Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up November 18th-24th) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

ribbon

Hi Guys!

This week was slow and relaxing. I feel like I have less and less energy in me. I think it’s because of pregnancy.

Yesterday I had a lovely day with my friend Monika. We went into Chinese restaurant for lunch, and after that in a really nice caffee for Pumpkin Spice Late.
I had best intention to take pictures and then I simply forgot. I guess we’ll have to go back at some point!

Today I plan to watch a Christmas movie on tv, answer to every comment on my blog and to finish a book I’m reading.
So I guess it will be a slow, relaxing Sunday.

Last Week on Book Dust Magic:

Monday: In Movie Monday I talked about A Christmas Detour    
Wednesday: I gave you my thoughts on The Hunting of Hill House Netflix show
Thursday: I reviewed The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Friday: I talked about the time I met Katherine Arden
Saturday: I reviewed Well Met by Jen DeLuca

Next Week on Book Dust Magic

Upcoming reviews:

The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley book cover, UK edition One Winter Morning by Isabelle Broom book cover
I am also preparing some lifestyle posts.

Currently reading:

Bid my Soul Farewell by Beth Revis book cover I am reading the second and final book in Give the Dark my Love duology and I am in love with everything. If you ask me, this is one of the best fantasy series out there.

Giveaway:

I am hosting an international giveaway in which you can win a signed copy of The Bear and the Nightingale. You can enter here.

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

Sunday Post (Weekly Wrap Up November 4th-10th) #SundayPost #Blogging #WrapUp #Reading

Sunday post picture meme girl

Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This meme was created for bloggers to spotlight posts they published in the week, as well as to talk about what they plan to write in the week that’s coming.

Sunday post is also great opportunity to showcase books we got in the week behind us.

ribbon

Hi Guys,

I hope you have a lovely Sunday.
It’s raining here in Zagreb and I love it. It’s the perfect weather to stay at home and read all the books, and since HoHoHo readathon is going on at the moment, it makes me appreciate it even more.
My plan is to finish my book today. I started readathon with the biggest book from my tbr (500+ pages) and blog hop. In other words, to have one relaxing Sunday.

The only thing that’s new in my life is we got a new fridge. We wanted to get one that is big enough for family of three, since we have a baby on the way, so we decided to go with 185×60 cm dimensions.
If we had bigger apartment, we’d go with two-winged one because they are much more practical and beautiful, but we have to go with what we have.
It’s a downside of living in a small space, but this apartment makes me happy because it is ours, and truth be told, I have never felt at more peace then I do now.

I also won one giveaway on Twitter, which was unexpected. Now I’ll have one more signed book in my (small) collection.

There’s only one thing that makes me mad: The birthday package I sent to my friend Amanda is still somewhere in Croatia even though I paid for it to be delivered per avion, in 5 days. I have sent it last month.
Our post office got really miserable in the last two years, I think it’s because so many people are underpaid and they don’t want to do their job, but it is no excuse.
The saddest thing about it is that I don’t have alternatives, and I’ll have to send Christmas presents via the same company, so I hope they won’t get lost.
I plan to send them at the very beginning of December, just in case.

Last Week on Book Dust Magic:

Monday: I reviewed The Hustle movie
Tuesday: I posted my HoHoHo Readathon TBR
Wednesday: I reviwed The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams
Thursday: I talked about products I use to prevent stretch marks
Friday: I reviewed One Chrstmas Star by Mandy Baggot
Saturday: I revealed the gender of my baby

Next Week on Book Dust Magic:

Upcoming reviews:

The Lion King 2019 movie cover Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones book cover The Hunting of Hill House netflix cover Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout book cover US edition

I will also talk about changes on my body during pregnancy, and about how I met Katherine Arden + there will be a giveaway for her signed book The Bear and the Nightingale.

Currently reading:

The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley book cover, UK edition I am currently reading The Christmas Invitation and it is my first read for HOHOHO readathon. It is okay but tbh. I hoped I’d be more interested in the story. I have more then half book to go, and it is getting better so let’s hope it will be a pleasant surprise in the end.

Book Haul:

One Night on Ice by Mandy Baggot book cover 2019 edition I was approved for One Night on Ice via Netgalley, and I plan to read it during HoHoHo readathon.

That is it!
Let me know what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been reading or watching this week and feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.
Have a lovely Sunday!

My HoHoHo Readathon TBR 2019 #HoHoHoRAT #ReadAThon #BookBloggers #Christmas

HoHoHo readathon 2019 image

Hi Guys,

It’s again that time of the year: The time when my favourite readathon is happening, thanks to Wonderful Kimberly from Caffeinated Book Reviewer  who’s hosting HoHoHo Readathon for the seventh time, and it will be my third time participating.
Readathon takes place from November 8th to November 17th.

Last year I had so much fun and my only plan is to read more books than I have then. My aim is 6 books, and since readathon is 10 days long, I believe it is manageable.
I don’t have to go to work this year which is a plus, and also, in case you didn’t know, festive novels are my favourite kind so chances of me getting into reading slump are very, very slim (plus I only just got out of one recently).

I have two physical books I plan to read this time around:

Christmas books picture

I also plan to read these two Netgalley eARCs:

The Christmas Invitation by Trisha Ashley book cover UK edition and the adults by Caroline Hulse book cover US edition, Penguin Random House

I have also requested two books via Netgalley, so if I get approved for them they will also make the cut, but if I get declined I’ll just pick up some other books from my physical collection.

That is it!
Wish me luck and please tell me will you be participating in HoHoHo readathon?
If yes, what are your goals? If you have a blog post about it, feel free to leave your links so I can visit you.

10 backlists to read this Spring (2019) #SpringCleaning #Spring #BookLovers #BookBloggers

The Spring is here, and you know what that means?
Spring cleaning!

In other words, it is time for me to clear my tbr and read some books that have been there for some time now.
All of these titles will be read and reviewed here on Book Dust Magic, so this list will also give you a sight of what you can expect in the next three months (but don’t worry, there will be plenty of other titles reviewed too).

Without further ado, here is my…

Spring 2019 back titles reading list:

Late Summer in the Vineyard by Jo Thomas

Late Summer in the Vineyard Jo Thomas book cover

Jo Thomas is my favorite author at the moment, so I want to read all of her books this Spring. Originally I wanted to read them before 2018 was over (I have three of her books on my unread shelf) but I decided to wait until spring, since her books are filled with sunshine and happiness. Late Summer in the Vineyard was published in 2016.

One Thousand Stars and You by Isabelle Broom

One Thousand Stars and You Isabelle Broom book cover

Isabelle Broom is also one of my favourite authors, and I am also behind with her titles. One Thousand Stars and You takes place in Sri Lanka, and I can’t wait to read Broom’s descriptions of that magical place, she is well known about her ability to take readers on trip with her characters. One Thousand Stars and You was published in 2018.

The Little Teashop of Lost and Found by Trisha Ashley

The Little Teashop of Lost and Found by Trisha Ashley book cover

I have this book on my bookshelf for a while now. As you probably already know, I was in a huge blogging slump that lasted from Spring 2017 to Summer 2018, and this book was victim along with some other titles.
This Spring I plan to make it all up, take this novel on a journey with me, and I will tell you all about it in my special blog post. The Little Teashop of Lost and Found was published in 2017.

Orange Blossom Days by Patricia Scanlan

Orange Blossom Days Patricia Scanlan book cover hardback

This is another victim that suffered because of my blogging slump. Orange Blossom Days screams with sunshine, summer and sea, and I am finally ready to dive myself into this story.
I can’t wait to spread the love with all of you after I finish this story. This book was published in 2017.

I heart Forever by Lindsey Kelk

I heart Forever Lindsey Kelk book cover

This wouldn’t be a proper reading list if it didn’t feature one of Lindsey Kelk’s titles, right? I mean, every time I make a list of books to read, there’s always at least one of books written by her. Even though she one of my favorite authors, I am always behind… And it’s kind of embarrassing that I still haven’t read I heart Forever, since this is my all time favorite chick lit series… Well, now when I heart Hawaii is coming out, I am ready to read Forever, and because I have two copies of this book, there will also be a giveaway, so make sure to keep up with Book Dust Magic!
I heart Forever was published in 2017.

Last Letter Home by Rachel Hore

Last Letter Home sounds like a perfect book to read when I’ll be visiting my parents in my child home (surrounded by my cats). I love it when stories take place in two different times that together make one whole.
I plan to read this novel pretty soon, and tell you all about it. It was published in 2018.

Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West

In case you didn’t know, Kasie West is my favourite ya author. I love how her books always bright up my mood, and I could read and reread the over and over and over.
However, I am still behind with some of her titles, so I plan to catch up with all of them (there’s only three on my list of her unread books). Out of all of her titles on my tbr list, Listen to Your Heard appeals to me the most. It was published in 2018.

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Elantris Brandon Sanderson book cover UK edition

It’s been awhile since I finished Sanderson’s Mistborn series, and in all honesty, I am craving some good adult fantasy. My friend who recommended me Mistborn in the first place borrowed me his copy of Elantris, and I’ll be reading it very, very soon. I was sure this was a standalone, but Goodreads says it’s the first in the series, so now I’m confused. Whatever it is, I am ready to figure out. Elantris was published in 2011.


Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer Laini Taylor book cover UK edition

This series is on so many bloggers’ favourite lists, and I am ready to feature it on my list too! As I already stated, I crave for a good fantasy, and as I’ve been told, this book is beautifully written. There’s nothing I like more then a book with beautiful sentences to underline and quote. Strange the Dreamer was first published in 2017.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Nevermoor The Trials of Morrigan Crow Jessica Townsend book cover UK edition

Have you ever felt like a book was calling you? I know it sounds strange, but for the last few months, I feel like Nevermoor is calling me, and I am finally ready to pick it up and see why do I have that strong feeling that this books features something I need in my life.
I don’t read middle grade often, but every time I do, I fall in love with the genre, and promise myself I will read it more often. This is the only book on this list that I haven’t purchased yet, but I will buy it very soon.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow was published in 2018.

That is it!
What books do you plan to read this Spring?
Tell me all about it in comments. 🙂

Nostalgic and inspiring: Written from the Heart by Trisha Ashley

Title: Written from the Heart
Author: Trisha Ashley
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK, Black Swan
Date: February 7th, 2019
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: from Publisher for a review

Review:

First of all, can we all take some time to admire this beautiful cover?!
I swear, Trisha Ashley has the most beautiful covers out there. I mean, every book written by her looks gorgeous!
Honestly, tell me, if you saw this novel in a book store, would you be able to resist? Would you just walk away?? I don’t think so (at least I wouldn’t)!

Written from the Heart was previously published by other name: Happy Endings.
So make sure to check if you already have that book on your bookshelf before buying yourself a duplicate (and then buy a book for a friend, if you already have it).

It was edited little, but since it was written many years ago (I’m not sure exactly when, but somewhere around time when Microsoft Vista was a new thing), it is outdated in a way, but it is also very interesting because of the same reason, for it shows us how much things and lifestyle have changed with new technology.

I think this book came to my life in time when I needed it.
Lately, I like to read about writing and writers’ lives, so this book gave me a glimpse of that.
Since the author herself is a very successful writer, I suppose she got an inspiration for this novel from many aspects of her own life.

The story follows Tina Devino who is a published author. Her books do sell, but they are far from being bestsellers, so she makes her living by giving other aspiring authors editing service trough her agency.
She is in relationship with famous ballet dancer Sergei, but although they are together for many years, they do not live together because that is what works best for them.
She spends most of her time writing her books, editing others’ manuscripts and hanging out with her best friend Linny.

Reading this book was like going back in time when Sex and the City was on going tv show.
Tina’s voice reminded me so much of Carrie’s, in parts when she’s (Carrie) narrating the story.
The writing style also reminded me of dairy, only without dates.
What I noticed, and it took me by surprise, is how much Trisha’s own voice changed through the years. I feel like books she publishes today sound different then this one. I have to admit, it was pretty fascinating to me to notice that.

Even though I enjoyed reading this book, I have to admit that I didn’t enjoy the way it ended. I feel like Tine like character didn’t develop at all. We left the same woman we met at the beginning of the book, without any significant change in her personality or her personal life (and there was plenty of room for change, if you ask me!).

I really appreciate every little writing advice the writer gave us through Tina’s voice. I think this book would be appealing to aspiring authors out there too.

I would recommend this book to everyone who likes to read old school chick lit, and who enjoyed the tv show Sex and the City and would like to know more about one writer’s life (but fictional writer, keep in mind!).