yalit – Sincerely Karen Jo

monthlywrapup

Sooo work, adulting, the holidays and just life in general threw me off my blogging/reading/reviewing routine for the last two months. Not that I had a great one to begin with. I’m 10 books behind my Goodreads Reading Challenge and oh just about 34 books behind my Netgalley TBR…

Anyway, I managed to read 5 books in October and 7 in November. Not bad right?! I also did really well restraining myself from buying or requesting more books. I didn’t buy anything from Bookoutlet during Black Friday, but I did browse and added 10 books in my cart. Saving them for the next big sale or whatever’s left of it. I requested only 3 books from Netgalley — they’re Entrangled Teen Crush books, so I know I can breeze through those. And I purchased ONLY ONE book from Barnes and Nobles. So very proud of myself since last year I splurged and bought about 30 books.

I really enjoyed all the books I read. I don’t think I rated any below 4 stars so without further ado, here are the books I got through in October and November.

To read my full review, just click the title of the book.

October

A Messy, Beautiful Life by Sara Jade Alan

5 ★ – SO ACHINGLY BEAUTIFUL

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A Messy, Beautiful Life by Sara Jade Alan is a lovely story about learning to find humor in life despite dealing with something really terrible. It’s riveting, deeply affecting, and very inspiring. While some parts are heartbreaking and just really sad, this book is also filled with so many fun, hilarious, and heartwarming moments that will make you smile and laugh out loud. Everything about this book is just so achingly beautiful. I love this story with all my heart and can’t recommend it enough.

No Plain Rebel by M.C. Frank

5 ★ – INCREDIBLY FASCINATING AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN

No Plain Rebel is just as gorgeous and enthralling as No Ordinary Star (Review). M.C. Frank has created such a unique, thrilling, and heart achingly memorable story about loss, forgiveness and hope. There were plenty of nail-biting twist and turns, fun surprises, and tender moments that kept the story moving. I felt so many emotions with this book that I thought my heart would burst into a million pieces. When Frank writes… she writes with so much passion and purpose. Every single page had meaning, beauty, and most of all – a tremendous heart!

My Sophomore Year of Rules by Jennifer DiGiovanni

My Sophomore Year of Rules by Jennifer DiGiovanni is all kinds of fun and cuteness! Such a lovely read that left a huge dorky smile on my face. I haven’t read the other books in the series, but that’s going to change really soon. If you’re looking for a light, hilarious, and delightful YA contemporary romance, then I highly recommend you pick this up.

A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck

5 ★ – SWEET, HILARIOUS AND PAINFULLY GORGEOUS

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This book seriously wrecked me, but in a terribly wonderful way — painful to read, emotional all the way, and so incredibly full of heart. Matt’s unrequited love for Tabby made me feel so many emotions. A Short History of the Girl Next Door is a fantastic story full of heart, friendship, love, loss, and never-ending supply of nerds. It’s beautiful, funny, and sad, but so real in every way.

No Vain Loss by M.C. Frank

5 ★ – WONDERFULLY BREATHTAKING ENDING

I LOVEEEEE this series so much! The FEELS in this BOOK is insanely amazing. Ahhhh so so so much LOVE for this book and series! Full review to come & author interview to come!

November

The First Kiss Hypothesis by Christina Mandelski

4.25 ★ – SATISFYINGLY SWEET AND DELICIOUSLY ADORABLE

I LOVE friends to lovers stories and this one most definitely did not disappoint. The plot was entertaining, hilarious, and had plenty of sweet moments that made me smile. Some parts of story were clichéd as expected and a bit cheesy, but who am I kidding… I LOVED IT ALL! And that ending… that final scene at the beach — gave me insane FEELS.

Offsetting Penalties by Ally Mathews

4.5 ★ – IRRESISTIBLY CHARMING

This book is an absolute delight and I truly adored every moment. The writing was fantastic and easy to read. The storyline was fast paced, funny, and charming in every way. I thought the characters were just wonderful and I enjoyed getting to know them. The romance was just so swoony and cute and obviously my favorite part.

Haven by Mary Lindsey

5 ★ – A DELICIOUSLY DARK, SEXY, AND HEART-POUNDING TALE

I’m utterly and positively smitten with this book. Haven by Mary Lindsey is such an incredibly unique, oddly intriguing, and suspenseful tale that had me reeling and holding my breath the entire time. With a badass, sassy, and beautiful heroine like Freddie, a handsome, tough, and brave hero with a gentle heart like Rain, and a wonderfully spellbinding story that’s hard to forget, Haven gave me the most amazing spine-tingling thrills and chills.

Saving It by Monica Murphy

4.5 ★ – FLIRTY, HILARIOUS AND INCREDIBLY SWOONY

Another cutesy and fun read from Entangled Teen Crush! The plot is also interesting and had plenty of lovey dovey aww moments that made me all fuzzy and warm. And the ending… so stinkin’ cute and romantic and just so wonderfully done that you’ll want to replay the moment over and over. Definitely one of the cutest friends-lovers romance stories.

Busted by Gina Ciocca

4.5 ★ – Super Adorable and Swoony

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This story was so fun and cute. I loved the concept, the drama, the romance and the mystery. I’ll have my full review for posted in a few days

Instructions for a Secondhand Heart by Tamsyn Murray

4.5 ★ – PAINFULLY REAL, INCREDIBLY AFFECTING AND HEART ACHINGLY BEAUTIFUL

Tamsyn Murray created such a lovely story about loss, self-discovery, second chances, and love. The storyline, while full of heart shattering situations, was riveting, sweet and at times even funny. The writing was undeniably moving, laced with beauty and sincerity, and just so utterly gorgeous that deeply affected me from beginning to end.

The Heartbreak Cure by Amanda Ashby

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The Heartbreak Cure by Amanda Ashby is a delightful friends to lovers story that satisfied my endless cravings for adorable romance reads. I’ll be posting my review for this next week as part of the blog tour hosted by ChapterbyChapter.

So, how did you do with your November TBR? What were some of your favorite books? Have you read any of the books on my list? Let me know in the comments down below!

As always, thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely Karen Jo

Mad Magic
Nicole Conway
Published by: Month9Books
Publication date: November 14th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Mad Magic is a beautifully dark and rich Young Adult fantasy from Nicole Conway, bestselling author of the Dragonrider Chronicles.

Josie Barton is a high school student living in terror. Invisible creatures torment her everywhere she goes, constantly getting her into trouble at school, and even haunting her apartment. But just when Josie thinks things couldn’t get any worse . . . she meets the guy from across the hall.

Zeph Clemmont is a changeling with enemies in all the worst places, fighting to undo a curse that threatens to end his life. Survival means he will have to swallow his pride and trust Josie with all his darkest secrets.

With the help of a gun-slinging shaman and the enigmatic Prince of Nightmares, Zeph and Josie are only a heartbeat away from defeating one of the most diabolical faerie villains their world has ever known.

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_I Cherish You_ - Nicole's Art

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EXCERPT:

WHAT IS MAGIC?

“Magic is like water. It’s required for all things on this earth to live and it cycles through the world to be reused over and over again. Some things, even some people, soak up more of it than others or require more of it to live. Children are usually more attuned to it than most. They soak it up like little sponges.” Each word from his lips carried a weight I could feel hanging in the air. “Any being on earth is capable of using it, although humans lost interest and forgot how to do that a very long time ago. Most of them can’t even see it or feel it anymore. Their minds have turned to things of metal. It can be that way for faeries, too. In fact, a lot of us have fallen from our former glory to be fed by the machines of the modern world.”

A strange, wild hunger rose up in me so suddenly it made my body stiffen. If magic was real, then surely it had something to do with all the strange things that had been happening to me. I needed to know more—I needed to understand.

“Where does it come from?”

“The moon.” He paused, holding a liquor bottle in each hand as he turned to look me in the eye. “Or at least, that’s what the old songs say. No one knows for sure. But magic is raw energy that we can use as we choose. Even a small amount can accomplish miraculous or even terrible things.”

Author Bio:

NICOLE CONWAY is an author from North Alabama. She graduated from Auburn University in 2012, and has previously worked as a graphic artist. She is happily married and has one son as well as a cat and a dog. She enjoys blogging, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

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_Whispers in the Dark_ - Nicole's Art