Book Haul - Amazon and Booksamillion

 

Raise your hand if you are obsessed with books.  I'll go first ✋ 

It doesn't matter how many books I already have, how many are littered throughout my house, how full the bookshelves are, or how many are still in my TBR (to be read) pile.  

I can't stop.  If I see a good book, I have to have it.  So it happened this past week, I got some books that I'm hoping will snap me out of my reading funk.  And before I show you the books, I will say, I found the right book and I have been reading non stop since Saturday.  

 

The first 3 books are from Booksamillion, from their bargain book section.  I rarely buy full priced book, although I did get two full priced from Amazon, which I'll show you below.  But it definitely was a rare thing for me to do.

 

 

Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez

 

Inspired by the star-crossed tale of Tristan and Eseult, this is the story of the legend's true heroine: Branwen. For fans of Graceling and The Mists of Avalon, this is the first book of a lush fantasy trilogy about warring countries, family secrets, and forbidden romance.

 

I love the tale of Tristan and Eseult  taking place in the time of King Arthur.  I've always loved their story, and so this book was a definitely pick up for me.

 

 

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh

 

When all is lost, how do you find the courage to keep moving forward?

1938. Lena Papadopoulos has never quite found her place within the circus, even as the daughter of the extraordinary headlining illusionist, Theo. Brilliant and curious, Lena—who uses a wheelchair after a childhood bout with polio—yearns for the real-world magic of science and medicine, her mind stronger than the limitations placed on her by society. Then her unconventional life takes an exciting turn when she rescues Alexandre, an orphan with his own secrets and a mysterious past.

As World War II escalates around them, their friendship blossoms into something deeper while Alexandre trains as the illusionist’s apprentice. But when Theo and Alexandre are arrested and made to perform in a town for Jews set up by the Nazis, Lena is separated from everything she knows. Forced to make her own way, Lena must confront her doubts and dare to believe in the impossible—herself.

 

I debated bringing this one, until the last minute.  I don't know why.  I mean the story sounds interesting and the cover is gorgeous.  I know, I'm one of those that is often attracted to books by their covers, which has led me to some books I didn't enjoy, but it's ok, I love a beautiful book regardless of. 

 

 

 

The Last White Rose by Alison Weir

 

Elizabeth of York is the oldest daughter of King Edward IV. Flame-haired, beautiful, and sweet-natured, she is adored by her family; yet her life is suddenly disrupted when her beloved father dies in the prime of life. Her uncle, the notorious Richard III, takes advantage of King Edward’s death to grab the throne and imprison Elizabeth’s two younger brothers, the rightful royal heirs. Forever afterward known as "the Princes in the Tower," the boys are never seen again. On the heels of this tragedy, Elizabeth is subjected to Richard’s overtures to make her his wife, further legitimizing his claim to the throne. King Richard has murdered her brothers, yet she feels she must accept his proposal.

As if in a fairy tale, Elizabeth is saved by Henry Tudor, who challenges Richard and defeats him at the legendary Battle of Bosworth Field. Following his victory, Henry becomes king and asks Elizabeth to be his wife, the first queen of the Tudor line. The marriage is happy and fruitful, not only uniting the warring houses of Lancaster and York—the red and white roses—but producing four surviving children, one of whom, Henry VIII, will rule the country for the next thirty-six years.

 

Alison Weir, as you may already know, is one of my favorite historical fiction writers.  She is brilliant at what she does, and one of her favorite eras to write about is the Tudor Era, which as you may also know is also one of my favorite eras.  Anything King Henry, his wives and so on is fascinating to me.

 

This one was definitely not a hard choice to bring home, and to place in my Alison Weir pile. 

 

 

Now the next two are the ones I got from Amazon, and actually paid full price.  I did so because I've been wanting to read these for a very long time, and because it was a little treat for myself.  I believe we all need to indulge sometimes and treat ourselves to something we love.

 

The very first book is the one that has knocked me off my reading funk and renewed my love for reading.  I picked it up, read the first few lines and knew that I was going to be hooked.  This book, is going to be one of my all time favorite reads, I have no doubt. 

 

 

Never by Jessa Hastings

 

Growing up, Daphne always knew Peter Pan would come for her. The way he'd come for her mother, and her grandmother Wendy before that. The Darling girls. Their stories are all the same: the forever-young boy at their window after their thirteenth birthday, and the shimmering, magical land behind a star.

When Peter doesn't show for Daphne until she's seventeen, inexplicably full-grown and with no excuse for his tardiness, Daphne doesn't know what to think. Still, she has always been told that Peter Pan is her destiny. It's beyond choice to take his hand and leap into the stars, no matter what comes next.

But in Neverland, Peter's true colors begin to show. One moment, he's making Daphne's heart flutter, and the next, he's forgotten her entirely. So when Daphne stumbles into the path of Jamison Hook, the pirate son of Peter's nemesis, she lets herself get swept up in his vulgar charm, despite the warning signs.

Both boys are trouble, and both have dangerous secrets about this strange fantasy land they call home―and if she loses her heart to either one, Daphne might just lose herself, too.

 

Do you understand now why I've been wanting to read it and why is is quickly becoming one of my favorite books?

 

Peter Pan, my friends.  Peter Pan and Neverland.  I am already in love with this book.  It's such a sweet story bringing to life one of our favorite fairy tales but in a different way, as we get to see an older Peter Pan, Captain Hook's son and Daphne who is Wendy's granddaughter.  I'm not going to say anything else, other than I am so thrilled to have gotten this book and can't wait to keep reading and seeing what happens.  I'm sure I'll have more to share with you on it, later on.

 

 

 

What the River knows by Isabel Ibanez

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and a golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

What the River Knows is the first book in the thrilling Secrets of the Nile duology.

I have read such amazing reviews on this book, so I didn't mind paying the full price either.  Funny story, but growing up, for the longest time I wanted to be an archeologist, especially in Egypt.  The pyramids, the mummies, was and is something that I find interesting.  This story kind of brings some of that to light for me, at least the Egypt and mummies and ancient history and so on.

I am very much looking forward to reading this one next.  

As I said above, not a very big book haul but nonetheless, I wanted to share with you what is on my current summer reading list.  I'm hoping to get all these read in the next two months, and if I do I will be happily back on my reading kick.

Have you been reading anything interesting lately?  Do you have a good book recommendation for me and the other blog readers?  If so, be sure to leave it down below.