January Wrap up - Book Haul & What to Expect Next Month

Welcome, welcome my dear readers.

Welcome to the blog.

I'm having one of those months/moments where it's not going too well. For the one's that have been following me since summer or before know from previous month-posts what is going on.

All I'm wanting to share right now is that I called in sick from work two weeks ago and have been staying at home. Trying to regain my energy, trying to find back myself. 

Have been reading a lot, so that's more on the positive note :). I just wanted to keep it short for now.

Thanks for sticking with my blog and for reading my posts!

Have a great month and hopefully some (not too much) snow.

⛄

Two Short Stories #30

Today I will be highlighting two short stories.

One of them is a magical picture book and the other is a biography picture book.

Both books were so much fun to read!

Let's dive right in.

Review: The Power

Author: Naomi Alderman

Started reading: December 10th 2021

Finished the book: January 15h 2022

Pages: 341

Genres: Fictoin, Dystopian

Published: May 18th 2017

Source: Paperlovers

Goodreads score: 3.79

My score:

Synopsis

In The Power the world is a recognisable place: there's a rich Nigerian kid who lounges around the family pool; a foster girl whose religious parents hide their true nature; a local American politician; a tough London girl from a tricky family. But something vital has changed, causing their lives to converge with devastating effect. Teenage girls now have immense physical power - they can cause agonising pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world changes utterly.

This extraordinary novel by Naomi Alderman, a Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year and Granta Best of British writer, is not only a gripping story of how the world would change if power was in the hands of women but also exposes, with breath-taking daring, our contemporary world.

Review: Wolf Hollow

Author: Lauren Wolk

Started reading: December 11th 2021

Finished the book: January 12th 2022

Pages: 304

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade

Published: May 3rd 2016

Source: Audible

Goodreads score: 4.17

My score:

Synopsis

Growing up in the shadows cast by two world wars, Annabelle has lived a mostly quiet, steady life in her small Pennsylvania town. Until the day new student Betty Glengarry walks into her class. Betty quickly reveals herself to be cruel and manipulative, and while her bullying seems isolated at first, things quickly escalate, and reclusive World War I veteran Toby becomes a target of her attacks. While others have always seen Toby’s strangeness, Annabelle knows only kindness. She will soon need to find the courage to stand as a lone voice of justice as tensions mount.

Sunday Post #35

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It's a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead.

Review: Realm of Night (Mina Murray #3)

Author: L.D. Goffigan

Started reading: January 1st 2022

Finished the book: January 10th 2022

Pages: 296

Genres: Fantasy, Vampires

Published: June 20th 2017

Source: Digital copy from the author

Goodreads score: 3.83

My score:

Synopsis

Mina and her allies have destroyed Vlad Draculesti, but the human world is still in danger from his vampire allies. From Berlin to Paris, major European cities have begun to fall to their followers. To spare humanity from the grip of looming darkness, Mina must defeat one of the most powerful vampires in the world...

A thrilling retelling of a classic tale, REALM OF NIGHT is the third book of the Mina Murray series.

ABC Book Challenge Letter L

Today I'm going to continue the ABC Book Challenge. I'm on my way to the end of the alphabet! 

I've seen this Challenge on various blogs in all kinds of different ways. I hope you'll like the way I'm approaching this!

Feel free to join in.

Let's dive right in!

Review: Fortress of Blood (Mina Murray #2)

Author: L.D. Goffigan

Started reading: November 16th 2021

Finished the book: January 1st 2022

Pages: 258

Genres: Fantasy, Vampires

Published: May 21st 2017

Source: Digital copy from the author

Goodreads score: 3.89

My score:

Synopsis

Mina and her allies have found the Transylvanian countryside dotted with empty villages and rumors of monsters who wear human skin. As Mina prepares for the final showdown with her fiance's abductors, the last descendants of the supernatural Draculesti family, she discovers her own shocking connection to the hidden world of vampires...

A suspenseful retelling of a classic tale, FORTRESS OF BLOOD is the second book of the Mina Murray series. If you love action-adventure, romance, and mystery, then pick up your copy today.

5 Year Blogiversary: Book Of Choice GIVEAWAY + 2 Paperback Books!

5 years it has been... I still remember me building my blog and writing my first blogpost at my boyfriends home. His parents were on a vacation and we were babysitting the house together.

I had been writing reviews on Goodreads for a while and I wanted my own place on the internet. I wanted to share opinions and find other booklovers, because none of my friends read. I wanted people to relate to and to fangirl about books with. And I've found all this and much more.

I want to thank my regular visitors, who come over to my blog, read my posts and always comment and reach out. I want to thank one-time visitors, for stopping by. I want to thank authors for reaching out and promoting their book and thanking me for my reviews. Thank you all!

If you're one of those followers that's been stuck here for a LONG time, you know it's a tradition here to giveaway a paperback book. Choices are from the Goodreads Choice Awards 2021. But since my little babyblog is now 5 years old, I will also be giving away 2 paperbacks: They Called Us Enemy and The Midnight Library. This little party will have 3 winners this year!

Read this blogpost for some cool statistics about my blog and to find out more about the giveaway!

My Top 10 Books of 2021

Lists, lists, lists. I just LOVE lists. Who doesn't?! In this post you'll find my 10 favorite reads of 2021.

With this final list I hope to recommend some awesome books that you maybe haven't read. Want to know why I loved the book so much? You can click the cover to go to the full review!

I hope you'll find some nice books to read next year. Have fun reading this list and have a great 2022!