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May 2021: Celebrating my birthday.. blog style.

Birthday’s should be a time to celebrate how grateful we are for every day that we’re blessed with a chance to keep screwing up until next year.

First: I did not know there were other birthday booktags before creating this.

Second: I still plan on doing my version of it anyway!

This time of the year is rife with birthdays in my family.. and we’re not a small family. In addition to the typical holidays, celebrations, summer break, and various other gatherings.. Big families are their own gift and curse, and if you have one, you know.
If I’m being honest, I’d just as well not celebrate my birthday, but there is cake..
and I’ve never been one to pass on a chance to eat cake.

The Rules:

• Link back to the creator of the tag, @ ReadBetwixtWords
• Answer as many questions as you can honestly.
• Tag five random people! (optional)
  I’ve noticed a lot of people are shy or socially uncomfortable (like me) and that makes it pretty hard to meet new people sometimes so.. Let’s tag a handful of random, unsuspecting strangers, and this will give everyone an opportunity to share their posts with a larger audience.
• And just have fun with it!

Good luck and Happy Birthday!

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(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases made through my links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you.)

A book you want for you birthday:

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Publication date: April 2021
Pages: 302
Genre: Young adult fiction, Horror, Mystery
Standalone

A dark, twisty modern fairytale where three sisters discover they are not exactly all that they seem and evil things really do go bump in the night.

Iris Hollow and her two older sisters are unquestionably strange. Ever since they disappeared on a suburban street in Scotland as children only to return a month a later with no memory of what happened to them, odd, eerie occurrences seem to follow in their wake. And they’re changing. First, their dark hair turned white. Then, their blue eyes slowly turned black. They have insatiable appetites yet never gain weight. People find them disturbingly intoxicating, unbearably beautiful, and inexplicably dangerous.

But now, ten years later, seventeen-year-old Iris Hollow is doing all she can to fit in and graduate high school on time–something her two famously glamorous globe-trotting older sisters, Grey and Vivi, never managed to do. But when Grey goes missing without a trace, leaving behind bizarre clues as to what might have happened, Iris and Vivi are left to trace her last few days. They aren’t the only ones looking for her though. As they brush against the supernatural they realize that the story they’ve been told about their past is unraveling and the world that returned them seemingly unharmed ten years ago, might just be calling them home.

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book since the beginning of the year and, under the threat of tears, have made this a solid request for my birthday. Fingers crossed!

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A book you’ve received as a gift:

Into the Wild by Erin Hunter

Publication date: April 2006
Pages: 304
Genre: Children’s literature, Children’s Action and Adventure, Fantasy fiction
Series: Book 1 of 6: Warriors: The Original Series

Epic adventures. Fierce warrior cats. A thrilling fantasy world. It all begins here.

Read the book that began a phenomenon—and join the legion of fans who have made Erin Hunter’s Warriors series a #1 national bestseller.

For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But the warrior code has been threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying—and some deaths are more mysterious than others.

In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary housecat named Rusty… who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.

I read these when I was a teen and, when my nieces(who were obsessed with the series at the time) heard, they got me the first few books. It was really sweet and sentimental value makes them priceless to me.

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A book with the word ‘Birthday’ in the title:

Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas

Publication date: April 2018
Pages: 407
Genre: New adult, Romance novel, Contemporary romance
Standalone

From New York Times Bestselling author Penelope Douglas comes a new forbidden love story…

JORDAN
He took me in when I had nowhere else to go.

He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He doesn’t treat me like I’m nothing, take me for granted, or make me feel unsafe.

He remembers me, laughs with me, and looks at me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.

I have to stop this. It can’t happen.

My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable.

Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one.

I am.

PIKE
I took her in, because I thought I was helping.

She’d cook a few meals and clean up a little. It was an easy arrangement.

As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to.

The more I find my path crossing hers, though, the more she’s becoming a part of me.

But we’re not free to give into this. She’s nineteen, and I’m thirty-eight.

And her boyfriend’s father.

Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.

*BIRTHDAY GIRL is a stand-alone, contemporary romance suitable for ages 18+

You find the most intriguing books during book tags and challenges. I came across this book, almost by accident, and it sounded similar enough to something V.C. Andrews might write.. that I just had to add it for later.

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A book character who is the same age as you:

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Publication date: January 2015
Pages: 326
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction
Standalone

EVERY DAY THE SAME
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life–as she sees it–is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

UNTIL TODAY
And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

What you see here is pretty much all I know about this book, although, I am pretty interested in reading it now. Who doesn’t enjoy a good murder mystery?

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A book with the month of your birthday in the title:

Mother May I by S.E. Green

Publication date: May 2021
Pages: 229
Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Psychological fiction
Standalone

Even though her husband was a TV evangelist, Nora never prayed unless she knew the cameras were focused on her. But she prayed tonight that they’d make this stupid baby he wanted.

Meet Nora: Flawless. Enigmatic. Conniving. Ruthless.

At seventeen, she escaped the grip of her cold and abusive mama after catching the eye of charismatic Merrell Hodges. His riches and fame became hers. In exchange, she could play the role of doting wife.

But she alone was not enough; he wanted a family.

With the birth of their perfect daughter, Elizabeth, something foreign and unnerving touches Nora: love. She wants to protect and lavish her child. She would show her mama how a real mother should be. But the sins of nature and nurture run deep. There’s a defiance and manipulation in young Elizabeth that’s all-too-familiar and triggering. Nora can’t shake her mama’s prophetic words: You’re going to hate that kid. Just wait. 

When Nora’s fortune goes sideways after a tragedy with shocking repercussions, she’s determined to reclaim her relevance. With a cunning plan—and surprising ally—Nora reinvents herself as benevolent icon, good mother, and the powerful, authentic woman she deserves to be.

But seeds of the past still fester, haunting Nora’s victory and explosive, contradictory behavior. Caught in a cycle of fate, she’s both the heroine and villain of her own story. And as Elizabeth grows into an equally stubborn and strong-minded young woman, Nora may have finally met her match.

But if there’s one thing never to do, it’s to underestimate Nora.

I was originally going to use another book by ‘Joshilyn Jackson‘ with the exact same title, but I must confess, this sounded way more twisted. I read another book by S.E. Green at the beginning of the year and.. it wasn’t a favorite. I am curious to see if I have better luck with any of her others.

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A popular book you wouldn’t want for your birthday:

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Publication date: January 2018
Pages: 385
Genre: Novel, Fantasy Fiction, Science Fiction, High fantasy
Series: Book 1 of 4: Folk of the Air

By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

I think I’ve given up any hope of getting ‘in’ to this series right now. Maybe in a few months(or years), I’ll pick it up one day, and something will just click. Who knows? I wouldn’t, however, want this book as a gift.

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A book with a cake on the cover:

My Sweet Revenge by Jane Fallon

Publication date: January 2017
Pages: 407
Genre: Fiction, Romance novel
Standalone

Paula has had Robert’s back since they got together as drama students. She gave up her dreams so he could make it. Now he’s one of the nation’s most popular actors. And Paula’s just discovered he’s having an affair.

She’s going to remind Robert just what he’s sacrificing, and then she’s going to break his heart like he broke hers. It will be her greatest acting role ever. Revenge is sweet. Isn’t it?

First? That cake looks amazing. Second: I found this little gem by accident, really, and the synopsis just tickled me so much that I’ll have to read it.
After all, who hasn’t had a fantasy or two with similar intentions?

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A book published in the same year you were born:

Remember Me by Christopher Pike

Publication date: July 2010 (Originally published April 1989)
Pages: 848
Genre: Young adult, Romance novel, Supernatural fiction, Mystery
Series: Remember Me Collection: Books 1-3

She won’t let them forget.

Shari Cooper wakes up dead. The last thing she can remember is falling from a balcony during her friend’s party. Her death has been ruled a suicide, but Shari knows she was murdered. All of her closest friends are now suspects. As she tries to find her killer from the other side, she discovers her friends may not have been so loyal to her after all. Now, Shari is not just out for justice, she’s out for revenge.

I love this book, and not just because it was originally published the year I was born, or the fact the main character’s name is not unlike my own.. No. Christopher Pike is just a brilliant author. I used to read his books alongside R.L. Stine’s ‘Goosebumps’ and and M.D. Spencer’s ‘Shivers’ series.

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An author who shares the same birthday as you:

T. H. White, author of ‘The Once and Future King‘

Terence Hanbury “Tim” White (29 May 1906 – 17 January 1964) was an English author best known for his sequence of Arthurian novels, The Once and Future King, first published together in 1958. One of his most memorable stories is the first of that series, The Sword in the Stone, published as a stand-alone book in 1938.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Burns Library, Boston College.

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Share something you’re looking forward to this birthday:

I’m really curious to see ‘Emma Stone‘s’ execution of the lead character in Disney’s ‘Cruella‘, released on May 28, 2021. I think it’s going to be one hell of a performance.

I Tag:

The lucky five random people for my tag!

• Kristin @ Kristin Kraves Books
• NickiMags @ Secret Library Book Blog
• Jessica @ The Awkward Book Blogger
• Emily @ Frappes and Fiction
• Stephanie @ Adventures of a Bibliophile

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Quarantine birthdays: How are you spending yours?