Showing posts with label 2016. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2016. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

My Best Reads in 2016 | Year Recap

Yes, I know. I should have done this on the first week of January but I was not able to. I was reminded when I received an email in my mailbox from one of the blogs that I follow posting about her best books of 2016 so I decided that I should still write a post even if January is almost ending. I guess it's still okay as long as the month doesn't end yet.

2016 was the year I started my book blog. My first post was dated January 4. So, Congratulations to me! I actually survived a year of reading and writing reviews. I had 154 posts in 2016 which includes reviews, cover reveals and book blasts. My blog reached about 7,000 views which is already a great thing for me knowing that there are actually people who spend time reading my blog. Thank you so much! I am flattered because I first started this blog so I could have something to keep me busy while looking for a job. I did not expect to be warmly welcomed and accepted into this book community. This has been the best thing that happened to me in 2016. 

2016 was definitely a great year for me in terms of being a certified bookworm. I received free books from various authors in paperbacks, ebooks and audio books. I discovered sites and ways how I could get authorized free books to be reviewed. I even had a few who messaged me on Twitter and through my blog asking if I wanted to review their book. And to me that had been a great honor. I think I accepted all those requests. 

I have met a lot of new authors last year. I was introduced to new books and had the opportunity to read a few science fiction stories which I am not really into. I realized there are a lot of sci-fi books which are really, really good and my mind was opened. I was also introduced to horror books and found I enjoyed them and I have now a few on my TBR. 

I was also initiated into the world of audio books. At first, I found it a bit confusing but then it was actually very fun. Listening to the narrator give voice to the characters and the emotions in the story was an altogether remarkable experience. It was different just picturing how a character's voice would sound than actually hearing it. I received about five free audio books from authors as giveaways.

So, without further ado, here are my best books of 2016 in no particular order. These are all the books I rated 5/5 stars.

 Total Books Read: 146 books
Total: 30 
Audio books: 2
Paperbacks: 2
Ebooks: 26

Romance










Mystery | Suspense | Thriller









Paranormal | Fantasy

Others


I can't choose which of them is the best but I do have very memorable experiences reading these books. From the top of my head, I can remember crying so hard because of It Ends With Us. It took me two days to calm down and write a review.

The Fireproof Girl was a very engrossing read at the same time it stumped me. I expected it to have a paranormal aspect but it didn't.

The Little Wagons was probably the longest book I have read in 2016 yet I was so into it. It was a mix of historical fiction and suspense, yet it would also appear like a non-fiction. It was supposedly an account of how the Sicilian mafia started.

Both books of The Extraction Files. As I have said, I am not really into sci-fi or futuristic books but these two had me in their grasp and I had totally enjoyed it. I was converted. I realized that there are sci-fi books that are really captivating and not exactly highfalutin or too technical.

Persephone was the first audio book ever that I finished. I was so mesmerized by the author's voice, who was also the one narrating, that I finished the 8-hour story in one go. It was a record and Audible gave me a Mt. Everest badge for it. Totally worth it.

That's all. I am hoping and wishing that I could keep up with all the reading and reviews this 2017. I have organized my TBR by date. I have a scheduled book to be read for each day. I signed up for release blitz and blog tours also with Month9Books, Partners in Crime Tours and the usual blogs that do promos and tours. I have signed up as far as April. A lot of very interesting books are to be released this year and I am happy that I got ARC's for some of them. I will try my best to keep this blog as long as possible though I do wish that I could make money out of this. I am still looking into some ways how, of course taking into account that I am still very new in this game.

That's all folks. You can read the reviews for all the books I have mentioned and see what books you want to read out of the list.


Certified Bookworm, Blogger, Reviewer and Instagrammer:

Gurlay





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Thursday, December 8, 2016

#PNR and #UF Giveaway Party! December 8 -11, 2016

Welcome to the #PNR and #UF Giveaway Party!

Who’s ready for a giveaway you can get your hands on? A bunch of authors got together to bring your this Big Box of Paperbacks Giveaway! One lucky winner is going to win SIXTY-TWO (62) Paperback Books! How’s that for an epic Book-Lover’s Prize?! If you are a fan of Urban Fantasy, Dystopian Fiction, or Paranormal/SciFi Romance, you’re going to want to get in on this! The best part is that even if you don’t win, you’ll be subscribed to the sponsoring authors newsletters for a chance to grab some freebies, snag some special offers, and enter more giveaways!
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Here are a couple of sneak peeks!
Mary Hades Extract

The smell of exhaust fumes sneaks in through the open car window. The leather seats stick to my bare thighs, and the sound of honking horns is my soundtrack as everyone decides to try to travel on the motorway at the same time. In the front of the car, my parents argue while holding the AA road map across the dashboard. I lean back against the head rest of the back seat in our stationary vehicle, and zone out the traffic jam, parental swearing, and fumes by plugging in my iPod and escaping into the music.

A few hours later—after a greasy meal at the motorway service station—we leave the major roads behind at last, and navigate the twisting rural lanes of North Yorkshire. It’s moorland here, heather growing amongst the spongy grass, stretching out for what feels like forever. Jagged rocks peek out of hillsides. The occasional sheep looks up and stares at our car, chewing its grass in a languid, deliberate motion, as though its mind is occupied elsewhere.

I lean forward, hitting the back of Mum’s seat with my shoulder. “There’s nothing here. What are we going to be doing?”

“We’re not there yet,” Dad reminds me, grinning at me in the rear view mirror.

 “Positive thinking, Mares.”

I sigh and lean back into my seat. I guess he’s right. I let my head swing to one side, watching the world go by. This bit—I like.

I love the way the greens and browns merge together as the car travels through the countryside. Beneath me the car rocks like a cradle. I used to read wherever we went somewhere, but now I follow the landscape with my eyes, picking out the occasional stream, the flowers in the grass verge, and the black and white splodges of cows.

A fleeting memory pops into my mind—driving through the countryside with Dad, him slowing the car to a crawl so I can reach out of the open window and pick the long flowers swaying above the reedy grass. He had one of those ‘Dad’ smiles—the ones where their eyes are sad because you’re growing up so fast. Then he whispered, “Don’t tell your mum. If she knew you’d had even a finger out of that window…” I’d giggled. Knowing that we were breaking Mum’s car-rules made it even more fun.

But then the world changes. That safe feeling is pulled out from underneath me, as though I’ve leapt high into the air before glancing down to see the trampoline disappear. My heart freezes before it quickens and the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. My throat tightens. I clutch the edge of the seat so hard I feel the blood drain from my hands.

You would think I’m used to seeing them now, but I’m not. I never will be.
Standing like a scarecrow in the middle of a crop field, is one of them. Its skull shines through its face, and haunting sunken eyes stare at me, dark as night. A chill passes over my body.

This is a warning.

________________________________

Fire in Frost Excerpt
Alicia Rades

I blinked back tears as I thought of Olivia’s tragedy. The whole idea of death brought a lump to my throat and resurfaced memories that I thought I’d gotten over. Emma rubbed my back to comfort me because she knew the subject of death was a touchy one.

As I stared at the floor, afraid to look up for fear that tears might start falling, an invisible force—something unknown willing me to look—pulled my chin up. My gaze fell upon the empty hallway to the right of the commons area where students hadn’t yet been released to roam for the day.

In the middle of the hallway stood a tall, beautiful girl with blonde hair and dark brown eyes. She looked at me across the distance, her eyes full of emotion. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what she was trying to say with her expression, except that I knew it was urgent.

As soon as I spotted her, the bell rang, announcing that students could now go to their lockers and prepare for class. The crowd dispersed from the commons into the hallway and blocked my view of the girl. The students hurried down the hall as if they didn’t see her. I kept my eye on where she was standing, but I didn’t see her again.

“Crystal.” Emma’s voice seemed far off, a distant hum in my confusion.
The faintness I felt just moments ago returned. My heart pounded in my ears, and for a second, my knees felt unstable. I gripped the edge of the fundraising table for support.

Emma snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Crystal,” she said again as her voice came back into focus.

I was suddenly whipped back into reality, dazed. “Wh—what?”

“Are you okay?” Emma asked with a tone of serious concern. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I let the statement sink in for a moment. “Yeah,” I said. But I wasn’t answering her initial question. I was agreeing with her latter statement.

But I didn’t see a ghost. I couldn’t have. An odd sensation stirred as a chill spread from my spine to the end of my fingertips. This was the same type of chill I used to get when I had my imaginary friend Eva over for tea before I started kindergarten. I’m imagining things, I told myself, mostly as reassurance.
But I had seen her clear as day. Olivia Owen had stood in the hallway and begged for my help with nothing but an expression. Yet how could that be when she died a year ago?

Emma took my arm and led me to our lockers as I silently assured myself I wasn’t crazy.


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