Under the Love Umbrella by Davina Bell, Allison Colpoys (Illlustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): 

Whatever you fear, come close my dear
You’re tucked in safe for always here
And I will never not be near
Because of our love umbrella

From this award-winning creative duo comes a book about the wonder of ever-present love. A stunning celebration of the joy and comfort that is always with us, wherever we roam in the big, wild world.

Who’s under your Love Umbrella?

𑁋𑁋𑁋

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Under the Love Umbrella was a lovely book that all of my children enjoyed, although for different reasons. At the start of the book we're introduced to four children: Joe, Brian, Grace and Izzy. We're also issued a challenge of sorts: "There are lots of umbrellas inside this book. Can you help us find them all?" What child could resist? Even I was tempted to play along!

Initially, all three monsters tuned me out in order to look for the hidden umbrellas (some of their locations were very creative, and I was able to share my findings), but I like to think they heard some of what I said, if only subconsciously. My son is older, so I'm sure he heard more than he was letting on, but his main objective was finding more umbrellas than his sisters. After a few pages of this madness (I wanted them to look for the umbrellas and pay attention to the story), we started looking for them as a group before reading each page. (I highly recommend going this route, if you decide to read this with your kiddos!)

Once I started doing that, my son was noticeably more attentive to the actual story. I think he was able to relate to some of the circumstances the children found themselves in, like being alone in the dark, or when it talked about friends that wouldn't share. These are issues he's dealing with presently, so the correlation of these happenings with a love umbrella was creative and offered a different perspective. Yes, scary or unfair things may happen during the day or at night, but he'll always have a love umbrella waiting to encompass him. Feeling shy or left out, moving somewhere new, bad dreams, big dogs, broken toys, embarrassing accidents -- all of these (and more) are mentioned throughout the story.

I really liked that the author covered a wide range of situations that could make a child feel poorly, and them subtly reminded them that despite all of that, there's still a love umbrella. "My love for you goes on forever" was beautifully rendered by the illustrator (all of the pages popped with color and creativity), and I think this duo has gifted the world with something magical and lasting. I know it will be a book that we read again and again! I'm pretty sure there are even two moms on one page tucking their child into bed for the night, and I'm thrilled that this wasn't a book written solely for cookie cutter families. I truly believe everyone will find something to love within its pages.

Coral by Sara Ella

Synopsis (via Goodreads): There is more than one way to drown.

Coral has always been different, standing out from her mermaid sisters in a society where blending in is key. Worse yet, she fears she has been afflicted with the dreaded Disease, said to be carried by humans—emotions. Can she face the darkness long enough to surface in the light?

Above the sea, Brooke has nothing left to give. Depression and anxiety have left her feeling isolated. Forgotten. The only thing she can rely on is the numbness she finds within the cool and comforting ocean waves. If only she weren’t stuck at Fathoms—a new group therapy home that promises a second chance at life. But what’s the point of living if her soul is destined to bleed?

Merrick may be San Francisco’s golden boy, but he wants nothing more than to escape his controlling father. When his younger sister’s suicide attempt sends Merrick to his breaking point, escape becomes the only option. If he can find their mom, everything will be made right again—right?

When their worlds collide, all three will do whatever it takes to survive, and Coral might even catch a prince in the process. But what—and who—must they leave behind for life to finally begin?

Taking a new twist on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved—yet tragic—fairy tale, Coral explores mental health from multiple perspectives, questioning what it means to be human in a world where humanity often seems lost.

DNF at 10% 

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

"The colors made sounds and the sounds created colors." 

I had a really hard time with Coral from the start. I love losing myself in new worlds, but everything about this book was perplexing. I felt like this story followed a different set of rules, but had no idea what they were. Coral can see sounds and hear colors (synesthesia, I think), but her explanations only furthered my confusion. She said certain colors were loud, but never seemed overwhelmed by them. How is that possible? She's surrounded by color, so wouldn't everything make noise? Like, all the time? Did she not suffer from sensory overload?

"The bedclothes were ruffled and her pillow slept in the sand."

How?? She's underwater, she has a tail, so wouldn't her clothing just be wet all the time? Also, how does one wear bedclothes over fins and whatnot? Was it just a t-shirt, or...?? How do they make clothes underwater? What are they made of? I needed more details! 

"Jordan rolled her eyes, crossed to the heavy chamber door carved from old ship wood, and shut it."

Wouldn't the wood deteriorate underwater over time? How did they salvage the material for a door? When I read this sentence, I immediately pictured rotting wood that was soft and mushy.

"Coral freed the bubbles she’d been holding as she examined herself in the mirror."

Does she have gills? Lungs? Coral said they weren't allowed above the surface until they were sixteen, so... ??

"Easy as a kelp pie.”

"Coral’s mouth bowed and her insides turned to jellyfish. She didn’t want Jordan to go, despite how she tended to get under Coral’s scales more often than not."

They don't associate with humans, so why did they have pie specifically? I know it might be nitpicking at this point, but I felt like the author was trying too hard to make correlations between her world and common phrases we use today, which made the story ring false. Her insides turned to jellyfish?? I wish the author had created a language that had terms specific to her characters and the world she created.

I really wanted to see how Coral used merpeople to discuss mental health, but I barely made it through two of the three perspectives. I gave up when Merrick's chapter started, so I can't really comment on his portion of the story. However, I can comment on how Brooke was a very antagonistic and vexing character. She was in a treatment program, but doesn't share why or how she got there. I'm sure this was done to add suspense to her story, but it made her unlikable and unrelatable. She was callous and cruel to a child because she felt bad, and I thought her actions were that of a spoiled brat, and not someone suffering from a mental health issue. We don't know anything about her, so it was hard to sympathize with her feelings and actions.

Side note: I'm not saying Brooke should be likable or friendly, but the lack of information made it hard to understand her. I don't suffer from mental health issues, so I cannot comment on how people with them should be portrayed, but I do know how her character came across and can share those feelings with you.

Coral's community deals with something called "the Disease" that impacts a mermaid's emotional state, and they are shamed for experiencing anything other than cool disinterest. It really bothered me that only merwomen suffered from this "affliction," because it made it seem like mermen couldn't be emotional or depressed. Anyone suffering from "the Disease" was written off and ignored, and I haaated that aspect of this book. 

Needless to say, this book wasn't a good fit. I was confused, frustrated, and disinterested in the overall story, which was not a good combination for enjoyable reading. I liked the concept, and I can appreciate what the author was trying to do, but it really missed the mark for me.

My Weekly Pull [100] & Can't Wait Wednesday [70]

My Weekly Pull is something I do every Wednesday to show which comics I had pulled for me that week! If you're into comics, or you're looking to start, please join me! If you decide to do your own post, there's a link-up at the bottom. I would love to stop by and check it out!

Undiscovered Country #2 by Charles Soule, Scott Snyder, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Daniele Orlandini, Francis Manapul

Dungeons & Dragons Infernal Tides #1 by Jim Zub, Max Dunbar

The Amazing Mary Jane #3 by Leah Williams, Carlos E. Gomez, Annie Wu

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #14 by Tom Taylor, Ken Lashley

Miles Morales Spider-Man #13 by Saladin Ahmed, Javi Garron, Eduard Petrovich

Spider-Verse #3 by Ryan North, Carly Henson, Dayna Broder, Dike Ruan

Jacob's comics for the week!

Doom 2099 One Shot by Chip Zdarsky, Marco Castiello, Ron Lim

Dying Is Easy #1 by Joe Hill, Martin Simmonds, Gabriel Rodriguez

Hit-Girl Season 2 #11 by Peter Milligan, Alison Sampson, Declan Shalvey

Punisher Soviet #2 by Garth Ennis, Jacen Burrows, Paolo Rivera

Spider-Man 2099 One Shot by Nick Spencer, Jose Carlos Silva, Ron Lim

Symbiote Spider-Man Alien Reality #1 by Peter David, Greg Land

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #100 by Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Dave Wachter

Yondu #3 by Lonnie Nadler, Zac Thompson, John McCrea, Cully Hamner

The second Undiscovered Country is available! The first issue was trippy in the best possible way, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next! It's the dystopian story we never knew we wanted!

A D&D comic? Why not? I've never actually played the game, but I've always wanted to! 

This is the last issue of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, so please excuse me while I go cry for a few minutes. 10 minutes later... I've really enjoyed Tom Taylor's take on Spider-Man, so I'm bummed this will conclude his series. Taylor creates the best characters, and he does it so seamlessly. I always feel like they've been around forever (like Gabby from All-New Wolverine). You might know her as Honey Badger.

Miles Morales Spider-Man was SOLD OUT, and I had to reach into the depths of eBay to find a copy for less than $20. What is this insanity?? I know Saladin Ahmed is good, and this series has been fucking phenomenal, but it's never been sold out on its release day before. Did I miss something?

Also, this is my 100th My Weekly Pull post! <3

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, that highlights upcoming releases that we're anticipating and excited to read. It's a spinoff of the feature Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Expected publication: June 2nd 2020

Synopsis (via Goodreads): A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. But as the summer stretches on, January discovers a gaping plot hole in the story she's been telling herself about her own life, and begins to wonder what other things she might have gotten wrong, including her ideas about the man next door.

*Share your My Weekly Pull post! Please leave the direct link to your My Weekly Pull post and not just your blog's URL. Thank you for participating and happy reading!

A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

Synopsis (via Goodreads): In the sequel to New York Times bestselling A Curse So Dark and Lonely, Brigid Kemmerer returns to the world of Emberfall in a lush fantasy where friends become foes and love blooms in the darkest of places.

Find the heir, win the crown.
The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.

Win the crown, save the kingdom.
Rumored to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen--until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?

The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.

𑁋𑁋𑁋

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Throughout A Curse So Dark and Lonely, I was hardcore shipping Harper and Grey. I know she was there to break Rhen's curse, but it was Grey that first offered her friendship and kindness. He understood her on a level Rhen never did, and I really wanted that to go somewhere. Rhen might care about his people, but he's not above being selfish and playing dirty to get what he wants. I was really upset when A Curse So Dark and Lonely ended the way it did, and was thrilled to discover the second book was about Grey. Grey is honorable and determined to do what's right, even if that means giving up everything he cares about. I hated that he was willing to sacrifice so much, and Rhen couldn't trust that he had his best interests in mind.

The first chapter of A Heart So Fierce and Broken is from Harper's perspective, and the final chapter is from Rhen's. The rest of the book alternates between Grey and Lia Mara. Lia Mara was a wonderful addition to the story, and I was cheering for her despite my previous feelings from the first book. Harper made her choice, Grey made his, and I still think they have a solid friendship despite their circumstances. I admired Lia Mara's tenacity and her willingness to do whatever it took to keep her people safe. She was also concerned about the residents of Emberfall, which was a lovely surprise that made me like her even more. She's a queen's daughter, but she never demands anything from anyone. Lia Mara fought for herself and others, and she never hesitated to help when she could. She balanced Grey out in a way Harper never could.

I also enjoyed watching Grey learn to trust people, and accept the help they freely offered. He's been a guardsman for (what feels like) an eternity, and he's used to shutting down his emotions to do what's necessary to protect the Crown. I really liked Grey in the first book, but I love the person he became over the course of this one. He has friends! He learned to trust people! He was sweet, gentle, and affectionate! Clearly, this was the man Grey was meant to be, and it was great watching him find himself. Jake, Noah, Lia Mara, Tycho, Iisak -- they helped Grey in ways he never anticipated.

All of the secondary characters were phenomenal, and the new additions are some of my favorites. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, so I'll let you meet them yourselves. They all have a past, and we learn very little about their histories over the course of this book. I hope Kemmerer elaborates on these characters more in the next book, because I think exploring their pasts will enlighten certain aspects about the present. Especially where Tycho and Iisak are concerned. I also really liked where Jake landed in this book, and think he's finally found a purpose for himself.

I really tried to savor the experience of reading A Heart So Fierce and Broken, but I couldn't stop once I reached a certain point. Kemmerer makes me care so deeply for her characters, and the world-building is incredible. It's like I've lived in her world my entire life, and sword fights are a common occurrence. If you haven't read anything by this author, or haven't started this series specifically, you're missing out! This book was an emotional roller coaster, and I cannot wait to see what Kemmerer does next.

I'm giving away an ARC of A Heart So Fierce and Broken in my 2019 End of the Year Giveaway! Just click on the link and follow the directions to enter. Good luck!

The Sunday Post [32]

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight what's planned for the week ahead.

News:

We made our son think we were taking him to school on Friday, but then went to LEGOLAND instead! It's a little over two hours away, so it didn't take him long to realize we weren't headed in the direction of his school, haha. LEGOLAND was the last thing we did as a family before my husband's deployment, and we had a blast revisiting those memories while making new ones. The girls were too small for some of the rides last time (some are based on height, others on age), but this trip they were tall enough for one of the bigger attractions.

On our way home, we stopped by SANTA LAND! It was unplanned and unexpected, but it offered a nice reprieve about halfway through our trip (we were all exhausted by this point). We tuned into a radio station and watched as the trees "danced" along with the songs, and later rolled our windows down to listen to the music being playing through speakers once we were actually inside the Forest of Lights (my name, not theirs). It's very extravagantly done, and the monsters really enjoyed the experience.

Previous week on the blog: 

Sunday: State of the ARC [17]

Monday: Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle, #1) by Rosaria Munda ⋆⋆⋆

Tuesday: Charlie Hernandez and the Castle of Bones (Charlie Hernandez, #2) by Ryan Calejo [Blog Tour: Spotlight & Giveaway]

Wednesday: My Weekly Pull [99] & Can't Wait Wednesday [69]

Thursday: 2019 End of the Year Giveaway!

Friday: NA

Saturday: Mini Reviews [36]

What I'm currently reading:

A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch, #1) by Rin Chupeco

The Addams Family: The Bodies Issue by Zoe Quinn, Philip Murphy

I was trying to read A Heart So Fierce and Broken slowly (in order to savor the experience), but once I got going, I couldn't stop. I should finish it later today! Kemmerer is crazy talented, and I really love this series. Grey! The Bone Witch is my current audiobook, but I'm not sure how I feel about it yet. The Addams Family: The Bodies Issue is a comic I plan on reading with my son later today.

What I plan on reading next: 

Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

Pure (Pure, #1) by Julianna Baggott

Transformers: Exodus: The Official History of the War for Cybertron by Alexander C. Irvine

These are all books I've started and really need to finish! I'm using to December to simultaneously get ahead and catch up, since I don't have any review books this month. 

What I'm watching: 

We started Solo: A Star Wars Story on Netflix, but haven't finished it yet! I'm enjoying it so far, especially seeing how Han and Chewie met and became friends. Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian is perfection! 

Challenge updates: 

Audiobook Challenge: 42 / 30+

Beat the Backlist Challenge: 90 / 100

Discussion Challenge: 5 / 11-20

Q [6] Do you watch book trailers?
Q [7] Does the age of a character's love interest matter to you?
Q [8] Do you prefer hardcovers or paperback copies?
Q [9] Book Anxiety: Is it a thing?
Q[10] Do you want people to point out the flaws in your reviews?

Goodreads Challenge: 423 / 500

Don't forget to check the list of giveaways in the sidebar! Most of them are ending soon!

Mini Reviews [36]

Undiscovered Country #1 by Charles Soule,

Scott Snyder, Giuseppe Camuncoli & 

Daniele Orlandini (Illustrators)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): This November, New York Times bestselling writers SCOTT SNYDER (WYTCHES, A.D.: AFTER DEATH) and CHARLES SOULE (CURSE WORDS, the forthcoming novel Anyone) will team up with artists GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (The Amazing Spider-Man, Darth Vader, Hellblazer) and DANIELE ORLANDINI (Darth Vader) and 2019 Eisner Award-winning colorist MATT WILSON (THE WICKED AND THE DIVINE, PAPER GIRLS) to embark on an epic adventure in the brand-new ongoing series, UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY!

In this special oversized first issue, readers will journey into the near future, and an unknown nation that was once the United States of America—a land that’s become shrouded in mystery after walling itself off from the rest of the world without explanation over thirty years ago. When a team seeking a cure for a global pandemic breaches U.S. borders, they quickly find themselves in a struggle to survive this strange and deadly lost continent!

𑁋𑁋𑁋

Even after reading the synopsis, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Undiscovered Country. Normally, I wouldn't grab something like this on my own, but my husband was very excited when he stumbled across this series, so I decided to see if it was worth all the fuss he was making over it. Surprisingly, it is worth the fuss and fanfare. Soule and Snyder have created something utterly unique and captivating, and I cannot wait to see what they do with this story.

The United States of America hasn't been in contact with the rest of the world in over three decades, and no one knows what's been happening inside of its walls. There's even a barrier in the air that will destroy any aircraft or person that tries to breach it, which means someone from the inside has to allow access. After all these years, a team has been invited inside the walls, and what they found was... sooo unexpected. I'm still thinking about everything I saw! I thought the characters were interesting, and particularly liked the sibling aspect. I want to know more about them and how they found themselves in their current circumstances. 

The characters, world-building, and story all exceeded my expectations. If you're looking for something you've never seen before, Undiscovered Country is definitely worth picking up.

⳼

Amazing Mary Jane #1 by Leah Williams,

Humberto Ramos & Carlos Gomez (Illustrators)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): One lucky lady just hit the jackpot with her own series — THE AMAZING MARY JANE #1 by writer Leah Williams and artist Carlos Gomez will bow this October, putting the spotlight on the love of Peter Parker's life! But if Spider-history has taught us anything, such a position is rarely a good one and usually spells trouble! In a story spinning from the pages of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #25, Mary Jane Watson just got her big shot — but at what cost? And can she really trust anyone as she pursues her Hollywood dreams?

Mary Jane is no stranger to drama, so you can be sure that THE AMAZING MARY JANE will be offering up action, glamor, grit, and even a little sass in this new ongoing series, coming in October!

𑁋𑁋𑁋

Finally! A comic about MJ and what her life is like without Spider-Man's influence. Normally, we see her in his comics and she's developed just enough to make her relevant, but not so much that her character overshadows Peter. After all, he's Spider-Man, and she's just his classmate-friend-girlfriend-fiancé-wife (depending on the comic). However, MJ is so much more than that, and she's repeatedly proven that she can hold her own in a universe full of Powered People. 

Leah Williams is writing a few things I'm reading, and I'm still undecided on whether or not I like her writing style. I feel like she takes some liberties (which writers are allowed to do) that change the essence of very predictable characters. Take Gwenpool for instance... she's one of my favorite characters, and I'm really fond of how both Hastings and Thompson have written her in the past. Williams writes Gwenpool in a way that feels both familiar and foreign, and it's throwing me off (not in a good way).

In The Amazing Mary Jane, we get to see MJ live her life outside of Peter Parker's shadow, and it's a breath of fresh air. She's presently surrounded by various villains, and the girl's not even breaking a sweat. She taking everything in stride, and hasn't told Peter any of the dirty details surrounding her arrangement with a certain someone. I do love that Peter is still in her comic, and that he's there without being the focal point. It's an interesting perspective for sure! We'll see how it goes. 

⳼

Canto #6 (of 6) by David Booher,

Drew Zucker (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): The blockbuster finale to Canto’s first epic quest is here and… there’s no place like home! Atop the Emerald Tower, Canto faces the Shrouded Man to demand his beloved’s heart. Having finally made it to the end of his journey, will Canto learn the truth behind his people’s captivity? Can he battle the Shrouded Man… and survive to return home to tell the tale?

𑁋𑁋𑁋

Canto was a mini-series that ended without really ending. I was expecting the story to conclude at the end of this issue, but a lot of nothing happens before we're told Canto's story will continue in blah blah blah. 

I felt like Canto was underdeveloped as a character, and none of the secondary characters were memorable. Honestly, I couldn't even tell you their names at this point. Someone assisted Canto in the later issues and they had a dragon-like creature, but I can't remember who they are or where they came from. Canto also has a pet that doubles as a friend (sort of). 

I grabbed this comic because I thought it would be an interesting story to read with my son, but there was nothing that separated one issue from the next. Canto goes on a journey, but it never felt like he did anything. I wish we'd seen more between Canto and the girl whose heart he wanted to retrieve/save, but there are only a few broken conversations in the darkness, which were just his memories. If he's risking his life to save someone, I want to know more about that person. 

Also, the villain is the bag guy... why?? His story didn't make sense either. He's super evil now because his own journey didn't go the way he wanted it to? So? Dude makes super evil creatures, enslaves countless others, and all because someone peed in his Cheerios? He said he was "saving" everyone, but I couldn't get behind his reasoning. Canto isn't a series I will be continuing in the future.

⳼

Rivers of London: The Fey and the Furious #1

by Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel, Lee

Sullivan & Paulina Vassileva (Illustrators)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): The award-winning urban fantasy series Rivers of London begins a new story of fast cars and fairy queens, from series creator Ben Aaronovitch!

When an English racecar washes up in the Netherlands, wizarding cop Peter Grant is called in to investigate its unusual cargo. Fresh from suspension, Peter infiltrates the street racing big leagues – but can he find the finish line when he’s sucked into real-life fairyland?

A canonical story, set after bestselling novel Lies Sleeping.

𑁋𑁋𑁋

Make it stop. Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP!

If I wouldn't have felt terrible for DNFing something that was maybe thirty pages (and something I spent money on), I would have stopped reading Rivers of London: The Fey and the Furious after just a few pages. The story was boring, confusing, and the characters left a lot to be desired. Needless to say, I will not be continuing this series.

⳼

Deadpool #1 by Kelly Thompson,

Chris Bachalo (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Deadpool’s newest mercenary job has him going after the King of Monsters, who has claimed a new kingdom for his monstrous subjects…on Staten Island! But you know what they say, when you come at the king, you better not miss! The Merc with a Mouth finds himself neck deep in political intrigue, monster law, and a monster hunter out for blood! It’s like The Crown but with even more swords and monsters! Can Deadpool’s smooth charisma and deft diplomacy allow him to keep his head, or will he be royally screwed?

𑁋𑁋𑁋

Deadpool! Kelly Thompson! Jeff the land shark!

I've always thought Deadpool was an interesting character, but I tend to avoid his comics because he's really gross. He can't die, so he usually gets hurt in very creative and disturbing ways. Also, there was the one time he hid on the Guardians of the Galaxy's ship, and everyone knew he was there because of how badly he smelled. He had broken himself on purpose to fit into a panel or something, and then his body odor gave him away. See? GROSS.

However, I will forever read whatever Kelly Thompson writes, and she's currently writing Deadpool. I loved both her All-New Hawkeye and West Coast Avengers series, so I'm hoping this one will be just as entertaining and creative. I really enjoyed the first issue, although the story didn't unfold how I thought it would. I started to care about one of the characters too soon, and was left feeling very angry at the end. I'm totally okay with this, because it means Thompson is a remarkable writer that makes her readers feel invested in the story and its characters, but ugh. THAT GUY. 

2019 End of the Year Giveaway!

Hello lovelies! I feel like so much has happened this year! My husband was deployed for most of it, and the kiddos and I made a big move so we would be closer to family while he was away (moving with small children and pets is challenging). My son started school this year! My baby is in Kindergarten! The girls just had another birthday, and they're developing very big personalities. As for me, this was the year I turned 30! I'm actually really okay with this, and I am loving where I'm at in life right now.

Through all of this, I've had you guys! You've been there for most of these milestones (in one way or another), and blogging has connected us all. I really love this community and the support it provides. There are people all over the world willing to send positive vibes, a thoughtful tweet, or a funny GIF. There are others that will reach out via email, or leave an encouraging comment. We interact on blogs, Twitter, Instagram, and probably a few other places. Goodreads! It's such a vast community that I really enjoy being a part of. 

This year was my first year participating in #OTSPSecretSister, and I've been having a blast! I recently discovered who my person was (she gave me clues, so of course I Sherlock'd the situation), and I think my person has an inkling of who I am. My White Rabbit has sent very thoughtful boxes that always seem to arrive at just the right time! One of the boxes contained an ARC of A Heart So Fierce and Broken, which was one of my most anticipated reads! I'm reading it right now, and it's seriously good. I'm trying to savor the experience! 

Surprisingly, about a week later, I won a second ARC of A Heart So Fierce and Broken. I know a lot of you have expressed an interest in this book (on Instagram and on Twitter), so I thought it would make the perfect prize for a giveaway! 

Rules:

This giveaway officially starts on December 5th and ends on December 25th. The winner will be announced on December 26th on this post within the Rafflecopter form, and also notified via email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will have Rafflecopter select another winner (read my full giveaway policy here).

International friends -- your giveaway will be a little different! Instead the book mentioned above, you can choose one book (up to $15) from The Book Depository! Just make sure they ship to you, which you can check right here. I know it's not the same thing, but I don't want to leave anyone out!

If the first winner is international, a second winner will be chosen for the book listed above.

a Rafflecopter giveaway