Why April was a BETTER month, but STILL not up to par ^^;;; BUT IT'S MAY NOW!!!



Computer Woes Continue...

If you saw last month's write-up, I've been plagued with technology issues lately, from a busted computer to a cellphone with a dead motherboard. 20 minute posts take me over an hour to do. Reviews take about two hours--or more. I have my cell replaced, though, since it was under warranty! My computer, however...well, I'm hoping to hold out until August when there are some great Back to School deals. But we'll see, since I don't want to continue going through all this trauma every day. Three months is both short AND a very long time, you know?

Today, something magical is happening, though. My computer has no lag yet, which means no jumbled keys, and I haven't had an issue with the mousepad so far. KNOCK ON WOOD. I think my computer had some kind of update on shutdown the other day, so maybe that fixed it? Or it's temporary, but today feels like Heaven as I type!!!


If this keeps up, I can definitely last until August! (I'm still having battery charging issues, but I've removed the battery for now...if this miracle today is really from an update, I'll try plugging the battery back in!!!)

Day by day, I'm just playing it by ear!

At least you'll DEFINITELY have a lot more posts with content from me in May. I signed up for a lot of tours..and not just release day blitzes, either! (Though I do have a few, because some titles sound AWESOME *and* it's a giveaway for you!) I've got reviews, interviews, guest posts, and other fun features coming up!!!

{ETA: Of course, after I gushed about how nice it was and then got to the end of my Music update, the pad isn't working AT ALL, so I need to reboot and see if that fixes it. Otherwise....eep!!!...And phew, it worked, but if this is ANOTHER new glitch...work perfectly and then DIE....definitely won't be able to wait.........)

BUT EVERYTHING IS OKAY BECAUSE...IT'S MAY!!!

I love May. It's probably my favorite month if I think about it. Spring is my favorite season, and in May, the weather is usually FINALLY behaving. No more freak snowstorms, and hopefully no freak summer days where it's too hot too fast. I love weather in the 70s and 80s, and that's usually May! Blue skies, green grass, chirping birds, light breeze....PERFECTION.

So how can ANYTHING be wrong when I have all of that going for me to keep sane? ^.~

MUSIC 🎶

This month, I'm obsessed with the brand-new CD from Peter Hollens entitled Misty Mountains: Songs Inspired by The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Not because it's tied to Tolkien, but because it has this beautiful, epic quality that sweeps through my veins and pierces my bones and just...consumes me. It lets my mind drift to times long past and puts me in the mood for fantasy. I'm not one for listen to music while I write, but this is THE CD to get me in a fantasy writing mood!!!

Another CD that's been getting down to my bones is Stages by Josh Groban. Funny story: My dad gave me the CD for my birthday last year because he remembered me telling him about it. I'd been talking about how Kelly Clarkson sang a song with him and made critics take her more seriously b/c she was so good. He remembered our conversation and was so happy to remember the artist and find the CD! He even picked up an exclusive version with extra tracks because it mentioned a song from Beauty and the Beast and one from Les Mis and he thought I'd like it more. I LOVED HIM SO MUCH FOR TRYING and totally kept the CD, but it's been sealed all this time because...I sort of have had no interest in listening to it. ^^;;; But at work right now, it's one of the only CDs to choose from in the queue, and it's the only thing that's Broadway, so I put it on in the mornings and it just puts me in such a lovely mood for the entire day! Now that I enjoy the CD, I can figure out where I stashed my personal copy last year and dig it out to hear those extra songs!! DEFINITELY a fan of Stages now!

I also discovered and enjoyed Aurora this past month. I really like listening to her CD All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend at work. It's fantastic, and I'm glad to have learned about her!

MOVIES AND TV


My allergies and migraines have continued, so I'm not reading much. But I've been binge-watching The 100. I'm two episodes away from being done with Season 2!

We're also two episodes away from being caught up on S.H.I.E.L.D, but it will be three after tonight because I work late and either won't have time to visit my dad or will get there just in time for Once Upon a Time. Otherwise we'll be an episode behind on that, too! I still don't like the procedural approach to this season, where every episode ends the SAME way with these Underworld characters. Let's get moving already; make stuff happen!!!

That was my April. 

How was yours???

Here's a look at everything that happened this past month!
 

APRIL BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
(Most blog tour stops feature giveaways as well!)


*KINGDOM FROM ASHES by Megan Linski {5/2 blitz}
*
27 DAYS TO MIDNIGHT by Kristine Kruppa {5/3 blitz}

*THE PALADINS by Julie Reece {5/3 blitz}
*QUEEN OF HEARTS by Colleen Oakes {5/5 feature}
*
THE NEVERLAND WARS by Audrey Greathouse {5/9 blitz}

*FIRE AND SHADOW by Imogen Howson {5/10 blitz}
*THE CROWN'S GAME by Evelyn Skye {5/11 review}
*STOLEN HEART by Jaclyn Dolamore {5/11 cover reveal}
*THE PALADINS by Julie Reece {5/12 review} 
*THE FAIREST POISON by Lauren Skidomore {5/13 blitz}
*RISE by Jennifer Anne Davis {5/17 review}
*SPARK by Holly Schindler {5/18 interview}
*ARGOS by Phillip W. Simpson {5/19 interview}
*WITHERING ROSE by Kaitlyn Davis {5/20 blitz}
*NIL ON FIRE by Lynne Matson {5/27 feature} 
*MARKED by Jenny Martin {TBA}

***I don't think I've ever done so many tours and blitzes in one month before, but there are SO MANY new releases in May!!!

 
READING NOW:
{All links to Goodreads!}

*Nothing! Getting ready for Tuesday when A COURT OF MIST AND FURY by Sarah J. Maas comes out!!!

PLANNING TO READ IN MAY:


*A COURT OF MIST AND FURY by Sarah J. Maas {YA/Adult}
*IVORY AND BONE by Julie Eshbaugh {YA}
*THIS SAVAGE SONG by Victoria Schwab {YA}
*THE CROWN'S GAME by Evelyn Skye {YA}
*RUINED by Amy Tintera {YA}
*THE ARTISANS by Julie Reece {YA}
*THE PALADINS by Julie Reece {YA}
*THE FAIREST POISON by Lauren Skidmore {YA}
*RISE by Jennifer Anne Davis {YA}
*WITHERING ROSE by Kaitlyn Davis {YA} 
*THE VENGEFUL HALF by Jaclyn Dolamore {YA}
*QUEEN OF HEARTS by Colleen Oakes {YA}
*OUTLIERS by Kimberly McCreight {YA}
*GOLDEN by Melissa de la Cruz {YA}
*HEARTLESS by Marissa Meyer {YA}
*THE WRATH AND THE DAWN by Renée Ahdieh {YA}
*THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER by Renée Ahdieh {YA}
 
[link to my GoodReads account so you can see my blurb feed as I read]
READ IN APRIL:
{All links to Goodreads!}

TOTAL: 2 Books; 2 Novellas

*TRIXTER by Alethea Kontis {YA}
*MAGNETIC SHIFT by Lucy D. Briand {YA}
*TRIX AND THE FAERIE QUEEN by Alethea Kontis {YA}
*A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas. {YA/Adult} [Redux]

**Probably more, but I didn't keep track of anything on Goodreads atm, and that is what I remember....

REVIEWED IN APRIL:
{All links to my review!}

*THE ORPHAN QUEEN by Jodi Meadows {YA} [Redux]
*TRIXTER by Alethea Kontis {YA}
*MAGNETIC SHIFT by Lucy D. Briand {YA}
*EMERGE by Tobie Easton {YA}
*TRIX AND THE FAERIE QUEEN by Alethea Kontis {YA} 

FEATURES IN APRIL:

*{Cover Reveal/Excerpt} ARGOS by Phillip W. Simpson
*{Month in Review/Monthly Preview} How Computer Problems Destroyed March and Are ALREADY Seeping into April! 
*{Cover Reveal} YOU BEFORE ANYONE ELSE by Julie Cross and Mark Perini
*{Excerpt} Happy Book Day to THE GLITTERING COURT by Richelle Mead!!!
*HAPPY BOOK DAY TO THE MIRROR KING by Jodi Meadows!!!
*{Cover Reveal} SPINDLE by Shonna Slayton
*Release Day Celebration: Nobody's Lady by Amy McNulty  
*Interview with Jodi Meadows, Author of THE MIRROR KING!
*{Guest Post} Three Main Ways the Mythology in Elementals Differs From What We Know by Michelle Madow
*Interviewing Author Tobie Easton 
*{Excerpt} Happy Book Day to THE ROSE AND THE DAGGER by Renée Ahdieh
*{Cover Reveal} SCEPTER OF FIRE by Vicki L. Weavil


Again, sorry I didn't have as many reviews or original features this past month. The computer issues have made it really hard. This post alone has already taken me an hour and a half, when normally I'd be done EVERYTHING about it within an hour!!

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