The Reading Hideaway

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine .  It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read. Title: For the Wolf Author: Hannah F. Whitten Synopsis (via Goodreads): The second daughter is for the Wolf.  For fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale comes a dark, sweeping debut fantasy novel about a young woman who must be sacrificed to the legendary Wolf of the Wood to save her kingdom. But not all legends are true, and the Wolf isn't the only danger lurking in the Wilderwood.  As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he'll return the world's captured gods.  Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can't control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can't hurt those she loves. Again.  But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if s

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading .  All you do is grab your current read, open to a random page and share two (2) teaser sentences while avoiding spoilers! This week, my teaser is from A New Thing by Lydia Lucas. "The rejection was not an indictment on me.  The rejection was part of God's protection and plan."

Title: Talk Nerdy to Me Author: Tiffany Schmidt Publisher: Amulet Paperbacks Rating: 5 Synopsis (via Goodreads): Eliza takes center stage in this swoon-worthy third installment of the Bookish Boyfriends series.  Eliza Gordon-Fergus is an expert rule-follower. She has to be; her scientist parents dictate her day-to-day decisions, and forbid her from dating. Which is why she finds Curtis Cavendish maddening. He’s never punished for his class clown antics―and worse, his mischief actually masks brilliance. Like, give-Eliza-a-run-for-valedictorian brilliance.  When Eliza reads Frankenstein for English class, she’s left feeling more like an experiment than a daughter. Curtis agrees to trade her Anne of Green Gables under one condition: She has to beat him at the science fair. Eliza knows they’re supposed to be competing, but the more time they spend together, the more she realizes she’s in over her head. Because one thing’s certain about Curtis: He makes Eliza want to break all the rule

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews .  It's all about sharing books you've added to your shelves be it physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a  physical store, or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks. This week, I've added two books to my shelf! I received Talking to Alaska from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review (set to be released February 2021) and I am borrowing Get Out of Your Head from the library.

First Line Friday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Ria from Abstract Books .  It highlights the first line from your current read. This week, my first line is from A New Thing by Lydia Lucas. "I sat in the back of my father's two-door Pontiac on a bright Sunday morning in early June, trying really hard not to throw up."

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine .  It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read. Title: Ten Words to Live By Author: Jen Wilkin Synopsis (via Goodreads): In Ten Words to Live By , Jen Wilkin reminds readers of the life-giving power of God's perfect law for the believer. The Ten Commandments are words God spoke to a nation recently set free. They are words about obedience and holiness--timeless in their importance and wisdom. Yet today these same words are often misunderstood, forgotten, or simply ignored.  Wilkin teaches readers how the Ten Commandments come to bear on their lives today, helping them to love God and others, live in joyful freedom, and long for that future day when God will be rightly worshiped for eternity. Ancient and timeless, these words cannot be overlooked. They serve as the rightful delight and daily meditation of those who call on the name of the Lord. My Thoughts: I really enjoyed

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading .  All you do is grab your current read, open to a random page and share two (2) teaser sentences while avoiding spoilers! This week, my teaser is from Talk Nerdy to Me by Tiffany Schmidt. "He sighed.  'You've been avoiding me.  I assume this is where you change your mind again.'" pg. 173

Title: Revenge of the Sluts Author: Natalie Walton Publisher: Wattpad Books Rating: 3 Synopsis (via Goodreads): Double standards are about to get singled out.  In this stunning debut, author Natalie Walton tackles privacy and relationships in the digital age.  As a lead reporter for The Warrior Weekly, Eden has covered her fair share of stories at St. Joseph's High School. And when intimate pictures of seven female students are anonymously emailed to the entire school, Eden is determined to get to the bottom of it.  In tracking down leads, Eden is shocked to discover not everyone agrees the students are victims. Some people feel the girls "brought it on themselves." Even worse, the school’s administration seems more concerned about protecting its reputation than its students.  With the anonymous sender threatening more emails, Eden finds an unlikely ally: the seven young women themselves. Banding together to find the perpetrator, the tables are about to be turned. The

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews .  It's all about sharing books you've added to your shelves be it physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a  physical store, or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks. This week, I've added one book to my shelf! Making Space is from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and is set to be released in January 2021.

First Line Friday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Ria from Abstract Books .  It highlights the first line from your current read. This week, my first line is from Talk Nerdy to Me by Tiffany Schmidt. "I spun the dial on the fine focus lens of the microscope, wishing it were as easy to bring clarity to my life as it was to the bacteria wet-mounted on the slide."

Title: To Hell with the Hustle Author: Jefferson Bethke Publisher: Thomas Nelson Rating: 5 Synopsis (via Goodreads): This is your wake-up call to resist the Hustle culture and embrace the slowness of Jesus.  Our culture makes constant demands of us: Do more. Accomplish more. Buy more. Post more. Be more.  In following these demands, we have indeed become more: More anxious. More tired. More hurt. More depressed. More frantic.  What we are doing isn't working!  In a society where hustle is the expectation, busyness is the norm and information is king, we have forgotten the fundamentals that make us human, anchor our lives, and provide meaning.  Jefferson Bethke, New York Times bestselling author and popular YouTuber, has lived the hustle and knows we need to stop  doing  and start becoming.  After reading this book, you will discover: How to proactively set boundaries in your life; How to get comfortable with obscurity; The best way to push back against the demands of contempor

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine .  It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read. Title: Sanctuary Highway Author: Ellen Hopkins Synopsis (via Goodreads): No longer the land of the free. But home of a few brave souls.  From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins comes an edge-of-your-seat novel about two teens struggling to survive in a radicalized, militarized United States.  The United States government, now called the Confederation, has redefined what it means to be “American.” The parameters are narrow; the exceptions few.  In danger and on the run, two teens who fall outside the “correct” Confederation designation must join forces on a thousand mile journey north for safety. But survival means relying on strangers and not everyone is who they appear to be. Who do you turn to when the only person you can trust is yourself, and one wrong whisper can be the difference between freedom and imprisonm

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading .  All you do is grab your current read, open to a random page and share two (2) teaser sentences while avoiding spoilers! This week, my teaser is from Revenge of the Sluts by Natalie Walton. "The article needed to be finished and published.  I had to do it for the Slut Squad." pg. 140

Title: When Dogs Heal Author(s): Jesse Freidin, Robert Garofolo, Zach Stafford, Christina Garofalo Publisher: Zest Books Rating: 5 Synopsis (via Goodreads): The best medicine may not always be found at a pharmacy or in a doctor's office. Sometimes it comes in the form of a four-legged friend. Three well-known leaders in their fields—award-winning dog photographer Jesse Freidin, adolescent HIV+ specialist Dr. Robert Garofalo, and LGBTQ advocate and journalist Zach Stafford—offer a refreshing, beautiful, and unique portrait of HIV infused with a deep message of hope. Each extraordinary profile shows the power of the incredible bonds between humans and their canine companions, whether that means combating loneliness and stigma, discovering the importance of unconditional love, overcoming addiction, or simply having a best friend in a time of need. When Dogs Heal shares the stories of a diverse set of people who are thriving and celebrating life thanks to the compassion and uncon

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews .  It's all about sharing books you've added to your shelves be it physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a  physical store, or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks. This week, I've added five books to my shelf! The first two I'm borrowing (one from my best friend, the other from the library), and the last three are from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  A New Thing was just released this month and Get Over 'I Got It' and Sunkissed is set to be released May 2021.

First Line Friday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Ria from Abstract Books .  It highlights the first line from your current read. This week, my first line is from Revenge of the Sluts by Natalie Walton. "It had all started with a pair of boobs.  More specifically, a photo of Sloane Mayer's."

Title: The Boy Next Story Author: Tiffany Schmidt Publisher: Harry N. Abrams Rating: 4 Synopsis (via Goodreads): The second book in a series where your favorite literary characters come to life, inspired by the timeless classic, Little Women !  There’s no one better than the boy next door. At least not according to Aurora Campbell, fourteen, who has been in love with Tobias May since their very first sandbox kiss. The problem is, he’s in love with her older sister, Merrilee. And Merri is already dating one of his best friends.  Rory is learning all about pining as her class reads The Great Gatsby , a book she doesn’t find “great” at all. Also not great—her GPA, something she needs to fix, quickly, if she’d like to apply for the chance to spend a week studying art with her hero in New York City over winter break. But when Ms. Gregoire assigns her to read Little Women for extra credit, Rory discovers more than she expected—both about herself and Toby. Maybe she wasn’t in love with

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine .  It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read. Title: Get a Clue Author: Tiffany Schmidt Synopsis (via Goodreads):  The game’s afoot in the next book of the Bookish Boyfriends series—this time starring Huck and Winston! After Ms. Gregoire assigns the works of Sherlock Holmes in English class, a mystery deepens at Reginald R. Hero High. Huck and Win—Curtis’s younger brother—team up to solve the case . . . and while the sleuths gather clues, another swoon-worthy romance blooms in the school halls. Perfect for younger readers of YA or older readers of middle grade, this squeaky-clean series is sure to charm any reader who’s ever had a book boyfriend of their own. My Thoughts: I'm obsessed with this series (can you tell?)  Schmidt's writing puts me in the story as an additional character; I'm not able to put her books down.  As for Huck... don't even get me started

First Line Friday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Ria from Abstract Books .  It highlights the first line from your current read. This week, my first line is from The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt. "I wasn't one of those artists who thought you had to be a tortured soul to create."

Title: Whole Again Author: Jackson MacKenzie Publisher:  Tarcherperigee Rating: 4 Synopsis (via Goodreads) : From a leading voice on recovering from toxic relationships, a deeply insightful guide to getting back to your "old self" again--in order to truly heal and move on. Jackson MacKenzie has helped millions of people in their struggle to understand the experience of toxic relationships. His first book, Psychopath Free , explained how to identify and survive the immediate situation. In this highly anticipated new book, he guides readers on what to do next--how to fully heal from abuse in order to find love and acceptance for the self and others. Through his close work with--and deep connection to--thousands of survivors of abusive relationships Jackson discovered that most survivors have symptoms of trauma long after the relationship is over. These range from feelings of numbness and emptiness to depression, perfectionism, substance abuse, and many more. But he's al

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine .  It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read. Title: Shine Your Icy Crown Author: Amanda Lovelace Synopsis (via Goodreads) : “Make them rue the day they underestimated you.”  This is a story about not letting society dictate the limits of your potential. it’s time to take back your power & realize that you don’t need a king in order to be a queen. My Thoughts: I stumbled on The Princess Saves Herself in This One right after a bad breakup and it helped me remember my worth.  Since it was a library copy, I took pictures of several of the pages to look back on when I need to.  Lovelace's words are strong, straight to the point, and relatable.  I look forward to getting my hands on this book and taking in more of her inspiring words. What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading .  All you do is grab your current read, open to a random page and share two (2) teaser sentences while avoiding spoilers! This week, my teaser is from The Boy Next Story by Tiffany Schmidt. "Toby's knee hadn't stopped jiggling since I'd opened the passenger door Friday morning and he'd skipped over 'Hi' or 'Good morning' and gone straight to 'How are you feeling about your math test today?' 'About the same as when we finished tutoring last night.'" pg. 197

Title: I Killed Zoe Spanos Author: Kit Frick Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books Rating: 5 Synopsis (via Goodreads) : This gripping thriller follows two teens whose lives become inextricably linked when one confesses to murder and the other becomes determined to uncover the real truth no matter the cost. What happened to Zoe won't stay buried... When Anna Cicconi arrives to the small Hamptons village of Herron Mills for a summer nanny gig, she has high hopes for a fresh start. What she finds instead is a community on edge after the disappearance of Zoe Spanos, a local girl who has been missing since New Year's Eve. Anna bears an eerie resemblance to Zoe, and her mere presence in town stirs up still-raw feelings about the unsolved case. As Anna delves deeper into the mystery, stepping further and further into Zoe's life, she becomes increasingly convinced that she and Zoe are connected--and that she knows what happened to her. Two months later, Zoe's body is foun

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews .  It's all about sharing books you've added to your shelves be it physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a  physical store, or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks. This week, I've added one book to my shelf! Once I finished A Date with Darcy , I knew I needed to get my hands on the next installment of the series!  This time, the main character being Merilee's sister - Aurora!

First Line Friday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Ria from Abstract Books .  It highlights the first line from your current read. This week, my first line is from I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick. "'Anna?  We're recording.'"

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine .  It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read. Title: She's Strong, but She's Tired Author: R.H. Sin Synopsis (via Goodreads) : From New York Times bestselling author r.h. Sin, an ode to the women who have chosen to fight for themselves.  A poetic documentation of pain, loneliness, courage, and triumph. My Thoughts: His words always seem to resonate with me.  I'm sure this collection won't be any different. What are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading .  All you do is grab your current read, open to a random page and share two (2) teaser sentences while avoiding spoilers! This week, my teaser is from I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick. "On Saturday night, I'm alone in the pool house, Zoe's messages open on my screen.  I look away, but the words dance along the bedroom wall.  She gave me her number." pg. 289

Title: A Date with Darcy Author: Tiffany Schmidt Publisher: Amulet Paperbacks Rating: 5 Synopsis (via Goodreads): Boys are so much better in books. At least according to Merrilee Campbell, fifteen, who thinks real-life chivalry is dead and there’d be nothing more romantic than having a guy woo her like the heroes in classic stories. Then she, her best friend, Eliza, and her younger sister, Rory, transfer to Reginald R. Hero Prep—where all the boys look like they've stepped off the pages of a romance novel. Merri can hardly walk across the quad without running into someone who reminds her of Romeo.  When the brooding and complicated Monroe Stratford scales Merri’s trellis in an effort to make her his, she thinks she might be Juliet incarnate. But as she works her way through her literature curriculum under the guidance of an enigmatic teacher, Merri’s tale begins to unfold in ways she couldn’t have imagined. Merri soon realizes that only she is in charge of her story. And it is

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews .  It's all about sharing books you've added to your shelves be it physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a  physical store, or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks. This week, I've added four books to my shelf! These books are from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Revenge of the Sluts is set to be released in February of 2021,  The Life and Deaths of Frankie D. is set to be released in April of 2021,  Fight For Her  and When Dogs Heal is set to be released in March of 2021.

First Line Friday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Ria from Abstract Books .  It highlights the first line from your current read. This week, my first line is from A Date with Darcy by Tiffany Schmidt. "'Merrilee Rose Campbell, what are you doing?'  I barely heard Eliza's question over her pounding on my bedroom door.  Not that she waited for me to answer it - the door or her question."

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine .  It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read. Title: The Cousins Author: Karen M. McManus Synopsis (via Goodreads): Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they've never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're surprised . . . and curious.  Their parents are all clear on one point--not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother's good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it's immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious--and dark--their family's past is.  The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading .  All you do is grab your current read, open to a random page and share two (2) teaser sentences while avoiding spoilers! This week, my teaser is from A Date with Darcy by Tiffany Schmidt. "I laughed.  'Between Monroe's visits and texts - I've had zero time to meet anyone new.'  Her eyes narrowed.  'That's not a no.'"pg. 198

Title: Some Kind of Animal Author: Maria Romasco-Moore Publisher: Delacorte Press Rating: 1 Synopsis (via Goodreads): For fans of Wilder Girls and Sadie comes a new story about two girls with a secret no one would ever believe, and the wild, desperate lengths they will go to protect each other from the outside world.  Jo lives in the same Appalachian town where her mother disappeared fifteen years ago. Everyone knows what happened to Jo's mom. She was wild, and bad things happen to girls like that.  Now people are starting to talk about Jo. She's barely passing her classes and falls asleep at her desk every day. She's following in her mom's footsteps.  Jo does have a secret. It's not what people think, though. Not a boy or a drug habit. Jo has a twin sister.  Jo's sister is not like most people. She lives in the woods--catches rabbits with her bare hands and eats them raw. Night after night, Jo slips out of her bedroom window and meets her sister in the tre

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews .  It's all about sharing books you've added to your shelves be it physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a  physical store, or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course ebooks. This week, I've added five books to my shelf! The first four are being borrowed from the library and the last one was a birthday present!  Not a bad cover to look at, amirite?!

First Line Friday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Ria from Abstract Books .  It highlights the first line from your current read. This week, my first line is from Some Kind of Animal by Maria Romasco-Moore. "My sister and I sit side by side in the dark.  She is pulling little bones out of her heart-shaped plastic purse and tossing them down the hillside onto the empty road below."

Waiting on Wednesday is a daily meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine .  It highlights what newly released books us bloggers are most excited to read. Title: Memento Authors: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff Synopsis (via Goodreads): From New York Times bestselling authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff comes an Illuminae prequel digital novella that gives readers a hair-raising glimpse into the calamity that befell the invincible AI system known as AIDAN–and the daring young programmer who would risk her life to keep it from crashing.  AIDAN is the AI you’ll love to hate.  The advanced AI system was supposed to protect a fleet of survivors who’d escaped the deadly attack on Kerenza IV. AIDAN was supposed to be infallible. But in the chaotic weeks and months that followed, it became clear that something was terribly, terribly wrong with AIDAN… My Thoughts: Holy.  Freakin'.  Shish Kabobs.  I had no idea that this book exists and I want it right now because I tore through the or

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading .  All you do is grab your current read, open to a random page and share two (2) teaser sentences while avoiding spoilers! This week, my teaser is from  Some Kind of Animal  by Maria Romasco-Moore. "There was a body.  I know that." pg. 179

Title: Untamed Author: Glennon Doyle Publisher:  The Dial Press Rating:  5 Synopsis (via Goodreads) : There is a voice of longing inside every woman. We strive so mightily to be good: good mothers, daughters, partners, employees, citizens, and friends. We believe all this striving will make us feel alive. Instead, it leaves us feeling weary, stuck, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed. We look at our lives, relationships, and world, and wonder: Wasn’t it all supposed to be more beautiful than this?  Four years ago, Glennon Doyle, author, activist and humanitarian, wife and mother of three—was speaking at a conference when a woman entered the room. Glennon looked at her and fell instantly in love. Three words flooded her mind: There She Is. At first, Glennon assumed these words came to her from on high. Soon she realized that they came to her from within. Glennon was finally hearing her own voice—the voice that had been silenced by decades of cultural conditioning, numbing addictions, and in