A Glass Of Wine At The Movies - Oscar Predictions

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The Oscars are this weekend and I thought it was a good time to reveal my predictions for who will take home the big trophies. These are not necessarily my personal choice in the category, but rather who I think WILL win.


I kept wavering between Sam Mendes and Bong Joon Ho for director and I still feel there is a very good chance Sam Mendes will end up winning. I think the four acting categories are pretty well locked in at this point with the biggest potential upset being in the Actress In A Support Role category. 

There is a chance of a Parasite win in Best Picture, but something tells me it'll be 1917 that walks away with the big prize.

Excited to watch and see which of my predictions are correct on Sunday! Anyone else watching? What are your predictions? Let me know in the comments!




Waiting On Wednesday .... Kingdom of the Wicked

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco


Here is the Goodreads synopsis
The #1 New York Times bestselling author Kerri Maniscalco introduces her next blockbuster series, a dark, intoxicating tale of a beautiful young witch, a troubled demon, and their epic romance, set against a lush 19th century Italian backdrop.

Emilia and her twin sister Victoria are streghe - witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Victoria misses dinner service at the family's renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin...desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to discover who did this, and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, the outlier among the seven demon brethren, always choosing duty over pleasure. He’s been tasked by his master with investigating a series of women’s murders on the island. When Emilia and Wrath’s fates collide, it’s clear this disturbing mystery will take a bewitching turn...Witches are definitely having a moment in young adult literature right now. There are so many amazing sounding witchy reads coming out within the next year.
Witches seem to be a new upcoming trend for the later half of 2020 and into 2021. Kerri Maniscalco's new series is just one of the many witch centered reads that will be releasing and I am definitely in. I am a huge fan of the paranormal genre and I am loving this resurgence that we seem to be having.

Kerri's previous series, which started with Stalking Jack the Ripper, is one that I am definitely enjoying and I look forward to seeing what she'll do with this take on witches.

The book, unsurprisingly, has a fall release date which will have it perfectly timed for the spookiest season.

Expected release date - September 15, 2020

Monthly TBR and Wrap Up

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How are we already one month into 2020? It feels like we just started this year. This month kind of got away from me (which is indicated in my reading) and I am hoping February doesn't fly by quite as quickly.

To wrap up January ....

The books that were on my list are:

Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren (goodreads)
The Goal by Elle Kennedy (goodreads)
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco (goodreads)
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (goodreads)

Plus I had some ebooks on my list:

Interference by Harlow Cole (goodreads)
Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J Christopher (goodreads)
Infinity Son by Adam Silvera (goodreads)
Chosen by Kiersten White (goodreads)
Seduction: Sex, Lies and Stardom In Howard Hughes Hollywood by Karina Longworth (goodreads)
The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne (goodreads)

I managed to read four books this month which is not great, but I am hoping to improve this in February.

Here is what I actually managed to read in January:

Infinity Son by Adam Silvera (goodreads)
Chosen by Kiersten White (goodreads)
Madly by Amy Alward (goodreads)
Seduction: Sex, Lies and Stardom In Howard Hughes Hollywood by Karina Longworth (goodreads)

Now moving on to what I hope to read in Feb. It is mostly the same as last month with one new addition (well substitution).


Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren (goodreads)
The Goal by Elle Kennedy (goodreads)
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher (goodreads)
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (goodreads)

I also some ebooks on my list. I am being ambitious again and including a lot of titles that I have been meaning to get to.



Interference by Harlow Cole (goodreads)
The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne (goodreads)
Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon (goodreads)
Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed (goodreads)
She Died Famous by Kyle Rutkin (goodreads)

What books are you reading this month? Have you read any of the ones on my list? If so, let me know what you think in the comments.

Madly by Amy Alward

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Madly by Amy Alward
Release Date - September 29, 2015
Publisher Website - Simon and Schuster Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  384 pages
My Rating - 3/5
**borrowed from the library**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis
When the Princess of Nova accidentally poisons herself with a love potion meant for her crush, she falls crown-over-heels in love with her own reflection. Oops. A nationwide hunt is called to find the cure, with competitors travelling the world for the rarest ingredients, deep in magical forests and frozen tundras, facing death at every turn.

Enter Samantha Kemi - an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent. Sam's family were once the most respected alchemists in the kingdom, but they've fallen on hard times, and winning the hunt would save their reputation. But can Sam really compete with the dazzling powers of the ZoroAster megapharma company? Just how close is Sam willing to get to Zain Aster, her dashing former classmate and enemy, in the meantime?

And just to add to the pressure, this quest is ALL OVER social media. And the world news.

No big deal, then.
Magic. A daring hunt. Romance. Madly has plenty of things that will draw in a reader and keep their attention. It's a mix of fast paced adventure with a fluffier tone. It's a quick read that manages to be both an action packed adventure and a zany comedy at points. It is a story where everything that can go wrong will absolutely go wrong, but it feels like everything will be okay in the end all at the same time.

Samantha, a young alchemist, is thrown into adventure when a hunt for a cure to a love potion is called. She's brave, driven, and proud of her talents. Her loyalty to her family is admirable, as is her resourcefulness. Her desire to win comes from wanting to help the Princess, but the prestige that it would bring her family is a very welcome bonus. I liked that her motivation was a bit of both. It rang true and still ensured that the reader liked Samantha. She was ambitious, and kind which is something that girls are not often shown to be at the same time.

The treasure hunt style of the plot makes for quickly turning pages. Following Samantha on her journey collecting potion ingredients means plenty of different locations, and magical creatures to discover. It kept my interest in the story going as I could not wait to see what came next and what Samantha would need to collect to save the day.

There is a bit of a forbidden romance going on that is just as sweet as the rest of the book. Most of it is fairly predictable, but it just adds to the sweetness of the rest of the book.  It felt paced properly, and offered a few surprises that kept that element of the story moving just as quickly as the rest of the story. Love, and love potions, are a big part of the book. As is humour. The humour of this book is something that really worked for me. The comedy of errors that plagues Samantha's journey is part of this books charm. It's not just this that provides some comedic moments. The Princess' condition, at first, is quite laughable. She's obsessively in love with herself to the point of absurdity. While the reality of her situation does grow increasingly more dire, it is the earlier moments that set the tone of the book.

This book would be one that I would give a younger reader who is wanting something in between a middle grade and an upper young adult novel. It really is a bridge between the two and I predict that kids that age would devour this book. It's tailor made to appeal to them, and offers a chance for them to expand their reading horizons. It is certainly one that I want to introduce my niece to.

This book is part of a series, but it feels very self contained. Those weary of cliffhangers and dangling plot points should rest assured that this book stays away from those. It feels more like the series will just follow the same characters on a different adventure with some overlapping plot points threading it together. The main story arc of this story has a definitive ending, which I personally enjoyed.

This book was a lot of fun to read. Its enjoyable, entertaining quest will keep readers engaged and offers a lighter introduction to the fantasy genre for those readers who may just want to test the waters. I can certainly appreciate this book for what it is, and encourage anyone who is looking for exactly the kind of read this book offers to pick it up.


Waiting On Wednesday .... None Shall Sleep

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney


Here is the Goodread synopsis
The Silence of the Lambs meets Sadie in this riveting psychological thriller about two teenagers teaming up with the FBI to track down juvenile serial killers.

In 1982, two teenagers—serial killer survivor Emma Lewis and US Marshal candidate Travis Bell—are recruited by the FBI to interview convicted juvenile killers and provide insight and advice on cold cases. From the start, Emma and Travis develop a quick friendship, gaining information from juvenile murderers that even the FBI can't crack. But when the team is called in to give advice on an active case—a serial killer who exclusively hunts teenagers—things begin to unravel. Working against the clock, they must turn to one of the country's most notorious incarcerated murderers for help: teenage sociopath Simon Gutmunsson.

Despite Travis's objections, Emma becomes the conduit between Simon and the FBI team. But while Simon seems to be giving them the information they need to save lives, he's an expert manipulator playing a very long game...and he has his sights set on Emma.

Captivating, harrowing, and chilling, None Shall Sleep is an all-too-timely exploration of not only the monsters that live among us, but also the monsters that live inside us.
This book is pretty much everything I want to read in a book right this second. It, obviously, appeals to the Murderino in me and it just sounds like a fantastic thriller.

I'll be out just in time to kick of the spooky season and I predict it is going to be perfect choice of a fall read.

Expected release date - September 1, 2020

Chosen by Kiersten White

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Chosen by Kiersten White
Release Date - January 7, 2020
Publisher Website - Simon and Schuster Canada
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  353 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis
Nina continues to learn how to use her slayer powers against enemies old and new in this second novel in the New York Times bestselling series from Kiersten White, set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Now that Nina has turned the Watcher’s Castle into a utopia for hurt and lonely demons, she’s still waiting for the utopia part to kick in. With her sister Artemis gone and only a few people remaining at the castle—including her still-distant mother—Nina has her hands full. Plus, though she gained back her Slayer powers from Leo, they’re not feeling quite right after being held by the seriously evil succubus Eve, a.k.a. fake Watcher’s Council member and Leo’s mom.

And while Nina is dealing with the darkness inside, there’s also a new threat on the outside, portended by an odd triangle symbol that seems to be popping up everywhere, in connection with Sean’s demon drug ring as well as someone a bit closer to home. Because one near-apocalypse just isn’t enough, right?

The darkness always finds you. And once again, it’s coming for the Slayer.
A continuation of a series you loved is always a conflicting situation. You are excited to be part of that world again, but fear that the new addition to the story could not possibly measure up to what you remember. I think that Kiersten White manages to avoid this with her Slayer series. She gives fans something that both works with and sits along side the original series.

A large part of what worked about both Slayer and Chosen for me is that we are following brand new characters set in the same world. We can take what we love about the original and remember it fondly without irreversibly breaking it. The new characters keep the story feeling new while still feeling known.

Nina reminded me a lot of Faith. Nina struggles with being a slayer and, in particular, the darkness inside her. She makes a lot of really bad choices. She also has things in common with Buffy though. She relies on her friends to help her through, and really does what to make the right choice even if that isn't always possible.

The side characters are some of the most easily loved. Doug, a demon who loves Coldplay, was a personal favourite. Nina's friends become important to the plot in a similar fashion to the Scoobies and that enriched the story for me.

The love story was one of my favourite elements of this series. It has the same epic scope that made me love the Buffy and Angel relationship so fiercely. There are many love stories being told and all of them resonated with me in their own way.

My only real issue as I was reading was the character of Artemis. I felt like I understood Nina's motivations and character. I did not feel that Artemis was fleshed out in the same way. I wanted more from her and a deeper insight into what was driving her in this book. I did appreciate that the sister relationship was a central part of the story arc but I just didn't feel as connected to Artemis.

Nostalgia is baked into the premise of this series and the way it is used it masterful. There are some cameos that had me entirely losing my cool. Kiersten White captures the essence of these beloved characters that it felt like coming back home in a way. My emotions were always in the surface and that is because of the respect and care that was shown to the story and characters I love completely. I do not want to ruin any if the surprises but rest assured that fans of the television show will be satisfied. The amount of inside jokes (with a brilliant one included towards the end) warmed my heart and delighted me to no end.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans should immediately pick up this series. It is like returning to Sunnydale in a way but through the perfect means. It allows those perfect memories of the show to remain untainted while still giving us more of the world we love. It is exactly what I hoped it would be, I am just sad we have to leave these new characters so soon.

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

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Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
Release Date - January 21, 2020
Publisher Website - Raincoast Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  368 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis
A fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected.

Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account.

Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time.

All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built.

As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.
If you have ever wanted a young adult contemporary novel based off of the rom-com You've Got Mail I have the perfect book for you. Tweet Cute sweetly pays homage to the rom-com classic and offers up a 'cheesy' love story all its own.

The first thing you should know about this book is that it is filled with amazing sounding food. You'll immediately want to devour a grilled cheese once you are done (along with so many other baked goods). Food is such a part of this novel that it seeps into various other aspects of the story. There are plenty of cheesy (and cheese related) jokes to be found. The main characters names are Pepper and Jack, which should immediately tell you about the level of cuteness you are dealing with. It's all really fun and leaves the reader with a feeling of contentment.

The family elements and dynamics are some of my favourite parts of this story. Pepper and Jack both have siblings that they struggle to connect with for various reasons. They both feel the weight of being compared to the sibling and this book delves into the strain those expectations could put on those relationships. The different relationships that they each had with their parents was also just as important to the story being told. The family story arcs provided something entirely outside of the romance for each character. It made it so that both were not just a love interest. It rounded out the characters in a way that added some depth to them.

This book is filled with snarky wit, excellent banter, and yet also has a real sweetness to it. The 'Twitter war' between the two company accounts is written perfectly. You could easily imagine something like that on Twitter. Emma Lord captured the required tone and balance perfectly.

The romance is one that blooms a little slower. It starts from a place of begrudgingly working together, to a friendship, to something more. This is, at least, what the characters are aware of. The extra layer of them falling for each other via online messages as they begin to get to know each other in real life was what made this romance as engaging as it was. They both think they are interested in other people so they can't even see that they are falling for the person right in front of them (who just happens to be the person they were already falling for anyway). It's exactly why I love You've Got Mail. You want them to just find out already so they can get together, but that torture is part of what makes the chemistry work so well. This is just as equally true in Tweet Cute.

Those in search of a well written, light and bubbly read, I highly recommend Tweet Cute. It has pretty much everything you could hope for from a young adult rom-com. Its got both humour and heart.  This may have been Emma Lord's debut novel, but I predict many will be eagerly awaiting whatever she serves up next.