#ARCtober - IT BEGINS! Sign up, rules, prizes, etc. (Open to US and INT)

What it is

#ARCtober is month long reading challenge that runs from October 1st through October 31st. Challenge yourself to clear those ARCs off your TBR. 

How to participate

Sign up!

First and foremost, you need to link-up to your sing-up post in the linky below. Well, you don't have to, but this is how I'm going to create my registry from which I'll track participation in the events and tags and pick winners from, so it's a must if you want to win prizes. :) You can post your sign-up post on your blog, your Facebook page, or even your Twitter account, but it must include

1) Your name & country in the linky "name" field (so I can identify if you're a US or International winner!) (example: "Elley Otter (USA)" or "Elley @elleyotter (USA)")

2) Your Twitter handle in your post

3) Your #ARCtober goal (whether it's books read, pages read, even just organizing and getting a firm handle on what you need to do!) 

Readathon

Participate in the #ARCtober readathon on the weekend of October 13 - October 14! Make some extra time in your schedule to cozy down with a book. Share your progress updates on Twitter using the hashtag #ARCtoberReadathon for the chance to win prizes. ;) 

Bingo

I love a good book bingo challenge! Since the challenge is only 1 month long and that's a LOT of spaces, each book can count for up to THREE squares. So if you read a book that's a YA Fantasy Romance Fairy tale retelling by a debut author, technically while that would fit 5 of the categories you'd only be allowed to use it for 3 of the squares. (Hey, I can't make it TOO easy for you...)

You have bingo! when you have 5 vertical in a row, 5 horizontal in a row, or 5 diagonal in a row. If you get a full card blackout that's an extra bingo! Claim your bingo! by either tweeting a pic of your filled in bingo card and listing your books with the #ARCtober hashtag (don't forget to tag me @elleyotter so I see it!) or DMing me (again, @elleyotter) to be entered to win prizes.

Tweet about it

During the month of #ARCtober, tweet about your progress with your #ARCtober goals, how your ARC TBR pile is slowly eating your, how for every ARC you clear off you list you somehow manage to get 3 more requests approved... everytime you use the #ARCtober hashtag, you'll be entered to win prizes.

Okay, okay, I see you there. "You keep talking about these 'prizes' - what are they?" you seem to be asking me. I WILL TELL YOU NOW!

Prizes

1 grand prize international winner (as long as The Book Depository ships to your country free of charge (find that out here!) 

and

1 grand prize US winner will win a book of their choice worth up to $20USD

These grand prize winners will be chosen from all the entries from the linky sign-ups, readathon hashtags, bingo entries, and Twitter hashtag entries. 

Once grand prize winners have been chosen, I'll choose 
3 additional winners (US only, sorry guys) who will get to choose from my collection of physical editions of ARCs. I will choose 1 winner each from the readathon, bingo entries, and Twitter hashtag. 

(Note that the ARCs shown above may change by the end of the month depending on if I can get some friends to donate additional physical ARCs and if I get approved and manage to read through any additional ARCs.)



Post any questions in the comments below, or reach out to me on Twitter at @elleyotter. This is my first time hosting a challenge/readathon and I'm super pumped, guys. :) Now I'm hoping people participate! I'm ready to knock my ARC TBR pile down a few pegs, how about you? ;)

Blog Tour: The Lady is Daring by Megan Frampton (Excerpt, Giveaway, Teaser Review)

The duke’s five daughters have beauty, breeding, and impeccable reputations. Or at least, they did. Now that two have chosen to follow their hearts, can the others be far behind?

It was easy for society to overlook Lady Ida Howlett; they found her bookish, opinionated, and off the marriage mart. But little did they know that behind a calm exterior beats the heart of an adventuress, one who, determined to discover her runaway sister’s whereabouts, steals a carriage and sets off on a daring mission. Then she discovers she’s not alone! Bennett, Lord Carson, is inside, and he refuses to leave.

Lord Carson’s plans had always been to find a soft, gentle wife who would run his home and raise his children. Still, he makes a bargain with Ida—he won’t desert her during her mad adventure. He’ll make sure she’s safe, and then find a suitable lady to fall in love with. But when rules (and garments) become discarded during this long, intimate journey, it’s soon clear that this surprisingly daring lady is the woman he’s needed all along.

About the Book

Lady is Daring
by Megan Frampton
Series
The Duke’s Daughters
Genre
Adult
Historical Romance
Publisher
Avon Books
Publication Date
September 25, 2018
Amazon  |  Avon Romance  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Google Play  |  iBooks

#ARCtober - PREPARE YOURSELF for an ARC reading challenge

I was so inspired by Octavia over at Read.Sleep.Repeat when she did her #ARCAugust reading challenge, and I got so many ARCs knocked out on my TBR. I was randomly whining on Twitter about how I need another challenge like this when my bestest book buddy Peekaboo (aka @booksandsass) said "Dude, let's do our own #ARCtober."

AND SO #ARCtober IS BORN!

Come back for more info about rules and stuff on Oct 1. But there will be a readathon (or two? I'm still figuring it out?) and ARC bingo and probably a Goodreads group, and also PRIZES. But I need to make some graphics and a bingo card and some plans and things. There will be at least 1 international winner (anywhere Book Depository ships) and 1 US winner who will get a book of their choice up to $20 value - more to come with how to win. ;)

Special thanks to Octavia (@ReadSleepRepeat) for having the original ARC reading challenge and inspiring this and to Peekaboo (@BooksAndSass) for making me realize I don't need to rely on anyone else to host a challenge and can DO IT MYSELF and drag the internet kicking and screaming with me! (OK, I realize it will probably be me and, like, 4 people, but still.)

I love reading challenges, and find they help me get through book on my TBR (especially those past due ARCs, which if you've been keeping up with my discussion posts I'm very cognizant of right now...) What do you think of reading challenges? Do you love them? Hate them? Let me know in the comments!

Book Review: Not His Werewolf by Annie Nicholas

Not His Werewolf

Author: Annie Nicholas
Series: Not This, Book 2
Published: July 24, 2017
Kindle, 461 pages
Goodreads     Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)

Summary
After being disowned and labelled human because she can’t shift, Betty Newman rescues unwanted dogs to fulfill her need for pack. Being rejected by her birth pack was enough pain for a lifetime and she’ll do anything to avoid subjecting herself to their prejudices. 

Things change when Ken Birch wakes in her kennel still in wolf form and declares she’s his soul mate. His presence wakes her feral heart and makes her long for a life she can’t have. Old wounds are opened and she refuses to listen to instinct. 
But only a shifter can be a soul mate and now her life is in danger by New Port’s pack. Either Betty learns to shift or she dies. Problem is the only one willing to help is Ken, the last person she wants. 

Discussion: ARC Life (the actually really great flip side)

Last week Peekaboo did a really wonderful guest post about ARC life (or why being a rabid book fan is actually really hard sometimes). In her post Peekboo makes some really great points, and I included some thoughts of my own at the end, especially about stress and burnout. (Especially as I sit here looking at my list of 74 digital egalleys that I need to somehow get through... and that doesn't even include the physical ARCs... and all I really want to do is reread Howl's Moving Castle...)

Anyway, I thought this week I'd take a look at this flip side, and all the ways being a "rabid book fan" can be so amazing too - because there are a lot of really great things about buried under a mountain of ARCs! 

For starters, with close to 100 books on my ARC TBR, and more available to request EVERY DAY, I am spending a lot less money on books. Which of course means I have more money to spend on bookish swag like bookmarks, candles, scarves printed with the opening chapters of Alice in Wonderland, outfits coordinated to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw colors... Don't get me wrong, reviewing ARCs is WORK - diligently reading books (which is mostly a labor of love but sometimes is really WORK to keep plowing through) and writing up GOOD reviews and cross-posting them to retailers, and formatting and posting them to blogs... But the upside is basically a "will work for books" sign around your neck, which means less money spent on books. (For me at least, or my ARC TBR will eat me.)

Another great thing is getting to read highly anticipated books early! I got access to Lenora Bell's newest book months before it was released! ...OK, I didn't get around to actually reading it until about a month and a half before the release date, at which point it had been sitting on my Kindle for at least a month growling at me to read it along with the rest of my ARCs, but still! It was there! And sometimes there's one that I must read right now and I'll get access granted quickly and I can just gobble it down on the spot. (The downside of this is that often you'll read a blurb for a book that won't be released for a good 4-6 months out, and if you're declined for an ARC you need to wait for FOREVERRRRRR to buy it.) 

I'm also finding that I'm more willing to try books outside of my usual genres when requesting ARCs, which has led me to discover some great books that never would have crossed my radar otherwise. For example, I just finished Grilled Cheese and Goblins by Nicole Kimberling which is a sort of Urban Fantasy paranormal detective novel I'd have never picked up, but really enjoyed. I also just got approved for a mystery/suspense novel, Consumed by J.R. Ward, something totally outside my normal wheelhouse but a book I'm really excited about. I find I'm more likely to try new genres and even authors because there's less risk. If I don't like a book I just DNF it or leave a review saying why I didn't care for it, and the only thing I'm out is my time. 

And finally, with almost 100 books on my ARC TBR, even when I'm feeling at my most mood-reader-iest, I have such a variety of books to choose from that I can pretty much find something that I feel like reading on my ARC TBR. And if I can't, I'm trying to be kind to myself about reading something NOT on my ARC TBR and remembering that non-ARC books are people too... Or, well, they're not people, they're books... Oh, you know what I mean. :) 

Book Review: Not His Dragon by Annie Nicholas

Not His Dragon

Author: Annie Nicholas
Series: Not This, Book 1
Published: (July 25, 2016)
Kindle, 225 pages
Goodreads     Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)

Summary
Eoin Grant hasn’t encountered a female of his race in decades, and this crazy person’s scent declares her unmated. Fate set her in his path, and he won’t let this opportunity slip through his claws. No matter how wary she is of him. After all, how many chances does a dragon have at finding love? But fate can be a crueler mistress than his perfect mate. Of all things, she thinks she’s human. 

Business is taking off for Angie Weldon. She put her freakishly sharp nails to good use when she opened her back-scratching spa in downtown New Porter City. The local shifter community pounced on her skills and she’s knee-deep in shed fur. By the end of the year, if lucky, she could afford to move out of her crappy apartment. 

Dollar signs flash before Angie’s eyes when a dark, brooding stranger books her solid for a week but she notices the possessive fury in his glare. She’s been around enough shifters to know the look, and she won’t go down that road again. Angie is literally swept off her feet by the intense shifter and he wants more from her than she’s willing to give. She figures it’s best to avoid eye contact and back away slowly. Until he changes her life by insisting she’s a dragon. 

(Full length novel. No cliffhangers. Here be dragons.)

Blog Tour: For The Duke's Eyes Only by Lenora Bell (Review, Teaser, Giveaway, Author Q&A)

If adventure has a name…it must be Lady India Rochester. The intrepid archaeologist possesses a sharp blade and an even sharper knack for uncovering history’s forgotten women. Unfortunately, she has one annoying weakness: the dangerously handsome Duke of Ravenwood. Former best friend. Current enemy. And the man who dared to break her heart.

Daniel Bonds, the Duke of Ravenwood, is a thrill-seeking antiquities hunter who only plays by one rule: Never fall in love. He’s in it for the fortune and glory. At least that’s what he wants the world to think. He’s sworn to hide his tangled web of secrets, especially from the one woman he cares about and will protect at any cost.

But when a priceless relic is stolen from the British Museum, the rivals must align forces. Racing to recover the stolen antiquity and avert an international disaster? All in a day’s work. Avoiding their buried feelings? More and more impossible. For love is about to become the greatest treasure of all. The grand adventure begins…now!

About the Book

For the Duke’s Eyes Only by Lenora Bell
Series School For Dukes (Each book is a standalone story.)
Genre Adult Historical Romance
Publisher Avon Books
Publication Date September 18, 2018
Purchase Your Copy Today!
Amazon | Avon Romance | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iBooks

Guest Post: Peekaboo's Corner - ARC life (or why being a rabid book fan is actually really hard sometimes)

Today, I have a lovely guest post from my very good friend Peekaboo to share with you. I relate to this post SO HARD, and without further ado I'm going to let you get to reading it. I'll post a few of my own thoughts at the end. Enjoy! ~Elley

ARC life (or why being a rabid book fan is actually really hard sometimes)

When did go from being a wonderful, leisurely pastime to taking over my entire freaking life?

The answer probably is “college” when I first got the inkling that I wanted to be a librarian, and I discovered GoodReads, and my GoodReads TBR pile quickly shot up to over 2,000 books.

Or possibly when I started working full time as a librarian, where I get bombarded by at least ten new books I want to read every single day.

Ooooor maybe it’s when I decided reading ARCs (or “advanced reader copies” for those of you not in the know) and suddenly not only was I reading on a deadline, I needed to write decent enough reviews so that people could make decisions about their own reading habits through them.

Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE my job. I LOVE having free access to books all day long (be it through ARCs, or through the public library.) I love being in the know about what’s buzzing in the book world! But some days, like today, it does get overwhelming.

I now have weird guilt associated with reading anything that isn’t a) on my GoodReads currently-reading list (of which there are 8 books), or b) an ARC that is due. I have 40 physical books and 10 e-books checked out from the library, and can I even remotely read that much before they come due? Hell no! And don’t even get me started on the whole shelf of books I own that I haven’t read yet. Sometimes I lay awake at night, panicking about all the books I want to read that I will never have time to. (Did I mention I have severe anxiety?)

The reason I am writing this in truth is because I know I am not the only person to have such thoughts. Especially for people who dedicate good chunks of their lives, be it professional or hobby, to the world of books, it can get overwhelming sometimes, and that’s not a great feeling.

So here’s what I think.

I think we should give ourselves permission to read WHATEVER WE WANT, even if it’s not an ARC, or a best seller, or something that’s due.

I think we should focus more on the sheer enjoyment we get out of reading.

I think we should give ourselves permission to DNF a book if we don’t like it, because dude, not all books are gonna be good, or hold your interest, and there are SO MANY other good books out there waiting for you.

I am going to approach taking back reading like I need to approach self care and change. Focus on the now. Try not to panic so much. Remember it’s going to be okay, and also why I am doing this in the first place: because I love books!

Current recommendation: The Darwin Elevator by jason M Hough

Well that hits me right where in the feels. On top of the ARC guilt and the physical TBR guilt, I've also got Kindle Unlimited guilt... My mom gave me a a year's subscription to Kindle Unlimited for Christmas last year, and so far I've read only about 4-5 books via KU (if even that). That ends up being $20-$25 per book - NOT GOOD, guys. So now on top of trying to plow through the 73 digital ARCs I have (I made a spreadsheet, not sure if that's good or bad?), 10 physical ARCs, so many books on my physical TBR "shelf" it's more like multiple bookcases that are taking over my bedroom and my husband is likely to disown me if I bring in any more books... Now I'm also trying to read ALL THE BOOKS on my KU TBR before December 31 when my KU subscription runs out so I make it "worth it" and don't 1) ask for it for Christmas again and 2) get it for Christmas and don't USE IT all year again. /sigh

I have started being gentler with myself about not always writing a review for EVERY SINGLE BOOK I read, especially books I'm kind of "meh" and don't have very strong feelings about, and that's helping some. It's not so much that I can't read them all, but then it takes a lot of time to write a GOOD review (more than just a line or two, something that will actually inform someone reading the review to help them decide if they want to read the book or not) and then posting to the blog - which people may or may not ever even read... It can feel like screaming into the void sometimes, and takes away from valuable time that could be spent chipping away at the book mountain. Add in to that the full time job and family and... Yeah, I'm never going to actually read all these books.

If I could choose one superpower, it would be to only need 4 hours of sleep each night, which would effectively give me more time each day to read!!

Cover Reveal: Royally Yours by Emma Chase

Princess Lenora Celeste Beatrice Arabella Pembrook had an unusual childhood. She was raised to be a Queen—the first Queen of Wessco. 

It’s a big deal. 

When she’s crowned at just nineteen, the beautiful young monarch is prepared to rule. She’s charming, clever, confident and cunning. What she isn’t…is married. It’s her advising council’s first priority. It’s what Parliament is demanding, and what her people want. Lenora has no desire to tie herself to a man—particularly one who only wants her for her crown. But compromises must be made and royals must do their duty. 

 Even Queens. Especially them. 

 ** 

 Years ago, Edward Langdon Richard Dorian Rourke, walked away from his title and country. Now he’s an adventurer—climbing mountains, exploring jungles, going wherever he wants, when he wants—until family devotion brings him home. 

 And a sacred promise keeps him there. 

 To Edward, the haughty, guarded little Queen is intriguing, infuriating…and utterly captivating. Wanting her just might drive him mad—or become his greatest adventure. 

 ** 

 Within the cold, stone walls of the royal palace—mistrust threatens, wills clash, and an undeniable, passionate love will change the future of the monarchy forever. 

 Every dynasty has a beginning. Every legend starts with a story. 

 This is theirs.

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl

Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (September 10th, 2013)
Hardcover, 483 pages
Goodreads     Amazon

Summary
A coming-of-age tale of fanfiction, family and first love

CATH IS A SIMON SNOW FAN. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan... But for Cath, being a fan is her life--and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. 

Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to. 

Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath that she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words...and she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Blog Tour: Shameless by Cherrie Lynn (Review, Excerpt, Giveaway)

It’s a vacation Meredith Taylor will never forget. A sunny beach, good friends and good times. But when she overhears a couple having a passionate interlude on the balcony above her one night, she can’t get the man’s sultry voice out of her mind. Especially when she figures out exactly who that man is…

Cameron Moore always had an eye on his best friend’s little sister but considered her strictly off limits, choosing to satisfy his lust elsewhere. Now Meri seems to want to annihilate every wall Cam’s put up against her. The beach is hot, the drinks are cold, Meredith is irresistible, and something has to give. Will it only be the walls between them, or their hearts as well?

About the Book

Shameless

by Cherrie Lynn

Series

n/a; standalone

Genre

Adult

Contemporary Romance

Publisher

Entangled Amara

Publication Date

September 10, 2018

Purchase Your Copy Today!

Amazon  |  Entangled Publishing  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  iBooks

Book Review: Accidental Tryst by Natasha Boyd

Accidental Tryst

Series: Charleston, Book 1
Author: Natasha Boyd
Publisher: (March 6, 2018)
Kindle edition, 346 pages
Goodreads     Amazon

Summary
Two strangers accidentally switch cell phones in a busy airport in this edgier You've Got Mail, sexy romance for the smart-phone era ... 

Emmy
What a disaster! I only just made my flight to New York to help my uncle, and the phone I’m holding is not mine! It seems to belong to some commitment-phobic serial dater who’s never made it past four dates (according to the constant notifications he's getting from his fake dating profile...) And worse? I have a sinking feeling it’s that hot suit-monkey with the arctic grey eyes I just had a run-in with at the airport. Somehow, I have to persuade him not to get a new phone until I get back. My whole life is on that phone. I knew I should have backed it up. It’s only a few days. Surely, we can handle it. 

 

Trystan 
This is a joke, right? My life could not get more f*cked up. I’m in the middle of selling my company and on my way to a funeral and that hot mess hippie-chick stole my freaking phone. I’m not sure how she convinced me not to immediately walk into a smart phone store and get a new one, but now she’s going to have to play stand in and distract me while I deal with my long-avoided and estranged family. I don’t have my dating apps after all, and frankly she’s pretty funny. And sexy. And why can’t I stop texting her? And now we’re talking. And … look, I’ll admit that I usually run for the hills the morning after, but the morning after phone sex? That’s not really real, right?

Release Day Blitz: Flirting with Fire by Piper Rayne

Everyone knows that if you play with fire you’ll end up getting burned…

What happens when you attend a first responder’s bachelor auction with your best friends? Well, if your name is Madison Kelly like me, your friends end up bidding on a date for you with your high school crush.

That’s right. Even back when I was ‘Fatty Maddie’ to all my classmates, I had eyes for the quarterback of our football team. Not like I was the only one.

Mauro Bianco may fight fires for a living, but he still sets my heart ablaze. One look at the rugged, muscular man he’s turned into and I want to slide down his pole.

One date. That’s all I’m committed to. A few hours and I can tuck him back into that tattered old shoebox in my closet.

As always, the universe has other plans. I never would’ve predicted that in a matter of days he’d turn from my dream guy into my enemy.

Flirting with Fire by Piper Rayne

Available now!

iBooks B&N Kobo Google Play Goodreads

Discussion - Top 10 Disney Villains

It's September, which means it's basically Halloween for the next two months as far as I'm concerned, so prepare yourself for mostly Halloween type related discussion posts for the foreseeable future. You've been warned.

Today I'm going to talk about Disney villains, not least because I have big sexy plans to make Disney villain themed candles in the next month or so because that feels Halloweeny to me. Wihout further ado, I give unto you, my Top 10 Disney Villains.
(**Content warning: I drop a minor swear word or two in the following.)

10. Mother Gothel (Tangled)

It was a really a hard call between Mother Gothel and Lady Tremaine for my last place spot, but Mother Gothel wins it because I'm a sucker with a villain with a bad ass song (as you will see with the rest of my list...) And it really doesn't get much better than Gothel trying to trick Rapunzel into staying under her thumb in the tower by telling her about all the dangers of the outside world in Mother Knows Best.

9. Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland)

You're in her good graces... until you're not. Then it's OFF WITH YOUR HEAD! I love how volatile the Queen of Hearts is. It's like she never progressed past being a 3 year old with temper tantrum issues. Plus she gives the best advice, like "Curtsy while you're thinking; it saves time."

8. Oogie Boogie (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

Another villain totally on there because of his great song. First of all, his song is so great that it's just called Oogie Boogie's Song. That's how great it is - it defies naming conventions. Plus, he is literally a giant bag of bugs that was exiled from Halloween town for being too evil. He was too. evil. for the monsters. GUYS. Also, this movie: is it a Halloween movie? a Christmas movie? Better start watching it in September and not stop until January, just to be safe.

7. Hades (Hercules)

Poor Hades. He is just surrounded by incompetents. He just never seems to learn that if you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself. I love how sassy he is, plus he's the god of the underworld and his hair is made of fire, so, y'know, that's pretty legit.

6. Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)

Who hasn't felt salty at not being invited to a party and wished they could cast a curse to get some revenge? Uh... not me, that's for sure. *shifty eyes* But seriously, Maleficient is just so deliciously evil and has become a big fan favorite in recent years. Plus, her pet raven's name is Diablo, AND she can turn into a freaking dragon.
Besides, who doesn't love a boss bitch with a big-ass horn hat?

5. Scar (Lion King)

Be Prepared is my second favorite Disney villain song of all time, and Jeremy Irons is a king (even if Scar never got to be one). The Lion King is amazing because it's basically a Hamlet retelling but with lions, ok? And Scar is so evil that he kills his brother, and then convinces his nephew that it's his fault his dad is dead. BRUTAL. But, you know, I read somewhere that Scar's name was Taka before he got his scar and started going by that, and that "Taka" means "garbage" (while "Mufasa" means "king"). So his parents basically named their kids "King" and "Garbage," and if you ask me that's just asking for trouble. Do I really need to talk anymore about why Scar is awesome? Just watch the video. 

4. Gaston (Beauty and the Beast)

Gaston is so great, even he knows it! No one in town's as admired as him, he's everyone's favorite guy. Everyone's awed and inspired by him, and it's not very hard to see why. No one's slick as Gaston, no one's quick as Gaston, no one's neck's as incredibly thick as Gaston's. There's no man in town half as manly. He's perfect, a pure paragon.... I could go on, but why when you could just let LaFou tell you in another song that defies titling, Gaston. 

3. Captain Hook (Peter Pan)

I will admit, Captain Hook was probably not in my Top 3 until the past couple of years. Not that I have a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old, I can sort of understand. Captain Hook lives on a ship with his first mate Smee, which is an overeager yes-man without an original thought of his own, and a bunch pirates who seem to hate him and want to go pirating for treasure rather than hanging out trying to pick fights with a bunch of kids. Then they're surrounded by said bunch of kids. His arch-nemesis is literally a boy who never grows up, so what does that say about Captain Hook? That being said, I don't know, I just LIKE him. There's something about Captain Hook I like. Maybe it's the fault of the TV show Once Upon a Time and I'm romanticizing him, who knows. Plus, LOOK AT THAT FANCY HAT.

2. Madam Mim (The Sword in the Stone)

 

So overlooked, Madam Mim is AWESOME. OK, so maybe Madam Mim is the Disney villain I identify with most and that's why I like her so much, but whatever. Someday when I'm old and my children have left the nest, I am going to be Madam Mim. "BOO! I'm an ugly old creep! The magnificent! Marvelous! Mad mad mad mad! Madam Mim!"
It's entirely possible that you have no idea who Madam Mim is, since The Sword in the Stone came out in 1963. I'll let her introduce herself to you in her song most creatively titled Mad Madam Mim.

1. Ursula (The Little Mermaid)

And in my number one spot (this one was the easiest call to make) is Ursula. She's a bad ass mother who won't take no crap off nobody. Poor Unfortunate Souls is hands down my favorite Disney song (villain or not) of all time, and I love her sass. I wanted to post all Ursula gifs I love, but I limited myself to just ONE, and most of them are from this song anyway. ;)




Are you a "Disnerd"? Who are your favorite villains?

Book Review: Long Songs & Other Lies by Jessica Pennington

Love Songs & Other Lies

Author: Jessica Pennington
Publisher: Tor Teen (April 24, 2018)
Hardcover, 288 pages
Goodreads     Amazon

Summary
It’s summer romance and second chances, the songs that stay in your head, and the boy you’ll never forget.

Two years after rock-song-worthy heartbreak, Virginia Miller is looking forward to a fun, carefree summer. Her friends just landed a spot on a battling bands reality show, and Vee is joining them for her dream internship on tour. Three months with future rockstars seems like an epic summer plan. Until she learns she’ll also be sharing the bus with Cam. Her first love, and her first heartbreak. Now Vee has more than just cameras to dodge, and Cam’s determination to win her forgiveness is causing TMZ-worthy problems for both of them. With cameras rolling, she’ll have to decide if her favorite breakup anthem deserves a new ending. And if she’s brave enough to expose her own secrets to keep Cam’s under wraps.

Blog Tour: Under Control by Shannon Stacey (Excerpt, Giveaway)

From New York Times bestselling author SHANNON STACEY…

Meet the tough, dedicated men of BOSTON FIRE—and the women who turn their lives upside down.

When faced with the opportunity to change shifts while staying in the same house, veteran firefighter Derek Gilman jumps at the chance. His new schedule means not working Saturdays, which means more time to spend with his two kids. His divorce may have been amicable, but being a firefighter and a single dad is a lot to juggle. And when fate brings a gorgeous, wealthy woman into his life, he’s pretty sure he can’t handle more than he already is.

Olivia McGovern loves plans. She planned to start her own business and planned its growth. It’s earning her seven figures now, but her personal life simply doesn’t exist. Getting trapped in a broken elevator figures in exactly nowhere, and freaking out in front of a sexy firefighter definitely isn’t on the agenda. Especially not one with two kids and an ex.

What would have been a random incident with an attractive stranger becomes something more when a charity event brings them back together. They’re from different sides of the tracks, literally—with friends, family and careers to consider. But as Derek and Olivia are discovering, chemistry doesn’t allow for plans, and love doesn’t bother with logistics.

Don’t miss the entire Boston Fire series by Shannon Stacey! Heat Exchange, Controlled Burn, Fully Ignited and Hot Response are available now!

About the Book

Under Controlby Shannon Stacey
SeriesBoston Fire Series
Genre
Adult
Contemporary Romance
PublisherCarina Press
Publication DateAugust 28, 2018
Purchase Your Copy Today!
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  Google Play  |  iBooks

Book Review: Undue Influence by Jenny Holiday

Undue Influence

Author: Jenny Holiday
Publisher: Jenny Holiday (September 4, 2018)
Kindle, 230 pages
Goodreads     Amazon

Summary
Second chances only come around once.

Eight years ago, Adam Elliot made the biggest mistake of his life. Now that mistake is coming back to haunt him. His family’s beloved vineyard has gone into foreclosure, and the new owner is the sister of the only man he’s ever loved—the man he dumped under pressure from family and friends who thought the match was beneath him.

When Freddy Wentworth, aka the bad boy of Bishop’s Glen, left town with a broken heart, he vowed never to return. But a recently widowed friend needs his help, so here he is. He’s a rich and famous celebrity chef now, though, so everyone can just eff right off.

But some things are easier said than done. Despite their attempts to resist each other, old love rekindles—and old wounds reopen. If they want to make things work the second time around, they’ll have to learn to set aside their pride—and prejudice.

This modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion is a standalone novel that can be enjoyed by Austen-philes and by those allergic to the nineteenth century.

Monthly Wrap-Up: August 2018

2018 Reading Challenge

Books read in August: 15

Books read in 2018: 124/150 (July was 109)

#RippedBodiceBingo

The Ripped Bodice's 2nd Annual Summer Romance Bingo runs from June 1 to August 31

Each square represents a book you've read this summer, and you fill in the square with the title & author once you've met the criteria. To get a bingo you need to get 5 in a row (vertical or horizontal) and for each row you complete you can enter to win prizes at https://www.therippedbodicela.com/bingo

·         Soccer/Futbol – Always You by Denise Grover Swank (read 6.25)

·         Fairy Tale Retelling - Beast by Lisa Jensen (read 7.13)

·         Forced Proximity - Like Cats and Dogs by Alexis Stanton (read 6.17)

·         Firefighters Under Control by Shannon Stacey (DNF @ 52% on 7.31)

·         YA Paranormal – DID NOT COMPLETE

·         Carriage Sex - For the Duke’s Eyes Only by Lenora Bell (read 8.16)

·         Fashionista - Born to be Wilde by Eloisa James (read 7.24)

·         Set at Summer Camp – Him by Sarina Bowen (read 6.8)

·         Enemies to Lovers – It Takes Two by Jenny Holiday (read 6.29)

·         Heroine’s Eyes are Described Using the Ocean - The Princess Bride (read 7.24)

·         Mermaids – Sea Witch by Sarah Henning (read 8.4)

·         Extreme Location - A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole (read 7.31)

·         Happily Ever After – Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean (read 6.20)

·         Queer Historical - A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian (read 7.14)

·         Hero Named Harry - What Happens in London by Julia Quinn (read 6.23)

·         Book That is Now A Movie – Matchmaker’s Playbook by Rachel Van Dyken (read 7.22)

·         Pre-Renaissance - The Viking’s Bride by James and Aasne Daniels (read 8.14)

·         Hero Smells Like “MAN” – Only With You by Nicole McLaughlin (read 6.17)

·         Time Travel - The Mermaid’s Knight by Jill Myles (read 8.9)

·         Tech In the Big City - Status Update by Annabeth Albert (read 7.20)

·         Heroine is Older than Hero - The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang (read 8.16)

·         Baby on the Cover  - DID NOT COMPLETE

·         Birds Are Somehow Involved - Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (read 6.12)

·         Return to Hometown – Counterfeit Boyfriend by Cindi Madsen (read 8.5)

·         Damsel in Distress – Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn (read 7.1)

My progress for August: 6

Total: 23/25

I could have gotten blackout, but I decided to focus on reading other ARCs for #ARCAugust instead of filling the spots for Baby on the Cover and YA Paranormal. :/