This week’s TGIF! question: A Book Blogger is Born: What made you decide to start your very own book blog?

I started reading a lot – I mean, TONS – after reading Twilight in 2009. I started out on Goodreads, a site I found where I could keep track of all the books I was reading and those I owned, as well, since I started buying them faster than I could read them. I wasn’t really writing reviews at the time, but every now and then, a book would inspire a few words from me and I would include them. After reading and obsessing over The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, one day on her site I came across a link that read Mundie Moms. Now, this wasn’t the first time I had come across such a thing. I mean, I did obsess over Twilight and had found various blogs and fansites, so I was thrilled to find one dedicated to The Mortal Instruments.

Through them I discovered other blogs dedicated to their love of books. And I wanted to join in on the fun! I wanted to make friends with these lovely bookish people. So I started this blog. :) You can read eve more about my journey in my About Me page if you’d like!

This week’s Follow Friday featured blogs are:
Addicted to Heroines
Tribute Books Mama

This week’s Follow Friday question: Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?

Honestly. I want to spend it reading in my newly purchased home. :) That’s right! We just bought a house and I want to spend all my time there. That, and we don’t have money left for a vacation, lol. Wanna see a picture?? Go HERE!

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
Add it on Goodreads!
Publication Date: December 11th 2012 by Razorbill

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects’ lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword…

The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Uhm, only two words: Hell. YES!

A weekly feature hosted by GReads! where we showcase some good tunes! :)

I just heard this band on HBO’s show “Girls” and I fell in loooooove! Check out The Echo-Friendly!

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon–when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach–an “outlander”–in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord…1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life…and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire…and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Back in the spring of 2010—before I even started blogging—I bought a book that looked to be very popular. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon had been around for quite a while and I’m still not really sure what inspired me to buy it. It just called out to me, like a siren song. The blue cover and crown just ensnared me.

I will admit that the first 50 pages (first 2 chapters) or so did not completely hook me…but once she falls through those stones and back in time, I was unable to put it down! Just imagine being on holiday with your husband and accidentally thrusting yourself back in time 202 years! Into the middle of battle, no less! It was seriously unputdownable after that. I actually read the rest of the series in the upcoming months, back to back.

Probably my all time most favorite series, that’s my set of hardcovers. :) I also have the Kindle versions, for rereads, so these stay pristine.

And now I want to revisit this book with you guys. So, join us! You won’t regret it. :) AND! You’ll be able to finally say, “Outlander? Oh, yes! I’ve read that! I loved it!”

After a spontaneous Twitter conversation, the following six blogs decided to host this read-a-long. A special thanks to Jacinda (The Reading Housewives) for organizing the details and creating the fabulous graphic. :)

What do I have to do to participate?

• Write up a participation post and link to it in the linky below. This is the official way for you to sign-up. It’s a great way to spread the word to other readers. Feel free to tweet and share the Outlander read-a-long in other outlets as well. (The linky is the same on each host blog. You only need to enter your blog link once)
• Read Outlander with the group of us!
• Answer the discussion questions that will be posted (see schedule above) and post them on Mondays throughout the months of June and July. Go to the hosts blog, link up your post, and visit other posts to see their thoughts!
• and have fun!
  • (My thanks to Jacinda for those bullet points. :))

<img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R0uVab18N2U/T5APKQP7JjI/AAAAAAAACSo/7w7wklKOPJQ/s225/Outlander%2520read-a-long%2520button.jpg” /> 

<img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ti9vw9X_i9k/T5APattwO8I/AAAAAAAACS0/NMC9oQUImfo/s176/Outlander%2520read-a-long%2520button%2520175×175.jpg” />

Where Can I Get a Copy of Outlander?

It’s everywhere! You can either buy it, or check it out from the library. Just keep in mind that if you’re borrowing from the library, you’ll need to renew it a few times, as this read-a-long goes on for 6 weeks.

Here are links to where it can be purchased, both new and used: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | AbeBooks

What’s the Schedule?

June 11th – Questions for chapters 1-7 announced at Gone with the Words

June 18th – Questions for chapters 1-7 answered & questions announced for chapters 8-14 at Stalking the Bookshelves

June 25th – Questions for chapters 8-14 answered & questions announced for chapters 15-21 on Tangled up in Blue

July 2nd – Questions for chapters 15-21 answered & questions announced for chapters 22-28 on Into the Hall of Books

July 9th – Questions for chapters 22-28 answered & questions announced for chapters 29-35 on Logan E. Turner

July 16th – Questions for chapters 29-35 answered & questions announced for chapters 36-41 on The Reading Housewives

July 23rd – Questions for chapters 36-41 answered on Gone with the Words. The end.

Are You Ready? Link Up!

 

 

This week on Gone with the Words…

• Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Quotes From Books– Prepared to swoon!
• Waiting on Wednesday: Prodigy by Marie Lu – If you haven’t read Legend, DO IT!
• TGIF! Follow Friday {63} – Where I talk favorite secondary characters and literary mom/daughter relationships.
• Bout of Books 4.0 – See what I plan to read during this read-a-thon!

What’s the Word in Jess’s World…

If you haven’t seen me mention it on Twitter, my fiancé and I bought a house! Here’s a picture:

And moving has been a slow process that has take my energy and and my desire to read. Last night was the first time I read anything since May 1st! I’m hoping that slump is over.

ALSO! Once I’m all moved in I plan to start working out because I need to! I’m excited and nervous! I’ve bought a cardio workout that looks really extreme and fun:(Click the picture to see youtube video of program)

Around the Blogosphere…

• Bout of Books 4.0 start at midnight!!– You can totally still sign up too! I have three books lined up to read and I can’t wait. (Check out my Goals post!)
• I was STALKED! – Amanda of On a Book Bender decided to feature me for her “Who Am I Stalking?” feature. :) There’s talk of Viagra. Don’t miss it!
• Armchair BEA Registration is now open!I signed up this year, after seeing it’s awesomeness last year.
• HELP WANTED! – Two popular blogs, The Bookish Brunette and Dark Faerie Tales, are looking for reviewers. Go check them out! :)
• Isalys of Book Soulmates posted a discussion post about Classifying Genres– It inspired me to write a very long comment, lol.
• Lisa of Read.Breathe.Relax. posted about some very useful book-related plugins on her blog. I will definitely be looking into some of those.

Search Terms…

*These are directly copied and pasted from my site stats page.

• leena beana sexy and leena beana twitter – I…just don’t know.
• gon with wrods – SO close!
• www.gone force sex – Uhhh. No, thank you?
• my gakaxy noe wont trthr – I wish I could help you with that, but I don’t speak…whatever that is.
• the jock look – Not my first choice, but sexy nonetheless.
• teen boys in jeans – They better be in jeans! I’m an adult!

Bookish Goodies!

I hope everyone’s had a great week! Here’s the books I got! What was in your mailbox?

(Listed as Pictured and by Pub Date)

From Publisher/Author for Review – Thank you, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, & St. Martin’s!
Big Sky Country (Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #1) by Linda Lael Miller (Pub. 5/29/12, HQN Books)
I Am Forbidden: A Novel by Anouk Markovits (Pub. 5/8/12, Hogarth)
The Kissing List by Stephanie Reents (Pub. 5/22/12, Hogarth)
The Watch: A Novel by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya (Pub. 6/5/12, Hogarth)
The Dead Do Not Improve by Jay Caspian Kang (Pub. 8/7/12, Hogarth)
Changeling (The Order of Darkness #1) by Philippa Gregory (Pub. 5/29/12, Simon Pulse) – ARC Sampler
Tangle of Need (Psy-Changeling #11) by Nalini Singh (Pub. 5/29/12, Berkley Sensation)
Beneath the Shadows by Sara Foster (Pub. 6/5/12, St. Martin’s Press)
No One Left to Tell by Karen Rose (Pub. 6/5/12, Signet)
The King’s Concubine: A Novel of Alice Perrers by Anne O’Brien (Pub. 6/5/12, NAL)

NetGalley Titles – Thank you, St. Martin’s & Flux!
Glitch (Glitch #1) by Heather Anastasiu (Pub. 8/7/12, St. Martin’s Press)
Silver by Talia Vance (Pub. 9/8/12, Flux)

Bought – Hardcovers
City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare (Pub. 5/8/12, Margaret K. McElderry)

Bought – eBooks
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley (Pub. 2/8/11, HarperCollins) – $2.99 for Kindle!
Pillow Talk by Freya North (Pub. 7/1/11, Sourcebooks Landmark) – It was free on Friday for Nook! :)
Love and Other Things I’m Bad At (Courtney Von Dragen Smith #3) by Catherine Clark (Pub. 7/26/11, HarperTeen) – $2.99 for Kindle!

It’s time for Bout of Books again!! And I can’t believe I’m doing it, considering I’ve been in a reading slump. But what better way to kick that to the curb! :) So here’s what I have planned. Oh, and if you need the details about this very awesome read-a-thon, go HERE. Also! I like Amanda’s layout for this post, so I always use it for my own post. Thank you, Amanda!!

PLEASE NOTE! This post will have ALL of my daily updates, so come back and check it out!

Time Devoted to Reading

I will read at every available moment, all. week. long. I will also listen to an audiobook during my commute and if possible, while working.

My Goals/Books to Read

I’m going to try and read 3 books and listen to 1 audiobook. And here they are:

Updates

As I mentioned before, I’ll be doing my updates here on this same post, so check back. (I’ll post a link at the top of my sidebar for easy access.) I will also update on Goodreads, which will send updates to Twitter, and also on Twitter itself, using both hashtags #boutofbooks and occasionally #insixwords.

The last update will be in my Wrap-Up post, so look out for that! :)

Lets do this! :)

That’s right!
My dear friend, Amanda of On a Book Bender decided to pick me as her latest stalking victim. Head on over to her blog and see what she was able to get out of me. :)

This week’s TGIF! question: Supporting Characters: We tend to gush over those main characters the most, but what about those supporting roles? Who are some of your favorites?

The first one that came to mind was Magnus Bane. If you’ve read The Mortal Instruments or The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare there’s no way you don’t love Magnus. He is definitely one of the BEST secondary characters out there.

Also Tiny Cooper, from Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan. He was such a stand out side character. He definitely stole the show at the end. :)

And lets not forget my favorite Cait Sith (pronounced cat shee), Grimalkin, from Julie Kagawa’s Iron Fey series. Has anyone come across a more sardonic creature?? I love him!

One character I always felt was underrated is Christian Ozera, from the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. He was HOT! And he kicked ass! Why was no one ever talking about him?!

Those are just a few I thought of. :) What are some of yours?

This week’s Follow Friday featured blogs are:
The Fake Steph Dot Com
Books Galore

This week’s Follow Friday question: This Sunday in the U.S. is Mother’s Day, in celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?

In the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, the main character, Claire, and her daughter, Brianna, have a very close strong relationship.

Also, Hazel and her mom in The Fault in our Stars by John Green. They made me cry, obviously, but I don’t know that I’d be strong enough to go through that with my daughter.

Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu
Add it on Goodreads!
Publication Date: January 29th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile

The Elector Primo of the Republic has died, with his son assuming power over what’s left of the USA’s West Coast as it teeters on full-blown chaos. June and Day join up with Patriot rebels so they can rescue Day’s brother and head east for the Colonies. In order to help, though, the rebels want June and Day to kill the new Elector, who may pose an even greater threat than his father.

HECK YES!! I cannot wait to read this sequel! And check out that kick-ass cover!!
Also, you can read the first chapter HERE. :)

OMG!! BEST TOP TEN TUESDAY EVERRRR! This was a difficult list to narrow down. Ok, here we go… :D

“I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

Then his hands are on my cheeks and we are kissing and the rain is pouring all over our crazy heads and once again my whole being is aflame with joy.

I didn’t know love felt like this, like turning into brightness.

“What are you doing?” I say, when I can finally bring myself to pull away for a moment.

“I saw it was raining–I snuck out, wanted to see you, just like this.”

“I look at her there in the shadows of the shut-down city, her hair falling onto her face, and I can see her trying to figure out if I’ve lost it. And I have to fight the urge to take her by the shoulders and slam her against a shuttered building until we feel the vibrations ringing through both of us. Because I suddenly want to hear her bones rattle. I want to feel the softness of her flesh give, to hear her gasp as my hip bone jams into her. I want to yank her head back until her neck is exposed. I want to rip my hands through her hair until her breath is labored. I want to make her cry and then lick up the tears. And then I want to take my mouth to hers, to devour her alive, to transmit all the things she can’t understand.”

“So, I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we’ll never know most of them. But even if we don’t have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them.”

“It’s a lot easier to be lost than found. It’s the reason we’re always searching and rarely discovered—so many locks not enough keys.”

“ineffable, adj.
These words will ultimately end up being the barest of reflections, devoid of the sensations words cannot convoy. Trying to write about love is ultimately like trying to have a dictionary represent life. No matter how many words there are, there will never be enough.”

“There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you’d better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you’ll never understand what it’s saying.”

“Love is rarely flawless,” Carter pointed out. “Humans delude themselves by thinking it has to be. It is the imperfection that makes love perfect.”

“All I want, is for you to love me. Not because of what I can do or what I look like, or because I love you – just because I am.”

“What kind of sick bastard burns down a Christmas tree?”

Hugh and I exchanged glances. “That’s an excellent question,” I said dryly.

Peter looked startled. “Was it you?” he asked Hugh.

“No,” said the imp. “It was Carter.”

“Your Christmas tree was burned down by an angel?” asked Cody.

“Yup. The irony isn’t lost on me”

Ha! I wanted to end on a funny quote. So there you have it, folks! My very mushy list. :)

Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge was created by Amanda of On a Book Bender and Tara of 25 Hour Books  to shamelessly plug each other, share the fantastic posts, giveaways, or whatever else they found and loved by other awesome bloggers (or authors!) during the week, and talk about the books they received that week and plan on reading in the coming week.

Welcome

After deciding not to participate in In My Mailbox anymore, there was really only one other Sunday feature I wanted to participate in: this one.

I love the many things you can do with this feature, especially highlighting other blogger’s posts. And the search terms! Those are fun! So without further ado, here we go….

Gone with the words recap

• A Quick Note: In My Mailbox
• Review: While He Was Away by Karen Schreck + Guest Post & Giveaway!
• Top Ten Tuesday: Books I’d Like To See Made Into A Movie
• Review: The Princess and the Peer by Tracy Anne Warren
• Series Review: Bella Terra Deception by Christina Dodd
• TGIF! Follow Friday {62}

Current Giveaways

• Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready
• While He Was Away by Karen Schreck

around the blogosphere

• The most exciting post this week (for me, anyway) was the reveal of the SHIFT reader playlist. I love Jeri Smith-Ready’s Shade series and after reading Shift, I posted a song for it that I just loved and thought was perfect…AND IT MADE THE PLAYLIST!! :D Check it out HERE. It’s Existentialism On Prom Night by Straylight Run.
• Mental Floss is a site my nerdy self LOVES. Gone with the Wind is my favorite movie every, and they had an article that caught my eye instantly: 10 Things You Might Not Know About ‘Gone With the Wind’ – I didn’t know those 10 things!
• Over at That Cover Girl, some book covers had a very interesting conversation with one another in “Cover Talk – Vol. 1.” (I really hope Capillya comes up with more of those.)
• If you haven’t yet signed up for Bout of Books 4.0, there’s still time! It’s happening from May 14 to May 20 and it’s always fun. :)
• I really loved Legend by Marie Lu, and this week I was excited to discover the cover for the next book, Prodigy, was revealed! Along with the first chapter!

search terms this week

• plastic silverware sara dessen book – Only one of my most favorite scenes ever! Excellent taste, dear searcher! (Read the scene HERE)
• leena beana flirt – HAHAHA Hey, Lena, they’re onto you!
• leena beana facebook – Ok….maybe someone is stalking my friend, Lena. Stop it, creep!
• broad muscular shoulders – Where?! I always enjoy those…
• poor pluto – Indeed.
• i’d fight wonderwoman, just to hold ur hand. – Now that is love. But now I’m curious about it. Though their search might have better results if they spelled out all the words.
• young adult boys – *grin* You have come to the right place, my friend.

bookish goodies

I’ve gotten a few these last couple of weeks but I’ll show you the ones I’m most excited about:

Check out that AMAZING inscription from Jeri! THANK YOU! And I’m in total love with my Zogan card. hehe

These three I received for review and I can’t wait to read them:

Thank you, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, and Harlequin!

I hope you guys have enjoyed my first Clock Rewinders post! Thanks for reading!

This week’s TGIF! question: Literary Vacations: If you could take a trip this summer to any place within a fictional book, where would you go? Tell us about your summer dream vacation!

I’d love to go to Colby, the beach town in several of Sarah Dessen’s novels. It’s quaint and it’s beach! What more could I want? :) And it’s actually based on a real beach! See which in this video of Sarah Dessen:

This week’s Follow Friday featured blogs are:
Ali’s Bookshelf Reviews
The Housework Can Wait 

This week’s Follow Friday question: What is one thing you wish you could tell your favorite author?

Dear Diana Gabaldon,

Although I am impatiently waiting years for your latest installment in the Outlander series, I understand that it takes you that long to create my favorite books ever. Thank you for taking your time and getting them just right every time. So, keep doing what you’re doing…even if it kills me. :)

Sincerely,

Three powerful brothers tormented by their pasts, a priceless bottle of wine, and a precious pink diamond lost for generations collide in this suspenseful new contemporary series from New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd!

The Story Begins…

Brooding and sexy Rafe Di Luca has returned to his family’s luxurious vineyard resort and discovers that a long-ago quarrel has ignited once more, forcing him to work with Brooke Petersson, the woman he seduced…and betrayed.

As the danger escalates and their passion threatens to rage out of control, Brooke fights her treacherous longing for a man who will never truly share his life with any woman. Remembering the anguish of the love they shared, she vows that Rafe may possess her body, but never again will he reach her fiercely guarded heart.

The peril they face will either bring them together, or destroy them both … unless they uncover the secret that will change everything.

This trilogy was a breath of fresh air. I loved the setting: California, wine country. I loved the strong family bonds and the deep roots they have in Bella Valley. The Di Luca family arrived from Italy and made a name for themselves making wine, among other things. But they are most famous in their town for a years old feud with another family in town, over one infamous bottle of wine. This bottle is the cause for the recent trouble that has descended on their doorstep, and in the course of these three books, we get to unravel its mystery.

Lets talk about the Di Luca brothers…

In Secrets of Bella Terra we meet Rafe, dark, rugged, sexy Rafe. Rafe and Brooke have had a relationship since they were in teens. They really, really love each other. But once they graduate from high school, they realize that they want different paths in life, sadly break up. Brooke has always had a weak spot for him and anytime Rafe is in town, they end up together…then Rafe leaves again. It’s a cycle Brooke doesn’t care to repeat this go ‘round. There’s attraction and sexual tension and some really great chemistry between them.

Revenge at Bella Terra (Bella Terra Deception #2) by Christina Dodd
4 out of 5 Stars!
Publication Date: September 6th 2011 by Signet Select

Ruthless Eli Di Luca hides the torment of his past beneath a façade of iron control. No one suspects the anguish he suffers, or the reasons why he has sworn never to marry. Only blackmail could change his mind…

Beautiful young author Chloë Conte’s first book zoomed to the top of the bestseller lists. Now, struggling to write her second mystery, she retreats to an isolated cottage in a private vineyard. But with his magnetic appeal and his fascinating tales of Bella Terra’s violent past, Eli Di Luca proves an irresistible distraction, and Chloë finds herself falling in love with a man she hardly knows. Soon she discovers that Eli has been keeping secrets from her, and the truth will bring more than heartbreak…it will put them both in mortal danger.

When murder and peril threaten, the only way Chloe can survive is to trust the man who has betrayed her…and that’s a price her stubborn heart may not be willing to pay.

In Revenge at Bella Terra we learn more about the eldest Di Luca; the very stoic, controlled, Eli. Eli has a dark past that he hasn’t shared with anyone. And he has just been screwed out of millions of dollars by his best friend and accountant. He wants to resolve this problem secretly and on his own, so he takes a deal offered to him by a very wealthy man. He agrees to marry the man’s daughter for money. Without her ever knowing this, of course. So we meet the very charming, Texan author Chloe. She is the complete opposite of what Eli is….or at least, of what he pretends to be, because once she gets under his skin and gets him to open up, he became my favorite Di Luca brother.

Betrayal (Bella Terra Deception #3) by Christina Dodd
3 out of 5 Stars!
Publication Date: April 3rd 2012 by Signet Select
From publisher for Review.

At nineteen, Noah Di Luca was Bella Terra’s golden boy, handsome, confident, and untouched by the shadows that tormented his brothers…or so it seems. Driven by ambition, beautiful teenage Penelope Alonso fought her way out of the ghettos. During one hot summer, they came together in the sweetness of first love…until his past reared its ugly head and Noah walked away.

Nine years later, Penelope returns, never imagining she’d see Noah or that one glance would wake their fiery passion. As peril builds around them, Penelope has one choice: to survive, she must once again trust the man who betrayed her.

Even with terror stalking through Bella Terra’s streets, love may be the most dangerous choice of all.

In Betrayal, we get to know our youngest Di Luca, Noah. He is charming and smart and funny…and has the most secrets out of all of them. He really surprised me! But his book is also my least favorite out of the three. I just didn’t feel as connected to him or his love interest, Penelope. There were lots of twists by this book regarding the infamous bottle of wine, but it never really felt as exciting as the previous two. I did love seeing everyone in this book though. I loved seeing them all as a family and seeing them happy by the end.

If you’re looking for a romance with some mystery, intrigue, a great setting, and tons of interesting history, this is a series to pick up.

From New York Times bestselling author Tracy Anne Warren comes an enchanting new trilogy about three princesses brought together by friendship and fate. This is Princess Emma’s story…

When a royal summons from her brother arrives, Emma knows it’s time to embrace her duties as the princess of a small European kingdom, and marry the man her brother has chosen for her…a stranger she has never met. Instead she does what any self-respecting princess would do—she runs away. All she wants is one week in London. One week to experience everything life has to offer, before she is locked away in a loveless marriage forever…

Former naval captain Nick Gregory has inherited a title he never wanted. As the new Earl of Lyndhurst, he chafes against his landlocked existence—until fate brings a mysterious young beauty across his path. Believing she’s an unemployed governess, Nick offers shelter and protection to the captivating girl, never guessing her true identity.

Emma falls hard for Nick, but knowing they have no future, she flees once more—this time back to her royal responsibilities. But when she and Nick unexpectedly meet again, she learns that against all odds, he’s determined to make this princess his bride…

I always enjoy reading about a romance that blossoms from friendship. Neither Emma or Nick start off with romantic intentions, but they were so well matched and their attraction undeniable that I was rooting for it to happen. Of course, once it does, things get complicated. I actually felt just as anguished as Emma and Nick while reading about the many ways they couldn’t be together. I longed with them! So yeah, I spent the last third of this book in a not-so-happy place alongside them. All hope is not lost though! But your heart will have to suffer a little before getting back to a happy place.

I love London in the 1800s. Ok, honestly? I love London in any time period, because I want to go there some day! But Tracey Anne Warren shows us some select London places that we don’t read about much. And it really felt like I was there, walking the streets of London myself.

This book is the first in a trilogy of princesses and royal weddings and forbidden romance, so we get to meet Emma’s two princess best friends, Ariadne and Mercedes. I am really looking forward to their books, especially since the next one involves a highlander. :D I also have a feeling about who Ariadne’s love interest will be, and if I’m correct, it will most definitely be an interesting read, considering their words in this one.

In The Princess and the Peer, Tracey Anne Warren delivered such a moving romance. I was expecting a lot of fluff, but it had so much heart.

This is a double-edged sword because while I’d love to see these books on screen, I also know they will never live up to the book. But here it goes…

1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – This would probably make a better tv series than movie because of the magnitude of this incredible series. There’s no way a movie could satisfy me. :)

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – I would love to see Anna, and Etienne, and Paris. :)

3. White Cat by Holly Black – This story about cons and curses would be amazing on screen with the right actors.

4. Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen – 1920s, flappers, prohibition, mobsters…Yes, please!!

5. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han – I think this series would be  fabulous as a movie. The perfect summer romance flick.

6. Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins – Another great romance that would be an awesome movie. It has tons of great characters with vivid personalities.

7. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan – The tone would have to be spot-on, but this needs to be made into a movie.

8. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan – There’s so much in this book that would translate into a great movie, but most especially Tiny Cooper. :)

9. Looking for Alaska by John Green – As long as it’s not turned cheesy, it could be amazing.

10. The Fault in our Stars by John Green – This one could really make an impact if done right. Someone needs to make it happen!

“This is just something I have to do, okay?” I hear David say. “The right thing.”

He cradles my face in his hands. He kisses me hard. Then he lets go of me. His eyes dart from me to whatever’s next.

All she wants is for him to stay. She’s been doing pretty well, pretending he doesn’t have to go. But one day, after one last night to remember, she wakes up and there’s no denying it anymore. He’s gone.

When Penna Weaver’s boyfriend goes off to Iraq, she’s left facing life without him. As summer sets in, Penna tries to distract herself with work and her art, but the not knowing is slowly driving her crazy.

Especially when David stops writing.

She knows in her heart he will come home. But will he be the same boy she fell in love with?

Since the moment I heard about this book, I wanted to read it. I was very intrigued by that synopsis! It turned out to be a lot more than that.

Penna’s mom owns a restaurant and Penna begins working there for the summer after David leaves. There we meet a whole cast of characters that play significant roles in this book, each in their own respective ways. I loved the sense of family amongst them that’s built in a place like that.

My favorite parts in this book are the ones with David and Penna. David and Penna are crazy for each other. Their love is so strong, it’s felt in these pages. And you might think that this book might be about cheating or about her messing up while he’s away, which is what I assumed at first, but it’s not, and I am glad it wasn’t.

While He Was Away opens a window into the life of a girl whose boyfriend has just gone off to war, and the struggles that come along with it. It tells the story of how she almost lost herself in the process. It’s important to not lose one’s identity in a relationship, even when the other person is not a million miles away fighting a war, but right next to you. It’s not your typical love story, but it leaves you with a feeling of hope.

Guest Post – Why YA Rocks My World

So, as part of The Summer Lovin’ Blog Tour, I bring you this fantastic guest post by author of While He Was Away, Karen Schreck, on why YA rocks her world…I’d say it’s pretty spot on for all of us. :)

YA is hot.

As in steamy, sultry, blazing, scathing, illuminating, fiery, incendiary, spicy, enlightening, searing, scorching.  A wildfire. A prairie burn.  An inferno of characters, settings, plots.  A refiner’s fire that draws out pure gold.

YA can also be cold.

As in chill, bitter, harsh, blustery, caustic, shivery, biting, hard-edged, cool.  A frigid wind that dips below zero.  A blizzardy drift of ideas and images.  One snowflake never like the next.  And once all hell freezes over, than YA can be the sharp-edged ax that breaks through the ice of your soul.

YA lit—good YA lit—is never, ever lukewarm.

Not in terms of content—the fearless stories told, the layers of meaning revealed.

Not in terms of character—these people live on the pages, and like most adolescents (or the adolescent in all of us, who lives on and on and on) their motivation frequently cuts to the quick:  they are desperately trying to figure out just who in God’s name they are.

And YA lit is never, ever lukewarm or tepid in terms of voice—which is so driven by character, setting, and plot, and which defines each YA novel—that distinct, one-of-a-kind voice that speaks a book into existence, that prods and goads and compels a writer—me—to tell the story.

This is just a little bit of why YA rocks my world—why I love writing and reading books for teens.  Or, supposedly for teens, since most street smart and literary savvy adults worth their salt know that Young Adult Fiction is among the best literature out and about today.

Giveaway

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I hope you have all had great weekend so far!

As you may have noticed, there is no IMM post this week here at Gone with the Words. Yes, it is because of the debacle that surfaced this past week. You all know the details, so I won’t be racapping it.

The truth is that I personally cannot support a blog who’s done that kind of crime against another blogger. I’m not doing this to “boycott” her or because “I’ve never liked her.” I hold nothing against Kristi (The Story Siren) personally, and I do believe her to be a good person, especially because some of my blogger friends vouch for her in that department…but if this had come to light from any other blog, I would have taken the same initiative and unfollowed them completely.

So with that being said, I will be taking the next couple of weekends off to consider my options as to how to showcase the books I receive/bought/borrowed.

Thank you for listening! And thank you for reading Gone with the Words. :)

This week’s TGIF! question: Reading Blues: We all get them from time to time. What helps you overcome those reading slumps when nothing seems to grab your attention?

I try to change up the genre. Or go from YA to Adult or vice versa. When that doesn’t work, I usually drown myself in tv shows. I can do that for a couple of days and usually by that time I’m ready to read again. :)

This week’s Follow Friday featured blogs are:
Book that Thing!
Little Read Riding Hood

This week’s Follow Friday question: Have you had a character that disappointed you? One that you fell in love with and then “broke up” with later on in either the series or a stand-alone book? Tell us about him or her.

Yes! Kiyo from Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan series. I seriously loved him in the first book….by the second book I disliked him. By the last two books I wanted to murder him. MURDER!!!

In this dramatic conclusion to the Shade trilogy, Aura and Zachary’s relationship sizzles as the secrets of the Shift are revealed.

Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.

As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves…even if that means betraying her own heart.

Jeri Smith-Ready completely surprised me with Shine. So much happened! And nothing was left hanging! I seriously was in awe of just how much story was told in this last book. All the twists and new developments…all the closure. Just…wow.

Lets talk a bit about the closure. And by closure, I mean Logan. I have seen some people worried that they won’t like this book because Logan is not in it, but he is, you guys! Maybe not the way you want him to be, but his presence is very much felt. He is remembered, thought about, talked about…he’s mourned. That’s what we get to do for the people we love after they die. He wasn’t going to end up with Aura…ever. He died! I hope I don’t come off as mean or insensitive by saying that, but it’s the truth. And trust me when I say that I, too, loved Logan. So! Love him and never forget him. I know I won’t.

Aura grows into such a strong heroine in this book. She takes the lead and takes charge of so many situations. I was so, so proud of her. She’s always been smart and brave, but she shines in this book.

This series overall has tons of truly touching moments, but Shine completely stole my heart. Especially the Zachary and Aura together moments. They made my heart smile. Or anytime that Logan was brought up. And, oh God, those Zach moments when he’s finally back home. In THOSE Zach moments, I wanted to reach into the book and hug him. Our poor Zachary! He truly goes through the ringer in this book. Could more things happen to one person in one book?! He very much deserve the smexy moments in this book after all he goes through. So did Aura.

So there’s smexy times in Shine. *grins* And it is honest and romantic and real. No fading to black and waking up with feathers all over the place. I was so happy with how it all happens.

I honestly didn’t expect to see much of the Keeleys in this book, but was very happy they were. Meghan, too.  I’ve come to love all of them just as much as our main characters. I have a very soft spot for Mickey. I want to hold him and make him happy!! I was happy with how everyone ended up. Surprised a little, but totally get it. I think. :)

Oh, and I guess I should talk about the actual point of the story, which is the whole ghosts issue, right? Ok, well, color me surprised! I thought it was going to go a completely different route! But the actual resolution makes much more realistic sense.

And, oh my Ireland and Scotland! Jeri takes us on a little tour of places I dream of visiting one day. I want to go to the church pub and have a proper Scottish breakfast!!

While I’m sad that there won’t be anymore books featuring Zach, Logan, or Aura, I’m happy to still be able to interact with them on twitter. If you didn’t know, they all have twitter accounts! You can follow them at: @Salvatore_Aura, @moore_zachary, @keeley_logan. It has been such a cool experience following them. It really brings the story to life on a whole new level.

There are some series that end and leave you wanting…Shine is NOT one of those. It has earned a permanent spot on my favorites shelf.

And because I loved this book so much, I’m giving away my paperback copy, since I plan to get myself the hardcover. :)

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The day Brigitta accidentally flings herself into the lap of a guy she’s never met, her friend Natalie is convinced he’s Trent Yves, egotistical heartthrob-in-hiding. When the boy, who calls himself Luke, is nearly eaten by a cougar, Brigitta finds herself saving his life, being swept into his spectacular embrace and wondering if she wants Natalie’s fantasy to be true.

As the two spend the summer together raising orphaned cougar cubs, Brigitta still can’t be sure of his true identity. But then again, since her grandparents’ death, her father’s sudden urge to give away all their possessions and become a shaman, and her own awkward transition from girlhood into a young woman, she isn’t sure of anything. What is the truth? More importantly, can she accept it?

Brigitta is a girl who is at a point in her life where she’s trying to find where she fits or belongs in this world. Her family is very eccentric and she’s had a different kind of childhood. Brigitta’s very religious grandparents died a couple of years before and she was extremely close to her grandmother, so she’s taken up studying various religions in what seems an attempt to feel closer to her, or find her somehow. There is religious talk in this book, Brigitta talks about what her Christian grandmother taught her, but it felt true to the story and to the character, so it didn’t feel preachy in the least.

What I enjoyed most about The Summer of No Regrets was the romance between Brigitta and Luke. They were really sweet together. Though I must admit that it was hard to pinpoint what exactly drew Luke in at first, since he doesn’t really tell her the truth until the end. It was obvious that he cared about her a lot though. It was definitely not difficult to see why Brigitta would fall for Luke…he was gorgeous, sweet, and kind. But he wasn’t very open, which pretty much made Brigitta question everything, from who he was, to how he really felt about her. I also enjoyed getting a little insight into celebrities. That was kind of cool.

The Summer of No Regrets was a light, fun, romantic read. I’d recommend this book to fans of Sarah Dessen. I’ll be looking forward to more books by Katherine Grace Bond in the future.

Guest Post

Now, as part of The Summer Lovin’ Blog Tour, please help me welcome author of The Summer of No Regrets,  Katherine Grace Bond. She’s written a great post about identity. :)

Finding the Real Me

Sometimes I feel, as far as social groups are concerned, that I’m sort of a minor hello and goodbye part.

Diary, 3-29-77

As teens read THE SUMMER OF NO REGRETS, I’ve been reading my teenage diary. REALLY embarrassing, but it has to be done. How else will I know whether I’ve actually grown up?

I shopped a lot, but thought I looked terrible in the “in” clothes (which included something called “gauchos”.) I went to a folk dance convention, was dumped by my best friend, fought with my mother. My dad yelled a lot. I almost got to be an exchange student in France. I asked a boy named Lyle for his picture every single week.

What strikes me, as I read these awkward entries, is that I expected other people to tell me who I was.

That was the year I followed puppy-like after friends who treated me shoddily, hoping I’d become worthy.

I glowed under the praise of teachers and knew I was smart.

I longed to shake off my parents’ overprotectiveness so I’d be mature.

I was certain my life would be “so great” if only fill in boy’s name here liked me. Then I’d be pretty.

Once, when a brand new song came on the radio, my best friend asked, mid-song, whether I liked it.

“Do you like it?” I asked.
“I’m not going to tell you,” she replied, and I faced the ultimate dilemma: Should I love it? Should I hate it? I couldn’t know until I got her opinion; I didn’t have one of my own. The still, small voice inside me had gone missing.

Though Brigitta in THE SUMMER OF NO REGRETS, hides the “real she,” she’s still more self-possessed than I was. But I did eventually find the “real Katherine,” and I’ve learned a few things about going from fake to real.

1. Create, create, create: write, sing, sculpt, build. What you create is uniquely yours. The more you create, the more comfortable you become in your own skin.
2. Pay attention to your body. That feeling in the pit of your stomach may be telling you to get out of a bad situation. That exhilaration in your lungs may be telling you, “I should come here more often.” Your body knows your likes and dislikes—usually better than your friends do.
3. Love boldly. Notice what you care about and act on it. Homeless kids? Volunteer at the shelter. Poetry slams? Start an open mic. Your grandmother? Pick up the phone.
4. Be an encourager. I’m more myself when I encourage—“calling out” someone’s gift can be life-changing. One of my sweeter diary entries read, “Mary wrote my poem on the front of her notebook. She said, ‘Don’t erase it! I think it’s so beautiful.’” Mary, now a librarian, always encouraged my writing. Now, through TEENWrite, I get to do the same.

And as it turns out, I’m more than a hello and goodbye part. And so are you.

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