A day in the life | Rory Gilmore edition

I have recently restarted the Gilmore Girls TV show, and I am absolutely in love. I would have liked so much to be leaving in Star Hallow. Considering it’s the weekend, and that I have a lot of reading and studying to do considering I have just started university, what better time to have a day than Rory Gilmore considering she loves both to read and to learn.

I currently am still in self-isolation, as I have decided to do considering I moved from an orange area, so I, unfortunately, can’t go out at all, but I will try to recreate all the Gilmore activities indoors including one Luke’s inspired lunch and a movie junk food night. I am hoping I will do another post like this either leaving as Gilmore Girls or maybe another fictional character. Let me know what you think of this idea in the comments or by liking this post.

5:30 am

I indeed woke up at 5:30am, and the only thing I could think of when I tried to get out of bed was how desperately I could use a cup of coffee, and how I feel cold. So I made the not-so-smart choice of staying in bed, under the warm covers, and reading. Not an intelligent thing to do in such a full-packed day as I fell back asleep at around 6:30 and woke up again later than 8. So I made a giant coffee (triple shot of espresso), which to me is a very Lorelai fashion, and I hope I’ll manage the energy to get everything done for the day.

12:03 pm

I did some studying for a while and now I am caught up on most of my courses. I am going to make lunch and read a bit, maybe watch a Gilmore Girls episode while I eat, and then in a very Rory-like fashion, I have to plan next week’s study sessions. For lunch, I am making Mac’n Cheese.

1:00 pm

Lunch is done. I’m seating down to eat and start planning my week.

Planning is done, now I can just sit back, enjoy my lunch and watch an episode of Gilmore Girls. After that, I have to clean the kitchen and get back to studying.

4:00 pm

It is 4, and I feel my head is about to explode. I am doing my best to catch up on my programming course, but with very little success. I am going to try to update something on my computer, so it works better for the practical part of this course. I will see how I feel afterward. Honestly, I don’t think I could have studied this hard on this course and caught up with everything else I had to do today without a playlist of the music from Gilmore Girls, I found on YouTube.

5:30 pm

After a study session and another great episode of Gilmore Girls, I am ready to finish what I had left to study for the day, catch up a bit with my friend and family, read, and watch some movies.

8:30 pm

My studying for the day is done. I am going to get some food catch up with a friend for a bit and watch a movie.

The next day

Last night I ended up Skypeing my parents. Also, I ended up watching “Dirty Dancing” for the very first time, and I have absolutely loved it. I read some more until I fell asleep.
The book I started and highly enjoyed is “Rekindled Prophecy” by KC Freeman. I got to 15% into the book, and I am immensely enjoying it so far. I found the plot to be original and keep you at the edge of your seat, I fell in love with the writing style. So far, I think this book might become one of my favorites of the year. I can’t wait to make an in-depth review of this book.

24h Reading Experience - 2020

 I am currently in the hassle of finishing my application to University, finding accommodation and trying to manage multiple projects such as this blog while I am in a horrible reading slump. Therefore my content for the blog is well behind and while I'm trying to catch up life is happening and it's not slowing down. I was inspired by a Booktuber, Ciara Foster, who posted a video called Reading like Rory Gilmore for a day. I love the Gilmore Girls, I always wanted to try a 24-h readathon, so I decided to adapt it to work for myself. As fascinating as it is to read books from Rory Gilmore's reading list, and as much as I love classics, due to my lack of motivation to read I decided to pick, more modern books. And as I know how bad my body reacts to coffee, I will switch between coffee and tea throughout the readathon.

My TBR for this readathon:

I am not going to lie; I am maybe the biggest mood reader there is. Therefore I will pick more books than I can read just so I have what to choose from.

I started this book last night, I read a chapter from it before falling asleep and I really enjoyed it. I don't know how well developed the plot will be, but I do like the romance story so far.

I never read a book by Taylor Brent, but I do like TV shows about lawyers, and I think it's high time I give a book on this theme a try. I don't have any expectations whatsoever as I know very little about the plot, but everyone needs a short read every now and then. This will be my novella for this readathon.

7:45 PM - the first day

My first drink of the readathon is Sencha Green tea by Basilur. I think it's ok, perhaps one of the best green tea I have read. I do still prefer black tea anytime.

I will start by reading "Legally Seduced" by Taylor Brent as it is the shortest and I would love to finish at least one book tonight. I will check in again later when I have any updates to make on this book. It shouldn't get me too long to get through it.

10:10 PM - the first day

It is a Gilmore Girls inspired readathon that doesn't have the end goal of reading books on the Rory Gilmore reading list but to devour and enjoy as many books as possible just as Rory would do. In honour of my love for the TV show Gilmore Girls, I have done some related quizzes on BuzzFeed and on Quotev.

On BuzzFeed, I did the Which "Gilmore Girls" Character Matches Your Personality During Quarantine? and the results said I am like Rory. It's true that I have been trying to keep organised and have some sort of a structure during quarantine too, so it isn't all that different from normality. On Quotev, I did Which Gilmore Girls Character Are You? in which I identified with Lorelai Gilmore.

As for reading, I am currently 30% in "Legally Seduced" by Taylor Brent and I like it so far. It isn't plot-heavy, but more like romance-driven, being exactly what I seem to need right now. I have been alternating between reading, writing posts and watching Harry Potter with my family, so my attention was a little divided between activities, all of which were very enjoyable.

6:00 PM - the second day

My second drink of the readathon is Earl Gray, one of my favourite teas. I just love it! You can never go wrong with Earl Gray.

After a long day of running back and forth and running errands, I have managed to finish reading the first book of this readathon. "Legally Seduced" by Taylor Brent was an ok book. It was a sexy time kind of read where the plot was only a means of trying to add something to the relationship. I would overall give it 3 stars, and I will post a more in-depth review soon. I will try to read some more of "Russian Bad Boy's Princess" by Bella Rose, which seems to be up for a great start.

7:45 PM and conclusions

I managed to get to 10% in my second book and so far, so good. The plot it's slow, but I am enjoying it. Do I have any chance of finishing this book tonight? Definitely no.
This readathon got me the chance to realise that I am far from being able to have a Rory Gilmore reading day. I could improve on my reading speed and the number of books I can finish in a day. However, today I read more than I have in the last weeks, so I consider it a win. Will I have another reading day like this? For sure, I will. I also want to participate in the Reading Rush, so another reading experience post will come quite soon. Maybe a whole week focused on reading will help me to catch up with my Goodreads Goal and take a couple books off my TBR. Would you be interested in me announcing and hosting a readathon like this on Twitter? We could have reading sprints, and I could create some printables for it. Let me know in the comments or by messaging us.

Book Review | Take a Chance by Abbie Glines

Title: Take a Chance (Rosemary Beach #7)

Author: Abbi Glines

Date of publication: February 2014

Publisher: Atria Books

Print length: Paperback, 276 pages

Genre: New- Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Rating: ★★★★☆ - Character Development 7/10, Atmosphere 9/10, Writing Quality 9/10, Plot 9/10, Intrigue 7/10, Logic 10/10, Enjoyment 9/10, Overall 8.57/10 which is 4/5 stars.

You can buy this book from Amazon

P.S.: For rating, I am using the CAWPILE system created by Book Roast on Booktube. Watch her video on how to use this rating system.

I have liked the first six books in this series. The ending of the sixth one was so emotional that I didn’t see how the series could get better, so I didn’t want to continue reading for a while. Two years later and I am back into this same universe of Rosemary Beach. In this book, we get to know Harlow, who barely appeared in previous books and her romantic interest Grant Carter. He is the step-brother of Rush, the hero of the first four novels, who wasn’t much in the spotlight either. I must confess that time didn’t make me change my mind about this book not being as good as the former six. So, trust me when I say it has been a bumpy road!

Almost the first third of the book was hard to get through. Maybe it was due to the time I have spent away from this world or because, at first, I didn’t find Harlow’s character likeable and Grant seemed to appear too little at first. In the beginning, the best part from my point of view were the flashbacks of how Grant and Harlow got to know each other, but I found those not developed enough. I would have liked them to be more, to give more as I think the two of them have great chemistry together. I would have wanted to discover more about how Grant convinced Harlow to trust him. What we get to see in the story is Grant trying to make up for his mistakes and a misunderstanding that if you were to ask me was not his fault. Despite my reluctance, I didn't stop reading and about halfway through, my world turned upside down. Not only Harlow grew on me, but I got to see more of Grant’s perspective. Abbi Glines is a genius when it comes to writing love stories and by saying that, I don’t mean just the central romance unfolding under our eyes, but also those of side characters, both from present and past. It has been hard to revisit some characters that played important roles in the last books, especially in the sixth one, so I now can see why the author decided to “take a break” from the same characters we have known so well and grew to love.

Harlow’s brother, Mase, newly appeared in the story, was likeable and well developed. At times I much prefered him over Harlow. I would love for him to get his own story in the next novels. Abbi Glines's characters are always dynamic, round and complex. Harlow is a good girl, that has been protected from life. Grant on the other side is a bad boy, a sweet talker, making girls fall head over hills for his good looks. What I have loved most about Abbi's books is they always come in layers. You never completely know what turn the story will take, even if you’re way ahead into a series.

The story is full of drama, action and suspense, not allowing you to get bored while reading. From my experience, this novel, just like the series has been so far, is addicting. You will not be able to put it down. It reads effortlessly, even for a non-native English speaker like me, makes it feasible to complete it fast. Do I regret taking so long to read this book? Well, not exactly. While I can still see what held me back from picking it up, and I admit I will do my best not to repeat this mistake, I am glad I got to return to reading this series with fresh eyes and a more mature perspective.

Book Review | Don't worry, life is easy by Agnès Martin-Lugand

Title: A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1)

Author: Deborah Harkness

Date of publication: February 2011

Publisher: Viking Penguin

Print length: Paperback, 579 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

Rating: ★★★★★ - Character Development 9/10, Atmosphere 10/10, Writing Quality 8/10, Plot 10/10, Intrigue 10/10, Logic 10/10, Enjoyment 10/10, Overall 9.57/10. 

You can buy this book from Amazon

The much-anticipated, bestselling sequel to the international phenomenon Happy People Read and Drink Coffee.

Diane needs to start over again. After returning from Ireland and turning the page on her stormy relationship with Edward, the brooding Irish photographer, she is determined to rebuild her life in Paris with help from her best friend Félix. She focuses solely on getting her literary café back on track-until she meets Olivier.

He is kind and thoughtful, and she may have a future with him...until she stumbles across her former love at a photography exhibit. What is Edward doing in Paris? Why didn't he reach out? Faced with a hail of questions, her old flame remains cold and unresponsive. Apparently, he, too, has moved on.

In order to put the past behind her, Diane must go back over her tracks. Ireland saved her before. Can she get answers there and find peace again?

I am not going to lie, but I went into this book with low expectations. I had mixed feeling about the first novel in this duet, as I have found the main character to be very annoying. The story itself wasn't bad, but it had nothing extraordinary. However, my mom liked these books, so I decided to give the second book a well-deserved chance. I was pleasantly surprised! It's been a while since I last cried while reading and this book had that effect on me. In my opinion, this was a story of development, change and moving forward.

Characters were round and well developed. The action takes place one year after the events from the first book and you can easily see changes in the behaviour of the main character. It was pleasant to meet new characters from which Declan has been my favourite. It was also hard to part ways with old characters.

This book is set partially in Murlanny, Irland and partially in Paris, France. My favourite parts took place in Irland with the beach near and incredible landscapes. That's where Diane has most revelations and where she found herself. In Paris is where her coffee shop. I loved to read about her work and to get to see her dynamic with Felix and her being strong enough to visit Collin and Clara's grave.

The plot is fast-paced without it being overwhelming. The actions take place chronologically so they are easy to follow.

I can see why this book isn't for everyone, but I highly suggest to everyone give this series a chance. It deals with different stages of grieve and different perspectives on how life is impacted by the people we meet and spend time with. For me, that was the key element that made reading these books worth it. I am someone who gets attached easily and I value memories probably more than I should. I've been struggling with the idea that some people aren't meant to be around forever and I find it hard to realise who is worth my time and attention and who isn't and to me, the worst is having unfinished business when someone gets outside of my life. I am certain I am not the only one who feels this way, so that's why I recommend this series. Right now it occupies an important place in my life and if I had not read this second book at this time, I don't think I would have fully appreciated the plot.

Book Review | A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

Title: A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1)

Author: Deborah Harkness

Date of publication: February 2011

Publisher: Viking Penguin

Print length: Paperback, 579 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance

Rating: ★★★★★

You can buy this book from Amazon

What a stunning debut novel! I’m not the biggest fan of fantasy, but reading 'A discovery of witches' might have taken me off the beaten path, introducing me towards this genre. I have found this book to be amazing! I have picked up this book after I had watched the TV show and while the main points of the plot were very similar, the book still is quite different. The plot was well developed and quite unpredictable even though I knew some key events from the TV show. I was, nevertheless, surprised by some aspects of scenery or characters.

In Oxford’s Bodleian Library, Diana Bishop unintentionally calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. After the death of her parents, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery, even though she comes from an ancient, respectable line of witches. After a glance and a few notes, she sends the document back into the library’s archive. Her serendipitous finding has awakened the attention of otherworldly beings, gathering demons, vampires and witches alike back into Oxford. Diana has stumbled upon a bewitched manuscript lost for centuries. She is the only one who can break the spell. Mathew Clairmont, an aged vampire, has a distinct interest for that particular book since he believes it contains the secret of evolution. As the novel progresses, their path intertwine.

The introduction, just like the denouement, was compelling and open to the events about to come. I think this book built up the atmosphere, characters, and possibility of what could be, in my opinion, a remarkable trilogy. There are plenty of plot twists. The action is complex, the tome ends on a cliff-hanger, making the reader fascinated and willing to read more in this world. The progress was neither too rushed, nor too slow, considering the length of the novel. It felt like unity every event falling into place in the puzzle represented by the plot. I can’t say much about the original writing, as I haven’t read it in the original. The translation was well executed and was pleasant to read.

Diana Bishop is the main character in the story. She is a round character that I think portrays many attributes. She has her insecurities while still being a strong-minded persona. Her magical powers are surprisingly strong, even for a witch, making one afraid to provoke her. Mathew Claremont is the love interest of the story. He is quite mysterious and has plenty of charisma. I think he has a complementary personality to that of his love interest. More often than not, I found Mathew to be grounded, with his head on his shoulders. I enjoyed the strangeness around him and his passion for wine. I think he had some memorable lines, being pleasant to decipher his persona. Even though there will be times when you might want to scream at the book for how the events unfold, the result will always be spectacular, revealing sub-plots. The characters are realistic. I think I did like Marcus the most. I wish to discover him further in coming books than in this first novel.

I think that the 'All The Souls' trilogy, having 'A Discovery of Witches' as the first volume, can interest a wide range of readers. To some extent, it gave me the Harry Potter vibes, as I think it will be a very loved series (not only by me but by many other generations), involving a magical world that coexists with that of humans. I highly recommend this book to teenagers and adults alike. I’m looking forward to continuing with the series!

My June 2020 very ambitious TBR

I know I have been gone for a while, dealing with personal problems and life, but I want to make a comeback in June. As I'll still be busy with exams and projects in June, I know for sure I won't be able to finish all the books I'd like to... But that doesn't mean it's not worth putting some effort into it. I will aim for finishing at least the two books in the worst-case scenario. I am very excited about all of these titles. Have you read any? Is there one, in particular, you'd like me to read and hear my opinion on the story?

 1. Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward

2. Tempt Me by Kally Ash  -> review book

3. See Me After Class by Meghan Quinn

4. Master Baker by Pippa Grant

5. The Midas Touch by Rochelle Summers

6. One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle -> On someone else's TBR challange prompt

7. Tank by M. Malone -> TBR wheel

This month I want to challenge myself to read at least 30 to 50 pages each day. I should be able to reach that goal on most days and that will help me finish some more books this month, providing content for my blog. If you have any ideas of what type of posts let me know, I'll be happy to make them.

Review | Shine Your Icy Crown by Amanda Lovelace

Title: Shine Your Icy Crown Author: Amanda Lovelace Date of publication:  26th, January 2021  Print length:  ebook, 160 pages Genres: Adult, Poetry, Feminism, Fairy Tales, Nonfiction, Mental Health Trigger Warnings: Child Abuse, Toxic Relationship, Sexual Assault, Eating Disorders, Mental Illness, Self-harm, Sexism, Suicide, Trauma

“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.

    I was pleasantly surprised when I have found this book on Netgalley in the read now section. I was so grateful to have found it and be able to read it. I knew I had to get the copy straight away! I highly enjoy reading poetry; I read Amanda Lovelace's poetry books before and I did like them a lot. I read "The princess saves herself in this one", "The witch doesn't burn in this one" and "The mermaid's voice returns in this one" and I loved all three (some poems more than others, but I overall found the books to be great). In my opinion, Amanda Lovelace is one of the best contemporary poets and from which I am most excited to read from.

    I do really enjoy her writing style. Her poems are packed with a lot of feelings. Each and every poem open your eyes to the world. Amanda Lovelace has a magical way with words. The illustrations are gorgeous, adding a visual side to the poems. I did highly enjoyed how every other poem was dedicated to a sister, and to the reader. Even though I do not have a sister, I had a fictional one while I read this book. Or so it felt like to me!
    

    I do love the themes of these poems. It encourages feminism and gives a fresh perspective on fairy tales. It is emotional, sensitive, and covers everyday problems in a very original way, bringing them under the spotlight. It empowers women and supports equality. It brings a fresh perspective on modern poetry and it reads like a story, having some narrative in the poems (some being indirectly connected to the rest).

    I would very much recommend reading this book in one sitting. It is a quick read and I think it was designed to be read all at once. I didn't have the possibility to finish it all at once this time around, and I think that took part of my enjoyment, but I do plan to reread it when I have more free time. This is a book for everyone, but if I were to only pick one category of readers it would be young women as they can most benefit from this book in my opinion.

 ★★★★

Originality 5/5, Writing 4/5, Illustrations 5/5, Emotion 4.5/5, Enjoyment 4/5, which equals 4\5 stars.

A week in the life | January 18th to 24th of January 2021 - Getting back into reading?

I don't know about you, but I love watching reading vlogs and weekly study videos or life updates. I enjoy seeing how others are spending their time and what they do to achieve their goals. It motivates me and gives me ideas of how I can improve myself. Unfortunately, I do not feel comfortable with putting my face all over the internet, so I thought it would be a nice idea to put this concept into writing. As I have been absent for quite a while now, and I took a shot trying to have a blog on a different platform, I'm not sure how much engagement I'm going to have here. I still want to have these posts regularly as it is a way of documenting my life and my growth as well as a way of keeping me accountable to read. Either way, even if no one ever reads these posts but me, I will feel accomplished to have written them. My main reading challenge for this year is to read 52  books. I have never read so many books in a year. Will this be the year when I surpass all my reading habits and expectations? I think the most I ever read is 35 books in a year, and that happened a while back. In the last few years I barely reached 30 books. 52 books seem like quite a challenge and commitment right now.

Let me make a small introduction about the week ahead and what I am currently reading. This is project submission and examination week, and the end of my first semester at university. Also, because I started reading quite a few books lately and I still have books I have been reading for a while, I would love to finish at least two books. I do think it's something manageable to accomplish. I would also like to write my post before I start reading another one, but I don't want to force myself to do that as I am quite busy. It is one of my intentions, we'll see how it goes. You can find in the picture below the 5 books I am currently reading.

Monday, 18th January:

9:20 am - Good morning, World! It's Monday morning and it's the beginning of a very busy day. I didn't get around to read this morning as tonight we need to hand in the code of the project and tomorrow night is the deadline for the academic report. I went to bed at around 2:30 last night, so the hour I could have used for reading I spent in bed wishing for sleep. That sounds like the typical student life to me... There's no time to lose so let's get into what I need to finish today: I need to enter a team meeting, check the last changes of the code, finish a post and go out with a friend. Hopefully, I can also squeeze in some reading. My best guess now is to try and make a schedule for the day and do my best to stick to it as much as I can.

11:55 am - The project meeting is done and I can't help but be extremely grateful for my team! We worked well together. Now I am scared to have another team... I did start planning for February and for the new term, as well as for blog posts and reading I want to get done. I don't have many holidays, so I need to make the best of the time I have. Now I'm going to take a lunch break and start working on the report until I go out for a walk.

9:20 pm - I am the PROCRASTINATION QUEEN! But at least I got a bit of reading done, a chapter of "The kiss thief" by L.J. Shen to be precise. I also did enjoy myself on a walk and meeting a friend I haven't seen in a while. I also found out I passed one of my classes today, so it made me feel less bad for not putting in all day of work. Despite that, the load of work I still have to finish until tomorrow is high. Guess I'm going to have another white night with loads to study, but if I'm lucky I will be able to sleep-in tomorrow morning! Today was a great day.

Tuesday, 19th January:

7:30 pm - I feel like I haven't done much today, but I did finish most things for the project. I'm exhausted and the meeting is still going. I finished almost everything I had on my to-do list, but didn't get any reading done.

Wednesday, 20th January:

11:00 am - Things are finally slowing down a bit. I could get the morning off today to have some me-time. Have I read anything yet? Well, not really. I've been watching tv, chilling,, and moving around, but I feel much better now. I really needed this time off. I still need to finish some project work, but I think today will be a smooth day. I think I can get some reading done too at some point. Now I want to finish a few things before starting work on the presentation. I'll catch up with you later.

9:00 pm - Did I read anything today? No, no I didn't. I am almost done with the project and I started a reading journal which made me feel great. Now I need to also read more to fill it up.

Thursday, 21st January:

11:20 am - I did end up reading quite a bit last night before I went to sleep. I read around 50 pages of the Kiss Thief by L. J. Shen and I have mixed feelings about that book. I also got to watch an episode of Jane the Virgine, a TV show I love so far, even though I watched only a few episodes. As the end of term is fastly approaching and I don't have any resits this term, things started to slow down and I can start focusing on creating a sustainable schedule for the next period of my studies to also have some time to read and relax. I can finally have a chill tea and reading day in bed! It will probably happen during the weekend as today and tomorrow are project examination days and I need to prepare and be present and active in multiple meetings throughout the day. I am pretty confident I can squeeze in a bit of reading today, so let's see how much I can read. Hopefully, I can finish a book, but that's quite ambitious as I am quite a slow reader.

2:53 pm - Ok, I might get more tasks to do, than I would like. I like helping people, but sometimes I should probably say no. Especially when it doesn't align with my goals, but what if it aligns with my personality? I like studying, it's part of who I am and used to be, so why not help others by giving them extra exercises. But coming up with those exercises and solving them might take quite a bit of my free time this weekend.

8:44 pm - I am watching a movie with my mom tonight and I like it a lot. We are watching Julie & Julia starring at Meryl Streep. It was great movie. It makes me want to cook something, even try a new recipe. (When I cook I rarely follow a recipe)

Friday, 22nd January:

11:00 pm - Today was quite a busy day, but I am quite happy with what I managed to accomplish. I did watch some tv shows, the project is done, and now I can finally start relaxing. The week finally came to an end and I can start catching up on sleep!

Saturday, 23rd January:

8:00 pm - It was such a wholesome day today! I finally found the time to disconnect from everything for a few hours. I'm also really tired and tomorrow I will have quite a bit of work to do. The rest of my plan for tonight is to read and relax. I have my tv on watching HGTV as background noise, I might put on some music instead if it bothers me while reading. The only thing missing is a hot drink and a blanket and I'm good to go.

Sunday, 24th January:

11:40 am - I am so happy I spent last night reading! I stayed up until midnight reading Kyra Radcliff's book and I love it. I am deeply and madly in love with it.  I feel I can appreciate it much more now, then I would have were I to read it earlier this year. In the last few months, I changed quite a bit: my way of thinking changed, my taste changed and I start to notice that my personality is changing too. I do appreciate this book much more now. I have 3 chapters left of the book and I think I can finish it today. I will also try to squeeze in some other activities. I still need to figure out a few things for university. I also logged into my Netgalley account for the first time in many, many months, and I did request some titles. The one I'm most excited to have found in the reading now section is a poetry book by Amanda Lovelace. I read some other books by her and I love her poetry. I would love to read that one today as well as I usually go through poetry quite quickly. I want to also start planning out in advance my next period of classes, as the timetable is out by now. So, I might do some bullet journal layouts today just so it will be easier for myself to keep organized when chaos breaks loose again ( aka I get super duper busy and I feel like doing nothing and it takes a toll on my sleep). Let's see how much I can end up doing because I have quite a big to-do list as you can see. 

10:00 pm - I did start reading the poetry book I told you of. I did not yet get around to finish reading any books just yet, but I am quite positive I will finish at least one in the next few hours. For this week this is the last update. See you again soon!

24h Catch-up Readathon Announcement

I started to fall behind with my reading for February so in an attempt to try and catch up I decided to host a 24-hour readathon. I will dedicate myself to reading and blogging for that whole day and hopefully, I will be able to make considerable progress with reading. I will host some reading sprints throughout the day on Twitter. 

When is the readathon? On Tuesday, February 16th from midnight to midnight in your time zone.

Who can join this readathon? Anyone who has the time to read alongside me is welcome to join.

What should you read during this readathon? You can read anything you would like as long as you do your best to read as much as time allows you. I am going to read this readathon to get close to finishing some books and depending on how it goes starting others. I might also decide on DNF ing some books I already started. You are welcome to read books from any genre that you started before the readathon or during the readathon.

A small bonus: I think it would be fun if you were to leave in the comments how many pages and or books did you manage to read during this readathon. Share your experience with us!

Would you like that I host this kind of readathon more often? I am thinking of making one each month so I keep on track with my reading.

Review | Black River Quiver by Alexa Riley and Jessa Kane

Title: Black River Quiver Author: Alexa Riley, Jessa Kane Date of publication: 2nd, May 2018  Print length: ebook, 98 pages Genres: Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Novella Trigger Warnings: Kidnapping

Morgan is just looking to have a fun spring break until her workaholic mom brings along her new boyfriend. But when she ditches the two of them she ends up lost in a swamp, ankle-deep in mud, and facing down a gator the size of Godzilla.

Rixen has been praying for God to send him his angel, his rightful mate who will live with him in the swamp and bear his children. When he finds the strawberry-blonde beauty before him in danger, de doesn't hesitate to save her. Then claim his reward.

WARNING: Okay, so, um, this is amazingly terrible. This is so over the top, it’s on top of over the top. This book is on the level of ridiculousness that surpasses all our stunts before this. You know what happens when we team up with Jessa Kane…but this is hands down the best/worst we’ve ever done. And we’re so proud we could wrestle a gator. Spoiler: There’s a lot of animal wrestling ahead. Grab your overalls and bug spray, we’re going in the bayou. 

I have read two other books by Alexa Riley: one I loved, the other was okay, but maybe not the book for me. I went in this book expecting to get a steamy romance and a fast read and to some extent I did. I really wanted to like this book...however, I ended up cringing quite often while reading this story.

I felt like the plot was lacking. I can't say there was something that impressed me in any way. However, I did enjoy the ending. For me, that was the best part of the book. By then I think I accustomed myself to the style and direction of this story. I like happy endings and seeing family dynamics and we got to see this at the end of the story. I do believe that everyone should have their own choice, but I didn't have the feeling that Morgan did completely have that. I did like the photography aspect of the story, however, just having a state-of-the-art camera in very good shape because a tourist forgot it or dropped it in the swan is a bit of a stretch. I felt like there were parts in this story that make absolutely no sense.

There was some character development in the story, but not enough for my liking. The hero manages to get over some of his insecurities and the female protagonist learns more about herself. However, I didn't like the female character. I consider her quite naive and easily manipulable. In my opinion, she had a week personality. The characters weren't reliable and I would cringe whenever Rixen would call himself 'daddy'. The fact that he talked himself down into believing he's unworthy and ugly is a big turn off for me. I didn't like his possessiveness, I found him to take it a bit too extreme. I do like when a man wants to protect his girl, but Morgan wasn't even his in the beginning and I am quite against the whole "I am a man, you are mine; carry my children" concept. The fact that Morgan was a virgin didn't add anything to the story. Maybe this is a sign that novellas aren't the best piece of literature for me, but I did have mixed feelings about the characters of this book.

Atmosphere: I did enjoy the atmosphere and landscapes. It's the first book I read that was set in the Everglades and I really like the descriptions of the place. The writing was good, easy to get through, even for a non-native English speaker. However, the writing didn't stand out in any way to me. The intrigue felt flat to me, sadly I felt like the story was lacking the plot.

Overall, I think this book just wasn't for me. I know there are people who enjoyed this book and I can see why: the writing wasn't bad, the atmosphere was enjoyable, the sexy time was there, but it personally made me feel uncomfortable every now and then. If you are 18 or older and you think you will enjoy this story go ahead and read it, unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it.

 ★★

Character Development 3/10, Atmosphere 5/10, Writing Quality 5/10, Plot 2/10, Intrigue 2/10, Logic 2/10, Enjoyment 4/10, Overall 3.28/10, which equals 2\5 stars.

February 2021 | Reading plans

After taking a fairly long break, starting university, making some fairly big changes in my life, I decided to return to creating a reading plan for the month. I realized I enjoy its predictability and it helps me not waste as much time deciding what to read from many more books. I also really like to see what other people are planning to read, so I think it's a great combination. I hope you will enjoy this post!

In February I decided to take join Clueathon, a readathon based on the board game Clue. I decided to build my TBR on those prompts. Even though I doubt I will be able to finish reading so many books and keep up with my studies, I will do my best to read as much as time allows me to. The challenges for this readathon are:

1. Courtyard: Read a book with blue on the cover

I read a book by this author in the Autumn of last year and I liked it a lot. I can't wait to start this new series. This book follows the romance between a sexy, single dad and his reluctant live-in nanny. This book is different as I have never read a story with this type of plot, and I can't wait to get around to it!

2. Billiard room: You would never see us playing sports, read a book about someone who is different from you / a diverse read

I loved the first book in this series. A Strange Hymn by Laura Thalassa is the second book in the series, and as it's a fantasy romance it's perfect for this challenge. It follows a siren and the Bargainer, the Night King, and a man of many mysteries. I can't wait to get back to this world, to this story, and to these characters! It will most likely be one of my favorite books of this year and for sure of the month!

3. Study: Read a historical fiction

I did start this book at the end of January, I read the first 3 chapters and I must admit I am highly intrigued. I usually don't read historical fiction, but I very much think I will love this one. It seems to be fast-paced, fascinating, and I am already hooked. Might be because it has a rebellious heroine, and it involves pirates. I saw this book on Jess's (from PeaceLoveBooks) favorite books of 2020 and I glad I picked it up. I can't wait to read more of it!

4. The hall: Read a big book

Another historical fiction, I'm starting to wonder what I'm thinking. I did highly enjoy the first book in the series but never got around keep reading the other two books. For me, this is a big, intimidating read, and, even though I might not get around to finishing it this month, I really want to read it in the near future.

5. Lounge: Read the group book / come to one of the lives

As I already have quite a big TBR and I am not a fast reader I will aim to enter one of the live shows.

6. Dining room: Read a short/fast read, a book you will eat up

I loved loved loved the first 3 books in this series! Erin Watt is, in my humble opinion, an amazing writer duo. I can't wait to read this book and not just because this will be a fast short amazing read!

7. Ballroom: Read a book with a beautiful cover

I own this book, I like the cover, it's romance. I completely forget anything else about this book. Maybe it will be one of my new favorite books? Have you read it? Did you like it?

8. Conservatory: Read a book with nature on the cover or that includes an animal

I liked the cover and the title. Do I know more about this book? Well, not really, but I do want to read it and find more that way. To me, it looks like a cute, sweet romance between a city girl that moved to the countryside and a boy living there.

9. Library: Free choice

For those who know me, it's a fact that I almost never listen to audiobooks. Surprise surprise, I picked this book because I could find the audiobook for it. I did start listening to it already and it's light-hearted, fun, and exactly the type of book I'm in need of. Can't wait to write a review for it. And who knows, maybe it will get me into audiobooks? Recommend me some more audiobooks below and I might try them next month.

10. Kitchen: Weapon on the cover

To be completely honest, I missed reading Jennifer L. Armentrout's books. I liked everything I read by her so far (I thought Obsidian was ok and didn't like how long it took me to get through it, but adored everything else I read by her) and I must admit; this book scares me! And it's long. Will I get to finish reading it this month? Maybe not, as I will probably prioritize some other books on this TBR, but it would be great if I get to at least start it.

I must admit that I am more excited about some of these books than others, some I did started already and read the first few pages (under 5%). I would also like to finish some of the books I have already started too, but we'll see how well I can manage my time. What are your reading plans for the month?

January TBR

This are the challenges I drew up for this month. Two of them are romanceopolly challenges and the other 4 are some I would also like to complete this month. I am still hoping I can complete at least 4 of them this month and although it is the middle of the month I would love to push through and read 6 books. So this are my challenges:

1. Read a 5 star prediction: The murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie 3.5/5 stars

2. Read a book that will transport you in the future

3. Read a book that will transport you in the past: Famous Last Words by Katie Alender 4/5 stars

4. Read a book with your favorite animal on the cover in the title or in the story

5. Read a smoking hot erotic contemporary romance

6. Read a new adult book set in college: 3:AM kisses by Addison Moore 5/5 stars

If you would like to complete any of these challenges feel free to do so. I haven't come up with any of this challenges, either. Leave your recommendations in the comments below.