Category: Book Chat

My Bookish Icks

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I want to disclose this by saying that I have no problems with these things existing. I also have no problems with people enjoying them. I’m just saying that they are a no for me. Keep in mind that I identify as a demisexual (on the asexual spectrum). I’m also more into women than I am men.

  1. Books that are more about the sexual aspect than the actual plot itself. I don’t mind books that have sexual situations in them. As long as its not the entire story.
  2. Instalove. I just really find it a little questionable. It’s also not really for me. Though I can say that I do find it cute in short stories, but it depends on the situation.
  3. Miscommunication tropes. I just can’t. I didn’t really enjoy it in tv shows either. It annoys me really quickly. I’ll still read it, but I will be agitated. Along the lines of miscommunication, I really don’t care for the jumping to conclusion and running off situations either.
  4. Prolonged situations. I mean I get that things have to be drawn out for drama purposes. However, there is an extent where it goes too far. At least for me. It just gets really annoying.
  5. Short book series. This one I feel the need to explain a bit. There are circumstances where it’s okay. Like standalone series for instance. They told their point and it was done. However, the ones that are broken up into short segments that really could have been combined into one book and been just as good irk me. If the point is made by a certain point, that’s fine.

I hope these make sense. I want to point out again that I am in no way judging people’s preferences. I’m just saying what I don’t personally like. I’d love to hear your bookish icks.

TikTok Deleted

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Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

I did it. I deleted TikTok from my phone. Full disclosure, I did keep it on my iPad and I have access to it on my computer. I’m not completely quitting. I’ll watch videos here and there. I’m just not going to post any videos. I’m also not going to be on a daily basis. It’s just too dark for me. I posted a video about it and will share it here.

@starsbooksandtea

Saying goodbye.

♬ original sound – Star’s Books & Tea

I’m not trying to tell anybody that they should quit too. I’m also not bashing anybody or TikTok itself. I just realize now that it’s not for me. And that’s okay.

Have you ever had to set something aside because it just wasn’t healthy for you to be around?

Graduating Training and Weekend Plans

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Today I graduated from training for my job. Starting Monday, I’ll be in Abay. It will last up to twenty days. I have a chance of graduating to production earlier than that, but it depends on how well I do on calls during ABay. I am feeling pretty confident. We shall see. I am really hoping this job works out. It seems very promising so far!

I plan to celebrate this weekend by reading! It doesn’t hurt that I’m hosting my monthly readathon for The Introverted Readathoner group. If you have Facebook, please feel free to look it up and join us! Here are some of the books I plan to try to read this weekend:

What are your plans for this weekend? How was your week?

12 Book Challenge Updates

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  1. Ascenders by C.L. Gaber- Recommend by Pamela Sims- Completed
  2. Obsession by Karen Robards- Recommended by Maggie Eckert- Completed
  3. Pretty Killer by Truant & King- Recommended by Sarah Nicole- Need to read
  4. Escaping Demons by Killian Wolf- Recommended by Sheena Gotta- Need to Read
  5. Cell by Stephen King- Recommended by Dustyn Brown- Completed
  6. Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey- Recommended by Books Are The New Black– Completed
  7. Wolves And Daggers by Melanie Karsak- Recommended by Breezy Jones- Need to Read
  8. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen- Recommended by One Book More– Need to Read
  9. His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik- Recommended by Roxy Sterling- Need to Read
  10. The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams- Recommended by Emily Camp- Need to Read
  11. Crave by Tracy Wolff- Recommended by Karen Ludwick- Need to Read
  12. Raven Blood by M Sinclair- Recommended by Kelsey Hicks- Need to Read

I’m working on this. I thought I was further behind than I was. So there’s that!

Nikkie’s Birthday Reading Challenge TBR

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1. Read a Book With a Friend: Hair of the Dog by MK Mancos Kathleen Scott – Author and Cara/September/Echo North– Reading with Roxy Sterling and Leslie Suzanne Dobson

2. Read a Book Recommended to You: Between The Moons By PL Porter– Recommended by Roxy Sterling

3. Blindfold Yourself And Pick A Book From Your TBR: The Keeper of the Night by Kylie Lee Baker

4. Read a Graphic Novel: Heartstopper (Probably all 4 books) by Alice Oseman

5. Read a Book With A Purple Cover: Dracos Anthology

6. Read a Book Gifted to You: Fortune And Glory by Janet Evanovich– Gifted by Roxy Sterling

7. Read A Book With Your Pet: Buried Beneath by Debbie Baldwin Books (Technically I can use almost any book I read for this)

8. Read A Book With A Cake On The Cover: Cupcakes and Catastrophe by Sue Hollowell (Cupcakes count!!!!)

9. Read an Anthology Story (Or the whole thing!): Mythical Creatures Anthology

10. Read a Book From Your Favorite Genre: Murder and Grits by Karen McSpade, Author

Reset Did Me Good

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I did not intend to take a break as it were. At the end of the day, I’m glad I did. It has really done me well. I’ve been home for three days now. I was kind of in the background. For one, I was trying to finish a book. I just finished it a bit earlier today. For two, a bunch of people at the convention I went to tested positive for covid. Including my partner. So far, I haven’t shown any symptoms. Both tests I took came up negative. I’m still going to go in quarantine mode for the next two weeks to be on the safe side.

This time off has helped me reflect on myself so much. I think getting out of the house and away for a bit has helped as well. Also, I was at a book convention, so I also had some amazing retail therapy. As I do every year. I actually didn’t buy as much this year as I normally did. I wasn’t as impulsive. Here’s a video of my haul:

@starsbooksandtea

#lls2022 #booktok #bookmail My LLS haul and book mail I came home to Part 1!

♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral – WZ Beat
@starsbooksandtea

#lls2022 #booktok #bookmail My LLS haul and book mail I came home to Part 2!

♬ SHIMMY SONGTRADR 30 HIT WONDER – Artist manager manager

I do realize there’s still a lot there. My mom decided to gift me some books as well. I’m so thankful for her! I did do something really awesome (to me) when I got home. I sat down and made a list of blogs I want to write and a list of blogs I should write here soon. Here’s the blog topics I’ll be including in my blog currently:

Blog Tours
Cover Reveals
Release Blitzes
Book Reviews
Book Spotlights
TV Show Reviews (By the Season)
Movie Reviews
Any book-related topic I am inspired by
Author/Reader Interviews
Before the book speculations/guesses
Book Tags
Product Reviews
Quote Reactions
Book Rants

I’m pretty sure this list will be added to and edited to a lot as my blog goes on from here. Which is completely fine. The biggest thing I’m trying to do is get out of the rut of routine that I threw myself in. I want my blog to feel more authentic. More me. I’ll still do a post every day, but it will be randomly selected from either something above or anything that strikes my fancy. Some days, there might be more than one blog. It all depends. I do have an author interview coming soon. I sent her over questions and some things I’d like her to send back today. I’m really excited!

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read this. I sincerely hope that you enjoy the changes that you see here in the future.

Upcoming Events

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I hope everybody is doing well! I’ve decided to take the rest of the week as a mental relaxation week. I’m also preparing for my trip next week. I can’t believe it snuck up so fast! For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been going to a convention every year since 2018. It’s called Literary Love of Savannah. I’m so excited!

I’m going to do my very best to post every day after the day is over to talk about the day. I do recognize that I am introverted. These kind of events are very draining on me. I’m at least going to try. Once I’m back, I’ll start posting the backlist reviews. I’ll post one a day until I’m caught up. I’ll also make a post every day. I feel inspired again and it feels amazing!

Before I conclude this blog with my reading updates, I wanted to give a special Happy Birthday to my sister, Tessla! She’s so amazing. She’s always been there for me. I love her very much!!!

So my reading plans. I downloaded some audiobooks to Apple Books on my devices and ebooks on my Kindle app on my tablet. I limited myself to a certain number. My goal is to read them all and then download more. Keep myself focused. I will also be reading paperbacks as well. I will have them close to me. I think it will do me good. Keep me organized if you will! I’m currently listening to Out of the Shadows by Jenn D. Young. I’m reading Royal Captive by Heather Frost, Avalon by Ceril N Domace, and The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich. I’m a mood reader and I’m buddy reading with my mom.

Thank you so much for reading! Tell me all about what you’re reading! What’s your latest favorite read that you couldn’t put down?