Books with Noel

Weekends are officially my binge reading time, not all day mind you but with my hubby off work most weekends, around family time & church, I'm typically able to get way more reading in compared to any other time of the week! I love fantasy books, sci-fi as well, but fantasy is my comfort genre. As long as there's at least some romance on the side, I'm always ready for a good fantasy read~ More often lately I want a cozy fantasy read , something I can treat like my favorite chick-flicks and just unwind with in an evening, that way even if I'm in a slump I'm more likely to be able to stick through. That's what inspired this weekend's post, some perfect fantasy reads that I found quite cozy + perfect to binge read in a weekend!! Please share some of your recs too!! I'm always looking for more fantasy reads!! Until The Stars Fall by Vanessa Rasanen is the first in an interconnected standalone series, so it can be read by itself completely! I devoured th...

Under The Oak Tree Vol. 2 by Suzi Kim Fantasy | Spicy | Romance | Magic | Adventure | Growth & character arcs/depth to root for and obsess over Amazon | B&N | Thriftbooks | Goodreads   *Book 2, there is also a comic & manwha for the series* Synopsis:    Most fairytales end with a wedding and a happily-ever-after—but this is no fairytale. The updated and official translation of  Under the Oak Tree , the #1 webnovel on MANTA, continues in this second volume. As her first winter in Anatol turns to spring, Lady Maximilian finds herself confronting an unfamiliar hope. Her voice and her magic strengthen every day; the only parts of Calypse Castle left to refurbish are its gardens, which she plans to fill with blooming flowers; and the way her husband, the recalcitrant war hero Sir Riftan, looks at her from across their bedroom makes her feel, for the first time in her life, that she might be worthy of love and affection.  However, Maxi's life ...

 Happy New Year lovelies!! How has 2026 come faster than any other year?  2025 was gone so quickly it feels like, maybe because I was chasing a toddler and was so busy stepping into my role as a first time stay at home mom that I just didn't notice? I feel like I blinked but I was trying to be so in the moment with my family that I don't know how the year is already over... Is it like that for any other moms or parents? All The Cozy Things We have a cold front right now that is so wonderful, I love the cold weather & getting to do all the cozy warm things when it comes ☕️🕯️  My mother-in-law made me some homemade candles that I have lit at our little kitchen table, I've got one warm sweater pulled out (the rest are packed cause of the moving and remodeling), & I sit on the little couch in the evenings with my pug in my lap and either my computer or a book in hand.  The little couch in our room is right next to Little Coffee Bean's crib, so I'm able to be ne...

   Thursday, December 18th | Before the said weekend Morning lovelies!! *coffee slurps* It has been a very long time since I've done a post on the blog, but it's now my de-stress-fun-hobby once a week I'm making sure I get back to.      My toddler has decided she's a toddleraserous-rex and with our next one on the way I'm enjoying all the reading time I can get right now when morning sickness isn't striking at least... Holidays are upon us, Christmas and the winter season are my favorites usually, but this year... we've had to move again and we're remodeling at the same time this time... add in pregnancy sickness and it's... a tad stressful this season. So this weekend I'm trying to finish my reading goal for this year! I'm at 42 books out of 50, so just 8 more books to read!! There's no end to my 'TBR Mountain' so it's not hard to grab a book to read, but my mood reading is striking so my list to try and get through this week...

OKAY back story before I get into this review! (I'M SO SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW LOL) *all the happy squeals*  So Under The Oak Tree by Suji Kim , started as a manwha (for those that don't know this is basically like a webtoon comic), and I found it and fell utterly and completely in love with it. I had so hoped that one day it would be translated and turned into a book series, and low and behold~ here it is!! Clarification: the author did write a book series and the comic came after, but the series is not in english so finding a translation of it is rather hard. 😍😍😍 I'll share the book's details before getting into my review!! Under The Oak Tree the novel Vol. 1 by Suji Kim Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Synopsis:   Most fairytales end with a wedding and a happily-ever-after—but this is no fairytale. The updated and official translation of Under the Oak Tree, the #1 webnovel on MANTA. Lady Maximilian is the daughter of the powerful Duke Croyso, but she is rare...

   Welcome back journal of my embarrassing writing habits, hard-discovered tips, and writing progress. I did not miss you.  Anywhooo~ onto the entries!! Saturday | All-day            Welp, we tried journal.      Around work, I was supposed to do massive writing today. I was to go to one of my favorite coffee shops and visit my wonderful baristas and friends and get some writing in. However.... I was so tired and I ended up sleeping in, and despite the fact that I still had time to go- my brain kept insisting that I'd missed my window and I should've gotten up earlier for it if I was going to go. So then I cleaned. And when I wasn't cleaning, I was staring at the computer screen (thinking about writing) before seeing something else to clean in the house. Then it was time for work, and OF COURSE I was too freaking tired after my job to sit down and write even just for a few minutes that at this point I desperately need. Jour...

I've got another book review to share with you lovelies!! And I'm super excited cause this one is a King Arthur retelling with fae & just was done so well! Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn Synopsis:   A doomed love, a dangerous mission, and a kingdom on the brink of war... A cast-off princess… Born into a life of duty and sacrifice, Morgan Pendragon’s destiny has never been her own. Rumored to carry the tainted blood of the fae in her veins, her birthright is stolen from her when she is a mere child. Growing up in the shadow of her brother the king, she has been promised to the goddesses when she comes of age. So, when her brother commands that she seek out a fae weapon of legendary power, Morgan seizes the chance to break free from the chains of her fate. A dangerous temptation… As she travels, Morgan finds herself drawn into a strange group of outcasts, led by a dark and enigmatic warrior whose sharp wit and fierce beauty set her heart ablaze. But while Morgan struggles to ...

  I love to read Indie books & to support Indie authors, I'm an Indie author myself, so I had an idea to make a fun reading goal for myself for this year.  For the year 2024, I want to read 24 Indie books total.  If I read more than that, great! If not, I'll try again :) I usually read Indie books throughout the year, but I've never actually tracked how many I've read and it feels like there's so many more out now or recently released in the last two years that I need to catch up on!  Is it like that for you too or just me being crazy and behind on everything aside from the new Taylor Swift albums?    Without further ado here's my list of Indie books for 2024 and a bit about them! If I've already read some of them so far (seeing as it's already May) then I'll share a snippet of my thoughts on them too. Some of these will be new releases coming out this year that I can't wait to get my hands on! Anyways... to the list!!! A Bond of Briars by Er...