Saturday, June 29, 2019

2019 Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag!!

Hola amigos welcome back to another post on the blog! So full disclosure I cannot believe half the year is gonna *looks through binoculars* like where did it go?


 I seriously do not know where the time goes it like it slips through hidden holes in the time universe. And theres also the fact that I cant seem to read ALL THE BOOKS because theres not. enough. time.

 I am however two books ahead of my reading challenge right now so thats good *thumbs up*.

2019 READING CHALLENGE

2019
READING
CHALLENGE
19
books completed
2 books ahead of schedule
19/35 (54%)




 I picked up this fun little tag over at Methotheany! She’s an amazing blogger and I highly recommend checking out her blog if you haven’t!!

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2019

- OMG I cannot even express in words how much I love love love this book!! The characters. The world building. THE MAGIC. and of course the amazing fiesta fluffy deliciously dangerous romance!!  its all so well done and structured (Plus the ending *mouth hits the floor* perfection!!) 


2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2019



- Love. Love. Love. Holly Black somehow this sequel managed to be even more devious and back stabby than the first in the most creative and delicious of ways!! Loved it!! Cardan and Jude are the ULTIMATE EPICNESS WE ALL NEED!! 

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to


 
 

- I need to read all of these and honestly wish I had no life right now so I could lock myself up and read them. I mean come on King of Scars needs to be read. Preferably by me. 

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year


    
- Holly Black. Leigh Bardugo. Sarah J Maas. Need I say more?
- But seriously I am so excited for Crescent City because ACOTAR is my all time favorite series (by the way when do we get more of those?!?) but I will love anything she writes *heart eyes*!!

5. Biggest disappointment


- This book was good just not as good as I had wanted it to be :\\ a good quick read with Fae world building and evil Fae lords. A little romance. A little deviousness. Not bad. 

6. Biggest surprise


- Did NOT expect to love this as much as I did!! So glad I picked up this series this year!! One of my all time fav series for sure ;)) 

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)


   
- Kate McGarry writes super cute romances and I really liked both of these!
- Fonda Lee is a great writer the world building is a high asian themed fantasy and I loved it! The book was a little slow but very different from what I usually read so I liked it. 

8. Newest fictional crush


  
- LJ Shen writes the ultimate book boyfriends!! LOVED PRETTY RECKLESS!! I loved how LJ Shen incorporated complex multilayered characters that defied stereotypes as well as complex family dynamics. I feel like complicated families are not focused on in enough books. 
- LEGEND!!! he was so complex and played so many mind games and I never new what he was thinking!! I loved trying to figure him out!! Ultimate complex book BF!!

9. Newest favorite character





- Pretty much all the characters in this series!! Loved Tella she was  both equal  parts badass and girly girl. Legend of course. Also like Scarlett and lets not forget about the little rascal Julian. I even had a small soft spot for Jacks. 

10. Book that made you cry


- OMG that one part in this book made me so. sad. I was like no no no no no this is NOT how it will be. I repeat this is not how it will be. Tip tissues might be needed. 

11. Book that made you happy


  
  
- I love myself a good little fluffy/steamy/ sometimes even a tad cliche romance and thats why this books just made my heart happy. They fueled all my feels and I love a good fluffy fluff romance with my chai latte. 


12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)


  
- All of these covers are so PRETTY!!! ooooh ahhh
- I recently received an ARC of The Art of Breaking things and just think the cover is so stunning. I cannot wait to read it!!


13.What books do you need to read by the end of the year?


  
 
- I am very very much behind on new releases and popular old releases so I’m hoping to get around to these at some point soon!!
- Also need to get around to reading the Descendant of the Crane because I have an ARC and also because I heard it was pleasantly surprising with a killer ending twist. 
- Sorcery of Thorns is another blogger fav people have been raving about and I really think I would enjoy the Wicked Saints!

14. Favorite book community member


Not gonna answer this because I totally have multiple favorite members and I think everybody in the blogging community is just so amazing and friendly!! I SIMPLY CANNOT CHOOSE. 

What about yall? Can you believe the year is almost over?? Read any good books? Read any of the above? LMK in the comments below!!
-BubblyBooks

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Mini Reviews || The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury and Finale by Stephanie Garber

The Forbidden Wish

by Jessica Khoury

Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary: She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world... 

When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes. 

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.



My Review:

   This book is a really fun concept. I mean a fun Aladdin retelling where instead of Aladdin falling for the princess he falls for the jinni?? COOL, COOL, COOL (sing it like the jo bro song my friend).

 Loved the world building. Good action scenes. Great kissing scenes. This book had all the elements to be a fantastic fantasy retelling and could easily make it on my fav shelf.


“And what do you know of love?"
"That it must be a choice."
"Oh, my naive thief. " I pause briefly to meet his gaze. "Love is rarely a choice.” 


 I really liked Zahra I thought she was an interesting female protagonist. Being a jinni she really had to remain objective most of the time when it came to her feelings because she was so used to catering to other humans and their wishes that she really didn’t have the freedom to concern herself with her own wants or emotions. This made watching her slowly falling for Aladdin more exciting because she was in such denial of her feelings that it made for a much more slow burn romance that didn’t feel rushed or insta- lovey.

“Time has a different meaning for me,...Time has a way of burying things, shifting like the desert and swallowing entire civilizations, erasing them from map and memory. Always, in the end, everything returns to dust.” 

 Aladdin is also very likable. Very true to his tale of being ruggish and sly like a thief he was a fun character but I thought he could have had a bit more depth or a bit more wit. I also would have liked a bit more banter because I feel like that would have added a layer to their relationship.


“You’re a—you’re a—” 
Say it, boy. Demon of fire. Monster of smoke. Devil of sand and ash. Servant of Nardukha, Daughter of Ambadya, the Nameless, the Faceless, the Limitless. Slave of the Lamp. Jinni. 
“. . . a girl!” he finishes.” 


 While I did enjoy the romance in this book I felt that after about half way through it began to fall a bit flat and I wasn’t liking the turn the plot was making?? There were times where that plot was totally dragging on and I was like wow this could have gone in a much more fun or at least cleaner direction??

 I mean overall I loved the characters. I really liked Zahra and Aladdin and their romance. I really liked the princess and her girl gang. I liked the development of the villain characters and how Zahra had to try and free another jinni and fought for her freedom. The romance was well done. It just the plot/ ending that made this book a three stars read.

“Even a thief may have honor, and even a jinni may have a heart.” 

 Overall a fun, action packed read thats perfect for traveling or the beach with a heart melting romance and likable characters!




Finale

by Stephanie Garber

Rating: 5/5 stars

 Summary: A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.

It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end…


My Review: 

   Ok so its safe to say that after that ending in Legendary I immediately got my butt up off the couch and set my sights on retrieving THIS BOOK because omg I just needed to know!! I needed to know what was happening and just exactly what Legends agenda was because I was all kinds of confused and mistrusting but at the same time like... maybe we can work this out here!? 

“Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them.” 

 While its safe to say Legendary still is and will probably always be my favorite book in the series I really did enjoy Finale! (especially the last 100 pages or so like damnnn that ending nearly tore me apart and had me simultaneously trying to sew my heart back together while reading it) 

 First off we continued with the amazing world building. Seriously I loved the magic in this book. It was incredible and delicious and had me loving it the whole time. This book was also told by the POV of both sisters (that would be Tella and Scarlett for those of you whole don't already know ;) I personally liked Tellas POV more I thought her storyline was just a bit more intriguing to me but that being said I still very much liked Scarletts and I like how we got to see more of her and Julian. 

“Tonight he was smiling like a wicked prince, escaped from the stars, ready to spirit her up into the heavens.” 

 But.... if y’all really want to know what kept me flipping the page it was that damn LEGEND! Like every time I thought I had him figured out and I thought I knew why he was toying with Tella he would just do something cold or calculating or completely different and it took me a minute to get used to. The middle parts where a bit of a slower pace than Legendary but still kept me enthralled enough to keep reading. 

“He smelled of magic and heartbreak, and something about the combination made her think that despite what he claimed, he wanted to be her hero.” 

 The ROMANCE was also very good in this book on both accounts. I loved Julian and Scarlett they were 100% huggable cuteness throughout the whole book an reminded me more of a traditional you cant help but love it YA romance. However.... the real heart stopping spellbinding, I don't know if I love him/ hate him/ am frustrated by this romance was between Legend and Tella!!! *swoon* *swoon* *add a little more swooning*  They took me on a ride and were almost giving me the push and pull relationship angst similar to that of Chuck and Blair from Gossip Girl. 

“I’m not trying to win her hand. I’m offering her mine, and everything that comes with it, hoping she’ll take it and decide she wants to keep it.”

 But the real show stopper for this book was the ending! It was very well done and I loved the element they tied in to the end. I even liked the little bits they threw in with the prince of hearts. I thought it added a good element of intrigue and confusion, just enough to keep you guessing till the very end. Great read highly recommend this series because it is one of my new all time favorites!! 

“He might have been a liar and villain, but he made both things look very good.” 


So what do y’all think? Gonna give any of these a try? I highly recommend the Caraval series if you haven’t read it! Already read it? LMK what you think in the comments below!!
-BubblyBooks
  

Friday, June 14, 2019

Book Review || Legendary by Stephanie Garber (A full deserving 5 star read of pure fabulousness)

Legendary 

By: Stephanie Garber

Rating: 5/5 fabulous stars!

 Summary: A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister, Scarlett, from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice, but now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever...

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . the games have only just begun.


My Review:

  Aahahahaha Ahahahah ahaha OMG this book is GOLDEN!! LIQUID GOLD. SUPER SPARKLY. AND I AM BLINDED BY ITS SHININESS AND ETERNAL GLORY! **shields eyes from the holy grailness that is this book**   **melts into puddle**


“Every story has four parts - the beginning, the middle, the almost ending, and the true ending.” 

 Ok so as you all know I already loved Caraval (if you did not already know this go on ahead and pop over to my little book review on it over HERE) and I really loved the pure original ness that was the world of Caraval. It felt like I was eating a slice of magic every-time I turned the page...

 But this book took it to a WHOLE OTHER LEVEL!! 

 First off I loved Tella with my whole heart! I thought her perspective was so refreshing in the most deviously fabulous way possible. I loved how she was so fearless and I was just like Im gonna kiss as many boys as I want to. When I want to. and y’all are just gonna have to deal with it. I also loved how unpredictable she was and how if she wanted to go after something she would just do it! Like yaaas girl!! She was so funny and brave and spicy and I just LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!

“So,’ she said cautiously, 'is all this your way of telling me you’re the villain?’

His chuckle was dark. 'I’m definitely not the hero.’
'I already knew that,’ Tella said. 'It’s my story, so clearly I’m the hero.” 

  Also can we talk about all the dark/evil/delicious boys in this book. Like y’all this is how villains should be written about people!! Dante was a dark little tattooed bowl of yummy and I loved how he was just always back and forth with Tella and being all like “Ya I’m a pretty boy and you know you love it”.  Also their hate/love and levels of I trust you/I dont trust you had me so on the edge of my seat!! I was like slowly falling in love with Dante but at the same time was like Tella don't fall for him! He’s only gonna do something devious and shatter your heart! 

Plus major points for yumminess *fans self with decorative southern belle lacey fan* I am a total sucker for boys dressed in all black. Throw in some tattoos with bad boy arrogance and sprinkle a little ya I’m good looking and i’m gonna use it to make yours knees weak and I’m over here like, ya okay, okay I’m feeling this amigo. (its safe to say my heart is on fire for Dante and that ending has both my head spinning and my heart bursting!!). 

“Gold shimmered no matter what, but few people could make darkness glitter the way he did.” 

 PLUS I really liked how well done Jacks character was. I overall just loved the mind games and level of devious planning that was going on in both Jacks and Dantes minds because it just made for an overall richer plot line and I never knew what was coming right around the corner!  I would be like WHAT and than some more WHAAT *mouth drops open* It was everything I love in dark complex characters (I am HERE for the mind games people. I am here for it). 

  But like seriously? What was up with Jacks apple eating obsession? Some would be glowing green and others a wacky purple?? Like thats just down right funky (but I secretly liked Jacks even though he was a heartless villain... so huge points to Stephanie Garber for making me fall in love with like even the most evil soul sucking of all the characters). 

“Every good story needs a villain.

But the best villains are the ones you secretly like.” 

  Also loved how this whole world of Carval was in a completly different setting for this book because I feel like it really opened up even more possibilities for world building and really making this story incredibly unique. Hello flying carriages? Epic dresses? Cool palaces? The way it was all described was so delicious and vivid I could not not fall into this magically sugar coated world. 

“The air tasted like wonder. Like candied butterfly wings caught in sugared spiderwebs, and drunken peaches coated in luck.” 

 I also loved how even though this book was told through Tellas POV (great choice btw, risky but turned out fabulous) the author still included Scarlett and Julian and kept tabs on what was going on with their plot line. I felt it made the whole story a little more full circle and really painted the world that much more vividly. ALSO I AM HERE FOR THE SISTER LOVE! I felt the sisters were done very well in this book. They weren’t judgey or at each others throats but rather accepted each other for who they were even though they are so different. 

“Tella was the sister who would destroy the world if anything happened to Scarlett, but Scarlett’s world would be destroyed if anything happened to Tella.” 

 Overall this book was a magical delight with an incredible plot line that was so unpredictable and held back just the right amount of information so I could keep guessing. The characters were amazing and headstrong and super witty. The writing was really good and imaginative. I dont have a single complaint this is everything I love including an amazing love/hate romance that I will be putting in my armada of relationships I love!! Highly recommend this book!!

What do y’all think? Read Legendary? Yet to read it? Add it to your TBR! If you’d already read it I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
-BubblyBooks
  

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Life coach and best-selling author Victoria Price has it all: a successful career, fabulous friends, a fantastic penthouse in Manhattan. What she doesn’t have—and doesn’t want—is a husband. Fifteen years ago her high school flame broke her heart so badly she swore she’d never love again.

Drop-dead sexy restauranteur and infamous playboy Parker Maxwell has only three rules for the women he dates: no questions about his past, no expectations for the future, and no spending the night. When he meets Victoria, however, he’s willing to break his own rules if it means sating the explosive desire she arouses in him. What he doesn’t know is that the alluring Victoria Price used to be the mousy Isabel Diaz, the girl he deflowered and dumped long ago.

Presented with a perfect opportunity for revenge, Victoria decides the game is on. But when her connection with Parker proves more than just skin deep, she has to make a choice: continue with her plan for payback, or risk her career, her reputation, and her heart by taking a second chance on love?

Just thought I’d spread the word on this little freebee today! Hope you get the chance to grab a copy and let me know what you think!
-BubblyBooks

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

WWW Wednesday


  Hello my fellow reading friends! Where back with another reading update on where I am currently at with my reading!

  What I recently finished:



What I am currently reading:


What I plant on reading next: 


What are you guys currently reading? Read any of the above? What’d you think of them? Let me know in the comments below!
-BubblyBooks 

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Book Review || Caraval by Stephanie Garber (loads of magical fun oooh I loved this one!)

Caraval 

by: Stephanie Garber

Rating: 4.5 stars

SummaryRemember, it’s only a game…

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.

My Review:

   Y’all. Y’all. This book was like a whimsical magical devious ball of cotton candy on a stick!! It was sugary sweet with its descriptions and sticky and grimy with its devious plot twists. Reading this book was like taking a deep breath of fresh air... it felt great! I feel like I have been stuck in a warp where I just haven’t found a YA book that I just really loved or even liked for that matter which makes it all the better that I decided to pick up Caraval when I did.

“Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or performance. It's the closest you'll ever find yourself magic in this world.”

  The world building was quite unexpected. Coming into this book I expected a more one dimensional twisted carnival type of scenery but was pleasantly surprised by the rich colors and smells that described this fantasy land in a way that can only be reminiscent of the whimsys of a tale like Alice in Wonderland. I also quite enjoyed the main character Scarletts voice. I thought she was very strong and determined but not in a boring flat way. I also liked how she remained feminine and a bit unsure of herself at times I felt it made her character more realistic and made you want to route for her even in her darkest moments. 

 “What happens beyond this gate may frighten or excite you, but don’t let any of it trick you. We will try to convince you it’s real, but all of it is a performance. A world built of make-believe. So while we want you to get swept away, be careful of being swept too far away. Dreams that come true can be beautiful, but they can also turn into nightmares when people won’t wake up.” 

 That being said I also had a total soft spot for Julian. Julian is the sailor boy whose journey becomes intwined with that of Scarlett and her sister Tella. Both of which escape to Caraval in the hopes of fulfilling their childhood dreams and escaping their abusive father. Julian is not who I expected him to be and I quite enjoyed that little tid bit of surprise as well. I originally came into the book thinking he’d be the typical snarky women chasing scoundrel that could get away with all, simply by the power of his sexy smirk and dreamy eyes, but instead he ended up being much more intense and secretive. Of course the man was good looking (an essential if not overplayed element of a YA love interest) but he was also very mysterious and keep disappearing on Scarlett when I thought he would stay attached at her hip which only made the tales of Caraval that much more endearing. 

“She imagined loving him would feel like falling in love with darkness, frightening and consuming yet utterly beautiful when the stars came out.” 

 And my gosh the plot twists were never ending!! It was like I was falling into a rabbits hole of candy coated wonder and poisonous daggers. You never knew who to trust yet new characters where always thrown into the mix with tales of advice that either rang true or where trying to tear Scarlett into a totally disastrous situation! I did like how loyal Scarlett remained in her journey to rescue her sister Tella after she was taken and how no matter which direction her mind was taken too her thoughts never stayed too far from her mission to find her. 

“Scarlett was not fond of fate. She liked to believe if she were good, good things would happen. Fate left her feeling powerless, and hopeless, and with an overall feeling of lessness. To her, fate seemed like a larger, omnipotent version of her father, stealing her choices and controlling her life without any regard for her feelings. Fate meant that nothing she did mattered.”

 Legend, the organizer and owner of this dark twisted game, his tales continued to surprise me and every time I thought I figured out who he was and what angle he was playing at the plot would spiral into a completely different directions and oh boy I was endlessly entertained! This book was a fast read that kept me completely enthralled and I simply cannot wait to get my hands on Legendary (theres a certain tattooed dark and dangerous boy by the name of Dante whom I would love to get to know a little better...) Great YA read with a lot of classic YA elements but is not boring in the slightest and will not have you bored a single moment! Highly recommend this book to readers in look a just a good solid YA book flooded with plot twists and intrigue!

“I think I've made a mistake.'
'Then make it into something better.” 

So what do y’all think? Wanna give this read a go? Read it already? Tell me your thoughts in the comments below!
-BubblyBooks
 




I’ve Switched to Wordpress! || Ft. the link to my new blog and my many thanks to the blogging community thus far!!

Hi there! After almost three years with Blogger I’ve decided to finally make the switch to Wordpress! While I’ve enjoyed using blogger as a ...

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