March Recap

I've been a terrible blogger this last month! There's been so much going on that I haven't posted, but my Instagram and Twitter are still alive, so fret not.

I suppose this will have to be a March recap as I didn’t manage to post in March other than my February recap – oops! Sorry guys. I managed to read 14 books in March! Granted some were short and many were audiobooks, they still count.

No One Knows by J.T. Ellison - 4/5 ✩
Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han* - 3/5 ✩
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen* - 3/5 ✩
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling - 5/5 ✩
Morning Star by Pierce Brown - 5/5 ✩
A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin* - 4/5 ✩
The Princess Bride by William Goldman* - 5/5 ✩
Graceling by Kristin Cashore* - 2/5 ✩
The Flood Girls by Richard Fifield - 4/5 ✩
Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins* - 3/5 ✩
The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee* - 2/5 ✩
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams* - 3/5 ✩
Black Canary, Vol. 1: Kicking and Screaming by Brenden Fletcher - 3/5 ✩
Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee - 2.5/5 ✩

*audiobooks - part of my Audiobook 2016 challenge

Thoughts
Morning Star was one of my most anticipated reads of 2016 and it did not disappoint! I took so many pages of notes and quotes from Brown’s work and couldn’t get through it fast enough. It was a fantastic, yet bittersweet end to one of my favorite trilogies.

The Flood Girls was my suggestion for book club this month and I am so glad we went with this one. It was funny and real and stuck with me. The characters just got under my skin in a way that I was sad when it was over. The main character, Rachel, goes home to a small town in Montana to make amends as part of AA after being gone for 9 years. It really shows small town life in America in the 90’s and I’d even say now in some places. Jake, Rachel’s 12-year-old neighbor, just melted my heart.

The Queen of the Night – to be honest, I couldn’t finish this one. I made it half way and was so bored I couldn’t take it. Which isn’t to say it was a bad book, it just wasn’t for me.

Cover Reveals!

We finally got the cover reveal for The Fate of the Tearling *Squee*!! Just look at it! My most anticipated book of 2016! Well, I suppose technically second, right behind the special, collector’s edition of the Illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – which I’m STILL waiting for Scholastic to put up for pre-order. Bloomsbury UK had the UK version up on their site the same day they revealed the cover. Get it together Scholastic! BUT since it’s not a new story/release, The Tearling is my most anticipated *new book*. Anyway, back to The Tearling. Have you started the series yet? You should, I’m telling you right now that you’re missing out if you haven’t.

Cross Stitch
I made some real progress on my Hogwarts Crest; I finally finished page 2 (of 12)! I’ve also started a small side project for my husband (it’s a secret, shhhh…) but haven’t posted any progress photos yet. Sorry, I know these aren't the greatest pics.

March 1

March 23

I made my own grime guards for my scroll stand (the colorful, dotted cloths on the top and bottom). I used this tutorial, and the measurements were good for my stand but I'll make them thinner/not as fat, next time around. The tut used 5 inches, but I probably could have gotten away with 3 - I had to tuck them in the back.

TV/Bookish?
I also discovered Outlander and holy, Jamie Fraser, Batman! Why did I not start watching this show sooner? Jamie is so adorable at times I just want to squeeze him! Have you watched it? So good.

The dynamic between him and Claire is amazing and these actors pull it off so well. It's been a long time since a new show has pulled me in so thoroughly. It has time travel, 1700s Scotland, Scots, a brilliant, smart female lead with a fiery temper, and a strong male lead who can make you melt. I need to know what happens next! I love it so much I picked up the first book in the series and plan to start it soon.