Music was my first love...

According to the title of this post, I loved music before I loved books. That is a total lie! But, honestly, 'music was my second love...' doesn't sound quite as good, does it? (Actually it kind of does. Maybe I should change the title? (HA. Not gonna happen!!))

Okay. So, since I'm rambling (again!), I'll get to the point of this post. I was going to write a new post ages ago, but I couldn't think of a good subject, so I was thinking and thinking and thinking (so much for getting to the point), and eventually I ended up still not knowing what to write about. But whenever I am sad or confused or don't know what to do with my life (ha, this was totally happening right before I got my brilliant idea for a subject), I listen to music, so I opened Spotify and started listening to BANNERS (I always start or end (or both) with BANNERS) and suddenly I knew what to write about! Music!

Since this is a book blog I will of course combine it with books. And not just any books, but MY books (yay!). Yes, you read it right: bookS. Plural. I am not sure if I already mentioned it, but I finished my first draft and I am currently in the process of editing, but since I am a miserable mess if I don't get to write, I decided to start on the sequel already. AND I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. It's going to be perfect.

Okay, so what I am going to do is this: Of course I made a playlist for Ailene (my first book) and I will kindly ask Spotify to play the songs randomly ('cause that's the kind of person I am, I won't command it, even though I am pretty sure the app doesn't really mind. Or care. Of feel/think for that matter.) Anyhow, I will let Spotify choose the first 5 songs, and I will tell you how they fit into the story. Sounds like fun? (I hope it does, and if it doesn't, then at least I had fun ghehe :))

NUMERO UNO:

Brother by NEEDTOBREATHE.

I love how this is the first song, because it perfectly describes Hayden and Lowell's friendship. It's almost as if it's written for them.

Brother, let me be your shelter

Never leave you all alone

I can be the one you call

When you're low

NUMÉRO DOS: Sleep On Roses by Måns Zelmerlöw

I can't even... I might be tearing up a little right now (read: I'm bawling my eyes out). This scene. Chapter 33. It ruined me. I still have not forgiven myself and I probably never will. (Good luck figuring out what I'm babbling on about.)

Lay your head

And wave the world goodbye

And when you close your eyes

Sleep on roses

DAS DRITTE LIED:

The War Inside by Switchfoot

If my books were a TV series this would be the theme song. That's all I'm going to say.

ČTVRTÁ PÍSNĚ (I hope Google Translate didn't let me down, because I can't speak, read or write Czech): If I Didn't Have You by BANNERS (the acoustic version):

This song has been on repeat since forever. I think it's perfect for Hayden, because at some point in the book he's convinced that if he pushes away the people that he cares about (and one in particular) he'll be better off. He obviously isn't, but it takes him quite some time to figure that out. I guess this is something a lot of us do (I know I do), especially since the people we love have the power to hurt us the most, so it seems easier to build up those walls and keep ourselves safely hidden inside.

Thought I had nothing to lose

But that's not the truth

I don't know what I'd do

If I didn't have you

LA CINQUIÈME CHANSON

Riot by Richie Kotzen

It is so hard to explain these songs to everyone who hasn't read my book yet, because I don't want to spoil things, but I also need to give information for anything to make sense. UGH. Okay, so at some point Hayden has to do something and that results in a riot (Can I be any more vague? Yes, I can.). Okay, if you ever read it, it's at the end of part 3/at the beginning of part 4. By the way, if you want to be a proofreader, contact me! I need more people to tell me if it's any good ;) You will get paid in gratitude (and you'll be able to read a masterpiece lololol).

I can feel it in the street

The tension rising right before me

We've got to educate our leaders

And find a way around the madness madness madness that divides

Okay, that was fun. I hope any of it made sense, and if it didn't, then you'll just have to reread this post after you read my book (after it's released, of course, which will be somewhere between now and 300 years from now).

Let's end this post with some of my reviews. I am not going to post all of them, but if you're curious you can always check out my Goodreads page.

Here are my favourites: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall It's about Luc O'Donnell, who is sort of famous, and definitely a mess (and so is his image). To clean up this image, he has to find a nice and normal relationship. Oliver Blackwood is perfectly normal (key word: perfect!), but he has absolutely nothing in common with Luc (or does he?). So they strike a deal to be fake boyfriends and of course (I mean, we all know the story, right?) it starts to feel like a real relationship.

I seriously loved this book so much. It was written really well and I liked how, even though it was obvious how it was going to end, it wasn't too predictable. And best of all, it was freaking hilarious! Usually when I am reading something funny I maybe make some kind of very quiet snorting sound (which sounds more like letting out some air), BUT this book made me laugh out loud numerous of times. YOU MUST READ IT. DO IT. NOW. :)

A Curse so Dark and Lonely This book is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and a really good one. Okay, I am going to steal the BLURB from Goodreads, because I don't think I'll be better at explaning it, so here we go: Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she's pulled into a magical world.

Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what's at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but after reading maybe two chapters, I found myself unable to quit. I think it's a perfect example of a page-turner. It just was THAT good.

Wow, okay, it's kind of sad but... I don't have any more 5-star ratings to share, so... I guess that was it?

I think I'm in need of some good recommendations, because this is really saaad. Help me out? :)

To end this post: I wish you a perfect month! (I might share another post at the end, since I forgot to post last month, but we'll see if I find the time.)

Be kind & do good!

Love,

Annabel