of the main part of the house and down the basement steps. I had to chase him around with the cat treat container for about 30 minutes just trying to get him back into the main part of the house. I was so afraid he’d get lost down there.

My mom and I had such a craving for pizza yesterday we decided to go out for lunch with my sister when she got home from work. It was really good and I have some leftovers to snack on tonight.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 5 December 2022

Can’t Wait Wednesday… We Don’t Swim Here!

The Friday 56: Beyond the Wand

Book Blogger Hop: Do you have a favorite reading nook?

It was a light week because I had so little free time to schedule posts or get reviews together.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 12 December 2022

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros (Book Choice TBD)

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

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

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

Book Review: Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

15 FREE Ebooks by Indie Authors for the Holidays – Coming up 12/16/2022 for 1 day only!

Book Blogger Hop: Do you have a favorite reading nook?

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 9-15, 2022QOTW:Do You Have a Favorite Reading Nook?AOTW:

I pretty much read anywhere: in bed, in the living room, out and about, etc. I would like to read by the fire this winter in our den once we get our fireplace going. Picture it: a recliner, a fleece blanket, fuzzy socks, a cat curled up on my lap, a cup of hot chocolate, and a roaring fire. Sounds relaxing right?

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

The Friday 56: Beyond the Wand

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: Beyond the Wand: The Magic & Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard by Tom Felton

Blurb:

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.

The Friday 56 Excerpt:

I looked at the skimpy G-string. I looked at the camera crew. I looked at the extras and the ADs and the other cast members. And it was only when a few of them started sniggering that I realised the bastards had been winding me up the whole time.

This book is filled with humor, as is this extract. For full context, you’ll have to check this one out!

Would you or have you read this book?

Can’t Wait Wednesday… We Don’t Swim Here!

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.

We Don’t Swim Here by Vincent Tirado

Standalone, YA Horror

ebook, Hardcover, Paperback, 320 pages

May 2, 2023 by Sourcebooks Fire

Blurb:

Bronwyn is only supposed to be in rural Hillwoods for a year. Her grandmother is in hospice, and her father needs to get her affairs in order. And they’re all meant to make some final memories together. 

Except Bronwyn is miserable. Her grandmother is dying, everyone is standoffish, and she can’t even go swimming. All she hears are warnings about going in the water, despite a gorgeous lake. And a pool at the abandoned rec center. And another in the high school basement.

Anais tries her hardest to protect Bronwyn from the shadows of Hillwoods. She follows her own rituals to avoid any unnecessary attention―and if she can just get Bronwyn to stop asking questions, she can protect her too. The less Bronwyn pays attention to Hillwoods, the less Hillwoods will pay attention to Bronwyn. She doesn’t get that the lore is, well, truth. History. Pain. The living aren’t the only ones who seek retribution when they’re wronged. But when Bronwyn does more exploring than she should, they are both in for danger they couldn’t expect.

Why I Want to Read We Don’t Swim Here:

The blurb intrigues me with this one! I can’t wait to find out what kind of monsters or horrors lurk in the water!

Will you be checking this book out? What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 5 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! It’s only December 5th and I’ve already knocked two books off my Winter TBR – one a re-listen of an audiobook and the other a DNF on a thriller set at New Year. What are you reading this month?

What I Read Last Week:The Christmas Pact by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward

This was a re-listen for me and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time I listened!

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh

I think what threw me with this one, and I watch a lot of British tv and read lots of books by British authors – but this reminded me of one of those gritty, depressing, shows on Acorn TV set in Wales or Scotland or somewhere (the book is set in Wales) where it always looks gloomy. I didn’t like the main characters or the words I couldn’t pronounce that weren’t explained and the story itself didn’t grab me.

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

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction or autobiographies but I am really enjoying this book! It’s so interesting to see the person Tom is behind the sneering character we all loved to hate growing up.

Next Read:My Fake Bad Boyfriend by Sara Whitney

This is another reread for me but I’m trying to get the Christmas themed ones out of the way first before going back to the thrillers and regular books on my Winter TBR.

Do you read non-fiction or autobiographies often? What are some of your favorites?

The Sunday Post: Hello December, Twisted Retreat, and Secretly Gleeful

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.

Hello December, Twisted Retreat, and Secretly Gleeful

Hey Bookdragons! Happy Sunday! Hello December! How was your week? Mine wasn’t too bad. The usual, work, sleep, repeat

My mom is back on chemotherapy this week and she’s not taking it too well. I’m afraid this type might have some bad side effects but hopefully this type does something effective.

This week I got my November box from Twisted Retreat and I was so excited! I loved everything that was inside and everything was such high quality! I definitely found my new favorite book box! You can see my unboxing on TikTok

Then last night I got some news that I’ve been hoping to hear for almost a year and a half. I won’t go into detail because it’s something really personal but I was so happy I felt like I was going to burst out of my skin last night!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 28 November 2022

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Cozy Reads

Can’t Wait Wednesday… Secretly Yours!

Book Review: The Club by Ellery Lloyd

Audiobook Review: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

The Friday 56: Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

Book Blogger Hop: Do you go back and reread the previous book before starting the sequel?

Winter 2022-2023 TBR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? – 5 December 2022

First Chapter, First Paragraph, Tuesday Intros: Beyond the Wand

Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie (My Choice TBD)

Can’t Wait Wednesday… We Don’t Swim Here!

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

The Friday 56: Beyond the Wand

Book Blogger Hop: Do you have a favorite reading nook?

Book Review: Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

Physical:BOTM:eBooks:

5 Thriller Readalikes for “And Then There Were None”

Limited Time Holiday Offer: OUABH

Winter 2022-2023 TBR

Hey Bookdragons! Happy December! It’s time to grab your warm blankets, a cup of hot chocolate (or a latte or hot tea, whatever you prefer), and curl up by the fire for the next few months with some great reads! Here are 15 Books on my Winter 2022-2023 TBR…

You’ll note that 8 are rereads and 7 are new to me…

1. The Christmas Pact by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland (reread)2. My Fake Bad Boyfriend by Sara Whitney (reread)3. Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore (reread)4. The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh5. The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon (reread)6. The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston (reread)7. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden8. Ledge by Stacey McEwan9. In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund (reread)10. Sun Touched by Becky Moynihan11. Immortality by Dana Schwartz12. Shiver by Allie Reynolds (reread)13. The Lost Village by Camilla Sten (reread)14. Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell15. Winter, White and Wicked by Shannon Dittemore

What books do you want to read or reread this winter? Is there a certain genre you prefer to read in winter? I also might try to fit in Sarah J. Mass’s last two releases (A Court of Silver Flames and House of Sky and Breath) in February if I move through the rest of my TBR quickly.

Book Blogger Hop: Do you go back and reread the previous book before starting the sequel?

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 2-8, 2022Question of the Week:

Do you go back and reread the previous book before starting the sequel? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

Answer of the Week:

If it has been a while since I read the previous book(s), for instance over a year, then yes I probably will. If I’ve read the previous book more recently or if each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone then I probably won’t. It comes down to timing and what else I’m planning to read around that time.

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

The Friday 56 – Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

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: Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger

Blurb:

Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for in this chilling locked-room thriller byNew York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.

What could be more restful than a weekend getaway with family and friends? An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef. Hannah’s generous brother found the listing online. The reviews are stellar. It’ll be three couples on this trip with good food, good company and lots of R & R.

But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare.

A deadly storm is brewing. The rental host seems just a little too present. The personal chef reveals that their beautiful house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated past, with secrets that run blood deep.

How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? Meanwhile, someone is determined to ruin the weekend, looking to exact a payback for deeds long buried. Who is the stranger among them?

The Friday 56 Excerpt:

She opened the door, lifting the weight of her secrets and regrets, and climbed out of the car to go help her husband.

I think that’s kind of a beautifully put line. What do you think?

Would you or have you read this book?