Top Ten Tuesday: Words and Topics That Get Me To Read A Book

Hosted By The Broke and The Bookish

This is kind of a interesting topic for me, because I usually pick my books based on 3 things. Cover,Title and Recommendations. However, I do know their are Genres and Areas that draw me to books too.

1. Historical Anything, Really

1920's and 1600's mainly, but I am a HUGE history lover. So historical fiction with a great cover. Done.

2. Fairytales or Retellings

I live and breath Disney and one of my all time favorite miniseries is The 10th Kingdom. So I love all aspects of fairytales.

3. Spies/Cons/Thieves

I love the riskiness and cleverness it takes. Makes me feel like I am getting away with something.

 

4. Time Travel

This kind of goes back to #1 but I LOVE it!

5. Past Lives

Reincarnation, I love this concept and again kind ties into #1

6. Travel

Traveling to a new country, such as London or Paris and I want to read it. I want to pretend I am there going on the crazy adventures with the characters.

7. Certain Authors

John Green,Meg Cabot,Richelle Mead... this list could go on. But that means their books are automatic reads. No matter what.

 

8. Mysteries

I don't read enough with the right combo of things ,I will read it.

 

9. Privileged Lifestyles

Royalty, New York Elite, Old Money. Must Read.

10. Summer Love

This just makes me happy.

LA Times Festival of Books (Year 2) Part 2

If You Saw Part 1 of this, then you know a couple weeks ago, I attended The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and here is where I pick up on Part 2 of My Day at the festival...


Last year, I was suppose to see Maureen Johnson, Maggie Stiefvater and Melissa DeLaCruz in a panel, but I was sick and couldn't see them. Luckily in the past year, Maggie Stiefvater and Melissa DeLaCruz did other appearances and I got to meet them, but Maureen Johnson eluded me! So, I was really excited for this panel. This Panel had Melissa De La Cruz, Maureen Johnson, Katherine Marsh and Lisa McMann and Narrated By Ransom Riggs.

Sorry, for the poor photo quality.  The panel was very funny. They each talked about their newest books, Gates of Paradise, The Madness Underneath, Jepp Who Defied The Stars and Crash. Melissa DeLaCruz's excerpt surprised me, because it kinda gives away a huge plot line in the series. But it was cool too, also it was funny hearing that she forgot actually how her book originally ended and had to go back through her notes to remember.  Maureen Johnson's excerpt was funny (of course) Having to do with Rory and Alistair. During this time one of the signs on the posters behind them fell and they joked that is was Alistair and he wasn't amused. Katherine Marsh began with describing how her book came to be, which was REALLY interesting and I look forward to reading it because it is definitely not a common concept. Lisa McMann's reading also set  the plot of the book, and I am excited to read Crash as well.

A lot of ?'s were asked and it was interesting to hear the author different and same answers.  They talked about the themes of their books. 

Melissa De La Cruz: saying that hers is in the names of her titles

 Katherine Marsh: Fate  

Lisa McMann: She really didn't know. That was my favorite answer because, it is totally me. She just writes, if you see a theme great, but she doesn't write with one in mind. 

Maureen Johnson:discussed how she didn't like when students emailed her, asking for the theme of her book. Mainly, cause they are usually doing it was a school project and are just being lazy. So in response she sends them bogus responses like the theme being about artisan cheese making and such.

They discussed their writing process.. 

Melissa DeLaCruz: Outlines. She writes everything down that she needs to know.

Maureen Johnson: Likes to Leroy Jenkins It. This Got A Few Laughs. If you Don't Know what that is, youtube it.. It is HILARIOUS.

Katherine Marsh and Lisa McMann: Both said they don't outline. 

 

Someone asked the difference Between Young Adult and Adult and all the authors pretty much said the same thing. They don't feel there is a difference, except that the characters are younger. 

Towards the end, things got interesting when a girl asked If there were any original plot lines left?" They way see worded it was pretty insulting, almost like she was saying the the authors books weren't original. To be fair, I don't think she meant it in that way. But it obviously, bothered the authors. You could tell, cause the tone in their voices changed. Their answers were pretty clear too. Yes, there are still original plot lines left.

That concluded the Q&A portion and then it became.. BOOK SIGNING Time!

I usually get extremely nervous around Authors but it was pretty easy to talk to Maureen Johnson. She complimented my shirt "I'm Not A Player I Just Blog A Lot" and she said she hoped I liked her book and If I didn't I could just lie. Which we discussed that, that is the best way to form a relationship and then we took a picture together. I really think this may be my favorite author picture thus far. 

And Here Is My Signed Books, Books I bought and Bookmarks I got from my day at LATFOB

And I CANNOT Wait For Next Year!

Princess on the Brink ( The Princess Diaries #8)

SUMMARY:

"At last, Mia is a junior. An upperclassperson. Free of her responsibilities as student body president. So why is it that everything is going so terribly wrong? What is she doing in Intro to Creative Writing? When she has made it through Algebra and Geometry, why must she be faced with Precalculus? And for the love of all that is Genovian, why has Lilly nominated her for school prez again? All this is nothing compared to the news Michael springs on her, however. On top of all the mathematical strife, her beloved boyfriend is leaving for Japan for a year. Precalc has nothing on preparing for the worst separation ever

Turns out there is one way she might convince Michael to stay. But will she? Or won't she? No matter what, Mia seems headed for disaster."

Plot: In general I kind of wish there were a few sub plots, but Princess on the Brink was pretty straight forward about focusing on Mia and Michael's relationship. Even getting rid of Princess Lessons and pretty much any other character in Mia's life that could add another plot line to the story. Like I said I only kind of wish there was, because I do hate when I am getting into a certain plot, especially characters relationships when the subject changes to another plot and I have to wait 50 pages for it to pick up again. Which is probably why this was my favorite book in the series so far.. I didn't HAVE to really wait for things to happen.

Characters: I think I love Mia more than ever in this book. She really has grown as a person, but still has those teenage girl qualities. Although, they are a little less immature and whiny. Lily drove me crazy as usual! I really hate her, but I like that you could truly understand Mia and Lily's relationship here. I adored, Tina and even Boris since their characters have also really settled into their roles in the series. BUT JP is by far my favorite addition. He is just so normal and sweet and I cannot wait to see more of him. And then there is Michael. I have a mini crush on him, but man did he drive me crazy in this book. He had moments where you were like "yep. Him and Lily are related.."

Pros: Really Engaging, A lot of Growing Up and Realistic Aspects of Teenage Relationships.

Cons: None, really.. Like I said Sub Plots would of been nice just to make the books plot stronger, but I didn't miss them either.

Final Thoughts: I related to Mia the most in this book. Espescially, to her out look on sex and her reaction to Michael's lie. Mine would have been the exact same and I could see why it would bug her, that it appeared NO ONE else felt the same way. Maybe, she took it a little too far.. but Michael was NOT helping the situation. I mean my heart truly broke for Mia. I even cried a little. For being the 8th book in the series, I was impressed. I was actually mad at myself for not checking out the next book in the series, like I usually do!

Bloody Valentine (Blue Bloods #5.5)

Summary:

"The Blue Bloods have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shape-shift, and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even those immortal vampires, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, part of the best-selling Blue Bloods series, author Melissa de la Cruz offers three tantalizing stories that delve deep into the love lives of the all-powerful vamps (and their Red Blood friends) from New York's Upper East Side. Might a witchy new girl help cure Oliver's broken heart? How did Allegra fall in love with a human? Will Schuyler and Jack finally be bonded?

Romantic and sensual, Bloody Valentine reveals the undying love, the hope and devastation, and the lust and longing that have defined the Blue Bloods throughout history. Prepare to be swept off your feet."

Reading this Novella is not a must to the series. In fact the 6th book quickly brushes up on these events. However... for fans of the series it is nice. We learn how Oliver copes with Schuyler's departure and we meet Freya, which is nice.. and I think I even enjoyed this more. Since I already know Freya's character from Witches of East End. Understanding Allegra and Charlie's relationship and how it feel apart is maybe the coolest of the stories. Since at this point of the series we do not know a lot about Allegra/Gabrielle. However my favorite story is Schuyler and Jack's wedding. Especially, with the drawings. So, like I said this book is an absolute treat to fans of the series but you are not missing anything too important.

LA Times Festival of Books (Year 2) Part 1

So, Every year the Los Angeles Times has a 2 day event called The Festival of Books! Which is pretty much the biggest book event that occurs in LA and as far as I am aware pretty much the only one.  I attended last years event but could only attend Day 1 since I became sick for Day 2.  Day 1 was a great day though, where I got to attend an event with John Green and a panel for Libba Bray and Pete Hautman....and I just realized The Post I wrote for this is MISSING, will have to write a follow up post then!

Anyways,  for a whole year.. I have been anticipating going to the LA Times Festival of Books. Endlessly checking the website to see who would be attending and getting my Mom and Husband ready to attend. Once they announced the panel lists. I sat down and plotted what I was going to attend. To say the least I was excited. Then Day 1 comes and I am sick! I was bummed but not too worried because a few days before I learned the panels sold out early (this did not happen last year) However, I would not miss day 2 I had tickets to one panel, with Maureen Johnson on it and I had missed her panel last year, so I was determined to go!

Day 2

So, Day 2 arrives and My mother and I make a way over to the USC Campus, We park and embark on our adventure to the YA Area. We get there early enough that I have time to wander and look at all the booths. Something we didn't really do last time.

As we enter The YA Area they had the WB had the Batmobile on display, because although it is the YA section, Warner Brothers studios kind of dominates the area with movie stuff. It was pretty cool seeing the recent Batmobile, since I had just the previous night watched the most recent movie.

By this point it was crazy crowded and very hot. So, my mom sneaked off to a courtyard to relax in the shade and get something to eat, while I wonder a small section of the YA section. I say small because like I mentioned before it was effing HOT and crowded and frankly, it was giving me anxiety. I passed one booth. Once Upon A Time (a book store) at that time they were holding a book signing. I didn't recognize the authors names (this happens often with me) but I did recognize the book covers and titles of one author Elizabeth Eulberg. So, I went into the cafe and asked my Mom for some money.

SIDE BAR: Yes, I am 23 and Married. You may have noticed though that I attend a lot of these book events with my Mom and that My Mom buys A LOT of my books for me. There are several reasons for this. My Mom sometimes buys books for me, just because and other times I ask. But, my Mom is also my Boss and she knows what I get paid. Which at the moment is enough to cover bills and food. 

As, we were in the cafe my Mom and I were now in line, getting some food and drinks when and man and a women walk in. I immediately notice that the women is not only REALLY pretty, REALLY skinny. Something I did say out loud. They May have heard me. The man noticed a bag a women was carrying behind us and my Mom and I turned to glance at it. Finding it amusing, the bag and that the man noticed the bag, since Our Company is Backpacks... So, we tend to notice others bags and backpacks and discuss it. The man took a picture of the backpack. We mildly discussed it and then went on our way. Where my mother asked me to take a picture of the bag as we left...Thus, this picture.

The bag of interest is the " I Would Prefer Not To" It wouldn't be until I got home, That I realized the Man and Woman, Pictured In The back of the line are Author Ransom Riggs and Tahereh Mafi. Ransom, also narrated the panel I attended later in the day, however I would didn't put two and two together because at the Cafe I noticed Mafi more and just knew she was with a taller man. Wasn't until I saw they were in this photo that I could confirm it was Ransom Riggs. Mafi was also, at the panel in the audience, but like I said, not until I got home did I know who she was. 

After that my Mom gave me money and I made my way over to the booth to purchase Elizabeth Eulberg's book. Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality.  Elizabeth was SO nice (although, I have yet to meet an author who wasn't) We somehow got on the topic of her book covers and we discussed how some came to be, and how she liked some and others she didn't love. What I thought was funny is how she told me, she liked to mess around with her publisher (David Levithan) and tell him she hated certain covers and make him worry for a second before she would text back Just Kidding. We talked for a good 15 minutes or so. She was very nice, and I look forward to reading her other books!

And that will conclude Part 1. This post turned out to be longer than I expected and I know I have  A LOT to say about the Panel. So, I have decided to split it into Part 1 and Part 2.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Thought I'd Love More or Less Than I Did

Hosted By The Broke and The Bookish

MORE

Books I Thought I Would Like More.. This Can Happen Pretty Often To Me, Since I Tend To Pick Books Based On Their Covers or Titles...

  

LESS 

Books I Didn't Think I was Going to Like As Much as I Did..

 

 

Nantucket Blue

 

Summary:

" For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue."

I will be the first to admit, I cover/title whored over Nantucket Blue. However, Nantucket Blue definitely took me by surprise, the second I began reading it.. I got that feeling in my stomach. The "oh, this is going to a good read" feeling and boy, was I right!

Nantucket Blue, took me by surprise by being both the perfect mixture of an easy summer read and a well written contemporary. I didn't expect to grow an attachment to Cricket and her life. I didn't expect the sad under tones and I most definitely didn't expect to cry. Yes, that is right.. I CRIED. Because at some point in this book, I can really empathize with Crickets loneliness and I was connecting with her at that moment. Not many authors can do that. It is easy to make me feel the happiness and love of a character, but to feel their sorrow. That is hard to do and not in the I just feel bad for them, but like I am actually them! Like I am the person who is being affected at that moment. As for the romance, it is definitely their and although it is a little predictable for a summer romance. It meets all your cheesy summer romance needs. It really does. I don't know how else to explain it then perfection.

I like all the characters, they are not over complex and they all fit the rolls. You aren't wishing you knew more or less about them, cause it didn't fit a situation they are perfectly balanced. You see Jules is kind of the mean girl in the book, yet you can actually sympathize for her and Cricket isn't annoying. She isn't that main character who messes up and you don't feel bad for her, because well it is kind of her fault. She is genuine in her attempts and mistakes. Zack is oh so adorable and we kind of all know a little brother like him. Crickets Mom actually reminds me, of my Mom and I love hoe she was integrated into the storyline. Liz,George and Gavin all compliment the plot line very well too.

In other words. I highly recommend Nantucket Blue. I have NOTHING negative to say about it! I have not read a really well written summer beach read in awhile and this book hit all the classic requirements and then exceeded them. 

Bookish Merch (6)

I have been CRAZY busy in my life. Which caused me to kind of slack off on my blog and book related things. As of lately though, all areas in my life have kind of been going well and when that happens... I tend to get inspiration, which led to more Bookish Merchandise Ideas.. So I Wanted to Share with all my bookish friends, some of the new merchandise I have come up with and am now selling = )

The Lost Book Reports Store

Witches of East End (The Beauchamp Family #1)

Summary:

"From the author of the highly addictive and bestselling Blue Bloods series, with almost 3 million copies sold, comes a new novel, Melissa de la Cruz's first for adults, featuring a family of formidable and beguiling witches.
The three Beauchamp women--Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid--live in North Hampton, out on the tip of Long Island. Their beautiful, mist-shrouded town seems almost stuck in time, and all three women lead seemingly quiet, uneventful existences. But they are harboring a mighty secret--they are powerful witches banned from using their magic. Joanna can resurrect people from the dead and heal the most serious of injuries. Ingrid, her bookish daughter, has the ability to predict the future and weave knots that can solve anything from infertility to infidelity. And finally, there's Freya, the wild child, who has a charm or a potion that can cure most any heartache.
For centuries, all three women have been forced to suppress their abilities. But then Freya, who is about to get married to the wealthy and mysterious Bran Gardiner, finds that her increasingly complicated romantic life makes it more difficult than ever to hide her secret. Soon Ingrid and Joanna confront similar dilemmas, and the Beauchamp women realize they can no longer conceal their true selves. They unearth their wands from the attic, dust off their broomsticks, and begin casting spells on the townspeople. It all seems like a bit of good-natured, innocent magic, but then mysterious, violent attacks begin to plague the town. When a young girl disappears over the Fourth of July weekend, they realize it's time to uncover who and what dark forces are working against them.
With a brand-new cast of characters, a fascinating and fresh world to discover, and a few surprise appearances from some of the Blue Blood fan favorites, this is a page-turning, deliciously fun, magical summer read fraught with love affairs, witchcraft, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil."

I was really excited when Melissa De La Cruz came out with Witches of East End, since I am a HUGE fan of the Blue Blood Series. I was even more excited when I heard some of those characters would be making an appearance this book. So, I bought it and it sat in my TBR pile, for pretty much ever and I finally picked it up and began reading it a couple of days ago and was shocked.

Witches of East End has more of an adult tone to it.. maybe we can say New Adult, over Young Adult and De La Cruz's writing had more of a stronger literary tone to it. Not the same as Blue Bloods. You know, it was slower paced and really descriptive. Once I caught on, I really liked it; I just needed a moment to adjust.

The storyline overall was interesting... because at first the tone to it, is 3 witches (a mother and her daughters)  who have powers but due to punishments from the Salem Trials can no longer use them. As the story progresses the women start to use their powers in their small community and then some other worldly bad things start happening. You can kind of see where this is going to go as you start to read and the farther you get into the book, the story starts to pick up and get more exciting.

However, the last 100 pages the plot kind of takes an odd turn. We learn a lot about the ladies past and how it ties in with the issues they are having now. Although, I did find those plot lines interesting.. I just felt they jumped out of no where and didn't fit into the story at the time. Though, it is obvious they will play a part in the series as a whole. The placing of it seemed off for me.

In conclusion. I was happy with the book and will definitely continue on with the series, but that may be because De La Cruz already has a strong fan base with me. If you are a fan of the Blue Bloods series or Melissa De La Cruz's writing it is a must read and if you are someone who hasn't read her books, but is looking for a little more adult paranormal reads, than I highly recommend this book as well.

PS
My favorite part was definitely when Mimi showed up and the tiny scenes that involved the Vampires.

Advertising!

Yay! Through A Blog I Have Begun to Adore Reading called CaseyLeigh I have found a very cool and easy site called Passionfruit that helps you run advertising on your blog! So, Now I can smoothly run Ads on my blog and I wanted you all to know!

Top Ten Tuesday: REWIND

Hosted By The Broke and The Bookish

I Love Rewinds, because I do sometimes miss out on a Top 10 that I want to participate in. In This Case I am going to rewind back to last month with the topic: Books I Recommend Most

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And I'm Cheating But Also,