Bookish Lifestyle Digest: July 2016

It was a slow month here at Bookish Lifestyle, but check out any posts you missed this month below and be sure to let us know your favorite memory from this month!

After a few month hiatus, Andrea came back and also posted about her Chicago Babymoon!

Book Reviews

Debbie, 5/5

Evie, 4/5

Lifestyle Reviews

Promotional Posts

Tell us - what went on in your month?! What were some of your favorite books this month? Favorite posts from either your blog or others? What are some new (or old) and noteworthy things we should know about? Be sure to leave a link!

Blog Tour: Reliquary by Sarah Fine

Genre:	Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Publication.Date	June 14th 2016
Pages:	280
Published By:	47North
Author	Sarah Fine
	Reliquary on Goodreads
My review copy:	Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Where to get:

Mattie Carver’s engagement party should have marked the start of her own personal fairy tale. But when her fiancé, Ben, is violently abducted the next morning, her desperate quest to find him rips her away from small-town life and reveals a shattering truth: magic is real—and Ben is hooked. It’s not the stuff of storybooks. It’s wildly addictive, capable of producing everything from hellish anguish to sensual ecstasy almost beyond human endurance.

Determined to find out who took Ben and why, Mattie immerses herself in a shadowy underworld and comes face-to-face with the darkly alluring Asa Ward, a rogue magic dealer, infamous hustler…and her missing fiancé’s estranged brother. Asa has the power to sense magic, and he realizes Mattie is a reliquary, someone with the rare ability to carry magic within her own body, undetected. Asa agrees to help find Ben on one condition: Mattie must use her uncommon talent to assist his smuggling operations. Now, from magic-laced Vegas casinos to the netherworld clubs of Bangkok, Mattie is on a rescue mission. With Asa by her side, she’ll face not only the supernatural forces arrayed against her but the all-too-human temptation that she fears she can’t resist.

(Goodreads)

"The night before everything fell apart was the best of my life - the last purely happy, uncomplicated hours I would ever have." 

"I guess I'm the queen of biting off more than I can chew."

"Weddings bring people together!"

"But with some people, that's more of a curse than a blessing." 

     Reliquary starts off with an engagement party that promises nothing but a blissfully happy life for Mattie and her soon-to-be husband, Ben. Mattie is head over heels in love with Ben, and he seems to love her just as much. Unfortunately, their happiness doesn't last long and their personal fairy tale is cut short when tragedy strikes. When Ben is kidnapped the day after the wedding, Mattie is desperate to find him. She's determined to get her husband back, no matter the cost, but what she's not prepared for, is being pulled into the world of magic and temptation. A world she never knew existed. Things get even more complicated, when Ben's estranged brother Asa turns out to be the only one who can help rescue Ben. And worse yet, the only way for Mattie to pay for his help, is to become his partner in a magic smuggling operation. 

     Confession time: I don't read urban fantasy. Like, ever. I'm not even sure why, I guess it's because I'm more into classic style fantasy (with medieval settings, witches, dragons, knights etc.). And I'm undeniably intimidated by the concept of fantasy in a modern, urban setting. That being said, I was completely blown away by how awesomely readable Reliquary was. This book pulled me in right from the first page and I quickly found myself completely immersed in its world. And it was one intriguing, sensual world. Sarah's compelling writing style kept me hooked all throughout the book and when I hit the last page, I was left craving more. I really can't wait to pick up the next book and find out what happens next! 

     This is an adult story (as adult as they get without crossing over to erotica). And it's really, really hot. It's literally loaded with amazing sexual tension. The world Sarah created is incredibly unique. There are 4 types of magic in it: pain, pleasure, emotion and manipulation. Mattie's fiance/husband turns out to be a magic addict who got in trouble because of his unpaid debts (not a spoiler, we find that out very early on). Asa, on the other hand, is a sensor, someone who can sniff magic. Initially, he comes across as a bit of an asshat - he swears a lot and acts like a jerk. But as the story progresses, we begin to see through his mask and we realize that there are good reasons for why he acts the way he does. The character building was really good, and not only in Asa's case, but in Ben's case as well (even though we don't see much of him in the book at all, but we learn a lot about him). Mattie was a really likeable character and I enjoyed following her story. She was a trusting and dedicated person, with a good heart. Watching her trying to navigate the world of magic, temptation and danger, was definitely very interesting. 

     Overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book. There is obviously a love triangle in this book, and if you're not a fan of those, you will probably not enjoy it as much as I did. Especially considering the ending of this book. To be frank, even I was upset with how Sarah ended this installment, but at the same time, I understand that it was for a reason. There are, after all, two more volumes in the series, and we need to keep the tension going. I, for one, can't wait to continue on with this awesome trilogy! 

About the author:

Sarah Fine is a clinical psychologist and the author of the Servants of Fate and Guards of the Shadowlands series. She was born on the West Coast, raised in the Midwest, and is now firmly entrenched on the East Coast.

LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

Giveaway:

3 Finished Copies of RELIQUARY (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

7/17: Polished Page-Turners - Spotlight

7/18: The Eater of Books - Excerpt

7/19: Behind Closed Covers - Spotlight

7/20: Gone with the Words - Excerpt

7/21: Reading is Better with Cupcakes - Excerpt

7/22: Supernatural Snark - Q&A

7/23: Quite the Novel Idea - Spotlight

7/24: The Book Cellar - Review

7/25: Fiction Fare - Q&A

7/26: No BS Book Reviews - Q&A

7/26: Emily Reads Everything - Review

7/27: Stuck in Books - Excerpt

7/27: Reads All the Books - Review

7/28: Ex Libris - Review

7/28: BCS Reviews - Review

7/29: kimberlyfaye reads - Review

7/29: Wandering Bark Books - Review

7/30: Lost in Lit - Review

7/30: Bookish Lifetsyle - Review

7/31: Don't Fold the Page - Review

7/31: Miranda's Book Blog - Review

A Babymoon in Chicago

As I mentioned in my "I'm Back" post, I'm currently pregnant with our first child! Now that I'm not constantly affected with nausea and wanting to throw up and the mere mention of food, my husband and I decided we wanted a quick getaway.

Originally, we had planned to take a London/Paris vacation this summer, but once we realized I was pregnant, the idea of a 14-some hour flight and walking around London and Paris for a few days (not to mention the price tag), just didn't seem like the best idea. Plus, I wouldn't get to eat all the food and drink all the wine I wanted. Luckily, the only thing lost was the hours I had spent planning said trip.

Once we made the decision to no longer travel to Europe this summer, our planning stalled. We knew we wanted to go somewhere, but where? Joe was thinking a cabin somewhere - but they he made me watch Hush on Netflix. I don't think he thought that through. Let's plan a weekend in a cabin right after watching a movie about a masked killer who shows up at a cabin in the woods and starts murdering people. No. Pass.

Two weekends ago we decided on Chicago. Neither us has had been there and it wasn't an awful drive from our house to the city. That Monday, after firmly deciding on Chicago, we looked at the calendar and realized between now and "too late," the only weekend we could go was that weekend.

After ensuring the stars aligned (Joe's parents could watch Bentley, getting time off work, hotel at a reasonable price, etc.) we booked our trip! Luckily, we knew a few people who used to live in Chicago and got a few tips on where to stay and what to do.

We dropped Bentley off Friday afternoon at Joe's parents and after feeling like an awful person as he watched us pull away from the window, we set off  for our long weekend getaway!

Babymoon Pros

• It's the "last time" you and your significant other will get to vacation on your own. Don't get me wrong, we are thrilled to become parents, but aren't delusional to all that comes with it. Chicago is filled with vacationing families and we weren't spared the sight of tantrums and maneuvering strollers through the crowded streets.
• When you get tired and cranky due to walking around in the high 80-degree heat, your husband doesn't mind heading back to the hotel so you can shower and nap. Any other point in my life this would have granted me an eye roll. Of course, any other point in my life this wouldn't have been a big deal.
• If you go to a place (like Chicago) with great shopping you can buy your little one a few

  

  www.disneystore.com

  goodies. Our hotel was right on the Magnificent Mile so as well as wandering and doing some shopping, we stopped at the Disney Store and may or may not have bought an outfit for our daughter's one year birthday. Look, I love Disney and I couldn't pass it up! They had the cutest baby section and I could have easily bought one of every outfit they had for sale. Note: When grabbing this picture from DisneyStore.com, I saw that they have matching shoes! Why didn't I see those in the store?!
• Going to the crowded jazz club on Saturday night ensures you get a seat at the bar. A good friend of ours told us we had to go to Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, a former speakeasy that Al Capone owned. By the time we got the lounge it was packed, but while waiting for our drinks (mine was a water, calm yourselves), a man seated at the bar offered me his seat so I didn't have to stand.
• If you time it right, while on your Babymoon, you can also celebrate your seventh anniversary. I didn't realize this until making dinner reservations for Saturday night, but it happened to be the same day as our (dating) anniversary, so that made the day and trip a bit more special.

Babymoon Cons

• Depending on when you go during your pregnancy, you easily get tired. I'm in the middle of my second trimester, so I'm feeling pretty good. Not first trimester nausea and extreme tiredness, not third trimester exhaustion and "get this thing out of me." However, walking around Chicago in the heat makes one tired and cranky. We didn't get to do all we had wanted to do due to the heat and my pregnancy, but that just means we have to go back one day.  :)
• If you're a wine/beer/alcohol drinker, you can't indulge in a drink with dinner or after walking around in the heat. I'm not a huge drinker, but when we go out to dinner I like to have a glass of wine. Can't do that while pregnant, so I just stared wistfully at Joe's beers while drinking my water.
• Same goes for food. We went to Tanta for dinner one night and they have some intriguing things on the menu, but I couldn't partake in all of it because some food is off-limits. Same goes for the sushi at Shaw's.  :(

Overall

While you may not get to do everything you want, it's still a special vacation that you share with your significant other before becoming a family of three (or four if you count your furbaby). We had an amazing time in Chicago and I'm so glad that we got to go.

Have you ever gone on a Babymoon, where did you go, what did you do? Or is that something you'd want to do when the time comes?

Bookish Product Review: Jane's Tiny Things Magnetic Bookmarks (p2)

Hey guys!

You might recall the first time I posted about Jane's Tiny Things bookmarks few months ago. Today I'm back with round two of the feature and I have some absolutely marvelous new bookmarks to show you!

Over the past couple of years, I have become a self-proclaimed bookmark hoarder. I don't really use them - ha! They're way too pretty for that :D But I do collect them, because they're unique and bookish and just oh-so-lovely! And like I said before, out of all the Etsy stores, Jane's Little Things is probably the most unique, because her creations are hand-drawn and very different in style. AND - most importantly - they come with a quote on the back! How amazing is that?!

I love Jane's bookmarks so much, but they're not the only thing you can find in Jane's Tiny Things store. Jane also makes these amazing sets of hand-drawn nail decals, and I think the one with books and feathers is my favorite one by far!

Anyhoo! Without further ado, let's take a look at the new bookmarks in Jane's store - I have two sets of them to show you today! :)

The Night Court set 

     A super hot item right now (and, well, always!). I posted a photo of these on my Bookstagram and it got some crazy love, because HELLO, Rhysand and Feyre!

I really love these! They're so cute and unique, you guys! Jane did an amazing job drawing the characters yet again, and she picked great quotes for the back of the bookmarks, too!

The Rhysand one has our favorite ACOMAF quote: "To The Stars Who Listen and The Dreams That Are Answered." and Feyre says: "II was a Survivor, I was strong. I would not, could not be Broken." 

Baker Street Set - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson 

The Sherlock and Watson bookmarks are right on point, you guys! So quirky and spot on with all the details!

The Sherlock one says: "To a Great Mind nothing is Little." and the Watson one says: "Good old Watson! You are the one Fixed Point in a  Changing Age."  Again, Jane picked awesome quotes. I love taking photos of these, they go so well with my edition of Sherlock Holmes from Rock Paper Scissors!


All the bookmarks in Jane's store can be purchased separately, or in a set. The single bookmarks cost $4 and if you buy them as a set it's $7 for 2 bookmark set and $10.50 for 3 bookmark set. Some of them are very popular and already on back order! And no wonder, really, because they're gorgeous and so unique!

And if you'd like to stock up on the sheer awesomeness, use code: EVIEBOOKISH to get 15% off!

If you'd like to check out my previous feature of Jane's Tiny Things, click here!

About Jane's Tiny Things:

Fun magnetic bookmarks featuring illustrated versions of your favorite characters!

Each set has enough to collect - buy them individually or grab the entire collection for a discount.

Bookmarks are $4 each, or $3.50 each when you purchase the whole set.

Full color prints on thick semi-gloss paper.

Each bookmark features a hand-lettered quote on the back.

Find Jane's Tiny Things online:

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Etsy 

I'm Back!

As some of you may or may not have noticed, while Bookish Lifestyle has not been quiet, I have been virtually MIA since March. This is due to a variety of reason, but two main factors:

Blogger Burnout

The struggle is real guys. I got to a point where it all felt so overwhelming. Reading, reviewing, posting, updating, lather, rinse, repeat. I got to a point where I just couldn't take it any more. I felt alone and lost.

Why was I bothering? We're people even reading my posts? Was I making any bit of difference?

I know this sounds like an existential crisis and overly dramatic for something that is supposed to be a hobby, but that's exactly what it felt like. If you're a blogger and have been blogging for sometime, maybe this is something you can relate to. If you don't blog and you've ever been burnt out on a hobby, I know you can relate.

That feeling when your hobby turns into anything but a hobby. It turns into a chore. Something you have to do. Something your force yourself to do. Like cleaning. God, do I hate cleaning. But it needs to be done because while I don't enjoy cleaning, I also don't enjoy living in filth.

So I took a step back. I started reading for me, I stopped reviewing, I stopped writing posts, and I stopped putting effort into something I had once loved.

Pregnancy

Many moons ago, back when I was a newbie and Bookish Lifestyle (then known solely as Bookish), Evie had a baby and disappeared. Babies change your life (no duh) and she just didn't have the time nor enjoy to devote to the blog.

Understandable and expected. What I didn't expect was to feel the same way when I got pregnant. That first trimester was murder. I wasn't eating and what I was eating I was throwing up. Not a pretty picture.

I didn't want to read, it was the furthermost thing from my mind. All I wanted was to lie on the couch and watch mind-numbing TV. And boy did I ever. My reading slowed down immensley and books I was excited to read (namely The Winners Kiss by Marie Rutkoski and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas) sat on my kitchen table for weeks. This was a series ender and a sequel to by favorite book of 2015 and I just did. Not. Care.

It would take me weeks to read books and that was only when I practically forced myself. TV was just so much easier. I didn't have to think and I could just zone out and relax. Going to bed at 7:30/8:00 every night also did not help.

I kept telling myself that this is when I should be devouring books and taking care of that TBR pile. Once baby comes there will be so little time for reading that I'll long for the days when I could sit and read uninterrupted for hours.

I don't mean that in a "I long for the days when I didn't have a baby" way, but the "Remember when I had all that free time and squandered it on trashy reality TV?" way.

Today

Which brings me to today. I'm father along in my pregnancy and things have calmed down. I'm back to my old energy level (almost), the nausea is gone, and I've read many books in the recent weeks.

I'm feeling . . . almost normal.

I woke up the in the middle of the night a few days ago and realized how much I missed blogging and Bookish Lifestyle. I missed interacting with our readers, creating posts, reviewing books and products, and realized it was time to come back.

Not only did my time away rejuvenate me, but it also gave me perspective. While I never felt like I had to review every book that I read, I made it more of an obligation. Even books I read for fun/for me I felt had to be reviewed. So I'm stepping away from that.

I'm going to continue reading books for me, but once I finish then decide if I should write a review or not (books I receive for review will be the exception). I was never the person to take notes while reading (with the exception of noting some fun quotes), so it terms of reading for review it won't change anything.

I feel like this mindset is going to make things so much easier and more relaxed. I'm giving myself more of an option and more freedom when it comes to blogging.

I can't say I'll be posting as much as I was a few months ago, but I can promise you'll hear from me more than you have been. I'm taking it one day at a time and we'll see what happens!

Book Review + Giveaway: Tell Me Something True by Katherine Owen

Genre:	New Adult, Fiction
Publication.Date	October 19, 2015
Pages:	428
Published By:	The Writing Works Group
Author	Katherine Owen
	Tell Me Something True on Goodreads
My review copy:	Bought

Where to get:

The star ballerina finally marries the major league baseball player and the truth about Linc and Tally—his being her air and she being his water—becomes clear after the couple finally realize that their love is all that matters.

But that was the first day. The day they said, “I do." The day the demons seemed to leave them alone, at least, for a little while. Nevertheless, there were other days, when all the lies of the past and their ways of coping with their fears caught up to them.

And, this is that story.

Just a few of Katherine Owen's quotes from "The Truth in Lies" Series. ***SWOON***

The ending is coming. I can feel it. I don’t know if I can take it this time. But then again, I say that every time and yet, every time I take it. And, I come back to her again for more. I will take whatever time I can get with her. I will do that for a lifetime. I will. I know that much about myself. She is my water. I can never get enough of her, and it appears that I will die trying to love her, to keep her, to hold her with me, even though our time together seems to evaporate so swiftly. It slips through our fingers so damn fast that we don’t even have time to savor it when we’re together.

Here’s the truth: I am the female version of a heartbreaker. The one that everyone says is too dedicated to ballet, too self-involved to ever care about anyone else besides herself. I’m the rebel. The bad twin. I am Tally—the loner, the party of one. The love and leave ‘em prototype. Heartless. That is me. I have no time for romance, flowers, or relationships. I like one-night stands with plenty of sex and no promises of a future. I like the lies I tell. I’m comfortable in telling them…most of the time. This is me.

You can't really hear heartbreak. It is remarkably silent but excruciating all the same.

Damn! Damn! Damn! The third book in the "Truth In Lies" series had me on the edge of my seat almost the whole time. Just when I thought my beloved Tally and Linc were going to get a break, WHAM they were crashing into yet another collision course. Tally and Linc have the ultimate love story. It is all about the "REAL" in this love story. There are NO happily ever afters. No sweet kisses. No prince charming to come and save the day. There is just Tally and Linc begging the universe to not mess with them yet again.....

Katherine Owen is not your average writer. She has earned the title I now give her of my all time favorite author through many books, characters and stories. Her stories all have one fundamental truth in them. They are real. Her characters are all flawed, usually severely so. They make mistakes. Big ones. They tell lies. The way they are written sets the reader up for emotions they have never felt before. However, you might just find yourself realizing that these characters are some of the realest ones you've ever read about.

This last book in "Truth In Lies" is no different and in fact it might be worse. It is a tough read. But a read that is WELL WORTH the time and energy it takes to get through. There is NO relationship you've ever read like Linc and Tally's. These characters could not be more real to me. In fact, I dare you to find a book with more passion between two characters. There are NONE. These characters are originals. You will walk away from this book wondering how you survived without knowing Linc and Tally up close and personal before now.

"If you believe in fairy tales and happy endings,
and you want to stop right here and bask in the wonderment and joy of it all, please do.
If you want to know the rest of our story,
you need to take a deep breath
and tell yourself that everything will be okay,
that everything works out,
and life happens,
and in the end
love is all you need.
Someone has to tell you these things,
just like someone had to tell me.
All I know is that the truth never dies,
and it does set you free, whether you want it to or not.
And in the end? All you have is love.
Love is all there is."
~ Talia Landon Presley

WARNING: You must read book one and two in this series before devouring this one. The true heart of the story must be felt from the very first book. Otherwise you won't know all that Tally and Linc go through and then how can you truly fall in love with them? So read this series in order. These are NOT stand alones.

This author and this series is well worth your time. All her work belongs on the tippy top of your TBR pile!

Plus enter the giveaway and three of you could win the whole series for free!

Katherine Owen is offering 3 copies of the complete "Truth In Lies" Series for this Giveaway. Enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway