Sunday, March 30, 2014

In My Mailbox (60)


NetGalley
Wish You Were Italian By Kristen Rae
(Bloomsbury USA)
The Rules for Breaking By Ashley Elston
(Disney-Hyperion)
Gluten Free Breakfast, Brunch & Beyond By Linda J. Amendt
(The Taunton Press Inc.)

Won
The Girl With The Iron Touch By Kady Cross (#3)
(Harlequin and Goodreads)

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Free Printable Bookmarks


As book lovers and bloggers, we are always in need of Bookmarks. You can never have enough! These FREE Printable bookmarks are perfect because they are fun and easy and you won't be sad if you lose them! 


To Print the Bookmarks Go Here




Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: My Bookish Bucket List


1. Attend BEA
Oh Yes.. I would LOVE to attend BEA and expierience all that bookish glory. BUT not just bookish glory.. BLOGGER glory too! To meet other bloggers in person and establish real relationships! 


2. Meet John Green
I have been lucky enough to be in the presence of John Green before... at LTFOB 2 years ago. BUT I didn't posses any John Green books at the time. Now he is back again and I am attending his panel and what I HOPE to be his book signing afterwards. So hopefully this will be checked off my list soon!

3. Wizarding World of Harry Potter
I would love to go and emerge myself in what HAS to be epicness. However, it is currently only in Florida. They are however making one in Universal Studios Hollywood and I cannot WAIT because I live in extremely close quarters to Universal Studios.

4. Get More Followers
This seems superficial and I LOVE all 130 of you, But after doing this for close to 4 years now. It makes me wonder what the point of it is. I started doing this for FUN. When nobody read this and that was fine. So, with nobody reading it, I didn't have pressure. To blog regularly, to read books I was sent before their pub date and to basically do whatever. Not that I can't now, but I feel a responsibility to do these things... however, if I don't a following who cares? Why stress over it? Why feel committed? I am moving onto other things like Youtube Channels and I am wondering really if I should stay or should I go. So... if I can't get at least 1,000 followers or consistent comments/dialogue on here. I think I will be hanging up the blogger hat. 

5. Recieve a fancy ARC box from a publisher
Again, getting superficial. But this is my bucket list. I am allowed to be a little superficial. I am BLESSED with being given the opportunity to read a  lot of ARCs before, whether it be from NetGalley, Authors and some Publishers and I LOVE that. But it would be cool to get one that has all the pretty paper and notes and swag with it.. at least just once!

6. To Read All The Classics on My Shelf
I own a lot of them and they are nice and pretty and HUGE and tend to be bypassed for the newer and shinier books. So, before I die. I did to read them. 

7. To Write a Book
I addressed this in the Ultimate Book TAG video. I am NOT  a writer by any means. I try to put dialogue on paper, so to speak and it all goes to shit... but I have LOTS of ideas. So, I would probably need a ghost writer to take my ideas and make them literarily acceptable

8. Meet J.K. Rowling
DUH.  Does this even need an explanation?

9. Have My Own Library
I mean adding books to my shelf is basically slowly turning my home into a library, but one day I will have a room with glamourous built in shelves.. covered wall to wall with books = ) Even a sliding ladder. 

10. Donate to Libraries
Libraries and under funded and sometimes under utilized. Especially, with those evils electronic reading devices. So, I want to donate to be financially stable enough to constantly donate and support libraries. =)

That is all I can think of... but I am sure there are way more! Like Meeting Authors in general! 


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The Last Little Blue Envelope (Little Blue Enevelope, #2)

Summary:
"Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.
Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions."

When The Last Little Blue Envelope came out I was quite stoked to read it and finally get an ending to Ginny's story and although, I am happy to get an ending. I am not necessarily  happy with the book.  I felt it dragged on and really just plateaued. I was constantly waiting for the story to pick up, for their to be a big turn around, a really exciting or dramatic moment and there wasn't.

I liked the book, I did and it was quick and witty, as any Maureen Johnson book should be. BUT as a sequel, they book just didn't cut it for me. I personally think, had Maureen Johnson just combined The Little Last Blue envelope with 13 Little Blue Envelopes and made it a two parter. I would have preferred it more. The momentum from Part 1 would be freshly with me to carry on the less dramatic Part 2. Since she did not do that, they momentum of the excitement for 13 Little Blue Envelopes was lost on me.  It was not a bad book, just not exactly what I wanted from the story. Curious, if anyone else felt this way too?

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: My Spring TBR Pile



1. Witchfall By Victoria Lamb

2. Magnolia City By Duncan W. Alderson


3. Don't Even Think About It By Sarah Mlynowski


4. The Here and Now By Ann Brasheres

5. The Word Exchange By Alena Graedon

6. The Chapel Wars By Lindsey Leavitt

7. Nantucket Red By Leila Howland

8. Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend By Katie Finn

9. Second Star By Alyssa B Shienmel

10. Dog Gone, Back Soon By Nick Trout


Monday, March 17, 2014

In My Mailbox (59)




Library
Clockwork Prince (#2) By Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Princess (#3) By Cassandra Clare
Emerald Green By Kerstin Gier

From Author
Witchstruck (#1) By Victoria Lamb
Witchfall (#2) By Victoria Lamb
Bookmarks

For Review
(Net Galley)
Dog Gone, Back Soon By Nick Trout
The Word Exchange By Alena Graedon
Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things To Mend By Katie Finn
Magnolia City By Duncan W. Alderson


Friday, March 7, 2014

Diamonds & Deceit (At Somerton, #2)

Summary:
"One house, two worlds...book two in our sumptuous and enticing YA series about the servants and gentry at Somerton Court.
A house divided...
London is a whirl of balls and teas, alliances and rivalries. Rose has never felt more out of place. With the Season in full swing, she can't help but still feel a servant dressed up in diamonds and silk. Then Rose meets Alexander Ross, a young Scottish duke. Rose has heard the rumors about Ross's sordid past just like everyone else has. Yet he alone treats her as a friend. Rose knows better than to give her heart to an aristocrat with such a reputation, but it may be too late.
Ada should be happy. She is engaged to a handsome man who shares her political passions and has promised to support her education. So why does she feel hollow inside? Even if she hated Lord Fintan, she would have no choice but to go through with the marriage. Every day a new credit collector knocks on the door of their London flat, demanding payment for her cousin William's expenditures. Her father's heir seems determined to bring her family to ruin, and only a brilliant marriage can save Somerton Court and the Averleys' reputation.
Meanwhile, at Somerton, Sebastian is out of his mind with worry for his former valet Oliver, who refuses to plead innocent to the murder charges against him--for a death caused by Sebastian himself. Sebastian will do whatever he can to help the boy he loves, but his indiscretion is dangerous fodder for a reporter with sharp eyes and dishonorable intentions.
The colorful cast of the At Somerton series returns in this enthralling sequel about class and fortune, trust and betrayal, love and revenge."

        Diamonds & Deceit was everything I had hoped Cinders & Sapphires was going to be, it had the glitz and glamour, the intrigue and the drama. Even though it was entirely predictable and melodramatic, it was perfection. I honestly wasn't even interested in reading Diamonds & Deceit after how disappointed I was in Cinders & Sapphires but it made up for it in full. 

     The addition of Alexander Ross was exactly what I needed, he reminded me of Mr. Darcy a little and I was SO happy to see that there was less Sebastian. Although, I like him as a character I did not enjoy his storyline. The ending however is where the intrigue begins and I cannot wait to see what will happen! It was a giant cliffhanger and it is very reminiscent of Season 2 of Downton Abbey. In conclusion, if you were like me and were not wowed by Book 1... try out Diamonds & Deceit,  I could hardly put it down.  


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Popular Authors I've Never Read


1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Lois Lowry
3. Veronica Roth
4. Tamora Pierce
5. Lauren Oliver
6. Sarah Dessen
7. James Dashner
8. Ann Brasheres
9. Deb Caletti
10. Niel Gaiman

Sunday, March 2, 2014

In My Mailbox (58)



For Review
(Thank You Random House and Delacorte Press)
Being Sloane Jacobs By Lauren Morrill
Burning By Elana K. Arnold

For Review 
Netgalley
The Chapel Wars By Lindsey Leavitt
(Thank You Bloombury USA)
One Tiny Lie By K.A. Tucker
(Atria Books)
Hexed by Michelle Krys
(Random House-Delacorte Press)
A June Bride By Marybeth Whalen
The Here and Now By Ann Brasheres
(Thank You Random House-Delacorte Press)
Ballerina by Edward Stewart
(Thank You Open Road Media)
Second Star By Alyssa B. Sheinmal
(Thank You Macmillian)

Won
Bird With  a Heart of a Mountain by Barbara Mariconda