#BestBooksOf2024 Retrospective | The stories behind #JLASblog’s 11th Year whilst celebrating my 12th Blogoversary!

Posted Tuesday, 8 April, 2025 by jorielov (Narrator) Patricia Santomasso, A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking, A.Y. Chan, Alexis Kossiakoff, Anna J. Stewart, D.J. Williams, Danielle Thorne, Heaven's Edge, Jennifer Silverwood, Jorie Loves A Story, Jorie Story, Prison Break Hostage, S.D. Henke, Scott Forbes Crawford, T. Kingfisher, The Auctioneer, The Beekeeper Next Door, The Heart of the Uni-verse, The Legendary Mo Seto, The Phoenix and the Firebird 4 Comments

The Questions for the 2020 End of the Year Survey are posted by Jaime @ the Perpetual Page Turner, who created this survey as a personal reflection of her year of bookish wanderings and readings, and never thought it would turn into a book blogosphere yearly event! I am thankful she encourages us all to participate even though over the past five years I haven’t had the best track record of joining in on the community in which she’s curated to share a summation of our readerly lives.

NOTE: I participated in this Survey in (2015) and (2020). I seemed to have skipped over the years betwixt and between then and now. I have plans to fill in those gaps but that is for another day. I also couldn’t find any updates from Jaime on her blog past (2021) which is why I kept the questions I had from (2020). She continued to blog but apparently did not continue with the survey itself.

*Please be Advised:*

This past year I read a heap less books than in years past where I would read upwards of over 150 to 200+ books. I read far less than most who focus on reading 50 books every year too. And, yet this year I was quite proud of the stories I did read and the joys they gave me as a reader. If you count all the stories I partially read – the year-end total would be *40*.

For a girl balancing two jobs – one of which is 40+ hours a week and trying to find the hours outside of work to focus on something less stressful – I consider (2024) a success! Especially as by Summer, 2024 I finally wrangled my own style of joining #bookstagram despite trying to join the community there in Autumn of (2023).

All things considered; it was a wonderfully wicked bookish year!

Be sure to brew yourself a cuppa joy as you sit, read and ponder which of my #BestOf2024Reads need to seriously become added to your own #TBR!

If you’ve filled something out like this survey (OR this actual one!) or a different kind of post altogether to summerise your readerly life in (2024) – be sure to share your link to your post(s) in the *threads below this post so I can take a gander at which stories | authors | series | genres joyfully intrigued, you throughout 2024! As I would like to expand my own TBR with the stories you’ve read yourself which could be a wicked good fit for me.

I have severely edited this survey to better reflect my last year as a book blogger and as a reader. Thereby, this survey is far shorter than in the years I originally filled it out and has a special section to celebrate my 12th Year as a Book Blogger as that truly was a milestone moment for me as a book blogger who’s struggled over the last few years to maintain her readerly life and bookish life online.

REMEMBER: if a story wasn’t my cuppa it could be one better suited for you and vice versa if you had a story which you felt fell short of your own expectations and might resonate with me better. Reading is subjective to our individual experiences within the stories themselves, and all our reactions are valid and important as they are markers of our readerly lives.

Let’s break this down a bit, shall we?

You can use this as a ‘preview guide’ of how to use my Story Vault. <— fully updated!

#TheWriteReads blog tour celebrating A NEW #MiddleGrade Heroine | Introducing “The Legendary Mo Seto” by A.Y. Chan

Posted Tuesday, 24 December, 2024 by jorielov A.Y. Chan, Aladdin Books, Simon & Schuster, The Legendary Mo Seto 0 Comments

Acquired Book By: I started to notice I was receiving quite a few enquiries on my blog the last few months – in respect, to authors reaching out to me directly about reviewing their novels and one publicity firm I hadn’t worked with in the past as well. Ms Chan was the first author I responded back positively towards because of the note she attached to her query and how much the story itself resonated with me as a reader. I appreciate writers and/or publicists who take the time to look over my blog and know if their story and/or characters will be a good fit for me as a reader. I knew from what she shared with me; this particular story would be right up my street so to speak.

I received a complimentary copy of “The Legendary Mo Seto” direct from the author A.Y. Chan in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Why this particular story impressed me and why I wanted to read it:

I have had a long-held fascination and interest in Martial Arts – from the days wherein I practiced and trained in Tai Chi Chaun to the hours I’ve spent watching television series and/or movies which had a focus on Martial Arts, too. It isn’t often I find a writer who will put those elements into their stories or a grounding presence of Martial Arts as an important part of their character(s) lives, too. From that aspect of the novel, I was fully hooked and invested in curiosity to read the story! I wanted to know more about Mo Seto right away and find out what fuelled her passion for not just the practice of learning Martial Arts but the competitive side of her character as well.

However, there was a hint of a hidden secret history about her family and that out of her own courage to pursue the truth, she would find a lot to be revealled. From that angle of it, I was most intrigued, too. The last time I saw a story cleverly hide a family history secret was when I was watching the first season of Ms. Marvel and it truly captured my imagination. I need to follow-up with that series and see if they produced a second series, but I wasn’t sure if they would as the lead character was showcased in the film The Marvels.

The fact this novel was written for a Middle Grade audience also was well timed for me to read it – as I’ve been wanting to re-focus more on my readerly interests in both MG Lit and YA Lit – especially over the course of Summer. I had this idea to focus on YA Reads over Summer for quite a few years but either the intensity of storms (ie. severe lightning) would kick me offline or life would interfere, and I’d lose the hours to read the stories themselves – something always seemed to distract me from my efforts every Summer, until now. Mostly as our weather patterns are changing and the storms seem to be coming closer to the end of Summer than at the start of it, too.

I also love finding new heroines and heroes to champion in Middle Grade – especially when I find a book for MG Readers which is lovingly written for an MG Audience and isn’t writ too adult or with inclusions which would make it more Upper YA than Middle Grade. That seems to be the case a lot of the times these days in publishing and that is why I love celebrating writers who still keep the innocence and the adventure alive and well for the audience in which they are writing for rather than rushing ahead with more adult themes or content that isn’t always (I feel) suited for that audience. We all have to grow up eventually but sometimes I think we forget that there is something special and beautiful about still allowing kids to have wicked fun with their imaginations with stories that don’t have to make them feel like they need to hasten their own journey into adulthood.

The Legendary Mo Seto
by A.Y. Chan
Source: Direct from Author

Mo Seto, martial arts movie star! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? If only there wasn’t a height restriction to audition. But 12-year-old Modesty (Mo) Seto has never let her height get in the way before, not when she became a black belt, or when she fought the meanest boy in her class, and she’s not going to let it stop her this time! Now if only she can figure out a way to grow five inches and fool everyone at the auditions… Join Mo on an adventure (and audition) of a lifetime and find out if powerful things really do come in small packages!

Genres: Children's Literature, Middle Grade, Martial Art History

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9781665937320

Also by this author: The Legendary Mo Seto

on 4th June, 2024

Format: Hardcover Edition

Pages: 320

Published by: Aladdin Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)

Follow @SimonTeen (via Instagram)

A NEW #MiddleGrade Heroine to Celebrate | Introducing “The Legendary Mo Seto” by A.Y. Chan

Posted Thursday, 15 August, 2024 by jorielov A.Y. Chan, Aladdin Books, Simon & Schuster, The Legendary Mo Seto 4 Comments

Acquired Book By: I started to notice I was receiving quite a few enquiries on my blog the last few months – in respect, to authors reaching out to me directly about reviewing their novels and one publicity firm I hadn’t worked with in the past as well. Ms Chan was the first author I responded back positively towards because of the note she attached to her query and how much the story itself resonated with me as a reader. I appreciate writers and/or publicists who take the time to look over my blog and know if their story and/or characters will be a good fit for me as a reader. I knew from what she shared with me; this particular story would be right up my street so to speak.

I received a complimentary copy of “The Legendary Mo Seto” direct from the author A.Y. Chan in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Why this particular story impressed me and why I wanted to read it:

I have had a long-held fascination and interest in Martial Arts – from the days wherein I practiced and trained in Tai Chi Chaun to the hours I’ve spent watching television series and/or movies which had a focus on Martial Arts, too. It isn’t often I find a writer who will put those elements into their stories or a grounding presence of Martial Arts as an important part of their character(s) lives, too. From that aspect of the novel, I was fully hooked and invested in curiosity to read the story! I wanted to know more about Mo Seto right away and find out what fuelled her passion for not just the practice of learning Martial Arts but the competitive side of her character as well.

However, there was a hint of a hidden secret history about her family and that out of her own courage to pursue the truth, she would find a lot to be revealled. From that angle of it, I was most intrigued, too. The last time I saw a story cleverly hide a family history secret was when I was watching the first season of Ms. Marvel and it truly captured my imagination. I need to follow-up with that series and see if they produced a second series, but I wasn’t sure if they would as the lead character was showcased in the film The Marvels.

The fact this novel was written for a Middle Grade audience also was well timed for me to read it – as I’ve been wanting to re-focus more on my readerly interests in both MG Lit and YA Lit – especially over the course of Summer. I had this idea to focus on YA Reads over Summer for quite a few years but either the intensity of storms (ie. severe lightning) would kick me offline or life would interfere, and I’d lose the hours to read the stories themselves – something always seemed to distract me from my efforts every Summer, until now. Mostly as our weather patterns are changing and the storms seem to be coming closer to the end of Summer than at the start of it, too.

I also love finding new heroines and heroes to champion in Middle Grade – especially when I find a book for MG Readers which is lovingly written for an MG Audience and isn’t writ too adult or with inclusions which would make it more Upper YA than Middle Grade. That seems to be the case a lot of the times these days in publishing and that is why I love celebrating writers who still keep the innocence and the adventure alive and well for the audience in which they are writing for rather than rushing ahead with more adult themes or content that isn’t always (I feel) suited for that audience. We all have to grow up eventually but sometimes I think we forget that there is something special and beautiful about still allowing kids to have wicked fun with their imaginations with stories that don’t have to make them feel like they need to hasten their own journey into adulthood.

The Legendary Mo Seto
by A.Y. Chan
Source: Direct from Author

Mo Seto, martial arts movie star! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? If only there wasn’t a height restriction to audition. But 12-year-old Modesty (Mo) Seto has never let her height get in the way before, not when she became a black belt, or when she fought the meanest boy in her class, and she’s not going to let it stop her this time! Now if only she can figure out a way to grow five inches and fool everyone at the auditions… Join Mo on an adventure (and audition) of a lifetime and find out if powerful things really do come in small packages!

Genres: Children's Literature, Middle Grade, Martial Art History

Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 9781665937320

Also by this author: The Legendary Mo Seto

on 4th June, 2024

Format: Hardcover Edition

Pages: 320

Published by: Aladdin Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)

Follow @SimonTeen (via Instagram)

This story took the award for BEST Middle Grade Fiction.

#TheSundayPost | XIX | The STORIES are calling to me!

Posted Sunday, 11 August, 2024 by jorielov A.Y. Chan, Alexis Kossiakoff, Anna J. Stewart, Caleb Wygal, Clare Chase, D.J. Williams, Danielle Thorne, Death Washes Ashore, In Every Life, Rea Frey, Scott Forbes Crawford, The Antique Store Detective, The Beekeeper Next Door, The Legendary Mo Seto, The Phoenix and the Firebird 5 Comments

[Official Blurb] The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog. This is your news post, so personalize it! Include as much as you want or as little. Be creative, it can be a vlog or just a showcase of your goodies. Link up once a week or once a month, you decide. Book haul can include library books, yard sale finds, arcs and bought books..share them!

Enter your link on the post-

Sundays beginning at 12:01 am (CST) (link will be open all week)

Link back to this post or this blog

Visit others who have linked up

Read this week’s #TheSundayPost!

Um, where did Jorie go?

I am sure you must be W O N D E R I N G

where did Jorie go and why has she been radio silent for most of Summer when she was off to such a wicked good start back in July?

Oy vie. Where to begin?

The long story short is Summer took a few left turns and twists when I least expected anything to happen at all. And, that is where life keeps you humble. I endured two work-related injuries between late June and early July; exactly a fortnight and a day apart from each other. Mind you, I never missed a day of work – except for the days in which I was injured as I had to leave early. I’m not one of those persons who believes their okay even if they feel their okay – I’d rather get that confirmed medically speaking than to risk something worse to afflict me lateron. Trust me if you would have asked me “Do you think you’ll ever have to use workman’s comp?” My ready answer a year ago in June would have been, “I don’t think I will.” Famous last words. I’ve used it three times – the first was in December, 2023. Oyy. Sometimes you get more lemons than lemonade in life, but it is how you adjust to those circumstances that determines how you get through them.

Shortly after I sustained my injuries I started to fill in for other coworkers – some were out on sick leave and others had things come up in life none of us can foresee or plan for ahead of time. I didn’t mind the OT or the extra hours – as I enjoy my work but of course, the downside was I had less time away from work and I had to ‘let go’ of my regular days off and return to having halves and quarters again. Something I changed after ten months of that kind of routine whilst balancing two jobs (one day, one night) and realising I was slowing burning out. You can’t always burn the candle at both ends and expect not to feel overly fatigued. Thus, despite the fact my injuries were on the more minor side of the ledger, they had their quirks in respect to healing. It took a long time to ‘feel’ like myself after both of them and even then, I treaded lightly at both jobs and took extra care to be mindful of my limitations.

Whilst that was happening, if I had any spare time off, I will be honest – I was asleep. I simply didn’t have the extra energy to read or blog or even sort out a quick update post for Insta. I was mentally exhausted as much as I was physically. Some weeks are just harder than others. This is why I’m blessed my hours are becoming my own again. I have my days ‘off’ restored and it feels good all round. I hadn’t realised the positive change it had in my life until I went back to the ‘old way’ of not having full days off. Oy. How I lasted those 10 months is anyone’s guess!

Ergo, my readerly queue of stories sort of stalled out. I was on such a positive road back into reading – I had three Christmas stories I wanted to read in July, too. I still intend to read them, but I’ve set them aside for now. I’ll eventually wind back round to them, though, don’t worry. I love a wicked good holiday read. This is why this particular Sunday I’m focusing on the two stories which have smitten me with curiosity and are being READ RIGHT NOW. Whilst adding a book to the queue to be read next, too.

I happily celebrated my blog’s 11th birthday on Insta sharing THIS POST on the 6th of August. It is hard to believe it has been 11 years this August since I first launched Jorie Loves A Story LIVE into the world. I recapped all the feels of this milestone on that post, too. Finding messages awaiting me to read throughout the day was beautiful and humbling, too. I am so dearly grateful for this journey I first undertook in 2013 and I am wicked happy to be continuing it now. The best way I know how to celebrate all my lovely milestones of this blog and of being socially bookish is to relate to you the gratitude and the JOY I’ve felt over the years – engaging with readers, book bloggers, authors and everyone else who chooses to be socially bookish. It is a wicked lovely community, and I am blessed to be a part of it.

What Jorie is currently reading:

The Legendary Mo Seto by A.Y. Chan

The Phoenix and the Firebird by Alexis Kossiakoff and Scott Forbes Crawford

You might be curious what inspired the graphics I included on my collage graphic? Cats are cheekily one of the best mood lifters you can have in your life, and I have been blessed with cats my entire life. I currently have two lovely cats in my life, but I used to have a trio of cats who were once a quartet. Thereby the graphic was celebrating ALL the cats I’ve had as companions in fur at one point or another in my life. Whilst the coffee was a nudge and a nod to the fact over the score of Summer one of the comfort of joys, I’ve had lately was finding a coffeehouse who knows how to brew a wicked lovely Carmel Macchiato which is both soothing as it is uplifting. Whilst dragonflies for me are like butterflies – they represent Hope, New Beginnings and a turning of tides.

I have been reading The Legendary Mo Seto for a solid two months now! I first began reading the story when it arrived by post, and I shared a lovely snapshot of that JOY I felt when it arrived on Insta via THIS POST. Whilst it also popped up in my last #WWWednesday Post and on Insta as well. Yesterday, on my 11th blog’s birthday I made the most progress yet – aside from a few days of convalescing after my injuries as although I didn’t miss work, I had a blessed day off after both injuries and before I was starting to fill in for others. I didn’t want to rush reading the story – Mo is such a wicked new heroine in Middle Grade Fiction – you want to experience her life as she’s living it. Chan has such a refreshing voice too as a writer – her style of story is entertaining as it is imaginative. She has a way of merging the Mythological with the Martial Art Histories of China which leaves you wanting more and more of her vision of the story.

It is also rooted in a coming-of-age tale of a young girl who is just starting to find her own wings to fly into the world with confidence and moxie. To tackle the challenges of life and of growing up whilst remaining humble and kind along the journey, too. She has a fierce sidekick in her best friend Nacho and an interesting family dynamic and history – as a lot of her family is shrouded in secrets and her more immediate family isn’t oft involved in the storyline as it is focused on her choices and her journey rather than showcasing her parents and sibling. I know there is a reason for that as well but NO SPOILERS.

I have loved becoming lost in this story and travelling alongside Mo as we adventure after the unknown and try to root out the truths along the way, too. Expect to read my thoughts and reactions to this novel SOON. I am devouring it bit by bit and cannot wait to finally share my full thoughts on its behalf. I will especially be forever grateful the author found my book blog and gave me a chance to experience her story and become a cheerleader for Mo.
Read More

Posted Sunday, 11 August, 2024 by jorielov in Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Bookish Memes, JLAS Update Post, Jorie Loves A Story, The Sunday Post

#WWWednesday No. XX | My #SummerReads are off to a brilliant start!

Posted Thursday, 4 July, 2024 by jorielov A Home for the Twins, A.Y. Chan, Anna J. Stewart, Caleb Wygal, Clare Chase, Columbine's Tale, D.J. Williams, Danielle Thorne, Death Washes Ashore, J.S. Monroe, Prison Break Hostage, Rachel Nightingale, The Auctioneer, The Beekeeper Next Door, The Legendary Mo Seto, Their Surprise Wedding 0 Comments

I ♥ the premise of this meme {WWW Wednesdays} due to the dexterity it gives the reader! Smiles. Clearly subject to change on a weekly rotation, which may or may not lead to your ‘next’ read providing a bit of a paradoxical mystery to your readers!! Smiles. ♥ the brilliance of it’s concept!

This weekly meme was originally hosted by Should Be Reading who became A Daily Rhythm. Lovingly restored and continued by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. Each week you participate, your keen to answer the following questions:

What are you currently reading!?
What did you recently finish reading!?
What do you think you’ll read next!?

After which, your meant to click over to THIS WEEK’s WWWWednesday to share your post’s link so that the rest of the bloggers who are participating can check out your lovely answers! Score! Perhaps even, find other bloggers who dig the same books as you do! I thought it would serve as a great self-check to know where I am and the progress I am hoping to have over the next week!

Join the Convo via: #WWWWednesday on all socials

Follow the host via Bookstagram!

Hallo, Hallo Summer!

With such a hard start to my reading this year,

Summer is proving to be the season of renewing my bookish life. I’m off to a brilliant start, too and I can’t wait to share with you all the lovely stories which are happily being consumed!

For those who have been following my readerly adventures on Jorie Loves A Story for the better part of the last decade (can you BELIEVE this is my 11th year of book blogging?) — you know, I am typically the girl who DEVOURS stories – in all shapes and sizes – as well as floating between print and audiobook (at least since 2016!). And, yet, for the last few years my readerly life has suffered quite a bit and my blogging life has dwindled down quite a heap as well. A lot of those changes are credited to IRL challenges and adversities – as well as a lot of LIFE happening behind the blog, too.

To my credit, I haven’t lost the interest to read but rather circumstances have prevented me from reading for most of [2023 and 2024] which was explained in quite a lot of detail on #TheSundayPost. As I start to sort out where I want to resume my readings and listenings – I decided the best way was to start with small goals and ideally move forward into a long-term goal of mine which has been to focus on #MyYASummer (ie. stories featuring YA stories across genres interesting me to read) whilst adding in some wicked good Middle Grade stories, too. As I will be curating a particular concentration of stories – it will be a Summer of new discoveries and reading the stories I’ve ached to read for quite a long time now. While at the same time, I have other stories I’ve slated to be read before Summer ends – from Romance to Thrillers to Mysteries and a lot of lovely routes of genre betwixt and between!

Ideally I’d like to think I can maintain updating my readings through weekly #WWWednesdays but if I happen to miss a week or two, just know I’m still sorting out the balance between work and life outside of work. Laughs. I am sure I am not alone in that quest! Oy. Today I felt I’d start by focusing on the fact I have two new reviews up on my blog and more are coming soon (maybe even before the close of the weekend?!) into next week, too. Here’s to find my way back into STORIES and happily enjoying regenerating new chapters of engagement both on my blog and on my #bookstagram feeds, too.

What Jorie is currently reading:

The Legendary Mo Seto by A.Y. Chan

The Beekeeper Next Door by Danielle Thorne

Death Washes Ashore by Caleb Wygal
(Myrtle Beach Mysteries, Book Two) (see also Review of Book One)

I’ve been happily receiving some lovely offers of review consideration recently on my blog and one of those lovely authors who reached out to me was Ms Chan. She has written a wicked lovely Middle Grade novel called: The Legendary Mo Seto about a a young girl who is a new heroine to adventure after as we pursue the truths of her family and how much courage it takes to overcome any challenge that crosses your path. She’s into martial arts which interested me as I am as well IRL though I haven’t pursued it in a long time. I loved the sound of the novel and although I initially started reading it as soon as it arrived in early June, between work and my injury, I lost hours to continue reading it until now. I can’t wait to dive back in as I know it will be read in a few sittings as its wicked good! Be sure to watch for my review forthcoming over the next week. I also announced this lovely new book via #bookstagram.
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Posted Thursday, 4 July, 2024 by jorielov in Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blogosphere Events & Happenings, Bookish Memes, JLAS Update Post, Jorie Loves A Story, WWW Wednesdays

Tag: A.Y. Chan

Let’s break this down a bit, shall we?