Lifestyle Of Me: March 2020

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Review: A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

Read this book in 12 days. This brick of a book gets 4 stars from me. I enjoyed it a lot and to be able to finish it today, I had to find an audio book version and it was so much faster. I enjoyed reading from Tyrion POV and was satisfied by the amount. I was disappointed with the 3 Daenarys chapters that we got because they were too far spaced and it was confusing as hell. I hate Theon Greyjoy with a passion and think that his chapters could have been condensed. We did not need multiple chapters of him being sulky that his people weren't showering him with kisses and offering to fuck him and also fondling his sister and then realizing that it was his sister and hating her and wishing death upon her.

The character Davos should have been the Red Priestess or Stannis Baratheon himself. Loved the character development of Bran Stark and his direwolf. I was angry at Osha the wildling when it seemed that she was going to be loyal to Theon but that was just a ruse. I hate how we didn't have any POV from Robb. The Theon Greyjoy scenes from Season 1 make so much more sense now. Now I have to find Season 2.

The book was very aptly named as it features 5 different kings and 2 queens.

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Review: Grayson by Lynne Cox

My 5th read for my non fiction A-Z reading challenge and it was a short one. It was a very quick read and it was beautifully written book that sometimes made me believe that most of the story was made up. The descriptions of all the marine life made me want to just research all marine wildlife and go to an aquarium which I can't do because of CORONAVIRUS. I loved how quickly she bonded with the baby whale and mama whale.

There were a few times where I started skimming because I didn't care how she was swimming or how she was folding her arms, legs and body to go how fast in the water. Also, it was like she was talking to a friend when she was describing the locations she was in and where everything was and I was lost. It also seemed that the truth was stretched at times with her going down and the water pressure affecting her head and eyes. Surely she didn't really go so deep and risk her life that many times in the span of three hours. It seems like a call for attention and like a hey look at me.

Friday, March 20, 2020

Review: Funny Girl by Nick Hornby

I first came across this book while going through books on GoodReads years ago. I read the synopsis and immediately added it to my TBR shelf. A couple of years later, I took it off because I lost interest in it and told myself that it was just taking up space and I deleted it from my shelf. Now what do I find at Dollar Tree, a copy of this book that I told myself that I would not check out from the library because I hadn't done it yet. I bought it, and it sat on my physical TBR shelf for another few years and it was basically on almost every TBR list in my TBR videos for the past year.. now after that long winded introduction just to say that I read it and I was NOT A FAN!

I wanted more from the characters and I wanted to actually read some of the scenes from the show, not just this and that happened.. let's go drink and talk about sex and smoke cigarettes. The main character Barbara aka Sophia was just the most annoying person like every other actor and actress in the world. We met her while she is competing in a beauty pageant in her hometown. She wins because she looks so much like this famous actress and she hates the comparisons with a passion. She wins and for 5 minutes she realizes that she has to do a year of civic duties and be Miss Blackpool. She gives up the crown and moves to London where she becomes Sophie Straw.

She wanted to be herself and make a name for herself and be an actress like Lucille Ball because she was obsessed with the show I Love Lucy. I loved that show growing up but I never wanted to be Lucy.

The amount of misogyny and sexism in this was disgusting. The amount of times she actually considered just finding a man and letting him take care of her was sick. I understand this was set in the 1960's and that was the norm for women, but c'mon. LEAVE THE MARRIED MEN ALONE!

The writing style sucked. I found myself re-reading sentences multiple times because it would be talking about going to see Lucille Ball perform in London and being nervous, to the next sentence in the same paragraph being the day of and meeting Lucille Ball right then and there. The transitions between scenes were non freaking existent and I hated every minute of it.

I also found myself being really immersed while reading because I wanted to know what happened next and would the author finally put some scenes from the show into the book, but it never happened and I would put the book down and I would dread picking it up the next morning.

I really want to give this author another chance but the writing was just HORRIFIC!

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

BLOG TOUR: Legend of Lost Causes by Brad McLelland & Louis Sylvester

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the LEGENDS OF LOST CAUSES SERIES by Brad McLelland & Louis Sylvester Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: THE KEY OF SKELETON PEAK (Legends of the Lost Causes #3)

Author: Brad McLelland & Louis Sylvester

Pub. Date: March 17, 2020

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 464

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Dark magic meets the Old West in this third installment of the Legends of the Lost Causes, as a group of vigilante orphans go head-to-head against an outlaw sorcerer in pursuit of an ancient and powerful magical artifact!

Keech Blackwood and his fellow Lost Causes have won their share of battles, but the war against the ruthless sorcerer Reverend Rose still rages on.

This time, the Lost Causes face their most perilous trial yet: stopping Rose and his henchmen from retrieving an ancient, powerful object that would help return him to his full, frightening strength. As the vigilante orphans race to the dangerous depths of Skeleton Peak, the sight of the magical object, they’ll have to outmaneuver Rose’s most faithful—and menacing—ally: an inhuman creature spawned by darkness and shadow. But ever in pursuit of justice and vengeance for their fallen families, the Lost Causes won’t give up without a fight.

Grab the first 2 books in the series!

LEGENDS OF THE LOST CAUSES

THE FANG OF BONFIRE CROSSING

About Brad:

Born and raised in Arkansas, Brad McLelland spent several years working as a crime journalist in the South before earning his MFA in creative writing from Oklahoma State University. A part-time drummer and singer, Brad lives in Oklahoma with his wife, stepdaughter, a mini-Aussie who gives hugs, and a chubby cat who begs for ham.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

About Louis:

Louis Sylvester is a professor at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. He teaches courses on Creative Writing, Research Writing, Introduction to Film, Screenwriting, and The Ethics of Art and Censorship.

Together with his wife, he enjoys playing tabletop games from his collection of over 1,000 board and card games.

His two dogs are named Cake and Muse. They are the best.

His writing partner is the talented author Brad McLelland. Their first novel is titled LEGENDS OF THE LOST CAUSES.

Macmillan Website | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

Three lucky winners will receive finished copies of the LEGENDS OF LOST CAUSES SERIES, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/16/2020	Books,Dreams,Life	Excerpt/Spotlight
3/16/2020	Twirling Book Princess	Excerpt/Spotlight
3/17/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
3/17/2020	BookHounds YA	Excerpt/Spotlight
3/18/2020	Log Cabin Library	Review
3/18/2020	fictitious.fox	Review
3/19/2020	Nay's Pink Bookshelf	Review
3/19/2020	Locks, Hooks, and Books	Review
3/20/2020	Savings in Seconds	Review
3/20/2020	Hurn Publications	Review

Week Two:

3/23/2020	Turning the Pages	Review
3/23/2020	Little Red Reads	Review
3/24/2020	momfluenster	Review
3/24/2020	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt/Spotlight
3/25/2020	My Quirky Writing	Review
3/25/2020	Word Spelunking	Excerpt/Spotlight
3/26/2020	Two Points of interest	Review
3/26/2020	PopTheButterfly	Review
3/27/2020	She Just Loves Books	Review
3/27/2020	Preciousbooksworld	Excerpt/Spotlight

Sunday, March 15, 2020

SEPTERMBER 2019 OWLCRATE & OWLCRATE JR UNBOXING

OWLCRATE JR: Legends of the Deep

Malamander by Thomas Taylor, illustrated by Tom Booth
Yeti Files: Attack Of The Kraken by Kevin Sherry
Gillyweed-inspired herbal peppermint tea (blend by Riddle's Tea Shoppee)
'Dakuwaqa' poster, originally featured in Smart About Sharks (illustrated by Owen Davey)
Food Safe Silicone Shark Tea Strainer
Reading Mermaid vinyl sticker (illustrated by Laura Trinder)
Narwhal Gel Pen
Exclusive OwlCrate Jr "Legends Of the Deep" Button (Designed by Melanie Demmer)
Exclusive Author Letter, signed bookplate, and Malamander bookmark
OwlCrate Jr Magazine Issue #13 (Designed by Michelle Gray)
October 'Robots!' sneak peek postcard (Designed by VeepDoodles)

OWLCRATE: Fear the Night

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones (signed, exclusive OwlCrate Edition)
Skull Arm Warmer Gloves (Team OwlCrate)
Ray Bradbury-inspired Art Print (Illustrated by Anne Lambelet)
Scare-amel Coffee (Bones Coffee Company)
The Haunting of Hill House Exclusive Paperback (Penguin Randomhouse)
Frankenstein-inspired Ceramic Trinket Dish (designed by Stella Bookish Art
Exclusive OwlCrate "Flower Skull" Enamel Pin (designed by Lapels and Spells)
Exclusive The Bone Houses Author Letter and Bookmark.

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Review: Saga Book One by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

This book has Volumes 1-3 of the Saga series. I will be reviewing each volume as I read them. SPOILERS BEWARE!!!

Volume 1: First off, IF YOU ARE UNDER 18... DO NOT READ THIS SERIES!!!! It has some major sex scenes and graphic images. This series is about two beings from differing planets that are at war with each other and these two beings get together and have a baby. Now, there are bounty hunters out to kill the parents and "kidnap" the baby. That's is all I will say because that was enough of a spoiler.

The first page had me laughing my ass off. If you have ever given birth, then you can totally relate to everything that Alana mentions. Is she shitting? Suck her hemorrhoids! Also Marko had me shaking my head when he kept Gwendolyn a secret and actually used her rings with Alana. The robot people are actually pretty damn terrifying, and Sextillion was just fucking weird!

Volume 2: We meet Marko's parents and also get the interactions between Alana and Marko when they were prisoner and guard only. I feel a little disconnected from the story with this volume because mainly the language between Marko and his childhood. I am guessing it is spanish, but it didn't have any sort of translation. You had to kind of figure out what the characters were saying from the images.

I love how fast Alana and Marko's father bonded over Hazel and Alana was very protective of his secret. Gwendolyn is a sort of mommy figure to the little slave girl now named Sophie by The Will, and Lying Cat was just hilarious. I love it.

Volume 3: Lying Cat being the runt of the litter just broke my damn heart and made me want to cry. I have a soft spot for runts of the litter. Little Sophie "killing" The Will and Gwendolyn admitting that she loves him. Klara and Izabel sort of bonding and having each other's back was awesome.

The orgy troop scene was very out there, like everything else in this series. The hallucinations were wild and not expected. Hazel is a toddler now... kind of bummed that there wasn't more of her actual being a baby.

Friday, March 13, 2020

BLOG TOUR: The Ghosts of Saratoga by David R. Ossont & David Dampf

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE GHOSTS OF SARATOGA by David R. Ossont & David Dampf Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: THE GHOSTS OF SARATOGA

Author: David R. Ossont & David Dampf

Pub. Date: July 21, 2019

Publisher: Milford House Press

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 159

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, TBD

In 1777, seventeen-year-old Roland McCaffrey joins the American Revolution. He is part of the army trying to stop the invasion force of British general John Burgoyne. Fighting alongside his sergeant and mentor, Roland becomes a skilled rifleman. He feels guilty for killing but plays an important role in the American strategy. At the Battles of Saratoga, Roland engages in combat under Benedict Arnold.

About The Authors:

David R. Ossont has worked as a musician, a Fish and Wildlife Technician and for nearly three decades taught science to seventh and eighth graders. He received his college education from several colleges of the State University of New York. He has two children, Kyle and Hayley and lives with his wife Pam in upstate New York, not far from where the events of Ghosts of Saratoga take place.

David Dampf has been a middle school social studies teacher for the past 28 years. He has a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Potsdam with a major in history and secondary education and a Master’s degree in reading from SUNY Cortland. Since he believes that understanding history is essential to being an educated, thoughtful adult, he has spent his life telling stories that make history come alive. He lives in Oneida, New York, with his family.

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