2014, You Sly Dog

It's 3 months into 2014, and it still feels like it just began. If I had to write the dates on homework, I'd probably still be writing 2013. New Years Resolutions? Buy less books. Why? Because I have entirely too many books on my shelves (I had to buy a 3rd bookshelf last fall - which I filled the week after I got it). How have I fared? I've bought a few ebooks (cause those don't really count, right?) and if my recollection is right, I've bought a total of 5 books so far.

I HAD to get a signed/personalized copy of Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi, the final book in the Under the Never Sky series, as well as a signed/personalized copy of Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi, the final book in her Shatter Me series. I met them both at a Pitch Dark tour stop in MA last year (which was one of the best book related experiences of my life!) and it's bitter sweet to have come to the end of their series', but excited for what they'll do next! On a whim, I ordered the graphic novel of Ransom Riggs' Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children, which is a SUPER HEAVY BOOK, but I guess a lot of hardcover graphic novels are that way. I feel very scholarly when I hold it. I hold it often. And most recently, I purchased Nil by Lynne Matson and Half Bad by Sally Green - because I've gotta support my Sal's of the world.

As for reviewing, I fell off the bandwagon a lot, and I had to take a step back for a while. There's that pressure to read and review books that takes away from the enjoyment of reading and it got to me. I was avoiding reading because of that pressure, and my bookshelves were lonely for a while. But I've been slowly able to get out of the funk and get back with it. I'm not reading/reviewing as much as I used to, but what I do now has more quality than before. I think out my reviews more thoroughly and I think it's helped me better understand how I read and the aspects of reading that I can rely on to keep me interested.

The ladies over at the Page Turners Blog have been very understanding, because a lot of bloggers/reviewers have those dry spells and it's just as hard to get over them as any other obstacle. I've included a list of the reviews I've posted on their blog, as I hadn't posted teaser reviews for any of them (click the link to be brought to the blog post):

Mistwalker by Saundra Mitchell

Torn by K.A. Robinson

Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen

Fault Line by Christa Desir

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

Chameleon by Kelly Oram

How to Date an Alien by Magan Vernon

Until next time, Happy Reading!

Long time no see!

I've gone from being a blogger to just a reviewer for another blog. It takes a lot of the stress away when you don't have to run a whole blog on your own, and just submitting reviews for another blog has been the extent of which I am able to supply the book blogging community. Because of this, my own blog has almost come to a complete stop, which weighs on  me as I feel responsible. I made this blog 2 years ago, and while I have come and gone as I pleased, I still don't like knowing I haven't posted anything here in months. Working on posts for meme's and reviews and just random rants is a lot of work, and never understood why bloggers referred to "working on blog posts," because it takes a lot of time and coordination and tweaking to get a blog post ready. 

I post reviews on the Page Turner's Blog, which you can check out here, and I'm still keeping up with the blogs I follow because that's the only way I can keep track of all the amazing and grab worthy books that are coming out (cover reveals and showcase sundays are the biggies).

It's not you, blog, it's me. I  know we'll make it through, but I just needed to explain myself and my need for space lately. 

Teaser Review # 6

(image found here)

I am a Junior Reviewer for the Page Turners blog so I plan to do a "Teaser Review" post which will be posted here to let you know when a review of mine is up on the Page Turners blog. I'm not asking that anyone follow their blog, (even though it is very worthy of their followers) especially since I will only be posting reviews versus any other posts I make here. I just wanted to make sure anyone who wanted to read my reviews knows where to find them. :)


Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Publishes: September 10th, 2013
Gifted ARC from local indie bookstore

From the author the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.
Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Teaser Review # 5

(image found here)

I am a Junior Reviewer for the Page Turners blog so I plan to do a "Teaser Review" post which will be posted here to let you know when a review of mine is up on the Page Turners blog. I'm not asking that anyone follow their blog, (even though it is very worthy of their followers) especially since I will only be posting reviews versus any other posts I make here. I just wanted to make sure anyone who wanted to read my reviews knows where to find them. :)

Just for Now (Sea Breeze #4) by Abbi Glines
Published: October 30th, 2012
Bought on Kindle

An insatiable attraction heats to the boiling point in this brand-new book set in the shore town of Sea Breeze, from bestselling author Abbi Glines.
Preston is one bad boy. And Amanda has harbored a crush on him for forever. When she finally makes her move on him, it does not end well. But still, she can’t resist him. Especially now that he seems to be pursuing her, too.

No one wants wants them to be be together. Not Amanda’s brother Marcus, who is on the verge of his marriage to Low, and definitely not any of Preston's buddies. They know way too much about Preston’s dark side. Yet the dangerous attraction is there...and neither Preston nor Amanda are going to deny it.

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Teaser Review # 4

(image found here)

As I only manage to review a handful of books each month, I've decided they will all be featured on the Page Turners blog, where I am a Junior Reviewer, versus having some of them posted here. I will still be posting blogs here, such as Showcase Sunday and other memes or random posts I feel like. But what I plan to do is post a "Teaser Review," which will be posted here to let you know when a review of mine is up on the Page Turners blog. I'm not asking that anyone follow their blog, (even though it is very worthy of their followers) especially since I will only be posting reviews versus any other posts I make here. I just wanted to make sure anyone who wanted to read my reviews knows where to find them. :)

Addicted to You by Krista & Becca Ritchie
Published: July 1st, 2013
Received from authors for review!
Description from Goodreads:

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they've pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They've mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy on board can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again.

Now the only person who can truly help her can barely help himself.

**This is a New Adult book recommended for readers 18 and up**

Teaser Review # 3

(image found here)

As I explained in a previous blog post, I am a Junior Reviewer for the Page Turners blog. As I only manage to review a handful of books each month, I've decided they will all be featured on the Page Turners blog versus having some of them posted here. I will still be posting blogs here, such as Showcase Sunday and other memes or random posts I feel like. But what I plan to do is post a "Teaser Review," which will be posted here to let you know when a review of mine is up on the Page Turners blog. I'm not asking that anyone follow their blog, (even though it is very worthy of their followers) especially since I will only be posting reviews versus any other posts I make here. I just wanted to make sure anyone who wanted to read my reviews knows where to find them. :)

While It Lasts (Sea Breeze #3) by Abbi Glines
Published: April 2nd, 2013
Received audio book from Simon and Schuster for review
Description from Goodreads:

Cage brings his playboy prowess to the countryside as the Sea Breeze hookups continue, from self-published phenomenon Abbi Glines. Low broke Cage’s heart by getting with Marcus in Because of Low. Cage went into a tailspin that ended in a DUI. In order to salvage his baseball scholarship—the one thing he truly valued besides Low—Cage must take a summer job. At a farm. Away from Sea Breeze. With lots of cows, but no hot girls. Maybe that’s what Cage needs to get back on track.

But wait—there’s that hostile daughter of the farm boss. She’s pretty and occasionally sweet, and there seems to be a lot of sadness and mystery behind her anger. Cage is dying to strip her down—physically and mentally—in the back of the barn. But is he prepared for what will happen afterward?

Showcase Sunday # 11

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Books, Biscuits, and Tea! 

This is where each Sunday, we can "showcase" what we've gotten in the way of books; 

in the mail, at the bookstore, the library, or as a gift!

This week wasn't bad on the wallet, just bought 2 new releases and traded some books. :) I also got another bookcase! I figured since I had a full bookcase with piles of books on top of it and all around it, it was time to add to my collection of bookcases, haha.