9.30.2012

September In Retrograde

September turned out to be the BEST month I've had so far with blogging. Hells to the YEAH.

(Image from free wallpaper)
 
I'll start with the goals I set at the beginning of the month:
Goals for September:

1. Post at least 3 times a week  I've posted more this month than any month prior.
2. Read at least 2 books per week  I was a reading machine in September!
3. Read one book on my Kindle  I read Slammed and Under the Never Sky on my Kindle.
4. Post a review for every book read- While I didn't completely meet this goal, I wrote a lot more reviews this month and am proud of myself. I'm going to change this to review at least half the books I read because sometimes I just don't want to write a review and it's no longer becomes fun when you feel forced to do something.
5. Comment more on other peoples blogs Again, I've commented more on people' blogs this month then maybe since the whole time I've been blogging.
6. Try for one new follower I didn't get just one new follower, but 10!!! I can't believe it! So freakin awesome. A big thanks to the people who actually want to read the crazy that I'm typing. :)
7. Keep up with Goodreads, I just joined a paranormal book clubby group on there, hoping it will connect me with some other bookish people -  Well I have been keeping more up with goodreads, especially while I'm reading a book. I didn't end up reading the 2 books for my goodreads group.
8. Learn how to do one new thing for blog Thanks to Bloggiesta, I did a heck of a lot more than just one.

As far as my September TBR list, I veered off the path. I read 4 of the pre-planned books. I'm not sure why I make this list, I never follow it. I read depending on my many moods.

BLOG RECAP:

Total blog entries: 29

Books read in September:
1.Shadow and Bone (Leigh Bardugo) 5/5
2. Sisterhood Everlasting (Ann Brashares)  5/5
3. Scarlet (A.C. Gaughen) 3.5/5
4. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (Rachel Cohn & David Levithan) 4/5
5. The Goddess Test (Aimee Carter) 1.5/5
6. Wanderlove (Kirsten Hubbard) 4/5
7. The Reluctant Amazon (Sandy James)  2.5/5
8. Botanicaust (Tam Linsey) 3/5
9. Daughter of the Centaurs (Kate Klimo) 2.5/5
10. Slammed (Colleen Hoover) 4.5/5
11. Under the Never Sky (Veronica Rossi) 5/5
12. The Summer I Turned Pretty (Jenny Han) 5/5
13. It's Not Summer Without You (Jenny Han) 5/5
14. We'll Always Have Summer (Jenny Han) 5/5
15. Uglies (Scott Westerfeld) 4/5

Total My Thoughts posts:  9

Favorite Read: As you can tell by my ratings I loved most of the books I read this month. I'll say the one that stands out and makes me stoked for the next one would be Under the Never Sky. I can't get this book out of my head!!

Least Favorite Read:  The Goddess Test...to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. You can read my thoughts on it here

Favorite Quote(s):
"He is transparently simple, this one, and unexpectedly complicated. And radiantly beautiful." -Seraphina

"She's cinematic and I'm a fucking sitcom." -Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

"Maybe you think you'll be entitled to more happiness later by forgoing all of it now, but it doesn't work that way. Happiness takes as much practice as unhappiness does. It's by living that you live more. By waiting you wait more. Every waiting day makes your life a little less. Every lonely day makes you a little smaller. Every day you put off your life makes you less capable of living it."            -Sisterhood Everlasting

New Followers: 10!!! Oh my gosh, super stoked about this!

Favorite thing about September: On a bloggish front that would DEF be BLOGGIESTA. On a personal note....I GOT A NEW JOB! I should start sometime towards the middle-end of October.


So. In a nutshell. September has left me feeling a bit like this:



Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge: October Calendar

Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge: Blogging Calendar. This one is hosted by
Love,Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity  (LOVE the name)

So for this Bloggiesta mini-challenge I made a calendar where I will pre-plan/plot out my posts for that month. I think this is an excellent idea to not only keep me organized, but motivated as well. And any excuse I have to use markers is a-okay in my book. My printer wasn't working, so I hand-made my calendar. It's only in the beginning stages, but it's a good start. On the back I jotted down some ideas for other types of posts. I just thought of an idea to do a doodle-of-the-week post because I love art/crafts and doodling and this would be an excellent way for me to show them off! (But don't expect Van Gough here) 

Here's a picture of my calendar:


And here's the back where I jotted down a few ideas:

 
 
Yay!

I'm chillingly fascinated!

This post is part of the Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge about Discussion Posts. This challenge is hosted by Girlxoxo

She has a great list of possible discussion lists, and as a HUGE lover of lists I had to pick one. I took one of Girlxoxo's ideas and tweaked it a little bit.


5 Chilling/Fascinating Dystopian Societies in Books

dumdumdum...

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- A world where teenagers are offered up as tributes to fight to the death. Yeah, that's a bit chilling.

2. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld- When you turn 16 you are forced to have a surgery to make you Pretty. But that's okay because who really wants to stay ugly for the rest of their life? NO ONE that's who.  Then you get to move from Uglyville to New Pretty Town and party your life away. Sounds great right? Well little do you know..prettiness comes with a price.

3. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi- I LOVED the idea of this society. Basically you live in pods and are able to visit these fantasy realms. You can do anything, go anywhere, and not be afraid of getting hurt. ANYTHING people.  Sounds AWESOME. The first realm I'd go to would be an underwater world where I could be a mermaid. Hells to the yeah.  Who cares if being away from reality for a lengthy time will drive you a little crazy.

4. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan- This is one zombie world that I would NOT want to be in.

5. Divergent by Veronica Roth- The society in this book was amazeballs. Everyone is put into one of 5 factions, and with each comes specific attributes and characteristics. Craziness ensues.

9.29.2012

Bloggiesta Mini-challenge: About Me

I love the idea of this Bloggiesta mini-challenge idea! This one is hosted by Nova Library Mom.
Blogging to me, is a very personal thing, and I don't want my personal voice to get lost within my review and meme posts.

So about me..hmm these things are always hard for me to write. I don't think I'm at all interesting. I'll just give some random facts.

I've been reading ever since I can remember. I remember taking weekly trips to Waldenbooks with my dad. He always encouraged my reading by buying me books. Whenever I would get punished and sent to my room for fighting with my brother (which was pretty much a daily occurrence), you could find me sitting in the bottom of my closet. The shelves were filled to the brim not with clothes, but my favorite characters and stories. Reading is my escape. I missed out on a lot of experiences growing up and books help me live some of those things vicariously through my favorite characters. I guess my obsession with magic and fantasy worlds comes from my lack of enjoyment of real life.

I have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and regret picking this as my major. I'm not sure exactly what I was thinking. I'm more an animal person than a people person. I've always been shy and socially awkward. Strangers make me anxious, as do really large crowds. One of my worst fears is having to make small talk with people. I'm about to make a major life change and start a new job. On one hand I'm soo freaking excited, it sounds like something that's right up my ally. It's more focused on the administration/business aspect of nursing. At the same time, I'm completely terrified. New place, new people, new job to learn. At least I know the hell I'm walking into every day right now. But I think it's meant to be!

Speaking of animals..I have a huge passion and big heart for them. My dad is a vet, so I've been around them my whole life. My heart BREAKS when I see animals hurting or abused. When I pass dead animals on the side of the road I have to look away, it doesn't matter if it's a deer or skunk or opossum. The Neverending Story and Bambi scarred me for life. I don't have any pets right now, but plan to get a dog when I move out of my apartment. My biggest love is for ocean mammals. Another obsession of mine.

I love art and crafts. I've gone through a couple obsession phases where I've spent hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on a craft, then got bored and moved on to another. I have enough yarn, scrapbooking paper, and stamps to last for quite a while!

I started stalking book blogs a couple years ago. I couldn't get enough. So I started my own to talk about the books I've read and because I thought it would be fun. I had a lull there for a bit but I'm back now and am really enjoying it. Bloggiesta has been great. I've already learned so many ways to make my blog and blogging experience better.

Now for some randomness:
-I hate wearing socks but I can't wear shoes without them.
-Whenever I'm driving in my car, I count the numbers and letters on every license plate I see. Weird I know.
-Some day I'd like to go sky diving.
-I'm obsessed with magic, medieval times, Merlin, and Harry Potter.
-I could eat macaroni and cheese every day for the rest.of.my.life.
-I like nuts, but not when they're in stuff. Nuts in cakes, pies and cookies? Bleck. Give me a nut on its own? I'm good.
-My favorite colors are blue then purple then green. I hate yellow.
-My dream job would be a marine biologist.

Well that's that. Now you know much more about me then you ever wanted to :)

My Blog Grade (Bloggiesta mini-challenge)

Smash Attacks is hosting an AWESOME mini-challenge for Bloggiesta. Visit her site for more details.

You can go to this free website grader, enter your blog url and it gives you a grade based on their pre-populated data.

My blog grade is: 66/100

I'm not at all unhappy about this. I was actually expecting much worse. I'm still working out kinks and have only been getting really really into my blog the past month or two. The site doesn't just give your blog a grade, but breaks it down for you into different areas and shows you exactly how they arrived at that grade, and ways to improve. Soo many good ideas and great information. It's soo easy to do too.

DO IT NOW.

Bloggiesta 2012...TO DO LIST..OLE!

Bloggiesta is in full-effect.  This is my first year, so I'm a little overwhelmed. Mostly just clicking and reading right now.  Making a list of things to get done this weekend for my blog and deciding which mini-challenges to participate in. I'm already seeing a LOT of really great, informative information. For more information about Bloggiesta and how to participate go visit There's A Book.

I'm loving the mini-challenges: (I've included the link for the blogger hosting) Go HERE to see a list of all the links for the mini-review challenges, there are some GREAT ones.
I may do a separate final post for some of these when completed or will update this post.

1. Mini-challenge review catch-up, my participation level is Let's Split Up (50% of outstanding reviews). With reviews, I've noticed the best time for me to type up my review is right after I read a book, when it's freshest in my mind and the thoughts are aflowing. The longer I put it off, the more reviews get stacked up and the more I feel under pressure. I've already been keeping a book journal for the past year and half, every book I read has an entry and I make notes, my favorite quotes, and a final rating.  (UPDATE: DONE but I'm going to try and exceed my goal and review one or 2 more)
I have 7 outstanding book reviews, so my goal is to get half of them typed up this weekend:
     1. Wanderlove
     2. Daughter of the Centaurs
     3. Under the Never Sky
     4. The Summer I Turned Pretty
     5. It's Not Summer Without You
     6. We'll Always Have Summer
     7. Uglies

2. Mini-Challenge 20+ Discussion Post Ideas For Your Book Blog  So right now, my blog posts have consisted of mainly 2 things: Book reviews and my favorite memes. I love the idea of discussion posts, and want to start doing more of these. Mostly because they involve making lists, and, well, me and lists are like THIS.   The one that caught my eye was: 5 Chilling Dystopian Government Systems in Books. So you can expect this post sometime next month. UPDATE: DONE, will post 9/30/12.

3. Mini Challenge: Organization and Scheduling Posts-I'm just going to do the first part of this challenge, create a blog schedule.  This, for me, is a must. When I'm unorganized then I get behind on my posting and feel pressured. Which is no fun. And I started blogging for the fun. For a couple weeks there, I was scheduling my posts in advance, including reviews and memes. It was great, I would have my posts all set up for the week and could start on the next week. This gave me plenty of leeway and if I was exhausted from work one day I didn't have to worry about making a post because I already had one planned. So my goal is to schedule one month out at a time and have a set schedule. Ideally, I'd like to have 2-3 review posts per week, my 2-3 memes, and then at least one random post. I don't feel compelled to post every single day, but ideally 5 times a week would be good.

       Sunday- In My Mailbox/Review
       Monday-Review
       Tuesday-Top Ten Tuesday
       Wednesday- Waiting on Wednesday
       Thursday- Review
       Friday-Discussion/random post
       Saturday-Discussion/random post/review

Update: I consider this goal DONE, I'm actually been doing a lot of brainstorming about ideas for posts and have one in mind that I'm actually pretty excited about!

4. Calendar and The Blog Journal Mini-Challenge- I love this idea, having a calendar in front of me will help me organize my posts/ideas. I'm more of a marker girl myself. And any excuse that involves using markers I'm down for. I also like the idea of having a blog journal. I have like 10 notebooks always at my disposal, with various lists in each one. But I like the idea of having one specific notebook to keep all my ideas together in one. Update: DONE

5. Grade your blog mini-challenge- I'm not so much interested in my grade (which obviously is going to be a fail because I'm still learning and really getting into the blogging), but this site gives you some great ideas about where and how to improve your blog. (UPDATE: DONE)

6. Mini-Challenge: Let's Get Personal. This is probably the most important challenge for me. I don't want my blog to become this cold, boring, predictable thing. The blogs I enjoy the most are the ones where the blogger gives a glimpse of themselves in their posts. Blogging for me is a personal thing, and I don't want my blog to be like everyone elses. I just need to find my own voice..working on it.  I am human, hear me ROAR! UPDATE-DONE

7. Mini-Challenge: Building a blog audience-  So for this challenge I will visit 10 new blogs and leave genuine comments on each.  I'm going to make a longer-term goal to comment 5 people a day, whether it's someone whose left me a comment on my blog, or on a post I see that catches my eye. It is true, you have to put yourself out there. People aren't going to just randomly appear and know about your blog. UPDATE-DONE
  SATURDAY- DONE I've commented on more than 10 blogs today that I've never visited or it had been a while. I found a couple new ones to follow:
Books, Biscuits, and Tea
Midnight Book Girl
The Book Vixen

SUNDAY-DONE I've commented on 10 more new blogs, and I have a few more awesome ones to follow:
Recovering Potter Addict
The Paper Reader
Beyond the Bookshelf

ALLLRight. That's it for the mini-challenges that I'm going to participate in. I'm stoked about all of them.

So now for my personal individual goals for Bloggiesta:

1. Add some gadgets- I've been wanting to do this for a while now. The ones I'm thinking about are:
-Currently reading
-Quote of the day
-Favorite book series/books (update-I've decided against this one for now)
-TBR (update-I may do some sort of separate page instead of a gadget)
UPDATE: I consider this goal DONE.

2. Update my READ IN 2012 list, with the links for reviews  DONE

3. Add a Master review list page DONE

That's going to be it for now. I have a lot to do and want it to be realistic. One of the really big things I want to do is get a new blog design that fits the title of my blog. I haven't looked into finding a blog design person yet. That's not something I'll be able to do this year, but it's a definite goal for 2013.  I love blogs with awesome designs. Right now mine is generically boring.

Anyways, I'm so excited to get started!! Bloggiesta ohhhh yeaaah. Leave me comments and I'll comment you back for SHO.  Can't wait to read the challenges other people are participating in.

9.26.2012

Waiting on Wednesday (#7)

This little gem is hosted over at Breaking the Spine.

One book I am soo freakin excited about and can't wait to be released is:

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2 by Veronica Rossi)

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, #2)It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable. (Goodreads Blurb)


The Why:  I recently read Under the Never Sky and LOVED it. The way it ended made me want this book IMMEDIATELY. The world, the characters, the writing. It's amazing and I need the next book STAT. And the cover is lovely.
Due for publication January 8, 2013.

9.25.2012

Top Ten Tuesday (#11)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and The Bookish.

As a lover of lists, I could not resist.

This week's topic:

Top Ten Series I Haven't Finished:

1. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. I've read the first 3 books. I checked them out from the library and haven't been back in a while. I don't want to buy the rest of the series quite yet. But I do intend on finishing..eventually.

2. Caster Chronicles (Beautiful Creatures) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I remember reading this book and being a bit confused but liking it enough to go ahead and buy the second one. I HAVE to reread the first one before moving on..and well I just haven't gotten around to that yet. AND I need to do it before the first movie comes out.

3. Incarceron Series by Catherine Fisher. Again. I've read the first, was quite confused but bought the second one. Another reread is in order.

4. Fallen Series by Lauren Kate. I actually own and read the first 2 books in this series, and quite enjoyed them but I couldn't tell you anything that happened or even any of the characters names. Yeah. So. I do want to finish this series though.

5. The Magician's Series by Lev Grossman. The Magician's was very unique and interesting, and again a bit confusing. But I went ahead and bought The Magician King (#2). I sense a pattern here.

6. Paranormalcy Series by Kiersten White-I enjoyed this book, again already own the second one but need to reread the first.

7. Firelight Series by Sophie Jordan-I LOVED this book, I mean DRAGONS! But I need to refamiliarize myself  before moving on to the second (which I, ahem,  already own).

8. Nightshade Series by Andrea Cremer. I've read Nightshade and Wolfsbane and loved them. I started reading Bloodrose but couldn't get into it and quit. I'll get around to finishing it...sometime...

9. 2 series by HP Mallory: Dulcie O'Neil and Jolie Wilkins Series. I'm a huge fan of this author and love both of these series. They're cute and fun and funny. I've read a couple books from each and def plan on finishing, other books just got in the way.

10. Hannah Swensen Series by Joanne Fluke. I've read the first 5 or so and own a couple more..they became a little redundant and I put them aside for now. Think Janet Evanovich-like.

NOW for some honorable mentions:
11. Wicked Lovely Series by Melissa Marr.  I started Wicked Lovely a while ago and couldn't get into it and didn't finish. I know so many people love this series. Maybe I should give it another shot?

12. Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost. I've only read Halfway to the Grave, not sure I liked it enough to continue.

13.Georgina Kincaid Series by Richelle Mead-I read Succubus Blues..it was okay..maybe I'll check out the next from the library. +

14. Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series by Stieg Larsson-I own all the books and have yet to start this one.


Well that's it for me. Leave me a comment with your list link and I'll check it out.  Also if you have any recommendations about which series I DEF need to finish like yesterday let me know! :)

On a side note, thanks to everyone who does leave me comments, I read them all. I do try and comment back as much as I can but my computer has been acting all sorts of crazy lately, not loading blogs completely and letting me comment on certain blogs. If only I was a bit more computer savvy..



9.23.2012

In My Mailbox (#17)

In My Mailbox is hosted over at The Story Siren.

I HAD to order a certain book from b&n.com, and I mean, who can order just one? Not I.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
The Crown of Embers (Rae Carson)
 
So I bought the following 2 books because everything I've read of this particular author thus far I've loved. So why not?
Every Day by David Levithan
The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
 
Sooo then I had a 20% off coupon only good until today that I HAD to use, so I went to barnes and noble last night and bought a couple more lovely things. This first of which I'm SOO STOKED about, I hadn't ever seen this in the store before.
 The Definitive Movie Posters from all the Harry Potter movies, both US and overseas. 40 of them!!!!! They are beautiful and I can't wait to put some of them up. I also got
Harry Potter Schoolbooks: Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling.
A must have for my Harry Potter collection.

30 Second Mythology (Which was on bargain sale)
One Day by David Nicholls (There is a recent movie of this book with Anne Hathaway and I really want to see it, but want to read the book first)



The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa
I've already read these novellas on my kindle, but I had to have the hard copy.
 
And finally, last but most def NOT least:
Blackout (#3 in The Newsflesh Trilogy) by Mira Grant.
I read Feed and Deadline and loved them, this is the final book and I can't wait to find out how this trilogy is going to end.
 
OH I forgot. I also got this lovely owl mug.


Well that's it for me, I'm excited about everything I bought. Can't wait to see what everybody else got, leave me a comment with your link and I'll check it out!
 
 
 

9.20.2012

Bloggiesta..better get the margaritas and chips ready!

So apparently there's this thing called Bloggiesta and it's supposedly super awesome. I'm all about the awesome. I've signed up to participate  and I can't wait to not only learn some stuff about blogging (seeing as my current knowledge is severely lacking) but also to "meet" some new blogging buddies and fellow book lovers. I've been wanting to better my blog for a while now, and this will be the PERFECT opportunity.  It's open to anyone, all you have to do is click this link and it will take you to the sign-up page and give you lots more information. It's going to be September 28-30th.
Awww yeeeaaaah. Stoked.

9.19.2012

Waiting on Wednesday (#6)

This little gem is hosted over at Breaking the Spine.

One book I can't wait to sink my grubby little claws into  is:

Cleopatra Ascending by Maureen Lipinski

Cleopatra AscendingSweet Sixteen = You're a Queen

Despite living with a shaman, a witch, and a muse for sisters, Rhea Spencer feels like a normal teenager-even if she is the reincarnation of Cleopatra. But all that changes on Rhea's sixteenth birthday, when her visions of the Egyptian queen start unraveling a very different version of history, and Declan, a hot representative of the secret Order of Antony, shows up on the doorstep to keep her from being kidnapped. Together, Rhea and Declan travel to Egypt to stop the Octavians, a dark cabal trying to tap into Rhea's growing powers. The cabal seeks to access the magic deep below the desert sands, a potentially devastating force that only Rhea can protect. (Goodreads blurb)


The Why:
Cleopatra. Egypt. Witches. Shamans. Queens. A hot representative of the secret Order. I mean ahem. What's NOT to want?

Set to publish 1/8/13


9.18.2012

Top Ten Tuesday (#10)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish.

As a lover of lists, I could NOT resist.

This week's Topic:

Top Ten Bookish People You Want To Meet:
Harry Potter Boxset

1. J.K. f'ing Rowling- The master of the literary universe. The magical genius behind Harry Potter. (My most favorite books in the history of forever) . The giver of Quidditch and Dementors. I figure we meet up and throw back a couple of butterbeers whilst she shows me all her secret continued writings of Harry Potter: The Older Years.
Oh how I love thee.  I'm gonna go ahead and count her as my first 5, cuz that's how I roll.

Holy Bible: New Internation...6. All the writers of the B-I-B-L-E. yes. ALLLL of them. Let's get down to bizniss. I'll bring the wine.

Green Eggs and Ham7. Theodor Seuss Geisel, that's Dr.Seuss to you!- The question is why wouldn't I want to meet the genius behind Green Eggs and Ham and The Cat in the Hat? But seriously, Green Eggs and Ham was one of my favorites as a kid...probably because it had to do with food. And I loves me some food. Before I meet him I need to brush up on my rhyming skillz.

The Complete Tales and Poem...8. Edgar Allen Poe- Lets face it. This man was all sorts of crazy. And dark and twisty. My kinda guy. I want to dive into that crazy and swim around..maybe I'll meet a raven.




Poison Study (Study, #1)9. Maria V. Snyder- She wrote one of my favorite books, Poison Study, and I need to meet her to tell her how much I love this trilogy and that she needs to please write one more book after Fire study. I NEED MORE VALEK.

The Truth About Forever10. Sarah Dessen- She is a FANTASTIC writer, I have loved every book I've read by her so far and will read every book she ever writes. LOVE.  My favorites are Just Listen, The Truth About Forever and This Lullaby.




Thus completes my list.  Can't wait to see who YOU want to meet! Leave me a comment with your link so I can check it out  :)

9.17.2012

My Thoughts: Slammed (Colleen Hoover)

Slammed (Slammed, #1)Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.
Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart. (Goodreads Blurb)





My Thoughts:

Slammed is one of those books that just sucked me in. The writing was easy, the characters came to life and the story was well written.  I laughed, I cried, I loved, I swooned.  I freaking loved this book to pieces and it slammed its way into my heart.
The story of Slammed was written in such a way that I felt completely immersed. It was so realistically realistic. I felt like the characters could be anyone. Layken as a main character was highly likeable. It’s the small things that really helped me attach to her, like when she pretends to be a zombie and chases her little brother around or the incident with the Darth Vader bedroom slippers.    The relationship Layken has with her mother is, again, realistic. It’s not perfect, but what relationship is? There is immediate chemistry between Layken and Will when they first meet; they're cute and awkward and I love them.  And speaking of Will…I was in need of a new favorite bookish boy. Why can't he be real?? ARG.  This book only helped cement my love of boys-next-door (or in this case boys across the street).
2 of my favorite things about this book:
#1 Poetry slams!! Before reading this book, my knowledge of poetry slams was what I’ve gathered from television. All I could think about was the episode of Boy Meets World when Cory gets up and slams TOPANGA! I imagined a dark room filled with people wearing berets drinking espresso and contemplating the universe. The poetry slams in this book RULE!  And I want to go to one!   It’s not just about reading lines off a page; it’s about performing something that lets people “see a glimpse into your soul”.  Who knew poetry slams could be so cool? I know I didn’t. The poems that were presented during the slams were very touching, especially the one Will does at the end of the book. It definitely spoke to my soul.
#2 I love books that include song lyrics. Whether they are given at the beginning of the chapter, as is done in Slammed, or at the end or just randomly scattered. Song lyrics can add a lot of depth and meaning to a story. As did all the Avett Brothers lyrics that were included in this book. I’ve never listened to this band, but they are poets in their own right and I will definitely be checking them out now.
Overall, this book was a slice of apple pie heaven that I want seconds of. Oh that’s right, the second book is already out! Point of Retreat, we'll be meeting very soon.
Favorite Quotes:
“Despite my objections I realize, almost pathetically, that I have just experienced the most passionate kiss I’ve ever received from a guy and it was on the freaking forehead.”
“Forever I will move like the world that turns beneath me. And when I lose my direction, I’ll look up to the sky. And when the black cloak drags upon the ground I’ll be ready to surrender, and remember well we’re all in this together. If I live the life I’m given, I won’t be scared to die.”- The Avett Brothers
Bottom Line: To NOT read Slammed by Colleen Hoover..well that’s NOT a good idea. J 4.5/5
I've included the very funny video of a poetry slam courtesy of Boy Meets World. You're welcome.


9.16.2012

My Thoughts: Botanicaust (Tam Linsey)

BotanicaustThe only crop left ... is human.

After genetically altered weeds devastate Earth's crop lands, much of humanity turns to cannibalism to survive. Dr. Tula Macoby believes photosynthetic skin can save the human race, and her people single-mindedly embark on a mission to convert the cannibals roaming what's left of Earth. But when Levi, a peaceful stranger, refuses alteration, Tula doesn't think the only options should be conversion or death.

Levi Kraybill, a devout member of the Old Order, left his Holdout farmland to seek a cure for his terminally ill son. Genetic manipulation is a sin, but Levi will do almost anything for the life of his child. When he's captured, he's sure he's damned, and his only escape will be death.

Tula's superiors schedule Levi's euthanization, and she risks everything to set the innocent man free. Now she and Levi are outlaws with her people, and she's an abomination with his. Can they find sanctuary in a cannibal wasteland? (Goodreads Blurb)


My Thoughts:

Botanicaust was a unique, very imaginative read.  I’ve never read anything like it.
Cannibals, plant people, Amish. I would say this book is very much science fiction and lovers of that genre will like this book. I thought it was good, but I didn’t fall in love with the characters.  The world that was built was very creative, but it took a while for it to all come together for me. I very much appreciated the glossary at the end. I would have liked to see more back story and clearer explanation of the actual Botanicaust event. This book definitely makes you think, if all your food resources are gone and you had to choose between eating people, starving to death or being converted into what you believe to be an abomination against  God, which would you choose? Food for thought.
Favorite Quote:
"You are not your body. You are your soul, and your soul is good and beautiful to God. And to me.”
Bottom Line: Botanicaust is a refreshingly different book that I would recommend for science fiction enthusiasts. 3/5

In My Mailbox #16

Only one book this week for my Kindle but it's a goodie.

For Review from Netgalley:

Slammed by Colleen Hoover (I've already read this and loved it, review will post later this week.


Slammed (Slammed, #1)Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.
Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.  (Goodreads blurb)





9.13.2012

OMG*DIVERGENT MOVIE*OMG

Divergent (Divergent, #1)
So I just came across this article that states Divergent is set to be in theaters on March 21, 2014!! Hells to the yeeeaaaaaah. I LOVE this book and, if done right, could be a wicked AWESOME movie! I can't freaking wait. 2 years seems like sooooo far away..but hopefully that means it will be done right instead of rushing through a script. Secondly, I had no clue Veronica Roth was so young, 23 when she wrote Divergent. That kinda makes me feel ancient now.
Although, of course, nothing is set in stone when it comes to the movie making world, but things are looking gooooood.

9.12.2012

Waiting on Wednesday (#5)

This little gem is hosted over at Breaking the Spine.

One book I can't wait to sink my grubby little claws into is:

Clockwork Princess (Book #3 in The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare)

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)(There's only a itty bitty summary blurb on Goodreads so far.)
Danger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close.


If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?

The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.

Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.

Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.


The Why:
This cover is absolutely GORGEOUS, I LOVES it soo much!!
Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince are 2 of my favorite books, they were amazing. I loved them more than The Mortal Instruments. So freaking good and  I'm crossing my fingers for this one. I NEED more Jem stat!!!  I can't believe I have to wait 6 more agonizing months..boohiss. (Set to be published 3/19/13)

9.11.2012

Top Ten Tuesday (#9)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish.

As a lover of lists, I could not resist.

This week's topic is:

Top Ten Books That Make You Think 
 Link will take you to the Goodreads page.

All of the following books I've read and each forced me to think about life, whether it was other people's or my own. They each moved me in a different way.   Check em' out

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

 The Book Thief

2. A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler

A Blue So Dark

3. Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Before I Die

4. Hunger and Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler

Hunger (Riders of the Apocalypse, #1)Rage (Riders of the Apocalypse, #2)

5. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak

6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

7. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why

8. Anything by Jodi Picoult

The PactHandle With CareHarvesting the Heart

9. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

The Happiness Project

10. ??? I'm too tired to think of anymore.

Can't wait to see everybody else' choices!!



9.10.2012

My Thoughts: Sisterhood Everlasting (Ann Brashares)

Sisterhood Everlasting (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, #5)
Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting.

Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.

Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one. (Goodreads Blurb)



Sisterhood Everlasting is the fifth and final book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. It's been years since I read the fourth one, but remember loving them all. The characters, the friendships, the ups and downs of love and heartbreak. Sisterhood Everlasting was a perfect closing to a much loved series.

If you've read the first 4 books in this series, don't stop there. You MUST finish it. I know I waited too long. This review is mostly just for myself. It's to get my feelings and thoughts out. It's going to be long.

Sisterhood Everlasting begins with reuniting you with the characters you came to know and love in the previous books. Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget are now on the cusp of turning thirty. The pants that helped center and connect their friendship and adventures were lost long ago. Now they are all struggling with living their own lives separate from each other, each facing their own difficulties with growing up. Their lives are changing, they as people are changing, and their friendships with each other are changing. Were the pants the one and only thing holding them all together?

I immediately fell back into the lives of these 4 friends:

Carmen was the loud, chubby, bold, at times self-centered girl of the group. She is now an actress living in New York with her fiance. She's no longer plus-sized, goes to fancy parties with her executive fiance and is trying to fit into a mold that isn't her.

Tibby, the quirky, weird girl who looks at things and life differently. Described by the author as brutally honest and a quiet observer. She moved quite suddenly to Australia with her boyfriend Brian and purposefully fell out of touch with her 3 friends. But she always has her reasons. And she's always thinking of others.

Bridget, the girl I envy the most in these books. She's the carefree, adventurous, fearless and  sometimes reckless one who is always chasing after something, always searching, but at the same time always running. She's living with Eric, the hottie she met back at soccer camp. Even though life is good, her life is still missing something.

Then there's Lena. She's the character I loved the most, probably because she's the one I could most identify with. Serious, shy, artsy and sensitive. She was always the careful, responsible one. She has never forgotten the boy who stole her heart.

When I started this book, I had in my head that it was going to be like the other books. The pants would magically reappear, the 4 friends would have their ups and downs, but ultimately they would all come back together and it would be like old times, happily ever after the end. If the book had gone the way I was thinking, it wouldn't have been good. The author took this book in a direction that I honestly could never have guessed or seen coming. And I'm so glad she did.

If there's even a remote chance you will ever read this book, I beg you not to read anymore of my review. You should experience this book as I did. Unaware and completely open. (Spoilers to come)

Tibby has basically been MIA. She hasn't been returning Carmen, Lena or Bridget's phone calls or letters. She deterred them from taking a trip out to see her. She's being secretive and aloof. Out of the blue, Carmen, Lena and Bridget each receive a letter and plane ticket to meet Tibby in Greece. The place where so much transpired between the friends. It's a chance for them all to be united again. It's also where everything changes. Tibby drowns. She dies. And she leaves clues to make her three heart-broken friends believe that she knew she was going to die. Lena, Carmen and Bridget are numb and in shock. Instead of leaning on each other for support, they try to deal with things on their own. Guilt. Each of them has to deal with the guilt of losing Tibby and thoughts they could have done more. This was the gut-twisting direction I didn't see coming. But looking back, this is what made the story come together and make it as amazing as it was.

Bridget leaves Eric, runs away, is taking reckless risks. She soon learns she is pregnant. She doesn't believe she's fit to be a mother.
Carmen throws herself into planning her wedding to the man she...loves? At this point, she just wants to get the wedding over with.
Lena, living alone in Providence, she sequesters herself away. She goes back to Greece to her grandparents home, and calls Kostos, the boy who stole her heart (and mine). They have faced constant obstacles that have kept them from being together. Even now.

The letters Tibby left them tells them to do things and go to certain places. Tibby knew each of her friends souls. She wanted to make sure they ended up okay, and if they needed a push in the right direction, she would give it to them, even if she was gone.

Bridget goes to Australia to see Brian, and learns Tibby had a daughter, named Bailey. She didn't kill herself. She had Huntington's disease and was quickly declining. Her plan was to tell Carmen, Lena and Bridget in Greece and bring all her friends together one last time. She went for a swim, not knowing how weak her body really was. And she drowned. She didn't kill herself. This knowledge changes everything.
Soooo much more happens with all of the characters. Calling them characters doesn't feel right. I feel like I know them so well and they seem so real. I just have to say the whole Lena-Kostos romance is my favorite storyline of all the books. They belonged to each other. Their souls called for each other.

Tibby's death ripped Lena, Carmen and Bridget's already fragile friendships apart. They felt they were all lost without her. Even though she was gone, Tibby brought all her best friends back together and mended their hearts, and friendship.

Favorite Quotes:
"Maybe you think you'll be entitled to more happiness later by forgoing all of it now, but it doesn't work that way. Happiness takes as much practice as unhappiness does. It's by living that you live more. By waiting you wait more. Every waiting day makes your life a little less. Every lonely day makes you a little smaller. Every day you put off your life makes you less capable of living it."

Bottom Line:  Funny, sad, heartbreaking, uplifting, real. Sisterhood Everlasting took me on a roller-coaster of emotions. It broke my heart. And then put it back together. And it was perfect. 5/5



9.09.2012

My Thoughts: The Reluctant Amazon (Sandy James)

The Reluctant AmazonThe last thing Rebecca Massee expects on her wedding day is to go from jilted kindergarten teacher to Amazonian Earth warrior. But when she causes an earthquake after her groom says I don’t, she discovers that not only does she possess incredible powers, she is one of four lost chosen sisters who must fight to keep humanity safe from rogue gods and demons. Luckily she has help: ruggedly handsome Scottish warrior Artair MacKay, her protector and teacher.

An immortal, Artair has trained countless warriors for more than four hundred years. He understands Rebecca’s confusion at the new world she’s been thrust into and worries she is too emotionally vulnerable, but that doesn’t stop his growing feelings for the beautiful and fearless woman.

When an evil force threatens to destroy the Amazons, Rebecca must claim her full powers--but they come at a cost. Can she sacrifice the man she loves if it means saving the world? (Goodreads blurb)



Cover: I really dig the cover of this book. The green and purple are very appealing to the eye with the woods and quiver of arrows in the back, and the kick-ass girl in the front.

My Thoughts:
While the cover may have worked, I unfortunately found a lot wrong with the story of The Reluctant Amazon.

I was interested in this book initially because of the main premise:  Amazons. I've always been fascinated with these strong female warrior characters. The story however did not take me on a deep enough journey.

When I look at the girl on the front cover it does not make me think of the main character Rebecca. When I first started reading, I felt she was real and likeable and I found myself laughing out loud. However, the romance aspect of this book ruined her character for me. She didn't become the strong character I was envisioning. She was stuck on a guy who she just met and was more worried about him then her job as an Amazon.

I felt the romance between Rebecca and Artair really took away from the story. Once again you have this insta-love. It would have been so much better and invoked much more tension if the romance had been a gradual build-up. The passages with the two of them became annoying.  For example, while her home was going down in flames and her sisters had scattered to safety, Rebecca and Artair found time for a sexual romp in the woods.  ugh.

I can definitely say that this story isn't predictable. I was kept guessing the entire time. Which was good.  The mythology that I did get was interesting, but I felt it wasn't taken far enough. I wanted much much more.  I also would have liked less unrealistic romance between Rebecca and Artair and more action, adventure, and story development. While I did like the aspect of the Amazons representing fire, earth, air or water, there was not enough explanation about them and their differences. The characters all needed to be flushed out more.

This book had a lot of potential, but it just didn't come together.  All of that said, I think the author had a solid idea here for a series.

Favorite Quotes:  none

Bottom Line: Overall, The Reluctant Amazon had a skeleton of what could have been an amazing read. However when it came down to the meat of the story I was left unsatisfied. 2.5/5

In My Mailbox (#15)

In My Mailbox is hosted over at The Story Siren.


I've been doing pretty well with my no-more-book-buying-try-to-read-the-books-I-already-own-unless-they-are-the-new-fall-releases-I-can't-NOT-buy-ban. But hey, no one's perfect !!

I have a couple new e-books.  Link will take you to it's Goodreads page.

For review:

Botanicaust by Tam Linsey (From Author via Goodreads)

Botanicaust


The Reluctant Amazon by Sandy James (via Netgalley)
The Reluctant Amazon



Bought: (all of the following I bought on sale e-book style)

Wuthering Frights by H.P. Mallory
Wuthering Frights (Dulcie O'Neil, #4)

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1)


Vamped by Lucienne Diver
Vamped (Vamped, #1)

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy, #1)

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
I Am Legend