Blodeuedd's Monday Audio Review: Poemsia by Lang Leav

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins

Release date: 12-03-19

Publisher: Listening Library

YA FIC

Own

I enjoyed this one (but yes there were issues I will discuss later.) Verity writes poetry, lives in a bookshop, and then things change. Her friend urges her to try to get heard, because they live in a world where poets are super famous it seems. And through instagram she gets noticed and she will be on her way to fame.

But before that there is friendship, a blossoming romance and a question of what she wants. And I did enjoy it.

Ok, so to the issue. The author seems to dislike goodreads and reviewers. She talks about a site called Readers and they are superevil there, and have secret groups where they talk about how to take down authors, and then one star everything. And most read books they hate to one star, like wtf? So Verity questions why read a book that you will hate? Well VERITY, how the f would I know that?! There are authors I have loved, and then yes book 2 has gotten a 1 cos how the f will I know?!

Also the evil person in the book is a reviewer on goodreads and she is famous for it *snorts*

Saskia is a great narrator! I also liked her accent. So yes she made it great

Verity Wolf dreams of being a poet—not that she’d ever admit it to anyone. Her best friend Jess thinks she’s definitely got what it takes, while her cat, Zorro is characteristically indifferent. As for the cute boy she’s just met, he’s about to discover her best kept secret.

 When Verity stumbles on an old, mysterious book, Poemsia, she finds herself suddenly thrust into the dizzying world of social media stardom, where poets are the new rock stars and fame is sometimes just a click away.   

Audiobook Review - In a Badger Way by Shelly Laurenston

Author: Shelly Laurenston

Narrator: Charlotte Kane

Title: In a Badger Way

(Honey Badger Chronicles #2)

Genre: UF, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Humor

Format: Audiobook

Published: March 26th 2019

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Petite, kind, brilliant, and young, Stevie is nothing like the usual women bodyguard Shen Li is interested in. Even more surprising, the youngest of the lethal, ball-busting, and beautiful MacKilligan sisters is terrified of bears. But she’s not terrified of pandas. She loves pandas.

Which means that whether Shen wants her to or not, she simply won’t stop cuddling him. He isn’t some stuffed Giant Panda, ya know! He is a Giant Panda shifter. He deserves respect and personal space. Something that little hybrid is completely ignoring.

But Stevie has a way of finding trouble. Like going undercover to take down a scientist experimenting on other shifters. For what, Shen doesn’t want to know, but they’d better find out. And fast. Stevie might be the least violent of the honey badger sisters, but she’s the most dangerous to Shen’s peace of mind. Because she has absolutely no idea how much trouble they’re in . . . or just how damn adorable she is.

Review:

Read book 1 and enjoyed it. Had to check this one out because 1) it fits a couple of my challenges, 2) PANDA!, 3) I want to see Stevie find happiness. 

In book 2, we follow Stevie and Shen Li. Stevie is petite, kind, smart, and young. She is also one of the lethal, ball-busting, and beautiful MacKilligian sisters. However, Stevie has a lot of anxiety and fears. She is normally terrified of bears, but for some reason she is okay with pandas. Shen is a panda shifter who is hired to be a bodyguard for Stevie and her friend. However, they find themselves falling in lust and love. Stevie has a way finding trouble or trouble finding her? 

I love, love, love Shen. I love LOVE how he is a panda shifter. I cannot remember a time I have seen one of these!! And why are they so rare???? More panda shifters would be lovely. Yes, I'm biased....they are in my top 5 favorite animals! 

Ugh. I liked Stevie in the last book, but she really annoyed me here. Maybe she is better off a side character? She has a lot of anxieties, fears, and depression. She is also very Sheldon-like (you know...from the Big Bang show?) and it drove me absolutely insane. 

This did have humor and there was NEVER a dull moment for sure. I caught myself chuckling, but I found myself rolling my eyes more so this time around. Not like the writing changed much from book 1, but I just got annoyed more here. 

It was over-the-top. Sometimes it was fun, sometimes it felt too much. Again...found myself being annoyed and had to take a break. Too much. Stevie was too much. The drama was too much. The bitchy-ness of our characters...too much. 

Just too much. 

The narrator did well. I believe this was a different narrator then in book 1. I think the other narrator fit better. 

In the end, I wish I had liked this more. I found myself having to take breaks or I would zone out. It was just a lot. Lots going on...lots of attitudes....lots of drama....lots of over-the-top moments....just too much in this one. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll read book 3, because I am not crazy about Max.... but we shall see. I'll give this 2 stars. 

Challenge(s):
- #6 for Audiobook challenge

- #5 for Romance Reading Challenge 

Book Review: Mrs Shakespeare by Robert Nye

Author: Robert Nye

Title: Mrs. Shakespeare

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: hardcover

Pages: 224

Published: 1993 

Where I Got It: My shelf (Flint Library book sale)

Summary: 

In a memoir written seven years following her famed husband's death, Anne Hathaway recalls her life with William Shakespeare, especially a remarkable week spent in London, in April 1594, in his lodgings over a fishmonger's shop.

Review:

This has been collecting dust on my shelf for about 3 years now. I bought this at the Flint Library book sale a while back. Finally dusted this off and gave it a chance. 

This is a memoir of Anne Hathaway...the wife of the famous William Shakespeare. It has been 7 years since her husband has died and she has decided to sit down and recall her life with him. 

The first thing you'll notice is that the formatting of this is really different. Which fun and different of course. It's written in verse-style. Anne wanted to honor her husband by writing her diary and reflections in this way. Different and not for everyone. I liked it because it seemed to fit and it was fun!

However...........I did have issues with the jumping around in the timeline. I would've liked her to tell their story from when they first met and so on. I would've loved to see their relationship develop and change and then she at the end they finally understand each other. This felt....hollow in a way. 

I would've also loved to learn more about her and the kids from her POV. You see it a little bit here and there, but she focuses so much on him and his career. They are pretty much forgotten in good ol' Willy's shadow so it would've been nice for this to focus more on them. Yes, I get he was her hubby and a big part of her life, but it would've been nice to know her before she met him too and her life after him. That is what I was hoping for when I picked this up 3 years ago. 

Overall, I did have fun with this. Some humor and it was nice learning a bit about Anne. I did have some big issues though. I'll give this 2 stars. 

Reading Challenge(s)

- TBR Reading Challenge (#1)

TMST - Chores

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

2/8/2022 What’s the chore you resent having to do the most?

I have been so bad lately with joining in! My goal is to try and join in every other week! eeee. I've missed some good prompts like last week's!

Couldn't resist this one!

I think the chore I resent the MOST is dishes. I HATE it. I especially hate having to gather the dishes my FH's leaves around. GRRR put it in the sink! *shakes fist* It's not that hard. GAH!

I also hate, hate, hate putting cloth away after laundry. Gah.