For What It's Worth


Monday, May 11, 2020

My Monday Musings...



How are we all doing? Hanging in there or hardly hanging? (that's what my dad used to say all the time lol)

I've actually been reading some! I read all my May arc's and cleared a few more books off my book cart TBR. Not a lot but I'll take it!

And it seems I'm more successful at getting arc's during a pandemic than in regular times. Is that all I needed to happen??!! lol

I don't usually request many books anymore but there have been a few I've had my eye on so I went for it on Netgalley & then several publishers have been sending pre-approved widgets with their newsletters. Sweet!

Netgalley:


The Fell of Dark by Caleb Roehrig ~ Goodreads I always enjoy his books - especially the characters - and when I saw this LGBQT take on the Buffyverse I jumped on it. Actually, this was supposed to be in my summer Macmillan arc box but they left it out - to be mailed later and then...all this... so I asked if I could get the widget instead and they kindly said yes! Pub date: July 13, 2020








Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert ~ Goodreads Albert is one of my favorite romance authors and I was super excited to see her writing her first NA, LGBQT romance. I never thought I would be approved for this one so I was doubly excited. Two rival fans head to a fan convention for a face off in a gaming tournament. Sparks fly! Pub date: June 2, 2020










Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye~ Goodreads I got rejected for this one on Netgalley and then, oddly enough, contacted by the publisher to review it. Welp, okay! Yes!! Yes!! Described as a modern take on the 90's rom-com's and IS ACTUALLY A MODERN TAKE ON A 90'S ROM-COM. Finally, a book that is exactly as the summary describes. I've read this one already and it was adorable and fun. I'll have a review coming up soon. Pub date: May 19, 2020





A few random tidbits:

Ways to support indie bookstores!

Bookshop is a new site that offers centralized ordering and shipping but allows you to choose an indie bookstore to reap the profit.

Libro.fm is a similar service that offers audiobooks with multiple subscription options from a la carte to monthly with profits going to your local bookstore.

Like romance? Order a mini ($20) or full size ($50) Surprise Box from Love's Sweet Arrow - a romance only bookstore based out of Chicago. The offer has been extended through the end of May.

That's it for now - what are you all reading this week? More importantly, are you reading?? The struggle is real!

28 comments:

  1. "I got rejected for this one on Netgalley and then, oddly enough, contacted by the publisher to review it."
    Um...what? NG is a place of mysteries LOL.

    "Described as a modern take on the 90's rom-com's and IS ACTUALLY A MODERN TAKE ON A 90'S ROM-COM. Finally, a book that is exactly as the summary describes."
    Yay!

    I'm hanging in there. Still powering through my chores and reading and posting, like the little soldier that I am (well...not really LOL). I hope you're well and Kevin got cleared!

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    1. Still waiting - the testing didn't go according to plan (meaning it didn't go lol) This morning though!

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  2. Hooray for actually getting some reading in! that's gotta feel good. :) I've had my eye on Conventionally Yours. I've read one or two by Albert and I like the sound of this NA release.

    I just got an email that one of my local indie bookshops is closing. The owners been having health issues and now with the pandemic she decided she had to close. So sad. :(

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    1. So many places aren't going to make it through this and it's depressing. I try to do what I can with the limited options available.

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  3. If I wasn't re-reading Harry Potter I might not be reading at all! I've got so much going on during the day that by 9.30pm I'm off to bed! Between housework, inventry of cupboards, labelling, cleaning, sorting bookshelves and 3D puzzles I'm on the go all day!

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    1. But that's good! As long as you find something that keeps your mind off things or finding something you enjoy it's all good. Doesn't' need to be reading.

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  4. Yea Karen! Great pick ups! After 5-6 weeks of struggling reading, I've been doing a bit better. I finished a book that's been on my TBR since last fall, and now I'm waiting for a preorder to come tomorrow (He's Come Undone Anthology). Listening to audiobooks is still a mixed bag, the books I've had are okay, but not so engrossing that I can just sit and listen. And I'm not really in my car anymore, so I don't have that time.

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    1. I have that one pre-ordered too! I barely read 2 books over a few months but I seem to have hit some kind of stride. Not great - but better.

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  5. I agree that this has been such a productive time in terms of reading. I hope to keep the momentum up when I have to return to work.

    Thanks for showcasing ways to support local bookstores. The few in my surrounding area have remained closed, so this is a great way to help them out!

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    1. I'm about 45 minutes away from the closet bookstores but they are all doing curbside pickup or online ordering. I read that a few of the children's bookstores are actually doing better because of parents scrambling to find entertainment for the kids.

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  6. I was hanging in there last week, we'll see how this weeks goes. Which publisher newsletters do you get, because I want these widgets (even though I don't need them).

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    1. I got widgets for Random, Bloomsbury and Macmillan. And I'm also getting contacted more about individual books. I'm still not accepting them all because - not really reading but it's nice to finally be invited to the party lol

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    1. What's nice, is that they are all spread out over a few months so I don't need to read everything under pressure.

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  8. I just read that Riverdale book by Roehrig and really liked it. I would read more of his stuff. The convention book looks fun. My reading has been down but I did get through two books last week, so that's progress haha? And I have a ton of new ones I want to read so maybe I can tear myself away from Netflix and Amazon Prime to actually do some lol

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    1. My favorite by him is his debut thriller - Last Seen leaving but I enjoy all his books.

      These days - a book read is progress. No matter how long it takes lol

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  9. I've recently discovered Bookshop and it looks awesome!! Also love libro.fm!

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    1. I just discovered Libby and Hoopla so I'm new (& far behind!) to all of this lol

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  10. Looks like you have gotten some good galley's there. My reading has really really picked up like crazy and I am loving it, I am over the moon happy right now

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  11. My son needed to order the next three Dresden Files paperbacks, and didn't want to order from Amazon, but Barnes and Noble only had one and it wasn't the next one he needed to read. He ended up ordering the next one used from Better World Books, and the one B&N had plus two others he would need in the future just to get free shipping. B&N needs to step up their game in light of people wanting to find alternatives to Amazon. I'll have to give him those indie links you provided above. Thanks! 👍✨

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    1. I got free shipping on the puzzles I ordered from B&N but then they ended it and I get they don't have to power/resources that amazon does but take advantage of this time.

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  12. I'm reading Date Me, Bryson Keller now and it's started off cute so I'm excited. Weird you got rejected on Netgalley and then approached by the publisher, though, do the same people not control both things? Weird, but don't question it when it's a book you wanted to read. I've seen a few people talking about Conventionally Yours and I like the cover but have no idea what it's about but it actually sounds quite cute. I might have to check it out. I wish I was US based as that surprise box from Love's Sweet Arrow is such a cool idea and a great way to support them. Oh well, it's still a really cool idea.

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    1. I hope you like Bryson! I thought it was super cute. It's not always the same people so I don't know what happened. I rarely get approved on Netgalley for YA anyway.

      Then sometimes the book isn't getting the hype they want so the books publicist reaches out.

      I don't know how the weird arc guards work but I was happy to get it lol

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  13. The struggle to read is definitely real! I've been reading but not for long and not very often. It means I'm making stupidly slow progress with books I'd otherwise inhale. *sigh*
    The TBR is creeping up and up... All the freebies, sales and ARC approvals... I'll read them eventually, I'm sure!

    Enjoy your new ones!

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    1. I'm reading!!! I cant' believe it but I'm finally reading again! I take frequent breaks but that's fine. At least I'm finishing books in a reasonable time frame.

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  14. Date Me, Bryson Keller is one on my tbr so I hope you will be able to enjoy it so much! And yay for the publisher contacting you in the end. And yay for feeling in the mood to read more <3

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  15. I'm so late commenting that I've already seen your thoughts on some of these lol. But yay for getting more books!

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