Hello friends!!!

Hello and happy (belated) new year to you all!!!

I have missed you! And, books, blogging, EVERYTHING! SO very much!

I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things this year... 

The last 2 years have been so hard to keep up with bookish things... during this time, I made quite a few mistakes with broken promises to read, review and participate in a few blog tours and challenges. On a daily basis, my introverted-self struggled to having to communicate with my bookish peers that I couldn't go through with my commitments. Many lessons have been learned! And I am so glad to have been able to keep in contact with so many understanding and caring people in the community - I am so very happy to be a part of it!

In the last year, my family and I have moved again, lol! But this time, it is OUR home! And hopefully permanent for many, many years to come! We have a lot of renovations that need to be done this summer, thankfully, the majority of it all is mostly just trying to make all of our space livable and usable... My boys are more active and have a lot of things going on - and as you all know, my family always comes first. I've also been dedicating more time to my other hobbies - planning, writing and sewing! 

With so much going on this year, I am keeping an open-mind but very realistic and flexible blogging schedule. Being more communicative with my peers and followers. And, most importantly, having fun!!!

On that note, a quick recap of my bookish things from last year... 

I was able to read a total of 50 books!
However, I do count ALL and ANY books that I have read - including picture books, graphic novels, etc. Out of those 50, only 2 were re-reads. And the majority of the books that I read were fairytale retellings and fantasy. 

The best book that I read in 2016 was AFTERMATH by Clara Kensie!!!
It's powerful, intense, heart-wrenching! A definite must read! If I could have given it more than 5 stars I would have!!!

And, you will all be so very proud of me!... I finally started reading the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy!!! I'm in the middle of book 2, Days of Blood and Starlight, right now.

There are a few books that I wish I would had read last year that I am determined to make time for this year... 
- Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

And, some books that I want to re-read this year...
- The Snow Child  
- Alice in Wonderland 
- Little Women 

And the books I am most excited for in 2017 are... 
- All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater (<--- already pre-ordered!!!)
- Caraval by Stephanie Garber (<--- reading this now!!!)
- RoseBlood by A.G. Howard (<--- already read this and gave it 5 stars!)
- A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas

Overall, I really do wish to get back into reading more and blogging regularly again. I am still trying to clear the cobwebs and figure out a doable schedule; but I have promised myself to be aware of what I can and can't do. Not to get intimidated by others. To stick with my favorite genres (young adult fairytales/retellings, fantasy contempoary... some middle grade retellings and magical realism... a lot more picture books and graphic novels... and for fun, a few adult lits and maybe a little romance, lol!). 
And to remember to keep things light, simple and fun!!! 

Thank your all for your love and support!!!