It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

So this week I'm easing (or rather crashing head first) into the New Year with bright new intentions and a go-getter attitude! My aim is for 2-3 books per month (1-2 if they are longer than 500 pages) and 3-4 posts per week. I've been neglecting the old blog and I've missed posting regularly! So I'm gonna get back at it!

This week (Monday 28th-3rd) I'm going to be reading these lovely books:


 















 The Fires of Heaven is a BIGGG book, so you'll probably see it next week too! What are you guys reading this week?

Announcement

In order to keep this blog from looking so stale and dead, I'm opening up submissions for Promos. I've posted a form
< ------ here

I will promote books from these genres:

• Scifi/Fantasy
• YA
• New Adult
• Horror
• Erotica (but please no dino erotica)
• Romance 
• Historical Fiction
• True Crime/Mystery

Once I get your email and I check out the book, etc. I will reply for more info.

 

'Sup November! (Edited 11/20)

Yes, yes, I know it's like the 4th day of November, so this is a little late...I have been BUSY though! Some important shizz happens in November, you guys! My husband's b'day was the 1st. My b'day in on the 11th and my Sis has her's on the 18th. Lots of being born occurred in this month!

I'm also experiencing a little change in my work life. I've added a client to my list (Lola White). I'm handling her social media and promo type stuffs. (She's awesomeballs so you should check her out if you like all things sexy and steamy!)

Another key thing going on is I've got an interview (actually 2 but for the same company) coming up for an awesome job! I'm hoping to get a job at the same company (but different location) as my husband. This would be a great new experience and wonderful for our bank accounts, so fingers crossed!

TBH, I've been slacking on blogging and reading since Dewey's. I've been stupid busy and with the changing weather actually feeling a little "blah." I'm hoping to fix this in November, so I'm gonna do this listy thing.

To Read in November:

• The Shadow Rising (Currently Reading)

**Added 11/20**

So I had this loooong ass list for November, but with the new job and my clients I've barely been able to get much reading in. Oh yeah, and there's school too! So I cut the list down to my one book I'm currently reading :( boo!

24 Hour Read-a-thon: Starting and Updates

It's that time of year again, kiddos! The time where I go nuts and get my read on! I'm planning on trying to finish at least 1 full book and get at least halfway into 2 more! My goals are lofty!!!

So needless to say this is gonna be a fun day!

My Twitter: @lexley
My Instagram: Coraelle  
My Facebook: Me

Updates:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? Anniston, AL.
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? The Geomancer
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? I made some rice krispy treats!
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I'm just a gal that has a fondness for readathons! I'm honestly just waiting for the heat to kick in..lol
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? I missed the last one, but I tend to take things a bit too seriously. I burn out quickly, so this time I'm gonna read but also have fun..I do foresee a nap in my near future.

Hour 1: 7:00 AM
Book: The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan
Starting Page: 41
Ending: 56
Snacks: Coffee and Water
Thoughts: I worked til midnight last night, and did not sleep well. So I am probably going to take a nap earlier in the thon, so I can stay up late.


Hour 2: 8:00 AM
Book: The Shadow Rising
Starting Page: 56
Ending page: 87
Pages read so far: 46
Challenges: Skipped this hour's challenge!
Snacks: rice krispy treats for breakfast!!

Hour 3: 9:00 AM
Book: The Shadow Rising
Starting Page: 87
Ending Page: 107
Pages Read So Far: 66
Challenges: Skipping this challenge too. I'm trying to focus on reading more!
Snacks: Just water.
Thoughts: I'm getting sluggish. I think a nap might be coming on sooner than I thought...

Hour 4: 10:00 AM
Book: The Shadow Rising
Starting Page: 107
Ending Page:117
Pages read so far: 76
Snacks: Salami and crackers, sweet tea

I'm taking a nap. I think a 2 hour nap will recharge my batteries. I am definitely slowing down and my eyes are drooping. I'll be back at 1pm!!!


I'm BACK! Let the reading begin again!!!

Hour 7: 1:00 PM
Book: The Shadow Rising
Starting Page: 117
Ending Page:137
Pages read so far:  96
Snacks: Salami and crackers and Arizona Green tea


Hour 8: 2:00 PM
Book: The Dragon Reborn
Starting Page: 137
Ending Page:163
Pages read so far: 122
Challenges: Armchair Traveling 

Hour 9: 3:00 PM
Book: The Shadow Rising
Staring Page: 163
Ending Page:167
Pages read so far:  126

My reading was interrupted by my book blogger swap package arriving! I had to open it and geek out over what I got! 



Hour 10: 4:00 PM
Book: The Shadow Rising
Starting Page: 167
Ending Page: 185
Pages read so far: 144

Taking a break from The Shadow Rising.

Hour 11: 5:00 PM
Book: The 100 (day 21) by Kass Morgan
Starting Page:1
Ending Page:54
Pages read so far:  198

Hour 12: 6:00 PM
Book:The 100
Starting Page: 54
Ending Page:90
Pages read so far: 234
Challenges: Pumpkin Spice or Naw (I am team Pumpkin Spice! FTW!)

Hour 13: 7:00 PM
Book: The 100
Starting Page:90
Ending Page:164
Pages read so far: 308

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? The 100 Day 21
2. How many books have you read so far? Not a single one, but I've made a good dent in The Shadow Rising and The 100.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? I'm probably going to read Pretty Deadly (Graphic Novel)
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I have had many and I've been pretty cool with them. I'm old, so sitting still for long periods of time is kind of hard on the ole skeleton. Also, I've been brought food on occasion so....YAY!
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How quickly it goes by! I look up and an hour has almost gone by!




Hour 14: 8:00 PM
Book: The 100
Starting Page:164
Ending Page:231
Pages read so far: 375

Hour 15: 9:00 PM
Book: The 100
Starting Page:231
Ending Page:311
Pages read so far: 455

Book 1 Finished!  

Hour 16: 10:00 PM
Book: Pretty Deadly
Starting Page: 1
 Ending Page: 120
Pages read so far: 575


Book 2 finished!!!!

Hour 17: 11:00 PM

Book: The Shadow Rising
Starting Page:187
 Ending Page: 200
Pages read so far: 588


Hour 18: 12:00 AM

Book: The Shadow Rising
Starting Page:200
 Ending Page: 229
Pages read so far: 617

I have a feeling this might be my last hour.... 


Yup, this is it for me. I'm tired and ready for bed. I'm quite pleased with myself. This has been a great day for me! I read 2 books, got a nice chunk into The Shadow Rising. I won a door prize  and got my book swap package! I'm super happy with today! It's been fun, but I'm out! Goodnight everyone! 

Books Read: The 100: Day 21 and Pretty Deadly
Pages Read:  617
Challenges Participated In: 2

 

Frightfall Read-a-Thon: DONE

Another read-a-thon, another chance. I've been doing (obviously) a great job at keeping my blog updated lately. Haven't I? Work, school (now for both me and my son) and trying to have somewhat of a life is kicking my butt in the reading department. However, I cannot say no to a good 'thon, especially one run by Michelle!! So here I am!

My spooky selection will be We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

AND WORK HAS KICKED MY READING BUTT ONCE AGAIN!!!! I do have tomorrow, Friday, Saturday night, and Sunday to catch up. I might can squeeze in some reading tonight, but I am working again. *Sigh*

Update:

I finished the book! I shouldn't be so happy about reading one small book in a week, but I am! I even made it in time for the last day of the read-a-thon!

Books Read: 1
We Have Always Lived in the Castle

#TackleTBR Starting post and Update post

I'm a day late, but I want another go at a read-a-thon! My track record for them lately has been quite dismal, so I want another chance!

So with that being said, here are my goals for this read-a-thon.

• Finish The Dragon Reborn
• Read We Have Always Lived in the Castle for R.I.P.X 
• Start on The Woman In White for R.I.P.X
• Start on The Shadow Rising

1st Day Stats (2nd Day of actual read-a-thon)

9/15/15
What I read today: The Dragon Reborn (starting page 413)
Today's finished books: 0
Pages read: 8 whole friggen pages! Stupid work!
Total number of finished books: 0
Total number of pages read: 8
Titles of finished books:

9/16/15-9/17/15
What I read today: The Dragon Reborn (starting page 421)
Today's finished books:0
Pages read:55 pages
Total number of finished books: 0
Total number of pages read:63
Titles of finished books:0


9/18/15
What I read today: The Dragon Reborn (starting page 476)
Today's finished books:0
Pages read:
Total number of finished books: 0
Total number of pages read:63
Titles of finished books:0


9/21/15
What I read today: The Dragon Reborn (starting page 485) STILL SLOWLY working through!
Today's finished books:0
Pages read:
Total number of finished books: 0
Total number of pages read:72
Titles of finished books:0

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril

I have decided to participate in R.I.P. X this year. I've not had much luck with read-a-thons and challenges, but since this is will be going on til October, I figured I could manage to do it!

So there are multiple levels of participation for this challenge, if you want to see for yourself click the button at the top of this post to go to the page.

My participation:

Peril the Second: Read two books of any length that you believe fit within the R.I.P. categories.

My selections:

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

The Woman In White

I may change my mind, but for now those are the two I want to reading during this event!


I'll make sporadic updates throughout the challenge time frame.
R.I.P. X officially runs from September 1st through October 31st.

Magno Girl

Title: Magno Girl
Author: Joe Canzano
Publisher: Happy Joe Control
Pages: 320
Genre: Comic Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback/Kindle/Nook
Price: Paperback $9.89/Kindle $2.99/Nook $2.99

When a Manhattan pizza maker is found dead in his own dough, Magno Girl enlists the aid of her biker ninja boyfriend to help solve the crime – and quickly discovers there’s more to the pie than meets the eye, including a sinister plot that spans the globe. 

Magno Girl leaps into action. After all, she can fly, she can fight, and she can use her fearsome superpower, the “Gaze of the Guilt,” to bring a hardened criminal to his knees. But the road ahead is hard. The city’s other superheroes despise her, and the cops don’t want her around, and her own mom won’t stop spitting out advice about marrying a “respectable guy” and trading in her crime-fighting career for a baby carriage—but is she attracted to “respectable guys”? And is she interested in emotional commitment? And will finding real love be her biggest challenge of all? 

Welcome to the world of Magno Girl, an absurd place filled with humor, action, and romance.

For More Information

• Magno Girl is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
• Download at iTunes.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

 My Review:

This was a fun quick read. It took me a bit to get into it, because it's not a super serious book. It's meant to be funny and a little immature, which isn't something I'm used to reading. It's a light-hearted, tale about a female superhero in a town full of super heroes. They don't really take her seriously because she's not out to be famous, just help people.

I liked Mags (Magnolia) and I liked her boyfriend wanna-be, Ron. I liked how Mags was in it for helping people and doing right. She's definitely a unique character. Ron is good too, but was a bit stalkerish at times. He seemed super obsessed with the fame aspect of being a super hero, but I knew deep down he was a genuine guy.

The fight scenes were a little hokey and comical, but I think that fit the "feel" of the book. If anything, I wished there was more action. Otherwise, I think that those scenes were my least favorite. I'm not sure if it was the cartoonish qualities of the scenes, but they just felt...flat.

My only grump is that there isn't a whole lot of backstory about the characters. You're just kind of introduced to them and off you go! Obviously you learn more about them throughout the book, but I started off feeling a little put off by Mags aloofness and Ron's obsession with her. They grew on me, but a little intro to them would have been great. I hope in future books we get more background?

Anyway, if you're looking for a quick, fun read then Magno Girl is great.

Book Excerpt:

Magno Girl stared across the windswept roof. Her lips shimmered in the moonlight like a couple of beer-soaked cherries. From the depths of Manhattan below came the clanging sound of a city that was never satisfied.

Was she thinking about me? I was desperate to know.

I took a deep breath. “Mags, when can I see you again?”

She stared at me with those vivid green eyes. Her black hair, streaked with savage shades of crimson, billowed in the hot summer breeze.

“I’ll be around,” she said. Then she looked away. “I have to warn you, Ron. I’m not very good at relationships.”

I grinned. “That’s just one more thing we have in common.”

“Also, I don’t want to do any commercials for soft drinks. That’s definitely out.”

“No problem—the soft drinks can slide. What else?”

“Well, since you asked, I’d like to fight some crime. I’ve discovered an evil plot, and my superpowers might not be enough to handle it. Things could get crazy and absurd.”

“Hey, I want to help you with that. I’m totally on board!”

She smiled. “Okay, call me tomorrow. I’ve got a job for you.”

“Count me in.”

I puffed out my chest and stepped toward her, wanting to wrap my arms around her sleek body and kiss her long and hard—but she saw it coming, and she put out her hand and stopped me. She leaned forward and gave me a quick kiss on the lips.

It was something, and it was good. My whole body felt electric.

“Just tell me what you need, Mags. Anything.”

There was a spark in her eye. “Sometimes I need to be left alone. We’ll talk soon.”

She leapt from the roof, her powerful body snapping like a switchblade as she dove into the death-black valley of bricks, glass, and steel. I briefly envied her ability to fly and then took the stairs to the street. I hopped on my chopper and rode to the liquor store.

I woke up alone the next day, with the morning sky vomiting its sunshine through the grimy window of my East Village apartment. I groped around for my phone and found it under a pile of empty beer cans. I fumbled a bit and finally made the call.

“Hi, Mags. It’s me.”

“Hi, Ron. Can you meet me somewhere?”

She sounded friendly, and for a second I felt like I was floating. But as usual, there wasn’t much talk.

“Any place you want. Did you eat breakfast?”

“Yeah, but it’s noon, so I guess we can eat lunch. I’m over on St. Mark’s.”

“I’ll be right there.”

About the Author

Joe Canzano is a writer and musician. He lives in New Jersey, U.S.A., in a house with a basement where he usually stays. Occasionally he leaves the basement and visits the kitchen. 

He is a graduate of Rutgers University, where he majored in English. His short stories have appeared in a half-dozen printed literary journals, as well as in the Akashic Books online series, "Mondays are Murder."  

He recently formed his own publishing company, Happy Joe Control, and published his debut novel, Magno Girl. 

For More Information

• Visit Joe Canzano’s website.
• Connect with Joe on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about Joe at Goodreads.
• Visit Joe’s blog.
• More books by Joe Canzano.
• Contact Joe.