December Book Love

Fair warning: this is probably my longest post EVER!! But if you stick with it, you may just find a spectacular read to add to your collection.

I know I've gone into a bit of detail about my obsession with Book Outlet. I'm new to the site, but my one-click finger feels like it's been doing this for a long time. The site is perfect for someone like me who's new to discovering (or rediscovering) their love for things a bit outside the adult romance genre. I've been so stuck in the adult romance field that I haven't given myself the chance to read anything else. I've all but forgotten my deep and passionate love for thrillers and mysteries, and luckily have found a deep longing for YA stories. This site offers it all at incredible prices. However, it isn't the only site benefitting from my aggressive shopping habit. In Canada, I haven't found a lot of options so if any of you know of somewhere else I can shop that isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg, let a bitch know. So anyhoo, Amazon, Book Depository and Indigo have gotten their greedy hands on my wallet as well and I have absolutely NO REGERTS (yes, the misspell was intentional). This month I've bought and received so many books and I haven't read or started 90% of them, but do you think that will stop me from buying more and sharing my haul with you in January? Have you met me?

Okay, so here's what I got and I'm beyond thrilled with my purchases and gifts. When will I get to read them? Who freaking knows but I've promised myself that 2019 will be the year that I tackle some of my books so I can talk to people and actually know what they're talking about 😂😂😂

The BK Box

Some of you may already know, but Bethany-Kris is one of my favorite authors. Absolutely no one mixes mafia and romance quite like she does. The fact that she's Canadian is simply a bonus. Every time one of her boxes becomes available, I don't find out until the form is already closed and I'm left frowning at my luck. Envious and not so patiently waiting for my turn. I finally got it!!

It included: 

✬ signed copy of Duty

✬ signed copy of Vow

✬ signed copy of Marcello Outtakes

✬ tote bag

✬ themed socks

✬ bag of treats

✬ tons of swag

I've heard so much about this series and I had to jump on the band wagon. Now I could have just bought the first book, Red Queen, but then I'd want to know what happened next and who wants to wonder when they can just jump right back in? So I got the minis, Queen Song and Steel Scars (grouped into Cruel Crown) and Glass Sword to get started.

I'll let you know how it turns out!

I haven't read a lot of M/M books, but this story captured my attention from the first rave review I came across. My curiosity hasn't waned and I'm all too eager to get started. Rather than start and wait to finish, I got the first two books of the trilogy, Captive Prince and Prince's Gambit, and will probably get the third book, Kings Rising, along the way.

When I mentioned how I had discovered the wonders of Book Outlet, I got many recommendations. It seemed that I was the last to find out about this site and everyone was already filling out their libraries with great reads. Tijuana of Book Twins Reviews suggested this series and stated that it combined the romance we love and the uniqueness of a different outlook. One man and many women trying to win his heart and his hand in marriage. Sounds a lot like The Bachelor so I'm prepared for some drama. The Selection is the first book of the series and I got the other books that cover the same couple. I may get the books that deal with the heroine's daughter, but it depends on how hard I fall for her. 

So there's a YA reviewer I'm friends with and she fangirled over this series, Three Dark Crowns. I loved how honestly surprised she was over how much she was enjoying it. I figured if it's a surprise delight, then I want to be delighted too! So I got the origin story, Queens of Fennbirn, and book one, Three Dark Crowns, to get myself started. I'm sure if I love it as much as Mel did, I'll be buying up the rest in no time.

The other book, Snow Like Ashes, is the start of another series called Snow Like Ashes (surprise surprise lol). It was a huge recommendation on a couple of the Booktubers I follow. Wanting to know what the fuss is all about, I got the first book and figured I'd buy the rest depending on how I like it.

I've never read the author before but the idea of this story is really drawing me in and I can't wait to read it. Okay so it starts with Seven Black Diamonds and it's about a girl who's a criminal because her dad is a criminal but that's not all... she's fae, which is a huge crime in her world. How can you not find this interesting? I want to see how Lilywhite manages to navigate her cold, cruel world.

Okay, so this haul is a bit more complicated in that not everything goes together. Different authors, different genres. But I'm fairly certain they are all incredible reads.

1. Year One by Nora Roberts - I've been a HUGE fan of NR since I was a kid. After Danielle Steel, she was the one to make me fall in love with romance. What I love most about her books is how different they are. No two series is alike. The locations are all over the map, the themes are intense and unique, and the characters are always amazing. From the moment this book popped up in my coming soon tab, I knew I had to have it. And with the next book out, starting this series is more imperative than ever!!

2. The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton - highly recommended by Mel, she stated that it's a twist on King Lear, which to date is still one of my favorites from Shakespeare. I'm a sucker for a retelling and since Mel gave this five stars (which she doesn't hand out easily), I know that I'm going to love this (I hope).

3. Deadmen Walking by Sherrilyn Kenyon - one of my favorite authors, L.A. Fiore, wrote a book this year called The Gathering and many people likened it to the work of Kenyon. Well, since I've never read this Kenyon person's work, I couldn't draw from any reference and figured I should fix that. I five-starred The Gathering so if Kenyon's work is anything like that, I'm gonna love it. I decided to get book one of one of her series, Deadman's Cross, so I wouldn't be lost.

4. Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole - don't shun me but I still haven't read anything by this author. I know it doesn't make sense that I got the third book of her Arcana Chronicles, but what I've done follows a strange kind of logic. If I have book 3, then I'm going to need books 1 & 2, which will force me to get them so I can start the series. See... makes sense! Besides, I wasn't passing up the sale.

5. Hellfighters 2 by Alexander Gordon Smith - So here's the thing... I bought the first book, still haven't read it, but I'm so interested in the story because I've read nothing like it before that I knew I had to get the second book when it came up for sale. 

Okay, so I only have two friends in real life who love reading as much as I do. They don't read as much, but they do love a good book. So when one of them acts like a Bieber fan over a book, I know that I have to check it out. Whether I'm going to be congratulating them on their good taste or laughing my ass off because they wouldn't know a good book if it smacked them in the face, it's worth the time.

This series is one I knew I would have to watch out for. At first I was only going to get book one of The Queen's Thief series, The Thief, but then I saw that they were all on sale and as I said before, the word sale is like my kryptonite.

Last but definitely not least is the Amo Jones limited edition box from Mystic Box. LOVE IT!!

It includes:

✬ signed copy of The Silver Swan

✬ signed copy of The Broken Puppet

✬ signed copy of Tacet a Mortuis

✬ water bottle

✬ fuzzy socks

✬ post card

✬ book-inspired necklace

✬ pin

✬ tote bag

I know I act like I have a bottomless pit for a wallet but I actually have a book budget. Actually sticking to it is the problem! I'm hoping to purchase more of these limited edition boxes, whether through a site or directly from the author. I love the unique things I find in them and who on Earth would turn down signed books? It's insanely hard to get signed copies of anything here in Canada. So when the shipping isn't astronomical, I'm definitely going to pull the trigger, budget be damned!!

I was going to say that this is probably my last book haul for the year, but then I remembered that I'm waiting on a couple of packages for my birthday. If they come in before the 31st, I'll share them. Otherwise, see you in the new year and happy reading!! 💙💜💙💜