It's 2019 & It's Back to Business!
2018 Is OVER!
I don't know about you, but I am so thrilled to be starting a brand new year with a brand new attitude. I had fallen into a of pit of despair these past few months over real life setbacks and things going on in the US that are totally beyond my control and it resulted in a lack of focus and constant state of anxiety for me. I'm going to refocus on my health, yoga/T25/better diet and shut off the terrible news, stop scrolling Twitter for hours on end and instead I plan to better use my time by setting up a blogging and reading schedule to keep myself focused and on track. I even have a nifty spreadsheet created by Reader Voracious to help keep on track. Check it out, it is seriously amazing. My goal for 2019 is to read and review at least 100 books and I'm determined to make at least half of those ladies of horror fiction, if not more. Speaking of LOHF . . .
Ladies of Horror Fiction Mini Challenge
The Ladies of Horror Fiction are starting off the new year with a new look and a mini challenge. Click on the banner above to read more about our plans!
As for the mini challenge, if you'd like to participate, simply use the hashtag #LadiesFirst2019 on Twitter and Instagram and share a photo of your first horror read of 2019 written by a Lady of Horror Fiction. We hope you'll be joining us!
Here's my first book of the year. I'll be reading it as soon as I hit publish on this post:
The Rust Maidens by Gwendolyn Kiste
This book has received nothing but raves and all the stars from my reading friends and I hope I feel the same!
Here's the blurbage: Something’s happening to the girls on Denton Street.
It’s the summer of 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio, and Phoebe Shaw and her best friend Jacqueline have just graduated high school, only to confront an ugly, uncertain future. Across the city, abandoned factories populate the skyline; meanwhile at the shore, one strong spark, and the Cuyahoga River might catch fire. But none of that compares to what’s happening in their own west side neighborhood. The girls Phoebe and Jacqueline have grown up with are changing. It starts with footprints of dark water on the sidewalk. Then, one by one, the girls’ bodies wither away, their fingernails turning to broken glass, and their bones exposed like corroded metal beneath their flesh.
As rumors spread about the grotesque transformations, soon everyone from nosy tourists to clinic doctors and government men start arriving on Denton Street, eager to catch sight of “the Rust Maidens” in metamorphosis. But even with all the onlookers, nobody can explain what’s happening or why—except perhaps the Rust Maidens themselves. Whispering in secret, they know more than they’re telling, and Phoebe realizes her former friends are quietly preparing for something that will tear their neighborhood apart.
Alternating between past and present, Phoebe struggles to unravel the mystery of the Rust Maidens—and her own unwitting role in the transformations—before she loses everything she’s held dear: her home, her best friend, and even perhaps her own body.
Does that not sound fantastic?! What's your first read of 2019?
Wishing you a lovely 2019!!
ReplyDeleteErica | Erica Robyn Reads
Thanks, Erica! And same back at you :)
DeleteOh I am so happy to start a new year too!! Hope you have a great 2019!
DeleteI hope your 2019 is fantastic and filled with 5 star reads, Grace :)
DeleteI have The Rust Maidens to read too. I've heard so many great things about it. I also hope this year is better than the last. It was rough. Here's to a better and happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYes, 2018 was rough on so many levels. 2019 will be better :) I hope we both enjoy The Rust Maidens.
DeleteI'm really glad to be moving on to a new year as well. It seriously can't get worse than 2018, right?? I'm looking forward to the February read along of The Between, I think I'm going to try it!
ReplyDeleteI am so thrilled you are going to join us!! The Rebecca readalong went really well. I've discovered that I love reading with others.
DeleteGlad you're back on track! Good luck with all your reading and blogging goals this year. I hope 2019 turns out to be the best one yet for us all. Happy New Year! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lark!
DeleteFresh new year blogging plans are always so much fun. I had already chosen my challenges but I'll admit, I'm going to see what this one involves. More horror is always a good thing right? Hope the new year brings great things for you!
ReplyDeleteYou can never have enough horror in your life!
DeleteMy first read was finishing A Dance With Dragons which was a wonderful book! I actually really enjoyed the Meereen story seeing it through Selmy and Tyrion. This year I think I'll be watching the news less as well as I seem to lose my temper watching it too much at the moment! I also intend to eat better and try and lose some weight this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you started off the year on a high note. And, yes, the news will be the death of us all!
DeleteThanks for sharing the link to the template. Good luck and happy reading.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
You're very welcome. I hope you find it useful. I'm loving it. I need something like this to keep me motivated and on track otherwise I drift and slack.
DeleteHappy New Year! Turning off the news and limiting online use is just solid advice all around. It's a soul sucker for sure.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
Yep, I never realized how much it could alter my mood.
DeleteHappy 2019! And hope The Rust Maidens is a good one- it sure sounds good! I hear you on the news- I just have to keep it at arms length sometimes
ReplyDeleteLet's all just read books haha!
Yep, read the books. Those are words to stay sane by, lol!
DeleteI hope you find some peace this year, Laurie! Sometimes it's just not healthy to focus on the things we can't change, we should work on the things we can.
ReplyDeleteYou are 100% correct, Cat!
DeleteIt is always nice to get a fresh start to jump in and do things all over :) Hope you have a great 2019!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna! Back at ya :)
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