WWW Wednesday – March 12, 2019

WWW Wednesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words.
Each week we answer the following three questions:
-What have you recently finished reading?
-What are you currently reading?
-What are you reading next?

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Wow! It has been a LONG time since I last posted for WWW Wednesday! March has been a little bit of a slow reading month for me. I’m in the middle of two massive books so they’re both taking up quite a bit of my time.

    

I took a break on Sunday and read two graphic novels. I’m a huge fan of the show True Blood and the books it is based on, the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. The graphic novels aren’t exactly the greatest but they are entertaining enough to hold my interest. I read volumes 2 & 3.

      

Massive book # 1 that I am reading is actually a re-read of The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. It is the 5th book in the Outlander series. It’s my third time re-reading it. Each time I re-read the books in this series I like to read from a different edition so this time I’m reading this UK mass market edition.

Massive book # 2 that I’m reading is The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. It was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019 and so far it is fantastic. I feel as if I’ve barely scratched the surface though. Things are really starting to pick up where I am at in the book.

I’m not exactly sure what I will read next. It will depend a lot on how I feel after finishing the two I’m reading now. But I still need to fit in two of my #UnreadBOTMChallenge books in so it will probably two from that stack. I also won’t have much time left on my goal to visit the library at least once per quarter so maybe I’ll go this weekend and fit in a library book as well.

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What have you been reading lately?

 

 

Shelf Control – June 20, 2018

Shelf Control is a weekly feature from Bookshelf Fantasies! The goal is to take a look at the books that are already released that you own but have not read yet. I have MANY that fall under that category so this feature is perfect for me. Check out Lisa’s inaugural post for more details!

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Title: Lord John and the Private Matter
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Published: Published September 30th 2003 by Delacorte Press
Length: 305 Pages

Goodreads Summary: In her New York Times bestselling Outlander novels, Diana Gabaldon introduced millions of readers to a dazzling world of history and adventure — a world of vibrant settings and utterly unforgettable characters. Now one of these characters, Major Lord John Grey, opens the door to his own part of this world — eighteenth-century London, a seething anthill of nobility and rabble peopled by soldiers and spies, whores and dukes. Great Britain is battling France for supremacy on three continents — and life is good for a soldier.

The year is 1757. On a clear morning in mid-June, Lord John Grey emerges from London’s Beefsteak Club, his mind in turmoil. A nobleman and a high-ranking officer in His Majesty’s Army, Grey has just witnessed something shocking. But his efforts to avoid a scandal that might destroy his family are interrupted by something still more urgent: the Crown appoints him to investigate the brutal murder of a comrade in arms, who may have been a traitor.

Obliged to pursue two inquiries at once, Major Grey finds himself ensnared in a web of treachery and betrayal that touches every stratum of English society — and threatens all he holds dear. From the bawdy houses of London’s night-world to the stately drawing rooms of the nobility, and from the blood of a murdered corpse to the thundering seas ruled by the majestic fleet of the East India Company, Lord John pursues the elusive trails of a vanishing footman and a woman in green velvet, who may hold the key to everything — or nothing.

The early days of the Seven Years War come brilliantly to life in this historical mystery by an author whose unique and compelling storytelling has engrossed millions of readers worldwide.

How I Got It: I bought it.

When I Got It: I bought it in the spring of 2015.

Why I Want To Read It: It’s a spinoff of the Outlander series featuring Lord John Grey. As you may already know, I am obsessed with Outlander so I want to read everything and anything I can get my hands on that relate to these characters.

Have any of you read this book? What did you think of it?

Reading Update

Hey everyone! It’s been awhile since my last post so I thought I would just check in now that things are starting to die down again in my personal life.  We moved out of our townhouse and officially listed it for sale a week ago today.  It’s been a crazy couple of weeks but I finally started having time to read again this week.  I was so happy to receive an ARC of Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor in the mail last week from The Novl! I jumped up and down with joy.  So I’m currently reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone to prepare to read it.  After I finish DoSaB, I will move on to Days of Blood and Starlight.  When that is finished I will pick up the ARC.  I’ve flipped through it and the illustrations that made it into the ARC are fantastic!  I’ve already preordered my finished copy so I can’t wait to see the rest of the illustrations.

I am also still continuing my re-read of the Outlander series.  I had to put it down for a couple weeks but started reading it again last night.  I’ve missed these characters and story so much.  It’s been almost three years since I first fell in love with this series.  Going back and reading it again reminds me of all of the differences between the book and the tv adaptation.  Not bad differences though… I love the adaptation as well.

I am also currently listening to an audiobook of a non-fiction history book that I read years ago.  It is called The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir.  I love Tudor history, especially about Henry VIII and his wives.  Alison Weir is probably my favorite non-fiction author who writes about Tudor history.  The narrator has a very soothing voice similar to Jim Dale who is one of my favorite narrators.

What have you been reading lately?

Reading Update

Hey guys! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted so I thought I would do an update post for you today.  I’ve been reading some great stuff lately so I’ve been pretty excited about that.  Lately I have been trrying to get caught up on review copies so I can fully dive in to my Outlander series re-read.

So as you may have seen in my last post, I recently read and reviewed Little Monsters by Kara Thomas.  It was so good!! I preordered it before I was even halfway through because I was hooked.

After that I read and enjoyed Into The Water by Paula Hawkins.  It was a good mystery and I had fun making theories and seeing which ones were right.  The last chapter totally threw me for a loop!

Next up, I started my review copy of The Heirs by Susan Riegler but it was really not my thing so I ended up DNFing it.  It just felt like a dull family history of a wealthy New York family and I just didn’t feel connected in any way to the story or characters.

I then started another review copy I received called The Whole Way Home by Sarah Creech.  I’m a fan of country music so I really liked reading this one.  I love the two main characters and totally shipped them hard.  I just finished it last night before bed and it almost made me cry a few times.

Thursday night I got super excited that Tarryn Fisher’s latest novel, Atheists Who Kneel and Pray, was published!  I snatched that one up instantly and started it on Friday.  It was so good that I ended up staying up super late on Saturday night to finish it.

Last week I received a review copy of Sleep Like A Baby (book 10 of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries series) by Charlaine Harris.  I read the entire series (books 1-9) last year and was super excited when the publisher approached me about reading book 10.  I started reading that one this morning on my commute in to work.

     

Next up I have two more review copies and then I should be free and clear to start my Outlander series re-read.  I was so excited when Invictus by Ryan Graudin was available as read now on NetGalley for the first 500 people.  I’m looking forward to starting that one next.  Then I will be reading Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang.

With my Outlander series re-read, I’m really hoping I will be able to read through Voyager (book 3) before season 3 starts in September.  Yesterday I saw the new cover of the TV tie-in and it’s my new favorite new image of Jamie and Claire so I had to preorder a copy from Diana Gabaldon’s local bookshop down in AZ.  The new tie-in edition releases August 15th.

I’m also planning on joining in on the Plenty of Hobb readalong that starts August 1st.  I’ve never read any books by Robin Hobb but have heard so many great things about them so I’m excited to join in.  If you’re interested in joining, click the above link to check out the readalong schedule.  The readalong follows The Realm of the Elderlings as shown above, one book per month.  So starting with Assassin’s Apprentice on August 1st.  I’m going to do my best to keep up with this readalong but I’m not going to push myself too hard.

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So that’s what I’ve been reading lately!

Voyager Walk – Help Me Make A Difference

Hey guys! I’ve made the decision today to join in on the Voyager Walk, a 100 hour virtual walk that symbolizes the time is might take a family to travel by foot and bus to reach medical attention in Ghana.  Caitriona Balfe, who plays Claire Fraser on Outlander, has created this challenge to raise money for World Child Cancer organization.  Beginning June 1st through August 31, my goal is to raise at least $130 in addition to walking 100 hours over the course of the three months.  For more information on this fundraiser, click here.

My younger brother was diagnosed with a rare cancer when he was 16 and it broke my heart to watch him go through all of that pain.  So I’m making it my mission to do what I can to help children get the treatment and care they need to beat this dreadful disease.  Help me in my quest by donating and sharing with your friends and family.  Even the smallest amount can help!  Check out my fundraising page by clicking HERE or the photo above.

Thank you so much! 🙂