Building the Book Pile #500

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone is having a great long weekend so far!

Monday

Busy season is upon me. I had a presentation to about 1/3 of the 1Y class - it went fine overall. I also was asked to go on a global trip in November for work so I booked my flight... getting excited for that.

Tuesday

Tuesdays are always full of meetings, this one especially so and they took over my day. In the afternoon though I went to a reflective journaling session a friend is running through the term... and it was impactful and nice. so if you want a prompt- what are you working towards?  my initial reaction to this question was panic. 

Wednesday 

slow, sleepy day at work... was welcomed after so much the last to days. I got a lot off my to do list completed. 

Thursday

I had a number of meetings again today and met with student too. I also had to give another presentation, this time for the exchange students. The day was busy but ended nicely with a happy hour with the ERN groups. We met up with some friends and reconnected with others - it was great. 

Friday

WFH today, it will only be Fridays for a bit now. I got a few loads of laundry done in between emails and going through my updated to do list. Ended the day going out to eat, stopping by Home Depot to look at some things, and then to Homegoods to look for a rug (since we pulled carpet out, we need one for the winter months in there). I left with snacks and a new spooky butter dish but no rug. 

Weekend 

We have done lots already and have a pretty packed weekend to come too. Saturday we went to the local big yard sale and then went to an Augtoberfest event our favorite pub was hosting. Today we will head to go see my dad for his birthday BBQ and then we have to drop a car for service next week, plus all the normal week prep stuff - groceries, meal plans, chores, errands etc. 

Linking up this week with the Caffeinated Reviewer and her Sunday Post series.

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: North of Tomboy by Julie Swanson (MG) 

Early Reader Review: 9 Little People by Regina Feldmann (Youth)

Recap: August 2025

Blog Tour: Review - Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman (Adult)

Books Received Recently...  

  

 Nothing new this week 

Have you missed anything lately?

Blog Tour: Review - The Dragon's Tooth by Benjamin Coward (YA) -4 stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Blog Tour: The Dragon's Tooth by Benjamin Coward

The Dragon's Tooth by Benjamin Coward 

Publisher: Benjamin Coward
Publication Date:  August 14, 2024

 

Format: Ebook


About the Book:

Dark forces are trying to overthrow the Seven Kingdoms. Can Calderon, the orphaned Kusarku prince, master a powerful magical weapon—and learn to trust his own abilities—in time to save his race and others?

After the devastating Grey War and the death of their beloved king and queen, the Kusarkus, descendants of minotaurs, reluctantly relinquished their independence and accepted the “generous protection” of the elves. 

Since then, Calderon, the only heir to the Kusarku throne, has had to hide his true identity. 

But when the Seven Kingdoms come under attack by unknown forces and the Kusarku are blamed, the young prince must journey to the human capital of Alezadria to defend his race and accept the responsibility of his birthright. 

If not the Kusarku, though, then who is leading the hordes of goblins and trolls against innocent citizens? And who can Calderon trust, even within his own kingdom?

To aid in his struggle against evil, Calderon’s adoptive father, Bard, presents him with one half of his father’s powerful magical sword – The Dragon’s Tooth. 

Working together with his friends, can Calderon master the legendary obsidian weapon and his own magical abilities in time to save the Seven Kingdoms?

Rating:

Review:

I was very surprised by this book. It was pitched as a young adult, fantasy, and a standalone - all things I enjoy reading, but it was also only 186 pages, so you never know what you will get with that. I am still not completely sold that this is a standalone though - while pitched that way and no series associations online, I felt like this was a good start to a series. 

I really enjoyed that the main character isn’t human but a descendant of the minotaurs. This was a refreshing change from the typical fantasy hero, he is still pretty green and has a lot of reservations about what lies ahead. The adventure was engaging, and the trouble across the lands gave the plot enough climax points to string the reader along. I felt that the worldbuilding struck a nice balance of being both believable and distinctly fantastical. While I wanted a bit more description, it was a shorter book,  it was also enough to tell the tale so to speak. 

The book does a great job of setting the stage for what’s to come, especially as Calderon begins to uncover his heritage and face the challenges ahead of him. I wanted a needed a bit more resolution here... and hope that the series does continue. Overall, it was a quick, enjoyable read. I think if you are looking for something with fantasy, diverse population dynamics, action and adventure this could be a great book to pick up.  

About the Author:

Growing up in the heartland of Missouri, author Benjamin Coward first discovered the thrill of world-building through role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons and books in The Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini. 

In his debut YA fantasy novel, Benjamin masterfully creates a realm where relatable characters fight evil opponents and overcome struggles through teamwork and self-trust. 

With a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and now living and working in north central Florida, Benjamin’s love of nature and history often seep into his storytelling, enriching the fantastical worlds he creates.

Find the Author

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

 

Building the Book Pile #499

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Happy Sunday!

Monday 

...was a lost day, not going to go into it. 

Tuesday

I worked from home. We have a midday dog letter-outer but she was on vacation, so this way I was home for them. I had so much work, it took me until 2 pm to get through emails from the weekend/ Monday and then I had a bunch of event approvals and logistics to go through.  We went out to dinner though and I had a really good burger ... half of which I brought home for lunch the next day.

Wednesday

Back to the office for a day and it was full of meetings..6 of them. I also had to get some communications drafted and my system kept spazzing on me. It was a long day for us both so we ended up getting ice cream before coming home for dinner. So that was a win.

Thursday

WFH day - only a few more of these left before the busy season really picks up. I spent the day working on logistics for events, had a few meetings, and had a meeting for a committee that I volunteer on. Filling the cup with little non-work things. I also played a little Tiny Bookshop on my Switch before the day started. Ran out in the afternoon to take Charlie for a rabies shot update, he loves a car ride and it was good to have time with just him. Since we got the puppy I feel like he is a bit sad. 

Friday

Woke up feeling a bit gross. Not sure if it is allergies or I am getting a cold - could be either with the students back. Work was slower, which was nice, and I got a lot of little things done. 

Weekend 

We have run some errands and done some painting around the house that needed to be done. It was a busy weekend, but productive. I also got a lot of reading done 😀

Linking up this week with the Caffeinated Reviewer and her Sunday Post series.

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

Blog Tour: Review - The Dragon's Tooth by Benjamin Coward (YA)

Blog Tour: Review - Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman (Adult)

Books Received Recently...  

  

  

A Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn Rodriguez - Netgalley

The Best Wild Idea by Lily Parker  - For Blog Tour

Suddenly Mine by Katie Evergreen - For Blog Tour

  

For review consideration:

Clementine Crane Prefers Not To by Kristin Bair

An Amateur Witch’s Guide to Murder by K. Valentin

A Heart So Haunted by Hollie Nelson 

Have you missed anything lately?

Early Reader Review: Leaving the Station by Jake Maia Arlow - 4 stars

Early Reader Review: The Book of Heartbreak by Ova Ceren -2 stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Early Reader Review: The Book of Heartbreak by Ova Ceren

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

The Book of Heartbreak by Ova Ceren 
Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date:  August 26, 2025

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A Middle Eastern legend get a magically romantic modern makeover perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

A young woman must find a way to end the curse on her heart before it claims her forever in this delightfully witty fantasy romance.

Sare Silverbirch has already had her heart broken three times. A fifth heartbreak will stop her heart forever. Such is the nature of the curse she was born under, which forces her to live a life without letting anyone get too close.

When her mother dies unexpectedly and her heart breaks for the fourth time, Sare begins to urgently question the curse. Where did it come from? Why her? And rather than accept it, could there be a way to break it?

Her questions lead her to Istanbul where she meets Leon, a seer who helps her track down the mysteries of her mother’s past. But Sare’s heart is a fragile thing and their blossoming romance poses a great risk to her survival. Especially when she discovers that her fate is in the hands of celestials beyond this earthly realm.

Now the heavens are stirring, for they have a stake in Sare’s destiny—and they don’t like their plans being overturned.

The Book of Heartbreak is a dazzling, haunting romantasy sure to break—and mend again—the hearts of readers everywhere.

Review: 

Let’s be very clear here - this cover is stunning, and the synopsis holds so much promise. Unfortunately, this book ended up being a struggle for me. I wanted to put it down just a couple of chapters in, but pushed on, thinking maybe I was in a book hangover and not giving it a fair shot. In the end, though, it still fell short. Of course, other readers may have a very different experience.

The premise is intriguing: Sare is cursed to die when she experiences heartbreak, and on her fifth heartbreak, she will die forever. After her fourth heartbreak, she travels to Istanbul to search for her past, where she meets Leon.

Curses, Istanbul, Middle Eastern legends - sign me up, right? It had all of these elements, but somehow it still missed the mark.

I did enjoy that this story brought me to a new setting and introduced new stories and mythology. I appreciated the diversity in my reading, but I felt the author didn’t fully embrace it. I wanted more vivid descriptions of Istanbul and its culture, and more of Sare’s experience of change when she arrived. These elements seemed vital to her journey of self-discovery and learning about her family and past, but they were glossed over.

The book is tagged as adult romantasy, though to me it leaned more toward young adult or new adult fantasy. While there is a romance, it doesn’t feel central to the story, and honestly, the book works without it.

As for the characters: Sare often read as an angsty teen, even though she was nearly 18, and she never really grew out of that persona. I also never felt I had a clear sense of Leon - he came across as clingy from the moment they met, which gave me the ick. He was supposed to be the swoony love interest, but I just didn’t feel it. Munu, the celestial guide, was easily my favorite. She added humor with her dramatics and her sudden appearances to warn Sare.

Overall, I struggled to get through this one. While the ending does pick up and offers an okay resolution, I still came away feeling pretty meh.

With its unique premise, fresh Istanbul setting, and touches of Middle Eastern legend, this romantasy may appeal to readers looking for something different in the genre.

Early Reader Review: Leaving the Station by Jake Maia Arlow

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Leaving the Station by Jake Maia Arlow 

Publisher: Storytide
Publication Date: August 19, 2025  

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Sometimes, looking at him was like looking in a fun-house mirror.

Zoe’s life has gone off the rails.

When she left Seattle to go to college in New York, she was determined to start fresh, to figure out what being a lesbian meant to her, experiment with clothes and presentation away from home for the first time.

Instead, she lost touch with her freshman orientation friend group, skipped classes, and failed completely at being the studious premed student her parents wanted her to be.

But the biggest derailment of all? Her newly minted ex-boyfriend—and the fact that she had a boyfriend to begin with. When she met Alden, he made her feel wanted, he made her feel free. He made her feel . . . like she could be like him, which was exciting and confusing all at once.

So, Zoe decides a second fresh start is in order: she’s going to take a cross-country train from New York to Seattle for fall break. There, no one will know who she is, and she can outrun her mistakes.

Or so she thinks, until she meets Oakley, who’s the opposite of Zoe in so many ways: effortlessly cool and hot, smart, self-assured. But as Zoe and Oakley make their way across the county, Zoe realizes that Oakley’s life has also gone off the rails—and that they might just be able to help each other along before that train finally leaves the station.

Review: 

Leaving the Station is a compelling coming-of-age story. It centers around identity, through thoughtful conversations around sexuality, gender, religion (both Jewish and Mormon), and the ongoing question of one’s place in the world. I found it engaging and thought provoking with often vulnerable exchanges between the two main characters, Zoe and Oakley.

The cross-country train ride setting was a brilliant choice. It created a sense of forced proximity that allowed Zoe and Oakley to not only get to know each other, but to confront themselves in ways they had been avoiding in their normal lives off the train. There was also this beautiful flow of “all walks of life” woven into the story through their fellow passengers, which added richness and dimension to the story and their conversations.

I really loved Aya, she is a young and often opinionated train-goer that pops in throughout Zoe's time on the train. Her presence provided comic relief at just the right moments, and she was beloved by all once their train ride came to an end.

The characters’ struggles with identity felt authentic and deeply human. Their emotional journeys were depicted in ways that will resonate with many readers, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community and I personally felt a strong sense of connection and belonging while reading.

Overall, this is a thoughtful and well-crafted read that leans more contemporary than romantic. The romance element is certainly present and meaningful though. The author did a wonderful job capturing the uncertainty, hope, and clarity that can come from soul-searching, connection, and the willingness to start again.

Building the Book Pile #498

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Happy Sunday!

I recently decided to start bullet journaling again to try to keep myself on track. I have also been trying to have more reflection time to think about highlights since I know I am going to get busy and then stress about too many things soon. Now I have all the notebooks - I have my bullet journal, my reading journal, and my work notebook where I jot things down during meetings/ calls and to remember.  Do you have notebooks? or are you more electronic? I feel like writing things down helps me a lot and typing isn't the same.

Anywho.... this week

Monday 

Students are back on campus! We had our Welcome to school orientation session with the dean and everyone was so excited. This is the start of a 2-wk orientation. I always feel inspired after hearing the dean welcome them. The new student energy is so fun. I also went to Verizon and got a new phone. 

Tuesday

The Career Services orientation with the students was all day - so we had 4 sessions ALLLL day and met all 300+ students. Lots of talking and presenting, but it was a fun day. 

Wednesday

Another longer work day with meetings and things but the new student vibe was still strong and we had a bunch of students pop in to say hi. I had a migraine all day but instead of the big lights- we had a desk-lamp day and the vibe was chill and amazing. We need more floor lamps though to make it a tiny bit brighter. 

Thursday

WFH day, so much to do though. Between house stuff and meetings it was a busy day. Then we had  to go to get a new microwave because ours finally decided to die. I sadly can't live without a microwave... but we had dinner out and that was nice.

Friday

I started work early because later in the morning I had to go to a funeral. It wasn't anyone that I was close to but I was there to help my friend with he kids while she was there. We hung out in the playroom. 

Weekend 

We are just relaxing and running errands. We have been to the gym and cleaned up a bit from the week, otherwise we are watching movies and reading. Hope you are having a cozy weekend and hope you had a great week!!

Linking up this week with the Caffeinated Reviewer and her Sunday Post series.

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Leaving the Station by Jake Maia Arlow

Early Reader Review: The Book of Heartbreak by Ova Ceren

Books Received Recently...  

  

Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

Rainbow Fish and the Great Escape by Marcus Pfister

Witches of Honeysuckle House by Liz Parker 

Have you missed anything lately?

July ReCap

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Reading ReCap - July 2025

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

In July, I...

 read 6 books and DNFed 2 - A Sky So Hollow and  Fateless

StoryGraph Visual

~~Books I Read in July~~   

DNFs 

Feel free to share in the comments! I would love to know what you are reading! 

Building the Book Pile #497

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Happy Sunday!

This week, I finished a review book, picked up For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn and am about half way through it.  So on the reading front - things are looking good.

On Monday, I gave a presentation to the incoming class about what campus recruiting will entail, it is a general overview and a good chance to meet the class of ~300 in smaller groups. This Tuesday we meet the entire class as a whole team to give our session. Not for work, but work adjacent, I gave a presentation about hiring assessments to a group of career transitioning adults. It was a blast, and I think I was helpful.  I came home to some salmon my husband made and it was so yummy.

On Tuesday, I had some meetings and the workday felt so long, but it was a productive day. I got a lot of things done for the upcoming weeks and recruiting season. At home, I played with the dogs for a bit and we all watched tv. I did more reading before bed.

On Wednesday, I had a day full of meetings, and ended the day at the local pub for pizza and a drink. Thursday was a work from home day so I did some home chores in between meetings and emails. There is always so much laundry. Friday I took the day off, it is the last day before the whole class arrives and I wanted a breather before the chaos. It was pretty relaxed I read a bit, played with the dogs, and then downloaded Tiny BookShop on Switch... so cute. The end of the day was chaotic but we made it to the weekend...

Saturday errands were ran, we sold a car that has been on our garage as a project for a while, and just relaxed a bit. And we will see what today brings, it is supposed to be hot we might need to find water/ a swimming hole. 

I hope you had a great week!!

Linking up this week with the Caffeinated Reviewer and her Sunday Post series.

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

It will be a light week:

July ReCap

Books Received Recently...  

Bought (last Sunday)

 

For Whom The Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

Have you missed anything lately?

Blog Tour: Suddenly Tempted by Katie Evergreen (Adult) -4 stars

Recent Reads: Wild Side (Rose Hill #3) by Elise Silver (Adult)  - 5 Stars

Recent Reads: How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn (Adult)- 4 stars

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Recent Reads: How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn

How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn 
Series: How My Neighbor Stole Christmas #1
Publisher: Bloom Books
Publication Date:  October 15, 2024

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A new winter holiday, enemies-to-lovers romance, from the undeniably funny and always spicy, USA Today bestselling author, Meghan Quinn.

Living in a year around Christmas town has it's drawbacks. The caroling, the decorations, the insanely cheery spirit, it never disappears. It's why I like to hibernate away in my cave--I mean house--keeping a healthy distance from the holly jolly spirits.

And all was going according to plan until my nemesis, Storee Taylor, moved in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Without blinking, she turned my simple world into a real nightmare-before-Christmas, especially when she decided to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest - which she was determined to win.

Well guess what? Over my cold-hearted body.

There was no way I was going to let her win, not after the history we'd shared.

So despite my promise to myself of never participating in the sickening Christmas season, I entered the competition as well. That's right, I planned on beating Storee at her own game by pretending this grump’s heart grew three sizes this season.

And it was working until feelings between us started heating up.

We pretended to date.

We kissed.

And well, sparks flew from there.

Which led to one explosive night involving Christmas lights, the competition, and a ladder. Don't let me convince you who stole Christmas, I think you need to find out for yourself...

Review: 

I was in the mood for something light and wanted to chip away at my TBR pile, so I finally picked up this KU book that has been sitting in my list forever.

In the story, Storee and her sister are forced into (essentially) Christmas town when their Aunt Cindy breaks her hip. She needs someone to help her out and also take her place in the Joyous Christmas Kringle Contest. 

Told in alternating POVs between Storee and Cole (Cindy's neighbor and Storee's former friend), the story quickly dives into bickering and the enemies to lovers setup. Cole is so mad at Storee for things she said over a decade ago as a teen and decides she is not contest- worthy and Storee is confused but determined to win for her Aunt.

I enjoyed this one, it has a "he falls first" vibe, with great enemies to lovers tension, and a touch of secret romance. Atlas, Cole's best friend, was amazing as a side character and comic relief for the story. It was just cute, really shared a love for Christmas and traditions, and just had a cozy feel. Just what I needed. 

The only reason this wasn't a full five-star read for me is that the spice ramped up around the 60% mark and started to overshadow the plot. If that’s your thing, you’ll probably love it, but for me, it took away from the story just a bit. 

Overall, if you are looking for a spicy Christmas romance with heart and humor, this is a funny one to check out.