Lifestyle Of Me

Monday, May 16, 2022

Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Should I be starting a new series when I have so many to finish and don't know when that will be because I don't prioritize them.... no, but did I..... YESS. Do I have any regrets.. nope. I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed it. I did read along with it, which is what I do with all my big books. I chose this for one of my prompts for the magical readathon spring quinox readathon that is created and hosted by Book Roast on booktube.

I had been wanting to read this book since 2015 when I heard so much hype about the show and love for the books. I have watched the first episode in the middle of reading this because I could already picture Claire and Jamie from the promos for the show, but I needed to see the other characters and doing that, just made me enjoy the story that much more.

There were many times where I dog eared the pages, scandalous I know.. but my copy is an already battered mass market paperback that will be replaced with a 25th anniversary edition because I need it. I have so many quotes dog eared because they gave me a good laugh and I can't wait to see it in the show.

We follow a woman named Claire who is honeymooning with her husband in the Scottish Highlands in 1945. They are both back together after the war and they are trying to have a baby and reconnect. They are exploring and they come across this stone structure that is like stonehenge. They watch this sort of ritual where these women are dancing in circles and holding lanterns. After, Claire goes looking around the stones and sees these purple flowers which she is interested in and then she starts hearing drum beats. The woman touches the stones where she hears the noise and is instantly transported back in time to the 18th century where Britian is fighting the Jacobites. At first, she thinks it is a re-enactment, but then she actually gets shot at and she sees her husband ancestor who turns out to be the main villian of our story.

The romance between Jamie and Claire is one that I really enjoyed. The amount of sex scenes I was not expecting. I can't wait to finish watching season 1 and get to the second book. I do want to take my time with this series and enjoy it, but I don't want to take too long and forget important details.

Sunday, May 15, 2022

BLOG TOUR: Heathen by Natasha Alterici

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the HEATHEN by Natasha Alterici & Ashley A. Woods Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: HEATHEN: The Complete Series Omnibus Edition

Author: Natasha Alterici, Ashley A. Woods (Illustrations), Rachel Deering, Morgan Martinez

Pub. Date: May 17, 2022

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 336

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

WOMAN. WARRIOR. VIKING. HEATHEN. OUTCAST.

THE GODS MUST PAY…

Born into a time of warfare, suffering, and subjugation of women, and exiled from her village for kissing another woman, the lesbian Viking warrior, Aydis, sets out to destroy the god-king Odin and end his oppressive reign. She is a friend to many as she is joined by mermaids, immortals, Valkyries, and the talking horse, Saga. But she is also a fearsome enemy to the demons and fantastic monsters that populate the land.
Heathen – The Complete Series Omnibus Edition trade paperback collects the entire twelve-issue series.

Soon to be movie directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Red Riding Hood, & Lords of Dogtown)

Perfect for fans of Monstress, Helheim, and Northlanders.

Reviews:

“These declarations of self from women and queer characters fit so elegantly into the mythology Alterici uses to weave her tale, it reminds us that these narratives belonged there all along.”- The Mary Sue

“I want epics with female leads, and fortunately HEATHEN fulfills that desire in a big way, while also adding its own unique touch with themes that are as contemporary as they are timeless.”- Women Write About Comics

“One look at the cover and I knew this book was right up my alley. If you are into Norse mythology and aching for a lesbian angle, then this book is for you. If you want a love story that is more than a romance, a heroine that is truly honourable and fierce, then I urge you to pick this … up.”- The Lesbian Review

“Natasha Alterici's Heathen, has single-handedly redeemed the disaster that pop culture has been making of Norse mythology. It’s a smart, funny, feminist, queer and sex-positive take on the Viking world; one with a wide cast of diverse and endearing characters. Heathen is a must-read for comics (and mythology) lovers of all sorts and those in quest of superb queer and feminist comics in particular. RATING: 10/10”- Pop Matter

Review: Loved the lore behind Odin's missing eye. This really makes me want to read more norse mythology. The wolves and Raudan turning into a fox were my favorite. Started to get confused on who was who as the story progressed because it would switch plot lines.

About Natasha Alterici:

Natasha Alterici is a writer and artist living in Tulsa, OK who has been working as a freelance artist for over ten years. Works include Heathen (Vault Comics), Dinosaur Project, Gotham Academy: Yearbook, Grayson Annual, The Lez Film Review, Mixed Signals, Lovers and Other Strangers, Transcience, and a number of others. When not drawing, she enjoys watching cooking shows with her wife and their two cats, Cheshire and Louise.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

About Ashley A. Woods:

Ashley A. Woods is a comic book artist, writer, & creator from Chicago known for her work on the "Niobe", "Ladycastle" and "Tomb Raider" series. She got her start through self-publishing her action-fantasy comic series “Millennia War” which led to her career in comics and TV. After earning her degree in Film and Animation from IADT, she traveled to Kyoto, Japan where she presented her work in a gallery showcase called, “Out Of Sequence”. Recognized for her female illustrations and designs, her most prominent work is "Niobe: She is Life" with Stranger Comics.

Her latest work can be seen on HBO's "Lovecraft Country", DC’s “Wonder Woman Black & Gold 2” and "Jupiter Invincible" with Pulitzer Prize winning author Yusef Komunyakaa which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival June 2021.

Website | Twitter | Instagram

Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of HEATHEN, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2022	Never Hollowed By The Stare	Guest Post
5/2/2022	Writer of Wrongs	Guest Post
5/3/2022	Wottaread Blog	Excerpt
5/4/2022	Pages_and_Procrastinaton	Review/IG Post
5/5/2022	The Girl Who Reads	Review/IG Post
5/6/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
5/7/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

5/8/2022	Sadie's Spotlight	Guest Post /IG Post
5/9/2022	See Sadie Read	Review/IG Post
5/10/2022	Celia's Reads	Review/IG Post
5/11/2022	Emmiepooh2	IG Review
5/12/2022	Bri's Bookish	IG Review
5/13/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
5/14/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

5/15/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review
5/16/2022	Fyrekatz Blog	Review
5/17/2022	BookHounds YA	Review/IG Post
5/18/2022	The Book View	Review/IG Post
5/19/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
5/20/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
5/21/2022	two points of interest	Review

Week Four:

5/22/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
5/23/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post
5/24/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post
5/25/2022	Nagma \| TakeALookAtMyBookshelf	IG Review
5/26/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	IG Review
5/27/2022	Fire and Ice	Review
5/28/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Five:

5/29/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
5/30/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	IG Review
5/31/2022	@drewsim12	IG Review/TikTok Post

Recovering From the Flu// Sunday Post #31

So, the title explains it all. For the past two weeks my family and I have been battling the flu. On May 2nd, my oldest daughter was super tired and complaining of a sore throat all day. I gave her an early day off from her lessons and she went to sleep for 4 hours. This kid NEVER takes naps or sleeps during the day. On Tuesday she woke up with a fever of 102.5 and she had her very first covid test. It came back negative and my husband ended up taking her to our local urgent care. From there just started a domino effect. She had the rest of the week off and quarantine in her room to keep our younger daughters from getting sick. Who was the next to get it, ME. Needless to say, everyone ended up getting it and my youngest daughter had to go to the hospital in the middle of the night because she got it the worst with projectile vomitting. Everyone is on the mend, we just have lingering coughs. The flu has definitely derailed our month. Our last day of the school year was supposed to be Friday, but will now be tomorrow. Our pets have been clingy all week. That was super hard staying away from the animals so they wouldn't get sick. I have not been this sick since 2019 and I would not wish the flu on my worst enemy. Just everyone, please wash hand and wear a mask and if you think you are sick, then please stay home.

Sunday: BLOG TOUR: Dig Two Graves

Tuesday: BLOG TOUR: We Are The Song

Wednesday: WWW Wednesday #10

Friday: The Love Hypothesis review

Heathen Blog Tour

Top Ten Tuesday

WWW Wednesday

Outlander review

Murder on the Links review

Doing well on my book buying ban and I have not gotten any read now copies on Netgalley. I am trying to get through my stack of library books that are due back this week.

Friday, May 13, 2022

Review: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

I took too long to read last year's most hyped book because the week I decided to start reading this, I learned that it was Kylo Ren-Rey Star Wars fanfiction. I am obsessed with Star Wars and I have met some of my best friends through fanfiction for another fandom. But, I am not a shipper of Kylo Ren and Rey. The kiss between them was totally unnecessary and honestly really gross. I shipped Rey with Poe with the whole "I Know" bit at then end of episode 8 and also Oscar Issac is easy on the eyes.

I decided to go ahead and read it and the beginning had me going WTF. I listened to this on audio and usually when I do audio, I have the physical book in my hands so I can follow along. I updated my status multiple times while reading this because I just couldn't understand some of the things that Olive did and said. The first thing I had an issue with is that she is a PhD student and she is using EXPIRED contacts. Talking more than 3 year old contacts. Then she said to Adam the US shouldn't have left the commonwealth to not celebrate Thanksgiving. Olive is Canadian and Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving as well. Seem like poor research on the author's part.

I ended up giving this a 4 out of 5 at the end because I did enjoy listening to it and wondering what olive and Adam would get up to. Listening to the sex scene was intense and I seriously wanted a bucket of popcorn while listening. I have read smut, but I have never listened to it and that was a damn experience.

I know that Ali Hazelwood has other books that was also fanfiction first, so I am better prepared to go into her books.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

WWW Wednesday #10

This weekly meme is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.

The three W's:

1. What are you currently reading?

2. What did you recently finish reading?

3. What do you think you'll read next?

My reading so far this month has taken a beating. My entire family and I caught the flu last week and it has been jumping from one to the next. It is the worst and I have been listening to my audiobook here and there when I don't have a pounding headache or when my ears aren't throbbing. I haven't been able to read out loud to my kids since last Monday and I am sad to say I have forgotten most of what I have read of the book.

The only thing that got read last week was a chapter of SAGA. I am reading the issues or chapters as they come out because I can't wait for the bind up volumes and I enjoy the single issues way more.

I have some library books that are due back next week and I have used all of my renewals on them. I hate taking library books back that I haven't read. It feels like such a waste of time for the librarians who had to send it to my library and my hubby who picks up my holds for me on his way home from work.

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

BLOG TOUR: We Are The Song by Catherine Bakewell

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WE ARE THE SONG by Catherine Bakewell Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: WE ARE THE SONG

Author: Catherine Bakewell

Pub. Date: May 3, 2022

Publisher: Holiday House

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 304

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

A lush and beautiful fantasy set in a world where music is magic and the fate of many thrones lies with one girl...

Twelve-year-old Elissa has been raised in seclusion as a devotee of the Mother Goddess. She is a special child, a blessed child, a child who can sing miracles into being. Her voice can heal wounds, halt landslides, cure hunger--and even end wars.

But there are those who would use her gift for darker things. And when Elissa finds herself the farthest from home she's ever been--along with her vain and jealous music tutor, Lucio--she will have to develop the judgment to decide who wants to use her song to heal... and who wants to use her song to hurt.

Reviews:

"Elissa’s desire to follow her divinely inspired abilities and overcome the barriers to her musical ambitions echo women’s historical experiences in classical music. . . . And constellations of race, sexuality, and gender expression lend richness to an already unique world."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This fast-paced fantasy is full of action and intrigue, taking place in a war-torn world that still holds much beauty and magic. Readers will come to love Elissa, who struggles with doubts as she faces heartbreak, tragedy, and loneliness and tries to fight for what is right. An excellent addition to middle-grade fantasy collections."—Booklist

"Fantasy fans will queue up for this delightful novel with its strong female characters and carefully drawn fantasy world. . . . Fast packed action will keep readers totally engaged. This captivating novel promises a good future for this first-time author."—School Library Connection

"An exploration of devotion and finding one’s voice."—Kirkus Reviews

Review:

About Catherine Bakewell:

Catherine Bakewell is a writer, artist, and opera enthusiast. She has lived in Spain and in France, where she romped through gardens, ate pastries, and worked on her novels. We Are the Song is her debut.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon