Sunlight, Cocoa, and Good Books

 Hello again, readers! My favorite time of the month has finally arrived- the day I get to post another monthly reading advent! I worked very hard to find some really amazing novels for this month's theme, and you won't be disappointed! April's theme is a little more complex than a single word- I compiled a list of Regency, Medieval, Gothic, and other eras of the like, and they all have some crucial things in common. They all involve glittering gowns, charming scoundrels, and intrigue like no other books around! I hope you enjoy these beautiful novels as much as I did! (Note: Not all of these recommendations are completely clean, including any other advent post after this. Read at your own discretion, but I try not to recommend too many books with bad content. Happy reading!) Lady Jayne Disappears-Joanna Davidson Politano Twilight at Moorington Cross-Abigail Wilson The Noble Guardian-Michelle Griep Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey-Abigail Wilson In the Shadow of a Queen-Heat...

 Hello, readers! I'm super excited to create this post, because this is something I feel passionately, and I'm thrilled to be putting this out into the world. This post is all about these incredibly hard-working authors that publish their own works. I have always admired independent publishing. It takes a lot of bravery to try and do something yourself, especially when the vast majority finds professionals to do the work for them. And there's nothing wrong with publishing your novel through a publishing company- in fact, that's the route I'm considering for my own works in progress. But there's a special kind of beauty in creating something yourself, isn't there? And the sad part of it is that a lot of independently published books don't get a lot of hype because not a lot of people have read them. Though most deserve all the praise and more! So I'm shining a light on all those independently published books out there, and I'm encouraging you to s...

  The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games synopsis: Could you survive on your own in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.  Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before- and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weight survival against humanity and life against love.  -From ...

  Eragon By Christopher Paolini Eragon synopsis: One boy... One dragon... A world of adventure. When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands. -From g oodreads.com As far as fantasies go, this book goes above and beyond the normal standards. I was hooked from the very beginning and have been devouring the...