Ohana Reads' 6th Blogiversary!

Hello friends! I'm sorry I've been neglecting you. Like my previous years excuses, it has been a busy year and one that I have not been able to get myself into a routine of things. 

I'm always trying my best to post when I can, so hopefully I post more this year.

As always, I am very active on Twitter and in the book community. So if you ever want to chat, do not be afraid to hit me up!

Break Down of the Year:

Over 226, 469 Total Page Views

247 Published Comments

488 Published Posts

My Top Series Enders of 2013 being my most viewed post...at 47, 349 views

The Ohana Reads' 5th Blogiversary Post being my most viewed post of 2019... at 232 views

33 GFC Followers

1, 470 Twitter Followers

562 Instagram Followers

Like every year, I wouldn't have been able to survive the year without the help of some amazing friends and people in my life. Here are the people that made my year amazing.

People Who Made 2019 Great:

The Brothelsprouts 

This insanely talent group of people are who helped me stay sane throughout the year. Even though they are constantly nagging me to visit them at BEA, and sometimes to rob banks, I do not know what I would do without them.

So please give them a follow: Jessica, Amber, Ellie, Taylor, Katie, Rose, Angel, Cody, Mou, Kitty, Camille, Chloe, Lili, Caro, Darnell, Ben, and Kayla.

Sabrina from Behind the Book Reviews

Sabrina is one of my favourite booknerds, but she is also my best friend. Honestly, there is nothing I can say on here that she does not already know or that she will not groan at if she reads it. 

Highlights of Ohana Reads 2019:

1. I have been at McNally Robinson Booksellers for 2.5 years now. Even though it's a job, it's almost like it's become a second home to me. I love everyone that I work with and can not imagine what it would be like if they were not there with me. 

2. In January, I became a liaison for MYRCA. Basically, I became a librarian for the committee. It's been a lot of fun organizing and requesting books for the committee. I've been apart of the committee for, I believe, almost 4 years now and couldn't be happier to bee apart of something so important to my community. 

Goals for 2020:

1. Blog. Blog. Blog. I just want to force myself to blog more. Even if it's just a review here and there. 

2. I want to get in the habit of immediately posting my reviews on GoodReads and book outlets, right as I've posted them on Ohana Reads. It's one thing I always forget and I want to get in the habit of correcting that. 

3. I literally just want to complete my GoodReads Reading Challenge. Since 2014, when I first started the challenge, I've never completed it. My goal is 75 books, I'm hoping that this year will be the year. 

Giveaway

- Ohana Reads Giveaway Policies apply. (Check out the policies page)

- Open to any country that can receive books from Book Depository!

- Price of book limited to $25 CAD.

- Winner gets to choose from any book pictured or any book from one of the series pictured.

- Must have followed @OhanaReads on Twitter, and had Retweeted the Tweet. (I will be checking)

-Giveaway closes February 27th, 2020!

To enter the giveaway click the link below.

ENTER GIVEAWAY.

 And finally, a huge thank you to all of you for supporting Ohana Reads and I. It really means a lot to know that people are actually reading my content. 

Here's to 2020!

OwlCrate Monthly Haul: November 2019

 Today I wanted to show everyone my 2019 November box from OwlCrate! In order to not spoil anything for anyone, I decided to wait and post it a good while after most people have received theirs already.

   It's been a while since I received an OwlCrate subscription. The box was my first one in over two years. When they announced the theme, I immediately knew what book it was going to be and was ecstatic. I'd loved the authors previous work and had a chance to read an early copy of this one. So when a little birdie told me that the cover was GORGEOUS, I jumped on it and bought the box. In the end, I was not disappointed. 

   OwlCrate is a monthly bookish YA subscription box, which every month features a new theme. Each box features a recently released YA book, along with a few bookish goodies created specially for the box.

This months theme is: Through the Enchanted Forest!

This months box included: 

- A Cruel Prince inspired flannel blanket designed by @bookmarkd.tattoos

- The OwlCrate annual reading calendar designed by Blue Star Press.

- Enchanted Forest stickers designed by @lovepipsticks

- A Uprooted metal tassel bookmark, designed by @herpaperworld

- The Raven Boys inspired wooden ornament designed by @juniperandivydesigns

- @ireadya promotional print about Diamond & Dawn!

- Monthly enamel pin is inspired by the Through the Enchanted Forest book, designed by @fourseasonsfox.

- And finally, my personal favourite from the box, the book was Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw. The book featured an exclusive cover, and sprayed-edges to match the cover. 

   The Through the Enchanted Forest box is probably my favourite OwlCrate box that I've ever purchased. The exclusive cover is probably my favourite out of all the other editions that they've done in the past.

   OwlCrate really outdid themselves with this box, and I'm really excited to see what they have in store for next month.

Next months theme is: Tales of Trickery!

Book Review: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Release Date: March 6th, 2017
Read: September 6th-7th, 2017
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Series: Standalone
Format: ARC, 320 pages
Source: McNally Robinson

Description from GoodReads:

   Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

   Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

   Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

   Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

   Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

   But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

Review:

   Do you ever think about leaving this town?

   I am always subconsciously seeking out mermaid and witch books, that is how The Wicked Deep came to my attention, and of course the gorgeous cover. I'm a sucker for covers with moons, stars and trees. 

   When it comes to villains or the bad guy, I really enjoy learning about their story and how they get to where they were, how they became who they are. The Wicked Deep was perfect for that because we got two different kinds of chapter styles, flashbacks to the past, which focused on the three sisters' history, and the present with the protagonist Penny. Shea Ernshaw wrote the two kinds of chapters perfectly to the point where they both blended together in the end.

   I couldn't help but fall in love with the sisters and their story. They were three independent sisters that would sometimes cause a little mischief, but didn't deserve to die the way they did. The mysteriousness to the sisters made them all that more appealing to me, and I couldn't help but look forward to their chapters.

   I really enjoyed how Shea Ernshaw give the little town the same mysterious vibes as she did the sisters, it made everything that much more entertaining and intriguing. I've read a lot of stories that take place in small unknown towns, and after a while the trend burnt me out, but The Wicked Deep was a refreshing twist on the trend that I'm glad I gave a chance.

   Then finally, I loved the little witch hunt that occurred in the novel. Where all the students attempted to hunt down, and figure out which sister was stowed away in whomever's body. It was a thrill to read about, and I was continuously trying to figure out what sister was where before the characters in the book did. Boy was I wrong!

   Normally standalones don't appeal all that much to me, I, for the most part feel that standalones don't wrap up nicely the way the author intended them too. The Wicked Deep sure showed me differently. The story kept me intrigued, surprised and in love throughout the whole novel.

   The Wicked Deep was a thrilling and magical witch hunt that I'd recommend to all lovers of witches and possibly mermaid tales. I look forward to what Shea Ernshaw has in store for us next!

Rating:

Favourite Quote:

"If only love were so easily conjured, there wouldn't be so many broken hearts."

Recommend to People Who Enjoy: 

Young Adult, Paranormal, Witches, Mystery Vibes, Magic, Courses, Redemption