Top Ten Tuesday – Standalone Books That Need a Sequel

Hello and welcome back to another Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme originally created by The Broke and The Bookish, and is now hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today’s topic is: Standalone Books That Need a Sequel

Because I don’t read that many standalone novels that have open endings, I’m going to do a mix of series and standalone novels that I think needed another book to properly wrap things up.

Let’s get started.

Images are from Goodreads | Links lead to their respective Goodreads pages (Two Can Keep a Secret leads to my review)

*The Fixer duology by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. There are two books in this series and I am absolutely devastated that there isn’t going to be a third. I need more Asher and Tess (and the ending of the second book is NOT enough), but apparently, I’m not going to get anymore any time soon.

*Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus. That ending left some questions that really need answers. I really hope there’s a second book that will clarify everything and make it all understandable.

*Sammy Keyes and the Kiss Goodbye by Wendelin Van Draanen. I love Sammy and I can never have enough of her and Marissa’s antics. I know there are 18 books in the series, but I still want more! (And am I the only one that didn’t like the last book?)

*Will Robie Series by David Baldacci. There are five books in the series, but I still want more. The ending of book five was pretty nice and I would like to know what happened to the characters after that.

A Top Ten Tuesday can have four answers, right?

Apparently, I don’t read that many books that have open endings or that need a sequel. What books made it on to your TTT’s? And do you agree with me about the ending of any of these? Let’s chat in the comments below! (Be sure to link to your TTT’s so that I can check them out!)

Tag Thursday – The Coffee Book Tag

Welcome back everyone to Tag Thursday. It’s been a while since I did this (2 weeks, yikes!) and I’m glad to be doing this again. Tag Thursday is where I scour the internet and all things bookish to find interesting ‘quizzes’ to answer so that you get to know more about me and my blog. However, today’s tag comes from the lovely Umairah @ Sereadipity (go check her out!) and is called The Coffee Book Tag. I am not a coffee drinker (the smell is is awful in my opinion) but I love the prompts, so let’s jump right in!

(1) Black Coffee | Name A Series That’s Tough To Get Into But Has Hardcore Fans:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. First of all, it’s long. Second of all, it drags. Third of all, I hated it with all my guts. And it has lots of fans – I’m just not one of them.

(2) Peppermint Mocha | Name A Book That Gets More Popular During the Winter or A Festive Time of Year:

The Grift of the Magi by Ally Carter (I just realized that I’ve been spelling it wrong, LOL). It’s been a while since I’ve read this, but I remember it was about someone stealing from a charity, Christmas, and winter. A cozy heist with a family of characters that I’ve grown to love.

(3) Hot Chocolate | What Is Your Favorite Children’s Book?

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. Anne Shirley, can we please be bosom friends?

(4) Double Shot of Espresso | Name A Book That Kept You On the Edge Of Your Seat From Start to Finish:

The Hit (Will Robie #2) by David Baldacci. Will Robie is an assassin for the US and he’s new case is literally red hot. (Warning: There are deaths, and violence/guns are used a lot cause he’s an assassin)

(5) Starbucks | Name A Book You See Everywhere:

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo. It’s the newest and hottest release on Goodreads right now.

(6) The Hipster Coffee Shop | Give A Book By An Indie Author A Shout Out:

The Sacrifice by Indrajit Garai. A thought provoking collection of three short stories. REVIEW

(7) Oops! I Accidentally Ordered Decaf | Name A Book You Were Expecting More Of:

The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall. This was such a let-down. I was looking for a story with a terrible organization, an unexpected family history, and just lots of action, NOT a ‘heroine’ who runs off to Paris in the middle of the night with a guy who pulled a knife on her literally five minutes earlier without telling her mother or best friend or any soul in the whole universe. Then she gets to Paris and is like: Oh, maybe I should have told Mom. She’s gonna worry. Anyone got a phone?

(8) The Perfect Blend | Name A Book Or Series That Was Both Bitter And Sweet, But Ultimately Satisfying:

Rivals in the City by Y. S. Lee. This is the last book in The Agency Series and I loved it so much. It’s sweet because I’m satisfied with the way the series ended, but bitter because I can not get enough of Mary and James’ ridiculous banter.

(9) Green Tea | Name A Book Or Series That Is Quietly Beautiful:

Honestly, I don’t know. Suggestions are welcome!

(10) Chai Tea | Name a Book Or Place Series That Makes You Dream Of Far Off Places:

Any book that takes place in England awakens the travel bug in me. I really really really really want to visit England someday.

(11) Earl Grey | Name Your Favorite Classic:

Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene. It is a classic, right?

That’s it! I’m Tagging:

Kay | Crystal | Ashley | Meeghan | Mel | Jess | Jo

*If I’ve tagged you and you’ve already done the tag, I’m sorry I missed it but link up in the comments anyway so I can check it out! And you don’t have to do the tag if you don’t want to!

Sunshine Blogger Award – THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Hey friends! Today, I bring you the Sunshine Blogger Award. I was nominated by the wonderful Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads and Bakes. You should definitely check her blog out! Thank you so much Meeghan for nominating me for this award!

RULES:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blogging site. (If you haven’t been to Meeghan’s blog, you need to stop reading this, and do that RIGHT NOW. Then you can come back and see the rest of my post 🙃)
  2. Answer the questions.
  3. Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
  4. Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts.
  5. List the rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo on your site or on your post.

Questions:

Tell me 3 non-bookish things about yourself!


I love to cook/bake! Especially bread, pizza, and cake from scratch.

I love to code with HTML and CSS.

I love traveling!

What are you currently reading, and what is your predicted rating for it?

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus. Maybe a four/three and a half star?

What were 3 reads of 2017 that really stuck with you? (Yes, I know this was over a year ago)

Nancy Drew. Nancy Drew. Nancy Drew. That is literally the only thing I read all year, haha.

Who or what is your favorite animal character and what book are they from?

Old Yeller from Old Yeller by Fred Gipson. I am not a cat or dog person, and I’m pretty surprised that I felt so emotionally torn at the end of the book. I think I cried.

What was the last book you read that made you cry?


The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I’m pretty sure a few tears were shed by that heart-shattering ending.

What is your favorite fairy-tale retelling?


I don’t think I’ve read a fairy-tale retelling. I like my fairy-tales just the way they are. (Yeah, right.)

What is your most anticipated read for 2020?


I haven’t been thinking that far into the future yet. But if there is a Debutantes #3 by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, I’d totally read that.

Are you on track for your Goodreads goal, and do you think you will hit it? (If you’re not doing Goodreads, then pick another challenge… or tell me about all of your challenges!)

I’m currently 11 books ahead, so yeah. I’m on track and I’m pretty confident that I’ll hit or pass it.

What is your favorite genre, and list me three books in it you would recommend?

Thrillers and Espionage.

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Vanishing Year by Kate Moretti

The Innocent by David Baldacci

What is a book that has sat unread on your bookshelf the longest?


Modely Spy by Shannon Greenland. I really want to read this, but I haven’t gotten around to doing so.

Kiss, Marry, Kill: Ron Weasley (Harry Potter), Simon Spier (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda) and Wylan (Six of Crows)

I haven’t read any of these books, so I’m going to substitute some other guys for this prompt.


Kiss: Hale from Heist Society by Ally Carter

Marry: Zach from Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter (I think he shows up in this one, but I’m not sure)

Kill: Stellan from The Conspiracy of Us by Maggie Hall

Tagging:

Kim | Ashley | Kay | Christina | Chaima | Cathy | Molly | Evelina | Umairah | Elise | Rachel

Questions:

  1. What’s your favorite food?
  2. What’s your favorite color?
  3. What’s your favorite song?
  4. Who’s your favorite character?
  5. If you could visit a character’s home, whose would it be?
  6. Which underrated author do you love?
  7. Which popular author do you hate?
  8. How many books have you read in the past three years?
  9. What was your first highest rated book of 2019?
  10. What was your first lowest rated book of 2019?
  11. Which book is your most highly anticipated for 2019?

If you want to answer these questions and I haven’t nominated you, go right ahead! Be sure to link back here and I hope you have fun 💖

Thanks again Meeghan for nominating me!

Top Ten Tuesday – Favorite Characters in Books

Hi friends and welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme originally created by The Broke and The Bookish, and is now hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today’s topic is: Favorite Couples in Books

However, I’m gonna be a rebel this week. Instead of the topic that was chosen, I’m going to do Favorite Characters in Books.

Let’s get started!

*Tess. I’ve already elaborated on my love for Tess Kendrick. Her sassy behavior, confidence, and take-charge personality is so amazing. Read it all here! Book: The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

*Anne. Someday, I need to go to PEI (Prince Edward Island in Canada) and hunt down Green Gables and Anne’s room. I loved this series and Anne so much. Her confidence, mischief, boldness, and her wonderfully feisty personality are to die for. I mean, she takes it as an insult when someone misspells her name (without an E at the end), and literally smashed a slate over Gilbert’s (I LOVE HIM SO MUCH TOO) head when he called her ‘Carrots’. That is my favorite scene from that book. And as she matures, it’s all better because even though she doesn’t have a serious temper (she controls it better), she still makes hilarious mistakes and loses her temper sometimes at times. Book: Anne of the Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

*Mary. I loved Mary’s character. She’s a warm, loving woman who tackles any and every case. She’s a champion for those who are wronged and doesn’t care about money. She’d rather help an old friend for free than bleed their accounts dry. Her Italian family are also very hilarious and it was a refresher to see how much they loved her. Book: Accused by Lisa Scottoline

*Nancy. The very first heroine that I sincerely loved. Her adventures had me turning page after page after page. She introduced me to the world of mysteries and I’ve been hooked ever since. Book: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene

*Mary. This Mary is from The Agency series by Y. S. Lee. Mary is fiesty, determined, and very unlike any lady that you’d find in Victorian England’s society. The mysteries she solves are all engrossing and I really loved her relationship with James. Book: A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee

*Jane. Jane is like all the other girls/ladies on this list. Feisty, determined, and a serious reader just like me!. Her determination, and passion is unmatched and she is very modern for her times. (It’s the 1300s/1500s or something around or in between that?) She’s a feminist in a time when women were considered nothing more than just another pawn in a game. Book: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

*Cammie. Her series are amazing! I’m sooo heart-broken that it had to come to an end, but I love you Cammie. I loved you, I still love you, and I will forever love you till the end of time. Book: Gallagher Girl Series by Ally Carter

*Lia. The Naturals is one the best psychological mystery series that I’ve read and one of the side characters, Lia, is amazing. She’s bold, she’s manipulative, sweet, caring in her own way (aka she hates you everyday until you realize she secretly fiercely loves you and would protect you forever and ever), and one of the best side characters I’ve ever encountered. I love how one of the books centered around her past (I’m sorry, it’s been a while and I can’t remember which one…). Book: The Naturals Series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

*Sammy. Sammy Keyes is the very definition of sarcasm and humor. I’m pretty sure a picture of her would show up in Merriam Webster’s definition of the words. Eighteen books of Sammy being a relate-able 13-14 year old, sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong, and getting into all kinds of trouble (with the bad guys, good guys, and her arch-nemesis at school) will have you in stitches and wishing there were more books. The books are all light and humorous and I highly recommend them! Book: Sammy Keyes Series by Wendelin Van Draanen

*Will Robie. He’s a calculated assassin who has made his personal life very detached from his professional one. He’s never let himself love anyone and doesn’t have any family to speak of. I loved his simplicity, no-nonsense manner, and sympathized with him a lot over the course of the series. Warning: There’s a considerable amount of violence and death in the series. Book: The Innocent by David Baldacci

UPDATE:

*Jo. I just realized that I forgot to add Jo from Little Women… (why am I so scatter-brained?) She’s an aspiring authoress (like me), has a hot temper (like me), loves her family fiercely (like me), and she also broke my heart later on in the novel (something to do with Laurie in case you are wondering). But I still love her and will forever do. Book: Little Women and Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott (The one I read incorporated Little Women and Good Wives into one, but they are sometimes separate books.)

That’s it for this Tuesday!

Who are your favorite characters/couples? Let’s chat in the comments! (Be sure to link to your TTT so I can check it out!)