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About Janelle
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Janelle October 19, 2017 Leave a Comment

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Hey now! What is your favorite flavor of cake? Th

Hey now! What is your favorite flavor of cake?

This whole #Bookstagram world has meant everything to me. It started out just being about the books - it’s no secret that all I do is read and hang out with my #cat. Reading is my saving grace. It not only keeps me sane, but also keeps me informed. It’s my only escape: just chatting about the books and getting awesome #bookrecommendations is all I needed. Or so I thought. The friends I’ve met here are one-of-a-kind people who like to geek out about books as much as I do. I don’t know what I’d do without this #bookcommunity and to be frank, I don’t want to know. THIS IS MY HAPPY PLACE.

My point to all of this is to, of course, gush about Chandra aka @wherethereadergrows. Folks, if you’re not following her, please consider it because you are missing out! I have friends I’ve grown up with my entire life that aren’t half as thoughtful (sorry, I’m just going to say it). And just to clarify, I have amazing IRL friends that are very thoughtful 😉. ANYWAY, this was such a fun gift to receive! When I opened it, all this fun flew up at me and made me giggle like a child. I absolutely loved it! Plus, there’s a cake!!! YUMMY!#bookfriendsarethebestfriends

If you scroll ⬅️ you can see that Abby can sleep through anything 😂

Just sitting here on a #Caturday admiring two fant

Just sitting here on a #Caturday admiring two fantastic books. I read them both along with the @night_worms crew and they went down nice and easy.

THE EASTON FALLS MASSACRE: Bigfoot’s Revenge by Holly Rae Garcia and Ryan Prentice Garcia is packed full of emotion, terrifying creatures, secrets, and gruesome deaths. There should be no surprise about the death toll and graphic scenes - I mean it’s a horror novella with the word “massacre” in the title. Basically, it’s 200 pages of enjoyable reading. And yes, it is considered a “creature feature” but not all stories are alike, so if that label scares you, I still urge you to give it a try. The writing is immaculate and it’s a superb survival/revenge story.

HELL ON MARS by J.Z. Foster and Justin M. Woodward reminds me of the science fiction horror movies I love to watch. I must’ve seen Event Horizon, Moon, Sphere, Alien, Sunshine, and Solaris countless times. I have to add Event Horizon will always be my favorite but I digress. The premise of being trapped in space with some horrific element thrown into the mix is downright terrifying. HELL ON MARS is the start of the Reality Bleed series and it’s a series I actually want to continue with (strange, I know). It’s well-written, uber compelling with a fantastic plot. I had the most fun reading it.

Special thanks to the authors who sent me these copies! I am forever grateful.

What’s your #Caturday look like? Are you reading anything good?! 😻

It’s almost Friday...what does your weekend look

It’s almost Friday...what does your weekend look like?? Mine is getting my hair done - these roots are no joke. I forgot how much of a brunette I am 💁🏻‍♀️🙎🏼‍♀️ I have brown hair and blue eyes which would be the best thing ever if my skin color wasn’t translucent. Anyway, expect gratuitous photos tomorrow because its been awhile since I felt like myself. Also, I think Apple should have an emoji for pandemic hair 🤷🏼‍♀️

I am so excited to partner with @tlcbooktours and

I am so excited to partner with @tlcbooktours and @williammorrowbooks to feature HENCH by Natalie Zina Walschots! This book looks like all kinds of amazing. Just 👀 the synopsis below!

My #bookshelves are coming along nicely. I think I will FINALLY be finished tomorrow (happy dance).

How is your week going so far?! Tell me how you are doing #Bookstagram!

“Anna does boring things for terrible people because even criminals need office help and she needs a job. Working for a monster lurking beneath the surface of the world isn’t glamorous. But is it really worse than working for an oil conglomerate or an insurance company? In this economy?
As a temp, she’s just a cog in the machine. But when she finally gets a promising assignment, everything goes very wrong, and an encounter with the so-called “hero” leaves her badly injured. And, to her horror, compared to the other bodies strewn about, she’s the lucky one.
So, of course, then she gets laid off.
With no money and no mobility, with only her anger and internet research acumen, she discovers her suffering at the hands of a hero is far from unique. When people start listening to the story that her data tells, she realizes she might not be as powerless as she thinks.
Because the key to everything is data: knowing how to collate it, how to manipulate it, and how to weaponize it. By tallying up the human cost these caped forces of nature wreak upon the world, she discovers that the line between good and evil is mostly marketing. And with social media and viral videos, she can control that appearance.
It’s not too long before she’s employed once more, this time by one of the worst villains on earth. As she becomes an increasingly valuable lieutenant, she might just save the world.
A sharp, witty, modern debut, Hench explores the individual cost of justice through a fascinating mix of Millennial office politics, heroism measured through data science, body horror, and a profound misunderstanding of quantum mechanics.”

Another fun #NightWormsBookParty / #SidebySide #bo

Another fun #NightWormsBookParty / #SidebySide #bookreview thanks to my @night_worms pals - they really are the best!

I was so excited to receive THE FEAR by @nerdywordsmith! I mean look at this cover?!! And the mask is just too perfect!

I enjoy reading about end-of-the-world-disaster-horror-stories ESPECIALLY when the world is on fire 🔥 Are you the same way? What type of books take your mind off things?

Special thank you to the author for my free copy 💀

Hey all! 👋🏻 I am finally getting back on tra

Hey all! 👋🏻 I am finally getting back on track! I know, I know I’ve said this before but I mean it this time 😂 I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel - YAY ME.

I have a few AMAZING books to show you! The #bookmail I’ve received in the last couple of weeks is pretty damn neat SO watch this space 💋💋 #bookmailisthebestmail

Thank you so much @getredpr @lorijill321 and @forgereads for my my copy of Hank Phillippi’s Ryan’s THE FIRST TO LIE! Have you read this one? It’s Abby approved 🐈✨#bookandcats #shereadswithcats

🚫🚫 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 🎉🎉 GIVEAWA

🚫🚫 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 🎉🎉 GIVEAWAY ALERT 🎉🎉
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The October #BuddyReadsToDieFor selection is here 🎃🎃 and we have an International giveaway!
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Just in time for the spooky season, we're FINALLY picking up this horror fan favorite, Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
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If you want to join us for this buddy read, please make sure you let one of us know so we can add you to the group chat!
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We have a copy for two lucky winners!
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How to Enter:
📍Must be following @wherethereadergrows @shereadswithcats and @jessicamap
📍Tag a friend in the comments (each tag counts as an entry)
📍Share in your stories (and tag us) for extra entries
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That's it! Giveaway is open Internationally and will close ‪September 25th, 2020‬ and we'll contact the winners soon after!
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#bookgiveaway #lettherightonein #freebooks #bookstagram #halloween #vampire #spookyseason #october #buddyread #bookclub #currentlyreading #bookclubsofinstagram #amreading #readmorebooks #horrorobsessed #horrorgeek #shereadswithcats #wherethereadergrows #jessicamapreviews

HAPPY SATURDAY BOOK LOVERS ✌🏻 . It’s Hispan

HAPPY SATURDAY BOOK LOVERS ✌🏻
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It’s Hispanic Heritage Month so obviously I need to show you a few cool books to add to your #TBR 💁🏼‍♀️ These are just the books I could locate, but these are stellar choices!

What are you reading this weekend?!

Also, in other news, I posted a #hometour video in my Insta stories - it’s the before video from the day we got the house. I’ll definitely follow up with an after video! I’m one of those people that does everything fast, so I’m almost done decorating 🤣 Also, check out the amazing giveaway I have with @joplinhousecandles (see previous post 💋).

🚫🚫 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 ☕️☕️ IT’S A CANDLE GIVEAWAY ☕️☕️
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In case you haven’t heard the news @joplinhousecandles is back! I am such a diehard fan of Celie’s candles - the quality is simply amazing and they smell good enough to eat!

@joplinhousecandles has so graciously agreed to partner with me to give away one PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE CANDLE to one lucky fall-loving bookworm! Isn’t that exciting?! Seriously, you don’t want to miss out on this. See rules below to enter ☕️☕️
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To enter:

1. Like and save this post
2. Please follow @joplinhousecandles and myself, @shereadswithcats
3. Tag all of your favorite PSL loving friends
4. In a separate comment, tell us your favorite morning beverage (how you like your coffee, tea, or whatever)
5. 3 EXTRA ENTRIES if you enter on both @joplinhousecandles and @shereadswithcats (no duplicate tags please 😉)
6. 2 EXTRA ENTRIES if you share this giveaway in your Insta stories for 24 hours and be sure to tag us both ☕️☕️
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This giveaway is NOT affiliated with Instagram. We will select a winner on Friday 9/25. IT’S HALLOWEEN AND FALL IN A JAR - I guarantee you will be as obsessed as I am. Good luck friends! ☕️☕️
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#candle #bookishcandles #candleshop #smallbusiness #halloweencandles #soywax #instagood #candleaddict #pumpkinspicelatte #joplinhousecandles #candlesofbookstagram #candlegiveaway #giveawaytime #halloween #autumnvibes #bookphotography #fallweather #bookstagram #candles
#scentedcandles #handmade #shereadswithcats

#BookReview #NightWormsBookParty @jonbassoff’s

#BookReview #NightWormsBookParty

@jonbassoff’s CAPTAIN CLIVE’S DREAMWORLD is a roller coaster of a ride (pun intended). The story is clever, sinister, vibrant, and all too realistic. Let me just say, nothing creeps me out more than citizens of a suburban small town with fake kindness on the surface while simultaneously committing abhorrent acts. It’s just plain icky.

After a traumatic event, Deputy Sam Hardy moves into the idyllic town of Angels and Hope, where everyone is full of smiles, beyond friendly, and everyone knows each other. The neighborhoods are peaceful and whimsically odd to say the least. Picture a Pleasantville-esque place where its citizens live the American Dream and put all of their faith into a zealous leader, in this case, Captain Clive. Caption Clive is a charismatic, polarizing, self-made, and wealthy capitalist who has a lot of sway over this town. He promises to make your dreams come true, partially via his amazing theme park, Dreamworld. Deputy Sam Hardy was looking for an easy crime free job but can’t shake the feeling there is something deceptive about this so-called perfect town.

There are some serious Stepford Wives and Twin Peaks vibes in this book, and it’s glorious. The vivid, descriptive language really paints the picturesque scene like technicolor in your mind. There is a such thing as being too nice and Bassoff does a great job building the apple pie, cookie cutter, nobody locks their doors, kind of a place. Trust me, it’s a nightmarish place you wouldn’t want to be caught dead in. CAPTAIN CLIVE’S DREAMWORLD is not a dreamworld I would ever want to visit, but I certainly enjoyed reading it. Highly recommended!

Thank you so much @night_worms and @eraserheadpress for my free copy.

Are you adding this one to your #TBR?!!

Thank you so much @quirkbooks for my free copy of

Thank you so much @quirkbooks for my free copy of CURSED OBJECTS by J. W. Ocker. This book is exactly what it says it is: “Strange but True Stories of the World’s Most Infamous Items”

Folks, it’s fascinating! I read this cover to cover in one sitting and then found myself Googling like crazy to find out more. And YES, it includes the Annabelle doll, the Hope Diamond, and the tomb of King Tut. Ocker covers a few objects I already knew of but also many I have never even heard of. There is everything from cursed books to statues to jewelry. Ocker stays objective throughout and writes the perfect amount of information for each item including the history and events surrounding said object. I had the most enjoyable reading experience and it’s perfect for the spooky season. Highly recommended!

Side note: for some reason this chandelier in my new library/lounge looks like it should be a cursed object, haha. Do you have any experience with cursed objects or haunted houses?! As they say, I’m all ears 👻
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Scroll ⇦ to 👀 how gorgeous this book really is. @quirkbooks absolutely killed it!

🚫🚫 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 ✨✨ BOOK GIVE

🚫🚫 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 ✨✨ BOOK GIVEAWAY ✨✨
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First off, I AM STILL HERE. Instagram has this funny way of erasing people that can’t engage for a couple of days 🤪 DUDE INSTAGRAM...I had to move 💪🏻 #allthebooks Life happens, ya know? 🤷🏼‍♀️

And second, IT’S A @waterstones GIVEAWAY. I frequently buy UK hardcovers from this #bookstore and even though shipping takes a bit of time...it’s totally worth the wait! If you’re the lucky winner, you will have your choice of a book from their amazing online bookstore!

This is the first in a series of 20K giveaways so buckle up because it’s going to be a fun bookish few weeks! I love you all and appreciate YOU every single day since I started my #Bookstagram journey 🥰. See details below to enter! And of course, THIS GIVEAWAY IS INTERNATIONAL. Huzzah! 🎉🎉🎉
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To enter 👇🏻
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1. Like and save this post
2. Follow me @shereadswithcats
3. Tag your bookish friends. Especially the cool ones that love @waterstones quality editions 💁🏼‍♀️
4. Tell me in the comments which book from @waterstones you have your 👀s on 🎉
5. FIVE bonus entries if you repost this giveaway in your Insta stories for 24 hours AND be sure to use the HASHTAG #shereadswithcats20K 🤘🏻
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This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram 😜. The winner will be announced Thursday 9/17 🎈🎈🎈 Good luck my friends 😘😘
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#bookgiveaway #bookstagram #bookshelf #shelfiesunday #shelfie #booklover #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #bookaddict #bookaholic #giveawaycontest #bookphotography #currentlyreading #booksandchill #booksandcats #readallthebooks #shereadswithcats

It’s #BOOKMAIL day! Here are some amazing books

It’s #BOOKMAIL day! Here are some amazing books that arrived on my doorstep! Thank you so very much to the tagged authors and publishers for the free books. Oh my goodness, check out the cool swag that came with a few of them! Those horror authors really know how to spoil a girl 🤘🏻💀
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I’m reading #Crossroads by @laurelhightower (it’s fantastic 🤭). What are you #currentlyreading?

I’m buried in books! How about you?! . . . . . .

I’m buried in books! How about you?!
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#booksbooksbooks #bookpile #bookstack #bookstagram #bookphotography #bookfeature #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #bookaholic #booknerd #bibliophile #bookaddict #booksaremagic #readingislife #bookishescape #bookfeaturepage #bookshelf #badassbookbabes #bookgram #booksandcats #shereadswithcats

#BookReview #NightWorms #BlogTour IT WILL JUST BE

#BookReview #NightWorms #BlogTour

IT WILL JUST BE US by Jo Kaplan is a gothic style haunted house story that is perfect for the spooky season. I believe houses can have memories and in Virginia, on the edge of a swamp, Sam Wakefield’s family mansion has a slew of them.

Sam and her mother reside in the home but one day her sister, Elizabeth (Liz), shows up unannounced. Liz is far along in her pregnancy, had terrible fight with her husband, and needs a place to stay. Unfortunately, this unsettling, ominous, and claustrophobic house isn’t meant for the innocent. There is darkness and anguish that has settled inside for generations and until now Sam has taken the brunt of it. But now that Liz and her unborn child are here, a disturbing ghost in the form of a faceless boy is running around wreaking havoc wherever it goes.

Oh man, do I love gothic novels with creepy old houses and scary ghosts. Although, it has a slow start and some of the writing threw me off, I really enjoyed the story. The Wakefield house is alive with ghosts from its previous occupants and there is folklore attached to the swamp land around it. The house will drive a person mad with locked rooms, confusion, and by messing with time. And the faceless ghost is absolutely terrifying. Overall, the language is atmospheric, vivid, and descriptive.

IT WILL JUST BE US is in many ways a familiar gothic haunted house story but with a few unique tricks of its own.

Thank you so much @crookedlanebooks for my free copy. @night_worms #NightWormsBookParty

HAPPY SUNDAY! What are you doing this weekend? Any

HAPPY SUNDAY! What are you doing this weekend? Any interesting plans for Labor Day?

My first #bookpic in the new house! This is the only room without boxes. I am SO excited to read S.J. Skuse’s SWEET PEA with my #BuddyReadstoDieFor peeps! There is still time to join us! What do you say?!! 🌷🌷🌷

It’s Friday! Yay! What are y’all doing for the

It’s Friday! Yay! What are y’all doing for the long weekend?!

Final moving day for us so we finally get to actually sleep in our new house. Sweet baby Jesus I’m happy!

Thank you so much to everyone for your kind and encouraging words. Book people really are the most amazing people. I love my bookish family 💋💋
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One last photo from my old house. This is my horror #TBR #bookcart right before I packed it up. I didn’t realize how possessive I am over my books until I had to pack them up 🤣

(Thank you to the tagged publishers and authors fo

(Thank you to the tagged publishers and authors for the free copies)

Happy Thursday! We got the keys to our new home yesterday so now we are rockin’ and rollin’. Our movers aren’t scheduled to come until Friday so today we are taking a few odds and ends over. Mostly books 😂 I have a few editions I refuse to put in boxes.

This is the last #bookmail stack photo in the house we are leaving. I cannot wait to show you all when my shelves go up in the library. Yeah that’s right, I said library.

Also, there are a couple of #bookishtruecrime books in the mix! AND my lovely friend @teamredmon sent me a birthday book - MIDNIGHT LULLABY from my @amazon wishlist (so sweet 😭😍). Oh and Alex over at @findingmontauk1 #gifted me an @amazon #giftcard which I used to purchased said #truecrime books! He is the kindest human and often makes my day. #bookfriendsarethebestfriends

How is your day going? Tell me something your grateful for this week?

🚫🚫 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 🎉 JOSH MALERM

🚫🚫 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 🎉 JOSH MALERMAN GIVEAWAY 🎉
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@keelyfuse85 and I decided to make today JOSH MALERMAN day and give away two of his books! We both had duplicate copies and want to share them with one of you! Isn’t that amazing?! MALORIE (the sequel to BIRD BOX) and A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE are books we both recommend 100%. See details below to enter 🎉🎉🎉
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To enter:
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1. Like and save this post
2. Follow @shereadswithcats & @keelyfuse85
3. Tag your book pals and tell us what you are #currentlyreading 🎉🎉🎉
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BONUS ENTRY: Please share this giveaway in your Insta story for 24 hours and be sure to tag us! 🎉
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US only • this giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram • winners will be chosen on 9/6 • good luck • HAPPY JOSH MALERMAN DAY 🎉
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#joshmalerman #bookstagram #freebook #bookgiveaway #malorie #birdbox #read #contest #readersofinstagram #booknerd #badassbookbabes #booksbooksbooks #bookaholic #bookphotography #booklove #shereadswithcats #keelyfuse85

WORST LAID PLANS - An Anthology of Vacation Horror

WORST LAID PLANS - An Anthology of Vacation Horror, edited by @ochenwevs is an excellent blend of stories that I happily breezed right through. The forward is written by my friend @mother.horror and I might’ve fangirled just a tiny bit (okay a lot 🤘🏻).

Here’s the funny thing: the first paragraph of the forward could’ve easily been written about me. My family went to Dillon Beach every year in November-ish and stayed at a beach house for a week. Except we were at The Anderson’s not Wit’s End. And yes, we stopped in Petaluma for lunch, haha.

Vacation horror just grabs you, doesn’t it? If you really sit back and think about every trip you’ve been on and everything that could’ve gone wrong, it’s terrifying. I am impulsive, adventurous, and often drunk on vacation so think of the possibilities. The only thing I will never do is go on a cruise - I would rather take my chances and jump overboard.
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Standouts -

@vlatinalondon The Cacuy of Cancun is about an ancient monster known as the “harbinger of nightmares”. It’s short and not a word was wasted. And I discovered a new favorite author.

S.E. Howard’s You’ve Been Saved is an intriguing cross-country road trip story. Two old friends take a trip only to run into what appears to be a harmless couple in an RV. Something is amiss and ending is awesome.

@haileypiperfights Unkindly Girls sneaks up on you in the best way. Piper has a way of setting up a chilling story involving an unconventional father-daughter relationship.

@kenziejennings2 Peelings is likely my favorite story. A mom trying to get a minute to herself during a family vacation at a theme park. The body horror is just written so perfectly.

@waylon.jordan Deep In the Heart is about a tourist trip into a cave to find stalagmites and stalactites. Unfortunately these tourists do not have a good time.

@scottcole1313 Penanggalan centers around a trip to Penang. There is a “vampiric creature” who practices black magic there so why not go check it out? But watch out for the smell of vinegar.

@heymalcolmmills The Difference Between Crocodiles and Alligators by Malcolm Mills is an odd twist on an age old question and a particular fetish.

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