Laura sinks her claws into this challenge, all snuggled up and comfy in her dragon's lair

[Shae]

Well done - that is an awesome effort!!

[Em Lost In Books]

great going, Laura!!

[Laura]

Graeme wrote: "That's a HUGE list."

It is right, when you look at it this way. :)

But when you compare it with my 1000+ owned-to-read shelf (and that's just the paperbacks)
this list is really very small.
At least I stopped buying so many new books. I still buy, but A LOT less than before.

[Laura]

Shae wrote: "Well done - that is an awesome effort!!"

Thank you Shae! :)

[Laura]

Em Lost In Books wrote: "great going, Laura!!"

Thanks lovely! :))

[Graeme]

Laura. You're amazing.

I'm lucky to read 30 books in a year.

[Laura]

Ha! You're the amazing one Graeme!
You write!! And kick-ass books that too!

That's more than enough compensation for a lesser number of books read.

[Bea]

Graeme wrote: "Laura. You're amazing.

I'm lucky to read 30 books in a year."

Also, it's not about reading as much as possible.
Sometimes I wonder if those readers who read less but really savour every page (and I have the impression that you're one of those) aren't actually the better readers.

[Bea]

Anyway, great job, Laura!
Your tbr-list is both scary and inspiring! (And it somehow makes me want to go book shopping. I must not!)

[Siobhan]

Great job, Laura!! You're doing awesome at this challenge 😘

[Laura]

Siobhan wrote: "Great job, Laura!! You're doing awesome at this challenge 😘"

Thanks lovely!! :))

[Laura]

Bea wrote: "Anyway, great job, Laura!
Your tbr-list is both scary and inspiring! (And it somehow makes me want to go book shopping. I must not!)"

Thank you? :D
And you most definitely must if you get the 80% off!! :))

But I'm just saying that cause today I bought 3!

[Laura]

Here's what I'm planning to clear off my shelves till end of June as part of my BINGO challenges:



And just today I got
Flesh and Spirit
Breath and Bone
Echo of Eternity

I can still buy 5 before needing to compensate again. :)

[Veronica]

Laura wrote: "Here's what I'm planning to clear off my shelves till end of June as part of my BINGO challenges:



And just today I got
Flesh and Spirit
Breath and Bone
[book:Echo o..."

I'd be willing to read the Carol Berg/Lighthouse series with you, Laura. I've never read her stuff before but I own several of her first-in-series books that I've been meaning to get to. Of course, you would have the one series of hers whose first book I don't have, lol. I can get my hands on one though.

[Laura]

Hi Veronica,

I have even Transformation by her over there. If you have that first in series.

[Siobhan]

I would like to read Transformation, Laura. Give me a shout when you fancy it and hopefully I've have time to join you.

[Tammie]

Laura wrote: "So here's my update here for this whole year. Gah! I really need to make time and update this more often!

1.The Other Wind
2. East
3. Fablehaven
4. [book:Be..."

Wow that's really good progress!

[Bea]

Laura wrote: "Bea wrote: "Anyway, great job, Laura!
Your tbr-list is both scary and inspiring! (And it somehow makes me want to go book shopping. I must not!)"

Thank you? :D
And you most definitely must if you ..."

Obviously yes! :D

[Veronica]

Laura wrote: "Hi Veronica,

I have even Transformation by her over there. If you have that first in series."

Either series is fine, really. I own Transformation but I can easily get Flesh and Spirit from the library.

[Laura]

Tammie wrote: "Laura wrote: "So here's my update here for this whole year. Gah! I really need to make time and update this more often!
Wow that's really good progress!"

Thank you!! :)

[Laura]

Veronica wrote: "Laura wrote: "Hi Veronica,

I have even Transformation by her over there. If you have that first in series."

Either series is fine, really. I own Transformation but I can easily get ..."

Flesh and Spirit for the third week of June then?

[Laura]

Siobhan wrote: "I would like to read Transformation, Laura. Give me a shout when you fancy it and hopefully I've have time to join you."

Would this week be ok for you lovely?

[Laura]

Life sort of caught up with me and I didn't get to read my July set list. I won't set myself those kind of goals anymore cause it just doesn't seem to work out.

However, I just went through my shelves and realised that this year I have done amazingly well at this challenge. Not the reading that is!! Because I didn't get to read that much. But the buying!!!

I'm patting myself on the back because my buying has been very less this year. I normally buy around 20 paperbacks per month, but this year, from Jan, my whole book buying spree extended only to this:






I had bought The Court of Broken Knives for a BR in another group and because Anna Smith Spark was so awesome and sent me signed bookmarks and postcards:





I'm reading it right now and it's something else! Dark and bloody and violent!! Filled with blood and death.

I'll tick the books I read from my last update tomorrow and see how I'm doing till now. Not that well I guess, since I've made an account in KU and got a lot of ARCs. But still, no buying!! Yeay!!

Edit: you did not ask about my Kindle freebies right?! Cause I'm scared to even mention those - yep! That many. But I didn't add them on my GR Kindle books shelf so they don't count right!!

[Siobhan]

Laura wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "I would like to read Transformation, Laura. Give me a shout when you fancy it and hopefully I've have time to join you."

Would this week be ok for you lovely?"

So sorry I missed this comment!! :( I saw you had a buddy read but I was unable to join at the time unfortunately. Hope you enjoyed it!!

[Siobhan]

Kindle freebies do NOT count!!! :D

[Elinor]

Siobhan wrote: "Kindle freebies do NOT count!!! :D"

They definitly don't count ! Also you're doing so great with your challenge ! Less than a month-worth of buying in more than 6 months ! That's really well done

[Laura]

Thank you girls!! 💕❤😘

Yesss! For the freebies not counting. :D

And true - I did buy in close to 7 months this year, less than 1 month's usual buying of last year. I honestly couldn't believe it myself and I triple checked.

The thing is, I had to spend a lot of time and even invest a certain amount of money in my blog. So whenever the book sales came I sort of turned my back and took a paper and pen to scribble needed stuff for my blog.

And now I have ARCs I need to read and even a KU subscription and it totally works, because lots of great stuff is available on KU.

[Bill]

Well done Laura! I think cutting out the actual spending of money is the biggest thing. I added in sections for my library and Hoopla loans this year as a suppression tool too.

[Laura]

Bill wrote: "Well done Laura! I think cutting out the actual spending of money is the biggest thing. I added in sections for my library and Hoopla loans this year as a suppression tool too."

Thank you Bill! :) It really worked! It's been a couple of months and I bought only 4 books, that too because I wanted to continue a series! Kindle Unlimited is a blessing for me in this particular case.

Great it worked for you too. :)

[Laura]

It's official. My challenge has gone down in flames!

I haven't managed to update it, just as I haven't managed to update any of my other challenges this year. (*sigh*) At times life can be really challenging and tough.
But no whining from here. I'll take the opportunity to give myself a clean slate. And I'll start from scratch again today.

I've somehow managed to start a blog The Magic Book Corner
and because my blog is dedicated mainly to supporting Indie authors and artists, I have received a lot of ARCs that I didn't add to my already huge Owned-to-read pile. I'll just consider them KU requests.

I do give authors the opportunity to just place a review request if their book is on KU, because I can take it from there anyway. And right now I have too many of those too. Wondering if this would be a good place to even keep track of these. All in a thread - easier to follow.

For now, this is what I've been busy with in the last few months, next to putting myself together and getting up on my feet again that is. :)

I had myself a logo done, the big fellow on it is Jeff - and he's the Magic Book Corner's fierce protector.


And because each and every blog on Insta and FB supposedly needs a filler in between the book review posts, I came up with Jeff and his treasure quest for hidden gems within the Indie books.

Jeff is also going to help me keep track of my TBR so I think it's safe to include him here. I'll try to make sure he reads at least 4 book of my already owned titles every month. And also keep a check on how many of those ARCs and review requests he accepts. For a proper balance this thread is perfect for me. Otherwise my shelves will remain unread and that will not do!

My goal - for every 5 KU books I'll need to read 1 already owned book. And NO BUYING whatsoever, unless I have read 20 titles from my already owned list.
So 5 for 1
and 1 for 20

Wish me luck bookdragons, cause this will be epic! For me that is, not for you! :D

As a side note and fun fact, if you'd like to see... here is how my story of Bookdragon Jeff and his treasure hunt begins. I would truly appreciate your opinions and suggestions on how to improve.
And just so you know, it is all very... quirky. In tone with my blog.



🐲Our Jeff huffed and puffed, snorted and roared! He was utterly and positively pissed!!
.
🐲"Those Bookdragons had a bigger and better hoard than mine!!" he roared in fury. "And they bragged about it to me!! How dare they!!" (*roarrŕ*) "This just WON'T DO!!"
.
🐲Jeff's little helper Snaggle Tooth is trying to cool the big guy down, before he burns the whole place to the ground.
.
🐲"That's ok Jeff!" Offers Snaggle Tooth helpfully. "You can get a bigger hoard than theirs right now if you want. You just need to take some of those jewels... you have so many of them already... then go to the nearest biggest bookstore and buy everything they have. Problem solved! Your hoard will be bigger than theirs."
.
🐲"Buy everything they have!" Roars Jeff even more angry than before.
.
🐲"You spotted lizard-brain!! Do I look like those good-for-nothing swamp dragons that hoard old boots and broken swords!! My hoard will hold nothing but the best!!"
.
🐲"But but... mutters Snaggle Tooth. Books are not old boots and broken swords!!"
.
🐲"No they aren't knucklehead!" retorts a still angry Jeff. "But just as those swords, books come in different types. Some are the kind that set your fangs on edge, others are the kind that make your scales rise up; some make you snort or shed a tear, or accidentally set the rug on fire; and others may even make you forget you needed to clean the den and roast the sheep! These are all equal to a prized Elven made blade, not a broken rusted sword!
.
🐲And I will only have the best in my hoard you hear!" (Roars Jeff pointing a claw at Snaggle Tooth for good measure*) "Nothing but the best has a place in my den you hear me!"
.
🐲"Ah!" Snaggle Tooth is thinking rubbing his snout with a small claw. "Then let's start searching for the best! Look for the prized Elven blades and bookish gems and buy only those! I love a good treasure hunt!!"
.
🐲Jeff stops roaring as he considers the little one's suggestion. The pesky troublemaker does have a point. They can hunt for the hidden gems among all those books out there.
.
🐲Let the treasure hunt begin!
.
🔥Do you like our Magic Book Corner's fierce Guardian and his approach?
Do you have any hidden book gems to recommend him?
Join us in our treasure hunt and discover new rare gems with us!
.
Yours truly,
🔥Jeff, fierce Guardian of The Magic Book Corner
🔥Laura Dragonchild, Jeff's trusted rider and partner in shenanigans
🔥and Snaggle Tooth, the little pesky helper
.
⭐Art commissioned from the lovely @CatrinRussellauthor
Fabulous work right?! Hope you will love it just as much as I do!
.
Happy reading Bookdragons! 💕😘

and here is my first list - of titles I already started to read or will need to read like ... yesterday. :D



🐲Jeff is determined that his His Magic Book Corner should get the best of the best!
.
🐲Jeff himself will make sure to find it. Even if he needs to read a whole mountain of books. He'll find those precious gems and add them to his hoard. And it will be bigger and better than that of all the other dragons!!
.
🐲Filled with new purpose, Jeff settled his wings down his back and ordered Snaggle Tooth to:
🐲"Get me this week's book pile from my lair! I'll start reading!"
.
🐲So here is Jeff's list that he's starting today, in no particular order:
.
🔥 Triangles of Black: Once in a Thousand Years by Ilona Ciller
.
🔥 Grindhelm's Key (The Brackenford Cycle 4) by Nick Moseley
.
🔥 Shattered Dreams (Light in the Dark Book 1)
by Ulff Lehmann
.
🔥 Blood of Heirs (The Coraidic Sagas 1) by Alicia Wanstall-Burke
.
🔥 The Sentinels: Saving Her
by Cassidy Reyne
.
🔥 Crown of Conspiracy (The Ilvannian Chronicles, 1)
by Kara S. Weaver
.
🔥 Ezaara (Riders of Fire 1) by Eileen Mueller
.
🔥 Different, Not Damaged by Andy Peloquin - read this one, just need to write the review
.
🔥 Whispers in the Canyon by Gifford MacShane
.
🔥 Wizardoms: Balance of Magic (Fate of Wizardoms Book 2) by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

⭐Did you read any of these Bookdragons?
⭐How did you find them?
⭐And what are you all reading this week?

[Hailee]

Laura wrote: "It's official. My challenge has gone down in flames!

I haven't managed to update it, just as I haven't managed to update any of my other challenges this year. (*sigh*) At times life can be really ..."

I love Jeff already. Good luck to the both of you. Hope you find some real gems.

[Hailee]

"Laura wrote: "Do you have any hidden book gems to recommend him?..."

Cephrael's Hand

I haven't read this myself yet but I have had this indie series on my radar for quite a while and I've heard really good things about it and that this is a series that gets better with each book.

So far 5 books have been and the author thinks book 6 will be the last. Although she did think that about book 5 at one point lol.

Anyway just wanted to point it out in case it interested you. I know at the very least book 1 is available on KU.

[Laura]

Hailee wrote: " "Laura wrote: "Do you have any hidden book gems to recommend him?..."

Cephrael's Hand

I haven't read this myself yet but I have had this indi..."

Thank you!! :) For both the good luck wishes and the rec.
Yes I'm interested and I'll add it to my list. :):)

[Virginie]

I don't have any Indie books/authors to recommend right now, but I wanted to let you know I already LOVE Jeff the fierce dragon to pieces :D

This week, and probably the whole month, I'm reading only light-hearted books. Life isn't being very nice to me right now, so I want books that make me laugh & feel good:
Stuff and Nonsense (and its sequels), Skyward, The Crown Tower, etc.

[Laura]

Thank you Virginie!!
And I do hope life will be treating you better soon. I know how that sucks!
And those titles sound good. I've been meaning to read Skyward for a long time now. Did you start it already?

I made up Jeff for promo and he helps keeping the mind off stuff you cannot influence.
And I also read lots mixing genres and styles. Helps to not think.

My Jeff has a treasure hunt lined up and I've got him made in different poses. He's chatting with a demon to ask for demon MC books, he's spying on a happy couple cause he played matchmaker, he's fonsoling his rider when she's crying and asking for sweet and funny reads to cheer her up and he even gets into a bookstore reading a book over a little boy's shoulder with mamy reading her own book next to them.
I'm pretty happy how the pics turned out and I'll post them over here too if the mods don't mind.

[Virginie]

I've already read Skyward (well, it was actually a re-read) but with the sequel being published in a week or so, I'm sure you can get people to read it with you :)

Stuff and Nonsense (and the whole Threadbare series) was originally a webnovel. It has the most adorable MC I've ever read about. Don't know if you do audiobooks, but the narrator (Tim Gerard Reynolds) does an amazing job.

I haven't read it yet, so I don't know if it's good or not, but Dreams From Beyond is available for free. It's mostly SF (and an anthology) so it might not be your jam, but it could be fun to try some Czech authors :)

As for Jeff pics... I'm pretty sure the mods won't mind. After all, I'm frequently posting pics all over my BR tracker and never got scolded for it ;)

[Laura]

I'm not really a big fan of SF so not my jam but the other one sounds great!

I'll post some more pics here then.
Just finished 2 of my list and am in a mood for some sweet romance. Will make Jeff look for one. :D

[Laura]

Time for an update or I'll loose track of what I need to read!

I finished till now:
1. Grindhelm's Key
2. Different, Not Damaged
3. Ezaara
4. Crown of Conspiracy
5. Cold Hearted Bastard


had as owned to compensate for KU
1. Cloaked
2. A Thief In Farshore: The Farshore Chronicles, Book 1
3. The Emperor's Edge

I still need to write some reviews for the titles above but I'm priding myself on doing good.

Next round starts now with 5 KU books and 1 owned.

[Laura]

Just for fun, I've set up an Art of the Day post on my FB/Insta accounts and here are the pics of my choices till now:


Artwork by @adelelorienne


Ildiko and Brishen - Cover art for Radiance by Grace Draven


Malefic Time - Women Fantasy Art by Luis Royo


Morrigan and Marius Amell by @za.ra_h


Gorgeous Assassin by @dropdeadcoheed


Dragonflies by Sandra Duchiewicz


Art by Aleksei Vinogradov - cover feature 16 of 20 of Urban Muse Magazine


Gorgeous cover art by Cliff Nielsen for Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter

[Laura]

a few motivational quotes:

[Laura]

and a warrior at the ladies'request!

Carlnes by Aenaluk @aenaluck_jujubes
He will be the MC in a high fantasy series to be published in autumn 2020 - only with a slightly darker skin tone.





[image error]

[Virginie]

Love all the pics! (and that warrior is yummy :p)

[Laura]

Thanks Virginie. :)

[Laura]

I sort of struggled with reading lately because life sometimes packs a good punch and am trying to get my feet under and catch up with everything left over from December.
So... I'll give this another try and a fresh start from today onward. Fingers crossed it will work.

After I get going a bit with this challenge I'll get to the rest too. For now they are in shambles.

Bought this month:
Shattered Hopes for a BR with Daniel, that I still have to start
and
On Ice, A Hockey Romance
because it is with hockey and romance and I felt like reading something like this for a while now

received 6 ARCs for review and want to finish Riders of Fire by Eileen Mueller as well as Wizardoms by Kohanek this month.

which means I have a lot of catching up to do from my Owned to read shelf.

Oh. And I downloaded The Princess & the Penis cause Soo said it's great but I'm not counting that cause it's only 33 pages.

[Laura]

Let's feel a little good with some pics from my feed:

























And I just noticed now that they are one under another how dark they all are. Matching my mood in the last few months. I'll get some lighter ones next. :)

[Graeme]

Perhaps darkness and light are only ever know together.

[Laura]

I am taking my time withe the books I read and review and even make my own pics for the reviews when I can't find any online.

Like this:
for Burning



For Shattered Hopes











For Fae Hunter



For Sufferborn









And right now I am wondering: Nice or Lame?
I am starting to get back to the read one book at a time and find I enjoy it more then when I read several of them together.

[Laura]

Graeme wrote: "Perhaps darkness and light are only ever know together."

so true!