toomanywordstonight

I HAVE MOVED!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:27:00 +0000

Yes! It's true! I have moved blogs and now you can find me at

www.readarella.com

I know, so fancy and official right?

So please update your links and all those other great things and come join me in my new location!

It's Monday, what are you reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 20:38:00 +0000

It's Monday, what are you reading? Is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila over at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

This month is just flying by so quickly! Not to mention all the other things going on in my personal life. That doesn't leave very much time for completing my challenge as I had hoped. But like they say, you gotta make time!

Read Last Week

Reading This Week

So I'm making some pretty good progress with my Halloween Challenge, at least I'd like to think so! Haha. Of all the books I've read so far I think Suspicion was my favorite even if the ending was super freakin iffy and sort of made no sense at all. I actually finished The Vines this morning and while it was interesting in terms of the history I wasn't too impressed with the characters.

I've been meaning to read Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea for awhile now and I keep putting it off so I figured now or never, basically. There are still a few books I was hoping to finish before October ends but I'm not sure how that's going to work out since it's already the 27th, I may continue on into next month... if I can find time between homework, work and NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo being the more demanding of them all lol!

What are you reading this week?

2014 Challenge | Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 15:00:00 +0000

So every year on my main book blog since 2010 I've done a Halloween Challenge. Fun fact: as a kid I was paranoid and terrified of Halloween and now that I'm older, ironically, it's my favorite holiday EVER. Like, over Christmas and Valentines Day. I love love love Fall and Halloween and the colors... *sigh*.

So since this is the first year I'm doing this on this blog.... I wasn't really going anywhere with that honestly haha. I normally pick books out of my comfort zone or paranormal books I've been trying to get myself to pick up and actually I've discovered a lot of my favorite series by doing this every year!

I get a little too excited when I first make this list, but it'll change through the month. But here's to hoping that I FOR ONCE end up crossing everything off!

The Other Lamb by Katie Young
~~Falls The Shadow by Stefanie Gaither~~
~~Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday~~
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff
Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper
Guardians (Seers #3) by Heather Frost
Unmade (The Lynburn Legacy #3 *sobs*) by Sarah Rees Brennan
Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Genevieve Tucholke
The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Made For You by Melissa Marr
Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto
~~Servents of the Storm by Delilah Dawson~~
~~The Vines by Christopher Rice (seriously, I'm a little scared)~~
Getting Even by Sarah Rayner
When by Victoria Laurie
Dark Redemption by Angie Sandro
Soulless by Amber Garr
Once Upon A Time by Marina Warner
~~Suspicion by Alexandra Moni~~
The Girl From The Well by Rin Chupeco
The Forgotten Girls by Sara Blaedel
Fractured Dream by KM Randall
The Wonder of All Things by Jason Mott
Creed by Trisha Leaver
Blood Entwines by Caroline Healy
~~Dream Boy by Mary Crockett~~
Strings by G. Miki Hayden

Okay, I know, you're like the hell with this list right? But these are titles I'm targeting. I'll eventually be removing some or replacing some or maybe I MIGHT JUST READ THEM ALL. Right. In a perfect world maybe.

So.... enough about me! What do you plan on reading this October? Let me know in the comments below!

Book Sampler Review | Atlantia by Ally Condie

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:56:00 +0000

Atlantia by Ally Condie
Release Date: October 28th, 2014
Publisher: Dutton Children's
Genre: Young Adult > Dystopia
Obtained: NetGalley (Thank you Netgalley & Dutton!)
Find: Amazon | GoodReads | B&N
Summary:
Can you hear Atlantia breathing?
For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

Atlantia is a strange take on a dystopian world. Most people now live underwater where it's safe and the air is clean while some people sacrifice their lives to make sure the people down below have good lives by going Above. Once you reach a certain age, you're allowed to decide if you want to stay in Atlantia or serve Above where the air is pretty much toxic and the work is hard.

Rio has always dreamed of going Above, where it would be safer for her but her twin sister Bay makes her promise to stay down in Atlantia with her, without their mother Bay didn't want to be left alone. So Rio is forced to abandon her dream of ever seeing the world Above. However when it comes to decide, Bay actually make the choice to go Above, leaving Rio to stay in Atlantia.

Since this was only a sample of the book, I'm really curious to know what Bay's intentions were and why did she do it? She knew Rio wanted to go Above, why didn't she let her?

As the week goes on Rio searches for a letter or anything Bay may have left behind to explain her reasoning's but finds nothing. Nothing until she runs into her Aunt Maire who just so happens to be a siren and who she was warned to stay away from finds her in the market and offers cryptic advice. But who else better to help her uncover what is really going on than someone who shares her secret trait?

I'm really excited to see where this is going and I'll be anxiously awaiting for its release in October. It seems more driven than Matched, which I wasn't all that into. I've thought about re-reading it and maybe finishing the series but... maybe this will distract me from that!

*Thank you NetGalley & Dutton for the chance to read and review this title in advanced!

It's Monday, what are you reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 23:17:00 +0000

It's Monday, what are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

Oh. Hello there! Remember me? I took a bit of a break from reading because... well life. And every time I would get in bed I was more absorbed into surfing Pinterest and going to sleep than reading. I know, bad reader! Bad bad reader! But I will admit I do miss the world of fiction and the sanctification of finishing a book (or two or three) in a day or week and well... my NetGalley pile is not getting any smaller so.... let's do something about that shall we?

What I Read Last Week

What I'm Reading This Week

So... I was kinda disappointed that the preview scene I saw of The Giver (the one with Taylor Swift) was actually NOT in the book, I get it's an adaptation and well they had to showcase it somehow. But I still enjoyed the book. The other two were... meh. I don't want to talk too much about them since I will be reviewing them soon.... which reminds me I have to edit and post my vlog review of Some Quiet Place.

Yes, I'm reading 4 books this week! Maybe. Maybe 5. Or 4. I haven't decided. I'm kinda obsessed with Mindy Kaling since I marathoned The Mindy Project. Seriously obsessed so this is an elibrary borrow which means I have 6 days left to finish it lol. The last two are NetGalley books. I'm not sure how I feel about The Winter People I mean it's getting interesting but it just seems so jumbled at the same time. And The Walls Around Us I basically can only read in the morning. Like it's not SUPER creepy, I'm just being a wuss. I might give up home on If I Stay I was hoping to read through it (finally, it's literally been on my Kindle TBR for 4 years) and watch the movie cause the trailer looked epic but the writing style doesn't click with me. I don't know what's going on, when a flashback is going to happen or anything. If anything I might just finish it for the sake of saying I did. I also snatched up Insurgent from the elibrary before anyone else could lol. So I guess I'm going to continue the Divergent series after all!

What are you reading this week?

Book Sampler Review | Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 14:00:00 +0000

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Anna and the French Kiss #3
Release Date: August 14th, 2014
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Young Adult > Contemporary
Obtained: NetGalley (Thank you NetGalley & Dutton!)
Find: Amazon | GoodReads | B&N
Summary:

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

Isla and the Happily Ever After is probably a title that 80% of the people in the book blogging community is looking forward to. We've fallen in love with Étienne St. Clair, then we fell in love with Cricket Bell and now we have this Josh fella to look forward to. And guys, he's nothing like the last two we fell in love with but I mean, he's pretty darn adorbs from the bit I was introduced to.

Luckily and sadly I was only able to get the sampler for this title. Luckily because hello who wouldn't want a sneak peek? And sadly because it was only the first five chapters. Now, I must wait. And if you know anything about Perkins you know that five chapters is like literally not even scratching the surface.

I absolutely loved the first line of this book.

Like, Isla, I love you already. You're totally gutsy for going out to eat knowing you're drugged up on Vicodin. You go girl. You get that boys attention! You say all the things you've been wanting to say! Seriously, this scene for Isla might had been one of those holy crap what have I done moments but as an outsider, I'm kinda jealous. When I got my wisdom's taken out I couldn't even get out of bed. My parents would NOT had let me leave the house though if I had, I probably would had flagged down a boy I thought was attractive and had just went for it. Whatever at this point! Amiright?! Also, I love that Josh is an artist.

Isla is back in France at the same school where we met Anna and Étienne St. Clair. Oh. I'm excited for this! More adventures in Paris? YES PLEASE! Oh, also, Josh is there too. Though I'm sure you probably already figured that one out. Along with Isla is her best friend Kurt who I kinda got a feel for. He seems very uptight, but I'm looking forward to getting to know him better once the book is released.

So who else is excited for this one? Are you planning on re-reading Anna and the French Kiss prior?

I think I will because really, I think I need to pay St. Clair a visit.

It's Monday, what are you reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 20:12:00 +0000

It's Monday, what are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

What I Read Last Week

What I'm Reading This Week

I got a sample (the first 5 chapters) of Isla and the Happily Ever After on NetGalley and I was super excited about it! As I was reading it, I remembered 5 chapters is not nearly enough to coming close to the good stuff when it comes to a novel by Stephanie Perkins so I'm just sitting here. Waiting for the book to be released.

I've been reading We Were Liars for weeks now. Everyone talks about how heartbreaking it is and so I kind of feel like I'm reading it while covering the other half of my face. Like. What did I get myself into?!? I started reading Grim which so far is... kinda weird. It's a collection of short stories by various YA authors, they take a grim tale and retell it. The first one was really awkward, I didn't really know where it was going. The second one was kinda sad and the third one... I wanted it to be longer!

Decided to really start and finish The Geography of You and Me by borrowing it from the library. I know I got this for review in physical form but I dunno, I like curling up with my Kindle in bed a lot more than with a book these days (I know --- what did she just say?).

What are you reading this week?

Book Haul (3)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 18:47:00 +0000

A boooook hauuuuuul? Why yes, a book haul!

I know! It's been forever since I've been here right? Only about three flippin months! But I'm (hopefully) back! I'm about as back and work and school will allow me to be but I've got a ton of reviews to post up! So, that should buy me some time lol.

Excuse the excited-yet-my-eyes-are-closed screencap YouTube so very kindly picked for me. I forgot to make a custom thumbnail. Whoops.

FOR REVIEW

Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige
The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E Smith
Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
Stormbringer (Weather Witch #2) by Shannon Delany
Console Wars by Blake J Harris
Chantress Alchemy (Chantress #2) by Amy Butler Greenfield
How To Train Your Dragon 2 movie art book
Servants of the Storm by Delilah Dawson
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton
Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
Fan Art by Sarah Tregay

BOUGHT

Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times by Emma Trevayne
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz graphic novel
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz comic book
The Marvelous Land of Oz comic book
Ozma of Oz comic book

BOUGHT eBOOKS

City of Heavenly Fire (Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare
Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff
20 Something 20 Everything by Christine Hassler
Parallel by Lauren Miller
The Cold King by Amber Jaeger
Neverland (Adventures in Neverland #1) by Anna Katmore
Rush (The Game #1) by Eve Silver
Fragile Line by Brooklyn Skye
Faded by Chloe Miles
The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass
Love From Both Sides (Love... #1) by Nick Spalding
How To Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It by Patricia Love
Come to Me Quietly (Close To You #1) by A.L. Jackson
The Regret Series by A.L. Jackson
When We Fall (When I Break #3) by Kendall Ryan
Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick
Just A Touch Sampler
Happenstance (Happenstance #1) by Jamie McGuire
Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
All Lined Up (Rusk University #1) by Cora Carmack

What did you get this week?

Book Review | A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:00:00 +0000

A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers
A Little Too Far #1
Release Date: September 17th, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: New Adult > Contemporary
Obtained: Bought for Kindle
Find: Amazon | GoodReads | B&N
Summary:

Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years … and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.

But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt … and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon … only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.

I can't believe I never wrote a review for this! A Little Too Far was one of my favorite fall reads of last year!

The story follows Lexi who has just been dumped and is on her way to Rome to do some volunteer work. She also happens to be super close to her hot step brother who she grew up with. I mean, they're like besties fo lyfe with their gaming nights and his writing songs for her. Anyway that kinda just blows up in her face after they sleep with each other which I know is super weird but is probably one of the hottest scenes in this series. While in Rome she ends up working with the gorgeous Alessandro who knows how to be a complete understanding gentleman.

Honestly, I felt bad for Lexi. Things just were not going her way at all through out this book but she tried her best to keep her head high and look on the bright side. Alessandro really throws you in for a loop cause while you're rooting for Trent to get his shit together and quit being a jerk there's Alessandro. Wonderful wonderful Italian Alessandro! Even though you know, considering his situation you don't know if you should be rooting for him but you are! Then there's her best friend Samantha who was okay and then suddenly I couldn't stand her.

There is so freakin much I love about this book. The intensity between Lexi and Trent. The way Alessandro makes you swoon. The idea of being in Rome and getting away from it all and the fact that this book got me completely obsessed with the song All in by Lifehouse.

I seriously can not recommend this book and this series enough. Hands down one of my top 3 favorite New Adult titles!

Waiting on Wednesday | Grimm Fairy Tales: Oz by Joe Brusha

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Grimm Fairy Tales: Oz by Joe Brusha

Release Date: March 18th, 2014 by Zenescope Entertainment

S u m m a r y :

The world faces a gathering storm that threatens to drown it in darkness. The only hope to stop the coming evil rests on an unlikely hero: a Kansas farm girl named Dorothy Gale.

Unbeknownst to Dorothy, highborn blood flows through her veins and with it, the power to save Earth and the realms of power that surround it. But Dorothy must first learn to use her unharnessed abilities before the witches of Oz destroy her and everyone else that stands in their way.

Zenescope Entertainment presents another incredible tale of adventure and fantasy with this mesmerizing and epic re-imagining of a classic!

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

I mean... it's a retelling of Oz... do I really have to say anything else? :P

What are you waiting for this week?

It's Monday, what are you reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:00:00 +0000

It's Monday, what are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books.

Wow, it's been awhile since I've done one of these right? It's been awhile since I've been here in general. Things have been crazy and they're about to get crazier but I'll do my best to stay around. I've got lots of books to talk about!

What I Read Last Week

What I'm Reading This Week

So after five years I've given in and started reading The Mortal Instruments series and while it's not the best thing I've ever read I see why people fan over it. I went through the entire second book in four hours. Insane. I never in my life thought I'd even make it through one of Cassandra's books. They're so huge. And intimidating. But the last book in The Mortal Instruments series comes out this year so I've got to catch up. And on top of that there's The Infernal Devices series too. And the two spin off's coming out next year. And even though I still have a few more books with Jace, Luke and Clary I'm getting sadder and sadder that I'm inching my way away from them with every book I finish. Does anyone else feel like that?

I've been slacking on my for review books. Slacking hard. It's always frustrating walking into B&N and seeing several books you were suppose to review already released and sitting pretty on a shelf. Really makes you feel like a failure lol. Plus I need a little break away from the paranormal lives right now. Just a little tiny break.

What are you reading this week?

Book Haul (3)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 15:00:00 +0000

Whoo for new books! Okay not gonna lie, this post is a little bit late....

FOR REVIEW FROM AMAZON VINE

The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine
The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

WON

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy

NETGALLEY

Herbs for Stress & Anxiety by Rosemary Gladstar
Obilivion by Sasha Dawn
Sugar Baby by Gesine Bullock-Prado
18 Truths by Jamie Ayres
The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegal
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off by Jill Steeples
The Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine
Undone by Shannon Richard
Sing Sweet Nightingale by Erica Cameron
Witchfall by Victoria Lamb
Crazy For You by Emma Heatherington
My Date From Hell by Tellulah Darling
Before I Wake by C.L. Taylor

*Thank you Amazon Vine, HarperTeen, NetGalley & all other publishers!

Cover Reveal | All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:00:00 +0000

Today, I have something super exciting to share --- a cover reveal for the amazing Cora Carmack's new upcoming series. I loved her "Losing It" series so I'm super excited for this upcoming one as well!

Here's a bit of info on the book first ;)

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated.

Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.

And neither of them knows how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Annnnnnnd here it iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis......

To Be Released: May 14th, 2014

~*~

About Cora Carmack:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Links:

ALL LINED UP Goodreads

Book Haul (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 01:52:00 +0000

I knowwwwww, it's been a long time since I've done a book haul!

AMAZON ViNE:

How to Love by Katie Cotugno
Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

FOR REViEW

Stormbringer (Weather Witch #2) by Shannon Delany

SECRET SANTA SWAP

Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts
What I've Read journal

NETGALLEY

Queen of Hearts: Volume 1: The Crown by Colleen Oakes
Believe by Erin McCarthy
Project Paper Doll: The Hunt by Stacey Kade
Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott
Crazy, Stupid Sex by Maisey Yates
Tempting Trouble by Savannah Stuart
Waiting On You by Kristan Higgins
The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Grim by Ellen Hopkins, Julie Kagawa, Amanda Hocking, Rachel Hawkins

And honestly, a crap ton of other titles lol!

*Thank you to Amazon Vine, St. Martin's Griffin & my Secret Santa Crystal @ Crystal in Bookland!

The 2014 GoodReads Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 00:24:00 +0000

Every year since I started book blogging in 2009 my goal was always 50+ and most of the time, I achieved that but this year I'm doing something different.

I'm challenging myself to read only 30 books.

That's pretty much half of the goal I usually set for myself.

And that's because this year, while I would love to focus on reading more and doing more within the book community like I always do... I'm leaving myself room to have time to start and continue other projects and being a little realistic with the fact that I've also gone back to school full time (I was suppose to graduate this month but I sort of kind of set myself back a year... or two... Disney internships and all...).

2014 Reading Challenge

Hazel has read 1 book toward her goal of 30 books.

hide

1 of 30 (3%)

view books

This handy dandy widget will be placed in my side bar so you all can comfortably track me on my 2014 challenge. It's also in my GoodReads profile, I think.

Join me in the GoodReads challenge and leave links to your profiles below!

Have any of you taken the GoodReads reading challenge? And if you have what's your goal for this year?

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 19:10:00 +0000

Review | Losing It by Cora Carmack

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Losing It by Cora Carmack
Losing It #1
Release Date: October 15th, 2012
Publisher: William Marrow
Genre: New Adult > Contemporary
Obtained: Bought on Kindle
Find: Amazon || GoodReads || BN
Summary:

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren’t embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theater professor. She’d left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

~*~

I've read a few NA (New Adult) books and I don't think there wasn't one I didn't like!

Losing It is about a girl named Bliss (yes, that's really her name and yes it is awesome). She's in college, majoring in theater (seriously, could she get any more awesome?) and she's a virgin. So much of a virgin (not that there are different levels or anything) that the book opens up with her friend dragging her to a bar to get her virginity lost. Because I guess in college that's what friends do, bring you somewhere to hook up with someone completely random for your first time. Seems legit.

She meets a guy at a bar who's reading Shakespeare and may I admit that if I were in a similar situation I would had booked out of there with the guy still holding the book? Not to mention he has a delicious British accent.

There were a few things that annoyed me about this novel; Cade. I mean, he didn't annoy me all the time. Okay he only annoyed me once but I mean it was pretty significant! The way he treated Bliss after saying "I can live with maybe." was just wrong. You don't throw something in someones face if you didn't the first time. Betta come correct! Another was Garrick's inability to stay away from Bliss during school hours. I mean okay, it was hawt but at the same time it's like, come on dude. COOL IT!

There was so much I loved about this read as well too. It was quirky, it was fun, it was interesting and it was steamy. Garrick and Bliss could set a forest on fire! And okay I really dug the intimate party moment between Cade and Bliss too. From the get go I loved Garrick. He was intelligent, respectful, and he seems like the kind of guy that if you stuck him in a really awkward position he literally wouldn't bat an eyelash or think any differently of you. Now that is the type of guy more books need! And his intense attraction to Bliss? Whooo *fans self*.

I absolutely enjoyed this read and I will be reading more from this author and continuing the series! I can't wait to read more about Cade in the next book!

Waiting on Wednesday | Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 05:04:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

Release Date: June 3rd, 2014 from HarperTeen

S u m m a r y :

I want someone who will talk to me honestly about things. You're the only person who ever has. Maybe you don't know this, but when you're disabled almost no one tells you the truth. They feel too awkward because the truth seems too sad, I guess. You were very brave to walk up to the crippled girl and say, essentially, wipe that sunny expression off your face and look at reality. That's what I want you to do next year. Tell me the truth. That's all.

Amy and Matthew didn't know each other, really. They weren't friends. Matthew remembered her, sure, but he remembered a lot of people from elementary school that he wasn't friends with now.

Matthew never planned to tell Amy what he thought of her cheerful facade, but after he does, Amy realizes she needs someone like him in her life.

As they begin to spend more time with each other, Amy learns that Matthew has his own secrets and she decides to try to help him in the same way he's helped her. And when what started out as a friendship turns into something neither of them expected, they realize that they tell each other everything—except the one thing that matters most.

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

That's a pretty vague summary, right? But it sounds so interesting! And I love the cover. Really excited to see what this one's about!

What are you waiting for this week?

Review | Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed & Larkin Reed

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Amber House by Kelly Moore, Tucker Reed & Larkin Reed
Amber House #1
Release Date: October 1st, 2012
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Genre: Young Adult > Paranormal > Ghosts
Find: Amazon || GoodReads || BN
Summary:

"I was sixteen the first time my grandmother died . . ."

Sarah Parsons has never seen Amber House, the grand Maryland estate that's been in her family for three centuries. She's never walked its hedge maze nor found its secret chambers; she's never glimpsed the shades that haunt it, nor hunted for lost diamonds in its walls.

But all of that is about to change. After her grandmother passes away, Sarah and her friend Jackson decide to search for the diamonds--and the house comes alive. She discovers that she can see visions of the house's past, like the eighteenth-century sea captain who hid the jewels, or the glamorous great-grandmother driven mad by grief. She grows closer to both Jackson and a young man named Richard Hathaway, whose family histories are each deeply entwined with her own. But when the visions start to threaten the person she holds most dear, Sarah must do everything she can to get to the bottom of the house's secrets, and stop the course of history before it is cemented forever.

~*~

Can we just take a moment to admire this deliciously creepy cover? I'm sure lawn mazes were created to creep people out.

I read Amber House for the first time last year in October as part of my Halloween Challenge and it wasn't as creepy as I thought it would be --- okay there was one or two super creepy parts but everything else was okay! I didn't have nightmares or anything! Always a good sign, right? But overall, this read fascinated me.

There's something going on with The Amber House and Sarah's friend Jackson claims there's hidden jewels. But as they go searching for them, the house starts telling its story and things start to unravel. Secrets kept are now secrets told and piecing everything together was the fun part!

The characters were definitely ones to remember. I loved Sarah's relationship with her brother and her dad. And the friendship between her and Jackson. I didn't like Sarah's mom and how fake she was or how she never told Sarah anything about the house.

I also didn't like how unclear the ending was, I suppose it's because it's part of a series. It won't be long before the rest of the tales are uncovered!

Overall I enjoyed this read much more than I thought I would and I'm anxious to pick up the next book in the series!

Media Monday | Serendipity

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 15:00:00 +0000

It's almost that time of the year again....!

[ photo credit: Pinterest ]

And I'm kicking off prepping for the season by sharing one of my favorite holiday movies... Serendipity!

I rented this movie in 2001 in the Fall/Winter time after a really bad break up. Kept it (along with Bring it On) for a week and watched it literally every single night. I didn't get to finally visit a Serendipity until the weekend of my wedding in 2009 and finally got to have a Frozen Hot Chocolate.

This movie symbolizes a lot for me. It reminds me of Fall/Winter. It reminds me of Christmas. It reminds me that I'm stronger than I think I am and the journey I was going through when I'd drown myself every night in the story of Jon and Sarah.

Every time I'm upset or stressed out, my husband puts this on for me. He doesn't complain on the weeks I play it over and over and over again.

It's a bit of an older movie and it's kinda cheesy but it will always have a special place in my heart!

Cover Reveal | Seeking Her by Cora Carmack

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Losing It was one of my favorite reads this fall (I know, I still have yet to post a review for it!) so I'm super excited to share with you the cover to Seeking Her! A novella featuring Kelsey and Jackson!

ABOUT SEEKING HER by Cora Carmack

A few months after being honorably discharged from the military, Jackson Hunt is still struggling to adjust back to the real world. He needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he’s going to keep his own demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal.

Bodyguard (and baby-sitter) to spoiled-rich-girl Kelsey Summers isn’t exactly what he’d been looking for, but it’s a chance to travel, to get away from the home that has felt stifling ever since his return. It would be a pretty sweet gig if it weren’t for the fact that Kelsey’s father doesn’t want Kelsey to know she’s being followed. Hunt feels guilty (and a little bit creepy) as he watches her from afar. She’s vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When he sees her falling into the same patterns that he suffered years ago, he decides it’s time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know her is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her,the more he wants her.

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton --- FREE this week!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 16:30:00 +0000

In honor of the last book in Kersten Hamilton's Goblin Wars series, the first book Tyger Tyger is on a special promo price ---- FREE!

Yes, that's right!

You can pick up the first book in the Goblin Wars series completely free from any ebook provider of your choice (assuming those choices are either Kindle, Nook or iBooks)!

Three years ago when I began book blogging, Kersten Hamiton was one of the first authors to reach out to me to review her book and I will always always think fondly of her because of that. Tyger Tyger ended up being one of my favorite reads of 2010 and it still is one of my favorite reads today!

Purchase this book

Kindle || Nook | iBooks

This promo will run until November 5th!

Waiting on Wednesday | It felt Like A Kiss by Sarra Manning

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

It Felt Like A Kiss by Sarra Manning

Release Date: February 13th 2014 from Corgi

S u m m a r y :

Meet Ellie Cohen, one of the most perfect girls in London.

Ellie manages a swank Mayfair gallery, but it’s her life that’s a real work of art. Great job, really good hair, loyal friends, loving family. It’s only her succession of lame duck boyfriends that ruin the picture.

Oh, and the world-famous rock-star father she’s never met, who won’t even acknowledge her existence.

Then Ellie’s perfect life is smashed to pieces when her secret is sold to the highest bidder and her name, face (and pictures of her bottom) are splashed across the tabloids. Suddenly everyone thinks she’s a gold-digging, sex-crazy, famewhore.

Enter David Gold. Charming and handsome David Gold. On paper he’s even more perfect than Ellie, if only he wasn’t her father’s ruthlessly ambitious lawyer whose job is to manage the crisis – and her. He certainly doesn’t think that Ellie’s the innocent party and she doesn’t trust him at all. So why is it that every time they’re alone together, damage limitation is the last thing on their minds?

[ via Goodreads ]

Reason for waiting:

I'm a sucker for chick lit based in London and for books with pretty colorful covers! This sounds so good and I'm so sad that it's an international title that I don't know how to get a hold of! Ah, I guess I'll be refreshing BookDepo until it's in stock.

What are you waiting for this week?

Review | Hysteria by Megan Miranda

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Release Date: Feb 5th, 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Genre: Young Adult > Contemporary > Psych Thriller
Obtained: For Review (Thank you NG & Walker Childrens!)
Find: Amazon || GoodReads || B&N
Summary:

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

~*~

Hysteria is a psychological thriller about a girl named Mallory who killed her boyfriend. She doesn't remember that majority of that night so through out the book, her memory starts to slowly come back as she pieces everything that happened that night together.

Because of this.... accident, her parents decide to send her to Monroe, a fancy prep school her father attended back in his day. Of course people at this school hears things and some really crazy stuff goes down. Including the fact that Mallory finds herself face to face with Reid. Reid she grew up with. Reid who brushed her off and now years later she still holds some strange grudge about. But Reid, who knows her, Reid who always makes time for her, Reid who cares about her.

If I could word this read it would be awkward. Like, everything that was happening, I just found to be awkward. The events didn't really seem to flow together and some of the stuff happening didn't really make any sense. Like bumping into Dylan again and why Mallory's best friend showed up and just vanished. Like, what was the point in that? The drama that was really going on at Monroe. The ending was a little unsatisfying since you don't get a real answer to your questions.

I always feel like with psychological thrillers it always ends up really creepy and good or just awkward. Unfortunately Hysteria fell into the awkward category.

It's Monday, what are you reading?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 03:25:00 +0000

It's Monday, what are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey.

What I read last week

Intertwined (Intertwined #1) by Gina Showalter
Hysteria by Megan Miranda

What I'm reading this week

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
Broken by C.J. Lyons
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

I finished two of the four I was aiming for this passed week... I don't think I'll be finishing The Coldest Girl in Coldtown tihs month. Poohie. There were a bunch of books I was hoping to finish this month since it would be "within theme". However since November is approching and I'll be NaNoWriMo-ing, I don't really know what to read this month! Haha! I guess I could read my Christmas books early, but would that kill the fun? I'll start off with some contemp then seen how I feel as the month goes on. Hopefully my reading won't decline with everything else going on in November!

I am going to focus on Will Grayson, Will Grayson since my friend wanted me to read it badly enough he got it for me. I know I'm late to the Will Grayson train but we'll see! Also I'm on a blog tour for Broken so you know, gotta focus on that too :P

What are you reading this week?